The Awesome Lego Optimus Prime Is On Sale For A Stellar Price
Lego Optimus Prime from Transformers is discounted to $144 at Amazon. That’s 20% off this awesome building set’s $180 list price, which matches last year’s Black Friday deal. We wouldn’t be surprised to see this offer sell out quickly. Amazon doesn’t list an end date for the deal either, so it could disappear at any time. Lego Optimus Prime is comprised of 1,508 pieces and, much like other large-scale Lego sets, is recommended for adults and experienced builders.
What sets this particular Lego set apart from many other licensed kits of this size is that it has a level of interactivity built into it. Though you won’t be pulling off dynamic poses, you will be able to gently adjust the limbs of Optimus, equip him with his trademark ion blaster, and you can even replace his hand with his legendary Energon-Axe.
The real magic here is that Optimus can transform into his signature truck mode, easily shifting from Autobot commander to a big rig that’s ready to roll out. To get to that point is the fun part though, and with 10 bags filled with hundreds of bricks, it’ll take you just over three hours to build everyone’s favorite Cybertronian.
Once you’re done, you’ll have an Optimus Prime replica that has just the right amount of Lego flair to it, with only a few studs visible.
Mission Impossible 8 Adds Love Lies Bleeding Star
Katy O’Brian, star of A24’s Love Lies Bleeding, has been keeping busy lately. She’ll now be joining Tom Cruise and the rest of the Mission Impossible cast for the film’s eighth installment.
According to a Deadline report, not much is known about her role in the upcoming film. But she’s not the only newcomer appearing in Mission Impossible 8. The report explains that Iron Claw’s Holt McCallany, The Last of Us’ Nick Offerman, The Menu’s Janet McTeer, and Ted Lasso’s Hannah Waddingham will also join the franchise.
As previously stated, O’Brian most recently starred in Love Lies Bleeding, a film that tells the story of the dark side of the women’s bodybuilding industry. But she’s also appeared in various movies and shows, including The Mandalorian as Elia Kane and in Ant-Man 3 as Jentorra.
Mission Impossible 8 was initially scheduled to premiere later this year on June 28. But it was pushed back due to the Hollywood actor’s strike and is now set to come out next year on May 23, 2025. Despite the film being pushed back, Christopher McQuarrie is still set to direct and produce alongside Cruise.
For more entertainment news, check out our story detailing the latest cast member to join the Among Us cartoon and our story detailing everything we know about Deadpool and Wolverine.
Among Us Cartoon Adds Dan Stevens And Spider-Verse Star To Cast
The Among Us animated series may not have a home yet, but the voice cast for the adaptation of the hit video game franchise is coming together quickly. Deadline is reporting that Dan Stevens (Solar Opposites), Liv Hewson (Yellowjackets), and Kimiko Glenn (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse) have all signed on to lend their voices to the show about crewmates on a starship that has been infiltrated by alien imposters
Stevens, who headlined Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast and FX’s Legion, will provide the voice of Blue. Stevens was also a recent addition to the voice cast of Hulu’s Solar Opposites, where he took over the leading role, Korvo Opposites, from series co-creator Justin Roiland, who was fired from the series by Hulu following allegations of domestic violence in early 2023.
Hewson, who has a leading role as Vanessa Palmer on Showtime’s Yellowjackets, will voice Black. Glenn was cast as Cyan, and she has extensive experience with voiceover roles including parts in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Disney’s 2017 DuckTales reboot, BoJack Horseman, and Carmen Sandiego.
The descriptions for the new characters are below:
Blue (Doctor)
- Knowledgeable, charming, so hot
- Task: physical and emotional care
- Fun Fact: also has a doctorate in poetry
Black (Geologist)
- Stoic, coarse, rock-like
- Task: supervising the ore shipments
- Fun Fact: prefers rocks to people
Cyan (Gemologist)
- Healing through crystals
- Task: supervising the vibes
- Fun Fact: the vibes are bad
Earlier this month, Randall Park, Yvette Nicole Brown, Elijah Wood, and Ashley Johnson were also confirmed as cast members for the series. Infinity Train creator Own Dennis developed the Among Us animated series for CBS Studios. However, Among Us doesn’t currently have a network or streaming service lined up.
Anthony Mackie Opens Up About The MCU’s Creative Limitations
Anthony Mackie, best known for his role as The Falcon-turned-Captain America in Disney’s MCU, stated that it can be difficult to experiment in Marvel films because “there’s only so much you can do.”
In an interview with RadioTimes, Mackie was asked about working on Marvel projects vs. Peacock’s Twisted Metal. He then explained that working with Marvel differs because “it’s such a space of controlled entertainment.”
“Like, there’s only so much you can do. There’s only so much creativity you can bring to the table because Stan Lee gave us so much content,” Mackie said. “Whereas with this [Twisted Metal], it was like, ‘There’s a guy and a girl go.’ So we were really able to build the world around it.”
As the interview continued, Mackie explained that he felt that a large reason Twisted Metal did well was that there was nothing tied to his character, so it allowed him to try more things. At the same time, the writing and directing team managed to “stay true to the characters in the video games.”
Mackie added that this process is dramatically different to the one used in the MCU, as once a character is introduced in it has to “coincide with what Stan had already gave us.” Mackie continues that although this may be a challenge, “it’s an interesting juggle to be a part of that world.” And this was more like, ‘Let’s just have fun and figure it out as we go.'”
Season 1 of Twisted Metal debuted in 2023, and upon its release, it was an immediate hit for Peacock. Because of the show’s success, it’s already been confirmed for another season.
Call Of Duty’s New BlackCell Operator Is One Of The Flashiest Yet
Each new Call of Duty season typically brings with it another BlackCell DLC bundle, and that trend continues with the upcoming debut of Season 3 on April 3. This newest BlackCell DLC bundle comes with a variety of cosmetic items that will make your character really stand out.
BlackCell DLC bundles are known for their animated skins, and this will be the case again. The new Stasis operator is decked out with shimmering gold and vertical glyph streams. Beyond the animated elements, the operator bundle includes a “glitch-wear mask” and teal blue accents. Here’s what the skin looks like, though the animation effects are not yet clear.
As usual, everyone who buys the BlackCell bundle gets instant access to the BlackCell-specific part of the general Season 3 battle pass map. This includes 20 Battle Token tier skips that should help players unlock other content faster.
In addition to the Stasis operator, the BlackCell Season 3 bundle comes with immediate access to the Aggressive Action frag grenade with its own unique death effect, the Double Barrel Disrespect finishing move, the All that Glitters BlackCell animated blueprint for the BAS-B battle rifle with its own unique death effects, and an allotment of 1,100 COD Points (about $10 USD).
BlackCell DLC bundles typically cost around $30, so that’s the price point we’re expecting for this newest offering for Season 3.
The standard Season 3 battle pass, meanwhile, has 110 items up for grabs, and these are available to everyone who grinds for them, including BlackCell owners. And everyone who buys the standard battle pass and then upgrades to BlackCell will get 1,100 COD Points.
Season 3 is the first new season since Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile released on March 21. As announced previously, player progress and all store bundles bought on one platform carry over to another, so you can grind on console, for example, and your progress and purchases will also be applied to mobile. However, COD Points do not move between platforms.
For more, check out GameSpot’s rundown of everything coming to Call of Duty in the Season 3 update, including a bunch of 4/20-themed content and a mode that turns fallen foes into mines.
New CoD Mode Turns Dead Enemies Into Your Worst Nightmare
Activision has announced more details on Call of Duty’s upcoming Season 3 update, and among the new additions is a mode called “Minefield.” In a blog post, Activision said fans can think of this like “multiplayer but with mines,” and it sounds like things can get pretty chaotic.
Available for the Kill Confirmed, Domination, and Hardpoint modes, Minefield employs those modes’ rules but with one key change. Every time you kill an enemy, a proximity mine is plunged onto the ground where the enemy player died.
The mine is immovable and is deadly to all enemy players. Activision said as the match progresses, these mines will combine to create a literal minefield that can “ramp up the action to a cacophony of chaos.” This sounds reminiscent of the Martyrdom perk from previous Call of Duty games where your character dropped a live grenade when they were killed.
Another mode heading to Modern Warfare III’s multiplayer is Escort. First seen within Call of Duty: Warzone, Escort has one team protecting a vehicle as it makes its way across a map. The opposing side is trying to stop that from happening. Both teams have unlimited respawns, and players switch sides in this round-based mode.
Finally, the fan-favorite Vortex playlist returns to Modern Warfare III during Season 3, featuring the supernatural-themed maps Airborne, Satan’s Quarry, Skidgrow, Sporeyard, and Tetanus. New for Season 3 is an Arcade Mode modifier, featuring “gameplay modifiers” that Activision said it will reveal later on. An event called Vortex Vir.Rus Mainframe is launching with this new playlist.
These modes and playlists will be available in Modern Warfare III sometime mid-season, so they won’t be there at launch come April 3. But Warzone brings back Rebirth Island that day, and Modern Warfare III adds the brand-new multiplayer maps 6 Star and Emergency.
For more, check out GameSpot’s rundown of everything coming to Call of Duty in the Season 3 update, including a bunch of 4/20-themed content.
Call Of Duty 4/20 Event Brings Cheech And Chong, A Stoned Sloth, And Weed-Themed Bundles
Call of Duty’s upcoming Season 3 update will have a variety of 4/20-themed content, it’s been announced, including Cheech and Chong operators and an event called Blaze Up.
The legendary stoners Cheech and Chong are coming to Call of Duty: Warzone, Modern Warfare III, and Warzone Mobile in a DLC bundle, and they’re voiced by Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong themselves. The stoner-comedy legends will be available to buy in a tracer pack that also comes with three weapon blueprints, a sticker, a large decal, a loading screen, and the “Secondhand Smoke” finishing move.
Given that the bundle has two operators and its own dedicated finishing move, this will likely be one of the more expensive DLC bundles yet, though official pricing was not announced in Activision’s blog post.
Continuing the stoner theme, Modern Warfare III will have a new event called “Blaze Up” that promises “exclusively dank rewards.” Activision warned fans that this event “may cause the munchies.” The event begins during the Season 3 launch window.
There is also a bundle called “Stoney Sloth” coming to Call of Duty in Season 3. A teaser image shows a sloth with bloodshot eyes and marijuana leaves covering his body.
There is also a “new” map coming to Modern Warfare III called Growhouse. This is an updated version of the Sphere map from Call of Duty: Vanguard that morphed from an experimental test site to a “backwoods narcotics den nestled in remote foothills.”
Specific release dates were not announced for any of the weed-themed content, but it’s reasonable to assume Activision would want to release this content close to the stoner holiday on 4/20.
The Call of Duty franchise has a long history of loving marijuana and smoking grass in general, so it’s no surprise to see these latest announcements.
The Cheech and Chong DLC was first revealed via a datamining effort that also suggested Snoop Dogg, another fan of smoking weed, is returning to Call of Duty. This was confirmed in Activision’s blog post for Season 3, but a release date was not announced.
For more on the Season 3 update, check out GameSpot’s rundown of everything in Call of Duty’s upcoming Season 3 update.
Best Buy Audio Sale: Soundbars, Speakers, And More On Sale Until April 14
Spring is in the air, and Best Buy is celebrating the warmer weather with a huge discount on all types of audio equipment. From soundbars and speakers that’ll keep you inside during rainstorms to Bluetooth and portable speakers for a camping trip or weekend barbecue, a bit of everything is on sale. The event runs until April 14, so there’s plenty of time to peruse its catalog and see if anything catches your eye.
If you’re looking for an affordable way to upgrade your TV’s audio, the LG 2.0 Channel Soundbar is a solid option. It won’t fill your room with booming, directional audio, but it’s easy to install, can be operated with your TV remote, and should pack more of a punch than the built-in speakers of your display. It’s also wildly affordable right now, as it’s on sale for $80 (down from $100).
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For folks seeking a bit more oomph, you have plenty of options. For a mid-range setup, be sure to look at the JBL Bar 500 5.1ch Soundbar with Multibeam and Dolby Atmos for $400 (down from $600), the LG 3.1.3 Channel Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer (Dolby Atmos) for $400 (down from $600), and Sony HT-S2000 Compact 3.1ch Soundbar (Dolby Atmos) for $300 (down from $500). All three support Dolby Atmos for rich audio, and picking the right one for your home will largely come down to personal preferences and how nicely they’ll play with your existing gear.
Plenty of other great audio products are discounted at Best Buy until April 14, and you’ll find a list of our favorite deals below. Note that some purchases come with a free item, such as a four-month subscription to SiriusXM, and these will be added automatically to your cart during checkout.
Best Audio Deals
CoD: Warzone And MW3 Season 3 Roadmap Includes CTF, New Perks, And Advanced Warfare Weapons
Season 3 of Modern Warfare 3, Warzone, and Warzone Mobile arrives on April 3, and Activision has revealed what players can expect for this new season of Call of Duty. This includes the CTF game mode and new maps for multiplayer, the return of Snoop Dogg with a new battle pass skin, the return of Rebirth Island to Warzone, and Cheech & Chong become Call of Duty operators.
Four new guns arrive with Season 3. The FJX Horus submachine gun, the MORS sniper rifle from Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, and the Gladiator melee weapon are all included in the free tiers of the battle pass. The BAL-27 assault rifle from Advanced Warfare will arrive with the midseason update.
Now Playing: Modern Warfare III – Official Season 3 Multiplayer Launch Trailer
This new season brings plenty of stoner content with Snoop Dogg and Cheech & Chong operator skins, as well as the new Growhouse multiplayer map. Modern Warfare 3 is getting a total of six multiplayer maps. Along with Growhouse, which is a reskin of Vanguard’s Sphere map, Season 3 includes a resort set on a skyscraper in Dubai, Emergency is themed around an Arizona medical facility, Tanked is an aquarium map based on Warzone’s Vondel POI, Checkpoint is a Rebirth Island POI, and Grime is a graffitied part of London.
Season 3’s new MP game modes include the return of Capture the Flag, the popular One in the Chamber party mode, Escort, and a new mode variant called Minefield. Minefield adds the threat of going kaboom, as fallen players drop proximity mines to litter the map in a mix of various game modes.
Players can also expect three new perk vests to choose from. Gunslinger is a vest that takes away the primary weapon slot, but gives the player boosts to stamina, sprinting, and reloading. The Modular Assault Rig is geared towards players who want a full supply of ammo, and the ability to scavenge lethal and tactical equipment from dead players. Lastly, the Compression Carrier vest provides assisted healing and gas protection.
Other new perks include Reinforced Boots to provide immunity to movement reduction effects, and the High-Gain Antenna zooms out the minimap and provides more intel.
For Zombies mode, Season 3 includes a new story mission, the third Dark Aether Rift quest, more schematics to unlock, and a new Warlord boss. However, all of the Zombies content is scheduled for the mid-season update.
Season 3’s update for Warzone includes the return of Rebirth Island for Resurgence modes. The map will also feature a new Champion’s Quest nuke challenge with unique rewards. Last season, Ranked Play took place on the Fortune’s Keep map. This season, competitive players will get to battle out on Rebirth Island for those top placements.
Warzone also adds a “Bootcamp” mode for new players. This mode features 20 real players and 24 bots, and is only available to play in Quads. It also includes limited XP progression, as it’s just intended to teach new players how Warzone works.
The Foresight and Specialist perks returns from Warzone 1, and these are only available on Rebirth Island. Foresight serves as a rare killstreak that offers the intel of knowing all future gas circles, including the end game circle. Specialist gives players every perk available in Warzone.
Warzone Mobile shares progression and the battle pass with MW3 and the standard version of Warzone, so players can unlock the new weapons, cosmetics, and continue leveling up by playing on mobile. Season 3 will add Warzone’s Plunder and Buy Back modes to the mobile version, and Rust arrives for Warzone Mobile’s small selection of multiplayer modes.
For those new to Warzone Mobile, here we break down how shared progress works, and we also provide some tips for the best settings to use.
Palia Cross-Play And Cross-Saves Explained
Palia is finally available to play on Steam, which marks the whimsical MMO’s highly anticipated arrival on yet another platform. If you’ve already downloaded Singularity Six’s cozy game elsewhere, whether that be directly through Palia’s own launcher or on an entirely different device such as the Nintendo Switch, you may find yourself wondering if your previously hard-earned progress will transfer to another platform like Steam. Every game treats cross-platform support differently, which means there’s never a clear-cut answer that covers every new release.
Cross-platform support isn’t the only question that may come to mind, either. You may also be questioning cross-play, and whether or not you can play with your friends that own Palia on different platforms. Now that the MMO has made its way onto Steam, there are various ways to hop in-game and your pals may not all share the same method. As is the case with most online experiences, though, you’ll likely want to join them even if you’re using another platform. Our Palia cross-platform and cross-play guide explores both of these burning topics that may be on your mind following the game’s arrival on Steam.
Now Playing: Palia Announcement Trailer
How to play cross-platform in Palia
Thankfully, Palia does indeed support cross-platform progression. This means that all of your data, including your character and farm, can transfer over to any new device you’re using. To make use of the cross-progression in Palia, all you have to do is link your accounts. For instance, if you have an in-game account you use on an Epic Games Store copy or one via Steam, you just need to connect it to your Nintendo account to continue with all of the progress you’ve previously earned.
This works regardless of which platform you’re moving from and which one you’re swapping to. Cross-platform support means that you can easily play the game as you please, on the go or at home bundled up within a comfortable blanket. There is something so inexplicably relaxing about playing cozy games such as Palia on multiple platforms, perhaps the ease of it all, which makes the developer’s choice to include cross-progression all the better.
How does Palia cross-play work?
Palia also supports cross-play, which means that you can play the MMO with any of your friends regardless of the different devices they may be using. For example, you can visit your friend’s home in-game if they’re playing on a Nintendo Switch even if you’re playing via PC. There are various multiplayer activities to partake in together in Palia, too, including crafting, cooking, farming, fishing, foraging, and hunting.
If you’d like to locate a particular friend to add them or join their server to play together, all you need to do is open your friends list menu up. On PC, you can do so with the “O” key and then navigate to the “+” symbol where you’ll be able to input your friend’s name and subsequently add them. Once you’re friends with one another, you and your friend can team up in a party and teleport to each other’s houses and servers.
For more on Palia, don’t miss our guide on how to solve the riddle during the Ancient Battery quest, as well as the full Palia recipes list.
