• Preorder Bonus Roundup: Halo Infinite, Far Cry 6, Madden NFL 22, and More

    Gather 'round, deal hunters. Here's a story about how, just a few years ago, you could get 20% off pretty much all video game preorders from Amazon, Best Buy, and more retailers. These were sunny days of bounty and joy. Then, one by one, retailers stopped offering preorder discounts. And that's where we are now. Almost.

    Some retailers, most notably Best Buy, are still giving away free stuff for preordering select games. In many cases, you get a $10 gift card. In others, you get $10 in reward certificates if you're a My Best Buy member (sign up for free here). In others still, you get a Funko Pop, steelbook case, or pin set.

    These bonuses may not be as good as an up-front discount off of all preordered games, but they're definitely better than nothing. Here's a rundown on the games currently offering preorder bonuses.

    Preorder Bonuses

    These preorder bonuses are good for everyone, regardless of your My Best Buy membership status.

    $10 Reward with My Best Buy

    To get the $10 in reward certificates from these games, you'll first need to sign up for My Best Buy (it's free). Once you do that, you'll get the reward when the game comes out.

    If you're into digital extras, you can get various add-ons for preordering games from any retailer. Check out our lineup of preorder guides for upcoming games to see what digital goodies you can get from preordering games you're interested in picking up.

    Preorder Guides

    Chris Reed is a deals expert and commerce editor for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @_chrislreed.

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    Galaxy Unpacked: Every Gadget Announced at Samsung’s August Event

    Samsung announced last month that its next Unpacked event would unveil the latest products of its ever-growing product lineup. In total, the event unveiled four new products from the tech giant: two foldable smartphones, a new smartwatch, and the next generation of Galaxy Buds.

    In case you missed the virtual event, here's everything that was announced today.

    Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G

    While no new Note phones are coming out in 2021, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G is the latest flagship in Samsung's smartphone lineup. Most notably, the Z Fold 3 5G includes stylus support for the S Pen, a feature commonly found on the Note series and making it the first Samsung foldable device to support it.

    The Z Fold 3 5G features a 7.6-inch Flex display with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. It features 12GB of RAM with two storage configuration options: 256GB and 512GB.

    The front of the camera includes a 10MP selfie camera, a 4MP under-display camera, and the rear features a triple camera setup, with a 12MP ultra-wide camera, a 12MP wide-angle, and a 12MP telephoto camera.

    To improve on durability, Samsung says the Z Fold 3 5G has IPX8 water resistance. Unfortunately, it does not include dust resistance.

    The Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G's pricing begins at $1,799.99 and is available in three colors: Phantom Black, Phantom Green, and Phantom Silver. Preorders begin today, with a retail release slated for August 27.

    Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G

    Like the Fold 3 5G, Samsung also announced that another phone from its other foldable lineup, the Galaxy Z Flip 3, includes a 6.7-inch display with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and an IPX8 water resistance rating.

    The Z Flip 3 5G includes 8GB of RAM with no option to increase memory capacity, with the storage options coming in 128GB and 256GB. As far as cameras go, on the front, you have a 10MP selfie camera, with a dual-camera setup on the back: a 12MP ultra-wide and a 12MP wide-angle camera.

    Thee Z Flip 3 5G also includes a new Flex Mode Panel, which should make apps running on the foldable better and a lot more seamless to use. The panel is designed to offer more convenient ways for users to use the foldable when it is partially folded, such as using the top half of the screen to display video while the bottom half houses control, allowing you to adjust things such as brightness or volume.

    The Z Flip 3 5G has seven color variants in total. Cream, Green, Lavander, and Phantom Black as more common options to choose from, but if you are purchasing on Samsung's direct website, you have the option to buy the foldable flip phone in Gray, Pink, or White.

    Preorders for the Z Flip 3 5G starting at $999 begin today, and the retail release will be on August 27.

    Galaxy Watch 4 and the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic

    Samsung unveiled not one but two new smartwatches during Wednesday's event: Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. Both wearables include WearOS — Google's wearable operating system with some slight tweaks by Samsung. In addition to its 3-in-1 BioActive sensor, which uses a single chip to run three health sensors — Optical Heart Rate, which allows you to keep track of your blood pressure; Electrical Heart, which allows you to detect an irregular heartbeat, and Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis, which allows you to calculate your body composition.

    The Galaxy Watch 4 comes in two sizes: 40mm and 44mm, with the prices starting at $249.99, which gives you access to Bluetooth, with LTE versions beginning at $299.99. The colors vary depending on which size you get, both sizes include Black and Silver as a color variant, but the 40mm has a size-exclusive Pink Gold option, while the 44mm includes a Green color choice.

    As the name implies, the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic offers a more traditional watch shape, but alongside a more "classic look," this is the only watch in the current Watch 4 series is that the Classic model includes a rotating bezel, a notable feature for Samsung wearables. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic will come in 42mm and 46mm sizes with two colors available: Black and Silver. Pricing begins at $349.99 for the Bluetooth versions and $399.99 for the LTE models.

    Both smartwatches are available for preorder starting today and will release on August 27.

    Galaxy Buds 2

    The next pair of truly wireless earbuds from Samsung is the Galaxy Buds 2. Wild not wildly different from its predecessor if we are going off of the design alone, the Galaxy Buds 2 does include some changes that make it stand out.

    The Galaxy Buds 2 are 15% smaller and 20% lighter than the Galaxy Buds Plus, which Samsung claims are its smallest and lightest earbuds yet, with the company touting it as a pair of earbuds that are built for all-day comfort.

    The Galaxy Buds 2 offers three flexible ear tips. In an effort to make sure the earbuds fit, Samsung created an Earbud fit test," which you can access on the Galaxy Wearable app.

    The earbuds also feature dynamic two-way speakers, which the company claims will offer "crisp, clear high notes, and a deeper bass." Active noise cancellation is also featured in the earbuds, though you can adjust the Ambient Sound Levels if you need to hear background noise.

    Four colors are available for the Galaxy Buds 2 — Graphite, White, Olive, and Lavender, and the earbuds retail for $150. Like the other products mentioned above, preordering begins today with an August 27 release date.

    Taylor is the Associate Tech Editor at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

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    Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G Hands On

    The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G aims to be the every person’s foldable smartphone. It comes at a $999 price and it’s probably a far more understandable concept than its bigger Fold 3 5G brother, as it’s just a regular-shaped phone that can fold in half rather than a thin handset that unfolds into a tablet.

    It’s actually startling how normal the Flip 3 5G looks when unfolded. You almost couldn’t tell it wasn’t a regular smartphone unless you spotted the crease or wondered why the back of the phone was bisected in the middle.

    The Flip 3 5G offers a big, bright, and colorful 6.7-inch FHD+ display resolving a 2640 x 1080 resolution. That’s a little low by today’s standards on flagship phones, but amazingly this foldable display has an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate. Last year’s foldable displays were limited to just 60Hz, and this new handset just feels so much more smooth while scrolling and playing games.

    The biggest improvement to the Flip 3 5G interface is the new Flex Mode Panel, which is essentially the slide-out multi-tasking menu taken from Samsung’s other flagship phones. Previously the Flip’s multi-tasking abilities were limited to fold the display halfway to look or take photos, but now you can split a greater number of apps

    Additionally, the cover screen on the front of the phone has been enlarged to 1.9-inches from the original Flip’s 1.1-inch outer display. The new display can show up to four lines of notifications and it makes it just a little easier to check yourself out while shooting selfies or when someone else is taking a photo for you.

    Speaking of cameras, the Flip 3 5G has a new 12MP ultrawide camera in addition to its main wide-angle 12MP camera and 10MP selfie camera. This compact folding phone also offers just as much power as its little brother with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor. But it’s limited to just 8GB of RAM and your storage options are 128GB and 256GB.

    The most enticing about the Flip 3 5G is its $999 price, which effectively makes it the most affordable foldable phone yet. A grand is still a lot to ask and out of reach for many, but right now this seems like the most accessible device you can buy if you want to give foldable phones a shot.

    Be sure to check out the rest of our Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2021 coverage.

    Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected].

    Kevin Lee is IGN's SEO Updates Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam

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    Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G Hands On

    Foldable phones really feel like they’ve matured at this point with the introduction of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G. Samsung’s latest foldable smartphone builds upon bigger screens the Galaxy Z Fold 2 introduced while adding welcome improvements like 120Hz adaptive displays, an under-display camera, and improved durability. Meanwhile, added S-Pen support also basically makes this phone a replacement for Samsung’s Note series, much to the chagrin of phablet fans.

    Year over year, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G looks strikingly similar to last year’s model. In fact, the only thing that’s changed externally with the latest version is a slight camera bump. Opening the phone reveals the new under-display selfie camera that helps cover up the glaring hole punch in the screen from last year. The pixels over the camera aren’t exactly perfect, though, as they’re clearly transparent, and they don’t display the same hue and brightness as the rest of the screen.

    Another thing that’s clear about the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is it’s noticeably lighter when you pick it up. I described the Galaxy Z Fold 2 overstuffed ice cream sandwich or candy bar when it weighed 9.95-ounces. The Fold 3 5G is less than half an ounce lighter at 9.56 ounces, but it doesn’t feel nearly as dense or heavy.

    You still have the same 6.2-inch and 7.6-inch screens as last year’s model on the outside and inside. Both displays are still at the same resolution of 2268 x 832 for the cover screen and 2208 x 1768 on the inner display. What is different is both displays now offer a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, making them just as quick as Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S21 Ultra and the latest OnePlus 9 Pro handsets. The Fold 2’s all-screen tablet display seemed amazing except for the fact that it was limited to just 60Hz, and now this upgrade makes scrolling and gaming on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G feel that much smoother.

    Samsung has also implemented a new Eco display technology that increases brightness by 29% without increasing power consumption. While I didn’t have Samsung’s older foldable with me to compare, the increased screen brightness helped overpower any glare from the sun and studio lights in Samsung’s hands-on space. We’ll have to test Samsung’s power savings claims in our full review and they might ultimately be offset by the Fold 3’s smaller 4,400mAh dual batteries that offer 100mAh less capacity than the Fold 2.

    One less visible upgrade on the Fold 3 5G is it’s actually IPX8 waterproof now. That’s a big step up in durability when just a few years ago, Samsung’s first foldable phone was recalled due to dust getting under the screens and peeling screen protectors. Speaking of which, the inner tablet display now features Gorilla Glass Victus, the toughest glass for smartphones yet.

    The inner display on Samsung’s previous foldable phones always felt a little plasticky, and sometimes it was even easy to leave marks and indents on the screen protector. But this new screen feels like it’s actually made of hard glass, and it comes at a perfect time as the Fold 3 5G is the first Samsung foldable to support S-Pen.

    Typically, Samsung leaves stylus support to its Note series and other flagships but writing on a bigger tablet-shaped display feels even better. There’s just more room to doodle and make bigger notes, and thankfully the Fold 3 5G doesn’t buckle even when I’m drawing a line straight down the crease in the middle of the display.

    In terms of specs, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G comes fully loaded with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, 12GB of RAM, and the option of either 256GB or 512GB of storage. For cameras, you get three 12MP cameras on the back covering the usual ultrawide, wide-angle, and telephoto focal lengths. There are also two selfie cameras with a 10MP sensor on the cover display and a 4MP sensor under the display.

    Clearly, there had to be some compromises with the under-display camera, which also led to compromises with the quality of the display over the camera itself. Personally, I can’t see myself doing a video call with the device in tablet mode, so I would have just skipped it altogether and had an uninterrupted inner screen.

    Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G seems like a great step forward for Samsung’s foldable flagship. It even comes at a substantially lower $1,799 starting price compared to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 that started retailing for $1,999 last year. Preorders begin on August 11 and ordering on Samsung’s website includes a $200 Samsung store credit plus a free year of Samsung Care if you agree to a three-year subscription to the service.

    Be sure to check out our hands on with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G and the rest of our Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2021 coverage.

    Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected].

    Kevin Lee is IGN's SEO Updates Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam

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    Shirobako: The Movie Review

    Shirobako: The Movie premiered in U.S. theaters on Aug. 10.

    Shirobako: The Movie is essentially a lengthier, shinier iteration of its predecessor. It’s animated beautifully, and it’s an absolute treat for the eyes — the very first thing you’ll notice. But it’ll also give you a serious case of deja vu. Given that the anime concluded very neatly, this cinematic adaptation, set four years after the series ended, feels more like a reunion tour or an extraneous victory lap. Most, if not all, of the story beats are quite similar, even identical, to the show, which will no doubt sit well with hardcore fans, but may not seem worthwhile to those curious about whether there's been any real character progression over the four years spent in-universe.

    In fact, the new story can't even begin without referencing the old. The entirety of the film's introduction is dedicated to recapping the latter half of the series, which slightly dulls this adventure’s newness. Heroine Aoi Miyamori is still toiling away as a production assistant at Musashino Animation, and when new president Shun Watanabe (Masaya Matsukaze) asks her to head up a new theatrical project, she’s reticent. The company is in a bit of disarray, and it's unclear if it can handle such a large production. Aoi must navigate the trials and tribulations of her everyday life at Musashino while working alongside newcomer Kaede Miyai (Ayane Sakura) to reach MusAni's seemingly insurmountable goal.

    As Aoi and the rest of MusAni buckle down on their new project, a sci-fi action adventure called Aerial Assault Ship SIVA, they’re working from scratch, scrambling to figure out the most efficient and cost-effective way to move forward while still reeling from the effects of the cancellation of their previous series, Time Hippopotamus. It seems unheard of, too raw, especially since that series was unceremoniously canceled. But it just might work.

    Aoi's confidence that reusing older elements is infectious, and watching personalities we saw scattered throughout Shirobako come together again for another undertaking is a delight. It's still revisiting familiar territory, but catching up with faces we saw once or twice before is nevertheless enjoyable. It's a reunion that's clearly meant to address fans who remember every single detail about Shirobako's cast, and while that means the movie is jam-packed with cameos, it's nice that no one was left out of the spotlight.

    Like the series did, Shirobako: The Movie shines in both its moments of workplace drama and camaraderie between the employees at MusAni. Watching everyone work together, even when they feel like they're at the end of their rope to make something special, stirred something inside of me. It's satisfying in a distinctly Shirobako way. Plus, seeing the early CG designs, workshopping, and brainstorming Aoi leads the team in will make you feel like you've done something far more productive than just watching anime.

    As usual, some of the best moments stem from the time spent away from the entire roller coaster of production. In particular, we get to see Ryosuke Endo (Shinobu Matsumoto)'s interactions with his impossibly sweet wife Mayumi (Chinami Hashimoto) as he comes out of his shell after the devastation of losing Time Hippo. Their relationship is such a tender one, as Mayumi does everything she can to try and console her lover and help him rediscover his passion for the industry once more.

    It's satisfying in a distinctly Shirobako way.

    Similarly, it’s entertaining to see Aoi grapple with her personal decisions and growth when she has to look deep inside herself. That’s where Mimsy and Lolo, a pirate-like doll and a white bear that serve as Aoi's expository inner voices, come out. It’s always a treat to see them return, even if they’re a little hard on our favorite member of the Donut Five. When things get serious and it seems like MusAni may not be up to the task to create their new feature (again), they tend to offer some much-needed comic relief.

    Unfortunately, these small interactions don't make for a completely riveting movie. What feels like insurmountable odds at first for the anime studio are quickly beaten, and Aoi once again comes through as the protagonist who can solve any mystery — yet she seems to remain exactly where she is. It feels like trying new things, succeeding, and then never moving forward.

    In this, Shirobako: The Movie is a comfortable return to a world of day-in and day-out work in a fast-paced industry that's happy to tread familiar waters. There's nothing inherently wrong with that, but after four years in the anime business, it seems we'd see a studio and workers having advanced a bit further than this. Still, it’s a fun romp for anyone who’s been yearning to see their favorite characters return. It’s a better option than revisiting the series once more, since it does offer new elements to explore, but it doesn’t add anything terribly meaningful.

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