Mashable

Get ready to rustle and mosey and, uh, other cowboy-themed verbs on your mobile device in a few weeks.

That's because Rockstar's legendary Red Dead Redemption from 2010 is coming to basically every modern video game device in upgraded form on Dec. 2, per Rockstar itself. The Red Dead Redemption PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, iOS, and Android versions will feature fresher visuals and the excellent Undead Nightmare DLC. This new version will be available as a free upgrade for anyone who already owns the currently available build of Red Dead on consoles, while Netflix users will be able to play the mobile version free of charge.

It also seems like you'll be able to carry over your save data if you upgrade from an existing version of the game, which is nice.

SEE ALSO: 'Metroid Prime 4' looks and feels great, but I'm nervous about one little thing How to get Red Dead Redemption on iOS and Android

You might be wondering how Red Dead on phones is going to work. Rockstar says it will have mobile-friendly controls, of course, but the process of actually getting it is slightly more complicated than you might think.

The wording in Rockstar's press release makes it sound like the game will be available on the App Store or Play Store, so you should be able to just buy it there (for a price that isn't mentioned at all in the post). However, if you have an active Netflix subscription, that won't be necessary. You can simply log into the Netflix mobile app and play the game through that instead. Netflix already has a selection of games available for subscribers, but Red Dead is probably the biggest and most noteworthy one to date.

As for PS5, Xbox, and Switch 2, you'll just buy the game from each console's digital storefront, as per usual. Easy!

Google has developed an AI-powered agent that's playing video games, including Goat Simulator 3 — yes, a goat-based video game.

Google DeepMind created a Gemini-powered agent called SIMA 2 — "scalable instructable multiworld agent" — that's navigating the world of Goat Simulator 3, reported MIT Technology Review.

The AI agent is called SIMA 2 because, well, there was an original SIMA. We covered the original project at Mashable. The agent was designed to essentially serve as a video game companion — an AI-powered player that could accompany human players. (The ROG Xbox Ally X gaming handheld has a similar, Copilot-powered feature.) SIMA 2 is apparently an improved version of the original.

SEE ALSO: Google is training an AI to play video games — why this could be problematic

"Games have been a driving force behind agent research for quite a while," Joe Marino, a researcher at Google DeepMind, said this week, via MIT Technology Review.

The idea behind SIMA 2 is that the agent can learn and adapt in open-ended, complicated video games. A human player can also help direct the agent and improve its performance.

SAVE $50: As of Nov. 14, shop the Lego Star Wars Grogu set, complete with the hover pram. Ahead of Black Friday, get it for just $49.99, saving you $50 for 50% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars Grogu Set $49.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $50.00   Get Deal

We're two weeks out from Black Friday, but the holiday shopping season is well underway. If you're making your list (checking it twice, etc.) and starting to stockpile gifts, then we have the deal for you. If you're looking for a gift for the Star Wars enthusiast in your life, this Grogu set complete with hover pram is absolutely adorable — and 50% off.

As of Nov. 14, the Lego Star Wars Grogu set is down to $49.99. It's now 50% off its list price of $99.99, saving you $50. It's absolutely adorable but it's a limited time deal.

The Lego Star Wars Grogu set is available only at Amazon and according to the product list page, the deal is going fast, implying that it won't last. So if you're looking to buy it for the Star Wars fan in your life, then you'd better get it soon, since we don't think it will last until Black Friday — or even next week.

The Grogu set is complete with the hover pram, aka Baby Yoda's sickeningly sweet transportation. Grogu himself has a posable head and ears and a Sorgan frog to complete the set. It's 1,048 pieces and suitable for anyone over the age of 10. Not to mention it's just right for the biggest The Mandalorian fan in your life.

Get the Lego Star Wars Grogu set for just $49.99 at Amazon.

It's just good to have my wonderful friend Samus Aran back.

Arguably Nintendo's coolest character, Samus and her Metroid series has largely been in the wilderness since 2007, when Metroid Prime 3 came out. I enjoyed Metroid Dread a great deal a few years ago, but that's really the only game starring Samus in nearly 20 years that I've cared about. On Dec. 4, that streak will hopefully end with the launch of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.

I got to play about an hour of the game at a recent preview event, courtesy of Nintendo, and boy do I have some thoughts. For the most part, at least based on the early parts of Prime 4, this is still the Metroid Prime you know and love. But, I have one major concern. Let's get into it.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo 'Metroid Prime 4 Beyond' $69 at Amazon
Releases on Dec. 4 Pre-order Here SEE ALSO: 'Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment' is fine. It's also the most disappointing Switch 2 exclusive. It feels good to be back in the power suit The aliens are very mean. Credit: Nintendo

My demo of Prime 4 occurred in two distinct chunks: A short, 10-minute glimpse at the very beginning of the game (a demo I had already played back in April), and a longer look at the point when it seems like the game properly starts. As in, Samus finds herself on a mysterious, seemingly abandoned alien planet full of wonder and mystery, and she's gotta figure out what the heck to do about it. Classic Metroid stuff.

The longer portion of the demo took place in a jungle-themed area called Fury Green. This place is very reminiscent of past Metroid games; gross bug monsters and alien plants attack Samus every few minutes, and weird alien artifacts litter the landscape, just waiting for Samus to get the right item or ability to use on or around them. While this portion of the game was fairly linear and straightforward, there were definitely doors and pathways I couldn't open yet because I didn't have the proper ability, which is what you want to see in a Metroid game. It was also, seemingly, the first hour or so of the game, so I'm not going to condemn that part of it for being linear.

Despite having started life as a Switch 1 game (and still getting a Switch 1 release), Prime 4 might be the best-looking game I've seen running on a Switch 2 so far. The demo was running in the 4K/60FPS configuration, though the 1080p/120FPS version looks great, too. Beyond raw tech specs, Fury Green is just a tremendously gorgeous area, and the art direction in Prime 4 seems to be on par with the rest of the series.

Series developer Retro Studios has also nailed the feel of running around this ancient, unknowable world and shooting everything in it with a gun. Combat is fast, smooth, and fun, and as a bonus, this is the first Metroid Prime game to launch with normal, dual-analog stick controls. It feels great, and Samus's new psychic abilities add some interesting variety to both puzzle-solving and fights. She can manipulate little balls of energy to power alien devices, as well as fire a beam that stops time and allows you to manually fly it around the environment for a few seconds. I did one major boss fight at the end of the demo where I had to take out three targets simultaneously using that last ability, and it felt like classic Metroid Prime stuff.

So, yeah, I'm not really worried about the parts where you look at and play Metroid Prime 4. My demo also, heartbreakingly, didn't include any motorcycle stuff.

But I was kind of hoping I'd be the only one around here Hell yes. Credit: Nintendo

This demo of Prime 4 would have left me excited for the game with zero reservations if not for one little thing: At one point in Fury Green, Samus runs into another stranded human, a dorky Galactic Federation engineer guy who is fully voice-acted. He accompanied me throughout most of the rest of the demo, partially as someone to protect in a brief escort quest-like section, but mostly as a guy who chimes in on comms every now and then to chat with Samus (who does not speak at all).

This isn't the first time a Metroid game has put Samus near other people, either with or without voice acting. Results in previous games have been...mixed, to say the least. Metroid has always worked best when Samus is truly alone on a dark and preferably goopy alien world. The early Prime games, in particular, have utterly flawless senses of atmosphere. Before you meet this engineer doofus, Prime 4 feels reminiscent of that. After you meet him, it's still a fun game with very pretty visuals and good combat, but it's not the same.

It also doesn't help that he's genuinely kind of annoying, and it's hard to tell if the game is in on the joke or not, from what I played.

I'm not going to render judgment on Prime 4 for this just yet. For all I know, this dude is only a small part of the game and won't be chattering in Samus's ear for the entire adventure. I just don't want to spend an entire Metroid Prime adventure listening to a geeky dude talk in pseudo-Marvel Cinematic Universe banter at me.

After seeing that part of Metroid Prime 4, I'm officially slightly concerned about a game that had given me no reasons to feel that way up until now. I think Nintendo has earned the benefit of the doubt here, but I can't lie: I'm a little more nervous than I'd like to be. We'll see what happens when Metroid Prime 4: Beyond launches on Switch and Switch 2 on Dec. 4.

In the meantime, you can pre-order Metroid Prime 4: Beyond for $69.

TL;DR: Live stream San Antonio Spurs vs. Golden State Warriors in the NBA Cup for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 NBA Cup has only just started, but we're already getting huge games with serious ramifications. The Warriors lost their opening game, so losing to the Spurs would put them in real trouble. Can Wemby and the Spurs dump the Warriors out of the NBA Cup?

If you want to watch Spurs vs. Warriors in the NBA Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Spurs vs. Warriors?

Spurs vs. Warriors in the NBA Cup starts at 9:30 p.m. ET on Nov. 14. This game takes place at the Frost Bank Center.

How to watch Spurs vs. Warriors for free

Spurs vs. Warriors in the NBA Cup is available to live stream for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

This free live stream is geo-restricted to the UK and U.S., but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK or U.S., meaning you can access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime (if you're not already a member)

2. Subscribe to a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

3. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

4. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK or U.S.

5. Watch the NBA from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Learn More

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA Cup before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like Prime Video, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the NBA Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $20: As of Nov. 14, the Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees Set is on sale for $44.99 at Amazon. This is 31% off and its lowest-ever price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees Building Set $44.99 at Amazon
$64.99 Save $20.00   Get Deal

Black Friday may still be a couple of weeks away, but we've already found some stellar Lego deals for shoppers to jump on ahead of time. No matter if you're looking for discounts on Star Wars sets or Botanical builds, there's plenty to consider right now. And for a limited time, the Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees Set is down to its lowest-ever price at Amazon.

The Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees set comes with a list price of $64.99, but Amazon has knocked it down to $44.99 for a limited time. This is a $20 discount and a record-breaking price.

SEE ALSO: Best Buy Black Friday ad: The best early deals you can buy online

The Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Set is a lovely little trio of trees to piece together. This set comes with 709 pieces that create a ginkgo bonsai tree with yellow leaves, a black pine bonsai tree with green needles, and a wisteria bonsai tree that has hanging lilac flowers. It's recommended for adults of 18 years old and above, but if you know someone younger who wants to build them, just give them a hand with piecing it together.

Don't miss out on this excellent deal on the Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees Set at Amazon before Black Friday.

There's plenty more Lego deals to check out. Our roundup of 20+ early Lego deals already live ahead of Black Friday can point you in the direction of even more options that are on sale right now.

MARKET VALUE: As of Nov. 14, the Phantasmal Flames Elite Trainer Box is $121.01 at Amazon, which is below the market value of TCGplayer.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Phantasmal Flames Elite Trainer Box $121.01 at Amazon
  Get Deal

The first expansion for Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution, Phantasmal Flames, is finally out in the wild. We're used to seeing ridiculously inflated prices on the majority of sealed Pokémon TCG product, but Amazon is at least matching market value with Phantasmal Flames right now.

The Phantasmal Flames Elite Trainer Box is at market value right now on Amazon compared to TCGPlayer, going for $121.01. You can also knock $60 off the price tag if you get accepted for an Amazon Visa card. There's no need to actually use it, just make sure you use that instant $60 gift card to bring the ETB price down to $49.99.

SEE ALSO: Where to buy Pokémon cards in 2025 — avoid overpaying or missing out on new sets

Phantasmal Flames focuses in on Mega Charizard X with a standard ex, Secret Art Rare, and Gold Hyper Rare. Other Mega Pokémon have made the SIR cut such as Mega Lopunny ex and normal Pokémon such as Rotom ex. Unsuprisingly, all of the Mega Charizard ex cards are at the top of the chase card list, with the standard ex rocking an unpresidented value of over $60.

Most valuable Mega Evolution Pokémon cards Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company

You can just grab the chase cards you need from Phantasmal Flames right now instead, which will likely save you money in the long run. Here's what they're all going for right now, including links to buy them at TCGPlayer.

1. Mega Charizard X ex - 125/094
   Near Mint Holofoil: $795
   Market price: $940.50
   Most recent sale: $750

2. Mega Charizard X ex - 130/094
   Near Mint Holofoil: $839.99
   Market price: $894.94
   Most recent sale: $889.90

3. Mega Charizard X ex - 109/094
   Near Mint Holofoil: $62.98
   Market price: $62.75
   Most recent sale: $55

4. Mega Lopunny ex - 128/094
   Near Mint Holofoil: $55
   Market price: $220.31
   Most recent sale: $205

5. Mega Sharpedo ex - 127/094
   Near Mint Holofoil: $50
   Market price: $57.82
   Most recent sale: $48.01

BELOW MARKET VALUE: As of Nov. 14, the Pokémon TCG Phantasmal Flames Booster Box is $281.01 at Amazon, which is below the market value of $300 at TCGplayer.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Phantasmal Flames Booster Box $281.01 at Amazon
$300 Save $18.99   Get Deal

The first expansion for Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution, Phantasmal Flames, has finally dropped. Thank goodness we're getting good deals off the shelf right now, as it's been a rough year for finding decent prices on sealed Pokémon TCG product. Is Amazon starting to behave itself with its Pokémon TCG pricing?

The Phantasmal Flames Booster Box is currently below market value on Amazon at $281.01, compared to TCGplayer's current market value of $300. Whilst it's still over MSRP, getting products below market value right now is a deal in itself.

SEE ALSO: Where to buy Pokémon cards in 2025 — avoid overpaying or missing out on new sets

Phantasmal Flames focuses in on Mega Charizard X with a standard ex, Secret Art Rare, and Gold Hyper Rare. Other Mega Pokémon have made the SIR cut such as Mega Lopunny ex and normal Pokémon such as Rotom ex. The set is also oddly missing Mega Gengar ex SIR, which is likely to appear in the next set releasing next year.

Most valuable Mega Evolution Pokémon cards Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company

With Phantasmal Flames being out in the wild, single cards are already on sale. If you've already ripped open your preorders and are still looking for the cards below, it's probably going to save you money long term just buying the cards you need. Here's the current market values and where you can buy them right now:

1. Mega Charizard X ex - 125/094
   Near Mint Holofoil: $795
   Market price: $940.50
   Most recent sale: $750

2. Mega Charizard X ex - 130/094
   Near Mint Holofoil: $839.99
   Market price: $894.94
   Most recent sale: $889.90

3. Mega Charizard X ex - 109/094
   Near Mint Holofoil: $62.98
   Market price: $62.75
   Most recent sale: $55

4. Mega Lopunny ex - 128/094
   Near Mint Holofoil: $55
   Market price: $220.31
   Most recent sale: $205

5. Mega Sharpedo ex - 127/094
   Near Mint Holofoil: $50
   Market price: $57.82
   Most recent sale: $48.01

NASA has launched its latest mission to study Mars, with a little push from Jeff Bezos' space company Blue Origin.

Hitching a ride on a Blue Origin New Glenn rocket, NASA's pair of Escapade (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) spacecrafts were launched at at 3:55 p.m. ET Thursday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Built by Rocket Lab, the spacecrafts are part of NASA’s first mission led by the University of California, Berkeley. In a frankly adorable post on X, Rocket Lab posted an image of the twins (named Blue and Gold for the school colours of UC Berkeley), confirming ground communications with both spacecrafts — NASA said contact was established by 10:35 p.m. ET.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Blue Origin CEO Bezos also posted clips on X showing the spacecrafts in orbit, separating from the New Glenn rocket, with Earth far below.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. SEE ALSO: NASA quietly sends two spacecraft to Mars — and they're going a new way

According to NASA, the spacecraft will be deployed to study how Mars' environment is impacted by the sun and solar winds, and provide crucial data for preparing human exploration of the red planet.

"Congratulations to Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, UC Berkeley, and all our partners on the successful launch of ESCAPADE. This heliophysics mission will help reveal how Mars became a desert planet, and how solar eruptions affect the Martian surface," said acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy in a statement.

Mashable science reporter Elisha Sauers describes more details of the Escapade mission, what it could achieve, and how much it cost, writing:

Escapade could set a precedent for how NASA and the commercial space industry approach interplanetary missions in the future. From soup to nuts, Escapade had a budget of $80 million, under NASA's Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration program. Rocket Lab built the twin probes in just 3.5 years for $57 million, a relatively cheap price compared to the billions the agency would normally spend. Those costly missions are a product of legacy aerospace contracts based on the cost-plus-fixed-fee model, which allowed the builders to run over budget without picking up the tab.

If you want to watch the New Glenn rocket take NASA's Escapades into the sky, you can watch Blue Origin's stream below (the launch sits around the one hour, 40-minute mark):

For a much more detailed analysis of the Escapade mission, Mashable's got you covered. And if you're looking for a way to mark the occasion, there's really only one song:

Netflix's In Your Dreams introduces audiences to a brand-new lovable animal sidekick: Baloney Tony (voiced by Craig Robinson).

A stuffed giraffe, Baloney Tony is the beloved toy of young chaos agent Elliot (voiced by Elias Janssen). Like most stuffed animals after a few years of cuddles and playtime, he's certainly seen better days. He's missing an eye, his neck is floppy, and Elliot loves nothing more than to stuff his pouch full of baloney.

SEE ALSO: 'In Your Dreams' review: Kids fight to save their parents' marriage in thoughtful animated adventure

Elliot's sister Stevie (voiced by Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) despises Baloney Tony and the rancid meat inside him, so long before In Your Dreams even begins, she hides him under the family fridge. However, when Stevie and Elliot embark on a quest in their dreams, they're reunited with Baloney Tony. In the dream world, he can walk, he can talk, and he can fart lasers. What more could you want from a sidekick?

In a Say More interview with Mashable Entertainment Reporter Belen Edwards, In Your Dreams director Alex Woo revealed that he drew inspiration for Baloney Tony from his childhood.

"My aunt bought [my brother and I] these two teddy bears that were Santa-related, so they're called Santa Bears. My brother, he had a bloody nose one day, and he got some bloodstains on his Santa Bear near the tail, and so we ended up calling it 'Butthole Bear,'" Woo recalled. "Obviously, it was his stuffed animal, and so he loved it despite how gross it was. That was the inspiration for Baloney Tony, this idea that our stuffed animals, even though they can be gross and disgusting, they're still ours. There's something about our connection to them that, despite them having rancid meat odors, they bring us warmth and familiarity and they make us feel like we're at home."

From there, Woo taught us how to actually draw Baloney Tony, describing his design as being inspired by cheap stuffed animals you can get at state fairs or in arcade claw machines. You can draw along with Woo above to master the art of Baloney Tony.

To hear more about In Your Dreams, check out Woo's full Say More interview on YouTube, where Woo teaches us how to draw even more characters from the film.

In Your Dreams is now streaming on Netflix.

SAVE OVER $150: As of Nov. 14, the Samsonite Omni 2 Hardside Expandable Luggage Three-Piece Set is on sale for $239.99 at Amazon. This is $160 off its usual price of $399.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsonite Samsonite Omni 2 Hardside Expandable Luggage (3-Piece Set) $239.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $160   Get Deal

The holidays are coming up fast, and if you have travel plans in place, a good luggage set can help you make the journey with all of your gifts in tow. If you're looking for some new suitcases for holiday travel, a stunning early Black Friday deal has dropped on a premium three-piece set of Samsonite luggage.

The Samsonite Omni 2 hardside expandable luggage three-piece set has dropped to $239.99 at Amazon. This is 40% off its list price of $399.99, which allows you to keep $160 in your pocket. This set is incredibly close to its lowest-ever price of $229.58, so why wait to grab them? This deal is one worth picking up ahead of Black Friday.

SEE ALSO: Target Black Friday ad: The best deals you can buy online early

This Samsonite luggage set comes with three sizes of suitcase — a 20-inch carry on, a medium suitcase, and a large option — so you can have a variety on-hand, whether you're going away for a long trip or just a quick weekend away. And with 360 degree spinner wheels, you can cruise easily to your next destination. They also have a durable build and even come with a 10-year warranty, which is nice peace of mind with an investment like this.

Feel prepared for holiday travels with some solid new suitcases. Save big on the Samsonite Omni 2 hardside expandable luggage three-piece set at Amazon. Curious what else Amazon is offering ahead of Black Friday? Check out our breakdown of early Black Friday deals at Amazon.

TL;DR: Live stream New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat in the NBA Cup for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The NBA Cup is still in its early stages, but the New York Knicks are already in the position of needing a win. Next they face the Miami Heat, a team that looks renewed and resurgent this season with a new style. Did anyone ever truly doubt Erik Spoelstra?

If you want to watch Knicks vs. Heat in the NBA Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Knicks vs. Heat?

Knicks vs. Heat in the NBA Cup starts at 7 p.m. ET on Nov. 14. This game takes place at Madison Square Garden.

How to watch Knicks vs. Heat for free

Knicks vs. Heat in the NBA Cup is available to live stream for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

This free live stream is geo-restricted to the UK and U.S., but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK or U.S., meaning you can access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime (if you're not already a member)

2. Subscribe to a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

3. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

4. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK or U.S.

5. Watch the NBA from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Learn More

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA Cup before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like Prime Video, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the NBA Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

FREE AUDIOBOOKS: Stuff Your Earbuds Day 2025 is live on Nov. 14-15. Download free audiobooks for 48 hours only, with no limit on the number of downloads.

We're always waxing lyrical about Stuff Your Kindle Day. These special events provide awesome opportunities for bookworms to stock up on new reads without spending anything. You don't get much for free these days, so we feel duty bound to make a lot of noise when these giveaways go live.

And the same goes for Stuff Your Earbuds Day. This event doesn't come around nearly as often as Stuff Your Kindle Day, but that just makes it more special. The audio equivalent to Stuff Your Kindle Day lets participants score free audiobooks over a limited period of time. And better yet, everything that you download is yours to keep forever.

Want to make the most of Stuff Your Earbuds Day? We've lined up all the information you need.

What is Stuff Your Earbuds Day?

Stuff Your Earbuds Day is an annual event hosted by Romance Audiobookworms. During this event, audiobook listeners can score literally hundreds of free audiobooks from romance authors across a wide range of genres. The free audiobooks are live for 48 hours, with no limit on the number of downloads.

When is Stuff Your Earbuds Day 2024?

The 2025 Stuff Your Earbuds Day takes place on Nov. 14-15. Need a reminder? You can sign up for the Indie Audiobook Deals newsletter to be notified when new audiobook sales and freebies drop.

Who can take part in Stuff Your Earbuds Day?

Much like Stuff Your Kindle Day, anyone can participate in Stuff Your Earbuds Day. Simply find your favorite audiobook and download it on your preferred platform. It's that simple.

The best Stuff Your Earbuds Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $84.99 at Amazon
$129 Save $44.01   Get Deal Why we like it

Apple deals are looking extremely healthy ahead of Black Friday. Apple AirPods 4 are already down to a record-low price at Amazon. These popular earbuds earned a coveted Mashable Choice Award — need we say more?

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're evasive.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 14, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 14, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Low-key elusive

The words are related to visibility.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are ways to describe faintness.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Barely There.

NYT Strands word list for November 14

• Nebulous

• Faint

• Barely There

• Understated

• Subtle

• Tenuous

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love bold colors.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 14, 2025 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for November 14, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Bright-colored.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter L.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

LURID

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 14, 2025

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Wordle.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you love stunts.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for November 14, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: To assess

• Green: AM or FM

• Blue: Film types

• Purple: Classic films

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Evaluate

• Green: Radio tuning options

• Blue: Action film subgenres

• Purple: Classic '90s action films

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #888 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Evaluate: GRADE, JUDGE, RATE, REVIEW

• Radio tuning options: BAND, CHANNEL, FREQUENCY, STATION

• Action film subgenres: BUDDY, DISASTER, MARTIAL ARTS, SUPERHERO

• Classic '90s action films: ARMAGEDDON, HARD BOILED, HEAT, SPEED

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 14, 2025

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 8, 2025

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 8, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 14 Pips

Number (5): Everything in this space must add to 5. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically; 6-6, placed horizontally; 6-3, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 6-3, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add to 1. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 14 Pips

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 1-0, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically; 1-5, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this dark blue space must add to 9. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add to 9. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 14 Pips

Number (5): Everything in this red space must add to 5. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this light blue space must add to 5. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this dark blue space must add to 5. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically; 0-2, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically; 0-2, placed vertically; 0-0, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this red space must add to 5. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this light blue space must add to 5. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this orange space must add to 5. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this purple space must add to 5. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this green space must add to 5. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add to 5. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

MARKET VALUE: As of Nov. 14, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Box is $79.95 at Amazon, which is market value compared to TCGplayer.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Box $79.95 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $20.04   Get Deal

Looking for your Mega Evolution fix? Phantasmal Flames drops today, but I'm still chasing that Mega Lucario SIR goodness, and Amazon has just made it that little bit easier to do so. Right now, Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Boxes are at market value compared to TCGplayer.

In the X and Y era of Pokémon TCG, Mega Evolution mechanics were ridiculous. Every EX card from the time was a basic Pokémon, so no need for evolution, just Mega Evolution and Spirit Link cards to help you play them sooner. It kind of broke the TCG for many, with strategy and deckbuilding coming down to who could afford the best Mega Evolution beatdown cards.

SEE ALSO: Where to buy Pokémon cards in 2025 — avoid overpaying or missing out on new sets

With the exception of Pokémon like Absol who would have a basic ex card anyway, Mega Evolution this time around requires the comon and uncommon evolution lines to play Mega Evolved Pokémon, skipping the standard ex stage and straight into Mega Evolution. It flows very well, bringing in hard hitting moves without turning gameplay into a one-sided argument.

Promo Illustration Rare Alakazam features in the Gardevoir variant, with the Mega Lucario ETB featuring a Promo Illustration Rare Riolu alongside themed card sleeves, dice, card dividers, eight booster packs, and a tidy box to store your bulk cards in.

Most valuable Mega Evolution Pokémon cards Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company

We're seeing Mega Evolution finding a new floor value-wise when it comes to single cards, which is in part thanks to the availability of the set. If you're chasing the heavy hitters of the new era of Pokémon TCG, you'll likely save money just buying the card you want over opening infinite booster packs. Here's the top five Mega Evolution case cards including where to buy and up-to-date market values:

1. Mega Lucario ex - 188/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $488
   Market price: $496.44
   Most recent sale: $495

2. Mega Gardevoir ex - 187/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $365
   Market price: $408.31
   Most recent sale: $350

3. Mega Lucario ex - 179/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $224.85
   Market price: $222.45
   Most recent sale: $222.95

4. Mega Gardevoir ex - 178/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $245
   Market price: $220.31
   Most recent sale: $205

5. Mega Venusaur ex - 177/132
   Near Mint Holofoil: $185.15
   Market price: $166.71
   Most recent sale: $135

SAVE $100: As of Nov. 14, the 2024 Mac mini is on sale for $499 at Amazon. This is $100 off its list price of $599.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple 2024 Mac mini M4 $499 at Amazon
$599 Save $100   Get Deal

Early Black Friday deals have arrived — if you've been looking to invest in new tech, now is a great time to do it. So many popular items have already gone on sale ahead of the event's official start date at the end of the month, including plenty of Apple products.

The 2024 Mac mini M4 is currently marked down to below $500 at Amazon. The 2024 Mac mini is listed for $499 at Amazon, to be exact. This is $100 off its usual price of $599, which is an excellent deal to consider ahead of Black Friday. Packed with an M4 chip, this tiny but mighty device is more than worth the investment for Apple users.

SEE ALSO: Target Black Friday ad: The best deals you can buy online early

The M4 chip in the 2024 Mac mini provides speedy performance so you can zip through work and personal projects. This model also comes with 16GB of Unified Memory and a 256GB SSD. On top of that, it features a variety of connections — including Thunderbolt, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet ports, USB-C ports, and a headphone jack — all in a wonderfully compact footprint that can fit neatly beside a monitor. At only five by five inches, its sleek design can be tucked away so it doesn't stand out too much on your desk.

No need to wait for Black Friday. Score $100 off the 2024 Mac mini at Amazon today.

There are plenty of Apple deals to explore right now ahead of Black Friday. Scroll through our roundup of the 30+ best early Black Friday Apple deals to see what else is available. We even have a breakdown of the best early Black Friday deals from Amazon.

Though open earbuds share the common feature of sitting on the exterior of the ear, they come in many shapes and sizes, from clip models to ear hook models. Some are more geared toward working out, while others are better for everyday use. The Bose Ultra Open earbuds are an especially popular pick thanks to their sound quality and many colorways, but they're far from your only option (or the most affordable, at $299).

SEE ALSO: We've found the 9 best headphones of 2025 after extensive testing

Below, we've compiled some of the best open earbud models available in 2025. For each of our picks below, one of the best times of year to grab a good deal is during Black Friday. As sales start to ramp up, the Bose Ultra Open earbuds are $100 off, and the Anker Soundcore Aerofit 2 earbuds are down to $77.99 for Amazon Prime members.

Note: This guide is a work in progress, so we'll possibly be shifting (or expanding) our recommendations as we continue to test pairs.

What are open earbuds?

Open earbuds allow you to get as close as you possibly can to the feeling of not wearing earbuds at all. Unlike in-ear earbuds which sit in your ear canal (as the name states), open earbuds sit just outside your ears. Some models hold the speaker component in place with an ear hook while others opt for an ear cuff.

SEE ALSO: We tested the top fitness trackers of 2025: See our favorite wearables and smart rings

People generally opt for open earbuds for three main reasons:

1. They provide a private listening experience while leaving you almost completely aware of the world around you. It's like the best transparency mode you've ever used.

2. For some people, not having an earbud physically in their ear is generally more comfortable.

3. The hooks and cuffs (along with the general awareness of your surroundings) make them a great option for keeping them in place, and keeping you alert, while you're working out.

What are the drawbacks of open earbuds?

As you may have gathered from the section above, open earbuds don't generally come with active noise cancellation. That's mostly thanks to how much sound they let in (by design) and the difficulty of cancelling out sound without having the device covering your actual ear canal.

Also thanks to the whole open ear-canal situation, these aren't going to be the earbuds for audiophiles. That's not to say open earbuds sound bad — if you've never tried them, we promise they sound much better than you're imagining — but you will lose out on some of the nuance of a song without having the earbud actually in your ear.

SEE ALSO: I tested sleep earbuds for over a month: Here are the 3 I'd buy

That said, many pairs still have equalizers on their companion apps to help you make them sound their best. Our upgrade pick, the Bose Ultra Open earbuds, even have a spatial audio feature that worked surprisingly well.

Most open earbuds will also boast some form of special technology that keeps them from leaking too much sound. While these pairs do pretty well in keeping the sound just to you, most pairs (including our picks) while be prone to some leakage, especially at higher volumes.

Finally, some open earbuds — mainly those with ear hooks — tend to have slightly bulkier cases. If you like to travel light, it's something to be aware of.

What about bone conduction headphones?

Bone conduction earbuds work exactly like the name implies they do — they use your skull to conduct sound waves, instead of projecting the sound into your ear, like most of the picks are on list. Typically, a band runs from either side of the users head to help hold the headphones in place.

Shokz, the brand behind our top pick, is a popular maker of these kinds of headphones. While we do consider them open earbuds, we have yet to test any bone conduction earbuds — look out in the future for that update. On that note:

What's next in our testing pipeline

The open earbuds market is rapidly expanding, so we'll be testing more as we can get our hands on them. Up next, we'll be trying out budget pairs of open earbuds under $100, as well as more pairs from Shokz.

In addition to the earbuds that made our final guide in May 2025, we tested out the Nothing Ear (Open) earbuds ($149), the Sony Linkbuds Open ($199.99), the Anker Soundcore AeroClip earbuds ($169.99), and the Shokz OpenFit Air ($119.95). While none of the above were bad earbuds by any means, we found our picks to outshine them in their comfort and sound quality, especially when considering their respective prices.