The holiday season is upon us, and if you're shopping for the LEGO devotee in your life, IGN has you covered. I compiled a list of the best LEGO gifts and broke it into subcategories by theme. From a retro camera that doubles as a toy, to decorative plants and flowers; from Harry Potter castles to Super Mario characters, this gift guide is stacked.Save for a handful of notable exceptions, we stayed away from massive sets with intimidating prices. I already cover those, and those are the sorts of gifts one buys for themselves. Few would risk purchasing something that expensive for someone else, without an iron-clad guarantee that the recipient will enjoy it. Instead, these LEGO sets combine fun with mid-priced accessibility. They're all excellent stocking stuffers or main gifts for adults and kids alike. If you want to be the best gift giver this holiday season, read on for all the top LEGO gift options.LEGO Gifts Under $50The Retro Camera is one of the best LEGO sets for kids:LEGO Creator 3 in 1 Retro CameraSee it at WalmartFirst up, here are a handful of sets for $50 or under. LEGO gets press for its multi-thousand-piece behemoths, but hundreds of sets are available at a more accessible price range. The Retro Camera, for example, is a 3-in-1 build for $20, meaning you can disassemble it and rebuild it as either a television or a video camera to maximize play time. These sets look expensive without being so. Win-win.LEGO Ideas Tales of The Space AgeSee it at AmazonLEGO Everyone Is AwesomeSee it at LEGO StoreLEGO Technic Koenigsegg Jesko AbsolutSee it at AmazonLEGO Jurassic World Dinosaur Fossils: T. rex SkulSee it at AmazonLEGO Flower and Plant GiftsLEGO Icons PoinsettiaSee it at AmazonOne of the newer themes, the Botanical Collection promotes LEGO as a lifestyle, with LEGO sets aimed at adults. These sets are not expensive collectibles, placed on a high shelf to be admired behind figurative glass. Instead, the LEGO flowers are best placed in a vase or arranged on a window sill or table, as LEGO Flowers and Plants are almost indistinguishable from the real thing. Personally, I recommend the Poinsettia, which keeps with the Christmas holiday theme. But all these sets are beautiful, wonderful additions to your home decor.LEGO Icons Wildflower BouquetSee it at AmazonLEGO Icons Bonsai TreeSee it at AmazonLEGO Icons OrchidSee it at AmazonLEGO Icons ChrysanthemumSee it at AmazonLEGO Icons Bouquet of RosesSee it at AmazonLEGO Star Wars GiftsLEGO Star Wars Advent Calendar 2024See it at WalmartLEGO Star Wars had a relatively quiet year, but there's always the annual Advent Calendar, containing miniature ship builds and holiday-themed minifigures such as Princess Leia in a Christmas sweater. Star Wars sets are notoriously expensive but well-designed; you get what you pay for. And the Millenium Falcon (75257) deserves special mention in this regard. LEGO sells numerous Millenium Falcons, but the mid priced option is my personal favorite. Unlike the $850 definitive version, you can hold this model and "fly" it, and it has more than enough detail and Easter eggs for the average fan.LEGO Star Wars Emperors Throne Room DioramaSee it at AmazonLEGO Star Wars The Mandalorian HelmetSee it at AmazonLEGO Star Wars Millennium FalconSee it at AmazonX-Wing StarfighterSee it at AmazonTIE InterceptorSee it at LEGO StoreLEGO Disney GiftsLEGO Disney Advent Calendar 2024See it at AmazonThis year's Advent Calendar is Princess-centric, and includes Ariel, Moana, Elsa, Tiana, and Mirabel alongside their corresponding houses and accessories. As for other potential LEGO Disney gifts, there's few that lie in the mid price range they're either very modest or very extravagant (like the Snow White Cottage (43242) or The Nightmare Before Christmas (21351). One exception, however, is the Stitch build, a generously sized model that wears a Hawaiian shirt and clutches an ice cream cone in its right paw.LEGO BrickHeadz EVE & WALLESee it at LEGO StoreLEGO Mini Disney CastleSee it at LEGO StoreLEGO Disney StitchSee it at AmazonLEGO Disney Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs CottageSee it at AmazonLEGO Disney Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before ChristmasSee it at AmazonLEGO Marvel GiftsLEGO Marvel Spider-Man Advent Calendar 2024See it at AmazonMarvel had a quiet year, and LEGO focused the majority of its sets around past glories from Phases 1-3 of the MCU. The Advent Calendar features Spider-Man and the Spider-verse, and it includes minifigures for Peter, Miles, Gwen, and Venom. As for the other, non-holiday-themed sets, I recommend Dancing Groot and the X-Mansion, which I recently reviewed. You might also consider gifting a New Captain America set, which features Sam Wilson wearing the stars and stripes.LEGO Marvel Dancing GrootSee it at AmazonNew Captain America FigureSee it at LEGO StoreLEGO Marvel The Avengers QuinjetSee it at LEGO StoreLEGO Art The Amazing Spider-ManSee it at AmazonLEGO X-Men: The X-MansionSee it at LEGO StoreLEGO Harry Potter GiftsLEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendar 2024See it at WalmartThis was a big year for LEGO Harry Potter, which began rolling out a brand new modular castle. This set currently consists of The Great Hall, the Boat House, the Owlery, and Potions Class. If your gift recipient wants something a little more complete, you can check out the Hogwarts Castle and Grounds (761419), a miniature replica that fits on a single stand. The Advent Calendar pays tribute to each of the four houses and includes a cool-looking Choir Ghost with a massive bustle dress.LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle and GroundsSee it at AmazonLEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle: The Great HallSee it at AmazonLEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Boat HouseSee it at AmazonLEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle: Potions ClassSee it at AmazonLEGO Harry Potter Buckbeak The HippogriffSee it at AmazonLEGO Lord of the Rings GiftsLEGO LEGO Lord of the Rings - Rivendell$499.99 at AmazonThere are three Lord of the Rings themed LEGO sets available for purchase. The first are Brickheadz depictions of Gandalf and the Balrog. The remaining two Rivendell (10316) and Barad-dr (10333) are massive and expensive, but they're some of the best design work that LEGO has done in the past five years. If you have the budget, your loved one will have a very Merry Christmas.LEGO Nintendo GiftsLEGO Super Mario Piranha PlantSee it at TargetNintendo broadened their buy options this year, hitting that perfect sweet spot between adult sophistication and childish whimsy. I'd recommend the Piranha Plant (71426), an adorable maneater with a low price point. Or, if you're feeling extravagant, you might want to spring for the Mighty Bowser (71411), my favorite build of 2022. An adult might appreciate Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi (71438), an animated tribute to a 16-bit classic, or Sonic the Hedgehog: Green Hill Zone (21331), which pays homage to Sega's breakout star.LEGO Ideas Sonic The Hedgehog Green Hill ZoneSee it at AmazonLEGO Super Mario The Bowser Express TrainSee it at AmazonLEGO Super Mario World: Mario & YoshiSee it at AmazonLEGO Super Mario The Mighty BowserSee it at Best BuyLEGO Great Deku Tree 2-in-1See it at LEGO StoreKevin Wong is a contributing freelancer for IGN, specializing in LEGO. He's also been published in Complex, Engadget, Gamespot, Kotaku, and more. Follow him on Twitter at @kevinjameswong.

Roblox sports experience Blade Ball is charging into the holiday season with a Festivities Update to help celebrate winter.The latest update to developer Wiggitys strategic dodgeball game, titled V6.5, arrived over the weekend. It comes with a new Gingerbread Hourly Spin and a special festive crate alongside a host of bug fixes, new swords, emotes, and more. Its unclear exactly how long the Festivities Update-related goodies will be live, so make sure you start getting those spins in sooner rather than later.The Festive Crate can be found in the lobby and grants access to specific rewards. Wiggity didnt reveal everything the crate can hold and instead teased just one item: an OP-tier sword called Northstar Reaper. Players who advance to the Gingerbread wheels center, meanwhile, will be rewarded with the OP-tier sword, Frostbane.Blade Ball Festivities Update adds new features, bug fixes, and more.Blade Balls latest update also comes with changes to a few abilities. The team says Calming Deflect and Quantum Arena have both received buffs, while Dragon Spirit, Swap, Golden Ball, Necromancer, and Phantom have been nerfed. Some clan tweaks include the ability to change your clans name for 99 Robux, while players are also now able to contribute up to 100 crowns every 10 minutes.The Festivities Update follows Novembers Thanksgiving Event update, which included a number of new themed additions, features, and bug fixes. Highlights included an in-game turkey NPC to visit as well as other unique rewards. That event is still underway and will remain available until December 7.For more on Blade Ball, you can check out all active codes here. You can check out everything included in the latest update in the full patch notes below.Blade Ball V6.5 Update Patch NotesFestivities!- Festive Crate - Find the Festive Crate in the lobby to unlock awesome rewards like: - OP Tier sword Northstar Reaper (VFX, Slash) - 0.05%- Gingerbread Hourly Spin - Get a free spin every hour! - Advance to the center to unlock a LIMITED QUANTITY sword: - OP tier sword (VFX, slash) Frostbane (5K Exists)- Clan Changes - Contribute up to 100 crowns every 10 minutes - Change the clan's name for 99 R$ (under the manager, as the first option). - Vote 2 abilities to ban in clan wars. - New OP 2.5K Existing BACKSWORD "Celestial Whisper".- Ability Changes - Calming Deflect Buff - Quantum Arena Buff - Dragon Spirit Nerf - Swap Nerf - Golden Ball Nerf - Necromancer Nerf - Phantom Nerf- Bug Fixes- 18 Swords- 5 Explosions- 6 EmotesMichael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.

It is often a function for any awards prognosticator to suggest that this year, whichever it might be, is the most competitive weve seen in ages. Sometimes this is true, and sometimes it amounts to a bit of creative fiction, with industry watchers straining to imagine a scenario where anyoneOppenheimer for Best Picture, Director, and the whole slew of other awards it inevitably won last March.Still, with all that being said, we can say in complete honesty and without a sense of hyperbole that this year, 2024, might indeed be the most competitive and open the field has appeared in a long, long time while on the long road to the Oscars. And you do not have to take our word for it. Just look at the first slate of awards winners in the first week of December.Generally recognized as the moment where awards season heats upand simmers from being merely a months-long run of speculation to an actual period where major voting groups winners are announcedthe start of December should give at least an inkling of who is competitive for major nominations throughout the rest of the season. Yet a cursory glance at Mondays Gotham Award winners and Tuesdays announced slate of New York Film Critics Circle picks reveals a sprawling, and confusing, field.At the Gotham Awards, A24 had a big night but for two glaringly different films: Aaron Schimbergs dark satire A Different Man pulled an upset to win a surprise Best Feature Award, despite Schimberg himself not being nominated in the Gothams Best Director category. The film, which is an amusing skewering of our concepts of identity, beauty, and exploitation stars Sebastian Stan as a struggling actor living with neurofibromatosis, which manifests as a disfiguring facial condition. Yet after taking a miracle drug that cures him to look like the real-life Stan, the character still finds himself losing in popularity to another man with neurofibromatosis, this one played by Adam Pearson, who is a real-life actor living with neurofibromatosis.Trust us, the film is far more subversive and slippery than even that description implies. Its also bleakly funny and off-the-beaten-path for many awards voters. Indeed, the film was not nominated even at the Gothams for Director or Best Actor. The latter award went to Coleman Domingo for stunning work in Sing Sing, a striking new drama directed and co-written by Greg Kewedar about the theater program in the actual Sing Sing prison. Sing Sing also dominated the Gothams with wins in the Best Supporting Actor category, courtesy of Clarence Maclins performance, and a Film Tribute Award. Meanwhile Amazon/MGMs Nickel Boys made an impression when it won Best Director for RaMell Ross and Breakthrough Performance for Brandon Wilson.It should be noted, too, that Ross work on Nickel Boys is the only place of major overlap with the New York Film Critics Circle, with the prestigious critics organization mostly going head-over-heels for Brady Corbets pensive and formidable The Brutalist, another A24 release, this one clocking in at an astounding 3.5 hours (with an intermission). That film also seems much more the speed of the critics group that recently awarded Martin Scorseses The Irishman and Killers of the Flower Moon Best Picture, with The Brutalist being an epic study of the Jewish-American immigrant experience after World War II and the Holocaust. The Brutalist also won Best Actor for Adrien Brody.Meanwhile two performances that havent been heavily featured in rotation among awards watchers blogs, that of Marianne Jean-Baptiste in Hard Truths and Carol Kane in Between the Temples, won Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively. Elsewhere Kieran Culkin took Best Supporting Actor for A Real Pain while Sean Baker picked up Best Screenplay for Anora.Finally, and perhaps most tellingly about the state of the Oscar race, it is worth comparing these early wins with yesterdays Independent Spirit Awards nominations, which like Gotham and the general tastes of the NYFCC voting body, celebrates independent American cinema. While Sing Sing is nominated for Best Picture by the Spirits, neither of Gothams or NYFCCs biggest winners, A Different Man or The Brutalist, are. In their place is Anora and genre-fare like The Substance and I Saw the TV Glow.Cumulatively, these films reveal a race that is in a complete state of flux with no obvious frontrunner.It should be noted that none of these voting groups are obvious predictors of the voting tastes of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Most of the films nominated for Best Picture by the Spirit Awards never get nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. But with a single exception, four of the last five years featured one or two of the Best Picture Oscar nominees overlapping with the Spirits, and twice they shared the Best Picture winner: Nomadland and Everything Everywhere All at Once. Five of the last six Gotham Awards Best Picture winners likewise were nominated for the Oscars top prize with two of the Gothams winnersagain Nomadland and Everything Everywheretaking home the same big prize.Intriguingly, the NYFCC has recently shared no Best Picture wins with the Academy in the last decade, but their picks usually are seen as major contenders: Roma, The Irishman, La La Land, Tr, and Killers of the Flower Moon. Also as the oldest film critics organization in the United States, their picks carry a lot of influence in shaping awards narratives in the months afterward, such as giving a major boost to Lily Gladstone as a frontrunner for Best Actress in Killers of the Flower Moon and pegging Barry Jenkins as Best Director for Moonlight in 2016.In other words, these voting groups tastes differ considerably from the Academy, but they tend to echo the race that comes afterward, and even shape it in the NYFCCs case. So should we consider A Different Man a contender for Best Picture? Is The Brutalist a frontrunner now? Or should Anora and I Saw the TV Glow be getting a lot more attention after they both received the most nominations at the Spirits? It should be noted Anora won the Palme dOr at Cannes, but then again so did Titane.The truth is this year still has a lot of fog and ambiguity around who is a major contender and who is just an internet darling. Even the usually reliable populist pick to emerge out of the Toronto International Film Festival feels like an anomaly with Mike Flanagans The Life of Chuck getting the Peoples Choice Award despite the film not even being slated for release this year (previous TIFF Peoples Choice winners include more Oscar-friendly frontrunners like Spotlight, La La Land, Green Book, and The Fabelmans).Frankly, in a year with no clear frontrunner among the critical and indie darlings, we think the stage could be set for a true studio populist favorite to run the table by bringing good vibes to the industry (and lucrative success, which theoretically translates to eyeballs on the telecast). In which case, perhaps were all looking in the wrong places. Instead we should maybe turn our attention to how Wicked just grossed another astounding $81 million in its SECOND weekend*UPDATE: After publication, the National Board of Review announced its winners for the year, including Wicked as Best Film and Jon M. Chu as Best Director.

This article appears in the new issue ofhere.In late 2021, as wealth inequality inched ever higher globally, Squid Game hit Netflix. The Korean-language drama about a group of desperate people who take part in a deadly competition for the slim chance to win roughly $35 million struck a deep chord with viewers around the world, including in the U.S., where one in four tuned in. I wanted to hold a mirror to the current society that we live in through Squid Game, writer-director Hwang Dong-hyuk told press at Lucca, Italys annual comics and gaming convention in November 2024, as Netflix geared up its promotional machine for the series second season. Squid Game is a series through which I hoped to show how the current contemporary capitalist society and its limitless competition and competitive system has led to an exacerbated wealth gap, as well as created numerous numbers of so-called losers of the game.Three years later, Squid Game remains Netflixs most-watched TV series ever, and capitalism is still a thing. A second season of Hwangs story will be released on Netflix on Dec. 26, just as the Christmas cheer is fading, with the hopes that global viewers are still interested in Squid Games specific flavor of media catharsis.If season one was about the story of Seong Gi-hun [played by The Acolytes Lee Jung-jae], or Player Number 456, entering Squid Game for the first time, and about how he survives and leaves the game as a winner, teased Hwang, [then] season two is going to be that Gi-hun, based with his memories of the first game and the experiences, is going through a new realization and an awakening and returning once again in order to stop this unjust game.As before, Gi-hun will not be alone in the game. With most of the first seasons ensemble killed off, viewers will be introduced to a bevy of new characters played by a cast recognizable to fans of Korean pop culture. K-pop idols Jo Yu-ri (Iz*One) and T.O.P (BIGBANG) will appear alongside actors like Park Gyu-young and Lee Jin-uk, who both appeared in Sweet Home, the first K-drama to make it into the U.S. Netflix Top Ten. With each episode, youll be able to meet characters with different backstories, said Lee of season two, and you will find yourself rooting for these characters and wanting to really understand them and relate to them.Wi Ha-juns (The Midnight Romance in Hagwon) detective, Hwang Jun-ho, will also return in season two. When last we saw him, Jun-ho had been shot by his long-lost brother, In-ho (the G.I. Joe franchises Lee Byung-hun), after Jun-ho went undercover as a game guard to find him. As part of the climactic betrayal, In-ho was revealed to be the Front Man, a former winner who now leads the games staff. Wi teased of Jun-hos season two arc: He quite literally turns away from the gates of death in order to find his brother and to chase those cruel ones behind the game. Lees Front Man will be back and was seen continuing to stoically oversee the games in an official trailer.With a third and final season planned for release in 2025, Hwang hopes Squid Game will continue to raise questions like, What kind of society are we living in? and, What kind of world is the future world going to be like, and is there any way we can put a stop to it?Thematically, there is a deeper warning at the heart of Squid Games diverting story: If we neglect the weak [classes] that have been created through this current system, says Hwang, those who have benefited from the labor of the weak will no longer be able to live [in this] status quo.Squid Game season 2 premieres Thursday, December 26 on Netflix.

King of Meat: Lights, Camera, ALPHA! Were excited to invite Xbox Insiders on Xbox Series X|S to the world of Loregok for the first time from December 4 through December 14. This confidential alpha will give players in North America and Europe (full list of available regions below) an early look at King of Meat. Step into the role of fearless Contenders battling through ridiculous dungeons, build devious creations, and outshine everyone with dazzling custom appearances. Limited space is available so join now before it fills up.About the Game:King of Meat is a colorful combat spectacle that pits Contenders against creative dungeon masterpieces. With a combination of creative co-op combat, user-generated dungeons, and ridiculous customization options, King of Meat brings countless possibilities to express your own creativity. Build your own dungeons to challenge other players, outsmart other Contenders and their cunning puzzles, or team up with your friends and fellow Contenders to defeat skeletons, trolls, and other ridiculous monsters. Or just outshine them all with your dazzling custom appearance.If you want to learn more, please visit the Official King of Meat Website!Playtest Times:Start: Wednesday December 4, 10:00 AM PT (1:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM GMT)End: Saturday December 14, 1:00 PM PT (4:00 PM ET / 9:00 PM GMT)How to Participate:Sign-in on your Xbox Series X|S console andlaunch the Xbox Insider Hubapp (or install the Xbox Insider Hub from the Store first if necessary)Navigate toPreviews > King of Meat Closed AlphaSelectJoinWait for the registration to complete and be directed to the Store and install King of Meat Closed AlphaNOTE:Limited space is available and offered first-come first-served.NOTE:This playtest is only available on Xbox Series X|S consoles.NOTE: This playtest is only available for Xbox Insiders in the regions below.North AmericaUnited StatesCanadaMexicoEuropeAustriaBelgiumCzech RepublicDenmarkFinlandFranceGermanyGreeceHungaryIrelandItalyNetherlandsNorwayPolandPortugalSlovakiaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandTurkeyUnited KingdomHow to Provide Feedback:If you experience any issues while playing King of Meat Closed Alpha, dont forget to use Report a problem so we can investigate:Hold down the home button on your Xbox controller.SelectReport a problem.Select theGamescategory andKing of Meat Closed Alpha subcategory.Fill out the form with the appropriate details to help our investigation.Other resources:For more information: follow us on X/Twitter at@XboxInsiderand this blog for announcements and more. And feel free to interact with the community on theXbox Insider SubReddit.

As we approach the highly anticipated launch of Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered, were diving deep into the series legendary roots, the artistry behind its remaster, and the exciting enhancements Xbox players can look forward to. The Legacy of the Legacy of KainVery few franchises in gaming history boast the narrative depth and artistic ambition of Legacy of Kain. Since its debut in 1996 with Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, the series has delivered an intricate saga of betrayal, destiny, and free will. Among its chapters, Soul Reaver stands out as a groundbreaking entry, weaving the tragic tale of Raziel, a once-loyal lieutenant of Kain, resurrected to seek vengeance against his creator.Soul Reaver introduced players to a hauntingly beautiful world, brimming with gothic architecture, complex puzzles, and a legendary narrative. Its dual-realm exploration, allowing Raziel to shift between the material and spectral planes, was a revolutionary feature together with seamless level streaming that cemented the games place in history. Raziels journey from vengeance to self-discovery resonates even today, making him one of gamings most beloved anti-heroes.Bringing Soul Reaver Back to LifeWe had the opportunity to speak with Monika Erosova, Head of Development for the remaster, about the incredible effort it took to bring Soul Reaver into the modern era. Erosova described the process as a labor of love, with a focus on preserving the essence of the original while reimagining its visuals for modern hardware.The remaster boasts meticulously updated textures, dynamic shadows for characters and objects, and brand-new character models. Raziel and Kain designs, in particular, were treated with care to honor their iconic look while amplifying details such as Raziels tattered wings now having translucent edges.We aimed to match their looks from their highly detailed FMV render models, but also made sure that they will still fit within the in-game world, Erosova said, highlighting that preserving the original lighting played a critical role in creating the remasters atmospheric tone, ensuring Nosgoth feels as eerie and immersive as ever. The addition of the day and night cycle further enhances this and provides a more varied gameplay experience when returning to the areas you visited previously.The original Soul Reaver FMV intro is perhaps one of the most legendary introductions into a video game ever. However, the original game release had severely limited resolution and simply does not hold up on modern screens anymore.My dream was always to be able to update it one day and that has finally come to fruition! exclaimed Erosova. The archive provided us with the necessary source files and while some parts were missing and had to be remade, it was enough for us to be able to fully reconstruct the FMV in HD graphics. It was not an easy feat, but we pushed through until we were able to render all the scenes in highest fidelity. We hope that fans will enjoy this latest version of the iconic FMV just as we do.Being an artist at heart, Erosova felt straight at home in her role on this project: I simply love texture archaeology. I collected a vast library of reference books during my modding days so I was able to apply all my in-depth knowledge of the Soul Reaver games and also managed to find even more source textures than ever before, making the Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered superior to any of my previous modding work, becoming the definitive experience.She also mentioned the people who have been her inspiration for all these years: It would definitely have to be Amy Hennig, Daniel Cabuco, basically the whole Soul Reaver team. I would like to send special thanks to Daniel for being such an amazing mentor figure without his advice I would not be where I am as an artist!Recreating the FMV, however, was not the only improvement included in this release.The team also added many quality-of-life improvements such as customizable controls with camera movement on the right analogue stick or a mouse if you prefer, the photo mode, a cutscene skipper (super useful for repeated playthroughs), multi-language support with subtitles, extensive Bonus Materials section and much more. We even managed to restore the dynamic music which was missing in the original pc release of Soul Reaver! Erosova adds. These games would not be the same without the atmospheric music of Kurt Harland and the way it reacts in real time to the players experiences in the game.Erosova is also a devoted fan of the series and has shared her love of Raziel through cosplay and countless many projects such as the most recent artbook called The Art of Soul Reaver, created several texture mods for both Tomb Raider and Soul Reaver games, and regularly posts lore videos on YouTube on her The Ancients Den channel co-maintained by her fellow lore master, Bazielim, who is also well known figure in the Legacy of Kain community.Features OverviewEnhanced Gameplay: Quality-of-life updates include a fan favorite feature Photo Mode and a brand-new map and compass system, designed to aid exploration without sacrificing the games intentionally challenging navigation.Achievements and Trophies: A fully fleshed-out achievement list gives players new goals to strive for as they traverse the decaying Nosgoth.Xbox-Specific Features: Optimized for Xbox consoles, this remaster includes 4K resolution support, faster load times, and enhanced framerates and textures.Additionally, the Bonus Materials Menu allows players to dive deeper into the Soul Reaver universe. From the restored Lost Levels to the reimagined maps of Nosgoth and never-before-seen artwork, this remaster celebrates every facet of the games legacy.Whether youre returning to Nosgoth or visiting it for the first time, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered promises an unforgettable journey.Pre-order now on Xbox and prepare to unleash Raziels vengeance on December 10, 2024!Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 RemasteredAspyr$26.99Pre-orderPre-order now to save 10%!Celebrate Soul Reavers 25th AnniversaryExperience the epic conflict of Kain and Raziel in original form or with remastered graphics.Included Game TitlesLegacy of Kain: Soul ReaverLegacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2Experience the Legendary NarrativeCenturies after your former master, Kain, betrays and executes you, you rise again and embark on a relentless quest for revenge. Wield the Powers of a WraithSlay your former vampire brethren with your claws, bolts of telekinetic energy, and the elemental Wraith Blade. Grow stronger by devouring the souls of your enemies.Shift Between RealmsThe Elder God has granted you the ability to shift between the Spectral and Material Realms. Traverse the realms to solve puzzles, reveal new paths, and defeat your foes.

Understanding your personal style is essential for creating a curated and cohesive lifestyle. Knowing your preferences, dislikes, and openness to new experiences can influence various aspects of your life, particularly your interior design choices. Like fashion, there are countless interior design styles to explore. These styles go well beyond the basic concepts of minimalism and maximalism, offering a rich palette of inspiration for furniture choices and home decor aesthetics. By familiarizing yourself with different interior design styles, you gain a useful vocabulary when shopping for your home.Interior design styles may originate from specific eras, such as Art Deco in the 1920s, or stem from a regional love for particular textures, colors, and finishes, like Scandinavian design. For instance, you might associate the clean lines of midcentury modern style with the postwar era or identify the vibrant colors and patterns that define maximalist design. Whether emerging from a historical period or a geographical influence like Mediterranean, every interior design style has a distinctive name.Nearly all items in your home can be categorized by an interior design style. Your floral curtains may be seen as Grandmillenial, while your roll-arm sofa might epitomize English Country style. More importantly, once you solidify your understanding of interior design styles, you can truly enjoy the creative journey. In the words of award-winning interior designer Nate Berkus, The best design projects were the ones where people broke all the rules. Because after all, the most impactful design style is your own. Read on to learn about the interior design styles you need to know.Additional copy by Angela Belt.More on interior design styles and trends:Southern TraditionalHeidi HarrisSimilar to the, well, Traditional interior design style, this Southern take on it offers more chances to have fun. Often seen with brighter color palettes and more pattern mixing, Southern Traditional adds a touch of whimsy to the Traditional interior style. This home in Atlanta, designed by Anna-Wooten Loggins has bursts of color everywhere, not just the kids' spaces. Monograms are a must-have, and wallpaper is welcome everywhere from the powder room to the den. Palm BeachCarmel BrantleyThere are several types of coastal aesthetics, but none are as specific as the Palm Beach style. Known for its sea-inspired hues, colorful prints, and playful furniture silhouettes (picture a lot of scallops and woven textures), this style is as sophisticated as it is playful. This home by Kemble Interiors displays it perfectly.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowMidcentury Modern ADRIAN GAUTThough it has recently become a catchall term for anything 20th-century, midcentury modern refers to designs from the middle of the 20th century (generally the mid-1940s to early 1970s). Though Frank Lloyd Wright created his own signature style of organic modernism, several classic midcentury modern details are apparent in this restored prefab house of his design: warm wood paneling, brown bathroom tiles, and chrome plumbing. Japanese influenceas seen by the folding screen atop the bedwas also prominent in American midcentury modernism. Related Story: 40 Midcentury Modern Living Rooms That Get the Retro Balance RightNeo-Industrial William AbranowiczNot to be confused with industrial design, which refers to work made for industrial purposes, neo-industrial, or industrial-style interior design borrows elements of industrial architecturelike the concrete walls, steel details, and spartan windows in this home by Kathleen McCormickfor use in residential interiors. Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowTraditional Courtesy of Corey Damen JenkinsDesigner Corey Damen Jenkins has a knack for making a home's traditional interior design style look freshhe even wrote a book titled Design Remix: A New Spin on Traditional Rooms. In this dining room, paneled mahogany walls are lit by 19th-century sconces, and an antique table is surrounded by Louis XVI chairs. TransitionalJulie SoeferSpaces that bridge the gap between modern and traditionallike this living room by Marie Flaniganare dubbed transitional. Here, the designer pairs classic elements like a bench seat sofa and antique coffee table with modern lines on the stone side table and 21st-century artwork.Tour the Entire HomeAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowMaximalistKEVIN J. MIYAZAKICombining colors, patterns, and textures is the path to a maximalist interior. If you're inclined to go for a more is more approach, you'll hardly go wrong. The trick to having it not look overwhelming is balance. Take inspiration from our 2023 Whole Home where designer Isabel Ladd decked out the primary suite in perfectly paired palettes. ScandinavianChristian TorresAt its core, the Scandinavian interior design style is characterized by an aesthetic that combines minimalism with coziness and functionality. Picture high-pile rugs and natural wood tones, crisp bedding, and clutter-free interiors. Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowFarmhouseALI HARPERWith an eye toward functional simplicity, Farmhouse style suggests a more humble, vernacular interpretation of American historical styles from the 18th and 19th centuries, whether they be Colonial, Greek Revival, or Victorian, explains architect Gil Schafer.Tour the Entire HomeAmericanaReid RollsThe Americana interior design style blends Farmhouse charm with midcentury-chic elements. Key features include wood paneling, vintage artwork, and functional finishes. To complete the look, consider adding checkerboard prints, patchwork quilts, and vintage solid wood furniture.Tour the Entire HomeAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowRusticEric PiaseckiThe rough-and-ready cousin of the Farmhouse design style, Rustic design is focused on organic elements (like unpolished stone and natural wood), a neutral color palette, and functionality. The beauty lies within the craftsmanship of the pieces used. Think about this Montana home for inspiration.Tour the Entire HomeMinimalist Robson RakMinimalism is about paring down the decor and color palette to just the basics. Since this interior design style means doing more with less, you'll often notice the importance of light and contrast in minimalist spaces, like this one by Robson Rak.Advertisement - Continue Reading BelowBohemianStephen KarlischBohemian design combines global influences and an artfully mismatched approach to design. This style mixes colors, patterns, and textures in ways that feel eclectic and exciting. A rich palette of jewel tones and large-scale patterns is key, as is fabric upholstery and natural textures (think rattan, wicker, and seagrass) that bring the outdoors in.Related Story: 25 Boho Bedrooms to Inspire Your Dream OasisMediterraneanDouglas FriedmanCombining elements of Spanish, Italian, and French design, the Mediterranean interior design style is essentially a different spin on coastal style. The go-to color pairing is blue and white, but you can warm it up with terra-cotta, natural wood tones, and earthy textures like rattan and stone.Tour the Entire HomeAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowFrench CountryTrevor TondroFrench county design combines natural materials, muted paint colors, toile fabrics, extravagant lighting, touches of gold, woven tapestries, and moreall with a rustic touch. Throw matching sets to the curb and focus on antiques rather than buying new pieces. The overall effect of French country decor is meant to be warm, welcoming, and casual.Eclecticmanufoto llcThe eclectic interior design style, similar to maximalist interior design, incorporates elements from various styles, periods, and locations to create a unique space. It features a mix of vintage and new items, giving the room an appearance of having been slowly curated and assembled over time. Tour the Entire HomeAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below'70s RevivalAdrian GautTaking classic silhouettes and color palettes from the 1970s and giving them a modern twist is key to this interior design style. You can skip the shag carpets, but incorporate brown tones, chrome metal finishes, and low-slung furniture for a cozy, updated feel.English CottageJonathan Bond PhotographyThis interior design style combines several elements of traditional British country houses, like floral wallpaper, painted millwork, vintage touches, and fanciful textures, and updates them for modern use, as designer Elizabeth Hay did here in her family home.Tour the Entire HomeRelated Story: How to Capture the Cozy Cottagecore Aesthetic at HomeAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowArt DecoFrancesco LagneseWith roots in '20s-era European design, Art Deco prioritizes geometric forms paired with luxe materials like lacquer, mirrored glass, and marble. Modern interpretations, like this hall by Nick Olsen, give this interior design style a colorful, contemporary refresh.Modern FarmhouseLauren MillerModern Farmhouse can be considered a simplified blend of traditional, neo-industrial, and midcentury interior design styles. A more minimal color palette is also common, like in this living room by Ashley Montgomery.Tour the Entire Home

Home Alone is a classic Christmas movie for its heartwarming family story and everlasting comedic moments, but theres no denying the house itself became the 1990 films breakout star. The Georgian-style building is likely one of, if not the first, setting you think of when you conjure up a holiday home in your mind. The Midwestern mansion will surely continue to remain a pillar of festive pop culture for decades to come. While avid seasonal rewatchers are likely already aware the property that portrays the McCallister family home is a real house in Illinois, theres much more to know about the filming location. For starters, did filming actually take place inside of the house? How much is the house worth today? Can you visit it? Weve collected every detail to know about the iconic residence. Brush up on the facts, and impress your guests with Home Alone house trivia the next time you sit down to watch it together. Additional copy by Meghan Shouse.Related StoriesWhere Is the Home Alone House Located?The property you see in the exterior shots is located at 671 Lincoln Ave in Winnetka, Illinois. The town is a northern suburb of Chicago, and according to Zillow, the Colonial was built in 1921.Where Were the Interior Scenes Filmed?The cozy, warm interiors of the Home Alone house look authentic, but they're not from the Winnetka property that depicts the exterior. According to an episode from the 2019 Netflix series The Movies That Made Us, the film's indoor scenes were shot at New Trier Township High Schoolan abandoned school building with enough space for an entire makeshift sound stage. The mansion was too small for the crew to fit inside, director Chris Columbus explained in the special, so they built an entire two-story set in the high school gym. For the scene near the end of the film when Kevin goes into his neighbor's house, the production filmed it in the old school's pool, which made flooding the "basement" much easier.How Much Is the House Worth Today?The 10-bedroom, six-bathroom property hit the market in May 2024 for a whopping $52.25 million. It only lasted a week on the market before it sold.What Is the Square Footage of the House?Today, the Home Alone house spans 9,126 square feet and sits on just over half an acre. Following a major renovation in 2018, the property now includes a basketball court, private movie theater, and, yes, top-of-the-line security cameras. The interiors are also very white, bright, and moderna stark contrast to the sets in the movie. You can see the inside of the home from its recent real estate listing here.Can You Visit the House?In 2021, Airbnb opened the home's doors for a one-night-only stay hosted by none other than Kevin's older brother, Buzz. Apart from that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, there's currently no way to get inside unless you know the owners. However, many fans still (respectfully!) walk or drive by the house each year and take pictures of the exterior.Who Lived in the Home Alone House in 1990?At the time of filming, John and Cynthia Abendshien lived in the home. They had reportedly been living in the house for only two years before the movie aired in 1990. John Abendshien said of the movie's writer-producer, "John Hughes had a real interest in filming in community settings. He, I understand, grew up in the North Shore and really wanted his sets and backgrounds to have a real world, a true neighborhood, and a true-home-type ambiance."Who Lives in the Home Alone House Now?In May 2011, the Abendshiens put the home up for sale for $2.4 million before lowering the price in September to $1.995 million. The home ended up selling to Tim and Trisha Johnson for $1.585 million in 2012. The couple renovated the place in 2018, and then put it on the market for $5.25 million in 2024. It sold shortly after being placed on the market, and the buyer has not been revealed.Were Any Other Movies or TV Shows Filmed at the Home Alone House?Hughes loved Chicago, and according to the Netflix special, the filmmaker also shot Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Uncle Buck at the abandoned high school where the Home Alone house interiors were built. When it comes to the house that portrays the exterior, there actually may be a connection to the beloved '90s sitcom Friends. Apparently, the series used stock footage from Home Alone to represent the house Monica and Chandler (played by the late Matthew Perry) move into at the end of the series. If you look carefully, you can see the same neighbor's blue home with a wreath on the door from the inside windows. So, in a sense, you could say that the Bings bought the McCallisters' place! Of course, Chandler and Monica moved to a New York City suburb, not a Chicago one, but it's a fun connection nonetheless.Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.

From the beginning, Meta built its Threads microblogging platform with fediverse integration in mind. However, this integration has been rolling out in parts, and theres another important update coming. Threads users can finally follow accounts from other fediverses, although there are still many limitations.Threads integration with the fediverse is getting betterAs announced by Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri on Wednesday, a Threads update being rolled out today expands fediverse integration even further. Threads users will have the option to follow accounts from other fediverses, so that they will see posts from those accounts in their timeline. Its also possible to enable notifications for fediverse accounts.This is certainly a huge leap from the previous integration, which only let users share their Threads posts in the fediverse and see fediverse replies and likes on their posts.However, theres a catch. Users can only follow fediverse accounts that have interacted with them on Threads posts. Its still impossible to search for fediverse profiles, although Meta says this option will be available in the future. Theres still no way to reply to fediverse posts from Threads either. Of course, thats certainly a start for those who believe in the fediverse.Meta seems to have been ramping up the development of new features for Threads recently, coincidentally when its competing platform Bluesky has been growing significantly.Last month, Meta began testing an option to let Threads users choose which feed they want to see by default. The app has also been updated with the ability to play full-screen videos in landscape and an option to let users create Custom Feeds based on their interests.The Threads app is available for free on the App Store. Make sure you have the latest version of the app installed in order to get access to the new features.Best deals on Apple productsAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is availableon iTunes and Apples Podcasts app,Stitcher,TuneIn,Google Play, or through ourdedicated RSS feedfor Overcast and other podcast players.Sponsored by Dreame Technologies: This Black Friday, discover Dreame Technologies innovative family of smart home cleaning solutionsdesigned to revolutionize your cleaning routine! Dont miss out on groundbreaking deals, plus enjoy an extra 5% off with code DM9to55off at checkout. Experience the future of cleaning today!New episodes of 9to5Mac Daily are recorded every weekday. Subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as theyre available.Stories discussed in this episode:Listen & Subscribe:Subscribe to support Chance directly with 9to5Mac Daily Plus and unlock:Ad-free versions of every episodeBonus contentodCatch up on 9to5Mac Daily episodes!Dont miss out on our other daily podcasts:Share your thoughts!Drop us a line at happyhour@9to5mac.com. You can also rate us in Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel