E3 Is Better With Sony And PlayStation There, Xbox’s Phil Spencer Says

While it was not the only company to sit this year’s out–Activision also sat out–there was no absence at E3 2019more significant than that of Sony. With no PlayStation press conference or show floor booth, it was a much different sort of show. Many would argue it was a worse one without them there–and among those saying as much as is Xbox boss Phil Spencer, who says E3 is just not the same without Sony and Activision, and he wants them return in the future.

Appearing on GameSpot sister site Giant Bomb’s livestream at E3, Spencer spoke about the ongoing relevance of E3, and he suggested that the show’s profile is hurt by Sony and Activision not being there. “I wish Sony was here,” Spencer said. “E3 is not as good when they’re not here,” Spencer said about Sony and Activision dropping out of the big annual gaming show.

E3 remains relevant and important to the gaming world, Spencer said. It’s a time in the year when the whole world is watching gaming, and that’s very important today when the industry is coming under criticism and judgment. One recent threat, Spencer said, was the World Health Organization’s designation of Gaming Disorder as a recognized disease.

He said E3 is an important time of year to show the world that gaming is not just kids in a basement. And without juggernauts like Sony and Activision, E3 could take a hit in terms of prominence, Spencer said.

ThinkGeek Offering 50% Off Everything As Site Shuts Down, Moves In With GameStop

It’s the end of an era for longtime ThinkGeek fans, as the digital store announced this week that ThinkGeek.comofficially is shutting down. Starting July 2, ThinkGeek’s curated collection of apparel, collectibles, and other geeky merchandise will be available only in a ThinkGeek section at GameStop, its parent company. The 40 physical ThinkGeek stores across the US will remain open, but ThinkGeek.com will no longer be a place to shop.

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This is sad news, as ThinkGeek has had one of the largest collections of high-quality exclusive merch out there, and it’s unclear just how much of that product offering will be moved over to GameStop’s site. However, there is one thing to soften the blow: ThinkGeek is currently offering 50% off everything sitewide with the promo code MOVINGDAY. All sales are final, and that code excludes free shipping. Due to the high volume of sales, ThinkGeek suggests writing down your confirmation number or taking a screenshot, as you may not receive an order confirmation email.

If you’ve been saving up Geek Points, ThinkGeek’s program that lets you earn points as you shop and later redeem them for free stuff, now’s the time to use them. On July 3, all remaining Geek Points will be converted to an email coupon that you’ll be able to redeem at GameStop. ThinkGeek will also honor any returns on orders placed before June 13. As stated earlier, anything purchased after June 13 is a final sale. Fortunately, ThinkGeek gift cards will continue to work at ThinkGeek stores and GameStop.

This is a great time to snag any items you’ve been eyeing at ThinkGeek, as there’s no knowing for sure whether it’ll be available again. The storewide sale spans every category and interest, so you’re sure to find something you want (or that someone you know would appreciate–early Christmas shopping, perhaps?). Check out some of the items that caught our eye below, and browse everything on sale at ThinkGeek. Be warned–we expect their stock to start selling out fast, so grab what you want ASAP.

E3 2019: The Biggest Games You Can Pre-Order Now (PS4, Switch, Xbox One, PC)

The E3 2019 press conferences are behind us, and we’ve seen a ton of exciting trailers for upcoming games, from Death Stranding and Watch Dogs Legion to Elden Ring and Cyberpunk 2077. As release dates have been revealed and gameplay footage is shown, many retailers have begun opening up pre-orders for these games, and quite a few of them have pre-order bonuses or various special editions available as well.

While some games are fairly straightforward to pre-order–just pick your system and you’ll receive the base game–others get complicated, with three or four editions to choose from and various amounts of in-game loot and physical collectibles available from each. Pre-order bonuses are also a huge thing, and retailers will often offer exclusive bonuses that are worth considering.

To save you from hopping between different websites trying to compare each edition on your own, we’ve hunted down all that information for you in our various pre-order guides. These guides have all the information you need about a game’s pre-order bonuses, what you’ll receive from each version, and the different pricing across various retailers. That way, you can make a more educated purchase and end up with the best edition for your budget.

As a reminder, prices and release dates are always tentative, and for games that are still a long ways off, it’s possible special editions will be announced in the future even if they don’t exist now. Be sure to look at the fine print before you seal the deal. Some retailers, like Amazon, GameStop, and Best Buy, have a lowest price guarantee so that if a game’s price drops between when you pre-order and when the game ships, you’ll be charged the lowest price (or refunded to match the difference). Certain retailers will charge you a bit of money upfront, while others will hold the charge until the game actually ships. Some don’t offer refunds; Amazon, on the other hand, will let you cancel at any time with no charge.

Consider this a general guide to pre-ordering all the biggest games shown during E3 2019, organized by release date. While we’ll provide an overview of each game’s pre-order bonuses below, be sure to check out our individual game guides for more detailed info on what each special edition contains and links to pre-order now.