Indian auteur Anurag Kashyap is set to trade his director’s chair for a police badge in the upcoming bilingual action drama “Dacoit – Ek Prem Katha,” toplining Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur. The addition of Kashyap to the high-octane film marks the latest casting coup for the project, which is shooting simultaneously in the Hindi […]
Lizzo Drops First Single in Nearly Two Years, ‘Love in Real Life’
Lizzo has shared a new solo single dubbed, “Love in Real Life,” her first solo release since her participation in the “Barbie” soundtrack in 2023. The single arrived Thursday night alongside a cinematic music video, with Lizzo losing it at the club before being cornered by backup dancers on the street — and succumbing to […]
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Faces Four Additional Sexual Assault Suits as Gender-Motivated Violence Act Lookback Window Closes
Sean “Diddy” Combs has been hit with four new lawsuits from plaintiffs alleging sexual assault, all filed under the Gender-Motivated Violence Act with a lookback window closing on March 1. The suits, filed in New York, all detail similar allegations of sexual assault, with accusers claiming they were drugged and subsequently subjected to sex acts […]
India’s Music Composers, Screenwriters Associations Ink Historic Fair Credit Deal; Vishal Bhardwaj Hails ‘Collaborative Future’ (EXCLUSIVE)
In a watershed moment for India’s entertainment industry, the Music Composers Association of India (MCAI) and Screenwriters Association (SWA) have formalized a groundbreaking partnership that promises to reshape creative collaboration across Bollywood and beyond. The milestone memorandum of understanding, inked after months of negotiations, establishes composers and lyricists as “equal co-authors” in song creation, designating […]
Annual South Asians at the Oscars Party, Co-Hosted by Mindy Kaling, Leads to ‘Friendship and Community Building’
Suchitra Mattai, producer of the Oscar-nominated live action short “Anuja,” says the film came out of wanting to highlight young South Asian women. “It just felt important to tell this particular type of story and to make a platform for young female, Indian, South Asian actresses,” Mattai said during her remarks at the annual South […]
‘The Traitors’ Bosses on NDAs, Whether Danielle Told Britney, Those Campy Before-Bed Clips and Which Roundtable Was ‘Terrifying’ to Watch
The premise of “The Traitors” may be for the Faithful to find out who among them is lying about their identities. But in Season 3 of the Peacock series, the Traitors’ worst enemies have been themselves. “We couldn’t have predicted how this season would have panned out,” executive producer Sam Rees-Jones tells Variety. “We could […]
There’s a New Game of Thrones Illustrated Edition Coming in November, but Still No Winds of Winter
George R.R. Martin shared a book update from his blog earlier this week, but it wasn’t about The Winds of Winter. He instead revealed the cover for the next illustrated edition from the Song of Ice and Fire: A Feast for Crows. This is the fourth book in the series to get a special illustrated edition, and it will feature artwork from Jeffrey R. McDonald.
A Feast for Crows: The Illustrated edition is set to release on November 4, 2025. You can preorder the new special edition book from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, and pretty much any of the best places to buy books online.
A Feast for Crows: The Illustrated Edition Preorder
This update is great news for anyone who has already been collecting the illustrated editions. A Storm of Swords received this treatment all the way back in November 2020, so it will have been five years since the last illustrated edition came out.
In addition to the illustrations, the new edition of A Feast of Crows will feature a forward from Joe Abercrombie. Martin’s blog stated that they will be sharing some of the interior illustrations later this spring ahead of the book’s release. If you’re a fan of the Game of Thrones books and are looking to start collecting, the first three illustrated entries in A Song of Ice and Fire are already available.
More Game of Thrones Books:
What About The Winds of Winter?
For fans still waiting on a release date for The Winds of Winter, unfortunately they may still be waiting quite a while. The last update we got from Martin about the next book in the series was in an interview back in December 2024 where he acknowledged that he may never finish The Winds of Winter in his lifetime. This comes after his update back in November 2023 when he confirmed he’s already written 1,100 pages of the book.
While this lack of an update is disappointing for those who have already waited almost 14 years for the next Game of Thrones book, there is still some hope that the series will get completed by somebody. With the fourth illustrated edition now on its way, it is definitely looking like the first five special editions will be completed before Winds is finished, however.
Looking for more special edition books? Theres a new illustrated interactive Harry Potter book available for preorder and the new Hunger Games illustrated edition was just announced as well.
AU Deals: Round Out Your Week With the Hottest AAA Mega Savings and Absolute Freebies Available!
Thank your own personal deity—possibly Mr G.—it’s Friday! Whether you’re in the mood for turn-based tactics, open-world adventures, or all-out brawls, my deals list has something for everyone. From legendary RPGs to quirky indies, the discounts are deep, and your choices are as overwhelming as they are underpriced…
This Day in Gaming 🎂
In retro news, I’m celebrating the 22nd birthday of Resident Evil Zero, arguably the most why-haven’t-they-remade-this entries in the franchise. “S.T.A.R.S.-ing” Bravo Team member Rebecca Chambers and convict Billy Coen, an unlikely duo riding the rails to one of Umbrella’s worst B&Bs, Zero was all about unique protagonist abilities and a hot-swap mechanic. I have fond memories of belting out the Leech Hunter mini-game in the original, not to mention the Wesker Mode injected into the 2016 HD Remaster. I’d kill to see this on the RE Engine.
Aussie bdays for notable games
– Pac-Man World (PS) 2000. Redux
– Top Gear Rally 2 (N64) 2000. eBay
– Resident Evil Zero (GC) 2003. Redux
– Impossible Creatures (PC) 2003. Get
– Racing Evoluzione (XB) 2003. eBay
– Hearts of Iron (PC) 2003. Sequel
– Praetorians (PC) 2003. eBay
– Real Racing 3 (iOS) 2013. Get
– Night in the Woods (PC,PS4) 2017. Get
Contents
Nice Savings for Nintendo Switch
Starting the deals strong on the Nintendo Switch, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is a ridiculous mashup that almost didn’t happen (Miyamoto himself had to approve Ubisoft’s out-there-as-hell idea of strapping Mario with blasters). Also, The Outer Worlds delivers witty space-faring adventure from the folks who gave us Fallout: New Vegas, complete with a satirical take on corporate-controlled planets that I simply adored.
- The Outer Worlds (-51%) – A$22
- Rayman Legends Def. Ed. (-80%) – A$12
- God Eater 3 (-35%) – A$55
- Café Enchanté (-38%) – A$47
- Them’s Fightin’ Herds: Del. Ed. (-61%) – A$23
Expiring Recent Deals
- Bravely Default II (-34%) – A$52.89
- Shin Megami Tensei V (-24%) – A$60.59
- Crash Team Racing Nitro (-35%) – A$45.54
- Darksiders Warmastered (-17%) – A$41.52
- Gris (-80%) – A$3.59
- Transistor (-80%) – A$5.79
Or gift a Nintendo eShop Card.
Purchase Cheap for PC
Meanwhile on PC, it’s freebie paradise (if you make a Prime Gaming account). The cult classic Deus Ex: Human Revolution is yours for nothing, featuring cyberpunk conspiracies and one of gaming’s best “punch through walls” mechanics. Meanwhile, Mages of Mystralia—also free!—boasts a magic system so flexible, even its developers had to ban certain spell combos for being too OP.
- Mages of Mystralia (-100%) – FREE w/Prime
- Deus Ex: Human Revolution (-100%) – FREE w/Prime
- Sine Mora Ex (-100%) – FREE w/Prime
- Yes, Your Grace (-100%) – FREE w/Prime
- Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora (-67%) – A$33
- Prince of Persia The Lost Crown (-50%) – A$30
Expiring Recent Deals
- Stray (-40%) – A$26.97
- Sonic Frontiers (-70%) – A$28.48
- Lies of P (-40%) – A$53.97
- Fight’N Rage (-95%) – A$1.47
- Loop Hero (-75%) – A$5.48
Or just get a Steam Wallet Card
Exciting Bargains for Xbox
You Xbox Series X faithful can dive into the timeless masterpiece The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and experience the game that made Henry Cavill geek out enough to land a Netflix role. If you prefer (admittedly imperfect) over-the-top chaos, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League lets you unleash mayhem in Metropolis with a surprising Batman: Arkham universe connection.
- Suicide Squad Del. Ed. (-58%) – A$69
- Tekken 8 (-46%) – A$64
- Overcooked! All You Can Eat (-47%) – A$30
- Diablo IV (-45%) – A$41
Xbox One
- Yoku’s Island Express (-80%) – A$5
- Tomb Raider I-III Remastered (-50%) – A$22
- System Shock (-60%) – A$22
- Metro 2033 Redux (-85%) – A$4
Expiring Recent Deals
- Metaphor: ReFantazio (-17%) – A$95.04
- Destroy All Humans! 2 (-53%) – A$25.57
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (-19%) – A$89.00
- SpellForce III Reforced (-44%) – A$35.57
- FF XII: The Zodiac Age (-37%) – A$50.01
- Hot Wheels Unleashed (-29%) – A$39.10
- Persona 3 Reload (-50%) – A$53.98
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (-50%) – A$57.47
Or just invest in an Xbox Card.
Pure Scores for PlayStation
Finally, for PlayStation 5, God of War Ragnarök packs an emotional punch—Christopher Judge’s powerful performance as Kratos even won him the longest Game Awards speech in history. And if swinging through New York is more your speed, Spidey: Miles Morales offers wintertime web-slinging and a jazz-infused soundtrack that’s as stylish as its hero.
- Spider-Man: Miles Morales (-20%) – A$76
- Tales of Arise (-67%) – A$33
- TopSpin 2K25 (-77%) – A$23
- Planet Zoo Console Ed. (-21%) – A$60
PS4
- Digimon World: Next Order (-54%) – A$39
- Zombie Army 4: Dead War (-46%) – A$38
- DayZ (-53%) – A$37
- Super Monkey Ball: BB HD (-56%) – A$18
Expiring Recent Deals
- Space Marine 2 (-31%) – A$75.00
- Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (-11%) – A$89.00
- Crisis Core FFVII Reunion (-21%) – A$66.95
- Lego Horizon Adventures (-14%) – A$95.04
- Battlefield 4 (-95%) – A$1.24
- Battlefield V (-95%) – A$2.99
- Battlefield Hardline Ultimate Edition (-90%) – A$5.99
PS+ Monthly Freebies
Yours to keep from Feb 4 with this subscription
- Payday 3 [PS5]
- High on Life [PS4/5]
- Pac-Man World Re-Pac [PS4/5]
Or purchase a PS Store Card.
Legit LEGO Deals
- Minecraft: Armadillo Mine (-34%) – A$33
- City: Space Mech (-33%) – A$10
- Harry Potter: Motorcycle Ride (-30%) – A$56
Expiring Recent Deals
- 3in1 Wild Safari Animal (-30%) – A$69.95
- Star Wars C-3PO (-27%) – A$169
- Harry Potter: Charms Class (-27%) – A$22
Adam Mathew is our Aussie deals wrangler. He plays practically everything, often on YouTube.
Crunchyroll Premium Explained: How to Activate the Free Trial
If you’re an anime fan, Crunchyroll is the best streaming platform out there. With just one subscription, you can instantly gain access to over 1,000 different anime series. In a time when anime has never been more popular, Crunchyroll allows you to catch new and popular shows like Solo Leveling while also keeping up with the biggest anime in the world like One Piece. Check out our full rundown of Crunchyroll as of March 2025, in addition to a free trial that allows you to try out the service for one week.
Does Crunchyroll Have a Free Trial?
Yes, Crunchyroll does offer a free streaming service trial. When you are ready to sign up for a plan, you can head over to the Crunchyroll Premium page and score a free seven-day trial on any of the three premium subscription options. This includes the Fan, Mega Fan, and Ultimate Fan tiers. Once your one week free trial ends, your subscription will automatically begin for the monthly price of your plan.
What Is Crunchyroll? The Anime Streaming Service, Explained
Crunchyroll is the biggest name in the space for anime, originally launching in 2006. You can find some of the most popular anime available like Attack on Titan, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Fate/stay night, My Hero Academia, and more. The streaming platform was acquired by Sony through Funimation in 2020 for $1.2B, with Sony opting to sunset the Funimation streaming service as a result and folding it into Crunchyroll.
The service is available for free with ads on select series and episodes, but Crunchyroll has slowly rolled back the number of anime you can watch without a Premium subscription. Just recently, almost all episodes of One Piece were made exclusive to Premium members only.
How Much Does Crunchyroll Cost?
Each Crunchyroll Premium tier is priced $4 apart. The Fan tier is set at $7.99/month, the Mega Fan tier is $11.99/month, and the Ultimate Fan tier is set at $15.99/month. The last time Crunchyroll increased prices was in May 2024, with only the Mega Fan and Ultimate Fan tiers affected.
What Crunchyroll Premium Tiers Are There?
Once again, Crunchyroll has three different pricing options for Premium members: Fan, Mega Fan, and Ultimate Fan. All anime is available across each of the tiers, so you won’t need to worry about missing out on certain series if you do not subscribe to the highest tier.
Fan Subscription – $7.99 per month
To break down the tiers, Fan is the standard Crunchyroll Premium membership, offering the entire Crunchyroll anime library ad-free. You can actively stream on one device at a time, and you’ll also recieve a 5% discount off select products at the Crunchyroll Store.
Mega Fan – $11.99 per month
Mega Fan is the most popular tier, with support for up to four different streams concurrently. This tier also unlocks offline viewing, so you can download episodes of any anime and watch them even if you do not have access to the internet. Mega Fan also gives you the Crunchyroll Game Vault, a selection of free games you can download to your mobile device. You’ll also recieve a 10% discount at the Crunchyroll Store, up from the Fan tier’s 5% discount, with free shipping on orders over $50.
Ultimate Fan – $15.99 per month
Finally, Ultimate Fan is the last tier Crunchyroll offers. All perks from the Mega Fan plan carry over, except you can now stream on up to six different devices at a time. Additionally, your Crunchyroll Store discount is moved to 15%, with early access to deals and free US shipping on orders. Lastly, active subscribers will receive an exclusive swag bag after 12 consecutive months of subscription.
How to Watch Crunchyroll – Available Platforms
Crunchyroll is available on almost every platform out there. You can watch anime on the official website, or on your mobile device with official apps for iOS, Android, Amazon Fire, and Samsung Galaxy. Additionally, the streaming service is available on gaming consoles like Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. You can also use any media player like Apple TV, Google TV, Roku TV, and more to access the service.
For more streaming platform guides, check out 2025 Hulu Subscriptions, Netflix Plans, ESPN+ Plans, and Disney+ Plans.
Menendez Brothers’ Family ‘Grateful’ to Gavin Newsom for Seeking Risk Assessment Ahead of Clemency Decision
Cousins of Erik and Lyle Menendez said Thursday they are “grateful” to Gov. Gavin Newsom and “thrilled” that he asked the state parole board for a risk assessment, as he considers whether to grant the brothers clemency. The cousins, Anamaria Baralt and Tamara Goodell, held a Zoom press conference Thursday to discuss developments in the […]