Technologies
Which Death Stranding 2 Edition Should You Buy?
The next installment of Hideo Kojima’s game for the PlayStation 5 is almost here, and you can get your hands on it before it’s released.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach will launch on June 26 exclusively for the PlayStation 5, but those who buy a special edition of the game will be able to access it early. The question is, with three special editions available, which version should you get?
Death Stranding 2 is the sequel to legendary developer Hideo Kojima’s 2019 game, and it improves on every aspect of the original, making it a game that anyone who is remotely interested in it should play. The edition you should purchase will depend on how big of a fan you are of the series.
What do the Death Stranding 2 pre-order bonuses and early unlocks actually do?
The digital content that comes with the Death Stranding 2 editions is primarily for cosmetic purposes. It lets players add a little customization to their equipment. The one early unlock that does give players an advantage is the Machine Gun, since it’s a powerful weapon that players wouldn’t usually get until around the mid-point of the game.
What’s in the different Death Stranding 2 editions?
To start, there is the Standard Edition, which retails for $70.
Ordering the Standard Edition of Death Stranding 2 from Sony comes with the same 48-hour early access that all special editions have, which will begin at 12 a.m. ET on June 24 (9 p.m. PT on June 23).
This edition does include some additional digital content:
- Quokka Hologram
- Battle Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)
- Boost Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)
- Bokka Skeleton: Silver (LV1, LV2, LV3)
Holograms get unlocked the more you play through the game. These holograms can be placed at structures that the main character, Sam, builds and act as a little sign that you were there.
Skeletons are an equippable item, and help Sam physically while allowing him to carry more items. The Battle Skeleton lets Sam do more damage with physical attacks, the Boost Skeleton helps Sam run faster while carrying a lot of items and the Bokka Skeleton helps Sam climb up certain terrains while being more balanced, so he won’t tip over. This content, however, is just a cosmetic color for the Skeleton. It will not unlock the item, since that has to be done by completing missions in the game.
Next, there’s the Digital Deluxe Edition for $80.
The Digital Deluxe Edition includes the 48-hour early access and the Skeleton cosmetics, although in this edition, the cosmetics are gold and not silver. This edition also comes with:
- Machine Gun (MP Bullets) LV1 early unlock
- Quokka Patch
- Chiral Feline Patch
- Why Me? Patch
The Machine Gun is a weapon you get later in the game, and it’s a powerful addition thanks to its large magazine filled with bullets. It can also shoot for longer than the Assault Rifle found early in the game. MP Bullets are the standard type of bullets found in the game that can damage humans, BTs and robots.
The patches are for Sam’s backpack. They are strictly cosmetic and offer no in-game advantage.
Then, for the big fans of Death Stranding, there’s the Collector’s Edition that costs $230.
The Collector’s Edition comes with all the digital content from the Deluxe Edition as well as some real-life collectibles in a collector’s box. It includes:
- 15-inch Magellan Man Statue
- 3-inch Dollman figurine
- Art cards
- Letter from Hideo Kojima
All of the specical editions are available to order now.
Should I pre-order Death Stranding 2 for the bonus DLC?
The big reason to pre-order Death Stranding 2 is early access so you can play the game early. The other bonus DLC is nice to have, but not really needed in the game.
Is the Death Stranding 2 Digital Deluxe Edition bonus content worth it?
If you’re looking to get a leg up on the game, being able to unlock the Machine Gun early can be worth the price of the Digital Deluxe Edition.
Technologies
Apple and Amazon Debut Musical Year-End Recaps While You Wait for Spotify Wrapped
Apple’s Music Replay 2025 and Amazon’s 2025 Delivered examine your listening habits for the year.
Spotify has yet to release its 2025 edition of its popular Wrapped year-in-review feature (last year it debuted on Dec. 4), but Apple Music and Amazon Music are here to fill the void with their own versions of the year-end recap (if you use those services).
Apple Music Replay is now live and puts together a playlist of your most-listened to songs as well as shareable videos and images. You’ll be able to see your top artists, amount of time you listened to Apple Music songs and genres.
Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.
Similarly, Amazon’s 2025 Delivered feature tracks what you listened to across music, podcasts and audiobooks, but this year Amazon’s theme is a music festival, with some of your listening habits presented as badges. It will also generate a festival poster with artists from your listening history.
Even YouTube is getting into the act with a recap of what you watched in 2025.
How to get to Apple Music Replay and Amazon 2025 Delivered
Both Apple Music Replay and Amazon 2025 Delivered are available in their respective apps.
Apple Music Replay is on the homepage of the Music app and under the «New» tab, but can also be found at replay.music.apple.com.
For Amazon’s 2025 Delivered, go to the Library page in the Amazon Music app if Delivered doesn’t appear on the home page. It doesn’t appear to be available in the web version of Amazon Music.
Technologies
Metroid Prime 4 Beyond on Switch: This Was Worth Waiting For
Come on in, the space desert’s fine.
Winter’s coming, and Nintendo has delivered an epic Switch game to get lost in for the season. After a week of playing Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, I know this is the one I’ve been waiting for. It’s full of alien motorbikes, alien relics, psychic powers and a lot of puzzle-solving.
It’s been a long time since I played a Metroid Prime game. I used to huddle around my GameCube in California, playing the first one. I never got sucked too far into 2D Metroid games, but Prime’s mysterious unfolding caverns and worlds felt like exploring space tombs. It’s always had a bit of a 3D Zelda vibe to me. The Prime games felt more powerful, more immersive than the 2D ones, even Dread. (The original Prime is on Switch too, remastered and worth playing.)
With Prime 4, announced more than eight years ago, it took me some time to get back into it. But now it’s all I think about playing. My recommendation is to just go in for the experience. Go in knowing nothing, and maybe even skip everything in this review, or any other review. Mystery is Metroid’s calling card. Your big adventure on the Switch is here.
If you’re new, here’s the deal: 3D Metroid is a first-person shooter adventure, but with a lot more emphasis on exploration and puzzle-solving than straight-up battle. Once again, you play as Samus, the bounty hunter who quietly explores her world. Enemies and bosses do pop up, and they can be hard, but expect challenges similar to boss battles in a Zelda game. Just like all the other Metroid games, your various powers are lost and must be found again, piece by piece. Besides running and jumping and shooting, you can morph into a ball. Or, this time, hop on a Tron-like space bike called Vi-O-La.
I wasn’t sure if Prime 4 would be for me, or if I’d feel lost in lore I’d forgotten or hadn’t absorbed (since I hadn’t finished Prime 2 or 3, and barely remember what happened in Prime). It’s OK. This game assumes you might be coming in clean, though knowing the Metroid series will help.
Hollywood flair, but not too much
It’s also clear that Nintendo is pushing the Metroid series more into the mainstream. With Nintendo making theme parks and films now, Metroid seems like a future candidate for another franchise spin-off. The game’s stellar opening video sequences feel like being propelled into Star Wars, and yes, the new talking side characters are peppered throughout. Some are annoying, some a bit clichéd, but all seem like they’re possibly auditioning for roles in future entertainment to come.
That annoying guy who seemed to always barge in during early game demos a few weeks ago? He doesn’t bother me too much. Definitely a lot of chat at first, but it settles down later. And, good news: So far, hours into playing, these characters don’t bother you all the time. In fact, in most of the maze-like maps, they’re out of communication range, and you’re on your own. Don’t worry, the lonely Samus vibe is still there.
Just enough feelings of getting truly lost
Samus ends up isolated on a new planet, Viewros, which is full of ancient artifacts from a civilization called the Lamorn that need to be awakened. You don’t know why you’re there, and you don’t know where to go. I mean, there are maps, and suggestions, and sometimes the game pings you a specific map goal. But the game doesn’t hold your hand much. I often wondered what to do next, which isn’t a bad thing at all. There are in-game suggestions and clues, and the design also lends itself to further suggestions.
A semi-open world
And what I’m still wrapping my head around is the vast desert overworld of Viewros, which exists within a mega map where specific regions to visit are scattered throughout. The desert feels largely empty, but there are mysterious things to find in it, some of which can’t even be accessed at first. Underground shrine-like caves. Pieces of rubble. Odd machines.
Also, the motorbike you uncover and ride — Vi-O-La, aka the Zelda Horse of Metroid Prime 4 — adds a nice bit of open-world feel here. Not a massive one so far, but enough to give the game dimension. It’s not Breath of the Wild, but it is a bit like Ocarina of Time’s handling of space. I love riding that Tron bike around, and I want all the Metroid games to add this type of layer. (Would there ever be a spaceship to fly? Is there one later, in this game? I don’t even know yet.)
It’s great (on Switch 2)
I haven’t played Metroid Prime 4 on the original Switch, but just like Pokemon Legends Z-A, it’s both Switch and Switch 2 playable. The Switch 2 version features a silky-smooth 60 frames per second (or 120fps at a lower resolution) and a fun mouse mode with the Joy-Cons, but I barely used it. I just find standard controls perfectly great as they are.
And, you do a lot of scanning of things in this game, using a Psychic Visor mode that sometimes activates relics, or scans and catalogs creatures, items and artifacts. That left trigger is maybe the most-used button in the game.
The game plays great both docked and handheld, which is good news because I’ll be traveling with this one for a while. I’m nowhere near finishing (sorry, I’m a slow gamer), but this earns the hype, even if it’s not a total reinvention of the control and play style. Now erase your brain of everything I said and dive in. Better you know nothing at all.
Technologies
Cyber Monday Might Be Gone, but This Record-Low Price on the Google Pixel 9 Is Still Here
Take hundreds off the Google Pixel 9. But hurry, there’s not much time left to score this after-Cyber Monday deal.
If you’re looking to get your hands on one of the best Android phones out there, Google is the best place to look. The company has been producing stellar phones for some time now. But like all great things, it certainly comes with a pretty big price tag. If you’re not eager to get the latest and greatest model, Cyber Monday had some pretty nice deals you can still grab while they hang around a smidge longer. You can save significantly on previous-generation devices if that works for you.
Right now, you can pick up the previous-gen Google Pixel 9 for just $499. This post-Cyber Monday deal brings the phone to its lowest-ever price with a 38% discount. That’s an exceptional price for one of the best phones you can buy, but that also means it’s unlikely to last for very long. So, if you want to pick this one up, we recommend doing so soon before it sells out.
The Google Pixel 9 is the sweet spot if you’re looking for a compact phone that doesn’t compromise on camera, performance or display specs. It has a 6.3-inch display, a long-lasting battery and is 5G-ready. This previous-gen flagship’s camera system is the same as the bigger model of its series. It also comes equipped with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.
The phone is available in multiple colors, but the special price isn’t offered for all of them. For that reason, we suggest checking the price of your preferred color before placing your order. Don’t worry if the Pixel 9 isn’t for you, though.
Not the phone you wanted? We’re rounding up all the remaining Cyber Monday phone deals so you don’t wind up paying more than you need to.
MOBILE DEALS OF THE WEEK
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$749 (save $250)
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$475 (save $175)
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$499 (save $300)
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$900 (save $400)
Why this deal matters
This Pixel 9 isn’t the latest that Google has to offer, but it’s still a great option. The Pixel 9 will continue to receive Android feature and security updates for a long time to come. That means you won’t need to replace your Pixel for years, making this deal an even better value. If you’re an Android fan who likes your phones to be as straightforward as possible, Google’s Pixel phones are a great place to start your search. And now that Cyber Monday is behind us, this deal won’t last much longer.
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