There is certainly no lack of 4K media streaming devices out there for you to choose from and it might be confusing for someone to figure out which one is the best. Well let's be clear right off the bat that the Apple TV stands atop the heap as one of the best, if not the best, media streamers available, doubly so if you already own an iPhone or iPad.

$50 Off the Newest Apple TV 4K

There's only one disadvantage of the Apple TV compared to its competitors, and that's the price. The newest Apple TV 4K is normally priced at $179.99 for the 32GB model. I'm not saying that the price isn't justified, but that's a premium price tag when other streaming devices can cost well under $100. Fortunately, today's deal makes this less of an issue. Amazon is offering a flat $50 off the 32GB model, bringing the price down to $129.99. It's not quite as cheap as what we saw on Prime Day, but it's still a great deal nonetheless and the best price we'll probably see for a while.

Why is the Apple TV is such a great media streaming device? For starters, it supports a huge range of apps. That includes video apps like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Paramount+, and of course original Apple TV movies and TV shows, as well as music apps like Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Music, and TIDAL. Apple TV also gives you access to Apple Arcade games that you normally wouldn't be able to play on a non-Apple device.

The Apple TV hardware is also top shelf. It's powered by an Apple A12 Bionic CPU that's capable of handling 4K HDR video paired with Dolby Atmos audio without a hitch. You're not gimped on storage space either; even the lesser 32GB model puts other media streamers to shame. For example, the Amazon Fire TV (any model) includes only 8GB of storage, Roku doesn't include any internal storage, and the NVIDIA Shield Pro comes closest with 16GB.

The current generation model also has a new and improved Siri remote that's head over heels superior to the previous generation black remote. Not only is the build quality better, but there are a few quality-of-life enhancements such as a 5-way clickpad, mute button, and dedicated power button that works for your TV, receiver, and Apple TV. They might sound like little upgrades, but they make a wold of difference in convenience and usability.

Finally, the Apple TV is a cinch to install, especially if you already own an Apple device like an iPhone or iPad. Even better, you won't need any additional setup to mirror your Apple TV content to your iPhone or iPad or vice versa. You'll be able to swap videos, movies, music, images, and browser content using Apple's proprietary AirPlay wireless connection. And since the iPhone is the most popular phone on the market right now, it's safe to say that quite a few people will find this functionality extremely practical.

Top Gun: Maverick has made more at the US box office than The Avengers.

The film may have debuted almost two months ago, but after another lucrative weekend, the recent Top Gun sequel has managed to surpass Marvel’s first superhero team-up.

Earning a staggering $623.8 million domestic, Top Gun: Maverick has become the ninth highest-grossing film of all time in the US (not accounting for inflation). It would have to make $653 million to pass the next title on the list, Jurassic World.

Starring Tom Cruise, Top Gun: Maverick takes place decades after the events of the first film. The highly-anticipated sequel sees the return of iconic pilot, Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. Returning to the Top Gun school for one last mission, it looks as though Mav will put all his skills to the test as he teaches a new Top Gun class how to fly.

Of course, it had already done incredibly well at the box office – becoming Tom Cruise’s highest-grossing blockbuster ever – not to mention earning its place as Paramount’s highest-grossing film of all time.

And with the re-release of the film’s IMAX version last month, Top Gun: Maverick managed to climb even higher, topping the $1 billion mark at the worldwide box office. In fact, Top Gun: Maverick has earned a massive $1.24 billion to date.

The film has benefitted from a huge following online where it proved to be highly popular upon its release. Rave reviews and a long box office run have helped the film earn its place among the heavy hitters.

IGN’s own review says that “Top Gun: Maverick is an out-of-bounds blast of afterburner fumes and thrillseeker highs that's sure to please audiences looking for a classic summer blockbuster. Director Joseph Kosinski doesn't lose the ‘80s nostalgia of movies that were light on reason and huge on chest-beating heroism. The fresh graduate faces are all aces, fighter jet choreography exceptional, and pursuit of excitement at Mach levels.”

Whether Top Gun: Maverick will continue its ascent remains to be seen, but it’s unlikely at this point that the sequel will break into America’s top six, which are currently: Star Wars: The Force Awakens ($936.6 million), Avengers: Endgame ($858.3 million), Spider-Man: No Way Home ($804.7 million), Avatar ($760 million), Black Panther ($700 million) and Avengers: Infinity War ($678 million).

Read more about Top Gun: Maverick with our explainer of Top Gun: Maverick's ending, a US Navy fighter pilot reacting to Top Gun, and the top 10 aerial dogfights of all time.

Top Gun: Maverick stars Tom Cruise as Maverick alongside Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Miles Teller, Monica Barbaro, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Ed Harris, Danny Ramirez, Manny Jacinto, and Greg Tarzan Davis.

Joseph Kosinski directed the film based on a script by Christopher McQuarrie, Ehren Kruger, and Eric Warren Singer.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

Ubisoft has announced that its upcoming first-person open world adventure, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora has been delayed to April 2023 at the earliest.

Revealed as part of Ubisoft's Q1 earnings report, the game was delayed into Ubisoft's 2023-24 financial year, which begins next April. No more specific release timeframe was given.

After an announcement in 2017 and a reveal in 2021, we've heard remarkably little about the project – meaning many won't be too surprised by the delay. Developed by The Division developer, Massive, the project was apparently impressive enough to convince Disney to let them make a Star Wars game, too.

No reasoning was given for the delay. Ubisoft did say, "We are committed to delivering a cutting-edge immersive experience that takes full advantage of next-gen technology, as this amazing global entertainment brand represents a major multi-year opportunity for Ubisoft."

"While this additional development time is a reflection of the current ongoing constraints on productions across the industry," it continued, "we are hard at work to design the most efficient working conditions to ensure both flexibility for our teams as well as strong productivity while delivering the best experiences to players."

The company also confirmed that a "smaller unannounced premium game" had also been delayed out of this financial year and into the next. It joins a huge list of games delayed out of 2022 and into 2023 – primarily due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Joe Skrebels is IGN's Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected].

Influential Batman and Judge Dredd writer Alan Grant has died, aged 73.

The acclaimed comic book writer, who also created several DC supervillains including Anarky, The Ratcatcher, and The Ventriloquist, and had several high-profile runs on both Batman and 2000 AD.

His wife Susan Grant announced his death via Facebook, but no cause of death has been revealed. “I have no words,” she said. “Alan died this morning.”

Very sad to learn that writer Alan Grant has passed away. His Batman work was must-read for young me. RIP, sir, and condolences to his friends, family, and his many fans. https://t.co/PtRMYrLUwm

— Cully Hamner (@CullyHamner) July 21, 2022

Tributes to Grant have poured in from across the comic book fraternity, with those who worked with Grant praising his ingenuity and influence.

“Everyone at 2000 AD and Rebellion is devastated to hear of the passing of Alan Grant,” said an official statement from the comic book publisher. “Grant was one of his generation’s finest writers, combining a sharp eye for dialogue and political satire with a deep empathy that made his characters seem incredibly human and rounded. Through his work, he had a profound and enduring influence on 2000 AD and on the comics industry.”

Grant was renowned for his skewering satire during his time at 2000 AD, teaming up with John Wagner on Judge Dredd and Strontium Dog throughout the 1980s.

The duo soon went on to work for DC Comics, writing Batman stories in Detective Comics from 1988.

“Horribly saddened to hear of the passing of Alan Grant,” said fellow Batman writer, Tom King. “Lobo, LEGION, Batman—these books questioned what superhero comics could be and do: they were sharply, cooly cynical and yet oddly—and wonderfully—they contained a powerful, warm undercurrent of hope. Hell of a writer. RIP.”

Grant was born in Bristol but raised in Midlothian and eventually settled in Moniaive, Dumfriesshire with his wife.

Throughout his long career, Grant worked on some of the biggest titles in comic book history but is also credited for going out of his way to nurture new talent.

He was even credited for starting the career of an unknown writer, Alan Moore, whose script he found amid the unsolicited submissions pile at 2000 AD.

“I got a brilliant letter back from Alan Grant,” Moore recalled. “He went out of his way to encourage people who he thought had talent.”

IGN sends its condolences to Grant's family and friends.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

Thumbnail credit: Alan A Grant

Virtual pet creation website Neopets has been hacked, potentially compromising up to 69 million accounts.

As reported by Polygon, the data breach was first reported by community site JellyNeo on July 20, with the official Neopets Twitter subsequently posting an announcement and warning (below) that recommends users change their password on Neopets and any other website where the same login information is used.

"Neopets recently became aware that customer data may have been stolen," the post said. "It appears that email addresses and passwords used to access Neopets accounts may have been affected."

It added: "As our investigation continues, we will update you as appropriate. We truly appreciate your patience and understanding at this time."

Neopets recently became aware that customer data may have been stolen. We immediately launched an investigation assisted by a leading forensics firm. We are also engaging law enforcement and enhancing the protections for our systems and our user data. (1/3)

— neopets (@Neopets) July 21, 2022

Immediately following the breach, the development team said, it launched an investigation with help from a leading forensics firm, notified law enforcement, and upgraded its system and data protection. The full extent of the breach is currently unclear and the Neopets team is yet to confirm whether or not users' credit card information has also been compromised.

The hacker allegedly offered to sell the full database and source code according to JellyNeo, for a price of four Bitcoin (around $90,000). They also offered live access to the database for an additional fee.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.