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Get Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon (PC) for free!

From the Cheapskate: "Packed with entertaining action and hysterical writing, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is an '80s-inspired blast." Plus: two bonus deals and a giveaway!

rickbroida
rickbroida
Rick Broida Senior Editor
Rick Broida is the author of numerous books and thousands of reviews, features and blog posts. He writes CNET's popular Cheapskate blog and co-hosts Protocol 1: A Travelers Podcast (about the TV show Travelers). He lives in Michigan, where he previously owned two escape rooms (chronicled in the ebook "I Was a Middle-Aged Zombie").
Rick Broida
3 min read

CNET's Cheapskate scours the Web for great deals on PCs, phones, gadgets and much more. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our FAQ page. And find more great buys on the CNET Deals page.


Keep calm and Cheapskate on, friends.

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Ubisoft

I don't know about you, but I could use some distraction today. A videogame, perhaps, one that lets me enjoy a little vicarious destruction and mayhem. Work out some frustrations, you know?

I've got just the thing -- and it's free! For a limited time, as part of its 30th-anniversary celebration, Ubisoft is offering Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon (PC) for $0. It would cost you at least $15 elsewhere.

As a longtime (but lapsed) gamer, I was familiar with the Far Cry series of first-person shooters -- but I'd actually never heard of Blood Dragon. Turns out it's a 2013 spin-off of Far Cry 3, and a highly rated one at that.

Whereas previous Far Crys were deadly serious, this one's a hilarious, '80s nostalgia-fueled romp. It stars beloved '80s actor Michael Biehn and features all manner of throwback gags, lines and settings. That said, parents should take note that the game has an "M" (Mature) rating and definitely earns it.

Want to learn more? Read GameSpot's Blood Dragon review. Spoiler alert: It received an 8.5 rating and this summation: "You don't have to love the decade of Rubik's Cubes and Pac-Man Fever to get a kick out of Blood Dragon. But if you do, then all the better: this action-packed shooter will strike all the right synth-pop power chords."

By the way, to take advantage of the freebie, you need a Uplay account -- also free -- and the Uplay PC client software.

Bonus deal: Wired headphones? What is this, 2015? (See, because iPhone 7...) Truth be told, I've long been a fan of Apple's Earpods, wires and all. Apple charges $30 for them, but for a limited time, and while supplies last, A4C has the Apple Earpods for $7.95 shipped. These come in bulk packaging (meaning no plastic case) but should otherwise be the same as what you'd get from Apple proper. I like to keep a pair in my gym bag just in case my Bluetooth earbuds run out of juice mid-workout.

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Everything's better with LEDs.

iOrange-E

Bonus deal No. 2: Are USB-C devices starting to make their way into your life? Then you're gonna need cables. Like this one: iOrange-E has a 6-foot USB Type-C braided cable with LED(!) for $8.99 when you apply coupon code FHI7A3OG at checkout. (The code works for both colors, black and gold, and shipping is free for Prime subscribers.)

Normally I wouldn't get super-excited about a simple USB cable, but this one is super-cool: It integrates an LED status indicator that glows red while charging and green when done.

Don't like cord clutter? Here's a retractable USB-C cable for $8.99 shipped when you apply coupon code 9LFU64UH. No LED, but great portability.

Giveaway! Would you enjoy a shiny new LG V20? Of course you would! CNET is giving you the chance to win one, so bop on over to the LG V20 giveaway page and complete the entry form before Nov. 17. And, actually, two lucky winners will score this awesome prize.