Mashable

You load into a public VR world. At first, things seem pretty innocent — until you enter the sauna only a few steps away from the spawn point. Suddenly, you've stumbled upon a public orgy full of e-boys and e-girls with genitals larger than physically possible in real life. People silently sit and watch; who knows who these people are.

There are dedicated games for people to have sex in virtual reality, such as VirtaMate and AnthroHeat, but more often than not people are getting intimate on the metaverse social platform VRChat. Here, players are able to join over 25,000 community created worlds, most of which are innocent hangout spots while others are a breeding ground for horny gamers.

SEE ALSO: Buzzy CES vibrator looks — and acts — like a remote

There are multiple levels to sex in virtual reality, or as many call it, erotic roleplay (ERP). The first is not too dissimilar to phone sex: Players will talk dirty using the chat function or their voice while their avatars interact with each other. 

A majority of VRChat ERPers, however, take it a step further by using Bluetooth sex toys to simulate what appears on screen. Mashable spoke with creators of tools that make this possible, as well as ERPers who utilize this technology to explore their sexuality. 

Making VR sex a little bit more real

ERPers use one of the many "dynamic penetration systems" that allow for their virtual penis to enter a virtual vagina, asshole, or mouth. This combined with full body tracking, which allows for every movement of your body to happen in-game, creates for impressively realistic looking sex. This experience may trigger someone's phantom touch — a phenomenon where users believe they can "feel" sensations in VR — which some claim they can orgasm solely from.

Tweet may have been deleted

However, not everyone can experience phantom touch. In the absence of this, two tools (RealFeel and Buttplug.io) emerged that trigger Bluetooth sex toy movements from in-game events.

"Originally I made RealFeel as I lack phantom sense," Kanna, creator of RealFeel, told Mashable. "I felt nothing when I did lewd acts in VR. RealFeel was made to fix that for me."

Four months after Kanna created the tool for personal use, the project started to take off. Now seven years after its creation, RealFeel claims to have 2,800 Discord members. RealFeel is designed to only work with VRChat while Buttplug.io is an open source tool that can be adapted to work with any game — including Animal Crossing.

Every tool works slightly differently but, generally, they require the user to select what region(s) of their avatar they want to trigger their toy(s). Some tools require your partner to connect to your toy in order to activate it, while other tools allow anyone to activate the toy with touch. 

This GIF shows the configuration of a RealFeal breast sensor, changing the start and end of the sensor cone:

Via Giphy

"I created the first sex interface for Second Life, back in 2005," Kyle Machulis, the founder of Buttplug.io, told Mashable. "This is just a natural progression of something humans have been doing for decades already. People have been having sex in online worlds since the late '80s, early '90s."

Depending on your toy, the tools can translate complex inputs into complex outputs. At its most basic, this means a fleshlight understanding the depth your character has penetrated another. If you have one of the more complex toys (i.e. the SR6) you can adapt your tool to move up and down, side to side, rotate and twist, as well as lubricate and control heat.

"Bringing Bluetooth toys into it makes things interesting very quickly," John*, Director of Foxhole, a furry group that organizes ERP meetups, told Mashable. "VR porn becomes obsolete because you have an opportunity in VRChat to engage with other human beings. That's a deeper level of connection. It's more meaningful and more customizable." 

80 percent of VRChatERP Discord members reported more intense orgasms when having sex in VRChat compared to watching porn—14 percent even reported orgasms more intense than real sex. 

Just H Party and Shangri-La are VRChat public worlds for foxy users to find others to have sex with. At Just H Party, people will enter lockable rooms before they get down and dirty, but at Shangri-La you'll regularly find people having sex in the public sauna.

Tweet may have been deleted Why have VR sex?

Many engage in VR sex due to social anxieties. One user told Mashable in Discord, "I'm an introvert and afraid of the real world so I'd rather explore myself online." While others love the safety of it: "There's zero chance of pregnancy, and there is zero risk for physical harm. If someone does something you don't like you can just block them, kick them out of the world, or simply leave," another user explained. 

"VR can definitely add a positive side to sexual exploration," Dr. Karen Stewart, PsyD, a sex and relationship therapist, told Mashable. "It gives a person the opportunity to explore people, sexual experiences, and try new things without fear of judgment – from themselves or anyone else. It's not permanent, no one else’s feelings are involved, and is truly safe sex because no actual body-to-body contact nor fluid exchange occurs."

This is just a natural progression of something humans have been doing for decades already. - Kyle Machulis, the founder of Buttplug.io

As is expected, technology can sometimes stand in the way of immersion. VR sex replaces the awkward silence while putting on a condom with controllers running out of battery, and swaps ignoring queefs for ignoring the background noise of Discord notifications. 

There's also a cost. Players may be naked but they'll be strapped with a headset, 3+ trackers, headphones to prevent moaning blasting to your roommates, and however many sex toys a player wants to use — this could cost over $1,500 excluding a gaming PC to run everything on. 

Money aside, this is a great way for long-distance couples to connect in a deeper way than purple Snapchat messages. That said, hookup culture in VRChat is rife. "Getting your virtual dick sucked is easier than getting five bucks," one horny user explained.

Adult activities within an all-ages space

You only have to be 13 years old to play VRChat (as it's not strictly a sexual platform), so people publicly having sex are at huge risk of exposing themselves to minors when having sex or picking people up in public worlds.

Many users are hyper-aware of this risk, especially in the wake of the British police investigating a sexual assault in VR, so they run checks to avoid getting intimate with a minor. People in the Shangri-La sauna reported checking their partners bio, asking directly, and trusting their gut before engaging with another user. Unfortunately, these efforts just aren't enough to completely remove this criminal risk.

To prevent children entering these spaces, communities form on Discord that require ID age verification. VRChatERP, for example, requires two pictures: one of your face and ID in the same picture and another with your ID and Discord name in the same picture. 

"We initially had less invasive requirements for age verification, which lead to almost daily issues with members being minors," Steve*, the founder of VRChatERP, told Mashable. "Ultimately, our method of verification is essential for ensuring that adults have no chance of sexually interacting with minors and vice versa. We haven’t had an age-related ticket in about a year."

SEE ALSO: Sex workers are cloning themselves with AI to make sexy chatbots Exploring kinks not possible IRL

Each community hosts a range of different events, some groups prefer chilled meetups while others opt for flashy DJ-events with corners for people to ERP in. "I've joined worlds and the first experience I get hit with is a bunch of people moaning, it's quite surreal," one event attendee explained.

Just like real life, many people enter these communities and begin their slut era. Soon, they tire of this and start to play with a smaller group and explore new corners of their sexuality. Some slowly become more open to queer sexual interactions while others begin to experiment in kinks they hadn't previously considered.

"During ERP I may be more willing to engage in slightly violent kinks or kinks that would be not-good or downright unhygienic in real-life," a user who has been having VR sex for two years told Mashable. "The idea of being cut or stabbed during sex does seem really hot but it probably wouldn't be so great if I was actually hurt like that."

Kinks that aren't possible to safely explore in real-life are able to be explored in this virtual realm. For example, hard vore — the desire to be ripped apart before being eaten — can be explored if the player is skilled enough to make an avatar that can have its limbs removed with blood and gore.

"The downside of this fantasy fulfillment is that it has been found that people can become jaded to 'real world' sexual experiences." Stewart explained. "For instance, if a young person is experimenting with VR sex on a regular basis, exploring fantasies, things that will not happen in reality, when they encounter a real-life sexual relationship they may have erectile problems, orgasm disorders, or lack interest in real human touch."

In a virtual reality where your creativity and imagination can run free, the line between fantasy and reality become blurred. Bluetooth sex toys help deepen the immersion that what you're experiencing is real, allowing unrealistic kinks to feel like a new reality. 

"Don't get lost in wonderland. Know the boundaries between fantasy and reality," John pleaded. "Don't forget, at the end of the day, you're not some cat or dog or animatronic or fox girl. You're a human being with a life to live."

* Pseudonyms have been used to protect sources' privacy.

TL;DR: The Omnia X6i PD Wall Charger is compact and can quickly charge three devices at once. As of Jan. 27, you can grab it on sale for $64.99 (reg. $75) — that's 13% in savings.

With hybrid and remote work being the norm these days, power is power. If one of the devices you rely on is out of battery, it can put a damper on your whole day's flow. That's why finding charging solutions that can support your lifestyle is crucial.

Most of us move between our phones, tablets, and laptops. If you need a compact charger to keep multiple devices ready to go, the Omnia X6i could be your answer. This wall charger can fast charge three devices at once, and it's on sale for just $64.99 (reg. $75) for a limited time.

The Omnia X6i PD uses GaN technology to give you efficient, super-fast charging in its three ports: USB C1, USB C2, and USB-A. This gives it universal compatibility, which means it should work on most Apple or Android devices. It also sports a helpful LED indicator to show you the real-time status of your charge.

If you travel often for work or pleasure, this multi-device charger has some features that may win you over, such as the compact design and ability to do triple-duty. It's small enough to keep in your purse, backpack, laptop case, and even your pocket. Plus, it comes with travel plugs for over 150 countries (US, UK, EU, and others), making it an internationally compatible solution that won't add any bulk to your travel gear. 

Don't settle for the slow charge of most multi-chargers out there. Upgrade your charging experience with the lightning-fast, compact Omnia X6i charger while it's on sale.

Pick up this Omnia X6i PD Wall Charger for just $64.99 (reg. $75) for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Adam Elements Omnia X6i PD Wall Charger $64.99 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

TL;DR: As of January 27, get the Heated Reclining Stadium Seat for only $99.99 — a 16% discount.

The work of a sports fan is never over. You may be there supporting your team, but the weather might not make it easy this year. Whether you have tickets to the big game, are tailgating, or are showing your colors for the little league home team, you don't have to fight the weather from the stands. Instead, just park in a seat that could help keep you nice and warm all on its own. The Heated Reclining Stadium Seat has a built-in heating system powered by a USB battery pack, and it's on sale for $99.99  for a little while longer. 

Comfort the moment you touch down

This time, getting into the hot seat is a good thing. The deluxe Heated Massage Stadium Seat is comfort you can carry. Leave the discomfort to the athletes battling it out down below while you recline on a comfortable heated stadium seat that gets as high as 110°F. The seat just needs a USB battery pack to power up. Just make sure to bring your own, as one isn't included, but that means you can just plug in any USB power source. Long game? Bring your own power station. 

Game going into overtime but your back's aching? Just turn on any of the three massage settings and settle in for the long haul. There are three detachable pockets to keep your essentials, foldable armrests for a wider seat, and thick padded for comfort. Plus, this seat is made of waterproof material that's suitable for a variety of conditions. 

Turn up the heat

You may be bringing the heat supporting your favorite team, but this stadium seat is here to bring the heat and support you. 

Until January 28 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get the Heated Massage Reclining Stadium Seat for $99.99 (reg. $119.95), with no coupon needed. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Alpcour Heated Massage Reclining Stadium Seat with Armrests and Side Pockets $99.99 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

TL;DR: As of January 27, get this Gemelli Home Oven for only $199.99 — that's 33% off.

Snacks are serious business, especially when the game is on. Just any old snacks might not cut it. If you want something a little more gourmet without dominating the whole kitchen, see what you can cook up with the Gemelli Home Oven. This countertop convection oven brings a whole menu of potential in one compact package. 

Pizza, rotisserie chicken, mac and cheese bakes, and so much more are on the table with this little oven, and it's on sale for $199.99 for a limited time. 

Like your own restaurant on the counter

The Gemelli Home Oven is like having a pro-quality convection oven plus a rotisserie cooker on your countertop. Plus, the lower oven works as a built-in pizza drawer, so you can double up on snacks. And all of it is controlled by the knobs on the side, no complicated menus or touchscreens. The oven has an elegant stainless steel finish along with an internal non-stick coating for easy cleaning. 

The main oven compartment has four quartz heating elements and a max temperature of 450º. You can move the racks between three positions and choose from eight cooking functions, including Bake, Convection Bake, Slow Cook, Convection Roast, Broil, Rotisserie, Defrost, and Keep Warm.

Get the whole gang together for a slice of something hot and cheesy from a pizza drawer that can bake up to 12-inch pizzas. You could also use it for frozen snacks, toast, bread, bagels, and a whole lot more. You can also use the rotisserie feature to cook meats up to six pounds at a time. 

Get snacks ready for the big game

Snack in style during the big game. 

Until January 28 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get the Gemelli Home Oven for just $199.99. No coupon needed. 

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Opens in a new window Credit: Gemelli Gemelli Home Oven - Convection Oven with Built-In Pizza Drawer and Rotisserie $199.99 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal

TL;DR: For a limited time, you can get Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac or Windows for $39.99—that's $190 off the regular price of $229.

Certain apps are hard to get by without. Microsoft programs like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint may be the mainstays for productivity, but there's more than one way to get them. If you already have a Microsoft 365 subscription, then you know how quickly those fees can add up month to month or year to year. A cheaper alternative is to go for a slightly older version of the same software that has a lifetime license. 

Microsoft Office 2019 comes with many of the same apps as Microsoft 365, but you only pay for it once to get it on one computer for life. And you can get it on Windows or Mac for just $39.99. 

What's in Microsoft Office 2019

The Mac version of Microsoft Office 2019 comes with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Teams Classic. These are all the 2019 versions of the apps you may have used with Microsoft 365, so they might look a little different, but they still have many of the same features.

The Windows version has the same apps as what's available for Mac, but it replaces Teams with Publisher and Access. That means you can always have reliable software for drafting essays, analyzing data, crafting presentations, and even creating standout printables for your next big meeting. 

Save on Microsoft Office for life

Stop paying a monthly fee for productivity. 

Go for a classic version of the apps you rely on that works great and doesn't require a monthly or yearly subscription:

• Microsoft Office Home and Business 2019 for Mac, on sale for $39.99

• Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows, on sale for $39.99

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nerdused LTD Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Windows $39.99 in the Mashable Shop Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nerdused LTD Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac $39.99 in the Mashable Shop Get Deal

NASA wants to hear far-out, unconventional, and out-of-this-world aerospace ideas.

The space agency's Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) program — which encourages "visionary ideas that could transform future NASA missions with the creation of breakthroughs" — funds research into a diversity of ambitious proposals it finds compelling. For example, NASA is currently funding an idea (still only an idea) to construct a telescope the size of Washington, D.C., on the moon.

Now, the program has released a new batch of innovative concepts that it's chosen for further theoretical development, and included is a plane designed to fly around Mars — and stay aloft in the extremely thin Martian atmosphere. The proposal is called MAGGIE (short for Mars Aerial and Ground Intelligent Explorer), and it's an aircraft envisioned to provide unprecedented exploration of Mars' surface.

And unlike planes on Earth, the craft is designed to take off and land vertically, like a helicopter.

"You can land any place you feel is interesting," Gecheng Zha, the director of the CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) and Aerodynamics Lab at the University of Miami, told Mashable.

SEE ALSO: NASA will land daring spacecraft on a world 800 million miles away

The Martian plane is a novel idea, but perhaps not as wild as it sounds. NASA is only spending some $175,000 on 13 different awardees for this early "Phase I" conceptual research. But it comes with the opportunity for NASA to further develop such aerospace technology and move innovation to the next phase — which means even more funding and support.

"It can't just be science fiction."

"Anything proposed to NASA has to be very, very well thought out," Zha, who is also the president and founder of Coflow Jet, the aviation technology company that proposed the MAGGIE craft, emphasized. "It has to have scientific merit. It can't just be science fiction."

A plane on Mars

The Martian aircraft, which would be powered by the solar panels spread across its wings, has a strong Mars influence: NASA's Ingenuity helicopter — a NIAC-graduate and the first craft to make a powered, controlled flight on another planet. The small, solar-powered experimental chopper, with four-foot-long rotor blades that spun a blazing 2,400 revolutions every minute, made over 70 successful flights before meeting its demise on Jan. 25 after a rough landing. Originally, engineers hoped it might fly five times, if at all.

"We were enlightened by Ingenuity," Zha said.

Yet a plane would be able to carry significantly more weight than a future Martian helicopter, and would fly more efficiently on a distant world where craft would almost certainly need to rely on the sun for energy, Zha explained. (A nuclear-powered endeavor, like the Perseverance rover, requires a heavy engine. That would make lifting into the air difficult.)

The Ingenuity helicopter flying on Mars in August 2023. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / ASU / MSSS The Jezero Crater on Mars, a dried-up river delta now explored by NASA's Perseverance rover. Credit: NASA

Flying anything on Mars is a great challenge. That's because, compared to Earth, the Martian atmosphere is quite thin. Its volume is about 1 percent of Earth's, making it difficult to generate the lift needed for flight. Yet the MAGGIE plane's narrow double-wings are designed (conceptually) to produce many times more lift than conventional aircraft on our planet.

Once in the air, the plane would cruise at some 60 meters per second, or nearly 135 mph. That's significantly slower than, say, the commercial jets you're used to flying on. But on Mars, flying slower is imperative. Flying quickly burns too much energy.

"You don't want to fly too fast," Zha emphasized.

Beyond its extraordinarily thin air, Mars has another notable obstacle for aircraft. There are no runways. And Martian astronaut missions certainly aren't going to have the time and ability to clear land and boulders to create an airfield. So the craft must take off and land without one.

"You don't want to fly too fast."

The trick is in the wings' flaps. The propellers are always facing forward, but by turning the wing flap down to 90 degrees, the airflow from the propellers creates lift. "That will get the plane up vertically," Zha explained.

One day, perhaps, a plane like MAGGIE will robotically explore the Martian surface from some 3,280 feet (1,000 meters) for interesting places to land and capture samples. It will be a compact plane — MAGGIE is currently designed with about a 26-foot (7.85 meters) wingspan — so it could fit and fold inside a large rocket. But it would allow unprecedented exploration of the Red Planet, a world that once gushed with water and could have potentially hosted primitive life — if life ever existed on Mars, that is.

Planes on Mars may also prove essential for Martian travel later this century and beyond. After all, it's hard to get around on a world without an Interstate Highway System.

"We provide the possibility to move around," Zha said. "There are no roads there."

Since its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, Poor Things has sparked much excitement and controversy over its sex scenes. But lost amid the pearl-clutching is how the sexual odyssey of heroine Bella Baxter (Emma Stone) delivers a daring contrast to earlier films by director Yorgos Lanthimos. 

His most unnerving films explore bodily autonomy; specifically, the horror of losing control of one's body. In The Killing of a Sacred Deer, characters lose control over their bodies as part of a twisted revenge scheme. In The Lobster, singles must find a lifelong partner within 45 days, or else they will be turned into animals. Yet Poor Things, a fantastical science-fiction fantasy, is a compelling examination of how exhilarating and powerful it is to claim your body as your own. And for Bella, that self-discovery comes through sex.

This Frankenstein-like tale plays as a coming-of-age story, in which Bella's young mind and matured body are a funhouse mirror version of a teen girl discovering sex, new feelings, and a wider world. Throughout her journey to achieving freedom and bodily autonomy, the men in her life constantly seek to restrict what she can do with her body. Whether they are father figures or lovers, Bella is pressured to exist on their terms. But Bella’s rebellion is always about what she desires. So naturally, it begins with masturbation.

Early on in the dining room of her creator/father, Dr. Godwin "God" Baxter (Willem Dafoe), Bella grabs an apple and experiments with it sexually, rubbing it against her genitals. When the maid enters the dining room, Bella cannot contain her excitement. "Bella discover happy when she want," she exclaims. Just like that, sexual pleasure and happiness are intrinsically linked for her. But this discovery earns her a reprimand from the prudish maid. Godwin’s student Max (Ramy Youssef) also admonishes her, noting polite society would not approve. Still, there’s an unmistakable sense that something has been unlocked, and everything is about to change for Bella. 

SEE ALSO: Willem Dafoe and Mark Ruffalo reveal their intense physical transformations in 'Poor Things' Sex changes Bella’s life forever. Credit: Searchlight Pictures

Confined to Godwin’s home, Bella is severely overprotected by her father. Though she has certain freedoms, she’s rarely afforded time to herself to properly explore her desires and her own body. And what Bella wants more than anything is to explore: The first full sentence she speaks is, "Bella want look at world."

Bella is offered another form of restriction when Godwin decides she will be married to the smitten Max. Godwin also stipulates that Max and Bella must remain in his home — a clear way for him to continue to control Bella, keeping her under his roof and restricting her from the real world. As the doctor who resurrected a corpse into the breathing Bella, he sees her in some sense as his property — or as he'd put it, his "experiment." 

Meanwhile, sweet and mild-mannered Max aims to guide Bella from loving daughter to doting wife. But for Bella to do that, she’d have to embrace the “polite society” Max urges onto her — which goes against her newfound physical desires.

To facilitate the marriage contract, Godwin brings in lawyer Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo), a lusty rogue who envisions a different role for Bella — that of his lover. Unlike Max, Duncan refutes the very idea of polite society. Duncan pursues Bella aggressively, sneaking into her bedroom and groping her genitals on the first meeting, which excites her. His bon vivant attitude and romantic promises of running away on a sex-filled adventure promise a chance to explore that's both geographical and sexual. For Bella, Duncan offers an opportunity to rebel against the roles into which Godwin and Max push her. By fucking Duncan, she effectively fucks polite society, and giddily so. 

Like many stories of young women discovering themselves, Bella's budding sex life offers a path to growth, as through it she questions societal rules. Why shouldn’t she say what she wants? Why shouldn’t she do as she pleases? And why should she do whatever Duncan tells her to? These are not questions Duncan can answer in a way that satisfies Bella.  

While the pair initially have a sensational affair full of satisfying "furious jumping," Bella soon learns her stamina and sex drive and curiosity about the world are greater than his. To Duncan’s horror, Bella explores sex with other men and goes on solo trips around the city. Despite their sexual connection, a conflict emerges over who is in control of Bella, pushing Duncan into the role of jealous lover. 

A boat trip expands Bella’s horizons. Credit: Searchlight Pictures

Determined to keep her as his own, Duncan puts Bella into a literal box (well, trunk) and kidnaps her onto a cruise ship. When Duncan offers her sex to ease her frustrations, she refuses. It’s a breakthrough moment for Bella, who now has the emotional maturity to understand that Duncan is actively restricting her freedom and the power to deny who denies her.

Bella’s life begins hedonistically, with sex playing a large role in her path toward achieving self-actualization. But it's her cerebral pursuits that define the kind of person Bella becomes. The film’s most pivotal moment happens when Bella meets Martha (Hanna Schygulla), an older woman vacationing on the cruise. Martha is the first person who doesn’t use Bella for personal gain and doesn’t seek to control her. Instead, this content friend satiates Bella’s unquenchable thirst for knowledge by introducing her to philosophy. 

Philosophy not only expands Bella's mind, but also allows Bella to break free from the roles she’s been forced into. With Godwin, she was a daughter; with Max, a wife; and with Duncan, a mistress. All those roles are defined by her relationship to someone else, but philosophy shows Bella how she can thrive by herself. This thrills her. She devours books with the same voracious appetite she brings to sexual encounters. She's freed her body for pleasure, and now her mind for philosophy. 

Bella becomes her "own means of production" through sex work. Credit: Searchlight Pictures

When a downturn in fortune aboard the cruise leaves Bella and Duncan penniless in Paris, she stumbles upon a brothel owner named Swiney (Kathryn Hunter), who offers her a means of making money. When Duncan discovers she’s begun sex work, he denounces her a "whore." Bella clarifies tersely, "We’re our own means of production."

Bella’s study of philosophy has created a dramatic shift in how she understands herself and the world around her. After a lifetime of men trying to control what she can and cannot do with her body, sex work gives Bella the clarity to realize sex isn’t just a useful tool for pleasure. The experience at the brothel unlocks the idea her body is entirely her own, and she can use it to achieve anything she wishes. Working there also introduces her to a politically minded colleague, Toinette (Suzy Bemba), who helps Bella explore science and socialism. During their time together in Paris, the pair stimulate each other intellectually and sexually, forming a deep emotional bond.  

Sex work also opens Bella’s eyes to less-than-joyful experiences. But as Swiney chides her, "We must experience everything, not just the good. But degradation, horror, and sadness. This makes us whole … Then we can know the world." "I want that," Bella responds, hungry to better understand not only herself but also — the way of many coming-of-age heroines — the world around her.

Bella fights for her body and achieves her dreams. Credit: Searchlight Pictures

Returning to London to reunite with her ailing father figure, there’s a new, unanticipated horror that awaits her. General Alfie (Christopher Abbott), once wed to the woman whose body Bella now possesses, seeks to control her more strictly than any other. To keep her in their home, he threatens to shoot her should she try to leave. And when she won't obey him, he plots to drug her and have a doctor perform nonconsensual genital mutilation, which he hopes will kill her sex drive and general obstinance. 

The men in her life have a variety of motives in their restriction of Bella’s bodily autonomy. Godwin wants to experiment; Max wants love; Duncan seeks pleasure; Alfie demands control. Yet each — for a time — attempts to control her. From God and Max, she runs away. She dumps Duncan when he turns wrathful and jealous. But when it comes to the General, she will have to fight. 

To his face, Bella laughs off his absurd ideals: "I will keep my new life, and my lovely old clitoris, thank you." Then she grapples with him physically, wrestling away the gun to retain the freedoms she’s fought so hard to succeed (and, crucially, her clitoris), leading to the General sustaining a wound that could be fatal were it not for some God(win)ly intervention. With the final barrier to bodily autonomy defeated, Bella goes home again. 

In the end, the judgment of polite society is no match for Bella's desire to see the world and find her own path. Bella makes amends with her father. Max accepts as she is, loving her without condition. Even Toinette comes to London to be apart of the Baxter house, or Bella's chosen family — a trope often found in queer coming-of-age narratives. 

Through Bella’s journey, she’s achieved what many Lanthimos characters can only dream of — an understanding of herself and control over her body and destiny. Through lots of sex and exploring the world, she finally secures the autonomy she desires without sacrificing ties to those she loves. She’s back home, but on her own terms, surrounded by her friends, free to live out her desires and curiosities. And it all started with an apple. 

2023 was a great year for British TV (and for TV in general), but it looks like 2024 is already shaping up well.

Not only do we have new seasons of Heartstopper, We Are Lady Parts and Bridgerton to look forward to, but there are also new royal dramas in the form of Mary & George and The Regime. Plus, there's an adaptation of Holly Jackson's wildly popular book A Good Girl's Guide to Murder and a brand new show from Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight.

SEE ALSO: The 20 best British TV shows of 2023

Without further ado, here are the British TV shows we're most excited about in 2024 — and if you're outside the UK, you might need a VPN to see some of them before they hit Hulu, Max et al.

1. The Tourist, Season 2 Jamie Dornan returns for another season. Credit: BBC/Two Brothers/Steffan Hill

The Tourist's first outing was an entertaining mix of dark comedy, thriller and Memento-style mystery in the Australian outback, following a man (Jamie Dornan) who wakes up with amnesia after a car accident and has to race to discover who he is — all while people are (you guessed it!) trying to kill him. The six-episode BBC miniseries made for a twisty adventure with plenty of surprises, so it'll be interesting to see where Harry and Jack Williams' show goes next as the main characters travel to Ireland to discover Dornan's character's roots.

Starring: Jamie Dornan, Danielle Macdonald, Olwen Fouéré, Diarmaid Murtagh, Nessa Matthews, Mark McKenna, Francis Magee, and Conor MacNeill.

How to watch: The Tourist is currently streaming on BBC iPlayer in the UK.

2. Doctor Who The big one. Credit: Alistair Heap/Bad Wolf/BBC Studios

A new series of Doctor Who always brings with it fresh excitement, but it's probably fair to say that Ncuti Gatwa's upcoming season — following on the heels of a popular Christmas special — has to be one of the most highly-anticipated in a while. As Mashable's Chris Taylor pointed out, rather than being known as Season 14, the upcoming series will be Season 1 — a fresh start.

"This is New, New Who, then: A very Gen Z reboot," Taylor wrote. "As older fans cope with exploded brains and (potentially) seething anger, the Doctor merrily shape-shifts once more, changing what we thought knew yet again. And the show proves it has the chops to last another 60 years. Because it always takes us where we need to go."

Starring: Ncuti Gatwa, Millie Gibson, Yasmin Finney, Bonnie Langford, Jinkx Monsoon, Jonathan Groff, Indira Varma, Lenny Rush, Michelle Greenidge, Angela Wynter, Anita Dobson, Jemma Redgrave, Alexander Devrient, and Aneurin Barnard.

How to watch: The new season of Doctor Who will be streaming on BBC iPlayer in May 2024.

3. A Good Girl's Guide to Murder Holly Jackson's YA thriller is coming to the screen. Credit: BBC/Moonage Pictures/Joss Barratt

Based on the first novel in Holly Jackson's wildly popular YA thriller series, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder follows teenage student Pip (Wednesday star Emma Myers) as she digs into a five-year-old murder case — and tries to prove that the person blamed wasn't actually the one responsible. This crime mystery is likely to get a lot of attention from the book's huge fanbase alone.

Starring: Emma Myers, Zain Iqbal, Yali Topol Margalith, Asha Banks, Jude Collie, Raiko Gohara, Anna Maxwell Martin, Gary Beadle, Mathew Baynton, Henry Ashton, Mitu Panicucci, India Lillie Davies, Rahul Pattni, Orla Hill, Ephraim O.P. Sampson, Carla Woodcock, Yasmin Al-Khudhairi, Jessica Webber, Matthew Khan, Georgia Aaron, Adam Astill, Jackson Bews, Oliver Wickham, Annabel Mullion, and Adam Astill.

How to watch: A Good Girl's Guide to Murder will be streaming on BBC iPlayer in the UK, release date TBC.

4. Heartstopper, Season 3 What will happen next for Tao and Elle? Credit: Netflix / Samuel Dore

Netflix's adaptation of Alice Oseman's beloved graphic novel will return for a third season this year, reuniting you with Charlie and Nick and their delightful gang of pals. They decided to make it official at the end of Season 1 and dabbled with saying "love" out loud in Season 2. Meanwhile, Tao and Elle finally figured out their feelings, Isaac found a name for his own sexuality, while Darcy's turbulent home life boiled over. Filming has wrapped for Season 3, with the first episode titled "Love." As far as characters go, the toxic Ben (Sebastian Croft) won't be back, but Oseman announced graphic novel character Michael Holden (Darragh Hand) will join the story. Can't bloody wait. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

Starring: Kit Connor, Joe Locke, Yasmin Finney, William Gao, Corinna Brown, Kizzy Edgell, Tobie Donovan, Jenny Walser, and Rhea Norwood.

How to watch: Heartstopper Season 3 will be streaming on Netflix, date TBC.

5. We Are Lady Parts, Season 2 They're baaaaack. Credit: Channel 4

It's been a while since Nida Manzoor's comedy about an all-female Muslim punk bad made a splash with its first season, but fans will be pleased to hear that it won't be long before Saira (Sarah Kameela Impey), Ayesha (Juliette Motamed), Bisma (Faith Omole), Momtaz (Lucie Shorthouse) and Amina (Anjana Vasan) are back on our screens.

"The main critique for We Are Lady Parts remains that it is too short," wrote Mashable's Proma Khosla about Season 1. "I want eight episodes, or 10, or 50. Finishing the first season feels a lot like performing a stage gig; you won't remember every detail but you'll remember the feeling, a rush of joy and adrenaline that you were grateful to share with this motley, magnificent crew."

Starring: Sarah Kameela Impey, Juliette Motamed, Faith Omole, Lucie Shorthouse, and Anjana Vasan.

How to watch: We Are Lady Parts will be streaming on Channel 4 in the UK, then likely streaming on Peacock in the U.S.

6. This Town New Steven Knight show coming. Credit: BBC / Banijay Rights, Kudos / Robert Viglasky

Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is back with a new show set around Birmingham, UK — a six-part mini-series that trades 1900s gangs for the early 1980s music scene while keeping the tension, violence and family drama that made Knight's earlier show such a hit. We don't have too much more info to go on at this stage, but the story will apparently follow the formation of a band "against a backdrop of violence." Sounds ominous.

Starring: Levi Brown, Jordan Bolger, Ben Rose, Eve Austin, Geraldine James, Peter McDonald, Freya Parks, Shyvonne Ahmmad, John Heffernan, Stefan Asante-Boateng, Séainín Brennan, George Somner, and Brendan Gibson.

How to watch: This Town is available on BBC iPlayer from spring 2024.

7. Queenie Candice Carty-Williams' adaptation of her debut novel. Credit: Channel 4

Candice Carty-Williams has already had a big 2023 with her awesome BBC series Champion, but 2024 has even more on the horizon. The author has adapted her popular 2020 debut novel Queenie as a buzzy series with Onyx Collective and Channel 4, with Dionne Brown in the lead as the eponymous protagonist. With Carty-Williams at the helm as showrunner and executive producer, the series will revolve around Queenie, a 25-year-old Jamaican-British journalist who's going through a break-up, navigating the mess of modern dating, and figuring out how to keep her job together, all while connecting with her family and incredibly tight group of friends.

Starring: Dionne Brown, Jon Pointing, Samuel Adewunmi, Bellah, Sally Phillips, Tilly Keeper, Elisha Applebaum, Mim Shaikh, Llewella Gideon, Michelle Greenidge, Cristale De’Abreu, Joseph Marcell, Joseph Ollman, Melissa Johns, and Laura Whitmore.

How to watch: Queenie will premiere in 2024 on Channel 4 in the UK and Ireland and will stream on Hulu in the U.S., Star+ in Latin America, and Disney+ in all other territories.

8. The Responder, Season 2 Martin Freeman is back for another season. Credit: BBC/Dancing Ledge

The corrupt antics of Liverpool cop Chris Carson (a gritty Martin Freeman) in The Responder's first outing made our list of the best British TV shows of 2022, so we're looking forward to seeing where Tony Schumacher's police thriller goes next. Alongside Freeman, Adelayo Adedayo also returns as fellow officer Rachel Hargreaves, this time separate from Carson and trying to rebuild her life after the grim events of Season 1.

Starring: Martin Freeman, Adelayo Adedayo, Warren Brown, MyAnna Buring, Emily Fairn, Josh Finan, Philip S McGuinness, Faye McKeever, Mark Womack, Adam Nagaitis, Bernard Hill, and Ian Puleston-Davies.

How to watch: The Responder will be streaming on BBC iPlayer in the UK, date TBC.

9. The Gentlemen Guy Ritchie's movie has expanded into a series. Credit: Christopher Rafael/Netflix

Fans of Snatch, Lock, Stock and indeed the 2019 movie The Gentlemen will want to keep an eye out for writer/director Guy Ritchie's new series, which takes that movie as its starting point and weaves a new tale of weed empires and the criminal underworld. The eight-episode spin-off follows Eddie Horniman (The White Lotus Season 2's Theo James), who realises his newly-inherited family estate is actually embroiled in a drug ring run by British gangsters. As this is a Guy Ritchie show it's probably safe to expect black comedy and explosive violence.

Starring: Theo James, Kaya Scodelario, Daniel Ings, Joely Richardson, Giancarlo Esposito, Peter Serafinowicz, and Vinnie Jones.

How to watch: The Gentlemen is streaming on Netflix from March 2024.

10. One Day Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall as Emma and Dexter. Credit: Teddy Cavendish/Netflix

Looking for some romance to tide you over this coming Valentine's Day? One Day, based on David Nicholls's novel of the same name, is here to fill that void. (You may remember the 2011 movie adaptation with Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess.) The series takes us through a decades-long love story between students Emma and Dexter, who meet for the very first time the night of their graduation from university. Even though they go their separate ways, the next years find them reconnecting in unexpected places, with each episode cataloging what they're doing on the same date each year. Could this be 2024's Normal People?*

Starring: Ambika Mod, Leo Woodall, Essie Davis, Tim McInnerny, Amber Grappy, Jonny Weldon, Eleanor Tomlinson, Joely Richardson, and Toby Stephens.

How to watch: One Day is streaming on Netflix from Feb. 8.

11. Bridgerton, Season 3 Penelope has a lot to think about this season. Credit: Laurence Cendrowicz/Netflix

Dearest gentle readers, it's high time we reunite with the Bridgerton family, wouldn't you agree? After the swoon-worthy story of Queen Charlotte and King George, Netflix's juggernaut Bridgerton returns to its roots for a third season, this time focusing on the romance between Penelope Featherington (who is secretly gossip maven Lady Whistledown) and Colin Bridgerton. For the first time in Bridgerton history, Netflix will release the series in two parts — so be sure to time your binge viewing accordingly!*

Starring: Nicola Coughlan, Luke Newton, Claudia Jessie, Luke Thompson, Golda Rosheuvel, Adjoa Andoh, Ruth Gemmell, Lorraine Ashbourne, Hannah Dodd, Simone Ashley, Jonathan Bailey, Harriet Cains, Bessie Carter, Jessica Madsen, Florence Hunt, Martins Imhangbe, Will Tilston, Polly Walker, and Julie Andrews.

How to watch: The first four episodes of Bridgerton Season 3 premiere May 16 on Netflix, and the last four on June 13.

12. Mary & George Julianne Moore as real-life historical figure Mary Villers. Credit: Sky

Royal court-based treachery is always fun, isn't it? Sounding like a fusion of Game of Thrones and The Crown, Mary & George stars Julianne Moore as real-life historical figure Mary Villers, who teamed up with her own son George (Nicholas Galitzine) to scheme her way up the ranks of nobility. As with many historical dramas we may need to take this one's accuracy with a pinch of salt, but it certainly looks like an entertaining, Bridgerton-style romp.

Starring: Julianne Moore, Nicholas Galitzine, Tony Curran, Nicola Walker, Niamh Algar, Trine Dyrholm, Sean Gilder, Adrian Rawlins, Mark O’Halloran, Laurie Davidson, Samuel Blenkin, Jacob McCarthy, Tom Victor, Alice Grant, Amelia Gething, Mirren Mack, Rina Mahoney, and Simon Russell Beale.

How to watch: Mary & George premiere's on Sky and NOW TV in March 2024, and Starz in the U.S.

13. The Regime Kate Winslet dominates a political satire this time. Credit: Miya Mizuno/HBO

Loved the Kate Winslet-led HBO limited series Mare of Easttown? Then brace yourself for The Regime, another Kate Winslet-led HBO limited series — albeit one with a very different vibe. A political satire through and through, the show charts the unraveling of a modern European regime over the course of one year. The chancellor of said regime? None other than Winslet, who spends The Regime's first teaser alternating between delivering ice-cold threats to foreign dignitaries and having a breakdown in the woods.*

Starring: Kate Winslet, Matthias Schoenaerts, Guillaume Gallienne, Andrea Riseborough, Martha Plimpton, Hugh Grant, Danny Webb, David Bamber, Henry Goodman, Stanley Townsend, Louie Mynett, Rory Keenan, Karl Markovics, and Pippa Haywood.

How to watch: The Regime is streaming March 3 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max in the U.S., and will stream on on Sky Atlantic and NOW in 2024, dates TBC.

14. How to Get to Heaven From Belfast

If you've seen the awesome Derry Girls, you'll know that any new show from Lisa McGee is a cause for celebration. How to Get to Heaven From Belfast follows three old school friends, now in their thirties, who get pulled into a strange mystery after attending the wake of a childhood classmate. Described in the press release as "Not so much a ‘whodunit’ as a ‘what the hell happened,'" this one sounds like it'll be as much of a thriller as a comedy. We don't yet know anything about the cast or when it'll be on, but we're keeping this one firmly on our radars.

Starring: Yet to be announced.

How to watch: How to Get to Heaven From Belfast is streaming on Channel 4 in 2024, exact date TBC.

*This blurb has appeared on a previous Mashable list.

Best deals on headphones this week

• Apple AirPods Max ANC Wireless Headphones — $529.99 (List Price $549)
• Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless ANC Over-Ear Headphones — $279.99 (List Price $379.95)
• Beats Studio Pro Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones (Black) — $299.99 (List Price $349.99)
• Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX Wireless ANC Headphones — $439.99 (List Price $499)
• Skullcandy Hesh ANC Over-Ear Wireless Headphones (Black) — $109.99 (List Price $134.99)

There are hundreds of different headphones and earbuds in varying shapes, sizes, styles, and colors (not to mention prices). All have the same idea at heart: To deliver high-quality audio directly into your ears. But some achieve this result so much better — and in better style — than others.

While there are plenty of budget headphones that will get the job done, the best headphones require a bigger investment. That's why it's good to know if your audio needs actually justify paying a higher price.

How to choose the best headphones

If you've been on the hunt for a new pair of headphones, you've likely come across a few of the "best" brands already: Sony, Bose, and Apple. While these brands do make quality earbuds and headphones, they're far from your only options. Don't let the FYP fool you into thinking you need to drop $350+ in order to get halfway decent active noise cancellation.

SEE ALSO: Best Buy Drops: The coolest new products dropping via Best Buy's shopping hack

In reality, the best pair of headphones largely comes down to personal preference. Here are some questions you might ask yourself when weighing your choice:

• Are you planning on listening at home or on the go? If you want over-ear headphones, you might prefer ones that fold up easily in your bag and are comfortable to wear for long stretches of time.

• If you'll be wearing your headphones on your commute or in the office, is strong active noise cancellation a requirement?

• How long do you really need the battery to last? Will a six-hour battery life at a time get you through, or do you need the promise of true all-day battery?

• Are you using these headphones for casual listening, for staying focused, or for working out? This might mean the difference between investing in an audio-first brand, a pair with top notch ANC, or a pair with wingtips that actually keep your headphones in your ears while you run.

• What kind of music do you like to listen to with your headphones? Are you a fan of a nice and loud bass line, or do you prefer a more balanced tone?

• Tired of lossless audio claims that don't pan out? Maybe you'd prefer to go for a pair of wired headphones that actually deliver.

These are just some of the questions you can use to guide your purchasing journey, but don't get overwhelmed. With each of our picks below, we've done the research and testing to answer them for you, all to help point you to your personal best pair of headphones or earbuds.

Wondering how to watch the NFL Playoffs? Here are your best options: Best for affordability Sling TV Blue Plan $20 for the first month, then $40/month (save $20 ) Get Deal BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV Pro plan 7-day free trial, then $79.99/month Get Deal

The San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions are scheduled to meet in the 2024 NFC Championship Game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday, Jan. 28. The game is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

San Francisco comes into the matchup after a 24-21 win against the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 20. The 49ers got a game-winning touchdown from Christian McCaffrey with 67 seconds remaining. It was one of two rushing touchdowns in the game for McCaffrey, who had 98 rushing yards in the win. 

Detroit advanced to the NFC Championship Game by winning 31-23 vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Jan. 21. Lions quarterback Jared Goff threw for two touchdowns in the win on 30-for-43 passing with 287 passing yards. Jahmyr Gibbs led Detroit in rushing with 74 yards and one rushing touchdown.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the NFL games without cable

Kyle Shanahan is the San Francisco 49ers head coach. Dan Campbell is the Detroit Lions head coach. 

NFC Championship: 49ers vs. Lions kickoff time and network

The San Francisco 49ers vs. Detroit Lions game for the NFC Championship is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT on FOX on Sunday, Jan. 28. The FOX broadcasters are scheduled to be Kevin Burkhardt (play-by-play) and Greg Olsen (analyst). 

Without cable or satellite TV, some options to watch the 49ers vs. Lions game via online live stream include FuboTV and Sling.

Best streaming services for the Lions vs. SF 49ers game

You need to choose a streaming service to watch the 2024 NFC Championship Game without cable or satellite TV. Here are the best streaming services for the Lions vs. 49ers game on FOX.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Blue Plan $20 for the first month, then $40/month Get Deal

FOX is available on Sling TV in select markets. Those include Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Gainesville, Houston, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, and Washington, D.C. 

If you’re not in one of those markets, getting Sling TV won’t help you watch the NFL Playoff game between the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions. 

If you’re in one of those markets, getting Sling TV for the 49ers vs. Lions game would work for you. You’ll need the Blue Plan, which comes at $20 for the first month and $40 for subsequent months.

Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network and SEC Network.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV Pro plan 7-day free trial, then $79.99/month Get Deal

FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and the option to watch on 10 screens at once. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period. 

Visit the FuboTV website to see if your zip code is one that includes the FOX broadcast. If you’re in luck, you can get FOX with the FuboTV Pro plan, which has a rate of $79.99 per month.

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, FOX, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network, and SEC Network. 

Wondering how to watch the 2024 NFL Playoffs? Here are your best options: Most affordable Paramount+ with Showtime 7-day free trial, then $11.99/month Get Deal Most channels FuboTV Pro plan 7-day free trial, then $79.99/month Get Deal

The Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens are scheduled to meet in the 2024 AFC Championship Game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Sunday, Jan. 28. The game is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT. 

Kansas City comes into the matchup after a 27-24 win at Buffalo on Jan. 21. The Chiefs’ Isiah Pacheco scored the game-winning touchdown on a 4-yard rush with 14:20 left in the fourth quarter. Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce caught two touchdown passes in the win. 

Baltimore enters the contest following a 34-10 win vs. the Houston Texans on Jan. 20. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson ran for two touchdowns and threw for two touchdowns in the win. He finished with 100 rushing yards and 152 passing yards.

SEE ALSO: How to watch NFL games without cable

Andy Reid is the Kansas City Chiefs head coach. John Harbaugh is the Baltimore Ravens head coach. 

AFC Championship: Chiefs vs. Ravens kickoff time and network

The Kansas City Chiefs vs. Baltimore Ravens game is scheduled to be broadcast on CBS at 3 p.m. ET/2 p.m. CT on Sunday, Jan. 28. The CBS broadcasters are scheduled to be Jim Nantz (play-by-play) and Tony Romo (analyst). 

Cable and satellite TV are no longer necessary for enjoying live sports. Consider live streaming options to watch Sunday’s game via services like Paramount+ and FuboTV.

Best streaming services for the Baltimore Ravens vs. KC Chiefs game 

Watching the 2024 AFC Championship Game requires a streaming service if you don’t have cable or satellite TV. For the Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs game on Sunday, here are your top streaming options.

Most affordable: Paramount+ Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ with Showtime 7-day free trial, then $11.99/month Get Deal

If you want to watch just CBS or just the Ravens vs. Chiefs football game, Paramount+ offers a solution.  

New subscribers to Paramount+ get a seven-day free trial. Then for the Paramount+ plan that includes live streaming CBS, you need the Paramount+ with Showtime tier, which is $11.99/month. If you choose the annual plan, it is $119.99 for a year, saving about $1.99/month. 

For students, Paramount+ will give you a 25% discount.

Most channels: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV Pro plan 7-day free trial, then $79.99/month Get Deal

With FuboTV, new subscribers can enjoy a seven-day free trial and more than 250 live TV channels, along with the ability to stream on 10 devices simultaneously. NFL fans who want access to CBS for matchups such as the Chiefs vs. Ravens football game will want the FuboTV Pro tier, which has a rate of $79.99 per month. 

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network, and SEC Network.

Wondering how to watch college basketball this season? Here are your best options: Most affordable Sling TV Orange + Sports Extra $31 for the first month, then $51/month (save $20 ) Get Deal BEST FOR SINGLE GAME FuboTV Elite 7-day free trial, then $89.99/month Get Deal

The North Carolina State and Syracuse men’s basketball teams are scheduled to meet in an Atlantic Coast Conference contest at JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, New York, on Saturday, Jan. 27. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. ET. 

NC State comes into the matchup 13-6 overall and 5-3 in the ACC. Most recently, Virginia beat NCSU 59-53 on Wednesday. DJ Horne leads the NC State scoring after 19 games with 14.8 points per game. 

Syracuse enters the contest 13-6 overall and 4-4 in the ACC. On Tuesday, Florida State defeated Syracuse 85-69. Through the first 19 games, SU’s Judah Mintz is scoring a team-high 18.4 points per contest.

SEE ALSO: How to watch college basketball without cable

Kevin Keatts is the NC State men’s basketball head coach. Adrian Autry is the Syracuse men’s basketball head coach. 

NC State vs. Syracuse basketball game time and network

The NC State vs. Syracuse men’s basketball game is scheduled to be broadcast on ACC Network at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 27. ACCN broadcasters are scheduled to be Wes Durham (play-by-play) and Dan Bonner (analyst). 

If you don’t have cable or satellite TV, here are some options to watch the game via online live stream, and those options include FuboTV and Sling. 

Best streaming services for the SU vs. NCSU basketball game

When you're choosing a streaming service to be able to watch college basketball, here are your best streaming options to check out the Syracuse vs. North Carolina State men’s basketball game on ACC Network.

Most affordable: Sling TV Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Orange + Sports Extra $31 for the first month, then $51/month Get Deal

To watch the NC State vs. Syracuse basketball game on ACC Network with Sling TV requires the Sports Extra package, which costs $11/month for 20 channels. 

The Sports Extra package cannot be purchased alone, and you’ll also need the Orange plan, which is $20 for the first month and $40/month in subsequent months. Combined with the Sports Extra package, the cost would be $31 for the first month and $51 for subsequent months. The Orange plan comes with 32 channels, so with Sports Extra, there are 52 channels in the combined plan. 

Sling TV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNews, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network and SEC Network.

Best for single game: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV Elite 7-day free trial, then $89.99/month Get Deal

FuboTV provides a week-long trial at no charge. For access to the ACC Network after this period, subscribers need to opt for the Fubo Elite plan, which is $89.99/month. The Elite plan gives you 248 channels, 1,000 hours of DVR space, and the ability to watch on 10 screens simultaneously.

FuboTV’s sports channel offerings include ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Golf Network, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, NFL Network, Pac-12 Network, and SEC Network.