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If you ask me, Disney has been pretty smart in recent years about its Star Wars video games. Instead of relying solely on its small group of internal development teams, as it did a long time ago in a gaming galaxy far, far away – or signing an exclusivity deal with one single publisher, as it did last decade with EA – The Mouse now hands its licenses, Star Wars included, to absolutely anyone with a great pitch. And we’ve already had one Game of the Year-caliber masterpiece come out of this strategy (2024’s Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, from the Riddick and Wolfenstein veterans at MachineGames).

And so when Lucasfilm first announced Star Wars: Galactic Racer earlier this year as a collaboration with developer Fuse Games – who counts a number of Burnout alumni in its ranks – my optimism immediately skyrocketed. A Star Wars racing game made by people who have some of the best arcade racers ever made under their belts? Yes please! And now that I’ve finally had the chance to play Galactic Racer, I don’t need to search my feelings, because I already know it to be true: this high-speed roguelite (more on that in a bit) racer is an absolute blast.

Made in the Shade

The setup is simple: you’re Shade, a semi-willing participant in the galaxy’s renegade racing circuit, out amongst the Outer Rim, where rules and laws are more like requests and polite suggestions. I say “semi-willing” because you’d rather lay low and avoid Kestar Bool, a powerful enemy who has both the means and enough pettiness in his bones to make your life difficult if you get in his way. But that eventually leads you to, in turn, want to knock Bool off of his comfy perch. And so you’ll race speeder bikes, skim speeders, landspeeders, and yes, podracers in a series of events in order to advance up the ranks and through the entire circuit to get to the top spot.

Galactic Racer builds this in a roguelite loop that, if I’m being honest, I was extremely skeptical about prior to playing it for myself. My first thought was, “Don’t we have enough roguelites out there already?” The answer is still probably yes, but to Fuse’s credit, how they’ve wrapped the roguelite template around Galactic Racer makes a ton of sense. You customize your character, make your vehicle your own through earned cosmetic unlocks, and most importantly, build your ride to your preference with the gameplay-affecting abilities you earn through winning races. But the Outer Rim is a ruthless place and this circuit isn’t one for second chances, so you can only race by earning a League Token. If you lose it in one of the Eliminator races you’ll inevitably come upon during your run – and yes, they operate exactly the same as Burnout’s Eliminator races, in which the last-place driver is disqualified from the competition at the end of each lap – you’ll have to start the run all over again. But, in classic roguelite fashion, you’ll be able to bring anything you’ve previously unlocked to the table as you have another go at it.

Takedowns, by the way, are exactly as you remember them from Burnout – right down to using a nearly identical camera angle when you see the slow-motion wreck. “

And the Eliminators are no joke, I should add. In my 45-minute hands-on time, I did the first race or two in my run after customizing my character and then jumping right in, but then immediately hit my first Eliminator. I got too aggressive going for a takedown in one early-race turn and ending up putting myself into the wall near the end of a lap, without enough time to get back out of last place before I got eliminated. Oh, and the takedowns, by the way, are exactly as you remember them from Burnout – right down to using a nearly identical camera angle when you see the slow-motion wreck. Anyway, I had to start the run again, from scratch. I quickly learned that the CPU-racer AI means business in Galactic Racer. I was stunned to have been bounced from the tournament so quickly, but honestly kind of impressed. It made me steel myself for the next run, where I did a heck of a lot better.

A Stroll Around the Neighborhood

But I’m getting a little ahead of myself. Though there’s plenty more to say about the racing portion of Galactic Racer, obviously, I want to give props to the on-foot sections you’ll experience between races. In them, you roam around each planet’s “paddock” – think of these kind of like the infield areas of a NASCAR race – and can talk to fellow racers, upgrade your ship with Hibi the monkey-like mechanic, tweak your character’s or vehicle’s appearance, or chat with the organizer of this whole thing, Darius Pax – a big-voice, big-personality creature who sounds a bit like he’s channeling Danny DeVito’s Penguin from Batman Returns.

When you’re ready to hit the track, you have a couple of interactive moments that can give you an initial gameplay advantage: the first is your ignition sequence. Regardless of what vehicle type you’re piloting, if you successfully hit the prompted button sequence in the brief window of time allotted, you’ll begin the race with a bonus, like your afterburner being primed and/or your shield being fully charged up and ready to deploy right at the starting line. I’ll note that the sequence was the same in every single one of my races, so hopefully they’re all randomized in the final October 6 release just to keep me on my toes a bit more.

And the second pre-race opportunity is to surge out of the starting gates, Mario Kart-style, by keeping your throttle in the middle of the three zones of the on-screen meter as the green flag figuratively drops. In these high-speed races that can be won or lost in a second or two, that initial moment matters more than you might guess.

Show Off Your Abilities

OK, yes, properly nailing your ignition sequence is important, but what really makes or breaks your race is how frequently and effectively you use your abilities. I only saw a couple of them during my hands-on time, but there are plenty of them to unlock, and they’ll allow you to craft a pretty bespoke build for your vehicle.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer – June 2026 Screenshots

Take the aforementioned shield, for instance. If you’re bunched up tight in a cluster of fellow racers, you can be sure that at least one of them will try to shunt you into the nearest wall. Nailing the timing on your shield ability so that it’s active when that takedown attempt comes – and before running out of juice and needing to recharge via cooldown timer – can save you from a fate of having to be blotted off the track’s walls with Handi-Wipes.

The other one I used extensively during my hands-on session was Ramjet, which sadly I don’t have footage of. It’s functionally the same as an afterburner, with the key difference being that you can keep the extra push of speed going past its cooldown point – at the risk of pushing it too far and having your craft explode. I earned some modifiers for this as I played, including one that would reduce Ramjet consumption by 50% while in midair (meaning, on a jump, since of course all of these Star Wars racing vehicles are technically in midair all the time).

The tracks, meanwhile, vary from short to long and from hot to cold, depending on which planet they’re located. Jakku doesn’t have any temperature concerns, but Lantaana has patches of magma on track that will overheat your vehicle if you’re not careful, while Ando Prime is an ice world where you’ll need to zip through conveniently placed heating tunnels in order to not get fully frozen over and thus slowed down. On all of them, knowing when to drift is crucial – particularly on tracks that have shortcuts accessed by hitting those borderline-hairpin turns just right – as is making sure you are never sitting on a full reserve of afterburner. Between constantly boosting, drifting, avoiding environmental hazards, finding shortcuts, taking down rivals and avoiding them taking you down, there’s plenty in this arcade racer to keep you on your toes at all times.

Become a Pod God

The developers purposely allotted me time to experience podracing at the end of my demo in an Arcade mode outside of the regular roguelite circuit. I’m glad they let me get my sea legs under me first, because the podracers proved to be a much more difficult space horse to tame. They’re much faster than the other vehicles, while also being a heck of a lot more fragile. Not to mention that the track I podraced on was Tatooine, which included a particularly harrowing narrow canyon run where one wrong move would turn me into a stain on the canyon walls. Once I get more comfortable with podracing in the full game, I definitely want to play around with the camera angles; there’s a cockpit view that looks especially cool on the podracer, but requires your reflexes to be even quicker.

All in all, not only were my fears of the roguelite loop unfounded, but the Burnout roots baked into developer Fuse Games’s DNA was joyously evident in every moment I spent on the track with Star Wars: Galactic Racer. And the times I wasn’t going hundreds of miles per hour when I was on foot did a great job of further Star Wars-ifying my experience. I’m incredibly optimistic about what I’ve seen from this long overdue spiritual successor to Episode 1: Pod Racer, and I can’t wait to play more of it.

Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s executive editor of previews and host of both IGN’s weekly Xbox show, Podcast Unlocked, as well as our semi-retired interview show, IGN Unfiltered. He’s a North Jersey guy, so it’s “Taylor ham,” not “pork roll.” Debate it with him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan.

From Messi to Ronaldo, most of football’s greatest modern players have graced video game covers over the years. But which is the best? Well, there’s no real scientific way to decide this, so I’m pretty much going on aesthetic-based vibes completely. I’ve also pretty much stuck to the big two football series from the past few decades — FIFA/EA FC and Pro Evolution Soccer — but believe me, the temptation to stick the likes of Peter Beardsley’s International Football was certainly there. So, without further ado, let’s look at what I think are the 10 best football game covers.

The 10 Best Soccer Game Covers

10. FIFA Road to World Cup 98 — David Beckham

Few people in the world, at least certainly in England, were as famous as David Beckham was in 1998. Part of a flourishing Manchester United team under Sir Alex Ferguson and one half of a superpower of a celebrity couple alongside the Spice Girls’ Victoria Beckham, he was an obvious choice to place on a video game cover if you wanted it to sell. A clean, white background image that features Beckham wearing number seven in the iconic England World Cup 98 kit, it looked like an even better decision by EA Sports after he curled in a free kick against Colombia in the group stages. Little did they know that his tournament would end in disaster thanks to a petulant red card against Argentina a week later. I wonder how many copies were sold after that.

9. FIFA 13 — Lionel Messi

FIFA 13 was the first year that saw the greatest player of all time, Lionel Messi, grace the cover of EA Sports’ long-running series. Having wrestled back dominance from Pro Evolution Soccer by now, getting Messi at the peak of his powers as the poster child felt like the cherry on top of the resurgence. A lovely cover in which the Argentine’s red and blue Barcelona kit pops against the black and white backdrop, the stadium featured is, interestingly, Newcastle’s St James’ Park and not the Catalan club’s home, Camp Nou. That’s because, despite Barcelona’s most famous player being the cover star, EA had not managed to secure the license for the stadium, instead replacing it with the generic El Libertador.

8. Pro Evolution Soccer 6 — Adriano + Various

The most OP player to ever exist in a football game, it was only natural that one day Adriano would find his way onto a Pro Evolution Soccer cover. The blue and black stripes of Inter work fantastically against the gold background, and you can tell by the determination on his face that he’s putting all of his legendary 99-shot power into that strike. Arguably the finest football simulation ever crafted, PES 6 featured different players alongside the Brazilian depending on where in the world you were. For example, seeing Bayern were licensed this time around, the German version saw Paraguayan striker Roque Santa Cruz stand tall, whereas the rest of Europe had to look at John Terry. Oh well.

7. FIFA 97 — David Ginola

What a beautiful man. Those long locks flowing behind him as he dazzled with the ball at his feet, slaloming through defenders as if they were poles on the side of an Alpine ski course, were some of my most formative football memories. David Ginola is featured here in the black and white stripes of Newcastle, but would soon transfer to Tottenham Hotspur, where he’d go on to win the Players’ and Writers’ footballer of the year awards for a wholly underwhelming side. Trust me, I was there. Another clean cover with the player placed front and centre, it’s a classic, and still holds up 30 years later.

6. FIFA 17 — Marco Reus

The hipster’s choice. Marco Reus won the public vote for who should be on the cover of FIFA 17, beating out Eden Hazard, Anthony Martial, and James Rodriguez, and what a great pick it turned out to be. The Borussia Dortmund legend in that famous kit looks incredibly slick on this one, with the yellow wall looming behind him. Nothing much more to say about this one, aside from the fact that it just looks lovely.

5. FIFA 06 – Wayne Rooney and Ronaldinho

For many years, Rooney and Ronaldinho dominated the FIFA cover, with the former appearing on seven in a row between 06 and 12, and the latter featuring on nine in total if you include World Cup and Street spin-offs. Wayne’s debut was alongside the Brazilian Ballon d’Or winner, and stands out due to its dramatic high contrast image decorated in lashings of rain. It gives FIFA 06 a real individual feel to it compared to so many of the cleaner images against plain or monochrome backgrounds that we were used to at the time. Maybe they did go a little heavy on the exposure here, as it looks as if both players are only feet away from screaming into the sun, but it certainly made it stand out on the shelf.

4. International Superstar Soccer 98 — Carlos Valderrama

That hair. Wow. Long before David Luiz or Marc Cucurella were at it, Carlos Valderrama was football’s curly king. The Colombian star donned the cover of International Superstar Soccer 98 (before the series later spun off into Pro Evolution Soccer) in North America, and I couldn’t have been any more jealous. In Europe, we got an angry-looking Paul Ince facing off against an intimidating Fabrizio Ravanelli in black and white, which is just far less appealing than the multicoloured allure of this Colombia kit and Carlos’ layers of neck and wrist accessories. Pure luxury.

3. FIFA Football 2003 – Roberto Carlos, Edgar Davids, and Ryan Giggs

No room for smiles here, just business. Three players at the peak of their powers crossed their arms and stared into our souls in 2002. Brazilian left-back and king of the banana shot, Roberto Carlos. All-action Dutch midfielder, Edgar Davis. And since disgraced Welsh winger, Ryan Giggs. It’s a strong lineup and one of the most enduring cover images of the series to date. If you were in North America, you just got Landon Donovan instead. Hardly a fair trade, is it?

2. FIFA Football 2004 — Alessandro Del Piero, Thierry Henry, and Ronaldinho

One year later, EA Sports went with the triple threat approach again, but instead of being scowled at, we had three of the world’s best attackers sprinting towards us. Back in 2003, this image would have caused nightmares for any defender who would have liked nothing less than to have seen Juventus’ Alessandro Del Piero, Arsenal’s Thierry Henry, or Barcelona’s Ronaldinho running towards them with the ball. There’s a lovely balance to it. Great mix of superstars. And an eye-catching range of colours on those jerseys, too. It’s the very best FIFA has had to offer over the years, and a high the series is still chasing.

1. Pro Evolution Soccer 3

It was a bold move for Pro Evolution Soccer 3 not to feature a player on its cover, but it couldn’t have paid off any more as world-renowned referee Pierluigi Collina took centre stage. It was a curious choice for many reasons. Not only because the Italian official didn’t actually appear in the game itself, but referees weren’t even shown on the pitch at all until the following year’s edition. It’s since gone down in history as one of the most iconic football game covers, though, thanks to its sunset imagery pierced by those authoritative eyes, shiny bald head, and finished off with the man himself’s autograph. A classy touch from the big man.

Simon Cardy is a Senior Editor at IGN who can mainly be found skulking around open world games, indulging in Korean cinema, or despairing at the state of Tottenham Hotspur and the New York Jets. Follow him on Bluesky at @cardy.bsky.social.

Half-Life 3 may not be here yet, or ever arrive, for that matter, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t already plenty of incredible games from developer Valve Corporation to play. And now with the brand new Steam Machine console to experience them on, what better time to get stuck in? The custodian of Steam may not be anywhere near as prolific as it once was when it comes to actually making games, but it still has a ridiculously strong list to pick from – some of which are daily destinations for hundreds of thousands of players. But which are the best? Well, that’s exactly what we’ve tried to decide here as we take in the importance, endurance over time, and innovation each of these games has brought to the table over the past three decades. Here are the 10 best Valve games to play right now.

Steam Machine – Hands On Photos

10. Left 4 Dead

A blood-soaked homage to zombie action cinema as much as it is a revolutionary landmark piece of co-op game design, Left 4 Dead was unlike anything else when it arrived in 2008. Across its multiple four-player modes, tight gunplay and edge-of-your-seat encounter design, it dished up ultra-satisfying combat that left the undead decapitated, but bathed in a stunning sheen of filmic lighting and grain effects that George A Romero himself would be proud of. It’s a perfect example of the blend of artistry and technology that has driven some of the studio’s most valued creations.

Valve is a developer known for its innovation, and nowhere in Left 4 Dead is this seen more clearly than in its campaign “Director” — an AI that oversees the player experience, tailoring the flow of combat and the challenges it presents. It’s this dynamic overlord that makes this zombie horde shooter so compelling, twisting each run against Boomers, Hunters, and the much-feared, screeching, Witches into ever-surprising gauntlets of survival that were hard to tear ourselves away from, even when knowing the horrors that lurked within them.

9. Dota 2

The story of Dota 2’s development is a curious one, and a tale too long for the mere couple of paragraphs I have here. Essentially a sequel to a fan-made mod of Blizzard Entertainment’s Warcraft 3 called Defence of the Ancients, Dota 2 was announced following designer IceFrog’s hiring by Valve to create a MOBA of their own after Blizzard passed on his services. With the resources of Gabe Newell’s empire fuelling it, a multiplayer online battle arena giant was born, as deep, intricate combat systems overlapped to form the basis of one of the biggest eSports games of all time.

It was a brave move back in 2010 to announce a direct competitor to the phenomenon that was League of Legends, but that gamble paid off almost immediately, as it topped Steam’s concurrent player numbers with 330,000 users a whole month before its official release. Over fifteen years later, Dota 2 has more than proved its worth in the MOBA space and is still played fervently to this day by as passionate a fanbase as you’ll see anywhere in games.

8. Left 4 Dead 2

Left 4 Dead 2 built on the already brilliant foundations of its predecessor, improving its co-op undead action in pretty much every way to continue Valve’s long history of sensational sequels. Across its five campaigns, new types of infected were introduced, each controlled and sent to hunt you by the improved AI Director 2.0, which now had power over the geography of the levels themselves, creating deadly, shifting labyrinths that tested the most hardened of Left 4 Dead enthusiasts.

Upping the ante in every facet, boycotts and concerns over the graphic nature of its violence couldn’t stop Left 4 Dead 2 as it far outsold its predecessor, taking both PC and Xbox 360 sales charts by storm. Many imitators would follow over the years — Warhammer: Vermintide, Back 4 Blood, and Deep Rock Galactic, to name a few — but none could ever truly rebottle the magic created within Valve’s walls with the Left 4 Dead series.

Deadlock Early Access

A little break from the list here to say we’re only allowing games that Valve has fully released, hence why the hugely popular Deadlock won’t be appearing. Remember: it barely has a Steam store page, never mind a “buy” button. That’s not to say that it isn’t already a fantastic game, though, with its combination of third-person shooter and MOBA mechanics proving a big hit on Steam during its multi-year, highly exclusive, invite-only early access period. Essentially taking what the studio learned from the successes of both Team Fortress 2 and Dota 2, Deadlock offers fantastic 6v6 combat that wouldn’t be out of place in a hero shooter, but transplants it into the corridor-like lane structure more commonly seen in online battle arenas. With 32 characters already available on its roster, and more yet being teased, it’s come a long way since its initial beginnings in the summer of 2024, with updates continuing to gear it up for that eventual full launch. If Valve’s history with bringing in enormous numbers of concurrent players into its online multiplayer games is anything to go by, it’s set to be yet another Steam sensation when that day comes.

7. Team Fortress 2

Although its origins can be traced all the way back to a 1996 Quake mod, 2007’s Team Fortress 2 can largely be credited with the mainstream popularity of the hero shooter. Combining two of Valve’s greatest loves — turning mods into sequels and innovating new subgenres — one of the first “games as service” focused on tried and tested multiplayer shooter modes such as king of the hill and capture the flag, but injected them with a set of uniquely skilled and armed characters that made squadmates completely rethink how to approach each match.

In development for almost a decade, Team Fortress 2 made the successful transition from military shooter vaporware to Source engine success upon Valve’s acquisition of the project, thus turning it into a multiplayer mainstay for years on PC and console thanks to its inclusion in the best-selling Orange Box. It was that Valve coating of character and humour that really made TF2 stand out from the crowd, though, making each member of its roster a joy to play with and listen to. Its success would be eclipsed by the likes of Overwatch in the years after, but its legacy lives on as a pioneer of a subgenre that burned brightly in the 2010s.

6. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Counter-Strike’s loop of objective-based, high-stakes battle is a simple concept for a shooter, but one that demands mastery. The pursuit of pinpoint accurate headshots and practically precognitive reactions has kept the series locked in as one of the most-played multiplayer games for the best part of two decades. Global Offensive is arguably the height of its success, despite initially arriving as an uncertain successor to the beloved CS: Source, drawing in near-unprecedented player numbers on Steam, as well as nurturing one of the biggest eSports scenes ever built.

Most of its nine modes tweak the 5v5, terrorist vs. counter terrorist formula to some extent, but none are more enduring than the pulsating plant and bomb defusal action of Competitive, which has gone on to inspire many other shooters since. Without CS: GO, there would be no Rainbow Six Siege, and there would be no Valorant. Although it’s since been replaced by the more advanced Counter-Strike 2, and its reputation has occasionally been tarnished by gambling scandals and its role in normalising microtransactions via weapon skins, many would argue that nothing has quite captured the magic of Global Offensive’s very best days. Yet another example of Valve seeking out a shooter subgenre to make their own, CS: GO remains one of the studio’s greatest achievements.

5. Portal

In 2008, Portal took Half-Life 2’s physics-enabled Source engine and asked the question: “What if guns weren’t used to cut down enemies, but instead to sharpen the mind?” The answer was a short-but-sweet masterclass in puzzle design that tasked you with manipulating space, mass, and momentum in a lab a thousand times more fun than any science classroom. All-seeing AI construct GLaDOS plays equal parts tutor and torturer within the walls of the Aperture Science headquarters in a tale that may borrow whole pages from the script of 2001: A Space Odyssey, but delivers it with a nod and a wink that has become synonymous with Valve storytelling.

What starts out as an adventure that tasks you with moving giant white cubes from one part of a room to another takes on a much more sinister tone as your handy portal gun opens up doors into the unknown. A sublime marriage of story and top-class puzzle design punctuated with pitch-black humour, Portal only left us wanting more of this world from Valve. Thankfully, they would deliver exactly that four years later.

4. Half-Life: Alyx

It’s safe to say that, despite huge leaps in headset technology, VR has been massively underserved by triple-A developers. That’s one of the reasons why Half-Life: Alyx is so notable; stepping into its newly rendered version of City 17 genuinely feels like slipping into a new reality, so detailed are its props, rooms, and streets. It’s the kind of trick only a studio like Valve could pull, pumping untold millions into an incredibly niche experience.

That budget doesn’t mean this prequel to Half-Life 2, in which you play as Alyx Vance, is as innovative as many of Valve’s other games – it’s primarily focused on adapting existing FPS ideas for VR, which it does with an unrivalled level of success. But that budget does mean that Half-Life: Alyx is by far and away the most immersive game in the series; you’ve not known fear until you’ve bumped into a headcrab zombie in virtual reality, or hidden in a storecupboard from a stalking beast, hands literally cupping your mouth to muffle your panicked breath. Combine all that with a campaign that feels perfectly structured for VR, both in terms of pacing and level design, plus a truly astonishing final act, and you’ve got what is undoubtedly the most unforgettable Half-Life game, even if it’s not the series’ lofty highpoint.

Where is Half-Life 3?

Of course, a huge question here is, where is Half-Life 3? It’s one that’s been bouncing around the internet ever since credits rolled on the shooter’s most recent chapter, Half-Life 2: Episode 2, back in 2007. Well, over two decades later, it’s one that still hasn’t been answered. During that time, of course, the episodic gaming experiment imploded, bringing an early end to the planned trio of Half-Life 2 expansions and initiating a 13-year wait for the VR-only Half-Life: Alyx. That long-awaited return (as well as its massive tease of an ending) has given us hope for Gordon Freeman to return one day. Over the past few months, rumours have been bubbling with a little more ferocity than usual, though, with multiple whispers flying around of a potential imminent reveal. With a new, console-like Steam Machine PC on the way from Valve, surely the best way to launch it would be with a brand-new, shiny Half-Life 3 to play on it? We live in hope.

3. Half-Life

A permanent fixture on the Mt. Rushmore of first-person shooters, Valve’s 1998 debut remains one of the greatest and most significant video games of all time. While its innovations in environmentally driven storytelling are now merely chapters in a history book, and its blocky characters, relentless load screens, and awkward “long jump” erode some of its magic in the eyes of modern gamers, Half-Life’s uneasy atmosphere, incredible level design, and tense combat encounters render it immortal.

The 21st century’s best FPS campaigns have all learned from Valve’s immaculate construction, which builds each new chapter and environment around unique concepts. There’s the hide-and-seek attack on the Tentacles in ‘Blast Pit’, the bombardment of laser-guided rockets in ‘Surface Tension’, and, later, the solving of portal puzzles in ‘Lambda Core’. The story undulates between frantic, bloody gunfights, terrifying horror sequences, and extended moments of exploration and discovery – a trio of flavours that are perfectly balanced. And while it all culminates in the misstep that is Xen, a mushy alien planet that fails to offer the precision engineering of the Black Mesa Research Facility’s sharp corridors, there’s no denying that Half-Life is still, in many ways, a guiding light for the genre.

2. Half-Life 2

Speaking of the 21st century’s best FPS campaigns, there’s still a very valid argument that nothing has bettered Half-Life 2 since its release over 20 years ago. Gordon Freeman’s transition from scientist to resistance fighter following an alien invasion on Earth sets the stage for some of gaming’s most memorable moments, all the way from its influential stage-setting opening to its full-blown descent into horror through the undead streets of Ravenholm. But even outside its fantastic story, Half-Life 2 impresses on every level, acting as a showcase for Valve’s Source engine by introducing next-level physics simulations that remain impressive to this day.

All roads lead to the Gravity Gun, perhaps Valve’s signature harmonic combination of innovative tech and gameplay. One of video games’ most iconic weapons, it turns set dressing into offensive and defensive tools, allowing you to catch and hurl back grenades, hold boxes high as shields, and send swirling saw blades spinning through the air to decapitate oncoming headcrab zombies. It’s a genius piece of gameplay design inside a genius piece of campaign design, and remains one of Valve’s crowning achievements.

1. Portal 2

The original Portal was a near-perfect first draft, but limited by its relatively small ambitions. Its 2011 sequel, Portal 2, smashed expectations and expanded upon every idea introduced in 2007, delivering an intricately designed, story-led puzzle adventure that is somehow even closer to perfection. Revisiting an abandoned Aperture Sciences many years after the events of the first game gives Portal 2 an instantly eerier feel, but offsets that with a level of charm and humour not often seen in games. A lot of credit for that can be given to the writing and performance behind the player’s robot guide, Wheatley. British comedian Stephen Merchant’s delivery is spot-on as a friendlier AI to counterbalance the remaining GLaDOS threat that digitally stalks the lab.

It’s a tale whose twists and turns shift in tone as much as the geography you manipulate with the series’ signature portal gun. Much like the story’s scope, the challenge each puzzle room poses is expanded greatly in the sequel, with huge spaces having to be navigated through doors of your design, and Valve once again magically turning complex physics lessons into the purest of fun. It’s now been 15 years since Portal 2, and, sadly, we’re yet to play another. Still, it remains the developer’s finest combination of innovative campaign design and compelling story to this day, and as such, is Valve’s greatest game.

Simon Cardy is a Senior Editor at IGN who can mainly be found skulking around open world games, indulging in Korean cinema, or despairing at the state of Tottenham Hotspur and the New York Jets. Follow him on Bluesky at @cardy.bsky.social.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s villain is “still very much a secret,” Tom Holland has said, despite half a dozen foes already being glimpsed in trailers.

Holland made the comment during the ongoing Spider-Man: Brand New Day press tour (via Global Box Office), adding to the sense that Marvel and Sony are still keeping key details of the film back from audiences ahead of time.

Of course, there remains huge speculation over the character that Stranger Things star Sadie Sink is playing — and whether she too will be presented as an antagonist. But persistent speculation and rumor that she is playing a new MCU version of Jean Grey (and returning for Avengers: Secret Wars) all but confirms that she ultimately will not be a baddie.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Cast and Characters: Who’s Confirmed for the MCU Sequel?

In contrast, Holland’s comment suggests that Brand New Day’s main enemy still remains under wraps, despite a rogues’ gallery of other foes already being present.

“The villain that we have in this new movie, which is still very much a secret, is I think unlike anything we’ve seen in these movies before,” Holland said, clearly trying his hardest not to spoil anything else.

As a reminder, Spider-Man: Brand New Day features Michael Mando’s returning Scorpion, Marvin Jones III as a new MCU version of Tombstone, plus Boomerang, Tarantula, Ramrod, and ninja monk organization The Hand. Then there’s the rampaging Hulk to worry about, as well as the typically nefarious aims of the Department of Damage Control (DODC).

Is Holland referring to one of these as Brand New Day’s true villain? Not all of the above have been glimpsed in trailers (toy leaks have confirmed Tombstone, but he’s been kept out of official marketing) and fans have merely speculated about the DODC’s true role. Then there’s Boomerang, who some fans think will be revealed as the character played by Eman Esfandi (who is also MJ’s new boyfriend).

Alternatively, could Holland be discussing another villain that no one expects? Questions remain about how the Venom symbiote may (or may not) pop up here, after being teased in No Way Home’s post-credits scene. Or could the film secretly feature yet another villain from Spider-Man’s comic book history?

In April, Holland said he was still shooting Brand New Day to add “the icing on the cake in certain areas.” That included adding more humor and “layering in” a villain plotline “in a new way.”

“I can positively say that the stuff we’re doing, we don’t need,” Holland said at the time. “The movie works and sings as it is. We’re just adding the icing on the cake in certain areas. We’re finding some ways to add a little bit more humor. We’re layering in a villain plotline in a new way and some really fun stuff.”

How this will all fit into the film’s plot remains to be seen — though we’ve not got long to wait now until Spider-Man: Brand New Day finally arrives on July 31.

The past week has seen the ever-chatty Holland also reveal that “one person” still remembers Peter Parker is Spider-Man, and try to avoid spoilers when discussing his potential involvement in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars — which he suggested he would feature in.

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

Fans may not have to wait until 2027 for the debut of Pokémon Winds and Waves’ lovable starter Pokémon.

The Gen 10 trio — monobrowed Grass-type bird Browt, flame-furred Fire-type dog Pombon and sneaky-looking Water-type lizard Gecqua — were all revealed at the end of the first Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves trailer.

That same trailer also confirmed Pokémon’s long-awaited 10th generation of games will debut on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027 — meaning a long wait still for the critters to fully arrive. But eagle-eyed Pokémon Go fans now believe the wait for Browt, Pombon, and Gecqua may actually be shorter than first expected.

All Pokemon in Winds and Waves Confirmed So Far

According to a thread on top Pokémon Go fan reddit TheSilphRoad, datamining has sniffed out the first suggestion of the new starter creatures joining the game in the future, alongside content for other upcoming events.

Of course, these creatures were always destined to arrive in Pokémon Go at some point — the hit smartphone game now hosts the vast majority of species, and previous new generation launches have seen their creatures turn up in Pokémon Go around the same time, to promote their arrival. But this would be very early for data on the three species to be added — especially if Pokémon Winds and Waves don’t launch until late 2027.

The mere suggestion that the three could debut in Pokémon Go much sooner would be a huge deal for the game, and for the Pokémon franchise. The evergreen Pokémon Go still welcomes millions of players daily and is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this summer — so it would be the perfect stage on which to fully debut the new creatures. Still, new starter Pokémon have never previously become obtainable before their associated mainline games’ launch.

The Best Pokémon Spin-off Games

All of that said, Pokémon Go has led the charge on debuting a couple of new Pokémon species before — so this wouldn’t be entirely unprecedented. Meltan memorably popped up in-game via a stunning and bewildering debut, suddenly in people’s hands before anyone knew what was going on. Roaming Form Gimmighoul also debuted in Pokémon Go.

How soon could the trio arrive? For now, Pokémon Go is busy building to its biggest annual in-game event, Go Fest Global 2026, which this year will take place on July 11 and 12. Featuring the wide debut of Mega Mewtwo, the game’s big weekend will this year be free to access for all players in celebration of Pokémon Go’s 10-year anniversary, meaning no paying extra to access its questlines or boosted Shiny chances. After all of that, though, fans will hope the trio aren’t too far behind.

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

Warframe community director and live ops lead Megan Everett has said that “no one is celebrating” the “heartbreaking” news that Sony pulled the plug on Destiny 2 support.

Both sci-fi shooters have had just enough in common to keep them in the same conversation for more than a decade. It’s a friendly competition that carried developers Digital Extremes and Bungie from the 2010s into the 2020s but, when the latter announced it had shuttered all plans for future updates in May, both communities largely decided to lay down arms.

As Destiny players come to grips with the end of what has evolved into a go-to video game for thousands, some members of the Warframe team have chimed in to bid them farewell. Everett elaborated on her feelings during a conversation with Eurogamer.

“Truthfully, it’s heartbreaking. It’s earth-shattering,” she said. “I never thought I’d ever see the day where I’d read an article from Bungie about Destiny 2 essentially shutting down.”

“I’m speaking personally, but I know people would echo it as well. No one is celebrating the fact that this has happened to Destiny, and its players and that story. I know that people have obviously compared us in terms of being ‘direct competitors’ and stuff like that. But I think a game is healthy when you have competitors, and [Destiny’s developers] have done such an amazing job at trying to grow that story regardless of whatever situation they were in.”

The end of Destiny 2 came as a shock to everyone – Bungie included. After the announcement that support was winding down, Forbes reported that much of the studio’s staff was unaware of plans to cease support until the public announcement. It means development on more Destiny content had continued even after the decision was made. The final update, Monument of Triumph, was launched on June 9.

It’s been a tough pill to swallow, and one that’s resulted in Destiny fans signing petitions and flooding livestream chats, seemingly to no avail. Everett is one of many who saw fans flock to Destiny 2’s aid in its final days but, for her, it’s hard not to imagine the outcome if the cavalry had shown up sooner.

“I think what’s unfortunate and sad is they announced this was happening, and suddenly people are showing all this support for them,” she added. “They’ve been getting a lot of negativity for all this time, and it’s like, where was all this love? People need to put the hate away and show the love, because they could have really used that. I know it was there, but it wasn’t as vocal as maybe some of the negativity.”

Other members of Digital Extremes have already offered their thoughts on the end of Destiny 2 support. Warframe creative director and Lotus actor Rebecca Ford was one of the first to share appreciation for Bungie’s impact, calling Destiny a “force of nature” and adding that “there is no Warframe without the legacy of Bungie games.”

Warframe Nintendo Switch 2 Screenshots

Everett said that the community team has seen comparisons between Warframe and Destiny “almost every single day.” The die-hard players who have logged hundreds – if not thousands – of hours into each game will tell you that the two have less in common than many would think. They each have their own strengths and have been appreciated by different players for different reasons.

Now, as the competition dies down, Everett says she would “never say what has happened to Destiny is a good thing.” For Digital Extremes, the existence of a competitor as towering as Destiny seems to have only helped Warframe grow.

“I think having games that are similar enough that the communities can come together and talk about both games, and maybe educate people on those games so people go to both, that’s not a bad thing,” she added. “I’ve said for forever, I never expect anyone to only play Warframe. You would burn out so fast if you did. So having other games that scratch a similar itch is healthy for our genre. Having Destiny was healthy for us.”

For more, you can read what IGN learned when we caught up with the Warframe team to talk more about its latest update, Jade Shadows: Constellations. You can also see how Destiny 2 players did their best to crash servers with the launch of Monument of Triumph.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

As hide-and-seek paint game Meccha Chameleon rockets past seven million copies sold, some players have gotten so invested in finding the perfect hiding spot that they’ve started recreating the Mona Lisa in-game.

Developer lemorion_1224’s hit multiplayer game isn’t just the latest ‘friendslop’ experience to reach viral status – it might also be one of the biggest. It took less than a week to reach two million sales after its June 9 launch on PC via Steam, and it’s now picked up another five for a total of seven million in its second week.

Meccha Chameleon Steam Screenshots

The stats get even more impressive on its SteamDB page. Meccha Chameleon reached a concurrent player peak of a little more than 20,000 users in its first day on the market. Its all-time peak, recorded yesterday, June 21, sits at 340,534.

That positions lemorion’s colorful spin on hide-and-seek as an especially popular game, even when compared to other friendslop success stories like Peak, R.E.P.O., and Lethal Company – but what has everyone so excited? Aside from its unique premise, which primarily sees players using paint to blend into different environments while hiding from hunters, many seem to be attracted by the many highlights being posted online.

Unique gameplay, mixed in with a little luck on social media, is a friendslop recipe that has catapulted similar titles into the mainstream eye in the past – but the ability to freely paint has opened the door for some of the more creative players to attract attention online. Instagram user artofmenevir is so skilled with a brush, in fact, that their best hiding spots serve as miniature recreations of famous paintings, like Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. Other players have already done their best to put their art skills to the test, too.

@hoviagaming The Art Museum Custom Maps are SO fun 🖼️🤍 #viralgames #newgame #mecchachameleon #gaming #hidenseek ♬ Bach unaccompanied cello suite “Prelude” – Jianteng

Most players probably aren’t going to have the skills to accurately camouflage themselves within detailed works of art like the Mona Lisa, especially considering Meccha Chameleon matches typically have strict time limits during the hiding and hunting phases. If you want to try your hand at this particular challenge, you can download the Art Gallery map by Popunia in the game’s Steam Workshop page.

The fact that it is possible, though, is what’s so intriguing – especially since it’s remarkably easy to create such a bad paintjob that you stick out like a sore thumb. Some players are really flexing their creative musles by not trying to fit in at all, while others are just doing their best.

Meccha Chameleon has shown no signs of slowing down as lemorion continues delivering sales and game updates. The seven million sales figure was achieved yesterday and, at this rate, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see at least one more milestone announcement before the week is out. Meanwhile, update 1.7.0 added the new Osaka map, as well as a report feature, when it launched earlier today.

What’s next for Meccha Chameleon, specifically, remains unclear. For more on how friendslop has taken over the world of multiplayer gaming, you can check out IGN’s interview with the developers behind Gamble With Your Friends.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

Amazon Prime Day is generally one of the best times to buy LEGO sets at a discount and 2026 is certainly continuing that trend. If you’re looking for deals on some of the more expensive builds for adults, there’s already a ton of worthy price drops on 18+ sets for you to browse online.

Prime Day doesn’t officially kick off until midnight tonight, but Amazon and various other retailers have already started dropping some of the best LEGO deals of the year. The sales event is set to run until June 26 this year, so expect early deals to sell out before then.

The Best Prime Day LEGO Deals for Adults Today

Editor’s Note: We’ll be regularly updating this list of LEGO deals with new discounts and stock updates. If something goes out of stock during the sale we’ll note it in the product card.

Target’s LEGO sale went live over the weekend and dropped some of the best LEGO Super Mario deals of 2026 so far. Among these offerings my overall favorite is the LEGO Piranha plant. This is actually the first LEGO set I bought for myself as an adult and it has since put me on a journey of brick-building rediscovery. There’s also the Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi set on sale, which our LEGO Editor Chris Reed has called his “favorite Nintendo set to date”.

My LEGO Piranha Plant

If you’re looking for something you could easily incorporate into your shelf, there’s also the Hogwarts Express book nook deal. This is one of the first book nook sets released last year and has dropped down to its lowest price ever for Prime Day. It can easily fold up to work like a traditional book nook or you can disconnect the set in the middle and use it as a pair of bookends.

For any of you Transformers fans out there, I’d also note the LEGO Bumblebee set is on sale now. It’s not at the lowest price we’ve ever seen, but the set is currently set to retire at the end of July. There are only actually three LEGO Transformers sets you can even buy, so it’s possible this deal could result in the set going completely out of stock before the end of Prime Day. We’ve had the chance to build this set and it’s as cool as you think it is since it actually transforms.

We Build LEGO Transformers Bumblebee

Last but not least, Walmart is currently offering a discount on a very recently released LEGO soccer ball set. The soccer ball set was officially released back in March alongside a Fifa World Cup build. It’s designed like a Technic set to be perfectly round and includes a mechanism to open the ball to a little scene on the inside. This discount was originally only available as a Walmart+ Early Access deal, but now anyone is able to buy.

A ton of LEGO sets are retiring next month

LEGO is currently poised to retire a bunch of popular sets on July 31. This means that every retailer likely has a limited amount of stock on any of those sets. We’ve already seen the Legend of Zelda Great Deku tree set go completely out of stock everywhere without any sort of discount attached, so expect more sets to disappear before their actual retirement date.

More LEGO Deals

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See the latest LEGO deals IGN has found across the web.

Jacob Kienlen is a Senior Audience Development Strategist and Writer for IGN. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he has considered the Northwest his home for his entire life. With a bachelor’s degree in communication and 10 years of professional writing experience, his expertise is spread across a variety of different pop culture topics — from LEGO sets to books and the latest Pokémon games.

If you’re looking for premium sound quality and features, it’s going to be hard to find a headset as well-rounded as the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless — and at $249.99 during the early Prime Day sale right now, it’s a no-brainer.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless usually retails for $379.99, meaning the Prime Day sale can save you a cool $130 off this top-tier gaming headset. This marks the lowest price we’ve seen for it all year, so if you’ve been holding off for a good sale, this may just be the perfect time to leap.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Gaming Headset

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In our 10/10 review of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, we said this headset “delivers fantastic spatial gaming audio and high-quality sound for music, and its multi-platform connectivity and simultaneous-device support mean it could be the one and only audio device you need for all your gaming platforms and daily listening.”

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Images

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless has phenomenal sound quality and killer active noise cancelling. But it’s perhaps most loved for its versatility, allowing you to effortlessly switch between platforms with a quick press of a button. So, whether you’re on a PlayStation, Switch, or PC, you can easily hop back and forth without having to swap any annoying cables.

Additionally, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless comes with two batteries, letting you hot-swap between them to ensure your headset never runs out of juice. This sounds like overkill on paper, but it might just come in handy on those long gaming nights.

Given the popularity of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, you may want to act fast, as Prime Day deals tend to sell out more quickly than you’d expect, even when they arrive before actual Prime Day.

Is There a Better Alternative?

If you’re shopping for a high-end gaming headset, nothing really does compare to the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro. IGN has tested a ton of gaming headsets and the Nova Pro Wireless has continued to be the best there is. Considering this is the lowest price we’ve ever seen on this headset, it’s absolutely worth picking up if you have the cash for it.

With that in mind, $250 is still a lot to spend on a gaming accessory. If you’re looking for something that’s still good with similar wireless connectivity, we recommend the Asus ROG Pelta gaming headset. We gave it a high score in our hands-on review and consider it to be the best mid-range gaming headset on the market right now.

Billy Givens is a freelancer at IGN with over a decade of experience writing gaming, film, and tech content. His work can also be found on GameSpot, USA Today, Digital Trends, Tom’s Guide, and more. You’ll find him blabbering on about video games and more on Twitter at @mektige.

Naughty Dog may have canceled its The Last of Us Part 2 multiplayer project, but Factions fans can now at least have a new PvP mode to look forward to… if they’re on PC.

Modder Speclizer uploaded 25 minutes of early gameplay for a mod they’re working on that will let players go head-to-head as Abby, Ellie, and potentially other characters from the PlayStation video game series. The video kicks off with the news that, after starting development in January 2026, it’s expected to launch this September.

It’s admittedly a bit rough around the edges in its current state but, so far, this The Last of Us Part 2 multiplayer mod seems to feature a relatively fleshed-out PvP mode. The earliest moments of the gameplay video are the most telling, highlighting a matchmaking system, maps, and loadout selections. Is it exactly what Naughty Dog may have had planned for The Last of Us Online? Probably not, and it’s only coming to PC for now, but it might just help fill the hole in players’ hearts.

Those itching for a multiplayer spin on a classic post-apocalyptic story might also find some hints of what’s to come on Speclizer’s X/Twitter account. In the months since development began, they’ve regularly posted updates on their progress.

One June 13 video, for example, features footage of school, Seattle, and gas station maps. A May update showed how their first 1v1 match played out. Other videos also show that the modder has seemingly toyed with the idea of including other playable characters (like Dina) and costumes (like Ellie’s spacesuit).

It’s hard to say what will end up in the mod as Speclizer continues chipping away at it. For now, it at least looks like The Last of Us fans looking to revisit Naughty Dog’s critically acclaimed gameplay might have something to keep them occupied this September.

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered – No Return Roguelike Mode Screenshots

The PlayStation studio canceled its long-gestating multiplayer off-shoot in late 2023, promising to shift its focus to single-player games going forward. Its last all-new story, The Last of Us Part 2, launched almost exactly six years ago in June 2020. Its next, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, remains without a release date.

“In ramping up to full production, the massive scope of our ambition became clear,” Naughty Dog said at the time of The Last of Us Online’s cancelation. “To release and support The Last of Us Online we’d have to put all our studio resources behind supporting post launch content for years to come, severely impacting development on future single-player games. So, we had two paths in front of us: become a solely live service games studio or continue to focus on single-player narrative games that have defined Naughty Dog’s heritage.”

While Speclizer works to fill the void, we may never know what the PlayStation studio had planned for its evolution on the multiplayer ‘Factions’ mode delivered with the original The Last of Us. Former Sony Interactive Entertainment executive Shuhei Yoshida said last year that the version of the game he was aware of was “great.” Vinit Agarwal, who at one time served as director for The Last of Us Part 2’s multiplayer spin-off, said earlier this year that it was nearly 80% complete at the time of its cancelation.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

Amazon Prime Day starts tomorrow, but Walmart got a head start with all of its incredible deals launching today. This summer sale rivals Amazon and even goes longer, as the discounts won’t end until Sunday, June 28. Whether you’re looking to add more video games and accessories to your collection or want to score some hard-to-beat savings on Apple products, there’s plenty to be excited about this week. Just be sure to act fast, since many of the most popular deals are selling out.

The Best Walmart Summer Sale Deals

Now, there are tons of discounts to be excited about, and you have the potential to save even more or receive access to exclusive deals early with Walmart+ subscription, which happens to be 50% off. However, you don’t need a Walmart+ membership to score some highlights of Walmart’s summer sale, like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for Switch 2, the PlayStation Pulse Explore Buds, a LEGO Succulent, and the AirPods Max 2. Take a look at all our favorite tech, video game, LEGO, Toy, TV, and more deals below:

Video Game Deals

Walmart has discounted an excess amount of video games and accessories right now, but some deals are better than others. If you’ve been waiting to grab The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for Switch 2, you’re in luck, as the 10/10 rated “Masterpiece” is down $20 today. That’s not the only discounted Switch game. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD and Pikmin 4 both make fun additions to any Switch library, and for just $20, you can score Bravely Default Flying Fairy for Switch 2. Silent Hill f for PS5 has also hit a new low price.

As for gaming accessories, the PlayStation Pulse Explore Buds are down to the lowest price I’ve seen. These earbuds are one of the few you can actually pair with the PS Portal. Our favorite budget VR headset, the Meta Quest 3S, is also down by more than $50, while the highly rated GameSir G7 Pro Controller got a nice $16 price cut.

LEGO Deals

Some LEGO deals have already sold out, so you’ll want to act fast on these discounts. The incredibly popular LEGO Succulent set is down to just $25, and best of all, you can’t kill these 5-inch plants. Spider-Man fans will be excited about the deal on the Spider-Man vs. Oscorp Building, which includes a bunch of minifigures. Plus, if you’ve been into all the World Cup action, a LEGO Soccer Ball and Cristiano Ronaldo set are both on sale. However, some deals are exclusive to Walmart+ subscribers. Luckily, you can save 50% on a membership right now.

Apple Deals

If you’re after some new high-end over-ear headphones for your Apple devices, you’re in luck, as both the AirPods Max 2 and Beats Studio Pro are down to record-low prices. The latest generation of Apple AirTags, which offer louder speakers and upgraded tracking distance, have just received its first major discount. Plus, you can save $50 on an Apple iPad A16 or get some incredibly cheap open-box AirPods 4 with ANC. That’s just scratching the surface of the Apple deals; check them all out here.

4K Movie Deals

Many of Walmart’s 4K movie deals are cheaper than Amazon’s right now. From Matt Reeves’ The Batman to Moana, there is an incredible selection to add to your physical media collection. Even the Tron Steelbook, which was rarely in stock last year, has hit a new low, $28.60. Be sure to scroll through all the movie deals yourself to find even more to take home.

PC and Laptop Deals

Whether you’re looking to amp up your current setup with a new desk, gaming chair, and monitor, or you’re after a whole new rig, Walmart has some solid discounts. For an awesome everyday work laptop, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5i is a great option. To tackle games in 4K, you can’t go wrong with the iBUYPOWER Y40 Gaming PC, and a more portable option is the MSI Vector 16″ Gaming Laptop, which happens to be down 33% right now. Check out all of Walmart’s PC and Laptop deals here.

TV Deals

Need a cheap TV for a spare room? Well, Walmart has you covered with its Vizio TV deals. That’s not all, as you can score some serious discounts on TV stands to hold that new TV. Also, if you’re one of the lucky ones with an awesome backyard to hang out in, you can score a major discount on an outdoor TV that’s built tough to withstand the elements.

Other Tech Deals

Beyond gaming and PC deals, there is plenty of other tech on sale. Chances are good you’ll be spending lots of time outside this summer, so this onn speaker deal will be great for all those outdoor gatherings, especially thanks to the impressive 12-hour battery. You can also keep cool (or at least your beverages frosty) with a cheap pebble ice maker and make things extra festive with some Govee outdoor lights. Be sure to scroll through all of those deals and more.

Other Toy and Game Deals

While there aren’t too many toy deals during Walmart’s Summer Sale just yet, there are a few things to get excited about. If you saw the Super Mario Galaxy Movie, this adorable Hatchin’ Yoshi Interactive Figure is half off; millennials should think Furby vibes. Sticking with the movie theme, Toy Story 5 just dropped this weekend, and a Buzz figure for the latest installment is only $10. Exploding Kittens is also down to $10, if you’re after a family-friendly card game.

Get 50% Off Walmart+ for Awesome Perks

12-Month Walmart+ Membership

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Early access to sales, free shipping with no minimum, Paramount+ or Peacock, and more.

You can save 50% on a Walmart+ subscription. Not only will you get exclusive early access to many of the deals happening this week, but it comes with a plethora of other incredible perks. To start, shipping is free with no order minimum, which is great if you’re buying something today that doesn’t automatically offer free shipping. You can even score $0.10 off gas at select stations, save 25% on Burger King orders, and more. However, perhaps the best perk is the complimentary Paramount+ Essential or Peacock Premium Subscription. That alone may be reason enough to get a Walmart+ membership.

Danielle is a Tech freelance writer based in Los Angeles who spends her free time creating videos and geeking out over music history.

For this week only, Dell is offering a steep discount on its most powerful desktop computer. The Alienware Area-51 gaming PC equipped with a GeForce RTX 5090 GPU, 64GB of DDR5-6400MHz RAM, and a 4TB SSD has dropped to $5,999.99 shipped after a $2,500 instant discount. No, it’s still not even remotely affordable for most people, but if you’ve got deep pockets, this is a substantial discount on a beastly Alienware system. If you look at the prices of the individual components in today’s market, it’s (sadly) not as ridiculous as your initial sticker shock might lead you to believe.

Alienware Area-51 RTX 5090 Gaming PC With 64GB RAM, 4TB SSD

Alienware Area-51 Intel Core Ultra 9 285K RTX 5090 Gaming PC (64GB/4TB)

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The Alienware Area-51 is Dell’s flagship gaming PC. The product photos don’t give it due justice; this is a big chassis that towers over the Aurora R16 model with superior build quality and a redesigned cooling system with even greater airflow.

This $5,999 config is equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K CPU, GeForce RTX 5090 32GB GPU, 64GB of DDR5-6400MHz RAM, and a 4TB SSD. Additional system details include a 360mm all-in-one liquid cooling system for the CPU and a massive 1,500W 80Plus Platinum power supply that allows plenty of headroom for future upgrades.

The Area-51 is much more imposing than the Aurora R16.

The 4TB SSD and 64GB of RAM are easily $1,400+ upgrades

A quick check on Amazon and Newegg reveals that 64GB of DDR5-6400MHz RAM currently sells for at least $800, with most options closer to $900-$1000. Likewise, a 4TB PCIe Gen 4×4 NVMe SSD starts at $600. If you were to add them yourself, you’d be paying at least $1,400 for these two upgrades alone.

The RTX 5090 is the most powerful graphics card ever and costs $4,000+ by itself

If you thought GPUs were going down in price, guess again. Although some of the mid-range cards (particularly on the AMD side) have indeed seen recent discounts, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 GPU is actually even more expensive that it was at the beginning of the year. The cost to acquire one of these golden eggs standalone is now north of $4,000.

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 is still far and away the most powerful consumer GPU on the market. Although with this generation Nvidia has prioritized software updates, AI features, and DLSS 4 technology to improve gameplay performance, the 5090 still boasts an impressive 25%-30% uplift over the RTX 4090 in hardware-based raster performance. If you want the absolute best performance for your gaming PC, there is literally no other option from any other brand.

How to Follow IGN Deals Recommendations

The IGN Deals team has over 30 years of combined experience finding the best discounts and preorders available online. If you want the latest updates from our trusted team, here’s how to follow our coverage:

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn’t hunting for deals for other people at work, he’s hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

Tomorrow is the start of Amazon Prime Day, but we’re already seeing some incredible early deals, including a LEGO flower bouquet, AirPods Max 2, and Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for Switch 2. All of these are down to their lowest price ever. Walmart also has a jump-start on Amazon, launching its deal days today, and one highlight is $100 off the PS Pulse Explore Buds. Those are just a few of the ridiculous number of discounts available today. Check out more below:

TL;DR – The Best Deals for June 22

Get $150 Off the Apple AirPods Max 2

Apple AirPods Max 2 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones

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The Apple AirPods Max 2 have received their biggest discount yet. You can save $150 on every color of these top-tier noise-canceling headphones, which just launched in April. Featuring improved noise cancellation, better adaptive noise canceling and transparency mode, and an enhanced sound stage, the AirPods Max 2 have a lot to offer. And there’s also the comfortable design, wired USB-C high-res audio, solid voice isolation, and more.

Save $26 on a LEGO Botanicals Flower Bouquet

LEGO Botanicals Flower Bouquet Building Set – 10280

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Grab a bouquet that will never wilt. The LEGO Botanicals Flower Bouquet is down to its lowest price yet. With it, you get 15 different stems with flowers or leaves to arrange to your liking, including snapdragons, poppies, asters, daisies, and grasses. The stem length is adjustable, while the leaves and petals can be posed to your liking. In total, there are 756 pieces. If you want even more variety in your flower arrangement, this set can be combined with other LEGO Botanical Flowers.

Silent Hill f Drops to Low Price

Silent Hill f – PlayStation 5

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Silent Hill f is down to the lowest price I’ve seen at both Amazon and Walmart. This survivor horror game features a dark, twisted story, incredibly compelling characters, and a stunning soundtrack. In our review, Tristan Ogilvie said, it’s “one of the strongest new games in the series since the PlayStation 2 era.” If you’ve been waiting to pick up a copy, now is a great time.

$25 Off a $200 Nintendo eGift Card

Nintendo eShop $200 Gift Card (Email Delivery)

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A $200 Nintendo eGift Card is just $175 when you enter the code “FTTF6934” at checkout to save $25. If you were already looking to purchase games, DLC, online memberships, or in-game currency, it’s a great way to save. Nintendo discounts, especially on newer games, are rare. The gift card is sent to your email shortly after purchase and is redeemable in the Nintendo eShop using your Nintendo account. Otherwise, the eGift Card can even be sent as a gift.

Get $100 Off the PlayStation Pulse Explore Buds

PlayStation PULSE Explore Wireless Earbuds with Charging Case,

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The PlayStation Pulse Explore Buds are down to the lowest price I’ve seen. You can score a pair for just $99, but it looks like you can only get this deal if a store near you has the earbuds in stock. One of my biggest qualms about the PlayStation Portal is the lack of Bluetooth support, so you’ll need a wired headset to listen. That’s unless you happen to own one of the two wireless headsets with PlayStation Link technology. The Pulse Explore Buds are among those headsets, and they also happen to be one of the best gaming earbuds around. In our review, Jaron Schneider found the earbuds “sound fantastic for gaming and work with no muss or fuss right out of the box.”

Save Up to $50 on a Switch 2

Nintendo Switch 2

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New Woot customers save $50, returning customers save $30

Switch 2 discounts are uncommon, but the Amazon-owned Woot is actually offering up to $50 off Nintendo’s latest console. If it’s your first time ordering on Woot, then the Switch 2 will cost just $399, but if you “Woot-ed” before, you’ll only save $30. All you need to do to save is enter the code “CHEAPSWITCH2” at checkout. This deal is likely going to be one of your last chances to save on the Switch 2 ahead of a price hike in September.

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for Switch 2 Hits All-Time Low Price

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition

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The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for Switch 2 has hit an all-time low. It’s $20 off, costing just $59.88. With the Switch 2 Edition, you’ll get upgrades to visuals, higher frame rates, quicker load times, and HDR support. If you don’t care about that, the Switch version of Tears of the Kingdom is down to $49.94. Earning a rare 10/10 “Masterpiece” rating in IGN’s review, Tom Marks found: “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is an unfathomable follow-up, expanding a world that already felt full beyond expectation and raising the bar ever higher into the clouds.”

If you’re looking to save on even more games, Woot’s ‘Summer of Gaming Sale’ is happening right now. Check out some of those deals below:

Tron Steelbook Hits New Low Price

Tron – UHD/BD Combo + Digital + Steelbook

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The Tron Steelbook is down to its lowest price yet at Amazon and Walmart. Now, this is the original movie from the 80s starring Jeff Bridges and directed by Steven Lisberger. Beyond getting the awesome collectible case and the film remastered in 4K, this UHD + Blu-ray combo comes with deleted scenes, featurettes on its creation, audio commentary, and more.

Danielle is a Tech freelance writer based in Los Angeles who spends her free time creating videos and geeking out over music history.

Earlier this year, Apple released its 8th generation iPad Air tablet at a starting price of $599.99. However, for Amazon Prime Day, Amazon has just dropped the price to $519.99, or $80 off MSRP. That matches the lowest price I’ve seen since its launch. In addition to the M4 chip upgrade, the newest iPad Air is equipped with more RAM than before and Apple’s newest N1 wireless chip, which finally introduces Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support.

Save $80 Off the 2026 Apple iPad Air for Prime Day

Apple iPad Air 11″ (M4) 128GB

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The iPad Air M4 is the newest generation iPad Air released back in March of 2026. The biggest upgrade is the Apple M4 chip, which is about 20%-30% faster than the M3 chip found on the previous generation model. The iPad Air also supports Apple Intelligence and its features including Genmoji, Writing Tools, and AI-enhanced Siri.

Normally, most iPad updates are incremental and outside of the CPU upgrade, the buck stops there. Not with this update. The new iPad has also increased the amount of memory by 50%, from 8GB to 12GB of RAM. You’ll be able to run multiple resource-heavy apps, mult-task, and take advatange of processor-intenstive AI features better than before.

In addition to the increased memory, the iPad also has a brand new N1 wireless chip. For the first time the iPad Air supports Wi-Fi 7, which offers wireless faster-than-gigabit networking speeds. The N1 chip also supports Bluetooth 6, which boasts better latency and power efficiency compared to Bluetooth 5.

The rest of the specs are pretty much identical to its predecessor. The iPad Air boasts an 11″ 2360×1640 (264ppi) Liquid Retina display with P3 Wide Color and True Tone that’s better quality than the screen found on the standard iPad. SThe iPad Air is compatible with the Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil (USB‑C) and the Magic Keyboard. In fact, the newer model Magic Keyboard that was released earlier this year is specifically catered to the iPad Air.

Looking for more iPad resources?

If you’re not sure which iPad is best for you, we have an iPad guide which details the ideal iPad for different use cases. If you want to get an iPad for schoolwork, we have an iPad guide for students as well. If you’re looking for options outside of iOS, check out the best Android tablets of 2026.

How to Follow IGN Deals Recommendations

The IGN Deals team has over 30 years of combined experience finding the best discounts and preorders available online. If you want the latest updates from our trusted team, here’s how to follow our coverage:

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn’t hunting for deals for other people at work, he’s hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

Amazon Prime Day officially kicks off tomorrow, and while that does mean the online retailer will have plenty of discounts, it also means every other retailer is scrambling to come up with deals to compete with it. Walmart is running its own sale from June 22 and 28, and it already features some particularly hefty 4K and Blu-ray deals even Amazon hasn’t matched.

These 4Ks Are Cheaper at Walmart Than Anywhere Else Right Now

I checked that every Blu-ray highlighted below is at a cheaper price than it is at Amazon. For now, at least. The majority of the deals are actually sold and shipped through Gruv Entertainment, a storefront owned by Universal and Warner Bros., or Please Rewind.

The list of standout deals isn’t particularly long, but I’d argue it does include a little something for everyone. One of the major themes is good ol’ superheroes, where we’ve got hits from across studios and franchises.

Representing DC, we have one of my favorite movies of all time, Matt Reeves’ The Batman. The MCU gets a little bit of a throwback with Spider-Man: Homecoming, which at the very least is topical as we get closer and closer to Brand New Day.

We also have Logan, which is technically from 20th Century Fox before its acquisition by Disney. And, I can’t help myself from mentioning the limited-edition Venom box set from the now defunct live-action Sony Spider-Man universe. It even comes with a Venom action figure.

Other highlights include a spread of family-friendly movies like The Wild Robot, which we called “another triumph for Lilo & Stitch and How to Train Your Dragon co-director Chris Sanders” in our review. This is also the lowest price we’re seeing for the original animated version of Moana, which happens to be getting a live-action remake next month.

50% Off Walmart+ Subscriptions, Include Peacock and Paramount+

If you’re clicking around for Blu-ray deals, I assume you’re repping physical media. However, on the off chance you’re open to the digital world, Walmart also happens to be offering what I consider one of the better streaming deals of the year.

12-Month Walmart+ Membership

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Early access to sales, free shipping with no minimum, Paramount+ or Peacock, and more.

Right now, you can sign up for Walmart+ subscription at a 50% discount. Yes, that means early access to deals and free shipping, but more importantly, it includes Peacock or Paramount+, two standalone services I’d argue it’s otherwise harder to justify paying full price for (unless you’re really into Love Island).

More 4K Blu-ray Deals

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See the latest 4K and Blu-ray deals IGN has found across the web.

Blythe (she/her) is an Audience Development Coordinator at IGN who spends way too much time in character customization screens and tracking down collectibles.

Just a couple months after Valve launched the Steam Controller, the Steam Machine has finally arrived. And while the fledgling mini-pc/console hybrid is a bit more expensive than we once thought it would be, Valve was able to still able to get it in at a somewhat reasonable price – at least for a mini PC. And, now that we’ve had a chance to test it, we were impressed by just how easy it was to use, and how well it performs in games, despite its limited hardware.

Ever since the Steam Machine was revealed in November 2025, Valve was telling us that it was just another option for folks hoping to get into PC gaming. Recently, we got a chance to sit down with Valve Engineers Pierre-Loup Griffais and Yazan Aldehayyat to discuss the Steam Machine, and how it was made. And, well, it sounds like Valve was able to achieve everything it wanted to with the Machine, except for the price. Even there, though, it sounds like Valve was able to at least mitigate the impact the RAM crisis had on the Steam Machine.

Steam Machine – Hands On Photos

IGN: The Steam Machine came in at a higher price than originally intended, but it’s still about the same price as a comparable tower PC, whereas normally mini gaming PCs have a pretty huge price jump. How did Valve keep the price from getting even higher?

Yazan Aldehayyat: I mean, I guess obviously our primary advantage is that we’re able to make a custom motherboard, custom power supply, and a custom thermal module. So that’s a huge advantage, but really it just took a lot of engineering.

We spent a lot of time optimizing thermals, working with acoustics to make sure the device is still quiet at this size and form factor. But yeah, I think this is one of the things that we’re proudest of is the form factor. It’s actually probably exceeded our expectations in terms of compactness, quietness and how cool it is while you’re using it.

But yeah, I mean, obviously, but to put it in simple terms, being able to make a custom motherboard, custom thermal module, custom power supply is the primary reason why we’re able to do this, but it’s difficult to do with off the shelf components.

IGN: Right. I guess I’m just surprised that all that engineering didn’t get baked into the cost of the Steam Machine itself. Whereas usually you’d expect having a bespoke solution like that would cause prices to skyrocket even further. I think a lot of people were braced for higher prices as well.

Aldehayyat: I mean, value engineering is a real discipline. We knew that hitting a good price point is important and we kept that in mind the whole time we were designing the Steam Machine. I mean, we could have probably made it smaller, but it would’ve been more expensive. But we just kind of picked the sweet spot for what we thought made the most sense.

So yeah, I guess I would say that good engineering doesn’t necessarily mean more expensive. And if anything, a big part of engineering is to make sure that the value still makes sense and represents the value and the cost of the product.

Pierre-Loup Griffais: When we were working on all that, of course, we were working with some parts that were a little bit cheaper to work with. But now that things like the memory and storage are more expensive comparatively than the build materials, they’re that much more expensive for the total product price.

All the choices we’ve made to aggressively limit the price and all those other dimensions shine even more because now, it’s even more competitive for the same parts that you can get off the shelf. So we’re really excited about that.

But for sure it was designed in since the beginning. There’s always a strong component of trying to make sure that we would be able to hit the most aggressive price possible.

IGN: You’ve mentioned that the hardware shortages affected availability more than price. Meanwhile, the Steam Controller sold out basically immediately, and I kind of expect the same’s going to happen with the Steam Machine. How hard would you say it’s going to be for people to actually get their hands on this thing?

Griffais: Yeah, it’s unclear. I think if you ask everyone here, you’re going to get a different answer because it would essentially be predicting what users are doing and it’s a hard problem. But I would expect, and we’ve done a little bit more work here to streamline the purchase experience. I think that we’ve shared some of the approach here with you as well and we expect that’s going to make it a little bit less stressful to try and at least get into the initial line and then later be able to purchase a unit. But it’s hard to predict to what extent people are going to have to just wait or we’ll be able to get through our launch quantities because we don’t really know what to expect out there, especially in these conditions where prices for a PC are a little bit different than when we announced.

And so folks that might have made their plans based on their original idea of what a PCU was going to be priced at might be making different decisions now. So we don’t really know what to expect, I guess is the straightforward answer.

Aldehayyat: But I also want to emphasize that even in the best of circumstances, having enough units for day one demand is always hard or basically impossible, especially for a product like this.

So, I guess I just want to point out that the biggest thing is that day one quantities, they are what they are, but we are working really hard to replenish those as fast as possible. I know that several members of the team are working around the clock to secure more supply and get more units built.

I think our FAQ definitely emphasizes the day one experience in terms of reservations and making it less stressful, because as I said before, having enough units for day one is always really hard, but things will improve over time, especially by the end of the year. And if the demand is higher than we expected, we’ll obviously do even more to build more units.

IGN: What lessons did you take from past hardware launches – the Steam Deck, the OLED version, and the Steam Controller – that you’re baking into your approach with the Steam Machine?

Griffais: Definitely the reservation system that we introduced with Steam Deck, I think, has proven to be very useful for those kinds of launches. I think users really appreciate the peace of mind of knowing that they have a place in line, and they don’t have to periodically go refresh some website or try and get in line with the anxiety that someone else might’ve gotten there before them, even though they’ve been waiting for several months.

So I think just working on the reservation system and making sure it’s good for both the waiting experience, but also the launch experience, with the addition of the randomized period and all that. Yeah, we think that’s a really important part of not making the launch experience too stressful.

IGN: I know leading up to the release of the Steam Machine, y’all were talking about 4K60 a lot, 4K60 with FSR specifically, but in my testing, I found that it’s an even better 1080p or 1440p machine. Is 4K the recommended way to go about things or is that more of a marketing point?

Pierre-Loup Griffais: Well, I think it’s broadly true that there’s a bunch of games on Steam that work really well at 4K on the machine. And even games that are still coming out, every game’s not necessarily trying to push the envelope there.

There’s games that look gorgeous that I think are still very viable at 4K Native, even without any sort of upscaling. But when you throw upscaling into the picture, especially with the upcoming FSR 4 that AMD has confirmed will be available, and that we can say confidently will be available on Steam Machine. I think it makes sense for a bunch of titles, but we also are cognizant that there’s a bunch of games where different trade-offs might make more sense. 1440P is definitely a little bit of a sweet spot. I think we anticipate that a bunch of games will end up falling probably around that envelope when you’re trying to target your best recommended settings.

But for sure 4K is not something that’s going to be possible in all titles necessarily, but I think it is a reasonable target for a lot of them.

Aldehayyat: And another thing I want to mention is that part of the 4K messaging is to some of the people who are not as familiar with tuning game settings, and might just want to get comfortable that it’s compatible with their TV, and most people have 4K TVs.

So a big part of that is just to tell people, yes, it will work with your 4K TV, you’re able to play a game at 4K and that’s kind of an important message for people who are less familiar with changing their game settings, basically.

Griffais: In general, I would also say that performance over time is a little bit of a malleable thing. We’re always working on rolling out performance improvements, and games are always rolling out post-launch updates and things to optimize performance.

But notably as part of Steam Machine development, we’ve done a ton of work on optimizing performance for low VRAM situations, optimizing performance for things like ray tracing, which we’ll be rolling out in the next few days.

We have a new driver that really improves and moves the needle on that aspect, but we’re also rolling out new technologies like FSR and different capabilities of that, like Frame Gen. All this stuff will contribute to making the performance a little bit different than it was at launch, as we roll that out. So we’re constantly working on driver optimizations and such.

IGN: I know that FSR, DLSS, XeSS, all of the upscaling solutions are a bit of a hot topic issue, especially with everybody’s different opinions on AI. How important do you think these upscaling solutions are to modern gaming?

Griffais: I think it depends on who you ask. I mean, personally, I like playing games with native AA or TAA and just cranking down resolution if I need to. But I think a bunch of people are clearly okay with upscaling, and that technology has evolved a bunch over the years, where some of the artifacts that you would use to see are not really represented that much.

So I would say it seems like a technology that’s pretty popular right now. So it was important to us that we could work with AMD and make sure that the latest version of FSR upscaling is going to be supported on Steam Machine. And so we’re pretty excited that they’re bringing that over ,because there’s a bunch of games out there that support FSR 4 that will benefit from it.

IGN: FSR 4 was built for RDNA 4 rather than the RDNA 3 GPU that’s built into the Steam Machine. How much of a performance impact is that going to have, with having fewer of the AI processors on your GPU?

Griffais: I mean, given that it’s not released yet, I don’t really know for sure. I guess maybe that’s a question for AMD to some extent. But I think we’ll be able to see as soon as the FSR 4 support is released, of course there’s going to be a lot of comparisons as to what the performance hit is and so on.

My understanding, and again, I don’t want to speak for them. I think it’s an AMD question at the end of the day, but my understanding is that they kind of tuned the FSR technology to be performing well on RDNA3, so I would expect to see good results there.

IGN: The Steam Machine’s tuned for a specific performance target, but I think there are a lot of people that might want a more performant option. Is the approach with the future iterations going to be the same as the Steam Deck where you’re waiting for a really big generational leap or is there a possibility of a Steam Machine Pro somewhere down the line?

Aldehayyat: I mean, we don’t have anything to announce or any concrete plans either way. I mean, obviously we will react to people’s demands and requests and evaluate what the market is doing and what technologies are available, but yeah, we don’t have anything to say about that.

Griffais: Yeah. I think that because Machine slots more naturally in the PC ecosystem in terms of having more direct analogues there, you can build a PC yourself that’s pretty much the exact same performance target.

Because of that, I don’t see it as having the same, I guess, requirements as something like Steam Deck when it comes to having the performance target be stable over time. So I think that it’s maybe a little bit more linear, and not as much of a discrete jump every few years or something where you might imagine more gradual performance bumps.

That being said, I think the main way that people will experience those performance improvements will be by building their own equivalent to it. There’s a lot of different PC parts that you can use that work great with SteamOS now and we’re really excited that people can build something like the Steam Machine, but they might decide to make different trade-offs when it comes to maybe they need more CPU, maybe they need more GPU, maybe they want more memory or whatever they think that is going to be a better performance target for them.

They can build that and put SteamOS on it and they’ll pretty much have the same experience. There’s some things that are hard to build when you’re doing your own custom PC, of course: The form factor, the noise level, the fact that we have a dedicated Bluetooth antenna for controllers, that we have CEC support, all that is a little bit harder when we’re doing your own PC or even impossible in some cases.

But the SteamOS work that powers that experience will be, and to a large extent, is already available to everyone that wants to put together a similar kind of envelope at different levels of performance.

IGN: How were you targeting the dichotomy between building a gaming device versus building a PC?

Griffais: We’ve been very cognizant of that plurality of different use cases and opinions in the PC landscape ever since the initial design phase there. It was important to us that it could be used as a desktop, including having the DisplayPort output and having the two simultaneous display outputs.

I think with all these features and the way that we’ve laid out the ports and all that, there’s definitely some thought put behind the fact that someone might elect to put it on their desk and do something different with it than just a docked Steam deck type of experience.

And so yeah, we’ve been aware of that. Whether one or the other is the priority is a little hard to say because we’re trying to make sure that it’s a great experience for both, but for sure I would say right now the gaming side of the experience is more developed because of where we come from.

I think the whole desktop aspect is something that we want to … We’ve been improving, we’ve been working on it, but we want to keep working on going forward as well.

Aldehayyat: I mean, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that a good PC is also a good gaming device. At the end of the day, good hardware is good hardware. So in a lot of ways, the challenges you’re trying to solve are, a lot of them are pretty much the same.

Everybody prefers smaller, quieter machines, regardless whether they’re to do productivity or to do gaming on them. So yeah, I think it’s just kind of born out of the desire to make a good device in general effectively.

IGN: One of the things I noticed is that it’s kind of difficult to tear into the thing. What was the mindset behind making it a little bit harder to open versus just being able to just slide open a panel and pop in an SSD?

Griffais: I think that part of what you’re seeing there is less about making it harder to open and more about the constraints of working in a form factor like that. So I think if anything, we’ve probably erred on the side of it being easier to open than it might be if you had designed a system with that sort of form factor, without also being cognizant of the fact that people are going to open it and need to access the SSD.

So I think it’s not as easy as a big case type PC where you can have a panel that opens and gets to everything, but we’re still, I guess we’re pretty happy with where we ended up there because there’s a bunch of trade-offs we could have made that ended up in the opposite direction where it’s even harder than what you’re experiencing now.

Aldehayyat: Yeah. I mean, I just want to say that we actually tried really hard to make it as repairable and openable as possible, but the side effect of making something compact is that it’s harder to get into. The smaller something is, that’s just the less options you have for adding panels and compartments and all that kind of stuff.

Like for example, the SSD being on the FPC that loops around the power supply and being around to the bottom of the power supply, that was not because it was the easiest way to do it. We could have just buried it inside the thermal module, for example. We actually made the conscious decision to do that simply to make it easier to get to the SSD.

And we actually wanted to do that with memory too, but it’s just from a signal integrity standpoint, which just wasn’t possible. So yeah, to say that we actually tried really hard to make it as repairable as possible, but still being compact is what made it difficult. It was difficult to achieve something that’s really compact and still make it as easy to fix as possible.

IGN: Will Valve be selling faceplates for the Steam Machine beyond the ones that come bundled with the 2TB model?

Griffais: Right now the faceplates that are included with the 2TB models are what we’re doing faceplates-wise. We’re also releasing the CAD for the external hull of the machine and the spec around the attachment points for the magnets for the face plate and all that so that people will be able to make their own, and third parties will be able to make their own as well.

We don’t really have any collaborations firmly planned or anything to announce on that front. So I guess the short answer is we don’t really know right now, and the two faceplates that you get with the 2TB model is it.

Steam Deck OLED – Photos

IGN: The Steam Deck is still one of the most popular handheld PCs. I know it’s a little more expensive now, but new chips for handhelds are right around the corner with Intel’s Arc G processors that were announced at Computex. How close are we to that “next generation” that would at least in theory prompt a sequel device?

Griffais: I’d say we’re closer than we were the last time we talked and so on. We’re definitely getting there. I would say that the new chips that are coming out are still in power envelopes that are not quite the right segment that you’d want for a true handheld experience.

I think a lot of them are more low-end laptop chips or playing in that sort of form factor that are then repurposed for handhelds and maybe not leading to, I guess the trade-off that we would’ve chosen in terms of power and better life and that and all that.

But we’re working towards our next gen for sure. And yeah, we’ll definitely be talking about that in the coming years, but right now we’re focusing on Machine.

IGN: Yeah. Honestly, I think one of the best things about it is how good it is for beginners. I was impressed by just how easy it was to just get in there and just start downloading games rather than having to download a bunch of drivers or change up settings and all the other stuff that you have to do when you buy a new Windows PC, for instance.

Griffais: For sure. That definitely was a goal … I mean, we got that feedback a lot with Steam Deck docked, and we were trying to get to the point where you can expect the same sort of plug and play.

I mean, the mission statement for SteamOS is to get out of the way so you can get in and out of your games. And that was the case with Steam Deck. We’re trying to apply that to Steam Machine as well.

IGN: How do you feel about people making third party integrations into the Steam Big Picture app to get things like the Heroic Game launcher or BattleNet running on SteamOS?

Aldehayyat: I mean, in general, being able to install whatever software you want without having to consult with us is a big goal of this, to represent that aspect of PC. So I think it’s great that folks are finding ways to streamline that as well. But in general, I think if you need some kind of third party component to be able to load your apps, we suspect that there’s something we could be doing better, just so that that’s possible out of the box without needing that kind of software.

So it’s something that we’re working towards to try and improve, but I mean, the power of PC is that in the meantime, those community projects can get the job done for folks that find them and want to use them. So I think it’s really a celebration of what everything that PC Gaming stands for, that people are able to do that and that we’re not really in the way of that. So we’re pretty excited by that in general.

IGN: One of my favorite things about the Full Screen Experience on Windows-based handhelds is the smattering of different launchers that you can just immediately integrate into the UI. Is that something like what you’re talking about?

Griffais: I don’t know that we would necessarily pick and choose and bless certain things to be pre-installed or pre-represented in a way that’s easy to install, but our assumption is definitely that if you can download an installer or some kind of application on your normal PC, double click on it and get what you expect, which is the thing is installed and you can get at it later. We want to get to the same point for SteamOS where you don’t have to have an installer, like an extra thing or you don’t have to feel like you’re going under the hood to do that.

The whole concept of side loading is kind of antithetical to what we’re trying to do. It’s just installing apps on your system. There’s no concept that some applications are more native than others or anything like that. If there’s something that works on PC, it should be able to work here and we’re trying to get closer to that experience where you can just install whatever application and have it react the way that you’d expect without having to do anything custom.

Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC components queen. You can follow her @Jackiecobra

The team behind Battlefield 6 is working hard to deliver the best experience it can based on fan feedback. Since Battlefield 6’s beta last August, fans have been demanding things like bigger maps, better player visibility, and the return of classic locations from previous games. It took a bit, but Battlefield 6 has finally began implementing that feedback.

That’s not to say the team didn’t hear players all the way back then, it’s just that it takes a lot of time. As a result, they’ve created a beefy roadmap for 2026 that seems to address a lot of the biggest pieces of feedback in chunks.

We sat down with Ariel Giovannetti, Seasonal and Competitive Creative Lead, Motive, Battlefield Studios, to discuss how long it takes to make a season of Battlefield, why Battlefield Studios chose to reimagine Golmud Railway and Grand Bazaar, and how the developers are trying to strike a balance with fan feedback.

The Year Ahead for Battlefield 6 | 2026 Roadmap – Screenshots

IGN: This is probably your biggest season yet, or at least the start of a very significant pipeline of plans. When did you start planning this season?

Ariel Giovannetti: So the process is a bit fluid because it starts very early. We start, even before launch, having a lot of conversations. It’s just that the amount of work invested into one area or the other starts to shift as time moves forward. I participated in basically shipping Battlefield 6. So as Battlefield 6 was being shipped, then the designation of time started to shift, and then once we’ve got the player’s voices, we keep modifying the season. So a season starts maybe a year before.

So there are very long processes of working on the creative aspects, sitting down with the creative director, thinking about the features, and where do we want to take the story? Where do we want to take the features? And then that starts to change over time. But for that to change over time, you actually need to set up a base very early on. So yeah, it’s very interesting.

A lot of work goes into a season and the processes are very different between the different stages. One is an initial stage of daydreaming and being creative and thinking about what we want for the franchise and how we want to achieve those goals. And then that starts to become real. And when it starts to become real, there’s a lot of voices that come in that add their valuable feedback. There’s the realities of production, there’s a lot of things that happen during that trip.

The Best Battlefield Games

IGN: I think it’s helpful for players to have a sense of how long, realistically, it would take to implement feedback I submit to you today. Obviously, it varies depending on the scope of your feedback, but it’s helpful to have an understanding of how long I should expect before I’m like, “Oh, they’re not hearing me.”

Ariel Giovannetti: That’s a well-defined problem space. Sometimes, feedback can be addressed very quickly and we do our best to set up systems that we can support that quick iteration of the feedback. But then there are more larger changes that maybe it’s not even the development time that it would take for the change to be applied, but how safe it is to apply the fix with all the other systems and all the other modes and all the other classes.

So even though the change might be adjusting a few numbers for the tuning, we can’t release that without going through [Battlefield Labs, the community testing environment], for example, or going through intense play testing because we know that feedback that we take from the community and that we apply directly, we are actually doing a disservice to the community if we don’t do the proper job of making sure that it’s going to be good for the whole of Battlefield.

So I understand that sometimes the frustration is like, ‘Oh, but I want it now!’ You want it now, but you also want it good! So there’s a lot of effort that goes into making sure that it’s good. But yeah, we are doing our best, giving visibility over our timelines, giving visibility that we hear the concerns and the feedback.

I hope the roadmap shows that we are listening, that we are working towards those goals that the community is setting for us, but at the same time we’re moving responsively because Battlefield is huge. And the other challenge that people sometimes miss is that Battlefield is a sandbox. Battlefield allows for a lot of creativity. That’s in our DNA. We want that sandbox experience. We don’t want to box the experience, but a boxed experience is easier to tune. Something that might be obvious, you implement it, it’s like, oh, these guys are using it like this … Oh, no.

IGN: It breaks everything else.

Ariel Giovannetti: Yeah. So for us, keeping that sandbox identity is critical and that means testing, that means playtesting, which is different than regular testing, that means iterating and also means communication because sometimes we do a change that is going to be really good for the game, but then the community doesn’t know how to interact with that. An example of that is, counterplay gadgets that might be a bit more specific in their use, but then there’s this piece of, ‘Okay, we need to let the community learn about the creative uses of that counterplay and how to apply it.’

And that’s a little bit of a part of the fun of, oh, people don’t understand how to use this, but I found a way and it’s giving me that advantage of applying my creativity. So it’s a complex space, but it’s also the most rewarding part and what sets Battlefield apart from a lot of other experiences.

IGN: You came out this season with two reimaginings of pretty classic Battlefield maps, Railway to Golmud and Cairo Bazaar. There are a lot of maps that people like Caspian Border, Operation Locker, Operation Metro. So, why these two?

Ariel Giovannetti: So first of all, we wanted an immense map. We knew from the start that getting an immense map was a top priority. It was a top priority for us even when we released the game and we heard that feedback from the community. We were like, okay, good. We’re on the right track because we already started working.

Also, we have a lot of fans of the map in our team, people that worked on it in the past, but also new blood that played it, that wanted that big, massive vehicle mayhem that Golmud provides. And Bazaar was the opposite of that. We didn’t want the whole season to be about large vehicles because then a lot of infantry players that really enjoyed the minutiae of infantry play were going to feel left out. Season 3 was for all of our players. We wanted to come up strong, showing our dedication to them.

So we also did some changes to the maps and that was also important on a creative level for us. We didn’t want to just repeat the maps from the past. We wanted to do Battlefield 6 versions of the maps because that way we can provide more value to our players.

It wasn’t just repeating the success from the past, it was, let’s get that bar to be higher. So when we looked at Golmud, we identified that vehicle action was awesome, but infantry play was really hard. We knew that traversing from point to point, the lack of cover [was an issue]. So that was a big item for us.

Let’s make sure infantry play is satisfying so that people don’t feel that the only way to enjoy the map is through vehicles. So that was the first very high level requirement that came for us. We did a lot of playtesting just to make sure that that piece was perfect because we wanted the map to be enjoyed by everybody, not just vehicle fans.

The other thing that was critical for us on Golmud was getting the train. We made some changes to the behavior of the train with the train moving forward towards the enemy instead of backwards because that makes that area so dynamic. It also adds that back and forth of you taking control, but then it gets harder and harder for you to take that control. And then the other team pulls back and then there’s always some dynamic action going with the train.

We look at the strength of the map. We look at the emotions that the map provided in the past, how did you feel playing? We get that and we [make it] better, if that makes sense. Sometimes getting that better is hard, but that’s a testament to how good our designers and the team working on the maps were.

For Cairo Bazaar, we were also coming from the space of we want Grand Bazaar, but we don’t want the old Grand Bazaar. We want Battlefield 6 Grand Bazaar that will make better use of our kit and of the destruction. We wanted to set the expectation that this is not just Grand Bazaar, this is Cairo Bazaar.

We also saw an opportunity to revisit Cairo from the ending of the single-player story. The story has been evolving over the seasons and we felt like it was a good moment to go back to Cairo to show how that area evolved. So we felt like it was a good combination of the two things that we wanted to revisit for the season and we’re very happy with Cairo Bazaar. We also felt like that map is a great opportunity for us to have smaller, more tactical combat.

IGN: You also added some quality-of-life changes this season. I think one of the biggest is player visibility. Everybody has their own preferences, and some people I saw were a little upset because it defeats the purpose of camouflage. Are you happy with where you’ve landed on visibility? Is there work to go with that?

Ariel Giovannetti: Yes, there’s always work. We’ll continue improving everything. For us, I know that it defeats the fantasy of camouflage. I would still argue that some camos are still very effective even with the visibility changes, but this is addressing a concern that was frustrating a large part of our audience. They would get killed without knowing what killed them or they would get killed with the enemy in front of them without having the time to react because cognitively it was taking a little bit more time [to register] just because of the lighting conditions.

And this [change] was night and day. It’s funny, it’s a light feature and I’m using light and day, but it was light and day for those players. You can see the before and after that it’s still subtle because it’s not like they have a spotlight in their head, but it greatly separates the character from the background and it improves the competitive quality of the game because we don’t want players to get killed feeling like, “Oh, there was no way for me to know that this was going to happen.”

And I think this greatly improves fairness, but yeah, it’s one of those things that I know that some camo players will find it like “Ugh.”

Every Battlefield game, ranked.

Every Battlefield game, ranked.

IGN: How would you define the health of Battlefield 6 right now? Are you satisfied with where you’ve landed with Season 3? Are you looking to grow the game more, especially as we’re entering a very competitive second half of the year? Although you’re not launching a new game, you’re sustaining a game. So I’m curious how you are feeling right now with the state of the game.

Ariel Giovannetti: We’re very happy with Season 3, mostly because with Season 3, our goal was to reach out to our fans, was to reach out to our current players, show them that we care, show them that the future is bright, that we are going to be applying a lot of changes, that we’re going to be doing a lot of things, that is what the community wants and we’re very happy with that.

For example, in Season 3, we are starting our BF Labs initiative for competitive play, which is also a building block for the future, and it’s about allowing our community to figure out the best of Battlefield. That is a very deep aspirational desire of finding meaning in the community. This is to show how we care about our community, how we are willing to invest in making sure that we can grow it, that we can set the seeds for it to be even bigger.

I think the reception for Season 3 was really good. We knew that we had something special because when we were showing the new features on our playtesting, we were thinking like, “Oh, when this goes live, it’s going to be awesome!” We have a lot of other features that I can’t share, but we are having the same reaction. It’s like, “Oh, when’s the next play test, because this is very exciting?” And I know that the community will also enjoy them.

IGN: Night filters were added through Battlefield Portal and the community’s been having a lot of fun with that, and the original version of Bazaar had rain in Battlefield 3. I’m curious if you want to experiment more with both times of day and weather in the future.

Ariel Giovannetti: Yes. We did the winter event [in December] where we added snow. That is a part of the creative lens that we look through. There are times of days that are also very interesting that are not necessarily day or night. You have dusk and you have situations like wind where cover moves around. There’s so many things that we are exploring, and always when we add something to our sandbox, we look for that to be extended through Portal.

So with the community doing night versions of the maps, that’s exactly what we want. That’s the aspirational use of Portal that we were dreaming of when we released Portal. We want our community to feel free to find what works for them because what works for them is what works for us. We want to grow Battlefield as a community, not necessarily as a product, but as a community that has us as devs and the players working together to find what’s the best Battlefield that we can get.

So Portal is critical for that and for sure we are taking inspiration for Portal, but also we are extending our inspiration into Portal. So they have more tools and more ways to modify the sandbox that Battlefield is.

IGN: The interesting thing about live service to me is the game you release on day one is not going to be the game that you have in two years. It evolves and changes. Fortnite came out and it was a tower defense game and now it’s a battle royale. It’s completely different. To you, how has the game changed from launch to now? Is it still within the vision you imagined or is it like, “Wow, this is completely different from where our trajectory was based on player feedback?”

Ariel Giovannetti: I think that the game is trending in the direction we thought it would. A lot of our leadership and a lot of our dev team members are fans. They’ve been playing for 20 years or more in some cases. So when we see the feedback from the community and we feel excited because it’s tied to the feedback that we get internally, it’s tied to the plans that we have for the future.

There’s a lot of micro changes that are done based on the feedback that we get so we can align the implementation of what we are doing. But the roadmap, I feel like we’re all feeling pretty confident because what we enjoy of Battlefield is what our community enjoys about Battlefield. And there’s a line where we try new things and there’s a line where we go to the classics, but how we move, it comes in a more fluid way because we are a live service.

But yeah, we are excited. One thing that we used to say when we sit down to discuss new features is [that the game is] unapologetically Battlefield, we are proud of being Battlefield. How can we get this to be more sandbox? How can we get this to be more? I think Season 3 is showing that and overall the feedback that we got from the community is like, yes. And that’s the thing that we care the most about hearing!

Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN’s news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.

With a radical and vibrant art style set in a post-apocalyptic world, the latest TCG darling to hit the crowd-funding scene, Cataclysm Arcade, looks to offer some exciting twists to the genre.

Designed to be played with a single booster pack per player, Arcade’s goal is to deliver an approachable and easy-to-get-into card game while still providing strategic depth and the same tense and exciting social gaming experience that the TCG genre is known for.

Cataclysm Arcade TCG

1

Pledge Tiers start from $25.

We had a chance to crack some packs and spend some coins in the arcade recently, and came away impressed with the twists that its designers and Mothership Games co-founders, Brian David-Marshal and Jay Van Hoy, have introduced to the TCG mold.

We had a chance to speak with Brian and get an even deeper look at the code behind this arcade, learning more about how the game came to be, the inspiration behind some of its characters and mechanics, and more.

Cataclysm Arcade’s Kickstarter campaign is currently running through July 8, 2026, with an expected delivery in Q4 2026.

Cataclysm Arcade TCG – Our Interview with Mothership Games

IGN: How long have you been working on Cataclysm Arcade?

BDM: The storyworld that the game lives in is something I have been pecking away at for a few years. It was born out of my love for VHS rental store era science fiction movies, martial arts flicks, and any movie set on a train. (Important question that has dominated many game nights — Is The Warriors a train movie or is it a movie with trains in it?)

As for the game itself it has been almost two years since we commenced work on it. I was pretty shocked by how quickly the game design came together given all the difficult hoops we had placed in the team’s way to jump through. I fully expected that we would have to compromise on some aspect of a- playable out of a pack b-fully playable TCG or c-built for multiplayer but that was not the case. I think having those goals clearly defined at the outset gave us a focus that let us work more cleanly and quickly than if we were just exploring in the dark for what the product design was going to be.

It is also worth noting that the playable out of single booster pack aspect is something I have been waiting for a TCG company to do for more than 27 years. Ever since the first wave of Pokemon frenzy when I was a retailer and owned Neutral Ground in NYC. Seeing kids save their allowance for a booster pack and not being able to do anything with it was pretty brutal. I fully expected that a game would come along and do this ever since. I got tired of waiting.

IGN: Now I have to ask, since you brought it up – where do you fall on the Warriors? Is it a train movie or a movie with

BDM: I firmly consider it to be part of the Cinematic Train Universe but it is not a universally held position among the CTU Council.

IGN: When designing CA how did the comic-book style come about and how did it influence the game’s mechanics – if at all – as you were developing it?

BDM: This originally all started as a graphic novel called Something Called the Sky, which was a writing exercise I undertook to scratch an itch in my head about a convergence of movie genres. It literally started with Sky standing on the top steps of a subway platform in a torn bloody tuxedo with an axe. I had no idea what he was doing there or where he was going (and he still hasn’t fully explained the tuxedo to me) but I knew I wanted to find out with Steve Ellis.

Steve is an artist I have worked with on comics and games projects in the past and we have a creative energy together that can spin out of control in the best possible way. When I decided to make this the world for our game, Steve was the first call I made and he has been setting the tone for the world ever since.

Also in this era of extruded AI slop I knew I wanted to work with comic artists and celebrate their work and showcase art where you could see the brushstrokes and decisions that went into each card. I also love seeing all the different styles emerging in this world. We have a series of promo cards by comics veteran Scott Kolins that are drawn and reproduced to have the look and feel of pencilled comic book original art that has not been inked yet — down to us scanning his blue lines and notations around the pages.

I definitely have a wish-list of folks I want to get into this game in the coming releases.

IGN: CA features a large cast of color characters and creatures. What were your main inspirations behind the cards and are any inspired or pulled from ideas you had during your comic book days?

BDM: I have always loved a good post-apocalyptic setting, whether it was movies, comics or books. My love for all of these things have seeped into the DNA of this world and game. Some of the inspirations and homages are more obvious than others but there are also some deep cuts. There is a gang of Mystics called The Boom. And I chose that name for an era of comic publishing in the same time period that our Cataclysm happened — mid-80s — which was the sudden emergence of indie publishers after decades of dominance by the Big 2. All the characters in that gang have a word in their card name that is pulled from a comic publisher from that era. Shaman of Eternity references a black and white imprint I started when I was still a teenager called Eternity Comics. Our first title was a post-apocalyptic adventure comic — Ex-Mutants.

IGN: How do you design the cards that go in the set? Do you decide the mechanics you want on a card first and then design the character around that, or do you design the character and then decide what sort the stats and abilities they should have?

BDM: It is a mix of both. Most of the main characters — the bosses and many of the rares and mythics — were designed around characters that lived in my story bible for the world and are top down expressions of their narrative design. Cards like Charlotte, Nightbringer, Sky, Unlikely Champion, or Eff with me Ammo are definitely character-first types of cards.

Bleargh, Noxious Entity is a funny counter example. This was a card Pete designed to fill a specific role. He was balancing the distribution of characters across levels and wanted a card that was free to attack with. There are a handful of cards that start out this way. When I sat down to write the brief for it I had to come up with a brand new character that was a common.

I was pretty fed up at the time with all the “cute widdle guys” that IPs were leaning into — and yes Grogu, I am looking at you. They all felt very cynical to me. Like they came out of a focus group session or something where the feedback was to make the eyes bigger and the body even smaller.

Bleargh was my anti-cute character. He is a magically animated pile of subway sludge. You know all the filth and refuse and runoff that sludges down the middle of a NYC subway track? Now imagine that forty years after the apocalypse when those subway tracks are the stage for a brutal bloodsport. I thought it was such a funny throwaway idea and fired off the art brief to a new artist we were working with Samuel Alexander. And he crushed it. But still I didn’t think much of it until we were at Pax Unplugged last year and hosted an influencer event on the first night of the show.

We started doing demos for them and two different creators at two different tables both squeeed “Bleargh!!!!” and I swear I could see heart emojis where their eyes should have been. And it has been like that ever since. Bleargh is the breakout character of the game. There is a Cult of Bleargh on our Discord. We are doing a Bleargh promo card and having a Bleargh Day on June 27th.

Our most popular non-boss character totally started as a mechanically designed card file entry.

IGN: What would you say is the main format CA that the game was designed around? The “crack-a-pack and play” mentality or constructed play?

Brian David-Marshall: When Jay and I set out to tell stories while making games we had a team meeting to define what we wanted to be doing and how we wanted this first game effort to play — and be played. I think the biggest take away from that week long session was that product design and game design were essential to each other and not things that existed in two separate silos.

We really wanted to our game to have a good first time user experience and we knew it had to playable out of a single booster pack but it also had to live and breathe as a fully expressed TCG. Pack play was important but it also had to be a a game that would be played in other formats. There HAD to be Constructed play. Booster Draft. Multipack sealed. Etc. So the game was designed around being both and we were very lucky to have amazing team members leading the charge on both fronts in Drew Nolosco, our Head of Product, and Pete Ingram, the lead designer.

It was also utterly crucial to me that the game was not just playable for more than two players at a time but was built from the ground up with both heads-up and multiplayer experiences in mind. Social gaming is the way most players experience TCGs now. It is the way I play TCGs now. I was a diehard Spike for a long time until a bunch of folks who were central to the Commander format — including my dear friend Sheldon Menery — reminded me that you could play games with your friends and it really shifted my view on what games should be.

Sheldon, who I miss every day, was very much in my ear throughout this process and I hope he would love the game we have built. I recently got to play the game with his board game group on his actual game table while drinking a bottle of wine from his collection. It was a very special moment for me.

IGN: On the production side, is there any sort of logic that has gone into pack construction itself at the factory to make the booster packs function with the cards inside?

BDM: There is a lot of frantic paddling happening beneath the smooth sailing above the water to make Play Out of a Pack (Play out of a Quack?) work. The main thing that we do is have a pool of commons that is associated with every boss and when that Boss lands in a pack, four of those cards, that were chosen because they play well with that boss, will also be in the pack. We want folks to have the opportunity to get a good glimpse of what their cards can do and maybe be inspired to expand on it as their collection builds as they look to Constructed. The rest of the pack is random within a couple of bands of rarities and card types.

“In this era of extruded AI slop I knew I wanted to work with comic artists and celebrate their work.”“

IGN: The general coin/level mechanic feels different than many other TCGs I have played, and the paying to attack stands out especially. How did that system come about and evolve over the course of development?

BDM: I really wanted to do something that felt different from how other games have approached their resource systems. We quickly knew that for playable out of a pack we would need to use generic resources to ensure playability and with the fighting game motif I loved the idea of gating fighters to different levels when they could enter play. The Level 7 fighters feel like end bosses. They are going to be hard to deal with when they land.

I think the very first pass on the card file had the gating mechanic and each card did way too many things which were spread out across the resource curve. So those two elements were baked in pretty early and it turned out to be a lot of fun and felt different and challenged the way folks have traditionally approached resources. As we have polished the game we made the cards have fewer modes and baked attacking into every fighter.

I think the biggest evolution in all of this came as we refined the turn system with each player taking a single action in rotating sequence around the table until all players passed. We learned a lot during playtesting about how to set the costs for actions and attacks. The thing that you learn very quickly in The Arcade is that you want to be the last person with actions at the table so you get to operate unencumbered for the level. A low cost to attack or activate abilities is a huge factor on being able to preserve other actions for later in the level.

IGN: With your history and knowledge of MTG, when creating CA, were there any aspects to that game you made a conscious decision to avoid carrying over to this new game, and what about the opposite, mechanics you knew from the start you wanted to adapt?

BDM: While I love and appreciate the mana system that allows Magic to be such a vibrant game even 33 years after it was first released — that mana system is the only reason I have beaten some of my Hall of Fame friends over the years 😉 — I knew I didn’t want to put that barrier to play into this game. I didn’t want folks to have to worry about getting enough resource cards to play. It becomes one more thing that retailers and players need to grapple with on the supply side and I just don’t think an indie game is able to keep up with that. Especially if we wanted to make our games pack playable and have a density of cool cards to play with in every pack.

The biggest thing that we knew we wanted to adopt from Magic was an emphasis on multiplayer, social gaming. In the time since Wizards adopted Sheldon’s pet format EDH, and renamed it Commander, they have grown their company by billions of dollars. That modern upward trajectory for the game really begins with the advent of Commander and we knew that we wanted to build our game with that play pattern in mind.

There is something so joyful about multi-player; so inviting. Your win expectancy when you sit down at the table is different. Even if you are the objectively best player sitting down the table can resolve to defeat you. When you play games heads up it just you or your opponent and winning becomes the sole focus. When you play multiplayer you still want to win but you also find yourself relaxing a bit and having a good time. It is also so gregarious and hungry for more people. Multiplayer (and multiplayer sealed pack especially) are my favorite ways to play card games right now and this was something we built around from the start.

“I have been waiting for a TCG company to do [this] for more than 27 years… I got tired of waiting.”“

IGN: What is the reasoning behind limiting the constructed format to no more than 2 factions?

BDM: We did not want to get into a situation where every deck was the same 10 best cards that were spread across all the different factions. We wanted folks to have to make some choices. There is room to open it up based on mechanics on bosses in the future but right now it felt like the best way to keep things from collapsing down to a handful of cards dominating.

IGN: What is your favorite card or combo in the initial set?

BDM: I love Sky. He was the first character I created in this world and, as I said earlier, I didn’t know where he was taking me in the story. I love opening a pack with Sky as my boss and then just shuffling the pack without knowing the contents and starting to play a four player game. And then I will see where he takes me. He hasn’t steered me wrong yet.

IGN: Can you give a rundown of what the gameplay strengths, styles, or gimmicks for the various factions? Do the factions behave similarly to say, Magic’s Color Pie?

BDM: Each faction has unique mechanics and abilities and there is a mechanical and narrative design philosophy behind all of them.

IGN: One of the core pillars that allows a TCG to succeed is its community support. What is your planned support for LGSs and organized play in general?

BDM: We are leaning very heavily into social multiplayer games at the LGS level and will be at most of the major gaming and comic conventions over the summer and fall getting folks hyped for this game. We have multiple gameplay formats we will be implementing and OP support for that will start during Kickstarter fulfillment with our Retailer tier and the accompanying OP kits which include foils, metal cards, playmats and special storyline packs that will let players have an impact on the future of Cataclysm Arcade narrative design.

IGN: Are there plans for bosses with multiple faction affiliations down the road to increase the number of factions usable in a single constructed deck, or is the single-faction direction a design decision that you plan to stick to for the foreseeable future?

There is a ton of room for us to play with factions and we have plans to explore all of that space as we move forward with new sets in 2027.

IGN: Arcades are known for have all sorts of different games featuring different genres and themes. Will future sets all share a similar look and theme, or will we get sets that may feel more medieval, horror, etc. but united under the CA game system?

BDM: We are definitely going to explore more of this world in future sets; whether that is underground, aboveground or underwater. We will see what the rest of the world looks like 40 years after the apocalypse and how they engage with the Cataclysm Arcade broadcast. This is a storyworld and we are very much going to tell that story through the game. Characters are going to live and die. Secrets will be revealed. Fighters will shift loyalties and some will even become bosses. And we are going to let players have a hand in those events through organized play.

IGN: What sorts of ideas is the team playing around with for future sets and support for CA?

BDM: We have a lot of exciting things in the works like player driven narrative outcomes but right now we have to get through this Kickstarter campaign which has been amazing but is definitely keeping us rooted in the present.

Scott White is a freelance contributor to IGN, assisting with tabletop games and guide coverage. Follow him on X/Twitter or Bluesky.

When Rockstar announced GTA 6 pre-orders would kick off on June 25, it did so with a short, looping video posted to the official website that offered a fresh look at Vice City. It’s meant to be viewed as you scroll down, a cool piece of GTA 6 media that sets the tone for your experience on the website. But this is GTA 6, and so everything is analyzed to within an inch of its life.

Look closely at the image taken from this short video, below, and you’ll see a ferris wheel in the background. It’s lit up, as you’d expect it to be given this is a night time scene, but unlike the buildings around it, the ferris wheel does not have a reflection in the water. Fans spotted this omission almost immediately, dubbing it GTA 6’s “vampire ferris wheel.” And while it sparked plenty of “literally unplayable” jokes, the tech experts at Digital Foundry did their thing, and have come up with an explanation for what’s going on here.

A fresh look at Vice City in GTA 6. Image credit: Rockstar Games.

DF’s Tom Morgan suggests that the missing reflection is the result of a “ray tracing related quirk.” As we know from the two GTA 6 trailers Rockstar has released so far, the game uses ray traced reflections, and as you’d expect they’re used for the reflections we see in the water here. But for some reason the ferris wheel misses out. That is to say, we should be seeing a reflection for the ferris wheel. As Morgan says: “it’s clear that the ray traced reflection on the water here is not accurate to the lighting or shading of the scenery above.”

As for the why, the object (the ferris wheel) may have been excluded from ray tracing to save on GPU costs. “This alone would explain the missing Ferris wheel reflection,” Morgan suggests. “It’s an object in similar range as the surrounding buildings, and yet one that’s seemingly not flagged to reflect using the ray tracing approach.”

The camera distance may also have had an impact, Morgan said, although there’s no way to know at this stage. “It’s likely a ray tracing related quirk that, perhaps, will be tweaked in the final game,” he continued.

Every Detail in the GTA 6 Cover Art Explained

There’s been a lot of fun reaction not just to this vampire ferris wheel, but to Digital Foundry doing its thing with it. Some think fussing over this sort of thing is overkill, and of course it is, but this is GTA 6 we’re talking about. Expectations are perhaps higher for this game than any other in history, and the technology underpinning Rockstar’s games is a huge part of the excitement. Just look at Red Dead Recemption 2, now eight years old, and still wowing fans with its many systems, realistic visuals, and tech prowess.

And let’s be honest here, if we’ve got fans spending months charting the planetary positions for every Rockstar trailer drop since 2007 to try to work out the release date for Trailer 3, then analyzing this brief browser video for reflections shouldn’t come as a huge surprise.

We’ve even done a spot of GTA 6 analysis ourselves, taking a close look at the recently revealed official cover art. Not long now!

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

A talented Nintendo fan has ditched their attempt to recreate The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in Unreal Engine after a decade of work, following the announcement of the game’s upcoming Switch 2 remake.

YouTuber CryZENx has been working on an unofficial PC version of Nintendo’s N64 classic since at least 2016, and been charting the project’s progress via dozens of YouTube videos along the way. There’s even a playable demo to try, which has somehow avoided Nintendo’s legal gaze.

While Nintendo still hasn’t intervened to shut down the project — as it has done with other similar attempts in the past — CryZENx has now pre-emptively pulled the plug.

“I’m sorry that I had to disappoint,” CryZENx wrote in an update on Patreon about his unfinished work. “It’s better to just stop the project for now or I would been dissapeared… because of Nintendo ninjas.”

CryZENx believes the added interest in Nintendo’s own Switch 2 version of Ocarina would naturally have increased attention on the fan project, potentially prompting Nintendo to threaten removal of all its associated YouTube videos — or even more dire legal implications. The Switch 2 remake’s existence also removes reason for the Unreal Engine version to exist, as fans will have a shiny new official version of the game to play.

That said, CryZENx’s statement may still attract Nintendo’s attention — especially as the YouTuber is now polling fans over which other retro games should be remade in Unreal Engine next, such as Zelda: Twilight Princess, Minish Cap, Donkey Kong 64, and Metroid Prime Hunters.

Like many fan creators, CryZENx does not charge directly for access to the project, but instead runs a Patreon account where money can be pledged to offer general support. For $4 a month, followers get access to Patreon updates, behind-the-scenes content and downloads, with various tier options offered up to a pricey $127 option that offers private Discord calls.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Trailer June 2026 Nintendo Direct – Screenshots

“I would like to tell you that Ocarina of time Project is officially stopped,” CryZENx wrote. “What would you want see on YouTube? A very last video of my Project with Full gameplay of Chapter 2/3 for the very last video for the OOT project? Please let me know. Also thanks so much to all the long supporters, you have been supporting me like a decade. I owe you alot… also thanks to all the newcomers that came in since the Nintendo announcement… you are a true hero THANK YOU! Also I hope you wont quit the sub

After a major leak and much fan speculation, Nintendo finally confirmed it was remaking Ocarina of Time during this month’s major Nintendo Direct. An initial teaser revealed little, though showed the game’s 3D art style and confirmed it will launch sometime later in 2026. However, a now-removed product description has hinted that the game will likely be a faithful remake.

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

Toy Story 5 had an enormous start at the global box office, setting a franchise record. Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day, however, is having a tough time.

The Pixar sequel made $160 million domestically and $152 million internationally, for a huge $312 million global start. That’s enough to make Toy Story 5 the biggest opening weekend of 2026 both domestically and globally, and the biggest opening weekend in franchise history (not adjusted for inflation). With the school holidays set to start next month, it looks like Toy Story 5 could be set for a billion dollar run at the box office, and it looks set to make hundreds of millions in profit for Disney — according to Variety, Toy Story 5 had a $250 million budget, although marketing costs are on top.

Toy Story 4 made $1.07 billion back in 2019, and Toy Story 5 looks like it has a decent chance of beating that. The question is, can Toy Story 5 end its theatrical run ahead of the likes of Inside Out 2 ($1.6 billion) and Zootopia 2 ($1.8 billion)? Either way, it’ll surely end as one of only a handful of 2026 movies to cross the billion dollar barrier — so far only The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has managed it this year.

IGN’s Toy Story 5 review returned a 7/10. We said: “Toy Story 5, like all its main characters, eventually figures out why it exists in the first place.” If you’ve seen the movie, be sure to check out our report on the ending Toy Story 5 almost had.

However, Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day is struggling at the box office. It suffered a significant 62% drop domestically in weekend two, grossing $17 million in North America, with another $18.7 million internationally. Globally, Disclosure Day has made $160.4 million. But as Variety points out, Disclosure Day had a $115 million budget, so, factoring in the cut of revenues exhibitors take, it needs to make around $300 million globally to turn a profit.

Why is Disclosure Day having a tough time in theaters? While it’s bringing in older males who grew up on Steven Spielberg movies, Variety suggests that it’s failing to appeal to the Gen Z audience, which is preoccupied with the likes of Obsession and Backrooms.

Speaking of which, Obsession is now on $333.2 million globally, and Backrooms is on $301 million — two astonishing box office results for movies made for basically nothing compared to the likes of Toy Story 5 and Disclosure Day.

The Biggest Movies Coming in 2026

IGN’s Disclosure Day review returned a 7/10. We said: “Disclosure Day is vintage Spielberg, and even if it stumbles a bit at the finish line, it’s still an original, big-budget science fiction conversation-starter from one of cinema’s all-time greats.”

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Major book and TV show spoilers follow.

The Battle of the Gullet, which spans barely four pages in George R.R. Martin’s faux history book Fire & Blood, is a 25-minute action sequence in the Season 3 premiere of House of the Dragon. The battle is among the most devastating events in the Dance of the Dragons between the Blacks and the Greens, a massive naval assault that leaves thousands dead, including one major character and their dragon, as well as one key supporting character.

Review: House of the Dragon Season 3, Episode 1

House of the Dragon made some major alterations to the literary Battle of the Gullet, adding characters who didn’t participate in it and leaving out some who played a significant role in the book’s version of events.

So let’s break down the key differences in how Fire & Blood and House of the Dragon’s “craziest episode of television ever made” depict the Battle of the Gullet, starting with:

The Death of Jacaerys Velaryon

In both Fire & Blood and House of the Dragon, the Battle of the Gullet culminates in the death of Queen Rhaenyra’s eldest heir to the throne, Prince Jacaerys “Jace” Velaryon.

We’ll get into specific alterations to the battle itself in the entries below, but Jace’s death on the show remains fairly close to how the book chronicles it, although the show invents the preceding sequence where Jace locks his mother inside her chambers so that he can fight in the battle instead of her.

In both the book and the show, Jace and his dragon Vermax are eventually brought down by enemy fire, with the dragon’s corpse sinking into the water while a floating Jace is slain by arrows fired at him by nearby boatsmen.

Notably, though, Jace’s body doesn’t disappear underwater as it does in the book, where his remains were never recovered.

In Fire & Blood, Jace’s death leaves Rhaenyra with nothing but anger and hatred to drive her forward. We’ll see if that’s how things also play out on the show.

Harry Collett as Jace. (Photo: HBO)

Who Did and Didn’t Fight in The Battle of the Gullet?

These are the key characters in Fire & Blood who participate in the Battle of the Gullet: Jace Velaryon and his dragon Vermax; the dragonseeds Addam of Hull (riding Seasmoke), Hugh Hammer (on Vermithor), and Ulf White (on Silverwing); and Sharako Lohar, admiral of the Triarchy fleet. They also all appear in the show’s version of the battle.

However, there are two key characters missing from the battle sequence who were important inclusions in the book. Prince Aegon III and Prince Viserys II, Queen Rhaenyra and Prince Daemon’s youngest boys, were aboard a ship called The Gay Abandon on their way to Pentos for fostering when their vessel got ensnared in the battle. Aegon had brought his dragon, Stormcloud, while Viserys carried his dragon egg.

In the ensuing chaos, Aegon flew off on Stormcloud, ultimately arriving on Dragonstone alive but with his dragon mortally wounded. Meanwhile, Viserys hid his dragon egg and disguised himself as a ship’s boy, but he was captured and eventually sent to Lohar. For years, the Targaryens thought Viserys was dead, but the boy had instead been passed around as property until Alyn Valyrion purchased his freedom and brought him home. The lost prince grows up to be King Viserys II (“The Broken King”), whose direct descendants include Egg, the Mad King, and Daenerys.

Obviously, none of this has played out (so far) in House of the Dragon. The show’s Aegon and Viserys are just toddlers – their other brother Maelor doesn’t even exist in the series – who were already sent to Pentos for safekeeping in the Season 2 finale. Neither character is anywhere near the Battle of the Gullet in the show, and Stormcloud is still a hatchling incapable of flight. Both Stormcloud and Joffrey Velaryon’s young dragon Tyraxes – along with four dragon eggs – have already been shipped to Lady Jeyne Arryn as part of the Blacks’ alliance with the Vale.

While it’s possible the series might do a riff on the lost prince plotline later, it seems unlikely given that House of the Dragon will end with Season 4. There’s simply only so much narrative real estate left to explore at this point. I recently spoke with House of the Dragon showrunner Ryan Condal about the new season, including the decision to leave the young Targaryen princes out of the show’s Battle of the Gullet sequence.

“That was just one of the many challenges of making the show and telling a story that involves so many children, very young children, and particularly in our case where we had to compress history a little bit just to make Season 1 take place over 20 years instead of 30 years. So it just meant all of the children in the story are a little bit younger, especially the young, young children, are a little bit younger than they are even in the books. And the kids that we had for Aegon and Viserys, Rhaenyra’s sons with Daemon, her youngest children are just not of an age where you can involve them with complex dramatic sequences, complex action. It’s not safe, it’s not practical. So it was just something that we had to dispense of rather early on in the process.”

Condal added, “It’s not to say that those characters are out of the show or anything. We all realize what an important role they play as Rhaenyra’s sons with Daemon and the heirs to their particular bloodline and where they sit in the history. So we haven’t forgotten about any of that. It just requires changes and adaptations to make it safe and practical. When we are going to tell a story with those kids, to be able to do so in a way that we can actually do.”

Just as important as who’s been excluded from the show’s Battle of the Gullet are the characters that Ryan Condal included as participants.

“She gets her great wish and it becomes her greatest nightmare.“

Rhaena Replaces Nettles

In the book, there’s a mysterious dragonseed named Nettles (Netty for short) who has bonded with the wild dragon Sheepstealer. House of the Dragon has eliminated Nettles entirely, transferring her function in the original story to Daemon’s daughter, Rhaena Targaryen.

The Season 2 finale saw Rhaena – who was ordered to accompany young Aegon and Viserys to Pentos – pursue a dragon that’s been spotted in the Vale. The Season 3 premiere showed Rhaena finally bonding with the dragon known as Sheepstealer. (In the book, Rhaena’s dragon is Morning.) While Nettles and Sheepstealer did participate in the Battle of the Gullet in the book, they didn’t factor into Jace’s demise the way Rhaena and her dragon do in the show.

Phoebe Campbell as Rhaena. (Photo: Theo Whiteman/HBO)

While Rhaena was able to bond with Sheepstealer enough to fly him, she can’t control the beast. There are shades of Aemond’s inability to prevent Vhagar from killing Lucerys Velaryon and Arrax at the end of Season 1 in how quickly Rhaena loses control of Sheepstealer. Her dragon doesn’t know whose side it is on, so it just attacks everyone and everything, burning friendly vessels and giving chase to Jace and Vermax.

Condal explained to me why House of the Dragon jettisoned Nettles in favor of giving Rhaena the function that character served in the book: “It just felt to us that because again, this story is told in point of view, that it felt more apt as this is a family story to where we had the opportunity to involve one of the family members in the storyline. And because Rhaena has been set up since Season 1 as the member of this family who doesn’t have a dragon and basically her sole identity is the Targaryen kid who doesn’t have a dragon, it felt like that was a character that we had already set this long runway for that it could be very satisfying for the TV audience that didn’t have an experience with the book at all to see that character claim a dragon and then in a very, I think, Game of Thrones and Westerosian kind of way, to reap the consequences of having her wish come true. It’s a very monkey’s paw kind of moment for Rhaena. She gets her great wish and it becomes her greatest nightmare.”

Bethany Antonia as Baela. (Photo: Theo Whiteman/HBO)

Although the identity of this new dragonrider is not immediately clear to the other participants in the battle (Jace identifies her near the end), Rhaena understands that, because of her untamed dragon, she has inadvertently steered Jace and Vermax toward their doom.

Whether Queen Rhaenyra also discovers this – and what her response will be, since she’s the one who sought out dragonseeds for an advantage against the Greens and thus instilled such urgency in Rhaena to find one – remains to be seen.

The show also has Baela Targaryen (Rhaena’s sister and Jace’s betrothed) and her dragon Moondancer fight in the Battle of the Gullet, something they didn’t do in the book. Baela’s inclusion gives her a front row seat to Jace’s death and also makes her culpable in Jace’s decision to lock his mother in her chambers and take her place in the battle. Neither will surely sit well with her stepmother, Queen Rhaenyra.

Every Dragon in Game of Thrones: House of the Dragon

The Battle’s Biggest Winner AND Loser? The Seasnake

Fire & Blood’s Battle of the Gullet ends with the loss of one-third of the Velaryon fleet, although the Seasnake himself, Lord Corlys Velaryon, never fought in the battle in the book. In Fire & Blood, Corlys muses on the battle’s devastating aftermath: “If this be victory, I pray I never win another.”

House of the Dragon includes Corlys in the battle where he and his bastard son, Alyn of Hull, fight valiantly alongside their crewmates. (In a nice touch to Corlys’ late wife Rhaenys, the ship he sails into battle on the show is called The Queen Who Never Was.)

Abubakar Salim as Alyn of Hull and Steve Toussaint as Corlys Velaryon. (Photo: Ollie Upton/HBO)

The inclusion of the Seasnake in the battle (and the exclusion of the young Targaryen princes) gives Sharako Lohar a different motivation and fate than the book’s incarnation of the character. The show’s Lohar sees the battle as a chance for revenge against the Seasnake for all his years campaigning against the Stepstones. During the battle, Lohar’s forces also attack Corlys’ home island of Driftmark, setting the castle of High Tide ablaze.

Lohar’s blind vengeance against Corlys leads to a relentless pursuit that culminates in hand-to-hand combat. During the course of the fight, Corlys falls overboard while Lohar ends up pitted against Alyn. Alyn kills Lohar with a quick stab to the throat.

In Fire & Blood, Lohar survives the Battle of the Gullet, but eventually dies because of a courtesan called the Black Swan. Lohar’s participation in the Battle of the Gullet and the heavy losses endured in the book’s version sparked the Daughter’s War, an event which now seems unlikely to ever happen in the show.

Abigail Thorn as Sharako Lohar. (Photo: Ollie Upton/HBO)

While that conflict may not exist in the show’s continuity, House of the Dragon still depicts the Triarchy’s sacking of Spicetown and the destruction of all the treasures Corlys had accumulated over his many legendary voyages.

What did you think of House of the Dragon’s depiction of the Battle of the Gullet and its alterations? And how did the death of Jace make you feel? Let us know in the comments.

Every second counts. In truth, every milli-second. In the high stakes world of competitive gaming, raw skill isn’t enough – you need God-tier gear, too. The shorter the gap between what you see and how your reaction converts in-game is the heartbeat between life and kill.

Like a reflex; it needs to be quicker than you can think.

There are no dirtier words in the online multiplayer landscape than “input lag” and “latency” and, of course, there are many pieces to that puzzle. Internet speed, audio equipment, display, PC hardware, keyboard, mouse, router… it’s all about achieving the maximum minimum response time, if you get my drift. How fast does the signal get from A to B to A?

Opponent shoots gun – do you see it, hear it, perceive it in time to move and shoot back? Or are you a frag?

It’s why the optimal online multiplayer PC setup leaves as little to connectivity delay as possible. Wired headset, keyboard and mouse, ethernet connection and, of course, a gaming monitor with the highest possible framerate. Chaining gamers to their desk in pursuit of glory.

Until now.

TCL Brings 288Hz to the Lounge Room

Traditionally, if you wished to play a game at its highest possible frame rate, you’d need to do that on a PC gaming monitor. With its 2026 TV range, TCL has decoupled competitive PC gaming from the desk and teleported it to the lounge room; to the comfort of a couch. TCL has achieved this by bringing a 288Hz Game Accelerator mode to its large screen TVs and – brilliantly – across the whole range, too.

TCL’s premium C8L SQD-Mini LED is another remarkable high refresh rate-ready screen.

Naturally, you’ll find it in the flagship TCL X11L and its SQD-Mini LED brothers – the C8L and C7L. But it’s also in the QD-Mini LED tier P8LS and C6L. Even the QLED P7LS entry level has the underlying tech that enables the refresh rate jump, albeit with a lower Hz ceiling.

It means that regardless of your budget, across the range you’re getting the ability to maximise your PC gaming experience. Then, as you climb up the models, you’ll notice the difference in peak brightness and dimming zones, which in turn gives you that deeper clarity between blacks and colours, and improved HDR.

How Does the 288Hz Game Accelerator Work?

The key mechanism driving this extraordinary refresh rate is called Dual Line Gate (DLG). Natively, the 2026 TCL TV range will display 4K content at 144Hz (excluding the entry level P7LS, which caps out at 4K/60). This means that 144 times every second, the TV is drawing 2160 lines of pixels across the screen. What DLG does is drive each line in pairs rather than one at a time, freeing up the room to refresh twice as often.

The catch is that DLG can only draw half the number of lines; which is 1080. So, to play at 288Hz also means a resolution of 1080p (Full HD). But for competitive gaming, speed is more valuable than resolution.

Now here’s where it gets cool. If you’ve got a killer rig, juiced up on an RTX 5070 and Ryzen 7 9800X3D for example, there’s a tonne of great competitive games that can run at 288fps. Valorant, Counter-Strike 2, Apex Legends, Overwatch 2, Fortnite, Rainbow Six Siege, just to name a few. On TCL’s 2026 range, this higher refresh rate won’t be wasted. By activating the 288Hz Game Accelerator, every one of those 288 frames a second is unique – real frames from your PC, not the same image shown twice.

Or in layman’s terms: the input-to-screen lag halves what would display on a typical 144Hz TV. The motion looks cleaner, which means your brain gets the information it needs sooner, allowing you to react faster.

And that, gamers, is why more frames means more frags.

TCL’s Broader 2026 Gaming Features

In 2026, TCL isn’t just bringing gaming monitor responsiveness to a giant TV, but also supporting features to ensure an optimal gaming experience.

The SQD-Mini LED range now has four HDMI 2.1 ports as standard, perfect if you also have consoles and a soundbar to connect. They also come with FreeSync Premium Pro for optimal VRR and wide-colour support. Every model offers auto low latency mode (ALLM), basic VRR and the game bar on-screen dashboard.

The flagship X11L is a top-end gaming display, with more than 20,000 local dimming zones for perfect blacks.

The 2026 TCL TV range also delivers fantastic contrast, with harmony between deep blacks and intense brightness pulling key details out of the shadows. Obviously, you’ll see this improve significantly as you climb the models. The X11L is a true beast with over 20,000 dimming zones and topping 10,000 nits of brightness – wow!

Friction vs Frag Count

If you’ve never looked to optimise the latency in your gaming setup, it’s well worth giving a go. Small changes can make a huge difference. I recall evolving to a spatial surround sound headset for the first time and my kill count literally doubled. Why? Simply because I could hear that footstep a split-second earlier. I could tell exactly where a bullet came from and turn accordingly. Details I didn’t know I was missing.

Dual Line Gate delivers a similar leap for competitive players, feeding your brain with vital information at a game changing rate – now, with TCL, from the comfort of your couch. How good!

Aardman Animations and The Pokémon Company have revealed artwork and story details for their new stop-motion series, Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d & Pichu.

Members from both teams gave an update for the new project as part of an Aardman panel at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. In addition to a new image showing the titular Sirfetch’d and Pichu, the segment in question included an official synopsis for the show, promising a journey through the United Kingdom-inspired Galar region as fans await its 2027 premiere.

“Our heroes embark on a gallant quest to help and protect Pokémon across the region,” a synopsis published by The Pokémon Company says. “Their missions rarely go as planned, but their noble deeds forge their friendship as they step bravely into the unknown. Peril, alliances, rivalries, extraordinary Pokémon, and endless laughs await them.”

Pokemon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d & Pichu. Image courtesy of The Pokemon Company.

It’s been nearly one year since the studio behind Wallace & Gromit announced Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d & Pichu, so The Pokémon Company’s director of animation, Phil Rynda, packed in a few extra details for Annecy attendees. Rynda and Aardman chief creative director Sarah Cox provided the audience with behind-the-scenes insights, fresh footage from the pilot, and more information about how the team has used its tried-and-true stop-motion skills to tell a new story in the Pokémon universe.

“Aardman are delighted to bring the vivid physicality of stop frame animation into the Pokémon world,” Cox said in a statement. “Director Tom Parkinson and team have created a hand-crafted spin on the wonderful Pokémon we all know and love with comedic storytelling that celebrates the quirks, eccentricities and charms of our heroes as they explore Galar on a delightfully offbeat quest. Aardman and Pokémon share a strong commitment to creativity and talent on this shared quest of our own to bring joy to audiences across the world.”

Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d & Pichu is expected to premiere at some point in 2027. While much was revealed at Annecy, we’re still waiting for a firm release date to be announced.

While gamers continue to dive into games like Pokémon Pokopia, The Pokémon Company has spent some time fleshing out its TV offerings. In late 2023, it released the first season of Pokémon Concierge, another stop-motion series handled by Netflix and Dwarf Studios. We gave it a 7/10 review upon its release, and more episodes followed in 2025.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

Warning: This review contains full spoilers for Rick and Morty Season 9, Episode 5!

I’m of the mind that Rick and Morty should reference past episodes and storylines more often than it does, so theoretically, I should be all over “Jer Bud.” This episode is basically a sequel to Season 1’s “Lawnmower Dog,” finally bringing Morty’s (Harry Belden) old dog Snowball (Rob Paulsen) back into the fray after years’ worth of visual cameos and Easter eggs. But instead of being a fun callback to a simpler and more innocent time for the series, “Jer Bud” merely argues that Snowball was better left in the past.

Sometimes the series struggles to take a fun premise and build on it in a meaningful way. Episode 5 is different in that it never really seems to have anything worth building on in the first place with the Morty/Snowball storyline. It starts off a little bland, and it never gets off the ground when Morty finds himself dragged into another conflict involving the fate of an alien civilization.

Rick and Morty Season 9 First Images

In this case, Morty finds himself unwillingly thrust into the role of liberator of a race of grotesque, inbred humanoid pets called Mups. This episode leans a lot on the idea that, once they’re granted sentience and given power over their own destinies, dogs wind up behaving an awful lot like humans. And sure, that tracks, but there’s never much humor to be found in the whole situation. The concept of the Mups is never particularly funny, nor is there much visual humor to their physical deformations. None of it clicks as it should.

The one thing I’ll grant this storyline is that at least it makes an effort to shuffle Rick (Ian Cardoni) to the background and allow Morty to shine on his own. Rick has such a tendency to dominate the series from week to week, so it’s nice to see a concerted effort to shift the spotlight to the rest of the Smith family. It’s just too bad that Morty’s storyline is so underwhelming.

Thankfully, at least we can usually count on Jerry (Chris Parnell) to salvage the show in its weaker moments. The Worm Jerry subplot is far more successful than the Morty/Snowball storyline. Not unlike in Episode 4, the show gets a lot of mileage out of the fact that Jerry is possessed by a larger force and acting a bit out of character. It’s a lot of fun watching the worms inside Jerry push a simple job interview to bizarre and inane heights. Parnell is clearly having a blast exploring this different, much cooler side of his chronic loser character.

What We Thought of Rick and Morty Season 9, Episode 4

“It may not reach the heights of “Ricks Days, Seven Nights,” but “A Ricker Runs Through It” is still a strong showing for Rick and Morty Season 9. This episode leans unusually hard on the voice cast for its comedy, making the most of both guest star Owen Wilson as the lovably affable Reese and Chris Parnell as an especially goofy version of Jerry. This is an episode that steadily builds on its premise and keeps veering into weirder and weirder territory, and that’s always a good quality for the series to have.” -Jesse Schedeen, 06/14/2026

Click here to read our full review.

The Worm Jerry storyline takes a lot of amusing twists and turns by the end, spanning from a seedy alien drug den to a plane falling through the sky while Jerry cooly guides a woman through childbirth. This storyline makes solid use of the supporting characters around Jerry, including Rick himself and both versions of Beth (Sarah Chalke). Season 9 hasn’t done much with Beth or Summer (Spencer Grammer) yet, so it’s good that at least one of them gets a bit more attention here.

The two halves of this episode are wildly opposed in terms of quality, and ultimately they sort of cancel each other out. The result is definitely the weakest installment of Season 9 overall. But hey, take solace knowing that it only gets better from here in the latter half of the season.

Full spoilers follow for House of the Dragon Season 3, Episode 1.

High stakes. High seas. High treason. This season opener has everything. This is the Battle of the Gullet and it is every bit as spectacular as we could have hoped, all pirate battles and flaming missiles and hand-to-hand combat. It’s surrounded by the sort of scheming, seduction, confession and devastation that makes for good character drama too. If the rest of the season is anything like this, this Game of Thrones spin-off might finally have a way to outfight its predecessor.

We’ll come back to the character stuff. The centrepiece of this episode is a hugely exciting air-and-navy clash between Lord Corlys Velaryon’s (Steve Toussaint) fleet and the Tyroshi fleet led by Sharako Lohar (Abigail Thorn). For Lohar, it’s a grudge match; for Corlys, it’s only part of his blockade of King’s Landing on behalf of Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) and her “Blacks” in the civil war called the Dance of Dragons against her cousins, the “Greens.”

House of the Dragon: Season 3 Official Images

Lohar’s determined to hit the Sea Snake where it hurts, sending half her fleet to burn his home: “High Tide is a monument to the Sea Snake himself. Do you think his focus will hold when he sees his treasure aflame?” She’s right: it is another devastating blow to a man who already lost a wife and two children. Happily, he’s also a badass. He lures Lohar away from the fleet, sinks two of her companion ships thanks to some fancy-pants sailing through a narrow channel, and then fights hand-to-hand against the ferocious Tyroshi captain. Abigail Thorn is great as Lohar here, absolutely convincing as a leader of men and a serious threat to Corlys. She’s already come close to taking down a dragon before getting to this personal vendetta.

Given that Corlys begins the episode having a moving heart-to-heart with his formidable illegitimate son Alyn (Abubakar Salim) and that he then earns Alyn’s respect as a sailor and a captain during the battle, you have to wonder if he’ll survive this fight; he’s missing at the end of the episode. If this is how he goes out, fair play. It’s an exceptionally well-shot, almost entirely practical battle; apparently the ship tanks and sets were so massive at Leavesden Studios that they overshadowed the new Harry Potter’s Privet Drive.

The battle in the air goes less well. Yes, Prince Jacaerys (Harry Collett) and Baela (Bethany Antonia) ride into the fight and decimate the Tyroshi fleet, but Jace’s dragon Vermax is almost taken down by Lohar early on, and then Rhaena (Phoebe Campbell) joins the battle to devastating effect. In this episode, we see that she’s finally wooed a dragon of her own, but in one of those rabbit’s foot scenarios her half-feral beast refuses to obey her and attacks friends and foe alike in the heat of the moment. Her attempts to help contribute to the battle’s biggest loss as Vermax is harpooned in the chest and drags Jace into the drink with him. It’s a devastating finale.

Rhaena’s attempts to help contribute to the battle’s biggest loss as Vermax is harpooned in the chest and drags Jace into the drink with him. It’s a devastating finale.“

On the bright side, at least it saves Rhaenyra from having to confront her son’s high treason: the reason she is not there on her own dragon is because he locked her in her room for her own protection. She’s on a high this episode, convinced by Alicent’s (Olivia Cooke) offer to surrender King’s Landing and confident in her new dragonriders, who are waiting grumpily near Harrenhal to ambush awful Aemond (Ewan Mitchell) and his massive dragon Vhagar. (So oversized. What is he compensating for?) Of course, this follows two seasons of dithering, so you can understand why her team isn’t so convinced. It’s a bit late for her to start quoting Elizabeth I now. Rhaenyra’s line, “I may appear to have the weak and feeble body of a woman but I possess the heart and spirit of a king” is a historical lift from a speech that also preceded a major naval encounter. Anyway, she sends for her husband, Daemon (Matt Smith), who’s just destroyed a Green-aligned Lannister army at Red Fork with the help of the Riverlords, and enjoying the blood-splattered look.

The late-arriving Starks bring Daemon the head of Lord Jason Lannister (Jefferson Hall), while his fully-armoured twin Tyland tries to keep control of his Tyroshi allies on the Gullet. So much for one Green army, but the spoiled, rather prissy Ormund Hightower (James Norton) has another on the way, including the dragon Tessarion. Oh, and Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) is out there with his forces, alongside Ser Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox), who’s increasingly horrified by Cole’s nihilism and his lack of control of his thuggish men. That’s a lot of potential fighting men still on the board.

Mother and son: Rhaenyra (Emma D’Arcy) and Jacaerys (Harry Collett)

Then there are the main members of the Green royal family. Alicent is horrified, on her return to King’s Landing, to find Aegon (Tom Glynn-Carney) missing and Aemond all too present, when she had promised Rhaenyra precisely the opposite. Aegon’s run for it is interrupted by Rhaenyra’s troops and Lord Larys’ (Matthew Needham) scheming, unbeknownst to his mother, but it takes all of Alicent’s considerable powers of persuasion – and a hint of something closer to seduction on Aemond’s part, ewww – to send her son off to Harrenhal and clear the way for the deal she has made. As for that kiss, we needed something to really turn the stomach this episode, right?

In summary, we’ve got dragons in action; ships sinking and burning and firing; armies clashing; Larys and Aemond and Aegon and Cole being awful; and Alyn and Corlys and Daemon being badass. If the show were always like this, it wouldn’t just match Game of Thrones, it would outshine all but a handful of episodes. Two years ago, rounding up Season 2, I speculated that showrunner Ryan Condal had held back on the action last time to build a war chest for this season. I thought I was joking, but this episode makes me wonder. If this signals the path for Season 3, it’s going to be a feast.

PlayStation fans are fearing the worst after Microsoft set the price of Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 at $40 without DLC.

As reported by CharlieIntel, PC and Xbox marketplaces were recently updated with new DLC prices, while locking in the 2010 and 2012 Call of Duty games at $39.99 each. Black Ops 1 and 2 have been available on Xbox consoles for some time thanks to extensive backward compatibility support on Microsoft’s consoles, with the real changes arriving in individual DLCs that now seem to be $10 instead of $15, and season passes now priced at $30 instead of $50.

It’s an update that follows news that Activision would launch ports – not remasters – for the two classic Treyarch games for PS4 and PS5 in July. However, without prices for the new releases officially announced, PlayStation fans are worried the Xbox listings suggest they’ll soon need to fork over a hefty amount of cash for games that are more than a decade old.

“Not including the DLC and charging $40 on games from Obama’s first term is nasty work,” one X/Twitter user reacted.

“Games this old should be 20 bucks max WITH the DLC,” another popular post suggested.

Activision revealed its port plans last week, only promising it would include Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombie modes when they launched. There’s been no mention of how DLC will be handled, and the emphasis on the word “port” suggests little to no changes when it comes to the base experiences that released in the early 2010s.

Should the prices shown on the Microsoft Store carry over to the PlayStation ports, players who want both games might need to shell out $80. Add in the cost of both season passes and you’re looking at a total cost of $140 for the full package. Again, without confirmation from Activision, it’s hard to tell just how much any of this will cost or what will be included, but that same lack of clarification is exactly what has fans so worked up.

The Best Call of Duty Campaigns

“Wait what the f**k that’s insane lmao,” one Reddit user said. “That’s worth like $20-30 max with all DLCs included. For a remake/remaster with the DLCs I would’ve said $40, maybe $50 at the very high end.”

“The numbers Mason, they’re telling you not to buy…” someone else joked.

“$40 for games we already purchased (allegedly with no enhancements btw) is an absolute atrocity,” someone else said.

IGN gave the original Call of Duty: Black Ops an 8.5/10 review when it launched in November 2010, and its sequel a 9.3/10 review when it launched in November 2012. They’ve spent the years since as two of the most celebrated and quotable titles in Call of Duty history, making next month’s ports two highly anticipated titles as players wait for this year’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. For now, the ports have no firm release date outside of the promise to see them launch next month.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

A new weekend has arrived, and today, you can save on Tears of the Kingdom, Nioh 3, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, Splatoon Raiders, AirPods Pro 3, and more. Check out our top picks for Saturday, June 20, below.

Save $20 Off The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Switch 2 Edition

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition

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Tears of the Kingdom is one of the best games on Nintendo Switch, and the same goes for Nintendo Switch 2. This weekend, you can pick up a physical Nintendo Switch 2 Edition for $59.99, which saves you $20 off the usual price. As a Switch 2 Edition, this copy includes the paid upgrade with performance enhancements and Zelda Notes, but you can play it on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 consoles.

AirPods Pro 3 for $169

Apple AirPods Pro 3 Wireless Earbuds

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AirPods Pro 3 are a fantastic upgrade over the 2nd generation, bringing a built-in heart rate sensor, redesigned eartips for better noise cancellation, and improved sound quality. Right now, you can score a pair for only $169 at Amazon. This is a fantastic price, and it’s the lowest we’ve seen in some time. I’ve had a pair since launch and have been incredibly happy with them, especially coming from the original AirPods Pro.

Nioh 3 for $49.99

Nioh 3 – PlayStation 5

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Nioh 3 released in early February, and you can save $20 off a PS5 copy today at Amazon. In our 9/10 review, we wrote, “Nioh 3 delivers best-in-class combat that revitalizes the established formula with a fantastic split between Samurai and Ninja styles, as well as a triumphant move to an open-world structure.”

Street Fighter 6 Year 1-2 Fighters Edition for $29.99

Street Fighter 6 Year 1-2 Fighters Edition

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Street Fighter 6 is entering Year 4, with Tifa Lockhart from Final Fantasy VII and three original fighters set to join the fight. Right now, you can score Street Fighter 6 Year 1-2 Fighters Edition on Nintendo Switch 2 for $29.99, which sets you up with the first two years of DLC right away. If you haven’t had a chance to dive into Street Fighter 6 yet or are looking for a way to play on the go, the Switch 2 version is excellent.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD for $39.99

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD – Nintendo Switch

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Donkey Kong Country Returns is one of Nintendo’s best platformers, and you can score this amazing game on Nintendo Switch for $39.99 this weekend at Amazon. This version of the game includes 80 total levels, with the 3DS-exclusive levels part of that. A Nintendo Switch 2 patch was released earlier this year, so you can play Donkey Kong Country Returns HD in 4K if you have a Switch 2.

Save $10 Off Splatoon Raiders Physical at Amazon

Splatoon Raiders is officially due out this next week, and pre-orders are still discounted for the series’ first single-player-focused game! In addition to physical Nintendo Switch 2 copies, three new Splatoon Raiders amiibo of Frye, Shiver, and Big Man are also set to release on July 23.

Tokyo Ghoul Box Set for $77.74

Tokyo Ghoul Complete Box Set: Vols. 1-14

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This box set of the Tokyo Ghoul manga contains all 14 volumes, and you can save over $100 off this weekend by scoring it for $77.74. Starring Ken Kaneki, this classic series by Sui Ishida is a must-read for any fan of the popular anime. In addition to all 14 volumes, you also will get an exclusive double-sided poster packed in with this box set.

Pikmin 4 for $39.99

Pikmin 4 – Nintendo Switch

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This weekend at Amazon, you can save on Pikmin 4, with copies available for just $39.99. As the latest game in the Pikmin series, Pikmin 4 brings loads of new features for fans, new and old alike, to discover. In our 9/10 review, we stated, “Pikmin 4 adds variety to the series’ traditional gameplay by offering options other than the grab-and-throw formula of the past, and brings an extra helping of top-tier levels after the credits roll.”

LEGO Star Wars R2-D2 Set for $79.99

LEGO Star Wars R2-D2 Building Toy Set

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LEGO Star Wars fans – here’s a deal for you! Amazon has the amazing R2-D2 set priced at $79.99, saving you $20. This set features 1050 pieces, plus Darth Malak and R2-D2 minifigures in addition to the major R2-D2 droid. Speaking of, you can rotate R2-D2’s head 360 degrees, use its detachable third leg, and more.

Mario Vs. Donkey Kong for $29.99

Mario Vs. Donkey Kong – Nintendo Switch

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Mario Vs. Donkey Kong remade the Game Boy Advance original for Nintendo Switch in 2024, bringing the classic puzzle platformer to new audiences. In our 7/10 review, we wrote, “Mario vs. Donkey Kong might not be as polished as a Mini-Mario toy fresh off the assembly line, but it’s just as full of charm and fun to play with.”

Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair 4K Pre-Order Down to $39.99

Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair 4K Blu-ray

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Following the theatrical release last December, Lionsgate is bringing Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair to 4K Blu-ray. This supercut places both Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 together in a 4 and a half hour long epic. Right now, you can save $10 off the MSRP at Amazon, as copies are available to pre-order for $39.99. Save $10 and get ready to experience the fourth Tarantino film in its entirely this July.

Score an RX 9070 XT for $689.99

PowerColor Reaper AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT 16GB GDDR6

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Following AI and data center demand, prices have skyrocketed, and it’s challenging to locate a good deal on a graphics card. Thankfully, Amazon has the PowerColor Reaper Radeon RX 9070 XT on sale this weekend for $689.99. It’s still a bit above MSRP, but this is solid price, especially right now in the market. In our 10/10 review of the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT, we wrote, “PC Gaming has been in a decadent spiral since 2020, and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is a reminder that it doesn’t have to be that way. This graphics card has no problem maxing out any game you throw at it at 4K, even with ray tracing enabled, and does so at a price that makes the competition look downright greedy.”

LEGO Technic NASA Artemis SLS Rocket for $47.99

LEGO Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System Rocket – 42221

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This year’s Artemis II launch made many people interested in spaceflight and what lies in the great beyond, and with the Artemis program set to launch every year moving forward, that interest likely won’t be slowing down. Right now, you can score this awesome LEGO recreation of the Artemis Space Launch System (SLS) Rocket for $47.99. As a Technic set, you can actually move the boosters to separate from the main unit.

Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused on nonsense-free Japanese gaming (in 2019) and has contributed to various publishers writing about the medium.

There is just something about mascot characters and kart racers that makes them fit together like two peas in a pod. Ever since the first Mario Kart game was released on the Super Nintendo, it’s been a genre that continues to delight fans, even in the wild times we find ourselves in. Now, the lizard and bat combo of Yooka-Laylee is hopping into the driver’s seat of Super Yooka-Laylee Kart, revealed during this year’s Summer Game Fest, and IGN had a chance to get some time on the track with this upcoming racer from some of the same devs that worked on the much-loved Diddy Kong Racing!

Yooka-Laylee Kart pits eight racers against each other in a heated race around courses themed after locales from the main games. In an attempt to adopt a look that is a bit of a blend of Nintendo’s 16- and 64-bit eras, Yooka-Laylee’s maps are colorful, flat tracks decorated with 3D assets outside of the tracks. The racers themselves, like my GOAT, Trowzer the Snake, appear as 3D models rendered with a filter to give the sense of pixel art. Even as a work-in-progress, this looks to be one of the more vibrant and colorful choices in the kart genre that does a good job capturing the source material.

Being an early pre-alpha build, the core systems are in place – the driving, the zanny items, and courses – but actually playing Yooka-Laylee felt a bit rough. Driving around, even without the use of boosts, felt slippery, where I would often find myself sliding oddly into walls, frequently feeling that turning was cranked up to 11 and being far too extreme in movement. The current build lacked a mini-map or any signage to help tip you off as to what was coming up. I would find it difficult to notice what was quickly approaching, forcing me to react more violently than I normally would. Thankfully, the representative from Playtonic who was there mentioned that both the mini-map and signage were in the works, and that fine-tuning controls is a normal part of polish, so I’m not too worried when it arrives in retail, but I am keeping an eye on it.

What has me most excited and that I am more interested in is its custom rulesets that players will be able to tinker around with to create custom race types.“

Out of all that Yooka-Laylee Kart is looking to deliver, what has me most excited and that I am more interested in is its custom rulesets that players will be able to tinker around with to create custom race types. These custom rules look to extend into the grand prix mode too, as during my cup race, I encountered races that would not only turn all racers invisible in one map, but then in the next made each racer the same character. That change specifically made the race all about mastery of the game’s systems and skill, removing any differences in weight or handling between the participants.

Super Yooka-Laylee Kart Screenshots

In addition to getting to try out an early build, we also had a chance to speak with members of the development team and former Rare alums Gavin Price, founder of Playtonic and Studio / Creative Director of Yooka-Laylee Kart and Chris Sutherland, the game’s lead software engineer. Between them, their resumes included having worked on some of the best platforming games of all time including the likes of Donkey Kong Country 1 & 2, Grabbed By the Ghoulies, the Banjo-Kazooie series and, of course, the Yooka-Laylee titles!

IGN: How did Super Yooka-Laylee Kart come to be? When did the team decide to make a kart racer?

Gavin Price: Originally, a karting game was planned to be Playtonic’s first title before a conversation with Banjo-Kazooie composer Grant Kirkhope convinced us to start with a 3D platformer. As huge kart genre fans, we were bubbling with ideas about how we could push the genre forward, and after shipping Yooka-Replaylee, we finally had the chance to turn our attention to it following a successful prototype.

Chris Sutherland: We’ve wanted to work on a racing title for a long time, but about a year ago we started up a small team to explore the feasibility of a few ideas, and now we are so excited that we’ve announced it and it is going to become a reality!

IGN: Has the approach to designing a kart racer changed or evolved much from when you were working on Diddy Kong?

Chris Sutherland: Ha, my main claim to DKR fame was the voice of Banjo on the selection page, which was the only time we’ve heard him speak!

What I can say, though, is that back then the genre was still relatively new, and so there was no defined path for what a kart racer should or should not be. Over the years, we’ve seen the genre evolve and streamline in certain ways, and we’ve looked back and wondered: what if we were to challenge many of the widely accepted norms of the kart racing genre?

We wanted to explore what a modern kart racer could look like if player skill, mastery, and expression were pushed further, and whether those ideas could lead to something fresh and exciting.

IGN: For the folks who previously worked on Diddy Kong Racing, what, if any, nods to that series did you bring into Yooka-Laylee Kart?

Kevin Bayliss: We’ve a lot of DNA from DKR at Playtonic, so we felt it only right to give a little nod to some of the styling of the vehicles, which you can spot in details like the rear lights. One thing I really love is how the team have created 3D models reminiscent of the DKR characters, while also doing some clever work to emulate the ‘rendered sprite’ look that we pioneered in Donkey Kong Country, creating a retro style that still feels fresh and modern today.

Personally, I’ve only had a small amount of involvement so far, as I’ve been working on other exciting projects, but the control and racing feel exactly how you’d hope, especially with some of the original DKR team helping to shape that side of the experience.

IGN: One of the aspects I am most interested in with Super Yooka-Laylee Kart is its custom rulesets that players can set for races. Can you go into a bit of detail on how the team has gone about creating the options and which, if any, ideas proved too outlandish to incorporate into the game?

Gavin Price: We want to make one of the most replayable karting games ever, a game where friends can gather around together or play online and still find unique ways to compete for many years. We actually want a high degree of outlandish outcomes and don’t want to police what’s possible, so players can custom-create their chaos or focus on simpler, pure-skill racing and everything in between.

A big part of this is letting players create their own races, rules, and rivalries, shaping the experience in ways that suit how they want to play. The ideas are still coming in thick and fast, and we think it’s an area of the game that can continue to grow after launch by combining our ideas with the fans’ ideas too. We’ll be running multiple open betas with a focus on this mode in future and look forward to trying the combinations popular with players.

IGN: What are some of the team’s favorite settings to have turned on?

Gavin Price: One immediate favourite was to turn characters off (Invisible Racers), shrink them (‘Mini Racers’ so the camera is low to the ground) and increase kart speeds. It immediately becomes very fast and unforgiving, feeling like playing F-Zero in first-person. I like bouncy collision too; it really makes choosing a character more strategic as the weight difference can have a real impact, and it’s fun to brute-force knock people out of the way, preferably into a nicely rendered nearby pool of water they sink in.

IGN: Are there any plans to let the community save and share specific rulesets amongst each other or host their own tournaments?

Gavin Price: It’s on our mind. Players can create lobbies and host events with their own setups, and we would love to build on that further over time. We’d also like to utilise community-chosen favourites in things like ‘daily contests’, where everyone can try to top the leaderboard by getting the shortest total time across multiple events.

IGN: How does Yooka-Laylee fit into the world and story of the series?

Gavin Price: That’s to be revealed, but you can be sure it fits the tone and humour the series is known for. Rivalries play a big part in how that world comes to life, and we have lots of elements from the series to leverage in adjacent roles and features that are fun and that fans will enjoy.

IGN: Can you explain how you landed on the aesthetic look of Kart? How did you guys do the racers themselves?

Gavin Price: We really wanted our own striking art style, something that reflected the rage and revenge mechanics, fighting game-style special moves and inputs, and suited the feel of tight, high-speed karting tracks. We also wanted something instantly recognisable that felt different from other kart racers.

What we have is a balance of 2D fighting and Mode-7 style graphics with lots of modern post-processing techniques and lighting to create our own sense of beauty. We really didn’t want to go down the predictable, well-trodden path. The visuals also play an important role in readability, especially at speed, which is key for high-skill racing.

Our characters are 3D models rendered with a 2D sprite shader from a separate camera, and the effect is very versatile, allowing us to adjust the resolution as we see fit. We’re actually thinking of exposing these values to the players, allowing them to adjust the look of the game too.

IGN: How many characters and tracks are you aiming to include in the final release?

Gavin Price: We’re aiming for a strong and varied lineup, and hopefully the game is a huge hit so even at launch we don’t consider it the final release. We’d love to continue adding more of both for a long time to come, and there’s always the chance of modding and cameos too. The game has a lot of potential to grow.

IGN: Who are your favorite racers?

Gavin Price: Dr Quack and Vendi simply because we’ve already lost too many hours thinking about whether there’s a logical answer as to how they’re actually physically capable of controlling karts…!
Chris Sutherland: My go-to racer is Yooka, but for a kind of development-specific reason! Yooka was one of the first characters we had up and driving around, so I think we’ve had that as the default character during development for a while, so he sticks in my head as the most familiar. And also I did the vocal sounds for him – which is why Laylee is my second favourite!

Scott White is a freelance contributor to IGN, assisting with tabletop games and guide coverage. Follow him on X/Twitter or Bluesky.

Gundam is no stranger to video games, but the various pieces of the franchise have never started out with one. That’s all about to change with Gundam: Rogue Orbit. Following its reveal at Summer Games Fest, I spoke with main producer Yuya Tomiyama and chief producer Shinya Satake about starting a new era of Gundam as a video game first, what they’re hoping to accomplish with it, and how Rogue Orbit differs from what’s come before. This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

IGN: Rogue Orbit is the first time y’all are launching a new Gundam thing through a game. A lot of people know what a Gundam is, but they may not be familiar with Gundam as a franchise or any particular series. What were the things that you knew you needed to have to make Gundam Gundam in Rogue Orbit?

Yuya Tomiyama: There are lots of different Gundam universes out there, but Rogue Orbit is the first time we’ve introduced a new world through a video game. And because of this, we created the worldview with being a video game in mind. We wanted to make sure that the players really felt the experience of what it really felt like to be a Gundam pilot to be [at] the forefront of their experience with this video game.

IGN: I know you probably can’t go into a great amount of detail this early, but what is being a Gundam pilot going to be like for players in Rogue Orbit? I think a lot of people look at Gundam and they’re like “Oh, really cool robot,” but what is it about that experience of being a pilot that you want to communicate to players?
Yuya Tomiyama: So the information that we’ve shown so far is really only one part of the game, but we really wanted to focus on the experience of what it really is to become the pilot of the Gundam and we wanted to do that by really, really focusing on the fact that it’s an action game. We wanted to make sure that the game’s actions felt really good to play and through that we want users, because they feel it, we want users to feel the experience of, truly feel that they’re actually controlling each of the Mobile Suit’s actions.

IGN: I think most people who are familiar with Gundam are used to seeing Gundams battle other Gundams or other Mobile Suits. But in the trailer, we see our Gundam battling monsters. We don’t really know the story here. Could you talk about designing a game around those enemies and what we can expect when we’re fighting them?

Yuya Tomiyama: So for this game, we really wanted to bring Gundam to fans all over the world and this was like a sort of new venture for us as a company. As a company as a whole, we wanted to come together and bring this experience to users. And as for the enemies, you may have seen in the trailer, the Gundam’s weapon, the physical store is very large and we wanted to focus on the sort of satisfying feeling of using those kinds of weapons and the enemies were really designed with that in mind. How can we maximize that feeling for the users? And that was sort of what we were thinking about when we created these enemies.

“We really wanted to focus on the experience of what it really is to become the pilot of the Gundam and we wanted to do that by really, really focusing on the fact that it’s an action game.” – Yuya Tomiyama“

IGN: Obviously people associate Gundam with cool robots, but the franchise usually has a deep emotional core to it, too, and the stories often deal with complex subject matter. This will be a lot of people’s first exposure to Gundam. How are you bringing that legacy of the IP into the game?
Yuya Tomiyama: So for this trailer we were able to show a lot of the action and the battles, but there’s definitely a lot of characters and a lot of characters that we haven’t really revealed yet. The human drama between them is definitely going to be a focal point of this video game and we hope that in the upcoming months we can definitely show more of this emotion through our trailers and other things we’ll be revealing.

Shinya Satake: This game setting mainly revolves around the conflict between humans and these unknown adversaries, which puts the sort of like world as a very, very tense situation and just sort of testing the limits of humanity and Sofia, RE-X, and the other characters that we’ll be showing are going to be making a lot of like very difficult decisions in this harsh world. We hope that that will be the emotions of the Gundam universe that we’ll bring to this game.

Gundam: Rogue Orbit Screenshots

IGN: You guys have talked about bringing the IP through the West. For a lot of fans, this is going to be their first experience with it. Did starting a game force you to think about what the core elements of Gundam are? Was there anything that you were like, “Oh, maybe we should reexamine this because we’re starting from a different place or we’re reaching out to people who maybe haven’t played or seen or just experienced Gundam?” Did you have to think about what made the core of Gundam work?

Yuya Tomiyama: We weren’t really thinking too much of the Gandham legacy as a whole when we were creating this game. We really wanted to focus on creating a very good action game with the photorealistic graphics that haven’t been in many Gundam games and how to make the Gundam really appealing in this kind of photorealistic environment. Whether it be the design or the action or the battle, we just really wanted to make sure that that was the focal point of what the users felt.

IGN: On the subject of photorealism: Gundam is so heavily stylized and I think many people associate it with that kind of look and feel. Were there any challenges with making a Gundam game that looks photorealistic while capturing the feel of that art? How did you approach doing that and making sure that it felt like Gundam?
Yuya Tomiyama: This game was developed by Bandai Namco Studios, which has a lot of experience with a lot of Gundam games and robot games in general and we were able to draw on that experience to sort of bring it all together and the Helix to sort of bring that Gundam in this photorealistic world. The Helix design was also created by the artists at Bandai Namco Studios… so they know what makes each design appealing. So they were able to draw upon that to sort of create a Gundam that would really feel appealing, really feel alive in this photorealistic world and that also has to do with the actions because they’ve been creating these sorts of motions for Mobile Suits for years. So they were able to sort of draw on that action and bring it together all as a whole to bring Gundam to the worldwide fans.

IGN: If you were able to tell people who had never played a Gundam game or gotten into Gundam before and say “This is what Gundam is, ” what would you tell them?

Yuya Tomiyama: So to bring Gundam to fans in the form of a video game, it’s a very new endeavor for us and it’s a very challenging experience, but we really wanted to emphasize that the Gundam is a very unique and special existence as a Mobile Suit in the world and we also wanted to make sure that the human drama between the characters was brought to the forefront.

Shinya Satake: Gundam is a franchise and IP that has been very loved throughout history, but one of the things that really makes it unique is that there are many different themes in each of the different iterations of Gundam and each one is very unique and to bring this to a new world through Gundam is just another one of the ways that we’re just sort of bringing Gundam to fans in a unique way and just bringing new unique themes in Gundam to be fans.

IGN: You’ve talked about humans fighting against this unknown enemy and the strength of the human spirit, but what would you say are some of the themes that y’all are trying to capture here? As you said, Gundam has been so broad and so vast and covered so much storytelling, and it’s gone in so many different directions. What do you think thematically is what defines Rogue Orbit?

Yuya Tomiyama: The appeal or the theme that we really want to bring is becoming the pilot, really feeling the experience of becoming a Gundam pilot and we’ll hopefully be able to better convey this with more new info… but there’s a lot of features in the game that really help the player feel as though they’re piloting the Gundam. And especially in battle, we really wanted to create the tense feeling of being in a life or death situation in the cockpit, but at the same time, we really wanted users to… feel that they’re like controlling every single motion of the Mobile Suit, that they’re able to sort of use the Mobile Suit as an extension of themselves and not feel stressed and make sure that they’re actually able to really feel that they’re in control of the Helix.

Shinya Satake: Another thing about Rogue Orbit is that this universe and this whole [world] was created to be a video game… which really brings sort of a unique view of how users interact with the world.

IGN: Can I ask a very silly question? Can I ask about Vii? I need to know more about this character, please. Please give me all the information that you can because I just look at it and I’m like, “I want it to be my friend.”
Yuya Tomiyama: So as a game, this is a brand new worldview, brand new universe. So this haro is going to be a little different from the haros that you’ve sort of known and interacted with throughout Gundam’s history. One thing we can really say about this character, it’s an actual character that will join you on your battles and launch with you in the Gundam… We really wanted this haro to feel like it’s your partner that’s coming along with you and there’s going to be some more drama between the main character and the Hara too as well. So we hope you’re looking forward to that.

IGN: Let’s talk about RE-X. Is he going to be more of a defined character? Is he a little bit more avatar-y? Are we allowed to define who or is he very much his own person that we are just kind of controlling?

Yuya Tomiyama: Rex is definitely a character. He’s an independent character that interacts in the world, but we wanted to make sure that players were able to sort of feel as though they’d become him through the gameplay. That the gameplay will sort of allow users to really feel that they are the pilot of the Gundam, that they are Rex and that they’re able to control the Mobile Suit.

IGN: Well, now I’ve hit on two out of three, so I have to ask about Sofia. It seems like in the trailer, and you’ve talked about it, as well, that she’s kind of mysterious, and maybe she and RE-X don’t know each other initially. Could you talk a little bit about their relationship and give us a little idea of what to expect?

Yuya Tomiyama: Unfortunately, we aren’t able to offer too many specifics about the plot right now, but the trailer’s narration is Sofia and so all of those words are spoken by her. As it’s also shown in the trailer, she’s watching over what RE-X is doing, so hopefully in the coming trailers and coming information will shed more light on their relationship.

IGN: Is there anything that the team is very proud of that you feel is core to the game that players may not immediately notice from the trailer or from what you’ve revealed so far? Is there anything that you feel is core to what Rogue Orbit is that might be maybe a little hidden, or maybe not directly obvious?

Yuya Tomiyama: So one thing that the team is very proud of, especially that you can see in the trailer, is the motions of the Gundam Helix. That was something that the team put a lot of effort into making and they’re very satisfied with the end result. And another thing in terms of the video game, the battles’ appeal and how it feels to really be in the inbound and be controlling the Mobile Suit is one of the big features that the team is very proud of and that it’s still being brushed up, and it’s still being improved every day. So we’re hoping the team is really hoping to bring that to fans.

Will Borger is an IGN freelancer. You can find him on Bluesky @edgarallanbro.

What appears to be a short clip of the X-Men in Avengers: Doomsday has been pulled offline, but not before it spread across social media like wildfire.

The long wait for Avengers: Doomsday has left Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) fans desperate for updates. So, when what seemed to be a pixelated video featuring an unfinished scene from the new movie showed up online a few weeks ago, they latched on, even if it showed little more than a very, very blurry look at an X-Men and Avengers team-up against Doctor Doom.

That video has gone unchecked since, making the rounds on X/Twitter and Reddit as theories run wild. However, that changed over the weekend when a clearer version of the video started showing up on social media feeds. This time, just as fans got a good look at a new Doctor Doom and the return of characters like Nightcrawler, Beast, Cyclops, Steve Rogers, Gambit, Shang-Chi, and more, the footage was promptly taken down.

Alleged Avengers: Doomsday Leaks Are Being Pulled Offline.

Dozens of posts, which previously featured the more-than-a-minute-long video, now simply display a message notifying that the content has been removed. It says, “This media has been disabled in response to a report by the copyright owner,” suggesting Marvel Studios may have caught wind of what could be authentic footage from Avengers: Doomsday.

IGN saw the video before it was taken down, but you’re not missing much. No matter how many superheroes or MCU callbacks it could have had, this supposedly leaked content featured unfinished VFX shots in what looks like could become a very action-heavy scene. It’s not particularly flattering and far from what directors the Russo Brothers likely envision for the final product – and that’s if it’s even real.

In the age of AI, it’s hard to say what leaks are real, especially when it comes to high-profile movie releases like Avengers: Doomsday. Some have used the new technology to intentionally mislead viewers online, while others are simply fans trying to imagine what it will look like when fan-favorite characters meet up on the big screen.

The Most Surprising Avengers and Marvel Characters Not Announced for Doomsday

What we’re left with is uncertainty ahead of Avengers: Doomsday’s December premiere, even if this latest leak being pulled offline makes it seem as though Marvel intervened. The leaked footage was online long enough for fans to copy it and grab screenshots, so don’t be surprised if you come across spoilers floating around in the months ahead.

Either way, we’re definitely overdue for an Avengers: Doomsday trailer. The movie is set to premiere December 18, 2026, but the only (official) trailers the public has received so far have revealed little about its actual story and characters. While we wait for something more concrete, you can see how Tom Holland is doing his best to avoid spoilers for upcoming MCU projects. You can also read about what Jean Grey actress Famke Janssen had to say about being left out of the new Avengers flicks.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

Cheers co-creator and Friends director James Burrows has died at 85.

The sitcom spearhead’s family announced the news with a statement sent to People. They confirmed that he passed away peacefully Friday, June 19, surrounded by loved ones. No additional details were shared.

“We celebrate the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of James ‘Jimmy’ Burrows, who passed away peacefully today surrounded by his loving family,” the Burrows family said. “For more than five decades, Burrows was one of the most influential and beloved directors in television history. As a legendary director, mentor, and creative force, he helped shape generations of comedy and brought immeasurable joy to audiences around the world.”

James Burrows. Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images.

Burrows, an 11-time Emmy winner, was a giant in the TV world. In addition to his role as writer, director, and producer for the ’80s television classic, Cheers, he also, as noted by his family, directed more than 1,000 episodes of different shows from the ’70s to 2025.

His resume is longer than most and includes extensive work on projects like Taxi, Phyllis, The Betty White Show, Friends, Will & Grace, Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, and many, many more. Most recently, he directed a series of episodes for the Frasier revival show. He also directed the entire first season of Mid-Century Modern, starring Nathan Lane, which premiered in 2025.

“Burrows understood that great comedy was never simply about laughter,” the statement from his family continued. “It was about humanity, connection, and truth. That understanding became the foundation of a career that forever changed television,” his family wrote. “His influence will continue to be felt for generations through the countless artists he inspired, the stories he helped tell, and the millions of people whose lives were brightened by his work.”

Across his half-century career in TV, Burrows has worked with a countless number of names, big and small, across the industry. Many have already taken to social media to share memories of their time with him.

“Time spent with Jimmy Burrows was time worth laughing about,” Laverne and Shirley and Better Call Saul star Michael McKean said. “A great comedy guy and a very nice man. RIP.”

“Thank you Jimmy,” Friends alum Lisa Kudrow said in an Instagram Story. “I mean, for everything. I love you.”

“Rest easy Boss. You gave us so much,” The Class and Spider-Man: Brand New Day actor Jon Bernthal said. “Raised so many of us with humor and heart. A whole generation. You gave me my shot. I will be forever grateful.”

Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

I’ve been a fan of the Yakuza or Like a Dragon series since the very beginning. As a magazine writer I was lucky enough to visit Sega’s headquarters in Tokyo during the development of the original PlayStation 2 title way back in 2005, and in my years at IGN I’ve reviewed a number of the remakes, sequels, and spin-offs of RGG Studio’s long-running crime series. At this point I’ve invested hundreds of hours into beating the absolute snot out of Japanese mobsters, either via the button-mashing combo-based style of the original adventures or the turn-based RPG form that’s become core to the most recent mainline entries. Thus I feel pretty well-equipped to handle anything that RGG Studio can throw my way at this point, which is why I was so shocked that the new combat system in upcoming series prequel Stranger Than Heaven so completely kicked my arse.

At a recent BiliBili Game First Look event in Shanghai, I got some brief hands-on time with a brawling-based demo for Stranger Than Heaven. (It was the same demo that my colleague Michael Higham recently played, and you can read his excellent preview here.) My first attempts at Stranger Than Heaven’s all-new street fighting style felt harder than hell, but after slowly getting to grips with it over the course of my 30-minute demo I began to feel confident that this is exactly the sort of substantial shift that the Like a Dragon fighting formula has needed for quite a while now.

To be clear, I’m not suggesting that RGG Studio needs to scrap the turn-based combat system that it introduced in Yakuza: Like a Dragon and later evolved in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. The novelty of that JRPG-style system is yet to wear off for me, largely because it allows for so many hilarious special moves and a more strategic team-based dynamic in each scrap. I’m talking about the more traditional beat ‘em up system that has effectively been offloaded onto the series’ spin-offs in recent years. RGG Studio may have introduced a briefcase-load of James Bond gadgets in Like a Dragon Gaiden, or cutlasses and flintlocks in Pirate Yakuza, but the actual fighting mechanics of those combo-based systems has remained unaltered for the most part. Even though I still enjoy them, I can’t pretend that they don’t feel a bit too familiar at this point.

Stranger Than Heaven’s heavily overhauled scrapping, then, feels like the kick in the pants followed by a violent uppercut to the jaw that Like a Dragon’s aging fisticuffs has been crying out for. Forget about chugging in-game energy drinks to pump up your heat gauge and then button-mashing hordes of street thugs into oblivion like in previous Kazama Kiryu-led adventures, because Stranger Than Heaven’s gangs are liable to quickly kick you to the curb if you don’t have your wits about you. The new setup that uses the controller’s four shoulder buttons to effectively puppeteer the left and right fists of protagonist Makoto Daito sure takes some getting used to, both in terms of smoothly alternating his punches but also anticipating the direction of incoming attacks and parrying them effectively, but after finally falling into a rhythm with it after my first few failed attempts it felt incredibly satisfying to pull off. I felt like I had to lock-in for absolutely every exchange in every combat encounter, which meant that my eventual victories felt far more earned than the lazy bicycle-swinging beatdowns of previous Yakuza and Like a Dragon installments.

BiliBili Game First Look Event Photos

Though its learning curve is initially steep, it ultimately feels like the most grounded form of street fighting that RGG Studio has ever designed. In fact, its more rough and tumble realism reminded me of the melee system in 007 First Light, only it felt like I had far more direct control over the moves I was pulling off thanks to the dedicated right and left attack setup. For example, as I wielded a large crowbar in my right hand while tackling a gang of six or so assailants, one of the goons grabbed hold of the end of my weapon and attempted to wrench it out of my grasp. To my surprise, while I was locked in a temporary tug-o-war I still had full control of Makoto’s left hand, which allowed me to throw a few jabs at a second attacker attempting to blindside me. I then grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and knocked his skull into the first thug, taking them both out and allowing me to resume my crowbar-based bullying.

[Stranger Than Heaven’s] more rough and tumble realism reminded me of the melee system in 007 First Light, only it felt like I had far more direct control over the moves I was pulling off.“

Having said that, Stranger Than Heaven’s combat is not without its issues, at least in its current state. I found that the soft lock-on that aligns Makoto with each opponent would occasionally slip, sending me swinging wildly in the wrong direction and leaving me vulnerable to attacks from the rear. Also, while I enjoyed the generally weighty feel to each and every blow I landed, some of the charged up attacks with heavier weapons seemed a touch too sluggish for my tastes. Of course, with Stranger Than Heaven not due for release until early next year, there’s still time for RGG Studio to tighten things up.

Still my overall impression of Stranger Than Heaven’s more challenging brawling system is a positive one, and its dramatic shakeup leaves me feeling optimistic that combat won’t be the only area of the adventure where the developers are taking a big swing. I’m hopeful that this will present the perfect opportunity for RGG Studio to hit the reset button on all aspects of its long established Like a Dragon template, from mission design to the interactive nature of its world and the methods we use to explore it. For example, the audio-recording feature that allows Makoto to record sound samples from the world around him and then convert them into musical compositions certainly sounds cool on paper, and already seems like it could be far more involved than the simple rhythm-based button-tapping of the karaoke mini-game that’s been recycled in every Yakuza and Like a Dragon release since Yakuza 3.

Tristan Ogilvie’s Top 10 Like a Dragon/Yakuza Games

It’s Japandemonium!

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I also wonder what other new diversions there could be, given that the story’s 1915 to 1965 setting presumably prohibits the use of the usual modern side activities like Club Sega’s and Master System cartridges found in other Like a Dragon stories. We already know there’ll be arm wrestling mini-games, but could there be old school pachinko parlours as well? And given that the events of Stranger Than Heaven span the course of five decades, will those side activities evolve with each leap forward in time? Not to mention the change in each of the five city settings. You’d think that by the time the story arrives in 1965 Shinjuku, we should be able to try out virtual versions of the electromechanical amusements that Sega famously pioneered during that decade.

I’m desperately keen to learn more, because so far I’ve been pretty excited by everything that RGG Studio has revealed. Well, I mean except for the Tupac thing, of course. Why on earth is Tupac in Stranger Than Heaven? Well, much like the gang of burly thugs I encountered in my hands-on, it beats the heck out of me. Sure, it makes sense that Snoop Dogg is in the game, because Snoop Dogg is in basically everything at this point from televised singing contests to carrying the torch at the last Olympic Games. But having the late great Tupac resurrected in a 2027 videogame for no clear reason just feels a bit off to me. Then again, I’m generally opposed to digital zombies in any modern media, no matter who signs off on it. I can’t watch the CGI’d Peter Cushing reprise his role as Moff Tarkin in Star Wars: Rogue One without sensing a great disturbance in the Force, for example.

However, that doesn’t prevent me from rewatching Rogue One from time to time, and nor will the somewhat baffling inclusion of Tupac deter me from lunging fists-first into Stranger Than Heaven when it arrives in January 2027. Despite the fact its story takes place in the same fictional Japan as the Like a Dragon saga, Stranger Than Heaven feels as though it’s determined to establish its own identity – at least if its fresh-feeling and fiercely challenging fighting system is any indication. Here’s hoping that in all facets, Stranger Than Heaven finds the team at RGG Studio performing stronger than ever, and that this ends up being something much more than just a ye olde Yakuza.

Tristan Ogilvie is a Senior Video Editor at IGN’s Sydney office. He attended the recent BiliBili Game First Look event as a guest of the organisers.

X-Men star Famke Janssen has said that Marvel Studios “made a mistake” by neglecting to send her an invitation to reprise her role as Jean Grey in Avengers: Doomsday.

The actress, who played the telekinetic Mutant in the 2000s X-Men trilogy as well as follow-up films like Days of Future Past, shared her feelings about the state of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) at SpaceCon. While many of her former castmates are confirmed to return, and despite previous reports to the contrary, she said she’s sitting out for this year’s Avengers movie, whether she likes it or not.

“I am so bad at keeping secrets that I always say to everyone, ‘I’m the worst actor in the world because it’s all on my face,'” Janssen said when asked if she was good at keeping secrets amid casting rumors for the new MCU movie. “You right away will read it. So, I mean, I think they made a mistake, but hey, who am I? I’m just a little me who thinks that.”

Janssen’s Jean Grey has appeared in plenty of pre-MCU comic book movies and is one of the central characters in the X-Men films. When it was eventually confirmed that other X-Men stars like actors like Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, and James Marsden would return for Avengers: Doomsday as Beast, Professor X, Magneto, Nightcrawler, Mystique, and Cyclops, respectively, many believed she would soon put back on her superhero suit, too.

Although she’s expressed interest in stepping back into the mind of Jean Grey in the past, Janssen has insisted that she will not appear in the superhero team-up film when it premieres this December. She’s even gone as far as to say that Marvel has “never ever” asked her to return.

“I should be flattered, I suppose, that this character has resonated with people,” she said last November. “It’s been so long, but it’s nice that people are still talking about her. I’m sure every single time there’s a new movie that they’re doing, like [is it] Doomsday? … it’ll come up again.”

The Most Surprising Avengers and Marvel Characters Not Announced for Doomsday

Marvel hasn’t said why fan-favorite characters like Janssen’s Jean Grey are being left out of Avengers: Doomsday, but fans surely have some theories. Many believe Sadie Sink is set to play a new version of the character in next month’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day, for example. Should that theory pan out, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see her take the reins in Doomsday or another future MCU project, though nothing has been confirmed in that regard quite yet.

Avengers: Doomsday will see Robert Downey Jr. take over as Doctor Doom when it premieres December 18, 2026. While much will be revealed when it finally premieres, Marvel is surely saving some surprises for Avengers: Secret Wars, which will arrive one year later on December 17, 2027. For now, those hoping to see Janssen as Jean Grey are better off revisiting films like X2 and X-Men: The Last Stand.

Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

The Epic Games Store will soon receive many long-requested features and a major launcher redesign if a newly revealed roadmap pans out accordingly.

Epic Games outlined next steps for the future of its PC digital storefront during a presentation at Unreal Fest in Chicago earlier this week. Slides shared online by X/Twitter user @LuKaOnIndeed feature highlights from Epic’s goals for the next 12 months as it seeks to redesign the store for gamers and developers alike (via VGC).

It’s a long, long list of bullet points, including “up first” highlights like Fortnite chunked installation, third-party patch notes, pre-registration for free-to-play games, storefront rearchitecture, library management improvements, and other features that are expected to arrive for Epic Games Store sooner rather than later. Some of its “up next” updates, which seem slightly further off, include player profiles and avatars, user-written reviews, publisher-funded coupons, and search improvements.

It’s unclear if Epic intends to roll out these new Epic Games Store features in waves, and there is no specific release date for any particular update or the storefront redesign. Still, things like user reviews and third-party patch notes could go a long way for users who have been hesitant to start purchasing their PC games with the Fortnite maker.

Epic Games Store launched in 2018 as Epic’s own take on a PC gaming hub. It has attempted to entice both developers and gamers with the promise of offerings like exclusive games, free cross-platform online services, and free games for users.

“As a developer ourselves, we have always wanted a platform with great economics that connects us directly with our players,” Epic founder and CEO Tim Sweeney said at the time. “Thanks to the success of Fortnite, we now have this and are ready to share it with other developers.”

However, the Epic Games Store seems to have struggled to stand toe-to-toe with Steam since its launch. In 2021, it was reported that the company had lost hundreds of millions of dollars to exclusivity deals alone. Court documents revealed in 2023 that Epic had failed to make its store profitable five years post-launch.

One thing that’s kept many from adopting Epic into their gaming lives is features they feel should have been included at launch. Some have arrived in the years since, with even more promised in today’s 12-month roadmap. One slide from the aforementioned Unreal Fest presentation also promised that this “ground-up rebuild” for the launcher will result in a five-times faster cold start.

“Every developer in this room and every player we have has experienced challenges with the current launcher,” the slide added. “It’s time for a change.”

IGN interviewed VP and GM of the Epic Games Store, Steve Allison, earlier this year to check in with the team and learn about its future. For more while we wait to see when and how these new redesign changes will be implemented, you can read why some think the Epic Games Store will never be as good as Steam.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

Ahead of Amazon Prime Day, Bambu Lab is offering resellers-wide discounts across its entire range of popular and highly rated printers. Best Buy is one such official reseller of Bambu Lab and has just recently price-matched all of the best Bambu deals you’ll find elsewhere. Although Bambu Lab now ships its products from US-based warehouses if you order from them directly, I’d still recommend getting the printer from Best Buy because the return policy is much easier (simply return to your local store), shipping is usually quicker, and you accrue Best Buy rewards.

Bambu 3D Printer Deals at Best Buy

Not sure which 3D printer to get? Read on below for a bit of detail on each deal.

Bambu P2S and P1S Combo 3D Printer

Bambu Lab P2S AMS Combo 3D Printer

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Bambu Lab P1S AMS Combo 3D Printer

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The Bambu P2S and P1S are the best Bambu 3D printers for most people; these are Bambu’s mid-range models and offer several useful premium features at a reasonable cost. The P2S is the second generation iteration and features a host of upgrades that will warrant its higher cost for some people.

TL;DR Bambu P2S upgrades (compared to P1S):

• Larger colorized 5″ touchscreen display and more powerful processor
• 70% more extrusion force (higher flow-rate extrusion stability)
• Active flowrate compensation
• Active temperature regulation
• Higher resolution (1080p) camera with AI error detection
• Hardened steel nozzles with 30 second nozzle swaps
• Brighter LED illumination with better LiveView clarity
• Combo includes AMS 2 Pro multi-filament system with active cooling

Both the Bambu P2S and P1S are almost entirely fully assembled out of the box and setup should take under 15 minutes. Unlike cheaper 3D printers, these models feature a fully enclosed chamber, which is necessary to stabilize temperature and ambient conditions in order to produce more consistent results. They boast an acceleration speed of up to 20000 mm/s² and can print a benchy in 18 minutes. A built-in camera allows you to remotely monitor the printing process.

The Combo models include the Automatic Material System or AMS. This module basically allows for multi-filament printing, which means you can use up to four different types of filament material or colors per AMS (you can daisy chain up to four AMS to manage as many as 16 different filaments). The AMS itself normally retails $350, so it’s best to get it in this combo, especially if you plan on getting it anyway in the long run.

Bambu A1 Mini 3D Printer

Bambu Lab A1 Mini 3D Printer

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The A1 Mini is Bambu’s most affordable 3D printer. This is an excellent entry level printer for someone who’s just starting out. It doesn’t take up much space at all, the touchscreen interface is intuitive to use, and maintenance is designed to be quick and easy. Since this is a more compact design, the A1 Mini is ideal for smaller projects using PLA filament.

Bambu A1 3D Printer

Bambu Lab A1 3D Printer

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Bambu Lab A1 AMS Combo 3D Printer

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The main difference between the A1 and the A1 Mini is the build volume; the A1 has a larger working area. There are some other benefits to the A1’s larger footprint like a larger touchscreen, but functionally the two are nearly identical. The A1 Combo model includes the Automatic Material System or AMS for multi-filament printing.

Bambu H2C, H2D, and H2S AMS Combo 3D Printers

Bambu Lab H2C AMS Combo 3D Printer

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Bambu Lab H2D AMS Combo 3D Printer

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Bambu Lab H2S AMS Combo 3D Printer

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If you’re ready to graduate to the best of the best, then Bambu’s H2 large-format printer series should be on your list of potential candidates. In addition to a significantly larger build volume than the P1S, the Bambu H2 series printers have every feature you could ask for, like an enclosed and heated working space, active cooling, a multi-nozzle system (on the H2D and H2C) that minimizes purge waste and optimizes multi-color printing, a bigger touchscreen, and more.

There are three variants in the series. The H2S is the most economical model and has a single nozzle. The H2D upgrades to a dual nozzle. The H2S is the flagship model with a multi-nozzle head that can fit up to seven nozzles, making it the best option for multi-color printing. Note that although the overall dimensions are the same, the H2S has the most build volume because the nozzle head is the smallest.

Check out the Flashforge 5M if you’re on a budget

FlashForge Adventurer 5M CoreXY 3D Printer

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If you’re interested in dipping your toes in the world of 3D printing, I would suggest Flashforge’s entry level model – the Adventure 5M – as your first 3D printer to start. It’s currently on sale at AliExpress for just $133.70 with free delivery after you apply $29 off coupon code “JJY29P“. The same printer sells for $239 on Amazon. You’re buying it from FlashForge’s official store on AliExpress. It ships free locally from the United States and arrives within 1 to 2 weeks.

The Adventurer 5M offers great performance at an outstanding budget price. I would say it is the best 3D printer priced below $150. The 5M is easy to set up, produces great 3D prints with minimal fiddling, and offers plenty of add-on mods including a kit that fully encloses the chamber and another that adds a camera.

The IGN Deals team has over 30 years of combined experience finding the best discounts and preorders available online. If you want the latest updates from our trusted team, here’s how to follow our coverage:

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn’t hunting for deals for other people at work, he’s hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

A new weekend has arrived, and today, you can save on Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, Splatoon Raiders, AirPods Pro 3, and more. Check out our top picks for Saturday, June 20, below.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD for $44.99

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD – Nintendo Switch

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Donkey Kong Country Returns is one of Nintendo’s best platformers, and you can score this amazing game on Nintendo Switch for $44.99 this weekend at Walmart. This version of the game includes 80 total levels, with the 3DS-exclusive levels part of that. A Nintendo Switch 2 patch was released earlier this year, so you can play Donkey Kong Country Returns HD in 4K if you have a Switch 2.

Save $10 Off Splatoon Raiders Physical at Amazon

Splatoon Raiders is officially due out this next week, and pre-orders are still discounted for the series’ first single-player-focused game! In addition to physical Nintendo Switch 2 copies, three new Splatoon Raiders amiibo of Frye, Shiver, and Big Man are also set to release on July 23.

Tokyo Ghoul Box Set for $77.74

Tokyo Ghoul Complete Box Set: Vols. 1-14

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This box set of the Tokyo Ghoul manga contains all 14 volumes, and you can save over $100 off this weekend by scoring it for $77.74. Starring Ken Kaneki, this classic series by Sui Ishida is a must-read for any fan of the popular anime. In addition to all 14 volumes, you also will get an exclusive double-sided poster packed in with this box set.

LEGO Star Wars R2-D2 Set for $79.99

LEGO Star Wars R2-D2 Building Toy Set

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LEGO Star Wars fans – here’s a deal for you! Amazon has the amazing R2-D2 set priced at $79.99, saving you $20. This set features 1050 pieces, plus Darth Malak and R2-D2 minifigures in addition to the major R2-D2 droid. Speaking of, you can rotate R2-D2’s head 360 degrees, use its detachable third leg, and more.

Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair 4K Pre-Order Down to $39.99

Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair 4K Blu-ray

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Following the theatrical release last December, Lionsgate is bringing Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair to 4K Blu-ray. This supercut places both Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 together in a 4 and a half hour long epic. Right now, you can save $10 off the MSRP at Amazon, as copies are available to pre-order for $39.99. Save $10 and get ready to experience the fourth Tarantino film in its entirely this July.

Score an RX 9070 XT for $689.99

PowerColor Reaper AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT 16GB GDDR6

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Following AI and data center demand, prices have skyrocketed, and it’s challenging to locate a good deal on a graphics card. Thankfully, Amazon has the PowerColor Reaper Radeon RX 9070 XT on sale this weekend for $689.99. It’s still a bit above MSRP, but this is solid price, especially right now in the market. In our 10/10 review of the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT, we wrote, “PC Gaming has been in a decadent spiral since 2020, and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is a reminder that it doesn’t have to be that way. This graphics card has no problem maxing out any game you throw at it at 4K, even with ray tracing enabled, and does so at a price that makes the competition look downright greedy.”

AirPods Pro 3 for $189

Apple AirPods Pro 3 Wireless Earbuds,

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AirPods Pro 3 are a fantastic upgrade over the 2nd generation, bringing a built-in heart rate sensor, redesigned eartips for better noise cancellation, and improved sound quality. Right now, you can score a pair for only $189 at Amazon. I’ve had a pair since launch and have been incredibly happy with them, especially coming from the original AirPods Pro.

Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused on nonsense-free Japanese gaming (in 2019) and has contributed to various publishers writing about the medium.

If you plan on hopping into Halo: Campaign Evolved split-screen co-op when it launches for PS5 next month, you’ll need not just one but two accounts with PlayStation Plus subscriptions to play.

Halo Studios clarified the account requirements for the upcoming story remake with a Halo Waypoint Q&A yesterday. It serves as a deep dive into some of the hottest topics to emerge since the game was announced for PC and Xbox Series X | S – and PlayStation 5 – in October 2025, but not everyone is happy with what the team had to say.

The breakdown confirms what is needed to play with others, with each platform demanding different requirements. For example, you’ll need at least a Microsoft account and Xbox Gamertag, regardless of whether you’re a PC, Xbox, or PlayStation user, to enable cross-play and cross-platform progression. Halo: Campaign Evolved’s requirements on PlayStation, specifically, however, are especially steep.

“If you’re playing split-screen on PlayStation 5, both accounts will need to have PlayStation Plus and be linked to a Microsoft account,” Halo Studios said. “Having these active PlayStation Plus subscriptions will also provide access to online co-op play.”

Based on this explanation, when players sit down to play Halo: Campaign Evolved co-op in July, all participating users will need to have an active subscription, even if they’re sitting right next to each other on the couch. PlayStation Plus is usually only required to access online multiplayer for premium gaming experiences, while free-to-play and offline titles can be enjoyed without a subscription.

For comparison, those on Xbox Series X | S looking to play split-screen will only need a unique Microsoft account, while players hoping to enjoy co-op online will need an active Xbox Game Pass subscription. Those playing on Steam will only need to link to a Microsoft account.

Halo: Campaign Evolved – First Screenshots

Halo: Campaign Evolved will not be free-to-play, but the decision to lock even split-screen behind the Sony gaming service seems especially strange. Judging by reactions to the news online, many agree.

“Needing to buy online to play local split screen is some next level insanity,” one X/Twitter user said.

“Player 2 on your couch needs PS Plus and a Microsoft account,” another added. “[Halo: Combat Evolved] 2001 is laughing.”

Halo: Campaign Evolved launched in 2001 and has remained one of the most beloved games in the Xbox catalog since. That’s thanks, in part, to its co-op feature, which has allowed players to enjoy its story mode together – and at no extra charge – for decades.

Halo: Campaign Evolved reimagines that classic sci-fi narrative for modern devices, and although co-op is back with newly added support for up to four players online, it sounds like those hoping to relive the glory days of one of the oldest couch co-op Xbox experiences will need to jump through more than a few hoops to make it happen on PS5. IGN has reached out to Sony for comment and additional clarification regarding PlayStation Plus requirements for the game.

“Yeahhhhh this just went from a day-1 buy to a not-buy honestly,” one Reddit user reacted. “I was gonna play with my wife, but honestly have no interest in playing in my own. It’s not worth paying for a whole nother subscription to do that. Kind of ridiculous.”

“You need to have an account linked to Microsoft AND pay for PS Plus just to play split-screen local co-op???” someone else added. “Since when did we reach this level of madness?!?!”

PlayStation Plus offers three tiers: Essential ($10.99/month), Extra ($16.99/month), and Premium ($19.99/month). Prices across the service were increased in May. Halo: Campaign Evolved has a release date of July 28, 2026, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X | S. For more, you can read IGN’s final preview for the game.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

Following Xbox’s publicly issued “reset” memo, it was clear that Microsoft’s gaming wing was gearing up for even more lay-offs and studio closures. As of right now, the reality of the situation is being told through leaks and reports. While Xbox has yet to make a statement, it appears that three studios are in negotiations regarding their future: Compulsion, Ninja Theory, and Double Fine. There is a very real chance that all three of these development studios will be shut down. There’s also a very real chance that they are not the only ones facing a fight for survival.

Many players are, understandably, not too familiar with the studios that make their favourite games. If you don’t follow the world of games closely, when there’s news of studio closures, the first questions are naturally “Which Xbox games are shutting down? Which Xbox games are cancelled?” That’s where this list comes in: we’ve made it crystal clear which games are being impacted by Xbox’s current business decisions. Take a look through, find your favourite game or franchise, and we’ll let you know how things are looking.

Xbox Game Studios

Age of Empires – SAFE

Microsoft’s classic real-time strategy series, Age of Empires, is currently developed by World’s Edge Studio. The developer’s current project, the Raiders of the North expansion for Age of Empires 4, was announced as part of June’s Xbox Games Showcase and is due to launch later this year. So far, there are no reports that suggest World’s Edge Studio is in danger of being shuttered.

Avowed – SAFE(ISH)

Fantasy RPG Avowed launched early 2025 to solid enough reviews but it failed to meet sales targets. While that can put studios in a dangerous position, developer Obsidian Entertainment reportedly still has plans for the world of Eora. That could mean a sequel to Avowed, or it could mean a return to Pillars of Eternity – the duology of isometric RPGs that first introduced the setting. While there’s no official statement to point us in the right direction, both are theoretically viable – Avowed’s design taps into widespread hunger for Elder Scrolls-like games, while a third Pillars of Eternity could prove exceptionally popular thanks to the surge of CRPG popularity following Baldur’s Gate 3.

Clockwork Revolution – SAFE

The fantastic-looking steampunk RPG, Clockwork Revolution, is being developed by inXile Entertainment, the studio that previously created Wasteland 3. Xbox recently announced that Clockwork Revolution will be an Xbox exclusive as part of the company’s re-commitment to console exclusives, and so it seems unlikely that a major piece of Xbox’s plan to please its existing community and build a dedicated customer base would be jettisoned. Currently, there are no reports that indicate inXile Entertainment is planned to be closed.

Fable – SAFE

The ambitious reboot of Fable is being crafted by a team at Playground Games. While it is a multi-platform game in development for Xbox, PC, and PS5, it is nonetheless a key part of Xbox’s plan of focusing on its core popular franchises. Fable was beloved in the 360 era, and Xbox will be banking on a lovingly-crafted reboot to sell well and earn fans. Playground Games seems to be in no danger, not least because it also develops another popular Xbox franchise…

Forza Horizon – SAFE

Playground Games is split into two development teams: one working on Fable, and the other dedicated to the Forza Horizon series. That latter team only just shipped Forza Horizon 6, and will now be hard at work keeping it updated and flush with new content. It’s also not unlikely that part of the Forza Horizon team will already be thinking beyond Horizon 6 to what lies in the franchise’s future. Horizon is a key pillar of Xbox, and while the distance between games is growing ever longer (it took five years to create FH6, compared to the three years it took to make FH5, and the two years all prior installments took) as of now, we’re expecting there to be a new game on the distant horizon, so to speak.

Forza Motorsport – CANCELLED

While the Forza Horizon series has gone from strength to strength over its almost 15-year lifespan, its parent franchise, Forza Motorsport, developed by Turn 10, fell into decline over the same period. Historically the two sides of Forza traded places, with the more arcade-like Horizon games arriving between installments of the hardcore driving sim Motorsport games. Following the lackluster launch of 2023’s Forza Motorsport, Turn 10 have since been assigned to aid Playground Games with the Horizon series, and Forza Motorsport as a franchise has ceased production.

Gears of War – SAFE

If Xbox’s brand colour wasn’t green, it’d probably be red – so synonymous is the blood-splattered Gears of War with Microsoft’s gaming division. While the series was originally created for the Xbox 360 by Epic Games, Gears is now developed by one of Xbox’s own studios, The Coalition. Its latest project is Gears of War: E-Day, set to launch this October. As announced at the recent Xbox Games Showcase, it will be an Xbox console exclusive, and thus marks a significant step in Xbox’s big plan: its mini experiment in multi-platform releases is (sort of) over, and E-Day will stay on Gears’ home turf. While Gears 4 and 5 don’t have the reputation of the original trilogy, the series is generally quite popular, and so The Coalition seems to be in a safe spot. Gears will continue.

Grounded 2 – SAFE

Currently in early access, Grounded 2 is an unusual project for developer Obsidian Entertainment. This team is best-known for its RPGs, having developed Fallout: New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity, and more recently The Outer Worlds 2 and Avowed. But while multiplayer survival isn’t a major part of the studio’s history, Grounded 2 has been a hit. Much like its predecessor, it’s a comparatively cheaper project than the heavy lifts Obsidian’s RPGs are. While there are questions around the developer’s other projects, Grounded 2 and Obsidian appear to be safe.

Halo – SAFE

The idea of Xbox without Halo is unthinkable. And yet, for the past few years, Halo has felt endangered. Halo Infinite was not the mega-hit Xbox would have been hoping for, both in terms of reception to its open-world campaign and the longevity of its free-to-play multiplayer. Developer 343 Industries would later be a victim of Microsoft’s brutal restructuring in 2023, with many staff laid off. This seems to have been a trigger point for something of a reset for the Master Chief – 343i was rebranded as Halo Studios, the studio’s bespoke Slipspace Engine was retired in favour of Unreal Engine 5, and the next game in the series is a remake of the very first Halo, now dubbed “Campaign Evolved.” So while Halo has experienced troubles, it seems like we can expect Xbox to still push forward with the Master Chief. The green Spartan is safe for now.

Minecraft – SAFE

One of the world’s best-selling, most enduringly popular games, Minecraft from developer Mojang Studios seems in no danger at all. The original game continues to go strong, with a detailed roadmap for 2026 and another spin-off on the way – this September will see the launch of ARPG Minecraft Dungeons 2, made in collaboration between Mojang and Double Eleven.

The Outer Worlds – CANCELLED

Last year saw the launch of sci-fi RPG The Outer Worlds 2. Developed by Obsidian Entertainment, it followed in the footsteps of its predecessor, which in turn followed in the footsteps of Obsidian’s own Fallout: New Vegas – a satirical role-playing game with lots of interesting choices, fantastic writing, memorable companions, and wild weaponry. Unfortunately, The Outer Worlds 2 failed to meet Xbox’s sales goals, and so it will be the final game in the series. The Outer Worlds is over as a running series, although Obsidian Entertainment as a studio thankfully remains in operation.

Psychonauts – AT RISK

Developer Double Fine Productions is known for many creative and quirky games, including last year’s brilliant lighthouse adventure Keeper, 360-era metal cult classic Brutal Legend, and remasters of beloved point-and-click games Full Throttle and Grim Fandango. These are the games that have made the studio one of my personal favourites. However, perhaps its most iconic output is Psychonauts – a duology (with a couple of spin-offs) that started waaay back in 2005 on the original Xbox and finally continued in 2021 with the long-awaited sequel. Unfortunately, the future of Psychonauts and all of Double Fine’s games – including the recently released multiplayer game Kiln – is reportedly on the line, as it is one of three Xbox studios believed to be facing closure.

Senua / Hellblade – AT RISK

The recently announced Senua marks the continuation of the Hellblade series in all but name. This gritty tale of a psychosis-suffering celtic warrior has been running since 2017, and is developer Ninja Theory’s most enduring series, despite poor performance in terms of copies sold and failing to crack Game Pass’ top 10 during its second game’s launch window. Yet despite having only just revealed Senua, Ninja Theory is now one of the three Xbox studios facing closure. Reports suggest that Senua was announced because Xbox believed “the promise of a newly announced game would help draw investor interest in the studio.” It’s currently unclear if an investor will buy Ninja Theory, and thus allow development on Senua to continue. As it stands, we may never see the game completed and released.

South of Midnight – AT RISK

2025’s bayou-set adventure game, South of Midnight, had stunning art direction and received solid enough reviews, but it seemed to fly under the radar. That’s not an unusual situation for Canadian studio Compulsion Games – its previous title, BioShock-ish survival game We Happy Few, never quite set the world alight in the way its initial trailer suggested it had the potential to. And its debut game, Contrast, is perhaps better remembered for being the very first PS4 game included in PlayStation Plus than for its own achievements. Unfortunately, such a history seems to have put the studio in danger: it is one of the three developers reportedly planned for closure. While we didn’t expect a sequel to South of Midnight, since all of Compulsion’s games have been original creations, this does mean there’s little chance of the studio creating something new.

State of Decay 3 – SAFE

The third State of Decay game has been a long time coming. Developer Undead Labs has been working on it for at least six years – it was announced at the Xbox Games Showcase in 2020, two years after State of Decay 2 launched. Only this year did we get to see a gameplay trailer, and those years of radio silence could convince anyone that State of Decay 3 was stuck in development hell, and thus Undead Labs was in danger of shut down. However, there have been no reports to suggest the studio is facing closure, and State of Decay 3 is still expected to launch in 2027 on Xbox, PC, and PS5.

Bethesda Softworks

Doom – SAFE

For 33 years, id Software has been developing the Doom series, and it seems in no danger of stopping. It announced a new expansion for Doom: The Dark Ages at the Xbox Games Showcase – called Revelations, launching July 7 – and there’s no sign that the studio is in danger of being shuttered.

The Elder Scrolls Online – SAFE

Developed by Zenimax Online Studios, The Elder Scrolls Online is Bethesda’s long-running MMO. Over its 12 year lifespan so far, it has received eight major expansions and countless updates, with the latest being a season focused on the Thieves Guild. While it had a somewhat rocky start, TESO eventually settled into being a beloved online haunt for Elder Scrolls fans, and the developers hope it will last for over 30 years. Zenimax Online Studios was a victim of Microsoft’s 2025 layoffs, which cancelled a new project it was working on and saw the exit of boss Matt Firor, but currently there is nothing to suggest the studio or TESO is in danger of shut down.

The Elder Scrolls – SAFE

The jewel in Bethesda’s crown, The Elder Scrolls likely has little to worry about when it comes to cancellation. Developed by Bethesda Game Studios, the studio at the heart of Xbox’s Bethesda Softworks wing, the series became an unstoppable force during the era of Skyrim, and so fans eagerly await The Elder Scrolls 6. Xbox knows that TES6 is primed to be one of the biggest games of all time, and so will likely do everything it can to ensure it finally arrives. Recent reports have suggested that new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is looking to speed up development of The Elder Scrolls.

Fallout – SAFE

Second only to The Elder Scrolls is Bethesda Games Studios’ other open-world RPG series, Fallout. It’s been a long time since the developer launched a single-player entry – Fallout 4 is a decade old now – but its multiplayer survival spin-off, Fallout 76, still goes strong with regular updates. Both Elder Scrolls and Fallout are reportedly of particular interest to Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, and so we can expect the post-nuclear roleplaying game to play a major role in Xbox’s future.

Marvel’s Blade – SAFE

Following in the footsteps of PlayStation, which has its Spider-Man and Wolverine games, Xbox is getting in on the Marvel action with Blade. First announced back in 2023, we’ve heard not a single thing about it since. For some, that’s a reason to worry – Blade is being developed by Arkane Studios, the creators of Dishonored and Deathloop. Arkane’s games are typically critical darlings that struggle to find large audiences, and so there’s always the fear that the studio will be closed down. Such fears are not unfounded – Arkane was once made up of two studios, one in Lyon, France and the other in Austin, Texas, but the Austin branch was shuttered in 2024. There is, thankfully, no report to suggest that the Lyon studio is due to meet the same fate.

Wolfenstein – SAFE

Developer MachineGames has a strong history with games about fighting Nazis. It was assembled to develop the rebooted Wolfenstein series, of which it has made two mainline entries plus a co-op spin-off. Its latest work, however, is the equally fantastic Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. While so far unconfirmed by official sources, it’s believed that MachineGames is currently developing Wolfenstein 3. It is also working with Amazon MGM Studios to create a Wolfenstein TV show. All that considered, it seems the future of the studio and Wolfenstein is safe.

Blizzard Entertainment

Diablo – SAFE

Between ongoing support for Diablo 2: Resurrected and continual updates and expansions for Diablo 4, Blizzard’s gothic ARPG series is probably in the best position it has ever been. A 25 year old game has a brand new class, and the Lord of Hatred expansion brings Diablo 4’s story to a satisfying conclusion. It seems safe to assume for now that Blizzard’s Diablo team will keep the fires of hell well stoked.

Overwatch – SAFE

Overwatch’s Season 3: Into the Tiger’s Den has just launched, bolstering Blizzard’s competitive FPS with even more content. Overwatch has undeniably had a rocky life, starting 10 years ago as a genuine phenomenon and contender for best online shooter of all time, and then spending years struggling to evolve through a misguided sequel and shifts to its core composition. But right now, it is in perhaps its best position since those early halcyon days. You can expect Blizzard to keep Overwatch live and kicking with new heroes and ideas.

World of Warcraft – SAFE

World of Warcraft has been trucking along for over 20 years now, and Blizzard seems in no way ready to send its genre-defining MMO out to pasture any time soon. The Midnight Revelations update just dropped, and the main Midnight expansion arrived earlier this year. That expansion is also the middle chapter of the three-part “Worldsoul Saga”, which began in 2024 with The War Within and is expected to end with The Last Titan. Based on typical expansion cadence, it seems sensible to expect that in 2028.

Activision

Call of Duty – SAFE

While Xbox’s repeated shutting down of studios means it can often feel that any of its games are at risk of cancellation, there is at least one series that feels practically immortal: Call of Duty. Developed by Activision’s army of FPS studios, there has been a COD game every year for over two decades. 2026 will be no different, with the launch of Modern Warfare 4 in October. While the Call of Duty studios have not been immune to layoffs in the past, the core studios that develop the series – Infinity Ward, Treyarch and Raven Software – are all still operational, as are the many support studios that aid them in the monolithic task of creating annual installments.

In a time where AI is insidiously seeping into almost everything around us, even our video games, completely 100% handmade art made with heart (side note: can we get that on a t-shirt?) is becoming almost novel. That’s why I was drawn to Out of Words–it’s an ambitious, gorgeous stop-motion co-op 2D platformer where everything, down to each blade of grass and piece of moss, is meticulously handmade in the real world with physical mediums.

Out of Words’ story is even inspired by a poem written by Danish poet Morten Søndergaard, and every component of the world and setting is allegorically built from language, communication, and human connection. I didn’t get to see the story setup of Out of Words myself, but game design lead Jeff Sparks explained it to me during my short-but-sweet 20-minute demo at Summer Game Fest.

In Out of Words, the playable characters Kurt and Karla are best friends who grew up together, who have developed changing feelings for each other as they enter adolescence, yet they simply won’t speak the words–so they lose them all together when they fail to express themselves in a moment before crossing a street. They become isekaid (magically thrust into another world) into a mystical land called Vokabulantis, yet they’ve lost their mouths–and words–along the way. Their mouth mysteriously becomes a cute creature, Aleph, that grants them powers throughout their journey.

We’ve actually written about Out of Words last year, citing it as possibly being the next must-play two-player co-op, but I did get to see and learn some new things during my gameplay-heavy demo with Sparks.

For our first real obstacle, we helped Prince get out of the mud on his motorcycle. The little mini-game-esque task was fun and simple enough, and the animation of mud flinging all over our characters who couldn’t complain was just as entertaining. I couldn’t help but imagine how gross it’d be to be in that situation myself.

You can actually watch the whole process of making Prince’s puppet in the official “making of” video below, which I highly recommend if you’re curious about the painstaking artistry that goes into every puppet in Out of Words.

Next, we skipped ahead through a few different acts, to get a sense of the different environments, gameplay elements, and moods that Out of Words had to offer.

“We did hundreds of prototypes trying to make the narrative kind of situation between the two characters line up with what was happening gameplay-wise,” Sparks explained. “So we’ve done hundreds of kinds of co-op game mechanics trying to figure out what was going to be suitable.”

In one of the areas we encountered, there was a narrative reason the atmosphere felt dark and heavy, and that the creatures seemed more spooky than usual. One portion I played with anti-gravity, which required us to walk on the ceilings and walls, were some of the first mechanics the team ever conceived–which also has a narrative allegory, but I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone.

Sparks couldn’t help but express how surreal it was to see the area rendered with the level of finish it was at–with moss, stone, and clay bringing it to life. I wholeheartedly agree it looked incredible, as did the rest of what I played. The artistic lighting and bokeh techniques to communicate perspective and focus made everything even more beautiful and atmospheric.

Out of Words Screenshots June 2026

It’d be easy to get distracted with the surroundings, but some portions required some quick moving to escape some unsavory creatures after us. Out of Words doesn’t seem like its gameplay is meant to be too difficult to overcome, but it’s still a testament to good game design we were able to get through that section, and most of the rest of what we played, without needing to speak much to each other. However, communicating with your partner would make things go more smoothly. Even if it’s just for encouragement or support, like when Sparks said he’d catch me during a particularly tricky gravity-platforming section, words can – somewhat ironically given the title and setup of this game – go a long way in creating forward momentum.

“You can play wherever you want and play with the person you want to play with the most. That was really important to us.” “

“We think there’s something really special about the couch co-op experience,” Sparks said, which I have to agree with. Honestly, I prefer playing any multiplayer game in the same room with my teammates, but there’s something especially satisfying about sitting next to someone while looking at the same screen as them.

Sparks and the team empathizes with people who can’t play in person together, though, so they’ve ensured Out of Words is playable online, cross-platform. The extra dream is to have Out of Words playable via game-share, so only one person needs to own it to play online with another. “You can play wherever you want and play with the person you want to play with the most. That was really important to us,” Sparks said.

To be clear, you have to play Out of Words with another person–there is no AI companion to take their place, much like the Hazelight co-op hits Split Fiction, It Takes Two, and A Way Out. So if you do commit to completing Out of Words with someone, how much time are you actually agreeing to? Spark’s “silly answer” is that they’re not completely sure yet because they’re still making it, and hope that people take their time with it so they can “soak it in.” But as a loose, ballpark estimate, he’s guessing about 10 hours.

There will be secret areas where you can find collectibles, which are missing words from a giant poem.“

Out of Words is pretty linear. There are specific starts and ends to each level, and there’s not a lot of off-the-beaten-path exploration to be done from what I saw, but there is a good reason to take your time besides just to smell the roses. There will be secret areas where you can find collectibles, which are missing words from a giant poem–the poem that makes up the game’s story.

Speaking to Sparks, and seeing the short vignette of what I did, left me feeling like Out of Words would be, well, emotional, to put it bluntly. When I asked Sparks if Out of Words would make people cry, he said he already tears up when he simply talks about it for too long. “We’re not trying to make people cry, but I think sometimes crying is a part of feeling these

meaningful story beats that really touch you,” Sparks said. “I don’t want people to cry, but in a way I would be surprised if people get through this without feeling something.”

As Sparks has demonstrated, the entire team at WiredFly and Kong Orange seems emotionally invested in the making of Out of Words. “We’re putting our full hearts into this and all of our love and energy into telling this story and making this kind of shared experience for people. We think the co-op nature and connecting with other people and playing something that is artful and meaningful and that has been considered and brought to life by artists of every stripe is… we’re at this moment in the world where we could really use a little bit of life and color and joy and connection. This is what we endeavor to do–is to make something beautiful that means something to people.”

If you like mandatory co-op games like the aforementioned Split Fiction or It Takes Two, or are even just enamored by good-old-fashioned physical-medium art, Out of Words is a game to keep on your radar. It’s still a ways away, with a release window of early 2027 on Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Epic Games Store.

Casey DeFreitas is IGN’s Deputy Editor of Guides. Catch her on Socials @ShinyCaseyD.

Sea of Remnants has come a long way since we first looked at it last year. High on style, but short on details at the time, we praised the aesthetics, even if we needed to see more from the story and gameplay to know if it has the substance to go with it. Thankfully, we got a fresh look at Summer Game Fest 2026, and what a difference a year makes. The turn-based swashbuckling and realtime ship combat, combined with a healthy dose of mystery and outrageous characters, has my spyglass trained squarely on the Sea of Remnants.

As the demo begins, it’s just me in a rowboat, the star-filled nights sky overhead, and the sea stretching infinitely in every direction. As I row forward, the ethereal music swells, and luminous sea creatures begin to coalesce around me. Just off my starboard, a whale made of light, shades of navy and turquoise, breaches the surface. A fleet of wraithlike boats join me in formation. Eventually, I come to a solitary ship’s wheel extending above what I presume must be a shipwreck. As I reach out to touch it, a ghostly ship, a full-sized galleon, suddenly emerges from beneath the waves. The non-caporeal vessel passes straight into me, ignoring the solid wood of my boat entirely. It disappears just as quickly, as the moon itself rises from the sea, and my screen fades to black.

Sea of Remnants is a gorgeous, open-world fantasy RPG set in a world of ocean exploration and piracy. Already the vibrant colors and music create a spectacle tugging at my heartstrings. Up close, everything has a wooden puppetry aesthetic – a charming, hand crafted look that reminds me of Laiki, the studio behind modern stop motion classics like Coraline or ParaNorman.

Everything has a wooden puppetry aesthetic – a charming, hand crafted look that reminds me of Laiki, the studio behind modern stop motion classics like Coraline or ParaNorman. “

Now I’m at the controls of a full-sized ship. The calm seas are gone and a kraken-like creature is attacking my vessel. We are circling clockwise around the body, though tentacles the size of buildings lash out at us from beneath the water. I take careful aim with my cannons and fire, repelling the appendages as I move to fire upon the center of the beast. The ship shudders under its furious assault, but as I approach, its mouth is open, and I activate an ability that slows down time and allows me to stagger it with a carefully placed volley into its maw. However, this just seems to enrage the beast. It begins to gather energy in a massive orb of light above its body. I pour everything I have into it, but to no avail; it unleashes a burst of incredible power, and I’m wiped completely from the sea.

Your ship is your key to exploration. As the name suggests, the world in Sea of Remnants is made up of islands connected by vast tracks of water. Diver flora and fauna and dynamic weather color the journey. As you adventure around the world you’ll be building up your ship, upgrading and customizing it to allow you to explore further, and survive the dangers at sea. Ship combat is like a midpoint between The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Assassin’s Creed Black Flag. Simple controls and a mix of enemy ships and fantastical creatures resemble the former, while the ability to move and shoot, and importance of positioning to go with your aim are more like the latter.

A figure is standing over me. It’s fuzzy, I can’t make out the details, but he’s shining a flashlight into my eyes and asking me philosophical questions about the nature of death, hypotheticals about walking through a forest, and exploring what little I remember. I answer as best I can before fading away once again. When I come to, Sigmund, the figure I’d been speaking to, greets me properly, and offers to renovate my largely featureless body. With his help my puppet gains a flowing mane of hair, some stylish facial hair painted on my wooden face, and I don a stylish frock coat in place of my tattered cloak. Finally, I look like the pirate-puppet of my dreams.

As you sail the Sea of Remnants you’ll meet new characters, form your crew, and recover your lost memories. The first clue on that journey is a compass, my only possession, and it points towards Feffers, a tavern where sailors are known to store their valuables before departing on voyages. As I emerge from the workshop, I find I’m in a vibrant maritime town called Orbtopia. Tall buildings and cobblestone streets stretch around me, and hundreds of unique, named NPCs populate the area. After a slight mishap involving a chicken pilfering my compass, I find my way to Feffers.

Feffers is… a lot. Funky pirate tunes fill the air in a tavern the size of a department store. What appears to be a massive, mechanical octopus sits atop a round bar at the center. Tables and chairs, many filled with colorful patrons, are scattered about, with a stage at the far end. I make my way to the bartender and ask about anything I may have left behind. He pulls out a suitcase and hands it over, but before I have a chance to examine the contents, all hell breaks loose.

The commotion begins with a girl, RS. She swings around the room on a rope, distributing flyers recruiting for her crew. Unfortunately, her antics result in a cup of grog landing in the face of a particularly ornery looking pirate by the name of Whitebeard, who sends his goons to punish the lass for the insult. Her attempts to fight and evade probably would have worked if not for an ill-timed collision with one particular innocent bystander (me). Suddenly we are surrounded, and I’m dragged into a fight.

Sea of Remnants uses a turn-based battle system, like you’d see in Expedition 33 or your favorite classic JRPGs. The ruffians take the first turn and chip away at the health of the girl and I with some up close dagger slashes and a well-aimed thrown bottle. An action bar on the left of the screen lays out the order; I’m up, and I retaliate with some strong slashes from my sword, while RS deals some AOE damage with some sort of thrown concoction, finishing off one enemy and taking a chunk off the other.

Behind the pirate theme, the combat shares a lot of DNA with classic fantasy RPGs. Melee and ranged attacks do a lot of the work, but buffs, debuffs, and explosive potions factor in to create a layer of fine strategy. Your crewmates have unique weapon skills to contribute, like RS’s “Cutest Doll”, which, despite its fuzzy exterior, operates more like a rocket launcher. I put that to work wiping out the lineup of enemy pirates, though Whitebeard quickly replenishes them from his massive crew. This particular fight is pretty heavily scripted, so I can’t quite tell how good or deep the battle system is just yet, but the quick action and stylish flourishes definitely give off a Persona vibe.

The quick action and stylish flourishes definitely give off a Persona vibe. “

With no hope to overcome these numbers, RS drops a smoke bomb and sprints out the exit. After a short pursuit, I catch up to her on the beach. She’s not thrilled that I apparently ruined her recruiting effort, but after having her back at the barroom brawl I’m forgiven. She doesn’t know any more about my amnesia than I do, but when I crack open the suitcase the barman gave me, her face lights up. She recognizes a photograph, and the tattered remnants of a flag. We must be connected somehow. With this realization, we agree to form a crew together, and set sail on her ship to begin our adventure in earnest.

With the wind at our backs and answers ahead of us, our adventure begins in earnest on the Sea of Remnants. Sure, “I have amnesia” is a bit worn as a storytelling trope in RPGs, but the charm of the artstyle and characters more than makes up for it, and I’m intrigued to learn more about them and the world – especially if the battle system comes together and the ship combat continues to be an exciting spectacle. We will have to wait and see where these winds take us when Sea of Remnants releases later this year on PlayStation 5, PC, and mobile.

Handheld PCs and consoles are more capable than ever, with Nintendo Switch 2, ROG Xbox Ally, and Steam Deck leading the charge. While these are all great devices, there are many accessories out there that can instantly level up your gaming experience. If you’re on the hunt for a new handheld gaming accessory, check out our top five picks for the coolest game-elevating accessories you can grab this month for a sweet discount during Amazon Prime Day.

RayNeo Air 4 Pro

RayNeo Air 4 Pro AR/XR Glasses

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RayNeo Air 4 Pro x Batman Limited Edition (Justice Edition) AR /XR Glasses

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RayNeo Air 4 Pro x Batman Limited Edition (Chaos Edition) AR /XR Glasses

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If you’ve ever wished your Switch 2 or Steam Deck screen was bigger, the RayNeo Air 4 Pro turns that wish into reality. As the world’s first HDR10 AR glasses, they project a massive 201″ 120Hz virtual display with richer contrast than you’d expect from something this light, paired with Bang & Olufsen co-tuned audio. They connect via a single USB-C cable, so pairing is as simple as plugging into your Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Steam Deck, or MacBook — and since they also work with your phone, they’re just as handy for catching a World Cup match on the go as they are for an RPG binge or movie night. Because there’s no bulky external monitor involved, they pack down easily for travel too, making the Air 4 Pro a smart pickup if you want a giant screen experience without the giant screen. If you’re after something with a bit more personality, RayNeo also offers a Chaos Edition and a Batman × RayNeo Justice Edition, both featuring distinct face-mask-inspired designs for anyone who wants their gear to match their gaming persona. (For Prime Day, running June 23–26, all three versions are currently 20% off at Amazon.)

Mechanism Gaming Pillow

Mechanism Gaming Pillow

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There’s nothing worse than getting cramps in your hands or arms after playing for hours on a handheld PC. If that sounds familiar, the Mechanism Gaming Pillow is the perfect companion for your Steam Deck or ROG Ally. This is essentially a pillow and monitor arm combined together, and the result is a very comfortable accessory that lets you position your device however you want to. The pillow itself is packed with a lightweight beaded filling and is wrapped with Lycra fabric, making it machine washable.

Sony Inzone Buds Wireless Gaming Earbuds

Sony INZONE Buds Wireless Gaming Earbuds

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The Sony Inzone Buds are an excellent companion for any handheld gaming console. If you’re someone always gaming on the go, you know how important good sound quality and noise cancellation are. These earbuds pack in ANC support, 360 spatial sound, 2.4GHz & LE audio, and more. One of the best features is the customization available in Inzone hub, where you can customize EQ settings, adjust game/chat balance, and modify the noise canceling level. These are a great choice for any play, whether casual or competitive.

ASUS ROG Bulwark 7-in-1 Charging Dock for ROG Xbox Ally

ASUS – ROG Bulwark 7-in-1 Charging Dock for ROG Xbox Ally

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The ROG Xbox Ally is a seriously powerful device that continues to impress with performance on new games. While handheld play is the only way to play out of the box, you can actually grab this ASUS ROG Bulwark Charging Dock to turn your Xbox Ally into a full fledged gaming PC. The Bulwark Charging Dock has support for 4K at 144Hz and 8k at 30Hz via HDMI 2.1, plus an Ethernet port, three USB-A ports, and a USB-C port. This accessory can instantly transform your living room, as you can dock your ROG Xbox Ally and play games on the TV.

Dbrand Nintendo Switch 2 Case

Dbrand Nintendo Switch 2 Case

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The Dbrand Nintendo Switch 2 case is an amazing choice if you’re looking to protect your console while traveling on the go. This case has detachable Joy-Cons, ergonmonic handles, and a cut-out for the kickstand. The unique design is a great way to customize your Nintendo Switch 2, and the overall ergonmics really can make a difference when playing in handheld for long periods of time. No need to worry about docking with the case either, as Dbrand packs in an adapater to make that possible.

How to Follow IGN Deals Recommendations

The IGN Deals team has over 30 years of combined experience finding the best discounts and preorders available online. If you want the latest updates from our trusted team, here’s how to follow our coverage:

Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused on nonsense-free Japanese gaming (in 2019) and has contributed to various publishers writing about the medium.

Amazon’s June Audible deal just got better ahead of Prime Day. Both new and returning Audible subscribers can sign up for three months of Audible for just $0.99 per month for three months. In addition to the discounted membership, you also get an extra $20 in Audible credit. You don’t need to be an Amazon Prime member to take advantage of this deal. After the three months is up, your subscription will convert to the standard $8.95/mo, but you can cancel auto-renewal at any time.

3 Months of Audible for $0.99 Per Month and $20 in Audible Credit

New and Return Subscribers

Get 3 Months of Audible Standard for $0.99/mo Plus Get $20 in Audible Credit

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Amazon offers two Audible subscription tiers: Standard and Premium Plus. Standard is a lot less expensive – $8.95 per month compared to $14.95 per month. Standard also gets access to the same catalog of million plus audiobooks that Premium Plus does. The difference lies in the credits: Standard gets one free audiobook per month that you can read so long as you maintain your membership. Premium Plus gets you one free audiobook that you keep indefinitely. Unless you really want an audiobook to keep every month, then the Standard subscription is definitely the better deal. You’ll save $72 on subscription fees per year not including the discount you’re getting with this current deal.

The bonus $20 credit can be used to buy audiobooks at Audible.com. You’ll receive your credit notification via your email. You keep the books you buy with your credit, even after your membership expires.

Catch up the the latest novel releases, audiobook style

Fourth Wing: Empyrean, Book 1

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Sunrise on the Reaping: A Hunger Games Novel

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Wind and Truth: Book Five of the Stormlight Archive

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Never Flinch: A Novel

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Audible is a subscription service that gives you access to over 1.1 million of the best audiobooks without ever having to purchase them. Several best-selling new and recent releases are available in an audiobook format and part of Audible’s accessible library. Rebecca Yarros’ The Empyrean Series romantasy novels have consistently hit the top of the New York Times’ best seller list throughout all of 2025 and they’re all available in audiobook format. Sunrise on the Reaping, the latest Hunger Games novel, is narrated by Jefferson White, who you may already know from Yellowstone where he played Jimmy Hudstrom. The audiobook has a listening time of about 12 hours and 48 minutes.

If you’re looking for something fast-paced and fun, you can also check out Matt Dinniman’s popular Dungeon Crawler Carl series. It’s currently the bestselling audiobook on Audible right now thanks to excellent narration from Jeff Hays. This new deal will get you the first three DCC audiobooks for only $0.99.

Ever prolific Stephen King released the Never Flinch crime novel in 2025. It’s available as a nearly 15-hour long audiobook narrated by veteran Jessie Mueller. If you’re a fan of fantasy, check out Brandon Sanderson’s Wind and Truth, book five of the popular The Stormlight Archive series. It was released in December of 2024 and runs an epic 63 hours long.

How to Follow IGN Deals Recommendations

The IGN Deals team has over 30 years of combined experience finding the best discounts and preorders available online. If you want the latest updates from our trusted team, here’s how to follow our coverage:

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn’t hunting for deals for other people at work, he’s hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

If you’re interested in dipping your toes in the world of 3D printing, I would suggest Flashforge’s entry level model – the Adventure 5M – as your first 3D printer to start. It’s currently on sale at AliExpress for just $133.70 with free delivery after you apply $29 off coupon code “JJY29P“. The same printer sells for $239 on Amazon. You’re buying it from FlashForge’s official store on AliExpress. It ships free locally from the United States and arrives within 1 to 2 weeks.

The Adventurer 5M offers great performance at at outstanding budget price. I would say it is the best 3D printer priced below $150. The 5M is easy to setup, produces great 3D prints with minimal fiddling, and offers plenty of add-on mods including a kit that fully encloses the chamber and another that adds a camera.

Flashforge Adventurer 3D Printer Drops to the Lowest Price Ever

FlashForge Adventurer 5M CoreXY 3D Printer

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The Adventurer 5M is Flashforge’s least expensive CoreXY printer. In fact, it’s one of the least expensive CoreXY printers from any well-regarded brand, but with upgrades where they matter. For starters, the Adventurer 5M features a CoreXY structure typically found in pricier models. In a CoreXY printer, only the print head moves while the motors are permanently fixed. Since the motors are generally the heaviest component, this improves print speed and precision.

The open bed has a build volume measuring approximately 8.7″ cubed. A closed chamber offers a more controlled environment that eliminates unpredicatable variables like dust or wind and stabilizes temperatures for consistent result. Usually this costs a premium, but FlashForge sells a kit that converts the open bed into a closed chamber for $39.99. If you want to spend even less and don’t care about aesthetics, you can just put a big box over it and call it a day.

The 5M boasts a print speed of up to 600mm/s with 20,000mm/s² acceleration and can print a benchy in 14 minutes. The high-flow 32mm³/s nozzle with 280°C direct extruder can warm up to 200°C in as fast as 35 seconds for consistent filament dispensing. Build quality is solid since all of the structural components are made of metal. The 4.3″ color touchscreen control panel is intuitive to use with minimal fiddling and the 5M supports essential features such as auto leveling and vibration compensation. Assembly is quick and easy and you’ll be able to print your first object in minutes.

TL;DR:

• Open chamber 8.7″ cubed working space
• CoreXY 3D printer (more stable than other types)
• 600mm/s print speed with 20,000mm/s² acceleration
• Auto leveling and vibration compensation
• Easy assembly

The IGN Deals team has over 30 years of combined experience finding the best discounts and preorders available online. If you want the latest updates from our trusted team, here’s how to follow our coverage:

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn’t hunting for deals for other people at work, he’s hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

Whether you’re looking to add to your manga and comic collection or want a new multiplatform controller, I’ve found plenty of top-notch deals heading into this Father’s Day weekend. If you need a little something for that hard-to-buy-for dad, you can get $10 off a DoorDash eGift Card; who doesn’t love food? And I’ve included a few other last-minute gift ideas. Plus, save on Walmart+ and Audible memberships for a limited time.

TL;DR – The Best Deals for June 19

Get Up to 40% Off a GameSir Super Nova Wireless Controller

GameSir Super Nova Wireless Gaming Controller Nintendo Switch & Switch 2/PC/iOS/Android

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GameSir Super Nova Wireless Gaming Controller Nintendo Switch & Switch 2/PC/iOS/Android

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Save up to 40% on a GameSir Super Nova Wireless Controller. You can grab the Black and Red colorway for only $29.99 at Best Buy, while the Blue is down to 35.99 on Amazon. With Switch 2, Switch, PC, iOS, and Android compatibility, this versatile controller connects via Bluetooth, low-latency 2.4GHz wireless, or a wired USB-C. It’s also packing some high-end features for the price, including Hall-Effect joysticks and triggers, button mapping, rubberized grips, RGB lighting, a charging dock, and more.

Save $10 on a $100 DoorDash eGift Card

DoorDash – $100 Gift Card [Digital]

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A DoorDash Gift Card makes for an excellent last-minute Father’s Day gift, especially if you live out of town and won’t be able to share a meal on Sunday. Right now, you can get $10 off a $100 eGift Card at Best Buy, and it should arrive in your email shortly after purchase. You can order from thousands of local restaurants and national chains, with the option to have food delivered right to your doorstep. Just note that a free Best Buy membership is required to score this deal.

Score $20 Off Nioh 3 for PS5

Nioh 3 – PlayStation 5

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Nioh 3 just dropped in February, and the Standard Edition is down to its lowest price yet on Amazon and Best Buy. In our Nioh 3 review, the game earned an “Amazing” 9/10 rating. Reviewer Mitchell Saltzman found, “Nioh 3 delivers best-in-class combat that revitalizes the established formula with a fantastic split between Samurai and Ninja styles, as well as a triumphant move to an open-world structure.” He even claims it’s the “best of the trilogy.”

Get 50% Off an Annual Walmart+ Membership

Walmart+ Membership

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Enjoy 50% off a Walmart+ membership. Its annual plan is down to just $49 for a limited time. There’s a long list of perks that come with the membership, and if you’re frequently shopping at the retail giant, it’s absolutely worth the investment. From free shipping with no order minimum and free delivery from your local Walmart to early sale access and exclusive drops (Pokémon TCG is huge), it’s got a lot to love. You even get a Paramount+ Essentials or Peacock Premium subscription, $0.10 off per gallon of gas, 25% off Burger King digital orders, and lots more.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Collection Hits Low Price

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Collection, Vol. 1

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Collection, Vol. 2

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​​Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Ultimate Collection Vol. 1 Paperback is down to just $12.18, its lowest price ever on Amazon. However, this deal is exclusively for Prime members. With this incredible collection, you get Mirage Studios’ issues #1–7, where the phenomenon began. Co-creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird even have their own insightful annotations throughout the 300+ pages. Plus, it’s in the original black-and-white, just like in the 80s. Be sure to pick up Volume 2 at its lowest price ever, too.

3 Months of Audible for $0.99 Per Month & $20 Audible Credit

Get 3 Months of Audible Standard for $0.99/mo & Get $20 in Audible Credit

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Audible is still offering three months of its Standard subscription for just $0.99 per month, and it sweetened the deal further by offering an extra $20 in Audible credit to buy even more audiobooks. Both new and returning subscribers can cash in on this deal. Normally $8.95, the Audible Standard membership includes one audiobook per month that you keep until you suspend your membership. Even with the lower-tier membership, you still have access to the same catalog of millions of audiobooks that Premium Plus offers.

Tokyo Ghoul Box Set Hits New Low Price

Tokyo Ghoul Complete Box Set: Vols. 1-14

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Manga fans need to jump on this Tokyo Ghoul discount. The box set of all fourteen volumes of the original series is down to its lowest price ever on Amazon. Following college student Ken Kaneki, who becomes half-human, half-ghoul, the story centers on him honing his powers and figuring out how to navigate the two worlds. Created by Sui Ishida, this seinen manga features a compelling story and incredible art. The box set also includes a double-sided poster.

Get 62% Off the Wolfbox 4,000A Jump Starter and Tire Inflator

Wolfbox MegaVolt24 Air 4,000A Jump Starter with 160PSI Air Compressor

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Lost on a gift idea for dad? Well, this Wolfbox MegaVolt 24 Air 4,000A Cordless Jump Starter with Air Compressor is down to just $69.99 on Amazon with the coupon code “Q85ZHLT3”. It even says it’ll arrive by Sunday with Prime for my location. Not only is this a 12V cordless car jump starter with 4,000A of peak power, but it also has a 160PSI (45lpm) air compressor to inflate tires, a 24,000mAh power bank to charge smartphones, and a built-in 400-lumen flashlight. This handy device is perfect to have in an emergency.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 Hits New Low Price

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 – PlayStation 5

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Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 – Nintendo Switch 2 [Code in box]

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Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 – Nintendo Switch

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Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 for PS5, Switch, and Switch 2 has dropped to the lowest price I’ve seen. For just $24.99, you can get this remake of the 2001 and 2002 games for the latest consoles. In our Pro Skater 3 + 4 review, Luke Reilly found that it “proves again the series’ over-the-top skateboarding formula is totally timeless and remains suitable for all skill levels; simple at first blush, but extraordinarily sophisticated beneath the surface for those with the minerals (or the muscle memory) to push their combos to colossal levels.”

$450 Off an ASUS ROG Swift 32” 4K OLED Gaming Monitor

ASUS ROG Swift 32” 4K OLED Gaming Monitor (PG32UCDM)

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If you’re after an incredible 4K gaming monitor, look no further than the ASUS ROG Swift 32” 4K OLED Gaming Monitor (PG32UCDM). We reviewed this monitor and gave it an “Amazing” 9/10 rating. With it, you get a responsive 240Hz 4K display with low input lag and VRR support. The QD-OLED panel delivers deep blacks, vivid colors, and incredible clarity, while its KVM, USB hub, and awesome warranty push it over the edge of greatness. It’s also down to its lowest price yet on Amazon, saving $450.

Get an Apple Watch Ultra for $255

Apple Watch Ultra

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A grade-A refurbished Apple Watch Ultra is only $254.99 on the Amazon-owned Woot, and it even includes a 1-year warranty. A similar refurbished Ultra model on Amazon with only a 90-day warranty is going for $300, so this is the best deal going. The Ultra is the top Apple Watch model for adventurers and athletes, thanks to its durability, precise GPS, longer battery life, and impressive lineup of activity-specific features and apps. With a 49mm titanium case and sapphire crystal face, its body is more rugged than what’s found on other Apple watches. The Apple Watch Ultra will have no problem keeping up with you this summer.

DJI Osmo Action 4 4K Camera Essentials Bundle for $169

DJI Osmo Action 4 4K/120fps Video Camera Essential Combo

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Want to capture all your summer adventures in 4K? The DJI Osmo Action 4 4K Camera Essential Bundle is only $169 right now. It’s a fraction of the price of the GoPro Hero 13 Black but with all the functionality. This compact, durable camera records in 4K at up to 120fps using a f/2.8 aperture with a wide 155-degree FOV and a good-sized 1/1.3″ sensor for solid low light performance. “Rock Steady 3.0” also helps to keep the video smooth, while the 1,770mAh “Extreme” battery should last up to 150 minutes.

Get a Free $15 Promo Gift Card with a $100 Newegg Gift Card

Get a $15 promotional gift card

Newegg $100 Gift Card (Email Delivery)

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You can never go wrong with a gift card, so if you’re looking to buy something for the father who loves to tinker with PCs, a Newegg eGift Card is perfect. Today, when you buy a $100 gift card, you get a $15 promo gift card. Both will arrive in your email shortly after purchase, and in plenty of time for Father’s Day on Sunday. With it, you can buy a whole range of PC gaming essentials and a lot more.

BowFlex 552 SelectTech Dumbbells Hit Low Price

BowFlex Results Series SelectTech 552 Dumbbell Pair

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Need something for the fitness-loving father in your life? The BowFlex 552 SelectTech Dumbbells are down to their lowest price ever on Amazon. A pair is only $328, but the deal is exclusively for Prime members. That’s an incredible discount on these versatile dumbbells, which can be adjusted from 5 and 52.5 pounds by just turning a dial. Not only is the set well-built and ergonomically designed, but it also saves tons of space by replacing all your separate weights.

LEGO NASA Artemis Space Launch System Hits Low

LEGO Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System Rocket – 42221

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The LEGO Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System is down to its lowest price yet. It’s a great set for both kids and adults alike who love all things space. This recreation of the rocket that launched astronauts to the moon earlier this year features 632 pieces and even includes 4 astronaut nanofigures. There’s also a crank for separating the rocket in 3 different stages.

That’s not the only LEGO set discounted; Target is having a LEGO sale ahead of Amazon’s Prime Day next week. Check out those deals below:

Buy 2, Get 1 Free Book and Music Sale

Buy 2, Get 1 Free Books and Music

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Amazon has brought back its buy 2, get 1 free music and book sale ahead of Father’s Day this weekend and Prime Day next week. All you need to do is add three qualifying items to your cart, and the lowest-priced item will be discounted. It’s not exclusive to Prime members either. One particularly exciting inclusion in the sale is the Dungeon Crawler Carl Books. Every title in the series is included, and you can also pick up the graphic novel. This is an incredible LitRPG series and one of the few with an actual physical release. You can also get Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn books as part of the deal.

$135 Off Complete Calvin and Hobbes Hardcover Box Set

The Complete Calvin and Hobbes

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The Complete Calvin and Hobbes is a hardcover box set that collects the classic comic strip in three volumes. Not only does it include all the comics spanning the series’ 10-year run from 1985 to 1995, but it also includes an intro from author Bill Watterson. Right now, you can grab the set for just $89.48 when you clip the coupon on the product page, saving $135 off the list price. Fans young and old will love diving into the magical adventures of this duo.

3 for $33 4K Movies

3 for $33 4K Blu-ray Sale

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3 for $33 4K Blu-ray Sale

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Both Gruv and Amazon are offering ‘3 for $33’ 4K movies just in time for Father’s Day. To score this deal, all you need to do is add three qualifying films to your cart. The final discount will be reflected at checkout. That brings each film down to just $11. Below are a few highlights from Amazon’s sale, and Gruv has an even bigger selection of films to choose from.

Danielle is a Tech freelance writer based in Los Angeles who spends her free time creating videos and geeking out over music history.

Star Wars creator George Lucas has been cast in Minions & Monsters, and he’s already talked to Illumination about appearing in more Minions movies.

The animated movie company’s CEO, Chris Meledandri, confirmed the sci-fi moviemaking legend lent his voice to its latest Despicable Me spin-off during an interview with Collider. It’s an unexpected role for Lucas that will see him leaving his mark on Minions & Monsters when it premieres in a few weeks.

“An idea for a character came up out of the story, and so I said to Pierre [Coffin], who co-wrote the movie with Brian Lynch, and Bill Ryan, who produces with me on the film, and I just said, ‘Well, what if we could get George?’ And they’re like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ I had no idea, but I got such a fast yes,” Meledandri said. “It was incredible. So, we’re thrilled to have him in the film.”

George Lucas. Photo by Mike Coppola/MG25/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue.

Meledandri didn’t share much about how Lucas will fit into the film. He could show up as an original character, or, considering Illumination has said its plot will see the Minions spending some time in Hollywood, we also wouldn’t be surprised to see him play an animated version of himself.

Lucas is best known as the mastermind behind Star Wars and has cemented himself as a Hollywood legend thanks to his work off-camera, but he’s popped in for the occasional on-screen part here and there, too. That said, it’s been years since he’s taken on an acting role. So, why did he pick up the phone when Illumination called? It’s simple: He loves Minions.

“I had this privilege of meeting George about two years ago, and what led to my meeting him is how much he loves Illumination movies, and specifically Despicable Me, and even more specifically, the Minions,” Meledandri explained. “It was such a thrill to learn that and then to share it with the team, because obviously he’s among a very small group of people who the entire studio shares a level of respect for that is just off the charts.”

Illumination got its start with Despicable Me in 2010 but has gone on to create many other animated projects like its adaptation of The Grinch The Secret Life of Pets franchise, and The Super Mario Bros. movies. The Minions have gone on to get a spotlight of their own for three movies now, and if any more are ever in the works, it sounds like Lucas will be ready.

“I saw him recently,” Meledandri added, “and he’s already talking to me about the role he wants to do next in the next Minions movie. So, it’s pretty incredible.”

Minions & Monsters premieres July 1, 2026. For more, you can read about everything Illumination had to show at CinemaCon 2026.

Photo by Mike Coppola/MG25/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

CD Projekt Red co-CEO Michał Nowakowski thinks the studio has yet to complete a “full redemption arc” after the “heartbreaking” launch of Cyberpunk 2077, but he’s hoping it can win back some fans with The Witcher 4.

Nowakowski reflected on the Poland-based game developer’s journey during a recent conversation with Edge (via GamesRadar). The interview saw him open up about how “heartbreaking” the launch of Cyberpunk 2077 was for the team – and for fans.

“I’m not 100 per cent convinced we went through the full redemption arc,” Nowakowski said. “I’m convinced that we lost the faith of some people indefinitely, and that’s a fair thing.”

It’s been nearly six years since Cyberpunk 2077 undid much of the goodwill CD Projekt Red had accumulated following the release of its 2015 hit, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Years of excitement for the futuristic dystopian RPG quickly fizzled out after launch-day players were met with a long list of game-breaking bugs, annoying visual glitches, and frequent crashes.

These issues were especially prevalent on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and although early sales managed to see CD Projekt Red quickly recoup its development and marketing costs, the company’s reputation had clearly taken a massive hit in only a few days.

Now, Cyberpunk 2077 is in much, much better shape, and it has managed to sell at least 35 million copies. Still, Nowakowski feels there’s work to be done when it comes to how fans see CD Projekt Red, but he’s hoping games like The Witcher 4 will help win them back.

“But I do hope we will be able to make it back – if not with The Witcher 4, then with whatever comes next,” he said.

Nowakowski continued, explaining how CD Projekt Red changed in the aftermath of the launch of Cyberpunk 2077: “We were left with seasoned, battle-hardened veterans; leaders who were able to carry a different kind of challenge on their shoulders.”

“Our dream is to be making more games, although we never want to turn into the studio that’s going to be launching a big game every year,” he added. “It may happen, but this is not the goal. We have a rough 10-year rolling plan, but the goal is not to flood the games market with CDPR games. We just want to make really cool games, and we don’t want to have a ton of IPs either. We’re not planning to grow in that way.”

Although development on Cyberpunk 2077 has largely concluded and The Witcher 4 has no release date, CD Projekt Red isn’t leaving fans with nothing to play. A surprise expansion for The Witcher 3 called Songs of the Past, for example, is expected to launch in 2027. Meanwhile, the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel known as Cyberpunk 2 also entered pre-production last year, and a Witcher remake is also in development.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

Walmart’s best “counter” Prime Day Sale just went live. Right now you can save 50% off the Walmart+ annual membership, which means you’re paying only $49 for 12 months, or about $4 per month. This promotional price is available to anyone who isn’t a current annual Walmart+ member. That means new, expired, trial, and monthly members are all eligible, although as always your mileage may vary. This promotion only comes around a few times a year and you do not want to miss out if you’re a regular Walmart shopper. Walmart+ gives you a whole host of benefits that extends beyond free expedited shipping, including complimentary Paramount+ or Peacock subscriptions. You’ll also get early access to deals that run on major sales events like Prime Day and Black Friday.

12-Month Walmart+ Membership

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Early access to sales, free shipping with no minimum, Paramount+ or Peacock, and more.

Walmart+ Basic Membership Perks

If you’re a regular Walmart shopper, then the Walmart+ membership is worth $49 even outside of Prime Day. Standard perks like removing the minimum threshold for free shipping or being able to return an item from the comfort of your home are significant everyday perks that shouldn’t be overlooked. Some of the best standard benefits include:

• Free shipping with no minimum (normally $35+)
• Free returns, including free pickup from your house for many items
• 10 cent discount on select gas stations
• Free tire repair and road hazard warranty at Walmart Auto Care Centers
• Mobile scan & go checkout at retail locations

Early Access to Walmart’s Prime Day Deals

Walmart+ members generally get a multi-hour headstart on deals access during major events, including its “counter” Prime Day Sale and Black Friday. Last year, some of the best deals sold out before the Walmart+ exclusive window ended. Although Walmart typically saves some inventory for the non-W+ crowd, it’s much harder to grab the deal since so many more people are trying to checkout. I’m not saying this Prime Day Sale is going to be bananas, but it’s always better to come into these events fully prepared – just in case.

Complimentary Paramount+ or Peacock Subscription

Stream the entire World Cup on Peacock or watch UFC on Paramount+

The Walmart+ membership also includes your choice of an ad-supported 12 month Paramount+ Essential or Peacock Premium subscription. This is a great time to sign up for Peacock, since you can stream all of the World Cup games via Telemundo. It’s all in Spanish, but even if you don’t understand the language, it’s still good fun. How can anyone tire of the announcers stretching out “Goaaaaaaalll” for as long as possible?

Paramount+ is one of the better populated streaming services available. Its extensive library of media has been bolstered with the addition of Showtime, making it a great service for those who enjoy movies, original shows, live sports, and news. Popular TV shows include Dexter: Resurrection, Marshals (a recent spinoff of Yellowstone), Landman, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Tulsa King, Halo, and Yellowjackets.

If you’re a UFC fan, then signing up for Paramount+ is a no-brainer. Dubbed “the home of UFC”, your Paramount+ subscription gives you access to all UFC numbered events and Fight Nights on demand, from prelims to main cards.

Walmart+ Members Get 25% Off at Burger King and a Free Whopper

If you’re craving fast food, here’s another reason to sign up for W+. Walmart+ members can enjoy 25% off a single Burger King digital order each day. In addition, members can receive a free flame-grilled Whopper with any purchase every 3 months via the BK app or bk.com. For those of you who eat at Burger King on a semi-regular basis, this is just one bonus perk added to the laundry list of benefits you’ll enjoy from a Walmart+ membership.

Walmart+ Members Get 5% Cashback with Walmart’s OnePay MasterCard

If you combine the Walmart+ membership with Walmart’s OnePay loyalty card, you get 5% cashback on all Walmart purchases. Non W+ members get 3% cashback. The OnePay CashRewards card can be used anywhere MasterCard is accepted, not just at Walmart, and there’s no annual fee. For a limited time, you also get a $50 signup bonus.

How to Follow IGN Deals Recommendations

The IGN Deals team has over 30 years of combined experience finding the best discounts and preorders available online. If you want the latest updates from our trusted team, here’s how to follow our coverage:

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn’t hunting for deals for other people at work, he’s hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

Forza Horizon 6 for PC and Xbox was released just last month. This is the perfect excuse for you to finally upgrade from a controller to a bona fide racing wheel. Logitech via its official eBay store is offering a fantastic deal on its most popular racing wheel. Right now you can pick up a refurbished Logitech G29 Racing Wheel and Pedal Set for PS5 and PC for just $145 shipped. The G29 retails for $330 new. It comes with a 1 year Logitech warranty, which isn’t quite as long as the 2 years you get purchasing new, but a lot better than the standard 3 to 6 months you typicall get with a recertified model.

Save 56% Off the Logitech G29 Racing Wheel and Pedal Set

Refurbished With 1 Year Warranty

Logitech G29 Racing Wheel and Pedal Set

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If you’re a big fan of racing games and you’ve been using a DualSense controller or gamepad this entire time, then this price drop might be the excuse for you to step up your immersion to the next level. The G29 as already one of the best racing wheels under $300, and definitely the best racing wheel under $150.

Standout features include a gorgeous hand-stitched leather steering wheel with 900 degrees of rotation, sturdy metal base, durable steel ball bearings in the shaft, gear-driven dual-force motor feedback, stainless shifter and pressure-sensitive pedals. The force feedback does an excellent job of simulating providing force and resistance and definitely adds to the immersion; if you want something better than this, you’d have to shell out a lot more money for a direct-drive or belt-driven wheel, like Logitech’s own $1,000 G Pro direct-drive racing wheel we reviewed.

The G29 is also compatible with the PC, and in fact it’s superior to the Xbox’s G920 variant. The G29 has LED shift lights located on the top of the wheel’s spokes. These LEDs light up progressively as the car’s RPMs rise in-game. The G29 also has a rotary knob on the wheel that can be customized to different functions.

Forza Horizon 6 is out, and it’s a Masterpiece

Forza Horizon 6 (PC, Xbox)

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IGN’s Luke Reilly awarded the recently released Forza Horizon 6 a well-deserved 10/10 “Masterpiece” review. The latest iteration of the open-world arcade racing franchise allows you to traverse the varied vistas of Japan, from the snowswept mountainous paths of the Japanese Alps to the concrete jungle of the Tokyo Expressway. The game launches with 550 cars for you to customize and tweak, and dozens of single-player and online challenges for you to flex your skill, including the return of the Eliminator battle royale mode.

How to Follow IGN Deals Recommendations

The IGN Deals team has over 30 years of combined experience finding the best discounts and preorders available online. If you want the latest updates from our trusted team, here’s how to follow our coverage:

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn’t hunting for deals for other people at work, he’s hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

Spoilers follow for Toy Story 5, which is in theaters now.

One of the main thematic lines behind Pixar’s Toy Story franchise is that toys are made for play. As we’ve repeatedly seen — particularly in Toy Story 3, with the anguish of Andy (John Morris) leaving for college — sometimes playtime is over, and it’s time to put the nostalgia back in the box. Nowhere has that been clearer than with Toy Story 5 — a movie that has its delights and heartfelt moments, but seems to be holding on to a past that doesn’t exist anymore, playing the same notes with emotions for characters we’ve loved for over three decades. This is even clearer when it comes to one character who, to misquote the late great Dante Hicks, shouldn’t even be here today. There is just no reason for Woody (Tom Hanks) to be in Toy Story 5.

To be clear, there are a lot of characters who probably don’t need to be in this overstuffed animated film other than because Bonnie (Scarlett Spears) — who took over from Andy as owner of the toys — still likes playing with them. The main plot follows Jessie (Joan Cusack) as she accidentally ends up in the home of her first owner, Emily, and comes to appreciate that all devices (aka tech) aren’t bad. It’s a lesson in tolerance that is somewhat muddled by the constant shots of other humans sitting in the dark, entranced to the point of zombification by their screens.

But we digress, and so does the movie, as it also includes not just Andy’s and Bonnie’s toys (who now live in harmony after the events of Toy Story 4), but also: toys owned by Blaze (Mykal-Michelle Harris), the eight-year-old living in Emily’s old farmhouse; Blaze’s discarded devices who team up with Jessie; and even dozens of technologically advanced Buzz Lightyears who make their way from the deserted island their shipping crate crashed on, all the way to the main action and beyond.

There are also multiple fantasy sequences including Alan Cumming guest-starring as the voice of Evil Bullseye (aka Jessie’s horse), and Bonnie’s parents get more of a story arc as they watch their daughter struggle with finding (and losing) friends than should be legally allowed in any movie titled Toy Story. At least Buzz gets a sweet arc when he’s inspired by Forky’s (Tony Hale) marriage to ask Jessie to marry him, though — as we already noted — there are already several dozen other Buzzes.

Toy Story 5 Images

Because of… all this, there’s just not enough room for everyone in an animated series that has become the children’s equivalent of the Fast & Furious franchise, where enemies become allies and no member of the family (sorry, toy) gets left behind. Most of the original Toy Story crew, and several of Bonnie’s “new” toys — with the exception of Forky and Mr. Pricklepants (John Hopkins — barely get any lines, and a whole swath of the movie finds them collectively stuck in a box in the back of the garage, not even trying to escape as they might have done in previous films.

But of the unnecessary-to-the-plot lot, the worst offender is a character who used to be our number one guy: Woody. In case you forgot, Woody left the group at the end of Toy Story 4, teaming up with Bo Peep (Annie Potts) to help rescue lost toys, with the understanding that Bonnie didn’t need him anymore and it was okay for him to move on. Whether that’s to his current mission of helping other toys who feel lost, or to allow himself to find the next kid he can make happy — either way, Woody said an emotional goodbye.

Woody is there to be the butt of jokes, from riding a tiny horse toy to frequent jabs about him being an “old man toy.” “

That goodbye also provided a rare bit of closure for a children’s franchise. Though the cast has expanded, Woody has always been the main character, with Buzz a close number two; they’ve been our window to the world of toys, with Woody as the character who often best came to either understand or impart the lesson of the movie. Having him say goodbye in the previous film was a way of passing the torch on to other characters, which Toy Story 5 mostly does by centering Jessie as the lead.

But they do bring Woody back anyway, and the movie works overtime to explain why he’s there. Jessie gives him a call when she’s feeling lost and worried, which is a nice enough scene, and things could have been left at that. We have Woody, fulfilled with his new journey on the road, and Jessie left to figure things out on her own, worried that she can’t quite live up to the toy-leading legacy he left behind. Instead, thanks to a spotty walkie-talkie connection — seriously, how powerful is that signal that they can connect from anywhere in the world? — Woody thinks he hears Jessie asking for her deputy (that would be Buzz, but Woody thinks he’s the deputy) to come back and help against the rogue tech of Lilypad (Greta Lee). When he does show up, there’s some sparring with Buzz, who feels mildly threatened as Jessie’s number two. But mostly, Woody is there to be the butt of jokes, from riding a tiny horse toy to frequent jabs about him being an “old man toy,” right down to saggy stuffing standing in for a beer belly and a rubbed-off section of his head aping a bald spot.

Ultimately, though, the plot would have proceeded essentially the same way whether Woody was there or not. Buzz could have still gone after Jessie when she’s lost at Emily’s/Blaze’s house. Jessie’s journey also remains entirely unaffected by Woody’s return, other than some supportive words here and there that could have been handed to any of the other characters. But perhaps even worse, there’s no change for Woody. He’s not dealing with a mid-life (mid-toy?) crisis or wrestling with aging himself; it’s just a running joke. He’s happy with his life on the road with Bo Peep and Duke Caboom (Keanu Reeves) when the movie starts, and he’s happy to return there when it ends. Nothing is changed by Woody’s inclusion, and he therefore subtracts from the film merely by his lack of addition.

Are there reasons for including Woody in the film? Absolutely, though they have nothing to do with the content of the movie itself. It’s because Tom Hanks is an iconic actor returning to an iconic role, and if he wasn’t in the movie, there would be a lot of people asking “Where’s Woody?” But more than that, Disney has theme parks and merchandise to think about, and those Toy Story tie-ins — whether they’re toys in your local Walmart or costumed actors in Walt Disney World — need to be Woody, Buzz, and Jessie. Conan O’Brien’s toilet-training tool, Smarty Pants, has an exponentially bigger role than Woody in the film and a more satisfying emotional journey, but (no offense to Conan) Smarty Pants is not going to move those lunchboxes and Funko Pops off the shelves.

From an artistic perspective: Could they have left Woody to the side? Absolutely. Frankly, some of the other toys could have gone as well to make the scenes less cluttered and frenetic. It wouldn’t be the first time toys have disappeared from the Toy Story movies either. To wit, Wheezy Penguin (Joe Ranft) — who was key to Pixar figuring out the plot of Toy Story 2 — hasn’t appeared since that movie. Barbie and Ken stayed at Sunnyside Daycare in Toy Story 3 and only briefly appeared in Toy Story 4. Woody, we may have mentioned before, left with closure to his character arc; without Andy, he was (eventually) happy to move on to newer and hopefully better things.

Is there even a world where the Toy Story movies split in two, allowing Woody to have his own adventures without increasingly convoluted excuses for bringing him back to Bonnie’s house? Absolutely, whether that’s in a Disney+ series or a spin-off movie franchise titled Woody: A Toy Story Story. Heck, you wouldn’t even have to go that route, because the franchise is called Toy Story, which implies different stories about toys. Have Toy Story 6 be a story about Woody, then make Toy Story 7 about Buzz, Jessie, and of course Smarty Pants, everyone’s favorite toilet training toy (sorry again, Conan; we love you).

But having Woody come back this way, without adding anything to the narrative, does a disservice not just to the legacy of Toy Story but Woody as a character. He’s a cowboy, after all; let him ride off into the sunset.

You can chat with Alex Zalben on BlueSky @azalben.bsky.social, or find him regularly yapping on the Comic Book Club podcast.

Xbox has rolled out a new label for console exclusive games, visible now on your Xbox Series X/S dashboard.

This month, Xbox confirmed it had decided to make the upcoming Gears of War: E-Day a console exclusive when it arrives on October 6. Clockwork Revolution will also be a console exclusive when it launches in 2027.

Now, Gears of War: E-Day features a brand new “EXCLUSIVE” label, similar to other previous game labels that denote a game is optimized for Series X/S, or featured as part of a subscription service such as Game Pass or Ubisoft+.

Gears of War: E-Day now features an EXCLUSIVE label. Image credit: Xbox/IGN.

The label certainly makes clear the game will no longer be arriving for PlayStation 5 (as had once been planned), though it’s worth remembering that the title will still also launch on PC.

Still, the label will likely prove useful helping mark out the titles that Microsoft has decided it will make exclusive — something chief content officer Matt Booty has said will be chosen on a “case-by-case basis”, but not include “big multiplayer games and live-service games,” which will remain multiplatform.

There’s no sign yet of a similar label on the game’s Xbox.com store page (or the one for Clockwork Revolution), but with its launch still not for several months, there’s still time.

“We want a reason for people to get on board with Xbox, we want them to have a reason to buy an Xbox, we want them to have a reason to be an Xbox fan,” Booty said previously. “At the same time, we want to reward all our players that have been with us for a long time — we know that exclusives are important, and that’s why we’ve got Gears coming in 2026 and Clockwork [Revolution] coming in 2027.”

“We also want to be clear that our big multiplayer games and live-service games are going to continue to be multiplatform,” he continued. “If we’ve promised something to players already, we’re going to honor that promise. And then — I think Asha said it — we’re going to make the right decision and not the fast decision.

The 100 Best Xbox Games of All Time

“We’re going to keep thinking about this going forward,” Booty concluded, “and, I think you guys know already, our principle is when we announce the date, we announce the platforms. So, it’s going to be case-by-case, but we’re going to be clear, that when it’s got a date, it’s got a platform and you’ll know what the choice is going to be.”

This approach has been dubbed as confusing by some fans, and feels like it will take a while to settle down. As newly-installed Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has said, the company will firstly honor all previously-announced games coming to PlayStation (including Halo: Campaign Evolved, for example) and look to make more unannounced games exclusive if and when the company’s finances improve.

In other words, for now, expect more announcements of new Xbox titles where PlayStation 5 and even Nintendo Switch 2 versions are confirmed as well. This was the case just this month, when Xbox made State of Decay 3’s PlayStation 5 version made official, Hellblade threequel Senua was unveiled and confirmed for PS5, and Spyro: A Realm Beyond was detailed as coming to Xbox, PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2.

Meanwhile, it’s been reported that a new PlayStation business document has highlighted an official change to Sony’s own release strategy, with PC no longer described as part of the company’s first-party launch focus.

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

We had some issues when the original Gungrave G.O.R.E. was released back in 2022. It was unfortunate that a number of missteps hampered an otherwise solid action title, but thankfully, the game will soon find new life with an upcoming remaster/remake, Gungrave G.O.R.E: Bloodheat. During Summer Game Fests’ Play Days event this year, IGN had a chance to step into Grave’s boots again and also speak with Blood Heat’s general director, Kay Kim, about the studio’s mission to recapture what it means to play as Grave.

For those who had blasted their way through the previous version, you will recall that combat could feel a bit sluggish, and that the optimal way to play was to just sit back and shoot enemies until you could unleash Grave’s immensely powerful Demolition attacks. It was a playstyle that, while sure, would rocket up your beat (combo) meter and keep you out of harm’s way – and it was an approach that the team didn’t quite feel lived up to the experience of being Grave.

No longer do guns have near-infinite range (though they still have infinite ammo), which requires you to get up close. In response to this shift, melee combat is far faster and feels more responsive. When playing the original G.O.R.E., fighting up close never landed for me, so I found this new iteration to be a treat, and it really upped that feeling of being a badass.

Perhaps the largest contributing factor to Blood Heat’s existence and its wide array of adjustments is that the studio IGGYMOB has secured the Gungrave IP. By owning the rights, Kay shared how this really unshackled the team, giving both IGGYMOB and series creator and manga artist, Yasuhiro Nightow, far greater freedom and flexibility to make the game they wanted to.

Now that we fully own the IP, we can use the best, the most popular character in this Gungrave series.“

“With the Gungrave Gore series, Nightow-san wanted a lot of changes, but he wasn’t able to fully get into the game’s development. Now, because we fully own the IP, he’s at his liberty to,” Kay explained. “So the materials, the ideas, the concept. We had to communicate through an IP holder, really, to communicate with Nightow-san to get permission and agreements on a creative direction. Now that we fully own the IP, we can use the best, the most popular character in this Gungrave series. A character we couldn’t use in Gungrave Gore. So we now have more freedom and flexibility to really implement all of the IPs that are part of Gungrave.”

Nightow-san’s impact will be felt throughout the game, from the small ways the Grave interacts with the world and moves to larger gameplay shifts. I was curious about what the biggest change that he wanted to make in this new version was, and Kay shared that the series creator felt that the BEAT system was a big problem in the original. “Eliminating the beat count. He (Kightow) thought it was creating a fundamental problem,” he revealed. “The play pattern couldn’t get out of the box, where players just amassed the beat count and the gauge, and using that beat count to increase the demolition gauge, the players couldn’t get out of that kind of box.”

Gungrave G.O.R.E. Blood Heat – June 2026 Screenshots

It was this goal of forcing players out of the repetitive gameplay loop that would go on to influence that shift mentioned earlier, and improvements to the melee combat and moving things up close to the action. “So, the first thing he wanted to remove was the beat count. He really wanted to get out of that little box, the play style that was kind of limited to just shooting from afar, shooting from a distance, and just players obsessing over the beat count. And demolition shot gauge. So, that was the first thing he wanted to eliminate. So, because you had an unlimited amount of bullets, the player, the Grave, never had to reload and expose himself to danger. So, we wanted Grave to get in and have that risk taken on and be in the danger of being sent to fight…We put in a lot of work to various combinations, but players only ended up using that play style where shooting from a distance, amassing the beat count, and getting up close to do the demolition shot. So, we wanted that kind of simple gameplay. We wanted to remove that type of simple gameplay and really implement all the combinations and tricks and utilize all the graphics that we’ve put into this development.”

My time hands-on with Gungrave G.O.R.E. Blood Heat, while brief, left me feeling like it’s a solid and worthwhile update and it’s got me excited to play more. The intro stage, with its tank boss, was more thrilling to play, and there was a noticeable improvement in the feeling of the moment-to-moment tension as I would have to run to cover to find an out-of-the-way corner to replenish my shields. It was a tension I rarely felt in the original G.O.R.E. With a heavier emphasis on melee, I’ll be curious to see how much variation and combo potential there will be in the final game, to really let players mix things up and show off. Alongside other changes and improvements, Gungrave G.O.R.E. Blood Heat looks like a promising action game for both new and returning players to check out when it releases later this year.

Scott White is a freelance contributor to IGN, assisting with tabletop games and guide coverage. Follow him on X/Twitter or Bluesky.

Spoilers below for Episode 4 of Cape Fear. New episodes stream every Friday on Apple TV.

Over the last three weeks, Apple TV’s Cape Fear has settled into a Morse code-like cadence: long, meandering, and richly shot dashes of vibes with heavy plot punctuated by quick outbursts of violence and drama. Episode 3 followed the pattern with the shocking return of actress Juliette Lewis to the franchise, and Episode 4 — ominously titled “Pierced” — is no different.

In the immediate aftermath of Lewis being unveiled as Max’s (Javier Bardem) as-of-now unnamed stalker, we’re plunged right back into the creepy torpor of the show. Max is shown praying at a shadowed, candle-lit altar, later approaching Tom (Patrick Wilson) at a bar and telling him that Zack (Joe Anders) “really needs a father;” if he’s not intent on disrupting the Bowden family’s lives, he certainly has a knack for accidentally running into them. Natalie (Lily Collias) lashes out at her parents and calls her stepfather a cuck, and later, Max confronts a used car salesman and torments him with the fact that he slept with the man’s wife.

While Episode 4 commits the same sin as its predecessors by frequently trading forward momentum for digging deeper into mood and tone, it’s not completely out of bounds. “Pierced” does more with swish pans, off-putting camera angles, and explosive musical cues than most series could do with an army’s-worth of in-your-face edits. Here, the style elevates the story instead of papering over its defects. It seems the point of Cape Fear is to make you feel unsettled, and in that regard, the show has been an unfettered success so far.

This week’s A-plot sees Anna (Amy Adams) attempting to free Ruben Ramirez (Roberto Sanchez), another wrongly-convicted man, from prison. This time, the inmate has all but given up and says he’s dropping his appeal, but Anna is determined and goes to the house of a man named “Smiley” who may be able to provide an alibi. What follows is a scene straight out of Silence of the Lambs as Anna talks her way into Smiley’s house, which is full of snake enclosures beautifully lit by a rainbow of lights, and tries to trick him into a confession. When he lashes out, pulling a gun while throwing her phone to one of his snakes, Anna gets the hell out of there.

Meanwhile, Navaeh/Amber — the girl who seduced Natalie in last week’s episode —takes Natalie to a friend’s house and badgers her into getting a body piercing, generally further ingraining herself into Natalie’s life. Later, the two girls break into the house of Natalie’s friend Callie and have sex in her bed. Navaeh is definitely bad news, and we’re about to find out why.

As all of this is going on, Tom tries to bond with Zack at an art show, only to find that Zack is using the opportunity to approach the girl he distributed lewd photos of the year before. This triggers Tom flashing back to his brother’s suicide, which he tells everyone was a car crash. We even see Tom repeatedly hit himself as Zack does when he’s ashamed of his own actions; it seems the apple doesn’t fall far from the sneaky adulterous lawyer.

It seems the point of Cape Fear is to make you feel unsettled, and in that regard, the show has been an unfettered success so far. “

Later, Anna asks Max — why does she keep reeling this guy back into her life? — to help convince Smiley to talk. After a shocking moment in which Max grabs and kisses her, and Anna reacts somewhere between “Get the hell away from me” and “I don’t totally mind this” (is there more to their relationship than what we’ve seen so far?), Max murders one of Smiley’s precious snakes with a fork and threatens him. We don’t see what happens next, but Max reveals a taped confession that exonerates Ramon.

We also see Anna approached by Max’s stalker. It’s frustrating that we weren’t able to dive right into the aftermath of Juliette Lewis’s Episode 3 appearance at the top of “Pierced,” but what we’re left with here is equally as compelling and disconcerting. The stalker asks Anna if “she’s his whore now,” and says to stay away from Max. She also intimates that she had something to do with the murder of Max’s wife.

The episode ends with yet another jaw-dropping revelation. Anna’s co-worker Ray (Jamie Hector) has been digging up information on Navaeh and it turns out — surprise! — that her mother was a prison nurse known to have “relations” with a high-profile inmate; in other words, she’s probably (definitely) Max’s daughter. Thus, a huge piece of the puzzle falls into place, and another giant flashing sign blaring “Stay away from Max Cady, Bowdens!” lights up.

While Episode 4 of Cape Fear takes way too long to get to the good stuff, the slow pacing and conveyor belt of jump scares and moodiness serves it well in big moments like sudden acts of rage (sorry, Mr. Snake) or series-turning reveals. While it does sometimes feel like the pacing could be sped up a bit — the show could probably be 6-8 episodes instead of the planned 10 — the artistry and cinematic scope of the story are still a welcome sight in an age of Volume-shot shows. “Pierced” isn’t a revelatory episode of television, but if you’re into Cape Fear’s richly macabre sensibility, it’s still a treat… even if it’s more of the same.

Cape Fear Body Count!

I’ll be keeping tabs on the show’s escalating body count every week. This time, only one minor character met their end:

Some spoilers follow for both seasons of Sugar. Sugar Season 2 is available on Apple TV now.

As detective shows go, Sugar is one of the more intriguing offerings of recent years, and not just because Colin Farrell’s eponymous PI is revealed to be an alien. Through the eyes of this otherworldly sleuth, series creator Mark Protosevich endeavors to grapple with what it means to be human — the way we act, the way we feel, and the choices we make when faced with right and wrong. Do we just observe the horrors of the world, or do we try to do something about them? Must we take a life to save lives or achieve some sort of justice?

In Season 1, John Sugar faced those existential questions against a Los Angeles backdrop. His investigation into the missing granddaughter of a wealthy studio head led him to the serial killer son of a senator whose murderous machinations were being covered up, not just by powerful figures of Earth, but also by Sugar’s own people. Their secret presence had been revealed, causing some to be targeted for death while others (by the final episode) decided to return to their home world. Not John, though; he chose to stay in order to get answers about his presumed dead sister, Djen (Maeve Whalen), from his treacherous best friend, Henry (Jason Butler Harner), and to find out just who sold his people out.

Season 2 kicks off — again — in East Asia. Sugar locates a near-dead Henry, who succumbs to his wounds before the PI can learn any more about his sister. The PI looks around a hideout covered with blown-up black-and-white photos and “Beware Assimilation” painted on the wall before destroying all evidence of it and Henry in a fire. Farrell continues his velvety voiceover, waxing poetically about home, isolation, and the emotions of living, yet that warning of assimilation will hang over the eight episodes once Sugar returns to Los Angeles to take on a new case.

Protosevich certainly offers a compelling neo-noir plot for Sugar to get caught up in. This time, he’s not working for the wealthy elite, but Korean-American immigrant Danny Moon (Jin Ha), a poor up-and-coming boxer whose chaotic brother, Ji (Raymond Lee), has gone missing. With the help of Sasha Calle’s cool, street-smart protégé Val, and Shea Whigham’s gruff, cancer-stricken government operative Tom, Sugar unearths a conspiracy involving Ji, narcotics, the sheriff’s department, and the homeless community. Season 1 might have touched on the wealth gap in LA, but here it becomes part of a cogent critique of societal prejudice toward those pushed to the margins.

Season 1 touched on the wealth gap, but here it’s a cogent critique of societal prejudice toward those pushed to the margins. “

Sugar has always been an empathetic hero and a sparkling-eyed contradiction to the world-weary dicks of Old Hollywood that he’s long idolized, but his privilege has rarely been checked. He drives a classic Corvette Sting Ray and lives out of a Chateau Marmont-esque hotel with a closetful of pristine bespoke suits to boot. Spending time with people like Val, Danny, and Ji while navigating the less affluent sides of LA awakens him more convincingly to the very human struggle of living a good, moral life. Throw in an endearing romance with Laura Donnelly’s “is she/isn’t she?” femme fatale Charlotte and a vendetta against Tony Dalton’s charismatic antagonist Sheriff Ray Vega, and Sugar’s got a persuasively entertaining and evenly-paced storyline to rival that of The Big Heat.

Protosevich has never been subtle about how much those kinds of Hollywood films are an education on Humanity for Sugar. The alien moves with a cineliterate lens: His mind flickers to Paul Newman in The Hustler as he hustles a woman for information on Ji at a pool hall; later, Here Comes Mr. Jordan, a 1941 classic about maintaining your identity and inner worth, is playing on his TV at a moment of pensivity for what bad thing Sugar had to do to save innocent lives. Yet this meta-contemplation fails to illustrate the vivid character study of a lonely alien hiding out in the body of a human.

This is not a question of Farrell’s performance. His kind gaze and warm, earnest presence evoke memories of Bruno Ganz’s angel in Wings of Desire and David Bowie’s alien in The Man Who Fell to Earth. Still, it’s a struggle to comprehend Sugar’s unease with human assimilation when the series shrouds so much of his alien heritage in ambiguity. If Sugar is worried about being too nurtured by human behaviour, what inherent nature is at risk?

It’s a frustration inherited from Season 1, where many of the science fiction elements were breadcrumbed in. Here, a few flashbacks to Sugar’s interactions with a rogue alien, his sister’s secretive work, and a hint of his telekinetic powers are not enough to stave off hunger for meatier details about this alien race’s behaviors, their backstory, and their purpose on Earth.

By the final episode, Sugar resolves his initial conundrum — and we get to see exactly why these aliens are allergic to cinnamon — but this subplot leaves us with more questions. A third season would hopefully clear those up, but maybe if Sugar was as much of an homage to sci-fi as it is to film noir, Season 2 would be a far more satisfying slice of cinematic cake.

The Hunger Games has continued to be one of the most influential of our generation. Not only has the series spawned a very successful movie franchise, it also continues to inspire new popular stories. It’s hard to look at something like the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, for example, and not see bits of The Hunger Games books mixed in there.

If you’re looking to add a set of Hunger Games novels to your bookshelf for future reading (or re-reading), Amazon is running a ‘3 for 2’ sale on books right now that makes it the perfect time to do so. The Deluxe Edition paperbacks are all currently included in the promotion.

The Hunger Games Deluxe Editions Are Buy 2, Get 1 Free

Suzzanne Collins published the first Hunger Games book all the way back in 2008, but new editions of the original trilogy have come out since then. The Deluxe Edition paperbacks weren’t released until February 2025, only a month before the latest prequel book Sunrise on the Reaping was published. They feature new cover art as well as beautifully stencilled edges on the pages.

The Deluxe Editions were released as a set of four books: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay, and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Amazon has only included the first three books in the official ‘3 for 2’ sale, though. The full four-book box set is also included in the promotion, but you’ll need to purchase two other books or box sets to take advantage of the discount. If you just want the original trilogy, you can get them all for just $19.99 after the discount.

Are the Deluxe Editions worth it?

When a book series is popular, it usually gets some sort of special edition hardcover release when a new book first comes out. It’s much rarer to see a special edition paperback release, however. The Hunger Games Deluxe Editions are worth it because they look great on a a shelf while also being meant to read. Hardcover books are cool, but it’s often much easier to read a paperback without worrying about damaging a dust jacket.

Sunrise on the Reaping Is Also Included in the Sale

Sunrise on the Reaping

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The only Hunger Games that hasn’t gotten the Deluxe Edition paperback treatment yet is Sunrise on the Reaping. This is the newest book in the series and serves as another prequel focused on the year of Haymitch’s Hunger Games tournament. If you haven’t already read it, now is a great time to do so. The official movie adaptation of the book is set to arrive in theaters on November 20, 2026.

Jacob Kienlen is a Senior Audience Development Strategist and Writer for IGN. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he has considered the Northwest his home for his entire life. With a bachelor’s degree in communication and 10 years of professional writing experience, his expertise is spread across a variety of different pop culture topics — from TV series to books and the latest Pokémon games.

Summer is here. That means you, your pets, and/or your kids will likely be traipsing even more grass, dirt, and debris into your home than at any other time of year. Instead of vacuuming or sweeping the mess yourself, a reliable robot vacuum can do the hard work for you, leaving you more free time to enjoy the beautiful weather outside.

Luckily, if you’ve been waiting for a great time to buy a robot vacuum, it’s now. One of the best brands in the game, Dreame, already has its Prime Day deals live at Amazon, and you don’t need to be a Prime member to enjoy the discount. As someone who has tested her fair share of robot vacuums, I can attest to just how great these vacuums are.

Save Up to 29% on Select Dreame Robot Vacuums for Prime Day

During Dreame’s Prime Day Sale, you can save up to almost 30% on its incredible lineup of robot vacuums. Whether you have heavy-duty cleaning needs that require extreme suction power and mopping capability, or just want something more budget-friendly and basic to pick up average, everyday messes, Dreame has you covered for hands-free cleaning. Below are four of Dreame’s top robot vacuum models, all on sale for Amazon’s biggest savings event of the year:

The Dreame L40 Ultra Gen 2 Is 29% Off

DREAME L40 Ultra Gen 2 Robot Vacuum and Mop

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The Dreame L40 Ultra Gen 2 is an awesome robot vacuum offering top-tier suction power and other flagship features for a more accessible price that’s even lower now thanks to Prime Day. With up to 25,000 Pa of max suction, it should lift dirt from hard floors and even high-pile carpeting with ease, making it especially great for homes with pets. Extendable side brushes and mops allow the L40 Ultra to reach the under cabinets and hit edges, ensuring no floor surface area goes untouched. The dock is even fully automated, cleaning and hot-air drying the mops, emptying the dust box, and more for unbelievably easy maintenance.

Get $240 Off the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete

DREAME X60 Max Ultra Complete Robot Vacuum and Mop

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The L40 Ultra may offer some flagship features, but Dreame’s true flagship model is the X60 Max Ultra Complete, and it’s $240 off right now. It offers everything you could want in a robot vacuum, from incredible 35,000 Pa suction, which is the highest I’ve seen, to powerful 15N force hot water mops spinning at 230RPM to remove the most stubborn stains. Plus, with a slim 3.13-inch body height and the ability climb 3.37 inches plus AI obstacle avoidance and navigation, this robot vacuum can navigate under low furniture and around cluttered spaces without getting stuck. Of course, a fully automated dock rounds out the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete.

The Dreame D20 Air Plus Is Just $220

DREAME D20 Air Plus Robot Vac and Mop Combo

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If you’re after something a little more budget-friendly, get the Dreame D20 Air Plus. It’s only $219.99, the lowest price ever, but it offers better suction power than some $1,000+ robot vacuums I’ve tested. Mops are also on board with adjustable flow levels to ensure your hard floors shine. Now, the base station may not be as high-tech as the others, although it still self-empties the dust box for 120 days of hands-free debris collection.

Score $100 Off the Dreame D30 Ultra CE

DREAME D30 Ultra CE Robot Vacuum and Mop with Auto Dust Emptying

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Like the sound of the L40 Ultra but want something just a bit cheaper? The Dreame D30 Ultra CE is $100 off right now, bringing it to just under $400. With it comes a fully automated base station that high-power cleans the mops, dries them, and empties the dust box for up to 100 days. As for actual cleaning, the 25K Pa suction power is no slouch, so it can even tackle debris on carpets, and the dual rotating mopping pads do a solid job removing light stains on hard floors. There’s even a anti-hair wrap brush to keep maintenance to a minimum, ensuring you can enjoy a hands-free clean.

Danielle is a Tech freelance writer based in Los Angeles who spends her free time creating videos and geeking out over music history.

From a 4K gaming monitor to a big and tall gaming chair, there’s a wide range of incredible deals you’ll want to grab today. Many of my finds even make for excellent last-minute Father’s Day gifts, like a top-notch ThermoMaven wireless meat thermometer or a refurbished Apple Watch Ultra. Some may even arrive before Sunday’s festivities.

TL;DR – The Best Deals for June 18

$450 Off an ASUS ROG Swift 32” 4K OLED Gaming Monitor

ASUS ROG Swift 32” 4K OLED Gaming Monitor (PG32UCDM)

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If you’re after an incredible 4K gaming monitor, look no further than the ASUS ROG Swift 32” 4K OLED Gaming Monitor (PG32UCDM). We reviewed this monitor and gave it an “Amazing” 9/10 rating. With it, you get a responsive 240Hz 4K display with low input lag and VRR support. The QD-OLED panel delivers deep blacks, vivid colors, and incredible clarity, while its KVM, USB hub, and awesome warranty push it over the edge of greatness. It’s also down to its lowest price yet on Amazon, saving $450.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 Hits New Low Price

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 – PlayStation 5

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Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 – Nintendo Switch 2 [Code in box]

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Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 – Nintendo Switch

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Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 for PS5, Switch, and Switch 2 has dropped to the lowest price I’ve seen. For just $24.99, you can get this remake of the 2001 and 2002 games for the latest consoles. In our Pro Skater 3 + 4 review, Luke Reilly found that it “proves again the series’ over-the-top skateboarding formula is totally timeless and remains suitable for all skill levels; simple at first blush, but extraordinarily sophisticated beneath the surface for those with the minerals (or the muscle memory) to push their combos to colossal levels.”

Jackery Explorer 240D 80,000mAh Power Bank for $102

If you’re in need of a super high capacity power bank that’s still pretty compact, check out this Jackery deal from AliExpress. Right now you can pick up the Jackery Explorer 240D power bank with a generous 80,000mAh 256Wh battery capacity for just $102.21 with free shipping after you apply coupon code: “18USAFFSS“. It’s sold by Jackery direct and ships from a local US warehouse. The exact same power station sells for $129 on Amazon.

Save $170 on a Dyson Bladeless Tower Fan

Dyson Cool AM07 Air Multiplier Bladeless Tower Fan

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Stay frosty this summer with this solid early Prime Day deal on the Dyson Cool AM07 Air Multiplier Bladeless Tower Fan. Prime members can enjoy $170 off, its lowest price ever. Unlike traditional fans with a blade, Dyson’s amplifies the surrounding air for an uninterrupted stream of smooth airflow, oscillating at a 70 ° angle​. With it, you get 10 airflow settings to keep cool and a handy sleep timer. All of that can be controlled using the included remote from anywhere in the room.

Get an Apple Watch Ultra for $255

Apple Watch Ultra

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A grade-A refurbished Apple Watch Ultra is only $254.99 on the Amazon-owned Woot, and it even includes a 1-year warranty. A similar refurbished Ultra model on Amazon with only a 90-day warranty is going for $300, so this is the best deal going. The Ultra is the top Apple Watch model for adventurers and athletes, thanks to its durability, precise GPS, longer battery life, and impressive lineup of activity-specific features and apps. With a 49mm titanium case and sapphire crystal face, its body is more rugged than what’s found on other Apple watches. The Apple Watch Ultra will have no problem keeping up with you this summer.

DJI Osmo Action 4 4K Camera Essentials Bundle for $169

DJI Osmo Action 4 4K/120fps Video Camera Essential Combo

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Want to capture all your summer adventures in 4K? The DJI Osmo Action 4 4K Camera Essential Bundle is only $169 right now. It’s a fraction of the price of the GoPro Hero 13 Black but with all the functionality. This compact, durable camera records in 4K at up to 120fps using a f/2.8 aperture with a wide 155-degree FOV and a good-sized 1/1.3″ sensor for solid low light performance. “Rock Steady 3.0” also helps to keep the video smooth, while the 1,770mAh “Extreme” battery should last up to 150 minutes.

GTPLAYER Big and Tall Gaming Chair for Less Than $160

GTPLAYER Big and Tall Gaming Chair

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Maybe you or your dad would like a seat just short of a throne for PC gaming and office work? Well, GTPLAYER’s chair offers a wide 21.26″ seat base, tall 31.5″ seat back, and 400-pound capacity, making it an ideal big and tall gaming chair. With its wingback design, built-in lumbar support, integrated footrest, and 150° recline, you’ll be ultra comfy whether you’re working, gaming, or just relaxing. Right now, you can get it for just $159.29 with free shipping when you apply the code “ZMC9YCPG”. Now, this discount is with a third-party seller on Amazon, so if you’d rather get it directly from Amazon, the chair is also available for $169.99 in a lightning deal.

62% Off the ThermoMaven X2 Wireless Meat Thermometer

ThermoMaven X2 Wireless Meat Thermometer

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Give the grill master a gift they want for Father’s Day: a meat thermometer from ThermoMaven. I actually bought my dad an X2 Wireless Meat Thermometer for his birthday last month (at his request). It’s super cool, featuring two stainless steel meat probes with NIST-certified temperature sensors for consistently accurate readings. These wireless probes transmit that data using sub-1 GHz WiFi technology up to 3,000 ft, allowing you to read it on the base station’s display almost anywhere in your house. Right now, you can score the ThermoMaven X2 Wireless Meat Thermometer for just $39.99, thanks to the 62% off coupon code “D7NFPHB5”. I’m annoyed that I paid way more.

Get a Free $15 Promo Gift Card with a $100 Newegg Gift Card

Get a $15 promotional gift card

Newegg $100 Gift Card (Email Delivery)

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You can never go wrong with a gift card, so if you’re looking to buy something for the father who loves to tinker with PCs, a Newegg eGift Card is perfect. Today, when you buy a $100 gift card, you get a $15 promo gift card. Both will arrive in your email shortly after purchase, and in plenty of time for Father’s Day on Sunday. With it, you can buy a whole range of PC gaming essentials and a lot more.

BowFlex 552 SelectTech Dumbbells Hit Low Price

BowFlex Results Series SelectTech 552 Dumbbell Pair

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Need something for the fitness-loving father in your life? The BowFlex 552 SelectTech Dumbbells are down to their lowest price ever on Amazon. A pair is only $328, but the deal is exclusively for Prime members. That’s an incredible discount on these versatile dumbbells, which can be adjusted from 5 and 52.5 pounds by just turning a dial. Not only is the set well-built and ergonomically designed, but it also saves tons of space by replacing all your separate weights.

LEGO NASA Artemis Space Launch System Hits Low

LEGO Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System Rocket – 42221

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The LEGO Technic NASA Artemis Space Launch System is down to its lowest price yet. It’s a great set for both kids and adults alike who love all things space. This recreation of the rocket that launched astronauts to the moon earlier this year features 632 pieces and even includes 4 astronaut nanofigures. There’s also a crank for separating the rocket in 3 different stages.

That’s not the only LEGO set discounted; Target is having a LEGO sale ahead of Amazon’s Prime Day next week. Check out those deals below:

Hoto 24-in-1 Compact Screwdriver Kit for $11

Hoto 24-in-1 Mini Screwdriver Set

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For the dads who love fiddling around with electronics and little projects, this budget mini screwdriver kit should be right up their alley. The Hoto 24-in-1 Mini Screwdriver Set comes in three different colors and costs just $10.99 after applying the coupon code “OG84OPDY” at checkout. In the kit, you get 12 double-ended magnetic bits, including universal and more specialized tips, which all stow away into the screw driver’s body. Even with all those bits, it measures just 5 inches long and weighs around 2 ounces, making it a great addition to any toolbox.

$135 Off Complete Calvin and Hobbes Hardcover Box Set

The Complete Calvin and Hobbes

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The Complete Calvin and Hobbes is a hardcover box set that collects the classic comic strip in three volumes. Not only does it include all the comics spanning the series’ 10-year run from 1985 to 1995, but it also includes an intro from author Bill Watterson. Right now, you can grab the set for just $89.48 when you clip the coupon on the product page, saving $135 off the list price. Fans young and old will love diving into the magical adventures of this duo.

15% Off Xbox Gift Cards

$100 Xbox Gift Card (Email Delivery)

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Target is offering 15% off Xbox eGift Cards. You can score this deal on $15, $25, $50, and $100 gift cards, which will arrive in your email within a few hours of purchase. The card can then be transferred to someone else if you’d like to send it as a gift. After adding it to your Microsoft account, you can use it to purchase games, apps, DLC, hardware, subscriptions, and more from the Microsoft Store, Windows, and Xbox. If you’re already looking to purchase a few things, it’s a great way to save.

Buy 2, Get 1 Free Book and Music Sale

Buy 2, Get 1 Free Books and Music

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Amazon has brought back its buy 2, get 1 free music and book sale ahead of Father’s Day this weekend and Prime Day next week. All you need to do is add three qualifying items to your cart, and the lowest-priced item will be discounted. It’s not exclusive to Prime members either. One particularly exciting inclusion in the sale is the Dungeon Crawler Carl Books. Every title in the series is included, and you can also pick up the graphic novel. This is an incredible LitRPG series and one of the few with an actual physical release. You can also get Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn books as part of the deal.

Save 67% on The Hobbit and The LOTR: Deluxe Pocket Boxed Set

The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings: Deluxe Pocket Boxed Set

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The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings: Deluxe Pocket Boxed Set is down to its lowest price in years for Prime members. For 24.92, you can pick up the 4-volume collection for nearly 70% off the list price. The Hobbit, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King are all leatherette-covered and measure just 4 1/4 inches by 5 7/8 inches. Plus, it includes a slipcase for storing.

3 for $33 4K Movies

3 for $33 4K Blu-ray Sale

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3 for $33 4K Blu-ray Sale

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Both Gruv and Amazon are offering ‘3 for $33’ 4K movies just in time for Father’s Day. To score this deal, all you need to do is add three qualifying films to your cart. The final discount will be reflected at checkout. That brings each film down to just $11. Below are a few highlights from Amazon’s sale, and Gruv has an even bigger selection of films to choose from.

Danielle is a Tech freelance writer based in Los Angeles who spends her free time creating videos and geeking out over music history.

Ahead of Prime Day, Dell is offering an Alienware 16X Aurora gaming laptop that’s loaded with an extremely generous amount of memory and storage for a reasonable cost, especially considering today’s outrageous RAM and SSD prices. This particular model features a GeForce RTX 5070 GPU, 64GB of RAM, and a 4TB SSD for $2,999.99 with free shipping after a massive $1,980 off discount. The 16X Aurora is one of the more premium laptops available featuring an aluminum body, high quality display, and current generation processor and graphics.

$2,000 Off This Loaded Alienware 16X Aurora Gaming Laptop

Alienware 16X Aurora Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX RTX 5070 Gaming Laptop (64GB/4TB)

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The 16X Aurora is the best Alienware laptop for most gamers

For 2025, Alienware replaced its venerable m16 laptop with two new models – the 16X and 16 Aurora. Of the two, the 16X Aurora is the model I would recommend for most gamers. It has a higher price tag but the upgrades more than make up for the relatively small price premium. Here’s a list of all of the improvements:

• Better display (2560×1600 240Hz G-Sync vs 2560×1600 120Hz)
• More powerful CPU (Intel Core Ultra HX series vs Intel Core H-series)
• Higher GPU TGP rating and thus better performance
• More premium materials (metal alloy lid and chassis vs lid only)
• RGB keyboard vs white-only backlighting
• Thunderbolt 4.0 port

Compared to other Alienware laptops, the 16X Aurora is designed to look less like a gamer’s laptop. It boasts a sleek, understated design with the absence of extraneous visual-only embellishments or unnecessary RGB lighting outside of the keyboard illumination. This is a solidly built machine with a metal (magnesium alloy) chassis and anodized aluminum lid and bottom shell. The keyboard deck is made out of a sturdy composite plastic so that your hands don’t get too hot or sweaty. Under the hood, the 16X Aurora packs a punch with powerful components and Cryo Chamber cooling.

It’s equipped with a Geforce RTX 5070 mobile GPU

The RTX 5070 performs about 5%-10% better than the RTX 4070 that it replaces. That’s not a very big generational improvement, but the RTX 5070 has the newer DLSS 4 technology with multi-frame generation, which widens the performance gap in games that support it. There are 16X Aurora laptop configurations equipped with RTX 5060 GPUs available, but I’d strongly recommending bumping up to the RTX 5070 to be able to play games comfortably on the display’s enhanced 2560×1600 resolution.

The 4TB SSD and 64GB of RAM are easily $1,000+ upgrades

On Amazon, a 4TB SSD starts at $450 and 64GB of RAM starts at $700. If you were to add these yourself, you’d be paying at least $1,150 for these upgrades. These prices are usually even higher when specc’ed into a prebuilt computer.

How to Follow IGN Deals Recommendations

The IGN Deals team has over 30 years of combined experience finding the best discounts and preorders available online. If you want the latest updates from our trusted team, here’s how to follow our coverage:

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn’t hunting for deals for other people at work, he’s hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

Wins and losses. Knockouts and submissions. These sensational headline-grabbers are essential to MMA, but they only make up one part of the bigger, brutal picture. The pieces that are arguably more important — the countless bloody knuckles, cuts, gashes, and bruises it took to reach that point — often get lost in all the pre- and post-fight commotion. Luckily, these unforgiving journeys full of sweat, sacrifice, and punishment are the stories EA Sports UFC 6 aims to deliver, and, man, does it do that well. With an impressive roster of legendary fighters and a handful of curated stories that captured my complete attention the minute I dove into them, I’ve found myself enjoying and appreciating the violent art of MMA more the longer I played, even if EA Vancouver’s latest creation has strayed further than ever from the sport’s reality.

No, I don’t mean how the fighters’ joints will occasionally bend in awkward ways during a fight (although that still cracks me up whenever I catch it). I’m talking about Flow State, the newest and most significant feature added since the series moved to the Frostbite engine in UFC 5. For the uninitiated, Flow State is a boost that, once activated, practically turns you into Bradley Cooper in Limitless. You know, that movie where he takes a pill to unlock 100% of his brain, making things easier and more predictable? It’s pretty much like that.

In UFC 6, though, it’s harder to trigger since you can’t simply choke down a sketchy tablet mid-match. Instead, filling your fighter’s meter depends on the perks they have equipped and the boost conditions each one has. For example, a grappler like Islam Makhachev will enter Flow State much faster by chaining together offensive submission moves than by unleashing a flurry of well-timed hooks and roundhouse kicks.

What we said about EA Sports UFC 5 (2023)

EA Sports UFC 5 is the best MMA game yet. Its next-gen presentation and refreshed mechanics are a dramatic improvement over previous games in the series, allowing for a more seamless and exciting recreation of the sport. The new damage system makes adjusting your strategy mid-fight more involved with plenty of risk-versus-reward decisions, making both offline and online modes all the more enjoyable and replayable. Career Mode has been fine tuned with welcome lifestyle improvements and a deeper story with Coach Davis. UFC 4 may have been the best MMA game mostly due to lack of competition, but UFC 5 stands a class above it, earning that title on its own merits as both an amazing sports simulation game and fighting game alike. – Tanner Smith, October 27, 2023

Score: 9

Read the full EA Sports UFC 5 review.

Look, I get that “flow” is a very real thing because I’ve repeatedly watched Anderson Silva dodging a hailstorm of punches like he’s Neo from The Matrix (Chris Weidman is Agent Smith in this scenario). But his instinct was born out of endless reps in the gym, and probably a bunch of behind-the-scenes knockouts, too. The flow in UFC 6 is the opposite; it’s manufactured and gimmicky. Out of place like a Street Fighter move dropped in the middle of the octagon’s bloody canvas. After getting so used to the straight-up, no frills fighting that all the previous games in the series were known for, it’s hard to take a feature like Flow State into account. I’m not even kidding, I always forget to activate it when my meter’s maxed out because it’s the last thing on my mind. I’d much rather focus on my hit-and-run fighting style, not losing my advantage on the ground game, and avoiding getting my face beaten to a bloody pulp, thank you.

It’s also a double-edged sword in online fights, whether that’s in full-rules Ranked, Stand & Bang, or Online Career. Even though you can use Flow State to push the advantage or turn the tide of battle in your favor, your opponent can just as easily do the same. As of launch, most PvP brawls have pretty much turned into a race where the person who fills their meter fastest wins. Or, at the very least, gains a big lead in the scorecard with it. Either way, Flow State is an obnoxious feature to keep track of when there are already so many things to juggle within the octagon.

Flow State feels out of place, like a Street Fighter move dropped into the octagon.“

Still, even something as unrealistic as Flow State can’t knock down UFC 6’s hard-hitting combat, which is otherwise as savage as ever. I’ll be honest; the revamped controls and button combinations had me reeling at first, as if I was on the receiving end of a Jon Jones elbow. But once I got used to it, my vision cleared and the wild haymakers I was throwing turned into a coherent string of jabs, uppercuts, and leg-buckling hits.

My return to familiarity only became more satisfying because each punch and kick that I dealt felt like it landed with even greater force than in UFC 5. The result of those blows — the dripping eyebrow gashes, flying sweat, and spittle — that decorates the canvas once both fighters collide and start exchanging vicious strikes also looks as vivid as ever. Even more than these moments of brutality, UFC 6 has greater physical realism, with the unexpected body contortions — those weird, jerky animations that come up when a limb flies towards an opponent — happening less during fights, which is great when that’s an issue I saw all too often in its predecessor.

Remember the Titans

Now, the Flow system does have its moments, especially in my favorite mode, Hall of Legends, which features three UFC greats in Max Holloway, Alex Pereira, and Zhang Weili. It’s where I’ve spent most of my time because everything in it, from the videos of each champion’s humble beginnings to the thrilling reenactments of their most iconic fights, is all so easy to get lost in. And it was one of these bouts — Holloway’s BMF title win against Justin Gaethje in 2024, to be exact — that helped Flow State shine, if only for a little bit. Of course, the most iconic part of that fight is the last 20 seconds, and I was able to recreate it with the help of Max’s Flow Boost, which has him actually point down at the canvas when it’s activated. You would not believe the noise I made when I saw and did that for the first time — like a caveman discovering fire. And no, my primitive side didn’t stop there; I made more of the same grunting sounds after playing through Weili’s and Pereira’s own curated experiences.

You would think that, having seen some of these scenes live, rewatching their digital reruns years later wouldn’t be as exciting. But they still are, at least for me, and I think they’ll only continue to retain that same electricity into the future, which is a big part of what makes UFC 6 particularly special. These interactive memories are all so expertly told and uniquely individual in the way they unfolded that experiencing them again and again (yes, I went through them multiple times) didn’t feel like a chore at all. And I hope that whenever the seventh installment does come out, EA Vancouver doesn’t just dispose of this mode and instead gives Hall of Legends the same care and attention it did here.

EA Sports UFC 6 Screenshots

Still, you’re probably wondering why this would be anyone’s idea of a favorite mode when there are a few other exciting ones to choose from. Well, reader, it’s because I’m a sucker for a good story, and it doesn’t get much better than immersing myself in the lore behind three legendary champions. Although the dedicated UFC Career story, called The Legacy, is a close second. That’s right, there are now two separate Career modes you can pick from: the former, which drops you straight into Dana White’s octagon, or the latter, where you star as Chris Carter, a relative no-name who starts from the bottom. Do I even have to tell you which one I was drawn to first?

Yes, as soon as I saw The Legacy, I pressed select faster than you could say “Chama”. Don’t worry; I won’t be spoiling much of the plot here because I would like everyone to experience it knowing as little as possible. But I will say I love how it immediately got me invested in the journey with a rivalry, a career derailment, and the promise of revenge. Sure, it may sound like the overused plot of a Rocky movie, but that stuff works; just ask Sylvester Stallone. There are so many more pre-fight events that demand your attention this time, too, which makes this mode both more entertaining and less repetitive than UFC 5’s.

The Career options are both more entertaining and less repetitive than UFC 5.“

If going through a rags-to-riches story isn’t your jam, you can always jump headfirst into the big leagues with the newly rebranded UFC Career mode (EA Vancouver added UFC at the beginning, if you didn’t notice). Although I wasn’t as invested without the standalone story to back it up, it’s still plenty of fun – not only due to the improvements I mentioned before, but also because Ken Shamrock and Randy Couture are finally included in the roster. At least now I don’t have to create them both from scratch just to start a modern career with them, even though it is hilarious to see a 62-year-old be called a newcomer by the commentators.

Overall, developer EA Vancouver’s decision to create a separate prologue tale from the UFC Career mode is ultimately what distinguishes UFC 6 most from its predecessor. Not only does it give you more options and a better onboarding experience, but it also doubles down on the overall pitch for this version: that every fighter has a story, a central concept I have seen consistently and resonated with the more I’ve played UFC 6.

The Gym-fluencer

Still, even decent stories have their shortcomings with parts that drag and feel unnecessary in the grand scheme of things. And this tale of MMA, which so far has had more highs than lows, has one such blemish called The Gym.

When I first heard about it, I thought it would be like MyTeam in NBA 2K or Ultimate Team in Madden. Unfortunately, it’s neither of those. Instead, it’s where you can recruit (collect?) a bunch of different fighters so you can train them…to earn cosmetics. Remember that thing I said earlier about straying further than ever from reality?

That’s right, training in this mode is purely for the sake of looking good — not in the “lift weights to get buff” way, but in the style of a vain influencer who does it just to get free stuff. Instead of Lululemon apparel, though, UFC 6’s The Gym grants fighter-specific rewards, like coins, backgrounds, multicolored fight kits, and belts. So, let’s say you train Max Holloway up to level 14, which seems to be the current cap for all fighters; at that point, you’ll have earned five different shorts, 500 coins, a background, a profile pic, and the biggest prize of all, a UFC Champion belt. See that, people? Hard work does pay off!

Again, it’s all just so unnecessary when the only point of training the fighters you collect in The Gym is to earn accessories that you probably won’t even notice once you’re in the octagon. I know I don’t, because I’m much too mesmerized by the bleeding cuts and blood spatters that practically turn the canvas into a brutalist Pollock painting. Sure, there’s beauty in the hundreds of punishing hours that fighters put in to eventually reach peak form and conditioning. But not when it’s minimized and turned into a sideshow for knick-knacks like this.

When it comes to remakes of popular games, it can be quite hard to tell when one project is going to make meaningful adjustments to capture what made the original special, or which will have aged poorly or are just being given cosmetic upgrades that don’t make a replay worth it. Based on my time playing through some revised missions in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, I’m feeling more confident that this second voyage on the high seas of the Caribbean will be the former. After playing through a few missions recently, I now have a better understanding of what to expect from this ambitious remake, which included narrative additions, new options for carrying out my assassinations, and other bits and baubles along the way that have increased my interest in replaying through Kenway’s epic tale of pillaging and unloading flintlocks into the chests of unsuspecting lawmen.

The missions I played took place during the early part of the story (specifically, during “Sequence 3”) as Edward is still settling into his new life as a sorta, kinda assassin and full-blown pirate captain. If you’ve played the original recently, you’ll recall the part where you tail Julien Du Casse’s Spanish galleon, before tracking him through a jungle to assassinate him. But this revised version had a variety of changes, some lesser and some greater, which did a pretty good job of showing off just how much work has been put into bringing this classic up to modern standards. These ranged from narrative additions, side quests, boss fight changes, and even the odd collectible to snap up along the way.

The biggest update came in the form of tweaks aimed at making the mission more open-ended. For example, the path you take through the jungle in this version is a more scenic route that leads you to a mansion instead of straight to the ship where your quarry hides. Here you can get up to new kinds of mischief, like an optional encounter with some captured pirates you can free to help serve as muscle (or just a distraction) in your pursuit of Du Casse. Doing so causes quite a commotion, as they arm themselves and make a run at their captors and take the fight to the beach where Du Casse’s ship is docked. You can join them in the fight, or use the distraction to slip past the guards and get aboard the galleon undetected more easily. This was only one small example on one short mission, but if it’s indicative of the added opportunities to approach quests in your own style and are allowed to get creative, as seemed to be the case when I played a handful of hours from a different part of the game last month, then that alone could sell me on spending several dozen more hours playing through this adventure in full.

If you’re like me and prefer stealth, you probably just want to slip in unnoticed and kill off good ol’ Du Casse without any fight at all – I did this during my playthrough as well and can confirm that it’s still a completely viable option.“

There were some other, mostly cosmetic changes to the mission that I noticed along the way too, like some new lines of dialogue and story bits from the guards at the mansion, a newly refurbished interior of the mansion itself, and even a collectible portrait of none other than Du Casse himself – which will be a helpful artifact to remember him by once you’ve gutted him like a fish and thrown his lifeless corpse into the salty waves. Small things like these are probably more along the lines of the standard stuff you’d maybe expect to find in a more traditional remake versus this seemingly extra-as-heck evolution that Ubisoft has planned for Black Flag, but it’s still nice to see little touches like this added alongside stuff like the modernized combat and massively upgraded graphics. Of course, we already know that it’s not just small added lines of dialogue they’ve got in store, since last week the developers shared with IGN one of the new cutscenes being added to flesh out Kenway’s story.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Screenshots

Another fairly big change to the Du Casse mission was the boss fight against Du Casse himself. There are a bunch of changes to this fight versus the original, including a proper boss fight health bar and a significantly longer battle against a now-beefy Du Casse versus the original’s wimpy version who goes down in a few hits. Du Casse also has some interesting tricks up his sleeve, as he whips out pistols and just starts blastin’ at you with reckless abandon – pretty much what you’d expect from an arms-dealing Templar who taught Kenway how to fire a gun in the first place! Though, if you’re like me and prefer stealth, you probably just want to slip in unnoticed and kill off good ol’ Du Casse without any fight at all – I did this during my playthrough as well and can confirm that it’s still a completely viable option, though it does mean you miss out on a pretty neat fight sequence.

One interesting note is that in the original, when you engage in this encounter against Du Casse, there’s nothing preventing you from just leaving in the middle of the fight to go catch your breath or continue exploring the island, but in this version the developers have disabled the ability to flee until the encounter is ended. It’s an interesting change, because it feels a bit weird to remove some of the freedom available in the original (removing freedom is a Templar thing, after all, and we’re assassins, dammit), but at the same time it’s a pretty small adjustment that mostly serves to up the challenge of the combat encounter and prevent the silly option to just goof around with the boss by taking off and coming back for no reason. To be honest, I doubt this change or others like it are likely to have any impact on my playthrough at all, but it does make me wonder what other things they’ve reined in as they’ve streamlined encounters and tightened up missions. Here’s hoping there aren’t any areas where they’ve made decisions like that which might take away some of the creativity and freedom offered in the original. If anything, I’d like to see them expand upon the options available to me, as they did with the Du Casse mansion examples.

Every time I’ve played Black Flag Resynced leading up to its launch, I’ve felt more heartened about this remake, and this time was certainly no exception. I look forward to diving even deeper into its deep, blue seas when it comes out next month.

Travis Northup is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @TieGuyTravis and read his games coverage here.

Update: These deals are now sold out.

For a limited time (possibly today only), Dell Outlet is offering a rare deal on a powerful gaming PC. You can currently pick up an Alienware Aurora RTX 5080 gaming PC for as low as $1,838 with free shipping. There are only a handful of times I’ve seen the Alienware RTX 5080 desktop computer drop below $2,000 this year. Note that this is a “like new (refurbished)” unit and comes with the same 1 year warranty as buying brand new. You better hurry because inventory is limited.

Alienware Aurora RTX 5080 Gaming PC From $1,838

Like new (refurbished) model with 1 year Dell / Alienware warranty

Alienware Aurora R16 Liquid-Cooled Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF RTX 5080 Gaming PC (16GB/1TB)

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Alienware Aurora R16 Air-Cooled Intel Core Ultra 7 265F RTX 5080 Gaming PC (16GB/1TB)

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First off, I’d recommend going with the $1,937 configuration if it’s available. For an extra $100, you get a slightly more powerful processor and better cooling. The processor upgrade is negligible, but the cooling upgrade isn’t. Compared to the air-cooled $1,838 model, the liquid-cooled $1,937 system offers a substantially better 240mm all-in-one liquid cooling that will be able to manage processor temps more efficiently. The extra fan also means you’ll get better ambient cooling.

Depending on which configuration you choose, you’re getting either an Intel Core Ultra 7 265F or 265KF CPU. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265F is a 20-core processor with a max turbo frequency of 5.3GHz. The 265KF features an unlocked multiplier for better overclocking overhead and a slightly higher 5.5GHz max turbo frequency. Both systems are equipped with a GeForce RTX 5080 GPU, 16GB of DDR5 RAM and 1TB SSD. The 1,000W 80Plus Platinum certified power supply gives you plenty of headroom for upgrades down the road.

The GeForce RTX 5080 GPU will run any game in 4K

Performance-wise, the RTX 5080 is no slouch. It’s one of the fastest cards on the market, bested only by the $2,000 RTX 5090 and the discontinued $1,600 RTX 4090. This is a phenomenal card for playing the latest, most demanding games in 4K resolution at high settings and ray tracing enabled. The recent DLSS 4.5 update has further optimized multi-frame gen and upscaling so you can push really high framerates even in 4K. More games are supporting this feature, including Doom: The Dark Ages, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Battlefield 6, Death Stranding 2, and Crimson Desert. Check out our Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 FE review for our hands-on impressions.

How to Follow IGN Deals Recommendations

The IGN Deals team has over 30 years of combined experience finding the best discounts and preorders available online. If you want the latest updates from our trusted team, here’s how to follow our coverage:

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn’t hunting for deals for other people at work, he’s hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

Soon, Magic players will be shuffling in the likes of Thanos, Reed Richards, and a host of other Marvel heroes and villains into their decks with the impending launch of the Marvel Superheroes set. Superheroes marks the second big release of the multi-year partnership between Wizards of the Coast and Marvel and marks a Galactus-sized jump in what’s on offer over last year’s Spider-Man product. I recently got to chat a bit with Dave Humpherys, the Design Lead for the latest set who’s also a former professional Magic player. We spoke about some of the unique challenges that came with designing the Marvel Superheroes Universes Beyond set (his first one as set lead), hear about some neat easter eggs that got worked into the set, and more.

Marvel Superheroes is a vastly different beast than Spider-Man, which was much more focused – both in terms of the characters offered and the scope in the greater Marvel Universe being contained to just New York. This new set expands to include galactic threats like Thanos and Galactus, but to answer the call, Avengers from across the comic’s history and beyond are here. Whittling down such a legacy to a set of 600-ish cards between all the products was a task in itself, and for Humpherys, tackling this as his first UB set proved different from what he was used to.

Magic: The Gathering — Marvel Super Heroes Pack Shots

“When I’m making a normal set like the ones we described, there might be some characters from our world guide and creative team that are like, ‘this is this character, this is what they do in the story, this is what you should focus on, but that’s not a lot of characters,” Humpherys explains. “There might be some sort of reference, but even that’s pretty open-ended on what I’m trying to capture. So for these, normally I design a card, and often a lot of the cards are very mechanical. If I want a card that lets you draw two cards, or one that works with non-creature spells or whatever, and then the creative team will be like, ‘Oh, that’s a cool design, now I’m going to design a concept to go with it.’ For this [Universes Beyond], largely Mark and the creative team, say, ‘These are all the cards you’ll make, these are the card names, design the cards that work with them.’ So yeah, a very different set of challenges.”

It’s easy to see the care and creativity that the team has put into Marvel Superheroes.“

Even with those challenges, it’s easy to see the care and creativity that the team has put into Marvel Superheroes. The set features cards like “Quicksilver, Brash Blur,” which channels the speedy mutant by giving him a leyline-esque ability, allowing him to begin the game on the battlefield if he is in your opening hand, or “Thanos, the Mad Titan,” being able to blow up creatures across the field with just a snap of his fingers. And by “snap of fingers,” I mean for each of the five colors of mana, plus a colorless, giving off Infinity Gauntlet vibes. Perhaps my favorite of these little nods is with the “Super-Skrull” card. Being one of the Fantastic Four’s most powerful foes, this Black card has four unique mana abilities, one for each of the other colors, and each based on the powers of the fantastic family. With White, he can create 0/4 defensive wall tokens, Green pumps him up +4/+4, Red lets him burn creatures for 4 damage, and lastly, with Blue, he lets you reach into your deck and draw 4 cards. Everything is four! Pretty damn clever.

Marvel Super Heroes TCG: Universes Beyond

Great care has also been taken in developing mechanics and themes for the ten main color pairs of cards in Marvel Superheroes that make sense both in line with what longtime players expect from established MTG pair behaviors and in correlation with the comics. Humpherys lays out his process: “I sort of tried to internalize and develop pretty much all of these color pairs. We’re like, if white and blue come together, what does that look like? It’s about, like, teamwork, one of the new mechanics, which is when you cast an instance or sorcery with ‘Teamwork’, you can tap creatures with a combined power indicated after the Teamwork mechanic number. You can make your instance and sorceries more powerful. A lot of that’s trying to show heroes and villains working together. More than the sum of their parts, you get synergy between them, showing that they’re teaming up and doing stuff together.”

One thing I have been particularly curious about is the upcoming change to Magic Arena. A massive pivot, while not specifically tied to this new set, is that Marvel cards can now be included in Wizards’ digital Magic Arena client. Previously, cards could not feature Marvel characters, giving birth to the “Through the Omen Paths” line, which replaced names and images for mechanically identical non-Marvel variants. At least with these properties, that will no longer be the case, with all your favorite characters showing up in Arena going forward and retroactively allowing the Spider-friends to as well. Asking Humpherys about this change, whether it was in the works when Spider-Man released, and the timing just didn’t work out, or if matters changed after its release, Dave, in a very neutral tone, simply said he couldn’t say anything about it, just that he is really glad that Arena players get to use stuff from Marvel.

Marvel Superheroes looks to be a big improvement over the initial release of this massive collaboration, and after speaking with Dave, I’m more excited than ever to get my hands on some of these cards. For a more detailed breakdown of the set, Wizards of the Coast has posted a near-complete spoiler of all the cards on the site.

The Marvel Superheroes pre-release events begin on June 19th, with the set’s official launch a week later on June 26. Fans will be able to crack both play and collector boosters, but in an official blog post, Wizards unfortunately revealed that a number of the sets’ other products, including Bundles, Commander precons (both standard and collector varieties), Welcome Decks, and the Jumpstart Boosters, will be delayed.

Scott White is a freelance contributor to IGN, assisting with tabletop games and guide coverage. Follow him on X/Twitter or Bluesky.

Now, we know it’s not a lot to go on, but there’s a surprising amount of detail hidden within that newly revealed GTA 6 cover art. From fresh faces to interesting vehicles and locations, we’ve scoured each of those nine stylish panels to hunt down every secret and piece of information we can find. Join us as we explain every detail in the box art for Grand Theft Auto 6.

Every Detail in the GTA 6 Cover Art Explained

Helicopter

Just like the cover art for every Grand Theft Auto since GTA 3, the upper-left panel of GTA 6’s cover features a helicopter. This time it’s a Sea Sparrow, the amphibious helicopter that first appeared in the original Vice City and now frequents the skies of GTA Online. Hovering over the pastel-colored skyline of GTA 6’s new rendition of Vice City, this particular model is equipped with a mounted minigun, bolted onto the cockpit steps. It would be an odd thing for a utility helicopter to come armed with high RPM military hardware as standard, so it may well be that we can modify choppers with aftermarket add-ons, just like you can in GTA Online.

Jason & Lucia

Here we have our protagonists, Jason Duvall and Lucia Caminos. As stated on the Rockstar website, “Jason grew up around grifters and crooks. After a stint in the Army trying to shake off his troubled teens, he found himself in the Keys doing what he knows best, working for local drug runners.”

His girlfriend, and apparent partner in crime if the trailers are anything to go by, is Lucia. The Rockstar website explains that, “Fighting for her family landed her in the Leonida Penitentiary. Sheer luck got her out. Lucia’s learned her lesson — only smart moves from here.” She can be seen in this panel holding a pistol – short barrelled, vaguely similar to the SNS Pistol Mk II – which doesn’t necessarily seem like a smart move to me, but is pretty vital equipment for a GTA protagonist. In the background are the silhouetted palm trees that we’ve become accustomed to seeing in previous GTA 6 artwork.

Motorbike

This daredevil is pulling a wheelie on a vibrant sports motorcycle. The bike itself appears to be a Principe Alvino V1, a new model for GTA 6 that we first saw in a screenshot of Jason released in May 2025. But where Jason’s ride was green, this fella’s mounted on a mechanical stallion painted in synthwave-esque shades of pink and purple. The bike is also adorned with logos, the sort of livery that makes you wonder what level of Forza-rivalling customisation will be available at the local Vice City Customs shop.

Similar to the helicopter, this bike also sits in the very same panel that featured a motorbike on Vice City’s cover, which back in 2002 was a big deal since it was the first GTA to feature motorcycles.

Driving alongside the bike, lights flashing and sirens no doubt shrieking, is a Vapid Police Cruiser. This interceptor vehicle is among the most common law enforcement cars on the streets of GTA 5’s Los Santos, and so it’s unsurprising to see the police departments in Leonida include them in their fleet. It’s had a slight facelift since we last saw it – those front light clusters and lower vents appear slightly different to the ones that speed around interrupting Trevor, Michael, and Franklyn’s fun, but it’s the same bobby mobile you love to hate.

Mystery Woman

Here’s a character that we don’t think we’ve seen before. Replicating the original Vice City cover, we have a mystery woman in a bikini enjoying a drink. Like both her and the blonde woman seen on the cover of GTA 5, she may not actually play a part in the story. We’ll have to wait to find out if she’s a vital part of Jason and Lucia’s social circle.

What we can deduce, though, is that she’s a fan of the Leonida version of the Miami Dolphins NFL team, as the turquoise colour of the jersey she’s wearing is a very similar shade to its real-life counterpart. We know from the second trailer that they’re called the Vice City Manatees. She’s also sporting a tattoo on her side that reads “Vice Baby”, suggesting that she was born and raised in the area. Another hint towards this is the “305” tattoo on her wrist, which is the real-world area code for Miami. The chain around her neck says “Siempre”, which is Spanish for “always”. I have no clue if this hints at anything, but we’re committed to giving you every detail we can.

Elsewhere in the panel, we can see she’s been sipping on what looks like a parody of the hard seltzer drink, White Claw. We can’t see the full name of it, but the word “Thaw” is prominent, as is the can design that closely resembles the real drink. On the landscape version found on Rockstar’s website, behind her is The Atoll Bar and Grill, an establishment we’ve not seen before in any trailers or the original GTA Vice City. Has she just left here, or is she about to enter? Some mysteries may never be solved.

Alligator

Here’s one we didn’t expect to ever see adorn the cover of a Grand Theft Auto game – an alligator, complete with a giant toothy maw that you’d swear was smiling at the audience if it weren’t for the simple biological fact that no, alligators cannot smile, and do not even understand the concept of smiling.

This chomping reptile is, of course, given pride of place on the cover to represent the Grassrivers area of GTA 6’s gargantuan new map. Known as “the untameable jewel of Leonida’s crown”, these wetlands are home to far more deadly predators than ‘gators. Above you can see a previously released screenshot of some mud-caked hunters who sure do seem to love their guns and trophy kills. While the big game waiting in the Grassrivers is no doubt perfect fodder for Red Dead Redemption-style hunting missions, it seems like we’ll want to think twice before getting in the way of those looking to claim their own prized target.

Boobie Ike

Next up is Boobie Ike, a music producer and owner of the Jack of Hearts strip club featured in the trailers. An enterprising businessman, he also runs a recording studio with his business partner, Dre’Quan Priest, called Only Raw Records. In this image, we can clearly see a prominent gold ring on his finger, depicting a lion wearing a crown. Could this suggest that Ike sees himself as the King of Leonida?

The Rockstar website says that Boobie is “a local Vice City legend — and acts like it. One of the few to transform his time in the streets into a legitimate empire spanning real estate, a strip club, and a recording studio — Boobie’s all smiles until it’s time to talk business.” I think it’s fair to say we may well be working both with and against him over the course of GTA 6’s story.

Supercar

What’s a GTA cover without a ridiculously expensive motor? The bottom left panel is reserved for a glorious bright yellow supercar with scissor doors. This is almost certainly a brand new model from Pegassi, the GTA universe’s high-end Italian automotive company. We’ve actually seen this car before, with vibrant lime green paintwork, prowling the streets of Vice City in both the first and second GTA 6 trailers.

Very likely inspired by the Lamborghini Aventador, this Pegassi is likely the in-universe successor to the Infernus, which was based on the Aventador’s own predecessor, the Murciélago. It’s also another nod back to the original Vice City cover art, which featured a yellow Infernus, which was that game’s version of the classic 1980s Lamborghini Countach.

Raul Bautista

The final character with the honour of gracing the cover is Raul Bautista, a “seasoned bank robber always on the hunt for talent ready to take the risks that bring the biggest rewards,” as described on the Rockstar website.

He’s holding a Duke assault rifle. Interestingly, this is a weapons manufacturer from the Red Dead Redemption universe, and marks the first time a company from that universe has made its way into the HD universe of GTA games. We can see other Duke guns, including a revolver, two ARs, and a sniper rifle, across the two previous trailers.

He’s standing in front of the Sinfrontera National Bank, a natural habitat for a seasoned robber such as himself. It’s fair to assume we’ll be joining Raul on a mission to infiltrate this building, as Rockstar continues its legacy of daring heist missions. Incidentally, Sin Frontera in Spanish translates as “without borders”, and may well be based on the CNBFL (City National Bank of Florida), which operates with businesses between Chile and Spain.

Boat

In yet another nostalgic nod back to the original Vice City cover, we have a top-down view of a boat cruising through the Miami-like waters. Here, we see a group of people riding in a Clarion speedboat, the same brand of water vehicle that can be seen zooming past the cargo ship in the first trailer for GTA 6. We don’t yet have an official name for this specific model, as Clarion is a brand-new motorboat manufacturer for GTA 6, but it appears to have been inspired by the design of the real-world Cigarette Top Gun boat. Above them flies a flamingo, suggesting that they’re sailing near Leonida’s equivalent of the Everglades, the Grassrivers, as this is where the wading birds are typically found in Florida.

So, did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments. Also, give us any new theories you may have about GTA 6’s story based on these new images. And remember, for everything Grand Theft Auto, keep it locked to IGN.

Even More GTA 6 on IGN

Want to dig even further into Grand Theft Auto 6? Try reading these other IGN articles:

Matt Purslow is IGN’s Executive Editor of Features. Simon Cardy is a Senior Editor at IGN who can mainly be found skulking around open world games, indulging in Korean cinema, or despairing at the state of Tottenham Hotspur and the New York Jets. Follow him on Bluesky at @cardy.bsky.social.

A new report suggests Xbox layoffs will likely result in a “bloodbath” of job losses and studio closures, leaving developers “punished” simply for following Microsoft’s orders.

Word of Xbox staff redundancies and development studio shutdowns is now rife, following an ominous warning from newly-installed Xbox CEO Asha Sharma that the console maker’s slim profit margin was no longer sustainable. While it has been reported that Xbox studios such as South of Midnight maker Compulsion Games, Kiln and Keeper developer Double Fine, and Hellblade helmer Ninja Theory are just some of the teams now facing shutdown, the exact details remain unclear and unfinalized.

Microsoft is believed to be timing the layoffs with the end of its financial year on June 30, with talks ongoing among studio bosses over which companies could be sold off, spun out and kept open independently — even if this still results in numerous job losses. IGN has asked Microsoft for comment but has yet to receive a response.

The 100 Best Xbox Games of All Time

Now, in a new YouTube report from Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, the veteran reporter claimed that “the word bloodbath has been thrown around among people I talk to who know about what’s going to happen. It’s going to be bad.” Schreier’s report also delves into the background of why these layoffs are happening now, and suggests that Xbox teams have struggled to adapt as Microsoft’s attitudes to gaming and demands of its development teams have shifted over the years.

Long-term, Xbox never really recovered from the Xbox One era, Schreier argued. The Xbox Series X/S has failed to gain back ground in the console war against PlayStation, while the growth of Xbox Game Pass has plateaued. The past decade has seen Microsoft go on a spending spree to gain Game Pass content, buying the very studios that the company now seeks to shut down or divest.

Most notable was the $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, devised by former Xbox boss Phil Spencer during the tail end of the Covid-era gaming boom, but already looking less attractive by the time its lengthy buyout process closed due to the enormous costs involved and a changed economic and strategic landscape.

Every Video Game Franchise Xbox Owns After Acquiring Activision Blizzard

The past two years have seen the last of the Covid growth era evaporate, Roblox blow up as a major drain on player attention and spending, and AI became a major new focus for tech companies such as Microsoft. These issues all likely contributed to the need for Xbox to meet tougher financial targets from executives, resulting in pressure to cut costs.

“That’s when we see things start to get really bad,” Schreier said. “We see four mass layoffs in two years, the closure of studios under the Xbox umbrella like Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks, which wound up going to Krafton which saved that studio, and the cancellation of projects like Everwild, Perfect Dark, and Project Blackbird.”

This period was marked by political in-fighting at Xbox as different divisions and executives struggled to gain priority. This also resulted in it becoming far more difficult to get new gaming projects greenlit, and Xbox’s multiplatform push to boost profits that saw more games launch for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch.

“The last couple of years at Xbox have been quite messy, people start openly questioning Game Pass and saying it’s cannibalizing sales,” Schreier continued, referencing the hundreds of millions of dollars reportedly lost by putting Call of Duty in the subscription. “What might be good for the Game Pass folks may not be so good for the studios and revenue brought in for individual games.”

All of which brings us to 2026 — when Spencer departed, and Sharma was brought in to “reset” the business in his place.

While Kiln and South of Midnight may not have been big money-spinners, development studios such as Double Fine and Compulsion were simply doing what they had been told five years ago, Schreier said, when they were acquired and their projects were greenlit. Namely, that they were to make games to help fill out the Xbox Game Pass catalog and slowly keep growing its subscriber base, and that this would be enough.

Xbox Games Series Tier List

Xbox Games Series Tier List

“A lot of these studios made plenty of their own mistakes, but in a lot of ways they’re being punished today for following orders,” Schreier added. “For listening to what they were told a few years ago. And that is just a shame, and what is going to happen is pretty brutal. The word bloodbath has been thrown around among people I talk to who know about what’s going to be happen. It’s going to be bad.

“And one of the reasons Xbox studios have struggled to make great games over the past decade is this uncertainty,” he concluded. “It’s really hard to make great art when working under the fear of layoffs and turbulence and cancellations and shutdowns.”

This week, it was alleged that Microsoft announced Ninja Theory’s new game, Senua, knowing that it planned to shut the studio down because it believed the promise of a newly announced game would help draw investor interest in the developer. There is now concern that Senua may never come out.

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

With Amazon Prime Day just around the corner, early deals are already starting to appear ahead of the four-day event, which runs from June 23 through June 26.

If you’re looking to stock up on graphic novels before the sale officially begins, Amazon has quietly brought back one of its best book promotions, letting shoppers buy two eligible books and get a third free.

The offer covers a selection of DC Compact Comics editions, making it an easy way to build your collection without spending a fortune.

Buy 2 DC Compact Comics, Get 1 Free

Amazon’s latest “3 for 2” promo is refreshingly simple – here’s how it works: add any three eligible items to your basket, and the cheapest one will automatically be discounted at checkout.

Better still, the offer stacks, meaning you can pick up six books for the price of four, nine books for the price of six, and so on. If you’ve had a growing reading list sitting in your wishlist for months, this is one of the easiest ways to save ahead of Prime Day.

Tom King’s “Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow” is one of the standout picks, and down to just $7.90 right now. With the upcoming Supergirl film set to release on June 26, now is the perfect time to read the comic that inspired it. This is one of my favorite comics of all time, and means a lot to me. I highly recommend picking it up.

Batman fans are equally well served. Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s “Batman: The Court of Owls Saga” remains one of the defining modern Batman stories, while “Batman: The Long Halloween” continues to be essential reading thanks to its influence on multiple live-action adaptations.

Other highlights in the promotion include “All-Star Superman,” Grant Morrison’s celebrated take on the Man of Steel that heavily inspired James Gunn’s excellent Superman film, alongside classics like “Kingdom Come,” “Watchmen,” “Batman: Hush,” and “DCeased.”

One of the biggest advantages of the DC Compact Comics line is the format itself. These editions are smaller and more affordable than standard trade paperbacks, making them ideal for commuters, holidays, or anyone trying to save shelf space.

Whether you’re catching up on iconic Batman stories or diving into acclaimed Superman runs ahead of the next wave of DC movies, there’s plenty worth adding to your basket here.

Unlike many Prime Day offers, this early promotion isn’t exclusive to Prime members either, meaning anyone can take advantage of the deal before the main event begins next week.

These promotions are generally the best time to buy books, especially since other popular series are also include in the sale, such as Dungeon Crawler Carl, and Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn.

If you just want to read books and comics as cheaply as possible, I’d also recommend utilizing a Kindle Unlimited subscription as well. Amazon is currently offering three months of the service for free to Prime members, but for new subscribers only.

If audiobooks are more your thing, I’ve also got you covered. There’s an Audible promo that’s worth checking out going into Prime Day. New subscribers can get the Audible Standard plan for only $0.99/month for the first three months, which includes one book per month.

For DC fans, I’d recommend checking out the audio versions of “All Star Superman”, “Kingdom Come” – both of which are excellent adaptations.

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Robert Anderson is IGN’s Senior Commerce Editor and resident deals expert on games, collectibles, trading card games, and more. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Bluesky.

George Lucas wanted to chronicle the rise of Emperor Palpatine “like Hitler’s” as part of a scrapped Star Wars TV show.

Palpatine actor Ian McDiarmid has now discussed plans for the cancelled series, which he was told of directly by Lucas. The Star Wars creator pitched him the idea of featuring in the project — although, of course, it ultimately never made it into production.

“[George Lucas] was talking about, I think I can tell you now, a television series,” Ian McDiarmid told an audience at Spacecon 2026 (thanks, Popverse). At the time we didn’t think about Star Wars in terms of television series. Very speculative.

Ranking the Star Wars Movies From Worst to Best

“We had lunch one day, and he said ‘I’ve got this idea, and I hope you might want to be involved. We could sort of follow the Emperor’s progress, like Hitler’s, some of that. There might be an assassination attempt, and of course it wouldn’t succeed.’

“It sounded really exciting,” McDiarmid concluded. “And he also said that maybe you could direct one, and then I fainted. But sadly, that didn’t come to pass.”

While McDiarmid didn’t mention the planned series by name, it sounds a lot like this plan referred to Lucas’ long-gestating Star Wars Underworld project, which would have bridged the gap between Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope with at least 60 episodes of television. Lucas worked on the idea for years before ultimately selling the franchise’s rights to Disney, writing numerous scripts in the process that have never seen the light of day. Our only real glimpse at the show remains a brief leak of test footage for the series, which showed a gritty version of galactic captial city planet Coruscant.

Last year, Star Wars prequels producer Rick McCallum described the project’s loss as “one of the great disappointments of our lives,” though suggested it had always been doomed to failure by Lucas’ ambition, with individual episodes bigger in scope than Star Wars movies — something that would have seen costs spiralling to at least $40 million per episode using the technology available at the time.

Of course, Star Wars’ Disney-owned era has seen the saga spawn numerous new TV series, though spending has now been significantly curtailed following big budget flops such as The Acolyte and The Book of Boba Fett. Just one Star Wars series currently remains in production: the second and likely final season of Ahsoka, which is due to premiere next year.

On the movie front, The Mandalorian and Grogu has struggled at the box office, but Lucasfilm reportedly thinks next year’s Star Wars: Starfighter has a better chance of reviving the franchise.

Image credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images.

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

Granblue Fantasy: Relink introduced a brand new audience to the floating islands of Zegagrande and the adventuring Skyfarers of the Granblue Fantasy series back when it launched in 2024. Marking the first console RPG adventure for the primarily mobile gacha series, Relink let players pull off dazzling arrays of anime spectacle as they worked together either with their CPU-controlled party or with their friends to tackle quests and monsters. Now, we are mere weeks away from diving into the massive new expansion, Endless Ragnarok, and during SGF we had a chance to sit down and speak with the creative director, Tetsuya Fukuhara, and narrative director, Sanshiro Hidaka, but also get some hands-on time with the new expansion.

Some of the most jaw-dropping moments of Relink were when Granblu’s heroine, Lyria, would summon her big ol’ lizard pal, Bahamut, to let him do what dragons do best – rain fire/laser breath down on chumps. Lyria’s ability to summon Bahamut is a pretty big deal in the lore of the series, so it always bummed me out a bit that these moments were exceptionally rare in Relink. Serving more like set pieces than an actual system, imagine my surprise and delight when I saw that Summons was going to be a fleshed-out and powerful new mechanic in Endless Ragnarok.

Restricted to the expansion content and new chaos difficulty, these powerful allies are tied to a new bar that will fill as you fight. Depending on the strength of the summon, each will require one, two, or three bars of this new resource to call out onto the field. Instead of a lifebar, they have a timer and will stay out until that runs out. This fact makes summons not only a great offensive option but also a perfect option to absorb those particularly nasty Overdrive attacks that bosses in Relink like to bust out, since summons are invincible.

Multiplayer is a big part of Granblue Fantasy: Relink, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that summons can be used when you play with your friends too, and aren’t just a single-player-only treat.“

Multiplayer is a big part of Granblue Fantasy: Relink, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that summons can be used when you play with your friends too, and aren’t just a single-player-only treat. When playing online, each player comes with their own set of four summons, but only a single summon can be fielded at any given time. That said, while you and your friends may not all be able to terrorize the field as giant creatures of destruction, you will be able to string a chain of summons together. Each subsequent summon one of your party members calls forth will have its cost reduced by one, down to a minimum of one. This will incentivize players to bring out cheaper single or double cost summons first so the most powerful options can be brought out for cheap!

Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok | June 2026 Screenshots

On how summons came to be, Fukuhara-san shared that the system was a rather late addition in the expansion’s development and he wasn’t sure how the team would respond to the idea. “So, from the beginning, there was the wish to have everyone you meet as an option, but he was expecting that there would be pushback and that along with the staff would say, ‘Oh, we can only do half, we won’t be able to meet deadlines’, but instead the response was the vision as intended. So, it did require a lot of elbow grease, but everyone was having a lot of fun while they were doing it.”

Some summons have already been revealed in earlier trailers with Relink bosses, including Furycane and Nazarbonju, but the full number reaches past 100, with a mix of both imposing beasts, citizens, and some silly ones too. When asked for each of their favorite summons, both Fukuhara-san and Hidaka-san’s picks fell on that lighter side: “There’s like a crab rain summon where you just rain crabs on the field. And depending on how many of the Wee Snippers you have collected, the amount of crabs that rain down will actually increase,” Fukuhara-san tells us. Hidaka-san continues: “I really like the cat summon, where if you do it well, a lot of cats come out, and the more cats you have, the more power you have, much like in real life,” he laughs.

If the summons aren’t selling Endless Ragnarok for you, the expansion offers far more than just that. Alongside a new story and quests to uncover, players can test their mettle with the new Chaos difficulty, experiment with the Master Traits for improved character specialization and customization, or dive into Conflux, an intriguing roguelike mode. Crossplay support and various quality-of-life improvements and UI updates fill out the rest of the package, costing existing Relink players $29.99. Even with the small glimpse we’ve had, Endless Ragnarok looks to be packed surprisingly full for an expansion.

I can’t think of a single game that hasn’t been made better by the ability to summon giant creatures to fight for you, and it looks like Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok continues to prove that theory. Thankfully, veteran and prospective Skyfarers won’t have long to wait as Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok launches on July 9 and comes either as an upgrade for owners of the base game or together with it for $59.99 on PlayStation 4/5, Steam, and now Nintendo Switch 2.

Scott White is a freelance contributor to IGN, assisting with tabletop games and guide coverage. Follow him on X/Twitter or Bluesky.

Ecoflow, via its offical storefront on eBay, is offering a great deal on one of its most popular portable power stations. For a limited time, you can pick up a factory refurbished Ecoflow River 2 256Wh 300W LiFePO4 Power Station for just $99 shipped after you apply coupon code “EFSUMMER20“. This same power bank costs $189 new on Amazon. The River 2 is very compact for a power station, it’s equipped with safe and reliable LiFEPO4 batteries, and it can be monitored remotely.

Get an Ecoflow River 2 Power Station for Under $100

Ecoflow River 2 256Wh 300W LiFePO4 Power Station

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The Ecoflow River 2 is a 256Wh power station can be used as a small in-home portable backup during outages or a source of off-grid power to power your mobile electronics during your outdoor adventures It has two AC outlets capable of 300W each (600W surge), two USB Type-A ports, and one USB Type-C port. The River 2 can be recharged using traditional AC and it will only take about one hour. Alternatively, you can recharge it using solar panels with a 110W max input.

The 256Whr battery isn’t big enough to replace a generator, but it can still power mobile elecronics (including your laptop) for several hours to days. The River 2 uses the newer LiFePO4 cells instead of the traditional NCM sells you find in the original River. LiFePO4 cells have inherently safer chemistry and have a much higher cycle lifespan than NCM cells. They also have lower calendar aging. The River 2 also weighs only 7 pounds so you won’t think twice about lugging it out.

Although the River 2 isn’t intended to act as a UPS for your electronics, it does have an EPS function that will automatically swap to battery power when there is a power outage. The shutoff delay is less than 30ms, which is small enough for even sensitive electronics like PCs to remain on the entire time. However you will have to manually switch it back to AC power when the power returns. A dedicated UPS with a replaceable battery is better, but the River 2 will work in a pinch.

The River 2 also features smart functionality with wireless connectivity. You can connect your phone to the power station via a mobile app, which will allow you to check on its status, download updates, and even power on or off outlets remotely. Ecoflow generally has good product support and consistently rolls out new firmware and software updates.

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Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn’t hunting for deals for other people at work, he’s hunting for deals for himself during his free time.