Today’s highlights go beyond the usual tech stack. We’ve got a mix of smart accessories, serious surge protection, and some big hits for gamers and movie collectors. From a sharp new Switch 2 case to a killer VR bundle and a beautifully over-the-top Borderlands replica, these picks are for anyone looking to upgrade their space or their shelf.

TL;DR: Deals For Today

There's a shedload of variety today, including a limited-edition 4K release for horror fans, one of the best value power strips under ten bucks, and a VR bundle packed with titles that rarely go on sale. Each one is an easy buy if you’re into gaming gear, or making sure your setup looks and runs the way it should.

28 Years Later 4K Steelbook

The Witcher Boxed Set

ProCase Protective Case for Nintendo Switch 2

Power Strip Surge Protector, 5FT

Hanycony Surge Protector Power Strip

6 Months Free Amazon Prime For Young Adults

Borderlands Psycho Bandit Art Mask

The Upload VR Showcase Bundle

The 40-Year-Old Virgin - Limited Edition Steelbook

FrSara Neck Fan

Dreamegg Portable White Noise Machine

Amazon Prime Day Is Coming

Assassin's Creed: Shadows Limited Edition (PS5)

3 Months for $0.99 Audible Deal

3 Months Free Kindle Unlimited

Prismatic Evolutions Super-Premium Collection

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Noise Cancelling Headphones

Roborock Q Revo Robot Vacuum and Mop

Dyson V11 Torque Drive+ Vacuum Cleaner

Coke Zero Sugar 12 Pack

George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones 5-Book Boxed Set

Humble Choice

Symphonic Journeys Pokémon Red & Blue Vinyl

M3GAN 2.0 - Limited Edition Steelbook (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital)

WOWBOX 32 PCS Clear Plastic Drawer Organizer Set

Tunise Rechargeable Portable Neck Fan

The Silmarillion Deluxe Illustrated by the Author

Pokémon TCG Price Comparison

Some of the pricing here by Amazon is insane, but there's some deals to be had when comparing these products to TCG Player. For example, Prismatic Evolutions Super-Premium Collection was a massive 56% below market value, but TCG Player is coming in cheaper now at $195. On the other end of the scale, TCG Player has Cynthia’s Garchomp ex Premium Collection at a massive 48% below Amazon's current price, which is very close to MSRP. I've compared all the prices in the carousel above, but another pro tip is clicking through to eBay to see if there's any new bargains to be had.

This Weeks Pokémon Card Crashers and Climbers

I’ve been keeping a close eye on the Pokémon TCG market this month, and we’re seeing two very different stories unfold. On one side, Surging Sparks cards are going through a steep correction.

On the other hand, Crown Zenith cards are showing early signs of what could be a long-term value surge. The bottom line? If you're a collector or investor, now is the time to buy into both.

I’m picking up what I can from both sets. The current dip in Sparks is a glimmer of hope for long-suffering 2024-2025 collectors. And Crown Zenith is a train I want to be on before it leaves the station.

Pokémon TCG Classic

The Sam's Club Pokémon TCG Classic deal is back, and it's massively undercutting other big box retailers and the secondary market. Just for comparrison, the top four cards from this set, Charizard, Blastoise, Venusaur and Mewtwo, are worth the same price as this discounted offer. This deal is well worth it and should be snapped up as soon as possible.

Mega Evolution Pokémon Cards Are Climbing

I can't believe the X Y era of Pokémon cards came out 12 years ago, but it was an amazing era for the TCG introducing the Mega Evolution mechanic. Mega's will be returning later this year with the start of the Mega Evolutions era and the end of Scarlet and Violet, so snapping up these top Mega cards before prices go even higher is a wise move. We know how it'll play out, no one will be able to grab the new sets at launch, then the nostalgia will kick in and these cards will skyrocket. Just the Charizards and Rayquazzas alone are worth a look.

Magic: The Gathering Price Comparison

MTG doesn't seem to be struggling to keep up with demand despite it being one of the biggest trading card games on earth, but that doesn't stop big box retailers getting cheeky when they notice a peak in demand. Like with Pokémon TCG, i've gone through the majority of MTG stock on Amazon and compared their pricing to market values on TCG Player. The Theros Beyond Death booster made me spit out my tea. Amazon is listing a single booster for $378.08, but these can be picked up any day of the week for $5.59 on TCG Player. Go figure. Another big difference is Marvel's Spider-Man - Play Booster Box. Amazon has their preorder price guarantee on this, but it's still 17% cheaper to preorder on TCG Player.

This Weeks MTG Crashers and Climbers

As we covered in our recent synergies feature, Harmonic Prodigy gives double Wizard triggers – nice! That means it's gone up by 118.70% in the past month (246.76% in three) – not so nice!

That's good for those that own the card, not so good for those who are looking to pick it up standalone. Still, market is still just $12.75 right now, so it could be a lot worse.

Moving away from Vivi, Tifa’s getting some love from Bristly Bill, Spine Sower. This Outlaws of Thunder Junction card can help power up our martial artist heroine, but at a cost of almost $40 now.

Another nifty synergy that's climbing is Perch Protection. This Instant has climbed from a dollar to almost $6, since it handily ties into Chocobo decks.

WAOAW Sleep Mask w/ 3D Eye Cups & Adjustable Strap (Black)

There’s no doubting Hideo Kojima’s devotion to the art of video games. But one question that has followed the Metal Gear master around for much of his career is “Why doesn’t he just make a movie?”. This sentiment no doubt stems from the perception that his work at both Konami and Kojima Productions has been cutscene-heavy, opting to tell stories through often-thrillingly orchestrated cinematics rather than organic gameplay design. But is this perceived notion a reality? And, more importantly, does it even matter?

Well, I’ve done some number crunching and worked out what portion of each of the mainline Metal Gear Solid games, plus the duo of Death Strandings, is cutscenes. In some cases, it’s what you’d expect. In others, not so much…

How much of each Kojima game is cutscenes?

To work out just how much of each game is cutscene, I’ve used the average time to complete a main story playthrough, sourced from How Long to Beat’s data. I’ve then taken the total runtime of each game’s cutscenes and used it to assess what percentage that runtime is of the average playthrough. The results are:

• Metal Gear Solid: 20.29% (11hr, 30m average playthrough, 2hr 20m of cutscenes)
• Metal Gear Solid 2: 23.21% (13hr average playthrough, 3hr 1m of cutscenes)
• Metal Gear Solid 3: 26.35% (16hr average playthrough, 4hr 13m of cutscenes)
• Metal Gear Solid 4: 40.63% (18hr 30m average playthrough, 7hr 31m of cutscenes)
• Metal Gear Solid 5: 8.13% (45hr 30m average playthrough, 3hr 42m of cutscenes)
• Death Stranding: 15.75% (40hr 30m average playthrough, 6hr 22m of cutscenes)
• Death Stranding 2: 15.97% (37hr 40m average playthrough*, 6hr 1m of cutscenes)

It is important to note that this percentage relates to cinematic cutscenes only. Codec calls or other such in-game conversations are not included, as they require some player interactivity to progress.

*average playthrough based on data from multiple IGN editors.

What do those percentages reveal about Kojima’s career?

It turns out that the original three Metal Gear Solid games follow a similar trend – cutscenes make up around 20-ish percent of the overall playtime, with each subsequent entry gradually contributing to a very slight upward trajectory. It’s with Metal Gear Solid 4 that things really shift. With 40% of it being cinematics, it’s not too far from the truth to say Guns of the Patriots is half cutscenes. Understandably, the game has become the poster child for Kojima’s cinematic indulgence, something only emphasised by length – the story famously crescendoes in a 71 minute-long final cinematic. That’s just 10 minutes shorter than the 1995 animated film Toy Story.

The same can’t be said for Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, however. A game with a troubled development path to say the least, it suffers from the exact opposite issue as MGS 4: a paper-thin story. With just under 4 hours of cutscenes in 45 hours of gameplay, it’s a starkly low ratio by comparison to its predecessors. MGS 5 is undoubtedly one of the greatest stealth games ever made from a mechanical perspective, but its lack of narrative throughline (and, to be honest, ending) prevents it from feeling like a full Kojima package.

And then we have the Death Stranding games, which feature runtimes akin to The Phantom Pain, but a cutscene percentage closer to that of the first Metal Gear Solid. The result is a duology of games that feel more narratively complete than MGS 5, but not as trapped by cinematic ambition as Kojima’s more indulgent projects.

A developer who worked on Microsoft's now-cancelled Perfect Dark reboot has addressed the claim that last year's gameplay demo was "fake," and said the glimpse was a vertical slice of the project running "in-engine."

Perfect Dark was one of several projects canned by Microsoft this week as part of the company's latest devastating cuts to Xbox staff and games. Developed by The Initiative, a studio Microsoft is now shutting down, alongside Tomb Raider studio Crystal Dynamics, Perfect Dark had rarely been glimpsed since its initial announcement back in 2020.

That all changed last year when a "gameplay reveal" video aired as part of the Xbox Games Showcase in June 2024. And it's this video that has since sparked questions over how much of what it shows corresponds to actual, working game systems.

Earlier this week, Kotaku writer Ethan Gach posted on social media that he had been told last year's demo had been "basically fake." The question of the gameplay demo's legitimacy was discussed in more detail by former Perfect Dark developer Adam McDonald, who now works as a senior game designer at Cuphead maker Studio MDHR.

"It is actually in-engine," McDonald said. "I was one of three level designers that worked on it. It worked best if you played it the way the person playing in the video plays it, but it still worked even if you didn't hit the marks perfectly.

"There's some fake stuff in it," he continued, "and the real gameplay systems shown off worked juuust enough to look good in this video. We were rapidly making real design decisions so as to not knowingly lie to players about what the game will be. The parkour is all real, the hacking/deception is mostly real.

"The combat is 'real' in that someone had to really do all that stuff in the video, but it's set up to be played exactly that way and didn't play well if you played it a different way."

What McDonald is saying then, is that there's nuance here. Like many vertical slices meant to showcase a project that's still in development, it was made to work just enough, and to give a sense of how the final game would have appeared, had the project survived until launch.

McDonald's suggestion here seems to be that the team behind it intended to show something that gave as accurate a sense of what Perfect Dark would be as was possible. That said, some elements clearly still sound like they were a work-in-progress, even if they were meant to be representative.

"I'm seeing big controversy over 'THIS WHOLE THING WAS FAKE' and it's annoying me, so I wanted to say something," McDonald concluded. Then, in a reply to another user, McDonald said "it was a pretty typical vertical slice" and "I don't think we were particularly deceptive with it."

He added: "It's probably more real than you think. We were figuring stuff out on the fly in time to include it in the demo, doing our best not to 'lie' to players. There's some fakery but quite a lot of it was legit."

After the cancellation of Perfect Dark, Rare's long-awaited Everwild, an MMO from Bethesda's The Older Scrolls Online team and cuts to other projects, it's believed that every game featured at the Xbox Games Showcase presentation in June this year will continue on. But what about the others? We've tracked down every major upcoming Xbox game we know about to check in on their status.

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

The Stop Killing Games initiative has reached the crucial 1 million signatures milestone in its quest to preserve video games for decades to come, but its fight isn’t over yet.

The self-described consumer movement soared past the goal yesterday, July 3, cementing its status as an impressive petition in gaming history and a movement that has plenty of gas left in the tank. It’s all in the name of protecting the video games players love – and even the ones they don’t – as the industry steadily marches toward a digital future.

A lot of games we buy today are built to just stop working when the publisher pulls the plug on em. It needs to stop. If you are EU citizen please consider signing #stopkillinggames initiative. https://t.co/vlyIEXcpnh pic.twitter.com/nsTusFyGrL

— Pat_ (@Pat8_8) July 2, 2025

Social media feeds have since filled with reactions from supporters praising an operation that could help save multiplayer and single-player games for future generations. While gamers take to the internet to celebrate, spokesperson and organizer Ross Scott says reaching 1 million signatures is good news but far from a victory.

“OK, the breaking news: The European Citizens’ Initiative has crossed 1 million signatures – except it hasn’t,” Scott said in a video update uploaded yesterday. “This is going to kill morale, but there are two things going on here. The first we knew was coming. Every time somebody makes a mistake when they sign the Initiative, their signature gets invalidated. So that means we need more signatures to make up for everybody’s mistakes.”

It's an important variable in the equation on the road to 1 million legitimate Stop Killing Games endorsements, and it’s just one flaw to consider. The other involves reports Scott has received regarding fabricated signatures that could be artificially inflating the initiative’s progress.

“First off, I want to say that this is not a Change.org petition,” Scott adds. “This is a government process. Spoofing signatures on it is a crime. Please do not do this. They’ll be checked later by the EU commission, and my guess is the fake ones will get turned over to the Europol or Interpol, and they’ll follow up on this.”

To anyone who made a mistake or isn't sure if they signed the EU initiative already, you can contact the official spokesperson (Daniel Ondruska) and he can direct you on how to reach the EU to sort it out. His contact is on the page under "more info"https://t.co/EpnNTDR85U

— Accursed Farms (@accursedfarms) July 4, 2025

To account for what could be a significant number of invalid Stop Killing Games signatures, the initiative has altered its ideal goal to be 1.4 million signatures. At the time of this story’s publication, Stop Killing Games has reached 1.07 million endorsements ahead of its July 31 end date.

“So, yeah, that sucks,” Scott continued. “We’ll just keep plodding away unless we can figure out what the safe numbers are. Sorry this isn’t a big victory celebration. This is just kind of suspenseful and tense instead, and will probably hurt the morale of people signing.”

Save States

Scott, who has created gaming content via his Accursed Farms YouTube channel for more than a decade, launched Stop Killing Games in April 2024 as a direct response to Ubisoft’s decision to shut down its popular open-world racing game, The Crew. The movement aims to create a ripple effect that could shake the industry into keeping games online long after players lose interest.

It means everything from The Crew to Concord could theoretically remain online to enjoy should the initiative amass enough public complaints to see the European Commission pass a law protecting consumer rights. Ideally, players could see live-service and multiplayer titles like BioWare’s Anthem, which was given a shutdown schedule just yesterday, could continue on in some form should a publisher decide to sunset support. Success could also mean single-player games that rely on online components, such as Death Stranding or Dark Souls, could remain intact, too.

WEAK

I know Anthem got panned, but it's another example of one that seems like it had a cool looking world to run around in. I was interested in trying it out and keeping my expectations low. Yet another example of why SKG is so needed.https://t.co/fDsq0ZsP8K

— Accursed Farms (@accursedfarms) July 3, 2025

Stop Killing Games wants to save the art that developers pour their hearts into while protecting consumers who prefer to access games they’ve already paid for, and it’s a movement that hundreds of thousands of game players are already supporting. Following its promising launch last year, however, the initiative struggled to maintain the support it needed to push its way through to the eyes that needed to see it.

Stop Killing Games’ chances at a successful campaign became so dire that Scott went as far as to publish a video titled “The end of Stop Killing Games” just last week. In the hour-long explainer piece, Scott listed a lack of exposure as one primary cause behind the lack of support. It was the Hail Mary the initiative needed, though, as prominent YouTubers like Jacksepticeye, penquinz0/Cr1TiKaL, Ludwig, and more were quick to voice their support with their own videos.

All within the weeks since Scott shared his concerns, Stop Killing Games has gained hundreds of thousands of signatures, resulting in a solid chunk of the more than 1 million names attached to the movement today. Success remains uncertain even if Scott is able to reach that magic 1.4 million number, with even more uncertainty lying on the other side of that goal post. Still, as outlined by Scott on the Stop Killing Games website, he feels optimistic about the future of game preservation if the signature goal is met.

"If we can pass the signature threshold," Scott says, "there is a very strong chance that the European Commission will pass new law that will both protect consumer rights to retain video games that customers have purchased and advance preservation efforts massively."

Should the word get out to enough interested individuals, players could see somewhat of a return to the days when buying a game came with the assurance that it would remain playable regardless of post-launch interference. We’ll have all of the updates here at IGN, but in the meantime, you can read up on our coverage of Stop Killing Games' launch here. You can also check out the other goals Stop Killing Games has managed to achieve in the past year. You can also learn about how digital PC storefront GOG is doing its part when it comes to game preservation.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor 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).

With Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2’s Siege Mode in full swing, players are soldiering through waves of Thousand Sons and Tyranid forces as they bid to reach the highest level possible. But apart from frustrating connection issues and bugs that prevent progress, some players have a bigger problem: Chaos.

Siege Mode forces players to fight against waves of enemies from Space Marine 2’s two enemy factions: the Thousand Sons traitor legion, and the terrifying bug-like alien menace that is the Tyranids. There is no way to play against one faction only. Tyranid and Chaos waves will come separately.

That’s a problem for some Space Marine 2 players who feel like fighting the Tyranids is a lot more fun than playing against Chaos. A lot of this has to do with the different challenge each faction presents. The Tyranids are a swarm-type enemy type that packs the screen with a mix of smaller foes and much bigger, harder-hitting foes. There’s a bloody minded pleasure that comes from chewing through scores of Tyranid enemies as a Space Marine, sweeping your Power Sword through xenos flesh, parrying a strike that gives you a clean response, and — my personal favorite — punching those Tyranids in the face with my Power Fist.

In contrast, the Thousand Sons present a more measured challenge. You are, after all, going up against fellow Space Marines here and their daemonic forces; they’re supposed to be tough. When those Terminators spawn and spam their missile barrage, playing against Chaos can feel like pulling teeth. The Thousand Sons are less of a 'switch your brain off and cleave through it' proposition, and more of a, 'if Space Marine 2 wanted to be a bit like Elden Ring, it would probably go a little like this.'

The effect is more pronounced the harder the difficulty you play Space Marine 2. At the easier difficulties, Tyranids and Chaos are much of a muchness in terms of challenge. But ramp the difficulty up — which you need to do for certain levels of progression in Space Marine 2 — and Chaos become an absolute bloody nightmare, whereas the Tyranids often still feel manageable.

It’s not as simple as saying 'Tyranids easy, Chaos hard.' The Tyranids as a foe work brilliantly in terms of recreating the faction feel from the lore and the tabletop upon which Space Marine 2 is based. Similarly, the Thousand Sons work as they should, as a traitor legion fueled by warp magic. They’re different because they’re supposed to be.

Still, Space Marine 2 players — and this has been a thing in the PvE Operations mode ever since the game’s record-breaking launch in September last year — often pop online to say they much prefer to fight the Tyranids. Some are even saying they back out of Siege mode whenever they get a Chaos wave.

“Is there a way to play Siege mode with Tyranids only?” asked Think_Fan_5943 recently on the Space Marine subreddit. “I really hate fighting Chaos and being forced to fight them sucks and I usually just drop out when the enemy switches. You can choose Tyranids only missions if you don't like Chaos so why can't we choose which enemy we face in Siege mode?”

No-one expects the developers at Saber Interactive to release a Tyranid-only version of Siege Mode; if they did, perhaps the Chaos version wouldn't have enough players to form a healthy matchmaking pool, such is the preference for the Tyranids. It is what it is, I suppose. But the Tyranids vs Chaos debate in Space Marine 2 does spark fun conversations around the enemy factions we’re expecting to see in the already confirmed Space Marine 3.

What sort of challenge might the Necrons, which everyone expects will turn up, present the Ultramarines? Could a different type of traitor legion pose a more interesting challenge? What if the plague-ridden Death Guard were in the game, and players were forced to contend with skin-melting disease as well as bolter fire? And what if the Orks return after starring in Space Marine 1? Could they become the Tyranid-equivalent enemy faction everyone prefers to fight against?

For now, we’re left with the Tyranids and Chaos, and the ongoing challenge of having to contend with both in Siege mode whether we like it or not. Looking ahead, there’s a lot of exciting content coming to Space Marine 2. While Patch 9 will focus on balance changes only, Patch 10 adds a new Chaos vs Chaos PvP mode, the new Power Axe melee weapon, and the new Techmarine class. Check out all the Space Marine 2 Patch 10 details here.

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 real-time strategy take on Resident Evil has been announced for iPhone and Android, developed in "close collaboration with Capcom to ensure authenticity and quality."

Resident Evil Survival Unit is being co-developed by Joycity Corporation, a Korean mobile gaming company that previously made Pirates of the Caribbean: Tides of War, another licensed real-time strategy spin-off.

A full reveal of Survival Unit will take place next week but, until then, a single piece of artwork released today offers the smallest of clues to the game's setting.

Amid a suitably dark and ominous atmosphere, a vehicle is stopped in the woods next to an advertising billboard for... you guessed it, Umbrella Corporation. The ad shows two happily smiling people, with the tagline: "Our Business is life itself..."

Umbrella existing likely places Resident Evil Survival Unit before the events of Resident Evil 4, by which point the evil organisation has crumbled. Could we be looking at the woods around the Arklay Mountains, near Raccoon City? We can just about glimpse a mountain range in the background, so it's possible.

It's easy to imagine a real-time shooter taking advantage of the events seen in and around the Resident Evil game, where several teams of STARS commandos — characters that fans have now grown to care about — most be poked and prodded into action, while kept alive for as long as you can.

If you're even thinking about picking up a Nintendo Switch 2 later this year, this is the membership deal to jump on. Walmart+ is currently 50% off for July 4th weekend, bringing it down to just $49 for the full year. That’s already good value, but the timing makes it even better.

Walmart’s answer to Prime Day, "Walmart Deals", runs from Tuesday, July 8, at 12 a.m. ET through Sunday, July 13. Walmart+ members get early access starting on Monday, July 7 at 7 p.m. ET, giving them a head start on the biggest discounts and limited stock items.

50% Off 1-Year Walmart+ Membership

That early access really matters. During the last Switch 2 restock, Walmart+ members were given priority through a special access window before consoles were opened up to everyone else. We’re expecting a similar approach for future restocks, and this membership gives you the best chance of actually checking out with a console in your cart.

Not only that, but the incoming Walmart Deals event is set to feature major discounts across gaming, tech, home essentials, and more. If you're planning to take it seriously, this half-price Walmart+ offer is well worth locking in now to get access to the best deals ASAP.

Plus, Walmart+ covers you for the rest of the year, includes plenty of useful perks, and crucially gives you an edge during high-demand drops like Pokémon TCG restocks (such as Black Bolt and White Flare or Destined Rivals), Switch 2 consoles, and more.

With early access to Walmart’s summer sale and a real advantage when Switch 2 restocks happen again, this is the kind of membership that could pay for itself fast.

Walmart+ Basic Membership Perks

If you're a regular Walmart shopper, then the Walmart+ membership is worth $49 even outside of Black Friday. 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

Complimentary Paramount+ Subscription

The Walmart+ membership also includes an annual Paramount+ Essential (ad-supported) subscription, which normally costs $60.

Paramount+ (formerly CBS All Access) is one of the better populated streaming services available, especially since this plan is ad-free. Its extensive library of media has been bolstered with the addition of Showtime in 2023, making it a great service for those who enjoy movies, original shows, live sports, and news.

Popular TV shows include Landman, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Tulsa King, Halo, and Yellowjackets. Movies include Transformers One, Sonic 3, and Gladiator 2. If you're not interested in picking up Walmart+ then Paramount+ is also discounted right now, with its Premium with Showtime Annual Plan down to $0.99/mo for two months right now.

If you're a Dexter fan, then this is the perfect time to sign up. The upcoming Dexter: Resurrection TV series will air its first two episodes on July 11 and the remaining episodes will air weekly thereafter.

Looking to try out other streaming services before you decide to pay? We've got you covered. Check out these steaming services that are currently offering free trials.

Will Walmart Deals Be as Good as Amazon Prime Day?

Although Prime Day started as an Amazon exclusive, Walmart has steadily built up a solid rival event of its own. Amazon still tends to offer a wider spread of deals overall, especially across smaller tech and household items, but Walmart often matches or even undercuts on major products like AirPods, iPads, and gaming consoles, the big-ticket stuff most people are after.

Where Walmart really sets itself apart is with its exclusive brands and partnerships. Just like Amazon always discounts its own devices, Walmart usually offers the best prices on brands tied closely to its own ecosystem.

That includes Vizio TVs, which are expected to hit their lowest prices since Black Friday, and increasingly, Nintendo Switch hardware and games. Amazon still hasn’t fully restocked first-party Nintendo items this year, but Walmart has stepped up with multiple recent drops.

It’s worth comparing prices across Amazon, Walmart, and even Target during these summer sales. Target’s Circle Week will likely feature many similar offers, but if you already have a Walmart+ membership,or grab it while it’s half price, those early access windows could make all the difference when stock is limited.

Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Senior Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter/X or Bluesky.

Amid the video game cancelations and studio closures that have come as a result of Microsoft’s devastating round of layoffs this week is concern about the fate of pretty much every Xbox game without a firm release date.

Microsoft games canceled as part of the cuts include Rare’s Everwild, an unannounced MMO from ZeniMax Online Studios, the developer of The Elder Scrolls Online, and the Perfect Dark Reboot. The latter's developer, The Initiative, was shut down. The team working on Blizzard’s mobile game Warcraft Rumble was laid off as new content ceased.

Meanwhile, external developers who were funded by Microsoft were also hit. Romero Games, the studio founded by Doom co-creator John Romero and Brenda Romero, has suffered significant layoffs and the future of its new shooter is in doubt.

That’s a lot to take in, but it begs the question: which Xbox Game Studios games remain? And which, if any, were quietly canceled?

In a memo sent to all Microsoft gaming staff and viewed by IGN this week, Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios, said Microsoft still has "more than 40 projects in active development, continued momentum on titles shipping this fall, and a strong slate headed into 2026."

Additionally, a source told Variety that every game featured at the Xbox Games Showcase presentation in June is continuing on. So, what were those games, which we now assume are safe — at least for the time being?

Activision’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 was at the show, and is certain to come out later this year (despite the layoffs hitting its various developers). inXile game Clockwork Revolution starred at the show, so that’s safe. Obsidian’s Grounded 2 and The Outer Worlds 2 were at the show and we should assume are both safe. It's a similar deal for Double Fine’s Keeper, The Coalition’s Gears of War: Reloaded, Ninja Gaiden 4, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s Order of the Giants DLC. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4, and the ROG Xbox Ally, both at the show, will continue too. Despite the cancelation of Everwild, Rare’s Sea of Thieves continues with new updates.

At the end of the showcase, Xbox boss Phil Spencer teased Forza, Fable, Gears of War: E-Day, and a Halo: Combat Evolved remake for 2026. We assume since those games were mentioned, they’re safe, although it’s worth noting that the Forza mentioned by Spencer no doubt relates to the next Forza Horizon game from Playground, which is also making Fable. Turn 10, which makes the more sim-focused Forza games, was hit hard by the layoffs.

So, we know which games Microsoft still intends to release. But, given the events of this week, it’s now impossible to think about other Xbox games in the works without a degree of concern. Everwild and Perfect Dark were conspicuous by their absence at last month's show and both were canceled. What else failed to turn up?

Minecraft — remember Microsoft owns Minecraft! — remains huge and safe as houses, you feel. But what about Contraband from Just Cause developer Avalanche Studios? Where’s Undead Labs’ State of Decay 3? Ninja Theory’s Project Mara? Microsoft has a Hideo Kojima game, OD, on its books. Is that still happening? Toys for Bob, the Crash Bandicoot 4 developer and Call of Duty support studio that left the Xbox-owned Activision in February 2024, signed an agreement with Xbox directly to publish its next game. Is that still alive?

And what about Bethesda? ZOS’s MMO has fallen by the wayside, but surely Bethesda Game Studios' The Elder Scrolls VI and the next Fallout are fine. Starfield’s promised next expansion feels precarious, given Bethesda's radio silence on the game. And what about Blizzard? As of last year it was reportedly hard at work on a StarCraft shooter. Is that still the case?

It’s only when you run through what wasn’t at the Xbox Games Showcase last month that you realize what’s at stake here: Microsoft owns a huge number of development studios across the globe, from Bethesda to Blizzard and Activision to Halo. When Xbox suffers significant problems, a huge swathe of the video game industry and its developers do, too.

All eyes are on August's gamescom, where Microsoft is expected to show more of what is has coming down the line. Perhaps Phil Spencer will give fans a clear idea of what’s in the works from Xbox and what isn't as Microsoft's multiplatform push soldiers on. It is still planning to release a next-gen Xbox console, although we don't know when. Is the first-party Xbox handheld Spencer teased last year also still alive? Does Microsoft still plan to release its own gaming app store, despite the failure of Call of Duty Warzone Mobile, Warcraft Rumble, and this week's significant cuts to Candy Crush maker King?

In the short term, at least, the games we saw in June are still on the way. But the long term future of Xbox remains vague indeed.

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.

Nintendo has officially opened UK preorders for the upcoming Donkey Kong & Pauline amiibo, launching the same day as Donkey Kong Bananza, on July 17, 2025.

Releasing alongside a highly anticipated Switch 2 exclusive, the amiibo is now available through the My Nintendo Store UK for £16.99, with orders capped at three per customer.

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Nintendo also confirmed during its dedicated Donkey Kong Bananza Direct that the game supports every previously released amiibo. Scanning non-DK series figures will instead get you giant material balls, which you can also make DK throw to traverse certain stages.

Preorders on the My Nintendo Store UK include standard delivery for £1.99 or free shipping if your order hits £20 or more. If you were planning on ordering any other DK figures (like those above), or games, like the various bundles for Pokemon Legends: Z-A, you may as preorder one of those now and save yourself a few pounds.

I’ve checked by adding both items to my basket testing the checkout and, even though Pokemon Legends: Z-A is releasing later than the Donkey Kong & Pauline amiibo on October 16 (meaning both will arrive via separate deliveries), shipping will still be free for the entire order.

The amiibo announcement follows a jam-packed Nintendo Direct showcasing Donkey Kong Bananza’s return to 3D platforming. New features include wild Bananza transformations, skill trees, a costume shop, and the creative DK Artist Mode where players sculpt and paint items and characters.

Donkey Kong Bananza drops in just a couple of weeks, and with this amiibo, you’ll be more than ready to swing into action and have a cool figure in your display.

In The Sandman’s first season, Lord Morpheus (Tom Sturridge) escaped from 106 years of captivity and immediately got to work rebuilding his realm and reestablishing his place in the grand cosmology of powerful, god-like entities. So what does Morpheus (AKA Dream) do in season 2? He tears it all back down. In the wildly fantastical and wide-ranging six-episode volume 1 of the second and final season, Dream discovers that the only way to atone for past mistakes is to make some devastating choices. Though the story sometimes feels like it’s rushing to the conclusion that’s coming all too soon, the way this show continues to combine the imagination of old fairy tales with stories about deeply broken characters provides a lot to savor.

In season 2, The Sandman develops into a twisted kind of family melodrama as Dream tries to settle some long-standing feuds. In season 1 we met three of the other Endless: the oddly cheery and down-to-earth Death (Kirby Howell-Baptiste), the perpetually miserable Despair (Donna Preston) and the mischievous, manipulative Desire (Mason Alexander Park). Season 2 begins with a family meeting called by the solemn Destiny (Adrian Lester), attended by the flighty youngest sibling Delirium (Esmé Creed-Miles). Absent, as always, is Destruction (Barry Sloane), who abandoned his realm and responsibilities eons ago. These characters are all very different in personality and purpose, and one of the big sources of tension in The Sandman – to its benefit – is the way these various embodiments of human nature struggle to coexist.

Volume 1 (which is made up of six of the 12 episodes of season 2) is itself roughly divided into two halves. The first operates – quite well – in maximalist mode, as Dream plays host to a room full of angry gods and other mythological beings. After his old nemesis Lucifer (Gwendoline Christie) simultaneously blesses and curses him, the show swings between dark comedy and grotesque horror as a series of strange and often hideous-looking creatures arrive in Dream’s realm to make their offers and show off The Sandman’s impressive special effects. There’s a poignant side to all this bedlam too, given that this whole underworld adventure begins with an attempt by Dream to rescue an ex lover, Nada (Deborah Oyelade), the first of many old acquaintances he has to make apologies to in these episodes.

This theme continues in the even more emotionally resonant second half of volume 1, as Dream reckons with the ways he has been unintentionally cruel to the people he believed he loves. When Delirium asks him to help her find Destruction, Dream soon realizes that the only way to find his brother may be reconciliation with another family member. This three-episode arc begins as a mystery, but it becomes more of a deep-dive into Dream’s complicated relationships as it progresses.

Amid these larger stories the show’s primary writer, Allan Heinberg, boldly weaves in fragments of some of the better-known short stories from the comics, usually inserting them as flashbacks. (Want to see how and why Dream inspired Shakespeare to create A Midsummer Night’s Dream? That’s here in season 2.) Collectively, the six episodes of volume 1 are about Dream’s most significant unfinished business, accumulated over thousands of years of him coexisting with humans and deities. That’s what gives volume 1 its drive: The women he wronged, the creatures he irritated, the family members he disappointed… all of these mortals and immortals now expect Dream to atone.

All the while, The Sandman is one of the more visually distinctive TV series on Netflix, with what must’ve been a large chunk of its budget going to creating strange-looking beasties and opulent kingdoms. This first half of season 2 includes a lot of scenes set in Dream’s own magnificent, mercurial castle, which its master can change to suit his moods and whims. Here, the screen is filled with spectacle when a host of supernatural beings – including Norse gods, hideous demons, and angels from the literal Heaven – descend on Dream’s home to make their case for becoming Hell’s new rulers. The images are properly overwhelming, immersing us in a place far removed from the mundane.

The frequent flashback sequences include scenes from the French Revolution and ancient Greece, giving a sense of how long the Endless have been meddling in human affairs. Even more than season 1, season 2’s first half is crammed with incidents, as Heinberg and company introduce all of the relevant characters and history that factor into The Sandman’s ending (which will show up on Netflix later this month). It’s effective, though: Fans of the comics may appreciate getting to see live-action versions of all the oddballs and ogres they remember from the page, while people who only know The Sandman from its first season are getting everything they need to understand the plot.

The way this story is structured is very intentional on the part of the TV series’s creators, who skip about half of creator, executive producer, and accused sexual assailant Neil Gaiman’s comics in order to streamline all of their events into a tighter story that’s focused almost entirely on a simple arc: Dream’s return, Dream’s rebuild, Dream’s regrets, and Dream’s amends. Nevertheless, it is unusual for a show only in its second season to spend so much time setting up a farewell, given that its first only ran for 11 episodes. Given that the graphic novels have plenty of material that the show could’ve adapted into more episodes, it seems like a lot was left on the table.

Sometimes the quickened pace and the abundance of action works well, and sometimes it doesn’t. A point of failure is when The Sandman unreasonably expects us to be deeply invested in some characters – like Nada, or Dream’s chauffeur Wanda (Indya Moore) – who we barely get much of a chance to know. That said, the richness of the world Gaiman created does mean that even the most minor characters – like Destruction’s wryly humorous dog, voiced by Steve Coogan – are uniquely entertaining. Nothing about this show feels bland or generic, so it’s at least making good use of the shortened time it has.

As was the case with season 1, season 2 gets a lot of juice from showing how the Endless aren’t that different from us, lifespans aside. These powerful beings also worry that the world is sliding into chaos and mayhem and feel the need to change with the times, however glacially. Amid all the dazzling fantasy trappings, The Sandman effectively hits its emotional moments, especially when it shows how someone like Dream – a shaper of realities – can feel powerless.

In one of the more touching moments in volume 1, a man who has been alive for over 12,000 years – since the time of the saber-toothed tiger – is killed in a dumb accident. When Death comes to collect him, she’s not that impressed by his longevity. She says he only lived a lifetime, “no more, no less.” The Sandman is at its best in scenes like these, which weave together the supernatural and the everyday, giving all these scattered stories a point. In this case, it’s the fact that whether you’re one of the Endless or an ordinary human mortal, you have to make the best of the time you have.

I’ve always been skeptical of Persona spin-offs. How can you twist such rich games into new shapes while maintaining the intricate details that make the series so beloved? Well, when it comes to the most recent addition to the family, Persona5: The Phantom X, the team at Perfect World appear to have done just that – or, at least, that’s how it seems on the surface. With beautifully animated cutscenes and a goosebump-inducing soundtrack, The Phantom X makes it clear early on that it isn’t keen to shake up the Persona formula. What it does do, however, is infuse that already excellent base with the all too familiar premium currencies of a mobile-focused gacha game. I have a more to play before my final review, but no matter how close it comes to recapturing the magic, there’s already a creeping sensation that this walk down memory lane is going to make way for endless grinding eventually.

Despite being a Persona 5 spin-off, The Phantom X doesn’t centre around Joker and his crew – instead, you’ll be playing as a fresh protagonist, Nagisa Kamisiro (though you can still pick your own name), in an alternate timeline version of that story. A seemingly average student, Kamasiro’s life changes when an adorable owl called Lufel calls on them to fight back against the misery and hopelessness enveloping the world, and to turn the tables against the great despair that clouds the hearts of the public. Unable to refuse, Kamasiro learns to wield their inner Persona and travels to the shadow world to help clear out the collective unconscious, one monster at a time. If you’ve played Persona 5, you’ll quickly notice that The Phantom X is following its formula beat by beat.

To fight off the aforementioned evil, you’ll bounce between beautifully recreated Tokyo neighborhoods and the monster-filled Metaverse, seeking out misbehaving fiends and infiltrating their minds while learning to master the series’ trademark turn-based combat that centers around elemental weaknesses. And because Kamisiro is a teen, you’ll also have to balance studying, part-time work, and home life, too. With all of its obvious derivations, The Phantom X struggles to conjure fresh ideas or immediate excitement in the shadow of a nearly decade-old modus operandi, but it at least manages to successfully clone the Persona formula, and that will be enough for some.

Thankfully, where the gameplay itself feels overfamiliar, the surrounding cast of characters provides enough mystery and warmth to keep things interesting. Alongside Kamisiro, you’ll meet the baseball-loving Motoha Arai, your husband-obsessed neighbour Kayo Tomiyama, and adorable schoolmate Tomoko Noge, to name a few. With energetic voice acting to back up their emotive and often humorous dialogue, it’s clear there’s been an effort to give the NPCs a sense of self, or at least the ones I’ve met so far. It didn’t take me long to forge an emotional attachment to them. Morgana’s anthropomorphic owl counterpart, Lufel, is a particular standout, and I am thoroughly enjoying a running gag about their somewhat archaic vocabulary confusing the school-aged NPCs.

You’ll spend most of your days in Kamisiro’s shoes doing time-progressing tasks like studying for school in local cafes, working at the Konbini for cash, and buying groceries that you can use to cook back at your home. I’m still scratching the surface on how integral these side tasks feel in the scope of saving the world, though I’ve been enjoying making shopping lists and gawking at iconic Tokyo landmarks all the same. Particularly, wandering through the bustle of Shibuya Scramble and spotting its famous puppy mascot amongst the beaming electronic signs felt like a wonderful ode to a city I’ve come to love in both real life and games.

Aside from being a typical teen, much of your time in The Phantom X is spent in battle, and your combat expeditions launch from the Metaverse app located on Kamisiro’s phone. You can access these challenges anytime from the overworld, but you’ll need to use a naturally refreshing currency called Stamina to reap the rewards. Focusing on the mainline story missions will help keep you on track in terms of difficulty, though you can also explore a variety of combat challenges as you please to stockpile loot and earn experience, too. This is where the first hints of grinding come into focus but, mercifully, the combat in The Phantom X is very moreish and easy to sink time into.

The Phantom X bases its combat system on Persona 5, meaning it's turn-based with engaging reactive elements. When you roll up on a baddie, you’ll cycle through your party one member at a time, choosing between melee attacks, ranged attacks, and special Persona abilities. Similar to Pokémon, the enemies you’ll face, as well as the Personas you deploy, all have elemental strengths and weaknesses (like fire or ice) that can be exploited for extra damage. It’s a tried-and-tested system with enough diversity in its moveset to keep battles fresh, and even if you are starting to tire of it, the imagination-stoking enemy designs pull a good amount of weight throughout. What makes Persona combat truly unique, though, is the series’ bold interface design and legendary battle themes. I promise, no matter how many times you’ve already heard Persona 5’s Last Surprise, it just doesn’t get old.

Sadly, no amount of vocal flair from singer Lyn Inaizumi can make up for the sizable array of gacha systems and currencies you need to balance in The Phantom X. While there are characters and Personas you can unlock through the story, the quickest way to bolster your team is to engage in the lucky dip Contracts menu. In line with most other Gacha games on the market, you can earn the currencies you need to pull by grinding, or cut to the chase and pop in your credit card details to get an instant boost. I’m still only about 10 hours into my playthrough, and I’ve not hit any obvious roadblocks, but I can see them coming. At my current level, I have enough cash to buy health items, as well as a plethora of unique currencies to upgrade my Personas, weapons and more. Plus, when it comes to actually engaging with the gacha spins, I don’t feel like the boost they provide are hugely necessary to my success yet. Inevitably, this won’t last, though, and I can see cash-shaped hurdles on the horizon.

Outside of the inclusion of premium currencies, perhaps my biggest issue with The Phantom X so far is that it feels more like an uncanny reflection of Persona 5, rather than a unique take on its established lore. Other spin-offs like Persona 5 Tactica or Persona 5 Strikers feel like strong additions to the series that come at it from a completely different angle, whereas The Phantom X is more of a well-executed imitation. It’s not to say that I’m bored, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed both its combat and getting to know the characters so far. The first few chapters of its story are well-written, appropriately shocking, and do well to hook you into the world. But The Phantom X’s “do-over” take on the story The Phantom Thieves just isn’t providing a new enough experience to warrant the amount of time (or possibly money) I’ll need to invest to see it through when Persona 5 and its predecessors are readily available and feel far more curated and engaging.

While I’m mostly enjoying my time with Persona5: The Phantom X so far, there’s still so much to explore before delivering my final review, like investigating the depth of the upgrade systems and the long-term impact of premium currencies as you progress. As a fan of the series, it’s hard to look a gift horse in the mouth when it comes to fresh Persona 5-related content. But as of right now, I’m just unsure about how The Phantom X can deviate enough from the core material to compel me to invest in it long term – only time will tell.

Paramount is kicking off its Summer Sale by offering only $0.99 per month for your first two months of Paramount+ Essential or Premium streaming service. I'd definitely suggest going with the Premium tier, which normally costs $12.99 per month, has no ads, and includes all of Showtime. This promotion should be available to both new and previous (currently expired) subscribers, although your mileage may vary depending on how long ago you last signed up.

Paramount+ Premium with Showtime for $0.99/mo

Black Bolt and White Flare are out in Japan, and prices are already settling on the most sought-after cards. I've been following the early market closely on TCGPlayer and eBay, and it's clear which cards are leading the packs... get it?

Zekrom and Reshiram are pulling in the highest numbers, while full-art Trainers and EX cards are also climbing fast. For now, here's a look at the most expensive cards from both sets right now, based on what I've found.

Black Bolt: Japan's Most Expensive Cards

EA has announced it will shut down BioWare's Anthem on January 12, 2026.

Because Anthem's only content is online, this means the game will be unplayable after that date.

Premium in-game currency will stop being sold today, July 3, though existing balances will still be able to be used until Anthem shuts down. The game will be removed from EA Play on August 15, 2025, but will still be available for download if it's already in your library until it officially shuts down.

Anthem launched in February of 2019 to lukewarm reviews, including our own 6.5/10 which criticized the grindiness, lack of polish and variety, and a mismatched story. The game had sold 5 million copies as of December of 2023, which fell short of EA's target of 6 million copies in the first few months. Though EA continued to update and improve Anthem in the months that followed its launch, in February of 2021, EA ceased active development on the game. The following month, its game director departed the company.

In an FAQ, EA stated that no layoffs occurred at the company as the result of Anthem's sunset. This will come as a relief, given that EA has undergone a number of massive staffing cuts in the last few years that have left staff reeling.

In May, EA shut down Cliffhanger Games and canceled its in-development Black Panther game, laying off an unknown number of individuals in the process. That same month, it implemented mandatory return-to-office for all workers.

Just the month before, EA laid off roughly 300 people, and still earlier this year EA restructured Anthem developer BioWare, moving some developers to other projects and laying off others. That was all just in 2025. Last year, EA underwent a massive restructuring that resulted in 670 workers laid off company-wide, and the year before that in 2023, 50 individuals were laid off at BioWare and an unknown number of others were cut at Codemasters.

As for BioWare, it's currently fully focused on Mass Effect 5 after the sales failure of Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

Michael Madsen, who starred in Quentin Tarantino movies Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, has died aged 67 from cardiac arrest.

NBC reported that Madsen was found dead at his Malibu home on Thursday morning, according to his manager Ron Smith.

IGN can exclusively reveal the first look at the Shonen Jump Store that is set to host an exclusive pop-up shop near the Los Angeles Convention Center during Anime Expo 2025, and it will feature limited-edition merchandise, brand-new product reveals, immersive photo ops, and much more based on Dandadan, Demon Slayer, Naruto, and more.

The Shonen Jump Store will be setting up shop from July 3-5 and, among many other things, will be the only place to get new themed items from Dandadan and Kagurabachi two weeks before their online debut.

Rare items from the JUMP Shop Japan, BIOWORLD's anime apparel (including Hunter x Hunter and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure basketball jerseys), new figures from Bandai's Figuarts line, and returning favorites from Naruto, Kaiju No. 8, and One Piece will also be available.

Funko fans will also be delighted to know that a fresh Dandadan Pops! Funko POP! collection will be unveiled on July 3 and will be available to preview and pre-order at the Shonen Jump Store.

Alongside all of this, photo ops will include Dandadan and Demon Slayer-themed backdrops, UNION ARENA TCG demos featuring BLEACH and Jujutsu Kaisen, and more. Oh, and attendees will even receive a free demo deck and an exclusive card.

If you'd like to visit the Shonen Jump Store during Anime Expo 2025, it will be open from 11am - 7pm daily and is just around the corner from the convention center at 212 West 12th St. in Los Angeles, California. If you are a Shonen Jump member, you'll even receive priority entry via a special VIP line.

For more in the world of anime, check out the best new anime to watch now and our favorite anime of all time.

Given the current state of the world, it’s only natural that creatives of all stripes should start pondering hypothetical apocalypses. Much like the zombies that tend to inhabit these stories, some artifacts from the last boom a decade or so ago are still clambering along while others – including one currently in theaters – experienced a sudden reanimation. It’s tempting to slot 40 Acres along with the rest of those, but while it does feature a fungal plague and a rural setting, director R.T. Thorne’s debut pivots away from horror and instead into family drama with a tendency towards suspense. The familiar end-of-the-world framework provides much of the expected pleasures of a home-invasion story, but like all good horror or post-apocalyptic films, it’s also got a lot on its mind.

That much is clear from the title, a direct reference to the broken promise of “40 Acres and a Mule” as reparations for American slavery. It also refers to the location where the majority of this movie takes place: a Canadian farm run by the mixed family of Hailey (rising star Daniel Deadwyler) – the latest in a long line of Black farmers emigrating after the Civil War – and her partner Galen (Michael Greyeyes).

Their histories as former soldiers of various stripes emerges in the opening scene, as they and their children execute a defense run against raiders that would put Jake Sully’s family to shame. It’s a close-knit bunch out of necessity: in a future decimated by famines and wars, their ability to grow food has ensured their survival, but it’s also made Hailey an isolationist. Trading is only done at set drops where no one interacts, and her only real contact with the outside world is fellow farmer Augusta (Elizabeth Saunders). As portrayed by Deadwyler, Hailey’s a hard-ass who puts her kids – especially eldest son Emmanuel (Kataem O’Connor) – through rigorous training and lectures on everything from battle to farming. But crucially, she lets glimmers of light slip through, usually when on radio chats with Augusta but also with some of their younger children. It’s hard not to compare it a little to the recently released 28 Years Later in its depiction of parents caught between warmth and coldness. Both also feature genuine danger, here in the form of rumors that a cannibalistic gang has been ransacking farms on their small network.

Emmanuel is a growing teenager, so naturally when he spies a girl in a river he frequents the mind starts to wander, especially once she turns up on the farm. Rest assured, 40 Acres isn’t the kind of movie to spring some wild twist on us. Instead, Thorne and co. use it to probe at the whole disaster-preparation mindset. Surviving the worst is good and all, but what comes next? These conflicts aren’t necessarily new, and neither is the emerging theme of Emmanuel’s need to become his own person rather than the rigid symbol that’s expected of him, but they still resonate thanks to Deadwyler and O’Connor’s performances.

If nothing else, Thorne shows quite the knack at orchestrating tense scenes. An early highlight features a firefight in an abandoned military facility, with a particular event held just to the corner of the frame that provides an excellent jolt. Flashbacks come in like seamless transmissions from another life as a low-key indie drama, giving Hailey precisely the right amount of backstory and layering in the themes of racism and ancestral history.

So skilled is the direction that it almost doesn’t matter that the villains end up kind of weak by comparison. For as much setup as they’re given, by the time they hit the climax and dish out some pretty gnarly violence they can’t help but feel rather nondescript, with a leader who’s more functional than memorable. Even so, Thorne still manages to throw in a fantastic shootout in total darkness lit only by muzzle flashes, and a wonderful callback to a joke about the value of spices. He also gives Deadwyler the chance to throw out some very funny one-liners by the end, just enough to be self-aware without breaking the fourth wall. The ending sends us out on a high note, leaving us with a vision of family unity that suggests a brighter future for all involved. A little sappy to be sure, but it’s hard-won.