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Tomb Raider Show Adds Jason Isaacs as Amazon Preps for Production in January

18 décembre 2025 à 21:24

Amazon’s Prime Video Tomb Raider show has reportedly added The White Lotus alum Jason Isaacs to its cast.

News of the latest addition to the latest live-action video game series adaptation’s growing roster comes from Deadline, which reports that Isaacs has boarded in a mystery role. It’s another major addition for the Tomb Raider series, which already includes Sophie Turner (Game of Thrones) as Lara Croft, with Sigourney Weaver (Avatar: Fire and Ash) said to still be in talks to join, too.

Though details on both Isaacs and Weaver’s roles remain under wraps, it’s clear the team behind the Prime Video project is picking up steam as they plan to begin production January 19. We first learned about Amazon’s plans to develop a show based on the iconic video game adventurer when Fleabag mastermind Phoebe Waller-Bridge was announced as creator, writer, and executive producer. It didn’t get an official greenlight until May 2024, with Turner finally locked in as Lara Croft in September of this year.

Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics, Amazon MGM, and Story Kitchen are working on the show, with Chad Hodge attached as co-showrunner and executive producer. Jonathan van Tulleken (Shogun) is also in the mix as an executive producer and director.

We’ll need to wait a while longer to learn more about Isaacs’ part in the new Tomb Raider show, with its release date, plot details, and additional casting information still yet to be announced. Story Kitchen recently told fans to expect a project that will “reinvent the franchise on a massive scale,” teasing that it will be interconnected with the video game universe it spawned from.

Just because Lara Croft is taking another stab in the world of live-action doesn’t mean her time in video game has come to an end. Last week, Crystal Dynamics revealed two new projects for the series: Tomb Raider: Catalyst and Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis. The latter is a remake of the franchise’s first entry, and the former is a brand-new installment, with both announced for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S at The Game Awards 2025 last week.

Photo by John Shearer/WireImage.

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).

Naughty Dog Devs Are Reportedly Working Mandatory Overtime for Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet

18 décembre 2025 à 21:10

Naughty Dog is allegedly requiring most of its developers working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet to work a minimum of eight extra hours per week, in an effort to meet a deadline for an internal demo that will be reviewed by Sony.

This is according to a Bloomberg report, which claims that beginning in late October, Intergalatic developers have been required to work at least eight hours a week, though not more than 60 hours total per week, and to log their time in an internal spreadsheet.

Those developers have also been asked to work from the office five days per week, where previously the requirement had only been three days per week, with up to two days work-from-home. This has caused some to have to scramble to find childcare and pet care arrangements that were previously not needed.

The mandatory overtime is in service of finishing an internal demo in time for a review by Sony, after said demo missed multiple deadlines. Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet does not currently have a public release date or window set, but Bloomberg's report suggests internally it is targeting mid-2027.

The report concludes that the mandated overtime ended this week, and Naughty Dog will return to just three days a week mandated in-office ithrough the end of January, with a more detailed schedule to come.

Naughty Dog has been notorious for crunch over the years on series such as Uncharted and The Last of Us, with the studio even openly hiring for individuals who would be willing to crunch. In 2021, studio co-presidents Evan Wells and Neil Druckmann addressed the issue in an interview with Game Informer, saying that while they wanted to prevent burnout, they didn't want to impose a one-size-fits-all restriction on employee passion and creativity. That same year, the studio hired a number of producers specifically tasked with alleviating workload. However, many of those producers have reportedly since left the company, and some employees have apparently already worked long hours to finish Intergalactic's first trailer, which debuted at The Game Awards last year.

Druckmann has referred to Intergalactic as the most "ambitious" "expansive" and "expensive" game Naughty Dog has ever made. "What can I say and not say? I can tell you we’re in the thick of it. We’re making it, we’re playing it. We’re firing on all cylinders."

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

The Best Anime Streaming Services in 2025

18 décembre 2025 à 20:16

With so many different streaming services available, there are a lot of different places to watch movies and TV shows online. The sheer amount of options can make it difficult to find exactly what you're looking for, especially for anime with some major titles split up between multiple services.

If you're wondering where you can watch anime online in 2025, we've gathered some of the best sites and apps below. While some streaming services offer a full suite of options, others have only a smaller selection. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to watch the best anime online across various subscriptions, and some are super cheap or even free.

Crunchyroll

Best Anime Streaming Service Overall

If you're looking for the absolute best overall anime streaming service, Crunchyroll is the way to go. With an enormous catalog of anime movies and series, the anime-focused streaming service is your best bet if you're looking for a lot of options. They also offer new episodes of many popular anime series shortly after they air in Japan. Whether you're looking to watch the classics or watch new episodes of anime like the upcoming final season of My Hero Academia, Crunchyroll can provide that with a subscription.

Crunchyroll has three different tiers of their service that all offer streaming their full anime library without ads. They also offer a seven-day free trial for newcomers to test out the service, but the cheapest plan starts out at $7.99 a month after that. Crunchyroll has also brought back their Black Friday streaming deal for the holiday season, knocking $20 off annual Mega Fan plans.

Crunchyroll does offer some anime for free with ads, regardless of your subscription tier, including Chainsaw Man and My Hero Academia. The most expensive tier of the service will get you additional perks like discounts at the Crunchyroll Store and access to their game vault.

Anime Recommendations on Crunchyroll:

Tubi

Best Free Anime Streaming Service

If you're looking for the best place to watch anime for free, Tubi is a surprisingly great option. Supported by ads, Tubi offers a selection of anime that includes Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Naruto, and various other popular franchises. They also have an enormous selection of classics and new anime to choose from in their catalog, all of which does not cost a dime. You can check out the full list of anime on Tubi to see what they have available.

Tubi doesn't require a monthly subscription to start streaming content, but you do need to register. You can create an account using your email or simply use your Google account to sign in. Tubi also offers free films and TV shows from a variety of other genres, making it one of the best free movie sites available.

Anime Recommendations on Tubi:

HIDIVE

Best Cheap Anime Streaming Service

If you're looking for something more robust than a free streaming service, but without coughing up your life savings for something Crunchyroll, you might enjoy a compromise like HIDIVE. The service has a single subscription tier that costs $6.99/month or $69.99/year, which gives you access to full series like Nana, No Game No Life, and Food Wars!. The site is also the exclusive streaming home for series like Made in Abyss, and regularly hosts simulcasts (you can check the current schedule here). In my opinion, this is also a solid place to find hidden gems you might not come across on something more mainstream.

Anime Recommendations on HIDIVE:

Hulu

Best All-in-One Streaming Service

Although Hulu isn't necessarily the best site for watching anime online, it does offer the unique advantage of being more than just for anime. A Hulu subscription can get you access to a huge variety of movies, shows, and anime all at once. While the service doesn't have quite the depth you'd get with Crunchyroll, they do offer popular anime series (both subbed and dubbed) like Dragon Ball, Attack on Titan, and Naruto. They also have the latest episodes of Spy x Family and Chainsaw Man if you're looking for something fresh. You can check out the full catalog of anime on Hulu for more details about what the service can offer.

Hulu has 2 different plans to choose from: No ads for $18.99 a month or with ads for $9.99 a month (raising to $11.99/month on October 21). Aside from standalone plans, Hulu is also available in plenty of streaming bundles, which I'd definitely recommend in light of news that Hulu will be merging into Disney+ next year.

Anime Recommendations on Hulu:

Netflix

Best for New Original Anime

Netflix is the biggest streaming service/app in the world, so it should be of no surprise that it has a pretty decent selection of anime. They have One Piece, Hunter x Hunter, Demon Slayer, and even a few Pokemon movies. However, the real draw of Netflix for anime fans is that they have originals that are actually pretty good. There are some great original films like Bubble as well as video game adaptations like Tekken: Bloodline. You can check out our guide to the best anime on Netflix for our top picks.

Although Netflix is currently going through some changes in it's subscription system, the ad-supported plan is currently $7.99 a month. The standard and premium subscriptions are more expensive, but add the ability to download Netflix movies for offline viewing.

Anime Recommendations on Netflix:

HBO Max

Best Streaming Service for Anime Movies

Now that HBO Max is back to the original name, it's a lot harder to find what their selection of anime even is. That being said, HBO Max does have all of the Studio Ghibli movies available to stream, making them worthy of note on this list. More recently, HBO Max signed a new deal with GKIDS, giving the streaming service rights to some previously hard-to-find movies from directors like Makoto Shinkai and Hideaki Anno. HBO Max is also where you'll find anime picked up for American distribution by Adult Swim, like the new anime from the creator of Cowboy Bebop, Lazarus.

HBO Max has three different tiers of their subscription service starting at $9.99 for their ad-supported option.

Anime Recommendations on Max:

Anime Streaming Sites FAQ

What are the best sites to watch anime for free?

Aside from Tubi and the limited selection of free anime on Crunchyroll, there's a few more sites where you can stream anime for free. RetroCrush offers a wide selection of "vintage" anime and cartoons, including the original Astro Boy, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and City Hunter series. Sling TV's FreeStream program also includes several anime channels with on demand series like Fruits Basket, Maid-Sama, and Ghost Stories.

How can I watch anime live in the U.S.?

Most anime airs live in Japan before becoming available to stream in the United States. Crunchyroll's licensing deals allow the service to stream new episodes typically within a day of their original airtime, which is part of the reason why its the best streaming service for anime overall. With a couple of exceptions for exclusives, even anime that eventually comes to Netflix or Hulu typically arrives on Crunchyroll way beforehand.

If there's a new episode or special coming up that you really want to watch live, you'll most likely have to sign up for a VPN to get access to local Japanese channels like FujiTV.

Jacob Kienlen is an SEO Specialist and Entertainment Writer at IGN.

How to Watch Mobile Suit Gundam in Order

18 décembre 2025 à 19:47

Between redefining the mecha genre and inspiring an entire industry of model kits, I'd argue Mobile Suit Gundam is one of the most influential anime franchises of all time. Created by Yoshiyuki Tomino, the series is set in the far future, when giant robot suits are used as weapons of war in conflicts between Earth and its space colonies. As Japan's answer to Star Wars, Gundam features epic space battles, laser swords, and people with mind powers, but still feels grounded in its militaristic settings.

Whether you're a veteran completionist looking to fill gaps in your mobile suit knowledge or a total newbie who wants to see some cool robot fights (and perhaps some horrific, poignant explorations of the horrors of war), here's how to watch Mobile Suit Gundam in order.

How Long Is Mobile Suit Gundam?

The Gundam franchise has continuously produced anime shows and movies since its inception in 1979, but not all Gundam are the same. Though the most popular and "fleshed out" Gundam timeline is the original, known as Universal Century (or UC), there are enough alternate timelines and meta-narratives that you could spend decades trying to catch up on everything. At least in this article, we cover 14 timelines total.

Because of these different timelines, and because the franchise originated in anime rather than manga or books, every piece of media in Gundam is considered canon (to its own timeline, at least). However, we recommend starting with the Universal Century timeline before jumping into these alternatives.

Where Can I Watch Gundam?

The majority of the Gundam franchise, including the original series, is on Crunchyroll. Several movies and shows are also streaming on U.S. Netflix. Unfortunately, some entries are simply unavailable to stream at all — like the acclaimed, fan-favorite Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket. Your best (legal) bet is trying to track these down on DVD or Blu-ray.

Mobile Suit Gundam in Order: The Universal Century Timeline

The original Gundam timeline, and the largest in the franchise, starts with the One Year War between Earth and a nation of space colonies and follows the conflict's effects on the galaxy.

1. Mobile Suit Gundam - The Origin

2015-2018

An origin story for Char Aznable in the years leading up to the formation of Zeon and the One Year War. It's a fantastic introduction to the Universal Century.

2. Mobile Suit Gundam (aka Gundam 0079)

1979-1980

The show that started it all. The original Gundam introduced the mobile suit that gave the franchise its name, and tells an epic story of war and rivalry between hero Amuro Ray and the charismatic Char Aznable. The compilation movie trilogy is a great alternative if the '70s animation and pacing prove too much for newer audiences.

3. Mobile Suit Gundam MS-IGLOO

2004-2008

A show all about Zeon engineers trying to rush their technology, showcasing why they might have lost the war.

4. Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team

1996-1999

A side story in the war, focusing on a small squad, and what I consider one of the best Gundam stories. A self-contained story with great character writing and a fascinating look at the war from a more grounded perspective.

5. Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance

2024

Taking place in the last months of the war, the Netflix show follows a Zeon pilot tasked with defending the European front against the Federation's forces.

6. Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket

1989

A self-contained story all about the realities of war, shown from the perspective of a child who initially thinks soldiers are cool when the horrors of war come knocking at his door.

7. Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt

2015-2017

A rare glimpse at the non-Amuro or Char soldiers who risked their lives in the war. Be warned, don't get too attached to the characters.

8. Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory

1991-1992

What if Gundam was Top Gun? The answer is Stardust Memory, a show with great '80s power ballads, exciting combat, a crew of pilots you could easily see playing volleyball on the beach, and a great need for speed.

9. Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam

1985-1986

The war is over, and the victors have become the new villains. The show blurs the line between good and evil, with a more complex story, a great redemption story for Char, and even more space fights.

10. Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ

1986-1987

A more humorous Gundam show, a bizarre attempt to balance out the darkness of Zeta with slapstick comedy and a goofy new group of characters.

11. Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack

1988

The story of Char and Amuro comes to a close with an epic movie. Mostly worth it for those invested in the rivalry of the two mecha pilots.

12. Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn

2010-2014

In many ways, this is the conclusion to the Universal Century, a story of a normal boy who becomes a Gundam pilot on behalf of Zeon, threatening to bring down the Federation. This is a rare Gundam title that was adapted from a novel.

13. Mobile Suit Gundam: Twilight Axis

2017

This short film is one of the few Gundam titles to have a female protagonist. Sadly, the film's short runtime means it crunches the story into mere minutes.

14. Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative

2018

A year after the events of Unicorn, the discovery of a long-lost Gundam threatens the Federation. This film features some wild Gundam designs.

15. Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway

2021

It's been 12 years since Char's rebellion, and now a chance encounter between a Newtype, an officer, and the son of a major Federation officer from the original series results in an exciting spy thriller full of intrigue.

16. Mobile Suit Gundam F91

2004

The closest Gundam has come to actually being Star Wars, with a protagonist that's essentially Darth Vader and music that resembles the Imperial March.

17. Mobile Suit Victory Gundam

1993-1994

Even Tomino jokingly rejected this entry in the franchise. That being said, the French Revolution inspiration gives this show, at the very least, a cool premise.

18. G-Saviour

2000

A live-action movie about the Federation and the colonies battling over food shortages that serves as proof that Gundam works best in animation.

How to Watch Other Gundam Timelines in Order

The Cosmic Era Timeline

A timeline focused on the conflict between normal Earth-born humans known as "Naturals," and genetically altered superhumans known as "Coordinators." This is where the SEED series takes place, which is a good introduction to the Gundam franchise as an alternative to the original show.

1. Mobile Suit Gundam SEED

2. Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny

3. Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: STARGAZER

4. Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom

The Our Century Timeline

What if Gundam weren't real giant robots, but a franchise with merchandise that regular people are fans of? This is the home of the Gundam Builders franchise, which takes place in our reality, and follows fans of Gunpla — plastic Gundam models — that fans use to fight in high-tech arenas.

1. Model Suit Gunpla Builders Beginning G

2. Gundam Build Fighters

3. Gundam Build Fighters Try

4. Gundam Build Divers

5. Gundam Build Divers Re:RISE

6. Gundam Breaker Battlogue

The Correct Century Timeline

This is an alternate timeline with a rather cool tie to the UC that is best left unspoiled. There is only one title in this timeline, which boasts mecha designs by Syd Mead, a charming protagonist, and a unique premise that kind of reminds me of a western.

1. Turn A Gundam

The Future Century Timeline

The first alternate timeline, Future Century skips the One Year War for a more civilized and exhilarating alternative — a giant tournament. Only one show takes place in this timeline, which is the show for people who always wondered what a Matador Gundam could look like, or a Viking Gundam, or the best-named Gundam — Tequila Gundam. It's the Gundam equivalent of the Gremlins 2 skit from Key & Peele.

1. Mobile Fighter G Gundam

The After Colony Timeline

The timeline that gave Gundam its big break in the U.S. — the messy, campy, iconic Gundam Wing. Five young pilots are sent to Earth independently with Mobile Suits on a mission to fight against a hostile Earth on behalf of the rebellious colonies, but the boys end up finding kinship in each other and choose their own reasons to fight.

1. Mobile Suit Gundam Wing

2. Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz

The After War Timeline

A timeline regarded by some fans as an alternate telling of the Universal Century where the One Year War ended in an even bigger tragedy — with 99% of Earth's population dying from colony drops. Only one show takes place in this timeline, featuring a young boy living on post-apocalyptic Earth decides to pilot a Gundam to save the life of a mysterious girl he has just met.

1. After War Gundam X

The Anno Domini Timeline

The only Gundam timeline to use our calendar, this is the home of the Gundam 00 show and movie. The paramilitary organization Celestial Being tries to rid the world of war by creating the most powerful weapon ever. Surprise, it's five Gundams. It has some elaborate worldbuilding and is the very first Gundam entry to feature actual aliens as antagonists.

1. Mobile Suit Gundam 00

2. Mobile Suit Gundam 00 – Awakening of the Trailblazer –

The Advanced Generation Timeline

Several hundred years after humanity has colonized space and endured an era of long-lasting peace, a new enemy appears. This is the home of Gundam AGE, a series that spans several decades as the protagonists grow from children to old veterans.

1. Mobile Suit Gundam AGE

The Regild Century Timeline

Created for the 35th anniversary of the Gundam franchise, this was the first series that Gundam's creator Yoshiyuki Tomino wrote and directed in 15 years. This timeline takes place a millennium after the Universal Century in a world that is more anti-technology.

1. Gundam Reconguista in G

The Post Disaster timeline

A post-Iraq War Gundam timeline that focuses on more grounded subjects like slavery, colonialism, and child soldiers (in a much less subtle way than past shows). This is the home of Iron-Blooded Orphans, one of the darkest Gundam shows yet, which is saying a lot.

1. Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans

The Ad Stella Timeline

The home of The Witch From Mercury, this timeline is set in an era where space has become a corporate race, with a multitude of companies investing in different types of mobile suits. Additionally, Gundams here have a bit of a psychic connection to their pilots (think synchronization in Evangelion or Pacific Rim) which has caused many pilots to be killed and Gundams to be banned almost everywhere.

1. Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury

The GQuuuuuuX Timeline

Another alternate version of the Universal Century. In this timeline, Char Aznable gets his hands on the White Base and the original RX-78 Gundam instead of Amuro Ray, drastically changing the outcome of the One Year War. This is the home of the most recent Gundam series, Gundam GQuuuuuuX, which IGN's review called "exactly the kind of inventive reimagining of Gundam we deserve."

1. Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX

What's Next for Mobile Suit Gundam?

The gears of Gundam never stop turning. Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway - The Sorcery of Nymph Circe, a sequel to the 2021 movie and part of a planned trilogy, is hitting IMAX theaters in Japan on January 30. A prequel to SEED Freedom, titled Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom Zero, is also in development.

And, of course, there is also the live-action movie we've been threatened with for a few years. Though the film has (predictably) suffered setbacks, there is a small chance it could genuinely be great. As of now, one of the only details we have is the possibility of none other than Sydney Sweeney’s involvement.

Avengers: Doomsday Trailer Reaction Divided Over 'Desperate' Decision to Bring Back Chris Evans, as Fans Say Move Is 'Disrespectful' to Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson

18 décembre 2025 à 20:13

Marvel's decision to reintroduce Chris Evans' character Steve Rogers in Avengers: Doomsday has prompted backlash online, with many fans criticizing the move as a "desperate" attempt to win back audiences at the expense of newer characters, and especially Anthony Mackie's Sam Wilson.

Today's Avengers: Doomsday trailer, which is available to watch now in theaters attached to Avatar: Fire and Ash, confirms what had previously been leaked: that Marvel has more story to tell featuring Steve Rogers, following what appeared to be a final send-off to the character in Avengers: Endgame.

One of Endgame's most memorable scenes saw Steve passing his shield to Sam, physically handing over the mantle of Captain America as he bowed out of the role. Now, fans say, this moment has effectively been undone, with numerous comments calling it a snub both to Sam, and to Mackie's tenure.

"The MCU just keeps on disrespecting Sam Wilson and I am TIREDDD," wrote one fan on X. "It feels like Marvel is belittling Sam Wilson's efforts to prove himself worthy of the shield Steve passed on to him," added another, sharing a clip of Sam's training from Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

"All I have to say about Avengers: Doomsday is that I will not tolerate the Sam Wilson disrespect!" added another. "What is the point! That whole ass movie about exactly this scenario only for them to bring back Steve anyway????!"

Numerous comments have pointed to the tough journey Sam Wilson has faced since being given the shield by Steve. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier effectively negates Steve's decision by placing a question mark on Sam's claim (and personal desire) to be Cap, only for him to emerge as the hero by the series' end.

Mackie's only lead movie in the years since, Captain America: Brave New World, was then widely panned by critics and fans alike for its underwhelming and heavily-reshot story, though many still praised Mackie's performance as the actor doing the best he could with the material he was given. (In IGN's 5/10 Captain America: Brave New World review, we described the movie as "neither brave, nor all that new, falling short of strong performances from Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, and Carl Lumbly.")

Regardless, Marvel boss Kevin Feige subsequently raised eyebrows by subsequently pinning the film's financial failure on being "the first without Chris Evans." No plans have since been announced for a fresh Captain America sequel.

Alongside criticism specifically of Steve Rogers' former Captain America returning, more general disdain has been expressed at Marvel yet again returning to a name from the franchise's Infinity Saga, after previously casting former Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom. It's a point of discussion that IGN itself has picked up, and dubbed as a "surprisingly disappointing way of kicking off the film’s marketing." As IGN's Jesse Schedeen states, "Why is a movie that’s supposed to bring together the current generation of MCU heroes so preoccupied with the former Captain America?"

"They spent six years introducing new characters only to do this," wrote a fan with a similar view on X, labelling the decision as "pathetic and desperate."

"Y'all bashed Eternals, Marvels, Fantastic Four, Multiverse of Madness, etc," another fan countered. "Now y'all complaining about bringing back the OGs. Anything Marvel does will be considered pathetic and desperate."

While the many Marvel releases since Avengers: Endgame have been mixed in quality, and nothing has come close to rivalling that movie's enormous $2.8 billion box office haul, the MCU has still had some notable successes. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness earned $955 million, while Black Panther: Wakanda Forever drew in $859 million. Deadpool and Wolverine, meanwhile, made over $1.38 billion.

Still, it's notable that Marvel seems keen to market Avengers: Doomsday to the huge audience that turned for Endgame, rather than those who watched anything since. The movie's big market beats so far have been Downey Jr. getting announced as Doctor Doom, and now Evans getting announced as Steve Rogers (whether he ends up as Captain America again, or not).

A leaked plan for three more Avengers: Doomsday trailers has suggested that yet another OG Avengers actor, Chris Hemsworth, will be given his own trailer next, before a trailer that fully reveals Downey Jr. as Doom follows that. Only after all of those, will the movie get a more general trailer — which may be where we finally see more of Marvel's current roster.

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 This Week's Leaked Avengers: Doomsday Trailer Now Proven Real, We Now Have a Good Idea What to Expect From The Next Three

18 décembre 2025 à 20:05

With the theatrical release of our first look at Avengers: Doomsday, previously-leaked details surrounding three more upcoming trailers now appear to have been confirmed.

Last week, it was reported that Disney would launch four different Avengers: Doomsday trailers attached to Avatar: Fire and Ash over the course of four weeks. Subsequent claims then pointed to the first of these revealing the return of Steve Rogers — something that's now been proven accurate.

So what's next? Well, fans are expecting the remaining three trailers to feature similar, character-focused reveals for Thor and Doctor Doom, before a final trailer that's more of a general tease for the whole movie.

With Steve Rogers' turn in the spotlight now available to watch publicly by Avatar: Fire and Ash theater attendees, fans expect Thor's trailer to launch next week, right around Christmas Day. The Doctor Doom-focused trailer is then expected around New Year's Day, before the overall Doomsday trailer hits slightly later in January.

At least, that's what fans believe based on leaks that got Captain America's return right. So far, Disney has not said anything officially about its plans to promote Doomsday, or how it will release these trailers online, rather than as something designed to get people into theaters to watch the new Avatar movie.

Plans can always change, of course, but it'll be interesting to see whether Marvel hastens the arrival of its main Doomsday trailer — something that's expected to feature more of the movie's cast — following an early backlash to Chris Evans' return that some fans have labelled 'disrespectful' to current Captain America Anthony Mackie. It's a point of discussion IGN has also expanded upon, suggesting it has exposed Marvel's failure to introduce more fan-favorite characters in the years since Endgame.

Purported details of Thor's trailer are also already floating around the internet, and claim it will show a more sober take on the character than the wackier version seen in Taika Waititi's largely-panned Thor: Love and Thunder. While Chris Hemsworth was previously confirmed for the movie, re-establishing his character (and reminding audiences that another core Avengers member will be back) will likely be a draw.

As for Doctor Doom, well, audiences are yet to properly see former Iron Man legend Robert Downey Jr. in the role — save for his shock appearance in costume at Comic-Con to announce his involvement, back in July 2024.

Earlier today, Avengers: Doomsday directors Joe and Anthony Russo posted their own short teaser for their upcoming Marvel blockbuster, exactly 12 months before its theatrical release. The next month should be an interesting one for Avengers fans, as the wait for December 18, 2026 continues.

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 Apple AirPods Pro 3 Drops Back Down to $199, Target Is Still Offering Delivery by Christmas

18 décembre 2025 à 20:05

Heads up: AirPods Pro 3 earbuds just got a new price cut that beats all previous deals, including Black Friday. Several retailers have once again lowered the price of the Apple AirPods Pro 3 earbuds to $199. That's $20 lower than the Black Friday sale price, and a big drop compared to the retail price of $249. This would make a fantastic (albeit extremely generous) gift for any iOS user, even if that person already has an older generation AirPods Pro. Some of the retailers can still have it delivered by Christmas, although at this point you certainly don't want to dawdle.

Update: If you want to get it by Christmas, get it from Target.

AirPods Pro 3 Earbuds for $199 (New All-Time Low Price)

The AirPods Pro 3 launched on September 19, so it's just over 2 months old and you can already get it for over 30% off. Like its predecessor, this is easily the best earbuds for anyone who uses an iPhone. Although it looks pretty similar to the 2nd gen AirPods, there are some pretty significant improvements under the hood. The most notable new feature is the built-in heart rate sensing, but the AirPods Pro 3 improves in other subtle ways as well, including better audio quality, better noise cancelation, long battery life, and a more weatherproof IP57 shell.

Released alongside the AirPods Pro 3 was Apple's "Live Translation", which is an Apple Intelligence feature that will translate other languages on the fly. This isn't exclusive to the AirPods Pro, however, since it can also be used with the 2nd gen AirPods Pro and the AirPods 4. Initial reports are really positive, including this take from PCMag.

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.

Avengers: Doomsday Trailer Officially Confirms The Return of Captain America Star Chris Evans

18 décembre 2025 à 20:02

It's now official: Captain America star Chris Evans will be back in Avengers: Doomsday.

Disney's first trailer for the December 2026 blockbuster — which first leaked online earlier this week — has now been officially released in theaters alongside the first showings of Avatar: Fire and Ash. And with this, Evans' return is now set in stone.

The minute-long trailer begins with a familiar figure parking a motorcycle outside a 1950s-style house. After carefully folding away his Captain America uniform, Evans is then revealed — and we see him holding a baby. The trailer then cuts to black, before on-screen text confirms: "Steve Rogers will return in Avengers: Doomsday." Finally, we see a ticking countdown clock, tracking the months, days, hours, minutes and seconds until Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters a year from now, on December 18, 2026.

Earlier today, Avengers: Doomsday directors Joe and Anthony Russo posted their own short teaser for their upcoming Marvel blockbuster, exactly 12 months before its theatrical release — featuring the countdown clock now seen in the Steve Rogers reveal trailer.

And as IGN reported this morning, today has seen fans heading into Avatar: Fire and Ash screening around the world expecting to see the Doomsday trailer, though many (but not all) have been left disappointed. Disney appears to have kept the trailer to a very limited release until now, with clips posted to social media still being removed by copyright claim.

For many Marvel fans, Evans' return will not come as too much of a surprise. Outside of the trailer's leak online this week, filming reports from this summer appeared to show the same 1950s-style house being secretly constructed, with many fans recognizing its design from the final scene in Avengers: Endgame. Fans also spent a good deal of time analysing recent photos of Evans' real-life arms, and noted that he appeared to have returned to his Captain America physique.

Now, the spoiler tag has well and truly been snipped off by Marvel, which is clearly keen to tell audiences to expect more from Evans' character, a year in advance of Doomsday's release.

So, what's going on here, story-wise? Of course, the last time we saw Steve Rogers in Avengers: Endgame, he was off to return the Infinity Stones to their original places across reality. Following that, he was expected to return to the present — but instead stayed in the 1950s, apparently to live out a peaceful life with his sweetheart Peggy Carter.

But fans think there's more story to tell here — story which would then take place before Steve turns up as an old man and hands his shield over to Sam Wilson, something that also happened in Endgame. Could Steve's multiversal mission have somehow attracted the attention of Doctor Doom, setting up a fresh rivalry between Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans' characters?

The idea of more story for Steve Rogers is also something Avengers: Endgame and Doomsday directors Joe and Anthony Russo have teased, as early as 2021. Could everything that's about to happen in Doomsday (and Secret Wars) take place before Steve hands over the shield? And how will the fact that Steve Rogers is now a father play out? Is his baby about to be kid-napped by Doctor Doom, just as Sue and Reed Richards' toddler Franklin was? It's going to be a long 12 months until we find out.

Disney's theatrical release of the first Avengers: Doomsday trailer is reportedly just the first of four separate trailers set to be shown with Avatar over the next four weeks, in a move designed to encourage repeat viewings and keep audiences entertained with a series of big reveals. Confirmation of Steve Rogers' return is certainly a strong start.

For more on Cap's return, check out how Chris Evans coming back for Avengers: Doomsday might just be Marvel admitting their biggest failure.

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

Chris Evans' Captain America is Back in Avengers: Doomsday, But Marvel Might Have Just Admitted Its Biggest Failure

18 décembre 2025 à 20:02

Ever since Kevin Feige and Robert Downey, Jr. heralded the arrival of Avengers: Doomsday at Comic-Con 2024, fans have been clinging to any scrap of news they can find about this hotly anticipated sequel. What is Doomsday really about? Why is Downey playing this iconic Marvel villain? How will this film cap off the MCU’s Multiverse Saga?

At long last, the first trailer for Avengers: Doomsday is here, and we get answers to exactly none of those questions. Instead, Marvel has opted to tease the next Avengers movie by giving us a new glimpse of a familiar hero. Chris Evans’ Steve Rogers will be back for the fifth Avengers movie, and he’s got a baby in tow.

In some ways, this is indeed a big reveal, giving us hints about the plot and direction of Doomsday. But in other ways, it’s a surprisingly disappointing way of kicking off the film’s marketing. Why is a movie that’s supposed to bring together the current generation of MCU heroes so preoccupied with the former Captain America? Let’s discuss why this teaser has us so disappointed.

What Happens in the Avengers: Doomsday Teaser?

The cast of Avengers: Doomsday is going to be massive, as evidenced by the livestream from a few months back featuring dozens of actors’ chairs and culminating with Downey himself. But the first teaser focuses on none of those actors. Instead, we get the first confirmation of the pervasive rumor that Evans is reprising the Steve Rogers role in Doomsday. He’s not only back, but he apparently has a pretty big part to play if he’s getting his own teaser.

This short trailer is more a tone piece than anything that sheds much light on the plot of Doomsday. We hear a somber piano rendition of Alan Silvestri’s iconic Avengers theme and see sun-drenched scenes of Steve riding his motorcycle home, handling his old Captain America uniform, and cradling a newborn baby. Clearly, retirement and domestic anonymity are treating him well.

And that’s about it. The trailer then cuts to black and promises “Steve Rogers will return in Avengers: Doomsday.” The footage then ends with a countdown timer to Doomsday’s theatrical release in December 2026.

On the surface, this teaser doesn’t do much more than confirm Evans’ appearance in Doomsday. Which is nice and all, but it was already pretty widely assumed he’d be back in some capacity. Why not just throw a Chris Evans chair in along with the rest in that previous livestream and leave it at that?

The emphasis on Steve and Peggy Carter’s child is an interesting wrinkle, though. How will the baby factor into the plot of Doomsday? What does it mean that Steve and Peggy had a baby in the first place? There are a lot of lingering questions about Steve’s status quo at the end of 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. Did Steve affect the MCU’s Sacred Timeline by travelling back to the past and staying there? Will there be far-reaching, unintended consequences of that act?

Perhaps the biggest question is how Downey’s Doctor Doom factors into all of this. We’re still waiting to find out if Downey is actually playing Victor von Doom or if this character is a variant of Tony Stark. We have to wonder if Steve’s act of travelling back in time and fathering a child who shouldn’t exist creates a splinter timeline where things go wrong for the MCU. Is Doom also a product of that timeline? Does he harbor a grudge against Cap for altering the natural order of things? Steve may wind up having to atone for his decision to retire and muck about with time, however harmless his intentions. Yes, the poor guy deserved that long-overdue dance, but at what cost?

Those are all questions worth considering as we wait for more Avengers: Doomsday footage. But that’s not really why we’re here. Rather than being excited by the possibilities stirred up in this teaser, we come away merely with a feeling of resignation. Steve Rogers is back, and we couldn’t be more disappointed.

Why Cap’s Return Is So Disappointing

To be clear, we’re not disappointed that Evans is returning to the Marvel fold. Steve’s story in Endgame wrapped on enough of an open-ended note that there’s obviously still more to explore with the character. The problem is more the way in which this trailer suggests that Steve is going to be a focal point of Doomsday (and by extension Secret Wars, too). It’s no accident that Marvel is making Evans’ character the sole focal point of the first Doomsday footage. They’re telegraphing the fact that he has an integral part to play in this story about the Marvel multiverse collapsing.

Again, we have no problem with Steve playing a supporting role in Doomsday and Secret Wars. He’s still the hero so many other characters revere and respect. He has valuable experience to bring to the table. And as the walls between universes begin to crumble, there’s plenty of potential for Evans to have fun playing multiversal variants of Steve Rogers.

But why is he being positioned as one of the main characters of Doomsday? Hasn’t Steve had his time in the spotlight by now? What about the many, many characters Marvel has spent the past seven years and three phases introducing? Heck, we have a new Captain America in Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson. Why isn’t he getting his own trailer? Or what about other major players like Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi, Pedro Pascal’s Mister Fantastic, or Letitia Wright’s Black Panther? What about Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova and her fellow New Avengers?

Apparently, Steve is a bigger priority for Marvel than any of those characters. And not just him. Recent leaks have suggested that Marvel will be following up this Steve Rogers trailer with a second focused on Chris Hemsworth’s Thor and a third focused on Downey’s Doom before finally dropping a fourth, more traditional trailer. Assuming those leaks are true (and this trailer makes it seem like they are), that means Marvel’s early marketing for Doomsday will center entirely around the core trinity of Evans, Hemsworth, and Downey. This Avengers sequel is showing every sign of being centered around the same core trinity that the previous four films were. Is this 2025 or 2015?

That speaks volumes about Marvel’s approach to Doomsday and their lack of faith in the newer characters they’ve tried so hard to establish post-Endgame.

That speaks volumes about Marvel’s approach to Doomsday and their lack of faith in the newer characters they’ve tried so hard to establish post-Endgame. They clearly don’t trust characters like Sam Wilson or the New Avengers to generate the excitement and hype they’re looking for. Instead, this is Marvel playing the old hits and banking on the proven favorites.

This suggests that Marvel has pretty much given up trying to salvage the Multiverse Saga as it has been. Not that we can entirely blame them. The MCU has grown far more inconsistent in recent years in terms of both quality and box office performance. Audiences have struggled to connect with these newer characters in the same way they did the classic Avengers lineup. Even with Marvel pivoting to more of a quality over quantity approach in 2025, the box office returns have remained pretty sluggish.

There have been some major successes during the Multiverse Saga, most notably 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home and 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine. But it’s also telling that both of those films trade so heavily on nostalgia for older superhero characters. No Way Home probably wouldn’t have soared past a billion dollars without the help of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, nor would Deadpool have without the help of Hugh Jackman coming back as Wolverine. Marvel must be looking at those numbers and deciding that nostalgia is the best, easiest way to ensure that Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars are successful. Forget the hardcore fans who have memorized every name and face in the MCU. It’s time to target the casual audiences who checked out of the MCU once Evans and Downey did.

We can certainly understand the studio’s reasoning here. It’s easier to pivot to nostalgia than try to fundamentally repair what hasn’t been working for the past seven years. But that doesn’t make it any less disappointing. Flawed or not, there’s still a lot of potential in the current MCU. The whole problem with the Multiverse Saga is that Marvel has spent so much time and energy introducing new characters and not nearly enough on bringing them together and building connections between them. Heck, the out-of-continuity Marvel Zombies series did more on that front than anything else.

Doomsday should mark the point where Marvel finally addresses that fundamental flaw. This is where we finally see two teams of Avengers butt heads while the fate of their world and countless others hangs in the balance. This is where those newer characters have to finally sink or swim. Instead, they’re all going to be playing second fiddle to the original Cap, Thor, and a guy who looks like Iron Man.

Will Marvel’s nostalgia ploy work? Probably. Again, casual audiences will be thrilled to see these old favorites again. These trailers will no doubt build additional hype for the next Avengers movies and help gin up the numbers for Avatar: Fire and Ash in the process, since they’re playing before the new James Cameron film. Throw in the inevitable return of key players like Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine and Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man in Secret Wars and it’s safe to assume that Marvel Studios has a giant pile of cash coming its way.

But that doesn’t change the fact that this is the easy, cynical way out. Marvel used to be skilled at making audiences care about heroes they had never heard of before. Just look at the success of the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy. Now they seem to have lost their touch, and they’ve given up trying to get that mojo back.

Nostalgia will probably help the MCU in the short term. But what about after Phase 6? What happens when the time comes again for Marvel to focus on a new generation of characters and new storylines. They certainly can’t count on Evans and Downey to stick around forever. What reason is there to assume things will be any different next time around? Is Marvel just hoping to coast along until the time comes to introduce the MCU version of the X-Men?

The most we can hope for is that Marvel ultimately finds a way to balance the classic Avengers trinity with the newer generation of MCU heroes. But with a cast this massive, that’s far easier said than done. Doomsday is a make-or-break moment for the MCU, and Marvel has opted for the easier path. We’ll see how well that works out for them.

For more on Avengers: Doomsday, see what the current status quo of the MCU is right now and brush up on every Marvel movie and series in development.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.

Baldur's Gate 3 Developer Will Hold Fan Q&A About Dev Processes Following AI Backlash, And Says It Will 'Make Changes' to Processes That 'Fail to Align With Who We Are'

18 décembre 2025 à 19:43

Following multiple days of criticism from fans and fellow game developers over the studio's use of generative AI, Baldur's Gate 3 and Divinity maker Larian Studios CEO Swen Vincke has announced an AMA (Ask Me Anything, typically on Reddit) in the new year, inviting people to ask members of different Larian departments "any questions you have about Divinity and our dev process directly."

In a post to Twitter/X, Vincke said that since the announcement of the studio's next game, Divinity, at The Game Awards last week, "a lot has become lost in translation." He continued, saying that "Larian's DNA is agency" and said it would be irresponsible of the studio not to "evaluate new technologies," presumably referring to the generative AI discussion that started the controversy. But he also appeared to backpedal somewhat on the idea, adding that "our processes are always evolving, and where they are not efficient or fail to align with who we are, we will make changes."

Vincke's full statement is below:

It’s been a week since we announced Divinity, our next RPG, and a lot has become lost in translation.

Larian’s DNA is agency. Everything we work towards is to the benefit of our teams, games, and players. A better work day, and a better game. Our successes come from empowering people to work in their own way and bring the best out of their skill & craft, so that we can make the best RPGs we can possibly make.

In that context, it would be irresponsible for us not to evaluate new technologies. However, our processes are always evolving, and where they are not efficient or fail to align with who we are, we will make changes.

To give you more insight, we’ll do an AMA featuring our different departments after the holiday break, in which you’ll get the opportunity to ask us any questions you have about Divinity and our dev process directly.

We’ll announce the date in the new year. In the meantime, I wish you all happy holidays!

Vincke's statement comes in response to criticism of his own remarks in interviews following the announcement of a new Divinity last week. In a Bloomberg interview, Vincke admitted that Larian has been pushing generative AI internally, even though it hasn't led to gains in efficiency or speed. Some examples given included using the technology for brainstorming, PowerPoint presentations, pitching concept art, and writing placeholder text.

In response, a number of players across various social platforms, as well as game developers and even former Larian employees criticized the studio, arguing that the listed uses for generative AI at Larian either seemed like things that didn't benefit from generative AI at all (such as placeholder text), or alternatively were key parts of the artistic process and would suffer from not having humans at the helm throughout (concept art).

Vincke then responded with multiple statements, one given to us, and another posted on Twitter/X, where he claimed that critics were misunderstanding what Larian was doing and that "We are neither releasing a game with any AI components, nor are we looking at trimming down teams to replace them with AI."

We also had our own interview with Vincke about Divinity, which you can read in full here.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

Avatar: Fire and Ash Post-Credits Check-In (No Spoilers)

18 décembre 2025 à 19:00

Let's make this simple: You want to know if there are any mid- or post-credits scenes in Avatar: Fire and Ash. The answer is no; James Cameron has never included a closing credits scene in any of his movies, and that doesn’t change here.

The third chapter in James Cameron’s Avatar saga, Avatar: Fire and Ash, picks up with the Sully family now fully immersed within the Metkayina, the clan that gave them safe shelter in Avatar: The Way of Water (2022). They’re still mourning the loss of Neteyam – the eldest son of Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) – who was killed in that second film.

There are also looming concerns about the human boy known as Spider (Jack Champion) – the biological son of the Sullys’ sworn enemy, Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang). He’s grown up alongside the Sullys and is treated like a family member by all of them… well, all except Neytiri, who always kept him at arm’s length thanks to his humanity, and who has now grown even more openly hostile towards him in the wake of Neteyam’s death.

This will lead to the latest adventure for our Na'vi heroes on Pandora... which we'll get into with a full spoiler discussion on Friday. So be sure to check back on this page then, and in the meantime take a look at our chat with Cameron and Sigourney Weaver about how the director has changed between Aliens and Avatar, or watch our Avatar movies recap below to catch up on the story of Jake, Neytiri and the rest.

Does Avatar: Fire and Ash Have a Mid- or Post-Credits Scene?

It does not, though as you’re listening to Miley Cyrus sing over the closing credits, you do get the standard “Visit Scenic Pandora”-style shots of the planet’s landscapes, seascapes, and wildlife that also concluded the first two films. This time, they switch it up a bit, because there are also shots of the primary characters pulled from footage we’ve seen so far.

“Reap What You Sow”: A First Look at the Savage World of NO LAW

18 décembre 2025 à 19:00

The Game Awards included a reveal trailer for NO LAW, a cyberpunk first-person shooter from developer Neon Giant and publisher Krafton that’s coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The trailer gave us a first look at the sleazy, lawless city of Port Desire and ended on a line that hints at the game’s tone: “Reap what you sow.”

You play as Grey Harker, a seasoned military veteran who barely survived his last deployment. So he decided to leave war behind to lead a life of peace and gardening, but of course, that peaceful life wasn’t in the cards. Trouble came knocking on his door (or more like bulldozing through it), and now it’s time for some payback.

Trouble isn’t exactly rare in Port Desire. As the trailer says, it’s a city with no laws and no oversight. It’s located on the coast where the borders of three nations meet, leading to a melting pot of both people and environments. There are seedy areas soaked in neon, tall buildings that stretch into the smog-filled sky, as well as lush areas where the jungle has started encroaching on the city. And you’ll see all of it as you travel across the dense open-world city.

The Mayors have used violence and intimidation to establish a kind of order, but it’s tenuous at best. Everyone is out for themselves, justice is self-defined, and you’re seemingly always one step away from crossing the wrong person. In this den of danger and vice, Grey’s decisions are up to you.

The open-ended story of NO LAW evolves depending on the decisions you make. Will you help and protect those who need it? Or will you take what you want when you want it, whoever gets in your way be damned? These decisions have consequences, and each decision and consequence compound on each other to make each playthrough different. After all, “reap what you sow” doesn’t just apply to the people who’ve wronged Grey. It also applies to you, the player. This is the kind of story where it won’t be possible to see every path and outcome in one playthrough, and your relationships will be shaped by your choices.

Grey’s morality isn’t the only thing you’ll have control over. It’ll also be up to you how to approach combat, with several tools at your disposal. Having been in the military, Grey has training in gunplay, stealth, and hacking, but you’ll be the one to decide if he should specialize in one of these paths or be a jack-of-all-trades. He can stick to the shadows and strategically eliminate foes, use devices and hacking to outsmart them, or say to hell with all that and just rush in guns blazing, driven purely by rage.

The trailer shows some of that in action, including sneaking through vents to get the drop on enemies from above, using a device to map a room, and facing a giant mech in a 1-on-1 shootout in the street using explosives in the environment. You can also see in the trailer that environments are built with verticality in mind, providing ample opportunity for both catching enemies unawares and violently kicking them off elevated surfaces to their deaths.

This is the first look at NO LAW, but there are sure to be many more details revealed in the future. No release information was given, but we know it’s coming to Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, and it’s available to wishlist now. If you want to get the latest updates on its progress, you can follow NO LAW on Discord, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, or Facebook.

Story-Driven Survival Game Oppidum Arrives on Nintendo Switch

18 décembre 2025 à 19:00

The Nintendo Switch port of 1–4-player survival game Oppidum is officially out, completing its list of platforms after it came to PC, PlayStation, and Xbox earlier this year.

Oppidum was created by Spanish indie developer EP Games with a team so small it only has one programmer, though you wouldn’t know it from the scope of the game. It has more than 40 hours of story content and a ton of features. It takes place on the once beautiful and magical island of Insule, but now corruption has spread across it and its creatures. And you're the hero who comes to break the curse that looms over the island.

You’ll establish a camp that’s your safe space, then explore the island’s woods, swamps, and caves to try to locate the source of the corruption. These areas are full of creatures you’ll need to deal with, some of which are still touched by the magic that imbues the island.

Combat is real-time and you’ll often face groups of enemies, so you need to pay attention to the skills of each to figure out which ones to take out first. For example, one enemy might charge you with its shield raised and seem like the most immediate threat. But it could be protecting a nearby healer, so you’ll need to avoid the aggressive attacker and take out the healer first.

Enemies will drop resources, and you can gather others by chopping down trees, taking a pickaxe to rocks, or opening treasure chests (some of which are locked until you clear the surrounding area of enemies). You’ll notice that after chopping down a tree, a glowing silhouette of it will remain. That means it will eventually regrow in that same spot, powered by the energy of the island. With the materials you gather, you can construct buildings, craft tools, upgrade your weapons, plant and tend crops, take care of animals, and cook meals.

As you venture across the island, you’ll meet and build relationships with its inhabitants. They’ll have new quests for you, and as you help them, they’ll help you in return. They’ll move the story forward and inform you about local customs and lore, deepening your connection to the world around you. And completing their quests can score you rewards like increased health and blueprints to improve your camp and equipment, so it’s worth helping everyone you find. As your gear improves, you’ll be able to tackle new areas, where you’ll find new residents to help, new mysteries to solve, and new information to uncover.

Completing objectives can also open up unexpected new possibilities. For example, when you defeat a boss, it’ll unlock its Altars, where you can make offerings to get new upgrades. That includes things like expanding your inventory, increasing your health, increasing how many of one item can be included in a stack, and more. This gameplay loop guarantees that through Oppidum’s 40+ hours of content, there’s always something new to discover and new goals to accomplish.

You can do all of this solo or with up to three other players at the same time. There’s cross-play between all platforms, with options for shared or private playthroughs. A shared game allows everyone to invite new people, nobody can be kicked out, all players can connect at any time (meaning you don’t need a particular person to be online in order to play), and if someone leaves the realm, their slot can’t be used by someone else. A private game is created by one person, and only they have the power to invite or kick out other players. It’s also only possible to join the game while the creator is online, but if someone leaves the realm or is kicked, they can be replaced by another player.

The experience can also be fully customized, including difficulty level and gameplay options. Difficulty can be altered with multiple different presets to tailor it to exactly what you’re looking for. If you just want stress-free gameplay where you gather resources and build up your camp without facing any real danger, you can turn on the Relaxed option, which makes it impossible for you to die. On the other end of the spectrum, if you’re looking for more of a challenge, you can activate Hardcore mode, which makes enemies much tougher and survival mechanics harsher.

If you want to get into more nitty gritty gameplay options, you can do that too. You can change things like enemies’ aggro range and how long an in-game day lasts. And there are accessibility options like disabling the need to hold buttons, adjusting durability settings for your tools and gear (which includes turning off the durability system altogether), simplifying fishing, and several more. The breadth of options earned Oppidum the Best Accessibility award at Spain’s Iris Games Awards, so needless to say it’s one of the game’s strongest features.

The Nintendo Switch launch of Oppidum also includes the recently released Patch 1.2.0, which added a bunch of new features and content. The headlining additions are two new minigames. Beach Pong is what it sounds like, and you can play against a friend or bennies, the island’s native creatures. In Battle Arena, you can earn rewards for fighting off waves of enemies. You can play in co-op with up to four players, or compete against each other in PvP.

The patch also added a new cue to let you know the right time to parry an enemy, a “snap to grid” option during building construction, a new pause feature, and lots more. For full specifics on the patch and everything it added, check out EP Games’ official website. For the latest news and updates, you can follow the game on X/Twitter or Bluesky.

How to Watch Evangelion in Order

18 décembre 2025 à 18:32

Evangelion is one of the most influential and revered anime series ever created, with a fan base that continues to grow with each passing year. If you’re someone looking to jump in for the very first time, things can become rather daunting quickly, especially once you start looking at all of the titles.

With an original series, a reboot, and a recap, there's plenty to discover in the iconic sci-fi anime. To help you get started, I put together my recommended watch order for the full franchise. As we gear up for the original series' 30th anniversary next year, it's time to get in the robot and experience the world of Evangelion.

At a Glance: Evangelion Watch Order

If you have all of Eva lined out in front of you, here's a quick look at our recommended watch order. For more information on the series and its development, scroll on.

What Is Evangelion?

Neon Genesis Evangelion first began as a manga series in December 1994. The anime premiered in October 1995 and aired on TV until March 1996. The series was both created and written by Hideaki Anno, with production occurring at Studio Gainax. Following the TV anime, Evangelion became incredibly popular, resulting in the development of The End of Evangelion to provide an alternate ending to the series.

Things would end here for most anime series, but Evangelion is anything but that. Hideaki Anno established Studio Khara in 2006 to retell the story of Neon Genesis Evangelion through four films referred to as the Rebuild of Evangelion. This retelling spanned 14 years in total, with the final film releasing in March 2021.

Beyond anime, Evangelion has expanded into numerous areas around Japan, including pachinko machines, exclusive merchandise lines, and much more. If you’re aiming to immerse yourself in Eva for the first time, the anime is the best place to do so.

Which Evangelion Anime Should You Watch First?

While there are three different places you can realistically start from, the only anime you should consider starting with is the original: Neon Genesis Evangelion. This was the first entry in the series, and as such, it’s the best place to start overall. The 26-episode anime serves as the basis for both Evangelion: Death(True)² and a large portion of the Rebuild, and is a necessary watch before The End of Evangelion.

Where to Watch the Evangelion Anime

The original Neon Genesis Evangelion TV series, the Evangelion: Death(True)² recap film, and The End of Evangelion are all available on Netflix to watch in the United States. The Rebuild of Evangelion, however, is streaming on Amazon Prime.

If you’re someone who enjoys purchasing anime on Blu-ray, the Crunchyroll Store has the original series and films, plus the Rebuild available for purchase. Distributor GKIDS is currently rereleasing the first two films in the Rebuild series, so those are available for pre-order right now.

The Best Evangelion Series Watch Order

1. Neon Genesis Evangelion

As outlined, Neon Genesis Evangelion is the best entry point for Eva. The 26-episode anime marked a bold and impactful take on the prominent mecha genre, exploring deep themes of depression, individuality, religion, and even the concept of evolution.

Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the most influential anime ever created. Famously, the anime faced huge production issues that led to Anno and the staff behind the series abandoning some aspects of the narrative to ensure episodes came out on time.

2. The End of Evangelion

The End of Evangelion is the ultimate conclusion that wraps up the original TV anime in a new way. Originally released in Japan in 1997, this film replaces the last two episodes of the anime with entirely new material that reimagines the climax of the series in a new way. The cinematic approach to film allowed for bigger fights, bolder ideas, and a larger impact to the viewer. To this day, The End of Evangelion is highly revered as one of the best anime films ever created.

3. Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone

Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone marked the beginning of a new project, the Rebuild of Evangelion. This first film is quite faithful to the original series, bringing better animation and a more streamlined narrative to offer new viewers a chance to enter the world of Evangelion for the first time. Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone specifically follows the events of the first six episodes of the series.

4. Evangelion: 2.22 You Can (Not) Advance

The Third Impact looms, and it's up to Shinji and the others to stop it. The second film in the Rebuild of Evangelion was much bolder than the first, bringing signficant changes across the board compared to the original series. New 3DCG technology previously not available was also implemented in this film. One major change was the introduction of Mari Illustrious Makinami, who while only appearing briefly in this film, would play a key role in the latter two Rebuild projects.

5. Evangelion: 3.33 You Can (Not) Redo

Evangelion: 3.33 You Can (Not) Redo is the beginning of a completely new ending for Evangelion, offering a narrative that is almost entirely detached from the original series. The beginning of the film is set a whole 14 years after the end of Evangelion: 2.22 You Can (Not) Advance, and there are numerous new characters and fights that occur throughout. While the first two Rebuild films set the stage, Evangelion: 3.33 You Can (Not) Redo is where this project began to stand as a complete reimagining.

6. Evangelion: 3.0+1.01 Thrice Upon a Time

Finally, Evangelion: 3.0+1.01 Thrice Upon a Time acts as the ultimate conclusion to the Rebuild of Evangelion. It may have taken 9 years to release, but the wait was more than worth it. The film sits at 154 minutes, acting as one of the longest animated films ever produced. Thrice Upon a Time puts a fitting bow on the franchise as a whole, featuring incredible fights, satisfying character progression, and a hopeful message that will stay with viewers long after the credits roll.

The Future of Evangelion

With the Rebuild of Evangelion complete, it’s unlikely that Hideaki Anno will create any further entries in the series. The release of Evangelion: 3.0+1.11 Thrice Upon a Time was promoted with the slogan "Bye-bye, all of Evangelion" on posters, indicating that this is the end for the franchise. Instead, the future of Evangelion will likely consist of more collaborations, merchandise, and releases of the existing anime.

Or so I thought. 2026 will mark the 30th anniversary of Eva, and it seems there's plenty of projects on the way to celebrate. A new Evangelion short film was just announced, with Naoyuki Asano directing and Hidaeki Anno leading the script. The film will screen at the Evangelion:30+; 30th Anniversary of Evangelion festival in Tokyo next February and is confirmed to run for around 13 minutes.

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.

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