Evidence of an under-wraps third expansion for The Witcher 3 continues to mount, with one report now pointing to a possible 'Dune-style' location for the new adventure.
Word of a fresh DLC for the beloved 2015 blockbuster RPG began bubbling up in earnest last month, fuelled by a set of reports from insiders and apparent teases by developer CD Projekt that it had something secret in the works.
Now, a report by IGN Poland has said its local sources have been aware of potential plans for several years, and that — initially at least — its developers had expressed a keen interest in exploring Zerrikania, an exotic desert region to the far east of The Witcher 3's current map.
While IGN Poland cautions that this information dates back several years, it also goes on to list a string of reasons why Zerrikania makes a lot of sense for the expansion, due to various hints at a Zerrikanian Manticore School in previous expansion Blood and Wine, and references to the region made by other characters. The same school is also a part of The Witcher's tabletop RPG — as seen in the artwork above.
Separately, a Eurogamer report has given a more black-and-white reason why this expansion is likely real and expected to launch in 2026: because there's currently a gap in CD Projekt's employee incentive program target indicative of the company launching something expected to earn significant money.
As Eurogamer notes, CD Projekt doesn't really have anything else expected to fit the bill, with The Witcher 4 not set for launch until 2027 at the earliest, and Cyberpunk 2 after that. Work on a new IP is also ongoing, but even further off.
There's a possibility still that this could relate to some other, smaller Witcher spinoff, but with all the smoke around a Witcher 3 expansion now rising, everything looks to be pointing in the same direction.
A new DLC feels like a smart idea to reawaken lapsed interest ahead of the series' next chapter, via extra content sold to The Witcher 3's existing audience of more than 60 million players. This content could be used as a reason to sell the game anew, to bring fresh fans to the decade-old role-player, and potentially set up plot points to be expanded upon in the franchise's eventual sequels.
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
Sarah Michelle Gellar, star of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has described the franchise's upcoming new Hulu series as a "continuation" of the original — something that inspired its new name.
Speaking on the ShutUpEvan podcast, Gellar said that the new series was best described not as a reboot or even as a full sequel, but as a continued version of the classic series that originally aired from 1997 to 2003. Saying that, however, the new episodes will come with a fresh title.
"It's not a sequel, it's not a reboot," Gellar said. "It's a continuation. I think so, because where she is now in this world and what this world is that Buffy lives in — with her, without her — [that] kind of exploration... It's not a reboot, it's not picking up with all the same characters right away. That's why the name was even important to me, y'know, in Buffy: New Sunnydale. It's Buffy, but it's also something else."
Word that the series would be titled as Buffy: New Sunnydale has previously been rumored, though Gellar's comment serves as confirmation this is the official name for the upcoming show.
The project has been spearheaded by Marvel's Eternals director Chloé Zhao, who convinced an initially wary Gellar to return for the project and serve alongside her as an executive producer.
"I always said I would never do it, and I have learned a very hard lesson in life there's a reason why that saying is 'never say never'," Gellar continued. "So I will eat my words and I'm okay with that. I've learned my lesson, that's totally fair. I never saw how to do it. I never saw how and why it could be as good and be... I'm not trying to be better, I just want to hold and honor the memory of what we've created.
"I know sometimes that memory is conflicted for people about how they're supposed to feel about it," she added. "But a lot of people put their blood, sweat and tears into making what I think is an incredibly great show and I'm incredibly proud of it."
While last summer was marked by a flurry of casting activity and set leaks, word on the project's progress quietened during 2025's final months, and the it's unclear what the timeline is for additional episodes to be filmed or broadcast. Gellar noted the ongoing wait for fans to hear more, but said it was more important to not rush and "sully the legacy" of the original show.
"We're still working on that why and how," Gellar concluded. "I know we live in a society where we want binging, we want it now. I know this seems like it's taking a long time, and that's because unless we're sure it's exactly what we set out to do and that it makes sense to do it, we don't want to sully the legacy. When I know it's perfect, then it will be out there. But I won't do it unless I know it can be that."
Image credit: Paul Archuleta/Getty Images
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
A ratings board leak has detailed Life is Strange: Reunion, a new game in the narrative adventure series that focuses on the return of fan-favorite character Chloe.
Details of Life is Strange: Reunion have now been made public by the European ratings board PEGI, which published a now-deleted plot summary for the game online last night.
Reunion's existance had long been rumored among Life is Strange fans clued into the franchise's ongoing development at troubled studio Deck Nine Games. The expectation is that Reunion will be made official in the imminent future, and launch not long after.
Life is Strange: Reunion is particularly notable as it appears to revive (or return) the character of Chloe, the original game's blue-haired best friend (or love interest) that you could sacrifice (or save) depending on your choices.
Deck Nine's most recent Life is Strange game, Double Exposure, received a negative reaction from many core fans of the series for returning to the story of original main character Max Caulfield in a reality in which Chloe survived the events of the franchise's first game but did not appear in person. Fans of the pair's romantic relationship option were particularly upset, as Double Exposure explained that the two characters were now broken up, seemingly permanently.
Purported leaks from within Deck Nine Games amid this backlash painted a picture of a troubled development, but also mentioned a further game being in the works that did feature Chloe. Reunion certainly seems to be this project — and it will be interesting to see whether its final version feels like it has been shaped by feedback to Double Exposure.
"Chloe Price was Max Caulfield's partner in time," reads a description of the game published by PEGI. "Losing her is Max's greatest regret. Now Chloe has come to Caledon University. Haunted by nightmares and impossible memories, Chloe needs Max's help. But Max is already in crisis: in three days, a deadly inferno will destroy the campus."
Other plot details include a character hallucinating on mushrooms, and a scene where a building is on fire with people trapped inside. The game will reportedly begin with a recap of previous Life is Strange entries, in which it sounds like we'll see Chloe during the events of the first game.
A digital deluxe version of the game will also be offered, containing additional outfits.
Life is Strange: Reunion is yet to be officially announced by publisher Square Enix, but it likely won't be long now. We've contacted the company for more.
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
Last year, Audible kicked off its brand new collection of Harry Potter Full Cast Audio Editions, with both Philosopher’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets already available. My absolute favourite is next, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, which is set to release on January 13, 2026.
Each of the Full Cast Editions retails for £17.99 standalone, though you don’t actually need to spend that much to listen. Audible’s new limited-time offer gives new and returning members three months ofPremium Plus for just £0.99 per month.
Anyone who doesn't currently have an active Audible membership should be eligible. That includes new subscribers as well as existing members whose subscriptions have since expired. This deal is running until January 29 in the UK, and January 21 in the US ($0.99 per month).
While that includes one credit per month, which you can use to grab any of the Harry Potter productions, or any other title in Audible’s library, you also get full access to the Plus Catalogue of thousands more audiobooks. And that includes the Harry Potter Full Cast Editions, so if you aren't fussed on owning each of the new editions, then you can keep your costs down to an absolute minimum, if you so choose to.
That means with Prisoner of Azkaban out in just a few days, you could listen to all three of the books available at a major discount. Plus, with that three-month membership, if you get your timings right (sign up by Jan. 14), you're pretty much covered for at least Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, and Half-Blood Prince as well. That's a pretty good result, in my books.
It's not just about Harry Potter either, several best-selling new and recent releases are available in an audiobook format and part of Audible's Premium Plus subscription plan.
For starters, the highly anticipated film Project Hail Mary is based on the best seller by Andy Weir. It's another personal favourite of mine, and the audiobook reading is truely marvellous, and might be one of the best ways to consume the novel. I can't spoil exactly why it's so good, but trust me, just listen and you'll totally get why!
There's also Rebecca Yarros' The Empyrean Series romantasy novels, that have consistently hit the top of the New York Times' best seller list throughout all of 2025, and they're all available in audiobook format for your pleasure. Sunrise on the Reaping, the widely popular latest Hunger Games novel that's also getting a movie adaptation this year, is also available for listening, and another popular pick for new subscribers.
If you do sign up, I'd recommend using your assigned monthly credit on an Audiobook you'd like to keep permanently, and listen to again, as you'll be able to listen at any time, even when your Audible subscription has ended.
Robert Anderson is Senior Commerce Editor and IGN's resident deals expert on games, collectibles, trading card games, and more. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter/X or Bluesky.
Square Enix and IceSitruuna have released the PC demos for Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined and Parasite Mutant, respectively. These PC demos will let you try these two games before they officially come out. In Dragon Quest VII Reimagined, the characters designed by famous manga artist Akira Toriyama have been transformed into a cute 3D art … Continue reading PC demos for Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined & Parasite Mutant→
Netflix has dashed the hopes of Stranger Things fans expecting a secret final episode of the series, by confirming that "every" episode of the show is now available.
Fans unhappy with the hit series' final season have driven themselves into a frenzy in recent days on social media, and pushed the "Conformity Gate" theory that suggested Netflix had another episode waiting in the wings that would answer all of their questions and alleviate their various concerns. The theory centers on much of the final season being a dream — essentially replicating the Indoctrination Theory that unhappy BioWare fans conjured up years ago, following the launch of Mass Effect 3.
Yesterday, the Conformity Gate theory was dealt a huge blow by Netflix, which announced... a flashy trailer of other TV shows and movies coming in 2026 rather than anything Stranger Things related. And now, the streamer has updated its Instagram account to make the end of Stranger Things even clearer, for anyone still needing it spelled out.
"ALL EPISODES OF STRANGER THINGS ARE NOW PLAYING," reads the bio of Netflix's official Stranger Things account on Instagram, leaving no room for any final secret new episode still lurking behind the scenes that might be yet to release.
Of course, Stranger Things remains a huge and lucrative franchise for Netflix and there's plenty still to come — but from spinoffs, rather than the original show, which has definitively now ended. The animated series Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 will tell new adventures featuring the series' core cast (voiced by other people) set between Seasons 2 and 3. A second spinoff will be a new live-action series, though with all-new characters.
"Stranger Things was a generational event that barreled into a series finale with almost impossible expectations surrounding it," IGN wrote in our review of the Stranger Things series finale. "The Duffers certainly evolved into the successful blockbuster directors they so admired in their childhoods, but their enduring legacy will be mostly doing right by a cast of characters who beguiled the globe."
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
Amazon has been dropping some very nice gaming deals recently to start off 2026. The latest offer to catch our eye is on Star Wars Outlaws for PS5 and Xbox Series X, which have both dropped to $19.99 for a limited time. This marks a return to the lowest price for both PS5 and Xbox Series X versions at Amazon, so this is a great opportunity to grab it. And why not spend these next few winter months journeying to a galaxy far, far away?
Star Wars Outlaws (PS5 and Xbox Series X) for $20
This Amazon Exclusive limited edition release of Star Wars Outlaws comes with some extras alongside the game. This version will set you up with The Rogue Infiltrator Character Pack, which features cosmetics for Kay and Nix that you can use in the game.
Still wondering if this is the game for you? Our review from IGN's Tristan Ogilvie called it a "fun intergalactic heist adventure with great exploration," though he noted at the time that it was "hindered by simple stealth, repetitive combat, and a few too many bugs at launch." However, since launch, it's received updates to give it a bit of a boost.
As mentioned before, this isn't the only video game deal to cross our radar over at Amazon. The retailer has had quite a few surprises up its sleeve recently, including a very big discount on Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and Astro Bot. Outside of Amazon, Walmart's even offering a great deal at the moment on Battlefield 6, if you've been waiting for a good time to add that to your library. For even more discounts on games, have a look at our roundup of the best deals of the day.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelancer who writes with the guides and commerce teams here at IGN.
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