Steam just cracked 40 million concurrent users for the first timeâ , meaning Valve's user count was bigger than 80% of the countries in the United Nations
Š Valve software
Š Valve software
Š Tobey Gronow
Š Mozilla
Š Capcom
Itâs that time of year. Whether youâve logged every nominee on Letterboxd or are just tuning in for the performances, The Oscars have arrived. A celebration of 2024 in cinema, Emilia PĂŠrez leads the charge with the most nominations, though predictions cite Anora, The Brutalist, and Conclave as top contenders. And yes, I do believe Challengers got snubbed, but this is The Academy, so we've seen worse.
This yearâs Oscars come with a couple of âfirsts.â It's Conan OâBrien's first time hosting, but it's also the first year the Oscars will be available to watch live on a streaming service. If youâre hoping to tune in, hereâs everything we know about how to watch the 2025 Oscars online.
The 97th Oscars ceremony is being hosted on Sunday, March 2. The Oscars officially start at 7pm EST/4pm PST, while the pre-ceremony red carpet show starts half an hour beforehand. The ceremony is always blocked out for three hours, though the full run-time can vary.
The Oscars are airing live on ABC and streaming on Hulu. This is the first year Hulu will simulcast the Oscars on its regular subscription tiers instead of just Hulu + Live TV. All Hulu subscriptions offer a 7-day free trial and are notably part of one of the more popular streaming bundles with Disney+ and Max. Otherwise, ABC channels are available through several live subscriptions, including YouTubeTV and fuboTV.
If youâre outside the US, the Oscars will be broadcast in more than 200 territories worldwide. You can check your international local listings by heading to this link.
Half of The Oscars is all the hullabaloo beforehand. Hulu will be airing the "Official Red Carpet Pre-Show," but plenty of local news stations will have their own "pre-shows" starting earlier in the afternoon. If you want to join in on the predictions and gossip, you can stream ABC News Live pre-shows for free through SlingTV's "Freestream" service.
Talk show host and comedian Conan OâBrien is hosting the Oscars this year, taking the mantle from Jimmy Kimmel, who hosted the two previous ceremonies. OâBrien is best known for his self-titled late night talk shows, though his most recent work is on the travel show Conan O'Brien Must Go.
The Academy has progressively revealed who will present at this yearâs ceremony. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the full list includes Harrison Ford, Gal Gadot, Andrew Garfield, Samuel L. Jackson, Margaret Qualley, Alba Rohrwacher, Zoe SaldaĂąa, Rachel Zegler, Dave Bautista, Joe Alwyn, Halle Berry, Sterling K. Brown, PenĂŠlope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Ana de Armas, Lily-Rose Depp, Robert Downey Jr., Elle Fanning, Whoopi Goldberg, Selena Gomez, Goldie Hawn, Scarlett Johansson, John Lithgow, Cillian Murphy, Connie Nielsen, Amy Poehler, DaâVine Joy Randolph, June Squibb, Ben Stiller, Emma Stone, Oprah Winfrey and Bowen Yang.
Several performances have been confirmed ahead of The Oscars. Variety reports that the ceremony will feature Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo performing live music from the soundtrack of 'Wicked.' Lisa, Raye, and Doja Cat, who recently released their joint single "Born Again," are also confirmed performers.
Š semiwork
Prices on Sword & Shield â Astral Radiance and Silver Tempest booster packs are climbing, and it is not just because people want to complete their sets. Stock is running low, and demand for chase cards like Alternate-Art Lugia V and Machamp V has pushed prices higher. If you have been putting off buying these, now is the time before they become even more challenging to find.
I have tracked down the best options for picking up multiple packs at a fair price. If you are hunting for Trainer Gallery hits, alternate arts, or rainbow rares, these are the best-sealed products that still offer great value.
Silver Tempest has been a fan favorite since its release, mostly due to its focus on Lugia VSTAR and its Alternate-Art Lugia V. The set features a mix of competitive staples and highly sought-after collectorâs cards, making it one of the strongest releases in the Sword & Shield era.
Build & Battle Stadium includes 12 booster packs, a stack of Energy cards, dice, and markers. Some of the most valuable cards in the set include Regidrago V Alternate Art, Rainbow Rare Lugia VSTAR, and Serena Full Art, which has been a staple in competitive play. The Trainer Gallery also features Rayquaza VMAX, Blaziken VMAX, and the stunning Friends in Galar full art card. If you are looking for a set with high-value pulls, this is one of the best available options at a reasonable price.
Astral Radiance may not have the same level of hype as Silver Tempest, but it has some of the most unique alternate-art cards of the Sword & Shield era. This Build & Battle Stadium includes 12 booster packs, Energy cards, dice, and condition markers.
The most valuable card in the set is Alternate-Art Machamp V, which features a lively market scene. Origin Forme Dialga V Alternate Art and Origin Forme Palkia V Alternate Art have also held strong value due to their playability and striking artwork. Its Trainer Gallery is packed with top-tier cards, including Garchomp V featuring Cynthia, Starmie V with Misty, and Zacian V with Hop. If you are looking for Full Art Trainers, Irida and Adaman are some of the best in the set, with strong value in both competitive and collector markets.
For a more affordable way to open multiple sets, the 2022 Collector Chest is a great pick. It includes five booster packs, two from Astral Radiance, two from Silver Tempest, and one from Fusion Strike. The three foil promos feature Hisuian Voltorb, Hisuian Growlithe, and Hisuian Sneasel, making it a nice bonus for collectors.
Fusion Strike has some of the most expensive cards from the Sword & Shield era, including Alternate-Art Gengar VMAX, Espeon VMAX, and Mew VMAX Rainbow Rare. The Silver Tempest and Astral Radiance packs offer shots at Lugia, Machamp, and strong Trainer Gallery cards. For under ÂŁ25, this is one of the best-value sealed products still available.
Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of "Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior". Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.
Š Sega
Š Rebellion
United West Team has just released a demo for Fallout Revelation Blues. Fallout Revelation Blues is a mod that aims to recreate Black Isleâs canceled Fallout 3 game in Fallout: New Vegas. So, if you are fans of the Fallout franchise, you should definitely give it a go. The demo features Burham Springs, where players ⌠Continue reading Demo released for Fallout Revelation Blues, a mod that aims to recreate Black Isleâs canceled Fallout 3 game in Fallout: New Vegas â
The post Demo released for Fallout Revelation Blues, a mod that aims to recreate Black Isleâs canceled Fallout 3 game in Fallout: New Vegas appeared first on DSOGaming.
Sonic fans, get ready for a treat. A team of programmers and modders has released an unofficial PC port of the Xbox 360 Sonic game, Sonic Unleashed. This unofficial PC port is available for download right now. Titled Unleashed Recompiled, this unofficial PC port was created through the process of static recompilation. The port offers ⌠Continue reading Download and play an unofficial PC port of Sonic Unleashed â
The post Download and play an unofficial PC port of Sonic Unleashed appeared first on DSOGaming.
There's a brand new LEGO Harry Potter set that just arrived and I'm thinking about buying it myself. The Knight Bus Adventure set recreates the iconic triple-decker bus from the Harry Potter movies and looks like it would be really fun to build. Priced at $50, this set is a lot cheaper than the larger Hogwarts Castle set that was on sale last week and looks like it would more easily be displayed on my small desk. As far as Harry Potter gifts for yourself go, it's an enticing new option to consider.
The Knight Bus Adventure is just the latest addition to a long line of Harry Potter sets that already exist. If you're interested in getting it yourself, it is now available at Amazon, LEGO direct, and all of the other best places to buy LEGO.
We first see the Knight Bus during the first half of The Prisoner of Azkaban as Harry experiences his first magical public transit ride. In this set, it's depicted much the same and even includes moving beds and a swinging chandelier on the inside. You also get minifigures from the movie, including Harry Potter, Ernie Prang, Stan Shunpike, and Padfoot. The build is 499 pieces, so it can be easily put together all at once during an afternoon.
Like I mentioned above, there are a lot different Harry Potter LEGO sets you can buy. While this one is pretty cool (and probably the only set that will ever feature Stan Shunpike), there are plenty of other options worth considering.
Looking at 2025 so far, I can definitely say with some confidence that there will eventually be more Harry Potter sets. There were quite a few new sets released back in January and then this latest set on March 1. Though we don't have any confirmation that there will be more LEGO Harry Potter sets this year, it seems like a sure thing we'll see more in 2025.
Another upcoming Harry Potter-themed thing coming out this year is a new interactive illustrated edition of The Goblet of Fire in October. Following that, the upcoming Harry Potter TV series will be bringing new interpretions of the characters into the fandom. We can likely expect new LEGO sets to go along with that show before it releases in 2027.
Š Sony Interactive Entertainment
There are very few young adult novels as successful as the Hunger Games books. Suzanne Collins released the first book in 2008 and has since released three more books and a total of five movies. And it doesn't stop there as just last year Collins announced yet another book in the series with a movie already in the works.
The next Hunger games book, titled Sunrise on the Reaping, is set to come out on March 18, 2025. Despite only being a preorder, the hardcover edition has already jumped into the second spot on Amazon's best-sellers list of books. It has officially surpassed Onyx Storm on this list, which had a wildly successful debut in January and topped last year's Amazon charts ahead of its release.
The hardcover edition of Sunrise on the Reaping is currently receiving a 30% discount on Amazon, dropping the price under $20. You can find a similar discount on the Kindle version of the book.
The new Hunger Games novel is the fifth book in the series, but it will be taking place in an entirely different place on the timeline. Sunrise on the Reaping is set about 40 years after the events of The Ballad of Songbird and Snakes and 24 years before we reach Katniss' story in the original Hunger Games novel. The story will be taking place during the Second Quarter Quell, which was won by Haymitch Abernathy. If you've read the original novels, you'll know that Haymitch was the mentor for District 12 and portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the films.
If you'd prefer to wait for the film adaptation of this novel, it already has a release date of November 20, 2026.
If you've never actually preordered anything from Amazon before, it's worth noting that if you purchase this book, it includes Amazon's preorder price guarantee. According to Amazon's own help page, this means that if the price decreases between now and when the item ships, you'll pay the lowest price. So in this case, if there ends up being an even bigger discount than the one we're seeing right now, that's what you'll pay. Though, it is unlikely that the preorder price will drop much lower than it is right now with the 30% discount.
Š Future
Š Amazing Seasun Games
Š Slipgate Ironworks
Š Larian
Š Larian
IGN Plus members can score a free Steam key of EvilVEvil for PC! This cooperative shooter throws waves of enemies at players in a wide variety of environments, making for an action-packed experience that you don't want to miss. You can control numerous vampires and utilize their abilities to work together and stop the enemies before you. Keys for this reward are limited, so don't wait to claim yours!
EvilVEvil sets you in a world filled with vampires, and it's up to you to eradicate Zagreus and his devoted cultists. This first-person shooter offers a wide range of customizable options for your vampire, allowing you to boost their strengths to make up for any weakness. Weapons are moddable, which means you can tweak them with upgrades to deal with certain foes. You can tackle each enemy in any way you'd like!
Additionally, you can even join up with two friends to experience a fast-paced co-op experience. If you think you can take on the hordes alone, though, have at it. EvilVEvil has a wide range of objectives to complete throughout its missions, so you'll have plenty to accomplish as you shoot through the story.
These codes will not last forever, so be sure to claim your EvilVEvil key now while supplies last!
If you're unfamiliar with IGN Plus, it's the ultimate subscription to get the most out of your IGN experience! Some of the perks include no ads across IGN, unlimited maps and checklists for games, free games each month, and even discounts at IGN Store! Learn more and try IGN Plus today.
The first thing to know about this build is its size. It's 21 inches high and 16 inches wide â approximately 60% the size of the original painting and large enough to be unwieldy when picking it up.
It's of a size and scope that means to be taken seriously. Yes, this is a tribute to one of the most famous artworks in the world. But it also demands to be hung up in a dwelling space as art â an important distinction to make, as LEGO continues its slow evolution from adult curiosity to adult hobby.
Vincent van Gogh painted his most famous sequence of Sunflowers while he lived in Arles, France, a prolific period in his artistic life. Van Gogh had a strong emotional connection to the sunflower and associated it with gratitude. He approached it as an artistic muse of sorts, writing in a letter to a friend:
"If [Georges] Jeannin has the peony, [Ernest] Quost the hollyhock, I indeed, before others, have taken the sunflower."
In August 1888, van Gogh painted four versions of sunflowers in a vase. He revisited this motif in January 1889, when he painted a repetition of the third version and two different repetitions of the fourth version.
Of these seven paintings, the fourth version and its two repetitions are the most famous. The original fourth version (F454) is on display at the National Gallery in London, England. One repetition (F457) is on display at Sompo Museum of Art in Tokyo, Japan. And the other repetition (F458) â probably the most iconic due to its color composition and overall vividness â is on display at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Established in 1973, the Van Gogh Museum partnered with LEGO to release LEGO Vincent van Gogh - Sunflowers, a tribute to the F458 repetition of the painting. It is rendered as a three-dimensional relief and uses abstract pieces to replicate van Gogh's thick brushstrokes.
When you open the box, you get 34 numbered bags and a printed instruction booklet with a QR code. Following this code will lead you to a podcast discussing van Gogh and the inspirations behind his work.
I appreciated the build's real-world practicality. First, you build the painting's frame, which I completed and subsequently leaned against the wall, where it waited. And second, you build the canvas with the painting on top of it.
You finish the build by mounting the canvas into the frame and fastening it with pins. It's a nice, personal touch to mimic a real-life process of staging and presentation, and it subliminally gives the completed set a sense of value and importance.
There is an awesome Easter egg buried in the canvas' construction. When art experts studied F458, they discovered that late into the painting process, Van Gogh extended the height of the canvas with a wooden strip at the top â likely to ensure that the sunflowers had space and didn't appear cramped.
LEGO humorously mirrored this imperfection in the build â first by having you build the canvas as a single entity, and then by having you affix a separate, corresponding strip at the top afterward with pins. You can see it circled in red in the photo below. The LEGO designers even used brown bricks to mimic the appearance of wood.
This is such a superfluous, unnecessary detail to the final product, and that's exactly why I love it so much. It's imperceptible to any onlooker; no one but the individual builder would even know it's there. But that's a feeling for the LEGO builder to experience â the trial and error that even a master experiences while creating a masterpiece. It also creates a feeling of exclusivity; the LEGO builder can decide whether to reveal the secret to onlookers when showing it off.
The process of building the full-bloom sunflowers is a bit tedious, if unavoidable. There's likely no "fun" way to create a sunflower that looks this convincing. And in a way, the repetitiveness is the point; van Gogh didn't cut corners, either. Just take breaks in between. This is not the sort of build that one 'speed runs' anyway. Savor it and get your money's worth.
What I especially enjoyed were the wilting flowers, and the ones represented in profile rather than head-on. When I first started building them, they seemed so abstract and random. But when you take a literal step back from the painting, they make sense. And what seemed random in closeup is a stem or a leaf in context.
The most frequent question I get from other adults is, "After you build a LEGO set, where do you put it?" This time, there's an easy, obvious answer: right on my dining room wall. And that might be the best way for potential builders to think about this set. You know exactly where it's going to go after you're finished it. You can look forward to that. And you'll be able to enjoy it long after you've finished it. It's been a week since I completed it, and I still enjoy looking at it, and seeing which three-dimensional details spring out to me this time. This is the first great LEGO set of 2025, and it comes highly recommended.
LEGO Vincent van Gogh - Sunflowers, Set #31215, retails for $199.99, and it is composed of 2615 pieces. It is available exclusively at the LEGO Store.
Kevin Wong is a contributing freelancer for IGN, specializing in LEGO. He's also been published in Complex, Engadget, Gamespot, Kotaku, and more. Follow him on Twitter at @kevinjameswong.
Š Obsidian
The weekend is officially here, and we've rounded up the best deals you can find! Discover the best deals for Saturday, March 1, below:
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is $34.19 at Woot right now with the Woot app. The massive adventure across the planet to track Sephiroth was one of the biggest games of 2024, and it's absolutely a must-play game. This deal only lasts 24 hours, so be sure to secure your copy while you can!
Magic The Gathering announced new sets this morning based on Marvel's Spider-Man, and you can already secure your bundles now at Amazon. A few of these sets have very limited stock left, so be sure to pre-order which bundles you'd like before they are all sold out!
Elden Ring Nightreign, a new multiplayer game from FromSoftware, is set to release for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC on May 30. You can explore the world and take on bosses with two other friends, making for a unique experience that's sure to stay engaging. Best Buy has opened pre-orders for Elden Ring Nightreign, and you can score a free $10 Best Buy gift card with any pre-order for a limited time.
Rise of the Ronin is one of the biggest 2024 PlayStation 5 exclusives to release, with the gamecoming from Team Ninja and Koei Tecmo. Set in 1863 Japan, you play as the Ronin and take down those coming from the West. This action epic offers well over 70 hours of content, with an excellent dive into a history somewhat unexplored in modern gaming.
You can also score the Nintendo Switch physical copy of MySims Cozy Bundle for $27.77 this weekend. This collection packs in both MySims and MySims Kingdom, offering two unique and charming games to experience.
The Infinity Gauntlet is one of the most recognizable items from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and you can take it home in LEGO form at a discount this weekend! This 590 piece set includes a stand to hold up and display the Infinity Gauntlet, with each of the six Infinity Stones on display. Don't miss out on your chance to save on this LEGO set!
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD just released for Nintendo Switch in January, and you can already save over $15 off at Woot. If you enjoyed Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Returns HD is another excellent entry you are sure to have fun with. There are many different worlds to traverse through, with a variety of collectibles and items to discover.
Fidget toys are more than a fad. From helping with job-related stress, calming nerves at social gatherings, or simply filling a need to keep your hands busy so your mind can focus better, fidget toys are great for all ages. When fidget toys reached the height of popularity, claims were made that they could help people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). While there are debates on their effectiveness, thereâs no question that fidget toys continue to bring relief and joy to millions who use them worldwide.
And now, there are more options than ever beforeâ from the iconic fidget spinners to tangle toys and even sensory rings. Below weâve collected some of the best-selling and highly-reviewed fidget toys to keep you focused during work, school, and any situations that might make you restless.
Our picks are on an unranked list, as the best overall pick will vary by each person's own needs and primary purpose, (such as to try to help with anxiety or ADHD). Some of these toys we have tried out first-hand, while others we have found to be highly rated by customers and mental health service websites, including wpsychservice.com.
This sleek-looking fidget toy is one of the more expensive offerings on this list, but this aluminum roller toy has a professional quality. While rolling the small device in your hand, it claims to provide stress relief, but should also relieve tension. The Ono Fidget Roller comes with a carrying case and can be discreetly used when needing something to keep your mind busy.
This fidget toy is one of the best high-quality picks, hence the price tag. The slick and storable magnetic stones can offer stress relief for adults with the ability to stack, mold and design. This is one of the more versitile choices adults choose for its ASMR quality, sleek design, and durability.
This flippy chain fidget toy is perfect for those who are looking for a discreet way to relieve stress and anxiety. The little bike chain look-alike toy fits inside your hand and wonât cause a distraction for others like many of the other products listed here. Itâs also quiet and usable with one handâ perfect for writing or studying.
There are thousands of different bubble sensory toys available for purchase. These offerings from Tommike come in vibrant and varied colors but are also a good size to travel with. While simple in their design, bubble sensory toys are incredibly gratifying for kids and adults.
This best-selling fidget toy offers a lot of options in a small form factor. Shaped like a micro version of Nintendoâs SNES gamepad, the WTYCD fidget toy allows users to press, rotate, swap, scroll, and pick on the small device. Even better, it's so compact that it's easy to bring it with you wherever you need it.
These magnetic rings from BUNMO are the perfect solution for those with busy hands. Made with plastic with a magnet inside, these rings start at providing some stress relief, but similar to a yo-yo, there are plenty of neat tricks you can do with them. Whether it's tricks that have already been discovered or new ones, these rings appear to be a fun diversion for kids and adults alike.
Another entry in the fidget toy market is the Infinity Cube. Featuring eight small cubes that can be rotated from any direction and angleâ this toy comes in plenty of fun colors and styles. The Infinity Cube, not to be confused with The Infinity Stones, is made of aluminum alloy and comes with a convenient carrying case.
A list of fidget toys wouldnât be complete without the classic Fidget Spinner. While there are still plenty of options available for those interested in the iconic fidget toy, this one from ATESSON uses stainless steel bearings and purports to spin for 3 to 5 minutes on average. Thereâs a reason why fidget toys exploded in popularity after this toy arrivedâ it's still a high-quality option for those with restless hands.
Of course, these are pick-up-and-go toys for temporary distraction or to keep hands occupied for a few minutes at a time. When it comes to longer-term build projects, check out our guide to the best LEGO sets for adults and the best cheap LEGO sets. You may also enjoy browsing our lists for the best puzzles for adults, our favorite board games in 2025 and the best board games for adults.
Max Covill is a freelance journalist in the pop culture field whose writing has appeared on Polygon, Paste, Playboy, Film School Rejects, and others.
Š Jagex
LEGO patented its signature "binding brick" in 1958. But it wasn't until nearly 50 years later, in 2005, that LEGO released its first official chess build.
I learned this fact while researching this article. And even as someone who spends most of his idle time building and learning about LEGO, it surprised me. Why had it taken so long? LEGO Chess seemed, at least in my mind, a given â an easy, marketable way to make bricks accessible to a wide audience.
But in 2005, LEGO's audience was primarily children. The company did not widely cater to its adult audience until 2007. And the idea of LEGO lifestyle branding â of integrating brick-built things into a non-brick living space â didn't truly take off until around 2020.
What we now take for granted in 2025 was unprecedented in 2005. when the first LEGO chess set debuted. And it was unheard of in the prior decades, when the majority of builds were miniature playsets, rather than depictions of real-life things.
Here's an ordered history of every LEGO Chess Set. There are 12 in all, including the only one that's currently available to buy in 2025. You can also check out our guide to the best overall chess sets for more options.
The first LEGO chess set was part of the Knight's Kingdom, an expansion of the LEGO Castle brand. It featured two Armies: the Shadow Knights, led by evil sorcerer Vladek, and the Kingdom of Morcia, led by King Matthias. The set included 24 minifigures with detailed armor and stylized shields.
Very similar to the Knight's Kingdom set from the prior year, the Vikings set also included 24 minifigures, this time wearing archetypal horned viking helmets along with spears and axes for weapons.
Another Castle-themed set, the Castle set was a bit more generic than its Knight's Kingdom counterpart. It pitted an army of crown knights against an undead army of skeletons. The best part of the set was the Grim Reaper bishops, which had massive scythes for weapons.
Still the largest, most ornate chess set that LEGO ever designed (by a considerable margin), the Giant Chess Set was bigger and better in every way. The board itself was two feet long on all sides, and it came with four miniature builds of the skeleton realm, the troll realm, the dwarf realm, and the castle realm.
The board was smooth rather than studded, which gave it a more elegant look. And the individual pieces were the best looking yet. The bishops were wizards. The knights were minifigures on horseback. And the rooks were heavily fortified siege towers.
The first pirates-themed set pitted a Royal Navy against a motley crew of pirates. I loved this set's variety; whereas every naval officer pawn looked mostly the same, every pirate pawn had a unique costume and accessory. And best of all, the pirate knight was a curly-tailed monkey, armed with a knife. It doesn't get more chaotic than that.
This was a travel-friendly, tiny set that allowed you to play nine different classic board games: Ludo, Chess, Checkers, Solitaire, Backgammon, Fireman Hoses and Ladders, and three different cards for Travel Bingo.
This Castle-themed set depicted a Green Dragon army versus a Red Lion army. The individual minifigures had a lot of character and detail. A definite highlight was the Red Lion knight, a Jester with a big, cartoonish smile. The board is mounted on a unique baseplate with a bastion in each corner.
This was the first LEGO chess set that didn't come with a carry case, nor did it have a separate storage compartment for its pieces. This set wasn't designed with travel in mind, and it's an early example of LEGO that's designed for display rather than play.
The second Pirates-themed chess set had an outdoor beach theme, with sand on one side of the set and ocean on the other. This was the first LEGO chess board to have smooth squares with single studs in their centers, which was more aesthetically pleasing and functional than the baseplate boards that came prior.
This was the first time that LEGO released a chess set with no gimmicks and no minifigures â just a regular chess set with blocky, traditional pieces, and space beneath the board to store them all. This set had longevity; it stayed on shelves for seven years before LEGO retired it at the end of 2022.
Designed by user CorvusA, this tiny set was a collaboration between LEGO and LEGO fansite BrickLink. The BrickLink AFOL (Adult Fans of LEGO) Designer Program launched 13 fan-designed sets, including this one, in 2019.
This set recreated the iconic scene in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, when Harry, Hermione, and Ron faced the chess trial, and Ron sacrificed himself to checkmate the King. This LEGO Harry Potter set came with three minifigures to represent the "Trio."
We reviewed LEGO's most recent chess set when it launched in 2024, and it's the only one that's still available in stores. Its dark brown and beige squares give the impression of polished wood, which adds a bit of classic flair. It's simple, appealing, and functional â a far cry from the lavish yet impractical builds from years ago.
One of the biggest issues of discovering a really cool LEGO set from years ago is that it's probably already retired. That's the case with almost every LEGO chess set on this list, so if you see something you like that is already retired, you'll need to look toward third-party sellers. Amazon will sometimes have retired sets at a premium price, but your best bet is places like eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace.
See our guide to the best places to buy LEGO sets for more details about where to shop.
Kevin Wong is a contributing freelancer for IGN, specializing in LEGO. He's also been published in Complex, Engadget, Gamespot, Kotaku, and more. Follow him on Twitter at @kevinjameswong.
Š Larian
Š Capcom
Š Capcom
Š Future
Š Team Vivat
If you're searching for Volleyball Legends codes (previously Haikyuu Legends), IGN has you covered! In this article, you'll find the latest active and working Volleyball Legends codes in March 2025 that can be redeemed for free rewards in Roblox, including Spins and Yen.
Below, you'll find all of the currently active and working Volleyball Legends codes in March 2025:
The following Volleyball Legends codes are expired and can't be redeemed anymore as of March 2025:
Follow the steps below to redeem Volleyball Legends codes and claim your free rewards:
If your Volleyball Legends code isn't working when you're trying to redeem it in Roblox, it's likely down to one of these two reasons:
When inputting an Volleyball Legends code into Roblox, ensure it's spelled correctly, there are no accidental spaces either before or after the code, and that it's in the correct case (some codes are case sensitive). If a code is spelled wrong, you'll get a red message that says "Invalid Code."
All the codes on this page have been tested by IGN and work at the time of submission, so we'd recommend copying and pasting any codes directly from this article to avoid any errors. If the code still doesn't work, it's expired and can no longer be redeemed.
Outside of checking this article, the best way to get more Volleyball Legends codes is to join the official Volleyball Legends Discord server. That way, you can be notified as soon as new codes drop.
Volleyball Legends (previously called Haikyuu Legends) is a Roblox Experience inspired by the popular Shonen Jump series, Haikyu!!. In it, you compete in volleyball matches with teammates with the aim of becoming the best volleyball player and getting MVP.
Meg Koepp is a Guides Editor on the IGN Guides team, with a focus on trends. When she's not working, you can find her playing an RPG or making miniatures.
If you're looking for DTI codes, IGN's got you covered! In this article, you'll find a list of all the active and working Dress to Impress codes in March 2025 that you can redeem for free rewards and bonuses in DTI, including outfits and accessories like hats, bags, and jewelry.
Here are all the active Dress to Impress codes in March 2025 and the free rewards you get for redeeming them:
Below, you'll find a list of expired DTI codes that no longer work and can't be redeemed as of March 2025:
Follow the steps below to redeem Dress to Impress codes and claim free rewards in DTI:
If the code you're trying to redeem in DTI isn't working, it's likely because of one of two reasons:
When inputting a DTI code in Roblox, make sure it's spelled correctly (for example, a capital I isn't a lowercase l, 0 and not O, and vice versa) and that there are no spaces before or after the code. We'd recommend copying and pasting codes straight from our article to ensure they're correct as we've tested and verified that the codes on this page are working ourselves.
If your DTI code still isn't working after checking for typos, it's more than likely expired and can no longer be redeemed in Dress to Impress.
To get more Dress to Impress codes, the best way is to join the official DTI Discord server. While we check for new codes daily, the quickest way to know about new Dress to Impress codes is to follow the Roblox experience's official Discord server where updates are posted in real time.
You can also check the Dress to Impress X account and the official DTI Roblox Group page.
Now that the Sweetheart Dress rework code has been released, we don't know of any other upcoming Dress to Impress codes. It's possible we could see a new code when Style Showdown is released on March 1, 2025, but nothing has been confirmed yet.
Dress to Impress is a popular dress-up Roblox Experience available on PC, console, and iOS and Android mobile devices. In it, you put on your best outfit to complete a specific theme and walk the runway in a bid to earn votes from other players and become a top model. As you gain votes, you gain ranks and can access more clothing and accessories, so make sure you're truly dressed to impress!
Meg Koepp is a Guides Editor on the IGN Guides team, with a focus on trends. When she's not working, you can find her playing an RPG or making miniatures.
If you're looking for Ninja Time codes, IGN has you covered! In this article, you'll find the latest active and working Ninja Time codes in March 2025 that can be redeemed for free rewards in Roblox, such as Clan Tokens and Element Tokens.
You'll find all of the currently active and working Ninja Time codes in March 2025 below:
The following Ninja Time codes have expired and no longer work:
Follow the steps below to redeem Ninja Time codes and claim your free rewards in Roblox:
If your Ninja Time code isn't working when you're trying to redeem it in Roblox, it's likely due to one of two reasons:
When inputting a Ninja Time code into Roblox, make sure it's spelled correctly, there are no accidental spaces either before or after the code, and that it's in the correct case (some codes are case sensitive).
All the codes on this page have been tested by IGN and work at the time of submission, so we recommend copying and pasting codes directly from this article to avoid any errors. If the code still doesn't work, it's expired and no longer works.
The fastest way to get more Ninja Time codes is to join the official Ninja Time Discord server, where you'll be notified as soon as they go live. Alternatively, bookmark this article as we update it with new codes regularly.
Meg Koepp is a Guides Editor on the IGN Guides team, with a focus on trends. When she's not working, you can find her playing an RPG or making miniatures.
YouTubeâs âLeo Torresâ has shared a new video, showcasing Skyrimâs Riverwood in Unreal Engine 5 with Lumen and Nanite. This will give you an idea of what a remake of Skyrim would look like in UE5. So, letâs take a look at it. This video is part of a project to create a more realistic ⌠Continue reading Hereâs Skyrimâs Riverwood in Unreal Engine 5 with Lumen & Nanite â
The post Hereâs Skyrimâs Riverwood in Unreal Engine 5 with Lumen & Nanite appeared first on DSOGaming.
Š Yellow Brick Games
Š Future
Š Capcom
As Charlie Cox and Vincent DâOnofrio get ready to return to action for Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+, the question has come up once again about how Matt Murdockâs time hanging out with Tatiana Maslanyâs She-Hulk fits into the overall chronology of the Man Without Fear.
Cox guest-starred on the Disney+ series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law in 2022, but the tone of that show was much more fun and light as compared to the heaviness of Netflixâs Daredevil and the upcoming Born Again. Plus, Matt Murdock had a different costume in She-Hulk! This is the kind of thing that drives comics fans crazy, but the actor thinks it all makes perfect sense.
First off, he acknowledges that those episodes take place before Born Again. âI think it's a case of whatever was going on with Matt in that period of time,â Cox tells IGN. âHe was able to leave that in JFK when he got on the plane.â He also jokes that âwhat happens in L.A. stays in L.A.â
The actor is very aware of the polarizing response Daredevilâs time on She-Hulk received. âIt's funny how many opinions I've heard about this little moment in She-Hulk,â he continues. âThere's the Walk of Shame, which was a last-minute idea where they set up a big green screen and just had me walk across it carrying my shoes. And a lot of people don't like it, and a lot of people love it.â
Still, essentially the version of Matt seen in She-Hulk wouldnât really work in his own show. But thatâs kind of how itâs always gone with superhero stories.
âIf you take the Matt Murdock from our show and you put him in She-Hulk as-is, he's probably overly serious and becomes the butt of all jokes,â says Cox. âSo he's got to adapt to the tone. And there's precedent within the comics. There are many runs of the comics where there's a lot of levity, there's a lot of tongue-in-cheek, a lot of fun.â
âHawkeye was the same for me,â adds D'Onofrio, who returned as Wilson Fisk for that MCU series.
âIt's an opportunity,â continues Cox. âIt's a whole different [kind of] fun with that. And maybe at some point we'll get to see the favor returned.â
Another question thatâs in the air once again is regarding how exactly the previous Netflix adventures of Murdock and Fisk fit into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Cox says that both shows are âfor sure, 100%â set in the same universe, and D'Onofrio adds that he considers Born Again âa fourth seasonâ of the old show.
The reason why this was ever even a question is because the Netflix series (Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, The Defenders, and The Punisher), while very interconnected themselves, were never quite acknowledged by the movie side of the MCU. The Netflix Marvel shows debuted in 2015 with Daredevil and continued until 2019, but in all that time they were basically cordoned off from the Avengers side of things. This, we have learned over the years, was in part due to behind-the-scenes jockeying between Marvel and Disney execs who didnât want to share their toys, basically.
But the Netflix/Marvel deal eventually ended and the House of Ideas was able to fully incorporate the characters into the MCU proper. Cox appeared in Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021, and then later in She-Hulk and Echo, while DâOnofrio popped up in Hawkeye and Echo too.
When their Netflix show ended in 2018, Cox and DâOnofrio actually had very different takes on their chances of ever continuing as, respectively, the Man Without Fear and the Kingpin of Crime.
âI was convinced we were done,â says Cox of returning as Matt Murdock at that point. âAnd when we got that [cancellation] phone call in 2018, I moved on emotionally, obviously, being quite sad about the whole thing. But Vince and I would talk occasionally, and he was convinced that at some point we would get a phone call, and we'd be back. And I would get off the phone and think that he was crazy! So when I heard from Kevin Feige in 2020, I was shocked, blown away.â
DâOnofrio figured that they had âknocked it out the parkâ with the Netflix show, and his instincts proved to be correct. It wouldâve been tough for fans to accept new actors as Daredevil and Kingpin, despite the fact that they took a break from playing those characters. That also carried over to Cox and DâOnofrioâs castmates, Deborah Ann Woll who plays Karen Page and Elden Henson who plays Foggy Nelson.
In fact, as originally conceived, Born Again was not going to include those versions of Karen and Foggy. But about halfway through production on the show, Marvel execs decided to make some changes. New writers and directors were brought in to revamp what had already been shot with an idea to re-centering the series on the Netflix version where it had all started.
âThat was tough for me to swallow,â says DâOnofrio. âI know we felt emotional about not having the others back. ⌠Because our success in that show, we believe, is not just because of us and the writing. We believe it's because of the whole cast and the writing. ⌠Elden and Deborah, those characters are theirs now. Nobody will ever play those characters as well as they did, as far as I'm concerned. And they needed to be part of the family.â
All that said, the actors are also aware that tonally the Netflix show and Born Again tend to skew a bit darker than the more family-friendly MCU.
âWe're put in these positions all the time,â says DâOnofrio. âBut I will just say, because it's my favorite thing to say, our job is to service a story. And when it's put in front of us from a company like Marvel, youâre like, âO.K., I'll service that story to the best of my ability.â That's what our job is.â
For more on Daredevil: Born Again, keep checking back at IGN in the lead-up to the premiere!
Did you see our reveal of Magic: The Gatheringâs Final Fantasy crossover last week and think to yourself, âvideo games are all well and good, but where are the superheroes?â Well then do I have great news for you: Today weâve got a first look at six new cards from Magicâs upcoming Spider-Man set, as well as all the products and packaging that will accompany it. You can preorder the cards at Amazon.
Click through the image gallery below to see all the Spider-Man cards from its Commander-focused Scene Box, booster packs, Welcome Decks, and more, and read on to hear about the set from Wizards of the Coast.
Arriving September 26, Marvelâs Spider-Man will be the second fully draftable, Standard-legal set in Magicâs Universes Beyond line of products after Final Fantasy, and the third overall after 2023's Modern-legal Lord of the Rings set. It wonât have any preconstructed Commander decks like you might expect, but the cards in the Scene Box shown above wonât be Standard-legal, and are instead designed with Commander in mind.
While a Secret Lair with Wolverine, Captain America, and more was the first step Magic took into the Marvel universe last year, Spider-Man will also be the first full set inspired by the comics so far. Wizards of the Coast Executive Producer Max McCall says thatâs because they just wouldnât have had room for all of the characters and moments they wanted to include from Spider-Man if they had made a smaller product instead.
âSpider-Man needs a full set to do justice to the character, and incorporate the many villains heâs come across over the years,â McCall explains. âPicking characters from the Spider-Man canon as part of a wider set would leave far too many characters on the cutting room floor. We could probably have found room for Gwen Stacy and Miles Morales in a non-Spider-Man specific set, but there wouldnât have been room for Aunt May.â
McCall says that designing for a Universes Beyond set âflips the worldbuilding on its head,â in that a typical Magic set needs its cards to lay the groundwork of its location and setting while also being fun to play with in order to get players on board, whereas most people already have some familiarity with a character like Spider-Man. âWhen we make a card that speaks to great power bearing great responsibility, thereâs room to add mechanical complexity because folks understand the story the card is telling. We donât have to make Universes Beyond cards that are âsimpleâ - we just have to pick moments that are recognizable, and theyâll be easy for fans to understand.â
As for how exactly they translate those moments and the world around them into a Magic set, Head Designer Mark Rosewater tells me Magicâs color pie âis robust enough that we have the ability to show heroism and villainy in all five colors.â As an example, Rosewater says Spider-Man would be white, blue, and green (although the specific version in the Scene Box above is only those first two).
âSpider-Man feeling obligated to use his power to help people is core to him being part of the white color pie. Spider-Man is also the product of science, being bitten by a radioactive spider. This, and Peterâs aptitude for science and invention (like his web-slingers) is very blue. Finally, Spider-Man's powers are based on an animal, and the comics have shown that there is a certain destiny to his connection to both spiders and the Spider-Man universe, which is all core green.â
In addition to the Scene Box, the set will have the usual Play Boosters, Collector Boosters, Bundles, and Prerelease Packs, all of which can also be seen in the gallery above with more details. And while there wonât be any preconstructed Commander decks, this will mark the return of Welcome Decks â those are themed introductory decks typically given out by game stores for free so that new players can have a low-pressure way to learn the game.
In addition to this yearâs Final Fantasy set, Wizards of the Coast also recently announced a set themed around Avatar: The Last Airbender. There will also be two more in-universe sets before that in Tarkir: Dragontsorm and the space-themed Edge of Eternities.
Read on for the full, unedited interview with Wizards of the Coastâs Max McCall and Mark Rosewater:
IGN: Wizards of the Coast obviously has big long-term plans for Magic: The Gatheringâs collaboration with Marvel, but why did you start with Spider-Man when it comes to the first full set in that universe?
Max McCall, Executive Producer: Spider-Man needs a full set to do justice to the character, and incorporate the many villains heâs come across over the years. Picking characters from the Spider-Man canon as part of a wider set would leave far too many characters on the cutting room floor. We could probably have found room for Gwen Stacy and Miles Morales in a non-Spider-Man specific set, but there wouldnât have been room for Aunt May. We could include Green Goblin, but not the full Sinister Six. Spider-Man has so many iconic moments and characters that we wanted to make sure we got as many as possible onto the cards, and a Spider-Man set was the best way to do that.
Youâve spoken previously about how you see Universes Beyond as a great way to introduce new players to Magic, and Spider-Man seems primed to be an especially good example of that. With that new player experience in mind, did you approach this set differently than you would a Universes Within set in any ways?
MM: Designing Universes Beyond sets is an interesting challenge because it flips the worldbuilding on its head. Cards designed for a new world like Bloomburrow have to introduce folks to the world in addition to being fun game pieces. Cards designed for Spider-Man donât have to introduce people to Spider-Man â everyone's familiar with Spider-Man at some level â but they do have to pay off folksâ conception of the characters and the big canon moments.
That is a huge opportunity when designing for an acquisition audience â new players are going to recognize the story moments we put on cards. So, when we make a card that speaks to great power bearing great responsibility, thereâs room to add mechanical complexity because folks understand the story the card is telling. We donât have to make Universes Beyond cards that are âsimpleâ - we just have to pick moments that are recognizable, and theyâll be easy for fans to understand.
Can you talk a bit about how you fit Spider-Manâs characters or themes into Magicâs color pie?
Mark Rosewater, Head Designer: In terms of Magicâs color pie, Spider-Man is white, blue and green. Spider-Man feeling obligated to use his power to help people is core to him being part of the white color pie. Spider-Man is also the product of science, being bitten by a radioactive spider. This, and Peterâs aptitude for science and invention (like his web-slingers) is very blue. Finally, Spider-Man's powers are based on an animal, and the comics have shown that there is a certain destiny to his connection to both spiders and the Spider-Man universe, which is all core green.
Are there any challenges to keeping those colors both interesting and accurate in a Super Hero universe?
MR: The color pie is robust enough that we have the ability to show heroism and villainy in all five colors. Every color has positive and negative qualities allowing us to have a lot of nuances to how we use them.
I imagine âspider typalâ Commander decks are about to get some unexpected new toys across this set - do you take any special considerations into account when a common Magic creature type holds a very different meaning in the context of a Universes Beyond setting?
MM: Specifics matter a lot with issues like this. Often, weâre playing in the same trope space as our Universes Beyond partners â things like âassassinsâ are rarely an issue. Spider-Man will of course contain many Spiders, but a lot of the deckbuilding hooks for those characters will key more into the Hero creature type.
The Final Fantasy set is going to stretch across many different games and stories, but should we expect this set to have a specific Spider-Man story, or are you treating it as a showcase of popular characters, events, and locations from the comics?
MM: Spider-Man features characters and stories from across its history â we're not limiting ourselves to any one run or series.
Marvel comics are beloved by a huge audience, but thereâs no denying that the MCU has dominated the public perception of these characters in recent years. Was it tricky to design around the comic book versions with that in mind, or did you enjoy getting back to some of their roots instead?
MR: The Marvel expansions are based on the comics, but weâre always aware of the moviesâ impact, so we find overlap when we can. Luckily, the vast majority of the movie material was based on the comics.
With the Spider-Man scene box, why did you go the route of including four legendary creatures this time rather than building a box around a single character as a little Commander starter pack of sorts like the previous ones were?
MM: Scene boxes tell visual stories. Spider-Man's storytelling is very character-driven and has a great rogueâs gallery, so we wanted to include as many characters as possible. Youâre generally not going to have Spider-Man and villains in the same Commander deck, so once we committed to lots of characters, we knew that meant you wouldnât be putting them all in the same deck, and so that made for a great opportunity to make each villain more distinct and emphasize their different goals and methods in the card designs.
Spider-Man is going to be included, of course, but how did you land on the other three characters for this debut?
MM: Doc Ock, Venom, and Green Goblin are of course way up there when youâre making a list of iconic Spider-Man villains, but the nature of those characters makes it easier to draw a scene where they all get equal visual weight. Green Goblin on his glider doesnât get in the way of Doc Ockâs tentacles, and Venom can be lurking anywhere for a chance to strike â they all have their own space in the scene to shine.
Is it freeing to design cards for a product like this since they donât have to fit into the context of a larger set or preconstructed deck?
MM: Yes â the goal is exciting, appealing cards, preferably light enough on text that the art can really shine throughout the scene. Not having mechanical constraints makes this much easier â they donât have to pay off the rest of the setâs themes or mechanics, and that gives them room to be made charming and delightful of their own accord.
Tom Marks is IGN's Executive Reviews Editor. He loves card games, puzzles, platformers, puzzle-platformers, and lots more.