Š MrBeast (Beast Games)
Š Bethesda
Considering what it offers, Disney Plus is one of the best streaming services on the block. From classic Disney animated films to the latest Marvel shows and Star Wars movies, excellent kids' programming like Bluey, and so much more, Disney Plus puts an incredible range of high-quality viewing options at your fingertips. And with so much to check out, including season 2 of Andor (you can read our Andor season 2 spoiler-free review here), you'll want to find a plan that best suits you. We're here to help.
At the moment, one of the best Disney Plus bundle deals available is the massive Disney Plus, Hulu, and Max streaming bundle. This starts at $16.99/month to get you all three streaming services with ads. It's one of the best bundles available at the moment, but we've included more Disney Plus bundle deals worth exploring below. If you're looking for more streaming deals from other services, check out the best Hulu deals and bundles and the best Max deals.
The Disney Plus, Hulu, and Max streaming bundle can be purchased through any of the three streaming services and starts at $16.99/month for the ad-supported tier or $29.99/month for ad-free access across the three platforms.
If you currently own all three and want to cut down on costs, this is a great way to bundle them together and save big on what you'd pay for them separately per month â 43% on the ad-supported plan and 42% on the ad-free plan.
In an effort to crack down on password sharing, Disney has unveiled a paid sharing plan for individuals outside of your household. Basically, anyone using your account that's not within your household will have to be added as an "Extra Member" to your account. This costs an additional $6.99/month for the ad-supported Basic subscription and $9.99/month for the Premium ad-free plan, and only one Extra Member slot is available per account. You can learn more from Disney's paid sharing explainer here.
Disney+ is available in a couple of different tiers. You can get the least expensive option (called Disney+ Basic) for $9.99/month, which gives you access to everything except the ability to download select shows to watch on the go. This tier is ad supported. If you want to get rid of ads and be able to download certain shows, you can spring for the $15.99/month or $159.99/year Disney+ Premium package.
Want a way to save on your Disney+ membership? Bundles are a great, affordable way to go. As far as bundles go, there are two ad-supported bundles and two ad-free bundles. Here's the breakdown:
If you want to help someone out and give them a gift that will keep on giving, gifting a one-year Disney+ card is a great way to go. It provides all the great things Disney+ offers and it costs a fraction of what it would take to buy even a small sampling of those movies physically.
There is a bonkers array of shows and movies you can watch on Disney+. Let's start at the top and simply talk about the verticals on offer here with the base subscription.
Here's what you get:
On the Disney front, you have awesome classic movies like The Sword In The Stone, Robin Hood, 101 Dalmations, Hercules, and Sleeping Beauty, modern classics like The Princess & The Frog, Tangled, and Frozen, and a wide range of animated shows, including Phineas & Ferb.
You also gain access to a ton of vintage content like Escape to Witch Mountain, The Apple Dumpling Gang, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, The Love Bug, and a whole lot more. The Disney Junior section is home to absolutely top tier animated shows like Bluey (which, for my money, is worth the price of admission on its own).
There's way more on offer, too, including a ton of Muppet movies, new live-action films and adaptions, nature programs, documentaries, Pirates of the Caribbean, and musical programs featuring Taylor Swift (like her wildly popular The Eras Tour), Elton John, Ed Sheeran, and more.
When it comes to computer generated films, Pixar stands alone. Kicking off the revolution with Toy Story, Pixar has consistently put out fantastic films, and they are all here. From the Toy Story series to Finding Nemo, Cars, and more recent hits like Inside Out 2, there is a ton to love.
Beyond even that, there are incredible shorts like Bao and Party Central, as well as a wide range of originals and series based on major films, such as Dory's Reef Cam, Forky Asks A Question, Cars On The Road, and more.
The MCU has become a true juggernaut, and there are many viewers who subscribe to Disney+ purely for access to nearly the entire MCU lineup of films and shows.
Whether you are a fan of the blockbuster action films, you are an appreciator of the classic 90s runs of "Saturday morning" cartoons like X-Men, or you are currently vibing to the funky theme of the 1981 Spider-Man series, there is a ton of Marvel to enjoy on Disney+. And with new movies and shows being added to the MCU all the time, including most recently Deadpool & Wolverine and Your Friendly Neigborhood Spider-Man, there is always more coming.
A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, there was a film that changed everything. The original Star Wars is a seminal sci-fi fantasy work that inspired generations of creators, but there is still nothing quite like that far away galaxy. Disney+ grants access to all things Star Wars, including the remastered versions of the original trilogy (hopefully some day they'll add the theatrical cuts, too), as well as the prequels and sequels.
You can also stay up-to-date on all the latest shows, including The Mandalorian and the critically-lauded Andor, which some viewers say is "the best Star Wars has ever been." There are also fantastic short series like Star Wars Visions, and longer-form series like The Clone Wars, The Bad Batch, Young Jedi Adventures, and a whole lot more.
Take a look at our list of Disney+ alernatives for additional streaming services. To play while you watch, see our roundup of the best LEGO Disney sets. For more deals, dive into our Daily Deals page.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.
Original story from Brian Barnett.
Š Bethesda Game Studios
Octavia Butler is undoubtedly one of the greatest science fiction authors of all time, and it should come as no surprise that her work continues to be adapted in other media. Abrams ComicArts is following up its graphic novel adaptations of Parable of the Sower and Kindred with Parable of the Talents.
With Parable of the Talents in stores now, IGN can exclusively debut a new preview of this graphic novel. Check it out in the slideshow gallery below:
Parable of the Talents is adapted by writer Damian Duffy and artists John Jennings and David Brame, the same creative team behind the previous Kindred and Parable of the Sower adaptations. Here's Abrams' official description of the book:
Octavia E. Butlerâs 1993 dystopian novel Parable of the Sower painted an alarmingly poignant picture of the year 2024, introducing readers to a world shaped by environmental disasters, economic instability, and social unrest. Following Lauren Olamina, a preacherâs daughter who develops a new religion, Earthseed, while travelling the dangerous and dystopian country, Duffy and Jennings bring the sci-fi classic to life with a beautifully drawn graphic novel adaptation. Now they are taking on the sequel to Butlerâs stunning novel, The Parable of the Talents, which follows Laurenâs daughter, Asha Vere.
The Parable of the Talents continues Butlerâs masterful story set against a background of a war-torn continent under the control of a Christian fundamentalist fascist state. Asha searches for answers about her own past while struggling to reconcile with her motherâs legacyâwho was caught between her duty to her chosen family and her calling to lead humankind into a better future among the stars.
"Octavia E. Butler wrote Parable of the Talents as a warning for the future,â said Duffy in a statement. âAdapting Parable of the Talents from within the future she warned of has been a surreal and humbling journey. Fortunately, David Brame and John Jennings brought their significant artistic talents to bear, drawing images to help us move past dystopia, and down the path to hard won hope.â
Parable of the Talents is available in bookstores and comic shops now. You can order a copy on Amazon.
In other comic book news, Mike Mignola is returning to the Hellboy universe this summer, and we chatted with the creative team behind Spider-Man & Wolverine.
Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.
Š Bethesda
Š NetEase Games
Days Gone Remastered is not far off now, and today Sony's Bend Studio detailed some of the accessibility features in store for the updated version of the game, including the option to slow down Game Speed when things get tense.
In a new PlayStation Blog, Bend Studio's Creative & Product Lead Kevin McAllister walked through the different accessibility features included in Days Gone Remastered. When it comes to Game Speed, Bend has an option for letting players change the actual speed of gameplay, from 100% down to 75%, 50%, and 25%. The aim, as McAllister said, is to make it easier for players who struggle in high-pressure situations.
"Game Speed is ideal for players who might feel overwhelmed in certain situations or have difficulty with various inputs in high pressure moments, specifically fighting off hordes of Freakers," said McAllister. "Hordes are a pillar in Days Gone gameplay and with our new Horde Assault mode arriving in the remaster, we wanted to make this unique combat experience more accessible to our players."
Other parts of the accessibility options for Days Gone Remastered include subtitle colors, a customizable High Contrast Mode, UI Narration, and Collectible Audio Cues. The auto-complete QTE option, previously only allowed in Easy difficulty, is also getting enabled on any difficulty from Easy to Survival II.
While these options are all going to arrive in Days Gone Remastered, Bend Studios also confirmed most of the new accessibility features will be coming to Days Gone on PC as well. Some, like the feedback and customization control options, will require a compatible controller.
Days Gone Remastered was officially announced in February, with some extra bells and whistles like an enhanced photo mode, permadeath and speedrun options, and the aforementioned accessibility features. The remaster of the 2019 biker-centric, post-apocalyptic zombie action-adventure isn't far off, either.
Days Gone Remastered will go live on April 25, 2025. Those who already have a PS4 version of Days Gone will be able to upgrade to the PS5 remastered version for $10.
Eric is a freelance writer for IGN.
For most PC gamers, buying a prebuilt gaming rig is far more attractive than it used to be. Years ago it was inarguably cheaper to build your own gaming PC than to buy a boutique gaming rig. That's not the case anymore. It's not uncommon for major brands like Alienware, HP, and Lenovo to offer quality pre-built PCs for cheaper than the cost of building your own PC with the exact same specs.
We've compiled a list of the best current gaming PC deals, both from the manufacturers themselves like Dell (Alienware), HP, and Lenovo, as well as from reliable 3rd party retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. This includes an incredible deal on an Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 5080 gaming PC (with 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD) for $2,499.99. These PCs are significantly discounted from their normal retail price and are going to be less expensive than comparable models from other brands.
If you're in the market for a prebuilt gaming PC, Dell is one of the brands we'd recommend. Alienware gaming desktops offer a staggering array of options, all built into a custom chassis that's both easy on the eyes and easy on the wallet. Consistent build quality, available inventory, frequent sales, and solid customer service are the main reasons why Dell is at the top of our buying list.
Of the big three OEM PC manufacturers, HP usually offers the lowest price on equivalently configured items. HP carries several different models of gaming PCs depending on how much power you need. At the upper end of the scale, the HP OMEN 45L offers a massive tower chassis with space for up to a 360mm all-in-one liquid cooler as well as a total of four additional 120mm case fans for ventilation. On the other end of the scale, the HP Victus, Envy, and OMEN 25L gaming PCs feature understated aesthetics and a bargain price point. These PCs can still be configured into formidable gaming rigs.
Lenovo Legion gaming PCs may be the priciest of the big three OEM manufacturers, but they are also generally the highest praised among gamers and reviewers alike. The Legion gaming PCs are highly rated for their build quality. People like the fact that Lenovo does not use proprietary components in their rigs, so they're much easier to upgrade with easily obtainable, off-the-shelf components compared to some other popular prebuilt PC brands. Lenovo gaming rigs generally also utilize solid cooling, especially for the CPU, even if you opt for the base models.
As a general rule of thumb, you want to size your gaming rig based on (1) the resolution, not size, of your monitor and (2) the games you play. A 4K monitor has 2.25 times more pixels than a QHD (2560x1440) monitor and 4 times more pixels than a 1080p (1920x1080) monitor. Simply put, the more pixels on your monitor, the more power your GPU needs. Some games are also more performance intensive than other games, but that's often scalable by tweaking your settings. This is a rough recommendation:
If you have a gaming PC already and want to simply upgrade the GPU yourself, check out our picks for the best graphics cards in 2025.
Consoles may have come a long way in terms of graphical improvements, but gaming PCs still remain uncontested when it comes to absolute technical performance. A PS5 or Xbox Series X might be the most powerful consoles ever created, but they seem antiquated compared to the likes of a PC equipped with a GeForce RTX 4080 or 4090 video card. Unlike consoles, gaming PCs are also infinitely backwards compatible, and the thousands upon thousands of games available at your disposal via Steam, Xbox Live, Origin, Battle.net, and more puts any console library to shame. Even better, most games that are released for the current gen consoles are often also available for the PC as well, often with even more extensive customization and graphics options.
Gaming laptops have become more and more popular in recent years, but they certainly don't make gaming PCs obsolete. First and foremost, a gaming laptop simply isn't as powerful as an equivalently priced gaming PC. Gaming laptops require more delicate (and thus more expensive) engineering; because the laptop is such a compact form factor, and gaming components generally draw a lot of power and heat, compromises need to be made. The most powerful gaming laptops are about as powerful as a mid-range gaming PC. The highest end gaming PCs use video cards that are larger and heavier than your average laptop and can draw up to 600W of power all by itself. If you're on the fence between getting one or the other, you will have to weigh your priorities. If you want to know more, check out our in-depth article on the gaming laptop vs gaming desktop dilemma. If price isn't a factor and you're only concerned about getting the best PC for your needs, check out our picks for best gaming PCs of 2025. If you've picked up a new gaming PC, check out the best PC games to play in 2025.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.
Original article from Eric Song.
You probably never thought youâd see Shazam! and Shazam: Fury of the Gods director David F. Sandberg helm another IP film or franchise ever again â and honestly, he didnât either. But now that his new film Until Dawn is about to arrive in theaters, heâs reflecting on the âvery, very crazyâ backlash surrounding his previous DC Cinematic Universe flops and what made him agree to return to the world of IP.
"What I loved about the script [is] that it wasn't trying to recreate the game," Sandberg told GamesRadar+ about the beloved horror game turned film. "Trying to condense 10 hours into two, or something like that. But it is scary still, even though we're doing a new thing.â He also noted that, even in this instance where heâs working on a game property, IP fans are really particular about how they want their favorite story to be realized on screen.
"I mean, to be honest, fans can get very, very crazy and very angry with you. You can get, like, death threats and everything so after Shazam 2, I was like, 'I never wanna do another IP-based movie because it's just not worth it,'" the filmmaker added of the DCU experience and its aftermath.
However, he was intrigued by the potential of the story Until Dawn presents. "But then I was sent this script, and I was like, 'Ah, this would be so much fun to do, to do all these kinds of horrors? I kind of have to do it, and hope that the people see what we're trying to do and like it,ââ Sandberg said. âI really thought it was brilliant of the writers to come up with this time loop idea where the night starts over because then you do kind of get that feel of the game, when you're replaying it and making different choices. I think it's very much in the spirit of the game."
The filmmaker is intimately aware of the idea that you canât please every fan when youâre adapting an IP property, but his approach seems to be the best way to capture the hearts of the Until Dawn fans. "I think we would've gotten a lot of critique if we had tried to [recreate the game], because people would've been like, 'It's not as good. It's not the same actors, because, you know, they're older now,'" the Shazam director explained. "You wouldn't be able to better the game, so you'd just be in a losing situation."
Until Dawn was written by Blair Butler and Gary Dauberman, who is perhaps best known as the writer of It: Chapter Two, and stars Ella Rubin. The film arrives in theaters on April 25, 2025.
Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.
Bethesda has just released The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. Yes, the team has released the game now on Steam, and below you can find its official PC system requirements. Developed by Virtuos Games, the game is powered by Unreal Engine 5. So, letâs see what kind of PC system youâll need to run it. ⌠Continue reading The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered PC Requirements â
The post The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered PC Requirements appeared first on DSOGaming.
Bethesda has finally revealed the worst-kept secret in video games: The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered.
In a gameplay video published online, Bethesda showed the new visuals and features for the remaster of its much-loved open-world fantasy role-playing game, which is developed by remake specialist Virtuos using Unreal Engine 5.
Bethesda chief Todd Howard discussed the evolution of Bethesda games, and the visual upgrades the near 20-year-old game has now received. Oblivion Remastered runs at 4K resolution and 60 frames per second, as you'd expect, but other changes are more meaningful. Everything from the leveling systems to character creation, and combat animations to in-game menus have been improved. Meanwhile, there's lots of new dialogue, a proper third-person view, and new lip sync technology.
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion launched in 2006 as a follow-up to fan-favorite Morrowind on PC and Xbox 360, with a PlayStation 3 release following in 2007. Itâs set in the fictional province of Cyrodiil, and revolves around the player character's bid to defeat a fanatical cult that wants to open portal games to the demonic realm known as Oblivion.
The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered launches today, April 22, priced $49.99 in a shadowdrop across PC, Xbox Series X and S, and PlayStation 5, as well as on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. It weighs in at 119.2 GB. There's a more expensive Deluxe Edition, detailed below, and yes, it includes new horse armor DLC. Bethesda definitely knew what it was doing there.
We've got a comprehensive guide to everything you'll find in Oblivion Remastered, including an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and every Guild Quest, How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, and much more.
Here's the official blurb, per Bethesda:
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered modernizes the 2006 Game of the Year with all new stunning visuals and refined gameplay. Explore the vast landscape of Cyrodiil like never before and stop the forces of Oblivion from overtaking the land in one of the greatest RPGs ever from the award-winning Bethesda Game Studios.
Rediscover Cyrodiil
Journey through the rich world of Tamriel and battle across the planes of Oblivion where handcrafted details have been meticulously recreated to ensure each moment of exploration is awe-inspiring.
Navigate Your Own Story
From the noble warrior to the sinister assassin, wizened sorcerer, or scrappy blacksmith, forge your path and play the way you want.
Experience an Epic Adventure
Step inside a universe bursting with captivating stories and encounter an unforgettable cast of characters. Master swordcraft and wield powerful magic as you fight to save Tamriel from the Daedric invasion.
The Complete Story
Experience everything Oblivion has to offer with previously released story expansions Shivering Isles, Knights of the Nine, and additional downloadable content included in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Š Bethesda
Š Planetary Processing
Š Future
Š Future
Š Bethesda
In Japan, renting a PS5 console has suddenly surged in popularity in recent months. Why are people opting to rent rather than buy Sonyâs current gen hardware? The answer is complex, involving console price hikes, a super popular game series, and a particular Japanese retailerâs successful and well-timed new service.
In February, Japanâs GEO Corporation â a chain of around 1,000 stores that rent and sell movies, music and games, began giving customers the chance to rent PS5 consoles. Prices start from an affordable 980 yen (approx. $7) for a week, and 1780 yen (approx. $12.50) for two weeks. This has been a huge success for GEO, with between 80% to 100% of its PS5 consoles rented out at the 400 stores offering the service.
Speaking to ITMedia, GEOâs Yusuke Sakai, the manager in charge of the chainâs rental products, explained that the idea of renting out PS5 consoles came back in summer 2024, when GEOâs DVD and CD rentals were continuing to decline due to the rising popularity of streaming services.
At the time, although PS5s were no longer suffering from supply shortages, there were rumors that PS5 prices would be increased in Japan due to weak exchange rates. On September 2, 2024, Sony did just that, raising the price of the Digital Edition from 59,980 yen (approx. $427) to 72,980 yen (approx. $520), and the disc drive version from 66,980 yen ($477) to 79,980 yen ($569). This domestic price hike was met with much dissatisfaction, with many Japanese users responding to Sonyâs official X announcement with complaints that almost 80,000 yen was too expensive for the then four-year-old console.
âAt this point, we began to consider whether we could rent out PS5 consoles using our existing rental system,â said GEOâs Sakai. As a chain of stores that has been selling, repairing and renting consoles, DVDs, CDs and other electronics to consumers in Japan since the late 1980s, GEO already had both in-store and online rental systems in place. Due to buying and selling second-hand consoles, it also had staff who were able to repair and factory reset PS5s. This existing expertise reduced costs, enabling the company to offer its PS5 rental service at far lower prices than its competitors (prior to this, other Japanese companies offered PS5 console rental services, but in the region of 4500 to 8900 yen a month). It seems likely that GEOâs low prices have made it easier for anyone who is even slightly curious about trying out a PS5 to pick one up for a week or two, something that has likely contributed to the sudden spike in PS5 rentals.
GEOâs PS5 rental service began on February 28, perfectly coinciding with the launch of Monster Hunter Wilds. Capcomâs Monster Hunter series has enjoyed strong sales and popularity in Japan, however Monster Hunter Wildsâ limited platform availability left many Japanese players concerned as to how they would play the latest installment. Xboxâs comparative lack of popularity in Japan, plus Monster Hunter Wildsâ high PC specs, meant that PS5 seemed like the better option for many players â if not for the consoleâs hefty price tag.
âWe knew that Monster Hunter Wilds was going to be one of the biggest titles of the year, so we made it our top priority to get the service set up in time for that,â explained Sakai.
Sakai added that GEOâs PS5 service ties into the companyâs long-held philosophy of enabling customers to try out expensive products for a far lower price, reflecting on how back in the 1980s, a single movie videotape or laserdisc cost around 15,000~20,000 yen to purchase, with GEO making it affordable to rent a movie for around 1,000 yen a night. Nowadays at almost 80,000 yen, a PS5 console is a hefty purchase for most parents to buy for their kids, or for a student to save up for, which could make renting the console a more attractive option for many.
However, renting a PS5 might not be as cheap as it first appears, when you factor in the additional costs, such as renting or buying a game and the need to subscribe to PSN for online play. Also, GEO currently only offers one week and two week plans, charging 500 yen per day if you want to extend your rental period.
Photo by Richard A. Brooks / AFP.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Š Future
If youâve been eyeing the Scarlet & Violet: 151 set â one of the most nostalgia-fueled PokĂŠmon TCG releases in years â chances are youâve come across the 151 Booster Bundle on Amazon. At $66.65 for just six packs, it might seem like a harmless splurge. But that price? It's more than double the MSRP.
A standard six-pack bundle should cost around $29.99 to $34.99, making Amazonâs markup not just steep, but straight-up bad value. Despite the flashy marketing and glowing reviews, there's no guarantee youâll pull anything even close to worth that price. Youâre basically paying premium for the privilege of disappointment.
The upside? Prices for singles from the 151 set are dropping fast. So instead of gambling on blind packs, you can pick up exactly the cards you want â from heavy hitters like Charizard ex to stunning collector pieces like the alt-art Pikachu â for way less.
If youâre after nostalgia, go ahead and crack some packs from the wallet-busting 151 bundle. But if you're building a competitive deck or just chasing standout cards like Blastoise ex, the smart move is investing in singles. Sites like TCGplayer offer great value, and buying directly means no dud pulls, no wasted cash, and just the cards you care about.
Blastoise ex (200/165) is currently the crown jewel of the 151 illustrated rares, and for good reason. Priced at about $66, it features a serene riverside scene of Blastoise at rest, a far cry from typical action poses.
The artwork feels more like a Ghibli frame than a trading card, which is why collectors are paying top dollar for it. Itâs a grail card that youâd be extremely lucky to pull from a booster pack, let alone multiple copies.
Venusaur ex (198/165) isnât far behind. Retailing around $60, it showcases the Grass-type legend lounging among blooming flowers in a dreamy forest scene.
These Illustration Rares are printed with unique texturing and alternate art styles, offering depth and color palettes that set them apart from standard ex cards. If your collection leans toward display-worthy art, this is an easy pickup.
Then thereâs Charmander (168/165), a fan favorite that combines cuteness and nostalgia in one of the most beloved alt-art designs in recent memory. Despite its popularity, you can currently snag it for under $50, which is less than the price of the booster bundle and a far better emotional return than pulling a non-holo Caterpie.
While the illustrated rares turn heads, the set also includes powerful cards for players looking to improve their competitive decks. Charizard ex (183/165) can cause a massive 160 damage with just one fire energy thanks to Brave Wing, just make sure it gets knocked around a bit first. Itâs one of the few viable Charizards in standard play and itâs only about $39 as a single card.
Blastoise ex (184/165) also deserves a second mention, not just as a collector card but a solid battlefield tank. Its Solid Shell passive reduces incoming damage and Twin Cannons can hit for 140 per Water energy discarded, making it lethal in the late game. And if you donât need the full-art version, the Alt Art ex is going for just $13.
Finally, Mew ex (193/165) offers unmatched versatility. Its Restart ability gives you a once-per-turn card draw boost and its Genome Hacking attack can copy an opponentâs attacks with ease. That makes it ideal for control decks and rogue strategies.
For under $27, itâs a tactical addition that gives you flexibility without wrecking your wallet. Mew ex - (205/165) has the same moveset but is only $13.49 at the time of writing, so you can slide double the Mews into your Psychic deck for the same price.
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.
Cloudheim, an upcoming action-adventure RPG from developer Noodle Cat Games that we exclusively announced earlier this year, is now showing off its crafting system and shop system in a new gameplay trailer. You can watch it above and take a look at crafting and shop system screenshots in the new gallery below.
Noodle Cat explains that while they hope players will enjoy crafting in Cloudheim, it can be as much or as little as you prefer: "Crafting in Cloudheim doesnât force players to deeply engage if they donât want to - you can spend time finding specific materials, or just throw all your loot into stations and see what happens." Furthermore, there's also smelting and forging, alchemy, and cooking.
Shopkeeping is also a "go as deep as you want" gameplay element â but if you're going to do it, you'd better do it right. "Correctly displaying items (e.g., swords on weapon racks) increases profits," Noodle Cat explained. "Decorative items and banners improve shop appeal, influencing shopper behavior. Cleanliness and layout also impact success."
You can wishlist Cloudheim on Steam if you're interested.
Ryan McCaffrey is IGN's executive editor of previews and host of both IGN's weekly Xbox show, Podcast Unlocked, as well as our monthly(-ish) interview show, IGN Unfiltered. He's a North Jersey guy, so it's "Taylor ham," not "pork roll." Debate it with him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan.
The IGN World Guide for FX's Alien: Earth launched today, Earth Day 2025, and it provides fans of the acclaimed sci-fi horror franchise an exclusive look at the FX-Hulu series coming this summer.
As part of this launch, weâve partnered with FX on a tongue-in-cheek Earth Day public service announcement, which can be viewed via the player below.
Weâre also rolling out a series of short videos across our social media channels this week chronicling the gestation of a creature in what appeared to be a controlled lab setting ⌠although if the Alien franchise has taught us anything, itâs that creatures in that world canât be controlled.
From creator Noah Hawley, FX's Alien: Earth follows a young woman (played by Sydney Chandler) and a band of tactical soldiers who make a fateful discovery after a spaceship crash-lands on Earth.
The series is set in 2120 when, according to its official plot synopsis, âfive corporations - Prodigy, Weyland-Yutani, Lynch, Dynamic and Threshold - wield the power of nations, and proprietary advancements in technology provide the promise of a new tomorrow.â
In addition to Sydney Chandler, the cast includes Alex Lawther, Timothy Olyphant, Essie Davis, Samuel Blenkin, Babou Ceesay, David Rysdahl, Adrian Edmondson, Adarsh Gourav, Jonathan Ajayi, Erana James, Lily Newmark, Diem Camille and Moe Bar-El.
For more on the Alien franchise, check out the IGN communityâs ranking of the Alien movies and find out how to watch the Alien movies in chronological order.
A group of ex-Skylanders developers have announced Voidling Bound, a new monster-taming action game for PC that's due out next year. Watch the announcement trailer above and check out the first screenshots in the gallery below.
Hatchery Games promises plenty of third-person action, branching paths that let you customize your Voidling's appearance, playstyle, abilities, and elemental alignment. You can level them up, breed them, collect them, and craft them. The developers set up their sci-fi world as such: "Defenseless against a devastating parasite threatening all life forms, humanity must team up with recently discovered Voidlings to unlock their full potential through the neural bond. Become bound as one, as the last line of defense in our fight for survival."
We'll have more on Voidling Bound as development progresses. You can wishlist it on Steam if you're interested.
Ryan McCaffrey is IGN's executive editor of previews and host of both IGN's weekly Xbox show, Podcast Unlocked, as well as our monthly(-ish) interview show, IGN Unfiltered. He's a North Jersey guy, so it's "Taylor ham," not "pork roll." Debate it with him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan.
Š Sega
Thereâs someone other than Tom Holland to thank for his role as Spider-Man, at least according to our Punisher, Jon Bernthal. The Daredevil: Born Again actor recently revealed that he worked with Holland on his Marvel audition tape years back, and takes a little credit for helping Holland land the role.
"We did [Pilgrimage] about seven or eight years ago," Bernthal explained about working with Holland on the 2017 film â which debuted the same year as Spider-Man: Homecoming â during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live last weekend. "That was where both Tom did his audition for Spider-Man and I did my audition for Punisher. We actually made each otherâs audition tapes on that film."
Bernthal also noted that he tossed some ideas for the tape Tomâs way and the former Broadway star let it rip, no Bernthal career pun intended. "I gave him the note, 'Tom, maybe you should run up that wall and do a double backflip and then start the scene,' " the The Bear star added.
"And he was like, 'Yeah, you think I should do that? Thatâs not too much?' I was like, 'I donât think any of these other fools are able to do that,' and he in fact did that. Itâs not that I take responsibility for him, but you know, like a little something."
The cheeky story really sets the scene for a moment in history back in 2015 when Pilgrimage was being filmed. At the time, Holland seemed to be auditioning for his cameo role in Captain America: Civil War, while Bernthal was seemingly attempting to land the role of Frank Castle in Season 2 of Netflixâs Daredevil.
Bernthal can currently be seen punishing in the new Disney+ spin-off series Daredevil: Born Again, while Hollandâs next appearance as the webslinger we all know and love is coming in 2026 with Spider-Man: Brand New Day
.
Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.
Andrew Garfield has discussed what a potential return as Spider-Man would have to look like, and pointed to the âcreative freedomâ of the Spider-Verse movies as a reference point.
Garfield famously reprised his role as the much-loved Marvel superhero for 2021âs Spider-Man: No Way Home, where he appeared alongside Tom Holland and Tobey Maguire in a multiverse-fueled mash-up of Spider-Man actors past and present.
Is Andrew Garfield in 2026âs Spider-Man: Brand New Day? Heâs denied it before and will no-doubt deny it again, while acknowledging his penchant for lying to the internet about his upcoming roles.
But, speaking at Middle East Film & Comic Con, Garfield opened up about what a return to Spider-Man would have to look like for him to jump on board, saying it would need to be âvery weird.â
âI really love playing Spider-Man,â Garfield said.
âI would love to play the character again in some capacity, but I think it would have to be very weird. I think I would want to do something very strange. I would want to do something very unique, and offbeat, and surprising, kind of like the creative freedom that they have with the animated Spider-Verse movies. I think theyâre so great and you can honor the character in so many different ways through the multiverse.â
Does that make a role reprisal more or less likely? Itâs hard to tell. But if the Spider-Verse movies are a jumping off point, perhaps Garfield would be tempted back by a similarly mind-bending superhero get-together⌠like in Avengers: Doomsday?
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is set to star Tom Holland once again as Spider-Man, and thereâs no suggestion Garfield will be a part of it. Interestingly, neither Holland, Garfield, nor Maguire were among the many names listed in Marvelâs Avengers: Doomsday cast reveal, which surprised some. Marvel has indicated more cast news is coming for the movie, so perhaps thereâs still hope for Spider-Man, whether thatâs Garfield, Holland, or someone else.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Š Semiwork (modded by zelofi
Š 11 Bit Studios
This interview contains spoilers for The Last of Us Season 2 and the game the series is adapting.
It seems as if for as long as The Last of Usâ Abby has existed, there has been controversy surrounding her character. The Last of Us Part II received polarized reactions from fans, with some adoring its complexities and others despising the game and character so much that original Abby voice actress Laura Bailey (Critical Role, The Legend of Vox Machina) received death threats against her and her son. The news that Kaitlyn Dever had been cast in the role for HBOâs The Last of Us adaptation sparked a whole new kind of drama, with some frustrated by Deverâs stature. In the game, Abby has two defining characteristics: her rage and her muscles. According to The Last of Us co-creator Neil Druckmann, the muscles werenât important for the adaptation. And, according to Kaitlyn Dever, her version of Abby is âso much moreâ than her rage.
In an interview with IGN, co-creators Druckmann, Craig Mazin, and Kaitlyn Dever broke down the changes to Abby Anderson as her journey shifts slightly from the source material.
âOnce we cast someone, you can't help but see them like they become part of the DNA of this character,â says Druckmann. âKaitlyn Dever is different from Laura Bailey, who played Abby in the video game. And that informs a lot of how we think about the character.â
Outside of her physical appearance, we havenât seen a lot of changes to Abby just yet. Though the story did shift the order of events, offering up the reason for Abbyâs revenge immediately rather than revealing her motives gradually throughout the story, her traits remain largely the same. However, that may not always be the case.
âA lot of the fundamentals of her are the same, but just like the moment to moment [...] the medium that creates certain changes that, sometimes, have a butterfly effect and the changes become greater over time,â Druckmann notes.
For Mazin, it was about highlighting the cut-scene moments from the game that he felt warranted more time. âHow do you fill that space? What pops out?â he wonders. âIn general, what I think we do is try to deepen the complexities and the parts of these characters.â In that same vein it was âreally importantâ to both Mazin and Druckmann that they âdeepen the complexities and the parts of these charactersâ so the audience can really feel what the character was feeling and live in the moment with them.
As far as Dever is concerned, itâs those complexities that give the show the opportunity to really shine. âWe are given that space to explore her emotion,â she says. âShe's so much more than her rage and anger. And I think that what's different about the show is that we are given a little bit more context to Abby when we first meet her.â
As we see in the opening sequence of âThrough the Valley,â The Last of Us Season 2âs second episode, Deverâs Abby is deeply and profoundly sad. In her dream, her present self tries to stop the five-years-earlier version from entering the room where she will find her fatherâs corpse. Her past self does not listen and enters the room anyway, resulting in tears streaming down present Abbyâs face as she stands helplessly by, unable to stop the moment from happening and unable to free herself from the pain it caused.
Itâs that grief that will play a pivotal role in the adaptationâs Abby, Dever confirms adding that âthe show talks a lot about grief in so many different ways and in different forms and I think that that's what is at the core of a lot of these people's storylines and emotions is that exactly.â
With poorly lit metal halls, flickering neon lights, a larger than life mechanical sprawl, and a cyborg ninja protagonist, Steel Seed has a lot on the surface that piqued my interest, as I can be easily lured into B-tier sci-fi stories if things look weird enough. Unfortunately, this one is weird in all the wrong ways. Its stealth action and energetic platforming are its best traits, but they are uneven across the roughly 12-hour campaign. Some really cool moments and creatures end up lost amongst miles of dreary and uninspired spaces, overshadowed by frustrating combat and a flimsy story that sap whatever shuddering signs of life this machine had in it.
The problems with Steel Seed start with its heroâs generic presentation. Zoe, awkwardly plucky and earnest daughter of the creator of the dystopia she woke up into, feels completely out of sync with the post-apocalyptic sci-fi world she is in. Sheâs well-voiced, but not well-written, relying heavily on some vapid self-reflection about a past she canât fully remember and superhero movie-style banter with her robot pa. Maâam, youâre the last living human on a planet overrun by killer robots and the only chance to bring humanity back from extinction. I need you to stop quipping and lock in.
Steel Seed is dense with lore about how some major corporation was humanity's last hope until the CEO (who is also Zoeâs father) got double crossed by whoever and whatever, but its plot is light on interesting happenings or compelling reasons to continue to the next objective outside of âbecause itâs telling me to.â Thereâs a part that technically satisfies the literary definition of a plot twist, but you see it coming so far in advance that it might as well be a naked man covered in gold.
Youâll spend a great deal of your time navigating this post-human settlement by hopping on platforms and scurrying up walls. Itâs all very reminiscent of the Uncharted games, where shimmying across a ledge could be filled with enough mishaps and jump scares to make the process a tense one. Steel Seed even goes a step further, making its high stakes sequences of sliding through collapsing structures or outrunning gunfire feel way more precarious as it's pretty easy to fail some of the more intense sections.
Light puzzle mechanics can add some small speed bumps to your progress, often in the form of commanding your R2D2-coded companion, KOBY, to shoot unreachable buttons while your hands and feet are busy keeping you firmly attached to a wall. These were just dynamic enough to stay engaging, which is all I can ask for for a game that has platforming but isnât entirely focused on that kind of gameplay, a la Astrobot. Things do get more clever in certain chase encounters, where your perspective changes from 3D to 2D in order to outrun enemy fire from the background â but these moments are scarce, and Steel Seed does nothing that clever anywhere else.
The vast environments youâll be doing all this poking around in are very hit and miss, visually speaking. There are quite a few stretches of pretty generic techno-hallways or oft-troped rust-chic junk yards that don't really inspire awe if you've seen any science fiction ever. But occasionally those halls will be filled with weird little robot bugs, or a X-story tall mech that rivals the scale of some of God of Warâs largest creatures will rise to greet you, and you canât help but think, âthey cooked with this one, at least.â Generally, though, thereâs very little about the world Zoe is tasked with saving even worth remembering, something me and the amnesiac protagonist have in common.
There are a lot of enemies in all of these spaces looking to stop you from saving the day, and you can take care of them with stealthy wit or brute force. The stages where you find most enemies are rife with nooks and crannies to hide in and precariously placed obstacles to use as distractions, or to cause killing blows themselves. At first stealth is pretty simple thanks to the very slim variety of different bad guys that patrol around, as well your limited starting skills. I was happy to see that blossom into something more robust as time went on, though. Even though you donât really see more than five different enemy types in any given encounter throughout Steel Seed, each one is so different and they are mixed together well enough to create checkpoints that can be a real challenge to navigate safely.
Sections get larger and more dense with lookouts that have overlapping patrols and vision vectors, and while some of the mid-game scenarios hit the âjust rightâ mix of enemies and area size, the late-game stealth sections drag on way too long. The fairly strict checkpoints also mean you need to start from the beginning of the section if you fail during it, sometimes throwing 15-20 minutes of patient stabbing and enemy hacking directly into the recycling bin when you slip up. You also run out of new ways to take down foes pretty early on, and I found myself setting a lot of the same traps throughout. So while the hunt started tense, it became stale sooner than Iâd hoped.
Zoe and KOBY gain more tricks as they progress, but you sort of have to earn the ability to buy them with the points you find by breaking containers or enemy robots, completing what can often feel like busy work first. Kill five enemies without being seen and youâll earn the privilege of buying the extremely useful glitch mine skill, which goes a long way towards killing bots without being seen. A lot of the skills have requirements that can come naturally through play, like scanning a number of enemies individually in order to unlock a version of the scan that hits everything of interest in a small zone â ,but others were more tedious tasks, such as searching the mostly bland locations for hidden pick-ups or completing more challenging skill tests like killing a certain amount of enemies a specific way in a small window of time, which were things I happily avoided.
I less than happily avoided outright combat like a computer virus, though. From the buggy lock-on that lets you focus on an enemy but will still pull you towards other nearby foes, to the mashy attack strings with mushy responsiveness, to the dry attack animations from both Zoe and all of her victims, confronting your foes directly is generally a mess. None of the skills you unlock make combat feel any better, despite giving you some admittedly strong options for late-game encounters that can spin out of control with the number of potential participants in any given melee, attacking from off screen with reckless abandon. By the end of the campaign, if I got caught during a stealth section, I'd more often just reload at the last checkpoint than clean up the foes that caught me because it was simply less boring that way. Zones where you have no choice but to fight in open combat were consistently my least favorite parts of the Steel Seed, but mercifully, they are few and far between.
Enola Holmes 3 is now in production, Netflix has announced, with Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, and more stars of the detective movies set to return.
In a blog post, Netflix confirmed the Enola Holmes 3 cast, which includes Millie Bobby Brown as the titular detective and Henry Cavill as her older brother, Sherlock Holmes. Enola Holmes 3 is set in Malta, with Holmes tasked with solving another mystery. Thereâs no release date yet.
Hereâs the official blurb:
Even on holiday, mystery follows Enola Holmes, and youâre invited along for the ride. Thatâs right: Millie Bobby Brown is back as Sherlock Holmesâ equally brilliant younger sister in Enola Holmes 3, now in production in the UK.
The latest installment in the adventures of the young detective sees her tackling another mystery, this time on the island nation of Malta. Youâll have to wait and see what brings her there â but once sheâs arrived, Enola is flung into a nest of vipers. As the private detective juggles a new case and the next stages of her relationship with Tewkesbury (Louis Partridge), the game is truly afoot.
Enola Holmes 3 is directed by Philip Barantini, the filmmaker behind the hit one-take crime drama Adolescence. Enola Holmes and Enola Holmes 2 scribe Jack Thorne returns to write the script, based on The Enola Holmes Mysteries by Nancy Springer.
Warning! Spoilers for Enola Holmes 2 follow.
The post-credit scene in Enola Holmes 2 introduces Dr. John Watson, Sherlock Holmes' famous companion, who is played by Himesh Patel. Enola, concerned about Sherlock's loneliness, arranges for Watson to visit him at 221b Baker Street, setting up their classic dynamic.
Netflix has previously stated that 76 million âhouseholdsâ watched Enola Holmes, which came out in 2020. The sequel hit Netflix in 2022.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Portable chargers are more or less essential already for gaming on the go, but the Nintendo Switch 2's shorter battery life makes offers like 50% off the Anker 537 power bank a must-buy at $34.99.
Normally $69.99, a portable charger of this size holds enough extra power to recharge many phones, laptops, and most importantly, game consoles, numerous times. It's, without a doubt, the best power bank deal going right now.
For instance, the Anker 537's massive battery can recharge an iPhone 16 over six times or a base Nintendo Switch over five times. If you're travelling and need to refuel both devices on the go, this Anker power bank comes with two USB ports for simultaneous charging for a 65W total output.
This is just one of the great deals on portable chargers at Woot going on right now, but this is one of our favourites, considering it's from one of the industry's top brands.
The official Nintendo Switch 2 specs state that the new console will only have an estimated life between two & six and a half hours for its 5220 mAh battery, due to its higher processing power.
Being able to hold an extra four and a half charges with its 24k mAh capacity, this kind of power bank is vital whether you're on the road a lot or are planning on mostly playing with the system in its handheld mode. With that, you won't have to deal with sudden power outages whilst playing Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, or Tears of the Kingdom through its new Switch 2 port.
If you're on a particularly long trip or you're at a weekend getaway with limited power outlets, the Anker 537 Power Bank also comes with a high-speed 30W recharge feature, so you'll be able to replenish to 24,000mAh battery in just four and a half hours.
Ben Williams â IGN freelance contributor with over 10 years of experience covering gaming, tech, film, TV, and anime. Follow him on Twitter/X @BenLevelTen.
Retro handheld console manufacturer Anbernic has suspended all U.S. orders.
As spotted by The Verge, the company blamed "changes in U.S. tariff policies," and recommended players "prioritize products shipped from our U.S. warehouse, which are currently not affected by import duties and can be purchased with confidence." Orders that require shipping from China will not be processed.
Anbernic is perhaps best known for its cheap Chinese Game Boy clones, which it typically dropships from China to customers as they're released, then stockpiles additional units in U.S. warehouses.
Anbernic's website lets customers choose whether to ship from the U.S. or China, but not all products are available from the U.S., which means some items, such as the Anbernic RG CubeXX or the RG 406H, will no longer be available to American players.
The Trump administration has implemented tariffs of up to 145% on imports from China, and warned tariffs on some imports, like electric vehicles, could reach up to 245% when added to existing levies. While it's possible for some companies in the supply chain to absorb these costs, more often than not, they're passed onto consumers. Unfortunately for gamers, rising prices are already impacting tech and gaming goods, such as Nintendo Switch 2 accessories and gaming laptops.
Anbernic said is it "working to find a suitable solution" for any customers hit with custom fees "during this transitional period."
Nintendo officially unveiled the Switch 2 in a 60-minute Nintendo Direct earlier this month. While pre-orders were originally set to open in early April in the U.S., tariff-related uncertainty both in the U.S. and Canada caused Nintendo to delay the pre-order date to April 24. During the delay, Nintendo kept the $449.99 price of the Switch 2 console and games the same, but raised prices on most Switch 2 accessories.
Vikki Blake is a reporter, critic, columnist, and consultant. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
ESDigital Games will release its stealth-action adventure game, Steel Seed, on PC later today. Powered by Unreal Engine 5, itâs time now to benchmark it and examine its performance on PC. For our benchmarks, we used an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D, 32GB of DDR5 at 6000Mhz, AMDâs Radeon RX 6900XT, RX 7900XTX, RX 9070XT, as ⌠Continue reading Steel Seed Benchmarks & PC Performance Analysis â
The post Steel Seed Benchmarks & PC Performance Analysis appeared first on DSOGaming.
We've seen all manner of unusual pop culture crossovers involving the Transformers franchise over the years, including Transformers x Ghostbusters and Transformers x Top Gun. But Hasbro's latest collaboration might just be its coolest one yet. This time, the Robots in Disguise are getting an NFL-themed makeover.
IGN can exclusively debut the first images of the Transformers x NFL Helmet line, featuring several toys that transform from robots to fully detailed and licensed football helmets. Get a closer look in the slideshow gallery below:
The Transformers x NFL helmet series will consist of four figures initially - Dallas Cowboys Starblitz, Pittsburgh Steelers Steelsmash, Green Bay Packers Tundra Prime, and Kansas City Chiefs KC-59. Each figure measures 5.5 inches tall and transforms from robot mode to helmet mode in 23 steps. Each also includes accessories like a miniature football and a football helmet.
The Transformers x NFL Helmet series was first revealed on the Games With Names podcast, with host and New England Patriotsâ Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman getting early hands-on time with the new toys.
âTeaming Transformers up with the NFL is an extremely exciting milestone as we explore strategic and innovative ways to grow the franchise,â said Tamara Grindrod, Global Play Leader, Action Brands at Hasbro in a statement. âTransformers continues to deliver a ...MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE experience for fans through epic storytelling, toys and more. This latest collaboration is a great example of how weâre connecting new and passionate fanbases with our iconic characters.â
âIâm honored to be teaming up with Hasbro once again to support an iconic collaboration between the Transformers franchise and the NFL,â said Edelman. âIt is a dream to see two of my passions come together for this unique collaborative product line. I canât wait for Transformers and football fans to get their hands on one of these premium collectibles and see their epic conversions. Tune in to my latest 'Games with Names' podcast episode where I chat more about this awesome project!â
If your favorite team isn't represented here, don't worry. Hasbro already has plans for more Transformers x NFL Helmet releases. IGN can exclusively reveal that the second wave will include a Buffalo Bills figure.
If you're interested in purchasing any of these figures, you can preorder the series on Amazon's Transformers store.
Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.
Baldurâs Gate 3 has seen a significant boost in player numbers on Steam following the release of the hotly anticipated Patch 8, and this has set developer Larian up nicely to focus on its next big game.
The enormous, game-changing Patch 8 launched last week and with it added 12 new subclasses to Baldur's Gate 3. Its release sparked a player surge as fans flocked to test out the new subclasses as well as the brand new photo mode.
On Steam, Baldurâs Gate 3 hit a player concurrent peak of 169,267 over the weekend â an incredible feat for a single-player focused role-playing game in its second year. Sony and Microsoft do not make PlayStation nor Xbox player numbers publicly available.
Reflecting on the release of Patch 8, Larian chief Swen Vincke tweeted to say he expects Baldurâs Gate 3 to âcontinue to do well for quite some time,â not just because of the Patch 8 player boost, but because of âthrivingâ mod support.
This in turn gives Larian âroom to focus on making our next big thing as good as we can,â Vincke continued. âWeâve got big shoes to fill.â
"Feeling good today about where we are with BG3," Vincke said. "Patch 8 got a lot of people playing again. It took a lot of development effort but I'm happy we did it.
"With mod support thriving, I think the game will now continue to do well for quite some time. It gives us room to focus on making our next big thing as good as we can and that focus is more than welcome. We've got big shoes to fill."
Patch 8, as Larian has signalled, is the final major update for the game and draws a line under what has been a remarkable time for the developer. Baldurâs Gate 3 launched to critical acclaim and enormous commercial success back in 2023, and has continued to sell strongly throughout 2024 and into 2025.
Larian shocked the gaming world by confirming its intention to leave Baldurâs Gate 3 and Dungeons & Dragons behind to work on a brand new game, which it teased at various points before announcing a media blackout to focus on the new mystery project.
D&D owner Hasbro, however, has teased plans to continue with the series. Speaking to IGN at the Game Developers Conference, SVP of digital games at Hasbro, Dan Ayoub, let on that with Larian moving on, Hasbro has "a lot of people very interested in Baldur's Gate."
"We're kind of working out our plans for the future and what we're going to be doing with that," Ayoub said. "And actually, in pretty short order, we're going to have some stuff to talk about around that."
Ayoub didn't offer any further information about whether this "stuff" would be a full-blown new Baldur's Gate in the works, or some sort of crossover like the characters had with Magic: The Gathering previously. However, he did acknowledge that he eventually wants a Baldur's Gate 4, but that making one will likely take a while.
"It's somewhat of an unenviable position," he said. "I mean, we're not in a hurry. Right? That's the thing, we're going to take a very measured approach... We've got a lot of plans, a lot of different ways to go about it. We're starting to think about, okay, yeah, we're ready to start dipping toes a little bit and talking about a few things. And I think, in really short order, like I said, again, not to over-tease that point, we're going to have some other things to talk about around that."
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
I went into todayâs deals lineup expecting the usual mix of tech discounts and maybe a random microSD card. Instead, I got a full-blown Samsung monitor showdown, a Destiny 2 vinyl I didnât know I needed, and a PokĂŠmon bundle that made me double-check the price out of sheer disbelief.
If youâve been waiting to splurge on your gaming setup or just want to avoid getting ripped off on some nostalgia-fueled trading cards, todayâs got a little something for both sides of your brain.
Samsung clearly woke up and chose chaos, because theyâre throwing massive discounts on both the 49" QD-OLED and 57" Neo G9 monitors. Meanwhile, IGN Store dropped a vinyl pre-order thatâs basically a love letter to Destiny fans, and Humbleâs back with another absurdly stacked game dev bundle. Just donât get tricked by that overpriced PokĂŠmon 151 listing. Iâve got better picks for under $66 thatâll make your binder and your wallet happier.
I really want this listing to disappear into the tall grass. Itâs six booster packs. Thatâs it. For $66.65. The MSRP was closer to $30, which makes this a laughable markup for whatâs essentially a fancy six-pack with no promo cards.
I love PokĂŠmon 151. Itâs packed with great Kanto art, and yeah there's some killer hits in there. But paying twice retail for the chance at a Charizard? Thatâs a pass. I think if youâre going to spend over $60, you should at least know what youâre getting.
I dug up some single card options that are actually worth the money. You can grab Alakazam ex for around $10, a clean Zapdos holo for under $5, and even that Blastoise art rare for $66 or less if you donât mind a little light play.
Godzilla is one of the biggest names in entertainment, with over 70 years of history since Ishiro Honda's 1954 film. Over the years, there have been numerous interpretations of the legendary beast, from World War II-inspired movies to clashes with other beasts in the Monsterverse. There's a lot to love about every film, especially if you're a fan of action. Starting today, you can purchase three of the most recent Godzilla movies in 4K for only $33. Now is the time to add three films involving the legendary beast to your Blu-ray collection.
This sale is part of Amazon's larger three for $33 4K movie promotion that just started. There are quite a few other great films in there if you'd prefer to shop the full sale yourself.
Starting today, you can purchase three of the most recent Godzilla movies in 4K for only $33. Now is the time to add three films involving the legendary beast to your Blu-ray collection.
This sale is part of Amazon's larger three for $33 4K movie promotion that just started. There are quite a few other great films in there if you'd prefer to shop the full sale yourself.
think this might be the best gaming monitor deal Iâve seen all year. The QD-OLED G9 just dropped to $1,049.99, which is $700 off its original price. Thatâs not a typo. This is Samsungâs top-of-the-line 49-inch ultrawide, and right now itâs a steal.
The Dual QHD resolution makes games look absurdly sharp, and the 240Hz refresh rate with 0.03ms response time means itâs as fast as it is pretty. Add G-Sync and FreeSync support, and youâve got yourself a monitor that wonât blink even when youâre about to lose a ranked match.
I want this on my desk just so I can stop squinting at my minimap like an old man with bad Wi-Fi. It wraps around your field of view and makes even spreadsheets feel dramati
I think this is one of the rare vinyl drops that actually gets it right. Destiny 2âs original soundtrack is coming to vinyl, and it looks and sounds awesome. It covers music from The Red War campaign and comes with two LPs, custom art, and even a code for an exclusive in-game emblem.
I pre-ordered this the second I saw it. You donât get a lot of game soundtracks that feel this cinematic, and now you can spin them while pretending Zavalaâs giving you a pep talk.
If youâve played Destiny for any length of time, you know how emotional this music can get. For $44, itâs way cheaper than therapy and a lot cooler than yet another figure collecting dust.
If the QD-OLED isnât wild enough for you, this 57-inch Neo G9 is here to take your eyeballs hostage. Itâs the worldâs first Dual UHD monitor, and it costs $1,799.99 right now instead of its usual $2,299.99. Plus, thereâs an extra $50 credit applied at checkout.
Mini-LED tech, 240Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and enough real estate to run an airport. I want this so badly Iâm thinking of measuring my apartment just to see if itâll fit.
The HDR 1000 support and insane brightness make everything pop, and Samsung even threw in CoreSync lighting to make sure your desk feels like a spaceship.
If youâve ever fired up Unity, gotten overwhelmed, and rage-quit to watch a devlog instead, this bundle might be for you. For $30, you get over 50 assets covering everything from Viking villages to stylized VFX.
Iâm not saying this will make you the next FromSoftware, but itâll definitely make prototyping less soul-crushing. The Whispering Grove and Asian Dynasty packs alone are worth more than the bundle price.
Also, it supports charity. So even if you never finish your dream RPG, at least someone benefits from your failed side project.
I think this is the drive to get if youâve got a ton of large files and zero patience. The T9 4TB model is down to $299.99, and itâs fast. Iâm talking 2,000MB/s fast. You can load, edit, and transfer without watching a loading bar crawl across your screen.
Itâs built to survive up to a 9.8-foot drop, which, yes, I find oddly specific. But hey, it means itâll probably survive your daily backpack abuse. If youâre a video editor or just someone who hoards game installs like they're rare PokĂŠmon, this is a solid pickup.
This oneâs all about durability and capacity. The T5 EVO gives you 4TB of space in a compact shell, and itâs priced the same as the T9. It doesnât hit the same crazy speeds, but itâs still great for moving big files and not worrying about losing them to the floor gods.
I want this for backup storage or even game library overflow. Itâs a solid pick if you donât need bleeding-edge speeds but still want to keep everything in one pocket-sized vault. Buyers can also snag a free Sonic the Hedgehog branded 256GB MicroSD card + adaptor with this deal too.
Amazonâs been a bit shady with this one. While the overpriced Elite Trainer Box is sitting at a wild $99.49, this six-pack bundle is actually close to MSRP and ships directly from Amazon. Itâs quietly hidden under separate listings, which feels intentional given how quickly the ETB sold out when it dipped below $40 last week.
One Journey Together pack, one total mystery. If you just want to open something without overthinking it, this gets the job done. Itâs also about as low-stakes as PokĂŠmon TCG gets unless you're picking up cards off the sidewalk.
Yes, this is the same box that was selling for around $40 days ago. Itâs now being offered at the highest price yet, and not even by resellers â this inflated price is from Amazon itself. You get nine booster packs, a promo, sleeves, and extras, but you'd be paying more than double what itâs worth. Iâd pass unless it drops again.
If youâve ever stared at a costume price and thought âI could make that,â this bundle is your chance to prove it. For $18, you get 40+ ebooks covering foamwork, LED wiring, sewing, armor templates, and even a cosplay planner. Itâs a goldmine for beginners or experienced cosplayers looking to level up.
I want to say this isnât excessive, but youâre getting 18 Stellar Crown booster packs, three promo cards, a playmat, a deck box, and a magnetic card display. Excessive, but in a good way. Itâs basically a portable shrine to Terapagos, and somehow still manages to feel worth it if you're deep in the hobby.
Three booster packs and two sticker sheets in a tin that stacks. Thatâs the whole pitch. I think itâs a fun pickup if youâre buying for a younger fan or just want your cards stored in a tiny themed cylinder for some reason.
Six packs focused on shiny PokĂŠmon, which will either be a collectorâs dream or a gamble depending on your luck. In my opinion, the price feels high unless you're chasing specific cards, but that hasnât stopped anyone before.
Six packs and two foil promos, plus acrylic standees and a sticker sheet, because Ionoâs entire personality is now available in merchandise form. I think this oneâs a solid pick if you like your collections playable, displayable, and mildly ridiculous.
This box comes with nine Shrouded Fable booster packs, a Pecharunt promo, sleeves, dice, and more organizational tools than your average office desk. Itâs one of the more practical bundles, assuming your definition of practical includes themed card sleeves.
Each bundle comes with three PokĂŠ Ball tins and nine booster packs total, plus stickers in case the PokĂŠ Balls werenât festive enough. Youâre paying for variety and presentation here, which is half the fun anyway.
Same again but includes a PokĂŠball, Great Ball and Ultra Ball. This is the OG choice and look brilliant mixed in a graded card display. All PokĂŠmon TCG should come in a PokĂŠball in my opinion!
If you donât need sleeves or dice and just want to crack open six fresh packs from Surging Sparks, this one does the job. In my opinion, itâs the most straightforward way to feed the shiny card habit without the extra clutter.
You get five packs and one of two promo cards, chosen by fate or some algorithm pretending to be fate. A decent middle ground for players who want something compact with a bit of flair and a good chance at useful pulls.
This tin is a lucky dip between Kyogre, Xerneas, and Dialga, which makes it great if you enjoy a little chaos with your collecting. Five packs and a foil promo make it pretty reasonable for the price, especially if you're not picky.
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.
It'll take almost half the time to fully charge your Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller compared to the OG model.
As spotted by Nintendo Life, Nintendo recently unveiled the tech specs of the new and improved $84.99 Switch 2 Pro Controller, confirming that it'll take around three-and-a half hours to charge (providing you're using the Nintendo Switch 2 AC adapter or the USB-C charging cable). That's almost half the six hours it takes to fully charge the original Pro controller.
Best of all, that faster charge doesn't come at the expense of the Pro Controller's fantastic 40-hour battery life â the Pro Controller 2 will also run for about 40 hours between charges. And it boasts the new C button, has two additional GL/GR buttons on the underside, and is slightly lighter and smaller than the original version.
If you're not quite ready to part with your OG controller, don't forget Nintendo recently confirmed that the original controller will be compatible with the new console system.
Nintendo officially unveiled the Switch 2 in a 60-minute Nintendo Direct earlier this month. While pre-orders were originally set to open in early April in the U.S., tariff-related uncertainty caused Nintendo to delay the pre-order date to April 24. During the delay, Nintendo confirmed it was keeping the $449.99 price of the Switch 2 console and games the same, but raised prices on most Switch 2 accessories (the Switch 2 Pro Controller jumped from $80 to $85).
Here's a super handy Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch comparison chart and if you're tempted, find out how to increase your chances of getting a new Nintendo Switch 2 console on day one.
Vikki Blake is a reporter, critic, columnist, and consultant. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
Sebastian Stan has revealed his career struggles before landing the crucial Marvel Cinematic Universe role of the Winter Solder.
Speaking to Vanity Fair, Stan said he was âsavedâ by a $65,000 residuals payment from Hot Tub Time Machine before he played James "Bucky" Barnes in the original Captain America movie. Stan was antagonist Blaine in the 2010 American science fiction comedy, then went on to star alongside Captain America actor Chris Evans in 2011âs Captain America: The First Avenger.
âI was actually struggling with work,â Stan said. âI had just gotten off the phone with my business manager, who told me I was saved by $65,000 that came in residuals from Hot Tub Time Machine.â
MCU chief Kevin Feige told Vanity Fair that Marvel Studios was keen on Stan for the Winter Soldier role despite being a relative unknown at the time.
âYou could see that he has so much inside him and so much behind his eyes. Iâll never forget that,â Feige said. âI said to Stephen Broussard, who was one of the producers on Captain America, âHeâs going to be a good Bucky, but heâs going to be a great Winter Soldier.â â
Stan went on to reprise his role for 2014âs Captain America: The Winter Soldier, 2016âs Captain America: Civil War, the Avengers movies, this yearâs Captain America: Brave New World, and is set to play the superhero once again in next monthâs Thunderbolts. Stanâs name was among those to appear in Marvelâs Avengers: Doomsday cast reveal, so we can expect Bucky to stick around the MCU for some time yet.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Following the announcement that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will finally be giving out an Oscar for Stunt Design, actor Tom Hardy has questioned whether just one award category is enough.
Speaking to IGN ahead of the release of his new film, Havoc, Hardy told us: âOne Oscar, it's a bit too little too late in some aspects. It's good, it's great and cup half full territory, but I think perhaps more is asked forâ.
âIt's not enough just stunt design because there are so many elements that go into stunts as a departmentâ, the Venom and Mad Max: Fury Road actor continues. âThe design element is like an umbrella for a diaspora of different groups within that world that all need to be illuminated, and understood, quite how hard they work, and, what the stunt department, along with effects, deliver for people that want to go to cinema or sit down and watch anything remotely with any action or anything beyond just the written word or the spoken word. Whether it's people on horseback, cars, people jumping off buildings, people being on fire, fights, people getting run over, underwater, skydiving, whatever it is.
âThat entire universe of people is unsung, and they put a lot on the line for that physically, and they're largely unspoken, but they do really put the thrill into film and TV. I've got a lot of friends in that world, so yeah, I'd like to see some subcategories in there as well. â
Itâs a sentiment echoed by Havocâs director, Gareth Evans, whose previous work helming The Raid films delivered some of the most exciting action and stunt work ever seen in movies.
âSubcategories would be niceâ, Evans states. âI don't think awards drive the craft. I think that's the wrong reason to do it. I think it's all about expressing yourself within the parameters of what the film is that you're making. I think it's about time that it got rewarded, about time that it had some recognition, and hard to understand why it wasn't from the get-go go really.â
Instead, it will have taken 100 years for the Oscars to introduce an award category dedicated to the craft of stunt design when it arrives at the 2028 Academy Awards. You wonât have to wait quite as long to watch Havoc, though, which arrives on Netflix this Friday, April 25th, if you fancy watching Tom Hardy murder dozens of people.
Simon Cardy is a Senior Editor at IGN who can mainly be found skulking around open world games, indulging in Korean cinema, or despairing at the state of Tottenham Hotspur and the New York Jets. Follow him on Bluesky at @cardy.bsky.social.
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