© Future
© 11 Bit Studios
© Future
EA has added a paid season pass to FC 25 in a first for its long-running soccer series.
The EA Sports FC 25 Premium Pass is live now in-game and can be obtained with the earnable in-game virtual currency (500,000 UT Coins) or the virtual currency paid for with real-world money (1,000 FC Points, which cost $9.99).
The paid track includes exclusive content and, crucially, tradeable packs. This means players of Ultimate Team (FC’s most popular and controversial mode) can sell the rewards obtained in the Premium Pass to other players for in-game currency that can then be used to buy the next Premium Pass (assuming they earn enough coins from the sale of those items in the auction house, of course).
Rewards include a number of powerful cards, such as Immortal Icon Franck Ribéry, and powerful Evolution consumables that are used to improve cards you already own.
Some players are already hitting out at EA for the decision, pointing out this $9.99 Premium Pass comes on top of what is already a premium game and, when it comes to Ultimate Team, an already heavily-monetized game mode. Critics are also suggesting that the Premium Pass offers a direct way to buy powerful cards which can then be used in competitive multiplayer.
Others, however, are pointing out that you still need to level up to unlock most of the rewards, and you can pay for the premium track with coins earned through gameplay alone, so technically everything here is earnable by just playing.
And effectively, Ultimate Team store packs already offer a direct purchase route, given there are many that now include guaranteed cards of a certain power level. However, this paid season pass is the closest EA has come to just letting fans buy Ultimate Team players directly.
The addition of FC’s first ever paid season pass may be an attempt by EA to further monetize its money-spinner now the game is available at a heavily discounted price and ahead of FC 25’s expected arrival in console subscription services such as Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PlayStation Plus.
It’s also worth noting that back in January EA lowered its financial forecast for its fiscal year, pointing to the “underperformance” of EA Sports FC 2025 (which accounted for the "majority" of the shortfall) and BioWare’s Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
In a blog post, EA said the Premium Pass is “purely additive” and promised not to shift rewards from the standard tier of the Season Pass to the Premium Pass.
“While our Season 7 Premium Pass rewards are locked in, we’ll be monitoring your feedback to make sure we deliver the best experience possible in whatever mode you play in FC moving forward,” EA said.
The launch of the Premium Pass at the beginning of EA’s new financial year is telling (EA reports the results of its FY 2025 in May), and it looks like a clear set-up for the inevitable EA Sports FC 26. The question for EA is, will the Premium Pass do the business it needs without causing ruptions in its community?
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.
As I begin writing this piece, I'm sitting at my desk at 11:30pm CT (well past my bedtime on a work night) trying, along with seemingly the entire rest of the world and the populations of several other planets, to try and pre-order a Nintendo Switch 2.
Pre-orders went live at 9pm PT/12am ET at three different retailers: Walmart, Best Buy, and Target. Or at least, they were supposed to, but the actual rollout so far has been a hot mess. Myself and a big chunk of the IGN staff have all been trying to order our Switch 2s and meeting wildly varying levels of success, and folks on social media are reporting a whole host of problems as well resulting in frustration, dejection, and rarely, triumph.
Over at Walmart, Nintendo Switch 2 would-be buyers were dumped almost immediately into a digital queue to buy their systems, and while it did move forward for some and ultimately end with a Switch in the cart, others are still waiting on a "stay in line" screen with no indication of how long the wait is, or whether or not it will be successful. When they finally do get through to purchase, some folks are reporting baffling error messages, or whatever is going on here:
Target didn't have a queue like Walmart, so at first, it seemed like Switch fans saw more success over there. But reports rapidly began mounting that buyers were running into error screens throughout the purchase process, and while some people thought they purchased a Switch 2 successfully and even reached a confirmation screen, they later reported seeing a cancellation email roll through their inboxes moments later, forcing them to start the whole process over. Others are reporting that the Switch 2 is actively being removed from their shopping cart midway through the process, forcing them to start over.
The Nintendo Switch 2 sold out instantly at Target. This is unreal bro. I refreshed on the second it turned 12 am. Actually unreal pic.twitter.com/LAQ4lC03qw
— Kenj (@Kenjdx) April 24, 2025
And then there's Best Buy, whose pre-orders didn't even go live on time. The website read "Coming Soon" for half an hour before finally beginning to pop folks into a digital queue slowly but surely, with purchase confirmations only just now starting to come through for some, while others deal with some of the aforementioned errors and restarts. And at all three stores, some have said that they're dealing with fraud alerts from their banks or other weird financial blips that are gumming up the works and forcing them to start all over, ultimately denying them a chance at a system entirely.
In the amount of time it took me to write this piece, Target and Walmart appear to have officially sold out, and while more and more folks are managing to get through at Best Buy, others (like myself) have been stuck in some interminable queue for over an hour. Others have gotten emails saying their purchases have been canceled or delayed, with no new delivery date or ability to reorder.
It's likely in the coming minutes and hours we'll start to see more and more successes, and there's always an opportunity to pre-order at GameStop tomorrow (well, today) at 11:00am ET both in-store and online, or at other retailers in the future. And lucky individuals with Nintendo accounts may also get an email from Nintendo in May, inviting them to pre-order directly from the hardware maker - but there's no guarantee of getting that email, and Nintendo has suggested that demand in Japan at least has been way, way higher than the company's projected supply.
If you're not a huge Nintendo fan or willing to wait to purchase a system, it's easy to scoff at the chaos. But it's especially frustrating for Nintendo fans coming off of a reveal and rollout that's already been confusing and exasperating at almost every turn. Exciting as the initial reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 was, the price of both the system and all the requisite accessories and games left many reeling before Nintendo paused pre-orders due to tariff implementation in the U.S., only to fire them up again without changing the price of the system itself, just the accessories. On top of that, Nintendo's plans for physical and digital software pricing, formats, and content have been wildly confusing, and Nintendo hasn't exactly been transparent or helpful in clearing up questions about how much everything is going to cost, and what exactly it is everyone's purchasing. So it's no wonder so many folks are upset at not even knowing if they're going to be able to get their hands on a system anywhere near launch, especially with the looming threat of future price hikes or supply concerns.
But if you want to play Mario Kart World at launch, this is the reality of the world we live in right now. Here's how to get that pre-order, for those still trying.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
Street Fighter 6: Years 1-2 Fighters Edition is set to release for Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5. This edition throws 26 fighters into the mix across 20 stages. You can preorder it now (see it at Target). For more details, keep on reading.
Unlike many first-party Switch 2 games, this one is releasing at the relatively wallet-friendly $59.99 price. Some other Switch 2 games, including original Switch games that have been enhanced for Switch 2, are releasing for $69.99 or eve $79.99 in the case of Mario Kart World and Tears of the Kingdom.
Some Nintendo Switch 2 games come in the form of game-key cards, including this one. Game-key cards are physical cards that look basically like Switch 2 cartridges, but they don’t actually contain the game on them. Instead, you’ll need to insert the card into your Switch 2 and then download the game from the eShop. Note, it’s a 50GB download, so you might want to pick up a microSD Express card to add some extra storage.
This edition of Street Fighter 6 comes with all the base fighters, plus the additions from the first two years. That means you get 26 fighters and 20 stages.
As for the game itself, we loved it. From our 9/10 Street Fighter 6 review: “Street Fighter games are always benchmark moments for the 2D fighting game genre, but Street Fighter 6 feels extra special. The Drive System is an incredible addition to the fighting mechanics that gives you a veritable Swiss Army knife of options and meter-management decisions right from the start of every single round, the starting roster is the best Street Fighter has ever seen, its online netcode through three betas has been impeccable so far, and the number of smaller details that it nails right out of the gate is unprecedented. It’s so good that even the poor story and extremely slow progression of the single-player World Tour amounts to only a jab’s worth of damage on its metaphorical health bar. Whether you’re completely new to fighting games or are a seasoned vet, Street Fighter 6 is a must play.”
Chris Reed is a deals expert and commerce editor for IGN. You can follow him on Bluesky @chrislreed.com.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is set to release exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5. It includes the original Nintendo Switch game with some Switch 2 enhancements, plus Zelda Notes via the Nintendo Switch app. It’s available to preorder now (see it at Target). Read on for the details.
You’ll probably notice that the price is higher than the typical video games you may be used to purchasing. That’s because Nintendo is pricing its Switch 2 games using a varying scale. This original game was one of the few original Switch games to hit the $69.99 price. Nintendo is keeping that price, and adding $10 for the Switch 2 glow-up. I don’t love that.
This version of the game comes with the original Switch game, plus the Switch 2 Edition upgrade pack. If you already own the original game for Switch, you can purchase the upgrade pack separately for $10 and save some money.
If you already own Tears of the Kingdom and you’re a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack member, you get the upgrade for no additional charge. It comes included in your subscription.
This package includes the full original Switch game The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, plus the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade pack. That gets you upgraded performance, with things like faster frame rates and load times, plus enhanced resolution and textures. Basically, the is looks and runs better on Nintendo Switch 2 than it ever did on the original Switch.
From our original 10/10 TotK review: “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is an unfathomable follow-up to one of the greatest games ever made, somehow improving upon it in nearly every way – be that with simple quality-of-life improvements, a genuinely exciting story, or wildly creative new building mechanics that make you rethink what is possible. It both revamps old ground and introduces vast new areas so immense it somehow makes me wonder if Breath of the Wild was actually all that big, with an almost alarming number of tasks to complete, mysteries to discover, and delightful distractions to keep you from ever reaching that place you naively thought you were headed. Nintendo has followed up a triumph with a triumph, expanding and evolving a world that already felt full beyond expectation and raising the bar ever higher into the clouds.”
Chris Reed is a deals expert and commerce editor for IGN. You can follow him on Bluesky @chrislreed.com.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is set to release exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5. It includes the original Nintendo Switch game with some Switch 2 enhancements, plus Zelda Notes via the Nintendo Switch app. It’s available to preorder now (see it at Target). Read on for the details.
Nintendo isn't offering any sort of discount because this is an older game. You have to pay full price for original Switch game, plus an extra $10 for the Switch 2upgrade. Kinda stings.
This version of the game comes with the original Switch game, plus the Switch 2 Edition upgrade pack. If you already own the original game for Switch, you can purchase the upgrade pack separately for $10 and save some money.
If you already own Breath of the Wild and you’re a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack member, you get the upgrade for no additional charge. It comes included in your subscription. That's nice, considering how much Nintendo is nickel-and-diming fans with this new console rollout.
This package includes the full original Switch game The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, plus the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade pack. That gets you upgraded performance, with things like faster frame rates and load times, plus enhanced resolution and textures. Basically, the is looks and runs better on Nintendo Switch 2 than it ever did on the original Switch.
From our original BotW review: “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a masterclass in open-world design and a watershed game that reinvents a 30-year-old franchise. It presents a wonderful sandbox full of mystery, dangling dozens upon dozens of tantalizing things in front of you that just beg to be explored. I’ve had so many adventures in Breath of the Wild, and each one has a unique story behind what led me to them, making them stories on top of stories. And even after I’ve spent more than 50 hours searching the far reaches of Hyrule, I still manage to come across things I haven’t seen before. I’ll easily spend 50 to 100 more trying to track down its fascinating moments.”
Chris Reed is a deals expert and commerce editor for IGN. You can follow him on Bluesky @chrislreed.com.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World (say that three times fast) is set to release exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 on August 28. It contains the full original Switch game, but with improvements like a faster frame rate and higher resolution. It also comes with a whole new story, called Star-Crossed World, that hasn’t been released anywhere else before. It’s available for preorder now (see it at Target). Read on for the details.
Your eyes do not deceive you: this is an $80 game. You'll find no argument that that's a lot of money for a souped-up game for the original Switch, plus an expansion. But it's what Nintendo is charging, so grab it if you want it.
However, here's some good pricing news for anyone who already owns the original version of the game. Since this version simply comes with the original Switch game, plus the Switch 2 Edition upgrade pack, anyone who already owns the original game for Switch can purchase the upgrade pack separately and save some money.
From our Kirby and the Forgotten Land review: “Kirby and the Forgotten Land successfully warps the series’ already fun mix of ability-based combat, platforming, and secret hunting into the third dimension. The post-apocalyptic setting may not be as thematically interesting as Planet Popstar, but it is still lovely and vibrant, with cleverly designed levels that make consistently smart use of Kirby’s abilities. Despite the change in perspective, Forgotten Land maintains most of what I love about classic Kirby games – and if the future means more 3D adventures for our hungry pink hero, I’d be more than happy to swallow them up.”
So this Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game comes with the full original game, complete with improved graphics, plus the Star-Crossed World expansion, which brings a new adventure to the package. Nintendo describes the new content like this: “Kirby must use his amazing abilities, including some all-new Mouthful Modes, to clear a trail through uncharted territory after the world is struck by a powerful meteor.”
Chris Reed is a deals expert and commerce editor for IGN. You can follow him on Bluesky @chrislreed.com.
Super Mario Party Jamboree Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV is set to release exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 on July 24. It comes with everything included in the original party game for Nintendo Switch, plus a new Jamboree TV expansion that’s like a game show hosted by Toad. The game is available for preorder now (see it at Walmart). Let’s dive in and look at more details.
While there are several ways to buy this game, depending on whether you already own the original (if you do, read on), it's only available in one edition. So that's nice.
Nintendo is using a sliding-scale pricing model for Switch 2 games. While most first-party original Switch games cost $59.99 (with the exception of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which cost $69.99), for Switch 2, Nintendo is cranking the ceiling up to $79.99 (at least so far). Mario Kart World is also $79.99, while other games are $69.99 or even less.
This version of the game comes with the original Switch game, plus the Switch 2 Edition upgrade pack. The upgrade pack boosts the base game to higher definition and faster frame rates, while also adding the Jamboree TV expansion content. If you already own the original game for Switch, you can purchase the upgrade pack separately on the Nintendo eShop and at select other retailers (as a printed download code) and save some money.
The big new addition here is the Switch 2-exclusive Jamboree TV expansion, which brings new modes and minigames to the party. It includes a number of minigames that use new input types, only available on Switch 2. There’s audio recognition, along with mouse controls and “more expressive rumble.” It also makes use of the Nintendo Switch 2 camera accessory (sold separately; see it at Target).
The minigames that use the camera accessory are probably the most notable addition here, because it puts the faces of everyone playing into the game. Up to four players can participate using a single camera, to do things like balance digital goombas on your head, hit question blocks with your Joy-Con, and more.
Overall, this is probably one of the bigger expansions coming to a Switch 2 version of an original Switch game. It’s especially appealing to anyone who has people over and enjoys playing party games.
It’s worth noting that the original Jamboree on Switch was one of our favorite Mario Party games in a long time. From our 9/10 Super Mario Party Jamboree review:
“Super Mario Party Jamboree is an amazing followup to Mario Party Superstars and easily one of the best games in the series. Not only does it faithfully return to the classic formula established in the Nintendo 64 entries, it confidently improves upon it with a fantastic set of boards that introduce unique and memorable mechanics. It’s also the most flexible Mario Party has ever been, with tons of ways to customize your game, including its brilliant new optional Pro Rules that reduce luck-based elements to a minimum and crank up the strategy for those who want it. The wonderful maps are supported by a great lineup of new and returning minigames and character-specific challenges that steal the show, even if I wish there were just a few more minigames in the rotation. The side offerings may not have much staying power, but when partying with friends and family locally or online, Super Mario Party Jamboree boldly completes the series’ redemption arc as its newest superstar.”
Chris Reed is a deals expert and commerce editor for IGN. You can follow him on Bluesky @chrislreed.com.
April 24 is a big day. Not only are Nintendo Switch 2 preorders going live, but so are all the other things surrounding the launch of Switch 2. We’re talking games. We’re talking accessories and peripherals. We’re also talking a new batch of Nintendo amiibo. Fans of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Street Fighter 6 can preorder a handful of brand new amiibo from those games. Let’s take a look.
The side-scrolling carousel above has all the new amiibo in it, but if any of them are sold out when you click to buy, or you want more details, keep on reading.
Riju is a capable Gerudo chief and a powerful accomplice for Link during his latest adventures. This new amiibo suits her just fine.
With apparent ease and aplomb, Sidon settles the age-old quandary: “can a fish be hot?” He’s a useful companion in the newer Zelda games, and he makes a mighty fine amiibo.
Yunobo is a Goron who accompanies Link on his adventures and adds his sizable powers in Hyrule’s time of need. He’s kind of annoying as a character, but amiibo figures can’t talk, which makes this a safe one to pick up.
Would my life be improved if I never had to hear Tulin’s cry ever again? Most definitely. But would the aesthetics of my desk be improved if I picked up this amiibo and kept it there? Absolutely.
Kimberly is a new addition to the roster in Street Fighter 6, bringing a ninja fighting style and a love of the 1980s to the lineup.
As a cocky rival to Luke, Jamie makes a fine addition to the amiibo lineup, just as his breakdancing and Drunken Fist fighting style makes a fine addition to Street Fighter 6.
Luke was the final playable character added to Street Fighter V, but he’s been in SF6 since the beginning. In fact, he’s the game’s chief protagonist, which means any fan of the game should add this amiibo to their collection.
Chris Reed is a deals expert and commerce editor for IGN. You can follow him on Bluesky @chrislreed.com.
Donkey Kong Bananza is set to release exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 on July 17. It’s a big 3D platformer that finds our simian hero running, climbing, and rolling through a variety of wide-open environments. It’s available to preorder now (see it at Best Buy). Read on for the details.
There are no special editions or anything like that for Donkey Kong Bananza. The only choice you have to make is whether to buy it in physical or digital format.
While Nintendo is deploying a new $79.99 price point for some Switch 2 games (looking at you, Mario Kart World) and even some upgraded original Switch games (looking at you, Super Mario Party Jamboree), it’s sticking with $69.99 for Donkey Kong Bananza. That’s $10 more than the standard Nintendo kept for most original Switch games, but I’m glad it’s not $79.99.
Donkey Kong Bananza is the first new 3D Donkey Kong game since the 1999 N64 platformer Donkey Kong 64. The main gameplay mechanic here seems to be a digging ability that has Donkey Kong pounding and smashing his way down into the ground or through the sides of cliffs. And based on the trailer, there appears to be plenty of secrets and treasure to be found underground.
While most of the levels do appear to take place underground, you’ll get to play through a variety of environments, including forests, canyons, lagoons, and frozen tundras. True to the series history, there are also side-scrolling and mine cart rail-riding sections. It looks like fun. Check out our Donkey Kong Bananza hands-on preview for more information.
Chris Reed is a deals expert and commerce editor for IGN. You can follow him on Bluesky @chrislreed.com.
There’s nothing more exciting than the start of a new console generation. Hopefully you were able to get your Nintendo Switch 2 preorder locked in. But with any new console comes a new batch of accessories. If you want to spec out your brand-new system with all the best Switch 2 accessories like new Joy-Con 2, Switch 2 Pro controllers, a camera, and more, you have plenty of options. Here’s where to preorder all the official Nintendo Switch 2 accessories and peripherals.
Don't have time to read blurbs? The side-scrolling carousel above has all the items in this article.
If there’s one thing every video game console needs more of, it’s storage. The Switch 2 comes with 256GB of onboard storage, but if you want to add more, a regular microSD card won’t cut it. The Switch 2 requires a microSD Express card, and because few products required them prior to the Switch 2, they’re hard to find in stock. To help feed the demand, Samsung and Nintendo are teaming up to make a special Mario-themed microSD Express card, which is only available in 256GB at launch.
The main input on any Nintendo Switch 2 is Joy-Con 2 controllers. While the Switch 2 is compatible with Joy-Cons from the original Switch, using them is far from ideal. They can’t wake the Switch 2 from sleep, and they can’t attach to the side for handheld play. Also, the new Joy-Con 2 input devices have several new features: mouse functionality, a team chat button, and a fancy magnetic attachment mechanism.
Joy-Con 2 (L) - Light Blue - $54.99
Joy-Con 2 (R) - Light Red - $54.99
If you need to replace on of the Joy-Con 2 that come with the Switch 2, you can also do that by purchasing the left or right ones individually.
Joy-Cons are fine for handheld mode, but when I’m playing my Switch on the TV, I absolutely reach for a Pro Controller. The Switch 2 Pro Controller is functionally very similar to the original one for the original Switch, but it can wake the Switch 2 from sleep and it has a GameChat button, also found on Joy-Cons 2. And it charges in half the time. Nice.
If you plan to play Switch 2 with your friends online, you may want to pick up a Switch 2 camera to go along with your new console. It lets you broadcast your face to your friends online during Team Chat, and it also helps identify players during local play in games like Super Mario Party Jamboree Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV.
Switch 2 Carrying Case & Screen Protector - $39.99
Switch 2 All-in-One Carrying Case - $84.99
If you plan to play your Switch 2 in handheld mode, or to travel with it, you’ll definitely want to protect your hybrid console with a case. Nintendo is releasing two cases.
One is a slim case that comes with a screen protector and is useful for people who want to play the Switch 2 in handheld mode while on the go.
The other is an All-in-One case that’s big enough to store a Switch 2 console, dock, Joy-Con 2 controllers, cables, and up to six Game Cards. It also comes with a screen protector and a cleaning cloth.
Charging Grip - $39.99
Joy-Con 2 Strap - $13.99
Joy-Con 2 Wheel (Set of Two) - $24.99
AC Adaptor - $34.99
Dock Set - $119.99
An assortment of other official Switch 2 accessories will also be available at launch. The Charging Grip has a built-in battery to give your Joy-Cons 2 extra long life while playing. You can pick up additional straps, AC adaptors, and docks as well. And if you’re planning to get Mario Kart World, whether in a bundle with the Switch 2 or separately, you can get a set of two Joy-Con 2 Wheels for gesture-based steering.
Switch 2 - $449.99
Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle - $499.99
All of the above accessories in the world are useless if you don’t have a Switch 2 console to play them with. See our full Switch 2 preorder guide for info about when it will be available for preorder at the various retailers.
Chris Reed is a deals expert and commerce editor for IGN. You can follow him on Bluesky @chrislreed.com.
© Sandfall Interactive
© Sandfall Interactive
© Sandfall Interactive
Mario Kart World is a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive game that’s set to release alongside the upcoming console’s launch, on June 5. An open-world racing game, Mario Kart World is packed full of characters, vehicles, and regions from the Mushroom Kingdom for you to explore in a free-wheeling manner. You can preorder the game now at various retailers (see it at Walmart). Let’s take a look.
Unlike many video games these days, Mario Kart World is only available in one edition. You can pick it up all by itself for $79.99, or bundled with the Switch 2 console for $499.99.
If you buy the Switch 2 bundle that includes Super Mario Kart World, you can save $30 versus buying the console and game separately. Note that the console bundle includes a digital copy, so you won’t get the actual cart or game box if you go that route. If having a physical game is important enough for you that you'll throw in an extra $30, by all means, proceed with your preorder.
Purchased by itself, the game costs $79.99, which is $10 more than standard price of AAA PlayStation and Xbox games this generation. While I don’t love seeing game prices getting hiked up between generations, I know games are more expensive to make than ever these days. In any case, I'm hopeful it indicates the scale of Mario Kart World makes it worth the extra money.
Mario Kart World promises to be the biggest Mario Kart game yet. It's designed as an all-encompassing open world, much like the Forza Horizon series. In Grand Prix mode, you can even drive from the end of one track to the start of the next after finishing a race.
The tracks in Mario Kart World are altered by things like weather conditions and the time of day, which can affect your visibility and traction as you race around. You can also veer off the actual track at any point and drive “virtually everywhere,” according to Nintendo. Each race has 24 drivers, more than any previous Mario Kart game.
Knockout Tour is a new mode that lets you race from one corner of the open world to the other. Along the way, you'll drive through checkpoints that have placements listed on them; if you’re lagging behind the required placement as you reach a checkpoint, you’ll be eliminated from the race.
If that sounds too hectic to you, you can choose to drive anywhere you want in the world in Free Roam mode. You can team up with friends as you leisurely cruise around, and take photos along the way.
More info about Mario Kart World is coming during an April 17 Nintendo Direct. In the meantime, take a look at our Mario Kart World hands-on preview for more info.
Chris Reed is a deals expert and commerce editor for IGN. You can follow him on Bluesky @chrislreed.com.
Nintendo Switch 2 preorders officially went live at midnight EST on April 24 (9 pm PST, April 23) at major US retailers including Walmart and Target, alongside all official games and accessories.
For now, it's currently sold out everywhere. GameStop is also taking in-person preorders at select stores, while online orders go live at 11 am EST / 8 am PST today as well (April 24).
More retailers are expected to go live or restock throughout the day and in the run-up to launch. For the latest updates, follow @IGNDeals on Twitter/X or Bluesky.
Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World
Nintendo Switch 2
So what's the latest on Switch 2 preorders for the US? Preorders went about as well as many expected (badly). Switch 2 is sold out, at least for now.
Preorders have come and gone at Walmart, Target, and Best Buy, with GameStop starting their online gambit at 11 am EST / 8 am PST. Still, you can also try your luck with an in-store preorder as well.
However, to no surprise, we are also seeing reports of Switch 2 orders are being cancelled at Target, and Walmart also seems to be delaying some orders out to June 10 (despite promising 9 am delivery on June 5), so those who have already managed to preorder should keep an eye on their inbox.
Scalper listings have also already appeared on eBay selling the console way above MSRP, at $600 or more, but there's also been a strange immersion of counter-plays, supposedly fighting back against scalpers by making fake Switch 2 listings at retail price.
This is similar case in other regions like the UK, where Switch 2 preorders have also been temporaily wiped out (follow @IGNUKDeals for updates). Let us know in the comments if you've already managed to secure your preorder.
Nintendo Switch 2 is already building a stacked library, blending shiny new exclusives with upgraded re-releases of fan favorites. Heavyweights like Donkey Kong Bananza ($69.99) and Mario Kart World ($79.99) are leading the charge, both available to preorder right now, alongside enhanced versions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, fine-tuned for the new hardware.
There's also a new version of Mario Party Jamboree and Kirby and the Forgotten Land currently up for Switch 2 preorder, alongside some new third-party selections like Cyberpunk 2077 and Sonic X Shadow Generations.
But don’t expect everything to drop on day one. Some titles are launching with the console on June 5, but others are lagging behind. Donkey Kong Bananza doesn’t hit shelves until July 17, and big names like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokémon Legends: Z-A are still missing from preorder listings entirely, on both Switch 2 and the current model.
That said, every confirmed Switch 2 game that is available to lock in is listed above, with all the retailer links you’ll need right there as well.
Nintendo hasn’t touched the price of the Switch 2 console itself, but almost every accessory has quietly crept up in cost. In a recent update, the company confirmed that several Switch 2 peripherals will “experience price adjustments from those announced on April 2 due to changes in market conditions.” Translation? Pretty much everything is a little more expensive now.
Expect to pay an extra $5 for the main accessories, including the new Joy-Con 2 controllers, the Switch 2 Pro Controller, and the much-hyped camera add-on. The Dock Set sees the biggest jump, climbing $10 to $119.99.
Still, if you’re planning to pick up the full ecosystem at launch, above is the full list of accessories currently up for preorder—price hike or not, alongside every retailer you can preorder from just below as well.
We’ve also got a new batch of Nintendo amiibo ready for Switch 2. Fans of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Street Fighter 6 can preorder a handful of brand new amiibo from those games.
Let’s take a look. The side-scrolling carousel above has all the new amiibo in it, but if any of them are sold out when you click to buy, or you want more details, check out our full guide on everything available.
So when restocks eventually happen, between now and launch day, or even beyond that, and you do finally get through to purchase, you’ve got two main options: the Nintendo Switch 2 ($449.99), or the Nintendo Switch 2: Mario Kart World bundle ($499.99).
Which should you buy? If you’re picking up a Switch 2 at launch, the Mario Kart World Bundle is hands down the best value. You’re getting Mario Kart World for just $50 more, instead of the full $79.99 MSRP, saving you $30 versus buying the game separately.
To improve your odds, log in ahead of time, ideally before navigating to the Switch 2 listings, and make sure your shipping and payment info is saved to your account, or keep a backup card nearby just in case. Here’s an additional breakdown of what each retailer one is offering for Switch 2 preorders, and what to expect when it comes to launch day delivery and in-store pickup.
Walmart is currently offering one of the most aggressive delivery promises: consoles ordered right at launch are expected to arrive by 9 am on release day, June 5.
It’s a rare guarantee, and one that’s likely to drive a quick sellout (albeit the retailer might be walking this back, so we'll update you further when we hear any updates). Moreover, it's currently the cheapest offering at $499, rather than $499.99 everywhere else. Small savings, but well worth considering.
GameStop is also leaning into the midnight-release hype, with select locations set to offer in-store pickup as soon as the clock strikes twelve on June 5. In-store preorders are open during regular hours from April 24, while online availability doesn’t kick in until 11 am EST.
Target also flipped the switch at midnight, though it’s sticking to online-only preorders for now. As with most major launches, stock is expected to be tight. But, it does already have every game and accessory up for preorder as well, which is a nice bonus if you're looking to pick up a few extras when preordering. They are also a great place to preorder the new Amiibos.
Best Buy, meanwhile, has confirmed April 24 as its preorder date and has also commited to a 12 am EST start time for preorders.
It's also offering a selection of alternative Switch 2 bundles or "packages" that might be worth checking out if you're struggling to buy the console and accessories individually. Like GameStop, it’s also planning midnight launch events at some stores, though the full rollout plan is still being finalized.
The biggest question mark, however, is Amazon. As of this writing, the retail giant has no official listings for the Switch 2 — not the console, not its accessories, not even the games.
This isn’t an isolated case; over the past year, Nintendo products have quietly disappeared from Amazon’s US storefront, including staples like Switch Online memberships and digital game codes.
Whether this signals a behind-the-scenes distribution snag or a strategic shift is unclear, but for now, it leaves would-be buyers without one of the most convenient ordering options.
It’s been a chaotic few weeks for anyone in the US trying to lock down a Nintendo Switch 2. After the Switch 2-focused Nintendo Direct in early April, Nintendo unexpectedly delayed preorders across the US and Canada. Originally set to go live on April 9, the launch was pushed back due to the impact of Trump-era tariffs and what the company called “evolving market conditions.”
The UK got a head start on the US, and preorders went live on April 8 and 9 with some retailers jumping the gun even earlier on April 2. And now? They're wiped out as well. So if you're hesitating in the US, take note: stock won’t hang around forever.
So should you preorder the Switch 2 or wait? Nintendo is already saying it will currently struggle to meet worldwide demand. Stating: "We received an extremely large number of applications [at My Nintendo Store], approximately 2.2 million people in Japan alone."
"However, this number far exceeds our expectations, and far exceeds the number of Nintendo Switch 2 consoles that can be delivered from the My Nintendo Store on June 5th. Therefore, unfortunately, we expect that a significant number of customers will not be selected when the winners are announced tomorrow, April 24th."
Here's what Logan Plant had to say in IGN's Nintendo Switch 2 preview: "Switch 2 is a more premium product and the price tag reflects that. It’s also a better version of a great thing, and it’s trying to pull off a bunch of cool new tricks at the same time, like mouse controls.
"Obviously we’re both buying Switch 2 on day one, and I did really love our hands-on time with the console. But I’ll be honest and say I have some concerns about if the general public is willing to adopt a $450 Nintendo console with an $80 Mario Kart."
"It’s a big ask for a company that traditionally targets families and younger players, and I feel like the high cost of entry limits the Switch 2’s potential to take off in the way its predecessor did."
"But for those of you that do decide to take the plunge, you’ll be getting what’s shaping up to be a great hybrid console that makes a ton of worthwhile improvements on the original Switch and adds some fun bells and whistles for good measure."
When a major piece of gaming hardware goes up for preorder at a retailer, there’s no telling how long it will be available. We’ve seen sought-after hardware sell out in seconds. With demand expected to be high, here are some key tips from the IGN commerce team to improve your chances of getting a Switch 2 at launch.
While it may leave it up to chance, and we're recommending folk to buy from major retailers ASAP to avoid disappointment, Nintendo is also still offering a registration system through My Nintendo Store. Invites to purchase will be sent out on a first-come, first-served basis.
Priority will go to Nintendo Switch Online members with at least 12 months of paid membership and 50+ gameplay hours (as of April 2, 2025). Even if you are still planning to buy elsewhere, if you qualify it's worth registering even just as a backup option.
2025 is already shaping up to be an exciting release year for games. Alongside the Switch 2, there are plenty of other great games releasing in the coming months that are worth keeping on your radar.
Below you can see some more of our preorder guides covering exciting releases like Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Doom: The Dark Ages, and more.
Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Senior Editor, Commerce, for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter/X or Bluesky.
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Another Thursday, another unexpected avalanche of discounts worth digging yourself out from under. Whether you're chasing co-op chaos, heartstring-pulling indies, or high-octane epics with triple-A swagger, this week’s cross-platform sales bin is brimming with picks that are equal parts wallet-friendly and critically adored. There’s never been a better time to equip your wallet.
In retro news, I'm using a rocket start to light a 17-candle cake for Mario Kart Wii. I played the pedals off this pioneering entry, which added motorbikes, a trick-based drifting system, and the worldwide MP of Nintendo Wi-Fi online. Admittedly, my heart belongs to Mario Kart 64 above all, but I still couldn't put my Wii Steering Wheel down for months (another series first addition).
Beloved for its colourful track designs, iconic character roster, and upbeat soundtrack, Mario Kart Wii delivered the perfect blend of whimsy and competition. The revamped Battle Mode arenas rekindled classic head-to-head fun, making every match a chaotic joy. Its accessible pick-up-and-play mechanics ensured newcomers could dive in instantly, yet there was depth in drifting and item-strategy.
- FlOw (PSP) 2008. eBay
- Mario Kart Wii (Wii) 2008. eBay
- Time Crisis 4 (PS3) 2008. eBay
- The World Ends With You (DS) 2008. eBay
- Trials Fusion (PC) 2014. Get
Contents
Nintendo Switch players can scoop up Spiritfarer for a frankly ludicrous A$6. This moving indie has you ferrying souls to the afterlife, and fun fact: the devs from Thunder Lotus consulted grief counsellors to help shape its tone (so keep the Kleenex handy). Meanwhile, It Takes Two (A$34) remains a co-op masterclass that might just save your relationship with a significant other. Or destroy it. Chigurh-level coin toss!
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Or gift a Nintendo eShop Card.
Over on Xbox Series X, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora Gold Edition is down to A$49, a hefty drop for a visually stunning open-worlder built in The Division's Snowdrop engine. And for a bite-sized bargain, Wolfenstein: The Old Blood (A$15) serves pulpy Nazi-punching with a B-movie edge. MachineGames originally pitched it as DLC, but had too much fun and turned it into a standalone. You'll find out why.
Xbox One
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Or just invest in an Xbox Card.
PlayStation 5 owners should note Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is just A$41. The game went viral for protagonist Jack's single-minded love of punching “Chaos”, an inside joke now fully embraced by Square Enix. Also worth grabbing: Judgment (A$28), a Yakuza spin-off so stylish that it reignited actor Takuya Kimura’s TV career in Japan.
PS4
Expiring Recent Deals
PS+ Monthly Freebies
Yours to keep from Apr 1 with this subscription
Or purchase a PS Store Card.
PC folks can’t miss Monster Hunter Rise + Sunbreak for A$19 and a titanic 79% off. The expansion added Silkbind skills, elevating mobility to anime levels. Or you should try Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (A$56), an artsy newcomer with brushstroke visuals and turn-based flair. It wasn't on my radar, initially, but it's flashing like a big ol' blimp now.
Expiring Recent Deals
Or just get a Steam Wallet Card
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Audiophilia for less
Do right by your console, upgrade your telly
Adam Mathew is our Aussie deals wrangler. He plays practically everything, often on YouTube.
© Future
It's no secret that Delicious in Dungeon has quickly become one of the most popular manga out there. The series has taken off ever since the anime was released, with a second season currently in the works. Manga as a whole can be an expensive hobby, as standard volumes can cost upwards of $12. Box sets are usually the best way to save money, and you can now save over $80 off the Delicious in Dungeon 14-volume box set. Take home the complete series today and add 14 manga volumes to your shelf at a steep discount during Amazon's massive book sale happening now.
If you've never read a manga before, Delicious in Dungeon is a great place to start. This series follows Laios, Marcille, Chilchuck, and Senshi on a quest to revive their friend. To survive along the way, the crew must make meals out of monsters in the dungeon, which brings many instances of comedy that are sure to make you laugh.
This Delicious in Dungeon box set includes a unique box that opens up to reveal a mimic, in addition to an exclusive fold-out poster highlighting the different monsters the party eats along the way. Plus, you get every volume of the series! What's not to love?
In our Episode 1-6 review of the Delicious in Dungeon anime series, we wrote, "Delicious in Dungeon’s charming character work, playful comedy, luxuriously presented dishes, and the loving depiction of their creation would be pleasing by itself. But its world-building and earnest reflections on the value of the rituals of cooking – even as it pokes fun at its main character’s absurd mindset – have made it unmissable appointment viewing."
Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused on nonsense-free Japanese gaming (in 2019) and has contributed to various publishers writing about the medium.
As part of Amazon's ongoing book sale, J.R.R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion is discounted by 57%, the lowest it's been on Amazon in 2025 so far. Get it while it's hot, because this sale is ending Monday, April 28. This is the illustrated edition, which includes hand-drawn color illustrations by Tolkien himself, detailed maps of Middle-Earth, deeper lore and world-building, and early histories of key characters throughout the epic saga. Christopher Tolkien took on finishing and editing the Silmarillion after his father's passing, offering a deeper look into the storied author's vision for what Middle-Earth would become.
The Silmarillion breaks down the early history of its fictional universe Eä and the lands contained within, including Valinor, Beleriand, Númenor, and, of course, Middle-Earth. Broken up into five distinct parts, readers can expect deep lore exposition, extensive historical accounts of the First Age, and summaries of the Third Age stories we know and love, the Lord of the Rings.
The Lord of the Rings franchise is no stranger to works in other mediums, like Monolith's game Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor, Magic: The Gathering crossover cards, and Prime Video's live-action series Rings of Power. In IGN's review of Rings of Power season 2, we said "[season 2] does a great job portraying Sauron’s machinations and his impact on those he manipulates, but too much time is spent on disconnected subplots delivering only mediocre intrigue and thin characters."
Myles Obenza is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Bluesky @mylesobenza.bsky.social.
While an iPad is a great investment in itself, typing on a touch screen is a huge pain, especially when you have to type more than a few words at a time. This makes a keyboard the best iPad accessory for anyone who wants to type away on their iPad like they would a laptop.
In some instances, you can find a keyboard that doubles up as a great iPad case. Because these keyboards are made by hundreds of different manufacturers, we went ahead and gathered our favorites here. Many of our selections work seamlessly with the latest iPad Air and 11th generation iPad models for those looking to accessorize Apple’s newest tablets.
Additional contributions by Dave Johnson
You don't have to look far into Logitech's portfolio of products to find a great keyboard for just about any setup, and that's the case for the iPad as well. Logitech's Pebble Keys 2 K380s, the follow-up to the K380, is the perfect portable companion to your iPad. With this model, you get an upgrade to the battery life, lasting a whopping three years, plus a few additional shortcuts. Its Bluetooth improvements ensure a more reliable connection to your iPad, while a Logitech Bolt receiver support is great for pairing laptops and PCs. Easy-Switch buttons are still included to make swapping between three connected devices a breeze.
The Pebble Keys 2 K380s keeps a similar design to the original, offering a slim, compact, and lightweight build. It features low-profile scissor keys that are fluid and quiet for a typing experience similar to a laptop. They’re also a unique rounded shape, giving the keyboard a distinct aesthetic. Even though the keyboard is compact, it doesn't cramp together the keys too tight or skimp on useful controls.
Along with the impressive upgrades we discovered in our review of the iPad Pro M4, Apple’s Magic Keyboard also got a few enhancements, making it our favorite keyboard for Apple’s high-end tablet. By all appearances, this keyboard looks similar to previous models, offering a premium, sleek build with a floating cantilever design to find the perfect viewing angle. However, this time around, the keyboard is a little bit lighter and offers a slightly bigger glass trackpad with haptic feedback and Multi-Touch gesture support.
Connecting your device to the keyboard is simple thanks to a series of ultra-strong magnets. These magnets are in a new spot, so, unfortunately, the Magic Keyboard will only work with the latest models. Although no wires are required for a link to the tablet, a USB-C port for passthrough charging is available to keep the tablet topped off. When the iPad isn’t in use the keyboard wraps around it, acting as a protective case.
Typing on the Magic Keyboard is a pleasant experience with the scissor key switches offering similar feedback to the best Macbooks. The keys are slightly more cramped than the notebook but shouldn’t take long to get used to. Still, Apple managed to squeeze in 14 function keys to adjust brightness, volume, and more. Given all that’s on offer, this keyboard and case combo can turn your iPad into a viable laptop replacement.
For an affordable and portable option, the Omoton Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard is a great choice, costing just $20. This compact keyboard weighs 9.9oz, so it won’t weigh you down when you toss it in your backpack alongside your iPad. It’s also wonderfully thin at 0.24 inches, is AAA battery powered, and has Bluetooth pairing. Blending white and metallic silver with responsive low-profile scissor keys on an ergonomic angle, the design even fits nicely with Apple’s aesthetic.
The majority of the keyboards designed for portability lack a backlight since running those depletes the battery far quicker, so most manufacturers opt out to save on juice. Still, when typing in darker spaces, lighting is often necessary, and the Harburfine 7 Color Backlit Bluetooth Keyboard is a great solution.
Beyond being wildly inexpensive, Harburfine’s keyboard offers bright backlit keys. It’s not just a basic white glow either; it cycles through seven different colors to fit your mood. An auto-sleep mode will turn off the lights due to inactivity, helping save on battery. Power comes from an integrated rechargeable battery, so forget about disposable batteries. However, the battery only lasts about four hours with the backlights illuminated. If they’re off, 15-20 days of juice can be expected depending on usage.
The Harburfine 7 Color Backlit Bluetooth Keyboard is one of the best travel keyboards thanks to its ultra-compact design, weighing less than half a pound and measuring about a quarter inch thick. Just be sure to keep it safely tucked away when not in use since it’s a little flimsy. When it’s time to get typing, the keyboard seamlessly connects to an iPad via Bluetooth. And once connected, the scissor keys are quiet and decently responsive.
You don’t see too many unusual keyboards these days, so we welcome the more unique iClever BK03. This device is interesting because it folds up for travel, resembling something like a deck of cards, but then unfurls to 10 by 3.5 by 0.3 inches. Unlike most of the other travel keyboards you’ll find for the iPad, which are made mostly of plastic, this model is made almost entirely of aluminum. That shows in its weight, 6.3 oz, but also in aesthetics, ruggedness, and durability.
Open it up and it powers on automatically, and then the iClever BK03 goes to sleep automatically after 15 minutes of inactivity to conserve battery life. It’s equipped with a rechargeable battery that iClever claims runs for over 80 hours of continuous use and can hold a charge while asleep for over 200 days. And while compatibility is limited, it can connect to iOS, Android, and PCs. You can even switch among three paired devices with a keyboard shortcut. It does have an Achilles Heel: The unfolded keyboard doesn’t lock rigidly in place, meaning you can only really use it on a hard surface like a desktop. Most one-piece keyboards work perfectly fine on a mushy bed or in your lap, but not the iClever BK03.
When you don’t plan on taking your keyboard on the go, you might as well grab a quality full-size keyboard that works nicely with your PC and laptop, too. The Logitech MX Mechanical is the perfect option with its responsive mechanical switches, a full number pad, arrow keys, and function keys – some with double labels for a Windows or Mac machine. The keys are also low profile and feature smart backlighting, making for a more enjoyable typing experience.
You’ll connect to your iPad using low-power Bluetooth, but this wireless keyboard also features a tiny 2.4GHz wireless dongle for low latency when on your laptop or PC. Three included keys make swapping between using three different saved devices a breeze. As for battery life, the Logitech MX Mechanical juices up using a USB-C. With a full charge, you get 15 days of power when the backlighting is on and 10 months with it off. If you're looking for a more compact keyboard, take a look at the mini version.
If you suffer from repetitive stress injury or just prefer the feel of an ergonomic keyboard, you’re generally out of luck when it comes to portable keyboards for the iPad – most keyboards are as straight as a ruler. However, the iClever BK06 is a split keyboard with an angled ergonomic layout. It is more or less a keyboard divided in half. If you’re not already a split keyboard user, it will definitely take some practice to get used to, but once you hone your muscle memory, you might love the more comfortable angle.
It’s not just an ergo keyboard; it also folds for travel, sort of like the BK03, also from iClever. While the BK03 is all aluminum with mechanical hinges, the BK06 is a rubberized affair with a flexible membrane serving as a floppy hinge. It’s only 6.2 x 4.0 x .5 inches when folded. The keyboard also includes a rechargeable battery and can run for about 40 continuous hours or 30 days of standby. And the keyboard is compatible not just with the iPad, but with all iOS devices and Windows computers.
The easiest way to get an iPad to act like a laptop is with a keyboard folio cover, and we’re big fans of the Logitech Combo Touch. It’s similar to Apple’s Magic Keyboard but costs significantly less and works just as well, if not better than Apple’s offering. Pairing is equally simple with Logitech’s keyboard due to the inclusion of Smart Connector. Power is also sourced directly from the iPad ensuring battery life is never an issue. However, the model we’ve chosen only works with the new iPad A16 and 10th generation iPad.
Logitech’s design differentiates from Apple's. The Combo Touch is a far superior case, as the edge of the iPad is fully protected to help keep it extra secure in bags or during the occasional drop. Even with the added peace of mind, it still keeps compact dimensions, adding minimal bulk to the iPad. We’re also big fans of the kickstand for better flexibility using the display, while the keyboard can be easily removed from the rest of the case to use the iPad in handheld mode.
Using the keyboard is an all-around pleasant experience. The keys are well-spaced and extremely responsive but slightly more cramped together than a traditional keyboard. For easier typing in dimmer spaces, the backlit keys even automatically adjust. As for the trackpad, it's precise and supports Multi-Touch gestures.
Want to split off your iPad from a keyboard at will? This Zagg keyboard and case will do the trick. The keyboard connects to the iPad via Bluetooth, and you can easily detach it from the base when you don’t need it without having to take your iPad out of the case. The keyboard also acts as a screen protector when folded up, making it an ideal option for those who travel.
If you don’t foresee yourself doing tons of typing on your iPad – maybe just writing short messages and notes – then you can get by with just the device's touchscreen keyboard. But for those planning to write more than a couple of sentences, your typing experience will greatly improve when pairing a phyiscal keyboard. Keyboards deliver a satisfying response, allow you to type faster, and don’t take up a portion of the valuable screen real estate like the touchscreen keyboard on the iPad. Keyboards can even give you an advantage when playing some of the best iPad games.
Danielle is a Tech freelance writer based in Los Angeles who spends her free time creating videos and geeking out over music history.
If you're looking for a new gaming monitor but you're on a tight budget, then this deal is right up your alley. Amazon is currently offering a 27" KTC gaming monitor for only $103.99 shipped after you clip a $15 off coupon on the product page. This item has over 1,800 reviews on Amazon with an average 4.4/5 star score and a respectable Fakespot "B" rating. It has plenty of gaming features you wouldn't expect at this price point.
The KTC H27T13 is a 27" monitor with a 2560x1440 resolution, which averages out to a sharp 109ppi pixel density. It's equipped with a pre-calibrated IPS panel with good color reproduction and wide viewing angles. It's decently fast with a refresh rate up to 100Hz and G-Sync compatibility. KTC includes a 3 year warranty.
If you're considering this monitor, chances are you're pairing it with a budget gaming PC setup. You probably don't need an expensive monitor with a 4K resolution that will overly tax your PC or 240Hz refresh rate that will be hard to achieve. G-Sync technology, however, is especially useful for these budget builds, since your fps is more likely to fluctuate than higher-end builds and adaptive sync helps provide a smoother and tear-free experience. This is a good monitor to pair with something like an RTX 4060, 4070, 5070, or the new Radeon RX 9070 GPU.
If you're looking for a monitor with higher refresh rate, check out this deal reserved for Amazon Prime members. The Arzopa C-M1RC gaming monitor features the same 2560x1440 resolution, but boasts a faster 180Hz refresh rate. It's also G-Sync compatible, so it pairs especially well with budget gaming PCs. The M1RC has three separate connectivity options: HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB Type-C. The USB Type-C port can connect to your laptop or PC for video, but make sure you have a good cable (i.e. Thunderbolt compatible) in order for this to work. Also the USB Type-C port doesn't support power delivery, so you'll still need to connect a power cable into the monitor as well.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
Like a member of the Mythic Dawn popping out of a secret room to stab the emperor in the back, a remaster of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion has shown up out of nowhere, and it’s a dagger I’ll gladly throw myself on. As one of my favorite RPGs ever, it’s no surprise that I’ve already put in a full day’s worth of playing: I’ve closed a dozen Oblivion gates as the hero of Kvatch, made Faustian bargains with a bunch of Daedric gods, fought to become champion of the arena in the Imperial City, and am well on my way to completing a few of the faction questlines – and so far I’m quite impressed by the substantial upgrades of this new version. I recently revisited the original Oblivion, so with its shortcomings very clear in my mind, the improved UI, revised voice lines, and especially the graphical overhaul have made this nearly 20-year-old classic massively more playable. That said, I’ve also seen a disappointingly recognizable amount of jank, like weird animations when getting on a horse, broken questlines, and regular framerate hitching. But as someone who is pretty immune to the charms of nostalgia alone, I’m still having a fantastic time returning to this adorably weird open-world adventure.
It probably goes without saying that the graphical upgrade is Oblivion Remastered’s biggest improvement. While things definitely don’t look anywhere near the normal standards of today, putting this version side-by-side with its 2006 doppelganger is eye-raisingly impressive. The entire map is crisp, with a draw distance my teenage-self could have only dreamed of. Lighting, shadows, and character lip syncing in particular have been overhauled so much that it’s actually kind of shocking. That said, other things bizarrely didn’t get the memo, like the faces of NPCs, which are almost universally hideous and cartoonish and have about a 40% chance of being cross-eyed. (Although, honestly, being horrified by character faces might actually be part of the authentic Oblivion experience.) So not every Nord and mudcrab is as beautiful to look at as your typical big budget game in 2025, but it’s still a total glow up. It’s one of those situations where I somehow remember things looking just like this in 2006, even though they very clearly looked much worse, which speaks to how the spirit and style of the original has been maintained.
Perhaps the thing that has had the biggest impact on gameplay in Oblivion Remastered is the inclusion of a sprint button. If you haven’t played Oblivion in over a decade, yes, there was no sprinting – wild, I know – and if you never played it, just understand that you’ll never truly know this gift you’ve been granted from Akatosh himself. I don’t even really mind that I’m now losing stamina by sprinting (something that annoys me in RPGs where you’re literally always running around). It’s worth it, even if it does have the odd side effect of making the entire map feel smaller, especially cities and dungeons that can now be fully explored in about half the time. This change has also made me care a whole lot more about investing in skills and magical buffs that increase my stamina, since now I’m using that meter for nearly everything I do. But despite the extra fiddling that causes, moving quickly through areas I already know like the back of my hand makes for a remarkably less tedious time.
There are also a bunch of major changes to the UI, skills, and leveling system, as well as an entirely new feature called Character Origins, which seem to further modify starting stats. The UI has been modernized with today’s design sensibilities, so there are lots of appreciated additions you might not even notice. The compass has moved to the top of your screen and provides way more information; the health, magicka, and stamina meters are now spaced out across the screen instead of being shoved into one corner together; and the menus are much more intuitively placed, so you can toggle between your spells and character stats a lot faster. Some elements still feel pretty old timey – like the quest log popping up right in the middle of the screen anytime you’ve reached a new milestone in one, awkwardly interrupting whatever you were doing – but most of these annoyances haven’t bothered me much just yet. I also just need to spend more time with the altered leveling system and skills to understand if those changes were for better or worse.
Although developer Virtuous Games headed up this remaster, this is still a Bethesda game through and through, and with that comes a lot of bugs. I've already seen odd stuff, like one time when an Oblivion gate disappeared before my eyes, or how an NPC walked away and wouldn’t let me talk to them even when my quest objective told me I had to (though I was still able to advance the questline despite the log not updating, otherwise I’d be madder about that). Then there’s just plain and simple performance issues I’ve seen while playing on Xbox Series X, like how I lose frames for a second or two anytime the autosave triggers or if I’m battling too many dirty, rat-faced scamps in Kvatch. So far most of this has been the usual cheeky blunders that generally don’t ruin my time, but it’s definitely a bummer to see that two decades wasn’t long enough to fix this janky fantasy world.
That’s all I’ve got for now, but am hoping to have a full review before too long. First I want to wrap up the main quest line, pay a visit to the Shivering Isles, and maybe go on a rampage across Cyrodil just to hear the Imperial guards give me their arrest monologue a few hundred more times. Okay. That’s it. Gonna go catch vampirism or something now. Goodbye.
Amazon is hands down one of the overall best places to buy books online. Although the site has now expanded to selling every other type of product under the sun, the mega-retailer got its start as an online book store and it definitely shows whenever there's a sale. The big Amazon Book sale has just begun and it's already the largest collection of discounts on novels, comics, and box sets we've seen in 2025.
I've highlighted some of the best discounts from the sale below, but if you're hoping to check out the sale yourself, you can dive right into the main landing page right here. With prices as low as $6 for popular titles, now is a great time to buy some books for your personal collection.
The Amazon book sale is fairly robust and it can sometimes be hard to find what you're looking for within it. I've featured the best deals I've found so far, which leans pretty heavily toward my own reading interests, but the sale expands to all other genres. If you are looking for something very specific, the best way to go about searching for it is to first go to Amazon's main deals landing page and then use the search bar to narrow it down. This will automatically populate your search with only things on sale rather than filtering by category.
Of the things that I have found in this sale, the discounts on Lord of the Rings books seem like the most obvious callout. There is a cool box set that is currently at its lowest price for 2025 and the incredible illustrated Silmarillion has also dropped to its lowest ever price. Outside of this, there's a deal on the new Kindle Colorsoft that drops the price to the lowest it's ever been. This model is a great option if you're hoping to use an ereader for comics specifically. And if you are looking for deals on comics and graphic novels, there's currently a sale on Marvel comics that is worth browsing. We've already found a really great discount on The Death of Wolverine Omnibus that's worth checking out there.
Outside of books, comics, and manga, I also found a pretty cool Harry Potter gift at its lowest price. The collectible Quidditch set features a small trunk filled with a Quaffle, two Bludgers, and a removable Golden Snitch. Unfortunately, no Harry Potter books are included in this sale.
According to Amazon, the book sale is set to end on Monday, April 28. Based on that information, you should have plenty of time to shop the discounts over the upcoming weekend.
Amazon is offering a great discount on one of the best budget headphones you can find. For just $49, the JLab JBuds Lux Over-Ear Headphones offers features you'd find in headphones that can cost 5x-10x as much, like wireless connectivity with Bluetooth Multipoint, active noise cancellation, spatial audio technology, and more. Most importantly, sound quality is better than any other headphone in its price range.
SoundGuys recently reviewed the JLab JBuds Lux and gave these headphones an absolutely glowing review, mentioning that they were one of the best headphones under $100. SoundGuys considered them an extremely good value at their retail price of $79. At the current price of $49.99, it's hard to find a better bang for your buck, and it's especially nice that all four color options have been discounted.
The JLab JBuds Lux's laundry list of premium features include large 40mm drivers, Dolby Atmos compatible Spatial Audio, support for PlayStation Tempest 3D AudioTech and Windows Sonic, hybrid active noise cancellation, a "Be Aware" mode that lets you listen in on your environment, built-in microphone for hands-free calling, up to 70 hours of battery life on a single charge (40 hours with ANC enabled), USB Type-C charging, and Bluetooth Multipoint.
These headphones even look the part. The JLab JBuds Lux are thoughtfully designed for both comfort and performance, with cushy earcups that conform to your ear while also providing an effective seal for passive isolation, a padded headband for prolonged comfort, and a foldable design that makes them easy to tote around.
For more options, check out our list of the best noise canceling headphones of 2025. Be forewarned that they are far more expensive than the JLab Lux. Our top pick - the Sony WH-1000XM5 - for example, sells for over $300 on Amazon.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
When it comes to fantastical book series that shaped our childhoods, Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians is one of the best. With the first season two of the Percy Jackson Disney+ series arriving later this year, we're here to lay out what makes the books so special and the order you need to read the books in to make the most of the series.
Jump to Series:
Imagine a world where modern Greek gods have children with the powers of demigods. That's the fantastical concept at the center of the Percy Jackson and The Olympians book series. Created by Rick Riordan, the stories begins following the titular son of Poseidon as he traverses the secret world of mythical gods, goddesses, and their superpowered offspring. Over the original series and two sequel series The Heroes of Olympus and The Trials of Apollo, the world has expanded massively bringing new characters and new generations of fans to the Greek-myth inspired universe that has been enchanting readers since 2005.
There are a total of 18 books in the Percy Jackson universe, which are spread across three different series. The original Percy Jackson and the Olympian series features 7 books as of 2025 with the release of Wrath of the Triple Goddess just last year.
If you're looking to add a collection of books to your shelves at home, there are a few box sets available. Below are links to both the paperback and hardcover versions for each series:
In the original novel that sparked off the series, Percy Jackson, discovers that his normal life is not what it seems. Rather than being a normal 12 year old trying to get through school with ADHD and Dyslexia, he's actually a demigod! His life is turned upside down when he's accused of stealing Zeus' lightning bolt. It's not just that he's accused of being a thief though, as he also learns that he's the son of none other than the god Poseidon. Soon he's swept away to a summer camp for demigods known as Camp Half-Blood where he must solve the mystery of Zeus' stolen master bolt and find his way as the son of a god that he's never known.
After discovering Camp Half-Blood and his new life in the first book, in The Sea of Monsters Percy and his friends have to come together to save the place they first met. When the magic that protects the camp begins to fail the crew must head to the titular ocean in order to find a powerful artifact. But they don't have much time and in case you didn't realize the Sea of Monsters is filled with just that. Many, many dangerous creatures fill the pages of this epic adventure, as Percy navigates rough seas and family secrets as he tries to save the day.
As the title hints, this story pushes the Greek mythology of Percy Jackson into the realm of the legendary Titans. When Percy is enlisted to help his old friend Grover he knows something dangerous must have happened, but not even he can guess what's coming. New demigods are on the horizon and with them comes the threat of one of the oldest beings in the world Kronos who hasn't forgiven the teens for besting him. That's not all though as there's also the matter of a massively powerful ancient monster, and the titular curse to keep them busy.
Though he's starting freshman year, things are far from normal for Percy Jackson. With the war between the Titans and the Gods threatening to spill over into every part of life he can barely catch a break, so when demon cheerleaders show up at school he can't believe his bad luck. Reimagining the classic Greek Myth of Daedalus and the Minataur, Percy and his Camp Half-Blood buds have to venture deep into the depths of the Earth to defeat the challenges of an intricate maze in order to stop the destruction of all that they hold dear.
It's a race to save the legendary Mount Olympus as Percy and his friends must come together in order to defeat the Titans. Luckily they've been training all year for just this but as Kronos starts his attack on New York, can the young demigods actually stand against him? This is the epic finale to the battle that began long ago in The Lightning Thief and throws the mythical world of Camp Half-Blood onto the streets of Manhattan for a world-changing fight of the ages.
Introducing a new roster of young characters to root for, this book centers on a demigod named Jason who loses his memory on a school trip and ends up becoming entangled in the world of the Olympians. After revealing his powers and being taken to Camp Half-Blood, Jason and his friends must help find the now missing Percy Jackson. But as they undertake their quest they discover some shocking truths about Camp Half-Blood and come up against its rival Camp Jupiter. This super fun expansion of the Percy Jackson universe melds Greek and Roman mythology to set up a whole new series of Olympian adventures!
Fans were desperate to know what happened to Percy and in the second Heroes of Olympus book they got an insight into his new status quo. Just like Jason, Percy has lost his memory and in a shocking twist finds himself on the run in California with nowhere to turn. Helped by Roman deities and new friends, Percy manages to reach Camp Jupiter discovering that Camp Half-Blood isn't the only demigod training ground in America. As always Percy ends up wrapped up in a mythological battle with huge stakes but this time he's surrounded by Roman gods!
What should have been a celebratory reunion for Annabeth and Percy is overshadowed by the threat of war as Camp Jupiter prepares to face down a foe of mythological proportions. The young Demigod takes center stage in this epic seafaring adventure that sees our young heroes travel to Rome in order to connect with the Demigods there, all the while Annabeth tries to work out her place in the story as the daughter of Athena and hero of Olympus.
It's a quest to escape the underworld when Annabeth and Percy find themselves there after the events of Mark of Athena. In their journey to find the Doors of Death, the duo and their friends who are still in the mortal world will have to work together in order to survive. As if Hades wasn't enough to contend with someone trying to raise the Greek iteration of Mother Earth, Gaea, which the kids also have to stop. Who said it would be easy being a Demigod?
In the final novel from The Heroes of Olympus series, Percy and Annabeth have to battle the horror of Gaea along with their crew in order to stop the deities' horrific plan. As the title suggests she needs the blood of Demigods to truly rise but luckily the Demigods have each other, though they'll have to solve the brewing tension between Camps' Half-Blood and Jupiter before they can really come together and solve their Titan sized problem.
In the second spin-off of the Percy Jackson and the Olypians series, Zeus is back to his old terrible father shenanigans as he transforms his son — the god Apollo — into a teenager and banishes him to New York City. Once on Earth he has to enlist the help of a Demigod named Meg and of course the heroic Percy Jackson to save the day and earn the forgiveness of his father. This means he'll have to wrangle control of the Five Oracles which will take the crew on another mythologically charged adventure through Riordan's fantastical world.
Continuing the story of Apollo and his quest to find the Oracles in order to take his place as a god once again. Alongside his Demigod buddies, Apollo must venture across America in order to free the next Oracle, all the while battling against mythical creatures and the mysterious Triumvirate Holdings, along with one of its leaders Commodus. Expanding the new lore introduced in The Trials of Apollo this is a gripping continuation of the Percy Jackson series.
Apollo's battle against the evil emperors of Triumvirate Holdings takes center stage here as he comes up against multiple mythological creatures and famed historical figures. You'll catch appearances from Caligula, Madea, Strix, and even Caligula's favorite horse Incitatus. This is another epic adventure that pits Apollo against fearsome foes and tragic losses as he unravels the Triumvirate's shocking plans and tries to regain his immortality while keeping his friends safe. And trust us when we say that's not an easy set of responsibilities to juggle.
The penultimate book in the Trials of Apollo series takes Apollo and friends to the edge as they find themselves up against the brutal Caligula and his followers. In order to help protect Camp Jupiter from the onslaught of Triumvirate Holdings, Apollo and his crew must venture into the ancient tomb of a terrifying tyrant that will put them in more danger than ever before. It'll also lead to the final trial of Apollo, which will define and seal his fate forever.
In the final Trials of Apollo book the stage is set for an epic battle back in New York City. It's all been leading to this as the young god and his demigod buds have come up against their biggest foe yet. It's an epic finale with massive stakes as mythical families are reunited, friendships are tested, and Apollo finally learns whether or not he's done enough to return to his place on Mount Olympus. But if you're desperate for more stories in this universe, don't despair as there's one more standalone novel that ties into the world of Percy Jackson.
Bringing two fan favorite characters to the forefront of their own story, The Sun and the Star centers on Nico di Angelo and Will Solace who were introduced in earlier Percy Jackson novels. Nico is the son of Hades which means that life is far from easy for him, and as the son of Apollo, Will has had his fair share of adventures too. But when Nico starts hearing a voice calling him to the depths of the underworld the pair are tested like never before, in this story that will sate the appetites of Percy Jackson fans everywhere, especially those who miss Camp Half-Blood.
Following the recent release of Wrath of the Triple Goddess, Rick Riordan will be adding a final book to this trilogy. He stated this clearly in a November 2024 update where he confirmed he "will be writing the third and final ‘Senior Year Adventure’ about Percy Jackson’s quest to get into college". We don't yet know the name of the upcoming book, but we know it will somehow involve Percy acquiring his final recommendation letter. Once that book wraps up, the future of the Percy Jackson books is unclear.
As for the TV show, Disney has confirmed that season 2 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians will arrive in December 2025. This is a full two years after the release of the first season, which IGN's review described as "adding a hint of modernity" to the world of gods and monsters.
Rosie Knight is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything from anime to comic books to kaiju to kids movies to horror flicks. She has over half a decade of experience in entertainment journalism with bylines at Nerdist, Den of Geek, Polygon, and more. Rosie is a published comics author who has written titles including Godzilla Rivals vs. Battra and The Haunted High-Tops. She co-hosts the weekly Crooked Media pop-culture podcast X-Ray Vision. When she's not writing, you can find her playing Dragon Ball FighterZ or rewatching weird old horror and martial movies in her free time. She loves making comics and zines as well as collecting VHS and reading much manga as humanly possible. You can find her on social at @rosiemarx.
Stranger Things: The First Shadow is now playing at the Marquis Theatre in New York City and The Phoenix Theatre in London.
Is mega-budget stage prequel Stranger Things: The First Shadow a necessary addition to the hit Netflix show’s lore? Definitely not. But is this breathtaking theatrical spectacle a hell of a lot of fun? Absolutely so.
Chiefly an origin story for Henry Creel, a.k.a. the fourth-season big-bad Vecna, The First Shadow is set up to expand on the bizarre goings-on in Hawkins, Indiana and satisfy fans with some familiar characters, all without messing with anything of significance to the series’ continuity. There’s enticement for diehards in the form of younger versions of Joyce Byers (né Moldanado), Jim Hopper, the sadistic Dr. Brenner and, of course, Bob Newby. (If you don’t remember who that is, don’t worry – it scarcely matters.) And since Vecna will return for the show’s much-delayed fifth and final season, First Shadow makes sense as a bridge between seasons. But it’s not like you’ll be completely at sea if you can’t make it to the play before the last batch of episodes drops on Netflix.
What you’ll see, however, is hugely enjoyable – packed with astonishing stage images, impressive jump scares, and genuinely exciting feats of theatricality. And if the script sometimes gets bogged down in fan service, it does find a surprising emotional potency in its main character’s doomed effort to save himself.
The setting is 1959, and a teenage Henry (Louis McCartney) is seeking a fresh start, following a violent incident at his last school. At Hawkins High, he finds romance with the kindly Patty Newby (Gabrielle Nevaeh) when the two are cast as leads in the student play. But at night, a dark power takes hold of Henry’s body, using his powers of telepathy and telekinesis to horrible ends – brought to life by a seemingly bottomless bag of theatrical tricks.
Ably guided by seasoned director Stephen Daldry and co-director Justin Martin, The First Shadow’s makeup, effects, and scenic teams conjure wonder after wonder on stage, a healthy mix of huge set pieces and old-fashioned stage magic. The opener, in which a battleship is beached by attacking Demogorgons, is jaw-dropping. Creel’s telepathic jaunts across Hawkins use doubles, stage tricks, and puppetry to haunting effect. And when the Mind Flayer makes her appearance, the big girl does not disappoint.
The First Shadow also holds onto Stranger Things’ oddly pleasing clash of teenage hijinks and bloodthirsty violence. Since Daldry ensures the play is always moving at a steady clip, harsh jumps from fratricide to theater-club drama can certainly feel jarring. But the tonal whiplash is, for all its grossness, in keeping with Stranger Things as we know it.
A little more about that play-within-the-play, since it takes up about as much storytelling real estate here as Henry himself (barely an exaggeration): The kids are pretending to put on Oklahoma! But secretly, their student director, an impassioned Joyce (Alison Jaye), has a different vision. She conceives a “revolutionary” production of Dark of the Moon, an obscure 1945 play (not to be confused with the Transformers sequel) centering on a witch-boy who falls for a young girl and seeks to become human. The parallels with Creel’s story are, fortunately, not excessively underlined.
Jaye pulls off an artful Winona Ryder impression, echoing Ryder’s strange mannerisms without overdoing it. Joyce is always fending off the interest of a young Jim Hopper, also nicely captured by Burke Swanson, who finds an overcompensating machismo that is, again, of a piece with David Harbour’s beloved take on Hopper. But ultimately, outside of the fan-pleasing need to feature some familiar faces, there is no reason for either of them to be in The First Shadow. Joyce and Jim’s storyline technically has connections to Henry’s, but it always feels like it’s happening in its own play. The inclusion of Bob Newby (played in the show’s third season by Sean Astin) is even more needless, and Juan Carlos’ breathlessly frenzied take proves grating.
Though its 2-hour-and-45-minute running time flies by, First Shadow loses focus a bit in a jumbled second act. Henry’s outsider bond with Patty is genuinely touching, but their central relationship gets lost amidst much gruesome business with Dr. Brenner. Alex Breaux does well as the future father figure/tormentor of Henry’s fellow telekinetic Eleven, and it’s fun to watch him and McCartney have a freak-off. But after about a scene and a half with Brenner, we basically get the gist: He’s evil!
The anchor amidst all the madness is McCartney, a virtuosic breakout talent who brings a sweetly yet demonic flair to young Henry. The battle raging inside Henry always feels palpable, even as he makes valiant attempts at a normal life. It’s the anti-Eleven story, and McCartney holds the whole thing together.
Razer's new 2025 lineup of Razer Blade 16 and Razer Blade 18 gaming laptops, which are currently exclusively available only at Razer.com and Razer stores, are now shipping out for as early as late April delivery. Prices for the Razer Blade 16 start at $2,999.99 for the RTX 5070 Ti configuration, $3,499.99 for the RTX 5080 configuration, and $4,499.99 for the RTX 5090 configuration. Currently, the Razer Blade 18 is out of stock.
Razer Blade laptops are well known for their impeccable build quality. The chassis is built from a single piece of aluminum and is designed to be exceptionally thin and light for a gaming laptop. In order to get away with the svelte form factor, Razer employs its own proprietary cooling design, which incorporates a vacuum-sealed, liquid-filled, copper vapor chamber to effectively whisk away the heat. Much like Apple MacBook Pros, a lot of engineering goes into a Razer Blade laptop, which is why they command a premium price compared to other mainstream brands.
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All Razer Blade 16 models feature a gorgeous 16" 2560x1600 OLED display with up to 240Hz refresh rate, the latest AMD Ryzen AI 9 processor, and 32GB of RAM. Upgrade options are limited; they include boosting the memory to 64GB and internal storage up to 2TB. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 is a power efficient yet capable gaming and workstation mobile chip and now with the integration of the XDNA 2 NPU for AI applications. Bumping up to the HX 370 model gives up the power efficiency for a faster clock speed and stronger overall performance.
Out of stock
The Razer Blade 18 is an Intel-based system and the base config is equipped with the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, which is a more performance-minded chip compared to the current Core Ultra 9 185H, which focuses on efficiency. The rest of the specs include an 18" Dual UHD+ 240Hz display (which can natively switch to FHD+ 440Hz), RTX 5070 Ti graphics, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD for $3,499.99. You can upgrade to either the RTX 5080 or the RTX 5090.
Our benchmarks are in, and it looks like the RTX 5090 is indeed the new king of mobile GPUs, although not by the leaps and bounds we were hoping for. On average, the RTX 5090 is about 5%-10% more powerful than the RTX 4090 that it replaces. However, add in DLSS 4 and the gap widens.
Dell announced the return of the venerable Alienware Area-51 gaming laptop back in CES 2025, and starting today it is finally available to order. It comes in two size variants: the 16" model starts at $3,199.99 and the 18" model starts at $3,399.99. As expected from Alienware's new flagship laptop, the Area-51 is equipped with current generation components, including the latest and greatest Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU and NVIDIA Blackwell GPU. Orders are expected to ship out starting April 30, so get your reservation in now to prevent any additional delays.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
I am someone who reads a lot. I have other hobbies, but reading is the most accessible of all of them largely thanks to my Kindle. I've had a Kindle Paperwhite for almost a year now and use it quite literally every day. The convenience of being able to read easily at night with the soft backlight paired with the ease of moving on to the next book in each series make my Kindle one of my favorite pieces of technology I own.
The main downside of a Kindle is the upfront cost of actually buying one. They are fairly expensive if you want the newer models, and Amazon doesn't offer Kindle device deals that often. So when there's a sale like the one happening right now, it's worth considering picking one up for yourself or as a gift for the reader in your life. Right now, the Amazon Book Sale includes a 20% discount on the new Kindle Colorsoft for a limited time.
The Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition was first released back in October 2024 and was meant as a colorful alternative to the usual models. Many of the best Kindles are primarily black and white, which is great if you're only planning on reading words, but not as good for reading digital comics and graphic novels. As the newest model, it is normally priced at $279.99, but this discount drops the price to the lowest it's ever been.
In addition to the discount, you can also choose to bundle your new Kindle purchase with three free months of Kindle Unlimited. This will get you unfettered access to everything the subscription has to offer. This includes a range of everything from popular LitRPG books to a variety of graphic novels. You can also choose not to include the free three months of this subscription for the same price. There are plenty of other deals to peruse in the Amazon book sale happening right now, which includes Kindle ebooks.
The Kindle Colorsoft is an expensive purchase, even at this current discount. If you're in the market for a Kindle but don't want to break the bank, you may want to consider other options. I am personally a fan of both the standard Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite. Both of the newest models of these devices include adjustable lighting and a Dark Mode that makes them excellent for reading in any environment.
These particular Kindle models are best for books, however. If you're specifically looking for ways to read digital comics online, then the Colorsoft is a better choice. However, if you don't mind shopping outside of the Kindle brand, there are plenty of other reading tablets that can accomplish the same thing at a much lower price.
Nintendo is the most recognizable name in history when it comes to video games. From the beginning, Nintendo has been at the forefront of creativity and innovation in the home console space. Nintendo is known for its vast library of treasured IPs, with many offering the same charm dozens of years later. With the looming release of the Switch 2, you may be wanting to take a look back at the gaming giant's history in the console space.
Below, we've rounded up every single console Nintendo has ever released. Journey through the ages and discover how Nintendo has continued to push the gaming medium forward!
Looking to save on a new Nintendo Switch or new titles for your system? Be sure to check out the best Nintendo deals available today.
In total, 32 Nintendo consoles have been released throughout Nintendo's history. The Switch 2 will be the 33rd. We've included revision models for both home and handheld consoles, which include brandings like XL and Mini.
The Color TV-Game line of systems was Nintendo's first foray into gaming hardware and one that you might not necessarily be aware of. These devices were a joint venture by Nintendo and Mitsubishi Electronics, with the latter involved as Nintendo was inexperienced at developing hardware. These systems were a major success at the time and ultimately led Nintendo to divert its focus to developing more gaming hardware. Almost 50 years later, the Color TV-Game's legacy is still felt, with Nintendo invested more than ever in gaming.
Nintendo's first foray into the handheld market was with its Game & Watch devices, each loaded with a different game. While you might not think much of it, the Game & Watch series sold more than 40 million units worldwide. These devices brought many gaming revelations that are still utilized today, such as the D-Pad in the Donkey Kong Game & Watch. These consoles made a comeback somewhat recently when Nintendo released limited edition models in 2020 and 2021 to celebrate the anniversaries of Mario and Zelda.
The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is the first Nintendo home console to be released in North America. Known as the Family Computer (Famicom) in Japan, this console implemented cartridges to allow users to purchase and play as many games as they'd like on the system. Almost all of the major Nintendo franchises we know and love got their starts here, with series like Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Metroid. Overall, the NES is one of the most important consoles in video game history, as it established a pipeline for generations to come.
The first true Nintendo handheld video game console is the Game Boy, which released in North America during the Summer of 1989. Game Boy took a major step forward from the Game & Watch, offering cartridges so you could play as many games as you'd like on the system. For many, the Game Boy's most well-known game is Tetris, which was bundled in with the system in every region with the exception of Japan.
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) brought 16-bit graphics to a Nintendo platform for the first time. This console was when Nintendo began crafting major evolutions for their biggest series, with games like Super Mario World, Donkey Kong Country, and more. Despite launching toward the latter part of this console generation, the SNES still managed to be the best-selling console of this time period with its profound software lineup and generational appeal.
The Virtual Boy is quite possibly Nintendo's weirdest console. This portable device was the first-ever video game console that could properly display 3D visuals. Merely 22 games were ever released for the system, with Mario's Tennis, 3D Tetris, and Virtual Boy Wario Land among the most popular. Virtual Boy only lasted on the market for one year, with just under 800,000 units sold in its lifetime.
The Game Boy Pocket is a smaller version of the Game Boy, featuring a definitive black-and-white screen instead of the Game Boy's green-tinted display. One of the biggest improvements of this release was the new hardware inside that improved the response time of the display on screen. However, with the smaller design, the Game Boy Pocket had a shorter battery life than the Game Boy.
Nintendo 64 brought 3D graphics to a Nintendo home console for the very first time. This revolutionary device brought two of the most influential titles ever: Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The N64 completely refreshed what the NES and SNES offered with a bold new controller that featured an analog stick for the first time. N64 is one of the few consoles where Nintendo sold many iconic special editions, with multiple translucent variants available.
Game Boy Light is a console you might not be too familiar with, and a large part of that is likely due to it being exclusive to Japan. This Game Boy revision was bigger than the Game Boy Pocket, but added a new backlight so players could play in low-light areas. Ultimately, this change allowed for the Game Boy Light to feature longer battery life than the Game Boy Pocket, around 20 hours in total.
Game Boy Color finally brought color to a Nintendo handheld. The device was backwards-compatible with all Game Boy games, so it was an easy upgrade for many. Some Game Boy games had support for color already, so titles like Tetris could be experienced anew with bright and beatuiful colors. With the new hardware inside, hundreds of new games were also released exclusively for the system.
Game Boy Advance (GBA) was the first massive technological leap forward in the Game Boy brand for Nintendo. In a major shakeup to the previous Game Boy models, GBA flipped the device orientation to a horizontal, rectangular shape versus the portrait-designed Game Boy. 16-bit graphics were now available portably — a major upgrade from the Game Boy's 8-bit graphics support. Of course, Game Boy and Game Boy Color games were also supported via backwards compatibility. This opened the number of games available on GBA into the thousands.
Pokémon mini released in 2001 with a major focus on Pokémon games (as the name implies). This device is so incredibly small that you can fit multiple in your pocket. Only 10 games were ever released for Pokémon mini, with just four in North America. Pokémon mini featured a built-in clock function, an infrared port for communication, and built-in rumble.
Nintendo GameCube built upon the success of the Nintendo 64 and followed up with sequels to many of the beloved titles found on the system. Super Mario Sunshine, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate are all three titles that shined on the system. GameCube made a major departure from Nintendo's prior home consoles, as it utilized discs instead of cartridges. Additionally, the controller made major improvements from N64, with built-in rumble, analog/digital triggers, and a staggered design for the sticks. The legacy of the GameCube still lives on today, with many of the franchises that debuted on the title more popular than ever. (Looking at you, Animal Crossing.)
Panasonic Q is a collaborative console between Panasonic and Nintendo. This device combined a traditional GameCube with a DVD player, allowing for users to play GameCube titles, watch DVDs, and listen to CDs. Its design is striking, with a stainless steel exterior and a front LCD panel. Due to the steep price and low sales, the console only lasted two years on the market.
Game Boy Advance SP (GBA SP) was the first revision of the Game Boy Advance. A major change from the previous model was the hinge design, which placed the screen on the top panel and the controls on the bottom panel. Additionally, the GBA SP featured a chargeable battery and a backlit screen (exclusive to later models), which were both major improvements from its predecessor. Nintendo opted to omit a headphone jack on this model but offered an adapter for players to listen to audio through headphones.
Nintendo DS was the first unit in the DS line, which marked the start of Nintendo's best-selling console. The DS featured Wi-Fi support for the first time, with a standout clamshell design that expanded upon the Game Boy SP. With two screens, games on Nintendo DS were quite unique, with many developers creating experiences unlike anything on the market previously. The bottom screen was a touchscreen that players could use with the included stylus pen.
Game Boy Micro was famously revealed by Reggie Fils-Aimé during E3 2005, with many shocked at the small size of the system. The rectangular design featured a D-pad and two buttons on the front, with Start and Select buttons on the bottom side of the unit. Like previous GBA models, Game Boy Micro was backwards compatible with Game Boy and Game Boy Color games, in addition to playing Game Boy Advance titles. Game Boy Micro featured a backlit screen that allowed for adjustable brightness and even lighting across the screen. The system only sold 2.42 million units across 18 months until its production ended.
Nintendo DS Lite was the first revision of the Nintendo DS. This model released just under a year and a half after the initial launch of the Nintendo DS, and it brought a few changes to the fold. First, the DS Lite is slimmer and lighter than its predecessor. The screens are also both noticeably brighter than the standard DS, which made games easier to see regardless of lighting conditions. Lastly, the battery life was much improved on Nintendo DS Lite to allow for more playtime without the need for a charge.
Nintendo Wii marked a huge resurgence for Nintendo's home console business, with a unique focus on motion controls that sold many on the system. The unique Wii Remote relied heavily on motion to control the system, utilizing both infrared and digital technology to input motion from all directions. Nintendo released all sorts of accessories for the system, from the Nunchuk to the Wii MotionPlus. Wii was backwards compatible with both GameCube titles and controllers, since the Wii utilized optical discs once again. One of the defining software offerings of Wii was Virtual Console, which allowed players to purchase NES, SNES, and N64 titles for digital download.
Nintendo DSi made a few changes to the Nintendo DS, acting as the second major revision of the model. It added two cameras, one on the hinge inside and one on the outside panel, which were utilized in games and in certain software. An SD card slot was also added to provide additional storage for downloaded games. Unfortunately, the Nintendo DSi also removed the Game Boy Advance slot that was present on the Nintendo DS and Nintendo DS Lite.
Nintendo DSi XL was a larger model of the DSi that launched a year after the main model. This device featured larger, wide-view screens that both sat at 4.2 inches. Two speakers were added to the top panel to provide better, clearer sound for players, and a bigger battery for longer playtime. With the larger screens, Nintendo DS games were brighter and easier to experience than ever.
Nintendo 3DS was the successor to the Nintendo DS line, offering a wide variety of new features, games, and hardware capabilities. The key feature of 3DS was the 3D capabilities, which were powered by stereoscopy so no eyewear was required. Interestingly enough, this is the same technology that was used to power the Virtual Boy, which only lasted on the market for one year in 1995. 3DS was a massive upgrade from Nintendo DS, with many impressive titles like The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Fire Emblem: Awakening, and Super Mario 3D Land.
Nintendo 3DS XL (known as Nintendo 3DS LL in Japan) featured a screen that was 90% larger than the original 3DS. This console retained every feature of the Nintendo 3DS and simply offered a larger screen. Many games were much easier to view with this model, especially with the bottom screen.
The Nintendo Wii U was the successor to Nintendo Wii, featuring an all-new GamePad controller. This controller featured a screen and could be used to play titles off of the TV. All previous Nintendo Wii games, accessories, and controllers were compatible with the system. Wii U was Nintendo's first-ever console to support HD, which was a major step up from the 480p capabilities of the Wii. There were some incredible titles released for the system, including Xenoblade Chronicles X, Super Mario 3D World, Splatoon, and Bayonetta 2 to name a few. Ultimately, a combination of poor marketing and confusion led to poor sales of the Wii U, which left Nintendo in a crucial state prior to the launch of Nintendo Switch.
Wii Mini was a smaller, lighter Wii unit that was released at the very tail end of the Wii's life cycle. Wii Mini featured a top-facing disc drive, which was a huge departure from the standard Wii. Additionally, it removed support for GameCube, Wi-Fi connectivity, 480p resolution, and SD cards. This console launched in Canada during December 2012, with releases in Europe and the United States in 2013.
Nintendo 2DS offered exactly what it sounds like: fun, 2D content. This device removed the 3D capability present on 3DS models and instead flattened out the console to a square-like shape. All 3DS titles are playable on 2DS, with all features minus 3D intact. The console did lose considerable sound quality, as the speaker onboard was swapped for a mono speaker versus a stereo speaker. However, with the extremely low price point, Nintendo had to cut costs somewhere.
New Nintendo 3DS made significant upgrades to the standard 3DS, with new controls, features, and platform support. Nintendo added the C-Stick, ZR and ZL buttons, and NFC support for amiibo with this release. While the New Nintendo 3DS launched across Japan, Australia, and Europe in late 2014 to early 2015, North America did not receive this standard version until September 25, 2015.
Released before New Nintendo 3DS in North America, New Nintendo 3DS XL was a larger version of the revised 3DS model. Although the standard model did feature bigger screens than the standard 3DS, the 3DS XL had even bigger displays, which allowed for more immersive games. The New 3DS XL made a major change from the smaller model as it removed the ability to change face plates. Many felt this limited customization, though Nintendo did offer mutliple special editions for players to purchase.
Nintendo Switch fully realized the vision of the Wii U and completely propelled Nintendo to the top of the industry once again. The Switch operates as both a home and portable console, with the ability to play games wherever you go. The same grand experiences you were used to on consoles can now be played in a park, on a plane, or in your bed. With arguably the best first-party library of any Nintendo console, Switch has seen some of the greatest games of all time be released on it. There have also been quite a few special edition Nintendo Switch consoles that have been released throughout the years.
New Nintendo 2DS XL was a major update to the 2DS. Additions for this model included an analog stick, shoulder buttons, amiibo support, and more. 2DS XL also moved back to the signature clamshell-hinge design, which was a departure from the flat panel used for 2DS. This console was also able to play New 3DS titles, which included games like Xenoblade Chronicles 3D and Fire Emblem Warriors.
Nintendo Switch Lite shrunk down the body of the Nintendo Switch, utilizing a 5.5 inch LCD screen. The major change with this model was the removal of Joy-Cons, as the controllers became built-in on the sides of the console. As a result of these changes, the Nintendo Switch Lite is only playable in handheld mode and cannot be docked to a TV. This allowed Nintendo to cut costs and charge $100 less for the Lite model.
Nintendo Switch OLED debuted alongside Metroid Dread in October 2021. This premium Switch increased the size of the screen to 7 inches while also adding a new premium OLED panel. In addition to these features, the speakers and kickstand were also reworked for this device. The OLED model released alongside a new dock, featuring rounded corners and a built-in LAN port.
The next Nintendo console is almost here. As revealed in the April 2025 Nintendo Direct, the Switch 2 will be released on June 5 alongside a decent slate of new and "Enhanced" Switch games. The Switch 2 will be up for preorder in the U.S. starting April 24.
Nintendo has emphasized that this is not just an upgraded Switch system but an entire redesign, featuring magnetic Joy-Cons with mouse controls, a 7.9-inch screen with HDR support, and a new C-button for online GameChat. The Switch 2 will feature five times as much storage as the original Switch, starting at 256GB, and will only be compatible with MicroSD Express cards for storage upgrades.
The new system will be available on its own at a price of $449.99 or bundled with the all-new Mario Kart World game for $499.99. The Switch 2 will also launch alongside a host of new accessories, including a new Pro controller and an official Nintendo Switch 2 camera.
Eight years after the original Nintendo Switch, we're about to get our hands on the Switch 2. Let's not get too ahead of ourselves by thinking about the next generation just yet. That said, it will be interesting to see whether Nintendo releases Switch 2 variants, like the upgraded Switch OLED and handheld-only Switch Lite that followed the Switch.
Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused on nonsense-free Japanese gaming (in 2019) and has contributed to various publishers writing about the medium.
Spoilers follow for Andor Season 2, Episodes 1-3, “Harvest.”
“Many Bothans died to bring us this information…”
When actress Caroline Blakiston uttered the above famous Star Wars line as Mon Mothma in Return of the Jedi, it was undoubtedly a cool moment, a glimpse into the previously unseen hierarchy of the Rebel Alliance… albeit one that lasted about “26 and a half seconds,” as the actress once joked. Indeed, that brief scene was pretty much all we got of Mon Mothma, onscreen anyway, for many, many years.
And yet here we are as Andor Season 2 debuts, and Genevieve O’Reilly’s take on Mon Mothma has, combined with the writing from series creator Tony Gilroy and his team, transformed her into one of the greatest Star Wars characters ever. And that’s saying a lot when one considers the pantheon of many, many cool characters in George Lucas’ universe.
While O’Reilly’s reserved but tortured Mothma was already a highlight of Andor’s first season, the culmination of her Episodes 1-3 story this season truly drives home how amazing and different this show is in terms of Star Wars projects, and why O’Reilly and her character have proven so vital to its success.
I’m talking, of course, about the final moments of the third episode, as Mothma dances the night away at her daughter’s cursed wedding. Is the senator from Chandrila dancing to block out the increasing horrors around her, to numb herself to the pain and hardship that her own actions have caused (how many Chandrilan Squig shooters did she pound in that scene?), or is she simply unravelling in that moment, with nothing left to do but dance?
“It was an extraordinary day filming that,” O'Reilly recently told IGN’s Michael Peyton at Star Wars Celebration. “It was my second to last day on the whole of Andor … shooting that. It felt like a very beautiful crescendo, a big piece of the end of three episodes at the wedding. But [creator] Tony [Gilroy] and I have been talking about this week [of the wedding]. Perhaps from the outside it looks like this beautiful Renaissance painting moment, but actually it's a woman trying to exorcize the chaos that's in her brain. Tony said the other day about it, she's dancing to keep herself from screaming. So everything in Andor, there are layers, there is depth, there are questions.”
Early in Episode 1, Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) meets a young Imperial tech officer who is helping him steal a TIE Fighter. He gives her a pep talk regarding her decision to work with the Rebels: “You made this decision long ago,” he tells her. “The Empire cannot win. You'll never feel right unless you're doing what you can to stop them.”
But does he really mean those words? Or is he just giving the newbie Rebel hope to cling to (Rebellions are built on hope, don’t you know)? It seems likely that the woman will be at the very least arrested after Andor’s escape with the ship, if not executed as she fears. But as with so many moments in Andor, the cause is greater than those who are fighting it. And that goes for Mon Mothma too.
So when Andor says “You'll never feel right unless you're doing what you can to stop them” at the start of this first chapter of Season 2, we can then look at the end of the chapter with Mothma spinning endlessly in a vortex of guilt, anxiety, and despair. She is doing everything she can to stop the Empire, and she definitely doesn’t feel right in that moment, having allowed her daughter to be married off into a shady family of well-to-do criminals while also standing by as Stellan Skarsgård’s Luthen Rael more or less tells her that he’s going to have her childhood friend Tay Kolma (Ben Miles) killed now that he’s outlived his usefulness. What else can she do but dance?
Her eleventh-hour attempt to dissuade her daughter Leida (Bronte Carmichael) from going through with the marriage is of course also haunting Mothma, falling on deaf ears as it does. The tragedy is that the senator once stood where Leida does now and made the same mistake her daughter is about to make, becoming ensnared in a loveless marriage that’s more about money, power, and optics than anything else. Mothma’s own mother, drunk as she was that day, must’ve seen what Mothma sees now, but that sight didn’t help either to affect any change. “Nothing on the other side of that door matters,” she tells Leida. Of course, we know Mothma’s not just talking about the wedding. But it’s too late for Leida – she’s already lost.
The climactic dance sequence is intercut with Andor rescuing his friends back on the planet Mina-Rau, though he finds he’s too late to save Brasso (Joplin Sibtain) (who seemed like sort of the best guy you’d ever want to be friends with). Meanwhile, Tay is flying off into the distance, ignorant of his impending doom, and Mothma’s cousin Vel Sartha (Faye Marsay) ponders the lover she’s seemed to have lost to the cause. And on the Chandrilan dance floor, even Mothma’s deadbeat husband Perrin Fertha (Alastair Mackenzie), who has seemingly always been in the dark about his wife’s Rebel activities and support, notices that something is off with his wife and she spins and spins heedlessly.
Of course, unlike many of the characters on Andor whose ultimate fate is currently unknown to us, Mon Mothma will in fact survive the events of the show and eventually stand on the bridge of the starship Home One to speak those immortal words in Return of the Jedi. But for now on, whenever we watch that scene, it will come with a much heavier and tragic backstory not just about Bothans, but about Mon Mothma herself.
For more on Andor Season 2, check out the cast racing to five major moments from the premiere. And discover why the planet Ghorman is so critical to the Rebel Alliance.
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The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered reimagines one of Bethesda's most important games with new visuals, gameplay mechanics, and more, but that didn’t stop the team at Virtuos from including one of the original's most iconic lines.
Most veteran Elder Scrolls fans have no doubt heard of Master Speechcraft trainer Tandilwe, a High Elf who can be found in the Temple of the One in the Imperial City. When Oblivion launched for PC and Xbox 360 more than 19 years ago, it was clear Tandilwe could use some speech training of her own. One of her voice lines is a recording of what has long been assumed to be mistakenly included audio of actress Linda Kenyon taking another stab at a line.
Begging Bethesda to keep this voice acting flub in Oblivion Remastered pic.twitter.com/rzGymRMchw
— TheNCSmaster (@TheNCSmaster) April 21, 2025
As players began their trek through a revitalized Cyrodiil yesterday, many were on the hunt to see just how faithful the ground-up remaster truly was. While so many environments, character models, and items have been given a fresh coat of paint, others have been happy to find that many of the blemishes that made 2006 Oblivion so special remain intact. Tandilwe’s infamous (and hilarious) blooper is one moment fans have been overjoyed to see return. It’s just as it was nearly 20 years ago, lack of subtitles and all.
THEY KEPT THE BLOOPER IN OBLIVION REMASTERED YESSSS#OblivionRemastered pic.twitter.com/SiwfbnF5cK
— samwise (@kojimahead) April 23, 2025
In a 2019 interview with YouTube channel Jake 'The Voice' Parr, Kenyon was made aware of the Oblivion blooper making it into the game and becoming internet famous, insisting: "It wasn't my fault!"
While the thousands of players hopping into Oblivion Remastered are debating about whether the Bethesda re-release is more remake than remaster, others are just happy to see so much of its jank remain largely untouched. It’s an aspect of the original release that Bethesda and Virtuos were determined to maintain, and so far, it seems to be going over well with both new and veteran players.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion surprise launched for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S yesterday. For more, you can learn about how the modding community banned together to release dozens of mods just hours after the remaster was revealed. You can also click here to read up on why one original designer feels the remaster is more like “Oblivion 2.0.”
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.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
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