In a huge reveal at this week’s Unreal Fest Orlando, Epic Games and developer CD Projekt Red showcased a technical demonstration of The Witcher 4. Built in Unreal Engine 5 using many of the latest tools and technologies, it offers a window into the future of The Witcher; not just in terms of what Ciri’s saga will (hopefully) look like, but also the people we’ll meet, the places we’ll go, and the general vibe of the game we’ll one day get our hands on.

There was plenty to see in the 14 minutes of demonstration footage, so we’re here to break it down with the help of CD Projekt Red and Epic Games. Here are the 10 most important things we’ve learned about The Witcher 4 and its new tech demo.

1. The Demo is Not Gameplay

The demo we saw was played live on stage by CD Projekt Red’s Cinematic Director, Kajetan Kapuściński. But while Kapuściński was literally moving Ciri around the game world, the studio is keen to emphasise that the demo is not a true slice of the game. While the mountain region, forest, and port town you saw will be part of The Witcher 4, the quest being played and the characters Ciri interacts with may not be featured in the final game.

As Kapuściński explains to me, this “was a demo that [CD Projekt Red and Epic Games] crafted so both companies can work on some technology that will be powering The Witcher 4 in the future. So it's not gameplay of The Witcher 4, per se.”

So if it’s not gameplay, what can we learn from it? “It shows our artistic direction and how we would like to approach some things,” Kapuściński explains. And so everything you see – the scope of the world, the density of the foliage, the way Ciri and NPCs react to each other, and how cinematic cutscenes blend with the interactive parts – is CD Project Red’s ambition. It’s how the studio currently envisions the game and what the team is working towards.

“But everything you saw is subject to be changed, because that is a snippet of what we have now,” Kapuściński says. In short, this is not a full representation of the final version of The Witcher 4.

2. Will The Witcher 4 Look Like That?

The visual quality of this tech demo is astonishing, but we’ve been here before. Many people will remember the first footage of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt or Cyberpunk 2077, which turned out to be more ambitious, at least visually, than the final product. In The Witcher 4’s case, it’s especially easy to be skeptical, as this demonstration was running on a regular PlayStation 5 (not even a PS5 Pro!) at 60 frames per second. I asked Wyeth Johnson, Senior Director of Product Strategy at Epic Games, if this quality was genuinely something players could expect to experience on a base PS5.

“Oh absolutely. We can't lie here,” he says. “I mean the technology that we're making has to be directly relevant for what players expect, and players across the entire hardware spectrum are asking for amazing 60 frames per second gameplay.”

The new advancements in Unreal Engine 5.6 are allowing developers to run complex tech more efficiently. As explained in an Unreal blog post, “The Hardware Ray Tracing (HWRT) system enhancements are designed to deliver even greater performance for Lumen Global Illumination. By eliminating key CPU bottlenecks, you can author more complex scenes while maintaining a smoother 60 FPS frame rate.” The promise of all this is that the experiences that are currently typically locked behind a 30 frames-per-second ‘Quality’ mode will be available at 60fps – all without requiring new hardware.

“The goal that we set at the very beginning, to make this demo and play it live on a standard PlayStation 5 in 60 frames per second, that was a challenge on its own,” says Kapuściński. “And pushing towards that allowed us to achieve these optimizations that allow us to use technology on a bigger scale.”

3. We're Headed North. Very North

The technical demo takes place in Kovir, a region in the very north of The Continent, the world in which The Witcher takes place. It’s situated north-west of the lands of Redania and Temeria, locations you’ll be familiar with from The Witcher 3. Its mountainous terrain is resource-rich, and so mining is one of the kingdom’s key industries. Kovir is the world’s leading exporter of minerals, and among those minerals is salt; you’ll have noticed that Ciri’s quest in this demonstration is to investigate a salt merchant’s missing cargo.

Fans of The Witcher books have waited a long time to visit Kovir, but creating it for a video game is no easy task. As Game Director Sebastian Kalemba explained as part of the demonstration, “So much of The Witcher world is natural, organic, especially Kovir with its dense forests and wild nature.” The Witcher 3 featured some grand woodland environments that remain impressive even 10 years later, but the forest shown in this demo is a league ahead of them. It stretches as far as the eye can see, with detailed pine trees creating a blanket of green through the mountain’s ravine. Both vertically and horizontally, there’s an astonishing amount of foliage detail.

“I think for the Witcher franchise, the forest is definitely the soul of the game,” says Charles Tremblay, VP of Technology at CD Projekt Red. “And this is something that we were struggling [with] since the beginning of the project. How are we going to make the next generation of foliage?” The answer was Nanite Foliage, a new Unreal technology that has a whole new approach to how assets like leaves, flowers, and pine needles are loaded into the environment. It allows for a much more detailed natural world without the need for constant load times and pop-in – and it was that that has helped CD Project Red work on a seamless forest environment that is so richly detailed.

4. A Horse Named Kelpie

For hundreds of hours we travelled around The Continent on a very beloved steed. But Roach was Geralt’s horse. Ciri needs her own mount, and luckily she has one. Kelpie is a black horse and we can see her in action for the first time in this tech demo. While Kelpie is new to the games, this horse has roots in The Witcher books. Originally belonging to a member of the Guild of Merchants named Hotspurn, Ciri took ownership of Kelpie when he died. Recognised as a magnificent horse wherever she goes, Kelpie’s best trick is that she can be summoned by rubbing a magical bracelet (it’s as if she were written to be a video game horse).

In the books, Kelpie is said to be able to jump over seven-foot-tall walls with ease. Anyone who’s played The Witcher 3 will tell you that’s an impossibility with Roach – he’s more likely to disappear and end up on a roof. And so all this begs the question: will Kelpie be easier and more enjoyable to control than Geralt’s old steed?

“No offense to Roach, but when you have this jank it can get you out of the immersion, that's for sure,” admits Tremblay. “We want [players] to explore the world with [Kelpie] as a companion and it has to be close to perfection, for sure.” New tech like Unreal’s multi-character motion matching should hopefully ensure riding Kelpie is a smooth experience.

Like so many of The Witcher’s creatures, Kelpie has a mythological connection. In Scottish folklore, a Kelpie is a shape-shifting water spirit that has the ability to disguise itself as a horse when on dry land. Could this name hint at Kelpie also being able to take Ciri across spans of water? We’ll just have to wait and see.

5. The Quest and The Manticore

As we’ve established, this showcase is a technical demonstration rather than a slice of the game, and so there’s not really a quest to see, at least not in the game sense of the word. But Kalemba wanted to ensure the demo had a sense of narrative running through it – this is CD Projekt Red, after all.

“The big challenge was how to make a tech demo, but in a way that we'll also be able to incorporate story and bits and pieces from this world,” he explains. “I love that narrative layer in this entire piece, [it] actually even helps to boost the technical achievements behind the entire demo.”

In that narrative layer, we see that Ciri has taken on a classic bit of Witcher work. She’s accepted a contract from a salt merchant to find his missing cargo and crew. Unluckily for him, both his salt and men are long gone. Luckily for Ciri, their grisly fate arrived via the blood-soaked jaws of a manticore. And, as we all know, killing monsters is exactly what Witchers are known for.

It’s a pleasant surprise to see a manticore in this demo. Production materials that were leaked during the development of The Witcher 3 suggested that manticores were planned to be part of Wild Hunt, but they were cut from the final game. While this tech demonstration is by no means confirmation of anything appearing in The Witcher 4, we at the very least have been able to see one of the beasts rendered in Unreal Engine 5. Hopefully we’ll get to fight it in the final version of the game.

Including this quest was important to Kalemba. “One of the common denominators between the writing [in the] books and the games is a cocktail of genres. It's a cocktail of experience,” he says. The reveal trailer shown at The Game Awards last year, he explains, was a more “grounded” experience that showed the ugly realities of living in the world of The Witcher. “Here you have this adventurous vibe, you know what I mean?”

6. Welcome to Valdrest, Population: Over 300

As Ciri adventures through Kovir, she returns to Valdrest, the port town that’s home to the trader who gave her the salt contract. It’s also home to over 300 other people, thanks to a whole host of tech optimisations and Unreal Engine’s new animation framework. That means larger, more realistic crowds – Novigrad will hopefully feel primitive in comparison.

Among the town’s population we see men, women, and children, a marketplace full of traders and guards, several dwarves, a few sex workers, entertainers, and a number of different animals, including a tamed bear. Perhaps most impressive is the variety of body types and unique animations on display; it feels like everyone is an individual, something emphasised by unique characteristics, such as a disabled man walking with a crutch, or a mother wrapping her arm around her child. It’s an example of Epic’s metahuman technology bringing ever-increasingly lifelike and varied characters to video games. Something that can also be seen in the way they interact with each other…

7. A Responsive, Living World

The NPCs in Valdrest are interesting for many reasons beyond just their visual variety. As Kalemba explained during the demo, “Notice how responsive the world is. Character actions directly affect what happens around you, sometimes even setting off chain reactions. Everything is working together.” We see this in action as Ciri bumps into a merchant carrying a crate of apples, which causes him to lose balance and drop his fruit all over the floor. The apples, fully rendered with physics, begin to roll down the hill. A nearby chicken, startled by the noise, clucks and flaps away.

We also see how NPCs can react to Ciri – upon spotting her, a guard says “Oh bugger, not her again,” and spits at Ciri as she walks past. It’s reactive behaviour like this that helps sell a Witcher’s shadowy reputation. Many people are prejudiced against these mutated monster hunters. “The idea is that there are physical interactions that when you get poked at, you get a reaction to it in a way that feels plausible to you,” says Johnson. “All of these things keep you in the world.”

There are a number of other cool events we see, such as a man being thrown out of a tavern (apparently for cheating at Gwent – does this mean our beloved card game will be back for another round?). It’s unclear if these behaviours are scripted or dynamic based on schedules or routines à la The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, and when asked, CD Projekt Red would not say what its ambitions were there. But the goal is a living, breathing world.

“For us, the world words we are creating, it's super important for us to actually make them as vivid and as believable as possible,” says Kapuściński. “Naturally behaving, properly looking NPCs are an important part of it. So yeah, we've proved that with previous games, and we're not aiming any lower than that.”

8. Seamless Cinematics

Because this is a technical demonstration and not actual gameplay, we didn’t see a lot of “game” – you’ll no doubt have noticed how the camera swung away from Ciri’s conversation with the merchant before any kind of dialogue system and UI could be shown. But what we did see is a vision of how dialogue sequences in The Witcher 4 will begin, and it’s completely seamless. The Witcher 3 featured brief loading screens as it transitioned from the gameplay camera to the cinematic camera, but all that’s gone now thanks to Unreal Engine’s tools. Now, as Ciri approaches the geographic trigger point for a dialogue – in this case, a balustrade – the camera automatically ‘unhooks’ itself from its regular game position behind Ciri and begins to frame the scene as required for the cinematic.

CD Projekt Red first achieved seamless game-to-cinematic transitions in Cyberpunk 2077, where it was vital to maintaining the first-person immersion. While things are a little different here, thanks to the third-person perspective, it’s cool to see the studio’s vision for keeping the experience flowing naturally.

9. A Small Gift for All Witcher Fans

Right at the end of the demo, Kalemba said that the demo was going to finish with “a small gift for all Witcher fans.” That gift was a first look at Lan Exeter.

While it is briefly mentioned by characters in both The Witcher 3 and its expansion, Blood and Wine, this is the first time we are seeing this grand city rendered for a video game. Lan Exeter is a port city in Kovir and the kingdom’s winter capital (there is also a summer capital, called Pont Vanis) that features in Andrzej Sapkowski’s Witcher books. With no pedestrian walkways, the only way to navigate Lan Exeter is via its canal network. Unsurprisingly, the city is essentially a wintry, fantasy Venice.

The Great Canal that runs through Lan Exeter leads to a number of important places, but the most important of them all is Ensenada Palace; the residence of the King of Kovir and Poviss. On the boat ride to the palace, a visitor would also be able to see the grand homes of many admirals and business magnates. It seems a sure bet that we’ll be visiting at least one or two of those estates when we visit Lan Exeter in The Witcher 4.

10. The Next Generation of Open World RPGs

As the demo draws to a close, Kalemba says, “I think what we’re doing together [with Epic Games] is going to bring in a new generation of open world RPGs.” But what exactly does that mean?

“For us, story [and] quest is always key,” says Tremblay. “And now with the immersion, we want people to experience this world, but the technology should not be in the way. We want people to feel like they belong to this world, they interact with the world, that they can experience the emotion of the character, feeling that they are connected to the story. With our partnership and all the tools we build and all the technology, I think it'll be yet another level for us going forward.”

“For us, we don't want to get in the way of artistic vision,” says Johnson. “We want everybody who uses Unreal Engine to come at the tools and the technology unburdened by what they imagine and believe that it can't do. We want [them] to come to the technology with a vision of ‘Here's what we want to achieve. We're going to dream big, and we hope that the engine moves out of our way as efficiently and effectively as possible and allows us to achieve it.’”

Matt Purslow is IGN's Senior Features Editor.

Summer officially starts in just a couple of weeks, the Nintendo Switch 2 drops this week, and PlayStation’s Days of Play sale is happening, so there’s a lot to be hyped about. If you’ve been looking to grab a new DualSense controller or want to prep for your Switch 2 pre-order with thumb grips and a screen protector, the discounts are big. Maybe you want to get a fun gift before Father’s Day on the 15th. Well, I found some deals on a LEGO kit, Blackstone Grill, and video game worth checking out.

TL;DR: Best Deals Today

Balmy nights are ahead of us, and there’s a great deal on an outdoor projector to enjoy movies under the stars. For those planning to take fun trips this summer, a security camera system for peace of mind while you're away is on sale, and you can score big savings on a portable charger to ensure you’re never without a charge when out on adventures. That’s not all, as there are plenty of savings to be had on a range of products. Check them out below:

Samsung SSD 9100 PRO 2TB

LEGO Marvel Captain America’s Shield

Arlo Pro 5S 2K Spotlight Camera 4-pack

NISOO Projector with WiFi and Bluetooth

One Beat Power Strip Surge Protector

The Day the Earth Blew Up - A Looney Tunes Movie Blu-ray

Nintendo Switch 2 Accessory Deals

Blackstone ProSeries 2-Burner 22" Griddle

Suikoden I & II HD Remastered

DualSense Controller Deals

PlayStation’s Days of Play sale continues, bringing some killer discounts on games and accessories. So, if you’ve been waiting to grab a new DualSense controller, now’s the time. A wide range of colors are all discounted below $60 for savings of $15 or more. These are the biggest deals we’ve seen this year on this wireless gamepad that’s comfortable to use, compatible with a range of gaming devices, and full of reliable controls.

Anker Zolo USB Power Bank

Modern mobile gaming has been around for nearly 20 years, and in that time we've seen it evolve from simple time-wasters into full-fledged console-quality experiences in the palm of your hand. Today, the mobile landscape is bigger than ever, dominated by free-to-play titles constantly competing for your attention.

When Apple Arcade launched in 2019, it set out to offer a premium alternative, delivering a curated library of games with no in-app purchases or ads. Since then, it has quietly become one of the best gaming subscription services available, with hundreds of high-quality titles included in the monthly fee.

Read on for a full breakdown of Apple Arcade, including standout games, supported devices, and how to activate the free trial.

Does Apple Arcade Have a Free Trial?

HP currently has the best prices on GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and RTX 5080 equipped gaming PCs thanks to a 20% off coupon code that works on a customizable prebuilt desktop configuration. The Omen 35L RTX 5070 Ti gaming PC starts at $1,655.99 shipped after you apply a 20% off coupon code: "LEVELUP20". Alternatively, the Omen 35L RTX 5080 RTX 5080 gaming PC starts at $1,975.99 shipped after you apply the same coupon. Both gaming PCs will be able to run pretty much any game currently released in 4K resolution at framerates of 60fps and beyond.

HP Omen 35L RTX 5070 Ti Gaming PC for $1,655.99

Bowflex isn't the only option when it comes to adjustable dumbbell sets. FitRX is another popular brand at a much lower price point. Right now, you can pick up a pair of FitRx Adjustable Dumbbells for only $196 (or a single dumbbell for $98). A comparable set of Bowflex 551 adjustable dumbbells costs more than double the price. Walmart even offers free shipping, which is great since the package weighs in at well over 100 pounds.

Pair of FitRX Adjustable Dumbbells (52.5lbs Each)

Finding the best gifts for everyone in your life can be tricky. If you're on the hunt for the best gifts for readers, however, it's a little easier. People who love books love book gifts, plain and simple.

Personally, I'm what you may consider a binge reader. I usually go through about three to five books per month, and if I find a new series I really like, that number will shoot up quickly. All of this reading means I can never have too many books and book accessories and I have a decent idea of what gifts readers will love. Below, I've outlined some of the most enticing book gift ideas I've found for 2025, including but not limited to the Kindle Paperwhite, bookends, book lights, and of course, a few books. As a dad myself I can honestly say any of these options would make a good Father's Day gift I would cherish.

Collectible Illustrated Editions

LEGO Book Nook Sets

LEGO just recently released a three new book nook sets that make for wonderful gifts. The concept of the book nook isn't exactly new, but it's a first for LEGO and they are actually really cool builds. So far there is a Lord of the Rings set, a Harry Potter set, and a Sherlock Holmes set available. Each one offers a glimpse into something iconic from those franchises and is specifically made to sit on your shelf among your books. My personal favorite out of all of these is the Hogwarts Express set because it can function as book nook or really cool set of bookends, but all three of them are wonderful in their own ways.

Popular Book Box Sets

A Good E-Reader

A Cool Set of Bookends

Must-Have Book Accessories

Looking for more gift ideas? We've gathered a ton of cool book acessories below. This includes things like bookmarks, reading lights, and other things that can improve the reading experience.

Jacob Kienlen is a Senior SEO Strategist and Writer for IGN. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he has considered the Northwest his home for his entire life. His expertise is spread across a variety of different topics -- from TV series to indie games and popular book series.

This year Father's Day lands on June 15. There's still plenty of time to shop around for a great gift for dad, and what better gift than a brand new iPad. Amazon has dropped the prices on a couple of the newest models ahead of this momentous of occasions. The Apple iPad, a March 2025 release, is down to $299 after a $50 off instant discount. Both 11" and 13" Apple iPad Air, also March 2025 releases, are down to $499 and $699, respectively, after a $100 off instant discount. Sizeable discounts on currently model iPads are relatively uncommon, so get in on this deal while it lasts.

$50 Off New 2025 Apple iPad 10.9" (A16) Tablet

For most people, the iPad (not the Air, Mini, or Pro) is the best model to get because it offers all the benefits of iOS as well as snappy performance at an affordable price. The current generation model was released on March 12, 2025, over two years after the previous generation (October 2022). The upgrades include a more powerful processor (A16 vs A14), more RAM (6GB vs 4GB), and more storage (128GB vs 64GB), all. Best of all, the launch price of $349 is actually lower than when the previous generation model was released, which was $399.

The specs that have carried over are the 10.9" Liquid Retina 2360x1640 (264ppi) display, USB Type-C charging, Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, and the same camera. It's also compatible with the Magic Folio keyboard so you can convert it into a mini laptop for better workflow, making it one of the best iPads for students, and the newer Apple Pencil with USB-C.

$100 Off the 2025 iPad Air M3 Tablet

Amazon is offering the 7th generation Apple iPad Air M3 tablets at the lowest prices I've seen so far. The 11" model is down to $499 and the 13" model is down to $699, both after a $100 off instant discount. That's the best price we've seen for this 2025 model with the M3 chip. The 7th gen iPad Pro Air was released in March and is the current generation model. It's only one year newer than the 6th gen model and the only major upgrade is the jump from the M2 to the M3 chip.

A Magnificent Life will open in theaters at a date TBD. This review is based on a screening at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.

Despite clocking in at a mere 90 minutes, the animated biopic A Magnificent Life captures a lifetime of personal and artistic struggles. Its story of French playwright and film innovator Marcel Pagnol bucks convention not only by taking delightful, hand-drawn form but by producing a pitch-perfect marriage between filmmaker and subject. It’s as much about its director, four-time Oscar nominee Sylvain Chomet, as it is Pagnol – two kindred spirits cutting a winding path back and forth across the decades.

Chomet’s thoughtful framing device introduces us to a 60-year-old Pagnol in 1955, hastily attempting to write an autobiographical essay whose deadline has long passed. Throughout A Magnificent Life, Pagnol is plagued by a challenge familiar to great artists and ordinary people alike: figuring out what he has to say. Fortunately, there’s another great artist in the director’s chair here. The plot Chomet comes up with feels like his own, satisfying answer to this dilemma, which initially takes shape as Pagnol speaking to a ghostly vision of his younger self.

As both Chomet and Pagnol search for ways to fit a rich portrait of a life into a relatively small frame, the young Marcel takes us back to the early 20th century. After the death of his mother, Pagnol leaves his rural hometown near Marseille to pursue his creative dreams in Paris. Chomet shows the bustling metropolis testing both his subject’s artistic mettle and his ability to stay true to his cultural roots, a tug-of-war that takes shape in dialogue about the bumbling hayseed caricatures in Pagnol’s plays retaining or losing their native Marseille accents. At times, Pagnol struggles with his accent too, while trying to fit in with the city’s artistic upper crust.

This might not mean much to non-French speakers, or those unfamiliar with regional French dialects, but the distinction is part of what makes A Magnificent Life unique. Some movies teach you how to watch them, but this one teaches you how to listen to it: Enough of the dialogue focuses on the specific nuances of how people in France speak – for instance, the “springiness” of the Marseille dialect – that your ear might eventually pick up on them. The difference can be heard in the English dub, too, where the Parisian characters speak with posh London accents, while characters from Marseille speak with a more sing-song, Welsh tonality. But even this localization seemingly has some consideration behind it: In the 1980s, Chomet moved from the French suburbs to London to start his animation career. It might be a small thing, but it makes the director’s personal connection to his tale of a transplanted artist even more apparent.

Pagnol’s story makes for a perfect mirror to Chomet’s: The former sought reality and emotional truth through exaggerations of speech and behavior, while the latter does so by exaggerating bodies and gestures. Chomet is perhaps best known for his dazzling 2003 animated feature The Triplets of Belleville, which established his signature, distorted sendups of the human form (including secret agents that would eventually influence the look of the Kingpin in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse). A Magnificent Life is composed of incredibly detailed backdrops painted with light and shadow, a true-to-life environment populated by larger-than-life characters with distinctly-shaped noses – Pagnol’s profile, for instance, is immediately recognizable – and wide, expressive eyes that betray a deep exhaustion and longing. Various locations within the film draw on the imagery of magazines and political cartoons from the time period, and footage from Pagnol’s live-action films play for eager animated audiences – brilliant traces of an unfamiliar world (and unfamiliar proportions) bleeding into the frame.

This contrast yields an intriguing magical realism at times, like when Pagnol reads letters from his late mother – a force of encouragement, long missing from his daily life – and imagines her physical presence within the paper. A Magnificent Life exists along the border separating fact from fiction and Chomet’s life from Pagnol’s, a line as fragile as the one the movie walks by imagining Marcel as the unseen hand behind coincidental, perhaps even fated meetings that influence his older self’s success. The impish, Peter Pan-like figure’s significance diminishes as A Magnificent Life goes on; dismissing this glowing metaphor for pure artistry as a product of naivete is its one major slip-up. Fortunately, none of that detracts from the deeply imaginative and incandescent way Chomet has captured the enduring quest for inspiration.

I don’t think I’ve hungered for a game this year as much as Holstin. This survival-horror immediately caught my eye with its gorgeous pixel art, perspective-shifting gameplay, and eerie Polish setting.

So I felt super lucky to get hands-on with an all-new, two-hour PC demo, sliced right out of Holstin’s ominous beginnings. While the previous Steam demo captured Holstin’s “feel” through mocked-up puzzles and a firing-range weapons tutorial, this new build puts it all together with a meaty (pun intended) story.

My friends, you’ve gotta keep an eye on Holstin – here are a few reasons why.

#1: “Disgusting” Has Never Looked So Good

It’s the first thing you’ll notice – Holstin is really, really good-looking, right from your sudden drop into a dilapidated train station overgrown with some weird, pulsing yellow substance. The art looks already great in screenshots, but you need to see and feel Holstin in motion to truly understand what an accomplishment these graphics are. Even the title screen is amazing.

What looks like 2D top-down pixel art becomes truly impressive 3D once you learn that you can move the camera around, with slick, seamless transitions through eight different angles. Even if you’re aware of this before you begin playing, swinging around for the first time is honestly one of Holstin’s most surprising moments – yes, right up there with enemy encounters!

(As a side note, the top-down movement in Holstin lends itself really well to twin-stick action on a controller, but it plays perfectly on mouse and keyboard as well.)

While most players won't necessarily be choosing Holstin because of its technical proficiency, it’s what really makes this aesthetic work. There’s a reason why graphics like this aren’t manifold in the industry – it’s built on the studio’s custom in-house technology, which makes it likely to cement Holstin as a standout game graphically.

#2: Mind-Blowing Perspectives

Okay, so you can spin that third-person, top-down camera around and view the world from multiple angles – but that’s not just an awesome-looking gimmick. Those angles go hand-in-hand with Holstin’s environmental puzzles. If you’re not looking behind boxes or checking around corners to find alleys, you may – and probably will – miss things that will help you find your path forward in Holstin’s strange world.

But wait! There’s more!

There are aggressive mutated people everywhere. That means you need to shoot them. But unlike other twin-stick shooters, you won’t be staying in that fixed-camera view to ready your sights. Entering aim mode transitions you into an over-the-shoulder third-person view, freeing your camera to enable pinpoint precision for your headshots.

These two very different views really add to the suspense – for instance, while in top-down view, you might miss the enemy lurking quietly around a corner. I found myself constantly on my guard, switching between both viewpoints even out of combat. (And sometimes even that didn’t save me from being pounced on and grappled down by some grisly horror of a human.) The only part of combat that initially confused me was melee, as that isn’t in aim mode – but I got used to it quickly.

Holstin plays with other camera perspectives too, though more for atmosphere than for gameplay reasons. Think: a god’s-eye view in an eerily silent, unpopulated area. Your cursor disappears, suddenly removing your primary sense of defense. You might not be switching into aim mode here, but you’ll sure feel like some ominous force is watching your every move.

#3: Meat, Tentacles, and Gore Galore

Survival horror fans will want to know how gruesome the strange environment can get, but don’t worry – the squelchy mainstays of the genre are definitely represented in Holstin. The overall goal in this demo is to find your way to a slaughterhouse, after all.

The town’s dissolution into its kind of otherworld first emerges in the form of “Plasmodium,” the aforementioned yellow substance. At first, it looks like someone went wild with foam spray – but when you approach, tentacles will rise and wiggle at you. Are they saying hi or taunting you? Either way, it’s suitably icky and adds to a pervading sense of unease.

And then there are the mutant enemies. Imagine glowing orange orbs taking over your body, their tendrils taking the place of your tendons. Imagine those same orbs buried in the Plasmodium, which slowly spreads through streets and parks like an aggressive, menacing fungus.

Something I also found unsettling was the implied gore. While you don’t see the actual slaughterhouse in this demo, you will learn how it figures into the overall narrative through conversational dialogue and scribbled scraps scattered through the world. Something wicked is going on in that place, and you know it’s not going to be pretty when you finally get there.

#4: Adventure Gaming Puzzles That Don’t Suck

As a gamer who grew up with classic point-and-click adventures, I was very impressed by Holstin’s approach to its puzzles. Maybe I’m getting old and crotchety, but I’ve been disappointed in recent years with how linear puzzling has become in adventure-adjacent games. Receive an objective, figure out how to solve the objective, then receive the next objective.

Though Holstin is strongly narrative-driven, it never feels like a linear story with disparate puzzles slapped on top. In fact, I’d almost forgotten how challenging a well-designed puzzle tree can be. In Holstin, you won’t be completing objectives in the order they’re listed. You can work on multiple objectives at once, and figuring out which are solvable in any given moment is almost a puzzle in itself. You might have to retrace your steps, which feels realistic (like searching your house thrice for your car keys).

And as for the puzzles themselves – they make sense (well, as much as something can make sense in this mad world). Survival horror fans are all familiar with some of the genre’s most inane challenges – ranging from the dreaded sliding puzzle through to needing an intimate knowledge of Shakespeare to shelve books correctly in order to obtain a door code (*cough* Silent Hill *cough*).

None of that nonsense here. Holstin’s asks of you are simple: How are you going to get this trapdoor open? What twisting path through town will you need to forge in order to reach the playground? How you solve these problems feels organic, and really encourages you to explore your environs thoroughly.

#5: 1990s Poland Is a Trip

The Polish setting forms the bones of quite a specific – and unique – narrative. It’s not exactly a great tourism ad for Poland, but even covered with the weird tentacled Plasmodium, the town of Jeziorne-Kolonia still feels like a distinctly foreign experience compared to other games set in more vague locations.

This demo only has Polish voiceover, and as an English speaker myself, I found that this added to the believability and atmosphere – like watching a foreign flick. Though I don’t have the context of how the Polish language is structured, the voice acting sounded dead-on.

There’s the suicidal woman, her voice filled with defeat as she hands her gun over to you. The large, childlike man, squealing, talking in riddles, and just one plot twist away from losing it entirely. The cast of weirdos here is a lot wider than your usual survival-horror game – but their convincing creepiness doesn’t detract from the suspense at all. (I sure wished they would help me out in combat, though.)

And while Holstin set in the 1990s, it’s not exactly boy bands and GeoCities. For instance, your save checkpoints are decrepit-looking phone booths – and you’ll need to find physical telephone cards to actually make your save (just like the real-life anachronism of digging for change to do your laundry). Our hero Tomasz definitely does not have a cell phone for tracking objectives. Expect all the inconveniences in the pre-internet era – yet another stumbling block in your strange journey through this horrifying town.

All in all, this demo honestly blew me away – and I say that very rarely of any game. If the rest of Holstin is as polished and carefully crafted, it will be considered a survival horror classic in a decade’s time. I’m that impressed by what I’ve seen and played of it so far.

For a very limited time, HP is offering its newest and most powerful gaming laptop at a pretty hefty discount. The Omen Max 16 GeForce RTX 5090 Gaming Laptop drops to just $2,879.99 with free shipping when you apply 20% off coupon code "LEVELUP20". That's the best price for an RTX 5090 gaming laptop anywhere by at least $700. The RTX 5090 is currently the most powerful mobile GPU available with tons of VRAM and DLSS 4 support.

HP Omen Max 16" RTX 5090 Gaming Laptop for $2,880

Friends, loved ones, and fellow actors have gathered to remember actor Jonathan Joss after he was fatally shot June 1, 2025.

Social media users were sent into shock when it was announced that Joss had been killed Sunday, June 1, following a violent altercation with a neighbor. TMZ reported at the time that a heated argument eventually resulted in the neighbor pulling out a gun and shooting the King of the Hill and True Grit actor several times, resulting in his death. He was 59.

Hermano im hurting bad right now…but to see how much you were loved is 🥲❤️ I’ll always cherish our memories together. I pray you’re at peace. You’ll forever be in my heart Jonathan. I love you man always. I’ll catch up to you on that side later 🫂 #JonathanJoss #JohnRedcorn pic.twitter.com/QR2GMmwSRY

— Frankie (@Frankieee_SVT) June 2, 2025

Cast members from NBC’s Parks and Recreation, a show Joss appeared in multiple episodes of throughout the 2010s, are among those mourning. Included are Chris Pratt and Nick Offerman, who both shared statements regarding the actor’s passing, with Pratt posting his message on Instagram.

“Damn. RIP Jonathan,” Pratt said. “Always such a kind dude. He played Ken Hotate in Parks and was also in [The Magnificent Seven]. Sad to see. Prayers up. Hug your loved ones.”

Offerman, meanwhile, touched on how the Parks and Recreation cast has reacted to the news with a statement sent to People. He says losing Joss was a topic on their minds all day yesterday, June 2.

“The cast has been texting together about it all day and we’re just heartbroken,” Offerman said in his statement. “Jonathan was such a sweet guy and we loved having him as our Chief Ken Hotate. A terrible tragedy.”

Rest in peace, Jonathan Joss pic.twitter.com/ii9JgjKjHZ

— kingofthehill (@kingofthehill) June 3, 2025

Joss’ husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, shared a statement on Facebook regarding the incident that led to the actor’s murder. He says he and Joss had been victims of homophobic harassment for two years and that these threats were followed by their former home being burned down. Gonzales says the threats were reported to law enforcement “multiple times and nothing was done.” He adds that the act was carried out by a man who was “yelling violent homophobic slurs” at the couple while they were checking the mail at their former home.

"To everyone who supported him, his fans, his friends, know that he valued you deeply," Gonzales said. "He saw you as family. My focus now is on protecting Jonathan’s legacy and honoring the life we built together."

A suspect in the investigation, Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, was taken into custody and charged with murder following the altercation. The San Antonio Police Department X/Twitter account has since shared it “has found no evidence to indicate that the Mr. Joss’s murder was related to his sexual orientation.” An investigation is ongoing.

Tributes to Joss continue to fill social media feeds following his passing. While some share memories of brief interactions with the movie and TV star, others are telling stories of his kindness.

Jonathan Joss and I were mutuals (still are) back when he was active here, he was a very kind man! He sent me a signed sexy John Redcorn pic, and threw in a signed Ken Hotate pic just cause that's the kind of cool-loving, giving person he was. A true light in this dark world. 🕯 https://t.co/TfRhsOoGen pic.twitter.com/YX6abiU4wt

— Ghost Host (@TheGhostHost) June 2, 2025

RIP Jonathan Joss pic.twitter.com/QxaVQA43pm

— adult swim (@adultswim) June 2, 2025

The murder of Jonathan Joss is so deeply sad and infuriating, such a wonderful actor cut down just because of who he was. Impossible to deny that the most hateful have been emboldened to do the very worst, terrible country we have built

— Mr. Chau (@Srirachachau) June 2, 2025

Photo by Ben Cohen/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images.

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).

Warning: This article contains full spoilers for Doctor Who Season 15.

With the latest season of Doctor Who now complete, we can look back and examine the entirety of the Fifteenth Doctor’s era. You didn’t read that wrong, by the way. Ncuti Gatwa’s time as the Doctor is officially over. Despite earlier comments from Gatwa that indicated he was intending to continue on for a third season, the Season 15 finale, “The Reality War,” ended on Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor regenerating into none other than Billie Piper, best known to franchise fans as Rose Tyler, the first companion of the modern era. It was a shocking moment for longtime viewers, but perhaps not in the way the show’s production team intended.

While it’s not entirely clear yet if Piper is actually playing the Sixteenth Doctor–the fact that the end credits don’t refer to Piper as “The Doctor” in accordance with convention has raised many an eyebrow–the reveal has landed with a thud for critics and audiences. In his review of the finale, IGN’s Robert Anderson said Piper’s appearance is a “hastily thrown-together pause button while the future of Doctor Who gets quietly reshuffled.” But it also speaks to how the show ended Gatwa’s tenure far before his time, in what appears to be a knee-jerk response to fandom backlash. Let’s take a look at why Doctor Who gave up on the Fifteenth Doctor too soon.

Lost in Space and Time

To say the last several years of Doctor Who have been a roller coaster would be something of an understatement. Chris Chibnall taking over as the third modern-era showrunner (after Steven Moffat) followed up a divisive run with a total travesty, despite the best efforts of Thirteenth Doctor actress Jodie Whittaker. Russell T. Davies, who launched the modern era, was recruited to return to the role of showrunner after Chibnall, and Ncuti Gatwa was announced as Whittaker’s successor, only for Thirteen to regenerate into yet another incarnation played by David Tennant. Three specials and one lore-questionable bi-generation later, and we finally received the Fifteenth Doctor, only for his run to meet with mixed reception from fans, some of whom felt the new era didn’t live up to Davies’ first tenure.

Opinions on Season 14 vary, but at least for me, I found it to be the return to form the series had desperately needed for years. Gatwa’s take on the Doctor and his dynamic with companion Ruby Sunday led to a mostly solid string of episodes, culminating in climactic fashion with the return of Sutekh, one of the Doctor’s all-time greatest enemies. Sadly, the series’ renewed creative spark rapidly drained away in Season 15, which is largely a collection of ill-conceived adventures missing a sense of focus. This is rather strange since the season has two main throughlines: the Doctor trying to get new companion Belinda Chandra back to an Earth he doesn’t know is destroyed, and the mystery identity of the recurring character Mrs. Flood.

The two wind up being connected, with Mrs. Flood being an incarnation of Classic Who villain The Rani, who is behind the destruction of Earth. Yet although these subplots are threaded through the whole season, the payoff still doesn’t feel like it has enough foundation. The Rani is poorly defined in her appearances here, and is defeated so quickly as to come off utterly ineffectual. Tying in another Classic Who antagonist in Omega also falls flat because he has so little screentime and doesn’t look anything like his old self. Everything about the two-part final story is just off, with every element somehow rushed or shortchanged, adding up to a confused mess of ideas with no fixed point of reference. That goes double for the regeneration, which lacks the gravity such a supposedly giant moment deserves.

A Rushed Regeneration

As it stands, “The Reality War” doesn’t feel like a regeneration story. Although the stakes are appropriately high with the Rani threatening the entire planet, the episode shifts focus in the back half to the Doctor trying to save Poppy, the child of the Doctor and Belinda who was wished into existence as a side effect of the Rani’s plan. Setting aside the weirdness of a familial connection between the Doctor and Belinda (even if it turned out to be fake), setting so much narrative weight on Poppy fails because the audience hasn’t spent enough time with her to be invested in her fate. Poppy is an abstraction, something the story assumes we care about because she’s a kid. So the Doctor shifts reality to save her, at the cost of his own life.

This change in what the episode is about makes the finale feel like two episodes in one. The villains are defeated ridiculously quickly to make room for an excuse for the Doctor to regenerate. Given Gatwa’s previously mentioned comments hinting at a third season, it appears parts of “The Reality War” were reshot to accommodate the regeneration. There’s simply not enough build-up to it, and what felt like the story of the Doctor trying to set Belinda’s life right across the season by getting her home was swept away at the last second for the Doctor trying to rescue Poppy. Belinda barely registers in the finale, with her entire motivation and personality changing into an all-consuming devotion to Poppy, to the point of the Doctor altering reality with his regeneration energy to make Poppy her biological daughter.

The regeneration doesn’t feel motivated either in-universe or out. It’s contrived as a story device, but it also feels unpleasant as a production one. Ncuti Gatwa, the first actor of color to play the Doctor as the show’s lead, is also the first one since Christopher Eccleston to not receive at least three seasons. These are shorter seasons on top of it, with eight episodes and one special apiece, meaning Gatwa’s entire tenure is a mere 18 episodes. Him being rushed out the door so quickly and being replaced by a blonde white woman who has already been extensively featured on the show would come across as comical if the optics weren’t also so cynical. If Billie Piper is indeed our Sixteenth Doctor, then not only is the show engaging in Disney Star Wars-level nostalgia bait, it’s also one foot into some rather murky ethical waters.

Paying the Piper

I say this with nothing but love for Billie Piper and her work as Rose Tyler: her time as part of Doctor Who should have stayed in the past. Rose is a great character, but she had a fairly definitive ending in the Season 2 finale, “Doomsday.” Her forced separation from the Doctor and arrival in an alternate reality where her father is alive but she can’t be with her true love was tragic and emotional in all the right ways. It’s still one of the best season finales the show has ever done. Yet Rose has slipped back into the show several times, from recurring guest appearances in Season 4 that led to her getting a consolation prize in the Meta-Crisis Doctor, her playing The Moment in “The Day of the Doctor,” and now potentially being the Sixteenth Doctor.

Quite frankly, it’s too much. Every subsequent Rose appearance after “Doomsday” dilutes that episode’s power, all for the sake of trying to please fans. And at a moment in time where the fandom is incredibly divided on Davies’ second era as showrunner, having Piper return feels like hitting an emergency button. Davies was already entering questionable territory with the return of David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor, although that was largely smoothed over by finally giving his Doctor and Donna Noble the happy ending they deserved in “The Giggle” after the unsatisfying conclusion to their relationship in “Journey’s End.” Bringing back Piper is a clear attempt to recapture the love the audience had for Davies’ first tenure, rather than building something new audiences could love about his current one.

Ncuti Gatwa was an excellent Doctor. He and Jodie Whittaker both gave great performances that elevated some of the shaky scripts they were handed, which is what made their scene together in “The Reality War” such a joy to watch. It’s also a reminder that there was no good reason to not try to rally and give Gatwa a solid third season so he could go out on a high note. Even with all the missed opportunities this season like the dropped idea of Belinda as a hesitant companion, the return of the Rani and Omega, the underuse of Ruby Sunday, and the Fifteenth Doctor never battling the Daleks, Davies and company should have stuck to their guns.

Instead, our next Doctor (barring a massive swerve) looks to be a hollow echo of a great character from decades ago. It’s a crystallization of the existential crisis the show has been in since the Moffat era, which felt like the last time Doctor Who knew what it wanted to be. The future of Doctor Who should always be an exciting new path. Instead, this feels far more like a surrender.

Carlos Morales writes novels, articles and Mass Effect essays. You can follow his fixations on Twitter.

The newest Apple Watch has dropped down to the lowest price we've seen. Well ahead of Father's Day, which lands on June 15 this year, you can pick up a 42mm Apple Watch Series 10 for only $299 - 25% off its $399 list price - or the bigger 46mm model for $329 - 23% off its $429 list price. If you own an iPhone, the Apple Watch is indisputably the best smartwatch for you. It's stylish, boasts excellent build quality, excels as both a fitness tracker and smartwatch, and seamlessly integrates with your iPhone.

Apple Watch Series 10 From $299

PlayStation is gearing up for an over 40-minute State of Play tomorrow, June 4, and it promises to give a glimpse of the future of PS5.

We here at IGN will be carrying the stream, and this guide will fill you in on everything you need to know about the State of Play and what to expect to ensure you don't miss a thing.

PlayStation State of Play June 2025 Start Time

This new State of Play will take place on June 4 at 2pm PT/5pm ET/11pm CEST and will run for over 40 minutes.

We here at IGN will be hosting both a pre-show 30 minutes before the State of Play (1:30pm PT/4:30pm ET/10:30pm CEST) and a post-show following the presentation to recap all the big news, trailers, reveals, and more.

Where to Watch the PlayStation State of Play June 2025

If you’re interested in watching the upcoming PlayStation State of Play, we’ll host the stream here and across our many channels like YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and more. Here’s the full list of places you can watch the show with us:

• IGN.com (homepage)
• IGN's Facebook Channel
• IGN’s Twitter
• IGN's Twitch Channel
• IGN’s Youtube Channel
• IGN's iOS App
• IGN's Android App
• IGN's PlayStation 4 App
• IGN's Xbox One App
• Roku
• IGN App for Android TV
• IGN for Amazon Fire TV
• Apple TV
• IGN 1 on Samsung TV Plus
• Pluto TV
• Plex Live TV

What to Expect from the PlayStation State of Play 2025

Beyond saying we'll be getting "news and updates on must-play games coming to PS5" from "creators across the globe," Sony has given us no hint as to which titles will be featured in this State of Play. If we look at the upcoming schedule for PS5, however, we can guess as to what big names just may show up.

In 2025, PS5 owners have plenty of games to look forward to, including Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, ARC Raiders, Ghost of Yōtei, Hell Is Us, Lost Soul Aside, Ninja Gaiden 4, Little Nightmares III, Where Winds Meet, Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater, Borderlands 4, Directive 8020, Forever Skies, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, MindsEye, Mafia: The Old Country, and many more.

There are also plenty of chances for new games to surprise us or little-known about games to reappear, including Insomniac's Wolverine game, what's next from God of War's Sony Santa Monica, Days Gone's Bend studio, Horizon Forbidden West's Guerrilla Games, and maybe even the third part of Final Fantasy VII Remake.

Anything is possible, but it's also important to keep expectations in check. While you wait, you can also check out our recap of February's State of Play to potentially get an idea of what to expect, as that show featured the big reveal of Housemarq's Saros, release dates for Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater and Borderlands 4, a look at Onimusha: Way of the Sword's protagonist, and more.

For more, check out everything else you can expect from this Summer of Gaming that is just getting underway and all the details on IGN Live, which is set to kick off on June 7!

Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst, Instagram, and TikTok, and listen to his show, Talking Disney Magic.

For the past two years, LEGO has been furthering its most ambitious project to date: a minifigure-scaled depiction of Hogwarts Castle, made famous by the Harry Potter franchise. The castle is still a work in progress, and will be made up of a bunch of other stand-alone sets that are sold separately. The first major set, the Great Hall, came out in Fall 2024.

The Main Tower, out now, is the second major set in this interlocking system, which also includes an assortment of ancillary buildings and classrooms sold separately, such as Hogwarts Castle: Potions Class (Set #76431), Hogwarts Castle Owlery (Set #76430), Hogwarts Castle: Flying Lessons (Set #76447), and Hogwarts Castle Boathouse (Set #76426).

But the Main Tower also works as an independent playset, especially if you're a fan of the first book and its movie adaptation, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

The Main Tower, like the Great Hall before it, opens in the back to reveal a number of rooms and dioramas that depict the movies' events. The bottom-most rooms, which you build first, are underground chambers that lead to the Sorcerer's Stone. From left to right, you have the Devil's Snare room, then the Flying Keys room, and then the massive Chess Set room.

Each room has interactive, movable elements. The Devil's Snare flips up or down from the room's ceiling via a cleverly disguised switch that's built into the rock facade. The Flying Keys rotate on a pedestal to create the impression of flight. And the giant pieces on the Chess Set are independent and movable.

You get LEGO minifigures for Harry, Hermione, and Ron, which is good – these rooms look their best when the trio is directly interacting with them. LEGO did not design this part of the castle with functionality and facility in mind; each room depicts a specific book scene, rather than functioning as a neutral roleplay area for new scenarios. In addition to the trio, the set contains nine more LEGO minifigures for a total of 12: Neville Longbottom, Dean Thomas, Marcus Flint, Percy Weasley, Ernie Macmillan, Lisa Turpin, Professor Dumbledore, Professor Kettleburn, and Nearly Headless Nick.

Directly above the Devil's Snare room is Fluffy, Hagrid's three-headed dog. He's lying on top of a trap door, which opens to reveal the underground chambers. In the back-right corner of Fluffy's room is a harp, which Professor Quirrel plays to put Fluffy to sleep. The harp's design is especially creative; two separate builds come together on hinges to create the instrument's signature shape. A door opens on the right-hand side, which leads into a narrow hallway, which in turn leads to a balcony/vista on the building's exterior.

Above Fluffy's room is the Gryffindor common room, decked out in its signature red and gold trimmings. It includes a bedroom with two beds, and to the right of it, two easy chairs and a fireplace. The floor is uneven, so that the living room appears sunken into a well in the floor, which gives the room a more intimate, cozy feeling.

All of these individual rooms are separate builds with separate instruction booklets, which means that if you want to build with a partner, or a friend, or as one half of a father-son team (as I did), you can easily merge and stack your seperate elements together after they're complete. The rooms are mounted on one another via a handful of connection points, which means they are easily separable from one another. If you need more room to pose scenes or individually play with the set's different components, this gives you easier access. Typically, sets of this complexity and magnitude are 18+ in age range. But the Main Tower and all the other Hogwarts Castle sets are 10+, which means they straddle the line between play and display a bit more evenly.

You build a roof over these elements, and then you build the actual Main Tower. It stacks five rooms. one on top of the other. The first three rooms contain the iconic Hogwarts moving staircases, designed by Rowena Ravenclaw herself. Two of them are mounted onto rotating platforms, allowing them to pivot. Portraits hang on the walls. On the third floor is a gargoyle, which guards the secret entryway to Professor Dumbledore's office.

The aforementioned office is on the fourth floor. It's covered with portraits of former Headmasters, and it's stuffed with the various magical knick knacks that make it so interesting to read about and watch on screen. To the right of Dumbledore's desk is the sword of Godric Gryffindor and the Pensieve. To the left of the desk is the Sorting Hat, complete with a mouth near its brim. Dumbledore's office is probably my favorite part of the set. It's furnished beautifully and it provides an excellent place for Harry and Dumbledore to have their evening lessons together.

Lastly, you build the massive spire that caps the tower, and inside the spire is the fifth and final room containing the Mirror of Erised. The mirror mounts on a rotating platform, which allows you to swap two different images. On one side is Harry with his mother and father. On the other side is Harry holding the Sorcerer's Stone.

The Main Tower's size is impressive; it's over two feet in height, from the bottom of the rock facade to the peak of the tower itself. And when you merge it with the Great Hall, it's even more impressive; the two sets combine to form a seamless exterior facade. The interiors, taken together, are even more impressive – it's a sensory overload to see all these iconic Hogwarts scenes in such a small amount of space.

There's not much more to say, other than this: I want to see more. The last time LEGO created a massive Hogwarts Castle, it felt a bit cobbled together after the fact. There was no "official" way to put it all together, and fans resorted to squinting at promotional materials to figure out the best way to assemble all the sets together.

But this go-around? It feels like there's a master plan; I strongly suspect there's a "complete" Hogwarts Castle somewhere in LEGO headquarters, whether in physical form or on a hard drive. The designers are not 'winging it' – they have a final result, however rough, that they're working towards.

It's going to take them years to get there. But if the LEGO designers maintain this level of detail and see it all the way through? It's going to be an unparalleled achievement. To be continued.

LEGO Hogwarts Castle: The Main Tower, Set #76454, retails for $259.99, and it is composed of 2135 pieces. It is available now.

Interested in more LEGO? Check out our roundup of the best Harry Potter sets. And stay tuned – we'll be publishing a completist's buying guide for the modular LEGO Hogwarts Castle later this week.

Kevin Wong is a contributing freelancer for IGN, specializing in LEGO. He's also been published in Complex, Engadget, Gamespot, Kotaku, and more. Follow him on Twitter at @kevinjameswong.

Ryan Coogler just doesn’t miss. As Eric Goldman’s review for IGN explains: “After proving he’s one of the best there is at directing a boxing film and a superhero movie, Coogler tries his hand at horror with the vampire period piece Sinners. And guess what? It turns out he’s great at that genre too.” Sinners released in theaters on April 18, and has since achieved the killer combination of box-office success and critical acclaim.

While I highly recommend watching Sinners on the largest screen you can find – let Coogler himself explain why – a full trip to the theaters isn’t always in the cards. For those who’ve been waiting to watch the vampire movie in the comfort of their own home, Sinners is now available to rent or buy on digital.

Sinners Arrives on Digital

If you've got a Switch 2 preorder coming in hot and you want to expand the storage capacity right off the bat, then Walmart has a deal that you don't want to miss. For a very limited time, the Onn 256GB Micro SDXC Express Card is back in stock at a rock bottom price of $35.99. This listing went up in May, but I haven't seen it in stock for shipping until today. As a comparison, the official Samsung 256GB MicroSDXC Express card is currently listed for $59.99 at Target.

Update: This deal might not be available for delivery for all zip codes. You can still choose in-store pickup.

Onn 256GB MicroSDXC Express Memory Card for $35.99

Nintendo Switch 2 Compatible

Resolution Games has revealed a debut gameplay trailer for Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked, and confirmed a late 2025 release window and launch platforms.

Resolution Games, best known for digital fantasy tabletop adventure Demeo, is working with Wizards of the Coast on the first virtual reality game set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, called Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked. It’s due out on PC via Steam, and PlayStation 5, with a VR version available on PlayStation VR2, Steam VR, and Meta Quest 3.

Battlemarked adapts D&D classes, actions, and lore to Resolution Games’ Demeo action role-playing system, which is DM-less and focuses on social strategy rather than social roleplay. This, Resolution Games said, encourages group tabletalk focused on tactics and decision-making.

“While the world of Demeo is rich with lore, our previous titles focus primarily on tactical action over motivation and narrative,” said Tommy Palm, founder and CEO of Resolution Games.

Resolution Games is working with story designer Matt Sernett as the project’s narrative lead. Sernett previously worked as a designer of the Dungeons & Dragons tabletop game and contributed to Dungeons & Dragons video games including Baldur’s Gate, Baldur’s Gate 2, and Icewind Dale.

“When Dungeons & Dragons launched fifth edition back in 2014, the first adventure that many players went on ventured into Neverwinter Wood, and I can think of no place better for Battlemarked players to begin their journey,” said Sernett.

“The first adventure in Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked will take players to familiar locations including Cragmaw Castle and Mount Hotenow. The world of D&D is just as much a part of the story as its characters, and we can’t wait for players to immerse themselves in its dangers and delights.”

Battlemarked’s second adventure, which will be included at launch, will be revealed later this year.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

IGN can exclusively reveal that WOW - Women of Wrestling is gearing up to release its first-ever collectible card game, and it will feature such fan-favorite WOW Superheroes as Chainsaw, The Beast, Penelope Pink, Kandi Krush, Gloria Glitter, Tormenta, Ariel Sky, Americana, Princess Aussie, Jessie Jones, and Abilene Maverick.

WOW: The Card Game, which can be pre-ordered now, promises to bring “strategic gameplay, character customization, and head-to-head competition to the tabletop for those who love mind games, big combos, and bold personalities.”

WOW: The Card Game will initially feature over 141 unique cards, which will all be brought to life with custom art and “action-packed scenarios.” Alongside the 11 WOW Superheroes mentioned above, there will also be cards that will serve as Power-Ups, Finishing Moves, and Signature Taunts.

As for the game itself, it is designed for 2-4 players and is intended for players over the age of nine. It aims to recreate the feeling of WOW with “dynamic gameplay mechanics that mirror the drama of the ring - from high-flying comebacks to stunning upsets.”

“Now, fans can feel the thrill of the ring and build their own rivalries right at home,” said David McLane, co-founder of WOW. “This card game celebrates the strength, spirit, and spectacle that our Superheroes bring to the ring every week.”

WOW - Women of Wrestling was started in 2000 and is owned by McLane and Los Angeles Lakers owner/president Jeanie Buss. WOW has live events and is in weekly syndication across the U.S. and on VICE TV. Pluto TV has a dedicated channel with all episodes from the first three seasons. The mission of WOW is “centered 24/7 around empowering and uplifting women and fans around the world.”

Also, If you're a fan of WOW - Women of Wrestling, see some of your favorite wrestlers in person at IGN Live June 7-8 in Los Angeles.

Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst, Instagram, and TikTok, and listen to his show, Talking Disney Magic.

Elden Ring Nightreign shares quite a bit with its predecessor Elden Ring, from its gameplay to its lore and history. It also seems to carry some of its technical nuances, according to a new breakdown from the tech experts at Digital Foundry.

Digital Foundry published an analysis of the tech details behind FromSoftware's latest, and while Nightreign remixes a lot of what Elden Ring was into something new, it sounds like the state of Nightreign's technology is fairly reminiscent of Elden Ring's.

"This is really nothing new to those familiar with FromSoftware's Elden Ring engine, and how it operates on consoles," wrote Digital Foundry's Thomas Morgan.

Digital Foundry characterized the optimization for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles as "disappointing," as Nightreign continues to "often fall short of a target 60 frames per second while exploring." Additionally, the tech analyst noted there's no listed support for PlayStation 5 Pro, which bore out in tests, meaning the PS5 Pro is just running the base PS5 code with no additional modes or optimizations.

I recommend visiting Digital Foundry for the full numbers breakdown, as there's quite a bit to go through, but all of it is best summed-up by Morgan here: "Ultimately, using the quality mode makes no practical sense on any console." The base PS5 typically hovers in a lower 30-45 frames per second range in this mode, compared to a 40-60 range on the framerate mode, and the Xbox consoles mirroring similar gaps.

While the PS5 Pro seems to benefit from having a little extra horsepower to run Nightreign, there are still "lurches" while exploring the world that stuck out to Digital Foundry. The article concludes by saying there's "so much left to be desired on the technical front" when it comes to Elden Ring Nightreign, as 60 frames per second performance on consoles is "all too often out of reach."

In other Elden Ring Nightreign news, FromSoftware has confirmed further updates in the pipeline for the co-op exprience, including tougher versions of existing Nightlords and a Duos mode somewhere down the line. This news arrives alongside confirmation that Elden Ring Nightreign has cleared the 3.5 million sales mark.

We’ve got plenty of Nightreign tips and tricks to help you take down all the eight Nightlord Bosses, and if you’re wondering how to unlock the two locked Nightfarer Classes, check out How to Unlock the Revenant and How to Unlock the Duchess, plus How to Change Characters.

Eric is a freelance writer for IGN.

Marvel had no choice but to spoil the appearance of Red Hulk in trailers for Captain America: Brave New World, the film's director has insisted — despite many fans believing the villain should have been kept under wraps.

Red Hulk, the angry alter ego of Harrison Ford's character President Thaddeus 'Thunderbolt' Ross, only appears late in the film's final act, following a lengthy build-up and moments where it feels like Ross will keep his gamma radiation-fueled temper under control.

Among plenty of other criticsm for Brave New World — widely-considered a pretty bland MCU entry — fans have said Red Hulk's inclusion within trailers not only spoiled the surprise of his appearance, but also oversold the character's presence in the film.

Now, however, Brave New World director Julius Onah said Marvel had to show Red Hulk ahead of the film's release, as the villain's appearance would have leaked regardless.

"When you're making a movie like this, an announcement goes out that Harrison Ford is going to play Thaddeus Ross, and you have a fandom as massive and as passionate as the MCU fandom is, you're toast at that point, you know?" Onah told Empire.

"In a perfect-case scenario, it would have been awesome [if ] that [had been] an in-theatre surprise, but I think it would have been very difficult," he continued. "Somewhere along the way, a toy would have been found, or somebody would have leaked a trailer. It's just so hard to keep anything secret in today’s day and age."

While it's true that Marvel film productions face constant pressure around leaks, and merchandise such as toys have been the source of story spoilers in the past, the reasoning here around the decision to show Red Hulk doesn't necessarily tally with how other Marvel movies have teased villains in the past.

Take, for instance, the upcoming The Fantastic Four: First Steps. We know from trailers that giant-sized baddie Galactus will appear in the film at some point, but Marvel has been cautious to only show a glimpse at the villain, teasing his appearance while keeping the full reveal back for the film itself.

Of course, the full look at Galactus still leaked — via a Snapple promotion, of all things — while another character completely absent from trailers so far has appeared as a Funko Pop toy. But these spoilers will only be seen by a fraction of the film's overall audience. What matters to most fans is what's in official trailers — and what's not.

There's a definite sense among Marvel fans that too much of Red Hulk was shown, perhaps to ramp up excitement around a film that otherwise felt underwhelming.

Next up for Captain America will be an appearance in Avengers: Doomsday, after Thunderbolts*/New Avengers confirmed Sam Wilson had begun rebuilding his own version of Marvel's big team.

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

Amid excitement and disbelief at the quality of The Witcher 4 Unreal Engine 5 tech demo, developer CD Projekt has issued a statement insisting it is not a gameplay showcase and therefore does not represent actual The Witcher 4 gameplay footage.

The tech demo, captured on a PlayStation 5 and running at 60 frames per second, follows Ciri as she explores the never-before-seen region of Kovir in the midst of a monster contract (CD Projekt confirmed Kovir is a playable area in The Witcher 4).

There is a stunning amount of detail in the tech demo, with incredibly fluid animations on a level we have yet to see on the current generation of consoles. Ciri and her horse Kelpie have particularly impressive movement and interactions with each other, NPCs, and the game world as they make their way through the mountains of Kovir to the bustling port town of Valdrest. At one point in the demo, CD Projekt upped the NPC count in the market scene to 300 individually animated characters. The showcase ended with a first look at Lan Exeter, the winter capital and a major port city in Kovir.

The “standalone” tech demo was built to showcase Unreal Engine 5 features, CD Projekt said, and tools it’s using to develop the game’s open world. It is not gameplay footage, the developer stressed.

So, does the tech demo reflect what players can expect from The Witcher 4? CD Projekt said the visuals “reflect the direction we’re taking with The Witcher 4 — but it doesn’t fully represent the final game.”

CD Projekt continued: “Production is still underway, and we have a great deal of work ahead. That said, our goal is ambitious: to create one of the most visually advanced role-playing games to date.”

The developer also explained why it chose PS5 over a high-end PC for the tech demo: “Because optimizing for consoles early helps us future-proof performance across all platforms. Consoles come with tighter constraints, and meeting them pushes us to make smarter, more efficient tech choices — the kind that benefit every version of the game.”

One of the big questions about The Witcher 4 is target launch platforms. With this tech demo on PS5, the suggestion is it will be a cross-gen game that also runs on the next-gen consoles (PS6 and the next-gen Xbox). But if it’s due out on current-gen, does that also mean it will be available on the underpowered Xbox Series S?

It’s worth remembring that Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto VI is, as it stands, also due out on current-gen consoles including the Xbox Series S. So if GTA 6 is possible on Microsoft’s cheaper console, perhaps The Witcher 4 is, too.

CD Projekt has indicated The Witcher 4 won’t be out until 2027 at the earliest, so it may be some time before we find out.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.