The Russo Brothers, directors of Avengers: Endgame and the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, have posted a fresh Instagram teaser that Marvel fans are now attempting to decode.

The image, posted to Instagram this morning, shows a blurry black and white object that fans say makes the shape of a V. That really is all we have to go on — which is not much — and yet fans have quickly formed a long list of theories for what the V might represent.

Of course, Doomsday stars Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom — whose full name begins Victor Von. Could this V just be a nod to that? It seems to simple. What about V as a Roman numeral then, for the number five? Well, Doomsday would be the fifth Avengers movie. But again, there's nothing here we don't know already.

But what if V was a countdown? With a report that Avengers: Doomsday will get its first trailer attached to the upcoming Avatar: Fire and Ash, speculation is rife over when that trailer will find its way online. (As a reminder, the new Avatar movie launches in theaters this Friday, December 19.)

"V as in 5 in Roman numerals? It is five days until Fire & Ash — and supposedly the Doomsday trailer with it — releases, no? Maybe this is a cryptic countdown," suggested Marvel fan luthestreewhisperer on reddit.

As noted over the weekend, Doomsday will reportedly get not one but four trailers released with Fire and Ash over the course of four weeks, in a bid to keep the excitement going (and Avatar's tickets selling for repeat viewings).

With at least four big superhero teams in the movie, could each trailer focus on one of these in turn? Joining the line-up for Doomsday are members of the classic Avengers (including Thor and Loki), the New Avengers (AKA, The Thunderbolts), the Fantastic Four and the classic X-Men.

This isn't the first time the Russo Brothers have issued a cryptic Instagram tease, of course. Previously, the pair posted an image that appeared to show the outline of the letters "A V X", which many fans took to mean "Avengers Versus X-Men", a nod at the expected opening of the movie, before everyone realizes Doctor Doom is the bad guy they need to work together to defeat.

Avengers: Doomsday opens in theaters in almost exactly one year: on December 18, 2026.

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

Plenty of teenagers look forward to prom night, but what if that night literally never ends? That's basically the idea behind Dead Teenagers, a new Oni Press slasher horror series about a group of teens forced to relive a deadly prom night ordeal over and over again.

IGN can exclusively debut the first preview of Dead Teenagers #1. Check it out in the slideshow gallery below:

Dead Teenagers is written by Jude Ellison S. Doyle (Maw, Be Not Afraid) and illustrated by Caitlin Yarsky (Black Hammer Reborn, EC's Cruel Universe). The first issue features cover art by Yarsky, Naomi Franq, Keyla Valerio, and Brandt & Stein. Here's Oni's official logline for the book:

Since 1997, five friends have been trapped in the ultimate nightmare as a mysterious entity forces them to relive their first prom night over and over again . . .and re-kills them in new and increasingly insane ways each time. They dress up. They party. They make out. And no matter what they try to change, they always die . . . until now. Something is about to break the cycle that has kept Alicia, J.T., Ryder, Brandy, and their group of friends locked in a bizarre purgatory beyond all understanding . . . but what they find on the other side will be the most disturbing revelation of all.

"I think most of us have feared, at one point or another, that high school might literally never end,” said Doyle in a statement. “Those of us who’ve made it out can also recall looking back and realizing that what we took for granted, back in those days, was actually terrifying. Dead Teenagers is about both those feelings — about what it takes to get unstuck from your teen years and start growing up."

Dead Teenagers #1 will be released on March 18, 2026. You can preorder a copy at your local comic shop.

In other comic book news, Oni's Flux House imprint is getting a FCBD 2026 special, and we've got the full scoop on the huge twist in TMNT #13.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.

George Clooney’s over it. Over what, you might be asking? Well, he’s done "kissing girls" and making romance films — which, when you think about being a go-to romantic lead made him the heartthrob he is in the zeitgeist, is truly the end of an era.

“I’ve been trying to go the route Paul Newman did — ‘Okay, well, I’m not kissing a girl anymore,’” Clooney recently revealed in an interview with the Daily Mail, noting that it was a bit of a discussion in his household before he made the official call.

He continued: “When I turned 60, I had a conversation with my wife. I said, ‘Look, I can still play basketball with the boys. I play with 25-year-old guys. I can still hang, I’m in shape. But in 25 years, I’m 85 years old. It doesn’t matter how many granola bars you eat, that’s a real number.'”

Bethesda development chief Todd Howard has officially ruled out appearing on the Fallout TV show even in cameo form, insisting he’s better behind the camera than in front of it.

Ever since the Fallout TV series was announced, fans of the Fallout video games have wondered whether Howard might appear in, for example, a random Vault dweller, a ghoul, or some other cameo.

Arc Raiders developer Embark Studios has fully detailed the game’s Cold Snap update and its new cold-weather survival mechanics.

The update, out December 16, adds the new Cold Snap map condition, which is a winter variant across Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, Spaceport, and The Blue Gate maps. Cold Snap adds cold-weather survival mechanics fueled by snowstorms across Speranza. Snowfall reduces visibility, lakes freeze over, and the open surface becomes even more dangerous. Exposure to extreme cold causes frostbite, thus encouraging new strategies around healing items, loadouts, and indoor shelter.

Arc Raiders Cold Snap gameplay changes, from Embark Studios:

• Environmental Hazard: Cold, harsh weather introduces new risks for raiders who remain outdoors too long. Players must watch out for frostbite, a creeping condition that slowly drains their health bar.
• Shelter Mechanics: To prevent frostbite, raiders will need to adapt their tactics as the cold gradually seeps into their bones. Raiders must rethink their loadouts, ensuring they can heal themselves or their teammates and plan their extractions with care, finding shelter if needed.
• Visual Overhaul: Frost buildup, frozen lakes, snow accumulation and more across Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, Spaceport and The Blue Gate maps.

Elsewhere, unique loot and rewards are available through the Flickering Flames event and Candleberry Banquet project.

Flickering Flames Event: An act of endurance and patience that tests Raiders’ survival skills during the Cold Snap. Raiders can unlock rewards across 25 levels, including new gear, customizations elements and Raider Tokens by earning Merits, which are automatically gained from XP in rounds. To activate the event, Raiders must have played five rounds of the game.

Candleberry Banquet Project: A new project that brings Raiders together to feel the fragile warmth that shines through the frigid cold. Raiders can earn rewards by scavenging unique items topside and collecting Candleberries. It features five stages, each revealing a new scene on the banquet table. Completing stages grants rewards such as cosmetic items, Raider Tokens and Merits, with Merits contributing progress in the Flickering Flames event.

Starting December 26, the Goalie Raider deck will be included in the base game. The new deck includes new items and feats for players to complete, offering rewards such as Raider tokens, cosmetic items and more. These include a hockey-inspired Raider outfit in several color variants, along with a hockey stick Raider tool.

And finally, the Expedition Project Raider Reset lets players restart their journey with certain buffs, advantages, and rewards. The Expedition Project will provide Raiders with an opportunity to undergo a reset, bringing a new raider and a new story for the player. This optional reset is unlocked by collecting key materials to build a Caravan for the existing Raider then signing up for the departure during the Expedition window. By departing, players will reset their character progress for a new Arc Raiders journey with exclusive buffs, advantages and rewards that carry over.

In a blog post, Embark explained why it’s doing the seasonal reset. “Progression wipes are a notoriously difficult thing to balance in online multiplayer games — we get that,” the developer said. “Mandatory global wipes have some obvious benefits: heavily invested players get to re-experience the initial grind once again and, for a time, the playing field is levelled. The optional Expedition Project is our solution to some of the problems that inevitably arise with mandatory wipes — specifically, by respecting your time investment in the game. We want to offer you the choice:

“Not completed as much as you’d like? Keep on raiding, building, and growing. Ready for a new challenge and to grind once again? Depart on the Expedition, and receive buffs, rewards, and bragging rights.”

Arc Raiders Cold Snap update release times:

Embark Studios launches Cold Snap on Tuesday, December 16, at 10.30am CET / 9.30am UK time / 1.30am PT / 4.30am ET.

Cold Snap includes limited-time events and elements running from Tuesday, December 16 until Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 10.30am CET / 9.30am UK time / 1.30am PT / 4.30am ET.

Cold Snap is the last update listed as part of Arc Raiders' 2025 content roadmap, and Embark has yet to outline what's coming in 2026. Arc Raiders sold over 4 million copies worldwide within two weeks of launch, cementing its commercial success. Nexon also revealed that the extraction shooter had reached a huge concurrent count of 700,000 players across all platforms. It's done so well it crossed over into the world of South Park with a surprise appearance that was put together in just a few days. Cementing its success, Arc Raiders won Best Multiplayer at last week’s The Game Awards.

IGN's Arc Raiders review, returned a 9/10. We said: "With polished gunplay and an irresistible grind, Arc Raiders sets a new standard for extraction shooters."

If this has tempted you into jumping into Arc Raiders, check out our guide to the best settings, find out what skills we recommend unlocking first, and see how to earn loot by delivering field depot crates.

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.

The first trailer for Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2 has teased shock reveals for the Netflix show and answers to questions fans have been asking for years.

Warning! Spoilers for Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 follow:

The trailer picks up in the aftermath of the catastrophic events of Vol. 1 and the awakening of Will’s powers. Will (Noah Schnapp) and his mother, Joyce (Winona Ryder), have a heart to heart in which she reassures him the battle against Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) isn’t over.

Everything we have ever assumed about the upside down has been dead wrong.

Volume 2 of the final season of Stranger Things arrives Dec. 25th at 5pm PT. pic.twitter.com/GIbx0SErFD

— sƃuᴉɥʇ ɹǝƃuɐɹʇs (@Stranger_Things) December 15, 2025

Meanwhile, Holly (Nell Fisher) and Max (Sadie Sink) are trying to escape what we believe to be Vecna’s 1950s fantasy world, and they’re walking through strange doors to do it.

Then we get what I think is the killer quote from the trailer, which comes from Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo): “this whole time, everything we’ve ever assumed about the Upside Down has been dead wrong.”

Dustin and Steve (Joe Keery) are then seen looking at some sort of red, potentially dimensional mass that is whirling around above them. Whatever this is, it seems key to understanding the true nature of the Upside Down, which Stranger Things co-creators Ross and Matt Duffer have promised to explain in this fifth and final episode.

Elsewhere, Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) calls on Kali/Eight (Linnea Berthelsen), who she rescued from captivity by the military in Vol. 1, to help her find and kill Vecna. We see shots of Vecna / Henry Creel in various states as the central characters become increasingly distressed. Briefly, we see Will use his new powers again, as evidenced by his eyes turning all white as they did at the end of Vol. 1. Clearly, this is all gearing up for a big final showdown.

Ross Duffer took to Instagram last week to outline what to expect from Vol. 2. Episode 5, titled Shock Jock, picks up moments after the end of Sorcerer. Frank Darabont directed this one, although Duffer said Shock Jock is “far darker, and far scarier” than Darabont's previous episode, Turnbow Trap.

Episode 6 is called Escape from Camazotz, which was directed by Shawn Levy. “It’s the biggest episode of the three,” Duffer said, “and the performances make us cry every time we watch it.” It sounds like we might get a character death in this one. And based on the name, the episode will revolve around Holly and Max’s attempt to break free from the mind prison created by Vecna.

And finally, Episode 7 is called The Bridge, which the Duffer brothers co-directed with Levy. “Don’t want to say too much, but aside from the finale, it’s probably the most emotional chapter of the season,” Ross Duffer teased. More character deaths, perhaps?

Even with this trailer, we have a number of lingering burning questions. We see some sort of power wave fly across the sky of the Upside Down. What is its purpose? Is Vecna actually the ultimate villainous power in Stranger Things, or is it the Mind Flayer? And, as the trailer teases, what is the Upside Down really?

Where this is all going in Volume 2 is a matter of intense speculation among fans — and something we here at IGN have discussed ourselves (check out our article, Stranger Things Season 5: Our Biggest Burning Questions After Episodes 1-4, to find out more).

Stranger Things Season 5 debuts on Netflix in three parts. The first four episodes arrived for the Thanksgiving holiday on November 26. The next three episodes premiere on Christmas Day, and the series finale will debut on the streamer and in over 350 theaters nationwide on New Year’s Eve.

Stranger Things Season 5 release dates:

• VOL 1 - November 26, 5pm PT
• VOL 2 - Christmas, 5pm PT
• THE FINALE - New Year’s Eve, 5pm PT

We’ve got plenty more on Stranger Things, including Ross Duffer’s call to arms for fans to turn off “garbage” TV settings before watching Season 5. And be sure to check out our Stranger Things: Season 5, Vol. 1 spoiler review.

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.

James Cameron has dismissed criticism of 3D and high frame rate in his Avatar movies, pointing to their enormous box office success as evidence that audiences don’t mind it, and explaining why he likes the tech.

Ahead of the release of the third Avatar movie, Fire and Ash, Discussing Film asked Cameron if he’s bothered by negative feedback to the CGI-heavy franchise’s use of 3D and associated high frame rate.

“I think $2.3 billion says you might be wrong on that,” Cameron replied. “Well, that’s the argument from authority. But the argument from artistic is: I happen to like it, and it’s my movie.”

The special effects-heavy Avatar films cost a huge amount of money to produce, but they have historically made billions of dollars at the box office. Avatar remains the highest-grossing movie of all time (not adjusted for inflation), and has earned a staggering $2.9 billion across several theatrical runs. (Avengers: Endgame overtook Avatar for a brief period, before Avatar then stole its crown back via a fresh re-release.) 2022 sequel Avatar: The Way of Water earned $2.3 billion, meanwhile, cementing it as the third-highest grossing film of all time — just ahead of Cameron's own Titanic, which floats on $2.2 billion.

Avatar: Fire and Ash is expected to follow suit — and the pressure is on it to deliver for Disney so director James Cameron can realize his vision and release Avatar 4 and 5 over the next six years. But Cameron has sounded words of caution recently. Speaking on The Town with Matthew Belloni podcast, Cameron admitted he was feeling nervous about Avatar: Fire and Ash’s box office performance, and was mindful of the “forces” working against theatrical releases in 2025.

Expanding on his point about 3D and high frame rate, Cameron got technical, saying he likes the high frame rate to “smooth out” the 3D experience.

“We have a lot of different neurons that do a lot of difficult things,” he said. “But we have dedicated neurons for parallax. So when people say they get eye strain watching 3D, it’s not eye strain, it’s brain strain. Because we integrate into a stereoscopic perception of the world in our visual cortex. Those parallax sensitive neurons can’t fire if the vertical edges of things are jumping. The brain can’t process that. So if we’re having a stroboscopic effect that’s degrading the 3D experience then we’ll use high frame rate. It interpolates to a level that we actually can process 3D, and then that brain strain goes away.”

On the issue of Avatar's box office, Cameron admitted he was “absolutely” ready to walk away from Avatar if Fire and Ash flops. “I’ve been in Avatar land for 20 years,” he said. “Actually 30 years because I wrote it in ‘95, but I wasn’t working continuously on it for those first 10 years. Yeah, absolutely, sure. If this is where it ends, cool.” But Disney reportedly has a plan to encourage repeat viewings of Avatar: Fire and Ash in theaters — and it involves four different Avengers: Doomsday trailers.

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.

As major Hollywood actors license their voices to AI, and Coca-Cola uses algorithms to generate its latest holiday commercial, Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Knives Out director Rian Johnson has his own message on the subject: "F*** AI."

"Yeah, f*** AI," Johnson told The Hollywood Reporter. "It's something that's making everything worse in every single way."

Johnson made the comment last month, at a festival showing of his forthcoming Wake Up Dead Man, the third entry in his successful Knives Out murder mystery series starring Daniel Craig. Notably, this was before Disney — his former Star Wars paymaster — decided to splash $1 billion on a stake in OpenAI and license the very characters he'd previously directed for public use as generative AI video fodder.

"I don't get it," Johnson continued. "I mean, I get it in a 'This makes sense to save money by not paying artists' way. But then, what the f*** are we doing? Is this where we want to be?"

Last week, Disney boss Bob Iger announced an unprecedented licensing deal that would see 200 iconic characters unlocked for use in ChatGPT and Sora, allowing users to create their own shortform video content that would then be regurgitated up and made available to subscribers on Disney+.

"The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence marks an important moment for our industry, and through this collaboration with OpenAI we will thoughtfully and responsibly extend the reach of our storytelling through generative AI, while respecting and protecting creators and their works," Iger said in a statement.

Last week at The Game Awards, we learned that the next-gen Tomb Raider that developer Crystal Dynamics announced three years ago is titled Tomb Raider: Catalyst. Published by Amazon Game Studios, it's set to release in 2027 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X and S.

Meanwhile, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is a reimagining of the original Tomb Raider game, built with Unreal Engine 5 and due out next year. Both games will feature a new actor as Lara Croft: Alix Wilton Regan.

While the news was a surprise for some, actor Camilla Luddington — who portrayed Lara Croft in the 2013-2018 reboot trilogy — shared a bittersweet Instagram post about her time as the lead, saying she loved the fans and Croft will "forever be a part of [her]."

"I thought I’d make a post since I’ve been hearing from so many of you," she wrote. "I want to let you know that I have loved this fandom. To join the list of Lara Crofts before me was an incredible honor and she will forever be a part of me. The Survivor Trilogy was a decade of adventure I will never ever forget. I could not be prouder of what we created.

"And as always, a new actress receives this incredible gift to step into the boots. So with that said — [new Croft actor Alix Wilton Regan] if you’re ever in need of a [bow and arrow], I know the exact spot to look for one at Croft Manor."

Alix Wilton Regan has played a number of big video game characters over the years, including the Female Inquisitor in both Dragon Age: Inquisition and Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Samantha Traynor in Mass Effect 3, Alt Cunningham in Cyberpunk 2077, and Aya in Assassin's Creed Origins. Regan was set to play Joanna Dark in Microsoft's Perfect Dark reboot, but it was canceled as part of a major round of layoffs.

As spotted by Eurogamer, Regan also shared a post following The Game Awards announcement, claiming it was the "absolute highlight" of her career to date to have been cast, "surpass[ing] even my wildest dreams, quite frankly."

"We're. Just. Getting. Started," she wrote.

Here's the official blurb on Tomb Raider: Catalyst:

Tomb Raider: Catalyst, which has been in development by Crystal Dynamics since the partnership with Amazon Game Studios was announced in 2022, marks a bold direction for the series as Lara Croft embarks on a new adventure across Northern India. Tomb Raider: Catalyst is set in the wake of a mythical cataclysm that has unleashed ancient secrets and awakened the mysterious forces that guard them. When the most notorious treasure hunters from around the world descend on the region, Lara races to uncover the truth buried beneath the fractured landscape and stop those who would use its power for their own gain. As the ancient world collides with the present, Lara must decide who to trust among rivals and allies to prevent a catastrophe and protect a secret that could reshape the future.
Powered by Unreal Engine 5, Tomb Raider: Catalyst delivers the largest Tomb Raider world yet where Lara will traverse a landscape full of secrets, delve into lost tombs packed with intricate puzzles, and solve ancient mysteries using her unmatched brilliance and richly customized adventure tech. Perfect for longtime fans and newcomers alike, players will experience an exhilarating story of trust and betrayal that tests Lara Croft in new ways. Tomb Raider: Catalyst is set to launch in 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam.

Catalyst wasn’t the only Tomb Raider-related announcement at this year’s Game Awards. Catalyst’s first trailer was immediately followed by a surprise announcement of Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, a “reimagining” of the original 1996 classic. It is due out for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X and S sometime in 2026, as that’s when the franchise celebrates its 30th anniversary.

Here's the official blurb on Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis:

In a surprise announcement, Amazon Game Studios, Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog unveiled Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, a modern reimagining of Lara Croft's genre-defining 1996 debut. Developed in partnership between Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog, the game features stunning visuals powered by Unreal Engine 5, modern game design, and new surprises that honor the spirit and atmosphere of the original game. As Lara Croft, players will harness their wits and athleticism to explore exotic locations lost to time, traverse treacherous landscapes, solve deadly contraptions, and face lethal predators in their quest for the scattered pieces of the Scion — an artifact of immeasurable power.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis sets a new standard for re-envisioning a classic by masterfully balancing innovation with gaming heritage, capturing the wonder and excitement that defined a genre while igniting a new sense of discovery through expanded storytelling. The game arrives in 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam.

Be sure to check out everything announced at The Game Awards 2025 for more, as well as the winners list in full.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

The CEO of Stellar Blade studio Shift Up has received the Presidential Commendation at this year's Korean Content Awards for his work in the games industry.

According to Daum, and reported by Automaton, Hyung-tae Kim accepted the award, which is reportedly "the most prestigious content awards ceremony in Korea" and hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. Kim was recognized for his contribution to the Korean games industry with the games Goddess of Victory: Nikke and Stellar Blade.

"This Presidential Citation is thanks to the developers and fans who believed in and supported Shift Up," Kim said. "We will continue to do our best to further promote the competitiveness of Korean games on the global stage."

Stellar Blade launched in April 2024 exclusively on PlayStation 5. After selling more than 1 million copies in two months, Stellar Blade was seen as highlighting the potential for Korean-made triple-A console games. In July last year, Shift Up raised 435 billion won (approx. $320 million) in its first day of trade after an initial public offering. According to Bloomberg, that was the largest in the country for a gaming company since 2021, when PUBG maker Krafton Inc. raised $3.8 billion from its own IPO. 2024 went so well for the company that it gifted all its staff a PlayStation 5 Pro as well as a cash bonus of 5 million won (around. $3,400) last Christmas.

Meanwhile, Stellar Blade did wonderfully well on PC, where it launched in June this year. According to the developer's recent presentation to investors, Stellar Blade's PC release sold more than 1 million copies in three days, and has been recommended by 98% of its PC users, boasting an "overwhelmingly positive" user score on Steam.

That means, Shift Up claimed, that Stellar Blade is now the "best-selling PlayStation-exclusive launch IP in history" on PC, eclipsing games like Ghost of Tsushima, God of War, Marvel's Spider-Man, Horizon Zero Dawn, and The Last of Us in terms of peak concurrent users on Steam. Helldivers 2, of course, remains in pole position across both single and multiplayer games, and by some considerable margin, too, estimated to have sold 12.7 million copies.

Stellar Blade is now up to 3 million copies sold across all platforms. Don't forget that a sequel, Stellar Blade 2, is also on the way. Shift Up is also working on Project Spirits, to be published by Level Infinite.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

Larian publishing director Michael Douse has explained the studio’s thinking in the wake of the gruesome reveal trailer for Divinity, the Baldur’s Gate 3 studio’s next big role-playing game.

Divinity was announced at The Game Awards with a CG trailer that features extreme gore and sex. It begins with medieval fantasy villagers preparing for a ritual sacrifice, which involves burning a man alive. The villagers celebrate the occasion by playing music and dancing, laughing and chatting, feasting and drinking. At one point, someone throws up into animal feed. A mother and child look on with anticipation.

The burning of the man begins, and here things get very gory indeed. As his flesh tears and he screams in pain, some of the villagers are seen having sex. Others whip themselves. There’s more vomiting. Everyone seems thrilled, but as the burning man dies, something goes horribly wrong.

Disgusting wounds appear on the man. As his arm rips off we get a quick cut to an extreme closeup of someone eating meat. More sex. More vomiting. More pigs eating the vomit. And then the burning man explodes in a shower of gore. Something terrible is pouring out of his body. This, clearly, is not what was supposed to happen, and the villagers flee in terror. In the aftermath we see the statue Geoff Keighley has teased ahead of The Game Awards itself. It has not gone well for the villagers, but the pigs look like they're still having a good time mopping up.

It’s fair to say the trailer has sparked a great deal of debate. While some have praised the studio for not holding back when it comes to its dark themes (something Baldur’s Gate 3 won plaudits for), others have said the trailer goes too far. Indeed some have accused Larian of "pushing the morale line" with the trailer, labeling it “gore porn.”

Now, Douse has explained what Larian was going for here. In a tweet response to illustrator and YouTuber Kala Elizabeth, who had praised the studio for refusing to “hold back or sanitize stories to make them more palatable,” Douse said the Divinity trailer wasn’t about shocking the audience, rather “treating the audience with a level of intellectual respect.”

“The phrase ‘treating the audience with a level of intellectual respect’ came up a lot in planning,” he said. “It isn’t about trying to shock them, it's about trying to match their powers of comprehension so that it resonates. We know people are capable of appreciating a three dimensional world.”

This appears to have gone down well with Larian's fans. "I love this," Elizabeth replied. "As someone who plays durge, evil and renegade options I'm sad that more games don't seem to push that nuance and trust the audience anymore. Can't wait to see what y'all do next."

There’s still a great deal we don’t know about Divinity, of course, but fans think they’ve worked out who the burning man in the trailer is supposed to be. Larian has said Divinity is its next “major” game after Baldur’s Gate 3, and it is set in the world of Rivellon. Here’s the tagline: “the gods are silent. Rivellon bleeds. New powers stir.”

“Built by the team who brought you Baldur's Gate 3, Larian Studios unchains its ambitions to bring you an RPG with greater breadth and depth than ever before,” reads the official blurb.

While Divinity is a brand new game that doesn’t require experience with previous Larian titles, those who’ve played Divinity: Original Sin and Divinity: Original Sin 2 will be able to enjoy “greater understanding and continuity,” Larian added.

Swen Vincke, founder and game director of Larian Studios, said: “Despite our long history with the series, this is our first game entitled Divinity. We’re ready to bring everything we’ve done previously into one place. This marks the beginning of something with more breadth, depth, and intimacy than anything we’ve created before. We’ve been building toward this moment ever since we took our fate into our own hands. This is the Divinity we’ve always wanted to make and you're going to have loads of fun with it.”

Be sure to check out everything announced at The Game Awards 2025 for more, as well as the winners list in full. And if you’re wondering what all this Divinity business is about, check out our handy explainer here.

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.

Former Doctor Who star Paul McGann has addressed the recent spread of AI-generated images showing his apparent return alongside Billie Piper in the franchise's upcoming 2026 Christmas special.

McGann's briefly-seen incarnation of the Doctor is beloved by hardcore fans, and has made a couple of cameo appearances in recent years. So, when supposedly-leaked images surfaced surfaced online last month showing McGann stood alongside Billie Piper on the TARDIS set, many rejoiced at the actor's latest apparent return.

Alas, what looked to be photos taken on the set for next year's Christmas special were nothing but very believable AI — something McGann has now acknowledged has confused numerous fans, and sparked a fake rumor mill.

"Just recently, in the past week or so, because of these AI pictures, there's me and Billie Piper working together," McGann said, speaking on the Gerry Anderson Podcast. "If only! And so people are like 'it has to be true!' The rumor mill kicks in. There's this picture of Billie and me, I'm in costume."

Of the various AI images created, several showed Paul McGann on the current TARDIS set from the most recent Doctor Who era, holding a script during what looks to be a break between shooting. In one image, McGann can be seen standing alongside Piper, who returned at the end of Doctor Who's most recent finale in a shock twist after the sudden departure of lead actor Ncuti Gatwa. Here, Piper can be seen wearing Ncuti's costume, just as we last saw her.

Phantom Blade Zero is a PlayStation 5 console exclusive for 12 months.

S-GAME Studio's Wuxia action RPG launches on September 9, 2026 across PS5 and PC. Much like other initially PS5 console-exclusive games, such as Silent Hill 2 Remake, Phantom Blade Zero won't be available on "other consoles until at least 12 months after release date." This means Xbox Series X and S or Nintendo Switch 2 versions will have to wait until at least September 2027, if they are in indeed in S-GAME Studio's plans.

PS5 console exclusivity comes from the teaser video added to the official PlayStation YouTube channel, which has a familiar blue notice at the end (thanks, MP1st).

Rian Johnson, director of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, has said he anticipated and welcomed the movie's polarizing response — and argued it would have been worse to create something "afraid" of shaking up the franchise.

Speaking to Polygon, Johnson said Star Wars had a history of challenging fan expectations of where the saga's story was headed ever since the series' second release, Empire Strikes Back. With its shock character deaths and fresh uses of the Force, this is something The Last Jedi certainly also did, while generating a wave of backlash from many of the franchise's most vocal online followers.

Despite this, Johnson said he had intended to deliver a movie that "shook the box" and upended fan expectations, rather than simply serving up something that handled the franchise and its audience with "kid gloves" — something other entries in Disney's Star Wars sequel trilogy have also been accused of.

"I was hoping for that — I wasn't afraid of it per se," Johnson said. "Having grown up a Star Wars fan, I know that thing where something challenges it, and I know the recoil against that. I know how there can be infighting in the world of Star Wars. But I also know that the worst sin is to handle it with kid gloves.

"The worst sin is to be afraid of doing anything that shakes it up," he continued. "Because every Star Wars movie going back to Empire and onward shook the box and rattled fans, and got them angry, and got them fighting, and got them talking about it. And then for a lot of them, got them loving it and coming around on it eventually."

Johnson has said similar in the past with regard to how the tastes of many Star Wars fans have changed over time — with many now looking more fondly upon George Lucas' prequel movies, for example, which also received significant pushback upon their initial release. (Indeed, Johnson has previously said that his days "arguing on the playground about Star Wars" and having "ruthless" discussions about The Phantom Menance helped him process The Last Jedi's online backlash.)

Johnson continued his comments on The Last Jedi by equating its handling of Star Wars lore with how he has attempted to carefully handle the subject of religion in the upcoming Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.

"People who are raised outside of faith sometimes think it's this touchy thing that you have to handle with kid gloves," he said. "I grew up very Christian. It was a very personal thing for me. I'm not a believer anymore. I'm no longer a Christian. But when I was… You're constantly rattling the box for yourself. You’re constantly being offended by things. But then it's not like that just shuts off [the real world and how it challenges your beliefs].

"It’s just like being a Star Wars fan and seeing a twist where you're like, ‘Oh God, that doesn't make me feel great, because that's not what I expected,’” he says. “As a Christian, the world is constantly throwing that at you. It’s just your daily life. Assimilating that is how you grow. That's part of the purpose of both [fandom and religion] — it’s only alive when it's interacting with the world."

With the upcoming launch of Johnson's third Knives Out murder mystery film, the writer and director has now left Star Wars behind, with no current plans for him to return and make that MIA new Star Wars movie trilogy that LucasFilm once announced.

Next year will see the launch of The Mandalorian and Grogu, the first new Star Wars movie since 2019's unpopular Rise of Skywalker. A continuation of the hit Disney+ TV series, it will see the fan-favorite duo make their theatrical debut in what has been seen by fans as a safer return to theaters for the franchise following a long seven-year hiatus. Following that, Ryan Gosling will star in the standalone Star Wars: Starfighter, due in 2027.

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

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's record-breaking performance at last week's The Game Awards has caught the eye of French president Emmanuel Macron, who celebrated the news of its Game of the Year award on Instagram over the weekend.

Sandfall Interactive's role-playing game swept The Game Awards 2025 with nine wins, the most any video game has won in a single The Game Awards show. As well as Game of the Year, Clair Obscur won best narrative, best music, and best performance, fending off competition from Death Stranding 2, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Hades 2, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 to claim the top prize. Be sure to check out everything announced at The Game Awards 2025 for more, as well as the winners list in full.

"Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has just been named Game of the Year in Los Angeles. A historic first for a French title!" Macron exclaimed in French, appending an image of Gustave, Maelle, and Sciel. "Great pride for Montpellier and for France. Congratulations to the Sandfall Interactive team. For future generations and those that follow!"

Of course, this isn't the first time Sandfall Interactive has received public backing from the French president — when the RPG sold 1 million copies in just three days, Macron also took to Instagram to say: "A million copies and to date, one of the best-rated games in history: and yes, it's French! Congratulations to Sandfall Interactive and all the creators of Expedition 33. You are a shining example of French audacity and creativity."

While many commenters shared the President's excitement, some chose to remind him of the comments he made during France's 2023 riots in which he suggested young people had been poisoned or intoxicated by video game violence and social media.

He later downplayed the comments, claiming he had "always considered that video games are an opportunity for France, for our youth, and their future, for our jobs and our economy," and stressed that he "expressed concerns at the end of June because video game conventions had been used by criminals to normalize violence on social media," adding: "It is this violence that I condemn, not video games themselves."

Indie hit ghostbusting game Phasmophobia is coming to Nintendo Switch 2.

Developer Kinetic Games used The Game Awards to announce a 2026 release window for Phasmophobia on Switch 2 without offering a firm release date.

On Switch 2, up to four players can team up to conduct paranormal investigations across 14 terrifying maps and yes, Switch 2 players will be able to join pals on other platforms thanks to crossplay. The five-year-old game is also due to finally exit early access next year, too.

"We’re over the moon to reveal that Phasmophobia is coming to Nintendo Switch 2. It’s something both our community and all of us at Kinetic Games have wanted for a long time, so we’re really happy this long-kept secret is finally out there," said Kinetic Games CEO and director, Daniel Knight.

"With 1.0 on track for 2026, it’s an exciting time to have new players get to experience the game. We're so glad that Switch 2 players will be able to join us for everything that’s coming, as well as jump into the wealth of content we’ve added throughout 2025."

It has indeed been a big year for Phasmo fans, with map reworks and the release of the all-new location, Nell's Diner. We also found out Phasmophobia is getting the Hollywood treatment in July. Horror specialist Blumhouse — the credits of which include Five Nights at Freddy's, The Conjuring, and M3gan — has partnered with the UK developer to create a feature film adaptation.

At the moment, nothing else is known, so we're not yet sure who'll be writing or directing it, let alone starring in the movie, but in an interview with IGN, we asked art director Corey J. Dixon for his thoughts on how horror production company Blumhouse will translate Phasmophobia's genre-defining gameplay to the big screen.

"We've got a really good partnership with Blumhouse. It's brilliant," Dixon said at the time. "It will be a Phasmophobia film, it won't just be a ghost hunting film — we're going to make sure it's a film that fans want to watch, and we're going to work with them really closely."

Be sure to check out everything announced at The Game Awards 2025 for more, as well as the winners list in full.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

Codes for The Forge will grant you additional rerolls if RNG isn't on your side and you don't get one of the best classes on your initial rerolls. In this RPG Roblox experience, you'll be able to play as a human, goblin, dragonborn, and more. Each race has its unique perks, influencing stats such as health, damage, attack power, and more.

It's no surprise that The Forge focuses heavily on mining. The core gameplay centers around mining for ores, in the hopes of finding rare ores to forge powerful weapons and armor. You'll then throw those ores into a forge, where the blend of resources you use allows you to make items with special traits and designs.

Working The Forge Codes (December 2025)

Want to know how to get rerolls for The Forge? Use these currently active codes:

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Expired The Forge Codes (December 2025)

These codes have now expired and can no longer be used:

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How to Use The Forge Codes

Ready to redeem the codes above? Here's what you need to do:

1. Load up The Forge on Roblox
2. Open the Settings menu in the top left corner of the screen.
3. Scroll down to the bottom of Settings to find the Codes bar
4. Copy the code from this article
5. Enter the code into the "Type Here" bar
6. Press claim

Why Isn't My Code for The Forge Working?

When a code doesn't work for The Forge, it's usually because of two reasons:

• The code for The Forge has expired
• There's a spelling mistake or an additional space in the code

Codes for Roblox experiences are typically case-sensitive, so the best way to ensure you've got a working code is to directly copy it from this article. We check all codes before we upload them, so you can guarantee they're working. Just double-check that you haven't copied over an extra space!

How to Get More Codes for The Forge

We regularly check and test new codes for popular Roblox experiences, so the best way to get more codes for The Forge is to visit this article. But if you want to mine for codes yourself, then the Discord server for The Forge is the best place to go.

When Is the Next Update or Event for The Forge?

The Forge recently held a Constellation of Extra Luck weekend that gave everyone a boost to their luck. Well, another boost is coming this weekend on December 13 until December 15, in the form of the The Forge Weekend! Mining Boost event. After this, the next big update is coming on December 25, which will add bosses, private servers, new gear, a Christmas event, and even a new island.

Lauren Harper is an Associate Guides Editor. She loves a variety of games but is especially fond of puzzles, horrors, and point-and-click adventures.