Not everyone is the DIY type. If you're in the market for a prebuilt gaming PC, Dell is one of the best brands we'd recommend. Alienware desktops and laptops feature solid build quality, top-of-the-line gaming performance, excellent cooling (further improved on the newer models), aggressive styling, and pricing that is very competitive with other pre-built options. Best of all, there are plenty of sales that happen throughout the year, so it's not difficult to grab one of these computers at considerably less than their retail price.

Dell and Alienware Coupons

Alienware Aurora R16 Gaming PC Deals

The Aurora R16 is Alienware's bread and butter gaming PC. It can be equipped with an Nvidia RTX 5060 graphics card all the way up to an RTX 5080 and the prices for Cyber Monday are extremely competitive with other brands. For example, currently Alienware has the least expensive prebuilt RTX 5080 gaming PC that I've found anywhere. Most of these systems are customizable, however it's not difficult to upgrade your own RAM and storage yourself.

Alienware Area-51 Gaming PC Deals

If you're seeking the absolute best of the best in PC gaming performance, look no further. Dell unveiled the new Alienware Area-51 gaming PC at CES 2025. The chassis is a super-sized upgrade to the Aurora R16 system with aesthetic and cooling redesigns. The internal components have been refreshed with a new motherboard, faster RAM, and bigger power supply to accommodate the new generation of CPUs and GPUs. With a high-end system like this, it's only fitting that it be equipped with an RTX 5080 or RTX 5090 graphics card, so these are the configurations I've listed here. Note that Dell Outlet refurbished PCs come with the same warranty as buying new.

Alienware Aurora Gaming Laptop Deals

Alienware's new mainstream gaming laptop for 2025 is dubbed the "Alienware Aurora" and it replaces the previous generation's x16 and m16 series of laptops. It comes in two models: the 16 and 16X. The 16 is the more economical model, but gamers should definitely opt for the higher-end 16X model. If you're looking for build quality and performance on par with the previous generation m16, then the 16X is its spiritual successor. It features an anodized aluminum lid and base, a higher quality display, a more powerful CPU, and a GPU that isn't throttled for maximum gaming performance.

Alienware Area-51 Gaming Laptop Deals

Alienware 18 Area-51 (18")

Alienware 16 Area-51 (16")

The Area-51 is Alienware's new flagship gaming laptop for 2025. It features an anodized aluminum shell for both the lid and bottom chassis with a gorgeous iridescent finish. The frame is made of a durable and lightweight magnesium alloy. Cooling has been upgraded with generous amounts of copper and a new thermal interface material to better transfer heat away from your hottest components as well as more fans and bigger cutouts for greater airflow. Dell claims that the laptop can handle a higher power ceiling of up to 240W TDP without raising acoustics.

Design-wise, the Area 51 has a sleeker, more contoured shape compared to previous models, with rounded edges and soft corners replacing the traditional squared off design. The hinges are internally positioned so that they're near invisible. There's a transparent window on the undercarriage to show off the internal components. As befits an Alienware laptop, there's plenty of RGB illunimation, although most of it can be turned off if you want your laptop to be a bit more subtle.

Gaming Monitor Deals

Dell makes some of the highest quality gaming monitors around. They're easily on par with the best that other brands like Samsung, LG, and Asus have to offer. For Cyber Monday, they're also incredibly well-priced. For example, the venerable 34" Alienware AW3423DWF Qfor $499.99 is the lower price I've ever seen for a 34" OLED monitor. By the way, if you do opt for a Dell or Alienware OLED monitor, you also get a 3 year warranty that includes OLED burn-in protection.

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

Disney seems to own a lot of major franchises these days, but I still don't think of Star Wars or Marvel as Disney properties. Classic Disney, to me, is hand-drawn animation and happy little magical worlds I couldn't have imagined on my own. That nostalgic love I hold in my heart for the Disney I grew up with will never fade, no matter how many times something gets remade into live-action.

There are plenty of Disney adults out there who feel the same way as me, and we are surprisingly easy to shop for. The Disney merchandise available in 2025 is more targeted at adult collectors than its ever been and there's plenty to choose from. I've rounded up a few of my top Disney gift picks of 2025 that the special fan in your life will truly cherish.

Gifts for Fans of Disney Movies

Gifts for Fans of LEGO

Gifts for the Readers

Gifts for the Home

Gifts for Gamers

Nintendo and LEGO fans rejoice, because one of our favorite sets just got a major discount ahead of the holidays. Amazon has lowered the price of the LEGO Super Mario Piranha Plant 71426 to just $35.99 after a 40% off instant discount. This happens to just barely clear the free shipping threshold for non-Prime members. The 18+ rating means that this set is relatively challenging, but I've built this one myself and I think it's a great set for builders of all ages. It would make a pretty amazing gift for the holidays and, unlike many new LEGO sets, won't cost an arm and a leg.

40% Off LEGO Super Mario Piranha Plant 71426

Somehow we blinked and the so called big sales period has come and gone, yet the bargain bins refuse to take the hint. While Black Friday and Cyber Monday have packed up their circus tents, the storefronts are still wobbling under the weight of tasty discounts. I'm here to help you take full advantage, so let's stop talking and start saving.

Contents

• Retro
• Nintendo
• Xbox
• PlayStation
• PC
• PC Gear
• LEGO

This Day in Gaming 🎂

In retro gamer news, I'm tapping D-F-F-HK to give a Baraka-baked, 29-candle cake to Mortal Kombat Trilogy on PS One. If you used Kano's heart rip on me right now, you'd see that this compilation holds a very special place in my subcockles. My mate Craig basically had this disc glued to the spindle hub of his PlayStation drive back in '97.

His house was perched over our local beach, so when the surf was crap, it was a party house that provided a regular dozen or so surfers for "winner plays on" punchfests. And there was a lot to love about MK Trilogy, like a ridiculously huge 37-fighter roster, the Aggressor bar, Brutalities, and the cheese-tastic Motaro. He would get you (physically) beaten up if you selected him.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday have passed us by, but thankfully there are still plenty of toys and gifts getting discounts before Christmas. If you're looking for an awesome Hot Wheels set to buy for a kid (or yourself), the Hot Wheels version of Bowser's Castle has just dropped to its lowest price ever on Amazon. It includes Bullet Bill a massive loop, and storage for up to 38 vehicles.

Hot Wheels Mario Kart Bowser’s Castle Playset

Saber Interactive’s troubled Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake is reportedly still in development – and a KOTOR 2 remake may be on the way, too.

The latest update on the long-in-the-works Star Wars remake come from a Game File report, which pulls from court documents related to a false-advertising lawsuit launched against Saber’s Aspyr Media and Lucasfilm in 2023. Recently filed records related to the suit, which involved the cancelation of the Restored Content Modification (RCM) for the Nintendo Switch KOTOR 2 re-release, appear to contain both updates for the KOTOR remake as well as mentions of a mysterious project known as “Juliet.”

Attorney Ray Kim prodded for details about what Project Juliet was during the deposition of Lucasfilm Games vice president Douglas Reilly. The Star Wars company VP’s response left little room for ambiguity.

“Juliet was the code name for a project where we were going to do a full remake of KOTOR II with modern art, modern gameplay, you know, keep the story and the characters and the general—the general content of KOTOR II, but remake it for modern hardware and modern machines with updated graphics and all those kind of things,” Reilly said. “It was something we were discussing with Aspyr.”

As for that long-lost cut KOTOR 2 content, Reilly clarified that “the plan was we would remake the content that was in the RCM as it relates to Star Wars in that Juliet project.” Whether or not a KOTOR 2 remake remains in development is hazy for now, with Reilly’s last update saying Juliet was “technically on the roadmap” as of March 2025. Should Saber continue development, it seems the plan is for a reimagined version of the entire experience, even the RCM content, to be included in the final build.

Many other details on the supposed KOTOR 2 remake remain a mystery, but the good news is that Reilly says “we’re starting with the remake of KOTOR 1,” clarifying that “Aspyr isn’t working on those games.” Instead, the KOTOR remake is said to now be in the hands of the team behind Hellraiser: Revival at Mad Head Games.

It’s yet another update on a remake of a classic Star Wars video game that was first announced all the way back in 2021. It’s since earned its place among other gaming projects that have yet to see the light of day, with previous updates leaving fans with low expectations that the reimagining could ever come to be. Still, Saber has stayed positive about its KOTOR remake in recent months, telling fans in March that, “everything that we have talked about is still in development.”

While we wait for any updates on the KOTOR remake or even that potential KOTOR 2 remake, you can see our list of every Star Wars video game in development. You can also read our 9/10 review of the original KOTOR, as well as our 8.7/10 review of its sequel.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer 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).

Whether you're looking to pick up a carrying case, screen protector, or accessories, there are quite a few Nintendo Switch 2 deals worth checking out at the moment. Here we've gathered up some of the best that have crossed our radar lately, now that Cyber Monday has ended. If you're in the Switch shopping mood for the holidays, now is a good time to pick up some of these items with some discounts still available.

TL;DR - The Best Nintendo Switch 2 Deals

More Nintendo Switch Game Deals

Nintendo Switch 2 game deals are, unfortunately, pretty few and far between at the moment (not counting a Sonic X Shadow Generations discount over at Amazon). However, there are some great Nintendo Switch game deals available right now. We've included just a few our favorites above, including a great discount on Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection.

Switch 2 Carrying Case Deals

If you're planning on taking your Switch 2 out on any trips or adventures you have planned this summer, a carrying case is a very wise investment. Thankfully there are plenty of great deals to check out right now on a variety of different case styles, whether you want something slimmer or with a very sturdy build. We're particularly fond of the Tomtoc slim carrying case, which offers the best of both and is discounted right now.

Best Switch 2 Screen Protector Deals

Once you've picked up your new Switch 2, it's important to find some extra protection for it. Screen protectors are a worthy investment and, thankfully, there are plenty of deals available right now. Even though these items are usually pretty affordable on their own, the discounts are a nice little treat to take advantage of while they're available.

Switch 2 Accessory Deals

If you've picked up your Switch 2 console and are now on the hunt for some accessories, there are a few deals worth checking out right now. From thumb grips to a protective case that can be wrapped around your Switch 2 in handheld mode, we've included some of our favorite deals above that are available at the moment.

Best Switch 2 Power Bank Deals

And lastly in our list of Nintendo Switch 2 deals for right now, you'll want to make sure you've got plenty of power to keep you going once you start playing on your new console. If you've been looking for a new Switch 2 power bank to have for when you're on the go, we've included a few great deals above that are worth checking out.

Where to Buy Official Nintendo Switch 2 Accessories

If official Nintendo Switch 2 accessories have been on your radar, we've included where you can buy those above. Some of these have been going out of stock quick, though, so if something that catches your eye is still in stock you'll want to be quick to scoop it up while it's still available.

Where to Buy Nintendo Switch 2

The recently released Apple Watch Series 11 just dropped to a price that's lower than the best deal I saw during Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Amazon currently has several models available for just $299, or $100 off the retail price. This beats the Cyber Monday price by $30, making this the new lowest price I've seen. An Apple Watch would make a worthwhile upgrade for yourself if you're still rocking an Apple Watch 8 or older, or a great gift idea for any iPhone user.

Apple Watch Series 11 for $299

The Apple Watch is indisputably the best smartwatch for iOS users. It's stylish, boasts excellent build quality, excels as both a fitness tracker and smartwatch, and seamlessly integrates with your iPhone.

The Apple Watch Series 11 is the current generation model. Probably the biggest upgrade is 5G connectivity for the cellular models, although the ones on sale here are GPS only. Other updates include a "2X more scratch resistant" Ion-X glass, brighter display that can go up to 2,000 nits, and 33% longer battery life. Software features include hypertension notifications, sleep score, and an Apple Intelligence powered "Workout Buddy" that motivates you during exercise. The processor is the same S10 chip found in the Apple Watch Series 10. In fact, it's technically the same chip found in the Apple Watch Series 9, but optimized for better performance and efficiency.

Can you use an Apple Watch with Android phones?

Although it's technically possible to use an Apple Watch with an Android phone, we wouldn't recommend it. Apple made it so that a lot of the functionality of the Apple Watch requires a smartphone with an iOS operating system. There are some workarounds to implement some of the features, but for the average person, the hassle isn't worth it. If you're absolutely intent on getting an Apple Watch, then getting an iPhone first would be the best option.

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday may be over, but Sonos has decided to continue the deals extravaganza with a new 48-hour Cyber Sale. For Tuesday and Wednesday, you can score some new discounts on select certified refurbished soundbars, speakers, and subs. Sonos refurbished products come like new, in pristine packaging with all the original accessories. They even come with the same one year warranty as a brand new product.

Sonos Era 100 Smart Speaker

The appeal of a light gaming mouse is clear. For some people, the lighter the mouse, the more comfortable and agile it feels, and the less fatigue they get during longer sessions.

The best lightweight gaming mice don't sacrifice performance. In fact, mouse technology is improving to the point where quality batteries, sensors, shells, and switches weigh less, meaning most high-end mice these days can be classed as lightweight while still cramming in top-tier features.

We’ve compiled a list of the best lightweight mice on the market right now. All of the wireless ones weigh less than 60g, whereas the wired ones are less than 70g. We've broken them down by category to help you pick.

TL;DR – These Are the Best Lightweight Gaming Mice:

1. Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro

Best Lightweight Gaming Mouse

2. Roccat Burst Core

Best Budget Lightweight Gaming Mouse

3. Corsair Sabre V2 Pro

Best Ultra-Lightweight Gaming Mouse

4. Asus ROG Keris II Ace

Best Lightweight Esports Gaming Mouse

5. Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2c

Best Compact Lightweight Gaming Mouse

6. HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2

Best Wired Lightweight Gaming Mouse

7. Roccat Kone Pro

Best Lightweight RGB Gaming Mouse

Lightweight Gaming Mouse FAQs

Are lightweight mice better for gaming?

Lightweight mice make certain games easier to play and control. Many professional esports players opt for a lightweight mouse because there’s less effort involved and more agility when making finer movements, which is essential when you need to react quickly.

Additional contributions by Michelle Rae Uy, Danielle Abraham, and Georgie Peru.

Following the cancelation of Perfect Dark and the dissolution of its dedicated studio, The Initiative, two of the project's leads have found a new home at Take-Two Interactive, and more specifically at 2K.

As reported by Jason Schreier on Bluesky, Perfect Dark studio head Darrell Gallagher and director Brian Horton have been hired at 2K to start a brand new studio. No details have yet emerged as to what the new studio will work on, or if any other former Perfect Dark employees joined them.

When asked, a 2K spokesperson provided the following confirmation of the hire:

With a combined six decades of AAA game-making experience across franchises like Tomb Raider, Call of Duty, Destiny, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Hitman, Deus Ex, and more, we’re thrilled to confirm Darrell Gallagher and Brian Horton have joined 2K for their next all-new venture. We don’t have additional details to share at this time, but look forward to sharing updates on their work in the future.

This comes after the cancelation of Perfect Dark by Xbox earlier this year as part of a larger wave of devastating layoffs. The project had previously been a troubled one, with multiple studios being brought into help and a number of internal revisions as studio leads tried to figure out what the game should be.

While The Initiative was closed down upon the game's cancelation, Crystal Dynamics had also been working on the project. Per Schreier's reporting and corroborated by IGN's own sources, leadership from both studio sides of the project spent two months after its cancelation shopping it around to publishers in an effort to save it. Take-Two Interactive allegedly was one of the interested parties, but the deal fell through, and Crystal Dynamics underwent layoffs (it's second round of three this year).

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

Handheld PCs are popping up just about everywhere, but one of the most exciting is the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally.

While Microsoft didn’t do a great deal to tempt buyers of Xbox consoles during Black Friday, Amazon has a solid deal on the new Xbox and ASUS portable, bringing it down to $489.99 from its MSRP of $599.99.

The best Black Friday deal on a brand new, unopened pair of AirPods Pro 3 earbuds has returned. Amazon (and various other retailers) has once again lowered the price of the Apple AirPods Pro 3 earbuds back down to $219.99. Retail price is $249. This would make a fantastic (albeit extremely generous) gift for any iOS user, even if that person already has an older generation AirPods Pro. The upgrades are more than just incremental this time around.

AirPods Pro 3 Earbuds for $219.99

Silent Night, Deadly Night will be released in theaters on December 12.

More Christmas movies should start with bloody vomit, in my opinion. My hopes for this Santa-based childhood trauma story weren't high, knowing it was a remake of the uninspiring 1984 original, but as soon as a Nazi hockey mom got a one-way ticket to hell in the shape of an axe, my heart grew like the Grinch's.

Billy (Rohan Campbell, who recently starred in The Monkey) lost his parents at Christmas, but gained a little voice in his head called Charlie that bosses him around like a murderous middle manager. It's established that Billy is unhinged from the very beginning - he's got an axe, a Santa suit collection and an advent calendar system that even Ed Gein might consider a bit much - but despite my initial resistance, he grew on me like maggots in an open wound. Honestly, if he liked being called Daddy and had a thing for spanking, he'd basically be a hero in a dark romance novel.

By the second act I was rooting for his relationship with a true-crime junkie, explosively tempered love interest Pam (Ruby Modine), began to see Charlie as a kind of built-in Alexa for murder, and found the death toll of various town naughty types satisfying in a coal in their stockings type of way. It's laid on a little thick sometimes, with conversations about "doing a bad thing is different than being a bad person" and having Billy play Go Fish with a cute kid, but hey, it's Christmas, and if you can't get a little bit sentimental during tinsel time, when can you?

Throw in an urban legend, some missing children, and an absolute a-hole of an ex-boyfriend, and there's maybe a little bit too much going on in terms of the plot, but it all comes together in the end in a messy sort of way. I was even pleasantly surprised by some of the explanations in the third act, which helped stitch up a few plot holes that had been making my brain itch. I laughed out loud with a sort of sinister joy at the ending, all of which helped it to feel like more than just another slasher movie with some baubles hanging off of it. Some people are going to hate it, but once you have Santa slaughtering Nazis, you're past the point of worrying about being divisive.

Director Mike P. Nelson is responsible for another reboot, the 2012 version of Wrong Turn (fun fact, that starred Ruby Modine's dad Matthew Modine), and if he remakes anything else, I'm there with popcorn. It might not be a shot for shot remake of the 1983 version, but it's faithful to the ideas while still having a bit of fun. And honestly, it's better for skipping the whole Catholic motif of the 1984 version. Who needs the judgement of God when Santa is the one deciding whether or not you get a BMX under the tree?

It might be our final bookish roundup of the year, but there are still plenty of great new releases to check out before 2025 comes to a close. With exciting additions to several hit series and some brilliant standalones, there’s something for every type of reader.

And with only a few weeks until Christmas, we’ve made sure to include a range of genres and authors that others would no doubt love to receive, too. Or why not add another book to your wishlist? We certainly have.

These are the December 2025 new books that you won’t want to miss out on.

An Arcane Inheritance by Kamilah Cole

Release date: December 30

During Black Friday and Cyber Monday, there were surprisingly few GPU deals. Fortunately, if you've been waiting for one of the more affordable Blackwell cards to come back in stock at a reputable retailer, there's a good deal available right now. Walmart is offering an PNY GeForce RTX 5070 12GB Graphics Card for just $499 shipped. This is actually a better deal than previous ones I've seen because it features a triple-fan cooling system. The RTX 5070 is an excellent GPU for gaming at up to 1440p with high framerates, especially with DLSS 4.

PNY GeForce RTX 5070 12GB Graphics Card for $499

Triple fan cooling

Tomb Raider will be at The Game Awards this week. Which Tomb Raider, you ask? The game or the show? We don't know! Maybe both!

Lara Croft RETURNS for a moment you cannot miss.

📺 Catch Tomb Raider live at @thegameawards on December 11. #TombRaider #TheGameAwards https://t.co/rV1WzCVvSp

— Tomb Raider (@tombraider) December 8, 2025

This comes from tweets both by The Game Awards creator Geoff Keighley and the official Tomb Raider account. As Keighley puts it, "As just revealed in our The Game Awards Vote in Fortnite map portal, tune in Thursday night for a look at the future of one of gaming's most iconic franchises, Tomb Raider. This is one you won't want to miss."

So, what could be shown? There are a few possibilities. The first and most likely is that we're about to see the Tomb Raider game that's been in development at Crystal Dynamics for several years now. First announced in 2022, we have yet to actually see this game in action, though we did get a look at the Lara Croft redesign last year.

One could forgive Crystal Dynamics for being so quiet the last three years, though, as the studio has been through it. Shortly before the announcement, Embracer Group purchased the studio and the franchise from Square Enix. Then, it sold both off to Middle-earth Enterprises in 2024. Amazon is still publishing Tomb Raider, but Amazon has had its own issues with the struggles of its New World MMO, its Lord of the Rings MMO, and mass layoffs. Amazon said over a year ago that the game would reveal was "not too far away," leading one to wonder what exactly was meant by that. Meanwhile, Crystal Dynamics has undergone three waves of layoffs this year, including 30 individuals last month, an unknown number of workers in August following the cancellation of Perfect Dark by Xbox, and 17 people earlier in the year, as well as 10 others back in 2023.

That's the game side of things. On the TV side, we know there's a live-action Tomb Raider series in the works at Amazon in partnership with Story Kitchen, starring Game of Thrones' Sophie Turner as Lara Croft. The show will, per Story Kitchen, "reinvent the franchise on a massive scale" and will interconnect “live-action television series and video games into a unified storytelling universe.”

But again, it's been in the works for a while with no updates. We first heard of its development in January of 2023, and it was officially confirmed later that year. There were reports in April of this year that the TV show was "dead" in part due to Tuner's busy acting schedule and in part due to Jennifer Salke, who greenlit the show at Amazon, being "booted" from her job. There were also allegations that a script hadn't been provided yet. But then, in September, Amazon re-confirmed the Tomb Raider series was happening and would start shooting in 2026, with Turner still to star.

That's...a lot going on! With all that background, it seems most likely we're going to see the game, as the series hasn't begun shooting yet. However, it's possible we're due for a look at Turner as Lara Croft. Given the vagueness of Keighley and Crystal's tweets...why not both? In the meantime, at least we have the anime...I guess. We didn't much care for the first season.

The Game Awards will take place on Thursday, December 11, at 5pm PT/8pm ET. Here's our guide on what else to expect at the show.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

During their panel at PAX Unplugged in Philadelphia, Riot and UVS Games debuted Riftbound's second set, Spiritforged. Hosted by Jimmy Wong and Riftbound Game Director Dave Guskin, the duo revealed a handful of new cards players can use in the upcoming expansion, as well as a roadmap for new Riftbound sets until the end of 2026 and an organized play schedule.

Spiritforged is scheduled to debut in China on December 12, with an English release date of February 13, 2026.

The panel started with Guskin detailing the history and making of Riftbound, then jumped straight into revealing the next 12 Legend cards for the set, which you can see below.

Riftbound Spiritforged will introduce new game mechanics and keywords to offer deeper strategies and deckbuilding possibilities. Some of the new cards will feature these new mechanics:

• Equipment: Gear cards that can be attached to Units to give various benefits and abilities.
• Gold: A Gear token that allows you to help pay Power costs of cards.
• Quick-Draw: Equipment cards with this ability can be used as a Reaction.
• Repeat: Allows some cards' cost to be paid twice for double the effect.
• Weaponmaster: Upon coming into play, units with this keyword automatically attach Equipment in play.

For you collectors out there, Spiritforged is bringing back the alternate art Overnumbered cards, this time themed around the Ionia Spirit Blossom. There will be 42 total special edition cards, which will include some reprints of Origins Champions with new art, such as Ahri Inquisitive. You can pull these out of regular booster packs.

They closed out the PAX Unplugged panel with a look into Riftbound's future after Spiritforged launches in early 2026. For now, they plan to release sets every quarter. The third set, titled Riftbound: Unleashed, launches in May 2026. Then Q3 2026 sees the launch of Vendetta, followed by a Q4 release of Radiance. You can see the full roadmap below.

Perhaps it’s the smell and feel of new cards fresh from a pack, or just the expectation of what could be, but I love me some colorful cardboard rectangles, commonly referred to as “trading card games”. As someone who has been playing some manner of TCG or another for close to 30 years at this point, it feels like this particular hobby has seen an explosion in popularity and options for potential deck-builders to pick from.

The latest offering that has drawn in crowds is Riftbound, designed by Riot Games and published in partnership with UVS Games (the same group behind Universus, another TCG that brings massive properties like Godzilla and Street Fighter together in a competitive card game) and based on the immensely popular League of Legends IP. With Riftbound: Origins, the game’s first set, debuting only a few short weeks ago, Riftbound looks like a pretty neat game, but just how neat exactly?

I hopped in my car and dropped into my FLGS (friendly local game store) to get a more boots-on-the-ground look at Riftbound.

To the Rift!

Pulling into Game & Company, located in Walled Lake, Michigan, I popped in during their recently added weekly Riftbound night. Spread across a few tables, players were fending off one another, holding down their battlefields, and making pushes to claim their opponents in an effort to score points.

Walking over to one of the tables, the players kindly let me sit down and watch and graciously answered my basic questions about the game - I had yet to play it at this point. At a glance, I could tell both of them were TCG veterans, with one playing on a gorgeous Dragon Ball Super playmat and the other one adorned with the MagicCon logo, so I asked what they both thought of Riftbound.

It quickly became apparent that both Brandon M. and Alex H. felt the big initial draw for Riftbound was the attached League of Legends IP. “I’ve played a lot of League [of Legends] so that’s definitely a draw,” Brandon explained, “I’ve always liked card games but just haven’t found that I have related to one as much as Riftbound.”

Alex echoed a similar sentiment, mentioning that he is a big fan of how the resource system is handled in Riftbound, known as Runes (basically mana for the MTG players out there), and that “you only have yourself to blame if you manascrew yourself” since Runes are placed in a separate, small side-deck you draw from each turn.

Popping into the shop’s Discord channel, I spoke with active member Chris, who attributes not only the IP to the reception but also the quality of the game: “Riftbound seems to have been developed by a team that has been paying attention both to what these games have done correctly or incorrectly as well as how they could connect this trading card game to the universe of Runeterra fans already know and love."

"There is an incredible amount of depth to this game that I have only experienced in Magic:The Gathering. This is a great thing, as I feel a lot of the trading card games that have come after haven't really captured the complexity that leads to truly outstanding plays. Riftbound feels alive and vibrant, without feeling watered down and tired. I feel like most players are aware there is so much more to come due to the depth and expanse of the Runeterra lore, but we welcome it as players and are ready to take that journey.”

But how is it selling?

Leaving the players to finish their best-of-three match, I wanted to get some perspective from the other side of the FLGS coin, the folks who run the shop.

Taking a break from stocking the shelves with board games and packs of the hottest TCGs, I asked Alyssa Dean, one of Game & Company’s owners, what she makes of Riftbound so far. “What stands out to me the most about the Riftbound release is just how passionate the players are about the IP. They’re already in love with all these characters so just seeing them come to life in the game has been really rewarding for us as a store and for the players.”

That excitement looks to be translating into sales too, Alyssa continues, ”Sales are really high. TCGs are kind of at a high right now, so I wouldn’t say that it’s wild, but it is definitely very strong. If I could get, you know, 20 times more product than what I did, I guarantee I’d still sell out, which is a really great way for a game to start off, with this level of excitement.”

With the hype and the store’s excitement absorbed into my veins, I cracked some packs and wanted to see if Riftbound could sink its claws into someone who never played much League and could barely tell you what “jungling” means. First and foremost, holy crap is it tough to find ANY sort of product right now, be it single packs, champion decks, or the Proving Grounds boxed game.

Getting some games in and cracking a couple of packs, even without much in-depth knowledge of the IP, it’s clear that Riftbound has some fun gameplay backing up the hype and some gorgeous card art too. The card games I've played, predominantly being Magic, Digimon, and some Gundam, mean my focus is always on how I dish out damage or tank the blows against me. I found Riftbound’s focus more on holding ground and shoring up your position to be a refreshing change of pace.

Sure, I enjoy countering moves by my opponents and taking out their units, but I got far more of an adrenaline boost by overtaking an enemy battlefield and watching my victory points creep up as I held the line. I don’t need to know who Lee Sin is to know that this game feels good. Now I just need to track down enough packs to try my hand at making my own deck and really get into the jungle with this game.

Riftbound looks to be riding high out of the gate with fans and game stores alike, and even as a League newbie (that’s still a word folks use, right?) its quick matches and its capture-and-hold gameplay have yanked me in like a champion out of formation.

There is no shortage of options available for connoisseurs of colorful cardboard rectangles out there, so it remains to be seen if this up-and-comer is able to protect its lanes from the likes of Magic, One Piece, and whatever the next new TCG turns out to be. The next set, Spiritforged, is due out in February and with players rabid to get their hands on every bit of Origins they can, Riftbound looks to be a serious contender for TCG players’ time and money, but it remains to be seen for how long.

Scott White is a freelance contributor to IGN, assisting with tabletop games and guide coverage. Follow him on X/Twitter or Bluesky.

You'd think with the threat of tariff-related price hikes constantly looming, prices on Bandai Gundam model kits would be way over retail, but that's not necessarily true. Case in point, Amazon is currently offering the Bandai Strike Freedom Gundam Perfect Grade Model Kit for $219.99. This is sold and shipped by Amazon directly, not a marketplace reseller. This kit retails for around $300 but prices have hovered closer to $250-$260 for most of 2025. This is one of the biggest and most display-worthy Gundam sets you can get for under $300, and would make an amazing gift idea this holiday season for any Gundam superfan or hobby model enthusiast.

Bandai Strike Freedom Gundam PG Kit for $219.99

If you’re already jonesing for another fix of The Boys now that the spinoff series Gen V just wrapped Season 2, you’re in luck. Prime Video just dropped the first teaser trailer for The Boys Season 5 at CCXP Brazil. In the process, we’ve gotten our first glimpse of a new world order where Antony Starr’s Homelander truly reigns supreme.

As any good teaser should, this footage raises more questions than it answers about the new season. So while we wait for the May 2026 premiere, let’s break down the biggest burning questions surrounding the fifth and final season of The Boys.

Is the Team Really United This Time?

Season 4 ended on a particularly dark note for our heroes. Now that the new US President has pledged loyalty to Homelander, Vought’s superhuman figurehead is effectively in charge of the most powerful nation on Earth. Most of the team has been captured by Vought and thrown into one of the company’s “Freedom Camps.” Erin Moriarty’s Starlight is now a fugitive, left to mount a desperate resistance on her own. And, as ever, Karl Urban’s Billy Butcher remains the wild card. He’s got a deadly array of new powers and a willingness to use every weapon at his disposal to finally bring down Homelander.

The teaser makes it clear that this is basically the status quo heading into the new season. However, it also doesn’t dance around the fact that it’s only going to be a matter of time before Starlight rescues her comrades and the team gets back together. Even Butcher is hooking up with his old friends again, despite Season 4’s ending making it seem like he was going to be a chaotic free agent.

The question is how long this unity can actually last. The show has always focused a great deal on the tension between Butcher and his teammates. He’s willing to go to extremes they won’t in the name of punishing Vought. That certainly seems to be the case with Season 5, as we know Butcher is preparing to unleash a Thomas Godolkin-designed supe-killing virus on the world. How long until the team fractures again?

It’s an especially pointed question in the final season of the series, given how the comic ended. We won’t get into spoilers here, but as much as Homelander is the main antagonist of both versions, the comic really comes down to the rivalry between Butcher and Hughie in the end. Can this team stop Vought and Homelander and still retain their souls in the process? Or is Butcher’s way now a necessity in this dark new era?

Where Are the Gen V Characters?

Gen V Season 2 certainly wrapped with a major twist, as Jaz Sinclair’s Marie Moreau and her Godolkin University classmates wound up meeting with Starlight and Jesse L. Usher’s A-Train and joining their fledgling resistance movement. It’s unclear whether Gen V has a future on Prime Video, but it is safe to say that these characters have a part to play in the final season of The Boys.

Unfortunately, the teaser doesn’t give us any indication of what their roles might be. Marie and her friends are completely MIA in this footage. Does that mean we should expect them to play more of a supporting role in Season 5? Or is Kripke simply keeping his cards close to the vest?

“They’re trying to mount a real push, but they’re also outgunned, outmanned," Kripke told THR. "You’re in an entire country that has drunk Homelander’s Kool-Aid. They’re outmatched by the size of the hundreds of superheroes that are in every town across the country, who have been given authority over the police. So it really is a true underground resistance against a fascist government, which definitely has no comparison or parallel to anything going on anywhere in the world.”

We do expect Marie herself to be an important figure in Season 5, as she’s effectively the best weapon the resistance has against Vought. She may be the only person on Earth besides Jensen Ackles’ Soldier Boy with the power to kill Homelander. One way or another, we suspect that power will be put to the test.

Who Is Jared Padalecki Playing?

Supernatural fans are in for a real treat in Season 5, as Kripke has orchestrated a full-fledged reunion of the beloved horror series. Not only is Ackles reprising his role as Soldier Boy, but the other Winchester brother, Jared Padalecki, is joining the cast. And if that weren’t enough, Misha Collins is also joining the series at some point in Season 5.

Unfortunately, we still don’t know the identity of Padalecki’s character after watching the teaser. We only see him appear in a single shot alongside Soldier Boy and Homelander, suggesting he’s playing a villain. So who is he? What connection does he have to this fearsome superhero family? Is he once again playing the brother of Ackles’ character, or someone else entirely?

And what about Collins’ character? We don’t see him at all in the new teaser. We can only hope the show contrives some way of getting all three actors together on-screen for at least one scene.

What’s Sister Sage Up to Now?

Susan Heyward’s Sister Sage has easily been one of the best additions to The Boys universe in recent years. She’s the smartest woman in the world, and we saw proof of that in Season 4 when she managed to orchestrate Homelander’s rise to the top of the political food chain. For Sage, it was nothing more than an intellectual exercise to break up an existence dominated by boredom.

Sage also wound up playing a significant role in Gen V Season 2, where she similarly helped Ethan Slater’s Thomas Godolkin manipulate his way back to full health. In that case, Sage was motivated by more personal desires, as she and Godolkin were lovers. But, ultimately, Sage was forced to help sabotage Godolkin’s plan after it became clear he wasn’t content to simply enjoy his newfound freedom.

So what motivates Sage now? What does she want? How does she fit into Homelander’s regime? Is it possible that she regrets the chaos she helped wreak and will start working against Homelander? Or is she fully on board? If the latter, she might well be the most dangerous enemy Annie and her team have to face in Season 5.

Who Is Homelander Punching?

The Season 5 teaser trailer is dominated by a recurring scene of Homelander viciously, methodically punching an enemy. That raises the obvious question: Who is he punching? Our first thought would be Butcher, but let’s not forget just how ridiculously strong Homelander is. For any opponent to withstand multiple blows, they would have to be very strong themselves. Do Butcher’s new powers extend far enough to withstand that?

There are certainly other options. Homelander could be fighting dear old dad, beating Soldier Boy to a bloody pulp. It could be another of his superhero “allies,” as Homelander is definitely mercurial at the best of times. All we can say for sure is that he seems to be particularly invested in this one-sided battle. We can’t wait until Season 5 drops so we can find out who the unlucky person is on the receiving end of Homelander’s mighty fist.

The Boys Season 2 will premiere on Prime Video on April 8, 2026, culminating in the series finale on May 20.

There's more to come from The Boys universe after Season 5 ends, of course. While Gen V Season 3 remains up in the air, the prequel spinoff Vought Rising is confirmed. That's said to explore the early days of The Boys’ nefarious mega corporation, Vought International. And then there's The Boys: Mexico, executive produced by Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal and written by Blue Beetle scribe Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer.

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

Bowflex isn't the only option when it comes to adjustable dumbbell sets. NordicTrack is another trusted brand at a much lower price point. For a limited time, Amazon has discounted the NordicTrack Select-a-Weight Adjustable Dumbbells to just $249.98. That's over $200 less than a comparable set of Bowflex SelectTechs. The set includes two adjustable dumbells with a maximum 55 pounds of weights each (or 110 pounds total). You also get free shipping on a package that's going to weigh over 100 pounds. This is a fantastic gift idea for anyone (including yourself) who plans on getting stronger as part of a New Year's resolution. Order them now and you're pretty much guaranteed to receive them before Christmas.

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Management sim Esports Manager 2026, from developer Neurona Games and publishing platform indie.io, just released a new demo on Steam that gives an in-depth look at the systems that will be present in the final game.

As you could probably guess from the name, the game puts you in the role of a manager of an esports organization and challenges you to lead it to victory. The demo focuses on the three key systems that define the gameplay: talent acquisition, management of staff and players, and match simulation.

You can create your own organization from scratch or take control of a real esports organization, like EternalFire, Copenhagen Wolves, M80, and GamerLegion, and additional teams will be added when the game fully releases. And with the Transfer Module, you can scout, buy, and sell players, including real-life players like @neLendirekt, @BanKsEsports, @PiNGCasts, @bit1, and many more.

Each player has ratings in several different categories. Some define their technical gaming ability, like their skill with different weapon types or how clutch they are. Others define their personality, like leadership, amicability, and loyalty. And still others define their physical attributes, like eyesight, reaction time, and endurance.

You’ll be competing with other organizations for their services, negotiating contracts and building a roster that best aligns with your current goal. Timing and market conditions will affect these negotiations, so your strategy might need to change as circumstances do. And you’ll need to balance your income, expenses, and sponsorships to keep your organization from going bankrupt.

Once you’ve built your team, you can use the Talk Module to communicate directly with your players and staff members to manage their growth, morale, and relationships. You set training plans to improve players’ skills, but you also need to keep an eye on their well-being and how they’re feeling. You don’t want to overwork them or wear them down. You’ll also need to monitor how your players and staff members feel about each other and resolve any conflicts that might come up. It’s all part of the nitty gritty of running an organization; it’s not always sunshine and rainbows.

Of course, it wouldn’t be an esports team without the actual esports. Using the Simulation Module, you’ll take the team you’ve built into tournaments, where you can watch it perform in semi-3D simulated matches. Will all your hard work pay off in a tournament win? Or will it be clear you need to develop your team more? There’s no way to know until you actually see them in action. And with the Tactic Creator, you can design and test strategies that you can use during simulations.

These systems make up the core gameplay loop of Esports Manager 2026, and about 70% of the final systems are present in the demo. The demo doesn’t limit the real-life amount of time you can play it, but it is limited to one in-game month. That’s plenty of time to go through the full process of creating your manager profile, choosing a team, building your roster, communicating with players, signing up for a tournament, and going through simulated matches.

While most of the core gameplay is there, the developers have also made it clear that more is on the way. In particular, match simulations will be significantly expanded and more complex, with added options for tactical control and in-game events. And, of course, everything that’s present in the demo will be further balanced and polished between now and release.

Like the full game, the demo is meant to be replayed to test out new strategies and experience more of what it has to offer. And it should give you a pretty accurate idea of the scope of the final game. The demo is available to download on Steam now, and if you want to get the latest updates, you can follow Esports Manager 2026 on Twitter or Discord.

Black Friday is well behind us, but gamers looking to upgrade their gaming PC before the end of the year still have an opportunity to do so at a great price. Dell (Alienware) is offering an Alienware Aurora R16 gaming PC equipped with an RTX 5080 PC starting at just $1,850. It's complemented with an Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU, but since this is a customizable configuration, you can upgrade specs for an extra cost. Alienware normally commands a high price, so this is a great opportunity to stay within budget and still get performance without compromising on quality.

Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 5080 Gaming PC From $1,850