We're inching closer to the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, and if you've already secured your preorder of the console, or are looking to pick it up on launch day, now is a great time to grab some accessories to go along with it. There are quite a few up for preorder right now, too. In particular, Hori has a selection of brand new Switch 2 accessories that are available to preorder, including a wired controller, USB camera, travel bag, and more.

Preorder Nintendo Switch 2 Accessories From Hori

These items are all set to drop in June as well, with some dropping on June 16 and others on June 30, following the Switch 2's release. You can see the specific release dates for each item, as well as preorder pricing, below.

If you're still waiting to get your hands on the console itself, preorders are unfortunately out of stock at most major retailers right now. Don't let that get you down, though. It's worth it to keep an eye on our Switch 2 preorder guide for the latest stock updates as we get closer to its official release date.

While console preorders are up in the air, there are still plenty more Switch 2 items you can drop some cash on ahead of release. Looking for more of the official Switch 2 accessories? Quite a few are still up for preorder, including the Switch 2 Pro Controller, Switch 2 carrying case, the Switch 2 camera, and Switch 2-compatible microSD Express cards.

That's not all. Plenty of Switch 2 (and Switch 2 Edition) games are available to preorder as well, including Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, Super Mario Party Jamboree Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.

Switch 2 Games Up for Preorder

Hannah Hoolihan is a freelancer who writes with the guides and commerce teams here at IGN.

One of the most exciting trading card crossovers in years is nearly here. Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy releases on June 13, and the only set still available from major retailers is the Starter Kit, now back in stock and available to preorder at Amazon for just $19.87. UK readers can also grab it for £15.99.

With the rest of the sets sold out and some singles already going for over $500, you might want to lock in your preorder before it vanishes faster than you can say Chocobo.

For some time now, Tekken fans have been asking for a trip to Waffle House. Not in real life, mind you, but in-game. And while it sounds like Tekken 8's director is fishing for it, there hasn't been a bit on the line from Waffle House.

Over on X/Twitter, Tekken game director Katsuhiro Harada was responding to fans still eagerly asking for a Waffle House stage in Tekken 8. It's a frequent demand that's gained a lot of steam as Harada himself has expressed interest in learning more on the matter.

Harada said he "fully understands" fans' requests. So much so, in fact, that he's already been thinking about it, and apparently taken action to try and make something happen.

"Over the past year or more, I've actually tried to make contact through several different channels," said Harada on X/Twitter. "However, and this is purely my own speculation, I suspect that the lack of response may be due to the fact that the project I'm known for revolves around 'fighting-themed video games.'"

To be honest, within the bounds of what I can say, I fully understand your (you guys) request—that's precisely why I had considered taking on this challenge. In fact, I had already been thinking about it quite a while ago.

Over the past year or more, I've actually tried to make… https://t.co/Sa5oSpk2IZ

— Katsuhiro Harada (@Harada_TEKKEN) May 13, 2025

Harada noted that "no response" equals a very rare case. He also said if using a different name or format is acceptable, as long as "the core message is maintained," then he would be willing to seriously reconsider and explore this again.

So it seems like Kazuya and Jin won't be settling their familial differences beneath the yellow light of a Waffle House sign anytime soon. A parody version could happen though, or an in-universe facsimile. Harada suggested "Hustle House" in another post, which isn't a bad option.

Tekken 8 is currently swinging into a new update with Patch 2.01, after confirming the impending addition of Fahkumram to the Tekken 8 roster. Back in April, Harada responded to fan frustration over Tekken 8's Season 2, and said the tuning team is working "around the clock" to read feedback and work on future changes for the better.

Eric is a freelance writer for IGN.

Microsoft has confirmed cuts amounting to 3% of its entire workforce.

CNBC reported that Microsoft had 228,000 employees as of June 2024, and is aiming to reduce management layers across all its teams. Approximately 6,000 employees are affected.

“We continue to implement organizational changes necessary to best position the company for success in a dynamic marketplace,” a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement to CNBC.

IGN has asked Microsoft if the cuts affect its video game business.

In September 2024, Microsoft cut a further 650 staff from its gaming business after 1,900 staff were cut earlier that year. As part of those cuts, Microsoft closed Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks and Redfall developer Arkane Austin. In total Microsoft let go of 2,550 staff from its gaming business since acquiring Activision Blizzard for $69 billion in 2023.

Speaking to IGN in June 2024, Xbox boss Phil Spencer said: "I have to run a sustainable business inside the company and grow, and that means sometimes I have to make hard decisions that frankly are not decisions I love, but decisions that somebody needs to go make."

Developing...

Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Actor Tom Hardy has done his fair share of physically demanding roles, having favored action and superhero films throughout the course of his impressive career thus far. But it seems as though beloved roles in films like Venom, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Dark Knight Rises, and even period thriller The Revenant have taken a serious toll on the actor’s body and wellbeing as he approaches his 50s.

“I’ve had two knee surgeries now, my disc’s herniated in my back, I’ve got sciatica as well,” the 47-year-old Hardy revealed, opening up to Esquire UK about the physical results of being so willing to put his body in harm’s way for action-heavy projects.

“And I have that... is it plantar fasciitis? Where did that come from? And why? Why?! And I pulled my tendon in my hip as well. It’s like, it’s all falling to bits now, and it’s not going to get better.”

Thanks to his work on titles like Injustice: Gods Among Us and Nightwing, Bruno Redondo is easily one of the most talented artists working at DC these days. Case in point, in 2023 Redondo won the Eisner Award for Best Cover Artist for his work on Nightwing. So it only makes sense that DC would want to celebrate Redondo's bold, eye-catching style with a new series of variant covers.

DC will publish no fewer than eight new covers by Redondo in August 2025 as part of its Artist Spotlight promotion. That includes this hilarious variant of Detective Comics #1100, paying homage to a campier era in Batman's history:

In 2004, AbleGamers was established as a nonprofit dedicated to elevating disabled voices and improving accessibility in the gaming industry. For approximately 20 years, the organization has presented talks across industry events, raised millions through annual charity events, and acted as a consistent resource for developers and players alike. Throughout its existence, video game accessibility and AbleGamers became synonymous, and reporters, developers, and the public viewed them as an integral source of advancing accessibility.

Founded by Mark Barlet, the organization worked with studios like Xbox to create the Xbox Adaptive Controller, PlayStation to create the Access Controller, and even paired with Bungie for exclusive merchandise. Aside from industry partnerships, AbleGamers purports to act as consultants with developers to teach about the implementation of accessibility options in games. While they previously provided adaptive gaming equipment to disabled individuals, they have recently dropped that initiative. As the accessibility movement grew, so too has AbleGamers’ presence and influence across the industry.

However, roughly 20 years after its founding, new reports from former employees and members of the accessibility community describe abuse, financial mismanagement from leadership, and a board that failed to protect its employees.

Advocating Under Strenuous Conditions

Mark Barlet’s mission with AbleGamers was to create a charity that celebrated disabled inclusion in gaming. According to a post on the AbleGamers website, Barlet led the organization to provide services like peer counseling for clients, a sense of community for disabled individuals, and consulting services. Yet, behind the scenes, sources recount an environment that failed to reflect mission goals.

According to the corroborated account of a former employee who wished to remain anonymous, Barlet’s behavior became concerning a few years after the employee joined the organization. Throughout their approximately 10 year employment with the charity, the source describes several instances of sexist and emotionally abusive comments directed toward them.

“He kept telling me I was HR for the charity because I’m a woman,” the source said. “At this time, I was the only woman in the charity. He then sent me to work on a literal HR case that I now know was really illegal of me because I didn’t have those credentials.”

The source claims that Barlet occasionally made light of the aforementioned HR case for several weeks, causing numerous employees to feel uncomfortable. According to the source, Barlet would periodically tell the source she was HR because she “was the woman of the group.”

The source continued to experience behaviors they believed to be aggressive, both directed at her, and others within the company, while employed throughout their 10-year period. They described incidents including overhearing racist remarks about other employees, a time when they felt they had to verbally break up a conflict between Barlet and another coworker, and witnessing a number of inappropriate comments from Barlet such as, “We need to get the most f***ed up disabled person to be on our marketing, the one with real multiple disabilities.” The source notes that in this particular instance, Barlet proceeded to make obscene gestures, mocking individuals with physical disabilities.

Barlet would also make sexually explicit remarks and comments about the source in front of others, especially during staff meetings or when working together in person.

“During an all-hands internal meeting, I was two months postpartum, and before the meeting, everyone was either in call or in the conference room physically, and he said my jugs had gotten so big that he wouldn’t know how to handle them,” the source said. “About a week later, we were walking past each other, and he went up to me with his hands outstretched hovering over my [chest] and said ‘Haha, they’re so big, I wouldn’t know how to handle them because I’m gay.’”

The source acknowledges that Barlet would show support and even befriend new employees, but as they grew within the organization, would begin harassing them. Every time Barlet was confronted because of his inappropriate mannerisms, he would immediately deflect, telling the source, as well as other employees, that he was merely joking. The source acknowledges that his behaviors with her grew increasingly hostile every time she spoke out against him.

Toxicity Outside the Charity

Barlet’s allegedly hostile and inappropriate behaviors were not relegated to AbleGamers alone. The source notes that Barlet would consistently talk down to or insult other accessibility advocates within the space. To them, it seemed that Barlet wanted AbleGamers to be the only resource of accessibility within the industry, and when others grew in presence, he would speak ill of them at best and threaten them at worst.

“Especially at [The Game Accessibility Conference], he said something about almost every speaker that came up,” the source said. “Anyone that either spoke or was an advocate, just how they are idiots. One woman that I know worked closely with Xbox Accessibility, he would tout that she only got there because of her father, and she doesn’t know what she’s doing.”

An anonymous accessibility advocate corroborated Barlet’s behavior at industry events. At a business meeting discussing major initiatives, the source notes that Barlet grew increasingly irate. Every time they would discuss accessibility, Barlet would loudly interrupt by saying “Shut up, shut up, you don’t know what you’re talking about.” The source explains Barlet then spoke over them during the entire 30-minute presentation.

Yet another accessibility advocate that wished to remain anonymous also corroborated Barlet’s behaviors. After Barlet discovered they were interested in pursuing accessibility, the source notes Barlet stated over a call, "You are a drop in the pond of accessibility. And I own the pond.”

And finally, still another accessibility advocate noted that upon discussing a collaboration, Barlet demanded the source hand over all their work, declaring AbleGamers would claim ownership. Barlet allegedly threatened to ruin the project through his "deep industry contacts" if the source refused.

Financial Mismanagement

Barlet’s negative impacts extend far beyond his interactions with his employees and fellow members of the accessibility community. As the founder and former Executive Director of AbleGamers, Barlet helped to create new initiatives and programs for the organization. Under the guise of benefiting disabled players, the charity received millions in donations from studios and players alike. Yet, new questions arise as to what the monies helped to purchase. According to another former AbleGamers employee that wished to be anonymous, Barlet’s egregious spending caused tension within the company. Allegedly, his access to funds would do little to help the mission, instead amounting to wasteful spending.

“In the fourth quarter of 2023, senior leaders at the org had been talking about [finances] for quite some time,” the source said. “We were really wanting to get a sense of how to develop our budgets as pillar leads. This came to light where a lot of the senior directors had knowledge about the finances, and that the revenues were not great, and that expenses were out of control.”

The source notes that frequently, funds were allocated for first-class tickets for certain leadership, hotel rooms before or after the dates of designated events, and even expensive meals for office staff that primarily consisted of remote employees. The source indicates that, internally, employees would regularly question the financials of the organization every time a non-essential expenditure was made. This was especially apparent when Barlet purchased a van for taking AbleGamers services on the road. According to the original source, Barlet “bought a van one day, wrapped it, and said we’re doing this. The money just sunk. The van did nothing for us.” The purchase of the vehicle was during the pandemic, and as the source explains, couldn’t be properly utilized with quarantine and work-from-home orders.

Both former employees we spoke to noted the purchase of a Tesla vehicle charger for the headquarters. According to the original source, some members of leadership directed their teams to be more frugal with their budgets, citing funding concerns. The source explains that “Mark paid to have a Tesla charger at the headquarters. None of us drove a Tesla except him.” The second source notes the independent board of AbleGamers began "combing through credit card statements or bank transfer statements within the past year. They came across the Tesla charger and expressed frustration with [Barlet] using AbleGamers' money to install a Tesla charger." The source explains that Barlet claimed to do this for the organization, but like the first source, notes that nobody within the company drove a Tesla besides Barlet.

Aside from non-essential expenditures, the second source notes that internally, there was discrepancy amongst staff regarding salaries. Leadership regularly questioned why members of the organization were being paid more than those in higher positions, especially since Barlet controlled salary amounts. According to the source, salaries appeared to target alleged favoritism, with some employees earning far more for doing far less within the company.

“A lot of the directors including senior directors did not agree that Mark should be drawing that much of a salary, that was always a point of contention," the source said. "There were people that were not directors making more than directors. There were senior directors making less than directors. There were people doing next to nothing making almost the highest amount, minus [Barlet]. There was a lack of consistency with raises here and there."

Leadership Failures

To coincide with Barlet’s financial misspending, the original source explains that AbleGamers’ board ordered the hiring of a Certified Public Accountant who was granted the role of Chief Financial Officer. For approximately two years, the source was told by leaders that the CFO “rang the alarm, saying ‘Something is terribly wrong with our finances.’” Despite his concerns and warnings, the source notes the board failed to act on them, and according to the source, the CFO left toward the end of last year, but allegedly returned to the organization (IGN reached out to the CFO via email but did not receive a reply).

Despite Barlet being the primary source of issues at AbleGamers, both former employees note that others in leadership positions, especially the nonprofit’s independent board, failed to protect employees and act within a timely manner. However, according to the original source, the lack of initiative by the charity’s leaders, specifically the board, was intentionally orchestrated by Barlet.

“He kept the board very off limits,” the source said. “He could only communicate with them. I would ask [leadership] ‘Can I talk to the board, this is getting ridiculous,’ and they said, ‘I don’t know who any of them are.’ I would say ‘You’re [top leadership], how do you not know who the board are?’”

The second source notes that things escalated in April 2024, when a former AbleGamers employee ordered an investigation to be completed through ADP, a payroll and HR service. After several weeks, the source notes that ADP allegedly advised the independent board to terminate Barlet "immediately" due to the severe nature of the allegations. Yet, according to the source, the independent board allegedly ignored the findings of ADP's investigation.

This intentional separation between employees and the board eventually came into conflict in June 2024. According to the second former employee, an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) complaint was filed in May, with at least one other employee following suit months later with their own EEOC complaint. The complaints range from racism, ableism, sexual harassment, misogyny, and failure by certain members of leadership and the board to protect employees. Shortly after ADP’s findings, AbleGamers’ independent board began conducting their own internal investigation. However, as the second source explains, the board’s response was not only untimely, but also too slow to rectify the issues (IGN received two separate copies of EEOC complaints from former employees and can confirm their validity).

“June 15 is when I submitted a written complaint,” the source said. “On June 25, 10 days later, the board issued its first communication regarding the organization’s transition process. They did not even name that Mark was being investigated, throughout the whole [investigation]. They finally let staff know, on September 25, 2024, that the board issued communication that Mark was stepping down.”

Throughout this process, the source was instructed to speak with AbleGamers’ chosen legal team, but never the board. The source also explains that no communication was given to staff regarding instructions on what projects to pursue, who staff were meant to report to, who was in varying leadership roles, the status of varying budgets, and even the process of the investigation. For travel requests, staff were told to communicate to former Chief Operating Officer Steven Spohn but as the source notes, he “did not hold the interim executive director position by title or power.”

The first source also notes that the internal investigation was conducted by a law firm that had direct ties to AbleGamers. According to the source, AbleGamers "was under contract with the law firm, as we were going to take over the building. I had been to that building and met those lawyers before when touring. When I found out that they were the ones leading the investigation, ones that [Barlet] had a direct working relationship with, I brought that up to one of the board members, saying 'Is this actually a fair investigation?' And they reassured me, saying 'Yes, they are acting in appropriate manners.’ But, I don’t believe that.” The second source notes that the law firm were to be tenants in the building, now owned by AbleGamers, for a period of "1 to 2 years, ending in 2025 or 2026, when they would move out."

The second source also acknowledges that the board’s lack of a quick reaction was in part due to Barlet’s control of the charity. According to the source, Barlet had access to “all the social media, bank accounts, all the different logins, control over Google Workspace, giving him the power to shut off everyone’s email.” Yet, a lack of transparency is one of the biggest complaints.

Barlet’s removal from the organization was not without controversy. In a statement on his LinkedIn, Barlet states, “As I step aside, I am confident in leaving this mission in the hands of the next generation of leaders, who will carry the torch forward with passion and innovation. The future of AbleGamers is bright, and I am excited to see how they will continue to expand the vision we started.” The board never made a statement, instead instructing staff to simply point others to Barlet’s post. The source also notes that Barlet was given severance after his removal, causing conflict with employees. However, even after Barlet’s departure, the board allegedly retaliated against several employees.

According to the first source, several employees were let go from the organization in November and December 2024. The source notes that, allegedly, each employee who spoke out against Barlet’s behaviors, resulting in the investigation and subsequent removal, were later removed. “The people that were fired were all ones that filed reports or talked to lawyers.” The source also believes that they would have been fired alongside former coworkers if they did not choose to leave the organization due to personal reasons. The source acknowledges that the remaining employees at AbleGamers are staff that did not partake in the investigation (AbleGamers officials did not respond to our request for comment via email).

Even after the events of the investigation and subsequent rebuilding of AbleGamers, former leadership continues to create roadblocks. According to former employees, Spohn, who acted as a “mediator” between Barlet and employees during tense moments, reached out to several former employees using “manipulative language,” encouraging them not to speak with IGN for this story for fear of “ruining the charity’s reputation,” as well as his own. The employees note that Spohn continued to message multiple times, using similar language. And when reached for a comment via email and X/Twitter, Spohn did not respond.

Barlet’s Comments

As for Barlet, he, along with the former Director of User Research at AbleGamers, Cheryl Mitchell, founded AccessForge, an accessibility consulting group. However, unlike AbleGamers, this new venture advertises services to groups and businesses ranging from transportation, faith-based, hospitality, and even gaming.

When interviewed regarding the allegations, Barlet, with respect to claims specifying workplace abuse and harassment, noted "After thoroughly being investigated by an independent third-party, it was determined that none of that was true." Barlet also claims that these allegations, and their subsequent investigation only occurred after he was allegedly advised to cut back on AbleGamers' workforce. The investigation itself was conducted internally, and Barlet was asked by the board to step down from his position. Sources note that the results, or lack thereof, required further examination, resulting in several EEOC complaints being filed. Sources also question the integrity of the internal investigation, noting that it was conducted by the legal team affiliated with Barlet and AbleGamers.

And when asked about allegedly harassing members of the disability community, Barlet stated "I have had a 20 year career, going to countless events and meeting many, many people. Not everyone liked me. I think no one can say that everyone likes them."

When questioned about funding being spent toward in-office meals, Barlet explains that of the 17 employees on AbleGamers' staff, seven reported to the office every week. This number would occasionally increase to nine when all local members reported to the office. Barlet notes that due to the location of AbleGamers' headquarters, "expensive [meals] did not exist." He explains that the offerings of the area equated to values similar to "Chipotle and Chick-fil-A." Barlet explains these meals were treated as a "perk" for employees who visited the office.

As for comments pertaining to the allegations of extended hotel stays, Barlet states that "I would plan meetings before and after events. I stayed two days after the last GDC I went to. On day one, I met with a large gaming company, who then turned around and purchased $100,000 in training contracts. The next day, I had lunch with a high-value donor, who had already donated over the course of two years, $170,000. After I met with this donor, we discussed everything, and she agreed to donate another $75,000." Barlet did not specify the years this took place, nor the donors.

And with respect to first class flight purchases, Barlet notes "AbleGamers had a codified and board approved travel policy. That travel policy stated that 'Directors and above, on flights of four hours or more, could upgrade to business class if that cost was not extravagant.'" Barlet claims he "often flew first class" because of the nature of his disability. And when pressed to provide the information, he states he was unable to share the travel policy with IGN.

However, an AbleGamers employee handbook provided to IGN by a source, specifically section 5-19, titled Business Expense Reimbursement, notes "Employees will be reimbursed for reasonable approved expenses incurred in the course of business. These expenses must be approved by the employee's Supervisor, and may include air travel, hotels, motels, meals, cab fare, rental vehicles, or gas and car mileage for personal vehicles. All expenses incurred should be submitted to the Executive Director along with the receipt in a timely manner. Employees are expected to exercise restraint and good judgment when incurring expenses." Sources familiar with the finances dispute Barlet's claim, explaining that he, along with other directors, would regularly use first-class travel for flights across the United States, often equating to thousands of dollars. And when other employees would request upgrades to flights, Barlet would allegedly mock them, brag about his travels in first class, and outright deny requests to upgrade.

With relation to employee salaries, Barlet notes that "Most of our employees were compensated based on their education, experience, and position." However, the sources refute that claim, explaining that those with bachelors in computer science, masters degrees, and even years of experience were regularly underpaid compared to those with similar titles or experience.

Other allegations, such as the purchase and installation of a Tesla charger were outright denied by Barlet. Instead, he claims the charger was a plug, not a full charger unit. Sources note independent board members familiar with the device distinctly note a charging unit, and sources explained that those familiar with finances were appalled at the overall cost for the unit and its installation.

And with claims that employees did not have access to the board, Barlet notes that all members of the board were available through Slack, a workplace chat system. However, sources note that while the internal board, consisting of Barlet, Spohn, and Mitchell, were available to communicate with, the independent board, those responsible for the investigation into Barlet's departure, were allegedly not within the company's Slack.

Throughout numerous email exchanges with IGN, as well as the interview, Barlet provided no evidence to refute the allegations, only his word. And when asked to show appropriate documentation, he repeatedly denied, insisting that he was not able to provide information unless correspondence was entirely off the record. He also failed to provide other sources to corroborate his claims, again only willing to provide the information if interviews were completed entirely off the record.

For many disabled players, AbleGamers acted as a beacon of positivity. With so little proper disability and accessibility representation in the gaming industry, an organization advertising the uplifting of disabled voices was a welcome sight. However, behind closed doors, and even within the accessibility space, leadership allegedly failed to protect employees, as well as the people they purported to champion. And particularly for the first source, Barlet’s behaviors ruined what was otherwise a dream career.

“It definitely crushed me,” the source said. “I cried a lot. I cried a lot to my family, friends, and therapist because that was my dream job. [Barlet] just burned it to the ground.”

Grant Stoner is a disabled journalist covering accessibility and the disabled perspective in video games. When not writing, he is usually screaming about Pokémon or his cat, Goomba on Twitter.

UK-based developer JSS Games has announced Norigin, an upcoming cinematic boss-climbing narrative game with a beautiful art style that's about family and self-discovery. It's in development for PC.

As you can see in the full announcement trailer above (as well as in the first screenshots in the gallery below), the bosses you'll be scaling in Norigin are absolutely massive. You'll wander through multiple realms during the course of the story, dealing with dynamic weather and an ever-changing day/night cycle as you seek to reconnect with your father.

To learn more and follow along with Norigin's development as it progresses, you can wishlist it on Steam.

Ryan McCaffrey is IGN's executive editor of previews and host of both IGN's weekly Xbox show, Podcast Unlocked, as well as our monthly(-ish) interview show, IGN Unfiltered. He's a North Jersey guy, so it's "Taylor ham," not "pork roll." Debate it with him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan.

Veteran Oblivion fans might remember Domino Days, during which players would use the game’s physics system to create a chain reaction of falling objects. It went on to become a Bethesda tradition that was continued with 2023’s Starfield and its more advanced physics.

Now, with The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, that tradition lives on, with one player spending seven hours lining up books to get the Dominoes chain reaction just right.

Redditor Muaxh03 uploaded the video below showing their work. We see the books slowly fall and knock the following book in a satisfying fashion.

Muaxh03 said they did not use mods to place the books, rather placed them one by one, which sounds particularly grueling. They admit to spawning the books, however. The entire process took seven hours.

“... almost every time I loaded the save something broke, it was not reliable so yes I had to deal with books falling or glitching most of the time, that's why you can see some desynchronizing on the books, some fall slower or faster,” Muaxh03 explained.

NPCs were disabled, of course: “I would lose my mind if there was NPCs walking around,” Muaxh03 said.

While this effort is a good start for Oblivion Remastered Dominoes, previous efforts in past Bethesda games were more elaborate and involved varied objects. But playing around with books in Oblivion, even Oblivion Remastered, is a lot harder than you might think because you can’t rotate and place objects in Oblivion in the same way you can in Starfield or Skyrim.

“I spent the first 1-2 hours trying to learn how to place them good, after that the stairs took 2-3 hours because every time I tested it, it gave me different results, every time I loaded the save something broke,” Muaxh03 said.

Reaction from Oblivion players has been universally positive, with a mix of disbelief at the time, effort, and patience that went into placing the books so precisely in a game as fiddly as Oblivion.

What next? “Cool now fill a bookcase!” joked one player. “I would sooner fight a god in hand-to-hand combat unarmed. Last time I tried to put a book back the whole room ended up in shambles — SHAMBLES!”

Oblivion Remastered, developed by remake specialist Virtuos using Unreal Engine 5, has a long list of visual and feature improvements. It runs at 4K resolution and 60 frames per second, as you'd expect, but other changes are more meaningful. Everything from the leveling systems to character creation, and combat animations to in-game menus have been improved. Meanwhile, there's lots of new dialogue, a proper third-person view, and new lip sync technology. The changes are going down well with fans, some of whom believe Oblivion Remastered would be more accurately described as a remake. Bethesda, however, has explained why it went down the remaster route.

Now the game is out in the wild, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered players are warning newcomers to do Kvatch before the level scaling makes it an absolute nightmare. We’ve also got a report on a player who managed to escape the confines of Cyrodiil to explore Valenwood, Skyrim, and even Hammerfell, the rumored setting of The Elder Scrolls VI.

And be sure to check out our comprehensive guide to everything you'll find in Oblivion Remastered, including an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and every Guild Quest, How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, every PC Cheat Code, and much more.

Image credit: Muaxh03 / reddit.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra is delayed out of 2025 to early 2026.

A statement published by Skydance Games confirmed the delay, with the development team working to add polish. There’s a hint that Skydance may soon release new information or show a fresh look at the game, however.

Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra is a narrative-driven adventure featuring Captain America, Azzuri, the Black Panther of the 1940s, Gabriel Jones of the Howling Commandos, and Nanali, a Wakandan spy embedded in Occupied Paris.

It hit the headlines early 2024 after an eye-catching trailer revealed as part of Epic Games’ State of Unreal event at GDC. It’s in development at the Skydance Games team, which is led by Hennig (Uncharted) and co-president Julian Beak.

Hennig’s Skydance team is also working on an untitled Star Wars game, which has yet to be fully revealed.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Ay caramba! LEGO has announced the launch of a Simpsons-themed Krusty Burger set. It is minifigure-scale, and it includes numerous Easter eggs and references to the classic era of the show. LEGO The Simpsons: Krusty Burger is not available for preorder, but will retail for $209.99 and is targeted toward the 18+ age range. It will release June 4 to the general public, but LEGO Insiders can get Early Access beginning June 1 (you can sign up here for free).

This is the first Simpsons-themed build since 2018, when LEGO launched two small Brickheadz models of Homer Simpson and Krusty the Clown. Prior to that, LEGO Simpsons consisted of only two sets: a 2,523-piece model of the Simpsons house (2014) and a 2,179-piece model of the Kwik-E-Mart (2015).

Deep in the pre-history of 1997’s original Grand Theft Auto, an earlier gameplay concept that was being noodled on within the halls of DMA Design initially would have had us playing as police. Eventually the call was made to pivot and exclusively focus on the wrong side of the law, because it was decided being a criminal was way more fun than being a boring old cop. GTA as we know it was born and, a bazillion in sales later, it’s hard to argue they made the wrong decision. However, nearly three decades down the track, The Precinct has arrived to remind us that there actually is a way to make upholding the law just as engaging as breaking it, in an old school, GTA-inspired sandbox city. The Precinct may be a modestly sized package overall – and the crime-busting gameplay loops it throws at us do eventually become a little samey and worn over its roughly 12-hour campaign – but its isometric, grimy ’80s aesthetic is absolutely excellent and there’s real novelty in patrolling the rain-slick streets, seeking to chip away at Averno City’s neverending supply of miscreants, mobsters, and malefactors.

Setting The Precinct in the ’80s is the single best decision developer Fallen Tree Games has made here. There’s no cyber crime, social media, or mobile phone nonsense cluttering up proceedings. Rather, it’s a world detached from all manner of modern crap; it’s just you, your partner, and a radio. The Precinct is nothing if not an earnest and distinctly 20th century cops ’n’ robbers playground, and it’s all the better for it – it’s like an old TV show. I feel like my CD collection would probably make it clear I understand that police accountability is not a new debate by any stretch but, hey, even Henry Rollins found a way to go from spraying cops with Black Flag lyrics to playing cops in The Chase and Bad Boys II. The Precinct just wants to let us screech in, sirens blazing, and save the day. This is not a game that attempts to grapple with controversy, or the seedier side of ’80s policing – it’s an idealised portrayal of cops and how they’re supposed to properly protect and serve, rather than a commentary on how they actually do it.

At its core, it’s an action-packed ode to iconic 1980s police procedurals and movies; every day would be the busiest and most dangerous day of any actual cop’s career, baddies are cuffed and booked without delay, and the city will never run out of squad cars, no matter how many you destroy. No one would realistically continue to live in The Precinct’s Averno City by choice – it’s chaos. It’d be like living in the last 15 minutes of The Blues Brothers every hour of every day, as countless squad cars crash through crumbling concrete in their relentless pursuits of the city’s brazen crooks. The cop fiction cliches are certainly all here – you can check off the young, idealistic rookie partnered with a jaded veteran counting the weeks until his retirement, a moustachioed chief, and an officer named Kowalski.

I do wish the script had a bit more of a natural, spoken-word flow to it, though. As it stands it tends to sound a little overwritten and hammy, and some of the voice acting comes over a bit corny as a result. If The Precinct really was a TV show, it unfortunately wouldn’t be in line for any of Hill Street Blues’ 26 Emmys.

Cop gear

Fortunately the hokey dialogue does little to detract from what it gets right, and I was very quickly hooked into its cadence of daily shifts on the beat. These can be pounding the pavement on foot, with your eyes peeled for vandals and violence. They can be cruising the streets, prowling for carjackers, or watching for the telltale weaving of a drunk driver. They can even be aerial missions where you’re hovering above the city in a chopper, catching crooks in your spotlight and calling in backup to effect arrests.

There’s a great amount of variety in the types of crimes being committed, which is unfortunate for Averno City’s victimised citizens, but good for us as the emergent missions essentially never stop. I did eventually reach a point where the busts began to feel a little repetitive, but this wasn’t until I was quite close to the end of the roughly 12 hours I spent completing the core story. The procedural street crimes continue after the credits roll, but I suspect I’ll leave The Precinct sweating in the interrogation room for now, and come back to it later if it has anything further to offer me down the track – like fresh cases or different street crimes in a potential future update.

The action occurs both on foot and in vehicles so, whenever you’re not airborne over the city, a typical shift will involve hoofing it after some suspects before tackling and subduing them – and high-speed, paint-trading car chases to catch others. Those car chases are terrific thanks to The Precinct’s strong handling model. Vehicles may appear cute and toy-like on screen thanks to the elevated, isometric camera angle, but they’re not sticky or twitchy. They have a really well-honed sense of weight as you hurl their all-American bulk into handbrake turns to negotiate corners. When a gaggle of squad cars with sirens blazing close in on a fleeing perp all at once, there are times when The Precinct reminds me more of the original Driver than the old 2D GTA games. (The original Driver as viewed from a low-flying drone, that is.)

The range of era-correct lookalike vehicles is spot-on, too, from off-brand Mustangs and ’Cudas, to A-Team-adjacent Vanduras, and the classic, boxy third-gen Caprice cop cars I’ve seen Hollywood crash a thousand of over the years. It’s Detroit steel as far as the eye can see. I love the visual style, with subtle outlines on the vehicles that give them an almost illustrated look. Sirens are especially snazzy at night too, casting a soft blue and red glow on the slick streets. It’s a great looking game overall, and there’s a lot of granular detail that’s been baked into the environment – from heavily vandalised phone booths to the signage for slimy strip clubs. The level of care is admirable considering the distant camera perspective makes it hard to notice these finer touches while bombing through the map in a battered patrol car, but I was able to appreciate them after slowing down to better absorb the surroundings. Regardless of whether I was playing slowly or recklessly, The Precinct ran reliably for me throughout testing with no crashes.

By the book

The Precinct places a clear focus on following correct procedure, and you’ll earn fewer experience points if you make errors or stray from the rules. This will mean levelling up delays and slower access to the upgrade trees if you go rogue and accost people before checking their ID, attack civilians, use inappropriate force on perps, or issue bogus parking tickets. You won’t lose XP from your previously banked total, but being a bad cop will wipe out your daily gains. Most of the upgrades are fairly typical – resilience to attacks, greater ammo capacity, and the like – but naturally it pays to have as many as you can when you find yourself in a shootout. The abilities to call in heavy-duty riot vans and roadblocks are definitely useful in helping end pursuits, too.

It’s an interesting approach, and it’s one you can go quite deep with if you really want to take control of which individual charges you’re booking your suspects with, and escort them personally to the station (which will earn you more XP). This part of the process can be automated, however, and that’s what I opted to do on almost all occasions, in order to keep things moving along. I’d rather be out on the streets than riding a desk doing paperwork.

However, most arrests generally do unfold the same way: you ID your suspect, search them for weapons and contraband, and then arrest them, fine them, or let them go. It’s a system that wears a bit thin by the story’s conclusion because there aren’t enough variables or surprises to separate one from the next. It’s also always a little unsatisfying when it seems to misread the situation, such as when some scumbag is trying to run me over with their car and it scolds me for using my gun to defend myself. I’m a loose cannon, goddamnit! At least let me charge them with trying to kill me.

I’m not certain whether this sort of thing is a bug or just something that hasn’t been accounted for, but The Precinct is a little janky overall. I didn’t face any game-breaking issues, but I did encounter the odd gravity-defying fling and unexplained invisible wall that broke the illusion.

Alien: Earth premieres its first two episodes on August 12 on Hulu at 8pm ET, and on FX and Disney+ at 8pm PT / ET (August 13 in the UK and internationally on Disney+). New episodes of the eight-episode season debut each following Tuesday.

Set in 2120 (well after Prometheus and just two years before Alien and the unfortunate events that befell the crew of the Nostromo), Noah Hawley’s Alien: Earth sees the mysterious deep space research vessel USCSS Maginot crash-land on Earth, with a young woman called Wendy (Sydney Chandler) and a ragtag group of tactical soldiers making “a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat.”

As a reference point, the recently released interquel Alien: Romulus takes place between Alien and Aliens.

At this point in the Alien timeline, Earth is governed by five corporations: Weyland-Yutani (the main evil corp of the Alien franchise), Prodigy, Lynch, Dynamic, and Threshold. Cyborgs and synthetics coexist with humans, but then the boss of Prodigy invents hybrids (humanoid robots with human consciousness). Wendy is the first hybrid prototype (and is part of the established push for immortality that is a running theme in the Alien franchise).

This line of detail is interesting: after Weyland-Yutani’s spaceship collides with Prodigy City, Wendy and the other hybrids encounter mysterious life forms "more terrifying than anyone could have ever imagined."

This suggests there will be more monsters in the show than the Xenomorph, or perhaps more Xenomorph types. There are said to be five in total.

Here's the official blurb:

In the year 2120, the Earth is governed by five corporations: Prodigy, Weyland-Yutani, Lynch, Dynamic and Threshold. In this Corporate Era, cyborgs (humans with both biological and artificial parts) and synthetics (humanoid robots with artificial intelligence) exist alongside humans. But the game is changed when the wunderkind Founder and CEO of Prodigy Corporation unlocks a new technological advancement: hybrids (humanoid robots infused with human consciousness). The first hybrid prototype named “Wendy” marks a new dawn in the race for immortality. After Weyland-Yutani’s spaceship collides into Prodigy City, “Wendy” and the other hybrids encounter mysterious life forms more terrifying than anyone could have ever imagined.

Alien: Earth cast:

• Sydney Chandler (Wendy)
• Timothy Olyphant (Kirsh),
• Alex Lawther (Hermit)
• Samuel Blenkin (Boy Kavalier)
• Babou Ceesay (Morrow)
• Adrian Edmondson (Atom Eins)
• David Rysdahl (Arthur Sylvia)
• Essie Davis (Dame Sylvia)
• Lily Newmark (Nibs)
• Erana James (Curly)
• Adarsh Gourav (Slightly)
• Jonathan Ajayi (Smee)
• Kit Young (Tootles)
• Diêm Camille (Siberian)
• Moe Bar-El (Rashidi)
• Sandra Yi Sencindiver (Yutani)

In January last year, showrunner Noah Hawley explained why he is not using the backstory provided in Prometheus for Alien: Earth, saying he likes the "retro-futurism" of the original films. Hawley said he spoke to Alien chief Ridley Scott about "many, many elements" of the Alien series, including its ties to the prequels, but ultimately decided to cut loose and move away from the bioweapon backstory because he preferred the lore of the original films.

It's a busy time for the Alien franchise. Alien: Romulus 2 is in the works, and it looks like Alien is once again crossing over with the Predator franchise in the upcoming Predator: Badlands.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

GeoGuessr Steam Edition, a Steam reimagining of one of the world's best-loved browser games, only released on May 8, but it's already the second-worst rated game of all time on Steam.

The browser version of GeoGuessr is tremendously successful, boasting 85 million players and a whole host of customization options that let players tailor not only who they play against, but also what maps will spawn, if they'll be dropped into an urban or rural setting, restrict spawns to certain geographical regions, toggle the ability to move, pan, or zoom — or not move, pan or zoom (NMPZ) — and more, including a smorgasbord of fantastic community-made custom maps.

Of the over 3,000 user reviews left thus far about the Steam version since last Wednesday, however, 84% are negative, with the majority of players complaining about the free-to-play game's monetization system and stark lack of gameplay options compared to the browser edition.

A former Rockstar veteran has responded to recent rumors that a GTA 4 re-release on the latest generation of consoles could be in the works to say the game should be remastered.

The GTA 4 rumor began life with a post from Tez2, who is known within the GTA community for leaking Rockstar information. Tez2 suggested a GTA 4 port for modern systems may be released this year, and its existence was part of the reason Rockstar recently had a GTA 5 Liberty City Mod shut down.

However, it’s worth stressing that Rockstar has made no indication it plans to re-release GTA 4, and in truth such a game would come as a huge surprise, given the studio's ongoing focus on GTA 6.

Obbe Vermeij, former Rockstar Games technical director who worked at the company from 1995 to 2009, was asked about the GTA 4 rumors on social media. While he hadn’t heard about them, he did say GTA 4, which he worked on, “should be remastered.”

“It's a great game and there have been a number of successful remasters recently,” he added, perhaps referring to the hugely popular The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.

“I would like to see it updated,” Vermeij continued in another social media post. “Niko is still the best protagonist in any GTA game I think.”

As for how this potential remaster might work, Vermeij suggested Rockstar would perhaps port GTA 4 to the latest version of the Rage engine, which it uses to build its games.

Again, it’s worth pointing out that Rockstar has provided fans with no indication it plans to remaster GTA 4. We should remember the enormous undertaking that is GTA 6, and to take on a GTA 4 remaster or remake amid all that would perhaps be beyond the scope of Rockstar, even with its seemingly endless resources.

Rockstar could have an external studio handle the port, as it did with the port of Red Dead Redemption, but the timing of a GTA 4 re-release in 2025 makes little sense when you think about GTA 6’s initial fall 2025 release window. If GTA 6 were not delayed, it’s doubtful Rockstar would sell a GTA 4 remaster and GTA 6 in the same window, diverting the audience's attention away from the main event.

Sticking with Liberty City, some GTA fans think the location may end up in GTA 6 either at launch or as post-launch DLC.

Liberty City is the GTA series’ take on New York City, and was the setting for 2008’s GTA 4 as well as 2009 spin-off GTA: Chinatown Wars. GTA 6 is set in the fictional state of Leonida (Florida), which includes Vice City, GTA’s take on Miami.

While we wait to find out, we’ve got plenty more on GTA 6, including all the details we’ve discovered so far, a roundup of 70 brand new screenshots, and the expert opinion on how GTA 6 will look on PS5 Pro.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

A brief teaser for Fallout Season 2 has hit the internet, showing a new look at New Vegas.

The clip, shown during the Amazon Upfront livestream overnight, was captured and uploaded on reddit. It shows Lucy (Ella Purnell) and The Ghoul (Walton Goggins) 50 miles out from what was Las Vegas. We hear the famous Geiger Counter sound, signifying radiation is in the air. The Ghoul and Lucy look at each other before heading towards New Vegas, and we get a good look at the post-apocalyptic city skyline.

New Vegas is of course the setting for the Obsidian-developed Fallout: New Vegas, and the setting for Season 2 of the Fallout adaptation.

So, what can we learn about the show's take on New Vegas from this teaser? Well, it’s more detailed than the brief look we got at New Vegas at the end of Season 1, which stands to reason. It will look familiar to anyone who's played New Vegas, although it appears more densely packed with buildings (the video game New Vegas was a relatively sparse location).

The standout is of course the Lucky 38 Resort and Casino, which is on the New Vegas Strip. In the New Vegas video game, the Lucky 38 is the pre-War casino from which Mr. House runs the city. Fans also believe they can make out the Ultra-Luxe, but in truth it’s hard to discern individual video game locations from the shot here.

Warning! Potential spoilers for the Fallout TV show follow.

The show is confirmed to be heading to New Vegas for Season 2, and it's not just about the location itself. Mr. House is set to be a part of the new season, though how involved he'll be is unclear. We've already seen the tease of some familiar sights thanks to previous set leaks, including this video that shows part of New Vegas and the iconic Lucky 38 resort and casino, all bright and lit up. It's certainly far from the rusty place you might expect.

It’s worth remembering where we are in the Fallout timeline: the TV show is set in the year 2296, after all the Fallout video games. Fallout 4 takes place in the year 2287, while Fallout: New Vegas is set in the year 2281, a full 15 years prior to the events of the show.

So, what happened in the 15 years since we last saw New Vegas? Co-showrunners Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet have said the setting has changed, and explained why that is important for fans to note.

“All we really want the audience to know is that things have happened, so that there isn't an expectation that we pick the show up in Season 2, following one of the myriad canon endings that depend on your choices when you play [Fallout: New Vegas],” Wagner said last year.

“With that post-credits stuff, we really wanted to imply, guys, the world has progressed, and the idea that the wasteland stays as it is decade-to-decade is preposterous to us. It’s just a place [of] constant tragedy, events, horrors — there's a constant churn of trauma. We're definitely implying more has occurred.”

But what will happen when the Power Armor-clad Overseer Hank, played by Kyle MacLachlan, turns up (potentially after a dustup with a Deathclaw)? Some speculate Mr. House, the enigmatic ruler of New Vegas in the video game and dastardly boss of RobCo Industries in the TV show’s flashbacks to before the bombs fell, may enlist the help of Hank to restore New Vegas to its former glory. Perhaps, if that’s the way the story goes, the forces of Mr. House and New Vegas will end up taking on the Brotherhood of Steel in yet another Fallout faction battle, with Lucy, Maximus, and The Ghoul caught in the middle.

Overnight, Amazon announced a December 2025 release window for Season 2, and confirmed Season 3. Last week, Aaron Moten, who plays Brotherhood of Steel hopeful Maximus, said the “endpoint” of the Fallout TV show has it running until Season 5 or Season 6.

We had a great time with Season 1, writing in IGN's Fallout The Series review that the show is "a bright and funny apocalypse filled with dark punchlines and bursts of ultra-violence [and is] among the best video game adaptations ever made," slapping it with a well-earned 9/10.

To help tide you over until Season 2, here's our interview with Todd Howard and Jonathan Nolan covering all our burning questions after the end of Season 1.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

More deals and more restocks, need I say more? Yes, the answer is yes. I get it, Amazon is getting cheeky with their ridiculous Pokémon TCG sealed pricing, but one best seller has dropped in price, and an in-demand Elite Trainer box is back.

Granted, it's at a premium, but a calmer price than over $260 for a Surging Sparks booster bundle last week. As usual, I've found some single-card alternatives for those who just want their Pokémon TCG chase cards and save money over pack-opening FOMO.

TL;DR: Deals for Today

Didn't catch the Final Fantasy MTG preorders the first time around? Good news, I found the starter kit featuring Cloud and Sephiroth from FFVII to preorder right now.

There's also plenty of other Magic: The Gathering products to buy now or preorder, such as the highly anticipated Edge of Eternities set.

Outside of TCGs, we've got some Silent Hill f and 2 preorders, a Pathfinder Second Edition Book Bundle from Humble and a white noise maker that's been a best seller over the past few days. Let's get into it.

MTG Final Fantasy Starter Kit

Journey Together ETB

Prismatic Evolutions Surprise Box

Silent Hill 2 OST 6LP Vinyl

Silent Hill f - PS5 + Steelbook

Pathfinder Second Ed. Asian Fantasy Bundle

Dreamegg Portable White Noise Machine

GravaStar Wireless Mercury M1 Pro

Xbox Game Studios Game Bundle

Corsair K70 RGB Pro Cherry MX Red

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Art Prints

Buy 2 Books, Save 50% on 1

Apple AirPods Pro 2

LEGO Technic Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit

Jason X 4K UHD Blu Ray

Nintendo Switch 2 Travel Carrying Case

Helldivers 2 has released a major new update to the game, which adds new Illuminate enemies, weapon customization and progression, and makes changes to the Superstore. Patch 01.003.000 is out now across PC and PlayStation 5.

Following a number of teases from developer Arrowhead, Helldivers 2 has unleashed a new invasion push from the Illuminate alien faction. This brings with it new enemies, as detailed on the PlayStation Blog, including the Stingray (jetfighters that provide Illuminate support from the sky, targeting Helldivers and lining up devastating strafing runs), and the Crescent Overseer, which has the ability to lay barrages on Helldivers in cover.

There’s also the Fleshmob, which is described as a “failed” Illuminate experiment: “a Frankenstein’s monster of Voteless parts turned into a brute battlefield force that the Helldivers must work hard to destroy.”

Arrowhead teased “sightings of other, even larger ships, though details remain unclear on their abilities.” So perhaps there will be more for players to discover once they jump into the game.

The PC version of Stellar Blade launches via Steam on June 11 along a raft of PC-specific features, a trailer leaked by Sony itself has revealed.

The trailer, published by Sony Interactive Entertainment on the PlayStation YouTube channel before it was removed, also revealed a Complete Edition of Shift Up’s popular PS5 action game. As you’d expect, the internet captured the trailer, which we expect will be released officially soon.

The Complete Edition includes the base game and all the DLC released so far for both PS5 and PC. The news comes over a year after Stellar Blade’s successful April 2024 launch on PS5.

Stellar Blade has all the features you’d expect on PC, including AI upscaling via Nvidia DLSS 4 and AMD FSR 3, an unlocked framerate, Japanese and Chinese voiceover, ultrawide display support, higher resolution environment textures, and DualSense support for haptic feedback and trigger effects.

Elsewhere, the trailer reveals a new boss battle vs Mann, Leader of the Sentinels, and 25 new costumes, which we presume will also be made available on PS5. Players have also noticed that, at the end of the trailer, Eve lets go of a memory stick — a sequence that isn't in the base game. Some are now speculating Stellar Blade is set for a new ending or maybe even DLC.

Whether you’re padding out your backlog or on the prowl for an absolute steal, my bargain list for today is buckling under the weight of some truly sweet picks. From revamped retro gems to blockbuster sagas at pocket-change prices, the sale bins are anything but boring. So let's stop talking in favour of scrolling and saving...

This Day in Gaming 🎂

In retro news, I'm celebrating the 33rd birthday of Street Fighter II: Champion Edition, a fighter whose industry impact cannot be overstated. Obviously, 1991's World Warrior was the opening jab, but the Champion Edition revision was a $2.3 billion leg sweep that put Capcom in the top three highest-grossing arcade games of all time list. Nineties gaming gromets like myself queued outside of arcades for the $1 privilege to play this, thanks to its mirror match permissiveness, playable bosses, balance tweaks, and more unique takes on Ryu and Ken.

• Sonic Frontiers (-27%) - A$72
• Assassin’s Creed: The Rebel Col. (-39%) - A$48
• Dragon Ball FighterZ (-44%) - A$50
• Little Nightmares Comp. Ed. (-75%) - A$13
• Panzer Dragoon: Remake (-90%) - A$3
• Life Is Strange: Arcadia Bay Col. (-60%) - A$23

Expiring Recent Deals

• Hogwarts Legacy (-46%) - A$49
• Shin Megami Tensei V (-24%) - A$60
• Baten Kaitos I & II HD Rem. (-60%) - A$27
• Dead by Daylight (-60%) - A$17
• Deliver Us the Moon (-69%) - A$9

Or gift a Nintendo eShop Card.

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Verizon is offering a pretty awesome deal that doesn't require a bunch of hoops to jump through. For a limited time, you can get a brand new Apple iPhone 14 Plus 256GB 5G smartphone for only $249.99 or 512GB for $299.99 when you sign up for Verizon's $60 Unlimited prepaid plan. The discount will show up only after you have selected the plan. Also note that sales tax is charged on the original price. This is a great deal because you're essentially getting a brand new iPhone for over 50% off without being tied to an unnecessarily expensive plan for a long period of time.

Get the Apple iPhone 14 Plus for $249.99

Must sign up for at least one month of Verizon Unlimited prepaid service ($60 per month)

Amazon Prime Video has announced a December 2025 release window for Fallout Season 2, with the show also renewed for Season 3.

The streamer revealed details about the future of its post-apocalyptic adaptation of the Bethesda games during its annual upfront presentation in New York City on Monday, confirming plans to bring the show back for a third season after the next batch of episodes arrives this winter. It’s a signal that the Fallout team is already feeling confident about Season 2, which finished filming just last week.

“The holidays came a little early this year - we are thrilled to be ending the world all over again for a third season of Fallout,” Executive Producers Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy said in a joint statement. “On behalf of our brilliant cast and crew, our showrunners [Geneva Robertson-Dworet] and [Graham Wagner], and our partners at Bethesda, we’re grateful to our incredible collaborators at Amazon MGM Studios and to the amazing fans as we continue our adventures in the wasteland together.”

Meanwhile, confirmation that Fallout Season 2 is prepped and ready to arrive in 2025 comes as a bit of a surprise. With filming having wrapped only recently and the LA fires bringing production to a halt earlier this year, many had assumed Fallout wouldn't have more episodes ready before early 2026.

While Amazon isn't ready to commit to a firm release date quite yet, news that it will be ready to drop something this December means the Prime Video show is moving full steam ahead.

Warning! Potential spoilers for the Fallout TV show follow.

Fallout Season 1 let subscribers peer into its world of toxic wastelands last April and has managed to gather more than 100 million viewers globally since. Its story left its trio of main characters – Lucy (Ella Purnell), Maximus (Aaron Moten), and The Ghoul (Walton Goggins) – with a cliffhanger, as a last-minute stinger teased that audiences would soon be traveling to the infamous New Vegas for Season 2.

The crew at Bethesda and Amazon have since confirmed Fallout Season 2 will indeed travel to Fallout: New Vegas’ titular town. While most story details remain locked away in a vault, we do at least have confirmation that Robert House (a.k.a. Mr. House) will play some sort of role.

Some set leaks have also suggested viewers might catch a glimpse of a few iconic Fallout: New Vegas locations, including Dinky the T-Rex and the Lucky 38 casino.

Fallout Season 2 is set to arrive this December, with Season 3 to premiere at an unspecified point in the future. For more while we wait, you can read up on how the show could see as many as six seasons.

You can also check out our post-Season 1 interview with Nolan and Bethesda’s Todd Howard.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

There hasn't been a better time in 2025 to pick up one of the latest Apple iPads. The 11th-gen Apple iPad (A16), the 7th-gen iPad Air, and the iPad Mini (A17 Pro), all went on sale last week, most likely as part of a Mother's Day sale event, at the best prices we've seen all year and they're still available for a little while longer. Save up to 20% off compared to buying directly from the Apple Store. In fact, they're even less expensive than Apple's Edu discount.

New 2025 Apple iPad 10.9" (A16) for $299

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

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

$100 Off the New 2025 Apple iPad Air (M3)

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

Samsung has announced the Galaxy S25 Edge, its new top-end smartphone at its May Unpacked event. While it is similar to the Galaxy S25 launched earlier in 2025, the new thinner design should give it an Edge.

Spec for spec, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is remarkably similar to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. It's using the same Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset and features a similar 200MP camera. The main difference is the chassis, which has been slimmed down to just 5.8mm thick from the 8.2mm of the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Of course, with a thinner design, the phone is also lighter, now weighing in at just 163g.

The phone also features the same 6.7-inch AMOLED 2X display as the Samsung Galaxy S25, despite it having essentially the same specs as the slightly larger 6.9-inch Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

With a phone this thin and this large, durability is going to be a major concern. Samsung has claimed to address this by upgrading the glass to the new Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2, which is supposed to be more durable than the Gorilla Glass Armor 2 found in the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The bigger worry is what will happen to it when you sit on it in your pocket rather than how it will fare being dropped. (Is enough to avoid a new bendgate?)

Of course, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge will also feature the same suite of "Mobile AI" tools that debuted with the Samsung Galaxy S24 last year and were further iterated on in 2025. The Snapdragon 8 Elite does allow for quite a lot of AI work to be done locally on the device, which should help a ton for privacy, but there are still a ton of AI apps out there that are still going to rely on the cloud. Still, Samsung does have a couple of cool features that will summarize notifications and news articles at a glance, if that's something you're into.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is available for preorder today, starting at $1,099 for the 256GB model and $1,219 for the 512GB model. The phone also comes in three different color options: Titanium Silver, Titanium Jet Black, and Titanium Icyblue.

Samsung really wants you to believe this skinny phone is super durable; let's just hope it's right.

Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC components queen. You can follow her @Jackiecobra

The first look at Nicolas Cage as the live-action Spider-Noir was revealed by MGM+ and Prime Video at Amazon’s annual upfront presentation on Monday. The image of Cage in costume can be seen below.

Based on the Marvel comic Spider-Man Noir, the series due out in 2026 “tells the story of an aging and down on his luck private investigator (Cage) in 1930s New York, who is forced to grapple with his past life as the city’s one and only superhero,” according to the official synopsis.

In addition to Nicolas Cage in the title role, the Sony Pictures Television-produced series stars Lamorne Morris, Brendan Gleeson, Abraham Popoola, Li Jun Li, Karen Rodriguez, and Jack Huston.

For a limited time, Amazon is offering a Hoto 3.6V Electric Screwdriver for $27.99 after you apply coupon code "IEOJN94O" during checkout. This is the best price I've seen for this particular screwdriver by $2. This is an interesting option for anyone who tinkers with small electronics and deals with dozens of tiny screws and doesn't want to risk damaging components or stripping screws with a full-sized power tool.

Hoto 3.6V 4Nm Electric Driver for $27.99

Earlier this month, Alienware announced its new mainstream lineup of 2025 gaming laptops, dubbed the "Alienware Aurora". The first 16" models are now available for pruchase at Dell. The Alienware Aurora 16 (not to be confused with the desktop) is the less expensive model, featuring an Intel Core Ultra Series 2 i9-270H CPU and GeForce RTX 4050 GPU with 85W TGP, for $1,949.99. The Alienware Aurora 16X is the higher end model, featuring an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU and GeForce RTX 5070 GPU with 115W TGP, for $2,299.99. These are expected to start shipping out in mid June. Both models also have the option to be equipped with RTX 5060 graphics, however those are currently on preorder status with no shipping ETA since the RTX 5060 hasn't actually been released yet.

New Releases: Alienware Aurora 16 and 16X Gaming Laptops

While the X-Men made their name in comic form, the X-Men movie adaptations have become beloved in their own right, with such fan favorites as Patrick Stewart’s Charles Xavier and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. These films are also pretty notorious for their messy timelines, with origin stories, retconning, and time travel to really spice things up. There are plenty of different ways to watch these films, and the choice of how you watch them will determine how certain reveals and moments will pay off.

While it can be easy to just watch them as they were released, we’ve organized the 14 films into how they roughly fit into one big timeline. This will allow you to experience the X-Men story from the beginning and follow each character’s journey from its earliest point.

Now that there are mutants in the MCU, we thought the best way to get ready for the future was to honor the past. If you’d like to watch them in order of release, we’ve included that below as well.

Without further ado, here is our mostly spoiler-free look at how you can watch the X-Men movies in chronological order!

Jump to:

• How to watch in chronological order
• How to watch by release order

Which X-Men Movie Should You Watch First?

If you're new to the X-Men movie franchise, you can choose to start with First Class and make your way through the timeline chronologically. However, if you want to experience the films how they were originally released to audiences, you'll want to start with X-Men (2000) where the series officially began.

X-Men Movies in Chronological Order

1. X-Men: First Class (2011)

X-Men: First Class is the start of a new X-Men chapter that rewinds the clock to the earliest point on the film franchise’s timeline. The film begins in 1944 at the Auschwitz concentration camp before jumping ahead to 1962. The story follows a young Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto and the origins of both the X-Men and the Brotherhood of Mutants.

Read our review of X-Men: First Class.

2. X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

X-Men: Days of Future Past is a bit hard to place on the timeline as it features the X-Men from both the original films and the newer ones. Much of the story takes place in 1973, but plenty of time is spent in an alternate version of 2023 as well. Certain story elements we won’t spoil here make us comfortable placing it here on the timeline, but having an affection for the original crew definitely does help make it a more special moviegoing experience. This means it can also fit right near the end of this list if you so choose.

Read our review of X-Men: Days of Future Past.

3. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)

The first X-Men spinoff movie starts back in 1845, but the bulk of the story is set in 1979 and explores the… well, origin of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. Not only do we get to see how he got his iconic adamantium claws, but we also get our first introduction to Ryan Reynolds’ Wade Wilson/Deadpool. It's an essential part of the Wolverine timeline.

Read our review of X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

4. X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)

If you're looking to upgrade your gaming PC to play the latest games in 1080p or 1440p but still want to keep your budget under $1,000, then check out two options from Thermaltake. First up is the Themaltake LCGS View Gaming PC, equipped with an Intel Core i5 CPU and Intel Arc B580 CPU, for just $999.99 with free shipping. The Intel Arc B580 is one of the best budget GPUs we've reviewed recently and puts up solid, playable framerates at up to 1440p. It beats out the GeForce RTX 4060 and Radeon RX 7600 in many games. Also available is the Thermaltake LGSP Quartz i1460 Gaming PC equipped with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 GPU for $1,099.99. This prebuilt is currently on preorder and not ready to ship until next week at the earliest, since the RTX 5060 GPU is officially released on May 19 and reviews are pending.

Thermaltake LGCS View Intel Arc B580 Gaming PC for $999.99

Kung Fury 2, the feature-length follow-up to the YouTube short and viral hit Kung Fury, has been stuck in a legal quagmire for years despite having been announced in 2015 and shot in 2019. But this past weekend, a trailer/sizzle reel for the sequel showed up online to enthrall those lucky enough to see it with a preview of the ridiculously insane premise, characters, and excesses of writer/director/star David Sandberg's homage to 1980s action cinema.

The original short was released in 2015 after a crowdfunding campaign through Kickstarter which raised over $600,000. Through lots of greenscreen and plenty of innovation, Sandberg introduced the world to the title character (who he also plays) who travels through time to fight Hitler ("Kung Führer"), of course. Oh, there's also vikings and dinosaurs in the mix too.

A feature-length version/sequel was announced in 2016, and in 2018 Michael Fassbender, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and David Hasselhoff were confirmed to be starring in the film alongside Sandberg. Kung Fury 2 was shot the following year with a 2022 release date planned. That was pushed to 2023, but the film ran into legal issues and remains unreleased six years after it was shot.

So when the trailer/footage for Kung Fury 2 showed up on an anoymous account this weekend on YouTube, it was a bit of a surprise for the fans who have been wondering whatever happened to the project. It features 10 minutes from the movie, including Schwarzenegger as an action-star version of the U.S. president and Fassbender as mullett-endowed FBI agent Colt Magnum.

I reeeeally hope this means they've resolved the Kung Fury legal issues because I need to see more of Michael Fassbender's Colt Magnum immediately https://t.co/ktCDcgHnHM pic.twitter.com/GrWJKXbn3x

— Matthew Ruddle (@RuddleMatthew) May 10, 2025

Sandberg tells Variety that the video, which has since been pulled from the original account that posted it, was meant for internal promo viewing: "I hope at least people can see the passion that we poured into the movie, the world deserves to see it as it was meant to be seen. This movie has been held hostage for the past 5 years but I promise to keep fighting for it and make sure this film gets the chance it truly deserves.”

Sandberg is apparently referring to a lawsuit between the producers and investor Creasun Entertainment USA, which accuses the company of not paying $10 million "that it promised, effectively shutting down the production," according to Variety. "At the time, Creasun asserted that the lawsuit was meritless and filed because it had exercised its contractual rights to takeover the film."

Unfortunatley, Kung Fury 2 has been stuck without a release date ever since then.

Your SIM card is one of the most important aspects of your iPhone – it’s the only way to connect to your carrier's network. And while physical SIM cards remain a viable option for many people with older phones, the iPhone 16 only supports eSIM. (In fact, all new iPhones, starting with the iPhone 14, won’t have a physical SIM card.) Luckily, eSIMs offer a lot of flexibility, letting you handle all of your SIM needs directly on your phone. This alleviates the hassle of adding and removing a physical card, and it makes many tasks, like getting international plans, much easier and more efficient.

If you're looking to activate an eSIM on your iPhone 16, you have a few different options, which range from scanning a simple QR code to downloading a carrier's app and following the instructions within. After converting to an eSIM, how you go about activating it will depend largely on your carrier. While most carriers – especially popular ones like AT&T and Verizon – make this a nearly headache-free process, some smaller or lesser-known carriers may be slightly more complicated.

Below, we'll run through the primary ways you can activate your iPhone 16's eSIM.

How to activate eSIM on iPhone 16

There are multiple ways to set up an eSIM on your iPhone 16, and how you go about doing so will depend on your carrier and situation. Regardless of which way you activate an eSIM, it should be a painless process. If you run into any major errors, you should immediately contact your carrier for assistance.

Direct Carrier Activation

Some carriers will directly assign an eSIM to your new phone, which will apply automatically when you go through the initial setup process. Just follow any prompts that arise during the setup to have this squared away.

The downside to this method is that any problems that arise are more likely to be on their end, which will require you to reach out and speak to someone. Luckily, this is rare, so you should be good to go.

QR Code

Your carrier may provide you with a QR code to make things quick and easy. In this case, go to Settings > Cellular > Set Up Cellular or Add eSIM > Use QR Code. Open your phone's camera and position the frame over the QR code, then follow any prompts to finish things up.

Quick Transfer

If you already have an eSIM on a previous iPhone and your carrier supports Quick Transfer, you can swap the eSIM to your new phone very easily. To do so, simply keep your old phone nearby as you set up the new phone, then select the line you want to transfer when you reach the “Set Up Cellular” screen. Follow any remaining prompts to wrap up the eSIM activation.

If your new phone is already set up, you can go to Settings > Cellular > Set Up Cellular or Add eSIM > Transfer From Nearby iPhone. Select the line you'd like to transfer from the list, and follow the remaining prompts to finish setting up your eSIM.

Carrier App

As a final option, you can use a carrier's app to activate your iPhone 16's eSIM. To get started with this, head into the App Store and download your carrier's app. Inside the app, follow any instructions laid out for you regarding setting up the eSIM. Most of these provide a straightforward process that shouldn't pose any hiccups, but if you have any questions, reach out to your carrier to have them help you through it.

Conclusion

Hopefully, setting up your iPhone 16's eSIM using one of the above methods turns out to be as quick and easy as it should be. Isn't simplicity and efficiency the main goal of modern technology after all? But hey, there's always a small chance something goes haywire along the way. So, again, just remember that if you run into any major roadblocks, your best bet is always to contact your carrier and have them help you through it.

eSIMS are in! Switching from a physical SIM to an eSIM is an all-around good move for many iPhone users, as they offer fantastic security, flexibility, and durability. Since they’re all all-digital, they make switching between multiple phone lines much simpler, if that's a feature you value. And swapping carriers with an eSIM is a cinch, making it especially easy to set up new international phone plans while traveling. Whatever reason you have for switching to eSIM, we'll fill you in on which iPhones support this feature and how to go about activating it.

Which iPhones support eSIM?

Before you can get started converting your SIM to eSIM, you'll first need to be certain that your iPhone can even accept an eSIM. Luckily, all modern iPhones support eSIM, so most users are unlikely to run into any issues. But just to be safe, below is a rundown of which iPhones support this technology.

Single eSIM iPhones

These iPhones support one eSIM. However, they also allow you to use one physical SIM, meaning you can technically have two lines if you'd like. To do so, you'll have to have one on the physical SIM and the other on the eSIM.

• iPhone XS
• iPhone XR
• iPhone 11
• iPhone SE (2nd gen)
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 13

If you want multiple lines via eSIM, you'll need to purchase one of the phones that support dual eSIM listed in the next section.

Dual eSIM iPhones

These iPhones allow you to use two eSIMs. If you ever have a need for a second line, you won't need to also have a physical card to make that happen.

• iPhone SE (3rd gen)
• iPhone 14
• iPhone 15
• iPhone 16

It's also worth knowing that all models since the iPhone 14 exclusively support eSIM, meaning there is no slot for a traditional SIM card. If you think you'll ever need a physical SIM card, you'll want to consider an older iPhone or an Android that grants you access to a SIM card slot.

How to convert SIM to eSIM on iPhone

Converting your SIM to an eSIM should be a simple process, but the iPhone model isn't the only thing to consider. You'll also have to be certain that your carrier supports eSIM. Every major U.S. carrier offers the option to use an eSIM, but if you're using a lesser-known carrier, you can contact them and inquire about their eSIM support to be certain before you try to convert your SIM to an eSIM.

When you're ready to convert your iPhone's SIM to an eSIM, head to Settings > Cellular to get started.

You should see an option to "Convert to eSIM" in blue. If this doesn't show up, that's a telltale sign that your carrier either does not support eSIM or does not allow this type of conversion. If it's the latter, you'll need to call them and see if they can manually handle it or provide you with a QR code.

If you do see "Convert to eSIM" in your Cellular settings, you're in luck! Tap this option.

On the next screen, verify that the number listed is the one you'd like to convert, then tap "Convert Cellular Plan" followed by "Convert to eSIM" to wrap up the conversion.

This process will immediately deactivate the physical SIM card you were using previously. With this in mind, it's a good idea to open the SIM card tray and remove the physical card, then restart your phone.

You can now dispose of the physical SIM card if you have no intentions of ever going back. And remember that even if you do want to return to a physical SIM, there's no way to do so directly from your iPhone. Instead, you'll be required to contact your carrier to handle that.

Conclusion

Converting your iPhone's SIM to eSIM has a lot of advantages, so it's well worth the few minutes it should take to make it happen. If you run into any major issues, though, be sure to reach out to your carrier to see how they can help you navigate them. Either way, once you've squared away the SIM to eSIM conversion, you'll be ready to enjoy the all-digital lifestyle!

If you've owned a cellphone in the past 25 years or so, you've likely had to deal with SIM cards – tiny little cards housed in your phone that contain a smorgasbord of personal data and an individual number assigned specifically to you. Without a SIM card, you can't connect to a cellular network, making them one of your phone's most valuable components. But as with so many things these days, even this has gone all-digital with the advent of the eSIM.

With an eSIM you no longer have to deal with a physical SIM card, including the annoying process of finding a stray paper clip somewhere to open the SIM tray on your phone. Everything is handled entirely digitally. Here's everything you need to know about eSIM technology and how you can go about getting one.

What is an eSIM?

eSIM stands for Embedded Subscriber Identification Module. It's an all-digital replacement for a traditional physical SIM card. It stores all the same information and performs the same role as a physical card while being considerably more convenient and easily transferable.

Unlike a normal SIM card, which is stored in a tray within your phone, an eSIM is stored in the phone's motherboard. Because of this, you no longer have to go to a store to get a SIM card when switching carriers, nor do you have to go through the sometimes tedious process of physically swapping an itty bitty card between phones. Instead, eSIMs can be configured straight from your device's settings.

eSIMs are fantastic for businesses, or anyone who needs more than one line in general. For instance, if you wanted to have a personal line and a work line, you'd normally need two phones with separate SIM cards. However, with an eSIM, both lines can be stored on the same digital card, allowing you to swap between them at will.

Another great benefit is flexibility while traveling. With an eSIM, you won't need to purchase a new card when traveling internationally. When you arrive in a new country, you can simply add an international plan to the eSIM with relative ease and get on with your trip.

Which phones support eSIM?

All of the above assumes that your phone and carrier support eSIM, of course, so let's take a look at what you should know about eSIM availability. Luckily, the majority of smartphones from major brands like Apple, Google, Samsung, OnePlus, and Motorola support eSIMs, so finding one that suits your preferences shouldn't be too difficult.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of the first phones from these brands to introduce eSIM compatibility. It's safe to assume that if you have a flagship device sold by any of these brands released after the phones on this list, it almost certainly supports eSIM:

• iPhone XR / XS and iPhone 11
• Google Pixel 2
• Samsung Galaxy S20
• OnePlus 11
• Motorola Razr (2020 version)

Of course, these aren't the only brands that support eSIMs. If you're curious whether your specific device lets you use an eSIM, you can usually find the info quickly with an online search. For example, you can check out our guide on converting to an eSIM on iPhone. Alternatively, you can check under your settings in the "About Phone" section for mentions of eSIM compatibility.

It's worth noting that some phones, such as the iPhone 14 and onward, have stopped support for physical SIM cards altogether, meaning you can only use an eSIM on those devices. If you're positive that you'll need the option for a physical card at some point, you may want to consider a different device. But if you're ready to embrace the eSIM life, you'll be all set.

Which carriers support eSIM?

Now that you know which phones support eSIM, you'll want to be sure your carrier does, too. Luckily, the overwhelming majority of well-known carriers in the US offer full support for the technology. Some popular choices include those listed below:

• AT&T
• Boost Mobile
• Cricket
• Google Fi
• Metro
• Mint Mobile
• Spectrum
• Straight Talk
• T-Mobile
• Verizon
• Visible
• Xfinity

As with the list of supported phones, this is hardly an exhaustive list, but these carriers are available in most states. If you're interested in a carrier not listed here, you can always reach out to them directly to inquire about what types of phones and SIM technology they support.

Are there disadvantages to eSIMs?

While the features offered by eSIMs are no doubt helpful, choosing this option doesn't come without a few downsides. There are a few things to keep in mind when swapping over to this newer technology.

For starters, while most brands and carriers have embraced the eSIM future, some older or budget phones still don't support the technology. Plenty of less expensive devices support eSIM, but since it's not a universal standard yet, the inconsistency can make finding an eSIM-compatible device frustrating when shopping for anything less than flagship phone.

Secondly, if your phone stops working with a physical SIM card, you can simply pop out the card and move it to a new device. However, if this happens while you're using an eSIM, you'll have to contact your carrier and go through the pain of having them assigning your eSIM to your new phone on their end.

Even with these potential obstacles, eSIMs remain a largely hassle-free experience that can make a lot of things just a little bit simpler. In a day and age when efficiency and flexibility are more desired than ever, it may be just the answer you're looking for.

Alienware's new flagship gaming laptop - the Alienware Area-51 - was released earlier this year. It replaces the m-series laptop and bring to the table a host of upgrades including a sleeker redesign, current generation components, and better cooling potential. For the first time ever both the 16" model and 18" model, equipped with the latest Intel Core Ultra 9 processor and powerful GeForce RTX 5080 graphics, are on sale right now. Orders are expected to ship out in late May, so get your reservation in now to prevent any additional delays.

Save Up to $300 Off Alienware Area-51 Gaming Laptops

If you've been waiting for one of the more affordable Blackwell cards to come back in stock at a reputable retailer, here's your chance to pick one up at list price. Amazon currently has the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5070 Windforce OC 12GB Graphics Card exclusively for Amazon Prime members for $609.99 with free shipping. This is an excellent GPU for gaming at up to 1440p with high framerates and supports the latest DLSS 4 technology. Also for a limited time, you'll get a free voucher for the upcoming Doom: The Dark Ages game with purchase.

Note that the suggested launch price of a GeForce RTX 5070 card is $549.99. There are a few models at that price point but they have been extremely hard to find in stock. This Windforce model is priced higher because it's an OC version. That said, this is currently the lowest price you'll find for a standalone 5070 GPU. In fact, according to Tom's Hardware, Nvidia plans to raise GPU prices by 10%-15% in the near future.

Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5070 Windforce OC GPU for $609.99

A good night's sleep is essential for a healthy and productive day. If you're having trouble sleeping, especially when you're travelling and bedded in unfamiliar accomodations, then you might when to check out this deal today. Amazon is offering the diminutive Dreamegg portable white noise machine for a mere $8.10 after you clip the $5 off coupon and apply promo code "JH2QGGYM" during checkout. I bought one the last time this went on sale and it has worked as intended in a nursery, keeping the baby soundly asleep.

Updated with a new coupon code.

Dreamegg Portable White Noise Machine

If you're willing to splurge on a higher end TV and you like Sony, here's a deal that's right up your alley. Amazon is currently offering a massive 77" Sony Bravia 8 4K OLED Google TV for $2,095 shipped. That's the best price we've seen for this recent 2024 model and an excellent option for streaming 4K HDR movies and playing games in 4K at up to 120fps on your PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X gaming console.

Update: This deal has expired.

77" Sony Bravia 8 4K OLED Google TV for $2,095

Considering what it offers, Disney Plus is one of the best streaming services on the block. From classic Disney animated films to the latest Marvel shows and Star Wars movies, excellent kids' programming like Bluey, and so much more, Disney Plus puts an incredible range of high-quality viewing options at your fingertips. And with so much to check out, including season 2 of Andor - we recently gave the third chapter of the second season a 10/10 - you'll want to find a plan that best suits you. We're here to help.

At the moment, one of the best Disney Plus bundle deals available is the massive Disney Plus, Hulu, and Max streaming bundle. This starts at $16.99/month to get you all three streaming services with ads. It's one of the best bundles available at the moment, but we've included more Disney Plus bundle deals worth exploring below. If you're looking for more streaming deals from other services, check out the best Hulu deals and bundles and the best Max deals.

How to Get the Disney Plus, Hulu, and Max Streaming Bundle

The Disney Plus, Hulu, and Max streaming bundle can be purchased through any of the three streaming services and starts at $16.99/month for the ad-supported tier or $29.99/month for ad-free access across the three platforms.

If you currently own all three and want to cut down on costs, this is a great way to bundle them together and save big on what you'd pay for them separately per month – 43% on the ad-supported plan and 42% on the ad-free plan.

What Is the New Paid Sharing Plan on Disney Plus?

In an effort to crack down on password sharing, Disney has unveiled a paid sharing plan for individuals outside of your household. Basically, anyone using your account that's not within your household will have to be added as an "Extra Member" to your account. This costs an additional $6.99/month for the ad-supported Basic subscription and $9.99/month for the Premium ad-free plan, and only one Extra Member slot is available per account. You can learn more from Disney's paid sharing explainer here.

What Are the Different Disney+ Subscription Tiers?

Disney+ is available in a couple of different tiers. You can get the least expensive option (called Disney+ Basic) for $9.99/month, which gives you access to everything except the ability to download select shows to watch on the go. This tier is ad supported. If you want to get rid of ads and be able to download certain shows, you can spring for the $15.99/month or $159.99/year Disney+ Premium package.

What Are the Different Disney+ Bundles?

Want a way to save on your Disney+ membership? Bundles are a great, affordable way to go. As far as bundles go, there are two ad-supported bundles and two ad-free bundles. Here's the breakdown:

• Disney+, Hulu Bundle Basic is $10.99/month and comes with subscriptions to Disney+ and Hulu. This plan lets you stream on multiple devices at once and comes with ad-supported versions of both services.
• Disney+, Hulu Bundle Premium is $19.99/month and comes with Hulu and Disney+ with no ads. It also includes Disney+ Premium features like the ability to download shows to watch on the go.
• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ Bundle Basic adds ESPN+ (With Ads) to the mix alongside Disney+ (With Ads) and Hulu (With Ads), bumping up the price to $16.99/month. You can also download and watch select content on ESPN+ at this level.
• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ Bundle Premium is $26.99/month and comes with ESPN+ (With Ads) and ad-free versions of Disney+ and Hulu. You can also download select content across all three streaming services.

Disney+ Gift Cards

If you want to help someone out and give them a gift that will keep on giving, gifting a one-year Disney+ card is a great way to go. It provides all the great things Disney+ offers and it costs a fraction of what it would take to buy even a small sampling of those movies physically.

What Can You Watch on Disney+?

There is a bonkers array of shows and movies you can watch on Disney+. Let's start at the top and simply talk about the verticals on offer here with the base subscription.

Here's what you get:

• Disney
• Pixar
• Marvel
• Star Wars
• National Geographic

Disney on Disney+

On the Disney front, you have awesome classic movies like The Sword In The Stone, Robin Hood, 101 Dalmations, Hercules, and Sleeping Beauty, modern classics like The Princess & The Frog, Tangled, and Frozen, and a wide range of animated shows, including Phineas & Ferb.

You also gain access to a ton of vintage content like Escape to Witch Mountain, The Apple Dumpling Gang, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, The Love Bug, and a whole lot more. The Disney Junior section is home to absolutely top tier animated shows like Bluey (which, for my money, is worth the price of admission on its own).

There's way more on offer, too, including a ton of Muppet movies, new live-action films and adaptions, nature programs, documentaries, Pirates of the Caribbean, and musical programs featuring Taylor Swift (like her wildly popular The Eras Tour), Elton John, Ed Sheeran, and more.

Pixar on Disney+

When it comes to computer generated films, Pixar stands alone. Kicking off the revolution with Toy Story, Pixar has consistently put out fantastic films, and they are all here. From the Toy Story series to Finding Nemo, Cars, and more recent hits like Inside Out 2, there is a ton to love.

Beyond even that, there are incredible shorts like Bao and Party Central, as well as a wide range of originals and series based on major films, such as Dory's Reef Cam, Forky Asks A Question, Cars On The Road, and more.

Marvel on Disney+

The MCU has become a true juggernaut, and there are many viewers who subscribe to Disney+ purely for access to nearly the entire MCU lineup of films and shows.

Whether you are a fan of the blockbuster action films, you are an appreciator of the classic 90s runs of "Saturday morning" cartoons like X-Men, or you are currently vibing to the funky theme of the 1981 Spider-Man series, there is a ton of Marvel to enjoy on Disney+. And with new movies and shows being added to the MCU all the time, including most recently Deadpool & Wolverine and Your Friendly Neigborhood Spider-Man, there is always more coming.

Star Wars on Disney+

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, there was a film that changed everything. The original Star Wars is a seminal sci-fi fantasy work that inspired generations of creators, but there is still nothing quite like that far away galaxy. Disney+ grants access to all things Star Wars, including the remastered versions of the original trilogy (hopefully some day they'll add the theatrical cuts, too), as well as the prequels and sequels.

You can also stay up-to-date on all the latest shows, including The Mandalorian and the critically-lauded Andor, which some viewers say is "the best Star Wars has ever been." There are also fantastic short series like Star Wars Visions, and longer-form series like The Clone Wars, The Bad Batch, Young Jedi Adventures, and a whole lot more.

Take a look at our list of Disney+ alernatives for additional streaming services. To play while you watch, see our roundup of the best LEGO Disney sets. For more deals, dive into our Daily Deals page.

Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.
Original story from Brian Barnett.

Gaming chairs are one of the best investments a gamer can make. After all, during those long gaming sessions, where are you going to sit? While gaming keyboards and gaming monitors can really lift your gaming experience to the next level, none of it really matters if you don't have a comfortable chair to sit in. Our top entry, the Secretlab Titan Evo Nanogen, is a perfect example: It's a chair big enough for pretty much any body, and it's comfortable and sturdy enough to sit for hours.

TL;DR – These Are the Best Gaming Chairs:

I've been reviewing gaming chairs for years, and the overall best ones you can buy provide a place to sink into for hours of gaming without fatigue or pain. Including features like customizable lumbar support, adjustable armrests, and a movable headrest to beef up the ergnomics only adds to a more comfortable, distraction-free space to focus on your favorite PC games.

However, there are an excess of options to choose from. To help you out, I've cut this list down to six tested and researched chairs offering solid frames, high-quality material, and all the creature comforts you could want.

1. Secretlab Titan Evo Nanogen

Best Gaming Chair

2. Corsair TC100 Relaxed Gaming Chair

Best Budget Gaming Chair

3. Haworth Fern

Best Ergonomic Gaming Chair

4. Hinomi H1 Pro

Best Mesh Gaming Chair

5. Razer Enki

Best Fabric Gaming Chair

6. Secretlab Titan Evo Nanogen XL

Best Big and Tall Gaming Chair

The Secretlab Titan Evo Nanogen XL is a clear winner for the best big and tall gaming chair. I've been recommending the Titan Evo since its original launch several years ago, but with the Nanogen Edition, the company has taken comfort to the next level (which is also why it's my No. 1 pick for overall gaming chair). The XL version just upsizes that to deliver its comfort to a wider audience.

This version takes everything from the normal-sized version and carries it through. That means you'll get the exceptionally soft, Brisa-like fabric and extra seat cushion, as well as those gloriously plush yet still somehow supportive armrests. If you're a larger person, then you know how important proper back support is, and this delivers that too with its adjustable lumbar support.

It also features full compatibility with the company's different magnetic accessories for the standard Titan Evo XL. There are magnetic pillows and different armrest covers and, though not magnetic, you can also attach the company's new recliner accessory to put your feet up and kick back with the controller.

This chair doesn't come cheap, but believe me when I say that it's worth every penny when stacked up against other gaming chairs attempting similar levels of support and comfort. Secretlab has been an industry leader for a reason, and the Nanogen line is easily the best it has ever produced.

7. Respawn 900 Gaming Recliner

Best Gaming Chair with a Footrest

8. Secretlab Titan Evo (Small)

Best Gaming Chair for Shorter Gamers

How to Choose the Best Gaming Chair for You

• Price: This will probably be the biggest determining factor. Going out with a set budget is helpful, as you’ll find chairs ranging from under $50 to more than $1,000. Cheaper gaming chairs, like the Corsair TC100 Relaxed, still deliver the comfort of more expensive ones. You just need to be prepared to sacrifice features, like 4D armrests or adjustable lumbar support. I’d stay away from anything under $100, especially if the chair makes promises that appear too good to be true.
• Design: Comfort is king; nobody wants to spend hours in a seat that causes back or neck pain. Finding a chair that’s the right size for you is essential for preventing discomfort. Luckily, most chairs list their dimensions. You’ll want a wide, well-cushioned seat, a long backrest, and a good range of height adjustability. All that should sit on a sturdy metal frame capable of holding your full body weight. If you’re looking into a racing-style chair with bucket seats, like the AndaSeat Kaiser 3, pay special mind to the bolsters, as they can dig into your thighs.
• Materials: For the most part, gaming chairs offer PU leather, fabric, or mesh. PU leather is easy to clean but may not always be super durable, and it gets hot when wearing shorts. Fabric, which is used on the E-Win Champion, won’t be as easy to clean, though it’s less of a heat magnet. Mesh is the most breathable option. However, you’ll lose the cushioned seat and backrest in favor of a suspension system, which can be a hit or miss. The Razer Fujin Pro is one chair that gets mesh right.
• Ergonomics: After locking those in, a movable headrest, adjustable armrests, and customizable lumbar support can enhance the chair’s ergonomic, but these features often make the chair more expensive. Other quality-of-life additions, like a tilting or rocking mechanism, also help with relaxation between heated gaming sessions.

Keep all this in mind so you know how to pick the perfect gaming chair for your needs.

Gaming Chair FAQ

What's the point of a gaming chair?

Because gaming chairs are glorified office chairs, their main selling points are, frankly, aesthetic. Gaming chairs are often a bit more expensive than comparable office chairs and don't have the same comfort features as seats designed for working in all day. Still, if you love the way that gaming chairs look and you're going for a certain vibe in your gaming den, the best gaming chairs do truly shine. You just might want to look at the best ergonomic chairs if you want something that's truly going to take care of your aching back.

How much should you spend on a a gaming chair?

While you can buy a gaming chair for $80 or less, doing so is just asking for eventual pain. Something inexpensive is usually nothing more than a cheap plastic frame (versus steel) with some thin fabric or pleather upholstery on top.

You can get a quality chair for as little as $200, and that’s the absolute bottom floor of affordability we’d go for. Spending $300 or more will get you access to better options. If your budget allows you to soar a bit higher, more expensive gaming chairs start to come with built-in lumbar support, cooling gel layers, and even more adjustable ergonomics, not to mention RGB LED Kits and more. It all depends on what matters most to you in the long term.

Finding Pokémon cards in 2025 isn’t as easy as it should be. Between Destined Rivals preorders vanishing in seconds, new split expansion sets in Black Bolt and White Flare, and Journey Together chase cards dominating every feed, Pokémon TCG has never felt more intense.

If you're trying to keep up with Pokémon TCG without getting ripped off or left behind, here's where to start, including the latest update on what can be bought here and now from trusted retailers in the US.

Quick Links: What's in Stock and Where to Buy

If you've dedicated your life to pulling chase cards yourself, here's what we can find in stock right now. Just watch out for pricing over MSRP, as we Pokémon trainers are in a weird spot right now, so don't pay more than what you have to, or consider buying single cards instead of gambling on overpriced ETBs. Whatever you decide, make sure you're having fun!

Pokémon Cards: Retailers You Can Trust

Trying to buy Pokémon cards at retail prices these days feels more like a boss battle than a shopping trip. Between lightning-fast sellouts, sneaky price hikes, and listings that vanish before you’ve even opened your browser, finding a good deal can be frustrating.

I’ve spent way too much time bouncing between sites, chasing restocks, and narrowly dodging scalpers. But after enough trial, error, and a few accidental overpays, I’ve figured out where the odds are at least somewhat in your favor.

Where to Buy Pokémon TCG Single Cards

Pokémon TCG Expansions: Release Schedule

Scarlet & Violet: Destined Rivals (May 30)

Pokémon TCG’s next big release, Destined Rivals, arrives May 30, and I’m already prepping my shelf space and emotionally budgeting like I won’t blow it all on an Elite Trainer Box I absolutely do not need.

This set brings back Trainer’s Pokémon, reintroduces Team Rocket for another round of villainous fun, and includes some of the best card art we’ve seen in ages. If you're into flashy collectibles or just enjoy the feeling of cardboard power coursing through your veins, this one's for you.

Preorders are currently out of stock everywhere at the time of writing, but it's worth bookmarking the relevant listings and checking back daily this week for more updates, as we're expecting even more stock drops between now and release day.

Scarlet & Violet: Black Bolt and White Flare (July 18)

The Pokémon Company recently announced a new split expansion for the Pokémon TCG, continuing the Scarlet & Violet series. Titled Scarlet & Violet: Black Bolt and Scarlet & Violet: White Flare, both expansions will release on July 18, 2025, at participating retailers worldwide.

Preorders have started to go live, which we've been covering, but it'll be a hard fought battle so ensure you're already bookmarking the listings below and checking out IGN's dedicated Black Bolt and White Flare preorder guide for more updates.

Latest Update: The Pokémon Center and Best Buy kicked things off last week, while Amazon's listings are up but not live yet. Stayed tuned for more, and follow @IGNDeals to be kept in the loop.

The expansions focus on the 156 Pokémon originally discovered in the Unova region. Each Unova Pokémon will appear as either an illustration rare or a special illustration rare card, with different versions available in Black Bolt and White Flare products.

• July 18, 2025: Scarlet & Violet Black Bolt/White Flare ETBs (9 boosters, promo, accessories); Binder Collection (5 boosters, Zekrom/Reshiram album); Unova Poster Collection (6 boosters, Snivy/Tepig/Oshawott promos, poster); Unova Mini Tin (2 boosters, art/sticker card).
• August 1, 2025: Tech Sticker Collection (3 boosters, Reuniclus/Gothitelle promo, stickers); Unova Victini Illustration Collection (4 boosters, foil/parallel/oversized Victini).
• August 22, 2025: Booster Bundle (6 Black Bolt/White Flare boosters).

Pokémon Card Market Watch: What Should I Buy This Week?

Another week, another hectic shift in the Pokémon single card market watch whilst trainers are waiting for Destined Rivals to drop.

Whilst we're finally seeing a noticeable climb in Sword and Shield era Pokémon Cards, Scarlet and Violet series cards are settling back down into the realm of reality for the most part.

Big Crashers

The most dramatic crash this week is Greninja ex 214/167, crashing by nearly half when compared the the start of this year. We're also seeing some nice price drops across Obsidian Flames and the elusive 151 expansions.

Meanwhile, Dragonite V from Evolving Skies is doing the opposite, nearly doubling in value compared to the start of this year, and the artwork alone always made this card undervalued. Charizard V Alt Art is also a banger, depicting a Pokémon battle against Venusaur whilst slowly climbing up in value.

Big Climbers

Moving onto this weeks climbers, Rayquazza VMAX alt art is one of the main grails of the Sword and Shield era. It was already a $500+ card, but at $649.99 it shows no signs of slowing down. This could arguably hit the $1,000 mark in a few years, so I'd get one if you can afford it.

There can't be enough Kanto love in my book, and Charizard V Alt Art smashes it out of the park with this Venusaur battle. The angle is great and it feels like a moving card instead of a static body shot so many Pokémon cards are guilty of (Looking at you, WotC era). It's earned another $40 since January, and there's no reason why this card can't get over $200 before the year is out.

Did you miss last week's top climbers and crashers? Catch up in our dedicated article, and stay locked in for more updates.

Where to Buy Pokémon TCG - Scarlet & Violet 2025 Sets

What was once a post-Scarlet & Violet cooldown has turned into another full-blown Pokémania, and whether you're hunting sealed product, singles, or ETBs, knowing where to shop is half the battle.

To help you on your quest, we’ve rounded up all the best places to buy Pokémon cards right now in 2025, from trusted online stores to physical retailers that still stock the good stuff. While plenty will currently be out of stock, consider this your one stop shop to find all the links you'll ever need for each set.

Journey Together

Released March 28, 2025. Journey Together brought back nostalgic Trainer’s Pokémon cards from the Gym Heroes era. N’s Zoroark ex and Lillie’s Clefairy ex end the chaos of endless secret arts for a more curated, collectible experience.

With just 16 Pokémon ex, 11 illustration rares, and three hyper rare gold cards, it’s easier to track what’s worth pulling without feeling like you need a PhD in pack odds. Fancy snagging the Enhanced Booster Display Box with its bonus N’s Reshiram illustration rare or pull Iono’s Bellibolt ex? This set screams nostalgia with a new coat of paint.

Journey Together - Top 10 Single Cards

Prismatic Evolutions

Released January 17, 2025. Prismatic Evolutions kicked off 2025, and it’s all about Eevee and its many evolutions. You won’t find these cards in the usual booster packs. Instead, they’ll be released in boxed sets throughout the year, each packed full of exclusive cards celebrating Eevee and friends.

With over 175 cards, including unique designs and new game mechanics, Prismatic Evolutions is shaping to be a hit with collectors and competitive players alike.

Prismatic Evolutions - Top 10 Single Cards

Best Prices: Pokémon TCG MSRP Guide

The fandom is down to just being happy that they can find any Pokémon TCG stock at MSRP as it stands, making the hobby look a bit bleak. But with world events being what they are, it's given investors and collectors itchy feet with their stacks of ETBs and sealed product from these sets.

If you’re ever not sure what something should cost, here’s the list to follow. These are the standard MSRPs to go by when deciding if a product is worth picking up.

Pokémon TCG MSRP Guide (as of May 2025)

Booster packs and bundles

• Standard booster pack: $4.49
• 3-pack blister: $12.99
• Booster bundle (6 packs): $26.99
• Build & Battle Box: $19.99
• Build & Battle Stadium: $59.99

Elite Trainer Boxes

• Standard ETB: $49.99
• Pokémon Center ETB: $59.99

Premium collections

• Premium Collection Box: $39.99 to $49.99
• Super Premium Collection: $99.99
• Ultra Premium Collection: $119.99 to $129.99

Tins and boxes

• Mini Tin: $8.99
• Standard Tin (V or ex): $24.99
• Collector’s Chest: $29.99

Preconstructed decks

• Single Battle Deck: $9.99
• V Battle Deck: $14.99
• League Battle Deck: $29.99
• Battle Academy Box: $19.99

Booster boxes

• 36-pack Booster Box: $140

What Pokémon Cards Should I Collect In 2025?

This is the time for trainers who just love the hobby to keep an eye on single card prices, as the market does seem to be rectifying itself from the months of inflated prices we've seen.

Whilst it's not quite time to jump on high ticket Pokémon cards just yet, it's a great time to snap up some beautiful cards that are slept on.

Take the promo card from the Scarlet and Violet Paldea Evolved Elite Trainer Box. The ETB is currently going for around $75 at the time of writing, but the included promo card can be snapped up for south of $10.

Even factoring in the Paldea Evolved Booster Packs that are getting hard to find, it makes sense to pick this beautiful promo card up now whilst it's still cheap.

It's also worth considering the Pokémon Center exclusive version of this card that's stamped and included in the Pokémon Center Exclusive Paldea Evolved ETB.

The ETB is currently going for around $275 sealed, with the promo currently going for around $70 in bad condition. It's not about going for the ridiculously priced Pokémon TCG products, it's about snapping up what people aren't focused on.

The artwork that Scarlet and Violet / Sword and Shield sets put out on their SIR, AR and IRs are absolutely stunning. I would put solid money on these cards becoming valuable parts of a collection in years to come. Plus, they're awesome to get graded and have in your collection cabinet or shelf.

The State Of Pokémania 2025

There are two main reasons for stock shortages in 2025: Scalpers and print runs. The Pokémon Company has told us on a number of occasions over the years that they're upping print runs of in-demand sets to meet demand, and (eventually) the market gets flooded.

Just think, those ridiculously priced Evolving Skies booster boxes on TCG Player were a dime a dozen at one point. The scalper situation is going to happen whenever there's an in-demand product, and it's not very fair on real trainers who just want to collect and play Pokémon for the love of the hobby.

The crypto-turned investor bros aren't helping either, but give someone an opportunity to turn $1 into $5 and they'll do it.

This doesn't mean I condone any of this behaviour, far from it, but retailers should and need to do more to ensure everyone has a fair shot at buying Pokémon TCG. Loyalty and member drops, "X" amount per household, invitation-based preorders and re-stocks are all solid way's to control Pokémania.

The problem is only a few retailers are doing this, making it easy for scalpers and bot groups to snap up stock. Retailers such as Costco seem quite happy to let chaos ensue as human beings fight each other for bits of cardboard. Common sense doesn't float with these kinds of people, so restraints and control need to be put into place.

If retailers started implimenting these measures and TPC begin to flood the market with enough product for everyone to enjoy, it would make a more accessible hobby for everyone. For collectors, values of legacy chase cards would eventually climb as sealed stock goes out of print anyway, everyone wins. Well, bar the scalpers, but screw 'em.

Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of "Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior". Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.