Minor spoilers follow for “Hegemony, Part II,” which is currently available on Paramount+.
As Star Trek: Strange New World’s third season finally arrives, it comes with a sense of both relief ("Can you believe it’s been almost two years since season 2 ended?") and, well, frustration ("Man, I guess it’s been almost two years since season 2 ended!"). “Hegemony, Part II” is, after all, the follow-up to last season’s big cliffhanger finale, but geez, who can even remember what happened all the way back in August of 2023?
Of course, that’s not fair to the show, which had to wait for the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes to end before it could reveal how the USS Enterprise got out of its latest jam. And yet here we are, so a quick catch-up for those in need: The season 2 finale, “Hegemony,” ended with the crew facing those nasty lizard people the Gorn once again. Anson Mount’s Captain Pike just can’t catch a break: His girlfriend, Captain Batel (Melanie Scrofano), winds up infected by the lethal creatures, meaning that she’s facing an Alien-esque eruption of Baby Gorn if Nurse Chapel (Jess Bush) can’t figure out a solution. Meanwhile, most of Pike’s command crew – and a bunch of colonists – were beamed up to the Gorn ships where, well, they’re gonna wind up on the dinner menu. Admiral April (Adrian Holmes) commands Pike to retreat, but what’s a captain to do when half the stars of his show will be doomed if he follows orders?
A spinning camera move thrusts us right back into the action in “Hegemony, Part II,” beginning in space as Gorn ships attack the Enterprise, and continuing inside on the bridge as Pike, exhausted and seemingly out of options, rotates in the frame as well.
The fancy technique from episode director Chris Fisher isn’t out of place for modern Star Trek, which can do in one space battle the type of things that Gene Roddenberry only dreamed of in an entire career of Trekkin’. But it’s also illustrative of Pike’s state of mind in this story. Mount and the episodes’ writers, Henry Alonso Myers and Davy Perez, give us a Pike who is seemingly at the breaking point – it’s very un-Captain Kirk of him (which is totally fine, by the way). Even driven to prayer at one point – which Roddenberry would certainly have raised a Spock-style eyebrow at, to say the least – Mount continues to bring a vulnerability to Pike that has proven to be one of the character’s strong suits as far back as his time on Star Trek: Discovery and his trippy realization there that he’s facing an inevitable and horrific future.
What is very Captain Kirk of Pike here is the loophole he exploits to get out of Admiral April’s order to retreat. “Oh, he didn’t say retreat immediately…?” And so, in the opening scene of “Hegemony, Part II,” Pike does two things that only the greatest of Starfleet’s captains do: He breaks the rules and he relies on his crew to make him look better. Calling for ideas on how to track the Gorn ships, it’s ops officer Mitchell (Rong Fu) of all people – she’s not even a series regular! – who comes up with the “tag them with a dud torpedo” idea. Officer thinking, Lieutenant.
Speaking of creative visuals, there’s always plenty of that stuff in this show, but another shot that caught my eye this week involved our shifting perspective of the bridge viewscreen. With the Gorn firing on the ship – at the viewscreen, basically, from our POV – the camera slowly moves from left to right, so from behind the con station to behind Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding). As it does so, the perspective of what’s happening onscreen changes and the viewscreen goes out of focus as the camera trains itself on the back of our communications officer instead. It’s just a cool moment, the kind of thing that’s easily missed but which surely took a ton of planning and design work.
There are always plenty of creative visuals on Strange New Worlds.
Perhaps slightly less effective are the practical effects of the Gorn cocooning chamber, where our pals La'an (Christina Chong), Dr. M’Benga (Babs Olusanmokun), Ortegas (Melissa Navia), and Sam Kirk (Dan Jeannotte) are stuck. It’s not that the set or the gunky pods that the crew are trapped in necessarily look bad, but they do ultimately feel like the modern-era equivalent of the old Planet Hell set from 1990s Trek. It just never feels real.
The team’s efforts to escape their situation and save the (mostly offscreen, conveniently cocooned) colonists is fine, if perhaps the dullest aspect of the episode. The actors are all game, and Chong’s character is positioned as if she’s dealing with the traumatic memories of her dealings with the Gorn from her youth, but there’s unfortunately no emotional payoff there beyond “let’s throw in some quick flashes of the past” here or there. It is fun to see La’an in charge of the landing party, however, and certainly her imperative to save every last colonist is rooted in what the Gorn have taken from her in the past.
The strongest material for any of the characters here belongs to Spock (Ethan Peck) and Chapel, whose developing romance has become a cornerstone of Strange New Worlds. As the pair work to save Captain Batel, teching the tech as it were, it’s the emotional throughline of their scenes that we’re most interested in. To see Chapel have to lay out for the scientific genius Mr. Spock that they are, in fact, broken up is both a) proof that Chapel is a superior human being of the 23rd century who understands that gentle and frank honesty is the best approach in such a situation, and b) one of the saddest moments of a half-human/half-Vulcan heart being broken ever committed to film. Peck and Bush win this episode, guys.
Questions and Notes from the Q Continuum:
Quote of the week: “We’ll just turn it off before we blow up.”
Martin Quinn, who debuted in the Season 2 finale, is now a series regular as Montgomery Scott. But you know him as Scotty!
So with Scotty in, how long until Carol Kane’s Pelia is out? I hope it takes a while, because Pelia schooling Scotty on how to give the captain what he wants is a hoot.
I like Lt. Mitchell but I can’t help but wonder why she’s sitting in Gary Mitchell’s soon-to-be seat. I guess two different ops officers for the Enterprise can just be named Mitchell, eh?
Ah, so new opening credits this season? Just like TNG did in season 3!
It’s nice to get the occasional acknowledgment of Discovery’s Klingon war, as we do in this episode.
The Happiest Place on Earth: The Incredible Story of Walt Disney's Disneyland is an illustrated history of the park that turned 70 yesterday, and today IGN can exclusively reveal five pages from the book that showcases an unprecedented look at the creation of the beloved park and a Disneyland that could have had Oz characters like Dorothy, a Thomas Edison square, and more.
This book is now available for purchase and features more than 750 images, previously unpublished documents, and concept drawings of Disneyland that are all organized by the park's original five lands - Main Street, U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland.
Furthermore, The Happiest Place on Earth is written by Don Hahn (award-winning producer of The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and more) and Christopher Merritt (former Disney Imagineer for over 25 years) and features a forward by Disney CEO Bob Iger.
“There’s a Disneyland that we experience as a child with our eyes full of wonder at the stories it tells," Hahn told us. "But as we peeled back those layers, we found another Disneyland story; an incredible origin story of unconventional creativity without boundaries, of upset, failure, persistence, and pioneering that gave birth to a new kind of entertainment that still resonates now more than ever. That’s the story we wanted to tell.”
As for the exclusive spreads, we've included them below with quotes from Merritt that explain why these are so important to Disney history and just a small part of what you'll find in The Happiest Place on Earth: The Incredible Story of Walt Disney's Disneyland.
Let's make this simple: You want to know if there are any post- or mid-credits scenes in Superman. The answer is yes. The mid-credit “scene” is really more of a quiet moment of reflection, before a humorous post-credit scene concludes things.
Full spoilers for the movie follow!
Superman has finally hit theaters, acting as the official live-action launch of the new DCU, following the smaller-scale animated series Creature Commandos coming first in terms of release dates. There’s a lot at stake here, with Superman being tasked with laying the groundwork for this new DCU and providing a clean slate for the franchise after the previous DCEU ended in 2023 with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.
The film involves Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult) releasing information Superman (David Cornenswet) himself never knew about his Kryptonian parents (who intended him to “rule without mercy” on Earth) in order to turn the public against Superman and move forward with his own nefarious plans. So where does the movie leave off as far as setting up what’s to come? And why is its more broad approach to universe-building probably a wise call compared to some of the more blatant sequel-bait we’ve grown accustomed to in comic book movies? Let’s break it all down.
Superman Ending Explained: Luthor Unhinged
Luthor, who has successfully presented himself as someone standing up against Superman’s ominous plans, is able to press forward with his partnership with the president of the country of Boravia to invade Boravia’s neighbor, Jarhanpur – something Superman had put a stop to the first time Boravia tried it.
The third act of Superman involves two crises unfolding in two separate parts of the world. First, Boravia’s next attack is beginning, with the intention of absolutely decimating the people of Jarhanpur. Boravia and Luthor (who has been supplying Boravia with their weapons) intend to split the land between them after they conquer and kill anyone who gets in their way.
But Superman’s attempt help Jarhanpur is curtailed when he’s told by Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi) that the world itself is now in danger because of a pocket universe Luthor had created to use as his own private prison (in which he imprisoned Superman himself for a time during the film) that is now causing a physical rift in Metropolis, literally ripping the city apart. And while Metropolis has been evacuated, the rift will continue to grow far beyond the city, endangering countless lives. Obsessed with killing Superman, Luthor ignores the warnings of his own men about what is occurring, sending his agents Ultraman and the Engineer (María Gabriela de Faría) to fight Superman and Mister Terrific.
In the ensuing fight, Superman is nearly killed by the Engineer, but when he manages to turn the tables on his foes, the mysterious, silent Ultraman is finally unmasked and revealed to be a clone of Superman created by Lex.
Superman and Ultraman have a vicious fight, while both attempt to avoid the black hole the rift has opened up, but ultimately Ultraman is pulled into it, ending his threat. Superman then confronts Luthor in his office, stopping him from escaping, while Mister Terrific is able to use Luthor’s equipment to shut down the rift, sending the split portions of Metropolis back together - albeit inelegantly, since it’s still obvious where things once had been torn in half. With the truth about Lex’s entire plot revealed publicly by the Daily Planet – thanks to Eve Teschmacher (Sara Sampaio) sending info to Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo) – Lex is arrested and sent to Belle Reve Prison, while Superman’s reputation is restored. Superman and his beloved Lois Lane (Rachel Bronahan), meanwhile, are reunited and share a mid-air kiss.
As for Jarhanpur, just when all hope seems lost for its people, they are saved by the arrival of Mister Terrific’s Justice Gang teammates, Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion) and Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), along with Superman’s new ally, Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan) - all of whom answered Superman’s offscreen request for help. As his army is defeated, the corrupt, genocidal president of Boravia then finds out the hard way that Hawkgirl does not follow Superman’s vow to never kill when she takes him high up in the air and drops him to his death.
What Happened to The Engineer?
The movie leaves one notable loose end where María Gabriela de Faría's Engineer is concerned. When last we see her, Angela is knocked out after Superman outmaneuvers her death trap and crashes back to Earth. At that point, Superman and Ultraman continue their brawl, leaving Angela to recover in the subway. We never learn what becomes of the character after that point.
That's not to say Gunn doesn't have future plans for The Engineer. When the DCU was first announced, one of the projects highlighted was The Authority, a movie about the post-modern team of superheroes who exist as a more proactive and militant alternative to the Justice League (or Justice Gang, as Guy Gardner prefers). The Engineer is a core member of the team in the comics, and presumably, de Faría was meant to reprise her role in The Authority movie.
Unfortunately, The Authority seems to have been put on the back burner as Gunn and Peter Safran prioritize other DCU projects. As Gunn explained, "Honestly, Authority's been the one that's been the hardest, both because of the shifting overall story and because of getting it right in a world with The Boys and a world with all the things that The Authority influenced that came out after it.”
But whenever and wherever she appears next, there's definitely more story to be told with The Engineer. The movie makes it clear she's a firm believer in Luthor's vision for humanity, so what happens when her beloved leader is disgraced and imprisoned. Does Angela carry on the fight without Luthor? Does she soften her stance on Superman after realizing how hard he fought to save the world from Luthor's malfunctioning portal? The time will come for The Engineer to find her place in the rapidly growing DCU tapestry.
The Girl of Steel Arrives… and She’s Plastered!
In the film’s final scene, Superman returns to the Fortress of Solitude, where his Superman Robot assistants, trashed during the earlier break-in by the Engineer and Ultraman, have been rebuilt. They are interrupted by a large crashing sound that turns out to be none other than Superman’s cousin - Supergirl (Milly Alcock)!
It’s not the intro some might expect from a high profile superhero, as Supergirl comes stumbling into the Fortress, asking in a slurred voice “Why did you move the door?” before asking “Where is my dog?” - as we learn the superpowered dog, Krypto, who’s been accompanying Superman for much of the film, is actually Supergirl’s pet. This lines up with dialogue from earlier, when Superman said Krypto wasn’t actually his pet and their dynamic was more of a foster situation.
After allowing Krypto to play with her in an amusingly roughhouse manner -- which is to say, he stomps on her with his super strength, smashing the ground beneath her as she laughs hysterically – Supergirl and Krypto depart, with her exclaiming to her cousin, “Thanks for watching him, bitch!”
They are interrupted by a large crashing sound that turns out to be none other than Superman’s cousin - Supergirl (Milly Alcock)!
Superman then explains to his robots that Supergirl “likes to go and party on other planets. Planets with red suns. Because of our metabolism, we can’t get drunk on a planet with a yellow sun.”
For those who have read the 2021 miniseries Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, this will all sound very familiar. That comic first introduces a drunken and foul-mouthed Supergirl sitting at a bar on an alien planet, accompanied by Krypto, having traveled there specifically so she can actually get drunk on her 21st birthday. And this reference in Superman makes sense, because next year’s Supergirl movie is specifically based on Woman of Tomorrow (and until recently was actually titled Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow). Supergirl’s onscreen outfit in this scene – her usual Supergirl uniform, red skirt included, but with a brown jacket over it rather than any visible cape – also mirrors how she looks when we first meet her in that comic.
So for those expecting or hoping the first movie in the DCU to explicitly set up other DCU movies, it very much does with this Supergirl tease… but is there anything beyond that, specifically for Superman himself?
Does Superman Have a Mid- or Post-Credit Scene?
It has one of both… though calling what happens at the mid-credits a “scene” is wildly overstating things. The initial closing credits play, using the same style and font as Richard Donner’s iconic 1978 Superman film, and backed by the song “Punkrocker” by Teddybears, featuring Iggy Pop - a nod to a scene in the film where Lois and Clark banter about how “punk” someone as seemingly square as Clark could have been growing up, with Clark arguing that maybe his kindhearted approach to life is itself what’s punk these days.
When these main credits conclude, we then cut to a shot of Superman sitting with Krypto. Superman is only seen from behind, as he and his dog – sorry, foster dog – peacefully sit and look at the Earth from the vantage point of the moon, with the two lovingly embracing each other.
If this sounds familiar, it’s because we’ve seen a variation on this image from the film for quite awhile, since it first released as a photo last fall before then serving as the focal point of the IMAX poster for Superman. The moment, in turn, is a big comic book homage, since it’s based upon a page from the 2005 comic All-Star Superman, one of Gunn’s main inspirations for the movie.
It’s a sweet little touch to add to the mid-credits of the film, though it lasts mere seconds and isn’t really a scene as much as a moving snapshot.
The post-credits, though, feature an additional bit of interaction between Superman and Mister Terrific. In the scene, we see the two heroes standing next to each other, looking at one of the many Metropolis buildings that was torn apart by Luthor’s pocket dimension rift, and then brought back together by Terrific when he fixed things.
Superman, however, is clearly bothered by the imperfect nature of the building’s reconfiguration, and when he tells Terrific “It’s just a little off,” Terrific is pissed, replying, “What do you want me to do!? Do you want me to take it apart and put it back together!?” When Superman stammers no, “it’s just…” Terrific replies, “Just what!?” and storms off in frustration.
Superman yells after him, “Hey man, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bum you out! I shouldn’t have brought it up!” But when Mister Terrific continues to walk away, Superman says to himself, “Darn it, I can be such a jerk sometimes…”
It’s an amusing little moment between the two heroes, albeit not an hysterically funny one, but clearly there more as a bit of a slice of life for our clean-cut hero and one of his superpals than anything else. Though, yeah, it will likely lead to some “That’s it!?” reactions from some, who feel if they sat through the credits hoping for an extra scene, it also better be for SOME REALLY COOL THING.
But honestly, that’s asking for something that not only has been done many times but has often proven to be a precarious path, as James Gunn is well aware.
Why It’s OK Superman Functions as a Standalone Story
The lack of an “important” mid or post-credit scene underlines the feel of Superman as a film that is introducing a big new cinematic universe, yes, but also is telling its own self-contained story that’s making a statement in and of itself. Gunn does a deft job of layering in plenty of elements that can be used later in other projects without ever lingering on them or gratuitously highlighting that you should pay attention to this guy or to some doohickey because it’s going to be important in another show or film.
Yes, this film includes characters like Rick Flag Sr., with Frank Grillo reprising the role he originated in Creature Commandos and will continue in Peacemaker Season 2. But for those who aren’t aware of any of that, he’s just a Washington DC power player. Nathan Fillion will reprise his role as Guy Gardner in the Lanterns TV show, but the movie doesn’t go out of its way to name-drop Hal Jordan or John Stewart or belabor that Guy isn’t the only Lantern, it just presents him as the superpowered, arrogant a-hole he is.
This is a Superman film focused on this particular story, and Clark rightfully remains at the center of the movie from start to finish, despite the other superpowered characters in his orbit. It doesn’t repeat the mistakes of some messier superhero films, which often feel preoccupied with various plot threads and characters aiming towards something down the line.
Gunn’s “let this story stand on its own” approach extends to the credits and connects to his overall philosophy on how to craft a superhero universe now that he’s the guy calling the shots. As he recently explained to EW, he doesn’t love the idea of using a post-credit scene to tease a brand new character or storyline without a locked-in specific plan for them down the line. Gunn uses his own tease of Adam Warlock’s arrival in the credits of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 as an example, noting that by the time he was actually writing Guardians Vol. 3, Warlock wasn’t an easy fit in the story he was telling, yet now he felt beholden to include him.
Gunn has also stressed repeatedly that no movie will be fully greenlit and produced by DC Studios without a complete script in place, and you can see some crossover with this mandate and why he didn't want to, say, put a scene in the middle of the credits of Superman where we meet Brainiac or General Zod. He’s acknowledged their plans to do more with this version of Superman, of course, but without a specific follow-up already 100% in place (script included), Gunn likely doesn’t want to bind himself to anything that might not actually make the most sense later on. Which is why the movie’s one actual blatant tease, for Supergirl, is the one that he would feel comfortable with - because that movie’s actually been filmed and is a done deal!
The most important goal for Superman, more than declaring “here is the new DCU,” was making sure this was a great Superman movie.
The most important goal for Superman, more than declaring “here is the new DCU,” was making sure this was a great Superman movie, and Gunn has excelled in that regard, delivering what is easily the best film for the character since Richard Donner’s beloved version in 1978. The Lois and Clark dynamic is excellent (fueled by the wonderful chemistry between Corenswet and Brosnahan), while the juxtaposition between Clark’s Superman HQ at the Fortress of Solitude and the loving home Martha and Jonathan Kent have given him is expertly defined. Martha and Clark feel like just the sort of salt of the Earth, loving, caring people you can believe raised a man as good as Clark.
This version of Superman is exactly the sort of sweet, kind and perhaps sometimes endearingly naive hero he should be, without feeling like he’s too old-fashioned or out of touch to invest in. The way this Superman goes out of his way to try and save every single life he can, whether it be innocent people targeted by villains, dogs and squirrels (!) in the line of fire, or even a giant kaiju he’s fighting, makes him stand out as someone who truly feels like a person everyone should, yet few do, pattern themselves after. But at the same time, when he needs to go all out in a fight, rest assured, he does so, and it’s awesome - just while making sure to also keep an eye out for anyone in danger as a result of the fight.
The movie is a joy to watch, exuding pure comic book-derived joy in a way we haven’t really seen in live-action since Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man, which is insane considering how many comic book movies have opened since then. When the credits began to roll on Gunn’s film, I knew I’d happily welcome more of this version of Superman, but most of all, I wanted to rewatch this movie as soon as possible (which is probably why I’ve already seen it twice, with a third viewing already planned).
So yeah, Gunn could have moved the Superigirl cameo so that it was the post-credits scene, to leave off on a bigger “here’s what’s next” hype move, but that just wasn’t necessary. Because even if Gunn had removed the Supergirl scene entirely, Superman would still be a joyous, exciting, feel-good movie that doesn’t require any baton passing to feel satisfying.
As Clark himself might say, that’s the darn truth.
Note - this article was originally published on July 10, 2025 and updated on July 18, 2025 with the latest news about Superman.
We’re a little over halfway through 2025, but there’s a strong case for calling the Game of the Year race over, even before the end of summer.
Typically, the time to start thinking about Game of the Year is after all the fall releases come out, and we can take stock of all the great games that came out across the 10 or 11 previous months. And while there are still some exciting games on the horizon, three have made a strong claim on the GOTY crown already, and it’s hard to imagine any of them losing steam anytime soon.
With under half a year left in 2025, let’s look back at our three front-runners and how they each captured everyone’s attention. Can they hold onto their status as this year’s best game? Or will we see an upset in the coming months?
The Front-Runners
There’s a popular consensus, both among IGN staff and in the public, that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 from developer Sandfall Interactive, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach from Kojima Productions, and Donkey Kong Bananza from Nintendo EPD are leading the GOTY race in 2025.
Each of these games received rave reviews and captured the popular imagination for different reasons. What’s more, each of them is associated with one of gaming’s “Big Three.” Death Stranding 2 and Donkey Kong Bananza are PlayStation and Nintendo exclusives, respectively. Meanwhile, Expedition 33 launched day one on Xbox Game Pass to quickly become one of the service’s most popular games. So let’s start there…
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Emerges From Obscurity
Arguably, the biggest surprise of the year is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Made by a core team of around 30 developers, Sandfall Interactive’s debut has become the toast of the games industry, given that it’s a brand-new IP from a small studio that quickly went on to sell 3.3 million copies within 33 days.
Expedition 33 is about the eponymous exploration team sent to stop a god-like entity known as the Paintress. Each year, the Paintress draws a new number on a colossal stone pillar, and any citizen of the fictional city of Lumiere who is the same age or older than that number disappears. This event, known as the Gommage, has been inflicting a devastating emotional toll on the people of Lumiere each and every year, not least because the number decreases annually, thus extinguishing younger and younger citizens.
It’s not hard to see why Expedition 33 became such a success. This modern take on the classic JRPG formula is exhilarating to play thanks to the way it combines turn-based combat with real-time actions like dodges and parries. And the excellent, heart-wrenching story is led by a stellar cast of characters voiced by talented actors such as Charlie Cox, Ben Starr, and Jennifer English.
The remarkable thing about Expedition 33 is that it truly feels like it came out of nowhere. Initially announced at the 2024 Summer Games Fest with a striking trailer, not much was known about this game heading into launch. While two of the studio’s founders are former Ubisoft developers, many members of the team were found on sites like Reddit, ArtStation, and SoundCloud. While the reports about Expedition 33 being made by 33 developers are a bit misleading (Sandfall’s small core team worked with several specialist companies for QA, music, performance capture, and other development disciplines), it doesn’t take away from the impressive feat achieved with Expedition 33.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Returns Kojima to His Best
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a return to form for one of gaming’s most famous directors, Hideo Kojima. While many fans enjoyed the first Death Stranding, I think few would say it was on par with Kojima’s previous work on the Metal Gear Solid franchise. Not so with his sequel, On the Beach, which improves on virtually every aspect of the first game.
The story of Death Stranding 2 picks up shortly after the events of the original, and once again stars Norman Reedus as the post-apocalyptic delivery man Sam Porter Bridges. This time, Sam makes his way across Mexico and Australia to reconnect the world following a mysterious catastrophe known as the Death Stranding. Along with the new environment, he’s joined by a crew of new characters like the transdimensional ship captain Tarman, a rain mystic appropriately named Rainy, a mysterious young woman called Tomorrow, the talking figurine companion Dollman, and Sam’s former delivery competitor, Fragile.
With Death Stranding 2, Kojima Productions refined the original game’s core traversal challenge gameplay experience to a fine point. Players are free to combine any number of tools, like ladders and floating carriers, to make their way through hostile terrain, and Death Stranding 2’s combat has been dramatically improved thanks to an expanded arsenal of weapons and skills. Why shoot bullets at enemies when you can karate kick them in the head using techniques taught to you by Ghost in the Shell director Mamoru Oshii?
Yes, Death Stranding 2 is a strange game, but it’s also unlike any other AAA game out there. Amid a wave of glowing reviews, Death Stranding 2 feels like a reminder that there’s no one quite like Kojima when it comes to game development. Not only are there all kinds of bizarre and wonderful little details in Death Stranding 2, but all the technical and visual improvements in the sequel make this the best game Kojima has directed since he left Konami.
Donkey Kong Bananza Is the Switch 2’s Super Mario Odyssey AND Breath of the Wild
Donkey Kong is perhaps Nintendo’s second-most famous mascot after Mario, but the prospect of a new 3D Donkey Kong game still raised plenty of eyebrows. Not only is Bananza the first 3D Donkey Kong platformer since 1999’s rocky Donkey Kong 64, but as a Switch 2 launch window exclusive, a lot was riding on the big ape’s massive shoulders – DK needed to propel Nintendo’s newest console to success.
Well, any skepticism has seemingly been put to bed as Donkey Kong Bananza looks like the Switch 2’s first killer app. DK is back in the spotlight, this time as a miner who spends his days digging deep below the Earth’s surface to find Banandium Gems, banana-shaped crystals that he loves to eat. One day, DK and his crew are swallowed up by a giant sinkhole in the ground and he, along with his new friend Pauline, must find a way back up to the surface where they belong.
We gave Bananza a 10 in our review, the first perfect score for a full-length game since 2023 (Our only full-marks reviews in 2024 were for Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree DLC and a re-review of the then-newly updated Stardew Valley), and for good reason. This open-world adventure might seem like Donkey Kong by way of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild mixed with a “destroy everything in sight” gimmick on the (sub-)surface. But the Bananza team – the same developers behind Super Mario Odyssey – have plenty of tricks up their sleeves.
While I’d hate to spoil all that Bananza has to offer, considering it’s only just come out, it features moments that rival the best 3D Mario games. One standout detail is how there are different kinds of sediment in Bananza, from regular bedrock that can be easily crushed, to muddy clay or steel that require different strategies to manipulate. You’re practically an amateur geologist by the end of the game. Plus, nothing else in all of gaming feels as satisfying as smashing through entire levels as DK. Well, save for swinging Kratos’ axe in God of War, perhaps.
Possible Contenders
While these three releases have dominated the Game of the Year conversation, there are still yet-to-be-released games on the 2025 calendar that could elbow into the conversation. Biggest among them is Ghost of Yotei, Sucker Punch’s long-awaited sequel to Ghost of Tsushima.
The recent PlayStation deep-dive into Ghost of Yotei showed off a variety of exciting gameplay improvements and features, like the return of the different director modes, which will give Ghost of Yotei a different vibe depending on which director’s style you choose. Kurosawa Mode returns and turns the world into a classic, black-and-white samurai film, but new additions like Watanabe Mode will give the game a lo-fi hip-hop soundtrack similar to the director’s famous anime, Samurai Champloo.
There’s also the upcoming Borderlands 4. While the last Borderlands game left a lot to be desired, especially for long-time fans of the series, Borderlands remains incredibly popular. Gearbox says it’s heard your complaints about the last game and is promising a much better experience with the new title. 2012’s Borderlands 2 remains a series high-point and was nominated for several Game of the Year awards, and there’s no reason Gearbox can’t reach those same highs again.
The Outer Worlds 2 and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond are also exciting games to look forward to this year. While the first Outer Worlds was a generally well-received game, Obsidian Entertainment has been on a roll with games like Pentiment and Avowed, and The Outer Worlds 2 could continue this winning streak. Meanwhile, fans are no doubt excited for the first new Metroid Prime game in 18(!) years. It’s worth remembering that Beyond did undergo a complete reboot in the middle of its development, so we’ll wait and see how that impacts the final release.
Lastly, there’s Konami’s Silent Hill f, which looks to build on the massive success of the Silent Hill 2 remake with a brand-new entry that takes the series to Japan for the first time in series history. Konami seems fully invested in turning Silent Hill into a major franchise again, and between hiring famous Japanese writer Ryukishi 07 to pen the story for Silent Hill f, and bringing back original composer Akira Yamaoka, there’s reason to believe Konami can continue the Silent Hill renaissance.
The bar for GOTY has been set very high indeed with games like Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2, and Donkey Kong Bananza, and this great string of game releases isn’t likely to be over just yet. 2025 is shaping up to be quite the strong year if some fans are already calling the race for Game of the Year over by July. Personally, I’m looking forward to seeing how we’re all feeling come this December when we make our official announcement for IGN’s Best Game of 2025, and see who takes the top accolade at The Game Awards 2025.
Marvel has released the first image of Black Bird and Cobrai Kai actor Paul Walter Hauser in his role as a classic comic book villain set to appear in The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Hauser first confirmed his involvement in the film back in May 2024, though said he was not able to say anything about the role he was playing at the time.
Now, with just a few days to go until The Fantastic Four: First Steps' release on July 25, Marvel has finally shown off Hauser in a production photo published by USA Today, fully revealing the character and his costume.
As many fans had previously suspected, Hauser plays Harvey Elder — a villainous character from the Marvel comics better known by his alias Mole Man.
The antagonist's appearance here in First Steps is a fitting one, as he was the first villain the team ever faced off against in the original Fantastic Four issue #1, published back in 1961.
A photo of the character shows Mole Man underground, wearing goggles. It's the same design previously seen in the film's official prequel comic, spotted earlier this month, which fans said at the time was tantamount to confirmation of Hauser's role.
Speaking to USA Today, The Fantastic Four: First Steps director Matt Shakman described the MCU incarnation of Mole Man as "really more of a union boss than a supervillain."
"He is living sort of in the shadows like a villain would," added Hauser, "but he's also taking care of an entire race of people and trying to live his life without being bothered.”
Fans previously saw the briefest of snippets of Sue Storm within Mole Man's underground home, and Hauser has now suggested the two will ultimately come to some form of peace agreement — which is handy, as both the Fantastic Four and Mole Man will have bigger things on their mind when Galactus arrives. Maybe Mole Man ends up teaming up with the Fantastic Four to protect their shared planet? Just a thought.
The official Fantastic Four prequel comic confirms Paul Walter Hauser is playing Mole Man pic.twitter.com/D2BVj5BBuF
"I can't say anything about the character I'm playing but know that it is in the sort of lexicon and mythology of The Fantastic Four stories," Hauser told Deadline previously. "It's a very distinct character that I'm excited to play, and I'm kind of mapping out what I'm doing with that right now.
"All I can say is that I, in some iteration, am in the movie The Fantastic Four until I get fired or recast," he concluded.
Earlier this week, Marvel raised eyebrows by confirming it had cut the character of Red Ghost, set to be played by the legendary John Malkovich, despite the actor previously being seen in a trailer.
“It was heartbreaking not to include him in the final version of the movie because he’s one of my very favorite humans and one of my biggest inspirations,” Shakman said of Malkovich's removal. "[He] was brilliant in it, and gave it his all.”
With just days to go, it seems like Marvel is happy to now reveal every detail of the film's setup, though we don't yet know the identity of who Russian Doll star Natasha Lyone is playing. Still, with Malkovich not appearing and Mole Man now unmasked, it'll be nice if one character isn't revealed before First Steps' release.
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
Remedy has outlined what's next for its multiplayer Control spin-off, FBC: Firebreak, promising big changes.
It comes after Remedy posted a candid statement last month acknowledging "not everything had gone well" following FBC: Firebreak's mid-June release.
FBC: Firebreak launched on June 17 as a paid game as well as straight into Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus. Calling the launch an "exciting and nerve-wracking time," Remedy told players it had heard feedback "loudly and clearly," and admitted "it's clear there are features that need to improve, and they will improve."
Since launch, the studio has released "four patches that improve the game and partly address [player] feedback. Now that the game is live, our community plays a big part in shaping the future of the experience. This is just the start."
Remedy then warned that the speed at which it releases patches and updates will likely slow down now as it "puts more of our development focus on the first Major Update arriving in late September."
"We’ve seen many players come into the game and leave within the first hour. And that’s because our first hour can be frustrating; you feel ineffective and confused as to what to do. This needs to be improved," it added in an update posted to Steam.
"For many of you already playing FBC: Firebreak, us focusing on the opening experience may seem less exciting, but to keep the game healthy (and your matchmaking fast), we need to bring in more people with a better first-time experience than before."
For this, Remedy is working on helping new players understand the Control universe and your place in it, and balancing that between players who have played Control and those who have not. Remedy thinks better "narrative onboarding" will be achieved by playing an introductory video. From there, there'll be better tutorials to teach you core mechanics and features — as well as leaving some secrets to find unaided — and pop up tips will be introduced in the playable tutorial.
Next is gunplay – "our current upgrades can make guns feel weak early on" — so the plan is to "drop all generic upgrades from equipment and start players with a playable and powerful version of everything a Firebreak needs from the beginning." To do this, Remedy is developing a mod system to let you tweak your weapons — expect more as we get closer to September. There's also a big shake up for Jobs, and the content of them, on the way.
"To accomplish this, we are replacing Clearance and Corruption Levels with pre-made, exciting (you’ll have to take our word for that for now) variations of Job experiences that can still be short or long or filled with Corrupted Items, but also a whole lot more," the team explained.
"We are weeding out our least fun experiences, focusing on our best experiences, and adding brand new modes with plans for adding even more in the future. As part of this change, we’re also reevaluating our matchmaking flow, making it clearer and segmenting player pools more effectively, to ensure more and better matches." We should expect the placement of items like keys and ammo stations to get mixed up, too, to better keep us on our toes.
"As we hope has become clear, we are pushing a lot of improvements and changes into the game for our first Major Update," Remedy concluded. "Some of these ideas were improvements that we weren’t able to add before launch, but all were decided on and developed based on what we heard from you (listening to feedback) and seen from you (looking at data).
"We are extremely excited about these changes and about delivering even more than we’d originally been planning, but changes now also mean changes later. We need to see what’s working for you and to hear from you again before we can be certain that we’re prioritizing the right things. So, while we are still planning on the next Major Update in the winter, and the next one after that, the specific focuses and features are a lot more nebulous. There are a variety of topics that we are discussing and researching, but for now, we are heads down working on the first Major Update."
Despite the launch hiccups, FBC: Firebreak topped 1 million players. "FBC: Firebreak is a compelling co-op shooter that, despite its good looks, doesn’t have the depth to keep things interesting long-term," we wrote in IGN's FBC: Firebreak review, awarding it 6/10.
Remedy recently confirmed its plans for ongoing support post-launch, including two new Jobs (missions) coming in 2025. More updates will arrive in 2026, the developer said. All playable content released post launch, such as Jobs, will be free to all players. Players have the option to buy cosmetics, but none of these items will affect gameplay, and there will be no limited-time rotations or daily log-ins, Remedy insisted.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
Zack Snyder has confirmed he's taking a break from Rebel Moon to work on other projects.
Star Wars-style sci-fi movie Rebel Moon launched on Netflix in December 2023 amid much hype. It's set in a galaxy ruled by the imperialistic Motherworld, whose military, the Imperium, threatens a village on the moon Veldt. As the titles suggest, a band of rebels fights back.
While Netflix had high hopes for Rebel Moon, critics panned the film. IGN's Rebel Moon review returned a 4/10. We said: "Zack Snyder's space opera is let down by a derivative patchwork script, mediocre action sequences and a superficial story."
Sequel Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver followed in April 2024, and it met with a similar reception. IGN's Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver review was another 4/10. "The second part of Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon space opera, The Scargiver, delivers a half-baked conclusion to a well-trodden story with flimsy character studies and lacklustre action." R-rated director's cuts of both Rebel Moon 1 and 2 followed in 2024 and met with a more positive reception.
“I got sidetracked into this — not sidetracked, it’s all uptown problems, as they say — for Netflix, I’m working on an LAPD SWAT movie,” Snyder told Variety in a recent interview. “So I was like, OK, well, I’m gonna just sort of let that Rebel Moon world boil for a minute, and I’m gonna go do this.”
The Man of Steel writer and director, who is perhaps best known for his work on the now rebooted DC Universe, also highlighted the complicated nature of working on two projects simultaneously.
“Frankly, it was a very exhausting, long process doing the two movies together. So it was nice to have a bit of a break from it,” he explained. “I love it like crazy, but it’s nice to have a bit of a break. So yeah, we’ll see after I finish this, when I come back, where we are with everything.”
As far as more stories or even more film adaptations specifically being planned in the Rebel Moon universe, Snyder was mostly tightlipped about any confirmations. “There’s tons of stories. So, I mean, I think it’s literally, it’s endless,” he said. “But, again, like I say, I’m waiting to see how we want to and in what way we would move forward, if at all.”
But it’s clear Snyder does feel like the possibilities for Rebel Moon are endless — because we now have a video game spinoff set in the universe to go along with the series, called Blood Line.
Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.
Wonder Man, the upcoming Disney+ series from Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton, will see a recurring Marvel Cinematic Universe character return in a prominent role.
Agent P. Cleary, played by Succession actor Arian Moayed, previously popped up in Spider-Man: No Way Home as an agent of the United States Deparment of Damage Control. The character then returned for Disney+ series Ms. Marvel, appearing in three episodes.
Next, audiences will see Cleary back once again in Wonder Man, the first season of which is set to launch this December. The series stars Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams, AKA Wonder Man, an actor with superhero powers. The whole thing sounds like it'll be a fun self-referential riff on the real-life TV and movie industry, of which Marvel itself is of course a key part.
Deadline reports that Cleary will "feature prominently" in Wonder Man, though does not otherwise go into detail on the series' plot.
Presumably, though, Cleary will continue his role as an antagonist to the MCU's various heroes, getting in the way as a government suit trying to investigate those with enhanced abilities just trying to do good.
Wonder Man also features another recurring MCU character: Trevor Slattery, the cheeky actor from Croydon played by Sir Ben Kingsley in both Iron Man 3 and Shang-Chi. Welcome back Trev!
Disney has, to date, kept much of its plans for Wonder Man under wraps, though finally began teasing the series earlier this month by including it in a 60-second sneak peek sizzle reel of upcoming Disney+ content. The clips we got as part of that briefly showed Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Ben Kingsley having a quick conversation. You can watch that video above.
Next up for Marvel on Disney+ are a couple of short animated shows, Eyes of Wakanda and Marvel Zombies, which arrive on August 27 and October 3 respectively. After those, Wonder Man debuts sometime in December with eight episodes.
Currently-announced series set to arrive in 2026 include the second season of Daredevil: Born Again, the Paul Bettany-starring Vision Quest, and the second season of the animated Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.
Several other Marvel TV projects have long been rumored, including a Doctor Strange spin-off series entitled Strange Academy, and Marvel's plans for a project featuring Nova. But, as of yet, Marvel is yet to confirm either.
Image credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images.
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
If you're looking for Infinity Nikki codes, IGN has you covered! In this article, you'll find a list of active and working Infinity Nikki codes that you can redeem for free rewards and bonuses in July 2025, including Diamonds and Energy Crystals.
Active Infinity Nikki Codes (July 2025)
Below, you'll find all the active and working Infinity Nikki codes in July 2025, the free rewards you get for redeeming them, and their expiry date (if known):
The Infinity Nikki codes listed below have expired and are no longer working as of July 2025:
BUBBLESEASON0429
POCKETMONEYFORNIKKI
NIKKISFAVORITERICEDUMPLING
NOSTRANGELINKS
WARMSPRINGBONUS
RevelrySeasonDC
GIRLPOWER25
100THDAYCELEBRATION
MAYEVERYGIRLHAPPINESS
Newstoryawaits
Newyearbliss
NIKKIFIREWORKS
NIKKIEXCURSIONTIME
NIKKINEWBLOOM2025
HEARTFELTGIFTS
NIKKIBEWITHYOU
NIKKIRELEASE
dreamweavernikki
NIKKI20241022
infinitynikki1205
BDAYSURPRISE
GIFTFROMMOMO
GIFTTONIKKI
nikkihappybirthday2024
NIKKITHEBEST
QUACKQUACK
AAbNxRNMmSm
AAbQjjYKwbH
AAb7xf6hWuS
AAbtWkna3V7
AAbaEyDU4EX
AAbMNJX8hxF
AAb5S3RSK8M
AAbUfWnYUtd
AAbUa8e2U3a
AAbtk9jmpnV
How to Redeem Infinity Nikki Codes
To redeem Infinity Nikki codes, follow the steps below:
Unlock your Pear-Pal during the Chapter 1: Wishes Without Wings - Land of Wishes main quest. It's about 20 minutes into your Infinity Nikki adventure.
Open the Pear-Pal menu by pressing ESC on PC (or the Menu button when using an Xbox controller on PC), the Menu button on PlayStation, or by tapping the Pear-Pal icon in the top-left corner on mobile.
Click on the gear icon to open the Settings menu.
Scroll over to the Other tab.
You’ll see a “Redeem Code” option here. Click on “Apply” and a Redeem Rewards pop-up menu will appear.
Input your code into the “Enter the redeem code” field and tap “Apply.”
If successful, a pop-up will appear showing your free rewards.
Why Isn't My Infinity Nikki Code Working?
If the Infinity Nikki code that you're trying to redeem isn't working, it's likely due to one of the following reasons:
There's a typo in the code.
The Infinity Nikki code is expired.
When inputting a code into Infinity Nikki, make sure there are no typos (Os instead of zeroes, capital Is instead of lowercase Ls, etc.) and that there are no accidental spaces before or after the code. If your Infinity Nikki code still doesn't work, it's probably expired and can no longer be redeemed. You'll get a message informing you that the code is wrong if it's expired.
How to Get More Infinity Nikki Codes
The best way to get more Infinity Nikki codes is to join the official Infinity Nikki Discord server. Once you're in, head to the #self-assign-roles channel and opt-in for the Redeem Code role. You'll receive a notification when a new code is released so you can receive your free rewards ASAP!
Alternatively, bookmark this Infinity Nikki Codes article, as we update it each time a new code comes out. The Discord server has missed a couple of codes posted to other channels, so we'd recommend checking our article every so often.
What is Infinity Nikki?
Developed by Infold Games, Infinity Nikki is a cozy, open-world RPG. You play as Nikki, as she's whisked away to the world of Miraland, a place where people make Wishes with the help of Stylists. You'll find and create a plethora of outfits and accessories, take on quests, and gather many types of collectibles with the help of Momo, Nikki's adorable feline companion. As you play, you earn Diamonds, which can be spent on Revelation and Resonite Crystals, which are used to pull on the limited time and permanent outfit banners for 5-star and 4-star clothing.
Meg Koepp is a Guides Editor on the IGN Guides team, with a focus on trends. When she's not working, you can find her playing an RPG or spending time with her corgi.
It's often said that Jaws created the modern summer blockbuster movie. However, one thing the original film didn't create was a huge merchandising empire. Jaws hit theaters in 1975, a couple of years before Star Wars really cemented the idea of bombarding fans with action figures and various other collectibles. Even 50 years later, there's an almost surprising lack of Jaws-themed toys and collectibles on the market. That's something Mondo set out to change with its Jaws Capsule Collection, a line of exclusive collectibles that includes vinyl records of the iconic John Williams score, a new poster, and a very cool vinyl figure of Bruce the shark.
You can check out the Jaws Capsule Collection on Mondo's website, though do note that many of the items are timed exclusives that will no longer be available for sale after July 18 at 9am PT.
IGN had a chance to chat with several of those involved with the Jaws Capsule Collection, including Mondo's Mondo Sr. Director, Creative and Product Development Hector Arce, Sr. Creative Director, Art Peter Santa-Maria, concept artist James Groman, and sculptor Brandon Gnash. Read on to see exclusive behind-the-scenes photos of Mondo's Jaws Vinyl Designer Figure and learn more about how the figure and Danny Haas' poster were created.
The Origin of the Jaws Vinyl Designer Figure
Again, there aren't a lot of Jaws figures and collectibles out there (though other companies like NECA and McFarlane Toys have certainly been doing their part in recent years). Arce explains that Mondo wanted to create a vinyl toy that could both serve as a replica of the iconic "Bruce" shark design while still have the stylized feel and the fun factor that vinyl collectors tend to expect.
"The main thing we set out to do here was make this an undeniable Jaws figure," Arce tells IGN. "It had to have tons of easter eggs, capturing big moments in the film like when the shark busts through the cage, the barrels, and even found a way to represent most of his victims! The challenge was combining all these elements, having it still feel true to the original design while having fun with it. We reached out to the amazing James Groman with our idea and he really turned it into a fun concept that was both a high end collectible, and something that would look killer on your shelf, but also including a fun play factor when it comes to all of Jaw’s victims body parts and what not being able to be placed in and out of his mouth."
Arce continues, "The stylization really lends to those grotesque moments in the film that feels a bit more whimsical, something that as a Jaws fan would make you smile if you saw it. In addition to all that, we made it a truly customizable figure, allowing fans to display him in a multitude of ways, perfect for whatever floats, or, uh, sinks their boat in this case.”
While the exaggerated proportions mean this isn't a 100% movie-accurate collectible, Arce reveals that Mondo's designers did consult the original model and reference materials from the film to ensure that all the finer details are there. The goal is to create something that doesn't just look like a great white shark, but specifically the movie villain who's haunted our nightmares for the last 50 years.
"Even though this is a stylized piece, we wanted to make sure the landmarks were there, Arce says. "The shark isn’t just your average great white. I think some artists and companies forget that. Bruce is the result of so many engineering choices and honestly limitations that led to a design that can easily be picked out of a shark lineup. I always look to the cheeks and, well, jaws to see if it feels like the shark in the film. When we got that dialed in, we knew we were on our way!”
Once the Jaws Capsule Collection was greenlit, it fell on Groman to create a concept design for the vinyl figure and Gnash to translate that design into three-dimensional reality.
“[This was] major milestone in my 40+ year career," Groman says. "Jaws is one of my favorite films ever, so naturally I threw myself into it hook, line and sinker. This unique collectible is an amalgam of many of the film’s most thrilling moments all happening at once. Being such a 'student' of the film, I loved working with Hector Arce on nailing down everything we wanted this figure to be. Something great for ourselves, and something great for the fans.”
“James Groman is on my Mt. Rushmore is a legendary artist in the toy industry," Gnash says. "To sculpt from his designs is always an honor and I have to pinch myself each time I get projects like this. The pressure is always on to not just translate into 3D what James has designed but also pay tribute to the property to which he put his own personal spin on. Its a challenge to pull off both but its beyond rewarding to get James's feedback and the response from the Mondo team when I get it right.”
The Challenge of Creating a New Jaws Poster
The new Jaws movie poster created its own set of challenges. Put simply, the original Jaws poster painted by Roger Kastel might be the most iconic movie poster ever created. It casts a massive shadow over everything that's come since. And given that Mondo's artists have lent their own takes to Jaws several times already over the years, it's no small task to create a new design worthy of the film's 50th anniversary.
Even so, Haas seems to have suucceeded with his new design, one that shows a massive Bruce emerging from the sea to devour the puny Orca. Santa-Maria explains that he had two goals in mind when commissioning this piece - "classic and contemporary."
“Roger Kastel’s original artwork for the classic Jaws poster is so iconic and influential that it felt wrong to not refer to it for the 50th anniversary," Santa-Maria says. "The spirit at Mondo is about creating original interpretations of these classic films and franchises but always acknowledging that we are standing on the shoulders of giants when we do. This was a daunting task, but I knew that turning to my friend and storied artist, Danny Haas was the right move because his style is built on strong composition and striking color palettes that allow the subject matter to take center stage. All I asked was that he create something that felt classic and contemporary (easy enough, right?). Danny created a beautiful piece that is a nod back to the original where the shark is preparing to breach the surface of the water but in this case, he already has! AND his stylistic use of scale reflects the enormity of the task shared by the Orca’s crew; I couldn’t be prouder of it.”
Valve is tightening its guidelines around 'adult only' content to satisfy rules set by Steam's payment processing partners, with dozens of sexually explicit games removed from the platform throughout the week.
As spotted by GameSpark and shared by Automaton, SteamDB logs show a flurry of activity behind the scenes as Steam updated its 'Rules and Guidelines' policy, making it clear that publishing "certain kinds" of adult-only content could violate them.
The newly added clause 15 of the policy now explicitly states "content that may violate the rules and standards set forth by Steam’s payment processors and related card networks and banks, or internet network providers" shouldn't be posted on Steam.
The X / Twitter account for SteamDB revealed a long list of pornographic games recently delisted from Steam.
This is possibly related to PayPal because people in certain regions have not been able to use it to pay on Steam for the past five days.
It follows a public outcry earlier this year when UK technology secretary Peter Kyle slammed Steam for hosting a sexually explicit visual novel in which the protagonist engaged in non-consensual sexual contact, including rape and incest. Developer Zerat Games eventually announced it would voluntarily withdraw the visual novel after it was removed from sale in the UK, Canada, and Australia.
However, Valve's new guidelines were criticized by some who have expressed concern over censorship and the vagueness of Valve's language around its rules.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
Why did Nintendo offer Switch 2 preorders through a lottery system in Japan, but via “first-come, first-served” invites in the U.S. and other countries? A paper published by a Japanese university this month sought to answer this question, looking into why Nintendo decided to handle Switch 2 presales differently in Japan and the U.S. One of the factors it examined was the differences between what is perceived as “fair” in Japan and the U.S., which may have influenced Nintendo’s approach to getting its latest console into the hands of gamers.
The study was a collaboration between researchers at The University of Osaka’s Research Center on Ethical, Legal and Social Issues (ELSI Center) and Mercari’s R&D Department. It’s worth noting that Nintendo was not involved in the study.
First of all, the researchers looked at the points that both the Japanese and U.S. launches had in common, namely supply and demand. In both markets, there were not enough Switch 2 consoles to meet pre-launch demand, a situation that prompted both Nintendo Japan’s president and Nintendo of America’s COO to make respective statements reassuring fans that the company would produce a steady flow of units to meet demand post-launch.
The study pointed out that in such a short-supply, high-demand situation, Nintendo could have capitalized on the limited number of Switch 2 consoles available. For example, by using dynamic pricing or official auctions, Nintendo could have maximized its profits from their new hardware by making Switch 2 only available to those who were willing to pay big bucks (or heaps of yen) for a launch day console (thus balancing out demand and supply).
However, Nintendo did not go with this method. After all, for console makers the usualy focus is not on making money from hardware sales, but on the long-term profits from game sales and subscription services related to that console. Nintendo’s approach to handling official Switch 2 preorders suggests it was more concerned about purchasers’ “willingness-to-play” rather than “willingness-to-pay.”
To enter Nintendo’s Switch 2 preorder lottery in Japan, you needed to be a holder of a current Nintendo account for at least a year and to have over 50 hours of play on Switch 1. The same restrictions were in place for Nintendo of America’s invitation emails, which were delivered to eligible registrants who met these criteria, giving them 72 hours to complete their purchase. In this way, Nintendo allocated its limited supply to consumers who were likely to want to use rather than resell their shiny new Switch 2. Nintendo took this a step further in Japan, working with online marketplaces to combat price gouging and fraudulent Switch 2 listings.
However, why did Nintendo choose to implement a “first-come, first served” pre-order system in the U.S. but opted for preorder lotteries in Japan? The paper presents several hypotheses that cover various factors that may have influenced Nintendo's decision. These center around the company’s reputational risk, as well as perceived cultural and societal differences in the two different markets.
If customers have bad experiences with a console launch, this can negatively impact the reputation of the company and subsequent profits. Although it seems Nintendo was conscious of appearing fair in its handling of Switch 2 launch consoles in both Japan and the U.S., with its restrictions that limited preorders to its existing “willing to play” customer base, the paper highlighted that it took extra steps to appear “fair” in Japan.
Even though lotteries are more costly to run, Nintendo decided to offer Switch 2 preorders using this method in Japan. The researchers pointed out that Japanese consumers tend to have high expectations that companies will implement a well-managed system that gives people an equal chance of obtaining a high-demand product. Lotteries are often used for presales in Japan (for example, advanced concert ticket sales are usually allocated via lottery). Therefore, Nintendo probably implemented a lottery system because it's a socially accepted and common way of handling presales in Japan, and gives all entrants the same chance of snagging a Switch 2.
The paper also suggested that cultural perceptions of “fairness” may also have played a role. Whereas Japanese customers might be more likely to find the equality of lotteries more fair, customers in the U.S. may have perceived ‘first come first served’ as fairer as it rewards the efforts of the individual.
Over a month after launch, Nintendo Japan is still only selling Switch 2 via lottery on its official site, with its July lottery currently open. There are still some restrictions: one entry per person, with the rules forbidding people who have won previous Switch 2 lotteries and people who aim to resell the console from entering. However, this pattern is changing in retail stores. Japanese chain Geo announced that it will start offering some Switch 2 consoles to members on a first-come, first-served basis on July 19. So it seems that Japan may move towards “first-come, first-served” as the Switch 2 console supply increases.
Photo by KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via Getty Images.
Verity Townsend is a Japan-based freelance writer who previously served as editor, contributor and translator for the game news site Automaton West. She has also written about Japanese culture and movies for various publications.
The first set photos showing filming of HBO's Harry Potter TV series have hit the internet, giving fans a look at the series' young star and his Muggle family, the Dursleys.
Filming took place this week at London Zoo, the setting of a key scene in the first Harry Potter book where Harry (now played by Dominic McLaughlin) magically frees a snake and sets it loose on his spoiled cousin Dudley.
The images are our first look at Dudley (Amos Kitson), Aunt Petunia (Bel Powley) and Uncle Vernon (Daniel Rigby) in costume, wearing notably dated clothes. Dudley is dressed in a shellsuit, while Vernon wears a patterned shirt and thick glasses, while sporting a bushy moustache.
The characters' looks fit with the original setting of the books, with Dudley's 11th birthday being in June 1991, a couple of months before Harry goes off to Hogwarts for the first time.
While the original Harry Potter novels were launched from 1997 onwards, the series' story is set a few years prior. The events of the final book wrap up in 1998, before a flashforward epilogue featuring the main characters as adults with their own children, set in 2017.
London Zoo guests got a close-up look at the cast as they were filmed while wandering around various exhibits. The zoo setting will likely be one of the first book/season's only scenes to be filmed in public, with the bulk of the action due to be shot on the series' vast base of operations at Warner Bros. Leavesdon Studios.
Warner Bros. and HBO's plan is to turn each Harry Potter book into its own TV season, and film the series for the next eight to 10 years. The first season is due to air in 2027.
Yet to glimpsed in costume are veteran actor John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch and Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley.
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
Valve co-founder and boss Gabe Newell has offered a rare insight into his life, talking about his days living, working, and enjoying life on a "boat."
In conversation with a YouTuber called Zalkar Saliev, who had just 19 subscribers at the time the interview clips went live (they've since acquired several hundred more), the 62-year-old Newell said he worked seven days a week from his bedroom on his superyacht, because it's "fun" and he still "likes working."
Asked to describe his daily routine in an interview Valve has confirmed to PC Gamer is real, Newell said: "I get up, I work, I go scuba diving, work some more. I either go on a second scuba dive or I go to the gym and work out. Then I work. I live on a boat, so I just hang out with everybody on the boat."
"I work seven days a week," he added. "I'm working from my bedroom, as you can tell. I like working. It's fun. To me, it doesn't feel like work. The kinds of things that I get to do every day are super awesome. I've said it before, but when you retire, you want to stop doing your horrible job and then go do what is most fun and entertaining. And so in that sense, I've been retired for a long time."
Expanding on the types of work that keep him busy these days, Newell said: "Getting to work with Drew and Jeremy on AI stuff or Chris on Steam stuff... In one of the companies, we're working on an aerosol pathogen detection device so you can see all the pathogens that are in the air. Brain computer interfaces are incredibly cool, and all of the associated neuroscience is incredibly cool. So, I just work all the time.
"But it's not like, 'Oh my God, I'm up late at night slaving away on stuff.' It's more like I can't go to sleep because I'm having fun, you know?"
Valve, the studio behind seminal hits like Half-Life, Left 4 Dead, Dota 2, and Counter-Strike, is also the company behind the industry-leading Steam online game platform, plus the acclaimed Steam Deck handheld system. As of 2021, it employed 336 people across its hardware, Steam, and development divisions.
Newell previously worked at Microsoft, where he helped create the first versions of the Windows operating system, but left in 1996 to found Valve with Mike Harrington and develop the studio's first game, Half-Life.
Photo by Olly Curtis/Future Publishing via Getty Images.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
A new Alien: Earth trailer has finally shown a xenomorph on earth — and there’s a quite horrible shot of a sheep with a serious eye problem.
The upcoming FX show revolves around the mysterious deep space research vessel USCSS Maginot, which crash-lands on earth. Wendy (Sydney Chandler) and a group of tactical soldiers make a “fateful discovery” that puts them face-to-face with the xenomorph fans know well, but also a number of other alien species, too.
FX’s Alien: Earth. OFFICIAL TRAILER 2: GREENER WORLD. Prepare. Before it’s too late. Premieres August 12. pic.twitter.com/8KfO4Yr3N0
— 20th Century Studios Canada (@20thCenturyCA) July 17, 2025
Let’s start with the final shot in the new trailer, below, which reveals Alien: Earth’s xenomorph quietly contemplating its fate from within what may be a crater formed by the crashed ship. This is not the kind of place we’re used to seeing the Alien franchise’s famous xenomorphs. Across the mainline films, we mostly see xenomorphs ripping humans (and the odd synthetic) to shreds aboard spaceships. Alien: Earth, however, asks the question: what if a xenomorph came to earth? I suspect things won’t go well.
The xenomorph is but one of five alien monsters found aboard the Maginot. We’ve seen glimpses of these in previous trailers, including the bizarre plant-like alien we see again in this new promo. But the focus this time is on a creepy eyeball-loving monstrosity that appears to be having its way with a poor sheep. The sheep is hooked up to what looks like a monitoring device, so perhaps it was the subject of some nefarious study to determine the effect this new alien has on its victims.
We actually see a very brief shot of this alien later in the trailer, where a woman is desperately trying to fend it off. It looks like the alien is trying to get into the woman's eye, which, well, please no.
Overall, it’s a super cool trailer for Alien: Earth, which is looking more impressive with each new clip. How this all ends up tying into the events of the first Alien movie and evil mega corp Weyland Yutani’s plans for the xenomorph is anyone’s guess.
Speaking of Weyland Yutani, at this point in the Alien timeline (Alien: Earth is set in 2120, well after Prometheus and just two years before Alien and the unfortunate events that befell the crew of the Nostromo), Earth is governed by five corporations: Weyland-Yutani, Prodigy (they own this city, it seems), 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.
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)
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.
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.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
As the world waits for Grand Theft Auto 6, Rockstar has finally released GTA 5 and GTA Online in both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Despite launching almost 12 years ago and selling 215 million copies elsewhere in the world, neither Saudi Arabia nor the UAE had previously cleared Rockstar's 2013 blockbuster for sale — until this week.
Issues over the game's age rating and local regulations banning games with violence, sex and drug use have long stood in the way of local fans playing GTA 5 legally — though as a Niko Partners report highlighted, some fans have previously got around restrictions by quietly importing boxed copies, or downloading the game via PlayStation or Xbox accounts linked to other regions.
Now, fans can simply buy a copy of GTA 5 legally, which has finally been released under the two countries' new 21+ age rating. The launch of this higher age restriction, following the earlier introduction of localised age ratings in 2016, has helped smooth GTA 5's belated path to release — alongside a bit of help from Rockstar parent company Take-Two Interactive to grease the wheels.
A recently-agreed partnership between Take-Two and a Saudi firm, the Advanced Initiative Company, will see the latter now act as the local distributor for all Take-Two titles, including GTA 5, WWE 2K, NBA 2K and Red Dead Redemption.
The countries, with a combined population of around 44 million, will presumably now also become a market in which Rockstar can sell GTA 6, when it finally arrives.
After more than a decade in development and a recent major delay, GTA 6 is currently set to launch on May 9, 2026, pending any further hold-ups.
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
Hands up if you remember Captain Planet and the Planeteers? The early 90s American animated environmentalist superhero television series is fondly remembered by a generation of kids who absorbed its eco-friendly message — and toys.
Now, 30 years later, it’s coming back as a live-action series for Netflix.
Variety reported that Captain Planet and the Planeteers is on its way to being adapted into a live-action series at Netflix, with Greg Berlanti and Leonardo DiCaprio as executive producers. Netflix declined to comment.
There have been various efforts to adapt Captain Planet over the years, including a movie for DiCaprio, but they never went anywhere. This Netflix adaptation, however, feels more certain, although we know nothing of plot details, casting, or a release window.
The original television series, Captain Planet and the Planeteers, is an environmentally conscious show that tells the story of five kids from different areas of the world who are each given a magical ring that grants them the ability to control a specific element. When all five join forces, they can summon an environmental superhero named Captain Planet.
Captain Planet was a form of edutainment that advocated the United Nations as an organization, and the concepts of globalism, multiculturalism, and environmentalism.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Peter Connelly, a composer and sound designer best known for his work on the Tomb Raider series, has been jailed for "fraudulently obtaining" a loan from the UK government during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement from the UK's Insolvency Service, Durham-based Connelly was said to have obtained a legitimate $29,500 (£22,000) government "Bounce Back" loan, and then again a month later for $50,000 (£37,500) at a different bank, even though businesses were only entitled to one such loan. Connelly was also found to have "deliberately inflated" his company's financial position during the first few months of the pandemic in 2020, reporting a turnover of $201,500 (£150,00) in 2019 when it was, in fact, $77,900 (£58,00).
In interviews with the Insolvency Service, Connelly stated that he had been given the opportunity to reimagine the music for the Tomb Raider soundtrack, describing it as a "significant project which had the potential to be very lucrative." He reportedly took out personal loans and sold his car to finance the work, but that "stalled" at the start of the pandemic. By August 2021, Connelly's company, Peter Connelly Limited, had gone into liquidation.
At a Durham court yesterday, July 17, the composer was sentenced to 16 months in prison and disqualified as a company director for six years.
"Peter Connelly blatantly disregarded the rules of the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, designed to support small and medium-sized businesses during the pandemic," said David Snasdell, chief investigator at the Insolvency Service, the organization responsible for tackling Bounce Back Loan misconduct.
“Connelly not only secured two loans when businesses were only allowed one, but deliberately inflated his company’s turnover to receive more money than he was entitled to."
While at original Tomb Raider developer Core Design, Connelly worked in sound design on Tomb Raider III: Adventures of Lara Croft and later as a leading composer for Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation and Tomb Raider: Chronicles. 2003's Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness, which Connelly co-wrote with Martin Iveson, featured the London Symphony Orchestra.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
Looking for codes for Dead Spells? IGN has you covered. We've jumped into the game and checked for all the newest and working codes for the Dead Rails inspired game. This fantasy survival game allows you to play as various classes including Gnome, Mushroom, and Goblin as you set off on expeditions.
Working Dead Spells Codes (July 2025)
40Klikes - 100 Burgers (NEW)
Gullible - 50 Burgers (NEW)
SteamPunk - 100 Burgers
LIZARD - 50 Burgers
Expired Dead Spells Codes (July 2025)
As of this month, these codes have now expired:
35Klikes
1MVisits
Thief King
30Klikes
25Klikes
Traits!
20Klikes
15Klikes
VampireMansion!
10Klikes
5000!
How to Redeem Dead Spells Codes
You'll need to find the blue lizard in Dead Spells in order to redeem codes, so to find it and get your rewards, follow these steps:
Launch Dead Spells on Roblox
When you log into a server, go straight ahead past the water fountain.
Then, look for the blue lizard wearing a monacle near the noticeboard. It will say Enter Codes above it
Approach the lizard and interact with it to enter codes
Enter the code into the box and hit claim
How to Get More Dead Spells Codes
We check for new codes every day, so the best way to find out about the latest Dead Spells code is to save this article and keep checking back. You can also hunt for codes in the dediated Discord server, where codes are also announced.
Why Isn't My Dead Spells Code Working?
If your code for Dead Spells isn't working, it's likely for one of two reasons:
The code has been entered incorrectly
The code has expired
If a code is not accepted in Dead Spells, it will say "code does not exist or is expired." It doesn't make it clear what the problem is, you'll just know the code hasn't worked. The good news is, if you use our article, we'll move codes into expired when they stop working, so you can tell the difference. If a code is in the active and working list, however, be sure to copy and paste it exactly as you see it here. We test each of the codes before uploading them, and Roblox codes are often case-sensitive, so it's important that it's exact.
Lauren Harper is an Associate Guides Editor. She loves a variety of games but is especially fond of puzzles, horrors, and point-and-click adventures.
The mysterious Nintendo Switch Online: Playtest Program will once again take place later this month, now compatible with Switch 2.
Nintendo has said this playtest will be another outing for the "same service" it previously shared with a select few fans in October 2024 — then, of course, just on the original Switch.
While applications to participate are open to all Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers, numbers will be limited — to just 40,000 players globally — and the test's contents are once again designed to be kept secret. (Though, of course, details of the hush-hush software previously spilled online last year anyway.)
Applications to take part in the playtest either as an individual or group open later today, and can then be submitted next Monday, July 21 to Wednesday July 23. If you're lucky enough to be picked, the playtest itself will then be available from Tuesday, July 29 to Monday, August 11.
Entrants must be over 18 years old and have an active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership, with an account tied to either the US or Canada, UK, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Brazil or Mexico.
Nintendo's website with application details once again makes clear the company's desire for secrecy:
"We request that you do not discuss or disclose content from either the Nintendo Switch Online: Playtest Program test software or website with others," the company states. "If you participate as a group, you may communicate and exchange information as long as it remains within the bounds of your group."
We will perform another test in the #NintendoSwitchOnline: Playtest Program. From 8:00 AM PT on July 21st, Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members can apply to participate on a first-come, first-served basis.
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) July 17, 2025
During last year's playtest, Nintendo used copyright strikes to see screenshots of its secret software scrubbed from social media. But, of course, some evidence of the playtest still exists — and it's pretty easy to find via a quick search on reddit.
So what is it that's being tested? Widely compared to a Nintendo take on Minecraft, the experiential game allows users to pick up and assemble blocks to create structures in specific areas of a shared world, alongside other users. The gameplay footage that briefly appeared online last year appeared work-in-progress, as you'd expect, but suggested Nintendo was keen to explore the concept further with actual players and see what people got up to.
While this latest test looks to be for the same software, it will be intriguing to see what new features are included — if, or rather when, new footage leaks once again.
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
CBS has canceled The Late Show with Stephen Colbert just a few days after Colbert criticised the network’s parent company, Paramount, for its high-profile settlement with President Trump.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert ends in May 2026 and The Late Show will retire entirely after a 33-year run in what CBS insisted was a “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night.”
The news hit just days after Colbert criticised Paramount for settling a lawsuit with Donald Trump for $16 million over the president’s claim that CBS News deceptively edited an interview with the then-presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
And it’s also worth noting that the settlement, and the announcement of the end of The Late Show, come amid Paramount’s bid to get its $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media over the line (this is the same merger that’s causing South Park so much trouble). The transaction needs regulatory approval from the Trump administration, and Trump is often the butt of Colbert’s jokes.
Colbert, who has hosted the show for the last decade, called the settlement “a big fat bribe" during an episode aired earlier this week. He announced the cancelation during Thursday night’s recording. “Yeah, I share your feelings,” he said amid boos from the audience. “It’s not just the end of the show, it is the end of The Late Show on CBS. I’m not being replaced, this is all just going away.”
The announcement sparked criticism from various quarters online. Senator Adam Schiff, a Democrat who appeared as a guest on Thursday night’s show, later took to social media to say: “If Paramount and CBS ended the Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know. And deserves better.”
On the show, Schiff said Trump had created a "climate of fear."
“He wants to make the law firms afraid,” Schiff said. “He wants to make universities afraid. He wants to make immigrants afraid. He wants to make citizens afraid. He wants to make news organizations, CBS and Paramount afraid. He wants to make ABC afraid. And he is succeeding.”
Senator Elizabeth Warren, who has called for an investigation into Paramount Global’s relationship with Trump over the Skydance merger, wrote: “CBS canceled Colbert’s show just THREE DAYS after Colbert called out CBS parent company Paramount for its $16M settlement with Trump — a deal that looks like bribery. America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons.”
CBS canceled Colbert’s show just THREE DAYS after Colbert called out CBS parent company Paramount for its $16M settlement with Trump – a deal that looks like bribery.
America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons.
Fellow talk show host Jimmy Kimmel expressed support for his peer in a post on Instagram, saying: "Love you Stephen. F*ck you and all your Sheldons CBS."
Here’s the prepared joint statement from George Cheeks, co-CEO of Paramount Global and President and Chief Executive Officer, CBS, Amy Reisenbach, President, CBS Entertainment, and David Stapf, President, CBS Studios:
“This is purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.
“Our admiration, affection, and respect for the talents of Stephen Colbert and his incredible team made this agonizing decision even more difficult. Stephen has taken CBS late night by storm with cutting-edge comedy, a must-watch monologue and interviews with leaders in entertainment, politics, news and newsmakers across all areas. The show has been #1 in late night for nine straight seasons; Stephen's comedy resonates daily across digital and social media; and the broadcast is a staple of the nation’s zeitgeist.
“The accomplishments of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert are memorable and significant in performance, quality and stature. With much gratitude, we look forward to honoring Stephen and celebrating the show over the next 10 months alongside its millions of fans and viewers.”
Photo by Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty Images.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Want codes for Flashpoint: Worlds Collide? In this article, you'll find the latest active codes so you can earn cash, experience, suits, and more fast. IGN has you covered for when new ones are released and updates when they expire. This article also explains how to redeem codes if you're not sure!
Working Flashpoint: Worlds Collide Codes (July 2025)
According to the developer, most codes will expire after one week but there are occasional codes that don't. So make sure you're quick enough to redeem the new ones before they're gone! Here are all the current active codes for Flashpoint: Worlds Collide and the rewards you'll get for redeeming them:
Before you can redeem codes for Flashpoint: Worlds Collide you'll need to follow a few simple steps. Make sure you do these before trying to claim any in-game:
First, join the Varis Studios Roblox group.
Launch Flashpoint: Worlds
Press the "Codes" button at the top left of your screen
Enter your code here and press the Redeem button to get your rewards.
Why Isn't My Flashpoint: Worlds Collide Code Working?
There are two main reasons why a code usually doesn't work in any Roblox game and the same goes for this experience:
The code is expired
The code has been entered incorrectly
If a code has been entered incorrectly or has expired, you'll see a message that says, "Not an active code!" To stop this from happening, we recommend copying and pasting the code directly from this article. We check and test each code before we add them to our article. However, when copying them, you can sometimes accidentally include an extra space somewhere. This is why you should always double-check that there aren't any additional spaces!
Where to Find More Flashpoint: Worlds Collide Codes
We'll update this article when new codes are added so you can always check back here and keep up-to-date with the latest codes. Flashpoint: Worlds Collide has its own dedicated Discord server where codes are announced, as well as game updates. Certain codes may require going to specific YouTuber channels to find them as well.
What is Flashpoint: Worlds Collide in Roblox?
Flashpoint: Worlds Collide is a Roblox experience that revolves around Flash from the DC Universe. Players can speed through the city as their own avatar or wear one of many outfits as they fight criminals and earn money doing it.
As you stop crimes, you'll gain experience so you can upgrade your skills and become faster. Which you'll need to do if you want to beat other players in races where speed is all that matters. Or you can put more of your skill points into stats like health and damage so you're an even stronger crime fighter. Become the super hero that you want to be.
Jeffrey Lerman is a freelance game journalist for IGN who has been covering games for over a decade. You can follow him on Bluesky.
Anime Rangers X was released on April 16, 2025, and with its launch comes new codes. So, if you're looking for an extra boost to get some Gold and Gems, IGN has you covered! We've got the details below on the current and active codes for the experience, as well as the rewards you'll get for redeeming them.
Working Anime Rangers X Codes
Srry4Shutdown - 150 Boss Rush Coins, 2 Dr. Megga Punk (NEW)
Sorry4Quest - 20 Trait Rerolls
SorryRaids - 20 Trait Rerolls, 1 Luck Potion.
JoJo Part 1 - 75 Trait Rerolls. Requires being at least level 25.
NewLobby - 20 Trait Rerolls.
Instant Trait - 15 Trait Rerolls.
PortalsFix - 20 Trait Rerolls.
THANKYOU4PATIENCE - 75 Trait Rerolls. Requires being at least level 25.
When you're in the game, look on the right side of the screen
The bottom blue button says Code
Click this, and paste the code in
Hit Redeem and enjoy your goodies!
Why Isn't My Anime Rangers X Code Working?
When a code for a Roblox Experience isn't working, it's usually because the codes have been typed in incorrectly or they're expired. Lots of codes are case sensitive, so you'll need to make sure it's exactly how it appears in this article.
We test each code before uploading them, to make sure they're active, so be sure you're copying it straight from our article (without any sneaky extra spaces) to get the right one. If it's still not working, make sure you've joined the Community, and made it to Level 5.
Lauren Harper is an Associate Guides Editor. She loves a variety of games but is especially fond of puzzles, horrors, and point-and-click adventures.
Want some codes for extra cash to spend on animations, styles, emotes, and more in Azure Latch? Or should that be Delay Latch? Anyway, we've got you covered. In this article, you'll find all the currently working codes for the game, so be quick to redeem them and bag that cash.
Working Azure Latch Codes (July 2025)
TheMonster - $20,000 Cash (NEW)
GAGAMARUPUNCH - $15,000 Cash (NEW)
QOLbroQOL - $15,000 Cash (NEW)
All Expired Azure Latch Codes
These codes are now expired:
TheKing
AMMISTHEOWNERNOTLEFTRIGHTTH
DelayLatch
Jakethesnake
THXFORFOLLOWERS
ACEEATER
THXFOR2M
RINRELEASE
sorryfordelay
RINSOONTRUSTME
sorryforlatency
SAEREWORK3TIME
SorryForRollback
How to Redeem Azure Latch Codes
Before you can use Azure Latch codes, you'll need to be a part of the community, so load up Roblox and join the twi game group
Then jump into Azure Latch and find the Menu button at the bottom of the screen
In the Menu options, go to the far right tab to find Rewards
Enter the code and press Redeem to get that cash!
Why Isn't My Azure Latch Code Working?
Codes are often case-sensitive, so to avoid any errors, we'd recommend copying the codes directly from this article into the redemption bar in Azure Latch. We test them all before we upload them here to make sure they're valid for you.
If you have copied them from here, and they're still not working, it could be one of two things. You may have accidentally copied over an extra space, so be sure to check for that first. The other option is the code may have just expired.
How to Get More Azure Latch Codes
We check for codes daily, so you can visit this article to see when new Azure Latch codes are released. There's also a dedicated Discord Server, that you can visit to look for code announcements yourself.
What is Azure Latch in Roblox?
Whether you're a fan of anime or sports games, Azure Latch is likely to be a game you'll want to check out. The 5v5 football game is another Roblox experience that takes inspiration from the popular manga and anime series Blue Lock. For this one, however, you'll get super abilities that you can use to make those tackles, passes, and goal attempts a bit more exciting.
Lauren Harper is an Associate Guides Editor. She loves a variety of games but is especially fond of puzzles, horrors, and point-and-click adventures.
Connexion
