After conquering Roblox, the developers of Snatch Squad are looking to do the same on Steam. Snatch Squad is a new open-world co-op heist game with a voxel look and a clear inspiration from both Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Starbreeze's PayDay. It's in development for PC.
In Snatch Squad, you'll build your empire by pulling off successful heists, taking over districts of the city, and laundering money. It promises "dynamic police chases and ambushes that keep you on edge" along with gangs to contend with and turf wars to fight. Watch the first trailer above and check out the first screenshots in the gallery below.
Seemingly keying in on this, the developers say, "From car chases to turf wars, the city is alive — a voxel-styled Miami where ambition can make you king…or get you killed."
Wishlist Snatch Squad on Steam if you're interested.
Ryan McCaffrey is IGN's executive editor of previews and host of both IGN's weekly Xbox show, Podcast Unlocked, as well as our monthly(-ish) interview show, IGN Unfiltered. He's a North Jersey guy, so it's "Taylor ham," not "pork roll." Debate it with him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan.
Writing on social media, Ubisoft audio architect Rob Bantin shared the real reason why the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Star Wars Outlaws uses a Game-Key Card — a physical cartridge that requires owners still download the game, rather than including the full thing on the cart.
The answer? It's all due to the Switch 2's data speeds, and how quickly the hardware can read information from its bespoke cartridges, versus games downloaded to the console's internal memory.
"[Star Wars Outlaws game engine] Snowdrop relies heavily on disk streaming for its open world environments, and we found the Switch 2 cards simply didn't give the performance we needed at the quality target we were going for," Bantin wrote.
The information has come as a surprise to some Nintendo fans who have previously grumbled over the use of Game-Key Cards, which are cheaper and therefore increasingly popular among developers of larger games which would otherwise require more costly cartridges with increased memory capacity.
"I don't recall the cost of the cards ever entering the discussion – probably because it was moot," Bantin continued.
While not a comprehensive reason for all developers to use Game-Key Cards, Bantin went on to explain that it was important for Ubisoft and its Snowdrop development team, especially as Outlaws was originally developed for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S — console platforms that had faster SSD memory on board.
"I think if we'd designed a game for Switch 2 from the ground up it might have been different," Bantin said. "As it was, we'd build a game around the SSDs of the initial target platforms, and then the Switch 2 came along a while later. In this case I think our leadership made the right call."
Last month, Nintendo launched a fresh fan survey that quizzed Switch 2 owners for their opinions on buying digital games instead of boxed copies, and specifically asked for feedback on Game-Key Cards, following their less-than-stellar initial reception among fans who prefer their physical games to include... well, the full game.
Regardless of your thoughts on the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy as a whole, most fans would probably agree these movies failed to take advantage of the Knights of Ren. After being briefly teased in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the Knights were completely MIA in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. And though they finally made a real appearance in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, they were little more than silent minions to Adam Driver's Kylo Ren, minions who were quickly and easily dispatched by their master in the end. They didn't exactly live up to their fearsome reputation.
As ever, it falls on the Star Wars novels and comics to fill in the giant blanks left by the Sequels. That's where Star Wars: Legacy of Vader comes in. The latest issue of the series (which is set shortly after the events of The Last Jedi) offers new insight into the relationship between Kylo Ren and his Knights and explains why these characters took so long to appear in the movies. Read on to find out what we learned, but beware of full spoilers for Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #8 ahead!
Legacy of Vader writer Charles Soule has been largely responsible for fleshing out the Knights of Ren, having previously featured the characters in 2019's Star Wars: The Rise of Kylo Ren and 2020's Star Wars. The former series was the first to establish who these characters actually are and their place in the galaxy.
As revealed in The Rise of Kylo Ren, the Knights of Ren are a nomadic band of mercenaries and treasure hunters devoted to a philosophy of wanton destruction known as The Ren. They're all Dark Side adepts, though most don't wield lightsabers and they refer to the Dark Side as "the shadow." During the Original Trilogy era and leading up to the Sequels, the Knights were led by a human male named Ren. It was Ren who recruited the newly fallen Ben Solo to their cause, only for Ben to kill Ren and take his place.
So where were the Knights during The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi? As revealed in Legacy of Vader #8, Kylo Ren has a bit of competition. This issue introduces a new character named Tava Ren, one who has usurped control of the Knights. After her Knights abandon her during a botched heist mission, Tava demands to know why the group has sunk so low. Cardo then recounts the history of the Knights following the events of The Rise of Kylo Ren.
Initially, life under Kylo Ren was good. The Knights roamed the galaxy, free to loot, pillage, and destroy to their hearts' content. But eventually, Kylo Ren's mood darkened, and their missions took an even bloodier turn. The Knights began to suspect that someone was pulling their leader's strings. Their suspicions were proven correct when they were finally approached by Supreme Leader Snoke and his First Order troops.
Snoke informs Kylo that his time with the Knights of Ren is at an end. Ben Solo has a greater destiny to pursue. Kylo offers to kill his men for Snoke, but Snoke insists that his own troops can handle the job.
The Knights are forced to flee the battlefield and go into hiding. Ever since, they've been fugitives of the First Order. And by taking control of the group, Tava Ren has placed herself in danger.
Tava tells her Knights they've become "broken." But she seems to have a plan in mind to repair the damage. Tava immediately travels to the First Order flagship The Finalizer and presents herself to the new Supreme Leader. She proclaims herself to be at Kylo Ren's service. No doubt she has ulterior motives in mind.
We'll see how the reunion between Kylo Ren and his Knights plays out in future issues. Based on how The Rise of Skywalker plays out, we can probably assume that Kylo kills Tava and takes back personal control of the Knights. But given how Ben Solo is currently wracked by emotional turmoil, who knows what sort of damage she can inflict before she dies? Hopefully future issues will also flesh out the relationship between the Knights and Snoke's puppet master, Emperor Palpatine.
What do you think of these new revelations? Is Marvel finally giving the Knights of Ren their due? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
I don’t mind skipping over fluff deals, and you know by now I don't put up with nonsense like that. These are solid markdowns on products people are already paying attention to, including two solid PS5 games, a collectible Blu-ray, or just a cheap snack to stash away.
Resident Evil 4
This remake was already a must-play for me when it launched, but at $15 it would be rude not too. Capcom rebuilt a survival horror classic with modern controls, polished visuals, and new mechanics that keep it feeling fresh while still honoring the original. If you missed it at full price, this is a great chance to grab it.
Final Fantasy XVI
Final Fantasy XVI goes big in every way . Darker storytelling, faster combat, and those cinematic Eikon battles that really show off the PS5’s power. It’s a dense, story-driven game that still feels very approachable thanks to its action-first design. Getting a major release like this for under $25 feels like strong value, especially if you’ve been waiting for the right price to dive in.
The Boy and The Heron
This is Miyazaki’s latest film and it’s already an award-winner, so owning it on SteelBook is an easy call if you’re a Studio Ghibli fan. Beyond the collectible packaging, there are some worthwhile extras too (interviews, storyboards, behind-the-scenes looks) that make this more than just a standard Blu-ray release. The discount isn’t massive, but it’s still nice to save a few bucks on a title you’d probably want in your library anyway.
HORI USB Camera for Nintendo Switch 2
This one’s a little more niche, but I was surprised to see such a steep discount on an officially licensed Switch 2 accessory. HORI’s USB camera works across different play modes and comes with everything you need to set it up right away. It’s not something everyone will need, but if you’ve been curious about adding a camera to your Switch setup, this is a good time to try it without paying full price.
OREO Gluten Free Original & Double Stuf
I’ll be honest: this one caught my eye because it’s just a crazy-good pantry deal. Twenty snack packs for just over $5 is tough to beat, especially since gluten-free products rarely see discounts this steep. At about a quarter per pack, these are perfect for tossing in a bag or keeping at your desk.
007 First Light: Legacy And Standard Edition Preorders
The standard edition of 007 First Light includes the base game for $69.99 and is available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC (via Steam or Epic). Physical copies are offered for all consoles, though Switch 2 uses a game-key card rather than a full cartridge, meaning you’ll still need the card inserted to play but can lend or resell it like a typical game card. Preorders also come with the deluxe edition upgrade at no extra cost, adding early access for digital buyers plus exclusive DLC skins and outfits. For fans who want something more collectible, the Legacy Edition ($299.99) comes packed with extras. Alongside the full game in a steelbook case, it includes a Golden Gun figurine with a stand and hidden compartment, a certificate of authenticity, and a bundle of deluxe DLC skins and outfits. Between the display-worthy replica and the bonus in-game content, this edition is tailored for Bond enthusiasts who want both a showpiece for their shelf and extra flair in-game.
LEGO Disney & Pixar Wall-E & EVE
The LEGO Disney & Pixar WALL-E & EVE Building Set (43279) is one of the new LEGO sets for September. It comes with 811 pieces and builds four characters from the movie: WALL-E, EVE, M-O, and Hal. Each has movable parts, like WALL-E’s rolling tracks and EVE’s poseable arms, plus small accessories like the plant in a boot. Once built, the figures stand about 5 inches tall and work well as shelf or desk décor.
EUKI Compressed Air Duster
The EUKI Compressed Air Duster ($39.99) is a rechargeable alternative to disposable air cans, built with a 150,000 RPM motor and three speed settings for different cleaning tasks. It weighs just 315 grams and can handle everything from clearing dust out of keyboards and PCs to inflating air beds or drying surfaces. A full charge takes about 2.5 hours and provides up to 100 minutes of use, with built-in protections for safe performance. The kit comes with a USB-C cable, storage bag, brushes, and a non-slip handle.
Runbox Slim Card Holder
RUNBOX Slim Card Holder Wallet is a minimalist aluminum case designed to hold 6–12 cards securely, with a quick-access pop-up button for easy retrieval. At just 0.5 inches thick and 2.6 ounces, it fits comfortably in any pocket while still offering expandable storage thanks to its metal backplate. Built-in RFID blocking helps protect against digital theft, and silicone clips inside keep cards firmly in place.
Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution - Phantasmal Flames Preorders
With the Pokémon Center listings going live for preorder at any moment, it's only a matter of time until the first expansion for the new era of Pokémon TCG, Mega Evolution: Phantasmal Flames, comes pouring down to other retailers. First up will be Best Buy, normally around 24 hours after the Pokémon Center launch, followed by Target then secondary market and small seller allocations being available on TCGPlayer. Amazon and Walmart have been known to stock Pokémon TCG preorders in the past, but it's not always a guarantee. Phantasmal Flames drops on November 14, with prerelease events running the week before, and the big headline is Mega Charizard X ex returning in full force. What makes this set even more exciting is its size , about 90 cards before secret rares, which makes it the smallest English set in nearly a decade. For collectors like me, that usually means a much more manageable chase, while still packing in plenty of heavy hitters for players.
The product lineup looks pretty stacked too. We’ll be getting the usual booster packs and booster box (36 packs), a 9-pack Elite Trainer Box featuring a shiny new Charcadet promo, and an Ultra-Premium Collection built around Mega Charizard X ex. On top of that, two theme decks for Mega Gengar ex and Mega Diancie ex are arriving a few weeks early on October 24, which is a fun way to get a taste of the set before launch. If you’re like me and love cracking packs, the booster box is the way to go, but the UPC is already looking like the big collector piece this time around.
What ties it all together is the Japanese set Inferno X, which hit shelves there in late September. That set had only 80 cards, and once you add in the Mega Gengar and Mega Diancie decks, you basically get the full Phantasmal Flames lineup. We’ve already seen some killer reveals, including the Mega Charizard X ex secret rare previewed at Worlds, so I’m fully expecting that to be the chase card when this launches. Between the smaller set size, Charizard hype, and some solid gameplay cards, I think this one’s going to fly off shelves and I’m definitely locking in my preorder.
Back To The Future Steelbook Preorders Are Live
The 40th anniversary Back to the Future steelbooks are a collector’s dream. Each movie in the trilogy is getting its own limited-edition release on October 14, with sleek new steelbook packaging featuring inside-and-out film artwork. Priced between $29.99 and $34.99, each edition includes the movie on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and digital, along with a treasure trove of bonus features, from archival documentaries and outtakes to new retrospectives with co-writer Bob Gale and cast/crew members.
Pokémon TCG: Holiday Calendar (2025) Cheaper At TCGPlayer
The 2025 Pokémon TCG Holiday Calendar is shaping up to be a holiday highlight for fans without breaking the bank. While Amazon has it listed for $67.94, with the lowest price right now is actually at TCGplayer, where you can snag it for just $61.97. Inside, you’ll get a festive advent-style box with 25 surprises: eight foil promo cards with a snowflake Poké Ball stamp, six booster packs, seven fun packs, two coins, sticker sheets, and a bonus code card for Pokémon TCG Live. With boosters pulled from recent Scarlet & Violet expansions like Destined Rivals and Journey Together, this calendar offers both collectible promos and real gameplay value at the best price you’ll find online today.
Marvel Legends Series Wolverine Premium Roleplay Mask
Hasbro’s Marvel Legends Series Wolverine Premium Roleplay Mask is a must-have for fans of the clawed mutant, whether you’re into cosplay or just want a striking display piece. Priced at $99.99 and set to release on October 1 (with preorders live now at Amazon), this full-scale 1:1 mask recreates Wolverine’s look from Deadpool & Wolverine. It sports the classic yellow-and-black design with realistic battle damage and white eye screens, giving it a screen-accurate edge. The mask also comes with its own display stand, so it’ll look just as good on a shelf as it does when you wear it.
Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 + 4 Under $35
As part of Amazon’s Labor Day sale, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 has dropped to its lowest price yet, making now the perfect time to grab it. Normally priced higher, this updated collection delivers classic arcade skateboarding with a modern polish. In our review where we scored it an 8/10, we praised the game for proving “the series’ over-the-top skateboarding formula is totally timeless,” even if some of the tweaks to THPS4 and the soundtrack choices didn’t fully land. At this price, though, you’re getting an iconic piece of gaming history for less than ever before.
Pokémon TCG ETBs and Booster Bundles
When it comes to sealed Pokémon TCG products, the real bargains today are on ETBs and booster bundles. White Flare is sitting at just $75 on TCGPlayer, which is a nice break from the usual $90+ price tags. Even the newer Destined Rivals and Black Bolt boxes are running cheaper there than anywhere else. And if you don’t want to spring for a full ETB, Prismatic Evolutions booster bundles are going for as low as $59, which feels like an easy pickup if you’re chasing singles without committing to a whole box.
I’m also eyeing a few of the new Funko Pop! preorders that just went live. Turtwig drops at the end of September for $15.99, while Ninetales and Absol are both set for mid-December at $14.99 each. These usually disappear around launch week, so if you’re the type who likes locking in new releases before they vanish, it’s probably worth snagging them now instead of hunting later at inflated prices.
Pokémon Funko Pop! Deals
Amazon’s been quietly slashing prices on a bunch of Pokémon Funko Pops, and some of them are cheaper than a booster pack. The biggest surprise for me was Horsea at just $4.31—that’s wild considering it normally goes for $12.99. There are plenty of others worth adding to your shelf too, like Fidough for $7.99, Dratini for $11.30, and even the 10-inch Pikachu for $62, which is a solid drop from its usual $75.99. Whether you’re filling gaps in your collection or just want a budget-friendly pick-up, today’s lineup has a nice mix of starters, legendaries, and fan favorites.
Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of "Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior". Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.
Logitech G PLAY is back to showcase the brand’s latest gear and tech and give us a glimpse at the future of gaming. There will be announcements of new products, community celebrations, and it’ll stream live from Cine Callao in Madrid on Logitech G’s YouTube page on September 17.
If you’re not already aware, Logitech G is a Swiss brand that makes a wide range of gaming tech, like keyboards, mice, headsets, driving wheels, flight sticks, and more. If you’ve recently shopped for new gaming accessories, chances are pretty good you’ve come across their products.
This is the third year of Logitech G PLAY, and at last year’s event, they announced 18 new products. So you can expect quite a few reveals this year too, with new products aimed at gamers of all kinds and experience levels. But it’s not just about revealing new gear, it’s also a party that celebrates gaming.
“We are delighted to announce the third annual Logitech G PLAY, a global celebration recognizing the gaming community and industry,” said Peter Kingsley, CMO at Logitech G. “This year, the event will expand worldwide, with major activations scheduled in Sydney, Shanghai, San Francisco, Madrid, London, and Tokyo. Logitech G PLAY serves as a crucial platform to showcase key breakthroughs in innovation, our esteemed partners, and our community members, all of whom are continually shaping the future of play.”
“Breakthroughs In Play” is the theme of this year’s event, focused on next-gen tech and how it’s advancing what will be possible in gaming going forward. In addition to those announcements, there will be interactive entertainment and appearances by more than 80 gaming creators, like Ben Rowlands, mrDzinold, SpuddGaming, PAGO, DanucD, IzakOOO, Hinkowicz, All The Gear and TheGrefg. For sim racing fans, car enthusiast SebDelanney will be on hand to host a special segment.
The livestream will begin at 7:00 p.m. CET on September 17, which converts to 2:00 p.m. Eastern and 11:00 a.m. Pacific. It’s planned to run for about three hours and you can watch the whole thing on Logitech G’s YouTube page. You can also visit this page to see a preview of the event, watch a recap of last year’s version, and sign up to be reminded as soon as the livestream starts.
The livestream from Madrid is the flagship event, but it’s not the only thing going on. Launching globally alongside the event will be the Logitech G PLAY Days promotion, which will run from September 17–29. It’ll feature sales of up to 40% off a variety of products, so if you’re looking to upgrade your gaming setup, be sure to check out the official website once the sale is live to see everything on offer.
Amazon has greenlit the long-awaited Life is Strange TV adaptation, almost a decade after plans to adapt the game were first announced.
Charlie Covell, writer of Channel 4's The of the F***king World and Netflix's Kaos, will head the series as executive producer and showrunner, Variety reported, with video game publisher Square Enix and Amazon MGM Studios both on board.
When a Life is Strange TV adapatation was first announced back in 2016, only the series' first game had been released — with the expectation being that it would adapt said game. And now, years later, this remains the case, with an official blurb for the show mentioning the franchise's most popular characters, Max and Chloe.
Covell's adaptation will follow Max, "a photography student, who discovers she can rewind time while saving the life of her childhood best friend, Chloe," the blurb reads. "As she struggles to understand this new skill, the pair investigate the mysterious disappearance of a fellow student, uncovering a dark side to their town that will ultimately force them to make an impossible life or death choice that will impact them forever."
Exactly how the TV adaptation will handle the game's choose-your-own-adventure storytelling is another matter, however, and it'll certainly be interesting to see which of the two main endings the series will choose to follow.
The announcement of the TV series also comes at an interesting time for the Life is Strange franchise overall. Originally developed by Don't Nod, more recent entries in the series have been created by Deck Nine Games — though exactly what the future holds for the franchise now has yet to be announced.
After various sequels focusing on separate characters, a belated follow-up to the original game arrived in October 2024 but failed to land with long-term fans. Life is Strange: Double Exposure saw the return of Max but not Chloe, something which angered those who felt their past in-game choices were not being properly represented. Behind the scenes, the game suffered a rocky development as Deck Nine Games struggled with internal toxicity and crunch. Subsequently, the studio has been hit by multiple rounds of layoffs.
"For years we've had so many people asking us to create a Life is Strange TV show," Square Enix External Studios bosses Jon Brooke and Lee Singleton said today, "and we're so pleased to finally partner with Amazon MGM Studios who we trust will do an incredible job bringing our universe to life."
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 feeling overwhelmed by the many VPNs for PCs that are now available, you’re not alone. At times, it can be hard to separate the marketing hype from reality. For example, many VPNs claim to provide the fastest speeds, but it’s not fair or entirely realistic for you to try every single one of them out to find out. This is where our many hours of hands-on testing comes in useful.
To help you narrow all these options down, I’ve tested a multitude of Windows VPNs, looking at everything from their server speeds and unblocking ability to their leak protection and no-logs policies. The best VPNs for Windows PC excel in all of these areas and even offer some intriguing extras that Windows users might find useful, including split tunneling and even antivirus protection.
TL;DR – These Are the Best VPNs for PC:
Featured in this article
Before I take you through the best VPNs for PC, here’s a quick explanation of what a VPN is, what it does, and how it works. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) encrypts your internet traffic and masks your IP address. Your online activities are hidden as a result – even from your ISP (Internet Service Provider). As such, you’ll be able to browse privately and even navigate geographic restrictions on content.
1. ExpressVPN
Best VPN for Windows PC
ExpressVPN combines the high level of performance and security required to be the best VPN for Windows PC. It’s one of the faster VPNs I’ve tested, and this coupled with 3,000 servers in 105 countries is what makes ExpressVPN the best VPN for streaming, too. It unblocked every streaming service I threw at it including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. It doesn’t hurt that ExpressVPN has some of the most user-friendly VPN apps on the market either.
Aside from 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, and a desktop kill switch, ExpressVPN has an ad blocker (which performed very well in testing), and a password manager. Another useful feature that’s available on multiple platforms including Windows is split tunneling. This allows you to select which apps can bypass the VPN connection. ExpressVPN has Windows 10 and 11 apps and an ARM-compatible app so you can even use it on Copilot+ PCs.
2. Proton VPN
Best VPN With a Free Tier
Proton VPN is popular with privacy enthusiasts. A VPN Accelerator feature, which optimizes data routing, coupled with 10 Gbps connections on many servers makes this one of the fastest VPNs. The result is lag-free streaming and gaming. Proton VPN has plenty of servers too. Aside from the Windows app, there’s a special ARM version for use with Microsoft Surface and other ARM Windows devices.
Many VPNs claim to have no-logs policies yet keep connection logs, but that’s not the case with Proton VPN. It has open source apps and operates out of Switzerland, a country with strong privacy laws. On top of high-end encryption and a kill switch, you can further secure your PC with its ad blocker and Secure Core (Double VPN) servers. More recently, Proton VPN has implemented a Stealth protocol for Windows, allowing PC users to bypass strict censorship.
3. NordVPN
Best VPN for Gaming
NordVPN has one of the larger VPN server networks (7,000+ servers in 118 countries). We found its connections to be highly consistent, which makes it highly suitable for streaming when traveling. It’s also why it’s the best VPN for gaming; NordVPN’s Meshnet feature lets you create a virtual network for LAN gaming with friends. Not only is NordVPN available for Windows 11 and 10, it supports both Surface Pro and ARM devices.
The internet traffic on your PC is secured from hackers and snoopers thanks to 256-bit AES encryption and kill switch feature. I didn’t observe DNS or IP leaks in testing and was impressed with its ad blocker that stopped the vast majority of ads in their tracks. As part of your NordVPN subscription, you have access to a password manager, malware protection, and encrypted cloud storage, providing comprehensive security to your Windows PC.
4. Surfshark
Best VPN for Extra Features
Surfshark lets you secure not just your PC, but all of your devices with an unlimited simultaneous connection allowance. One of the most consistent unblockers of content, Surfshark is ideal for streaming. It makes light work of tricky-to-access streaming platforms while speeds are more than fast enough for bandwidth-heavy activities. Surfshark supports Windows 7 onwards, but only Windows 10 and 11 are fully supported with the latest updates.
If you opt for Surfshark’s highest subscription tier, you’ll have access to a whole host of extra security features. This includes an ad blocker, antivirus protection, and personal data removal. Of course, there’s also military-grade encryption, leak protection, and a kill switch, safely putting Surfshark’s security offering among the more comprehensive of the best PC VPNs. If you don’t mind committing for two years, Surfshark represents almost unrivalled value for money.
5. Private Internet Access
Best VPN for Power Users
Private Internet Access supports unlimited simultaneous connections. Though it doesn’t specify its server count, you can choose from 91 countries, which is far more than most VPN services. One particular advantage PIA has over many VPNs is that it lets you order servers by latency. It’s therefore that much easier to find a fast connection for multiplayer gaming or streaming on your Windows PC. PIA is available for Windows 10 and 11, as well as Copilot+.
There’s no shortage of security features with PIA, providing a high level of security for your PC. It includes a Windows-only antivirus, a built-in ad blocker, and MultiHop servers for two layers of encryption. This is on top of essentials including AES encryption, protection from DNS leaks, and a kill switch. PIA doesn’t keep any logs and has 24/7 live chat support. This is a VPN that’s ideal for experienced users thanks to the high level of customization allowed by its apps.
6. CyberGhost
Best Free Trial VPN
CyberGhost has one of the largest server networks of any VPN. Though it no longer discloses just how many servers it has, this stood at over 11,000. We also know that its network covers 100 countries so you can always find a fast server nearby. CyberGhost uses the WireGuard protocol and offers unlimited bandwidth so speeds are as consistent as they are fast. Thanks to its gaming-optimized servers, CyberGhost is ideal if you’re seeking low latency connections.
Another reason why CyberGhost is a great VPN for PC is its security suite for Windows. This adds antivirus and anti-malware protection on top of the high-end encryption already provided. CyberGhost gives you the option to secure seven devices simultaneously. Connected devices further benefit from an automatic kill switch and DNS leak protection. Uniquely, CyberGhost has a 24-hour free trial for Windows with full access to all features and no credit card required.
7. IPVanish
Best VPN For Unlimited Devices
IPVanish stands out for its generous North American server count, which makes up 60% of its network. So if you’re in the U.S. or Canada and want a fast local server, or want to watch your usual home streaming services on your Windows PC from abroad, it’s likely a great fit. Better still, speeds are more than fast enough for streaming, even in 4K. With IPVanish, you can find an app that supports Windows 10 and 11, as well as an ARM64 beta for CoPilot+ PCs.
This VPN supports the WireGuard protocol which, aside from being fast, is open source and secure. When you connect to an IPVanish server, your internet traffic is routed through a 256-bit AES encrypted tunnel. Furthermore, IPVanish passed our leak tests with flying colors. IPVanish has introduced several new features of late, including a secure browser, cloud protection, and Threat Protection which safeguards your PC from ads, trackers, and malicious websites.
Disclosure: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, IGN's parent company.
What to Look for in a VPN for Windows PC
It’s hard to find a VPN that doesn’t offer an app for Windows. With this in mind, choosing the best VPN for PC requires taking other factors into account:
Speed: I carry out speed tests on each VPN’s servers to make sure they’re fast enough for streaming and playing online multiplayer games.
Security: At a minimum, I’m looking for VPNs that offer a secure VPN protocol, 256-bit AES encryption, and protection from DNS leaks.
Unblocking: Some VPNs struggle to unblock popular streaming services. I test each VPN against a variety of websites and services before recommending it.
Servers: Free VPNs only have a handful of servers in one or two locations. The best VPNs for PC have thousands of servers in dozens of countries.
Privacy: Encryption is little good if your VPN is logging identifying data. By reading the fine print of privacy policies, I can determine how privacy-friendly a VPN really is.
Support: Although I’ve selected VPNs that provide user-friendly apps, it always helps to have access to live chat and email support, preferably 24/7.
Extra features: To further separate the many VPNs available, I sought those that provide extras, be it an antivirus, ad blocker, or password manager.
Where things get a little bit trickier is finding VPNs that support older versions of Windows. To receive the latest features and security patches, you’ll ideally want to be on Windows 10 or 11. Some of the VPNs covered in this list even support Windows ARM devices such as Microsoft Surface Pro.
Best VPN for PC FAQ
Why should I use a VPN on my PC?
A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, rendering it unreadable to third parties and preventing cyber threats such as man-in-the-middle attacks. The fact that it hides your IP address means even your ISP can’t see what you’re doing online. Aside from the security and privacy-related benefits, a VPN allows you to spoof your location and bypass geo-blocking. If your ISP is throttling your connection, a VPN may even improve your speeds.
Will a VPN slow my connection?
Unless your ISP is throttling your bandwidth, a VPN is likely to slow your connection to a degree. There are several influencing factors including the protocol you use, the location of the server to which you connect (and its proximity to your actual location), and the current server load. The encryption process takes its toll but, as our speed tests indicate, some VPNs compensate for this better than others. With the fastest VPNs, you may not notice a difference.
Can I use a free VPN for PC?
There are plenty of free VPNs for PC but they have too many limitations. You’ll likely only have access to a couple of server locations and there will likely be bandwidth and data caps. Some free VPNs don’t properly encrypt your data and make money by logging and selling it. Overall, free VPNs tend to offer inferior security and performance, making them particularly unsuitable for streaming and PC gaming. If you do opt for a free VPN for PC, I recommend Proton VPN, which offers unlimited data and takes a strong stance on privacy.
Mark Gill is a freelance VPN writer for IGN, bringing over five years of dedicated experience from Comparitech, where he delves deep into the intricacies of VPNs. A journalism graduate with a passion for safeguarding digital freedoms, Mark has strengthened his expertise with a Google Cybersecurity Certificate and is now studying for the CompTIA Security+ certification. When he’s not testing VPNs, Mark is an avid gamer with a soft spot for the Sega Mega Drive, reliving the classics for a dose of nostalgia. He also enjoys mountain biking and watching football (go Lions!), and working on his dark comedy screenplays. You won’t find Mark on social media because he already wastes far too much time managing his fantasy football teams with the hope of this year being “the year.” Hint: it never is.
The market for XY-era Mega Evolution Pokémon cards has heated up in anticipation of Pokémon Legends Z-A and the new Mega Evolution TCG set and Phantasmal Flames expansion. Collectors aren’t waiting for fresh stock of modern Mega Evolutions, they’re going back to the originals.
As a result, some cards have spiked dramatically, while others are showing signs of plateauing, creating strong entry points for buyers who want to get ahead of the next wave.
Leading the charge is M Rayquaza EX (Shiny Full Art – Ancient Origins), which has soared from $275.15 in January to a staggering $1,450 today—an increase of over 426%. Meanwhile, M Gengar EX (Secret Rare – Phantom Forces) has multiplied nearly fivefold since January, now trading at $415. These climbers highlight just how quickly momentum can build around Mega Evolutions.
But not every card is running away in price. Some are holding steady after strong climbs earlier this year. M Alakazam EX (Full Art – Fates Collide) sits at just under $100 after rising from $28.85 in January, but recent weeks show leveling off. For buyers, these plateaus represent a rare chance to secure cards before demand intensifies again when Mega Evolution reclaims the spotlight.
Pokémon Card Climbers
The clearest winners of 2025’s Mega Evolution run-up are the Rayquaza and Gengar cards. M Rayquaza EX (Shiny Full Art – Ancient Origins) has surged over 426% this year, now commanding $1,450. Its Theta Max ability that heals on evolution and the scaling power of Emerald Break made it a competitive monster in its day, and the shiny black-and-gold artwork cements it as a collector grail.
M Gengar EX (Secret Rare – Phantom Forces) isn’t far behind, up 357% since January to $415. Its Phantom Gate attack let it copy any move from the opponent’s Active Pokémon, a flexible strategy that earned it lasting fan love. The secret rare gold trim adds collector prestige, making this one of the most desirable Megas not named Rayquaza.
Also climbing fast is M Rayquaza EX (Full Art – Roaring Skies), now at $656.93 compared to $164.04 in January. Its Delta Evolution rule bypassed the usual Mega Evolution turn-ending drawback, giving it unique competitive edge at release. The vibrant green artwork adds to its desirability, and while overshadowed by the Shiny Rayquaza, it’s carving its own path upward.
M Charizard EX (X – Flashfire) has also doubled and then some, climbing from $126.89 to $349.99. Though its Wild Blaze attack forced players to discard five cards after dealing 300 damage, the Mega X design remains one of Charizard’s most iconic forms. Collectors chasing Charizard cards across eras are pushing this one higher.
Finally, Primal Groudon EX (Shiny Full Art – Ancient Origins) has jumped from $126.89 in January to $349.99 today. The Theta Max healing ability and Gaia Volcano’s potential to hit 200 made it a powerhouse in its day, while the shiny crimson-and-gold artwork locks in its collector appeal. Though technically a Primal, it rides the same wave as Mega Evolutions in the current surge.
Pokémon Card Crashers
Not every Mega Evolution is continuing to climb. Some have slowed their upward trajectory, making them attractive buys while prices are stable. Primal Groudon EX (Omega Full Art – Primal Clash) has risen from $90.60 in January to $254.93 but is beginning to level off. Its Omega Barrier ability that blocked Trainer effects made it uniquely powerful, and while it’s cooled, the mechanics and artwork give it plenty of long-term upside.
M Mewtwo EX (Full Art – BREAKthrough) has shown one of the biggest percentage gains, from $37.21 to $145.04. Its Psychic Infinity attack scaled with Energy on both Active Pokémon, giving it offensive versatility. While its growth has slowed compared to Rayquaza and Gengar, this plateau is a clear chance to lock in before it spikes again with the Mega Evolution revival.
M Alakazam EX (Full Art – Fates Collide) has climbed from $28.85 to $99.97 but has now steadied in the $90–100 range. Its Zen Force attack synergized well with spread-damage strategies, though it never became a meta staple. Collectors have kept it relevant, and with prices flatlining, this looks like a buy-and-hold card heading into Pokémon Legends Z-A.
M Charizard EX (Generations) has tripled from $64.66 to $196, but growth has tapered. Its Heat Typhoon coin-flip mechanic made it more of a novelty card, yet the Generations anniversary branding has cemented its long-term collector appeal. With Charizard’s legacy tied tightly to every new era, this plateau may be short-lived.
Finally, M Charizard EX (Full Art – Evolutions) mirrors its Generations counterpart, rising from $64.66 to $196 but settling into that range. The Crimson Dive attack packed 300 damage at the cost of self-harm, which limited competitive use, but Evolutions nostalgia has carried it. With the Mega Evolution resurgence on the horizon, this lull feels like a rare buying opportunity before Charizard prices inevitably rise again.
Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of "Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior". Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.
Hollow Knight: Silksong may be the sequel to Hollow Knight, but players are quickly finding out that it doesn't exactly play the same way Hollow Knight did. With a new protagonist and new moves, the controls and abilities available might have some players fumbling or struggling, especially when it comes to Silksong's trickier platforming sections. Fortunately, there's a way to switch back to the Hollow Knight moveset available pretty early on, if you really must.
Warning: This article will contain spoilers for Silksong's early game, including the first two major unlockable abilities and one of the earliest bosses. If you haven't thoroughly explored the Deep Docks area just yet, you may want to wait and come back to this later.
Hornet's default moveset is very, very different from that of the Knight in Hollow Knight. She has more range than the Knight, but her Needle swings are just a touch slower. She also is unable to "pogo" off of enemies the same way the Knight was - while he could slash downward to bounce off a foe, Hornet can bounce only by shooting downward at a diagonal 45 degree angle. This makes some of the game's jumping puzzles significantly more tricky until you get used to the new abilities.
While it's my personal recommendation to just practice and get used to Hornet's moveset as the game clearly intends, it's possible that having the Knight's abilities might be a benefit in certain circumstances, or maybe you just want to play that way. For that, you need to get the Wanderer's Crest, which is a different crest with different slots for tools than your default Hunter's Crest.
The Wanderer's Crest has a few requirements to unlock: you need to have beaten the Bell Beast and unlocked Hornet's sprint ability found in Deep Docks. You'll also need to have a Simple Key with you, which can be acquired easily from the merchant in Bone Bottom. If you've already bought and used that key, you'll have to find one elsewhere.
With key in hand, head up into Mosshome, and head west as far as possible. Once you get to the elevator room (the one that takes you back down to Bone Bottom), use your dash to cross the big gap, and keep heading west into the Wormways. Progress through the Wormways westward and down to a hut where the crest is waiting for you. Our video above has a far more detailed explanation of how to get this item.
The Wanderer's Crest does make it a bit harder to fight enemies, especially at range, but can make exploration easier, so just be warned. You can swap it out any time at a bench, and experiment with both crests and figure out which one works for you. We're just getting started with Silksong, so who knows, maybe there will be even more crests out there with cool new abilities waiting for us to find them!
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
While we eagerly await Resident Evil: Requiem to give us a good scare next year, Amazon's dropped an excellent deal on a slightly older Resi title that's worth picking up to keep you on your toes in the meantime. The excellent Resident Evil 4 remake for PS5 has dropped to just $15 at the retailer. Yes, you read that correctly! This marks its lowest price yet, according to price tracker camelcamelcamel, making now an excellent time to scoop it up for your library if you haven't had the chance to yet.
Resident Evil 4 for PS5 Down to $15 at Amazon
Considering when it first came out it was listed for $59.99, this makes for a 75% discount from that original price, which is an incredible amount of savings for a game we absolutely adored (awarding a shining 10/10 in our review). IGN's Tristan Ogilvie said at the time that, "Its combat is friction-free but no less stress-inducing thanks to its ferocious cast of creatures, its story rapidly shuttles through a series of action scenes that are diverse in structure but uniformly unwavering in intensity, and its world is rich in detail and full of fun and often snarling surprises."
If you've yet to add it to your libary, there's truly no better time than now to do it. Especially considering Resident Evil: Requiem is set to arrive next year in February. Plus, with spooky season right around the corner, now is the perfect time to have a scary game ready to play when October hits. And if you're curious which order these games should be played in before the new one drops, check out our breakdown of how to play the Resident Evil games in order so you can set yourself up for success next year.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelancer who writes with the guides and commerce teams here at IGN.
Hollow Knight: Silksong is out now, and seems like it's pretty good so far if our review-in-progress is any indication. But it commits one terrible, unforgiveable sin: Silksong won't let players pet the dang dog-er, well, the bug that's like a dog.
Warning: Spoilers for the first few hours of Hollow Knight: Silksong follow. Everything we discuss below can be found very early in the game, in the first two areas you visit.
If you're still wondering who or what the "dog" is, I'm referring to the Bell Beast, one of Silksong's earliest bosses and, once defeated, your permanent fast travel buddy. The Bell Beast is encountered early in the game in The Marrow, trapped within enormous silk webs. You need to unlock the Silk Spear to free it, and once you do, a fight will ensue. We've got a whole guide on this guy if you're having trouble finding or defeating him, so make sure to check that out.
Once you beat the Bell Beast, it becomes docile, and you can summon it at any fast travel station to have it take you to any other station in Pharloom. That in itself is helpful enough, but the absolute best thing about the Bell Beast is how it basically acts like a big puppy whenever it sees you. It'll dig around in the bells beneath its feet, react excitedly when you ring the bells above its head, and genuinely just gives off enormous puppy energy.
But Hornet can't pet it. And fans really feel like they should be able to! Here's a gallery of a lot of community members agreeing with me - they're all spoiler-tagged due to the Silksong subreddit's current spoiler rules, but I promise, it's all just a bunch of cute images of the Bell Beast.
Just look at that baby!! It deserves all the scritches and cuddles! Please, Team Cherry, give us a pet action on the Bell Beast. B.B. has earned it...and we have too.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
After the DCEU came to an unceremonious end, we admit to being a tad concerned about another take on the story of the Last Son of Krypton. Thankfully, the iconic character got a movie befitting his own mythos in James Gunn’s 2025 Superman, while also opening the door to a whole new universe.
We gave it an 8 out of 10, saying “Superman is a wonderfully entertaining, heartfelt cinematic reset for the Man of Steel, and a great start for the DCU on the big screen” in our full review.
Superman’s 4K Blu-Ray Is Discounted Ahead of Launch
Amazon doesn’t yet have a confirmed price (or stock) for the Steelbook Edition with its fancy Fortress of Solitude design, but it does have the normal 4K version for $29.95, down from $34.98.
There are an awful lot of characters introduced in this new version of Superman, from Guy Gardner to Mr Terrific, Ultraman, and many more, so being able to pause and catch your breath with the home release might not be such a bad idea.
Lloyd Coombes is an experienced freelancer in tech, gaming and fitness seen at Polygon, Eurogamer, Macworld, TechRadar and many more. He's a big fan of Magic: The Gathering and other collectible card games, much to his wife's dismay.
Both are expected to be released on October 31, so there's just over a month to wait before you can get your hands on them. Head to the links below to secure a preorder for yourself while they're still available.
Preorder Legion Go 2 Gaming Handhelds
The higher spec version of the Legion Go 2 is powered by an AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor coupled with 32GB of RAM. It also features a 1TB SSD, offering up plenty of space to store your favorite games. Those games will be showcased on an 8.8-inch PureSight OLED gaming display, which is sure to make your them look crisp and clear. Your purchase also comes with three months of PC Game Pass, which is an excellent bonus.
The less expensive version of the Legion Go 2 comes with an AMD Ryzen Z2 processor, rather than the Extreme, and 16GB of RAM. Similar to the Extreme model, though, it features the 8.8-inch PureSight OLED display and also comes with 1TB of storage, plus the bonus of three months of PC Game Pass included.
If you've had your eye on the Legion Go 2, then you likely have also been looking at the Xbox ROG Ally and Ally X, which also both arrive in October. The ROG Ally handhelds have yet to be priced, but these new Legion Go 2 models use similar chipsets to those in the Ally and Ally X, and so there's a reasonable chance that they will be comparable in price (that's to say they'll likely be pretty pricy.)
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelancer who writes with the guides and commerce teams here at IGN.
Google’s 2025 Pixel lineup of Android smartphones is here, and the Pixel 10 sets the baseline with an $800 price and a shift to the formula that has previously divided the base model and the Pro versions. Packed with a telephoto sensor of its own and an almost identical design and internals to the Pro, the Pixel 10 looks promising. But looks can be deceiving.
Google Pixel 10 – Design and Features
This year, Google has blurred the lines a bit more between the new Pixel 10 and its higher-tier Pixel 10 Pro. The phones already shared similar form factors in the previous generation, but now the Pixel 10 even carries a triple-camera system to match the 10 Pro – even if they are slightly different cameras. That said, the difference in cameras – and pretty much all the differences between the two phones – is subtle.
The Pixel 10 includes a pleasant matte aluminum frame sandwiched by tough Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and back. It feels good and sturdy, and it offers IP68 protection to keep water out – all what you should expect from a flagship phone.
If you like a small phone, the Pixel 10 may satisfy your hands just like its predecessor. Between its smoothly rounded corners and relatively small 6.3-inch display, the Pixel 10 is pretty easy to manage with one hand. At just over 200 grams, it’s not very hefty, though it does feel a little weightier than I’d expect for a smaller phone. For perspective, the OnePlus 13 only weighs a few grams more and fits a 6.82-inch display.
Despite having a display identical in size to the Pixel 10 Pro, it’s not quite at the same level. The screen offers a lower – but still perfectly solid – 1080x2424 resolution, and it supports 60-120Hz refresh rates, which isn’t quite as impressive as the 1-120Hz refresh rate range of the Pro model, which can benefit more from that efficiency. The display isn’t quite as bright either. The Pixel 10 can reach 2,000 nits for a full white screen in HDR or 3,000 nits for small highlights. That’s plenty bright, though the Pixel 10 Pro goes 10% brighter still. Thankfully, the Pixel 10’s display is already at such a high point that there’s little reason to worry about even higher specs. It simply looks great.
The display pairs with a solid set of speakers. They sound every bit as good as what Google has packed into the Pro model, offering ample volume for listening to music, watching movies, and playing games in a quiet space. They even pass the test of being able to play a podcast loud enough to hear in the shower. And they do that all without noticeable distortion or EQ dips when music gets loud.
The Pixel 10 supports Google’s new Pixelsnap feature, which is essentially a branded version of Qi2, which is itself more or less a wider standard of the MagSafe Apple introduced with the iPhone 12 lineup way back in 2020. This gives the Pixel 10 support for magnetic accessories that attach to the back, including wireless chargers with 15W charging speeds.
The rest of the Pixel 10’s features and capabilities largely carry over from last year. It still offers a USB-C 3.2 port that can send a video signal out for easy screen mirroring. It has a quick fingerprint scanner built into the display for easy unlocking and it supports facial recognition that has proven just as quick. And just like the 10 Pro, the Pixel 10 has dumped support for physical SIM cards entirely, opting exclusively for eSIM, which is an annoying lack of flexibility. Having eSIM as an option is convenient, but going exclusively eSIM isn’t.
Just like last year, it still doesn’t support mmWave 5G or ultra-wideband, and that latter point will leave it out of any advanced device tracking that Google might bring to market. Google also moved the 10 Pro ahead to Wi-Fi 7, but is only offering Wi-Fi 6E on the Pixel 10 – it’s not the end of the world, as even Wi-Fi 6 is more than fast enough for much of what we do on our phones, but it’s still an odd little letdown.
Google Pixel 10 – Software
The Pixel 10 comes running Android 16 and will get seven years of updates. It’s a clean enough version of the operating system, with no major bloatware beyond Google’s extra AI tools. Those are really the star of the show anyway, or at least Google would like them to be. Unfortunately, how well they work or whether they work at all is still a big question.
For instance, Google’s Magic Cue feature is designed to scan information in your apps and provide relevant information whenever it thinks you might need it – say, pulling up your flight itinerary when you get an email from someone asking about it. Unfortunately, even in this exact scenario, I didn’t hear a peep from Magic Cue. On both the Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10, I tried to set it up with some easy home runs just to see it in action, and in all cases it was a swing and a miss. Magic Cue never popped up. I did get it to appear once following a specific example Google shared, looking at a list of local restaurants in an article at Eater.com and then opening Google Maps. But even then it was a little slow with the suggestions, and though I had read only the first restaurant on the list – Publican – none of the suggestions Magic Cue made were for that restaurant. Never mind that I wouldn’t have found AI typing a single word into a search bar for me all that compelling.
Another new feature, the ability to ask for specific edits from the Photos app and have them managed automatically by AI, wasn’t available in Illinois at the time of testing. Meanwhile, some features aren’t offered for the Pixel 10. Google’s Pre Res Zoom is limited to just the Pro models, for instance. Based on my testing of that feature for the 10 Pro review, it’s not a huge loss for the Pixel 10.
The varying reliability of these AI features may come down to them needing more time to gather and parse information before they can properly get in the swing of things. But based on my experience with them so far, they don’t justify the purchase of a new device just to get them.
Google Pixel 10 – Gaming and Performance
The Pixel 10 runs on Google’s new Tensor G5 chip, which provides some modest improvements to performance over the Pixel 9 family. It’s great for everyday use, keeping up with most things I’ve thrown at it. And there’s no gap between the Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro where this performance is concerned.
In Geekbench 6, the Pixel 10’s Tensor G5 performed roughly on par with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in the OnePlus 13R for multi-core performance and even came out ahead in single-core performance. But it still lags a ways behind the faster Snapdragon 8 Elite and A18 chips in the OnePlus 13 and iPhone 16, respectively.
Respectable though the CPU performance may be, the GPU drags the phone down. It can run games, but not terribly well. To play Delta Force, the phone has to use some dialed back graphics and fps settings. And trying to run the new Destiny: Rising game, I found that not only were the graphics options limited but also that the game had numerous artifacting issues that rendered it unplayable.
3DMark’s graphical benchmarks saw the Pixel 10 beat the Pixel 9 Pro by 24% in Wildlife Extreme, and in the more graphically demanding Steel Nomad Light test, the Pixel 10 actually fell behind that phone. By contrast, the OnePlus 13 offered more than double the performance in those two tests.
The Pixel 10 also builds up heat pretty quickly, so it can get fairly uncomfortable to hold after gaming for a while. Google seems to have performance almost capped even before that heat builds up though. Running 3DMark’s Steel Nomad Light Stress test – a 20-run gauntlet – showed the Pixel 10 retaining 93.4% of its performance even as the internal temperatures grew hotter and hotter. That’s good for consistency, but still looks bad with some perspective: the OnePlus 13 saw its performance drop considerably after the 20-run benchmark, but even its worst run was better than the Pixel 10’s best.
The Pixel 10’s shortcomings at the extreme end of the performance demand spectrum don’t hold it back from being plenty serviceable, though. It’s not a slow phone, and it keeps up with typical use. Its limited horsepower also helps it make the most of its 4970mAh battery – sizable for a compact phone – and run all day with ease.
Google Pixel 10 – Cameras
Cameras have historically been what set Pixel phones apart from the rest of the market. And this year, the cameras are doing more to set the Pixel 10 apart from the Pixel 10 Pro. Rather than borrowing any of the sensors from Pro models as Google had done in previous years, the Pixel 10 simply borrows the zoom ranges, landing it a new 5x telephoto camera while opting for lower-quality sensors all around. In fact, the Pixel 10 actually downgrades the main and ultra-wide sensors from what was on offer in the Pixel 9, instead borrowing those found in Pixel 9a. Here’s a rundown of what the Pixel 10 has onboard:
10.8MP telephoto, 1/3.2" sensor, 5x optical zoom, f/3.1, OIS, EIS
10.5MP Selfie, f/2.2, 95-degree FOV
This isn’t the end of the world. Even with lower-quality sensors, Google does a great job producing a good picture. The main sensor hardly feels like it’s falling behind in most cases, capturing sharp images with natural color. When there is a lot of fine, high-contrast detail in an image, it can appear to oversharpen, giving images a somewhat artificial look. But generally, photos from this sensor look great and prove hard to distinguish from shots taken on the Pixel 10 Pro. I still lean in favor of the images that the OnePlus 13’s main sensor produces for their warmer tone, more vibrant color, and less noticeable sharpening, but all of these sensors are quite closely matched.
The ultra-wide sensor can also look great in bright settings. It captures a wide field-of-view while maintaining the look and feel on the main sensor. It definitely struggles in dim settings though, introducing a lot of noise.
The Pixel 10 having a 5x telephoto sensor isn’t nothing, but it naturally couldn’t be as good as the Pixel 10 Pro’s. And in side-by-side shots, it’s clearly the inferior camera, offering less clarity, less light-gathering, and more washed-out shots. It does give the Pixel 10 an edge on the OnePlus 13’s 3x telephoto sensor, as the Pixel optically gets in a little bit closer, but its quality lags behind enough that the trade-off generally won’t be worth it.
Selfies from the front camera look great. Details are sharp, colors are vibrant, and the angle is wide enough to squeeze a friend or two into the shot. It could be sharper, but unless you’re taking selfies for a living, I think the quality is more than good enough.
Your Nintendo Switch 2’s 256GB of storage is probably starting to fill up at this point, and with more big games on the horizon, you’re going to need more space if you want to keep all your games handy. Unfortunately, microSD Express cards – the only kind the Switch 2 will load games from – are still tricky to find, but at least there are a couple of budget options available right now, like PNY’s $46.99 (128GB) or $60.99 (256GB) cards.
The 256GB PNY card I tested isn’t the cheapest microSD Express card, even if you get it for three bucks less on Amazon than from PNY directly; that honor goes to the $35.77, 256GB card from Walmart house brand Onn – when you can find it in stock. But it’s still relatively affordable compared to bigger name brands like Lexar or SanDisk selling $200+ cards, and a little better performing, in most ways, versus to the Onn card. And you get the bonus of knowing who the manufacturer is. (Unsurprisingly, the Onn card appears to be a repackaged product from another company.) When it comes to just loading games, doing so from PNY’s card is close to as quick as from the Switch 2’s UFS 3.1 storage, and it’s got better read performance than the Onn card.
Throughput
Storage manufacturers love to tout their cards’ read and write speed, and will promote them using the highest possible numbers. For the PNY card on paper, that’s up to 890MB/s read and up to 750MB/s, both higher numbers than the cheaper Onn card (800MB/s and 600MB/s, respectively). But those numbers don’t tell the whole story, because they’re referring to sequential data transfers, or moving around large single files. We’re more interested in how well it handles random data reads and writes, since games are made up of lots of smaller files. That slows the data transfer process way down, as it has to constantly stop and restart – it doesn’t have enough time per file to gather speed.
Even with drastically reduced random file transfer thoughput, microSD Express is a huge improvement versus old-school microSD. As a point of comparison, transferring the 17.2GB Super Smash Bros Ultimate from my original Switch to the Samsung Evo microSD card I have in it took more than 21 minutes, and moving it back to the Switch’s internal storage took 9.5 minutes. Whereas on my Switch 2, I only waited just under 6 minutes to transfer the game to the PNY card, and 4 minutes to move it back onto the console.
Performance: Load Times
Load times are really where the card’s performance matters most; sure, you might shuffle games around periodically when some big new title comes out, but if you’re anything like me, you only find yourself doing so every few months or so.
The PNY’s card consistently got from the Switch 2 menu to the main screen of games like Donkey Kong Bananza, No Man’s Sky Switch 2 Edition, and Fast Fusion a fraction of a second slower than loading from internal storage. The only outliers here were Mario Kart World, which took about 2 seconds longer than from the Switch 2, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which loaded ever-so-slightly faster than when loading from internal storage (15.46 seconds versus 15.7 seconds).
Performance: File Transfers
I started running into issues with the PNY card during file transfers. The Switch 2 seemingly couldn’t get a handle on how much time was left in each one, so it might say there was a minute left before jumping to four or five minutes when writing larger files. Transfers seemed to gradually get slower on each subsequent test until finally, my Switch 2 stopped reading it at all. It’s possible that was due to issues I had transferring all my game files to the card in the first place – the hub I was using disconnected mid-transfer. One long reformat with a Windows PC later, and the card was much more well-behaved, although it still slowed down near the end of writing large files to it.
With that fresh reformat complete, the PNY card showed better read throughput than the Onn card, averaging between 80MB/s and 90MB/s when transferring Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza to the Switch 2’s internal storage. Its write performance wasn’t quite as impressive, but still a clear improvement over a standard microSD card – transferring the 24.6GB Mario Kart to the card took 7 minutes and 31 seconds (55MB/s), and the 8.6GB Bananza took two minutes and 22 seconds (61MB/s). I saw similar results with older Switch 1 games.
Those write throughput results are on par with, and sometimes slower than, what I saw using the Onn card, despite the PNY’s advertised write speed being 150MB/s higher. But PNY’s card has clearly better read throughput, leading to better game-loading performance and faster file transfers to the system itself. That could be a bigger deal for you, at least if you’re not constantly shuffling files back and forth.
Is Budget microSD Express Worth It?
As I noted in my review of the Onn microSD Express card, how well your microSD Express card performs will vary depending on the card you pick. Digital Foundry ran some tests when the Switch 2 launched, and found that loading games from microSD Express could actually be slightly faster than doing so from the Switch 2’s ostensibly faster UFS 3.1 internal storage. That’s not quite the case for the two cheaper cards I’ve tested, but they’re good enough that you wouldn’t notice a difference without doing direct, A/B comparisons.
Just like the Walmart house brand, you should consider how confident you are that PNY’s slightly-less-budget microSD Express card will last when deciding if you should buy it. My personal experience with cheaper microSD cards and other portable storage has been that they don’t fail unusually quickly under normal use; I had a PNY USB thumb drive in service as a backup storage medium for my Nintendo Wii for 10 years before I finally switched to a hard drive earlier this year. Meanwhile, a 5TB Toshiba hard drive I bought for computer backup purposes gave up the ghost within three years. You just never know.
The Steam Deck came out more than three years ago now, starting at $399. Even at the time it seemed incredibly affordable for a system that let you play pretty much any PC game you threw at it. But fast forward to 2025, on the eve of a new generation of handheld gaming PCs powered by the AMD Z2 Extreme, and it seems like a downright bargain.
We finally got pricing for one of these new handhelds, the Lenovo Legion Go 2, and that'll start at $1,099. That's already a steep bump from the last-gen version, which started at $699, but it only gets more expensive – if you want it with the Z2 Extreme, you're looking at up to $1,479. That's getting into gaming laptop territory, for a system that almost certainly won't be as fast as a gaming laptop. And while the Legion Go 2 is only a single system, it does signal that the entire category is about to see a massive price bump next month.
The Ally In The Room
We know the Asus ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X are coming out October 16, but at the time of writing neither Asus nor Microsoft have revealed the price tag. Hell, you can't even preorder the thing yet, and it comes out in six short weeks. But given that the new Ally's specs line up pretty closely with the $1,049 Legion Go 2, it's really starting to look like the Xbox handheld is going to be a pricey little handheld.
It's possible that Microsoft's involvement means Asus can subsidize the cost of the Xbox Ally a bit, but I don't know if it'll be enough to keep it around the same price as its predecessor, which launched for $599 with the non-extreme AMD Z1. There's a universe where the ROG Xbox Ally costs nearly twice as much as its predecessor.
However, the Legion Go 2 and the ROG Xbox Ally are not the same system. The Legion Go 2 has removable controllers, along with an OLED display – both things that apply a bit of upward pressure on the price. The Xbox Ally, on the other hand, is a single unit with a more traditional LCD screen, even if the weird controller grips make it look quite different. This more traditional design could stop the new Ally X from seeing the same steep price jump as the Legion Go 2 – but only time will tell.
Is It Worth It?
It's easy to look at these new handhelds with their shiny new processors and say the speed justifies the higher price. That's the thing though, we don't actually know how fast the Z2 Extreme will actually end up being. The AMD Z1 Extreme is still a powerful little chip, packing 12 RDNA 3 graphics cores, along with 8 Zen 4 CPU cores. The Z2 Extreme does upgrade that, but only updates the GPU to RDNA 3.5, rather than just going all-in with RDNA 4.
What RDNA 3.5 is especially good at is graphics performance in low-power packages, like, well, the Z2 Extreme. It should greatly improve efficiency, leading to longer battery life, which is definitely something this first generation of Z-powered handhelds has struggled with. However, even though the Z2 Extreme does pack 4 extra graphics cores, it probably won't improve gaming performance that much – at least not enough to justify nearly doubling the price.
I'll ultimately have to wait until I get either the Legion Go 2 or the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X in the lab, but I expect the gen-on-gen difference to be the most pronounced when it comes to battery life. At the end of the day, these handheld gaming systems are probably going to struggle with high-end AAA games in the same way their predecessors did.
Whether the extra battery life is worth the cost is up to you ultimately, but if handheld gaming PCs are going to cost as much as a budget-to-mid-range gaming laptop, it's going to be harder to recommend them to just anyone. I'm definitely still in that niche audience, but the rising price is only going to narrow the appeal.
Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC components queen. You can follow her @Jackiecobra
James Gunn is the sort of guy to just casually drop big news midday on social media, which is why we now know that a sequel to this year’s DCU Superman film, titled Man of Tomorrow, is officially on the way. The next film in the “Superman Saga,” this one will apparently feature the return of not just Superman but also his nemesis Lex Luthor, seen sporting his green and purple warsuit from the comics in a piece of promo art drawn by comics legend Jim Lee. It’s not a surprise that we’re getting a Superman follow-up, what with the movie clearing $600 million and garnering strong reviews, but what is a surprise is the release date.
According to Gunn’s post, Man of Tomorrow will be dropping in theaters on July 9, 2027. This two-year gap between sequels might not seem especially notable until you remember just how much sequel turnover has changed for superhero franchises over the past decade or so. With Matt Reeves’ The Batman Part II also scheduled for 2027, that will mean a five-year wait between the first film and the second (provided it doesn’t get delayed again), and when we look at the last few years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we haven’t actually seen multiple film installments of any individual subfranchise since the end of the Infinity Saga all the way back in 2019. So let’s take a look at why Man of Tomorrow gives us hope that superhero movies can get back to shorter downtime between sequels.
The Batman Part II and the Widening Sequel Gap
It’s been fascinating to watch more and more talk about alleged “superhero fatigue” dominate pop culture discourse at the same moment in time where the wait between superhero sequels is longer than ever. Closer to the turn of the millennium, when superhero movies were becoming more cemented as a mainstay of yearly release schedules, Sam Raimi could drop an entire Spider-Man trilogy in five years, Fox’s X-Men turned in three movies in six years, and Christopher Nolan managed to get his Dark Knight trilogy out in seven. Two to three years between sequels used to be the norm for superhero cinema, but despite the number of movies in the genre being higher than ever, the wait between sequels has grown to absurd lengths.
Even for audiences eager to follow ongoing sagas like The Batman or Spider-Verse, it’s hard to keep up excitement when it feels like the next entry is always beyond the horizon.
We’ve already mentioned the extended wait for Matt Reeves’ follow-up to his first Batman film in 2022, but this phenomenon has hit every currently running superhero series. The third film in Sony’s animated Spider-Verse trilogy, currently titled Beyond the Spider-Verse, was originally intended to drop in 2024 for a relatively quick resolution to Across the Spider-Verse’s cliffhanger ending; instead, the film has been delayed multiple times until its current release date of June 25, 2027. Marvel has it even worse: Although everything is technically part of one megafranchise under the MCU umbrella, no film property has seen multiple entries in the Multiverse Saga, which has already concluded Phases 4 and 5. Spider-Man: Brand New Day, arriving on July 31, 2026, will mark the first time that any particular MCU subseries will receive a second installment since 2019.
This is not all the result of poor planning. Between the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, delays for most movie franchises were inevitable. But even with those caveats, the deluge of superhero movies has simultaneously felt overwhelming and stilted, because we’ve seen so many setups without much of any payoff. Even for audiences eager to follow these ongoing sagas, it’s hard to keep up excitement when it feels like the next entry is always beyond the horizon. Thankfully, fans getting more of the DCU’s Superman so soon after his debut is a strong reversal of this trend.
Stay on Target
A big part of why we’re in this situation is because the movie studios that are adapting superhero IP are trying to do too much at once. During the Infinity Saga, Marvel Studios was mostly focused on the core Avengers instead of trying to launch a massive array of new characters like they are now. The DCEU struggled to cohere for many reasons, but its lack of focus and constant need to change up their plan in response to criticism were key to that series being put out to pasture. As for the Sony Universe of Marvel Characters, that collapsed under its own weight because Sony realized too late that audiences weren’t really all that interested in a slate of spin-offs about Spider-Man villains without Spider-Man…besides maybe a Venom movie or two. If the studios behind these projects were more careful with what they greenlit, perhaps we wouldn’t be in this mess.
That’s not to say that chances shouldn’t be taken on oddball properties like Guardians of the Galaxy or Aquaman, since those movies have turned out to be successful in the past. Rather, it’s that care should be taken to have a strong vision for every film that’s put into production, to build up a solid plan for where these characters are going, and to not overextend your slate with movies that will likely wind up being dead-ends. That’s how you end up with an entire Ant-Man sequel setting up a saga villain who will later be discarded, the Flash throwing in a last-minute ending change for a bizarre George Clooney cameo, or a Joker sequel that feels like nobody involved actually wanted to make it.
Superman was a hit for DC Studios; it was also the first time in a while that it felt like most people actually liked a DC movie not starring Batman (although even that opinion is not unanimous). Even with the Supergirl movie coming next year, leaving audiences starving for more Superman when the appetite is strong would have been a mistake. We’ll see what other projects come next for the DCU, since Man of Tomorrow being fast-tracked is already a big change to Gunn’s announced Chapter One plan, but for now, focusing on Superman appears to be a good bet. Hopefully, all of the other superhero franchises will also learn the value of both keeping things simple and striking when the iron’s hot.
Carlos Morales writes novels, articles, and Mass Effect essays. You can follow his fixations on Twitter.
Tom Holland has said he left Spider-Man: Brand New Day producers exasperated, as he continued to push for a movie pitch that would truly meet fan expectations.
Speaking to LADBible, Holland says he spent time "sifting through the internet" to discover what fans wanted from his fourth solo outing as Spider-Man, and used what he'd found in pitch meetings for the film, presumably with Sony bosses.
While Holland's take on Spider-Man is beloved among Marvel moviegoers, Sony's other Spider-adjacent offerings have often fallen wide of the mark. Additionally, Holland has also taken something of a break from playing the web-slinging hero in recent years, following the conclusion of his first trilogy as the fan-favorite character.
From 2016 to 2021, Holland played Peter Parker in six big budget Marvel movies in as many years, before taking a break to focus on other projects such as 2022's Uncharted film and Christoper Nolan's upcoming The Odyssey.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day, due to launch July 31, 2026, will see Holland back in spandex for the first time in five years — with many audiences hoping to now see him feature in a more grounded story, following Peter Parker's previous multiversal shenanigans and Avengers-level events.
"Right now what's in front of us is Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and focusing on making that movie worthy of the last film," Holland said. "I have been actively sifting through the internet and trying to best understand what it is that the fans want from a Spider-Man movie, and that's been my driving force in these pitch meetings.
"I think the producers, at times were like, absolutely sick of me, but I think it's really important," he continued "because we make these movies for [the fans]."
When asked how much further Holland, now 29, would continue playing the character he originally began portraying as a teengaer, the actor — once famous for leaking Marvel secrets — was decidedly more tight-lipped. "In terms of my future in the character beyond this film, I don't know the answer to that," he concluded. (And, as of yet, Holland is also still to be given an Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars call-up.)
IGN recently chatted to Holland about his near-unrecognisable appearance as multiple characters in a new LEGO short film, in which he plays an elderly version of himself, as well as a toddler and an angry executive. The star also recalled how he bonded with his Spider-Man: Homecoming sidekick Jacob Batalon, who plays Peter's classmate Ned, while building a LEGO Death Star.
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
After Sony recently hiked the price of a PlayStation 5 (Disc, Digital, and Pro) by $50, finding a better deal on the best-selling current-gen console seems more imperative than ever. Say the line Bart: "I remember when consoles went down in price across a generation, not up!"
If you still haven’t grabbed a PS5 and don’t feel like coughing up $500–$750, I don’t blame you. I’ve been tracking console deals for six years now, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that waiting for Sony to suddenly knock a big chunk off the price is a fool’s errand, even with Black Friday 2025 on the horizon. The smarter move, and the one I’d recommend every time, is refurbished.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's a scary word, and there will be plenty of convincing, but statistically rare, anecdotal evidence on socials or in the comments about how refurbished stuff isn't reliable, will break, and is... dirty? Blah blah blah.
Refurbished is a supremely valid way to buy: it's both economically and environmentally positive, and won't tear a hole in your already depleted wallet. You've just got to know where to buy, and when to lay down the gauntlet when a decent deal finally rears its head.
According to Woot (owned by Amazon), Factory Reconditioned items are "as close to new as you can get without technically being new" and "restored to fully working condition by the original manufacturer or a certified partner." If you want that extra assurance, it'll cost you an extra $30 compared to buying refurbished.
We've already seen plenty of buyers find the benefits in "Refurbished" or "Used - Like New" buys during Amazon Prime Day sales, where the PS5 Slim, Pro, and PlayStation Portal were all some of the best sellers of the event (dropping to as low as $320, $500, and $125 respectively), and IGN audience favorites to boot.
PlayStation themselves have been getting in on the action recently as well, and is selling its own certified refurbished PS5 consoles for $399.99 (albeit these are the standard PS5 console from 2020, not the more recent Slim models that are listed on Woot).
These also aren't the only refurbished deals going right now. Woot's refurbished gaming sale runs until September 12 (or while stock lasts), and also includes Xbox Controllers from $35, PlayStation Edge Controllers for $140, and Meta Quest VR headsets from just $230. Just to note as well, for the uninitiated, Woot is an Amazon-owned company, and you can use your Prime account for delivery etc.
Robert Anderson is Senior Commerce Editor and IGN's resident deals expert on games, collectibles, trading card games, and more. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter/X or Bluesky.
MindsEye developer Build A Rocket Boy has released Update 4 across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S, insisting it remains “committed to refining” the game following its disastrous launch.
In July, IGN reported that Edinburgh-based BARB had issued at-risk of redundancy emails to its around 300-strong UK workforce after MindsEye flopped at release.
All the while, MindsEye’s troubled launch saw the developer cancel sponsored streams, with reports of players securing refunds even from the normally stubborn Sony. Steam concurrent player numbers, which do not tell the whole story of a game’s popularity, were worryingly low.
Story-driven action adventure game MindsEye was initially designed to be a part of Everywhere, the ‘Roblox for adults’ creation platform led by former Grand Theft Auto design chief Leslie Benzies. BARB eventually switched to focus on MindsEye, but it has so-far failed to do the business for the company.
In July, Benzies told staff that the studio would bounce back and relaunch MindsEye, blaming its struggles on internal and external saboteurs, among other things.
In a post to the MindsEye community issued today, September 5, BARB said “we remain committed to refining MindsEye and enhancing the gameplay experience. Ongoing updates will continue to be shared.”
To that end, Update 4 introduces a range of UX improvements, numerous performance enhancements, and tackles bugs. Update 4 is significant in terms of size, weighing in at 15GB on PC, 7.2GB on PS5, and 12.1GB on Xbox Series X and S. Update 5 will deliver a "major" performance, combat and enemy AI system improvement, BARB teased.
This week, the CEO of MindsEye publisher IO Interactive, which is working on 007 First Light, responded to the game’s launch, telling IGN: “that was definitely tough, right?”
The question now is whether BARB can save MindsEye by encouraging players not just to come back to the game, but to actually buy it.
MindsEye Update 4 Patch notes:
IMPROVEMENTS
Environment
Trailer Tanks in Free Roam now explode when shot at
Several improvements have been made to architecture and assets to help with performance
Improved weather change when player leaves the Factory at the start of Robin Hood Mission
Improved traversal on A New Job and Loose Ends missions where player may get stuck in certain assets
Visual Effects
Cutscene VFX performance improvements
Cutscene VFX management changes and Niagara system updates to reduce CPU spikes and overall frame rate
Disabled ambient rubbish to improve performance
NPC
Small performance improvement on Robots
NPCs that are aiming and in-cover now look more natural
Art
General performance improvements: shaders, assets, collisions
UI
Resolved inconsistent dropdown menu behaviour in graphics settings, ensuring reliable input response
Added the ability to skip cinematics
Audio
Audio Optimisation regarding Mass Vehicles
Music adjustments throughout MindsEye missions
Added Destruction SFX on Glass Bottle Props
Missions
Conditional dialogue now triggers with more natural pacing
The companion drone torch is now automatically enabled when entering or starting in dark areas
Animation
Optimised the ambient and civilian animations
Exit/entry animations no longer play for driverless vehicles
Gameplay
Aim assist will focus on enemies in vehicle turrets over the driver
BUG FIXES
Various Mission flow bug fixes
Fixed pixelated reflection in Rocket Transporter window
Fixed Industrial vent asset to help with performance
Resolved an issue where players transitioning from Meeting Marco Silva to Executive Paranoia could drive through objects and fall through the map
Fixed ambient animation glitches in Welcome to Redrock City
Fixed an issue where camera rotation was lost after cutscenes
Several lighting LOD pop issues fixed in cutscenes
Fixed a bug where burning vehicles wouldn’t transition to destroyed state
Fixed several traversal issues in world where the player may get stuck
Fixed an issue in The Ziggurat where a hole in wall allowed players to climb through and trap themselves
Fixed an issue in Oh Lily! where players could get stuck in Morrison's Silo without a way to get back out
Fixed collision on glass roof of Silva Factory
Fixed a number of Character Model issues in cutscenes that made them look deformed and stretched for a few frames
Resolved Silva’s teeth looking too bright on medium/ lower settings on PC
NPCs no longer freeze when interacting with certain objects
Weapon Wheel hover SFX is now triggered correctly, without delays
PC only
The character Red Sand Male 25 is now available for use in Build.MindsEye
Fixed a UI issue where backing out of a submenu in 'Build' caused the second-last selected tile to remain highlighted
Fixed a bug where the ‘effects’ tile would remain highlighted after returning to Build mode from Play mode
Fixed an issue where the placement header text overlapped UI elements in the asset settings menu when playing in French
Fixed a bug causing specific Korean characters to appear invisible in vehicle spawner labels
Fixed a localization issue where the French translation of “Total PI” overlapped with the performance impact number in the top toolbar
Replaced the incorrect icon used for the MindsEye menu button in Play/ Build with a proper menu icon
[Min Spec Performance Improvement]: Disabled Nanite compute materials as it has a negative effect on GPU rendering time in our game, especially on older Nvidia Graphics Cards.
[Min Spec Performance Improvement]: Fixed an issue where our Nanite render pipeline always used the Hardware Rasterizer path rather than correctly splitting between Hardware Rasterizer and Software Rasterizer
Console only - PlayStation and Xbox
Fixed a UI focus issue where the graphics settings tab failed to auto-focus on the first option when accessed on PS5 and Xbox
BUILD.MINDSEYE PATCH NOTES – PC ONLY
IMPROVEMENTS
Publishing UGC Content
Added a toggle to enable or disable Logic Nodes from being captured in the thumbnail capture of UGC Content
Logic Nodes
Timer Nodes improved; you can update or refresh their value at any time through multiple other logic nodes, and can now be refreshed infinitely
Timer Logic Nodes now support decimal places up to .000
Custom UI Nodes updated to always be set to “Node Active” = True, by default
Attributes Menu, Catalogue & Versioning
Minor QoL & screen position improvements to the Creator HUD, Attributes Menu & Tools
Minor QoL improvements to naming, duplicated items, missing thumbnails or icons in the Assets Catalogue
Updated the search functionality in Assets Catalogue to take into account both object name and the tags
Added a warning when the player reaches the maximum number of allowed versions when creating new versions
Added missing hotkeys to the Controls Panel for Inserting Path Points
Featured Stamps Updates
Multiple fixes and QoL improvements to existing set of Featured Stamps
Added more Stamps to the Featured Stamps tile
BUG FIXES
Removed EVERYWHERE vehicles from Build.MindsEye – those vehicles were made accessible unofficially, and we will bring them to MindsEye when they are ready
Fixed an issue where the AI Spawner Spawn limits and Performance Scores of spawners were not correctly calculated
New Performance Score applied to AI Spawners as follows:
AI Spawner – Performance Score: 10 / Max Quantity Allowed: 10
Individual AI NPC - Performance Score: 6 / Max Quantity Allowed: 100
Fixed an incorrect controls description for Build Collision Control List Keys; now correctly displayed as (B) instead of (P)
Improved camera behaviour in Build.MindsEye: your last position is now saved more frequently for a more reliable creation experience
Fixed an issue with erratic camera behaviour when using the Group Macro Node
Fixed an issue where players were unable to like Stamps with long names
Fixed an issue that prevented players from editing Stamp Descriptions that exceed the 220 character limit
Fixed an issue that caused vehicles to move very slowly, or not at all, when using Custom Speed on the Drive To Node
Grid snapping is now enabled on the XY Plane by default
Fixed an issue with Destructible Assets not being selectable
Fixed issues with Filtering in the Assets Catalogue
Fixed various issues with the Vehicle Selection UI Node
Fixed multiple issues with the Transform Variable Node and Advanced Transform Node parsing incorrect values into the Location and Scale Overrides
Stamp Attributes now display the correct Thumbnail based on the current Version selected
Fixed various issues with spawn-points and spawning in Build.MindsEye
Fixed various issues with the Physics Force Node causing objects to disappear
Fixed an issue where Foliage Assets were not searchable in the Catalogue
Fixed a crash caused when attempting to ungroup a group within a group
Fixed a crash caused by undoing creation and deletion of large Stamps
Fixed an issue with some deprecated assets being displayed in the library – which were discernible by having "DONOTUSE" in their name
Fixed texture issues on a number of assets in the Build.MindsEye Catalogue
Fixed an issue with missing Localisations for the Light Effects in Build.MindsEye
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.
Scrubs star John C. McGinley is the latest cast member confirmed as returning for the series' revival.
McGinley played Dr. Perry Cox in every season of Scrubs' original run, from 2001 to 2010, including the show's divisive ninth season which saw the departure of other cast members.
Now, McGinley, 66, is now confirmed as returning for the series' upcoming new season in a recurring role, Entertainment Weekly has reported.
McGinley will appear alongside Braff as series lead JD Dorian, Donald Faison as Christopher Turk and Sarah Chalke as Elliot Reid, all of whom will return as main characters for the Scrubs revival.
"JD & Turk scrub in together for the first time in a long time — medicine has changed, interns have changed, but their bromance has stood the test of time," an official description has teased. "Characters new and old navigate the waters of Sacred Heart with laughter, heart and some surprises along the way."
The splash damage caused by Hollow Knight: Silksong’s massive launch impact has spread beyond huge Steam concurrents and struggling storefronts to the parts of the internet where video game pirates hang out — and there something interesting is happening: the pirates are urging each other to buy the game instead of downloading the cracked version.
Team Cherry’s hotly anticipated Hollow Knight sequel finally came out on September 4, 2025 priced $20, six years after it was announced, and instantly crashed storefronts including Steam.
As the storefronts recovered, player numbers swelled to the point where Silksong hit an incredible launch day peak of 535,213 concurrent players on Steam, enough to make it the 18th most-played game ever on Valve’s platform. The true player count across all platforms will be much higher.
Silksong also launched DRM-free on GOG, so it was no surprise to see a cracked version available to download in the hours after launch. What was a surprise was the response from some veteran video game pirates, who urged their peers to support Team Cherry and buy the game instead.
“First game I've bought day of release in a decade probably,” said pyrokzg on the piracy subreddit in response to a thread upvoted 7,000 times. “Not even the decade for me. It's the very first,” added Vamsi-Thopu.
So, why is this happening? Clearly, there is a huge amount of goodwill from across the internet directed at Team Cherry, the small indie developer that saw the original Hollow Knight blow up to such an extent that it was able to take its merry time with this ambitious sequel.
But there’s also a feeling that Team Cherry does things the right way. For a start, there’s a DRM-free version available at launch, but the Australian studio was also keen to honor the promises it made with its original Hollow Knight Kickstarter all those years ago. There’s even a free upgrade for the Nintendo Switch 2 version. In short, Team Cherry are the good guys, and the feeling is they deserve their success.
“It's a 3-4 person team that has done right by their fans at every turn,” said No-Shape6053, also on the piracy subreddit. “Making sure the PC release is DRM free. Making sure all original backers of Hollow Knight get Silksong free on their choice of platform. This is a time where if we can afford to support them, we should.”
“Support the devs if you can, they deserve it,” added iTzNowbie. There’s plenty more where that came from, too. “The only game I will feel bad if I ever pirated it,” said beastfire24. “Hey the game is pretty cheap. This one, we should not pirate,” said Sythrin.
Interestingly, some have expressed surprise at the collective urge not to pirate Silksong, which itself prompted a discussion about why this is happening with Silksong but hasn’t happened with similarly beloved indie games in the past.
“Usually people here claim that the title, price, or the indie status makes no difference to them, but I guess that Silksong is just that respected,” offered MixaLv.
“I’m surprised too,” added ALIIERTx. “Many times people are like, ‘I don’t care if I pirate from indie developer,’ but on this one everyone is pretty defensive against piracy. I’m fascinated.”
Responses to this reinforce the Team Cherry angle. "Team Cherry has built themselves an amazing reputation," suggested Someone_Existing_1. "Because they’re only a three-person studio, they can keep their games super cheap due to far less employees needing pay. Also they aren’t greedy f***s like most companies, so their DLCs are all free and there’s no microtransactions or online-only bulls**t."
Be sure to stay up-to-date with all the latest from IGN by clicking here and setting IGN as a preferred source in Google.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
The original lightsaber wielded by Darth Vader has fetched a true bounty at auction this week, after being used by one of cinema's most iconic villains in multiple Star Wars films.
Bidding on the sci-fi blade began at $500,000, ABC News reported, and while the item had been given an estimated sale value of between $1-3 million, it ultimately sold for even higher — just over $3.6 million.
For the original Star Wars movies, two versions of each lightsaber were produced — a version that only featured the hilt, to appear in scenes outside of combat, and another version in which a stunt blade could be attached. This lightsaber is Vader's version of the latter — meaning it was used for the fight sequences in both The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.
In Empire, Darth Vader actor David Prowse and stunt performer Bob Anderson both wielded the weapon when the character confronted Luke Skywalker in Cloud City — and indeed, production photos associated with the auction suggest it was in-hand when Vader delivered his iconic line that reveals Luke's true parentage.
In Return of the Jedi, this same prop was used again, in the climactic fight between Vader and Skywalker aboard the Second Death Star. There's limited evidence that the blade was also used in the original Star Wars: A New Hope, too, although this matter has not been conclusively confirmed.
"As expected from a prop that saw extensive usage, the piece bears authentic signs of wear," a document describing the piece states. "Far from diminishing its value, these marks serve as compelling evidence of the lightsaber's direct involvement in the action — testament to its film-used authenticity.
"Darth Vader's hero dueling lightsaber stands as one of the most historically significant Star Wars artifacts ever presented at auction," the description continues. "This is the weapon of the most recognizable character in science fiction history, featured in the most critically acclaimed film of the franchise, The Empire Strikes Back, and in the trilogy’s epic conclusion, Return of the Jedi. The lightsaber has become the most iconic sci-fi weapon of all time — instantly recognizable and unmatched in cinematic legacy. This is the finest example of a genuine lightsaber with verifiable screen use ever offered at public auction."
James Gunn has once again teased the importance of Peacemaker Season 2 to the overall DCU, describing it as a "prequel" to the just-announced Man of Tomorrow.
Going one step further, Gunn said that Peacemaker Season 2 "directly" builds up to Man of Tomorrow, due out July 9, 2027.
“Watch the Man of Tomorrow Prequel AKA Peacemaker Season 2, airing a new episode tonight on HBOMax at 9pm EST / 6pm PST,” Gunn wrote in a post on Instagram.
Then, responding to one fan who doubted Peacemaker Season 2 would lead directly into Man of Tomorrow given there are other DCU projects set to come out in between, Gunn responded to make it clear, saying: "directly."
It’s an interesting assertion from Gunn, with 2026 set to see Supergirl, Lanterns, and Clayface all come out as part of the continuing DCU, well before Man of Tomorrow a year later. But this isn’t the first time Gunn has stressed Peacemaker Season 2’s key role in the overarching story, with appearances from Justice Gang members who starred in July’s DCU kickstarter Superman already in place.
All eyes will be on Peacemaker Season 2, then, to see how it sets up Man of Tomorrow, which Gunn announced on social media alongside a set of images that have certainly set tongues wagging. Check out IGN’s speculation about what sort of film Man of Tomorrow is for more.
Last month, Gunn revealed the 'Superman Saga’ while discussing his ongoing work on the follow-up to this summer’s Superman. Man of Tomorrow is not called Superman: Man of Tomorrow, Gunn clarified in another recent social media post, simply Man of Tomorrow. But it is the next installment of the Superman Saga, he said. Is Supergirl also part of the Superman Saga? Gunn is yet to say.
The distinction between Superman: Man of Tomorrow and Man of Tomorrow is important, given the speculation around what sort of movie it will be. Based on the teaser images, we'll see Superman and a Power Armor-wearing Lex Luthor potentially joining forces to face a greater threat, while also continuing their bitter rivalry. Could Man of Tomorrow as the name of the film suggest it's actually about Superman and Lex Luthor fighting to assume the title role?
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.
Connexion
