Gaming laptops are always a balance between price, performance, and portability. The Asus ROG Strix G16 manages to find a good balance between all three. Though a few more design updates would be welcome, its RTX 50-series graphics and Ryzen 9 9955HX3D processor form a potent combination that delivers good gaming performance for the money.

Asus ROG Strix G16 - Design and Features

If I asked you to picture a “gaming laptop”, there’s a good chance something like the Asus ROG Strix G16 would come to mind. A lot of its design plays into the stereotypes but falls into the middle with how far it takes them. It isn’t thin or light, measuring 13.94 x 10.39 x 1.2 inches and weighing 5.51 pounds. It has a bright RGB keyboard and front LED strip to paint your desk in colored light. And the style is aggressive with a big ROG eye on the lid and plenty of hard angles and “Republic of Gamers” debossed on the hinge.

The system is beautiful, if a bit too similar to last year’s version. Big design changes are hardly a requirement for a great gaming laptop, but the Intel version of the 2025 Strix G16 has some meaningful upgrades that could influence which may be the best fit. While certainly not shabby, this version offers an improved selection of ports (Thunderbolt 5 and an extra USB Type-A), upgraded WiFi 7 compatibility, wraparound RGB lighting, and includes a larger trackpad.

The AMD system I’m reviewing comes with two USB 3.2 Type-A ports, two Type-C USB 4 ports, a full-size HDMI 2.1 video out, an RJ45 ethernet jack, and a 3.5mm audio combo port. Only one of the USB 4 ports can be used for charging, unlike the Intel version, and both Type-A ports are on the right side, which can get in the way of the mouse with trailing wires or larger dongles.

The AMD version is no slouch, either. Outfitted with a Ryzen 9 9955HX3D processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, it has both the brains and brawn to run the latest AAA games at a high framerate. It comes with 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a 2TB NVMe SSD for fast load times and speedy multitasking. Both the memory and storage can be upgraded and can be accessed easily by unscrewing and removing the back panel.

The “X3D” in the processor is important and points towards the potential better gaming performance thanks to its 3D V-Cache design. Broadly speaking, you can think of a processor’s cache as its own personal RAM supply, keeping the most important information data available for rapid access. Usually, these memory dies are laid out on a flat plane, but the G16’s Ryzen 9 9955HX3D stacks them vertically, lowering latency for improved performance. Compared to the standard Ryzen 9 9955HX, the 9955X3D also doubles the total amount of L3 cache bringing the total to 128MB. In short, this variant can access more, and more quickly, which directly translates to better gaming performance.

Keeping that hardware cool is one of the most important factors in performance. Unlike the Intel model, which received a new vapor chamber cooler this generation, the AMD version features the same three-fan, heat pipe design as last year. It also uses liquid metal on the graphics card to help keep temperatures low. Air is drawn in through vents on the bottom and through the keyboard and exhausts out the back and sides. When the fans ramp up to full speed, you can definitely feel the heat on your mouse hand, but I didn’t find it uncomfortable.

While it would have been nice to see the same upgrades Team Blue received, the existing system works well enough to avoid thermal throttling. After multiple benchmarks, I recorded a peak CPU temperature of 85C and a peak GPU temperature of 87C in turbo mode. Though the system is capable of running silently at idle, it definitely gets loud enough while gaming that it may bother anyone sitting nearby.

There’s no OLED screen on the G16, which comes as a bit of a surprise given that many of its competitors do (see the Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 and Razer Blade 16). There’s no mini-LED either, so HDR isn’t an option. It still gets plenty bright at around 500-nits and offers vibrant and relatively accurate color reproduction, so everything from games to editing YouTube videos looks reliably good. If you don’t care about gaming in HDR or want to avoid burn-in risk, it’s a solid option and helps the price stay reasonable.

Instead of OLED, the display offers a 1600p resolution and a fast 240Hz refresh rate. This resolution offers a middle ground between clarity and performance. At 16 inches, this translates to 189 pixels per inch (PPI), which appears crisp and detailed in both still images and games. It also doesn’t require an RTX 5090 or low settings to hit 60 FPS or higher in most games. It won’t compete with OLED in responsiveness, but its 240Hz refresh rate is certainly up to the task for competitive play and reduces motion blur and input lag that might give an enemy the advantage.

The keyboard and trackpad are just fine. The keys have good tactility and aren’t mushy, but lack the crispness of competitors like the HP Omen Max 16 or even Asus’s own ROG Zephyrus G16. They do offer programmable lighting and customizable macro buttons along the top row, though.

The trackpad is on the smaller side at 3.4 x 5.1 inches but is still large enough to easily use and allowed me to avoid activating it with my palms. The trackpad also features a built-in number pad option that can be activated by clicking the upper right corner. When pressed, a number pad is illuminated, allowing you to press numbers instead of moving the cursor. This can be convenient but more than once I activated it by accident and had to press multiple times to get it to turn off.

The speakers get relatively loud and avoid distortion at all but the highest level. They also offer a surprising amount of bass, so games and movies sound fuller and more rich than laptops typically are. A gaming headset will still offer a superior experience, especially if you’re trying to hear enemy footsteps, but you could definitely use the built-in speakers and have a good time outside of competitive games.

The system comes with a 1080p webcam, but it’s nothing special and doesn’t support Windows Hello facial recognition. While it’s not a make or break feature, it’s a nice convenience and disappointing to see left out here.

Finally, we come to battery life. The G16 comes with a 90 WHr battery capacity, so you won’t run into any issues taking it on a plane. To test its uptime, I put it through Procyon’s battery life test, which simulates mixed-use for productivity. In this test, it lasts five hours and 12 minutes. Gaming on battery is expectedly far lower, averaging around an hour and ten minutes. The system comes with a 220W power brick, which adds another pound or so to the system’s total weight, but if you’re planning on gaming, you’ll definitely want to carry it with you.

You can also charge the system through one of its USB-C ports at up to 100-watts. I found this to be very inconsistent, however. Even with the RTX 5070 Ti completely disabled, the system set to Silent and Eco GPU mode in Armoury Crate, and Windows set to prioritize battery life, it still wouldn’t charge consistently. After troubleshooting different chargers and cables, it appears that it may be a bug related to battery care settings in the MyAsus application, though I can’t be sure. I am certain that the system shouldn’t have been draining running potato settings with brightness set to minimum, though.

Asus ROG Strix G16 - Software

The G16 relies on a combination of Armoury Crate and MyAsus to customize its different settings. MyAsus is an application included on virtually all modern Asus laptops, even outside of gaming, and is designed to be beginner friendly. It gives you a quick overview of the system’s key stats and offers a number of diagnostics to pinpoint the root cause of different problems that may arise. The software also provides a range of options that are largely doubled-up in Armoury Crate, but are simpler toggles for things like Battery Care and Picture Modes.

Armoury Crate is where the bulk of the G16’s settings reside and it only takes a quick glance between the apps to see that it’s significantly more complex and feature rich. Within, you can see the same diagnostics but significantly expanded to include clock speeds and temperatures. The home page offers all of your most common settings, such as your current performance mode (Windows, Silent, Performance, Turbo, and Manual) and several shortcuts like disabling the Windows keep to get gaming faster. Clicking Manual mode allows you to dial in your own overclock, but like most laptops, there really isn’t much headroom outside of the preset modes.

Clicking through the tabs on the left, however, and you’ll find settings for lighting, remapping keys, configuring the GPU performance mode, changing the picture preset, and more. There’s even a wallpaper tool, a game launcher, and as an update tool so you can always be sure you’re running the latest drivers.

There’s a lot here and it’s not the best presented, but it’s also the exact same we’ve seen on ROG laptops for several years. If you’ve used it before, you’ll know what to expect. If not, prepare to take some time to explore each tab in depth.

Asus ROG Strix G16 - Performance

The Strix G16 has the on-paper specs to offer great gaming performance, but as with any laptop, there’s more at play than simple specs. Temperatures, wattages, clock speeds, and how long it’s able to maintain them all come into play.

To get an idea of what you should actually expect for performance, I ran the system through a battery of synthetic and real-world gaming tests. These tests are run on all of our gaming laptops and each is designed to assess a certain quality, like ray tracing performance with and without DLSS. All tests are performed at Ultra settings unless otherwise noted and are conducted at both native resolution and 1080p or the equivalent for its aspect ratio.

Beginning with synthetics, the G16 performs well, which isn’t surprising given the high its beefy processor. Its RTX 5070 Ti graphics are no slouch either, which is also represented here. Obviously, if you invest in a system with a higher-tier graphics card, you’ll see some gains, but the G16 sits in a sweet spot between price and performance.

Looking at real-world gaming benchmarks, the Ryzen 9 9955HX3D gets to flex its muscle a bit more. While the biggest benefits can be seen at 1200p, the G16 also sees a performance advantage at 1600p. As I’ve tested the system over the last several weeks, I’ve been able to do anecdotal testing with Ready or Not, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Battlefield 6. While I don’t have a standard Ryzen 9 9955HX to test against, the G16 averaged between 7 and 16% FPS higher than the ROG Zephyrus G16 and G14, each with the same GPU, when tested at the same resolutions in these games.

Given the charging issues I experienced, I had to carry the power brick any time I needed the system for more than a few hours without worrying about using power saving options which can lower performance. The weight of the system is already at the line for being too bulky and that pushes it over as a daily carry.

With that aside, the system itself is reliable outside of its middle-of-the-road battery life. The chassis is solid and the hinge is stable. The keyboard is decent enough that it doesn’t stand out negatively and the trackpad, while on the small side, works well. The screen and speakers are definite standouts, and with hardware at the level it offers, there’s little that it cannot do. It’s not a standout in some ways, but if you don’t need features like best-in-class battery life or extra ports, it’s a good pick for maximizing in-game framerates.

Christopher Coke has been a regular contributor to IGN since 2019 and has been covering games and technology since 2013. He has covered tech ranging from gaming controllers to graphics cards, gaming chairs and gaming monitors, headphones, IEMs, and more for sites such as MMORPG.com, Tom’s Hardware, Popular Science, USA Today’s Reviewed, and Popular Mechanics. Find Chris on Twitter @gamebynight.

One thing that's crystal clear as we head into 2026 is the importance of physical media. We've had enough of streaming service price hikes alongside everyone and their dog providing their own digital library. The same goes for music (vinyl is back, kids) and even manga.

TL;DR: Deals for Today

Shonen Jump and VIZ have their own apps, which are quite affordable, but nothing beats the feel and experience of reading physical manga. Well, smashing out a massive box set is up there too, which is why I've picked out some of my favourite series that are in Amazon's manga box set sale. Let's get into it.

Manga Box Set Sale

If you're planning on freeing up the box room to store One Piece manga, box sets one to four are all in the sale. That's volumes 1–90 for a combined $636.26, down from $959.96, saving a massive $323.70. That's a little over $7 per manga, which usual are usually priced at $11.99.
If you're a Dragon Ball fan like me, the Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z box sets are locked in the sale too for $97.99 and $175.66 respectively. That's a total of $273.65, down from $449.98, for the filler-free best way to experience the series. The way Akira Toriyama presents his panels is ridiculously expressive and a masterclass in what Shonen Jump manga is and should be.

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Hand Warmers

Cheapest at Amazon: MTG

Commander Masters is the best set to get into if you love playing Commander, getting you legacy card reprints that are ideal for the format. It's not cheap, but Amazon currently has the best pricing for Set and Draft booster boxes.
If you missed out on the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set when it dropped earlier this year, the game edition of Cloud Strife's Commander Deck, Limit Breaker, is at market value on Amazon right now. That just means you're getting it for a fair price compared to the secondary market, whilst being able to take advantage of that sweet Prime shipping.

Cheapest at TCGPlayer - MTG

TCGPlayer is still holding the top spot for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Play Booster Box preorders. It's a full $20 cheaper from its merchants right now, a saving worth getting over Prime shipping. The same goes for the Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box, a full $30 cheaper over Amazon's price.
Fair enough, Amazon has its preorder price guarantee, but that only counts if they drop the price before release. You can't price match other retailers with this guarantee, so if you see a steep discount on a preorder elsewhere, take your chances.

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Cheapest at Amazon: Pokémon TCG

It’s great to see popular sets like Surging Sparks and Phantasmal Flames Elite Trainer Boxes crop up for less on Amazon, with the former being below market value alongside the Destined Rivals triple booster.

Cheapest at TCGPlayer: Pokémon TCG

It’s strange to see Silver Tempest sealed product showing up on Amazon right now. Perhaps we’ll see more Sword & Shield-era reprints on store shelves? Regardless, TCGPlayer has the Silver Tempest Elite Trainer Box for far less than Amazon, and the same goes for the Prismatic Evolutions ETB.

TCGPlayer also has the best deal on Destined Rivals Booster Bundles, currently sitting at $52.50. That means you get double the booster packs compared to the three-pack booster deal in the last section for less than double the price. TCGPlayer really has the no-brainer deals right now.

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Skytech Gaming PC Holiday Sale

Considering we’ve just entered a memory chip shortage across the board, with even DDR4 RAM going for silly money, getting an RTX 5060 build with 32GB DDR4 for $1,079 is a great deal. You’ll have solid 1080p gaming with either an Intel i5-14400F or AMD Ryzen 7 5700 processor to boot. Personally, I’d go for the Crystal build. It costs the same and gives you far more room for bigger GPU upgrades down the line.

If you’re looking to go all-in with 4K gaming out of the box for under $3,000, the $2,799.99 Aqua build comes with a gorgeous clear white and blue case, complete with CPU liquid cooling, an RTX 5080, 32GB DDR5, and the absolute beast that is the Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

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.

2026 is here, so let's look at what Hollywood's got in store for us over the next 12 months, ranging from horror and sci-fi to superheroes and fantasy to whatever Disney and Pixar have planned. The name of the game these days? Sequels. Or prequels. Or remakes. Or basically anything embedded in a franchise or based on an IP. There are only like two or three standalone original films tucked away among the 50 plus movies here, so let's get to it!

The MCU is ready to go supermassive with both Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday while the DCU is landing a bit softer (but still awesomely) with Supergirl and Clayface. Pixar has Hoppers in the chamber but its big shot is Toy Story 5, while Disney rolls the dice with Hexed (while still having a surefire hit with the live-action Moana).

Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan, Sam Raimi, and M. Night Shyamalan all have new flicks this year, while the horror landscape screams loudly with Primate, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Ready or Not 2: Here I Come, Evil Dead Burn, Lee Cronin's The Mummy, Zach Cregger's Resident Evil, and Robert Eggers' Werwulf. Animated fare includes The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Coyote vs. Acme (finally!), Minions 3, The Cat in the Hat, and the aforementioned Hexed and Hoppers.

Check out the movies we can't wait to catch in 2026!

January

Greenland 2: Migration

Release Date: January 9, 2026

The Greenland gang is back, baby! Well, most of them, anyhow, as Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin return to the bleak, ruined Earth -- which suffered global catastrophes in the first movie -- to trek across Europe five years later in search of a new safe haven for their family. The cast of Greenland 2: Migration includes Amber Rose Revah (The Punisher), William Abadie (Emily in Paris), and Roman Griffin Davis (Jojo Rabbit), who now plays their son Nathan.

Primate

Release Date: January 9, 2026

A family's adopted chimpanzee suddenly becomes violent due to being bitten by a rabid animal in Primate, a murderous monkey (okay, ape) movie that was all the rage at 2025's Fantastic Fest. So get ready for the most bananas movie since 1990's Shakma.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

Release Date: January 16, 2026

Filmed back-to-back with 28 Years Later, but directed by Nia DaCosta in place of Danny Boyle, The Bone Temple will continue the story of Ralph Fiennes's Dr. Kelson while also diving into the big Jack O'Connell "Jimmy" cliffhanger, featuring Spike (Alfie Williams) meeting the cult leader and his blonde, track-suited, karate squad. If you didn't see 28 Years Later then that part probably sounded very weird. Anyhow, Aaron Taylor-Johnson is back too, as well as (finally!) Cillian Murphy's Jim.

Mercy

Release Date: January 23, 2026

Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson star in Mercy, a dystopian thriller about a detective who has 90 minutes to prove to an AI judge that he's innocent of murdering his wife. Directed by Timur Bekmambetov of Night Watch, Wanted, and, um... also that Ice Cube War of the Worlds movie fame.

Return to Silent Hill

Release Date: January 23, 2026

Writer/director Christophe Gans (Brotherhood of the Wolf, Silent Hill) is back to helm Return to Silent Hill, based on Konami's Silent Hill 2. Jeremy Irvine plays protagonist James Sunderland while Evie Templeton, who played Laura in the Silent Hill 2 game remake, reprises that role. Do you dare return to the psychological torment of this small town nightmare?

Send Help

Release Date: January 30, 2026

After dipping his toe in the MCU with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, director Sam Raimi is back in the small-scale scares business with Send Help, about a mocked and abused office worker who turns the table on her d-bag boss when they wind up stranded on a deserted island. Starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O'Brien, and written by Mark Swift and Damian Shannon (of Freddy vs. Jason and 2009's Friday the 13th fame).

February

Cold Storage

Release Date: February 13, 2026

Liam Neeson, Stranger Things' Joe Keery, and Barbarian's Georgina Campbell star in Cold Storage, about two employees at a self-storage facility, built atop a former military base, who must deal with a spreading government-sealed parasitic fungus. Written by David Koepp (Jurassic Park, Spider-Man, Black Bag).

Crime 101

Release Date: February 13, 2026

With an ensemble featuring Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, and Halle Berry, Crime 101 tells the tale of an elusive jewel thief known as "Davis" (Hemsworth) who follows a strict code of conduct (the titular Crime 101). Based on a Don Winslow novella, the film is written and directed by Bart Layton.

Wuthering Heights

Release Date: February 13, 2026

The latest adaptation of Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, which arrives just in time for Valentine's Day, stars Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi as tragic couple Catherine and Heathcliff. Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman, Saltburn) puts her own personal spin on this classic gothic drama, with original songs coming in hot from Charli XCX.

Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die

Release Date: February 13, 2026

Gore Verbinski (The Ring, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl) directs Sam Rockwell in Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die (review), about a man from the future who recruits patrons at a Los Angeles diner to help combat a rogue artificial intelligence. Also starring Michael Peña, Zazie Beetz, Juno Temple, and Haley Lu Richardson.

Psycho Killer

Release Date: February 20, 2026

Se7en's Andrew Kevin Walker pens a new serial killer thriller, Psycho Killer, about a highway patrol officer who's determined to track down a sadistic murderer after her husband is taken from her. Barbarian's Georgina Campbell stars, alongside Logan Miller and Malcolm McDowell.

Scream 7

Release Date: February 27, 2026

Scream 7, written (and directed!) by original series scribe Kevin Williamson, enters the franchise amidst some controversy following the firing of star Melissa Barrera and the loss of co-star Jenna Ortega. With the Carpenter sisters gone, the franchise returns once more to Neve Campbell's Sidney Prescott as she faces down a new "But I'm different from the rest" Ghostface(s?). Dead characters are also back in the form of David Arquette, Matthew Lillard, and Scott Foley -- perhaps getting the Force ghost treatment that Skeet Ulrich got in the last two movies. Unless...

March

The Bride!

Release Date: March 6, 2026

Set in 1930s Chicago, Maggie Gyllenhaal's The Bride! follows Frankenstein's monster (Christian Bale) as he has a companion created for him in the person of Men's Jessie Buckley. Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, and Penélope Cruz also star in this Bonnie and Clyde-esque take on The Bride of Frankenstein.

Hoppers

Release Date: March 6, 2026

One of Pixar's 2026 offerings -- a few months ahead of Toy Story 5 -- comes from We Bare Bears' Daniel Chong. Hoppers follows a teenager, Mabel (Piper Curda), who uses new technology to embody a robotic beaver and thwart a construction company's plot to destroy the local animal habitat. Other voices include Jon Hamm, Demetri Martin, and SNL alums Bobby Moynihan and Melissa Villaseñor.

Project Hail Mary

Release Date: March 20, 2026

From Cloverfield and Cabin in the Woods' Drew Goddard and directing duo Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (The Lego Movie, 21 Jump Street) comes the story of a teacher-turned-astronaut sent to deep space in order to solve a catastrophic solar event. Ryan Gosling stars in Project Hail Mary, a sci-fi adventure based on Andy Weir's 2021 best-seller. Sandra Hüller, Milana Vayntrub, Ken Leung, and The Bear's Lionel Boyce also star.

April

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie

Release Date: April 3, 2026

The follow-up to 2023's billion-dollar hit, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie brings Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Day, Jack Black, and Keegan-Michael Key back for a new cosmic adventure based on 2007's Super Mario Galaxy for the Wii (and possibly other Mario properties as well). Newcomers include Benny Safdie as Bowser Jr. and Brie Larson as Rosalina.

Ready or Not 2: Here I Come

Release Date: April 10, 2026

Radio Silence's directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (with EP Chad Villella) have returned to the horror romp that put them on the map (and got them the Scream 5 and 6 gigs) with Ready or Not 2: Here I Come. Samara Weaving is also back as Grace, now joined by Sarah Michelle Gellar as well as Abigail's Kathryn Newton and Kevin Durand. Add to that The Faculty's Shawn Hatosy and Elijah Wood, and director David Cronenberg, and you’re on track for a splattery good time.

The Mummy

Release Date: April 17, 2026

Ahead of The Mummy 4, which will bring back franchise stars Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, Blumhouse and James Wan's latest Universal Monster update (even though this is for New Line) is Lee Cronin's The Mummy, as the Evil Dead Rise director looks to untomb some sinister scares with this classic cursed character. Midsommar's Jack Reynor, Moon Knight's May Calamawy, and The Wheel of Time's Laia Costa star.

Michael

Release Date: April 24, 2026

Antoine Fuqua's much-anticipated Michael Jackson biopic moonwalks into theaters ahead of the summer movie season, with the "King of Pop" being portrayed by Jackson's real nephew, Jaafar Jackson. Written by John Logan (Gladiator, The Aviator), Michael also features Colman Domingo as Michael's abusive father Joe, Nia Long as Michael's mother, and Miles Teller as lawyer John Branca.

May

The Devil Wears Prada 2

Release Date: May 1, 2026

Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci, and Emily Blunt are back, 20 years later, for The Devil Wears Prada 2 -- based on the novel Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns by Lauren Weisberger. This time they're joined by Kenneth Branagh, Lucy Liu, Justin Theroux, Sydney Sweeney, and Lady Gaga.

Mortal Kombat II

Release Date: May 8, 2026

Originally slated for October of 2025, Mortal Kombat II, featuring The Boys and Star Trek's Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, will flawlessly land on May 8. Cage will join the fight against the rule of Shao Kahn, whose rise threatens the survival of Earthrealm and its defenders. Other new characters include Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, Tati Gabrielle as Jade, Damon Herriman as Quan Chi, Martyn Ford as Shao Kahn, Ana Thu Nguyen as Sindel, and CJ Bloomfield as Baraka.

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu

Release Date: May 22, 2026

The first Star Wars film since 2019's The Rise of Skywalker will bring Jon Favreau's Mandalorian to the big screen, but will what worked so well on Disney+ strike box-office gold? And was the seven-year pause better for the brand? Written by Jon Favreau and Lucasfilm chief creative office Dave Filoni, The Mandalorian and Grogu tracks Din Djarin and "Baby Yoda" taking on "legit" contract work for the New Republic. And let's not forget Sigourney Weaver joining the cast, as well as Jeremy Allen White as Jabba the Hutt's son, Rotta.

June

Animal Friends

Release Date: June 5, 2026

Ryan Reynolds, Jason Momoa, Vince Vaughn, and Aubrey Plaza star in this live-action/animation tale about two on-the-run animals (who sure look to be a horse and a bear) being pursued while on an adventure across America.

Masters of the Universe

Release Date: June 5, 2026

At long last, a new live-action He-Man movie. Masters of the Universe follows Nicholas Galitzine's Prince Adam as he returns to Eternia, after two decades away, to wield the Power Sword of Grayskull and battle Jared Leto's Skeletor. Alison Brie will play Evil-Lyn, Idris Elba is Man-At-Arms, Camila Mendes is Teela, and Morena Baccarin is the Sorceress. Will this new version have THE POWER that the '80s iteration lacked?

Disclosure Day

Release Date: June 12, 2026

Icon Steven Spielberg returns to extraterrestrial territory with Disclosure Day. Emily Blunt, Josh O'Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, Colman Domingo, and Wyatt Russell fill out the cast of this UFO thriller. Frequent collaborator David Koepp wrote the script while the legendary John Williams scores.

Scary Movie 6

Release Date: June 12, 2026

It'll have been 13 years since a Scary Movie last made us bust a gut, but now the Wayans brothers have a full decade of horror flicks to lampoon in Scary Movie 6 -- like Heretic, Nope, Get Out, Longlegs, and more. Anna Faris and Regina Hall are even back, reprising their roles from the first four films.

Toy Story 5

Release Date: June 19, 2026

Will post-Toy Story 3 Toy Story movies continue to be diminishing returns or have they finally cracked the code to continuing this franchise? Either way a billion-dollar haul is all but guaranteed as Pixar's Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo, WALL-E) takes the reins here, bringing us back into the world of Bonnie, now eight years old, and her obsession with a new toy -- a frog-like tablet named Lilypad (Anna Faris). Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack are all back for Toy Story 5, as well as Tony Hale's Forky.

Supergirl

Release Date: June 26, 2026

July

Minions 3

Release Date: July 1, 2026

After four Despicable Me films and two Minion spinoffs, it's time for Minions 3! And we don't know a damn thing about it except that it was bumped up from its original 2027 release date and that Pierre Coffin will continue to voice those little yellow rascals. No plot yet. No cast yet. Hold firm, everybody.

Moana

Release Date: July 10, 2026

Just a year after Moana 2, we're getting the live-action Moana remake starring Dwayne Johnson as the role he voices in the animated films, Maui. Catherine Laga'aia portrays Moana in a retelling that is sure to rake in a ton of cash (the live-action Lilo & Stitch is the top-grossing American movie of 2025, globally, as of this writing).

The Odyssey

Release Date: July 17, 2026

Christopher Nolan one of the few directors nowadays that can put butts in seats just on his name alone. But how will The Odyssey fare on its own? Unpaired with a tonally opposite film like Barbie? Maybe it should have shared theaters with Moana to create a new "Moadyssey" phenomenon. Regardless, the cast is stacked, with Nolan players Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, and Elliot Page anchoring newcomers to the director's realm like Tom Holland, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, and more. Oh, and the source material is pretty solid too.

Evil Dead Burn

Release Date: July 24, 2026

The Deadites are back to swallow our souls in Evil Dead Burn, from director Sébastien Vaniček. Introducing a French protagonist (Souheila Yacoub) who faces a new, brutal supernatural threat, the main plot of the film is still under wraps. Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, and Rob Tapert continue to produce, like they've done with all Evil Dead incarnations.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Release Date: July 31, 2026

At one point, briefly, Avengers: Doomsday was releasing before Spider-Man 4, but now things got flipped (and thwipped?). Shang-Chi director Destin Daniel Cretton takes over the Spidey saga from Jon Watts as the film (as indicated by the Brand New Day title and how it relates to the comics) deals with Peter Parker's life post-Peter Parker erasure. Jon Bernthal's Punisher joins the mix, as well as actress Sadie Sink, who some fans think is playing Punisher protégé Rachel Cole-Alves. Plus, Mark Ruffalo is back as Hulk, Michael Mando returns as Mac Gargan/Scorpion, and Marvin Jones III will be Tombstone. Oh, and Zendaya and Jacob Batalon are back as MJ and Ned, of course.

August

Untitled Insidious 6

Release Date: August 21, 2026

The sixth Insidious movie -- not counting the spinoff, Jeremy Slater's Thread: An Insidious Tale with Mandy Moore and Kumail Nanjiani, which doesn't have a release date yet -- is poised to pop in August of 2026. It stars Nope's Brandon Perea, Legends of Tomorrow's Maisie Richardson-Sellers, and Insidious franchise powerhouse Lin Shaye.

Coyote vs. Acme

Release Date: August 28, 2026

The live-action/animation hybrid caper that became ground zero in the debate over the nefarious streaming landscape and the contempt for artists and performers in the eyes of greedy CEOs -- after the unceremonious disposal of Batgirl had lit the flame -- will finally have its day in theaters. With a story by Samy Burch, James Gunn, and Jeremy Slater, Coyote vs. Acme follows Wile E. Coyote as he sues the Acme Corporation for repeatedly selling him alleged faulty products. John Cena, Will Forte, Lana Condor, P. J. Byrne, Tone Bell, and Martha Kelly represent the human cast while the full breadth of Looney Tunes characters fills out the rest.

September

Clayface

Release Date: September 11, 2026

A slight detour in the DCU is happening because -- well -- The Haunting of Hill House's Mike Flanagan had an idea for a standalone movie and wrote a Clayface script heavily influenced by the character's portrayal in the Batman: The Animated Series two-part episode "Feat of Clay." Now, Clayface does exist in the DCU already, as he was voiced by Alan Tudyk in Creature Commandos, which not only is canon but is part of James Gunn's experiment of "mostly" casting the same actors in both animated and live-action forms. And we saw Frank Grillo already make that leap as Rick Flag Sr. in Peacemaker: Season 2. (Tom Rhys Harries will play Clayface in the movie though.) Of course, this kind of breaks Gunn's crossover rule (because he did say "mostly") but we also could be dealing with multiple Clayfaces (aka "the Mudpack"). Tudyk also played silly Clayface on the Harley Quinn series, but yeah, that's not the version we're dealing with now. James Watkins (Eden Lake, Speak No Evil) directs.

Resident Evil

Release Date: September 18, 2026

Though he terrified us with both Barbarian and Weapons, writer/director (and sketch comedian) Zach Cregger is a video game addict at heart, loving the Resident Evil series so much that he basically has free reign with this version of it. His take on the storied series comes out in September and stars Austin Abrams, Paul Walter Hauser, Zach Cherry, and Kali Reis. Sure, there are already seven Paul W. S. Anderson Resident Evil movies, and in the last four years there was another movie -- Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City -- AND a Netflix series. But given Cregger's track record, THIS reboot is the one we really want to see.

Practical Magic 2

Release Date: September 18, 2026

Though the original Practical Magic was a dud at the box office, and mostly maligned by critics, it's grown as a Halloween season cult classic over the last couple of decades. Enough so that a full sequel is coming, complete with Owens sisters Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, and their aunts Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest. It looks like Joey King is playing the older Kylie Owens (instead of Evan Rachel Wood, who said they never asked her to come back) while GoT's Maisie Williams will play Alexandra. Lee Pace and Cobra Kai's Xolo Maridueña also star in Practical Magic 2.

October

The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender

Release Date: October 9, 2026

Taking place years after the events of Avatar: The Last Airbender and before The Legend of Korra, The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender will follow the series' main characters -- Aang, Toph, Katara, Sokka, and Zuko (now voiced by Steven Yeun) -- in their young adult years. Dave Bautista will voice the movie's big bad.

The Social Reckoning

Release Date: October 9, 2026

Most films on this list are sequels, or part of a larger franchise, but let it be known than even lauded Oscar-winning movies aren't immune to the errant follow up. Enter... The Social Reckoning, a sequel to David Fincher’s The Social Network, this time written and directed by Aaron Sorkin (who wrote the first film). Succession’s Jeremy Strong takes over the Mark Zuckerberg role, leading an ensemble featuring Jeremy Allen White, Mikey Madison, Bill Burr, Wunmi Mosaku, Betty Gilpin, Portia Doubleday and more. The story is based on the 2021 Facebook leak by whistleblower Frances Haugen where we learned that the social media giant was aware of harmful societal effects from its platforms, yet did nothing.

Street Fighter

Release Date: October 16, 2026

The third live-action Street Fighter movie (if anyone remembers Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li) has a fun, stacked cast -- with Jason Momoa, 50 Cent, Noah Centineo, WWE stars Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes (as Akuma and Guile, respectively), and David Dastmalchian as M. Bison. Set in 1993, estranged Street Fighters Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (Centineo) are thrown back into combat when the mysterious Chun-Li (Callina Liang) recruits them for the next World Warrior Tournament.

Remain

Release Date: October 23, 2026

M. Night Shyamalan's latest will hit right in time for Halloween, featuring Jake Gyllenhaal as a New York architect who heads to Cape Cod to design a summer home for his best friend, seeking a fresh start after being treated for acute depression. Still mourning his sister's death, he meets Wren (Phoebe Dynevor), a young woman who disrupts his carefully ordered world. Remain is based on an idea Shyamalan conceived with author Nicholas Sparks, who separately wrote the novel version of the same story.

November

The Cat in the Hat

Release Date: November 6, 2026

Bill Hader voices the title character, the classic Dr. Seuss scamp, as he takes on his toughest assignment yet: to cheer up Gabby (Xochitl Gomez) and Sebastian (Tiago Martinez), a pair of siblings struggling with their move to a new town. Giancarlo Esposito, America Ferrera, Bowen Yang, Matt Berry, and Quinta Brunson also star in this new take on The Cat in the Hat.

Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol

Release Date: November 13, 2026

What's director Ti West up to after thrilling us with his X-Pearl-MaXXXine hat trick? Why, he's diving into Dickens and giving Johnny Depp his first major American studio starring role since 2018's Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Depp will play Scrooge, joined by Sir Ian McKellen, Andrea Riseborough, and Severance’s Tramell Tillman (as the Ghost of Christmas Present).

The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Release Date: November 20, 2026

Director Francis Lawrence returns to the Hunger Games-verse (after taking a brief dystopian break with The Long Walk) to adapt Suzanne Collins' prequel novel, Sunrise on the Reaping. This time we learn all about young Haymitch Abernathy's time, and victory, in the the 50th Hunger Games -- the Second Quarter Quell -- which requires double the number of tributes from each district. Joseph Zada plays 16-year-old Haymitch, joined by Mckenna Grace (Ghostbusters: Afterlife) and The Long Walk's Ben Wang. Ralph Fiennes is on hand as a middle-age President Coriolanus Snow while Jesse Plemons plays a young Plutarch Heavensbee, Elle Fanning portrays a young Effie Trinket, and Kieran Culkin embodies a youthful Caesar Flickerman.

Focker In-Law

Release Date: November 25, 2026

Ben Stiller is more of a behind-the-camera guy these days, what with his acclaimed miniseries Escape at Dannemora and Apple TV's Severance, but the comedy legend is returning to one of his biggest focking franchises with the fourth Focker flick, Focker In-Law. Stiller, Robert De Niro, Owen Wilson, Blythe Danner, and Teri Polo are all back for this new comedy of errors, while adding Superman's Skyler Gisondo as son Henry. Ariana Grande, Beanie Feldstein, and Eduardo Franco also star.

Hexed

Release Date: November 25, 2026

Disney's animated entry this year is Hexed, following a teenage oddball and his mom who discover that his "weirdness" is actually hidden magic, transporting them to a world where magic can run free. The cast is unknown at this time but the directors are Josie Trinidad and Jason Hand (Moana 2).

December

Violent Night 2

Release Date: December 4, 2026

David Harbour reprises his role as a rough and tumble, take no shit Santa Claus, this time stranded in a New Jersey mall and cut off from the North Pole while facing down a local crime lord and his goons. Violent Night 2 also stars Jared Harris, Joe Pantoliano, The Suicide Squad's Daniela Melchior, and AEW's MJF, with Kristen Bell onboard as Mrs. Claus.

Untitled Jumanji Sequel

Release Date: December 11, 2026

The next Dwayne Johnson/Kevin Hart Jumanji movie -- from a series which has traditionally cleaned up during the holidays -- is slated for December. We don't know anything about this fifth Jumanji chapter (or fourth, if you're just counting the Rock timeline, or third if you don't include Zathura!) except that Johnson, Hart, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan are all back. AND that it's the final Jumanji film from this quartet.

Avengers: Doomsday

Release Date: December 18, 2026

With the MCU's Kang pivot, Disney backed up a huge truck o' cash and got both Robert Downey Jr. and the Russo Brothers back for an Avengers movie that was once supposed to be called The Kang Dynasty and directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. Instead, it's now about our assembled heroes trying to save the world (and the multiverse) from Doctor Doom (who we assume has kidnapped baby Franklin Richards and is using the tot's Power Cosmic to rewrite reality). The cast here is too big to list so just know that everyone's coming back. Everyone. Even the Fox franchise X-Men. Even people that weren't listed on those director's chairs.

Dune: Part Three

Release Date: December 18, 2026

Denis Villeneuve will tackle Frank Herbert's 1969 novel Dune Messiah, essentially ending the director's Dune trilogy. Dune: Part Three will bring in Anya Taylor-Joy fully as Paul's sister, Alia Atreides, as well as introduce Paul's twin children, Leto II and Ghanima. Robert Pattinson is also in the fray now as the villain Scytale. Side note: It's crazy that Avengers and Dune are opening the same day.

Werwulf

Release Date: December 25, 2026

Director Robert Eggers is following up his Nosferatu remake with another creature feature, bringing back Nosferatu players Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Lily-Rose Depp, Willem Dafoe, and Ralph Ineson for a werewolf film, Werwulf. Unlike Nosferatu though, this is not a re-telling of a classic movie but instead a story set in 13th century England (and with all dialogue in Middle English), as a mysterious creature stalks a foggy countryside full of terrifed villagers. Eggers has said of the script that it's the darkst story he's written so far, so... Merry Christmas, y'all!

Streaming Original Movies

Streamers can be pretty coy with announcing their original content but here's what we know, right now, is coming in 2026.

The Rip

Release Date: January 16 (Netflix)

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck star opposite each other (in their twelfth film together!) in Joe Carnahan's (Smokin' Aces, Copshop) The Rip, about Miami cops who discover a stash of millions in cash, leading to distrust and betrayal.

Narnia: The Magician's Nephew

Release Date: Nov. 26 (Netflix)

Writer/director Greta Gerwig's post-Barbie offering is Narnia: The Magician's Nephew, which will get a brief theatrical release prior to streaming. Based on the sixth book in The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis (and a prequel to the other five books), the film stars Emma Mackey, Carey Mulligan, Daniel Craig, and Denise Gough.

11817

Release Date: TBA (Netflix)

Greta Lee and Wagner Moura star in this sci-fi horror film about a family who become inexplicably trapped inside their home and must work together to survive and figure out what is keeping them confined.

Enola Holmes 3

Release Date: TBA (Netflix)

Stranger Things' Millie Bobby Brown is back as Sherlock Holmes' younger sister in a third adventure. Co-starring Louis Partridge, Himesh Patel, Helena Bonham Carter and Henry Cavill (as Sherlock).

Animals

Release Date: TBA (Netflix)

Ben Affleck directs and stars in Animals, a kidnapping thriller which also features Gillian Anderson, Kerry Washington, Steven Yeun, Adriana Paz, and Ray Fisher.

The Whisper Man

Release Date: TBA (Netflix)

Robert De Niro stars in this crime thriller about a widowed father who, after his own son is abducted, enlists the help of his estranged father, a retired detective, to get him back. Michelle Monaghan, Adam Scott, Michael Keaton, John Carroll Lynch, Hamish Linklater, and Owen Teague also star.

The Dink

Release Date: TBA (Apple TV)

Ben Stiller and Jake Johnson star in this new comedy about an aging tennis pro who must play pickleball to save a local club.

Being Heumann

Release Date: TBA (Apple TV)

This biography of disability rights activist Judith Heumann stars Rith Madeley, Mark Ruffalo, Dylan O'Brien, Rob Delaney, and Ray Fisher.

Outcome

Release Date: TBA (Apple TV)

This dark comedy, directed by Jonah Hill, stars Keanu Reeves as a blackmailed actor who tries to make amends with those who he has wronged in the past in order to figure out who the blackmailer is. Hill, Cameron Diaz, Matt Bomer, David Spade, and Laverne Cox also star.

That's all the biggest stuff coming in 2026. But what are you most looking forward to? Vote in our poll above, and let's talk in the comments!

If you’ve been looking to add to your physical media collection, a whole bunch of Steelbooks are currently discounted on Amazon. Even preorders, including Scream and World War Z, have had their prices slashed ahead of their releases over the next couple of months. A few titles are also hitting their lowest prices ever for some last-day-of-the-year savings.

Check out some of my favorite Steelbook deals below:

Steelbooks are special editions of popular movies and shows that come with the standard Blu-ray disc you get with traditional 4K UHD offerings. However, what puts them a notch above your typical Blu-ray is the sturdy case, hence the name, plus often exclusive artwork, bonus features, and other extras. That does usually mean a higher price tag, but Steelbooks are ideal for physical media collectors looking to own the best editions of their favorite titles.

When seeking out the best deals, I was most excited to see the Tommy Boy Steelbook down to its lowest price ever, costing just $18.99. This 30th Anniversary release gives the 90s comedy classic the 4K treatment, and it's an awesome edition to any collection, bringing an instant serotonin boost as soon as you hit play. Sticking with the 90s, my favorite slasher film, Scream, is getting a limited-edition Steelbook, and it’s 20% off if you pre-order now. And of course, no collection would be complete without Tarantino's Pulp Fiction. The limited-edition Steelbook contains a 4K remaster of the film, special artwork, and a variety of extras for under $30.

Moving into this millennium, a number of limited-edition steelbooks are on sale. If you’re anxiously awaiting Nolan’s The Odyssey, you can revisit another one of his iconic films, Interstellar. This limited Steelbook reprint features a 4K UHD remaster of the film, and is 33% off. World War Z is another sci-fi flick getting a Steelbook, and its pre-order is discounted ahead of its release at the end of January. But if you need something a little lighter, the Renfield Steelbook 4K UHD is now at its lowest price ever. It’s hard not to love this Dracula retelling, and it is a fun addition to any collection.

Those are just a sampling of the many Steelbooks discounted. Be sure to grab them while you can, as these deals won’t last forever.

Danielle is a Tech freelance writer based in Los Angeles who spends her free time creating videos and geeking out over music history.

The Fallout TV show is packed full of characters, factions, locations, and items familiar to any who has played the beloved RPGs. There are so many easter eggs to spot that we found 111 video game details in Season 1 alone. With season two heading to a fan-favourite part of the Fallout universe, New Vegas, naturally, a whole new flood of iconography is set to make its way from the games into the Prime Video series. So, we’ll be digging into each and every episode and picking out everything we’ve noticed that relates to the source material.

You can check out everything we found in episode two, but here, we’ll be taking a look at every video game easter egg and details we spotted in episode three of Fallout Season 2.

Characters and Factions

This review contains spoilers for Fallout Season 2, Episode 3, “The Profligate,” which is available to stream now on Prime Video.

“I think I just started a war.” Yeah, Maximus, I think you did.

Killing off Kumail Nanjiani’s Paladin Harkness just a single episode after he was introduced is a bold move, but a shock that thrillingly caps off a great episode full of snarling factions, long-awaited fan service, and some huge decisions that not only have major consequences for the Mojave wasteland, but also provide deep, fascinating insights into the hearts of two of our leads: Maximus and The Ghoul.

Let’s start with our noseless gunslinger, who after treading water for a couple of hours is suddenly on the move to some real interesting places. Left by Lucy last week to sweat it out with a leg full of radscorpion venom, The Ghoul has a remarkably vulnerable moment with the ever-faithful Dogmeat. His musings on how many planks you have to remove from a boat until it’s not a boat anymore, muttered as he rips oozing chunks out of his own thigh, is a sort-of-ship-of-Theseus metaphor for his own life. His soul has lost too many planks, and it’s a new milestone for what’s left of Cooper Howard to admit that, even if he’ll only say it to a dog. Lucy’s Christmas Carol sermon from last week has clearly been ticking away in his mind – he’s dedicated two centuries to finding his family, but will he be worth a damn when he finally does?

Perhaps The Ghoul really can change, though, if his rescuing of Lucy is anything to go by. Her choice to help the tunic-wearing woman last week led her right into the den of Caesar’s Legion, who naturally did what any bloodthirsty Romans would do: strung her up for crucifixion. The Ghoul goes significantly (and uncharacteristically) out of his way to save his travelling companion from such a fate, betraying his former uneasy allies at the NCR. As much as she may annoy the living heck out of him, it seems like The Ghoul may have developed some genuine (low level) affection for Lucy.

While Walton Goggins is undoubtedly the headliner of the Lucy/Ghoul double act this week, Ella Purnell does get a solitary sparkling moment in the spotlight before she’s Life of Brian’d. Her argument with the Legion’s leaders is really good fun, particularly her fast-fired, enjoyably educated objections to their prima nocta clause (although if we’re honest, the “I’m not even a virgin, and that’s not even including all of the cousin stuff” is the real winning punchline here). Lucy has clearly hardened into someone who has no intention of being torn down by the wasteland, even when her opponent is much bigger and scarier than she is.

And scary they are! Horrible cutthroats who butcher the woman Lucy saved within seconds of them entering the camp. But they’re a wonderful contradiction of incredibly cruel and impossibly silly. We’ve got a bunch of Roman cosplayers, wearing sunglasses and wielding machine guns, who have dedicated themselves to a man pretending to be Julius Caesar. Second in command is Macaulay Culkin, who’s having an absolute riot in the role. His aloof, classical theatre tone, perfectly shaved head, and dedication to the Legion’s rules makes him a deadly serious joke. I certainly hope this isn’t the last we’ve seen of him.

As I’ve mentioned in prior reviews, I’m really pleased that showrunners Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet have made the faction interplay that defines the Fallout: New Vegas video game such a key part of this season’s fabric. That continues here with the introduction of the game’s NCR rangers, although they’re sadly afforded much less screen time than the Legion. Now barely more than a handful of troops, their desperate fight for survival is interesting, but so far little explored.

There’s a chance that die-hard fans may find the presentation of the NCR and the Legion somewhat frustrating because of how thinly drawn their direct links to the game are. With the show taking place a decade and a half after the events of Fallout: New Vegas, many will have hoped or even expected it to establish a “canon ending” for the game. But it seems those answers aren’t coming – while these are undoubtedly the factions we met in the digital world, brought to life with exceptional understanding of the material, the Legion’s double-Caesar civil war and the NCR’s continuing rivalry with them doesn’t directly relate to any of the game’s multiple endings. Both factions squabbling in the dirt, miles away from the Vegas Strip, does suggest that if there even is a canon ending to the game, it’s the one that saw you fight for an independent Vegas (or, less likely, carried Mr. House to victory). But Wagner and Robertson-Dworet have wisely decided to leave the key events of New Vegas' finale shrouded in mystery. Still, it’s fun to wonder what happened to the original Caesar, whose death has split the Legion into rival gangs: was he killed by the courier, or did he die from that brain tumor?

While the Legion wages its playground-sized war, the real thing is brewing over at Area 51. Maximus goes on a fantastically messy journey this week, once again crushed and reshaped by the bullies that rule his life. Belittled by Quintus for suggesting they kick-start the very war that his master has been plotting, Maximus finds an unexpected ego boost in the man he would assassinate. Paladin Harkness butters him up with tales of how he’d be leadership material over in the Commonwealth – silver-tongued lies delivered by Kumail Nanjiani, who’s having the time of his life. But you can see why Maximus falls for them; he may be made of matchsticks, but it’d take an iron will to resist the Paladin’s maverick charm. It’s just a shame Nanjiani and his Han Solo-schtick didn’t get to stick around longer.

It’s amusing to see just how easily-influenced Maximus is across this episode. First he wants to kill Harkness, then he walks into his arms after Quintus tells him off. He sees right through Harkness when it becomes clear all the Paladin wants is to take the Cold Fusion relic for the Commonwealth, but falls back under his smooth-talking spell the moment the pair get to goof off and play croquet with a Super Sledge hammer and a Securitron robot. He is so incredibly weak of character and so easily manipulated by external forces, which is exactly what makes the episode’s final, fatal hammer blow so exciting. Finally, we see Maximus make a decision that’s all his own, one that comes from his own sense of justice. And by killing Paladin Harkness to save the ghoul children, we can see that the good, moral man that his father always hoped he’d grow up to become is somewhere inside him.

Of course, I can’t move on from Maximus’ story without mentioning the wonderful walking joke that is Johnny Pemberton’s Thaddeus. His new life as a ghoul has turned him into some kind of Dickensian slave driver, with an army of kids twisting off soda bottle caps in an effort to fill his coffers. This kindergarten factory scores the best joke of the episode: two dozen eight year-olds cheering “Most kids are dead by this age!”

Finally, this week’s trip to pre-war America is surprisingly uneventful considering both the killer stakes established in the premiere and its absence last week. House’s appearance feels a little thin and lacking in bite, but it’s enough to demonstrate that he’s already clued into Cooper and Moldaver’s plans. He is The Man Who Knew, after all. Cooper, however, is very much a man who doesn’t know, clueless as to who this moustachio’d man that looks almost identical to the famous Robert House is. This certainly clarifies that Justin Theroux’s identity is supposed to be a mystery, and only further demonstrates what a bad idea the prior announcement of his casting was.

There’s still good stuff in the past, though, but it’s all in character, not plot. Charlie Whiteknife’s veteran award acceptance speech frames Cooper as a soldier who deeply cared for the people around him, emphasising a stark contrast with the man he’ll be 200 years into the nuclear-scorched future. Later, Charlie explains that he won his award for saving people, not for the kills that heroic act required. The implication, of course, is that Cooper should kill Robert House to save humanity from annihilation.

But there’s more to that flashback than just Cooper’s torn conscience. We see reflected in Charlie’s words The Ghoul’s choice. He’d do pretty much anything to protect the people he loves, even something bad. Which, of course, wasn’t sending the NCR to their deaths in order to save Lucy. No, that’s not the man Cooper Howard becomes. For all his personal admissions of having lost too many planks, he’s still content to be a pile of wood. Lucy is surely the price he’ll pay to save his family. And he’s not found his family yet, so Lucy has to live. Wherever this selfish decision takes him, it’s sure to be a fascinating direction.

It's no secret that Dragon Quest is one of the most important RPG series of all time. Inspired by Wizardry, the Enix-published Famicom game has inspired thousands of famous RPGs. The genre simply wouldn't exist the way it does today without Dragon Quest.

Last year, Square Enix finally released Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, the long-awaited remake of Erdrick's adventure. Today at Amazon, you can save over 60% off an Xbox Series X copy, which is perfect for collectors and new adventurers alike.

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake for $22.23

I always like to think New Year’s Eve is for reflection, but in practice it is also when my willpower collapses and my wishlist wins. While everyone else is arguing over fireworks positions and sparkling wine, I am quietly locking in deals I will absolutely be playing into January. This batch feels like a proper end of year send off, stacked with games that reward long nights and bad sleep decisions.

Contents

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

This Day in Gaming 🎂

In retro news, I'm using this fire flower to ignite a 30-candle cake baked for Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, a SNES must-own. If it were any other series, Yoshi’s Island would just be a long-forgotten spin-off. But since this is Nintendo we’re talking about, this SNES game made a much bigger impact on the wider Mario universe, with the features Yoshi’s Island introduced still influencing Nintendo games of today.

I can remember being thoroughly delighted with Yoshi's moveset expanding him from being a simple steed to a flutter-jumping, ground-pounding, and egg-chucking hero in his own right. Likewise, the shift from obstacle course platforming to collectathon progression was right up my kleptomanic alley. Throw in a bold crayon-based art style, and I was coloured Tickled Pink with the entire package.

Aussie birthdays for notable games.

- Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (SNES) 1995. Get

- Vigilante 8: 2nd Offense (PS) 1999. eBay

Nice Savings for Nintendo Switch

• Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope (-90%) - A$7.90 A shockingly good tactics sequel that smooths out the combat, adds real freedom, and proves the Rabbids can behave when Miyamoto is watching.
• Need For Speed Hot Pursuit Rem. (-83%) - A$10.10 Criterion’s high speed classic with Autolog still doing half the trash talking for you.
• It Takes Two (-50%) - A$29.90 A co-op masterclass that constantly reinvents itself and absolutely refuses to let you play alone.
• Burnout Paradise Rem. (-83%) - A$6.70 Open world crashing at its peak, with takedowns that still feel illegally satisfying.
• Unravel Two (-70%) - A$8.90 Gentle platforming built around cooperation, whether that second Yarny is a friend or your own stubborn hands.
• Gris (-82%) - A$4.20 A wordless, watercolour journey through grief that still lands emotionally every single time.

What's Big on the Radar?
Current hotcakes selling

• Super Mario Galaxy 1 + 2 - $79
• Pokémon Legends: Z-A - $78
• Super Mario Party Jamboree - $64

Or gift a Nintendo eShop Card.

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Exciting Bargains for Xbox

• Metaphor: Refantazio (-50%) - A$57.40 Atlus finally cuts loose from Persona’s school gates and builds a lavish fantasy RPG with politics, time pressure, and absurdly stylish menus.
• It Takes Two (-80%) - A$11.90 One of the best co-op games ever made, built entirely around communication and shared problem solving.
• Ni No Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch (-80%) - A$13.90 Studio Ghibli charm wrapped around a classic JRPG, complete with Joe Hisaishi’s music.
• Triangle Strategy (-60%) - A$36.30 A tactics RPG obsessed with consequences, branching politics, and hard choices that actually stick.
• Red Dead Redemption II (-75%) - A$22.40 Still Rockstar’s most detailed world, right down to horse behaviour and campfire conversations you will miss if you rush.
• Star Wars: Dark Forces Rem. (-50%) - A$22.40 A respectful polish of a cult shooter that laid groundwork for Jedi Knight long before lightsabers stole the show.

What's Big on the Radar?
Headed out the door quick

• Battlefield 6 - A$89
• Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds - A$89
• Borderlands 4 - A$99

Or just invest in an Xbox Card.

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Pure Scores for PlayStation

• God Of War Ragnarok (-63%) - A$46.20 A blockbuster sequel that somehow balances bombast with quiet character work and surprisingly dry humour.
• Disco Elysium: The Final Cut (-75%) - A$14.90 A detective RPG powered entirely by dialogue, dice rolls, and your own terrible decisions.
• Monster Hunter Rise (-80%) - A$11.90 Faster, more agile hunting built around wirebugs and monsters that never stop fighting back.
• Alan Wake II (-70%) - A$27.20 Survival horror as experimental art piece, complete with musical numbers and meta narrative tricks.
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (-85%) - A$16.40 Bigger worlds, tougher combat, and a Cal Kestis who finally feels comfortable in his boots.
• Assassin's Creed Valhalla (-85%) - A$14.90 A sprawling Viking epic that rewards slow exploration more than checklist chasing.

What's Big on the Radar?
Fast movers shifting

• COD Black Ops 7 - A$89
• Battlefield 6 - A$89
• Borderlands 4 - A$99

Or purchase a PS Store Card.

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Purchase Cheap for PC

• Hogwarts Legacy (-91%) - A$8.30 A lavish wizarding RPG with secrets tucked into nearly every corridor and classroom.
• Hades (-70%) - A$10.90 A roguelike that somehow makes dying feel productive, thanks to peerless voice work and pacing.
• Red Dead Redemption II (-75%) - A$22.40 Technically stunning on PC, with mod support keeping it alive long after launch.
• Ori And The Will Of The Wisps (-75%) - A$9.90 One of the most fluid platformers ever made, backed by a devastatingly good score.
• It Takes Two (-80%) - A$9.90 Even cheaper here, and still one of the smartest co-op designs of the last generation.

Or just get a Steam Wallet Card

Legit LEGO Deals

• The Mandalorian Ambush (-43%) - A$20 A compact Star Wars set that nails the show’s early scrappy energy.
• Andor Rebel U-Wing (-41%) - A$65 A rare LEGO set pulled from the grittier corner of Star Wars, and better for it.
• Horizon Adventures Shell-Walker & Sawtooth (-40%) - A$41.90 A surprisingly faithful brick translation of Guerrilla’s robo wildlife.
• Marvel Captain America Vs. Thanos (-35%) - A$39 A straightforward Marvel face off with two iconic minifigs and zero filler.

Amazon has been dragging its feet when it comes to charging realistic prices for trading card games, especially with Pokémon TCG. Magic: The Gathering is playing out differently, however. We're seeing healthy competition between Amazon and TCGPlayer during today's price check, so there's plenty of options to explore at the best prices.

Today's highlights also include preorders for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Lorwyn Eclipsed, plus a scary movie exclusive pre-order you won't want to miss.

TL;DR: Best Deals Today

With Amazon, you're getting Prime delivery, with products shipping out either the same day or landing at your door within 24 hours. Whilst you don't get the same speedy shipment with TCGPlayer merchants, you're likely buying from them for the cheaper price points and big savings over big-box Amazon. Let's get into it:

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Cheapest at Amazon: MTG

Commander Masters is the best set to get into if you love playing Commander and getting hold of legacy card reprints that are ideal for the format. It's not cheap, but Amazon currently has the best pricing for Set and Draft booster boxes.
If you missed out on the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set when it dropped earlier this year, the game edition of Cloud Strife's Commander Deck, Limit Breaker, is at market value on Amazon right now. That just means you're getting it for a fair price compared to the secondary market, whilst being able to take advantage of that sweet Prime shipping.

Cheapest at TCGPlayer - MTG

TCGPlayer is still holding the top spot for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Play Booster Box preorders. It's a full $20 cheaper from its merchants right now, a saving worth getting over Prime shipping. The same goes for the Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box, a full $30 cheaper over Amazon's price.

Fair enough, Amazon has its preorder price guarantee, but that only counts if they drop the price before release. You can't price match other retailers with this guarantee, so if you see a steep discount on a preorder elsewhere, take your chances.

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Cheapest at Amazon: Pokémon TCG

It’s great to see popular sets like Surging Sparks and Phantasmal Flames Elite Trainer Boxes crop up for less on Amazon, with the former being below market value alongside the Destined Rivals triple booster.

Cheapest at TCGPlayer: Pokémon TCG

It’s strange to see Silver Tempest sealed product showing up on Amazon right now. Perhaps we’ll see more Sword & Shield-era reprints on store shelves? Regardless, TCGPlayer has the Silver Tempest Elite Trainer Box for far less than Amazon, and the same goes for the Prismatic Evolutions ETB.

TCGPlayer also has the best deal on Destined Rivals Booster Bundles, currently sitting at $52.50. That means you get double the booster packs compared to the three-pack booster deal in the last section for less than double the price. TCGPlayer really has the no-brainer deals right now.

Scream (1996) Limited-Edition Steelbook (4K UHD) Available to Pre-order at 19% Off

Skytech Gaming PC Holiday Sale

Considering we’ve just entered a memory chip shortage across the board, with even DDR4 RAM going for silly money, getting an RTX 5060 build with 32GB DDR4 for $1,079 is a great deal. You’ll have solid 1080p gaming with either an Intel i5-14400F or AMD Ryzen 7 5700 processor to boot. Personally, I’d go for the Crystal build. It costs the same and gives you far more room for bigger GPU upgrades down the line.

If you’re looking to go all-in with 4K gaming out of the box for under $3,000, the $2,799.99 Aqua build comes with a gorgeous clear white and blue case, complete with CPU liquid cooling, an RTX 5080, 32GB DDR5, and the absolute beast that is the Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

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.

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A Stranger Things actor has pushed back on claims there is a secret 'Snyder cut' of Season 5, as a petition calling on Netflix and the show's creators the Duffer brothers to respond garners hundreds of thousands of signatures.

Randy Havens, who plays school teacher Mr. Clarke on Stranger Things, wrote on his Instagram Stories on December 28 that “there's no secret Snyder cut of the show," adding: “please don't believe everything some random ass tells you on the internet."

Havens’ comment is a reference to the successful fan movement that led to the release of the director's cut of Zack Snyder's DCEU superhero movie, Justice League. Zack Snyder's Justice League released in 2021, four years after the original version made its theatrical debut, complete with new visual effects, new editing, new material, and a much longer runtime.

Ahead of the Stranger Things Season 5 finale on New Year’s Eve, Havens appeared to respond to an unverified, fan-made Google Doc detailing allegedly shortened storylines that had gained attention on social media. The Change.org petition that calls on Netflix to release the alleged “unseen footage” has over 350,000 signatures, at the time of this article’s publication.

The most-liked comment on the petition comes from someone who seems convinced that this footage was cut from Season 5 for nefarious reasons. “We have been waiting since 2022 to see this last season,” they wrote. “To be robbed of scenes by Netflix which really could have gelled the show all together is absolutely unacceptable, and I speak on behalf of all fans that we have been betrayed for the show we love. We don’t sit down and do nothing, we need to show the Duffer brothers, Netflix, and especially Shawn Levy. We want our full episodes, we want the scenes which change everything. We want our show back.”

This comes amid huge viewing figures for Season 5 on Netflix, but also a mixed response from fans. As we’ve reported, Stranger Things is suffering from review bombing after Season 5 Episode 7 met with lower audience scores than the Netflix series has typically seen. But some fans are striking back with 5-star reviews in a bid to reverse the trend.

While the fifth and final season of Stranger Things has sparked complaints from some fans about the exposition-heavy writing, the varying quality of the actor's performances, and the plot armor some of their characters seemingly enjoy, Episode 7, called ‘The Bridge,’ has become the focal point of a vociferous debate that has spilled over into review aggregate websites.

Stranger Things fans have slammed the petition and the Google Doc that appears to have inspired it, while praising Havens for hitting back on social media. "What?? The unconfirmed Google Doc isn’t true?? How could it be!" said one fan. "This is so embarrassing oh my god," said another. Added one fan: "I’m glad someone said something. The mass psychosis of everyone saying release the Volume 2 files was getting pretty annoying ngl."

Netflix just released the trailer for the Stranger Things Season 5 finale, which is set for 5pm PT on December 31. Episode 8, called The Rightside Up, has an official runtime of 2 hours 8 minutes. It will be screened in theaters nationwide at the same time it is shown on Netflix. The Duffer brothers have also told fans not to expect a Game of Thrones-style bloodbath, even as there are big questions over who might die in the final episode.

Image credit: Netflix.

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.

Black Panther writer and director Ryan Coogler has detailed the script for Black Panther 2 before the death of star Chadwick Boseman.

Boseman died in August 2020 aged 43 from complications of colon cancer, which he had battled privately for four years. He played T'Challa / Black Panther first in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, 2018’s Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War, 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, and then 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever via archival footage.

Speaking on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast, Coogler said that he had finished the 180-page draft for Black Panther 2 and asked Boseman to check it out, but he was too sick to read it. Coogler has spoken in the past about the initial pitch for the movie, which would have been a post-Blip story featuring Boseman’s T’Challa returning after the events of Avengers: Endgame and a five-year absence and reconnecting with his son, Toussaint, who had little-to-no memory of his biological father.

“In the script, T’Challa was a dad who’d had this forced five-year absence from his son’s life,” Boseman told The New York Times in 2022. “The first scene was an animated sequence. You hear Nakia [T’Challa’s love interest, played by Lupita Nyong’o] talking to Toussaint [the couple’s child, introduced in Wakanda Forever in a post-credits sequence]. She says, ‘Tell me what you know about your father.’ You realize that he doesn’t know his dad was the Black Panther. He’s never met him, and Nakia is remarried to a Haitian dude. Then, we cut to reality and it’s the night that everybody comes back from the Blip. You see T’Challa meet the kid for the first time.

“Then it cuts ahead three years and he’s essentially co-parenting. We had some crazy scenes in there for Chad, man. Our codename for the movie was ‘Summer Break,’ and the movie was about a summer that the kid spends with his dad. For his eighth birthday, they do a ritual where they go out into the bush and have to live off the land. But something happens and T’Challa has to go save the world with his son on his hip. That was the movie.”

Now, Coogler has revealed more detail on this ritual and how it would have worked amid an attack by Namor, who ended up in Wakanda Forever under very different circumstances.

“The big thing about the script was there was this thing called the Ritual of Eight, where when a prince is eight years old he has to go spend eight days in the bush with his father. And amongst those eight days they have to go into the bush without any tools. The prince has to listen to and do everything that's asked of him by his father. But the rule is for those eight days, the prince can ask the father any question and the father has to answer. And during the course of those eight days, Namor launches an attack. That was what the movie was. It was a different version of Namor in that script, but he had to deal with somebody who was like insanely dangerous, but because of this ritual his son had to be joined at his hip the whole time.

“So while he was engaging in negotiations, fights, his son had to be right there or violate this ritual which had never been broken. So that was what the movie was. It was insane, and Chad was going to kill it, bro. But life goes as it goes. And I got a chance to make a movie about women. I love that movie so much, bro.”

The loss of Boseman radically changed the future of the franchise, and Coogler rewrote the movie to address his death and focus on T'Challa's sister Shuri (Letitia Wright) instead. Wakanda Forever ended up being a movie as much about grief as it was moving the MCU forward or leading into the events of Black Panther 3, which Coogler has signed up to direct.

New Year, new tube. With more streaming services than ever before and more than a few broadcast networks and cable channels still churning out some can’t-miss content, 2026 is shaping up to be another banner year for Peak TV. From popular returning series like House of the Dragon, The Boys, and Daredevil: Born Again, to hotly-anticipated new arrivals like Wonder Man, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and Spider-Noir, the year promises to be jam-packed with your favorite (or soon-to-be-favorite) shows.

Below you’ll find a list of the biggest new and returning series from Netflix, HBO Max, Prime Video, and more. We’ve organized everything by streamer and release date to help you plan your year accordingly. As always, premiere dates and release dates are subject to change, and we’ll do our best to update this list throughout the year so you can keep track of everything.

We've also thrown in a few network and cable channel offerings because, hey, people still watch those too, right?

Be sure to check back throughout 2026 as we add new shows, note new release dates, and push shows off the list for when and if they move to 2027.

Netflix

His & Hers

Release date: January 8

A new mystery thriller starring Tessa Thompson and Jon Bernthal, the limited series follows a reclusive news anchor (Thompson) who investigates a murder in a nearby town. Detective Jack Harper (Bernthal) is suspicious of her involvement and chases her into the crosshairs of his own investigation.

Bridgerton Season 4

Release date: January 29

The massively popular period romance from Shonda Rimes returns for a two-part Season 4 (the second batch of episodes drops on February 26) and follows second-eldest son Benedict (Luke Thompson), who so far has refused to settle down. Then he meets a captivating young woman at one of his mother’s balls, and much like Cinderella’s Prince Charming, Benedict begins a search for the mysterious “lady in silver” that, in true Bridgerton fashion, takes a number of surprising turns.

One Piece: Into the Grand Line

Release date: March 10

Season 2 of the live-action adaptation of the popular animé will feature “fiercer adversaries and the most perilous quests yet.” The new season’s synopsis says that “Luffy and the Straw Hats set sail for the extraordinary Grand Line, a legendary stretch of sea where danger and wonder await at every turn. As they journey through this unpredictable realm in search of the world’s greatest treasure, they’ll encounter bizarre islands and a host of formidable new enemies.”

Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man

Release date: March 20

Set a few years after the finale of Season 6, this new movie from Netflix sees Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) “driven back from a self-imposed exile to face his most destructive reckoning yet.” This feature-length return to the world of the popular series also stars Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Roth, Barry Keoghan, and Stephen Graham.

The Boroughs

Release date: TBA

A brand-new sci-fi series executive produced by the Duffer Brothers, The Boroughs promises to scratch an itch for those of us going through Stranger Things withdrawal. According to Netflix, the show “takes place in a seemingly picturesque retirement community in the New Mexico desert, where a group of — you guessed it — unlikely heroes must band together to stop an otherworldly threat from stealing the one thing they don’t have: time.” The Boroughs stars Alfred Molina, Geena Davis, Bill Pullman, and Alfre Woodard.

Stranger Things: Tales from '85

Release date: TBA

Speaking of Stranger Things: Even though the OG show wraps up on New Year’s Eve 2025, we’ll be returning to the Upside Down in a new animated series. Netflix says the show is set in “Hawkins in the stark winter of 1985, where the original characters must fight new monsters and unravel a paranormal mystery terrorizing their town.”

Golf

Release date: TBA

A new comedy series reuniting SNL Spartans Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon, Golf follows Ferrell’s character, who is described as a “fictional golf legend.” Golf also stars Luke Wilson and Chris Parnell. The show is produced by – among others – Ferrell and Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Knives Out director Rian Johnson.

Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2

Release date: TBA

The live-action adaptation of the popular animated series returns for Season 2. Netflix says the new episodes will see “Aang (Gordon Cormier), Katara (Kiawentiio), and Sokka (Ian Ousley) regroup and set off on a mission to convince the elusive Earth King to aid in their battle against fearsome Fire Lord Ozai (Daniel Dae Kim).” The upcoming season will also feature the introduction of Toph Beifong, played by Miya Cech.

Heartstopper Forever

Release date: TBA

Serving as a movie-length finale to the romance series Heartstopper, Heartstopper Forever sees Nick (Kit Connor) “preparing to leave for university” and Charlie (Joe Locke) “finding new independence at school.” Their relationship is once again put to the test, and we’ll find out once and for all if first loves can “really last forever.” Many fans were hoping for a Season 4, but will have to make do when this one-off feature-length episode drops in 2026.

Man on Fire

Release date: TBA

Yahya Abdul-Mateen ll (Aquaman, Watchmen) stars in this new adaptation of the series of novels by A.J. Quinnell . The story, which was popularized in the 2004 movie starring Denzel Washington, features Abdul-Mateen as John Creasy, “a Special Forces soldier looking for a fresh start. But John must battle his personal demons before he can truly turn over a new leaf.” The new series also stars Bobby Cannavale and Billie Boullet.

HBO and HBO Max

The Pitt Season 2

Release date: January 8, 2026

The Emmy-winning series returns early in the new year and promises to bring more drama, mayhem, and tension to your favorite on-screen Pittsburgh emergency room. In case you forgot, The Pitt “is a realistic examination of the challenges facing healthcare workers in today’s America as seen through the lens of the frontline heroes working in a modern-day hospital in Pittsburgh.”

Industry Season 4

Release date: January 11, 202

The critically-acclaimed drama series, which follows a group of London bankers as they navigate their careers, life, and the “pressure cooker environment” of finance, returns for an eight-episode season in mid-January.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

Release date: January 18, 2026

The newest entry in George R. R. Martin’s on-screen Game of Thrones universe, the eagerly-anticipated show hits HBO and HBO Max early in the new year. Based on Martin’s Tales of Dunk and Egg stories, the show is set a century before Game of Thrones and follows the adventures of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and his squire Aegon “Egg” Targaryen (Dexter Sol Ansell).

The Comeback Season 3

Release date: March TBA

Just like the census, The Comeback is making its every-ten-years-or-so return with new episodes this Spring. Once again, Lisa Kudrow stars as ever-striving actress Valerie Cherish. For the third (and reportedly final) season, Kudrow is once again joined by Dan Bucatinsky, Laura Silverman, and Damian Young, along with newcomers Adam Scott and Brittany O’Grady.

Euphoria Season 3

Release date: April TBA

Since Euphoria last aired in 2022, the star power of the cast has gone supernova. Zendaya, Jacob Elordi, and Sydney Sweeney all used the frenetic, drama-filled show to launch their careers into the stratosphere. The series returns for a third season and sees a substantial time jump, catching up with the characters post-high school as twentysomething young adults.

House of the Dragon Season 3

Release date: Summer TBA

Team Green and Team Black both have reason to celebrate the return of HBO’s other Westeros-set show. Based on George R.R. Martin’s “Fire & Blood,” Season 3 of House of the Dragon sees the rival Targaryen factions in all-out war, fighting with (and for) dragons in a bid to emerge victorious in the battle for the iron throne.

Lanterns

Release date: TBA

The newest small-screen entry in James Gunn’s DCU, Lanterns stars Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler as “two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.” Along with Gunn, the first season of the show is executive produced by Chris Mundy and Lost’s Damon Lindelof, and runs eight episodes.

DTF St. Louis

Release date: TBA

Jason Bateman and Stranger Things lead David Harbour star in this black comedy miniseries. The show’s logline states the show is “a darkly comedic limited series about a love triangle between three adults experiencing middle-age malaise that leads to one of them ending up dead.”

Hacks Season 5

Release date: TBA

Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) has lost the one dream she ever had: hosting a late night talk show. What’s next for Vance and co-worker turned frenemy Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder)? Plot details for the fifth and final season are under wraps, but it’s sure to include plenty of backstabbing, side-eye, and uproarious laughter.

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe

Release date: TBA

Executive Producer Chuck Lorre dives back into the Big Bang Theory universe with this spin-off starring Kevin Sussman as Stuart, who “is tasked with restoring reality after he breaks a device built by Sheldon and Leonard, accidentally bringing about a multiverse Armageddon.”

The Gilded Age Season 4

Release date: TBA

More intrigue. More societal slights. More absolutely gravity-defying corsets. A new season of the Julian Fellowes-led (Downton Abbey) period drama drops in 2026. Whether or not you use the right fork while dining in front of the TV watching the new episodes, it’s sure to be a wild (and melodramatic) ride.

Dune: Prophecy Season 2

Release date: TBA

The third movie installment of the expansive sci-fi saga hits theaters next December. While we wait, we’ll be treated to Season 2 of the story set centuries before the life of Paul Atreides that chronicles the rise of the Bene Gesserit. New cast members include Indira Varma, Ashley Walters, and Tom Hollander.

Disney+

Wonder Man

Release date: January 27

All six episodes of the latest streaming MCU adventure drop on the same day, so binge responsibly. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II stars as aspiring actor Simon Williams, who “is struggling to get his career off the ground.” Williams teams up with Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley, reprising his Iron Man 3/Shang Chi role) in remaking the superhero film “Wonder Man.” If the show’s trailer is any indication, real-life powers and abilities may come to the surface in Williams’s pursuit of fictional superhero greatness.

The Muppet Show

Release date: February 4

Just in time for the original series’ 50th anniversary, Kermit, Miss Piggy, and all your favorites return with a special one-off edition of The Muppet Show. Disney promises “music, comedy, and a whole lot of chaos when The Muppets return to the small screen,” this time with “very special guest” Sabrina Carpenter. Yaaaay!

Daredevil: Born Again Season 2

Release date: March 4

The superhero series returns with the first of eight new episodes in early March. Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio (Daredevil/Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk/Kingpin, respectively) are joined in Season 2 by Matthew Lillard and Krysten Ritter, in an eagerly-anticipated reprisal of her role as Jessica Jones.

X-Men '97 Season 2

Release date: Summer TBA

The first season of the continuation of the X-Men’s '90s-era animated adventure was both critically acclaimed and an audience hit. Season 2 of the mutant adventures arrives in mid-2026, with a third season already confirmed.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Season 2

Release date: Fall TBA

After the conclusion of Season 1 in February 2025, which featured Charlie Cox's Daredevil, Dr. Octavius, Chameleon, Speed Demon, Scorpion, Butane the Pyromaniac, Harry Osborn, Amadeus Cho, and more, the second season of the animated series returns in 2026 with a third season already greenlit.

VisionQuest

Release date: TBA

The WandaVision spinoff limited series arrives in what’s shaping up to be a banner year for Phase 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Alongside Paul Bettany, who returns as Vision, James Spader reprises his Avengers role as Ultron. The eight episode series will drop some time in 2026.

Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord

Release date: TBA

Announced at Star Wars Celebration 2025 in Tokyo, the upcoming animated series features Sam Witwer returning as Darth Maul. Witwer previously voiced the iconic villain in both Star Wars Rebels and Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The new series is set after the final season of The Clone Wars and will see Maul "plotting to rebuild his criminal syndicate on a planet untouched by the Empire."

Star Wars Visions Presents: The Ninth Jedi

Release date: TBA

A spinoff of the animated anthology series, the new show was announced during Star Wars Celebration in April. Writer and director Kenji Kamiyama revealed that The Ninth Jedi will see the continuation of Kara's journey, featuring longer stories from the larger Star Wars: Visions universe.

Prime Video

Scarpetta

Release date: March 11

The crime thriller, produced by Amazon MGM and Blumhouse, brings Nicole Kidman back to the land of streaming TV in the latest on-screen adaptation of Patricia Cromwell’s popular book series. Amazon says the series “unfolds across two timelines,” and is a “dual narrative (that) explores Kay Scarpetta's journey from her beginnings as a Chief Medical Examiner in the late '90s to her present-day return to her hometown, where she resumes her former position while investigating a grisly murder.”

The Boys Season 5

Release date: April 8

The fifth and final season of the balls-to-the-wall take on the superhero genre arrives this Spring. Prime Video teases that the final episodes of the show see the entire world subject to Homelander’s “erratic, egomaniacal whims. Hughie, Mother’s Milk, and Frenchie are imprisoned in a ‘Freedom Camp,’ and Annie struggles to mount a resistance against the overwhelming Supe force.’ As the show’s official synopsis reads, “It’s the climax, people. Big stuff’s gonna happen.”

Blade Runner 2099

Release date: TBA

The upcoming series starring Academy Award-winner Michelle Yeoh and Euphoria’s Hunter Schafer is set decades after both the original Blade Runner movie starring Harrison Ford and the 2017 sequel starring Ryan Gosling (and Ford).

Apple TV

Shrinking Season 3

Release date: January 28

The 11-episode third season of the comedy series starring Harrison Ford and Jason Segel continues the story of “grieving therapist” Jimmy (played by Segel) “who starts to break the rules and tell his clients exactly what he thinks.” Season 3 promises to see the return of Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso), Damon Wayans Jr., Wendie Malick and Cobie Smulders, while also adding some new faces, including Jeff Daniels and Michael J. Fox.

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Season 2

Release date: February 27

The ten-episode new season of Apple’s sci-fi drama premieres in late February, with an episode dropping each week until the finale on May 1. The new episodes look to feature lots and lots of King Kong, and promise to reveal “buried secrets that reunite our heroes (and villains) on Kong’s Skull Island, and a new, mysterious village where a mythical Titan rises from the sea.”

Margo’s Got Money Troubles

Release date: April 15

The new series from Apple and A24 starring Elle Fanning and Michelle Pfeiffer, Nick Offerman, and Nicole Kidman is the latest drama from mega-producer David E. Kelley. According to Apple, the show “is a bold, heartwarming and comedic family drama following recent college dropout and aspiring writer, Margo, the daughter of an ex-Hooter’s waitress and ex-pro wrestler, as she’s forced to make her way with a new baby, a mounting pile of bills and a dwindling amount of ways to pay them.”

Widow’s Bay

Release date: April 29

Starring The Americans’ Matthew Ryhs, the new series promises a blend of “genuine horror” and “character-driven comedy.” The show follows a small-town mayor (Rhys) who is “desperate to revive his struggling community.” After he succeeds, “the old stories that seemed too ludicrous to be true start happening again.”

Hulu

Note: At some point in 2026, Hulu will cease to exist as a standalone streaming app and will be fully merged into Disney+.

Paradise Season 2

Release date: February 23

Picking up right where Season 1 left off, Season 2 of the breakout series from This is Us creator Dan Fogelman sees Sterling K. Brown’s Secret Service agent Xavier Collins leaving the titular massive doomsday bunker in search of his wife in the outside world. Joining the cast is Shailene Woodley as a Graceland tour guide whose story gives viewers a glimpse into post-apocalyptic United States.

Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair

Release date: TBA

A revival of the early-aughts sitcom, this new miniseries reunites the beloved cast for four half-hour episodes, looking in on Malcom, Lois, Hal, and the rest of the family twenty years after the original series wrapped.

The Testaments

Release date: TBA

Based on Margaret Atwood’s follow-up to The Handmaid’s Tale, this sequel series stars Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia and returns to Gilead for a “coming-of-age story that finds a new generation of young women grappling with the bleak future that awaits them.”

FX

The Beauty

Release date: Early 2026

From Executive Producer Ryan Murphy, the new series stars Evan Peters and Rebecca Hall as FBI agents who are sent to Paris to “uncover the truth” when “international supermodels begin dying in gruesome and mysterious ways.” The show also stars Ashton Kutcher as the head of a fictional “Corporation” who could be responsible.

The Bear Season 5

Release date: TBA

Season 4 saw massive changes in store, with head chef Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) vowing to leave the restaurant he built with his team of misfit colleagues. More comedy, drama, and tense dinner services are sure to be prevalent when the award-winning show returns later in 2026.

Paramount +

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy

Release date: January 15

The latest entry in the Star Trek universe premieres in mid-January with two episodes. Starring Paul Giamatti, the 10-episode season will air weekly until March 12. According to Paramount, the show “introduces viewers to a young group of cadets who come together to pursue a common dream of hope and optimism. Under the watchful and demanding eyes of their instructors, they discover what it takes to become Starfleet officers as they navigate blossoming friendships, explosive rivalries, first loves and a new enemy that threatens both the Academy and the Federation itself.”

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 4

Release date: TBA

The crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise is back, and the new season is shaping up to be as action-packed as ever. According to Paramount, in the new set of episodes, the crew “embarks on a series of thrilling and emotional adventures across the stars. As they journey to strange new worlds, they will battle inner demons and external threats, encounter colorful new characters, reunite with familiar faces and confront terrifying aliens.”

Yellowjackets Season 4

Release date: TBA

The fourth and final season of the massively popular show drops in 2026. Series creators Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson promised a “twisted conclusion” to the beloved series, which follows “a team of wildly talented high school girls' soccer players who become the (un)lucky survivors of a plane crash deep in the remote northern wilderness.”

Dexter: Resurrection Season 2

Release date: TBA

Michael C. Hall once again returns as serial killer Dexter Morgan in the second go-round of the continuation of the original Dexter series.

The Madison

Release date: TBA

Yet another spin-off set in the Yellowstone Universe, this show starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Patrick J. Adams, and Lost’s Matthew Fox follows a grief-stricken New York City family who moves to rural Montana.

MGM+

Spider-Noir

Release date: TBA

Reprising his animated role from the Spider-Verse movie series, Nicolas Cage stars in this live-action series based on the Marvel comic. According to Amazon and MGM, “Spider-Noir tells the story of Ben Reilly (Cage), an aging and down on his luck private investigator in 1930s New York, who is forced to grapple with his past life as the city’s one and only superhero.” Spider-Noir will air on the MGM+ linear channel in the United States and stream on Prime Video both in the U.S. and internationally in 2026.

Starz

Outlander Season 8

Release date: March 6

The eighth and final season of the fantasy romance series returns to Starz in March. New episodes debut weekly and promise to wrap up the story of Claire (Caitríona Balfe) and Jamie (Sam Heughan).

Peacock

Ponies

Release date: January 15

This new period spy drama set in 1977 Moscow and starring Game of Thrones’s Emilia Clark and The White Lotus’s Haley Lu Richardson follows a pair of newly widowed PONIES (persons of no interest) as “they go from office secretaries to CIA operatives to help solve a major government conspiracy and to get to the truth behind their husbands’ deaths.”

The 'Burbs

Release date: February 8

Starring Keke Palmer, the eight-episode “mystery comedy series” from the NBC Universal streamer “follows a young couple who have reluctantly relocated to the husband's childhood home. Their world is upended when a new neighbor moves in across the street, bringing old secrets of the cul-de-sac to light, and new deadly threats shatter the illusion of their quiet little neighborhood.” The new show is “inspired by the 1989 horror-comedy film of the same name” starring Tom Hanks and Carrie Fisher.

Adult Swim

Primal

Release date: January 11

The Emmy-winning series from Genndy Tartakovsky returns in the new year with a brand new batch of episodes. For those unfamiliar, the animated tale “follows a caveman at the dawn of evolution” who forms “an unlikely bond with an almost extinct dinosaur.” Episodes premiere weekly on Adult Swim and drop on HBO Max the next day.

AMC

The Night Manager Season 2

Release date: January 11

The British spy thriller series starring Loki himself, Tom Hiddleston, returns with a new batch of episodes in early 2026. The second season of the show, based on John le Carré’s bestselling novel, debuts in the UK on the BBC on New Year’s Day, and arrives Stateside on AMC ten days later.

ABC

Scrubs Season 10

Release date: February 25

The gang’s back together when a brand-new season of the hospital comedy debuts on ABC this February. Zach Braff, Donald Faison, and Sarah Chalke all return for the first time in more than 15 years as “characters new and old navigate the waters of Sacred Heart with laughter, heart and some surprises along the way.”

CBS

Survivor 50

Release date: February 25

The 50th (yes, you read that right) edition of the everlasting reality show drops in early 2026, and the season is likely to be unlike any other. The three-hour season premiere will be preceded by a “special two-week programming event featuring 10 encore episodes from the show’s iconic history showcasing players from the S50 cast.”

Y: Marshals

Release date: March 1

The latest entry in producer Taylor Sheridan’s ever-expanding Yellowstone universe, the new show Y: Marshals serves as a spin-off of the original smash-hit series and sees the return of Yellowstone star Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton.

Anime

For info on all the biggest upcoming anime in 2026, be sure to check out our article breaking down everything on tap from Crunchyroll, HIDIVE, and more.

What are you most looking forward to on streaming in 2026? Vote in our poll above, and let's talk in the comments!

Valve may have revolutionized mobile PC gaming with the Steam Deck, but more and more handheld gaming PCs keep coming to market, giving it some stiff competition. There are even handhelds out there like the Legion Go S that use Valve's handheld operating system but with more powerful hardware. Microsoft isn't sitting on its hands, either. The company teamed up with Asus to launch the excellent ROG Xbox Ally X, which debuts a new Xbox Full Screen Experience that should be making its way to other handhelds within the next few months. (Hopefully, Microsoft also takes that time to iron out some of the kinks with the new UX.)

TL;DR – These Are the Best Handheld Gaming PCs:

Rather than dealing with the bulk of a gaming laptop, handheld gaming PCs keep far more compact dimensions, making it easier to play from just about anywhere. Even though these devices are obviously significantly smaller than a gaming PC, it doesn’t mean they’re underpowered. Many handheld gaming PCs are packing the performance prowess to cruise through AAA games like Cyberpunk 2077. If you get sick of playing on a smaller screen, a great Steam Deck dock works seamlessly with most handheld gaming PCs so you can hook up to your gaming TV.

While we’re in the midst of a handheld gaming PC revolution, we've gotten our hands on a good chunk of these highly-capable devices. Below are the current four we deem worthy of consideration right now.

1. Asus ROG Xbox Ally X

The Best Handheld Gaming PC

2. Lenovo Legion Go S (Z1 Extreme, SteamOS)

The Best SteamOS Handheld Gaming PC

When the Lenovo Legion Go S first came out in February 2025, it was a hot mess. The configuration Lenovo initially released was bogged down by the weak Z2 Go processor, which didn't pair well with Windows. And because it was both running Windows 11 and had 32GB of memory, this weaker handheld was just as expensive – if not moreso – than the original Legion Go that preceded it. But Lenovo has righted the ship by launching the Go S with the Z1 Extreme and SteamOS built-in.

This system is still expensive. You're looking at $829 to get this model, but that's only a bit more than the Asus ROG Ally X, which ended up being slower, if only by a bit, in my tests. When I reviewed this new Lenovo Legion Go S, the SteamOS-powered handheld beat out the Ally X in synthetic benchmarks by as much as 9%. That's not bad, considering that handheld had the performance crown before this system came out.

The elephant in the room is the Steam Deck. Even three years after its release, it's still an incredible and popular handheld, and it's not hard to see why. It's easy to use and it's literally half the price of the Go S. But not only do you get a higher resolution display with this Legion Go S, you also get as much as double the performance. I was able to get a solid 60fps playing Baldur's Gate 3, and that's something I straight up couldn't do on the Steam Deck. Whether or not that's worth the higher price tag depends entirely on what you're looking for.

A great handheld gaming system is about more than just raw performance. It also needs to be comfortable to use, and despite the sytem being one of the largest I've used – and I've used a lot of them – it's extremely comfortable. The Lenovo Legion Go S has rounded edges that give you something to hold on to, and the textured finish makes it harder to slip out of your hands.

The Go S also has one of the most beautiful LCD displays I've seen in a while and proves that OLED isn't the only way to get a great picture in 2025. It's not quite as colorful as the Steam Deck OLED, to be fair, but it still made any game I played on it look awesome.

3. Valve Steam Deck

The Best Budget Handheld Gaming PC

4. Lenovo Legion Go 2

Best Gaming Handheld With an OLED Screen

Upcoming Handheld Gaming PCs

Now that the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X and the Lenovo Legion Go 2 is out, we're kind of in a holding pattern for a while. We'll probably see other handhelds using the Z2 Extreme trickle out over the next year or so. It's also likely that we'll see some Intel-powered devices featuring the new Panther Lake architecture.

Beyond that, we will probably see a Steam Deck 2 at some point, but Valve has repeatedly said that it's waiting for a "more significant" generational lift to launch its sequel. Given that the Steam Deck is nearing four years old, we could see a new device launch sometime next year at the earliest. We'll see!

Handheld Gaming PC FAQ

Should I buy a handheld gaming PC or a gaming laptop?

Depending on how you want to game and what games you want to play will determine whether you should grab a gaming laptop or handheld PC. Handhelds score higher points in longevity, battery life, optimization, portability, and thermals. But handhelds are only designed to play games up to a certain specification. Gaming laptops cram in the latest GPU, CPU, and RAM, likely sacrificing battery life, thermals, and price. However, some are absolute beasts ready to take on even the most graphically intensive games. Laptops offer more functionality when it comes to editing and other work.

Check out our guide on the Steam Deck vs. gaming laptops for more information.

What’s the best Steam Deck alternative?

The Lenovo Legion Go S is one of the best Steam Deck alternatives. This gaming handheld offers the same easy-to-use interface as the Steam Deck, along with speedy performance, and a stunning design. It does run into some of the same problems as the Steam Deck, notably around installing games that aren't on Steam – but you can get around that with some tinkering.

How does the Switch 2 compare to the Steam Deck?

On spec, the Switch 2 is delivers better performance than the Steam Deck. Check out our in-depth comparison to find out more.

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

If you’ve been searching for a top-tier arcade cabinet, Arcade1Up manufactures some of the best officially licensed options around. From cocktail and tabletop to cabaret and full-size, whatever kind of cabinet you’re after, chances are you can find it at Arcade1Up. No matter which you choose, each machine delivers that awesome retro look, classic arcade titles you love, and all the classic controls. You’ll be transported back to simpler times.

However, time may be running out to get a machine from Arcade1Up. The rumor is that Arcade1Up is shutting down operations. Nothing has been confirmed yet, but it could potentially be your last time to grab its nostalgic cabinets. And the good news is that a bunch of them have had up to $50 knocked off their price tag. Sure, these aren’t the most epic savings. Still, this sale matches or beats many of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals this year.

Save Up to $50 on Select Arcade1Up Arcade Machines

Deluxe Arcade Machines

For a more authentic arcade experience, Arcade1Up’s discounted Deluxe Arcade Machines are the way to go. Forget risers with these, as each is about 5 feet tall for a comfortable playing experience while standing. The 17-inch LCD is colorful and bright with near-legit-feeling joysticks and buttons. Stereo speakers play those iconic sounds, putting you right back at the arcade. The light-up marquee and molded coin door keep up with the classic vibe of these single-player cabinets, but WiFi support is built in, adding modern conveniences.

Right now, you can grab the Class of '81 Ms. Pac-Man/Galaga Deluxe Arcade Machine for only $449, thanks to that $50 discount. It features 12 titles, including Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Galaga'88, Galaxian, Dig Dug, Rolling Thunder, The Tower of Druaga, and more. Otherwise, you can opt to grab the Pac-Man Legacy Arcade Deluxe for the same price with 14 games. Dig Dug, Galaga, Galaxian, Rompers, PAC-Mania, and Mappy are just a few of the game offerings.

Actor Idris Elba is knighted in the New Year Honours. The 53-year old Hollywood star from Hackney, London can now officially be called Sir Idris.

Sir Idris, who rose to prominence for playing Stringer Bell in HBO series The Wire and DCI John Luther in BBC series Luther, more recently played the British Prime Minister and the President of the United States, in Heads of State and A House of Dynamite respectively, both of which came out in 2025. Elba is no stranger to the world of video games, either, having played Solomon Reed in the Cyberpunk 2077 expansion, Phantom Liberty.

He was knighted for services to young people in recognition of his charity work at the Elba Hope Foundation, which supports community empowerment, education, youth advocacy, and sustainable development. In particular, Elba has been outspoken on knife crime. He said: “I hope we can do more to draw attention to the importance of sustained, practical support for young people and to the responsibility we all share to help them find an alternative to violence.”

Meanwhile, the actor and comedian Meera Syal (The Kumars at No 42) is being awarded a Damehood for services to Literature, Drama and Charity, while the composer Max Richter is being awarded a CBE (Commanders of the Order of the British Empire) for his services to Music. Actor Warwick Davis is also being recognised for services to Drama and Charity with an OBE (Officers of the Order of the British Empire). Davis said: "This is the best thing that's ever happened to me — and I've been in Star Wars."

An MBE (Members of the Order of the British Empire) went to Wicked star Cynthia Erivo, and the author and television presenter Richard Osman (Thursday Murder Club) is being awarded an OBE for his services to literature and broadcasting.

1,157 recipients have been awarded from every part of the UK, with a particular focus this year on those who have gone above and beyond for their communities.

Photo by Daniele Venturelli/Getty Images for The Red Sea International Film Festival.

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.

Marvel has officially released the Thor-themed Avengers: Doomsday trailer online, with an X-Men trailer set to replace it in theaters.

The Thor trailer, below, launched in theaters last week ahead of Disney’s Avatar: Fire and Ash, replacing the Steve Rogers / Captain America trailer that had kicked off the Avengers: Doomsday hype train a year out from the movie’s release.

The teaser shows Chris Hemsworth’s Thor (this time with the short-haired look from the much-loved and hugely successful Thor Ragnarok) pray to his father, Odin (played by Anthony Hopkins in the MCU), calling for the “strength of the All-Fathers” so he may “fight once more… defeat one more enemy and return home to her.”

That’s a reference to Thor's adopted daughter, Love (Gorr the God Butcher's resurrected daughter from Thor: Love and Thunder). Here is Thor’s prayer in full:

Father...

all my life, I have answered every call...

to honor, duty, to war.

But now fate has given me something I never sought...

a child...

a life untouched by the storm.

Lend me the strength of the All-Fathers...

so that I may fight once more.

Defeat one more enemy

and return home to her.

Not as a warrior

but as warmth.

To teach her not battle

but stillness.

The kind I never knew.

Please Father heed my words.

What we’ve seen so far of Avengers: Doomsday does seem to revolve around children. The Fantastic Four: First Steps ended with Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom appearing to kidnap Franklin Richards. The Steve Rogers / Captain America teaser for Avengers: Doomsday shows Chris Evans’ character holding a baby, presumably his child with Peggy Carter.

The Thor trailer shows Love safe and sound at home with Thor, so there’s no suggestion here that Doctor Doom is after her, too. But it's certainly a darker tone than we’ve seen from Thor’s recent MCU appearances, and some are wondering if they should prepare themselves for the character dying.

In May, Chris Hemsworth released a tribute video titled ‘Thank You! The Legacy of Thor,’ which included clips of the actor as Thor going as far back as an audition tape right up to his performance in 2022's Thor: Love and Thunder. Some fans took it as a farewell video. Hemsworth later insisted the video was “a moment of gratitude, and it wasn’t anything else.”

Last year, Hemsworth admitted he "didn't stick the landing" with the divisive Thor: Love and Thunder and said he felt he owed fans another film. Speaking to Vanity Fair, Hemsworth said he had become too wacky in Love and Thunder and the film suffered as a result, perhaps especially following Thor: Ragnarok, which became somewhat of a breakout success for the character by adding more comedy elements.

"I got caught up in the improv and the wackiness, and I became a parody of myself," Hemsworth said. "I didn't stick the landing." He couldn't forgive himself for the performance, Vanity Fair said at the time, so felt he owed fans another film. Could Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars count as that film, or would Thor 5 be more appropriate as a goodbye?

Meanwhile, this week's X-Men trailer has, predictably, leaked online. Assuming Marvel follows the pattern established by the Steve Rogers and Thor trailers, we can expect to see the X-Men trailer released online officially next week after its run in theaters. As for what the fourth Avengers: Doomsday teaser will be, fans are expecting a look at Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom.

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.

Netflix has released the trailer for the Stranger Things Season 5 finale, teasing the end of the long-running show.

Warning! Spoilers for Stranger Things up to this point follow:

The trailer begins with a teary-eyed Jim Hopper (David Harbour) asking Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) to “fight one last time.” We then get a series of clips from prior episodes as Jim admits that Eleven was robbed of her childhood and faced horrors no kid should face. We end up in the present and the upcoming finale, where Eleven, Hopper, Kali Prasad, also known as Eight, and Murray Bauman look to defeat Vecna once and for all. Eleven prepares to enter the bath at Hawkins Lab in the Upside Down, which will amplify her powers.

One last trailer.

The final episode of STRANGER THINGS premieres TOMORROW at 8PM ET | 5PM PT. pic.twitter.com/cb3bJEqKFs

— Netflix (@netflix) December 30, 2025

Meanwhile, Gaten Matarazzo’s Dustin and Caleb McLaughlin’s Lucas look out over a hellscape. Vecna is hooked up to his horrible pulsating lair in The Abyss, where, presumably, he’s using the kidnapped children as vessels to effectively replace Earth with the Abyss, the alternate dimension from which all the horrible monsters of Stranger Things originated. Cue an explosion, an intense scream from Dustin (perhaps one of the main characters is caught up in the explosion), and a curious shot in which a curtain closes — literally — on Eleven, Max, and Kali. Could this a glimpse at a scene inside Vecna's mind?

The trailer ends with what looks like our heroes’ plan — outlined in Episode 7 — in action. Operation Beanstalk, as it’s called, will let Vecna draw the two worlds together and wait until the Squawk radio tower pokes through one of the rifts, so Eleven can make her move. Eleven will then enter Vecna’s mind and ambush him, while the others climb the beanstalk into the Abyss to rescue the kids. That’s the plan, anyway. “Mother of god,” Dustin says as he looks into the sky.

And that’s where the trailer ends — with the Squawk radio tower poking through one of the rifts. The Stranger Things Season 5 finale, Episode 8, is called The Rightside Up, and has an official runtime of 2 hours 8 minutes. It will be screened in theaters nationwide at the same time it is shown on Netflix, at 5pm PT on New Year’s Eve. Co-creator Ross Duffer has told fans they should only see it in theaters if they’re cool with crying in a crowded room. The Duffer brothers have also told fans not to expect a Game of Thrones-style bloodbath, even as there are big questions over who might die in the final episode.

As we’ve reported, Stranger Things is suffering from review bombing after Season 5 Episode 7 met with lower audience scores than the Netflix series has typically seen. But some fans are striking back with 5-star reviews in a bid to reverse the trend.

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.

Stranger Things is suffering from review bombing after its latest Season 5 episode met with lower audience scores than the Netflix series has typically seen. But some fans are striking back with 5-star reviews in a bid to reverse the trend.

Warning! Spoilers for Stranger Things Season 5 follow:

While the fifth and final season of Stranger Things has sparked complaints from some fans about the exposition-heavy writing, the varying quality of the actor's performances, and the plot armor some of their characters seemingly enjoy, Episode 7, called ‘The Bridge,’ has become the focal point of a vociferous debate that has spilled over into review aggregate websites.

Will Byers' coming out scene appears to have fueled the review bombing. In it, Will, played by Noah Schnapp, issues a lengthy monologue in which he tells a gathering of characters that he “doesn’t like girls.” The scene, which takes place as supervillain Vecna applies the finishing touches to his masterplan for world domination, ends with an emotional Will comforted by his friends.

In recent years, Square Enix has made quite an effort to remaster or remake some of its most beloved games and bring them to modern platforms. We've seen the incredible Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered, and Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles in 2025 alone!

However, one game that continues to be left out of that conversation is Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster, which released alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 in June. If you're a recent Switch 2 owner and are looking for a new RPG to play, look no further than the fantastic game that is Bravely Default.

Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster for $29.99

Ever since digital streaming was introduced as an alternative to cable, companies like Disney, Warner Bros, Netflix, and Amazon have been finding new ways to "revolutionize" monthly subscriptions, which has more or less come right back around to the concept of cable. (Only now every "channel" requires its own login and password, and costs at least $10 a month.) As the streaming service war wages on with constant changes, mergers and acquisitions, "bundles" are becoming more common as more streaming services are created, and some of these have gotten creative with including both digital and physical services.

The ability to combine multiple networks and major streaming platforms into a single subscription is becoming simpler than ever (thankfully) and gives better savings over subscribing individually to every service you'd want. Depending on your needs as a subscriber and your interests as a streamer and/or online shopper, the options available should tick many of your boxes. Check out our picks below for the best streaming bundles in 2025 to help you save on your streaming bill.

Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max Bundle – $19.99/month (with ads)

With the New Year comes new goals, and (hopefully) new travel plans in 2026. Whether you’re planning sunny vacations abroad, or planning an epic getaway with friends, you’ll want to stay connected. The easiest way to do that is with an eSIM, and Roamless is one of the most user-friendly options available.

With the Roamless eSIM, you can enjoy access to cellphone data in over 200 countries without the hassle of swapping SIM cards, complicated setup, and hidden fees. An app allows you to select plans, be it pay-as-you-go data and/or 30-day prepaid plans tailored to a specific country or region, for ultimate flexibility.

Starting at just $1.25/GB, pricing is affordable and considerably less expensive than international roaming charges with traditional plans. You even receive a $1.25 credit when you sign up, and IGN has a special code to use at checkout, IGNSAVE20, which gives you 20% off plans sitewide. This offer expires on 12/31, so act soon!

Get 20% Off Travel eSIM Plans at Roamless

Give, or better yet, treat yourself to the gift of clean floors in the new year with a brand-new robot vacuum. These machines have come a long way from bumping into furniture and suctioning up socks while attempting to clean up your space. Now, you’ll find options that navigate your home with ease, mop, self-empty, and more for a truly hands-free clean. The vacuum brand Narwal is an innovator in the space, developing some incredible robot vacuums, some of which I’ve even been lucky enough to test out myself.

If you or someone you love has been eager to get a robot vacuum or upgrade an older model, Narwal has brilliant options for a range of needs, and it’s a great time of year to buy. Although Narwal’s Black Friday sale is now over, Narwal is still offering two incredible discounts on Amazon right now for a limited time.

The Narwal Freo S Vac and Mop Combo is Under $300 at Amazon

LG is preparing to debut three new flagship 5K UltraGear gaming monitors, including one with a true 5K resolution. The company has announced that during CES 2026 next month, it will show off the monitors, two of which are 39-inch and 52-inch 5K2K ultrawides, while the third is a 27-inch MiniLED flat panel display.

Because we're heading into the year 2026, there's a big AI component shared by the new 27-inch and 39-inch monitors: built-in AI upscaling. The company pitches this as a way to get higher-res graphics without upgrading your GPU, but I'll eat my hat if it's anywhere near the quality of tech like Nvidia's DLSS 4 or AMD's latest version of FSR.