A leaked internal video has revealed Sony is experimenting with AI-powered PlayStation characters.
The Verge reported on the emergence of an internal video allegedly created by PlayStation Studios' advanced technology group that uses Aloy from the Horizon games to demonstrate AI-powered game characters.
The video was subsequently pulled from YouTube following a copyright claim from Muso, an internet enforcement company The Verge said lists Sony Interactive Entertainment as a client. This suggests the video is legitimate. IGN has asked Sony for comment.
In the video, as reported by The Verge, Sony Interactive Entertainment director of software engineering, Sharwin Raghoebardajal, has a conversation with an AI-powered Aloy via voice prompts and AI-generated speech and facial animations.
The speech recognition is via OpenAI’s Whisper for speech-to-text, the conversational AI via GPT-4 and Llama 3 for dialogue and decision-making, the speech synthesis via Sony’s Emotional Voice Synthesis (EVS) system, and the facial animation via Sony’s Mockingbird technology.
In the tech demo, Raghoebardajal asks Aloy how she's doing, to which she responds: "Hello, I'm managing alright. Just dealing with a sore throat. How have you been?"
The voice heard coming from Aloy's mouth is not that of voice actor Ashly Burch, who famously plays the character in the video games. Rather, it is a robotic voice similar to the kind you get from any of the thousands of text-to-speech voice generators used to narrate social media posts. AI Aloy's facial movements are stiff and her eyes appear lifeless as she converses with Raghoebardajal.
When asked how Aloy's search for her mother is going, she replies: "I discovered I'm a clone of Dr. Elizabeth Sobeck, which led me to understand my purpose and origins."
How does it feel to be a clone? "Being a clone feels unique, connecting me to the past while allowing me to create my own path and future," Aloy replies.
The demo then transitions into the actual Horizon Forbidden West game world, and Raghoebardajal continues the conversation while playing the game. It's slightly jarring to see the player converse with a character they're in control of, and the irony of using Aloy as an AI-powered PlayStation character given the plot of the Horizon games is obvious.
The demo is described as a prototype developed with the help of Horizon studio Guerrilla Games to show off the tech internally at Sony. “This is just a glimpse of what is possible,” Raghoebardajal says in the video. And while the video shows an investment from Sony in the exploration of AI-powered PlayStation characters, it’s worth noting the company has yet to confirm plans to incorporate the tech into any public-facing PlayStation product, and there is no suggestion it would even be possible with PS5 games at this stage.
But it perhaps comes as little surprise to see Sony’s work behind the scenes here, given pretty much all its competitors in the video game space are working on AI tech of some description. Indeed, Xbox maker Microsoft is all-in on AI, and recently announced an AI called Muse designed to generate ideas for a game's design.
Generative AI is one of the hottest topics within the video game and entertainment industries, which have both suffered massive layoffs in recent years. Generative AI thus far has drawn criticism from players and creators due to a mix of ethical issues, rights issues, and AI’s struggles to produce content audiences actually enjoy. For instance, Keywords Studios attempted to create an experimental game internally using entirely AI. The game failed, with Keywords citing to investors that AI was “unable to replace talent.”
"For instance, non-player characters in games could interact with players based on their actions, making it feel more personal,” Qizilbash said. “This is important for the younger Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences, who are the first generations that grew up digitally and are looking for personalization across everything, as well as looking for experiences to have more meaning."
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
A new report has outlined Microsoft’s video game hardware ambition, alleging a full next-gen Xbox is set for 2027 and an Xbox-branded gaming handheld is due out later in 2025.
Windows Central reported on a partner PC gaming handheld codenamed Keenan, which is apparently in the works for late 2025, and a successor to the Xbox Series X and S now “fully” in production and due out in two years.
Microsoft is yet to comment on the report, however its gaming executives have spoken publicly about both devices in vague terms across various interviews. In January, Jason Ronald, Microsoft’s VP of ‘Next Generation,’ told The Verge that the company plans to combine Xbox and Windows experiences together for PC gaming handhelds made by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), otherwise known as third-party hardware manufacturers. Existing PC gaming OEMs include Asus, Lenovo, and Razer. Keenan does not relate to a first-party Xbox handheld, which Microsoft gaming boss Phil Spencer recently indicated is years away.
As for the next-gen Xbox, Windows Central said it is fully greenlit by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. The console is reportedly a premium successor to the Xbox Series X, and this console, alongside a first-party Xbox gaming handheld and new controllers, are set to round out Microsoft’s console offering in 2027. The suggestion, then, is Microsoft does not plan to release a direct next-gen successor to the less powerful Xbox Series S. Perhaps Microsoft expects its handheld to occupy the cheaper, less powerful console space.
Windows Central expects the next-gen Xbox will be more like a PC than any Xbox before it, and will support third-party storefronts such as Steam, the Epic Games Store, and GOG. Continued backwards compatibility is a given.
Last year, Xbox president Sarah Bond said Microsoft was "moving full speed ahead on our next generation hardware, focused on delivering the biggest technological leap ever in a generation."
Spencer has said in interviews that the console business has failed to grow meaningfully in recent years, offering a sizable but static customer base that is increasingly playing a handful of enormous games and leaving little room for everything else. Last year, former Xbox executive Peter Moore told IGN that Microsoft would have been discussing whether consoles have a future.
Based on this latest report, it seems Microsoft has decided they do.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Welcome back to yet another chance to level up your pile of shame for less. Today’s gaming deals are stacked with legendary adventures, thrilling mysteries, and timeless classics at unbeatable prices. These deals certainly won’t last forever—or may even be micro-adjusted higher by the time you read this—so get cracking.
This Day in Gaming 🎂
In retro news, I’m using my Heavy Thrusters to light a 22-candle cake for Freelancer. Chris Roberts, the mind behind Wing Commander, was behind this fine mix of dynamic economy, faction-driven conflicts, and narrative-driven campaigns.
In the fullness of time, Freelancer has since gone on to directly influence a new gen of space sims with its groundbreaking vast open-world, seamless planetary landings, and an intuitive control scheme. The DNA of this true classic can be seen today in titles like Elite Dangerous and No Man’s Sky, the latter of which you should totally lock orbit with, due to its incredible VR antics.
If you’ve been waiting to jump into the colourful chaos of Super Mario Bros. Wonder, now’s the time with its new lowest ever price. Meanwhile, Luigi’s Mansion 3 lets the green brother shine with his trusty Poltergust, originally designed with help from Pikmin creator Shigeru Miyamoto himself.
PC gamers can grab the visually stunning Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut, a game that quickly got me addicted to its quick-draw insta-kill mechanic. Alternatively, relive a high-seas classic with Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, where the developers snuck in a working, in-game version of classic pen-and-paper game Nine Men’s Morris.
Over on Xbox Series X, Disco Elysium – The Final Cut offers one of gaming’s deepest narratives, and its developers basically created an entirely new tabletop RPG system just for the game. And if you fancy some intergalactic thrills, Dead Space brings spine-chilling horror at a smile-generating price.
Finally, PS5 players can grab Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, a chaotic retelling of Final Fantasy I with a soundtrack that remixes classic tunes. Or you can just dive into the gripping noir of Lost Judgment, where the protagonist is voiced by a real-life Japanese pop idol.
Adult coloring books have been becoming more and more popular in recent years. It's a fun and relaxing hobby that allows you to turn a simple lined image into a beautiful masterpiece. You get to choose what colors to use and whether or not you stay within the lines.
With more adults purchasing coloring books for themselves, we're starting to see an increase in options specifically aimed at an adult audience. One such franchise that has gotten in on the action is Demon Slayer. There have already been two official Demon Slayer coloring books released and there's a third one that is currently up for preorder at Amazon.
Preorder the New Demon Slayer Coloring Book
The third official Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba coloring book is currently set to release on April 8, 2025. The book features art from Koyoharu Gotouge and includes scenes from the Swordsmith Village arc, the Hashira Training arc, and the Infinity Castle arc. There are more than 70 line drawings featuring the characters from the beloved manga series, including: Tanjiro Kamado, Nezuko Kamado, Zenitsu Agatsuma, and Inosuke Hashibira.
If you're interested in this upcoming coloring book, there's also the previous two editions worth considering. The first two Demon Slayer coloring books offer a similar experience, but with entirely different drawings and scenes from the manga. If you're looking for something similar to Demon Slayer, however, there are quite a few other adult coloring books based on manga worth checking out.
See more like this:
What Utensils are Best for Adult Coloring Books?
If you're new to the world of adult coloring books, you'll likely need to purchase some actual coloring supplies. My overall favorite coloring utensils to use are colored pencils, but you can also get a nice set of markers or gel pens if you prefer. Here's a quick rundown of what utensils to buy if you're getting into coloring.
Colored Pencils
A good set of colored pencils will offer more precision and detail than markers, but it depends on what quality you buy. If you pick up a pack of cheap Crayola colored pencils, you will still be able to color, but it won't blend as well and the quality won't be as nice. I personally recommend Prismacolor Premier colored penicils, which is what I use if I'm ever coloring anything.
Markers
While colored pencils offer more precision and detail, markers are great for vibrant colors and faster coloring. The overall best makers for coloring books are alcohol based. Alcohol markers are easier to blend and always dry quickly. This is ideal for avoiding the visible streaks you'd see with water-based markers. I'd recommend the Ohuhu alcohol markers, which I've used for several projects before.
Gel Pens
Falling somewhere between colored pencils and markers, gel pens are great for fine detail while also offering vibrant color. Unlike standard ink pens, gel pens utilize a water-based gel ink that is thicker and smoother (so more like paint). While I think colored pencils and markers are a better option for coloring, if you like the look and feel of pens, I'd recommend getting this set of Gelly Roll pens from Amazon.
Jacob Kienlen is a Senior SEO Strategist and Writer for IGN. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he has considered the Northwest his home for his entire life. With a bachelor's degree in communication and over 7 years of professional writing experience, his expertise is spread across a variety of different topics -- from TV series to indie games and popular book series.
Death of a Unicorn opens in theaters Friday, March 28. This review is based on a screening at the 2025 SXSW Film and TV Festival.
There’s an intriguing premise with the potential for entertaining moral conundrums at the center of Death of a Unicorn. First, corporate lawyer Elliot Kintner (Paul Rudd) hits a mysterious creature. Then, when it turns out the animal’s corpse has healing powers, Elliot and his conscientious teenage daughter Ridley (Jenna Ortega) must figure out how to hide the accident from Elliot’s wealthy pharmaceutical boss. Unfortunately, this synopsis is about as far, as deep, and as detailed as it gets for the latest horror comedy from indie powerhouse A24. Despite featuring a number of fun performances – especially that of Will Poulter as the pharma CEO’s wily failson – Alex Scharfman’s feature debut quickly plateaus.
Death of a Unicorn’s emotional throughlines all seem to end where they begin. In the opening scenes, Elliot and Ridley land in the Canadian mountains by plane; as the college teen falls asleep on her father’s shoulder, only for him to shimmy out of the way to grab fallen legal documents, causing her to hit her head on the armrest. It’s a wonderful, hilarious encapsulation of their estranged dynamic. Ridley’s mother has passed away; in response, Elliot threw himself into his work, irrevocably changing his relationship with Ridley. Now, with his ailing boss Odell Leopold (Richard E. Grant) looking for a proxy before he dies, Elliot has the chance to set Ridley up for life, but on the condition that he prove himself a family man as well.
En route to the executive’s isolated mansion, the father-daughter duo, distracted by their bickering, mows down a white horse with a single horn – a creature the characters collectively, and reluctantly, decide to refer to as a unicorn. This leads to strange, fantastical happenings – including hypnotic visions and magical healing – but not before some delightful, human-on-apparent-unicorn violence intended to put the injured creature out of its misery. Its bright purple blood splatters everywhere, but the imperfectly realized CGI beast (forgivable, considering the ruckus it causes) isn’t quite dead, which further complicates Elliot’s already knotty interview with Odell.
This setup has all the makings of a story that evolves in delightful ways, but Death of a Unicorn never progresses past the (initially amusing) philosophical debates kicked off by the Leopolds’ discovery of their guests’ fairytale roadkill. It’s a conversation-heavy film until its creature-feature final act, but none of that jabbering changes the minds of anyone on screen – least of all Ridley, the film’s ostensible conscience. Ortega delivers a wonderfully lived-in performance as a baggily-dressed youth withdrawn from the world, defined entirely by her activist leaning. She’s an actor capable of injecting great thought and subtext into any scenario, but Death of a Unicorn is too flimsy even for her talents, rendering Ridley something of a blank slate who ends up so unwavering as to be grating. (It's a bad sign when the voice of reason and compassion in an attempted cinematic takedown of ruthless billionaires makes you consider siding with the billionaires.) Then again, what else is there to do than consider alternatives that the film and its characters do not, since all its drama, comedy, and thrills swiftly flatline.
Bearing the brunt of Ortega’s ire, the typically entertaining Rudd delivers an exceptionally plain, checked-out performance. And that’s a shame, considering the color the rest of the cast manages to bring to the screen: Grant is delightfully animated, as is Téa Leoni as Odell’s opportunistic wife. Jessica Hynes and Anthony Carrigan, meanwhile, add lively dimensions as the family’s stone-faced enforcer and fed-up butler. But it’s Poulter who comes closest to rescuing the film from its malaise. Nearly every line he delivers is hilarious, owing to how deftly and energetically he balances his character’s slimy scheming with the insecurities of someone who’s never made it on his own. He’s also the only actor whose performance seems to evolve or transform in any way, even if this is courtesy the drug-like properties of a magical substance.
There’s some amount of imagination at play, and A24 is hardly in the wrong for throwing its weight behind a first-time filmmaker. The unicorn’s designs are imaginative, as are its magical abilities – even if their discovery is rendered useless by characters making erratic choices, and losing their key motivations when convenient. Its horror elements tend to be inconsistent, especially in tone. While some sequences are meant to pay homage to Jurassic Park, the outcome tends to align with that film’s lesser reboot, Jurassic World: Cartoonish villains and complex, relatable characters alike suffer vicious deaths designed for our enjoyment and applause. As a result, some of the intended revelry feels icky.
Death of a Unicorn is a passive and ultimately tiring experience.
Scharfman clearly has a knack for staging and blocking physical comedy, even if the way he actually captures it is lacking here. The eye is seldom drawn to what’s funniest, but rather, to what happens to be in the center of the frame. There’s also the ingenious conceit of the creature’s presence messing with electricity, which allows the film to seamlessly switch into haunted house mode when necessary. However, the tension and humor of these sequences don’t adequately rise and fall, and the editing is squeamish about what little cartoonish gore it features. This renders Death of a Unicorn a passive and ultimately tiring experience, one that gestures frequently towards fun and interesting ideas, but rarely follows through on them.
If you decided to hold off on Nvidia's Blackwell GPUs to see if AMD's new offerings were up to snuff, then you made the right choice. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards are the new mid-range champions of this generation. Both cards offer phenomenal performance while undercutting their Nvidia competition in price. They go up for sale on March 6 starting at 6am PST. The Radeon RX 9070 starts at $550 and the 9070 XT starts at $600. Let's just hope that - unlike Nvidia - AMD has its supply under control.
The jury's out as to whether or not inventory will hold, but given how well positioned these GPUs are in the stack, I wouldn't be surprised if they ended up selling out quickly. I've listed below the best places to pick up one of these cards. The current trend is that if you're set on purchasing a GPU at launch, you don't have the luxury of choosing your brand or model. If you see any in stock at a price you're happy with, buy now and think later.
TLDR; This article assumes, not guarantees, there are actual graphics cards to purchase. You may stumble on this page and find out that every model at every retailer is sold out.
One of the main reasons why these new AMD cards are sure to be popular is the price to performance ratio. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 costs the same as the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 yet offers superior performance and more VRAM for the same price. Even more impressively, the Radeon RX 9070 XT trades blows with the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and costs $150 less. We'll see if these suggested retail prices hold, but if they do, the winner is a no-brainer.
AMD Radeon RX 9070 - $550
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT - $600
Where should I preorder these new AMD GPUs?
The retailers below are your best chances to score one of the new AMD GPUs. Four of the retailers (Best Buy, Newegg, Amazon, and B&H Photo) will have listings online. One retailer (Micro Center) will only carry them in-store. There's no way to tell exactly how many units are available at each retailer, however a Wccftech article claims that "AMD and AIBs are reportedly shipping more Radeon RX 9070 XTs than all Nvidia's RTX 50 series GPUs combined."
If you want to maximize your chance of picking up one of the new AMD cards on launch day, your best bet is to check each and every retailer and buy the first card that lets you proceed all the way through checkout. Just remember that potentially thousands of other people will be clicking on the same link as you.
Amazon
Amazon is the one-stop shop for just about everything, including AMD GPUs. Unfortunately, manually looking for one of these GPUs on Amazon's site is quite difficult. Amazon doesn't have a general page that lists all of the available video cards, and the search results are riddled with postings from marketplace vendors charging outrageous prices or, even worse, trying to swindle unsuspecting shoppers. To make things easier, I'll add specific GPU models when I see them available, but as a rule of thumb, make sure that the vendor you're buying from is "shipped and sold by Amazon".
Best Buy
Based on past GPU launches, I suspect that one of your best chances of purchasing the new AMD graphics cards online will be at Best Buy. This retailer should carry every brand that will be available at launch, including Sapphire, XFX, Asus, Asrock, Gigabyte, and Powercolor.
Best Buy's available inventory depends on your region; if you're fortunate enough to live in an area where graphics cards in general might not be in high demand, you'll have a much better chance of scoring a GPU here than anywhere else. Also important to note is that Best Buy GPU orders generally ship out quickly since they're either listed as in stock or out of stock (no "backorders" here). That means you'll likely receive your card in hand within a week.
Newegg
You'll also definitely want to prioritize Newegg. Like Best Buy, Newegg is expected to carry every make and model of the Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT graphics cards. Newegg is an authorized reseller, so as long as you are buying from Newegg direct and not a marketplace vendor, you'll be eligible for the full manufacturer's warranty. Similar to Best Buy, orders usually ship out within the week, unless the product is backordered or out of stock.
Even if the standalone cards are sold out, Newegg may sell these AMD GPUs as part of a bundle kit that includes any combination of a motherboard, CPU, RAM, or power supply. If you're working on a DIY computer build and haven't purchased all of your components, this might work to your advantage. These bundle offers do eventually sell out, but at a slower rate than the standalone cards.
Micro Center (In-Store)
Without a doubt, Micro Center will be your best chance at getting an AMD GPU on launch day if you happen to live close by to a local store. Micro Center will most assuredly reserve all their GPU sales for in-store customers. Even if you are local, though, you should still get there as early as possible (ideally when the store opens).
We reviewed both AMD graphics cards
We rated the AMD Radeon RX 9070 an 8/10. It costs the same as the new Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 but it performs better in the majority of games we tested and also includes more VRAM (16GB vs 12GB), which should supposedly make it more futureproof. From our tests, it draws about the same amount of power as the RTX 5070.
We rated the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT a "perfect" 10/10. Even though it costs $150 less than the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, the 9070 XT beats it out in several of the games we tested. In a few benchmarks, the results aren't even close. The 9070 XT also has 16GB of VRAM, the same as the 9070 and 5070 Ti. On the flip side, it does draw more power and get hotter on average compared to the RTX 5070 Ti.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
If you decided to hold off on Nvidia's Blackwell GPUs to see if AMD's new offerings were up to snuff, then you made the right choice. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards are the new mid-range champions of this generation. Both cards offer phenomenal performance while undercutting their Nvidia competition in price.
Right now, Amazon has one 9070 XT GPU in stock, and it's shipped and sold by Amazon instead of a marketplace vendor, so it's legit. Note that Powercolor is charging a $100 premium over the $599 MSRP.
Powercolor Reaper AMD Radeon RX 9700 XT GPU in Stock
We reviewed both AMD graphics cards
We rated the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT a "perfect" 10/10. Even though it costs $150 less than the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, the 9070 XT beats it out in several of the games we tested. In a few benchmarks, the results aren't even close. The 9070 XT also has 16GB of VRAM, the same as the 9070 and 5070 Ti. On the flip side, it does draw more power and get hotter on average compared to the RTX 5070 Ti.
We rated the AMD Radeon RX 9070 an 8/10. It costs the same as the new Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 but it performs better in the majority of games we tested and also includes more VRAM (16GB vs 12GB), which should supposedly make it more futureproof. From our tests, it draws about the same amount of power as the RTX 5070.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
YouTube’s ‘CryZENx’ has just released a new demo for his amazing Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake project in Unreal Engine 5. As the title suggests, this new demo lets you experience Zora’s River. Now what’s cool here is that unlike other UE5 projects, this one is free to download. Not only that, but Nintendo has … Continue reading Zelda Ocarina Of Time Zora River Unreal Engine 5 Demo Released→
Manscaped is a well known boutique retailer of men's haircare products, with a great name to boot. Its shavers boast great build quality, features, and performance, but they're also pretty pricey. Fortunately, if you buy from Manscaped directly, there's a 15% off coupon you can get when you sign up for the email newsletter. Manscaped is also offering free shipping on all orders, with no minimum threshold. Alternatively, Amazon is offering a 10% off discount on the entire brand.
The Chairman Plus at Manscaped
Manscaped's Chairman is its bread-and-butter electric foil shaver and it comes in two variants. The Chairman "Plus" is the more affordable model, coming in at $99.99 (or $85 on sale). It features three easy-glide stainless steel FlexAdjust foils that do a great job of following the contours of your face while keeping friction at a minimum. A precision trimmer attachment keeps your stache and beard lines neat and trim. It's IPX7 waterproof rated so you can use it in the shower, and the magnetically attached head pops up cleanly for easy cleaning. The Chairman Plus can last up to 60 minutes from a single charge and a USB Type-C port means you won't fret over losing a proprietary cable.
The Chairman Pro at Manscaped
The Chairman "Pro" retails for $159.99, but it ups the ante with four stainless steel foils, a stubble trimmer attachment, an integrated LED spotlight for better visibility, and a longer 75 minutes of runtime. Like the Chairman Plus, wired charging is accomplished over USB Type-C, however the Chairman Pro also has the option for wireless charging.
The Beard Hedger by Manscaped
If you've got a seriously thick beard where a stubble trimmer just won't do, then check out The Beard Hedger. This shaver is designed for the double duty of shearing unkempt beards that have grown out for longer than you might have wanted to, and for finishing work. Features include a 41mm titanium coated blade, 7,200RPM DC motor, a zoom wheel with adjustments for up to 20 different length settings, IPX7 waterproof rating, and a 60-minute battery runtime.
The Handyman by Manscaped
The Handyman is a perfect take-along shaver. If you're traveling by plane, most electric shavers are TSA approved and can be brought along in carry-on luggage, but the Handyman makes it easier with its compact size. It has two blade heads: a leveler that takes care of long hair and a foil that shaves down the remaining stubble. The lithium-ion battery features a 60-minute runtime with a 5-minute quick charge option over USB Type-C. A handly little cover is included to protect the blades when not in use. Like Manscaped's other shavers, the Handyman is IPX7 waterproof rated.
The Dome Shaver at Manscaped
The Dome Shaver is Manscaped's answer to effortlessly maintaining a clean shaven head. The "Plus" model features four double-tack FlexAdjust blade heads with ultra-thin stainless steel foils and a powerful 8,000RPM motor. The stubby ergonomic design makes it easy for self-use, and it is IPX7 rated waterproof so you can use it in the shower. A single charge will give you 60 minutes of runtime with USB Type-C charging. The premium "Pro" model is upgraded with five FlexAdjust blade heads, an even more powerful 9,500RPM motor, and a longer 90-minute runtime, all for only $35 more.
The Lawn Mower 5.0 Ultra by Manscaped
Let's face it. Your face isn't the only part of your body that grows unwanted hair. Although you could technically get away with using a disposable razer, Manscaped makes it easier and less painful with the aptly named Lawn Mower. The Lawn Mower 5.0 Ultra is the newest model in the series and its secret sauce is the dual interchangeable blade head design: a trimmer blade to take down long, thick hairs, and a foil blade to finish the job.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
USB Type-C has become the standard for charging and data cables alike, so it's good to have extra on hand. Here's a deal where you can get a bunch of cables for pennies on the dollar. Amazon is offering a five-pack of Lisen USB Type-C cables in varying sizes for only $7.96 after a 50% off promo code "UNWEXMFD" is applied during checkout. That averages out to about $1.59 per cable. USB Type-C cables typically go for about $5-$10 per cable at your local big box store.
5-Pack of USB Type-C Cables for $7.96
This bundle contains cables of varying sizes. They include two 3.3-feet cables, two 6.6-feet cables, and an extra long 10 foot cable. They're all rated for up to 60W of USB Power Delivery and are encased in a braided nylon sheath for extra durability and aeshetics. These cables have over 5,500 ratings on Amazon with an average 4.6-star review. Fakespot, a site that determines how many of the reviews are fake, gives this product a solid "A" rating, which is rather uncommon.
Need a power bank? Here's a good one for $9
For a limited time, Amazon is offering the popular INIU 10,000mAh USB power bank for just $8.99 after you clip the 10% off and 40% off clippable coupons on the product page. We very rarely see 10,000mAh power banks listed for under $10 so grab this one while you can. INIU power banks have solid reviews and are less expensive than equivalent Anker models.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
AMD's new Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards have been released , but just like their Nvidia counterparts, they're mostly out of stock and impossible to find at retail pricing. Don't fret, however, because you can still get these GPUs equipped in a prebuilt gaming PC for a reasonable price. The Radeon RX 9070 GPUs are the new mid-range champions of this generation. Both cards offer phenomenal performance while undercutting their Nvidia competition.
AMD Radeon RX 9070 / 9070 XT Gaming PCs on Amazon
Pricing on these Skytech gaming PCs varies wildly on Amazon, but notable highlights are the two Skytech RX 9070 gaming PCs for $1349.99 and the Skytech RX 9070 XT gaming PC for $1699.99, which are the best prices we've seen so far for these respective GPUs. The Skytech RX 9070 gaming PC for $1350 is about $150-$200 less than the best prices we're seeing right now for an RTX 5070 or RTX 4070 Super gaming PC. The Skytech RX 9070 XT gaming PC is about $200-$500 less than an RTX 5070 Ti or RTX 4070 Ti Super gaming PC right now.
AMD Radeon RX 9070 / 9070 XT Gaming PCs at Best Buy
Special mention goes to this Skytech prebuilt gaming PC. Not only is it currently the least expensive Radeon RX 9070 XT gaming PC at Best Buy so far, it's housed in the excellent Lian-Li O11 Vision ATX computer case.
We reviewed both AMD graphics cards
We rated the AMD Radeon RX 9070 an 8/10. It costs the same as the new Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 but it performs better in the majority of games we tested and also includes more VRAM (16GB vs 12GB), which should supposedly make it more futureproof. From our tests, it draws about the same amount of power as the RTX 5070.
We rated the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT a "perfect" 10/10. Even though it costs $150 less than the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, the 9070 XT beats it out in several of the games we tested. In a few benchmarks, the results aren't even close. The 9070 XT also has 16GB of VRAM, the same as the 9070 and 5070 Ti. On the flip side, it does draw more power and get hotter on average compared to the RTX 5070 Ti.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
In February 2025, we informed you about a mod that brought support for DLSS 3 Frame Gen in Skyrim. And today, I’m happy to report that a new version of this mod is available with support for AMD FSR 3.1 Frame Gen. What this means is that now everyone will be able to enjoy FSR … Continue reading The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim now supports AMD FSR 3 Frame Gen→
When it comes to Android, the Google Pixel line has some of the best phones on the market. The Pixel 9 series that was released just last year has one of the greatest cameras on any smartphone currently on the market and AI features that are really quite fun to play around with. The price point on the "Pro" versions of these phones also makes them a great budget option for anyone looking for a good iPhone alternative.
If you're in the market for a new phone, Amazon and Best Buy have currently dropped the price of the Pixel 9 Pro XL to a new low. The price of the best overall phone from the latest generation has officially dropped below the lowest-ever price we saw on just the standard Pixel 9 last week. This deal likely won't last long.
The Best Google Pixel 9 Pro XL Deal at Amazon Today
This discount is only available on the 128 GB version of this phone and only for the Obsidian color at Amazon, with three different colors available at Best Buy at this price. This is the lowest-ever price we've seen on the Pixel 9 Pro XL since it was first released last year. It actually matches the lowest price we've seen on the regular Picel 9 at $599 and is $200 less than the best price we saw last month. This is an overall incredible deal on a premium unlocked Android phone, making it an excellent time to purchase one if you're already in the market for an upgrade.
The main difference between the Pixel 9 Pro and the Pixel 9 Pro XL is the size of the phone. The XL comes with a 6.8-inch screen, which is just a bit larger. Both of the phones come with the Google Tensor G4 chip and offer pretty good performance overall.
See more Android phones we recommend:
When Is the Next Line of Pixel Phones Coming Out?
If you are hoping to wait for the next generation of Pixel phones to arrive before you make a purchase, you will still need to wait quite a while. Similar to this year, we expect Google to launch the Pixel 10 line sometime in August or early September. The new phones will usually come out a month or two before the new iPhones tend to release.
With that release timing in mind, we will most likely see the biggest discounts on the Pixel 9 phones around Prime Day in July. That being said, it isn't likely that the price of the Pixel 9 XL will drop any lower than this price
Looking for more phone deals? We've also found a sale on the RedMagic 10 Pro at Amazon that is worth checking out if you're in the market for a gaming phone.
If you're in the process of building out a new gaming PC and you're looking for the best gaming processor, this is it. Right now, the recently released AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D AM5 desktop processor is back in stock on Amazon and Best Buy at its retail price of $479 shipped. This is the official launch price with zero markup, and it's not bundled with anything you don't want or need. The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the best gaming processor currently on the market (across both AMD and Intel) and a better choice for gamers than the more expensive Intel Core Ultra 9 285K.
Back in Stock: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Desktop Processor
AMD's X3D series processors are optimized for gaming. In that respect, they bench better than even the most expensive of AMD's standard lineup of CPUs thanks to AMD's 3D V-Cache technology. Although perfectly capable of handling multitasking, rendering, and creation, the limited number of cores means they aren't the ideal processors for those tasks. At its retail price of $479, the 9800X3D is $110 cheaper than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K ($589) and $170 cheaper than the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X, even though it outperforms both of them in gaming. Unless you're a staunch Intel fan, or you're still on AM4 and don't want to upgrade all of your components, the 9800X3D is the obvious choice for your next gaming rig.
AMD is on a hot streak with its new CPU and GPUs
If you decided to hold off on Nvidia's Blackwell GPUs to see if AMD's new offerings were up to snuff, then you made the right choice. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards are the new mid-range champions of this generation. Both cards offer phenomenal performance while undercutting their Nvidia competition in price. The Radeon RX 9070 starts at $550 and the 9070 XT starts at $600 (although it turns out that manufacturers are hiking the price again). Chect out our Radeon RX 9070 GPU review and Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU review for our benchmarks.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
Tim Burton may not have directed a Batman movie in over 30 years, but his DC Universe is still going strong. Michael Keaton got the chance to reprise the Bruce Wayne role in 2023’s The Flash, a movie that (briefly) ported his Batman over to the DCEU. But even now, the Burton-Verse continues to expand through new comic book and novel spinoffs like the recently announced Batman: Revolution.
It’s gotten to the point where the question of how to watch and read the entire Burton-Verse is a surprisingly complicated one. But don’t worry, we’re here to help. Read on for a full breakdown of how the various Tim Burton Batman movies, novels, and comics fit together.
Counting the yet-to-be-released Batman: Revolution, there are currently seven projects set in Burton’s Batman universe - three films, two novels, and two comics. That lineup includes 1989’s Batman, 1992’s Batman Returns, and 2023’s The Flash, as well as the books Batman: Resurrection and Batman: Revolution and the comics Batman ‘89 and Batman ‘89: Echoes.
This lineup also excludes 1995’s Batman Forever and 1997’s Batman & Robin, which are no longer considered to be part of Burton’s Batman universe. We’ll get into the reasons why a bit later.
Where to Buy Tim Burton’s Batman
Although you can stream Burton’s Batman movies on Max and read the Batman ‘89 comics on DC Universe Infinite, it never hurts to go the physical media route these days. If you’re looking to buy the Burton-Verse movies and books, here are some good options:
Batman Favorites Collection [4K UHD + Blu-Ray]
Batman '89
Batman '89: Echoes
Batman: Resurrection
Batman: Revolution (Hardcover)
Every Tim Burton Batman Movie and Book in Chronological Order
*Each blurb contains a broad overview of the plot and mentions the heroes/villains who appear in that film or book.
1. Batman (1989)
This is the original movie that started it all. Burton’s first Batman movie pits Michael Keaton’s Dark Knight (still early in his superhero career) against Jack Nicholson’s Joker. The movie inspired a summer of “Bat-Mania” and proved there was a healthy appetite for darker, more mature superhero movies in Hollywood.
2. Batman: Resurrection (2024)
This novel by John Jackson Miller is set in the aftermath of the first movie, as Batman deals with the remnants of the Joker Gang and confronts the rise of the shape-shifting villain known as Clayface. The book is designed to bridge the gap between Batman and Batman Returns, including introducing Christopher Walken’s character Max Shreck and giving readers more insight into the collapse of Bruce Wayne and Vicki Vale’s (Kim Basinger) romance.
3. Batman: Revolution (2025)
Miller is returning for a second novel set between the events of Batman and Batman Returns. This time, Revolution will introduce the Burton-Verse’s version of Riddler, a lowly newspaper copy editor named Norman Pinkus who laments the fact that no one appreciates his aptitude for solving crimes. Pinkus will turn to a life of crime and capitalize on the city’s growing resentment toward the wealthy elite of Gotham.
4. Batman Returns (1992)
Burton and Keaton both returned for this film sequel, which is set a few years after the events of the first movie. This time, Batman goes up against Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman and Danny DeVito’s Penguin as Gotham City endures a hellish holiday season. Despite initial plans for a third Batman movie, both Burton and Keaton ultimately dropped out of what became 1995’s Batman Forever.
5. Batman ‘89 (2021)
DC’s Batman ‘89 comic serves as a direct sequel to Batman Returns and is set three years later. The six-issue comic, written by Batman screenwriter Sam Hamm and illustrated by Joe Quinones, draws inspiration from Burton’s abandoned plans for a third Batman movie. The book sees Billy Dee Williams’ Harvey Dent become Two-Face, while also introducing a version of Robin modeled after Marlon Wayans (who at one point was attached to play the role in Batman Returns). Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman also makes a return appearance, paying off on the tease from the end of Batman Returns.
Just as Batman ‘89 is essentially Burton’s Batman 3 in comic form, Hamm and Quinones reunited for a follow-up that acts as a hypothetical fourth Burton movie. Three years after the events of Batman ‘89, Keaton’s Bruce Wayne has gone missing, leaving Robin and the new Batgirl to deal with the threat posed by Scarecrow (modeled after Jeff Goldblum) and Harley Quinn (modeled after Madonna).
7. The Arrowverse's Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part One (2019)
While only hardcore Burton-Verse completionists need to worry about this one, it's worth mentioning that Robert Wuhl briefly reprises the role of intrepid reporter Alexander Knox in the first chapter of The CW's Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover. That episode briefly shifts focus to Earth-89, where Knox is seen reading a newspaper in a park as red skies form over Gotham. It's one of numerous live-action DC cameos in the crossover.
8. The Flash (2023)
While it didn’t fare well critically or commercially, The Flash at least has the distinction of giving Bat-fans some closure on the saga of Keaton’s Batman. Keaton himself returns to play a much older Bruce Wayne, after Ezra Miller’s Barry Allen mucks about with the DCEU timeline and inadvertently trades one Batman for another. Meeting The Flash and learning about the threat of Michael Shannon’s General Zod is enough to coax Batman out of retirement for one last, high-stakes mission.
Tim Burton’s Batman Universe in Release Order
Batman (1989)
Batman Returns (1992)
Batman ‘89 (2021)
The Flash (2023)
Batman ‘89: Echoes (2024)
Batman: Resurrection (2024)
Batman: Revolution (2025)
How Do Batman Forever and Batman & Robin Fit In?
1995’s Batman Forever and 1997’s Batman & Robin were once considered sequels to Batman and Batman Returns, despite the fact that neither Burton nor Keaton returned for these projects. The presence of supporting characters like Pat Hingle’s Commissioner Gordon and Michael Gough’s Alfred maintained some degree of continuity with the previous films. However, these two sequels are generally regarded as being inferior to their predecessors, as well as being far different tonally.
With the release of The Flash, DC now officially treats Batman Forever and Batman & Robin as being set in a separate version of the DC Universe. The Batman ‘89 comics now act as the definitive, canon sequels to Batman Returns, revealing what happened to Keaton’s Bruce Wayne between the events of Returns and The Flash.
The Canceled Batgirl Movie
Warning: this section contains spoilers for The Flash!
The Flash wasn’t always intended to be the end of the road for Keaton’s Batman. At one point, the character was being positioned for an ongoing role in the DCEU (before WB cut that cinematic universe’s future short). Reportedly, a previous version of the movie ended not with Batman dying in battle against Zod in the Flashpoint timeline, but with both Keaton’s Bruce and Sasha Calle’s Supergirl crossing over into the restored DCEU. That’s where WB’s canceled Batgirl movie comes in.
Keaton wound up reprising the role again in Batgirl, which reportedly cast him as an aged, Batman Beyond-esque mentor to Leslie Grace’s rookie Barbara Gordon. J.K. Simmons also returned as the DCEU Commissioner Gordon, while Brendan Fraser played the villain Firefly.
The Accountant opens in theaters on Friday, April 25. This review is based on a screening at the 2025 SXSW Film and TV Festival.
You can tell from the way the title is stylized on screen – as a mathematical exponent, like Alien³ – that The Accountant 2 has removed the self-seriousness from its predecessor’s otherwise delightful formula. Gavin O’Connor’s sequel is a blast, building on the story and relationships of 2016’s The Accountant to reveal a touching, hilarious portrait of fraught brotherhood within a charged and politically relevant plot. All the while, it leans full-tilt into a goofy setup that’s executed with utter confidence: Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck), a.k.a. The Accountant, is a savant number-cruncher for the mob and part-time vigilante gunman whose autism is gently approached and realistically performed, but framed as though it were a superpower.
There’s less bean counting in The Accountant 2, but far more blood and bullets, starting with an opening scene in which former Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (or FinCEN) director Raymond King (J.K. Simmons) is gunned down while working a case in secret. Once the Commissioner Gordon to The Accountant’s Batman – fitting, as Affleck and Simmons have since played that dynamic in the DC Extended Universe – King has only been following leads in which he’s emotionally invested. His death leaves behind an intricate puzzle for Wolff to solve, alongside King’s Treasury Department successor, the returning Marybeth Medina (Cynthia Addai-Robinson). The case that got King killed opens up a web of human trafficking between Central America and the southern U.S., exposing the ways in which undocumented immigrants who have little legal recourse are brutally exploited. Where the first film was mostly unsentimental about its central plot (which revolved around a robotics firm), The Accountant 2 conjures immense sympathy with its topical melodrama and the mystery of King’s death.
But as somber as this story seems at first blush, it’s also peppered with wildly amusing moments of character. That begins with Wolff’s re-introduction, during which he games a speed-dating algorithm by sprucing up his profile in all the right ways, only to botch every face-to-face encounter. It’s the perfect kind of silly, placing Wolff’s isolation front and center while setting up his impending reunion with his estranged brother, fellow contract killer Braxton (Jon Bernthal), whose help he seeks to solve King’s murder. Also assisting Wolff is his returning, remote, technologically savvy assistant Justine (Allison Robertson, replacing Allison Wright from the first film), a nonverbal resident of a mansion-like academy for young autistic students. She has her own legion of hackers-in-training this time, à la Professor X – who she even quotes at one point. Like I said: perfectly silly, even if the portrayal of neurodivergence constantly threatens to tip (but never fully does) into offensiveness.
A mysterious, scarily capable assassin known only as Anaïs (Daniella Pineda) seems to somehow be involved in King’s case, but The Accountant 2’s lopsided structure ensures that she disappears for lengthy periods. However, the layers it reveals to her seemingly single-minded character do retroactively justify those absences. After all, this is the kind of movie where no matter how many conveniences cause its jigsaw pieces to click into place, the result is no less entertaining.
Just like The Accountant, whose heightened tone and reliance on tried-and-true storytelling devices – enormous coincidences, long-lost family connections – wouldn’t feel out of place in a Bollywood movie,the sequel similarly runs a crowd-pleasing gamut. The action is capable and clear. The plot, while complicated in structure, takes the characters to interesting places (both geographically and emotionally). The comedy is fine-tuned and, most importantly, entirely character-and-performance based.
Things simmer on a medium flame until Bernthal shows up and instantly sets the screen ablaze. An actor long compared to Robert De Niro, he finally gets his own “You talkin’ to me?” moment in The Accountant 2, which paves the path for Braxton’s surprising vulnerability – he’s a lost, lonely soul who just wants his older brother’s friendship. Affleck, despite a voice that seems more influenced byThe Simpsons’ Comic Book Guy this time around, returns seamlessly to the role of Wolff. Having retreated almost entirely to the solitude of his tricked-out Airstream trailer, he seems to want to connect as well, but his misreadings of his brother’s body language and intentions make this difficult. Braxton is frank and playful, and Bernthal imbues the character’s body language with an easy-going fluidity, which makes for an enchantingly funny contrast with Wolff’s unwavering stiffness.
The clashes between the brothers are the movie’s heart and soul – this especially comes to light during their downtime from vigilantism (and from Medina’s disapproval of their methods). One scene in an LA square dancing bar is a particular delight, between Braxton’s eagerness to throw hands, and Wolff’s wonderfully roundabout methods of flirtation, which involves him calculating his way onto the dance floor. It’s a sequence that demonstrates O’Connor understanding that movement and character are intrinsically bound, and in action cinema, you can’t really have one without building up the other.
The Accountant 2 ensures that its humor and drama go hand-in-hand at every turn.
The Accountant 2 is a surprisingly sentimental sequel, which keeps even the most scattered elements of its plot firmly glued together. It’s filled with the kind of unapologetic cheese that Hollywood action has long since replaced with irreverent, quippy snark, ensuring that its humor and drama go hand-in-hand at every turn, resulting in one of the year’s most well-rounded studio pictures.
I’ve reviewed a lot of headsets in recent years; some great and some not so great. They’ve tended to prioritize certain aspects over others in order to stand out, with a few being solid jacks-of-all-trades that find their way into my list for best gaming headsets. But even after putting all those through their paces, high-end or otherwise, few come close to a long-time favorite – I’m talking about the Audeze Maxwell.
I’m revisiting it since it has been one of my top recommendations for quite some time (especially for PS5 owners) and to see how it holds up in 2025. While newer headsets have more refinements and/or sophisticated features, very few come close to the Maxwell in terms of pure audio performance, as it’s built like a pair of audiophile-style headphones. That’s not to say it doesn’t do everything else right, because it’s still well-rounded with comfort, durability, and a solid mic. You’ll want to invoke some strict scrutiny when spending around $300 for a gaming headset, but the Audeze Maxwell still earns its stripes.
Audeze Maxwell – Design and Comfort
The first thing I noticed coming back to the Maxwell is just how hefty it is. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though – it’s built like a brick house and has been durable through the years, but it’s still the heaviest headset I’ve used, coming in at 490g. However, its weight never felt like it wore me down or made the experience uncomfortable. The headband, earcups, and forks are all solid aluminum to give it that high-end sturdiness, and there isn’t really any loud branding or outlandish stylization which keeps it looking sleek and understated in true audiophile style.
The Maxwell has thick, dense, and plushy foam earpads wrapped in leatherette with just the right balance between firmness and softness to provide long-term comfort. Clamp force is quite light as well, which is nice for your ears, but this means it relies a lot more on the headband to bear the weight on your head. While the Maxwell has a fairly basic design with a thin layer or foam between the steel headband and suspension strap, it’s sufficient for alleviating the pressure atop your head. That suspension strap is also how you get the headset to fit properly, and it’s one of the few shortcomings of the Maxwell – it snaps into a set of notches on the inside of the headset and it’s a pain to adjust. This doesn’t give you much room for finer adjustments, but once I found the right fit, I didn’t have to think about it again.
Audeze keeps things simple and focuses on the things that matter most.
All the built-in controls for the Maxwell are on the left earcup. Alongside the earpad, you’ll find the master volume wheel and the in-game volume/chat mix wheel next to each other – you can easily mix these up at first, but I got used to distinguishing the two with enough time. There’s also a 3.5mm audio jack in case you want to use it as an analog wired headset, a USB-C port for charging and connecting to devices, and the port for connecting the detachable microphone. On the outer side of the left earcup are the power button on the lower end and microphone-mute toggle on the upper end. These are large, hard-to-miss buttons that are easy to use and thankfully don’t get lost in the jumble of controls on the earcup.
The detachable boom mic can twist and form to get in the right position near your mouth, and it comes with a pop filter. But the real stars of the Maxwell are the 90mm planar magnetic drivers – while bigger driver size doesn’t always mean better sound quality, this is one case in which the headset lives up to those expectations. I get into the details later on when talking about sound quality, but it’s worth mentioning here since it is the main thing that stands out on the spec sheet.
Audeze Maxwell – Software, Customization, Battery Life
I wouldn’t have necessarily called it a drawback when it first came out, but the Audeze HQ software support is quite primitive. Thankfully, it’s more simplistic rather than being bloated or convoluted. There just isn’t much to configure other than EQ settings, but among the pre-made options available (which are intended to be suited for specific scenarios), none of them sounded quite right. That is until I tweaked the first customizable preset to find the right balance within its 10-band equalization – a little boost on the low-end and high-end helped bring out the best in the Maxwell. Once I locked in this preset, it became the only EQ setting I’ve used and it’s been wonderful for every scenario, gaming or otherwise.
There are a few other options you can tweak like microphone sidetone (to get feedback of your voice), the auto-shutdown timer, and volume of the headset’s voice prompts – you can also manually change the chat mix volume in the software as well. It keeps things simple, but when you see something like Turtle Beach’s Swarm II software or SteelSeries Arctis app, I do wish I could fine-tune things a bit more to dial-in microphone performance, for example.
Audeze HQ is how you monitor battery life, which you probably won’t have to worry about often since the Maxwell is among the best in this area. It’s able to last around 80 hours from a full charge, and since using it for four days straight for roughly 10 to 12 hours a day, it still sat at about 50% charge. Gaming headsets in recent years have made strides when it comes to battery life (some of which also hit 80 to 100 hours off a full charge), and the Maxwell still stands with them, as I would expect from a headset as hefty as this.
Audeze Maxwell – Sound Quality and Performance
Sound quality is where the Audeze Maxwell shines brightest. With the aforementioned EQ settings, I found balance across all frequencies. And even at high volumes, none of them sounded grating whether I was listening to the layered J-pop tunes of Yoasobi, the chaos of a Final Fantasy XIV raid, or the gunfire of a competitive Counter-Strike 2 match while paying attention to subtle audio cues. It felt like having a home theater setup blasting into my ears with punchy bass, clean highs, and clear mids with a spacious delivery to create a rich audio profile that few headsets can match.
Those qualities also let it shine when it comes to positional/directional audio, and it’s the thing I always harp on with headsets for competitive gaming. In my handful of ranked matches in Counter-Strike 2, I was able to pluck out those specific sounds to anticipate enemy activity whether it be footsteps from a certain direction, them reloading so I can get the jump, or firefights off in the distance so I can rotate position on the map promptly. In all my recent headset reviews, I always give FFXIV a whirl and do my daily/weekly activities to test things out because it can be a very busy audio experience. The Maxwell is able to cut through the distinct sounds of spells casting, abilities going off, voice lines, and the soundtrack blaring – lesser headsets would crunch these sound effects, making them blend with each other and/or sound harsh.
Very few stand up to the Audeze Maxwell when it comes to pure sound quality.
Since the pair I have is also designed for PlayStation, it’s able to take advantage of the PS5’s Tempest 3D audio. It’s a proprietary spatial audio program and can make certain games sound like they’re being played over a home theater setup. I’m usually hesitant to use virtual surround sound options since they can sound artificial, but having used Sony’s Pulse 3D headset, Tempest 3D is a smart implementation. You get that same level of quality for surround sound out of the Audeze Maxwell – and I would hope so given how much more expensive it is, even compared to the higher-end Pulse Elite. It’s a nice bonus is you’re a PS5 owner, because single-player experiences can really come to life in a unique way – I don’t usually like describing things as “immersive” as it has lost some of its meaning when it comes to audio gear, but it does feel that way with headsets like the Maxwell.
While it’s not necessarily among the best in terms of clarity, the microphone quality itself is good. However, it stands out for its great noise isolation, which is certainly the best I’ve tested in recent years. The Maxwell has AI-based noise reduction, and with it on, the clack of my mechanical keyboard and other background noise would be blocked out. Even while talking and making noise on purpose, it’s able to focus on my voice and barely pick up anything else. The only mark against the Maxwell in this regard is that the static from sidetone is quite loud, more so than other headsets. It’s a minor gripe for an otherwise solid mic.
While I prefer open-back headphones that are lighter on my head and a standalone mic for my PC setup, the Audeze Maxwell has made me think twice about switching it up. It’s what I would recommend alongside the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro – it just depends on what you’re looking for in terms of features on a headset. But on PS5, this is my main headset because of its straightforward design, long battery life, and long-term comfort on top of an audio experience that justifies its asking price. So, if you’re of the mindset of sound quality over everything else, the Maxwell is the right choice.
Here are the best deals for Monday, March 10. Today is MAR10 day, so what best to lead off than a big discount on Nintendo Switch video games. Several of the hottest titles including Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury are marked down today. Other deals include a discount on all current Apple AirPod models, a 65" Samsung OLED TV for just under $1,000, a five-pack of USB Type-C cables for just $8, a USB power bank for $9, and my favorite, 4 months of Hulu and Disney+ for just $2.99 per month.
If there are any Nintendo Switch games you've been meaning to pick up lately, now's a good time. Lots of Switch games (in both physical and digital formats) are on sale right now for MAR10 Day, including, of course, plenty of Mario games. Click on your retailer of choice to see what's discounted. Notably, Amazon must be feuding with Nintendo these days, because it usually doesn't carry first-party Switch games anymore.
New Apple AirPods 4 for $99.99
Starting this week, Amazon is taking up to 23% off the price of the new Apple AirPods 4. The base model without ANC is down to $99.99, and the upgraded model with ANC is $148.99. The AirPods 4 features several updates over the AirPods 3 which brings it in-line with modern day standards. These improvements include the newer Apple H2 chip (vs H1), Bluetooth 5.3 support (vs Bluetooth 5.0), better IP54 resistance rating which now protects against dust intrustion (vs IPX4), USB Type-C (vs Lightning), and replacement of the skin detect sensor with a more reliable optical in-ear sensor.
Apple AirPods Pro for $169.99
Apple's best earbuds are on sale today. Amazon is offering the second generation Apple AirPods Pro wireless noise-canceling earbuds for only $169.99 shipped, a savings of 32% and the best AirPods deal so far this year. That's about $20 more than the Apple AirPods 4 with ANC, down from its usual $70 price premium. Between the two, the AirPods Pro is still the superior earbuds because it offers better sound quality and noise cancelation.
65" Samsung S85D 4K OLED Smart TV for $999.99
Here's your chance to get a top notch OLED TV from Samsung at an excellent price. Amazon has dropped the price on the 65" Samsung S85D 4K OLED Smart TV to $999.99, making it the least expensive 65" OLED TV you can get right now. The S85D is equpped with a true OLED panel that offers near instantaneous response time, near infinite contrast ratio, and true blacks. It's superior to any other panel type for most use cases. This is an excellent TV to pair up with your PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X since it has HDMI 2.1 inputs that support 4K gaming at up to 120Hz.
INIU 10,000mAh Power Bank for $9
You can grab this 10,000mAh power bank for only $8.99 after you clip the 10% off and 40% off clippable coupons on the product page. We very rarely see 10,000mAh power banks listed for under $10 so grab this one while you can. This will charge a Nintendo Switch from 0% to 100% about 1.9 times.
4 Months of Hulu and Disney+ for $2.99/mo
For a limited time, Hulu is offering four months of Disney+ and Hulu Basic (Ad-Supported) Bundle for just $2.99 per month. The normal cost of this subscription is $10.99 per month. This deal only comes around a handful of times per year and worth it for just the Disney+ subscription alone.
5-Pack of Lisen USB Type-C Cables for $8
Pick up a five pack of USB Type-C cables for a grand total of just $7.96 after you apply promo code "UNWEXMFD". That averages out to about $1.59 per cable. Lengths include two 3.3ft, two 6.6ft, and an extra long 10ft cable. They're all rated for up to 60W of USB Power Delivery and are encased in a durable braided nylon sheath.
Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 Gaming Mouse for $99.95
Amazon just dropped the price on one of the best gaming mice to the lowest we've ever seen. Right now you can pick up the Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 Wireless Gaming Mouse for $99.99 shipped. Weighing in at only 60 grams, the Superlight 2 is catered towards gamers looking for the lightest wireless mouse possible. The biggest upgrades over the original Superlight include opto-mechanical switches, which are more reliable than the Superlight's mechanical only switches, and charging over USB Type-C instead of Micro USB.
27" Acer Predator QHD 240Hz OLED Gaming Monitor for $450
The price of OLED gaming monitors is dropping at a decent clip since last year. For example, Amazon has just discounted this 27" Acer X27U OLED gaming monitor to $449.99 shipped (compared to its eye watering retail price of $1K). This monitor features a QHD resolution, 240Hz refresh rate, KVM switch, and built-in USB port with 90W of Power Delivery.
Sabrent Rocket SATA/NVMe SSD Enclosure for $29.99
Got a spare SSD lying around and want to put it to good use? Amazon Prime members can get a RGB USB Type-C SATA/NVMe Solid State Drive (SSD) Enclosure for only $29.99 after a $10 off coupon code "25NRU7FZ". It features a solid metal body, slick RGB lighting, and a fast USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20Gbps) interface.
Apple Watch Series 10 for $299
Amazon is offering an Apple Watch Series 10 42mm model for only $299 and the bigger 46mm model for $329. This is even lower than the best deal during Black Friday. If you own an iPhone, the Apple Watch is indisputably the best smartwatch for you. The Apple Watch Series 10 is the newest generation mainstream model. Improvements over the Apple Watch Series 9 include a bigger OLED Retina display, a new S10 processor (that isn't faster but it's thinner, which allows the watch itself to have a slimmer profile), and a slightly larger base model size (42mm vs. 41mm).
AstroAI L7 Tire Inflator for $23.99
A tire inflator is an essential part of car's emergency kit, but you don't need to pay a premium price for a fancy one. Amazon is offering this AstroAI L7 cordless tire inflator for $23.99 after you clip a 25% off coupon code. This isn't the absolute lowest price we've seen, but it's still a great price for a cordless tire inflator that will get you out of a jam.
New March Humble Choice Bundle Starts Now
If you're searching for your next new game to play, Humble Choice March is now live, and this is the perfect bundle to discover something new! This month, Homeworld 3 headlines the bundle, with other PC games like Wild Hearts, Pacific Drive, Zau, and Gravity Circuit also included. Instead of paying hundreds of dollars to grab these games individually, you can get all eight games for just $11.99 at Humble Bundle for this month only.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
In my opinion, the Amazon Kindle is one of the best electronic devices ever. Maybe the only piece of tech I use more than my Kindle is my phone, but even then, I have the Kindle app if I decide I just want to stick some knowledge into my craw. If you're ever looking for a good deal on Kindle devices, there are quite a few that pop up even outside of the big sale events.
At the moment our favorite deal is on the Kindle Essentials Bundle, which comes with a 2024 Kindle, a matcha colored fabric cover, and a power adapter for $146.97 ($15 less than what it would cost to buy them all separately.) We've included that deal and a few more below.
The Best Kindle Deals Right Now
Kindle is one of the devices you're most likely to find on sale during Amazon events like Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday. The available Kindle lineup has expanded quite a lot over the years, too. Amazon will oftentimes sneak Kindle deals into its Deal of the Day or offer a bonus deal like free Kindle Unlimited or other Amazon services as well.
New 2024 Kindle Releases
Amazon released quite a few brand-new Kindles in October 2024. Alongside upgraded versions of the standard Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, Kindle Kids, and Kindle Paperwhite Kids, they also revealed the brand-new Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition. This features a color display to make your favorite stories and comics pop. There's also a new Kindle Scribe with a redesigned display that's available now.
What Is Kindle Unlimited?
If you own a Kindle, it's absolutely worth investing in Kindle Unlimited. Right now, when you sign up, you can take advantage of a 30-day free trial before its$11.99/month price kicks in.
But you may be wondering: what is Kindle Unlimited, and is it really worth it? The answer is... absolutely, dear reader. With this, you'll get unlimited access to millions of digital titles, audiobooks, and magazine subscriptions. That way you can read all of the latest bestsellers, classics, biggest hits, and more in the realm of books and comics. What better way to get started on your Kindle adventure?
Current Kindle Bestsellers
Wondering where to start once you pick up your new Kindle? Have no fear, we're here to help with that, too. Below, we've listed out the current Kindle bestsellers so you can start up an exciting new book right away. Some of these titles can be read for free if you're a Prime member or as part of Kindle Unlimited, or they can be purchased if you'd like to own them.
If you want to see the latest and greatest Kindle book deals available, there's an excellent variety to pick through. Whether you're looking for new comics to dig into or just want to sink into a thrilling novel, there's always great book deals available for Kindle users. We've listed just a few of our favorites below, but if you want to see the full list of available deals, head to Amazon's Kindle deals page here.
I've been rocking the Kindle since the earliest model was available, and not only do I prefer it to any other method of reading, I've found myself reading more than I would have with traditional paper books. Not that there's anything wrong with reading from a traditional book, I just personally appreciate the ease of use and form factor afforded me by the Kindle.
Since the Kindles use e-ink instead of traditional screens like your phone or iPad, they can be read in just about any lighting. In fact, the pages look like actual paper pages, so any artificial light or even bright sunlight are no factor when using the Kindle. It only uses energy when you turn the page, use the backlight or leave Wi-Fi turned on, so if you go into Airplane mode you can go weeks, even months, between charging your Kindle. Generally I go long enough to completely forget where I put my charging cable.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.
Here's your chance to get a top notch OLED TV from Samsung at an excellent price. Right now, Amazon and Best Buy are both offering the 65" Samsung S85D 4K OLED Smart TV for just $999.99 with free delivery. This is an excellent TV to pair up with your PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X since it has HDMI 2.1 inputs and supports 4K gaming at up to 120Hz.
65" Samsung S85D 4K OLED Smart TV for $999.99
The Samsung S85D is the most affordable TV in Samsung's 2024 OLED lineup. Unlike the higher-end S90D which uses a quantum dot OLED panel (and costs $500 more), the S85D uses a standard W-OLED panel. In terms of image quality, it's directly comparable to the LG B4 OLED TV (which costs $200 more). Since this is a true OLED panel, the S85D boasts near instantaneous response time, near infinite contrast ratio, and true blacks. It's superior to any other panel type for most use cases. For those of you who are concerned with burn-in, it's rarely an issue with OLED TVs; it's more of a concern with computer monitors where static screens (like your desktop) are more common.
The Samsung S85D also has the necessary features you'd want in a current-gen gaming TV, like HDMI 2.1 ports and a native 120Hz panel for running 4K at 120Hz on a PS5 or Xbox Series X. The S85D also supports variable refresh rate and auto low latency mode. This is an especially good complement to the Playstation 5 Pro console, since it has the power to run most games in true 4K resolution (vs upscaled 1440p in "Performance" mode) at 120Hz.
Right now this is the lowest price we can find for a brand new and fully warrantied 65" OLED TV, especially if you want to stick with a tried and true brand like Samsung. So far it looks like the new 2025 OLED TVs feature incremental upgrades, like a slightly faster processor or better anti-glare films. The panel technology is largely identical to 2024 models.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach got a new trailer over the weekend, alongside a release date, collector's edition, box art, and more. And as fans have pored over the details, one has noticed a fun connection to director Hideo Kojima's past work: Metal Gear Solid 2.
The box art for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach shows Sam "Porter" Bridges, portrayed by Norman Reedus, holding the child "Lou," who players of the first game will recognize. Reddit user ReverseTheFlash posted "He did it again," showing that box art alongside a Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty slipcase with a similar motif.
The Metal Gear Solid 2 promo shows Japanese singer Gackt holding a child in a similar composition. Though it's not a one-for-one, it's certainly fun to note the similarities between the two covers. It's also a reminder of a strange branch of Metal Gear Solid (out-of-universe) backstory.
During the run-up to the game's release, Gackt was featured in multiplepromos for Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Part of this, it seems, included special slip-covers for the game in some territories, which have resulted in random MGS ephemera that's both intrigued and confused people over the years.
In case you're wondering why Gackt, specifically, was so involved with Metal Gear Solid 2's promotional campaign, Kojima offered an explanation in 2013. The reason he asked Gackt to "be on MGS2's TVCM is 'MGS1' was about DNA & 'MGS2' MEME. DNA consists 'AGTC', adding 'K' of KOJIMA becomes 'GACKT.' " So, there's that.
Considering Death Stranding 2's new trailer has plenty of Metal Gear vibes in it, it's no surprise fans are drawing the parallels here. Personally, I think any similarities are, at most, a sign of recurring ideas across Kojima's games. But still, it's fun to speculate and ponder, and it's always a good time to travel down memory lane with a promotional cover featuring Gackt.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach launches on June 26, 2025 exclusively on PlayStation 5.
Whether you're looking to save on games, storage, or accessories, there are plenty of Nintendo Switch deals to check out right now. We've gathered up some of the best Switch deals currently available, including a selection of Switch games discounted at Woot like Super Mario RPG down to just $29.99. A variety of MAR10 Day deals have also dropped, from LEGO sets to toys, which we've included below.
Check out our favorite deals at the moment below, and for more updates on the latest discounts, follow @IGNDeals on Twitter/X.
When Is the Nintendo Switch 2 Expected?
At long last, the Nintendo Switch 2 has been revealed. While we don't know when this console will officially be released, we do know that there'll be a Nintendo Switch 2 Direct in April that'll hopefully end with some preorder information. If you simply can't wait for that day, though, we have good news: you can register your interest at Best Buy. This is a smart idea so you can stay up to date on preorders in the coming months via email. For more information on preorders and what to expect from the Nintendo Switch 2 this year, check out our Nintendo Switch 2 buying guide.
Best Nintendo Switch Game Deals
Woot's back with a Spring Sale that features some excellent Switch game deals. From Super Mario RPG to Sonic X Shadow Generations to Princess Peach: Showtime, there are so many options on sale that are worth picking up for your collection. We've included just a few of our favorites from the sale above. We've also included some of the best Mario game deals we've come across in MAR10 Day sales.
MAR10 Day 2025: Preorder the LEGO Mario Kart Set
While not a deal, this is one of the best MAR10 Day treats to pop up today. The Mario Kart LEGO set is now up for preorder, priced at $169.99 andreleasing on May 15. Complete with 1,972 pieces, this set features the man himself in his Standard Kart. It also comes with a display stand to show it speeding off among your collectibles.
Mario LEGO Sets on Sale for MAR10 Day
Outside of the preorder above for the brand new Mario Kart LEGO set, there are plenty more great Mario LEGO set deals happening today. We've included some of the best options from Best Buy's sale above, including the LEGO Piranha Plant and Bowser’s Muscle Car Expansion Set.
Mario Plush Toys on Sale for MAR10 Day
There's also an adorable selection of plush toys discounted for MAR10 Day, including a red mushroom plushie and a ridiculously cute knit Kirby plushie. If you've been looking to pick up sweet stuffed toys for your collectible collection, or to snuggle, these are absolutely worth a look today.
Best Switch Micro SD Card Deals
The best Switch SD card should be fast, reliable, and as future-proof as possible. That last one is important, especially with the Switch successor on the horizon. Therefore, you're going to want to opt for the latest in SD card tech, which is a micro SDXC UHS-I U3 A2 V30 memory card. That's a lot of random letters, so to save you a bit of time we've left our top suggestions and deals below for your convenience.
Looking for a new power bank to keep your Switch charged up? The INIU 10,000mAh Power Bank has gotten an amazing discount down to just $9 after clipping the 10% off and 40% off clippable coupons on the product page. The Anker 737 has also gotten a very nice price drop at Amazon. It's already discounted down 27% to $109.99, but by clipping the $10 coupon on the store page you can bring the price down even further to just $99.99.
Best Nintendo Switch Accessory Deals
Whether you're looking for a new controller or case for your Switch, there are quite a few different accessory deals that are worth checking out. Here, we've listed just a few of our favorite discounts at the moment, including a deal on the 8Bitdo Ultimate Controller with a Charging Dock and a Super Mario PowerA case.
The short answer is that you should buy a Nintendo Switch whenever there’s any kind of sale, regardless of the time of year. Amazon will likely offer the same console bundles on any other sale as it will on Black Friday or Amazon Prime Day, so there’s no real reason to wait if you’re in need of a Nintendo Switch.
That being said, there are sometimes some unique bundles and promotions during Black Friday that you won’t find any other time of the year. They usually include additional games (like the famous Mario Kart 8 bundle) or Switch accessories for free, but quantities tend to be limited. As always, do your research into the seller before you make a purchase and keep in mind that the Nintendo Switch 2 is on the horizon.
With how expensive gaming is getting in 2025, we're trying to save you as much money as possible on the games and other tech you actually want to buy. We've got great deal roundups available for all major platforms such as PlayStation and Xbox, and keep these updated daily with brand-new offers. If you're trying to keep costs down while maintaining your favorite hobby, stay tuned for more incredible discounts.
Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.
The Last of Us Season 2 showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin have confirmed “spores are back” following their omission from Season 1.
The latest trailer for the upcoming HBO show, below, teased the introduction of spores after they were left out of Season 1. We see Ellie, played by Bella Ramsey, view an infected whose breath releases the spores.
Warning! Spoilers for The Last of Us Season 1 follow.
In the video games, the cordyceps infection spreads via spores, which forces the characters to wear a gas mask at points. But for Season 1 of the TV show, spores were ditched in favor of tendrils, whose menace certainly appears more horrifying and cinematic. In Season 1, we see clickers sprout terrifying tendrils that simulate the way mushrooms communicate with each other through a root-like network.
There was a practical reason for the change, which is that using spores in the show would mean big-name stars like Pedro Pascal would be forced to wear a gasmask every other scene. While this works on The Mandalorian thanks to his cool helmet, a lot of the tension would be lost in The Last of Us, and tendrils are also way more menacing, visually speaking.
“It’s disturbing and it’s violative. I think it’s very primal in the way it invades your own body,” Mazin said in an interview with Variety about the decision to swap spores for tendrils, particularly in the final scene where Tess receives what can only be described as the world’s worst goodbye kiss.
Now, speaking at SXSW 2025, Druckmann confirmed there is "an escalation of numbers and types of infected, but also, as you see in the trailer, an escalation of the vector of how this thing spreads" in The Last of Us Season 2, adding: "Season 1, we had this new thing that wasn’t in the game of these tendrils that spread, and that was one form. And then one shot you see in this trailer, there are things in the air."
Mazin later confirmed "spores are back," before Druckmann added: "The reason [we’re doing it now], I mean, we really wanted to figure it out, and again, everything has to be drama. There had to be a dramatic reason of introducing it now. And there is."
HBO's plans to extend The Last of Us Part 2 beyond a single season, unlike the critically acclaimed Season 1 which covered the entirety of the original game. Mazin has said previously that Part 2 features a lot more story to cover, so while Season 3 isn't greenlit as of yet, they've built Season 2 with a "natural breakpoint" after just seven episodes.
Image credit: HBO Max.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
It’s March 10, 2025, so that means Nintendo is back with a slew of Mario Day reveals revolving around everyone’s favorite Mushroom Kingdom mascot.
As highlighted by the MAR10 hashtag floating around social media today, March 10 has served as Nintendo’s official (and clever) Mario holiday for the last few years. The appropriately named celebration always features announcements and treats for fans of the iconic plumber, and this year is no different. Although we’ve not yet seen anything quite on the level of 2024’s reveals, which included the promise that The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 will arrive next year, 2025 has already delivered some exciting Mario news.
More Mario Offerings for Nintendo Switch Online Subscribers
Just hours before MAR10 Day officially kicked off, Nintendo announced that the Super Mario Bros. 3 original soundtrack had been added to its Nintendo Music application for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. That means earworms like the World 1 Map tune Ground BGM are only a tap away, but there are even more deal sweeteners now available for Mario fans. Last Thursday, as an early surprise, Nintendo added the Game Boy releases of Mario’s Picross and Donkey to its library of Switch Online titles. It’s all available to help make MAR10 Day feel a bit more special right now.
Nintendo hasn’t been shy when it comes to adding more Lego sets based on its iconic cast of characters. While Mario has gotten plenty of love in this department in the past, the new Mario Kart build revealed as part of today’s festivities might be one of the toy line’s coolest yet. It’ll cost a whopping $170 when it drops May 15, 2025, but it also manages to pack in quite a bit of detail into the 1,972-piece kit.
Super Nintendo World Sweepstakes Offers 4-Night Stay for Lucky Fans
If you’re looking for every way you could possibly celebrate Mario Day, this new sweepstakes has you covered. As seen on the My Nintendo website, Nintendo account holders can now spend Platinum points to enter into a sweepstakes that will offer select users the chance to win a four-night stay at Universal Orlando Resort that includes access to each of its four theme parks. It’ll come with the freedom to enjoy Super Nintendo World when its Orlando location opens this May.
More Mario Day Events Across the Globe
JetBlue has partnered with Nintendo to create the Cloudtop Cruiser, a sky-blue aircraft featuring Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, and Bowser that will be used to transport fans. If flights aren’t your thing, you can enjoy more from Mario Day by participating in a Mario Kart 8 Deluxe community challenge that gives players until March 17 to complete 1 million in-game laps, collectively. A reward of 310 Platinum points will be gifted to those who participate in the challenge.
Meanwhile, Mario fans located in New York can visit the Nintendo store from 1pm – 4pm ET today to chat with Mario via an LED wall. Then, from 4pm – 7pm ET, the same location will offer meet-and-greet opportunities with Mario and Luigi. Those who can’t make the trek to New York may still be in luck, as starting March 15 from 12pm – 4pm. local time, select GameStop locations will allow players to demo Nintendo Switch titles such as Super Mario Party Jamboree, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and more. The GameStop events will also include Nintendo-themed giveaways.
Save Money on Select Mario Titles
Another Mario Day tradition involves respectable discounts for some of the video game plumber's most iconic titles, and 2025 is no different. On the My Nintendo Store and eShop alone are a bevy of deals for games like Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Super Mario RPG, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, and more. You can see a list of a few of the MAR10 Day deals we spotted here.
Mario Day Is Just Getting Started
While die-hard Mario Bros. fans do what they can to celebrate Mario’s big day, others are simply taking the time to celebrate on social media. You’ll be hard pressed to make it out of today without seeing enough fan creations to stop an army of Koopa Troopas in their tracks, but we’ve gone through the trouble to include some of our favorites below.
In honor of it, here are some of my favorite Mario references from Cartoons! What are some of your favorite Mario moments or apparances/parodies?? pic.twitter.com/gDum4rXw2E
— TRAFON(s Backup Account) (@RiseFallNickBck) March 10, 2025
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
If you’re in the market for a new power bank, the INIU 10000mAh is worth a look. Right now, it’s available on Amazon for $8.99—down from $22—when you use the 40% coupon and promo code 6XGER7UP . It’s a solid option for charging your phone, AirPods, and other small gadgets. This was a mighty deal last month and quickly sold out, so it's worth checking out if you missed out the last time.
Keep in mind that deals like this tend to disappear fast, so it might be best to act soon. This price is available only from the seller listed as Ships from Amazon, Sold by SimpleLife LLC. It also matches the Black Friday discount from last year.
I’ve been using this power bank myself, and I appreciate its reliability and value. If you need to charge multiple devices at once, you might also consider the 10ft Anker Nylon USB C 240W cable which is on sale for $11.99 today as well (down from $18.99). That's how cheap this INIU Power Bank is, getting some decent extra cables will cost you more than the portable charger itself.
For more deals, check out our roundups on the best offers for PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch—covering everything from games and storage to memberships.
Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.
March 10 is a big day for Nintendo. That's because it's MAR10 Day! Clever, right? In celebration of Mario, there's a variety of deals and drops on games and items related to the jumping plumber for Nintendo fans to check out. This ranges from LEGO sets to toys to games and so much more. We've included just a few of our favorite discounts from the sales below, but they only scratch the surface of what's out there right now.
Retailers including Best Buy, GameStop, Target, Walmart, and of course, the Nintendo eShop are all participating in MAR10 Day with different deals. Have a look through the sales below to see what catches your eye before the discounts disappear.
If there are any Nintendo Switch games you've been meaning to pick up lately, now's a good time. Lots of Switch games (in both physical and digital formats) are on sale right now for MAR10 Day, including, of course, plenty of Mario games. Click on your retailer of choice to see what's discounted. Notably, Amazon must be feuding with Nintendo these days, because it usually doesn't carry first-party Switch games anymore.
MAR10 Day 2025: Preorder the LEGO Mario Kart Set
One of the best MAR10 Day treats today is this Mario Kart LEGO set, which is up for preorder and priced at $169.99,releasing on May 15. Complete with 1,972 pieces, this set features the man himself in his Standard Kart. It also comes with a display stand to show it speeding off among your collectibles.
Mario LEGO Sets on Sale for MAR10 Day
Outside of the preorder above for the brand new Mario Kart LEGO set, there are plenty more great Mario LEGO set deals happening today. We've included some of the best options from Best Buy's sale above, including the LEGO Piranha Plant and Bowser’s Muscle Car Expansion Set.
Mario Plush Toys on Sale for MAR10 Day
There's also an adorable selection of plush toys discounted for MAR10 Day, including a red mushroom plushie and a ridiculously cute knit Kirby plushie. If you've been looking to pick up sweet stuffed toys for your collectible collection, or to snuggle, these are absolutely worth a look today.
If you're on the hunt for more Switch deals, it's worth checking out our dedicated roundup of the best Nintendo Switch deals. This features some exciting discounts on everything from games to hardware to accessories so you can save on a variety of items for your preferred platform. Or, if you'd like to see what deals are happening on other consoles, check out our breakdowns of the best PlayStation deals and the best Xbox deals.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelancer who writes with the guides and commerce teams here at IGN.
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