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© Future
It looks like we'll finally find out more about the return of Call of Duty Warzone's much-loved Verdansk map on March 10.
Activision first confirmed Verdansk would be making a return to Warzone last August, but at the time the publisher would only commit to a vague "spring 2025" window and not a specific date.
Now, however, players visiting the Call of Duty shop get a pop-up that reads: "The Verdansk Collection," and a countdown that looks set to explore a week today, on March 10, 2025 (thanks, InsiderGaming).
Accompanying the pop-up is a simple, tri-color sketch that shows an alpine scene of snow, pine trees, a dam, and a crashed plane — a familiar sight for anyone who spent time in Warzone's original sandbox before it was superceded by Verdansk '84 in Season 3, and then replaced completely by Caldera in 2021. Right now, the only way to revisit it is to play Call of Duty Warzone Mobile.
It'll be exciting news for fans who were told back in 2021 that "current-day Verdansk is gone and it's not coming back."
Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Season 2 is now live. It adds five Multiplayer maps — Bounty, Dealership, Lifeline, Bullet, and Grind — the return of the fan-favorite Gun Game mode, and new weapons and operators. And don't forget the super expensive Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crossover event.
Warzone, however, received less content than originally planned as the team works to address some of the more severe issues currently afflicting the game, including gameplay tuning, bug fixes, and quality-of-life improvements.
Vikki Blake is a reporter, critic, columnist, and consultant. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
© NetEase
Xbox 360 recompilation has begun with an unofficial PC port of Sonic Unleashed.
Sonic Team’s 2008 platformer launched on Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, and Nintendo Wii, before a PlayStation 3 version released in 2009. Sega never released a PC version.
Now, 17 years later, fans have taken it upon themselves to make a PC port of the Xbox 360 version of their own, dubbed Sonic Unleashed Recompiled. There’s even a trailer.
This is not a simple port or the game running on PC via emulation. Rather, it’s a ‘from the ground up’ PC version of Sonic Unleashed, which even includes enhancements such as high-resolution support, high framerate support, and mod support. It also runs on Steam Deck.
It’s worth noting that to play Sonic Unleashed Recompiled on PC, you need to own a copy of the original Xbox 360 game. This is because the port recompiles the original Xbox 360 version game files into a playable PC version through the process of static recompilation.
It’s a big moment for console recompilation. 2024 saw a number of classic Nintendo 64 games recompiled to work on PC, and now it looks like the Xbox 360 floodgates are open.
“That's it, Sega just lost the easiest 40-60 bucks ever,” one YouTube commenter said. “All we just wanted was a native PC port of Sonic Unleashed. Now we have, and it is 100% free and open source.
“Years of modding Unleashed's assets to Generations, and improving Xbox 360 emulation led to this breakthrough.”
“This is genuinely a huge moment for Sonic fan projects,” said another. “We now have an incredible native port of an incredible 17 year old game. Sonic Unleashed is the game that made me a Sonic fan and now I get to experience it in native HD 60fps with mod support. I'm really thankful for this.”
Added another commenter: “Genuinely one of the biggest moments in the Sonic the Hedgehog fan base ever. One of the most beloved games finally being available on PC. Whether official or not, I'm happy that it's here, and I'm happy that more people can play this legendary game.
“Thank you to all who were involved in the development of this, you are parts of history now.”
While enthusiasts point to fan work like this breathing new life into games thought consigned to history or unsupported on modern platforms, publishers may take a dim view as recompiled PC ports threaten official PC ports that may be in the works. The question now is, how will Sega react?
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.
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You know your video game has made it when it gets a Thomas the Tank engine mod. Skyrim, Resident Evil 2, Fallout 4, Elden Ring… the list of blockbuster games blessed with the terrifying sight and sound of Thomas is legend. Now, add Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 to the list.
It’s the latest work of Tom, aka Warhammer Workshop, the modder behind Space Marine 2’s excellent Astartes Overhaul. He’s added Thomas the Tank engine to the Ballistic Engine PvE mission, which is a perfect fit given it features an Imperial train station in which the Space Marines must escort a fusion battery that comes under attack from waves of Tyranids.
Space Marine 2's Thomas the Tank Engine mod is a work-in-progress, and still needs the audio effects fans have grown to love, but it's available to download from the Space Marine 2 Modding Hub Discord now if you fancy giving it a shot.
Check out how it looks in-game in the clip below:
Tom created some very Warhammer 40,000 flavor text to go along with the release of this mod, which fans of the franchise will enjoy:
Many of you are aware of the tribulations that have beset our sacred modding efforts.
In the face of these trials, I — reckless and desperate — made certain unwise vows to the dark and unknowable Saber Gods.
For a time, I faltered, my obligations left unmet, my soul teetering on the brink of damnation.
But no longer.
Through toil and sacrifice, through the wailing of machine spirits and the lamentations of my own sanity,
I have done what must be done.
THOMAS. HAS. COME.
A daemon-engine of unspeakable horror, an abomination of iron and heresy, a thing that should not be, and yet — here it is.
The warp has opened, and it has delivered unto us something far worse than any Black Crusade.
🔥🚂 THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE IS READY FOR WAR. 🚂🔥
His whistle drowns out the cries of the fallen.
His smile is an unblinking omen of annihilation.
The Emperor weeps. The Omnissiah recoils.
And yet, it is we who must bear witness.
Steel yourselves, warriors. Once you see him, you can never unsee him.
This train has no brakes.
Speaking to IGN (as a human from this reality), Tom said he’s also got a few other fun mods in the works, hinting at “a certain green ogre and a particularly mischievous goose.”
“As far as Thomas goes, while Saber obviously loves Warhammer, I think they were also excited to see some of the more meme-worthy mods — the kind of thing that’s fun to share around the office,” Tom added.
“There may or may not have been an unofficial understanding that modding tools wouldn’t be released until Thomas made his grand arrival.”
Saber has had an up and down relationship with Space Marine 2 modders ever since the game’s massive launch last year, but official tools are set to be released to the community further down the line, and the developer has shown a willingness to work with modders and enable them in-game in certain situations.
Meanwhile, Saber has released early Update 7 patch notes, teased Horde mode, and stamped out live service game talk amid a backlash to 'FOMO' Community Events. Earlier this year, Saber addressed growing frustration over a lack of content and outlined what players can expect from Space Marine 2 in the coming months.
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.
Spider-Man is officially web-slinging his way into Magic: The Gathering on September 26, 2025 and I couldn’t be more hyped. This is Magic’s first complete Marvel-themed Standard set, which means it’s not just a one-off Secret Lair drop.
It’s a fully draftable, deck-buildable, and collectible release featuring Spider-Heroes, villains, and iconic moments from Marvel history. Want to dig more into MTG Spidey? Our first look digs into the new set alongside some WOTC takes from executive producer Max McCall and head designer Mark Rosewater. Preorders are available right now from Amazon, (or Amazon UK), and here's what you can pick up.
Unlike past Universes Beyond sets, which have mostly focused on Commander, this one is playable in Standard, Commander, Legacy, and Vintage formats. Whether you’re looking to crack packs, build a Spidey-themed deck, or just collect some killer art, there’s a product for you.
The Scene Box is a great option for collectors and Commander players looking for something outside of Standard play. It features six traditional foil cards that are brand new to Magic, capturing some of Spider-Man’s most iconic battles. Alongside the cards, you’ll also get a themed storage box that showcases Spider-Man facing off against his legendary foes. This product isn’t Standard-legal, but it’s a fun way to get exclusive Spider-Man-themed cards for casual and Commander play.
The Play Booster Box is the best choice for those who love cracking packs and playing Limited formats. Each box comes with 30 Play Boosters, packed with a mix of Standard-legal cards, rares, mythics, and the chance for special Marvel-themed treatments. Since this set is a full Standard release, it’s ideal for drafting, sealed play, or just stocking up on cards for your collection. If you’re looking to experience the set in its purest form, this is the way to go.
If you want a bit of everything without committing to an entire booster box, Marvel’s Spider-Man Bundle is a solid middle ground. It includes eight Play Boosters, a special foil promo card, 40 basic lands (including 20 in foil), a spindown life counter, and a themed storage box. This is one of the best options for casual players who want some extra goodies along with their packs. At $69.99, it’s no surprise it’s the #1 best seller in collectible booster packs.
The Collector Booster Pack is pretty much an essential purchase for players looking to get the best pull rates for serialised and foil cards.. Each pack contains 15 cards, all featuring foils, extended-art treatments, borderless designs, or alternate-art variants. This is where you’ll find some of the rarest and most sought-after cards in the set.
Then there’s the Collector Booster Box, which was the ultimate premium product for this set—and it’s already sold out (For now, keep checking back). Featuring 12 Collector Boosters, this was the go-to option for serious collectors who wanted guaranteed foils, showcase cards, and the best odds at pulling the rarest cards in the set. If you missed out, you might have to wait for a restock or prepare for aftermarket prices once the set releases.
Stock availability is still pretty decent in the UK, with single play boosters still available. Here's what's available to preorder today.
These decks will be available at WPN (Wizards Play Network) game stores and used for new-player events. Fancy bringing someone into the Magic world? This is the perfect opportunity. Not sure where to find your local store? Here's the Wizard store and events locator.
Marvel's Spider-Man Welcome Decks take away the steep learning curve of MTG, making it easy to get friends and family involved in the Spidey launch events come September. These beginner-friendly decks come with two 30-card half-decks, allowing new players to mix and match different playstyles. One of the half-decks will always match the theme of the box.
The other is randomly selected from five different mono-color options, keeping things fresh for those who grab multiple decks. Each Welcome Deck also includes two reference cards and a deck box, making it an easy, low-pressure way to learn the game.
Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of "Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior". Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.
Overcoming an obstacle far larger than oneself, quite literally in the case of Monster Hunter: Wilds with its towering wyverns and hostile leviathans, has been a popular trope since David and Goliath. I, however, am no David – I have not toppled a foe far stronger than myself alone. That was, until I went into Wilds as my first ever solo Monster Hunter experience and discovered a whole new world to enjoy.
I had my first encounter with the Monster Hunter series over a decade ago, drawn in by its exciting gameplay and impressive beasts each with their own unique biology. But my younger self quickly discovered that my fear of these virtual monsters felt all too real. It took me hours just to best the first, and weakest, monster in the game and if that didn’t finish me off the quest time limit would. Years later, I returned to the franchise after a friend offered to ‘carry me’ (do all the hard and scary work) through the game until I felt more comfortable holding my own. I’m forever indebted to said friend, as I may have never truly enjoyed Monster Hunter without their help. The series became a staple game experience for me with each new title, though significantly always a cooperative experience with friends, partners, and occasionally strangers online. With the latest installment, Monster Hunter: Wilds, adding a new follower system and integrating its story and characters heavily into the main campaign gameplay, I was determined to enjoy it on my own.
Upon beginning in Wilds, you’re introduced to an ambitious overarching story, one which embeds you into an expedition team who join you throughout your adventure in significant ways. Everyone on your team has different functions, from Alma the ‘handler’ who you embark on quests with, to Gemma the smithy who crafts your weapons and gear. In Wilds, these characters don’t wait at a basecamp for you to use their services, they follow you in your quest and add character and explanation to the world around you. Teammates will provide tutorials to ease you into a variety of actions which show off Wilds’ world and the hunter’s skills to the fullest. Wilds reintroduces the slinger to the series, a device attached to your arm for grabbing and firing things at range. Despite the core gameplay relying on the many weapons at your disposal, the game constantly reminds you of the creative ways the slinger can be used in cutscenes and set pieces, often involving dramatically dropping boulders onto foes. This integration of the story and characters into the gameplay experience provides players with a variety of tools and incentives for playing the game solo, much like a traditional single-player RPG.
Wilds’ story is filled with colourful characters, but their presence extends beyond just cheering from the sidelines to directly involving themselves in your hunts. You’re joined throughout by your beloved Palico companion, a cat-like creature who fights monsters alongside you, albeit with smaller, cuter weapons. Palicoes have a history of appearing in Monster Hunter titles as helpful sidekicks, playing a supporting role as you take down monsters. Wilds takes things even further with its NPC followers, hunters fully equipped for battle like yourself but controlled by AI. Should a solo hunt be particularly challenging, or you just prefer to work in a team, you can quickly fire off an SOS flare from your slinger and be joined by a full group of hunters in seconds. The experience feels much like multiplayer, with a monster’s attention divided amongst everyone (offering you important moments of respite to sharpen or reload) and followers supporting you with buffs and healing throughout the fight. They aren’t incessant killing machines however, if left to their own devices they won’t finish the beast and take all the spoils for themselves. They work in synergy with you as the player and allow you to land the big, striking blows as well as the finishing strike. You still feel like the main character defeating creatures many times your size, just with the support of others. I would often switch from taking on smaller monsters solo, wanting to dance with the beast until one of us reigns triumphant, to calling in the full squad to support me for the fiercer titans.
The monster ecology is more alive and complex than ever in Wilds thanks to its seamless sprawling map full of interactive flora, fauna, and natural features. Fights range from fanged beasts hunting together in packs to wyverns traversing and climbing along the environment to utilise it to their advantage. Fighting a Balahara, a sand-dwelling serpentine monster, involves dodging it from above, as it spits mucus and jumps off hanging drops, to evading it from below, as it tunnels beneath your feet and even creates giant pits of quicksand to trap your team. Meanwhile Uth Duna, a massive leviathan only appearing during torrential rain, swims out of range to return for the kill with skyward leaps and resulting tidal waves, before escaping from you up waterfalls, adding a dramatic flair to battles that doesn’t hinge on cutscenes breaking the flow of gameplay.
Weather plays an important role in monster behaviour, environmental conditions, and even the overarching story. Each environment has three changing weather states: fallow, inclemency, and plenty. You’ll begin in each area during the fallow, before an inclemency will occur causing a major weather change ranging from thunderous sandstorms to blazing infernoes. During inclemencies you may have to dodge lightning or use cooling items against the heat, plus there’ll be new environmental triggers to play around with and give you the upper hand in battle. Inclemency is also when each region's apex predator will rear its head, foes who offer some of the game’s greatest challenges. Finallyoduces Seikrets – feathery raptors who kindly transport you along the environments. They can be summoned in a pinch with one command and will automatically pick you up and carry on running, ideal when a monster is giving you a lot of heat.
There are fourteen types of weapons at your disposal throughout the game, and you can practice with any type in the designated training area. If you’re new to the franchise, Alma will helpfully give you some questions about how you’d like to fight, then offer a weapon suggestion based on your answers: A hunter’s personality quiz, if you will. Each weapon has unique features and you’re welcome to switch around on your journey or find what works for you and commit. Whether you prefer clashing and retaliating against fierce blows or want to nimbly evade rains of fire, there are counter and dodge abilities to explore and practice for deeper gameplay. Though hacking and slashing will usually do the trick. A feature that really helped during my solo venture is the newly introduced focus mode, whereby you can aim your attacks and guards, plus see glowing red wounds which, when hit with powerful focus strikes, drop additional resources.
Monster Hunter: Wilds’ more challenging end game content takes the safety bars off as you leave the main story, but still carves out a path for solo play. After completing the story in ‘Low Rank’, you join ‘High Rank’ for the more intense battles and hardier monsters. Despite a reduced story-focus in High Rank, being less linear means there’s the freedom to take on monsters you’re comfortable challenging. Your rank progresses by completing any High Rank quest, not a set path of quests, meaning you can improve your gear and core skills however you prefer before returning to those monsters that give you extra trouble.
Monster Hunter: Wilds ushers in a new generation of the series with new environmental features and monster interactions, core gameplay mechanics, and immersive story and character implementation. Soloing a Monster Hunter game, arguably a beast I have found more intimidating than any of the deadly colossuses present in Wilds, not only felt possible, but rewarding thanks to the latest entry’s many features geared towards the solo hunter. After all of my solo training, maybe I can pay my friend’s kindness forward and help guide someone else getting acquainted with the series. I’m convinced, however, that even if I’m not around, they’d manage just fine.
John Cena followed up his shock heel turn at WWE Elimination Chamber by posting a Grand Theft Auto 6 image on social media, showing he’s well aware of the meme.
For the uninitiated, the 12-year wait for Rockstar to release GTA 6 has spawned a meme in which people highlight the surprising things they got before GTA 6’s release date.
In this case, it was a John Cena heel turn — his first in 20 years and a narrative shift many thought would never happen. To put it in other words, Cena, the WWE's superstar ‘good guy,’ the Make-A-Wish world record holder and all-round much-loved wrestler and actor, became a WWE ‘bad guy’ before we got GTA 6.
Clearly in on the meme, Cena took to Instagram to post an image of GTA 6 alongside its 2025 release window to his 21 million followers. No, that doesn’t mean Cena has just leaked his role in GTA 6 (although wouldn’t that be something!). Rather, he’s just leaning into the meme for a bit of social media fun.
While it’s clear that Cena’s a GTA 6 memer at this point, there’s still some speculation that his Instagram post is some cryptic hint about the game itself. Given the lengths some GTA fans have gone to to try to work out GTA 6’s release date or the release of Trailer 2, perhaps that shouldn’t come as a surprise.
So yes, John Cena’s bad guy era has officially begun before we got GTA 6, but it won’t be long before GTA 6’s release date after parent company Take-Two committed to its fall 2025 launch window.
In December 2023, a former developer at Rockstar attempted to explain why GTA 6 is coming to PC after it hits PS5 and Xbox Series X and S, and called on PC gamers to give the studio the “benefit of the doubt” over its controversial launch plans.
We’ve got plenty more on GTA 6, including Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick’s response to concern about the fate of GTA Online once GTA 6 comes out.
Photo by Rich Freeda/WWE via Getty Images.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Steam, the most popular digital game distributor for PC players, has once again broken its own concurrent user record, breaching 40 million players for the first time.
Over the weekend — which just so happened to coincide with Monster Hunter Wilds' launch on Friday, February 28 — Steam logged 40,270,997 simultaneous players, breaking its previous record of 39.9 million players set in February 2025.
In fact, according to SteamDB, Steam's concurrent record, seen by some as a way of measuring the success of Valve's digital platform, has been broken almost every single month since May 2024, with the concurrent peak rising from 35.5 million users to 40.2 million in a little more than six months.
And while that number includes idle players — that is, players with Steam open but not necessarily using it — the number of users actively in a game has hit a new record, too, jumping from 12.5 million to 12.8 million.
Steam saw a surge in player peaks across most of 2024, breaking its record twice in March and then again in July. This new peak is likely due to the release of Monster Hunter Wilds, which saw a 24-hour concurrent use peak of 1.38 million players, although 1.7 million also people logged onto Counter-Strike 2, too, with PUBG, Dota 2, and Marve Rivals also clocking up impressive 24-hour user peaks of 819,541, 657,780, and 268,283, respectively.
However, Monster Hunter Wilds has a ‘mixed’ user review rating on Steam, which has led to Capcom publishing official guidance for PC performance issues. Meanwhile, Capcom has announced early details for Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 1, which is set to add an endgame social hub for players.
To help get your Monster Hunter Wilds adventure started, take a look at what Monster Hunter Wilds doesn’t tell you, and a guide to all 14 weapon types in the game. We’ve also got a detailed Monster Hunter Wilds walkthrough in progress, a Monster Hunter Wilds multiplayer guide to explain how to play with friends, and if you’ve played one of the open betas, here’s how to transfer your Monster Hunter Wilds Beta character over.
IGN’s Monster Hunter Wilds review returned an 8/10. We said: “Monster Hunter Wilds continues to smooth off the rougher corners of the series in smart ways, making for some extremely fun fights but also lacking any real challenge.”
Vikki Blake is a reporter, critic, columnist, and consultant. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
© Future
Welcome back to another week and a visit from the discount fairy, who’s blessed us with a ton of deals. Let me get you up to speed with the best of that haul quick, fast, and in a hurry. The most obvious pick has got to be the colossal discount (and new price) of the PlayStation VR2 headset. I’m pretty obsessed with it myself and can point you in the direction of the games to get for it right now!
- Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness (N64) 2000. eBay
- Fight Night Champion (PS3,X360) 2011. Get
- Zelda: Breath of the Wild (NS) 2017. Get
Contents
Today on Nintendo Switch, you can grab Ori and the Blind Forest for a jaw-dropping A$7—an emotional indie masterpiece with animations so fluid, they rival a Disney project. Or, if chaos is more your speed, Everybody 1-2-Switch! brings party-game madness to your living room and potentially through your walls and TV (depending on how hard you play it).
Expiring Recent Deals
Or gift a Nintendo eShop Card.
Today on PC, the legendary Super Meat Boy can be nabbed for nada. This stupid-tough platformer was originally created by just two developers, one of whom hid cryptic messages in the game’s level design. This War of Mine: Complete Edition is another steal at A$3—this critically acclaimed survival game was so impactful that it was added to school curricula in Poland to teach students about the harsh realities of war.
Expiring Recent Deals
Or just get a Steam Wallet Card
Xbox fans, you can giddy on up with a historical low. Red Dead Redemption 2 is down to A$22, letting you clip-clop through the Old West with realistic horse physics that feature lifelike pooping (particularly when you brush your mount and it feels relaxed). Death Stranding: Director’s Cut also lands at A$27, and this mighty divisive “strand game” famously features a cameo by filmmaker Guillermo del Toro.
Expiring Recent Deals
Or just invest in an Xbox Card.
PS5 users can snag RoboCop: Rogue City for just A$13, a game so faithful to the original film that it even brings back Peter Weller as the voice of RoboCop. And for those craving high-flying action, Ace Combat 7 is A$26 with its cloud physics that were so advanced they had to be manually adjusted to avoid making dogfights too unpredictable.
Expiring Recent Deals
PS+ Monthly Freebies
Yours to keep from Mar 4 with this subscription
Or purchase a PS Store Card.
Expiring Recent Deals
Adam Mathew is our Aussie deals wrangler. He plays practically everything, often on YouTube.
The 97th Academy Awards, also known as the 2025 Oscars, took place on a very special night that celebrated the biggest movies from 2024 and the incredible people who brought them to the big screen.
There were 23 categories at this year's Oscars and no film won more than Anora. Alongside taking home the honor of Best Picture, Anora also won Best Director, Actress in a Leading Role, Writing (Original Screenplay), and Film Editing.
Close behind Anora was The Brutalist, as it won three awards, including Actor in a Leading Role, Cinematography, and Music (Original Score). Emilia Pérez, Wicked, and Dune: Part Two were the only other films to win multiple Academy Awards.
Other highlights from the night included a stunning opening performance by Wicked's Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, Emilia Pérez's Zoe Saldaña winning the Oscar for Actress in a Supporting Role and being the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award, and Paul Tazewell becoming the first Black man to win the Oscar for Best Costume Design.
What did you think of the 2025 Oscars? Let us know below and then check out which movie we said was the best of 2024!
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Steam has just set a new record of concurrent players. Earlier today, Valve’s service passed over 40 million concurrent players. To be more precise, it hit 40,270,997 concurrent players. Steam set its previous record of 39 million concurrent players in December 2024. In other words, it took around two months to break it. Let’s now … Continue reading Steam sets new record with over 40 million concurrent players →
The post Steam sets new record with over 40 million concurrent players appeared first on DSOGaming.
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Apple has a slew of products available beyond iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The tech giant has slowly begun to introduce various iPhone accessories over the last decade, such as Apple Watch, and these have proven to be a major success. Another major accessory we've seen from Apple is none other than AirPods. The market for wireless earbuds slowly began to grow popular in 2015, but nothing shook up the market more than the launch of AirPods. With many different models and product lines available, you might not remember each generation that Apple has released. Below, we've compiled every generation of Apple AirPods, so buckle up and prepare for a journey through this iconic device.
Apple has released a total of seven different Apple AirPods generations. The first model was released in 2016, with the latest arriving in 2024. We've included every AirPods release ever on this list, with the standard AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max all included.
The Apple AirPods (1st Generation) were the pair that started it all. Despite bundling in wired Apple EarPods with all iPhone models, this marked Apple's first jump into the wireless earbud space. The AirPods were brilliantly easy to use thanks to the Apple W1 Chip, which granted users the ability to flip open the AirPods and seamlessly connect them to any Apple device.
While Apple AirPods (2nd Generation) looked just like the original pair on the outside, numerous changes were made internally that paved the way for a significant upgrade. Apple first replaced the W1 chip with the H1, a chip that allowed for quicker connectivity overall. Additionally, while the battery life remained unchanged, Hey Siri functionality was added for users to quickly access Apple's AI assistant.
The AirPods Pro marked Apple's first foray into the premium wireless earbud market. Instead of an open-ear design, AirPods Pro has silicone tips that go inside your ear, which opened the door for both higher quality sound and Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). Apple offered two ANC modes on AirPods Pro: Active Noise Cancellation & Transparency Mode. The latter allows for voices to enter and mix with the sound while keeping all other noises cancelled out.
In 2020, Apple released the AirPods Max, a brand-new take on Apple AirPods. This model has a complete over-ear design, which looks much closer to the Sony WH-1000MX5 or Bose QuietComfort 45. AirPods Max still offers the best sound quality to date on any AirPods model, with a great balance and quality bass performance. Apple did release an updated version of the AirPods Max in 2024, but the only change was a USB-C port.
Apple AirPods (3rd Generation) was a major shakeup in design compared to the last generation. This time, the design was much closer to Apple AirPods Pro, with the case much more rectangular, and the AirPods themselves having shorter stems. This generation also improved the battery life in a big way, with over six hours of additional listening time on Apple AirPods (3rd Generation).
Three years after the release of AirPods Pro, Apple released AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) in 2022. This upgrade replaced the lightning port on the charging case with USB-C, increased water and dust resistance, and more. Sound quality was also much improved with this model, especially in regards to Active Noise Cancellation performance. Recently, Apple even added support for a clinically-validated hearing test to AirPods Pro (2nd Generation) that can gauge ear health and showcase listening habits to users.
The most recent AirPods model, Apple AirPods (4th Generation) marked the first time that Apple offered multiple models for one AirPods gen. You can choose between either the standard model or a model equipped with Active Noise Cancellation. A new design was made specifically to fit in as many user's ears as possible, with a solid upgrade in sound quality offered as well.
Right now, the next Apple AirPods launch we can expect is the next generation of Apple AirPods Pro. Since Apple chose not to reveal the new earbuds last Fall or alongside the iPhone 16e, it's likely that the reveal will be set for this Fall. Apple is set to release the iPhone 17 in September, so it's probably that any news regarding any next-gen AirPods Pro models will be released there.
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The weekend is officially here, and we've rounded up the best deals you can find! Discover the best deals for Sunday, March 2, below:
Woot has new Nintendo Switch OLED models available this weekend for just $269.99. While Nintendo Switch 2 is on the horizon, this is a great discount on the premier Nintendo Switch model. Since these units are Singapore Models, Woot has opened them up solely to replace the power adapter with the official USA one. You'll still have the Woot warranty, and the console itself is completely untouched.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is $37.99 at Woot right now. The massive adventure across the planet to track Sephiroth was one of the biggest games of 2024, and it's absolutely a must-play game. A 40+ hour main story awaits, with over 35 side quests available after you clear the story.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is one of the best games in the long-running RPG series. Kiryu Kazama returns following the events of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, uniting with Ichiban Kasuga in a wild adventure you won't forget anytime soon. While you should absolutely try to play through the series in order, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth can be played and enjoyed standalone.
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is back at its all-time low price this weekend! Vengeance is an enhanced version of the former Nintendo Switch exclusive SMT V, launched in 2019. The biggest feature available in this upgraded re-release is the all new Canon of Vengeance route, which is essentially 40 hours of new story content. At $24.99, this is a steal for what many considered one of the best RPGs of 2024.
Magic The Gathering announced new sets yesterday based on Marvel's Spider-Man, and you can already secure your bundles now at Amazon. A few of these sets have very limited stock left, so be sure to pre-order which bundles you'd like before they are all sold out!
Elden Ring Nightreign, a new multiplayer game from FromSoftware, is set to release for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC on May 30. You can explore the world and take on bosses with two other friends, making for a unique experience that's sure to stay engaging. Best Buy has opened pre-orders for Elden Ring Nightreign, and you can score a free $10 Best Buy gift card with any pre-order for a limited time.
Sea of Stars is an RPG that pays tribute to many of the genre's biggest hits, such as Chrono Trigger or Final Fantasy VI. Today, you can score a Nintendo Switch copy of the game for just $24.99. In our 8/10 review, we wrote, "Sea of Stars is an excellent tribute RPG that channels the best parts of its ‘90s-era forebears. It's not wholly original, but there are enough twists in its story to keep it interesting after the combat loses its luster."
Rise of the Ronin is one of the biggest 2024 PlayStation 5 exclusives to release, with the gamecoming from Team Ninja and Koei Tecmo. Set in 1863 Japan, you play as the Ronin and take down those coming from the West. This action epic offers well over 70 hours of content, with an excellent dive into a history somewhat unexplored in modern gaming.
You can also score the Nintendo Switch physical copy of MySims Cozy Bundle for $27.77 this weekend. This collection packs in both MySims and MySims Kingdom, offering two unique and charming games to experience.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD just released for Nintendo Switch in January, and you can already save over $15 off at Woot. If you enjoyed Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Returns HD is another excellent entry you are sure to have fun with. There are many different worlds to traverse through, with a variety of collectibles and items to discover.
The Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection has hit a new all-time low at Woot, priced at just $39.99. The first six Final Fantasy games paved the way for the series as we see it today. Many fans still regard both Final Fantasy IV and Final Fantasy VI as some of the best that Final Fantasy has to offer, with gripping narratives and engaging gameplay. This package includes all six Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters, which feature updated graphics, soundtracks, font, and more.
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It’s that time of year. Whether you’ve logged every nominee on Letterboxd or are just tuning in for the performances, The Oscars have arrived. A celebration of 2024 in cinema, Emilia Pérez leads the charge with the most nominations, though predictions cite Anora, The Brutalist, and Conclave as top contenders. And yes, I do believe Challengers got snubbed, but this is The Academy, so we've seen worse.
This year’s Oscars come with a couple of “firsts.” It's Conan O’Brien's first time hosting, but it's also the first year the Oscars will be available to watch live on a streaming service. If you’re hoping to tune in, here’s everything we know about how to watch the 2025 Oscars online.
The 97th Oscars ceremony is being hosted on Sunday, March 2. The Oscars officially start at 7pm EST/4pm PST, while the pre-ceremony red carpet show starts half an hour beforehand. The ceremony is always blocked out for three hours, though the full run-time can vary.
The Oscars are airing live on ABC and streaming on Hulu. This is the first year Hulu will simulcast the Oscars on its regular subscription tiers instead of just Hulu + Live TV. All Hulu subscriptions offer a 7-day free trial and are notably part of one of the more popular streaming bundles with Disney+ and Max. Otherwise, ABC channels are available through several live subscriptions, including YouTubeTV and fuboTV.
If you’re outside the US, the Oscars will be broadcast in more than 200 territories worldwide. You can check your international local listings by heading to this link.
Half of The Oscars is all the hullabaloo beforehand. Hulu will be airing the "Official Red Carpet Pre-Show," but plenty of local news stations will have their own "pre-shows" starting earlier in the afternoon. If you want to join in on the predictions and gossip, you can stream ABC News Live pre-shows for free through SlingTV's "Freestream" service.
Talk show host and comedian Conan O’Brien is hosting the Oscars this year, taking the mantle from Jimmy Kimmel, who hosted the two previous ceremonies. O’Brien is best known for his self-titled late night talk shows, though his most recent work is on the travel show Conan O'Brien Must Go.
The Academy has progressively revealed who will present at this year’s ceremony. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the full list includes Harrison Ford, Gal Gadot, Andrew Garfield, Samuel L. Jackson, Margaret Qualley, Alba Rohrwacher, Zoe Saldaña, Rachel Zegler, Dave Bautista, Joe Alwyn, Halle Berry, Sterling K. Brown, Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Ana de Armas, Lily-Rose Depp, Robert Downey Jr., Elle Fanning, Whoopi Goldberg, Selena Gomez, Goldie Hawn, Scarlett Johansson, John Lithgow, Cillian Murphy, Connie Nielsen, Amy Poehler, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, June Squibb, Ben Stiller, Emma Stone, Oprah Winfrey and Bowen Yang.
Several performances have been confirmed ahead of The Oscars. Variety reports that the ceremony will feature Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo performing live music from the soundtrack of 'Wicked.' Lisa, Raye, and Doja Cat, who recently released their joint single "Born Again," are also confirmed performers.
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Prices on Sword & Shield — Astral Radiance and Silver Tempest booster packs are climbing, and it is not just because people want to complete their sets. Stock is running low, and demand for chase cards like Alternate-Art Lugia V and Machamp V has pushed prices higher. If you have been putting off buying these, now is the time before they become even more challenging to find.
I have tracked down the best options for picking up multiple packs at a fair price. If you are hunting for Trainer Gallery hits, alternate arts, or rainbow rares, these are the best-sealed products that still offer great value.
Silver Tempest has been a fan favorite since its release, mostly due to its focus on Lugia VSTAR and its Alternate-Art Lugia V. The set features a mix of competitive staples and highly sought-after collector’s cards, making it one of the strongest releases in the Sword & Shield era.
Build & Battle Stadium includes 12 booster packs, a stack of Energy cards, dice, and markers. Some of the most valuable cards in the set include Regidrago V Alternate Art, Rainbow Rare Lugia VSTAR, and Serena Full Art, which has been a staple in competitive play. The Trainer Gallery also features Rayquaza VMAX, Blaziken VMAX, and the stunning Friends in Galar full art card. If you are looking for a set with high-value pulls, this is one of the best available options at a reasonable price.
Astral Radiance may not have the same level of hype as Silver Tempest, but it has some of the most unique alternate-art cards of the Sword & Shield era. This Build & Battle Stadium includes 12 booster packs, Energy cards, dice, and condition markers.
The most valuable card in the set is Alternate-Art Machamp V, which features a lively market scene. Origin Forme Dialga V Alternate Art and Origin Forme Palkia V Alternate Art have also held strong value due to their playability and striking artwork. Its Trainer Gallery is packed with top-tier cards, including Garchomp V featuring Cynthia, Starmie V with Misty, and Zacian V with Hop. If you are looking for Full Art Trainers, Irida and Adaman are some of the best in the set, with strong value in both competitive and collector markets.
For a more affordable way to open multiple sets, the 2022 Collector Chest is a great pick. It includes five booster packs, two from Astral Radiance, two from Silver Tempest, and one from Fusion Strike. The three foil promos feature Hisuian Voltorb, Hisuian Growlithe, and Hisuian Sneasel, making it a nice bonus for collectors.
Fusion Strike has some of the most expensive cards from the Sword & Shield era, including Alternate-Art Gengar VMAX, Espeon VMAX, and Mew VMAX Rainbow Rare. The Silver Tempest and Astral Radiance packs offer shots at Lugia, Machamp, and strong Trainer Gallery cards. For under £25, this is one of the best-value sealed products still available.
Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of "Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior". Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.
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United West Team has just released a demo for Fallout Revelation Blues. Fallout Revelation Blues is a mod that aims to recreate Black Isle’s canceled Fallout 3 game in Fallout: New Vegas. So, if you are fans of the Fallout franchise, you should definitely give it a go. The demo features Burham Springs, where players … Continue reading Demo released for Fallout Revelation Blues, a mod that aims to recreate Black Isle’s canceled Fallout 3 game in Fallout: New Vegas →
The post Demo released for Fallout Revelation Blues, a mod that aims to recreate Black Isle’s canceled Fallout 3 game in Fallout: New Vegas appeared first on DSOGaming.
Sonic fans, get ready for a treat. A team of programmers and modders has released an unofficial PC port of the Xbox 360 Sonic game, Sonic Unleashed. This unofficial PC port is available for download right now. Titled Unleashed Recompiled, this unofficial PC port was created through the process of static recompilation. The port offers … Continue reading Download and play an unofficial PC port of Sonic Unleashed →
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There's a brand new LEGO Harry Potter set that just arrived and I'm thinking about buying it myself. The Knight Bus Adventure set recreates the iconic triple-decker bus from the Harry Potter movies and looks like it would be really fun to build. Priced at $50, this set is a lot cheaper than the larger Hogwarts Castle set that was on sale last week and looks like it would more easily be displayed on my small desk. As far as Harry Potter gifts for yourself go, it's an enticing new option to consider.
The Knight Bus Adventure is just the latest addition to a long line of Harry Potter sets that already exist. If you're interested in getting it yourself, it is now available at Amazon, LEGO direct, and all of the other best places to buy LEGO.
We first see the Knight Bus during the first half of The Prisoner of Azkaban as Harry experiences his first magical public transit ride. In this set, it's depicted much the same and even includes moving beds and a swinging chandelier on the inside. You also get minifigures from the movie, including Harry Potter, Ernie Prang, Stan Shunpike, and Padfoot. The build is 499 pieces, so it can be easily put together all at once during an afternoon.
Like I mentioned above, there are a lot different Harry Potter LEGO sets you can buy. While this one is pretty cool (and probably the only set that will ever feature Stan Shunpike), there are plenty of other options worth considering.
Looking at 2025 so far, I can definitely say with some confidence that there will eventually be more Harry Potter sets. There were quite a few new sets released back in January and then this latest set on March 1. Though we don't have any confirmation that there will be more LEGO Harry Potter sets this year, it seems like a sure thing we'll see more in 2025.
Another upcoming Harry Potter-themed thing coming out this year is a new interactive illustrated edition of The Goblet of Fire in October. Following that, the upcoming Harry Potter TV series will be bringing new interpretions of the characters into the fandom. We can likely expect new LEGO sets to go along with that show before it releases in 2027.
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There are very few young adult novels as successful as the Hunger Games books. Suzanne Collins released the first book in 2008 and has since released three more books and a total of five movies. And it doesn't stop there as just last year Collins announced yet another book in the series with a movie already in the works.
The next Hunger games book, titled Sunrise on the Reaping, is set to come out on March 18, 2025. Despite only being a preorder, the hardcover edition has already jumped into the second spot on Amazon's best-sellers list of books. It has officially surpassed Onyx Storm on this list, which had a wildly successful debut in January and topped last year's Amazon charts ahead of its release.
The hardcover edition of Sunrise on the Reaping is currently receiving a 30% discount on Amazon, dropping the price under $20. You can find a similar discount on the Kindle version of the book.
The new Hunger Games novel is the fifth book in the series, but it will be taking place in an entirely different place on the timeline. Sunrise on the Reaping is set about 40 years after the events of The Ballad of Songbird and Snakes and 24 years before we reach Katniss' story in the original Hunger Games novel. The story will be taking place during the Second Quarter Quell, which was won by Haymitch Abernathy. If you've read the original novels, you'll know that Haymitch was the mentor for District 12 and portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the films.
If you'd prefer to wait for the film adaptation of this novel, it already has a release date of November 20, 2026.
If you've never actually preordered anything from Amazon before, it's worth noting that if you purchase this book, it includes Amazon's preorder price guarantee. According to Amazon's own help page, this means that if the price decreases between now and when the item ships, you'll pay the lowest price. So in this case, if there ends up being an even bigger discount than the one we're seeing right now, that's what you'll pay. Though, it is unlikely that the preorder price will drop much lower than it is right now with the 30% discount.
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