© Future
It's no secret that Delicious in Dungeon has quickly become one of the most popular manga out there. The series has taken off ever since the anime was released, with a second season currently in the works. Manga as a whole can be an expensive hobby, as standard volumes can cost upwards of $12. Box sets are usually the best way to save money, and you can now save over $80 off the Delicious in Dungeon 14-volume box set. Take home the complete series today and add 14 manga volumes to your shelf at a steep discount during Amazon's massive book sale happening now.
If you've never read a manga before, Delicious in Dungeon is a great place to start. This series follows Laios, Marcille, Chilchuck, and Senshi on a quest to revive their friend. To survive along the way, the crew must make meals out of monsters in the dungeon, which brings many instances of comedy that are sure to make you laugh.
This Delicious in Dungeon box set includes a unique box that opens up to reveal a mimic, in addition to an exclusive fold-out poster highlighting the different monsters the party eats along the way. Plus, you get every volume of the series! What's not to love?
In our Episode 1-6 review of the Delicious in Dungeon anime series, we wrote, "Delicious in Dungeon’s charming character work, playful comedy, luxuriously presented dishes, and the loving depiction of their creation would be pleasing by itself. But its world-building and earnest reflections on the value of the rituals of cooking – even as it pokes fun at its main character’s absurd mindset – have made it unmissable appointment viewing."
Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused on nonsense-free Japanese gaming (in 2019) and has contributed to various publishers writing about the medium.
As part of Amazon's ongoing book sale, J.R.R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion is discounted by 57%, the lowest it's been on Amazon in 2025 so far. Get it while it's hot, because this sale is ending Monday, April 28. This is the illustrated edition, which includes hand-drawn color illustrations by Tolkien himself, detailed maps of Middle-Earth, deeper lore and world-building, and early histories of key characters throughout the epic saga. Christopher Tolkien took on finishing and editing the Silmarillion after his father's passing, offering a deeper look into the storied author's vision for what Middle-Earth would become.
The Silmarillion breaks down the early history of its fictional universe Eä and the lands contained within, including Valinor, Beleriand, Númenor, and, of course, Middle-Earth. Broken up into five distinct parts, readers can expect deep lore exposition, extensive historical accounts of the First Age, and summaries of the Third Age stories we know and love, the Lord of the Rings.
The Lord of the Rings franchise is no stranger to works in other mediums, like Monolith's game Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor, Magic: The Gathering crossover cards, and Prime Video's live-action series Rings of Power. In IGN's review of Rings of Power season 2, we said "[season 2] does a great job portraying Sauron’s machinations and his impact on those he manipulates, but too much time is spent on disconnected subplots delivering only mediocre intrigue and thin characters."
Myles Obenza is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Bluesky @mylesobenza.bsky.social.
While an iPad is a great investment in itself, typing on a touch screen is a huge pain, especially when you have to type more than a few words at a time. This makes a keyboard the best iPad accessory for anyone who wants to type away on their iPad like they would a laptop.
In some instances, you can find a keyboard that doubles up as a great iPad case. Because these keyboards are made by hundreds of different manufacturers, we went ahead and gathered our favorites here. Many of our selections work seamlessly with the latest iPad Air and 11th generation iPad models for those looking to accessorize Apple’s newest tablets.
Additional contributions by Dave Johnson
You don't have to look far into Logitech's portfolio of products to find a great keyboard for just about any setup, and that's the case for the iPad as well. Logitech's Pebble Keys 2 K380s, the follow-up to the K380, is the perfect portable companion to your iPad. With this model, you get an upgrade to the battery life, lasting a whopping three years, plus a few additional shortcuts. Its Bluetooth improvements ensure a more reliable connection to your iPad, while a Logitech Bolt receiver support is great for pairing laptops and PCs. Easy-Switch buttons are still included to make swapping between three connected devices a breeze.
The Pebble Keys 2 K380s keeps a similar design to the original, offering a slim, compact, and lightweight build. It features low-profile scissor keys that are fluid and quiet for a typing experience similar to a laptop. They’re also a unique rounded shape, giving the keyboard a distinct aesthetic. Even though the keyboard is compact, it doesn't cramp together the keys too tight or skimp on useful controls.
Along with the impressive upgrades we discovered in our review of the iPad Pro M4, Apple’s Magic Keyboard also got a few enhancements, making it our favorite keyboard for Apple’s high-end tablet. By all appearances, this keyboard looks similar to previous models, offering a premium, sleek build with a floating cantilever design to find the perfect viewing angle. However, this time around, the keyboard is a little bit lighter and offers a slightly bigger glass trackpad with haptic feedback and Multi-Touch gesture support.
Connecting your device to the keyboard is simple thanks to a series of ultra-strong magnets. These magnets are in a new spot, so, unfortunately, the Magic Keyboard will only work with the latest models. Although no wires are required for a link to the tablet, a USB-C port for passthrough charging is available to keep the tablet topped off. When the iPad isn’t in use the keyboard wraps around it, acting as a protective case.
Typing on the Magic Keyboard is a pleasant experience with the scissor key switches offering similar feedback to the best Macbooks. The keys are slightly more cramped than the notebook but shouldn’t take long to get used to. Still, Apple managed to squeeze in 14 function keys to adjust brightness, volume, and more. Given all that’s on offer, this keyboard and case combo can turn your iPad into a viable laptop replacement.
For an affordable and portable option, the Omoton Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard is a great choice, costing just $20. This compact keyboard weighs 9.9oz, so it won’t weigh you down when you toss it in your backpack alongside your iPad. It’s also wonderfully thin at 0.24 inches, is AAA battery powered, and has Bluetooth pairing. Blending white and metallic silver with responsive low-profile scissor keys on an ergonomic angle, the design even fits nicely with Apple’s aesthetic.
The majority of the keyboards designed for portability lack a backlight since running those depletes the battery far quicker, so most manufacturers opt out to save on juice. Still, when typing in darker spaces, lighting is often necessary, and the Harburfine 7 Color Backlit Bluetooth Keyboard is a great solution.
Beyond being wildly inexpensive, Harburfine’s keyboard offers bright backlit keys. It’s not just a basic white glow either; it cycles through seven different colors to fit your mood. An auto-sleep mode will turn off the lights due to inactivity, helping save on battery. Power comes from an integrated rechargeable battery, so forget about disposable batteries. However, the battery only lasts about four hours with the backlights illuminated. If they’re off, 15-20 days of juice can be expected depending on usage.
The Harburfine 7 Color Backlit Bluetooth Keyboard is one of the best travel keyboards thanks to its ultra-compact design, weighing less than half a pound and measuring about a quarter inch thick. Just be sure to keep it safely tucked away when not in use since it’s a little flimsy. When it’s time to get typing, the keyboard seamlessly connects to an iPad via Bluetooth. And once connected, the scissor keys are quiet and decently responsive.
You don’t see too many unusual keyboards these days, so we welcome the more unique iClever BK03. This device is interesting because it folds up for travel, resembling something like a deck of cards, but then unfurls to 10 by 3.5 by 0.3 inches. Unlike most of the other travel keyboards you’ll find for the iPad, which are made mostly of plastic, this model is made almost entirely of aluminum. That shows in its weight, 6.3 oz, but also in aesthetics, ruggedness, and durability.
Open it up and it powers on automatically, and then the iClever BK03 goes to sleep automatically after 15 minutes of inactivity to conserve battery life. It’s equipped with a rechargeable battery that iClever claims runs for over 80 hours of continuous use and can hold a charge while asleep for over 200 days. And while compatibility is limited, it can connect to iOS, Android, and PCs. You can even switch among three paired devices with a keyboard shortcut. It does have an Achilles Heel: The unfolded keyboard doesn’t lock rigidly in place, meaning you can only really use it on a hard surface like a desktop. Most one-piece keyboards work perfectly fine on a mushy bed or in your lap, but not the iClever BK03.
When you don’t plan on taking your keyboard on the go, you might as well grab a quality full-size keyboard that works nicely with your PC and laptop, too. The Logitech MX Mechanical is the perfect option with its responsive mechanical switches, a full number pad, arrow keys, and function keys – some with double labels for a Windows or Mac machine. The keys are also low profile and feature smart backlighting, making for a more enjoyable typing experience.
You’ll connect to your iPad using low-power Bluetooth, but this wireless keyboard also features a tiny 2.4GHz wireless dongle for low latency when on your laptop or PC. Three included keys make swapping between using three different saved devices a breeze. As for battery life, the Logitech MX Mechanical juices up using a USB-C. With a full charge, you get 15 days of power when the backlighting is on and 10 months with it off. If you're looking for a more compact keyboard, take a look at the mini version.
If you suffer from repetitive stress injury or just prefer the feel of an ergonomic keyboard, you’re generally out of luck when it comes to portable keyboards for the iPad – most keyboards are as straight as a ruler. However, the iClever BK06 is a split keyboard with an angled ergonomic layout. It is more or less a keyboard divided in half. If you’re not already a split keyboard user, it will definitely take some practice to get used to, but once you hone your muscle memory, you might love the more comfortable angle.
It’s not just an ergo keyboard; it also folds for travel, sort of like the BK03, also from iClever. While the BK03 is all aluminum with mechanical hinges, the BK06 is a rubberized affair with a flexible membrane serving as a floppy hinge. It’s only 6.2 x 4.0 x .5 inches when folded. The keyboard also includes a rechargeable battery and can run for about 40 continuous hours or 30 days of standby. And the keyboard is compatible not just with the iPad, but with all iOS devices and Windows computers.
The easiest way to get an iPad to act like a laptop is with a keyboard folio cover, and we’re big fans of the Logitech Combo Touch. It’s similar to Apple’s Magic Keyboard but costs significantly less and works just as well, if not better than Apple’s offering. Pairing is equally simple with Logitech’s keyboard due to the inclusion of Smart Connector. Power is also sourced directly from the iPad ensuring battery life is never an issue. However, the model we’ve chosen only works with the new iPad A16 and 10th generation iPad.
Logitech’s design differentiates from Apple's. The Combo Touch is a far superior case, as the edge of the iPad is fully protected to help keep it extra secure in bags or during the occasional drop. Even with the added peace of mind, it still keeps compact dimensions, adding minimal bulk to the iPad. We’re also big fans of the kickstand for better flexibility using the display, while the keyboard can be easily removed from the rest of the case to use the iPad in handheld mode.
Using the keyboard is an all-around pleasant experience. The keys are well-spaced and extremely responsive but slightly more cramped together than a traditional keyboard. For easier typing in dimmer spaces, the backlit keys even automatically adjust. As for the trackpad, it's precise and supports Multi-Touch gestures.
Want to split off your iPad from a keyboard at will? This Zagg keyboard and case will do the trick. The keyboard connects to the iPad via Bluetooth, and you can easily detach it from the base when you don’t need it without having to take your iPad out of the case. The keyboard also acts as a screen protector when folded up, making it an ideal option for those who travel.
If you don’t foresee yourself doing tons of typing on your iPad – maybe just writing short messages and notes – then you can get by with just the device's touchscreen keyboard. But for those planning to write more than a couple of sentences, your typing experience will greatly improve when pairing a phyiscal keyboard. Keyboards deliver a satisfying response, allow you to type faster, and don’t take up a portion of the valuable screen real estate like the touchscreen keyboard on the iPad. Keyboards can even give you an advantage when playing some of the best iPad games.
Danielle is a Tech freelance writer based in Los Angeles who spends her free time creating videos and geeking out over music history.
If you're looking for a new gaming monitor but you're on a tight budget, then this deal is right up your alley. Amazon is currently offering a 27" KTC gaming monitor for only $103.99 shipped after you clip a $15 off coupon on the product page. This item has over 1,800 reviews on Amazon with an average 4.4/5 star score and a respectable Fakespot "B" rating. It has plenty of gaming features you wouldn't expect at this price point.
The KTC H27T13 is a 27" monitor with a 2560x1440 resolution, which averages out to a sharp 109ppi pixel density. It's equipped with a pre-calibrated IPS panel with good color reproduction and wide viewing angles. It's decently fast with a refresh rate up to 100Hz and G-Sync compatibility. KTC includes a 3 year warranty.
If you're considering this monitor, chances are you're pairing it with a budget gaming PC setup. You probably don't need an expensive monitor with a 4K resolution that will overly tax your PC or 240Hz refresh rate that will be hard to achieve. G-Sync technology, however, is especially useful for these budget builds, since your fps is more likely to fluctuate than higher-end builds and adaptive sync helps provide a smoother and tear-free experience. This is a good monitor to pair with something like an RTX 4060, 4070, 5070, or the new Radeon RX 9070 GPU.
If you're looking for a monitor with higher refresh rate, check out this deal reserved for Amazon Prime members. The Arzopa C-M1RC gaming monitor features the same 2560x1440 resolution, but boasts a faster 180Hz refresh rate. It's also G-Sync compatible, so it pairs especially well with budget gaming PCs. The M1RC has three separate connectivity options: HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB Type-C. The USB Type-C port can connect to your laptop or PC for video, but make sure you have a good cable (i.e. Thunderbolt compatible) in order for this to work. Also the USB Type-C port doesn't support power delivery, so you'll still need to connect a power cable into the monitor as well.
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.
Like a member of the Mythic Dawn popping out of a secret room to stab the emperor in the back, a remaster of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion has shown up out of nowhere, and it’s a dagger I’ll gladly throw myself on. As one of my favorite RPGs ever, it’s no surprise that I’ve already put in a full day’s worth of playing: I’ve closed a dozen Oblivion gates as the hero of Kvatch, made Faustian bargains with a bunch of Daedric gods, fought to become champion of the arena in the Imperial City, and am well on my way to completing a few of the faction questlines – and so far I’m quite impressed by the substantial upgrades of this new version. I recently revisited the original Oblivion, so with its shortcomings very clear in my mind, the improved UI, revised voice lines, and especially the graphical overhaul have made this nearly 20-year-old classic massively more playable. That said, I’ve also seen a disappointingly recognizable amount of jank, like weird animations when getting on a horse, broken questlines, and regular framerate hitching. But as someone who is pretty immune to the charms of nostalgia alone, I’m still having a fantastic time returning to this adorably weird open-world adventure.
It probably goes without saying that the graphical upgrade is Oblivion Remastered’s biggest improvement. While things definitely don’t look anywhere near the normal standards of today, putting this version side-by-side with its 2006 doppelganger is eye-raisingly impressive. The entire map is crisp, with a draw distance my teenage-self could have only dreamed of. Lighting, shadows, and character lip syncing in particular have been overhauled so much that it’s actually kind of shocking. That said, other things bizarrely didn’t get the memo, like the faces of NPCs, which are almost universally hideous and cartoonish and have about a 40% chance of being cross-eyed. (Although, honestly, being horrified by character faces might actually be part of the authentic Oblivion experience.) So not every Nord and mudcrab is as beautiful to look at as your typical big budget game in 2025, but it’s still a total glow up. It’s one of those situations where I somehow remember things looking just like this in 2006, even though they very clearly looked much worse, which speaks to how the spirit and style of the original has been maintained.
Perhaps the thing that has had the biggest impact on gameplay in Oblivion Remastered is the inclusion of a sprint button. If you haven’t played Oblivion in over a decade, yes, there was no sprinting – wild, I know – and if you never played it, just understand that you’ll never truly know this gift you’ve been granted from Akatosh himself. I don’t even really mind that I’m now losing stamina by sprinting (something that annoys me in RPGs where you’re literally always running around). It’s worth it, even if it does have the odd side effect of making the entire map feel smaller, especially cities and dungeons that can now be fully explored in about half the time. This change has also made me care a whole lot more about investing in skills and magical buffs that increase my stamina, since now I’m using that meter for nearly everything I do. But despite the extra fiddling that causes, moving quickly through areas I already know like the back of my hand makes for a remarkably less tedious time.
There are also a bunch of major changes to the UI, skills, and leveling system, as well as an entirely new feature called Character Origins, which seem to further modify starting stats. The UI has been modernized with today’s design sensibilities, so there are lots of appreciated additions you might not even notice. The compass has moved to the top of your screen and provides way more information; the health, magicka, and stamina meters are now spaced out across the screen instead of being shoved into one corner together; and the menus are much more intuitively placed, so you can toggle between your spells and character stats a lot faster. Some elements still feel pretty old timey – like the quest log popping up right in the middle of the screen anytime you’ve reached a new milestone in one, awkwardly interrupting whatever you were doing – but most of these annoyances haven’t bothered me much just yet. I also just need to spend more time with the altered leveling system and skills to understand if those changes were for better or worse.
Although developer Virtuous Games headed up this remaster, this is still a Bethesda game through and through, and with that comes a lot of bugs. I've already seen odd stuff, like one time when an Oblivion gate disappeared before my eyes, or how an NPC walked away and wouldn’t let me talk to them even when my quest objective told me I had to (though I was still able to advance the questline despite the log not updating, otherwise I’d be madder about that). Then there’s just plain and simple performance issues I’ve seen while playing on Xbox Series X, like how I lose frames for a second or two anytime the autosave triggers or if I’m battling too many dirty, rat-faced scamps in Kvatch. So far most of this has been the usual cheeky blunders that generally don’t ruin my time, but it’s definitely a bummer to see that two decades wasn’t long enough to fix this janky fantasy world.
That’s all I’ve got for now, but am hoping to have a full review before too long. First I want to wrap up the main quest line, pay a visit to the Shivering Isles, and maybe go on a rampage across Cyrodil just to hear the Imperial guards give me their arrest monologue a few hundred more times. Okay. That’s it. Gonna go catch vampirism or something now. Goodbye.
Amazon is hands down one of the overall best places to buy books online. Although the site has now expanded to selling every other type of product under the sun, the mega-retailer got its start as an online book store and it definitely shows whenever there's a sale. The big Amazon Book sale has just begun and it's already the largest collection of discounts on novels, comics, and box sets we've seen in 2025.
I've highlighted some of the best discounts from the sale below, but if you're hoping to check out the sale yourself, you can dive right into the main landing page right here. With prices as low as $6 for popular titles, now is a great time to buy some books for your personal collection.
The Amazon book sale is fairly robust and it can sometimes be hard to find what you're looking for within it. I've featured the best deals I've found so far, which leans pretty heavily toward my own reading interests, but the sale expands to all other genres. If you are looking for something very specific, the best way to go about searching for it is to first go to Amazon's main deals landing page and then use the search bar to narrow it down. This will automatically populate your search with only things on sale rather than filtering by category.
Of the things that I have found in this sale, the discounts on Lord of the Rings books seem like the most obvious callout. There is a cool box set that is currently at its lowest price for 2025 and the incredible illustrated Silmarillion has also dropped to its lowest ever price. Outside of this, there's a deal on the new Kindle Colorsoft that drops the price to the lowest it's ever been. This model is a great option if you're hoping to use an ereader for comics specifically. And if you are looking for deals on comics and graphic novels, there's currently a sale on Marvel comics that is worth browsing. We've already found a really great discount on The Death of Wolverine Omnibus that's worth checking out there.
Outside of books, comics, and manga, I also found a pretty cool Harry Potter gift at its lowest price. The collectible Quidditch set features a small trunk filled with a Quaffle, two Bludgers, and a removable Golden Snitch. Unfortunately, no Harry Potter books are included in this sale.
According to Amazon, the book sale is set to end on Monday, April 28. Based on that information, you should have plenty of time to shop the discounts over the upcoming weekend.
Amazon is offering a great discount on one of the best budget headphones you can find. For just $49, the JLab JBuds Lux Over-Ear Headphones offers features you'd find in headphones that can cost 5x-10x as much, like wireless connectivity with Bluetooth Multipoint, active noise cancellation, spatial audio technology, and more. Most importantly, sound quality is better than any other headphone in its price range.
SoundGuys recently reviewed the JLab JBuds Lux and gave these headphones an absolutely glowing review, mentioning that they were one of the best headphones under $100. SoundGuys considered them an extremely good value at their retail price of $79. At the current price of $49.99, it's hard to find a better bang for your buck, and it's especially nice that all four color options have been discounted.
The JLab JBuds Lux's laundry list of premium features include large 40mm drivers, Dolby Atmos compatible Spatial Audio, support for PlayStation Tempest 3D AudioTech and Windows Sonic, hybrid active noise cancellation, a "Be Aware" mode that lets you listen in on your environment, built-in microphone for hands-free calling, up to 70 hours of battery life on a single charge (40 hours with ANC enabled), USB Type-C charging, and Bluetooth Multipoint.
These headphones even look the part. The JLab JBuds Lux are thoughtfully designed for both comfort and performance, with cushy earcups that conform to your ear while also providing an effective seal for passive isolation, a padded headband for prolonged comfort, and a foldable design that makes them easy to tote around.
For more options, check out our list of the best noise canceling headphones of 2025. Be forewarned that they are far more expensive than the JLab Lux. Our top pick - the Sony WH-1000XM5 - for example, sells for over $300 on Amazon.
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.
When it comes to fantastical book series that shaped our childhoods, Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians is one of the best. With the first season two of the Percy Jackson Disney+ series arriving later this year, we're here to lay out what makes the books so special and the order you need to read the books in to make the most of the series.
Jump to Series:
Imagine a world where modern Greek gods have children with the powers of demigods. That's the fantastical concept at the center of the Percy Jackson and The Olympians book series. Created by Rick Riordan, the stories begins following the titular son of Poseidon as he traverses the secret world of mythical gods, goddesses, and their superpowered offspring. Over the original series and two sequel series The Heroes of Olympus and The Trials of Apollo, the world has expanded massively bringing new characters and new generations of fans to the Greek-myth inspired universe that has been enchanting readers since 2005.
There are a total of 18 books in the Percy Jackson universe, which are spread across three different series. The original Percy Jackson and the Olympian series features 7 books as of 2025 with the release of Wrath of the Triple Goddess just last year.
If you're looking to add a collection of books to your shelves at home, there are a few box sets available. Below are links to both the paperback and hardcover versions for each series:
In the original novel that sparked off the series, Percy Jackson, discovers that his normal life is not what it seems. Rather than being a normal 12 year old trying to get through school with ADHD and Dyslexia, he's actually a demigod! His life is turned upside down when he's accused of stealing Zeus' lightning bolt. It's not just that he's accused of being a thief though, as he also learns that he's the son of none other than the god Poseidon. Soon he's swept away to a summer camp for demigods known as Camp Half-Blood where he must solve the mystery of Zeus' stolen master bolt and find his way as the son of a god that he's never known.
After discovering Camp Half-Blood and his new life in the first book, in The Sea of Monsters Percy and his friends have to come together to save the place they first met. When the magic that protects the camp begins to fail the crew must head to the titular ocean in order to find a powerful artifact. But they don't have much time and in case you didn't realize the Sea of Monsters is filled with just that. Many, many dangerous creatures fill the pages of this epic adventure, as Percy navigates rough seas and family secrets as he tries to save the day.
As the title hints, this story pushes the Greek mythology of Percy Jackson into the realm of the legendary Titans. When Percy is enlisted to help his old friend Grover he knows something dangerous must have happened, but not even he can guess what's coming. New demigods are on the horizon and with them comes the threat of one of the oldest beings in the world Kronos who hasn't forgiven the teens for besting him. That's not all though as there's also the matter of a massively powerful ancient monster, and the titular curse to keep them busy.
Though he's starting freshman year, things are far from normal for Percy Jackson. With the war between the Titans and the Gods threatening to spill over into every part of life he can barely catch a break, so when demon cheerleaders show up at school he can't believe his bad luck. Reimagining the classic Greek Myth of Daedalus and the Minataur, Percy and his Camp Half-Blood buds have to venture deep into the depths of the Earth to defeat the challenges of an intricate maze in order to stop the destruction of all that they hold dear.
It's a race to save the legendary Mount Olympus as Percy and his friends must come together in order to defeat the Titans. Luckily they've been training all year for just this but as Kronos starts his attack on New York, can the young demigods actually stand against him? This is the epic finale to the battle that began long ago in The Lightning Thief and throws the mythical world of Camp Half-Blood onto the streets of Manhattan for a world-changing fight of the ages.
Introducing a new roster of young characters to root for, this book centers on a demigod named Jason who loses his memory on a school trip and ends up becoming entangled in the world of the Olympians. After revealing his powers and being taken to Camp Half-Blood, Jason and his friends must help find the now missing Percy Jackson. But as they undertake their quest they discover some shocking truths about Camp Half-Blood and come up against its rival Camp Jupiter. This super fun expansion of the Percy Jackson universe melds Greek and Roman mythology to set up a whole new series of Olympian adventures!
Fans were desperate to know what happened to Percy and in the second Heroes of Olympus book they got an insight into his new status quo. Just like Jason, Percy has lost his memory and in a shocking twist finds himself on the run in California with nowhere to turn. Helped by Roman deities and new friends, Percy manages to reach Camp Jupiter discovering that Camp Half-Blood isn't the only demigod training ground in America. As always Percy ends up wrapped up in a mythological battle with huge stakes but this time he's surrounded by Roman gods!
What should have been a celebratory reunion for Annabeth and Percy is overshadowed by the threat of war as Camp Jupiter prepares to face down a foe of mythological proportions. The young Demigod takes center stage in this epic seafaring adventure that sees our young heroes travel to Rome in order to connect with the Demigods there, all the while Annabeth tries to work out her place in the story as the daughter of Athena and hero of Olympus.
It's a quest to escape the underworld when Annabeth and Percy find themselves there after the events of Mark of Athena. In their journey to find the Doors of Death, the duo and their friends who are still in the mortal world will have to work together in order to survive. As if Hades wasn't enough to contend with someone trying to raise the Greek iteration of Mother Earth, Gaea, which the kids also have to stop. Who said it would be easy being a Demigod?
In the final novel from The Heroes of Olympus series, Percy and Annabeth have to battle the horror of Gaea along with their crew in order to stop the deities' horrific plan. As the title suggests she needs the blood of Demigods to truly rise but luckily the Demigods have each other, though they'll have to solve the brewing tension between Camps' Half-Blood and Jupiter before they can really come together and solve their Titan sized problem.
In the second spin-off of the Percy Jackson and the Olypians series, Zeus is back to his old terrible father shenanigans as he transforms his son — the god Apollo — into a teenager and banishes him to New York City. Once on Earth he has to enlist the help of a Demigod named Meg and of course the heroic Percy Jackson to save the day and earn the forgiveness of his father. This means he'll have to wrangle control of the Five Oracles which will take the crew on another mythologically charged adventure through Riordan's fantastical world.
Continuing the story of Apollo and his quest to find the Oracles in order to take his place as a god once again. Alongside his Demigod buddies, Apollo must venture across America in order to free the next Oracle, all the while battling against mythical creatures and the mysterious Triumvirate Holdings, along with one of its leaders Commodus. Expanding the new lore introduced in The Trials of Apollo this is a gripping continuation of the Percy Jackson series.
Apollo's battle against the evil emperors of Triumvirate Holdings takes center stage here as he comes up against multiple mythological creatures and famed historical figures. You'll catch appearances from Caligula, Madea, Strix, and even Caligula's favorite horse Incitatus. This is another epic adventure that pits Apollo against fearsome foes and tragic losses as he unravels the Triumvirate's shocking plans and tries to regain his immortality while keeping his friends safe. And trust us when we say that's not an easy set of responsibilities to juggle.
The penultimate book in the Trials of Apollo series takes Apollo and friends to the edge as they find themselves up against the brutal Caligula and his followers. In order to help protect Camp Jupiter from the onslaught of Triumvirate Holdings, Apollo and his crew must venture into the ancient tomb of a terrifying tyrant that will put them in more danger than ever before. It'll also lead to the final trial of Apollo, which will define and seal his fate forever.
In the final Trials of Apollo book the stage is set for an epic battle back in New York City. It's all been leading to this as the young god and his demigod buds have come up against their biggest foe yet. It's an epic finale with massive stakes as mythical families are reunited, friendships are tested, and Apollo finally learns whether or not he's done enough to return to his place on Mount Olympus. But if you're desperate for more stories in this universe, don't despair as there's one more standalone novel that ties into the world of Percy Jackson.
Bringing two fan favorite characters to the forefront of their own story, The Sun and the Star centers on Nico di Angelo and Will Solace who were introduced in earlier Percy Jackson novels. Nico is the son of Hades which means that life is far from easy for him, and as the son of Apollo, Will has had his fair share of adventures too. But when Nico starts hearing a voice calling him to the depths of the underworld the pair are tested like never before, in this story that will sate the appetites of Percy Jackson fans everywhere, especially those who miss Camp Half-Blood.
Following the recent release of Wrath of the Triple Goddess, Rick Riordan will be adding a final book to this trilogy. He stated this clearly in a November 2024 update where he confirmed he "will be writing the third and final ‘Senior Year Adventure’ about Percy Jackson’s quest to get into college". We don't yet know the name of the upcoming book, but we know it will somehow involve Percy acquiring his final recommendation letter. Once that book wraps up, the future of the Percy Jackson books is unclear.
As for the TV show, Disney has confirmed that season 2 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians will arrive in December 2025. This is a full two years after the release of the first season, which IGN's review described as "adding a hint of modernity" to the world of gods and monsters.
Rosie Knight is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything from anime to comic books to kaiju to kids movies to horror flicks. She has over half a decade of experience in entertainment journalism with bylines at Nerdist, Den of Geek, Polygon, and more. Rosie is a published comics author who has written titles including Godzilla Rivals vs. Battra and The Haunted High-Tops. She co-hosts the weekly Crooked Media pop-culture podcast X-Ray Vision. When she's not writing, you can find her playing Dragon Ball FighterZ or rewatching weird old horror and martial movies in her free time. She loves making comics and zines as well as collecting VHS and reading much manga as humanly possible. You can find her on social at @rosiemarx.
Stranger Things: The First Shadow is now playing at the Marquis Theatre in New York City and The Phoenix Theatre in London.
Is mega-budget stage prequel Stranger Things: The First Shadow a necessary addition to the hit Netflix show’s lore? Definitely not. But is this breathtaking theatrical spectacle a hell of a lot of fun? Absolutely so.
Chiefly an origin story for Henry Creel, a.k.a. the fourth-season big-bad Vecna, The First Shadow is set up to expand on the bizarre goings-on in Hawkins, Indiana and satisfy fans with some familiar characters, all without messing with anything of significance to the series’ continuity. There’s enticement for diehards in the form of younger versions of Joyce Byers (né Moldanado), Jim Hopper, the sadistic Dr. Brenner and, of course, Bob Newby. (If you don’t remember who that is, don’t worry – it scarcely matters.) And since Vecna will return for the show’s much-delayed fifth and final season, First Shadow makes sense as a bridge between seasons. But it’s not like you’ll be completely at sea if you can’t make it to the play before the last batch of episodes drops on Netflix.
What you’ll see, however, is hugely enjoyable – packed with astonishing stage images, impressive jump scares, and genuinely exciting feats of theatricality. And if the script sometimes gets bogged down in fan service, it does find a surprising emotional potency in its main character’s doomed effort to save himself.
The setting is 1959, and a teenage Henry (Louis McCartney) is seeking a fresh start, following a violent incident at his last school. At Hawkins High, he finds romance with the kindly Patty Newby (Gabrielle Nevaeh) when the two are cast as leads in the student play. But at night, a dark power takes hold of Henry’s body, using his powers of telepathy and telekinesis to horrible ends – brought to life by a seemingly bottomless bag of theatrical tricks.
Ably guided by seasoned director Stephen Daldry and co-director Justin Martin, The First Shadow’s makeup, effects, and scenic teams conjure wonder after wonder on stage, a healthy mix of huge set pieces and old-fashioned stage magic. The opener, in which a battleship is beached by attacking Demogorgons, is jaw-dropping. Creel’s telepathic jaunts across Hawkins use doubles, stage tricks, and puppetry to haunting effect. And when the Mind Flayer makes her appearance, the big girl does not disappoint.
The First Shadow also holds onto Stranger Things’ oddly pleasing clash of teenage hijinks and bloodthirsty violence. Since Daldry ensures the play is always moving at a steady clip, harsh jumps from fratricide to theater-club drama can certainly feel jarring. But the tonal whiplash is, for all its grossness, in keeping with Stranger Things as we know it.
A little more about that play-within-the-play, since it takes up about as much storytelling real estate here as Henry himself (barely an exaggeration): The kids are pretending to put on Oklahoma! But secretly, their student director, an impassioned Joyce (Alison Jaye), has a different vision. She conceives a “revolutionary” production of Dark of the Moon, an obscure 1945 play (not to be confused with the Transformers sequel) centering on a witch-boy who falls for a young girl and seeks to become human. The parallels with Creel’s story are, fortunately, not excessively underlined.
Jaye pulls off an artful Winona Ryder impression, echoing Ryder’s strange mannerisms without overdoing it. Joyce is always fending off the interest of a young Jim Hopper, also nicely captured by Burke Swanson, who finds an overcompensating machismo that is, again, of a piece with David Harbour’s beloved take on Hopper. But ultimately, outside of the fan-pleasing need to feature some familiar faces, there is no reason for either of them to be in The First Shadow. Joyce and Jim’s storyline technically has connections to Henry’s, but it always feels like it’s happening in its own play. The inclusion of Bob Newby (played in the show’s third season by Sean Astin) is even more needless, and Juan Carlos’ breathlessly frenzied take proves grating.
Though its 2-hour-and-45-minute running time flies by, First Shadow loses focus a bit in a jumbled second act. Henry’s outsider bond with Patty is genuinely touching, but their central relationship gets lost amidst much gruesome business with Dr. Brenner. Alex Breaux does well as the future father figure/tormentor of Henry’s fellow telekinetic Eleven, and it’s fun to watch him and McCartney have a freak-off. But after about a scene and a half with Brenner, we basically get the gist: He’s evil!
The anchor amidst all the madness is McCartney, a virtuosic breakout talent who brings a sweetly yet demonic flair to young Henry. The battle raging inside Henry always feels palpable, even as he makes valiant attempts at a normal life. It’s the anti-Eleven story, and McCartney holds the whole thing together.
Razer's new 2025 lineup of Razer Blade 16 and Razer Blade 18 gaming laptops, which are currently exclusively available only at Razer.com and Razer stores, are now shipping out for as early as late April delivery. Prices for the Razer Blade 16 start at $2,999.99 for the RTX 5070 Ti configuration, $3,499.99 for the RTX 5080 configuration, and $4,499.99 for the RTX 5090 configuration. Currently, the Razer Blade 18 is out of stock.
Razer Blade laptops are well known for their impeccable build quality. The chassis is built from a single piece of aluminum and is designed to be exceptionally thin and light for a gaming laptop. In order to get away with the svelte form factor, Razer employs its own proprietary cooling design, which incorporates a vacuum-sealed, liquid-filled, copper vapor chamber to effectively whisk away the heat. Much like Apple MacBook Pros, a lot of engineering goes into a Razer Blade laptop, which is why they command a premium price compared to other mainstream brands.
Shipping now
All Razer Blade 16 models feature a gorgeous 16" 2560x1600 OLED display with up to 240Hz refresh rate, the latest AMD Ryzen AI 9 processor, and 32GB of RAM. Upgrade options are limited; they include boosting the memory to 64GB and internal storage up to 2TB. The AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 is a power efficient yet capable gaming and workstation mobile chip and now with the integration of the XDNA 2 NPU for AI applications. Bumping up to the HX 370 model gives up the power efficiency for a faster clock speed and stronger overall performance.
Out of stock
The Razer Blade 18 is an Intel-based system and the base config is equipped with the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, which is a more performance-minded chip compared to the current Core Ultra 9 185H, which focuses on efficiency. The rest of the specs include an 18" Dual UHD+ 240Hz display (which can natively switch to FHD+ 440Hz), RTX 5070 Ti graphics, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD for $3,499.99. You can upgrade to either the RTX 5080 or the RTX 5090.
Our benchmarks are in, and it looks like the RTX 5090 is indeed the new king of mobile GPUs, although not by the leaps and bounds we were hoping for. On average, the RTX 5090 is about 5%-10% more powerful than the RTX 4090 that it replaces. However, add in DLSS 4 and the gap widens.
Dell announced the return of the venerable Alienware Area-51 gaming laptop back in CES 2025, and starting today it is finally available to order. It comes in two size variants: the 16" model starts at $3,199.99 and the 18" model starts at $3,399.99. As expected from Alienware's new flagship laptop, the Area-51 is equipped with current generation components, including the latest and greatest Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU and NVIDIA Blackwell GPU. Orders are expected to ship out starting April 30, so get your reservation in now to prevent any additional delays.
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.
I am someone who reads a lot. I have other hobbies, but reading is the most accessible of all of them largely thanks to my Kindle. I've had a Kindle Paperwhite for almost a year now and use it quite literally every day. The convenience of being able to read easily at night with the soft backlight paired with the ease of moving on to the next book in each series make my Kindle one of my favorite pieces of technology I own.
The main downside of a Kindle is the upfront cost of actually buying one. They are fairly expensive if you want the newer models, and Amazon doesn't offer Kindle device deals that often. So when there's a sale like the one happening right now, it's worth considering picking one up for yourself or as a gift for the reader in your life. Right now, the Amazon Book Sale includes a 20% discount on the new Kindle Colorsoft for a limited time.
The Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition was first released back in October 2024 and was meant as a colorful alternative to the usual models. Many of the best Kindles are primarily black and white, which is great if you're only planning on reading words, but not as good for reading digital comics and graphic novels. As the newest model, it is normally priced at $279.99, but this discount drops the price to the lowest it's ever been.
In addition to the discount, you can also choose to bundle your new Kindle purchase with three free months of Kindle Unlimited. This will get you unfettered access to everything the subscription has to offer. This includes a range of everything from popular LitRPG books to a variety of graphic novels. You can also choose not to include the free three months of this subscription for the same price. There are plenty of other deals to peruse in the Amazon book sale happening right now, which includes Kindle ebooks.
The Kindle Colorsoft is an expensive purchase, even at this current discount. If you're in the market for a Kindle but don't want to break the bank, you may want to consider other options. I am personally a fan of both the standard Kindle and Kindle Paperwhite. Both of the newest models of these devices include adjustable lighting and a Dark Mode that makes them excellent for reading in any environment.
These particular Kindle models are best for books, however. If you're specifically looking for ways to read digital comics online, then the Colorsoft is a better choice. However, if you don't mind shopping outside of the Kindle brand, there are plenty of other reading tablets that can accomplish the same thing at a much lower price.
Nintendo is the most recognizable name in history when it comes to video games. From the beginning, Nintendo has been at the forefront of creativity and innovation in the home console space. Nintendo is known for its vast library of treasured IPs, with many offering the same charm dozens of years later. With the looming release of the Switch 2, you may be wanting to take a look back at the gaming giant's history in the console space.
Below, we've rounded up every single console Nintendo has ever released. Journey through the ages and discover how Nintendo has continued to push the gaming medium forward!
Looking to save on a new Nintendo Switch or new titles for your system? Be sure to check out the best Nintendo deals available today.
In total, 32 Nintendo consoles have been released throughout Nintendo's history. The Switch 2 will be the 33rd. We've included revision models for both home and handheld consoles, which include brandings like XL and Mini.
The Color TV-Game line of systems was Nintendo's first foray into gaming hardware and one that you might not necessarily be aware of. These devices were a joint venture by Nintendo and Mitsubishi Electronics, with the latter involved as Nintendo was inexperienced at developing hardware. These systems were a major success at the time and ultimately led Nintendo to divert its focus to developing more gaming hardware. Almost 50 years later, the Color TV-Game's legacy is still felt, with Nintendo invested more than ever in gaming.
Nintendo's first foray into the handheld market was with its Game & Watch devices, each loaded with a different game. While you might not think much of it, the Game & Watch series sold more than 40 million units worldwide. These devices brought many gaming revelations that are still utilized today, such as the D-Pad in the Donkey Kong Game & Watch. These consoles made a comeback somewhat recently when Nintendo released limited edition models in 2020 and 2021 to celebrate the anniversaries of Mario and Zelda.
The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is the first Nintendo home console to be released in North America. Known as the Family Computer (Famicom) in Japan, this console implemented cartridges to allow users to purchase and play as many games as they'd like on the system. Almost all of the major Nintendo franchises we know and love got their starts here, with series like Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Metroid. Overall, the NES is one of the most important consoles in video game history, as it established a pipeline for generations to come.
The first true Nintendo handheld video game console is the Game Boy, which released in North America during the Summer of 1989. Game Boy took a major step forward from the Game & Watch, offering cartridges so you could play as many games as you'd like on the system. For many, the Game Boy's most well-known game is Tetris, which was bundled in with the system in every region with the exception of Japan.
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) brought 16-bit graphics to a Nintendo platform for the first time. This console was when Nintendo began crafting major evolutions for their biggest series, with games like Super Mario World, Donkey Kong Country, and more. Despite launching toward the latter part of this console generation, the SNES still managed to be the best-selling console of this time period with its profound software lineup and generational appeal.
The Virtual Boy is quite possibly Nintendo's weirdest console. This portable device was the first-ever video game console that could properly display 3D visuals. Merely 22 games were ever released for the system, with Mario's Tennis, 3D Tetris, and Virtual Boy Wario Land among the most popular. Virtual Boy only lasted on the market for one year, with just under 800,000 units sold in its lifetime.
The Game Boy Pocket is a smaller version of the Game Boy, featuring a definitive black-and-white screen instead of the Game Boy's green-tinted display. One of the biggest improvements of this release was the new hardware inside that improved the response time of the display on screen. However, with the smaller design, the Game Boy Pocket had a shorter battery life than the Game Boy.
Nintendo 64 brought 3D graphics to a Nintendo home console for the very first time. This revolutionary device brought two of the most influential titles ever: Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The N64 completely refreshed what the NES and SNES offered with a bold new controller that featured an analog stick for the first time. N64 is one of the few consoles where Nintendo sold many iconic special editions, with multiple translucent variants available.
Game Boy Light is a console you might not be too familiar with, and a large part of that is likely due to it being exclusive to Japan. This Game Boy revision was bigger than the Game Boy Pocket, but added a new backlight so players could play in low-light areas. Ultimately, this change allowed for the Game Boy Light to feature longer battery life than the Game Boy Pocket, around 20 hours in total.
Game Boy Color finally brought color to a Nintendo handheld. The device was backwards-compatible with all Game Boy games, so it was an easy upgrade for many. Some Game Boy games had support for color already, so titles like Tetris could be experienced anew with bright and beatuiful colors. With the new hardware inside, hundreds of new games were also released exclusively for the system.
Game Boy Advance (GBA) was the first massive technological leap forward in the Game Boy brand for Nintendo. In a major shakeup to the previous Game Boy models, GBA flipped the device orientation to a horizontal, rectangular shape versus the portrait-designed Game Boy. 16-bit graphics were now available portably — a major upgrade from the Game Boy's 8-bit graphics support. Of course, Game Boy and Game Boy Color games were also supported via backwards compatibility. This opened the number of games available on GBA into the thousands.
Pokémon mini released in 2001 with a major focus on Pokémon games (as the name implies). This device is so incredibly small that you can fit multiple in your pocket. Only 10 games were ever released for Pokémon mini, with just four in North America. Pokémon mini featured a built-in clock function, an infrared port for communication, and built-in rumble.
Nintendo GameCube built upon the success of the Nintendo 64 and followed up with sequels to many of the beloved titles found on the system. Super Mario Sunshine, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate are all three titles that shined on the system. GameCube made a major departure from Nintendo's prior home consoles, as it utilized discs instead of cartridges. Additionally, the controller made major improvements from N64, with built-in rumble, analog/digital triggers, and a staggered design for the sticks. The legacy of the GameCube still lives on today, with many of the franchises that debuted on the title more popular than ever. (Looking at you, Animal Crossing.)
Panasonic Q is a collaborative console between Panasonic and Nintendo. This device combined a traditional GameCube with a DVD player, allowing for users to play GameCube titles, watch DVDs, and listen to CDs. Its design is striking, with a stainless steel exterior and a front LCD panel. Due to the steep price and low sales, the console only lasted two years on the market.
Game Boy Advance SP (GBA SP) was the first revision of the Game Boy Advance. A major change from the previous model was the hinge design, which placed the screen on the top panel and the controls on the bottom panel. Additionally, the GBA SP featured a chargeable battery and a backlit screen (exclusive to later models), which were both major improvements from its predecessor. Nintendo opted to omit a headphone jack on this model but offered an adapter for players to listen to audio through headphones.
Nintendo DS was the first unit in the DS line, which marked the start of Nintendo's best-selling console. The DS featured Wi-Fi support for the first time, with a standout clamshell design that expanded upon the Game Boy SP. With two screens, games on Nintendo DS were quite unique, with many developers creating experiences unlike anything on the market previously. The bottom screen was a touchscreen that players could use with the included stylus pen.
Game Boy Micro was famously revealed by Reggie Fils-Aimé during E3 2005, with many shocked at the small size of the system. The rectangular design featured a D-pad and two buttons on the front, with Start and Select buttons on the bottom side of the unit. Like previous GBA models, Game Boy Micro was backwards compatible with Game Boy and Game Boy Color games, in addition to playing Game Boy Advance titles. Game Boy Micro featured a backlit screen that allowed for adjustable brightness and even lighting across the screen. The system only sold 2.42 million units across 18 months until its production ended.
Nintendo DS Lite was the first revision of the Nintendo DS. This model released just under a year and a half after the initial launch of the Nintendo DS, and it brought a few changes to the fold. First, the DS Lite is slimmer and lighter than its predecessor. The screens are also both noticeably brighter than the standard DS, which made games easier to see regardless of lighting conditions. Lastly, the battery life was much improved on Nintendo DS Lite to allow for more playtime without the need for a charge.
Nintendo Wii marked a huge resurgence for Nintendo's home console business, with a unique focus on motion controls that sold many on the system. The unique Wii Remote relied heavily on motion to control the system, utilizing both infrared and digital technology to input motion from all directions. Nintendo released all sorts of accessories for the system, from the Nunchuk to the Wii MotionPlus. Wii was backwards compatible with both GameCube titles and controllers, since the Wii utilized optical discs once again. One of the defining software offerings of Wii was Virtual Console, which allowed players to purchase NES, SNES, and N64 titles for digital download.
Nintendo DSi made a few changes to the Nintendo DS, acting as the second major revision of the model. It added two cameras, one on the hinge inside and one on the outside panel, which were utilized in games and in certain software. An SD card slot was also added to provide additional storage for downloaded games. Unfortunately, the Nintendo DSi also removed the Game Boy Advance slot that was present on the Nintendo DS and Nintendo DS Lite.
Nintendo DSi XL was a larger model of the DSi that launched a year after the main model. This device featured larger, wide-view screens that both sat at 4.2 inches. Two speakers were added to the top panel to provide better, clearer sound for players, and a bigger battery for longer playtime. With the larger screens, Nintendo DS games were brighter and easier to experience than ever.
Nintendo 3DS was the successor to the Nintendo DS line, offering a wide variety of new features, games, and hardware capabilities. The key feature of 3DS was the 3D capabilities, which were powered by stereoscopy so no eyewear was required. Interestingly enough, this is the same technology that was used to power the Virtual Boy, which only lasted on the market for one year in 1995. 3DS was a massive upgrade from Nintendo DS, with many impressive titles like The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Fire Emblem: Awakening, and Super Mario 3D Land.
Nintendo 3DS XL (known as Nintendo 3DS LL in Japan) featured a screen that was 90% larger than the original 3DS. This console retained every feature of the Nintendo 3DS and simply offered a larger screen. Many games were much easier to view with this model, especially with the bottom screen.
The Nintendo Wii U was the successor to Nintendo Wii, featuring an all-new GamePad controller. This controller featured a screen and could be used to play titles off of the TV. All previous Nintendo Wii games, accessories, and controllers were compatible with the system. Wii U was Nintendo's first-ever console to support HD, which was a major step up from the 480p capabilities of the Wii. There were some incredible titles released for the system, including Xenoblade Chronicles X, Super Mario 3D World, Splatoon, and Bayonetta 2 to name a few. Ultimately, a combination of poor marketing and confusion led to poor sales of the Wii U, which left Nintendo in a crucial state prior to the launch of Nintendo Switch.
Wii Mini was a smaller, lighter Wii unit that was released at the very tail end of the Wii's life cycle. Wii Mini featured a top-facing disc drive, which was a huge departure from the standard Wii. Additionally, it removed support for GameCube, Wi-Fi connectivity, 480p resolution, and SD cards. This console launched in Canada during December 2012, with releases in Europe and the United States in 2013.
Nintendo 2DS offered exactly what it sounds like: fun, 2D content. This device removed the 3D capability present on 3DS models and instead flattened out the console to a square-like shape. All 3DS titles are playable on 2DS, with all features minus 3D intact. The console did lose considerable sound quality, as the speaker onboard was swapped for a mono speaker versus a stereo speaker. However, with the extremely low price point, Nintendo had to cut costs somewhere.
New Nintendo 3DS made significant upgrades to the standard 3DS, with new controls, features, and platform support. Nintendo added the C-Stick, ZR and ZL buttons, and NFC support for amiibo with this release. While the New Nintendo 3DS launched across Japan, Australia, and Europe in late 2014 to early 2015, North America did not receive this standard version until September 25, 2015.
Released before New Nintendo 3DS in North America, New Nintendo 3DS XL was a larger version of the revised 3DS model. Although the standard model did feature bigger screens than the standard 3DS, the 3DS XL had even bigger displays, which allowed for more immersive games. The New 3DS XL made a major change from the smaller model as it removed the ability to change face plates. Many felt this limited customization, though Nintendo did offer mutliple special editions for players to purchase.
Nintendo Switch fully realized the vision of the Wii U and completely propelled Nintendo to the top of the industry once again. The Switch operates as both a home and portable console, with the ability to play games wherever you go. The same grand experiences you were used to on consoles can now be played in a park, on a plane, or in your bed. With arguably the best first-party library of any Nintendo console, Switch has seen some of the greatest games of all time be released on it. There have also been quite a few special edition Nintendo Switch consoles that have been released throughout the years.
New Nintendo 2DS XL was a major update to the 2DS. Additions for this model included an analog stick, shoulder buttons, amiibo support, and more. 2DS XL also moved back to the signature clamshell-hinge design, which was a departure from the flat panel used for 2DS. This console was also able to play New 3DS titles, which included games like Xenoblade Chronicles 3D and Fire Emblem Warriors.
Nintendo Switch Lite shrunk down the body of the Nintendo Switch, utilizing a 5.5 inch LCD screen. The major change with this model was the removal of Joy-Cons, as the controllers became built-in on the sides of the console. As a result of these changes, the Nintendo Switch Lite is only playable in handheld mode and cannot be docked to a TV. This allowed Nintendo to cut costs and charge $100 less for the Lite model.
Nintendo Switch OLED debuted alongside Metroid Dread in October 2021. This premium Switch increased the size of the screen to 7 inches while also adding a new premium OLED panel. In addition to these features, the speakers and kickstand were also reworked for this device. The OLED model released alongside a new dock, featuring rounded corners and a built-in LAN port.
The next Nintendo console is almost here. As revealed in the April 2025 Nintendo Direct, the Switch 2 will be released on June 5 alongside a decent slate of new and "Enhanced" Switch games. The Switch 2 will be up for preorder in the U.S. starting April 24.
Nintendo has emphasized that this is not just an upgraded Switch system but an entire redesign, featuring magnetic Joy-Cons with mouse controls, a 7.9-inch screen with HDR support, and a new C-button for online GameChat. The Switch 2 will feature five times as much storage as the original Switch, starting at 256GB, and will only be compatible with MicroSD Express cards for storage upgrades.
The new system will be available on its own at a price of $449.99 or bundled with the all-new Mario Kart World game for $499.99. The Switch 2 will also launch alongside a host of new accessories, including a new Pro controller and an official Nintendo Switch 2 camera.
Eight years after the original Nintendo Switch, we're about to get our hands on the Switch 2. Let's not get too ahead of ourselves by thinking about the next generation just yet. That said, it will be interesting to see whether Nintendo releases Switch 2 variants, like the upgraded Switch OLED and handheld-only Switch Lite that followed the Switch.
Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused on nonsense-free Japanese gaming (in 2019) and has contributed to various publishers writing about the medium.
Spoilers follow for Andor Season 2, Episodes 1-3, “Harvest.”
“Many Bothans died to bring us this information…”
When actress Caroline Blakiston uttered the above famous Star Wars line as Mon Mothma in Return of the Jedi, it was undoubtedly a cool moment, a glimpse into the previously unseen hierarchy of the Rebel Alliance… albeit one that lasted about “26 and a half seconds,” as the actress once joked. Indeed, that brief scene was pretty much all we got of Mon Mothma, onscreen anyway, for many, many years.
And yet here we are as Andor Season 2 debuts, and Genevieve O’Reilly’s take on Mon Mothma has, combined with the writing from series creator Tony Gilroy and his team, transformed her into one of the greatest Star Wars characters ever. And that’s saying a lot when one considers the pantheon of many, many cool characters in George Lucas’ universe.
While O’Reilly’s reserved but tortured Mothma was already a highlight of Andor’s first season, the culmination of her Episodes 1-3 story this season truly drives home how amazing and different this show is in terms of Star Wars projects, and why O’Reilly and her character have proven so vital to its success.
I’m talking, of course, about the final moments of the third episode, as Mothma dances the night away at her daughter’s cursed wedding. Is the senator from Chandrila dancing to block out the increasing horrors around her, to numb herself to the pain and hardship that her own actions have caused (how many Chandrilan Squig shooters did she pound in that scene?), or is she simply unravelling in that moment, with nothing left to do but dance?
“It was an extraordinary day filming that,” O'Reilly recently told IGN’s Michael Peyton at Star Wars Celebration. “It was my second to last day on the whole of Andor … shooting that. It felt like a very beautiful crescendo, a big piece of the end of three episodes at the wedding. But [creator] Tony [Gilroy] and I have been talking about this week [of the wedding]. Perhaps from the outside it looks like this beautiful Renaissance painting moment, but actually it's a woman trying to exorcize the chaos that's in her brain. Tony said the other day about it, she's dancing to keep herself from screaming. So everything in Andor, there are layers, there is depth, there are questions.”
Early in Episode 1, Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) meets a young Imperial tech officer who is helping him steal a TIE Fighter. He gives her a pep talk regarding her decision to work with the Rebels: “You made this decision long ago,” he tells her. “The Empire cannot win. You'll never feel right unless you're doing what you can to stop them.”
But does he really mean those words? Or is he just giving the newbie Rebel hope to cling to (Rebellions are built on hope, don’t you know)? It seems likely that the woman will be at the very least arrested after Andor’s escape with the ship, if not executed as she fears. But as with so many moments in Andor, the cause is greater than those who are fighting it. And that goes for Mon Mothma too.
So when Andor says “You'll never feel right unless you're doing what you can to stop them” at the start of this first chapter of Season 2, we can then look at the end of the chapter with Mothma spinning endlessly in a vortex of guilt, anxiety, and despair. She is doing everything she can to stop the Empire, and she definitely doesn’t feel right in that moment, having allowed her daughter to be married off into a shady family of well-to-do criminals while also standing by as Stellan Skarsgård’s Luthen Rael more or less tells her that he’s going to have her childhood friend Tay Kolma (Ben Miles) killed now that he’s outlived his usefulness. What else can she do but dance?
Her eleventh-hour attempt to dissuade her daughter Leida (Bronte Carmichael) from going through with the marriage is of course also haunting Mothma, falling on deaf ears as it does. The tragedy is that the senator once stood where Leida does now and made the same mistake her daughter is about to make, becoming ensnared in a loveless marriage that’s more about money, power, and optics than anything else. Mothma’s own mother, drunk as she was that day, must’ve seen what Mothma sees now, but that sight didn’t help either to affect any change. “Nothing on the other side of that door matters,” she tells Leida. Of course, we know Mothma’s not just talking about the wedding. But it’s too late for Leida – she’s already lost.
The climactic dance sequence is intercut with Andor rescuing his friends back on the planet Mina-Rau, though he finds he’s too late to save Brasso (Joplin Sibtain) (who seemed like sort of the best guy you’d ever want to be friends with). Meanwhile, Tay is flying off into the distance, ignorant of his impending doom, and Mothma’s cousin Vel Sartha (Faye Marsay) ponders the lover she’s seemed to have lost to the cause. And on the Chandrilan dance floor, even Mothma’s deadbeat husband Perrin Fertha (Alastair Mackenzie), who has seemingly always been in the dark about his wife’s Rebel activities and support, notices that something is off with his wife and she spins and spins heedlessly.
Of course, unlike many of the characters on Andor whose ultimate fate is currently unknown to us, Mon Mothma will in fact survive the events of the show and eventually stand on the bridge of the starship Home One to speak those immortal words in Return of the Jedi. But for now on, whenever we watch that scene, it will come with a much heavier and tragic backstory not just about Bothans, but about Mon Mothma herself.
For more on Andor Season 2, check out the cast racing to five major moments from the premiere. And discover why the planet Ghorman is so critical to the Rebel Alliance.
© Nintendo
© Bethesda
© Amazon Studios
© Discord
© Bethesda
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered reimagines one of Bethesda's most important games with new visuals, gameplay mechanics, and more, but that didn’t stop the team at Virtuos from including one of the original's most iconic lines.
Most veteran Elder Scrolls fans have no doubt heard of Master Speechcraft trainer Tandilwe, a High Elf who can be found in the Temple of the One in the Imperial City. When Oblivion launched for PC and Xbox 360 more than 19 years ago, it was clear Tandilwe could use some speech training of her own. One of her voice lines is a recording of what has long been assumed to be mistakenly included audio of actress Linda Kenyon taking another stab at a line.
Begging Bethesda to keep this voice acting flub in Oblivion Remastered pic.twitter.com/rzGymRMchw
— TheNCSmaster (@TheNCSmaster) April 21, 2025
As players began their trek through a revitalized Cyrodiil yesterday, many were on the hunt to see just how faithful the ground-up remaster truly was. While so many environments, character models, and items have been given a fresh coat of paint, others have been happy to find that many of the blemishes that made 2006 Oblivion so special remain intact. Tandilwe’s infamous (and hilarious) blooper is one moment fans have been overjoyed to see return. It’s just as it was nearly 20 years ago, lack of subtitles and all.
THEY KEPT THE BLOOPER IN OBLIVION REMASTERED YESSSS#OblivionRemastered pic.twitter.com/SiwfbnF5cK
— samwise (@kojimahead) April 23, 2025
In a 2019 interview with YouTube channel Jake 'The Voice' Parr, Kenyon was made aware of the Oblivion blooper making it into the game and becoming internet famous, insisting: "It wasn't my fault!"
While the thousands of players hopping into Oblivion Remastered are debating about whether the Bethesda re-release is more remake than remaster, others are just happy to see so much of its jank remain largely untouched. It’s an aspect of the original release that Bethesda and Virtuos were determined to maintain, and so far, it seems to be going over well with both new and veteran players.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion surprise launched for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S yesterday. For more, you can learn about how the modding community banned together to release dozens of mods just hours after the remaster was revealed. You can also click here to read up on why one original designer feels the remaster is more like “Oblivion 2.0.”
We've got a comprehensive guide to everything you'll find in Oblivion Remastered, including an expansive Interactive Map, complete Walkthroughs for the Main Questline and every Guild Quest, How to Build the Perfect Character, Things to Do First, and much more.
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).
Starting today, Amazon has dropped the price of the newest 2025 11th gen Apple iPad (A16) tablet. Currently the Blue and Yellow base models - equipped with 128GB of RAM and Wi-Fi connectivity - are down to $319.99 after a $30 price drop. This is the best discount I've seen for the latest generation iPad since its launch earlier this year and a great gift idea for Mother's Day, which lands on May 11. From past experience, since only a few of the colors are discounted to this price, the sale probably won't last for more than a few days.
For most people, the iPad (not the Air, Mini, or Pro) is the best model to get because it offers all the benefits of iOS as well as snappy performance at an affordable price. The current generation model was released on March 12, 2025, over two years after the previous generation (October 2022). The upgrades include a more powerful processor (A16 vs A14), more RAM (6GB vs 4GB), and more storage (128GB vs 64GB), all. Best of all, the launch price of $349 is actually lower than when the previous generation model was released, which was $399.
The specs that have carried over are the 10.9" Liquid Retina 2360x1640 (264ppi) display, USB Type-C charging, Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, and the same camera. It's also compatible with the Magic Folio keyboard so you can convert it into a mini laptop for better workflow, making it one of the best iPads for students, and the newer Apple Pencil with USB-C.
If you're not sure which iPad is best for you, we have an iPad guide which details which iPad is ideal for which use case. If you intend want to get an iPad for schoolwork, we have an iPad guide for students as well. If you're looking for options outside of iOS, check out the best Android tablets of 2025.
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.
The Death of Wolverine Omnibus by Charles Soule and various other Marvel creators is on sale at Amazon for $74 (41% off) for a limited time. This 1,232 page collection compiles the main Death of Wolverine event, along with every supplementary story, weaving together one of the best stories about our favorite gruff, regenerating mutant that shows us what would happen if he lost his healing factor.
This edition of The Death of Wolverine Omnibus comes with cover art by legendary comics artist Alex Ross, and is a great aesthetic addition to any collector's shelves. This discount is part of the larger Amazon book sale happening right now throught April 28.
The current price of this omnibus is the lowest price we've ever seen on Amazon. If you've been wanting to add it to your collection, right now is the perfect time to do so. This deal is an Amazon Lightning deal of sorts, which means there's a limit to how many folks can get the discount before the price goes back up.
In IGN's review of The Death of Wolverine main event, we said "Death of Wolverine is not a perfect story. The spartan approach to storytelling hurts as well as helps the book at times. But between Soule's clever take on writing Wolverine and the amazing work produced by the art team, this is a story every Wolverine fan should experience."
This gargantuan collection contains the following issues:
Myles Obenza is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Bluesky @mylesobenza.bsky.social.
The monster is back for more: the teaser trailer for the upcoming sci-fi action sequel Predator: Badlands just hit the internet.
In the sneak peek visual, below, we meet star Elle Fanning’s character, who appears to be the resident of a dangerous future remote planet. But it also seems as though the Predator she will come into contact with is, simply put, not like the others, and may even be the protagonist this time around. “The director of Prey welcomes you to a world of pain,” the teaser promises.
Apart from this new-look Predator, there are clear nods to the Alien universe, with some speculating Badlands may set up a new Aliens vs Predator movie. We see Fanning’s eyes do the Weyland Yutani reboot thing Andy's do in Alien: Romulus, suggesting she may be a synthetic. And there's even a snapshot of the Weyland Yutani logo (Weyland Yutani is the evil megacorp at the heart of the events of the Alien franchise) on a damaged vehicle.
Predator: Badlands was revealed to be in development back in February 2024, and the release date for the film was confirmed later that year in October. The trailer debuted exclusively at CinemaCon earlier this month, but this is the first time fans have been able to catch a glimpse of what’s in store.
During CinemaCon, 20th Century Studios also released an official synopsis for the film, which reads: “In the future on a remote planet, a young Predator, outcast from his clan, finds an unlikely ally in Thia and embarks on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary.”
"Something unprecedented happens in this movie," Fanning told the assembled crowd of reporters and theater industry folks at CinemaCon. "My character is not the one being chased. My character actually teams up with the Predator. And you get to see him in a completely new light. And... I'll stop there!"
Dan Trachtenberg, who is best known for directing 10 Cloverfield Lane and Predator prequel Prey, directed the film from a script he co-wrote with Patrick Aison. Predator: Badlands is set to premiere in theaters on November 7, 2025.
Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.
I may have dabbled with Xbox in the early days, but at some point I made the full switch over to PC gaming. The high frequency of Steam sales has usually been enough to tide me over on newer releases. So while I knew Game Pass was out there and did occasionally offer some big name games, there was never a moment where it felt like it would be worth it for me, personally. Well, until yesterday.
Bethesda and Virtuos shadow-dropping Oblivion Remastered straight onto Game Pass? A badly kept secret, but still an insane reveal. Tomorrow, the gaming subscription will get Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the stylish debut from Sandfall Interactive that takes inspiration from the JRPG greats. I have to admit, as a die-hard RPG fan: Microsoft, you finally got me.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered was revealed and released on PC, consoles, and Game Pass on April 22. Like most people, I spent most of the day downloading the game and most of the night basking in the music. Highlights from the borderline-remake include new character models, combat interactions, and remastered VFX. And while they did enlist more than five new voice actors, it seems Virtuos kept the best of the original's janky dialogue. The base edition of the remaster launched at a price of $49.99, which includes both the original DLCs, with a deluxe edition available for $10 more.
Meanwhile, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the long-awaited debut game from French studio Sandfall Interactive. Ahead of the game’s launch (12am PST tonight in the U.S.), it holds a 92 rating on Metacritic, with IGN’s 9/10 review praising the story design and describing it "as a true modern throwback.” The game’s stylish UI reminds me of the Persona series, and early gameplay footage shows off one of the coolest turn-based combat systems I’ve ever seen. The base edition is launching at the same price as the Bethesda remaster: $49.99.
While Expedition 33 was marketed as the headline of April’s Game Pass lineup, the surprise release of Oblivion Remastered has led to some concern of a "shadow" over the indie game's release. That said, my perspective is that we're getting two incredible cakes, and Game Pass makes enjoying both a little easier on the wallet. Instead of spending $100 on two new games, I spent $20 on a Game Pass Ultimate subscription. Now the only question is when I'll touch grass again.
Plenty more of 2025's biggest games have recently made it onto the service, including Blue Prince, South of Midnight, and Avowed, which join mainstay classics like GTA V and, of course, the full spread of Call of Duty. It really does seem like there's something for everyone.
Game Pass Ultimate starts at $19.99/month and gives you access to the full Game Pass library across console and PC as well as cloud gaming. The exclusive-to-PC Game Pass lowers that cost to $9.99/month. The Standard and Core subscription tiers are $14.99/month and $9.99/month, respectively, but don't include day one releases. The last Game Pass price hike was in July 2024, and with these types of game launches, I wouldn’t be surprised if those prices go up again some time this year.
While there aren’t any live Game Pass deals right now, you can pick up three-month subscription that might save you from any future price hikes. For other platforms, feel free to check out our roundup of PS5, PC, and Switch deals. Speaking of, U.S. preorders for the Nintendo Switch 2 go live tonight.
Blythe (she/her) is an SEO Coordinator at IGN who spends way too much time in character customization screens and tracking down collectibles.
If Star Wars Celebration Japan is any indication, it looks like we’re about to be spoiled by animated Star Wars projects in the near future. Athena Portillo, Vice President of Animation at Lucasfilm, sat down for an exclusive interview with IGN to discuss two of the most exciting shows they have in the pipeline right now: the just-announced Tales of the Underworld and Maul: Shadow Lord series.
Portillo was particularly excited during our chat about working with Sam Witwer, the longstanding voice for Darth Maul in the Star Wars animated projects, on developing Maul: Shadow Lord. “Sam was involved a lot with the character depth and the lore, along with our head writer and supervising director,” she explained to IGN during Star Wars Celebration Japan. “He's involved with the character depth of Maul, because both him and [Lucasfilm CCO Dave] Filoni created the character together in animation, and you know, he gets to read the scripts, he gets to watch the whip reels, he gets to watch the pool color. He provides input.”
This certainly isn’t the first time we’ve seen Maul — but it is the first time we’re getting to truly delve into the story of this seemingly eternal villain. “My joke for the Lucasfilm Animation team is it's kind of like Michael Meyers or like Jason Voorhees. Like you keep killing them, but they keep coming back. There is that threat that's there, right? I mean, it's Star Wars, right? So Darth Maul has passed away so many times, but he does keep coming back. …We are diving into Maul’s history and we get to jump into that in the stories.”
Portillo made it a point to really highlight all of the elements of production that stand out as major enhancements to how Lucasfilm Animation was producing work previously, particularly the “the animation, the lighting, the effects, the matte paintings, the lighting concepts, the assets.”
“When Filoni kicked off the Maul show, which was after Covid, people were getting back into the swing of coming back to work, but he said, ‘You all need to pull yourself out of complacency, you all need to pull yourself out of your comfort level. Being uncomfortable is a good feeling, and it leads you to greater things. So, create something that is an upgrade of what we're used to doing,’ both in the animation style such as the body mechanics, facial animation, we updated all of our body rigs, and then all the lighting, everything,” she explained. “When Filoni watched one of our episodes last week, his comment was, ‘Wow, you guys, you are actually creating cinema’. He was proud of what Lucasfilm Animation has achieved with this show.”
Portillo added, “All of it is an upgrade from what we've done, and even from the Bad Batch, even from Tales of the Underworld, it's an upgrade, and we just completed Tales of the Underworld. We're releasing Maul in 2026, but we're still working on it.”
Tales of the Underworld, which will follow Asajj Ventress and Cad Bane as they navigate their respective experiences as villains, will consist of three episodes for each character for a total of six. Ventress’ three shorts will specifically center around “the fact that Mother Talzin gave her an opportunity to come back,” according to Portillo, “so Ventress meets the boy you see in the first short, and it becomes two Jedi on the run, and you'll see like a relationship story created in the three shorts.”
Interestingly enough, Ventress has been considered by some fans to have died and been reborn, based on the storyline presented in the Dark Disciple novel. However, it was generally up in the air as far as whether or not that was canon — but Portillo confirms that Tales of the Underworld is in fact picking up where that storyline left off. “Yeah. My favorite part of that is the whole Quinlan Vos and Ventress connection. When the fans saw that, and when he said, ‘I will always love you,’ it blew everyone away,” she revealed. “I think fans want to see that, you know, especially since Jedi are not supposed to get involved, but there's always that love story. There was the Obi-Wan Kenobi and Satine story, and obviously Padme and Anakin, and now Ventress and Quinlan Vos. I love those types of stories.”
She also noted that Ventress is navigating how to deal with her past in a big way, particularly in the way she is spending her time when we first meet her in the series. “Sometimes after they've gone through a lot, they start to rethink their path, and which way they want to go. Some choose a path of exile in a way, where they don't want to be a part of what their history has been. And then others turn to the dark side, as we've seen,” Portillo said. “So, with her story, it's going to be more of, you know, let's just say sometimes people come into your life for a reason to make you a better person, and the character that she meets in this first short is a good balance.”
Undoubtedly, both series are going to be interesting to watch — and we can’t wait to see where they take the Star Wars universe as a whole. Tales of the Underworld arrives on Disney+ on May 4, 2025 but we’re still eagerly waiting on a release date for Maul: Shadow Lord.
Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.
Sony is bringing back its popular 30th anniversary classic console themes for PlayStation 5 after removing them earlier this year.
The company announced plans to reintroduce the beloved UI customization options in a PlayStation Blog post today. Expect to personalize your PS5 with themes based on the original PS1, PS2, PS3, and PS4 home screen layouts when the latest system update begins its phased rollout tomorrow, April 24.
As the PS5 speeds through its fifth year on the market, one element fans have pleaded to see implemented are dynamic themes based on some of their favorite games. It’s a customization feature that was present on the PS3 and, eventually, the PS4, but it’s yet to be included in a similar way on Sony’s latest home console. Although there are some options for those looking to tailor their home screen experience, the PS5 has mostly gone without proper themes – until last December.
"Due to the overwhelmingly positive response from our community, we’re happy to bring back the look and feel of the four console designs for players to customize the home screen on PS5!" Sony said in its blog post.
Sony began its 30th anniversary PlayStation festivities in late 2024 with a selection of goodies to help players celebrate the company’s history in games. By far the most popular inclusion was the PS1, PS2, PS3, and PS4 themes, which allowed fans to not only customize the look of their PS5 home screens with classic visuals but their audio, too. Although they were sadly removed January 31, 2025, Sony promised at the time to eventually bring its classic console themes back.
We now know that those themes will finally return starting tomorrow, and it looks like they’ll remain the same as players remember them. You’ll be able to find the classic console themes in the Appearance option in the PS5’s settings. The best part is that, at least for now, there’s no sign that the themes will be removed anytime soon.
Tomorrow’s PS5 system software update comes with more than a few nostalgic themes. Today’s PlayStation Blog post also details another new feature: Audio Focus. It’s an unexpected accessibility option that should let players tweak specific audio elements to create the perfect listening environment for any game. It comes with presets to prioritize things like character dialogue or sound effects while using headphones connected via USB or analog jack.
For more on all things PlayStation, you can check out the list of April 2025 games added for PlayStation Plus subscribers. You can also learn more about the next big PS5 release, Ghost of Yōtei, which recently locked in a release date.
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).
No matter which platform you prefer, there's an excellent variety of video game deals to check out right now. Whether you're gaming on PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, or PC, we've rounded up the best offers to help you get more for your money. This includes the excellent PS5 Slim and Astro Bot bundle for PlayStation fans, and PC players can score a discount right now on The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered at GMG and Fanatical.
While not on sale, we've also included where you can preorder a physical copy of Elden Ring Nightreign so you can secure your next journey to The Lands Between. A nice bonus is that Best Buy's offering a free $10 gift card with your purchase on that one, so you can enjoy a little treat alongside the game itself. Alongside this preorder and the previously mentioned deals, you can see more of our favorite video game deals below.
PC players have some great discounts to take advantage of right now, including offers on preorders of Elden Ring Nightreign and DOOM: The Dark Ages, and a discount on the newly-released The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. You can see more of our favorite PC game deals right now below.
More PC Game Deals:
The PS5 Slim and Astro Bot bundle is one of the best PlayStation deals available at the moment. You can choose between the PS5 Slim Disc Edition console or the Digital Edition, which will set you back $449.99 and $399.99, respectively.
Astro Bot is a really enjoyable addition to a PlayStation library, too. IGN's Simon Cardy said in his review that it's, "A collection of endlessly inventive levels and fantastically fun abilities, it delivers joy in spades, never once becoming even remotely dull or repetitive."
FromSoftware isn't done with Elden Ring yet. Elden Ring Nightreign is now available to preorder, and as a nice little treat Best Buy's also offering a free $10 gift card with your purchase. By preordering any version of the game you'll also get the “It’s Raining” gesture, which you can show off with your co-op buddies on your adventure in The Lands Between.
A new month means new PC games in the Humble Choice lineup and April has a great variety available. Some of the games featured in the lineup include Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered, Aliens Dark Descent, and Dredge. There are 8 games in total that you can keep forever for $11.99 when you become a member. Here are all of the games included in this month's lineup:
If you're looking to save on physical games right now, there are plenty of deals worth checking out across PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. We've included just a few of our favorites above, but if you'd like to see more game deals for each platform, check out our individual roundups for these consoles: the best PlayStation deals, the best Xbox deals, and the best Nintendo Switch deals.
The PSVR2 Horizon: Call of the Mountain bundle has received a price drop down to $399.99, $200 off its original list price of $599.99. This package is a great value for everything you're getting (the PSVR2 headset and controllers alongside the Horizon Call of The Mountain game), and pushes the PSVR2 as a strong contender against budget-friendly VR options like the Meta Quest, delivering a premium virtual reality experience without the eye-watering cost.
Sony also recently gave the PSVR2 a new lease of life by adding PC VR support, allowing owners of the second-generation headset to play PC VR games like Half-Life: Alyx, provided they have the new Sony-made adapter.
Outside of games, there are plenty of Xbox accessory deals that are worth your time and money as well. At the moment, one of our favorites is on the HyperX CloudX Flight Wireless Gaming Headset, which has received a 40% discount at Woot. If you're looking for more storage, the Seagate 1TB Expansion Card is also down to $149.99 right now at Amazon.
PS5 games continue to grow in size, and with SSD prices climbing, finding the right storage at a great price is more important than ever. We've listed our favorite deals just here, but you should ensure you're checking back here for more updates as often as possible, as new SSD deals pop up all the time.
Keep in mind that not all SSDs are compatible with the PS5. To ensure optimal performance on the best PS5 SSD, you'll need a PCIe Gen4 x4 M.2 drive with a minimum read speed of 5,500MB/s to match the console's internal storage.
Do you prefer to play on a dedicated PC tower? Navigating the options online can be quite the ordeal. Desk space, portability, and price point are often factors in the decision. However, there are some great PC deals that pop up every now and again that are worth jumping on. One of our favorite deals at the moment is on the Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 5080 Gaming PC for $2399.99. To see even more PC deals, check out our roundup of the best gaming PC deals.
More PC Deals:
Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.
With the subscription service offering games like Black Ops 6 and Oblivion Remastered the day they hit shelves, Xbox Game Pass is one of the most cost-efficient ways to play brand-new games on your Xbox console or PC. For a monthly fee, you can access an almost overwhelming library of games, including everything from vast 100-hour RPGs and cozy farming sims to nail-biting cinematic adventures and tactical shooters.
But how much is that fixed cost? In 2023, Xbox sunset its Gold Membership and decided to fully focus on Xbox Game Pass as its central subscription service. Essentially, Gold rolled into Game Pass, with Microsoft adding more focused plans that allow you to pay for exactly what you want from Xbox’s online services. In 2024, a new "Standard" Game Pass tier was introduced, and, of course, we've already gotten price hikes.
Now that it's 2025, let’s quickly run through all of the Game Pass membership plans so you can get started playing these huge games without any of the hassle.
In total, Xbox Game Pass has four plans: Xbox Game Pass Core, Xbox Game Pass Standard, PC Game Pass, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Below, we'll go through what each of these plans offers, the drawbacks and the price, so you can decide which works best for you. Note that most plans are exclusive to certain platforms, so make sure you’re buying the correct version of Game Pass depending on where you play.
Kind of. The PC Game Pass and console-exclusive Standard Game Pass both offer 14-day trials for $1, which isn't quite free. Game Pass used to offer an actually free trial that Microsoft quietly rolled back at some point around the launch of Black Ops 6. Otherwise, Best Buy offers one-month Game Pass Ultimate trials with select purchases.
The equivalent to an Xbox Live Gold Membership, Game Pass Core focuses entirely on offering online multiplayer on Xbox consoles. Included in the price is access to Xbox’s online multiplayer services and all the discounts and offers made available for members.
The Core plan doesn’t let you freely download titles from the full Game Pass library, but you will be able to access a slither of Game Pass’ offerings via a collection of over 25 games included in the membership price. Xbox has confirmed that the list will grow over time, with new games being added in the coming months.
If you’re just looking to play some multiplayer with friends online and aren’t too bothered about accessing the full Game Pass library, then this is the plan for you.
Providing PC players with access to the Game Pass library, Xbox Game Pass PC is the plan for those exclusively interacting with Xbox’s services via their computer. The plan unlocks access to the PC Game Pass library as well as granting an EA Play Membership, where you can download titles like Fifa 23, Madden 23, the Sims 4 and Need for Speed: Unbound.
In terms of the differences between the console and PC games library, both lineups are largely very similar. There are a few console-exclusive titles, but some games like Grand Theft Auto 5, UFC 4, the Fable series and Skate 3 are only available on Xbox platforms. PC Game Pass has a few exclusives of its own, such as League of Legends, Valorant, Total War: Three Kingdoms and the Crysis trilogy.
This plan is best suited for exclusively PC players looking to bolster their library with some Xbox exclusives and third-party hits. Considering playing online on PC is free, you also won’t be missing out on many of the perks of upgrading to the pricier Game Pass Ultimate plan.
The Standard tier is the newest addition on this list, and was created alongside the Game Pass Ultimate price hike (see below) to offer an option for Xbox console players at the original "Game Pass" price of $16.99/month.
With access to the Xbox Game Pass library, you’ll be able to play over 450 games, including Starfield, Grand Theft Auto 5, Halo Infinite, Lies of P, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Sea of Thieves and many more. This library is frequently updated, but the main drawback of the Standard plan vs. Game Pass Ultimate is there will be a waiting period before select first-party games are included in the Standard library.
The Xbox Game Pass Standard plan is best suited to anyone who is looking to play a vast range of games exclusively on their console and isn't too worried about Day One access to new releases.
The most expensive plan of the bunch, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate aims to be a combination of all three of the previous plans, with a few added extras sprinkled on top. After purchasing Ultimate for the month, you’ll gain access to online console multiplayer, both the console and PC Game Pass libraries, and an EA Play membership. The big difference between this and the "Standard" tier? Besides getting your Game Pass library across PC and console, you'll also get new games the same day the release. Which, yes, used to be part of the $16.99/month plan, but then Black Ops 6 happened, so here we are.
Nonetheless, Game Pass Ultimate is the go-to package for those who frequently use Xbox’s services, especially as a console player. While there’s less incentive for PC-only users to upgrade from Game Pass PC, on a console, it offers a wide range of games and allows you to hop online with friends, making it the best deal for those wanting full access to everything Xbox has to offer.
Looking for more Xbox news and updates? Check out our recent breakdown of Xbox's latest business update, which included confirmation of a next-gen console, or head over to our ranked list of the best Xbox Series X and S games you can play right now, which includes some of Game Pass’ biggest and best hits.
You can also check out our list of free Xbox games that don't require a subscription at all if you plan on cancelling Xbox Game Pass.
Assassin's Creed Shadows debuted last month to become the best-selling game in the U.S. for March 2025 in dollar sales.
This is according to analytics firm Circana, which reports that Shadows has also become the second best-selling game so far this year, trailing only Monster Hunter: Wilds and ahead of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. It was also the best-selling game on Xbox in March, and second best-selling game on PlayStation and Steam.
We reached out to Circana analyst Mat Piscatella for a bit more context on Assassin's Creed: Shadows' success. He told us that Shadows' launch was the third-biggest in franchise history in the U.S., following Assassin's Creed 3 and Assassin's Creed: Valhalla. "It's a great start, so now we'll have to see where it goes from here."
Last month, Ubisoft created a subsidiary company based on its Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six brands, with a €1.16 billion (approx. $1.25 billion) investment from Chinese megacorp Tencent.
The news came after Ubisoft announced Assassin's Creed Shadows had passed the 3 million player mark. Ubisoft suffered a number of high-profile flops, layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations in the run up to Shadows' release, and there is enormous pressure on it to succeed after the company's share price hit an historic low.
Other stats reported by Ubisoft were already revealed by IGN’s coverage of an internal email in which the company contextualized Shadows’ opening weekend performance, saying it was better compared to Origins and Odyssey rather than the “perfect storm” 2020’s Valhalla launched into.
Shadows saw the second highest day-one sales revenue in Assassin's Creed franchise history, behind only Valhalla, the biggest Ubisoft day-one ever on the PlayStation Store, and has seen over 40 million hours played so far.
March was a big month for new releases, with seven of the top 20 games entering the charts for the first time, including WWE 2K24 (No.4), Split Fiction (No.5), Bleach: Rebirth of Souls (No.9), Xenoblade Chronicles X (No.17), and Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune & Dunan Unification Wars (No.18). Hello Kitty Island Adventure also ranked No. 4 on Nintendo Switch specifically in its console debut, and free-to-play game FragPunk debuted at No.8 in the Top 10 Steam charts ranked by Monthly Active Users (MAUs).
In second place this month, just behind Assassin's Creed, was another debut title: MLB: The Show 25, which was also the best-selling game for the month on PlayStation. Its sales were 23% higher than its predecessor, MLB The Show 24, during the same debut month last year.
Other games doing well in March included Fortnite, which led all games in MAUs on both Xbox and PlayStation, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which leapt from No.103 in February to No.10 in March on PlayStation specifically thanks to being added to PS+. Co-op horror game R.E.P.O. made a similar leap from No.93 in its debut month of February to No.1 in March on the Steam MAU charts, likely due to growing social media virality over time.
Despite all these exciting new releases doing pretty well for themselves, March was actually a bit of a low month for games as a whole. Overall games spending dropped 6% year-over-year to $4.7 billion, and content spending dropped 4% year-over-year to $4.2 billion, Circana reports. Non-mobile subscriptions and digital premium downloads on console were the only content areas showing growth.
I asked Piscatella for context as to why content spend was down, and he pointed to mobile as the primary perpetrator. Mobile spending, per SensorTower's report, was down 6% year-over-year.
"Mobile being such a big component of content means that a dip there usually means the market dips. Console full game download spending was up this March. But declines in mobile and drops in PC full game spend and a drop in digital add on content spending meant overall content fell."
As for hardware, spending was down 25% year-over-year to $286 million, the lowest March spending total since 2019 ($279 million). PlayStation 5 was the best-selling console of the month, but its sales were still down 26% year-over-year. Xbox took second place, down 9% year-over-year, and Switch sales were down 37% from last year, likely in anticipation of the impending successor, the Nintendo Switch 2.
* Indicates that some or all digital sales are not included in Circana's data. Some publishers, including Nintendo and Take-Two, do not share certain digital data for this report.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
Wolverine may have a hefty rogues gallery, but Sabretooth will always be his number one foe. Diamond Select Toys is capturing that iconic villain in all his fury in their latest addition to their Marvel Gallery Diorama line of statues.
IGN can exclusively debut the first images of the Marvel Gallery Diorama Comic Sabretooth PVC Statue. Check it out in the slideshow gallery below:
The Marvel Gallery Diorama Comic Sabretooth PVC Statue depicts Victor Creed in his classic '90s costume and crouching to attack atop a snowy base. This piece measures about 6.25 inches tall and is made of PVC.
This statue was designed by Caesar and sculpted by Alterton.
The Marvel Gallery Diorama Comic Sabretooth PVC Statue is priced at $59.99 and will be released in Winter 2025/2026. Preorders will open on Friday, April 25 on the Diamond Select Toys site and other retailers.
If you want to pair this Sabretooth with a companion Wolverine statue, you can order the Weapon X Gallery Diorama Statue on Amazon. You can also check out the many Marvel collectibles available on the IGN Store.
Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.
Starting today, Amazon has dropped the price on the officially licensed WD Black C50 2TB Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S consoles to $179.99 shipped. That's a 28% price drop from its original $250 list price and the best price we've seen for an officially licensed 2TB Xbox expansion card ever. The C50 is one of the best SSDs for the Xbox, which isn't surprising since your options are pretty limited.
The WD Black C50 expansion card is essentially a 2TB NVME SSD encased in a specialized Xbox-compatible shell. Unlike the more complex PS5 SSD installation process, which involves opening up the PS5 to access the SSD slot, the WD expansion card simply plugs into its dedicated port on the back of the Xbox. This expansion card offers the same speed as the internal SSD, ensuring that you won't sacrifice performance or encounter extended load times as you might with a regular USB drive. With a 1TB expansion card, you can double the storage on your Xbox Series X console and triple the storage on your (white) Xbox Series S console.
If you're looking for an officially licensed storage solution (which we strongly recommend), your options are limited to either the WD or Seagate expansion cards, underscoring the importance of seizing a good deal when you find one.
Looking for more Xbox accessories? Check out the best Xbox deals today.
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.
The ferocious beasts of Monster Hunter Wilds have many dangerous, even lethal moves they can throw at you. Some players are finding some interesting ways to dodge those attacks though, like emoting their way around them.
The Photo Pose Set Vol. 1 contains a few extra emotes players can purchase for $3.99 in Monster Hunter Wilds, including the Photo Pose: Vanish Sign. This can pop your hunter up into the air, leading one player to try dodging a specific attack in a very strange way, and succeeding.
やったぜ！･:*+.(( °ω° ))/.:+ pic.twitter.com/M2n5KkcukR
— 小百合 (@sayurin_kk) April 20, 2025
It's a neat interaction and fun, possibly consistent way to dodge Mizutsune's aquatic beam sweeps. As for whether this is a real advantage or not, it still seems only usable in very specific circumstances, and with a good deal of planning and forethought. It's a cool novelty, for sure.
An emote leading to strange, interesting interactions is also not new territory for Monster Hunter. The Street Fighter Hadoken emote added to Monster Hunter World led to some strange interactions, and even spurred one player to Hadoken their way through the entire game, without using any weapons. Ryu would be proud.
Alongside the Dragoon Jump emote that played into the Behemoth fight in World, these rare dodges and interactions are little more like a fun novelty than a game-breaking tool. Players might be bummed that they'll need to buy the pack to try dodging it themselves, but outside of a handy strategy for one of Mizu's moves, the radial menu emote dodge seems both fun and benign.
The latest seasonal event is underway, as the Festival of Accord Blossomdance has kicked off. New garb, seasonal food, cherry blossoms, and more await in the hub, giving players something to work on as they tussle with Title Update 1's monsters and await the arrival of Title Update 2 this summer.
Eric is a freelance writer for IGN.
Season 2 of Andor is a real crowd pleaser. In fact, the season has officially made Andor the most critically acclaimed live-action Star Wars film or TV show ever, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Right now, Andor’s second season is sitting at an impeccable 99% on the review aggregator site with a solid 68 reviews. That’s a pretty excellent average — and it’s about 3% higher than Season 1 of Andor, which holds a 96% rating from 609 reviews.
IGN’s own review for the first three episodes of Andor Season 2 gave the show an excellent 8 out of 10, highlighting that Andor “continues to be the most interesting Star Wars has been in years” in its return. “There’s a feeling throughout these first three episodes that any sense of normalcy or comfort is going away. The way the team behind Andor sets out to accomplish that is really savvy,” critic Clint Gage wrote.
“This season is written and edited so well, and particularly in these first three episodes, Andor is built in such a way that very directly contrasts the realities of managing a rebellion with continuing to live in the Empire while you do it. It’s a fascinating little tight rope act, and one that the writers and directors almost flawlessly pull off.”
That said, the Star Wars animated series kind of have Andor beat, if only slightly. Several seasons of The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels hold the coveted 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. That said, they each have fewer reviews than Andor, so make of that what you will. Either way, that does give Andor the coveted best live-action project crown.
Season 2 of Andor is currently airing on Disney+ and will premiere its season finale in a three-episode block on May 13, 2025.
Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.
© Gameloft
© Valve, YouTuber Mora Madness
© Monster Couch
© Future
© Larian Studios
© Bethesda
Connexion
