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© CD Projekt
© Future
In Japan, Nintendo has been working with online marketplaces to restrict scalper-fueled resales of the in-demand Switch 2 console. However, the video game giant may have another ace up its sleeve when it comes to dissuading people from buying the Switch 2 second-hand.
Home electronics and appliances usually come with a physical warranty card. However, social media users in Japan have been noticing that the Switch 2 does not. Instead, owners of Nintendo’s latest console are required to have proof of purchase if they need to request repairs under warranty from Nintendo Japan’s official repair service. As a result, many Switch 2 resellers on online marketplaces in Japan have been including the receipt, with savvy would-be buyers asking for it in the comments. However, receipts have been added to the prohibited items list on Mercari Japan, one of the major online marketplaces where people have been buying and reselling the hot new console (in addition to making prank Switch 2 listings of cardboard light switches, but that’s another story...).
User TeamSubRockman drew attention to the matter among Japanese-speaking users of X, observing that Switch 2s are being listed with receipts included on Mercari but noted: “This clearly violates Mercari’s Terms of Service. It’s gone from a gray area to outright prohibited. Nintendo is setting so many traps, it’s impressive.”
The original Switch had the warranty card printed on the box in Japan. To request the repair of a Switch 1 console under warranty in Japan, you only need to send in the warranty card section (either the original, a photocopy, or a photo). However, this is not the case for the Switch 2. According to the information about warranties on Nintendo Japan’s website, people must include their original receipt along with the console when sending in their Switch 2 for repairs under warranty. This means that buyers of second-hand Switch 2s in Japan could find themselves locked out of free official repair services should something go wrong with their console.
Interestingly, it seems that not being the original purchaser voids your Switch 2 warranty outside Japan too. In the EU, the Switch 2 warranty covers the console for 24 months post-purchase, however “this warranty does not cover the Product if it has been resold, or used for rental or commercial purposes.” (Source: Nintendo Switch 2 Hardware Warranty).
In the Nintendo of America version of the warranty, “The original purchaser is entitled to this warranty only if the consumer can demonstrate, to Nintendo's satisfaction, that the product was purchased within the last 12 months.”
It seems that Switch 2 repairs outside Japan also require proof of purchase for them to be covered by the warranty. The Nintendo UK Terms of Service for repairs, for example, state that “if you are unable to provide proof of purchase with the Product you send to us, the Product will be considered to be outside of your Nintendo Warranty and a service fee will apply for any repair work undertaken.”
However, this requirement is hardly a unique move by Nintendo. Sony also requires valid proof of purchase for console repairs to be covered under warranty. Indeed, this has been true for every Sony console up to the PS5 and PS5 Pro.
Verity Townsend is a Japan-based freelance writer who previously served as editor, contributor and translator for the game news site Automaton West. She has also written about Japanese culture and movies for various publications.
The BBC has broadcast an eyebrow-raising parody of its own recent Doctor Who series, which skewers the show as "lazily-written mawkishness" and mocks lead actor Ncuti Gatwa's recent regeneration into Billie Piper as having been planned to generate "clicks."
The skit, aired as part of BBC Radio 4 comedy series Dead Ringers (thanks, Screen Rant), critiques the broadcaster's flagship sci-fi show in a scene in which Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor defeats a CGI monster via the power of "unearned sentimentality."
Overall, it's a startling take on the recent episodes — despite their mixed reaction from fans — considering it comes from the BBC itself, and at a time when Doctor Who's own future feels far from certain.
"It's time for the last in the series of Doctor Who," the skit begins, as a continuity announcer introduces the next episode. "It's still going! Yes, I was suprised too." Ouch.
Currently, the BBC has not commented on when new episodes of Doctor Who will resume production, something which seemingly rests on whether Disney will continue its co-funding deal for the series. But as time passes since the most recent season finale, and a recent animated spin-off looks set to be made without Disney's involvement, fans suspect the Disney deal will not be renewed, leaving the BBC in need of a replacement.
As the skit continues, Ncuti Gatwa's incarnation of the Doctor, here portrayed by impressionist Jon Culshaw, describes himself as "woke, touchy-feely," and the show's current roster of diverse side-characters are also highlighted.
"Do you think lazily-written mawkishness is going to scare me?" says the villain, which is simply referred to as a CGI Monster. In response, the Doctor asks his companion to complement him, causing the enemy to die "of cringe."
"I can't take the Hallmark card triteness of your empty platitudes!" the monster says.
"It's working!" notes the Doctor's companion. "The power of unearned sentimentality in the script is poison to it!"
Finally, the parody's version of Ncuti Gatwa departs, in a line which ridicules the shock appearance of former Doctor Who star Billie Piper in a yet-to-be confirmed new role.
"Laters, I'm off to regenerate into Billie Piper for clicks," the parody Doctor says.
CRIKEY! Dead Ringers went after, REALLY went after, Doctor Who! "It worked! It died of cringe." 😬 #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/sr6DMXgydP
— Cameron Yarde Jnr (@CameronYardeJnr) June 14, 2025
Online response to the skit is mixed, with many calling it unfunny, and suggesting that criticism of the show's inclusivity is unecessary — though complaints around its writing were valid.
"A shame that this is not particularly funny but a pretty blatant breakdown of what has happened in at least the last two finales," wrote one fan.
"The bit that should give RTD nightmares is that about 40% was genuine dialogue," another fan wrote, referring to the skit's use of actual lines written by current Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies.
Many fans expressed surprise the BBC had broadcast a parody of its own show, and doubted whether highlighting the series' perceived flaws in this manner had been good idea.
"Might be the only time I've heard something satirical be unfunny because it's so accurate," one fan wrote. "There weren't any jokes, it was just describing what happened in Boomer language."
"This just seems lazy," said another. "Shame cause, even as a Doctor Who fan, I think the show kinda deserves to be laughed at atm."
"Piss poor comedy takedown of a now piss poor Doctor Who," another fan concluded. "At least the BBC are consistent."
Doctor Who's most recent season finale was reportedly affected by extensive reshoots, an actor's social media account has now confirmed, allegedly due to Ncuti Gatwa's decision to leave the series.
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
The Tomtoc FancyCase-G05 is a sturdy and protective case for the Nintendo Switch 2, and one of the top Switch 2 accessories we recommend during the console’s early days. Its relatively low profile and slim design make it great for long-distance traveling or tossing in your backpack when you're running out the door, and it’s not going to break the bank, either.
I'm not one for flashy cases or overly-designed products, and despite the name “FancyCase,” this is anything but that. It's compact and almost the same dimensions as the Nintendo Switch 2, leaving little room for anything besides the compartment that holds 12 Switch cartridges. Despite not loving my previous case, which was the bulky and ugly case that came in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild Collector's Edition, I stuck with it throughout the console's life cycle because frankly, I'm a bit cheap, and if something works well enough I tend to stick with it.
Going into the Nintendo Switch 2, I was more determined to find a better solution to my carrying case needs and after talking to some friends, I decided to go with the Tomtoc FancyCase-G05 that I have here since it looked simple and was affordable. After using it for a bit, and even traveling through the airport with it, I can confidently say that this case is going to stick with me for the long haul.
Its slightly hard outer shell provides enough protection for the console and I never felt worried about taking it out of my bag in a rush, or what would happen if I accidentally dropped it. The zipper works smoothly and doesn't get caught or stuck on the inside layer, making it a breeze to get the console in and out of the case. The inside layer is smooth and soft to prevent screen scratches, and It does exactly what a good case should do – which is it lets you forget it exists. I never found myself thinking "I hope my Switch is ok in that case," and I never found myself even thinking about it. I knew everything was protected, and that's the best you can ask for.
I even did the unthinkable for you, the reader. I dropped my Switch 2 while it was inside the case to test how it would absorb the shock. After unzipping it and removing my Nintendo Switch 2 from inside, there wasn't a single mark on it. The console booted up fine, and no damage was done to it. Don't let its unassuming slim profile fool you, the Tomtoc FancyCase-G05 can take a hit. The notches built into the case mold around the joysticks and d-pads to give them a little extra room so they aren't smashed up against a flat surface when inside the case. This gives them ample room without too much headspace to jostle around. A small shock-absorbing cushion rests on the top edge of the console when inside the case, which guards the L and R buttons, and ensures the console isn't wiggling around in the small bit of extra space inside.
I was a bit worried about taking it through the airport for the first time on my way home from Summer Game Fest though – my first big trip with the Switch 2 and this carrying case could be a make or break moment. Would the zipper get stuck and make me look like a fool to the people sitting next to me? Would it get banged up going through TSA? Luckily, all of these concerns were quelled almost immediately as everyone of my made up scenarios never happened. The zipper works, the case is built tough, and my Switch 2 was protected.
Check out our roundup of the best Switch 2 accessories.
The Tomtoc comes in several different colorways for whatever vibe you’re feeling. If you're looking for something unassuming, the black with the colorful logo goes with just about everything. I got the all white case and my biggest problem is that after only a week, it's already starting to get dirty. From just rumbling around my backpack, the outer edges and joystick notches are starting to get dirt around them. I'm worried that after even more time the dirt will continue to accumulate, making the case look more worn than it actually is. The soft outside of the case can be cleaned with a wet paper towel as the case itself is water-resistant. Still, having to clean your case every week is a bit more maintenance than the other color options available, so take that into consideration when making your purchase.
Jesse Vitelli is a freelancer and contributor for IGN who usually takes on guides and features, making a big splash with his Monster Hunter Wilds coverage.
© Future
There’s only so much you can do to improve on a tried-and-true design of a controller, and making changes for the sake of it might just open it up to new flaws along the way. Such is the case with the new Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, which sticks to what works and doesn’t veer far off the beaten path. That begs the question: why not just keep using the original Pro Controller if you have one? Well, you can, and you wouldn’t miss out on too much, if you’re not swayed by some of the Switch 2’s new features. I still have my gripes with Nintendo’s official gamepad, including the jump in price, but the Switch 2 Pro Controller remains a well-built gamepad that does some things better than most. And for those who play docked, it’s an essential Switch 2 accessory as it’s miles ahead of even the new Switch 2 Joy-Con in terms of performance and comfort.
There isn’t much to the package; you get the controller and a five-foot USB-A to USB-C cable. I do wish it came with a longer cable to make it easier to both charge and use the controller at the same time in home theater setups, and so I’ve relied on a cheap 10-foot USB cable for my own setup. The Switch 2 Pro Controller pairs like any other – you just go to the “Pair New Controller” option in the Home menu, hold the pairing button on top of the gamepad, wait for the LED to start blinking, and hit the bumpers when prompted. Or just plug it into the Switch 2 with the USB cable.
Looking at the controller itself, you’ll notice some physical changes from the previous Pro Controller, like the light gray accents of the analog stick mounds and the topside parts where the USB-C port, pairing button, triggers, and bumpers are located. The body of the controller is made with a grippy matte black texture that feels good in the hands, avoiding the cheap plastic feel of some less expensive controllers that might creak or get slimy from usage. I do miss the rubberized material on the old one, but this isn’t a bad alternative at all. It’s a dense and durable controller that makes for a premium feel.
One thing I’m not a fan of, as was the case with the original Switch Pro Controller, is that the actual handles you grip to hold the controller are still quite small. Compared to the DualSense, Xbox controller, or most full-sized third-party options, the Switch 2 Pro Controller doesn’t fill the palm of my hands. These thinner handles help the controller keep a slimmer profile, but it’s at the expense of proper ergonomics and long-term comfort, especially for those with bigger hands.
All the other fundamentals of the Switch 2 Pro Controller are fantastic. The B, A, Y, and X face buttons are large and balanced, feeling soft to the touch and responsive enough for rapid inputs. Perhaps my favorite aspect is the smooth analog sticks that have a consistent resistance along their full range of motion that I’d begrudgingly describe as “creamy” (Though my one gripe is the RS and LS stick-click inputs are a tad too stiff, taking a bit too much effort to press downward). I found the directional pad to be a slight improvement – although it feels very similar to its predecessor, I’ve anecdotally experienced fewer errant inputs since it’s better at distinguishing the directions I was pressing, which is important for many of the 2D action-platformers that thrive on Switch.
The bumpers and triggers are light to the touch with easy-going tactile feedback, as you would expect from the Pro Controller. However, it’s disappointing that Nintendo still hasn’t adopted analog triggers, which limits its versatility (especially if you want to use this as a PC controller, too). Granted, the hair-trigger feeling of ZL and ZR is super responsive and works really well for most games that frequently rely on them, but anything that has some kind of acceleration or pressure-based input mechanic is going to need some sort of game-side workaround.
The Switch 2 Pro Controller brings programmable back buttons – a hallmark of many high-end gamepads – to a first-party Nintendo controller for the first time. Marked as GL and GR, these back buttons allow you to mirror the input of any other button, giving you the ability to use face button actions, for example, without having to take your thumb off the right thumbstick. Although you can't map them through the controller itself, you can do so swiftly through the Switch 2 system menus. You simply hold the Home button and change the button assignments there by pressing GL or GR, then the button you want assigned. These assignments are also recorded on a per game basis for added convenience. Many third-party Switch gamepads have some form of back button inputs, but it’s nice to see Nintendo seamlessly incorporate them into its own controller this time.
Something as basic as a 3.5mm audio jack built into the controller seems like common sense, but only now do we have a Switch Pro Controller with one. I’m not here to praise Nintendo finally catching up to the crowd, but it does make using wired earbuds or headphones so much easier than having to use something with a cable long enough to reach your Switch when playing docked.
There’s one more new button on this updated Pro Controller: the C button on the bottom center accesses an exclusive Switch 2 function: Nintendo’s new GameChat. This button jumps you straight into the system's GameChat app, giving you quick access to setup a chat room or configure its options. Those who plan to be more social in multiplayer settings with their Switch 2 will find this button much more convenient than flipping through menus to set up or fiddle with GameChat, which you’d have to do if you’re using a previous-generation controller.
Another reason to upgrade – and I am going to give Nintendo grief for this – is that you can’t wake up your Switch 2 with the previous-gen controllers. It’s a minor inconvenience, but just annoying enough to ever so slightly push us to buy the new controller.
The Switch 2 Pro Controller does some things exceptionally well and somewhat misses the mark in other respects, but when it comes to the actual gameplay experience, it’s as great as you’d expect from a flagship first-party gamepad. More importantly, it’s a massive improvement over using the tiny and unergonomic Joy-Con 2 with their packaged grip attachment.
The GL and GR back buttons come in clutch in several games with complex control schemes, such as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Setting sprint to GR and weapon select to GL helps keep my thumbs on the sticks at all times, and in intense combat scenarios, the controls felt a lot less clunky. The same principle applies to any game with important actions set to the face buttons that also require right-stick camera controls, and once you get used to relying on back paddles in this way, it’s hard to go back. As someone who has reviewed plenty of aftermarket controllers in the past, I’ve found that manufacturers often struggle to get the actuation right. That’s not the case here – Nintendo nailed the feel. They’re easy enough to hit in the heat of the moment and I didn’t hit them by accident at any point, either; they sit flush with the controller’s handles so they don’t protrude or get in the way of a natural grip. I just press my middle finger inward slightly and get a nice tactile response.
I can’t stress enough how buttery-smooth the motion of the analog sticks feels whether I’m whipping my kart around corners when drifting in Mario Kart World or taking aim with a bow in Tears of the Kingdom before relying on gyroscope motion controls to fine-tune my shot. I’d go as far to say that I prefer Nintendo’s design of the analog sticks over the Xbox controller and DualSense. And comparing the Joy-Con to the Pro Controller is night and day when it comes to shooters, going from nearly unplayable to almost ideal as far as gamepads go – so if you’re playing Cyberpunk 2077 on Switch 2, for example, the new Pro Controller will serve you well.
The big question that won’t be answered by a week’s worth of usage is how well (or if at all) Nintendo has addressed the threat of stick drift. Given that this new Pro Controller uses the same mechanisms as the previous one and hasn’t adopted the increasingly common Hall Effect magnetic design (which has shown to be less faulty), it may be susceptible to the same type of wear and malfunctions over time. Out of the box, though, these are some of the best sticks I’ve used on a controller, Nintendo or otherwise.
Be sure to check out our roundup of the best Switch 2 accessories out now!
However, a week’s worth of usage has told us how great the battery life is on the Switch 2 Pro Controller. It’s roughly the same as the original, so I wouldn’t call it impressive relative to what’s come before, but getting 40 hours from a full charge is more than plenty, blowing the DualSense out of the water and being a lot more convenient than Xbox’s AA battery / rechargeable pack solution. After playing Switch 2 games intermittently across four days totalling roughly 20 hours, my controller battery was slightly under half charge, and leaving it plugged in about an hour through its USB cable had it back to full charge.
If you want to use the Switch 2 Pro Controller on PC, though, you’re going to run into some trouble as of now. Windows will recognize it when it’s plugged in, but you’ll need some workarounds to get it functioning. Until Nintendo and/or Microsoft figure this out, you have to use the procon2tool on GitHub to get it recognized on Steam, but any other launcher or game I tested it on wouldn’t work. Things may change as firmware and tools evolve, but even then I’d recommend many of the cheaper PC controllers already available.
Hasbro may currently have the market cornered on movie-based Ghostbusters figures, but for collectors with a special soft spot for the classic The Real Ghostbusters animated series, Mondo has become the place to turn. IGN can exclusively reveal the latest additions to Mondo's Real Ghostbusters line - Winston Zeddemore and Sandman.
Check out the slideshow gallery below for a closer look at these awesome, nostalgia-laden figures:
This is the third batch of figures released in The Real Ghostbusters line, following the Egon Spengler and Boogieman set and the Peter Venkman and Samhain set. Like with those previous releases, these are 1:12 scale figures rather than Mondo's usual 1:6 scale. Both figures include a wealth of accessories (proton pack, ghost trap, alternate heads and hands, etc.). Winston even comes included with a small ghost companion - Hearse and his beloved sled Rosebud.
These figures were developed by Alex Brewer (Concept Design & Sculpt) and Mark Bristow (Paint), with additional busting by Jordan Christianson (Packaging Art & Design) and photography by LordBobasaurus.
Also like with those earlier releases, collectors have two purchasing options. Winston will be available as a standalone, non-limited release for $101. Or fans can purchase both figures as a set for $202 (Sandman won't be available separately). The set is a timed exclusive, with preorders only open for one month.
Both the single figure and set will go up for preorder on Tuesday, June 17 at 10am PT. You can order them at the official Mondo store.
In other action figure news, Hasbro revealed its latest SDCC-exclusive, a Marvel Legends Savage Land 3-pack, along with teasing a new line of figures inspired by the Marvel vs. Capcom games.
Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.
As players dive deeper into Elden Ring Nightreign's endgame, they've been unlocking numerous skins FromSoftware has laid out as alternate options and rewards. It's not too surprising how many of them are references to previous Souls games, but some of the deeper cuts are certainly interesting.
Souls YouTuber BonfireVN put together a side-by-side comparison of Elden Ring Nightreign's Dark Souls skins with their origins in their respective Souls games. These skins unlock once you've cleared the final boss of Elden Ring Nightreign, and offer some big visual shake-ups for the various Nightfarers of the realm.
These "throwback" skins are callbacks to various pieces of Dark Souls history, mostly through NPCs and armor sets seen throughout the games. It's a nice bit of nostalgia, and also a way to commemorate how Elden Ring carries the Souls torch forward. Some of the choices and details are fairly interesting to dig into, though, as BonfireVN shows.
The Guardian's Solaire outfit, dubbed the Sunlight Knight Outfit, is a fairly obvious reference to everyone's favorite Dark Souls 1 NPC. The Catarina Outfit for the Raider is a similarly clear reference, to Siegmeyer of Catarina.
But in sets like the Duchess' Wraith Outfit, you can see the evolution of the Darkwraith design over the course of Souls, and how the set evolved from its first appearance to Nightreign.
Others, like the Ironeyes' Sellsword duds, are surprising references to characters like Chancellor Wellager in Dark Souls 2. While it's not surprising to see firekeeper outfits, or characters like Solaire or Artorias, it's nice to see some deeper cuts. The Recluse's Heretic Sorcerer Outfit calling back to Dark Witch Karla may not even be obvious at first glance, but it's fun to see.
Plus, the detail FromSoftware has put on these armor sets is impressive, especially side-by-side with previous Souls games. A long string of games led FromSoftware from its early days to Elden Ring, and these Nightreign outfits are a solid commemoration.
We’ve got plenty of Nightreign tips and tricks to help you take down all the eight Nightlord Bosses, and if you’re wondering how to unlock the two locked Nightfarer Classes, check out How to Unlock the Revenant and How to Unlock the Duchess, plus How to Change Characters.
Image credit: Souls YouTuber BonfireVN.
Eric is a freelance writer for IGN.
He’s certainly a man! Fans have finally gotten the first glimpse of Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man in the upcoming Masters of the Universe film, which has just wrapped filming.
The film’s official social media accounts shared an image of Galitzine portraying the character in full costume on June 15, but with his back to the camera and lit in shadow, you know, to keep the mystique alive. The caption on the post included intel directly from production that Galitzine had officially wrapped filming on the project, as well as a statement from the actor.
“Well, that’s a wrap on Masters of the Universe. It has been an honour shouldering the responsibility of playing Adam and He-Man,” he gushed in the announcement. “It’s been the role of a lifetime and I put everything into it. There’s not much I can show you, but l am so proud of the movie we’ve made. Thanks to our amazing cast and crew for all your hard work.”
It’s clear Galitzine put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into this opportunity. Back in January, the actor opened up about his physical preparations for the demanding role. "I'm eating about 4,000 calories a day, but the amount of physical work I'm doing,” he explained to W magazine. “You end up hungry at the end of the day, which is quite surprising.”
Galitzine stars as Prince Adam of Eternia, as well as his alter ego He-Man. The cast alongside him is composed of Camila Mendes, Allison Brie, Jared Leto, and Idris Elba. The film is directed by Bumblebee director Travis Knight from a script by ParaNorman writer Chris Butler and is set to be released next summer.
Image credit: Nicholas Galitzine/Instagram.
Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.
Max (soon to be HBO Max again sometime this summer) is home to some incredibly high-quality films and shows, including House of the Dragon, Succession, The Penguin, The White Lotus, and The Last of Us, which just wrapped up season 2. You can read our spoiler-free The Last of Us season 2 review to see our thoughts.
If you've been hoping to start up an account to dig into that library, we're here to help. We're keeping track of the best price right now for Max subscriptions, along with any deals as they appear. This includes bundle deals like the Max, Hulu, and Disney+ bundle, which is one you absolutely don't want to miss out on. This mega bundle starts at just $16.99/month, which is an astonishing price to have three very popular streaming services right in the palm of your hand. You can learn more about that bundle deal and Max's subscription plans below.
The Disney Plus, Hulu, and Max streaming bundle can be purchased on any of the three streaming services and starts at $16.99/month for the ad-supported tier or $29.99/month for ad-free access across all three platforms. If you're looking to cut down on streaming costs and currently own all three of these, this is an excellent bundle to invest in. It'll save you quite a bit compared to what you'd pay for the three of them separately per month – 43% on the ad-supported plan and 42% on the ad-free plan.
To learn more about how to get started with this bundle as a new or existing subscriber, head to our guide on how to get (or switch over to) the Disney+/Hulu/Max streaming bundle.
If you're a student, you can score the Max Basic With Ads plan for just $4.99/month. That's 50% off the usual price, which is a very nice deal to take advantage of. In order to get the discount, you'll need to verify your student status with UNiDAYS, then you'll get a unique code that you can use to redeem the discounted plan.
If you're just looking to sign up for a Max subscription, there are a few different options to choose from:
The Standard tier allows users to download shows and movies to watch on the go. Both of the tiers allow up to two concurrent streams and offer Full HD resolution.
Max also has an additional Premium tier, which offers 4K UHD resolution and Dolby Atmos sound alongside four concurrent streams. The details are as follows:
There is currently no Max free trial available as of June 2025.
Alongside the big Max/Hulu/Disney+ bundle deal, Hulu also offers its own bundle deal with Max if you just want to have those two services. Simply pick out your Hulu base plan, which starts at $9.99/month, and then add Max to your account for an additional $9.99/month with the ad-supported plan or $16.99/month for the ad-free plan. If you'd like to learn more about Hulu's bundles, visit our page on Hulu's best bundles and deals right now.
Max brings together content from HBO Max and Discovery+ under one roof. From Discovery, this includes programming from brands like HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Magnolia Network, and more. Some of the shows include Property Brothers, House Hunters, Fixer Upper, among others.
The service also maintains much of the content from HBO Max, including its slate of HBO Originals like The Last of Us (which just finished Season 2), Euphoria, Succession, Barry, Curb Your Enthusiasm, White Lotus, House of the Dragon, and more. It also includes DC's slate of movies and shows like The Batman and Peacemaker, as well as other popular films like Dune: Part Two and Barbie. Plus, Max continues to house popular streaming series like Friends, Full House, and the Harry Potter movie collection.
In our updated review of Max, we gave it an 8/10, stating that, "For all its problems and an app that still runs a little too heavy, the extensive selection of well-curated choices make Max a worthwhile investment for cinema and TV lovers."
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.
Original article from Logan Plant.
Nintendo Switch 2 owners who say they've lost Pokémon save files are strongly recommending other fans make use of the franchise's Pokémon Home storage app, before booting up their new consoles and initiating a system transfer.
One report on reddit details a fan's experience transferring their original Switch's data to their new Switch 2, only to find their Pokémon Scarlet save file had been lost in the process. Other fans responding to the post have reported similar issues, and an IGN staff member has had the same experience happen to them.
The reddit post, by user ThatOtaku26, claims their save file had more than 1,000 hours of gameplay and over two decades of beloved Pokémon, brought over from generations of previous Pokémon titles stretching back to Pokémon Leaf Green and Pokémon Diamond, on the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance.
For Pokémon fans, this is why their save files are so precious — as some players bring over creatures they have already been playing with in multiple previous games, some released years ago. At the same time, Pokémon games on Nintendo Switch are some of just a handful of titles not compatible with the console's in-built cloud save functionality (available if you subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online). Indeed, Switch games Pokémon: Let's Go Eevee and Pikachu, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Pokémon Sword and Shield, plus Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are all unsupported.
Of course, the Pokémon franchise does have its own cloud save offering, the Pokémon Home app, which comes with its own subscription plan that kicks in if you want to store more than 30 creatures. And it's this app that fans are now recommending to anyone wanting to continue their Pokémon save files on Switch 2, just to make sure their virtual creatures survive the move to Nintendo's new console.
"I just got a switch 2, did the startup and initial data transfer with no issues," ThatOtaku26 wrote. "My Scarlet save file is gone. It loads straight into the language selection and create a character screens. No data on my OLED. Just all gone.
"THERE WAS NO ERROR IN DATA TRANSFER AT ALL," they continued. "IT WENT FINE. ALL MY OTHER POKEMON DATA IS STILL THERE, BUT NOT SCARLET. I had mons from my original GBA up to current on there. Literally 20 years worth of data. There's nothing I can do. I don't even know if i wanna play anymore."
Some fans comiserated with the player, and said they had experienced similar issues.
"This same exact thing happened to me when I was transferring from my original Switch to the OLED," wrote Grouchy-Cress-215. "Tears were shed."
"The same thing happed to me but literally all my saved data isn't there anymore like BOTW, TOTK, MK8, Pokémon Sword and Shield, Scarlet and Violet, and so on," added Existing-Possible550. "I literally have to play everything from the start."
Many fans said the situation, however rare, meant that backing up beloved creatures to Pokémon Home was a necessity, just to be on the safe side.
"I'm afraid of this happening to me so everything I have is going in Home before I do the switch," wrote Mexican_Chef4307.
"If I get Switch 2 in the future, I will first transfer all my Pokémon to Home before data transferring," added TheJannikku. "I can't imagine how I would if that happened to me."
Not all fans were as compassionate, however.
"Ngl the fact that you didn't transfer all of your important Pokémon to Home first is on you," wrote IAmTheWire. "We've known that this is the only way to preserve your Pokémon for sure in this kind of circumstance or if your old Switch broke, otherwise they’d be gone forever. I'd have done it just to be safe if nothing else since it's so obvious and easy to transfer them back if something was to go wrong."
Nintendo Switch 2 released earlier this month and shifted 3.5 million consoles over its first four days on sale. Switch 2's launch sales have outsold the launch of the original Switch by two to one — though Nintendo's previous console suffered at launch from hardware shortages.
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
2K Games has made Borderlands 4 available for pre-order on all platforms. And, as we can see, this won’t be a $80 game. Instead, the standard version will be priced at $69.99, like pretty much most games these days. The publisher has also shared the game’s PC requirements, so let’s take a look at them. … Continue reading Borderlands 4 is NOT an $80 game, PC requirements revealed →
The post Borderlands 4 is NOT an $80 game, PC requirements revealed appeared first on DSOGaming.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 fans, here is something really cool for you today. Modder ‘JINX’ has released a new mod that allows you to play the game with your friends in co-op mode. This is a neat mod that will definitely increase the game’s replayability, and we highly recommend downloading it. Going into more details, … Continue reading Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Just Got a Really Cool Co-Op Mod →
The post Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Just Got a Really Cool Co-Op Mod appeared first on DSOGaming.
Among the many, many ranges of LEGO sets out there, Harry Potter’s have some of the biggest must-buys for fans of the Wizarding World, and you can buy the Knight Bus Adventure set at Amazon UK for only £33.99, its lowest price ever, as part of a limited-time deal.
Only released this year, this 499-piece set has had £11 knocked off its original £44.99 price tag. With it, you’ll have everything you need to recreate the Knight Bus and its scenes as they appear in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Along with the Knight Bus being buildable in a way that makes its upper levels detachable so you can access the inside, featuring moving beds and swinging chandelier, you’ll have five LEGO Harry Potter characters and accessories to play with:
With all of that, you’ll not only be able to build the scene where Harry is first being picked up by the Knight Bus after encountering Padfoot in the park, but also when the magical vehicle is chaotically speeding through London as well.
The Knight Bus joins a handful of other Harry Potter LEGO sets that have had price reductions, too. For example, the adorable Dobby the House-Elf set is now £19.99 from £24.99, the Hagrid & Harry’s Motorcycle Ride set is now £33.99 after also having £11 taken off, the Flying Ford Anglia set is now £9.99, and the Charms Class Set is now £13.39 after having £4.40 taken off its original price.
If you have a bit more cash you feel like splashing, however, the massive Harry Potter Diagon Alley Wizarding Shops Building Set is now only £134.99 after having £35 slashed off its £169.99 RRP. The same goes for the Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle and Grounds for £114.99, a 2660-piece set that’s had 23% price drop from £149.99.
Unlike those other sets, though, the Knight Bus’ is the only one that’s been labelled as a “Limited time deal”, along with its end date not being specified. If you’re going to kit out your Harry Potter display with any LEGO, we’d recommend prioritising this one first, since it seems likely it will be going back to its original price first.
Ben Williams – IGN freelance contributor with over 10 years of experience covering gaming, tech, film, TV, and anime. Follow him on Twitter/X @BenLevelTen.
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Borderlands 4 will cost $70, publisher 2K Games has confirmed as preorders go live.
The cost of Gearbox’s next game was thrust into the headlines after development chief Randy Pitchford had sparked a backlash with a series of controversial tweets.
Pitchford had responded to a fan who had expressed concern about the prospect of paying $80 for Borderlands 4, saying: “if you’re a real fan, you’ll find a way to make it happen.”
Pitchford addressed the negativity surrounding his comments in a series of follow-up tweets, but now we have confirmation that the Borderlands 4 standard edition is $69.99 after all.
Borderlands 4 offers three editions of the game: Standard Edition, Deluxe Edition, and Super Deluxe Edition, detailed below:
All editions are available for preorder today and will release worldwide on September 12, 2025. Players who preorder one of these editions will receive the Gilded Glory Pack, which includes one Vault Hunter Skin, one Weapon Skin, and an ECHO-4 Drone Skin.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
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Rematch developer Sloclap has confirmed its game will not have crossplay at launch.
Rematch is a 5v5 online multiplayer arcade soccer game played from a third-person perspective. Its recent beta was hugely popular, with 1.9 million taking part across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. The beta hit a concurrent player peak of 175,000 across platforms, staying in the top five most-played Steam games every day it was available.
In a tweet, Sloclap said crossplay between Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox won’t be available for Rematch at launch. The game is available to play now, three days early, for those who pay more for the Elite or Pro Edition, but the official release date is this Thursday, 19 June.
However, crossplay is “one of our top priorities for upcoming updates,” Sloclap insisted. “We'll share an ETA as soon as possible, stay tuned!”
The lack of crossplay at launch for a competitive multiplayer game released in 2025 has come as a surprise to fans, some of whom have expressed their disappointment.
“Well that's a shame,” said redditor MajesticZed, “was hoping to play with friends on a different platform. Guess I'll just wait to buy it until they implement it then.”
Some who were planning to play via PC Game Pass were particularly disappointed by the news, given it means they cannot play with Steam players because of the lack of crossplay. “What a joke,” said redditor schumacher01. “Ah man, this is a bummer,” added Natemcb. “Ruins the plans of me and my group playing until they add it.”
Damn rip to the homies pic.twitter.com/60cJmytC4D
— Covent (@ChrisCovent) June 16, 2025
Some are now saying they’ve refunded their preorders. “Okay that’s very disappointing, I'm refunding the game,” Peatrex said. “The whole point was to play with friends.”
Given Rematch is an online multiplayer game, you can see why some who were looking forward to its release would be disappointed by the lack of crossplay. But Sloclap has said crossplay is a priority, so hopefully it’s added to the game sooner rather than later.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
© Jordan Lye via Getty.
Don't let Elden Ring Nightreign's status as a spin-off fool you. It has plenty of stuff to pick apart for lore fiends. Much like the towering Erdtree, Nightreign is just one branch, one alternate timeline, with roots in the world of Elden Ring. Nightreign brings its own unique ideas and new characters to Elden Ring, even if the events of the game don’t tie directly to the original. You’ll know what we mean when we start exploring the ending of Nightreign below.
This article contains spoilers for the ending of Elden Ring Nightreign.
Nightreign bends the history of The Lands Between in a different direction, forking off from a pivotal moment in the lore to give us a peek at what might've happened if things had gone much, much worse. It’s better to think of the events of Nightreign as an alternate timeline rather than a canon storyline. You don't need to know everything about Elden Ring to enjoy it, but you do need to spend quite a bit of time running expeditions and fighting Nightlords to get the full picture. Once you do, you'll start to grasp how Nightreign fits (and doesn't fit) into the story of the Lands Between.
As the intro cutscene explains: Nightreign takes place in a world where the Tarnished never show up. The war between the gods—known as The Shattering—breaks out after Marika stirs chaos in The Lands Between by smashing the Elden Ring. Thousands of years pass and nobody takes the throne, eventually luring "an abomination" known as the Nightlord to the land. This unnamed being is basically a walking natural disaster. Wherever he goes, the Night follows, and an endless torrent of rain slowly dissolves the world into nothing.
Leave it to FromSoftware to come up with an even bleaker version of the timeline than what we have in the original game. Here, the Elden Throne is just an empty chair sitting in the ruins of a world fading out of existence. There's nothing to rule or to conquer. And yet a peculiar group of people have been chosen by some unknown master to try and defeat the Nightlord anyway and end the Night.
That's where we come in. The Nightfarers team up to hunt down lesser Nightlords on their way to the source of the catastrophe. This involves dropping down onto what's left of Limgrave and battling familiar monsters and bosses from not only Elden Ring, but the Dark Souls series as well. While the game doesn't explicitly state why the worlds have converged, I like to think of it as the result of ruptures in reality as the universe collapses in on itself.
Once you bring enough of the Nightlords down, the true culprit is revealed to be the husk of a man named Heolstor. He carries what looks like the Moonlight Greatsword from Dark Souls in one of his three arms, and is one of the most spectacular boss fights FromSoftware has ever created. Defeating him rewards you with the Primordial Nightlord's Rune, which resembles the Great Runes you find in Elden Ring, only with an inky hue.
Usually you return to see your allies hanging out in the Roundtable Hold after defeating a Nightlord, but killing Heolstor leaves you standing in front of a Roundtable Hold that has been long abandoned. A petrified corpse sits inside and when you place the rune before it, it causes your Nightfarer to dissipate into streaks of light that fly into the sky.
A post-credits scene shows the Lands Between as we know it from Elden Ring—Erdtree and all—with golden leaves wafting in the air. One of those leaves lands on a tree branch atop a giant that looks a lot like Heolstor if he were made out of wood. It rises out of the sea, pausing a moment to face the Erdtree, and then steps away.
It's heavily implied that by defeating Heolstor we've retroactively stopped the Night from ever happening in the first place. In other words: We've chopped off Nightreign's branch of the story for good, leaving the events of Elden Ring to play out as we know them from the original game.
We don't know a lot about Heolstor outside of the relic you get from defeating him. It tells a brief story of a knight who was slain by a hero before mysteriously waking up to curse the world. It's vague enough to fit into several different interpretations, but the most plausible one seems to be that he is intentionally a nobody, a cosmic inevitability as natural as the sun setting in the evening.
This lines up thematically with the alternate ending the Wylder can get if you finish his remembrance quests. Instead of erasing the timeline, the Wylder takes up the mantle of Nightlord by using a Larval Tear, an item from Elden Ring that is associated with rebirth. You learn earlier in his quest that the Roundtable Hold only exists because the Nightlord exists, and his sister, the Duchess, is locked to the same fate. He sacrifices himself to the Night to keep her alive.
In the Ironeye's unique ending, he cuts the throat of the petrified corpse in the empty Roundtable Hold and prolongs the Night. His goal is to protect his clan of undying warriors who you might remember from Elden Ring as Those Who Live in Death. In Elden Ring's timeline, Those Who Live in Death are hunted by the followers of the Erdtree. The Ironeye's decision saves them from this outcome, but dooms the world as a result.
The Recluse's ending is the second most hopeful one you can get. Her remembrance reveals that she once had a child who she abandoned, leaving it to succumb to an endless hunger and start to devour everything in sight, including her own sister. After defeating Heolstor, the Recluse can find the Night-touched baby in the Roundtable Hold and embrace it. Her love calms the infant and seemingly prevents a new Nightlord from forming.
The remaining Nightfarers don't have special endings associated with them. Their stories follow the events of the default ending and they likely disappear along with everything else when it's erased. But Nightreign's story isn't completely over: FromSoftware will eventually release new Nightfarers as DLC and they could provide even more insight into the nature of this sad world— possibly through their own alternate endings.
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We have a new The Naked Gun trailer, this time showing off Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson in full on spoof comedy mode.
The Naked Gun is a revival of the beloved comedy franchise starring Leslie Nielsen as the bumbling yet endearing Detective Frank Drebin. This time around, Taken star Liam Neeson plays Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. with a cast that includes Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, CCH Pounder, Kevin Durand, Cody Rhodes, Liza Koshy, Eddie Yu, and Danny Huston.
The trailer gives us a good idea of the brand of humor and edgy satire we can expect from The Naked Gun, which looks like it pulls no punches as it sends up its celebrities. And yes, we see the same O. J. Simpson joke revealed in the debut teaser.
At one point Neeson, desperate to relieve himself, shoots up a restaurant to jump the line for the bathroom. Anderson wants Neeson to investigate her brother’s murder before literally taking a chair. Apparently Police Squad is under threat of closure if the case isn’t closed. Pamela Anderson, clearly up for a challenge, is spotted cleaning out Liam Neeson’s oven. We see Neeson’s ‘I’m a little schoolgirl’ trick from the teaser again. And finally, he accidentally causes a jailbreak — and Drebin is none the wiser.
Here’s the official blurb:
Only one man has the particular set of skills... to lead Police Squad and save the world! Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson) follows in his father's footsteps in The Naked Gun, directed by Akiva Schaffer (Saturday Night Live, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping) and from producer Seth MacFarlane (Ted, Family Guy).
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
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Another Monday and another fresh start for daily deals, and it's starting off with a bang. Big box online retailers have Pokémon TCG product in stock that's near or under market value, while Prismatic Evolutions and Journey Together single card values cool off (Finally). The same can't be said for the wave that is Destined Rivals however, with single-card prices bobbing up and down the secondary market seas.
Outside of the worlds biggest Franchise ever, Magic: The Gathering - Aetherdrift sealed product has been discounted on Amazon, so there's never been a better time to rip open the expansion. Whilst MTG: Final Fantasy has finally dropped, there's still plenty of buying options for sealed product from big box retailers and TCG Player. I've also found some cracking bargains on SSDs, portable storage, DDR5 RAM, games and more. Let's get into it:
Checking these prices against TCG Player secondary market values, a lot of these products aren't far off the mark. Make no mistake, they're still way off MSRP, but finding Pokémon products on shelves that haven't been marked up past the point of anyone caring is a positive. Still refusing to pay over MSRP for new sets? Well played, I'm proud of you. Here's some single card highlights for you to shuffle through instead. Spoiler, there's plenty of deals to be had.
It's hard to stick a pin on Destined Rivals single card values right now, and the dips in value seem to match the little bits of stock distributors release to stores. Looking at the tracking charts for each of these cards, we can see mostly plummets from day one, then either upticks or cards for sale that exceed the original value at launch. It's crazy, but we now know how low these cards can go. Sure there's always attempts at market manipulation, but I wouldn't buy any cards on the rise right now.
Having keeping an eye on the market since launch, Journey Together singles are now more affordable than ever. Many of these cards have stabilized, with the main chase card - Lillie's Clefairy ex SIR, settling at around $150. If you were planning on getting into Journey Together at some point to collect the illustration rares and SIRs, now is a great time to jump in.
There's so many great cards in this set that aren't Umbreon ex SIR, all of which are a damn sight more affordable right now. Because I hate anything popular (Yes, I know I'm a massive fan of the most popular IP on earth), my two favorite cards are Dragapult ex SIR and Roaring Moon ex SIR. The former is now down to a respectable $125, with the latter holding it's value well since launch, floating towards the $200 mark. These prices and below are great deals for these cards, so don't miss out.
Magic: The Gathering discounts at a big box store like Amazon? Surely not! Aetherdrift turned the MTG meta on its head introducing vehicles and other unique mechanics. This is a great time to jump into it and rip open some packs, it's deffinately one of the most "out there" twists on the ever popular trading card game.
It's finally here, Magic the Gathering: Final Fantasy is out in the wild. If you got a preorder for MSRP, well played, but many TCG and Final Fantasy fans missed out. Fear not, there's still some options on sealed products available right now, including options from the secondary market with TCG Player which is around the same or lower than the pricing of big box retailers right now.
Crucial are one of the most dependable brands when it comes to M.2 and portable drives, and is a great option for those wanting the benefits of DDR5 RAM without flashy RGB and it's price tag. Here's some of the best deals in the Crucial price slashing marathon on Amazon right now. I currently use the X10 Pro 4TB for backing up files and folders on my PC and for watching videos on my projector, just a solid piece of kit.
Kingdom Come Deliverance II drops you into the brutal heart of 15th century Bohemia, and right now the PS5 version is just $47.99, down from $69.99. You play as Henry, a blacksmith’s son caught in a fight for survival, revenge, and rebellion. With over five hours of cinematic storytelling, a massive open world, and intense first-person melee combat, this sequel builds on everything that made the original a cult hit. Whether you're swordfighting, smithing, or trying to navigate life in a war-torn land, this is medieval roleplaying at its most immersive.
This limited-edition DOOM The Dark Ages art print is a must for fans of the Slayer's latest crusade. Officially licensed and hand-numbered out of 995 copies, it's printed on high-quality art paper and comes with a certificate of authenticity. Produced by one of the UK’s oldest commercial printers, the A3-sized piece measures 11.69 x 16.53 inches and captures the brutal tone of the game perfectly. Pre-orders are open now, with shipping expected in July 2025.
Power Up Pride Game Bundle brings together seven standout indie titles for just $13, with all games yours to keep. You’ll find cozy village life in Echoes of the Plum Grove, charming shop sim gameplay in Sticky Business, and emotional storytelling in titles like Haven and A Normal Lost Phone. It’s a solid mix of narrative-driven adventures, life sims, and visual novels, all picked for their unique stories and engaging mechanics. Great value, great games, and a portion of your purchase supports charity through Xperience Studios.
Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of "Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior". Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.
Nintendo has announced a Direct showcase focused on upcoming Switch 2 exclusive Donkey Kong Bananza. It’s set for this Wednesday, June 18, at 6am PT / 9am ET / 2pm UK time.
The announcement was made first in the Nintendo Today! app, where it was revealed the Direct will last 15 minutes.
Now the launch of the Switch 2 itself is out the door, Nintendo can turn its attention to its upcoming exclusives, and next on the list is Donkey Kong Bananza, which comes out July 17. Based on Nintendo's announcement, this Direct focuses entirely on the 3D platforming adventure, which means we won't see any other upcoming Switch 2 games — announced or otherwise —during the livestream.
Donkey Kong himself has a fresh new look for Bananza following his redesign in the blockbuster The Super Mario Bros. Movie. In a recent interview with IGN, Nintendo developer legend Shigeru Miyamoto explained why the great ape got a makeover in the first place.
"So when it comes to character creation and working with characters, I still take an active role in that," he replied. "And looking back to the first generation Donkey Kong Country, we worked with Rare to create Donkey Kong Country.
"When we were talking about trying to create new versions, evolving Donkey Kong, we created the game called Jungle Beat. We worked together with the team that made 3D Mario. With the technology that was available at the time, we were able to make Donkey Kong more expressive. And going back to the design that Rare came up with, we reevaluated; what can we do with the design to make it more expressive? And then when it comes to the movie, we decided to move forward with this new generation Donkey Kong design."
Check out IGN's Donkey Kong Bananza hands-on preview for more.
Bananza's release will help flesh out the Switch 2's relatively light exclusive games list, which includes launch titles Mario Kart World and Welcome Tour. Other Switch 2 exclusives include Survival Kids, the upcoming Kirby Air Riders, and the recently announced Splatoon Raiders.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Charles Martinet, the voice of Mario for almost 30 years, has clarified how he will perform in-character when meeting fans — and the reason why — after confusion sparked on social media following a recent convention appearance.
Now recognised by Nintendo as an official Mario Ambassador, Martinet is beloved for enthusiastically performing his Mario voices when greeting fans in-person. But a recent social media post by YouTuber Ricky Berwick prompted concern that Martinet had been restricted by Nintendo in what he could perform — until Martinet himself spoke up to offer clarification.
Following an appearance by Martinet earlier this month at the Phoenix Fan Fusion 2025 convention, held in Phoenix, Arizona, a social media post by Berwick — who has 6.25 million subscribers on YouTube and 14.1m subscribers on TikTok — claimed the voice acting legend "wasn't even allowed to do the voice of Mario or any of his iconic character's voices" while at the meetup. "It's a f**king shame," Berwick added.
The post caught the internet's attention, as it came just hours after it was revealed that Martinet's former Mushroom Kingdom colleague Samantha Kelly had been replaced as the voice of Princess Peach and Toad, with the actress told of the change by Nintendo on the day Nintendo Switch 2 launch title Mario Kart World launched without her in it.
Nintendo officially retired Martinet back in 2022, though provided the actor with a notable send-off in the form of a farewell video featuring Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto and the promise that Martinet would continue to work with Nintendo as Mario Ambassador going forward. Martinet himself later stated he wasn't really sure what that title bestowed, but has maintained a busy schedule of convention appearances in the years since.
Now, in response to Berwick's post, Martinet has responded to state that the issue in question here was that of him performing improvised dialogue as one of his former Nintendo characters (alongside Mario, Martinet also voiced Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Baby Mario, Baby Luigi and others).
"Oh Ricky, I do the voice for every fan I meet," Martinet wrote in response. "I just don't improvise non-Mario phrases or dialogue."
Martinet went on to state that this was his own decision, born out of his own desire not to have Nintendo's character say things that weren't already a part of the company's games.
"That's my choice to be sure," Martinet continued. "I always maintain the integrity of the character. But come and visit me at any Comic Con or fan expo and you'll hear super Mario for sure! #woohoo"
Mario's voice is now provided by Kevin Afghani in all Nintendo video games — or Hollywood's Chris Pratt in the Super Mario Bros. Movie, which next year will get a sequel.
Photo by Isaiah Trickey/FilmMagic. Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
CD Projekt has explained why it has taken a “console-first” development approach for the hotly anticipated The Witcher 4, having gone with a PC-first approach for its previous games.
Earlier this month, CD Projekt revealed a stunning The Witcher 4 tech demo, built using Unreal Engine 5, that gave fans a clear sense of what to expect from the game.
The tech demo, captured on a PlayStation 5 and running at 60 frames per second, follows Ciri as she explores the never-before-seen region of Kovir in the midst of a monster contract.
There is an incredible amount of detail in the tech demo, with fluid animations on a level we have yet to see on the current generation of consoles. Ciri and her horse Kelpie have particularly impressive movement and interactions with each other, NPCs, and the game world as they make their way through the mountains of Kovir to the bustling port town of Valdrest. At one point in the demo, CD Projekt upped the NPC count in the market scene to 300 individually animated characters. The showcase ended with a first look at Lan Exeter, the winter capital and a major port city in Kovir.
Speaking to the tech experts at Digital Foundry following the demo reveal, CDPR’s VP of technology, Charles Tremblay, explained why the studio showed off The Witcher 4 tech demo running on PS5 first and before PC, saying it’s going for a “console-first” development approach for the game.
“We always do PC and we push and then we try to scale down,” he said. “But then we had so many problems in the past that we tried to say, this time around we really want to be more console-first development.”
That mention of having problems in the past is a nod to the disastrous launch of 2020’s Cyberpunk 2077, which ran so poorly on consoles on release that Sony ended up pulling it from the PlayStation Store and offered refunds. Amid the furore, CD Projekt apologized to customers for not showing the game on base last-gen consoles ahead of launch, admitting “we should have paid more attention to making it play better on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.”
CD Projekt spent years recovering from the game’s technical issues, but has done so successfully, to the point now where Cyberpunk 2077 is a massive hit and was even successfully released on the Nintendo Switch 2 as a launch title.
Now, with The Witcher 4 in development but not due out until 2027 at the earliest, CD Projekt is clearly keen to avoid making the same mistake. Later in the same interview, Jakub Knapik, VP, Global Art Director, CDPR, talked in vague terms about the benefits of going with console first then “scaling up” to platforms such as PC.
“We wanted to solve certain foundations,” he said. “It’s pretty logical when you think about it, because it’s easier to scale up than down.
“We knew that once we set up certain foundations both visually and technically, there’s room to scale up. Now what that means is another question. We’re CDPR, we always like to push PCs to the limit. It’s just a creative process how to really use it.”
Tremblay then stepped in to insist PC gamers will get their money’s worth from The Witcher 4 when it eventually comes out, despite the “console-first” approach.
“In the past, something that’s super important for the group is that if people pay good money for their hardware, then we want them to have what the game can provide for that, not like a simplified experience,” he said.
“So this is something we will definitely explore. The company started as a PC company, and we’ll definitely want to have the best experience for the PC gamer for sure. But it’s too early to say what this will mean for The Witcher 4.”
It’s worth remembering that by releasing The Witcher 4 on Xbox Series X, it must also release it on the less powerful Xbox Series S. All the talk so far has been about how CD Projekt has committed to 60 frames per second for The Witcher 4 across console, but in the DF interview Tremblay admitted that scaling down to Series S while maintaining 60fps will be "extremely challenging.”
“I wish we did a lot of work already on that but we did not,” he said. “So this is something that is next on our radar for sure. I will say that 60fps will definitely be extremely challenging on the Xbox Series S. Let’s just say this is something we need to figure out.”
There is still a long way to go for The Witcher 4, and as IGN has reported, the tech demo is not representative of The Witcher 4 gameplay. But it does show CD Projekt’s “ambition” for the title.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Family game fixtures have become more and more popular over recent years, in part as a way to reclaim some fun time with family members away from the tyranny of screens. And it’s a great option: everyone has to get involved, it’s a workout for your brain, and often a tense thrill-ride to the finish if you pick the right titles. But in the ever-expanding board game scene, that can be a problem, as not all games are as fun for your pre-teen kids as they are for their grandparents as well as the generation in between.
If you want the best board games for adults, or the best board games for kids, we’ve got you covered with separate lists. Our picks here are sure to please whatever the age and skill level of the participants, as they offer a mix of strategy and luck that keeps everyone on their toes and in with a chance.
A venerable classic, which has been through multiple editions since its original inception as Survive back in 1982, is now back in a spanking new edition. You assemble an island out of random hex tiles and place your adventurers, each of has a secret points value, on it. Then you take turns removing a tile, dumping unlucky adventurers into the sea and at the mercy of sharks, sea monsters and Godzilla-like kaiju. If you're smart, you can get them onto boats or even swim to safety but other players get the chance to pilot the monsters and eat your heroes: the player with the most surviving points wins! Equal parts strategy and luck, and with a fun mean streak a mile wide, this is a sure-fire, genre-blending winner.
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This family-friendly tableau-building game sits high on the recommendation rankings thanks to its cunning combination of simple rules and in-depth scoring mechanics. On your turn you'll buy a card from either the castle or the village rows and slot it into your nine by nine tableau. Each has a buy effect and and end-game scoring rule which will depend on what other cards are in the same row and column, meaning your strategic considerations multiply exponentially on every placement. Thanks to that immediate ability and an easy to learn set of icons, this creates a rich and varied soup of interesting options, challenging the players with awkward tradeoffs while keeping things fun, fast-playing and incredibly addictive.
If you've ever fancied living the dangerous, and likely rather short, life of a bomb disposal expert now's your chance, made all the more appealling by a cutesy animal makeover. But don't be fooled by the appealling artwork and cooperative gameplay this is a tense tactical game of wits and probability. Every player is given a selection of hidden numbered wire tokens which they must put in order. On your turn, you'll try - aided by a variety of limited-use equipment and the laws of probability - to guess which other players have a matching wire with one of yours, which you can then make safe. But watch out as wrong guesses will advance the detonator and if you pick a red wire then it's instant game over. This formula is varied ingeniously across 66 different missions and it's won a nomination for this year's presitgious Spiel des Jahres prize.
Many of you will be familiar with trick-taking from playing card games like Whist and Hearts, where one player leads a card suite and others have to follow if able. One plank of this game's genius is the way it adapts that competetive stalwart into a cooperative model, giving each player particular challenges to fulfil in order to win a round, such as having most cards of a particular suite, or capturing specific named cards. This works far better than you might imagine, creating a rich and varied experience with a surprisng amount of strategy subtlety. It's other filip is to put a narrative framework on top, re-telling your own version of the first third of Tolkien's magnum opus, with delightful stained-glass illustrations to accompany the experience, as we explained in our review.
As the title of Planet Unknown implies, each player has a brand new world to explore, except that they get to build the terrain from polyominoes as they go. There's a fun lazy-susan rotating device in the table center that limits the shapes each player can take on their turn, moving to a new selection after. Each type of terrain you add advances you on a track that unlocks other bonuses and abilities, such as space rovers to move around your expanding map, so, cleverly, your growing planet is also a game engine that advances potential on future turns. That's an impressive blend of spatial and mechanical strategy off the bat, but the widely appealling theme and colourful presentation make it fantastic family fare.
Despite the melodic name, this is actually a game about creating a natural habitat that suits a wide variety of animals. On your turn you’ll select from one of three piles of tokens, representing different terrain like mountains, trees and rivers, and put them on your hex board. Your aim is to fulfill the habitat needs of each animal card you’re holding by matching its pattern as many times as possible, a far trickier task than it sounds because it can be rotated in any direction, potentially allowing you to make multiple matches with a single, clever placement. With bright art, straightforward rules and surprisingly devious puzzling gameplay, this is a potential hit across the ages.
The original Ticket to Ride, with its compelling combination of card-collecting and board-blocking, is one our all-time best board games list, but this spin-off is fantastic for family play. Legacy means games are linked, so you’ll start off building routes on a tiny board with simple rules, and carry the results forward to the next game which will add new elements and territories. The whole thing is wrapped in fun Wild West narrative, and a lot of the emerging gameplay twists are imaginative and really fun, as we explored in our review. And when you’re done, your family will have its own unique, customised version of this incredible game.
Legacy games, where your actions in one game carry over into the next, have been a hot item in tabletop over the last decade or so, but most of them are too complex and involved for family play. Not so for My City from one of board gaming’s most prolific and acclaimed designers, Reiner Knizia. It’s a simple, zen-like tile-laying game where you’re trying to fit buildings of different shapes together onto a virgin wilderness, grouping things together to score points. But after each game, you’ll add new rules and stickers to your map so that each individual player’s board becomes unique. This gives it a thrillingly addictive edge as you wait to unlock each tranche of new content, and means it’ll come back to the table time and time again as you work through the campaign.
Japan has a burgeoning board game scene of its own, translations from which are only slowly making their way into the west. This card game is perhaps its most engaging export yet, winning a nomination for the prestigious Spiel des Jahres award. At heart it’s a Rummy-type affair that’s easy to pick up, where you have to lay sequences of cards from your hand to get rid of them, but it has two novel catches. Firstly, if you can’t beat the sequence currently on the table, you have to pick up a card from it instead. Second, you can’t rearrange your initial hand, only insert picked-up cards where you want them. This gives each hand a fascinating long-term strategic aspect, an astonishing achievement for a fifteen-minute game that’s already highly addictive.
Heat was, ironically enough, one of 2022’s hottest titles, an easy to pick up racing game that still delivered a thrilling dash to the chequered flag. The core of the game is very straightforward: the higher gear you’re in, the more movement cards you can play, but all the corners on the track have a maximum gear value. Exceed it, and you’re at risk of spinning off and losing ground. This creates a tense game of push your luck and hand management where you’re shepherding cards to maximize your movement without downshifting until the very last minute, then angling to pick up speed again down the straights. And don’t forget the value of slipstreaming behind the leader for a last-minute overtake. With a variety of tracks and fun plastic toy car pieces, it’s certain to keep you racing into the small hours.
Takenoko is a game about taking care of a very hungry panda. Players spend their turns watering plots of land to grow bamboo that the panda will then eat. There are lots of ways to score points, such as placing land tiles in a certain patterns and feeding the panda specific colors of bamboo. Because there is more than one way to score points, the game does not shoehorn players into one strategy. With colors that pop and towers of bamboo that reach far above the table, Takenoko is just as fun to look at as it is to play.
There are few games with quite the wide appeal of Cascadia. For starters, it’s got a wholesome theme of exploring the ecology of the Pacific Northwest. The mechanics are very simple, involving you picking one of four pairs of animal token and terrain hex to add to your growing map. The aim is to satisfy a random range of scoring cards by getting animals into particular patterns, and they range in difficulty from an easy family version to challenging gamer-level objectives. There’s even a fun solo campaign where you’re tasked with crossing off a range of variants and objectives. If there ever was a game for absolutely everyone, this is it.
The best way to describe King of Tokyo is “Yahtzee meets Godzilla.” In this monster mash-up, players control one of a stable of greatest-hits monsters straight out of science fiction past. The goal is to take control of Tokyo while fending off the other monsters. Attacks and special abilities are carried out through dice rolls which lends a bit of suspense to the giant-sized boxing matches. Of course, controlling Tokyo makes you a target, and no monster can stay in the city for too long without taking lots of damage. It’s up to you to recognize when to retreat and when to press the attack, but beware: Other monsters are out there and waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Released in 2017, Kingdomino is the most recent game on this list. It also won the coveted Spiel des Jahres, the German board game of the year, cementing its place as a go-to family game for years to come. Players take turns claiming tiles to add to their kingdom, but it’s not as simple as picking a tile and moving on. The tile you choose directly affects the turn order for the next turn, so you must be careful when making your decision lest you leave a valuable tile on the table for your opponents. Your tableau is limited to a 5-by-5 grid, which adds a spatial awareness element to the game as well. Because of its short play time and how easy it is to learn the rules, Kingdomino is an ideal choice for your next family game night.
In Tiny Towns, players are mayors of newly developing villages tasked with planning and building the town’s cottages, taverns, factories, and more. On a turn, the active player chooses one of the available resources, then all players take one cube of the matching resource and place it in their town. Those cubes stay there, taking up precious space, until you can match the pattern on one of the building cards. Then, you place the building in your town and gain its effect, usually in the form of end-game points based on the building’s scoring conditions. Because everyone at the table takes a resource on every turn, there’s little to no down time in Tiny Towns. Keeping players engaged while forcing them to meticulously plan their buildings makes this family game a brain burner in the best possible way.
A game that is as beautiful as it is enjoyable, Azul is a contest of planning and opportunity. You’re a mason in 15th or 16th Century Portugal, and King Manuel I has asked you to decorate his palace with strikingly colored tiles reminiscent of Spain’s Alhambra. On a turn, you choose all tiles of a single color from one of the available groups of four, and the rest get sent to a common area that can be pilfered later. You must insert your chosen tiles into rows on your player board, and when you complete a row you’ll add one tile to your palace wall. Points are scored for meeting various pattern requirements, like covering all tiles of one color on your wall, or completing an entire row or column. Filling up your display is satisfying in a way that few tile-laying games are, and the play time is generally short enough that multiple plays in a night are not uncommon. It’s not hard to see why Azul won Germany’s game of the year award in 2018.
Trick-taking games like Whist are well-known, but The Crew takes the concept to a new level by using it in a cooperative card game. You’ll work together over a long series of missions that require you to win tricks that meet certain objectives. One player might have to win a trick with a blue 5 in it, while another must not win any of the first 5 tricks. The catch is that you can only ever tell your fellow players about one card in your hand: The rest must be kept secret. This straightforward concept hides a surprising amount of tactical depth as you try to trump and throw-away cards to ensure the right players win the right tricks.
Who doesn’t love an adorable cat? The evil Lord Vesh, that’s who, and it’s up to you to fit as many sinuous felines on your boat as you can before sailing them away from him to safety. This is really an excuse for this great game of polyomino arrangement, with the gorgeous artwork for the sinuous felines filling the shapes. You must pack your boat as best you can, trying to cover rats, fill holds and satisfy a random assortment of scoring conditions. As a bonus, the box includes two games modes: a family one and a rather more complex and challenging full game that sees you have to buy and deploy traps and tricks to lure the cats before stashing them safely on your ship.
You’d never imagine that concocting phoney potions in medieval Germany would be this much fun. Each game has a different set of effects on a range of ingredients that you can add to your snake oil, and it’s down to you to sniff out the likely combos and get brewing. But there’s a catch: You do so by adding your ingredients to a bag and drawing them blindly, gradually pushing up the tally of dangerous cherry bombs. Pull one too many and your whole batch will be ruined for the round. This combination of weighted push your luck and light strategy is an absolute winner for families, bringing you both tension and tactics as you compete to drum up the best draughts.
On top of the recommendations we've listed above, families with shared interests may get a kick out of the best Marvel board games or Harry Potter board games. And if that's not enough, you can check out our list of best two-player board games, as well as the best trivia board games.
Matt Thrower is a contributing freelancer for IGN, specializing in tabletop games. He's also been published in The Guardian, Dicebreaker and Senet Magazine as well as being the author and co-author of several books on board games. You can reach him on BlueSky at @mattthr.bsky.social.
NEOPLE has released the June 16th Update for The First Berserker: Khazan and shared its full patch notes. This patch adds an Easy and a Hardcore Difficulty Mode, and it brings numerous balance tweaks and changes. So, let’s take a closer look at it. Let’s start with the Beginner Mode. This mode is for those … Continue reading The First Berserker: Khazan June 16 Update Released, Adds Easy & Hardcore Modes, Full Patch Notes →
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