Small, portable and sometimes worth so much money that it would give even Pikachu a shock, rare Pokémon cards have increasingly become the target of theft and other crimes. Japanese news outlets Sanspo and Automaton recently reported that Pokémon cards and cash worth a combined total of 13,700,000 yen (approx. $92,000 USD, as per current exchange rates) were stolen from a trading card shop. The twist is that the third person arrested in this ongoing case is apparently the manager of a rival trading card store nearby.
The robbery happened on June 16 at around 3:30 a.m. at Card Shop Masters in central Japan’s Gifu Prefecture. Two men in their 30s were later arrested for breaking and entering. According to the Sanspo article, one of the men is suspected of threatening the owners with a knife before taking the cards and cash. On July 9, a third person, allegedly the owner of a nearby trading card store, was arrested on suspicion of being an accomplice in the robbery, although according to police, he has yet to confess or deny his involvement.
The shop that was robbed has been posting about the situation on its X account, revealing the alleged identity of the third suspect as the manager of a rival store. They have also been appealing for information and calling for other people who were involved to give themselves up immediately.
“There’s no use thinking you won’t get caught. We will definitely catch everyone.” they said in a post on July 10, which has since attracted over 1 million views. Commenters expressed sympathy with the victim, and shock that someone would rob a shop in the same line of work.
Incidentally, there was a similar Pokémon card robbery that took place in Japan last year. Back in September, two men broke into a trading card seller in Osaka, also at 3:30 a.m. They threatened an employee (who had just been livestreaming a card sale) with a knife, tied them up and then took over 100 cards (worth over 10 million yen or around $67,000) as well as 250,000 yen (around $1,700) in cash (source: Kochi Shimbun).
Rare Pokémon cards have become a target for heists in other countries too. In February, Australia’s ABC News reported on a string of Pokémon card thefts across stores in Melbourne. Just last week, a store in Massachusetts, USA, had more than $100,000 worth of cards stolen in an early morning break-in (source: The New York Times).
Photo by John Keeble/Getty Images.
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.
Now, however, a brand-new launch trailer is available to tempt you into picking up the expansion today. It shows off a selection of dinosaurs — both the aquatic and dry-land types — and how they exist alongside a tribe of humans, who can use their prehistoric companions to get around both on dry land and via what appears to be wind funnels beneath the waves.
Not all of the creatures you bump into are friendly, though, so we're also treated to a little combat, too, as well as some truly stunning underwater vistas.
ARK: Aquatica introduces the first submerged ARK with above-water islands, "challenging players with new survival mechanics, extreme environmental hazards, a huge explorable map area, and unique gameplay elements." The underwater biome adds 21 new tameable creatures, 74 new Engrams — including seven tek Engrams — and underwater survival thanks to features like air pockets and propulsion vehicles. Expect new characters and a "narrative connecting multiple ARKs."
ARK: Aquatica is available exclusively on PC via Steam. For the first two weeks of release, players can pick it up for $8.99 — that's 40% off the recommended retail price. A new ARK: New Depths Bundle, which features both ARK: Survival Evolved and ARK: Aquatica Expansion Map, is also on sale at a 20% discount.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
San Diego Comic-Con 2025 is almost here and IGN is the place to be for all the coverage you need, from the biggest event in pop culture! We'll be sharing all the reveals and exclusives from your favorite shows, movies, comics, games, anime, and collectibles.
IGN will be hosting our own livestreams on Friday, July 25 and Saturday, July 26 straight from San Diego, where we'll share exclusive interviews with cast and directors from shows like Peacemaker, Twisted Metal, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Rick and Morty, and many more, as well as giving you a close-up look at the coolest things on the show floor of San Diego Comic-Con.
All the details are below, including when the event and IGN's livestreams start, the panel schedule, what reveals to expect, and how you can watch and tune in to everything happening in San Diego July 23-27!
When Is SDCC 2025?
San Diego Comic-Con takes place at the San Diego Convention Center from July 23 - 27! See below for the actual in-person SDCC Exhibit Floor dates.
How to Watch IGN's SDCC 2025 Livestream
For those unable to attend in person (or if you couldn't get a badge before they sold out!) Comic-Con coverage can also be enjoyed across IGN platforms from the comfort of your own home. IGN will be on the ground at comic con starting July 23 for their opening night, keeping you up-to-date on everything happening at the event. From big news and panel reveals to live interviews in our studio to the coolest things we see on the show floor – we'll be sharing it all!
IGN will also be showcasing two days of livestreams that will have some of the biggest names in entertainment, comics, anime, and games – all live from our comic con studio, as well as exclusive reveals from the convention center.
IGN’s Live Comic-Con Show is happening Friday and Saturday:
Friday, July 25 at 3pm PT / 6pm ET / 11pm BST
Saturday, July 26 at 3pm PT / 6pm ET / 11pm BST
Where to Stream IGN's SDCC Coverage
Here’s the full list of places you can watch IGN’s live show at San Diego Comic-Con:
The full San Diego Comic-Con panel schedule can be viewed at the official SDCC website, with the event happening over July 23-27 and a preview night on July 23:
Preview Night Wednesday, July 23
Thursday, July 24
Friday, July 25
IGN’s Live Comic-Con Show starts at 3pm PT / 6pm ET
Saturday, July 26
IGN’s Live Comic-Con Show starts at 3pm PT / 6pm ET
Sunday, July 27
What to Expect at SDCC 2025
For IGN's Friday live show, fans can expect to see interviews with the cast from Alien: Earth, King of the Hill, Predator: Badlands, Twisted Metal, Dexter: Resurrection, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and many more.
For Saturday's show, IGN will be hosting the cast of Peacemaker, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, Outlander, The Bad Guys 2, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and more!
In my opinion, the Amazon Kindle is one of the best electronic devices ever. Maybe the only piece of tech I use more than my Kindle is my phone, but even then, I have the Kindle app if I decide I just want to stick some knowledge into my craw. If you're on the hunt for a good deal on a Kindle device after the Prime Day sale event, you're in luck. There are a few discounted bundle deals available right now that are worth a look.
Our favorite deal at the moment is on the Kindle Essentials Bundle, which has dropped to $146.97 from its $161.97 list price and sets you up with a Kindle, fabric cover, and power adapter. There's also a great discount on a refurbished (in Like-New condition) Kindle Paperwhite, which is 26% off to $106.99. You can see these deals and more below.
The Best Kindle Deals Right Now
Kindle is one of the devices you're most likely to find on sale during Amazon events like Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday. The available Kindle lineup has expanded quite a lot over the years, too. Amazon will oftentimes sneak Kindle deals into its Deal of the Day or offer a bonus deal like free Kindle Unlimited or other Amazon services as well.
Kindle Unlimited
If you own a Kindle, it's absolutely worth investing in Kindle Unlimited. Right now, Amazon Prime members (who haven't already used up their free trial) can sign up to get 2 months for $4.99 before its$11.99/month price kicks in.
But you may be wondering: what is Kindle Unlimited, and is it really worth it? The answer is... absolutely, dear reader. With this, you'll get unlimited access to millions of digital titles, audiobooks, and magazine subscriptions. That way you can read all of the latest bestsellers, classics, biggest hits, and more in the realm of books and comics. What better way to get started on your Kindle adventure?
Current Kindle Bestsellers
Wondering where to start once you pick up your new Kindle? Have no fear, we're here to help with that, too. Below, we've listed out the current Kindle bestsellers so you can start up an exciting new book right away. Some of these titles can be read for free if you're a Prime member or as part of Kindle Unlimited, or they can be purchased if you'd like to own them.
If you want to see the latest and greatest Kindle book deals available, there's an excellent variety to pick through. Whether you're looking for new comics to dig into or just want to sink into a thrilling novel, there's always great book deals available for Kindle users. We've listed just a few of our favorites below, but if you want to see the full list of available deals, head to Amazon's Kindle deals page here.
I've been rocking the Kindle since the earliest model was available, and not only do I prefer it to any other method of reading, I've found myself reading more than I would have with traditional paper books. Not that there's anything wrong with reading from a traditional book, I just personally appreciate the ease of use and form factor afforded me by the Kindle.
Since the Kindles use e-ink instead of traditional screens like your phone or iPad, they can be read in just about any lighting. In fact, the pages look like actual paper pages, so any artificial light or even bright sunlight are no factor when using the Kindle. It only uses energy when you turn the page, use the backlight or leave Wi-Fi turned on, so if you go into Airplane mode you can go weeks, even months, between charging your Kindle. Generally I go long enough to completely forget where I put my charging cable.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.
Doom fans, here is something really special for you today. Lee Hardcastle has shared this incredible claymation tribute to all the Doom games. This is easily the best thing you’ll see today. So, waste no time and watch it. This fan video shows all the Doom games, from the classic ones to Doom: The Dark … Continue reading This claymation tribute to all Doom games is one of the best things you’ll see today→
The Sonic the Hedgehog crossover with Magic: The Gathering's boutique Secret Lair drops went live yesterday, and it was predictably popular. Eager fans swarmed the site, and now, scalpers are already selling some of the product online at a mark-up.
Secret Lair is Magic: The Gathering's special collection of rare and unique cards, with either brand-new designs or special reprints of classic cards. For Sonic, the Blue Blur got three different sets of cards. The Friends & Foes collection featured new cards that could, presumably, be Commanders for Sonic-focused Commander decks, like Knuckles, Amy, Dr. Eggman, and Shadow. Turbo Gear and Chasing Adventure, meanwhile, were reprints of cards like Lightning Greaves and Unexpected Windfall with Sonic-styled card art.
When the set went live at 9am PT yesterday, a queue formed and quickly ramped up. There were limits in place, presumably to prevent people from mass-purchasing and flipping the goods. Still, it shouldn't be a surprise that a few card sets have found their way onto eBay already, at a marked-up price.
The Turbo Gear Foil Edition, for example, is being listed at $70 (or best offer) on eBay with a preorder/presale marker, as the actual Secret Lair cards have not shipped yet. For comparison, the Secret Lair shop price for this foil set is $39.99.
More expensive options, like the entire Sonic collection sans foil, are going for $349.99 (or best offer), and some listings put individual collections like the Friends & Foes at $80 or more.
The strange part is that while the Secret Lair vault will eventually run dry, and some parts of the collection have already gone down to low or no stock, other card sets are still available. As of this writing, the Friends & Foes Foil Edition is still available for $49.99. It won't always be available, but it's somehow both surprising and not surprising these sets are already getting flipped.
Nintendo has given fans a rare peek behind its development curtain, with a glimpse at how upcoming Switch 2 platformer Donkey Kong Bananza would have looked on Switch 1.
Donkey Kong Bananza producer Kenta Motokura has now confirmed Bananza switched from being in development for Switch 1 four years ago, back in 2021, after running into technical "challenges". To illustrate his point, Nintendo has published a couple of comparison images, showing how the game looked running on Switch 1, compared to its Switch 2 counterpart.
"We originally began developing Donkey Kong Bananza on Nintendo Switch, but we ran into some challenges," Motokura said, as part of a new Ask the Developer Q&A. "I think it was around 2021 when we started to think about moving development to Switch 2."
"It was clear that the memory available on Switch [1] would struggle to handle that load," added programming director Wataru Tanaka, "and we felt that manifesting the huge volume of terrain that we did in this game might have been unachievable on that platform.
"With the move to Switch 2, we gained not only more memory but also greater processing capacity. That gave us the freedom to incorporate gameplay ideas we'd previously abandoned because they were too demanding. When we got down to trying it, we discovered that not only could it handle the heavy processing requirements, but it also ran at 60 fps."
As seen in the above screenshots, the move to Switch 2 enabled Nintendo to add many more objects to Bananza's levels, multiplying the number of things DK can destroy. And, of course, the improved processing power of Switch 2 ensured the game's destruction elements was handled more easily, with fewer frame-rate drops (although some, Nintendo has acknowledged, are still present).
Bananza's voxel-based destruction is an evolution of the interactive terrain found within a few levels of Super Mario Odyssey, though Nintendo has said its 3D Mario team only began experimenting with the technology halfway through Odyssey's development.
Still, head to Odyssey's Luncheon Kingdom to play with cheese rocks, or the icy drifts Mario can plow through in the game's Snow Kingdom, and you'll see the precursors to Bananza's voxel-based destruction at play.
When moving to work on Bananza, its development team initially used the Rayman-like disembodied arms of Super Mario Odyssey boss Knucklotec and stuck them on a Goomba to roughly simulate the kind of gameplay they wanted for Donkey Kong. Nintendo has published a look at this too — see above — which is fairly stunning to see. Already, this powered-up Goomba is capable of ripping off chunks of the environment with its bare, disembodied hands, and hurling said chunks into other parts of the environment to create holes.
"In Super Mario Odyssey, there’s a boss called Knucklotec who attacks Mario with giant hands," Tanaka explained. "The programmer who created him tried attaching those arms to a Goomba as an experiment. The Goomba could smash terrain, tear off pieces to use as weapons, and throw them. Those actions felt surprisingly satisfying, and we got a sense that this destruction-based gameplay could be a compelling core mechanic."
"The results of our tests showed that destruction-based gameplay could work, and it was a good match for Donkey Kong’s enormous strength," Motokura added. "We felt that the concept and the core gameplay had clicked into place."
Slowly but surely it seems like Hocus Pocus 3 will happen — we just don’t know when. Sarah Jessica Parker recently spoke out about the film and hinted that Disney may still move forward with the project.
“No more developments other than we would like to do it,” the Sex and the City alum told Andy Cohen on a recent episode of his late night talk show Watch What Happens Live. “We’ve been having some conversations.”
The 1993 original was directed by Kenny Ortega and written by Neil Cuthbert and beloved horror maestro Mick Garris (one of my favorite pieces of horror trivia). The hilarious film went on to become a cultural phenomenon for 90s kids the world over. It follows three evil sister witches who set their sights on a town full of children — and youth — after an outcast resurrects them on Halloween night.
The witches in question were played by Bette Middler, Kathy Najimy, and Parker, all three of whom returned for the 2022 sequel film Hocus Pocus 2.
The third installment was, in fact, confirmed back in 2023 by Sean Bailey, president of Walt Disney Studios motion picture production. While speaking to The New York Times, Bailey also confirmed that director Anne Fletcher and writer Jen D’Angleo would also return for the third film.
That said, things have clearly been slow moving. Last year, Middler revealed she had “heard rumblings” coming from the project, but nothing set in stone just yet. “I think if they’re gonna [do it], they oughtta because time is not just marching,” she said on the QVC+ talk show Busy This Week in July 2024. “Time is barrel-assing to the finish line. Get us while we’re still breathing, I mean, God!”
Considering I don’t think anyone wants to see a Hocus Pocus movie without the Sanderson Sisters, Bette’s got a point.
Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.
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 HBO Max subscriptions, along with any deals as they appear. This includes bundle deals like the HBO 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 other HBO Max subscription plans below.
How to Get the Disney Plus, Hulu, and HBO Max Streaming Bundle
The Disney Plus, Hulu, and HBO Max streaming bundle can be purchased through 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.
If you're a student, you can score the HBO 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.
Subscribe to HBO Max
If you're just looking to sign up for a HBO Max subscription, there are a few different options to choose from:
Both tiers allow up to two concurrent streams and offer Full HD resolution. The Standard tier allows users to download shows and movies to watch on the go, too.
HBO 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:
$20.99/month, ad-free with four concurrent streams
$209.99/year, ad-free with four concurrent streams
There is currently no HBO Max free trial available as of July 2025, so you'll need to be a paying subscriber to access the service.
HBO Max: Bundle to Best
Alongside the big HBO Max/Hulu/Disney+ bundle deal, Hulu also offers its own bundle deal with HBO Max if you just want to have just those two services. Simply pick out your Hulu base plan, which starts at $9.99/month, and then add HBO Max to your account for an additional $9.99/month for the HBO Max Basic with Ads plan or $16.99/month for the HBO Max Standard plan. If you'd like to learn more about Hulu's bundles, visit our page on Hulu's best bundles and deals right now.
What Is Streaming on HBO Max?
HBO Max features a wide variety of programming, including shows from brands like HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Magnolia Network, and more. Included are shows like Property Brothers, House Hunters, and Fixer Upper, among others.
The service also includes a variety of HBO Originals like The Last of Us (which recently finished its second season), Euphoria, Succession, Barry, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The 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 Mickey 17 and Sinners. Plus, HBO Max continues to house popular streaming series like Friends, Full House, and the Harry Potter movie collection.
Back when it was still called 'Max', we gave the streaming service an 8/10 in our review, 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.
Switch 2 blockbuster Donkey Kong Bananza will be something of a template for the character's future 3D games, Nintendo has said, splitting DK's appearances in 2D and 3D titles.
Similar to how Mario still appears in both 2D and 3D installments — the most recent of each being Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Super Mario Odyssey, respectively — Nintendo now sees a similar delineation in its plans for its most prominent ape.
Expanding on comments previously made to IGN about Bananza's origins, producer Kenta Motokura has said that the game's development began when Nintendo legend Yoshiaki Koizumi asked his 3D Mario team to work its magic making a 3D DK game instead.
"With an eye to expanding the Donkey Kong franchise further, I'd like the team that's been working on 3D Mario games to create a 3D Donkey Kong game," Motokura quoted Koizumi as saying, as part of a new Ask the Developer Q&A. It was this instruction, combined with ongoing experimentation into voxel-based destruction, that led to Donkey Kong Bananza's genesis.
Asked how Bananza sits alongside other Donkey Kong games, Motokura continued by saying that the 3D Mario team considered this project to epitomise a new 3D Donkey Kong "branch", separate to the DK's 2D platformers — leaving the door open to both kinds of games still existing in future.
"In a long-running series, novelty and continuity are both important, but we wanted this title to fully convey the appeal of Donkey Kong as a character," Motokura said. "Meanwhile, we thought that by creating something new, leveraging our experience developing 3D Mario games, we'd have the opportunity to create two separate branches – 2D Donkey Kong and 3D Donkey Kong – just as we did with Mario games.
"So, keeping in mind that this game will come to symbolise 3D Donkey Kong, and with the theme of bringing Donkey Kong's strengths and new actions to the forefront, we thought the concept of 'destruction' would be a good fit."
Finally, Motokura discussed Nintendo's recent Donkey Kong redesign in more detail, and said that it was the development of Bananza which spearheaded the company's search for a new DK look.
"Donkey Kong Bananza sparked the creation of a design which I think better conveys the new Donkey Kong," Motokura said, noting that Nintendo's new 'standard' DK was actually another attempt to recapture the character's original design, drawn by Shigeru Miyamoto for the Donkey Kong arcade game.
"Outside of this game, Donkey Kong has recently appeared in The Super Mario Bros. Movie released in 2023 and in Mario Kart World, but there's a basic character design which provided the foundation for those versions of Donkey Kong," Motokura concluded. "That basic Donkey Kong design has been completely revamped. While overhauling the design, we returned to where it had all started. We took Miyamoto-san's original Donkey Kong as the basis, adding design elements from Donkey Kong Bananza here and there."
What's next for Donkey Kong? Well, it certainly sounds like the door is being left open for the character to reappear in further 2D games in future. And then there's the intriguing copyright listing for an unannounced Donkey Kong movie, spotted by Nintendo fans earlier this week. It seems like there's plenty in store for DK to come.
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
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