Clayface is starting to take shape. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and Mickey 17 actress Naomi Ackie is in early talks to star in the upcoming DCU feature helmed by Speak No Evil director James Watkins.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ackie participated in a reading session just last week, in which she ended up the favorite for the role. If she officially joins the project — and according the outlet, negotiations are to begin soon — she will star alongside Tom Rhys Harries, a Welsh actor known for his work in British television, who is already set to play the title character.
Horror favorite Mike Flanagan — who is known for his own expansive body of work of adapting classics such as The Haunting of Hill House, and creating whole new stories in both the film and television spaces — penned the script.
The film is set to follow a rising star actor who ends up with a disfigured face at the hands of gangsters. In an effort to try to get his old life back, he visits a questionable scientist (THR called this character an “Elizabeth Holmes-style” analyst, which certainly garners a laugh and, furthermore, intrigues) who performs what appears to be a successful treatment on him… but of course, this is a body horror movie, so things simply cannot end there. Ackie's potential role in the film is under wraps, but it seems like she could be playing the scientist, which would be wonderful casting.
According to the outlet, the film will have a similar feel to David Cronenberg’s beloved 1986 body horror classic The Fly, starring Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis. The Batman director Matt Reeves is producing the picture alongside Lynn Harris and DC Studios bosses James Gunn and Peter Safran.
The movie is set to arrive in theaters on September 11, 2026 — and we can’t wait to see who else joins the fray for this one.
Image credit: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images
Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.
Osiris opens in select theaters and is available on VOD on Friday, July 25.
Fusing the commandos-versus-extraterrestrials chaos of Aliens with the craptastic space-industrial aesthetic of the first Doom movie, Osiris marks a pivot for B-action director William Kaufman. His previous shoot-'em-ups, while derivative, were at least grounded in tone: 2011’s The Hit List is a shameless Collateral riff, while 2023’s The Channel copies Heat and The Town. Osiris, like Kaufman's 2016 zombie thriller Daylight's End, ventures into more fantastical terrain, this time an unimaginative sci-fi jumble that pits a grizzled Special Forces unit against man-eating monsters from beyond the stars. And while I can usually appreciate the earnestness of the director’s overwrought run-and-gunners, trying to harness the genre brilliance of James Cameron (going so far as to draft the performer behind his most iconic character) is a bridge too far.
Osiris follows a crew of rifle-toting grunts who are first seen shooting their way through an anonymous foreign enemy on Earth before being abducted in a flash of crimson light. Once they awaken from embryonic pods aboard an alien ship, the team grapples with strange and inexplicable new memories and abilities. Their leader, Kelly (Max Martini) suddenly speaks Russian, which proves handy once they bump into Ravi (Brianna Hildebrand), an inscrutable Russian stowaway who serves as the film's primary exposition device.
Between the Kaufman specialty of kinetic, overindulgent shootouts, Kelly, Ravi, and the squad pause for downtime in convenient hiding spots aboard the ship. There, they establish backstories and forge sudden, unearned bonds, like Kelly and Ravi's quasi-father-daughter connection. Time that might be better spent mounting a defense or losing their minds is instead occupied by dreary blasts of play-by-play concerning the basic thrust of the story. What are the aliens after? Ravi: "A meal." Why did they come to Earth? "We rang the dinner bell," says fellow Russian Anya (Linda Hamilton, in a thankless extended cameo), referring to the Voyager probe intercepted by the aliens – a grimmer conclusion to NASA’s deep-space exploration mission than the one offered by this summer’s Elio.
If you haven't set your brain on autopilot by the first few minutes of Osiris, you might have a rough go of it. Still, there is morbid fun in picking the movie's logic to bits. For instance, why do space aliens leave deadly weapons lying around if they can be insta-killed by them? If Ravi and Anya have survived onboard for years, as they say, what have they been living on? Space rats? Do they hydrate by collecting condensation from the walls? And if these creatures are man-eaters, why obliterate their prey with high-powered cannons?
Osiris suggests untold sci-fi/horror possibilities, but Kaufman refuses to go to the extremes that might make his movie memorable. The aliens, who should feel terrifying and unknowable, are revealed unceremoniously in well-lit shots, looking every bit like stunt performers decked out in off-the-rack space armor and force-field riot shields. If you squint, some of the sets vaguely resemble the interstellar meat-grinder causeways of Event Horizon, but more often function as cover-shooter levels where gunfights pop off with all the tension of a paintball match. Death arrives not in monstrous body horror but in standard-issue war-movie finishes, mostly head shots and explosions. Somewhere in his trip to outer space, Kaufman retreated to his comfort zone of militarized cannon fodder blasting their way out of a conflict. No wonder, then, that the movie he made is such a snooze.
In an audio world where surround sound and Dolby Atmos are becoming more and more accessible with each passing moment, Samsung is out to prove that there’s still a market for a solid soundbar that forgoes rear speakers in favor of leaning into its front soundstage. The brand’s new HW-QS700F is just that, a 3.1.2-channel system that sounds excellent, except for the times when it leaves you wishing it had those elusive rear channels to complete the ensemble. Still, it’s a Dolby Atmos-enabled bar that steals a few pages out of its flagship sibling, delivering great sound that’s sure to impress for a price that’s far more comfortable than its aforementioned relative.
Specs
Price: $699.99
Channels: 3.1.2
Drivers: 8 total speakers
Connections: HDMI eARC 2.1, Bluetooth 5.3, Optical Digital Audio
Audio formats: Stereo PCM, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos (Dolby Digital Plus), Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos (True HD), Multichannel PCM, Dolby Multichannel PCM, DTS Digital Surround
Dimensions (WxHxD): 116 x 51 x 120 inches
Weight: 4.4 pounds
Samsung HW-QS700F – Design and Features
If you squint at the HW-QS700F, you might mistake it for Samsung’s flagship Q990F. It borrows much of that same sleek, minimalist design language – which is great news if you like your AV gear to blend in, not stand out.
Samsung's connectivity perks are all here, including wireless Dolby Atmos when paired with a compatible Samsung TV. In theory, this is handy for wall-mounted setups or anyone who breaks into hives at the sight of dangling wires. In practice? It works, but like most wireless tech, it’s not infallible. For those who value rock-solid signal reliability, wired will still be the way to go.
Samsung’s much-touted Q-Symphony also makes a return, letting your Samsung TV’s speakers play in unison with the soundbar. It’s a neat trick, but again – more of a party trick than a necessity. You’re unlikely to miss it if you never use it.
What does genuinely stand out is SpaceFit Sound Pro – Samsung’s automatic room calibration tool. While not quite on the level of pro calibration gear, it’s an earnest attempt at tailoring sound to your room’s acoustics. It adds value, especially for people who don’t want to fuss with manual EQ tweaking.
Samsung HW-QS700F – Performance
The HW-QS700F wastes no time showing off. The bar’s sound is crisp, bold, and wonderfully balanced across bass, mids, and treble. I tested it with a smorgasbord of content – Season 2 of The Last of Us, which navigates between whispered dialogue and chaotic action, and Deadpool & Wolverine, which mixes some truly awesome action with a great soundtrack. The QS700F handled it all with impressive poise.
When it came time to put Dolby Atmos to the test, The Greatest Beer Run Ever on Apple TV+ has been my go-to thanks to its extraordinary depiction of wartime Vietnam and the sights and sounds that come with it. It offered plenty of dynamic vertical effects that the up-firing drivers translated nicely. But it never quite enveloped me the way a true surround system does. The audio soared above and to the sides, sure – but the rear was noticeably vacant. That sense of immersion – the feeling that something (or someone) is creeping up behind you in a dark forest (TLOU vibes) – just wasn’t there.
To Samsung’s credit, you can add rear speakers. But they’ll run you another $300, bringing your total dangerously close to the price of a Sonos Arc Ultra. That’s where the value proposition starts to fray a little.
Beyond the bar itself, I feel the need to once again give Samsung’s SmartThings app its flowers. The soundbar companion is easy to use, well laid out, and full of helpful controls, taking a lot of the pain out of customizing your sound. Whether you’re adjusting EQ, toggling modes, or switching inputs, the app keeps things intuitive. No steep learning curve, no frustration.
Samsung HW-QS700F – The Competition
The HW-QS700F sits in an increasingly competitive mid-tier soundbar market, and there are a few worthy alternatives that might sway your decision depending on your priorities. The Vizio 5.1.2 Elevate stands out as a budget-friendly option that includes rear speakers and still supports Dolby Atmos, making it an enticing choice for those craving full surround sound without spending extra on add-ons. It may lack the refined polish of Samsung’s offering, but it delivers strong performance for the price.
Then there’s the Klipsch Flexus Core 200, which undercuts the QS700F in price and brings along bigger, more aggressive bass and surprisingly solid Atmos performance. While its design and ecosystem don’t match Samsung’s seamless feel, it's a compelling alternative for bass lovers. Finally, for those willing to stretch their budget a bit more, the Sonos Arc Ultra becomes an intriguing option. Even without rear speakers or a subwoofer, it delivers a beautifully wide and detailed soundstage.
Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy – which includes Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises – is getting a fancy 4K steelbook collection exclusive to Amazon (you can see it here). If you're a fan of the films and looking to own them in a higher quality format, and each in its own sleek steelbook case, this set is currently available to preorder for $129.99. It's set to be released on September 16, so you only have a couple of months to wait before you can get your hands on it. Act fast to get your preorders in before it sells out.
Preorder The Dark Knight Trilogy 4K Steelbooks
The library case holding all of the films has a very cool design on it that features the Batman logo layered on top of itself three times in different colors: a gold, grey, and black. Each case for the film highlights a different character as well, with Batman gracing the cover of Batman Begins, Joker on The Dark Knight's cover, and Bane on The Dark Knight Rises. The fourth case, which contains some fun extra items, comes in a striking gold color with bats across the front.
The Dark Knight 4K Trilogy Steelbook Extras
Alongside the films on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and digital, this collection also comes with some excellent goodies for fans. Inside the library case is a fourth exclusive steelbook that holds lenticular cards, city billboard art cards, storyboards, The Bat Blueprint, a copy of The Gotham Times newspaper, and a certificate of authenticity. Alongside this trilogy set, there are plenty of upcoming releases worth adding to your physical media collection. Check out our breakdown of upcoming 4Ks and Blu-rays to see if there are any other movies or shows releasing soon that catch your eye.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelancer who writes with the guides and commerce teams here at IGN.
Often cited as one of the world's most valuable media franchises, Pokémon is a household name that's been a Nintendo staple since the Game Boy. The beloved series is home to hundreds of amazing creatures you can catch in-game or collect as trading cards, with each new generation bringing loads more to discover. Every console released by Nintendo has had plenty of Pokémon games released for it, and the Nintendo Switch is no exception.
Pokémon Day brought tons of new announcements about what's next for the franchise. Below, we've compiled every Pokémon game that has been released on Nintendo Switch and the information we have on upcoming Pokémon games releasing on the Switch 2.
How Many Pokémon Games Are There on Nintendo Switch?
In total, 12 Pokémon games have been released for the Nintendo Switch. This includes the mainline games for the 8th and 9th Pokémon generations as well as plenty of spinoffs. For the sake of this list, we've counted mainline entries with two versions as a single release. We also don't include the Pokémon games offered through Nintendo Switch Online, but you can check out that list below.
What Pokemon Game Should You Get in 2025?
If you're wondering which game is worth picking up on the Switch in 2025, my recommendation is Pokémon Legends: Arceus. It's not going to give you that OG Pokémon game feeling, but that's what the older generation games are for. Instead, Legends: Arceus introduces more action and RPG elements to the Pokémon series, offering the freshness of open areas to explore, more control over encounters, and plenty of polish for the handheld.
All Pokémon Games on the Nintendo Switch (in Release Order)
Pokkén Tournament DX (2017)
Pokkén Tournament was originally released for the Wii U in 2016. A year later, Nintendo and Bandai Namco prepared a deluxe version of the game for Nintendo Switch, adding new characters and updated visuals to take advantage of better hardware. This three-on-three battle system is a blast to play with friends both in person and online.
Pokémon Quest (2018)
Pokémon Quest turns all your favorite Pokémon into miniature cube form. This free-to-play Switch game features a fun and simple combat system where you send Pokémon on expeditions. Equip different abilities to your Pokémon to handle all types of encounters.
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! & Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! are remakes of the beloved 1998 Pokémon Yellow. These titles were the first mainline Pokémon games ever to release on a home console, since none made it to the Wii U. Set in the Kanto region, all 151 original Pokémon appear with varying forms from previous mainline installments. With heavy accessibility features, these remakes were a great first step for the series on Nintendo Switch for newcomers and veterans of the series.
Pokémon Sword & Shield (2019)
Pokémon Sword & Shield marked the first installment in the series to feature aspects of an open world. Dubbed the Wild Areas, these regions allowed for free traversal and battles with wild Pokémon. Gyms also made a return for the first time since X & Y. Additionally, Sword & Shield introduced the eigth generation of Pokémon, which included Dynamax and Gigantamax forms of previous Pokémon.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX (2020)
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX is a remake of the 2005 titles Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team & Blue Rescue Team. Surprisingly, this is the first Pokémon spinoff remake ever, with development handled by Spike Chunsoft. The gameplay consists of completing jobs in different dungeons and unlocking new Pokémon along the way.
Pokémon Café ReMix (2020)
The other Pokémon release of 2020 was Pokémon Café ReMix featuring similar gameplay to other puzzle games like Disney Tsum Tsum, which requires you to connect Pokémon together to solve puzzles. In Pokémon Café ReMix, you and Eevee own a café and must serve the Pokémon who come for food or a little drink. This charming service game is free-to-play via the Nintendo eShop.
New Pokémon Snap (2021)
After more than 20 years, the Nintendo Switch is the console that finally received a sequel to Pokémon Snap. Developed by Bandai Namco, you traverse around different biomes and areas with an on-rails camera to capture pictures Pokémon in the wild. You can unlock new courses by taking good pictures in New Pokémon Snap, leaving for a sizeable amount of content to unlock and discover. You never know what you might find during each session!
Pokémon Unite (2021)
This free-to-play game marked Pokémon's first entry into the MOBA genre. You command and control a team of five Pokémon in head-to-head battles against other players online. There's a solid amount of Pokémon to choose from, so you can adjust your team to best fit your needs. Pokémon Unite went on to be featured in different esports tournaments, with multiple championships held for the game.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl (2021)
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Pokémon Shining Pearl are remakes of Pokémon Diamond & Pearl, which originally released in 2006 for the Nintendo DS. As the fourth generation of Pokémon, Diamond & Pearl feature a wide variety of Pokémon to battle against and discover. The remakes feature a new chibi art style that was created to stay faithful to the original titles while still remaining fresh.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus (2022)
Pokémon Legends: Arceus is often praised as one of the best Pokémon games available on the Switch. This original title takes place far in the past, somewhere in the Hisui region. With a focus on exploration, you can freely walk all around the map to capture Pokémon, explore different environments, and so much more. Pokémon can be spotted wandering around all over the map, which requires you to be strategic if you're looking to avoid battle.
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet (2022)
The latest mainline Pokémon games officially kicked off Generation 9, bringing along an entire new approach to gameplay and world design. In Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, an open world awaits with freedom to explore wherever your heart takes you. The DLC pass, titled The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, is now wrapped up, making it a perfect time to check out Scarlet & Violet.
Detective Pikachu Returns (2023)
One game and one movie later, the sequel to Detective Pikachu is finally available on Nintendo Switch. Tim's father is missing, and it's up to Detective Pikachu to solve the case! This sequel features new puzzles and investigations, where you can investigate scenes and use your notebook to get to the bottom of the mystery. If you're a fan of both Pokémon and mystery games, this is a great game to consider.
Available Pokémon Games With Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack
The Nintendo Switch Online subscription service has additional Pokémon titles if you're looking for more after completing the Nintendo Switch library. Here are the five Pokémon games you can play with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership:
Pokémon Trading Card Game
Pokémon Snap
Pokémon Puzzle League
Pokémon Stadium
Pokémon Stadium 2
Upcoming Pokémon Games on Nintendo Switch
Pokémon Legends: Z-A is the next mainline game launching on Nintendo Switch. The game is set in Lumiose City, within the Kalos regions. Tepig, Totodile, and Chikorita are familiar starting Pokémon, from Gen 2 and 5, but will be getting new Mega evolutions. "Rooftop parkour" and new battle mechanics also indicate an increased focused on real-time action.
Game Freak and The Pokémon Company have also announced Pokémon Champions, a new battle game in the spirit of Pokemon Showdown. Coming to mobile devices and Switch, you'll be able to battle with Pokémon you've trained in other games through the Pokémon Home app.
Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused on nonsense-free Japanese gaming (in 2019) and has contributed to various publishers writing about the medium.
Sony has announced Power Saver, a curious new PlayStation 5 game setting that will "scale back performance" of supported games but reduce your console's overall power consumption.
The option, which is rolling out in the next PS5 System Beta, was briefly detailed in a PlayStation Blog update today — even though it won't actually be available even in beta, at least publicly.
Today's announcement looks to be more of an acknowledgment that the feature is being worked on, then, ahead of it being spotted by users.
"With this update, you may notice a new option in your settings menu called Power Saver," PlayStation's VP of Product Management Shuzo Kikuchi wrote today. "While this feature won't be available during the beta phase, once it officially launches, supported PS5 games will scale back performance and will allow your PS5 to reduce its power consumption when the feature is enabled optionally by gamers.
"If not enabled, or if games do not support the feature, the performance will not be scaled back and power consumption will not be reduced."
And that's about all the details that Sony is announcing today, other than a confirmation that Power Saver will not be compatible with the console's VR mode — for those of you who bought a PlayStation VR2 headset.
More details on which games will support Power Saver, and how game performance will be degraded should you choose to turn it on, will be announced in the future.
"We'll share more details on this new option as we get closer to launch," Kikuchi concluded, "including supported PS5 games and estimated impact, so stay tuned!"
Why is Sony doing this? In its blog post, the company makes mention of its 'Road to Zero' environmental plan that includes a target for the company to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2040.
But the option has also been linked to the continuing rumors that Sony is once again planning a PlayStation handheld device. And indeed, the ability for Sony to get some of its PS5 games running at a lower spec on its main home console would be a useful test for a more lightweight handheld.
Whatever the reason, and whether Sony end up launching a PlayStation handheld or not, it's going to be fascinating to compare the performance of PS5 games running with Power Saver enabled, especially with Xbox Series X, and the already lower-power Xbox Series S.
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
Xbox has announced that it will not be selling The Outer Worlds 2 - or any of its holiday games, for that matter - for $80 after all. Instead, it will be kept at $70.
An Xbox spokesperson shared the pricing changes with IGN today: “We’re focused on bringing players incredible worlds to explore, and will keep our full priced holiday releases, including The Outer Worlds 2, at $69.99 – in line with current market conditions.”
Refunds and reimbursements for those who have already pre-ordered the game for $80 will be available via whatever storefront or location the game was bought at. Xbox says that customers should expect refund notifications from the point of purchase, and some sellers may take a few days for refunds to be available.
This comes after an announcement earlier this month that The Outer Worlds 2 would be Xbox's first $80 game, while coming to Xbox Game Pass upon release as well. At the time, Xbox cited "market conditions and the rising cost of development" as the reason for the price increase on its biggest titles. The original The Outer Worlds cost $60 at launch, and a number of fans criticized the moveespecially in light of The Outer Worlds' generally anti-capitalist themes and story.
Despite attempts from executives and analysts to explain the reasons behind continued price increases of video games, consoles, accessories, and services industry-wide, gamers have remained frustrated at the growing expense required to participate in the hobby. Earlier this year, Gearbox head Randy Pitchford faced criticism for suggesting that if someone was a "real fan" of Borderlands 4, they'd find a way to buy it at $80 (the game was later announced to only cost $70).
Bloober Team has released a new official video for Cronos: The New Dawn, showcasing ten minutes of gameplay footage from it. This is our first extended look at this new third-person survival horror game. So, be sure to watch the video. Cronos: The New Dawn takes place in a dark world where old, rough buildings … Continue reading Here are 10 minutes of gameplay from Cronos: The New Dawn→
If you bought a Nintendo Switch 2 in June, the odds are good you also bought Mario Kart World. In fact, according to Circana, 82% of Nintendo Switch 2 purchasers also picked up Mario Kart World.
That comes from Circana's June report, which shared that the Nintendo Switch 2 is officially the fastest-selling video game console in the U.S. In total, the Nintendo Switch sold 1.6 million units in the U.S. in June, beating out the PlayStation 4's previous record of 1.1 million units in November of 2012.
Of those 1.6 million unit sales, 82% either purchased the Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle, or bought the game standalone. This helped propel Mario Kart World to become the third best-selling game of the month in Circana's rankings, though it's possible it could have ranked even higher due to the exclusion of Nintendo's digital data from the sales charts.
As a comparison point, when the Nintendo Switch 1 launched, over 100% of new console owners that month also purchased its launch game, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, worldwide. Yes, the game sold more copies on Switch than Nintendo did Switch systems. "This may be attributed to people who purchased both a limited edition of the game to collect and a second version to play," Nintendo suggested at the time. So Mario Kart World isn't quite beating those numbers.
Additionally, we learned from Circana this morning that 32% of Nintendo Switch 2 purchasers in June also bought a Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, helping make it the best-selling accessory of the month in the U.S. by dollar sales.
Unshockingly, one of the reasons people are buying Mario Kart World is because it's pretty dang good. We gave the game an 8/10, saying that it "may not make the most convincing case that going open-world was the boost the series needed, but excellent multiplayer racing, incredible polish, and the thrilling new Knockout Tour mode still more than live up to its legacy."
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
The Nintendo Switch 2 debuted in June to become the fastest-selling hardware ever in the U.S., shooting spending on games to new monthly records, according to the monthly report from Circana.
Spending on hardware was up a whopping 249% year-over-year thanks to the console's debut, reaching $978 million and greatly surpassing the previous monthly record from June 2008 of $608 million. In total, the Switch 2 sold 1.6 million units in the U.S. during its launch month, beating the PlayStation 4's previous sales record of 1.1 million units in November of 2013. Unshockingly, it was the best-selling console of the month both in terms of units and dollar sales.
Across both Nintendo Switch platforms, Switch 2-exclusive Mario Kart World was the best-selling game of the month, followed by Cyberpunk 2077 and Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, both of which launched alongside the new console. In fourth and fifth place respectively were Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild, followed by Street Fighter 6, Mario Kart 8, Hogwarts Legacy, Bravely Default's remaster, and Minecraft. Because Nintendo doesn't share digital sales numbers with Circana, this chart may be missing some big sellers. For instance, we learned today that Deltarune topped Switch 2 charts in digital sales in June, but with no physical edition and the game only costing $25, it's missing from the dollar sales ranking entirely.
So does all this Nintendo Switch 2 success mean it's on track to outsell the Nintendo Switch 1? I asked Circana analyst Mat Piscatella, and this is what he told me:
What the launch sales of Switch 2 primarily tell us is that they made a lot of Switch 2 to sell at launch. Lifetime sales and launch sales of a console often do not correlate, meaning that some consoles with small launches ended up doing incredibly well lifetime (PS2 only sold 400k in its launch month) while others with big launches ended up not doing as well lifetime. Since launch month demand is rarely satiated by available supply (and it is certainly not a great sign when it is, historically) all we can really get a read on at launch is the confidence of the manufacturer to make so many units available, and the ability of the supply chain to get those units into the market.
But having the biggest launch month sales for any new video game hardware platform is a helluva good start.
Across all platforms, Elden Ring: Nightreign was the best-selling game of the month for the second month in a row, followed by debut titles Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Mario Kart World. Those numbers don't include Nintendo digital sales of Mario Kart World, and they also don't include physical hardware bundles, meaning Mario Kart World will likely have performed significantly better than is indicated here. Per analysis by Circana's Mat Piscatella, 82% of Nintendo Switch 2 buyers in June purchased Mario Kart World either via a standalone sale, or as part of a bundle.
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma debuted at No.10. Stellar Blade ranked No.5 on the overall charts and was the second best-selling game on PlayStation thanks to its debut on the platform last month. And while Final Fantasy XVI didn't crack the overall top 20, it was the fourth best-selling game on Xbox, also thanks to its release on the platform in June. Overall, content spending in June was up 6% year-over-year, largely driven by Switch 2 game sales.
Accessories spending also set a new June record of $293 million, in no small part due to sales of the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller. It was the best-selling accessory of the month and has a 32% attach rate with Nintendo Switch 2 hardware.
June 2025 U.S. Top 20 Best-Selling Games:
Elden Ring: Nightreign
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (NEW)
Mario Kart World (NEW)*
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Stellar Blade
Forza Horizon 5
MLB: The Show 25*
Minecraft*
Grant Theft Auto V
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
Split Fiction
EA Sports FC 25
Elden Ring
NBA 2K25
Red Dead Redemption II
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion: Remastered
Star Wars: Battlefront II (2017)
Cyberpunk 2077*
Assassin's Creed: Shadows
WWE 2K25
* Indicates that some or all digital sales are not included in Circana's data. Some publishers, including Nintendo, do not share certain digital data for this report.
As someone who has gotten way too into in-person social deduction games in recent years, Killer Inn truly couldn’t have come at a better time. The delightful world of bluffs, social reads, mechanically obtained evidence leading to hidden baddies, and dramatic tension moments before all hell breaks loose is one of the most rewarding experiences in gaming. For this reason, it’s always been a wonder to me that we don’t see more of the genre despite the insane success of games like Among Us, but I have high hopes Killer Inn will be another powerhouse in this underutilized space. By smartly combining core social deduction philosophies with third-person combat and RPG mechanics, this murderous game of investigators and madmen carves a unique niche that had me cackling wildly in a matter of minutes. It might not have the most crisp gunplay or be the most intuitive game in the world (at least in its current beta state), but for a genre that’s criminally underappreciated, this could very well be quite the game changer.
Like any good social deduction game, Killer Inn divides its players into an uninformed majority (in this case, called Sheep), who work together to uncover the baddies, and a malevolent, informed minority (called Wolves), who attempt to kill all the good players before being found out. Wolves succeed when the Sheep fail to work together to solve the puzzle and allow themselves to be picked off, while the Sheep win when they trust one another and use their superior numbers to root out the evil players before the noose closes around them.
The main way this game of cops and robbers differentiates itself though, is in just how much depth there is to that familiar blueprint, as Killer Inn pulls in the design sensibilities of an action game to replace the more traditional sleuthing process. Instead of voting to decide which is the most untrustworthy player to be killed off, players must take it upon themselves to pull the trigger on or bury the hatchet into their fellow player. If they guess correctly, they can take an evil player off the board and make the good team that much more likely to succeed, but if they guess wrong they’re immediately punished by turning into stone and removing themselves from the match for good. This makes for a really neat dynamic, where you either need to gather enough evidence to know for sure that someone is a cold-blooded killer, or risk it all to take someone out before they get the chance to stab you in the back, which makes for a really tense dilemma.
On the other hand, if you’re playing as a Wolf, every time you kill another player you’ll leave behind a clue for the Sheep to find that will narrow down the pool of possible suspects, and if you intend to take out all the goodies in the match, then your unmasking is almost an inevitability. But you can also go for a more discrete approach and blend in with the Sheep, aiding in their efforts to complete quests and, ultimately, to take the one ship off the island, hoping to turn good players on one another and wait for your time to strike. In one match where just three players remained, I watched as a Wolf convinced the last two living Sheep to fire at one another, while he waited to pick off the loser. It’s moments like that where the magic of Killer Inn really shines, and the proximity chat, where players can make social plays to make a foe think them a friend, allows silver-tongued agents to walk away with a victory in the coolest possible way.
"I killed four players with grenades right at the start of a match and was immediately an outed evil player for the rest of the game. Worth it."
Before you turn on one another though, you’ll have to loot gold, find consumables and weapons, and level up your character, and that’s where Killer Inn’s clever use of RPG mechanics really give it a unique flavor. Whether you’re good or evil, you’ll want to take on quests around the hotel given by NPCs and build up a respectable loadout before taking the figh t to your fellow players, because even if you unmask a Wolf, there’s little you can do if he’s got the bigger gun. This adds a compelling layer to the game of cat and mouse, where you’re rushing arou nd to acquire gear, but might drop whatever you’re doing once a body is discovered, as you’ll want to rush to the scene of the crime to gather a clue left behind as to who the culprit might be. As an evil, you might find it appealing to take down good players before they’re properly leveled, but subject yourself to scrutiny pretty early on that can be quite dangerous, like that time I killed four players with grenades right at the start of a match and was immediately an outed evil player for the rest of the game. Worth it.
The actual quests you’re sent on aren’t anything special, as most just require you to go from point A to point B to collect an item, or complete a simple minigame here and there, but these minor chores serve as a great excuse to break up good players and baddies alike into various parts of the map, which offers lots of room for murders to take place. Good players will also want to focus on destroying mean little floating orbs that guard certain areas of the map as each contain a key that can help the Sheep escape the map before getting killed – an alternate win condition that requires quite a bit of cooperation on the good team’s part. Meanwhile, as an evil, you’ll be doing everything to cover your tracks, including one clue leading to your identity that spawns on the map right at the start of the match, which can be concealed if you managed to get there before a Sheep discovers it…but getting caught in the act of destroying evidence carries its own risks.
With all I loved about my time with Killer Inn, one area that could probably use a bit of polish is the actual third-person combat, which felt a bit wonky at times. I wouldn’t expect a game so squarely focused on social deduction to be the next Marvel Rivals, but there was definitely a bit of sloppiness to the gunplay and melee shenanigans that could not feel great – then again, I only had a few hours to hone my skill, so it’s quite possible I just need to git gud. There’s a handful of weapons to find out in the world by completing quests, or buying from a vendor by collecting gold, plus armor, consumables, grenades, and more to help you on your way. Not only that, but equipment can be upgraded at workbenches scattered throughout the map to make your gear a bit more effective and give you an edge when things go sideways. It was a bit tough to figure out the best builds and strategies during the demo (I didn’t get to try out melee or stealth based builds, for example), since I was too busy learning the systems while frantically looking over my shoulder, but it did seem to have a bit of depth to it and a variety of playstyles to choose from, including preset perks depending on which character you chose to bring into battle.
I only got to play a few short hours of Killer Inn, but it’s already won my heart. I can’t wait to betray all my friends and loved ones in the near future, and hope it turns out as good as this early build seems to indicate.
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