Dan Brown's new book is coming out next week, and it's great news for fans of his Robert Langdon series. It's been eight years since the last installment in the series (Origin), which is the longest break between books Brown has had since he first published Angels and Demons back in the early 2000s. The new novel, titled Secret of Secrets, is set to release on September 9. You can currently preorder the upcoming book for a discount at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

When Arkane Austin delivered its cult-classic immersive sim, Prey, for PC and consoles in 2017, not everyone at Bethesda Softworks was happy shipping the sci-fi immersive sim with that name.

After Prey 2 met an untimely demise in 2014, fans were elated to see the series return with a completely new look and feel with what was believed to be a reboot in 2016. The problem was Arkane’s Prey doesn’t actually have much to do with the series it pulled its name from.

Instead, what fans received when Prey launched in 2017 was something that was more of a System Shock spiritual successor, leading many to question why it was ever named Prey in the first place. Even director Raphael Colantonio has commented on its title in the past, saying that he wanted to use a different name but was eventually forced to stick with it.

Former Bethesda marketing boss Pete Hines, who announced his retirement from the company in 2023, spoke about the name of Arkane’s now-beloved 2017 game during a recent interview with DBLTAP, saying that he was one individual at Bethesda who feared the baggage that the Prey name carried.

“Don't even get me started on that,” Hines said when asked about Prey’s name. “I definitely pissed some people off internally over that because I fought so hard against using that name. I'm the head of the spear, but I had a lot of people across my team – brand, PR and community – and we feel like we're burdening it with a name where we spend more time explaining why it's called Prey than we do talking about the game.”

Hines adds that he regrets losing the battle to give the 2017 Prey a fresh start. He adds, “But nobody on this planet could have put more of a good faith effort into changing minds on that.”

“My whole point was, look how much time we spend talking about what the game is versus why it's called this and like, that is wasted energy,” Hines continued. “That is wasted excitement. We could be turning that into something positive.”

Prey is now seen as one of the better immersive sims for more reasons than one, but it took some time for it to achieve cult-classic status. In addition to the confusion surrounding its title, game-breaking issues for PC players at launch helped tarnish its reputation out of the gate.

Bethesda eventually issued numerous fixes for those on that platform, but the damage had already been done. Tech issues almost certainly hurt Prey’s commercial performance, with Colantonio believing that its strange name also contributed to lost sales.

We gave the 2017 Prey game an 8/10 in our review. At the time, we said, “Prey's space station is fantastically explorable and its shape-shifting enemies maintain tension when combat doesn't.”

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

If you're merrily strolling your way through Hollow Knight: Silksong right now, not a care in the world, you may want to brace yourself. Because aside from Silksong's usual slate of super-tough bosses that'll have you corpse running over and over again, there's one very early miniboss enemy that's causing a lot of players a whole heap of trouble.

Warning: Very minor spoilers for an early-game miniboss in The Marrow appear below. Don't read on if you don't want to know anything about any of the game's enemies.

The miniboss in question is considered so minor by the game that it doesn't appear with a name on-screen, making it tough to Google a guide when you get stuck on him. But his name is Skarrgard, and he's a bulky red bug enemy wielding a big piece of bone as a weapon. You can find him waiting in a cave on the east side of The Marrow, just above the prison.

Skarrgard seems inocuous when you first approach him, just like a slightly tougher regular enemy. But this guy really has some folks on tilt. He's got three attacks: one where he disappears underground and pops up for an attack, a jump attack, and one where he swings his bone around. He's got some real range on that bone weapon, and because the tunnel is so tiny, most of his moves are very hard, if not impossible, to jump over. What's more, his attacks hit for two whole masks of damage rather than just one.

There are two ways to beat Skarrgard, the easy way and the hard way. The hard way is to keep practicing and eventually defeat him. You can lure him down the narrow tunnel a bit so he can't do his jump attack more, and if you run past him whenever he goes underground, you can sort of bounce him back and forth in the center of the room, taking careful swings, and eventually bring him down.

But I recommend the easy way, which is to come back later. You'll eventually get a dash ability that makes it much easier to avoid his hits, and it seems like you're meant to have that ability before challenging Skarrgard for real. Even if you're tempted by a juicy reward for killing him early, maybe don't bother? The reward for fighting him is that it unlocks access to a new area, and if you're fighting him early you probably have plenty else to explore that isn't hidden behind a giant, bone-swinging bug man.

Either way, good luck with this guy. For many, he's significantly tougher than any of Silksong's early actual bosses, so don't feel discouraged if you die to him a lot before you finally score a win.

Hollow Knight: Silksong is out now, and we're hard at work on our Wiki guides of everything you might possibly want to know as you start your adventures in Pharloom. We've also got a review-in-progress covering our thoughts so far that we'll update with a score as soon as we've finished the game.

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.

Bethesda Softworks’ former senior vice president of global marketing and communications, Pete Hines, says gaming subscription services like Xbox Game Pass are “worth jack s***” if the game developers who create content for them are not properly supported.

The ex-Bethesda figurehead, who announced his retirement in 2023 after 24 years with the company, opened up about the state of the gaming industry during a new interview with DBLTAP. In addition to touching on the early days of the company behind Fallout and The Elder Scrolls, Hines spoke about what he feels the future of services like Game Pass looks like.

He admits his retirement from the Microsoft-owned Bethesda means his view on the matter may not be up to date. However, Hines says he witnessed what he “considered to be some short sighted decision making several years ago” that now appears to be “bearing out the way I said.”

“Subscriptions have become the new four letter word, right? You can't buy a product anymore,” Hines said. “When you talk about a subscription that relies on content, if you don't figure out how to balance the needs of the service and the people running the service with the people who are providing the content – without which your subscription is worth jack s*** – then you have a real problem.”

Gamers have discussed the viability of platforms like Game Pass since its launch in 2017. While a service flooded with hundreds of games for subscribers to play sounds like a dream come true for players, how the developers behind these games receive support has been hazy.

As Game Pass pushed forward into the early 2020s and PlayStation eventually established its own PlayStation Plus-centered competitor, more question marks popped up. Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden is one of many who recently critiqued the gaming subscription service model, calling the “’Netflix of gaming’ idea” a “danger” that has him questioning, “…is it healthy for the developer?”

Microsoft touted that Game Pass achieved $5 billion in revenue over the last year this past July after laying off hundreds of workers across its gaming branch earlier that same month. Today, Hines adds that the pressure of an ongoing gaming subscription service is affecting the very developers it needs to exist in the first place. It’s a reliance on this model that he feels is “hurting a lot of people.”

“You need to properly acknowledge, compensate and recognize what it takes to create that content and not just make a game, but make a product,” he elaborated. “That tension is hurting a lot of people, including the content creators themselves, because they're fitting into an ecosystem that is not properly valuing and rewarding what they're making.”

Two Bethesda studios – Redfall developer Arkane Austin and Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks – were shut down in May 2024, though the latter was eventually saved after PUBG publisher Krafton acquired it from Xbox. In the wake of mass layoffs and studio closures, original Arkane founder Raphael Colantonio called Game Pass the “elephant in the room” and an “unsustainable model.” He added, “I don’t think GP can co-exist with other models, they’ll either kill everyone else, or give up.”

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

With Hollow Knight: Silksong out now, many players are celebrating its unexpectedly low $20 price tag. But some independent developers are pointing out that great as this may be, it could lead to unreasonable expectations for other indie games that can't afford to sell for that low.

This comes from a number of threads on social media from developers of games such as Unbeatable, Dorfromantik, and others. In one Bluesky thread, Unbeatable director RJ Lake says that Silksong should cost $40, "and I'm not even joking."

But Lake isn't upset at Team Cherry for charging $20 - that's their perogative. But it will have an impact on gaming audiences. As Lake explains:

"millions of people will probably buy silksong on day one, and it was a game that had a very 'low' budget, because the budget is 'these devs worked on it without direct pay for however long they wanted to do that,'" Lake writes. "it had a 'these devs are independently wealthy' budget of 'effectively zero dollars.'

"they can price however low they want, as a result. their return on investment is infinite no matter what they do. but by charging such a low amount, they are causing lizard brain signals to fire off saying 'this kind of game is worth twenty dollars. you should expect this game for twenty dollars.'

"if enough of those lizard brain signals fire, some kinds of games with actual budgets to pay people who need to live are going to get priced out of existence unless they can get the kind of organic groundswell you can't plan for"

A lot of other indie devs think Lake might have a point here, including folks from Deck 13 and Red Squirrel Games. Over on Twitter/X, Basti Games, the developer of Lone Fungus: Melody of Spores, asked the audience how much Lone Fungus should cost given Silksong's $20 price. Basti had originally been planning on making Lone Fungus $20, too. But because it's shorter in length than Silksong, should it be cheaper?

As a dev making a smaller Metroidvania than Silksong, which I originally though would be fairly priced at 20 USD... what should I price it now?

It'll be a 10-15+ hours game, but it was made by one person with limited dev time and funds, I can't afford to give it away for free. https://t.co/FFcgz6TI1z

— Lone Fungus (@BastiArtGames) September 1, 2025

Fortunately for Basti, the replies overwhelmingly encourage them to price it at $20 if that's what's required. "Dude charge 20$," wrote one fan. "Price is not about the game is about context. They are able to price 20$ for a bigger game because they steem to receive a million times the cost. You are a small company, dude charge 20$ you deserve thst"

Another wrote, "10-20 is totally fair imo. Team cherry could have made silksong 40 and still sold hotcakes, the fact they didn't just means they are cool as fuck. Don't hold yourself to standards of giants, or else you'll have to climb a staircase."

Still, other developers are worried too. In an Eurogamer article on the subject, Dorfromantik developer Toukana's co-founder, Zwi Zausch, said that the studio's next game, Star Birds, would have its pricing impacted by Silksong.

"We're trying not to compete too directly with Silksong, both in terms of release date and pricing. Of course, these are two very different games with potentially different player bases, but there's definitely some overlap. That makes things tricky, especially since Star Birds is a joint project between two studios, together employing more people than Team Cherry."

Indie game prices has historically been a challenging subject, as teams balance needing to ensure all their members are adequately paid, uncertainty around sales numbers, and the volatility of audiences in deciding not to buy smaller games at prices they perceive as too high. As AAA game prices climb fro $60 to $70 to $80, there has been renewed discussion on where indies should fall - many can't afford to go lower than $20, but many will also lose sales if they don't.

"People have less money now and are buying fewer games," says Mike Rose, founder of No More Robots, "so you have to set yourself up to hopefully be that one game they buy when they do have money. And if you are a higher price, it's now actually a bit offputting."

The Nintendo Switch is going out in a blaze of glory, with some exciting games launching to make way for the console's successor: the now officially released Switch 2. Whether they’re exclusively developed for the Switch or ported over from other platforms, these upcoming Switch games will likely wrap up the Switch era while also being compatible with the Switch 2.

In the second half of 2025, we'll hopefully be getting our hands on well-known in-development titles as well as a host of new games announced at the most recent Nintendo Direct. Here are all of the new Switch games we can look forward to this year.

All Upcoming Switch Games With Release Dates

Bratz: Rhythm & Style (September 12, 2025)

I’m willing to admit I was a Bratz kid, and it definitely looks like the fashion games based on the series have gotten an upgrade from what I played back on the DS. Still, the “Bratz experience” is largely the same: Style the quartet, beef with the Tweevil Twins, and rock out to songs from the Bratz movies.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter (September 19, 2025)

The highly-anticipated Trails in the Sky remake officially has a release date. Well, at least the first chapter. The RPG from Nihon Falcon kicked off the Trails sub-series back in 2004, and the remake introduces quality of life improvements using the same engine as Trails of Daybreak.

Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree (September 19, 2025)

The evil Magatsu has thrown the kingdom into turmoil. You play as Towa, who must seek Guardian companions and push back Magatsu’s influence in this roguelite we called "twin-stick Hades" in our hands-on preview.

DreamWorks Gabby's Dollhouse: Ready to Party (September 19, 2025)

Gabby’s Dollhouse has been a hit with the kids, having just wrapped up its 11th season from DreamWorks Animation. The game adaptation has you working with Gabby and friends from across magical worlds to prep the best party ever.

Folly Of The Wizards (September 19, 2025)

There’s never enough roguelikes, in my opinion. Join a wacky wizard cult and explore procedurally generated dungeons in this sidescroller with a comedic edge.

Sonic Racing: Crossworlds (September 25, 2025)

Sonic's back, and he's bringing some friends along for the ride. Sonic Racing: Crossworlds seems to be an ultimate crossover game, blending chaotic kart racing mechanics with a pretty insane slate of characters. Look forward to vehicle customization and a variety of environments across each track (and universe).

After conquering Roblox, the developers of Snatch Squad are looking to do the same on Steam. Snatch Squad is a new open-world co-op heist game with a voxel look and a clear inspiration from both Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Starbreeze's PayDay. It's in development for PC.

In Snatch Squad, you'll build your empire by pulling off successful heists, taking over districts of the city, and laundering money. It promises "dynamic police chases and ambushes that keep you on edge" along with gangs to contend with and turf wars to fight. Watch the first trailer above and check out the first screenshots in the gallery below.

Seemingly keying in on this, the developers say, "From car chases to turf wars, the city is alive — a voxel-styled Miami where ambition can make you king…or get you killed."

Wishlist Snatch Squad on Steam if you're interested.

Ryan McCaffrey is IGN's executive editor of previews and host of both IGN's weekly Xbox show, Podcast Unlocked, as well as our monthly(-ish) interview show, IGN Unfiltered. He's a North Jersey guy, so it's "Taylor ham," not "pork roll." Debate it with him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan.

The use of Switch 2's widely-disliked Game-Key Cards was defended by a Ubisoft developer who worked on the Nintendo port of Star Wars Outlaws.

Writing on social media, Ubisoft audio architect Rob Bantin shared the real reason why the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Star Wars Outlaws uses a Game-Key Card — a physical cartridge that requires owners still download the game, rather than including the full thing on the cart.

The answer? It's all due to the Switch 2's data speeds, and how quickly the hardware can read information from its bespoke cartridges, versus games downloaded to the console's internal memory.

"[Star Wars Outlaws game engine] Snowdrop relies heavily on disk streaming for its open world environments, and we found the Switch 2 cards simply didn't give the performance we needed at the quality target we were going for," Bantin wrote.

The information has come as a surprise to some Nintendo fans who have previously grumbled over the use of Game-Key Cards, which are cheaper and therefore increasingly popular among developers of larger games which would otherwise require more costly cartridges with increased memory capacity.

"I don't recall the cost of the cards ever entering the discussion – probably because it was moot," Bantin continued.

While not a comprehensive reason for all developers to use Game-Key Cards, Bantin went on to explain that it was important for Ubisoft and its Snowdrop development team, especially as Outlaws was originally developed for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S — console platforms that had faster SSD memory on board.

"I think if we'd designed a game for Switch 2 from the ground up it might have been different," Bantin said. "As it was, we'd build a game around the SSDs of the initial target platforms, and then the Switch 2 came along a while later. In this case I think our leadership made the right call."

Last month, Nintendo launched a fresh fan survey that quizzed Switch 2 owners for their opinions on buying digital games instead of boxed copies, and specifically asked for feedback on Game-Key Cards, following their less-than-stellar initial reception among fans who prefer their physical games to include... well, the full game.

First released last year to a mixed response and lackluster sales, Ubisoft boss Yves Guillemot recently blamed Star Wars Outlaws disappointing sales performance on the "choppy waters" of the sci-fi saga's own fandom.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

Regardless of your thoughts on the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy as a whole, most fans would probably agree these movies failed to take advantage of the Knights of Ren. After being briefly teased in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the Knights were completely MIA in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. And though they finally made a real appearance in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, they were little more than silent minions to Adam Driver's Kylo Ren, minions who were quickly and easily dispatched by their master in the end. They didn't exactly live up to their fearsome reputation.

As ever, it falls on the Star Wars novels and comics to fill in the giant blanks left by the Sequels. That's where Star Wars: Legacy of Vader comes in. The latest issue of the series (which is set shortly after the events of The Last Jedi) offers new insight into the relationship between Kylo Ren and his Knights and explains why these characters took so long to appear in the movies. Read on to find out what we learned, but beware of full spoilers for Star Wars: Legacy of Vader #8 ahead!

Legacy of Vader writer Charles Soule has been largely responsible for fleshing out the Knights of Ren, having previously featured the characters in 2019's Star Wars: The Rise of Kylo Ren and 2020's Star Wars. The former series was the first to establish who these characters actually are and their place in the galaxy.

As revealed in The Rise of Kylo Ren, the Knights of Ren are a nomadic band of mercenaries and treasure hunters devoted to a philosophy of wanton destruction known as The Ren. They're all Dark Side adepts, though most don't wield lightsabers and they refer to the Dark Side as "the shadow." During the Original Trilogy era and leading up to the Sequels, the Knights were led by a human male named Ren. It was Ren who recruited the newly fallen Ben Solo to their cause, only for Ben to kill Ren and take his place.

I love it when a deals roundup feels like it has something for every kind of shopper, and today’s definitely hits that mark. Between a couple of epic PS5 games, a brand-new SteelBook from Studio Ghibli, a surprisingly steep discount on a Switch 2 accessory, and even a pantry staple for way less than usual, this mix has something for everyone.

TL;DR: Deals For Today:

I don’t mind skipping over fluff deals, and you know by now I don't put up with nonsense like that. These are solid markdowns on products people are already paying attention to, including two solid PS5 games, a collectible Blu-ray, or just a cheap snack to stash away.

Resident Evil 4

Final Fantasy XVI

The Boy and The Heron

HORI USB Camera for Nintendo Switch 2

OREO Gluten Free Original & Double Stuf

007 First Light: Legacy And Standard Edition Preorders

The standard edition of 007 First Light includes the base game for $69.99 and is available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC (via Steam or Epic). Physical copies are offered for all consoles, though Switch 2 uses a game-key card rather than a full cartridge, meaning you’ll still need the card inserted to play but can lend or resell it like a typical game card. Preorders also come with the deluxe edition upgrade at no extra cost, adding early access for digital buyers plus exclusive DLC skins and outfits.
For fans who want something more collectible, the Legacy Edition ($299.99) comes packed with extras. Alongside the full game in a steelbook case, it includes a Golden Gun figurine with a stand and hidden compartment, a certificate of authenticity, and a bundle of deluxe DLC skins and outfits. Between the display-worthy replica and the bonus in-game content, this edition is tailored for Bond enthusiasts who want both a showpiece for their shelf and extra flair in-game.

LEGO Disney & Pixar Wall-E & EVE

EUKI Compressed Air Duster

Runbox Slim Card Holder

Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution - Phantasmal Flames Preorders

With the Pokémon Center listings going live for preorder at any moment, it's only a matter of time until the first expansion for the new era of Pokémon TCG, Mega Evolution: Phantasmal Flames, comes pouring down to other retailers. First up will be Best Buy, normally around 24 hours after the Pokémon Center launch, followed by Target then secondary market and small seller allocations being available on TCGPlayer. Amazon and Walmart have been known to stock Pokémon TCG preorders in the past, but it's not always a guarantee.
Phantasmal Flames drops on November 14, with prerelease events running the week before, and the big headline is Mega Charizard X ex returning in full force. What makes this set even more exciting is its size , about 90 cards before secret rares, which makes it the smallest English set in nearly a decade. For collectors like me, that usually means a much more manageable chase, while still packing in plenty of heavy hitters for players.

The product lineup looks pretty stacked too. We’ll be getting the usual booster packs and booster box (36 packs), a 9-pack Elite Trainer Box featuring a shiny new Charcadet promo, and an Ultra-Premium Collection built around Mega Charizard X ex. On top of that, two theme decks for Mega Gengar ex and Mega Diancie ex are arriving a few weeks early on October 24, which is a fun way to get a taste of the set before launch. If you’re like me and love cracking packs, the booster box is the way to go, but the UPC is already looking like the big collector piece this time around.

What ties it all together is the Japanese set Inferno X, which hit shelves there in late September. That set had only 80 cards, and once you add in the Mega Gengar and Mega Diancie decks, you basically get the full Phantasmal Flames lineup. We’ve already seen some killer reveals, including the Mega Charizard X ex secret rare previewed at Worlds, so I’m fully expecting that to be the chase card when this launches. Between the smaller set size, Charizard hype, and some solid gameplay cards, I think this one’s going to fly off shelves and I’m definitely locking in my preorder.

Back To The Future Steelbook Preorders Are Live

The 40th anniversary Back to the Future steelbooks are a collector’s dream. Each movie in the trilogy is getting its own limited-edition release on October 14, with sleek new steelbook packaging featuring inside-and-out film artwork. Priced between $29.99 and $34.99, each edition includes the movie on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and digital, along with a treasure trove of bonus features, from archival documentaries and outtakes to new retrospectives with co-writer Bob Gale and cast/crew members.

Pokémon TCG: Holiday Calendar (2025) Cheaper At TCGPlayer

Marvel Legends Series Wolverine Premium Roleplay Mask

Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 + 4 Under $35

As part of Amazon’s Labor Day sale, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 has dropped to its lowest price yet, making now the perfect time to grab it. Normally priced higher, this updated collection delivers classic arcade skateboarding with a modern polish. In our review where we scored it an 8/10, we praised the game for proving “the series’ over-the-top skateboarding formula is totally timeless,” even if some of the tweaks to THPS4 and the soundtrack choices didn’t fully land. At this price, though, you’re getting an iconic piece of gaming history for less than ever before.

Pokémon TCG ETBs and Booster Bundles

When it comes to sealed Pokémon TCG products, the real bargains today are on ETBs and booster bundles. White Flare is sitting at just $75 on TCGPlayer, which is a nice break from the usual $90+ price tags. Even the newer Destined Rivals and Black Bolt boxes are running cheaper there than anywhere else. And if you don’t want to spring for a full ETB, Prismatic Evolutions booster bundles are going for as low as $59, which feels like an easy pickup if you’re chasing singles without committing to a whole box.

Pokémon TCG Collections, Tins and Boosters

If you’re more into variety packs than full ETBs, there are some great grabs in the collections and tins today. Cynthia’s Garchomp ex Premium Collection is down to $45 on TCGPlayer, which feels like a steal compared to Amazon’s $60 tag. The Slashing Legends Tin also jumped out at me at $29.99—that’s nearly half off what Amazon is charging. Even the smaller items are worth a look: Surging Sparks sleeved boosters are going for just $7.93, which is $15.98 on Amazon currently.

Pokémon Funko Pop! Preorders

I’m also eyeing a few of the new Funko Pop! preorders that just went live. Turtwig drops at the end of September for $15.99, while Ninetales and Absol are both set for mid-December at $14.99 each. These usually disappear around launch week, so if you’re the type who likes locking in new releases before they vanish, it’s probably worth snagging them now instead of hunting later at inflated prices.

Pokémon Funko Pop! Deals

Amazon’s been quietly slashing prices on a bunch of Pokémon Funko Pops, and some of them are cheaper than a booster pack. The biggest surprise for me was Horsea at just $4.31—that’s wild considering it normally goes for $12.99. There are plenty of others worth adding to your shelf too, like Fidough for $7.99, Dratini for $11.30, and even the 10-inch Pikachu for $62, which is a solid drop from its usual $75.99. Whether you’re filling gaps in your collection or just want a budget-friendly pick-up, today’s lineup has a nice mix of starters, legendaries, and fan favorites.

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.

Logitech G PLAY is back to showcase the brand’s latest gear and tech and give us a glimpse at the future of gaming. There will be announcements of new products, community celebrations, and it’ll stream live from Cine Callao in Madrid on Logitech G’s YouTube page on September 17.

If you’re not already aware, Logitech G is a Swiss brand that makes a wide range of gaming tech, like keyboards, mice, headsets, driving wheels, flight sticks, and more. If you’ve recently shopped for new gaming accessories, chances are pretty good you’ve come across their products.

This is the third year of Logitech G PLAY, and at last year’s event, they announced 18 new products. So you can expect quite a few reveals this year too, with new products aimed at gamers of all kinds and experience levels. But it’s not just about revealing new gear, it’s also a party that celebrates gaming.

“We are delighted to announce the third annual Logitech G PLAY, a global celebration recognizing the gaming community and industry,” said Peter Kingsley, CMO at Logitech G. “This year, the event will expand worldwide, with major activations scheduled in Sydney, Shanghai, San Francisco, Madrid, London, and Tokyo. Logitech G PLAY serves as a crucial platform to showcase key breakthroughs in innovation, our esteemed partners, and our community members, all of whom are continually shaping the future of play.”

“Breakthroughs In Play” is the theme of this year’s event, focused on next-gen tech and how it’s advancing what will be possible in gaming going forward. In addition to those announcements, there will be interactive entertainment and appearances by more than 80 gaming creators, like Ben Rowlands, mrDzinold, SpuddGaming, PAGO, DanucD, IzakOOO, Hinkowicz, All The Gear and TheGrefg. For sim racing fans, car enthusiast SebDelanney will be on hand to host a special segment.

The livestream will begin at 7:00 p.m. CET on September 17, which converts to 2:00 p.m. Eastern and 11:00 a.m. Pacific. It’s planned to run for about three hours and you can watch the whole thing on Logitech G’s YouTube page. You can also visit this page to see a preview of the event, watch a recap of last year’s version, and sign up to be reminded as soon as the livestream starts.

The livestream from Madrid is the flagship event, but it’s not the only thing going on. Launching globally alongside the event will be the Logitech G PLAY Days promotion, which will run from September 17–29. It’ll feature sales of up to 40% off a variety of products, so if you’re looking to upgrade your gaming setup, be sure to check out the official website once the sale is live to see everything on offer.

Amazon has greenlit the long-awaited Life is Strange TV adaptation, almost a decade after plans to adapt the game were first announced.

Charlie Covell, writer of Channel 4's The of the F***king World and Netflix's Kaos, will head the series as executive producer and showrunner, Variety reported, with video game publisher Square Enix and Amazon MGM Studios both on board.

When a Life is Strange TV adapatation was first announced back in 2016, only the series' first game had been released — with the expectation being that it would adapt said game. And now, years later, this remains the case, with an official blurb for the show mentioning the franchise's most popular characters, Max and Chloe.

Covell's adaptation will follow Max, "a photography student, who discovers she can rewind time while saving the life of her childhood best friend, Chloe," the blurb reads. "As she struggles to understand this new skill, the pair investigate the mysterious disappearance of a fellow student, uncovering a dark side to their town that will ultimately force them to make an impossible life or death choice that will impact them forever."

Exactly how the TV adaptation will handle the game's choose-your-own-adventure storytelling is another matter, however, and it'll certainly be interesting to see which of the two main endings the series will choose to follow.

The announcement of the TV series also comes at an interesting time for the Life is Strange franchise overall. Originally developed by Don't Nod, more recent entries in the series have been created by Deck Nine Games — though exactly what the future holds for the franchise now has yet to be announced.

After various sequels focusing on separate characters, a belated follow-up to the original game arrived in October 2024 but failed to land with long-term fans. Life is Strange: Double Exposure saw the return of Max but not Chloe, something which angered those who felt their past in-game choices were not being properly represented. Behind the scenes, the game suffered a rocky development as Deck Nine Games struggled with internal toxicity and crunch. Subsequently, the studio has been hit by multiple rounds of layoffs.

"For years we've had so many people asking us to create a Life is Strange TV show," Square Enix External Studios bosses Jon Brooke and Lee Singleton said today, "and we're so pleased to finally partner with Amazon MGM Studios who we trust will do an incredible job bringing our universe to life."

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the many VPNs for PCs that are now available, you’re not alone. At times, it can be hard to separate the marketing hype from reality. For example, many VPNs claim to provide the fastest speeds, but it’s not fair or entirely realistic for you to try every single one of them out to find out. This is where our many hours of hands-on testing comes in useful.

To help you narrow all these options down, I’ve tested a multitude of Windows VPNs, looking at everything from their server speeds and unblocking ability to their leak protection and no-logs policies. The best VPNs for Windows PC excel in all of these areas and even offer some intriguing extras that Windows users might find useful, including split tunneling and even antivirus protection.

TL;DR – These Are the Best VPNs for PC:

Featured in this article

Before I take you through the best VPNs for PC, here’s a quick explanation of what a VPN is, what it does, and how it works. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) encrypts your internet traffic and masks your IP address. Your online activities are hidden as a result – even from your ISP (Internet Service Provider). As such, you’ll be able to browse privately and even navigate geographic restrictions on content.

1. ExpressVPN

Best VPN for Windows PC

2. Proton VPN

Best VPN With a Free Tier

3. NordVPN

Best VPN for Gaming

4. Surfshark

Best VPN for Extra Features

5. Private Internet Access

Best VPN for Power Users

6. CyberGhost

Best Free Trial VPN

7. IPVanish

Best VPN For Unlimited Devices

Best VPN for PC FAQ

Why should I use a VPN on my PC?

A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, rendering it unreadable to third parties and preventing cyber threats such as man-in-the-middle attacks. The fact that it hides your IP address means even your ISP can’t see what you’re doing online. Aside from the security and privacy-related benefits, a VPN allows you to spoof your location and bypass geo-blocking. If your ISP is throttling your connection, a VPN may even improve your speeds.

Will a VPN slow my connection?

Unless your ISP is throttling your bandwidth, a VPN is likely to slow your connection to a degree. There are several influencing factors including the protocol you use, the location of the server to which you connect (and its proximity to your actual location), and the current server load. The encryption process takes its toll but, as our speed tests indicate, some VPNs compensate for this better than others. With the fastest VPNs, you may not notice a difference.

Can I use a free VPN for PC?

There are plenty of free VPNs for PC but they have too many limitations. You’ll likely only have access to a couple of server locations and there will likely be bandwidth and data caps. Some free VPNs don’t properly encrypt your data and make money by logging and selling it. Overall, free VPNs tend to offer inferior security and performance, making them particularly unsuitable for streaming and PC gaming. If you do opt for a free VPN for PC, I recommend Proton VPN, which offers unlimited data and takes a strong stance on privacy.

Mark Gill is a freelance VPN writer for IGN, bringing over five years of dedicated experience from Comparitech, where he delves deep into the intricacies of VPNs. A journalism graduate with a passion for safeguarding digital freedoms, Mark has strengthened his expertise with a Google Cybersecurity Certificate and is now studying for the CompTIA Security+ certification. When he’s not testing VPNs, Mark is an avid gamer with a soft spot for the Sega Mega Drive, reliving the classics for a dose of nostalgia. He also enjoys mountain biking and watching football (go Lions!), and working on his dark comedy screenplays. You won’t find Mark on social media because he already wastes far too much time managing his fantasy football teams with the hope of this year being “the year.” Hint: it never is.

The market for XY-era Mega Evolution Pokémon cards has heated up in anticipation of Pokémon Legends Z-A and the new Mega Evolution TCG set and Phantasmal Flames expansion. Collectors aren’t waiting for fresh stock of modern Mega Evolutions, they’re going back to the originals.

As a result, some cards have spiked dramatically, while others are showing signs of plateauing, creating strong entry points for buyers who want to get ahead of the next wave.

Leading the charge is M Rayquaza EX (Shiny Full Art – Ancient Origins), which has soared from $275.15 in January to a staggering $1,450 today—an increase of over 426%. Meanwhile, M Gengar EX (Secret Rare – Phantom Forces) has multiplied nearly fivefold since January, now trading at $415. These climbers highlight just how quickly momentum can build around Mega Evolutions.

But not every card is running away in price. Some are holding steady after strong climbs earlier this year. M Alakazam EX (Full Art – Fates Collide) sits at just under $100 after rising from $28.85 in January, but recent weeks show leveling off. For buyers, these plateaus represent a rare chance to secure cards before demand intensifies again when Mega Evolution reclaims the spotlight.

Pokémon Card Climbers

Hollow Knight: Silksong may be the sequel to Hollow Knight, but players are quickly finding out that it doesn't exactly play the same way Hollow Knight did. With a new protagonist and new moves, the controls and abilities available might have some players fumbling or struggling, especially when it comes to Silksong's trickier platforming sections. Fortunately, there's a way to switch back to the Hollow Knight moveset available pretty early on, if you really must.

Warning: This article will contain spoilers for Silksong's early game, including the first two major unlockable abilities and one of the earliest bosses. If you haven't thoroughly explored the Deep Docks area just yet, you may want to wait and come back to this later.

Hornet's default moveset is very, very different from that of the Knight in Hollow Knight. She has more range than the Knight, but her Needle swings are just a touch slower. She also is unable to "pogo" off of enemies the same way the Knight was - while he could slash downward to bounce off a foe, Hornet can bounce only by shooting downward at a diagonal 45 degree angle. This makes some of the game's jumping puzzles significantly more tricky until you get used to the new abilities.

While it's my personal recommendation to just practice and get used to Hornet's moveset as the game clearly intends, it's possible that having the Knight's abilities might be a benefit in certain circumstances, or maybe you just want to play that way. For that, you need to get the Wanderer's Crest, which is a different crest with different slots for tools than your default Hunter's Crest.

The Wanderer's Crest has a few requirements to unlock: you need to have beaten the Bell Beast and unlocked Hornet's sprint ability found in Deep Docks. You'll also need to have a Simple Key with you, which can be acquired easily from the merchant in Bone Bottom. If you've already bought and used that key, you'll have to find one elsewhere.

With key in hand, head up into Mosshome, and head west as far as possible. Once you get to the elevator room (the one that takes you back down to Bone Bottom), use your dash to cross the big gap, and keep heading west into the Wormways. Progress through the Wormways westward and down to a hut where the crest is waiting for you. Our video above has a far more detailed explanation of how to get this item.

The Wanderer's Crest does make it a bit harder to fight enemies, especially at range, but can make exploration easier, so just be warned. You can swap it out any time at a bench, and experiment with both crests and figure out which one works for you. We're just getting started with Silksong, so who knows, maybe there will be even more crests out there with cool new abilities waiting for us to find them!

Hollow Knight: Silksong is out now, and we're hard at work on our Wiki guides of everything you might possibly want to know as you start your adventures in Pharloom. We've also got a review-in-progress covering our thoughts so far that we'll update with a score as soon as we've finished the game.

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.

While we eagerly await Resident Evil: Requiem to give us a good scare next year, Amazon's dropped an excellent deal on a slightly older Resi title that's worth picking up to keep you on your toes in the meantime. The excellent Resident Evil 4 remake for PS5 has dropped to just $15 at the retailer. Yes, you read that correctly! This marks its lowest price yet, according to price tracker camelcamelcamel, making now an excellent time to scoop it up for your library if you haven't had the chance to yet.

Resident Evil 4 for PS5 Down to $15 at Amazon

Hollow Knight: Silksong is out now, and seems like it's pretty good so far if our review-in-progress is any indication. But it commits one terrible, unforgiveable sin: Silksong won't let players pet the dang dog-er, well, the bug that's like a dog.

Warning: Spoilers for the first few hours of Hollow Knight: Silksong follow. Everything we discuss below can be found very early in the game, in the first two areas you visit.

If you're still wondering who or what the "dog" is, I'm referring to the Bell Beast, one of Silksong's earliest bosses and, once defeated, your permanent fast travel buddy. The Bell Beast is encountered early in the game in The Marrow, trapped within enormous silk webs. You need to unlock the Silk Spear to free it, and once you do, a fight will ensue. We've got a whole guide on this guy if you're having trouble finding or defeating him, so make sure to check that out.

Once you beat the Bell Beast, it becomes docile, and you can summon it at any fast travel station to have it take you to any other station in Pharloom. That in itself is helpful enough, but the absolute best thing about the Bell Beast is how it basically acts like a big puppy whenever it sees you. It'll dig around in the bells beneath its feet, react excitedly when you ring the bells above its head, and genuinely just gives off enormous puppy energy.

But Hornet can't pet it. And fans really feel like they should be able to! Here's a gallery of a lot of community members agreeing with me - they're all spoiler-tagged due to the Silksong subreddit's current spoiler rules, but I promise, it's all just a bunch of cute images of the Bell Beast.

Just look at that baby!! It deserves all the scritches and cuddles! Please, Team Cherry, give us a pet action on the Bell Beast. B.B. has earned it...and we have too.

Hollow Knight: Silksong is out now, and we're hard at work on our Wiki guides of everything you might possibly want to know as you start your adventures in Pharloom. We've also got a review-in-progress covering our thoughts so far that we'll update with a score as soon as we've finished the game.

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.