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Get October’s Humble Choice for $10 (for a Limited Time)

Humble Choice is always a good deal for PC gamers who like a variety of game types. But the online storefront just launched a promo code that gets you October’s Humble Choice games for just $10, rather than the usual $14.99. All you have to do is enter promo code SPOOKY25 at checkout, and you’ll save $5. This month’s eight-game lineup is pretty great, with Atomic Hearts, V Rising, System Shock, Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town, and more. Read on for the details.

Humble Choice - October 2025

Here’s the full list of PC games included in this months’ Humble Choice:

  • Atomic Heart
  • V Rising
  • System Shock
  • Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town
  • Cryptmaster
  • Shogun Showdown
  • Hotel Renovator
  • Caravan SandWitch
  • One Month of IGN Plus

All of the games are delivered in the form of Steam codes. Most of the games are excellent as well. Our critics gave V Rising and System Shock a 9/10, while Atomic Hearts got an 8/10. From our Atomic Heart review: "This is a lengthy, tough, and terrific-looking shooter that has us bathing in the blood and gears of elaborately designed enemies both biological and robotic and dispatching them with an impressive set of combat options."

Humble Choice is a gaming subscription that gets you a new bundle of PC games each month. So if you don’t want to continue getting a new bundle each month, you’ll have to cancel your subscription, which is easy enough to do (I’ve done it myself). Anytime a bundle I want is on offer, I sign back up and then cancel after I’ve gotten my games, just to ward off future unwanted auto-payments as I have enough subscriptions in my life.

Members also get a few other benefits from a Humble Choice subscription. You save up to 20% off other games on Humble Store, depending on how long your subscription has been active (it starts at 10% off with one month). You also get access to more than 50 classic DRM-free games in the Humble app (the current lineup includes A Short Hike, Getting Over It, and more.

Finally, 5% of your membership fee is donated to a worthy cause each month. This month’s charitable organization is Whale and Dolphin Conservation.

While we’re on the subject of game deals at Humble, the PC game storefront is also running the Humble Halloween Mega Sale, with big savings on tons of games, including Alan Wake 2 for $14.99, Silent Hill 2 for $45.49, and many more.

Disclosure: Humble Bundle is owned by Ziff Davis, the parent company of IGN. Humble Bundle and IGN operate completely independently, and no special consideration is given to Humble Bundle announcements or promotions for coverage.

Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN's board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Bluesky.

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Remedy CEO Steps Down Following FBC: Firebreak's Sales Flop

Remedy Entertainment's CEO has resigned, leaving the new CEO of the developer of Control and Alan Wake to reassure investors after weak sales of FBC: Firebreak left the company significantly lowering its revenue expectations for the year and writing off the game's development costs.

In its quarterly earnings report issued today, Remedy revealed that it recognized a €14.9 million ($17.4 million) impairment charge representing most of the development costs as well as purchased publishing and distribution rights for FBC: Firebreak.

In total, Remedy's revenue decreased 32% year-over-year, to €12.2 million ($14.2 million). Remedy says this was largely driven by lower development fees coming in than last year at this time, during which it received revenue from Annapurna related to development work it did on Control 2. Remedy also revealed that it was revising its revenue expectations for the year: while previously Remedy expected revenue and operating profit to increase year-over-year and be positive, it now expects revenue to increase, but its operating profit to decrease and be negative. No exact numbers were shared.

Alongside this, CEO Tero Virtala has stepped down after nine years in the position. He is succeeded in the interim by board chairman Markus Mäki, who has stepped down from his chairman role and been replaced by Henri Österlund.

In comments by Mäki shared with investors, he stated that while Remedy would continue "working on features which enhance player value" and would keep true to its shared roadmap for Firebreak, the studio has moved development resources elsewhere going forward. Mäki also attempted to reassure investors that Firebreak was not a total loss:

"We have also found positive sides from FBC: Firebreak," he said. "Our first multiplayer product launch was technically successful in a cross-platform environment, and our publishing team has built capabilities which support the releases of our future self-published titles."

FBC: Firebreak was Remedy's first ever self-published game, and while the studio claims it technically succeeded, it also admitted last quarter that it "underperformed" on Steam and that the company was "unsatisfied" with its commercial reception. In today's earnings, Remedy stated that Breakpoint improved the game's sales only "marginally."

We gave FBC: Firebreak a 6/10, saying that it was a "compelling co-op shooter that, despite its good looks, doesn't have the depth to keep things interesting long-term."

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.

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The CyberpowerPC AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D RTX 5070 Ti Gaming PC Drops to Just $1,699 at Walmart

Walmart just dropped the price yet again on a powerful prebuilt gaming PC. The CyberPowerPC gaming PC, featuring a liquid cooled AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU and GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU, is on sale for $1699 shipped. This prebuilt was originally priced at $2,300, but it went down to $1900 during October Prime Day and another $200 starting this week. This is the best price I've seen so far for a 9800X3D and 5070 Ti combo.

CyberPowerPC AMD 9800X3D RTX 5070 Ti PC for $1,699

The CyberPowerPC gaming PC (model number SLC7700WST) is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor, GeForce RTX 5070 Ti graphics card, 32GB of DDR5-6000MHz RAM, and a 2TB PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD. The system is cooled by a total of four 120mm airflow fans in addition to the three 120mm fans that are part of the 360mm liquid cooling system. It's all housed in a CyberPowerPC rebadged Lian-Li Prism 321V ATX midtower PC case with panoramic glass windows.

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Was Made for Gamers

According to Passmark, the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the second fastest gaming CPU available right now trailing just behind the pricier 9900X3D. It features a max boost clock of 5.2GHz with 8 cores, 16 threads, and 104MB of L2-L3 cache This is an absolute monster of a processor for gaming, especially at this price point. It's pretty much better than any Intel processor out right now in terms of gaming performance. It doesn't have as many cores as some other modern day CPUs, but keep in mind that most games can't utilize more than eight cores. Check out our AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D review.

The RTX 5070 Ti GPU Has Excellent 4K Gaming Performance

The RTX 5070 Ti offers the best bang for your buck in terms of 4K gaming performance. It performs neck-and-neck with the previous generation RTX 4080 Super and pulls ahead in any game that supports DLSS 4 with multi-frame generation. It is fully capable of running any game in 4K at 60fps. It also has 16GB of VRAM like the RTX 5080, making it viable for AI work. Check out our Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU review by Jacqueline Thomas for our hands-on impressions.

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

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Battlefield REDSEC Launches to 'Mostly Negative' Steam Reviews as Battlefield 6 Players Push for Battle Pass Changes and Bigger Maps

EA just introduced its new, destructive take on battle royale with Battlefield REDSEC, and Battlefield 6 base game players are already slamming it with “Mostly Negative” Steam reviews.

PC users who head to Steam to check out the standalone Battlefield experience, which launched across PC and consoles for free yesterday, will be met with a flood of negative Steam reviews across the board. At the time of this piece’s publication, just 35% of REDSEC Steam user reviews were positive, with positive reviews in all languages fairing just slightly better at 39%. Both measurements result in a dark red, Mostly Negative label.

A wave of negativity for Battlefield’s latest crack at battle royale arrives as Battlefield 6 players continue to express their dissatisfaction with the premium experience. Calls for changes to the base game reached a boiling point with the launch of Season 1 yesterday, and now, criticism is spilling into REDSEC.

Although Battlefield 6 and REDSEC exist as separate multiplayer offerings, both EA and Battlefield Studios games share unlocks tied to many challenges, cosmetics, and battle pass unlocks. Where this has evolved into a problem is how one experience might affect another, with many Battlefield 6 players complaining of weekly challenges that require them to play battle royale.

“I wouldn't hate it so much if I wasn't forced to play it for challenges in the main game,” one negative Battlefield REDSEC Steam review says. “But I am. So I do.”

“This is not why I bought Battlefield 6,” they add.

"Oh, but you just can reroll the challenges!" another negative review says. "Yeah and 3 of them are sill for the BR because they are pushing it hard on people that would not touch it even once..."

Other PC players agree that challenges granting large amounts of Battlefield 6 battle pass XP shouldn’t be tied to another experience, but dissonance isn’t the only thing tanking REDSEC Steam reviews. Some base game players are using Valve’s digital storefront to air out grievances related to multiplayer map sizes.

Early Battlefield 6 adopters have called for larger multiplayer maps as far back as the August beta tests, with the October 10 launch only adding fuel to the fire, as launch locations failed to live up to expectations for the community. At least a few negative Steam reviews even praise REDSEC’s exclusive battle royale map, Fort Lyndon, with their frustrations mostly summed up with one question: Why does the free-to-play game get the map sizes that premium players are asking for?

“Oh wow a nice big map with lots of POIs and flanks,” another negative REDSEC review says. “If only we could get something like this for the main game.”

“It's trying to be too much all at once,” another Steam user review adds. “The map in this Battle Royale is so good it's criminal that it's not being used for Conquest right now.”

As Battlefield 6 players aim to leave their mark with REDSEC Steam reviews, there are plenty of comments actually related to the new standalone experience itself, too. Many are positive, applauding how BF Studios blends classic Battlefield mechanics with other popular battle royale experiences, like Call of Duty: Warzone. Launch also ushered in a spike in activity, with Steamdb recording a 24-hour peak of 549,766 Battlefield 6 players yesterday.

REDSEC, which encompasses Gauntlet and Portals modes in addition to its battle royale mode, is getting love in the Battlefield community, but there is still a general feeling that the experience is incomplete. Specifically, it’s the lack of a solo queue option and battle royale fatigue that many are calling out – both in negative and positive reviews.

“No solo Mode... When will they learn the overwhelming majority of players play solo?” one negative review asks. “It doesn't feel good to play with randoms against premade coordinated squads.”

“Fun update, the battle pass is not half bad,” a positive review adds. “Only problem with me is not having a solo battle royal mode.”

REDSEC is just 24 hours into its time in the public’s hands. Seasonal updates will continue to offer shared experiences between REDSEC and Battlefield 6. Season 1 launched yesterday, introducing the new Blackwell Fields map for multiplayer, with more mid-season maps and guns set to follow in November and December.

EA has addressed fan feedback in the past, with the latest update introducing fixes for a controversial green skin and some of the bothersome lighting effects that have distracted players since launch. In the meantime, some players have been content simply using their time to draw on walls with the Engineer repair tool.

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).

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Physicist Brian Cox Thanks YouTube for Taking Down 'AI Shite' Accounts Featuring Deepfakes of Him Saying 'Nonsense' About Comet ATLAS 3i Being a Spaceship

Physicist Brian Cox has thanked YouTube for taking down accounts that used AI to create deepfakes of him saying “nonsense” about comet ATLAS 3i — but was left wondering what the long-term solution is.

Cox, Professor of Particle Physics at The University of Manchester and star of a number of high-profile science documentaries, took to X / Twitter earlier this week to complain about what he described as “AI shite of me popping up on YouTube.”

“The general rule is that if I appear to say something that you agree with and you are a UFO nobber, flat earth bell end or think comet ATLAS 3i is a spaceship, it’s fake,” he said in the tweet, now viewed 618,500 times.

A lot of this revolves around 3I/ATLAS, which was discovered on July 1, 2025. Since then, astronomers have been working towards understanding the comet because, unlike other comets, 3I/ATLAS doesn't orbit the Sun. It's an interstellar comet, and one of only three we've ever seen. That means it entered our Solar System from elsewhere in the Galaxy, and will eventually exit it, and when it does leave our Solar System it will be gone forever. 3I/ATLAS is thought to be at least 7 billion years old, making it likely twice as old as Earth, and the oldest comet we've ever seen.

Some people are saying 3I/ATLAS could be an alien mothership conducting a hidden maneuver around the sun, and now prominent scientists are discovering deepfakes showing them saying just that.

In response to calls for YouTube to take action, Cox tweeted: “We keep telling them and they are bloody slow.”

It now appears YouTube has taken action, although, according to Cox, limited to the more prominent accounts. In a tweet, he wondered how this will all play out.

“Thanks to @YouTube for taking down the more prominent AI accounts of me quickly - I’m not sure what the solution to this will be in the longer term. Doesn’t matter so much if it’s nonsense about a comet - but in other areas of science and certainly politics it’s clearly important. Interested to know what you think?”

This isn’t the first time celebrities have complained about deepfakes. Earlier this month, Keanu Reeves hit out at AI deepfakes of the John Wick star selling products without his permission, insisting "it's not a lot of fun." In July, it was reported that Reeves pays a company a few thousand dollars a month to get the likes of TikTok and Meta to take down imitators.

In 2023, Tom Hanks warned fans that an AI version of his likeness was being used without his consent in an online advert for a dental plan. Last year, Morgan Freeman thanked fans who alerted him to AI-generated imitations of his voice online after a series of videos created by someone posing as his niece went viral.

And in May this year, Jamie Lee Curtis was forced to appeal to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in an Instagram post because she couldn’t get the company to pull an AI-generated ad that featured her likeness for “some bullshit that I didn’t authorize, agree to or endorse.”

As for ATLAS 3i, Cox insisted it is, in fact, a comet, and not a spaceship.

“Just to be clear - given recent drivel on line - Comet 3I/Atlas is a comet, made of carbon dioxide and water ices and bits of other stuff,” he tweeted. “It is entirely natural in origin, its orbit is as expected and it will whizz around the sun and then disappear off into the galaxy again. If it ever encounters another inhabited solar system in the far future I hope the living things there are more sensible than us and enjoy it for what it is - a visitor from elsewhere in the galaxy - a pristine lump of rock and ices which formed around a distant, maybe long-dead star billions of years ago and many light years away, just passing through. Isn’t that wonderful enough?”

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

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Sony Confirms PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for November 2025

Sony has confirmed the PlayStation Plus monthly games for November 2025, confirming a prior leak.

Dealabs' ever-reliable billbil-kun had reported that Stray would be the main title for the PlayStation Plus Essential selection for November 2025, and would be available from November 4, 2025 on PS5 and PS4 for Essential, Extra, and Premium subscribers. And so it has proved.

In a post on the PlayStation Blog, Sony confirmed Stray, EA Sports WRC 24, and Totally Accurate Battle Simulator as the three games for November. All three are available to PlayStation Plus members from Tuesday November 4 until Monday December 1.

Stray is French studio BlueTwelve’s third-person cat adventure game set in the neon-lit alleys of a decaying cybercity and the murky environments of its seedy underbelly. As a stray cat, you roam surroundings high and low, defending against unforeseen threats and solving the mysteries of this unwelcoming place inhabited by nothing but unassuming droids and dangerous creatures. Lost, alone and separated from family, you must untangle an ancient mystery to escape a long-forgotten cybercity and find the way home.

IGN’s Stray review returned an 8/10. We said: “Stray is a delightful cat-based platforming adventure in a cyberpunk world worth exploring.”

Codemasters' EA Sports WRC launched in 2023 and managed a 6/10 in IGN's review. We said: "EA Sports WRC feels like a great racing game trying to fight its way out of an unfinished one." TABS, meanwhile, is Landfall Games' physics based medieval battle simulator that lets you pit wacky waving armies against each other.

PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for November 2025

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

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The Best HBO Max Deals in October

Max is officially back to being HBO Max. Even though the name has changed (returned?), the library is still full of great films and shows to watch. HBO Max is home to some incredibly high-quality watches, including House of the Dragon, The White Lotus, The Last of Us, and Sinners. You can tune in to Season 2 of Peacemaker and even catch up on James Gunn's Superman beforehand.

If you've been hoping to start up an account to dig into that library, we're here to help. While HBO Max recently increased the price of all of its monthly plans by around $1, we're keeping track of the best price for subscriptions, along with any deals as they appear. Let's get into what's available right now.

Our Top Pick: The Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max Streaming Bundle

There are no active discounts available for HBO Max, so your best bet for savings (assuming you're already on the hook for more than one subscription) is by checking out some bundles.

Our favorite streaming bundle includes Disney Plus, Hulu, and HBO Max. The deal can be purchased through any of the three streaming services and starts at $19.99/month for the ad-supported tier or $32.99/month for ad-free access across all three platforms. It'll save you quite a bit compared to what you'd pay for the three of them separately per month – 43% on the ad-supported plan and 42% on the ad-free plan.

To learn more about how to get started with this bundle as a new or existing subscriber, head to our guide on how to get (or switch over to) the Disney+/Hulu/HBO Max streaming bundle.

Students Get 50% off HBO Max Basic With Ads

If you're a student, you can score the HBO Max Basic With Ads plan for just $5.49/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:

The Basic and Standard 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:

There is currently no HBO Max free trial available, so you'll need to be a paying subscriber to access the service.

What's Streaming on HBO Max?

HBO Max features a wide variety of programming. New additions to HBO Max include a spread of anime films coming out of a new deal with GKIDS, the Tim Robinson comedy Friendship, the latest season of Rick and Morty, and Warfare.

Otherwise, the service includes shows from brands like HGTV, Food Network, TLC, and the Magnolia Network. Of course, one of the big draws of HBO Max is HBO Originals like The Last of Us, 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 Superman and Peacemaker, as well as other popular Warner Bros. 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.

Original article from Logan Plant.

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Exclusive: Avatar: The Last Airbender Gets Epilogue Scene Box For Magic: The Gathering Crossover

Avatar: The Last Airbender's crossover with Magic: The Gathering is fast approaching next month, and we've got an exclusive look at a handful of cards that make up a single scene set after the end of the TV show (as well as a couple cards from the bonus sheet of the main set).

Flip through the gallery below to see all eight cards, and read on to hear where they'll be available to both open and play:

Titled "Tea Time at the Jasmine Dragon," the six cards that make up this panomaric art scene are not technically part of the main set, instead available together in a standalone Scene Box and limited to use in Magic's Eternal formats like Commander. That's a big part of the reason why four of the cards are multicolored legendary creatures with abilities that are meant to be built around – though the somewhat novel twist of this particular scene is that most of them feature couples from the end of the show, making it a peaceful epiloque of sorts.

In addition to those six cards, we've also got a first look at two "Source Material" cards, which can be found in main set booster packs but are only legal in formats where they were already available. These cards use actual shots from the show as their art, tying classic Magic cards into relevant moments from the series, with their episode number listed at the bottom of the card itself.

This isn't the first time we've shown off the Avatar Magic set, as we revealed a hands-on first look at the Avatar: The Last Airbender Beginner Box back in August. While something like the Scene Box we are revealing today is a solid way to jump into Magic if you are just an Avatar fan more interested in the collection aspect of the game, the Beginner Box is the ideal starting point if you and a friend want to learn how to play from scratch.

Card reveals for the set are in full swing through next week, with prerelease events kicking off at local stores on November 14. It then launches digitally on MTG Arena November 18 before becoming available in paper on November 21.

Tom Marks is IGN's Executive Reviews Editor. He loves puzzles, platformers, puzzle-platformers, and lots more.

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Pokémon TCG: White Flare Binder Collection Is Now At Market Value at Amazon

It looks like Amazon is starting to realise that sellers on the Pokémon TCG secondary market are beating them to the mega punch when it comes to sealed product pricing. I'm starting to see a trend in pricing either near, matching or below current market values, and I've gathered three highlights for today that you can buy right now.

White Flare Binder Collection

It's about time the White Flare Binder Collection dropped in price on Amazon, which has been touching $60 for a while now. It's now down to $50.23, which is around market price considering TCGplayer has it live for $48. Yeah it's a dollar a change more expensive, but it's worth it for next day prime delivery.

Incase you didn't fancy ripping sealed product to find ridiculous chase card from this set, here's where you can buy them right now for market value:

  1. Victini – 171/086 – SV: Black Bolt Near Mint Holofoil: $519.99
    Market price: $498.21
    Most recent sale: $399.99
  2. Victini – 172/086 – SV: White Flare Near Mint Holofoil: $422
    Market price: $29.30
    Most recent sale: $427.78
  3. Zekrom ex – 172/086 – SV: Black Bolt Near Mint Holofoil: $500
    Market price: $455.44
    Most recent sale: $399.99
  4. Reshiram ex – 173/086 – SV: White Flare Near Mint Holofoil: $367.93
    Market price: $367.23
    Most recent sale: $387.90
  5. Zekrom ex – 166/086 – SV: Black Bolt Near Mint Holofoil: $239
    Market price: $241.90
    Most recent sale: $239.99

Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Box [Mega Gardevoir]

The Mega Gardevoir Elite Trainer Box from Mega Evolution is at market value right now compared to TCGPlayer. Amazon is up for $83.95 at the time of writing, which is pretty much spot on with TCGPlayers $82.27, plus you get Prime Shipping. Happy days.

Prices for Mega Evolution single chase cards has dropped recently too, which means you can save some money and just buy the cards you want instead of spending hundreds of Pokédollars on booster packs:

  1. Mega Gardevoir ex - 187/132
    Near Mint Holofoil: $333

    Market price: $541.84
    Most recent sale: $589.99
  2. Mega Lucario ex - 188/132 Near Mint Holofoil: $509.99
    Market price: $542.29
    Most recent sale: $525.50
  3. Mega Gardevoir ex - 178/132 Near Mint Holofoil: $250
    Market price: $265.01
    Most recent sale: $255
  4. Mega Lucario ex - 179/132 Near Mint Holofoil: $271.31
    Market price: $281.51
    Most recent sale: $275
  5. Mega Venusaur ex - 177/132 Near Mint Holofoil: $181.99
    Market price: $194.58
    Most recent sale: $191.30

Black Bolt Elite Trainer Box

Black Bolt ETB is my number one deal for Pokémon TCG in general today. Amazon is undercutting TCGPlayer by over $2, making Amazons $84.95 the best price outside of preordering for MSRP online right now. May the Black White Rare gods forever be in your favor!

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.

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Stellar Trader, a 4X Strategy Game Where You Wield Galactic Economic Influence, Announced for PC

Play as a space merchant selling and trading your wares across the galaxy in Stellar Trader, a new 4X space-trading sci-fi sim in development for PC. You'll build space stations, negotiate prices, avoid pirates, work the black market, tilt the scales in wars with your economic prowess, and so much more.

Developer ParaVerseLab says you'll "shape economies, form alliances, and influence the systems that control trade, tech, and politics" in Stellar Trader, which doesn't have an announced release date as of yet. Watch the announcement trailer below for your first look at it.

You'll earn and customize new ships as you go, from clunkers all the way up to top-of-the-line megaships. You'll also get to build your own space stations, influencing supply chains and the development of worlds from your perch in orbit. Economically, in addition to negotiating with potential trade partners, ParaVerseLab says you'll "discover black market opportunities, exploit regional shortages, or stabilize entire systems through strategic logistics."

In Stellar Trader, you'll "discover black market opportunities, exploit regional shortages, or stabilize entire systems through strategic logistics."

You can ally with those whose interests best align with yours during conflicts, and also "meet unforgettable characters, explore ancient ruins, solve strange puzzles, and experience personal storylines that include romance, mystery, and moments of humor."

Wishlist Stellar Trader 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.

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'The Flood Are Evil Space Zombie Parasites and Are Not an Allegory to Any Group of People' — Original Halo Devs Hit Out at Homeland Security ICE Recruitment Ad

Key members of the original Halo development team have hit out at the Department of Homeland Security’s use of Microsoft's first-person shooter to promote ICE, with one saying: “it makes me sick.”

This week, IGN reported on how the White House had waded into the console wars with an AI image of Donald Trump saluting as Master Chief in front of an American flag with only 40 stars. It has been viewed 43.2 million times so far.

Power to the Players https://t.co/GqNu0qdgmw pic.twitter.com/4Hw6G7i7aW

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 27, 2025

It followed Microsoft’s announcement of Halo: Campaign Evolved, a remake of the campaign of 2001’s Halo: Combat Evolved, which is due out on Xbox Series X and S, PC, and PlayStation 5 at some point in 2026. It is the first Halo game ever to launch on a PlayStation console, and cements Microsoft’s position as a multiplatform video game developer.

The Trump administration then doubled down on the Halo AI images, with the Department of Homeland Security using Halo to recruit for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s website (ICE). In a post on social media, now viewed 26 million times, Homeland Security said “destroy the Flood” and “finishing this fight,” referencing Halo’s parasitic alien enemy and its long-running slogan. The use of the Flood here is a clear comparison to the immigrants ICE rounds up for deportation.

Finishing this fight. pic.twitter.com/6Ezq9NUqMq

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) October 27, 2025

While Microsoft has so far remained silent on the issue (IGN has asked for comment), Marcus Lehto, who was the art director on Combat Evolved and thus heavily involved in the iconic look of Halo itself, slammed the ICE post in an interview with Game File. He called the ICE post “absolutely abhorrent,” adding: “It really makes me sick seeing Halo co-opted like this.”

Game File also spoke with Jaime Griesemer, another one of the key developers behind Halo and who was most involved with designing Halo’s famous ‘30 seconds of fun’ gameplay loop. He was less bothered by the Trump post, but took issue with the ICE post.

“Using Halo imagery in a call to ‘destroy’ people because of their immigration status goes way too far, and ought to offend every Halo fan, regardless of political orientation,” Griesemer said. “I personally find it despicable. The Flood are evil space zombie parasites and are not an allegory to any group of people.”

He continued: “I think Halo’s world is rich and wide and has layers that reward a deeper look, and it has had an outsized impact on culture, so it is easy to read into it and see elements of current or historical events.

“But it was NOT written as an allegory to any specific religion or political party or movement. The Prophets are not Popes, the Grunts are not Wahhabis, and the Flood are definitely not illegal immigrants. The Master Chief is not a Christ figure and Cortana is not the Virgin Mary, I guess?”

As for the Trump meme, the White House is claiming it is about Trump claiming credit for ending another war (in this case, the console war). White House Deputy Press Secretary Kush Desai told reporter Alyssa Mercante in a statement: “Yet another war ended under President Trump's watch — only one leader is fully committed to giving power to the players, and that leader is Donald J. Trump. That’s why he’s hugely popular with the American people and American Gamers.”

Microsoft’s silence on the matter is in contrast to The Pokémon Company’s position. It formally responded to the use of Pokémon TV hero Ash Ketchum and the series' theme tune by the Department of Homeland Security as part of a video showing people being arrested and handcuffed by law enforcement agents.

"We are aware of a recent video posted by the Department of Homeland Security that includes imagery and language associated with our brand," The Pokémon Company International said in a statement shared with IGN. "Our company was not involved in the creation or distribution of this content, and permission was not granted for the use of our intellectual property."

The question is, can Microsoft do anything about the Trump administration using Halo for promotion? Many fans had suggested The Pokémon Company should defend its intellectual property by launching legal action. But the corporation's former legal chief told IGN at the time that he "wouldn't touch this."

"I don't see them doing anything about this for a few reasons," McGowan, now principal at Extreme Grownup Services, told IGN. "First, think of how little you see [The Pokémon Company International]'s name in the press. They are INSANELY publicity-shy and prefer to let the brand be the brand.

"Second, many of their execs in the USA are on green cards," he continued. "Even if I was still at the company I wouldn't touch this, and I'm the most trigger-happy CLO [Chief Legal Officer] I've ever met. This will blow over in a couple of days and they'll be happy to let it."

The Trump administration has form when it comes to using AI images to promote the President. In May, Trump sparked a backlash from some Catholics after posting an AI-generated image of himself as the Pope. The picture, which was shared by official White House social media accounts, was released as Catholics mourned the death of Pope Francis and prepared to choose the next pontiff.

The White House has also released AI images of Trump as Superman and as a Star Wars Jedi. And when the Department of Homeland Security used South Park to promote ICE, South Park trolled Trump in response, saying: “wait, so we ARE relevant?”

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

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Deals for Today: Pokémon Black Bolt ETB Under Market Value At Amazon and Hot Preorders

Everyone loves a cheeky preorder, and we've got everything from Kyle Katarn (Play Star Wars: Dark Forces more) and a Cyberpunk Comic to the Meta Knight and Shadow Star amiibo set. Also, the Pokémon TCG Black Bolt Elite Trainer Box is now under market value on Amazon, which pretty much never happens.

TL;DR: Deals for Today

Need to upgrade you gaming setup? How about a soundbar and subwoofer deal from legendary sound tech firm Creative? If you remember Sound Blaster from when you was a kid messing up your parents Windows 95 PCs, you're my kind of person. What about the best third party Switch, Switch 2 and PC controller i've used so far for 10% off? 8-Bit-Do is here to save your day. Finally, Halloween now needs calenders according to Pokémon, and it's on a limited time deal. Let's get into it:

Black Bolt Elite Trainer Box

Chasing Victini and Zekrom Black White Rares? How about getting your hands on any Secret Illustration Rare or Illustration Rare? Chances are you'll find one in a Black Bolt Elite Trainer Box, and I'm not talsking about the included promo card. It has eight booster packs and other goodies such as 65-themed deck sleeves and dice. Plus, it's very rare Amazon does competitive pricing on Pokémon TCG.

STAR WARS The Black Series Gaming Greats Kyle Katarn

Kyle Katarn is literally a legend in the Star Wars community, one for being Luke Skywalkers right hand man during the Dark Forces and Jedi Knight games building up the New Jedi Academy on Yavin IV. And he's literally part of Legends continuity, which at this point makes for a far insteresting post-Return of the Jedi Star Wars romp. Also, this figure is cool so buy it. Rant over.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners MADNESS Volume 1

Follow Rebecca and Pilar as they pursue their dreams of becoming an Edgerunner just like their Dad. This is going to be worth preorders thanks to Amazons preorder price guarantee and that it's written by the screenwriter of the Cyberpunk: Edgerunner anime, Bartosz Sztybor.

Pokemon Halloween Calendar 2025

Want some cute Halloween themed Pokémon figures for $9.99? Better hurry up, this is a fun little thing for everyone to look forward to opening on the leadup to Trick or Treating, even if you want to snag one and put it away for next year.

Meta Knight & Shadow Star amiibo

Kirby Air Riders is officially defying everyone's expectations with what's been revealed so far, and it's another lesson in why no one should underestimate Sakurai San. It's great to see new amiibo still up for preorder instead of being snatched up by scalpers.

8BitDo Ultimate 2 for Switch / Switch 2 / PC

8BitDo makes amazing controllers, end of. Riving first party options, this controller has every feature you can think of and for 10% off right now. I love the adjustable triggers and clicky buttons on this controller, and it even comes with a dock to keep it charged. How can you loose?

Creative Stage V2 2.1 Soundbar with Subwoofer

Creative have been making some of the best speakers for PC and gaming for decades at this point (and they still do Sound Blaster sound card, how awesome is that?). This setup is a bargain at a limited time deal of $69.99 and comes with all the connectivity options anyone will need, including Bluetooth 5.0 for you and your party guests to hook up too. Winner!

Shin Godzilla - Limited Edition Steelbook

Need more Godzilla and Steelbooks in your life? Good, because this is perfect for you. Featuring a boatload of extra features including cut scenes, outtakes, a making off and much more, this is the definitive edition of Shin Godzilla and great content value for money.

INIU Portable Charger

INIU power banks always do what they say on the tin, and I've never had an issue with their product lines. This one is perfect for a commute that doesn't require a big bulky power bank, with enough charging capacity and power to fast charge your Switch and mobile phone.

JVSCAM Cordless Electric Air Duster

I bought a similar model a couple of months ago and it's fantastic for cleaning out fans, PCs, keyboards and anything that requires precision cleaning. You will end up using all the tips of this and I can't recommend this desktop gadget enough.

2 Pack Hand Warmers

It's getting cold out, and those one-use hand warmers are OK if you fancy bringing a bag full for a day out. These bad boys are USB-rechargable and last for ages. This should be a winter coat pocket essential.

Paladone Nintendo NES Cartridge Retro Drink Coasters

This makes for a great gift this holiday, or just something run to buy for your dining table or coffee table. They're literal NES cdartridges modeled after fan-favorite games such as The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Bros. Series and other gems. Just buy them, they're awesome.

10Pcs Model Tools

Into your Bandai Gundam building kits? This is the perfect tool set for you, providing everything you need for clean builds. It would even be a great little set for any kind of model building such as Warhammer and DnD. Not the biggest saving, but it's a handy bit of kit for the right job.

Team Rocket Tin

Running cheaper than TCGPlayer at $46.61, Amazon has Team Rocket Tins in-stock for $42.94 right now. Not the biggest saving, but why shoould you waste your hard-earned money on overpriced Pokémon TCG? There's Prime delivery available to boot, so be quick.

Best Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Deals

There's some crazy hype behind Mega Evolution right now, and for good reason. Gold rare Mega Lucario and Mega Gardevoir exs are fetching around $400 at the time of writing, and the artwork on the Secret Illustration Rares and Illustration Rares is phenominal (Looking at you Mega Lucario ex SIR). All of these deals are at market value or below, and in some cases knocking big box retailers like Amazon out of the Poképark.

Best Deals on Sealed Pokémon TCG

I've found some banger Pokémon TCG sets in todays deals, kicking off with a Prismatic Evolutions Booster Bundle for $59.98. Still collecting Black Bolt and White Flare? How about a White Flare Booster Bundle for $48.99? All of these deals are well worth a good look, and you very well could pull something crazy like a Umbreon ex SIR from Prismatic Evolutions or Vicitini Black White Rare from White Flare.

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.

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Darth Vader and More Star Wars Black Series and Vintage Collection Action Figures Are Up for Preorder

During New York Comic Con, Hasbro announced a handful of new Star Wars action figures in The Black Series and Vintage Collection. All of them are now available for preorder, with release dates in March or April of next year. We have the full rundown on these figures below, so keep on reading.

Featured in this article

You can scroll the through catalog above to see all of the new Star Wars action figures up for preorder, or you can keep scrolling for write-ups on each one.

Darth Vader (Duel’s End) - Obi-Wan Kenobi (Black Series)

This battle-damaged Darth Vader 6” action figure depicts our boy as he’s getting his ass handed to him in the final confrontation with his mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi in the series that bears the elder Jedi master’s name. It’s not my favorite Star Wars series, but that battle was by far the best part. And this figure looks phenomenal.

Purge Trooper & Patrol Trooper (Black Series)

From the excellent video game Star Wars Jedi: Survivor comes this pair of challenging enemies. These 6” action figures from the Black Series’ Gaming Greats line depict the white-armored Patrol trooper with an Electrobaton and shield, as well as a Purge Trooper with a blaster.

Boba Fett - The Book of Boba Fett (Black Series)

If you could use another Boba Fett action figure in your life (and who couldn’t, when it looks this good?) this one from The Book of Boba Fett is a great pickup. It’s a 6” figure of the iconic bounty hunter, and it comes with a host of accessories: a removable helmet, blaster, rifle, and jetpack with a removable rocket.

Padmé Amidala - Attack of The Clones (Vintage Collection)

This Vintage Collection action figure of Padmé Amidala is based on her appearance in Episode 2: Attack of the Clones. It’s a 3 3/4” figure that comes with long and short blaster accessories.

Shaak Ti - Attack of The Clones (Vintage Collection)

Also from Attack of the Clones comes this 3 3/4” Vintage Collection action figure of Shaak Ti, a Jedi master who fought at the Battle of Geonosis and supervised the training of clone cadets on Kamino. She comes with a blue-bladed Lightsaber accessory.

In other Star Wars: The Black Series news, a brand-new Dark Forces’ Kyle Katarn action figure is also available for preorder. It’s based on the hero of the 1995 first-person shooter video game Dark Forces and its numerous sequels, which make up the Star Wars Jedi Knight series.

Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN's board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Bluesky.

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Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 Patch 1.0.2 Released & Detailed

The Chinese Room has released Title Update 1.0.2 for Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 and shared its full patch notes. So, let’s see what this new patch brings to the table. Update 1.0.2 adds 24 new ways to customize your look, with 8 new hairstyles, 8 makeup styles, and 8 eye colors. Moreover, it … Continue reading Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 Patch 1.0.2 Released & Detailed

The post Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 Patch 1.0.2 Released & Detailed appeared first on DSOGaming.

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