Nintendo has been forced to deny reports it used AI-generated imagery to advertise its new My Mario children's toy range.
Separately, IGN has spoken with one of the models used on the photoshoot, who has discussed the lengths she and others went through to get cast for the marketing campaign, only for doubt to be thrown on its origins.
Last week, reports began circulating online that Nintendo had used AI fakery to generate images of parents and babies holding Super Mario toys. Suspicion was raised by one particular image where a model's thumb was spotted at an unusual angle, quickly prompting numerous users on social media — as well as some news reports — to label the photo as likely AI-generated.
However, Nintendo did not use generative AI to create parents and babies, and instead cast actual human models to advertise its new product range. But doubt spread regardless, due to the growing assumption that AI tools can now create photorealistic imagery that's increasingly impossible to detect from the real thing.
"Everything is real," said Brittoni O'myah Sinclair, a model who worked on the photoshoot alongside her real-life family, in a statement to IGN. "All the models were casted, and most of us worked with our real families. We had to do auditions, and call backs to book this job."
While Sinclair is not the model whose thumb prompted the AI speculation online, she says she saw them in passing — and they were very much a real person, too. Separately, a Nintendo spokesperson has confirmed to IGN that no AI was used in any of the images.
"As a person born w/ double-jointed thumbs myself, it honestly baffles me how quick ppl are to assume an image is genAI just because a person bends their joints in a way they're not used to," wrote Nintendo fan BrunAmitie on social media, posting a photo of their thumb bending in a similar manner. "Y'all need to do your research before spreading stuff like that first."
The use of AI in entertainment is one of the hottest topics across video games, movies, and television. Last month, Epic Games came under fire for what fans believe to be AI generated art in Fortnite, though at least one example was proven to be hand-drawn by the original artist. Last week, Baldur's Gate 3 developer Larian said it no longer planned to use AI tools in the creation of concept art for its upcoming Divinity, following significant online pushback.
It's been almost 10 years since we first stepped foot in Ubisoft's extraction shooter, The Division — yeah, I know — and it looks like the developer will celebrate by giving fans a chance to replay the experience in "definitive edition" form.
While not confirmed by Ubisoft, advertising for an unannounced Definitive Edition has popped up in Japan, along with what looks to be hoodies, caps, and tees inspired by The Division's anniversary, although it appears those are just prizes for players jumping into the game at an esports event rather than simply being available to buy.
What does this mean for us? Well, we're not quite sure. What we can say is The Division — which was announced at E3 2013 with a trailer that became one of the most talked-about of the show — broke sales records for Ubisoft, and a 10-year anniversary sure does seem to be a good time to remind us it exists. With the anniversary coming up in March, hopefully we won't have to wait too long for confirmation.
And in case you were wondering, yes, two years on from its announcement, Ubisoft is indeed still working on The Division 3. And while it has yet to show off the game or provide us with a release date, its chief developer recently said he believes it will have as big an impact as The Division 1.
"So, The Division 3 is in production, right? This is not a secret. It's been announced. It's shaping up to be a monster," Gerighty said, speaking during the New Game+ Showcase 2026. “I can't really say anything more than that. But this is, within these walls in Massive, we are working extremely hard on something that I think will be as big an impact as Division 1 was.”
Meanwhile, support for The Division 2 continues with various updates, and a team in Paris is putting the final touches of a The Division mobile game. The Division Heartland, a free-to-play spin-off, entered development in 2020 but was canceled in 2024.
Two months ago, Massive Entertainment introduced what it called a 'voluntary career transition program,' (the studio asked its staff to volunteer to be laid off) as part of a move to focus on The Division franchise and its Snowdrop game engine. It came as part of significant restructuring at Ubisoft that has seen multiple studio closures and rounds of layoffs. Massive Entertainment's Star Wars Outlaws, released in 2024, was a big sales disappointment for Ubisoft, despite significant development and marketing costs.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
Jon Snow actor Kit Harington says he was “genuinely angered” by a fan-made petition that called for the final season of Game of Thrones to be remade with “competent writers.”
In 2019, following the release of Game of Thrones Season 8 and its subsequent backlash, the fan petition went viral, securing nearly 2 million signatures. “David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have proven themselves to be woefully incompetent writers when they have no source material (i.e. the books) to fall back on,” the petition, still live on Change.org, reads. “This series deserves a final season that makes sense. Subvert my expectations and make it happen, HBO!”
Now, seven years later, Harington has revealed how he felt about the petition at the time, having ridden Game of Thrones’ enormous success for a decade and worked hard on Season 8. In a profile in the New York Times, Harington was said to have been “shocked” by the negative response to the final season.
Here's the relevent part of the NYT piece:
“That genuinely angered me,” Harington said, because he knew how much effort the show’s writers, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, had put in. “Like, how dare you? Sorry, that’s just how I feel. I think it was a level of idiocy that can only come about through social media.”
According to the profile, Harington had become a “dry drunk” and spent time in rehab after wrapping up work on Game of Thrones. After he emerged, he “was also finding it hard to escape Jon Snow.” Harrington took a year out and prepared to act again, but the pandemic hit, tearing up his plans.
When work became possible again, Harington told his agent he wanted a “no swords” rule for vetting potential jobs, but he took on the role of Black Knight in high-profile Marvel flop The Eternals, which released in November 2021. After the movie's disastrous box office, Harrington apparently “toyed” with the idea of reprising his role as Jon Snow for a spinoff, but eventually decided against it.
Harington recently recorded the role of Gilderoy Lockhart for Audible's Harry Potter audio drama adaptation, prompting the question of whether he would ever reprise his role for a similar audio version of Game of Thrones.
Following Game of Thrones' dramatic conclusion in 2019 — which saw Jon Snow survive but head back north following his devastating decision to stop Daenerys — George R.R. Martin confirmed HBO was working on a Jon Snow spin-off with the working title "Snow." According to Martin, Harington was developing the series with his own team.
But despite lengthy conversations around the show's direction, Harington ultimately revealed that the project was no longer moving forward. "Currently, it's off the table, because we all couldn't find the right story to tell that we were all excited about enough," Harington said in 2024. "So, we decided to lay down tools with it for the time being. There may be a time in the future where we return to it, but at the moment, no. It's firmly on the shelf."
During a Game of Thrones fan convention in 2022, Harington hinted that his spinoff would focus on his character's struggle to overcome past traumas following the Season 8 finale. "He's gotta go back up to the place with all this history and live out his life thinking about how he killed Dany, and live out his life thinking about Ygritte dying in his arms, and live out his life thinking about how he hung Olly, and live out his life thinking about all of this trauma, and that, that's interesting," Harington said.
Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images.
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.
Magic: The Gathering had some great sets in 2025, but it also showed Wizards of the Coast perhaps straying a little too far from what makes the long-running card game special.
That’s not to say Universes Beyond was a total bust. Final Fantasy brought in record-breaking numbers of players, and Avatar: The Last Airbender was a return to some semblance of form after the disappointment of Spider-Man.
Still, cardboard waits for no Planeswalker, and there are more sets in 2026 - seven, in total. That’s before we even get into the myriad of Secret Lair drops, and perhaps most worryingly, four of those sets are Universes Beyond.
Will they end up being closer to Final Fantasy or Spider-Man? And will the in-universe sets live up to the high bar set by Tarkir: Dragonstorm or Edge of Eternities? Here’s everything coming to Magic: The Gathering in 2026.
Lorwyn Eclipsed - January 23, 2026
If you’ve been yearning for a return to Lorwyn, the first set of 2026 is here to get things started. The set is a Universes Within to kick off the year, and marks the debut of the Draft Night Box.
You can preorder it now, and it’ll see the return of Commander Decks for the first time since 2025’s Edge of Eternities with two options: A five-color, or a Jund option.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - March 6, 2026
Wizards of the Coast revealed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at Comic-Con New York, with Universes Beyond going back to The Big Apple for the second time in a few months.
Still, expect colorful new art of the Heroes in a Half Shell, their assorted rogues gallery, and the debut of a Turtle Team Up co-op game mode.
We've got a full rundown of the product lineup, so be sure to check out the preorder guide, including a five-color Commander deck that stars all four Turtles.
Secrets of Strixhaven - April 2026
We still don’t know a great deal about our return to Strixhaven, but it is getting its own tie-in novel.
This Plane has been fertile ground for fun card designs and characters in the past, so here’s hoping for something good when it arrives in April.
We’ve already seen cards for Iron Man, Black Panther, Fantastic Four, and more, and the set will lean on comic book versions of the Marvel universe’s characters. Will it be better than the underwhelming Spider-Man set, though? We’re at least hoping the increased roster of heroes and (hopefully) villains will make this more exciting.
We’re expecting a Mentor/Sidekick theme, and for this one to be a popular entry point for new players. It might even be a good choice for a Beginner Box.
The Hobbit - August 2026
We’re going back to Middle-earth! Universes Beyond: Lord of the Rings was a colossal win for Magic: The Gathering, and the fact its fantasy theming fit so well with the card game means it feels a lot less jarring than other crossovers.
“Join Bilbo’s adventure of a lifetime with Dwarves to befriend, Trolls to trick, Elves to outwit, and songs to sing. There's gold or dragon’s fire at the end, so enjoy the journey!”
Give us some Five Armies Commander Decks, please, or at least a Smaug card that isn’t just a Token creature.
Reality Fracture - October 2026
The last in-universe set of 2026 is Reality Fracture, and it’ll feature callbacks to Tarkir: Dragonstorm and Outlaws of Thunder Junction.
The team has suggested it has a theme players have wanted for a long time, but that’s all we know so far.
Star Trek - November 2026
If you felt Wizards had got the sci-fi out of their system with the (excellent) Edge of Eternities, think again.
November 2026 will see the arrival of a Star Trek set to celebrate that franchise’s 60th Anniversary, and it’ll incorporate everything from the original series to Strange New Worlds. It even got a trailer.
Magic's 2025 Sets - At a Glance
It’s also good idea to take stock of 2025’s sets, because it was definitely a year that divided opinion.
Innistrad: Remastered - January 24
Aetherdrift - February 14
Tarkir: Dragonstorm - April 11
Final Fantasy - June 13
Edge of Eternities - August 1
Marvel’s Spider-Man - September 16
Avatar: The Last Airbender - November 21
That’s seven sets in total, with three of those being Universes Beyond collaborations with the likes of Square Enix, Marvel, and Nickelodeon. And, from looking at the 2026 schedule, it looks as though Wizards is looking to stick to that ratio.
Lloyd Coombes is an experienced freelancer in tech, gaming and fitness seen at Polygon, Eurogamer, Macworld, TechRadar and many more. He's a big fan of Magic: The Gathering and other collectible card games, much to his wife's dismay.
The Pokémon Trading Card Game had a defining year in 2025, with not only the return of Mega Evolutions, the bold visual direction of Black and White Rares, and jaw-dropping Special Illustration Rares from Prismatic Evolutions and Phantasmal Flames pushing artistic ambition to new heights.
Altogether, the market for singles in the Pokémon TCG has been skyrocketing, with the game’s continued short supply escalating the values of stunning chase cards even further
Altogether, there have been ten cards that have stood above the rest. The ten most valuable cards brought by the Pokémon TCG are not only more expensive due to their amazing potential for competitive play, but also because of rare and exclusive artwork that makes them worthy of a museum, rather than a deck box.
Using prices determined by the dedicated TCG marketplace TCGPlayer, ranked below from cheapest to most expensive, these ten cards represent the pinnacle of what Pokémon card collectors and players were chasing throughout 2025.
10. Mega Gardevoir ex – 187/132 (ME01: Mega Evolution)
Although only the tenth most valuable Pokémon card released in 2025, the golden Mega Hyper Rare of Mega Gardevoir has artwork that presents Ralt’s final evolution in an elegant, almost celestial pose, reinforcing its identity as a Pokémon of grace rather than brute force.
On the table, however, Mega Gardevoir ex is anything but gentle. Overflowing Wishes accelerates Psychic Energy across your bench, setting up devastating turns where Mega Symphonia scales damage based on total attached Energy. In slower, resource-heavy metas, Gardevoir decks flourished, making this card both well-sought after for its design and respected on a strategic level.
9. Mega Lucario ex – 188/132 (ME01: Mega Evolution)
Mega Lucario ex’s gold Mega Hyper Rare treatment instantly upped its value with some added prestige. With an almost ceremonial design that belongs in a chapel window, Lucario is framed as a focal icon, with metallic finishes that catch the light far more dramatically than standard illustration cards.
Competitively, all versions of Mega Lucario ex earn their place in decks through sheer efficiency. Aura Jab accelerates Fighting Energy across the board, enabling rapid board development, while Mega Brave offers an explosive 270-damage swing capable of ending games outright.
Though the attack’s drawback limits consecutive use, Lucario’s consistency kept it relevant in Fighting-based archetypes.
8. Sylveon ex – 156/131 (SV: Prismatic Evolutions)
Sylveon ex sits at number eight with its pastel-heavy Special Illustration Rare artwork that’s immediately striking, leaning fully into the Eeveelution’s fairy-like charm with crystalline motifs and soft colours that bring a nice brighter contrast with the darker chase cards of the year.
In gameplay terms, Sylveon ex carved out a niche as a control-leaning option. Magical Charm dampens opposing damage output, while Angelite provides rare bench disruption by shuffling opposing Pokémon back into the deck. In a 2025 meta increasingly defined by set-up reliant strategies, that kind of interference could carry some real value.
7. Mega Charizard X ex – 130/094 (ME02: Phantasmal Flames)
The golden ticket equivalent of the Phantasmal Flames expansion, the Mega Hyper Rare version of Charizard X ex is a pure spectacle that never gets old when staring at it in your binder. The gold silhouette treatment transforms Charizard into a mythic emblem rather than one of the best Pocket Monsters, but with even more mystique than Mega Lucario and Mega Gardevoir’s.
Despite the minimalist look, the card’s competitiveness is a joy to play with, too. Inferno X allows players to convert excess Fire Energy into overwhelming damage, making Mega Charizard X ex one of the most feared closers of the year.
6. Reshiram ex – 173/086 (SV: White Flare)
Reshiram ex’s Black White Rare treatment strips colour almost entirely, rendering the Legendary Pokémon in stark monochrome light that makes it look like a beautiful marble slab; it’s without a doubt one of the most unique prints we’ve seen recently in the TCG — all the more reason it’s a top contender among the most expensive Pokemon cards last year.
Functionally, Reshiram ex thrives as a comeback threat. Blaze Burst scales damage with the opponent’s Prize count, punishing aggressive decks that take early leads. Fire decks in 2025 often leaned on this mechanic to flip matches late, and combined with the card’s minimalist aesthetic, made Reshiram ex a standout collector piece.
5. Zekrom ex – 172/086 (SV: Black Bolt)
Following Reshiram’s lead, Zekrom ex’s own Black White Rare follows the same style design, but is stunning in its own way: using the Black White Rare format to emphasise raw power and silhouette. In fact, the sculpted look almost gives the Gen-5 Legendary a statue-like depiction, giving the card itself a sense of weight rarely seen in modern artwork in the TCG lately.
In gameplay, Voltage Burst rewards aggressive opponents by scaling damage as Prize cards are taken. While the self-damage drawback keeps it balanced, Lightning decks capable of managing recoil found Zekrom ex to be a reliable late-game finisher.
4. Victini – 171/086 & 172/086 (SV: Black Bolt / White Flare)
Victini earns its place here as a paired phenomenon among the Pokémon TCG’s most valuable 2025 cards. Both Black White Rare versions (#172 in White Flare, #171 in Black Bolt) share a vivid red presentation, creating an instantly recognisable aesthetic unlike anything else released.
When played with in decks, Victini is deceptively simple. V-Force delivers efficient damage under specific bench conditions, rewarding precise board management. While not a format-defining attacker, Victini’s consistency and iconic status have pushed collector interest sky-high in the last 12 months.
3. Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex – 231/182 (SV: Destined Rivals)
Few cards in 2025 carried as much narrative weight as Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex. The Special Illustration Rare artwork places Mewtwo front and centre, with Giovanni placed directly in front — almost like it’s a special edition print of Pokémon: The First Movie.
Mechanically, Mewtwo ex can be powerful, but it demands a lot of commitment. Power Saver restricts its use unless your board is fully aligned with Team Rocket Pokémon, but the payoff is substantial in terms of damage. Meanwhile, Erasure Ball scales aggressively with Energy discard, enabling devastating one-hit knockouts.
2. Mega Charizard X ex – 125/094 (ME02: Phantasmal Flames)
The Mega Hyper Rare was the golden ticket of Phantasmal Flames, but this Mega Charizard X ex is the crown jewel and the must-have expensive Pokémon card of late last year. This Special Illustration Rare treatment is breathtaking: with Mega Charizard X’s blue flames crashing above the cards, followed by masterfully added silhouettes of Charmander, Charmeleon, and base Charizard underneath.
On the battlefield, this version shares the same destructive Inferno X attack, but its scarcity and artwork elevate it far beyond its gold counterpart. For many players, this was the definitive Charizard of 2025
1. Umbreon ex – 161/131 (SV: Prismatic Evolutions)
At the summit stands the most valuable Pokémon card of them all: Prismatic Evolution’s Umbreon ex, the undisputed chase card of 2025. Its Special Illustration Rare artwork is dazzling and surreal, blending gemstone motifs with cosmic patterns that frame Umbreon as something almost otherworldly.
When Prismatic Evolutions launched in January 2025, packs were in short supply from the get-go (even compared to other expansions that were hard to buy already). SIR Umbreon was a rare card to begin with, but that double scarcity, and being arguably one of the most beautiful modern cards released, is the reason why this card is currently worth just under $1000.
Beyond those bank account-draining factors, Umbreon ex delivers meaningful utility in gameplay, if anyone is brave enough to put on in their deck. Moon Mirage disrupts opposing attackers with confusion, while Onyx introduces rare Prize-taking mechanics that can swing games unexpectedly.
That said, you can get a ‘lightly played’ Double Rare version for around $6, so we’d recommend that if you’re just looking to use one in tournaments. If you’re after a new family heirloom, though, SIR Umbreon’s for you.
Ben Williams – IGN freelance contributor with over 10 years of experience covering gaming, tech, film, TV, and anime. Follow him on Twitter/X @BenLevelTen.
Baboo! Are you looking for Heartopia codes? You've come to the right place. Here you'll find all the codes that we've collected for the cozy sim. Redeeming these will give you currency, resources, and extra Gold to help you settle into your new home.
Press Tab on PC or tap the watch in the top-right corner
Click Setting
On the General Tab, look for the Redeem Code bubble button in the bottom right
Copy the code from this article and paste it into the bar that reads "Case Insensitive"
Click Redeem and if the code has been successful, it will say "Redeemed! Please check the mailbox for rewards."
FAQs for Heartopia
Have a particular question about Heartopia and codes? See our answers to frequently asked questions below.
How to Collect Heartopia Rewards
Rewards are automatically sent to your Mailbox once you've redeemed codes. To find your Mailbox, press Tab or tap the watch in the top-right corner. Click Mailbox. All of the gifts you've received can be then be claimed. You can do this individually by opening each mail, or by pressing Claim All in the bottom left corner.
Why Isn't My Code for Heartopia Working?
When a code doesn't work for Heartopia it's usually because of two reasons:
The code for Heartopia has expired
There's a spelling mistake or an additional space in the code
Codes for Heartopia are not case-sensitive, but sometimes, a series of letters and numbers. The best way to ensure you've got a working code is to directly copy it from this article. We check all codes before we upload them, so you can guarantee they're working. Just double-check that you haven't copied over an extra space!
How Do I Get More Codes for Heartopia?
We regularly check and test new codes, so the best way to get more codes for Heartopia is to visit this article. But if you want to mine for codes yourself, then the Discord server for Heartopia is the best place to go.
Lauren Harper is an Associate Guides Editor. She loves a variety of games but is especially fond of puzzles, horrors, and point-and-click adventures.
Before we launch off the carrier deck, here's an important distinction for mild dyslexics like me. The Moza AB9 (which I’m quite familiar with) offers significantly stronger, smoother belt driven force feedback with 12 Nm peak torque. While today’s subject, the AB6 comes in a more affordable, compact bundle. We’re talking the base, a stick, mount but also only half the power at 6 Nm peak torque and a gear driven feel that can feel slightly... notchy.
Not to give my impressions away in the intro, but the AB6 is what you ought to lock-on to if you need a great value entry-level to mid-range flight sim solution. I’ll always loop back to my AB9 as the premium high performance preferred, obviously, but the AB6 will now become the highly capable backup my eldest will probably earn his sim wings with.
Or, hey, maybe I’ll repurpose it into a force feedback manual gearshifter for my racing rig. This is quite possible with a small extra purchase.
Speaking of buying things, let's get the first hurdle out of the way: price of admission. I did say the AB6 setup was entry level, but in the sim peripherals world, that can still mean steeper than a kamikaze nose dive. Click here to skip that eye-watering window shop if you'd like to.
Moza Flight Test Gear
All About That Base
The AB6 Base is Moza very deliberately trimming the fat without cutting the nerve. This is a compact force feedback unit that still wants to grab you by the wrist and remind you that flying is a physical challenge, not just an elaborate finger ballet on a keyboard or controller.
At 6 Nm peak torque, it is exactly half the muscle of the AB9, but that number undersells how assertive it feels in practice. Once bolted down properly, and yes, bolting it down is non negotiable (do not go by my clutter-avoiding glamour photos), the AB6 communicates aircraft behaviour with quiet confidence. Control surface loading, trim changes, turbulence, buffet, runway rumble and high speed compression all come through clearly, especially when you are flinging a fully fuelled F18E Super Hornet around like you’re about to go buzz the nearest Nimitz-class tower.
The gear driven mechanism introduces a slight mechanical texture to movement. You feel the teeth working, particularly around centre, and while some will describe this as notchy (and I do agree), I would argue it also feels sincere. There is a sense of machinery at play. You are not gliding on silk, you are wrangling a flying contraption that is sometimes bucking back, and in a modern jet context that feels quite satisfying.
Build quality is classic, rock solid Moza. Aviation grade aluminium alloy, tight tolerances, zero flex and a reassuring weight that helps keep everything planted once mounted. The fanless design keeps things quiet, even when the motors are working overtime trying to simulate high G turns and control stiffening at speed.
Connectivity is simple. USB to PC, power to a chunky external brick, and Moza Cockpit software handling all of your many, many, many doodads. That software remains one of Moza’s quiet strengths. Like it was with my AB9, the presets for DCS World are quick to apply, custom tuning is straightforward, and nothing about it feels like an afterthought.
MHG Flightstick: Fighter DNA Without the Premium Tax
The MHG Flightstick is very clearly aimed at military aviation fans, and more specifically, people who want a convincing modern jet grip without cluster bombing their wallet into obliteration.
It sits comfortably in the hand with a shape that feels purpose built for aggressive top gunning. The materials strike a good balance between durability and comfort, with no sharp edges or awkward pressure points popped up, even after long sorties. After a week or so of extended DCS sessions, my hand fatigue came from white knuckle dogfighting rather than poor ergonomics.
Input wise, the MHG offers a generous selection of buttons, hats and triggers that feel crisp and deliberate. There is no mush here, and I always love durability ensuring Hall-effect sensors. Each input press feels intentional, which matters when you are juggling radar modes, weapon selection, trim, countermeasures and comms while also trying not to poleaxe yourself down through the hard deck and into a mountain.
Mounted to the AB6, the stick benefits greatly from the base’s force feedback personality. High speed turns load up convincingly, control stiffening under G is communicated clearly, and as you slow down or dirty up the jet, the stick lightens appropriately. The feedback loop between hand, base and aircraft feels coherent, which is ultimately what sells the illusion.
This is not just vibration for the sake of it. It is valuable, contextual feedback that tells you what the aircraft is doing before the HUD or warning tones have a chance to screech at you. And take it from me: when paired with VR it’s an absolute chef’s kiss of immersion. That's why my monitor is so small in those photos. Never use it.
The MTQ Throttle Panel: The Unsung Hero
If the base and stick are the stars of the show, the MTQ Throttle Panel is the quietly brilliant supporting act that ends up doing a lot of heavy lifting.
Designed as a modular throttle solution, the MTQ offers smooth travel, adjustable resistance and a layout that makes sense for both military and civilian aircraft profiles. In the F18E, it feels right at home, especially when managing power through carrier launches, formation flying and high workload combat scenarios.
What stood out most during testing was the throttle’s precision. Small adjustments are easy to make, which is crucial when flying close to stall speeds or managing approach and landing phases. The resistance is firm enough to prevent accidental movement, but never fights you when quick power changes are required.
The additional inputs on the panel are well placed and easy to reach without shifting grip. Everything feels designed by people who actually fly in sims, rather than by someone ticking feature boxes on a spreadsheet.
Paired with the AB6 and MHG, the MTQ completes the ecosystem in a way that feels cohesive rather than piecemeal. But it’s not all good news, however, as the panel base is mighty light and prone to slipping about unless you lock it down. And, though it’s to be expected in its budget positioning, the throttle is functional but also felt underwhelming to my left mitt. It’s more plasticky in the palm than I thought it was going to be.
Who This Is Really For
Here’s an obvious statement that I’ll say anyway. The Moza AB6 Base, MHG Flightstick and MTQ Throttle Panel combination is not trying to be Mav' or Iceman of the high end flight peripherals market. It's like a Hollywood or a Wolfman; just a decent wingman to anybody looking to engage with proper force feedback simming without much of the magic being jettisoned.
For newcomers stepping up from non force feedback gear, this will still feel transformative. For experienced sim pilots who want a secondary setup, a compact rig or a more affordable entry point for family members, it makes a compelling case.
If the price of an AB9 is too sky high for your tastes, you no longer have to pull eject on your FFB flight sim dreams. Because this is a setup that understands its lane and more or less nails it. It turns and burns with confidence, communicates clearly through your hands, and makes every successful sortie feel just that little bit more alive. And, paradoxically, should you completely screw up your landing, you'll feel even more extraalive in the throes of that ensuing explosion.
Adam Mathew is our Aussie deals wrangler. He plays practically everything, often on YouTube.
Full spoilers follow for Primal Season 3, Episode 1, “Vengeance of Death,” which debuts on Adult Swim on January 11 and on HBO Max on January 12.
Genndy Tartakovsky established his reputation as a singular talent in the realm of television animation long ago thanks to the likes of shows such as Dexter's Laboratory, Samurai Jack, and Star Wars: Clone Wars, but his caveman-and-dinosaur epic Primal, which debuted in 2019, has in many ways been his finest hour, a culmination of his vision for how serialized animation could work that he had been striving towards for years. And now Primal is back for a third season, which is part relaunch/part follow-up – and, based on Episode 1 at least, as visually striking and intriguing as ever.
Yes, the Neanderthal hero of the first two seasons known only as Spear (voiced by Aaron LaPlante) has returned, and this despite his having been killed at the end of Season 2 in definitive fashion. That episode was both devastating and uplifting, as Spear died a hero so that his extended family – his faithful dino companion Fang, human friend Mira, and their offspring, both dinosaur and human (including a daughter Spear would never meet!) – could live. It was tragic and amazing, and seemed like the perfect end to his story.
But as Tartakovsky has discussed, his plans for a third season, which would be an anthology version of Primal, never quite seemed to work, and eventually he was inspired by the idea of returning to the world of Spear… albeit a now zombified version of our favorite caveman who is about as far from the living Spear as can be. For now, anyway.
“Vengeance of Death” opens in the aftermath of a slaughter of a village, but one old man has survived – and he’s ready for the vengeance of the title. Wordlessly – this is Primal after all – using his arcane magic, which includes potions, an eyeball, and the blood and heart of one of his dead attackers, the old man resurrects Spear, whose decomposing body has been wrapped up and resting peacefully for who knows how long. And so this new Spear – lumbering, mindless, naked, and more dangerous than ever – is born.
Soon enough, Spear is tearing the old man’s enemies to shreds, and he’s got a leg up on his living form as well – he can take spears to the chest and various other injuries with no problem. This fight (the first of several action scenes in the 22-minute episode), which has the old man controlling Spear as he gets his revenge, is pure Primal, beginning as the seemingly subhuman enemy chomp away on raw flesh around a campfire (are they cannibals, eating the old man’s friends and family?). Bathed in a red light which foreshadows the bloodletting that is about to happen, they all perk up at a sound from the jungle. Silently, they stare at the treeline before the hazy image of Spear appears, a silhouette masked by a green fog. Cue the subhumans’ hooting and hollering, which breaks the silence, and then their efficient destruction at the hands of our new favorite zombie.
What is the plan for this zombie Spear? There’s no denying it was a pretty ballsy move to bring him back after the perfect ending of Season 2.
Amid this gratifying action, typically handsome design work, and effective soundscape, there’s also a touch of humor as one of the subhumans manages to slice off a piece of Spear’s skull – and some brain along with it. Having suddenly been immobilized because the old man died in the battle, our undead hero just stares slack-jawed, not responding at all to his lost bit of cranium. The subhuman does a double take at his opponent and the skull cap on the ground, and then decides to hightail it out of there.
A POV shot for Spear sets up what follows, as he looks on mindlessly at the carnage he has wrought. And then… nothing. With the old man no longer controlling him, he just stands there and… exists. Time passes, and Tartakovsky lets the beat play as night eventually turns to day. But as the sun rises and shines on Spear, well, something finally happens… He stands upright and moans. And starts walking.
Where is he going? What is the plan for this zombie Spear? There’s no denying it was a pretty ballsy move to bring him back after the perfect ending of Season 2, and it’s an even ballsier move to turn a beloved hero into a zombified mess. But clearly there’s more to the story here, with those flashes of his past hitting Spear and inspiring him. The world of Primal has never been about actual prehistoric times, of course, and it’s full of magic and all kinds of crazy stuff, so the idea that Spear could be restored to his human self and perhaps even reunited with Fang and his daughter is not out of the question. Wherever this goes, I’m confident Genndy Tartakovsky has something cool – and beautiful – planned.
Questions and Notes From Anachronistic History
After giving us a bit of dialogue in Season 2, we’re back to dialogue-free (so far anyway) in Season 3.
The cave drawing of Spear at his former final resting place shows him surrounded by fire, a callback to his final battle in Season 2.
Nice Frankenstein-esque touch of having the zombie Spear be taken in by that afflicted tribe. But those situations never can last, can they?
Tartakovsky and his team really sell the undead-ness of Spear, from the crunchy sound effects when his body moves to the fly buzzing and landing on his unblinking eye to the way he just lands on the ground with so much dead weight when he sits down.
I’ll try to come back and review Primal each week if you guys want it. Let me know!
If there is one thing my download queue and shelf of shame agree on, it is that restraint has never been my strong suit. I have end creditsed most of these, sunk far too many hours into others, and still found excuses to buy them again. Basically, today's spread is stacked with smart picks and deep cuts, so go get amongst them!
In retro news, we're celebrating the birthdays of two underloved gems. It's the big ten for Assassin's Creed Chronicles India, a midpoint entry in a 2.5D sub-series trilogy that plays not unlike Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Capcom's Lost Planet turns 18 today, too, and is still a blast in four-player co-op viaXbox Live. Lost Planet, I’ll remember you for your weird but awesome Frank West unlockable skin. Also for letting me lug around and unload a human-sized shotgun ripped off a mech. What's not to love about that?!
Crisis Core: FF7 Reunion (-45%) A$47 Zack Fair’s cult classic glow up, rebuilt with modern combat and clearer storytelling. Essential if you care about Final Fantasy VII lore or just want to cry about SOLDIERs again.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope (-35%) A$51.90 XCOM lite tactics wrapped in Mushroom Kingdom chaos. Smarter systems, better pacing, and proof this crossover was never a fluke.
Diablo III Eternal Col. (-27%) A$65.80 Still one of the smoothest loot treadmills around, bundled with everything you need to lose an entire weekend.
Hot Wheels Unleashed (-85%) A$8.20 Ridiculously good arcade racing hiding under toy branding. At this price it is basically theft.
This War of Mine Comp. Ed. (-90%) A$6 Bleak, thoughtful, and emotionally exhausting in the best way. Not fun fun, but important game fun.
Assassin's Creed Mirage (-69%) A$24.90 A welcome throwback to classic Assassin’s Creed stealth, dense cities, and fewer icons yelling at you.
Persona 5 Royal (-51%) A$49.30 Style, music, and turn based combat firing on all cylinders, with Royal content that meaningfully deepens the story.
Star Wars Jedi Survivor (-63%) A$40.20 Bigger, bolder, and more confident than Fallen Order, with lightsaber combat that finally feels properly vicious.
Cyberpunk 2077 Ult. (-32%) A$81.90 The version CD Projekt promised from day one, now packed with Phantom Liberty and systems that actually sing.
Star Wars Squadrons (-38%) A$36.90 Pure cockpit Star Wars fantasy, best enjoyed with a flight stick and a tolerance for steep learning curves.
Xbox One
Dishonored 2 (-77%) A$9.10 One of the greatest immersive stealth-leaning FPSes ever made, with level design that rewards creativity and chaos equally.
Spyro Reignited Tril. (-37%) A$44.30 A loving triple-remake that keeps the charm intact while smoothing out everything that mattered.
Diablo III Eternal Col. (-59%) A$40.60 Couch co op friendly chaos that still holds up brilliantly on older consoles.
Adam Mathew is a passionate connoisseur, a lifelong game critic, and an Aussie deals wrangler who genuinely wants to hook you up with stuff that's worth playing (but also cheap). He plays practically everything, sometimes on YouTube.
Tonight is the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, celebrating the best and brightest in the world of film, television, podcasts, and original music from 2025. IGN is going to bring you all the winners, shenanigans and news from the event as it happens, starting at 5pm PT / 8pm ET. The show will run for roughly three hours.
Expect lots of speeches, glam looks, and probably plenty of Heated Rivalry references. Presenters signed up for duty tonight include Amanda Seyfried, Ana de Armas, Ayo Edebiri, Charli xcx, Chris Pine, Colman Domingo, Connor Storrie, Dakota Fanning, Dave Franco, Diane Lane, George Clooney, Hailee Steinfeld, Hudson Williams, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner, Joe Keery, Judd Apatow, Julia Roberts, Justin Hartley, Kathryn Hahn, Keegan-Michael Key, Kevin Bacon, Kevin Hart, Kyra Sedgwick, Lalisa Manobal, Luke Grimes, Macaulay Culkin, Marlon Wayans, Melissa McCarthy, Mila Kunis, Miley Cyrus, Minnie Driver, Orlando Bloom, Pamela Anderson, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Queen Latifah, Regina Hall, Sean Hayes, Snoop Dogg, Wanda Sykes, Will Arnett, and Zoë Kravitz.
Playing along at home? You can check out the full list of Golden Globe nominations here.
On update duty is IGN's Rachel Weber, Jessie Wade and Michael Peyton.
Rachel Weber is the Senior Editorial Director of Games at IGN and an elder millennial. She's been a professional nerd since 2006 when she got her start on Official PlayStation Magazine in the UK, and has since worked for GamesIndustry.Biz, Rolling Stone and GamesRadar. She loves horror, horror movies, horror games, and French Bulldogs. Those extra wrinkles on her face are thanks to going time blind and staying up too late finishing every sidequest in RPGs like Fallout and Witcher 3.
Avatar: Fire and Ash has now grossed $1.231 billion globally after four weekends in theaters, with Zootopia 2 up to $1.655 billion worldwide after six weekends.
James Cameron’s sci-fi sequel added $21.3 million domestically and $65.6 million internationally this weekend. In total, Avatar 3 has made $342.6 million domestically, leaving the majority of its box office — $888 million — coming internationally. That’s par for the course for the Avatar movies, which have tended to show staying power at theaters and perform particularly well in China. Avatar: Fire and Ash has made $149 million to date in China, and is behind only Zootopia 2 in terms of films released in 2025. Speaking of Zootopia 2, it’s made an incredible $1.276 billion internationally, with $611 million coming from China. It is Walt Disney Animation’s highest-grossing movie of all time.
The special effects-heavy Avatar films cost a huge amount of money to produce, but they have historically made billions of dollars at the box office. 2009's Avatar 1 remains the highest-grossing movie of all time (not adjusted for inflation), and has earned a staggering $2.9 billion across several theatrical runs. 2022's Avatar: The Way of Water has earned $2.3 billion, meanwhile, cementing its place as the third-highest grossing film of all time — just ahead of Cameron's own Titanic.
We’ve spoken for some time now about Avatar: Fire and Ash’s box office performance and how well it’s doing relative to Avatar 1 and 2. Avatar: Fire and Ash is indeed trailing both its predecessors at this point in its run — by some distance, too. After weekend four, Avatar: The Way of Water had made $1.713 billion, and Avatar had made $1.335 billion. It looks increasingly unlikely that Fire and Ash will end up matching Avatar 1 or 2 by the end of its theatrical run. But the bigger question is whether it will end up doing well enough to convince Disney to greenlight Avatar 4 and 5. Disney has given both sequels release dates already: Avatar 4 currently has a December 21, 2029 release date, with Avatar 5 due out December 19, 2031. Cameron, now 71, would be close to 80 years old by the time it all wraps up.
In the run up to Fire and Ash’s release, Cameron admitted he was feeling nervous about the film’s box office performance and expressed concern about the “forces” working against theatrical releases in 2025. Speaking on The Town with Matthew Belloni podcast, Cameron said there was potential for “sequelitis.” He added: "people tend to dismiss sequels unless it’s the third Lord of the Rings film and you want to see what happens to everybody, which in my mind this is — this is the culmination of a story arc, but that may not be how the public sees it.” And there’s the “one-two punch” of streaming and Covid, which means fewer people are going to the movies — 75% of the number in 2019, Cameron suggested.
Disney has used Avengers: Doomsday teaser trailers to encourage repeat viewings of Avatar: Fire and Ash in theaters. Four teasers have been released so far, with each going online after a week of theatrical exclusivity ahead of Fire and Ash.
Meanwhile, The Housemaid starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried is nearing the $200 million mark globally, with positive word of mouth fueling strong holds week on week. A sequel is already confirmed. Anaconda starring Jack Black and Paul Rudd is now up to $110.1 million at the global box office. And Marty Supreme starring Timothée Chalamet is on $84.1 million globally.
Photo credit: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images.
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.
We've rounded up the best deals for Sunday, January 11, below. Don't miss your chance to save on these deals!
Digimon Story Time Stranger for $52.45
Digimon Story Time Stranger was the long-awaited next entry in the Digimon Story franchise, and it turned out to be a major hit. In our 8/10 review, we wrote, "Digimon Story: Time Stranger builds on its predecessors to deliver one of the best Digimon RPGs to date. It has a much more engaging story this time around thanks to its clever time travel setup and a charismatic and lively cast of Digimon characters."
Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 for $58.99
Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 released for Nintendo Switch last Fall, and today, you can score this double pack for $58.99 at Woot! These two adventures are some of Mario's greatest, making this a must-own game for any Switch owner. Plus, there's a free update for Nintendo Switch 2 that enables 4K support.
New Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con 2 Up for Pre-Order
Last week, Nintendo revealed the first new set of Joy-Con 2, which feature purple and green colors. These are set to launch on February 12 alongside Mario Tennis Fever, so now's the time to secure a new pair if you're planning on heading to the courts together with friends next month.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound for $31.12
Ninja Gaiden had an incredible 2025, and today, you can score one of the franchise's most unique entries for $31.12. Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound released in August and was created by The Game Kitchen. In our 9/10 review, we wrote, "Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound looks and sounds incredible, and the fast but thoughtful combat is so satisfying it's hard to put down."
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for $46.99
Tears of the Kingdom is one of the best games of the decade, maybe even ever. The expansive world and formula that Breath of the Wild introduced was perfected on, with Sky Islands and The Depths adding to an already gigantic world. Right now, you can take home a physical copy for $46.99, which is 33% off the usual price.
Save on The Art of DOOM: The Dark Ages
Art books are a great way to gain greater insight into the development of your favorite games. This DOOM: The Dark Ages art book was released a few weeks ago, and it's already on sale for just under $31. Featuring over 200 pages, you can dive into behind-the-scenes art of the Doom Slayer, his weapons, and even enemies or locations.
8BitDo SN30 Pro Bluetooth Controller for $29.99
If you're looking for a solid gamepad, the 8BitDo SN30 Pro is hard to beat. This controller is compatible with Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, iOS, and Android devices, so you can play games wherever you please. Drift is not a concern with Hall Effect Joysticks, and the battery life will last through multiple long sessions.
Silent Hill 2 for $27.39
Silent Hill 2 is available for $27.39 at Amazon. The Bloober Team-developed remake brought new life to the iconic Konami game, depicting the story of James Sunderland as he travels to Silent Hill after receiving a letter from his dead wife. With revamped combat, a rerecorded soundtrack, and new story additions, Silent Hill 2 is a fantastic horror game that is worth experiencing.
Devil May Cry 5: Official Artworks for $24.59
Devil May Cry 5 had a fantastic group of artists working on it, and you can take home the Official Artworks book this weekend for $24.59. This hardcover 256 page book packs in concept art, weapon designs, locations, storyboards, and more. It's the perfect addition to any DMC fan's collection.
Steam has just set a new record of concurrent players. Earlier today, Valve’s service passed over 42 million concurrent players. To be more precise, it hit 42,042,778 concurrent players. This right here shows why a lot of publishers want their games on Steam. We last reported on Steam’s concurrent players back in March 2025. Back … Continue reading Steam sets a new record with over 42 million concurrent players→
Connexion
