Today’s highlights go beyond the usual tech stack. We’ve got a mix of smart accessories, serious surge protection, and some big hits for gamers and movie collectors. From a sharp new Switch 2 case to a killer VR bundle and a beautifully over-the-top Borderlands replica, these picks are for anyone looking to upgrade their space or their shelf.

TL;DR: Deals For Today

There's a shedload of variety today, including a limited-edition 4K release for horror fans, one of the best value power strips under ten bucks, and a VR bundle packed with titles that rarely go on sale. Each one is an easy buy if you’re into gaming gear, or making sure your setup looks and runs the way it should.

28 Years Later 4K Steelbook

The Witcher Boxed Set

ProCase Protective Case for Nintendo Switch 2

Power Strip Surge Protector, 5FT

Hanycony Surge Protector Power Strip

6 Months Free Amazon Prime For Young Adults

Borderlands Psycho Bandit Art Mask

The Upload VR Showcase Bundle

The 40-Year-Old Virgin - Limited Edition Steelbook

FrSara Neck Fan

Dreamegg Portable White Noise Machine

Amazon Prime Day Is Coming

Assassin's Creed: Shadows Limited Edition (PS5)

3 Months for $0.99 Audible Deal

3 Months Free Kindle Unlimited

Prismatic Evolutions Super-Premium Collection

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Noise Cancelling Headphones

Roborock Q Revo Robot Vacuum and Mop

Dyson V11 Torque Drive+ Vacuum Cleaner

Coke Zero Sugar 12 Pack

George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones 5-Book Boxed Set

Humble Choice

Symphonic Journeys Pokémon Red & Blue Vinyl

M3GAN 2.0 - Limited Edition Steelbook (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital)

WOWBOX 32 PCS Clear Plastic Drawer Organizer Set

Tunise Rechargeable Portable Neck Fan

The Silmarillion Deluxe Illustrated by the Author

Pokémon TCG Price Comparison

Some of the pricing here by Amazon is insane, but there's some deals to be had when comparing these products to TCG Player. For example, Prismatic Evolutions Super-Premium Collection was a massive 56% below market value, but TCG Player is coming in cheaper now at $195. On the other end of the scale, TCG Player has Cynthia’s Garchomp ex Premium Collection at a massive 48% below Amazon's current price, which is very close to MSRP. I've compared all the prices in the carousel above, but another pro tip is clicking through to eBay to see if there's any new bargains to be had.

This Weeks Pokémon Card Crashers and Climbers

I’ve been keeping a close eye on the Pokémon TCG market this month, and we’re seeing two very different stories unfold. On one side, Surging Sparks cards are going through a steep correction.

On the other hand, Crown Zenith cards are showing early signs of what could be a long-term value surge. The bottom line? If you're a collector or investor, now is the time to buy into both.

I’m picking up what I can from both sets. The current dip in Sparks is a glimmer of hope for long-suffering 2024-2025 collectors. And Crown Zenith is a train I want to be on before it leaves the station.

Pokémon TCG Classic

The Sam's Club Pokémon TCG Classic deal is back, and it's massively undercutting other big box retailers and the secondary market. Just for comparrison, the top four cards from this set, Charizard, Blastoise, Venusaur and Mewtwo, are worth the same price as this discounted offer. This deal is well worth it and should be snapped up as soon as possible.

Mega Evolution Pokémon Cards Are Climbing

I can't believe the X Y era of Pokémon cards came out 12 years ago, but it was an amazing era for the TCG introducing the Mega Evolution mechanic. Mega's will be returning later this year with the start of the Mega Evolutions era and the end of Scarlet and Violet, so snapping up these top Mega cards before prices go even higher is a wise move. We know how it'll play out, no one will be able to grab the new sets at launch, then the nostalgia will kick in and these cards will skyrocket. Just the Charizards and Rayquazzas alone are worth a look.

Magic: The Gathering Price Comparison

MTG doesn't seem to be struggling to keep up with demand despite it being one of the biggest trading card games on earth, but that doesn't stop big box retailers getting cheeky when they notice a peak in demand. Like with Pokémon TCG, i've gone through the majority of MTG stock on Amazon and compared their pricing to market values on TCG Player. The Theros Beyond Death booster made me spit out my tea. Amazon is listing a single booster for $378.08, but these can be picked up any day of the week for $5.59 on TCG Player. Go figure. Another big difference is Marvel's Spider-Man - Play Booster Box. Amazon has their preorder price guarantee on this, but it's still 17% cheaper to preorder on TCG Player.

This Weeks MTG Crashers and Climbers

As we covered in our recent synergies feature, Harmonic Prodigy gives double Wizard triggers – nice! That means it's gone up by 118.70% in the past month (246.76% in three) – not so nice!

That's good for those that own the card, not so good for those who are looking to pick it up standalone. Still, market is still just $12.75 right now, so it could be a lot worse.

Moving away from Vivi, Tifa’s getting some love from Bristly Bill, Spine Sower. This Outlaws of Thunder Junction card can help power up our martial artist heroine, but at a cost of almost $40 now.

Another nifty synergy that's climbing is Perch Protection. This Instant has climbed from a dollar to almost $6, since it handily ties into Chocobo decks.

WAOAW Sleep Mask w/ 3D Eye Cups & Adjustable Strap (Black)

There’s no doubting Hideo Kojima’s devotion to the art of video games. But one question that has followed the Metal Gear master around for much of his career is “Why doesn’t he just make a movie?”. This sentiment no doubt stems from the perception that his work at both Konami and Kojima Productions has been cutscene-heavy, opting to tell stories through often-thrillingly orchestrated cinematics rather than organic gameplay design. But is this perceived notion a reality? And, more importantly, does it even matter?

Well, I’ve done some number crunching and worked out what portion of each of the mainline Metal Gear Solid games, plus the duo of Death Strandings, is cutscenes. In some cases, it’s what you’d expect. In others, not so much…

How much of each Kojima game is cutscenes?

To work out just how much of each game is cutscene, I’ve used the average time to complete a main story playthrough, sourced from How Long to Beat’s data. I’ve then taken the total runtime of each game’s cutscenes and used it to assess what percentage that runtime is of the average playthrough. The results are:

• Metal Gear Solid: 20.29% (11hr, 30m average playthrough, 2hr 20m of cutscenes)
• Metal Gear Solid 2: 23.21% (13hr average playthrough, 3hr 1m of cutscenes)
• Metal Gear Solid 3: 26.35% (16hr average playthrough, 4hr 13m of cutscenes)
• Metal Gear Solid 4: 40.63% (18hr 30m average playthrough, 7hr 31m of cutscenes)
• Metal Gear Solid 5: 8.13% (45hr 30m average playthrough, 3hr 42m of cutscenes)
• Death Stranding: 15.75% (40hr 30m average playthrough, 6hr 22m of cutscenes)
• Death Stranding 2: 15.97% (37hr 40m average playthrough*, 6hr 1m of cutscenes)

It is important to note that this percentage relates to cinematic cutscenes only. Codec calls or other such in-game conversations are not included, as they require some player interactivity to progress.

*average playthrough based on data from multiple IGN editors.

What do those percentages reveal about Kojima’s career?

It turns out that the original three Metal Gear Solid games follow a similar trend – cutscenes make up around 20-ish percent of the overall playtime, with each subsequent entry gradually contributing to a very slight upward trajectory. It’s with Metal Gear Solid 4 that things really shift. With 40% of it being cinematics, it’s not too far from the truth to say Guns of the Patriots is half cutscenes. Understandably, the game has become the poster child for Kojima’s cinematic indulgence, something only emphasised by length – the story famously crescendoes in a 71 minute-long final cinematic. That’s just 10 minutes shorter than the 1995 animated film Toy Story.

The same can’t be said for Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, however. A game with a troubled development path to say the least, it suffers from the exact opposite issue as MGS 4: a paper-thin story. With just under 4 hours of cutscenes in 45 hours of gameplay, it’s a starkly low ratio by comparison to its predecessors. MGS 5 is undoubtedly one of the greatest stealth games ever made from a mechanical perspective, but its lack of narrative throughline (and, to be honest, ending) prevents it from feeling like a full Kojima package.

And then we have the Death Stranding games, which feature runtimes akin to The Phantom Pain, but a cutscene percentage closer to that of the first Metal Gear Solid. The result is a duology of games that feel more narratively complete than MGS 5, but not as trapped by cinematic ambition as Kojima’s more indulgent projects.

A developer who worked on Microsoft's now-cancelled Perfect Dark reboot has addressed the claim that last year's gameplay demo was "fake," and said the glimpse was a vertical slice of the project running "in-engine."

Perfect Dark was one of several projects canned by Microsoft this week as part of the company's latest devastating cuts to Xbox staff and games. Developed by The Initiative, a studio Microsoft is now shutting down, alongside Tomb Raider studio Crystal Dynamics, Perfect Dark had rarely been glimpsed since its initial announcement back in 2020.

That all changed last year when a "gameplay reveal" video aired as part of the Xbox Games Showcase in June 2024. And it's this video that has since sparked questions over how much of what it shows corresponds to actual, working game systems.

Earlier this week, Kotaku writer Ethan Gach posted on social media that he had been told last year's demo had been "basically fake." The question of the gameplay demo's legitimacy was discussed in more detail by former Perfect Dark developer Adam McDonald, who now works as a senior game designer at Cuphead maker Studio MDHR.

"It is actually in-engine," McDonald said. "I was one of three level designers that worked on it. It worked best if you played it the way the person playing in the video plays it, but it still worked even if you didn't hit the marks perfectly.

"There's some fake stuff in it," he continued, "and the real gameplay systems shown off worked juuust enough to look good in this video. We were rapidly making real design decisions so as to not knowingly lie to players about what the game will be. The parkour is all real, the hacking/deception is mostly real.

"The combat is 'real' in that someone had to really do all that stuff in the video, but it's set up to be played exactly that way and didn't play well if you played it a different way."

What McDonald is saying then, is that there's nuance here. Like many vertical slices meant to showcase a project that's still in development, it was made to work just enough, and to give a sense of how the final game would have appeared, had the project survived until launch.

McDonald's suggestion here seems to be that the team behind it intended to show something that gave as accurate a sense of what Perfect Dark would be as was possible. That said, some elements clearly still sound like they were a work-in-progress, even if they were meant to be representative.

"I'm seeing big controversy over 'THIS WHOLE THING WAS FAKE' and it's annoying me, so I wanted to say something," McDonald concluded. Then, in a reply to another user, McDonald said "it was a pretty typical vertical slice" and "I don't think we were particularly deceptive with it."

He added: "It's probably more real than you think. We were figuring stuff out on the fly in time to include it in the demo, doing our best not to 'lie' to players. There's some fakery but quite a lot of it was legit."

After the cancellation of Perfect Dark, Rare's long-awaited Everwild, an MMO from Bethesda's The Older Scrolls Online team and cuts to other projects, it's believed that every game featured at the Xbox Games Showcase presentation in June this year will continue on. But what about the others? We've tracked down every major upcoming Xbox game we know about to check in on their status.

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

The Stop Killing Games initiative has reached the crucial 1 million signatures milestone in its quest to preserve video games for decades to come, but its fight isn’t over yet.

The self-described consumer movement soared past the goal yesterday, July 3, cementing its status as an impressive petition in gaming history and a movement that has plenty of gas left in the tank. It’s all in the name of protecting the video games players love – and even the ones they don’t – as the industry steadily marches toward a digital future.

A lot of games we buy today are built to just stop working when the publisher pulls the plug on em. It needs to stop. If you are EU citizen please consider signing #stopkillinggames initiative. https://t.co/vlyIEXcpnh pic.twitter.com/nsTusFyGrL

— Pat_ (@Pat8_8) July 2, 2025

Social media feeds have since filled with reactions from supporters praising an operation that could help save multiplayer and single-player games for future generations. While gamers take to the internet to celebrate, spokesperson and organizer Ross Scott says reaching 1 million signatures is good news but far from a victory.

“OK, the breaking news: The European Citizens’ Initiative has crossed 1 million signatures – except it hasn’t,” Scott said in a video update uploaded yesterday. “This is going to kill morale, but there are two things going on here. The first we knew was coming. Every time somebody makes a mistake when they sign the Initiative, their signature gets invalidated. So that means we need more signatures to make up for everybody’s mistakes.”

It's an important variable in the equation on the road to 1 million legitimate Stop Killing Games endorsements, and it’s just one flaw to consider. The other involves reports Scott has received regarding fabricated signatures that could be artificially inflating the initiative’s progress.

“First off, I want to say that this is not a Change.org petition,” Scott adds. “This is a government process. Spoofing signatures on it is a crime. Please do not do this. They’ll be checked later by the EU commission, and my guess is the fake ones will get turned over to the Europol or Interpol, and they’ll follow up on this.”

To anyone who made a mistake or isn't sure if they signed the EU initiative already, you can contact the official spokesperson (Daniel Ondruska) and he can direct you on how to reach the EU to sort it out. His contact is on the page under "more info"https://t.co/EpnNTDR85U

— Accursed Farms (@accursedfarms) July 4, 2025

To account for what could be a significant number of invalid Stop Killing Games signatures, the initiative has altered its ideal goal to be 1.4 million signatures. At the time of this story’s publication, Stop Killing Games has reached 1.07 million endorsements ahead of its July 31 end date.

“So, yeah, that sucks,” Scott continued. “We’ll just keep plodding away unless we can figure out what the safe numbers are. Sorry this isn’t a big victory celebration. This is just kind of suspenseful and tense instead, and will probably hurt the morale of people signing.”

Save States

Scott, who has created gaming content via his Accursed Farms YouTube channel for more than a decade, launched Stop Killing Games in April 2024 as a direct response to Ubisoft’s decision to shut down its popular open-world racing game, The Crew. The movement aims to create a ripple effect that could shake the industry into keeping games online long after players lose interest.

It means everything from The Crew to Concord could theoretically remain online to enjoy should the initiative amass enough public complaints to see the European Commission pass a law protecting consumer rights. Ideally, players could see live-service and multiplayer titles like BioWare’s Anthem, which was given a shutdown schedule just yesterday, could continue on in some form should a publisher decide to sunset support. Success could also mean single-player games that rely on online components, such as Death Stranding or Dark Souls, could remain intact, too.

WEAK

I know Anthem got panned, but it's another example of one that seems like it had a cool looking world to run around in. I was interested in trying it out and keeping my expectations low. Yet another example of why SKG is so needed.https://t.co/fDsq0ZsP8K

— Accursed Farms (@accursedfarms) July 3, 2025

Stop Killing Games wants to save the art that developers pour their hearts into while protecting consumers who prefer to access games they’ve already paid for, and it’s a movement that hundreds of thousands of game players are already supporting. Following its promising launch last year, however, the initiative struggled to maintain the support it needed to push its way through to the eyes that needed to see it.

Stop Killing Games’ chances at a successful campaign became so dire that Scott went as far as to publish a video titled “The end of Stop Killing Games” just last week. In the hour-long explainer piece, Scott listed a lack of exposure as one primary cause behind the lack of support. It was the Hail Mary the initiative needed, though, as prominent YouTubers like Jacksepticeye, penquinz0/Cr1TiKaL, Ludwig, and more were quick to voice their support with their own videos.

All within the weeks since Scott shared his concerns, Stop Killing Games has gained hundreds of thousands of signatures, resulting in a solid chunk of the more than 1 million names attached to the movement today. Success remains uncertain even if Scott is able to reach that magic 1.4 million number, with even more uncertainty lying on the other side of that goal post. Still, as outlined by Scott on the Stop Killing Games website, he feels optimistic about the future of game preservation if the signature goal is met.

"If we can pass the signature threshold," Scott says, "there is a very strong chance that the European Commission will pass new law that will both protect consumer rights to retain video games that customers have purchased and advance preservation efforts massively."

Should the word get out to enough interested individuals, players could see somewhat of a return to the days when buying a game came with the assurance that it would remain playable regardless of post-launch interference. We’ll have all of the updates here at IGN, but in the meantime, you can read up on our coverage of Stop Killing Games' launch here. You can also check out the other goals Stop Killing Games has managed to achieve in the past year. You can also learn about how digital PC storefront GOG is doing its part when it comes to game preservation.

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

With Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2’s Siege Mode in full swing, players are soldiering through waves of Thousand Sons and Tyranid forces as they bid to reach the highest level possible. But apart from frustrating connection issues and bugs that prevent progress, some players have a bigger problem: Chaos.

Siege Mode forces players to fight against waves of enemies from Space Marine 2’s two enemy factions: the Thousand Sons traitor legion, and the terrifying bug-like alien menace that is the Tyranids. There is no way to play against one faction only. Tyranid and Chaos waves will come separately.

That’s a problem for some Space Marine 2 players who feel like fighting the Tyranids is a lot more fun than playing against Chaos. A lot of this has to do with the different challenge each faction presents. The Tyranids are a swarm-type enemy type that packs the screen with a mix of smaller foes and much bigger, harder-hitting foes. There’s a bloody minded pleasure that comes from chewing through scores of Tyranid enemies as a Space Marine, sweeping your Power Sword through xenos flesh, parrying a strike that gives you a clean response, and — my personal favorite — punching those Tyranids in the face with my Power Fist.

In contrast, the Thousand Sons present a more measured challenge. You are, after all, going up against fellow Space Marines here and their daemonic forces; they’re supposed to be tough. When those Terminators spawn and spam their missile barrage, playing against Chaos can feel like pulling teeth. The Thousand Sons are less of a 'switch your brain off and cleave through it' proposition, and more of a, 'if Space Marine 2 wanted to be a bit like Elden Ring, it would probably go a little like this.'

The effect is more pronounced the harder the difficulty you play Space Marine 2. At the easier difficulties, Tyranids and Chaos are much of a muchness in terms of challenge. But ramp the difficulty up — which you need to do for certain levels of progression in Space Marine 2 — and Chaos become an absolute bloody nightmare, whereas the Tyranids often still feel manageable.

It’s not as simple as saying 'Tyranids easy, Chaos hard.' The Tyranids as a foe work brilliantly in terms of recreating the faction feel from the lore and the tabletop upon which Space Marine 2 is based. Similarly, the Thousand Sons work as they should, as a traitor legion fueled by warp magic. They’re different because they’re supposed to be.

Still, Space Marine 2 players — and this has been a thing in the PvE Operations mode ever since the game’s record-breaking launch in September last year — often pop online to say they much prefer to fight the Tyranids. Some are even saying they back out of Siege mode whenever they get a Chaos wave.

“Is there a way to play Siege mode with Tyranids only?” asked Think_Fan_5943 recently on the Space Marine subreddit. “I really hate fighting Chaos and being forced to fight them sucks and I usually just drop out when the enemy switches. You can choose Tyranids only missions if you don't like Chaos so why can't we choose which enemy we face in Siege mode?”

No-one expects the developers at Saber Interactive to release a Tyranid-only version of Siege Mode; if they did, perhaps the Chaos version wouldn't have enough players to form a healthy matchmaking pool, such is the preference for the Tyranids. It is what it is, I suppose. But the Tyranids vs Chaos debate in Space Marine 2 does spark fun conversations around the enemy factions we’re expecting to see in the already confirmed Space Marine 3.

What sort of challenge might the Necrons, which everyone expects will turn up, present the Ultramarines? Could a different type of traitor legion pose a more interesting challenge? What if the plague-ridden Death Guard were in the game, and players were forced to contend with skin-melting disease as well as bolter fire? And what if the Orks return after starring in Space Marine 1? Could they become the Tyranid-equivalent enemy faction everyone prefers to fight against?

For now, we’re left with the Tyranids and Chaos, and the ongoing challenge of having to contend with both in Siege mode whether we like it or not. Looking ahead, there’s a lot of exciting content coming to Space Marine 2. While Patch 9 will focus on balance changes only, Patch 10 adds a new Chaos vs Chaos PvP mode, the new Power Axe melee weapon, and the new Techmarine class. Check out all the Space Marine 2 Patch 10 details here.

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.

A real-time strategy take on Resident Evil has been announced for iPhone and Android, developed in "close collaboration with Capcom to ensure authenticity and quality."

Resident Evil Survival Unit is being co-developed by Joycity Corporation, a Korean mobile gaming company that previously made Pirates of the Caribbean: Tides of War, another licensed real-time strategy spin-off.

A full reveal of Survival Unit will take place next week but, until then, a single piece of artwork released today offers the smallest of clues to the game's setting.

Amid a suitably dark and ominous atmosphere, a vehicle is stopped in the woods next to an advertising billboard for... you guessed it, Umbrella Corporation. The ad shows two happily smiling people, with the tagline: "Our Business is life itself..."

Umbrella existing likely places Resident Evil Survival Unit before the events of Resident Evil 4, by which point the evil organisation has crumbled. Could we be looking at the woods around the Arklay Mountains, near Raccoon City? We can just about glimpse a mountain range in the background, so it's possible.

It's easy to imagine a real-time shooter taking advantage of the events seen in and around the Resident Evil game, where several teams of STARS commandos — characters that fans have now grown to care about — most be poked and prodded into action, while kept alive for as long as you can.

If you're even thinking about picking up a Nintendo Switch 2 later this year, this is the membership deal to jump on. Walmart+ is currently 50% off for July 4th weekend, bringing it down to just $49 for the full year. That’s already good value, but the timing makes it even better.

Walmart’s answer to Prime Day, "Walmart Deals", runs from Tuesday, July 8, at 12 a.m. ET through Sunday, July 13. Walmart+ members get early access starting on Monday, July 7 at 7 p.m. ET, giving them a head start on the biggest discounts and limited stock items.

50% Off 1-Year Walmart+ Membership

That early access really matters. During the last Switch 2 restock, Walmart+ members were given priority through a special access window before consoles were opened up to everyone else. We’re expecting a similar approach for future restocks, and this membership gives you the best chance of actually checking out with a console in your cart.

Not only that, but the incoming Walmart Deals event is set to feature major discounts across gaming, tech, home essentials, and more. If you're planning to take it seriously, this half-price Walmart+ offer is well worth locking in now to get access to the best deals ASAP.

Plus, Walmart+ covers you for the rest of the year, includes plenty of useful perks, and crucially gives you an edge during high-demand drops like Pokémon TCG restocks (such as Black Bolt and White Flare or Destined Rivals), Switch 2 consoles, and more.

With early access to Walmart’s summer sale and a real advantage when Switch 2 restocks happen again, this is the kind of membership that could pay for itself fast.

Walmart+ Basic Membership Perks

If you're a regular Walmart shopper, then the Walmart+ membership is worth $49 even outside of Black Friday. Standard perks like removing the minimum threshold for free shipping or being able to return an item from the comfort of your home are significant everyday perks that shouldn't be overlooked. Some of the best standard benefits include:

• Free shipping with no minimum (normally $35+)
• Free returns, including free pickup from your house for many items
• 10 cent discount on select gas stations
• Free tire repair and road hazard warranty at Walmart Auto Care Centers
• Mobile scan & go checkout at retail locations

Complimentary Paramount+ Subscription

The Walmart+ membership also includes an annual Paramount+ Essential (ad-supported) subscription, which normally costs $60.

Paramount+ (formerly CBS All Access) is one of the better populated streaming services available, especially since this plan is ad-free. Its extensive library of media has been bolstered with the addition of Showtime in 2023, making it a great service for those who enjoy movies, original shows, live sports, and news.

Popular TV shows include Landman, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Tulsa King, Halo, and Yellowjackets. Movies include Transformers One, Sonic 3, and Gladiator 2. If you're not interested in picking up Walmart+ then Paramount+ is also discounted right now, with its Premium with Showtime Annual Plan down to $0.99/mo for two months right now.

If you're a Dexter fan, then this is the perfect time to sign up. The upcoming Dexter: Resurrection TV series will air its first two episodes on July 11 and the remaining episodes will air weekly thereafter.

Looking to try out other streaming services before you decide to pay? We've got you covered. Check out these steaming services that are currently offering free trials.

Will Walmart Deals Be as Good as Amazon Prime Day?

Although Prime Day started as an Amazon exclusive, Walmart has steadily built up a solid rival event of its own. Amazon still tends to offer a wider spread of deals overall, especially across smaller tech and household items, but Walmart often matches or even undercuts on major products like AirPods, iPads, and gaming consoles, the big-ticket stuff most people are after.

Where Walmart really sets itself apart is with its exclusive brands and partnerships. Just like Amazon always discounts its own devices, Walmart usually offers the best prices on brands tied closely to its own ecosystem.

That includes Vizio TVs, which are expected to hit their lowest prices since Black Friday, and increasingly, Nintendo Switch hardware and games. Amazon still hasn’t fully restocked first-party Nintendo items this year, but Walmart has stepped up with multiple recent drops.

It’s worth comparing prices across Amazon, Walmart, and even Target during these summer sales. Target’s Circle Week will likely feature many similar offers, but if you already have a Walmart+ membership,or grab it while it’s half price, those early access windows could make all the difference when stock is limited.

Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Senior Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter/X or Bluesky.

Amid the video game cancelations and studio closures that have come as a result of Microsoft’s devastating round of layoffs this week is concern about the fate of pretty much every Xbox game without a firm release date.

Microsoft games canceled as part of the cuts include Rare’s Everwild, an unannounced MMO from ZeniMax Online Studios, the developer of The Elder Scrolls Online, and the Perfect Dark Reboot. The latter's developer, The Initiative, was shut down. The team working on Blizzard’s mobile game Warcraft Rumble was laid off as new content ceased.

Meanwhile, external developers who were funded by Microsoft were also hit. Romero Games, the studio founded by Doom co-creator John Romero and Brenda Romero, has suffered significant layoffs and the future of its new shooter is in doubt.

That’s a lot to take in, but it begs the question: which Xbox Game Studios games remain? And which, if any, were quietly canceled?

In a memo sent to all Microsoft gaming staff and viewed by IGN this week, Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios, said Microsoft still has "more than 40 projects in active development, continued momentum on titles shipping this fall, and a strong slate headed into 2026."

Additionally, a source told Variety that every game featured at the Xbox Games Showcase presentation in June is continuing on. So, what were those games, which we now assume are safe — at least for the time being?

Activision’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 was at the show, and is certain to come out later this year (despite the layoffs hitting its various developers). inXile game Clockwork Revolution starred at the show, so that’s safe. Obsidian’s Grounded 2 and The Outer Worlds 2 were at the show and we should assume are both safe. It's a similar deal for Double Fine’s Keeper, The Coalition’s Gears of War: Reloaded, Ninja Gaiden 4, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s Order of the Giants DLC. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4, and the ROG Xbox Ally, both at the show, will continue too. Despite the cancelation of Everwild, Rare’s Sea of Thieves continues with new updates.

At the end of the showcase, Xbox boss Phil Spencer teased Forza, Fable, Gears of War: E-Day, and a Halo: Combat Evolved remake for 2026. We assume since those games were mentioned, they’re safe, although it’s worth noting that the Forza mentioned by Spencer no doubt relates to the next Forza Horizon game from Playground, which is also making Fable. Turn 10, which makes the more sim-focused Forza games, was hit hard by the layoffs.

So, we know which games Microsoft still intends to release. But, given the events of this week, it’s now impossible to think about other Xbox games in the works without a degree of concern. Everwild and Perfect Dark were conspicuous by their absence at last month's show and both were canceled. What else failed to turn up?

Minecraft — remember Microsoft owns Minecraft! — remains huge and safe as houses, you feel. But what about Contraband from Just Cause developer Avalanche Studios? Where’s Undead Labs’ State of Decay 3? Ninja Theory’s Project Mara? Microsoft has a Hideo Kojima game, OD, on its books. Is that still happening? Toys for Bob, the Crash Bandicoot 4 developer and Call of Duty support studio that left the Xbox-owned Activision in February 2024, signed an agreement with Xbox directly to publish its next game. Is that still alive?

And what about Bethesda? ZOS’s MMO has fallen by the wayside, but surely Bethesda Game Studios' The Elder Scrolls VI and the next Fallout are fine. Starfield’s promised next expansion feels precarious, given Bethesda's radio silence on the game. And what about Blizzard? As of last year it was reportedly hard at work on a StarCraft shooter. Is that still the case?

It’s only when you run through what wasn’t at the Xbox Games Showcase last month that you realize what’s at stake here: Microsoft owns a huge number of development studios across the globe, from Bethesda to Blizzard and Activision to Halo. When Xbox suffers significant problems, a huge swathe of the video game industry and its developers do, too.

All eyes are on August's gamescom, where Microsoft is expected to show more of what is has coming down the line. Perhaps Phil Spencer will give fans a clear idea of what’s in the works from Xbox and what isn't as Microsoft's multiplatform push soldiers on. It is still planning to release a next-gen Xbox console, although we don't know when. Is the first-party Xbox handheld Spencer teased last year also still alive? Does Microsoft still plan to release its own gaming app store, despite the failure of Call of Duty Warzone Mobile, Warcraft Rumble, and this week's significant cuts to Candy Crush maker King?

In the short term, at least, the games we saw in June are still on the way. But the long term future of Xbox remains vague indeed.

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.

Nintendo has officially opened UK preorders for the upcoming Donkey Kong & Pauline amiibo, launching the same day as Donkey Kong Bananza, on July 17, 2025.

Releasing alongside a highly anticipated Switch 2 exclusive, the amiibo is now available through the My Nintendo Store UK for £16.99, with orders capped at three per customer.

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Nintendo also confirmed during its dedicated Donkey Kong Bananza Direct that the game supports every previously released amiibo. Scanning non-DK series figures will instead get you giant material balls, which you can also make DK throw to traverse certain stages.

Preorders on the My Nintendo Store UK include standard delivery for £1.99 or free shipping if your order hits £20 or more. If you were planning on ordering any other DK figures (like those above), or games, like the various bundles for Pokemon Legends: Z-A, you may as preorder one of those now and save yourself a few pounds.

I’ve checked by adding both items to my basket testing the checkout and, even though Pokemon Legends: Z-A is releasing later than the Donkey Kong & Pauline amiibo on October 16 (meaning both will arrive via separate deliveries), shipping will still be free for the entire order.

The amiibo announcement follows a jam-packed Nintendo Direct showcasing Donkey Kong Bananza’s return to 3D platforming. New features include wild Bananza transformations, skill trees, a costume shop, and the creative DK Artist Mode where players sculpt and paint items and characters.

Donkey Kong Bananza drops in just a couple of weeks, and with this amiibo, you’ll be more than ready to swing into action and have a cool figure in your display.

In The Sandman’s first season, Lord Morpheus (Tom Sturridge) escaped from 106 years of captivity and immediately got to work rebuilding his realm and reestablishing his place in the grand cosmology of powerful, god-like entities. So what does Morpheus (AKA Dream) do in season 2? He tears it all back down. In the wildly fantastical and wide-ranging six-episode volume 1 of the second and final season, Dream discovers that the only way to atone for past mistakes is to make some devastating choices. Though the story sometimes feels like it’s rushing to the conclusion that’s coming all too soon, the way this show continues to combine the imagination of old fairy tales with stories about deeply broken characters provides a lot to savor.

In season 2, The Sandman develops into a twisted kind of family melodrama as Dream tries to settle some long-standing feuds. In season 1 we met three of the other Endless: the oddly cheery and down-to-earth Death (Kirby Howell-Baptiste), the perpetually miserable Despair (Donna Preston) and the mischievous, manipulative Desire (Mason Alexander Park). Season 2 begins with a family meeting called by the solemn Destiny (Adrian Lester), attended by the flighty youngest sibling Delirium (Esmé Creed-Miles). Absent, as always, is Destruction (Barry Sloane), who abandoned his realm and responsibilities eons ago. These characters are all very different in personality and purpose, and one of the big sources of tension in The Sandman – to its benefit – is the way these various embodiments of human nature struggle to coexist.

Volume 1 (which is made up of six of the 12 episodes of season 2) is itself roughly divided into two halves. The first operates – quite well – in maximalist mode, as Dream plays host to a room full of angry gods and other mythological beings. After his old nemesis Lucifer (Gwendoline Christie) simultaneously blesses and curses him, the show swings between dark comedy and grotesque horror as a series of strange and often hideous-looking creatures arrive in Dream’s realm to make their offers and show off The Sandman’s impressive special effects. There’s a poignant side to all this bedlam too, given that this whole underworld adventure begins with an attempt by Dream to rescue an ex lover, Nada (Deborah Oyelade), the first of many old acquaintances he has to make apologies to in these episodes.

This theme continues in the even more emotionally resonant second half of volume 1, as Dream reckons with the ways he has been unintentionally cruel to the people he believed he loves. When Delirium asks him to help her find Destruction, Dream soon realizes that the only way to find his brother may be reconciliation with another family member. This three-episode arc begins as a mystery, but it becomes more of a deep-dive into Dream’s complicated relationships as it progresses.

Amid these larger stories the show’s primary writer, Allan Heinberg, boldly weaves in fragments of some of the better-known short stories from the comics, usually inserting them as flashbacks. (Want to see how and why Dream inspired Shakespeare to create A Midsummer Night’s Dream? That’s here in season 2.) Collectively, the six episodes of volume 1 are about Dream’s most significant unfinished business, accumulated over thousands of years of him coexisting with humans and deities. That’s what gives volume 1 its drive: The women he wronged, the creatures he irritated, the family members he disappointed… all of these mortals and immortals now expect Dream to atone.

All the while, The Sandman is one of the more visually distinctive TV series on Netflix, with what must’ve been a large chunk of its budget going to creating strange-looking beasties and opulent kingdoms. This first half of season 2 includes a lot of scenes set in Dream’s own magnificent, mercurial castle, which its master can change to suit his moods and whims. Here, the screen is filled with spectacle when a host of supernatural beings – including Norse gods, hideous demons, and angels from the literal Heaven – descend on Dream’s home to make their case for becoming Hell’s new rulers. The images are properly overwhelming, immersing us in a place far removed from the mundane.

The frequent flashback sequences include scenes from the French Revolution and ancient Greece, giving a sense of how long the Endless have been meddling in human affairs. Even more than season 1, season 2’s first half is crammed with incidents, as Heinberg and company introduce all of the relevant characters and history that factor into The Sandman’s ending (which will show up on Netflix later this month). It’s effective, though: Fans of the comics may appreciate getting to see live-action versions of all the oddballs and ogres they remember from the page, while people who only know The Sandman from its first season are getting everything they need to understand the plot.

The way this story is structured is very intentional on the part of the TV series’s creators, who skip about half of creator, executive producer, and accused sexual assailant Neil Gaiman’s comics in order to streamline all of their events into a tighter story that’s focused almost entirely on a simple arc: Dream’s return, Dream’s rebuild, Dream’s regrets, and Dream’s amends. Nevertheless, it is unusual for a show only in its second season to spend so much time setting up a farewell, given that its first only ran for 11 episodes. Given that the graphic novels have plenty of material that the show could’ve adapted into more episodes, it seems like a lot was left on the table.

Sometimes the quickened pace and the abundance of action works well, and sometimes it doesn’t. A point of failure is when The Sandman unreasonably expects us to be deeply invested in some characters – like Nada, or Dream’s chauffeur Wanda (Indya Moore) – who we barely get much of a chance to know. That said, the richness of the world Gaiman created does mean that even the most minor characters – like Destruction’s wryly humorous dog, voiced by Steve Coogan – are uniquely entertaining. Nothing about this show feels bland or generic, so it’s at least making good use of the shortened time it has.

As was the case with season 1, season 2 gets a lot of juice from showing how the Endless aren’t that different from us, lifespans aside. These powerful beings also worry that the world is sliding into chaos and mayhem and feel the need to change with the times, however glacially. Amid all the dazzling fantasy trappings, The Sandman effectively hits its emotional moments, especially when it shows how someone like Dream – a shaper of realities – can feel powerless.

In one of the more touching moments in volume 1, a man who has been alive for over 12,000 years – since the time of the saber-toothed tiger – is killed in a dumb accident. When Death comes to collect him, she’s not that impressed by his longevity. She says he only lived a lifetime, “no more, no less.” The Sandman is at its best in scenes like these, which weave together the supernatural and the everyday, giving all these scattered stories a point. In this case, it’s the fact that whether you’re one of the Endless or an ordinary human mortal, you have to make the best of the time you have.

I’ve always been skeptical of Persona spin-offs. How can you twist such rich games into new shapes while maintaining the intricate details that make the series so beloved? Well, when it comes to the most recent addition to the family, Persona5: The Phantom X, the team at Perfect World appear to have done just that – or, at least, that’s how it seems on the surface. With beautifully animated cutscenes and a goosebump-inducing soundtrack, The Phantom X makes it clear early on that it isn’t keen to shake up the Persona formula. What it does do, however, is infuse that already excellent base with the all too familiar premium currencies of a mobile-focused gacha game. I have a more to play before my final review, but no matter how close it comes to recapturing the magic, there’s already a creeping sensation that this walk down memory lane is going to make way for endless grinding eventually.

Despite being a Persona 5 spin-off, The Phantom X doesn’t centre around Joker and his crew – instead, you’ll be playing as a fresh protagonist, Nagisa Kamisiro (though you can still pick your own name), in an alternate timeline version of that story. A seemingly average student, Kamasiro’s life changes when an adorable owl called Lufel calls on them to fight back against the misery and hopelessness enveloping the world, and to turn the tables against the great despair that clouds the hearts of the public. Unable to refuse, Kamasiro learns to wield their inner Persona and travels to the shadow world to help clear out the collective unconscious, one monster at a time. If you’ve played Persona 5, you’ll quickly notice that The Phantom X is following its formula beat by beat.

To fight off the aforementioned evil, you’ll bounce between beautifully recreated Tokyo neighborhoods and the monster-filled Metaverse, seeking out misbehaving fiends and infiltrating their minds while learning to master the series’ trademark turn-based combat that centers around elemental weaknesses. And because Kamisiro is a teen, you’ll also have to balance studying, part-time work, and home life, too. With all of its obvious derivations, The Phantom X struggles to conjure fresh ideas or immediate excitement in the shadow of a nearly decade-old modus operandi, but it at least manages to successfully clone the Persona formula, and that will be enough for some.

Thankfully, where the gameplay itself feels overfamiliar, the surrounding cast of characters provides enough mystery and warmth to keep things interesting. Alongside Kamisiro, you’ll meet the baseball-loving Motoha Arai, your husband-obsessed neighbour Kayo Tomiyama, and adorable schoolmate Tomoko Noge, to name a few. With energetic voice acting to back up their emotive and often humorous dialogue, it’s clear there’s been an effort to give the NPCs a sense of self, or at least the ones I’ve met so far. It didn’t take me long to forge an emotional attachment to them. Morgana’s anthropomorphic owl counterpart, Lufel, is a particular standout, and I am thoroughly enjoying a running gag about their somewhat archaic vocabulary confusing the school-aged NPCs.

You’ll spend most of your days in Kamisiro’s shoes doing time-progressing tasks like studying for school in local cafes, working at the Konbini for cash, and buying groceries that you can use to cook back at your home. I’m still scratching the surface on how integral these side tasks feel in the scope of saving the world, though I’ve been enjoying making shopping lists and gawking at iconic Tokyo landmarks all the same. Particularly, wandering through the bustle of Shibuya Scramble and spotting its famous puppy mascot amongst the beaming electronic signs felt like a wonderful ode to a city I’ve come to love in both real life and games.

Aside from being a typical teen, much of your time in The Phantom X is spent in battle, and your combat expeditions launch from the Metaverse app located on Kamisiro’s phone. You can access these challenges anytime from the overworld, but you’ll need to use a naturally refreshing currency called Stamina to reap the rewards. Focusing on the mainline story missions will help keep you on track in terms of difficulty, though you can also explore a variety of combat challenges as you please to stockpile loot and earn experience, too. This is where the first hints of grinding come into focus but, mercifully, the combat in The Phantom X is very moreish and easy to sink time into.

The Phantom X bases its combat system on Persona 5, meaning it's turn-based with engaging reactive elements. When you roll up on a baddie, you’ll cycle through your party one member at a time, choosing between melee attacks, ranged attacks, and special Persona abilities. Similar to Pokémon, the enemies you’ll face, as well as the Personas you deploy, all have elemental strengths and weaknesses (like fire or ice) that can be exploited for extra damage. It’s a tried-and-tested system with enough diversity in its moveset to keep battles fresh, and even if you are starting to tire of it, the imagination-stoking enemy designs pull a good amount of weight throughout. What makes Persona combat truly unique, though, is the series’ bold interface design and legendary battle themes. I promise, no matter how many times you’ve already heard Persona 5’s Last Surprise, it just doesn’t get old.

Sadly, no amount of vocal flair from singer Lyn Inaizumi can make up for the sizable array of gacha systems and currencies you need to balance in The Phantom X. While there are characters and Personas you can unlock through the story, the quickest way to bolster your team is to engage in the lucky dip Contracts menu. In line with most other Gacha games on the market, you can earn the currencies you need to pull by grinding, or cut to the chase and pop in your credit card details to get an instant boost. I’m still only about 10 hours into my playthrough, and I’ve not hit any obvious roadblocks, but I can see them coming. At my current level, I have enough cash to buy health items, as well as a plethora of unique currencies to upgrade my Personas, weapons and more. Plus, when it comes to actually engaging with the gacha spins, I don’t feel like the boost they provide are hugely necessary to my success yet. Inevitably, this won’t last, though, and I can see cash-shaped hurdles on the horizon.

Outside of the inclusion of premium currencies, perhaps my biggest issue with The Phantom X so far is that it feels more like an uncanny reflection of Persona 5, rather than a unique take on its established lore. Other spin-offs like Persona 5 Tactica or Persona 5 Strikers feel like strong additions to the series that come at it from a completely different angle, whereas The Phantom X is more of a well-executed imitation. It’s not to say that I’m bored, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed both its combat and getting to know the characters so far. The first few chapters of its story are well-written, appropriately shocking, and do well to hook you into the world. But The Phantom X’s “do-over” take on the story The Phantom Thieves just isn’t providing a new enough experience to warrant the amount of time (or possibly money) I’ll need to invest to see it through when Persona 5 and its predecessors are readily available and feel far more curated and engaging.

While I’m mostly enjoying my time with Persona5: The Phantom X so far, there’s still so much to explore before delivering my final review, like investigating the depth of the upgrade systems and the long-term impact of premium currencies as you progress. As a fan of the series, it’s hard to look a gift horse in the mouth when it comes to fresh Persona 5-related content. But as of right now, I’m just unsure about how The Phantom X can deviate enough from the core material to compel me to invest in it long term – only time will tell.

Paramount is kicking off its Summer Sale by offering only $0.99 per month for your first two months of Paramount+ Essential or Premium streaming service. I'd definitely suggest going with the Premium tier, which normally costs $12.99 per month, has no ads, and includes all of Showtime. This promotion should be available to both new and previous (currently expired) subscribers, although your mileage may vary depending on how long ago you last signed up.

Paramount+ Premium with Showtime for $0.99/mo

Black Bolt and White Flare are out in Japan, and prices are already settling on the most sought-after cards. I've been following the early market closely on TCGPlayer and eBay, and it's clear which cards are leading the packs... get it?

Zekrom and Reshiram are pulling in the highest numbers, while full-art Trainers and EX cards are also climbing fast. For now, here's a look at the most expensive cards from both sets right now, based on what I've found.

Black Bolt: Japan's Most Expensive Cards

EA has announced it will shut down BioWare's Anthem on January 12, 2026.

Because Anthem's only content is online, this means the game will be unplayable after that date.

Premium in-game currency will stop being sold today, July 3, though existing balances will still be able to be used until Anthem shuts down. The game will be removed from EA Play on August 15, 2025, but will still be available for download if it's already in your library until it officially shuts down.

Anthem launched in February of 2019 to lukewarm reviews, including our own 6.5/10 which criticized the grindiness, lack of polish and variety, and a mismatched story. The game had sold 5 million copies as of December of 2023, which fell short of EA's target of 6 million copies in the first few months. Though EA continued to update and improve Anthem in the months that followed its launch, in February of 2021, EA ceased active development on the game. The following month, its game director departed the company.

In an FAQ, EA stated that no layoffs occurred at the company as the result of Anthem's sunset. This will come as a relief, given that EA has undergone a number of massive staffing cuts in the last few years that have left staff reeling.

In May, EA shut down Cliffhanger Games and canceled its in-development Black Panther game, laying off an unknown number of individuals in the process. That same month, it implemented mandatory return-to-office for all workers.

Just the month before, EA laid off roughly 300 people, and still earlier this year EA restructured Anthem developer BioWare, moving some developers to other projects and laying off others. That was all just in 2025. Last year, EA underwent a massive restructuring that resulted in 670 workers laid off company-wide, and the year before that in 2023, 50 individuals were laid off at BioWare and an unknown number of others were cut at Codemasters.

As for BioWare, it's currently fully focused on Mass Effect 5 after the sales failure of Dragon Age: The Veilguard.

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.

Michael Madsen, who starred in Quentin Tarantino movies Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, has died aged 67 from cardiac arrest.

NBC reported that Madsen was found dead at his Malibu home on Thursday morning, according to his manager Ron Smith.

IGN can exclusively reveal the first look at the Shonen Jump Store that is set to host an exclusive pop-up shop near the Los Angeles Convention Center during Anime Expo 2025, and it will feature limited-edition merchandise, brand-new product reveals, immersive photo ops, and much more based on Dandadan, Demon Slayer, Naruto, and more.

The Shonen Jump Store will be setting up shop from July 3-5 and, among many other things, will be the only place to get new themed items from Dandadan and Kagurabachi two weeks before their online debut.

Rare items from the JUMP Shop Japan, BIOWORLD's anime apparel (including Hunter x Hunter and JoJo's Bizarre Adventure basketball jerseys), new figures from Bandai's Figuarts line, and returning favorites from Naruto, Kaiju No. 8, and One Piece will also be available.

Funko fans will also be delighted to know that a fresh Dandadan Pops! Funko POP! collection will be unveiled on July 3 and will be available to preview and pre-order at the Shonen Jump Store.

Alongside all of this, photo ops will include Dandadan and Demon Slayer-themed backdrops, UNION ARENA TCG demos featuring BLEACH and Jujutsu Kaisen, and more. Oh, and attendees will even receive a free demo deck and an exclusive card.

If you'd like to visit the Shonen Jump Store during Anime Expo 2025, it will be open from 11am - 7pm daily and is just around the corner from the convention center at 212 West 12th St. in Los Angeles, California. If you are a Shonen Jump member, you'll even receive priority entry via a special VIP line.

For more in the world of anime, check out the best new anime to watch now and our favorite anime of all time.

Given the current state of the world, it’s only natural that creatives of all stripes should start pondering hypothetical apocalypses. Much like the zombies that tend to inhabit these stories, some artifacts from the last boom a decade or so ago are still clambering along while others – including one currently in theaters – experienced a sudden reanimation. It’s tempting to slot 40 Acres along with the rest of those, but while it does feature a fungal plague and a rural setting, director R.T. Thorne’s debut pivots away from horror and instead into family drama with a tendency towards suspense. The familiar end-of-the-world framework provides much of the expected pleasures of a home-invasion story, but like all good horror or post-apocalyptic films, it’s also got a lot on its mind.

That much is clear from the title, a direct reference to the broken promise of “40 Acres and a Mule” as reparations for American slavery. It also refers to the location where the majority of this movie takes place: a Canadian farm run by the mixed family of Hailey (rising star Daniel Deadwyler) – the latest in a long line of Black farmers emigrating after the Civil War – and her partner Galen (Michael Greyeyes).

Their histories as former soldiers of various stripes emerges in the opening scene, as they and their children execute a defense run against raiders that would put Jake Sully’s family to shame. It’s a close-knit bunch out of necessity: in a future decimated by famines and wars, their ability to grow food has ensured their survival, but it’s also made Hailey an isolationist. Trading is only done at set drops where no one interacts, and her only real contact with the outside world is fellow farmer Augusta (Elizabeth Saunders). As portrayed by Deadwyler, Hailey’s a hard-ass who puts her kids – especially eldest son Emmanuel (Kataem O’Connor) – through rigorous training and lectures on everything from battle to farming. But crucially, she lets glimmers of light slip through, usually when on radio chats with Augusta but also with some of their younger children. It’s hard not to compare it a little to the recently released 28 Years Later in its depiction of parents caught between warmth and coldness. Both also feature genuine danger, here in the form of rumors that a cannibalistic gang has been ransacking farms on their small network.

Emmanuel is a growing teenager, so naturally when he spies a girl in a river he frequents the mind starts to wander, especially once she turns up on the farm. Rest assured, 40 Acres isn’t the kind of movie to spring some wild twist on us. Instead, Thorne and co. use it to probe at the whole disaster-preparation mindset. Surviving the worst is good and all, but what comes next? These conflicts aren’t necessarily new, and neither is the emerging theme of Emmanuel’s need to become his own person rather than the rigid symbol that’s expected of him, but they still resonate thanks to Deadwyler and O’Connor’s performances.

If nothing else, Thorne shows quite the knack at orchestrating tense scenes. An early highlight features a firefight in an abandoned military facility, with a particular event held just to the corner of the frame that provides an excellent jolt. Flashbacks come in like seamless transmissions from another life as a low-key indie drama, giving Hailey precisely the right amount of backstory and layering in the themes of racism and ancestral history.

So skilled is the direction that it almost doesn’t matter that the villains end up kind of weak by comparison. For as much setup as they’re given, by the time they hit the climax and dish out some pretty gnarly violence they can’t help but feel rather nondescript, with a leader who’s more functional than memorable. Even so, Thorne still manages to throw in a fantastic shootout in total darkness lit only by muzzle flashes, and a wonderful callback to a joke about the value of spices. He also gives Deadwyler the chance to throw out some very funny one-liners by the end, just enough to be self-aware without breaking the fourth wall. The ending sends us out on a high note, leaving us with a vision of family unity that suggests a brighter future for all involved. A little sappy to be sure, but it’s hard-won.

Hades 2's next patch could be its last before the game emerges from its early access cocoon.

As spotted by RPS, the roguelike action RPG's latest patch — the Unseen Update — introduces a "number of adjustments to some of the latest additions," but developer Supergiant did tease that this will "likely be [its] final patch before the v1.0 launch"... "whenever that will be."

The team said it will continue to monitor your feedback in the meantime.

The full patch notes are included below, although please note we've removed any notes including spoiler tags, so you'll have to head on over to Steam to read those. Anything in bold has been inspired directly "by community feedback."

Hades 2 Unseen Update Patch 10 patch notes:

General Gameplay

• Reduced further cases of successive attacks causing you to become 'stun-locked'
• Whenever you take damage to Armor, it will reduce any temporary Armor you have from sources such as Security System (Hephaestus), prior to reducing the more-permanent kind

Nocturnal Arms & Abilities

• Sister Blades: Omega Attack can no longer be interrupted by foes
• Umbral Flames: reduced orbit speed of Omega Special projectiles, but increased their damage
• Argent Skull: Omega Special wave projectiles no longer stagger foes
• Black Coat: increased speed of Attack sequence and damage of first strike; slightly increased Omega Attack channel speed, and it can block more types of incoming area-effect damage; increased Special accuracy

Aspects of the Nocturnal Arms

• Witch's Staff (Melinoë): reduced bonus to Magick and Power
• Witch's Staff (Momus): slightly increased how long it takes your serpents to fire successive Omega Moves

Oath of the Unseen

• Vow of Frenzy: now also makes foes enter the battle faster; reduced effect on Vow of Rivals moves
• Vow of Scars: fixed several cases where this was not reducing Life recovery as expected

Boons & Blessings

• Steady Growth (Demeter): now will only Rarify itself if you have no other eligible Boons
• Hestia: Scorch Curse can no longer deal Critical damage or similar, nor is affected by Air Quality (Zeus)
• Flame Strike (Hestia): slightly reduced Scorch damage
• Flame Flourish (Hestia): slightly reduced Scorch damage
• Success Rate (Hermes): no longer affects the passive effect of Raki
• Incandescent Aura (Hera x Hestia): reworked — now deals damage to all Hitch-afflicted foes when you restore Magick
• Natural Selection (Poseidon x Demeter): reworked — now distributes bonus Lv. to your primary Boons
• Scalding Vapor (Poseidon x Hestia): no longer can activate the Froth Curse
• Gigaros Dash (Hades): reduced damage; fixed Scorn amplifying damage other than Attack and Special
• Unseen Ire (Hades): fixed an issue causing the effect duration to last longer than stated
• Crimson Dress (Arachne): fixed an issue causing this to give a high damage bonus right away; increased bonus per Encounter

Daedalus Hammer Upgrades

• Boosted Ignition (Skull): no longer offered while using
• Looming Ignition (Skull): fixed an issue causing this to give its full damage bonus immediately rather than over the duration as described

Hexes & Path of Stars

• 📢 Adjusted Path of Stars layouts to make room especially for Godsent upgrades
• Adjusted when Godsent upgrades are offered during the story for the first time, now later than before
• Twilight Curse: this and other Morph effects now block any on-death attacks when afflicted foes are slain, with the exception of Inferno-Bombs
• Prize of Poseidon (Moon Water): cut from game; replaced with...
• Pride of Poseidon (Moon Water): new! Godsent upgrade gradually restores Life and Magick over time
• Zenith (Sky Fall): cut from game; replaced with Ambition, which deals bonus damage to Guardians
• Lineage: new! Your Hex can be Godsent one more time when used in Guardian Encounters

Keepsakes

• Discordant Bell: effect now persists for the night even after you switch Keepsakes

Resources & Reagents

• Reduced chance of never finding the resource type aligned with your Animal Familiar in shorter regions

Shrine of Hermes

• Fresh Sustenance MAX: reduced Life recovery

Art & Visual FX

• Added alternate textures when using upgraded Tools of the Unseen
• Updated visual FX when Crescent Pick Outcroppings are depleted
• Added visual indicator in Boon Info for when Arcana are disabled due to Barren (Chaos)

Miscellaneous

• Melinoë now can greet Frinos while he is in the Training Grounds, as with the other Animal Familiars
• Gameplay Timer now also pauses automatically when interacting with the Path of Stars
• Heracles no longer sometimes ominously just stands around after his Encounters
• Updated presentation for Icarus fly-by attacks
• Improved feedback on Life and Magick gauges after swapping Keepsakes that modify your totals
• Improved feedback spending resources in the Altar of Ashes, Silver Pool, and Music Maker screens
• Improved contextual feedback on various Boons when affected by Vow of Scars
• Damage from Specials and Omega Specials is now separated for some weapons on the Victory Screen
• Reduced cluttered damage numbers using Argent Skull (Medea)
• Added letterbox to the game intro in some aspect ratios
• Updates and fixes to translations in some languages

Bug Fixes

• Fixed an issue where Melinoë could suddenly take 500 damage using Eruption (Path of Stars) and Night Bloom (Selene) to raise a Tempus in the battle against Chronos...
• Fixed a number of story events that were never playing
• Fixed a number of contextual voice lines that were never playing
• Fixed cases where you would sometimes Dash-Strike unexpectedly using the Moonstone Axe
• Fixed some interactions between and Psychic Whirlwind (Daedalus)
• Fixed Black Coat not interacting with some abilities that improved Channeling speed
• Fixed visual issues where strikes with Hidden Aspects sometimes appeared to be interrupted by foes
• Fixed Wounds from Ares sometimes causing on-hit slowdowns too frequently
• Fixed Sea Star (Poseidon) sometimes doubling items created by Gold Gold Gold (Echo)
• Fixed Personal Loan (Dionysus) giving you nothing back if it got Rarified
• Fixed Heracles sometimes turning invisible while attacking
• Fixed cases where Athena could unexpectedly appear more than once per night
• Fixed cases where using Cast to interrupt Attacks or Specials would pause animations longer than expected
• Fixed Past Deeds screen not showing more than 36 Boons if you had that many
• Fixed Satyr Supplicant Life Bars persisting after they were slain
• Fixed Ares Plasma UI indicator sometimes disappearing unexpectedly
• Fixed several text errors
• Other minor fixes

Hades 2 is the sequel to Supergiant's hit game, mixing engaging storytelling and roguelite action elements for an engaging dungeon-crawling experience. We thought Hades 2 was 'Amazing' when it released in May 2024, slapping it with a 9 in our early access review, writing: "Even in its Early Access state, Hades 2 is just about everything one could ask for in a sequel to one of the best roguelites of all time. Featuring excellent refinements to its roguelite progression, a fantastic new main character in Melinoe, and two unique sets of levels that have you fighting foes on the surface and in the underworld."

ICYMI, yes, Hades 2 is coming to Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 as a timed console exclusive.

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.

Roblox brought in 1,000 developers to participate in The Hatch, an event the Lego-like game platform says will go down as its biggest Easter Egg hunt ever. While the official experience is propped up as an important moment, thousands of players have already voiced their support for a boycott by using the #BoycottTheHatch across social media.

The Hatch went live earlier today, cracking open its doors for players across the platform to enjoy the work put in by an army of Roblox developers. It’s entirely free-to-play and will no doubt attract millions of players who have been looking forward to the company’s latest Easter Egg hunt experience for the last month. What should be an exciting moment for the community has turned into a controversial stain as players and developers alike band together to opt out of The Hatch in favor of a movement that aims to make the platform safer for all ages forever.

Disappointing #BoycottTheHatch pic.twitter.com/J6lhYkY4j1

— Kakiparks (@CKs_hidingplace) June 20, 2025

Communication from Roblox Corporation has done little to ward off concerns that the gaming giant is failing to protect users from inappropriate content. Though much of the firestorm that’s taken hold of the conversation has subsided, many fear issues surrounding The Hatch are only a symptom of larger issues yet. Community organization opposed to The Hatch could be the start of what players hope will be meaningful change, but they’ve got a long way to go.

What Is The Hatch?

Prominently featured atop the Roblox home page, The Hatch is an Easter Egg hunt-themed umbrella event that runs from July 2–12 and incorporates a variety of Roblox experiences. Joining the event teleports players to an island realm, which itself serves as an in-between area to hang out in before traveling to a more fleshed-out hub world. In this vacation paradise, users can take in the sights across different colorful biomes while completing quests, challenging others for higher leaderboard spots, and purchasing cosmetic items. It all revolves around one goal: collect as many eggs as possible.

Each painted collectible isn’t found in The Hatch itself, though. Instead, players use the official Roblox hub world to transport themselves to other user-created Roblox experiences via portals placed around the map. Each portal features around 40 games that range from Squid Game obstacle courses to anime-inspired fighting simulators. These are where the eggs can be found, and while they’re often not particularly well hidden, The Hatch and Easter Egg hunts in general have proven to be enticing events that get Roblox players engaged with experiences they know and some they don’t.

Hundreds of Roblox games are included in The Hatch, cementing the event as a crucial limited-time mode with official backing from Roblox Corporation. The Hatch’s page had more than 46 million visits at the time of this piece’s publication. It also describes an experience that is “suitable for everyone.”

Roblox Players Take Action Against a Controversial Creator

Roblox pulled back the curtain on The Hatch June 12, marking a return to beloved Easter Egg hunting festivities with more to do and more polish than ever. It was an exciting moment marred by controversy when players caught wind that infamous (and verified) Roblox developer TheOfficiaITeddy had been invited to include his creations.

Roblox is a free-to-play platform that is no doubt used by countless children every day, yet, nearly 20 years into its lifespan, Roblox Corporation still finds itself facing accusations that it’s cultivated a dangerous environment for younger players. TheOfficiaITeddy is one developer at the center of the conversation surrounding these topics thanks to his involvement in what many call “condo” games. These social experiences allow players to mingle with one another, but it’s the allegations that Teddy’s condo experiences have featured romantic, dating, and even sex-themed content that have the community ready to take action.

“This person has gained HUNDREDS of MILLIONS of visits on games that can only be described as s*x games,” one popular post from X/Twitter user @RoCatchers said. “These games feature inappropriate animations disguised as innocent stuff, and people within the games use it for lewd acts. These games also feature private ‘motel rooms’ that you can lock allowing people to be 1 on 1. These games are often a target for predators.”

The creator, whose seemingly harmless light-blue teddy bear avatar has filled social media feeds, is responsible for publishing popular titles like Boys and Girls Club Hangout Roleplay and CNP and Slender Hangout, both of which have since been removed from Roblox’s list of publicly available experiences. Suggestive content is believed to be the cause behind previous bans and content takedowns from Roblox Corporation, but despite numerous reports of action taken against TheOfficiaITeddy in the past, players found that the creator has managed to find his way back to the Roblox spotlight on more than one occasion.

but for whatever reason, he was UNBANNED, and he directly claimed that he received an invite to RDC. Then, Roblox bans him again, and very very recently Roblox UNBANNED him- pic.twitter.com/OLbxDae3Xx

— RoCatchers (@RoCatchers) June 17, 2025

While most Roblox developers invited to participate in The Hatch include names behind popular obstacle courses and action-focused experiences, TheOfficiaITeddy stood out to many as a concerning outlier who has been repeatedly accused of harming the safety of users on the platform. Roblox’s confirmation that Teddy was, along with many others, invited to be officially involved in The Hatch only added fuel to the fire, with his official backing now sitting at the forefront of the issues the #BoycottTheHatch movement seeks to resolve.

What Is #BoycottTheHatch?

The #BoycottTheHatch movement’s sails first caught wind with posts from X users like @RoCatchers and @greenlegocats in mid-June. The goal was clear: spread awareness. Posts covering the topic quickly gained thousands of likes on X alone as users called not only for Teddy’s invitation to be rescinded but for the controversial creator to be banned altogether.

What was a simmer quickly evolved into a full-on boil as Roblox developers involved in The Hatch began to pull out from the event. Popular creations like DOORS, Pressure, Piggy, untitled tag game, LOCOfficial, and many more stepped away not only due to the issues surrounding TheOfficiaITeddy but because of issues regarding how The Hatch has been handled thus far. These include general quality concerns as well as other points of contention such as fears some The Hatch promotional images were generated by artificial intelligence and a concern regarding how developers were selected for participation.

A few days removed from the boycott’s emergence (and weeks before The Hatch would kick off), Roblox addressed the Teddy situation.

“The safety and well-being of the Roblox community is our top priority,” Roblox said. “On top of our community standards, we have additional guidelines to qualify to participate in platform events. TheOfficiaITeddy should not have been invited; we have rescinded their invitation to The Hatch and have taken appropriate action in accordance with our policies. Our team is thoroughly re-examining the invitation list against our community standards and are re-evaluating these processes to ensure an additional level of vetting for our invitees going forward.”

We appreciate their removal from the event, but I please ask that the moderation team reviews their account accordingly. If their game doesn't follow your guidelines, surely their account doesn't either. I want this platform to be a safer place, I know you guys can do better

— MiniToon (@DaRealMiniToon) June 19, 2025

Piggy developer MiniToon was one of the first to respond to Roblox Corporation’s message, explaining that while the sentiment was appreciated, it remained worried that the moderation team would not thoroughly address the situation. It added in a post: “I don't want to have to make these tweets, but it feels like we are just being seen and not heard, witnessed and not understood.”

As the #BoycottTheHatch hashtag continued to fill feeds in the weeks that followed, Roblox finally returned with a lengthy statement June 30, two days before The Hatch would begin. The company explained that, during its absence, it conducted an investigation into Teddy that involved an attempt to alter experiences that complied with its Community Standards. Although these standards were eventually met, Roblox said it was able to confirm “a separate outstanding policy violation that cannot be rectified.” Teddy and all of his creations have since been removed from the platform.

“At Roblox, safety is foundational to everything we do — that’s why we take reports of harmful content or behavior seriously, and we investigate them thoroughly,” Roblox said. “It can take time to investigate properly, and we’re always working to make this process more efficient while maintaining our high standards for fairness.”

Teddy may be banned but we still have a lot of work to do in the fight against online dating, degeneracy, and pedatory behavior on Roblox. This has been a big victory in an even bigger battle. Continue fighting the good fight to make Roblox a safer space for all.

— Lord CowCow (@greenlegocats) July 1, 2025

There’s been no word regarding how the #BoycottTheHatch movement may pivott to address other common complains, but Teddy’s removal stands as a major moment for the movement. For now, the event is scheduled to run for another nine days.

Roblox The Hatch launched July 2 and, at the time of this piece’s publication, sports more than 40K likes and more than 97K dislikes. As players continue to shape their experiences in the coming days, you can read up on Grow a Garden, which has catapulted itself past multiple concurrent player records in its journey to become one of the most popular games of all time.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor 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).

While Squid Game's uneven third season has faced several criticisms, only one can be traced back to the series' excellent first run — its bizarre, English-speaking "VIP" characters played by actors widely judged to be not of the same calibre as the show's Korean stars.

These masked characters are meant to be unlikable — they're depicted as wealthy, inhumane benefactors who view the games' tragedies as sport — but come across as unwatchable for all the wrong reasons, with cringeworthy dialogue and performances that distract from the rest of the show's quality and the main characters that viewers care about.

But why do they sound so bad? Well, an actor who played one of Squid Game Season 3's VIPs has now taken to TikTok to address the matter — and even they don't know why Netflix decided to dub over them in the series' main version, where the voice of different English-language actor is used instead.

In response to a TikTok video titled "How BAD the Squid Game VIP Acting Was", actor Bryan Bucco confirmed that the voice heard in Netflix's main version of the show (Korean language with English subtitles) was not his own.

"Those are the English dubs," Bucco wrote. "I was the actual actor. What's being played here isn't my voice."

"Some of the actors voices are more noticeably changed," Bucco continued. "It seems they did use voice actors to try and sound like us. I don't even want to s**t on my voice actor either because I think he did fine, I'm sure it wasn't easy for him to say his lines either haha."

But why dub over English-speaking actors with English-speaking replacements? Bucco has suggested that the process is not unusual for non-English productions to ensure clarity, with all of that actor's lines presumably then needing to be replaced for consistency.

"I think whoever is contracted to do the dubbing, does ALL of the dubbing," Bucco said. "The Korean version shouldn't have English dubs. If there are some in the Korean version, it would have to be due to specific lines having to be re-recorded for clarity."

@jbstarmax Maybe it was on purpose? 😂 Let me know your take #squidgame #season3 #vip #acting #netflix @Squid Game Netflix ♬ original sound - JB STAR 💫

Still, Bucco has highlighted an odd situation where different versions of the VIP's dialogue are available in different Netflix regions — where some still feature the VIP actors' original English voices.

"Could be Netflix messing s**t up? I watched a bit on a pirated streaming site and didn't hear these voices," Bucco said.

"I've seen different clips floating around where some have my voice, and others that are clearly not me... It doesn't really matter at the end of the day," he continued. "Just... if it sounds dubbed, that's because it probably is. And the ones used in this video above ARE the dubbed voices."

Bucco then provided an example he'd found himself on TikTok, where two English-language versions of the unnamed female VIP's voice can be heard, one with the actor's original voice, and one with a replacement English voice dubbed on top. (To our ears, the original actor's line reading sounds more natural.)

Back in 2021, when Squid Game originally launched, The Guardian tracked down some of the actors behind the first season's VIPs and questioned them as to why their performances felt so jarring with the rest of the show.

"I think the first thing to dispel is this myth that they just pick us up off the street," said John D Michaels, who portrayed the bearded "VIP #1" in Squid Game's first season. "It's different for every show, but non-Korean performers often act with dialogue that is translated by a non-native – sometimes even by Google Translate – so it can sound unnatural. And often we don't have the scripts for the rest of the show. We are only given our scenes, so we have no idea of the tone."

Michaels said his backstory for the VIPs amounted to little more than them being "total idiots" and "dirtbag millionaires", and claimed their delivery had been hobbled by their "very heavy plaster masks" and the fact they were all sat on couches far away from each other. "We all had to yell our lines vaguely into the air, which added to the weird tonality of the delivery," he noted.

Star Wars actor Kenneth Colley, who played Admiral Piett in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, has died aged 87.

Colley’s Admiral Piett was an imperial officer in command of Darth Vader's flagship. Nearly 30 years after Return of the Jedi's release, he reprised the role for 2012 animation Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out. Colley also played Jesus in the much-loved Monty Python's Life of Brian.

According to the BBC, Colley died peacefully at his home in Kent in the UK on Monday after contracting Covid and developing pneumonia.

Building a gaming PC can be one of the best ways to learn about how a computer works and possibly save yourself some money in the process. It gives you a fantastic foundation for future troubleshooting too. After all, if you built it yourself, you know exactly how it goes together, and how to access any troublesome components.

It’s easier than you might think, too. Modern PC building mostly just involves plugging everything in where it fits and it’s very hard to make mistakes if you have all the right hardware ready.

That’s the first step on any PC building journey – buying the right hardware. You’re going to want to make sure you get the best processor and the best GPU for what you’re trying to do with your PC. Once you have these components, the rest of your parts will help the rest of your spec list fall into place.

What You Need

Before you start building, you need to buy the right components. Which ones are right for you and your needs goes beyond the scope of this article, but here’s a list of components you need, and a few notes to help you choose them.

• CPU: One of the latest generation options from Intel, like the Core Ultra 5 245K, or AMD, like the Ryzen 5 9600X. If you really want to push gaming performance, consider the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D, as its extra cache really helps make PC games run better.
• CPU Cooler: Some CPUs come with a cooler, but many don’t and high-end CPUs require more advanced cooling. Make sure the CPU cooler you buy is compatible with your CPU socket and can fit in your case.
• Motherboard: You don’t need to go too expensive here, but make sure it’s compatible with whichever CPU you’re interested in. Motherboards usually come in several different tiers, currently led by Z890 for Intel CPUs and X870 for AMD. B- and H-series motherboards are more than good enough for most people, though.
• RAM: Get 16GB at a minimum, but 32GB is affordable and a smart choice for gaming or professional tasks. Make sure it’s compatible with your motherboard, but don’t worry about getting the absolute best RAM on the market.
• Storage: A 1TB NVMe SSD is plenty for most, but 2TB or more is available at fair prices. Get PCIe 3.0 or newer, and while there’s little benefit to the latest PCIe 5 drives, a PCIe 4 drive will give you compatibility with DirectStorage, Microsoft’s next-gen game storage API.
• Graphics card: If you’re looking to play games, you’ll need one of these. If you’re playing AAA games, get the fastest you can afford. If you play older or casual games, get something affordable (but ideally with more than 8GB VRAM).
• Power supply: Get a unit that at least meets the recommended wattage for your graphics card of choice. If you aren’t using one, 500W will be fine. Don’t buy a super-cheap model as it can risk damaging your PC in the case of a power spike.
• PC Case: This is largely down to personal aesthetic preference, but make sure it’s big enough for your motherboard type (ATX, mATX, Mini-ITX), the length of your graphics card, and the height of your cooler.

Putting It All Together

Once you have all the hardware gathered, it’s time to actually start building. Be sure to ground yourself before starting, either by touching some steel on the PC case, or ideally by wearing an anti-static wristband. It’s also a good idea to build a PC on a non-conductive surface away from potential static build-up, like a desk or table – not a carpeted floor.

We’ll go through installing each component in turn. This is usually the best order to build a PC, but you don’t have to follow it exactly if your case or components have specific requirements.

Power Supply Remove any packing material from the case and take off both side panels. Grab the power supply and install it in the PSU mount (usually at the bottom rear) of your case. You may have to slide it in from the side, or remove a PSU bracket on the rear before slotting it in from the rear.

Use the included screws to secure it in place. If it’s modular, plug the power cables in that you’ll need. That usually means a Motherboard 20+4pin, CPU 8pin, and at least one PCIe 6+2 pin for graphics card power. You may need a SATA or Molex power cable too, if you have SATA drives or other tertiary components.

Motherboard Find the screw mounts on the motherboard tray of your case. They should have mounting standoffs in place already for your size of motherboard, but if not, screw those in now. Use your motherboard manual for guidance on where and how many.

If it’s not attached to your motherboard, install the rear I/O shield, then gently lower the motherboard into the case and screw it into each of the standoffs. Do not screw your motherboard directly into the case.

CPU
On the CPU socket on the motherboard, lift the retaining arm, and fold back the retention bracket. Remove any plastic cover from the CPU socket. Look for the little golden triangle on the socket and match it with the CPU to orient it correctly.

Line the CPU up and gently place it into the socket. Give it a little wiggle to ensure it’s seated properly and is installed in the correct orientation. If in doubt, remove it and have another go.

Once you’re happy that it’s in the right place, cover it with the retention bracket, then lower the retaining arm and lock it into place. You may need to press firmly here, but it shouldn't be too difficult – but don’t force it if it won’t go easily.

Apply thermal paste to your CPU If your CPU cooler doesn’t already have thermal paste applied (and honestly even if it does), take some thermal paste and apply a small amount to the CPU. There are several methods of doing this, but we like doing a little line down the middle of the processor. You don’t have to spread it out, but if you do, use a piece of plastic, like a credit card to spread it out into an even layer.

Cooler
Follow the CPU cooler instructions to make sure you are using the right brackets and retaining arms. You may need to replace the CPU cooler’s backplate, depending on the model. If it uses screws, be sure to screw them in slowly and only partially, switching screws as you screw it in so that the load on the CPU remains even.

When the cooler is in place, be sure to plug the fan into the correct header on your motherboard.

RAM
Locate the RAM slots on your motherboard and check the manual to make sure you’re plugging the sticks into the right slots. When you know for sure, push back the retaining brackets at the end of the RAM slots, then slide each stick into place. Ensure that its oriented correctly by lining up the notch on the sticks with the one in the slot.

When in place, you should hear a firm “Click” sound, and the retaining arms will snap into place. If they don’t, try pushing them into place yourself, or remove the sticks and try again.

Storage Locate the primary NVMe slot on your motherboard. You can do this just by eyeballing it, but check your motherboard manual or the manufacturer’s website if it’s hidden under a heatsink or you’re unsure. Usually, it’ll be the slot that’s physically closest to the CPU.

Remove any heatsinks or heatspreaders that are in the way, then locate the retaining screw or clip for the SSD. Remove it or turn it so that it opens the slot, and press the metal contacts of the NVMe SSD into the respective slot (bare in mind the notch for orientation). Press it gently, but firmly into place, then press it down and replace the retention screw or clip to hold it in place.

Repeat for any other NVMe SSDs you have. If you have an older SATA SSD or hard drive, you’ll need to power them with a SATA power cable from the power supply, and attach them to the motherboard with a SATA cable. There are usually mounting points for them in a case. Use the manual to locate them if necessary.

Graphics card
Locate the primary x16 PCI Express slot on your motherboard – it’s usually the “top” most PCIe slot and it’ll be the longest on the board. Remove the PCIe bracket behind that slot and the one immediately down from it (and more if you are using a triple or quad-slot GPU).

Line the graphics card up with the PCIe slot and push it firmly into the port. You should hear a click when the retention bracket snaps into place. If your graphics card is particularly heavy, it can be a good idea to hold it up while you secure the retaining screws on the PCIe bracket-end. Also consider adding an anti-sag bracket or GPU support.

Plug in the respective power cable. It’ll either be one or more PCIe 8-pin power connectors, or one of Nvidia’s newer high-power designs, like the 12VHPWR for the RTX 5000 cards. In either case, ensure the cable is plugged firmly in and isn’t loose. Try to avoid hard kinks or bends in the wiring, too.

PSU cables and front panel connectors Plug in the motherboard and CPU power cables. The specifics will be dependent on your board, but usually that involves the larger 20+4 pin connector and at least one four-to-eight-pin CPU power connector.

You’ll then want to plug in the front-panel connector cables. These link up the case’s power button, ports, and indicator lights to the PC and can be rather fiddly. Use attached labels and your motherboard’s manual for guidance on specifics.

Power it up When you’ve finished, don’t put any of the panels back on yet. Just plug a power cable in and try to boot the system up. If it passes POST (power-on self test), and ideally lets you start heading into a fresh Windows install, you should be all good to go. If it doesn’t post, go back over these steps and make sure you haven’t missed something. It’s easy to forget to plug in a power cable or miss a RAM stick. We’ve all been there.

The first three episodes of Dan Da Dan season 2 premiered theatrically on June 6. Season 2 will premiere on Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Hulu on Thursday, July 3.

Following the sickening cliffhanger that ended season 1 of Dan Da Dan, expectations are high for season 2. Based on the strength of the first three episodes, I’d say Okarun, Momo, and their fellow paranormal obsessives are poised to meet those expectations – and potentially exceed them if this momentum continues. We’ve been accustomed to a certain level of chaos in this anime so far, but the beginning of season 2 quite literally blows up the gang’s little bubble.

These episodes dig deeper into the newest addition to the crew, the highly energetic and quirky Jiji (Kaito Ishikawa). Momo and Okarun’s relationship is obviously the foundation of Dan Da Dan, but Jiji, like Aira before him, throws a twist into this coming-of-age story. For me, Jiji’s antics initially walked right up to the edge of annoying, but season 2 gives us a better sense of why he is the way he is – he’s not just wacky for wackiness’ sake, it turns out. Although his over-the-top and playful actions don’t appear genuine at times, some subtle interactions with other characters show that he cares about those around him.

Jiji’s story and his predicament are effectively highlighted. We knew coming in that this would be a very dangerous venture, considering all the firsthand experience Jiji had with his family and hired mediums. As we learn more about the history of the house they’re renting, we see the scope of how dire the circumstances are. It’s by far the biggest challenge the gang has faced so far: until now, most of Okarun and Momo’s troubles have been resolved within their small circle, but that seems very unlikely this time around, and it leads to a major disturbance by the end of the premiere episodes.

So far, though, this feels like less of the beginning of a new story for the second season and more of a second course to season one. It’s great that we’re finally seeing this storyline round out after being teased last season, but I’m still left with the sense that more could’ve been done to develop Jiji’s character during this early stretch. For an arc that centers around his trial, we haven’t really learned much more about him unlike the newly introduced creature. My hope is that we see a resolution as impactful as Aira’s, but I’m not sure if it’ll be up to par based on what I’ve seen so far. With that said, the grand scale of these supernatural events is refreshing, as is what they might mean for the series going forward.

Speaking of continuing the anime series, the team at Science Saru keeps up the quality work that they’ve been doling out over the years. Among other things, amazing character designs remain one of the best parts of Dan Da Dan. Whether it’s Okarun’s transformation or the scores of horrendous, otherworldly threats our heroes face, Science Saru does a great job of packing everything we need to know about a character into how they look. Take Jiji’s family’s creepy landlords, the Kitos, for example: Their uncomfortable smiles and questionable demeanor in these first few episodes of season 2 are enough to paint them as villains. Then there’s the new supernatural being that we caught a glimpse of at the end of the first season; what first comes off as a fairly unnerving sight gains new dimensions in season 2, with a peek at how this menacing creature came to be. These wild designs elevate the amount of chaotic energy Dan Da Dan puts out, and it’s better for it.

Of course, there’s some action to be had, too. Dan Da Dan’s inventive use of color continues in season 2, and it’s a great tool for enhancing the storytelling within the action. There’s one fight where every impact from a character is emphasized by flashes of darkness or negative space that’s particularly striking. It’s a simple concept that we’ve seen in other shonen series, where a number of quick flashes go off before a grand attack. Less is more in some of these cases, and Science Saru does a great job with nuances like this, and of those of a scene where the camera hones in on the eyes of a police officer and we watch his gaze shift from one character to another. This subtle action, in addition to an already uncomfortable atmosphere, really sells the scene. It’s these kinds of choices that make Dan Da Dan such a great watch.

Despite the non-disclosure agreements, Battlefield leaks are still coming fast and freely via its closed playtest. The most recent leak has revealed a peek at the upcoming shooter's free-to-play battle royale mode.

Battlefield dataminer Temporyal (via Insider Gaming), took to social media to share more unannounced details, including evidence that the map is set in California, insertion is via a CH-47 Chinook, and the "destructive ring [is] made of a compound called NXC." We're not yet clear on the lore behind why it's there yet, though.

The info comes attached to a blink-and-you'll-miss-it seven-second introductory cutscene that seems to show a squadron of helicopters heading towards a battle zone in a way that'll look familiar to anyone who's spent time with Call of Duty battle royale Warzone.

Here’s a short video clip showing the start of a Battlefield 6 Battle Royale match:

☀️ Map set in California
🚁 Insertion via CH-47 Chinook
🔥 Destructive ring made of a compound called "NXC"

This work-in-progress material is based on the BF Labs "Alpha" client. pic.twitter.com/uzsIR8lRuJ

— temporyal (@temporyal) July 3, 2025

The Battlefield playtest has proven to be leaky indeed, and developer DICE has "loads of feedback from the very active testers selected." Unlike Battlefield 2042's lukewarm reception, fans seem pretty pleased with what they've seen so far, and for some time EA wasn't even trying to take them down. That's changed somewhat since, however, although there's still plenty of information around if you're quick enough to catch it before the takedown notices go out.

So far, we've seen evidence of a new drag mechanic and the ability to cling on to vehicles, as well as improved in-game movement, 3D maps, and improved destruction.

EA has been playing its cards pretty close to its chest about the new Battlefield, and we still don't know when, exactly, it will launch. But EA's last financial report suggested it'll come out by the end of March 2026.

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.

The iconic Keith David — who is known for his expansive career that includes beloved live-action and voice acting roles alike — was surprised by a very touching honor recently: his very own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The actor took to his social media accounts to share a truly touching video of himself watching the broadcast where this year’s honorees were announced, where you can see him giving a very shocked reaction when he heard his name as part of the list. His wife, Dionne Lea Williams, also comes into the frame to congratulate him excitedly during the video, crying and hugging David in response to the news.

What a surprise! Being blessed to get to do this for a living is enough for me; to be recognized for my contribution to the arts is the cherry on top.🙏🏿

Thank you, Hollywood Walk of Fame & Hollywood Chamber for this honor. This will be a wonderful birthday present next year. pic.twitter.com/dnSmObJezT

— Keith David (@ImKeithDavid) July 2, 2025

“What a surprise! Being blessed to get to do this for a living is enough for me; to be recognized for my contribution to the arts is the cherry on top,” David wrote on his Twitter account alongside the video. “Thank you, Hollywood Walk of Fame & Hollywood Chamber for this honor. This will be a wonderful birthday present next year.”

69-year-old David is perhaps best known for his role opposite Kurt Russell in the beloved 1982 classic remake of The Thing, but he is also responsible for upwards of 400 roles across his nearly 50-year career — including a wealth of voice acting appearances in both the film and television and video game spaces. Fans may remember him as the Arbiter Thel ‘Vadamee in the Halo franchise, Julius Little in the Saints Row franchise, and of course Admiral Andersen in the Mass Effect series.

More recently, David took over as Commander Zavala in Destiny 2 following the passing of his original actor, Lance Reddick.

@ign

♬ original sound - IGN Entertainment

Though the ceremony date for the class of 2025 has yet to be announced, David hinted at the honor being a birthday present to him next year — so it seems like we can expect the legend to receive his deserved accolade around the beginning of June 2026.

Photo by Christopher Polk/Penske Media via Getty Images.

Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.

Build A Rocket Boy, the Edinburgh, Scotland-based developer of MindsEye, has issued at-risk of redundancy emails to its around 300-strong UK workforce following the disastrous launch of the game.

Sources familiar with the goings on inside the embattled studio told IGN at-risk emails were also sent to staff at PlayFusion, which BARB acquired late 2024. PlayFusion, whose CEO Mark Gerhard became co-CEO of BARB as part of the buyout, is working on a different game — a fast-paced FPS called Ascendant which was meant to come out this year.

Last month, IGN reported that BARB had begun a redundancy process following the release of MindsEye. The standard 45-day consultation process kicked off on June 23, which according to UK law is triggered when an employer proposes 100 or more redundancies within a 90-day period. IGN understands Build A Rocket Boy currently has around 300 UK employees, with 200 abroad.

At the time, BARB issued a statement confirming the redundancy process, insisting the cuts will let the studio “focus on delivering ongoing updates and performance optimization for MindsEye, while also ensuring the long-term success of Build A Rocket Boy’s future ambitions.”

Soon after MindsEye launched, BARB said it was “heartbroken” over the issues players had faced with the game, and promised to release a series of patches to fix the significant performance problems, glitches, and AI behavior bugs. Rollout of these patches has begun.

All the while, MindsEye’s troubled launch saw the developer cancel sponsored streams, with reports of players securing refunds, even from the normally stubborn Sony, surfacing online.

On Steam, which does not paint the whole picture of MindsEye’s current popularity, the game hit a peak concurrent player count of 3,302 on launch, but had a 24-hour peak of just 46 players. At the time of this article’s publication, 26 people were playing on Steam, where MindsEye has a 'mostly negative' user review rating.

Story-driven action adventure game MindsEye was initially designed to be a part of Everywhere, the ‘Roblox for adults’ creation platform led by former Grand Theft Auto design chief Leslie Benzies. BARB eventually switched to focus on MindsEye, but it has so-far failed to do the business for the company.

Meanwhile, BARB sources told IGN that Benzies finally addressed staff following the release of MindsEye in a brief video call yesterday, July 2. According to two people present who asked not to be named in order to protect their careers, Benzies insisted BARB would bounce back and relaunch MindsEye, blaming the studio and the game’s struggles on internal and external saboteurs, among other things.

The comments echo those issued by Mark Gerhard ahead of the release of MindsEye. The co-CEO hit the headlines for claiming there was a "concerted effort" by some to "trash the game and the studio," suggesting people were being paid or using spam bots to post negative comments. The boss of publisher IO Interactive, which makes the Hitman games, subsequently issued a denial.

BARB sources told IGN that internally, there is a desire for a MindsEye redemption arc that would eventually see it become successful for the studio. But as staff face an anxious wait to discover their fate, there are serious questions over whether BARB will be able to fulfill its post-launch roadmap for content, including the promised multiplayer mode, on time.

Build A Rocket Boy declined to comment when contacted by IGN.

Earlier this week, BARB released MindsEye’s third post-release update on console, with a PC release to follow. “We’ve watched hundreds of hours of gameplay footage and reviewed player feedback across multiple channels to prioritize the most pressing issues and improve the experience for all our console players,” the studio said.

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.

Following our recent five-hour hands-on preview of Borderlands 4 (and subsequent Vault and boss fight gameplay commentary), we have gone through and collected all of your questions, all of your best questions from the various comments sections on different platforms and we're going to run through and answer the best of those, the best we can. These are answered by frequent IGN contributor Travis Northup, who wrote our Borderlands 4 preview and whose gameplay and voice is in that Vault and boss fight commentary linked above.

cirescythe asks: Is it a return to form for gearbox...?

Travis Northup: That is obviously the question everyone wants to know the answer to. With this one I think the answer is it remains to be seen, but signs are pretty positive right now. So all the stuff that I played, a lot of focus on the gunplay and mobility and that stuff is really great to see. The refocus on the story with a new planet, new characters, new tone that is reminiscent of Borderlands 1 in my mind I think is probably a good sign for players like myself who were a little turned off by some of Borderlands 3's comedy chops. And so signs certainly point to yes, but as with all these things you never really know until you can play more of it. I don't know that five hours is enough for me to say definitively, but I'm certainly heartened by what I saw.

danieladams5132 asks: Will there be dungeons scattered throughout the open world to explore optionally?

Travis Northup: I think the answer is yes. So I didn't get to explore too much. We were put on the first map and then we went and did one vault. That was basically the extent of the areas we were allowed to explore. But while I was on the first open world hub area, I did a side quest where I was collecting pieces of a vault key to go and do the vault that I was then later put into. And so there are seemingly skippable dungeons you can go to, but I didn't see anything where it's like, "Oh, here's a cave I can wander into that leads to a whole boss fight." I think they are more bespoke and there's probably fewer of them than a Skyrim dungeon where you're running around. It is very much in line with what we've seen in Borderlands in the past where you're doing certain activities. But there was quite a bit to do on the map. Even though there weren't specific dungeons, there were plenty of places I could raid with hidden Loot and because of the new traversal options, you're gliding around the map a lot and hopping into your car instantly, which I think you just saw there in some of the footage, which is really cool to be able to do. It feels more like an open world game despite still very much not being open world.

matthewdavey1462 asks: My biggest question so far is hoping we see a return to Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel's system where Vault Hunters could interact with each other while playing multiplayer.

Travis Northup: We tried out multiplayer at the very end of the demo for about 40 minutes, maybe an hour, and I didn't see any of that where the vault hunters were interacting with each other. The vault hunters talked a little bit during this demo, but per Borderlands tradition, the characters you're playing as are not the main characters in Borderlands and so there wasn't a whole bunch of interaction there. But admittedly I didn't get to see a lot of multiplayer, which is weird. I would say 99% of the Borderlands I have played has been a multiplayer and so it was weird that wasn't the focus of the demo. I'm thinking maybe that's a part that they're still putting together and working on. And so I didn't get to see a ton of that unfortunately.

deviatetaco3757 asks: (at the 6:38 mark of the video preview) Was that a damn podracer?!?

Travis Northup: Yeah. So I think I did look up these timestamps before we started recording. I believe that one is me hopping into my vehicle that you get. So there it is right there. Pod racer. So you can summon your vehicle whenever you want in this game. It's a new feature, you don't have to go to a catch a ride station anymore. And in this case there does seem to be a vehicle skin or form or model that looks a lot like a pod racer. I did not get to play with that exact model. I only got the starter one, but there does seem to be a vehicle that looks an awful lot like a pod racer in the skin, which pretty cool.

TannerHarperReviews asks: (at the 3:27 mark of the video preview) So does that mean that guns no longer have the alt firing modes that we had in BL3? I actually liked that addition to the gunplay.

Travis Northup: Yeah. So I think this commenter was reacting to a comment I made about one of the new gun manufacturers, which I believe is called the order which has an alternate firing mode. You can see that here. The context here is important, which is I was playing in the earliest parts of the game and so I actually don't know how common alt firing modes are in the game in general, but the order's key feature is that their guns specifically have alt firing modes and so I think it is something they're consolidating into a manufacturer, but I probably did not play enough of this game to say that for sure. This gun that you're seeing here is a pistol made by the order and it's alt firing mode is that it can create gravity wells, which was super cool. And so they have alt firing as a feature in this game, but I did not see it on the vast majority of the guns I used. And so that could be different in the end game when you're getting legendaries and doing other stuff like that. But at least with the blues and greens and stuff I was finding for the vast majority of my play through, I did not see a whole lot of alt firing and the ones I did see were exclusively to this gun manufacturer.

98nirki asks: Is there really something new and exciting here to bring new players? It looks and feels more or less the same way for over a decade…

Travis Northup: I think that is a real concern. There's a little bit of a push and pull between fans who want to see a return to form and fans who want the form to be completely different. I think that's a really tough line to walk when you're making a fourth, fifth, sixth game in a franchise, which I believe, although this is Borderlands 4, it's at least the sixth game. They've got spinoffs and all sorts of stuff. I think that's tough.

They very clearly want this to be a Borderlands game and so I think if you straight up do not like Borderlands 1 and 2 specifically, you're probably not going to like this unless your main concerns with those games were. I don't think the gunplay is great because that has been their main focus. They're focusing on gunplay first, some of the RPG mechanics second or probably story second and then the RPG mechanics after that. And so if nothing drew you into the other Borderlands, I don't think that that's going to change here. And I don't think that that's their goal. I think their goal is to say to Borderlands fans, "Hey, we're still improving on the formula that you love, but the formula and the bones of this thing are going to remain largely the same."

It is a problem with pretty much every franchise, right? How do you keep something new while making it the same? You don't want to change it too much otherwise fans will be upset. The sentiment I've heard is give me gunplay from Borderlands 3 with the story and tone and characters of Borderlands 2. I think that they're saying, "Yeah, we want to do that, but we're going to even try to do a lot better than the gunplay in Borderlands 3." Because that has very clearly been a focus, the gunplay is, and I'm sure we'll get to questions about that.

kirawood-e2i asks: I've heard rumour that we're not getting Tiny Tina involved which i think is a shame as Wonderlands was amazing in my opinion. Are there going to be any characters that we actually know of?

Travis Northup: I didn't see any in my time playing with Borderlands and I think that is a very intentional shift. Borderlands has this thing where it relies on a lot of the same characters in every game. This game does have returning characters for sure. We've confirmed that Moxxi is going to be in the game and stuff like that. We've seen that. The demo I played had no characters in common except for I think Claptrap was in it for a little bit or had some voices, but he's basically the mascot of Borderlands. He has to be on it. But aside from that, I didn't have people talking in my ear who were previous characters in Borderlands or anything like that. They're very much moving away from those characters. And I think it speaks to the larger feeling that this is a soft reboot. The NPCs, I was talking to the story, it's on a completely different planet. We are not on Pandora, we're in a different world learning about different characters. It was just a very clean break. So I think Tiny Tina, that rumor that Tina is not in the game is probably true just based on my limited time with it and talking to the developers and hearing them talk about how they wanted a fresh start and to tell the separate story in the separate place so that's just my guess.

momintim asks: I wonder if there will be a hub of sorts?

Travis Northup: So Borderlands 3 definitely had this with the ship that you're on. I didn't see one in this game. My guess is they just didn't want to show it to me, does not mean that it's not in the game. But I didn't see one, so I actually don't know the answer to this question at all. It wasn't something that they talked about.

liamhollands344 asks: Here's a question: Are there still team vehicles? Or are we just gliding around on different kinds of jet bikes?

Travis Northup: I'm not sure if there are team vehicles in this game. The ones I saw were only a single person. Just based on the way you summon them there might not be team vehicles any more unless they're like specific tanks or something like that that I haven't seen. But the reason I don't think that there are team vehicles is because you can do everything from your personal vehicle and you can also summon it wherever you are at any time. So it makes team vehicles irrelevant because the speeder I was on had multiple firing modes. I could shoot missiles, I could shoot a machine gun, it could go really fast. I could get out of it and get in it anywhere I was at any time. And so when you're in that dynamic, I don't really know that you need to load everybody up in the same car anymore. And so I think the answer is probably no. Here I did not see any in this game and signs point toward this possibly being something that they don't have anymore.

Testes-f1i asks: Did you play this on easy?

Travis Northup: I did not get to choose my difficulty. So I actually don't know what game mode I was playing on. These were pre-made files loaded up for us with pre-made builds, and so I didn't get to go through character creation or anything like that. I don't think it was on easy. I don't know. I played these games on the hardest difficulty available to me because I enjoy a challenge. I don't know if there's a question here about the footage. I saw some commenters commenting on my footage and my gameplay not being the greatest. That does happen when you do a demo, it's your first time playing the game. You're given no tutorial. They do not tell you what the build includes or how any of its powers work and you don't have time to read all the menus and abilities because you got to get in there and play the game. And then also you usually have a developer talking in your ear and trying to explain stuff to you while you're playing and you're looking over your shoulder. And so these live demos can be a little challenging and it doesn't always make for the best footage, it's just part of the job unfortunately. I don't think I played it on easy, but I couldn't tell you.

LM0671 asks: One question: When will the graphics engine finally see a major evolution? Episode 5?

Travis Northup: I would say it has. So this is Unreal 5. Perhaps not fully realized in our footage that we captured. Full disclosure, I was not able to in control of the settings. They gave me a rig and they said, "Click this button when you want to capture." So I don't know what its output was, but I can tell you as somebody who has played all of the Borderlands games, like this is the prettiest game. I think the change in engine and the new tools they've got for it are pretty clear. So if that doesn't show up in this video, I think it will when you play it in person. It stuck out to me as being particularly pretty. That said, they're not changing the art style, they're still doing cel-shading. They're still cartoony stuff. And I think that's probably the right move. It needs to look like Borderlands.

mjjenkins8809 asks: Is there an option to play in 3rd person?

Travis Northup: I don't think that there is. I went into third person a few times because you do it when you transition into driving your car or whatever and right here when I'm slashing around with my swords. But I would be really surprised if suddenly Borderlands was no longer primarily FPS. I think that's what they're going for and I don't think there's a third person option.

kingmickey666 asks: What is the humor like? BL3 was childish and BL2 didn't age very well. I like the darker tone, but I hope the humor isn't lost.

Travis Northup: This is a very important question to me as a comedian myself. Humor has always been super important in Borderlands, and I think everybody's got their own opinions about what works and doesn't work. And again, I think it's probably too early to tell, but I will tell you my initial impressions, which are this game has a very, very clear different tone than I would say really any of the Borderlands games. The story is pretty serious. It's probably closest in its tone to Borderlands 1 in that there's a lot going on where there's a planet with this person who's enslaved the entire population, and there's a lot of commentary about that. And so there is a cyberpunk dark sci-fi edge to it. That said, there's still plenty of jokes. All the villain ... There was one boss I fought where he was talking to me about ... I don't know, having his nipples tweaked or something like that. He was one of those bosses who likes pain or whatever and makes it really sexual. And so they went down that path and stuff. I think your mileage may vary. Borderlands has always been potty humor. And so if you were a teenager and you liked Borderlands 2 and now you're older and maybe you don't like that, I would argue that your comedy tastes have changed. And I think that's fine.

I myself am a 30-something who enjoys potty humor, and so if it's done well, I can get behind that. And I think some of the jokes worked and some of them didn't. It certainly was not the same tone as Borderlands 3 and the style of joke was very different. And so I think we're going to need to spend more time with it. But I'll say in my time with it, some of the jokes landed and some of them didn't. I think it was already a step up from Borderlands 3, which is not that high of a bar.

If you've seen Tiny Tina Wonderland, I would say it was around the same consistency as Tiny Tina's Wonderland. But Tiny Tina's Wonderland has a very different vibe to it. It's just a lot more over the top because it's pure fantasy and it's basically just like, oops, all bits. And this wasn't that. They had some bits, they had some sections where there was an ongoing joke, like the boss that was talking to me about how he couldn't wait to be tortured or whatever, but there were also periods where there wasn't that going on and there were serious topics happening, especially in the vault where I was learning about a backstory with a character and there was some story stuff going on. And so I think they're trying to balance it and we'll see how many of ... Like I keep saying, I was heartened by what I saw so far. Probably too early to tell.

RobotJungle asks: Why all the hate?? This looks f*cking awesome and I hated bl3

Travis Northup: My guess is why all the hate is because when you lose the players' confidence, it's hard to gain it back. Players are just ... They are that way. Their loyalty is fleeting. And I think that's probably a good thing because it gives feedback to developers immediately on what they should change. But also I think there's been some stuff that's happened around this game that's not related to the game that has pissed people off. Maybe Randy Pitchford's comments on how much a game should cost and that stuff. And I'm seeing a lot of comments on our preview that are about that, and I don't blame them, but that's separate from the question I'm trying to answer with my previews and my reviews at IGN, which is like, how does the game feel to play, is it worth your time, is it fun et cetera. I'm not going to comment on whether I think various CEO comments are smart things to say or not.

It definitely made me root for them having played the game. I was like, okay, cool. They're not resting on their laurels. They're trying to improve the game. They're very clearly listening to fan feedback and trying to change the direction and so I'm here for it. I like it when games try new stuff and they get sequel fear. I don't think they're doing that with this. I think they are taking chances and they're trying some new stuff and they're trying to keep old stuff that they think worked well, and so they're doing exactly what I would hope a team working on a new Borderlands game would be doing. Whether or not that is successful remains to be seen, but I'm at least more optimistic having played it a bit.

artvandelay123 asks: Will the game have a minimap? FOV sliders?

Travis Northup: The mini-map, I think the answer is no. And we can pull up the footage right now and see it, but I don't remember there being in mini-map. FOV sliders, again, I didn't look in the menu extensively, but I think there were FOV sliders. I was playing on a PC. That function is more common on PCs, so whether that exists on console, I'm not exactly sure. But I did not see a mini-map. The main thing that they use is the compass, and then you can pull up your map pretty quickly. And I was making markers or making a note of which icon I wanted to go toward and then getting in my car or running in that direction basically. But yeah, no mini-map. I think there are FOV sliders, at least on the PC version I was playing.

Distinct Possibility Studio, a new development team comprised of industry veterans including longtime Sony Online Entertainment boss John Smedley, has announced its first project: a large-scale persistent online open-world first-person shooter called Reaper Actual. It's in development for PC.

It's a PvPvEvE game – sort of akin to an MMOFPS – set on the fictional island of Marova, which Smedley tells IGN is four times the size of Call of Duty Warzone's biggest map. You play a Reaper – effectively, a mercenary – and work for different factions. Up to 200 players can be on one server, and you'll be able to join Outfits (read: clans), use vehicles, and own bases – and of course raid them. Meanwhile, the AI is also playing against each other, and the human players can choose to get involved. Check out the first trailer for the Unreal Engine 5-powered game above and the first screenshots in the gallery below.

Distinct Possibility describes Reaper Actual's persistent online island as such: "Victories and defeats reshape the island’s control between PvP fights and NPC factions in real-time. Players will have a progression and crafting system to build the best gear, all of which stays in the world." Meanwhile, the studio's chief creative officer, Matt Higby, said, “We are moving toward the next level of persistent FPS combat. Players want a world they can live in and build upon. Having a solid base is only the start in Reaper Actual. Once faction missions interweave with PvP combat, the world becomes a swirling battleground of options for players. Mix that with a full crafting system and Reapers will grow every time you log in to play.”

Core player experiences are being designed around 3-4 player groups, with larger-scale Planetside 2-type scenarios as well. Meanwhile, their Left 4 Dead Director-style AI, Cerberus, will dynamically put players in conflict with each other by dishing out competing objectives for different Outfits.

Finally, they're extending the in-game economy outside of the game with opt-in web3 elements; the Steam and Epic Games Store versions of Reaper Actual won't have any web3 components, but players who wish to participate can opt-in to user-generated content by crafting guns and gear, with renting and modding servers also an option. If you're interested in participating in player testing, you can do so on the official Reaper Actual website.

Yesterday, amid the layoffs of around 9,100 staff at Microsoft including thousands from its Xbox Gaming Divisions, we learned that one of the impacted projects was an unannounced MMO from ZeniMax Online Studios.

Now, IGN has learned that the entire team for the MMO, codenamed "Blackbird," has been cut, amid layoffs that impacted several hundred individuals across the Cockeysville, MD-based ZeniMax Online Studios.

Speaking to multiple sources familiar with the project, IGN has learned that Blackbird was to be a new, sci-fi IP. Though it had been in development since 2018, the length of time it was taking to make the game was expected, as ZeniMax was building an entirely new game engine for it.

In the last year, sources tell IGN that pre-production was going well, and the team was actively ramping up in the hope of moving into full production soon. Xbox had approved the scaling up, and some individuals were being moved onto the project from other teams such as The Elder Scrolls Online, as well as some people absorbed from the shuttering last year of Arkane Austin.

One source recalled being told last year by head of Xbox Game Studios Matt Booty in a meeting that Xbox's closures of Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, and Alpha Dog Games were done for the purpose of justifying increased headcount for other game studios that needed it, including ZeniMax Online Studios.

But now, every person working on Blackbird is gone. The project has been cancelled, and ZeniMax Online Studios head Matt Firor has stepped down. Sources IGN spoke to said that those within ZeniMax only knew that layoffs were coming due to ongoing news reports leading up to yesterday, but even today are still in the dark as to how widespread the cuts actually are. They also confirmed reports that a number of people's Slack access was deactivated before they were told by HR that they were impacted, resulting in confusion and distress.

Microsoft's mass layoffs have devastated its games division, and our understanding of the impact is still evolving. IGN was told that Candy Crush developer King was hit hard, and we learned yesterday that Perfect Dark has been canceled and The Initiative is no more. Meanwhile, Everwild has been canceled at Rare and veteran Rare designer Gregg Mayles is leaving the company, and Blizzard's Warcraft Rumble is winding down. Brenda and John Romero also announced this morning that Xbox has pulled funding from their project, leaving its future uncertain. A number of other games and teams are rumored to be impacted as well, though the full scope is still unknown.

This comes on the heels of Microsoft's laying off 1,900 staff in January 2024, closing Redfall developer Arkane Austin and Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks months later, laying off 650 more individuals in gaming the following September, and then in May of this year Microsoft laying off an additional 6,000 people.

Image credit: zenimaxonline.com.

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.

Helldivers 2 is coming to Xbox Series X and S next month in a shock announcement that sees Sony publish a game on PlayStation's rival consoles.

Arrowhead’s explosive co-op third-person shooter launches on Xbox on August 26, 2025, a livestream confirmed. Remarkably, that's the same day Microsoft releases Gears of War: Reloaded on PlayStation 5.

In a post on Xbox Wire, Helldivers 2 Game Director Mikael Eriksson commented on what this launch means to the studio.

“We know gamers have been asking for this for some time and we are so excited to bring more Helldivers into our game," he said. "We have so much more in store for the future months and years – and the more players we have the more stories we can tell! The fight for Super Earth has only just begun.”

Crossplay across all platforms is confirmed, which means PC, PlayStation, and Xbox players will be able to play together.

Helldivers 2 launched on PC and PS5 in February 2024 and was a rare live service smash hit for Sony. It is the fastest-selling PlayStation Studios game of all time, selling an incredible 12 million copies in 12 weeks.

While player numbers on Steam, which Valve makes public, remain healthy a year-and-a-half on from the record-breaking launch, the Xbox release will no-doubt boost the player pool even further.

Still, Helldivers 2's release on Xbox comes as a big surprise. Sony, typically, does not release PlayStation Studios games on Xbox, preferring instead to launch on PlayStation consoles only and, in an increasing number of cases, PC. MLB The Show, developed by Sony's San Diego Studio and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, is an exception and does launch on Xbox, albiet under the MLB banner. Sony also recently released LEGO Horizon Adventures on Nintendo Switch, PS5, and PC.

Clearly, the once impenetrable walls of console exclusivity are coming down. Microsoft, which only yesterday made sweeping cuts to its gaming business as part of an eye-watering round of layoffs affecting over 9,000 staff, is all-in on PlayStation. The aforementioned Gears of War: Reloaded marks the once Xbox-exclusive series' debut on PlayStation, Hellblade 2 hits PS5 in August, and Obsidian's The Outer Worlds 2 releases on Sony's console in October.

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.

This article contains spoilers for Jurassic World Rebirth. If you’re not caught up yet, check out our spoiler-free review of the new dinosaur adventure.

Jurassic World Rebirth hits theaters this week, once again throwing us back into the world of John Hammond’s magnificent Jurassic (or more accurately, often Cretaceous) recreations. We see new dinosaur hybrids, a brand new island that is, for reasons beyond me, not one of the five death islands (the chain of islands where the Jurassic action often takes place), and get a brand new trio to lead our future misadventures. But what we don’t have in Jurassic World Rebirth is the franchise’s well-established sense of wonder.

Rebirth takes place 32 years after Jurassic Park the park first opened its doors for Doctors Alan Grant, Ellie Sattler and the rest (and promptly closed them), paralleling Jurassic Park the movie’s release and signaling that the franchise is happening in real-time. It’s a minute detail, but one that connects the story’s central premise – that humans have grown tired of dinosaurs – to its own viewers. And as one of those viewers, I can’t help but find that idea both odd and disappointing. That disappointment is notable here because I have never once been disappointed by this franchise. At its worst and dumbest, it still has dinosaurs. And, though still technically true of Rebirth, it’s only barely so.

Jurassic World Rebirth’s sadness is core to its story, which isn’t inherently negative. The melancholy works. But you can engage with an ailing brontosaurus trapped in the middle of New York City and thus wreaking all sorts of havoc on humans' everyday life without shifting your overall franchise sentiment to “humans have grown tired of dinosaurs.” You also don’t need that boredom to justify an evil corporation known for experimenting on dinosaurs to experiment on dinosaurs. It’s literally what they do! It does not require an explanation! It especially doesn't require an explanation that then compromises your overall narrative.

Sadness can be at the center of your story without sacrificing the awe that has been so central to your success. I can accept the film’s decision to distance itself from core Jurassic aspects like InGen, choosing not to take place on one of the five Death Islands, distancing yourself from the practical effects you are so known for and not using any of your other established evil corporations and instead creating a brand new one. But asking the audience to participate in future films where people just don’t care about dinosaurs? Why would we do that?

I have what might be called a bit of a dinosaur problem. Jurassic Park was the first film I saw in theaters. Four might have been too young, but I was far from the only child there. I was, however, one of the few kids not screaming in terror. I have been enamoured by dinosaurs my entire life. Jurassic Park would later become the first film I saw at a drive-in during their resurgence throughout quarantine. My first published print piece was in a Jurassic Park magazine (RIP, Birth. Movies. Death.). I devoured Michael Crichton’s books and I have loved each of the respective Jurassic films despite their warts because they have dinosaurs in them.

Which is all to say that, as a card-carrying member of Jurassic World’s core audience, I can’t fathom a world where people aren’t enamored by dinosaurs. I dream of being able to travel to Universal Beijing to meet the animatronic triceratops that wanders through the park even though I know it’s a dang robot. I am also one of the idiots who would be first in line to an actual Jurassic Park despite having seven films and a couple of terrifying books explaining why that would be the stupidest decision a person could make.

The wonder of the dinosaurs is the inherent point of this franchise. The cautionary tale of hubris that makes up the backbone of its narrative cannot exist without it — at least in the films. None of it works with Alan and Ellie’s reverence for the dinosaurs, whether it be seeing the brontosaurus for the first time or their immediate empathy for the ailing triceratops. Crichton’s novel is much more horrific, and it does just fine in that genre, but Jurassic World Rebirth straddles genres in a way that sparks a few bright moments like the terrifying introduction of the D-rex or writer David Koepp’s long-awaited adaptation of the terrifying T-rex river scene from the novel. But it doesn’t really do much to pull the franchise into straight horror territory, while also never managing to elicit the all-important sense of wonder the movies are known for.

It’s worth mentioning that I still enjoyed Jurassic World Rebirth. The new trio gives us just enough to make us care about them — or at least more than Chris Pratt’s Owen Grady and Bryce Dallas Howard’s Claire Dearing ever really managed to accomplish in their three films — and the hybrids are fun enough with the notable exception of the D-rex. Please don’t give me a dinosaur movie without a dinosaur antagonist. That is a rancor, and not a particularly good-looking one. But my overall concern here isn’t about Rebirth, it’s about what comes next.

I’m not really interested in a story set in a world that has become bored by dinosaurs, and I struggle to see a path forward for the franchise built on that aforementioned wonder. With the exception of Dr. Loomis’ (Jonathan Bailey) awe over the titanosaurus, there’s not an ounce of awe or empathy for these creatures. The dinosaurs are almost a backdrop to the primary story and, with love and respect to the remarkable Bailey and his equally wonderful co-stars Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali, we’re not here for them.

The audience has never been in this for the human characters, and please know that I say that with nothing but endless adoration for Ellie Sattler, Alan Grant and (most days) Ian Malcolm. It was, is and always will be about the dinosaurs, so I truly cannot see a world where a team full of people looked at each other and said “Y’know what this franchise needs? Dinosaur fatigue!”

I followed this series through dream raptors, an ill-advised child clone, and am actually a defender of the locust fiasco (it’s the next logical step and everyone needed to calm down, don’t @ me), but for the first time in my life I feel like the Jurassic franchise is going down a path that I can’t follow. And, worse still, I don’t really see a way out of it for them. I’ll be there for the next one and desperately want to be proven wrong, but man. They set out for melancholy with this one and I think they succeeded just a little bit too much.

With the upcoming launch of Superman, a new Batman movie in the works, and confirmation that a new Wonder Woman film is in development, the obvious next question is whether we’ll see the super trio team up in the rebooted DCU at some point. Based on comments from James Gunn, that sounds likely.

Speaking to Deadline on the red carpet for Superman, Gunn, who wrote and directed the film and is stewarding DC Studios alongside Peter Safran, was asked if there’s a chance fans will get to see Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman on the big screen together.

Gunn’s response made it clear a teamup is on the cards: “Of course! Yeah!”

However, he qualified that statement by saying it won’t happen for some time: “But not in the next movie.” Presumably this is a reference to next year's Supergirl.

Deadline then followed up to ask if there were talks of it happening at some point in the next few years, and Gunn pushed back on the idea of formal talks happening at this point.

“You have to remember that all this stuff is talks in my head,” he said. “So there’s a lot of chatter in my head that does a lot of things. The DCU is chatter in my head, not talks.”

James Gunn discusses a reunion between Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman on the big screen: “Of course, yeah! But, not in the next movie” pic.twitter.com/RK8FhqOJfU

— Deadline (@DEADLINE) July 2, 2025

Clearly, Gunn is mentally at least preparing for all three characters to join forces eventually, but when that happens is anyone’s guess. While Superman has a release date, as do 2026's Supergirl and Clayface, other DCU projects seem rather nebulous. Chief among them is Batman, which Gunn himself recently called “my biggest issue in all of DC right now.”

In February, Gunn and Safran confirmed The Brave and the Bold will introduce a new Batman into the DCU, ruling out current Batman actor Robert Pattinson in the process. At the time, Safran and Gunn said Pattinson would play Batman in director Matt Reeves’ Batman universe, dubbed The Batman Epic Crime Saga, only. Pattinson played Batman in 2022’s The Batman, with The Batman - Part 2 confirmed to be in development.

However, last year The Batman Part 2 was delayed once again, this time to October 1, 2027. If this date stands, it will end up being five years between the world first seeing Robert Pattinson become the Dark Knight and again in its sequel.

And what does this mean for the timing of The Brave and the Bold? Gunn faces the potentially confusing situation of having two actors playing Batman in movies across two different DC universes.

As of February, The Brave and the Bold was said to be in “very active development,” and the story was “coming together very nicely.” But is The Flash director Andy Muschietti still directing? Gunn and Safran are developing the script, and will show it to Muschietti "when we have it in a place where we think it's ready to go... and see if it's a fit for him," Safran said earlier this year. "I'm very, very actively involved in that script," Gunn added, also earlier this year.

Speaking more recently on Batman, Gunn said he’s not actually writing The Brave and the Bold, but is working with an unnamed writer to “get it right.”

“Batman’s my biggest issue in all of DC right now, personally,” he said. “And it’s not — I’m not writing Batman, but I am working with the writer of Batman and trying to get it right, because he’s incredibly important to DC, as is Wonder Woman.

“So outside of the stuff that I’m doing in the projects that are actively going, our two priorities are finishing our Wonder Woman and our Batman scripts.”

Gunn then discussed in vague terms the kind of Batman he’s going for — or, perhaps it would be better to say the kind of Batman he's trying to avoid.

“Batman has to have a reason for existing, right? So Batman can’t just be ‘Oh, we’re making a Batman movie because Batman’s the biggest character in all of Warner Bros.,’ which he is. But because there’s a need for him in the DCU and a need that he’s not exactly the same as Matt’s Batman.

“But yet he’s not a campy Batman. I’m not interested in that. I’m not interested in a funny, campy Batman, really. So we’re dealing with that. I think I have a way in, by the way. I think I really know what it’s — I just am dealing with the writer to make sure that we can make it a reality.”

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.

Looking for active Steal a Capybara codes? Check out our list for all the working codes in this Roblox experience, so you don't have to search for them. Redeem each code to get rewards like money for buying capybaras or keeping your base locked longer. The last thing you want is for someone to steal from your base!

Working Steal a Capybara Codes (July 2025)

Here are all the current active codes you can redeem in Steal a Capybara as well as the rewards you'll get from them:

• 100kMembers - 100 Seconds Base Lock (NEW)
• 10MVisits - 10,000 Cash (NEW)
• 30kLikes - 30 Seconds Base Lock (NEW)
• LABUBU - 5,000 Cash (NEW)

Expired Steal a Capybara Codes (July 2025)

The below codes have unfortunately expired and will no longer work. We've included them here so you don't bother trying to redeem them:

• Visits
• Like

How to Redeem Steal a Capybara Codes

Find out quickly how to redeem codes in Steal a Capybara so you can earn those rewards. Follow these simple steps:

1. Launch Steal a Capybara on Roblox.
2. Press the big blue button on the right side of your screen that says, Codes, beneath it.
3. Enter your code in the box that says, "Enter Code Here..." and then press the green Redeem button.

Why Isn't My Steal a Capybara Code Working?

If you're having trouble redeeming a code, there are two common reasons why it may not be working:

• The code is expired
• The code has been entered incorrectly

If a code has been entered incorrectly or has expired, you'll see a message that says, "This code has expired or does not exist". In order to avoid this, we recommend copying and pasting the code directly from this article. As long as you don't accidentally get an extra space in there when copying it, it should work if it's active. We make sure to check and test every Steal a Capybara code before we add them to this article.

A common reason for codes to not work in this Roblox game is because they're case-sensitive. That means you have to type it exactly the same way in this article. Otherwise, it won't work if it has different letters capitalized or lowercase.

Where to Find More Steal a Capybara Codes

We always recommend checking our article here for active codes since you can rely on us to verify which ones are working. But, if you'd prefer to find some Steal a Capybara codes on your own, you can check the dedicated Discord server.

What is Steal a Capybara in Roblox?

Steal a Capybara is similar to Steal a Brainrot in that both games revolve around getting characters to generate money over time. You can then spend that money to buy rarer capybaras or if you're feeling mischievous, you can take from other players. But you'll want to make sure you have gadgets to smack away others while also avoiding traps that can stun you.

Once you've gained a ton of money you can reset your base by rebirthing. This unlocks new items and can even expand your base for more capybaras too.

Jeffrey Lerman is a freelance game journalist for IGN who has been covering games for over a decade. You can follow him on Bluesky.

The latest major Monster Hunter Wilds update, Title Update 2, is out and brought a lot of exciting content to the Forbidden Lands. Alongside the new hunts, Capcom took aim at some of the performance issues that have been plaguing the PC version, specifically, though opinions seem mixed on whether it succeeded.

Despite Monster Hunter Wilds' impressive sales numbers, especially on PC, the Steam reviews have painted a different picture. Wilds garnered a "Mixed" review rating around launch. In response, director Yuya Tokuda committed to stability and improvements as updates started rolling out.

In Patch Ver. 1.02.00.00 for the Steam version of Monster Hunter Wilds, among all the new monsters and quests, Capcom takes aim at several factors for the PC version, including DLSS4 and FSR4 support for graphics upscaling and additional frame generation updates.

The response has been all over the place. In our own research online, we found examples of players reporting genuine improvements. In this Reddit thread discussing whether performance is better post-TU2, there are some responding that while there are still issues, "it is an improvement."

Head over to the Steam reviews though, and there's been a new wave of negative reviews flooding in. On July 1, the first day after Title Update 2 went live, 208 Positive reviews were submitted to the Steam storefront compared to 1,418 Negative reviews.

"Title Update 2 deleted my save data of 239 hours," one review reads. "I've reached a quiet acceptance of losing 239 hours of playtime alongside all my loadouts, layered armor, events, saved characters, stats, guild card, hunt log, and achievements. I want to recommend the game because I've put so much time into it, but I don't have it in me to endure the lackluster performance, crashes, and the promise of having to restart all over again."

While the overall review average for Monster Hunter Wilds holds at "Mixed" on Steam, the Recent Reviews section is Overwhelmingly Negative. And while further investigation is merited, it seems like even anecdotal evidence from players currently diving into the latest Wilds patch does not paint an ideal picture.

This may not ultimately be the panacea for Monster Hunter Wilds' PC performance woes, but the Title Update 2 did also add Lagiacrus, fierce fights, and other content that players do seem to be enjoying. Make sure to check out our guide on how to unlock everything from Monster Hunter Wilds' Title Update 2 if you're looking to hop back in.

Eric is a freelance writer for IGN.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is out, and as porters worldwide begin trekking across Hideo Kojima’s newest adventure, all sorts of little secrets and discoveries are being uncovered. While much attention will be paid to the grand, cinematic experience on display, Kojima also went ahead and stuffed Death Stranding 2 to the gills with little flourishes and details, some obvious, some very, very hidden.

We’ve compiled a list of all the little details that help bring the world of Death Stranding 2 to life, from easter eggs to ingenious gameplay we can’t believe Kojima Productions thought to even add in the first place.

1. The best part of Death Stranding 2 is seeing how the natural world interacts with Sam, or how Sam interacts with the natural world. Given that this is a game about traversing the different biomes of Australia, Sam will naturally get dirty, and this will be reflected on Sam’s character model. He’ll be covered in dirt, snow, and sludge after long journeys, which will require you to take showers to clean off.

2. It’s not limited to just the elements, either. After an intense fight, Sam will also become covered by the blood of his enemies. While this might make him look very battle hardened, it probably isn’t how Sam wants to present himself when he’s on deliveries, so be sure to clean off the blood in the shower too.

3. When not covered in grime, even just exposure to the sun can affect Sam’s appearance. He’ll turn redder as he gets more and more sunburnt, to the point where he can start resembling a cherry tomato in the face. Taking a shower will heal these burns, so bathe regularly.

4. However, if you decide to take off your backpack before showering, you’ll find that while you become clean, your backpack will stay dirty. Why you'd take your pack into the shower is beyond me, but it's better than carrying around a dirty pack, I suppose.

5. If you can’t make it to a shower, hopping into a lake or river will clear off some of the dirt up to the point you submerge yourself. Meaning if you only dip your shoes into the river, your boots will be clean, but the rest of you won’t be.

6. There are all sorts of different weather conditions in the world of Death Stranding 2, all of which will hit in real-time.

7. The earliest natural event you encounter is the sandstorm, which severely impairs Sam’s visibility, forcing you to rely on your Odradek scanner to scope out the terrain. When the storm gets particularly bad, you’ll lose stamina and will need to hide behind large structures to shield yourself from the storm.

8. Other natural disasters include blizzards that, like a sandstorm, will impair Sam’s vision and slow him down. Plus, when Sam’s too cold, his stamina will deplete faster than normal.

9. Lastly, thunderstorms will also strike Sam when he’s out and about. The rain in Death Stranding 2 is known to degrade Sam’s cargo and equipment faster than usual so be sure to find shelter fast to prevent your packages from getting damaged. And watch out for lightning strikes. While I haven’t seen anyone get hit by one yet (unlike in The Legend of Zelda), they can strike awfully close to Sam if he’s not careful.

10. What’s more, you can even see these weather events in real-time from afar. Meaning if there’s a blizzard happening on a mountaintop, you can see it from the base of the mountain.

11. Dust, rain, snow, and even chiral creatures build up on the screen when you spend too long in them, which adds to the immersive and cinematic approach Kojima takes with his games.

12. If you’re in the high heat of the desert too long you’ll begin to see mirages of rivers flowing through the sands. But as you get closer you’ll realize there’s no water there. Sorry.

13. Depending on which biome you’re in, whether it’s the hot desert or freezing mountaintops, Sam will take either a cold shower to cool off, or a hot shower to warm up.

14. As you and other porters begin carving paths through the world of Death Stranding 2 to make deliveries, you’ll find that regularly used paths become roads by themselves from being worn down, making them easier to traverse over time.

15. Rivers will also rise and fall with the rain. Some rivers become flooded under heavy rainfall, making them more difficult to traverse than under dry conditions.

16. The iconic image of Death Stranding as a series is Sam carrying a stack of boxes on his back. That’s because his porter job is inspired by the Japanese Bokka porter who transport boxes to homes that aren’t reachable by trucks or cars. There are references to the Bokka in dialogues with other porters and even a Bokka skeleton for Sam, which make it easier for him to traverse difficult terrain like rivers, inclines, and snow.

17. One of the most useful vehicles is the Pickup Off-Roader, which lets you haul tons of packages across long-distances. Depending on how and where it’s parked, Sam changes the way he climbs into the driver’s seat.

18. Ramps are invaluable when it comes to getting your vehicle across large gaps. But depending on what vehicle you use to jump the ramp, whether it’s on a vehicle, your floating carrier you ride like a skateboard, or even just using a skeleton on your legs, you can even do some cool skateboard and acrobatic tricks off the ramp.

19. Some Pickups aren’t driveable because they belong to specific shelters. Weirdly, Pickups that aren’t owned by Sam or Drawbridge feature the logo of Yamato Transport, a real-life Japanese delivery company.

20. There are numerous monorail lines you can build across Death Stranding 2 at set points, much like the roads you can build in Death Stranding 1 and 2. But they’re not just for trains as you can use a zip line to attach yourself to a monorail pole and travel that way.

21. But if you’re inclined to travel on foot, always remember to wear shoes! Walking barefoot too long will eventually cause Sam’s feet to bleed, which leaves a trail of blood behind. While you'll still be able to get around without shoes, Sam will refuse to run given how uncomfortable it is on his toes.

22. If you choose to give Sam a rest while on the road, or leave your controller idle for too long, Sam will have a nice sit down to catch a breather, at which point a floating Lou will appear over Sam’s head as he dreams about her.

23. While it might be fun to see how high you can stack boxes on your back, be careful of your surroundings as tall stacks of boxes won’t fit through certain doors and will instead topple over if they hit the ceiling, forcing you to pick them up again.

24. There are also special timed events set to specific dates, just like in the first Death Stranding. At the beginning of the game you’re asked to input your birthday. And if you boot up the game on your special day a unique cutscene will trigger where all your friends (and enemy) will wish you a happy birthday.

25. More than that, if you go out into the world and use the call out feature, other NPC porters will wish you a happy birthday too.

26. Your birthday isn’t the only special day. Playing Death Stranding 2 on Christmas day will add Christmas Tree holograms to shelters and give NPCs little Santa hats to wear to celebrate the joyous occasion. If you don’t want to wait for Christmas or your birthday, changing your PS5’s internal clock to the correct date will trigger these events.

27. While Death Stranding 2 isn’t purely about combat, there are a ton of ways to fight the BTs. Sam’s blood already has anti-BT properties making Blood Grenades lethal to BTs, but shooting a normal bullet through the blood cloud left behind the grenade will make them deadly against BTs too.

28. Guns aren’t your only weapons in a fight. If you unlock the secret cutscene for the Pizza Chef (played by Ghost in the Shell director Mamoru Oshii), you’ll unlock an entire new martial arts fighting style based around the delicious meal.

29. One of your constant companions on the road is Dollman, who you can throw up high into the air to do reconnaissance on enemy bases. But you can also throw him straight at an enemy to temporarily stun them.

30. Unlike other weapons, Dollman is a living being and he will eventually get mad at you if you throw him at too many enemies, or let him drop to the ground after a recon trip. If he’s upset, he won’t let you throw him for a while.

31. Bandits in Death Stranding 2 are often equipped with stun rods that blast waves of electricity. However, if you have the Electric Shock Absorber add-on for you backpack, you can turn their electric attacks into power for your battery.

Today’s deals are the definition of variety. We’ve got 4K steelbooks, heat-busting neck fans, noise machines, and some wild savings on Prime trials. Fancy catching up on classics like The 40-Year-Old Virgin in ultra-high def, or diving into Geralt’s world with The Witcher book set? There’s plenty here to pad your cart without draining your wallet (much).

TL;DR: Deals For Today

Amazon’s running early Prime Day offers, and if you’re 18–24, you can still snag six months of Prime for free. Audible’s back with the 99-cent triple trial, and Kindle Unlimited is doing three months free for Prime members too. Meanwhile, eBay’s pushing big-name refurb deals from Bose, Dyson and Roborock, all with bonus AllState warranties. Let’s break it down.

The 40-Year-Old Virgin - Limited Edition Steelbook

The Witcher Boxed Set

FrSara Neck Fan

Dreamegg Portable White Noise Machine

Amazon Prime Day Is Coming

6 Months Free Amazon Prime For Young Adults

Assassin's Creed: Shadows Limited Edition (PS5)

3 Months for $0.99 Audible Deal

3 Months Free Kindle Unlimited

Prismatic Evolutions Super-Premium Collection

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Noise Cancelling Headphones

Roborock Q Revo Robot Vacuum and Mop

Dyson V11 Torque Drive+ Vacuum Cleaner

Coke Zero Sugar 12 Pack

George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones 5-Book Boxed Set

Humble Choice

Symphonic Journeys Pokémon Red & Blue Vinyl

M3GAN 2.0 - Limited Edition Steelbook (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital)

WOWBOX 32 PCS Clear Plastic Drawer Organizer Set

Tunise Rechargeable Portable Neck Fan

The Silmarillion Deluxe Illustrated by the Author

Pokémon TCG Price Comparison

Some of the pricing here by Amazon is insane, but there's some deals to be had when comparing these products to TCG Player. For example, Prismatic Evolutions Super-Premium Collection was a massive 56% below market value, but TCG Player is coming in cheaper now at $195. On the other end of the scale, TCG Player has Cynthia’s Garchomp ex Premium Collection at a massive 48% below Amazon's current price, which is very close to MSRP. I've compared all the prices in the carousel above, but another pro tip is clicking through to eBay to see if there's any new bargains to be had.

This Weeks Pokémon Card Crashers and Climbers

I’ve been keeping a close eye on the Pokémon TCG market this month, and we’re seeing two very different stories unfold. On one side, Surging Sparks cards are going through a steep correction.

On the other hand, Crown Zenith cards are showing early signs of what could be a long-term value surge. The bottom line? If you're a collector or investor, now is the time to buy into both.

I’m picking up what I can from both sets. The current dip in Sparks is a glimmer of hope for long-suffering 2024-2025 collectors. And Crown Zenith is a train I want to be on before it leaves the station.

Pokémon TCG Classic

The Sam's Club Pokémon TCG Classic deal is back, and it's massively undercutting other big box retailers and the secondary market. Just for comparrison, the top four cards from this set, Charizard, Blastoise, Venusaur and Mewtwo, are worth the same price as this discounted offer. This deal is well worth it and should be snapped up as soon as possible.

Mega Evolution Pokémon Cards Are Climbing

I can't believe the X Y era of Pokémon cards came out 12 years ago, but it was an amazing era for the TCG introducing the Mega Evolution mechanic. Mega's will be returning later this year with the start of the Mega Evolutions era and the end of Scarlet and Violet, so snapping up these top Mega cards before prices go even higher is a wise move. We know how it'll play out, no one will be able to grab the new sets at launch, then the nostalgia will kick in and these cards will skyrocket. Just the Charizards and Rayquazzas alone are worth a look.

Magic: The Gathering Price Comparison

MTG doesn't seem to be struggling to keep up with demand despite it being one of the biggest trading card games on earth, but that doesn't stop big box retailers getting cheeky when they notice a peak in demand. Like with Pokémon TCG, i've gone through the majority of MTG stock on Amazon and compared their pricing to market values on TCG Player. The Theros Beyond Death booster made me spit out my tea. Amazon is listing a single booster for $378.08, but these can be picked up any day of the week for $5.59 on TCG Player. Go figure. Another big difference is Marvel's Spider-Man - Play Booster Box. Amazon has their preorder price guarantee on this, but it's still 17% cheaper to preorder on TCG Player.

This Weeks MTG Crashers and Climbers

As we covered in our recent synergies feature, Harmonic Prodigy gives double Wizard triggers – nice! That means it's gone up by 118.70% in the past month (246.76% in three) – not so nice!

That's good for those that own the card, not so good for those who are looking to pick it up standalone. Still, market is still just $12.75 right now, so it could be a lot worse.

Moving away from Vivi, Tifa’s getting some love from Bristly Bill, Spine Sower. This Outlaws of Thunder Junction card can help power up our martial artist heroine, but at a cost of almost $40 now.

Another nifty synergy that's climbing is Perch Protection. This Instant has climbed from a dollar to almost $6, since it handily ties into Chocobo decks.

WAOAW Sleep Mask w/ 3D Eye Cups & Adjustable Strap (Black)

Where Winds Meet, the upcoming open-world action Wuxia action adventure from Everstone Studios, is a PlayStation 5 console exclusive for at least six months.

Confirmation comes via a new video published to the PlayStation YouTube channel (the multiplatform version of this trailer is below). As well as offering a peek into the game's story, the end of the teaser revealed that Where Winds Meet is a PS5 console exclusive for "at least six months." It's also coming to mobile and PC.

Younger Americans are spending 25% less on video games today than this time last year.

That's according to a report by The Wall Street Journal, which used data from market research company Circana to analyze the spending habits of young Americans.

While spending was down 13% across the board from January to April 2025 for 18- to 24-year-olds — particularly on accessories, technology, and furniture, which fell by 18%, 14%, and 12%, respectively — video game spending saw the largest fall. This is not a trend observed in older age groups.

Spending also dropped in the categories of prestige beauty, clothing and apparel, and sports equipment.

UPDATE: A Romero Games employee has claimed that Microsoft's decision to pull funding from the studio's in-development project has led to the entirety of the studio being laid off.

"Today I found out our whole studio is being let go because of the layoffs at Microsoft," the staff member wrote via a post on LinkedIn.

"A very sad day," wrote another employee impacted by layoffs. "It breaks my heart to say that Romero Games fell victim to the 9,100 Microsoft layoffs today. The best team I've ever worked with and my dream job gone just like that. It really was a great project and it's hard to process that it's over. It's nothing less than tragic."

More than a dozen Romero Games employees have now publicly stated they have been impacted by the layoffs and are now looking for work, according to LinkedIn profiles reviewed by IGN. Romero Games formally announced its funding had been pulled just hours ago, as detailed below.

ORIGINAL STORY: Romero Games, the studio founded by Doom co-creator John Romero and Brenda Romero, has said it has been left "heartbroken" after discovering that funding for its next project has been pulled, reportedly as part of Microsoft's latest cuts, leaving the game and its team at risk.

In a statement, studio director Brenda Romero said the company's publisher and financial partner confirmed last night it was walking away from the project "along with several other unannounced projects at other studios."

As the full effect of Microsoft’s devastating round of layoffs becomes clearer, Blizzard has announced that mobile game Warcraft Rumble won’t get any new content, with its developers reporting they have been laid off.

Warcraft Rumble was a high-profile attempt by Blizzard to bring the Warcraft universe into the lucrative mobile space. Development began in 2016, with the game itself releasing in 2023 as a free-to-play tower defense RTS inspired by the likes of Clash of Clans. The PC version launched late last year.

In a blog post, Blizzard admitted Warcraft Rumble “struggled to find its footing relative to our ambition for its long-term success,” and that recent attempts to improve the popularity of the game weren’t enough to sustain development.

The news comes as part of a bloodbath at Microsoft that saw 4%, or just over 9,000 staff, cut from the company. While the majority of those layoffs were outside the gaming business, Xbox studios were hit hard. Rare’s Everwild, for example, was canceled, as was the Perfect Dark reboot. The Initiative was closed.

Elsewhere, Candy Crush maker King suffered significant layoffs, as did Bethesda’s European operations. An unannounced MMO from The Elder Scrolls Online developer, ZeniMax Online Studios, was canceled and its development team cut. Reports indicate Forza developer Turn 10 and various Call of Duty development studios suffered layoffs, too. Microsoft was forced to deny rumors that under fire Xbox boss Phil Spencer is set to retire after the release of the next-gen Xbox.

Alex Apple, client engineer at Blizzard, took to LinkedIn to say they had been laid off “along with the entire Warcraft Rumble team.” Other developers on the game reported similar.

In its blog post, Blizzard said Warcraft Rumble will remain playable but will only receive updates focused on regular, systemic in-game events and bug fixes.

Dear Warcraft Rumble Community,  

We have an important update on the future of Warcraft Rumble. After much deliberation, we’ve arrived at an extremely hard decision. Moving forward, we'll continue supporting Rumble with updates focused on regular, systemic in-game events and bug fixes, but no new content.  

Warcraft Rumble began development nine years ago as a love letter to Azeroth and launched back in 2023, reflecting input from enthusiastic players around the globe and the effort of a passionate team — some of whom continue to support Rumble or other Blizzard games, and some we’ve had to sadly part ways with. Since launch, Rumble has struggled to find its footing relative to our ambition for its long-term success, and for some time now the team has been listening to player feedback, refocusing in certain areas, and exploring different options. Some of that work showed signs of progress, but ultimately wasn’t enough to put the game on a path to sustainability.  

During this transition, we are focused on supporting our teammates. We’re deeply grateful to everyone at Blizzard and in the community for helping bring Warcraft Rumble to life and embracing the joy that makes this game so special. Your enthusiasm and feedback mean the world to us.

Fans of the game reacted with disappointment to the news, but there is little surprise given how the game has gone over the last two years. Most players are now waving goodbye to Warcraft Rumble and its community, while sending messages of support to the affected developers.

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.