Assassin's Creed fans are reacting with disappointment after a new report on Ubisoft's long-expected Black Flag remake has stated that the game will no longer contain any modern day gameplay.

The report, published by French outlet Jeuxvideo, states that all of Black Flag's modern day sections have been removed from the upcoming piratical remake.

In the original Assassin's Creed: Black Flag, players occasionally pop out of the Animus to explore the offices of Abstergo Entertainment, unlocking clues to how the story of pirate Edward Kenway is tied to the series' overarching modern day narrative.

Ubisoft is reportedly adding extra content from Kenway's pirate era to make up the lost gameplay hours (including additional story for his fellow pirate Mary Read that never made into the base game, which would indeed be welcome).

Other changes for the remake include overhauled combat and gear systems that act closer to other more modern Assassin's Creed games.

Overall, though, the excision of Black Flag's modern day portions looks to be the most noteworthy change — and one that is not going down well with some fans, especially after the threadbare modern day storyline in Assassin's Creed Shadows.

"I hope it's not true that they removed the modern day sections," wrote havewelost6388, in a long reddit thread discussing the report. "Without the modern day storyline and ancient aliens sci-fi stuff, modern AC games are just Witcher 3 clones with stealth mechanics."

"They need to stop removing modern day content," added ZeroZelath. "It's honestly one of my favorite parts and that stems from the earlier games. I was actually looking forward to it in Shadows after how Valhalla ended but then... Shadows had literally nothing. It was such a big disappointment on that front. Like genuinely, the modern day stuff is part of how the franchise works so it should always be present in some form and be telling an overarching story."

"Omg, Ubisoft! STOP REMOVING THE MODERN DAY SEGMENTS!!!" added kamuigui. "The best of the series is the fact that was very clear that we were in a simulation!"

As well as adding to Assassin's Creed's overarching story, the modern day sections in Black Flag tie closely into the narrative of Kenway's historical quest — leading some fans to question how Ubisoft will handle the lack of wider context.

"Wouldn’t removing the modern day scenes remove a pretty big part of the story regarding the sage?" questioned Ari441.

"I don’t see how you can do the story without the modern day stuff tying it all together," Pizzaplanet420 added. "The ending of the game [in the modern day] is literally the bookend to the entire story..."

Of course, delving back into the series' previous modern day storyline featuring long-term antagonist Juno would require a bit of re-explaining at this point — but considering how that storyline ended up being dropped and concluded in a spin-off comic, this could have been a good opportunity to do more there.

Ubisoft is yet to formally announce its highly-anticipated Black Flag remake, though its existence is an open secret after years of leaks — including from the voice actor behind Edward Kenway himself, as well as a company making collectible figurines for the game. IGN has contacted Ubisoft for more.

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

In Episode 7 of Alien: Earth, things get violent in a hurry. “Emergence” is all about damage control in all corners of Neverland, as the aftermath of Isaac’s death and Arthur’s hugged face lead to sprint-to-the-finish energy in the season’s penultimate episode.

Spoilers for Episode 7 of Alien: Earth

At 41 minutes, “Emergence” is the shortest episode so far, and by a wide margin. It’s a full ten minutes shorter than Episode 3, giving one the impression that this is actually half a finale episode that was a little too long, so they split it in two. But the pace isn’t without reason, or the better way to say it might be that there’s no reason not to sprint.

One of the things that made last week's episode so good is how cleanly it wrapped up the stakes. After six episodes of table setting, the eggs are ready to hatch and the chests are ready to burst, so just get on with it.

Morrow’s plan to smuggle a xenomorph off the island by manipulating Slightly is well underway and absolutely wrecking the psyche of the poor kid. Opening the episode to find that he’s hidden Arthur and the facehugger under his bed, the only natural place for a child (which he very clearly is) to hide something they know will get them in trouble, is heartbreaking. Smee going along for the ride like a good best friend makes it even more impactful, and while Slightly’s fear through his journey with Arthur’s body is played just right, it’s the details – like Smee holding Arthur’s hand toward the end – that never let you forget what the Lost Boys really are.

But the real treat in “Emergence” is the return to form for H.R. Giger’s nightmare fuel. The xenomorph grown in Prodigy’s lab, now late-adolescent if not fully grown, is back and ready for its closeup, but it all starts with Wendy. The uncertainty she’s felt about Prodigy and the Boy Genius on Neverland has been clear each time anybody has asked her about it. When Joe first floats the idea to her of getting off the island, she responds with, “What if I like it here?”

But after seeing Isaac (fka Tootles) dead due to unsafe scientific pursuits, she makes up her mind in an instant. And it’s not her brother or her synthetic siblings that she turns to for support; it’s the xenomorph. That she’s willing to set the thing loose on the unsuspecting clean-up crew in the lab, directly bringing about their deaths, is a dark and sudden turn, even for a franchise built on acid blood and Man’s greed.

The best moment in the entire episode, however, is after the xeno takes out a batch of Yutani special forces (or whatever kind of forces they are), when it shares an almost tender How to Train Your Dragon moment with Wendy. She reaches out and wipes some of the blood off the xenomorph’s snout. Forehead? Front part? You know, above the teeth where it seems like eyes should be. The point is that Wendy is actively putting blood on her hands. While the bloodbath was unfolding in front of her, Wendy’s reaction was calm, seemingly satisfied with her decision to let the alien out; putting the blood on her hand shows she doesn’t regret it. Usually this trope presents as a Shakespearean “out damn spot” kind of freak-out, when a fit of rage or passion leads to violence, after which the perpetrator looks down, shocked to find the crimson metaphor for guilt. Here though, Wendy is saying, “Nope, I did that, and I’ll take some of the credit, please.”

But the episode title earns its meaning in the final showdown on the boat. “Emergence” is an episode full of characters moving into their final form. For Nibs, that form is of a total and complete psychopath. She’s a kid who’s been through unknowable trauma, completely unable to handle it and unequipped to value human life, as evidenced by when she crushes that dude’s jaw and rips the goopy tendons out of his throat. That was…well, it’s hard to look at. But for Wendy, she’s also emerging, but can’t yet entertain the subtlety that Joe, while very much on her team, might also not want his friends to die.

It’s a distinction that is difficult for kids to grasp; looking past the immediate consequences of your actions is very much a learned skill. It’s also been a few episodes since I’ve mentioned Sydney Chandler’s performance, but her screams at the end of this episode are equal parts angry and confused. It’s the perfect combination to head into, not only the finale next week, but this week’s…

Credit Roll Needle Drop Check-In

“Emergence” cuts to the credits to the beat of “Song for the Dead” by Queens of the Stone Age, from their 2002 album, Songs for the Deaf. It’s a grungy, repetitive track, one that sits at the base of your skull if you let it. It’s the rock version of nails on a chalkboard, but, I don’t know…cool? The chugging intro riff gives way to a slower verse, like it can’t make up its mind what kind of song it’s going to be.

Lyrically, “Song for the Dead” works perfectly for Wendy. The first section…

It's late enough to go drivin’

And see what's mine

Life's the study of dyin’

How to do it right

…is about her coming into her own, realizing what she deserves and what she’s capable of. In this episode, it’s that she deserves to be safe, and she’s capable of telling an alien to fuck up anybody standing in her way. It’s a powerful thing to realize something like this, and it’s a cocktail that might be getting Wendy a little drunk; Nibs certainly has.

But the next section of lyrics, for me, is more about Joe, or at least directed at Joe:

You're a holy roller

If you’re bettin' to lose

If you're hangin’ around

I'm holdin’ the noose

While Joe is trying to keep it together and mitigate the death around him, Wendy knows that’s not possible. We, the audience, also know that’s not going to work out because of the carnage that inevitably comes in the Alien franchise. If only we could warn him; ah well, that’s dramatic irony for you.

Mario Tennis Fever is set to release exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 on February 12, 2026. Announced during the Mario 40th anniversary portion of the September Nintendo Direct, the game features a new Fever Shot mechanic, 30 Fever Rackets, and 38 playable characters – the most of any game in the series to date. It’s now available to preorder for $69.99 at all the usual retailers (see it at Amazon). Read on to see what this game is, where you can buy it, and more.

Preorder Mario Tennis Fever

Mario Tennis Fever Preorder Bonus?

So far, no preorder bonuses have been announced for Mario Tennis Fever. If that changes, I’ll update this section.

What Is Mario Tennis Fever?

Mario Tennis Fever is the latest in a series of Mario-themed tennis games dating back to the Game Boy era, and the first since Mario Tennis Aces arrived on the original Switch in 2018. Fever brings back familiar shots like topspins, slices, and lobs, but introduces some new defensive maneuvers like slides and dives to help you whack the ball back across the court.

Keeping rallies going builds up your Fever Gauge. Once full, you can unleash a powerful Fever Shot with an augmented effect based on the Fever Racket you have equipped. You can create an icy spot under your opponent with an Ice Racket, shrink your opponent with the Mini Mushroom Racket, and create a shadow self to play beside with the Shadow Racket.

The game has numerous modes to play, including a competitive Tournament mode and a Trial Towers mode that has you complete various objectives during matches. Then there’s Mix-It-Up mode, which introduces new rules as you play. That mode also includes Wonder Flowers you can touch to get some trippy additions to the court. There’s also an elaborate-looking Adventure mode that involves the baby versions of Mario, Luigi, Peach, Wario, and Waluigi re-learning how to play the game. It looks pretty silly, in a fun way.

Online, you can play casual matches against opponents in the Online Room, or you can choose to play in Ranked Matches. And if you’re feeling nostalgic for the Wii era, you can also swing your Joy-Con 2 to hit the ball.

Other Preorder Guides

Looking for what games are now available to buy? Check out our guide to all of the Switch 2 game preorders now live after the September Nintendo Direct.

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

AliExpress is known for being one of the best online shops to pick up a 3D printer at the lowest possible price. I'm not talking about obscure, unvetted models. Some of the most popular 3D printer brands, including Creality (arguably the most well-known), Anycubic, and Flashforge, have official storefronts that carry some or all of their product lineup.

Below, I've picked out the best deals on 3D printers that are well-reviewed; the entry-level models are a great choice for anyone just starting out and not ready to invest a ton of money, and the higher-end models have all the features a seasoned professional could ask for, but without the exorbitant price tag. With coupons applied, you can pick up a fully-assembled 3D printer for as low as $170. All of the printers I've recommended below are sold by the manufacturer and ship locally for free from the United States. Plus, most orders will arrive within one to two weeks.

3D Printer Deals on AliExpress

Flashforge Adventurer 5M 3D Printer for $166.68

Amazon just dropped the price of the Apple iPad Air 11" M3 128GB tablet to the lowest price of the year. Right now you can pick it up for just $449 after a $150 off discount (normally 599). Higher capacity and LTE models are also on sale. This matches the best deal I saw during Amazon's Back to School Sale and beats out the previous Amazon Prime Day deal by $50. This is the newest generation iPad Air that was released earlier om <arcj and won't be replaced until 2026.

2025 Apple iPad Air 11" M3 128GB for $449

Now that I have a Switch 2, every Nintendo Direct seems more important. I got this fairly expensive piece of hardware so I could play Donkey Kong Bananza, and now that I've powered through that, I'm ready for more. While the latest Nintendo Direct didn't blow me away with any new announcements, it did provide some concrete release dates I can get excited about.

Alongside those new release dates, retailers have been launching preorders for physical editions of the games. While you can always choose to preorder digital Switch games from the Nintendo eShop, it's the actual physical cartridges that are always the most tempting. You can buy a digital game at any time, but if you want to unwrap a fresh game on day one, preordering the physical edition is the way to go.

New Switch 2 Games Up for Preorder

Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 - October 2, 2025

Looking to stretch your gaming and entertainment budget, today’s lineup of deals and preorders has something for just about everyone. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is officially up for preorder on Switch, Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, giving longtime fans a fresh way to experience the classic RPG ahead of its February 2026 release. Meanwhile, Amazon is offering steep savings on everyday essentials like the Lisen 240W USB-C cable two-pack for just $5.30 and the INIU 20,000mAh 65W portable charger for $35.98—two picks that make charging your gear easier at home or on the go.

TL;DR: Deals For Today

On the collectible side, the 60th Anniversary edition of A Charlie Brown Christmas is available for preorder in a limited Zoetrope vinyl release, complete with spinning Peanuts animations that bring the music to life. And for handheld gamers looking to boost storage and speed, the Lexar 512GB Play PRO microSD Express card is back in stock at $119.99, with blazing-fast read and write speeds that make it a strong match for the Nintendo Switch 2. From gaming classics to holiday nostalgia, today’s mix of deals and preorders is stacked with solid finds.

Anycubic Kobra 3 3D Printer with Multi-filament Printing for $232

Eligible for Retailmenot's 30% cashback sitewide offer

DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined Preorders

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is now up for preorder on Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, ahead of its February 5, 2026 release. This reimagined classic brings Akira Toriyama’s character designs into a vivid diorama-style world, blending familiar charm with fresh visuals. Players will travel through time by piecing together ancient stone fragments, restoring lost islands, and uncovering mysteries that shape the present. With streamlined storytelling, revamped turn-based combat, and the new Moonlighting mechanic that lets you level two vocations at once, it’s designed to feel both nostalgic and modern. Preordering also nets early buyers a special Hero costume and bonus items to start the adventure.

LISEN for iPhone 17 Charger Cord

INIU Portable Charger

A Charlie Brown Christmas (60th Anniversary) [Zoetrope LP]

Lexar 512GB Play PRO microSD Express Card

Pokémon TCG Price Watch

If you’re looking to stock up on sealed Pokémon TCG product, TCGPlayer remains the most reliable place for market-low pricing across the board. The vast majority of booster packs, tins, and trainer boxes are sitting cheaper there than on Amazon, often by $5-$15.

Bundles like the White Flare Binder Collection and the Shining Fates Collection Pikachu V Box are up to $40 off, deals that everyone should be snapping up right now. It’s worth keeping an eye on these dips, since Amazon tends to fluctuate prices more often than dedicated TCG retailers.

Pokémon TCG Below Market Value

While TCGPlayer is often the go-to marketplace for low Pokémon TCG prices, a handful of sealed products are currently cheaper on Amazon, making them below market value and worth grabbing. Right now, the Black Bolt Booster Bundle is available for $50.01 on Amazon, while the White Flare Booster Bundle has dipped under $46.

Collectors looking for nostalgic sets can also snag the Team Rocket Tin at $41.24, or the Paradox Pokémon Stacking Tin at $26.32. Even seasonal products like the Trick or Trade BOOster Bundle (2024) are under market at $21.22, and the Unova Mini Tin rounds out the list at just $19.99.

Invest In Silver Tempest Now

Silver Tempest has proven to be one of the most collector-driven sets of the Sword and Shield era, with prices pulled between nostalgia, competitive play, and limited supply. The clear winner is Lugia V (Alternate Full Art) 186/195, which has surged 68% since July to $427, cementing itself as the set’s chase card.

Trainer Gallery standouts like Rayquaza VMAX TG20/TG30 and Blaziken VMAX TG15/TG30 have also doubled or tripled in value thanks to strong artwork and nostalgia, while even Lugia VSTAR continues climbing on competitive strength. At the same time, cards like Regidrago V (Alternate Art) and Alolan Vulpix VSTAR have cooled as the meta shifted away from them, with values slipping back toward the $12–$14 range.

Snag Classic Mega Evolution Cards Before Market Rise

The market for XY-era Mega Evolution Pokémon cards is heating up fast ahead of Pokémon Legends: Z-A and the upcoming Mega Evolution TCG set. Collectors aren’t waiting for modern reprints, they’re chasing the originals, and prices are showing it. Some cards have exploded in value, while others have steadied after sharp climbs, creating both momentum plays and entry points for buyers. Leading the surge is M Rayquaza EX (Shiny Full Art - Ancient Origins), which has skyrocketed over 426% this year, from $275 in January to $1,450 today.

M Gengar EX (Secret Rare - Phantom Forces) isn’t far behind, up nearly fivefold to $415, cementing its place as one of the most sought-after Megas. Other heavy-hitters include M Rayquaza EX (Full Art - Roaring Skies), now at $656, M Charizard EX (X - Flashfire) climbing past $349, and Primal Groudon EX (Shiny Full Art), which has more than doubled to $349. These climbers show how nostalgia, unique mechanics, and iconic artwork are driving a collector frenzy.

But not every Mega Evolution is running away in price. Some cards have plateaued after strong early-year gains, leaving a rare buying window before the next spike. M Mewtwo EX (Full Art - BREAKthrough) climbed from $37 to $145 but has leveled off in recent weeks, while M Alakazam EX (Full Art - Fates Collide) sits steady just under $100 after jumping from $28 earlier this year.

Even Charizard is showing signs of cooling, M Charizard EX (Generations) and M Charizard EX (Full Art - Evolutions) have tripled since January but are holding in the $190-$200 range for now. These pauses don’t signal weakness; rather, they reflect consolidation before the broader Mega Evolution wave hits with new set releases. For collectors and investors, the message is clear: the grails are climbing fast, but the plateaued cards may be the smarter pickups before Mega hype takes over the market again.

Crown Zenith Prices Are Rising

The Crown Zenith market has been showing two very different stories this month. On one hand, several Galarian Gallery Ultra Rares are slipping as hype fades, with fan-favorites like Leafeon VSTAR and Suicune V dropping more than 20% from their peaks.

On the other hand, the gold Secret Rares are climbing steadily, led by Giratina VSTAR and Arceus VSTAR, as collectors chase the scarce, high-end pieces of the set. This split reflects a maturing market: casual collectors are less interested in mid-tier Eeveelutions and V cards, while serious players and investors are doubling down on the big four golds.

Among the crashers, Leafeon VSTAR has fallen from nearly $50 to the $43 range, and Glaceon VSTAR is down 26% since February, hovering in the mid-$30s. Deoxys VMAX has slipped under $37, while Suicune V and Raikou V both lost more than a quarter of their value since spring. These are still striking artworks, but set fatigue and limited competitive relevance are pushing prices down.

Meanwhile, the climbers are commanding all the attention. Giratina VSTAR (Secret) has surged nearly 20% since July to $180, making it the definitive chase of Crown Zenith. Mewtwo VSTAR is also up more than 30% this summer, with its Charizard battle artwork driving collector demand. Rounding out the gains, Arceus VSTAR, Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR, and Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR are all trending higher as well, thanks to their powerful abilities and limited supply. Taken together, the set still holds broad collector appeal, but it’s clear the market is consolidating around the golden Secret Rares as the safest long-term holds.

First Party Nintendo Switch 2 Preorders

Nintendo’s 2025 first-party lineup is shaping up to be one of its strongest in years. Pokémon Legends: Z-A is set to arrive in October, followed closely by Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 bundled together for Switch 2.

Then in December, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond lands with its own set of new amiibo figures, alongside Kirby’s big return in Kirby Air Riders. Between new entries in cornerstone franchises and fresh collectible amiibo launches, fans will have plenty to keep their Switch 2 libraries stocked through the holidays.

Third Party Switch 2 Preorders

The third-party slate for Switch 2 is just as impressive, with several big franchises making the jump to the new hardware. Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection launches in December with a full set of classic fighters, while Borderlands 4 and Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake hit this fall.

Beyond that, titles like Hades II, Octopath Traveler 0, and Cronos round out the lineup for RPG fans. Whether you’re into fighters, shooters, or sprawling JRPGs, the Switch 2’s preorder catalog already feels packed, and today’s deals cover every one of them.

Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of "Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior". Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.

Our expert Hollow Knight players are hard at work adventuring through the depths of Pharloom to unearth everything Silksong has to offer, updating IGN's Hollow Knight: Silksong Walkthrough as they go. While it's still in Act 1, we still have you covered with our latest findings, along with the recommended Silksong progression route to get the most out of the game.

Here's every Silksong main quest and Wish (side quests) that we recommend doing, in the order we recommend, so far. The newest ones are at the bottom.

Supergirl, previously known as Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, is set to soar into theaters on June 26, 2026, and reintroduce us to Milly (House of the Dragon) Alcock’s Kara Zor-El after she made quite a first impression in Superman.

Supergirl is based on Tom King and Bilquis Evely’s 2021-2022 comic book series, Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, and will be a “space fantasy” that will have a different tone than Superman. While we still have a lot more to learn about the upcoming DCU film, we are starting to learn who will be joining Kara in the film, and we’re here to break that all down for you!

Milly Alcock as Supergirl / Kara Zor-El

As previously mentioned, Milly Alcock will star as Kara Zor-El in Supergirl, and James Gunn has already shared that Superman’s cousin is a “mess. She’s a total mess.”

“I mean, I think as we learn, she's had a completely different background from Superman,” Gunn continued. “A much more difficult background. He's had this wonderful upbringing by these two parents that loved him and were very healthy. And her background was much different than that. And she's ended up different than her cousin.”

Kara was on a piece of Krypton that drifted away from the planet, and she had to live there for the first 14 years of her life. According to Gunn, she was in a “horrible situation where she watched everyone around her die. So, she’s a much harsher and more f*cked up Supergirl than you’ve been used to thus far.”

Supergirl first appeared in Action Comics #252 (May 1959).

Krypto

We will most likely be seeing much more of the wonderfully chaotic Krypto, as we discover in Superman that she is actually Supergirl’s dog, and Superman was just watching over him while she was gone. This was when we also learned, via Kal-El, that Kara “likes to go and party on other planets. Planets with red suns. Because of our metabolism, we can’t get drunk on a planet with a yellow sun.”

All of this explains why Krypto sometimes acts the way he does while also being a wonderful dog, and we should learn more about him in Supergirl.

Krypto first appeared in Adventure Comics #210 (March 1955).

Jason Momoa as Lobo

After starring as Aquaman in the DCEU, Jason Momoa will officially join the DCU as Lobo in Supergirl. Lobo was always Momoa’s favorite character, and he had previously stated it would be “the perfect role” for him. Soon, we’ll get to see that dream come true.

Lobo is an interstellar mercenary and bounty hunter with superhuman strength and immortality, and he was first introduced in Omega Men #3 (June 1983).

Matthias Schoenaerts as Krem of the Yellow Hills

Maintaining a tidy desk area doesn't have to be labor intensive or expensive. Compressed air canisters used to be the standard but nowadays there is a more versatile and cost effective solution. As part of a limited time Lightning Deal, Amazon is offering the JVSCAM Cordless Rechargeable Electric Air Duster (Air Blower) for just $19.98 after you apply coupon code "L8MXVQ25". Most electric air dusters under $50 on Amazon are pretty much identical, so if you're looking for an air duster in that general price range, I'd recommend just getting whichever one is least expensive. There are other more powerful options out there, but they are not as affordable.

JVSCAM Cordless Electric Air Duster for PC for $19.98

I've posted plenty of power bank deals, but today's deal is easily one of the best I've seen all year. Amazon is offering the high-capacity, high-output Iniu 25,000mAh 100W power bank for just $27.49 after you apply coupon code "IP3GGX8A". This power bank is ideal for long flights or trips where you might not have an available outlet for extended periods of time. It's powerful enough to charge just about every phone or gaming handheld PC - including the Asus ROG Ally X and upcoming Lenovo Legion Go 2 - even while you're playing games, as well as most non-gaming laptops.

Iniu 25,000mAh 100W Power Bank for $27.49

Superman launches on HBO Max on September 19, Warner Bros. has announced. The DC Universe kickstarter arrives on the streamer just over two months after it hit theaters in July and with $615 million at the global box office under its belt.

Superman will debut on HBO linear on Saturday, September 20 at 8pm ET. A version of Superman with American Sign Language (ASL) will also stream exclusively on HBO Max, interpreted by Deaf ASL Interpreter Giovanni Maucere and directed by Leila Hanaumi (Barbie with ASL, The Last of Us with ASL).

Expect to see an in-app Superman takeover on HBO Max, which transforms the homepage and adds features you can interact with. These include a Daily Planet Homepage takeover with refreshed art, style, and specially designed content rails, and a The Fortress of Solitude page with themed curations. There are even hidden portals throughout the homepage that transport users to Lex Luthor’s Pocket Prison.

Superman hits HBO Max after what appears to have been a successful run in theaters. It made just over $615 million theatrically, making it the first and likely only superhero movie of 2025 to pass $600 million. Most of that money was made in North American theaters (Gunn has offered his thoughts on why Superman is doing better domestically than internationally).

Last month, DC Studios co-chief James Gunn made the surprise announcement that Superman would see its digital release on Friday, August 15 — just over a month after the film launched in theaters. Gunn blamed this relatively early home release on HBO Max TV series Peacemaker Season 2, which follows on directly from the events of Superman and serves as a prequel to Gunn’s Superman follow-up, Man of Tomorrow.

Last week, Gunn revealed the first details on Man of Tomorrow. In previous interviews, Gunn had teased his next writer / director movie wasn’t going to be a straight up Superman sequel. Man of Tomorrow will instead see Superman and Lex Luthor team up to face a greater threat, with Gunn revealing: “it’s as much a Lex movie as it is a Superman movie.”

Not everyone is the DIY type. If you're in the market for a prebuilt gaming PC, Dell is one of the best brands we'd recommend. Alienware desktops and laptops feature solid build quality, top-of-the-line gaming performance, excellent cooling (further improved on the newer models), aggressive styling, and pricing that is very competitive with other pre-built options. Best of all, there are plenty of sales that happen throughout the year, so it's not difficult to grab one of these computers at considerably less than their retail price.

Dell and Alienware Coupons

Alienware Gaming PC Deals

Alienware Gaming Laptop Deals

You can quickly browse through all of the listed products on sale above. See below for our favorite picks.

Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 5080 Gaming PC

Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 5070 Ti Gaming PC

Alienware Area-51 RTX 5090 Gaming PC

Dell has dropped the price of the new 2025 Alienware Aurora 16 gaming laptop equipped with an GeForce RTX 5060 mobile GPU to just $1,200 with free delivery. Compared to other Alienware laptops, the Aurora 16 is designed to look less like a gamer's laptop. It boasts a sleek, understated design with the absence of extraneous visual-only embellishments or unnecessary RGB lighting outside of the keyboard's white-only illumination. The RTX 5060 is about 15%-20% more powerful than the RTX 4060 that replaces, making it a perfectly capable GPU for most games at up to 1600p. It approaches the performance of the RTX 4070, especially in games that support DLSS 4.

You can pick up an Alienware 16X Aurora gaming laptop equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU and GeForce RTX 5070 mobile GPU for $1,599.99 after a $300 instant discount. This is the best Alienware laptop for gamers on a budget.

More than 75 game announcements, trailers, exclusive clips, and celebrity interviews will be featured when a brand-new special edition of IGN Fan Fest arrives October 15.

Streaming across all IGN platforms, IGN Fan Fest 2025: Fall Edition will see the likes of Keanu Reeves, Aziz Ansari, and other A-listers stop by to reveal exclusive looks at major upcoming movies and streaming series. We’ll also be announcing brand-new video games and showing off never-before-seen looks at some of the year’s biggest gaming titles.

IGN Fan Fest 2025: Fall Edition kicks off October 15 at 9am PDT / 12pm EDT / 5pm BST with a special one-hour pre-show filled with even more gameplay, trailers, and first looks.

Then, the main event streams on IGN.com, YouTube, Steam, Facebook, twitch, and X starting at 10am PDT / 1pm EDT / 6pm BST.

Days of Our Lives' current 61st season has included a shoutout for one of Nintendo's lesser-known franchises, much to the surprise of fans.

A recent episode of the long-running soap saw Salem University student Aaron flirting with classmate Arianna outside his dorm room. Looking for an excuse to invite her in, Aaron boldly suggests Arianna might like to wait inside, in order to "play Xenoblade on my Switch." I'd have gone for Mario Kart World, personally, but there we go.

To the surprise of Aaron — and, let's be honest, everyone at home watching — his offer is taken up by Arianna, who awkwardly laughs and steps inside, looking like she really did not have anything else better to do. Aaron, bless him, looks genuinely surprised his suggestion worked — as well he should.

In this scene from the long-running American soap opera Days of Our Lives (s61e008), Aaron uses playing Xenoblade as an excuse to invite Arianna into his dorm room. pic.twitter.com/LQ9kCVmuyC

— Nintendeal (@Nintendeal) September 15, 2025

The moment has since been turned into a clip and uploaded by Nintendeal to social media, where many Nintendo fans are celebrating someone remembering that Xenoblade exists. (To those who were hoping for a new game announcement in last week's Nintendo Direct, I hope you're doing okay.)

Developed by Monolith Soft, the Xenoblade Chronicles series began back in 2010 on Wii, with subsequent years featuring half a dozen sequels and re-releases. The most recent of those, a new version of Wii U side-story Xenoblade Chronicles X, launched for Switch back in March, at a time when most Nintendo fans were just waiting for Switch 2.

"This show has 61 seasons and I've never seen any bit of it until Xenoblade was mentioned," wrote Zhenghua Yang, founder and CEO of To the Moon publisher Serenity Forge, after watching the clip. "Top tier marketing."

"I know nothing about this show but Aaron is already my favorite character and there is no question about it," wrote another fan, AmiibroN.

Originally launched in 1965, Days of Our Lives is (still) running — now on streaming service Peacock. For anyone who has watched the full episode, do let us know what happened next.

Image credit: NBC/Peacock.

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

If you're looking for a new survival game to obsess over, Lost Skies officially goes from Early Access to full release on September 17. As the name suggests, you're doing a lot of grappling and gliding in the game, exploring floating islands to unlock technology and collect raw materials, but the core of the game is its detailed, physics-based ship-building system. There's co-op for 1-6 players too, so you don't have to fly alone. If you haven't checked it out yet now is the perfect time, and here are a few details to tempt you to take off.

PSA for sufferers of airsickness

Lost Skies is all about exploring ruins and biomes, collecting resources to craft and refine a skyship, so you're spending all your time at high altitude. You'll start out with a grappling hook for shorter distances, then craft a makeshift glider, and by combining the two you can chain movement that will let you get to the harder to reach areas. Once you have enough materials to start crafting your skyship it will become a home base and a weapon war.

You are not alone

The various regions of the Lost Skies world are home to strange creatures, like the Blue Manta that travels through the skies, but will attack if provoked, or the burrowing Spitter Motus Beetle that rudely shoots balls of acid at you. Those are the least of your worries though - there are also the Seraph, strange mechanical looking enemies that are powerful and use nano-technology to devastating effect. They're are not to be trifled with. You do have someone on your side though, an AI companion called ASA that can help explain the strange lands you find yourself in, and stop you turning into a weird sky loner.

Something really bad happened

Like most survival games, there's a terrible event that has left you trying to craft your own underpants or going toe to toe with an enraged boar. In Lost Skies it's not the old zombies or aliens stuff, but something called the Cataclysm. AI companion ASA helps you decode the clues you find scattered around ruins, and figure out how the monstrous mechanical Seraph are involved.

You can create your own Lost Skies islands

If you're the sort of person who doesn't just want to live in a world, but to shape and control it too, maybe check in with a therapist and then try the Lost Skies Island Creator. This free tool allows players to sculpt and populate an island, and use assets from the game to refine and populate it. There are already hundreds of player made islands.

It's made by the Surgeon Simulator folks

It might look whimsical, but Lost Skies is made by the studio that brought you cult hits like Surgeon Simulator. That was the cult where you had to perform complex medical procedures with tricky physics-based controls. Many virtual patients died, but hilariously. They also created the self-explanatory I Am Bread and I Am Fish. Lost Skies is definitely a vibe shift, but one that takes the bare bones physics-engine skills of Bossa and makes it real pretty.

Disclaimer: IGN Entertainment and publishing label Humble Games operate under separate divisions of the same parent company, Ziff Davis. Humble Games does not influence IGN Entertainment editorial policy.

Rachel Weber is the Senior Editorial Director of Games at IGN and an elder millennial. She's been a professional nerd since 2006 when she got her start on Official PlayStation Magazine in the UK, and has since worked for GamesIndustry.Biz, Rolling Stone and GamesRadar. She loves horror, horror movies, horror games, and French Bulldogs. Those extra wrinkles on her face are thanks to going time blind and staying up too late finishing every sidequest in RPGs like Fallout and Witcher 3.

Calling all Friends fans, especially if you live in the Big Apple or are planning a trip there soon.

The beloved Central Perk coffeehouse from the iconic 90s sitcom is becoming a reality, with a permanent location coming to Manhattan this fall. The space will be located in the bustling neighborhood of Times Square on the corner of 47th Street and 7th Avenue, and it will be the second permanent location for the brand, which opened a coffeehouse in Boston back in 2023.

Central Perk has been a fixture on social media because of their much attended pop up coffeehouses that brought a taste of Friends to different cities in a limited engagement setting. But now the brand is debuting a “modern-day version” of the cafe in the city the show was set, but didn’t actually film in, interestingly enough.

This week only, our sister site Retailmenot is offering 30% cashback on all purchases at AliExpress up to $50 in maximum rewards. This is a rare amount for AliExpress, which is usually limited to 5% cashback on most days. All you have to do is head over to Retailmenot and click on the tile to activate it. Then proceed to shop at AliExpress and your cashback savings will automatically be applied. Retailmenot is reputable; your cashback earnings are deposited into your Retailmenot account, and then you can transfer that balance to PayPal or Venmo.

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The original Star Wars movie has been adapted as a Marvel Comics series, several video games, and a radio play, but did you know it also inspired a manga adaptation? Dark Horse Comics is celebrating Hisao Tamaki's award-winning manga with the release of a new art book called The Art of Star Wars: A New Hope - The Manga.

With the crowdfunding campaign for The Art of Star Wars: A New Hope - The Manga now live, IGN can exclusively debut a new preview of the book. Check it out in the slideshow gallery below:

Star Wars: A New Hope - The Manga was originally published in 1997, timed to the 20th anniversary of the film. Tamaki ultimately won the Eisner Award for Best U.S. Edition of Foreign Material. This volume painstakingly reproduces Tamaki's artwork using scans of the original art boards.

Dark Horse will release The Art of Star Wars: A New Hope - The Manga in stores in Summer 2026, but the Kickstarter campaign offers fans the chance to purchase the book early, with various exclusive bonus options. The standard Collector's Edition features a new English translation printed in the margins in order to preserve Tamaki's artwork and lettering. The book is available in several other versions, including signed and slipcase editions as well as a Masterpiece Edition that reproduces the art in its original 10.85” x 15.05” format. Backers can also purchase an additional Tamaki Art Print Set that features six full-size prints of select pages.

“This is Star Wars like you’ve never seen it,” said Dark Horse President, Founder and CEO Mike Richardson in a statement. “We’re sharing Hisao Tamaki’s legendary manga with fans in an edition that not only showcases the art, but also offers an unprecedented glimpse into the creative process behind it.”

The Art of Star Wars: A New Hope - The Manga is live on Kickstarter now.

In other Star Wars news, Marvel's Legacy of Vader series just filled in some big holes regarding the Knights of Ren, and Andor Season 2 won a key award at the Emmys.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.

Marvel's upcoming The Fantastic Four: First Steps Blu-ray will feature five deleted scenes, with at least one seemingly centered on Mole Man.

The movie's physical editions for 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD will arrive October 14, Entertainment Weekly has reported, following a digital release next week on September 23. Boxed copies will also contain other special features, such as three featurettes, a gag reel and an audio commentary featuring director Matt Shakman and production designer Kasra Farahani.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps' selection of deleted scenes will likely be of most interest to fans, however, following sizable cuts by Marvel to the movie's runtime shortly before launch — including the complete removal of John Malkovich's character Red Ghost.

Paul Walter Hauser's Mole Man and Natasha Lyone's character Rachel Rozman remained in the film, meanwhile, though both ended up feeling underutilised its final cut. Indeed, Mole Man's friendship with Sue Storm felt particularly unexplained — something actress Vanessa Kirby has said was established in a deleted scene that theater-going audiences never got to see.

Included in The Fantastic Four: First Steps' physical release will be:

• Thanksgiving Soup Kitchen
• Fantastic Four Day
• Subterranea
• Birthday Sweater
• Taking Turns

"Subterranea" almost certainly features more of Mole Man — and is potentially the scene featuring Hauser and Kirby. "Thanksgiving Soup Kitchen," meanwhile, sounds like a scene featuring Ebon Moss-Bachrach's The Thing, with potentially more from Lyone's character.

Discussing why so much was cut from the film, director Matt Shakman previously claimed that Marvel "intentionally wrote and shot a lot more than we ended up using, or needing to use". Some of this cut material, including the subplot featuring Malkovich's character, would have acted as a backstory showing how The Fantastic Four became established as superheroes. But other scenes were removed from later on in the movie's runtime, too.

"How long can we spend getting to know and love these characters in their environment? How much is too much? You never know until you start to put it together and feel it out for yourself," Shakman said. "There was a ton of stuff we shot that was really wonderful that we didn't use, couldn't use."

Shakman has also previously said that Malkovich's scenes will never be released publicly, as they were incomplete and required extensive CGI work. Still, here's hoping the five other moments listed above help provide Marvel fans a slightly more complete picture of how The Fantastic Four's first steps into the MCU might originally have looked.

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

If you caught The Long Walk in theaters and can't wait to grab a copy for your physical media library, Amazon's here to make your day. An Amazon Exclusive 4K steelbook of The Long Walk is officially up for preorder at the retailer, coming to $34.99 (see here at Amazon).

Of course, since it only just released in theaters, there's no official release date locked in for it yet, but it's well worth it to secure a copy for yourself now in case it sells out. That way, it can be delivered to you the day it's available.

Preorder The Long Walk Amazon Exclusive 4K Steelbook

This steelbook features Mark Hamill's character The Major front and center, with the contestant's dog tags on the back. There's also a sleeve that goes over the steelbook which fills in The Major's sunglasses with a reflection of the walkers, which is a cool touch. It comes with a 4K, Blu-ray, and digital copy of the film as well. Below, you can learn more about bonus features.

The Long Walk Amazon Exclusive 4K Steelbook Bonus Features

• Alternate Ending
• Stephen King: An Appreciation
• Cooper & David Scene Read
• "Ever Onward: Making The Long Walk" Multi-part Documentary
• Theatrical Trailers

Our 8/10 review of The Long Walk had quite a lot of praise for it. IGN's Tom Jorgensen wrote, "Anchored by strong performances from Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson, The Long Walk overcomes the repetitive nature of its story to deliver a timely and powerful condemnation of normalized violence… with some seriously brutal, R-rated violence."
For physical media collectors, there are plenty more movies and shows up for preorder at the moment alongside The Long Walk that are worth checking out. In our roundup of upcoming 4K UHD and Blu-rays, you can see a variety of releases coming out over the next few months so you can plan ahead on what to pick up next.

Hannah Hoolihan is a freelancer who writes with the guides and commerce teams here at IGN.

Big news for Batman fans: writer-director Matt Reeves has, in fact, delivered a new script for his sequel The Batman: Part II — but it wasn’t necessarily an easy road for the filmmaker to get to this point.

The Batman 2, which starts filming early next year, currently has a release date of October 1, 2027. If it does come out then, The Batman 2 will arrive five-and-a-half years after The Batman. Indeed, Reeves has said he set out to make a trilogy of Batman films, and as of last year that plan was still on.

“It’s been a journey that is taking longer than I would’ve wanted for a lot of reasons, a lot of personal reasons,” Reeves told The Hollywood Reporter on the Emmys red carpet this weekend. “But [the] most important reason is getting it to a place where I just felt like it was the best script we could possibly write.”

He also noted that the film is set to shoot next year now that the script is in. “We’re getting ready. We’re basically entering prep,” Reeves added. “We’ll be making the movie in the spring.”

Reeves also spoke about star Robert Pattinson’s response to the script — which, believe it or not, was mailed to him in a privacy pouch complete with coded entry (that Pattinson almost couldn’t open, mind you) to keep all of the exciting details completely under wraps.

“He’s Batman, and if he doesn’t like it, not good,” the Cloverfield director said of Pattinson’s feelings on the script. “I was super excited. I thought that he really would [like it] because the things that it does for his character, for Batman and for Bruce, have never been done before in this way. I had a feeling that he would respond in this way, but the fact that he did was incredibly encouraging.”

He added, “Obviously because of what the first movie was and what this movie is, which is so much a detective story, the idea of trying to protect the secrets of the movie is super important because it’s a mystery. It would be an extra level of heartbreak if that part of it started getting out.”

Reeves also spoke about where the HBO’s spinoff series The Penguin stands in terms of Season 2. “We’re in discussions. [Showrunner] Lauren [Lefranc] is thinking hard and we’re talking, so we’ll see,” he told Variety at the Emmys. “We love the show, and we think our cast is so incredible. The work that Lauren and the writers did was incredible. Our passion was in it, but never in our wildest dreams could we imagine it would have been received in the way that it was.”

The series took home a solid nine awards between the Primetime Emmys broadcast and the Creative Arts Emmys ceremony a week prior — including Best Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology series for Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone.

Meanwhile, James Gunn has his own plans for the DC Universe’s Batman, who he has insisted won’t be played by Robert Pattinson. While promoting the rebooted DCU kickstarter Superman earlier this year, Gunn admitted: "Batman's my biggest issue in all of DC right now."

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

Players were enamored by the BioShock series from the moment they escaped a crashed aircraft, entered a mysterious lighthouse, and embarked on their undersea voyage to the crumbling city of Rapture. Often referenced and paid tribute to, many consider Irrational Games’ immersive action-horror classic a masterpiece, and in the years following its debut, it blossomed into a long-running franchise.

But in classic BioShock fashion, its sequels were the furthest thing from traditional. As expected for a series that hinges on otherworldly scientific discoveries and reality-tearing experiments, BioShock's story frequently switches between alternate universes, leaving its games out of chronological order.

With news of a Bioshock movie on the way, you may be wanting to try our or revisit the series that started it all. So, for those looking for a linear way to play through BioShock’s full narrative, here’s a quick runthrough of the BioShock series in chronological order.

Jump to:

• How to play in chronological order
• How to play by release date

How Many BioShock Games Are There?

In total, there are four BioShock Games (three released on home console and PC and one released exclusively on PC via web browser) and three expansions.

This list won’t include remasters or ports, including the BioShock Collection, which bundled remasters of the full trilogy and its expansions. It also won’t contain challenge map packs, such as Clash in the Clouds or BioShock’s Challenge Rooms DLC, as these are purely gameplay-focused and thus considered non-canon.

Which BioShock Game Should You Play First?

It's best to begin where the franchise did with the original BioShock. The first game laid the foundation for the franchise from a gameplay and narrative perspective, exploring big socio-political ideas within a confined, thoughtfully crafted space. It's necessary to play through the original to fully understand and appreciate the must-play BioShock Infinite, especially its Burial at Sea DLC. And despite debuting 17 years ago, BioShock is perfectly playable today, thanks to a 2016 remaster and a stylized aesthetic that has aged considerably well.

Every BioShock Game in Chronological Order

These blurbs contain mild spoilers for each game, including characters, settings, and story beats.

1. BioShock Infinite: Industrial Revolution

Launching as a pre-order bonus for BioShock Infinite, BioShock Infinite: Industrial Revolution was a browser-based flash game that acted as a prequel to Infinite’s story. Casting players as a worker completing cog-based puzzles, Industrial Revolution allowed pre-ordering customers to unlock special items and upgrades that transferred to BioShock Infinite.

As players completed challenges, they learned more about the conflicts running through Infinite’s world, including the battle between the Vox Populi and the Founders. They could even choose which of the two groups to support, unlocking different rewards as a result.

Note: The game was shut down a decade ago and is no longer available to play online.

2. BioShock Infinite

The third mainline BioShock game, BioShock Infinite follows a Pinkerton detective named Booker Dewitt. Drowning in debt, Dewitt is tasked with a simple mission to wipe away what he owes: venture to the city of Columbia and locate a mysterious girl named Elizabeth.

However, when Dewitt arrives in Columbia, things are far from simple. Columbia is a city floating above the clouds and its citizens have branded Booker a “False Shepherd”, rallying together to execute him. Things get even stranger when Booker finally locates and rescues Elizabeth, who reveals she can open tears in reality, allowing her to reach into other universes.

Teaming with Elizabeth to escape Columbia, players are taken on an adventure through the flying metropolis, facing off against the locals, their towering mechanical security bots, and Elizabeth’s relentless bodyguard, Songbird. Along the way, they can open rifts to other dimensions using Elizabeth's unique powers, utilizing her gifts to scrounge up resources or venture into new realities altogether.

Read our review of Bioshock Infinite.

3. BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea - Part 1

Set in the same universe as BioShock and BioShock 2, BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea - Part 1 is the first of two expansions for BioShock Infinite. The DLC follows an alternate-universe Booker Dewitt who acts as a private detective in the city of Rapture. Set before Rapture’s downfall, the game begins with Dewitt meeting Elizabeth, who tasks him with assisting her in rescuing a missing girl named Sally.

Burial at Sea’s first part allows players to explore a fully operational Rapture set before the events of the first game. Alongside getting to see the city as it once was, the DLC includes several returning faces from previous Rapture adventures, including Sander Cohen and Yi Suchong.

Read our review of Burial at Sea Episode 1.

4. BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea - Part 2

Taking place directly after the events of Burial at Sea - Part 1, Burial at Sea - Part 2 switches control from Booker to Elizabeth. Waking up after the dramatic conclusion of the previous expansion, Elizabeth meets Atlas, who strikes a deal with her: He’ll let her and Sally live if she can help him escape Fontaine's Department Store and return to Rapture.

Taking on a new stealth-focused playstyle to fit Elizabeth's skill set, players explore Fontaine's Department Store, attempting to figure out how to return to Rapture and save Sally. Burial at Sea - Part 2 was Irrational Games’ and BioShock creator Ken Levine’s final take on the BioShock universe. It attempts to wrap up some of the franchise’s biggest mysteries while directly setting up the events of the original game.

Read our review of Burial at Sea Episode 2.

5. BioShock

The franchise's debut entry, BioShock follows Jack, the sole survivor of a devastating plane crash. Escaping the wreckage of the accident, he finds refuge in a mysterious lighthouse, where he discovers a submarine that transports him to the underwater city of Rapture. Although the city looks like a technological marvel from afar, Jack quickly realizes it’s hardly the oceanic utopia it appears to be.

Envisioned as a neon-lit metropolis where society’s greatest minds are allowed ethical and creative freedom with no governmental intervention, Rapture is a fallen wasteland by the time Jack arrives. The blood-drenched streets are patrolled by monstrous citizens slaughtering each other in search of a genetic-splicing drug known as Adam, while the city’s shadowy founder, Andrew Ryan, controls the ruins with an iron fist.

Teaming with a fellow survivor named Atlas, players are tasked with venturing through the city, attempting to escape Rapture and return to the surface. Along the way, they gain access to plasmids, powerful injections that unlock elemental powers. In the years following its release, BioShock has become a classic, with many regarding it as one of the best games of all time.

Read our review of Bioshock.

6. BioShock 2

A sequel to BioShock, BioShock 2 was developed by 2K Marin rather than Irrational. Strapping players into the hulking suit of a Big Daddy, BioShock 2 has players return to the submerged dystopia of Rapture eight years after the events of BioShock.

Taking control of a Big Daddy codenamed Subject Delta, the story follows the towering protagonist searching through the ruins of Rapture for a Little Sister he used to protect. Along the way, he’s pursued by Sofia Lamb, a scientist who’s filled the power vacuum left by the deaths of Frank Fontaine and Andrew Ryan.

BioShock 2 was largely a continuation of the gameplay and themes of the first game, albeit with a hefty arsenal of brutal Big Daddy weaponry and a new mechanic where players defend Little Sisters while they scavenge Adam.

Read our review of Bioshock 2.

7. BioShock 2: Minerva’s Den

An expansion for BioShock 2 that occurs alongside the events of the main campaign, Minerva’s Den follows a second Big Daddy codenamed Subject Sigma. Tasked with tracking down and accessing The Thinker – Rapture’s computer mainframe – Sigma works alongside the creator of the system, Charles Milton Porter, to retrieve it.

Minerva’s Den offered a short campaign that fills in some crucial Rapture lore and offers new gear, including the Ion Laser and Gravity Well Plasmid. Minerva’s Den currently marks the end of the BioShock timeline.

Read our review of Bioshock 2: Minerva's Den.

How to Play the BioShock Series by Release Date

• BioShock (2007)
• BioShock: Challenge Rooms (2008)*
• BioShock 2 (2010)
• BioShock 2: Minerva’s Den (2010)
• BioShock Infinite: Industrial Revolution (2013)
• BioShock Infinite (2013)
• BioShock Infinite: Clash in the Clouds (2013)*
• BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea - Part 1 (2013)
• BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea - Part 2 (2014)

*Non-canon

What’s Next for BioShock?

Plans are theoretically underway for a new Bioshock game, but its been a rocky road. 2K officially announced the series was getting another entry back in 2019, which we are tentatively labeling Bioshock 4. Following the closure of Irrational Games, the game was passed over to developer Cloud Chamber, and then development went pretty quiet. This past summer, 2K confirmed that lay-offs at Cloud Chamber had impacted the game's development (the bad news), but that they are still pushing forward, now with Rod Fergusson (best known for the Gears of War series) on their team.

A sequel isn't the only long-awaited BioShock product currently in production. Back in 2022, Netflix revealed it had greenlit a movie adaptation of the original BioShock. Netflix later confirmed the film will be directed by I Am Legend and Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes director Francis Lawrence. Producer Roy Lee recently confirmed that the movie is still in active production and is specifically adapting the first Bioshock game.

BioShock creator Ken Levine’s next project, Judas, is also deep in development. From the early glimpse we saw at The Game Awards in 2022, it seems akin to BioShock, from the dual-wielding combat to the high-concept sci-fi setting. If all goes to plan, it seems BioShock fans will be feasting on a banquet of twisted sci-fi goodness over the next few years.

Callum Williams is a freelance media writer with years of experience as a game critic, news reporter, guides writer and features writer.

The latest PS5 system update will finally allow your DualSense controller to pair across multiple devices without having to de- and re-pair every time you switch.

Sony said that as many of us use our PS5 controllers across numerous devices, such as PCs, Macs, tablets, and more, it "believes enabling compatibility of our peripherals across multiple platforms creates a more flexible and seamless gaming experience." This means that when you change from, say, playing on your PS5 to jumping on Steam, you won't have to keep un- and re-pairing your device.

It'll work by assigning each device to a different "slot" on your device that you can set by pressing a combination of the PS button and one of the action buttons (triangle/circle/cross/square). You'll then be able to save four devices simultaneously and cycle between them using the PS button and the corresponding action button.

You'll see between one to four indicator lights depending upon which slot and device you're connected to. Here's how Sony breaks it down:

The feature initially rolled out for testing earlier in the summer, but it'll shortly be available for all. To ensure you're using the latest update, head to Settings > System > System Software > System Software Update and Settings.

Additionally, the update also enables players to enable a Power Saver option via Settings > System > Power Saving > Use Power Saver. "Future updates for games such as Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Demon’s Souls, and Ghost of Yōtei will include support for the Power Saver option, with more titles to follow," Sony added.

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.