Rockstar owner Take-Two Interactive is suing online marketplace PlayerAuctions, alleging it contains "thousands of listings for unauthorized, infringing GTA V content – including heavily modified player accounts, in-game assets, and virtual currency – all gained by using hacking software, cheats, and technical exploits."

The lawsuit was filed last week in the U.S. Central District Court of California against the Chinese company that owns the website, Paiao Network Technology. It accuses PlayerAuctions of operating "with full knowledge that its sellers are engaged in rampant infringement and other unauthorized conduct," while it "reaps millions in revenue by taking a cut of every transaction on its marketplace."

Specifically, Take-Two alleges that PlayerAuctions hosts listings of modded accounts that have been manipulated to give high game levels and in-game currency, or to unlock content normally unlocked through playing or purchases. Take-Two also claims PlayerAuctions sells money drop services that work using hacking software to give purchasing players large amounts of in-game money, and account boosting services where sellers use hacking software or glitches to inflate a purchasing player's in-game level or currency total.

Take-Two further argues that PlayerAuctions goes out of its way to "lull its users into buying illegitimate GTA V content from its sellers" by offering refunds if the hacked accounts purchased are caught and banned post-purchase. According to the complaint, Take-Two has "repeatedly confronted PlayerAuctions with evidence of infringement" and has issued a cease and desist, but PlayerAuction has refused to shut down these listings.

The GTA publisher is claiming relief for multiple different types and levels of copyright infringement, as well as intentional interference with contract. Take-Two is seeking a permanent enjoinment on PlayerAuctions from continuing to directly or indirectly sell accounts, currency, or items in any Take-Two game, or participating in or assisting hacking efforts, or infringing the GTA trademarks. It's also seeing damages for trademark infringement, costs and attorney fees, damages, and restitution.

Take-Two isn't the only company going after PlayerAuctions. Early last month, Roblox filed a similar suit in the Northern District of California Court covering roughly the same accusations, attempts at a cease and desist, claims, and prayer for relief. Notably, PlayerAuctions offers similar sales and services across many other games, including World of Warcraft, Genshin Impact, Valorant, Path of Exile, Final Fantasy 14, Call of Duty, and Fortnite. In total, PlayerAuctions claims to sell various boosts, items, and benefits for over 200 games.

While the Take-Two suit is still early in the process, the Roblox case has its first hearing set for March 20 in Oakland, California, where Roblox is seeking a preliminary injunction to stop PlayerAuctions from selling Roblox-related products and services while the case proceeds.

The lawsuit comes ahead of the fall 2025 launch of GTA 6, which Take-Two recently reaffirmed. The hope is of course that any new version of GTA Online that launches alongside GTA 6 will be as free from cheaters as is possible, and the lawsuit may go some way to helping.

We’ve got plenty more on GTA 6, including Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick’s response to concern about the fate of GTA Online once GTA 6 comes out.

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.

Samsung's newest SSD - the Samsung 990 Evo Plus PCIe 4.0 M.2 NVMe solid state drive - is on sale today. Pick up the 2TB model for $129.99 or, if you can swing it, the 4TB model is an even better deal at $249.99. It's currently $40-$70 cheaper than the Samsung 990 Pro and most (if not all) gamers won't notice the difference in performance.

Samsung 990 Evo Plus 2TB PS5 SSD for $129.99

4TB for $259.99

Last year the 9th generation iPad was the least expensive iPad you could get brand new and with warranty. It was regularly priced at $179, but it went out of stock pretty much everywhere starting from Black Friday. Fortunately, it's back for one final harrah; right now, Walmart has it available for delivery for only $179 shipped. Seriously though, this deal probably won't last much longer so don't hesitate.

2021 9th Gen Apple iPad 10.2" 64GB for $179

Fallout Season 2 is set to head to New Vegas, and some new set videos are teasing what it might look like, potentially across different eras.

Warning! Potential spoilers for the Fallout TV show follow.

Videos shared by TikTok user onzo1313 (thanks, Eurogamer) give us a tantalizing look at the Fallout show's adaptation of New Vegas. One video shows part of New Vegas, including the iconic Lucky 38 resort and casino, all bright and lit up. It's certainly far from the rusty place you might expect, but there's likely a good reason.

@onzo1313 #fallout #falloutseriestv #lucky38 #filming #falloutnewvegas #fypシ #fypシ゚viral #casino ♬ Original Sound - Unknown

In a separate video, we can see a welcome sign for the strip and another for The Tops, among other locales, that are a bit more worn, weathered, and cobbled together. The easy conclusion to draw is that we'll see the strip both pre- and post-war.

@onzo1313 Backstage #fallout #fallouttvshow #fypシ゚viral #backstage #dalloutnewvegas #falloutseriestv #fyp #falloutseriesedit #fypシ゚ ♬ Welcome to Las Vegas - Freccero

It's an exciting prospect, especially for Fallout: New Vegas fans and those eager to see the glitz and glamour of the strip before the bombs dropped in the Fallout universe.

The show is confirmed to be heading to New Vegas for Season 2, and it's not just about the location itself. Mr. House is set to be a part of the new season, though how involved he'll be is still unclear. We've already seen the tease of some familiar sights thanks to previous set leaks, and all that indicates the Amazon series is going to journey to quite a few notable spots in the Mojave.

In February, Walton Goggins — who plays The Ghoul in the series — said Fallout Season 2 will blow Season 1 "out of the water." A lit-up New Vegas strip certainly doesn't dissuage his claims. We'll see more as information rolls out on the next season of Amazon's adaptation.

To help tide you over until Season 2 premieres, be sure to check out our interview with Todd Howard and Jonathan Nolan covering all our burning questions after the end of Season 1.

Eric is a freelance writer for IGN.

For most PC gamers, buying a prebuilt gaming rig is far more attractive than it used to be. Years ago it was inarguably cheaper to build your own gaming PC than to buy a boutique gaming rig. That's not the case anymore. It's not uncommon for major brands like Alienware, HP, and Lenovo to offer quality pre-built PCs for cheaper than the cost of building your own PC with the exact same specs.

We've compiled a list of the best current gaming PC deals, both from the manufacturers themselves like Dell (Alienware), HP, and Lenovo, as well as from reliable 3rd party retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. This includes an incredible deal on a Dell Tower Plus RTX 4090 Gaming PC for $2849.99. These PCs are significantly discounted from their normal retail price and are going to be less expensive than comparable models from other brands.

Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 5080 Gaming PC for $2,400

Blizzard has announced today that it will once again hold an in-person BlizzCon convention at the Anaheim Convention Center. However, it won't be happening until 2026.

In a press release today, Blizzard revealed the next in-person BlizzCon dates: September 12 and 13, 2026. It also promised to bring back favorite convention elements such as the opening ceremony, panels, the Darkmoon Faire, competitions, and hands-on gameplay. Additionally, Blizzard says it will "aim to meaningfully elevate this iconic celebration and create an unforgettable experience for all who take part in it."

Blizzard did not provide an explanation for why it was skipping 2025, or if it has plans for any sort of online celebration this year.

BlizzCon's status has been rocky the last few years. Formerly an annual event, it was, like many other similar events, canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It returned in 2021 as a digital show in 2021, then went on hiatus again in 2022. In 2023, BlizzCon was held once again in person with plans to follow it up in 2024, but the event was then canceled for that year as well. While no reason was given at the time, the 2024 cancellation followed its acquisition by Microsoft, and a rash of mass layoffs company-wide.

The question of what BlizzCon will look like under Microsoft's oversight remains, and we won't find out the answer until at least next year. At least we have loads of time to plan our cosplay.

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.

Bong Joon-ho's latest film, Mickey 17, led by Robert Pattinson as the titular character (and many more Mickeys) is officially up for preorder in a physical format. If you've been hoping to get your hands on a copy of this film after checking it out in the cinema, there's a 4K steelbook up for preorder for $39.99, a standard 4K for $34.99, and a Blu-ray for $29.99. There's no official release date for these yet, but by putting your preorders in now you'll set yourself up for success when it's officially announced.

Preorder Mickey 17 on 4K UHD and Blu-Ray

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach's latest trailer revealed a bevy of new information, including one particular casting that's caused quite a stir thanks to the character's distinctly Solid Snake-esque vibes. As it turns out, casting this character went a bit further, as director Hideo Kojima tried to find someone who could surpass a standout from the first Death Stranding.

On X/Twitter, Kojima wrote a lengthy post about the process of casting Italian actor Luca Marinelli to play Neil in Death Stranding 2. "During the pandemic, I was casting for DS2," Kojima said. "Neil would be an important role that replaces Cliff from DS1. The fans would not be satisfied unless the casting would surpass Mads."

Kojima first learned of Marinelli through his role in the Italian film They Call Me Jeeg, and a correspondence sprung up around the Japanese distribution of the film Martin Eden. Marinelli sent an email to Kojima, which read: "I grew up with Metal Gear. I am a big fan of yours. I am very honored that you saw the film I starred in. I wanted to tell you this directly."

After seeing Marinelli in The Old Guard, Kojima sent the actor an email offer and talked with him after the actor wrapped filming The Eight Mountains. Once pitched, Marinelli agreed and, after learning Kojima was looking for someone to play Lucy, introduced the game director to his wife Alissa Jung.

"We did their scan and pcap [performance capture] during the height of the pandemic, but their on-set performance was excellent," Kojima said. "You can see that in the digitized results from even the small bits of the trailer. I can only thank Luca and Alissa for agreeing to perform when we didn't even have a script yet."

Marinelli's character, Neil, has been one of the breakout reveals from the latest Death Stranding 2 trailer. At its conclusion, we see Neil don a bandanna in the same way Solid Snake would in Metal Gear Solid, before directing a squad of soldiers in the same manner as Cliff in the first Death Stranding.

The casting has clearly been on Kojima's mind for some time, as has the imagery of Luca donning the bandana. Back in 2020, Kojima talked about how Marinelli had caught his attention, adding: "I think if he donned a bandanna, he'd be a spitting image of Solid Snake!"

While it's unlikely Neil is some multiversal Snake, the imagery certainly brings to mind Kojima's legacy with the Metal Gear franchise. Hopefully, he's picked the right man for the job. For more, check out IGN's feature, Who Is Kojima’s New ‘Solid Snake’ and Why Death Stranding 2 Looks Like the Closest We’ll Ever Get to Another Metal Gear Solid.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is set to launch on June 26, 2025 exclusively on PlayStation 5.

Eric is a freelance writer for IGN.

“To me, there is no greater pleasure than to feel the warmth of my fists drenched in blood.”

Those fiendish words are spoken by the brutal supervillain Conquest – voiced by The Walking Dead’s Jeffrey Dean Morgan – in IGN’s exclusive clip from the Season 3 finale of Invincible, which streams on Prime Video this Thursday, March 13.

The clip – which you can watch via the player below – is from one of the biggest and bloodiest battles in the adult-animated superhero series.

The battle-scarred Conquest first appeared in last week’s penultimate episode, which saw the alternate universe Invincibles invade Earth. He’s the especially powerful enforcer the Viltrum Empire sends to make protagonist Mark Grayson (voiced by Steven Yeun) complete his mission of prepping Earth for takeover.

As we explained in our preview of Invincible, Season 3, “Conquest appears in the aftermath of a particularly devastating conflict on Earth, bringing with him an ultimatum from the Viltrumite Empire. Either Invincible carries out his duty and conquers his homeworld in the name of the empire, or Conquest will kill him and finish the job himself. Thus begins the most violent and desperate battle of Mark Grayson’s life (so far).”

Our exclusive clip illustrates the point that IGN’s Jesse Schedeen made in his Season 3 preview that “Mark is still too young and inexperienced to truly hold his own against veteran Viltrumite soldiers. But somehow he’ll have to find a way, because the alternative means his own death and the enslavement of his world.”

The Conquest storyline sets up the endgame for the overall Viltrumite conflict, which should be covered in Invincible’s fourth season. You can catch up on all of our Invincible, Season 3 reviews here.

In addition to Steven Yeun and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Invincible’s voice cast includes Sandra Oh, J.K. Simmons, Seth Rogen, Walton Goggins, Gillian Jacobs, Jason Mantzoukas, Zazie Beetz, Grey DeLisle, Zachary Quinto, Chris Diamantopoulos, Ross Marquand, Khary Payton, Andrew Rannells, Kevin Michael Richardson, Ben Schwartz, Clancy Brown, Jay Pharoah, Mark Hamill, and Melise Jow.

Invincible is a co-production of Skybound Entertainment and Amazon MGM Studios.

Numerous mechanical characters whirr and wisecrack their way through The Electric State, a slick Netflix time-killer and money-waster set in the aftermath of a war against the machines. The scariest of a robotic ensemble generally more cuddly than fearsome are also the most emblematic: For the true spirit of this vulturous enterprise, look not to the literal sentient mascots (among them an animatronic Mr. Peanut voiced by Woody Harrelson) but to a pack of feral desert scavengers pieced together from the limbs of other artificially intelligent beings. “Just like Toy Story,” you might absently think – and that’s but one precursor likely to leap to mind while watching a likewise Frankensteined streaming mockbuster begging only to be half-watched. An elevator pitch is easily gleaned from its gleaming assembly of spare parts: What if Starlord and Eleven went on a road trip across the retro-futuristic wasteland of Fallout?

Only by squinting mightily might you see the skeleton of this latest collaboration between the Netflix algorithm and the Hollywood hitmakers most sympathetic to its data-driven whims, Joe and Anthony Russo. The Electric State draws the loosest of inspiration from a 2018 illustrated novel by Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag, who envisioned an alternate 1990s dystopia littered with the remnants of 1950s-style space-age technology and populated by humans experiencing life through a brain-rotting VR headset. Haunting and spare, the book reads like a travelogue of the post-apocalypse, told through starkly diaristic first-person prose and Stålenhag’s painterly vistas of junkyard Americana – of abandoned cybernetic behemoths looming over the loneliest stretches of lost highway.

Little of that survives in the adaptation, which is “based on the book” to the same extent that Mickey Mouse is based on the physiology of a rodent. The Russos take Stålenhag’s singular vision to the chop shop, borrowing an image or two (the crimson glow of server towers, looming in the distant background of shots like canyons or skyscrapers) and discarding the rest. The original plot, in which a young woman embarks on a cross-country drive with a big-headed corporate droid virtually piloted by her little brother, has been cheerily cluttered up with nattering supporting characters. Leave it to the directors of Marvel’s most overstuffed event pictures to bastardize a deeply lonely science fiction yarn into another expensive group hug and team-building comedy routine.

Who better to headline a synthetic Amblin Entertainment than the star of Netflix’s hit exercise in Spielberg cosplay, Stranger Things? To sit through The Electric State is to understand why Millie Bobby Brown, the streaming-era equivalent of a studio contract player, doesn’t watch her own movies. No sooner has her rebellious Michelle gotten on the road with the remote-controlled Kid Cosmo – a walking action figure that communicates exclusively through pre-recorded catchphrases, a little like Sheriff Woody, a little like Bumblebee – than the movie is pairing them off with slovenly fence Keats (Chris Pratt, whose cocky goofball routine is beginning to seem rather pre-recorded itself). Keats has his own metal companion, a trash-talking cutup who adds another naked appeal to MCU fans by being voiced by Anthony Mackie.

Most of the robots in this movie are tireless joke dispensers. They trade quips like language models trained on, well, older Russo brothers blockbusters. A dopey newsreel recap of the film’s Terminator-lite mythology and backstory, featuring some Forrest Gump-like footage of Bill Clinton brokering post-Judgment Day peace talks, traces the invention of artificially intelligent robots to none other than Walt Disney. But lest one think the Russos are biting the hand that usually feeds (and is once more signing their enormous checks), note that these AI-friendly filmmakers are very much on the side of computerkind. The movie floats an irony as old as the Voigt-Kampff test: The more dependent we become on technology, the more the technology will start looking more human than human.

For a film about a postwar hellscape where humans have disappeared into virtual reverie, The Electric State goes down smooth. It blithely races through a premise that really ought to be more troubling. The busy story, concocted by fellow Marvel veterans Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, becomes a long chase, but not in that exciting Mad Max way. To save her lost-in-the-code brother (Woody Norman), Michelle has to track down some exposition-spouters. The heavy, played by Stanley Tucci, wants to keep the world hooked on his digital Ready Player One playground. Tucci delivers much of his dialogue on a screen mounted to a mechanical avatar, as does Giancarlo Esposito as the robot hater/hunter tasked with intercepting our heroes. It might be the most topically resonant aspect of the whole movie: supervillainy via Zoom meeting.

At least the effects look good – and let’s hope so, given the $300 million Netflix spent on them. The Avengers movies the Russos directed sometimes drifted into cartoon weightlessness, with celebrity mugs pasted on rubbery CGI bodies, like the supposedly “state-of-the-art” equivalent of an old N64 sports game. The Electric State, by contrast, benefits from the smoothed surfaces and limited expressiveness of its digital creations. When Kid Cosmo first marches into the frame, you can see every moving component of his factory-assembled boots. And the relative simplicity of the designs – some of them lifted from Stålenhag’s artwork, most intended to resemble something that might greet you at the entrance of a roadside Big Boy restaurant – keeps the climactic Endgame-style battle sequence from devolving into blurry muck.

Of course, the very fact that there is a climactic battle sequence in this movie speaks to how thoroughly the Russos have Marvelized their source material, sanding down its weirder edges, reshaping it into something vaguely familiar and formulaic. About midway through the film, the cavalry is taken into a Southwest shopping mall sanctuary for robot survivors of the war, with Harrelson’s drawling, combat-hardened Mr. Peanut overseeing a makeshift Island of Misfit Toys. That’s the movie in, ahem, a nutshell: generic corporate mascots, pleading for our nostalgic affection when not slinging one-liners or preparing for battle. If there’s anything remotely personal about The Electric State, it lies in the ascribing of a soul to assembly-line corporate product… you know, like friendly automatons or the shiny popcorn pictures Martin Scorsese casually dismisses.

But there’s no ghost in the machine of The Electric State, which operates under the skittish assumption that any of the spooky melancholy of the book (or the kind the Russos smuggled into the opening minutes of Endgame) might tank its engagement metrics. Ideologically, it’s muddled to the point of incoherence: an anti-technology cautionary tale that wants you to cry for a bucket of bolts. Still, there’s some semblance of consistency to its anti-screen stance, its sermon about not getting too connected to your digital opiates. After all, Netflix is after a different kind of dystopian future, where movies aren’t so much a consuming addiction as bright, inconsequential background noise.

Monster Hunter Wilds has emerged as one of the most popular games of the year thus far, setting records for both the series and Capcom. The reason for its popularity, according to series producer Ryozo Tsujimoto, comes down to story, immersion, and cross-play.

Tsujimoto spoke to The Nikkei (via Automaton) about Monster Hunter Wilds. According to the producer, the biggest factors that influenced the new Monster Hunter's popularity are an emphasis on story, heightened immersion (citing Wilds being fully voiced), and cross-play.

It might sound a bit strange, but Monster Hunter Wilds does have a surprising interest in the story and "why" behind all of the monster hunting. Alongside the obvious points like cutscenes and a sizeable cast of characters, the low-rank section of the campaign moves along at quite a pace.

In IGN's review of Monster Hunter Wilds, we noted as much. While the trek to the first credits roll is a little short than you might normally expect, the intent felt like a desire to have more players get through the campaign and see higher-end content.

It might be working, if player numbers are anything to go by. Capcom confirmed that Monster Hunter Wilds surpassed 8 million units sold in three days to become the fastest-selling Capcom game of all time. At launch, Monster Hunter Wilds was charting over 1 million concurrent players on Steam, and helped Valve's storefront to crack the 40 million concurrent players mark.

Monster Hunter Wilds is due for its first big post-launch update in early April. Title Update 1 will add a monster of "formidable strength at a level above Temprered," as well as an endgame area to gather. Though there have already been patches for Monster Hunter Wilds, they've mostly been addressing bugs and immediate issues.

Eric is a freelance writer for IGN.

Today, Disco Elysium developer ZA/UM has offered just the tiniest tease of its next project: a game focused on the themes of spy and espionage currently being referred to as "Project C4".

As part of the reveal, we got a look at a short teaser trailer, and were briefed on a few of the big ideas we can expect in C4...as well as what we should NOT expect. For one, we were told C4 is not Disco Elysium 2, but instead takes place in a completely original new world. We also were told that it's explicitly not a 007-style spy tale. Instead, it's inspired by the novels of John le Carré, especially the Smiley vs. Karla trilogy (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Honourable Schoolboy, and Smiley's People). It also includes elements of psychadelic sci-fi, borrowing from authors like Usula LeGuin and Philip K. Dick, and action sequences inspired by Park Chan-wook.

Project C4, we're told, will be about the struggles of spies behind the scenes, espionage, allegiances, betrayals...and failure. Failure specifically will play a key role in Project C4 because it sounds like it will bring back one key element from Disco Elysium: the "fail forward" philosophy. Like in Disco, failure in C4 will not result in a reset or reload of the game. Instead, the story will move on, accounting for your failure. That means living with the consequences of your decisions, such as who to ally with, who to be loyal to, and how to spend your time. And yes, you're still at the mercy of your dice rolls.

A press release offers a bit more clarity as to the story itself:

The world of [C4] is rife with shadowy characters who help move the pieces for competing geopolitical powers in a game of concealed conflict. The player sets out to complete a desperate assignment which will put them at risk of losing their life, or much worse – being exposed for what they really are.

As an Operant serving a questionable global power, the player finds themselves locked in a vicious, clandestine struggle for truth and influence. Yet it is the mind that takes centre stage in Project [C4]. More vulnerable and more powerful than the physical world, it can be erased, changed, reordered, and of course significantly altered through regular use of psychoactive substances amongst other means. Players must steel themselves with whatever comfort they can in order to survive the violent canvas of the real.

Unfortunately, it's worth noting that while the studio name is the same, many of the people who worked on Disco Elysium will not be working on Project C4. Numerous former ZA/UM members have left the studio since Disco Elysium's release, with multiple conflicting reports surfacing involving accusations of investor fraud and financial malfeasance, and counter-accusations of some developers creating a toxic work environment. People Make Games endeavored to sum up and reconcile these accounts in a lengthy video report, but the end result has been the splintering of ZA/UM into multiple new studios purportedly working on spiritual successors, with now what remains of ZA/UM focusing on Project C4. That leaves little hope left for a true Disco Elysium 2.

We're expecting to see more of Project C4 from ZA/UM next week at the Game Developers Conference.

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.

Looking to snag some free resources in Fisch? We've put together a list of all of currently active and working Fisch codes, so you can get your hands on a host of rewards and goodies in the Roblox fishing simulator without having to spend a penny.

Active Fisch Codes (March 2025)

Below, you'll find all of the currently active and working Fisch codes in March 2025 that you can reedeem for free rewards:

• THEKRAKEN - C$2,500, Sunken Ship Bobber
• CARBON - Carbon Bopper
• SORRYGUYS - 2x Kraken Tentacles
• ATLANTEANSTORM - 2x Hangman's Hook
• GOLDENTIDE - x3 Instant Catcher
• NewYear - 2 Holly Berry, 2 Peppermint Worm
• NorthernExpedition - Rewards
• RFG - 3x Instant Catcher

Expired Fisch Codes

The following Fisch codes have expired and can no longer be redeemed as of March 2025:

• GOODBYEFISCHMAS
• 1BVisits
• FISCHMASDAY
• MERRYFISCHMAS
• ThankYouFollowers3
• ThankYouFollowers2
• Advent
• Prehistoric
• AncientIsle
• ThankYouFollowers
• TheDepths

How to Redeem Fisch Codes

To redeem Fisch codes, boot up the Roblox Experience and, once you’re in, follow the steps below:

1. Look at the top of the screen. You'll see a button labelled "Menu".
2. Click the button to open the menu screen, then scroll down to the bottom of the menu tab.
3. At the very bottom, you'll see the codes bar. Input your code into this bar and then press the ENTER key to redeem it.

Why Isn't My Fisch Code Working?

If your Fisch code isn’t working, it’s likely due to one of two scenarios. The first is that the Fisch code was inputted incorrectly. Check the spelling and that the case is correct, then redeem again. You can even copy and paste the codes directly from this article over to Roblox if you want to make sure you’re inputting them correctly.

The other possibility is the code has expired or you’ve already used it. In this scenario, you should see an error message pop up below the code bar informing you that the code has already been used or is invalid.

How to Get More Fisch Codes

The best way to get more Fisch codes is by joining the Fisch Discord server. However, it's worth noting the server can be difficult to join considering it's frequently full, with a whopping 500,000 members. If you do run into that issue, keep checking back every few days until you're provided access. Luckily, the team also posts Fisch codes over on X, so even if you can't join the server, it's worth checking the Fisch X account to see if you can find some there.

Mortal Kombat 1 developer NetherRealm has revealed a detailed look at T-1000 gameplay, and a look at a new Fatality packed with references to Terminator 2.

In the video, below, we see the T-1000 use various liquid metal abilities to move about the screen, absorb hits, and poke at his enemies. Even shapeshifting sorcerer Shang Tsung praises the T-1000’s abilities during one pre-match trash talk cutscene.

The highlight of the video is the look at one of the T-1000’s Fatalities, which includes three references to Terminator 2. The first is the iconic finger point through the eyeball, the second the arm blade through the mouth, then the elevator door parting, except through the T-1000’s foe’s torso. Its animality sees the T-1000 transform into a K-9 German Shepherd, another reference to Terminator 2. In the film, John Connor's foster parents owned a German Shepherd named Max. The Terminator calls the dog Wolfie to trick the T-1000.

The T-1000 in Mortal Kombat 1 is of course based on the liquid metal-based cybernetic assassin from the 1991 blockbuster Terminator 2: Judgment Day film, and features the voice and likeness of actor Robert Patrick.

Here’s the official blurb on the T-1000 from NetherRealm:

Battling for the supremacy of machines, the T-1000 is a state-of-the-art infiltration Terminator designed by artificial general superintelligence system Skynet. Comprised of mimetic polyalloy (a.k.a. liquid metal), the virtually indestructible advanced prototype can shapeshift into objects or people it comes in contact with, mimicking their appearance, behavior, and voice, making it an extremely difficult opponent to detect and defeat. With its superior intelligence and metamorphic capabilities, the T-1000 is an efficient fighter that embodies the ultimate evolution of assassination technology.

The T-1000’s sophisticated moveset is on full display in the new trailer, including the ability to organically form stabbing weapons, such as spears and hooks, and liquify for high-tech maneuvering and concealment. The video also reveals a new Fatality for the T-1000 and teases the character’s Animality, the brutal finishing move that morphs the machine into a K-9 German Shepherd to annihilate defeated opponents. The fan favorite Animalities are available now as a content update for all Mortal Kombat 1 owners at no additional cost.

The T-1000 Terminator joins the Mortal Kombat 1 roster on March 18 as part of the early access period for Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns Expansion owners, followed by wide availability for purchase on March 25.

Developer weltenbauer Software Entwicklung (creators of the Construction Simulator games) and publisher astragon have announced Firefighting Simulator: Ignite, a new Unreal Engine 5-powered simulation game that puts you in the boots of a firefighter, rescuing trapped citizens, battling electrical blazes, handling flammable liquids, and dealing with grease fires, backdrafts, flashovers, and explosions. You can team up in four-player co-op as well. It's due out in Fall 2025 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Firefighting Simulator promises realistic fire, smoke, and heat physics. It also aims to up the immersion with "officially licensed firefighting equipment and tools from industry-leading brands like HAIX, Fire-Dex, and STIHL, including fire hoses, saws, Halligan tools, axes, and extinguishers, as well as personal protective equipment" as well as "authentic fire trucks from Rosenbauer America, such as the TP3 Pumper, Viper, 68' Roadrunner or the brand-new RTX."

You can also customize your character. And buying the Extended Edition includes a Dalmation dog for your firehouse, among other bonuses. Modding is also supported for both PC and consoles. Check out the first screenshots above and the announcement trailer at the top of this page, and wishlist Firefighting Simulator: Ignite on Steam if you're interested.

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

Despite requiring players to sign NDAs to prevent details of EA's upcoming untitled Battlefield game leaking online, it leaked online anyway, with dozens of video and screenshots popping up, showing off what players participating in the game's closed playtesting have been up to.

As we reported when the leaks surfaced, the footage seems to confirm the "modern" setting previously teased by Vince Zampella, distinguishing it from other Battlefield games. A quick scroll through the Battlefield subreddit gives us plenty of firefights, as well as a taste of the game's destructible environments and a handful of new mechanics, including the ability to hang off vehicles and dragging wounded teammates out of harm's way.

Perhaps most surprising of all, however, is EA is seemingly doing very little to combat the leaks.

Most publishers are fiercely protective of leaked early footage as pre-release gameplay can feature incomplete animations, unfinished UI, and less-than-stellar graphics. This time, however — despite the fact players are breaking confidentiality agreements by uploading videos or screenshots — EA has yet to issue takedowns.

Perhaps that's because, unlike Battlefield 2042's lukewarm reception, fans seem pretty pleased with what they've seen so far.

"I am scared to say that but this game is shaping up very damn well. I hope there are no catches…" said one player, with another adding: "The animations of the weapons moving around while running / doing anything look better than 2042 to me."

"Dude, even in a pre-alpha state, the explosions, bullets, and projectiles whizzing by, buildings crumbling down, dust kicking up. This has so much potential!" exclaimed another happy player.

"I can't get over how good the sounds and the destruction look at alpha," opined someone else.

EA expects its next Battlefield game to launch in the fiscal year 2026, which means we'll see it released sometime between April 2025 and March 2026. From our first official unveiling just last month, we now know the new Battlefield will include the return of a traditional, single-player, linear campaign, which has been welcome news to players disappointed it was excluded in the multiplayer Battlefield 2042.

Vikki Blake is a reporter, critic, columnist, and consultant. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

Kojima Productions premiered a new, 10-minute long trailer for Death Stranding 2 at SXSW over the recent weekend, and while it features some familiar faces – like Norman Reedus and Lea Seydoux, who reprise their roles from the first Death Stranding – the trailer opens on a new face: Luca Marinelli. But Marinelli isn’t just playing a new character in the Death Stranding universe… He seems poised to become Kojima’s new Solid Snake.

Who is Luca Marinelli playing in Death Stranding 2?

Marinelli is an Italian actor who provides the voice and likeness of the character Neil in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. While the vast majority of Marinelli’s film roles have been in Italian language productions, he is likely best known to English-speaking audiences as the immortal mercenary Nicky from Netflix’s The Old Guard.

In the latest trailer for Death Stranding 2, Marinelli’s Neil is first shown in an interrogation room, being accused of unknown crimes by a man in a suit. Neil says he was only doing the “dirty work” for this suited man and seems to be trying to end the working arrangement he has with them. The man angrily responds that Neil “has no choice” but to keep working for him.

The scene then jumps to Neil talking to a Bridges employee named Lucy (played by Marinelli’s real-life wife, actress Alissa Jung). This conversation hints at the pair’s romantic relationship, and also reveals that the job Neil is doing for the suited man is smuggling cargo — brain-dead pregnant women, to be precise.

Wait, brain-dead pregnant women?

One of the most iconic images from the original Death Stranding is Norman Reedus’ Sam Porter Bridges with a glowing orange flask containing a baby strapped to his chest. The infant he carries is a Bridge Baby, or BB; a seven-month fetus removed via c-section from a brain-dead mother. Such a scenario creates a limbo state between life and death, which in turn allows BBs to communicate with the world of the dead. BBs can then help their adult carriers detect Beached Things, or BTs, which are malevolent souls trapped in the world of the living that cause Voidouts.

Okay, breathe, we’re almost done. Prior to the events of the first game, the US Government was experimenting with BBs to explain the Voidouts, large destructive events caused by BTs that can level entire cities similar to a nuclear bomb. However, the study was discontinued after a BB experiment created a Voidout in Manhattan, destroying the city and killing the US President. Except the experiments on BBs did continue, in secret, hence why Neil is smuggling in the brain-dead pregnant women. He’s presumably doing this for the United States government so that it can continue its illegal research.

Is Solid Snake in Death Stranding 2?

The Last of Us director Neil Druckmann has shared more details about Naughty Dog's upcoming game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.

In an interview with Alex Garland, the writer of zombie movie 28 Days Later, Druckmann talked candidly about the development process, confirming Intergalactic has been in the works for four years.

"I joke about this with the team. We made a game, The Last of Us 2, we made certain creative decisions that got us a lot of hate. A lot of people love it, but a lot of people hate that game," Druckmann said, to which Garland joked: "Who gives a shit?"

"Exactly," Druckmann added. "But the joke is like, you know what, let's do something that people won't care as much about — let's make a game about faith and religion."

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, which stars Jordan A. Mun as Tati Gabrielle, takes place in an alternate historical timeline and features a "pretty prominent religion," too, which has "changed and bastardized and evolved" over the years.

Jordan will have to use all her skills and wits if she hopes to be the first person in centuries to leave its orbit.

"This whole religion takes place on this one planet, and then at one point, all communication stops," Druckmann teased. "And you're playing a bounty hunter that's chasing her bounty, and she crash lands on this planet.

"So many of the previous games we've done, there's always, like, an ally with you," he said. "I really want you to be lost in a place that you're really confused about what happened here, who are the people here, what was their history. And in order to get off this planet — again, no one has been heard from this planet for 600 years or so — if you ever have hoped to have a chance to get off, you have to figure out what happened here."

Last week, The Last of Us Season 2 showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin confirmed “spores are back” following their omission from Season 1.

The latest trailer for the upcoming HBO show teased the introduction of spores after they were left out of Season 1. Speaking at SXSW 2025, Druckmann said there is "an escalation of numbers and types of infected, but also, as you see in the trailer, an escalation of the vector of how this thing spreads."

"Season 1, we had this new thing that wasn’t in the game of these tendrils that spread, and that was one form," he explained. "And then one shot you see in this trailer, there are things in the air."

In other The Last of Us Season 2 news, actress Kaitlyn Dever discussed playing Abby, admitting she finds it hard to stop herself from looking at the reaction on the internet.

Vikki Blake is a reporter, critic, columnist, and consultant. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

A leaked internal video has revealed Sony is experimenting with AI-powered PlayStation characters.

The Verge reported on the emergence of an internal video allegedly created by PlayStation Studios' advanced technology group that uses Aloy from the Horizon games to demonstrate AI-powered game characters.

The video was subsequently pulled from YouTube following a copyright claim from Muso, an internet enforcement company The Verge said lists Sony Interactive Entertainment as a client. This suggests the video is legitimate. IGN has asked Sony for comment.

In the video, as reported by The Verge, Sony Interactive Entertainment director of software engineering, Sharwin Raghoebardajal, has a conversation with an AI-powered Aloy via voice prompts and AI-generated speech and facial animations.

The speech recognition is via OpenAI’s Whisper for speech-to-text, the conversational AI via GPT-4 and Llama 3 for dialogue and decision-making, the speech synthesis via Sony’s Emotional Voice Synthesis (EVS) system, and the facial animation via Sony’s Mockingbird technology.

In the tech demo, Raghoebardajal asks Aloy how she's doing, to which she responds: "Hello, I'm managing alright. Just dealing with a sore throat. How have you been?"

The voice heard coming from Aloy's mouth is not that of voice actor Ashly Burch, who famously plays the character in the video games. Rather, it is a robotic voice similar to the kind you get from any of the thousands of text-to-speech voice generators used to narrate social media posts. AI Aloy's facial movements are stiff and her eyes appear lifeless as she converses with Raghoebardajal.

When asked how Aloy's search for her mother is going, she replies: "I discovered I'm a clone of Dr. Elizabeth Sobeck, which led me to understand my purpose and origins."

How does it feel to be a clone? "Being a clone feels unique, connecting me to the past while allowing me to create my own path and future," Aloy replies.

The demo then transitions into the actual Horizon Forbidden West game world, and Raghoebardajal continues the conversation while playing the game. It's slightly jarring to see the player converse with a character they're in control of, and the irony of using Aloy as an AI-powered PlayStation character given the plot of the Horizon games is obvious.

The demo is described as a prototype developed with the help of Horizon studio Guerrilla Games to show off the tech internally at Sony. “This is just a glimpse of what is possible,” Raghoebardajal says in the video. And while the video shows an investment from Sony in the exploration of AI-powered PlayStation characters, it’s worth noting the company has yet to confirm plans to incorporate the tech into any public-facing PlayStation product, and there is no suggestion it would even be possible with PS5 games at this stage.

But it perhaps comes as little surprise to see Sony’s work behind the scenes here, given pretty much all its competitors in the video game space are working on AI tech of some description. Indeed, Xbox maker Microsoft is all-in on AI, and recently announced an AI called Muse designed to generate ideas for a game's design.

Generative AI is one of the hottest topics within the video game and entertainment industries, which have both suffered massive layoffs in recent years. Generative AI thus far has drawn criticism from players and creators due to a mix of ethical issues, rights issues, and AI’s struggles to produce content audiences actually enjoy. For instance, Keywords Studios attempted to create an experimental game internally using entirely AI. The game failed, with Keywords citing to investors that AI was “unable to replace talent.”

EA said in September that AI was "the very core" of its business, and more recently Capcom said it was experimenting with generative AI to create the "hundreds of thousands" of ideas needed for in-game environments.

Head of PlayStation Productions and head of product at PlayStation Studios Asad Qizilbash weighed in on AI to say its use in video games is important to Gen Z and Gen Alpha gamers who seek "personalization across everything."

"For instance, non-player characters in games could interact with players based on their actions, making it feel more personal,” Qizilbash said. “This is important for the younger Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences, who are the first generations that grew up digitally and are looking for personalization across everything, as well as looking for experiences to have more meaning."

Activision recently admitted the use of generative AI for some Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 assets amid a backlash to an "AI slop" zombie Santa loading screen.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

A new report has outlined Microsoft’s video game hardware ambition, alleging a full next-gen Xbox is set for 2027 and an Xbox-branded gaming handheld is due out later in 2025.

Windows Central reported on a partner PC gaming handheld codenamed Keenan, which is apparently in the works for late 2025, and a successor to the Xbox Series X and S now “fully” in production and due out in two years.

Microsoft is yet to comment on the report, however its gaming executives have spoken publicly about both devices in vague terms across various interviews. In January, Jason Ronald, Microsoft’s VP of ‘Next Generation,’ told The Verge that the company plans to combine Xbox and Windows experiences together for PC gaming handhelds made by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), otherwise known as third-party hardware manufacturers. Existing PC gaming OEMs include Asus, Lenovo, and Razer. Keenan does not relate to a first-party Xbox handheld, which Microsoft gaming boss Phil Spencer recently indicated is years away.

As for the next-gen Xbox, Windows Central said it is fully greenlit by Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. The console is reportedly a premium successor to the Xbox Series X, and this console, alongside a first-party Xbox gaming handheld and new controllers, are set to round out Microsoft’s console offering in 2027. The suggestion, then, is Microsoft does not plan to release a direct next-gen successor to the less powerful Xbox Series S. Perhaps Microsoft expects its handheld to occupy the cheaper, less powerful console space.

Windows Central expects the next-gen Xbox will be more like a PC than any Xbox before it, and will support third-party storefronts such as Steam, the Epic Games Store, and GOG. Continued backwards compatibility is a given.

Last year, Xbox president Sarah Bond said Microsoft was "moving full speed ahead on our next generation hardware, focused on delivering the biggest technological leap ever in a generation."

There is much speculation around the future of consoles generally. Xbox Series X and S are floundering in the ‘console war,’ and Sony has suggested PlayStation 5 is approaching the second half of its life. While Nintendo is set to launch Switch 2 later this year, there is growing concern that the traditional video game console business could be under threat.

Spencer has said in interviews that the console business has failed to grow meaningfully in recent years, offering a sizable but static customer base that is increasingly playing a handful of enormous games and leaving little room for everything else. Last year, former Xbox executive Peter Moore told IGN that Microsoft would have been discussing whether consoles have a future.

Based on this latest report, it seems Microsoft has decided they do.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Welcome back to yet another chance to level up your pile of shame for less. Today’s gaming deals are stacked with legendary adventures, thrilling mysteries, and timeless classics at unbeatable prices. These deals certainly won’t last forever—or may even be micro-adjusted higher by the time you read this—so get cracking.

This Day in Gaming 🎂

In retro news, I’m using my Heavy Thrusters to light a 22-candle cake for Freelancer. Chris Roberts, the mind behind Wing Commander, was behind this fine mix of dynamic economy, faction-driven conflicts, and narrative-driven campaigns.

In the fullness of time, Freelancer has since gone on to directly influence a new gen of space sims with its groundbreaking vast open-world, seamless planetary landings, and an intuitive control scheme. The DNA of this true classic can be seen today in titles like Elite Dangerous and No Man’s Sky, the latter of which you should totally lock orbit with, due to its incredible VR antics.

Aussie bdays for notable games

- Freelancer (PC) 2003. eBay

- Shadow Hearts: Covenant (PS2) 2005. eBay

- Yakuza 3 (PS3) 2010. Get

Contents

• Nintendo
• PC
• Xbox
• PlayStation
• LEGO

Nice Savings for Nintendo Switch

If you’ve been waiting to jump into the colourful chaos of Super Mario Bros. Wonder, now’s the time with its new lowest ever price. Meanwhile, Luigi’s Mansion 3 lets the green brother shine with his trusty Poltergust, originally designed with help from Pikmin creator Shigeru Miyamoto himself.

• Luigi’s Mansion 3 (-33%) - A$54
• Bravely Default II (-34%) - A$53
• Rune Factory 5 (-28%) - A$55
• Sonic Frontiers (-32%) - A$68
• Lego Ninjago (-47%) - A$48

Expiring Recent Deals

• Super Mario RPG (-25%) - A$61
• Persona 5 Royal (-28%) - A$72
• Crash Bandicoot 4 (-67%) - A$24
• Mortal Kombat 1 (-67%) - A$20

Or gift a Nintendo eShop Card.

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Purchase Cheap for PC

PC gamers can grab the visually stunning Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut, a game that quickly got me addicted to its quick-draw insta-kill mechanic. Alternatively, relive a high-seas classic with Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, where the developers snuck in a working, in-game version of classic pen-and-paper game Nine Men’s Morris.

• Suikoden I&II HD (-25%) - A$56
• Skyrim: AE (-67%) - A$27
• AC Black Flag (-70%) - A$18
• Old World (-75%) - A$15
• GTA Trilogy Def. (-60%) - A$36
• WRC 7 (-90%) - A$3

Expiring Recent Deals

• Mirror’s Edge (-85%) - A$5
• Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown (-61%) - A$28
• RoboCop: Rogue City (-84%) - A$12
• Forza Horizon 5 Premium (-50%) - A$70

Or just get a Steam Wallet Card

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Exciting Bargains for Xbox

Over on Xbox Series X, Disco Elysium – The Final Cut offers one of gaming’s deepest narratives, and its developers basically created an entirely new tabletop RPG system just for the game. And if you fancy some intergalactic thrills, Dead Space brings spine-chilling horror at a smile-generating price.

• Star Wars Outlaws Gold Ed. (-30%) - A$119
• Dragon Age: The Veilguard Del. Ed. (-58%) - A$59
• Disco Elysium - The Final Cut (-70%) - A$18
• Dead Space (-75%) - A$28

Xbox One

• Overcooked! All You Can Eat (-56%) - A$26
• Hogwarts Legacy (-61%) - A$39
• Borderlands: Handsome Col. (-53%) - A$34
• EA Sports FIFA 23 (-85%) - A$15

Expiring Recent Deals

• Payday 3 (-43%) - A$23
• Riders Republic (-23%) - A$47
• Hades (-60%) - A$17
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (-75%) - A$28
• BioShock: The Col. (-80%) - A$18
• Doom (-80%) - A$7
• Rogue Legacy 2 (-60%) - A$15
• Mass Effect Legendary Ed. (-90%) - A$10

Or just invest in an Xbox Card.

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Pure Scores for PlayStation

Finally, PS5 players can grab Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin, a chaotic retelling of Final Fantasy I with a soundtrack that remixes classic tunes. Or you can just dive into the gripping noir of Lost Judgment, where the protagonist is voiced by a real-life Japanese pop idol.

• Borderlands 3 Ult. Ed. (-69%) - A$46
• Gris (-80%) - A$4
• Lost Judgment (-80%) - A$20
• The Last of Us Part I (-50%) - A$63

PS4

• Death's Door (-75%) - A$8
• Catherine: Full Body (-38%) - A$35
• God of War Ragnarök (-21%) - A$88
• Untitled Goose Game (-50%) - A$15

Expiring Recent Deals

• Tales of Arise (-67%) - A$34
• Octopath Traveler II (-20%) - A$69
• Resident Evil Village (-31%) - A$38
• Gran Turismo 7 (-22%) - A$97
• Rainbow Six Siege Del. Ed. (-80%) - A$10
• Watch Dogs: Legion (-86%) - A$14
• Ace Combat 7 (-73%) - A$27
• Lords of the Fallen (-69%) - A$34

PS+ Monthly Freebies
Yours to keep from Mar 4 with this subscription

• Dragon Age: Veilguard (PS5)
• Sonic Colours: Ultimate (PS4)
• TMNT: Cowabunga Col. (PS5/PS4)

Or purchase a PS Store Card.

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Legit LEGO Deals

• Mario Kart Toad’s Garage (-28%) - A$43
• City Go-Karts (-33%) - A$10
• Harry Potter Charms Class (-27%) - A$22

Expiring Recent Deals

• City Police Bike Chase (-38%) - A$10
• Construction Crane (-34%) - A$119
• Construction Steamroller (-33%) - A$10

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Adult coloring books have been becoming more and more popular in recent years. It's a fun and relaxing hobby that allows you to turn a simple lined image into a beautiful masterpiece. You get to choose what colors to use and whether or not you stay within the lines.

With more adults purchasing coloring books for themselves, we're starting to see an increase in options specifically aimed at an adult audience. One such franchise that has gotten in on the action is Demon Slayer. There have already been two official Demon Slayer coloring books released and there's a third one that is currently up for preorder at Amazon.

Preorder the New Demon Slayer Coloring Book

Death of a Unicorn opens in theaters Friday, March 28. This review is based on a screening at the 2025 SXSW Film and TV Festival.

There’s an intriguing premise with the potential for entertaining moral conundrums at the center of Death of a Unicorn. First, corporate lawyer Elliot Kintner (Paul Rudd) hits a mysterious creature. Then, when it turns out the animal’s corpse has healing powers, Elliot and his conscientious teenage daughter Ridley (Jenna Ortega) must figure out how to hide the accident from Elliot’s wealthy pharmaceutical boss. Unfortunately, this synopsis is about as far, as deep, and as detailed as it gets for the latest horror comedy from indie powerhouse A24. Despite featuring a number of fun performances – especially that of Will Poulter as the pharma CEO’s wily failson – Alex Scharfman’s feature debut quickly plateaus.

Death of a Unicorn’s emotional throughlines all seem to end where they begin. In the opening scenes, Elliot and Ridley land in the Canadian mountains by plane; as the college teen falls asleep on her father’s shoulder, only for him to shimmy out of the way to grab fallen legal documents, causing her to hit her head on the armrest. It’s a wonderful, hilarious encapsulation of their estranged dynamic. Ridley’s mother has passed away; in response, Elliot threw himself into his work, irrevocably changing his relationship with Ridley. Now, with his ailing boss Odell Leopold (Richard E. Grant) looking for a proxy before he dies, Elliot has the chance to set Ridley up for life, but on the condition that he prove himself a family man as well.

En route to the executive’s isolated mansion, the father-daughter duo, distracted by their bickering, mows down a white horse with a single horn – a creature the characters collectively, and reluctantly, decide to refer to as a unicorn. This leads to strange, fantastical happenings – including hypnotic visions and magical healing – but not before some delightful, human-on-apparent-unicorn violence intended to put the injured creature out of its misery. Its bright purple blood splatters everywhere, but the imperfectly realized CGI beast (forgivable, considering the ruckus it causes) isn’t quite dead, which further complicates Elliot’s already knotty interview with Odell.

This setup has all the makings of a story that evolves in delightful ways, but Death of a Unicorn never progresses past the (initially amusing) philosophical debates kicked off by the Leopolds’ discovery of their guests’ fairytale roadkill. It’s a conversation-heavy film until its creature-feature final act, but none of that jabbering changes the minds of anyone on screen – least of all Ridley, the film’s ostensible conscience. Ortega delivers a wonderfully lived-in performance as a baggily-dressed youth withdrawn from the world, defined entirely by her activist leaning. She’s an actor capable of injecting great thought and subtext into any scenario, but Death of a Unicorn is too flimsy even for her talents, rendering Ridley something of a blank slate who ends up so unwavering as to be grating. (It's a bad sign when the voice of reason and compassion in an attempted cinematic takedown of ruthless billionaires makes you consider siding with the billionaires.) Then again, what else is there to do than consider alternatives that the film and its characters do not, since all its drama, comedy, and thrills swiftly flatline.

Bearing the brunt of Ortega’s ire, the typically entertaining Rudd delivers an exceptionally plain, checked-out performance. And that’s a shame, considering the color the rest of the cast manages to bring to the screen: Grant is delightfully animated, as is Téa Leoni as Odell’s opportunistic wife. Jessica Hynes and Anthony Carrigan, meanwhile, add lively dimensions as the family’s stone-faced enforcer and fed-up butler. But it’s Poulter who comes closest to rescuing the film from its malaise. Nearly every line he delivers is hilarious, owing to how deftly and energetically he balances his character’s slimy scheming with the insecurities of someone who’s never made it on his own. He’s also the only actor whose performance seems to evolve or transform in any way, even if this is courtesy the drug-like properties of a magical substance.

There’s some amount of imagination at play, and A24 is hardly in the wrong for throwing its weight behind a first-time filmmaker. The unicorn’s designs are imaginative, as are its magical abilities – even if their discovery is rendered useless by characters making erratic choices, and losing their key motivations when convenient. Its horror elements tend to be inconsistent, especially in tone. While some sequences are meant to pay homage to Jurassic Park, the outcome tends to align with that film’s lesser reboot, Jurassic World: Cartoonish villains and complex, relatable characters alike suffer vicious deaths designed for our enjoyment and applause. As a result, some of the intended revelry feels icky.

Scharfman clearly has a knack for staging and blocking physical comedy, even if the way he actually captures it is lacking here. The eye is seldom drawn to what’s funniest, but rather, to what happens to be in the center of the frame. There’s also the ingenious conceit of the creature’s presence messing with electricity, which allows the film to seamlessly switch into haunted house mode when necessary. However, the tension and humor of these sequences don’t adequately rise and fall, and the editing is squeamish about what little cartoonish gore it features. This renders Death of a Unicorn a passive and ultimately tiring experience, one that gestures frequently towards fun and interesting ideas, but rarely follows through on them.

If you decided to hold off on Nvidia's Blackwell GPUs to see if AMD's new offerings were up to snuff, then you made the right choice. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards are the new mid-range champions of this generation. Both cards offer phenomenal performance while undercutting their Nvidia competition in price. They go up for sale on March 6 starting at 6am PST. The Radeon RX 9070 starts at $550 and the 9070 XT starts at $600. Let's just hope that - unlike Nvidia - AMD has its supply under control.

The jury's out as to whether or not inventory will hold, but given how well positioned these GPUs are in the stack, I wouldn't be surprised if they ended up selling out quickly. I've listed below the best places to pick up one of these cards. The current trend is that if you're set on purchasing a GPU at launch, you don't have the luxury of choosing your brand or model. If you see any in stock at a price you're happy with, buy now and think later.

TLDR; This article assumes, not guarantees, there are actual graphics cards to purchase. You may stumble on this page and find out that every model at every retailer is sold out.

Quick Links: Radeon RX 9070 / 9070 XT Graphics Card Listings

How much will these new AMD GPUs cost?

One of the main reasons why these new AMD cards are sure to be popular is the price to performance ratio. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 costs the same as the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 yet offers superior performance and more VRAM for the same price. Even more impressively, the Radeon RX 9070 XT trades blows with the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti and costs $150 less. We'll see if these suggested retail prices hold, but if they do, the winner is a no-brainer.

• AMD Radeon RX 9070 - $550
• AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT - $600

Where should I preorder these new AMD GPUs?

The retailers below are your best chances to score one of the new AMD GPUs. Four of the retailers (Best Buy, Newegg, Amazon, and B&H Photo) will have listings online. One retailer (Micro Center) will only carry them in-store. There's no way to tell exactly how many units are available at each retailer, however a Wccftech article claims that "AMD and AIBs are reportedly shipping more Radeon RX 9070 XTs than all Nvidia's RTX 50 series GPUs combined."

If you want to maximize your chance of picking up one of the new AMD cards on launch day, your best bet is to check each and every retailer and buy the first card that lets you proceed all the way through checkout. Just remember that potentially thousands of other people will be clicking on the same link as you.

Based on past GPU launches, I suspect that one of your best chances of purchasing the new AMD graphics cards online will be at Best Buy. This retailer should carry every brand that will be available at launch, including Sapphire, XFX, Asus, Asrock, Gigabyte, and Powercolor.

Best Buy's available inventory depends on your region; if you're fortunate enough to live in an area where graphics cards in general might not be in high demand, you'll have a much better chance of scoring a GPU here than anywhere else. Also important to note is that Best Buy GPU orders generally ship out quickly since they're either listed as in stock or out of stock (no "backorders" here). That means you'll likely receive your card in hand within a week.

Newegg

You'll also definitely want to prioritize Newegg. Like Best Buy, Newegg is expected to carry every make and model of the Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT graphics cards. Newegg is an authorized reseller, so as long as you are buying from Newegg direct and not a marketplace vendor, you'll be eligible for the full manufacturer's warranty. Similar to Best Buy, orders usually ship out within the week, unless the product is backordered or out of stock.

Even if the standalone cards are sold out, Newegg may sell these AMD GPUs as part of a bundle kit that includes any combination of a motherboard, CPU, RAM, or power supply. If you're working on a DIY computer build and haven't purchased all of your components, this might work to your advantage. These bundle offers do eventually sell out, but at a slower rate than the standalone cards.

Micro Center (In-Store)

Without a doubt, Micro Center will be your best chance at getting an AMD GPU on launch day if you happen to live close by to a local store. Micro Center will most assuredly reserve all their GPU sales for in-store customers. Even if you are local, though, you should still get there as early as possible (ideally when the store opens).

We reviewed both AMD graphics cards

We rated the AMD Radeon RX 9070 an 8/10. It costs the same as the new Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 but it performs better in the majority of games we tested and also includes more VRAM (16GB vs 12GB), which should supposedly make it more futureproof. From our tests, it draws about the same amount of power as the RTX 5070.

We rated the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT a "perfect" 10/10. Even though it costs $150 less than the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, the 9070 XT beats it out in several of the games we tested. In a few benchmarks, the results aren't even close. The 9070 XT also has 16GB of VRAM, the same as the 9070 and 5070 Ti. On the flip side, it does draw more power and get hotter on average compared to the RTX 5070 Ti.

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

If you decided to hold off on Nvidia's Blackwell GPUs to see if AMD's new offerings were up to snuff, then you made the right choice. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards are the new mid-range champions of this generation. Both cards offer phenomenal performance while undercutting their Nvidia competition in price.

Right now, Amazon has one 9070 XT GPU in stock, and it's shipped and sold by Amazon instead of a marketplace vendor, so it's legit. Note that Powercolor is charging a $100 premium over the $599 MSRP.

Powercolor Reaper AMD Radeon RX 9700 XT GPU in Stock

Manscaped is a well known boutique retailer of men's haircare products, with a great name to boot. Its shavers boast great build quality, features, and performance, but they're also pretty pricey. Fortunately, if you buy from Manscaped directly, there's a 15% off coupon you can get when you sign up for the email newsletter. Manscaped is also offering free shipping on all orders, with no minimum threshold. Alternatively, Amazon is offering a 10% off discount on the entire brand.

The Chairman Plus at Manscaped

USB Type-C has become the standard for charging and data cables alike, so it's good to have extra on hand. Here's a deal where you can get a bunch of cables for pennies on the dollar. Amazon is offering a five-pack of Lisen USB Type-C cables in varying sizes for only $7.96 after a 50% off promo code "UNWEXMFD" is applied during checkout. That averages out to about $1.59 per cable. USB Type-C cables typically go for about $5-$10 per cable at your local big box store.

5-Pack of USB Type-C Cables for $7.96

AMD's new Radeon RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT graphics cards have been released , but just like their Nvidia counterparts, they're mostly out of stock and impossible to find at retail pricing. Don't fret, however, because you can still get these GPUs equipped in a prebuilt gaming PC for a reasonable price. The Radeon RX 9070 GPUs are the new mid-range champions of this generation. Both cards offer phenomenal performance while undercutting their Nvidia competition.

AMD Radeon RX 9070 / 9070 XT Gaming PCs on Amazon

When it comes to Android, the Google Pixel line has some of the best phones on the market. The Pixel 9 series that was released just last year has one of the greatest cameras on any smartphone currently on the market and AI features that are really quite fun to play around with. The price point on the "Pro" versions of these phones also makes them a great budget option for anyone looking for a good iPhone alternative.

If you're in the market for a new phone, Amazon and Best Buy have currently dropped the price of the Pixel 9 Pro XL to a new low. The price of the best overall phone from the latest generation has officially dropped below the lowest-ever price we saw on just the standard Pixel 9 last week. This deal likely won't last long.

The Best Google Pixel 9 Pro XL Deal at Amazon Today

If you're in the process of building out a new gaming PC and you're looking for the best gaming processor, this is it. Right now, the recently released AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D AM5 desktop processor is back in stock on Amazon and Best Buy at its retail price of $479 shipped. This is the official launch price with zero markup, and it's not bundled with anything you don't want or need. The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the best gaming processor currently on the market (across both AMD and Intel) and a better choice for gamers than the more expensive Intel Core Ultra 9 285K.

Back in Stock: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Desktop Processor

AMD's X3D series processors are optimized for gaming. In that respect, they bench better than even the most expensive of AMD's standard lineup of CPUs thanks to AMD's 3D V-Cache technology. Although perfectly capable of handling multitasking, rendering, and creation, the limited number of cores means they aren't the ideal processors for those tasks. At its retail price of $479, the 9800X3D is $110 cheaper than the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K ($589) and $170 cheaper than the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X, even though it outperforms both of them in gaming. Unless you're a staunch Intel fan, or you're still on AM4 and don't want to upgrade all of your components, the 9800X3D is the obvious choice for your next gaming rig.

Tim Burton may not have directed a Batman movie in over 30 years, but his DC Universe is still going strong. Michael Keaton got the chance to reprise the Bruce Wayne role in 2023’s The Flash, a movie that (briefly) ported his Batman over to the DCEU. But even now, the Burton-Verse continues to expand through new comic book and novel spinoffs like the recently announced Batman: Revolution.

It’s gotten to the point where the question of how to watch and read the entire Burton-Verse is a surprisingly complicated one. But don’t worry, we’re here to help. Read on for a full breakdown of how the various Tim Burton Batman movies, novels, and comics fit together.

You can also check out our full guide to watching all the Batman movies in order.

How Many Burton-Verse Batman Stories Are There?

Counting the yet-to-be-released Batman: Revolution, there are currently seven projects set in Burton’s Batman universe - three films, two novels, and two comics. That lineup includes 1989’s Batman, 1992’s Batman Returns, and 2023’s The Flash, as well as the books Batman: Resurrection and Batman: Revolution and the comics Batman ‘89 and Batman ‘89: Echoes.

This lineup also excludes 1995’s Batman Forever and 1997’s Batman & Robin, which are no longer considered to be part of Burton’s Batman universe. We’ll get into the reasons why a bit later.

Where to Buy Tim Burton’s Batman

Although you can stream Burton’s Batman movies on Max and read the Batman ‘89 comics on DC Universe Infinite, it never hurts to go the physical media route these days. If you’re looking to buy the Burton-Verse movies and books, here are some good options:

Batman Favorites Collection [4K UHD + Blu-Ray]

Batman '89

Batman '89: Echoes

Batman: Resurrection

Batman: Revolution (Hardcover)

Every Tim Burton Batman Movie and Book in Chronological Order

*Each blurb contains a broad overview of the plot and mentions the heroes/villains who appear in that film or book.

1. Batman (1989)

This is the original movie that started it all. Burton’s first Batman movie pits Michael Keaton’s Dark Knight (still early in his superhero career) against Jack Nicholson’s Joker. The movie inspired a summer of “Bat-Mania” and proved there was a healthy appetite for darker, more mature superhero movies in Hollywood.

2. Batman: Resurrection (2024)

This novel by John Jackson Miller is set in the aftermath of the first movie, as Batman deals with the remnants of the Joker Gang and confronts the rise of the shape-shifting villain known as Clayface. The book is designed to bridge the gap between Batman and Batman Returns, including introducing Christopher Walken’s character Max Shreck and giving readers more insight into the collapse of Bruce Wayne and Vicki Vale’s (Kim Basinger) romance.

3. Batman: Revolution (2025)

Miller is returning for a second novel set between the events of Batman and Batman Returns. This time, Revolution will introduce the Burton-Verse’s version of Riddler, a lowly newspaper copy editor named Norman Pinkus who laments the fact that no one appreciates his aptitude for solving crimes. Pinkus will turn to a life of crime and capitalize on the city’s growing resentment toward the wealthy elite of Gotham.

4. Batman Returns (1992)

Burton and Keaton both returned for this film sequel, which is set a few years after the events of the first movie. This time, Batman goes up against Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman and Danny DeVito’s Penguin as Gotham City endures a hellish holiday season. Despite initial plans for a third Batman movie, both Burton and Keaton ultimately dropped out of what became 1995’s Batman Forever.

5. Batman ‘89 (2021)

DC’s Batman ‘89 comic serves as a direct sequel to Batman Returns and is set three years later. The six-issue comic, written by Batman screenwriter Sam Hamm and illustrated by Joe Quinones, draws inspiration from Burton’s abandoned plans for a third Batman movie. The book sees Billy Dee Williams’ Harvey Dent become Two-Face, while also introducing a version of Robin modeled after Marlon Wayans (who at one point was attached to play the role in Batman Returns). Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman also makes a return appearance, paying off on the tease from the end of Batman Returns.

Click here to learn more about how Batman ‘89 adds to the Burton-Verse.

6. Batman ‘89: Echoes (2024)

Just as Batman ‘89 is essentially Burton’s Batman 3 in comic form, Hamm and Quinones reunited for a follow-up that acts as a hypothetical fourth Burton movie. Three years after the events of Batman ‘89, Keaton’s Bruce Wayne has gone missing, leaving Robin and the new Batgirl to deal with the threat posed by Scarecrow (modeled after Jeff Goldblum) and Harley Quinn (modeled after Madonna).

7. The Arrowverse's Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part One (2019)

While only hardcore Burton-Verse completionists need to worry about this one, it's worth mentioning that Robert Wuhl briefly reprises the role of intrepid reporter Alexander Knox in the first chapter of The CW's Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover. That episode briefly shifts focus to Earth-89, where Knox is seen reading a newspaper in a park as red skies form over Gotham. It's one of numerous live-action DC cameos in the crossover.

8. The Flash (2023)

While it didn’t fare well critically or commercially, The Flash at least has the distinction of giving Bat-fans some closure on the saga of Keaton’s Batman. Keaton himself returns to play a much older Bruce Wayne, after Ezra Miller’s Barry Allen mucks about with the DCEU timeline and inadvertently trades one Batman for another. Meeting The Flash and learning about the threat of Michael Shannon’s General Zod is enough to coax Batman out of retirement for one last, high-stakes mission.

Tim Burton’s Batman Universe in Release Order

• Batman (1989)
• Batman Returns (1992)
• Batman ‘89 (2021)
• The Flash (2023)
• Batman ‘89: Echoes (2024)
• Batman: Resurrection (2024)
• Batman: Revolution (2025)

How Do Batman Forever and Batman & Robin Fit In?

1995’s Batman Forever and 1997’s Batman & Robin were once considered sequels to Batman and Batman Returns, despite the fact that neither Burton nor Keaton returned for these projects. The presence of supporting characters like Pat Hingle’s Commissioner Gordon and Michael Gough’s Alfred maintained some degree of continuity with the previous films. However, these two sequels are generally regarded as being inferior to their predecessors, as well as being far different tonally.

With the release of The Flash, DC now officially treats Batman Forever and Batman & Robin as being set in a separate version of the DC Universe. The Batman ‘89 comics now act as the definitive, canon sequels to Batman Returns, revealing what happened to Keaton’s Bruce Wayne between the events of Returns and The Flash.

The Canceled Batgirl Movie

Warning: this section contains spoilers for The Flash!

The Flash wasn’t always intended to be the end of the road for Keaton’s Batman. At one point, the character was being positioned for an ongoing role in the DCEU (before WB cut that cinematic universe’s future short). Reportedly, a previous version of the movie ended not with Batman dying in battle against Zod in the Flashpoint timeline, but with both Keaton’s Bruce and Sasha Calle’s Supergirl crossing over into the restored DCEU. That’s where WB’s canceled Batgirl movie comes in.

Keaton wound up reprising the role again in Batgirl, which reportedly cast him as an aged, Batman Beyond-esque mentor to Leslie Grace’s rookie Barbara Gordon. J.K. Simmons also returned as the DCEU Commissioner Gordon, while Brendan Fraser played the villain Firefly.

The Batgirl movie made it well into post-production before WB infamously pulled the plug and canceled it as a tax writeoff. It became a major casualty in the studio’s evolving plans for the DC line and the pivot to James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DCU. Barring any major leaks, Keaton fans will never have an opportunity to see what will likely be his final Batman performance.

For more on the future of DC movies, find out why Gunn needs to keep Robert Pattinson’s Batman out of the DCU and brush up on every DC movie and series in development.

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

The Accountant opens in theaters on Friday, April 25. This review is based on a screening at the 2025 SXSW Film and TV Festival.

You can tell from the way the title is stylized on screen – as a mathematical exponent, like Alien³ – that The Accountant 2 has removed the self-seriousness from its predecessor’s otherwise delightful formula. Gavin O’Connor’s sequel is a blast, building on the story and relationships of 2016’s The Accountant to reveal a touching, hilarious portrait of fraught brotherhood within a charged and politically relevant plot. All the while, it leans full-tilt into a goofy setup that’s executed with utter confidence: Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck), a.k.a. The Accountant, is a savant number-cruncher for the mob and part-time vigilante gunman whose autism is gently approached and realistically performed, but framed as though it were a superpower.

There’s less bean counting in The Accountant 2, but far more blood and bullets, starting with an opening scene in which former Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (or FinCEN) director Raymond King (J.K. Simmons) is gunned down while working a case in secret. Once the Commissioner Gordon to The Accountant’s Batman – fitting, as Affleck and Simmons have since played that dynamic in the DC Extended Universe – King has only been following leads in which he’s emotionally invested. His death leaves behind an intricate puzzle for Wolff to solve, alongside King’s Treasury Department successor, the returning Marybeth Medina (Cynthia Addai-Robinson). The case that got King killed opens up a web of human trafficking between Central America and the southern U.S., exposing the ways in which undocumented immigrants who have little legal recourse are brutally exploited. Where the first film was mostly unsentimental about its central plot (which revolved around a robotics firm), The Accountant 2 conjures immense sympathy with its topical melodrama and the mystery of King’s death.

But as somber as this story seems at first blush, it’s also peppered with wildly amusing moments of character. That begins with Wolff’s re-introduction, during which he games a speed-dating algorithm by sprucing up his profile in all the right ways, only to botch every face-to-face encounter. It’s the perfect kind of silly, placing Wolff’s isolation front and center while setting up his impending reunion with his estranged brother, fellow contract killer Braxton (Jon Bernthal), whose help he seeks to solve King’s murder. Also assisting Wolff is his returning, remote, technologically savvy assistant Justine (Allison Robertson, replacing Allison Wright from the first film), a nonverbal resident of a mansion-like academy for young autistic students. She has her own legion of hackers-in-training this time, à la Professor X – who she even quotes at one point. Like I said: perfectly silly, even if the portrayal of neurodivergence constantly threatens to tip (but never fully does) into offensiveness.

A mysterious, scarily capable assassin known only as Anaïs (Daniella Pineda) seems to somehow be involved in King’s case, but The Accountant 2’s lopsided structure ensures that she disappears for lengthy periods. However, the layers it reveals to her seemingly single-minded character do retroactively justify those absences. After all, this is the kind of movie where no matter how many conveniences cause its jigsaw pieces to click into place, the result is no less entertaining.

Just like The Accountant, whose heightened tone and reliance on tried-and-true storytelling devices – enormous coincidences, long-lost family connections – wouldn’t feel out of place in a Bollywood movie,the sequel similarly runs a crowd-pleasing gamut. The action is capable and clear. The plot, while complicated in structure, takes the characters to interesting places (both geographically and emotionally). The comedy is fine-tuned and, most importantly, entirely character-and-performance based.

Things simmer on a medium flame until Bernthal shows up and instantly sets the screen ablaze. An actor long compared to Robert De Niro, he finally gets his own “You talkin’ to me?” moment in The Accountant 2, which paves the path for Braxton’s surprising vulnerability – he’s a lost, lonely soul who just wants his older brother’s friendship. Affleck, despite a voice that seems more influenced by The Simpsons’ Comic Book Guy this time around, returns seamlessly to the role of Wolff. Having retreated almost entirely to the solitude of his tricked-out Airstream trailer, he seems to want to connect as well, but his misreadings of his brother’s body language and intentions make this difficult. Braxton is frank and playful, and Bernthal imbues the character’s body language with an easy-going fluidity, which makes for an enchantingly funny contrast with Wolff’s unwavering stiffness.

The clashes between the brothers are the movie’s heart and soul – this especially comes to light during their downtime from vigilantism (and from Medina’s disapproval of their methods). One scene in an LA square dancing bar is a particular delight, between Braxton’s eagerness to throw hands, and Wolff’s wonderfully roundabout methods of flirtation, which involves him calculating his way onto the dance floor. It’s a sequence that demonstrates O’Connor understanding that movement and character are intrinsically bound, and in action cinema, you can’t really have one without building up the other.

The Accountant 2 is a surprisingly sentimental sequel, which keeps even the most scattered elements of its plot firmly glued together. It’s filled with the kind of unapologetic cheese that Hollywood action has long since replaced with irreverent, quippy snark, ensuring that its humor and drama go hand-in-hand at every turn, resulting in one of the year’s most well-rounded studio pictures.

I’ve reviewed a lot of headsets in recent years; some great and some not so great. They’ve tended to prioritize certain aspects over others in order to stand out, with a few being solid jacks-of-all-trades that find their way into my list for best gaming headsets. But even after putting all those through their paces, high-end or otherwise, few come close to a long-time favorite – I’m talking about the Audeze Maxwell.

I’m revisiting it since it has been one of my top recommendations for quite some time (especially for PS5 owners) and to see how it holds up in 2025. While newer headsets have more refinements and/or sophisticated features, very few come close to the Maxwell in terms of pure audio performance, as it’s built like a pair of audiophile-style headphones. That’s not to say it doesn’t do everything else right, because it’s still well-rounded with comfort, durability, and a solid mic. You’ll want to invoke some strict scrutiny when spending around $300 for a gaming headset, but the Audeze Maxwell still earns its stripes.

Audeze Maxwell – Design and Comfort

The first thing I noticed coming back to the Maxwell is just how hefty it is. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though – it’s built like a brick house and has been durable through the years, but it’s still the heaviest headset I’ve used, coming in at 490g. However, its weight never felt like it wore me down or made the experience uncomfortable. The headband, earcups, and forks are all solid aluminum to give it that high-end sturdiness, and there isn’t really any loud branding or outlandish stylization which keeps it looking sleek and understated in true audiophile style.

The Maxwell has thick, dense, and plushy foam earpads wrapped in leatherette with just the right balance between firmness and softness to provide long-term comfort. Clamp force is quite light as well, which is nice for your ears, but this means it relies a lot more on the headband to bear the weight on your head. While the Maxwell has a fairly basic design with a thin layer or foam between the steel headband and suspension strap, it’s sufficient for alleviating the pressure atop your head. That suspension strap is also how you get the headset to fit properly, and it’s one of the few shortcomings of the Maxwell – it snaps into a set of notches on the inside of the headset and it’s a pain to adjust. This doesn’t give you much room for finer adjustments, but once I found the right fit, I didn’t have to think about it again.

All the built-in controls for the Maxwell are on the left earcup. Alongside the earpad, you’ll find the master volume wheel and the in-game volume/chat mix wheel next to each other – you can easily mix these up at first, but I got used to distinguishing the two with enough time. There’s also a 3.5mm audio jack in case you want to use it as an analog wired headset, a USB-C port for charging and connecting to devices, and the port for connecting the detachable microphone. On the outer side of the left earcup are the power button on the lower end and microphone-mute toggle on the upper end. These are large, hard-to-miss buttons that are easy to use and thankfully don’t get lost in the jumble of controls on the earcup.

The detachable boom mic can twist and form to get in the right position near your mouth, and it comes with a pop filter. But the real stars of the Maxwell are the 90mm planar magnetic drivers – while bigger driver size doesn’t always mean better sound quality, this is one case in which the headset lives up to those expectations. I get into the details later on when talking about sound quality, but it’s worth mentioning here since it is the main thing that stands out on the spec sheet.

Audeze Maxwell – Software, Customization, Battery Life

I wouldn’t have necessarily called it a drawback when it first came out, but the Audeze HQ software support is quite primitive. Thankfully, it’s more simplistic rather than being bloated or convoluted. There just isn’t much to configure other than EQ settings, but among the pre-made options available (which are intended to be suited for specific scenarios), none of them sounded quite right. That is until I tweaked the first customizable preset to find the right balance within its 10-band equalization – a little boost on the low-end and high-end helped bring out the best in the Maxwell. Once I locked in this preset, it became the only EQ setting I’ve used and it’s been wonderful for every scenario, gaming or otherwise.

There are a few other options you can tweak like microphone sidetone (to get feedback of your voice), the auto-shutdown timer, and volume of the headset’s voice prompts – you can also manually change the chat mix volume in the software as well. It keeps things simple, but when you see something like Turtle Beach’s Swarm II software or SteelSeries Arctis app, I do wish I could fine-tune things a bit more to dial-in microphone performance, for example.

Audeze HQ is how you monitor battery life, which you probably won’t have to worry about often since the Maxwell is among the best in this area. It’s able to last around 80 hours from a full charge, and since using it for four days straight for roughly 10 to 12 hours a day, it still sat at about 50% charge. Gaming headsets in recent years have made strides when it comes to battery life (some of which also hit 80 to 100 hours off a full charge), and the Maxwell still stands with them, as I would expect from a headset as hefty as this.

Audeze Maxwell – Sound Quality and Performance

Sound quality is where the Audeze Maxwell shines brightest. With the aforementioned EQ settings, I found balance across all frequencies. And even at high volumes, none of them sounded grating whether I was listening to the layered J-pop tunes of Yoasobi, the chaos of a Final Fantasy XIV raid, or the gunfire of a competitive Counter-Strike 2 match while paying attention to subtle audio cues. It felt like having a home theater setup blasting into my ears with punchy bass, clean highs, and clear mids with a spacious delivery to create a rich audio profile that few headsets can match.

Those qualities also let it shine when it comes to positional/directional audio, and it’s the thing I always harp on with headsets for competitive gaming. In my handful of ranked matches in Counter-Strike 2, I was able to pluck out those specific sounds to anticipate enemy activity whether it be footsteps from a certain direction, them reloading so I can get the jump, or firefights off in the distance so I can rotate position on the map promptly. In all my recent headset reviews, I always give FFXIV a whirl and do my daily/weekly activities to test things out because it can be a very busy audio experience. The Maxwell is able to cut through the distinct sounds of spells casting, abilities going off, voice lines, and the soundtrack blaring – lesser headsets would crunch these sound effects, making them blend with each other and/or sound harsh.

Since the pair I have is also designed for PlayStation, it’s able to take advantage of the PS5’s Tempest 3D audio. It’s a proprietary spatial audio program and can make certain games sound like they’re being played over a home theater setup. I’m usually hesitant to use virtual surround sound options since they can sound artificial, but having used Sony’s Pulse 3D headset, Tempest 3D is a smart implementation. You get that same level of quality for surround sound out of the Audeze Maxwell – and I would hope so given how much more expensive it is, even compared to the higher-end Pulse Elite. It’s a nice bonus is you’re a PS5 owner, because single-player experiences can really come to life in a unique way – I don’t usually like describing things as “immersive” as it has lost some of its meaning when it comes to audio gear, but it does feel that way with headsets like the Maxwell.

While it’s not necessarily among the best in terms of clarity, the microphone quality itself is good. However, it stands out for its great noise isolation, which is certainly the best I’ve tested in recent years. The Maxwell has AI-based noise reduction, and with it on, the clack of my mechanical keyboard and other background noise would be blocked out. Even while talking and making noise on purpose, it’s able to focus on my voice and barely pick up anything else. The only mark against the Maxwell in this regard is that the static from sidetone is quite loud, more so than other headsets. It’s a minor gripe for an otherwise solid mic.

Looking to upgrade your PC setup?

Here are the best deals for Monday, March 10. Today is MAR10 day, so what best to lead off than a big discount on Nintendo Switch video games. Several of the hottest titles including Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury are marked down today. Other deals include a discount on all current Apple AirPod models, a 65" Samsung OLED TV for just under $1,000, a five-pack of USB Type-C cables for just $8, a USB power bank for $9, and my favorite, 4 months of Hulu and Disney+ for just $2.99 per month.

MAR10 Day 2025 Deals on Nintendo Switch Games

In my opinion, the Amazon Kindle is one of the best electronic devices ever. Maybe the only piece of tech I use more than my Kindle is my phone, but even then, I have the Kindle app if I decide I just want to stick some knowledge into my craw. If you're ever looking for a good deal on Kindle devices, there are quite a few that pop up even outside of the big sale events.

At the moment our favorite deal is on the Kindle Essentials Bundle, which comes with a 2024 Kindle, a matcha colored fabric cover, and a power adapter for $146.97 ($15 less than what it would cost to buy them all separately.) We've included that deal and a few more below.

The Best Kindle Deals Right Now

Here's your chance to get a top notch OLED TV from Samsung at an excellent price. Right now, Amazon and Best Buy are both offering the 65" Samsung S85D 4K OLED Smart TV for just $999.99 with free delivery. This is an excellent TV to pair up with your PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X since it has HDMI 2.1 inputs and supports 4K gaming at up to 120Hz.

65" Samsung S85D 4K OLED Smart TV for $999.99

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach got a new trailer over the weekend, alongside a release date, collector's edition, box art, and more. And as fans have pored over the details, one has noticed a fun connection to director Hideo Kojima's past work: Metal Gear Solid 2.

The box art for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach shows Sam "Porter" Bridges, portrayed by Norman Reedus, holding the child "Lou," who players of the first game will recognize. Reddit user ReverseTheFlash posted "He did it again," showing that box art alongside a Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty slipcase with a similar motif.

The Metal Gear Solid 2 promo shows Japanese singer Gackt holding a child in a similar composition. Though it's not a one-for-one, it's certainly fun to note the similarities between the two covers. It's also a reminder of a strange branch of Metal Gear Solid (out-of-universe) backstory.

During the run-up to the game's release, Gackt was featured in multiple promos for Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Part of this, it seems, included special slip-covers for the game in some territories, which have resulted in random MGS ephemera that's both intrigued and confused people over the years.

In case you're wondering why Gackt, specifically, was so involved with Metal Gear Solid 2's promotional campaign, Kojima offered an explanation in 2013. The reason he asked Gackt to "be on MGS2's TVCM is 'MGS1' was about DNA & 'MGS2' MEME. DNA consists 'AGTC', adding 'K' of KOJIMA becomes 'GACKT.' " So, there's that.

Considering Death Stranding 2's new trailer has plenty of Metal Gear vibes in it, it's no surprise fans are drawing the parallels here. Personally, I think any similarities are, at most, a sign of recurring ideas across Kojima's games. But still, it's fun to speculate and ponder, and it's always a good time to travel down memory lane with a promotional cover featuring Gackt.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach launches on June 26, 2025 exclusively on PlayStation 5.

Eric is a freelance writer for IGN.

Whether you're looking to save on games, storage, or accessories, there are plenty of Nintendo Switch deals to check out right now. We've gathered up some of the best Switch deals currently available, including a selection of Switch games discounted at Woot like Super Mario RPG down to just $29.99. A variety of MAR10 Day deals have also dropped, from LEGO sets to toys, which we've included below.

Check out our favorite deals at the moment below, and for more updates on the latest discounts, follow @IGNDeals on Twitter/X.

When Is the Nintendo Switch 2 Expected?

At long last, the Nintendo Switch 2 has been revealed. While we don't know when this console will officially be released, we do know that there'll be a Nintendo Switch 2 Direct in April that'll hopefully end with some preorder information. If you simply can't wait for that day, though, we have good news: you can register your interest at Best Buy. This is a smart idea so you can stay up to date on preorders in the coming months via email. For more information on preorders and what to expect from the Nintendo Switch 2 this year, check out our Nintendo Switch 2 buying guide.

Best Nintendo Switch Game Deals

Woot's back with a Spring Sale that features some excellent Switch game deals. From Super Mario RPG to Sonic X Shadow Generations to Princess Peach: Showtime, there are so many options on sale that are worth picking up for your collection. We've included just a few of our favorites from the sale above. We've also included some of the best Mario game deals we've come across in MAR10 Day sales.

MAR10 Day 2025: Preorder the LEGO Mario Kart Set

Mario LEGO Sets on Sale for MAR10 Day

Outside of the preorder above for the brand new Mario Kart LEGO set, there are plenty more great Mario LEGO set deals happening today. We've included some of the best options from Best Buy's sale above, including the LEGO Piranha Plant and Bowser’s Muscle Car Expansion Set.

Mario Plush Toys on Sale for MAR10 Day

There's also an adorable selection of plush toys discounted for MAR10 Day, including a red mushroom plushie and a ridiculously cute knit Kirby plushie. If you've been looking to pick up sweet stuffed toys for your collectible collection, or to snuggle, these are absolutely worth a look today.

Best Switch Micro SD Card Deals

The best Switch SD card should be fast, reliable, and as future-proof as possible. That last one is important, especially with the Switch successor on the horizon. Therefore, you're going to want to opt for the latest in SD card tech, which is a micro SDXC UHS-I U3 A2 V30 memory card. That's a lot of random letters, so to save you a bit of time we've left our top suggestions and deals below for your convenience.

Best Switch Power Bank Deals

Looking for a new power bank to keep your Switch charged up? The INIU 10,000mAh Power Bank has gotten an amazing discount down to just $9 after clipping the 10% off and 40% off clippable coupons on the product page. The Anker 737 has also gotten a very nice price drop at Amazon. It's already discounted down 27% to $109.99, but by clipping the $10 coupon on the store page you can bring the price down even further to just $99.99.

Best Nintendo Switch Accessory Deals

Whether you're looking for a new controller or case for your Switch, there are quite a few different accessory deals that are worth checking out. Here, we've listed just a few of our favorite discounts at the moment, including a deal on the 8Bitdo Ultimate Controller with a Charging Dock and a Super Mario PowerA case.

More Accessory Deals:

• PowerA Joy Con Comfort Grips for Nintendo Switch - Black for $9.88
• Game Traveler Nintendo Switch Deluxe OLED Case for $14.99

When Should You Buy a Nintendo Switch?

The short answer is that you should buy a Nintendo Switch whenever there’s any kind of sale, regardless of the time of year. Amazon will likely offer the same console bundles on any other sale as it will on Black Friday or Amazon Prime Day, so there’s no real reason to wait if you’re in need of a Nintendo Switch.

That being said, there are sometimes some unique bundles and promotions during Black Friday that you won’t find any other time of the year. They usually include additional games (like the famous Mario Kart 8 bundle) or Switch accessories for free, but quantities tend to be limited. As always, do your research into the seller before you make a purchase and keep in mind that the Nintendo Switch 2 is on the horizon.

Where to Buy a Nintendo Switch in 2025

• Nintendo Switch Console for $299.00
• Nintendo Switch Lite Console for $199.00

With how expensive gaming is getting in 2025, we're trying to save you as much money as possible on the games and other tech you actually want to buy. We've got great deal roundups available for all major platforms such as PlayStation and Xbox, and keep these updated daily with brand-new offers. If you're trying to keep costs down while maintaining your favorite hobby, stay tuned for more incredible discounts.

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

The Last of Us Season 2 showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin have confirmed “spores are back” following their omission from Season 1.

The latest trailer for the upcoming HBO show, below, teased the introduction of spores after they were left out of Season 1. We see Ellie, played by Bella Ramsey, view an infected whose breath releases the spores.

You can’t stop this.#TheLastOfUs returns April 13 on Max. pic.twitter.com/DH8UzAugIV

— Max (@StreamOnMax) March 8, 2025

Warning! Spoilers for The Last of Us Season 1 follow.

In the video games, the cordyceps infection spreads via spores, which forces the characters to wear a gas mask at points. But for Season 1 of the TV show, spores were ditched in favor of tendrils, whose menace certainly appears more horrifying and cinematic. In Season 1, we see clickers sprout terrifying tendrils that simulate the way mushrooms communicate with each other through a root-like network.

There was a practical reason for the change, which is that using spores in the show would mean big-name stars like Pedro Pascal would be forced to wear a gasmask every other scene. While this works on The Mandalorian thanks to his cool helmet, a lot of the tension would be lost in The Last of Us, and tendrils are also way more menacing, visually speaking.

“It’s disturbing and it’s violative. I think it’s very primal in the way it invades your own body,” Mazin said in an interview with Variety about the decision to swap spores for tendrils, particularly in the final scene where Tess receives what can only be described as the world’s worst goodbye kiss.

It’s March 10, 2025, so that means Nintendo is back with a slew of Mario Day reveals revolving around everyone’s favorite Mushroom Kingdom mascot.

As highlighted by the MAR10 hashtag floating around social media today, March 10 has served as Nintendo’s official (and clever) Mario holiday for the last few years. The appropriately named celebration always features announcements and treats for fans of the iconic plumber, and this year is no different. Although we’ve not yet seen anything quite on the level of 2024’s reveals, which included the promise that The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 will arrive next year, 2025 has already delivered some exciting Mario news.

More Mario Offerings for Nintendo Switch Online Subscribers

Just hours before MAR10 Day officially kicked off, Nintendo announced that the Super Mario Bros. 3 original soundtrack had been added to its Nintendo Music application for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. That means earworms like the World 1 Map tune Ground BGM are only a tap away, but there are even more deal sweeteners now available for Mario fans. Last Thursday, as an early surprise, Nintendo added the Game Boy releases of Mario’s Picross and Donkey to its library of Switch Online titles. It’s all available to help make MAR10 Day feel a bit more special right now.

Lego Mario Kat Set Drifts Into Stores This May

Here we go! 🏆 Launching May 15th 🏁 #LEGOSuperMario #MarioKart pic.twitter.com/NZ13sCIFHo

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 10, 2025

Nintendo hasn’t been shy when it comes to adding more Lego sets based on its iconic cast of characters. While Mario has gotten plenty of love in this department in the past, the new Mario Kart build revealed as part of today’s festivities might be one of the toy line’s coolest yet. It’ll cost a whopping $170 when it drops May 15, 2025, but it also manages to pack in quite a bit of detail into the 1,972-piece kit.

Super Nintendo World Sweepstakes Offers 4-Night Stay for Lucky Fans

If you’re looking for every way you could possibly celebrate Mario Day, this new sweepstakes has you covered. As seen on the My Nintendo website, Nintendo account holders can now spend Platinum points to enter into a sweepstakes that will offer select users the chance to win a four-night stay at Universal Orlando Resort that includes access to each of its four theme parks. It’ll come with the freedom to enjoy Super Nintendo World when its Orlando location opens this May.

More Mario Day Events Across the Globe