Jon Watts, the director of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man trilogy, was once set to bring us The Fantastic Four: First Steps as well — and who wouldn’t want that, after his excellent job with our favorite webbed hero? Well, Watts himself, it turns out. The filmmaker opened up about his departure from the project for the first time, revealing he was simply too “out of gas” after working on Spidey, both on set and in post, through the pandemic to take it on.

“The emotional strain of having to go through all of those COVID protocols while also trying to make something creative while also trying to make sure that your cast and crew were all safe — literally, people could’ve died if you did things wrong — that and the post-production process was very difficult,” Watts revealed at the Mediterrane Film Festival in Malta recently while participating in a storytelling masterclass on June 26.

“When you’re doing [visual effects work],” he continued. “There’s a whole international component to it where you’re using vendors from all over the world, and the supply chain had been interrupted because of COVID. It was really hard to get effects done in a traditional way.”

The filmmaker, who was a producer on and has a story credit for the recent hit Final Destination: Bloodlines, originally committed to working on First Steps between the second Spidey film, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and the third, Spider-Man: No Way Home. But when it came time to shift gears and get into pre-production mode, he realized he was “out of gas.”

“The COVID layer on top of making a giant movie layer, I knew I didn’t have what it would’ve taken to make that movie great,” he continued during the discussion. “I was just out of steam, so I just needed to take some time to recover. Everyone at Marvel totally understood. They had been through it with me as well, so they knew how hard and draining that experience has been; in the end, very satisfying, but at some point, if you can’t do it at the level that you feel like you need to for it to be great, then it’s better to not do it.”

Watts did note that he’s excited to see what director Matt Shakman and the cast and crew have pulled together for their version of the story, but that “it’s going to be [a] totally surreal experience for me to go and watch that movie.”

The Fantastic Four: First Steps — which stars Pedro Pascal, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ralph Ineson — will arrive in theaters on July 25.

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

In case you wondered, yes, all the Kojima-related Easter eggs sprinkled through Death Stranding 2: On The Beach were indeed created by game creator and director Hideo Kojima himself.

In a Japanese-language interview with GameSpark, Kojima revealed that even when he begged his staff to include little jokes and secrets for players to find, his team would "pretend not to know" what he wanted.

"All of that stuff was added by me," Kojima said, as translated by Automaton.

"Even if I said to the staff, 'Please put them in!' they would just say, Huh? and pretend not to know," he added.

Kojima even suggested a location in the game where fans could go to see an example of something he added. "If you look up at the sky at night in a hot spring, you can see a very beautiful sky," Kojima said. "If you zoom in there, various things will appear, so please play around with it."

What you find may not be to everyone's taste, however — "it might cause certain people to cringe hard," Kojima admitted.

We recently learned that Kojima changed the game halfway through because playtesting results were "too good," and he doesn't want his work to be "mainstream."

IGN's Death Stranding 2 review returned a 9/10. We said: "Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a triumphant sequel that emphatically delivers on the promise of its original."

Don't forget, Hideo Kojima is also working on a live-action Death Stranding film with A24, and we recently learned that a Death Stranding anime is in the works, too. He's also working on a PlayStation exclusive action espionage project called Physint, and called the upcoming Xbox-published OD "a game I have always wanted to make."

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

The Nintendo Switch is going out in a blaze of glory, with some exciting games launching to make way for the console's successor: the now officially released Switch 2. Whether they’re exclusively developed for the Switch or ported over from other platforms, these upcoming Switch games will likely wrap up the Switch era while also being compatible with the Switch 2.

In the second half of 2025, we'll hopefully be getting our hands on well-known in-development titles as well as a host of new games announced at the most recent Nintendo Direct. Here are all of the new Switch games we can look forward to this year.

All Upcoming Switch Games With Release Dates

A hand-drawn, open world platformer that lets you change the textures and objects you encounter. Think Scribblenauts, but somehow even quirkier.

Tamagotchi Plaza (June 27, 2025)

A new instalment in the Tamagotchi Corner Shop series (which I was personally obsessed with on the DS), Tamagotchi Plaza puts you in control of 12 different shops in Tahamiko Town. Complete minigames to serve adorable Tamagotchi friends in shops (including the dentist) to upgrade your town and build relationships.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 (July 11, 2025)

This remake collection truly brings the Tony Hawk experience, banging soundtrack and all, to the Switch. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 includes all of the original tracks, remastered in HD, and extra content for the Create-A-Skater and Create-A-Park modes. The game also supports cross-platform multiplayer for up to 8 people and lets you create your own challenges to share with friends.

Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead has released its long-awaited 'Review Bomb' cape as a free gift for all players, commemorating last year's brief backlash when Sony tried to force PC players to link their PSN accounts.

Sony eventually U-turned on its snafu after provoking a firestorm of fan fury, as well a number of pointed comments from Arrowhead's own boss, Johan Pilestedt. The result was seen as a win by Helldivers 2's community, who got to work designing their own versions of the game's commemorative capes sporting the game's then-plummeting Steam review score graph.

Now, a year later, Arrowhead has finally released an official version for all players — with the graph-like design now dubbed the "Pillars of Freedom".

"In honor of their unquestioning commitment to the defense of Managed Democracy, the Helldivers have been awarded a commemorative cape," Arrowhead wrote via a new, in-universe update posted on social media. "The new uniform piece will be available in all Super Destroyer Armories as soon as the rollout is complete.

"This cape will be awarded to all existing players. As with our previous item rollouts, please allow some time for the item to arrive in your inbox."

COMMEMORATIVE CAPE ISSUED

In honor of their unquestioning commitment to the defense of Managed Democracy, the Helldivers have been awarded a commemorative cape. The new uniform piece will be available in all Super Destroyer Armories as soon as the rollout is complete.

This… pic.twitter.com/DOWaFHU40N

— HELLDIVERS™ 2 (@helldivers2) June 27, 2025

While initially a moment of real frustration for the game's fans and developer, the incident is now just another part of Helldivers 2 lore — and initial reactions among the game's community to the cape's release have all been positive.

"Not only is it a special event, it looks great too," one fan wrote. "I'll be wearing this one for a while. For a game with no story there's quite a lot of stories."

"Another day, another example of Arrowhead being the best devs," wrote another fan. "The madlads actually did it," said a third.

Last month, Helldivers 2’s ongoing Galactic War appeared to have reached another turning point, with the Federation declaring victory over the Illuminate. But, as ever, some in the game's vocal community were once again aggreived as players fought to hold the various Mega Cities of Super Earth.

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

Magic: The Gathering has had plenty of Secret Lair crossovers this year, from SpongeBob to Deadpool, and one more is speeding onto the scene next month. Sonic the Hedgehog is getting three individual Secret Lair drops, and we've got the exclusive first look at one that's all about artifacts.

Flip through the gallery below to see all 7 cards in the Turbo Gear Secret Lair drop:

Unlike the recent Final Fantasy crossover, which is an entire draftable Magic set alongside four pre-constructed Commander decks, this Sonic crossover follows the blueprint of similar tie-ins by being limited to three Secret Lair drops. Secret Lair is what Magic calls its series of timed releases that contain just a handful of specific cards with special art, and they are all sold direct by Wizards of the Coast rather than in randomized packs.

In this case, the Turbo Gear drop has six exisiting Magic cards redone with new Sonic-themed art and names, as well as one token card. That includes a few fitting staples of Magic's most popular format, Commander, like Swiftfoot Boots and Lighting Greaves – because of course Sonic's shoes deserve their own cards. Also of note, a legendary vehicle called the Weatherlight is here as Tornado, Sonic's Biplane, and thanks to a recent rules change, you could actually have that be your Commander if you are so inclined.

WOTC says this drop is designed to complement the cards in another one of the drops that focuses on Sonic's characters themselves. While we don't have those to reveal, an example given in Turbo Gear's store description is equipping The Reaver Cleaver, reimagined here as Knuckles's Gloves, to Knuckles himself. This idea goes hand-in-hand with other crossover drops, like 2023's Tomb Raider, where the reprinted cards are meant to fit nicely with the new Legendary creatures, almost like a little "build your own Commander deck" starter kit.

The Turbo Gear Secret Lair drop (as well as the other two) will go on sale on July 14 at 9am PT on the official Secret Lair website, and will cost $29.99 for the non-foil version or $39.99 for foil. You better get there on time, too, because they will only be available in a limited quantity – and if other recent crossovers are any indication, they will likely sell out fast.

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

Need some cash for your Car Dealership Tycoon enterprise? Look no further. We've scoured the web for all of the currently active codes available in Roblox's car-selling sim, so you can keep your business running smoothly with some free cash injections.

Working Car Dealership Tycoon Codes (June 2025)

Below, you'll find all of the currently active and working Car Dealership Tycoon codes in June 2025 that you can redeem for free rewards:

• R8FOXZIE - Free Audi R8 Foxzie Edition
• URAGANO - $80,000
• DRAGRACE - $80,000
• LUCKY7 - $80,000
• AUDIRS7 - $80,000
• MAYLIMITED - $80,000
• SEASON17 - $80,000
• AUDIR8 - $100,000
• Killasfs - $50,000
• Foxzie - $15,000
• Tstingray - $50,000
• IranRan - $50,000

Expired Car Dealership Tycoon Codes (June 2025)

The following Car Dealership Tycoon codes have expired and can no longer be redeemed as of June 2025:

• CUSTOM200
• EASTER2025
• BARNFIND04
• SEASON16
• EVENT03
• ZENVOCOLLECTOR
• UPGRADELAUNCH
• EASTER2
• SAUSAGE
• PAGANISALE
• VOLKSWAGEN
• POLICESEASON
• VWCOLLECTOR
• IMMORTAL
• SCAVENGERHUNT
• COLLECTORCAR
• COPSANDCRIMS
• RETURNINGLIM
• NEWLIMITED
• NEWMAP
• XMASUPDATE

How to Redeem Codes in Car Dealership Tycoon

To redeem Car Dealership Tycoon codes, boot up the game and, once you’re in, follow the steps below:

1. Look at the top of the screen. To the left of the cash counter, you'll see a settings icon. It's represented by the small gear.
2. Click this icon to bring up the settings menu. At the very bottom of the settings menu is the redeem code bar.
3. Input your code into the bar and then press the "+" icon beside it to redeem it.

Why Isn't My Car Dealership Tycoon Code Working?

If your Car Dealership Tycoon code isn’t working, it’s likely due to one of two scenarios. The first is that the 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 appear in the codes bar informing you that the code has already been redeemed or is invalid.

How to Get More Car Dealership Tycoon Codes

If you want to hunt down some Car Dealership Tycoon codes on your own, you'll have to scout through several different social accounts for the game. The main spots you should be checking are the CDT update info channel in the game's official Discord server, Foxzie's YouTube channel, and Foxzie's X account. All three will be updated from time to time with codes, so make sure you're subscribed to each to keep up to date with new code drops.

What is Car Dealership Tycoon in Roblox?

Car Dealership Tycoon is exactly what it says on the tin. You're offered the keys to your very own car dealership, and from there, your mission is to build it, customize it, and purchase new cars to display on the show floor. As you grow, you can take part in a variety of activities to increase your cash flow, including taking to the streets to race other players and avoiding police in high speed chases. So, do you have what it takes to cement your dealership as the go-to hub for the most luxurious rides in the city?

Callum Williams is an IGN freelancer covering features and guides. When he's away from his desk, you can usually find him obsessing over the lore of the latest obscure indie horror game or bashing his head against a boss in the newest soulslike. You can catch him over on Twitter at @CaIIumWilliams.

A new Lord of the Rings LEGO set featuring the iconic Balrog is raising eyebrows among fans, due to an oddly-posed product photo.

The Lord of the Rings: Balrog Book Nook launched this month, and lets fantasy fans decorate their shelves with the franchise's iconic fire-breathing enemy. It's available to purchase now at Amazon and the LEGO Store.

It's a great-looking set, though fans have spotted one particular image of the Balrog that has prompted a few jokes online. In it, fans say, the position of the creature's fiery whip makes the demonic foe appear to be urinating.

The 1,201-piece LEGO set is designed to recreate the iconic moment from Fellowship of the Ring where Gandalf fights the Balrog as his allies flee the Mines of Moria. As the wizard makes his stand, uttering the immortal line "You shall not pass!", the Balrog falls while striking out with its whip — taking Gandalf with down into the depths also.

"We all know we thought it with that image," wrote one fan in lengthy thread of responses.

"*jumps to comments* Ok good, it wasn't just me," wrote another.

"Thank you comments for confirming I'm not crazy," wrote a third. "I know it's the fire whip but it really does look like the Balrog is taking a piss on Gandalf."

And of course, before long, there were several comments stating: "You shall not piss."

Other responses were more critical of the set's $129 price point, and suggested it was that, more than anything else, that was making them reconsider a purchase.

For those keen to see more hot Balrog action, Amazon Prime's Lord of the Rings prequel series Rings of Power includes the iconic enemy in its second season. This is, it's strongly suggested, the same enemy Gandalf faces centuries later, situated deep in Moria's depths.

It's been a busy month for Balrogs in general, as Rapper Curtis Jackson, aka 50 Cent, seemingly rubber-stamped a report that indicated he was in talks to play Balrog in the upcoming Street Fighter movie.

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

Want to grab some free cash with Arise Crossover codes? You're in the right place. We've compiled all of the active codes currently available in the popular Roblox open-world anime action game, so you can get your hands on some useful resources instantly.

Working Arise Crossover Codes (June 2025)

Below, you'll find all of the currently active and working Arise Crossover codes in June 2025 that you can redeem for free rewards:

• SUMMER - Skyrend Ptero Mount, 350x Legendary Dust, 400x Rare Dust, 600x Common Dust, 100x Legendary Ticket, 2x Legendary Potion Bundle
• SHADOWSTATS - Various Rewards
• 1.1MLIKES - Moon Gecko Mount, Various Rewards

Expired Arise Crossover Codes (June 2025)

The following Arise Crossover codes have expired and can no longer be redeemed as of June 2025:

• WORLD2
• Delay
• NEWENCHANT
• SORRY4SHUT
• LOADOUTSFIX
• LOADOUTS
• LOADOUTS2
• UPGRADES
• QUESTS
• ALIENS
• 1MLIKES
• WINTERRAID
• EASTER
• GZIRU
• ENCHTICKET
• TICKETS
• DUSTS
• Potions
• Beta
• COFFIN
• RUNES
• UPDATE
• DRAGONBLUE
• AlphaTester
• TESTERQA
• TESTER

How to Redeem Arise Crossover Codes

To redeem Arise Crossover codes, boot up the game and, once you’re in, follow the steps below:

1. Look at the icons on the left-hand side of the screen. In the top left-hand corner of the icon menu, you'll see an icon with a shopping basket.
2. Click the shopping basket to be taken to the in-game shop. Scroll to the bottom of this shop menu or press the codes icon on the right of the pop-up box and you'll find the codes bar.
3. Enter your code into this bar and then click send to redeem it.

Why Isn't My Arise Crossover Code Working?

If your Arise Crossover code isn’t working, it’s likely due to one of two scenarios. The first is that the 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 at the top of the screen informing you that the code has already been redeemed or is invalid.

How to Get More Arise Crossover Codes

If you're on the hunt for new Arise Crossover codes, you'll probably want to make your way over to the game's official Discord server. Once you're a member, you'll be able to access the codes channel, where you'll find new codes whenever they're published.

What is Arise Crossover in Roblox?

Arise Crossover is an open-world action game with a unique twist. It's world is comprised of multiple anime-inspired lands, with players able to travel to islands ripped directly from Solo Leveling, One Piece, Naruto and more. While exploring this familiar landscape, they'll be able to battle enemies native to each world, levelling up their character, unlocking new powers and completing dungeons.

Callum Williams is an IGN freelancer covering features and guides. When he's away from his desk, you can usually find him obsessing over the lore of the latest obscure indie horror game or bashing his head against a boss in the newest soulslike. You can catch him over on Twitter at @CaIIumWilliams.

Details of a developer-only Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 playtest have been accidentally released to all fans on the Call of Duty app. This included details of unannounced multiplayer modes, such as a 20v20 wingsuit option. Whoops.

"An internal, developer-only Black Ops 7 playtest was set to begin this weekend," explained CharlieIntel on X/Twitter. "[Activision or developers Treyarch/Raven Software] accidentally pushed the message of the day to everyone on Xbox on the Call of Duty app, instead."

CharlieIntel also attached previously unannounced details about multiplayer modes, Skirmish and Overload.

Skirmish's description detailed in a screenshot said: "Two teams of 20 fight to compete objectives across a large map. Capture points of interest, destroy payloads, and transmit valuable data to score. Use your wingsuit to flank and reach objectives before your enemy. The first team to reach the score limit wins."

There's also Overload, which is described as "two teams of six players each fight to control a neutral EMP device that must be delivered to the enemy HQ for score. Reach the score limit and claim victory by delivering multiple EMP devices."

An internal, developer only Black Ops 7 play test was set to begin this weekend. They accidentally pushed the message of the day to everyone on Xbox on the Call of Duty app, instead.

— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) June 27, 2025

Developed by Treyarch and Raven Software, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 — which was announced at the Xbox Games Showcase 2025 earlier this month — is the first ever consecutive release within the Black Ops sub-series. Matt Cox, General Manager of Call of Duty, insisted that “as a team, our vision from the start was to create a back-to-back series experience for our players that embraced the uniqueness of the Black Ops sub-franchise.”

Black Ops 7 is set to star Milo Ventimiglia, Kiernan Shipka, and Michael Rooker, with Ventimiglia portraying David Mason, Shipka as new character Emma Kagen, and Rooker reprising his Black Ops 2 role of Mike Harper.

Earlier this month, Activision pulled controversial adverts placed inside Black Ops 6 and Warzone loadouts, insisting they were a “feature test” published “in error.” It’s worth remembering that Black Ops 6 is a premium, $70 game, and this year’s Black Ops 7 is expected to jump to $80 after Microsoft said that gamers will see Xbox charging $79.99 for new, first-party games around the holiday season.

And don't forget, Beavis and Butt-Head are now in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

The Simpsons executive producer Matt Selman has said that a recent episode of the long-running animated series that showcased the aftermath of a key character's demise should not be considered canon — as the show actually has "no canon".

Indeed, Selman stated that the events of The Simpsons' Season 36 finale episode Estranger Things would likely never be referenced again.

Warning! Spoilers for The Simpsons' Season 36 finale follow.

As noted by IGN earlier this week, The Simpsons fans were left stunned when recent flashforward episode Estranger Things took the unprecedented step of featuring the events that followed the death of a core family member: Marge Simpson.

The Simpsons has a loose, floating timeline and has aired numerous flashforward episodes over the years (some of which now contradict each other, as the show's decades-long run has continued).

But the series does feature something of a consistent narrative. Past events are frequently mentioned (remember that time Homer went to space?), and the rare times a major character does die — such as Maude Flanders, and Edna Krabappel — these deaths are permanent.

Recent seasons have even featured two flashforward episodes that were connected, and none have delved as far into the future as Estranger Things, which sets itself 35 years later.

"Obviously since the The Simpsons' future episodes are all speculative fantasies, they're all different every time," Selman told Variety, in response to the episode provoking headlines.

"Marge will probably never be dead ever again. The only place Marge is dead is in one future episode that aired six weeks ago."

As IGN noted at the time, fans have been debating whether Estranger Things was canon. The series' fan wiki, for example, currently includes a warning that the episode is likely non-canon, as it is set outside The Simpsons' usual time setting. Perhaps fans will now need to reconsider whether this warning is even necessary, if the show's own makers are stating that The Simpsons' canon does not exist.

"There is no canon," Selman concluded. "The Simpsons doesn't even have canon!"

The Simpsons has currently been renewed until its 40 season, set to debut in 2028-2029.

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

Anime Saga codes will have you stocked up on Gems, Gold, and Trait Rerolls. These will help you summon new units, buy materials and items, as well as craft new items, and evolve your team. If you're looking for all the latest active Anime Saga codes, IGN has you covered.

Working Anime Saga Codes (June 2025)

In the list below, you'll find all working and active Anime Saga codes. Be sure to redeem them before they're expired!

• BossStudiosQOL - Rewards
• BossStudiosSaga - Rewards
• WeeklyUPD! - Rewards
• AnimeSagaIsBack! - Rewards

Expired Anime Saga Codes (June 2025)

These codes are now expired:

• Firefighting
• MaintenanceSaga
• 400KLikes
• Release
• 50MVisit
• BossHidden
• 300KLike
• 100KFavorites
• HeadLessSaga
• 200kMembers
• 10MVisits
• InBugSagaWeTrust
• BugSaga
• 50KActive
• 1MVisits
• SorryForDelay
• SorryForShutdown

How to Redeem Anime Saga Codes

Now that you've got a handy list of all working Anime Saga codes, here's what you need to do to redeem them:

1. Load up the Anime Saga Roblox experience
2. When you load into the game, go to the left of the main hub, where you should see the golden PLAY portal
3. Go up the stairs and past the PLAY portal, toward the red leafy tree
4. You'll see the blue REROLLS hub. To the left, you'll find an NPC standing underneath the red trees and by the leaderboard
5. This NPC called Frierin is who you need to speak to, to be able to use codes
6. Interact with Frierin and the codes! bar will appear
7. Copy and paste the codes from this article into the "Enter Code" section and hit redeem!

Why Isn't My Anime Saga Code Working?

There are usually two reasons why a code isn't working. It's either because:

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

If a code has been entered incorrectly for Anime Saga, it will say the "code is invalid." If the code is expired, you'll see yellow text saying it's expired. To help you use the right codes, we'd recommend copying and pasting the code directly from the working list of codes in this article. We check and test each of the codes before we add them to our articles. However, when copying them, you can sometimes accidentally include an extra space somwhere, so always double check there's no additional spaces!

Lauren Harper is an Associate Guides Editor. She loves a variety of games but is especially fond of puzzles, horrors, and point-and-click adventures.

Looking to earn some useful potions in Capybara Evolution? You've come to the right place. Below, you'll find all the currently active codes in Roblox's adorable evolution game, as well as a rundown of exactly how to redeem them.

Active Capybara Evolution Codes (June 2025)

Below, you'll find all of the currently active and working Capybara Evolution codes in June 2025 that you can redeem for free rewards:

• PARTY - 3 EXP Potions
• INDEX - 3 EXP Potions
• ZAPYBARA - 3 EXP Potions
• VOIDEVENT3 - 3 EXP Potions
• VOID2 - 2x Void Ticket
• VOID - 3x EXP Potions
• Smelter - 3x EXP Potions
• Barablocks - 3x EXP Potions
• BunnyCrate - 1 Golden Easter Crate
• BunnyMan - 1x Easter Ticket
• i2perfectfix - 5x EXP Potion
• SorryForDelay - 2x EXP Potion
• Scrolls - 1x Bronze Scroll
• Capytropolis - 3x EXP Potion
• FIXWINS23 - 3x EXP Potion
• AnotherFIX - 3x EXP Potion
• Capymera - 2x EXP Potion
• I2PERFECT2 - 3x EXP Potion
• CAPYHARA - 1x EXP Potion
• RB23 - 1x Bronze Crate
• CRATES - 2x Bronze Crate
• NEWUPD1 - 1 EXP Potion
• capycode289 - 1x EXP Potion
• I2PERFECT - 1x EXP Potion
• Release - 1x Wins Potion

Expired Capybara Evolution Codes (June 2025)

The following codes have expired as of June 2025.

• Brrrra

How to Redeem Codes in Capybara Evolution

To redeem Capybara Evolution codes, boot up the game and, once you’re in, follow the steps below:

1. Look in the bottom right-hand corner of the page and you'll see a flyer icon. It's indicated by the red circle in the image above.
2. Click this flyer icon to bring up the Update Log.
3. On the right-hand side of the Update Log text you'll see a code bar icon labelled "Codes." It's indicated by the pink circle in the image above.
4. Click this code bar icon and it'll bring you to the codes bar.
5. Type in your chosen code and then hit Verify.

Why Isn't My Capybara Evolution Code Working?

If your Capybara Evolution code isn’t working, it’s likely due to one of two scenarios. The first is that the Capybara Evolution 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 redeemed or is invalid.

How to Get More Capybara Evolution Codes

The best way to stay up to date with Capybara Evolution codes is by joining the Capybara Evolution Discord server. Once you're a member, you can head directly to the server's Announcements and Codes channels, which are both updated by the devs when new codes drop. You can also check out i2Perfect's YouTube Channel, where the creator posts clips that reveal secret codes.

What is Capybara Evolution in Roblox?

Capybara Evolution drops players into a colourful world as a tiny capybara with a single mission: evolve. Surrounded by formidable creatures, they must battle to level up and transform their capybara, making their way up the food chain across a variety of different worlds. To aid in their battle, they can purchase eggs that hatch into pets, which will help them take down stronger enemies and ascend to the ultimate capybara life form.

Callum Williams is an IGN freelancer covering features and guides. When he's away from his desk, you can usually find him obsessing over the lore of the latest obscure indie horror game or bashing his head against a boss in the newest soulslike. You can catch him over on Twitter at @CaIIumWilliams.

Looking for codes for Dead Spells? IGN has you covered. We've jumped into the game and checked for all the newest and working codes for the Dead Rails inspired game. This fantasy survival game allows you to play as various classes including Gnome, Mushroom, and Goblin as you set off on expeditions.

Working Dead Spells Codes (June 2025)

• Gullible - 50 Burgers (NEW)
• SteamPunk - 100 Burgers
• 35Klikes - 100 Burgers
• LIZARD - 50 Burgers
• 1MVisits - 50 Burgers

Expired Dead Spells Codes (June 2025)

As of this month, these codes have now expired:

• Thief King
• 30Klikes
• 25Klikes
• Traits!
• 20Klikes
• 15Klikes
• VampireMansion!
• 10Klikes
• 5000!

How to Redeem Dead Spells Codes

You'll need to find the blue lizard in Dead Spells in order to redeem codes, so to find it and get your rewards, follow these steps:

1. Launch Dead Spells on Roblox
2. When you log into a server, go straight ahead past the water fountain.
3. Then, look for the blue lizard wearing a monacle near the noticeboard. It will say Enter Codes above it
4. Approach the lizard and interact with it to enter codes
5. Enter the code into the box and hit claim

How to Get More Dead Spells Codes

We check for new codes every day, so the best way to find out about the latest Dead Spells code is to save this article and keep checking back. You can also hunt for codes in the dediated Discord server, where codes are also announced.

Why Isn't My Dead Spells Code Working?

If your code for Dead Spells isn't working, it's likely for one of two reasons:

1. The code has been entered incorrectly
2. The code has expired

If a code is not accepted in Dead Spells, it will say "code does not exist or is expired." It doesn't make it clear what the problem is, you'll just know the code hasn't worked. The good news is, if you use our article, we'll move codes into expired when they stop working, so you can tell the difference. If a code is in the active and working list, however, be sure to copy and paste it exactly as you see it here. We test each of the codes before uploading them, and Roblox codes are often case-sensitive, so it's important that it's exact.

Lauren Harper is an Associate Guides Editor. She loves a variety of games but is especially fond of puzzles, horrors, and point-and-click adventures.

Want codes for Grow a Garden? Well, a code redemption system is finally here! It was added to the popular gardening experience as part of the Lunar Glow event. This big change means it's likely there will be codes released in the future, so IGN will now keep you covered as and when new codes are released!

Working Grow a Garden Codes (June 2025)

I'm sorry to say that even with the new Bizzier Bees update, there still currently no active Grow a Garden codes! As soon as new ones are announced, we'll update this article to include the new ones. For now, check out all there is to do in the new Bizzier Bees and Friendship Update.

Expired Grow a Garden Codes (June 2025)

Unfortunately, these codes have now expired:

• LUNARGLOW10 - This gave players 3x Seed Packs.

How to Redeem Grow a Garden Codes

Now that there's a code redemption system in the Roblox experience, here are the steps you need to follow to use Grow a Garden codes:

1. Launch the Grow a Garden Roblox experience
2. Look in the top left corner to find the Settings cog next to the icon of the backpack
3. Click settings and scroll down to the bottom
4. Copy and paste codes from this article into the Redeem Codes box
5. Press claim and enjoy your goodies!

Why Isn't My Grow a Garden Code Working?

There are usually two reasons why a code isn't working. It's either because:

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

If a code has been entered incorrectly or is expired, it will say the "code is invalid." To stop this from happening, we'd recommend copying and pasting the code directly from this article. We check and test each of the codes before we add them to our articles. However, when copying them, you can sometimes accidentally include an extra space somewhere, so always double check there's no additional spaces!

Where to Find More Grow a Garden Codes

If new codes are added to the game, we'll update this article, so you can always check back here and keep up-to-date with the latest codes. Grow a Garden has its own dedicated Discord server where codes will be announced, as well as game updates.

What is Grow a Garden in Roblox?

Grow a Garden is a new Roblox experience that's become incredibly popular since it launched. The gardening simulator allows players to show off their green fingers, as you buy seeds and plant a variety of crops from basic carrots to exotic dragon fruit trees.

As fruit and vegetables finally sprout, you'll be able to harvest them to sell for Sheckles. To go from a beginner gardener to a pro worthy of awards, you'll want your crops to experience mutations that increase their value. This can happen randomly, with Gold and Big mutations being down to chance, while weather events like snow can increase your luck of a Frozen mutation. There's also gear, and even pets now, that can affect how fast your crops grow, their value, and more.

When is the Mega Harvest Update in Grow a Garden?

Grow a Garden hosts new events each weekend, where players can come together and try out the fresh content for the ever-expanding game. The next update is planned for Saturday June 28, 2025 and is being called the Mega Harvest. While we don't know much yet besides the fact that the Summer Harvest event is being extended, we can guess that there will be new seeds, new pets, even more craftable items to come.

Lauren Harper is an Associate Guides Editor. She loves a variety of games but is especially fond of puzzles, horrors, and point-and-click adventures.

Need some more rerolls in Fire Force: Reignition? We've got you covered. Below, we've compiled all of the free redeemable codes currently active in the Roblox action RPG, so you can get your hands on free rerolls and other goodies instantly.

Active Fire Force: Reignition Codes (June 2025)

Below are all the active Fire Force: Reignition Codes as of June 2025:

• PREUPDATECODE3 - 5x Ability Reroll, 100x Reroll Token, 2x Generation Reroll, 1x Eye Colour Reroll, 1x Hair Color Reroll
• PREUPDATECODE2 - 60x Reroll Token, 2x Generation Reroll
• PREUPDATECODE1 - 50x Reroll Token, 5X Clan Reroll
• STEALANANIMEPLAYERS - 10x Ability Reroll, 300x Reroll Token
• MINORPATCH - 75x Reroll Token
• MBALL - 1x Skill Tree Reset
• SUPERPATCH - 2x Ability Reroll, 60x Reroll Token
• 55KLIKES - 50x Reroll Token
• REIGNITION2 - 1x Ability Reroll, 100x Reroll Token, 1x Generation Reroll
• REIGNITION - 4x Ability Reroll, 100x Reroll Token, 2x Generation Reroll

Expired Fire Force: Reignition Codes (June 2025)

Below are all the expired Fire Force: Reignition Codes as of June 2025:

• MOMMY
• FOOL

How to Redeem Codes in Fire Force: Reignition

• After loading into the game, look at the hud in the centre of the screen. Above the health bar, you'll see four buttons. Click the menu button. It's circled in the left-hand side of the image above.
• This will bring you to a menu overlay with six circular icons. Look for the settings icon on the far left. It's circled in the right-hand side of the image above. Click it.
• It'll bring you to the settings tab. At the bottom of this tab, you'll see a codes bar.
• Type your code in and hit "Go" to redeem the code. If it was successful, a notification with your rewards will appear in the centre of the screen.

Why Isn't My Fire Force: Reignition Code Working?

If your Fire Force: Reignition code isn’t working, it’s likely due to one of two scenarios. The first is that the 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 inside the code bar informing you that the code has already been redeemed or is invalid.

How to Get More Fire Force: Reignition Codes

If you're on the hunt for additional Fire Force Reignition codes, your best bet is to head over to the game's official Discord server. Once you're a member, you'll be able to find any new codes as they drop in the Announcements and Updates channels.

What is Fire Force: Reignition in Roblox?

Fire Force: Reignition is a multiplayer open-world RPG that takes heavy influence from the popular manga and anime series, Fire Force. Players are dropped into an open-world city and must fight their way up to becoming a pyrokinetic legend, taking on missions, battling other players and levelling up their abilities so they can unleash more powerful fiery attacks.

Callum Williams is an IGN freelancer covering features and guides. When he's away from his desk, you can usually find him obsessing over the lore of the latest obscure indie horror game or bashing his head against a boss in the newest soulslike. You can catch him over on Twitter at @CaIIumWilliams.

If you're looking for Ninja Time codes, IGN has you covered! In this article, you'll find the latest active and working Ninja Time codes in June 2025 that can be redeemed for free rewards in Roblox, such as Clan Tokens and Element Tokens.

Active Ninja Time Codes (June 2025)

Below, you'll find all of the currently active and working Ninja Time codes in June 2025 that you can redeem for free rewards:

• PerfectedKCM! - 12 Clan, Element and Family Spins (NEW!)
• VermillionProdigy! - 12 Clan, Element and Family Spins (NEW!)
• Sorry4TheDelay! - 16 Clan, Element and Family Spins (NEW!)

All Expired Ninja Time Codes (June 2025)

The following Ninja Time codes have expired and no longer work:

• SPECIALPLUG!
• NewQuests!
• StoneMuty!
• TaijutsuUpdate!
• SorryAboutDelay!
• YTIntervention!
• ScorchRelease!
• KCM2Release!
• SorryForRaidRewards!
• TBACodeDidWork!
• TBACodeDoesNotWork!
• 50MILVISITS!
• RAIDS!
• MiniUpdate
• ThisIsAura!
• ProphecyChild!
• EternalMeteor!
• ConsoleSupport!
• EasterSpirit!
• ApologiesForTheDelay!
• SecretBossIG!
• SecretCodee!
• WarMode!
• 2xTransparency!
• GlazeTheBoss!
• FixesAndAFKWorld!
• Confia!
• CONFIABRASIL!
• Update0.5!
• BossStudios!
• SUPERLUXINN
• HYGON
• ARIS
• 35MVISITS
• 150KMEMBERS
• 115KLIKES
• 195KFAVS
• BYTE10K
• LUXINN
• 105KLIKES
• MENUREVAMP
• 175KFAVS
• 25MVISITS
• 100KLIKES
• SORRYFORTERRAIN
• 85KLIKES
• 20MVISITS
• 77KLIKES
• 15MVISITS
• 150KFAVS
• 70KLIKES
• 60KLIKES
• MAYBEPERFORMANCE
• MORENPCFIXES
• 55KLIKES
• BYTE1K
• BYTE2K
• 10M
• 9M
• 8M
• MOBILEMOUNTS
• SORRYFORTROUBLE
• DATARECONCILE
• ILOVEMOBILES
• MOREMOBILESFIX!
• STFIX
• THX100KDISC
• THX100KFAV
• RELEASE

How to Redeem Ninja Time Codes

Follow the steps below to redeem Ninja Time codes and claim your free rewards in Roblox:

1. Open Ninja Time via the Roblox Player.
2. If it's your first time playing, you'll need to select a village and create a character.
3. Once on the main menu, select "PLAY" to enter the game.
4. After loading in, select the "Menu" button in the top left.
5. Click on "Extra Menu."
6. Select "Codes" to open the codes menu.
7. Input your code into the "..." field and then hit the orange "Redeem" button.
8. If successful, your Ninja Time code will be redeemed.

Why Isn't My Ninja Time Code Working?

If your Ninja Time code isn't working when you're trying to redeem it in Roblox, it's likely due to one of two reasons:

• The Ninja Time code is expired and can no longer be redeemed.
• The code is spelled wrong.

When inputting a Ninja Time code into Roblox, make sure it's spelled correctly, there are no accidental spaces either before or after the code, and that it's in the correct case (some codes are case sensitive).

All the codes on this page have been tested by IGN and work at the time of submission, so we recommend copying and pasting codes directly from this article to avoid any errors. If the code still doesn't work, it's expired and no longer works.

How to Get More Roblox Ninja Time Codes

The fastest way to get more Ninja Time codes is to join the official Ninja Time Discord server, where you'll be notified as soon as they go live. Alternatively, bookmark this article as we update it with new codes regularly.

Meg Koepp is a Guides Editor on the IGN Guides team, with a focus on trends. When she's not working, you can find her playing an RPG or making miniatures.

Remedy's Control spin-off shooter, FBC: Firebreak, has topped one million players. While the game is free-to-play for Xbox Game Pass and PS Plus subscribers, the studio called it a "significant milestone," despite acknowledging "there is still a lot of work ahead of us."

"As of last night, we have surpassed 1 million players in FBC: Firebreak. This is a significant milestone, so thank you for playing from all of us at Remedy," the studio said in a post on social media.

"We know there is still a lot of work ahead of us, and we are super-motivated about it. We have a lot of exciting things cooking for Firebreak players! More about that soon."

Last week, the team identified a problem with "the first hour experience," saying that FBC: Firebreak's opening gameplay was not "a great experience due to a combination of things," including issues with onboarding, poorly explained systems and tools, and "a lack of clarity as to what to do in the Jobs and how to do the work effectively." The developer also said: "the power fantasy isn't great in the first hours of the game as starting weapons feel weak, and unlocking higher-tier weapons requires a bit too much grinding."

"Right now, despite how sparse the story can seem in moments, there’s a lot of fun to be had wrangling erratic monsters in Remedy’s spectacularly absurd bureaucratic setting," we wrote in IGN's FBC: Firebreak review in progress. "I’ll be playing more this week and wrap up this review as soon as I’ve tested the limits of Remedy’s chaotic cooperative job simulator."

Remedy also recently confirmed its plans for ongoing support post-launch, including two new Jobs (missions) coming in 2025. More updates will arrive in 2026, the developer said. All playable content released post launch, such as Jobs, will be free to all players. Players have the option to buy cosmetics, but none of these items will affect gameplay, and there will be no limited-time rotations or daily log-ins, Remedy insisted.

It's a busy time for Alan Wake developer Remedy, which has a number of projects on the go. As well as FBC: Firebreak, it's working on Control 2 and the Max Payne and Max Payne 2 remake compilation.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

Capcom has confirmed it experimented with plans to make Resident Evil: Requiem an open-world game, and for it feature online elements, before it ultimately changed course.

In a revealing developer diary video, Requiem director Koshi Nakanishi introduced a brief look at this now-cancelled, earlier version of the game, where multiple protagonists can be seen in action-heavy gunplay.

Ultimately, however, Capcom ditched these ideas to focus back on the Resident Evil franchise's horror roots, its developers said. When it arrives next year, Requiem will be a single-player game, and offline only.

"We've managed to pack a lot into this game. We were even exploring many different systems early in development," producer Masachika Kawata noted.

"You might have heard some of the rumors," Nakanishi continued. "Things like an online Resident Evil, or an open-world Resident Evil, which we spent some time experimenting with.

"But in the end, although we had some interesting concepts, we realized that it wasn't what fans wanted to see or play. So we went back to the drawing board, and created what led to Resident Evil: Requiem."

You can see a few brief shots of the cancelled online version of Requiem below:

The cancelled Resident Evil 9 project pic.twitter.com/Vu7z2tlppQ

— Waleed (@Waleedx2007) June 27, 2025

Discussing Requiem's setting, art director Tomonori Takano noted that Capcom had made the deliberate choice to place the game's action in urban environments, in order to differentiate it from other recent games.

Resident Evil 7, Resident Evil Village and the recent Resident Evil 4 Remake are all set outside major population centers, whereas Requiem will see the return of Raccoon City.

"Previous titles were often set in rural areas with lots of nature," Takano noted. "This time it is more focused on the urban environment. And there are many scenarios that are set as a modern drama, including Raccoon City."

While we now know the setting and single-player focus of Requiem for certain, Capcom remains more coy over whether floppy-haired fan-favorite Leon S. Kennedy is also playable in the game, alongside its currently-announced protagonist, FBI agent Grace Ashcroft.

Yesterday's Capcom Spotlight 2025 broadcast included comments from Nakanishi that stated Leon would be a "bad match for horror" — though the director stopped short of confirming the character would not be present at all. Fans suspect Capcom is still to showcase Requiem's more action-heavy moments — for which Leon would be better suited.

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

Super Mario Strikers — or Mario Smash Football, as it's known in Europe — is joining Nintendo Switch 2's Nintendo Switch Online GameCube library next week. It's the first game to have been added to the library since Switch 2 launched earlier this month.

Nintendo Switch Online is a subscription-based online gaming service for the Nintendo Switch gaming platform. Memberships include online functionality, allowing you to compete or cooperate with friends, as well as a collection of classic Nintendo games spanning four decades, including titles from the NES, SNES, Game Boy, Nintendo 64, and, most recently, the new GameCube library. A free seven-day trial is also available.

The GameCube library currently includes The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and Soulcalibur 2. Further titles thought to be joining the service include Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi's Mansion, Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness, and more.

"Mario and friends clash in this extreme soccer game originally released for the Nintendo GameCube system in 2005," Nintendo teased. "Matches unfold with white-hot speed, intensity, and familiar items, like shells and mushrooms, to give you a boost in crushing your opponent. But the real key to winning is the Super Strike, a powerful shot that can net you two points at once! Jump right in with simple controls, hone your techniques, and hit the pitch with Mario and his friends! Available exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members!"

IGN declared Super Mario Strikers to be "Good" when released way back in 2008 — that's almost 20 years ago now; yikes — writing in our review: "Nintendo's foray into sports titles continues with Super Mario Strikers, a soccer game that's unlike anything ever to hit the pitch."

Don't forget, an extremely cool replica GameCube controller is also available for maximum nostalgia.

Nintendo Switch 2 is off to a strong start, with 3.5 million consoles sold, but an analysis on the console's launch week sales paints a mixed picture of how well games not made by Nintendo are now selling.

"The Nintendo Switch 2 is a vital upgrade over the original Switch if that's the only way you've been able to play games for the last eight years," we wrote in IGN's Nintendo Switch 2 review, awarding it 7/10, "but improvements that are mostly playing catch-up and a big price jump make this sequel system about as exciting as a long-overdue phone upgrade in the larger scheme of things."

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

Squid Game's third season finale is now available to watch on Netflix, and wraps up much of the series' story so far. But is this really the end, as the show's creator has previously suggested?

Fans say a huge Hollywood cameo in the episode's final moments strongly suggests otherwise — and that it may have been added as a deliberate tease for how Squid Game could now continue, should Netflix desire.

Warning! Spoilers for Squid Game season 3 follow.

In the finale's closing minutes, viewers get to see a new Squid Games recruiter working on the streets of Los Angeles — something that reveals the Squid Games are truly global, and extend well beyond the version located within Korea that the series has focused on so far.

And who exactly is recruiting for this Los Angeles version of the games? It's none other than Oscar winner Cate Blanchett, star of Thor: Ragnarok and The Lord of the Rings.

While Netflix had largely kept Blanchett's appearance in the finale under wraps, her involvement had been leaked online earlier this week by notorious industry insider MyTimeToShineHello, who stated that the actress had been cast and that the appearance was a deliberate set-up for a possible Squid Games "American spin-off that David Fincher is developing".

Netflix has made no formal announcement on Squid Games' future, let alone the involvement of Fincher. But the Fight Club director would certainly make sense, having previously worked extensively with Netflix on House of Cards, Mindhunter, and Love, Death & Robots.

Earlier this week, Squid Game star Lee Byung-hun, who plays Front Man, suggested the show's third season may not be the last we see of the franchise.

"Director Hwang keeps saying it's a finale. But when I first read it [the script], I felt it could be a finale, but at the same time, it could be a new start," Byung-hun teased. "It's my personal opinion, but if the audience's love and support increase, we'll never know what happens."

Squid Game creator Hwang Dong-hyuk, however, has sounded more certain that his involvement with the show is now over, whatever happens next with the franchise.

"It's the finale for the whole series. The whole show,” Hwang has said. "It's time to say goodbye."

But while Hwang may be ready to end his time with Squid Games, Netflix seems to be leaving the door open, at the very least.

"This final chapter isn't without flaws, but it still delivers the suspense and cinematic polish that made Squid Game a hit in the first place," IGN wrote in our Squid Game season 3 review.

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

The secret sauce of Netflix’s Squid Game is the crafty way it balances the thrills of a binge-worthy streaming drama with the brutal agony and potent social commentary of down-on-their-luck characters risking their lives in a potentially lucrative series of amped-up children’s games. It’s a tricky thing to navigate, the inherent tragedy of it all never dampening our curiosity about how the arena will test its players next. My main question going into the megahit’s third and final season: How will creator and writer Hwang Dong-hyuk keep piquing that curiosity without making us numb to all the death and destruction or burying the messaging that made his show so resonant? The answer: by driving home the cruelties of this system with the same cinematic flair that made Squid Game a hit in the first place – albeit with a few clumsily executed, cringe-inducing choices.

The premiere returns us to the arena’s bloodied corridor immediately after the previous season’s shootout between the rebelling players, led by battered survivor Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), and the pink jumpsuited guards. After seeing the game’s Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) order the death of his closest ally, Jung-bae (Lee Seo-hwan), Gi-hun becomes a visibly grief-stricken shell of his former, more determined self. Lee offers a convincingly chilling depiction of a once fiery crusader grappling with this failed mission to end the games for good. As Gi-hun becomes overtaken with guilt and quiet rage, he nails the complexities of a person battling the forces aligned against him and, at times, losing. The momentary cracks in Gi-hun's moral resolve are distressing but also surprisingly grounding. He’s way more relatable than a hero who unwaveringly commits to taking the high road.

This is especially true when he learns of Dae-ho’s (Kang Ha-neul) cowardly decision to stay out of the fight against the guards after agreeing to secure more ammo, which arguably led to many unnecessary deaths (including Jung-bae’s). Tensions between Gi-hun and Dae-ho devolve into a heightened game of cat and mouse, pushing a cornered Dae-ho to shed the layers of personality that once positioned him as an affable background character. He’s far more nuanced while on defense against Gi-hun, allowing Kang to step up and match Lee’s energy with each ill-fated interaction.

We see a real shift play out in what’s arguably Squid Game’s most harrowing game, which pits players against each other more overtly than ever before. With the players split into two opposing teams, one group is tasked with killing the other in a high stakes rendition of hide-and-seek. In comparison to more metaphorical games that came before it, this one gets a little too literal, putting actual daggers in the players’ hands. Part of the intrigue in past games was due to players making split-second decisions to save their hides. Here, the choice is essentially stripped from them, but it still contains some of Squid Game’s harshest heartbreaks and lessons. Chief among those lessons: good intentions never guarantee a hero’s ending – or that they’ll remain good for long. It’s a reality that makes this particular chapter comparable to the gut punch of season one’s “Ggangbu.” It’s also where Park Sung-hoon, returning as the combat-trained trans player and fan favorite Hyun-Ju, gets to flex some action-star skills and deliver solid physical and emotional blows.

The game’s biggest reveal, however, is that of the wealthy VIPs masquerading as Squid Game guards. Previously seen only briefly in season 1, the VIPs’ increased involvement in the games makes them a prominent part of season 3. Their participation leads to one of the season’s biggest weaknesses – not because their gleefulness cranks up the brutality in any meaningful way, but because their cringe-inducing dialogue and almost cartoonishly villainous line delivery clashes with their co-stars’ sincerity.

Beyond that, their insights – which mostly amount to recaps of what we just watched unfold – are almost entirely unnecessary. And on a show that maintained a decent pace up to this point, the VIPs’ addition feels a lot like filler. Its only saving grace is that it becomes the source of a pivotal development in the game when Jun-hee (Jo Yuri) unexpectedly gives birth and the rich spectators vote to make the baby – not so much a bundle of joy but a bit of weird computer animation, from what I can tell – a new player. Apart from giving certain players a renewed reason to survive (and raising questions about how, exactly, a newborn can compete in the Squid Game), the baby is a brilliant, devastating show of the trauma handed down from parent to child. As her fate is left up to a soulless system and desperate opponents, she brings a 21st-century disregard for children into alarming focus.

This predictably culminates in an intense faceoff between Gi-hun and the baby’s father, the morally ambiguous crypto bro Myung-gi (Yim Si-wan). But that lack of surprise doesn’t negate the final battle’s absolutely breathtaking execution, concluding with cinematography that’s both haunting and a testament to the level of craft that went into Squid Game. Hwang’s decision to not take the easy way out is admirable. A much cleaner, happier ending wouldn’t have been as effective. Instead, we’re left with a final reminder that there are very few winners in either the Squid Game or its many everyday analogues. We’re also left with a parting scene and A-list cameo (because we can’t forget just how big of a global phenomenon we’re leaving behind) that could be interpreted as leaving the door open for future games. It’s a daunting thought: Squid Game is a cautionary tale that benefits from brevity rather than a multiverse of pointless spinoffs and sequels. On its own, the ending further illustrates a dangerous game with global impact, one that we can try to outlive, but never fully escape.

After half a dozen hours in the earliest moments of the upcoming pirate RPG Sea of Remnants, I was left with tons of questions about how this one will ultimately turn out, whether it was the currently barebones turn-based combat system, the convoluted labyrinth of vendors and upgrade paths that reminded me a bit of an MMO, or the story and dialogue that were sometimes difficult to follow given this early build’s lack of English voice acting or reliable subtitles. But one thing that was never in doubt throughout all of that is just how much this colorful, over-the-top adventure is already absolutely dripping with style that’s so unbelievably hard to look away from, it made me eager to see more in spite of those rough edges. Seriously, the cartoonish characters, exaggerated (and often hilarious) animations, and gorgeous menus are some of the coolest I’ve seen since Persona 5, and even when I didn’t understand everything that was happening, I often couldn’t help but smile ear-to-ear. The version I played is so early and unfinished, it’s still pretty hard to tell if this will deliver in plenty of other areas, from gameplay to technical stability, but there’s plenty of time before the unspecific 2026 launch window to iron all that out, and it already has so much unique charm that I’m officially adding this one to my list of games to follow closely.

Before I get into what I liked and didn’t like in my time with Sea of Remnants, it’s worth mentioning again that what I played appeared to be an extremely early build that was quite unfinished and prone to all sorts of bugs and rocky technical performance. I’m used to playing unfinished products months and sometimes years before they see the light of day, but even by that measure, this one felt especially under construction. Menus and dialogue were riddled with placeholder text, crashes and bugs were quite frequent, and the entire thing hadn’t been optimized for non-Mandarin speakers like myself, which often left things lost in translation. For all of these reasons and more, it was more than a little hard to tell how things will pan out, both from a technical perspective and where gameplay is concerned, since many ideas were clearly extremely unbaked. Keep that in mind as you watch this video.

What I do know about Sea of Remnants is that it’s playing in a lot of the same space as Sea of Thieves, with open-world high seas to explore as a pirate crew and islands to visit, filled with loot waiting to be plundered. But it also distinguishes itself with unexpected elements, like the turn-based combat that happens when you’re ashore, or the RPG/MMO mechanics that accompany it – to the point where I’m not even sure what odd blend of genres the final product is shooting for, and every 30 minutes came with another surprise that added to that confusion, like how, late in the demo, I learned there were hundreds of recruitable companions I could take with me on voyages and build bonds with. And this is all without having been able to see any of the planned multiplayer components in action, as this will all apparently be taking place in an online world where you can interact with other pirate captains.

Unfortunately, a lot of the ideas Sea of Remnants threw at me were pretty hard to get a sense for in this build, like the turn-based combat, where my buccaneer crew and I crossed swords and blunderbusses with rival skallywags and local fauna. While beautifully animated, the bits I played were also extremely oversimplified, either due to the section I played being pretty early on in the adventure, or just because it was quite clearly still a work in progress. As a big fan of turn-based battles, I’m hopeful they can flesh out some of the mechanics here to reach the heights of some of my recent favorites like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 or Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth, but for now it mostly reminded me of a very stripped-down version of Persona 5.

The good news is that, no matter how unfinished any aspect of Sea of Remnants was, it was consistently and without exception one of the most interesting games I’ve played in a long time. The humanoid characters (all of which are puppets for some reason) have a ton of personality despite their wooden faces, and their exaggerated animations really cracked me up. And despite having Sea of Thieves pirate vibes, I rarely felt like I knew what was going to happen next, like how after beating a giant ape boss on an island and getting back on my boat to go home, I suddenly found myself under attack by that same monkey out for revenge, who now captained his own vessel and blasted me with cannon fire. Then, even though I sent him to Davy Jones’ locker, my ship was sunk moments later anyway in the most silly cutscene imaginable. I still feel like I don’t really understand what it will feel like to play the final product, as it swings so wildly between juggling an inventory of loot, blasting cannons on a boat, and choosing between very confusing dialogue options with various party members, but even though playing through that confusion was often a little unintuitive, I certainly can’t say it wasn’t interesting – quite the opposite.

It was also really nice to see such a unique setting, because although there’s a lot of typical piracy shenanigans you might expect, there are also really strange concepts peppered throughout that kept me on my toes, like how my journey started out with me finding the moon buried beneath the sea (!?), or how the marionette characters apparently lose their memory whenever they’re destroyed on an adventure, but always find themselves back inside the main island of Orbtopia to begin again. There’s also a really distinct punk vibe throughout the entire world, as everything is covered with graffiti and many of the characters act like reckless teenagers who cut class to cosplay as mischievous pirates.

The big question with Sea of Remnants is if its unmistakably cool presentation and interesting hodgepodge of ideas can actually come together into something coherent, and I truly feel no closer to answering that after more than six hours with it. For now, it’s definitely interesting and distinctive enough for me to anxiously wait to see more, but we’ll likely need to wait a fair bit longer before we can get a better feel for how it’s shaping up – especially when it comes to technical performance and the online aspects that were completely absent from this build.

I can definitely see the beginnings of a vision here though, where the punk aesthetic and killer art style play well with over-the-top ship combat and slower, more tactical turn-based battles on foot to create something really special. Plus, we can always use more pirate fantasy in our lives, and I can already tell that this goofy take on the genre will bring a very fresh perspective. Granted, I have no idea how they’ll make online multiplayer, where friends would presumably come along for the ride, work with the turn-based combat and NPC party members. But hey – if they manage to pull it off it sounds like it’d be awesome, and if they don’t at least it’ll be something unique nonetheless.

Ahead of Amazon Prime Day, Amazon is offering the lowest price I've ever seen on one of the best Windows-based gaming handhelds. Right now you can pick up a Lenovo Legion Go with an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme APU and 512GB of storage for only $499.99 shipped after a 30% off instant discount. The Legion Go boasts a larger and sharper display, detachable controllers, and a larger battery compared to the Asus ROG Ally. And now that Valve has made SteamOS widely available, you can install it and turn this device basically into a super-powered Steam Deck.

30% Off Lenovo Legion Go 512GB Gaming Handheld

Thank your own personal deity--possibly Jubileus the Creator--it's another Friday! Feeling the chill this June? It’s the perfect excuse to load up on games and stay tucked in. From monster slayers to surreal indies, there’s something here to heat up every genre appetite.

This Day in Gaming 🎂

In retro news, I'm celebrating the 34th birthday of Dr. Mario, gaming's most trusted and beloved antivirus software. The brainchild of producer Gunpei Yokoi, creator of the Game Boy and Game & Watch, and Metroid series creator Takahiro Harada, I fondly recall Dr. Mario for its simple addictiveness and earworm tunes that were way more infectious than the virii I was eliminating with drop-block pills.

Aussie birthdays for notable games

- Dr. Mario (NES) 1991. Get

- Lego Batman 2 (PC,PS3,X360) 2012. Get

- Rogue Legacy (PC) 2013. Get

- Sniper Elite III (PC,PS3,XO) 2013. Get

Contents

• Nintendo
• Xbox
• PlayStation
• PC
• PC Gear
• LEGO
• Headphones
• TVs

Nice Savings for Nintendo Switch

On Nintendo Switch, Sonic Frontiers zips in with a 65% discount and a fresh new open-world format which Yuji Naka once claimed was inspired by fan mods. Meanwhile, West of Loathing serves up stick-figure slapstick and absurd RPG mechanics for under a fiver. You can punch a ghost. Seriously.

• Sonic Frontiers (-65%) – A$34.80
• Persona 4 Golden (-50%) – A$14.90
• Dragon Ball Fighterz (-45%) – A$49.90
• West of Loathing (-69%) – A$4.90
• Unicorn Overlord (-50%) – A$47.40

Expiring Recent Deals

• Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes (-44%) - A$45
• Star Wars Heritage Pack (-32%) - A$77
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• Darkest Dungeon (-70%) - A$9.80
• Observer (-85%) - A$6.70
• UnMetal (-75%) - A$7.50

Or gift a Nintendo eShop Card.

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Exciting Bargains for Xbox

• Doom: The Dark Ages (-42%) – A$69
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Gold (-25%) – A$108.70
• Remnant II (-55%) – A$34
• TopSpin 2K25 (-88%) – A$14.90
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (-22%) – A$85.90

Xbox One

• Lego 2K Drive (-16%) – A$45.90
• Diablo IV (-73%) – A$29.90
• Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 (-11%) – A$249

Expiring Recent Deals

• Official Controller Black (-29%) - A$64
• Monster Hunter Wilds (-59%) - A$47
• PGA Tour 2K25 (-47%) - A$64
• Split Fiction (-23%) - A$54
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• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (-22%) - A$85.90
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• Sonic Racing: Crossworlds (-18%) - A$89

Or just invest in an Xbox Card.

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Pure Scores for PlayStation

• Borderlands 4 (-17%) – A$99
• Horizon Forbidden West (-54%) – A$57
• Horizon Zero Dawn Rem. (-41%) – A$44
• Resident Evil Village (-20%) – A$44
• PGA Tour 2K25 (-47%) – A$64

PS4

• Red Dead Redemption 2 (-79%) – A$19
• Uncharted Col. (-32%) – A$17
• Sleeping Dogs Def. Ed. (-25%) – A$29.90

Expiring Recent Deals

• Monster Hunter Wilds (-59%) - A$47
• The Last of Us Part II Rem. (-41%) - A$44
• Starship Troopers: Extermination (-73%) - A$19
• Split Fiction (-23%) - A$54
• NBA 2K25 (-80%) - A$24
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (-22%) - A$85.90
• The Witcher 3 Comp. (-80%) - A$15.50
• Diablo III: Eternal Col. (-67%) - A$32.90
• Psychonauts 2 (-80%) - A$18.10

PS+ Monthly Freebies
Yours to keep from Jun 1 with this subscription

• NBA 2K25 | PS5, PS4
• Alone in the Dark (2024) | PS5
• Bomb Rush Cyberfunk | PS5, PS4
• Destiny 2: The Final Shape | PS5, PS4

Or purchase a PS Store Card.

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Purchase Cheap for PC

• Robocop: Alex Murphy Ed. (-92%) – A$7
• Crash Bandicoot N. Sane (-90%) – A$6.30
• Hades (-66%) – A$12.40
• Little Nightmares II (-90%) – A$3.90
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• Jurassic World Evolution 2 (-95%) – A$4.20
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Expiring Recent Deals

• Sea of Thieves: 2025 Ed. (-65%) - A$17.40
• Monster Hunter Wilds (-20%) - A$83.90
• Katamari Damacy Reroll (-75%) - A$7.20
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (-80%) - A$19.90
• It Takes Two (-75%) - A$12.40
• We Love Katamari Reroll+ Royal Reverie (-75%) - A$11.20

Or just get a Steam Wallet Card

Laptop Deals

• Apple 2024 MacBook Air 15-inch (-12%) – A$2,197
• HP Laptop 15.6" 15-fd0233TU (-20%) – A$799
• Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 5 (-36%) – A$849
• Lenovo Yoga 7i 2-in-1 14", Gen 9 (-41%) – A$1,229

Desktop Deals

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• Lenovo neo 50q G4 Tiny (-35%) – A$639
• Lenovo neo 50t G5 Tower (-20%) – A$871.20
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Monitor Deals

• Samsung QE50T 50" (-31%) – A$596
• ARZOPA 16.1" 144Hz (-55%) – A$159.99
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Component Deals

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Legit LEGO Deals

• Star Wars Tenoo Jedi Temple (-46%) – A$34.90
• Pink Flower Bouquet (-37%) – A$63.20
• Minecraft Nether Portal (-36%) – A$38.40
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Expiring Recent Deals

• Captain America vs. Red Hulk (-47%) - A$48
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Hot Headphones Deals

Audiophilia for less

• Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless (-38%) – A$399.95
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• Bose SoundLink Flex (-31%) – A$171
• JBL Charge 5 - Portable Speaker (-28%) – A$144
• JBL Flip Essential 2 Waterproof Speaker (-26%) – A$96
• Sony SRS-XB100 Travel Speaker (-41%) – A$84.15
• Ultimate Ears Boom 3 Portable Speaker (-41%) – A$134.95
• Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro (-26%) – A$259.29
• Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless (-46%) – A$275

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Terrific TV Deals

Do right by your console, upgrade your telly

• LG 43" UT80 4K (-24%) – A$635
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• XuanPad Mini Projector (-36%) – A$128.99
• LG S70TY Q Series Sound Barn*-22%) – A$546
• Sony HTG700 Atmos Soundbar (-15%) – A$594
• Yamaha NS-SW050 Subwoofer (-13%) – A$270

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• XTU Doorbell Camera Doorbell (-40%) – A$59.99
• D-Link DCS-8302LH Wi-Fi Cam (-62%) – A$75
• Google Nest Cam (-25%) – A$247
• Ring Spotlight Cam Pro Battery (-43%) – A$187
• Swann 4 Channel DVR with 4 x 4K Cams (-34%) – A$399
• WUUK 2K Outdoor Cam (-32%) – A$249.99
• PS VR2 PC adapter - $94.95
• TP Link Bluetooth 5.0 adapter - $12
• UGREEN Display Port 1.4 2m (-17%) - $19.94

Back to top

You can stick with the new Joy-Con on your shiny Nintendo Switch 2, but you probably want a proper controller for when you’re playing docked and connected to a TV – I’d even call it one of the essential Switch 2 accessories. While the Joy-Con works fine for handheld gaming, the ergonomics aren’t great, which makes them uncomfortable over long sessions. I also don’t think they’re particularly great for games that demand precision, even when using the included grip attachment. Getting the right Switch 2 controller will do you big favors for performance and comfort, but which ones are worth considering in the early days of the new console? I already have answers for you.

Since the Switch 2 doesn’t come with a distinct gamepad, the onus is on you to get a proper controller, and I’ve already tested some of the best options out there, including many of the ones we’ve recommended for the original Switch. Yes, if you have a controller you really like that you used on the Switch, you can use it with the Switch 2, but that comes with a few caveats and missing features. Luckily, a few Switch 2-specific controllers are already out there in this launch window that work like a dream, with top my recommendations here for the best Switch 2 controllers you can get right now.

TL;DR: The Best Controllers for Switch 2

I’m pretty particular about my controllers, so every one I’ve used goes through a certain level of scrutiny – as you may have seen in my Switch 2 Pro Controller review, I take the time to consider every aspect of a controller (which extends to the many keyboards and mice I’ve also reviewed). Since some gamepads do things better than others or may emphasize different aspects, I go through why I made each pick to make sure you know what you’re getting so you’ll hopefully be set for the years to come with your Switch 2.

1. Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller

Best Controller for Switch 2

2. PowerA Advantage

Best Budget Controller for Switch 2

3. Horipad Turbo

Best Wired Controller for Switch 2

4. Gulikit KK3 Max

Best Controller from Switch 1

5. Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

Best Mid-Range Controller from Switch 1

6. 8BitDo Ultimate

Best Third-Party Controller from Switch 1

7. PowerA Enhanced Wireless

Best Budget Controller from Switch 1

Capcom has said that Leon S. Kennedy is a "bad match for horror" amid ongoing speculation he is a yet-to-be-revealed second protagonist for Resident Evil Requiem.

In a fresh look at Requiem shown during the publisher's Capcom Spotlight 2025 broadcast, the floppy-haired fan-favorite was nowhere to be seen.

Still, his absence was made notable by the fact that Requiem director Koshi Nakanishi offered an umprompted explanation for why Leon, of all past Resident Evil protagonists, had not been picked as this particular game's star.

"The protagonist this time is an intelligence analyst for the FBI, Grace Ashcroft," said Nakanishi, explaining that the new character was a good fit for Requiem's renewed horror focus. "She's introverted and easily scared, which is a new type of character for the Resident Evil series."

"We wanted someone that experiences horror from the same perspective as the player," he continued. "She learns to overcome her fears throughout the course of the story, but she's also an analyst for the FBI who's trained with guns, and is able to act with calm deductive reasoning."

Capcom's first trailer for Requiem, aired earlier this month, introduced Ashcroft and the game's returning Raccoon City setting in a manner that only fuelled the flames of fan speculation that Leon would also feature in some capacity. Indeed, fans were quick to spot a number of clues they said pointed to Leon's presence — including his old truck, still parked outside the ruins of the Raccoon City Police Department.

Is the recent fan speculation around Leon's presence why Capcom has addressed his apparent absence now? Here's what Nakanishi said next, on the character's status in the game:

"We always thought about making Leon the protagonist," Nakanishi explained, "but making a horror game based around him is difficult. He wouldn't jump at a bucket falling. No one wants to see Leon scared by every little thing. So he's actually quite a bad match for horror."

Is this Capcom ruling Leon out of Requiem? Nakanishi seems clear that the combat-tested Leon would no longer work as the hero of a game focused around horror. But the publisher also stopped short of ruling the character out altogether.

Leon's status is clearly an important enough talking point that Capcom decided to include discussion of it in tonight's showing — which still showed only a fragment of the full game. With more than six months still to go, Capcom will of course have more up its sleeve to reveal. Could this all be some kind of ruse, and Leon still be a part of it?

Recent entries in the Resident Evil series have taken different approaches to balancing horror and action — some to better results than others — but it's worth remembering how popular the Leon-focused, action-heavy Resident Evil 4 remains among fans. Could Capcom still be holding back a look at Requiem's more action-heavy moments, where Leon would be a better fit? There's still plenty of time left for the publisher to tell.

Resident Evil Requiem will launch on February 27, 2026 across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S.

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

Amazon's Luna service has been around for a few years now, yet it still somehow flies under the radar despite boasting a robust catalog of games. With game streaming becoming more popular in 2025, it's a good time for people to start checking the service out. If you do plan to jump in and check out Amazon Luna game streaming, you'll want to grab the official Luna wireless controller. This is hands down the best way to play games on Amazon Luna as it provides a direct connection and has built-in Alexa integration. Amazon has the Luna controller on sale for $30 off the regular price as an early deal for Prime Day 2025, so hop on this great offer while it lasts.

You can also choose to bundle the controller with a one-month free trial of Luna+ with the offer we've highlighted further down below. So if you've been wanting to try out the Amazon game streaming service for yourself, you can now do so at no extra cost.

Early Prime Day Sale on the Luna Wireless Controller

The second free title update for Monster Hunter: Wilds is imminent, according to today's Capcom Spotlight stream. It's coming on June 30, which we already kind of new given that it leaked earlier this week.

The update brings two brand new hunts: Seregios, from Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, and Lagiacrus. Lagiacrus is a long-desired returning monster from Monster Hunter Tri, and is known for its agility underwater and its rivalry with Rathalos. Though most of Lagiacrus' fight in Monster Hunter: Wilds won't take place underwater due to the player not really being able to fight while swimming, there will be some elements of the hunt that take place underwater, including some special interactions.

In addition to the new monsters, there will be a number of other new bits. With the update itself on June 30, new features such as layered weapons (finally), new photo mode settings, the ability to swap handlers, a new collaboration gesture that involves a Fender guitar, a new free gesture set, new paid cosmetic items, and various other rewards and equipment additions hit the game.

On July 23, there will be a seasonal event entitled Festival of Accord: Flamefete. It will run until August 6 and feature limited-time equipment and other perks. And then on July 30, a new Arch-tempered monster, Arch-temered Uth Duna, will appear, along with its own challenge quest and equipment rewards (that are, frankly, gorgeous).

We gave Monster Hunters Wilds an 8 when we reviewed it at launch, saying: "Monster Hunter Wilds continues to smooth off the rougher corners of the series in smart ways, making for some extremely fun fights but also lacking any real challenge."

Monster Hunter: Wilds' second free title update is completely free to anyone who already owns the game, and will drop in just four days, on June 30. You can catch up on everything else from the Capcom Spotlight today right here.

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.

Capcom has revealed our first look at Resident Evil Requiem gameplay in brief snippets shown during a livestream.

During the Capcom Spotlight event, Capcom showed a small portion of first-person gameplay, heavy on the horror and featuring new protagonist FBI Agent Grace Ashcroft. We see the character slowly move around creepy corridors with just a lighter for company. At one point, we see Ashcroft turn around to see a hulking humanoid creature close in on her from the shadows.

In another clip of first-person gameplay we see Ashcroft explore a grand hallway, this time holding a handgun (as an FBI agent Ashcroft is handy with guns). She's also able to "act with calm, deductive reasoning," and we see her inspect a toolbox in the classic Resident Evil up close style to demonstrate.

And finally, we get a very brief look at third-person Resident Evil Requiem gameplay where Ashcroft is, once again, exploring creepy corridors and poorly lit rooms. We see that horrible creature again, casually stomping in the shadows.

During the video, Capcom developers explain how the first-person perspective makes for "tense, realistic gameplay," whereas playing in third-person via the over-the-shoulder camera lets you see "more of the action." The third-person persepctive is "great for people who enjoy action-heavy gameplay," Capcom added.

Resident Evil Requiem lets players switch between first- and third-person through the Options menu at any point during the campaign. Check out IGN’s Resident Evil Requiem hands-on preview for more information.

Elsewhere, Capcom confirmed Resident Evil Requiem takes place 30 years after the missile strike on Raccoon City that occurs at the end of Resident Evil 3, which explains the enormous crater we saw in the announcement trailer. Indeed, the name "Requiem" was chosen because, as Capcom explains it: "This game is a requiem, a eulogy to those who came before."

There was no big Leon Kennedy reveal, as some fans had hoped for — and even expected. If the Resident Evil veteran is playable in the game, perhaps that reveal will come later. It's worth noting Capcom developers issued some interesting comments around Leon and Resident Evil Requiem in the video, which we go over here.

Resident Evil Requiem launches February 27, 2026, across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. For more, check out all the reveals from Capcom Spotlight 2025.

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

Dell is offering one of the best prices I've seen for a prebuilt gaming PC equipped with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 graphics card. Right now you can pick up a Dell Inspiron Plus Tower RTX 5080 PC for just $1,949.99 with free delivery. This config is customizable, so you can upgrade to a better processor, more RAM, and more storage for an extra cost. In the current market, buying a prebuilt gaming PC is the only way to score an RTX 5080 GPU without paying an exorbitant markup. If you were to build your own computer, expect to spend upwards of $1,400 for a standalone 5080 GPU.

Dell Tower Plus RTX 5080 Gaming PC From $1950

That’s a wrap on the June 2025 Capcom Spotlight! Today’s showcase brought 40 minutes of updates, with highlights that include details about why we haven’t seen Leon in Resident Evil Requiem, Monster Hunter Wilds Free Title Update 2, and so much more.

Today’s presentation mostly focused on four games: Pragmata, Street Fighter 6, Resident Evil Requiem, and Monster Hunter Wilds. However, that doesn’t mean Capcom didn’t make the most of its runtime, with each segment featuring plenty of new information about some of its biggest upcoming games. Some standout moments saw the show reveal new gameplay in a ruined Raccoon City, while others came with a smorgasbord of new content coming to games like Monster Hunter Wilds and Street Fighter 6.

If you missed today’s show, or if you’re just looking to refresh your memory, fear not: IGN has gathered all of the highlights for you right here. You can check out everything revealed at the June 2025 Capcom Spotlight below.

Kicking Off With a Pragmata Gameplay Deep Dive

Capcom kicked off today’s presentation with more Pragmata gameplay footage, revealing a closer look at how players will be able to utilize the powers of an android girl named Diana and a lunar investigator named Hugh Williams as they team up to fight off a variety of dangerous robots. Gameplay involves thinking on your feet by hacking and shooting enemies in an adventure set on a seemingly abandoned lunar research facility.

Pragmata launches for PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S in 2026. The public will be able to go hands-on with its puzzle-infused combat at gamescom 2025 this August.

Sagat Comes to Street Fighter 6 August 5

The latest post-launch Street Fighter 6 character addition is Sagat. Today’s Capcom Spotlight gave viewers a release date for the character, setting launch for August 5, 2025. We got a closer look at this updated take on the classic, eyepatch-wearing Street Fighter face with a special video.

Meanwhile, the Sagat Arrives Fighting Pass will be available starting July 4. It includes new Stickers, Avatar Gear, EX Colors, Challenger Screen illustrations, and more. Street Fighter 6 Year 3 kicks off with Sagat, but other fighters, such as C. Viper, Ingrid, and Alex, are still on the way, too.

Street Figher 6 Swimsuit Outfits Drop August 5

LOOKING at Jamie, Kimberly, and A.K.I.'s Outfit 4! 👀 pic.twitter.com/Jcl84LD87M

— Street Fighter (@StreetFighter) June 26, 2025

Another highlight from Street Figher 6's appearance at the June 2025 Capcom Spotlight included a sneak peak at the new line of Outfit 4 swimsuit updates set to drop in a little more than one month. Seven new looks were revealed, including summer swimwear for Cammy, Luke, Chun-Li, Manon, Jamie, Kimberly, and A.K.I.. You can see concept art for everyone in the images above.

Capcom Talks Resident Evil Requiem and (Kind of) Addresses the Leon-Shaped Elephant in the Room

A closer look at Resident Evil 9 means more details about protagonist, FBI Agent Grace Ashcroft, its gameplay, Raccoon City, and more. Although this was mostly an opportunity for the Capcom team to talk about some information that fans have already been made aware of, such as third- and first-person gameplay, the developers did touch on one hot topic: Leon S. Kennedy.

Unfortunately, it remains unclear if the legendary video game survivor will be playable at some point in Resident Evil Requiem, but the team did walk through why it's hard to make Leon the main character of a horror video game.

"We always thought about making Leon the protagonist, but making a horror game based around him is difficult," Director Koshi Nakanishi explained. "He wouldn't jump at something like a bucket falling. No one wants to see Leon scared by every little thing. So he's actually quite a bad match for horror."

Capcom has Big Plans for Monster Hunter Wilds

The latest entry in the Monster Hunter series, Monster Hunter Wilds, took up most of the Capcom Spotlight today, bringing news about future updates, a roadmap schedule, additional content, and so much more to the table. Highlights include a gameplay showing underwater fights with Lagiacrus, a treasure trove of quality-of-life updates, and even a collaboration with Fender guitars.

Monster Hunter Wilds fans can go hands-on with Free Title Update 2 when it launches Monday, June 30, adding in much of what was shown during today's presentation. The Festival of Accord: Flamefete seasonal event will then follow from July 23 through August 6, with Arch-tempered Uth Duna arriving from July 30 through August 20, and the Fender Event Quest available from August 27 through September 24.

Even more Monster Hunter Wilds content and gameplay adjustments are set to arrive in the future, too. Free Title Update 3, for example, is scheduled to launch in late September, adding a new Monster as well as another Festival of Accord seasonal event.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Celebrates Its First Anniversary With Special Content for Fans

Capcom's action strategy game, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, is celebrating its first anniversary in July, so to celebrate, the publisher has a few goodies in the works for loyal fans. One way players can partake in the festivities involves a Mazo Talisman called Yashichi Waves, which alters the music with a nostalgic filter that gives it an 8-bit style. New and existing players will be able to use it starting with an update that's set to arrive next month.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess launched for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X | S July 19, 2024. It was also made available on Nintendo Switch 2 when the new console launched June 5, 2025. Players on all platforms can see how they'll be able to use the new Mozo Talisman in the first anniversary trailer above.

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

The LEGO Ideas Pixar Luxo Jr. set (#21357) came out in June, and it's one of the coolest builds we've done so far. It's a faithful recreation of the iconic hopping lamp animation we've all come to know and love over the years, and the colorful ball hides a handful of fun Pixar Easter eggs. Unfortunately, the light bulb in the set is just a regular old LEGO brick, and while it's a great model to have on the shelf, what if you could actually light it up?

BrickBling has done just that, and has three different versions of their third-party compatible light that replaces the actual brick bulb. They range in price from $19.98 to $26.98 depending on the style you get, and can apply an additional 15% off with a coupon.

LEGO Ideas Pixar Luxo Jr. LED Add-ons Available

The remote control version is what I would get for the LEGO lamp on my shelf. Being able to turn it on and off from afar is perfect on the fly (or if you're lazy, like me). It comes with the replacement bulb, instructions, the remote control, expansion board, a 50cm cable, and power supply. Then there's the light control version, which is pretty impressive - it's motion detected, so the clutter and wiring is minimal compared to other versions. If mine wasn't so out of the way, this is my second choice. Finally, there's the classic corded on/ off version, which functions like any other lamp.

The LEGO Ideas Pixar Luxo Jr. was released in early June and costs $69.99. At 613 pieces, it only took me around two hours to build in one sitting, and it features some unique and innovative build techniques like rubber bands for tension. There are plenty of other LEGO Disney sets out there, but only a handful of Pixar options that are worth your time.

Myles Obenza is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Bluesky @mylesobenza.bsky.social.

Let's make this simple: You want to know if there are any post- or mid-credits scenes in M3GAN 2.0. The answer is no. M3GAN doesn’t need any silly credits scenes!

M3GAN 2.0 brings back everyone’s favorite AI-guided lethal robotic doll with attitude and dares to ask the question… is it possible she’s not so bad after all, despite those four people (and a dog!) she killed last time out?

Veering from campy horror to campy sci-fi/action, the sequel’s Terminator 2-esque storyline introduces a newer, even more deadly AI/robot threat in the form of Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno), a government weapon who goes rogue. Is it possible M3GAN (once more physically played by Amie Donald and voiced by Jenna Davis), tasked with battling Amelia, has turned over a new leaf and learned the error of her murderous ways?

Check back here tomorrow as we delve into a full spoiler breakdown of the new movie.

Does M3GAN 2.0 Have a Mid- or Post-Credit Scene?

As mentioned above, it does not. However, the main closing credits play alongside footage that is pulled from both of the M3GAN movies so far - a bit of an odd move to use in a series so early on, since this type of thing is usually reserved for a franchise finale, as we look back at everything that occurred along the way for our characters on their journey. But there’s no way Universal and Blumhouse are going to end M3GAN after just two movies if this one is a success. All of which makes the semi-farewell vibe of this footage a somewhat odd choice, even if it’s still fun to look back at the good times we’ve had with M3GAN so far.

Be sure to come back to this page on Friday for all the spoilery details on the new M3GAN sequel!

Before putting together the LEGO Ideas Pixar Luxo Jr. set, I threw Toy Story on the TV in the background and got to work. I finished the set in one sitting, which took me roughly two hours and lined up nicely with my movie selection. During the build, I was delighted to find (similar to the LEGO Nintendo NES and other pop culture-inspired sets) the Pixar lamp has a handful of tiny Easter Eggs that reference Pixar movies hidden throughout the process.

LEGO Ideas Disney Pixar Luxo Jr.

There are small references to classic Pixar films like Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Ratatouille, The Incredibles, and Up, to name a few. My favorite Eater Egg is a tiny buildable Pizza Planet truck that made its first appearance in Toy Story, and can be seen in most other Pixar films.

Despite its size and relatively low brick count (the entire set is made up of only 613 pieces), the Luxo, Jr. build was actually pretty intricate. The structure is an impressive combination of traditional brick connectivity and LEGO Technic design. There are even some rubber bands to give the lamp neck tension. This isn't the first time LEGO has used non-LEGO bricks as part of their builds, but it's fascinating to me every time a set uses something like this.

The LEGO Ideas product line is a collection of sets from amateur designers that LEGO fans vote on to become official sets available in stores. The Pixar Luxo Jr. is one of these, and I can see why it made it through. The build itself was super fun to put together – creating a real round ball out of LEGO bricks took some clever engineering – and the finished product is a pretty faithful recreation of what we see in the movies. Inside the ball is where a good portion of the Pixar Easter Eggs are; the internal structure uses bricks that represent the colors of iconic characters like Carl from Up or Mike and Sully from Monsters, Inc.

The base of the lamp has some fun Easter Eggs as well, like bricks that are the same color as Marlin and Dory from Finding Nemo and the a group of stacked studs to represent the Incredibles. The entire lamp was also my favorite part of the build, and took the majority of the time to assemble. LEGO designed this extremely well, as it's a faithful almost one-to-one recreation of the lamp we've seen over the decades during the Pixar logo screen before each of the studio's movies.

The LEGO version is very bottom heavy and the base is super sturdy, making it easy to pose it however you want. It also has a bit of modularity; you can remove the top and bottom of the ball to have the lamp stand on it.

Overall, the LEGO Luxo Jr. set is great for Disney / Pixar fans of all ages. Sure, the box says 18+, making one of the many LEGO sets for adults, but if I got this when I was a kid, I would have been over the moon. It would make a great addition to your game room's book shelf or in your child's bedroom. You can also buy a third-party light attachment to actually turn it on. At only 613 pieces and a 94-page instruction manual, it's the perfect date night set with your favorite Pixar movie on in the background.

Set #21357 was released earlier this month and will run you $69.99. It's available at Amazon and the LEGO Store.

Myles Obenza is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Bluesky @mylesobenza.bsky.social.

The Steelcase Gesture was introduced more than a decade ago, and it remains a popular office chair offering capabilities that plenty of competitors are still chasing. Now that there’s also a model fitted with a headrest, this office chair is only more competent as a competitor against gaming chairs as well. Though it’s expensive, with a $1455 price tag for the task chair version and $1707 to get the headrest (though Amazon often has these on sale), the quality of the seat may just be worth it compared to constantly upgrading your chair in search of something more comfortable.

Steelcase Gesture – Design and Features

The Steelcase Gesture has the look of a polished but almost ordinary office chair. It features swooping metal braces in the back, connecting the base with the rather tame plastic back of the backrest.

The seat cushion, backrest, and headrest are all wrapped in color-matched upholstery, which stretches over the backrest to cover a portion of the back as well. The headrest version of the chair cuts into the top of the backrest to slot in the adjustable headrest. The whole seat slots into a typical star base made of sturdy metal and propped up on caster wheels. Little about the chair raises durability concerns, but Steelcase’s 12-year warranty allays any such concerns anyway.

A key aspect of the Gesture is its broad adjustability. The seat has a wide range of height adjustment. It can extend forward for taller users or retract for shorter users. It has a wide seat base to accommodate a broader audience and different sitting styles (tucked leg, anyone?). A small lumbar support can shift up and down in the seatback simply by reaching behind you and pulling two small tabs on either side of the seatback. The backrest reclines deeply – not as far as many gaming chairs, but plenty to relax – and offers multiple stopping points for when you want to limit its range as well as quickly adjustable tension. The backrest itself has just enough pliability to let you stretch and move your back while in the chair. The headrest is fairly broad, and has three adjustment points, letting it shift to a ton of different positions.

And I haven’t even started on the armrests. These are what the 3D and 4D armrests of gaming chairs dream of being. They have a subtle padding for comfort, and can rotate, shift front to back, swing in or out, and move up or down. This lets you have them almost entirely out of the way or shifted up to almost anywhere you might want them.

What all of this flexibility allows is a comfortable and/or ergonomic sitting position that can meet your needs. I find it very easy to shift things around to get comfy whether I want to sit bolt upright or get a little lean back in the chair. The armrests adjust easily, with only their height adjustment requiring any buttons, and those are conveniently placed on their outside edge.

Steelcase Gesture – Assembly

If you love LEGO, you’re going to hate the Gesture. This chair ships fully assembled. It’s a bit of a task to get it out of the box and remove some of the packaging. But once you manage that, you’re ready to sit back and relax, no more work required.

Steelcase Gesture – Performance

The Steelcase Gesture is a joy to sit in. I’ve found few chairs so readily comfortable, with many taking a bit more work to dial in just how you want it positioned. This one is quick to comfort, and I’ve found it very easy to arrange in an ergonomic position for both work and gaming alike.

The armrests are a dream for ergonomics. I can pull the armrests in close and point them both toward my keyboard for long typing sessions, spread them wide and point them straight for keyboard-and-mouse gaming, or drop them close to my lap for controller gaming. The cushioning isn’t much, but it helps avoid major discomfort.

The seat cushion is far better. It doesn’t have any of those steel bolsters to press into my thighs and slowly wear away at my comfort. Instead, it’s big and largely flat, providing adequate support even for me at about 240 pounds. It’s a close match for the Humanscale Freedom, which is one of the most comfortable seats for an office chair I’ve ever felt.

The backrest supports good, upright posture. I find it hugs my back evenly, not putting too much pressure into any one spot. Meanwhile the recline can let me flop back with ease or give me plenty of resistance so I only lean back as far as I mean to. Here again, it’s a worthy rival to the Humanscale Freedom

The flexibility of the headrest takes things up a notch. It lets me push it completely out of the way if I don’t want it. I can drop it into position to support my head or both my neck and head. And it can lean forward to help me keep facing forward even when I’m reclining deeply. I found adjustability here a good deal better than the Humanscale Freedom’s headrest, which moves largely on its own depending on how you recline.

The upholstered fabric isn’t the best for hot weather, as it doesn’t breathe too well. But padding here is more supportive than any mesh chairs I’ve encountered, and the fabric is still competitive with pleather.

All told, I’ve been plenty comfortable spending long days working and gaming in the Steelcase Gesture. In the long term, I’d opt for aftermarket cushions for the armrests. Beyond that, there’s little I could think to change.

Baseus recently released a new line of Enercore wall chargers that are designed to be the ultimate travel friendly accessory while providing more than enough power out for all of your portable electronics. Currently the 67W model is on sale for just $39.99 and the 45W model is $29.99. The most unique feature of this charger is the built-in retractable USB-C cable, which saves you from bringing along yet another travel accessory.

Baseus Enercore Wall Chargers with Built-In Cable

Ahead of Amazon Prime Day, Amazon is offering limited time discounts on Cooler Master NR2 ITX gaming PCs, now equipped with your choice of two powerful GPUs: the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 or AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT. The NR2 Pro is housed in the popular and highly rated Cooler Master NR200P Max mini ITX case. Despite its compact 18L size, this prebuilt machine is equipped with a well-ventilated airflow design and 280mm all-in-one liquid cooling that can run powerful hardware without throttling. Unsurprisingly there's a price premium for this sort of boutique setup, but these current deals are actually pretty price competitive. They ship out quickly with short lead times.

Cooler Master Mini ITX Gaming PCs on Sale

Size isn't a factor? Check out the best full-sized prebuilt gaming PCs of 2025.

PowerA has been a leader in making high-quality budget-level controllers for the original Switch and seeks to do the same for Switch 2 starting with its Advantage series of wired controllers. But with a price hike compared to its last-gen offering and a few confusing design decisions, this officially licensed Pro Controller alternative isn’t the surefire option PowerA may have delivered on the original Switch. Despite some setbacks, it’s still a great controller for the price with nearly every feature you’d need from the first-party Switch 2 Pro Controller in cheaper and wired form.

The Advantage lineup, which comes in three different colorways (two Mario-themed, one plain black), has been able to keep a low price point since the first Switch by ditching some of the first-party Pro Controller’s more premium features: the Advantage doesn’t support gyro or motion controls, it can’t read Amiibo, it doesn’t have HD rumble, and it has to maintain a wired connection at all times. Otherwise, it’s functionally very similar to wireless controllers. Of course, if you’re looking for a wired controller, especially one that has those missing features, you should look elsewhere.

Despite these caveats, the Advantage series is still incredibly solid. Shipping with a 10-foot USB cable, it functionally mimics wirelessness without the added cost. Nearly every situation I’ve played my Switch 2 in has kept me within 10 feet of my docked console, so I’ve had no issues using this pack-in wire. You may need to get creative depending on your home setup, and nobody likes to have a big cord in the way (especially if you have a pet), but it’s as responsive as you could possibly to rival the average use case of a wireless controller.

In your hands, it’s a lot lighter than Nintendo’s first-party offerings. Clocking in at just under 150 grams, it’s about 100 grams lighter than the original Switch Pro Controller and around 90 grams lighter than the Switch 2 Pro Controller. While some may appreciate the lightweight design, this leaves a slightly cheap feeling, and is definitely the clearest indicator that this is a budget option. Otherwise, it feels pretty good to hold with comfortable, full-sized textured grips.

The face buttons, though a bit small and low-profile, are nice and clicky. The shoulder and trigger buttons are much more comfortable to actuate, and press in with a tactile click as well; they actually feel pretty close to that of the official Pro Controller. The same principles apply to the programmable back buttons, though they are a little stiffer than I’d like. Overall, I do wish these buttons had a little more profile to them as I tend to press a little too hard when playing games like Fast Fusion and Mario Kart World, so lower-profile buttons tend to cause hand cramping in longer play sessions.

The highlights of the PowerA Advantage are the directional pad and analog sticks, which are phenomenal. My biggest issue with Nintendo’s official offerings is the somewhat finicky d-pad – it’s a little absurd that Nintendo (which invented the d-pad), has kind of lost the plot. It’s not unusable (nor as offensive as the GameCube’s), but you’ll wind up with far too many errant inputs on the previous first-party Pro Controller. The Advantage controller, on the other hand, has a responsive d-pad that feels right when playing games that rely on it. While it’s not quite on par with the Xbox Series controller’s d-pad, it’s comfortable and reliable – and you won’t accidentally force drop as many pieces in Tetris 99.

Unlike the buttons (and d-pad), the Advantage’s low-resistance Hall Effect sticks have a surprisingly long throw. Sitting at a noticeably higher profile than those found on the standard-issue Pro Controller, these buttery-smooth sticks are the Advantage’s best brag. I definitely prefer these sticks for any game that focuses on two-stick controls like shooters and 3D adventure games, especially compared to the Joy-Con sticks.

Looking for a Switch 2 case?

Bottling the kinetic energy of a first person shooter video game and successfully transferring it to the tabletop is a herculean task. Publisher Glass Cannon Unplugged is up to the challenge, presenting Apex Legends: The Board Game in the form of an overstuffed box that spills cardboard and plastic onto the table like a body lit up by a VK-47 Flatline. This analog translation defies the odds, legitimately capturing some of the visceral action of its namesake with unique and clever design work.

Apex Legends the video game is a hero shooter battle royale. It has a full lineup of protagonists with their own suite of abilities and playstyles. This identity is likewise the heart of the board game adaptation, forming the basis for its team-based skirmish action. Characters such as Bangalore, Mirage, and Bloodhound all make an appearance, with each of their roles expertly captured and adapted to the turn-based setting. Everything is powerful and awe inspiring, and it feels extraordinarily faithful to the property.

The standard format is either two-versus-two, or three-versus-three, with each player fielding a single character. While there are a bevy of miniatures skirmish games on the market, including popular titles such as Kill Team, Infinity, and Star Wars: Shatterpoint, none offer this particular style of team-based small-unit approach. Distinctly, this is not a game of armies or squads – it’s one of personalities and legends. The result is an altogether different tone, one charged with dynamic abilities that form the centerpiece of a violent gunfight on a fully rendered board.

The board is quite the looker. Verticality is a core tenet of gameplay, as players are able to scale and fight from 3D cardstock buildings. Other elements pop off the map, including cardboard trees and boulders, loot containers, and even fully operational ziplines. The environment is active and responsive. It feels every bit a playground, albeit one with shrapnel and taunts whizzing by your dome.

This dedication to elevation fuels the aggressive FPS-style play, but it also is the root of Apex Legends: The Board Game’s primary challenge. I’ve mentioned the game’s bloated componentry, which contributes to a lengthy setup time, but all of these options and details add up to a relatively complex system. The central turn-to-turn action sequence is surprisingly simple and direct. One team activates all of their characters with each committing to two actions.

This board game defies the odds, capturing the visceral action of its namesake with unique and clever design work.

But that streamlined activity fragments into many intricate pieces. Line of sight is a strong example. Measuring from center square to center square and assessing any blockages is standard for this style of game. But when you consider elevation, all of a sudden there are three pages of lengthy examples displaying potential situations. Thankfully, the rulebook's diagrams do a good job of illustrating what you need to consider, but the downside is that line of sight can be difficult to assess on the fly and it can slow down the pace of play.

It's also tough to remember the difference between some of the keywords, such as "adjacent" versus "neighboring." Terrain items and cards use a similar library of tags that must be referenced. There are specific timing windows for reactions and a sub-system for handling abilities and cooldowns. None of these are overly burdensome on their own, but taken together they can become tricky to navigate. It’s important to understand that this is not a board game for beginners. Instead of going for wide appeal with a similar approach to Mass Effect: The Board Game, Apex Legends aims to satisfy hobbyist gamers familiar with sophisticated systems. If a 40-page rulebook scares you, then you’re not going to hack it on this battlefield.

The most interesting element of Apex Legends: The Board Game is also the most convoluted. Instead of a sophisticated physics engine handling the shooting mechanism, this game opts to zoom in on the firefight and simulate multiple factors, including recoil, stability, and rate of fire. Most games opt for a handful of dice and some quick arithmetic, but Apex Legends uses a sideboard and a dedicated set of cards to resolve gunshots.

It’s actually a pretty stellar system. Different guns have various rates of fire. They list a number of cards that are drawn from the shooting deck and placed alongside a track. Each card is placed in a slot representing an individual shot. Cards drawn later in the sequence have more recoil affecting their ballistics, which results in an escalation of penalties. The penalty is applied to the strength of the randomly drawn card, and then compared to the necessary hit value on the weapon.

That’s the quick and dirty explanation. In reality, it’s more nuanced as each drawn card also has a possible icon which can inflict headshots, bonus hits, or cause an automatic miss if the target is behind cover. Weapons that hit exceedingly hard with slower rates of fire – such as a shotgun or sniper rifle – may draw multiple cards to a single shot slot, thus avoiding the recoil penalties the system tries to emulate.

This can be a wonky process to resolve – it’s certainly slow going with new players. Until you get used to it, this is another part of the game that stunts the tempo of action. Obviously this is a cost of modeling the video game with a high level of detail, but it can be an outright turnoff as it highlights the shortcomings of board games and their inability to obfuscate and resolve math.

But this level of detail isn't all bad. What you sacrifice in momentum, you gain in realism. This system acutely captures the unique qualities of various firearms. Sub-machine guns spray several weak shots. Battle rifles fire tighter groupings and hit with power. Light machine guns spray all over the place but can level a building. Weapon attachments are mixed in with the loot, allowing you to alter a firearm’s properties mid-game. This includes optics, barrels, magazines, and stocks. It’s exceedingly cool and really juices up the impact of scavenging for supplies in the battle royale mode.

The end result is a weapon system that actually boasts gunplay. No other board or miniatures game I've played has so meticulously modeled this key feature of first person shooters. It’s a fantastic accomplishment and absolutely the standout feature.

Beyond this wonderful feat, Apex Legends: The Board Game offers several other killer features. Characters are expertly modeled. They have asymmetric tactical abilities and ultimates that affect the battlefield in various ways. You can pop smoke, call in airstrikes, and deploy drones. Each character is also paired with a unique deck of cards that can be played to tweak actions and react to opponents’ maneuvers. This creates a nifty fog of war, although again, at the cost of possibly slowing down the pace of play.

Another crowd pleaser is the variety of modes on offer. The battle royale option is the key offering, including a distillation of the final moments of the video game’s finale. This includes a barrier that closes on the battlefield, forcing combatants into tighter and tighter area. But there are also deathmatch, VIP, and capture the flag options. Each of these is fully realized and not at all an afterthought.

For those sickos who can’t get enough, this game also will be arriving with expansion products for additional characters as well as a new board and environment. Most notably, there is a sophisticated solitaire / co-op addition that adds AI behavior trees to each of the core game’s protagonists. This mode works fairly well, producing mostly logical enemy actions that sometimes surprise and dazzle. Again, much like the rich base game ruleset, it can be a sluggish pace to familiarize yourself with this additional layer of rules, but it certainly settles down once you’ve become comfortable.

As a first-person shooter airdropping to your tabletop, Apex Legends: The Board Game is a solid effort and certainly a success. There are challenges involved and the tempo can really drag as players learn the systems and assess the wide swath of options on their turn. Once familiarity sets in and the game starts collapsing towards that 60-90 minute estimated playtime, the bliss of gunplay coupled with dynamic action and a multi-faceted loot system truly shine.

Where to Buy

• Get it at Miniature Market

One of the best days of the year is finally here: the Steam Summer Sale has arrived at last. If you're unfamiliar, the Steam Summer Sale is one of the two biggest sales available on the platform annually, with the other occurring around the holiday season in December. You can expect to save big on PC games both new and old, which makes the sale a perfect time to buy games in bulk.

This year's Steam Summer sale is set to run through July 10. Some of the top-reviewed games of 2025 are included as part of this sale, in addition to newer PC ports from publishers like Square Enix or PlayStation. We've sorted through the sale and picked out some of the best deals you can find this year. Don't miss your chance to save as much cash as possible on these PC games.

Steam Summer Sale - The Best Deals Today

One of the best deals I recommend checking out is Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for $41.99. With the main story and side content combined, there is easily over 100 hours of content in this RPG. This game just made its way to PC in late January, and it's one of the best RPGs to release in the last five years. If you haven't yet played Final Fantasy VII Remake, you can grab both games together in the Twin Pack for $59.99.

Additionally, you can save $10 off The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. While this just released in April by surprise, you can already save 20% off and dive hundreds of hours deep into this iconic Bethesda RPG. Bethesda also has a solid deal on Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and now is the best time to jump in and prepare for The Order of Giants DLC.

You can also save on three major 2025 indie games: R.E.P.O., Schedule I, and Blue Prince. The latter sits as one of the highest rated games of the year, offering a unique house of puzzles to solve. Schedule 1 puts you in the shoes of a drug dealer, and the game is still one of the most played Steam games of 2025. Finally, R.E.P.O. is a wonderful time with friends that is sure to cause both laughs and headaches. All of these smaller games are generally great to stream to your phone if you want a more mobile experience.

If you're looking for deep discounts, I recommend Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, and Star Wars Battlefront II. Each of these games is 90% off, and you can pick all three for a grand total of $14. Star Wars Battlefront II is an especially good deal, as there has been a major resurgence in online players as of late.

One of the smaller discounts available is for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. While you'll only save $5 during the Steam Summer Sale, this is the lowest we've seen this game yet. If you've been on the fence about picking this one up, it's not likely to dip much further until late this year, especially since it is one of the highest-rated games of the year.

Amazon Prime Day Arrives at the End of the Steam Sale