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AU Deals: Amazon Freebies and a Slew of New Lowest Ever Prices on the Hottest Games Actually Worth Owning!

The sales bin is bursting this week, and if you listen closely, you might even hear the cling of cartoon loot being pinched under moonlight. From modern epics to reimagined classics, there's a grab bag of deals that stretches across platforms and genres. No matter your console of choice, there’s something here worth adding to cart before the savings vanish like a stealthy pickpocket.

This Day in Gaming 🎂

In retro news, I’m lighting a 34-candle cake for the arcade version of Bonanza Bros., the split-screen stealther I played the pins off of on Mega Drive. This side-on heist ‘em up from 1990 put players in control of Mobo and Robo, two suave, bug-eyed burglars with a knack for lootin’, lockpickin’, and layin’ cops out by violently opening doors into them.

Back then, Bonanza Bros. stood out for its co-op gameplay and comical visual style, which blended slapstick with high-stakes thievery. It was part sneaking, part shooter, and entirely charming. The way it merged Metal Gear-style infiltration with arcade-speed reflexes gave it a distinct identity; one that would quietly echo in everything from Sly Cooper to Monaco: What’s Yours Is Mine decades later.

Aussie bdays for notable games

- Bonanza Bros. (ARC) 1990. Get

- Goemon's Great Adventure (N64) 1998. eBay

- Anna Kournikova's Smash Court Tennis (PS) 1998. eBay

- MTV Music Generator 3 (PS2,XB) 2004. eBay

- Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (PC,PS4,XO) 2019. Get

Contents

Nice Savings for Nintendo Switch

Over on Switch, Super Mario RPG drops its price like a Thwomp, making now a great time to revisit the Squaresoft and Nintendo collab that first introduced timed hits to Mario combat. Also worth a look is It Takes Two, the only game to win Game of the Year with mandatory co-op and a scene-stealing book voiced by Josef Fares himself. That's the same man who once flipped off the Oscars live on stage, just in case you'd forgotten.

Expiring Recent Deals

Or gift a Nintendo eShop Card.

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Exciting Bargains for Xbox

Xbox Series X players can snag RoboCop: Rogue City for less than a servo meat pie, and its lead, Peter Weller, actually returned to voice the character after years away from the role. Meanwhile, Tekken 8 throws down with a story mode that, in true Mishima tradition, involves volcanoes, shirtless grudge matches, and at least one betrayed family member.

Xbox One

Expiring Recent Deals

Or just invest in an Xbox Card.

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Pure Scores for PlayStation

On PS5, Elden Ring rides back into relevance, hot on the heels of its Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. Also worth a look is Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, which restores concept art from the late and great Warren Spector’s original dark Disney vision.

PS4

Expiring Recent Deals

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

  • Ark: Survival Ascended (PS5)
  • Balatro (PS5/PS4)
  • Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun (PS5/PS4)

Or purchase a PS Store Card.

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Purchase Cheap for PC

And if you’re on PC, you can’t beat free. Especially when it includes Tomb Raider I–III Remastered, which faithfully preserves Lara’s polygonal charm, swan dives and all. Pair that with a 100 percent discount on Saints Row IV and you've got the perfect combo of spandex and silliness.

Expiring Recent Deals

Or just get a Steam Wallet Card

Laptop Deals

Desktop Deals

Monitor Deals

Component Deals

Storage Deals

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Legit LEGO Deals

Expiring Recent Deals

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Hot Headphones Deals

Audiophilia for less

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Terrific TV Deals

Do right by your console, upgrade your telly

Smart Home Deals

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Adam Mathew is our Aussie deals wrangler. He plays practically everything, often on YouTube.

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Here's the 10 Most Valuable Aetherdrift Cards to Chase During Amazon's Magic: The Gathering Sale

Amazon is having a pretty big sale on Magic: The Gathering sealed sets right now, and you can pick up a wide variety of Aetherdrift packs, collector bundles, and Commander decks at great new low prices, and these contain some awesome rare and expensive cards worth the chase.

After covering the big sale, I decided to go a bit further with my coverage and collect 10 of the most valuable cards available in play boosters and collector boosters, so you can track the best and most expensive chase cards from the set while ripping open your new boosters.

TL;DR: 10 Most Valuable Chase Cards From Aetherdrift

Aetherdrift has dozens of borderless, Fracture Foil, First-Place Foil, and Showcase editions of main set cards, but these are the 10 most valuable.

From a competitive standpoint, not many of these see much play, although Ketramose, the New Dawn is the face of a hot new Modern combo deck.

And for you Commander players, this is a great chance to nab the elusive Radiant Lotus Fracture Foil or the Aetherspark First-Place Foil.

10. Brightglass Gearhulk (Borderless First-Place Foil)

The original Kaladesh mono-colored Gearhulks were Standard powerhouses, and these new two-color bad boys are powerful in their own right. Brightglass Gearhulk is the best of the five, and is currently sitting at a market value of $57.05. Find it as low as $42.

9. March of the World Ooze (Showcase Fracture Foil)

This is a pretty neat, if a bit high-cost, anti-control card that can turn your little mana dorks or tokens into beefy 6/6 creatures. Market value is $63.09, but can be picked up for as low as $14.79.

8. Mimeoplasm, Revered One (Showcase Fracture Foil)

I love this as a fun graveyard strategy in Commander, and of course that art is something to behold. It's market value is $67.91, but can be found as low as $23.60.

7. Mu Yanling, Pathfinder (Showcase Fracture Foil)

Another one with gorgeous art, I wouldn't be surprised to see this slotted into a blue artifact-focused Commander deck like Urza, High Lord Artificer. It's currently at a market value of $70.57 and available as low as $26.96.

6. Cursecloth Wrappings (Showcase Fracture Foil)

This is right at home in any Zombie deck. Personally, it's going into my Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver Commander deck. It also has some of the coolest art of any of these cards. Grab it for $83.73 market, or as low as $36.99.

5. The Aetherspark (First-Place Foil)

The Aetherspark is one of the most mechanically-unique cards I've ever seen. It's both an Equipment and Planeswalker, with some powerful Loyalty abilites to boot. It's currently sitting at a market value of $96.92, but you can grab one for as low as $80.

4. Ketramose, the New Dawn (Borderless First-Place Foil)

The First-Place Foil is awesome (better than its regular printing art, in my opinion), and this is one of the most played chase cards from the set. It's currently at $98.54 market value, but can go as low as $75.

3. Chandra, Spark Hunter (Showcase Fracture Foil)

This version of iconic Planewalker Chandra Nalaar has great synergy with Vehicles and other artifacts, and is currently sitting at a market value of $136.60. However, you can find it for as low as $31.

2. Loot, the Pathfinder (Showcase Fracture Foil)

Loot is undeniably adorable, but you'd be hard-pressed to see this showing in many decks due to its mana cost and slow set up. Still, you can grab it for $209.63 market or as low as $58.87.

1. Radiant Lotus (Showcase Fracture Foil)

This might be one of the prettiest Magic cards I've ever seen. It's currently sitting at a staggering $275.86 market price, but some vendors have it for as low as $99 if buying singles is more your bag than gambling on cracking packs.

Which Aetherdrift Sealed Products Should I Get?

If you're looking to chase these valuable cards by cracking packs, I'd recommend picking up an Aetherdrift collector booster box. It's currently 42% off at Amazon, setting you back $174.99.

We've featured it as part of the best early Prime Day deals, since we're unlikely to get better deals on Magic cards between now and Prime Day on July 8-11.

For more on Magic: The Gathering, considering checking out our coverage on the new Final Fantasy x MTG collection, including the best chase cards from the Through the Ages line, alongside the most valuable cards in general across the whole release.

Moreover, for the keen collectors out there with maybe a little too much money, we've also recently covered the ins and outs of finding Final Fantasy x Secret Lair cards after they sold out when buying directly through Wizards of the Coast. It's set to be one of the biggest Secret Lair releases of the year, and fairly hard to come by without resorting to the secondary market.

More Magic: The Gathering Deals

Aetherdrift isn't the only expansion getting discounts. Seemingly random products across older expansions, including pre-release kits and play booster boxes, have also gotten price drops on Amazon.

Keep in mind that older expansions may not be legal in current Standard play, so it's worth doing some research based on whether you're buying cards for a personal collection or competitive play.

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

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Warner Bros. Games Restructuring to Focus on Harry Potter, Mortal Kombat, and DC Franchises

Warner Bros. Games is restructuring its interactive entertainment endeavors to focus on four key franchises: Mortal Kombat, Harry Potter, DC, and Game of Thrones.

Details on the company-wide overhaul come from Variety, which says the changes involve a leadership shake-up but will not result in any layoffs or the exit of any executives. Instead, three key Warner Bros. Games names have been promoted as the gaming branch shifts its focus to its more reliable brands.

Warner Bros. Games Montreal studio head Yves Lachance now serves as senior vice president, development and will watch over games based on the Harry Potter and Game of Thrones franchises. Meanwhile, NetherRealm Studios’ Shaun Himmerick is taking on the senior vice president, development role to maintain the company’s Mortal Kombat and DC Universe efforts. Finally, Warner Bros. Games New York’s Steven Flenory has been promoted to senior vice president, central tech & services and will manage game and publishing technology, customer service, quality assurance, and user research.

"Our company is home to some of the biggest franchises in the world, and we are optimizing our team structure to develop long-term franchise roadmaps to delight players and fans of Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Mortal Kombat and DC games.

“Our company is home to some of the biggest franchises in the world, and we are optimizing our team structure to develop long-term franchise roadmaps to delight players and fans of Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Mortal Kombat and DC games,” Global Streaming & Games CEO J.B. Perrette said in a statement. “We are very fortunate to have a strong stable of development and technology talent, and Yves, Shaun and Steven are respected leaders with excellent track records in their areas of expertise. I’m looking forward to working closely with them and the team as we work to make the best games possible for our key franchises.”

Time will tell how the Warner Bros. Games restructuring will affect the company after its worrying start to 2025. It began January 23 when it was revealed that boss David Haddad would be leaving the company following noteworthy failures that include the troubled launches of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and MultiVersus.

Shutdown plans for the latter followed only one week later, with an even more substantial blow arriving in February as Warner Bros. Games announced plans to shutter Monolith Productions, Player First Games, and Warner Bros. San Diego alongside the cancelation of its Wonder Woman game.

Today’s restructuring does line up with a strategy Warner Bros. outlined late last year. At the time, it admitted its games business “is substantially underperforming its potential right now,” and would soon shift to lean on titles like Hogwarts Legacy, Mortal Kombat, and Game of Thrones. DC was included in its refreshed plans as well, with Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav specifically mentioning Batman of particular importance.

Changes at Warner Bros. Games fall in line with other smaller and larger shake-ups at the company. Just weeks ago, Warner Bros. Discovery announced it would soon split into two media companies: Global Networks and Streaming & Studios. On the streaming end, audiences will soon notice that Max will revert back into HBO Max in the coming months.

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).

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A Longer Amazon Prime Day Doesn't Necessarily Mean More Deals

Amazon has officially revealed the dates for Prime Day 2025, and it's the first time Prime Day will be longer than two days. Running from July 8-11, it's the longest Prime Day since the sales event began 10 years ago. With tariffs on the horizon and prices on the rise, many shoppers (including myself) will be looking forward to this to find some of the best deals of the year. With a longer sales event, we can likely expect more deals this year – right?

Well, not necessarily. Amazon had its longest-ever Memorial Day sale earlier this year by starting it a full week before Memorial Day weekend, but the deals didn't really get any better just because shoppers had more time to browse them. While I don't know for sure that the same will be true for Prime Day this year, I can't help but think the extra two days won't actually have any sort of impact on how many good deals there are.

Still, having extra time to shop a sale that takes place in the middle of the work week is definitely a welcome change. There might also be a few other benefits to having those extra days that we can potentially look forward to.

A Longer Prime Day Could Mean More Lightning Deals

The one major benefit of having more Prime Days is that it opens up the door to more lightning deals, which are already where you'll find the best overall discounts during sales events like these. The downsides are that they can be fairly inconsistent, sell out quickly, or simply expire. Some lightning deals are time-based, meaning they only last for a specific window before they disappear. Others are set up with a limited number of products available at that discount before the deal is removed.

Having two extra days could potentially mean more or lightning deals, but it also means more slots for Amazon to fill with discounts on things nobody will really care about. You'll just need to consistently check Amazon's deals page to see what new flash sales Amazon has dropped each day, which is understandably a chore. Though there's no guarantee you'll find something good just because it's being marketed as a Prime Day deal. Amazon already has new lightning deals every day, regardless of whether a sale is happening or not.

Most of the best deals drop early, though

It's worth noting that outside of lightning deals, the best overall Prime Day deals on Amazon tend to drop either before or on the first day of the event. These are things like discounts on Amazon devices, Amazon subscription services, TVs, and video games that aren't on any sort of timer or limit. So having more time to decide if you should buy some AirPods or get yourself an Audible subscription is great, but it doesn't change the discount at all.

A Longer Amazon Sale Could Mean More Competing Sales

Another potential benefit of a longer Prime Day is an extension of a recent trend. With Amazon's sale taking place in July every year since 2015, other major retailers have started kicking off competing Amazon Prime Day sales of their own. Major retailers like Walmart, Target, and Best Buy have consistently offered some sort of "Prime Day" counter-sale sale over the last few years and 2025 shouldn't be any different.

With Amazon extending its sale, other retailers will be forced to compete with the online retailer in the same time frame. This will hopefully mean that retailers outside of Amazon will have different deals or lower prices on some items during July, but that's not necessarily guaranteed. Amazon tends to match whatever prices other retailers have at any given time anyway, so price drops anywhere online tend to benefit Amazon shoppers regardless of where they came from. These types of discounts also tend to be available for those without a Prime membership as well.

Will Amazon Prime Day 2025 Be Worth Shopping?

Although a longer Amazon Prime Day may not be a reason to rejoice, I do think it is still going to be one of the best times of the year to shop. Tariffs on imports that were threatened then paused are supposed to resume in early August, which means prices are only going to go up this year if those go into full effect. Prime Day has consistently been a good time to find deals, and I expect 2025 will be largely the same. Even if prices aren't incredible, there's no guarantee that they are going to be any better during Black Friday this year. With that in mind, I'd definitely recommend shopping Amazon's sale this year.

There also aren't that many other big sales events on the horizon after Prime Day. There will be some Labor Day sales and October Prime Day, but other than those smaller events Black Friday is the next time you'll be able to save money on most things.

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The 42" LG Evo C4 4K OLED TV Drops to the Lowest Price Ever: Doubles as a Gaming Monitor

If you're looking for an OLED gaming monitor with a 4K native resolution and a 40" or greater screen size, your options are limited. Fortunately, this rare deal just popped up today and might be right up your alley. Amazon is currently offering the 42" LG Evo C4 4K OLED Smart TV for just $699.99 with free shipping. This is the best price I've seen for this particular size model. Although it's technically a TV, the 42" Evo C4 also doubles as an excellent gaming PC monitor.

Update: Prime Visa cardholders get an additional 10% cashback (normally 5%).

42" LG Evo C4 4K OLED Gaming TV or PC Monitor for $699.99

The 42" is LG's smallest OLED TV. It performs just as well as its larger sized siblings as a gaming TV, but where it really shines is as a gaming monitor for your PC. Whereas most TVs are simply too big for your desk, the 42" is a perfectly manageable size; the smaller screen size combined with the native 4K resolution offers up a respectable 104ppi pixel density. It has four HDMI 2.1 ports that support refresh rates up to 144Hz at 4K. Other gaming features include variable refresh rate, 0.03ms response time, and G-Sync compatiblity, and 4:4:4 chroma sampling for clear, sharp text.

The C4 is the 2024 model in LG's mid-range C-series OLED lineup. Compared to non-OLED TVs, an OLED TV offers superior image quality, near-infinite blacks, near-infinite contrast ratio, and near-instantaneous response times. Because of these advantages, the Evo OLED TV excels at displaying 4K HDR content in all of its intended glory. The C4 uses LG's proprietary Evo panel, which offers higher brightness level and contrast ratio compared to traditional W-OLED TVs (similar to QD OLED panels on Samsung TVs). The LG brand is especially popular because LG OLED TVs have been out for years and benefit from several generations of updates and optimizations.

Looking for more options? Check out all of the best TVs of 2025.

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

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Star Trek: The Last Starship Resurrects Captain Kirk in the 31st Century

The Star Trek franchise is resurrecting William Shatner's Captain James T. Kirk for a new comic book series called Star Trek: The Last Starship. Building on a plot point introduced in the live-action series Star Trek: Discovery, The Last Starship sees Kirk take command of a new ship in the Federation's darkest hour.

The Last Starship is set in the aftermath of The Burn, the 31st Century disaster which involves the destruction of every active warp core in the galaxy and the deaths of trillions. With the Federation in shambles and space becoming a truly lawless No Man's Land, the mysteriously rejuvenated Kirk will have to assemble a new crew to keep the fire of Starfleet burning.

Check out the slideshow gallery below for a closer look at the first issue of Star Trek: The Last Starship:

The Last Starship is written by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing, who recently wrapped up the Star Trek: Lore War crossover at IDW. The series features art by Star Trek veteran Adrián Bonilla and colors by Heather Moore (Doctor Strange). The first issue features covers by Francesco Francavilla, Skylar Patridge, Michael Cho, and Malachi Ward.

This isn't the first time the Trek franchise has resurrected its most famous captain. 1994's Star Trek Generations bridged the gap between the original series and Star Trek: The Next Generation by briefly pairing Shatner's Kirk with Patrick Stewart's Jean-Luc Picard. Though Kirk dies in Generations, Shatner himself resurrected the character again via a series of non-canon novels that have since been dubbed "The Shatnerverse." But this time, The Last Starship's Kirk appears to be the more youthful TOS version.

"Forget everything you know about Star Trek,” said Lanzing in a statement. “The Last Starship is a new crew, a new era, and a completely different tone; our aim is to be literary, intense, innovative, and most of all, accessible. We're bringing you into the Federation's darkest hour through the brilliant, noir-soaked lens of artist Adrián Bonilla with zero homework required.”

Lanzing continued, “Longtime Trek fans will have a deep and fascinating reading experience, to be sure - this is a pivotal moment in Trek history that's never been even glimpsed before - but above all, The Last Starship is a dark and complex sci-fi you can hand to anyone. We’ve spent the last eight years celebrating all that Trek has ever been. Now, it's time to rebuild it from scratch and discover all it can be."

“The only familiar face is the one you’d never expect to see in this era: Captain James T. Kirk,” said Kelly. “William Shatner’s iconic performance transcends borders - Kirk is one of the great characters of the modern fiction canon with a timeless actor to match. He was also the first Star Trek character we ever wrote - a leader and warrior poet with boundless tragedy and contradiction. Now, we’re honored to be taking this character into truly uncharted, groundbreaking territory in The Last Starship - as the Federation’s greatest pioneer must face down the inferno that threatens to consume his entire legacy.”

Star Trek: The Last Starship #1 will be released on September 24, 2025.

For more, see Shatner reflect on his own mortality and find out how many seasons of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds remain.

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

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The Super Mario Bros. Movie Vinyl Soundtrack Drops to Its Lowest Price Ever

The official Super Mario Bros. Movie original sountrack vinyl record is on sale at Amazon for $41.10 (24% off). The 2023 animated film based on the iconic video game series had its share of issues, but its music was definitely not one of them. Beautifully scored by Brian Tyler with the nostalgic tunes you'd expect from Koji Kondo, this is a great addition to any vinyl collector's ever-growing backlog.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie Original Soundtrack Vinyl Deal

The Super Mario Bros. Movie's original soundtrack is filled top to bottom with bangers and nostalgic hits. The Super Mario Bros. Rap captures the same silliness we've come to know from Grant Kirkhopes DK Rap from Donkey Kong 64, and the rearrangements of classics like the creepy and dark version of the Warp Pipe or the whimsical, slow rendition of main Super Mario Bros. theme in Strange New World is, quite literally, music to my ears.

The songs come on a pair of red and green vinyl records in a nice slipcover case featuring the official movie art. You can open the cover for an extended art of Bowser in his iconic Peaches scene, playing the piano to a backdrop of a beautiful night sky. The art on the back shows Mario, Luigi, and their plumbing van with a Brooklyn backdrop.

See popular vinyl soundtracks from the IGN Store

In IGN's review of the Super Mario Bros. Movie, reviewer Tom Jorgensen gave it an eight and said that it's "a fireball of animated fantasy, overcoming a Paper Mario-thin plot with undeniable charm and energy."

The sequel to the Super Mario Bros. movie, now titled Super Mario World according to leaks, currently has a release date of April 3, 2026. If you stuck around for the first film's post-credits scene, and with the title of the second, you can easily assume a certain green dinosaur will play a major role.

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

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It Sure Sounds Like the Next Xbox Will Be a Gaming PC

Seemingly out of the blue, Microsoft has come out and announced that it’s teaming up with AMD for its next generation of Xbox "devices." This is frankly the least surprising news I have ever heard in my life, but it does start the conversation about what gaming is going to look like as we head into this new era.

While it’s good to know who’s going to be making the silicon behind the next Xbox, the bigger tidbit is that the Xbox team is going to be “working closely with the Windows team to make Windows the number one gaming platform.” Especially off the heels of the ROG Xbox Ally X last week, it sure sounds like the next Xbox is going to look a lot like a gaming PC.

Working Closely With Windows, Huh?

For the last few generations, Xbox consoles have been getting closer to gaming PCs, down to the operating system they run on. It doesn’t take that keen of an eye to look at the Xbox Series X’s home screen and not notice the similarities to Microsoft’s desktop operating system, especially if you’ve survived Windows 8 and Windows 10.

But in the video Microsoft released for its collaboration with AMD, Xbox president Sarah Bond opened by saying that Xbox’s vision is to allow you to “play the games you want, with the people you want, and wherever you want.” This definitely isn’t a new approach for Microsoft, which has been making its games more accessible for years now, especially since Play Anywhere became a thing.

I regularly play games across my Xbox console and various PCs, and that program allows me to carry over my progress no matter what I’m playing on. This is purely speculation, but it sounds like Microsoft is planning on taking things a bit further this time around. In the video, Bond talks about bringing an Xbox experience that’s not locked to a single store. I might be reading too much into it, but it sure sounds like bringing Steam, Epic Games Store and other launchers to the next Xbox might totally be a thing.

And why wouldn’t it? I mean, Microsoft already did announce an “official” device made in partnership with Asus that’s open to every PC game store. Why stop there?

The ROG Xbox Ally X As a First Step

What separates the ROG Xbox Ally X from the rest of the Windows handhelds is that Microsoft is teaming up with Asus and shipping it with a modified version of Windows. We don’t know the specifics of what that modification will do yet, but we do know that it won’t load certain elements of the desktop operating system when they’re not needed.

More importantly, the system will boot straight into a new version of the Xbox App without loading the regular desktop. If you’ve spent a lot of time with the Steam Deck, you’ll know that’s essentially what SteamOS does with its custom version of Linux. If you want to load up the desktop, you have to manually call it up and go through a loading screen to get there. This makes the Steam Deck easier to use, for sure, but it also allows for much better gaming performance.

If the next Xbox is going to be running on Windows, this approach is going to be absolutely necessary. After all, the main appeal of gaming consoles over a gaming PC is that, because the software is simpler, game engines get much better access to system resources. Microsoft is already building the tools to make this happen, and it’d be weird if it was just for the ROG Xbox Ally X.

The Next Xbox Should Be a PC, Even If It’s Not

PC gaming is in a weird place these days, and it has been for a while. Because while PCs are more powerful than ever and come in all shapes and sizes, there’s one thing they all have in common: They’re expensive. Even recent handhelds that are otherwise awesome, like the Lenovo Legion Go S with SteamOS, are much more expensive than a traditional console.

Microsoft does shoulder some of the blame for this. After all, if you’re buying a Windows gaming laptop or handheld, part of the price goes to the license for the operating system. That’s why something like the ROG Ally with the plain ol’ Z1 chip is more expensive than the Steam Deck, despite the specs being so similar. It’s just something we’ve always had to deal with.

Consoles generally take a different approach. Because they generally make money off of licensing and game sales, console hardware is usually subsidized, allowing them to be cheaper than an equivalent PC – at least at launch.

Microsoft has the opportunity to bring that approach to what is essentially a specialized gaming PC. It’s no secret that PC gaming is getting more popular than ever these days, and this would bring a whole new audience into the scene for the first time.

Since it doesn’t look like graphics cards are going to get any cheaper in the near future, this new Xbox really could be the shot in the arm that PC gaming needs right now.

Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC components queen. You can follow her @Jackiecobra

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The 77" LG Evo C4 4K OLED Smart TV Drops to Under $1,800 And Includes an Extended 4 Year Warranty

Buydig just dropped the massive 77" LG Evo C4 4K OLED TV. to the lowest price I've ever seen. Right now you can get it for just $1,796.99 with free delivery. Buydig is also throwing in a bonus 4 year third party extended warranty and a $50 prepaid gift card. Buydig is a reputable, established online retailer who is also an authorized LG reseller. The LG Evo C-series of TV has consistently been our favorite high-end 4K TV for current generation console gaming thanks to its outstanding image quality, low input lag, and high refresh rate.

Update: Amazon is also selling this TV for the same price, but without the extended warranty.

77" LG Evo 4K OLED TV for $1,796.99

Includes 4 year extended warranty and $50 prepaid gift card

The C4 is the 2024 model in LG's mid-range C-series OLED lineup. Compared to non-OLED TVs, an OLED TV offers superior image quality, near-infinite blacks, near-infinite contrast ratio, and near-instantaneous response times. Because of these advantages, the Evo OLED TV excels at displaying 4K HDR content in all of its intended glory. The C4 uses LG's proprietary Evo panel, which offers higher brightness level and contrast ratio compared to traditional W-OLED TVs (similar to QD OLED panels on Samsung TVs). The LG brand is especially popular because LG OLED TVs have been out for years and benefit from several generations of updates and optimizations.

The LG C4 has all the features you'd want in a gaming TV as well. It has a native 120Hz panel that can be pushed to as high as 144Hz and all four HDMI ports are 2.1 spec for running games in 4K at up to 120fps on a PS5 or Xbox Series X without any tearing. The C4 also supports variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low latency mode (ALLM). The C4 is also easier to install than its predecessors; the rear cabinet housing is made of a composite fiber that weighs 36 pounds.

How does the 2024 C4 compare to the 2025 C5?

LG recently launched its new C5 OLED TV for 2025. It improves upon the C4 with an updated Alpha a9 Gen8 processor and a higher peak brightness level, the latter of which is the more significant upgrade. Higher peak brightness means the C5 is able to deliver slightly better contrast ratio, slightly wider color gamut, better glare and reflection handling, and greater usability in very bright (i.e. sunlit) rooms. However, these improvements are worth maybe a few hundred dollars, at most. You can't justify a $1,000 price difference.

Looking for more options? Check out all of the best TVs of 2025.

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

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Marathon Delayed as Bungie Promises to Reveal New Release Date This Fall

Sony and Bungie’s Marathon reboot has been delayed to a new, unspecified release date.

The Destiny and Halo developer announced that its previously planned September 23, 2025 release date had been officially removed from the calendar in a post on its website. It’s a message that comes with the promise that an update, as well as a new release date, will be delivered this fall.

“Through every comment and real-time conversation on social media and Discord, your voice has been strong and clear,” Bungie said.

“We've taken this to heart, and we know we need more time to craft Marathon into the game that truly reflects your passion. After much discussion within our Dev team, we’ve made the decision to delay the September 23 release.”

The Marathon delay follows criticism revolving around a Marathon alpha test held in April. The conversation around Bungie’s new take on the live-service, extraction shooter formula has been heated to say the least, so a delay isn’t too shocking.

“The Alpha test created an opportunity for us to calibrate and focus the game on what will make it uniquely compelling — survival under pressure, mystery and lore around every corner, raid-like endgame challenges, and Bungie’s genre-defining FPS combat,” Bungie’s message adds.

“We’re using this time to empower the team to create the intense, high-stakes experience that a title like Marathon is built around. This means deepening the relationship between the developers and the game’s most important voices: our players.”

Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Hermen Hulst went as far as to address feedback just last week, calling the response from fans “varied.” His comments also included the promise that the Marathon reboot would get a release date set by March 31, 2026, while assuring naysayers that the company had no intention of repeating the mistakes seen with last year’s Concord.

While no new Marathon release date has been revealed, it appears as though players can at least expect to get their hands on Bungie’s latest by March 2026. In the meantime, the studio has laid out three major points of feedback it plans to address that should leave a better taste in players’ mouths. These include “upping the survival game,” which means more challenging and engaging AI encounters, more tense and strategic combat, and a more rewarding experience overall.

Bungie adds that players can expect increased visual fidelity across the Marathon experience along with more story to uncover and a darker tone that falls more in-line with the original Marathon universe. The delay also grants the studio the opportunity to add “more social experiences,” including improvements for solo and duo runs as well as proximity chat.

“You’ll hear from us again later this Fall when we can share the progress we’ve made, alongside the game’s new release date,” Bungie concluded. “Thank you again for your patience and — much more importantly — your passion. Your continued feedback will help us make Marathon the incredible gaming experience we all know it can be.”

Bungie announced its Marathon reboot in May 2023 and remained quiet as its development progressed throughout 2024. Trouble arose with the launch of its alpha test along with controversy centered on plagiarized work that had been discovered in Marathon itself. As uncertainty has taken over the conversation, many have begun to discuss how the impending game launch could impact the future of the studio forever. You can read our hands-on Marathon preview here.

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).

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Hell Motel Review

Hell Motel premieres on Shudder Tuesday, June 17, with new episodes streaming weekly.

Hell Motel is, among other things, an homage to classic slasher movies: The latest miniseries from Slasher masterminds Aaron Martin and Ian Carpenter traps a bunch of people in a seedy motel with a bloody history and then waits for the killing to start. But it’s also a reminder that the movies it’s paying tribute to usually top out at 90 minutes long. Horror tends to overstay its welcome on TV, with the scares turning stale and the tension growing slack while we wait for the final axe to fall – and Hell Motel is no exception. It’s just difficult to keep this sort of thing going for eight hour-long episodes.

The premise is pretty good, though: Thirty years after a Satanic-flavored unsolved murder was committed on the grounds of the remote Cold River Motel, the inn reopens and its new proprietors invite a group of true-crime obsessives for an opening-weekend stay. This creatively assembled group of stock types includes an artist who makes installations of famous crime scenes, a woman who sleeps with serial killers (“One away from a dangerous dozen!”), a podcaster who survived a slasher-esque killing spree, a professor who studies the effect crime stories have on the psyche, an occult practitioner who communes with the spirits, and an actress who starred in a film adaptation of the motel murder. When two strangers show up seeking shelter from an incoming storm, it’s not long until the (inevitable) killing begins, and the guests wonder if whatever happened thirty years ago is happening all over again.

The familiarity feels intentional. Martin and Carpenter are messing around with what we know about this gory subgenre, and there is some fun to be had in the early episodes. The motel is playfully outfitted for the occasion, with dingy decor and a sign for “Pentacle” next to the one for “Gym/Sauna.” The guests arrive in a hearse. Once the storm rolls in, there’s a lovely soft hiss of rain over any scene without an instrumental score. All the characters are pretty annoying, but that fits the theme, since we’re not meant to care too much about them once they start getting picked off one by one. There’s even a jab in a later episode about slasher movies full of “two-dimensional characters so grotesque and idiotic one would hazard they deserved to die,” and, well…

These victims-in-waiting all deliver their lines as if they’re in a dramatic reenactment from a documentary about a famous murder, which would be a fun sort of meta element if we weren’t stuck with it for eight hours. And that’s the main problem with Hell Motel: As soon as the fun and games of the setup is over and the actual plot begins, everything that follows feels increasingly repetitive. Towards the middle of the series, we’re treated to multiple long arguments over who the killer must be – scenes whose main purpose seems to be filling time, since this makeshift jury never actually reaches a verdict before something else goes awry. Those bits are punctured and bookended by the requisite death scenes, which are appropriately bloody and gross (I’ll be thinking about one involving a bunch of nails for a long time), but even those feel rote after four or five episodes of basically the same thing.

Eventually, the momentum can’t be sustained. It’s hard to endure scene after scene after scene of people getting cruelly stabbed and hacked apart for this long – not because the violence is especially bothersome, but because it starts to feel samey. The slasher hardos might feel otherwise, and maybe this is the show for those fans who just want more, more, more. But Hell Motel ultimately doesn’t know what else to do with its premise. There are shades of well-loved horror series like Bates Motel and Hannibal here and there, and some vague thematic material about how easily people turn to violent acts when pressed hard enough. But these are gestures in a show that favors blood and guts over everything else. That’s fun for a while – but eventually you’ll wish you could check out.

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Final Destination Bloodlines Hits Digital as New Blu-ray Collection Goes Up for Preorder

Final Destination recently returned with a new generation of unlucky folks dying one by one in ways that will haunt you forever. Bloodlines, the sixth movie in the franchise and the first new addition since 2011, released in theaters on May 16. It’s since grossed over $270 million globally, with Tom Jorgenson's review for IGN describing the franchise’s return to deadly form: “A testament to the powerful, simple joy of a well-executed setup and payoff, Bloodlines’ lethal Rube Goldberg machines are tactile and satisfying, benefiting from a solid blend of goopy practical and visual effects.”

There’s nothing quite like seeing elaborate death traps on the big screen, but if you’ve been waiting to watch the new slasher movie in the comfort of your own home, you’re in luck. Final Destination Bloodlines is now available to rent or buy from digital platforms (see here at Prime Video), with a 4K steelbook and a new Final Destination Blu-ray collection releasing next month.

Final Destination Bloodlines Now Available on Digital

The move to digital comes almost exactly four weeks after the movie’s original release in theaters. Despite recent opposition from organizations like Cinema United, we’re still seeing the continued post-pandemic (and heavily streaming-influenced) trend of shortened theatrical release windows.

Nonetheless, Bloodlines has continued to see success at the box office alongside positive reviews. The movie has grossed over $270 million globally, and is slowly creeping up the list of highest-grossing horror movies of all time, likely overtaking Silence of the Lambs' spot by the end of the week. Sinners, another recent release still showing in theaters, has also been climbing up at that list, and could even break into the top 10. Safe to say, 2025 is shaping up to be a solid year for horror at the box office.

What about streaming?

Bloodlines will likely join the rest of the Final Destination franchise on HBO Max at one point or another. However, at the time of the digital release, we've yet to get any specific information on the streaming timeline. Most Warner Bros. movies land on the streaming service within three months of their initial release date, so it’s possible Final Destination Bloodlines lands on HBO Max by mid-September.

Limited Edition Steelbook Also Up for Preorder, New Final Destination Collection Announced

If you’re waiting to get your hands on a physical release (which, these days, tend to be similarly priced to the digital version), you have a couple of options. Bloodlines is getting its own limited edition 4K steelbook with a fresh set of bonus features, including audio commentary by the film's directors, Adam Stein & Zach Lipovsky, and a reflection from the late Tony Todd on “The Legacy of Bludworth.” You can also grab the new movie on Blu-ray or DVD.

For fans of the full franchise, there’s also a new six-movie Final Destination collection up for preorder. Every existing movie’s individual special features are included on each disc, and the collection is set to release on the same day as the Bloodlines steelbook, July 22.

Blythe (she/her) is an SEO Coordinator at IGN who spends way too much time in character customization screens and tracking down collectibles.

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The First Godzilla LEGO Set Has Officially Been Confirmed

The third round of 2024 LEGO Ideas reviews has concluded and two new fan-made designs have officially been selected to become real sets: a massive Godzilla build and a Tintin Rocket.

The new sets were announced in a LEGO Ideas blog post where it confirmed that the LEGO Godzilla set, originally submitted by MattE720 in December 2023, has been approved for production. The exact design, pricing, and release date are still up in the air, but this means Godzilla fans will be getting their first ever LEGO set sometime in the near future.

A LEGO Ideas Godzilla Set Is Coming

LEGO has never released a Godzilla set before this one. The fan design won't be exactly what the final set will look like, but it does serve as the overall basis for the build. Since there have been a lot of different portrayals of everyone's favorite giant lizard across a ton of different Godzilla movies, user MattE720 confirmed that his design is based on more recent versions, citing films like Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire as his inspiration for the design.

Although we don't have an exact piece count for the upcoming set, the design looks huge. (LEGO has set a precedent for releasing gigantic dinosaur sets with its 3.5ft-long T. Rex.) Considering LEGO Ideas sets are often targeted at adults, we can likely expect the final design to be a fairly large build for the 18+ audience.

LEGO Ideas sets available now

How Do LEGO Ideas Submissions Get Approved?

Every LEGO Ideas set starts out as a fan submission. Once that idea reaches 10,000 supporters, it enters the review stage, which is a lengthy process that requires various considerations. One of the biggest hurdles for any idea is whether or not LEGO can secure the rights to the IP. So something like a Tuxedo Cat is potentially easier to make it through than something tied to a major franchise if LEGO can't come to an agreement.

Alongside these new approved sets, there are a ton of other really cool LEGO Ideas that are currently sitting in the review phase. This list includes a Monsters, Inc. - Boo's Door Set, Planet Express Headquarters, and even your old pal Clippy from Microsoft Office.

Jacob Kienlen is a Senior SEO Strategist and Writer for IGN. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he has considered the Northwest his home for his entire life. With a bachelor's degree in communication and over 7 years of professional writing experience, his expertise is spread across a variety of different topics -- from TV series to indie games and popular book series.

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I've Found The 16 Most Valuable Final Fantasy: Through the Ages MTG Cards Right Now

The Final Fantasy: Through the Ages collection reimagines classic Magic: The Gathering cards with iconic art and characters from all 16 mainline Final Fantasy games. Packed into Magic's newly released Universes Beyond: Final Fantasy set, these reprints aren't just nostalgic; they're in high demand for collectors, with several fetching serious prices on the secondary market.

TL;DR: 16 Most Valuable Final Fantasy: Through The Ages MTG Cards

Beyond just looking incredible, many of these cards are proven staples in multiple formats like Commander. That combination of competitive relevance and collector appeal has already driven prices up, with several cards becoming some of the most sought-after in the entire set.

Whether you're opening boosters or tracking down singles, these are the 16 most valuable cards from the Through the Ages collection right now. They're powerful, flashy, and, for longtime fans of both games, pretty irresistible right now. Let's take a look.

16. Clive Rosfield (Vial Smasher the Fierce)

Sitting at around $10.20 market, you can get this Commander staple for as low as $9.60, but this shoots up to $49.89 for the foil print. I was hoping for a larger red creature to represent Clive, but Vial Smasher fits his fiery personality well.

15. The Emperor, Hell Tyrant (Yawgmoth, Thran Physician)

Yawgmoth, Thran Physician is a Modern staple (there's a whole deck named after him), so the Emperor art would be a nice addition to die-hard fans of the deck. You can pick this up for around $14.54 market, or as low as $11.99 on TCGPlayer right now.

14. Kefka's Tower (Bolas's Citadel)

I thought for sure Kefka's Tower would be printed onto Command Tower, but it looks like Wizards of the Coast wanted to avoid Commander-only cards, which is welcome. Get this at market value for $15.55 or as low as $13.69.

13. Cecil Harvey (Tymna the Weaver)

A personal favorite (seriously, I adore Final Fantasy IV), Tymna, the Weaver's design is another card that fits the flavor of the character well. Find it at market around $16.18.

12. Lightning, Lone Commando (Isshin, Two Heavens as One)

One of the best Mardu Commanders around, Isshin definitely fits Lightning's vibe in terms of combat mechanics. You can pick this up at market price for $21.93 but not much lower at the time of writing, as Lightning's value seems to be slowly spiking as well.

11. Blessing of the Oracle (Akroma's Will)

If you're playing white in Commander, odds are you're running Akroma's Will. The art with Noctis and Lunafreya is one of my personal favorites. It's recently had a massive spike in price, and you can currently find it at market value for around $23.99.

10. Kefka Palazzo (Purphoros, God of the Forge)

Purphoros, God of the Forge is great in Commander if you're running a tokens or blink strategy, and the Yoshitaka Amano Kefka art is a nostalgic masterpiece. Market is around $25, and that seems to be the price you're looking at right now as well.

9. Tidus, Zanarkand Fayth (Thrasios, Triton Hero)

You'd be hard-pressed to see Thrasios played anywhere other than low-powered Merfolk Commander decks, but the Final Fantasy X cover art is the big selling point here. Get it at market for $21.26 but not much lower.

8. Cloud Strife (Najeela, the Blade-Blossom)

Najeela, the Blade-Blossom fits Cloud well, and the Tetsuya Nomura art alone is enough for me to pick one up. Market value is $25, and seems fairly stable right now as well, albeit the foil version fetches 10x that, with listings up to $250 at TCGPlayer right now.

7. The Cloudsea Djinn (Nyxbloom Ancient)

I'd call this a fringe Commander staple, as big mana green decks love this massive enchantment creature for some extra ramp, and the Cloudsea Djinn art from the original Final Fantasy is icing on the cake. Find it at market for $24.66 or down to around $23 from select vendors.

6. Zidane Tribal (Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer)

Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer might be one of the most annoying one-drops ever printed, but I can't argue against this sweet Zidane alternate art, especially as a huge fan of Final Fantasy IX. Market price is $27.70 and other vendors don't have it for much lower. The foil version is also going for around $82.99 right now as well.

5. Terra Branford (Urza, High Lord Artificer)

This card is another example of a fan-favorite character glued onto a multi-format powerhouse. It's at $26.62 market value, with that being fairly stable right now as well.

4. Knights of San d'Oria (Ranger-Captain of Eos)

Ranger-Captain of Eos sees enough Modern and Legacy play to warrant picking this one up. It's at $29.50 market and not much lower elsewhere.

3. Sephiroth, the Savior (Atraxa, Grand Unifier)

This one I'm surprised at as well, but because of how low it is. Mix Atraxa, Grand Unifier, a multi-format all-star, with one of the most iconic video game villains of all time, and you have potential for a serious price tag. Luckily it's at a $42.78 market price, which could be worse. Find one for as low as $39.98.

2. Dragon of Mount Gulg (Ancient Copper Dragon)

From a Commander or competitive standpoint, I can't quite figure out why this is as expensive as it is, it's sitting at $72.19 market. But nostalgia is a hell of a drug, so you can grab one for as low as $69.74, break out the big guns as the foil version is up to $254.70 at the time of publication.

Bonus: Honorable Mentions

Before we jump into the most valuable card, consider these honorable mentions when picking up any singles right now as well.

Final Fantasy: Through the Ages features dozens of other cards, and the above list are some other multi-format staples like Fatal Push and Dovin's Veto with awesome new art that won't break the bank for a playset.

1. Stay With Me (Rhystic Study)

Rhystic Study has been a Commander staple since the format's inception. The Final Fantasy X version is sitting at a market price of $103.12, but you can pick one up for as high as $125.98, or as low as $100.

Where Can I Buy Final Fantasy: Through the Ages?

Through the Ages cards can be found non-foil in both Play Boosters and Collector Boosters, with foil versions of the cards only available in Collector Boosters. But, the best avenue to get the cards you want, without spending an absolute fortune, is by purchasing singles, so hopefully this was a handy guide for you.

Whether you're here for FF6’s Terra, FF7’s Cloud, FF10’s Tidus, or FF14’s Warrior of Light, these sets are stacked with heroes and villains from across the series. And that’s just the Commander Decks, the full release runs deep. If you managed to lock in a preorder before they vanished, congrats. Otherwise, check in with the links just above to bookmark or wishlist your favorite set in anticipation of any restocks soon.

Or perhaps, Collectors with more money than sense might be even more drawn to the Final Fantasy x Secret Lair drops. Wizards of the Coast has had a packed year of limited-time releases, and all three Final Fantasy Secret Lair sets sold out in record time, leaving plenty of fans empty-handed. That said, they’re still available through third-party sellers... if you’re willing to pay the markup.

There are three drops in total: Weapons, Grimoire, and Game Over. Each one offers Magic: The Gathering cards with exclusive Final Fantasy art and themed names. All were released in both standard and foil editions, with Japanese-language variants adding an extra layer of rarity for collectors.

Since these drops are no longer available directly from Wizards of the Coast, don’t expect to find them at their original prices. Standard nonfoil sets launched at $30, and rainbow foil versions at $40, but most listings now sit between $80 and $150 or more.

It’s a steep jump, so if you’re looking to grab one now, make sure you know exactly what you’re paying for. You can find them on eBay, but we’ve always found TCGPlayer, while also eBay-owned, to be the more secure and trustworthy option for picking up Secret Lair drops after release.

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

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Elio Review

Elio opens in theaters Friday, June 20.

Early on in Elio, archival audio of the late astronomer Carl Sagan states that humanity’s interest in the cosmos takes root in finding out if we’re alone in the universe. It’s a question about whether or not there’s intelligent life on other planets, but the deeper concern, as it relates to the latest animated movie from Pixar, is our need to know if other people have ever felt the same way we do. And if they don’t, can they still love us for who we are and not who they wish we were? In Elio, this preoccupation takes the form of a wondrous sci-fi epic, in which the titular, stargazing orphan (Yonas Kibreab) gains a friend in an unexpected place and forges a stronger bond with the aunt who adopted him after his parents died.

Dazzling as its animation is, what’s most striking about Elio is how it depicts the slippery feeling of yearning for something we might not even know exists. Here, that desire for belonging means traveling across galaxies to find radiantly rendered, playfully envisioned worlds and extraterrestrial lifeforms. Elio’s curiosity about aliens is sparked when he learns about The Voyager Golden Records, the “message in a bottle” humanity sent into space in the 1970s. (Sagan’s involvement in that project in real life makes his inclusion in Elio particularly relevant). The opening scene showing this epiphany conveys a bittersweet sentiment somewhere between melancholy and hope, setting the tone for the entire movie.

As Elio grows up and becomes obsessed with UFOs and being abducted by one, his relationship with his Aunt Olga (Zoe Saldaña) – an Air Force major at a satellite terminal who once dreamed of becoming an astronaut – deteriorates. When he achieves his goal of communicating with outer space, he not only escapes the military camp Olga enrolls him out of desperation, but Earth altogether. After a voyage through a luminous portal, Elio arrives at the communiverse, a fanciful gathering place for dignitaries from countless planets. As far as they’re concerned, this new arrival is the leader of Earth.

There’s an intricate thought process behind every aspect of the production design in Elio – just get a look at the homemade cape the main character wears, festooned with plastic cutlery and soda-can tabs. The various sections of and advanced technology in the communiverse read as if they were imagined by a kid – and that’s absolutely a compliment, because every element feels fantastical, yet intuitive, like a hands-on exhibit at a children’s museum. In fact, there might be too much cool stuff onscreen. There simply isn’t enough time within this 93-minute feature to fully explore the number of intriguing ideas and fun-looking alien characters it introduces. Not that the movie is incapable of painting a whole picture from just a few glimpses: For example, Elio and Olga’s Latino identity comes across in small details like a Spanish-language song on the radio or a setup in their house that seems like a Day of the Dead altar.

Fortunately, there’s ample room in Elio for the other main pillar of Pixarian animated whimsy: an astute sense of humor pitched at older members of the audience, best exemplified by the communiverse’s sentient “user’s manual.” Appearing as a glowing, perpetually shuffling deck of translucent cards, it contains all the secrets of the universe, even the meaning of existence – big questions that, naturally and hilariously, don’t interest a kid like Elio. This echo of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is but one example of how Elio toys with staples of the science-fiction and horror genres, the cleverest of which puts a goofy, goopy spin on cloning.

Conflict kicks into high gear when the fearsome Lord Grigon (Brad Garrett) is denied admission into the communiverse. To prove his usefulness to his newfound comrades, Elio volunteers to negotiate with the towering, four-eyed warlord, a doomed endeavor that leads him to meet Grigon’s son Glordon (Remy Edgerly). An adorably plump, miniature version of a Dune sandworm (complete with the rows and rows of sharp teeth), Glordon connects with his new pal over their inability to make their parental figures understand them. He doesn’t want to become a war machine like his father, which would involve putting on a rigid armor and giving up all manner of emotional softness. It’s a tad on the nose, but a poignant analogy nonetheless: Glordon’s people must step into a protective, mechanized shell to become adults, much like how most humans leave behind their capacity for wonder and build emotional barriers when they come of age.

Dazzling as its animation is, what’s most striking about Elio is the feeling it conveys.

Intrepid, intergalactic feats follow, leading to a moving resolution with Sagan’s voice reminding us that it’s only human to ponder what’s hiding in the mysterious darkness of space. The adventure helps Elio reexamine his beliefs about what home can be – a thoughtful conclusion to this delightful animated treasure. Life on Earth or any other planet is inherently imperfect, and it’s surprising (and rewarding) how deeply Elio engages with that notion.

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James Cameron's The Abyss Pulled From Disney+ in the UK Because of Banned 'Rat Abuse' Scene

James Cameron’s beloved sci-fi film The Abyss has been removed from Disney+ in the UK due to the inclusion of a banned scene.

The original version of the 1989 film includes a scene in which a rat is dunked into a vat of fluorocarbon liquid — and a real rat was used in production. The rodent is believed to have survived, but that didn’t stop groups like charity The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) from taking steps to have the scene removed 36 years ago.

The scene was subsequently cut by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) under the Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act 1937, which means it must be cut for any theatrical use. The BBFC also cut the scene under the Video Recordings Act 1984, meaning it must not be included on releases on formats such as Blu-Ray and DVD. Similarly, the scene should also not be aired on traditional TV in the UK.

Despite this, a version of the film that included the banned scene was added to Disney+ a few months ago in April. In response, the RSPCA called out what it described as a "loophole" that enabled the banned rat scene to make it onto Disney+ in the UK, pointing out that streaming platforms are not bound by the same standards as film releases in cinema, DVD, or on traditional television.

Speaking last month, David Bowles, the RSPCA's Head of Public Affairs, said: "The RSPCA is really concerned that a loophole currently exists allowing animal abuse scenes deemed unacceptable elsewhere to be streamed freely and legally into our homes.

"The Abyss' controversial rat scene has long concerned the RSPCA, and has always been deemed unacceptable by BBFC — so it's hard to fathom out why Disney Plus has decided to broadcast it.

"We need to ensure people are not being exposed to content which promotes or showcases cruelty to animals.

“As the way millions of households consume entertainment changes, it's vital the legal framework is responsive to that and continues to consistently protect people and animals."

As reported by GamesRadar, Disney has now pulled The Abyss from Disney+ in response. "This isn't about cancel culture — we'd welcome Disney Plus reinstating the film to their platform, just with this troubling scene removed — as is already the case in cinemas, on TV, and on DVD," Bowles said in a fresh statement.

"This was instead about highlighting a loophole that currently exists allowing animal abuse scenes deemed unacceptable elsewhere to be streamed freely and legally into our homes — and protecting the public from having to see this animal abuse content."

Disney has yet to say when The Abyss will return to Disney+ in the UK.

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

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Minecraft Vibrant Visuals Update Finally Gives Mojang's Game a Long-Awaited Visual Overhaul — but Only on Compatible Devices

Minecraft was never designed with visuals as its key selling point. With an endless sandbox landscape and unlimited customisation, Mojang's now-familiar pixellated graphics were never the main focus.

Today, however, that all changes, with the launch of Minecraft's long-awaited Vibrant Visuals update on PC and a range of compatible consoles and smartphones. But not all platforms will get the upgrade, and the game's classic Minecraft: Java Edition will also be left without.

Still, if you're playing the main Minecraft: Bedrock Edition on PC, PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S or certain Android and iOS devices, Vibrant Visuals is available now, as part of the game's wider Chase the Skies update.

Chase the Skies adds ridable Happy Ghast creatures to the game's overworld, following years of stress caused by their meaner cousins who spit fireballs in the Nether. You can also now leash a chain of camels together to create a resource-transporting caravan, and track down your friends faster with the Player Locator HUD bar.

If you play Minecraft on an older console, such as PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, or if you play on an older Android phone, you'll need to manually switch on the Vibrant Visuals option via the game's video settings menu. Mojang warns that "performance may degrade for these devices".

On PC or smartphone, you'll need the following tech specs:

• Android: Adreno 640, Mali-G68, Mali-G77, or Xclipse 530 or higher

• iOS: A12 or M1 or higher

• PC: Running Minecraft on DX12

Splitscreen multiplayer, custom Worlds and Texture Packs are not currently supported by Vibrant Visuals, either.

And what of Nintendo Switch — or Switch 2? No mention is made of Nintendo's console platforms in today's Vibrant Visuals launch blog, leaving fans in the dark about compatibility there.

However, on a brighter note, Minecraft is now at last listed as Xbox Series X/S optimised, some five years after Microsoft's current console generation launched.

Vibrant Visuals finally makes good on Microsoft's promise to launch a proper graphical upgrade for Minecraft, first mentioned back in 2017 when a fancy trailer was released for the later-cancelled Super Duper Graphics Pack. At the time, Mojang said this upgrade would arrive for Xbox One and "Project Scopio" — what became Xbox One X. Now, finally, something similar has arrived.

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

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Lego Party Proves That There’s Room for More Than Just Mario Party

The humble party game genre has connected people throughout gaming generations. And while nobody really considers it whenever a new one hits the fray, the results are usually an enjoyable time. That’s true for Lego Party, the mini brick’s seemingly successful attempt to Lego-fy Mario Party so that fans of the tiny constructables can get together in a group of four and proceed to ruin their friendship over minigames.

If you’ve played Mario Party you know exactly what to expect for Lego Party. A group of four players will drop onto a boardgame-like table and roll numbers to advance the requisite number of spots. Some spots will have special prizes, some will hide traps that will steal your hard-earned Stars, or in this case, a golden Lego Brick. After every player rolls their turn, they’ll all drop in to compete in one of 60 Lego-themed minigames.

And to Lego Party’s credit, the minigames is where this effort can differentiate itself from Mario Party. There are some standard-fare activities, like a game where players jump over a swinging octopus tentacle until the last player is left standing, to some very off-kilter ones. One I tried is a Bennett Foddy-style unicycle racing game where players must use the joysticks to balance atop a very fiddly unicycle and inch their way towards the finish line. We only played about eight minigames total, so I’m very excited to see what else Lego Party has in store.

Another Lego innovation is how Lego Party leans into the creative aspect of the toy bricks. While the overworld maps are themed after fun concepts like “Pirates,” they can also be modified if certain conditions are met within the game. Landing on a specific spot will let players create unique elements to add to the map like a pirate ship that wasn’t there when the game began.

Visually, Lego Party has the crisp, colorful aesthetic Lego games have come to be known for, though the party game aesthetic means that these Legos lean towards more whacky designs than something I’d consider charming. That is to say, these Legos are all about being zany and loud, which is perfect for the genre.

Playing with three other players (my two IGN colleagues and a developer), we found ourselves immediately sucked into its playful orbit. The goal is to collect as many Gold Bricks by the end of the game. Winning minigames on their own will only award you Lego bits that you can turn into ways to score Gold Bricks, such as movement modifiers that will help you land on the spot where a Gold Brick has spawned.

There’re also traps you can purchase (don’t worry, it’s not in a microtransaction way) to potentially steal Gold Bricks from other players, and unique spots on the board that will initiate a special 2v2 game where the winning team will both get Gold Bricks as a reward. These 2v2 rounds include special minigames where, for example, both players each control one half of a car and must coordinate their controls to drive to the designated goal.

While we did complete a small game ourselves, we only saw a fraction of what Lego Party has to offer. If the rest of the games are anywhere near as fun as the handful that we played, I can see Lego Party having the kind of addictive appeal Mario Party has had – which is especially good news for PlayStation and Xbox players that don’t have access to Mario Party.

Matt Kim is IGN's Senior Features Editor.

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Microsoft Confirms First-Party Next-Generation Xbox Consoles, Announces Deal With AMD and Promises Full Backwards Compatibility With Your Existing Xbox Library

Microsoft has announced a partnership with AMD to power the next generation of Xbox, including its first-party future Xbox consoles.

“Announcing that we’re building the next-generation of Xbox first-party devices and cloud, including our future Xbox consoles, together with AMD,” Microsoft said in a statement published online.

Microsoft failed to detail its plans, but did promise “next-level performance, cutting-edge graphics, breakthrough gameplay, and unmatched compatibility.” It also said everything it’s working on will be “fully compatible” with users’ existing Xbox game library.

“We’ve established a strategic, multi-year agreement with AMD to co-engineer silicon across a portfolio of devices, including our next-generation Xbox consoles,” Microsoft said.

“Together, we’re delivering deeper visual quality, immersive gameplay, and AI-powered experiences - grounded in a platform designed for players, not tied to a single store or device, and fully compatible with your existing Xbox game library.”

In a video, Xbox president Sarah Bond said Microsoft was investing in "our next-generation hardware lineup across console, handheld, PC, cloud, and accessories."

The news confirms Microsoft's plan to release another home Xbox console as well as an Xbox handheld. No release date was mentioned, but Bond did say "we can't wait to show you what's next."

Earlier this year, Microsoft was reported to be targeting a 2027 release window for both its next-gen Xbox and its Xbox handheld. At the time, it was said that the next-gen Xbox would be more like a PC than any Xbox before it, and would support third-party storefronts such as Steam, the Epic Games Store, and GOG.

Comments from Bond in today's video back that up. "This is all about building you a gaming platform that's always with you, so you can play the games you want across devices anywhere you want, delivering you an Xbox experience not locked to a single store or tied to one device," Bond said.

"That's why we're working closely with the Windows team, to ensure that Windows is the number one platform for gaming."

In the shorter term, Microsoft is partnering with third-parties on Xbox-branded hardware such as the Xbox Ally. This is a handheld gaming PC that runs on a version of Windows 11 designed to be more usable on a handheld. Expect a release later this year.

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.

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AliExpress Just Listed a Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World Tour Bundle for Lower than Retail Price

If you're still on the hunt for a Switch 2 console, here's an opportunity you might want to consider. Not only does AliExpress have the Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World Tour Console Bundle available for shipping, the price is actually discounted. Yes, you heard that right. The seller prices the console bundle at a moderate markup of $532.24, but a $60 off coupon code "IFPTRMX" drops it to $472.24 with free shipping. Is this Switch 2 deal too good to be true? It's quite possible. The last time I checked, coupons were not intended to work on this listing.

Update: The $70 off code has been deactivated. Instead, use $60 off code "IFPTRMX".

This is likely a genuine gaming console that has been imported from another country (usually Japan, Hong Kong, Canada, or Mexico). Region locking is determined by your account, not by console, so all of these systems will play in the US without any problems. You'll also be able to select English as your default language just like any console you buy here. AliExpress offers a return window but the length varies depending on the item. These consoles all ship locally from the United States and usually arrive within one week.

Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World Tour Bundle for $472.24

The Nintendo Switch 2 was released on June 5 and is currently sold out everywhere. We expect more units to trickle out from participating retailers throughout the year, but that won't necessarily make it easy to get one. If you're looking for our official review of the new console, it's still in progress. The biggest Switch 2 video game release is Mario Kart World Tour. It retails for $79.99, but buying it as part of the launch bundle means you'll effectively pay just $50. Logan Plant recently reviewed the game and wrote that "Mario Kart World may not make the most convincing case that going open-world was the boost the series needed, but excellent multiplayer racing, incredible polish, and the thrilling new Knockout Tour mode still more than live up to its legacy."

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

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FBC: Firebreak Review in Progress

A solid way to judge a co-op shooter is by how many inside jokes you and your mates come up with while you play. And after around seven hours working in The Oldest House, it’s safe to say that if that were the only metric to judge FBC: Firebreak on, it would be an easy 10. Of course, it helps that the setting and the enemies you face are so curiosity-inducing. So far, I’ve encountered a sticky note behemoth, an evil drum kit, and a possessed traffic light. I’ve also carved a path through pink goop and loaded mannequins into ski lifts. Do I understand why? No. Does it matter? Not at all. With slick combat, striking graphical effects and diverse objectives, FBC: Firebreak is a first-person shooter that’s a load of silly fun with your friends. The main question I’m still figuring out is: how far can Remedy sustain this wackiness to keep me interested in the long term?

FBC is set six years after the events of Control, and invites you back to the wonderfully strange architecture of The Oldest House under wildly different circumstances. Instead of saving the day as upstart director Jesse Faden, you’re a trio of first responders attending to oddball emergencies that would make an OSHA officer wince. When radioactive leeches have infested a quarry and need to be thrown into a furnace on wheels that resembles Team Fortress 2’s Payload, it’s you and your team that receive the call. And once you’ve finished your Jobsite shift, your team will also have to trek back to the elevator you arrived in and survive until it reaches your station. Hey, it’s hard work, but someone's gotta do it.

Despite the time since Control, that game’s interdimensional antagonist, The Hiss, also remains ever-present. As such, while you’re trying to tackle the quirky jobs at hand, you’ll also need to manage hordes of possessed office employees hellbent on your disposal. While there hasn’t been a vast range of enemy types to tackle, at least so far, there is enough diversity to keep gunplay interesting. And, whether it was a glowing ghoul sprinting at me, or flying desk jockeys zooming through the sky, I found plenty of joy in taking them out all the same.

To pull off these expedition, you call in the help of two additional players, with each member of the squad wielding a specialised ‘Crisis Kit.’ Similar to the class systems found in other cooperative shooters, each kit equips you with a unique skill set that can expedite key tasks throughout jobs. For example, on the map called Hot Fix, the player wielding the Fix Kit can speedily repair the internals of a broken fan with their quick-fixing wrench, while the Splash Kit crew member can provide support by keeping them from heat death thanks to their globs of healing ammunition. Meanwhile, the Jump Kit player can sprint around activating the generators with their electro-kinetic charge impactor, using their secondary fire to rocket jump around the map and control the field.

There’s plenty of replayability in the current Jobsite lineup already.

It’s worth mentioning that there are no restrictions on repeating roles, and your crew can triple down on one skillset, rather than diversifying the team. You’ll still be able to finish jobs, though the approach you’ll need to take will be drastically different depending on the specific composition of your team. While the gunplay across each role is identical (depending on your choice of loadout), the mixture of your cohort's Crisis Kits do well to tailor expeditions around your team’s preferences.

Regardless of how your team pick powers between the roles, though, FBC provides opportunities for each role to shine, especially as you start to level up and invest in the upgrade trees to unlock perk-based modifiers and new weaponry. As the resident Fix Kit operator and player most likely to get into sticky situations, I funnelled my Lost Assets (the currency that allows you to progress the upgrade tree) into perks like ‘Shower Thoughts’, which enabled me to expedite recovery when using healing sources, as well as ‘Greasy Fingers’, which allowed me to switch between my tools faster. While I was initially sceptical that these additions would make any tangible difference, I immediately noticed a positive change in my performance, especially during high-octane combat encounters.

As of now, FBC has five unique Jobsites to choose between, with more expected to arrive after launch. And, despite the small pool of options, there’s plenty of replayability in the current lineup already. The pink goo level, which my friends lovingly dubbed the Mr Blobby level in homage to the British children’s TV mascot from the early 90s, became the bane of our existence – primarily due to our clumsy play leading us right into explosives. The sentient sticky note-infested Paper Chase mission, on the other hand, provided the right amount of risk vs reward, and we revisited that map frequently in search of more Lost Assets.

Each Jobsite in FBC offers three unique ‘Clearance Levels’ that expand on the base job, and as you progress deeper into these levels, the number of Hiss agents and objective criteria increases in both number and intensity as the map expands. Soon enough, the infected office workers make way for winged eldritch horrors and tanky beasts, and your team will be forced to communicate to avoid being downed.

FBC is an engaging extension of the Control universe.

There is some reprieve from the constant combat, and in each Clearance level, you can find healing decontamination showers and ammunition bays. Though in the FBC, not even safe zones are truly safe, and these life-saving stations can also break and falter, demanding a quick fix from a certain kit or a more lengthy button-pressing session if you’re caught in a bind. Attempting a repair without the appropriate kit in FBC leads to a rhythmic quick-time event where you have to tap Q and E (or L1 and R1) in sequence without making errors to progress the meter. I wasn’t expecting to encounter a stressful rhythm game in my cooperative shooter, but I was pleasantly surprised by how it ramped up the anxiety of completing essential tasks nonetheless.

Perhaps what makes FBC so morish, though, is how quickly poor communication can turn a level upside down. During one such mission, I found myself caught between enemy fire and literal flames while attempting to retrieve Lost Assets. In response to my screams, my Splash Kit teammate valiantly came to my rescue, putting out the fire and starting to revive me… that was, until a second horde of Hiss appeared, and the fire restarted without warning. As you could expect, my teammate fell to the same fate I did while trying to revive me. At any point, I could have said, ‘Leave me, save yourself.’ But, naively, despite the flames and enemies, I thought it was going to be okay. Thankfully, FBC isn’t keen on punishing you for your poor planning, and depending on your difficulty setting, you’ll have a series of lives to expend before it’s a total game over.

FBC is an engaging extension of the Control universe, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time blasting through the Oldest House with friends in tow. Unfortunately, beyond the initial exhilaration, I was disappointed to find that I didn’t feel as embedded in the Remedy Connected Universe as I was expecting. It is the nature of the replayable co-op shooter genre, I suppose, but the story only appears in loading screens and the occasional voice line on the main menu. So far, it’s left me with many stories, but I’m still keen for a little bit more lore, and hoping that it arrives as I push deeper into the difficulty modifiers.

As of this writing, I’ve completed the final stage of each Jobsite and am now messing around with Corruption and Threat-based difficulty modifiers to unlock rare Research Samples that will allow me to specialise my perk build. There’s still a lot more to explore before I deliver my final review, like playing on my own and the forthcoming weapon upgrades, like the ‘Functional’ Submachine Gun that I’ve yet to unlock. But 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. 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.

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Pik-Sen Lim, Mind Your Language Actress and Dark Souls Narrator, Dies at 80

Pik-Sen Lim, an actress known for roles across British and Malaysian television, has died at age 80.

Per Malay Mail, the Penang-born actress appeared in numerous roles over the years, including appearing on Doctor Who as Chin Lee in The Mind of Evil. Lim also gained international fame for her role as Chung Su-Lee in Mind Your Language, a British comedy from the 1970s.

She also appeared in series like Coronation Street and Spearhead, as well as American TV shows like Vampire Academy and The Nevers. On the film side, Lim played the Killer Cleaner in Johnny English Reborn.

Lim also played an important role in video games, as the narrator for the opening cinematics of Dark Souls 1 and Dark Souls 3. These cinematics laid the groundwork for the story ahead, and are often remembered and quoted in the Souls and FromSoftware fandom.

Actor Daniel York Loh posted a fond remembrance on Instagram, recalling seeing Lim on Mind Your Language before eventually working with her on stage plays, readings, and workshops.

"She was so affectionate, so witty, so brilliantly scabrous and absolutely honest about the rubbish this industry deals actors of our heritage - unlike a fair few others who actually try and cape it," said Loh. "We’ll miss you so much but thank you, Pixi, for blessing our lives with your unique presence."

Photo by: Jose Haro/Peacock via Getty Images.

Eric is a freelance writer for IGN.

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A Cinematic Cut of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Will Get the Film Festival Treatment

In today’s interesting crossover news, Karlovy Vary International Film Festival is set to screen the world premiere of a cinematic cut of the hit video game Kingdom Come: Deliverance II.

The screening will be playing in the special screenings section during the festival, which takes place annually in the Czech Republic, and will be held on July 9 at 7pm in Kaiserbad.

“We are honored to be working together with world leaders in their field on this unique project,” the festival’s artistic director Karel Och said in a statement. “Which represents an exceptionally original contribution to our long-standing goal of presenting powerful and gripping stories captured in a unique manner.”

The game’s developer, Warhorse Studios, will also be represented at the festival with a KVIFF Talk with directors Daniel Vávra and Petr Pekař earlier in the day at 3.30pm in Kaiserbad.

“I have wished to see Kingdom Come: Deliverance II on the big screen for a long time. I believe that the civil story of a blacksmith's son will also appeal to film audiences and stand up to the competition of international movie productions,” Martin Frývadlský, CEO of Warhorse Studios, said in a statement. “Together with my colleagues in the studio, we are proud that we have the opportunity to present the story we have been working on for many years in a world premiere at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival.”

According to the festival, the film’s synopsis teases an epic. “Kingdom of Bohemia, 1403,” it reads. “Chaos has befallen the Kingdom. As invaders pillage this ungoverned land, sowing fear and terror, Henry of Skalitz seeks revenge for his murdered family. Now a trusted servant of the rightful king’s allies, Henry is sent to escort Sir Hans Capon on a diplomatic mission. After they are ambushed and nearly killed, the two young men embark on a series of perilous adventures, putting their skills, character and friendship to the ultimate test”.

Karlovy Vary International Film Festival takes place July 4-12 this year.

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

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Mario Kart World Interactive Map is Now Available

IGN's Mario Kart World map is here! Our interactive map tracks essential locations across Mario Kart World's Free Roam mode, including P-Switches and Peach Medallions. It also tells you where to go to find Dash Food, which is essential for unlocking new character outfits.

Mario Kart World Interactive Map

The available map filters for our Mario Kart World interactive map include:

Mario Kart World Guides

There's a lot to unlock in Mario Kart World, including new characters, outfits, and collectibles. IGN's Game Help is here to assist you, with essential guides and tips for both beginners and those looking to collect everything. Our coverage includes:

Visit our Mario Kart World wiki for more game help.

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 cuddling her corgi.

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Amazon Kicks Off Its Early Prime Day 2025 Offers With Several Free Games for Prime Members

A new Amazon Prime Day event in July has been revealed, but the service is now offering a free selection of six PC games to celebrate early, all of which Amazon Prime members can claim right now, including Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, Saints Row 2, Saints Row IV Re-Elected, Star Wars: Rebellion, and more.

Kicking off from July 8 to 11, this marks the first four-day Prime Day, making it an even bigger deal, for, well, deals, than ever. The new variety of Prime Day deals and added savings won’t be available for another few weeks, but you can add the following games from the Amazon Prime Gaming page to your digital collection right now to keep forever:

The Tomb Raider I-III Remastered collection comes as no surprise, since Amazon owns the publishing rights for the next Tomb Raider game. Still, it’s a collection of three games in one that only came out last year, so it’s a pretty good free game.

However, so are others in the collection, like Saints Row 2 and Saints Row IV: Re-Elected — two of the best-received games in the franchise.

Star Wars: Rebellion is a nice little bonus too, as it’s a fun little 1998 RTS game set in the franchise’s expanded universe. It wasn’t received amazingly upon release, but it seems to have found new life in the modern community, getting a “mostly positive” rating on its Steam page.

If you’re not an Amazon Prime member, you can sign up right now for either a 30-day trial, pay $14.99 monthly or $139 annually. If you’re between 18 and 24, though, you can get a free six-month trial of Prime for Young Adults, with all of the exact same benefits as those received by your older fellow shoppers.

Even after the free trial, it’s still an incredible deal, as Prime’s Young Adults tier will only charge you $7.49 a month afterwards, half the price of the standard tier.

Along with free delivery, Prime Video streaming, various deals, and, of course, free games, your Prime membership also grants you a monthly Twitch subscription, Amazon Music, unlimited storage with Amazon Photos, savings on fuel, free Grubhub+, and money off on prescriptions.

In terms of other deals on at the moment, Amazon has kicked off some other early Prime Day savings, including three months of Audible for $0.99, 32% off Apple AirPods Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds for $169.00, 26% off a PS Portal for $148.01, and a Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy Play Booster Box for $196.65 with 5% taken off.

Ben Williams – IGN freelance contributor with over 10 years of experience covering gaming, tech, film, TV, and anime. Follow him on Twitter/X @BenLevelTen.

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Deathgasm 1.5 Graphic Novel to Feature a What We Do In the Shadows Crossover

The heavy metal-themed horror comedy Deathgasm is expanding into a veritable multimedia franchise. Not only is the original film getting a direct sequel (appropriately titled Deathgasm II: Goremageddon), the series is also spawning an original prequel graphic novel and a 16-bit-style video game.

Now that the Deathgasm 1.5: Director's Cut graphic novel is live on Kickstarter, IGN can exclusively reveal a very cool new detail about the book. It's going to feature a cameo from the stars of 2014's What We Do In the Shadows movie, Taika Waititi's Viago and Jermaine Clement's Vladislav. Check out the slideshow gallery below for a closer look at that cameo and the previously revealed artwork and Kickstarter extras for Deathgasm 1.5. Note -beware of some NSFW language and violent imagery!

Deathgasm 1.5: Director's Cut is written by Deathgasm director Jason Howden and Peter Bune (Squatch Watch), with art by Industrias Lamonicana (Fierro), colors by Zac Atkinson (Farscape, Star Trek), and letters by Jeremiah Lambert (Masters of the Universe, Transformers). The book features covers by Skinner (Skin Crawl Magazine), Preston Asevedo (The Exiled), and Matthew Therrien (The Wrath of Becky). The book also includes contributions from writers Michael Schwartz (Armored, Zombie Town) and Joshua Viola (True Believers, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver).

“Between the events of Deathgasm 1 and Deathgasm 2 was a story that I needed to tell,” said Howden in a statement. “The story was so visually epic, so gory, and so offensive that it could never be filmed without watering it down. Instead, we made it into a graphic novel: Deathgasm 1.5. We’re stoked for fans to witness Brodie and Medina slashing demons and thrashing metal riffs, meeting old mates and an ageless evil that lurks in the shadows of a heavy metal-hating church!”

The Kickstarter campaign for Deathgasm 1.5 and the Deathgasm video game features a number of optional extras like latex masks, original art, shirts, and signed art prints.

For more on What We Do In the Shadows, check out IGN's review of the TV show's final episode.

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

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Dying Light: The Beast – Weapons Overview | IGN First

Dying Light: The Beast game director Nathan Lemaire walks you through the weapons you'll wield in Techland's upcoming standalone first-person melee/shooter/parkour open-world action-adventure, in which you once again play Kyle Crane, who's out for revenge on the people who experimented on him and turned him into the eponymous Beast.

From flamethrowers to vicious (and maybe even a bit rusty) melee weapons, the development team is aiming to give weapons even more impact on the world than they've had the first two Dying Light games. Check out the trailer above, and if you missed our exclusive 30-minute extended gameplay trailer, you can watch that below.

If you missed our other two exclusives so far this month, we had an exclusive hands-on preview (that included a fight with one of the Chimeras), and we also had a deep-dive video on the Chimera bosses you'll battle.

Dying Light: The Beast will be released on August 22 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Stay tuned to IGN all June long for more exclusive coverage.

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

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F1: The Movie Review

There’s a scene in F1 that I think counts as the movie’s big rah-rah speech. It’s about how if everybody on the crew contributes a half second at some point in the race, if they can all find just a fraction of a second here or there, that’s the difference between last place and first. As far as sports-movie speeches go, it’s pretty good. But what I found so intriguing about it is that it perfectly describes the difference between a bad sports movie and a good one. It seems to be a lesson Joseph Kosinski, Brad Pitt, and the rest of the team behind F1 took to heart. As a sports movie following some pretty tried and true tactics, F1 ups its game at every stage of things. This won’t win it any awards for originality, but it still adds up to a real win.

I’m a sucker for sports movies. Unashamedly and unreservedly, I love an underdog defying the odds on a field, a court, a pitch, wherever. Even, as it turns out, on a racetrack. There’s something comforting about their formula, which comes in subtly different flavors, of course: Inspirational, comedic, based-on-a-true-story, based on Super Bowl ads that team Michael Jordan with Bugs Bunny. But ever since Rocky in 1976, any new entry the genre gets a head start thanks to a blueprint that’s honestly hard to mess up. F1 is definitely not a sports movie that messes this up.

Director Joseph Kosinski clearly has both hands on the wheel where the sports-movie formula is concerned. The story he’s concocted with Transformers vet Ehren Kruger follows an aging, never-was racecar driver as he tries to rescue his old pal’s team and the cocky rookie driver who’s got lessons to learn before he can realize his full potential. Throw in a romantic interest and feel free to stop me when you’ve heard all that before.

But when I use the word formulaic here, it’s not meant to be derogatory. Because here’s the thing about a good formula: If it didn’t yield good movies, people wouldn’t use it over and over and over again. But it requires a steady and delicate hand. Use too much of one ingredient here, or apply the wrong amount of heat there, and the whole thing can blow up in your face.

On a technical level, F1 is impeccably put together. Kosinski and his frequent collaborator, Academy Award winning cinematographer Claudio Miranda, put cameras in just… all the places. Picking up where they left off with Top Gun: Maverick, F1 is filled with impossible angles and quick, robotic pans that make us feel like we’re at the mercy of these rocketship machines. The major difference between these movies’ depictions of speed and mechanical might is that there isn’t a global television audience tuning in nearly every weekend from mid-March to early December to watch fighter jets tool around. There’s a deep cultural familiarity with what a Formula One race is supposed to look like onscreen. F1: The Movie gets that too. One shot puts you intimately and dangerously into the driver’s seat while the next feels broadcast-worthy.

The editing does the same as well, thanks to Stephen Mirrione, another member of the pit crew with an Oscar in the garage. F1 is cut beautifully and peacefully in stretches, chaotically and nervously in others. There’s one character who owes her entire struggling-to-keep-up-to-coming-through-in-the-clutch story arc to the editing. That particular sports-movie must-have is landed perfectly in the three second edit of a tire change.

But that’s behind the camera. In front of the camera you can see the fruits of the reliable sports-movie formula as well. The fun everybody had making this movie is both obvious and infectious; there’s an ease and joy that shows up in even the tensest scenes. Everybody knows the score. It’s like “We’ve seen this movie before, so let’s just enjoy ourselves.”

Pitt plays his character, Sonny Hayes, like the Don Quixote of driving: Searching for the great prize that even he can’t articulate, and carrying F1 with the uncomplicated charm of one of Earth’s last movie stars. Sonny approaches his assignment with what he describes as hard-earned wisdom and a directness that sometimes borders on disinterested. He’s every bit the archetypal weary veteran, a Brad Pitt specialty at this point in his career. (It’s the type that won him his Oscar, after all.) If he’d endeavored to paint outside the lines too much, F1 would’ve been a weaker movie for it.

The supporting cast is stacked with celebrated actors doing admirable work alongside Pitt. Javier Bardem is perfect as the friend who’s in over his head and needs a Hail Mary. (It’s fair to mix this particular sports metaphor, because F1 does it, too.) He’s rooting for Sonny, and we’re rooting for him – it works great. Kerry Condon is charming as hell as technical director Kate McKenna – a tremendous foil for Sonny and Damson Idris as Joshua Pearce, the aforementioned arrogant young racer with a lot to learn from the grizzled old man.

All the pieces that you’d expect are there – and, again, plussing up the “familiar” is the best thing Kosinski and his crew have done with F1. They’ve built a super-charged vehicle that can outdo the competition on almost every level – give or take a two-and-a-half-hour-plus runtime. While I can totally understand the instinct to include every frame of that in-the-driver’s-seat footage, by the time F1 made its final laps, I was starting to feel out of gas.

This is where the film runs into the downside of a formula: For most of F1, the competition is internal, with Sonny and Joshua battling themselves and each other. Their rivals on the circuit are all familiar faces and sponsors from the real world of Formula One, but as movie characters, they’re as anonymous as the “enemy” countries in Top Gun and Maverick. As if to correct for this lack of an antagonistic Ivan Drago to their Rocky (or Yankees to their Bad News Bears, or East Germany to their Jamaican Bobsled Team…), an adversarial element that’s been hovering in the background plays an outsized importance in the final act. It’s one extra thing that the formula demands, but that F1 just doesn’t need.

The climactic race also gets a little exposition-heavy, going out of its way to establish the obscure rules (maybe just semi-obscure… I’m not that into actual Formula One racing) that bring a last gasp of hope to Sonny and Joshua’s chances. That’s not the case for the rest of F1 – you don’t have to be fluent in the sport to tell what’s going on in the rest of the races. Each one brings a new obstacle, which in turn gives rise to a new and character-building solution. It’s a pattern that really works, escalating in all the right ways until Kosinski goes to the well one too many times.

F1 is definitely not a movie that messes up the sports-movie formula. 

But that’s the formula for you, I suppose. It’s a game of inches with sports movies, or in the case of F1, tenths of seconds. Kosinski and his incredibly talented crew have all the pedigree to elevate a road-tested format, Brad Pitt and his co-stars are talented drivers sitting on top of an immaculately crafted racecar, and all any of them need to do is hang on and not steer too far out of their lane. For 125 or so of its 156 minutes, F1 is every bit the experienced veteran. In its weaker moments though, it reverts to brash-rookie mode.

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DCU Horror Film Clayface Finds Its Star in Tom Rhys Harries

After months of rumors and searching, DC has finally selected Tom Rhys Harries as the actor who will play legendary Batman villain and shapeshifter Clayface in the upcoming standalone DCU film.

DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn announced the news when sharing a Deadline article on social media platform Bluesky. It’s a promising update for the movie, which is still finding its shape as its September 11, 2026, release date inches closer.

“After a long and incredibly exhaustive search, we finally have our DCU Clayface in Tom Rhys Harries,” Gunn shared. “Both Matt Reeves and I were just blown away by this guy, and can't wait for you to see this film, directed by James Watkins and written by Mike Flanagan.”

Clayface will be Harries’ foray into the comic book world, with the actor having previously made a name for himself with films like The Gentlemen and The Return as well as shorts like Yellowbird and Hireth. Viewers may also recognize the actor from TV series, such as White Lines and Suspicion.

We know the DCU Clayface movie will be directed by James Watkins (Speak No Evil) and written by Mike Flanagan (Midnight Mass, The Life of Chuck). With Lynn Harris and The Batman director Matt Reeves also onboard as producers, these are names that should have horror fans excited as the film preps to begin shooting soon.

While plot details largely remain under wraps, Gunn and fellow DC Studios co-CEO Peter Safran did tease some of what Batman fans can expect earlier this year. We know that the movie will tell Clayface’s origin story, for example, with Gunn specifically teasing that the project will be “pure f***ing horror” with “psychological and body horror” elements baked into the mix, too.

We’ll learn more about how Clayface will mold his own corner in the DCU in the near future. In the meantime, you can check out everything we know about every upcoming DCU project. You can also check out why Batman has recently turned out to be quite the issue for Gunn.

Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images for Wheely.

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).

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The New Sony WH-1000XM6 Noise Cancelling Headphones Are on Sale for the First Time

Sony's newest flagship wireless noise cancelling headphones - the Sony WH-1000XM6 - was released on May 15 and today I am seeing the first deal for it. Amazon is currently offering a bonus $30 Amazon gift card when you purchase this headphone in Black, Midnight Blue, or Platinum Silver for $448 with free shipping. The WH-1000XM6 builds upon our previous favorite headphone with better sound, but noise cancelation, and better ergonomics.

Buy Sony WH-1000XM6 Headphones, Get $30 Amazon Gift Card

The Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones replaces the WH-1000XM5 that were released way back in 2022. The three year span makes for more significant improvements than you might think. Both sound quality and noise cancelation have been noticeably improved thanks to a new and more powerful QN3 audio processor and a total of 12 microphones (including 6 beam-forming mics) that do a great job of cancelling out unwanted noise. The XM6 is also easier to stow away than the XM5 because the earcups can be folded inwards and fit in a smaller carrying case. The headphone can last up to 30 hours and it also supports fast charging; a quick 3 minute top-up over USB Type-C will give you up to 3 hours of continuous playback. You can save some money by going with an older generation XM5 or even the XM4, but as long as it is within your budget, the XM6's improvements in sound quality, noise cancelation, and ergonomics makes the new model worth it.

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

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The Best Audible Deal Is Back: Get 3 Months of Audible Premium Plus for $0.99 Per Month

The seasonal Audible deal has returned. Starting now and running through July 31 (including Amazon Prime Day), you can sign up for three months of Audible Premium Plus for just $0.99 per month. Premium Plus is Audible's highest tier plan and normally costs $14.95/mo. As a additional subscription perk, you get a free audiobook of your choice for each of those three months and you get to keep them indefinitely.

Both new and currently expired Audible customers are eligible

Anyone who doesn't currently have an active Audible membership should be eligible. That includes new subscribers as well as existing members whose subscriptions have since expired. There's always a small your-mileage-may-vary disclaimer with these types of promotions, but fortunately it's easy to check if you qualify: log into your account, and if you see the $0.99/mo banner right on Amazon's Audible page then you're eligible for this promotion.

3 Months of Audible Premium Plus for $0.99 per Month

Audible is a subscription service that gives you access to hundreds of thousands of the best audiobooks without ever having to purchase them. There are two paid membership plans: the lower tier Audible Plus ($7.95/mo) and the higher tier Audible Premium Plus ($14.95/mo). The biggest difference between the two is the size of the audiobook library. Whereas Audible Plus only lets you listen to a selection of about 10,000 audiobooks, the Audible Premium Plus plan gives you access to a whopping 500,000 audiobooks.

Although the seriously expanded library is the main draw of the Audible Premium Plus membership, there are some other nice perks as well. Every month Premium Plus members get to pick one audiobook to keep in their library indefinitely, even after the membership expires. Also, Premium Plus members can get 30% off any additional audiobooks they wish to purchase in addition to exclusive limited-time discounts.

If you were already planning to purchase a couple of audiobooks, then it makes more sense to pay less than $3 to get three audiobooks you get to keep indefinitely and enjoy all the benefits of Audible Premium Plus for three months. This deal only pops up a few times per year, so don't waste your "first-time subscriber" eligibility status on a short 30-day trial.

Catch up the the latest novel releases, audiobook style

Several best-selling new and recent releases are available in an audiobook format and part of Audible's Premium Plus subscription plan. Sunrise on the Reaping, the latest Hunger Games novel, is narrated by Jefferson White, who you may already know from Yellowstone where he played Jimmy Hudstrom. The audiobook has a listening time of about 12 hours and 48 minutes. Stephen King released his Never Flinch crime novel in May 27 and it's also available as a nearly 15 hour long audiobook narrated by veteran Jessie Mueller. If you're a fan of Brandon Sanderson, check out Wind and Truth, book five of the popular The Stormlight Archive series. It was released in December of 2024 and runs an epic 63 hours long.

Looking for more free trials? Check out the best streaming services with free trials.

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

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Get a Used: Like New PlayStation Portal for Under $150 on Amazon

A new PlayStation Portal has never been discounted, even during the PlayStation Days of Play Sale that recently happened, but at least you can save on a used one. Amazon Resale just dropped the price of the Used: Like New PS Portal to below $150. Right now you can pick one up for only $148.81 with free shipping. It retails for $200 new, so that's 26% in savings. A Sony warranty may or may not be included, but Amazon Resale items still get a 30-day return policy.

PlayStation Portal (Used: Like New) for $148.81

Make sure to select the "Save with Used - Like New" option

Note: You'll see the price of a new PS Portal on the product page ($199). Scroll down a bit to see the Like New price.

The PS Portal, Sony's handheld gaming accessory for the PS5 console, looks very much like an extended split-pad DualSense controller with an 8-inch 1080p LCD screen in the middle of it. It turns your PS5 into a gaming handheld by letting you stream games from your console at up to 60fps. The controller mirrors the same features found on the DualSense, including haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and a touchscreen interface that replaces the Dualsense's touchpad. The Portal can stream your games even when you're outside of your home, with the caveat that you have access to very stable, very fast internet connection. Keep in mind that the PS Portal is not a standalone device. This is strictly a remote player for the PlayStation 5, so you will need a PS5 to use it.

You no longer need a PS5 to play games on the PS Portal. Now, rather than being limited to simply streaming games from a $500 console to a $200 handheld, Sony has introduced a feature that lets owners stream games directly from its PlayStation Now cloud streaming service. No PS5 required. Portal owners can either connect the Portal to their PS5 or directly to Sony’s cloud servers (with some new quality of life beta updates that launched in April). Choose the latter and suddenly you have access to a library of more than 120 games, including Ghost of Tsushima, Resident Evil 3 Remake, The Last of Us Part 1 Remastered, and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. It’s worth noting you must be a subscriber to the highest tier of PlayStation Plus, but $18 a month is much more attractive than paying for every new game.

It should be said that the PlayStation Portal isn’t the only way to stream your PS5 games over Wi-Fi within your home. You can mimic its functionality by downloading the PS Remote Play app on a mobile device, including other gaming handhelds like the Steam Deck. That said, it's more complicated to set up and you'll lose out on some of the Dualsense's features.

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

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The Alienware Area-51 RTX 5090 Gaming PC With Upgraded Specs Drops to a New Price Low

If you're seeking the absolute best of the best in PC gaming performance, look no further. Dell has just dropped the price of its flagship Alienware Area-51 prebuilt gaming PC, equipped with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card to $4,849.99 with free shipping. This is a competitive price - especially for an Alienware computer - compared to the similar off-the-shelf prebuilts on Amazon. The RTX 5090 is undisputedly the most powerful graphics card on the market and is pretty much impossible to find for under $3,000 by itself.

Alienware Area-51 RTX 5090 Gaming PC for $4,849.99

This Alienware Area-51 gaming PC configuration is equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K processor, 64GB of DDR5-6400MHz RAM, and 4TB SSD storage. The Core Ultra 9 285K is Intel's latest flagship CPU and offers stellar workstation and gaming performance. It's not quite the performance uplift we wanted from the i9-14900K, but it's still the best all-around CPU that Intel has on offer. The processor is cooled by a massive 360mm all-in-one liquid cooler, and the system is powered by a 1,500W Platinum power supply.

The RTX 5090 Is the Most Powerful Graphics Card Ever

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 has emerged as the most powerful consumer GPU on the market. Although Nvidia has prioritized software updates, AI features, and DLSS 4 technology to improve gameplay performance, the 5090 still boasts an impressive 25%-30% uplift over the RTX 4090 in terms of pure hardware-based raster performance. The 5090 also has more (32GB vs. 24GB) and faster (GDDR7 vs. GDDR6) VRAM compared to the 4090. This GPU is extremely difficult to find at retail price and is currently selling for $3,500-$4,000 on eBay.

Check out more of the best Alienware deals

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

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

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The tomtoc Slim Nintendo Switch 2 Case Is Better AND Cheaper Than the Official Nintendo Case

We've seen the official Nintendo Switch 2 case and it could be better for the price. It fits the console well enough, but the build quality and protection is lacking and it looks boring for a $40 case. If you want something that protects your Switch 2 while looking a lot nicer and still maintaining a slim profile, I'd suggest getting the tomtoc Slim Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case. In fact, it currently costs $36.99 on Amazon, which is a few dollars cheaper than the official case.

tomtoc Slim Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case for $36.99

tomtoc has a history of making great cases for mobile electronics. It makes popular cases for most current gaming handhelds, including the original Switch and Switch Lite, Steam Deck, and Asus ROG Ally. Its signature trademark is the raised indent patterning for each handheld's unique analog joystick and button layout. This is mostly an aesthetic touch, but it helps set tomtoc cases apart from the clamshell design you'll see for nearly every other case out there.

Material-wise, the tomtoc is a hard shell case with a felt inner lining. It has an interior flap that can fit up to twelve game cards. Other features include a buckle strap and durable YKK zipper. The tomtoc Slim is available in black, white, and gray, although only the black color has the multi-colored logo. Since this is a slim case, there's no room to fit a charger.

Need something bigger?

If you're looking for something roomier, Tomtoc also has a sling-style case that's specifically made for portable gaming handhelds including the Switch 2. The padded compartment is shaped like a "W" to make room for a wide range of handhelds that have dual analog joysticks. It's not specifically designed for the Switch 2, so don't expect a molded fit, but there's plenty of room here to fit extra controllers, a charger or power bank, and more.

We also love the Genki Sleeper case

Many of the IGN staff think the Genki Sleeper is also one of the best Switch 2 cases on the market at the sub-$50 price point. It features a wool wrapped exterior that looks really great and resists water and stains. It's normally $42.99, but there's a Father's Day coupon code "DAD10" going on right now that drops the price down to $38.69. That doesn't sound much more expensive than the tomtoc, however keep in mind that there's a flat $9 shipping charge. I'd suggest getting your order total over $69 to get free shipping.

Stock up on more essential Switch 2 accessories

Nintendo Switch 2 orders have shipped and many lucky gamers are playing Mario Kart World as I write this. In addition to a new case, you might want to think about picking up some other Switch 2 accessories, like a MicroSD Express card for extra storage, a screen protector for extra protection, or a power bank for extra battery life. Check out the list of officially licensed Switch 2 accessories that are already up for preorder, including the all-new Switch 2 Pro controller.

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

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The Alienware Aurora R16 GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Gaming PC Drops to Just $1,699.99 with June Delivery

Dell is offering a competitive price on an Alienware Aurora R16 prebuilt gaming PC equipped with the excellent Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti graphics card. Right now you can get a base configuration paired with the latest Intel Core Ultra 7 processor for just $1,699.99 with free June delivery. This CPU/GPU duo can comfortably handle even the latest and most demanding games like Black Myth Wukong, Clair Obscur, or Kingdom Come: Deliverance in 4K resolution.

Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 5070 Ti Gaming PC for $1,699.99

This system is equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265F processor, GeForce RTX 5070 Ti 16GB graphics card, 16GB of DDR5-5600MHz RAM, and a 1TB M.2 SSD. Note that this is a customizable configuration so you can upgrade the CPU and GPU or increase your memory or storage capacity. I would recommend upgrading the stock air cooling to 240mm all-in-one liquid cooling for the CPU for only $50 extra.

The Core Ultra 7 265F is part of Intel's newest Arrow Lake-S lineup released earlier this year and boasts a max turbo frequency of 5.3GHz with 20 cores and a 36MB L2 cache. This is an excellent all-around CPU for gaming, multi-tasking, and general workstation performance. In terms of gaming specifically, you won't see any improvement in performance upgrading to a Core Ultra 9. The entire system is powered by a generous 1,000W 80Plus Platinum rated power supply.

The RTX 5070 Ti is an excellent card for up to 4K gaming. In fact, of the Blackwell cards, this is the most affordable 4K graphics card that I'd recommend; the RTX 5070 isn't quite up to snuff and an RTX 5080 gaming PC costs at least $750 more. Compared to the previous generation cards, it's roughly comparable to an RTX 4080 Super but with the added benefit of DLSS 4 and multi-frame generation.

Check out more of the best Alienware deals

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

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

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Save 33% Off the Apple AirPods Pro Noise Cancelling Earbuds, Last Chance to Have It Arrive by Father's Day

Apple's newest AirPods are all on sale and would make a great gift idea for Father's Day, which lands on June 15. Starting with the highest end model, the second generation Apple AirPods Pro wireless noise-canceling earbuds is $169 shipped (normally $240). The next step down, the Apple AirPods 4 with ANC (active noise cancelation) is down to $148 (normally $179). Finally, the value-packed AirPods 4 without ANC drops to $99.99 (normally $129).

Apple AirPods Pro for $169

The AirPods Pro is the best-sounding "truly wireless" earbuds for iPhone users thanks to its passively isolating in-ear design combined with excellent active noise cancelation, low-distortion driver and amp, and the Apple H2 chip. It also has useful features like Adaptive Transparency Mode, which lets you better hear your surroundings without removing your earbuds, and Conversation Mode, which automatically enhances the voices of people you're talking to. The second generation AirPods Pro replaces the Lightning port with a more universal USB Type-C port so you don't have to mix and match cables, and also includes a MagSafe charging case as standard.

Save Over $40 Off the New Apple AirPods 4

The Apple AirPods 4 was released on September, 2024 in two variants: both models are mostly identical with the exception of the noise canceling functionality on the more expensive one. The AirPods 4 features several updates over the AirPods 3 which brings it in-line with modern day standards. These improvements include the newer Apple H2 chip (vs H1), Bluetooth 5.3 support (vs Bluetooth 5.0), better IP54 resistance rating which now protects against dust intrustion (vs IPX4), USB Type-C (vs Lightning), and replacement of the skin detect sensor with a more reliable optical in-ear sensor.

Should you get the AirPods Pro over AirPods 4 with ANC?

The AirPods Pro is a superior earbud, which is why it retails for $70 more than the AirPods 4 ANC. Both feature active noise cancelation, but the AirPods Pro produces better sound quality and more effective noise canceling because of its design. The AirPods 4 ANC is an open-ear style earbud with non-adjustable tips. They're designed to sit right outside of the ear which – while comfortable – means you get plenty of sound leakage and ambient noise intrusion.

On the other hand, the AirPods Pro is an in-ear style of earbud that sits right inside your ear canal, sealing the passage and passively isolating it from the ambient air. Adjustable tips are included to accomodate different sized ears and ensure you get that proper sealing fit, which is very important to squeeze out the best performance. At this price, the only compelling reason to still go for the AirPods 4 ANC is if you don't like the intrusive nature of in-ear style earbuds in general.

A new Apple iPad would also make an awesome gift for mom

Amazon has dropped the price of the newest 2025 11th gen Apple iPad (A16) tablet. All four colors - Blue, Yellow, Pink, and Silver - equipped with 128GB of RAM and Wi-Fi only connectivity are down to $299 after a $50 price drop. This is the best discount I've seen for the latest generation iPad since its launch earlier this year. A sizeable discount on a very recent iPad release is uncommon, and I don't expect the sale to stick around for more than a couple of days.

Looking for more Father's Day gift ideas?

Every father is different, of course. So, we've rounded up a big list of potential Father's Day gift ideas that'll cater to just about every type of dad out there. Does he like books, board games, golf, or cooking? There's something here for them. Is your dad really just a kid in a grown man's body? We've found some great LEGO sets and video games that might be right up his alley. June 15 is fast approaching so get your order in quickly.

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

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Best Xbox Game Pass Deals and Bundles Right Now (June 2025)

With so many great games coming down the pipeline, now's a great time to hop on the Xbox Game Pass bandwagon. If some titles joining the catalog this year have caught your eye and you're itching to join in on the fun, you can choose between one or three month Game Pass Ultimate membership options at Amazon. Unfortunately, there aren't any discount deals available at the moment, but we'll update this when a new one drops.

You can learn more about options for signing up, what's coming soon to Game Pass this month, and the big releases still to come below.

Navigate to:

Best Xbox Game Pass Deals

While there aren't any deals available at the moment, we've included where you can buy a one month Game Pass Ultimate membership above at Amazon. This will set you back $19.99. Amazon also has a three month Game Pass Ultimate membership option available for $59.99, if you want to stock up on a few months to get you started.

What's Coming Soon to Xbox Game Pass?

Game Pass has a nice rotation of new titles to play every month. If you're curious about what's in store for the end of June and start of July, we've got you covered. The Xbox Game Pass June Wave 2 lineup is:

It's important to note that the Game Pass Standard tier (available for $14.99/month) does not give users access to day one releases - that's exclusive to the Game Pass Ultimate tier. If you're looking to play big Xbox exclusives and other new games on the day they release, you'll need to be subscribed to Game Pass Ultimate.

What Games Are Leaving Xbox Game Pass?

Unfortunately with new games joining the catalog it means a few must take their leave. Below, we've listed the games that'll be leaving Xbox Game Pass on June 30.

  • Arcade Paradise (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Journey to the Savage Planet (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • My Friend Peppa Pig (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Robin Hood: Sherwood Builders (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • SteamWorld Dig (Cloud and Console)
  • SteamWorld Dig 2 (Console and PC)

Biggest Games Releasing on Xbox Game Pass

Xbox's Summer Showcase this year had plenty of exciting new games to show off, from The Outer Worlds 2 to Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Clockwork Revolution, and Ninja Gaiden 4. But which of the many games revealed during the showcase will appear as day-one releases on Game Pass? Thankfully, quite a few! Including all of the previously mentioned titles.

The latest big release on the platform is Doom: The Dark Ages. In our review, IGN's Mitchell Saltzman said, "Doom: The Dark Ages may strip away the mobility focus of Doom Eternal, but replaces it with a very weighty and powerful style of play that is different from anything the series has done before, and still immensely satisfying in its own way."

If you're looking for even more savings on all things Xbox, have a look at our roundup of the best Xbox deals. There, we've highlighted all of the latest and greatest discounts on the platform, from incredible game deals to fantastic offers on high-quality headphones. Or, if you'd rather see what's going on with other platforms, check out our roundups of the best PlayStation deals, the best Nintendo Switch deals, and our overall roundup of the best video game deals.

Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.

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The Best Dell & Alienware Deals and Coupons: Gaming Laptops, PCs, Monitors, and More

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

Dell and Alienware Coupons

Dell and Alienware Gaming PC Deals

Dell and Alienware Gaming Laptop Deals

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

Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 5070 Ti Gaming PC

Dell is offering a competitive price on an Alienware Aurora R16 prebuilt gaming PC equipped with the excellent Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti graphics card. Right now you can get a base configuration paired with the latest Intel Core Ultra 7 processor for just $1,699.99 with free June delivery. This CPU/GPU duo can comfortably handle even the latest and most demanding games like Black Myth Wukong, Clair Obscur, or Kingdom Come: Deliverance in 4K resolution.

Alienware Area-51 RTX 5090 Gaming PC

If you're seeking the absolute best of the best in PC gaming performance, look no further. Dell has just dropped the price of its flagship Alienware Area-51 prebuilt gaming PC, equipped with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card to $4,849.99 with free shipping. This is a competitive price - especially for an Alienware computer - compared to the similar off-the-shelf prebuilts on Amazon. The RTX 5090 is undisputedly the most powerful graphics card on the market and is pretty much impossible to find for under $3,000 by itself.

Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 5080 Gaming PC

Dell has one of the best prices on an RTX 5080 equipped prebuilt desktop computer. Right now you can pick up an Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 5080 gaming PC starting at $2,324.99 shipped. This is a good price for a well-engineered (and warrantied) rig that can handle 4K gaming at high frame rates. 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 try to find a 5080 GPU for your diy PC build, you'll spend $1,400 for the GPU alone.

Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 5070 Gaming PC

If you're looking for a save some money and your technical needs for gaming are not as demanding, then consider an Alienware RTX 5070 gaming PC. They start at $1,766.99, which is $550 less than the least expensive RTX 5080 rig. In our Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 review, Jackie Thomas wrote that "The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 is complicated. It does what it says on the tin: play games at 1440p at a high frame rate. But the problem is that it doesn’t necessarily do that better than the RTX 4070 Super, or any other graphics card in this price range. It does add Multi Frame Generation, which is nice to have for anyone with a high-refresh monitor, but that alone isn’t worth the upgrade."

Alienware x16 R2 Gaming Laptops

The Alienware x16 gaming laptop is a slimmer and lighter redesign of the traditional m-series laptop. It's the thinnest 16" Alienware laptop ever and compares in build quality and performance to other high-end ultra-thin laptops like the Razer Blade. This Alienware x16 R2 laptop is built with premium materials, like a magnesium alloy chassis and palm rest, anodized aluminum lid, stainless steel keyboard tray, and Micro LED RGB accent lighting. It's only 0.73" thin and weighs in at 6 pounds. That's impressive considering the fact that this laptop can be equipped with the most power NVIDIA GPU.

Alienware Area-51 Gaming Laptops

Alienware's new flagship gaming laptop - the Alienware Area-51 - brings to the table a host of upgrades including a sleeker redesign, current generation components, and better cooling potential. They can be equipped with the new Nvidia GeForce Blackwell cards in RTX 5070, 5080, and 5090 variants. Both the 16" model and 18" model, equipped with the latest Intel Core Ultra 9 processor and powerful GeForce RTX 5080 graphics, are on sale right now. Orders are expected to ship out in mid June, so get your reservation in now to prevent any additional delays.

New Releases: Alienware Aurora 16 and 16X Gaming Laptops

The new Alienware Aurora laptops eschew the gamer styling of other Alienware laptops. Instead, these look more like standard, albeit sleek, laptops with a thin, unassuming profile and the absence of extraneous RGB lighting. The Alienware Aurora 16, in fact, only has white keyboard illumination similar to Apple MacBooks. Under the hood, however, both the Aurora 16 and 16X still pack in gaming-worthy components and a robust Cryo Chamber dual fan and copper heatpipe cooling system. The Aurora 16 is slightly thinner and lighter than the 16X thanks to more efficient components like a low voltage Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU and RTX 5070 graphics that has a lower 85W TGP rating. The Aurora 16X is slightly thicker and heavier to accommodate beefier cooling. In return, you get a more powerful Intel Core Ultra 9 HX series processor and an RTX 5070 graphics with the maximum 115W TGP rating.

Why pick a Dell or Alienware gaming PC?

If you're in the market for a prebuilt gaming PC, Dell is one of best gaming brands we'd recommend. The Alienware gaming desktops offer a staggering array of options, all built into a custom chassis. Alienware gaming laptops in recent years have been redesigned to be thinner and lighter while still offering the same immense power under the hood. Consistent build quality, available inventory, frequent sales, and solid customer service are the main reasons why Dell is at the top of our buying list for gaming laptops and PCs.

Some other resources you might be interested in:

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

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