There's now a toe-tapping Easter egg for this year's A Minecraft Movie hidden within the actual Minecraft game — though you'll need to hunt down a certain iconic enemy in order to find it.

Yes, you can now listen to A Minecraft Movie's annoyingly catchy Steve's Lava Chicken song (or a new version of it, anyway) within Minecraft itself.

The tune, and its performance by a typically jocular Jack Black, was one of A Minecraft Movie's viral scenes — and to find it within Minecraft, you'll need to go hunt down the enemy behind another of the film's most-memed moments: a Chicken Jockey.

As detailed in Minecraft's latest patch notes, for this week's update 1.21.93, a music disc for the Lava Chicken song (remixed into a chiptune by Hyper Potions) can now be found, "when defeating a baby Zombie riding a Chicken (Chicken Jockey)".

This fresh version of the tracks lacks Jack Black's vocals, but extends the 34-second ditty to several minutes by increasingly amping up its dubstep beats. I've listened to it several times this morning and can report that, annoyingly, they've made it even more catchy.

Amid a breakout box office run in theaters that saw A Minecraft Movie notch up (no pun intended) $955 million, and the launch of a special singalong version of the film, Steve's Lava Chicken found its own fame by becoming the shortest-ever track to make the coveted US Billboard Hot 100 Chart.

Minecraft has released a remixed version of the viral Lava Chicken song from the movie pic.twitter.com/gQER36wTTF

— barry scott (@barryscott33338) July 15, 2025

At just 34 seconds, the song — which boasts deep lyrics like "la-la-la-lava ch-ch-ch-chicken" — was written by Black and the film’s director Jared Hess, and marks the second video game movie appearance by Black to feature a breakout song, after his turn belting out "Peaches" as Bowser in the Super Mario Bros. Movie.

Months after the end of A Minecraft Movie's theatrical run, it seems there's never going to be an escape from Steve's Lava Chicken. And of course, plans for A Minecraft Movie sequel have already been floated.

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

Krypto the Superdog may be the star of Superman, given how he steals every scene he’s in. The very bad (but ultimately very good!) dog with superpowers terrorizes Superman as much as he helps him out. Is Krypto now a bigger deal than Lex Luthor, Lois Lane, and even Superman? I tell you what, there was only one character my kids wanted to talk about as we left the theater over the weekend: Krypto.

It seems Krypto is having an even bigger impact on audiences than expected. According to a report by The Wrap (itself based on data surfaced by dog training app Woofz), Google searches for “adopt a dog near me” jumped 513% after Superman came out last weekend, while “rescue dog adoption near me” rose by 163%.

Other related Google searches saw a more modest rise, but were still notable. “Adopt a puppy” increased 31% and, The Wrap said, users wanted to know if they could adopt Krypto’s breed specifically, as searches for “adopt a schnauzer” spiked 299%. (It’s unclear exactly which breed Krypto is, given he's a CGI alien — how has no-one asked writer and director James Gunn for clarification yet?!)

What is well-documented is the inspiration behind Krypto: Gunn’s own adopted dog, Ozu. As Gunn explains it, after rescuing the one-year-old Ozu, who had had limited human contact, the dog destroyed his house, chewing up his furniture and even biting his feet. It was at that point that the penny dropped: how bad would it be if Ozu had superpowers? Thus Krypto and indeed Gunn’s path forward for Superman was born.

Reacting to the news of the internet's Krypto-fueled surge in dog adoption interest, Gunn took to social media: "This film has been a barrage of blessings for me: this one may be the greatest."

Warning! Spoilers for Superman follow:

If you’ve seen Superman you’ll know there’s more to Krypto’s situation than being Superman's pet dog. Superman is in fact temporarily looking after Krypto on behalf of his cousin, Kara Zor-El / Supergirl, played by Milly Alcock. At the end of the movie, a drunken Supergirl turns up at the Fortress of Solitude to pick up her dog, which suggests we’ll see Krypto in next year’s Supergirl movie.

For more, check out IGN’s article, Superman Introduces the Girl of Steel: Here's Why This Version of Supergirl Is So Different.

In the U.S., Superman got the DCU off to a flyer with a global weekend take of $217 million at the box office. Its $122 million domestic haul was enough to make it the biggest North American launch ever for a solo Superman film, not adjusted for inflation.

Check out IGN’s Superman review to find out what we think, and then head over to our Superman Ending and Post-Credits Explained to find out what it all means.

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.

Blood Line, a video game spinoff for Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon, finally launched today as the Netflix movie series it’s based on remains with an uncertain future.

Subscribers may have been surprised to see Blood Line: A Rebel Moon Game show up as a playable game on their mobile devices today. Developed by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate studio Super Evil Mega Corp, this spinoff of the sci-fi universe that Snyder kicked off in 2023 allows players to drop into the Rebel Moon universe with isometric, twin-stick shooter gameplay.

“Take on intense combat missions in this multiplayer action game,” an official description for Blood Line says. “Build a rebellion against the Motherworld and fight for your planet’s freedom.”

With friends or alone, Blood Line tells a standalone story completely separate from the tale spun in Rebel Moon parts 1 and 2. What’s more is that Netflix Games and Super Evil Mega Corp promise their video game spinoff will “expand and evolve across regular post-launch updates.” With more challenges and rewards yet to be revealed, Blood Line’s future seems much more secure than the film series it originates from.

Rebel Moon: Part 1 – A Child of Fire set the stage for a new world from Snyder when it premiered in late 2023. After propping it up as a big-budget sci-fi epic with lots of moving parts, Rebel Moon Part 1 failed to impress, scoring a 22% from critics and 56% from fans on Rotten Tomatoes (we gave it a 4/10 in our review). Rebel Moon: Part 2 – The Scargiver attempted to get the new universe back on track upon its release in April 2024 but faced a similar landing with a 16% from critics and 47% from fans (we also gave it a 4/10).

Snyder Cut versions of both Rebel Moon films eventually made their way to Netflix in August 2024 and received more positive reviews from audiences, but Netflix has been quiet about how the story may continue. Snyder spoke about his work with Netflix during a recent interview with Variety. While Rebel Moon and its characters remain on the Man of Steel director’s mind, it sounds like he’s got other projects he’ll be tackling first.

“I got sidetracked into this — not sidetracked, it’s all uptown problems, as they say — for Netflix, I’m working on an LAPD SWAT movie,” Snyder said. “So I was like, OK, well, I’m gonna just sort of let that Rebel Moon world boil for a minute, and I’m gonna go do this. And frankly, it was a very exhausting, long process doing the two movies together. So it was nice to have a bit of a break from it. I love it like crazy, but it’s nice to have a bit of a break. So yeah, we’ll see after I finish this, when I come back, where we are with everything.”

Snyder adds that there are “tons of stories” to tell from the Rebel Moon, but he still needs to determine how the universe could expand, “if at all.” While we wait to see how Blood Line might continue to build on Snyder's world, you can read up on how the negative reviews affected Rebel Moon star Sofia Boutella. You can also check out our gamescom 2023 interview with Zack Snyder and Deborah Snyder, where we learned more about how Netflix planned to build its universe at the time.

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

It may be mid-July, but the sales heat hasn’t let up. If anything, it feels like someone at Amazon left the discount lever stuck in overdrive post-Prime Day. From cult classics to critically-acclaimed reboots, there’s a little something for every controller-clutcher this week.

This Day in Gaming 🎂

In retro news, I’m lighting a 26‑candle cake for Silent Hill, the fog‑laden survival horror fest that kept '99-era me perched on a seat with barely 2% of the surface area of one butt cheek. I still remember tentatively sweeping my flashlight across those grainy, polygonal streets, only to have the beam half illuminate some scurrying something in the dark.

Though the OG Resident Evil certainly vexed me first, the unique magic of Silent Hill lay in how its graphical limitations—thick fog and encroaching darkness—became tools of terror rather than platform limitations. Every ring of static from your radio or *that* air raid siren heralding the "other plane" of this madhouse could ratchet up the dread in an instant. Lastly, I recall working game retail at launch and having to help absolutely bloody everybody with a solution to the piano puzzle.

Bose just kicked off a new summer sale promotion with 25% off its entire inventory of certified refurbished Bose headphones, earbuds, soundbars, and portable speakers with you apply coupon code "SUMMER25". In all fairness, a few of these deals are slightly higher than the best deals we saw during Prime Day (by slightly I mean by about $10-$20), however those deals have since expired and I don't think we'll see better pricing until Black Friday.

Bose Summer Sale: 25% Off Refurbished Items

We’re more than halfway through 2025, making it an excellent time to revisit our list of the best of what the PlayStation 5 has to offer. We've added several new games this time – which means a few old favorites got bumped. (We still love them, though!)

But what do we mean by “best?” To be very clear, this is not an attempt at an “objective” ranking that will indisputably line up with the tastes of gamers of all types. That, sadly, cannot exist; when one person’s epic RPG masterpiece is another’s boring and impenetrable slog, they’ll never see eye to eye on where that game should rank against others of different genres. Even the personal lists of two people who love the same types of games will rarely line up exactly.

Instead, this is a list of games that IGN’s crew of PlayStation gamers recommend as a group, ranked using our Face-Off tool so that everybody got to weigh in equally on which games they thought should be placed above others. It’s presented in the spirit of recognizing games we love, and encouraging others to try them if you haven’t.

With only 25 slots to fill, there are tons of amazing recent games that didn’t float to the top – but that doesn’t mean we don’t think they’re awesome, too! Everybody who participated in voting has tons of personal favorites that didn’t gain quite enough traction with the group to make the cut, which is inevitable when there are this many games and so many different perspectives.

Bear in mind that while the PS5 is a powerhouse that can play any PlayStation 4-compatible game, for the sake of clarity our criteria for this list narrowed the pool down to focus on games that have PlayStation 5-specific versions. So while we still love games like the 2016 Doom, God of War, Minecraft, Red Dead Redemption 2, and many, many more, until they get that update they're relegated to the PS4 list – and of course many will have a spot on our list of the Top 100 Games of All Time.

Most importantly, remember that this list is just our group’s perspective and is no more “right” or “wrong” than a list that you create yourself. Speaking of which: if you have your own ranking you’d like to put out into the world, we’d like to invite you to make your own top 25 (or top 100!) list of PlayStation games using our Playlist tool and share it in the comments.

Most recent game updates were made on July 15, 2025.

More on the best of PlayStation:

• Where to buy a PS5
• Best PS4 Games
• Best PS3 Games

25. Devil May Cry 5

​Even with all of its imitators, there’s still nothing quite like a Devil May Cry game, and Devil May Cry 5 stands tall not only as not only one of the best in its own series but one of the best character action games ever created – full stop. No other game offers the same level of creativity and expression through its combat, whether you’re playing as Nero and bouncing foes around in the air with your Gerbera Devil Breaker, slashing them while precisely timing revs of your sword to charge up your Exceed meter; or chilling out as V while your summoned familiars fight all around you; or hot-swapping between an entire arsenal of weapons and fighting styles as Dante. The depth of DMC5’s combat is near bottomless and endlessly fun to play around in, with finely tuned difficulty options to meet you wherever your skill level is at.

24. Returnal

​​Returnal is a trailblazer of sorts. Roguelikes have long been one of the most popular genres on the indie scene, with games like Spelunky 2, Dead Cells, Enter the Gungeon, and The Binding of Isaac leading the charge, but we’ve never really seen anything quite like Returnal. Returnal combines Housemarque’s expertise in intense, arcadey bullet hell shoot-em-ups, with deep roguelite mechanics and a dense, chilling atmosphere, resulting in an unforgettable sci-fi experience. Returnal’s one issue on release was the inability to suspend its lengthy runs and save your progress, but since that’s been patched, it’s hard to find flaws in this incredibly bold and ambitious take on the action roguelite.

23. Final Fantasy XVI

​Final Fantasy 16 may have been a dramatic departure for one of the most well-known and beloved RPG series of all time, moving it closer to the realm of a pure-blooded action game – but that action does not take away away from its excellently told, brilliantly acted, dark, and captivating tale or its memorable characters. Its combat. meanwhile, is best-in-class among other action-RPGs, and is paired with an unbelievable soundtrack that enhances every emotion that it successfully attempts to pull from you. Taken all as a whole, Final Fantasy 16 is a very special game that proves that action games can also be 50-plus-hour-long epics, and that Final Fantasy games can also be action games.

22. Horizon Forbidden West

Horizon Forbidden West builds on the already impressive foundations of Horizon Zero Dawn to tell a deeper, more thrilling story that amps up the series’ explosive fights against complex robotic foes and blockbuster action sequences, while also adding lively settlements and thoughtful, intriguing sidequests to the world. The Forbidden West itself is absolutely gorgeous on PS5 - ranging from the incredibly detailed faces of the people you meet and costumes they wear to sweeping and frequently stunning landscapes. There’s a genuine sense of exploration, and loads of completely involving worldbuilding to uncover as well for those wanting to learn more. A triumphant combination of enthralling combat, top-tier creature and character design, and a captivating open world, Horizon Forbidden West is an absolute blast and fantastic showcase for the power of the PS5.

21. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Much like the second Star Wars movie, Respawn's second Star Wars Jedi game vaulted over the original. Survivor trusts us with control of a version of Cal Kestis who's now a full-fledged Jedi Knight rather than reverting to a Padawan, so it gets off to a running start and never slows down. Over the course of this adventure he grows into a master of superhuman mobility who can thrive in fantastic and challenging combat using multiple lightsaber styles.

With a new set of larger, more diverse, and densely packed worlds to explore and a memorable cast of new and returning characters, Survivor tells a story that may be predictable but is still fun and at times emotional to watch play out. Launch performance issues aside, it’s a sequel that does virtually everything better than the original – which was already an exceptional Star Wars game.

20. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Describing Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth sounds a bit like a fever dream: it's a collection of minigames stuffed inside of larger activities inspired by classics like Crazy Taxi, Pokémon Snap, Pokémon, and Animal Crossing… and all of that is wrapped up inside of a life simulator, which is itself inside of a 50-hour turn-based RPG. Miraculously, this somehow all works together and balances honoring the roots of the Like a Dragon/Yakuza series while continuing to propel it forward. This can be seen in almost every aspect, most obviously that a huge portion of the story takes place outside Japan, and instead has you exploring Hawaii.

Meanwhile, turn-based combat makes a return from Yakuza 7, boasting even more jobs (tennis ace OP!) and a ton of small refinements that vastly increase the amount of control and customization in combat while remaining true to Yakuza's traditional beat em' up style. In a series known for heartfelt stories, Infinite Wealth’s is arguably the most emotional, paying homage to the franchise’s classic characters with a plot driven by the values and actions of the new cast. Mixing the old and new characters is something that often backfires in a long-running series, but RGG Studios expertly blends Kiryu's and Ichiban's stories, pulling off one of the best legacy stories anywhere.

19. Balatro

​Like Slay the Spire before it, Balatro is the kind of game you might not see coming, but when it gets its hooks in you and you start to wrap your head around how its many joker cards interact and synergize it might never let go. The fact that this deckbuilding roguelite uses what initially appears to be a standard deck of playing cards means that it’s a fairly easy game to get the basics of if you know anything about poker. However, from there it takes you down rabbit hole after rabbit hole as you figure out how to maximize your score multiplier and specialize your deck to aim for certain types of high-payout hands. Its pixelated 2D graphics set it apart from everything else on this list, but you could very well spend more hours playing it than even the biggest, most expansive RPGs.

18. Ghost of Tsushima Directors Cut

​​​When Ghost of Tsushima was released on the PlayStation 4, it already felt like a next-gen game thanks to its stunning graphics and impressive map; it was clear Sucker Punch had learned a lot about creating an engaging open world since its (admirable for the time) efforts on the Infamous franchise. But the Director's Cut is the definitive take on Ghost of Tsushima, and it's all the better on the PS5.

This robust package, even as a refined PS4 game, makes great use of the DualSense in both exploration and combat. Add in new lip sync for Japanese voice over, and, somehow, visual and performance improvements, and you’ve got what is the must-play version of a must-play PlayStation game.

Sucker Punch's next project is a sequel, Ghost of Yotei, and there's a Ghost of Tsushima movie in the works. Directed by Chad Stahleski (John Wick), it will be a retelling of the game's story.

17. Alan Wake 2

​​Alan Wake II is a standout single-player adventure that seamlessly shifts from slow-burn psychological terror to frantic survival-horror action, from gorgeously rendered game worlds to masterfully directed full-motion video sequences, and from morbid murder investigations to show-stopping musical surprises. It features uniformly immaculate art direction and audio design, and reinvigorates the series’ signature light-based shooting as though it’s been locked and loaded with a fresh pack of Energizers. It’s bloody, it's bonkers, and for the most part it's utterly brilliant.

Alan Wake II is a superb survival-horror sequel that makes the cult-classic original seem like little more than a rough first draft by comparison, and it’s genuinely unlike any other adventure currently available on the PlayStation 5.

16. Resident Evil 4

​Simultaneously one of the newer games on this list and also the oldest, the 2023 remake of 2005’s Resident Evil 4 took everything that made the original a standout action-horror classic and modernized it to thrill present-day gamers just as much as it had those who always saw it through rose-tinted glasses. Rebuilt from the ground up, it builds tension with high-intensity combat against a ferocious cast of creatures and brings the Resident Evil world to life with rich detail as the story rapidly guides you through a series of unwaveringly impressive action sequences. There’ve been many games that have attempted to evoke RE4’s style over the years, but none that nailed it quite as well as this.

Related: Capcom has announced Resident Evil Requiem, AKA Resident Evil 9, will be released on February 27, 2026.

15. Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 has earned a spot on our Best PS5 Games list, marking a spectacular recovery after its disastrous launch on PlayStation 4 in 2020. While it was arguably great on PS4 Pro, it wasn’t until CD Projekt Red launched the major 2.0 patch and the Phantom Liberty expansion in 2023 that you didn’t really have to argue anymore. Even more gorgeous than ever and with years of polish and refinement to its combat and skill systems, exploring the gleaming yet seedy open world of Night City stands apart from anything else out there.

Out of the box you’re in for more than 30 hours of the original story alongside Keanu Reeves as rockstar radical Johnny Silverhand, but when you include the spy-themed Phantom Liberty expansion you get another 20 starring Idris Elba as sleeper agent Solomon Reed. This chapter brings with it new and more interesting themes as it explores the intersection of capitalism, police states, and the mind-warping effects of near-future technology and human augmentation.

Check out our Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty review.

14. Marvel's Spider-Man 2

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As a sequel in a spectacular series, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a showcase for the PlayStation 5. Its story of two Spider-Men is a great time and a Spidey fan’s dream to play through as comic book tussles with Venom and Kraven the Hunter are brought to life, elegantly walking the tightrope between light humour and heavier themes. Meanwhile, Insomniac refines a successful formula of combat and web-swinging without revolutionising either in major ways, making them comfy and familiar with just enough new tweaks and abilities to elevate them to fun new heights.

It also makes use of the power of the PS5 like very few other games, providing blockbuster action moments that are a spectacle to behold, near-instant load times, and a best-in-class pinpoint fast travel system. It’s another thrilling Spider-Man adventure that delivers Insomniac's best tale yet, and a consistently fun superhero power trip.

13. The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered

​​Yes, The Last of Us Part 2 only launched on PlayStation 4 a few years ago, in 2020. Yes, that’s pretty quick; it certainly doesn’t feel like long enough to justify a standalone remaster. Heck, IGN’s users have tended to agree – particularly when the already incredible-looking existing PS4 version of The Last of Us Part 2 had already received a 60 frames-per-second performance update for the PS5.

However, if your next question is, “Is this the best way to experience The Last of Us Part 2?” then the answer is also undoubtedly yes. If you haven’t gotten around to it yet, this is absolutely the place to play it. An ambitious and sweeping sequel that significantly expands the world of the masterful original, The Last of Us Part II is an impeccably assembled stealth action game that hits like a haymaker and is hard to forget.

The heavy spotlight on revenge, hate, and self-destruction is emotionally sapping at times, but there remains room to breathe within a story that escalates, pivots, eases, and ultimately explodes again, playing out like two whole seasons of premium TV. (Which, incidentally, it is also doing on HBO.)

Recently, Naughty Dog released a new mode that allows you to play through The Last of Us Part II’s non-linear story in straight chronological order, in case you’re looking for a different way to experience it.

12. Grand Theft Auto V/GTA Online

​Grand Theft Auto V’s sprawling yet meticulously detailed map is still the high bar to which most open-world games aspire. Not only is it huge, it’s incredibly dense with excellent content – not just the driving and shooting and three-protagonist story that make up its campaign, and not limited to the numerous side activities, but all the sights, sounds, and bustling activity you'd expect to find in a city teeming with humans – seedy underbelly included. With so much to do, explore, and play with, both as a single-player PC game and Grand Theft Auto Online, plus great creative tools and mods, it’s truly amazing on multiple levels.

As for what’s next, Rockstar has confirmed GTA 6 will be released on May 26, 2026. It will feature a return to Vice City and star the series' first female playable character in a Bonnie & Clyde-inspired adventure.

11. Hades

Hades is the current gold standard of the roguelite genre, and it isn’t even close. From its exhilarating combat, to its incredible soundtrack, to its clever and well-written story with characters that seemingly never run out of meaningful things to say, all the way to its deep and innovative post game that keeps you wanting to come back for more even after beating the last boss.

It may be incredibly difficult, but it never feels punishing in defeat. Dying is part of the fun, and actually comes with its own rewards in the form of new conversations with its fascinating cast of characters, new opportunities to purchase game changing upgrades, and an opportunity for a brand new run with a completely new set of godly boons that dramatically alter how you approach combat. Hades is a masterclass of roguelite design, and just another example of how Supergiant Games just doesn’t miss.

Hades 2 Early Access is now available on Steam, and is expected to launch on consoles sometime in 2025.

10. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition

​Everyone has heard of The Witcher 3 by now. One of the best RPGs of the last generation and the game that firmly cemented CD Projekt Red as one of the world's premier game developers. While critics have heralded the game's visuals, storytelling, and gameplay, the same can hardly be said about The Witcher 3's technical performance. The new Complete Edition with a bevy of current-gen updates fixes most, if not all, the technical shortcomings that we had to caveat back when it first arrived on PlayStation 3 and Xbox One. With a smooth frame rate, 4K textures, and loads of other fixes, The Witcher 3 on PS5 is the definitive version of one of the best RPGs of all time.

9. The Last of Us Part 1

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The Last of Us Part I is arguably the best way to experience the story Naughty Dog was initially told back in 2013. While there is a point of contention on whether this remake was necessary overall, the improvements and changes introduced are enough to warrant this as a great first way to experience this decade-old classic that launched a game series and a breakout hit HBO drama. The improved character models and facial animation are the biggest praises for this remake, making the phenomenal acting done by the cast more meaningful and realistic.

The Last of Us has an incredible and emotional story, and the updated technology allows even the most touching scenes to hit the closest to home. The use of the PS5's DualSense controller also greatly improves the gameplay and is one of the best showcases of what the controller is capable of to date. The haptic feedback you can feel in every weapon used, from melee to firearms, and the fact that environmental effects such as the sensation of falling rain help immerse you into this ravaged and desolated world.

The one caveat is that the remake does not include the multiplayer mode found in the 2013 original – though that was never the main appeal of this very story-focused experience.

8. Final Fantasy VII Remake/Intergrade

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​​Final Fantasy VII Remake/Intergrade was the pipe dream that many fans hoped would happen but didn’t believe would see the light of day until the moment they played it for themselves. Seeing the first chapter of FFVII remake in crisp 4K and fully voice-acted not only made the day for those who tout it as the best in the franchise but also for those who may have missed out in the PS1 era. It's a shining example of how far gaming has come in the five generations of PlayStation.

This remake updated more than graphics, opting for a completely different combat system that swaps the turn-based battles of the original for faster real-time action that rewards skill and preparation (while still allowing anyone who wants the traditional turn-based combat a way to choose that option as well). Because you never leave Midgar in this portion of the story, Square Enix improved and added to the side stories with the other members of Avalanche, your time in Wall Market, and added a few more areas to expand upon the original.

The Intermission expansion puts Yuffie front and center and gives her a chance to shine before you jump into the next part of the story. It includes arguably the best and most engaging combat via her elemental ninjutsu, synergy attacks, and other ninja skills. Both the core game and the Intermission DLC add to the context of the world and lead into the events of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. It’s well worth a try for first-time and longtime fans of Final Fantasy games.

Final Fantasy 16 and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth are available now.

7. Persona 5 Royal

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Until the past few years brought on a series of impressive challengers, Persona 5 Royal had very little true competition in the contest for the best JRPG of all time. Its endlessly stylish art and unforgettable, jazzy soundtrack create a vibe it's hard not to fall in love with. And that's before we even get to the cast of iconic, endearing characters and an unexpectedly deep, thought-provoking story that only grows more relevant with every year since it was originally released in 2016. Nobody does this style of turn-based, small-party combat better than Atlus, and P5R is the ultimate refinement of everything great about the franchise's earlier adventures.

All of that could be said of the original 2016 version, too, but with Royal, just about everything – from the dialogue to the story to dungeon exploration – has been made bigger and better. It's far from just a remaster with some neat extras; it's almost like getting another entire game on top of an already fantastic one.

6. Astro Bot

For decades, Mario reigned unchallenged as the king of the 3D platformer. Few if any games came close to Nintendo’s level of creativity and polish in this extremely popular genre. Astro Bot, however, changes things: this adorable robotic mascot can easily go toe-to-toe with games like Super Mario Odyssey as it takes us through a multitude of hyper-colorful and lively worlds, all overflowing with both imaginative level design ideas and countless loving references to PlayStation history. Each new world gives you a fantastic and surprising new ability to play with that sets its puzzles and challenges apart from everything that came before it, and few other games make such excellent use of the unique capabilities of the PS5’s DualSense controllers.

5. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

​As a middle chapter of a trilogy that retells one of gaming’s most beloved stories, threading the needle of standing on its own while being a continuation of an ongoing story was a delicate task for Square Enix. Rising to the occasion, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth does this extremely well as an evolution of the principles established in 2020’s FFVII Remake; there's still a grand sense of adventure within a beautiful recreation of the original FFVII's world. Each character is given the chance to grow meaningfully over the course of a 70- to 80-hour journey and become greater versions of their beloved originals. It hits hard, even if you never touched the 1997 classic.

The way Rebirth adds tactical layers on top of the action-RPG formula that Remake began is nothing short of amazing. It retains traces of the feeling of the original’s turn-based RPG even in its real-time combat, but having characters like Yuffie, Cait Sith, and Red XIII added to mix open up new possibilities. Especially when you take advantage of the new Synergy abilities and unique partner attacks, pairing up your favorite party members offers satisfying ways to stagger enemies before hitting them with a nasty Limit Break. When you establish a flow, there’s just nothing like overcoming the toughest bosses with your favorite characters while the nostalgic boss themes inspire victory.

4. God of War Ragnarok

​God of War Ragnarok is hands down one of the easiest games to recommend to anyone asking what game they should play first on their PS5. The gameplay is an immensely satisfying combination of combat, puzzle solving, and exploration that is bound together with a heartwarming story of family, adolescence, and letting go. The combat rewards players for experimentation and precision but also is versatile enough that even using a fraction of the moves at your disposal feels effective and rewarding. Each moment is bolstered by its fantastic soundtrack that elevates everything from the smallest interaction to the most impactful moments in the story. The world's jaw-dropping landscapes feel organic and filled with life (except for Helheim, of course), but it's hard not to stop and admire it every step.

Its story, gameplay, soundtrack, and nearly every other part of the game culminate masterfully to live up to expectations for a flagship PlayStation game. Some may take issue with the pacing in certain parts of the game, but the next chapter in Kratos and Atreus's saga is filled with heart, charm, and humor. With the combination of the improvements from God of War (2018) and the path it's carved out for itself among other action-adventure games, God of War: Ragnarok is one of the benchmarks for what PlayStation exclusives can do on the PS5.

3. Metaphor: ReFantazio

To call Metaphor: ReFantazio "fantasy Persona" is to sell it short. It's a culmination of developer Atlus' RPGs, refining a tried-and-true framework that blends social sim elements and dungeon-crawling RPG combat. But here, Atlus wields that foundation for a brand-new fantasy world to tell a mature story with deep parallels to the political realities we face. It's whimsical and harrowing in equal measure, and just as it shows the ugliness of humanity, it also inspires us to work towards a brighter future. That story and context is what makes the gameplay experience all the more meaningful, and it's a joy to play as you connect with its cast of characters across its imaginative painterly world, building up a strong party with the new Job-like Archetype system that offers a level of depth we haven't seen in a previous Atlus RPG. There are some tough battles in this turn-based combat system, and the tactical considerations required showed that this genre can keep growing.

On top of all of that, Metaphor has the Atlus team's distinct sense of style and emphasis on amazing music to drive its story, but in stepping out of its comfort zone and still doing what it does best, Atlus created an all-timer RPG. Sometimes we play games for escapism, but Metaphor reminds us that while it’s important to get away sometimes, you still have to live in your real world. And if you're going to spend 80-something hours in this fantasy universe, why not take a few lessons along the way to hopefully make your world a better place?

2. Baldur's Gate 3

This 2023 Game of the Year nominee may have narrowly lost that award to Tears of the Kingdom, but it triumphantly takes the one of the top spots in 2025’s Best PS5 Games list. Baldur’s Gate 3’s massive roleplaying adventure is both enormously ambitious in its scope and yet endearingly old-school in its style. Its storytelling is epic, stocked with memorable characters rendered in impressive detail, and a multitude of meaningful choices to make along with them. Its tactical combat is a throwback to the turn-based BioWare RPGs of old and loyal to its Dungeons & Dragons roots to the point where it can be quite intimidating to get into, but when you do you’re in for over 100 hours of all-thriller, no-filler questing.

1. Elden Ring

​​​Whether you're a longtime fan of FromSoftware's notoriously challenging games or intrigued by the constant buzz, Elden Ring is a fantastic starting point for seeing what the soulsborne genre is all about. Its streamlined introduction, versatility in accommodating your choice of playstyle, and open-world design all work to alleviate the “brick wall” dilemma of getting stuck on a difficult boss in Dark Souls games. It's that elasticity that makes this FromSoftware adventure a (slightly) friendlier one, while still being full of godlike bosses looking to snuff out your life, threateningly large maps, and intriguing NPCs rife with charm, mystery, and tragedy.

It’s since been kicked up a notch thanks to the outstanding Shadow of the Erdtree DLC expansion, which serves as a condensed version of the main game that’s absolutely jam-packed with secrets, valuable treasures, ultra-challenging boss battles, and horrific monstrosities to face of against at every turn. When you stack that on top of the main game, it’s an incredible quantity of high-quality tests of your soulslike mettle.

Elden Ring is one of the best-reviewed games in modern history. It was crowned Game of the Year by IGN and The Game Awards in 2022. The co-op roguelite spinoff, Elden Ring: Nightreign, is now available.

Best PS5 Games FAQ

What PS5 Games Are Coming Out Soon?

Mafia: The Old Country comes out August 8, 2025, followed by Madden NFL 26 on August 11, Dying Light: The Beast on August 22, Gears of War Reloaded on August 26, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater on August 28, Borderlands 4 on September 12, Silent Hill f on September 25, Ghost of Yotei on October 2, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 and Jurassic World Evolution 3 on October 31. There will be more this year, too – we’re still waiting on dates for this year’s Call of Duty, Battlefield 6, Hades 2, and probably a bunch of other surprises.

What Is the Best Game on PS5?

It can really depend on what types of games you like to play, but if you are looking for recommendations on the for what to play on the PS5, we recommend picking up a copy of Elden Ring. If you're looking specifically for a PlayStation Exclusive game, God of War: Ragnarock is also a very good option you can't play anywhere else.

What are the Best Games on PS Plus?

If you happen to have PlayStation Plus Extra or PlayStation Premium than you have access to some of the best games on the console. A few of the best PS Plus games include Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Bloodborne, Ghost of Tsushima, God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, Marvel's Spider-Man, and Red Dead Redemption 2.

Updates: On July 15, 2025 our best PS5 games list was updated. Rankings were also updated to reflect the opinions of IGN staff.

With contributions from Cristina Alexander

Zack Snyder has graciously passed the torch to James Gunn and Henry Cavill has happily handed over his cape to David Corenswet, and yet somehow the social media civil war over Superman continues to rage: What kind of Superman fan are you?

Snyder supporters prefer his intense and operatic take, while the Gunn Club is excited to see a Superman with a sunnier disposition and supporting cast. Both sides of the fandom are battling it out online with the simmering fury of siblings swinging haphazardly at the air.

Keep in mind, this maelstrom is being fought on the unwilling behalf of two men who are by all accounts friends who literally broke into the industry together (on the Dawn of the Dead remake) – even if their styles are nearly opposite.

Zack Snyder and James Gunn have some extremely different ideas about Superman, which leads us to the all-important question at hand: Who got Superman right?

We know we’re stepping into a minefield here, so we’re going to hold our judgment until both parties have had their day in court. We solemnly swear not to blindly stan or nitpick every sin as we lay out the evidence for and against Snyder and Gunn’s respective versions of Superman.

Let’s get things in order with…

The Case for Zack Snyder’s Superman

Exhibit A: Snyder Was Worth a Shot

DC and Warner Bros. knew what they were getting into. Between Dawn of the Dead, 300, and Watchmen, Zack Snyder’s style and vision was readily apparent to the powers-that-be, and they chose him anyway. Frankly? It took some guts.

It’s possible that Warners hoped that producer Christopher Nolan would curb some of Snyder's more divisive quirks, but the director was clearly running the show. His extravagant, slow-mo CG style isn’t for everybody, but it certainly leaves an impression on the audience – and Superman. Modern Superman is a figure that really benefits from a strong authorial voice. He’s been around for nearly a century. The only way to beat the “generic” charges is to have an opinion on Superman.

Frank Miller imagined Clark as a naive puppet for the powers that be. Grant Morrison manifests him as a metafictional god of creation. In 1986, Alan Moore used Superman to reckon with themes he would cover that same year in Watchmen.

Zack Snyder’s Superman isn’t quite as sophisticated as all that, but he came into the project with a unique point of view and absolutely left it all on the screen.

The studio placed a lot of faith in Snyder because there was, and frankly still is, a lot of potential in his DC Extended Universe – but thanks to a series of strange decisions and real-word tragedies, it never quite got there. Even the name was clumsy.

It would be an uphill battle convincing a post-Avengers world to give the Distinguished Competition a try, and Snyder needed a strong start. He swung for the fences with Man of Steel.

Exhibit B: Taking Superman Seriously

In 2013, Superman was stuck. He never got the ’90s Tim Burton treatment, though it wasn’t for lack of trying, and he just missed the window in the early 2000s where he could have been redefined ala X-Men and Spider-Man. Comics and TV shows did their best to keep the icon alive, but the shot in the arm Superman really needed was a big-budget blockbuster movie to bring him forward into a new era. How do you freshen up a character so old he’s nearly in the public domain? By going as big as possible.

Snyder isn’t particularly interested in Clark Kent’s career at the Daily Planet. He’s unconcerned with how he shaves his Super-beard or keeps his identity secret. Snyder sees superheroes as mythic gods steering our mortal futures from the skies, and he really leans into the religious allegories of Superman as Savior. While it’s been done (poorly) before, Snyder handles the heavy stuff pretty well, and exploring the consequences of Superman’s existence leads to some interesting places.

The director’s Superman is best viewed less through the lens of a character than as an event that humanity has to reckon with. The arrival of Superman is a huge deal for our entire civilization, and Snyder does a great job of giving him gravitas. This is the first Superman designed to fill an IMAX screen.

Exhibit C: Hype Moments and Aura

Snyder’s Clark Kent isn’t brooding or grimdark like haters would have you believe; he just rarely has a chance to be himself. Heck, he rarely has an opportunity to talk. Superman has only 159 lines across Man of Steel, Batman v. Superman, and Zack Snyder’s Justice League – and Henry Cavill makes the most of every single one.

His reserved portrayal of Kal-El embodies the otherness and isolation that comes with the burdens of godhood. He might not be your first choice for a fun night out at Dave & Buster’s, but he’s nowhere near the angsty edgelord caricature opponents paint him as. If anything, Cavill’s Superman was let down by iffy writing and bizarre character choices, which we’ll get to later, but there’s not much fault to find in his performance. If nothing else, he is absolutely unmatched in terms of aura farming.

Cavill looks awesome as Superman, helped in huge part by Snyder’s undeniable mastery behind the camera. Kal-El oozes power out of every 18K pore. Heat vision gushes out of his eyes with crackling chaos. He flies like an F-22 Raptor with enough force to obliterate an IHOP. His body hair has yet to be matched by any onscreen superhero.

From the costume design to the chiseled jaw, Cavill embodies the staggering presence of this mighty visitor from another planet and it rules to watch him fight. Whether he is soloing the Justice League or going HAM on some New Gods, Cavill’s Superman is a hype-moments machine.

Snyder’s work raised the bar for blockbuster action with an excellence in production design, fight choreography, and visual effects that’s seldom seen today, despite its undeniable influence. His Superman is a gripping combination of somber, horrific, post 9/11 imagery with absurd anime action straight out of Shonen Jump. It’s not going to work for everybody.

For some fans, it was their live-action Dragon Ball dream come true. For others, it might have been too much. Well, now they have an alternative.

Tickets for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey will go on sale this Thursday, July 17 – one year before its premiere in 2026.

Universal Pictures announced the out-of-the-ordinary advanced ticket sale plan today (via Variety), giving hardcore movie fans a chance to secure their spot in theaters a whopping 365 days before Nolan’s next movie actually arrives on July 17, 2026. If you just can’t wait to see how Nolan is bringing Homer’s legendary piece of literature to the big screen, you’ll want to mark your calendar for later this week.

The Odyssey tickets will be available one year early, but there are some things to know before getting too excited. Tickets will only be available for a select few movie theaters. Specifically, audiences can only grab a seat to 70mm IMAX showings when the sale begins later this week. That limits showings to a precious few cinemas that even support this particular viewing experience.

With availability almost guaranteed to be extremely limited, those with access to 70mm IMAX screens will want to act fast if they want to beat other eager Nolan fans. Expect stiff competition when tickets go live, as Universal has already started teasing what The Odyssey has in store, thanks to a first-look poster and even a trailer that ran in front of some July film releases.

Nolan, who established himself as one of the biggest filmmakers in Hollywood throughout the 2000s and 2010s, cemented his status even further with 2023’s Oppenheimer. The Cillian Murphy-led biopic was one half of the Barbenheimer phenomenon, managing to generate a staggering $975 million during its theatrical run (via Box Office Mojo). Beyond its success as a box office megaton, the film managed to continue its win streak during the following awards season, walking away with Best Picture at the Oscars.

Oppenheimer shook the industry when it dropped, and with other major movies like Inception and The Dark Knight under Nolan’s belt, it seems likely that 70mm IMAX tickets for The Odyssey will sell fast. As for standard theater ticket sales, Universal has yet to announce its plans, so expect to see more options arrive closer to the film’s premiere next July.

The Odyssey features a star-studded cast that includes Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Jon Bernthal, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, and more.

For more on all things Nolan, you can read our 10/10 Oppenheimer review. You can also read up on why Avatar director James Cameron thinks the World War 2-era biopic could have done a few things differently.

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).

As part of its Black Friday in July sale, Lenovo is offering one of the best prices I've seen on an RTX 5070 equipped gaming laptop. Right now you can get the Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10 gaming laptop, equipped with an OLED display and RTX 5070 GPU, for just $1,299.49 after you apply two stackable coupon codes "BUYMORELENOVO" and "EXTRAFIVE". Lenovo Legion laptops are generally well-rated thanks to their excellent build quality, powerful components, and robust cooling.

Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10 RTX 5070 Gaming Laptop for $1,299.49

Whatever your sense of humor I'd wager a giant pickle that you can't make it through an hour of playing High On Life without at least a childish snigger. The Squanch Games shooter is back on Xbox Game Pass today, so there's really no excuse not to test out that theory.

Conceived in the brain of Rick & Morty creator Justin Roiland, it's a time honored tale of an alien invasion, bounty hunting missions, sentient weaponry, and a wannabe drummer called Globo who has a butt for a face. Roiland lends his vocal chords to your main gun, Kenny, who chats to you as you explore different planets and take on different enemies. It's essentially "what if Morty spat bullets and had something to say about every little move I made?"

We gave High On Life game an 8 in our review, and called it "an irreverent, absurd shooter that manages to shine with its outrageous humor, silly setting and story, and some really goofy, foul-mouthed guns that pull the whole thing together for the vast majority of the time. " When it was first on Xbox Game Pass originally in 2022, it became the biggest Xbox Game Pass release of that year.

There are what Kenny describes as "classic, text book, puzzle situations," or "simple platforming… like in Mario Land" parts, but the true joy comes from the inane dialogue and jokes that are hitting you from everywhere. The storyline takes weird tangents, henchmen hanging around in the background and chat, and your selection of talking weapons never shut up. One of them - my favorite, whose ammunition is the bodies of his newborn children - is even voiced by comedian Tim Robinson from I Think You Should Leave and A24's Friendship.

He'll say typical line from Knifey might be "I'm in heaven right now, I'm ripping through his tendons like they're butter," or a dying Carebear type creature with its intestines hanging out will beg you to stay until it dies, then fake you out until Kenny begs you to shoot him. NPCs chat about killing their wives and kids so they won't miss them, or who on the team might be into sexual torture. There's a section in an Applebees, a gun called Lezduit who talks like Sylvester Stallone, a kid who taunts you to kill him - "I look so shootable" while Kenny begs you not to.

Anyway, just try it. High on Life 2 was just announced this summer and is supposed to be out by this winter, so you'll want to catch up with the story before then.

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

The Television Academy has announced the 77th Emmy Awards nominations for 2025, with shows like Severance, The Penguin, The Last of Us, Andor, and more already set up for big wins this September.

Actors Harvey Guillén (Companion) and Brenda Song (The Social Network) helped The Television Academy reveal this year’s list of nominations during a livestream event today, setting up a few heavy hitters for a big night when the TV award show airs September 14, 2025.

The return of Severance seems to be the topic on most minds for now, with the Apple TV+ series leading the charge with 27 nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series, Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series, and Outstanding Picture Editing for a Drama Series.

The 77th Emmy Awards features stiff competition in the Drama categories, with The White Lotus at 23 nominations, The Last of Us at 16, Andor at 14, and The Pitt at 13. Viewers can also look forward to a fierce night for the Comedy categories, too, with Apple’s Seth Rogen-led satire, The Studio, securing its spot in TV history with 23 noms. The Bear, meanwhile, continues to find itself dropped in the Comedy group with 13 nominations as it goes head-to-head with Hacks at 14 nominations and Shrinking at nine nominations. The Limited or Anthology Series categories feature standouts like The Penguin (24 nominations) and Adolescence (13 nominations).

Shrinking is finding itself in headlines for more reasons than one today, as the 77th Emmy Awards marks the first time Hollywood legend Harrison Ford, 83, has been nominated. He’s up for Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, where he’ll be up against co-star Michael Urie, Ebon Moss-Bachrach for The Bear, Ike Barinholtz for The Studio, Bowen Yang for Saturday Night Live, Jeff Hiller for Somebody Somewhere, and Colman Domingo for The Four Seasons.

With every big winner at the Emmys comes a number of snubs, too. Marvel fans are disappointed to see Kathryn Hahn go unrecognized for her work in Agatha All Along, though she still managed to walk away with a nom for The Studio. While Star Wars fans were thrilled to see love for Andor, some standouts from the character-driven sci-fi series’ cast – including Diego Luna, Stellan Skarsgård, and Genevieve O’Reilly – were left out of this year’s list of nominees. Netflix’s Squid Game, meanwhile, is walking into the 2025 awards season with zero Emmy noms.

We gave Severance Season 2 an 8/10 and The Penguin finale a 7/10. You can see the full list of 77th Emmy Awards nominations here. For a look at the biggest categories ahead of the show this September, see our list below.

Outstanding Drama Series

• Andor (Disney+)
• The Diplomat (Netflix)
• The Last of Us (HBO)
• Paradise (Hulu)
• The Pitt (HBO)
• Severance (Apple TV+)
• Slow Horses (Apple TV+)
• The White Lotus (HBO)

Outstanding Comedy Series

• Abbott Elementary (ABC)
• The Bear (FX on Hulu)
• Hacks (HBO)
• Nobody Wants This (Netflix)
• Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)
• Shrinking (Apple TV+)
• The Studio (Apple TV+)
• What We Do in the Shadows (FX on Hulu)

Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series

• Adolescence (Netflix)
• Black Mirror (Netflix)
• Dying for Sex (FX on Hulu)
• Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (Netflix)
• The Penguin (HBO)

Lead Actor in a Drama Series

• Sterling K. Brown (Paradise)
• Gary Oldman (Slow Horses)
• Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us)
• Adam Scott (Severance)
• Noah Wyle (The Pitt)

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

• Zach Cherry (Severance)
• Walton Goggins (The White Lotus)
• Jason Isaacs (The White Lotus)
• James Marsden (Paradise)
• Sam Rockwell (The White Lotus)
• Tramell Tillman (Severance)
• John Turturro (Severance)

Lead Actress in a Drama Series

• Kathy Bates (Matlock)
• Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters)
• Britt Lower (Severance)
• Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us)
• Keri Russell (The Diplomat)

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

• Patricia Arquette (Severance)
• Carrie Coon (The White Lotus)
• Katherine LaNasa (The Pitt)
• Julianne Nicholson (Paradise)
• Parker Posey (The White Lotus)
• Natasha Rothwell (The White Lotus)
• Aimee Lou Wood (The White Lotus)

Writing for a Drama Series

• Dan Gilroy (Andor)
• Joe Sachs (The Pitt)
• R. Scott Gemmill (The Pitt)
• Dan Erickson (Severance)
• Will Smith (Slow Horses)
• Mike White (The White Lotus)

Directing for a Drama Series

• Janus Metz (Andor)
• Amanda Marsalis (The Pitt)
• John Wells (The Pitt)
• Jessica Lee Gagné (Severance)
• Ben Stiller (Severance)
• Adam Randall (Slow Horses)
• Mike White (The White Lotus)

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

• Adam Brody (Nobody Wants This)
• Seth Rogen (The Studio)
• Jason Segel (Shrinking)
• Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building)
• Jeremy Allen White (The Bear)

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

• Ike Barinholtz (The Studio)
• Colman Domingo (The Four Seasons)
• Harrison Ford (Shrinking)
• Jeff Hiller (Somebody Somewhere)
• Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear)
• Michael Urie (Shrinking)
• Bowen Yang (Saturday Night Live)

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

• Uzo Aduba (The Residence)
• Kristen Bell (Nobody Wants This)
• Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary)
• Ayo Edebiri (The Bear)
• Jean Smart (Hacks)

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

• Liza Colón-Zayas (The Bear)
• Hannah Einbinder (Hacks)
• Kathryn Hahn (The Studio)
• Janelle James (Abbott Elementary)
• Catherine O’Hara (The Studio)
• Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary)
• Jessica Williams (Shrinking)

Writing for a Comedy Series

• Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary)
• Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, Jen Statsky (Hacks)
• Nathan Fielder, Carrie Kemper, Adam Locke-Norton, Eric Notarnicola (The Rehearsal)
• Hannah Bos, Paul Thureen, Bridget Everett (Somebody Somewhere)
• Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Peter Huyck, Alex Gregory, Frida Perez (The Studio)
• Sam Johnson, Sarah Naftalis, Paul Simms (What We Do in the Shadows)

Directing for a Comedy Series

• Ayo Edebiri (The Bear)
• Lucia Aniello (Hacks)
• James Burrows (Mid-Century Modern)
• Nathan Fielder (The Rehearsal)
• Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg (The Studio)

Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

• Colin Farrell (The Penguin)
• Stephen Graham (Adolescence)
• Jake Gyllenhaal (Presumed Innocent)
• Brian Tyree Henry (Dope Thief)
• Cooper Koch (Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story)

Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

• Javier Bardem (Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story)
• Bill Camp (Presumed Innocent)
• Owen Cooper (Adolescence)
• Rob Delaney (Dying for Sex)
• Peter Sarsgaard (Presumed Innocent)
• Ashley Walters (Adolescence)

Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

• Cate Blanchett (Disclaimer)
• Meghann Fahy (Sirens)
• Rashida Jones (Black Mirror)
• Cristin Milioti (The Penguin)
• Michelle Williams (Dying for Sex)

Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

• Erin Doherty (Adolescence)
• Ruth Negga (Presumed Innocent)
• Deirdre O’Connell (The Penguin)
• Chloë Sevingy (Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story)
• Jenny Slate (Dying for Sex)
• Christine Tremarco (Adolescence)

Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

• Jack Thorne, Stephen Graham (Adolescence)
• Charlie Brooker, Bisha K. Ali (Black Mirror)
• Kim Rosenstock, Elizabeth Meriwether (Dying for Sex)
• Lauren LeFranc (The Penguin)
• Joshua Zetumer (Say Nothing)

Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

• Philip Barantini (Adolescence)
• Shannon Murphy (Dying for Sex)
• Helen Shaver (The Penguin)
• Jennifer Getzinger (The Penguin)
• Nicole Kassell (Sirens)
• Lesli Linka Glatter (Zero Day)

Animated Program

• Arcane (Netflix)
• Bob’s Burgers (FOX)
• Common Side Effects (Adult Swim)
• Love, Death + Robots (Netflix)
• The Simpsons (FOX)

Talk Series

• The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
• Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC)
• The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (CBS)

Reality Competition Program

• The Amazing Race (CBS)
• RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV)
• Survivor (CBS)
• Top Chef (Bravo)
• The Traitors (Peacock)

Scripted Variety Series

• Last Week Tonight With John Oliver (HBO)
• Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Writing for a Variety Series

• The Daily Show (Comedy Central)
• Last Week Tonight With John Oliver (HBO)
• Saturday Night Live (NBC)

Variety Special (Live)

• The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Starring Kendrick Lamar (FOX)
• Beyoncé Bowl (Netflix)
• The Oscars (ABC)
• SNL50: The Anniversary Special (NBC)
• SNL50: The Homecoming Concert (Peacock)

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).

If you're looking for an affordable power bank that will fast charge your brand new Nintendo Switch 2, Steam Deck, or Apple iPhone 16, then you should absolutely be checking out this post Prime Day deal. Amazon is currently offering the Iniu 10,000mAh Power Bank with up to 45W of Power Delivery and a USB Type-C cable lanyard for just $11.65 after you clip the 47% off coupon on the product page. Iniu power banks have solid reviews and are less expensive than Anker models.

Iniu 10,000mAh 45W Power Bank for $11.65

LEGO Star Wars sets are some of the longest-running and most popular themes for fans of the Danish brick toys, myself included. There have been LEGO versions of almost every Star Wars character and scene from both film and animation you can think of, and even multiple versions of the same moments over the years. LEGO Star Wars ships are some of my favorites to display, and the TIE Fighter and X-Wing mash-up set is one I have my eye on. It's currently on sale for $76.99, down from its list price of $109.99. Notably, it's only available at this price directly through LEGO, while still full price on Amazon. This is scheduled to be retired in a couple years, so there isn't a big rush to go out and grab this, but it's at the lowest price we've seen according to BrickEconomy.

Buying directly from LEGO comes with the added incentive of building up LEGO Insiders Points, which you can apply later for deals and exclusive sets. It's also eligible for the free gift with purchase at this price, making the LEGO store the ideal place to shop.

The LEGO Star Wars TIE Fighter and X-Wing Mash-up Is On Sale

The Nintendo Switch 2 has been pretty difficult to find in stock since June. If you were able to get your hands on the new console, you may be debating whether or not you should get rid of your old one. Amazon has one such option available: You can currently trade in your old Switch for a bit of digital cash. Unfortunately, the most you'll be able to get in return is just enough to cover the newest Switch 2 game.

The Amazon trade-in program will offer up to $70 in Amazon gift cards for your old Nintendo Switch if it meets all of the criteria. That's just enough money to buy Donkey Kong Bananza before it releases this week. If you're interested, here's a quick rundown of how to do it.

How to Trade in Your Switch on Amazon

Disneyland is turning 70 on July 17, and one of the biggest ways the park is celebrating is by bringing Walt Disney back to life as an Audio-Animatronic for a new show. Disney invited us to see this attraction, titled Walt Disney - A Magical Life, and it's a remarkable experience that honors Walt's legacy in a powerful way.

Walt Disney - A Magical Life will live at the Main Street Opera House in Disneyland alongside Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, and it's a roughly 17-minute show that begins with an updated version of the fantastic 'One Man's Dream' film, but now with Disney family home videos and narration by Disney CEO Bob Iger thrown in.

The film lasts for around 15 minutes and tells the story of Walt Disney from his earliest days to his planning of his secret Florida project that would become Walt Disney World. It sets the stage in such a great way, especially with Walt talking about his failures and how they helped him become who he became, and it all culminates at the end when the screen and curtains rise, and we drop in on him in his office as he would have appeared circa 1963.

Disney invited us to Imagineering back in May to see the model that was built for reference when creating the Audio-Animatronic, but we didn't get to actually see the figure until now. While there is undoubtedly a bit of uncanny valley in the actual Audio-Animatronic's face, that worry quickly fades when the tech on display starts to shine in concert with the meaning behind it.

You almost forget an Audio-Animatronic is in the room, and you feel as though you are actually with Walt Disney for but a moment. We first see him leaning against his desk, as he was known to do, and his motions are just so fluid and smooth. In what is perhaps my favorite moment, Walt actually does a 'lean to stand' motion from his desk - the first for an all-electric figure - and it's a stunning moment I won't soon forget.

I spoke about this in my preview of the Audio-Animatronic, but this is all accentuated by the research and care from the team to recreate Walt as he was all those years ago, down to his mannerisms, how he would talk with his hands and even place them on his back, and more. The authenticity also extends to his suit, shoes, tie, rings, and even that undeniable glint in his eye that countless people who knew him spoke of.

Speaking on that glint for a moment, Tom Fitzgerald, Senior Creative Executive at Walt Disney Imagineering, shared that the glint was actually caused by a corneal bulge he had, and the team behind the Audio-Animatronic replicated it to mimic its appearance in real life.

And the words he speaks are as relevant as ever, but more importantly, they are his words, ums and stammers included. There are no AI recreations or voice imitators, these are Walt's actual words gathered from historical footage and audio recordings that were blended together to make this new speech.

"We keep moving forward," Walt says. "Opening up new doors, doing new things because we're curious, and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths. We're always exploring and experimenting. We're interested in doing things that are fun in bringing pleasure and especially laughter to people, but I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing, that this was all started by a mouse."

The Most Imporant Part of Bringing Walt Disney Back to LIfe as an Audio-Animatronic

Walt's appearance on stage may be short, but I actually think that's not a bad thing. The real point of this attraction is to keep Walt's story alive for the incoming generations that never grew up with seeing him on TV or may only think of him as a brand, and the 'One Man's Dream' film does that in a great way - with the origins of Mickey Mouse, Oswald, Snow White, Disneyland, and more included - and the Audio-Animatronic is the proverbial Mickey waffle on top that brings it all together in spectacular fashion.

Perhaps most importantly, however, is how involved Walt's family and the Walt Disney Family Museum have been since the start. We had the chance to hear from the museum's director, Kirsten Komoroske, and she shared a few stories that really meant everything.

"Yesterday, three generations of Walt Disney's family were here and viewed the show," Komoroske said. "And they were so moved and so touched by it. They also really appreciated the film because that tells the story of Walt the man and that he's more than a brand anchored here in the park that he created.

"And also the youngest generation... the little ones... we couldn't convince them that it wasn't a real person. The family also thought that Walt would really have liked this... that intersection between art and technology... and that he would've been very honored."

There's going to be a lot of talk as to whether this looks exactly like Walt or not, but this project is so much more meaningful and layered than that discussion. Furthermore, much like Disney World's Hall of Presidents, it can be improved over time. This is an incredible feat of technological marvel - made up of breakthroughs the team calls 'moonshots' - that was brought to life by world-class Imagineers who worked as a team for over seven years to honor the man who made the world believe in magic and share his story.

I think Fitzgerald puts it perfectly, and I'll end our tale there, but this is so much more than just an attraction, this is meant to honor the legacy of a man who changed entertainment forever and show that dreams do come true to those who are brave enough to take that first step and believe in themselves.

"His story is still so relevant," Fitzgerald said. "I think when you see the film before you see the figure, you'll see the life lessons he learned were really amazing and important - follow your dreams, never give up, turn setbacks into success, and give the world your very best. Those are messages that are as valid today as in Walt's time, and his story is an inspiration. We wanted his story to be able to inspire our Disneyland guests, especially our younger guests, and encourage them to follow their dreams as well."

Walt Disney - A Magical Life Debuts on July 17 Alongside 'Evolution of a Dream'

As we previously mentioned, Walt Disney - A Magical Life will debut at Disneyland on its 70th anniversary, July 17. Guests who wish to see the show will be able to join a virtual queue, once per day, on the Disneyland app that will open at 7am PT and 12pm PT.

As for Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, it will return after this 'initial run', and it's actually now behind Walt Disney - A Magical Life as Imagineers built a new turntable stage to allow both shows to be seen at different times.

Alongside the shows, the lobby of the Main Street Opera house is home to 'Evolution of a Dream,' which features more than 30 artifacts from the Walt Disney Family Museum, including original items from Walt's private apartment that have never been seen publicly at the park before.

Interest in Superman is at an all-time high. Thanks to James Gunn's Superman, which released last week to critical and commercial acclaim, fans are flocking to their local comic shops once again to see what the buzz is all about. For a deep dive into Superman's history in all forms of media, I'd recommend checking out Superman: The Definitive History hardcover encyclopedia. It's currently at its lowest price on Amazon ever, sitting at $102.22 (42% off of its $175 list price).

Superman: The Definitive History Is on Sale at Amazon

Don't Log Off is now available to buy or rent on digital.

Most of Don’t Log Off is seen through webcams and smartphone cameras, but it doesn’t start out that way. The first scene is a more traditional slice of horror filmmaking, following a young woman as she drives home at night. She gets out of her vehicle and then gets abducted, dropping her phone in the empty street. The camera slowly pushes in on the screen as though it’s in a tractor beam, and from there, we’re all digital. Unfortunately, this shift to the “screenlife” mode of Unfriended and Searching isn’t as dramatic as it could be, because Don’t Log Off often fudges and fails to justify its desktop POV.

Set at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Don’t Log Off picks up as a group of college friends gather on a video call to throw a social-distanced surprise party. They’re all having a grand old time, right up until the birthday girl, Sam (Brielle Barbusca), steps away to check on a delivery but never returns, leaving her webcam still running. COVID quarantine made us all do some wacky stuff, but even by those standards, her sudden disappearance is strange – no one’s even had the chance to sing “happy birthday” yet and the guest of honor’s stepping away?

The ensuing mystery-thriller vibe eschews the supernatural threats haunting some of Don’t Log Off’s screenlife predecessors, but it also sacrifices some of their versatility. The notion of a ghost in your machines is frightening because it could reach you anywhere with wireless reception, a luxury this movie doesn’t have. Unfriended might be a better movie, but it’s not like its characters are much stronger than the ones in Don’t Log Off – among them: the snarky one (Ariel Winter), the tech-savvy one (Khylin Rhambo), the one who does all the fake-out jump scares and makes a crack about the “Blair Bitch” Project (Luke Benward). The problem is that a single, earthly assailant hardly expresses our fears that we’re in danger even at home behind a computer screen. These goobers are all safe in their respective quarantines. To get them to wander, one by one, into harm’s way, Don’t Log Off has precisely one idea: go check on Sam at her place.

It works once. If I were feeling generous, I might even say it works twice, after someone goes to check on the person who went to check on Sam. By the third and fourth time, though, it becomes a farce, all the while maintaining a brave, “I bet it’s all a prank” face alarmingly far into the sort of movie where it is never a prank. I half-expected the characters to walk into Sam’s apartment and start tripping over a pile of bodies, because surely the villain had run out of places to hide them all.

Granted, the repetition doesn’t totally sap the tension. Call it the great boon of screenlife and its big brother, found footage: Peering into a fictional world exclusively through a cramped camera angle is inherently unnerving, and no amount of crummy writing or questionable acting can totally squash it. And Don’t Log Off has plenty of crummy writing and questionable acting: The cast are never once believable as close friends, and their stilted banter is much closer to that of jousting coworkers. But they’re at least believably in peril when they’re FaceTiming their way through a dark room.

Yet even here, the film’s execution does the format no favors. Beyond the IRL opening scene, Don’t Log Off aches for you to know it has been directed and edited: We’re constantly seeing zoomed-in views of relevant text or full-screen reaction shots from the characters’ camera feeds. Such flourishes feel pointless and awkward given how straightforward the few scenes of internet sleuthing are. Not only do they puncture the immersion, but they induce a headache. Headaches are a symptom of COVID-19, though, so at least Don’t Log Off was able to successfully transmit one “you are there” scare from its screen to ours.

It's only been one month since the live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon was released in theaters, but you can already watch it at home. The new Dreamworks adaptation has made its way to online platforms like Prime Video to rent for $20 and own for $30. Considering it has done fairly well at the box office since June, it's a little bit surprising to see it already on digital.

Nevertheless, if you don't want to watch the film in theaters, now is your chance to watch it at home for roughly the same price as a movie ticket and a snack. Our review of the film called it "incredibly faithful to the animated version in nearly every way," so you shouldn't expect any surprises if you've already seen the original. While you certainly can choose to purchase the digital version of this movie, I'm personally going to wait for it hit streaming – it'll eventually be on Peacock – before I give it a chance.

Where to Watch How to Train Your Dragon (2025)

Have you been scratching your head about where to find Japanese Pokémon cards? I've got you covered. If you’re looking to upgrade your daily tech essentials, today’s lineup covers smart charging, fitness tracking, personal cooling, and workspace organization. Need a powerhouse battery pack for your laptop? A neck fan to beat the heat? Or maybe a fitness tracker that keeps you in sync with your health goals? I've also found ultra-fast USB-C chargers and a cracking surge protector built for modern devices.

TL;DR: Deals For Today

INIU’s high-capacity 140W Power Bank and ultra-compact 30W USB-C Charger Block, both built for quick, efficient power on the go. Fitbit Charge 6 offers all-day activity tracking with Google app integration, while the TUNISE Neck Fan delivers hands-free cooling wherever you are. Finally, the Anker 332 USB-C Power Strip keeps your desk or home setup organized and protected, with outlets and USB-C ports ready for your full device lineup. Let's get into today's deals:

Where To Buy Japanese Pokémon Cards

Japanese Pokémon TCG booster boxes have far better odds at pulling chase cards, have far less bulk and are often half the price of English booster boxes. This also mean said chase cards are worth significantly less, but Japanese cards are far easier to get perfect grades in given they're always busting out of booster packs in perfect condition. Want a Pokémon card collection on a budget? Go for Japanese cards.

Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Preorders

This is it, the beggining of a new expansion for Pokémon TCG. Best Buy have gone live with their preorder allocation for Mega Evolutions today, which mean Target and Walmart won't be far behind. Here's all the links you need and good luck trainers!

Pokémon TCG Price Updates

I can't believe I'm writing this, but Amazon has quite a bit of sealed Pokémon TCG product for under market value. Whilst that unfortunately means it's still way above MSRP, some of these sets are at the best prices they've been in the last month.

Last Weeks Crashers and Climbers

As newer Pokémon TCG sets grab the spotlight, Paradox Rift is seeing its high-rarity SIR ex cards drop in value while several Illustration Rares quietly climb due to shifting collector interest and low inventory. Cards like Altaria ex, Gholdengo ex, and Steelix have dropped between 16% and 25%, while Illustration Rares including Morpeko, Plusle, Minun, Groudon, and Iron Valiant ex are climbing fast, with Morpeko leading at a 43% increase. This mirrors earlier trends where less flashy cards gain traction as availability tightens.

MTG Edge of Eternities Preorders

Magic: The Gathering’s next set, Edge of Eternities, officially launches August 1 with preorders now live on Amazon for bundles including Play Booster Boxes, Commander Decks, and Collector Booster Boxes. Blending Magic’s iconic gameplay with science fantasy themes such as flying space whales and alien races, Edge of Eternities introduces four new mechanics: Void, Warp, Station, and Lander Tokens. Fan-favorite tribes like Eldrazi and Slivers return alongside reprints of coveted Shock Lands. Wizards of the Coast is gradually revealing more details, with a full card gallery arriving July 18 and prerelease events happening July 25 through 31, so now is the time to lock in your preorder if you want first access.

MTG Pricing Updates

It's a bit of a mixed back for Magic: The Gathering prices this week, so it's always worth double checking eBay before TCG Player and Amazon for a last minute bargain. Also, whoever thinks a Theros Beyond Death booster is worth north of $700 needs to have a word with themselves.

INIU 140W Power Bank

Fitbit Charge 6 Fitness Tracker

Personal Fan with LED Display

9-Outlet Anker 332 USB C Power Strip Surge Protector

INIU USB C Charger Block x 2

Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection (Switch)

Superman (Blu-ray + Digital)

Split Fiction (PS5)

Apple AirPods Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds

DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake (Switch)

The Lord of the Rings Illustrated (Tolkien Illustrated Editions)

Suikoden I & II HD Remastered (Switch)

Cloud opens in U.S. theaters Friday, July 18.

Cloud, the latest film from director Kiyoshi Kurosawa, opens unassumingly enough: An emotionally aloof young man walks briskly into a small warehouse room filled with boxes of medical devices. After negotiating with the seller to buy their inventory for a steep, if not downright exploitative discount, the man drives off with the boxes in tow. Later, he sells them online at a drastic mark-up, reaping a hefty payout. What at first might seem like a dour opening note sets the tone for an unnerving psychological action-thriller about the dark, roiling nature of greed, hubris, envy, and irreconcilable rage at the heart of a world organized around the internet. In Cloud, everyone has a dark side when pushed too far. And I mean everyone.

This shrewd and unrepentantly unscrupulous reseller is Yoshii Ryosuke (Masaki Suda), and that opening is a snapshot of how he makes a living. The art direction expands upon this picture: Yoshii’s cramped apartment is cluttered with his dubiously authentic wares – a monument to his all-consuming obsession with drifting his way to the top. After moving to the countryside with his live-in girlfriend, Akio (Kotone Furukawa), the consequences of these shady business practices catch up with Yoshii: A growing number of disgruntled former customers, covetous onlookers, and violent former associates are hellbent on exacting revenge – be it financial or physical – on him. To survive, he must learn to think on his feet amid all manner of threats to his carefully curated life and the lives of those around him.

With Cloud, Kurosawa circles back to the focus of his 2001 cult classic, Pulse: the damaging societal effects of the Internet age. Only this time, there are no ghosts striking out at the living from the bowels of cyberspace; instead, the story – and the horror therein – is concentrated squarely on Yoshii’s actions. We watch in terror as the repercussions of his fast-and-loose behavior billow up around him like clouds before becoming impossible to ignore or escape. It’s a film about how the internet can both connect people and become a catalyst for conflict, magnifying the worst in us before the vitriol and violence inevitably spills out into the physical world.

Kurosawa’s aptitude for unnerving audiences through careful camerawork and creative framing is evident throughout Cloud, prompting us to scan every darkened corner onscreen, lest we miss a crucial, revelatory, or quietly horrifying detail. It’s a patient, meticulous brand of horror that later explodes into a cacophony of gunfire and a hail of bullets – this is an action film with a horror master’s touch. There are no real jumpscares to be found, that is unless you find yourself taken aback by the sheer lengths people are willing to go in order to harm one another when given the proper motivation or incentive. If so, then you’re in for two-plus hours of jolts.

Suda’s performance as Yoshii is positively chilling, his eyes surveying property and people alike with reptilian detachment, as if subconsciously totalling up the value and cost of each and every interaction. The few moments he does spare emotion – his pupils dilating and breathing becoming more shallow – are either when he’s on the verge of a huge payout or at risk of losing it all. He rebuffs promotions at his day job as at a clothing factory from his boss (Yoshiyoshi Arakawa) and get-rich-quick schemes from his former classmate (Masataka Kubota) with equal, unflappable disdain, remaining laser-focused in his own personal pursuit of wealth, comfort, and success – no matter how many how many lives and dreams he has to shatter to get there. It’s only when Yoshii’s own life spirals out of control that he begins to panic, frantically seizing on any and every opportunity to save his own life, up to and including taking someone else’s.

The road to Hell, to quote Virgil, is easy, and little by little Yoshii paves his own winding path to and through damnation. All the while, Kurosawa chillingly shows us how the actions of one person can impact dozens, if not hundreds of people, and the personal cost one pays in sacrificing the lives and welfare of others in the pursuit of securing their own comfort. By the time he gets there, Yoshii discovers that Hell is a far lonelier place than he ever could’ve imagined.

Small, portable and sometimes worth so much money that it would give even Pikachu a shock, rare Pokémon cards have increasingly become the target of theft and other crimes. Japanese news outlets Sanspo and Automaton recently reported that Pokémon cards and cash worth a combined total of 13,700,000 yen (approx. $92,000 USD, as per current exchange rates) were stolen from a trading card shop. The twist is that the third person arrested in this ongoing case is apparently the manager of a rival trading card store nearby.

The robbery happened on June 16 at around 3:30 a.m. at Card Shop Masters in central Japan’s Gifu Prefecture. Two men in their 30s were later arrested for breaking and entering. According to the Sanspo article, one of the men is suspected of threatening the owners with a knife before taking the cards and cash. On July 9, a third person, allegedly the owner of a nearby trading card store, was arrested on suspicion of being an accomplice in the robbery, although according to police, he has yet to confess or deny his involvement.

The shop that was robbed has been posting about the situation on its X account, revealing the alleged identity of the third suspect as the manager of a rival store. They have also been appealing for information and calling for other people who were involved to give themselves up immediately.

“There’s no use thinking you won’t get caught. We will definitely catch everyone.” they said in a post on July 10, which has since attracted over 1 million views. Commenters expressed sympathy with the victim, and shock that someone would rob a shop in the same line of work.

Incidentally, there was a similar Pokémon card robbery that took place in Japan last year. Back in September, two men broke into a trading card seller in Osaka, also at 3:30 a.m. They threatened an employee (who had just been livestreaming a card sale) with a knife, tied them up and then took over 100 cards (worth over 10 million yen or around $67,000) as well as 250,000 yen (around $1,700) in cash (source: Kochi Shimbun).

Rare Pokémon cards have become a target for heists in other countries too. In February, Australia’s ABC News reported on a string of Pokémon card thefts across stores in Melbourne. Just last week, a store in Massachusetts, USA, had more than $100,000 worth of cards stolen in an early morning break-in (source: The New York Times).

Photo by John Keeble/Getty Images.

Verity Townsend is a Japan-based freelance writer who previously served as editor, contributor and translator for the game news site Automaton West. She has also written about Japanese culture and movies for various publications.

Last week, we learned ARK: Aquatica — the new expansion for ARK: Survival Evolved — finally received a firm release date: July 15 (that's today!), and to celebrate the launch, Snail Games has dropped an all-new official trailer, this time showing off what to expect from the game.

Snail Games announced its "in-house developed new expansion map, ARK: Aquatica" at GDC in March. The studio described the expansion as a non-canonical side story to ARK in “an ambitious underwater setting featuring 95% of gameplay taking place beneath the surface."

However, the ARK: Survival Evolved expansion trailer released alongside the announcement was resoundingly condemned after fans discovered evidence of generative AI imagery, and the follow-up 11-second trailer released last week really didn't show us very much at all.

Now, however, a brand-new launch trailer is available to tempt you into picking up the expansion today. It shows off a selection of dinosaurs — both the aquatic and dry-land types — and how they exist alongside a tribe of humans, who can use their prehistoric companions to get around both on dry land and via what appears to be wind funnels beneath the waves.

Not all of the creatures you bump into are friendly, though, so we're also treated to a little combat, too, as well as some truly stunning underwater vistas.

ARK: Aquatica introduces the first submerged ARK with above-water islands, "challenging players with new survival mechanics, extreme environmental hazards, a huge explorable map area, and unique gameplay elements." The underwater biome adds 21 new tameable creatures, 74 new Engrams — including seven tek Engrams — and underwater survival thanks to features like air pockets and propulsion vehicles. Expect new characters and a "narrative connecting multiple ARKs."

ARK: Aquatica is available exclusively on PC via Steam. For the first two weeks of release, players can pick it up for $8.99 — that's 40% off the recommended retail price. A new ARK: New Depths Bundle, which features both ARK: Survival Evolved and ARK: Aquatica Expansion Map, is also on sale at a 20% discount.

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

San Diego Comic-Con 2025 is almost here and IGN is the place to be for all the coverage you need, from the biggest event in pop culture! We'll be sharing all the reveals and exclusives from your favorite shows, movies, comics, games, anime, and collectibles.

IGN will be hosting our own livestreams on Friday, July 25 and Saturday, July 26 straight from San Diego, where we'll share exclusive interviews with cast and directors from shows like Peacemaker, Twisted Metal, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Rick and Morty, and many more, as well as giving you a close-up look at the coolest things on the show floor of San Diego Comic-Con.

All the details are below, including when the event and IGN's livestreams start, the panel schedule, what reveals to expect, and how you can watch and tune in to everything happening in San Diego July 23-27!

When Is SDCC 2025?

San Diego Comic-Con takes place at the San Diego Convention Center from July 23 - 27! See below for the actual in-person SDCC Exhibit Floor dates.

How to Watch IGN's SDCC 2025 Livestream

For those unable to attend in person (or if you couldn't get a badge before they sold out!) Comic-Con coverage can also be enjoyed across IGN platforms from the comfort of your own home. IGN will be on the ground at comic con starting July 23 for their opening night, keeping you up-to-date on everything happening at the event. From big news and panel reveals to live interviews in our studio to the coolest things we see on the show floor – we'll be sharing it all!

IGN will also be showcasing two days of livestreams that will have some of the biggest names in entertainment, comics, anime, and games – all live from our comic con studio, as well as exclusive reveals from the convention center.

IGN’s Live Comic-Con Show is happening Friday and Saturday:

• Friday, July 25 at 3pm PT / 6pm ET / 11pm BST
• Saturday, July 26 at 3pm PT / 6pm ET / 11pm BST

Where to Stream IGN's SDCC Coverage

Here’s the full list of places you can watch IGN’s live show at San Diego Comic-Con:

• IGN.com (homepage)
• IGN's Facebook Channel
• IGN’s Twitter
• IGN's Twitch Channel
• IGN’s Youtube Channel
• IGN’s TikTok Channel
• IGN's iOS App
• IGN's Android App

The full San Diego Comic-Con panel schedule can be viewed at the official SDCC website, with the event happening over July 23-27 and a preview night on July 23:

• Preview Night Wednesday, July 23
• Thursday, July 24
• Friday, July 25
  • IGN’s Live Comic-Con Show starts at 3pm PT / 6pm ET
• Saturday, July 26
  • IGN’s Live Comic-Con Show starts at 3pm PT / 6pm ET
• Sunday, July 27

What to Expect at SDCC 2025

For IGN's Friday live show, fans can expect to see interviews with the cast from Alien: Earth, King of the Hill, Predator: Badlands, Twisted Metal, Dexter: Resurrection, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and many more.

For Saturday's show, IGN will be hosting the cast of Peacemaker, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, Outlander, The Bad Guys 2, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, and more!

Will Marvel Be at Comic-Con This Year?

No, Marvel will not have their usual Hall H panel at SDCC this year, and you can find out why right here.

SDCC 2024 Recap

IGN had an amazing time at SDCC in 2024! Check out some of the biggest moments, like Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom reveal, our visit to a stunning replica of The Bear restaurant, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power cast talking about their latest season, and more!

In my opinion, the Amazon Kindle is one of the best electronic devices ever. Maybe the only piece of tech I use more than my Kindle is my phone, but even then, I have the Kindle app if I decide I just want to stick some knowledge into my craw. If you're on the hunt for a good deal on a Kindle device after the Prime Day sale event, you're in luck. There are a few discounted bundle deals available right now that are worth a look.

Our favorite deal at the moment is on the Kindle Essentials Bundle, which has dropped to $146.97 from its $161.97 list price and sets you up with a Kindle, fabric cover, and power adapter. There's also a great discount on a refurbished (in Like-New condition) Kindle Paperwhite, which is 26% off to $106.99. You can see these deals and more below.

The Best Kindle Deals Right Now

Kindle is one of the devices you're most likely to find on sale during Amazon events like Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday. The available Kindle lineup has expanded quite a lot over the years, too. Amazon will oftentimes sneak Kindle deals into its Deal of the Day or offer a bonus deal like free Kindle Unlimited or other Amazon services as well.

Kindle Unlimited

If you own a Kindle, it's absolutely worth investing in Kindle Unlimited. Right now, Amazon Prime members (who haven't already used up their free trial) can sign up to get 2 months for $4.99 before its $11.99/month price kicks in.

But you may be wondering: what is Kindle Unlimited, and is it really worth it? The answer is... absolutely, dear reader. With this, you'll get unlimited access to millions of digital titles, audiobooks, and magazine subscriptions. That way you can read all of the latest bestsellers, classics, biggest hits, and more in the realm of books and comics. What better way to get started on your Kindle adventure?

Current Kindle Bestsellers

Wondering where to start once you pick up your new Kindle? Have no fear, we're here to help with that, too. Below, we've listed out the current Kindle bestsellers so you can start up an exciting new book right away. Some of these titles can be read for free if you're a Prime member or as part of Kindle Unlimited, or they can be purchased if you'd like to own them.

• Till Summer Do Us Part by Meghan Quinn - Free with Kindle Unlimited, $5.99 to purchase
• The Women of Arlington Hall by Jane Healey - Preorder for $4.99
• Death Row by Freida McFadden - $0.99 to purchase
• The Tenant by Freida McFadden - Free with Kindle Unlimited, $4.99 to purchase
• Out of the Woods by Gregg Olsen - Preorder for $4.99
• Last Seen by J.T. Ellison - Preorder for $4.99
• Don Caselli by Jahquel J. - Free with Kindle Unlimited, $9.99 to purchase
• The Housemaid by Freida McFadden - Free with Kindle Unlimited, $3.99 to purchase
• Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros - Free with Kindle Unlimited, $14.99 to purchase
• Lightning in a Mason Jar by Catherine Mann - Free with Kindle Unlimited, $4.99 to purchase

Best Kindle Book Deals

If you want to see the latest and greatest Kindle book deals available, there's an excellent variety to pick through. Whether you're looking for new comics to dig into or just want to sink into a thrilling novel, there's always great book deals available for Kindle users. We've listed just a few of our favorites below, but if you want to see the full list of available deals, head to Amazon's Kindle deals page here.

• Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir - $12.99 (usually $22)
• All-Star Superman - $9.49 (usually $19.99)
• Fantastic Four by Jonathan Hickman: The Complete Collection Vol. 1 - $6.99 (usually $34.99)
• Wicked by Gregory Maguire - $1.99
• Superman: Earth One Vol. 1 - $3.99

Why a Kindle Is Worth the Investment

I've been rocking the Kindle since the earliest model was available, and not only do I prefer it to any other method of reading, I've found myself reading more than I would have with traditional paper books. Not that there's anything wrong with reading from a traditional book, I just personally appreciate the ease of use and form factor afforded me by the Kindle.

Since the Kindles use e-ink instead of traditional screens like your phone or iPad, they can be read in just about any lighting. In fact, the pages look like actual paper pages, so any artificial light or even bright sunlight are no factor when using the Kindle. It only uses energy when you turn the page, use the backlight or leave Wi-Fi turned on, so if you go into Airplane mode you can go weeks, even months, between charging your Kindle. Generally I go long enough to completely forget where I put my charging cable.

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

With contributions from Seth Macy.