Having spent nearly a decade testing VPNs, there’s one thing that was crystal clear to me from the outset that remains true today: Not all VPNs are created equal. Some boast powerful unblocking and seamless streaming, while others offer a more robust security setup or a stronger stance on privacy. These VPNs are available at prices to suit all budget levels too – some are even free.

The challenge is finding the best VPN for your specific needs, the list of which only seems to grow given the age verification steps implemented in the UK and, even more recently, the U.S. starting with YouTube. To make this easier, I’ve run dozens of VPNs through a series of tests to see where they excel and, crucially, where they fall short. This includes measuring server speeds, accessing streaming services from abroad, checking for DNS leaks, reading privacy policies, and even contacting each VPN’s support to gauge response time and quality. It’s about as comprehensive an approach as there is, resulting in a fair and accurate picture of the very best VPN services in 2025.

TL;DR: These Are the Best VPN Services:

Still not sure exactly what a VPN is or how it works? Short for Virtual Private Network, a VPN is a service you can use to encrypt your internet connection and spoof your virtual location. When you connect to a VPN, it routes your traffic via a secure, encrypted tunnel to a server in your preferred location. The encryption provides security from hackers and snoopers but, in hiding your IP address, a VPN also allows you to sidestep annoying geographic restrictions on content.

1. Proton VPN

The Best VPN

2. ExpressVPN

Best VPN for Streaming

3. NordVPN

Best VPN for Gaming

4. Surfshark

Best VPN for Extra Features

5. IPVanish

Best VPN for Unlimited Devices

6. CyberGhost

Best VPN with a Free Trial

7. Mullvad

Best VPN for Anonymity

Sony has revealed its PlayStation Plus Game Catalog August 2025 additions, pulling back the curtain on Extra and Premium tier highlights like Marvel’s Spider-Man, Mortal Kombat 1, Resident Evil 2, and more.

The full lineup of titles joining PlayStation’s gaming subscription service was revealed in a new PlayStation.Blog post today. It’s a month with titles that range from some of the biggest games on the market to a few hidden indie gems, with PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers also netting access to a five-hour Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Game Trial.

The PlayStation Plus Game Catalog will expand with 11 new titles come August 19. Subscribers at the Extra and Premium tiers will enjoy standouts like NetherRealm Studios’ soft reboot fighting game, Mortal Kombat 1, as well as Insomniac Games’ original superhero video game, Marvel’s Spider-Man. The latter is making its return to the service after departing the library of available PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 games in April 2023.

Those unimpressed by the two AAA additions may find something to love in the lineup of other games, which includes Harold Halibut, Indika, Earth Defense Force 6, Unicorn Overlord, Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key, and Coral Island. There’s also Giant Squid’s Sword of the Sea, which launches day one for PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers.

Finally, PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers can look forward to two monumental PlayStation 1 titles: Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis. Both of Capcom’s classics will be available to play on PS4 and PS5. You can see all of the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog August 2025 additions, as well as their support platforms, in the list below.

PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium Game Catalog Additions – August 2025

• Mortal Kombat 1 | PS5
• Marvel’s Spider-Man | PS5, PS4
• Sword of the Sea | PS5
• Earth Defense Force 6 | PS5, PS4
• Unicorn Overlord | PS5, PS4
• Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key | PS5, PS4
• Indika | PS5
• Harold Halibut | PS5
• Coral Island | PS5

PlayStation Plus Premium Game Catalog Additions – August 2025

• Resident Evil 2 | PS5, PS4 (PS)
• Resident Evil 3: Nemesis | PS5, PS4 (PS)

PlayStation Plus subscribers can look forward to diving into all of the new Game Catalog games next week. In the meantime, be sure to check out all of the games added to the service in July 2025. You can also see the August 2025 Essential tier games that joined PlayStation Plus earlier this month.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer 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).

While just about every phone you can get your hands on nowadays will be able to play some games, several key features distinguish a fine gaming phone from a great one. Powerful processing is one piece of the puzzle. Being able to sustain high performance levels is also a must – you don’t want to deal with a phone that can only run smoothly for a few minutes before it slows down and scorches your hands. Extra memory and storage are also clutch for gaming phones, providing a means for multitasking even while you have a game running and giving you plenty of space for games. Some gaming phones, like the RedMagic 10 Pro, even offer extra upgrades for gaming, like additional shoulder buttons and enhanced touch sampling rates. (Though you could also just pick up a dedicated phone controller.)

Of course, the display is also a big piece of the puzzle. If you can’t see your games, you’re going to have a hard time playing them. A bigger, brighter display helps, as does a boost in refresh rate for smooth motion. An added benefit of a bigger phone is that your thumbs won’t cover as much of the display when you’re using touch controls. I've been testing and reviewing gaming phones for years now, so with all these details in mind, here’s a look at the best smartphones that also excel when it comes to gaming anywhere, anytime.

TL;DR – These Are the Best Gaming Phones:

1. RedMagic 10 Pro

Best Gaming Phone

2. OnePlus 13

Best Everyday Phone for Gaming

3. iPhone 16 Pro Max

Best iPhone for Gaming

4. iPhone 16e

Best Budget iPhone for Gaming

5. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7

Best Foldable Gaming Phone

6. OnePlus 12R

Best Budget Android for Gaming

What We’re Looking Forward to:

The RedMagic 10 Pro is truly an excellent gaming phone. But with all the performance it pumps out of the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip inside, it got me wondering just what the kind of performance could do if it were funneled into the same kind of games we all play on PC. When I’m not testing phones, I’m often testing laptops, and I’ve tested the MSI Claw 8 AI+ for Lifehacker. What’s been interesting to see is how the divide between the PC and phone hardware has been narrowing, both because the phone chips are speeding up considerably and because Windows has made a push toward ARM (the same architecture used by phone processors) alongside the introduction of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite SoCs for Windows systems.

With that narrowing divide, I’m constantly checking to see where there’s the closest overlap. For instance, the RedMagic 10 Pro actually performed quite close to the MSI Claw 8 AI+ in Geekbench 6’s single-core and multi-core test. It falls a bit further behind in raw GPU performance, though with just 78% of the performance in Steel Nomad Light. But bear in mind that the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is a powerful handheld that outstrips the Steam Deck considerably in 3DMark, by even more than it beats the RedMagic 10 Pro in Steel Nomad Light (one of the more demanding tests). All that is to say, the RedMagic 10 Pro could make a viable handheld when paired with a phone controller.

Now, there are certainly plenty of great games for Android, but there’s a whole world of PC games that it would be wonderful to throw all of the RedMagic 10 Pro’s horsepower at. But you can’t. And that’s where the upcoming RedMagic 10S Pro gets exciting. As reported by TechSpot, the RedMagic 10S Pro may support some form of Windows emulation to run PC games. While I’d expect there to be some performance penalty as a result, I don’t think even a 25% penalty would be enough to stop the phone from offering excellent performance in games like Hades or Dead Cells — the kind of indie titles that excel on gaming handhelds. And since the new RedMagic 10S Pro is packing a Snapdragon 8 Elite Leading Version chip, it should offer a slight bump in performance over its predecessor.

While this currently remains in the realm of conjecture, as I don’t have my hands on the new phone (yet) and can’t be certain it will even offer the sort of emulation suggested, it’s still an exciting prospect. Even better would be if someone (like Valve) would adapt Steam OS to support some of this mobile hardware. Heck, it might not be long before Windows can run natively on these phone SoCs.

What to Look for in a Gaming Phone

Once you're certain you're a prime candidate for a gaming phone, here's exactly what to consider when you're on the hunt for one. While the best smartphones on the market tend to have some of what it takes to be a decent gaming phone, proper gaming phones tend to have some considerable advantages. You’ll find unseen benefits under the hood, upgrades to the screen and battery, and even extra controls to help give you the edge while gaming.

• Processors: This is a key area for gaming phones as they effectively define how well a phone can run a game. Top-tier chips like those from the Snapdragon 8 family (e.g., Elite, Gen 1/2/3) tend to be strong performers in games, and the recent Snapdragon 8 Elite has shown itself an absolute beast when it comes to gaming. Apple’s iPhones also tend to have pretty high-performance chips, with any model within the last year or two often providing more than enough speed for the latest games.

• Cooling and heat management: While a fast processor is a good start, running games is demanding and generates heat. Gaming phones generally make a point of managing that. Paying attention to sustained performance is a key part of how we test phones’ gaming potential. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra may have great performance in a short benchmark, but it slows down considerably as it heats up. Meanwhile, a top-notch gaming phone like the RedMagic 10 can lag behind Samsung in some benchmarks, but proves itself capable of sustaining its performance for the long haul thanks to powerful heat management in the form of an active cooling phone — something most everyday phones won’t have.

• Power: Sometimes it’s not about hardware when it comes to smartly managing heat. You should be on the lookout for pass-through power when shopping for a gaming phone. This feature lets you plug in your phone and have the chipset draw power directly from the outlet, skipping the battery and avoiding the extra heat this would create while also letting you game nonstop without worrying about running out of charge. But again, this isn’t something you can count on every phone offering.

• Display: Most gaming phones will give you a solid display for gaming. This will include a high resolution and refresh rates ranging from 120Hz to 165Hz or above. Most often, these will be OLED displays, giving you rich contrast and limited motion blur. While many games have framerate caps at 60fps, not all do, and the extra frames can make a world of difference in the perceived smoothness of a game. Quite a few gaming phones also offer high touch sampling rates, ensuring your inputs are registered quickly, and with games often calling for split-second reaction times, this can make a difference.

• Gaming-specific features: Finally, good gaming phones often find ways to make themselves extra useful in games. This often comes in the form of extra software that’s not always pleasing or easy to use, or extra buttons on the phone that let you use more than just your thumbs as inputs. Even with just a pair of shoulder buttons on a gaming phone, you end up with double the input methods you’d have otherwise, and the ability to move, aim, jump and fire all with separate fingers in online FPS games, for instance, makes a big difference.

Gaming Handhelds vs. Gaming Phones

Deciding on a portable gaming device truly depends on your lifestyle, the type of games you want to play, and how you want to play them.

A gaming phone is ultra-portable and easily pocketed. However, it’s still a highly capable machine that does more than game, offering all your typical smartphone features, including quality cameras, navigation, and communication. Gaming phones also better support cloud streaming for Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox games. Many gaming phones even have cooling solutions to prevent thermal throttling and some handy triggers. If you’re not a fan of touch controls, you can always grab a phone controller and get an experience much closer to a gaming handheld.

Gaming handhelds, like the Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch, are substantially bulkier but still easy to toss in a bag and take on the go. Unlike gaming phones, they are pretty much used solely for gaming, so you get responsive joysticks, triggers, and buttons with these options.

As for actual games, there’s a considerable rift. Android and iOS get plenty of games, and it’s becoming increasingly common to find the same titles on mobile and PC, though the mobile versions are often scaled back in some ways. Gaming handhelds get access to pretty much all of the PC games out there because they are, in fact, gaming PCs (except the Nintendo Switch, of course). Some PC games won’t run well (or run at all) on the low-powered hardware of the gaming handheld, though.

Both gaming handhelds and gaming phones can tap into cloud gaming platforms like Nvidia GeForce Now and Xbox Game Pass. In these, the performance of the phone and handheld don’t matter nearly as much as the quality of their internet connection. In that sense, phones can get an advantage as they offer both Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity (though a very good 5G connection is all but essential to try game streaming).

Battery life can be a tossup. Gaming phones tend to have sizable batteries, run efficiently, and can easily last through the day even with a bit of gaming sprinkled in – otherwise, what use is it as a phone? Gaming handhelds tend to last just a few hours, with the Steam Deck offering pretty poor battery life as an example. And topping up the battery on the go will be easier for the phone, which won’t require a high-wattage charger.

Cost is a big question. The Steam Deck starts at $400 and the original Nintendo Switch is even less than that. Most gaming phones cost more. But some gaming handhelds are landing with prices closer to $1,000, and that far outpaces some of our favorite gaming phones. Plus, most of us need a phone whether we get a gaming handheld or not. The fact a gaming phone can pull double duty should weigh into its value.

The limited access to games may be the deciding factor, as even with cloud gaming as an option, some games simply won’t be available for gaming phones. If everything you want to play is available on mobile or cloud gaming, then it’s worth testing the waters of cloud gaming with your current phone and then, if you like the experience, considering a gaming phone as your next device. If you can’t play the games you want the way you want, then a handheld may fit the bill.

Mark Knapp is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything electronics and gaming hardware. He has over 10 years of experience in the tech industry with bylines at PCMag, Reviewed, CNET, and more. Find Mark on Twitter @Techn0Mark or BlueSky at @Techn0Mark.

Keeping your gaming PC clean inside and out is one of the best ways to ensure it continues to operate at peak performance and efficiency. Insulating dust and debris can leave heatsinks unable to shed the heat output by your hottest components, which in turn can lead to overheating, thermal throttling, and even system crashes.

To make sure that doesn’t happen, doing a once a year quick clear out of any dust built up inside your PC and its dust filters is a smart plan. Here’s how to do it effectively and safely.

What You Need To Clean Your PC

Cleaning out your PC is simple, but depending on the extent of the grime, you might want to get some tools ready to really give your PC a deep clean.

• Microfiber cloths
• Can of compressed air
• Screwdriver
• Gentle, long bristled brush
• Stiff-bristled brush
• Distilled water or screen cleaner (not glass cleaner)
• Anti-static wrist strap (if you want to be extra safe)
• Ensure your PC is powered down and unplugged before cleaning.

You ideally want a large, clear desk surface to clean the PC, with clear lighting and ventilation. If you have an air filter or purifier, it might not be a bad time to grab that, or at the very least open a window. There’s going to be some dust flying around. If you have a garage, that’s an even better option.

It’s best to perform any maintenance on your PC with an anti-static wrist band to avoid static, but you can also ground yourself periodically by touching your PC chassis or PSU. You should also avoid doing the cleaning on a carpeted floor, but if you have no choice, at least avoid wearing socks on the carpet.

How To Clean Your PC’s Interior

When cleaning your PC it’s best to start with the inside. There’s a good chance that dust will be wafting around your room for a while, so there’s little point cleaning the outside if it’s just going to become dirty again.

Remove all the panels from your PC and lie them down flat to give you a good view of them. Remove any dust filters if possible, and thoroughly clear them of dust. If they’re particularly dusty, consider doing this part outside, or at least near a window. Use canned air to get most of the dust off, but if anything is particularly stubborn a gently bristled brush will do the trick – just make sure it won’t conduct static electricity.

If there are any large, flat surfaces on the case panels that are dusty, lightly dampen the microfiber cloth and wipe them down thoroughly, then leave them to dry.

Locate your CPU cooler heatsink or radiator and use the can of compressed air to blow out any dust hidden between the fins, making sure to hold the fan blade so it doesn’t spin, as that can damage the motor. You can also use a soft-bristled brush to gently clean the capacitors and chips on your motherboard. Use the microfiber cloth to wipe down the blades of the fan and any other large, dusty surfaces.

Then, locate the RAM and use compressed air to clean any dust from around the slots and between any fins present on the heatspreader. Use a soft brush to gently clean between the sticks. Alternatively, remove each stick from their slot and wipe them down with the microfiber cloth.

To cean your graphics card, use the compressed air to clean the dust from the heatsink fins and fan housings, but be sure to hold the fan blades still to prevent motor damage. Wipe down the backplate and any large dusty surfaces using a microfiber cloth.

Use a combination of compressed air and a microfiber cloth to clear out any dust from the power supply and the interior of the PC case. Wipe down system fan blades and housings.

Finally, before putting the side panels back on your case, take the time to tidy up your cables. Cable ties and clips can help pin cables down and out of the way of the main body of the case, which can improve airflow, reducing overheating and noise, just like cleaning out dust.

How to clean your PC’s exterior

With the interior of your PC clean, you can wipe down any side panels or other exterior surfaces with the damp microfiber cloth to remove most of the dust and debris. Pay close attention to any grills or filters that still show dust, and give them a blast with compressed air or wipe them down if they’re stubborn.

Locate any external ports on the front and rear of the case and give them a short blast of compressed air to clear out and dust and debris in there that can inhibit connections. Don’t forget to check the underside too, as the PSU has its own intake, usually accompanied by dust filters which need removal and cleaning.

PC Cleaning: Frequently Asked Questions

How often should you clean your PC?

Most people don’t clean their computers for years because they don’t realise how important it can be to keep their systems dust-free. But just as you give your TV or your gaming monitor a wipe down to make sure the picture stays clear, it’s worth ensuring that dust and dirt aren’t making your PC experience worse than it needs to be.

If you can commit to a once a year clean you’re doing better than most, and it’s a convenient milestone that makes it easy to remember when it’s time to give your system a clearout. If your home is particularly dusty, however, you might like to perform a quick internal clean once every six months to keep on top of things.

Can you use a vacuum cleaner for cleaning your PC?

No. Vacuum cleaners are notorious for generating static electricity which can easily damage the sensitive internal components of your PC. There are electronic dust blowers which can work as an alternative to compressed air, but full size vacuums are too dangerous for cleaning your PC.

How do I know if my computer needs cleaning?

If it’s been more than a year since you cleaned it last, it could probably do with a clean. However, you might want to consider a clean if your PC is particularly loud or slow. That can indicate that the components are thermal throttling, which can be due to clogged and dirty heatsinks. You can also just look at your PC, and if you notice a lot of dust building up, it’s probably time to whip out the canned air.

Samsung has announced a new set of Odyssey gaming monitors, leading with the Odyssey OLED G6, a 27-inch, 500Hz display that the company says has 0.03ms response time. The new display, which is joined by two new Odyssey G7 curved gaming monitors, is available to buy for $999.99 on Samsung’s website and Amazon.

Wait, you ask, doesn't Samsung already have an Odyssey OLED G6 with an absurd refresh rate? Why yes, it does, and it's $100 cheaper, to boot. But its refresh rate is a mere 360Hz! (Actually, there's an even cheaper 240Hz model, too.) Would I ever be able to tell which is which by watching them? No, but listen, 500Hz is a bigger number, and bigger is better.

In all seriousness, the new OLED G6 having an even higher refresh rate for this display feels more like a stunt than a value proposition. Digging around in the specs, I'm not seeing a good reason to drop an extra $100 on it. It has the same QHD (2560x1440) resolutiion, the same HDR10+ support, the same dual HDMI 2.1 ports. Samsung lists the older 360Hz model's brightness as measuring 250 nits, while the new one is 300 nits and VESA DisplayHDR TrueBlack 500 certified, so that's something. It's also Pantone Validated for accurate colors and skin tones; so it might look a tad bit better, but it would be hard to say so without seeing them side-by-side. Think of it as being more like a PC spec bump than a wholly new display.

We might as well run down some other details. Around the back of this screen, you'll find an obligatory ring of RGB lights and some ports – two for HDMI 2.1 and one for DisplayPort 1.4, along with two USB-A ports, a USB-B port, and a headphone jack, The OLED G6 uses Samsung's Auto Source Switch+, which is basically its version HDMI ARC, switching inputs for you when it detects that another connected device has come online. The whole thing sits on a height-and-tilt-adjustable stand that can pivot and swivel, too. (That's all stuff you'll find on the older G6, too.)

As for the new curved displays, Samsung released its new Odyssey G7s in 37-inch ($899.99) and 40-inch ($1,199.99) versions. Unlike the OLED G6, it's easy to see what's new here; principally, that they're bigger than the G7 line's existing 27-inch and 32-inch models. In most ways, the displays are the same as one another, featuring VA panels, a 1000R curve, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro support, VESA DisplayHDR 600 certification, and 1ms response time. They each have 350 nits of brightness and support HDR10+ Gaming, too. Physical dimensions aside, where they differ from one another is in resolution, screen ratio, and refresh rate: The 37-inch model is a 165Hz, 16:9 screen with 3840x2160 resolution, while the 40-inch version is 21:9 with a 180Hz refresh rate and 5120x2160 resolution.

Wes is a freelance writer (Freelance Wes, they call him) who has covered technology, gaming, and entertainment steadily since 2020 at Gizmodo, Tom's Hardware, Hardcore Gamer, and most recently, The Verge. Inside of him there are two wolves: one that thinks it wouldn't be so bad to start collecting game consoles again, and the other who also thinks this, but more strongly.

James Gunn’s Superman finally swooped into theaters last month, and the new Krypto Saves the Day!: School Bus Scuffle animated short is here to keep the fun going.

The five-minute animated short film was released today on YouTube to help usher in Superman’s impending arrival on digital platforms. It will be included as an animated series for all who purchase a copy of the debut DCU movie when it becomes available digitally on its August 15, 2025, release date, or physically on its September 23, 2025, release date.

Krypto Saves the Day!: School Bus Scuffle is the first of the four DC shorts and focuses on Clark Kent’s super pooch as he tries (and fails) to stop a pigeon with his canine laser eyes and x-ray vision. It doesn’t come close to providing any earth-shattering DCU revelations, but it’s a cute story that gives fans a few more minutes with one of the standout characters in Superman.

The other entries in the Krypto Saves the Day! saga include Episode 2: Halloween Havoc, Episode 3: Package Pandemonium, and Episode 4: Coastal Catastrophe. Only School Bus Scuffle will be available to watch upon Superman’s home release, with the others expected to premiere individually throughout 2026.

“From school bus rescues to Spring Break cruise ship saves - and even Halloween candy crises - no adventure is too small as Krypto delivers super-powered action, laughs, and plenty of mischief for fans of all ages,” a description for the Krypto Saves the Day! series says.

Superman kicked off the DCU with a bang when it launched into movie theaters July 11. It’s performed well amongst fans and critics alike (we gave it an 8/10), with its time at the box office seeing it soar to a global total of more than $580 million (via Box Office Mojo).

Its time on the big screen will soon come to an end, with fans told to look out for its digital release in a few days before it becomes available to watch in 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD in September. While we wait to see more from the Man of Steel and Krypto Saves the Day!, you can read up on how Gunn is already preparing for the next Super-Family story. You can also learn more about every hero featured in Superman’s Easter Egg-filled History of Metahumans mural.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer 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).

S.H.Figuarts makes some really fantastic action figures. They’re on the pricy side, but they’re generally worth it, thanks to their superior build quality, wealth of accessories, swappable parts, and highly articulated joints so you can pose them however you want.

The newest batch added to the lineup are some great looking Super Mario figures that are available for preorder now (see them at Amazon). We have Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Bowser, and a play set, all coming next year. Let’s take a look.

Featured in this article

You’ll find links above to all of the new figures (and the play set). If you want more details about them, read on.

Mario - S.H.Figuarts Action Figure

Luigi - S.H.Figuarts Action Figure

Bowser - S.H.Figuarts Action Figure

Yoshi - S.H.Figuarts Action Figure

Playset - S.H.Figuarts Super Mario Line

A soldering station is an invaluable tool for anyone who works with electronic components, whether it be for mods or repairs, and Amazon has a popular and affordable model that's even less expensive today. Right now you can pick up the Fanttik T1 Max Cordless Soldering Iron Kit for just $49.59 after you apply coupon code "49T1MAXSD" during checkout. You do not need to be an Amazon Prime member to get this discount. This is more than just a basic soldering station; the T1 Max has a lot of extra features you wouldn't normally expect to see in a kit that costs less than $50.

Fanttik T1 Max Soldering Iron Kit for $49.59

Magic: The Gathering is offering an unprecedented three crossovers in its 2025 release calendar. The Final Fantasy’s set was the biggest launch in the trading card game's long history, and Spider-Man is up next.

Time waits for no one, though, and spoilers have already begun for Avatar: The Last Airbender’s set, due to launch in November. Better yet, preorders are now live for sealed products, and here’s where you can get them.

Play Boosters and Bundles

Collector Boosters

Beginner Box

Scene Box

Where Are The Commander Decks?

Commander’s Bundle Explained

Jumpstart Boosters

While not yet available for preorder (in the US at least), Jumpstart Boosters return for Avatar: The Last Airbender.

The idea is simple: Players take two packs of cards, put them together, and make an instantly-playable deck. It’ll be available in Booster Boxes or as individual packs.

UK Preorders

Curiously, Amazon UK has more products available than any other retailer at the time of writing.

• Beginner Box - £28.99
• Play Booster (Individual) - £5.99
• Play Booster Box (30 Packs) - £174.99
• Jumpstart Booster Box (24 Packs) - £104.99

Lloyd Coombes is an experienced freelancer in tech, gaming and fitness seen at Polygon, Eurogamer, Macworld, TechRadar and many more. He's a big fan of Magic: The Gathering and other collectible card games, much to his wife's dismay.

If you're seeking the absolute best of the best in PC gaming performance, look no further. As part of a greater Back to School Sale, Alienware has just dropped the price of its flagship Alienware Area-51 prebuilt gaming PC equipped with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card to $4,549.99 with free shipping. This is a competitive price for a prebuilt RTX 5090 gaming PC compared to similarly equipped systems from other boutique PC builders, which is impressive considering the fact that the Alienware brand usually commands a price premium.

Alienware Area-51 RTX 5090 Gaming PC From $4,499.99

The RTX 5090 Is the Most Powerful Graphics Card Ever

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 has emerged as the most powerful consumer GPU on the market. Although Nvidia has prioritized software updates, AI features, and DLSS 4 technology to improve gameplay performance, the 5090 still boasts an impressive 25%-30% uplift over the RTX 4090 in terms of pure hardware-based raster performance. The 5090 also has more (32GB vs. 24GB) and faster (GDDR7 vs. GDDR6) VRAM compared to the 4090. Although Nvidia GPU prices have been trending downwards, it's still difficult to find a 5090 card for below $2,500.

Check out more of the best Alienware deals

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

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

If you're in need of a super high capacity power bank that's still pretty compact, check out this Anker deal from Amazon. Right now you can pick up the Anker PowerCore Reserve 60,000mAh 192Wh power bank for just $79.99 shipped after a 47% off instant discount. This is the lowest price I've seen for this particular model and beats out last year's Black Friday price by $10. The PowerCore Reserve is a lot smaller and lighter than a full-sized power station but has a much higher capacity and some unique features compared to other smaller power banks.

Anker PowerCore Reserve 60,000mAh Power Bank for $79.99

YouTube has officially launched its new AI age verification technology today, which will automatically add certain restrictions to your account if it thinks you’re under 18 years old.

This “age-estimation model,” as dubbed by the company, uses AI to establish if the user is under 18, despite what you might list as your birthday on your account. If the AI program determines the user is likely to be under 18 — which it uses factors like activity and longevity of the account to estimate — YouTube will enact restrictions and security measures.

Those restrictions and protections, which already exist on accounts for those under 18, include: showing only non-personalized ads; enabling “digital wellbeing” tools by default, which include reminders to take a break and for bedtime; showing reminders about privacy when uploading a video or commenting publicly; minimizing recommendations of videos with content that could be “problematic if viewed in repetition”; and blocking access to videos that are age-restricted for only viewers 18 and older (determined by YouTube or verified by users).

According to the video platform, users “have the option to verify your age (through government ID, selfie or a credit card) if you believe our age estimation model is incorrect.”

Initially, the program will focus on a small group of users in the US market “so that teens are treated as teens and adults as adults,” according to senior director of product management for YouTube’s youth products James Beser, who elaborated on the program in a blog post last month. “This technology will allow us to infer a user’s age and then use that signal, regardless of the birthday in the account, to deliver our age-appropriate product experiences and protections.”

Beser added in his post, “YouTube was one of the first platforms to offer experiences designed specifically for young people, and we’re proud to again be at the forefront of introducing technology that allows us to deliver safety protections while preserving teen privacy. Families trust YouTube to provide a safe and enriching experience, and we’ll continue to invest to protect their ability to explore safely online.”

Needless to say, many folks are not happy with this change, as it puts their account at the whim of a computer program with little oversight — and if flagged, will have to verify their age by uploading a government ID, which some users have said could leave them susceptible to data leaks and identity theft.

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

Whether you're looking to pick up a carrying case, screen protector, or accessories, there are quite a few Nintendo Switch 2 deals worth checking out at the moment. Here we've gathered up some of the best that have crossed our radar lately. Alongside deals on the aforementioned items, we've also included exciting preorders, like for the Switch 2 Pokemon: Legends Z-A bundle, so you can secure a bundle for yourself ahead of its release in October.

If you're in the Switch shopping mood, now is a good time to pick up some of these items with great discounts available. Check out our favorite Switch 2 deals at the moment below.

TL;DR - The Best Nintendo Switch 2 Deals

Preorders Are Up for the Switch 2 Pokemon: Legends Z-A Bundle

Best Nintendo Switch Game Deals

Nintendo Switch 2 game deals are, unfortunately, pretty few and far between at the moment (not counting a Sonic X Shadow Generations discount over at Amazon). However, there are some great Nintendo Switch game deals available right now. We've included just a few our favorites above, including a great discount on Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection.

Pick Up the SanDisk 512GB GamePLAY microSD Express Card

Switch 2 Carrying Case Deals

If you're planning on taking your Switch 2 out on any trips or adventures you have planned this summer, a carrying case is a very wise investment. Thankfully there are plenty of great deals to check out right now on a variety of different case styles, whether you want something slimmer or with a very sturdy build. We're particularly fond of the Tomtoc slim carrying case, which offers the best of both and is discounted right now.

Best Switch 2 Screen Protector Deals

Once you've picked up your new Switch 2, it's important to find some extra protection for it. Screen protectors are a worthy investment and, thankfully, there are plenty of deals available right now. Even though these items are usually pretty affordable on their own, the discounts are a nice little treat to take advantage of while they're available.

Switch 2 Accessory Deals

If you've picked up your Switch 2 console and are now on the hunt for some accessories, there are a few deals worth checking out right now. From thumb grips to a protective case that can be wrapped around your Switch 2 in handheld mode, we've included some of our favorite deals above that are available at the moment.

Best Switch 2 Power Bank Deals

And lastly in our list of Nintendo Switch 2 deals for right now, you'll want to make sure you've got plenty of power to keep you going once you start playing on your new console. If you've been looking for a new Switch 2 power bank to have for when you're on the go, we've included a few great deals above that are worth checking out.

Where to Buy Official Nintendo Switch 2 Accessories

If official Nintendo Switch 2 accessories have been on your radar, we've included where you can buy those above. Some of these have been going out of stock quick, though, so if something that catches your eye is still in stock you'll want to be quick to scoop it up while it's still available.

Where to Buy Nintendo Switch 2

Walmart is clearing out the LEGO Icons Back to The Future Time Machine (DeLorean) 10300 building kit at an absolutely incredible price of $70. It's normally $200. The catch? The price is only available at select locations, so whether or not it's in stock or at this price depends on your zip code and store location. This is a really fun and relatively complex build for adult kids, especially since you can pick your favorite DeLorean from one of the three movies.

LEGO Icons Back to The Future DeLorean Time Machine

There are a lot of common unique pieces that you'd expect to find in all three variants of Doc's time machine, like the iconic flux capacitor light brick that actually lights up (battery included), gull-wing doors that open up to reveal a detailed interior, Dr Emmett ‘Doc’ Brown and Marty McFly minifigures that you can only get exclusively from this set, and accessories like Marty's hoverboard and the OUTATIME license plate.

The final build measures 14"x8"x5" and weighs about 4.5 pounds. There are 1,872 pieces to this build, so at the discounted price you're averaging about 9 cents per brick. This is one of the more complex LEGO builds and it's officially recommended for ages 18+, perfect for the adult collector or a joint venture involving you and your kid.

More LEGO Car Sets

Check out more LEGO cars to fill out your collection, including sets from Technic, Icons, Creator as well as themed sets from Transformers, Batman, or NASA. Most of these sets are geared toward ages 18+ and are rather challenging builds.

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

South Park will skip out on airing a new episode this week as Season 27 of the Comedy Central show continues its bi-weekly run of takedowns against the Trump administration.

While past South Park seasons have followed a weekly release schedule, viewers will have to sit through another week without the show as it finds its new groove. Instead, Comedy Central is celebrating the long-running comedy series’ anniversary today, August 13, with what it has declared to be South Park Day (via THR).

This event that will see the network’s programming schedule filled with fan-favorite episodes like Casa Bonita, Fishsticks, and Make Love, Not Warcraft, as well as interviews with creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and behind-the-scenes footage.

In other words, audiences will have to wait until next week to see the yet-to-be-named third episode of South Park Season 27. Fans were already on the edge of their seats following the latest season premiere, Sermon on the Mount, which saw Parker and Stone unambiguously taking jabs at Donald Trump’s policies, appearance, and more. Its July 23 premiere also saw Eric Cartman and other South Park regulars calling out Comedy Central parent company, Paramount, after the company found itself in hot water due to its merger with Skydance and the controversial cancellation of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.

South Park Season 27’s second episode, Got A Nut, then followed two weeks later, after a surprise delay that saw it skip a week as well. This new slice continued the show’s scathing criticisms of the Trump administration while shifting its focus over to U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem (the latter of which is the subject of a new extended ending that's not for animal lovers).

Welcome to Mar-A-Lago! #SouthPark pic.twitter.com/MgIlIVL51j

— South Park (@SouthPark) August 7, 2025

South Park Season 27 has been brutal and seemingly unrestrained, to say the least, making the wait between each episode similarly painful for fans. The show’s latest season is planned to be 10 episodes long, although it’s unclear if it will continue the new bi-weekly schedule it’s enjoyed thus far.

Regardless of the longer-than-usual wait for more South Park, Season 27 has proven to be one of the most successful runs it’s seen since the show began in 1997. Sermon on the Mount managed to secure its place in TV history with 6 million viewers across Paramount platforms upon its premiere, with live viewing numbers up 25 percent for Got A Nut, too.

We’ll have to wait to see what surprises Parker and Stone have up their sleeves for South Park Season 27 Episode 3. While we wait, you can see what the two TV creatives had to say about Sermon on the Mount when they attended San Diego Comic-Con last month. You can also read up on their recent $1.5 billion deal with Paramount, which will see the duo producing 50 episodes of South Park over the next five years.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer 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).

Capcom has dropped a new cinematic trailer for its upcoming mobile strategy game, Resident Evil Survival Unit, which appears to confirm an array of familiar enemies you'll have to fight.

Though a polished, flamboyant, and unashamedly bombastic showing of everything the Resident Evil series has come to represent to millions of fans all over the world, the cinematic trailer is precisely that — cinematic. Which means it doesn't give us a better understanding of systems underpinning the actual gameplay, unfortunately.

Nonetheless, Capcom's ready for you to register your interest, so if you like what you see — and hear; there's a very jazzy theme tune from Queen Bee — head on over to the App Store.

The upcoming strategy game spin-off for smartphones was given a proper reveal last month, confirming it's set in a parallel universe where you form a squad of characters from the series' biggest stars to take on zombies and monsters. Today, that roster now looks to include Mr X, Nemesis and... crocodiles.

Co-developed by Aniplex and Joycity, gameplay sees you building up a familiar-looking mansion as your base, where your characters will live and interact. You'll then head out onto survival missions against familiar Resident Evil foes, with Aniplex promising a "global multiplayer experience."

As for the other big Resident Evil-flavored taster we got earlier in the year? Resident Evil Requiem is coming on February 27, 2026. The next mainline entry in the Resident Evil series, it is directed by Resident Evil 7 director Koshi Nakanishi and will feature a return to the series' 30-year-old "overarching narrative."

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.

When I was a kid, we always had our own homemade version of an Advent calendar. It was a sort of tapestry that my mom had sewn together and she would drop little surprises in each pocket for every day of December. Now that I'm an adult with a kid of my own, this is a tradition I really want to continue with my son. Since my sewing skills are severely lacking, I've been really happy to see how much things have advanced in the Advent calendar market since my childhood. There's even a Clue Advent calendar now apparently, which seems like a cool way to make new holiday memories.

This version of the classic family board game is an interesting take on the tradition. Instead of a little treat each day, you get a new clue to help you solve a murder. It's something the whole family can partake in or you can enjoy on your own.

Clue Advent Calendar: Secrets of Snowfall

Not only will Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater be missing its multiplayer Fox Hunt mode at launch, the online offering will also lack crossplay support when it does arrive.

Metal Gear Delta developer Konami dropped the bombshell today via its Japanese social media account, and stated that players on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S would be excluded from playing with one another.

The response to the news has not been kind, with fans dubbing the announcement as "severely disappointing" and a decision that could now impact the overall longevity of the game, should particular platforms start to feel devoid of players.

"Why not? Konami IDs have existed forever. Use 'em," wrote one fan in response.

"I have friends who play on different platforms," wrote another. "Now I won't be able to play with them. This game mode will be dead on arrival if it doesn't have crossplay."

"Battlefield 6 will be getting my money," wrote a third person. "I can play with my friends in other platforms because they actually thought cross-play through."

Announced back in June, Fox Hunt is an all-new multiplayer offering stealth and survival elements, which Konami has previously promised will "camouflage and hide and go seek to the next level" rather than just providing another Call of Duty-style shootout.

This isn't the first time Metal Gear Solid has dabbled with multiplayer, of course. Metal Gear Online, which came bundled with Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots back in 2008, lasted four years, before its servers were switched off in 2012.

"When we say Metal Gear multiplayer, many fans will probably think of Metal Gear Online, but Fox Hunt will be its own new type of mode," said veteran Metal Gear Solid developer Yu Sahara, who now acts as Fox Hunt's director. "We very much appreciate all the long-time fans of MGO who have always wanted to see it make a comeback, but the landscape of multiplayer games has changed a lot since MGO. It took a lot of careful consideration to think about what a new online mode should look like."

Last week, Konami admitted that Fox Hunt would miss the launch of the main, single-player portion of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, which arrives on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on August 28. Fox Hunt will then launch via a post-launch update sometime this "fall".

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

There’s a plethora of great gaming mice out there to choose from. But more so than picking out a great gaming headset, finding the right mouse has a lot to do with personal preference. Don’t get me wrong, when reviewing gaming mice, several factors make some demonstrably better than others, but you’ll want to consider things like weight, size, ergonomics, extra buttons, or even what types of games you play. Because of this, I’ve broken down my picks for best gaming mouse based on a number of categories to help you make the best choice for your needs.

For example, the Logitech G502 X Lightspeed is one of the most comfortable mice that prioritizes ergonomics, but I would recommend the Viper V3 Pro to those who want an edge in competitive rounds of Valorant. Some may even want a versatile gaming mouse that makes sense in work settings with good Bluetooth and battery life, which the Turtle Beach Pure Air fits admirably. Meanwhile, those extra buttons on the Corsair Scimitar Elite sure look nice to those who want to program all their MMO/MOBA commands off the keyboard. But if I had to just choose one mouse out of them all as a blanket recommendation, the DeathAdder V4 Pro from Razer gets my vote. Throughout this guide, I break down my hands-on experience with each of the gaming mice I recommend to showcase why I think they’re the right fit for their category.

TL;DR – These Are the Best Gaming Mice

Of course, these aren’t the only great gaming mice – products have matured over the years so features like sensor accuracy, responsiveness, and durability are better than ever, and anything worth its salt will have those bases covered. That said, there are still many aspects to consider when it comes to new technologies and features being crammed into modern mice. With that in mind, at the end of the guide I’ve outlined some important questions to ask when looking for a gaming mouse on your own. And as always, we’ll update this guide with new recommendations as we get hands on and review more gaming mice in the future, so be sure to check back whenever you need some buying advice.

See our list of the best gaming mouse pads, too!

Additional contributions by Danielle Abraham

1. Razer Deathadder V4 Pro

Best Overall Gaming Mouse

2. SteelSeries Rival 3

Best Budget Gaming Mouse

3. SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless

Best Budget Wireless Gaming Mouse

4. Logitech G403 Hero

Best Wired Gaming Mouse

5. Logitech G703 Hero

Best Wireless Gaming Mouse

6. Razer Viper V3 Pro

Best FPS Gaming Mouse

7. Corsair Scimitar Elite

Best MMO/MOBA Gaming Mouse

8. Turtle Beach Pure Air

Most Versatile Gaming Mouse

9. HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Mini

Best Small Gaming Mouse

10. Asus ROG Keris II Ace

Best Lightweight Gaming Mouse

11. Logitech G502 X Lightspeed

Best Ergonomic Gaming Mouse

Gaming Mouse FAQ

How do you determine what makes a good gaming mouse?

Much of what makes a good gaming mouse comes down to your personal preferences or what exactly you want to get out of a mouse. For example, I wouldn’t recommend the Viper V3 Pro to someone who wants a compact versatile mouse that’s still good for gaming – but I would for an aspiring Valorant pro! While I certainly have my own preferences, testing and reviewing a wide variety of mice over the years has opened me up to the intricacies between different models, giving me the opportunity to experience first-hand what makes one better than another.

The first thing you’ll want to consider is your preferred grip style: palm, claw, or fingertip. Generally, a bigger mouse is a better choice for palm grips while lighter and smaller mice are better suited for fingertip grips. Do you like having a more ergonomic feel with deep-set grooves for your thumb and pinky to help hold onto the mouse? Does using something super lightweight matter more for when you’re whipping the mouse around during clutch moments in Counter-Strike 2? For me, I gravitate towards the latter since I’m most comfortable with a claw grip.

Again, it comes down to preference, but reviews will illustrate the way different mice contour to the user’s hands and how weight factors into whether or not it is easy to wield. Some mice are ambidextrous/symmetrical, which should work just fine for right-handed users while giving lefties out there a viable option. However, mice built specifically for right-hand use may fit more like a glove for, well, right-handed players.

Button feel is a tough thing to suss out when researching mice, but I make it a point in my mouse reviews to determine the squishiness or springiness of mouse clicks since that’s an important factor for both comfort and performance. Manufacturers tend to differ on the kinds of mechanical switches used from mouse to mouse, but the more firm and tactile the clicking feels, the better, since it helps with rapid firing in shooters or repeated clicks in MMOs/MOBAs.

Another feature that’s become standard is programmable side buttons. Most mice offer two around the thumb area, but they come in all shapes and sizes. Comfortable positioning and being easy to actuate in a moment's notice are things we account for when determining whether or not a mouse’s side buttons are good. You may also be interested in mice that go the extra mile with additional buttons, such as the ergonomic-minded Logitech G502 or the MMO/MOBA powerhouse that is the Corsair Scimitar Elite – they’re nowhere near as nimble as other mice, but that’s the compromise they make to offer those unique benefits.

Another variable to account for is the sensor, which tracks movement. Almost every brand name gaming-grade mouse today is equipped with an accurate and fast optical sensor that’s more than enough to line up shots in a competitive shooter. A higher maximum DPI (dots-per-inch, which is one variable that affects sensitivity) used to be shorthand for a mouse’s performance ceiling, but it has gotten to the point of diminishing returns.

What’s the deal with high polling rate on gaming mice?

Gaming mice come standard with a 1000Hz polling rate nowadays, which means your mouse updates your PC with movements and inputs every millisecond (1 ms). That’s plenty fast for most gamers, but a recent trend born out of the esports world is equipping mice with higher polling rates – up to 8000 Hz. Pro-grade mice such as the Razer Viper V3 Pro and Asus Keris II Ace are capable of this, offering polling rates of 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, 4000 Hz, and 8000 Hz. It’s technically impressive, but does it really affect performance? It can, under specific circumstances.

* General range using the Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed as an example.

Polling rate doesn’t necessarily reduce latency, rather it increases the frequency at which your mouse movements are read. This can lead to an increase in smoothness since your PC is picking up and tracking the more incremental movements. Basically, polling rate is the measurement of how often the mouse sends data to your device (see chart above).

However, you won’t be able to actually reap the benefits if the rest of the input pipeline isn’t up to snuff. Two things to keep in mind are the resolution you’re playing at and the refresh rate of your screen. With higher pixel density (and screen space), the more those incremental movements matter. But also, higher refresh rates (such as 144 Hz and above) are important too. To benefit from those high refresh rates, your PC needs to be powerful enough to produce the high frame rates to match. In other words, there’s a lot that goes into PC gaming before you can start to notice the advantage of a mouse’s higher polling rate.

I've posted a few deals on high-capacity local storage recently, but this is probably the best deal yet. Just in time for back to school, Seagate is offering a massive Seagate Expansion 26TB USB 3.0 Desktop Hard Drive for $249.99 shipped, which averages out to $9.62 per TB. This is the first time I've seen a drive priced at under $10 per TB this year.

Seagate 26TB External Hard Drive for $249.99

Nobody 2 is in theaters Friday, August 15th.

Four years after Bob Odenkirk surprisingly proved he could kill onscreen bad guys in a ruthless manner that would make 1980s-era Schwarzenegger and Stallone pause, the Better Call Saul star returns as Hutch Mansell in Nobody 2. While not quite as strong as the first film, this is ultimately an example of a sequel that offers the-same-but-different in a suitably satisfying and crowd-pleasing way.

Having been revealed to be a former government assassin who’d reinvented himself as a suburban husband and father in the first film, Nobody 2 gives us a Hutch who’s fully back in his old target-seeking life, albeit to pay off a debt. But when he takes his family on vacation to try to get a legitimate break from the daily carnage, wouldn’t you know, the small town they visit turns out to be intertwined with a dangerous criminal syndicate.

With a script from John Wick screenwriter Derek Kolstad and boasting John Wick’s co-director, David Leitch, as a producer, Nobody definitely felt like “What if John Wick but with funnyman Odenkirk?” as its reason for being. The presence of the actor – who had proven his dramatic skills in Better Call Saul but was honed on decades of comedy, including Saul’s initial Breaking Bad depiction – was a tip-off that Nobody was playing things much more comedically than John Wick. However, it did so by mostly keeping a straight face, letting the idea of this hitman in suburbia and the escalating violence and chaos around him drive its humor. When Hutch tussled with a bad guy, he was an absolute badass, with legitimately thrilling and brutal fight scenes. But the movie also maintained its winking tone to let you know they were in on the joke.

But if Nobody felt like John Wick was its inspiration in terms of action and tone, the action in Nobody 2 (also written by Kolstad, along with Aaron Rabin) feels much more like a franchise Leitch also directed an installment of, Deadpool. This time out, the extreme violence gets pushed into more farcical and viscerally cartoonish places. It’s still brutal and intense and at times it’s even more graphic and bloody than the first film. But it’s now doing so in a bigger than life way that ditches the gritty and grounded feel used to house the humor last time. Body parts get blown up and sliced off while cannon fodder henchmen frequently die in nasty, darkly funny ways. It’s all quite entertaining, but it does feel like it loses a bit of the specific vibes that made the first film work so very well.

Even as the action is more outlandish, Odenkirk is still playing Hutch as the same guy, and he once more proves to be a terrific center for this series. The film gets a lot of mileage out of multiple scenes where Hutch tries to not get violent, only for someone to cross a line he just can’t abide. What makes it work every time is you can feel all of Hutch’s disappointment. There’s a resigned “Well, I guess this is what I gotta do…” reaction emanating from Odenkirk’s genuinely warm, sweet performance. Odenkirk sells how Hutch just wants a nice family vacation but damn it, now he’s got to take a few minutes to absolutely decimate some thugs. And, as with the first film, Odenkirk’s considerable fight training with 87North Productions (the stunt-centric production company founded by Leitch and Kelly McCormick) has paid off in him looking impressively credible and believably formidable in his action scenes.

Taking over for the first film’s Ilya Naishuller, Nobody 2 director Timo Tjahjanto brings a slightly more stylized feel to the film that meshes well with its more heightened approach. Though never quite matching the first movie’s best action sequences, such as its prolonged bus fight, there are still a lot of exciting moments here. Teamed with cinematographer Callan Green, Tjahjanto adds some great touches, such as a moment where Hutch shoots a bad guy with a shotgun, which we watch from inside a parked van, as the man’s body is propelled back into the windshield the camera is looking through.

The film’s third act finale showdown is especially fun and cleverly conceived, taking place inside an amusement park that offers a lot of well incorporated locations like a fun house, ball pit and water slide for its many confrontations, all of which are escalated violently by the inclusion of notably lethal booby traps that would make Kevin McCallister envious.

Amongst the supporting cast, it’s good to see the likeable group of Hutch’s wife and kids, played by Connie Nielsen, Gage Munroe, and Paisley Cadorath, more strongly tethered to the central plotline., while Christopher Lloyd and The RZA once more look like they’re having a lot of fun as Hutch’s equally combat-ready father and brother - though The RZA’s role feels a bit more shoehorned in this time out.

I wish I liked Sharon Stone more as the film’s main villain, the dangerous and diabolical crime boss called Lendina. Stone is clearly aiming to make this a bigger than life, cackling, unhinged character, but she feels a bit too stilted and mannered and it never quite lands. Better served are John Ortiz and Colin Hanks as two notable locals she’s using to funnel her criminal activities, who have very different perspectives on what’s been occurring. Hanks is especially amusing, bringing just the right smarmy nature to his very corrupt sheriff, while sporting one hell of an ugly haircut.

With great new books coming out every week, it can be easy to lose track, which is why we’ve put together our list of the best books of 2025 so far.

From fantastical fantasies to contemporary romances, absorbing thrillers and even some intriguing non-fiction, there’s something for everyone and every reading taste. How many of them have you read? Be sure to add your recommendations in the comments!

Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson

Impressive-looking life sim inZoi will launch on PS5 next year, sometime in 2026 — though an Xbox launch looks further off.

While publisher Krafton couldn't provide any further information on the release than this — so we don't yet even have an approximate release window, let alone a firm date — it did say in a statement on social media that the team "is working hard to bring you the best possible experience on PS5."

It also confirmed that an Xbox release "is also under consideration, but not yet confirmed." Sorry, Xbox fans.

inZoi is a life simulation game where players become gods within the game, allowing them to change everything as they wish and experience endless new stories in various forms of life. Its first free DLC, Island Getaway, will release on August 20, which also just so happens to coincide with the release of the life simulator's rollout on Mac, too.

inZoi says the Southeast Asia-inspired map was "shaped by feedback from our players, going all the way back to [the] Early Access launch earlier this year." As well as introducing the new dual-island map Cahaya, players will also get new activities like swimming, snorkelling, and farming.

IGN's inZoi review returned a 6/10. We said: "inZoi is a visually striking life simulator with plenty of ambition, but not enough depth as of its Early Access launch."

Last month, publisher Krafton addressed an ongoing debate about its plummeting Steam concurrent player count, insisting that as a single-player game sales are a better indicator of performance.

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.

Phasmophobia developer Kinetic Games is working "really closely" with Blumhouse on its upcoming movie adaptation.

In an interview with IGN to discuss this week's launch of the Grafton Farmhouse map rework, we asked art director Corey J. Dixon for his thoughts on how horror production company Blumhouse will translate Phasmophobia's genre-defining gameplay to the big screen.

While you would be forgiven for presuming this adaptation could end up feeling like any old ghosthunting film, Dixon is clear: this will be very much a "Phasmophobia film" that "fans will want to watch."

"We've got a really good partnership with Blumhouse. It's brilliant," Dixon said. "It will be a Phasmophobia film, it won't just be a ghost hunting film — we're going to make sure it's a film that fans want to watch, and we're going to work with them really closely.

"They're really willing to work with us, and, obviously, we want to work with them," he added. "So yeah, we've got a really good partnership, and I think fans are going to love it when it comes."

We found out Kinetic Games' terrifying ghost investigation game, Phasmophobia, is getting the Hollywood treatment last month. Horror specialist Blumhouse — the credits of which include Five Nights at Freddy's, The Conjuring, and M3gan — has partnered with the UK developer to create a feature film adaptation. At the moment, nothing else is known, so we're not yet sure who'll be writing or directing it, let alone starring in the movie.

“It’s a big moment for the whole Kinetic team, and the start of something really exciting,” said Daniel "Dknighter" Knight, director of Kinetic Games, said at the time. “We never could’ve imagined the incredible heights this game would reach when it launched five years ago, and we’re so thankful to our amazing community for the lasting impact Phasmophobia has had in the gaming space and beyond.

"Working with Blumhouse and Atomic Monster marks an incredible new chapter for the game, and we can’t wait to share more as the project develops.”

We didn't have a great time with Blumhouse's last big horror game adaptation; we gave Five Nights at Freddy's a 4/10: "This big-screen take on the indie-horror sensation has too much plot and not enough of the game's primal security-cam thrills." A second Freddy's move is out in December 2025.

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.