Netflix has released the first five minutes of Stranger Things Season 5, showing a crucial moment in the story that teases answers to one of the biggest questions fans had from Season 1.
The creators of Stranger Things, the Duffer Brothers, had already teased that Season 5 would finally answer questions surrounding the kidnapping of Will Byers, played by Noah Schnapp. Stranger Things began with the mysterious disappearance of Will, and Season 5 will finally answer why he was taken to the Upside Down in the first place. In the latest Season 5 trailer, we see evil monster Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) in full control over Will’s body. “You are going to help me… one… last… time,” it says.
For years fans have theorized about why Will was kidnapped, rather than simply killed like so many others. What happened to him when he was in the Upside Down, and to what end?
Warning! Spoilers for the first five minutes of Stranger Things Season 5 follow:
The first five minutes of Stranger Things Season 5 starts to answer those questions. We see a de-aged Will terrified in the Upside Down and running for his life from the Demogorgon. While Will puts up a valiant fight, he is eventually dragged to the lair of Vecna himself. It’s here that things get strange, as Vecna summons vines to prop Will up. Vecna then pumps some sort of substance through a tendril and into Will via his mouth. Will does not look like he’s enjoying the experience.
Clearly, whatever is inserted into Will is designed to take him over in some capacity and potentially become a part of the Upside Down itself. It’s all part of Vecna’s master plan, of course. “At long last,” Vecna says, menacingly. “We can begin. You and I, we are going to do such beautiful things together, William. Such beautiful things.”
If you’ve watched Stranger Things you’ll know that Will's mother Joyce (Winona Ryder) and Chief of Police Jim Hopper (David Harbour) eventually find Will and bring him back to our world, although he is much changed. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Ross Duffer said that fans should go back to Season 2, Episode 6, called ‘The Spy,’ to help them understand what’s going on. This is, Ross said, “the most important episode,” and shows Will “working, in a way, for the Mind Flayer.”
In The Spy, Will is brought to Hawkins National Laboratory. At one point, a severed tendril from the tunnels is burnt, causing Will to experience pain. Will later points soldiers in the direction of a place the monster doesn’t want him to see, which turns out to be a trap. Will says "he made me do it" because "they upset him." Will, it seems, is the spy.
Season 5 begins in the fall of 1987, near the anniversary of Will’s disappearance in the Upside Down. “So much of the season was built around the idea of coming full circle, answering many of the questions that were posed all the way back in Season 1,” Matt Duffer told EW. “I think the two biggest questions that we didn’t really answer in Season 1 that we do answer this season is ‘what is the Upside Down, truly?’ and ‘why was Will taken?’”
“We reveal really everything about the Upside Down, all of which was planned out in season 1,” Matt added. “It was fun to finally pull back the curtain on all of that.”
Here’s the official blurb on Stranger Things Season 5:
The fall of 1987. Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished — his whereabouts and plans unknown. Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding. As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming — and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone — the full party — standing together, one last time.
Stranger Things Season 5 debuts on Netflix in three parts, with the first four episodes arriving for the Thanksgiving holiday on November 26. The next three episodes premiere on Christmas, and the series finale will debut on the streamer and in over 350 theaters nationwide on New Year’s Eve.
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.
The Pokémon Trading Card Game shows no signs of slowing down in 2025. Whether you're a competitive player, a casual collector, or someone who's just dropped way too much money on framed booster art, this year's TCG lineup is going all in with new mechanics, nostalgic reprints, and plenty of chances to chase that cardboard high.
Featuring six booster bundles, there's every chance that you'll pull a Mega Charizard X ex double rare, alt rare, or even Secret Art Rare or Gold Rare. I've pulled three normal Zard ex's so far, so no need to worry about deck building with Phantasmal Flames.
They also had the Phantasmal Flames Elite Trainer Box live for a moment (at $79.99), but it looks sold out for now. It's been going in and out of stock all day, so I'd suggest keeping an eye on that too.
What makes this set even more exciting is its size , about 90 cards before secret rares, which makes it the smallest English set in nearly a decade. For collectors like me, that usually means a much more manageable chase, while still packing in plenty of heavy hitters for players.
The product lineup looks pretty stacked too. We’ll be getting the usual booster packs and booster box (36 packs), a 9-pack Elite Trainer Box featuring a shiny new Charcadet promo, and an Ultra-Premium Collection built around Mega Charizard X ex.
On top of that, two theme decks for Mega Gengar ex and Mega Diancie ex are arriving a few weeks early on October 24, which is a fun way to get a taste of the set before launch. If you’re like me and love cracking packs, the booster box is the way to go, but the UPC is already looking like the big collector piece this time around.
What ties it all together is the Japanese set Inferno X, which hit shelves there in late September. That set had only 80 cards, and once you add in the Mega Gengar and Mega Diancie decks, you basically get the full Phantasmal Flames lineup.
We’ve already seen some killer reveals, including the Mega Charizard X ex secret rare previewed at Worlds, so I’m fully expecting that to be the chase card when this launches. Between the smaller set size, Charizard hype, and some solid gameplay cards, I think this one’s going to fly off shelves and I’m definitely locking in my preorder.
Announced at Japan's Championship tournament, the two new sets featuring Mega Lucario ex and Mega Gardevoir ex mark the popular trading card game stepping away from its Scarlet and Violet era.
Finding sealed products like these at a fair price is already a challenge. Some stores are holding MSRP, others are inflating prices, and secondary marketplaces have their own dynamics to keep in mind, too.
But the gist is: collectors who must have the ETB, Best Buy and Walmart are worth constant refreshing. If reliability matters more, TCGplayer is the most straightforward (though slighty more costly) option.
While we can maybe expect products from this set to be joining Pokémon TCG deals further down the line, huge initial demand will definitely see certain cards become price juggernauts among upcoming crashers and climbers.
It’s already shaping up to be a huge year, so here’s everything from the rest of the Pokémon TCG releases in 2025. And yes, IGN will be tracking all the buy links, both here and on socials at @IGNDeals.
Pokémon TCG 2025 Holiday Calendar - Released Aug. 22, 2025
The Pokémon Company started releasing annual holiday calendars back in 2022, inspired by the Pokémon Countdown Calendar from 2008.
These products are surprisingly good value in the current TCG market, as well as for casual fans of the series in other forms. You can see the listing here at Amazon or scroll on for more details.
The 2025 Pokémon Holiday Calendar released on August 22 and initially retailed for $49.99 at Target before quicklly selling out. It's now available at Walmart for a pricier $64.99 or at Amazon for $69.
Black Bolt and White Flare - Released Jul. 18, 2025
If you haven't secured your boosters for Black Bolt and White Flare sealed products, feel free to try your luck at launch at your local brick and mortar or online, or even at Amazon right now.
Alternatively, TCGPlayer pricing for presale sealed product is crashing, so I reckon we're seeing the usual price crash post-launch coming earlier.
What do I think of the set? I think it's great and possibly the best opportunity to pull Illustration Rares in the Scarlet and Violet era, it's ending on a high note.
Personally I'm not a fan of stuffing the set with Pokéball and Masterball rares, but in terms of quality and presentation they look cool. It would be grand to see Mega Evolution double down on the dual format and loads of Illustration Rares, but this is an encouraging sneek peek into what's next for Pokémon TCG.
Black Bolt and White Flare focus on the 156 Pokémon originally discovered in the Unova region. Each Unova Pokémon will appear as either an illustration rare or a special illustration rare card, with different versions available in Black Bolt and White Flare products.
July 18, 2025: Scarlet & Violet Black Bolt/White Flare ETBs (9 boosters, promo, accessories); Binder Collection (5 boosters, Zekrom/Reshiram album); Unova Poster Collection (6 boosters, Snivy/Tepig/Oshawott promos, poster); Unova Mini Tin (2 boosters, art/sticker card).
August 22, 2025: Booster Bundle (6 Black Bolt/White Flare boosters).
Destined Rivals - Released May. 30, 2025
Things really kicked off on May 30with Destined Rivals. This set brings back Trainer’s Pokémon, reintroduces Team Rocket for another round of villainous fun, and includes some of the best card art we’ve seen in ages.
Destined Rivals top chase card prices are also finally stabilizing, making it a great time to snap some up. Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex SIR has been going for anything over $450 since release, but is starting to settle on a more respectable $370.
A few weeks ago the Destined Rivals singles market was bouncing all over the place. Some cards were doubling in price overnight and it was tough to tell what was hype and what would hold. Now prices feel a lot more stable.
Some have dipped. Some Destined Rivals bangers are just cruising right at market. It feels like we’re finally seeing what these cards are actually worth.
Above are the ten most expensive cards in the set right now. A couple of them are legit strong in decks. A few are pure collector bait. Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex was the hottest card in the set for a while and it’s still holding close to market. The artwork is what does it for me.
Mewtwo looks like it's about to explode, floating in this dim lab setting with everything glowing around it. The ability makes it tough to use unless you’re running a full Rocket build, but once it's active, Erasure Ball gives you some serious power. Definitely still a top-tier pull even with the market calming down.
What Cards Are Hot Right Now?
Scarlet and Violet 151 card prices continue to shift, with Charizard ex, Blastoise ex, and Venusaur ex SIRs climbing steadily thanks to standout artwork, competitive playability, and high collector demand. Charizard has jumped to $210, Blastoise is up 28% to $84.99, and Venusaur is up 27% to $69.99. Zapdos ex and Alakazam ex are also on the rise, with Alakazam seeing the biggest gain of 35% to $44.98.
On the other hand, prices for Kanto starter Illustration Rares like Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle have dipped as more product floods the market. Charmander is down 14% to $44.44, Bulbasaur is down 18% to $32.20, and middle evolutions like Charmeleon and Wartortle are following the same trend. While the final evolutions remain the most sought-after, now is a good time to pick up the earlier stages at a more reasonable price.
Journey Together - Released Mar. 28 2025
It’s about time we got a set like this. Bringing back nostalgic Trainer’s Pokémon cards from the Gym Heroes era. N’s Zoroark ex and Lillie’s Clefairy ex end the chaos of endless secret arts for a more curated, collectible experience.
With just 16 Pokémon ex, 11 illustration rares, and three hyper rare gold cards, it’s easier to track what’s worth pulling without feeling like you need a PhD in pack odds.
Fancy snagging the Enhanced Booster Display Box with its bonus N’s Reshiram illustration rare or pull Iono’s Bellibolt ex? This set screams nostalgia with a new coat of paint.
Rare Cards and Collector’s Highlights
If you’re into collecting, this set hits the sweet spot. It’s got 16 Pokémon ex, six unique illustrations rares, and just three hyper rare gold cards, which means you won’t have to mortgage your house chasing every rarity. And the artwork? Illustrating rares like N’s Zoroark ex will look incredible in your binder.
Pokémon Center’s Enhanced Booster Display Box is the one to grab for preorder exclusives. It comes with a bonus N’s Reshiram illustration rare card—a little extra flex for your collection.
What Makes Scarlet & Violet—Journey Together Special?
The Scarlet & Violet—Journey Together expansion is a nod to fans who've been in it for a long time. Remember Gym Heroes?
This set revives the much-loved Trainer's Pokémon cards, spotlighting the bond between iconic Trainers and their Pokémon.
Cards like N's Zoroark ex, Hop's Zacian ex, and Iono's Bellibolt ex aren't just cool to look at; they call back to the late '90s and early '00s Pokémania. We're all for that here.
What's even better? This expansion ditches the overload of secret rares that made recent sets feel overwhelming.
Instead, Journey Together keeps things tight, making tracking what you want to pull easier. Whether it's an illustration rare, a special art card, or one of those hyper-rare gold beauties, you can finally open packs without feeling like you need a flowchart to figure out what's in the set.
Prismatic Evolutions - Released Jan. 17 2025
Prismatic Evolutions, kicked off 2025, and it’s all about Eevee and its many evolutions. This set is doing things differently, which is probably why stock sells out as soon as it comes in.
This is another 151 situation, but there's plenty of stock refeshes coming throughout 2025. You won’t find these cards in the usual booster packs.
Instead, they’ll be released in boxed sets throughout the year, each packed full of exclusive cards celebrating Eevee and friends. With over 175 cards, including unique designs and new game mechanics, Prismatic Evolutions is shaping to be a hit with collectors and competitive players alike.
Rare Cards and Collector’s Highlights
For collectors, Prismatic Evolutions isn’t short on treasures. Each Eevee evolution has its special illustration and hyper-rare gold Pokémon ex card, making them must-haves for anyone building a showcase-worthy collection.
The set includes 32 illustration rares featuring detailed artwork for Pokémon ex and Supporter cards, so plenty of eye candy is here. With so many unique finishes and designs, it’s bound to make a few waves among fans.
Between the fresh artwork, inventive mechanics, and the undeniable charm of Eevee and friends, Prismatic Evolutions is set to be one of the year’s standout sets. Collectors and players alike will find something to love here, from stunning illustration rares to powerful new game cards that can make a real difference in play.
What Makes Prismatic Evolutions Special?
This set brings some new gameplay tricks and visually striking designs. The big attraction is the debut of Stellar Tera Pokémon ex cards, which showcase Eevee and each of its evolutions with Terastal-inspired art.
These aren’t just nice to look at—they come with moves that need multiple energy types to activate, encouraging players to build balanced, flexible decks. And for the first time, Eevee’s ex card can evolve into other ex forms, giving trainers even more options to play with.
Collectors will appreciate some cool new reverse holo designs featuring Poké Ball and Master Ball patterns that pop on any card. And if you’re into rare cards, six ACE SPEC Trainer cards are in the set, limited to one per deck.
Each one packs a serious punch in gameplay—like the MAX Rod ACE SPEC card, which lets players retrieve up to five Pokémon or Energy cards from their discard pile. On top of that, Prismatic Evolutions features a mix of ultra-rare illustration cards, gold-edged rares, and special art that takes these cards to another level.
Adapted from the Japanese sets Supercharged Breaker and Paradise Dragona, this expansion combines the raw power of electric Pokémon with the majestic strength of Dragon-types like Alolan Exeggutor ex and Latias ex.
With over 250 cards, including new ACE SPEC cards and Stellar Tera ex Pokémon, Surging Sparks has exciting new additions that will shake up the competitive scene and include some epic chase cards for collectors.
Beyond the headlining Pikachu ex, Surging Sparks offers a diverse range of powerful cards, including nine regular ex Tera Pokémon, 23 illustration rares, and six golden secret rares, making it a must-have for any serious Pokémon TCG fan.
Stellar Crown: September 13 2024
Stellar Crown is set to launch on September 13, 2024, as the seventh main expansion in the Scarlet & Violet series. This highly anticipated set introduces the Legendary Pokémon Terapagos and a new wave of Stellar-type Tera Pokémon. With over 170 cards, including over a dozen new Pokémon ex and a variety of Trainer and ACE SPEC cards, Stellar Crown is packed with powerful new mechanics and stunning artwork.
Fans can look forward to the first English appearances of Illustration Rare cards for classics like Squirtle and Bulbasaur, alongside chase cards like Special Illustration Rare versions of Hydrapple ex, Galvantual ex, and Terapagos ex. This set also introduces innovative strategies with cards like Briar, Sparkling Crystal, and the ACE SPEC Stadium card Great Tree, which could revolutionize Tera-focused decks.
Shrouded Fable August 2, 2024
Shrouded Fable brings Pokémon from the Mochi Mayhem mission to the TCG. This set features woodcut-style illustration rares and introduces new ex-cards for Pecharunt and The Loyal Three. With unique cards and showcase collections, Shrouded Fable promises to be a visually stunning and strategically rich set.
Stay tuned for more exciting Pokémon TCG releases throughout 2024. With each set bringing unique themes and mechanics, there's something for every fan to enjoy. While waiting, why not check out today's best Pokémon TCG deals? That's right, we're that awesome!
Paldean Fates Set (January 26th – February 23rd)
Paldean Fates released in three waves, offering a unique approach with no individual booster packs. Instead, products like the Elite Trainer Box and Premium Collections provided a variety of boosters and exclusive cards. The set's focus on Shiny and Baby, Shiny Pokémon with vibrant foil treatments, made it a hit among collectors and players alike.
Combined Powers Premium Collection (Late February 2024)
This collection brought back exclusive cards from the 2023 Pokémon TCG Classic set, offering a more affordable way to acquire these Legendary Pokémon. With foil variants and multiple booster packs, it was a must-have for collectors and competitive players.
Mabosstiff ex Box (Late February 2024)
This box features the Dark-type Pokémon Mabosstiff ex and its Basic form, Maschiff. It provides powerful cards with efficient energy costs. Including four booster packs, it's a practical addition for players looking to strengthen their Dark decks.
Houndoom and Melmetal ex-Battle Decks (February 23)
These ex-Battle Decks were perfect for intermediate players. They offered ready-to-play decks focused on specific Pokémon types. The balanced design and included accessories made them great for refining strategies and exploring new deck combinations.
Paldea Adventure Chest (March 1st, 2024)
Though aimed at younger fans, the Paldea Adventure Chest included valuable promo cards and fun accessories. The high price might be a barrier for some, but the unique contents and attractive packaging made it a delightful addition to any collection.
2023 World Championship Decks (March 1)
These decks offered a glimpse into the strategies of world champions, providing excellent value with powerful cards and themed accessories. While not tournament-legal, they were ideal for casual play and honing advanced tactics.
Ninetales and Zapdos Deluxe ex Battle Decks (March 22)
Arriving on March 22nd, the Deluxe ex Battle Decks feature Ninetales ex and Zapdos ex. These decks are designed for experienced players and include a Pokémon coin, themed playmat, damage counters, condition markers, a strategy sheet, and a Pokémon TCG Live code card.
Temporal Forces (March 22)
Temporal Forces, releasing on March 22nd, is the next main set following Paradox Rift. It includes booster packs, boxes, and two Elite Trainer Boxes, each with its exclusive foil promo card and themed accessories. This set continues exploring time-based mechanics, offering exciting new cards and gameplay possibilities.
The Iono Premium Tournament Collection, launching on April 5th, celebrates the popular Supporter Iono with themed accessories, booster packs, and four Iono cards, including a full art variant. This collection is ideal for fans looking to enhance their decks with powerful support cards and stylish accessories.
Grafaiai ex Box (April 5)
Releasing alongside the Iono Premium Tournament Collection, the Grafaiai ex Box includes:
Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of "Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior". Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.
It's been a real pain trying to secure Phantasmal Flames preorders at a decent price in the run-up to launch day (November 14). But, Amazon just kindly shadow-dropped preorders for the Booster Bundle for under market value at $59.99 (compared to resale prices at trusted sites such as TCGPlayer).
They also had the Phantasmal Flames Elite Trainer Box live for a moment (at $79.99), but it looks sold out for now. It's been going in and out of stock all day, so I'd suggest keeping an eye on that too.
Featuring six booster bundles, there's every chance that you'll pull a Mega Charizard X ex double rare, alt rare, or even Secret Art Rare or Gold Rare. I've pulled three normal Zard ex's so far, so no need to worry about deck building with Phantasmal Flames.
Based on Japan's Inferno X, Phantasmal Flames focuses on Mega Charizard X, Mega Lopunny, Mega Gengar, and more. It's a smaller set, but it's jam-packed with awesome deck ideas to use with the Mega Evolution base set for some epic battles.
TCGPlayer should have single-card listings very soon, and currently has some lower-end card listings.l If you're struggling to get your hands on booster packs to rip open, it's likely going to be cheaper to just buy the cards outright. If I don't get the card I want with my initial preorders, I'll keep an eye on card prices until my chase Pokémon cards are at a reasonable price.
People are finding that out right now with Mega Evolution, where top single cards are crashing hard. Well, it's more a case of them finding a new floor as scalpers are realising people can just go and get them at retail, and also seeing the benefits of ramped up print runs by the Pokémon Company.
Regardless, it pays to be savvy during Pokémania 2025, so make sure to keep an eye on the secondary market like I have to make sure you're getting the best prices. Those Pokédollars are better off in your pocket.
Another good deal I've been highlight in the run up to Black Friday is the Mega Evolution ETB, now down to $79.99 at Amazon, and there's a couple of other great offers available that can bring that price down even further as well.
Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of "Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior". Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.
Stranger Things stars Millie Bobbie Brown and David Harbour reunited at last night's Stranger Things Season 5 premiere, just days after a report claimed the young star had filed "pages and pages of accusations" concerning the Marvel actor's behavior ahead of production on the Netflix hit's final season.
Last week, The Daily Mail reported that Brown had lodged "harassment and bullying" complaints against Harbour. There was no suggestion of sexual impropriety. It was claimed that Netflix investigated the matter "for months," and Brown was ultimately accompanied by a personal assistant whenever on set.
Last night, the two actors put on a noted show of unity while walking the Stranger Things red carpet — chatting together, posing for photos, and standing alongside Netflix top brass such as co-CEO Ted Sarandos and CCO Bela Bajaria.
Speaking at the event, Stranger Things and Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy was asked directly about the alleged complaint and how he had ensured actors felt safe and respected on set during production of the show's final season.
"At the end of the day, that's the job," Levy told The Hollywood Reporter. "You have to create a respectful workplace where everyone feels comfortable and safe, and so we did everything to build that environment. And we're proud of the fact that we did so.
"I've read a bunch of stories and they range from wildly inaccurate to... there's so much noise around it. But the truth is that we view this crew and this cast as family, and so we treat each other with respect, and that's always been bedrock."
The publication also asked Stranger Things co-creator Matt Duffer about the situation, who offered a similar response: "Obviously, you understand I can't get into personal onset matters," he said, "but I will say we've been doing this for 10 years with this cast, and at this point they’re family and we deeply care about them. So, you know, nothing matters more than just having a set where everyone feels safe and happy."
Last week's report continues a period of intense scrutiny for Harbour, following the release of his ex-wife Lily Allen's most recent album West End Girl which has been praised for its no-holds-barred take detailing her perspective on the acrimonious breakup of their marriage.
Sony is suing an eBay seller for allegedly selling counterfeit PS5 accessories, requesting up to $2 million for "each and every use of the PlayStation Trademarks."
In court papers filed on October 24 and seen by The Game Post, Sony is suing the eBay account known as "zaocuand-002" for alleged trademark infringement and counterfeiting. The papers have been filed in the state of Illinois.
Sony claims the seller "directly targets business activities towards consumers in the United States" via a "fully interactive" online store that uses Sony's trademarks to sell "unauthorized products." One such product cited in the papers is a $90 carrying case for PS5, although right now, zaocuand-002's eBay store is "sold out," and none of its current auctions include any gaming accessories. However, the profile states the account has sold around 9,000 items and is followed by 555 people.
A screenshot of a prior auction selling the carrying case is included in the court papers.
"Defendant created an e-commerce store operating under at least the Seller Alias that is advertising, offering for sale, and selling Unauthorized Products to unknowing consumers," Sony's lawyers wrote. "Defendant attempts to avoid and mitigate liability by operating under at least the Seller Alias to conceal both its identity and the full scope and interworking of its counterfeiting operation.
"On information and belief, Defendant resides and/or operates in the People’s Republic of China or other foreign jurisdictions with lax trademark enforcement systems or redistribute products from the same or similar sources in those locations."
Sony is suing for $2 million for "each and every use of the PlayStation Trademarks." It's also calling for an injunction to prevent the seller from "displaying any advertisements used by or associated with Defendant in connection with the sale of counterfeit and infringing goods using the PlayStation Trademarks."
This isn't the first time Sony's taken aim at a third-party accessory seller. Following a cease and desist letter from Sony in 2021, Canadian peripherals company Dbrand announced it had been forced to pull its range of PS5 faceplates from its store (and just three days later, the company released its own original design range of faceplates for the console).
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.
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick is teasing a bright future for the Mafia franchise after this year’s prequel, Mafia: The Old Country, “performed well ahead of expectations.”
Zelnick spoke about the future of 2K Games’ long-running open-world crime series during an interview with IGN ahead of Take-Two's Q2 financial report (the one with the latest GTA 6 delay). As developer Hangar 13 prepares to release new content and updates following The Old Country’s launch in August, the Take-Two boss teased that fans may eventually have more Mafia to look forward to.
“Definitely,” Zelnick said when asked if The Old Country performed well enough to instill confidence to continue the franchise. “We’re really excited about Mafia, and I think that’s a great question because it is sort of a reset for the franchise. We don’t have anything to announce — that comes from the label — but it definitely performed well ahead of expectations."
Take-Two stopped short of providing exact sales figures but said the early 1900s Sicily-set Mafia “quickly surpassed our internal expectations and affirmed our belief that consumer demand remains strong for premium, narrative-driven experiences that over-index on value.” Although it’s unclear when or how another Mafia game could materialize in the future, more new content and updates for The Old Country are confirmed to be in the works.
Mafia: The Old Country launched in August as a prequel for the crime drama video game franchise that first got its start with the original Mafia in 2002. The series saw semi-regular releases up until the launch of the divisive Mafia 3 in 2016, with only a group of well-received definitive edition remasters arriving to break up the wait for more in 2020. After nearly a decade of waiting for a new entry, it sounds like fans won't have to wait quite as long for more.
Hangar 13 and 2K propped The Old Country up as a fresh start for Mafia when it released earlier this year, and it appears to be a plan that’s panning out. We called it “Great” in our 8/10 review. At the time of its release, we said, “Mafia: The Old Country is a conventional but effective return to the linear and tightly story-driven format of the original Mafia and Mafia II, and it boasts a wonderful eye and ear for detail.”
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).
Take-Two Interactive says it is confident Borderlands 4 will rebound after technical issues led to “a little bit of softness” for U.S. sales at launch.
In an interview with IGN ahead of Take-Two's second quarter financial results (which confirmed the latest GTA 6 delay), we asked CEO Strauss Zelnick how Gearbox Software’s September looter shooter performed. He admitted the launch was met with “a little bit of softness” due to technical issues that have since become infamous in the Borderlands community, but he remains confident “it’ll all be made up,” given enough time.
Those technical issues resulted in "a little bit of softness out of the gate on the U.S. sales side, but in the fullness of time we’re convinced it’ll all be made up, and we’ll be in a great place," Zelnick said.
Take-Two expanded on that in its financial report annoncement, saying: "The game received high critical praise, with many reviewers calling it 'the best Borderlands yet.' The series’ highly active community eagerly welcomed the title, and during its opening weekend, it reached the largest concurrent player count on Steam in franchise history. Borderlands 4 also dominated YouTube with 30 million views and earned the #1 spot on Twitch during its launch, underscoring the franchise’s enduring mass appeal. While we experienced some challenges with optimization and performance on PC, Gearbox has been addressing these issues and releasing updates to improve gameplay. We are confident that Borderlands 4 will achieve strong unit sales over its lifetime."
Borderlands 4 received praise from critics (we gave it an 8/10 in our review) upon its September 12, 2025, release date for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S, but it was also almost immediately faced with a wave of criticism from fans. As Steam player counts reached record numbers at launch, many were met with technical hiccups that dampened months of hype.
PC users reported performance issues, even on high-end hardware, as players were forced to lower settings across the board while still struggling to hit desired framerates. It was a speed bump that Gearbox eventually attempted to address by asking players to push through the technical difficulties for about 15 minutes following any tweaks to graphics settings.
PS5 and Xbox fans faced a separate issue, as Borderlands 4 players gradually discovered worsening performance during longer play sessions. A lack of FOV sliders at launch only heightened tensions, as Gearbox continued to promise fixes for the issues plaguing all platforms.
Despite dissatisfaction from players and Zelnick's comments, U.S. video game data company Circana reported that Borderlands 4 was the top-selling premium game of September 2025 and the third best-selling game of 2025 so far. It’s a report based on revenue generated instead of actual sales numbers, but it still means the game managed to generate the highest launch month dollar sales of any other entry in franchise history.
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).
Petit Planet is not the first to mimic Animal Crossing to some eyebrow-raising degrees, nor will it be the last. Developer HoYoverse doesn't shy away from acknowledging the similarities – a character even balks at the idea of its new planet-owning lead falling into debt for merely having a home – though they don't deny that upgrades will come at a price. In my short time of about five hours with a preview of the closed beta, Petit Planet offered a charming, "The Little Prince"-themed take on Animal Crossing: New Horizons with an emphasis on clear progression and multiplayer. While these are two things some seemed to crave and were left empty in ACNH, the Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail studio may offer an answer – with potential caveats.
For all I enjoyed about Petit Planet, I started disappointed with its opening on a lackluster character creator. The skin tone range is limited and the hairstyle options are a bummer, though more hair and eye styles and colors for each are available for in-game currency later on. I acknowledge this isn't the final version of Petit Planet, so I'm hoping that'll be the case for a game touting customization that limits its global players to four skintones, with only one looking darker than a light brush with the sun.
The overall setup of Petit Planet is that you're joining three anthropomorphic animal members of a company called Loomi Co in developing a fledgling planet and exploring the surrounding galaxy. You get to choose between two with different environments and different starting planets to begin with. I chose the one described as "hot and dry" with golden prairies. As you complete tasks assigned by Mobai, the fill-in for Isabelle andTom Nook, you're given special water for an equally special tree that serves as the heart and, in a way, control center of your planet. With new levels and upgrades, the playable area takes shape with a multi-level field, larger river, and a beach and ocean. I liked that, after a point, I could take a look at the sorts of upgrades ahead, like a mountain area and new kinds of trees.
The overall setup of Petit Planet is that you're joining three anthropomorphic animal members of a company called Loomi Co in developing a fledgling planet and exploring the surrounding galaxy.
The first hour held a death grip on my playtime with confined tutorials and limited space for any sort of exploration or creativity, but it loosened up considerably after that, while still introducing new mechanics. The next three or four hours is where upgrades start getting locked behind daily progression. Not the mobile-game clock countdown kind, but real days similar to ACNH. Since Petit Planet access is tied to logging into a HoYoverse server, you can't force your way forward by changing your device’s clock. That being said, I didn't run out of interesting things to do while needing to wait.
I spent my time with familiar activities; smacking trees for fruit, catching bugs, picking flowers, smashing rocks for ore, fishing, and, a nice and quite different touch – using shellfish tongs to collect tidepool creatures. Then of course there's crafting and cooking, all the things you'd expect, but with a dash of charm in the starry, round designs and constant, clear direction. Activities that involve tools require strength, or basically energy replenished by consuming fruit or food. Fruit and sources to make food were ample in my playtime, so this wasn't much of a hassle.
I also enjoyed meeting the three Neighbors I encountered, or Petit Planet's NPC residents who you invite to live on your planet and build relationships with. I especially love that, familiar to HoYoverse's other games, each character has a distinct identity that goes deeper than their aesthetics and catchphrase. Each has background stories, and more information about them and their individual tastes that can be discovered over time. The first two are used as introductions to core mechanics, but I'm excited to see who else I'll run into in space travels.
During my playtime, I unlocked access to a car of my own that let me explore the stars – with limitations. The car runs on earnable and purchasable (with in-game currency) batteries. One lasted me about two or three trips to random Planettes, or tiny planets in a sea of stars that have limited and sometimes unique resources or potential new Neighbors. I found one on these Planettes, and convinced her to move to my larger Planet.
More than any other game HoYoverse has made, Petit Planet looks intended to grab the attention of young audiences.
The other place I was able to travel to was called the Galactic Bazaar, or an online multiplayer hub with two simple mini-games and plenty of spots to sit and chat with other players. More than any other game HoYoverse has made, Petit Planet looks intended to grab the attention of young audiences. The player characters even look like children. Yet when you get to the Galactic Bazaar, you're immediately encouraged to sit and talk with strangers. The in-game text chat didn't seem to have limits on mild expletives I tested. You do have to sit in certain spots in the Galactic Bazaar to chat with others, but as it is, I didn't see any other ways to limit other player interactions in this space I had to visit as part of the main quests.
Safe online spaces for children are another conversation entirely, but I do hope HoYoverse has plans to make sure I'm not invading spaces of younger folks when I just want to play a game like Animal Crossing with my friends. That all being said, the official closed beta test FAQ calmed my worries a tad seeing that this beta test is limited to "users aged 18 and above," so I'd like to imagine that more serious safety features beyond blocking others are on the way.
The other thing I'm worried about is pricing: what's going to be the cost to play this free-to-play game? As with any of HoYoverse's games, it seemed there were ample ways to earn the few currencies I saw in-game, but it's hard to see exactly how that'll work in the future. I doubt we'll see HoYoverse relinquish its gacha method of random rewards mixed with a slight chance to get what you want, but it's hard to say if characters, cosmetics, or both will be what they target for this. It's also worth noting I found two different AI chatbots in Petit Planet. One as an on-demand source of in-game help, and another was a barista you can chat with in the Galactic Bazaar. These are easy to dodge if you don't care to use them.
All that being said, Petit Planet being an online HoYoverse game is a potential massive strength. Progression has been clear and fun so far, and knowing how HoYoverse has supported its other big games, it's highly probable that we'll see this get plenty of updates, events, and regular quality-of-life support. Mobai mentioned that we don't have a "restaurant yet," and I'm already eyeing cute cosmetics I want to save for and whole furniture sets I want to craft. The data from my playtime will all be wiped, but I still couldn't help but be excited about what the upgrades I've earned will bring to my planet tomorrow.
Full spoilers follow for Pluribus Episodes 1 & 2, “We Is Us” and “Pirate Lady,” which are available now on Apple TV.
Vince Gilligan is best known for creating Breaking Bad and its spin-off Better Call Saul, but the writer-producer-director actually got his start in TV back in the ’90s in the pulpier sci-fi/horror trenches of The X-Files. In addition to co-creating that show’s short-lived spin-off, The Lone Gunmen, and working on other genre projects, Gilligan has also made it clear over the years that he’s a sci-fi fan himself, with Star Trek in particular being near and dear to his heart.
So it’s really no surprise that Pluribus, his new series for Apple TV, would have a science fiction bent. And while Gilligan is back in the world of weird and other-worldly concepts, he’s not surprisingly bringing his distinctly dark yet humorous tone with him for what is, based on the first two episodes, a unique spin on an age-old sci-fi notion.
Better Call Saul’s Rhea Seehorn teams up with her old showrunner again, starring in Pluribus as Carol Sturka, a popular Diana Gabaldon-type romance novelist who’s great at interacting with her fans at book signings and the such, but who, once she’s safely ensconced in her black car on the way home from such events, unleashes her real feelings about her work. “Should I know who you are?” her driver innocently asks. Carol responds, “That depends. Are you a big fan of mindless crap?”
And while her life partner and manager Helen (Miriam Shor) encourages Carol to finally finish the passion project she’s been working on for years – her “serious book” – the problem is the entire world is about to change in a big way…
The first episode of Pluribus takes its time in establishing the premise of the show, which involves – reminder, this is a full spoiler review of the first two episodes – a mysterious transmission from deep space which provides humankind with an RNA formula. Long story short, the formula leads to a virus of sorts and eventually causes the minds of every person on the planet to merge into a single consciousness via a sort of “psychic glue.” So yeah, it’s a lot, and some viewers might find the road to get there circuitous, as we follow random astronomers and scientists as this discovery goes from strange anomaly to, essentially, an invasion of the planet.
So it’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers, but the pod people have already won by the time our hero character even figures out what’s going on.
And oh, when I say every person on the planet, I have to amend that because it’s actually everyone on the planet who is now part of a hive mind except for Carol and, we’re told, 12 other people from around the globe who for some unknown reason are immune to the effects of the virus.
So it’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers, but the pod people have already won by the time our hero character even figures out what’s going on. (Resistance is futile, don’t you know?) This all sets up a very interesting dynamic for the show; not only is Carol confronted with the question of how she can move forward in this strange new world, but there’s also the matter of how the “joined” rest of humanity will deal with her.
It’s here that Gilligan really freshens up this take on the pod people/Borg/what have you. For while the Joined did cause horrific damage to the world and mass casualties (886 million dead, give or take) when they hurried up the joining process by seeding the atmosphere with the alien RNA (the military was on to them), they seemingly are a happy, go-lucky people (person?) who want nothing but the best for Carol and the other folks who are immune to its effects. As Episode 1 nears its conclusion, there’s a great scene involving the Under-Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation, who is live on C-Span just standing at a podium, quietly waiting for her to call him so they can talk. Why the Under-Secretary of Agriculture for Farm Production and Conservation? Well, because he was “nearby, and intact, and he was wearing a suit.”
Seehorn is great in these moments, somehow depicting Carol as she digests not just the insanity that has erupted around her, but also the tragedy – which includes Helen dying after falling and hitting her head during the Joining. And yet there’s a slightly comedic vibe at times as well, as if the preposterous nature of the situation can’t wait to come out and play in future episodes.
By Episode 2, Gilligan (who wrote and directed both segments) is fully embracing both the (literally) out-of-this-world concept while also having fun with it all. In an extended opening sequence, Karolina Wydra makes her debut as Zosia, a woman from the Middle East who is chosen to be a spokesperson for the Joined because she kinda looks like the hunky (male) character from Carol’s romance novels (the Pirate Lady of the episode’s title). Not a bad idea!
In this sequence, we start to get a sense of how the Joined work, with every individual act serving a greater need. As Zosia moves from being yet another faceless participant in the clean-up effort the entire world is currently conducting, to modifying her look to be more Pirate Lady-ish, to piloting a cargo plane herself to the United States in order to meet Carol, it becomes clear that the Joined have literally every resource, human, mechanical, and otherwise, at their disposal. And yet they just seem to want to help Carol and the 12 like her.
Or do they? Carol feels an obligation to restore the world, somehow, to its former self. But when she requests, and is granted, a meeting with the English-speaking members of the 12 who are immune, she is surprised to find that most of them are either in denial about the true nature of the situation, or they just don’t care enough to resist the Joined. They’re complacent, and as a result, complicit.
Seehorn’s anger and sadness as Carol really add weight to the crazy idea at the center of this show.
Certainly, the Joined’s constant fawning over Carol is meant to evoke how her fans once treated her, and while she was very patient with that lot, she’s way less forgiving of her new fan club. Seehorn’s anger and sadness as Carol really add weight to the crazy idea at the center of this show, even while Carol’s biting wit and constant booze-guzzling keep us from going too far down the well of despair.
Meanwhile, Wydra has a very difficult task as well as Zosia, a character who – as a member of the Joined – is basically a cypher, but one who we are already starting to care about all the same. As Episode 2 comes to a close and we see Zosia going off with one of the immune Others after Carol rejects her, her simple look back – in extreme wide shot, through an airplane window! – is kind of heartbreaking.
I can’t wait to see where Gilligan goes next with this show.
Questions and Notes From Kepler-22b
Pause at 51 minutes and 47 seconds and you’ll see that the radio signal seemed to come from the vicinity of Kepler-22b, an exoplanet which orbits the star Kepler-22 and is some 640 light-years away.
I was surprised that we already met some of the other 12 immune Others in Episode 2. The question now is what’s up with the ones who Carol didn’t meet yet?
Will we get some flashbacks here or there to the before times? Certainly Gilligan has done that with past projects. I’d like to see more of Miriam Shor as Helen for one thing.
Speaking of which, what a cruel twist that not only did Helen die because of the Joining, but she also joined herself right before passing.
I may continue to review Pluribus on a weekly basis if you guys seem to want it (and the show remains interesting). So let me know in the comments!
With the recent Apple Watch Series 11 release, it's not surprising that the previous generation Apple Watch Series 10 is seeing its biggest price drop ever ahead of Black Friday. Walmart is currently offering a 42mm Apple Watch Series 10 with LTE cellular connectivity for just $299. Alternatively Amazon has the same watch in the larger 46mm case size for $359 shipped. Both models are considerably less expensive than the base model Apple Watch Series 11.
Apple Watch Series 10 with LTE Starting at $299
If you own an iPhone, the Apple Watch is indisputably the best smartwatch for you. It's stylish, boasts excellent build quality, excels as both a fitness tracker and smartwatch, and seamlessly integrates with your iPhone. The Apple Watch Series 10 is no longer the most current model, but it's still a relevant watch since the Series 11's upgrades are incremental. The Series 11 improvements include a longer battery life, more scratch resistant watch face, 5G support on the cellular models, and that's about it. Performance wise the two watches are pretty much identical. An Apple Watch Series 11 with the same specs currently costs $490-$520. It's for you to decide whether that $160-$190 upcharge is worth it.
Can you use an Apple Watch with Android phones?
Although it's technically possible to use an Apple Watch with an Android phone, we wouldn't recommend it. Apple made it so that a lot of the functionality of the Apple Watch requires a smartphone with an iOS operating system. There are some workarounds to implement some of the features, but for the average person, the hassle isn't worth it. If you're absolutely intent on getting an Apple Watch, then getting an iPhone first would be the best option.
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.
Sony's newest flagship wireless noise cancelling headphone has dropped in price ahead of Black Friday. Secondipity via eBay (an authorized Sony reseller) is selling a certified refurbished Sony WH-1000XM6 wireless noise canceling headphone in Black, Midnight Blue, or Platinum Silver for just $299.99 with free shipping after a $150 (33%) off instant discount. Better yet, it comes with an extended 2 year AllState warranty plus Secondipity's own 30-day return policy.
Sony WH-1000XM6 Headphones for $299.99
Certified refurbished with 2 year warranty
The Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones is the 2025 successor to the WH-1000XM5 that was released way back in 2022. Both sound quality and noise cancelation have been noticeably improved on the XM6 thanks to a more powerful QN3 audio processor and a total of 12 beam-forming microphones that do a great job of picking up and cancelling out unwanted noise. The XM6 is also more comfortable to wear because of the hinged earcups. The same design also allows the XM6 to be more easily stowed away since the earcups can be folded inwards to fit in a smaller carrying case. It can last up to 30 hours on a single charge, and a quick 3 minute top-up over USB Type-C will give you up to 3 hours of continuous playback. You can save some money by going with an older generation XM5 or even the XM4, but as long as it is within your budget, the XM6's improvements in sound quality, noise cancelation, and ergonomics makes the new model worth it.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
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.
Dell and Alienware Coupons
Alienware Gaming PC Deals
Alienware Gaming Laptop Deals
You can quickly browse through all of the listed products on sale above. See below for our favorite picks.
Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 5080 Gaming PC
The best gaming deal to come out of this sale is the Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 5080 gaming PC starting at $2,065 with free delivery. The RTX 5080 is the second best Nvidia Geforce RTX 50 series graphics card, surpassed only by the much more expensive RTX 5090. It performs better than the RTX 4080 Super and the gap widens even further in games that support DLSS 4. This is an outstanding card for playing latest games at 4K resolution with high settings and ray tracing enabled. Check out our Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 FE review.
Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 5070 Ti Gaming PC
The RTX 5070 Ti offers the best bang for your buck in terms of 4K gaming performance. It performs neck-and-neck with the previous generation RTX 4080 Super and pulls ahead in any game that supports DLSS 4 with multi-frame generation. It is fully capable of running any game in 4K at 60fps. It also has 16GB of VRAM like the RTX 5080, making it viable for AI work. Check out our Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU review by Jacqueline Thomas for our hands-on impressions.
Alienware Aurora 16 and 16X Gaming Laptops
Alienware's new mainstream gaming laptop for 2025 is dubbed the "Alienware Aurora" and it replaces the previous generation's x16 and m16 series of laptops. It comes in two models: the 16 and 16X. The 16 is the more economical model, but gamers should definitely opt for the higher-end 16X model. If you're looking for build quality and performance on par with the previous generation m16, then the 16X is its spiritual successor. It features an anodized aluminum lid and base, a higher quality display, a more powerful CPU, and a GPU that isn't throttled for maximum gaming performance.
Alienware Area-51 Gaming Laptops
New for 2025, the Alienware Area-51 gaming laptop features an anodized aluminum shell for both the lid and bottom chassis with a gorgeous iridescent finish. The frame is made of a durable and lightweight magnesium alloy. Cooling has been upgraded with generous amounts of copper and a new thermal interface material to better transfer heat away from your hottest components as well as more fans and bigger cutouts for greater airflow. Dell claims that the laptop can handle a higher power ceiling of up to 240W TDP without raising acoustics.
Design-wise, the Area 51 has a sleeker, more contoured shape compared to previous models, with rounded edges and soft corners replacing the traditional squared off design. The hinges are internally positioned so that they're near invisible. There's a transparent window on the undercarriage to show off the internal components. As befits an Alienware laptop, there's plenty of RGB illunimation, although most of it can be turned off if you want your laptop to be a bit more subtle.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
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