The Steam Machine was announced just over a week ago now, and while we don’t know how much the Steam Machine will cost, we also don’t know when it’s actually going to come out. Right now, the only official release date information points to a vague “Coming In 2026” message in the Steam store page.

When I was at Valve trying out the Steam Machine, the company narrowed things down a bit when it told me that the console-PC-hybrid would be launching in Q1 2026, but wouldn’t commit to a specific date. The good news is that either way, we won’t have to wait too long – after all Q1 2026 ends on March 31, so it’s going to be here sometime in the next few months. But can we narrow it down further?

The CES Equation

CES, or the Consumer Electronics Show, is happening from January 6-9, 2026. It’s a show where we generally see all the tech and hardware that’s going to be coming out in the first half of the year. And it’s very possible that the Steam Machine is going to be a major topic there – even if it’s indirect.

You see, I just re-checked the exhibitor list for the tech event and Valve is not going to show up. That’s not surprising, it’s not like Valve has a habit of attending the event in an official capacity. However, Valve representatives were there last year showing off the Lenovo Legion Go S running SteamOS. I don’t know if that’s going to happen again this year, but I do expect Valve could still make some noise at the show.

The Steam Machine is probably the biggest thing in gaming hardware right now, and Valve could capture a lot of attention by announcing the price or the release date during CES. This seems especially likely when you consider that this is a Q1 2026 product that doesn’t have a release date heading into Q1 2026. But, looking at how Valve handled the Steam Deck, it seems more likely that the company will let things cool down for a few weeks before making its announcement.

Playing Preorders Safe

Back when Valve first showed us the Steam Deck in July 2021, it gave us both pricing and a release window, claiming that the handheld would be out for the Holiday season of that same year. However, the release date slipped. The first units didn’t launch until February 2022, and most preorders didn’t make it out the door until that Spring or even later. I know my Steam Deck didn’t show up until the Summer, and I preordered it as soon as I was able.

But Valve is already handling this launch much differently than it did the Steam Deck. Valve opened up reservations for the Steam Deck extremely early – just a day after the initial reveal – asking potential buyers to put down $5 to put their name on a list, along with estimated shipment timing that wasn’t entirely accurate. By being more conservative with its preorder timing, it looks like Valve is trying to avoid some of the confusion that plagued the Steam Deck launch.

What Valve should have done with the Steam Deck is wait until it has a release date before taking preorders. Because while the Steam Deck was up for reservation nearly a year before most people were able to actually get their hands on it, Valve didn’t actually announce its actual February 28, 2022 release date until the end of January 2022. The way I see it, Valve is probably going to do the same thing this time around.

The big difference between the Steam Deck and the Steam Machine launch, then, is probably that Valve’s living room console will go up for preorder about a month before launch – if it goes up for preorder at all. Unless Valve delays the Steam Machine like it did with the Steam Deck, it is starting to look like the Steam Machine release date will get announced at the end of January or the beginning of February, with the actual launch happening a few weeks or a month later. Just don’t expect that actually buying the Steam Machine is going to be a walk in the park.

The NAND Of It All

What sucks about a big PC release in the next quarter is that the PC market is currently going through a massive NAND memory shortage. Essentially, these are the chips that make up RAM, and are causing massive price increases and shortages, according to a post from Bontech Labs. So, one of two things will likely happen. Either Valve has already manufactured a bunch of Steam Machines in the months leading up to the announcement, which would result in a relatively smooth launch. Or, Valve has entered mass production recently, and will have to contend with the massive NAND price hikes that have led to PCs in general getting more expensive to produce. If the latter is true, it’s possible there won’t be many units available for early adopters.

This is one of the major reasons why the Steam Machine probably isn’t going to be a $500 competitor to the PS5, but because costs are so high right now, I could see Valve going for another staggered release. Anyone that’s gone through the pain of trying to get a graphics card shortly after launch knows what to expect here. There will likely be an initial launch of limited inventory, with aftermarket sellers ramping up the Steam Machine price significantly until Valve can catch up with the demand.

It’s likely that even if Valve hits a March 2026 release date, most people won’t be able to get their hands on the Steam Machine until at least June or July. I’d love to be wrong, though. After all, it’s possible that Valve has already made a huge amount of Steam Machines that are ready to go out the door the second the release date hits. Let’s all collectively hope that’s what happens.

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

Season 2 of Netflix's live-action One Piece sets a course for the Grand Line on March 10, 2026. So far, we've only gotten a couple of trailers: a minute-long teaser, and a fourth wall-breaking introduction to Tony Tony Chopper, which Eiichiro Oda gave his personal endorsement. And Season 3 won't be far behind.

We're hyping ourselves up by building another of the LEGO One Piece sets. We already built the Going Merry Pirate Ship and the Baratie Floating Restaurant this past August. Today, we're building and discussing Battle at Arlong Park, which depicts the climactic battle that capped Season 1.

At 926 pieces, this is not a LEGO set for adults display piece; it is a large playset with mechanical functions that reinforce those play elements. But it's large enough and detailed enough to be displayable, and it's not entirely dependent on its play functions (in the way that, say, the Super Mario playsets rely on their play elements) to make itself interesting.

Before we get started on the build, we should discuss a LEGO packaging change, which began over the summer. The majority of new sets – rather than using clear plastic bags to organize their pieces – use eco-friendly paper bags, with smaller eco-friendly paper bags inside of those. This is a welcome change. With the old plastic bags, pieces had an annoying tendency to get trapped in the bags' creases when you dumped them on the table.

Every LEGO builder knows the frustration of searching for a missing piece, worrying that you might have accidentally tossed it out with the rest of the garbage. Anything that mitigates that risk is a win. With the paper bags, the pieces simply slide out, no shaking required. Plus, the paper is sturdy enough and thick enough that the pieces don't puncture through it.

You begin building Battle at Arlong Park with four smaller builds. There's the log that Usopp hides behind when he's trying to escape the clutches of Chu.

There's a beach lounge area with an umbrella and a snail phone. And finally, there are two gallery style amusement park games. In the live-action One Piece, Arlong's lair is a theme park. The manga and anime give better context and explain that Arlong Park is modeled after Sabaody Park, an amusement park which discriminated against fish-men and merfolk.

One booth is a Shooting Gallery, complete with two hinged targets and a gun/launcher that shoots studs.

The second booth is called Shark Attack, which has been reappropriated as a throne room for Arlong.

Then you build the main pagoda building, which contains Arlong's map room. There's a chain on the floor – which Nami spent her childhood shackled to while she drew maps – and East Blue maps on the walls.

I appreciate the detailing on the pagoda. There's lined bricks mixed in with smooth bricks, which give the appearance of weathering and erosion. Jagged holes in the walls add to this perception, as do the uneven and jagged pagoda roofs.

Playwise, the pagoda is destructible. The second and third levels are each composed of two halves that are independently separable from the whole, and the fourth level is halved and hinged in its middle. When you push down on the top of the building, the different levels are gimmicked to slide outwards, which triggers the walls on the ground floor to collapse. It results in an immediate, splashy destruction of the whole structure.

Because the building is intended to come apart, the LEGO designers did a great job of individually reinforcing each piece of the building, and the cleanup to put the building back together is minimal. The very top of the build is a lock of sorts, which holds the building together when you're not actively using its play feature.

Battle at Arlong Park comes with five minifigures: Luffy, Nami, Usopp, Arlong, and Chu. The minifigures are extremely well-detailed: Luffy comes with stretched out, bendable arms, Nami has a bandage over her left arm (where she cut off her slave tattoo), Usopp has his slingshot, Arlong has a fin on his back, and Chu is carrying the whiskey bottle that leads to his demise. All of this adds up to some great roleplay scenarios.

Thus, this set overdelivers on its play elements, even though it slightly underdelivers on its display elements. If the designers intended to straddle the line between both, they largely succeeded.

Your kid will definitely love this set. You might love it; it's pretty cool in its own right, but its scale is dwarfed by both the LEGO Baratie Floating Restaurant and the LEGO Going Merry Pirate Ship. But at $80, Battle at Arlong Park is underpriced for what it is, and it's the best bargain out of the three major One Piece sets.

LEGO One Piece: Battle at Arlong Park, Set #75638, retails for $79.99, and it is composed of 926 pieces. It is available now at Amazon and LEGO Store.

Kevin Wong is a contributing freelancer for IGN, specializing in LEGO. He's also been published in Complex, Engadget, Gamespot, Kotaku, and more. Follow him on Twitter at @kevinjameswong.

It's Friday! And I'm not sure how you're all going to have any money left for Black Friday proper, these deals are getting out of hand. Best Buy has added even more deals, Amazon Early Black Friday deals are off the charts, including a big push for extra savings with renewed games and tech.

TL;DR: Early Black Friday Deals

There's loads of PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 1 and 2 Early Black Friday deals knocking around too that myself and the team have rounded up. There's even a good deal on a relatively new handheld gaming PC with Lenovo Legion GO S, $250 off to be exact. I'm not going to waste your time, let's dive straight into the Early Black Friday deals for today:

Xbox Controller Deals

If you're not looking at getting the Sky Cipher or any of the Breaker series controllers, we can't be friends. These are all usually over $70, so this is a cracking time to pick one or all of them up for your collection. The standard Carbon Black and Robot White controllers are available too for $15 less, but where's the fun in that?

Early Black Friday Best Buy Deals

FFVII-Rebirth for $29.99? Say less. That's a banging early Black Friday deal, not to mention Silent Hill f avoiding the new game tax at $49.99 instead of $69.99. Deals aren't just locked to PlayStation 5 either, with Battlefield 6 being available on Xbox Series X too. By the way, this is the better Meta Quest 3S bundle, but that's just my opinion. Which is correct. Sorry not sorry.

Amazon Early Black Friday Deals

Beats Studio Pro for $169.99, game over. That's a lovely $30 savings, but Sony WH-10000XM6 is over $60 off. They feature best-in-class noise cancelation and are all around beasts, but they're more than double the price of Beats Studio Pro, so it all depends on your budget. Either will work great with the ridiculous deal that is the Nvidia RTX 5060-powered CyberPowerPC Gamer Xtreme pre-built gaming PC for under $800. Granted, it's not the most powerfull DLSS 4-enabled GPU, but it has it, which means 1080p gaming with decent frame rates is well within reach.

PlayStation Early Black Friday Deals

I've got PlayStation 5 deals coming from all over the place, from an NBA 2K26 console bundle on Amazon for $449.99 to a Ghost of Yotei Gold Limited Edition console from PlayStation Direct from $499.99. PS Portal is also down to $179.99, which comes in black and white flavors. If you're after a Dualsense controller, Amazon has what must be nearly all of them at this point and in their early Black Friday sale. My favorite is the Chroma Indigo, rocking a $59.99 price point.

Save $250 Off the Lenovo Legion Go S Handheld Gaming PC

Nvidia RTX 5060 / 5060 Ti Early Black Friday deals

These are selling quick, so get on these deals ASAP. Getting a DLSS 4 5000 series card for under $500 was unthinkable just a few months back, but here we are. There's brass tax graphics cards selling solo to prebuilt gaming PCs all ready to go with a 5060 Ti inside already, any they're all early Black Friday deals.

Nintendo Switch 2 Early Black Friday Deals

You could save a couple of dollars on the Onn Micro SD Express cards, or pay pretty much the same price for the equivalent Samsung ones. I know which ones I'm going for, but they're bound to run out of stock sooner rather than later at this price. So I left an alternative for those who came late to the Black Friday party.

Amazon Resale Black Friday Deals

Amazon resale is brilliant for those who don't mind tech and games that aren't sealed and classed as new. They might be a customer return or simply have a damaged box, but all of this gear is checked over before it makes its way with you and comes with all the usual free returns and Prime delivery goodness Amazon is known for. Everything here has been picked because it's an insanely good deal, so don't miss out.

Prismatic Evolution Figurine Collection

Magic: The Gathering | Avatar: The Last Airbender Collector Booster Box

Final Fantasy I-VI Collection Anniversary Edition

Dragon Quest HD-2D Remakes

Dragon Quest I, II and III HD-2D remakes are all out now on Nintendo Switch, with I and II also out on Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo Switch titles can be played on Nintendo Switch 2 if you want the full game on-cart rather than a game-key card, which requires a sizable content download to play. Of course you'll miss out on graphical fidelity and other upgrades.

JVSCAM 130,000RPM Cordless Electric Air Duster with Adjustable Tips

AstroAI P10 Car Battery Jump Starter

Up to 50% off Pokémon TCG and Free $60 Gift Card

Imagine getting Pokémon TCG Booster Bundles for free, or paying $20 to $30 for an Elite Trainer Box, cool right? Well it's a real deal, and here's how to do it. Start by applying for a Amazon Visa card, then if accepted you'll get an instant $60 Amazon gift card added to your account, which means free Booster Bundles, Premium Collections and Booster Blisters.

If you're after something more expensive and want to knock the price down before using the $60 gift voucher, you'll need an AMEX or Discovery card. By paying $1 on your Pokémon TCG items in your basket, you'll receive an automatic discount up to 50%. So whatever you need to pay after the gift card is cut in half. That's not bad when you're talking Elite Trainer Boxes and Booster Boxes. If this discount doesn't apply, check the loyalty page on Amazon to see if you're eligible.

TCGPlayer 10% Cashback Black Friday Event

You read that right, everything is eligibe too. Buy something, get 10% back as in-store credit. With sets like Mega Evolution and Phantasmal Flames finding new floors, this is 100% the best time to fill those gaps in your binder. The sale kicks off on Black Friday, November 28. and ends on Cyber Monday December 1.

Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra Resin 3D Printer Deals

The Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra line of Resin printers are perfect for anything that needs intricate detail, especially the 16k model, although the standard ultra does an amazing job too. The Saturn 4 Ultra and Mercury V3.0 wash is a perfect starter kit for anyone wanting to get into the hobby.

Elegoo FDM Printer Deals

What if I said I printed a full sized Stormtrooper helmet on a Neptune 4 Max in one go? It was such a fun project and this printer can handle some insane projects on the large and small side. In fact all of these FDM 3D printers are great for printing anything practical. I'm looking at you cosplayers.

Meta Quest 3S 128GB (Gorilla Tag Bundle)

TMNT: The Last Ronin Box Set

It’s been a couple weeks since the reveal and our hands-on experience with the new Valve hardware trio of the Steam Machine, Steam Controller, and Steam Frame. And while we interviewed Valve’s engineers about the creation of all three, which are due to launch sometime in early 2026, the biggest question that they still don’t have a definitive answer for is price. We won't know for certain until we get closer to release, but it's arguably the most concerning aspect for us, and anyone interested in these devices. Hardware lives or dies based on its price, so in the meantime we're trying to give our best educated guess as to how much the Steam Frame will cost.

The Cost of Other VR Headsets

In our Steam Frame interview with Valve team members, they didn’t give any indication of what they’re thinking in terms of price. According to UploadVR, however, their conversations mentioned that it will be cheaper than the full Valve Index VR kit (headset, controllers, and base stations), which launched at $999 and remains that much. That still doesn’t give us much to work with, but with the state of VR today compared to where it was in 2019, I would suspect the Frame to be more affordable than that even with its internal hardware and more advanced tech.

When simply looking at a spec sheet, the Steam Frame roughly stacks up to the Meta Quest 3, with comparable internal specs and the ability to run software locally on the headsets themselves. They trade blows here and there spec-wise, with the Frame using a 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 CPU with 16 GB of RAM while the Quest 3 has a Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 CPU with 8GB of RAM. And for reference, a 512GB model for the Meta Quest 3 goes for $499 at regular price. If we're trying to triangulate some sort of educated guess, that lands us anywhere between $500 to $1000; and yes, I know that's a wide range that could still make or break the Steam Frame in terms of appeal and success.

There is going to be a 256GB model and 1TB model of the Steam Frame, and it's fair to assume that the gap in storage space will necessitate a roughly $100 difference between the two. When I'm thinking about what the Steam Frame does better than other VR headsets, I consider the 6GHz wireless PC tethering tech as one of its key advantages – this lets you play VR games running off of your PC without the messy cables attached to your head or getting tangled up in your room. It gives no perceptible latency, which is something no other VR headset does.

The internal hardware – an ARM processor that can run Steam games natively – isn’t as powerful as a proper gaming PC, but the fact that it has ARM compatibility at all is state of the art stuff. And whether or not you're running the built-in hardware, you can seamlessly play non-VR games in a simulated theater in the headset's virtual space, which also looks crisp from my experience. There's a lot of versatility that comes with the Steam Frame, along with the fact that its controllers do all the things you need in VR while also being built with parity with traditional controllers. That’s all to say that the Steam Frame packs premium features and new tech that may demand a higher price within that particular range mentioned above.

How Valve Prices Its Hardware

As of now, the Steam Deck goes for $399 for the 256GB LCD model, $549 for the 512GB OLED model, and $649 for the 1TB OLED model. It’s sort of an apples to oranges comparison with other console handhelds given the openness of SteamOS/Proton and the closed nature of consoles, but they are reference points for where we should expect like-minded devices to land in terms of price. With the Nintendo Switch 2 at $449 and the aging specs of the Steam Deck, you could say that Valve’s hardware comparatively demands a slightly higher price tag (depending which model you’re looking at, too). Pitting it against other PC gaming handhelds, it falls relatively in line as a lower-end device compared to the Asus ROG Ally, ROG Xbox Ally X, and the Lenovo Legion Go 2, all of which are much more powerful, but also much more expensive.

So, this tells me we can expect the Steam Frame to cost more than its console counterparts. The PlayStation VR2 is a very different device as it requires a PS5 console and is tethered to a closed ecosystem, so it’s not a perfect comparison, but for reference the PSVR2 goes for $399 at regular price (currently $299 on sale). The Steam Frame will certainly hit market at a much higher price than that.

With all these comparisons and the history of Valve’s hardware, where does that leave us for speculation? If you ask me, I would guess $599 for the 256GB model and $699 for the 1TB model of the Steam Frame. However, I wouldn’t be surprised to see both of those predicted prices to be $100 higher at launch given the premium nature of the Steam Frame and how Valve is operating in a space carved out by enthusiasts who are looking for a more sophisticated device.

If you're interested in Valve's upcoming console-like PC, check out our analysis on how much the Steam Machine is going to cost. And for our comprehensive coverage of all of Valve’s new hardware, check out our hands-on preview with the Steam Frame and Steam Machine, or our analysis on Steam’s meteoric rise as a gaming ecosystem.

Black Friday is right around the corner, and Lenovo is kicking it off with one of the best 4K-ready gaming PC deals of the year. Right now you can score a Lenovo Legion Tower 5 RTX 5070 Ti gaming PC for just $1,499 after you apply a $995 off coupon code: "HOLIDAYGAMES10". Free delivery is included. This is the first time I've seen a Legion RTX 5070 Ti prebuilt drop below $1,500 and it's highly unlikely the price will drop even further next week.

Lenovo Legion RTX 5070 Ti Gaming PC for $1,499

This year, PlayStation is clearly taking the lead in the Black Friday console wars. From Nov. 21 to Dec. 1, the official PlayStation sale is offering $100 off all PS5 consoles, including the PS5 Pro, and popular bundles like the new Ghost of Yotei, NBA 2K26, and Fortnite editions.

Meanwhile, both Xbox and Nintendo are completely holding back on major console discounts, at least for now, leaving PlayStation with the only major console hardware deals of the season.

While Nintendo's official Black Friday sale doesn't go live until November 23, the gaming giant included no references to any kind of Switch or Switch 2 offer in its recent sale announcement.

Xbox's sale has since gone live, and while it features plenty of discounts on games and controllers, there are no Xbox console deals to be found. This is especially noticeable since it now costs 650 big ones for an Xbox Series X. That's the same price as a PS5 Pro right now!

While this premium console still isn’t for everyone, Sony’s most powerful console (and indeed, the most powerful console in the world) is actually discounted, and down to $649 Black Friday. This matches its best price from the Days of Play sale earlier this year.

In his review for IGN, Michael Higham said, "PlayStation 5 Pro is an impressive console with noticeable boosts in performance and graphics for games that take advantage of its powerful hardware. But for $700, you’ll need to think twice about whether or not the upgrade is worth the price tag."

It's also worth noting that the PS5 Pro also went up in price since then, rising to $749 earlier this year, so the $100 Black Friday discount cancels this out and then some.

But it's still an expensive console, even with the new discount, so echoing Michael's point, this is a purchase you need to be certain about, especially for $649, plus tax.

Still, it's the best price we're getting for the rest of the year, and at least there's a discount for anyone who has been holding out. Xbox and Nintendo fans, bad luck, and maybe next year!

With the so many different reasons to celebrate Star Wars sprinkled throughout the year, there's never a wrong time to shop for Star Wars merch. If you're a fan of the franchise or know someone else that is, we’re here to make your Star Wars gift shopping a lot easier in 2025.

We’ve assembled a list of some of the best Star Wars gifts we’ve found online, from books and Blu-rays to video games, shirts, and LEGO gift sets. So, without further ado, here are some of the best ways to bring a galaxy far, far away into your home.

Top Star Wars Gift Ideas for 2025

Star Wars Gifts for Gamers

There’s an absolute ton of great Star Wars video games available right now on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and PC, whether that’s Star Wars Jedi Survivor or LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. But if you’re looking to get a friend or family member the most recent major Star Wars game on the market, you’ll want to look into Ubisoft’s Star Wars Outlaws. Offering a sprawling open-world adventure with hours of content, It’s a gift that’s sure to give any Star Wars fan plenty to do over the holiday break. There are also quite a few great Star Wars games for the Nintendo Switch if you're looking to play there.

Best Gifts for Fans of the Books

When it comes to Star Wars novels, there are plenty of great choices out there, both from the current canon continuity and the non-canon Star Wars Legends books timeline. If you’re buying for a current fan wanting to keep up with the latest Star Wars lore though, there’s no better place to look than the High Republic series, which has been a key focus for Disney as they establish the latest new notch on the franchise’s timeline. If you’re gifting for a reader who’s new to the High Republic era, check out the High Republic: Light of the Jedi trilogy boxed set, which contains all three novels from the first phase of the series. If you don't mind placing a preorder, there's also a Revenge of the Sith deluxe edition coming out in October that's worth checking out as well as Star Wars: The Last Order which explores a post-Rise of the Skywalker universe.

For Comic Book Fans

Classic recommendations for Star Wars comics include the following (as found in our best Star Wars comics shopping list).

Gifts for Fans of the Movies and TV Shows

Want to grab the cinephiles in your life a shiny new Star Wars collection? There are a lot of good options out there, with the most premium of the bunch being the Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Complete Collection. This absolute unit of a boxset comes with all nine movies in Blu-ray format as well as 26 hours of bonus content and special features. In short, it's the collection to end all collections, and a great pick-up for any diehard fans of the Star Wars movies.

You can also pick up more recent seasons of the live-action Star Wars TV shows in 4K and Blu-ray. With Andor season 2 now available on Disney+ right now, picking up the first season in 4K is an excellent option.

Gifts for Adult LEGO Fans

When it comes to buying a Star Wars LEGO set, you’re absolutely spoiled for choice, with this last year alone bringing us incredibly popular builds like Jabba’s Barge and the TIE Interceptor. However, if you’re looking for a fun set to pick up without breaking into the much pricier line of UCS builds that LEGO dropped last year a great option is the Imperial Star Destroyer play set. Retailing at $159.99, it offers a full star destroyer with a buildable interior, as well as the very first official Cal Kestis mini-figure, making it a great choice for young and veteran LEGO fans alike.

The brick-built Star Wars Logo set looks great on shelves and home office setups, while the Grogu and Hover Pram set has been constantly on sale during Amazon's Black Friday sales.

Star Wars Gifts For Board Game Fans

For those on the hunt for a fun Star Wars board game, you can’t go wrong with Star Wars: Outer Rim. Casting you and three other players as intergalactic outlaws, your mission is to venture across the galaxy and strategically build your reputation by smuggling cargo, hunting bounties and meeting various iconic Star Wars characters. If you reckon your friends or family would jump at the chance to become a legendary scoundrel, Outer Rim is a safe bet. But it’s far from the only option on offer, with other great board games like Star Wars Rebellion and Star Wars Imperial Assault sure to bring hours of intergalactic entertainment.

Gifts for Puzzlers

If you or someone you know just so happens to be a chronic puzzler on top of being a Star Wars fan, there are quite a few options. Our overall top pick for the best Star Wars puzzle for adults is this 2,000-piece jigsaw we've featured above. It depicts numerous different characters from episodes 1-6 along with a variety of machines, ships, and the Death Star looming in the background. It is a pretty big puzzle, however, so you may want to be sure whoever you're giving it to has a decent puzzle table or board that can hold it.

Alongside this puzzle, there are quite a few other options. There are even model kits that act as 3D puzzles you can check out,

Apparel and Accessory Gifts

If you’re looking for clothing-related gifts, Star Wars has a nigh-on endless range of wearable merch that make for great presents. Whether you’re searching for Star-Wars-inspired Hawaiian shirts, tees sporting iconic poster graphics or a funny festive jumper that will stand out from the crowd, here are some of our favorites.

Gifts For The Home

Much like with shirts, Star Wars has plenty of novelty homeware that make for great gifts. Whether you’re on the hunt for a Darth Vader Waffle Maker or an R2-D2 lava lamp, we’ve assembled some fun kitchenware, lights, mugs, and other homeware that are sure to put a smile on any Star Wars fan’s face.

Gifts for Toy Collectors

There are a lot of different Star Wars toys you can buy. There are lightsaber replicas, plushies, and even Nerf blasters. But if you're a collector of Star Wars toys, then you're probably most interested in Star Wars action figures. Our overall top pick is from the Black Series line of toys, but there are quite a few other great options from other brands to check out as well. There are even new Jedi: Survivor figures that were just recently announced for fans of the video game series.

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

Sonos doesn't discount its popular speakers very often, so it's a wise investment to jump on a good sale when you see one. The Sonos Arc was discontinued last year to make way for its successor, the Arc Ultra. It's no longer available new at Sonos direct, however for Black Friday you can pick up a certified refurbished model for just $399. That's $500 less than its original retail price of $900. It's a heck of a better value than picking up the Arc Ultra, currently "on sale" for $879.

Sonos refurbished products go through rigorous testing; they come with all accessories, manuals, and documentation and are reshipped in "pristine" packaging. Most importantly, Sonos includes the same 1-year warranty as buying new. I like when retailers offer the same warranty as new because that means they have faith in the reliability of their refurbs.

Sonos Arc Soundbar (Refurbished)

PlayStation Direct UK is killing it in their early Black Friday deals right now, even the 30th Anniversary PS5 Digital (Slim), DualSense controller and PS Portal are back with a Black Friday discount. There's also up to 33% off PlayStation + depending on which tier you pick, but all of them get an extra 5% off with PlayStation Direct.

PlayStation Direct Black Friday Sale

All of the deals I've picked out are the Black Friday price and doesn't include the PS Plus discounts, so expect so save some more if you're a member. I'm not going to waste anytime here, let's jump straight into these epic deals on consoles, accessories, games and more:

30th Anniversary PS5 Deals

I can't believe the 30th Anniversary Edition gear is back, I'm proper chuffed. And £49.99 for the DualSense alone is a steal, and you know you want the full set with the PS5 Slim and PS Portal to go with it, again all discounted. Don't forget that cheeky 5% PS Plus discount, which will add up if you're buying all this in one go.

Save up to 33% on PlayStation + 12m Subscriptions

PS5 Console Deals

We've got everything from the 2 TB PlayStation 5 Pro to the Ghost of Yotei Black Limited Edition that isn't black. By the way, The PS Pro deal is the same price as a standard price Xbox Series X, so I'll just let that deal sink in (What the hell is happening!?).

The Fortnite bundle is great for anyone who plays it, which is a lot. You'll get 8 exclusive cosmetic items, including a skin and 1,000 V Bucks, which is "epic" if you're in the loop (Nope, not sorry and I miss Unreal Tournament).

The winner for me (again) is the Digital 30th Anniversary Slim console. £334.99 for such a unique bit of kit that takes me back to buying three preowned games for £10 from Game when I was a kid and having my mind blown by the original PlayStation graphics. Tell me you don't want to turn on your PS5 and see the original boot screen and audio if you're over 30. Exactly.

DualSense Controller Deals

These Black Friday deals make me either want to buy every single controller and put them on a cool shelf or re-shell my Dualsense once a week. Getting controllers like the Chroma Indigo for less than a standard black or white Dualsense on a normal day is a great deal to me.

Dualsense Edge has also dropped to £169.99, a cheeky £30 off and it's worth it. I love a heavy controller, it feels like you've bought something worthwhile. It has adjustable triggers, swappable thumbsticks and caps, full re-map functionality and all the bells and whistles of the original Dualsense with a better battery life.

PS:VR 2 and Accessory Deals

If you fancy trying out PS VR2, now is a great time to get stuck in, just make sure you get the bundle with Horizon Call of the Mountain instead of the solo hardware. It's the same price and you get a great game for free, so it's a no-brainer Black Friday deal.

The Pulse Elite headset is also £20 off, and includes a hanging charger to boot. It rocks 30 hours of battery life, cracking audio that you'd expect from Sony and a decent mic setup that can noise-rejection technology.

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.

The season of savings has officially kicked off. A few different retailers have started up their Black Friday sales, including Amazon. If you're on the hunt for video game deals in particular, we've already found quite a few that are worth your time and money at the retailer, including a whopping 50% off Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (see it here for PS5 and Xbox Series X).

This discount has dropped the price of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 down to just $30 on both platforms. What makes it even better, though, is it marks its lowest price to date on both PS5 and Xbox Series X, according to price tracker camelcamelcamel. No better time to grab it if you've had your eye on it.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Drops to $30

If you're hoping to find a deal on an unlocked Google Pixel phone for Black Friday, I've got some good news: Both Amazon and Best Buy has already started slashing prices on all of the latest models from the Pixel lineup. The Google Pixel 10, 10 Pro, 10 Pro XL, and 10 Pro Fold have all dropped to their lowest prices ever ahead of Thanksgiving weekend, with a whopping 25% savings. These deals launched earlier this month and have come back just in time for Amazon's official Black Friday sale.

Google's line of smartphones is mostly known for its high-quality camera and helpful AI features, both of which make them great iPhone alternatives. As someone who has owned a Pixel for well over a year now, I have no problem recommending them to anyone looking for a smartphone upgrade at a reasonable price.

The Best Google Pixel Phone Deals at Amazon Today

The only exception to the 25% discount is the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold, which is only getting 17% off the retail price. But even that is still substantial when you consider that this is the best discount we've seen on Google's latest foldable phone since it was released in October. With these price drops, right now is the best time we've seen all year to pick up an unlocked Google Pixel phone at a discount. None of these price drops are attached to a carrier plan, so you don't need to sign any sort of contract before you buy. You can currently find these savings at Amazon or at Best Buy as part of its Black Friday sale.

Which phone should you buy?

Pixel 10 Pro vs. Pixel 10

Deciding which Google phone to buy really comes down to what features you want and how much you're willing to pay. My Google Pixel 8 is a few generations old at this point, but I decided to grab the Pro because of the increased screen size and bigger battery. I'd highly recommend picking up either the Pro or Pro XL if you plan on using your phone to watch videos or play games at all. Otherwise the cheaper Pixel 10 is probably your best bet at this price.

We reviewed the Google Pixel 10 Pro earlier this year and found that it didn't offer that many improvements of the Pixel 9 Pro. However, with the discount right now, the latest model is definitely the one worth buying over the previous generation.

The Google Pixel 9 deal is the best value option

The latest Apple iPad just dropped to the lowest price of the year for Black Friday. Amazon is offering the 11th generation Apple iPad, featuring the A16 processor, for just $279 with free shipping after a $70 off instant discount. This is the first time I've seen this particular model drop below $299 since its release back in March of 2025.

Apple iPad 11th Gen for $279 (Originally $349)

The Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution - Phantasmal Flames set was just released on Nov. 11, 2025, and with it, an elusive Pokémon TCG: Mega Charizard X ex Ultra-Premium Collection. As a huge Charizard fan, I had to have it, even with its pretty high $119.99 USD MSRP (or a lot higher on resale sites!)

I’ve always collected Pokémon trading cards, but I only just started playing using the official format in the last two years. A few decks have crossed my playmats, but variations of a Charizard ex deck have continued to be my main.

I knew I’d need the Phantasmal Flames’ Mega Charizard X ex and Oricorio ex cards to experiment with new deck builds, so that was a good enough excuse as any to try and grab this collection… even if I might try and get the non promo-art versions to play with instead.

Click through the slide show above to see everything included in the Pokémon TCG: Mega Charizard X ex Ultra-Premium Collection, plus some of the cards I pulled from the booster packs.

Here’s a complete list of what’s included in the Pokémon TCG: Mega Charizard X ex Ultra-Premium Collection:

• 1 foil full-art promo card featuring Mega Charizard X ex
• 1 foil full-art promo card featuring Oricorio ex
• 65 card sleeves featuring Mega Charizard X
• 1 playmat featuring Mega Charizard X
• 1 deck box featuring Mega Charizard X
• 1 metal coin featuring Mega Charizard X
• 6 damage-counter dice
• 18 Pokémon TCG booster packs:
  • 2 Surging Sparks TCG booster packs
  • 4 Journey Together TCG booster packs
  • 4 Destined Rivals TCG booster packs
  • 4 Mega Evolution TCG booster packs
  • 4 Phantasmal Flames TCG booster packs
• A code card for Pokémon TCG Live

I pulled a few playables from the Phantasmal Flames and Mega Evolution booster packs (still searching for more Lillie’s Determinations), but I didn’t get any Phantasmal Flames “chase” cards, like any of the rare cards listed on this Phantasmal Flames most expensive cards list.

My favorite random pull is absolutely the Destined Rivals illustration rare Team Rocket’s Houndoom, another one of my favorite Pokémon of all time. Fire and Dark-type Pokémon are my favorites, so I’m stoked for the Charizard X and Houndoom cards and Charizard-themed TCG accessories, what can I say.

The playmat included in this set features nice stitching around the edges that many other official playmats lack, too, so I see it lasting quite a while, and the Mega Charizard X coin is beautiful.

This should go without saying, but I don’t think this collection is worth it unless you aim to use the exclusive TCG accessories that come with it.

I would have preferred some variety between the playmat, deck box, and card sleeves, but at least the art they chose for the set is sick.

The coin brilliantly shines in an array of rainbow colors, and it makes for a neat easter egg balanced on top of my Charizard figure by First 4 Figures.

Though this absolutely is not new as far as Pokémon TCG collections go, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed by the dated array of included booster packs. I would have loved to see more Phantasmal Flames, and even Mega Evolution, booster packs.

But maybe I’m just salty about this because one Mega Charizard X ex Ultra-Premium Collection was the only Phantasmal Flames product my partner and I could purchase between the two of us. I'm lucky I was also sent a press copy of this particular collection so I didn't have to share! For reference, we succeeded in buying one at The Pokémon Center website, but failed everywhere else for everything else.

But, that’s an entirely different conversation. Even with the $119.99 price tag, I’m happy with the Mega Charizard X ex Ultra-Premium Collection as both a huge fan of Charizard and the TCG.

Best Phantasmal Flames Cards Chase Cards

According to marketplaces like TCGPlayer, certain Phantasmal Flames cards have already skyrocketed further in price, and, following up from our Mega Evolution round-up, we’ve ranked the ten most expensive cards so far just above. From aggressive Mega attackers to powerful evolution support, Phantasmal Flames brings a fiery mix of competitive threats and high-demand pulls.

Casey DeFreitas is the Deputy Editor of Guides at IGN and loves all things Pokémon. Catch her on all socials as @ShinyCaseyD

The holidays are here, which means it’s time to find gifts for all your loved ones. That can be easier said than done, so we’re here to help. If someone on your list is a big fan of games of the non-video variety (like board games and card games), then Game Nerdz has a bunch of options to choose from.

If you’re not already familiar with Game Nerdz, it’s a site that specializes in tabletop games, TCGs, miniatures, and collectibles. It has a huge selection of more than 50,000 in-stock items, including games set in the worlds of massive franchises.

That’s a lot to choose from, and we know it can be a little intimidating trying to find the right game for someone. So we curated a list of just some of the many games you can find on Game Nerdz, along with some info about them and what kinds of people they might be right for. We've also included some general tips to think about to help you figure out what type of game your loved one might like.

Arcs

• Game type: Board game
• Number of players: 2–4
• Challenge level: Moderate to high
• Who it’s right for: Strategy enthusiasts, experienced gamers, sci-fi fans

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - Trick-Taking Game

• Game type: Co-op card game
• Number of players: 1–4
• Challenge level: Low
• Who it’s right for: Lord of the Rings fans/collectors, gamers who want to work together, fans of narrative-focused games

Dune: War for Arrakis

• Game type: Board game with miniatures
• Number of players: 2
• Challenge level: Low to moderate
• Who it’s right for: Dune fans, strategy enthusiasts, those who like having lots of thematic miniatures

Gwent: The Legendary Card Game

• Game type: Card game
• Number of players: 1–5
• Challenge level: Low
• Who it’s right for: The Witcher fans, those who want a game that's quick and replayable, those who like games that are easy to grasp but harder to master

Unmatched Adventure: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

• Game type: Co-op board game / card game
• Number of players: 1–4
• Challenge level: Low
• Who it’s right for: Fans of other Unmatched games, TMNT fans, those who want a game that can be played with their kids (ages 9+)

Slay the Spire: The Board Game

• Game type: Co-op board game / deck builder
• Number of players: 1–4
• Challenge level: Moderate
• Who it’s right for: People interested in the structure of a roguelike in board game form, those who want a game with multiple possible ending points, those who like evolving their deck over time

Star Wars: Battle of Hoth

• Game type: Board game with miniatures
• Number of players: 2–4 (best suited for 2)
• Challenge level: Moderate
• Who it’s right for: Star Wars fans, those who enjoy tactical games, those who enjoy games with movable miniatures

Stardew Valley: The Board Game

• Game type: Co-op board game
• Number of players: 1–4
• Challenge level: Low
• Who it’s right for: Stardew Valley fans, those open to longer game times (up to 3 hours), fans of cozy vibes

The Last of Us: Escape the Dark

• Game type: Board game
• Number of players: 1–5
• Challenge level: Moderate
• Who it’s right for: Fans of The Last of Us and its characters, narrative game lovers, those who like games with dynamically changing goals

Dorfromantik: The Board Game

• Game type: Co-op board game
• Number of players: 1–6
• Challenge level: Low
• Who it’s right for: Families, those who want to build something together, those who like games that evolve with each playthrough

This is just a small selection of the many games you can find on Game Nerdz. There are also a bunch of popular trading card games available, from Magic: The Gathering to Pokémon to Yu-Gi-Oh! and beyond. And there are Forged gaming accessories for TTRPG players, including dice, arenas, and this detailed Call of Cthulhu Idol Dice Tower. And there’s an extensive collection of miniatures and collectibles too. It’s a one-stop shop to find something for the gamer in your life who wants to unplug.

Police in Japan have accused a man of unauthorized reproduction of an AI-generated image. This is believed to be the first ever legal case in Japan where an AI-generated image has been treated as a copyrighted work under the country’s Copyright Act.

According to the Yomiuri Shimbun and spotted by Dexerto, the case relates to an AI-generated image created using Stable Diffusion back in 2024 by a man in his 20s from Japan’s Chiba prefecture. This image was then allegedly reused without permission by a 27-year-old man (also from Chiba) for the cover of his commercially-available book.

The original creator of the image told the Yomiuri Shimbun that he had used over 20,000 prompts to generate the final picture. The police allege that the creator had sufficient involvement in the AI image’s creation, and the matter has been referred to the Chiba District Public Prosecutors Office.

Japan’s Copyright Act defines a copyrighted work as a “creatively produced expression of thoughts or sentiments that falls within the literary, academic, artistic, or musical domain.” In regard to whether an AI-generated image can be copyrighted or not, the Agency of Cultural Affairs has stated that an AI image generated with no instructions or very basic instructions from a human is not a “creatively produced expression of thoughts or sentiments” and therefore not considered to meet the requirements to be copyrighted work.

However, if a person has used AI as a tool to creatively express thoughts or feelings, the AI-generated output might be considered a copyrighted work. This is to be decided on a case-by-case basis. The process behind the creation of the specific AI-generated image has to be looked at in order to determine whether it can be considered to be creative enough to be termed a copyrighted work. Key criteria are the amount of detailed prompts, the refining of instructions over repeated generation attempts, and creative selections or changes to outputs.

However, this case is the first of its kind, with no legal precedent. Speaking to Yomiuri Shimbun, a legal expert in AI and copyright from the Fukui Bar Association said that if prompts are detailed and specific enough, then an AI-generated output might be considered a copyrighted work. Basically, the resulting final image is evaluated on how closely it is deemed to match the creator’s original vision, which is determined by how detailed and specific the prompts and their revisions are. “It is vital to determine whether or not the person provided prompts to reach a specific, predicted outcome,” said the attorney.

On the flipside, AI-generated content that closely resembles existing copyrighted works has prompted much furore in Japan lately. This is especially the case with Sora 2 generated video clips that have featured well-known Japanese characters. The Japanese government and an organization representing major creative powerhouses like Bandai Namco, Studio Ghibli and Square Enix have demanded that OpenAI cease unauthorized training on Japanese IPs.

Photographer: Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images.

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

Warning: This article contains spoilers for IT: Welcome to Derry Episodes 1-4!

Fans of Stephen King’s novels will know that these tales of small-town terror and tortured souls aren’t simply standalone stories. They’re all part of a larger storytelling multiverse, and crossovers can and do frequently happen. That’s certainly true for IT: Welcome to Derry – not only is this series a prequel to the It movies, it also includes nods to other King characters and storylines.

With the first two episodes having premiered on HBO Max, we figured now is a great time to break down the key Stephen King easter eggs in Welcome to Derry and explore how the series is taking advantage of the King multiverse. Keep checking back, as we’ll update this piece as more episodes air.

What Is Bill Skarsgård’s Villain Pennywise?

With Welcome to Derry taking place 27 years before the events of 2017’s It, it should come as no surprise that there aren’t many returning actors for this prequel. In fact, the only confirmed veteran of the series is Bill Skarsgård, who is once again playing the demonic, shapeshifting villain, It (whose favorite form is Pennywise the Dancing Clown). We don’t actually see Skarsgård in the first four episodes, but the character’s nefarious influence is certainly felt. If there’s any takeaway from the pilot, it’s that Derry was a cursed place long before the Losers Club clashed with Pennywise for the first time.

With Pennywise being such an important part of the series, it’s worth taking a step back to explore what exactly this character is and how he fits into King’s monster multiverse. The It novel establishes that It is an alien entity created in the void outside the universe. It eventually crashed on Earth via an asteroid millions of years ago, at which point it took up residence in the area that would become Derry, Maine. We see this origin story play out during Episode 4's flashback sequence.

Ever since people began to settle in Derry, It has shown a pattern of emerging for a year or two to seek victims and feast on their fear; it is essentially a psychic vampire. After gorging itself, It then goes into hibernation for 27 years before reawakening and starting the cycle all over again. It tends to target children because their fears are more primal and easier to exploit.

It/Pennywise is easily one of the most terrifying creatures in King’s massive library, but it’s not necessarily unique. King’s Dark Tower novels establish that the multiverse was once bathed in a mystical energy source called the Prim. When the Prim receded like an ocean tide, it left behind a great many supernatural creatures embedded in the worlds of creation; Pennywise is just one of many of those monsters. One of the Dark Tower books even introduces a cousin of sorts – a similar psychic vampire who feeds on laughter rather than fear.

The Hanlon Family

Welcome to Derry may not feature many returning characters, but it does feature one family that should be very familiar to fans of the films. The first episode introduces Jovan Adepo’s Leroy Hanlon; Leroy is the grandfather of Mike Hanlon, who was played in the films as a child by Chosen Jacobs and as an adult by Isaiah Mustafa.

Welcome to Derry shows us how the Hanlon family first came to settle in Derry in 1962. Leroy is a decorated and well-respected Air Force major who is recruited by General Shaw (James Remar) to work on a top-secret program. Little by little, Leroy is becoming exposed to the darkness lurking beneath the idyllic facade of Derry and the racism still rampant in the ranks of the military. In Episode 2, Leroy learns that Shaw is working to harness a weapon that can instill absolute fear in America's enemies. Apparently, Shaw wants to weaponize It.

Episode 2 introduces Taylour Paige as Leroy’s wife, Charlotte, and Blake Cameron James as his son, Will, neither of whom seem particularly enamored with their new home. But however bad things get this season, it’s not going to drive this family out of Derry.

The Shining’s Dick Hallorann

Welcome to Derry is going to draw on more than just the It movies and novel; that much has been apparent ever since an earlier trailer included a shot of a Shawshank Prison bus. But in what is easily the most significant King easter egg so far, the series’ cast includes a major character from The Shining: Dick Hallorann (Chris Chalk).

Fans of The Shining and its sequel, Doctor Sleep, will remember that Dick is the head chef at the Overlook Hotel in Colorado. Because he has the psychic aptitude known as “the shine,” Dick is more sensitive than most to the many ghosts haunting the Overlook’s halls. Dick becomes rightfully concerned when he senses that young Danny Torrance, the son of winter caretaker Jack Torrance, shines especially brightly, and is therefore a ripe target for those ghosts. Eventually, Dick is forced to brave the harsh Colorado winter in order to rescue Danny and his mother from the hotel’s wrath.

Welcome to Derry takes place nearly two decades before The Shining; at this stage, Dick is serving on the same Derry air force base as Leroy Hanlon. We only catch a brief glimpse of Dick in Episode 1, but he seems intently interested in Leroy, as if he can sense something is supernaturally amiss with the major.

Episode 2 provides more context for Dick's presence in Derry and his interest in Leroy. Dick is using his psychic abilities to help the Air Force dig up and harness the slumbering It. Dick seems to sense that Leroy is special in his own way. A bullet to his brain has robbed Leroy of the ability to feel fear, which may make him the only person capable of standing up to It. And by Episode 4, Leroy is starting to come to terms with the fact that Dick truly does have supernatural abilities.

We fully expect Dick to play a central role in battling It in this series. Just as at the Overlook, Dick’s powers will make him more aware than most adults of the danger lurking underneath the town. It may even target Dick specifically, hoping to draw extra sustenance from his psychic abilities, much like the vampires in Doctor Sleep.

The Shining's Calumet Baking Powder

Episode 2 incldues another fun The Shining Easter egg, as we see a stack of Calumet Baking Powder cans in the grocery store, all displaying that iconic logo of an Indian chief. These cans were also seen in Stanley Kubrick's film adaptation of The Shining, part of the Overlook Hotel's extensive larder.

The exact significance of the cans and the Indian logo has been the source of much debate over the years, with some arguing (like in the documentary Room 237) that Kubrick was trying to include subtle commentary about American imperialism and the genocide of Native Americans. The Indian chief image may also speak to the ancient history of the supernatural terrors in this world. Again, It has been in Derry for a very long time.

Juniper Hill Asylum

Episode 2 also introduces another iconic King landmark in Juniper Hill Asylum. We learn that Susie (Matilda Legault) was previously committed there after the death of her father, and she's forced to return at the end of the episode after suffering through another of It's terrifying hallucinations. That means we'll surely see inside its dark halls as the season unfolds.

Juniper Hill appears in the original IT novel as well as numerous other King works, from Insomnia to Needful Things to The Dark Half. It's a place every bit as twisted as you'd expect from a mental institution in Stephen King's multiverse.

Shawshank State Prison

Alongside Juniper Hill, the series is also introducing another very recognizable facility in the form of Shawshank State Prison. The wrongfully imprisoned Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider) looks doomed to be imprisoned there, even as Charlotte fights to clear his name.

Shawshank was most famously featured in King's 1982 novella "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption," which was later adapted into the 1994 movie The Shawshank Redemption. Both versions of the story follow the pliught of Andy Dufresne, a man imprisoned for decades at the hellish prison after being convicted of murdering his wife. Shashank was also heavily featured in Castle Rock, another series notable for bringing together pieces of the King multiverse.

The Importance of the Turtle

Welcome to Derry’s first episode includes another important, albeit more subtle, easter egg in the form of a charm on Susie’s bracelet – a turtle, a creature with deep significance in King lore. We see another turtle reference in Episode 4, when the Indian tribe buries one of the pieces of the meteorite inside a turtle shell.

Getting back to It’s cosmic origins, this demon was created at the same time as a benevolent turtle entity; the Turtle is It’s polar opposite and a sign of strength to the members of the Losers Club. The Turtle is also one of the 12 animals featured in the Dark Tower books who guard “The Beams,” invisible energy forces that lead directly to the titular tower at the center of existence.

We’d expect to see multiple turtle references in this series, all meant to serve as reminders that there are other forces at work in Derry beyond It/Pennywise…and not all of them are so sinister.

The 12 Pillars

Episode 4 reveals a lot about the history of It in Derry and how this demonic entity was clashing with the local Native American tribe long before white settlers came to the area. We even learn that the tribe has a legend about the heroic warrior who imprisoned It centuries ago. According to the story, the tribe buried 13 pieces of the meteorite that originally carried It to Earth. 12 of these pieces form a ring around It's woodland territory, while the 13th is located at the center of the ring. As long as that circle remains unbroken, It's evil is contained to the Derry area.

This circular structure is almost definitely meant to be a reference to King's Dark Tower novels. In Mid-World, the place where heroic gunslinger Roland Deschain carries out his long quest to find the titular tower, there are 12 portals forming a great ring around the planet. The beams mentioned above start at these portals and move inward, converging on the Dark Tower in the center. Each of the 12 portals is protected by a Guardian of the Beam, like Maturin the Turtle and Shardik the Bear. It's prison is clearly mimicking the structure of the Dark Tower itself.

We probably won't see any more overt references to the Dark Tower books than this, as Warner Bros. doesn't hold the rights to those stories. Instead, The Haunting of Hill House's Mike Flanagan is currently developing a Dark Tower TV series for Amazon. Still, it's a fun nod for hardcore King fans.

The Second Hand Rose

Episode 2 establishes a key throwback to 2019's IT: Chapter Two with the scene at the Second Hand Rose thrift shop. In the movie, that shop is run by Stephen King's character (that same character cameos as a younger man here), and it's where Bill Denbrough buys his beloved Schwinn bicycle. Back in 1962, it's where Leroy purchases a telescope for his son Will.

Like the turtle, the rose is an image with special significance in King's work, and it also ties back to the Dark Tower books and their central protagonist, Roland Deschain. The rose is a symbol of goodness and purity, though we definitely get a slightly creepy vibe from the shop in this series. If anything, we can't help but be reminded of Needful Things and its infamous shop of horrors.

On the other hand, the shop's current owner, Kimberly Norris Guerrero's Rose, has become a major focus of the series, and she seems to be one of the few genuinely good people in Derry. We'll see if Rose survives the entire season.

For more on IT: Welcome to Derry, check out our review of the series premiere and see director Andy Muschietti break down the shocking ending to Episode 1.

Note: This article was originally published on 10/27/2025 and updated on 11/21/2025 with the latest information about IT: Welcome to Derry.

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

We're in the seemingly endless saga that is Black Friday season. The Crunchyroll Store has been having Black Friday sales all month long, discounting its spread of DVDs, figures, and anime merch. However, the service has now announced an incredibly rare deal on what I think most people actually use it for: anime streaming. Right now, you can get $20 off annual Mega Fan subscriptions, which already offer some savings over the monthly price.

Get $20 Off 12 Months of Mega Fan Crunchyroll