If you love PvE co-op games but murderous robots are giving you low level PTSD, Cast Outs is here to stir up the genre with a modern take on fantasy. Designed from the ground up for co-op, it takes the usual Dungeons & Dragons tropes of goblins, elves and magic spells, and turns them into a 2-4 player playground to battle in. It's got pedigree too, because while it's the first game from UK studio Twisted Works, that studio is home to veterans who have worked on games like Horizon Forbidden Resident Evil 7, Killzone, and the Total War series.

"Left 4 Dead was one of our early inspirations as one of those games where you had to just realize that you're not going to do this alone," explains James Brace, Twisted Works CEO and the Cast Outs Creative Director.

"There is no single player mode. As a studio, when we approached this game we wanted a very sharp, narrow focus on this genre of co-op combat. As a team, you get to experience a whole bunch of missions and modes, different ways to play. We have runs, not unlike the Left 4 Dead kind of experience, but we also have sandbox areas, we have Horde modes. It balances everything we loved about scripted elements - those cinematic wow moments that we love in games like Left 4 Dead - with these playgrounds that allow a lot more freedom of exploration, and a lot more emergent gameplay."

As one of a team of three refugees from a doomed realm in another dimension, the aim for you and two battle buddies is to fight through a fantastical version of modern day London with a mix of team combos, magical powers and parkour style agility. Talking to the teams there's clearly a lot of thought that's gone into the story - with references to the Dungeons & Dragons movie, Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Percy Jackson referenced as team favorites, but the focus is also one letting players create their own weird and wonderful Tiktok share worthy moments.

"We're going to have a lot of visual storytelling, what I call passive storytelling. It's there in the world. You can see it. You can absorb at your pace. It can come through the characters. We can have a lot of lore come through the characters like we've seen in a lot of roster based games, but in terms of your adventure, your run, that's your story. The first kind of thing we wanted to try and do is make sure there's enough dynamics in the experience to create unique stories," says Brace.

In terms of gameplay, Cast Outs is built with short sessions in mind, but adds a progression system to keep you coming back for more. As well as learning your particular preferred combination of magic and run-based, Roguelike lite upgrade systems, there will be cosmetics to show off your Cast Outs skills and tenure, and a charm system.

"While playing, you're collecting ingredients. Those ingredients can be crafted into charms - it's where some of the magic still exists in London from the people who came over - and you can wear these charms and take them into battle," says Brace.

"You're going to have charm slots so you're going to have dilemmas about how many charms you're going to take in. I'll be going, 'Oh what are you carrying in? I'm taking this.' And it's ultimately driving the progression system to get all the charms and to have the most flexibility on play styles. You'll be able to support your team with charms. A lot of our charms aren't individual. They're helping the team more like perks and buffs for the group. I think people are going to like them because it enables you to um, take the classes and turn your tank into a bit more like a support tank or a bit more DPS."

Planned for release on PC, PS5 and Xbox with crossplay, there's no release date yet, but the Twisted Works team is big on playtesting and building its community to help shape the game. Check out the studio's Discord to find out more.

"We're still shocked that through our play testing that players are telling us about and showing us new ways to play with our own magic that we never thought of, which is absolutely fantastic."

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

Robert Downey Jr. has discussed his Marvel co-star Gwyneth Paltrow's difficulty keeping track of the MCU's many characters — including a moment when she forgot Peter Parker's real-life identity. (It's Tom Holland.)

Speaking at The Hollywood Reporter's 2025 Women in Entertainment gala, where Downey Jr. presented Paltrow with an award, the Iron Man and Avengers: Doomsday actor said his on-screen partner was "impossibly intelligent, but forever confused by the basic tenets of the Marvel Universe and its inhabitants."

Specifically, Downey Jr. recalled one incident where Paltrow pointed out a particular actor and asked him who it was. "'Who's that?'" Downey Jr. recalled Paltrow questioning, "'He said his name is Peter.' 'No, his character's name is Peter. That's Tom Holland, you did four movies with him.'"

PlayStation will publish a new four-player co-operative shooter directed by former Left 4 Dead designer Mike Booth, which will be the first internally-developed game released by J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot Games studio.

In a statement today, Sony said it would help produce the mysterious project and launch it for both PlayStation 5 and PC. The game is referred to as still being "unannounced," and no further details were revealed — other than the fact it will be an all-new IP.

"Partnering with Sony Interactive Entertainment allows us to bring our new IP to life, with an expansive vision for this new universe," said Anna Sweet, CEO of Bad Robot Games. "With the support of PlayStation, we hope to deliver a bold, innovative experience that is truly special for players.

"I could not be more excited that Mike Booth is at the creative helm," Sweet continued, "crafting a cooperative adventure that will lead to unforgettable moments with friends."

Bad Robot Games was first announced back in 2018, and was initially backed by investment from Chinese giant Tencent. Details of this project, and Booth's involvement, were first confirmed in 2021 — though little has been heard of the game since.

Confirmation that the game will be a new IP rules out any possibility of it being part of an existing PlayStation franchise — or tied to any of the projects Bad Robot itself is most famous for, such as the TV series Lost, or J.J. Abrams' Star Trek reboot.

"We're greatly impressed with the talent Bad Robot Games has assembled at their studio, and are thrilled to partner with them to help produce and publish their upcoming game," said PlayStation's Christian Svensson, VP and Head of 2P/3P Content Ventures & Strategic Initiatives.

"Their unique creative voice and passion for innovating across all forms of interactive entertainment perfectly aligns with SIE's mission to craft experiences that resonate deeply with players. We can't wait for gamers to step into the world they've been building."

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

In my earlier review of the solidly built DXRacer Martian Gaming Chair, I noted that, despite featuring a few frills – such as an electric adjustable backrest and smart airbag lumbar – it mostly eschewed gimmicks. The DXRacer Martian Pro Gaming Chair, on the other hand, takes all that was good about the standard model but doubles down on the gimmicks by adding seat heating and ventilation, as well as a back massage. Although you'll only pay a few hundred dollars more for these luxuries, you're also strangely limited to a single design option, which may hurt the Martian Pro's appeal as the overall better choice among gaming chairs.

DXRacer Martian Pro – Options and Assembly

While the standard Martian features two upholstery materials and up to six different designs, the Martian Pro is only available in one upholstery material and Red Triangle. While I'm a fan of the overall design language of Red Triangle, which fits well within my red LED-heavy office workspace and PC gaming center, it would have been nice to have a few more options. On the plus side, both the Regular / L, which supports bodies shorter than 5'11" and under 275 lbs, and the Plus / XL, which supports bodies taller than 5'11" and over 275 lbs, are exactly the same price. I fit within the Regular / L range, so that's the version I'm reviewing.

All Martian Pros come with the same standard options. The electrically-powered features include a backrest adjustment between 90° - 135°, smart airbag lumbar support, three levels of seat heating, three levels of seat ventilation, and an eight-point back massage. Other, non-powered features include the usual, like seat height adjustment, a tilt lever and associated tension knob to lock or unlock a 15° seat back rocking mode, and armrests that go up and down 2.87 inches, forward and backward 1.42 inches, rotate 50°, and move left and right up to 0.94 inches.

The Martian Pro arrived in a single large box weighing 78.7 lbs, with the assembled chair itself clocking in at just over 69 lbs of that. You especially feel the weight with the backrest, since that includes the massage components. Some of the metal frame poked through two spots in the box during shipping, but thankfully, the contents were OK.

Opening the box, you're greeted with a combination Parts List, Assembly Drawing, and Quick Installation poster. There's also a QR code that links to the After-Sales Service page. A comprehensive product usage guide and care instructions round out the included paperwork.

The four major assembly steps weren't too difficult with a helper and should be doable alone if you're handy. All you need is the included combination Philips screwdriver and Allen key. All bolts and screws are already on the chair in the correct places and just need to be removed and reattached at the right time.

You basically attach the wheels to the wheel base, the backrest to the seat, connect the battery and cables, and then attach the backrest and seat to the wheel base. I did run into a few minor assembly issues along the way, however. For one, a plastic wall on one of the cable connectors somehow got bent in transit, although it was easy enough to straighten the piece so I could make the necessary wired connection. For another, the left arm was a bit too close to the side compared to the right arm, even though both were set at the factory. Fortunately, loosening the bolts on the left arm was easy, and I was able to slide it into the same approximate position as the other arm. All other fitments were spot-on, and I had no other issues.

The included AC adapter is used to charge the 5000mAh battery that's attached under the rear of the seat. As with the regular Martian, the AC adapter uses a barrel connector rather than something more universal like USB-C, so be sure not to misplace it, particularly since there's no onboard storage area for it. When charging, the AC adapter shows a red light, which turns green once charging is complete.

The Martian Pro uses the same type of removable magnetic headrest as the regular Martian. Just like with that chair's headrest, I had to use tweezers to remove the leftover strings when taking off the obnoxiously large removable tag.

DXRacer Martian Pro – Performance and Comfort

Although not quite as ergonomic or plush, I do get solid Secretlab Titan Evo vibes from the Martian Pro. It's a firm chair, but it does a good job of conforming to my body and encouraging me to sit up properly. The EPU leather (aka, faux leather) material looks premium, is cool to the touch, and easy to clean with a damp microfiber cloth. The magnetic headrest uses a fabric material.

The unpowered rocking mode and seat height adjustment levers feel kind of cheap. I'd love something more substantial that I don't feel like I'm going to break in future Martian revisions. By contrast, the powered adjustments feel good and work well.

On the right side of the chair is a four-position direction pad. Pushing the front and rear (left and right) buttons increases or decreases, respectively, both of the upper and lower lumbar supports. Pushing the top button (up) increases the depth of the upper lumbar support. Pushing the bottom button (down) increases the depth of the lower lumbar support. The ability to independently adjust each lumbar airbag is a nice touch, although it does require some trial and error for best results.

On the left of the chair is a powered backrest adjustment lever. Although you can't see it when sitting, the yellow LED lights behind the logos above the lever and direction pad light up when you tilt the backrest backwards. It's a pretty smooth motion, but it does take about 20 seconds to move all the way in either direction.

Pressing and holding the M button on the direction pad for two seconds turns the 10-minute massage function on or off. When on, pressing the M key again switches the massage modes between different levels of pulse, continuous, wave, normal, auto, or mixed functionality. I would have liked a more intuitive way to switch between the six massage modes, but I'm glad that there's versatility with the settings.

Thanks to a pair of four circular massage zones along the height of the backrest, the massage effect is pretty good. While I don't find it nearly as effective as the dramatic lumbar stretch that the LiberNovo Omni provides, it's still my second-favorite office or gaming chair massage feature to date. Thanks to the orientation of the massage zones, I feel it from my lower back to just below my shoulder blades.

Although not quite as deep or impactful, the massage points pressing against my back remind me of a knuckle massage. It's noticeable enough without getting anywhere near discomfort. The closest analog is probably that of a gentle shiatsu massage.

With all that tech in the backrest, you might think it would be uncomfortable, but DXRacer did a fantastic job with the cushioning. I only ever noticed the massage points when I activated the massage functionality. The backrest itself doesn't track your back as the LiberNovo Omni does, but that's OK, as it still takes a thoughtful ergonomic approach with how the chair wraps around you.

There are two dedicated buttons, one for ventilation (cooling) and one for heat, on the right of the seat cushion. Both ventilation and heating have three levels to choose from, which, unlike the massage modes, are clearly indicated with one to three blue or red lights, respectively. The entire middle area of the seat cushion has both ventilation and heating elements, so coverage is excellent. While you hear the fan with ventilation turned on, the heating element is noiseless. Along with the massage, the ventilation and heating elements are stand-out features that are seamlessly integrated into the chair's design.

The armrests are nicely adjustable with a slight give to the firm cushioning. More importantly, they mostly stay in place once set. And while the wheels aren't single-blade casters, they still roll quite smoothly.

Runtime from the 5000mAh battery varies a lot depending on which features you’re using. It takes about three hours to fully charge from empty, and you can use the chair while it's plugged in. If you use the electric functions sparingly, you can squeeze up to two weeks between charges. Continuous heavy usage, however, might get you only one day, particularly if you use the heating element a lot.

I have occasionally come back to a dead chair after, say, a week of non-use, so I don't think standby time is very good. When the battery has no charge, all electric functions stop working, including the recline and lumbar adjustments. With no way to manually recline the chair, it's important to make sure you keep the AC adapter nearby if you find yourself making regular adjustments.

The creators of the Fallout TV show have confirmed Season 2 avoids making any New Vegas ending canon by taking what they call "the fog of war approach."

Fans of the Fallout video games had wondered how Season 2 might reflect the endings of Obsidian’s much-loved Fallout New Vegas, given the show is canon and is set 15 years after the game.

A quick reminder of where we’re at in the Fallout timeline: the Fallout TV show is set in 2296, nine years after the events of Fallout 4 and 15 years after the events of Fallout: New Vegas. We’ve already seen a debate about which Fallout 4 ending should be considered canon, if any. Based on already released trailers, we know Mr. House is in Season 2, so does that suggest a canon ending is being used?

Depending on the choices the player, aka The Courier, makes throughout the course of the game, New Vegas can end with victory for the player during the Battle of Hoover Dam, which drives out all factions including Mr. House himself, a victory for Mr. House in which he remains in control of New Vegas and takes over Hoover Dam, a victory for Caesar's Legion, or a victory for the New California Republic.

There are variations within these endings, but given Mr. House is in Season 2 in a post-war setting, and is alive (sort of) when the main characters turn up at New Vegas, it seems he survived the events of New Vegas the video game.

But does Season 2 make a decision on who won Fallout New Vegas? It does not, executive producer, creator, and showrunner Geneva Robertson-Dworet and executive producer Jonathan Nolan told IGN in an interview.

Nolan said Geneva Robertson-Dworet and co-showrunner Graham Wagner took “the fog of war approach,” which he called "an absolutely brilliant way to make a bit of an end run around that whole question."

“This was a really early decision that Graham and Jonah, and I made together,” Robertson-Dworet added, “was that we wanted to try, as much as possible in our show, to honor all gamers' experiences and all the choices they might make as they play the game. So we always wanted to avoid trying to make one canonical ending the ending that led to the events of the show.”

In Season 2, all the various factions at play think they won the events of the New Vegas video game. “We had the delicious idea that at the end of a conflict, 15 years down the line, every faction might think they won, which I think has a bit of a poetic quality to it,” Nolan said.

“It's like, the story of history depends on who you ask,” Robertson-Dworet added. “That was the idea.”

There is one fan-favorite minor faction in New Vegas who very much did not win: the Kings. In the video game, the Kings are a street gang made up of people who discovered an Elvis impersonation school and decided to live their lives according to the King’s ideals. But in Fallout Season 2, we see they have become ghouls.

“It hasn't worked out very well for the Kings, at least some of them,” Nolan teased, confirming the Elvis ghouls we see in the show are indeed the Kings characters from the game.

Nolan continued: “One of the fun ideas is that, with all the factions, whether it's the Legion, or the NCR, or the Kings, is that in any version of the ending, there'd be some rebuilding to be done, right? Whoever won, whoever lost, all these factions would be in rebuilding mode, and the sort of sanctity of Vegas, this place that House very carefully protected, has been, for reasons we'll come to understand in the season, has been removed or violated, which means that the folks who were in the game, safe and sound, have had some hard times.”

Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin is a surprise addition to the Fallout Season 2 cast, but it turns out he was big into Fallout lore before he got the call — and everything he knows about the video game franchise comes from watching YouTube videos.

In an interview with IGN, Culkin, who plays a member Caesar's Legion, said that while he has less experience with the actual Fallout games, he knew what he was getting into when it came to starring on the show.

“I'm very familiar with the lore,” Culkin said. “For sure. I've less hands-on experience with the games themselves, but that being said, I knew what I was walking into. When we [Culkin and actress Brenda Song] were watching the show, I would pause it for her and catch her up on like, oh, that's what this means, or that means, or that kind of thing. Even some of the subtle subtext of the show.”

Culkin’s knowledge of the Fallout universe comes from watching Fallout lore YouTube videos, which he finds easier to experience than the video games.

“I'm familiar with the lore in that I watched a lot of YouTube stuff,” he said. “It was one of those things where, honestly, I'm almost like, I don't have time to physically do this [pretends to use controller] anymore.

"But that being said, I have enough time to put a little earbud in my ear and listen to things. And this is long before the show even came out, because it is a very rich world. And so yeah, there's endless hours of things that you can talk about and explore about it.” However, there is one Fallout game Culkin plays: mobile title Fallout Shelter.

Culkin said he loves the world of Fallout because “there’s nothing that is offbrand.”

“You could have zombies in it, you have deathclaws, you have monsters and things like that. I mean, gosh, you have aliens. You name it, you can throw it at the wall. Even Fallout 76, I mean, the Mothman is now fair game. It is that kind of stuff. There's no really shape to it. You can kind of stick any kind of shape piece into that hole.”

We’ve got plenty more on Fallout Season 2, which kicks off December 17 on Prime Video, including confirmation from the creators that it avoids picking a New Vegas ending to make canon.

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 Creepshow franchise is certainly going strong in 2025. Shudder's streaming series just ended its successful four-season run, and now it's getting another spinoff comic book series from Skybound Entertainment. And not just any spinoff, but a superhero-flavored anthology dubbed Super Creepshow.

IGN can exclusively debut the first images of Super Creepshow #1, which features two horror tales with a superhero slant. Check it out in the slideshow gallery below:

Super Creepshow is based on Greg Nicotero’s Shudder TV series, which is produced and licensed by Evoke Entertainment. The comic is overseen by Brian Witten on behalf of Nicotero’s Monster Agency Productions. The creative team on issue #1 includes Kieron Gillen (Young Avengers, Star Wars: Darth Vader) and artist Rossi Gifford (Wonder Woman: Black & Gold), as well as writer Ryan North (Fantastic Four) and artist Derek Charm (The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl), with letterer Pat Brosseau (Aliens). The first issue features covers by Pye Parr, Carmine Di Giandomenico, Charm, and Andrea Milana & Jillian Crab.

"We were so overwhelmed by the incredible reception to our SUPER CREEPSHOW SPECIAL that a mini-series was a no-brainer!” said Executive Editor Ben Abernathy in a statement. “Adding superpowers to the horrific Creepshow formula proved to be a recipe that many creators couldn’t resist!”

Super Creepshow #1 will be released on March 18, 2026. You can preorder a copy at your local comic shop.

In other comic book news, see how new Iron Man writer Joshua Williamson is reinventing Tony Stark, and check out an exclusive preview of Star Trek: The Last Starship #3.

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

Hulu has been around for a while and, for our money, it's one of the absolute best streaming services available. From great movies like Anora and Predator: Killer of Killers to excellent television series like Shogun, The Bear, and Alien: Earth, there is always something awesome to watch.

Given recent news that Hulu will soon be fully integrated into the Disney+ app, now's a great time to check out a bundle that includes both Hulu and Disney+. On the other hand, both services have gotten price hikes this month, making it worth doing some research before locking in a new subscription. Below, we've detailed all of the best Hulu deals and bundles so you can get started on your streaming adventures with its library right away.

Our Top Pick: The Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max Streaming Bundle

The golden age of the BioWare RPG may be past, but there are still developers willing to go the distance with a genre that begs for good fantasy worldbuilding, good game mechanics, and interesting well-written stories all in one. Spiders is one of them, and Greedfall 2: The Dying World is their sequel to the colonial fantasy RPG that was a very welcome and pleasant surprise back in 2022. That said, there are a few big changes to how it plays that might put some people off the trail—but after a few hours with advanced portions of the game's storyline I saw the makings of another success.

Kicking it Old School

Greedfall 2 takes cues from the early-2000s era of roleplaying games. It's more like Dragon Age: Origins or Knights of the Old Republic than anything released recently, for better and for worse. I distinctly got the feeling that Greedfall 2 is specifically harkening back to this era of games for a reason: This is a style of game that the developers at Spiders want to emulate and keep alive because they prefer it—at least for their own games.

Whether or not you enjoy that style of real-time-with-pause combat and emphasis on character arcs, dialogues, and analyzing the environments for plot options will probably determine whether or not Greedfall 2 is interesting to you. At least based on what I played.

Fantasy Island

As with the first Greedfall game, the fantasy world is the real selling point here. Based on the ideas of the European Age of Discovery, or the Spanish golden age, with a dash of the 18th century, and delving into the fascinating clash between cultures in a world that is approaching what we'd consider modern. Except, you know, with the backdrop of magic, monsters, gods, and other fantastical things. Technically a prequel to the first game, I really got the feeling it's narratively designed so that you can pick it up and play only knowing the most basic premise—which is helped along by the part where you're a native of far-flung island Teer Fradee with little knowledge of the continent at the other edge of the ocean.

What's cool is that whereas the first game took place entirely on the island, in Greedfall 2 you get to travel to the continental cities only loosely described in Greedfall. They're delightful culture shock and a welcome change of pace: Winding streets of crowded buildings, huge port complexes of tall ships, including your own ship as a base of operations, and sprawling palatial estates for the wealthiest.

It also continues Greedfall's tradition of including some absurd, wonderful, and downright dapper riffs on early modern clothing. Including an array of some absolutely wonderful hats. Seriously, someone's going to play this just for the silly hats and helmets. Like I'm ready to do a second preview, right now, just talking to the Spiders art department about some of these hats.

On the Nose

Your character is Vridan Gerr, which means "Short Roots" in your own language, an up-and-coming initiate of your tribe's combined magical tradition and religion. The character creation was pretty robust, introduced in the first scene with a cute little dialogue involving a foreign artist making depictions of the natives to send home. It had all the features you'd expect, and more besides—seven different sliders for the nose alone, for example. I'm sure some people will be able to make art with it, while others will make monsters.

There were a good amount of classes to play with. Across the three segments I explored I tried out a tank-focused Protector, a greatsword-and-magic-wielding Living Blade, and a stylish swashbuckling rapier-and-pistol-wielding class with a sideline in party buffing skills. Because, to be clear, when a game offers you an opportunity to arm yourself and behave like one of The Three Musketeers, well, you take it.

KOTOR Combat

Combat is much-changed from the first game, focusing on a real-time-with-pause combat where you control or automate your entire party rather than just your main character. It's a pretty big tonal shift if what you loved from the first game was the action style, but it's a familiar form if you grew up on Knights of the Old Republic or Dragon Age Origins.

I'll admit that I wasn't completely sold on the combat. Real-time-with-pause does sometimes feel like a dated way to play games, a halfway compromise between simultaneous resolution and turn-based combat. You're often just using your best abilities in the order that it seems good to use them, or setting up and executing the same combo on enemies content to stand there and take it rather than react in unexpected ways or use surprising abilities. That said, it's combat that's playable in three forms.

There's Tactical Mode that has a free-moving camera, has you control your entire team, and do lots of pausing to queue up moves. There's a Hybrid mode that has more automated options for your companion team and fewer pauses. There's also Focused mode, which defaults to your character's point of view and has you really only controlling their moves in detail, with very limited pausing. I tried all three modes and found myself only really loving the Tactical mode, but even though I'm a tactics junkie I saw the genuine appeal of the Focused mode if what you really care for is the story and want to turn the difficulty down so the combat is there as flavorful excitement for the narrative.

Story Time

Greedfall 2's story looks like it's shaping up to be just as much epic fantasy as the first game's. The stakes are high, the heroes are heroic, and the villains are properly awful. That said, I got the impression that more characters in Greedfall 2 were just stuck in the middle—morally grey, stuck between two worlds, powerless, or just playing politics. That really plays out in the opening, which sees your character and their friends abducted as the introduction to a rollicking adventure… the goal of which seems like to get back home. But the things you discover along the way mean that you'll need to return to the mainland and play hero to ensure your peoples' survival—whether you like it or not.

Along for the ride on your adventure are some really choice companions across an array of cool archetypes—at least from what I saw. Each of the companions has their own preferred fighting style and unique skill tree, as does the main character, which really helped to sell me on these being different people and not just a possible player character class palette-swapped to a new body.

In true RPG style, these companions will also inject themselves into conversations you have during your travels. The veteran warrior Till, for example, busted out his sergeant's bluster and pulled rank on some harbor guards when they confronted the party about permits for travel. The best example I saw, however, was older explorer Safia, whose years of wisdom and maternal character showed as she'd often admonish others for behaving in dishonorable ways, or ways that reflected poorly on their shared nationality.

I also quite liked Fausta, an exiled religious wizard from a theocratic state whose loyalties to the hero's party were conflicted at best. Not only was her light-based magic interesting in combat, but her stance as yet another fish out of water alongside the player character made for interesting conversations.

Final Thoughts

It's good that the companions are at least interesting from the about three hours of preview I played, but it's better that those slices of storyline from different parts of the game all seemed pretty immediately compelling. There's clear stakes, plots, and interesting things to do at every point I played, and all of it was written well enough that I stayed interested even when I was tossed into a situation and hadn't fully played the few dozen hours of story that came before it—something that's just not always true for RPG previews.

That said, there was a sense that the story was big and epic just for the sake of it, because the more compelling parts of the plot were the places where characters were interacting with each other amid the larger historical forces they had no power over. Upon finally returning to your home island, for example, you might find your village destroyed and your people missing. What of your loved ones? Your mother? Those stories were really compelling and could have carried the game on their own, to be honest—but I think that epic fantasy fans want something big and magical to happen and they'll be pretty interested in what Greedfall 2 has cooking. It's a twist on the exciting big reveals from the possible endings of Greedfall, and an obvious outgrowth of setting this game on the continent rather than entirely in the new lands.

Either way, this is definitely looking to be Spiders at the top of their game. I hope that bears out when it releases in 2026.

"Don't shoot!"

Forget Wolfpack grenades and Snaphooks: those two words can be your most powerful tool in Arc Raiders. My favorite runs have all started with that voice line, such as the time when I spent 15 minutes hunting an espresso machine in Buried City with a South African guy who loved talking about rugby, or when I teamed up with four other solos on Spaceport to destroy dangerous ARC and debate the best pizza topping.

But when uneasy alliances break, it feels horrible.

If you've played for more than a few hours, particularly as a solo player, then you've likely been betrayed by somebody who seemed friendly right until they shot you in the back and feasted on the tasty loot you'd plundered alongside them.

It feels like players are more hostile now than they were at launch, emboldened by hours of play, and that betrayals are more frequent. So how do you spot traitors and kill them before they kill you? Well, you learn the signs. It's not an exact science, but after 80 hours of Arc Raiders, these are my top tips.

1. Your Shadow

Traitors stab in the back. They won't instigate a fair fight and will try, whenever possible, to stay behind you before opening fire. If you've teamed up with a random somebody, keep an eye on exactly where they run. If they deliberately stay behind you, or keep circling around you, then they may be planning their attack, especially if they insist on keeping their weapon drawn.

If you spot this behaviour, take cover and ask them to put their gun away. The tension might be easily defused – perhaps they were just suspicious of you, for example – and you want to avoid conflict when possible because gunfire will draw third parties who could prove even more difficult to deal with. But if you don't like your companion's answer, either run away or open fire.

Smoke grenades are brilliant in this situation: they can buy time to help you escape, or simply obstruct a traitors' line of sight.

2. The Never-Looter

The safest time to kill is when someone is looting. If you're focused on your inventory, you can't see your surroundings, and so you can't react when shot. For that reason, traitors will avoid breaching, calling elevators, or otherwise interacting with objects themselves. If you do the looting, their hands are free to catch you at the perfect moment. These players may try to appear busy by sprinting, strafing, or running between rooms – but if they're not looting, be worried. If a player turns their back to me and loots, it instantly makes me trust them more.

Xbox might not be making a new Banjo-Kazooie, but there's a brand new game featuring everyone's favorite bird and bear available now via Dreams on PS4 and PS5.

Banjo-Kazooie: Mumbomania is an impressive-looking platformer made for Sony's game creation platform that looks good enough to have been made by Rare itself.

A trailer released via social media this week shows the kind of classic Banjo-Kazooie gameplay fans love, and have long called out for more of. In a level that looks straight out of the series' history, Banjo the bear jumps, glides, rolls and gets shot out of a cannon as he explores and hunts down collectibles.

Banjo-Kazooie: Mumbomania is out NOW on Dreams for PS4/PS5!

Music by @thegamebrass #banjokazooie #dreamsps4 pic.twitter.com/nhMNCnIbcD

— Eupholace | William Butkevicius (@Eupholace) December 3, 2025

Perhaps most impressive is the range of transformations on offer, with Banjo turned into a hulking rock golem, cutlass-wielding pirate, and more.

Originally launched on the N64 in the late '90s, Banjo-Kazooie eventually arrived for Xbox 360 in 2008 following Microsoft's acquisition of developer Rare. But despite earning a legion of fans, the franchise has not seen an all-new entry in 17 years, since Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts released for Xbox 360, also back in 2008.

Despite repeated calls from fans for a new Banjo-Kazooie to be made, Xbox has made no suggestion that a fresh title is in development — and Rare now seems singularly focused on making fresh content for Sea of Theives.

"You've seen from our history that we haven't touched every franchise that people would love us to touch — Banjo fans, I hear you," Microsoft's gaming boss Phil Spencer said back in 2023. "But it is true that, when we find the right team, and the right opportunity, I love going back to revisit stories and characters that we've seen previously."

Outside of being playable in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Banjo and Kazooie now feel largely forgotten. Still, fans of the duo have still had the spiritual successor Yooka-Laylee to enjoy. Developed by various members of the original Banjo-Kazooie team, the game recently got a polished-up re-release in the shape of Yooka-Laylee: Replayee, which arrived in October of this year.

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

December is incredibly front-loaded for video game releases on Nintendo Switch 2 (bar a couple of exceptions), and for good reason. As we enter the final month of the year, we all need ample time to pick up games for ourselves and loved ones before Christmas and the holidays.

It's not all just about Metroid Prime 4: Beyond this month either, as there are some other standouts worth taking note of, such as Marvel Cosmic Invasion, Assassin's Creed Shadows, and Octopath Traveller 0.

There are also updates to Red Dead Redemption and Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, with Switch 2 Editions launching for both, alongside the first big expansion for Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Mega Dimension, and plenty more.

Everything Coming to Switch 2 in December 2025

• Dec 1: Marvel Cosmic Invasion
• Dec 2: Assassin's Creed Shadows
• Dec 2: Red Dead Redemption (Switch 2 Edition)
• Dec 2: Simogo Legacy Collection
• Dec 4: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
• Dec 4: Octopath Traveler 0
• Dec 4: Football Manager 26 Touch
• Dec 4: Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds (Switch 2 Edition)
• Dec 8: Skate Story
• Dec 10: Pokémon Legends: Z-A - Mega Dimension (DLC)
• Dec 11: Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader
• Dec 16: The Rogue Prince of Persia

Deal Alert: Switch 2 + Mario Kart World for $449

Marvel Cosmic Invasion

Release Date: December 1, 2025

Marvel Cosmic Invasion arrives on Nintendo Switch 2, bringing colourful, comic book-style beat ‘em up action to the console. Players build a tag team from 15 heroes and can switch between them instantly to chain combos and unleash powerful special attacks.

The game supports solo play or co-op via local and online multiplayer, making it easy to dive in with friends. It launches digitally on Switch 2 on December 1, 2025, with the physical edition arriving later on March 13, 2026.

Assassin's Creed Shadows

Release Date: December 2, 2025

Assassin’s Creed Shadows launches on Nintendo Switch 2, letting players switch between two distinct characters in feudal Japan. As the nimble shinobi Naoe, stealth and agility are key, while the samurai Yasuke relies on strength and precision to tackle challenges. The open world encourages exploration without overwhelming players with icons and checklists, and the game’s combat demands more deliberate timing and strategy than past entries.

Simogo Legacy Collection

Release Date: December 2, 2025

Simogo Legacy Collection comes to Nintendo Switch 2 on December 4, bringing together seven of the studio’s mobile hits in one package. The collection includes Kosmo Spin, Bumpy Road, DEVICE 6, Beat Sneak Bandit, Year Walk (with Year Walk Companion), The Sailor’s Dream, and SPL-T, with restored versions that let you play using touch, buttons, motion, or dual mouse controls.

From arcade-style novelties to experimental text-based adventures and fourth wall-breaking narratives, the collection offers a varied look at Simogo’s early work. It is a convenient way to explore the studio’s creative past on the new console.

Red Dead Redemption - Switch 2 Edition

Release Date: December 2, 2025

Rockstar's cowboy classic Red Dead Redemption is now cleared for launch on Nintendo Switch 2. The news was announced earlier in November, with Rockstar officially confirming, stating:

"Red Dead Redemption and Undead Nightmare are coming to Netflix, iOS, Android, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2 on Dec 2. Experience these epic Western adventures with free upgrades, the ability to carry over game progress, and more."

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Release Date: December 4, 2025

One of the most anticipated releases of the year has finally arrived in Metroid Prime 4 Beyond. It's available from December 4, and costs $69.99 for the Switch 2 Edition, or $59.99 on the standard Switch (with a $10 upgrade path available. The Switch 2 version includes the game for the original Switch, plus the upgrade pack, all on the cartridge. None of that game-key card nonsense here.

Octopath Traveler 0

Release Date: December 4, 2025

Octopath Traveler 0 is set to release on December 4. Like the previous entries in this turn-based RPG series, it’s made in the visually striking “HD-2D” art style that uses pixelated 2D characters and gorgeous HD environments, with visual effects only possible on modern platforms.

In Michael Higham's Octopath Traveler 0 - Review in Progress for IGN, he said: "Octopath Traveler 0 has so much firing off in parallel with its separate story branches, overarching themes, and complex-but-satisfying RPG combat system, and I'm excited to see how it all concludes as I inch closer to the end."

Football Manager 26 Touch

Release Date: December 4, 2025

Football Manager 26 Touch lands on Switch 2 on December 4, giving the console a low maintenance football sim for anyone who does not fancy the full fat PC grind.

It runs on a refreshed engine that improves player movement and match presentation, so it is not just the same old handheld port, but expectations should stay realistic, this is still a streamlined version built for quick sessions.

Women’s football and the Premier League are included from launch, which helps it feel current, and the Touch format remains a decent fit for playing in short bursts on a handheld. It is not the headline release of December, but if you want something to poke at between bigger games, it fills that role well.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds - Switch 2 Edition

Release Date: December 4, 2025

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is coming to Nintendo Switch 2, and will be available digitally for players priced $69.99. The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Upgrade Pack will also be available for $10 to owners of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, allowing both content and progress to transfer over.

A physical version is coming, which Sega says will "feature the full base game on the cartridge", but that's not expected to release until "early 2026."

For the savvy shoppers, the original Switch version of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is available for $44.99 right now from Amazon, with the Switch 2 upgrade then bringing that up to a total cost of $54.99. But, that's still $15 cheaper overall when compared to paying $70 for the digital version.

Skate Story

Release Date: December 8, 2025

Skate Story arrives on Switch 2 on December 8, offering a quirky, narrative-driven skateboarding adventure. Players start as a beginner and gradually unlock tricks and skills while exploring the Underworld, taking on the Devil’s bizarre challenge to skate to the moon.

Along the way, the game blends platforming, combat, and story elements, making for a compact but memorable experience on Nintendo’s new handheld.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A - Mega Dimension (DLC)

Release Date: December 10, 2025

Mega Dimension, the upcoming paid DLC for Pokémon Legends: Z-A ($29.99 USD) due for launch on December 10. The expansion is headlined by two new Mega Raichu designs, and also includes Mega Zeraora, though unlocking it will be a "little difficult", apparently. A new trailer for Pokémon Legends: Z-A also recently revealed a surprise new Mega Evolution for the fan-favorite Lucario.

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader

Release Date: December 11, 2025

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 on December 11, bringing the grimdark 40K universe to the hybrid handheld. Players engage in tactical combat, explore rich narrative paths, and interact with some of the franchise’s most iconic and dangerous elements.

IGN’s Leana Hafer gave it 8/10 in her review when it first launched a couple of years ago, praising the "excellent writing, great combat, and the chance to get up close and personal with some of the most interesting and exciting elements of the 40K universe," while noting that "its systems are a complicated beast to master and the bugs are numerous and significant."

Despite these challenges, she concluded that Rogue Trader "stands out as one I wouldn't want to have missed" and represents a strong step forward for Owlcat as an RPG developer.

The Rogue Prince of Persia

Release Date: December 16, 2025

The Rogue Prince of Persia arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 on December 16, offering fast-paced parkour and combat across a roguelite world. IGN’s Imran Khan gave it 7/10 in his early access review, noting that "with a slick presentation and an incredibly fun combat system, all the right pieces are here for The Rogue Prince of Persia’s success," but warning that "the repetition you’ll face and the faint whisper of a story…wear thin far too quickly" at launch.

He added that bug fixes and expanded content will be key to improving the experience, and while Early Access is rough around the edges, it shows promise as a future roguelite contender.

Robert Anderson is Senior Commerce Editor and IGN's resident deals expert on games, collectibles, trading card games, and more. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter/X or Bluesky.

Magic: The Gathering has grown in the last few years, no doubt in part due to its Universes Beyond crossovers, and the current set, Avatar: The Last Airbender, has been well-received.

If you’re a fan of Avatar and want to get in on the ground floor, the Beginner Box is a great way to do just that - and it’s now down to $22.99 at WOOT, marking a 34% discount.

Get Started With MTG For Under $25

Access to Roblox has been banned in Russia, as the country's authorities have deemed it a host of "LGBT propaganda."

Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor announced the move last night, news agency Reuters has reported, blocking the giant gaming platform to Russian citizens.

In a statement explaining its decision, Roskomnadzor said it had removed the ability to access Roblox as it was "rife with inappropriate content that can negatively impact the spiritual and moral development of children."

By many measures the biggest game in the world, with more than 151.1 million daily active users, Roblox hosts countless player-made game experiences — including breakout hits such as Grow a Garden and Steal a Brainrot that enjoy player counts bigger than anything on Steam.

It's unclear exactly which games on the Roblox platform have prompted Russia's ire, though the country has taken an increasingly strict approach to any content featuring LGBT themes in recent years. In 2013, Russia implemented the Law for the Purpose of Protecting Children from Information Advocating a Denial of Traditional Family Values, which was designed to mark LGBT content as contradictory to traditional Russian values.

"We respect the local laws and regulations in the countries where we operate and believe Roblox provides a positive space for learning, creation and meaningful connection for everyone," a spokesperson for the game said in a statement issued to Reuters. "[Roblox has] a deep commitment to safety and we have a robust set of proactive and preventative safety measures designed to catch and prevent harmful content on our platform."

Russia isn't the first country to block access to Roblox, though countries such as Iraq and Turkey which have also banned the game have done so citing concerns over child safety fears. Amid ballooning player numbers, and a user base primarily made up of users under 18, Roblox has spent the past year belatedly adding various features designed to improve its user safety, following a string of reports that have highlighted cases where users were contacted and groomed by adults.

Last month, Roblox announced plans to require facial age checks for all chat communication, with an aim to limit communication between minors and adults. The move came shortly after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton revealed a fresh lawsuit which claims Roblox has allegedly been "deceiving parents" and "flagrantly ignoring" child safety laws.

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

Delta Force is set to end the year with a bang as the 2025 Delta Force Invitational: Warfare will take place in Hanoi, Vietnam, from 11th December to 14th December, 2025. This marks the first championship dedicated to the game’s Warfare mode, where teams from around the world will battle it out in 20 vs 20 warfare for a share of a $200,000 USD prize pool.

Developer Team Jade has emphasised that this year is only the beginning, with the aim to grow Delta Force into a globally recognised esports title. In September, the Delta Force Operations Invitational put the extraction format in the spotlight, with Chinese powerhouse team Q9 emerging victorious. Now, the competitive scene shifts its focus to the high-stakes Warfare mode, where fans can expect a large-scale epic showdown.

Dates & Format

The Invitational will see teams compete in Warfare mode across four days of top-level competition.

Warfare mode in Delta Force is a large-scale, team-based PvP experience focused on capturing or defending objectives across expansive maps. It features combined-arms combat with infantry, vehicles like tanks and helicopters, and distinct operator classes that encourage teamwork and strategic roles.

The tournament will run on a double-elimination playoff, meaning an initial loss doesn’t end a team’s run. Instead, it pushes them into a lower bracket with the chance to fight back. The top teams from each bracket will then proceed to the Grand Final.

• December 11th – 13th: Playoffs
• December 14th: Winners and Losers Bracket Finals, Halftime Show, and Grand Final

Teams Competing

Teams earned their spots through a mixture of regional qualifiers and standalone tournaments, which served as an official path into the global finals. The tournament is a true showcase of international talent with teams competing from across the world.

• Teng Long
• ToxidoNxG
• Hostile Response
• DNI
• RRQ x 7SINS
• No Mercy
• RLF Rapid Lofi
• Project One

Prize Pool

The $200,000 USD prize pool will be divided among all eight finalists, with the sums awarded scaling based on placement.

• 1st Place: $60,000
• 2nd Place: $40,000
• 3rd Place: $30,000
• 4th Place: $24,000
• 5th–6th Place: $13,000 each
• 7th–8th Place: $10,000 each

Where To Watch

Fans will be able to follow the action live starting 11th December at 05:00 UTC across X, Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok.

Keeping a tidy desk doesn't have to be labor intensive or expensive. Compressed air canisters used to be the standard but nowadays there is a better way. Most electric air dusters under $50 on Amazon are pretty much identical, so I'd recommend just getting whichever one is least expensive.

Amazon is current offering the JVSCAM Cordless Rechargeable Electric Air Duster (Air Blower) for just $19.98 after coupon code "U6C8Z5P7". Normally this deal is reserved for Amazon Prime members, but this time is available for everyone.

JVSCAM Cordless Electric Air Duster for PC for $19.99

As I said yesterday, Black Friday is cactus, Cyber Monday has come and gone, and yet the shelves are still groaning under the weight of tasty discounts. It's that weird, magical pocket of the year when retailers refuse to give up the ghost, and anybody with a wishlist can quietly scoop up wins before stockists remember to raise prices again. If you have even a hint of FOMO, now is the time. Go get amongst it.

Contents

• Retro
• Nintendo
• Xbox
• PlayStation
• PC
• PC Gear
• LEGO

This Day in Gaming 🎂

In ye olde gamer news, I'm using Elika's sun magic to light a 16-candle cake baked for Prince of Persia (2008), a stylish reboot that basically paired a cocky, parkouring Nolan North playing Nolan North with a magical partner in a corrupted kingdom. I didn't dislike it at launch, but I also didn't adore it.

I dug the painterly world and the smooth, lyrical flow of the acrobatics, but Elika's death-nullifying rescue mechanic was not to my masochistic tastes. It turned tension into routine and stripped the platforming of the razor-edge stakes the series was once famous for. And while the one-on-one duels had flair, the whole experiment proved to be an evolutionary dead end. Just a beautiful cul-de-sac Ubisoft explored with gusto before quietly reversing out of.