AMD has released FSR "Redstone," bringing a set of new upscaling tricks to the company's collection of ML-powered upscaling tools. Unfortunately, as was the case when it was just FSR 4, Redstone is only available for current-generation cards like the Radeon RX 9070 XT and Radeon RX 9060 XT – two of IGN's favorite GPUS.
One such feature is Ray Regeneration, which AMD says can "clean up noisy ray-traced reflections and shadows before upscaling and interpolation." Gamers Nexus tried the feature in the only game that supports this feature, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, and it's impressive, resulting in much sharper lighting bouncing off of, for instance, the surface of a pool or glossy floor tiles. Surprisingly, the differences are actually less apparent in an AMD comparison video hosted by Jack Huynh, SVP and GM of AMD's computing and graphics group, showing the same game running in native 4K and with FSR Redstone on.
Here are a couple of screengrabs from that:
AMD promises the feature will be available in "more titles coming soon."
More players will get FSR Upscaling and Frame Generation – that's the latest version of features that employ generative AI to create frames between traditionally rendered frames to improve framerates. The new Frame Generation update works with 32 games, according to a list on AMD's website, as The Verge points out. As that list also shows, more than 200 games – including AAA titles like Black Myth: Wukong and ARC Raiders – get general FSR Redstone support.
The last big trick up Redstone's sleeve with this update is Radiance Caching, a trick that the company says can predict light behavior to beef up ray tracing in a more efficient way. But that feature... isn't available in any games. AMD says it'll come to games starting in 2026.
If you have one of the GPUs that Redstone works with, you can the update that brings it – AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 25.12.1 – is available on AMD's website.
Wes is a freelance writer (Freelance Wes, they call him) who has covered technology, gaming, and entertainment steadily since 2020 at Gizmodo, Tom's Hardware, Hardcore Gamer, and most recently, The Verge. Inside of him there are two wolves: one that thinks it wouldn't be so bad to start collecting game consoles again, and the other who also thinks this, but more strongly.
iFixit might be a familiar brand name for you from all of the helpful teardown videos of various electronics that are hosted on YouTube. But did you know that they also sell high quality toolkits to facilitate your own DIY electronics projects? For the holiday season, Amazon is offering the popular iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit for electronics, smartphones, gaming consoles, PCs and laptops, and tablets for just $59.96. It normally retails for $75. This is one of the very best tool kits you can buy for disassembling and repairing your electronics – including your Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck – without spending hundreds of dollars on a commercial kit.
iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit for $59.96
The iFixit Pro Tech Tookit contains pretty much every tool you'll ever need to get inside your electronics. The parts list consists of: 64 precision bits including flathead, screwdriver, hex, torx, and star bits, as well as plenty of other bits you've probably never seen or heard of; screwdriver handle with 4mm hex shank; flex extension; tweezers; opening tools like pry bars, picks, and spudgers; and more, all packed in a hard shell magnetic case. iFixit also includes a generous lifetime warranty: It'll replace any of the pieces that break, even if you caused it.
I've owned this toolkit for several years and it has served me very well. I've changed the shells on my Joy-Con controllers, swapped the SSD in my Asus ROG Ally, rebuilt my gaming PC quite a number of times, replaced the heatsink on my GPU, modified my keyboard, opened up my fishing reels for maintenance, and more with the help of this toolkit.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
Obsidian Entertainment has released Title Update 1.0.6.0 for The Outer Worlds 2 and shared its full patch notes. So, let’s see what this new update brings to the table. Patch 1.0.6.0 fixes many bugs that players reported. For example, it stops Niles from getting stuck in the first trap room. It also fixes an issue … Continue reading The Outer Worlds 2 Update 1.0.6.0 Released – Full Patch Notes→
Eldamar Studio has announced its debut game, Lucid Falls, an atmospheric horror adventure made in Unreal Engine. So, below you can find its first details and its debut gameplay trailer. In Lucid Falls, you are stuck inside a lucid dream and must fight to survive in strange, scary worlds. You can change reality by controlling … Continue reading Lucid Falls is a new first-person atmospheric horror adventure for PC→
There are a lot of different versions of the Harry Potter books. There's the original hardcovers, paperbacks with stencilled edges, and even a full-on Hogwarts trunk filled with the books you can buy. If you're looking for a gift to buy the Potter fan in your life while there's still time before Christmas, it can be a little overwhelming to decide exactly what set of books is worth purchasing for their collection. If you're buying for someone who has already read the entire series multiple times over, however, I'd suggest going with the illustrated editions that Amazon currently has in its buy 2, get 1 free book sale once again. This is the same exact deal we saw during Black Friday book sales this year, so it's definitely worth checking out.
Surprise, surprise, though, there are actually two different illustrated editions to choose from in this sale! There's the larger hardcovers (illustrated by Jim Kay) and the interactive illustrated editions (from MinaLima). Of the two, only the interactive illustrated editions are all included in Amazon's promotion.
Harry Potter Interactive Illustrated Edition Sale
Amazon's buy 2, get 1 free sale is pretty straightforward. All you need to do is add three items to your cart and the least expensive of the three will be discounted from the final price at checkout. Since there are currently four of the illustrated interactive editions available, you'll need to choose which three to add to your cart to get the discount. Whatever you choose, you'll be looking at an additional $21 off by purchasing three at once. Since each of these books is already reduced in price, that comes out to $89.90 for the full collection of four if you buy them all at once.
As you may have noticed, only the first four books in the series have gotten the interactive illustrated treatment so far. The first three books feature illustrations and papercraft from MinaLima while the Goblet of Fire was taken over by Karl James Mountford (Illustrator) and Jess Tice Gilbert (Designer). This discrepancy between artists is due to MinaLima announcing that she wasn't going to continue with the project. The most recent edition, The Goblet of Fire, was the first new book in this line of special editions since 2023 and was released a only two months ago in October 2025. The change in artists means that there are still plans to finish giving the rest of the series the same treatment in the coming years.
What is the "Interactive" element of these illustrated editions?
I actually own all of the MinaLima editions and have had the chance to read through them myself. The interactive element here refers to papercraft hidden within the pages. These are essentially illustrations that spin, open up, or can be played with in some way. It actually makes for a really fun experience as you make your way through the story. The only issue I've had with it is that it's not really meant to be used too heavily. The paper elements are obviously quite fragile and this isn't a book that you're supposed to be reading over and over again. As a collector's item and an occasional read, however, they are pretty cool. For an idea of what to expect you can check out some of the interactive elements featured in my copy of The Sorcerer's Stone.
Is Now the Best Time to Buy These Books?
Right now, this is the best deal on these books anywhere. It's certainly possible that prices could drop further before Christmas, but it's unlikely that this buy 2, get 1 free promotion will still be around by then as they usually only last about a week. This is the same exact deal we saw during Black Friday deals this year, so it's as good as it's going to get unless Amazon drops a surprise discount.
Amazon's "3 for 2" sale offers a unique opportunity to save on the entire collection. Even if Amazon further discounts the individual titles, you'll most likely end up saving the same amount as you would purchasing now while the promotion is on. This type of deal is especially great for buying full collections at once and these Harry Potter books are the best deal in the whole sale for doing just that.
West Coast fast-food chain In-N-Out will no longer call for order “67” after the nearly inescapable viral 6-7 trend became overwhelmingly popular in its stores.
If you’ve been online anytime in the last few months, there’s a good chance you’ve heard references to 6-7 at least six or seven times. It’s an uncomplicated gag that’s been especially popular amongst younger audiences on TikTok and usually involves simply moving one’s hands up and down while repeating 6-7 over and over (and over) again.
There’s no limit to where the incomprehensible meme may appear, but restaurants that divvy out customers’ orders by assigning them a specific number have been impacted more than many others. In-N-Out may be the most notorious hub for 6-7 activity, with the store sometimes crowded with an audience not only ready to celebrate when the number is called but groan when any other number is said over the speaker.
Viral videos, which have amassed millions of likes on TikTok alone, likely contributed to the uptick in memes at the burger joint, but In-N-Out has had enough. Reddit user luckycowgirl_1 posted about the potential removal of order 67 nearly two weeks ago, with many others chiming in with their own comments, suggesting the infamous number won’t be showing up in any In-N-Outs anytime soon.
An employee at a Los Angeles location also confirmed to People that order 67 has been completely removed from its system. It’s a move that seems to stem from the disruption the 6-7 meme has caused, with the same employee adding that order 69 has been pulled for good measure.
While In-N-Out opts out of the 6-7 craze, others have taken the opportunity to double down on a meme that just won’t seem to go away. Rapper Skrilla said in October that his hit song Doot Doot (6 7), which helped spawn the meme, is set to be featured in next year’s Grand Theft Auto 6. Wendy’s even dipped its toes in the 6-7 waters with a Black Friday deal that saw the fast-food restaurant selling small Frostys for 67 cents.
Photo by Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
Lenovo's most powerful Legion gaming PC is back in stock, but not only that, it's also the least expensive RTX 5090 prebuilt that i can find from any retailer. The Lenovo Legion Tower 7i Gen 10 gaming PC equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K processor and RTX 5090 graphics card is marked down to $3,752.49 after coupon code "EXTRAFIVE".
Lenovo Legion Tower 7i RTX 5090 Gaming PC for $3,752
The Legion Tower 7i is Lenovo's top-end desktop computer, boasting a well-ventilated chassis with a mesh front panel that houses six total 120mm fans (including three fans for the 360mm liquid cooling system) to keep your components nice and cool. The system is powered by a generously oversized 1,200W power supply. We reviewed last year's Legion Tower 7i desktop, which uses the same chassis, and came away impressed.
This particular configuration features an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K processor, GeForce RTX 5090 32GB graphics card, a whopping 64GB of DDR5-5600MHz of RAM, and a 2TB PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD. According to Passmark, the Core Ultra 9 285K is Intel's best gaming CPU. It's paired with 64GB of DDR5 memory, which is a generous amount for this price.
The RTX 5090 Is the Most Powerful Graphics Card Ever
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 has emerged as the most powerful consumer GPU on the market. Although with this generation Nvidia has prioritized software updates, AI features, and DLSS 4 technology to improve gameplay performance, the 5090 still brings an impressive 25%-30% uplift over the RTX 4090 in hardware-based raster performance. If you want the best performance for your gaming PC, there's no competition. Check out our Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 FE review.
Why Choose Lenovo?
Lenovo Legion gaming PCs and laptops generally feature better build quality than what you'd find from other prebuilt PCs. For desktop PCs in particular, people like the fact that Lenovo does not use proprietary components in its computer systems, so they're easier to upgrade with off-the-shelf parts. Although we haven't yet reviewed the new 2025 models, we have reviewed last year's Legion 7i desktop and really liked its build quality and performance.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
The Nintendo Switch is going out in a blaze of glory, with some exciting games launching to make way for the console's successor, the Switch 2. Whether they’re exclusively developed for the Switch or ported over from other platforms, these upcoming Switch games are wrapping up the Switch era while also being compatible with the Switch 2.
In 2026, we'll hopefully be getting our hands on well-known in-development titles as well as a host of new games announced at the most recent Nintendo Direct. Here are all of the new Switch games we can look forward to close out this year and kick off the next one.
All Upcoming Switch Games With Release Dates
Dunjungle (December 11, 2025)
This side-scrolling 2D roguelite launched in early access back in 2024 and is now make its way to the Nintendo console. Play as a monkey hero, encountering new characters and unlocking new classes in each run across procedurally generated dungeons. No checkpoints here!
Oppidum (December 18, 2025)
This multiplayer survival game launched on PC earlier this year before making its way to Switch. Craft materials and expand your base to help defeat corruption on the island of Insule.
Softly Placed (December 25, 2025)
This wouldn't be a solid Switch list without some cozy gaming. Softly Placed blends cooking, organizing, and pretty much the full range of cozy tasks, with each level offering a new dopamine-filled challenge.
Starsand Island (February 1, 2026)
The coziness continues with Starsand Island, a Starew Valley-esque simulation sandbox game. Escape from the city to harvest crops, go fishing, protect local ruins, and, of course, befriend all your new neighbors in the countryside.
Deus Ex Remastered (February 5, 2026)
Announced at the September State of Play, the iconic action RPG originally developed by Ion Storm is getting a new remaster in 2026, bringing the game to modern-gen consoles. Rick Sanchez didn't hold back the praise in his 9.4 review for IGN back in 2002: "Deep story, awesome graphics, and intense fun. You must play this game!"
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined (February 5, 2026)
Dragon Quest is really going at it with the remakes. It started with HD-2D remakes of the first three games, and now we’re skipping a few installments to go straight to Fragments of the Past. This next ‘revamp’ goes for “Reimagined,” and features a pretty substantial overhaul of the graphics and gameplay from the original JRPG released in 2001.
Blazblue Entropy Effect X (February 12, 2026)
Next up, we're getting an expanded, console version of the Blazblue spin-off originally released for mobile and PC in 2023. The action roguelite sets you on an adventure into the Sea of Possibility with new characters and story additions.
Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse (March 5, 2026)
From PocketPair, Never Grave is a new 2D roguelite where you harness magic powers (as a hat, of course) to journey into the deep, working to help a young witch retrieve her soul. You also have a home base you can build and upgrade into your own little village.
Coffee Talk Tokyo (March 5, 2026)
We finally have a release date for the next iteration of Coffee Talk, a cozy cafe series developed by Toge Productions. Manage a new but familiar cafe while learning more about your human and yokai customers.
Upcoming Switch Games With Unknown Release Dates
There are plenty more Nintendo Switch games in development that don’t have a solid release date yet. Here are some more Switch games we know are on the way:
Most upcoming Switch games will be supported on the Switch 2, but we're already seeing announcements of Switch 2-exclusive games. You can check out our full guide on Switch 2 games, but in the meantime, here's some highlights of what you have to look forward to on the new console:
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch 2 Edition - January 15, 2026
Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition - TBA 2026
Reanimal - TBA 2026
Resident Evil: Requiem - February 27, 2026
The Duskbloods - 2026
Pokemon Pokopia - March 5, 2026
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book - 2026
Mario Tennis Fever - 2026
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection - March 13, 2026
Christmas is still over a month away, but that shouldn't stop you from enjoying classic Christmas movies right now. And is there anything more classic than Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas? If you're wondering where to watch any of the iterations of the Grinch movies online in 2025, we've got you covered with details below.
There are 3 main Grinch movies that have been made based off the original Dr. Seuss story. First, there's the original 1966 animated classic called How the Grinch Stole Christmas! There's also the 2000 Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas movie starring Jim Carrey. Finally, the most recent 2018 film simply titled: The Grinch. This version stars Benedict Cumberbatch.
There was also an indie film in 2022 called The Mean One that features the Grinch as a horror villain, but we limited this list to Grinch movies with at least some Christmas spirit.
Where to Watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)
If you're wondering where to watch the original animated Grinch movie, there are a few different streaming options available, but a Peacock subscription is your best bet. TNT and TBS will also start likely air the movie at certain dates and times in December, but those dates have not yet been announced. I'd recommend checking out the TV Guide page for the film a Christmas draws near.
Where to Watch Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
If you're wondering where to watch the live-action Grinch movie with Jim Carrey right now, you can currently stream the film on Peacock. Seeing as 2025 is the 25th anniversary of this movie, there is a new 4K steelbook available to buy if you'd prefer to own it rather than rely on streaming this year.
Where to Watch The Grinch (2018)
If you're wondering where to watch the latest animated Grinch movie, the short answer is that you can't right now as it isn't available with any streaming service. You can choose to rent the film from various platforms for $3.99 or watch it on TV at certain times on FX. There are currently some TV listings for this movie available, but we'll likely start seeing more of them pop up closer to Christmas.
Grinch Movies on DVD and Blu-ray
It's not easy to find the Grinch movies online. If you're a particularly big Grinch fan, or want to make sure you and your family will always have the movie night option, you can check out the (impressively large) quantity of Grinch-related DVD and Blu-ray sets that have been released through the years.
Games Workshop has revived the Siege of Terra: End of Ruin special edition book after scalpers descended upon its pre-orders, forcing Warhammer.com itself offline.
Siege of Terra: End of Ruin is an anthology of short stories set during the aftermath of the Siege of Terra and the Horus Heresy. For the uninitiated, the Horus Heresy is the Space Marine civil war that took place 10,000 years before the current Warhammer 40,000 setting. It is the foundation of 40K’s grimdark universe, and reveals how the carrion Emperor ended up on the Golden Throne.
Siege of Terra: End of Ruin was a hugely exciting release for 40K lore fans, but its special edition is even more enticing. It features a leather-effect cover with gold foil details, gilt page edges, and a metal emblem of a ruined Imperial eagle.
Games Workshop had signaled the special edition would be available “strictly while stocks last,” and that it would go on sale at 10am UK time on June 10. It also told fans it planned to use a queue system “to ensure fair distribution.” Unfortunately, this queue system caused chaos, with fans desperate to pre-order the book unable to make progress. Amid frantic messages of complaint across social media, Discords, and subreddits, Warhammer.com suddenly… stopped. It was offline, and no-one knew why.
Eventually, Games Workshop issued a statement on the debacle — a rare event in of itself — to say it had brought Warhammer.com offline because it had noticed scalpers were bypassing its systems. “Scalpers attempted to use bots to bypass our normal safeguards,” Games Workshop said. “Our eagle-eyed Tech Priests caught this happening in real-time, so we pulled Warhammer.com offline.”
At the time, Games Workshop promised Siege of Terra: End of Ruin would return, but half a year went by without any news. Now, Games Workshop has announced plans to sell the special edition once again — but with one key chance that has already got real fans excited.
In a post on Warhammer Community, Games Workshop said the special edition of Era of Ruin is being made available this coming weekend as a “guaranteed stock run.” Order it between Saturday and 8am UK time on Christmas Eve, and “you’ll be on the list to receive a copy of this sumptuous edition capping off the Siege of Terra series.”
This means the special edition is a “guaranteed stock product,” with Games Workshop printing the books based on demand. As a result, production and delivery can take up to 180 days.
Reaction to the news among fans is hugely positive, with some declaring it a win for real fans of the Warhammer 40,000 setting and a big L for scalpers. “Era of Ruinin’ Scalps,” declared one fan on the Black Library subreddit. “It’s the best decision they could make,” said another. “The secondhand market is 95% scalpers.” Another fan added: “Print on demand, what sweet words to read!” “Do I need this book? Absolutely not. Will I be purchasing so they see how positive this move is? Absolutely,” declared another fan.
Some are now hoping Games Workshop uses this release method for all its special editions going forward. “I’m totally cool with waiting a bit of time to get my copy if print on demand is an option moving forward,” said one hopeful. “It’s about freaking time. I’ve been saying this for five years. It’s about time they did something sensible,” added another.
“This is REALLY great news, HUGE win by GW and BL. And here I thought we weren't going to have anything for Christmas, this is the best present. And I hope they see the potential of this kind of order, it could literally change everything. Really really pleasantly surprised.”
Games Workshop has suffered pre-order problems for years now, and special edition book launches are often plagued by scalpers who go on to sell the products at hugely inflated prices. Fans are now crossing their fingers this new method of selling books actually gets them into the hands of real fans.
Image credit: Games Workshop.
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 film does not currently have a director attached, but will be produced by Depp’s IN.2 Film alongside producers from Jeanne du Barry, the 2023 film he starred in. The project was announced at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival and is expected to go into production in late 2026, according to Variety.
This is the most recent output in the collaboration between Depp and producer Svetlana Dali, who will work alongside producer Grace Loh on this project, which will be produced in association with Tribune Pictures. Dali has executive produced the Depp-starring film Jeanne du Barry, and his directorial effort Modi: Three Days on the Wing of Madness.
An official synopsis for the film, which is based on Bulgakov’s posthumous novel published in the 1960s, reads: “Set between 1930s Moscow, where the devil returns with his talking cat to cause havoc amongst its corrupt citizens, and Jerusalem during the time of Pontius Pilate, The Master and Margarita tells a fantastical, satirical tale of love, artistic freedom and the eternal battle of good versus evil."
It continues: “A third intertwined story follows a struggling writer and his lover, Margarita, who is willing to do anything to save him from the totalitarian system. What follows is a darkly comic, wildly imaginative tale of inexhaustible energy, philosophical depth, and spiritual rebellion — a work that remains ferociously relevant today and a timeless reminder of art’s power to challenge, illuminate and endure.”
Casting will be announced at a later date, specifically whether or not Depp will actually star in the project. As far as an expected release date, there isn’t any news there just yet, but it appears to be sometime in 2027.
After a number of years away from the spotlight following his high-profile legal issues with former wife Amber Heard, Depp has been linked to a string of projects as the actor seeks a career comeback. In October, it was reported that Depp would play Ebenezer Scrooge in a new adaptation of Charles Dickens' beloved A Christmas Carol for Paramount Pictures, due to release on November 13, 2026.
But, of course, it's Depp's iconic role as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean which fans are most keen to whether the actor will reprise. And, as long-gestating plans for a sixth entry in the swashbuckling blockbuster series finally begin to materialize, there's fresh signs that Depp could return.
Yep, I found a way to save $15 on Pokémon Legends: Z-A and the Mega Dimension DLC just as the expansion drops, proper legend I am. Not just that, but Woot has gone mad with discounting loads of First Party Nintendo Switch games, many of which have Switch 2 upgrades. More on that below.
TL;DR: Deals for Today
I've also been on the lookout for stocking fillers, and Tomy's Club Mocchi Mocchi Plushies are just awesome. There's a few Mario, Sonic and TMNT ones discounted across the web at the moment, so don't miss those.
Happy Cyberpunk 2077 5th anniversary! There's some very cool colaborations releasing for it too thanks to CD PROJEKT RED, Viture, Corsair and of course Secretlab put their Cyberpunk 2077 Titan Evo Gaming Chair in their holiday sale. Happy days, let's get into it.
Oh yeah, and Skyrim came out for the millionth time on a new console, so turn that Nintendo Switch 2 on:
Allpowers R600 299Wh LiFePO4 Power Station
Allpowers is the most popular power station on brand on AliExpress for good reason: it's generally less expensive than other brands while offering the same features. Even the least expensive power station - the compact R600 - boasts a LiFePO4 battery that lasts at least 10 years before you even need to start worrying about battery degradation. Other features include both AC outlets and USB ports, solar panel hookups, and smart app functionaliy. All of the power stations listed include a 5 year warranty and have plenty of reviews commenting on the responsiveness of their customer service. If you're looking to get the highest capacity at the lowest price possible, Allpowers is legit.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A + Mega Dimension DLC
Haven't played Legends Z-A yet? Well I can save you some money on Switch 1 and 2. Kick things off with the Woot deals on the region free copy for $44.99. If you're playing on Switch 1, just buy the Mega Dimension DLC for $29.99 and you're fixed up for $74.98.
For Switch 2 owners, you'll need to also buy the Switch 2 upgrade pack for $9.99, which brings the total price to $84.98. That's a $15 Switch 1 or Switch 2 savings, you're welcome!
Skyrim: Anniversary on Switch 2
I'd love to say that I found a magical way to knock some money off getting Skyrim for the 15th time, but it would require you to already have the game. Here's how it works, if you have Skyrim Anniversary for Switch 1 already, the Switch 2 upgrade is free. If you have the base version of Skyrim, you need to get the $19.99 Anniversary upgrade that will include upgrading to Nintendo Switch 2.
If you don't have it at all, it seems the only way to get hold of Skyrim Anniversary on Switch 2 currently is buying the full fat digital code. Nintendo Online and all retailers are rocking that $69.99 price tag, so make of that what you will.
Sadly it's still 30 FPS even when docked but it's a night and day difference when it comes to sharp and crisp visuals in a portable form factor. So if you're on Switch 2 and don't have a gaming PC handheld, you'll get a ridiculous amount of mileage from it!
Woot Nintendo Switch Game Sale
If you've got some gaps in your backlog for Nintendo Switch games you've missed, now's the time to top your shelves up. There's plenty of games here with Switch 2 upgrades also, and a lot are either free or included with Nintendo Switch Online. Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild are big ones, with their Switch 2 enhancements locked behind a $10 pass per game or included in Nintendo Switch Online.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet has practically been remade thanks to a free Nintendo Switch 2 update, although I don't think Game Freak would have got away with a paid update thanks to the goodwill lost on S&Vs Switch 1 performance issues. We now get a smooth 60 FPS which clocks at 4K when docked, more Pokémon appear on screen and it's a pleasure to play. The dull textures still remain, but it's the fix we were looking for.
Games like Super Mario Wonder will be getting new content and a Switch 2 performance / visual upgrade in January also. Other games will generally run and load a little better, so it's well worth having a look through and checking which titles you're missing.
Club Mocchi Mocchi Plushie Sale
Tomy actually came up with a product to rival Squishmallows when it comes to feathersoft huggage plushies, and I'm a big fan of Mocchi Moochi. It's rare you see discounts this good on them, plus you can pretend you're tucking Super Sonic into bed when you get up in the morning, just expect your bed to set on fire in the process. Sorry, it's still a bargain though!
Cyberpunk 2077 5th Anniversary Gear
I've only gone and found the perfect setup for playing Cyberpunk 2077 on PC! Let's start with Secretlabs TITAN Evo Cyberpunk 2077 edition, which matches the box art perfectly and represents Johnny Silverhands band logo, "Samurai" on the back cover. Awesome right? Both the regular and XL models are on offer, that goes for accessories too.
VITURE and CD Projekt RED have teamed up to bring the most savage set of XR glasses i've ever seen. Limited to 100,000 units, these bad boys project a 152-inch virtual display at 120hz with 1,500 nits of brightness. That's all packed into Sony's latest MicroOLED panels, one for each eye. Forget a gaming monitor or TV, this is a one-stop solution for Street Kids, Corpo and Nomads.
Corsair have shown up and killed it too thanks to a new mechanical keyboard, wireless mouse and massive cloth gaming mouse pad. You can get all three at a discount for $269.99, or you can buy them seperatley. If you can I'd go for the bundle and save nearly $50, but these aren't just gimmicks budget products, they're based on the below Corsair products:
MM300 2XL Anti-Fray Cloth Gaming Mouse Pad
K65 Plus Keyboard
M75 Wireless Mouse
Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle
This deal is priced the same as a solo Nintendo Switch 2 console, making Super Mario World a free pack-in game over at Walmart. Amazon seems to be going in and out of stock right now, but regardless it's the same price there too.
X-Arcade Arcade2TV-XR
At a generous $205 off, this is a cracking one-stop-shop arcade gaming solution. Want to hook it up to your current gen consoles to play Smash Bros on? Sorted. Want to make your own Meme Arcade setup with a mini PC or Raspberry PI? Sorted. It's two player and complete with authentic feeling arcade buttons and sticks, roller balls and room for upgrades such as a soundbar, pinball haptics and more. This takes the pain out of making a cabinet or spending a fortune on one and allows players to plug and play like you would a normal controller.
Elgato Streaming Gear Sale
The gold brand in streaming and content creation is Elgato, and there's plenty of its high-end gear on sale here such as the power-streamer Stream Deck XL down to $204.99 to one of the best budget-focused condenser microphone options in the $84.99 Wave Neo. Even the Facecam Mk.2 has been knocked down to $126.34, allowing streamers to stop worrying about mirrorless XLR camera setups and have a quality wcamera solution that plug and play. And who doesn't want an Elgato prompter for a marked down $228.99?
Excentric Christmas Gift Deals
So I thought i'd have a bit of fun today with some cool Christmas or White Rabbit gift ideas with some brilliant discounts. I've already touched on Sony InZone wireless earbuds, but they really are the best all-rounder earbuds i've tried in recent memory, and the included USB-C dongle fits in the charger case and is ideal for connecting to PC and PlayStation 5. And they're $42.99 off, bargain.
Saving over $100 on a 300W Kareoke machine with an included 10.1" tablet and wireless microphones is a cracking deal too. Ikario has RGB lighting and hooks up to YouTube or Karaoke app via WiFi for absolute endless banter for house parties this holiday.
Creative might not be the front and center of PC audio like it used to be, but it haven't lost its eye for quality. $69.99 for a soundbar and subwoofer combo is an awesome shout for a gaming setup or smaller home theatre setups.
If you've spotted a loved one forever filming themselves for TikToks or video calling to their friends, the Maono wireless lavalier microphone is USB-C compatible and clips to a users clothes for a pro sound wherever they are.
Stationary cameras are great for keeping an eye on a room in general, but cats and dogs don't like staying still. Enabot EBO Rola PetPal provides 2.5k video and allows owners to roll about the house to check what their pets are really up too. Attachable feeders and cat toys allow for owners to interact with their pets more than ever before and is a great gift for the craszy cat person in your life.
I've been using the HOZO NeoBlade for a while now whilst cleaning up my 3D prints and creative projects. It's an ultrasonic knife that can take different microblades and is rechargable. This bit of kit just makes cutting jobs miles easier of toucher materials with acrylic, PLA, wood and softer metals. I use it to cut supports off my prints and clean up projects, and I can't go back to regular scalpels and blades. Plus this bundle is $10 off and you get a self healing A3 matt.
Switch 2 Games Releasing This Holiday
December is stacked for Nintendo Switch 2. We gave Metroid Prime 4: Beyond a solid 8/10 for nailing the Prime vibe whilst introducing some interesting mechanics and a pseudo open-world sandbox to explore. Considering how long we've been waiting for it, Metroid 4 is a solid comeback.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A Mega Dimension DLC drops on Wednesday, which adds a post-game story, brand new Mega Evolutions and new mechanics such as an alternative dimension Lumioise City and Pokémon hitting over the long-standing level 100 mechanic. Insane.
Audible Holiday Sale
Fancy knocking a $14.95 per month subscription to 99 cents for three months? That's what's on offer for Amazon Prime members right now, which can easily be cancelled down before the discount dries if you don't want to continue, win-win.
Whilst Audible Plus, the cheaper membership tier, has 10,000 audiobooks to listen too, Premium Plus has 500,000. Premium Plus members get to pick an audiobook to keep in their library indefinitely too, with 30% off purchasable Audiobooks. Usually this crops up as a free 30-day trial, and these trials are only for new subscribers, so this is the best deal you're going to get.
Mega Evolution Booster Box
It's not often Amazon gets their Pokémon TCG products down to market value, but here we are. Yes, you can save $6.99 at TCGPlayer if you're not bothered about waiting a few days for delivery, but many would argue the extra $6.99 is worth getting it in your hands quicker with 1-day Amazon Prime delivery. The choice is yours but both sites have this at or near market value right now, which is great for one of the box in-demand Pokémon TCG sets right now.
Secretlab Holiday Sale
It's no secret that Secretlab is one of the most premium gaming chairs and brands available right now, and the brand tax is real. But straight off the heels of Black Friday, Secretlab have dropped their Christmas Holiday Sale across all the favorites. The super premium Titan Evo Nanogen Edition features a Secretlab-exclusive NanGen Hybrid Leathette seat covering and NanoFoam Composite cushioning for one of the best feeling gaming chairs on the market,
Even the budget-minded Titan Evo Lite has premium features and coldfoam cusioning to make sure you're comfortable all day working and all night gaming. They even do an erganomic recliner add on now, featuring multiple angles of support to keep your legs comfortable for different posture types.
Alienware and Lenovo Gaming PC Deals
It's easy to get carried away with mad specifications on gaming PCs, and if you can afford it that's awesome. But builds like Lenovo's LOQ RTX 5060Ti build has a cracking budget price of $949.99 after using the discount code "EXTRAFIVE", capable of DLSS 4 upscaling and the latest Nvidia AI frame generation. The Ryzen 7 8745HX CPU backs up the 5060 Ti well, making this a lean and mean 1080p gaming monster.
Out of the two Alienware builds, i'd save the money and go for the Intel Core Ultra 7 265 build. Both of these builds are going to kill it when it comes to high frame rate 4K gaming, and I simply don't think the extra $350 is worth it for the extra gains of a Core Ultra 9 285K CPU. Of course it's faster and better, but I think the $3,899.99 build is far better value for money.
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.
Someone has calculated exactly how many hours of recorded dialogue there are in Baldur's Gate 3, a task so unnecessarily large that even Larian Studios hadn't done it before.
As reported by PC Gamer, Everwhite-moonlight put together a spreadsheet breaking down all the dialogue in the game: who spoke it, how long the dialogue is, even how many files they speak in.
This survey results in some interesting facts surfacing: it's unsurprising that the narrator, Amelia Tyler, has the most dialogue at 14 hours, 43 minutes, and 55 seconds. Behind her, though, is Astarion, voiced by Neil Newbon, with 13 hours, six minutes, and 23 seconds. And behind him is Shadowheart, with 12 hours, 25 minutes, and 26 seconds. The smallest amount of dialogue is a many-way tie between numerous NPCs that all have only one second of dialogue, including four different Mind Flayer NPCs. In total, the game contains 236 hours, 55 minutes, and 45 seconds of spoken voice lines.
Every voice actor is catalogued in here, including small lines by random NPCs and even cut dialogue. One mystery that's arisen, per Everwhite-moonlight, is who exactly voices which Giant Rat NPC in the game. "There are four instances of a character named 'Giant Rat,' and there are four actors credited to have played 'Giant Rat.' I have separated the Giant Rat UIDs and could tell they are played by four different people, but I don't know which one is which." Those actors are Akbar Kurtha, Joseph Capp, Leemore Marrett Jr., and Sean Baker. Now we just have to sort out which actor is which rat.
Another fun bit that's surfaced from this is that Larian Studios actually didn't know how much dialogue, time-wise, was in the game. On Twitter/X, Larian boss Swen Vincke shared the news about the finding, saying, "We weren’t really keeping track which I think was for the better."
Vincke did, however, know the word count of the game's script, as we learned back in 2024, saying that Baldur's Gate 3 has triple the word count of The Lord of the Rings, and its cutscene runtime is twice as long as HBO's Game of Thrones. Holy moly.
For lovers of Baldur's Gate 3's particular brand of delightful wordiness, it might be worth tuning into The Game Awards tomorrow, as Larian seems to be teasing a brand new Divinity game for reveal at the show.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
McDonald's has pulled a new ad created entirely with generative AI following a major backlash online.
The 45-second clip was released on the McDonald's Netherlands’ YouTube channel on December 6 — with comments turned off — and was removed from the platform on December 9. It depicted "the most terrible time of the year," and showed increasingly disastrous Christmas fails before suggesting people hide out in McDonald's until January.
Viewers were quick to hit out at the tone and quality of the video, pointing out a number of telltale generative AI signs. One user on social media called the video "god-awful" and "cynical." Another social media user added: "the future is here, and it's not looking good." "If they were going for creepy, depressing, deeply unfunny, clumsily shot, poorly edited, and inauthentic — nailed it!" another said.
McDonald's unveiled what has to be the most god-awful ad I've seen this year – worse than Coca-Cola's.
Fully AI-generated, that's one. Looks repulsive, that's two. More cynical about Christmas than the Grinch, that's three.
The message of this ad is “the holidays suck” and it’s solution is to spend as much time in McDonald’s as possible. Forget your friends and family…have a Big Mac.
The song is poorly written, almost certainly written by AI because it doesn’t fit the original rhythm at all and at… https://t.co/MTR2i7XG6y
The fast food resturant chain issued a statement to BBC News, saying the backlash served as "an important learning" as the company explored "the effective use of AI."
The ad was a collaboration between Dutch company TBWA\Neboko and American production company The Sweetshop. Melanie Bridge, CEO of The Sweetshop, went on to defend the ad after it was released publicly.
“For seven weeks, we hardly slept, with up to 10 of our in-house AI and post specialists at The Gardening Club [our in-house AI engine] working in lockstep with the directors,” Bridge said, as reported by Futurism. “We generated what felt like dailies — thousands of takes — then shaped them in the edit just as we would on any high-craft production. This wasn’t an AI trick. It was a film.”
She added: “I don’t see this spot as a novelty or a cute seasonal experiment. To me, it’s evidence of something much bigger: that when craft and technology meet with intention, they can create work that feels genuinely cinematic. So no — AI didn’t make this film. We did.”
The people who made the AI McDonald's ad want you to know they put more man hours into it than a traditional production.
Like Coca Cola, in their attempt to prove they worked hard, they've instead shown AI is hard to control, still expensive, and uglier. What's the point again? https://t.co/lXrdO8U8ok
The McDonald's backlash follows a similar response to Coca-Cola's entirely AI-generated Christmas ad and a similar justification. Jason Zada, founder and chief creative officer of AI studio Secret Level, defended his company’s work on Coke’s Christmas promo. “The haters on the Internet are the loudest. A lot of the people complaining last year were from the creative industry who were just afraid — afraid for their jobs, afraid for what it did. But I think the spot tested really well and average people really enjoyed it.”
Pratik Thakar, global vp and head of generative AI at Coca-Cola, added: “Last year we decided to go all in, and it worked out well for us… Yes, some parts of the industry were not pleased we were using a 100% generative AI film, but that’s part and parcel of doing something pioneering. We understand that concern. But we need to keep moving forward and pushing the envelope. The genie is out of the bottle, and you’re not going to put it back in.”
At the time of this article's publication, the Coca-Cola advert remains live.
The use of generative AI to create videos both commercial and non-commercial is one of the hottest topics in all entertainment. OpenAI’s Sora 2 app, for example, has caused significant controversy after it was used to flood social media with videos containing depictions of copyrighted characters including those from popular anime and game franchises such as One Piece, Demon Slayer, Pokémon, and Mario. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has called Sora 2 videos using copyrighted characters "interactive fan fiction."
And in September, SAG-AFTRA issued a strongly worded statement in response to the emergence of Tilly Norwood, the AI-generated “actress” that has enraged Hollywood.
Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.
If you hadn’t already heard, there’s a weird, spiky monolith in the Mojave Desert. Adorned with a massive eye-like orb and a legion of demonic creatures, it’s a hint at something due to be revealed as part of The Game Awards 2025. And, following the registration of a few new trademarks, it seems like we already have the answer as to what it is: a brand new game from Baldur’s Gate 3 developer Larian Studios called “Divinity”.
If you are one of the millions of players who first learned of Larian through the gargantuan success of Baldur’s Gate 3, then the word Divinity may not mean much to you. Fans of the studio, however, will tell you that BG3’s success is rooted in Divinity, a series of six games that Larian worked on almost exclusively between 2002 and 2017. If this monolith and trademark leak really do point towards Divinity, then the Belgian studio is returning to its original fantasy universe… and likely bringing a whole new fanbase along with it.
If such a currently-very-much-hypothetical game would mark your first foray into the Divinity universe, then you may want a quick primer on what to expect. Let us be your guide to Divinity, and be the first to (very pre-emptively) say…
Welcome to Rivellon
Much like how Baldur’s Gate takes place in the Dungeons & Dragons setting of the Forgotten Realms, Divinity has its own rich, original setting: the world of Rivellon. There are broad similarities between the two; both are rooted in Tolkienesque fantasy tropes, with classically styled medieval landscapes and locations. There are multiple races; like in D&D, you can expect to meet humans, elves, dwarves, lizard-like beings, and the living dead. Magic is commonplace in Rivellon, although sorcery is considered more dangerous and is more heavily regulated there than it is on D&D’s Sword Coast.
Like Baldur’s Gate, Divinity also features a number of more esoteric elements, from steampunk to sci-fi and beyond, that make its world a little quirkier than the lands explored in more traditional fantasy like The Lord of the Rings. Rivellon can also often be a very silly place, and the influence of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels has frequently been felt in Divinity’s writing. In fact, Terry’s daughter, Rhianna Pratchett, even wrote a tie-in novella for the second game. But that’s not to say Rivellon is frivolous – there’s a deep vein of fascinating lore that has been mined over the series’ six installments.
In short, Rivellon is the stage for stories similar to those you enjoyed in Baldur’s Gate 3, but is beholden only to Larian’s rules, rather than those set by the owners of Dungeons & Dragons, Wizards of the Coast.
What is Divinity?
Divinity is an RPG series, but its evolution has been far from usual. Take a quick look at each of the six games, and you’ll find at least four different approaches. Divine Divinity, the very first game in the series, and its sequel, Beyond Divinity, are Diablo-influenced action RPGs. Divinity 2: Ego Draconis, meanwhile, is a third-person RPG that feels a little closer to the likes of Dragon Age and The Witcher. Divinity: Dragon Commander is a slightly Total War-flavoured strategy game, and the Original Sin duology – the most recent games in the series – are classic-style RPGs that bear the most resemblance to Baldur’s Gate 3. Larian has experimented wildly over the years, and so there’s no clear indication as to what format the next game in the series will use (although considering the success of Baldur’s Gate 3, the sensible bet would be on something similar).
Another unusual element is its approach to the timeline. While Rivellon does have a coherent history and storylines that are threaded across the series, each game is set years (sometimes even centuries) apart, meaning each one is something of a standalone experience. Similar to how Baldur's Gate 3 demands no experience of the series but has plenty of nods to the two earlier games, you can play Divinity: Original Sin 2 without any experience of its predecessors. I suspect any future game in the series would continue this tradition, especially since Larian now has a legion of new fans who are unfamiliar with the studio’s previous work. If the leaked trademark is to be believed, this new project is simply called “Divinity” – a name that has likely been chosen since it comes with no suggestion that you need to have played multiple other games.
What Does “Divinity” Mean?
Divinity’s name is drawn from its foundational lore. Thousands of years before the events of Divine Divinity, the first game in the series, Rivellon’s ruling body, the Council of Seven, sacrificed themselves to defend the realm from evil wizards. The “Divine Order” was established in remembrance and assigned to pass on their knowledge to the next generations.
By the events of Divine Divinity, a prophecy tells of a messiah who will protect Rivellon from the next existential threat, a demon called Chaos. That messiah, it turns out, is you, and you ascend to become Lucian the Divine – a character that goes on to make appearances in Divinity 2: Ego Draconis and Divinity: Original Sin 2. The concept of the Divine is frequently explored in the stories, although it’s not the central focus of each and every game.
How Similar is Divinity to Baldur’s Gate 3?
Since the series has changed so much over its lifetime, most of the Divinity series is actually pretty different from what Larian created with Baldur’s Gate 3. However, the Original Sin duology is very clearly the blueprint for BG3. These are isometric RPGs set across multiple regions, with tactical turn-based combat and a similar “hands-off” approach to quest design.
While both are worth playing, Original Sin 2 is by far the most accomplished, both in terms of gameplay depth and narrative strength. It is where Larian pioneered the “origin story” characters that would later become the heroes of Baldur’s Gate 3, and Rivellon’s answer to the likes of Astarion, Gale, and Shadowheart are just as brilliantly written. It’s also the game in which the studio established “tags”, the system that provides character-specific dialogue options to help you better roleplay your specific race or class.
Perhaps the Original Sin duology’s most lauded system is its elemental effects – cast a rain spell to make something wet, and then use a lightning ability to conduct electricity through that sodden surface. Tip over an oil barrel to create a puddle, and then shoot a flaming arrow into it to create a blaze. Stab an enemy, freeze their blood, and watch them slip on their own icy innards. Much of this elemental interplay made it into Baldur’s Gate 3, but it’s much more pronounced in Original Sin. Expect at least a quarter of your battles to result in arena-wide bonfires.
How to Play the Divinity Games in Order
As previously mentioned, the timeline gaps that separate the Divinity games mean there are no strictly direct sequels, and you can more or less play them in any order you choose. If you’ve played Baldur’s Gate 3 and are looking to learn more about Divinity, I’d only truly recommend playing Original Sin 2, which is widely regarded as the best in the series. Initially a PC exclusive, it is now available on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and even iPad. But if you really do want to delve into the lore and explore the entire timeline, this is how you’d need to tackle the series:
Divinity: Dragon Commander (2013)
A grand strategy game set thousands of years prior to the events of the RPGs.
Divinity: Original Sin (2014)
A CRPG with turn-based combat, set 1000 years before the original game, focused on a pair of “Source Hunters” tracking down dangerous magic users.
Divine Divinity (2002)
A Diablo-like ARPG that chronicles the ascension of Lucian the Divine.
Beyond Divinity (2004)
The ARPG sequel to Divine Divinity, set 20 years later, tells the story of one of Lucian’s servants, who has been soulbound to an evil Death Knight.
Divinity: Original Sin 2 (2017)
A CRPG that’s a sequel to Original Sin in terms of game design, but takes place after the original two games and deals with an outbreak of “Voidwoken” monsters in Rivellon.
Divinity 2: Ego Draconis (2009)
A 3D action RPG set decades after Lucian’s ascension, during an era when the Divine’s adoptive son has become a tyrant, in which you play as a knight who can transform into a dragon.
Matt Purslow is IGN's Executive Editor of Features.
Connexion
PC Gamer
IGN
