The 2026 Oscar nominations kick off today, January 22, with the likes of One Battle After Another and Sinners expected to dominate.
Leonardo DiCaprio's thriller One Battle After Another is considered a top contender alongside Michael B. Jordan's Sinners, with Hamnet, Marty Supreme, Frankenstein, Sentimental Value, Bugonia, and The Secret Agent predicted to feature heavily.
Actors in the running for best actor noms include the aforementioned Leonardo DiCaprio and Michael B. Jordan, as well as Marty Supreme star Timothée Chalamet, Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), and Jesse Plemons (Bugonia). Jessie Buckley is the favorite to win best actress for Hamnet. Netflix phenomenon KPop Demon Hunters looks nailed on for best animated movie.
One Battle After Another director Paul Thomas Anderson has never won an Oscar, despite 11 career nominations for films such as Phantom Thread, Licorice Pizza, and There Will Be Blood. It is expected he will get yet another best director nomination today.
The nominations begin at 8.30am ET / 5.30am PT / 1.30pm UK time. Thunderbolts* star Lewis Pullman and The Color Purple's Danielle Brooks will announce the nominations, with comedian Conan O'Brien returning to host the Academy Awards ceremony on March 15. Our live blog revealing the nominations is below:
Photo by Richard Harbaugh/The Academy via Getty Images.
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.
Helldivers 2 developer Arrowhead has just dropped details of its latest patch, Into the Unjust: 5.0.2., which introduces a new mission type: Commando, the Redacted Regiment Warbond, and "important updates" to suppressed weapons.
"Democracy doesn’t always need to shout," the team teased on Steam. "This patch is deploying some important updates to suppressed weapons, allowing Helldivers to eliminate threats with reduced detection and tighter tactical control. Expect quieter kills, cleaner engagements, and new opportunities for coordinated strikes before the enemy knows you’re there. Remember: stealth is a tool, not a substitute for overwhelming firepower. Use it wisely, Helldivers!"
Arrowhead suggests Commando missions — which send you "deep behind enemy lines where the normal reliance on air superiority is no longer an option" — are a good place to start with these new tools, teasing "reinforcements have to be deployed in advance and destroyer support is a risky business with limited time." Expect them to go live very soon (2pm CET / 8am ET / 5am PT).
The team closed by promising "much more to come in February and beyond."
Here's the rest of the brief patch notes:
Helldivers 2 Into the Unjust 5.0.2 Patch Notes:
Balancing
General changes overview
Suppressors are now more effective
Intent is to make suppressors more valuable in stealth gameplay and attract less attention from enemies
Noise radius of firing suppressed weapons roughly reduced by 50%
Enemies detection radius when being fired at, but not being hit, is reduced in some units
General
Detection range of danger (basically being shot at but not getting hit) reduced for enemies like Devastators, Berserkers, Spewers, Chargers, Impaler, Observer
Gameplay
Optimizations
Adjusted M-1000 Maxigun muzzle flash to reduce photosensitivity issues
Meanwhile, Arrowhead is working on a roguelite mode, although there's no guarantee it will actually come out. Last month, Arrowhead CCO and Helldivers 2 creative director, Johan Pilestedt, responded to a fan on social media to say “we have a prototype of a roguelite mode — it changes the game fundamentally!” That casual reveal set fans of the explosive co-op action shooter into overdrive imagining how a roguelite mode would work in the game, which revolves around open and shut missions restricted by time limits.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
A writer is now working on The Brave and the Bold, but DC Studios is reportedly in no rush to put out yet another Batman movie into the marketplace.
The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that Christina Hodson is writing The Brave and the Bold, which will be the first Batman movie in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s rebooted DC Universe. Hodson is best known for writing 2018’s Transformers spinoff Bumblebee, 2020 DCEU movie Birds of Prey, and 2023’s ill-fated The Flash.
She may be set to reunite with The Flash director Andy Muschietti, who THR said remains on board The Brave and the Bold but whose involvement is not set in stone given his commitments to Welcome to Derry Season 2. Either way, it sounds like The Brave and the Bold is some way away. THR said “it would be some time before a definitive draft comes in as the studio is taking a measured approach to its development.”
Gunn must also navigate next year’s release of The Batman 2 and potentially The Batman 3. The Batman 2, starring Robert Pattinson in the title role, is set to launch five-and-a-half years after The Batman, on October 1, 2027. Writer-director Matt Reeves has said he set out to make a trilogy of Batman films as part of his Batman Epic Crime Saga, and as of 2024 that plan was still on. The Batman films exist in a universe separate to the ongoing DCU, and given Gunn has ruled out Pattinson’s Batman crossing over, we’re set for a new actor to play the Caped Crusader for The Brave and the Bold.
Gunn then committed to never releasing two Batman movies in the same year. “I think both Batman and WW [Wonder Woman] are incredibly important,” he said in response to another fan. “But I'm also not going to have two Batman movies come out in the same year.”
Reinforcing that sentiment, THR said DC is “giving Reeves’ project ample space to breathe and is in no rush to put forth another Batman feature into the marketplace. It wants to make sure that Brave and the Bold is distinct enough in tone and look to stand apart, regardless of when it gets made.”
While promoting the rebooted DCU kickstarter Superman last year, Gunn admitted: "Batman's my biggest issue in all of DC right now." While fans wait for The Brave and the Bold to see Gunn's Batman in all his glory, Episode 6 of DCU canon kickstarter Creature Commandos showed Batman standing on a rooftop looking down at crime boss Doctor Phosphorus. The image below revealed a mega-stacked Caped Crusader in his iconic costume, but there was little else that could be discerned about Gunn’s take on the superhero.
Based on comments Gunn issued to Rotten Tomatoes TV following the release of Episode 6, it’s easy to see why this brief look at Batman was so generic. Gunn said he asked for "more silhouette" after the original Batman on show was more detailed than he was ready to commit to at the time.
What this look at Batman did provide fans with, Gunn explained, was a clear indication that Batman not only already exists within the DCU during the events of Creature Commandos and the Superman movie, but that he is well-known within the universe, and that’s why there’s no need to tell his well-documented origin story.
Gunn then made an interesting comment that suggested the DCU Batman will team up with Superman at some point.
“This is the DCU Batman,” he said of the Creature Commandos cameo. “Listen I gotta tell you, I just love Batman. I love him. I've loved him since I was a little kid. He's one of my favorite characters. I've gone on the record in the past when I was at Marvel saying my favorite character is Batman. I love him and we're going to do great things with him. He's the most popular superhero in the world and I can't wait for people to see more of him, along with Superman, and together.”
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.
Ubisoft has said that completing its now-canceled Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake would have "required more time and investment than we could responsibly commit," after more than half a decade of development.
Yesterday, Ubisoft shocked fans by announcing it had scrapped the long-awaited remake completely as part of a major business reshuffle, nearly six years after the project was first announced, and five years to the day after it was initially set to launch — on January 21, 2021.
Ubisoft has never fully explained why the remake has had such a tortured development — first at the company's Mumbai and Pune studios, then at Ubisoft Montreal since the project was rebooted in 2022. What has been happening behind the scenes since then, and why has the game been scrapped now, after so long trying to get it right?
A statement that's now been shared via the official Prince of Persia social media account holds few answers. Here it is in full:
"To the Prince of Persia community, we wanted to share this with you directly," reads a statement attributed to Ubisoft's Prince of Persia team.
"We've made the difficult decision to stop development on Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake. We know this is deeply disappointing. The game carries enormous meaning for fans and for the teams who worked on it.
"While the project had real potential, we weren't able to reach the level of quality you deserve, and continuing would have required more time and investment than we could responsibly commit. And, we didn't want to release something that fell short of what The Sands of Time represents.
"Prince of Persia as a universe and a legacy continues to matter deeply to us, and this decision does not mean we're stepping away from the franchise.
"Thank you for your passion, patience and love for Prince of Persia."
While many of the details around Ubisoft's business reshuffle remain to be seen, the company did at least name the Prince of Persia franchise as part of its new fourth "Creative House" division yesterday, suggesting it was indeed still an ongoing concern.
For the fans waiting half a decade to play the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake, however, this is likely of little comfort.
"Pretty sad we'll never get this," wrote Ubisoft fan SynthPotato, "people were convinced its on the edge of releasing." "Saw this coming a mile away unfortunately," added another fan, 8biteric. "Please tell me you’re going to reverse time and take back this post and make an announcement that the game is done and will release later this year," suggested TheChrisLambert, hopefully.
Five other games were canceled yesterday as part of Ubisoft's reshuffle, while a further seven titles have been delayed — including the company's similarly long-awaited Assassin's Creed: Black Flag remake.
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
A "world-class" Pokémon attraction is coming to Universal Studios' chain of theme parks, offering an interactive experience hopes to "stimulate all five senses."
While it's unclear if this will be part of Super Nintendo World or be a section of the park in its own right, the "global development project" will first launch in Osaka, Japan, and then be delivered "across the company's global footprint" and "bring the Pokémon world to life in an unprecedented interactive and rich way."
"Since announcing our medium- to long-term alliance in 2021, we have collaborated with Universal Studios Japan's outstanding creative vision and world-class technical capabilities to produce a variety of 'real-life Pokémon experiences,' including the NO LIMIT! Parade and Halloween show," The Pokémon Company president Tsunekazu Ishihara said (thanks, Nintendo Life).
"This year marks the 30th anniversary of Pokémon, and we are extremely pleased to be able to fully launch this new project with you all at this major milestone. Our mission is to enrich both the real and virtual worlds through the existence of Pokémon, and we produce Pokémon every day. With this project, too, we hope to create new entertainment that is unique to theme parks, as a rich experience in the real world, and continue to provide surprises to people all over the world."
It follows previous expansions across Japan's Universal Studios' parks, such as Donkey Kong Country in 2024, based on one of Nintendo’s oldest mascots and boasting a rail-jumping rollercoaster, themed food, and exclusive merch. Part of Super Nintendo World, it starts as a brick tunnel but devolves into crooked rocks as you emerge into the jungle.
We thought Super Nintendo World was Amazing, awarding it 9/10 when we visited in 2022, writing: "Super Nintendo World brilliantly reinvents and gamifies the theme park experience, while offering an unprecedented level of immersion and – most importantly – fun. It’s a fitting tribute to Super Mario on the series’ 35th anniversary that will fill your heart with joy."
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
Amazon has offered some insight into the performance of Prime video show Fallout Season 2, while keeping viewership stats firmly locked in a vault for now.
According to Deadline, Season 2 of the video game adaptation starring Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, and Walton Goggins, is tracking as one of its top four returning series ever, behind only action thriller Reacher and big budget fantasy Lord of the Rings spinoff The Rings of Power. That’s with just two episodes to go for the season.
Overall, Fallout Season 2 is the “top-performing” season Prime Video since February 2025’s Reacher Season 3, and the sixth TV season of all time on the streaming service. In this list, it is behind only Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Seasons 1 and 2, Reacher Seasons 2 and 3, and Fallout Season 1.
It’s worth noting that Amazon distributed Season 2 of Fallout in a different way than Season 1, which launched with all eight episodes available to watch in April 2024. For Season 2, Amazon went for a weekly rollout, which makes viewership comparisons tricky.
Peter Friedlander, Head of Global TV at Amazon MGM Studios, issued Deadline the following statement:
“We are thrilled with the Fallout S2 reception from audiences and critics globally. After its first four weeks, Fallout S2 already ranks as the sixth most watched season ever on Prime Video and is even higher rated on Rotten Tomatoes than S1.
“More than half of the season’s audience to-date has come from outside the U.S., and we’re excited for even more viewers to discover the show as we continue to release new episodes over the weeks ahead.”
As Deadline points out, Amazon has yet to release actual viewership data for Season 2, which kicked off nearly two years after Season 1. Apparently it’s waiting until all the Season 2 episodes are out to do so. Season 1 had a huge 65 million viewers within 16 days of release. The Fallout Season 2 finale is set for February 6.
Season 3 was confirmed before Season 2 came out, so clearly Amazon had confidence in the show. Deadline reports that executives have heard the pitch for Season 3 and things are “charging forward.” There’s no release date yet, but it will be interesting to see if Season 3 takes as long to come out as Season 2 did, or whether Amazon will shift back to a simultaneous launch for all episodes.
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.
Nintendo has released an update for Pokémon Legends: Z-A, with some handy item adjustments and a list of bug fixes for the game's Mega Dimension DLC.
The Switch and Switch 2 Pokémon adventure has today been patch to Version 2.0.1, which makes both berries and Mega Shards easier to buy and hold onto. With the update installed, you will now be able to purchase multiple berries at once from food vendors. Mega Dimension owners, meanwhile, will gain the ability to buy berries at Nouveau Café's Truck.
Speaking of Mega Dimension, players with the DLC purchased will see a range of bugs fixed — including Shiny Pokémon not registering in your Pokédex, a side mission progression blocker, and an issue where the game's weather was stuck being sunny (if only this was true in real life).
Launched last month, Mega Dimension adds a fresh story campaign to Pokémon Legends: Z-A, starring a donut chef and the Mythical Pokémon Hoopa. It's set within an alternative Hyperspace version of Lumiose City, where the franchise's typical level 100 cap can be surpassed. Most excitingly, it adds a swathe of all-new Mega Evolutions — though none as freaky as the fan-favorite Mega Starmie.
Looking ahead, the Pokémon series celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026, and fans are eagerly awaiting news on the next generation of mainline games. Many expect these to be announced on the franchise's anniversary during its annual Pokémon Presents livestream, due on February 27. There's also the promising-looking life simulation spin-off Pokémon Pokopia to look forward to.
For now, Pokémon Legends Z-A's latest full patch notes lie below:
Pokémon Legends: Z-A: Ver. 2.0.1 (Released January 21, 2026)
Adjustments Applied for Obtaining Items:
When purchasing Berries from a food stall, you can now purchase multiple Berries at once.
After beginning the story of the Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Mega Dimension DLC, you will be able purchase Berries from the clerk at Nouveau Café’s Truck No. 3.
The maximum number of Mega Shards you can carry has been increased from 999 to 9,999.
Fixes Applied for the Following Confirmed Issues Related to Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Mega Dimension Content:
When using moves in certain pockets of hyperspace, Pokémon may sometimes have faced a different direction from the intended target.
There were cases in which the weather remained sunny and did not change.
Shiny Pokémon obtained prior to the release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Mega Dimension may not have been registered to the Mega Evolution Pokédex, even if their Mega Stones were obtained after becoming available in the DLC.
During missions, images from unrelated scenes may occasionally have been displayed.
Players may not have been able to complete side mission 188 “Start Special Scanning!” even after earning the maximum number of survey points. (Players who are already experiencing this issue should be able to progress after entering and exiting hyperspace.)
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 will soon get the Techmarine, its seventh playable class, and with it comes a unique ability that sounds very exciting indeed.
In a post on Xbox Wire, Space Marine 2 game director Dmitry Grigorenko revealed that the Techmarine is designed to be a crowd control and area defense specialist, leaning on tech to get the job done, as they do in the Warhammer 40,000 lore and tabletop wargame upon which Space Marine 2 is based.
In melee the Techmarine uses the Omnissian Axe for wide swipes. This is an upcoming weapon only the Techmarine will have access to upon launch. He also has mechanical arms and an automatic turret bolted directly onto his Power Pack.
This means that while you’re actively fighting, you can use the Techmarine’s Combat Skill (Space Marine 2’s version of an ‘ultimate’ ability) to trigger the mounted Servo-Gun, which will lay down heavy fire without the player needing to aim it. “Just watch as Tyranids and Thousand Sons get vaporized before your very eyes,” Grigorenko teased.
But here’s the super interesting part: the automatic Servo-Gun frees you up by executing Gun Strikes for you. This is a big deal indeed.
For the uninitiated, in Space Marine 2, a Gun Strike is a powerful, quick pistol shot you perform after a perfect dodge or parry (or a heavy attack that stuns smaller foes) when a red reticle appears on an enemy, dealing significant damage and allowing for powerful follow-ups without needing to aim or use ammo.
All other classes must manually do a Gun Strike for themselves. But Techmarine players, as Grigorenko put it, “will be free to continue aiming at other targets while their turrets stagger or kill their most pressing assailants.”
Already fans are getting excited about this new ability, even though it’s limited to your Combat Skill (at least, that’s how the Xbox Wire blog post makes it sound). “Jesus Christ, I was already excited for this class, it just keeps on getting better,” said one fan. “I hope there’s a Techmarine perk or weapon perk that’ll help give more Gun Strikes to really take advantage of that.” Said another person who clearly knows their Warhammer 40,000 lore: “Get your blessing brothers, awake the machine spirit, refined the holy oil and praise the Motive Force, this new class looks dope.”
There’s even more to the Techmarine. It also has the unique ability to locate and service Tarantula Sentry turrets during missions. “Though they can’t be carried or placed freely, these can provide much welcome support to your Combat Squad by attacking your enemies automatically until they either run out of ammunition or get destroyed,” Grigorenko explained.
The Techmarine hits Space Marine 2 as part of Patch 12, due out in a few weeks. The new class will be available across all modes apart from the narrative campaign, as it centers around the story of Ultramarines Lieutenant Demetrian Titus.
Also coming with Patch 12 is a 12th mission to the Operations and Stratagems modes, a new mission pick-up type, three new Hero weapon variants, and new customization options for Space Marine helmetless heads. If you own the Season Pass 2 you also get a brand-new Assault Champion Raven Guard skin and a unique cosmetic pack for the Carcharodons.
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.
There's a fresh update waiting for Nintendo Switch 2 launch title Mario Kart World, with a couple of tweaks and a list of bug fixes.
Today's patch, which brings Mario Kart World to version 1.5.0, now allows you to race as a team in Knockout Tour when playing with friends in a multiplayer room either via online or wireless play. Polish language support has also been added.
Perhaps most notable is what appears to be a typo in the patch notes' list of bug fixes, which references an issue that has been fixed when playing as Kamek on Choco Mountain. Kamek is not a playable character (yet) in Mario Kart World, but this is likely just a reference to the Kamek item.
As of yet, Nintendo has simply been tinkering with its Switch 2 racer, without adding any extra DLC (free or otherwise). Time will tell how Mario Kart World might expand further as the Switch 2's lifecycle matures.
For now, here are the full patch notes for today's Mario Kart World update, version 1.5.0:
Mario Kart World: Version 1.5.0 (Released January 21, 2026)
General
Added team races to Knockout Tour when playing in a room during “Online Play” and “Wireless Play”.
The game now supports the Polish language.
Note: You can change your selected language using the “Language” setting in the “System” menu of “System Settings.”
Fixed Issues
Fixed an issue where the game would sometimes end if a player plays as Kamek on Choco Mountain.
Fixed an issue where the displayed rating would sometimes be incorrect when joining “Everyone” in “Online Play” while in a room.
Several other issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
Anthem, the failed attempt at a live-service game by Mass Effect and Dragon Age developer BioWare, may be officially offline for good, but some people are keeping the dream alive.
Anthem publisher EA announced last year that it would stop running the game's servers on January 12, 2026, and confirmed that users would no longer be able play at all after this point. Premium in-game currency was withdrawn from sale last summer, and the game was delisted at the same time from EA Play. As an online-only game, this meant the game was essentially dead, with no way to access any content offline.
Now, however, developer And799 has showcased their efforts in a video, and while they are keen to stress that what you see is merely a proof of concept and does "NOT represent the current progress of the private server/revival project that is currently in progress," it certainly looks as though they've managed to get multiplayer running, albeit with some missing features such as online profiles. Crucially, they did manage to get two players into the same lobby.
"So, with the game being dead, I think it's the perfect time to take a look at it," And799 said. "Seems like the majority of the player data are handled through BioWare's server instead of blaze and it is required for the game to be able to load offline."
Interestingly, the comments of the video are full of people offering their expertise to help with the project, with one such commenter writing: "It hasn't been a week [since Anthem was taken offline], this is outstanding."
While these fan efforts are encouraging, it remains to be seen whether they go anywhere meaningful. Redditor Next-Atmosphere9202, who is a part of the private server/revival project mentioned above, commented on And799's work to say "this is still a really hacky thing so I want to ask people to manage their expectations just a bit. A lot of stuff clearly doesn't work as 'intended,' and definitely needs at minimum, more polish."
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
Nintendo veteran Kensuke Tanabe has reportedly said that the long-awaited Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is his final game at the company, where he has served for four decades.
Tanabe joined Nintendo in the late 1980s as one of its first game designers, and worked on classics such as Super Mario Bros. 2 and 3 for the NES, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past for SNES and Link's Awakening for Game Boy.
Over the latter half of his career, Tanabe has served as a producer on more than 60 titles, with a particular focus on the Paper Mario and Luigi's Mansion series. But it's for his work with Retro Studios on the Metroid Prime series for which he's best known.
Now, in an interview with Nintendo Dream magazine, Tanabe has said that Metroid Prime 4 was his final game for Nintendo — meaning that he has left the series' story unfinished, and the fate of his villain Sylux uncertain.
Sylux has been built up as the next Big Bad of the Metroid Prime series, following his introduction in Metroid Prime: Hunters, and the end of the original Metroid Prime trilogy that pitted Samus against Dark Samus. During the interview, Tanabe said he saw Sylux as a way to "further expand the 'Metroid Prime Universe'" and create further games beyond the initial trilogy. Because of this, he implored developers to foreshadow Sylux's presence via cameos in Metroid Prime 3 and Metroid Prime: Federation Force, while keeping his full story under-wraps.
"A long time passed before I finally had the opportunity to make this game," Tanabe said of Metroid Prime 4 (via machine translation). "Considering my age, I felt that making this Metroid Prime series might be my last chance. Therefore, I conceived and planned this project as the 'first installment of the Sylux Saga.'
"I portrayed Sylux as a villain with a dark personality, deep resentment, and despicable methods; and from this game onward, Samus will realize that a direct confrontation with him is inevitable, and he must be completely defeated. Therefore, the final battle between Sylux and Samus is not yet over. However, it took longer than I had imagined to complete this game.
"Furthermore, I have confirmed that I will no longer be able to participate in the production of the series," Tanabe concluded. "Whether a sequel will be made is still uncertain, but I sincerely hope that one day, [assistant producer Risa] Tabata and Retro Studios will be able to tell this story completely and bring it to a close."
Nintendo is yet to comment on the report, or announce Tanabe's departure. IGN has asked the company for more detail today.
After a lengthy delay, Metroid Prime 4 finally launched for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 last month, albeit to a more muted critical response than the franchise's beloved original trilogy. Nintendo has so far made no official announcement on how well the game has sold. However, earlier this month, an unnamed Nintendo source blamed the recent slowdown in Switch 2 sales over the holiday period on a "complicated" economic climate and the "absence of a major Western game" — despite the launch of Metroid Prime 4.
"It's been 40 years since I joined Nintendo," Tanabe reflected. "Metroid Prime 4 will be the last game I work on at Nintendo. However, we didn't deliberately do anything 'special.' Instead, like all previous Nintendo titles, we worked together with Retro Studios to create it, hoping to bring a fun and unique experience to players of all ages and types.
"If it becomes a game that leaves a lasting impression on players who have played it, I will be very gratified. And for those who haven't played it yet, I hope you will experience the unknown planet Viewros through Samus' eyes."
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
Ron Perlman has said he is still very interested in reprising his iconic role as Hellboy for Hellboy 3 and finishing Guillermo del Toro’s much-loved superhero trilogy — despite being 75 years old.
Perlman hit the big time with his starring role as Hellboy in both 2004’s Hellboy and its sequel, 2008’s Hellboy 2: The Golden Army. And while he is a frequent collaborator with director Guillermo del Toro on the likes of Pacific Rim, Nightmare Alley, and Pinocchio, Hellboy 3 has failed to materialize in the near 20 years since Hellboy 2 came out.
However, Perlman still sounds very much up playing Hellboy once again, and even said he’d do it aged 80! In an interview with GQ to coincide with his cameo in Amazon’s ongoing Fallout TV series, Perlman said he’s waiting and ready.
“F**k yeah,” he said. “I mean, I was asked to do the one with David Harbour. But the only Hellboy I’m interested in doing is Hellboy 3 — finishing the trilogy we started with del Toro and the original crew. It can’t be jobbed out. You know, call me in five years if we haven’t made Hellboy 3 yet and ask me if I’m ready at 80. And I’ll go, ‘Yeah, alright. As long as I’m covered in rubber, no one will know I’m pissing my pants.’”
The David Harbour Hellboy Perlman refers to here is 2019’s reboot, directed by Neil Marshall. Harbour, of Stranger Things fame, plays Hellboy, with Milla Jovovich, Ian McShane, Sasha Lane, Daniel Dae Kim, and Thomas Haden Church also starring. Perlman refused to return without del Toro's involvement. Harbour’s Hellboy ended up a critical and commercial flop, and bombed at the box office, making just $55 million worldwide.
A third iteration, the R-rated, folk horror Hellboy: The Crooked Man starring Jack Kesy, skipped a theatrical release altogether in favor of a digital debut in 2024. It, too, failed to make a splash.
While leaves us with the unlikely prospect of getting the original band back together for Hellboy 3. Speaking recently on the Joe Vulpis Podcast, Perlman said Hellboy 3 was never close to happening. But why? “People moved on,” Perlman replied in typically short fashion. Who had moved on? “Some of the creatives.”
Then: “I thought we owed it to the fans. I still do. I'll do it now at 75-years-old, if the right person came along and says, ‘Okay.’ Because it was meant to be a trilogy, right? At the end of the second one, she's pregnant with twins and he still hasn't either destroyed the earth or saved the earth, which is his oracle.
“The third movie was going to have all that in it. It was going to be the resolve. And I thought that if you invited the fans to participate in one and two and not give them three, you were performing some sort of a… what is it called in legal circles? It should have happened.”
Perlman went on to say that Guillermo del Toro “knew what the third movie was going to look like.”
“It would have been epic,” he said. “That's why it was a shame. And it turns out people really dug the two Hellboy movies. We didn't make Marvel money. So, it wasn't like one of these mandates where we had to… you know, like all these movies now where they have to make one after another because they're making a billion dollars every time they… we didn't do that. So, there was never a mandate.
“But it turns out that when you go back and make a list of comic book movies, Hellboy always comes up pretty pretty good.”
In 2024, Hellboy creator Mike Mignola said it was highly unlikely that Guillermo del Toro would finish his Hellboy trilogy. “I just can't see him coming back to doing Hellboy again,” Mignola told Forbes. “He's got so many other things he's always wanted to do. It's a shame [the trilogy] didn't get finished, but I just don't think it was ever really going to happen. It was kind of a dream thing, but I don't think it was ever realistic. From what I understand, it would have been amazingly expensive, following up two movies that didn't make money.”
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.
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