You might want to jump on a PC upgrade sooner than later. Prices of prebuilts are expected to go up this year because of the inflated demand for DDR5 RAM and production cuts on Nvidia's graphics cards.
For this week only, Best Buy just dropped the price on the powerful iBuypower Y40 Pro gaming PC, equipped with an AMD Ryzen 9 7900X processor and RTX 5080 graphics card, to just $2,109.99 shipped. Although this system was a bit cheaper during Black Friday, it's currently the lowest price I can find for a prebuilt RTX 5080 gaming PC.
The iBuypower Y40 Pro is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 9 7900X processor, GeForce RTX 5080 16GB graphics card, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 2TB PCIe Gen 4 M.2 SSD. The AMD Ryzen 9 7900X CPU has a max turbo frequency of 5.6GHz with 12 cores, 24 threads, and a 64MB L2 cache. In terms of gaming performance, this CPU is comparable to the Intel Core i7-14700K according to Passmark benchmarks. With a high clock speed and a decent number of cores, this is a great CPU for both gaming and productivity and is a good complement to the RTX 5080 GPU.
Performance-wise, the RTX 5080 is no slouch. It's one of the fastest cards on the market, bested only by the $2,000 RTX 5090 and the discontinued $1,600 RTX 4090. This is a phenomenal card for playing the latest, most demanding games in 4K resolution at high settings and ray tracing enabled. The RTX 5080 supports DLSS 4 with multi-frame generation, which means you can push even more frames out of games that support the technology with minimal visual compromise. Recent games that support it include Doom: The Dark Ages, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Borderlands 4, Stellar Blade, and Battlefield 6. Check out our Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 FE review for our hands-on impressions.
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.
Walt Disney World has revealed a wonderful new look at what to expect from the Most Magical Place on Earth in 2026, and it includes exciting updates to Frozen Ever After, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Soarin', and more, The Magic of Disney Animation, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, the return of Cool Kids' Summer, and a ton of other experiences to look out for.
There is a lot planned for Walt Disney World in the coming months, so we thought, with the help of Disney Parks Blog, that we'd create a Walt Disney World 2026 Guide that will help you plan your trip or learn what's new and in the works. And yes, we will be updating this guide throughout the year as new details are revealed!
Be sure to let us know what you are most looking forward to and to check out our Disneyland in 2026 Guide!
In February, Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff's Audio-Animatronics are getting a major upgrade at EPCOT's Frozen Ever After. The Imagineers have taken inspiration from the figures currently at World of Frozen in Hong Kong Disneyland to create a "more true-to-film look" that will no longer use projection mapping on their faces.
The 2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts will return from January 16 through February 23, bringing with it "artisanal dishes, beautiful artwork, and sing-your-heart-out Broadway showtunes" from Disney on Broadway shows and stars." There will also be Figment's Brush with the Masters Scavenger Hunt, a Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game Collection Quest, and much more.
Disney After Hours events are set to light up the night once more in 2026, giving guests a chance to experience Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT with lower wait times, awesome character meet-and-greets, free snacks, and much more.
These are separately tickets events and usually run from 9:30pm or 10pm to 12:30am or 1am. However, guests can enter as early as 7pm, allowing them to enjoy the parks before the official event kicks off.
Guests visiting EPCOT from March 4 through June 1 will be able to enjoy the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival, which will let them "stroll past whimsical topiaries and lush gardens, savor mouthwatering bites at Outdoor Kitchens, and jam to live tunes during the Garden Rocks Concert Series."
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad will welcome guests back with some "new magic" in spring for the first time since January 2025, including a new area that will be an underground section with natural caverns full of phosphorescent pools, stalagmites, stalactites, and the colors of the rainbow all around you. Don't get too comfy, however, as a crack of thunder will turn things much more dangerous and bask the cave in an "eerie red" glow.
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin closed on August 4 of 2025 and will reopen in 2026 with some big changes. There will be a new ride vehicle inspired by Buzz, and the blasters will now be able to come off the vehicle for an even more enjoyable experience. The targets are also being improved and will flash the color of the blaster that shot them (red or green!), and scores will be displayed on a new digital screen. Oh, and did we mention you'll be able to earn one million points? Because you will!
Lastly, Imagineering and Pixar have created a new charming robot named Buddy that will welcome guests into the attraction, give them tips, and even help them to play the game the best way.
We loved Cool Kids' Summer when it first debuted in 2025, and it's officially returning in 2026 from May 26 through September 8. Cool Kids' Summer is an initiative by Walt Disney World to encourage guests to visit during the warmest months of the year with great deals, lots of fantastic experiences inside and away from the heat, and so much more. To get an idea of what to expect, keep reading on below!
Some of the biggest deals of the year at Walt Disney World happen during the summer, and you can begin booking them on January 6. One of the deals allows guests to add two free room nights and theme park days when they purchase a select 4-night, 4-day (or longer) Walt Disney Travel Company room and ticket package. This specific deal is good for most nights between May 26 and September 15, but it has to be booked between January 6 and February 15.
Guests can also save up to 30% on select Disney Resort hotels from May 1 through October 4, and Florida Residents (35%) and Annual Passholders (40%) can also take advantage of great offers at Disney Resort hotels.
These deals, especially when combined with the offer to get a free dining plan for kids ages 3 to 9 when you purchase a package that includes a dining plan for guests age 10 and up and a room at a Disney Resort hotel, make this time one of the most affordable times to visit Walt Disney World.
Those who choose to stay at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel will be able to enter the parks 30 minutes before everyone else, but the fun doesn't stop there. For summertime only, guests of Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, and Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside will have scheduled visits from fan-favorite Disney pals.
One of the more exciting offers during the summer is that guests staying at a Disney Resort hotel between May 26 and September 7 can enjoy free admission to one of the Walt Disney World water parks (Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach) on their check-in day! It's also exciting to note that both the water parks will be open, so you can choose where you want to go!
Speaking of Typhoon Lagoon, Disney H20 Glow After Hours at Disney's Typhoon Lagoon will be back this summer as a separately tickets event that lets guests "splash the night away with a DJ dance party, meet up with fun Disney pals, enjoy your favorite watery attractions, and indulge in complimentary ice cream novelties, popcorn, and select beverages – all after the sun goes down and the water park closes."
Bluey will finally have a presence at Walt Disney World as guests will be able to play and dance with Bluey and Bingo over at Animal Kingdom's Conservation Station. There will be special games directly from Bluey episodes (Keepy Uppy?!), the chance to grab a photo with the pair, and also discover animals native to Bluey's home country of Australia.
At Magic Kingdom's Diamond Horseshoe, Jessie, Woody, and other Toy Story friends will be hanging out at Jessie's Roundup, where guests can "craft, dance, and yodel [their] hearts out in this western revue."
Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! is a new stage production headed to Hollywood Studios that will let guests sing and dance with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. Mickey and Minnie have invited Goofy, Daisy, and Pluto, but they haven't arrived yet, and we'll all need to find them to get the fun started!
Hollywood Studios' The Magic of Disney Animation and Off the Page! are going to be two of the biggest additions to Walt Disney World this year (and the one I'm most excited for!), and they will be experiences inspired by Disney Animation's headquarters.
The Magic of Disney Animation will be a place where 'kids and kids at heart can laugh, draw, dream, and explore animated new experiences." This will include "silly" takes on Disney Animation's headquarters and its departments, "playful and interactive moments" like portraits coming to life as they did in "Once Upon a Studio," a short film filled with inspiration, a chance to draw "your very own character sketch," character meet-and-greets, and more.
Furthermore, the 'Drawn to Wonderland' playground will welcome kids into an "oversized flower garden with musical instruments, a Mad Tea Party playset, and a Tulgey Wood exploration area. To make it even more special, these areas are all inspired by Alice in Wonderland and its concept art by Disney Legend Mary Blair.
There will also be an area called 'Off the Page!,' which is a collaboration between Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering, and it will be a place to meet beloved Disney characters across six departments from the animation studio, including Story, Layout, Hand-Drawn Animation, Computer Animation, Lighting, and Effects.
Each space will offer photo opportunities, and one example given was Mulan in the story department. What's more is she will be posing in front of an oversized storyboard panel. Rapunzel, on the other hand, will be in the Layout department in a setting inspired by the multiplane camera. So, not only will guests be able to have incredible Disney moments with characters, but also learn and be inspired about animation and how our favorite stories are brought to life.
Oh, and we have to mention this area used to be the home of Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida, which was responsible for such films as Mulan, Lilo & Stitch, and Brother Bear.
Hollywood Studios' Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is set to close on March 1 and make way for Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets. In this new ride, J.P. Grosse purchases G-Force Records and asks his nephew, Scooter, to run the place. This will bring Electric Mayhem to the forefront as they will replace Aerosmith as the headliner of this attraction.
The courtyard will also undergo a transformation, as the massive red guitar will now have a "psychedelic wrap" and the piano motif at the bottom will feature a gold key in honor of Dr. Teeth. Speaking of Scooter, he will become an Audio-Animatronic alongside some penguin audio engineers!
The Mandalorian and Grogu is set to being Star Wars back to the movies for the first time since 2019 on May 22, but that's not all out favorite pair from that galaxy far, far away will be up to on that day.
There will be a new mission in Hollywood Studios' Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (and at Disneyland!) where Hondo Ohnaka "catches wind of a deal on Tatooine between ex-Imperial officers and pirates, setting the stage for a high-stakes chase across the galaxy. Guests will team up with Mando and Grogu to track them down and claim a bounty in a dynamic, galaxy-spanning adventure."
This new choose-your-own-adventure-style will let Engineers take care of Grogu, and it may take guests to Coruscant, Tatooine, Bespin, and/or Endor. To learn more, we had the chance to speak with Walt Disney Imagineering's Asa Kalama, and he shared a bit more about what we can expect.
"Throughout the mission, we're going to be giving the engineers the opportunity to actually get to communicate with Grogu," Kalama said. "So, we think it's going to be a ton of fun. There may be times when Mando has to deboard the Razor Crest and Grogu, left to his own devices, might get a little happy on the control panel. So, we love the idea of there being these fun little vignettes and moments where you're sort of on the comm with Grogu."
As for the choose-your-own-adventure side of it, Kalama tells us there will be "sort of a critical moment in your adventure where you are strapped for time and have to make a lightning quick decision about which of our particular bounties we want to pursue. And that's going to be the sort of inciting incident that allows us to decide which are the different destinations we go to."
In celebration of the United States' 250th anniversary, EPCOT and Disneyland's Soarin' will transform into Soarin' Across America. This new "bi-coastal offering will showcase the United States - from sea to shining sea - highlighting some of the country's natural beauty and iconic cityscapes."
This exciting update was introduced in a video that once again sees Patrick Warburton acting as our chief flight attendant, and we also learned more from the team at the time.
“Our goal was to offer guests a sampling of the diversity of America’s beauty and urban wonders with the hope it would paint an emotional portrait for the nation’s Semi-quincentennial celebration,” Tom Fitzgerald, Portfolio Executive Creative Director and Chief Storytelling Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering, said.
“Contrasting shots of different American locales — scenic wonders, amazing cities, and the beauty of the coasts. The use of the physical landscape of the United States as a unifying element,” Bernice Howes, Executive Creative Media Producer for Walt Disney Imagineering, added. “Then, using continuous camera movement to smoothly transition between these scenes, linking them together to show the geographical ‘whole’ of the nation, from natural locations to large cities to national monuments that represent America the beautiful.”
Soarin' Across America is part of a new initiative called "Disney Celebrates America," which runs through July 4 and will be filled with celebrations, shows, deals and offers for U.S. Military service members, veterans, and their families, and much more.
Banana Ball is headed to ESPN Wide World of Sports for the first time on May 29 and 30, and "whether you’re team Loco Beach Coconuts or team Party Animals, the trick plays, diving catches, and on-the-field shenanigans are sure to deliver a home run of fun."
The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival will return this fall and, while dates and details will be released at a later date, Disney encourages guests to "Come Eat to the Beat (IYKYK) and explore all that EPCOT has to offer while soaking in the fall vibes … and munching on some delicious bites."
The 'gourd times" will roll this fall when Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party once again takes residence at Magic Kingdom.
"Get ready to boo-gie with fan-favorite eerie entertainment, enjoy spellbinding sips and bites, and well-loved mysterious character greetings to celebrate the spooky season with this separately ticketed event on select nights," Disney wrote.
While no dates have been announced, Disney is wants guests to "get ready to celebrate the season in style with themed entertainment, festive food and beverage offerings, character greetings galore, and of course, all things glitz and glamour at Disney Jollywood Nights."
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party will end the year in a festive style, and will once again be "packed with seasonal entertainment, delicious food, and cozy merchandise that will make you fall in love with the holiday season all over again."
Lastly, the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays will be in full swing at the end of the year with Holiday Storytellers, delicious comfort foods at Holiday Kitchens, the Candlelight Processional, and much more.
This is only the tip of the iceberg of things planned for Walt Disney World, and we will continue to update this guide as more details are revealed. We don't know everything going on behind the curtain, but we do know some of the exciting projects in the works, including a Villains Land, the Cars-themed land called Piston Peak National Park, the Monsters-Inc.-themed land, the Tropical Americas land with Encanto and Indiana Jones attractions, the update to Carousel of Progress that will add a Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic, and so much more.
Until then, be sure to check out our Disneyland 2026 guide, the exciting details on World of Frozen at Disneyland Paris' Disney Adventure World, and our thoughts after sailing on the Disney Destiny.
Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst, Instagram, and TikTok, and listen to his show, Talking Disney Magic.
Disneyland has revealed an exciting look at what it has planned for 2026, including the ongoing celebration of the resort's 70th anniversary, new experiences for Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Soarin', the long-awaited arrival of Bluey, and some great events and festivals to plan ahead for.
With the help of Disney Parks Blog, this Disneyland in 2026 Guide will be a place to see all the fun headed to Disneyland this year. It's still early, so we will be updating this as more details are revealed, but this should give you a good idea of what to expect at the Happiest Place on Earth!
Oh, and be sure to let us know what you are most excited for and to also check out our Walt Disney World in 2026 Guide!
Disneyland will continue celebrating its 70th anniversary through August 9, meaning there's still time to experience all the fun Disney planned for this big milestone.
You can read all about the best reasons to visit Disneyland during this celebration right here, but I do have to shoutout Wondrous Journeys (my favorite Nighttime Spectacular!), World of Color Happiness!, Tapestry of Happiness, The Celebrate Happy Cavalcade, and Paint the Night as shows and experiences you won't want to miss.
The Mandalorian and Grogu is set to bring Star Wars back to the movies for the first time since 2019 on May 22, but that's not all out favorite pair from that galaxy far, far away will be up to on that day.
There will be a new mission in Disneyland's Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (and at Walt Disney World!) where Hondo Ohnaka "catches wind of a deal on Tatooine between ex-Imperial officers and pirates, setting the stage for a high-stakes chase across the galaxy. Guests will team up with Mando and Grogu to track them down and claim a bounty in a dynamic, galaxy-spanning adventure."
This new choose-your-own-adventure-style will let Engineers take care of Grogu, and it may take guests to Coruscant, Tatooine, Bespin, and/or Endor. To learn more, we had the chance to speak with Walt Disney Imagineering's Asa Kalama, and he shared a bit more about what we can expect.
"Throughout the mission, we're going to be giving the engineers the opportunity to actually get to communicate with Grogu," Kalama said. "So, we think it's going to be a ton of fun. There may be times when Mando has to deboard the Razor Crest and Grogu, left to his own devices, might get a little happy on the control panel. So, we love the idea of there being these fun little vignettes and moments where you're sort of on the comm with Grogu."
As for the choose-your-own-adventure side of it, Kalama tells us there will be "sort of a critical moment in your adventure where you are strapped for time and have to make a lightning quick decision about which of our particular bounties we want to pursue. And that's going to be the sort of inciting incident that allows us to decide which are the different destinations we go to."
In celebration of the United States' 250th anniversary, Disneyland and Walt Disney World's Soarin' will transform into Soarin' Across America. This new "bi-coastal offering will showcase the United States - from sea to shining sea - highlighting some of the country's natural beauty and iconic cityscapes."
This exciting update was introduced in a video that once again sees Patrick Warburton acting as our chief flight attendant, and we also learned more from the team at the time.
“Our goal was to offer guests a sampling of the diversity of America’s beauty and urban wonders with the hope it would paint an emotional portrait for the nation’s Semi-quincentennial celebration,” Tom Fitzgerald, Portfolio Executive Creative Director and Chief Storytelling Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering, said.
“Contrasting shots of different American locales — scenic wonders, amazing cities, and the beauty of the coasts. The use of the physical landscape of the United States as a unifying element,” Bernice Howes, Executive Creative Media Producer for Walt Disney Imagineering, added. “Then, using continuous camera movement to smoothly transition between these scenes, linking them together to show the geographical ‘whole’ of the nation, from natural locations to large cities to national monuments that represent America the beautiful.”
Soarin' Across America is part of a new initiative called "Disney Celebrates America," which runs through July 4 and will be filled with celebrations, shows, deals and offers for U.S. Military service members, veterans, and their families, and much more.
Bluey will make her big debut at Disneyland on March 22 with 'Bluey's Best Day Ever!' at the Fantasyland Theatre. This immersive celebration will turn the theatre into the grounds of Bluey's school, and Bluey and Bingo will appear live on stage to help keep the party going.
There will be live musical show moments, games like Keepy Uppy, a life-sized Gnome Village and Fairy Garden, and the chance to step into the fair at Bluey's school with the Grannies, Chattermax, Unicorse, and enjoy select themed "fave foods" at Troubadour Tavern.
Disneyland can be expensive, but there are some great deals throughout the year that can make your trip to the Happiest Place on Earth much more affordable.
One of these is the Kids' Summer Ticket Offer, which will be available to purchase beginning January 21, for visits between May 22 through September 7. For this one, Kids agest 3 through 9 will be able to visit Disneyland Resort for as low as $50/child with 1-day, 2-day, and 3-day Park Hopper ticket options.
For eligible California Residents, 3-Day Park Hopper tickets can run as low as $83/day/person for a total cost of $249 or a 3-Day Park Hopper ticket with Lightning Lane Multi Pass for as low as $117/person/day for a total cost of $351. This deal is available through May 21.
Lastly, guests can save up to 25% on stays of three or more nights through May 21 at a Disneyland Resort Hotel. In the summer, guests can save up to 25% on stays of four or more nights from May 22 through September 7 at a Disneyland Resort Hotel. Reservations for these summer deals begin on January 21.
Disneyland has some truly wonderful festivals and celebrations, and they take place on most days of the year, which means there will usually be something new and special to experience alongside your normal adventures at the parks. To plan and learn more, you can read all about what's headed our way in the future below, right from Disney;
Disneyland After Dark events will be in full swing in 2026, and they include both returning and new events to enjoy. These events are separately ticketed and themed, and they usually come complete with shorter wait times, special character meet-and-greets and food and drink offerings, and much more.
Each event takes place from 9pm to 1am, but guests can enter Disneyland as early as 6pm to get the party started early. As for what events Disneyland has planned, they are as follows;
There are plenty of surprises in store for guests at Disneyland in the future, and we will continue to update this article as details are revealed on upcoming projects, including the new attractions at Avengers Campus - Avengers Infinity Defense and Stark Flight Lab, the first-ever Coco attraction, and the future Avatar land.
For more, check out our exclusive interview with Disneyland President Thomas Mazloum on the park's past, present, and great big beautiful DisneylandForward and what to expect from Walt Disney World in 2026.
Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst, Instagram, and TikTok, and listen to his show, Talking Disney Magic.
Extend the battery life on your Nintendo Switch 2, Steam Deck, or Apple iPhone 17 for a rock bottom price. Amazon is currently offering the Iniu 10,000mAh 45W Power Bank for just $11.21 after you clip a 49% off coupon on the product page. This is the best price right now for a 10,000mAh power bank from a popular and reputable brand. You better hurry though because this type of deal usually hits its redemption limit in just a few hours.
This Iniu power bank features a 10,000mAh (37Wh) battery capacity. If you factor in 80% power efficiency, here are the approximate number of times you can fully recharge some of the more popular gaming handhelds and smartphones:
The Iniu power bank has three output ports: two 45W USB Type-C ports and one USB Type-A port. The built-in lanyard doubles as a 5" USB Type-C cable. The 45W of Power Delivery is enough to charge the Nintendo Switch (18W) and Steam Deck (40W) at their fastest rate. This power bank is also a good match with the Apple iPhone 17, since ChargerLAB has shown that the charging rate caps at about 30W for the iPhone 17 and 37W for the iPhone 17 Pro.
For more options, check out our favorite portable power banks for traveling.
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.
After cutting cable, one of the first things you'll likely be searching for is a way to watch live sports. For NBA fans, there are plenty of options to catch games without a traditional cable plan, though you may need to get creative. NBA streaming rights are always changing hands, but currently, there are three main channels you'll need to access: ABC, ESPN, and NBC. However, starting last year and through the 2035-36 season, the landscape will change once again, as NBC and Prime Video will exclusively air select games.
In the meantime, we've rounded up the best streaming services for you below to ensure you don't miss a single NBA game this season and the next.
As of right now, DirecTV Stream is the most comprehensive option for NBA fans who want to cut the cord. While each of their signature packages features the trio of channels needed to watch all major NBA games (ABC, ESPN, and NBC), the best value is the DirecTV Choice package as it also includes access to NBA TV. With this package, you'll have access to over 125 channels including every major nationwide game and a great selection of regional sporting events based on your location.
If you're a diehard sports fan, DirecTV now offers standalone Genre Packs, including the MySports pack, which is priced at $69.99 per month—cheaper than each of the standard bundles. This pack includes over 20 sports-focused channels, such as ESPN, TNT, FS1, NBA TV, and NFL Network, plus an ESPN Unlimited subscription for even more sports content.
Earlier this year, ESPN launched a new service called ESPN Unlimited. The main difference between this service and its predecessor, ESPN+, is that it actually grants you access to all of the ESPN channels without the need for a live TV service. Since it is owned by Disney, that means you'll also get access to any of the games that play on ABC as well. That means you'll get access to all of the games except the ones on NBC.
You can currently get a standalone subscription to ESPN Unlimited for $29.99 or bundle it with Disney+ and Hulu for the same price (for a limited time). With the most recent Disney+ price hike now in effect, this is the only bundle that didn't get a price increase for 2025. You can also choose to add NFL+ premium to that bundle, making this one of the best new services for NFL games as well.
Hulu + Live TV is a great option for sports fans who also want to indulge in great TV series and movies as it features over 95 channels plus the Disney Bundle as part of its monthly subscription price. It checks all the boxes for NBA fans with ABC and ESPN included (they are Disney-owned, of course), plus the remaining games on NBC.
In addition to having access to everything in the Disney+ and Hulu libraries, Hulu + Live TV also grants you access to ESPN Unlimited which unlocks additional exclusive sporting events (like UFC and college sports), original programming, and more. There is also a three-day free trial of Hulu + Live TV available for new subscribers if you want to test out the service at no cost.
If being able to catch every major NBA game for the lowest possible price is your only priority, then Sling TV is your answer. Sling TV's Orange plan will get you access to most nationally televised NBA games as it features ESPN and TNT as part of its 35-channel lineup. However, the primary reason Sling TV is a less expensive option is that it excludes local channels, such as ABC. Instead, Sling recommends you pair your subscription with a TV antenna (sold separately) to receive your local channels.
If you'd rather not worry about an external antenna, Sling TV's Blue plan does include local channels like ABC, NBC, and FOX in select markets. You'll need to enter your zip code on Sling's website to verify which (if any) local channels are available to you with this plan. If you do happen get ABC in your area, you can bundle Sling TV's Orange and Blue plans together for $60.99 per month to enjoy every NBA game. There's also the company's free service, Sling Freestream, which lets you watch some older games at no cost.
NBA League Pass is a fantastic option for NBA fans...of out of market teams. The NBA's flagship service features live coverage of every game (excluding nationally broadcast and your local market games) through the NBA app or NBA.com. Nationally broadcast games (like those on ABC, ESPN, or TNT) are available to stream on-demand three hours after they air, while locally televised games are available three days later.
Additionally, NBA League Pass features condensed recaps of every game, access to NBA TV's 24/7 live stream, full game archives dating back to the 2012-13 NBA season, and much more. NBA League Pass is available as a monthly subscription or you can choose to prepay for the entire season.
Sort of. If you have a TV antenna installed, you can watch games airing on ABC over the air. All other NBA games require either a cable subscription or a mix of select streaming services.
Currently, you can score a five-day free trial of DirecTV Stream and a three-day free trial of Hulu + Live TV if you want to catch some upcoming NBA games. As of this writing, Sling TV and ESPN Unlimited don't offer free trials, but both have limited time offers to save on monthly subscriptions. NBA League Pass doesn't have a direct free trial, but if you add it through an existing Prime Video subscription, you'll get seven days free.
If you're looking to stream more than just sports, check out our list of the Best Streaming Services With Free Trials in 2026.
Matthew Adler is a Commerce, Features, Guides, News, Previews, and Reviews writer for IGN. You can follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @MatthewAdler and watch him stream on Twitch.
The short-term outlook doesn't bode well with regards to GPU pricing. PCMag and other outlets have reported that Nvidia may cut back production on its consumer graphics cards by up to 30%-40% due to the demand of DRAM and Nvidia's shift in focus to supplying AI data centers. As a result of the dwindling supply, GPU prices are expected to rise in 2026.
Fortunately if you're thinking of upgrading your PC right now, it's not too late to get a current generation GeForce graphics card at retail pricing. Select variants of the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5070, and RTX 5060 Ti 16GB graphics cards are currently available at Walmart and Amazon without any markup, but who knows for how long.
The RTX 5070 performs on par with the previous generation RTX 4070 Super - which was already an excellent card for 1080p and 1440p gaming - but with DLSS4 and multi-frame generation. It's equipped with 12GB of GDDR7 VRAM which allows it to keep up with high-fps gaming at 1440p. You'll even be able to play less demanding games at 4K as well, although you'll see a significant performance uplift upgrading to the 5070 Ti at that point.
There are two RTX 5060 Ti variants floating around with the only difference being the amount of VRAM, either 8GB or 16GB. If you can afford it, you should only get the 16GB model. Numerous outlets have shown that the performance gap between the 8GB and 16GB models is huge. The model I've linked to above is a 16GB model, which is an excellent option for 1080p gaming. It outperforms the RTX 4060 Ti by about 20% and the RTX 3060 Ti by 40% and that's without DLSS4.
It excels at 4K gaming performance at a reasonable price point
Of all the Blackwell cards released thus far, the RTX 5070 Ti offers the best value for high-fps 4K gaming. It performs neck-and-neck with the RTX 4080 Super but with the added bonus of newer GDDR7 VRAM and DLSS 4 with multi-frame generation. If you plan on using this card for AI, the RTX 5070 Ti is a better value than the RTX 5080 since both have same amount of RAM (16GB). Compared to AMD, the RTX 5070 Ti is roughly comparable in raw performance to the AMD RX 9070 XT, but the 5070 Ti has considerably better upscaling technology and ray tracing 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.
Matt Firor, the former studio head and founder of ZeniMax Online Studios, has confirmed his resignation from the company as a direct result of the cancelation of the studio's unannounced game, Project Blackbird.
In a LinkedIn post today, Firor reflected on the last year and confirmed his departure back in July, which had already been rumored after he stepped down from his leadership role last year. "Project Blackbird was the game I had waited my entire career to create, and having it canceled led to my resignation. My heart and thoughts are always with the impacted team members, many of whom I had worked 20+ years with, and all of whom were the most dedicated, amazingly talented group of developers in the industry."
Firor also made clear he is not involved in any of the projects that have been started by former ZeniMax Online members who were laid off from the company around this time. He added that he is advising some of them "informally" and confirmed they were "in good hands."
He concluded by stating that while he doesn't know what he'll do next, he's currently both advising some projects and startups unofficially, as well as investing in some small teams. "But I have not yet seriously contemplated spinning up a new development studio."
Project Blackbird was an unannounced MMORPG that was in development at ZeniMax Online Studios, but was canceled by Xbox in the summer of 2025 as a part of the layoff of hundreds of individuals at Xbox Game Studios, and thousands Microsoft-wide. Blackbird would have been a brand new, sci-fi IP that had been in development since 2018. In July, sources speaking to IGN told us that the project was going well and was about to move into full production with Xbox's approval to scale up the team. Blackbird's cancelation led to the layoffs of every member of the team.
Firor founded ZeniMax Online Studios under ZeniMax Media in 2007 after 10 years at Mythic Entertainment, where he was a founding employee. There, he oversaw the creation of The Elder Scrolls Online, which launched in 2014 and continues to be supported, with the most recent major expansion Gold Road releasing in January 2024. Firor was also in charge when parent company ZeniMax Media was acquired by Microsoft in 2021.
Following the cancelation of Blackbird, ZeniMax Online Studios remains in operation, continuing work on The Elder Scrolls Online under the leadership of Joseph Burba, a 13-year veteran of the studio.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
Jack Black has revealed his regret at turning down the role of Syndrome in The Incredibles, admitting he shouldn’t have been so difficult and just accepted the part.
Speaking on Capital Breakfast's Christmas day show to promote his new movie, Anaconda, Black said he thought Syndrome was a one dimensional character and asked for a rewrite, which writer and director Brad Bird declined.
“I was offered — and I do regret it, saying no — I was offered Syndrome in that fantastic movie, The Incredibles,” Black revealed. “One of my favorites of all time by the way. And I said no, because I was like, ‘Er, Brad Bird, never heard of him. This character that you’re offering me is a villain but he’s kind of one dimensional. I’m interested but I’d like to see a rewrite. Will you add some dimensions to this character?’ And he was like, ‘You’re done. Get out of here.’"
The Jumanji, School of Rock, and Kung Fu Panda star continued: “And I learnt a valuable lesson. Because then the movie came out and it was one of the best movies ever made. I was like, ‘Why was I being so difficult?’”
The role of Syndrome, Mr. Incredible's obsessed fan turned supervillain, went to Jason Lee (My Name Is Earl, Mallrats). Pixar’s The Incredibles came out in 2004 and enjoyed critical and commercial acclaim, making over $630 million at the global box office. The Incredibles did so well it spawned a sequel, with The Incredibles 3 confirmed to be in the works. Anaconda, meanwhile, is now up to $88.4 million at the global box office.
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 regular NFL season may be over, but now we're headed into playoffs territory. If you're hoping to stream games online this year, it is once again unnecessarily confusing. There is no single place where you can watch every NFL game live, and it gets even more confusing when you start factoring in some streaming exclusives coming later this year.
If you're looking for the best way to watch as many NFL games as you can this season, you're likely going to need to be subscribed to multiple streaming services. I don't think anyone's happy about that, so the best alternative is doing some solid math on what you're most interested in watching.
For those who are only looking to watch the occasional game, most of the popular sports streaming services should do the trick. You can also get some games through other streaming services depending on the day. I'd recommend checking out the NFL website for an up-to-date schedule of games to find out where you can stream each one.
If you're looking for a live TV streaming service with a focus on sports, Fubo is likely your best option. It will give you online access to all of the normal local channels and also includes access to the new ESPN Unlimited service. Both of the available subscription plans include Unlimited DVR, but if you want access to RedZone you'll need to go with the Elite with Sports Plus package.
Fubo comes in two different tiers, Pro and Elite with Sports Plus. The Pro plan will get you access to most of what you need to watch NFL games as well as 241 total channels for $84.99 per month. Upgrading to the next tier will get you access to more channels, RedZone, and 4K streaming for $104.99. There's also a free trial available for Fubo that will let you test out the service for seven days before you have to pay.
If you're not interested in adding a live TV service to your monthly bill, Disney+ recently launched a new bundle offer that can help you save quite a bit. This was announced alongside the new ESPN Unlimited service last month and includes access to Disney+ and Hulu subscriptions as well. As of September 3, you can also choose to bundle NFL+ Premium in as an add-on, making it the best new streaming option for watching NFL games.
The base bundle is currently priced at $29.99 for the first 12 months of your subscription, and you can choose to add on NFL+ Premium for an additional $10. This will get you access to most regular season NFL games as well as RedZone for $39.99 per month. The biggest downside is that NFL+ Premium will only let you stream games via your phone or tablet.
Prime Video is maybe not the most ideal one-stop shop if you're looking for a comprehensive NFL streaming service, but it does get you access to most Thursday Night Football games (and already comes included with any Amazon Prime subscription). The exception to this was the very first game of the season and Thanksgiving. You can see the full schedule of upcoming NFL games you can watch with Prime directly from the Prime Video website. It's also worth noting that Prime Video will be streaming the Black Friday Football game this year in tandem with the Amazon Black Friday sale.
An Amazon Prime membership costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. Thursday Night Football games will be streamed live online via the Prime Video app or directly from Amazon's website. The main reason to get an Amazon Prime subscription is still the free shipping on stuff you buy from Amazon, but watching the occasional NFL game is a bonus. Amazon Prime currently has one of the best free trials in all of streaming that lets you access the service for 30 days before paying anything.
Similar to Amazon Prime, Paramount+ is really just a streaming service that also happens to have some NFL games. The only games you'll be able to stream are the ones that are also being broadcast on CBS, which you could also watch on live TV if you wished to avoid paying for this service. The Paramount+ website has a full schedule of what games will be available for the first week and beyond that I'd recommend checking out.
The main draw of Paramount+ outside of NFL games is the original content that is only available there. This streaming service is the home of the Sonic the Hedgehog movies and also where you can currently stream new South Park episodes. There are two tiers of Paramount+ available, with the cheapest starting at $7.99 with ads. There's also a fall promo going on that takes 50% off the price when you subscribe annually.
If you're specifically looking for a single service that has every single NFL game, YouTube TV with NFL Sunday Ticket is probably your best bet. The YouTube TV part of this bundle will include any in-market local and national NFL games streamed live, while NFL Sunday Ticket will get you all of the out-of-market Sunday games as well. The add-on is the only way to get access to those non-local games and YouTube is the only place that currently offers it.
The main downside of this option is that you'll need to add on other services to watch additional NFL games. Access to ESPN is required for Monday Night Football games and Prime Video is required for Thursday Night Football games. You can add these on for an additional cost, but it will start to get expensive compared to some other options on this list. Disney is also currently in a contract dispute with YouTube TV so there's actually no way to included ESPN currently. YouTube TV is offering new users an NFL Sunday Ticket bundle for only $83.40 per month for the first two months before that price goes up.
You don't need a streaming or cable subscription to watch some NFL games, but you will need one to watch all of them. There will be games available on live TV every week on ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC that you can access with a TV antenna for free. In addition to these games, Twitch will stream Thursday Night Football games for free. The games you won't be able to access for free are anything playing on ESPN or out-of-market Sunday games.
Because of how NFL streaming rights are set up, there is no cheap way to watch all of the games in 2026. To watch every game for the lowest possible price you'll need access to ESPN Unlimited, NFL+, Netflix, Peacock, and Amazon Prime. This is due to both Netflix and Peacock having exclusive rights to some games later in the season. For a full breakdown of what you'll need to subscribe to and when, I'd suggest taking a look at this comprehensive Reddit thread breaking it down.
Super Bowl LX will be available to watch live on NBC on February 8, 2026. This means if you’re hoping to stream the game online you’ll need to do it through Peacock, which is owned by NBC.
NACON has just released an official gameplay trailer for its upcoming Styx game, Styx: Blades of Greed. In this trailer, we get to see 9 minutes of gameplay footage. So, if you’ve been looking forward to this new Styx game, you should definitely watch this new trailer. In Styx: Blades of Greed, you will play … Continue reading Styx: Blades of Greed Just Got an Official Gameplay Trailer →
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Bandai Namco has released a new trailer, showcasing 8 minutes of brand new gameplay footage from CODE VEIN 2. In this gameplay trailer, we get a glimpse at the game’s combat system, as well as its visuals and environments. So, if you are a fan of this franchise, you should definitely watch it. CODE VEIN … Continue reading Here are 8 minutes of new gameplay from CODE VEIN 2 →
The post Here are 8 minutes of new gameplay from CODE VEIN 2 appeared first on DSOGaming.
Super Meat Boy, the hard-as-nails platforming classic where dying dozens of times per level comes as standard, has now been played from start to finish in a perfect run.
It's been 15 years since Super Meat Boy originally released for Xbox 360, and it has taken all of those 15 years for someone to pull off this frankly astonishing feat.
Step up shredberg, a Nintendo speedrunner with a particular soft spot for Super Meat Boy, who livestreamed his deathless completion of the game just before the end of 2025. The achievement quickly drew congratulations from Edmund McMillen, the game's co-creator, who dubbed shredberg as "awesome" for being the one who finally managed it.
For anyone who's played and struggled with Super Meat Boy over the years, particularly its later levels which simply look impossible when you first see them, it's hard to not watch the full video of shredberg's run and be impressed at the calm way he leaps, slops and slides around each level just pixels away from sawblades, meat grinders and explosions.
"Let's go," shredberg said calmly, upon completing Super Meat Boy's final level after more than 2000 attempts and over 1000 hours of gameplay. "Let's go dude! I cannot believe it, I've been doing this too long. I got to go to work tomorrow.
"I'll be honest, I'm not going to say I wasn't nervous, because I was very nervous at the end there... but I was way more nervous just in Dark Cotton," he continued, referencing an earlier level. "Once I got past Dark Hell 2, I was relatively fine. I got super nervous whenever I had any minor slip-up."
"I'm going to be emailing everyone," shredberg added. "Kotaku, IGN, CNN, Chef's Illustrated, they're all going to hear about it. I will unironically email IGN."
Over the years, Super Meat Boy has launched on every major console from Nintendo Switch to PlayStation Vita, though no one else has managed this feat — something many players thought was impossible. A sequel to the game, Super Meat Boy Forever, launched in 2020. Next up for the series is Super Meat Boy 3D, due for launch early this year.
And for shredberg? The second he completed his run, one viewer had a suggestion for what he should play next. "I have to play Silksong now?" shredberg said, reading the inevitable comment. "Yeah... I'm so glad it's over. Not even in a 'this wasn't even fun' kinda way, because it was. But, man."
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
Five Nights at Freddy's 2 is getting a 4K steelbook alongside its 4K UHD and Blu-ray release, and eager fans don't have to wait too long to get their hands on it. Preorders are already live, with the film's physical release set for February 17 this year. That's just a little over a month away, which isn't too bad of a wait at all.
Below, we've broken down where you can preorder the standard 4K, Blu-ray, and limited edition steelbook right now. There's also a two-film collection that's available to preorder, if you're hoping to have the first and second film together as one package. Alongside that, we've also detailed the bonus features that come with this physical release, which include behind-the-scenes footage, featurettes on how the animatronics were brought to life, and more.
The steelbook sets you up with a copy of Five Nights at Freddy's 2 (feel free to check out IGN's review) on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and digital. It also features a slightly different cover to the standard 4K and Blu-ray, with just Freddy peeking through the curtain on the front, while the 4K and Blu-ray covers feature red backgrounds with multiple animatronics coming through the "2" cut out in the middle.
This two-movie collection sets you up with both Five Nights at Freddy’s and its sequel on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and digital. It also comes with bonus features for both films. The sequel's can be found below, but here are the bonus features that come with the first film:
For physical media collectors, there's plenty more to look forward to as we start up 2026. To see what other physical releases are still to come with year, check out our breakdown of upcoming 4Ks and Blu-rays to plan ahead for what's releasing in the coming months.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelancer who writes with the guides and commerce teams here at IGN.
Critics’ biggest night has finally arrived — and they told us exactly how they felt about the biggest and best films and TV shows of 2025 at the 31st annual Critics Choice Awards. Critical engagement with art is such a necessary quest, as it tends to bring something to the public consciousness that expands both viewers perspective on the work and how the work itself functions in our cultural landscape, so their yearly picks truly say something about the state of visual art in the now.
Needless to say, we’ve had some seriously good projects come our way in the last year, including the Ryan Coogler period horror breakout Sinners. As you might’ve expected, the film — which stars Michael B. Jordan, Miles Catton, Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O'Connell, and Wunmi Mosaku — ended up winning the most awards for a film this year. Interestingly enough, though, it actually tied with Guillermo del Toro’s Netflix adaptation of Frankenstein for that title.
Both films went home with four awards, and as far as acting goes, both films took home big prizes. Jacob Elordi snagged the Best Supporting Actor award for his portrayal of Frankenstein’s monsters, while Catton took home the Best Young Actor/Actress award for his excellent breakout as preacher boy Sammie. Coogler was also recognized for his writing, being awarded for Best Original Screenplay, while his casting director, Francine Maisler, was recognized for Best Casting and Ensemble.
As for the other big hits of the year, Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another also got its fair share of praise, going home with three awards including both Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay for Anderson. The film was also recognized in the Best Picture category, which had some steep competition in it.
There were also a couple of one-off wins that truly felt sweet. Josh Safdie’s Marty Supreme was only recognized once, but it was a big one. Star Timothee Chalamet took home the award for Best Actor for his work in the title role, which could be a precursor for the upcoming Academy Awards, but who can say just yet. But perhaps the best and most satisfying one-off win went to Amy Madigan for her haunting portrayal of Aunt Gladys in Weapons, which took the world by storm when the film was released over the summer.
On the TV side, it should come as no surprise that Netflix’s tragic miniseries Adolescence was the big winner with four awards, including Best Limited Series. It also snagged three acting awards for Stephen Graham, Owen Cooper, and Erin Doherty, all of whom won the same awards for their work at the 77th Primetime Emmys.
Beloved medical drama The Pitt and breakout comedy The Studio both tied for second place on wins, each going home with three awards a piece. The Pitt won Best Drama Series and two acting awards for Noah Wiley and Katherine LaNasa, all of which the series won at the Emmys as well. The Studio took home Best Comedy Series, with Seth Rogen and Ike Barinholtz winning Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor respectively. Rogen and the show also won at the Emmys, but Barinholtz’s win was a first (and only his second nomination for the series).
BEST PICTURE
BEST ACTOR
BEST ACTRESS
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
BEST YOUNG ACTOR / ACTRESS
BEST DIRECTOR
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
BEST CASTING AND ENSEMBLE
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN
BEST EDITING
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
BEST HAIR AND MAKEUP
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
BEST STUNT DESIGN
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
BEST COMEDY
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
BEST SONG
BEST SCORE
BEST SOUND
BEST DRAMA SERIES
BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES
BEST COMEDY SERIES
BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES
BEST LIMITED SERIES
BEST MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
BEST ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE SERIES
BEST ANIMATED SERIES
BEST TALK SHOW
BEST VARIETY SERIES
BEST COMEDY SPECIAL
Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association.
Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.
Week 18 of the NFL regular season ended after that Ravens/Steelers banger and the playoffs kick off this coming weekend. Instead of paying for expensive tickets and fighting the crowds, why not put that money into a big, gorgeous TV set so you can watch from the comfort of your home. If you've missed out on all of the (now expired) OLED TV deals during Black Friday, here's a new deal that just popped up and runs for this week only.
Woot, which is owned by Amazon, is offering a 65" Samsung S90D 4K OLED Smart TV for just $1,079.99 or a 77" model for $1,497.99. Both TVs cost only $5 to ship, although Amazon Prime members can get free delivery. These are brand new TVs with a 1 year Samsung warranty. The S90D is one of Samsung's more premium OLED TVs featuring a quantum dot OLED panel for brighter, richer colors. It's comparable to LG's C-series OLED TVs.
OLED TVs feature best-in-class image quality thanks to their near-infinite black level, near-infinite contrast ratio, and near-instantaneous response time. For most use cases, there isn't a better TV that you can get for the same price.
The S90D is Samsung's 2024 S90 series TV. This is a higher end model that's equipped with a quantum dot (QD) OLED panel, which is brighter and boasts a wider color gamut than traditional W-OLED panels like Samsung's lower end S85 series. It is a slightly older model than the current generation Samsung S90F that was released in 2025, but that TV currently costs $500 more and image quality is practically identical.
OLED qualities aside, the Samsung S90D also has all the features you'd want in a gaming TV. It has a native 120Hz panel that can be pushed to as high as 144Hz as well as four total HDMI 2.1 ports for running 4K at 120Hz on a PS5 or Xbox Series X gaming console. The S90D also supports variable refresh rate and auto low latency mode
Despite being a current generation console, the Nintendo Switch 2 has lax TV requirements compared to the PS5 or Xbox Series X. When the Switch is connected to its dock and a television, it is only capable of outputting a 4K resolution signal at up to 60 frames per second. It can go up to 120fps if the resolution drops to 1080p, but the data rate required for both these options is pretty much the same. Oddly, it doesn’t even get VRR when docked – that’s reserved for handheld mode only. The Switch 2 console, however, will still benefit greatly from the Samsung's gorgeous OLED panel.
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.
Anime just keeps getting bigger. It was reported to be a $19+ billion industry in 2023, so we can only imagine where it's at in 2026. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to watch anime without paying a dime. While you might have to skip out on the occasional Netflix original anime, there's something for everyone in the hundreds of anime series and movies out there for free.
If you watch anime, you probably know that there are plenty of what we'll call "risky" anime sites, most of which ride a legal gray line or head straight into piracy territory. This list is limited to free anime sites we know for sure legally acquired their streaming licenses.
Whether you want to see what the hype's about with Solo Leveling (which recently won Anime of the Year), are planning a Naruto marathon, or want to dive into classics like Sailor Moon, here are the best sites to watch anime for free.
As the ultimate anime streaming service, Crunchyroll offers free ad-supported streaming of a selection of its library. What's available with Crunchyroll's free tier changes with seasonal releases, but it's consistently one of the best ways to check out the latest and greatest anime for free. Right now, you can watch the first season of massive hits like Solo Leveling, Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, and Apothecary Diaries for free. The free streaming tier doesn't always limit you to a first season, either. For example, you won't get cut off from watching every season of My Hero Academia, Spy X Family, or Demon Slayer.
If a particular Premium offering catches your eye, you can also sign up for (then try and remember to cancel) a seven-day free trial of Crunchyroll Premium.
Tubi is one of the best free streaming sites, period, and licensing deals with the likes of Crunchyroll, Konami, GKIDS, and Viz Media mean the free platform is stocked with a solid amount of anime. You’ll find plenty of the classics, like Naruto, Pokémon, and Sailor Moon, shoujo favorites like Toradora and Maid-Sama, and comedies like Daily Lives of High School Boys. Tubi also has a surprisingly great selection of anime movies, including films directed by Satoshi Kon and Naoko Yamada. And if you're interested in american cartoons, Tubi recently started streaming Looney Tunes shorts after HBO Max decided to remove them from its platform.
Sling TV’s new Freestream platform combines a bunch of existing free streaming "channels" into a single platform. One of those streaming libraries is RetroCrush, which itself is a great free anime site focused on old-school classics like Ghost Stories and City Hunter. Freestream also includes “sneak peaks” at programming from Cartoon Network and Adult Swim, including the recent Uzumaki anime and, interestingly enough, the final season of Attack on Titan.
Viz Media is a major distributor of anime and manga in North America. While the Viz website does offer free manga chapters (as well as physical volumes), you'll only find physical releases for anime. However, you can find a pretty decent selection of free anime on the Viz Media YouTube channel, including a full spread of InuYasha, Naruto, and Sailor Moon movies.
This one's a little different, as it does require a bit of an investment. That is, you have to have an eligible library card to sign up. If you do, you're all set to access a range of series through Hoopla, including the Pokémon Binge Pass, which is one of the most fleshed-out collections of the Pokémon anime. Keep in mind that, like a library, you have to "check out" certain series, which you may only have access to for a certain amount of time, typically around one week.
While it may not have the widest selection of anime series, one big benefit of Hoopla is that it also allows you to rent ebooks, manga, and comics. It's one of the best places to read books for free online or anywhere.
Unfortunately, by virtue of licensing agreements, ads are par for the course for free streaming sites. If you find a streaming site without ads, it's more than likely on the "riskier" side of the internet. No judgment, of course.
Beyond Viz Media's official channel, there’s a treasure trove of free anime on YouTube. I won’t necessarily point you (or the copyright police) in any specific direction, but I will say it’s worth checking if something you’re interested in is on there.
Blythe (she/her) is an SEO Coordinator at IGN who spends way too much time in character customization screens and tracking down collectibles.
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