Ah, the licensed video game. Once a collection of underwhelming retellings of big-screen blockbusters, littered with haunting polygonal nightmares (Hagrid, that’s you) and aimless Atari attempts (yes, E.T., that’s you), we’ve seen an uptick in actually good adaptations in recent years, with the upcoming Terminator 2D: No Fate looking like a promising attempt at turning James Cameron’s classic into some enjoyable retro action. So, we thought we’d pick out the best of the bunch.

We do have a few little rules, though, that stop just any old film-adjacent game from making the list. They need to either be:

• A direct translation or adaptation of a feature film
• An official movie sequel or prequel.
• Or a game that attempts to continue the story or provide backstory and additional canonical lore.

So, for example, Insomniac’s Marvel’s Spider-Man is not eligible as it takes place in a Marvel universe separate from the movies and is much more rooted in the original comic books, but the PS2’s Spider-Man 2 would be allowed due to it being directly based on the Sam Raimi film of the same name. Make sense? I hope so. Let’s rank the top 10 best licensed games based on movies.

10. Peter Jackson’s King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie

Console launch games come with the power to stun thanks to the leap in technology they inherently are unlocked by. The Xbox 360’s Peter Jackson’s King Kong definitely benefited from this, as the Lord of the Rings’ director’s epic retelling of the classic monster movie made a huge splash at the dawn of gaming’s HD era. With Rayman and Beyond Good and Evil creator Michel Ancel helming it at Ubisoft Montpellier, King Kong felt more than a standard movie tie-in thanks to its many interesting and novel ideas. You had the freedom to explore its vast jungle spaces, which offered an unprecedented sense of cinematic immersion and was a breathtaking contrast against the previous generation’s more limiting, corridor-like spaces. King Kong not only ushered in a whole new generation of hardware but also a new way of thinking about how licensed games could be approached.

9. Scarface: The World is Yours

Scarface: The World is Yours has balls. Not only does a “Balls Meter” fill up as Tony Montana causes mayhem across an open-world ‘80s Miami, allowing for him to slow down time, enter first-person mode, and gain infinite ammo as he guns down as many gang rivals as possible, but it also has an audacity to position itself as a sequel to a film in which its protagonist dies at the end. In this alternative universe, Al Pacino’s antihero coke fiend survives the ambush at his mansion thanks to a certain little friend and escapes out of the back door, free to continue building his drug-running empire. Yes, it's largely a GTA-clone, as was commonplace in the era — see the also actually quite good The Godfather adaptation for further evidence — but its wild concept alone is enough for it to deserve a place on this list.

8. Rockstar’s The Warriors

In terms of creating immersive worlds and capturing a tone, not many do it quite like Rockstar. The Warriors comes from an era when we’d get more than one game a decade from the developer, and sometimes multiple in one year. A much smaller-scale project than the likes of GTA: San Andreas or Vice City, The Warriors acts as both a prequel and a retelling of the cult ‘70s thriller of the same name, focusing on the titular New York gang. Taking the form of a beat 'em up, it successfully drenches you in the seedy underworld alleyways that its characters inhabit, as Rockstar once again displayed their world-class world-building credentials. And that grimy tone is what The Warriors achieves most successfully, making it an adaptation that shouldn’t be overlooked, even when compared to the Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption studio’s other headline-stealing projects.

7. Mad Max

Avalanche Studios’ Mad Max is the perfect example of taking the essence of a film series and turning that into the driving force behind a video game adaptation. In this case, it's the exhilarating car combat witnessed all the way back in the original 1979 movie, through Road Warrior, and into Fury Road’s landmark action. When Max is on foot in the 2015 game, it's perfectly good as it apes the successful melee formula concocted by Warner Bros. stablemate Rocksteady for its Batman Arkham series, but it's when the Australian drifter gets those hands out of raiders’ jawbones and behind the wheel of his iconic Interceptor that it really comes to life. Now a cult favourite, much like the original film that inspires it, Mad Max is one of a kind and a fantastic translation of George Miller’s vision in video game form.

6. Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Years before the Rocksteady Batman: Arkham and Insomniac Marvel’s Spider-Man games, the prospect of a successful comic book game was bleak. Even rarer was the thought of a genuinely fun movie tie-in. Treyarch’s Spider-Man 2, based on the Sam Raimi film of the same name, flew in the face of both those ideas. An incredibly detailed New York City (for the time, at least) felt like a revelation to swing around in, and Peter Parker’s web-slinging provided a whole new way to explore the sort of 3D open world that the PS2’s Grand Theft Auto games had pioneered. In a legitimately impressive technical revelation, Treyarch’s Spidey actually attached his webs to buildings rather than empty skyboxes. Flying between skyscrapers and thumping petty criminals was a thrilling sensation back in 2004, and, while it has since been far eclipsed by more modern Peter Parker and Miles Morales adventures, it certainly paved the way for those to exist.

5. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

It’s difficult to think of a movie series that’s had more games to its name than Star Wars. Classics such as TIE Fighter and Rogue Leader were contenders for this pick, but we just think there’s nothing like the fulfillment of the Force fantasy that is delivered by Respawn’s Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Bridging the gap between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, this 2023 action-adventure is part of the official canon, with references to Order 66 and clashes with Darth Vader fuelling Cal Kestis’ story, but with an originality that doesn’t just lean on Star Wars cliches. An improvement in pretty much every way over its predecessor, Fallen Order, it's an easy pick for our representative of the most famous of film universes.

4. GoldenEye 007

It may not be the best to play now, but there’s just no denying the impact that GoldenEye 007 had when it arrived in 1997 on the Nintendo 64. Perfect Dark, shortly after, would go on to expand on the ideas established in its campaign, and games like TimeSplitters would borrow from its revolutionary approach to FPS multiplayer, making it so much more than just a movie adaptation. Yes, it featured a whole host of famous James Bond heroes and villains — including a truly broken Oddjob, who takes the term “sharply dressed” to its extreme —- and successfully captured the globetrotting exploits of 007 as much as a console with the limited power of the N64 could at the time, but it also shaped the next three decades of online shooters. This makes it so much more than just a movie tie-in, and something developer Rare should never be forgotten for achieving.

3. The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay

A video game prequel to the 2000 Vin Diesel vehicle, Pitch Black, has no right to be as good as The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay, yet here we are. Taking a heap of Half-Life campaign design and a healthy dose of Thief-like stealth, the Swedish Starbreeze Studios and Vin Diesel’s own Tigon Studios transformed a perfectly decent film series into a genuinely great video game, and one that many believe surpasses its source material. Its smart level design is enhanced by intelligent translations of Riddick’s abilities from the film, such as his trademark “eyeshine”, which lets you see in the dark, and a healthy amount of improvised blunt and sharp weaponry that fits perfectly with the movie’s grimy aesthetic. The plot’s premise — a prison escape — is fundamentally cinematic, but it's the ways in which Butcher Bay asks you to play intelligently in its world that pushes it beyond the big screen and into a truly great game.

2. Alien Isolation

The original Alien film from 1979 is a haunted house movie in space, with lone survivor of the Nostromo, Ripley, aiming to survive its dark corridors and the roaming Xenomorph threat until the credits hit. As such, it would become a natural inspiration for many survival horror greats, from Dead Space’s infested spaceship, to SOMA’s unnerving futurism, and, of course, Resident Evil 2’s stalking Mr X threat. So, naturally, when the time came for yet another Alien game to be made, survival horror seemed a logical choice for developer Creative Assembly, who would be the next in a long line to take up the challenge of translating the unique atmosphere of Ridley Scott’s original film.

What the studio made was beyond what could have been expected, as it evolved the idea of RE 2’s Tyrant into an ever-present danger that scuttled along the map’s sprawling web of vents. The Xenomorph, and the tech powering it, are the jewel at the centre of Isolation’s crown, and are what make it such a faithful recreation of Alien. By stepping into her daughter’s shoes and sneaking around the Sevastopol, you get as close a feeling as to what it would’ve been like to be Ripley and walk those Nostromo hallways yourself. It may not quite make the number one spot on our list, but it is the entry that most successfully captures the overall tone of its source material, embracing its terror to astonishing effect.

1. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

We wouldn’t have the likes of Tomb Raider or Uncharted without Indiana Jones, and in 2024, the king came back to claim his throne. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle took everything that made the original trilogy of Steven Spielberg films so special and managed to translate it into a lovingly designed video game from Wolfenstein developer MachineGames — perhaps not so coincidentally, a studio formed by former Escape from Butcher Bay developers. Not only is The Great Circle a fantastic, stealthy, puzzle-filled action-adventure that really places an emphasis on the adventure part, but it borrows all of the archaeological intrigue and, crucially, humour that makes the likes of Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade so special. So much, in fact, that the story told here would slot in nicely between them and act as a superior third of that trilogy than Temple of Doom ever did.

Throw in a fantastic pitch-perfect Harrison Ford impression from Troy Baker, a suitably swarmy performance from Marios Gavrilis for the villainous Emmerich Voss, and a healthy amount of Nazi punching, whipping, and shovel-smacking, and you’ve got all of the ingredients you need. But it’s so much more than just a playable film, instead grounding itself in flexible immersive-sim-esque gameplay systems that emphasise using brain over brawn. Violence is rarely considered a first option, and gained knowledge is always a much sharper weapon. It makes for a truly fantastic game in its own right, but one that is as referential as it is transformative, and a true-to-life version of what the Indiana Jones character is — a doctor, not a soldier. The Great Circle is as thought-out a licensed game based on a movie as you could wish for, and a perfect fit for the top of our list.

And those are our picks for the best games based on movies. What game that you love didn’t make the cut? Let us know in the comments! And for more licensed games, check out our list of the best Marvel games of all time.

Simon Cardy is a Senior Editor at IGN who can mainly be found skulking around open world games, indulging in Korean cinema, or despairing at the state of Tottenham Hotspur and the New York Jets. Follow him on Bluesky at @cardy.bsky.social.

Doom co-creator John Romero has revealed that while his previous shooter was canceled, "elements" of it live on in his latest secret project.

Romero Games, the studio founded by John and Brenda Romero, was left "heartbroken" this summer after Microsoft reportedly pulled funding of its next project as part of the company's latest round of cuts and mass layoffs. The cuts also affected other internal Xbox studios, leading to the cancellation of the likes of Everwild and Perfect Dark, as well as other unannounced titles Microsoft had been funding.

Despite some reports, the studio did not close, and the Romeros assured fans they were "evaluating opportunities" from publishers that had been in touch since the funding issues were announced, but very little was known about the game other than it was a first-person shooter.

Now, in a new interview at Salón del Videojuego de Madrid (thanks, Eurogamer), John Romero revealed, to rapturous applause, that he had "survived the cancellation of a huge game." And while his current project "has nothing to do with the previous game," it "incorporates a lot of the elements that we had in the previous game."

"We're ahead — we're not starting at ground zero," he explained. "We have 50 million worth of a game. We can take pieces out and put [them] into a brand new indie game, so we have a lot of stuff to put in the game, and the design is completely different, but the team is really excited.

"It's a very much smaller game," he added. "It's more fun for us because the people working on it were all directors of different departments, and they didn't actually get to code or design or whatever — do it themselves — and so now we get to actually do that, do the thing that we're really good at ourselves. That's why small teams are great."

Fans believe we're just days away from our first proper peek at Avengers: Doomsday, as Marvel reportedly readies the movie's debut trailer.

A listing for the trailer has now popped up on the Korean Ratings Board, which mentions the look at Avengers: Doomsday with a runtime of 1 minute and 25 seconds.

The emergence of this rating, amid fevered speculation from Marvel production scoopers, certainly suggests our initial glimpse at Avengers: Doomsday footage is now imminent. And then there's the other solid reason why we're likely to get a trailer soon: next week's launch of fellow Disney blockbuster Avatar: Fire and Ash.

Attaching a new trailer for Avengers: Doomsday to the new Avatar movie would inevitably drive further interest in the blue alien threequel, with some cinemagoers likely attending just to see Robert Downey Jr. and co. on the big screen again after all these year.

And while Avatar: Fire and Ash is certainly expected to do well, there's added pressure for this chapter in the franchise to succeed. Recent comments from franchise creator James Cameron suggested the filmmaker would be content to step away from the series if Fire and Ash didn't do as well as expected, leaving plans for an Avatar 4 and 5 in doubt.

Avengers: Doomsday is now almost exactly one year away — another milestone that a trailer might celebrate. Due for release on December 18, 2026, the movie is expected to be Marvel's biggest launch since 2019's Avengers: Endgame — which itself will get a re-release next year to remind audiences of the MCU's last major climax.

With the return of Downey Jr. and directorial duo Anthony and Joe Russo, many fans believe Doomsday will be pitched as something of a direct sequel to Endgame (and, obviously, it is the first Avengers-branded follow-up since). Rumors abound that another major Endgame star has also been tempted back for a big role, inverting the relationship they had with Iron Man, now Downey Jr. is playing the villainous Doctor Doom.

To date, Marvel has only released its infamous cast reveal "chair" video showing off the film's enormous ensemble cast that takes in surviving members of the old Avengers, the Thunderbolts (AKA The New Avengers), the Fantastic Four and several high-profile members of the Fox-era X-Men. A few production photos have leaked out over the film's shoot, and fans certainly have their theories over where Doomsday's story is headed, but much of the movie remains officially under wraps.

Perhaps we'll get hints at all of that, when the first Avengers: Doomsday trailer does land... soon.

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

South Park looks set to bring Season 28 to a close with the long-awaited(?) delivery of Satan and Donald Trump’s ‘butt baby.’

Today, December 10, South Park Season 28 Episode 5 airs at 10pm ET / PT on Comedy Central, before streaming tomorrow, December 11 on Paramount+ from 6am ET / 3am PT. Episode 5 is expected to be the season finale and bring to an end South Park’s current biweekly schedule of new episode releases until the new season starts.

For the uninitiated, the overarching storyline in South Park Season 27 and Season 28 has been Trump trying and failing to convince Satan not to go through with having their baby, aka the Antichrist. Now it’s actually happening, although vice president J.D. Vance, who has conspired with Trump to try to murder the baby in recent episodes, may end up having the last laugh.

The episode itself is appropriately called The Crap Out, and Comedy Central's episode description declares: "Satan's due, Stan's praying, and only a Christmas miracle can deliver the Antichrist on time." How will Stan factor in all of this? It’s unclear, but the clip below shows Trump and J.D. Vance working as bell ringers for the Salvation Army, so there is that...

Watch an all-new episode of South Park December 10th at 10/9c on Comedy Central and stream next day on Paramount+. pic.twitter.com/s7wYziizaJ

— South Park (@SouthPark) December 9, 2025

Also unclear is what happens with South Park from here. South Park abruptly brought Season 27 to an end after just five episodes, and the expectation is that Season 28 will end with the same number. Could we see Season 29 sooner rather than later?

Traditionally, South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone create each episode week by week, which makes for a chaotic production but topical shows. Comedy Central had delayed the Season 27 ender just hours before it was due to air, with Parker and Stone insisting the blame lay at their door. “Apparently when you do everything at the last minute sometimes you don’t get it done,” the pair told Variety. “This one’s on us. We didn’t get it done in time. Thanks to Comedy Central and South Park fans for being so understanding. Tune in next week!”

As far as we at IGN are aware, Parker and Stone had missed the scheduled release of South Park just once before, due to a power outage, but never for not getting an episode done in time.

It’s worth noting that during their San Diego Comic-Con 2025 panel, which took place the day after the Season 27 opener aired, Parker said he and Stone were unsure what the next episode would be, revealing the decision was “super stressful.”

South Park has enjoyed big ratings and sparked much debate ever since the Donald Trump-skewering Season 27 opener in July, which you can read the details of here. It roasted Trump to such an extent that it sparked a rebuttal from the White House. Parker and Stone have said they were attracted to “new taboos” and a fear of speaking out against the Trump administration.

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.

Netflix has admitted it did not attribute any value to Warner Bros.’ video game business in its $82.7 billion acquisition deal, sparking concern for the future of everything from Mortal Kombat to Hogwarts Legacy.

While Warner Bros. is best known for its movie and TV business, Warner Bros. Games includes a number of well-known video game developers and brands. Batman Arkham developer Rocksteady, LEGO games developer Traveller's Tales, Hogwarts Legacy developer Avalanche Software, and Mortal Kombat maker NetherRealm are all on Warner Bros. Games’ books.

And despite the fact some of Warner Bros. games, in particular smash hit Hogwarts Legacy, have sold tens of millions of copies and generated billions of dollars in revenue, as far as Netflix is concerned, they’re pretty much an afterthought in this mega deal.

Speaking during a conference presentation about the deal reported on by Pocket Gamer, Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters responded to a question about whether buying Warner Bros. would accelerate its own gaming plans.

He said that while Warner Bros. had done “great work in the game space, we actually didn’t attribute any value to that from the get-go because they’re relatively minor compared to the grand scheme of things."

“Now we are super excited because some of those properties that they’ve built, Hogwarts is a great example of that, have been done quite well, and we think that we can incorporate that into what we’re offering.

“They’ve got great studios and great folks working there. So we think that there’s definitely an opportunity there. But just to be clear, we haven’t built that into our deal model.”

While Warner Bros. Games does have some big hitters under its belt, it has struggled since the release of Hogwarts Legacy. In January, previous games boss David Haddad exited the company following the costly failures of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and MultiVersus. Soon after, Warner Bros. Games announced plans to shutter Monolith Productions, Player First Games, and Warner Bros. San Diego alongside the cancelation of its Wonder Woman game. And in June, Warner Bros. Games announced a restructure to focus on four key franchises: Mortal Kombat, Harry Potter, DC, and Game of Thrones.

Indeed, 2024 was a brutal year for Warner Bros. Games, with Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League sparking a $200 million hit to revenue, and then Smash Bros.-style brawler MultiVersus flopping to the tune of $100 million. Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions, meanwhile, failed to make an impression. Speaking in a financial call, Warner Bros. Discovery President and CEO David Zaslav said: "We recognise [the games business] is substantially underperforming its potential right now.”

So what’s next for Warner Bros. Games while it awaits its fate? The promising Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is set to launch at some point in 2026, and given Netflix's deal may not close until summer 2027, this one feels safe.

Elsewhere, there's a Hogwarts Legacy sequel in the works and a single-player Batman game from Rocksteady reportedly in development, but neither is announced nor do we have release windows. NetherRealm has yet to announce its next project, having ceased work on Mortal Kombat 1 updates. Will it make another Mortal Kombat game or another game in the DC fighting game series, Injustice? Gotham Knights developer WB Games Montreal, meanwhile, reportedly pitched a John Constantine game but it was never approved. A Flash game was scrapped after the DCU Flash film bombed. It’s now allegedly helping out with other games and is reportedly working on a pitch for a new Game of Thrones game.

Will Netflix be interested in any of this? So far, Netflix has seen mixed results from its video game efforts, with a number of high-profile hires and subsequent studio closures. It’s currently focused on narrative games based on Netflix shows, games for children, social party games, and Grand Theft Auto ports.

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.

Two more titles headed to the PlayStation Plus catalog for Extra and Premium members have reportedly been revealed, and are due to become available next week.

That's according to the ever-reliable Dealabs, which has reported that both Assassin's Creed Mirage and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty will arrive for subscribers on Tuesday, December 16.

Mirage is the enjoyable, city-sized Assassin's Creed game that launched in 2023 as a brief respite from the sprawling, country-sized epics the series now regularly delivers. Its tighter gameplay, set across the rooftops and alleyways of a historical Baghdad, was well received.

Last month, Mirage received a major update adding a further six hours of gameplay — set in what is now modern day Saudi Arabia, and reportedly funded by modern day Saudi Arabian interests. The game has also recently been added to Xbox Game Pass, as Ubisoft seeks to get the game in front of as many players as possible.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, meanwhile, is the 2023 historical action role-player from Nioh maker Team Ninja, which is loosely based on the Chinese epic Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

In addition to these, Dealabs reported that Soulcalibur 3 is "expected" to be included in the PlayStation Plus Premium Classics Catalog, after it was previously confirmed as on its way during September's State of Play broadcast. We'll know for certain soon.

Sony is expected to officially reveal its PlayStation Plus selection for December later today. We'll update this post with any further titles then.

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

Arc Raiders has a "cold snap" on the way, and it's set to arrive on December 16.

As already confirmed by developer Embark Studios, the Cold Snap December update adds a new map condition called Snowfall, a new event called Flickering Flames, new quests, and a new raider deck (Arc Raiders' equivalent of a battle pass).

What does the Snowfall map condition mean, exactly? We're not sure, but Embark shared the image, below, showing what appears to be a dead raider in the snow, suggesting the frigid weather could be more deadly than merely inconvenient. As one fan quipped in response: "I can’t wait to have all of my s**t stolen from people camping in basements on extraction points covered in snow."

16.12.25 pic.twitter.com/UxQH0nAP1L

— ARC Raiders (@ARCRaidersGame) December 9, 2025

Cold Snap is the last update listed as part of Arc Raiders' 2025 content roadmap, and Embark has yet to outline what's coming in 2026. The previous update, rolled out at the end of November, involved a "very hot fix for the locked room exploits," and it turned out they weren’t kidding after some players had been cheating their way into locked rooms as before.

Arc Raiders sold over 4 million copies worldwide within two weeks of launch, cementing its commercial success. Nexon also revealed that the extraction shooter had reached a huge concurrent count of 700,000 players across all platforms. It's done so well it's crossed over into the world of South Park with a surprise appearance that was put together in just a few days.

IGN's Arc Raiders review, returned a 9/10. We said: "With polished gunplay and an irresistible grind, ARC Raiders sets a new standard for extraction shooters."

If this has tempted you into jumping into Arc Raiders, check out our guide to the best settings, find out what skills we recommend unlocking first, and see how to earn loot by delivering field depot crates.

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.

An HBO Max subscriber has filed a class-action lawsuit over Netflix’s proposed $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros.

Warner Bros.-owned streaming platform HBO Max includes everything from Game of Thrones to Harry Potter, James Gunn's DC Universe to Barbie, and its content is expected to be added to Netflix if and when the deal goes through.

The lawsuit, filed by a Las Vegas-based HBO Max subscriber who has never been a Netflix subscriber, argues that the deal threatens to reduce competition in the U.S. subscription video-on-demand market, and seeks to block the acquisition.

Netflix’s proposal has sparked a tough response from some members of Congress, and it is expected to face significant scrutiny under antitrust laws. Paramount, meanwhile, has launched a hostile bid worth $108.4 billion in the hope of stealing Warner Bros. out from under Netflix.

According to the LA Times, HBO Max subscriber Michelle Fendelander alleged in her lawsuit, filed in a U.S. District Court in San Jose, that if Netflix’s deal were to go through it would decrease competition in the subscription streaming market. The lawsuit asks the court to issue an injunction to prevent the merger from happening.

“American consumers — including SVOD purchasers like Plaintiff, an HBO Max subscriber — will bear the brunt of this decreased competition, paying increased prices and receiving degraded and diminished services for their money,” Fendelander’s lawsuit claims.

“The elimination of this rivalry is likely to reduce overall content output, diminish the diversity and quality of available content, and narrow the spectrum of creative voices appearing on major streaming platforms.”

In a statement, Netflix hit out at the lawsuit, saying: “We believe this suit is meritless and is merely an attempt by the plaintiffs’ bar to leverage all the attention on the deal.”

Last week, Netflix sent subscribers an email of reassurance following the news of its $82.7 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros., amid concern over potential price rises.

The email — reviewed by IGN — promises subscribers that nothing is changing “today,” and confirms that HBO Max and Netflix will continue to operate separately until the deal closes. Netflix goes on to say that there are a number of steps it needs to complete before the deal closes, including regulatory and shareholder approval. Netflix’s email does not rule out future price rises, but does promise that current membership plans will remain in place at least until the deal goes through. As for when that will be, Netflix said it expects to close the transaction in 12-18 months. So, at the earliest, December 2026, but it could be as late as summer 2027. It seems likely that Warner Bros. shows will arrive on Netflix when the deal closes, and when that happens a price rise seems inevitable.

But will the deal make it through? Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren has called on the Justice Department to examine Netflix's buyout of Warner Bros., branding the deal "like an anti-monopoly nightmare." Netflix has said acquiring Warner Bros. would provide better value to subscribers and shareholders, but Warren insisted a Netflix-owned Warner Bros. risked job losses and higher subscription prices, and said that the Justice Department must now enforce the country's anti-monopoly laws "fairly and transparently."

In an investor call last week attended by IGN, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos struck a confident tone when asked about the deal’s chance of success. "We're highly confident in the regulatory process," he said. "This deal is pro-consumer, pro-innovation, pro-worker, it's pro-creator, it's pro-growth.”

As part of the same call, Sarandos said Netflix would continue to release Warner Bros. movies in theaters for now, though expected theatrical release windows to shorten over time to become "more user friendly."

One report has claimed Netflix is particularly keen to obtain Warner Bros.' vast content library as the streamer ramps up its potential to offer AI-generation tools and content in the future, just weeks after Disney boss Bob Iger confirmed it would imminently begin rolling out AI content and capabilities via Disney+.

Photo by Vincent Feuray / Hans Lucas / AFP 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.

Today's release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A DLC Mega Dimension has seen the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 adventure receive its version 2.0.0 update — and a list of all-new Mega Pokémon evolutions.

Nintendo had previously shown off a handful of Mega Dimension's new Mega Evolutions, but also kept many back for players to find as they explore the game — or, inevitably, discover online as the update was immediately datamined.

Mega Dimension adds a fresh story campaign to Pokémon Legends: Z-A, starring a donut chef and the Mythical Pokémon Hoopa. Notably, it takes players into a Hyperspace version of Lumiose City where the franchise's typical level 100 cap can be surpassed. But, for many, collecting all of the series' brand-new Mega Evolutions will be the core attraction.

We'll leave details of the new Mega Pokémon species under spoiler tags below, for those who wish to discover them during gameplay, ahead of the game's latest patch notes.

For now, these look to be the last additions likely for Pokémon's ninth generation era, before the franchise moves forward to its highly-anticipated 10th generation of games, expected by fans to arrive next year in line with Pokémon's overall 30th anniversary.

That said, several curious designs have popped up in the most recent trailer for upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 spin-off Pokémon Pokopia, including a pale Pikachu named Peakychu and an overgrown-looking Snorlax named Mosslax. The exact nature of these designs is still to be determined, and they currently have fans split whether they are one-off variants or all-new regional forms.

For now, anyway, here's everything to look forward to in Mega Dimension, which is now available to play.

Mega Evolutions added in Pokémon Legends: Z-A Mega Dimension:

• Mega Raichu X
• Mega Raichu Y
• Mega Chimecho
• Mega Absol Z
• Mega Staraptor
• Mega Garchomp Z
• Mega Lucario Z
• Mega Heatran
• Mega Darkrai
• Mega Chandelure
• Mega Golisopod
• Mega Golurk
• Mega Meowstic
• Mega Crabominable
• Mega Magearna
• Mega Zerora
• Mega Scovillain
• Mega Glimmora
• Mega Tatsugiri
• Mega Baxcalibur

Pokémon Legends: Z-A: Version 2.0.0 patch notes (December 9, 2025):

Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Mega Dimension DLC Additional Story Content Now Available:

• Players who have purchased the Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Mega Dimension DLC (sold separately) can now enjoy its additional story content.
• To progress through the story of the Mega Dimension DLC, you must first have completed the main story of Pokémon Legends: Z-A. For more details about Mega Dimension, please visit the official website: https://legends.pokemon.com/en-us/dlc

New Pokémon:

• Players who have not purchased the Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Mega Dimension DLC can still encounter or obtain the Pokémon added to Mega Dimension via communication features.

Fixes Applied:

• Several issues have been fixed.

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

Finding the perfect gift for someone who only likes tech stuff can be a challenge. Partially because the best tech gifts tend to be inherently expensive. If you're buying someone new technology for Christmas this year, it has the potential to be the only gift that truly gets them excited while also blowing a massive hole in your budget.

There are exceptions to this, of course. Plenty of high-quality tech and gaming accessories are surprisingly affordable and practical. If you're looking for ideas of what to get the tech nerd in your life this year, we've rounded up 10 gifts we love and recommend buying in 2025 to help get you started.

1. Ecoflow Rapid Pro Power Bank

Walmart just kicked off one of the lowest prices I've seen on an RTX 5070 equipped laptop. Right now you can pick up a Asus TUF F16 gaming laptop for just $1,099 with free delivery. This laptop offers strong performance for the price since it's equipped with an unthrottled RTX 5070 GPU with a 115W TGP rating.

Asus TUF F16 (2025) RTX 5070 Gaming Laptop for $1,099

These days, streaming services are a dime a dozen. Disney+ offers some of the best value in relation to the exclusive content it has available, as you'll not only have access to dozens of Disney and Pixar films and TV shows, but the entirety of the collected Marvel Cinematic Universe and every Star Wars project pre- and post-acquisition. Depending on the subscription tier or bundle you pick, you can also experience Hulu and ESPN Unlimited content as well, making this the best bang-for-your-buck streaming services around.

But did you know you can give a Disney+ subscription as a gift? We've gathered everything you need to know on how to give a subscription out to your loved ones and how the process works. It's a wonderful Disney gift idea for 2025.

How to Give Disney+ As a Gift

How to redeem a gift card

1. When you're ready to redeem, visit the disneyplus.com/commerce/gift webpage
2. Enter the gift card number, security code, and ZIP and they're ready to go. If they're a first-time subscriber, they'll have to create an account.
3. Select the desired Disney+ or bundle plan.

Does a Disney+ Gift Card Work With Streaming Bundles?

There are a handful of different Disney+ bundles available, and luckily the gift cards work towards these as well. So if you're wanting to grab Hulu, ESPN, and HBO Max to bundle and save, you can do so to save a few bucks. Our explainer guide on how to get or switch to one of these bundles is a useful tool for how to decide what to pick.

How Much Should You Gift?

Call of Duty will no longer release multiple Black Ops or Modern Warfare games back-to-back, after two Modern Warfare releases in 2022 and 2023, and two Black Ops releases in 2024 and 2025, respectively, and negative feedback and concerning sales reports for the most recent release, Black Ops 7.

This news was delivered from "the Call of Duty team" (encompassing studios Treyarch, Sledgehammer, Infinity Ward, and Raven Software) on the official website, in a post that acknowledged the criticism of Black Ops 7 as well as broader criticism of the franchise in recent years. As the post opens:

First off, thank you for all for the feedback we have received over the last few months. Call of Duty has enjoyed long-standing success because of all of you, a passionate community that demands excellence and deserves nothing less. We also know that for some of you, the Franchise has not met your expectations fully. To be very clear, we know what you expect and rest assured we will deliver, and overdeliver, on those expectations as we move forward.

The post goes on to state a number of changes the Call of Duty studios will be making going forward. For starters, they're opening up Black Ops 7's multiplayer zombies mode for a free trial and Double XP weekend next week, in an effort to get those who have hesitated on Black Ops 7 to "experience the game firsthand and decide for yourselves." They also are committing to "unprecedented season support," saying that they "won't rest until Black Ops 7 earns its place as one of the best Black Ops games we’ve ever made."

Then, the team had this to say about future Call of Duty releases:

We will no longer do back-to-back releases of Modern Warfare or Black Ops games. The reasons are many, but the main one is to ensure we provide an absolutely unique experience each and every year.

We will drive innovation that is meaningful, not incremental. While we aren’t sharing those plans today, we look forward to doing so when the time is right.

The note concludes by saying the team believes Call of Duty's "best days are ahead of us" and that the next era of Call of Duty will "deliver precisely on what you want along with some surprises that push the Franchise and the genre forward."

These changes come amidst, and likely in response to, a rough couple of years for the Call of Duty franchise. The most recent entry, Black Ops 7, debuted last month to middling reviews, including our own 6/10 campaign review, 6/10 Zombies review, and significantly better 8/10 multiplayer review. This is also in the context of both Black Ops 7 and Modern Warfare 3 receiving poor reviews in comparison to their immediate series predecessors the year before, with Black Ops 6 and Modern Warfare 2 being received generally favorably. This likely accounts, at least in part, for the decision to stop the back-to-back releases.

For Black Ops 7, that lukewarm reception has also been reflected in the game's sales numbers, especially in relation to another recent major multiplayer shooter release, Battlefield 6. The game had a "terrible" launch in Europe, down 63% versus Battlefield 6 and down by more than 50% versus last year's Black Ops 6 in the equivalent periods.

It is worth noting that we don't have full visibility into Black Ops 7's sales data, as it launched day one on Game Pass, and a number of people likely played the game through the subscription service and didn't count as unit sales.

But nonetheless, the announcement today feels like an admission that something has gone wrong here. Whether or not the Call of Duty team can fix it will take a few years to truly comprehend.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

Book nooks are a great way to add some flair to your book collection and pad out some empty space on your shelf. The best part is that they're typically DIY kits made of parts similar to any other miniature model kit. These are the perfect time sink for a rainy day, with podcast or your favorite movie on in the background, or even for a date night. Looking online, there are seemingly endless options when to brands and styles, but I've gathered some of what I think are the very best. Below are my top picks by brand in terms of style, design, and cost. Each one of these would make for an excellent gift for the readers in your life.

LEGO Book Nooks

The LEGO book nooks were all released in 2025, and thet have been extremely popular so far. I got the Lord of the Rings: Balrog set, and both the Harry Potter Hogwarts Express and Sherlock Holmes book nooks are excellent LEGO gifts for adults this year. Not only do they function well as a typical book nook, but ech one unfolds into classic scene from their respective properties; you have Gandalf facing off against the Balrog in the iconic "you shall not pass" scene, a recreation of Baker Street where Sherlock calls home, and King's Cross Station and Platform 9 3/4 where Harry and Ron are boarding the train back to Hogwarts. These range in cost from $100 up to $130.

Alongside the three book nooks LEGO has released, there's also a LEGO Wicked bookends set that was incredible to build. I'd recommend that if you have a floating shelf rather than a bookcase.

Funpola Book Nooks

Funpola book nooks stand out from the rest in that they offer a lot more modern and sci-fi themed nooks than others. The Endless Dimensions kit is a cool neon Cyberpunk-like aesthetic, and the Automobile Shop is a nice addition. The New World kit is my favorite of the bunch; it has all kinds of nautical decor, treasure, dead pirates drinking rum. What's not to like? Funpola does still have the more fantasy-leaning kits, too, if none of these catch your eye. These will set you back $50.

CCCDF Book Nooks

The CCCDF brand book nooks pay homage to some of literature's best works. The Alice Down the Rabbit Hole kit shows off the whimsical setting you'd expect from Lewis Carroll's timeless tale, and the Phantom of the Opera kit is a neat recreation of the novel as well. CCCDF also offers oversized book nooks, like the Beyond Library Max, if you're looking to fill more space or just prefer them like this. They cost a bit more than the regular kits, coming in around $60.

Cutebee Book Nooks

Cutebee book nooks offer a more storybook style, which I like. The Amazing Toys Store kit gives Pleasure Island vibes from Pinocchio, while the Darkness Common Room is surely inspired by the Slytherin common room from Harry Potter. The Rose Detective Agency would look great on the shelf next to any edition of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes books. These all hover around $40, so you won't break the bank too hard if you go the Cutebee route.

Rolife Book Nooks

Rolife book nooks are a bit more minimalist than the others. The Sakura Densya is a quaint replica of a Japanese train station, and the Sunshine Town reminds me of something you'd see in a Nicholas Sparks novel. They also seem to be a bit narrower than the rest, so you should have no problem fitting these into your bookshelf. The size might also contribute to their $40 price tag.

Where to Buy Book Nooks Online

While Amazon is clearly the best bet to find these book nooks, other retailers offer them as well. Naturally, you can find the three LEGO book nooks directly on LEGO's website (and even earn points towards rewards this way), and Walmart and Target have a handful for sale. But other than Amazon, the best place to buy book nooks online is Book Nook World, a fitting title. This site carries all the other brands mentioned here and then some, so if you're looking for a themed nook not listed here, this is where I'd suggest you go.

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

Best Buyis offering a gaming monitor with some great specs for well under $100. Right now you can pick up a 27" AOC 27G50F 1080p gaming monitor for only $79.99 after a $60 instant discount. Shipping is free. This monitor is a perfect complement to budget PCs or laptops equipped with onboard graphics or a less powerful discrete graphics card.

27" AOC 1080p 144Hz Gaming Monitor for $79.99

Recently, IGN sat down with Chris Barnardo, Co-Founder and Director at The Wand Company. Having co-founded the company, Barnardo is involved in each new product release. He is responsible for the mechanical design and packaging, graphical design, copywriting, and all promotional material. Some of The Wand Company's most popular releases include the Fallout Pip-Boy 3000 Mk V, Star Trek Original Series Tricorder, and Pokémon Poké Ball.

What first attracted you to the idea of creating a die-cast replica of the Fusion Flea specifically?

When I was a child I loved making kits of cars, when I was old enough to own a car I spent every weekend under the hood working on my car. I love the cars in Fallout, they are so strange and yet exciting to look at. I have a dream that one day I will scratch-build a drivable life-sized Fusion Flea, so what better way to start than by making some 1:18 scale versions. I imagined what the Fallout universe would have been like before the bombs dropped and in my mind’s eye I could see all these awesome
cars scooting around. I felt that by making a range of Fusion Fleas I would be bringing the pre-war Fallout world a little closer to reality. The design is so natty and the brand building in Fallout is so awesome that it gives so much potential for a lovely range of this cute little car.

At The Wand Company, you’ve worked on a wide range of licensed proplica products. How did the Flea project differ from previous collaborations in scope or creative approach?

Most of our projects are very complex and involve a great deal of electronics development, but what I like about the Fusion Fleas is that, from an electronics point of view, they are very simple and that means that I can focus on the creative development. In a way, the Fleas are a very distilled version of an idea of how to bring in-universe concepts to life. I love the way that fans collect and treasure the Fleas and I especially enjoy designing the merchandising materials. When designing the look of the Fleas and their features, I work very closely with a great product designer called Matt Bagshaw. In addition, James Barnardo, my grown up son, is a graphic designer and he not only developed the packaging concepts, but came up with the idea that in the Fallout universe the Fleas would have been given as an employee incentive reward for the Chryslus factory workers.

When did the concept of the Desert Sandtrack Flea variant begin? And what was the spark for choosing this particular vehicle/variant?

The Desert Sandtrack Flea was designed as one of a set of three released in 2025 that further extended the concept of the original Flea design. We had previously designed a military scout Flea, which was a painted version of the basic design. For the Desert Sandtrack Flea, we wanted to push the design a lot further and take the idea of the scout Fleas into the farthest corners of the battle front. In my mind, this might have been an experimental vehicle that Chryslus created for a need that never developed, or may have seen active service. The beauty of the Fallout universe is that there are so many possibilities of events and products within the scope of the universe that we are yet to learn about. The neat thing about the design is that it takes the standard Flea body and evolves it with chunky tires up front and a caterpillar track at the back, and then chops the canopy off to make a low windshield. It looks great and is a perfect evolution of the basic design.

The fandom around Fallout is very passionate about authenticity and lore accuracy. How did you achieve the model’s fidelity?

To create the original Flea we studied the Fallout team’s original sketches. They are so detailed. Although there was no suitable reference for the engines and running gear, we designed the engine and the simple suspension to fit the look and feel of the Fallout equipment from other machines where the workings are more obvious.

Walk us through the design process: from concept sketch to prototype to final production. What were key milestones or turning points?

It differs from Flea to Flea. For the Desert Sandtrack Flea the concept started with a Fallout in-universe magazine, Hot Rodder. This got us thinking about what would happen if the basic form of the Flea was evolved to make it suitable not just for suburban roads, but other harsher environments. The wonderful thing about the Flea project is that we get to let our imagination run freely, provided we follow some important in-universe rules. After the initial sketches are done, we do a very detailed 3D model of what we want. We submit the model to Bethesda, and if they approve it, we pass that to the factory. The way we work with the die-cast metal cars is different to our other projects. For all our other projects we do the 3D CAD right up to the point where the factory works on it to make the tooling CAD, but for the Fleas we send them the designer CAD and they design the actual manufacturing geometry. Once the CAD has been approved, I can then use that to design the merchandising box and the manual. I love drawing the manuals and designing the packaging, it’s a really fun part of the project; I get to imagine if the little car was real and imagine what the fan will feel when they look at the box for the first time. It’s so amazing when the first “golden sample” arrives for my approval and I see the real product for the first time… I guess this is my own personal unboxing experience. The next major milestone is the delivery to our retailers. Finally, we have the joy of hearing back from fans that have bought one to add to their collection. I think that this last step is not only the most important, but also the most rewarding part for me.

Were there any technical or design challenges unique to this particular variant?

There were two main challenges. Changing the batteries from three button cells to a single AAA and painting that wonderful camo pattern all over the bodywork. The LEDs that are used to illuminate the engine bay with that blue radiation glow need just over 5V. In previous designs, this voltage was supplied by three button cells in series, which conveniently provide more than enough voltage to drive a blue LED. The circuit is simple and only requires a single resistor and a switch to make it work. However, button cells are very dangerous if swallowed and although the Flea is not a toy, there are increasingly strict rules about how button and coin cell batteries can be packaged. As a result, for this new Flea design we decided to move to a single AAA battery. As this only produces 1.5V, some clever electronics were required to boost the voltage to make it high enough to power the LED. The camo pattern was another great challenge. Each different colour has to be applied to the bodywork multiple times to make sure that the pattern covers the surface and all fits together. It was a challenge, but the end result is stunning and totally worth it.

Tell us about the packaging and included materials. How does it tell a story for collectors?

The packaging is a fun part of the project for me. Growing up, I wanted to be a graphic illustrator. I love drawing the manuals and rendering the Fleas in different positions for the packaging and thinking up the box colour scheme to make them as collectible as possible with the other Fleas that we have created. Building the look is a lot like putting a jigsaw together, but it is a jigsaw that you are not only doing, but designing the pieces as you go along. It is as much a challenge as it is fun to do. And then of course at the end all the ideas come together and you see the finished printed parts, it is very rewarding.

What have you personally learned from working on this project that you’ll carry into future ones?

That people love these little cars and I should be making a lot more of them.

Are there any wish-list items from the Fallout universe you personally hope to tackle in the future?

Oh… there is so much to do and so little time to do it! I would love to make more cars… a Station Wagon, a Rocket 69… I have 3D designs for both of them. There are simply too many gorgeous things that need making in this wonderfully rich fantasy world of Fallout.

How do you factor in rarity when designing limited-edition items? Some Fusion Fleas have sold for thousands of dollars secondhand. Does this influence your design process?

In a word, yes. But rarity is a funny thing. There are millions of fans out there, so rarity is relative and based on how many people are actually collecting something. We have to make a minimum number of any given Flea style in order to cover the costs of tooling and doing the work to design them in the first place. At less than about 1,000 units, the project doesn't make sense for our company financially. In some cases, where we have made just a handful of Fleas for a special occasion, these are then very rare and have changed hands for many thousands of dollars. However, all the Fleas have become rare to some extent and sell in the secondhand market often for more than they cost to buy in the first place. I would like to see the demand increase, but I will always make sure that these lovely pieces are kept in high demand by only making one manufacturing run of each design, so that the rarity that fans want is there, while still given those that want to build their collections a chance at getting the ones that they want.

About IGN Store

IGN Store sells high-quality merch, collectibles, and shirts for everything you're into. It's a shop built with fans in mind: for all the geek culture and fandom you love most. Whether you're into comics, movies, anime, games, retro gaming or just want some cute plushies (who doesn't?), this store is for you!

Tired of predictable presents? Let's liven things up with some classic Nintendo merch. Whether you're on the hunt for the perfect gift for a gamer or just want to add some excitement to your own life, we've got you covered. From a new system equipped to play N64 games on 4K TVs to some of our favorite Nintendo Switch games, we've handpicked the best of the best for 2025. The IGN Deals team was excited to collaborate with some of our NVC folks (shout out to all the Ninfriendos) this week to get their own personal recommendations here, so let's take a look at the latest and greatest gifts for that Nintendo fanatic in your life, in no particular order (except for #1).

TL;DR - Best Nintendo Gift Ideas

1. Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle

Picked by: IGN Deals Team

To nobody's surprise, we have to recommend the Switch 2, especially the Mario Kart World bundle. We gave Mario Kart World an 8 out of 10 in our review, with Logan Plant saying, “Mario Kart World may not make the most convincing case that going open-world was the boost the series needed, but excellent multiplayer racing, incredible polish, and the thrilling new Knockout Tour mode still more than live up to its legacy.”

The Nintendo Switch 2 has been flying off shelves despite a lack of Black Friday deals, and then even more so after retailers finally dropped the price by $50 off and on during Cyber Week. There are more Switch 2 bundles still available that include everything from microSD Express cards to other games. Although this list is technically unordered, this is the clear winner for the best Nintendo gift you can get this year.

Welcome back, fellow bargain hunter. From karting chaos to murderous Vikings, strategy disasters to horror that’ll haunt your sleep, this idle Wednesday's deals are here to remind you that self-control is optional and retail therapy is mandatory. Grab a seat, grab a wallet, and try not to cry when I make your “just browsing” excuse fail spectacularly.

Contents

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

This Day in Gaming 🎂

In retro news, it's somehow been 26 years since I prepared for my finest hour in Medal of Honor, a pivotal PS FPS that I still snap a salute to. After reinvigorating WWII in popular culture with Saving Private Ryan, Spielberg and DreamWorks Interactive used that beachhead to conceive, produce, and write a more kid gloves companion piece game. End result: they triggered a decades-long landslide of shooters themed on virtually every major battle undertaken by The Greatest Generation (not to mention the unintended creation of a rival Call of Duty franchise).

Personally, I adored the Nazi-blasting, disguise-wearing OSS saboteur antics of MoH. Few games of the era looked, felt, and sounded this cinematic. A true classic, and its original trailer still slaps.

Lenovo could show off a new approach to its rollable OLED screen tech early next year: giving a laptop the ability to go ultrawide, according to Windows Latest (via The Verge). The laptop, which the outlet refers to as the Legion Pro Rollable, would be the first from Lenovo with a horizontally-rolling display.

As The Verge notes, there's precious little detail in Windows Latest's post, so we don't know anything about the refresh rate, brightness, resolution, and so on – just that it's going to have a 21:9 aspect ratio, which is way wider than any of our favorite gaming laptops. The outlet also claims to have confirmed that the laptop will have an Intel Core Ultra processor, but that would hardly be a surprise. The post also guesses the screen will have at least a 120Hz refresh rate, given that the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable already does. Windows Latest also published what it says is an official promotional image for the laptop.

Lenovo has dropped the price on one of its best equipped gaming laptops for the holidays. The Legion Pro 5 Gen 10 gaming laptop, featuring an OLED display, Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU, and RTX 5070 Ti GPU, is down to $1,690.99 after coupon code "EXTRAFIVE". That's about $700 off in combined savings. The RTX 5070 Ti is a powerful mobile GPU that will easily run game you throw at it, even on the display's 1600p resolution.

Lenovo Legion 5 Pro Gen 10 RTX 5070 Ti Laptop for $1,691

Apple's previous flagship Apple Watch Ultra 2 smartwatch just dropped in price today. Amazon currently has select models for just $549 after a hefty $250 instant discount (retail price is $799). This is actually $50 cheaper than the best deal I saw during Black Friday, making it the lowest price of the year. The Watch Ultra 2 is the best watch in the lineup for anyone who enjoys the outdoors, thanks to its increased durability, more precise GPS, and activity specific features and apps.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 Smartwatch for $549 (was $799)

To say Call of Duty is an important piece of video game history would be an understatement. It’s hard to think of first-person shooters (or action games in general) without mentioning this series, which has become one of the most successful franchises ever after revolutionizing single-player campaigns and online battles.

For decades, CoD has dominated the multiplayer scene. Apart from creating iconic characters like Captain Price and Alex Mason, the series has also introduced unexpected figures to their ranks, like Spawn, Snoop Dogg, and Lionel Messi. With Black Ops 7 on the horizon, you might want to look back on over 20 years of Call of Duty history.

With entries exploring conflicts from both our past and our possible future, here's every Call of Duty game in chronological order.

Jump to:

• How to play in chronological order
• How to play by release date

How Many Call of Duty Games Are There?

Due to quite a few subseries, a reboot, and the many studios that have worked or are working on the series, it can be a bit troublesome to determine how many Call of Duty games have been released.

If we consider only the main entries with single-player campaigns, including all the World War II titles, the Modern Warfare subseries (plus its reboot), and the Black Ops subseries, there are 20 video games in the Call of Duty franchise

That said, things get complicated when you add all the expansions, online experiences, mobile games, and spin-offs. For example, Call of Duty: United Offensive is an expansion for the first game, while Call of Duty: Finest Hour and Call of Duty 2: Big Red One are side stories of the first two entries.

Spin-offs include strategy game Call of Duty: Siege, launched in 2016 based on Infinite Warfare’s universe; Call of Duty: Heroes, released in 2014; and the mobile version of Call of Duty: Black Ops. In fact, many main entries have significantly different editions for mobile/handheld when compared to the major console releases. Examples of this are PS Vita’s Call of Duty: Black Ops: Declassified and Nintendo DS’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3: Defiance.

Then there’s the Chinese free-to-play Call of Duty Online, released in 2015 and shut down in 2021. 2019’s Call of Duty Mobile took its place and is still running today.

The unique Zombies modes have become a staple of the series since their first inclusion in 2008’s World at War, and they have appeared in multiple entries since.

Finally, the franchise entered the battle royale and live service genres with Warzone, launched in 2020, which became a huge success. Two years later, it was replaced by Warzone 2.0, a complete overhaul of the game’s map and experience. Warzone Mobile brought the battle royale experience to iOS and Android devices in early 2024.

To avoid confusion, it’s worth mentioning that the reboot of the Modern Warfare series will be numbered with Roman numbers. Also, Black Ops 4 is not added to the list below for its lack of campaign (it’s a multiplayer-only experience).

Which Call of Duty Game Should You Play First?

For the sake of simplicity and accessibility, we recommend 2019's Modern Warfare reboot as a solid starting point for Call of Duty campaigns. Starting here creates a straightforward path through the rebooted Modern Warfare trilogy, as all three games are available on modern Xbox and PlayStation consoles, as well as PC. Plus, unlike the Black Ops subseries, each game was released within the last five years, meaning none should feel too dated.

Call of Duty Games in Chronological Order

Beware of minor spoilers for the stories, characters, and relevant events of each game in the list below.

1. Call of Duty (2003)

The franchise's first game was developed by Infinity Ward and published in 2003. This is the first of many entries in the series focused on World War II, following the steps of other household names like Medal of Honor.

In the first Call of Duty, you play three different campaigns as different soldiers from three countries: the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union.

The North American soldier, Private Martin, starts his training in 1942 and participates in the invasion of Normandy in 1944, while the British Sergeant Evans fights in Operation Tonga that same year. Evans will later be helped by Captain Price, a recurrent name in the franchise. On the other hand, the Soviet Alexei Ivanovich Voronin’s campaign takes place in the Battle of Stalingrad.

2. Call of Duty 2 (2005)

The sequel of the original title repeats the settings and nations but with some different perspectives. Instead of three campaigns, you experience four: one from the perspective of a North American soldier, one from the Soviet Union, and two from Britain.

As Private Vasili Koslov, you have to defend Moscow from Nazi German soldiers, while North American Bill Taylor joins the army that assaults La Pointe du Hoc during the infamous D-Day. The British soldiers, Sergeant John Davis and David Welsh, participated in the conflict in North Africa. Davis is led by Captain Price.

3. Call of Duty: World at War (2008)

A few years after Call of Duty 3, the team at Treyarch came back and delivered their last entry based on the conflict the series has been breathing off since its beginnings. This time, however, the campaign was only divided into North American and Soviet forces.

You follow American Marine Private C. Miller during the Makin Island raid in 1942, and later in the Battle of Peleliu, in which American forces confronted the Japanese army. The Soviet section takes place in the Battle of Stalingrad, but this time on the Eastern Front as Private Dimitri Petrenko.

4. Call of Duty 3 (2005)

The first main game in the series not developed by Infinity Ward, Call of Duty 3 was Treyarch’s first attempt at recreating World War II events.

Taking place in 1944, armies from Britain, Poland, the United States, Canada, and France fight against Germany's Nazi forces in the village of Chambois, France, during the Battle of Normandy.

This is the only main entry you cannot play on PC.

5. Call of Duty: WWII (2017)

Almost a decade and a half after the first game, studio Sledgehammer Games returned the franchise to World War II. This was the first time in the main series there was only one protagonist in the campaign: Ronald “Red” Daniels, accompanied by his loyal squad. As Red, you fight Nazi German forces across the European theater, from Normandy to Germany.

While WWII has some brief flashback sequences in 1940, which would set it as the first game in the series chronologically, the core of the title takes place in 1944.

6. Call of Duty: Vanguard (2021)

In the latest entry set in World War II, developer Sledgehammer Games tried once again to bring Call of Duty to its roots and explore this historical event from a different perspective.

Contrary to 2017’s WWII, you are presented with multiple characters on different fronts. The main objective is to learn more about Phoenix, a secret Nazi project that could change the tide of the war in favor of Nazi Germany.

Vanguard also has flashback sequences for different protagonists starting in 1941, but the majority of the campaign is set in 1945, near the end of the war.

7. Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010)

Developer Treyarch changed eras with Black Ops. Going from 1961 to 1968, you’ll experience the events of the Cold War and part of the Vietnam War for the first time in the series.

The main protagonist, Alex Mason, works with the CIA and is tasked to remember events that would help find Soviet sleeper agents. These agents are around the United States, and they plan to release a dangerous chemical weapon called Nova 6.

8. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020)

Developed by Treyarch and Raven Software, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War helps connect the original Black Ops and Black Ops 2. While the main protagonist this time is nicknamed “Bell,” you get to choose your name, gender, and other details like dialogue lines.

Set in 1981, you team up with characters from previous games, including Alex Mason, Frank Woods, and Jason Hudson. Under CIA’s Russell Adler, your elite team is supposed to catch a Soviet figure that goes by “Perseus” who is planning to attack the United States.

9. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (2012)

The sequel to the original Black Ops presents two timelines. On the first one, you follow Alex Mason’s footsteps several years after he and his team successfully stopped Nova 6. It’s 1986, and Jason Hudson asks Mason to aid with the search for Frank Woods, who disappeared in Cuando Cubango, Angola.

The second timeline is centered around David Mason, Alex’s son, who’s looking for Raul Menendez in 2025. Menendez is the leader of Cordis Die, a terrorist organization that provoked the Second Cold War.

10. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (2024)

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 takes place in the early 1990s, beginning in 1991, after the events of Black Ops 2's late-80s storyline. The story is centered around the Gulf War, wherein Frank Woods and his team of rogue agents are hunted by a shadowy group that's infiltrated the CIA.

Historical figures represented in the game include former U.S. president Bill Clinton and former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.

11. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)

The last entry to have a number after “Call of Duty,” Modern Warfare is the first time the series abandoned its classic Allies vs Axis conflict for something more recent.

In 2011, Yasir Al-Fulani, the president of a fictional Middle Eastern country, was executed by Khaled Al-Asad, the leader of a revolutionary party. Meanwhile, Russia is going through a civil war provoked by Imran Zakhaev, an arms dealer.

A squad commanded by Captain Price and formed by protagonist John “Soap” MacTavish have to stop an international crisis.

12. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)

Set five years after the events of the previous game, Modern Warfare 2 tells the story of Vladimir Makarov, an Ultranationalist who continues the work of Imran Zakhaev. It turns out this extremist party gained control of Russia, so Makarov gained the power to start committing terrorist acts against the United States.

Well-known faces like the Captain Soap and Captain Price join forces with Sergeant Gary "Roach" Sanderson, Lieutenant Simon "Ghost" Riley, “Nikolai”, and other agents to stop Makarov’s secret plan.

13. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011)

The end of the first Modern Warfare trilogy brings the pursuit of terrorist Vladimir Makarov to its climax. Captain Price’s team re-arranges itself with Yuri, an ex-Spetsnaz known by Nikolai. Captain John "Soap" MacTavish is also present for the final mission.

Makarov captures Boris Vorshevsky, the president of Russia, who was going to establish peace with the United States. After threatening the president’s daughter, Makarov acquired nuclear launch codes, becoming an international danger once again.

14. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)

In 2019, Infinity Ward rebooted the successful Modern Warfare series by reusing some classic characters in a new timeline. Well-known faces like Captain Price are present in a new conflict with Russia.

Set in the same year it was released, a fictional republic called Urzikstan is invaded by a Russian army. While this attack is going on, a terrorist organization called Al-Qatala, also from Urzikstan, begins with operations against different countries in the world. Captain Price, alongside his Task Force 141 and the Urzikstan Liberation Force, try to de-escalate the conflict.

15. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022)

Taking place in 2022, Modern Warfare II follows the story of the MW reboot, featuring returning characters from Task Force 141 and the Urzikstan Liberation Force leader Farah Karim.

Al-Qatala is still a threat, but all eyes are on Quds Force, an Iranian revolutionary group commanded by Hassan Zyani. Zyani is supported by Al-Qatala and a Mexican cartel from the fictional city of Las Almas, and he plans terrorist acts against the United States after the assassination of General Ghorbrani, an Iranian forces leader.

16. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023)

Picking up after the events of 2022's Modern Warfare II, MWIII once again stars Task Force 141, including recurring characters John Price, Simon "Ghost" Riley, Kyle "Gaz" Garrick, and John "Soap" MacTavish. Ultranationalist terrorist Vladimir Makarov, the villain from 2011's Modern Warfare 3, once again serves as the antagonist.

17. Call of Duty: Ghosts (2013)

A standalone entry with few connections to previous titles, Call of Duty Ghosts was developed by Infinity Ward in 2013. As its name indicates, it focused on the special operation group called Ghosts, a U.S. team tasked with secret missions.

It’s 2027, and after a decade of conflicts in the Middle East and an oil crisis, a South American force called the Federation of the Americas initiated a war against the United States. Working with your new team, you have to stop Gabriel T. Rorke, the former leader of Ghosts.

18. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 (2025)

While positioned toward the end of this list, the Black Ops 7 campaign most directly follows the events of Black Ops 6, which split across the Gulf War and modern day. And all of Black Ops, to be honest. BO7 brings back David Mason, the JCOC, and Mason's classic arch-nemesis. The game is set in 2035, over 40 years after Black Ops 6, and also brings back co-op campaigns. Seth Macy was particularly impressed with this iteration's multiplayer, which features gunplay he claims "works exactly how I want it to."

19. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (2014)

Advanced Warfare was the first entry to take place several decades beyond its release date. It was also the first game developed primarily by Sledgehammer Games.

Set in 2054, you control Jack Mitchell, a member of the United States Marine Corps who later fights in the private military corporation known as Atlas after suffering an accident. On this occasion, the enemy forces are a Chechenian separatist group called KVA led by Joseph "Hades" Chkheidze.

It was one of the first entries to feature futuristic changes in gameplay due to its setting, like the fact that soldiers now wear exoskeletons, which bring them unique abilities.

19. Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 (2015)

The end of the initial Black Ops trilogy was also set in the future. More specifically, in the year 2065, when a Third Cold War between the Common Defense Pact and the Winslow Accord is happening. Robotic drones, cyborg supersoldiers, unpiloted air forces, and other technological advancements take center stage.

A black ops team composed of you (simply referred to as “The Player”), Jacob Hendricks, and your cybernetics division will be tasked with preventing the conflict from reaching a more dangerous state. You investigate a strange event in Singapore and look out for the 54 Immortals, a crime organization.

20. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (2016)

No Call of Duty game went further into the future than Infinite Warfare. Around the 2080s, the United Nations Space Alliance was created after humans had spent all the natural resources available on Earth. Beginning the colonization and exploitation of resources on other planets, this alliance is defended by the Solar Associated Treaty Organization, a military force that battles the totalitarian regime Settlement Defense Front from Mars.

How to Play the Call of Duty Games By Release Date

1. Call of Duty (2003)
2. Call of Duty 2 (2005)
3. Call of Duty 3 (2006)
4. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)
5. Call of Duty: World at War (2008)
6. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
7. Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010)
8. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011)
9. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (2012)
10. Call of Duty: Ghosts (2013)
11. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (2014)
12. Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 (2015)
13. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (2016)
14. Call of Duty: WWII (2017)
15. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)
16. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020)
17. Call of Duty: Vanguard (2021)
18. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022)
19. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023)
20. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (2024)
21. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 (2025)

What’s Next for Call of Duty?

It's been a nice couple of months for shooters. Aside from Black Ops 7, we've seen the massive launch of Battlefield 6, stoking a potential battle between the two franchises this fall. What's next for the Call of Duty franchise? Well, only time will tell, but there's gotta be something in the pipeline.

Outside of games, Activision recently struck a deal with Paramount to produce a live-action Call of Duty movie. David Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Paramount, has said he’s a big Call of Duty fan who’s put “countless” hours into the franchise. Little is known about the direction the movie will take, but Ellison did refer to Paramount's recent success with Top Gun: Maverick as a "guiding star."

Axel Bosso is a contributing freelancer for IGN, covering everything related to video games (he's behind some of the Wikis you might have used over the years)!

Sigourney Weaver may soon swing into the world of Prime Video’s next video game adaptation, as the Alien star is reportedly in talks to join the cast of the new Tomb Raider show.

A Deadline report says Weaver, who will appear in Avatar: Fire and Ash next week and The Mandalorian and Grogu in 2026, is currently in active negotiations to appear in the series in an undisclosed role. Her deal with Amazon has not yet been finalized.

Apple’s closed ecosystem and regular software updates help make your iPhone highly secure, but Apple’s strong emphasis on security shouldn’t stop you from doing more to protect your privacy. One way to do this is with a VPN, which encrypts all of the data traveling from your iPhone to the internet, securing it from prying eyes.

You’ll find plenty of VPNs for iOS but many fall short in key areas. Often this means they perform poorly in speed tests, leak identifying data, or keep extensive browsing logs that can be linked to you and your iPhone. The best VPNs for iPhone can help you avoid these issues, all of which provide your device with security and speed while still being simple to use.

TL;DR – These Are the Best VPNs For iPhone:

When you use a Virtual Private Network (VPN), you connect to a VPN server in your preferred location. In doing so, your iPhone is provided with a new, temporary IP address. Not only does this let you browse and stream on your iPhone anonymously, it means you can sidestep geo-blocking, allowing you to access your usual websites and services from home even when traveling abroad.

1. NordVPN

Best VPN for iPhone

2. Proton VPN

Best iPhone VPN With a Free Tier

3. ExpressVPN

Best VPN for Streaming

4. Surfshark

Best VPN for Extra Features

5. CyberGhost

Best Free Trial VPN

6. IPVanish

Best VPN for Unlimited Devices

7. Mullvad

Best VPN for Anonymity

What to Look for in a VPN for iPhone

You might be wondering why the above VPNs for iPhone made the cut (or why other VPNs didn’t). When testing VPNs for iPhone, I look at everything from how easy they are to install to how intelligible their privacy policies are. I also carry out a battery of tests including measuring server speeds and checking for DNS leaks.

During testing, I looked for iPhone VPNs that fulfill the following criteria:

• User-friendly iOS app
• Fast, unthrottled connections
• Global server network
• High level of encryption
• Supports multiple VPN protocols
• Absolutely no identifying logs of users
• Multiple simultaneous connections
• Money-back guarantee of at least 30 days
• Live chat and email support

How to Use a VPN on an iPhone

First time using a VPN for iPhone? Getting a VPN set up and connected on your iOS device is super easy:

1. Go to the Apple App store and search for your preferred VPN.
2. Select Get followed by Install to download the VPN’s iOS app.
3. Tap on Open and follow the steps to sign up for an account.
4. Select Allow when prompted to add VPN configurations. Enter your passcode to confirm.
5. Choose the server in your preferred location and click to connect.

Best VPNs for iPhones FAQs

Why do I need a VPN for my iPhone?

It’s well known that the iPhone is a highly secure device. However, a VPN ensures that when data leaves the safe confines of your iPhone (such as when you browse the web), it’s encrypted. This prevents hackers and snoopers from seeing what you’re doing online. A VPN also helps you bypass geographic restrictions on content. This may be your favorite streaming service when on vacation, or even a news site blocked by an authoritarian government.

Does an iPhone have a built-in VPN?

No, the iPhone doesn’t have a built-in VPN, but it does provide a way for you to activate one via its settings. Although Apple introduced Private Relay, this feature is only available for iCloud+ subscribers. Like a VPN, Private Relay encrypts web traffic and hides your IP address but only protects you while in Safari browser. The best iPhone VPN encrypts all of your traffic regardless of the browser or apps you’re using.

Can I use a free VPN for my iPhone?

Free VPNs for iPhone are very limited in terms of both server locations and speed. A free VPN may not properly encrypt your iPhone’s traffic and may even log and sell your data. The best free VPNs I found in testing are the rare exceptions. Regardless, all of the best VPNs for iPhone offer money-back guarantees, so you can try them risk-free. Just remember that when purchasing a VPN via the App Store, you’ll need to request a refund from Apple.

Can I get a free trial VPN on iOS?

Yes! The good news is that you can get a seven-day free trial of all of the best VPNs for iPhone simply by downloading them via the Apple App Store. You just need to remember to cancel before the trial period is up. However, you can try out all of these iOS VPNs for even longer thanks to their very generous money-back guarantees, all of which are at least 30 days. This is risk-free but requires upfront payment.

Mark Gill is a freelance VPN writer for IGN, bringing over five years of dedicated experience from Comparitech, where he delves deep into the intricacies of VPNs.