Thank your own personal deity—possibly Numen, not to be confused with Newman—it's Friday! Let's put this week out of its misery with some cheap games worth spending your next two days with. Personally, I'd gravitate to Ori: The Collection, Hollow Knight, Untitled Goose Game, and a sub-five-buck Brütal Legend. Why the latter? Because it is the greatest and best game in the world ...tribute.

In retro news, the system-selling Rogue Squadron turns 26 today, and I absolutely smashed at launch. Being one of the first titles to utilise the Expansion Pak, which added a whopping 4MB of extra RAM (!!!), it delivered a star war far, far, and away better than the previous N64 title holder, Shadows of the Empire. It's also been 28 years since Square released Tobal No. 1, a cult-hit 3D fighter featuring a robot who could un-life himself by flicking his own switch off. I still couldn't tell you what for.

At CES 2025, we had the chance to see everything new Razer was showing off which ran the gamut from practical to extravagant. Some new products are refreshes like the updated Razer Blade 16 laptops outfitted with the upcoming Nvidia RTX 5090 mobile GPUs, and some are proofs of concept that are in the far future like the in-game AI coach called Project Ava. Here's a rundown of our hands-on experience with

Razer Blade 16 Laptop (2025) with RTX 5000-series GPUs

With the announcement of Nvidia's new RTX 5000 series GPUs, Razer also revealed the updated models of its Razer Blade gaming laptops. We were able to see the Blade 16, specifically, in action and got a breakdown of all the notable changes. One big shift is that this lineup is moving from Intel to AMD for the CPU; top-of-the-line models will be using the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. This is said to help power efficiency without losing performance, which makes room for the slight increase in power draw of the new RTX 5000-series GPUs.

At just 0.59 inches in thickness, this refresh is also 32% thinner than the previous model. However, the keyboard has upped the travel distance to 1.5mm to feel closer to a low-profile desktop keyboard. As for memory, the RAM will be soldered to help keep the form factor slim; you'll be able to get the new Blade with 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB of memory. The Blade 16 still rocks the OLED display with a 2560x1600 resolution (QHD+) and 0.2ms response time.

The new Razer Blade laptops will be available sometime in Q1 2025 and prices will vary depending on the model and configuration of specs.

Laptop Cooling Pad and HyperBoost for Blade Laptops

Razer has been showing the Laptop Cooling Pad for a while now, but now we got to see the final design. It's akin to an elevated laptop stand with a large high-velocity 140mm fan underneath it. There are three different frames that magnetically snap into place on top of the Laptop Cooling Pad to properly handle the airflow and internal cooling solution of various laptops. Razer also showed off HyperBoost, which is preset in the Razer software that will keep Blade laptops (2023 models and on) running at peak performance as the Laptop Cooling Pad works at max capacity to prevent overheating. There is also an input hub that includes three USB-A ports and separate buttons that control fan speed and Chroma RGB lighting manually.

The Laptop Cooling Pad launches on January 30 for $149.99 and is available to pre-order on the Razer Store.

Gaming Handheld Device Dock

With so many handheld gaming PCs hitting the market beyond the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally, accessories such as a dock (akin to what the Nintendo Switch has) are increasingly useful. Razer is coming out with a universal dock for PC handhelds that is able to prop-up your device of choice, charge it with its 100W passthrough, and output to an external display. The stand is adjustable and able to angle your handheld regardless of the device's size. It connects to handhelds via USB-C and acts as a hub with multiple ports: gigabit ethernet port, four USB ports, and HDMI out.

Project Ava: In-Game AI Coach and Guide

What's arguably the most interesting thing Razer showcased was Project Ava, a voiced in-game AI assistant and coach. We saw it in action alongside a MOBA and it's able to analyze in-game situations in real time and provide insights on the spot. It's also able to look at your performance afterward and breakdown the things you did well and the ways you can improve with post-match analysis; you can think of it as an esports coach via AI.

We asked Razer about the ethical boundaries when it comes to the possibility of providing an unfair advantage, and a Razer representative stated that Project Ava has built-in boundaries so it's not able to pull data that players aren't privy to or tell the player what to do based on probability analysis. Razer said it's conscious of abiding by terms of service agreements to make sure Project Ava is compliant across different games.

Sometimes everyone already knows what happened to a project, we just need someone to confirm it.

In 2017 it was announced that there would be a live-action adaptation of the open-world crime game, Sleeping Dogs, starring Donnie Yen, who was riding high on the success of movies like Ip Man and Rogue One. Director Timo Tjahjanto was also approached to direct, giving this project a real pedigree for anyone who loves hardcore Asian action films.

Unfortunately, since about 2018 almost any mention of this movie disappeared. And now Polygon confirmed with Yen that this movie is no longer in the works.

"I spent a lot of time and did a lot of work with these producers, and I even invested some of my own money into obtaining the drafts and some of the rights," Yen tells Polygon. "I waited for years. years. And I really wanted to do it... And unfortunately... I don't know, you know how Hollywood goes, right?"

Yen calls it an "unfortunate thing," but says he's ready to move "on to better things."

Sleeping Dogs was released back in 2012 and was developed by the now defunct United Front Games and published by Square Enix. The open world action game was effectively Grand Theft Auto in Hong Kong, with plenty of influences from Hong Kong crime cinema like Infernal Affairs and Hard Boiled. Starring undercover cop Wei Shen as he infiltrated the local Triad, Sleeping Dogs became something of a cult hit thanks to its mix of action, world design, and star-studded voice cast (including Emma Stone and Lucy Liu). The Definitive Edition received an 8.5 in our review.

Unfortunately a sequel and planned spinoff, Triad Wars, never entered into production before United Front shut down, and now the movie adaptation joins the dormant game series.

Luckily for fans of Yen, he's been keeping himself quite busy both at home and abroad. Alongside the action movie The Prosecutor, Yen was last seen stateside as the blind assassin Caine in John Wick: Chapter 4, and according to Collider, is in talks to star and direct a Caine spinoff movie.

Matt Kim is IGN's Senior Features Editor.

Starting January 6, sign up to receive news and updates about Samsung's 2025 lineup of TVs and as a bonus, you'll receive a $100 credit good for any 2025 TV preorder. Since this isn't a commitment to preorder or buy, you don't need to place any kind of deposit. If you're planning to pick up one of these TVs as soon as they become available, there's no reason not to sign up and claim the discount.

$100 Credit on a 2025 Samsung TV Preorder

The Monster Hunter series first launched on PlayStation 2 in 2004 and has since won over many fans, evolving at a dizzying pace alongside new developments in hardware. While it may sound like a cliché to say that the whole world has been waiting for it, it's not an exaggeration to say that hunters from around the globe have eagerly awaited the next game in the series, Monster Hunter Wilds, releasing at last on February 28, 2025.

The gameplay loop that hunters imagine when they hear about Monster Hunter has remained the same throughout the series even after 20 years. Hunt gigantic monsters, strip them of materials, create equipment, then head back into the next hunt. At the same time, though, it seems rare for the game design of a series to so directly reflect the benefits brought about by advances in hardware. Monster Hunter: World, released in 2018, did away with the segmented maps that players were used to seeing in the series, instead allowing them to roam about a single stage without loading times. It also made many other changes, both big and small, but veteran players remained as passionate as ever, helping it to gain global popularity.

Gaining Confidence in Monster Hunter Via World

The development team also continues to believe that the major turning point for the series in recent years was World, which did away with the fragmented map from previous titles. While Monster Hunter did already have lots of overseas fans, the proportion of them still wasn't very large compared to the Japanese fanbase. Wilds Director Yuya Tokuda has returned following his work on World, and he has the following to say about this phenomenon:

"The gameplay loop for a game like Monster Hunter, where players repeatedly gather materials, is agricultural in nature,” he tells IGN. “Some people told me that they believed it would be hard for that to resonate with a global audience."

At the time of World's creation, the development team did know that the global market was full of shooters and competitive multiplayer games. Kaname Fujioka, who acted as Director starting with the first Monster Hunter and is now Executive Director and Art Director for Wilds, says this was a period when he thought about what makes Monster Hunter fun, focusing on what to do in order to bring the game to a wider audience.

"Cooperative games weren't part of the mainstream at the time, making World a major challenge for us,” he says. “If multiplayer cooperative play wasn't going to be big to begin with, we would have to reconsider the very form that Monster Hunter takes. But we had absolute confidence about the kind of fun that Monster Hunter provides, and it possessed a history as a series that grew in Japan to become what it was. We never believed that a Japanese sensibility wouldn't be able to land overseas."

The rest of the world would surely understand the fun of Monster Hunter. Believing this, the development team decided not to fiddle with or change the central elements of the series, instead keeping the core of what makes it fun intact while trying to convey that enjoyment to a broader range of players. The development team then performed a thorough analysis of what makes Monster Hunter fun in order to do that.

The change in the development team's environment must have also largely contributed to World's success. Ryozo Tsujimoto, long-time producer for the Monster Hunter series, tells IGN, "I think you can also credit the fact that it became easier to communicate with foreign fans starting with World. During World's development we developed a strong habit of looking into feedback that we received from overseas, investigating where the issues lay. By digesting what players tell us, regardless of where they're located, we're able to really think about what we're communicating and what's difficult to get across. I believe that this change of environment helped play a major role in changing our own awareness."

World gained the support of many players as a result, successfully gaining global popularity. Tokuda says that after seeing the reaction to World, he gained a redoubled confidence in the fundamental kind of fun found within the Monster Hunter games.

"Thanks to World, we were able to reaffirm that we hadn't made any mistakes with the core elements of Monster Hunter, giving us confidence once more,” says Tokuda. “It's because of our experience with World that we've been able to feel assured as we take the next step with Wilds, further improving its core while creating an even more attractive game."

The development team never bent, always believing in Monster Hunter's charm and the elements at the center of what makes it fun. They began developing Wilds with the success of World driving them forward once updates for World reached a pause. They say the team's mission at first was primarily to test out the available technology with a small team. Producer Tsujimoto tells us about those times.

"We predicted that the platforms for the game would be more powerful by the time it was released (with new-generation consoles having come in), and so our mission was to depict the world of Monster Hunter with the technology that would be available at that point in time," he explains.

What would be possible on new-generation platforms while still making use of their output from World? How could they use the possibilities opened up by new-generation consoles to further evolve the series? Fujioka makes repeated use of a key term when it comes to this: "immersion".

"Throughout the Monster Hunter series, we've always pictured game design that allows players to immerse themselves in hunts as hunters entering inside of Monster Hunter's carefully depicted ecosystems,” he says. “Players bought into that sensation to some degree in World, and we tried to take it even further in Wilds."

Through repeated technical verifications, it became clear that the team would be able to realize the image they've long held for Monster Hunter. Seamless map design, and an environment that changes with the passing of time. All of this would allow for an even deeper depiction of the ecosystem inhabited by massive monsters and the hunters who hunt them, generating further immersion. Depicting the world of Monster Hunter that has existed from the start of the series in greater depth and detail could allow for the surfacing of an ecosystem that includes the presence of humans in Wilds.

"It's nature's two faces of being bountiful yet harsh,” says Tokuda, explaining the world of Wilds. “By depicting these two sides, we hoped to create a world that includes those who live in and become involved with it, like the hunters."

Creating Dramatic Moments for All Hunters

While Wilds retains the traditional gameplay loop of accepting a quest and going to hunt the relevant monster, Tokuda says that hunters will now need to be aware of what monsters have spawned in the world, hunting them at their discretion based on the state of these monsters.

As an example, he explains one possible situation. You're after materials in order to craft a piece of equipment, and so you're sprinting through the Windward Plains on your Seikret. Just then, beyond a cloud of sand, you see a large monster that you aren't currently targeting. It's got several wounds, as it's likely already fought a number of other monsters. It's not as if you need its materials at this very moment, but the rewards would be vast. After a moment of hesitation, you turn back and go after the wounded monster. Hunters need the ability to adapt to their circumstances, and Wilds provides a world where players can experience just that.

"The design (in past Monster Hunter games) where you participate in one quest at a time does provide the benefit of a game that you can always play in a stable environment, but you can't help but feel this to be unnatural in ways for a game that depicts ecosystems in the wild,” says Tokuda. “It seems like a given that you'd face different monsters and winds from one day to the next, considering that nature-focused perspective."

Scenes before your eyes will change from moment to moment, creating dramatic experiences and giving hunters a sense of immersion as though they're really alive in the game's world. As easy as that is to say, it's by no means simple to realize it in a gaming setting. "There are only a few dramatic scenes and events you get to encounter and experience in everyday life over the course of a year," Fujioka says. Rather than simply constructing a world, we ask what kinds of scenes he wants playing out in front of hunters and his philosophy on creating a game that anticipates these kinds of experiences.

"You may only be able to see an evening's beauty for a few dozen minutes over the course of a day, but those moments leave an incredible impression on you,” he replies. “The team has constantly shared an awareness of how important it is to have these kinds of dramatic moments and experiences properly playing out before you in a game while also making sure that they don't appear unnatural. There's the risk of 'nothing happening' to a player within a large open world or with changes in circumstances like seamless shifts in weather. We discussed this concern many times during development, and I was quite aware as a designer to be compacting and connecting what we can do to make things more fun, creating dramatic twists that constantly play out before you."

What's important isn't the form that the game takes, but the form of each individual experience encountered by the player. Ever since the announcement of Wilds, many players have seen its seamless stages, real-time environmental changes and other new elements, and called it an "open world Monster Hunter". In fact, I admit that those were the first words to come to my own mind the moment I heard the news about Wilds. But Tsujimoto says that the developers never thought of themselves as making an open world game.

"It's not as if the words 'open world' came out of any of our mouths during development, either,” he says. “We wanted players to be able to experience a seamless Monster Hunter, and this is the form we ended up with as we implemented what we wanted."

I ask what genre they would call Wilds if they had to give it one, and the three developers look at one another. Fujioka says that while he believes they used phrases like "seamless map" and "seamless stages" during World as well, he could only describe Wilds as a game that gives players "a seamless Monster Hunter experience".

It seems that the development team consider the wide-open stages in Wilds as not their goal, but rather a result. According to Tokuda, "Creating large spaces wasn't the goal from the time we made World. It's more accurate to say that they became that large as well as seamlessly connected during the process of properly depicting Monster Hunter's world. More than its size, one of the things that makes Monster Hunter unique is its density of detail. We focused on adding enough density to our stages that just by walking through them, you'll make discoveries, notice interactable elements, and find so much in general, from targets of action to visual aspects. I think that level of detail is a part of depicting the world of Monster Hunter and its ecosystems."

Making Monster Hunter More Accessible, Not Easier

While the series continues to change with advances in hardware, its core gameplay has always stayed the same. This is because the developers have absolute confidence in what makes it fun. The changes made in World and the improvements found in Wilds have always come from a focus on finding ways to bring what makes Monster Hunter fun to an even larger audience.

"We have data showing that many of the people who quit World partway through did so before reaching the part where you're really playing Monster Hunter,” Tsujimoto says of the feedback they received from World. “I think there are a lot of reasons for that, but maybe they couldn't find monsters, or they didn't know what to do once they reached them, or maybe the weapon they brought didn't suit them once it came time for action. We've been incredibly careful in Wilds to guide players to the fun of Monster Hunter without changing the core of the series."

Mr. Fujioka explains that it's for this reason that the difficulty in Wilds generally follows suit from World.

"Monster Hunter is an action game, which means that you're always going to have some players who never complete the game no matter how much you adjust the numbers,” he says. “That's why we quite carefully analyzed the reasons players can't beat it, or why they can't make it to a hunt, then created a way for them to grow step by step. As you progress through the game, a moment will come when these skills that you've learned one at a time will suddenly all be required of you. At the end of the day, our goal with Monster Hunter is to create action that you can sink your teeth into, and the enjoyment of being able to finally defeat a monster by playing together with a team as one. We've had the goal in every title we've made for people picking up Monster Hunter for the first time to ultimately be able to reach the same skill level as veteran hunters."

Given Fujioka’s comments, it sounds as though the development team never even considered making monsters weaker in order to make the game more accessible. They believe in the hunters who decide to take on Monster Hunter, and they want to avoid at all costs lessening the fun that those hunters should eventually come to find. Instead of resorting to the simplest possible way to improve accessibility, they decided to think about a player's experience and design a game that matches it.

Tokuda continues, "For Wilds, we conducted an even closer analysis of a player's growth curve. It's good that Great Jagras, the first large monster in World, could easily be hit from many different angles, but it had a broad range of attacks in return, making it feel difficult for those not used to action games. Chatacabra, the first monster in Wilds, has only focused attacks, while the next monster, Quematrice, has wider-ranging attacks. We've designed it in this way so that players will gradually learn how to respond as they get used to the game's action."

Another Core: The Communication Factor

The developers also spoke about how one other element that helps define Monster Hunter is the communication between hunters. My first time playing Monster Hunter with others was with Monster Hunter Portable 3rd on the PlayStation Portable, but even back then there were already many veteran hunters who had come before me. I remember them taking me by the hand and guiding me through what I needed to bring on hunts and what to do when encountering a monster. But without those people around me, I doubt I ever would have ever become a hunter.

"You didn't even know where to mine, right?" Tsujimoto laughs. "Networked communication wasn't as easy back in those days, so it was like whoever found something became a hero. That information and enjoyment would then spread from there. We even had monsters that we never officially announced in order to encourage more communication."

Fujioka says these tricks existed within Monster Hunter from the very beginning.

"In the mission for Lao-Shan Lung, you're asked to simply repel the monster, but it's actually possible to kill it,” he says. “It's designed so that it can be properly defeated even if that isn't the goal. That information was never officially announced, though, so a player would get that experience and spread the information from there. We were intentional about putting that into the game."

Monster Hunter began as an action game that can be enjoyed with other players, communication included. That philosophy has remained consistent ever since its start in 2004.

"What we set out to create from the very start was action enjoyed with others, whether that's in the game's setting or in its gameplay,” continues Fujioka. “The focus is on how much fun we can bring players through its action, and just how solid the push and pull against monsters feels. I think that what makes Monster Hunter unique is that you can get a serious action experience whether you're playing alone or with three others."

It may be a little early to ask, but now that Wilds nears its release, what do the developers see in Monster Hunter’s future? When I ask Fujioka this, he replies with a forced laugh. "The future, huh..." He then goes silent for a bit, as if to think back on his time developing the game, then continues, picking his words with care.

"... Well, I think I've exhausted myself with Wilds, and it feels like it'll be difficult to take a broader view of the game until a while after its release,” he admits. “What I can say, though, is that there has been a dizzying amount of change in the last decade or two, like online games becoming the standard. Advances in hardware and technology are of course going to continue as well. It was a huge shock when the PSP came out and we saw the level of specs that portable games were now capable of. That would have been unimaginable 20 years before its release. All we can do is make games. But when something incredible that feels truly advanced comes along, we get so many ideas about what to do next with Monster Hunter. I think Monster Hunter is just going to keep changing to match the shifts and advances of the times."

The interview left me with the powerful feeling that these creators firmly believe in how fun Monster Hunter is. At the same time, their faith is strong that hunters around the world will enjoy Monster Hunter. They leave the core fun of the games untouched while bringing hunters to new horizons made visible by advances in hardware. After the leap that was World, these creators now aim for even greater heights with Wilds. I can barely wait until the day that I get to hunt in the world they've created with it.

Monster Hunter Wilds is scheduled for release on February 28. Check out our exclusive Oilwell Basin Ajarakan and Rompopolo gameplay videos, and look out for more exclusive interview articles and videos throughout January as part of IGN First.

Shuka Yamada is a freelance writer for IGN Japan. This article was translated by Ko Ransom.

Calling all Elden Ring fans: a brand-new figure of Malenia Blade of Miquella is up for pre-order at IGN Store. Cited by many as the most difficult boss in Elden Ring, this is one formidable foe you can now add to your collection. Check out the details below, and be sure to get your pre-order in before orders close!

Pre-Order S.H.Figuarts Malenia Blade of Miquella Figure Now

Ubisoft just delayed Assassin's Creed: Shadows by another month, amid a time of troubled financials, continued cost cuts, and ongoing rumors the company was preparing for a sale to gaming giant Tencent. In an emergency conference call today, investors grilled CEO Yves Guillemot and CFO Frederick Duguet for answers on all of the above - but their responses didn't provide much reassurance.

Ubisoft's call today came alongside not just the delay announcement, but a seeming confirmation of sorts that Ubisoft is preparing to sell, or at least strongly considering it. Per the press release, the company has "appointed leading advisors to review and pursue various transformational strategic and capitalistic options to extract the best value for stakeholders. This process will be overseen by the independent members of the Board of Directors. Ubisoft will inform the market in accordance with applicable regulations if and once a transaction materializes."

Back in October, Bloomberg reported that Ubisoft's founding Guillemot family and shareholder Tencent were in discussions to take the company private following a number of high-profile flops, game cancellations, and the collapse of the company's share price. At the time, the talks were merely exploratory, and Ubisoft told IGN it would "inform the market if and when appropriate." Today's update seems to suggest that such talks, either with Tencent or in some other capacity, have moved forward in some way.

But it's unclear exactly how, and Ubisoft's shareholders understandably wanted more details during the conference call today. But Guillemot and Duguet weren't biting. First, they were asked directly by a Morgan Stanley representative: "On the various transformation strategic and capitalistic options, it's a bit of a vague phrase if you don't mind me saying. Could you perhaps elaborate on the kind of things you're talking about? And perhaps particularly, there were press reports of detailed discussions with Tencent that were reported on in December. Should we read that there is now some sort of proposal which the independent board members are going to review against other options? Or is that not what you mean by that?"

Duguet replied:

The objective of this process is to unlock the best value potential of our assets to the benefit of our stakeholders, and to foster the best conditions to create great games in the fast-evolving market. That's the overall objective, so that's why we mentioned that we appointed leading advisors. So we are currently actively exploring different options. And we can't say more. Of course we won't comment on specific rumors we have seen in the market, but we are convinced there are several potential paths to generate value from Ubisoft assets and franchises. We will inform the market if and when a transaction materializes.

That...doesn't really clarify anything! And the Morgan Stanley guy seemed to feel the same, because he followed up by acknowledging Ubisoft didn't want to say what the different options were, but asked if they could say "whether there are any concrete courses of action or scenarios that are being considered, or is this more of an exploratory kind of process?" elaborating that he wanted to know what was different about this announcement as opposed to past statements by Ubisoft about such exploration.

Duguet's response was short. "We are limited with what we can say today, but we've started a process." Then, seemingly realizing this could be interpreted as a too-specific confirmation, added, "with advisors."

The other shareholders didn't let Ubisoft off the hook here. A Barclays representative pointed out to Guillemot and Duguet that Tencent had recently been designated as a Chinese military company by the U.S., and wanted to know if that would hinder it becoming the majority owner of Ubisoft. Guillemot declined to comment. A representative from HSBC asked "what stage" the advisors were at, and when Guillemot could expect to get some initial findings. Guillemot would only say they "have started working" and that they could expect "good progress" in the coming months.

Admittedly, there's only so much Guillemot and Duguet can say about a potential acquisition without throwing it into legal and negotiational jeopardy, but that doesn't mean the skepticism around the board's alleged plans wasn't warranted. A number of other questions went unanswered during the call, such as a question about how many AAA games Ubisoft expected to release in the coming fiscal year ("you'll know more by May") and what specific sort of feedback Ubisoft got that sparked the month-long delay of Assassin's Creed: Shadows (Duguet and Guillemot tag-teamed an answer about positive community sentiment that did not address the investor's actual question at all).

Overall, the tone of the discussion was one of significant concern for the health of Ubisoft and the shareholders' investments, and it's no surprise why. For several years now, Ubisoft has seemed to be in a strange, slow downward spiral, with a number of high-profile flops, layoffs, studio closures, game cancellations, and delay after delay after delay.

Meanwhile, rumors continue to spin about what exact proposals the board is considering, with some media outlets floating the idea that Tencent is increasingly reluctant to embrace Ubisoft due to the Guillemot family's insistance on retaining a significant amount of control. Sans Tencent, there are few other companies big enough and rich enough to spend the cash needed to save the albatross Ubisoft has grown into.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

NetEase Games has posted Marvel Rivals Season 1 patch notes, revealing every change coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S players when update version 20250110 drops later tonight.

Included in the full rundown are mentions of more substantial additions we’ve known about, such as new heroes Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman, as well as smaller changes, like a streaming mode feature and more fleshed-out graphics and settings options on PC. We also now have a first look at fixes for some of the glitches and bugs that players have dealt with, including a new “get unstuck” feature that can be used when your character finds themselves unintentionally attached to the terrain.

Also set to arrive in the upcoming Marvel Rivals update are a variety of tweaks to many of the roster’s heroes. Doctor Strange and Magik, for example, have had a few “minor movement ability discrepancies” fixed, while Winter Soldier’s ultimate ability will now respond more consistently. It’s a list of mostly small adjustments for players on all platforms that should ensure everyone enjoys a smoother experience across the board. There have also been a number of changes to tournaments, such as an automatic follow function, a faction reporting function, and a spectating channel.

“We will continue to vigilantly monitor game bug issues and fix them as fast as we can,” NetEase adds. “We also have another patch with new content in the works!”

The team detailed hero balance adjustments elsewhere, providing an inventory of every buff and nerf set to shake up the Marvel Rivals meta in Season 1. Highlights include hits to characters like Hela and Hawkeye, while heroes like Moon Knight and Storm are going into the new season with some improvements to their damage output. With these changes comes what NetEase is calling its Hero Hot List, which includes pick and win rate stats for every one of its playable characters.

Marvel Rivals Season 1 officially kicks off tomorrow, and you can click here to see its global release times. With its introduction of the Fantastic Four comes a story that pits Earth’s mightiest heroes against Dracula and his legion of the undead. The first half of the season gives players access to Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman, with the second half set to bring The Thing and the Human Torch. Meanwhile, as if the emergence of Dracula wasn’t enough of a clue, a recent leak has suggested that the vampire-hunting Daywalker Blade may make an appearance as a playable character in Season 2.

While we wait for more information on the future of NetEase’s popular hero shooter, you can read the full list of patch notes below.

Marvel Rivals Season 1 Version 20250110 Patch Notes

Rivals, Assemble!

As the light fades and the eternal night falls, Dracula and his undead legion have seized control of New York City. Before we embark on the epic battle to banish the darkness and restore the light, dive into the thrilling details of this update!

1. New Content

1.1 All Platforms

Heroes and Costumes

- Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman join Marvel Rivals!
- New Costumes: Mister Fantastic - The Maker; Invisible Woman - Malice!

Maps and Modes

- Explore the new Convoy map - Empire of Eternal Night: Midtown.
- Prepare for the thrilling arcade mode (Doom Match) and its map (Sanctum Sanctorum): 8-12 players will engage in battle, with the top 50% emerging victorious.
- New feature: In Convoy and Convergence, both sides can transition to the next spawn room sometime after the attacking side completes the current target.
- Enhanced feature: During the loading phase of a Quick Match, you can now view the Nameplates of both sides.

Season & Store

- Unlock a dazzling shiny new Battle Pass featuring 10 brand new sets of heroic costumes!
- Embark on the first thrilling half of the Midnight Features Season Event!
- Dive into the latest Twitch Drops event, featuring rewards such as the Hela - Will of Galacta costume. (Stay tuned for official announcements for specific times)
- We have revised the refresh times for various in-game content. Beginning with Season 1, the unlock time for daily missions, the availability of new items in the store, and the start time for most events have been adjusted from 7:00 (UTC+0) to 9:00 (UTC+0).
- Additionally, we have optimized the mission types and removed some of the more challenging ones.

Ranked

- Introducing the Celestial Rank, a tier above Grandmaster and below Eternity, consisting of 3 divisions.
- Rank Reset: based on your final Season 0 rank, ranks will be demoted by 7 divisions. For example, if you ended Season 0 at Platinum I, your Season 1 journey begins at Silver II.

Tournaments

- Newly added automatic follow function for tournament sign-ups: Faction members can opt to follow the captain on the sign-up page. When the captain/coach initiates or cancels the sign-up process, following members will automatically confirm. Please note, this feature, once activated, is effective for the current season only.
- New faction reporting function: Report factions for perceived misconduct in the same tournament within the past 90 days.
- New spectating channel: Chat in real-time with fellow rivals while spectating the same match.
- When spectating, the target player's hotkeys and crosshair settings will be prominently displayed.
- New setting option: Block all active invitations and faction join requests.

General

- Streaming Mode: In Settings - Social, new settings have been added under the social setting allowing streamers to conceal their name as needed (only effective locally; other players in the same match can still see it).

1.2 PC

Graphics and Settings

- Enhanced and optimized graphics settings for improved performance:
· New: Added a new "Off" option under "Anti-Aliasing".
· New: Included a "Performance" option for "Model Detail".
· New: Integrated a new "Off" option under "Global Illumination".
· New: Added a new "Off" option for "Reflection Quality".
· Optimization: Adjusted and optimized various parameters within the graphics settings.
- Mouse Settings: Under Settings, the Keyboard - Combat category now includes new settings for mouse smoothing and mouse acceleration, enabling customization as required.
- Support Intel® XeSS 2: With Intel® Xe Super Sampling 2 (XeSS 2), experience faster, smoother gameplay with higher image quality and a more connected playing experience with Intel® Xe Frame Generation (XeFG), Intel® Xe Low Latency (XeLL).

2. Fixes and Optimizations

2.1 All Platforms

General

- Resolved numerous issues related to notifications.
- Rectified various text errors.

Maps and Modes

- Solved several terrain issues causing characters to become stuck or move to unusual locations. Such issues will continue to be monitored and addressed. We have also added a "get unstuck" feature: if a character is stuck in terrain for a specific duration, you can now control it to return to the spawn room.
- Fixed various issues including floating broken objects, collision errors, etc.
- Fixed various map sound problems.
- Resolved an extremely rare issue where overtime couldn't be triggered or wouldn't end.
- Also resolved an exceptionally rare abnormal draw occurrence issue.

Heroes

- Corrected minor movement ability discrepancies for certain heroes (like Doctor Strange and Magik) at both low and high frame rates.
- Addressed occasional malfunctions with, or inability to use Wolverine's team-up ability.
- Fixed occasional incorrect resets of Winter Soldier's ultimate ability.
- Fixed an issue where the Winter Soldier's ultimate ability would sometimes fail to hit targets within its range.
- Corrected instances where Iron Man's ultimate ability would sometimes pass through Hela during her ultimate ability.
- Resolved occasional synchronization issues for Venom and Spider-Man after swinging and wall-crawling.
- Rectified a situation where Rocket Raccoon, while on Groot's shoulders, could irregularly place Battle Rebirth Beacons (B.R.B.) in abnormal map locations, trapping teammates after revival.
- Fixed occasional camera irregularities after Loki transformed into certain characters during his ultimate ability.
- Fixed a visibility issue that could sometimes occur when Adam Warlock/Mantis/Star-Lord were in soul form within the mist on Wakanda maps where they couldn't see or be seen by others.
- Rectified instances where Squirrel Girl's ultimate ability could get stuck on specific terrain.
- Fixed occasional damage loss in Rocket Raccoon's primary attack.
- Addressed irregularities and occasional failure to end Wolverine's Feral Leap, along with occasional abnormal behavior.
- Resolved instances where Luna Snow's ultimate ability occasionally failed to heal teammates.
- Fixed occasional sound irregularities that could occur after being consumed by the Jeff the Land Shark's ultimate ability.
- Addressed various ability sound and voice errors for several heroes.
- Optimized the playback rules for hero ability voices during combat to reduce auditory confusion.

2.2 Console

- Resolved an issue where after console matchmaking, teammates on Xbox were incorrectly shown as muted on other platforms, necessitating manual unmuting to remove the status display.
- Rectified instances where for some heroes, when the Field of View changed, the auxiliary sight intensity and crosshair sensitivity did not adjust accordingly.
- Resolved an issue where certain button settings were not taking effect as intended.
- The global focus switching algorithm has been optimized for smoother overall operation.

We will continue to vigilantly monitor game bug issues and fix them as fast as we can. We also have another patch with new content in the works! Be sure to follow our socials for all the latest news!

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.

Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.

Some may say we are in a renaissance of video game adaptations as we've been treated to The Super Mario Bros. Movie, another Sonic the Hedgehog film, and TV series based on The Last of Us and Fallout, and could soon be getting adaptations of God of War, Ghost of Tsushima, and so many more. The best part? A lot of these look so much better than video game adaptations we’ve gotten in the past.

How many will actually make it through development and see the light of day remains to be seen, and only a fraction of these have actual release dates. But we're watching these projects, and we're tracking them!

For the purposes of this list, we classify a “video game movie” or "TV show" as an actual adaptation of an existing video game, so something like Wreck-It Ralph (which is just a movie about video games) wouldn’t qualify. They don’t have to be faithful adaptations – they just have to be based on a real game.

Click on through the slideshow below for a glimpse, or read on to find out about the biggest projects with definite details. And if you see something incorrect, missing, or in need of an update, let us know in the comments!

What Are the Next Video Game Movies and TV Shows Coming Out? 2025 and Beyond Release Dates

For those keeping track, here's the full lineup of upcoming video game movie and TV show adaptations:

Video Game Movies in 2025 and Beyond

• A Minecraft Movie (April 4, 2025)
• Until Dawn (April 25, 2025)
• Mortal Kombat 2 (October 24, 2025)
• Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (Dec. 5, 2025)
• Street Fighter (March 20, 2026)
• The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 (April 3, 2026)
• The Legend of Zelda (TBA)
• Ghost of Tsushima (TBA)
• Horizon Zero Dawn (TBA)
• Helldivers 2 (TBA)
• The Sims (TBA)
• Gears of War (TBA)
• Return to Silent Hill (TBA)
• Death Stranding (TBA)
• Days Gone (TBA)
• Dredge (TBA)
• Uncharted 2 (TBA)
• Pokemon: Detective Pikachu 2 (TBA)
• Stray (TBA)
• BioShock (TBA)
• Space Channel 5 (TBA)
• Comix Zone (TBA)

Video Game TV Shows in 2025 and Beyond

• The Last of Us: Season 2 (April 2025)
• Fallout: Season 2 (TBA)
• The Witcher: Season 4 and 5 (TBA)
• God of War (TBA)
• Mass Effect (TBA)
• Gears of War (TBA)
• Ghost of Tsushima Anime (2027)
• Devil May Cry Anime (TBA)
• Twisted Metal: Season 2 (TBA)
• Assassin's Creed (TBA)
• Splinter Cell (TBA)
• Castlevania: Nocturne: Season 2 (TBA)

The following titles have been reported to be in development in the past but their status is currently unknown and they may no longer be actually happening:

Announced Video Game Movies (Status Unknown)

• Mega Man
• Just Cause
• Duke Nukem
• Gravity Rush
• Dead by Daylight
• It Takes Two
• Sifu
• Slime Rancher
• Ark: Survival Evolved
• Pac-Man
• Streets of Rage
• Sniper Elite
• Toe-Jam and Earl
• Jak and Daxter
• Call of Duty
• Half-Life
• Saints Row
• Portal
• Yakuza
• Beyond Good & Evil
• Firewatch
• Metal Gear Solid
• The Division
• Just Dance
• Dragon's Lair
• Splinter Cell (Presumed Cancelled)

Announced Video Game TV Shows (Status Unknown)

• Horizon Zero Dawn
• A Plague Tale
• Nier: Automata: Season 2
• Disco Elysium
• Hunt: Showdown
• Alan Wake
• System Shock
• Grounded
• Life Is Strange
• My Friend Pedro
• Skull & Bones
• Child of Light
• Brothers in Arms

The following are the most definite projects that are currently in the works.

The Last of Us: Season 2

Release Date: April 2025 on Max

After a stellar first season, HBO's The Last of Us will be returning in April 2025 with seven new episodes that are based off the second game in the Naughty Dog and PlayStation franchise. We haven't been given many details on the new season's story yet, but we did learn who will be playing some of our favorite characters from the game, including Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, Young Manzino as Jesse, and Isabella Merced as Dina.

It was also confirmed by showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann that Season 2 will have a shorter episode count, but that Season 3 could be "significantly larger."

In our review of HBO's The Last of Us, we said it "is a breathtaking adaptation of one of the most impactful stories told in video games and brilliantly brings Joel and Ellie’s journey to a whole new audience. Taking the essence of what made the original tale so enduring, it builds out the world of the game while also switching up some aspects to almost entirely stunning effect."

A Minecraft Movie

Release Date: April 4, 2025

Peter Sollett (Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist) had once been attached to direct the Minecraft movie, which was scheduled to be released in March 2022. But due to the COVID-19 pandemic it was delayed and now has a theatrical release date of April 4, 2025. Napoleon Dynamite's Jared Hess later took over as director.

Aquaman himself, Jason Momoa, will star in the movie alongside Jack Black, who will play Steve. Also building some stuff will be Jennifer Coolidge, Emma Myers, Danielle Brooks, and Sebastian Eugene Hansen.

Until Dawn

Release Date: April 25, 2025

Supermassive Games' Until Dawn is set to get a film adaptation with Shazam! and Lights Out director David F. Sandberg. The Invitation's Blair Butler wrote the script and It's Gary Dauberman is doing the latest pass on it.

Until Dawn will be released in theaters on April 25, 2025, and it will feature a new story and cast of characters who will surely be in some terrible danger.

Mortal Kombat 2

Release Date: October 24, 2025

New Line is moving forward with Mortal Kombat 2, the sequel to 2021’s live-action adaptation of the legendary fighting game series. Moon Knight’s Jeremy Slater is writing the script and Simon McQuoid, who helmed the first film, is back to direct again.

Karl Urban plays Johnny Cage and Adeline Rudolph will be taking on the role of Kitana.

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2

Release Date: Dec. 5, 2025

Universal Pictures has confirmed that Five Nights at Freddy's 2 will make its way to theaters in 2025. However, we still don't know much about the film that will be the follow-up to Blumhouse Productions' most successful movie ever.

Street Fighter

Release Date: March 20, 2026

Danny and Michael Philippou, the Australian brothers who directed Talk to Me and are part of the YouTube channel RackaRacka, were supposed to direct Legendary's new Street Fighter movie but had to drop out due to scheduling issues. The film is moving ahead regardless with a 2026 release planned.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2

Release Date: April 3, 2026

Mario Day 2024 brought us the news that a new Super Mario Bros. Movie was officially in development and will be jump into theaters on April 3, 2026. We don't know much about the movie, but Shigeru Miyamoto shared the team is "thinking about broadening Mario's world further, and it'll have a bright an fun story!"

A sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie must have been the easiest decision for Nintendo as was seen by over 168.1 million people worldwide and made over $1.349 billion at the global box office.

Fallout: Season 2

Release Date: TBA on Prime Video

The first season of Prime Video's Fallout series was a huge success. In our Fallout TV show review, we said, "A bright and funny apocalypse filled with dark punchlines and bursts of ultra-violence, Fallout is among the best video game adaptations ever made."

While we don't know much about Season 2, showrunners Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner said the team is working "as fast as we possibly can" to get it out to fans. While you wait, be sure to check out the 14 things we want from the next batch of episodes.

The Witcher: Season 4 and 5

Release Date: TBA on Netflix

Netflix’s The Witcher will officially be returning for a fourth season, but it will be doing so with a new Geralt of Rivia as The Hunger Games’ Liam Hemsworth will be replacing Henry Cavill. We don't know much more about Season 4, but Netflix did share a first official look at Hemsworth as Geralt in May 2024. A fifth and final season is also in the works.

The Legend of Zelda

Release Date: TBA

The Legend of Zelda is officially getting the live-action film treatment and it's being produced by Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad, chairman of Arad Productions and former founder and CEO of Marvel Studios.

While we don't know anything else about what story the film will tell, it will be directed by Wes Ball and will be co-financed by Nintendo and Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. Nintendo will be financing more than 50% of the movie and the theatrical distribution will be done by Sony.

If, like us, you can't wait for The Legend of Zelda movie, be sure to check out that one time we predicted the film would eventually arrive via an April Fools' Day joke.

God of War TV Series

Release Date: TBA on Prime Video

Prime Video has officially announced that a God of War live-action series is in the works from Sony Pictures Television and PlayStation Productions. The show will follow the story that began in 2018’s God of War and will see Kratos and Atreus traveling to the highest peak in the nine realms of Norse mythology to spread the ashes of their late wife/mother.

At CES 2024, Sony confirmed writing was underway for the series. In October 2024, it was reported that Ronald D. Moore (Star Trek: The Next Generation, Battlestar Galactica, Outlander) had replaced the show's previous producers Rafe Judkins, Hawk Ostby and Mark Fergus as showrunner.

Mass Effect

Release Date: TBA on Prime Video

A Mass Effect movie adaptation was in the works at least as far back as 2010, though it never wound up happening.

In December, 2021, however, it was reported that Amazon was working on a deal to adapt the game as a TV series. It once again took a while, but in November 2024, it was confirmed that Amazon MGM studios had begun development on the TV version. Daniel Casey (10 Cloverfield Lane) will write and executive produce the show, while other producers include EA/BioWare's Michael Gamble, who's leading development on the next Mass Effect game, and Avi Arad, who was part of that initial movie announcement all those years back.

Ghost of Tsushima

Release Date: TBA

Sony Pictures and PlayStation Productions are developing a film adaptation of Ghost of Tsushima that will be helmed by John Wick director Chad Stahelski. We don’t know much about the project that is set to adapt the story of the game, but Stahelski has confirmed he wants the movie language and cast to be Japanese.

Stahelski also mentioned he is looking at ways to "expand further" into sequels and TV. So, expect a lot of Ghost of Tsushima in the future!

Ghost of Tsushima Anime

Release Date: 2027

A Ghost of Tsushima anime is on the way from Sony and Aniplex and it is set to launch exclusively on Crunchyroll in 2027. Instead of adapting the main game, this anime will instead focus on the Legends co-op multiplayer portion that was added post-launch.

Horizon Zero Dawn Movie and TV Show

Release Date: TBA

Horizon Zero Dawn has had both a movie and a TV show in the works, but the TV show has had a bit of a rocky road. In July 2024, it was reported that the series was no longer moving forward at Netflix. It may show up again in the future, but it wasn't a great sign.

As for the movie, Sony announced at CES 20255 that a big-screen adaptation of Aloy's adventure is currently very early in production.

Helldivers 2

Release Date: TBA

At CES 2025, Sony announced that the wildly successful Helldivers 2 would be adapted into a major motion picture from Sony Productions and Sony Pictures.

The Sims

Release Date: TBA

EA's long-running life simulation series The Sims is getting the big-screen treatment from Loki season 1 director Kate Heron and Margot Robbie's production company Lucky Chap. We have yet to learn anything else about the project, but it should be welcome news for fans nonetheless.

Gears of War Movie and Animated Series

Release Date: TBA

Netflix has partnered with The Coalition to develop a Gears of War live-action movie and an adult animated series. The movie will arrive first and, if these projects do well, there is “potential for more stories to follow!”

In March 2023, it was announced that the Gears of War movie will be written by Dune and Doctor Strange's Jon Spaihts.

Return to Silent Hill

Release Date: TBA

Return to Silent Hill is the upcoming film based on Silent Hill 2 and is "a mythological love story about someone so deeply in love, they're willing to go to hell to save someone." The film will see Jeremy Irvine and Hanna Emily Anderson taking on the lead roles and a recent Silent Hill Transmission gave us a behind-the-scenes look at the production of the movie. A first look at the terrifying Pyramid Head was also revealed earlier this year.

Death Stranding

Release Date: TBA

Hideo Kojima's Kojima Productions has partnered with A24 to adapt Death Stranding into a live-action feature film.

"The film promises to delve into the mysteries surrounding the apocalyptic event called the 'Death Stranding', which blurred the lines between life and death, and brought forth nightmarish creatures into a world on the brink of collapse," the official synopsis reads.

Devil May Cry Anime Series

Release Date: TBA

Netflix's Castlevania showrunner Adi Shanker is officially working on a new anime series based on Devil May Cry. We haven't learned much yet about the series, but Netflix's DROP 01 event gave us a short teaser trailer that previews the wild action to come.

Twisted Metal: The Series: Season 2

Release Date: TBA on Peacock

Twisted Metal star Anthony Mackie confirmed at 2023's The Game Awards that the Peacock show will be returning for a second season.

"I have to give a Sweet Tooth-sized thank you to our incredible fans - I read every comment and was so blown away by everyone's love, support, and rabid enthusiasm for a paper bag," Showrunner Michael Jonathan Smith wrote in a press release. "We are beyond thankful we get to continue the story of John Doe, Quiet, and Sweet Tooth as they face off against familiar faces and new grim foes in the long-awaited Twisted Metal tournament. The mixtape is made, and I’m thrilled to get back on the road with our stellar cast and crew."

In our Twisted Metal: The Series review, we said, "Though overloaded with jokes at times, Twisted Metal is a miraculously enjoyable blend of comedy, violence, and thoughtfulness."

Days Gone

Release Date: TBA

PlayStation Productions is reportedly developing a film based on Days Gone with X-Men: First Class story developer Sheldon Turner. The producers are said to be eyeing Outlander star Sam Heughan to play Deacon St. John.

Dredge

Release Date: TBA

Dredge, the part creature collector and part eerie horror Lovecraftian fishing game, will be getting a big screen adaptation from Story Kitchen. The media company wants fans to think of this film as "The Sixth Sense on the water. A grounded atmospheric cosmic horror blend of HP Lovecraft and Ernest Hemingway."

Pokemon: Detective Pikachu 2

Release Date: TBA

Legendary Pictures announced a sequel to Detective Pikachu in January 2019, two months before the original hit theaters. 22 Jump Street's Oren Uziel wrote a draft of the screenplay, and in 2023 it was revealed that Jonathan Krisel is directing and Chris Galletta is the latest writer to take on the follow-up.

Stray

Release Date: TBA

Annapurna has confirmed that a Stray animated movie is in development, and it comes from the studios new animated division that is led by former Disney Animation executives Robert Baird and Andrew Millstein.

BioShock

Release Date: TBA

There's always a lighthouse, and apparently there's always a BioShock adaptation in the works. After a previous attempt to bring the beloved first-person shooter to film form fell apart at Universal years ago, Netflix and Take-Two announced in early 2022 that a BioShock film adaptation is in the works for the streaming service. Hunger Games director Francis Lawrence is on-board to direct the film and Logan and Blade Runner 2049 writer Michael Green will pen the script for the story that will be “really true to the game itself.”

In October 2023, it was confirmed the was still in the writing stage but that the team was very optimistic about how the project was going, and in July 2024 producer Roy Lee said the film was still in the works but with a reduced budget.

Assassin's Creed TV Series

Release Date: TBA on Netflix

Netflix has announced that it will produce a live-action Assassin's Creed series, executive produced by Ubisoft's Jason Altman and Danielle Kreinik, which will be the first of multiple new projects. The live-action series will be an "epic, genre-bending live action adaptation." The collaboration will "tap into the iconic video game’s trove of dynamic stories" to create live-action, animated and anime series.

Unfortunately, the series lost Die Hard writer Jeb Stuart back in January 2023.

Splinter Cell Movie and TV Series

Release Date: Presumed Cancelled for the Movie, TBA for Series on Netflix

Many fans around the world have been hoping that Sam Fisher will finally make his long-awaited return. While we know a Splinter Cell Remake is on its way, it was also revealed that a movie and TV series were also in the works.

Back in 2012, it was reported that Tom Hardy was going to be starring as Fisher in a film adaptation, but we haven't heard any meaningful updates since around 2015 when Hardy said filming would begin in early 2016. As for the show, our last official update was in 2021 when Netflix gave a first look at what the animated series adaptation would look like.

Castlevania: Nocturne: Season 2

Release Date: TBA on Netflix

Netflix's Castlevania: Nocturne is coming back for a new season and will follow the "next chapter in the rise of Richter Belmont."

In our review of Castlevania: Nocturne's first season, we said it "fires on just about every cylinder it needs to. Action, horror, and period-specific turmoil coalesce in a sequel series of comparable quality to the first season of Castlevania."

Which of these video game movie or TV show adaptations are you most looking forward to? Let's discuss in the comments!

Note: This story was updated on 1/9/2024. It was originally posted on 10/21/2021.

Information about the Mass Effect TV show at Amazon has been sparse since its announcement back in 2021, but fans can start getting excited about this adaptation becoming a reality as conversation emerges surrounding who will be cast to play each character.

Just yesterday, voice actor Jennifer Hale told Eurogamer that not only is she pining for a role in the series, but she thinks the other voice actors from the games should also return for their parts in the TV adaptation as well.

"You will always get a yes vote from me on Shepard coming back in any form," said Hale, who voiced the female version of main character Commander Shepard in the original game trilogy. "That was such a gift, and it's a gift I will always be extremely joyful to receive."

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio will release the New Game Plus mode for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii as free downloadable content after facing controversy over charging for it in previous game Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.

RGG announced the New Game Plus mode during a Like a Dragon Direct today, January 9, though didn't say when the "post release patch" would arrive exactly. Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii itself launches February 21.

The studio faced backlash from fans in early 2024 when it revealed the New Game Plus mode for mainline entry Infinite Wealth would be locked behind the more expensive edition.

Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii similarly has different editions but these just include digital extras such as new crew members and skins, while the most expensive version has some physical bonuses such as an eye patch and pirate flag.

The game is a spin-off sequel to Infinite Wealth, the eighth mainline entry in the Yakuza / Like a Dragon series (or ninth including Yakuza 0). It follows Majima as he wakes up with amnesia and becomes a pirate, exploring the likes of Hawaii along the way.

A trailer released at the October Xbox Partner Showcase revealed a proper first look at ship combat akin to Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag and the return of the beloved character Taiga Saejima, perhaps teasing more ties to the main series than previously thought.

It will also be a decent bit longer than previous Yakuza spin-off Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, with its story taking around 15 to 18 hours to complete. Fans can also dress up Majima as longtime series protagonist Kiryu Kazuma, but only if they sign up for email notifications.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Transformers: Reactivate gameplay seems to have leaked following the announcement that the project was canceled yesterday.

Footage of what appears to be the early-in-development Transformers third-person action game found its way to X/Twitter just hours after developer Splash Damage revealed it had made the decision to “end development” for the project. The video, shared online by X account @DpzLuna, features fan-favorite Autobot Bumblebee as he blasts away enemy robots both in and out of car form. His movement options include the ability to drive around a few different city-like environments and use short, rocket-powered dashes during gunfights.

Texture-less roads, unfinished weapon effects, and more rough-around-the-edges elements suggest more work was needed on this version of the project, though it's unclear at what point in development the footage was captured. There’s also no telling whether the video we’re seeing today would have resulted in a cohesive package or which other Transformers players would have been able to control. Still, it seems some progress had been made on Transformers: Reactivate before it ultimately met its demise.

Transformers Reactivate Gameplay Unreal Engine 5#TransformersReactivate #PlayTFR #Transformers pic.twitter.com/rF707RAhij

— Transformers: Reactivate | DpzLuna (@DpzLuna) January 8, 2025

Transformers: Reactivate was originally announced as a new video game entry in the long-running robot universe back at The Game Awards in 2022. Splash Damage pitched it to players as an online action game with a “fresh, new story” for PC and consoles, but updates on its progress have been few and far between since its initial reveal. Hope for any news came to a halt yesterday when the team said it would no longer continue working on its Transformers game as it refocused resources on other projects amid fears of potential layoffs.

"While not being able to see the game through to release is painful, having to say goodbye to friends and colleagues hurts even more,” Splash Damage said at the time. “We're now focused on doing everything we can to support them through this tough period, just as we are committed to caring for those who stay with us as we build a stronger Splash Damage for the future."

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.

Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.

Nintendo is teaming with Lego once again but not for a Super Mario, Animal Crossing, or Mario Kart set this time, but instead a Lego Game Boy.

An incredibly brief teaser trailer was shared by Nintendo of America on X/Twitter, below, which showed a literal handful of bricks that make up the Game Boy including the iconic purple buttons and directional pad.

The finished product therefore wasn't shown, but an October 2025 release window was shared. Nintendo and Lego will likely share full details on the model, such as its price, number of bricks, and actual design, closer to the time.

Build the classic Nintendo system in LEGO® form. Coming October 2025. pic.twitter.com/XEyhbARqXq

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) January 9, 2025

Nintendo and Lego now have a long and presumably prosperous relationship having released myriad Nintendo Lego sets in partnership. This includes lines targeted at younger fans such as Lego sets based on Super Mario and Mario Kart, but also some more sophisticated models too.

These include, for example, the Lego Pirhana Plant, a 16-bit Mario and Yoshi from Super Mario World, and a colossal Bowser. It recently released the first The Legend of Zelda set too with the $300 Great Deku Tree.

The most similar product to this incoming Game Boy is, however, the Lego Nintendo Entertainment System. This arrived in 2024 as a replica of the classic games console and both Lego and Nintendo surely hope fans of it will buy the Lego Game Boy to go alongside.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Attack on Titan Revolution Update 2.5 is kicking off 2025 for Roblox fans with a new Armored Titan Raid, a rework for Fritz, new Abnormal variants, and more.

The update, which is live now for players across all platforms, launched earlier today and seeks to set the Attack on Titan simulator up for a colossal year. Arriving alongside the ongoing Christmas festivities, every gameplay tweak and cosmetic addition gives players new anime-themed gear and challenges to enjoy.

The aforementioned Armored Titan Raid tops the list of additions, with the team behind Attack on Titan Revolution describing it as a two-phase event that tasks soldiers with defending rescue boats while fighting off the plated beast. With this comes new Raid Artifacts, such as the Scars and Rifle, and cosmetics, like the Young Reiner’s Outfit and Marleyan Band.

Ubisoft has delayed Assassin's Creed Shadows yet again, this time by another month.

Assassin's Creed Shadows was due out February 14, 2025, but will now launch on March 20 instead. This is the game's second delay, after an initial release date of November 12, 2024 was pushed back to this year.

"As part of the renewed focus on gameplay quality and engaging Day-1 experiences, it has been decided to provide an additional month of development to Assassin’s Creed Shadows," Ubisoft said.

"This additional time will allow the team to better incorporate the player feedback gathered over the past three months and help create the best conditions for launch by continuing to engage closely with the increasingly positive Assassin’s Creed community. The game is now scheduled for March 20."

Ubisoft boss Yves Guillemot, added: "we are all behind our teams’ efforts to create the most ambitious Assassin’s Creed opus of the franchise and made the decision to provide an extra month of development to Shadows in order to better incorporate the player feedback gathered over the past three months that will enable us to fully deliver on the potential of the game and finish the year on a strong note."

This second delay to Assassin's Creed Shadows comes during one of the most troubling times in Ubisoft's history. The company is reportedly in buyout talks with Chinese megacorp Tencent after a torrid 2024 in which it closed studios, shut down games, and made mass layoffs. Star Wars Outlaws failed to meet sales expectations, and Call of Duty competitor XDefiant was discontinued.

Ubisoft’s shares fell to their lowest level in the last decade in September after Ubisoft made a series of dramatic announcements around the performance of its games. As well as delaying Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ubisoft announced a return to Steam after a period of PC launch exclusivity on the Epic Games Store, with Star Wars Outlaws recently releasing on Valve’s platform. However, the generally much-loved Assassin’s Creed Origins suffering a review-bomb campaign on Steam after a Windows PC update rendered it unplayable for some.

As part of the "strategic update" announced alongside Assassin's Creed Shadows' latest delay, Ubisoft said it had appointed "leading advisors to review and pursue various transformational strategic and capitalistic options to extract the best value for stakeholders." That's a lot of corporate speak that hints at a potential sale.

"This process will be overseen by the independent members of the Board of Directors," the company continued. "Ubisoft will inform the market in accordance with applicable regulations if and once a transaction materializes."

Meanwhile, Ubisoft warned that "significant" cost reductions are to come to the tune of more than €200 million (approx. $205 million) by FY2025-26 vs. FY2022-23 on an annualized basis. As part of this came the aforementioned closure of XDefiant and its San Francisco developer or — as Ubisoft put it: "In December, XDefiant was discontinued and three production studios in high-cost geographies were closed."

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Kingdom Hearts series director Tetsuya Nomura has shared a cryptic tease for the long dormant Kingdom Hearts 4 by pointing to the epilogue of Kingdom Hearts 3 and even a Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep connection.

The Kingdom Hearts X/Twitter account shared a message from Nomura on Birth by Sleep's 15th anniversary, where he discussed the crossroad scene at its climax.

He then connected some dots for less familiar fans, saying these crossroad scenes have long appeared in Kingdom Hearts and all follow the concept of giving something up to gain something in return. The brief epilogue at the end of Kingdom Hearts 3 was a crossroads scene in itself, and though he doesn't reference Kingdom Hearts 4 directly, he said an explanation of this epilogue is "a story for another time."

Nomura explained: "Crossroads act as an important point of divergence. To trace it right back, the motif was inspired by the well known crossroad myth from American folklore. The story goes like this: A young man makes a deal with the devil at a crossroads, trading his soul for the ability to play the guitar.

"The first time a crossroads appears in Kingdom Hearts is in Chain of Memories, which is about losing something to gain something. And in fact, all subsequent appearances of crossroads have the same significance.

"The greatest example is Birth by Sleep, a story where all three protagonists pay a heavy price to obtain something. But wait... When the Lost Masters gather at the crossroads in Kingdom Hearts 3, what is gained and what is lost? That's a story for another time."

This tiny, cryptic tease for Kingdom Hearts 4 is the most fans have had in years. Despite being revealed in September 2022 with a full cinematic trailer, developer Square Enix has since gone incredibly quiet and, in series tradition, left fans pining for more information.

The trailer showed flashy gameplay with protagonist Sora but Square Enix said this was from an Unreal Engine 4 demo, whereas the actual game will be made in Unreal Engine 5. It's already been analyzed completely too, and some even think there's evidence of a Star Wars section.

Otherwise, Nomura has said Kingdom Hearts 4 will, after 22 years and a whopping 18 games, finally shift the Kingdom Hearts narrative towards its conclusion.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Recently revealed at CES 2025, Lenovo's Legion Go S with Windows is now up for preorder at Best Buy for $729.99. You won't have to wait too long to get your hands on it, either, as this version is set to release early this year on February 14. As a bonus, you can also score one month free of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate with your purchase. What better way to get started gaming on it?

Get your preorders in today at the link below. You can find more details further down on this gaming handheld's specs and our first impressions with it while at CES 2025, too.

Preorder the Lenovo Legion Go S

Square Enix has shared the list of features available in the PC version of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, which includes up to 4K resolution and 120 frames per second alongside Nvidia DLSS support.

A trailer for the PC version, below, arrived ahead of its January 23 release date and, while it stopped short of specifics, did confirm that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will feature improved lighting and enhanced visuals compared to the PlayStation 5 version.

Not completely departing from its original platform, however, it does also include support for the DualSense wireless controller and all the additional features it brought. Mouse and keyboard support is available too.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will offer three graphics presets (low, medium, and high) though Square Enix said it has "numerous graphics options." This includes the ability to customize the number of background non-player characters appearing on screen.

The role-playing game arrived in February 2024 as the second part of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy. It follows Cloud, Aerith, Tifa and the rest of the party as they leave Midgar and explore an open world and its vibrant towns and cities.

The PC version therefore arrives almost a year later as part of Square Enix's push to go multiplatform, though director Naoki Hamaguchi has asked fans to please not make inappropriate mods upon its PC release.

In our 9/10 review of the original PS5 version, IGN said: "Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth impressively builds off of what Remake set in motion, both as a best-in-class action-RPG full of exciting challenges and an awe-inspiring recreation of a world that has meant so much to so many for so long."

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Dr. Stone is going to the moon! Eventually! After season 3 revealed post-apocalyptic science prodigy Senku Ishigami's ultimate goal of traveling to the lunar surface to reverse the process that petrified all of humanity centuries ago, it’s surprising that the first episode of the final season of Dr. Stone doesn't similarly aim for the stars, pulling out a crazy fight or plot twist. Instead, it follows the lead of past premieres and reintroduces the characters, setting, and premise finding some amusing calm before the high-stakes storm to come.

More than a simple montage of past events, the episode recaps the story so far through an in-universe audio log recorded by Minami the former journalist – which makes for a fun gag when we see that she’s recording it on a literal wooden log. Minami even interviews some of the crewmembers of the ship Perseus to remind us of the side characters who haven't had much screen time (or in the case of "Strongest High School Primate" Tsukasa, have been in a coma for a whole season) by having them state their motivations and quirks directly to the screen. There are some great moments of humor that highlight the cartoony tone of Dr. Stone, like Suika informing the crew of Senku and Ryusui's fight. The other characters react not to her words, but to the thought bubble coming out of Suika's head that shows the two captains kicking up a cloud of dust in their tussle as if they were Tom and Jerry.

The main concern of the episode is that confrontation between Senku and the revived sailor Ryusui, in which they argue about what route to take to the United States and whether they can make it before winter hits. (Otherwise, they have to waste time waiting until spring.) Though this is still an action anime, their conflict is never really about coming to blows, but finding creative ways to resolve differences (with some actual fighting). In this case, Senku and Ryusui were always going to have it out eventually, so it’s hilarious that their confrontation isn't about fisticuffs, but a game of poker. Somehow, there’s a poker table, cards, and chips aboard the Perseus, and the two decide to bet the ship's route on a game. Rather than the obvious implementation of Senku's superpowered brain being on using math to count cards or something more scientific, it's a silly yet hilarious match all about seeing which side can cheat first without being caught. (Ryusui with mentalist Gen helping him, and Senku with Kohaku helping him spot Gen's trickery.) It's an exhilarating duel, and serves as a refreshing change of pace for Dr. Stone.

Unfortunately, the premiere also continues Dr. Stone’s haste when it comes to introducing new inventions. What was once a big appeal of the show – seeing how Senku and his team work to reinvent or rediscover modern devices and techniques and showing the historical process by which they were originally made – has now become almost a gimmick, a source of surprise for the sake of surprose. Do we need an entire episode showing how Senku and Francois made beer? Probably not, but to simply cut to a shot of a bar and throw a "Beer acquired!!" text box on the screen feels like something's missing. It's still fun to see the characters react to every new pre-stone-world thing Senku brings back, but it's not the same when the show skips past the scientific aspect of these discoveries.

If you’re looking to beef up your Bee Swarm Simulator hive with some free redeemable codes, we have you covered. This article has compiled all of the active Bee Swarm Simulator codes currently available, so you can get your hands on plenty of rewards instantly. Before we get stuck in, it's worth briefly mentioning that certain codes will require you to be part of the Bee Swarm Simulator Club to access them. This club is entirely free to join and we’ll detail how a little further down.

Active Bee Swarm Simulator Codes (January 2025)

Below, you'll find all of the currently active and working Bee Swarm Simulator codes for January 2025

• ThreeBeeVee (must be in the group Bee Swarm Simulator Club to redeem) - Various Resources
• 15MMembers (must be in the group Bee Swarm Simulator Club to redeem) - Various Resources
• 38217 - 5 Tickets
• BeesBuzz123 - 1 Cloud Vial, 5 Bitterberries, 10 Gumdrops
• BopMaster - 5 Tickets
• Connoisseur - 5 Tickets
• Nectar - 5,000 Honey
• Wax - 5 Tickets, 5,000 Honey
• Roof - 5 Tickets
• Crawlers - 5 Tickets
• ClubBean (requires Bee Swarm Simulator Club membership) - Various rewards

Expired Bee Swarm Simulator Codes

The following Bee Swarm Simulator codes are expired and no longer work as of January 2025:

• Boo Swarm
• Octobersmas

How to Redeem Bee Swarm Simulator Codes

To redeem Bee Swarm Simulator Codes, boot up the game and, once you’re in, follow the steps below:

1. Look at the icons in the top left-hand corner of the screen. You’ll see six icons.
2. Click on the gear icon to bring up the settings tab.
3. At the top of the menu that appears, you’ll see a Promo Codes bar. Type your code in here.
4. Click Redeem and you should see the resources you unlock appear in the bottom right-hand corner.

How to Join Bee Swarm Simulator Club

Certain Bee Swarm Simulator codes are exclusive to members of the Bee Swarm Simulator Club. Luckily, this membership is completely free and easy to get. To subscribe, click this link. It’ll take you to the Bee Swarm Simulator Club page.

From here, make sure you’re logged in with the Roblox account you play on, then press the follow button. Just like that, you’re a part of Bee Swarm Simulator Club, and you’ll be able to access any restricted codes.

Why Isn’t My Bee Swarm Simulator Code Working?

If your Bee Swarm Simulator code isn’t working, it’s likely due to one of two scenarios. The first is that the code was inputted incorrectly. Check the spelling, make sure you’ve added any numbers and the case is correct, then redeem again. You can even copy and paste the codes directly from this article over to Roblox if you want to make sure you’re inputting them correctly.

The other possibility is the code has expired or you’ve already used it. In both scenarios, you should see an error message pop up in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. Bee Swarm Simulator is also unique in that certain codes are locked behind a membership to Bee Swarm Simulator Club. Luckily, this is entirely free, so if your error message mentions that you aren’t subscribed, follow the instructions above to subscribe to the group and get access to the exclusive codes.

How to Get More Bee Swarm Simulator Codes

If you’re looking to scout out some Bee Swarm Simulator codes yourself, the easiest way is through the game’s official Discord. After joining, you’ll be able to hop into the bss-news channel to find all the latest codes as they drop.

You can also follow Onett on X, where the creator frequently drops new codes for the community.

What is Bee Swarm Simulator in Roblox?

Bee Swarm Simulator is a bee farming game, where you collect resources by hatching your own hive of colourful bees, making honey, defeating enemies and completing quests. The more you play, the more expansive your hive becomes, allowing you to tackle trickier enemies and continue your quest to become the ultimate beekeeper.

Callum Williams is an IGN freelancer covering features and guides. When he's away from his desk, you can usually find him obsessing over the lore of the latest obscure indie horror game or bashing his head against a boss in the newest soulslike. You can catch him over on Twitter at @CaIIumWilliams.

Looking for a big boost of Ichor to bolster your squad of Toons in Dandy’s World? We’ve got some redeemable codes that will load your wallet up with a ton of free cash. Below, you’ll find a list of all the currently active Dancy's World codes so you can get your hands on more Ichor and start buying some brand-new toons.

Active Dandy's World Codes (January 2025)

Below, you'll find a list of the active and working Dandy's World codes for January 2025:

• ICHOR - 50 Ichor

Expired Dandy's World Codes

The following Dandy's World codes are expired and no longer work as of January 2025:

• 300K
• SKINTICKET
• 2HUNDREDMILLION

How to Redeem Dandy's World Codes

To redeem Dandy's World codes, boot up the game and, once you’re in, follow the steps below:

1. Look at the tabs on the left-hand side of the screen. You’ll see icons for five tabs.
2. Click on the tab that reads "Use Code" to access the codes bar.
3. Input your code in this bar, being careful to make sure it’s in the right case and spelt correctly.
4. Click the use button and you should see the resources you unlock appear at the bottom of the screen.

Why Isn’t My Dandy's World Code Working?

If your Dandy's World code isn’t working, it’s likely due to one of two scenarios. The first is that the code was inputted incorrectly. Make sure you have the code inputted exactly as it is in the Active Codes section above. You can even copy and paste codes directly from this article over to Roblox if you want to make sure you’re inputting them correctly.

The other possibility is the code has expired or you’ve already used it. If you’ve used it, you’ll get a message below the bar reminding you the inputted code has already been redeemed. If you’ve inputted it and it doesn’t recognise the code at all, it likely means it's no longer available to use and is expired.

How to Get More Dandy's World Codes

If you’re looking to scout out some Dandy's World codes yourself, the easiest way is through the game’s official Discord. After joining, you’ll be able to hop into the Announcements channel to find all the latest codes as they drop.

What is Dandy's World in Roblox?

Dandy's World is a mascot horror survival game in the same vein of spooky hits like Five Nights at Freddy's or Poppy Playtime. The major difference is Dandy's World is multiplayer, meaning you and up to seven other friends can jump in, pick a toon with unique abilities and perks to play as, and attempt to survive as long as possible while evading the game's endless supply of terrifying monsters. The longer you survive, the more Ichor you gather, allowing you to buy new toons to help you push further into the nightmare and get the drop on your foes.

Callum Williams is an IGN freelancer covering features and guides. When he's away from his desk, you can usually find him obsessing over the lore of the latest obscure indie horror game or bashing his head against a boss in the newest soulslike. You can catch him over on Twitter at @CaIIumWilliams.

Need some free goodies to help brave the horrors lurking throughout DOORS? We’ve got your back. Below, you’ll find all the DOORS codes currently available in Roblox's popular horror game in January 2025, so you can boost your chances of survival without breaking the bank.

Active DOORS Codes (January 2025)

Here are all of the currently active and working DOORS codes for January 2025:

• SIX2025 - 100 Knobs, 1 Revive
• SCREECHSUCKS - 25 Doorknobs

Expired DOORS Codes

Below, you'll find a list of DOORS codes that are expired and no longer work as of January 2025:

• 5B
• THEHUNT
• 4B

How to Redeem DOORS Codes

To redeem DOORS codes, boot up the game and, once you’re in, follow the steps below:

1. Look at the row of icons on the left-hand side of the screen. You’ll see five icons.
2. Click on the shopping cart icon to access the shop tab.
3. At the top of the tab, you’ll see the codes bar. Input your code here, being careful to make sure it’s in the right case and spelt correctly.
4. Click the tick icon and you should see the resources you unlock appear at the bottom of the screen.

Why Isn’t My DOORS Code Working?

If your DOORS code isn’t working, it’s likely due to one of two scenarios. The first is that the code was inputted incorrectly. Make sure you have the code inputted exactly as it is in the Active Codes section above. You can even copy and paste codes directly from this article over to Roblox if you want to make sure you’re inputting them correctly.

The other possibility is the code has expired or you’ve already used it. If you’ve used it, you’ll get a message below the bar reminding you the inputted code has already been redeemed. If you’ve inputted it and it doesn’t recognise the code at all, it likely means it's no longer available to use and is expired.

How to Get More DOORS Codes

If you’re looking to scout out some DOORS codes yourself, the easiest way is through the game’s official Discord. After joining, you’ll be able to hop into the doors-announcements channel to find all the latest codes as they drop.

You can also follow the game’s official X channel, where you’ll sometimes get new code drops straight from the creators.

What is DOORS in Roblox?

DOORS is a cooperative survival horror game where you’re tasked with entering haunted buildings and progressing as far as possible. Along the way, you’ll go head-to-head with a series of supernatural threats, working with your teammates to proceed past them unscathed while banking treasure and other loot. The goal is to make it as far as possible while collecting cash and door knobs to make your next run easier. So, how long can you survive?

Callum Williams is an IGN freelancer covering features and guides. When he's away from his desk, you can usually find him obsessing over the lore of the latest obscure indie horror game or bashing his head against a boss in the newest soulslike. You can catch him over on Twitter at @CaIIumWilliams.

Wicked star Cynthia Erivo has revealed her next dream role is to play Storm from X-Men in a Marvel Studios film.

Erivo told the National Board of Review that she wants to explore the character's depth and "inner turmoil" more than what's been done previously. Storm, real name Ororo Munroe, is a mutant with weather manipulation powers, and is a beloved member of the X-Men.

"I really want to play Storm," Erivo said. "I know it sounds frivolous but I think we haven't uncovered how grand she is and all of that inner turmoil that she has, so I think there's a world where we could do something like that."

Cynthia Erivo tells NBR her next dream role is X-Men's Storm 👀🌩️ #NBRAwards #CynthiaErivo pic.twitter.com/LS8LNJekAv

— National Board of Review (@NBRfilm) January 8, 2025

Erivo played Elphaba Thropp, a reimagined Wicked Witch of the West, alongside Ariana Grande's Glinda the Good in Wicked, which reviewed strongly and brought in $164.2 million in its opening weekend at the box office. It won the Cinematic and Box Office Achievement at the 2026 Golden Globes as a result.

Marvel Studios, creators of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is likely considering its new wave of X-Men at the moment. Storm was famously played by Halle Berry in the Fox X-Men films before Alexandra Shipp took on the role from X-Men: Apocalypse. The Fox X-Men universe was subsequently scrapped in favor of the more popular and successful MCU, with last year's blockbuster success Deadpool & Wolverine acting as a farewell.

In November, Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige teased the introduction of X-Men characters in the "next few" MCU movies. Feige said fans will see “some X-Men players that you might recognize” in the next few MCU movies, but he stopped short of saying which characters or what movies. The Fantastic Four: First Steps comes out in July.

On bringing the X-Men into the MCU, Feige added: “I think you will see that continues in our next few movies with some X-Men players that you might recognize.

“Right after that, the whole story of Secret Wars really leads us into a new age of mutants and of the X-Men. Again, [it’s] one of those dreams come true. We finally have the X-Men back.”

Image Credit: TheStewartofNY/FilmMagic

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Microsoft has announced the return of its Developer Direct showcase, and confirmed what fans can expect to see.

Developer Direct is set for Thursday, January 23 at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern / 6pm UK. In a blog post, Microsoft said fans “will get an inside look at a selection of highly anticipated games coming to Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Game Pass players this year.” That confirms a focus on 2025 games only.

Expect developers to offer an in-depth look at their upcoming titles. Compulsion Games will show off South of Midnight, Sandfall Interactive will showcase Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and id Software will reveal more on Doom: The Dark Ages.

Microsoft also teased that it will “visit a surprise location to see another studio’s brand new game.”

This article contains spoilers for Creature Commandos Season 1.

After seven action-packed and often traumatizing episodes, Season 1 of Max’s Creature Commandos wrapped its final mission with Episode 7, “A Very Funny Monster.” Not only did the episode have a ton of twists and turns, but not everyone in the main cast made it out alive – and some even came back to life. So with that in mind, you might need a bit of the ‘ol Creature Commandos ending explained.

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered, particularly when it comes to untangling that last-minute wild swerve with The Bride (Indira Varma) and Princess Ilana (Maria Bakalova). Plus, we’ll break down what happens in the Creature Commandos end credits scene in case you missed it, how the finale sets up a potential Season 2, and blowing it out even further, how the show set up a slew of threads to pick up in DC Studios’s DCU (DC Universe) at large.

Creature Commandos Ending Explained

The crucial info to know here is that despite a lot of back and forth over the seven episodes… Princess Ilana is, indeed, the bad guy. And Circe’s (Anya Charlotra) clairvoyant vision of the future, where she saw Ilana laying waste to the DC Universe was, in fact, a real vision of the future. At least as far as you believe clairvoyance is real (this is an ending explained for Creature Commandos, not an “Are psychic powers real explained,” just FYI).

So in the finale, as The Bride, Doctor Phosphorus (Alan Tudyk), Nina Mazursky (Zoë Chao), and Weasel (Sean Gunn) headed to kill Ilana, they were doing the right thing. But when Rick Flag Sr. (Frank Grillo) woke from his Clayface (also Tudyk) induced coma and told Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) and John Economos (Steve Agee) just enough info to get them to find out Themyscira professor Macpherson (Stephanie Beatriz) had been replaced by Clayface, something that got Waller and Economos to get the Creature Commandos to stand down? They were doing the wrong thing. Weird that “not murdering someone” is the wrong thing, but that’s how the show rolls.

But that, as we discover, was Ilana’s plan all along – confusing as it may be. First, Ilana seduced Flag Sr. to get him on her side. She figured him being an old, lonely man finally having sex for the first time in years (though as Doctor Phosphorus noted, he has remarkable stamina for a man his age) would be enough to convince him to kill Circe for her. What Ilana hadn’t counted on was that Flag Sr. is a stand-up guy, and he instead captured Circe and brought her back to Belle Reve.

At this point – and this is the part that may have flown under the radar for some viewers – MacPherson was still alive, and indeed a professor with knowledge of Themyscira and Circe’s clairvoyant powers. Ilana had sent one of her knights to spy on the Commandos in America, and he got word back to her that MacPherson was on the scene and would confirm Circe’s vision of Ilana destroying the world. So Ilana made the only move she could… As The Bride explains to Ilana when she confronts her in her study, Ilana recruited Clayface to make it look like MacPherson “wasn’t who she was,” says The Bride, “even though she was who she said she was when she and Waller spoke.

Does your brain hurt yet trying to wrap your head around this? The short version is that Ilana was a power-mad dictator bent on destroying the world and tried to confuse the situation to save her own life. The Bride figured it out and killed her – not because she was going to cause World War III, but because Ilana stabbed The Bride’s only friend (that would be Nina Mazursky) to death.

And the grateful nation of America, through Economos, gives her a new team of Commandos to lead: Weasel, Doctor Phosphorus, a rebuilt G.I. Robot (also Sean Gunn), Nosferata, Khalis (a mummy-type villain), and King Shark (Diedrich Bader).

“Well, you in?” asks Economos. “What else I got to do?” shoots The Bride right back.

That’s cool and all, but Ilana’s unnecessarily convoluted plan is based on Waller making multiple assumptions about Clayface and MacPherson. It also depends on Ilana having known what Circe’s vision of the future was about… Something that we’re never given an indication of throughout the series (did they ever talk prior to the events of this series? Do they even know each other?)

It also strangely takes the strong theme of toxic masculinity through Circe leading a group called the Sons of Themyscira (SofT) to take over the all-female island that was presented in the first three episodes… And then instead gives Circe an entirely different motivation, and makes a woman the villain, another woman her killer, and seems to ignore the initial ideas of the first half of the season entirely. In fact, Frankenstein (David Harbour), the living embodiment of toxic masculinity, is almost literally an after-thought in the episode: as soon as he comes to retake “his” Bride, she knocks him out of a tower and presumably kills him almost instantly, spitting on his face (more on that in a second).

While the first half of the season was all about varying levels of toxic masculinity, the latter half, and this last episode in particular, doubled down on the theme of “what makes you a monster.” You could perhaps tie the two together – the SofT boys were a different sort of monster, after all – but with Circe disappearing in the second half of the season, and Nina dying for no reason other than to motivate The Bride (she tried to kill Ilana, but Weasel stopped her, giving Ilana enough of a chance to kill Nina first), there’s a lack of clarity in the theme and plot direction that doesn’t help with the confusion over Ilana’s weird plan.

Regardless, the show is over, and everything is wrapped up with a neat bow by the end of the episode, right? Wrong!

Does Creature Commandos Have a Post-Credits Scene?

…But wait, that’s still not all. After the credits roll we get one final scene. Eric Frankenstein is alive, and like after his initial encounter with The Bride hundreds of years earlier, is being nursed back to health by yet another old lady. He explains that the events of this episode make him even more in love with his perfect Bride, and then asks the old lady what soup she’s feeding him.

The answer? Spider-dropping soup. “Taste’s disgusting,” says Frankenstein. “Yes,” agrees the old woman. And Season 1 of Creature Commandos ends, for real, as they keep eating the soup. To paraphrase Adam Driver on Girls: bad soup.

How Does the Creature Commandos Finale Set Up Season 2?

First things first: yep, there will indeed be a Creature Commandos Season 2, as it was renewed by Max on December 23, 2024. However, it’ll likely be a new mission, with a new team led by The Bride. While Nina is dead, that team would likely include Weasel, G.I. Robot, Doctor Phosphorus, Khalis, Nosferata, and King Shark.

That said, it very much depends on what happens with any of these characters going forward in the DCU, and actor availability given time. Since animated series tend to take about two years to craft seasons, unless Creature Commandos Season 2 has secretly been in the works for a while, we likely won’t see it until 2026, earliest; and there’s a lot to come in the DCU before that. Speaking of which…

The Creature Commandos Finale and James Gunn’s DCU

The clearest way Creature Commandos sets up the DCU is the inclusion of the Creature Commandos, who could now show up in live-action – or further animated series – if the story demands it.

More specifically though, Rick Flag Sr. is no longer in charge of the Creature Commandos at the end of Season 1 and is recovering from his coma. We know that Grillo will be reprising his role in both Peacemaker Season 2 and Superman, and whether we’ll see him dealing with the events of this series is TBD. But he is, at this point, in Amanda Waller’s employ, just not in charge of a team.

There are a slew of other setups for the DCU throughout the series, though, and we won’t run them all down but here are a few dangling plot points:

• Clayface seems very much dead as of this episode. There are ways out of that, of course, but that points to the version of the character we’ll see in Mike Flangan’s Clayface movie as either a prequel; or a new Clayface entirely.
• In Circe’s vision of Ilana’s global apocalypse, she was standing side by side with what looked like Gorilla Grodd, a classic The Flash villain. Seeing as otherwise the character didn’t show up in Creature Commandos Season 1, that certainly seems like an eye-popping inclusion that could be followed up on somewhere.
• Back during the G.I. Robot episode we met Dr. Will Magnus (once again, Tudyk) who was using G.I. Robot’s design to create heroes The Metal Men, something that likely could be followed up on at some point as well.
• But the biggest elephant in the room is Wonder Woman and Themyscria. The season started with Circe leading her SofT (Sons of Themyscria) into Pokolistan, the late MacPherson studied Amazon culture and had a very Wonder Woman-reminiscent helmet in her house, and we even got to see a dead Wonder Woman in Circe’s vision. We know the DCU has plans for Superman and Batman, but what about the third part of the Trinity? There’s a lot of setup here in Creature Commandos for, as far as we know at this point, no payoff. Come on, Wonder Woman. The whole world’s waiting for you.

Marvel Rivals fans now have their first look at upcoming playable character Blade and even an idea of when he’ll be playable, via a fresh leak.

First revealed by X/Twitter user Miller Ross, the Blade image is lifted from an in-game gallery card set to launch alongside Season 1. The image also features Ratatoskr, a giant Asgardian squirrel beast. Developer NetEase Games has yet to announce Blade as an upcoming playable character.

In the lead up to #MarvelRivals #EternalNightFalls, Dracula subdues the two greatest threats to his Empire of Eternal Night—Blade and Ratatoskr. But the #FantasticFour won't let New York fall to the undead without a fight, and they prove to be formidable foes in Blade's absence. pic.twitter.com/eIceN8rX97

— Miller Ross (@mmmmmmmmiller) January 8, 2025

According to the in-game lore, new villain Dracula “subdues” Blade and Ratatoskr, but the Fantastic Four, set to arrive with the launch of Season 1 this week, are ready to save the day.

Based on this image and lore, fans are speculating that by the end of Season 1, the Fantastic Four will have defeated Dracula and saved Blade, making him available as a playable character for the launch of Season 2.

Blade was leaked as an upcoming playable character ahead of this official first-look. The vampire hunter is part of a list of leaked characters that popped up even before Marvel Rivals launched in December. That list included Mister Fantastic and Sue Storm, both of which are due out with Season 1’s launch on January 10.

Season 2 is expected to launch in April 2025. In the shorter term, we have Marvel Rivals Season 1 global release times info, Season 1 patch notes, and official stats that reveal Marvel Rivals' pick and win rates in Quickplay and Competitive modes for Season 0.

Check out IGN’s Marvel Rivals Review to find out what we think. And keep an eye on the latest Marvel Rivals codes for free skins, and vote on the strongest Marvel Rivals characters in our community tier list.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Palworld developer Pocketpair just launched a game on Nintendo Switch despite The Pokémon Company and Nintendo itself suing it for patent infringement.

As reported by Automaton, the real-time roguelike deck builder Overdungeon, which released five years before Palworld in 2019, was surprise-launched on Switch today, January 9, 2025. Overdungeon was previously only available on Steam.

The release, especially as it's not come to PlayStation or Xbox, feels unusual given The Pokémon Company and Nintendo itself are suing Pocketpair over the wildly popular Palworld.

This open-world, multiplayer survival game was dubbed "Pokémon with guns" by fans and gained a staggering 25 million players in one month. Many drew further comparisons between it and Pokémon, claiming various Pal designs were practically direct copies of official pocket monsters.

The Pokémon Company said in January 2024 that it intended "to investigate and take appropriate measures to address any acts that infringe on intellectual property rights" but went quiet for months after. Finally, however, in September 2024, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company announced it was suing Pocketpair.

The developer didn't appear particularly deterred by the lawsuit, initially saying "we are unaware of the specific patents we are accused of infringing upon" before going on to release Palworld on different platforms afterwords.

It later revealed the lawsuit was directed at patents that involce a catching mechanic: Pokémon are famously captured with Pokéballs, and Palworld are caught with a spherical object called a Pal Sphere. It's this Nintendo and The Pokémon Company is seeking "an injunction against infringement and compensation for damages" over.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

For a limited time, Amazon has the Halo-inspired NERF LMTD Needler Dart-Firing Blaster for only $68.18, a 33% price drop from its usual $100 MSRP. This Halo Needler is one of the coolest looking guns in NERF's LMTD lineup, which is a collection of fan-service weapons that is designed after iconic weapons from popular movies and games. It doesn't go on sale very often, and this is about as low as it goes outside of the major annual sales events.

Save 33% Off NERF LMTD Halo Needler, Now $68.18

The Needler is a common Convenant infantry weapon in the Halo universe and Hasbro did an excellent job of faithfully creating its look. There are a lot of cool little touches, like the needles and accents that light up whenever you grip the handle, a 10-dart rotating drum (10 Elite darts included, but it will also take standard darts), and a display stand that activates all the light-up features when mounted. You'll even get a game card with in-game content for Halo Infinite. Note that it's not a very accurate blaster and has a slow rate of fire, so it personally wouldn't be my weapon of choice for any life-or-death competitions, but it is definitely a Nerf that I would show off on its display stand when I'm not playing around with it.

Looking for more weapons to add to your arsenal? Check out the best NERF guns of 2024.

Another day, another fresh batch of Nintendo Switch 2 reports that combine to form an ever-clearer picture of Nintendo’s next-gen console.

After IGN went hands-on with Genki’s high-profile Nintendo Switch 2 mockup, images and videos of which you can see below, reports indicate that the Joy-Con’s alleged sensor may be used to turn the controller into a mouse.

This was speculated by fans when images of the Joy-Con leaked online earlier this week, but Genki co-founder and CEO Eddie Tsai, who insists the company's mockup is based on a real Switch 2 system it has seen and used as the basis for its accessories, told The Verge that within the mounting channel of the Joy-Cons is an optical sensor and that by using another attachment, they may offer mouse-like functionality.

The Verge compares this functionality to Lenovo’s Legion Go handheld, which also features detachable joysticks. The right gamepad features a small trackpad beneath the right thumbstick and a mouse scroll near the top which, when used with a base, creates a vertically-aligned mouse. You can see how this works in the video below.

Meanwhile, alleged retail listings for Switch 2 MicroSD Express cards suggest the console supports the newer standard of SD cards. Via Reddit, a GameStop employee allegedly found a number of Switch 2-related SKUs on the retailer’s system, including Switch 2 MicroSDs in 256GB and 512GB form.

As Eurogamer noted, these cards have faster transfer speeds, with performance comparable to SSDs. It's worth noting that retailers generally create internal SKUs for every possible outcome, however, meaning many list products which never actually materialize.

It’s been a busy week for Switch 2 leaks. Following the appearance of alleged images of the Nintendo Switch 2’s internals, fresh images allegedly showing the next-generation console’s Joy-Con appeared online.

The images, which show a left Joy-Con, were reportedly first posted to a Chinese social media website before they made their way to the Nintendo Switch 2 subreddit and western social media.

They include larger SL and SR buttons than on the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con, which you’d expect given the Nintendo Switch 2 is reportedly a bigger console than the original. These new Joy-Con allegedly ditch the railed lock method used by the current Switch in favor of electromagnetic suction controllers.

Last week, an image of what appeared to be the Switch 2’s internal components tallied with information suggested by previous image leaks that have helped give us a decent idea of what to expect from Nintendo’s next-gen console.

In September, unverified images — a mix of Computer-aided design (CAD) images and printed circuit board (PCB) photos — that were said to have originated from a Chinese website before making their way onto Reddit, depicted a device similar to the existing Switch console but with a larger screen and magnetic Joy-Con. There is reportedly a USB-C port on the top and bottom of the console, too.

Accompanying the images was an alleged specifications list that mentioned 12GB of RAM (the original Switch has 4GB), and 256GB of internal storage (the original Switch has 32GB). There’s a new "C" button on the right Joy-Con, allegedly, but no-one seems to know what this is for.

We also have a patent, filed July 2023 but published for the first time last week, that describes AI image upscaling technology that would help keep video game download sizes small enough to fit on a physical game cartridge while offering up to 4K textures.

Here’s what we know for sure: Nintendo has confirmed that the yet-to-be-announced Switch 2 will be backward-compatible with original Switch games and will feature Nintendo Switch Online. Nintendo has also said it will announce the Switch 2 by the end of March 2025, which means the reveal is fast approaching. As for a release date, the console is not expected to launch during Nintendo's current financial year, so it will arrive April 2025 at the earliest.

We even have developers outright saying they plan to release their upcoming games on the console, with others teasing a Switch 2 release for their games. When Switch 2 does eventually come out, Nintendo expects to have plenty of stock available, which in turn will hopefully combat scalping.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Marvel Rivals developer NetEase Games has confirmed the global release times for the Season 1 update, which sees the arrival of the Fantastic Four.

While Marvel Rivals is available across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, NetEase has targeted a simultaneous launch for Season 1, dubbed Eternal Night Falls, on January 10.

Season 1 begins with the addition of Invisible Woman and Mister Fantastic, with Human Torch and The Thing arriving in the second half of the season. There are three new maps, special events, and a new Doom Match game mode.

The new Battle Pass includes "over double the content" of the Season 0 pass, NetEase said, with the Luxury Pass featuring 10 new costumes for the heroes.

The three new maps include Sanctum Sanctorum and Empire of Eternal Night: Midtown, which arrive in the first half of the season, and Central Park, which will be added in the second half.

The new Doom Match puts 8-12 players in factions on a single map. Players begin in different parts of the map and earn points by knocking out enemies. Whichever faction includes the top 50% of players wins.

NetEase has published the Marvel Rivals Season 1 patch notes early, revealing all the nerfs and buffs coming to the cast of playable characters. When you're done with that, check out official stats that reveal Marvel Rivals' pick and win rates in Quickplay and Competitive modes for Season 0.

Marvel Rivals Season 1 Eternal Night Falls global release times

• 1am PST, January 10
• 4am EST, January 10
• 9am GMT, January 10
• 10am CET, January 10

It’s worth noting that NetEase plans to bring the Marvel Rivals servers offline for just over two hours ahead of the launch of Season 1 for planned maintenance. During this time players will not be able to access the game.

• Maintenance Schedule: 11pm PST January 9 to 1.10am PST January 10.

The maintenance looks set to bleed into the Season 1 launch time, so players should brace themselves for a delay unless NetEase can bring the maintenance to an end earlier than planned.

Marvel Rivals is a smash hit for NetEase, securing 10 million players in just three days and 20 million in two weeks. The free-to-play superhero team-based PvP shooter launched on December 6 across PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S, and while Sony and Microsoft do not make player numbers public, Steam makes Valve stats available.

On Steam, Marvel Rivals peaked over its launch weekend with 480,990 concurrent players, which was enough to put it in the top five most-played games on Valve's platform. It’s the 20th highest concurrent player number ever seen on Steam, ahead of the likes of Helldivers 2, Grand Theft Auto 5, and Destiny 2.

Check out IGN’s Marvel Rivals Review to find out what we think. And keep an eye on the latest Marvel Rivals codes for free skins, and vote on the strongest Marvel Rivals characters in our community tier list.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

If you long for a time when men were men and those men were all hell-bent on killing each other, when indoor plumbing was nonexistent but whiskey was plentiful, you’ve probably been waiting for another frontier story to kick down your door. Enter: The new Netflix Western American Primeval, which comes in hot with characters facing down violence and adversity by the wagonload. This six-episode series doesn’t build up its characters enough for its finale to really pay off, but its chronicle of an unforgiving land – and even less merciful people – will put some hair on your chest.

In the Utah Territory circa 1857, U.S. troops face off against the Mormon militia, native tribes face off against invading frontiersmen, and there’s plenty of crossfire to go around. Caught in the middle of it are mother-son pair Sara (Betty Gilpin, riveting) and Devin (Preston Mota), who are traveling from the northeast to meet up with Devin’s father. Along the way they connect with a young Mormon couple, a fort proprietor, a mute Shoshone girl, and a wild man named Isaac Reed (a beguiling Taylor Kitsch).

American Primeval chases each of these characters’ stories and then some, taking on political intrigue after the Mormon militia attacks a party of travelers and tries to fudge their role in the crime, wrongly assuming that there are no surviving witnesses. And if you think that sounds like a lot to pack into six episodes, you’re correct! Ambition is both the greatest asset and most notable flaw on display, with Friday Night Lights director Peter Berg and Twisters screenwriter Mark L. Smith tenaciously leading us up snowy mountains and into desert encampments. In the first episode, Sara and Devin’s experience of the Mormons’ massacre is choreographed and edited to look as though it was accomplished in one take – no small feat for a sequence that involves a near-scalping, a stampeding ox, and flaming arrows firing from every direction.

It helps that the cast is so capable. Gilpin commands attention as Sara, whose steadfast devotion to her son often tips over into pigheadedness, causing friction between her and Isaac. Standouts among the supporting cast include Saura Lightfoot-Leon as Abish, a fierce yet ambivalent Mormon wife, and Shea Whigham as the shrewd and sloppy landowner Jim Bridger. Dane Dehaan, as Abish’s increasingly unhinged husband, Jacob, deserves props for acting through a torrent of fake blood for the majority of the show.

But overzealous cinematography and choppy pacing get in the way of such a solid setup. Brilliant performances are hampered by shots where the camera is at odd angles or too close to give a broad sense of the action. (If you thought the TV version of Friday Night Lights had too much shaky cam, be grateful that its intimate, off-field drama didn’t take place on horseback.) And there are either too many characters or too few episodes for this story to go deep – an issue that becomes especially glaring in the finale, where a big emotional swing falls flat.

American Primeval is no Game of Thrones, but it’s still not for the easily ruffled, particularly those sensitive to animal slaughter, rape, old-timey treatments for grisly injuries, or unflattering portrayals of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This isn’t the kind of show you unwind with, but if you let it take you for a ride, you’re apt to have an engaging – if not earth-shattering – time. Just remember to watch out for those Mormons.

We're not even 10 days into 2025, and the gaming deals are heating up already. At the tip of that spear are the cheapest preorder prices for the next big upcomings on my radar—Monster Hunter Wilds, Sniper Elite Resistance, and Kingdom Come Deliverance II. Without saying too much too soon, I've played parts of at least two of those three titles, and I think they're coming along quite well. And now I'll shut right up.

In retro news, I’m celebrating the 22nd birthday of Street Fighter Alpha 3 on GBA, a pretty incredible port of the PS One version. Though the BGMs and voice SFX weren’t always authentic, and the fighters had fewer animation frames, Crawfish Interactive otherwise shoryukened this shoehorned-down port out of the park. I got much RSI of the thumbs playing this on the go (especially using the “portable only” fighter additions of Yun, Eagle, Ingrid, and Maki). That progressed to early-onset arthritis when a mate got his own cart and a Ryu/Ken rivalry ensued via Game Link Cable.

Production on some of Hollywood's biggest shows, including the next season of Fallout, have come to a screeching halt after several major fires broke out across Los Angeles county.

Variety reports that filming permits across fire-stricken areas have been withdrawn, which means that the re-start of production for Fallout Season 2 has been potponed, though just until Friday. NBCUnviersal says that production Hacks, Loot, Ted, Suits: LA, and Happy's Place have been suspendended as well.

Elsewhere, CBS has halted production on NCIS, NCIS: Origins, and After Midnight, while Disney has paused Doctor Odyssey, Grey's Anatomy, and Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Lastly, Warner Bros. studio in Burbank was closed, affecting Abbot Elementary among other shows.

Amazon will be looking to get Fallout up and running soon as the first season was a surprise hit for the streamer, and maybe even for fans who were not provided with a lot of details about the show before it premiered.

Produced by Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy of Westworld fame, Fallout tells an original story in the post-apocalyptic RPG series following three characters: Vault Dweller Lucy MacLean, Brotherhood of Steel squire Maximus, and Cooper Howard, a ghoul who survived The War that destroys America.

Fallout recorded 65 million viewers in the first 16 days, becoming the second most-watched show on Prime Video behind The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The show kicked off a renewed interest in a new Fallout game, though Bethesda themselves are committed on a new Elder Scrolls game first.

Check out IGN's full review of the first season and we'll hope that production can resume quickly for these shows.

Matt Kim is IGN's Senior Features Editor.

Here's a great opportunity to score a battery backup for your Nintendo Switch at a super low price. Amazon is offering two INIU branded power banks at just over $10:

• INIU 10,000mAh 22.5W USB Power Bank for $11.59 with code: "CCPUVQ4A"
• INIU 10,000mAh 22.5W USB Power Bank for $12.58 with code: "L6FIOIAI"

INIU power banks generally have very good reviews and are considerably less expensive than equivalent Anker models. These two models have the same battery capacity and power delivery output, but the $11.58 model has two USB Type-C and one USB Type-A ports. The $12.58 model has one USB Type-C and two USB Type-A ports and a battery indicator.

INIU 10,000mAh 22.5W Power Banks

IGN can exclusively reveal a sneak peek at the seventh and final episode of the first season of Creature Commandos, which premieres on Max on Thursday, January 9th.

The clip can be watched via the player above or the embed below.

The season finale – titled "A Very Funny Monster” and written and executive produced by DC Studios co-CEO/co-chairman James Gunn and directed by Matt Peters – presents Nina Mazursky’s (voiced by Zoe Chao) origin story while also finding Princess Ilana (Maria Bakalova) attempting to escape death at the hands of the Creature Commandos once and for all.

In addition to Chao’s Nina, our exclusive clip from the season finale also features Alan Tudyk’s Dr. Phosphorus, Indira Varma’s The Bride, and Sean Gunn’s Weasel.

The series boasts a stellar voice ensemble that includes Steve Agee as Economos, Anya Chalotra as Circe, Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr., David Harbour as Eric Frankenstein, and Viola Davis as Amanda Waller.

Creature Commandos was recently renewed for Season 2. In his spoiler-free Creature Commandos Season 1 review, IGN’s Tyler Roberston said the show “gracefully fulfills its duties as the bridge between the old DCEU and the new DCU, while also telling a rock solid story all its own. James Gunn’s classic recipe of lovable weirdos, great music, and lots of jokes and violence is on full display, but in a new, fresh way that’s presented well in animation.”

For more on Creature Commandos and the DCU, find out what James Gunn said about the show’s Batman cameo, injecting sex and violence into the DCU, whether canon even matters, and that blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo in the Superman trailer.

It's been a heck of a start to the week for Nintendo fans. A combination of the start of a new year and the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has resulted in an absolute flood of Nintendo Switch 2 rumors, predictions, and seeming leaks. Most interesting of all of them is a mockup of a supposed Switch 2 from accessories maker Genki that's being shown off at the convention that seems to be based on real knowledge of the real system. We were curious, so IGN met up with Genki to see what we could learn.

For some context, the Switch 2 mockup from Genki is allegedly based on a real Switch 2 system that Genki has seen and used as the basis for its accessories. A report from French publication Numerama offered some potential details shared by Genki, which included verifying rumors of an optical sensor on the Joy-Con and showing off the magnetic clips that attach those Joy-Cons to the system. Genki even posted a video to its own website showing off a render of the system. The accessories company claims it's releasing in April.

IGN visited Genki's booth at CES today and spoke with a Genki representative while examining their Switch mock-up. The representative expressed surprise at all the fervor over their mock-up, saying they felt that all the information about the Switch 2 had already leaked and Genki wasn't saying anything new. "I didn't expect this much media attention, to be honest," they said. While Genki's mock-up does appear to add significant weight to a growing pool of past leaks on what the Switch 2 will be, it's worth noting that Nintendo still has not officially revealed anything about the system, and all these claims are subject to change or total debunking. A formal announcement is expected in the first quarter of this year, per Nintendo.

While the Genki representative did not know the technical specs of the Switch 2 or anything about the motherboard, they did say they could attest to "physically what's there, what's pressable and what's not."

They again confirmed the Joy-Cons attaching to the system via magnets on the system side and metallic SL/SR buttons on the Joy-Cons that can be released via a button on the back of each Joy-Con.

The Genki representative stated that the new console looks like it can physically fit in an old Nintendo Switch dock, but certain indentations seem to prevent it from actually being usable in the dock itself. Additionally, while current Joy-Cons won't physically attach to the sides of the new Switch, the Genki spokesperson said the company is "assuming" they will still work as wireless controllers, stating that other accessories manufacturers are banking on that capability.

Unfortunately, the representative said they didn't have any information on a new "C" button present on their mock-up of the right Joy-Con. They said there had been some rumors among accessories manufacturers about it being camera-related, but could not verify the actual function and did not know if the Switch 2 possessed a camera at all.

Finally, the representative stated there is an extra USB port at the top of the Switch 2, which they claimed could be used for handheld charging "at minimum." They could not verify if the Switch was dockable upside down.

We brought a tape measure to the meeting, so we were able to check out the dimensions of Genki's mockup. Per our measurements, the Switch 2 is 10.5" wide, 4.5" tall, .5" thick and has an 8" screen. Compare that to the current Nintendo Switch OLED model, which is 9.5" wide, 4" tall, .5" thick, and has a 7" screen.

Genki's mock-up seems to jive with most of the recent rumors and allegedly leaks about Nintendo's upcoming new system, all of which seem to be converging on the notion of it being a bigger, more powerful Nintendo Switch system with some slight differences in shape. Along with Genki's information, we've also seen leaked images of a supposed new Joy-Con from Chinese social media that match up with the mock-up we saw, and a leaked image of alleged internal components. Given the rapid pace of increasingly believable leaks and rumors, it's possible an official Switch 2 announcement is imminent - but we won't know until Nintendo emerges from behind the curtain and makes it a reality.

In the meantime, you can catch up with everything we saw at CES 2025 right here.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

If you're looking for Squid Game Season 2 codes in Roblox, IGN's got you covered! In this article, you'll find a list of active and working Squid Game Season 2 codes in January 2025 that you can redeem for free rewards in Trendsetter Games' hit Experience, including Revives and Super Pushes to help you win.

Active Squid Game 2 Codes (January 2025)

Here are all the active Squid Game Season 2 codes in January 2025 and the free rewards you get for redeeming them:

• Season2Released: 3x Revives (NEW!)
• sisi: 5x Revives (NEW!)
• Season2: 5x Super Pushes (NEW!)
• S2Secret: 2x Revives
• Season2Sneak: 1x Revive
• TUN3: 5,000x Cash
• 456: 2,500x Cash
• ThanksPewDiePie: 500x Cash
• SleeplessTaco: 5,000x Cash
• PewDiePie: PewDiePie Bat Skin
• RBBattles: RBBattles Bat Skin
• 700kLikes: 3x Pushes
• saucyvibe: 5x Revives
• 350kLikes: 25x Souls

All Expired Squid Game 2 Codes

The following Squid Game Season 2 codes no longer work and can't be redeemed as of January 2025:

• Halloween2024
• AppRelease
• 2023
• 1BILLION

How to Redeem Squid Game 2 Codes in Roblox

Follow the steps below to redeem Squid Game Season 2 codes and claim free rewards in the Roblox Experience:

1. Open Squid Game in Roblox.
2. You'll see a list of icons on the left-hand side of your screen. Click on the green Codes icon to open the Redeem Code menu.
3. Input your Squid Game Season 2 code into the [Code Here] field.
4. Double check the code for typos, then tap Confirm to claim your free rewards.

Why Isn't My Squid Game Season 2 Code Working?

If the Squid Game Season 2 code you're trying to redeem isn't working, it's likely because of one of the following reasons:

• The Squid Game 2 code is expired
• There's a typo or accidental space in the code

When inputting a Squid Game Season 2 code into Roblox, make sure it's spelled correctly and that there are no spaces before or after the code. We recommend copying and pasting codes straight from this article to ensure they're correct as we've tested and verified them ourselves. Codes are case-sensitive, so you'll also need to ensure it's in the correct case.

If the Squid Game 2 code you're trying to input still isn't working, it's probably expired and can no longer be redeemed.

How to Get More Squid Game Season 2 Codes

Outside of bookmarking this article, the best way to get more Squid Game 2 codes as soon as they become available is to check the Squid Game Season 2 Roblox game page as the creator often update's the Experience's description with new codes. Alternatively, the creator, kingerman88, sometimes posts new codes on their X account.

Meg Koepp is a Guides Editor on the IGN Guides team, with a focus on trends. When she's not working, you can find her playing an RPG or making miniatures.

Marvel Rivals Season 1 balance changes are nearly here, and NetEase Games has revealed details that promise tweaks for popular heroes like Captain America, Cloak & Dagger, and Jeff the Land Shark.

The team detailed its reasoning for the buffs and nerfs that will soon be delivered with version 20250110 in a post on its website. Despite having launched only last month, NetEase says it’s happy with the “vibrant diversity of lineups” it has seen this far but still sees some room for improvement.

“Hence, in the first half of Season 1, we are set to make balance adjustments to certain heroes, enabling a broader roster to partake in more intricate gameplay, ensuring a richer, more engaging, and diverse gaming experience for all,” the team explained.

Some of the balance tweaks arriving in the first half of Marvel Rivals Season 1 include slight nerfs to a few of the more dominant heroes in the roster. Hulk’s Indestructible Guard gamma shield is going from 250 to 200 health, while Hela will be hit with a base health reduction that brings her from 275 to 250. Hawkeye is also getting a decrease to his medium-long range damage alongside a slight increase to his close combat resistance. Then there's Luna Snow, whose ultimate ability will now take longer to switch from damage to healing.

The list of heroes set to benefit from buffs, meanwhile, is quite long, with Cloak & Dagger, Storm, Punisher, Moon Knight, and more due improvements in some form. Captain America is getting some of the more substantial balance adjustments, with NetEase aiming to enhance his survivability. Jeff’s Joyful Splash healing is also getting an increase from 140/s to 150/s, while the team has also moved to make his ultimate ability warning marker line up better with its actual radius.

Marvel Rivals Season 1 launches this Friday, January 10. In an X/Twitter post, NetEase announced that a maintenance period will begin tomorrow, January 9, starting from 11pm to 1.10am PST. Servers go offline during this time, with the team warning that server return times may vary based on progress.

Alongside today’s patch notes, NetEase revealed what it is calling the Hero Hot List, a stat page that details pick and win rates for heroes across console and PC quickplay and competitive matches. It’s a list that will almost certainly change with Season 1 not only because of the balance adjustments but the introduction of four new heroes with the Fantastic Four. Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman start things off with the first half of the season, with The Thing and Human Torch set to arrive in the second half.

You can read the full balance changes planned to arrive in the first half of Marvel Rivals Season 1 below.

Marvel Rivals First Half of Season 1 Balance Changes

VANGUARD

Captain America

Steve will receive some enhanced survivability, allowing more frequent entering and exiting of the combat.

- Reduce the delay time for shield restoration after releasing Living Legend from 3s to 2s.

- Reduce Liberty Rush cooldown from 12s to 10s.

- Increase base health from 650 to 675.

- Reduce the energy cost for releasing Freedom Charge (ultimate ability) from 3400 to 3100; Reduce the additional health provided per second to self after releasing it from 110 to 100.

Doctor Strange

We’ll be reducing the threat range and increasing the defense window of the Sorcerer Supreme.

- Add damage falloff to Maelstrom of Madness and Gamma Maelstrom. Starting at 5 meters and reducing to 70% at 8 meters.

- Slightly decrease the shield value recovery rate after releasing Shield of the Seraphim from 80/s to 70/s.

Thor

The God of Thunder could use some slightly increased survivability and improved the success rate to his ultimate ability.

- Increase base health from 500 to 525.

- Added immunity to control effects during God of Thunder (ultimate ability).

Hulk

Dr. Banner has been dominant, but some decreased sustained combat capability upon entering the battlefield will bring him more in line with other Vanguards.

- Reduce the Indestructible Guard gamma shield value for Hero Hulk from 250 to 200.

Venom

With increased survivability and the threat of his ultimate ability, the symbiote menace will strike fear into the backlines of all enemy teams.

- Increase the Symbiotic Resilience bonus health ratio gained per lost health point from 1 to 1.2.

- Increase the base damage of Feast of the Abyss (ultimate ability) from 40 to 50.

DUELIST

Black Panther

We're slightly decreasing T'Challa's combat survivability.

- Reduce the additional health provided to self after refreshing Vibranium Marks with Spirit Rend from 40 to 30, and the upper limit of additional health provided from 120 to 75.

Black Widow

Natasha was very much in need of optimization when evaluating the release experience of her abilities as well as a slightly increase to the threat of her ultimate ability,

- Increase the range of the first effect of Edge Dancer from a 3-meter radius to a 5-meter radius.

- Reduce the time required for Fleet Foot to recover from 0 stamina to full from 12s to 4s.

- Reduce the time required for Electro-Plasma Explosion (ultimate ability) to reach maximum power from 1s to 0.6s.

Hawkeye

We'll be decreasing the medium-long range damage capability, reducing the threatening combat radius, and slightly improving the close combat resistance for the avenging archer.

- Slightly reduce the spread angle between every two Blast Arrows.

- Reduce the triggering distance of passive ability Archer's Focus from 60 meters to 40 meters. Reduce the maximum additional damage of the passive from 80 to 70.

Hela

The Goddess of Death has been a menace and we'll slightly decreasing her combat strength.

- Reduce base health from 275 to 250.

Magik

The Queen of Limbo needed an Increase to her threat after unleashing her ultimate ability.

- Increase Umbral Incursion damage in Darkchild form from 115 to 135.

Moon Knight

The Hand of Khonshu will receive a slight increase to the threat of his ultimate ability.

- Increase the number of talons generated by Hand of Khonshu (ultimate ability) from 10 to 14.

- Increase the explosion radius of each talon from 4 meters to 5 meters.

Namor

We're optimizing the throwing feel of Namor's eggs!

- Adjust the throwing feel of Monstro Spawn and Frozen Spawn. Now, Namor can more accurately throw them to the desired location.

Psylocke

We'll be providing more options for other heroes to counter the demon slayer's ultimate.

- Now Dance of the Butterfly (ultimate ability) will check for barriers (including Magneto's Metal Bulwark, Hulk's Indestructible Guard, etc.).

The Punisher

We're slightly increasing the damage capability of Frank's weapons.

- Slightly reduce the spread of Deliverance and Adjudication.

Scarlet Witch

We're Increasing Wanda's combat strength when she's facing Duelists or Strategists.

- Increase Chaos Control's fixed damage from 50/s to 60/s.

- Reduce the percentage damage per second from 5% to 3%.

- Increase Chthonian Burst's projectile damage from 30 to 35.

Storm

The Weather Witch needed an overall increase to her damage capability; We're also optimizing the feel of her left-click projectile and the release experience of her ultimate ability.

- Increase Wind Blade projectile speed from 100m/s to 150m/s and left-click damage from 50 to 55.

- Increase Bolt Rush damage from 70 to 80.

- After releasing Omega Hurricane (ultimate ability), the bonus health provided for herself will be increased from 350 to 450. Moreover, following its conclusion, the extra health will no longer vanish instantly but will instead diminish at a rate of 100 per second.

Squirrel Girl

We're increasing the threat of Doreen and her furry friends in their ultimate ability.

- Addition of a new effect to the Unbeatable Squirrel Tsunami (ultimate ability): the squirrels will rush towards the nearest enemy after bouncing instead of bouncing randomly.

- Reduce the squirrel tsunami health from 600 to 300.

Winter Soldier

We'll be adjusting Bucky by decreasing his long-range combat strength and increasing his survivability in medium-close range combat.

- Increase the bonus health provided by Bionic Hook and Tainted Voltage from 30 to 40.

- Increase Roterstern's projectile damage from 70 to 75.

- Reduce the area damage from 70 to 65 and reduce damage decay from 65% at 40 meters to 60%.

- Increase base health from 250 to 275.

Wolverine

Logan will receive an increase to basic combat strength, but a slight decrease to the additional survivability after activating Undying Animal.

- Increase base health from 300 to 350.

- Reduce the damage reduction ratio provided by Undying Animal from 50% to 40%.

STRATEGIST

Cloak & Dagger

Ty and Tandy will receive an increase to their healing capability as well as an expansion to the coverage area of their ultimate ability.

- Reduce Dagger Storm cooldown from 15s to 12s.

- Increase the number of dashes in Eternal Bond (ultimate ability) from 3 to 4.

Jeff the Land Shark

We'll be adjusting the range for his ultimate ability so it now better fits the warning marker. In addition, we'll also be increasing his healing capability.

- Adjust It's Jeff! (ultimate ability) range from a 10m sphere to a 10m radius, 5m high cylindrical spell field.

- Increase the healing of Joyful Splash from 140/s to 150/s.

Luna Snow

While we've enjoyed her dropping the bass, we've made adjustments to Luna's ultimate ability to prevent players from abusing its healing capabilities.

- Increase the interval for switching between healing and damage in Fate of Both Worlds from 0.1s to 0.5s.

Mantis

We'll be making Mantis a bit less fleet-footed, reducing her roaming support capability.

- Reduce Nature's Favor (passive) movement boost from 2.5m/s to 1.5m/s.

Rocket Raccoon

Rocket could use an enhancement to his healing capability.

- Increase the healing of Repair Mode from 60 per/s to 70 per/s.

TEAM-UP ABILITIES

Hawkeye – Black Widow

To further tone down Hawkeye's oppression, we' ll be reducing his seasonal buff.

- Reduce Hawkeye's season bonus from 20% to 15%.

Hela – Thor – Loki

Much like Hawkeye, Hela's overwhelming power will be receiving a slight reduction.

- Reduce Hela's season bonus from 20% to 15%.

Luna Snow- Namor

We'll be increasing the threat of Namor's Frozen Spawn.

- Increase Frozen Spawn damage from 25 to 27.

- Increase Frozen Spawn slowing effect applied to hit enemies from 25% to 30%.

- Increase berserk state Frozen Spawn damage from 16 to 18.

Rocket Raccoon – The Punisher – Winter Soldier

One of Rocket's best tools will be available more often!

- Reduce the cooldown of Ammo Invention from 45s to 40s.

Scarlet Witch - Magneto

A bit underwhelming, the damage capability of this father-daughter Team-Up ability will be enhanced.

- Increase Metallic Fusion projectile damage from 55 to 60.

- Increase Metallic Fusion spell field damage from 30 to 35.

Thor – Storm – Captain America

We'll be enhancing the damage capability of Storm's side of this Team-Up ability.

- Reduce the cooldown of Charged Gale from 20s to 15s.

- Increase the damage of Charged Gale from 50 to 55.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.

Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.

The setup of Better Man is conventional. Like Bohemian Rhapsody and Rocketman, this biopic from The Greatest Showman director Michael Gracey wades through the early hardships, romantic discord, and various controversies of a British pop star – in this case, Robbie Williams. Yet it’s also a jukebox musical with so much exuberant punch, pain, and ingenuity that it feels quite unlike any you might have seen before – thanks in large part to rendering its “Angels”-singing subject as a CGI chimpanzee in a world otherwise occupied by live-action homo sapiens. You might think, as I did, "Why the gimmick?" As Williams points out in an affable voiceover, the former teen idol bad boy has long regarded himself as a "less evolved" being. He even penned a song called "Me and My Monkey" to describe his coke-addled stage persona; the film spends a considerable amount of time acquainting us with this side of Williams during his rise to fame, first in the 1990s with boy band Take That and later in the ’00s as a solo artist.

The fact that we're seeing this digital chimp snort his way through live shows and band break-up meetings, rather than a human actor, certainly makes the bleaker elements of Better Man an easier pill to swallow. Yet there's nothing primitive about the emotions Jonno Davies and Asmara Feik are able to convey through the exquisite performance capture technology of the Wētā FX team (of Lord of the Rings fame). With Williams lending his singing vocals too, the result is a flawless characterization of a working-class boy done good, bad, ugly, and good again – complete with immaculate North-of-England accent work and vulgarity-filled humor, to boot.

That god-tier level of seamlessness is reflected everywhere in the film, especially in the evocative musical numbers. Williams' ballad "Feel" is set against the kitchen-sink backdrop of Stoke-on-Trent circa 1982, where young Robert (played by Feik and voiced by Carter J. Murphy) beautifully croons "I just want to feel real love" as he watches his flaky dad Peter (stunningly portrayed by Steve Pemberton) ditch the family for a life of cabaret. The number transitions into a revolving two-shot of a father-son duet Robert heartbreakingly imagines using the comb and velvet jacket Peter leaves behind.

This abandonment serves as the catalyst for Robbie's self-destruction, self-loathing, and desperate need to be famous, a core wound mended and broken through breathtaking musical sequences depicting his volatile split from Take That ("Come Undone") and bittersweet romance with All Saints star Nicole Appleton ("She's The One"). It culminates in a roaring rendition of "Let Me Entertain You" as Williams’ famous three-night stand at the 2003 Knebworth Festival becomes a hauntingly violent skirmish between the singer and thousands of his past selves. The camera zooms maniacally across the red-tinged battlefield as ash rains down and longswords, axes, and daggers clash.

No scene, however, delivers on the film's promise "to give you a right-f**king entertaining" like when London's Regent Street becomes the stage for a mind-blowing, “Rock DJ”-soundtracked tour through the musical history of Take That. The synchronization of so many deep-cut aesthetic choices – from the rain-soaked “Back for Good” video to the matching blue teddy-boy suits they wore to the 1994 Brit Awards – with dynamic choreography and supremely polished editing, ensure this sequence sings in perfect harmony.

These musical numbers push the story forward in rip-roaring fashion, yet the script is as much rooted in Williams’ familial ties and Peter popping in and out of his son's life. As Robert's grandmother, Alison Steadman breathes gorgeous light and pathos into her hometown scenes with Davies. Pemberton might be best known for the dark comedy series The League of Gentleman, but the dramatic verve he imbues Peter with proves poignant and devastating throughout Better Man – especially during a quietly stirring final act at the Royal Albert Hall.

With Better Man, Gracey has transformed Williams' life, music, and demons into a thunderous cinematic spectacle. But its ultimate success is down to its sensitive ability to remain grounded in the emotional reality of a man striving to find love for the little lad who used to watch Frank Sinatra and The Two Ronnies with his nan on the telly. That it does so while that man and lad are both portrayed by an ape made of 1s and 0s is all the more incredible.

NetEase Games has unveiled a Hero Hot List for Marvel Rivals, revealing pick and win rates for everyone from Jeff the Land Shark and Mantis to Storm and Spider-Man.

It’s a straightforward list of every playable character in the massively popular hero shooter that gives players more insight into which Marvel icons are being picked over the others. You probably won’t be too surprised to see Jeff leading the pack as the number-one pick across PC and console quickplay games. He’s sitting at 21.18% pick rate, with Venom in second at 19.09% and Cloak & Dagger in third at 18.81%. At the opposite end of the list, we find Storm, with only 1.66% of players choosing to smite opponents with her weather abilities in quickplay.

Pick rates for competitive, meanwhile, tell a slightly different story. Pop-centric healer and Strategist Luna Snow tops the pick rate list at 20.66%, with Jeff still cracking the top 10 in seventh with 13.86%. The tough-to-handle Storm remains at the bottom in competitive games at just 0.69% on PC, while Black Widow sits in last with 0.79% in competitive console matches. It also seems that the Strategist and Vanguard roles remain equally popular among players regardless of mode or platform.

Concrete numbers for Marvel Rivals show NetEase is willing to be a bit more transparent about how fans are choosing to engage with the roster, but many will likely find little surprise in the pick rate list. Jeff, specifically, has proven to be quite the punching bag for the community since launch arrived last month. This adorable dog shark has terrorized enemy teams with his It’s Jeff! Ultimate ability, which sees him swallowing multiple enemies and, usually, sending them hurtling to their deaths. He’s relatively easy to get a handle on, so it’s never been a surprise to see him show up in a match.

Win rates, on the other hand, reveal that Marvel Rivals has been a mostly even experience regardless of which hero players dive into battle with. While nearly every character hovers around a 50% win rate regardless of game mode, Jeff actually finds himself on the lower end of the spectrum at 45.39% of matches won in quickplay and 44.38% in competitive. It’s actually Mantis who brings home the most consistent victories, with 56% of games won in quickplay and 55.20% won in competitive.

Some of these stats may give players clues as to how NetEase will push forward when it comes to future balance changes. That said, those pick rates will certainly change once Season 1 introduces new maps, modes, and characters, such as the Fantastic Four, starting this Friday, January 10. Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman kick things off starting this week, with The Thing and Human Torch set to arrive halfway through the season.

While we wait for more updates to swoop in, you can read up on why we gave Marvel Rivals and 8/10 in our review. Keep an eye on the latest Marvel Rivals codes for free skins, and vote on the strongest Marvel Rivals characters in our community tier list.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.

Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.