Ubisoft will launch its final Assassin's Creed Shadows update of the year this week, ahead of the game's arrival on Nintendo Switch 2.

Included in Title Update 1.1.7 are a set of brutal-looking new finishers to spice up Naoe and Yasuke's combat (there's some brutal-looking new moves in there).

For fans following Shadows' typically-bizarre Animus content, this week brings a new Rift to explore as the mysterious Guide seeks players' help once again. And there's another new battle pass-like Project to work through, unlocking a fresh bo staff, as well as an outfit for Naoe (sadly, no more cats or Ezio costumes this time).

One useful tweak is the ability to access your Vault content — those text logs with modern day story — without fully quitting the game and heading to the Animus desktop, which was a faff. You'll also be able to exchange Animus keys for more Gold, Mastery and Knowledge Points, should be be needing any more of those.

The above improvements come in addition to a long list of bug fixes and other changes, including some launch day updates for Assassin's Creed Shadows' Nintendo Switch 2 edition (that arrives this Wednesday, December 17).

Here are the rest of those changes in full:

Assassin's Creed Shadows Title Update 1.1.7 — Bug fixes & Improvements patch notes:

Nintendo Switch 2

• Improved various FPS issues.
• Fixed crashes for stability improvements
• Fixed various visual issues.
• Improved the touchscreen experience.
• Fixed an issue where players were asked to connect to a controller whenever the Switch 2 was docked or undocked, even if controllers were already connected.
• Resolved an issue where the players would remain in an infinite black screen after creating a Ubisoft Connect account or log in with an already existing account upon selecting an audio pack from the initial boot menu.

Gameplay

• Removed an exploit that would permit double engravings on the Sword of Fathoms.
• Fixed an issue preventing Naginatas from being sold. Fine, I shall sell my best wares somewhere else!
• Resolved an issue where perks that checked Mastery points spent would not update if Mastery points changed after equipping the item.
• Fixed an issue where upgrading skills to Rank 3 would sometimes cause damage upgrades from Rank 2 to be missing.
• The Bo Staff will now increase its affliction buildup stat when upgrading it Mythic and Artifact quality.
• Perks with affliction effects now have dynamic wording that specify which affliction they apply, based on the item they are engraved on.
• Fixed an issue where Knowledge Scrolls were removed from the players inventory. Junjiro did you take my scrolls again??
• Shared skills between Naoe and Yasuke will now correctly be learned by both.
• Edited wording for the "Affliction After Deflect" perk to clarify it applies 35% buildup instead of a full Affliction.
• Ensured that "Restore 6% Health With Posture Attack" is present for all Critical Damage and Health Gain engravings for all weapons when equipped.

Claws of Awaji

• Fixed an issue where players with two copies of the game, one with the Claws of Awaji Expansion and one without, would permanently lose the ability to fast travel to the island of Awaji when switching between the two editions of the game.

World

• Players can now whistle while using the Follow Road mechanic. Enjoy the open road, whistle a tune and relax!
• Corrupted Castles will no longer reset when loading into a previous save after a season has already changed.
• Fixed an issue where enemies and loot would respawn upon loading a save before changing seasons.

Visuals & Graphics

• Adjusted some facial animation for Naoe or Yasuke that looked unnatural during all cinematics when a hood was equipped. Psst! Naoe, stop making silly faces, please!

UI

• Corrected inconsistencies between the smuggled rewards shown in the UI at the end of a season and what was truly received. All the goods are there, boss!
• Fixed inconsistencies with the smuggled rewards UI when the Stables are upgraded. Remember to give your trusty steed an apple as a treat.
• Corrected location name for "Kawarajiri Lumber Camp" in Japanese.

Online Store

• Fixed an issue with receiving Store, Deluxe and Premium items into the player's inventory.

PC SPECIFIC

• Fixed inputs issues when rebinding on Mouse and Keyboard.
• Improved FPS stability issues on PC.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

Quests

• "Swords And Sake": Fixed an issue where the mission couldn't be completed due to Gennojo dying.
• "Eliminate Outlaws": Corrected issues preventing the completion of the mission.
• "Temple Stories": Ensured that Joken Hokkyo will not disappear so that the quest objective can be completed. Wait! Don't go! I need to complete this mission!
• "Dismantling One by One": Wandering enemies will now be indicated with a marker.

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

If you're a lucky owner of a brand new Nintendo Switch 2 console, you'll definitely want to pick up some extra storage. The Switch 2 only has 256GB of onboard storage, and chances are you'll probably need to expand it down the road. Amazon just lowered the price of the 256GB Samsung P9 MicroSD Express card, which will double your available storage, for just $32.99. As a comparison, the best previous deal I saw on a 256GB memory card was during Cyber Monday for $39.99. You don't have to worry about performance, either. We recently reviewed this exact card and strongly recommend it.

256GB Samsung P9 MicroSD Express Memory Card

Nintendo Switch 2 compatible

It's that time again to hang some Poké Balls on your Trevenant or Exeggutor and get festive, but it's not Christmas without spending some Pokédollars on some good old Pokémon merch, right? I'm a massive Pokémon trainer (both in circumference and fandom), and I know a thing or two about the video games, TCG, plushies, and Funko.

So I thought this is the best time of year for a Pokémon Gift Guide, with the back end of 2025 focusing on the return of Mega Evolution. First introduced in the Pokémon X and Y video games and TCG, it's the most favored Pokémon gimmick, and it's back for the mainline games’ return to Kalos in Pokémon Legends: Z-A. So let's get into it, because there's a gift here for every budget and Pokéfan:

Best Pokémon TCG Gifts

The Pokémon Trading Card Game has seen the end of the Scarlet and Violet era this year, ending with the Black Bolt and White Flare expansions. We're now a base set and expansion into the Mega Evolution era, with the most recent set being the Mega Charizard X-fronted Phantasmal Flames. Speaking of:

Mega Charizard X ex Ultra-Premium Collection

Pokémon Video Games

I'd be shocked if you haven't at least tried a mainline Pokémon game, seeing as they've been around since 1999, but there's a first time for everything. I've focused on Nintendo Switch 1 and 2 Pokémon games here, and there's currently some great discounts going. I've even managed to work out the cheapest way to get the Switch 2 version of Pokémon Legends: Z-A.

Cheapest Pokémon Legends: Z-A Deal

Obviously, this is while stocks last, but if you pick up the Nintendo Switch 1 version of Pokémon Legends: Z-A for $44.99 on Woot, then upgrade it to the Switch 2 version for $9.99 via the Amazon digital code service, you're saving $15 over buying the usual Switch 2 copy of Legends: Z-A. If you're going to dive into the Mega Dimension DLC too, you're paying a total of $84.97 vs. the full-fat price of $98.99.

More Pokémon Video Games

Legends: Z-A isn't the only Pokémon game getting a nice discount right now, either. One of the top games for Nintendo Switch is Pokémon Legends: Arceus, a pseudo-prequel to Z-A that showcases similar mechanics and carries on the trend of turning the traditional gameplay of Pokémon games on its head.

If you're rocking a Switch 2 this Christmas, I'd highly recommend getting Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. They're the latest traditional Pokémon games that get a much-needed and free upgrade for Nintendo Switch 2. That means it now runs at a full 60 frames per second in handheld and docked mode, with 4K resolution when playing through the TV. There's more Pokémon hanging around in the wild now, too, and some other quality-of-life improvements that fix most of the issues it had at launch.

Pokémon Gifts: Funko Pop!

Now, I won't collect Funko Pops, as I'd end up not feeding my kids, and you have to do that every now and again, apparently. But they're awesome nonetheless; I just have zero self-control with collectibles. There's some bargains to be had right now, such as 2 for $24 on select Pokémon Funkos on Amazon, to some cheeky discounts on others.

Funko Pop Moments Deluxe: Pokémon Starters

Pokémon Squishmallows

Squishmallows are the softest and most cuddly Pokémon plushies you can get, and they come in various shapes and sizes. They're super high quality and hardwearing, too, so they're perfect for little trainers as well.

20-Inch Sprigatito Pokémon Squishmallow

Just weeks after making its PlayStation 5 debut, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is getting a big free content update adding new quests, characters and a fresh hub, as well as an additional weapon.

In a post on the PlayStation blog, Stalker 2's Ukranian developer GSC Game World announced the new update and noted that it would be "completely free to all owners of the game" — so anyone who may have played previously on PC and Xbox Series X/S should expect to receive the additional content also.

Xbox owners who played the shooter via Xbox Game Pass when it originally launched in November 2024 may need to check if they still have access, however, as Stalker 2 departed from the subscription's catalog last month, causing something of a stir.

New content is on the way to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: https://t.co/VGavXyDygk

⚬ 8 robust quests
⚬ 7 locations to explore
⚬ 6 characters with their own stories
⚬ Unique weapon
⚬ Creation hub pic.twitter.com/P1bkNJW5H7

— PlayStation (@PlayStation) December 15, 2025

"Strange things start happening near the Malachite on the western part of the map," GSC says of its new questline. "The research groups sent by scientists were reporting a signal interfering with their usual PDA communications. After listening to it, stalkers were suffering from headaches, nose bleeds, and hallucinations."

It all sounds like something interesting, if potentially deadly, that's well worth investigating. Eight missions are included, with seven locations to explore, six more characters to meet, plus a new rifle to master: the GP37V2. You'll also get the chance to establish a new hub in the Burnt Forest region.

GSC had previously promised new quests were on the way as part of its 2025 development roadmap, which included fresh gameplay featurs and story missions, as well as continued technical upgrades — such as a move to the latest version of Unreal Engline. Memorably, Stalker 2 launched in a bit of a state, though GSC has pledged to continue working to turn things around.

"Underneath the technical problems that plague Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is a unique greatness," IGN wrote in our Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl review, giving it 8/10. "It emerges as a refreshingly brutal shooter that strives to hook you with its incredible atmosphere and leave you invested by the end of this long, arduous journey." Read more on how Stalker 2 has changed everything for the studio amid the full-scale invasion of Ukraine here.

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

Gaming earbuds have plenty of advantages over full-sized headsets. They're more portable, more versatile – many can connect to your phone for commuting and moseying around – and ditching the headband makes them more comfortable for many people, too.

They're ideal for handheld consoles like the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch 2 but the best earbuds can also become your go-to audio device for your gaming PC or console, delivering clear sound and crisp communication with your teammates.

Here are seven of the best, broken down into categories so you can pick the one that suits you most.

TL;DR – These Are the Best Gaming Earbuds:

1. SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds

The Best Gaming Earbuds

2. Sony Inzone Buds

Gaming Earbuds With the Best Battery Life

3. Momentum True Wireless 4 Earbuds

Best-Sounding Earbuds That Also Work for Gaming

4. Asus ROG Cetra

Best Budget Wireless Gaming Earbuds

5. Logitech G333

Best Budget Wired Gaming Earbuds

6. Asus ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova

Most Comfortable Gaming Earbuds

7. PlayStation Pulse Explore

Best Gaming Earbuds for PS5

8. HyperX Cloud Mix Buds 2

Best for Travel

How to Choose the Best Gaming Earbuds

Price is one of the biggest factors when choosing gaming earbuds. You’ll find solid budget gaming earbuds for as low as $25 or high-end ones for upwards of $200. If these earbuds get daily usage at home and on the go, you might want to spend more for the feature set and sound quality that pricier earbuds can bring. But if you’ll only occasionally pick up these earbuds to play on your handheld gaming PC or smartphone during a short commute, stick with a budget option.

Connectivity also matters. Wired sets will bring a more reliable connection, but you'll be tethered to your device. If you go with wireless, consider getting earbuds that offer a 2.4GHz dongle – you’ll experience less latency and a more stable connection than Bluetooth. Just be sure the earbuds are compatible with your choice of gaming device. Unfortunately, a good chunk of our picks aren’t compatible with Xbox, so you may want to stick with an Xbox headset.

Battery life is big with wireless earbuds, and what you need really depends on how long your gaming sessions will last. Obviously, try to find the best-sounding buds that last as long as possible, but you shouldn't settle for anything less than four hours.

Design is also important; the earbuds need to fit comfortably. Finding lightweight options with different ear tip sizes is a great place to start. From there, it's a matter of personal preference. You’ll also want a compact case for your wireless earbuds, so they’re easier to take on the go.

Beyond that, figure out which extra features are important to you. Some gaming earbuds can offer just as many bells and whistles as headsets. Noise canceling will help keep distractions at bay while you’re out in the world. EQ adjustments let you tune the sound to your preferences, while a decent microphone ensures you're audible to your teammates. RGB lighting adds a subtle gamer aesthetic.

Gaming Earbuds FAQs

What is the difference between gaming earbuds and normal earbuds?

Wireless gaming earbuds tend to include a 2.4GHz dongle to connect to gaming devices. This wireless receiver makes for lower-latency and more reliable link to your consoles or PC: If you're playing with a regular set of earbuds, you might notice a delay between what you see on screen and what you hear.

Gaming earbuds also tend to have better quality mics than regular earbuds, making them better for voice comms.

Do gaming earbuds work with consoles?

Gaming earbuds are lightweight, comfortable, and compact, making them great for every type of gamer. But best of all, they often work just as seamlessly with your consoles as gaming headsets and even feature similar connectivity options, so there’s no reason you can’t grab gaming earbuds over a traditional headset.

If you opt for wireless gaming earbuds, many come with a 2.4GHz wireless dongle. The dongle easily ports into consoles like the PS5 or Xbox Series X/S and delivers a low-latency connection (although triple check compatibility, because not every bud works with every console). Most wireless options also feature Bluetooth connectivity. For the most reliable link between your earbuds and console, wired are the way to go and slot into a controller or directly into the console itself.

Can AirPods be used as gaming earbuds?

AirPods aren’t designed for gaming. If you’re concerned about latency in some games and simple connectivity on certain consoles, you're likely better off going with earbuds specifically designed for gaming.

Still, if you’re dead set on using AirPods for gaming, you’ll connect via Bluetooth to your devices. Connecting consoles is a bit more involved than simply connecting to your phone, so be sure to check out our guide on how to connect AirPods for more info.

When do gaming earbuds go on sale?

Gaming earbuds, much like the best gaming headsets, can be an expensive purchase. If you're hoping to find earbuds specifically for gaming at a discount, there are a few sales events every year that usually bring the price down. Amazon Prime Day in July is a great time to find deals in the summer and Black Friday in November is the overall best time to buy headphones and earbuds in general.

Additional contributions by Danielle Abraham, a freelance writer for IGN based in Los Angeles who spends most of her time updating tech buying guides.

2025 was a banner year for action games. From a surprise breakout Soulslike with one of the hardest-hitting and most brutal combat systems the genre has ever seen, to the hotly anticipated follow-up of one of the most influential roguelites of all time, to the latest in a certain legendary monster hunting series. And let us not forget that this was absolutely the year of the ninja as well, which brought us not one, but two brand new Ninja Gaiden games (plus a long-awaited remaster of Ninja Gaiden 2), letting action fans Izuna Drop foes in both two and three dimensions.

But only one of these fierce games can claim the honor of being the strongest of the year. Here are our picks - and our chosen winner - for the Best Action Game of 2025.

Runner-Up - The First Berserker: Khazan

Fast-paced, adrenaline-pumping action is not generally what one would associate with the Soulslike genre, considering its typically methodical combat and eerie, isolating exploration. But The First Berserker: Khazan is not your ordinary soulslike. This revenge-fueled action RPG, set in the world of Dungeon Fighter Online, features one of the best combat systems the genre has ever seen, taking the core of Sekiro's parry-based sword fighting and adding several extra layers of depth. The result is one of the most exciting, action-packed, and certainly one of the most difficult soulslikes in recent memory.

Runner-Up - Ninja Gaiden 4

Ninja Gaiden 4, like 2023’s Hi-Fi Rush before it, is a breath of fresh air in a genre that feels predominantly ruled by stamina-based combat systems with Soulslike elements. This is a pure action fan’s action game, featuring some of the best melee combat we've seen in years, bolstered by aggressive enemy AI, excellent weapon design, and the ability to let your creativity run wild by giving you the freedom to hotswap between all of your weapons on the fly. Predictably, it turns out that the dream collaboration of Platinum Games and Team Ninja leads to some damn good combat.

Runner-Up - Monster Hunter Wilds

No matter what side of the fence you sit on about the direction Capcom has been taking the Monster Hunter series in, or the general structure of its hunts, there’s little debate that it's still among the best action games of the year. Few games offer even close to the same level of depth that Monster Hunter Wilds does when it comes to its weapon and monster design, and most of the ones that do also have the words "Monster Hunter" in the title. Add to that depth the ability for up to four players to experience the thrill of its combat together, and you've got a excellent, flexible adventure that's good for either a team of hunting veterans, or those arriving in the wilds for the very first time.

Runner-Up - Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound

2D action games need some love as well, and our pick for the one most deserving of that love is Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound. Developed by Blasphemous studio The Game Kitchen, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound reimagines and modernizes the classic stylings of old-school, 2D Ninja Gaiden with a unique hypercharge mechanic that encourages you to think not just about the order in which you dispatch your enemies, but the tool they use as well. Challenging boss battles, clever level design, and carefully considered enemy placement all prove that Ninja Gaiden’s exemplary action is just as potent in 2D as it is in 3D.

Winner - Hades 2

It’s easy to look at Hades 2 on a surface level and think “Oh, this is just more Hades.” And while yes, this is still a roguelite about a child of Hades going through a gauntlet of combat rooms, beating up mythological creatures and beasts, all while gaining Boons and Blessings from the Pantheon of Greek Gods, developer Supergiant Games has done a stellar job of never making it feel like we’re just retreading old ground. The brand new protagonist, Melinoe, plays completely differently compared to Hades’s Zagreus, with less focus on dodging and invulnerability frames and more emphasis on charged magical attacks and resource management. The characters that you interact and build relationships back at your home base are all new; pretty much all of the enemies, boons, and bosses are brand new; progression is handled completely differently; the list of significant changes just goes on and on.

And even if you were to look at it through the misguided perspective of it just being “more Hades,” it’s still a lot more Hades. The addition of the above-ground campaign through the City of Ephyra, all the way up to the peak of Mt. Olympus, essentially means this second adventure is double the size of the original, all while packing its own unique set of enemies, bosses, and boons to play around with.

Hades 2 is quite simply one of the most well-rounded games we’ve played this year. From its combat, to its story, to its amazing soundtrack and its one-of-a-kind art style, it hits on every single front, which is why it’s our pick for the best action game of the year.

But what is your pick for the best action game of 2025? Do you think it's Hades 2, one of our other shortlisted games, or something else entirely? Let us know in the poll above, or the comments below.

2025 was a critical year for the superhero movie genre. Once the undisputed dominant force in Hollywood, superhero movies are no longer quite the safe bet they used to be. Are moviegoers growing tired of superhero films altogether, or are they just becoming more discriminating? Based on how much better James Gunn’s Superman performed compared to other recent DC releases, we’d like to think it’s the latter.

In their own ways, Marvel Studios and DC Studios both used 2025 as a way of stepping back and focusing on quality over quantity. Marvel finally gave fans the Multiverse Saga team-up they’ve been waiting for in Thunderbolts*, while also ringing in Phase 6 of the MCU by reintroducing the Fantastic Four. And DC kicked off the theatrical wing of its new DCU shared universe with Superman.

Each December, the IGN team looks back at all the movies they’ve watched and reviewed over the past year and votes on which one they think is the greatest of them all. Now, the time has come to drill down on 2025’s superhero lineup and pick the winner. And frankly, it wasn’t such a hard choice this year. The winner came in with over 75% of the vote. Read on to find out which film is IGN’s best superhero movie of 2025.

Runner-Up: The Fantastic Four - First Steps

The MCU is a sprawling palace full of countless heroes and villains pulled from all corners of Marvel’s extensive publishing history. But after all these years, the MCU is only just starting to take advantage of the X-Men and Fantastic Four franchises. 2025 marked a key turning point in that regard, as Phase 6 began with the debut of a brand new cinematic incarnation of Marvel’s First Family.

The result is easily the best Fantastic Four movie to date. No, that’s not exactly a high bar to clear, but it’s still satisfying to see these characters done justice on the big screen. First Steps is a briskly paced adventure that emphasizes the family aspect of the team in a big way. The charisma among the various FF members is undeniable. First Steps is a great foundation on which we hope the MCU will continue to build in the years to come.

Runner-Up: Thunderbolts*/The New Avengers

Despite the massive success of 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine, the MCU wasn’t necessarily on the firmest footing coming into 2025. The consistent quality and forward momentum of earlier phases just hadn’t been present. But whether you call it Thunderbolts* or The New Avengers, this team-up film proved to be a vital shift for this shared universe.

Thunderbolts* has a lot going for it, from the relatively darker tone and well-shot action scenes, but as with The Fantastic Four: First Steps, it’s really the core team dynamic where the movie thrives. Thunderbolts* takes full advantage of this motley crew of anti-heroes and screw-ups, playing them off of each other in fun ways and telling a surprisingly compelling story about dealing with mental illness. It’s not quite a proper Avengers movie, but we’ll take it.

Winner: Superman

2025 was truly DC’s year to sink or swim. After a string of flops like 2023’s The Flash and 2024’s Joker: Folie à Deux, they needed a bona fide hit to get their brand-new cinematic universe off on the right foot and prove to audiences that the DC brand is still worth following. It’s fortunate that they tapped noted superhero movie veteran and geek extraordinaire James Gunn for this nigh-impossible challenge.

Superman is exactly the strong start the DCU needed on the big screen. The film delivers a confident, fast-paced reboot of the Man of Steel, thrusting viewers right into the midst of a thriving superhero universe where David Corenswet’s Supes himself is just one hero among many. Getting to spend time with the likes of Edi Gathegi’s Mister Terrific, Isabela Merced’s Hawkgirl, and Nathan Fillion's Guy Gardner is half the fun.

That said, the core Superman cast more than hold their own, with Corenswet’s Kal-El and Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane establishing a chemistry to rival that of Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder. And who could forget the demonic intensity of Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor, a villain who brings new meaning to being a professional hater?

Ultimately, it’s Superman’s heart that helps it rise above the pack, with the film making a very pointed argument that kindness and decency are the new punk rock in 2025. The film is a great foundation for the new DCU, and we can’t wait to see what Gunn and his various collaborators have in store over the coming years.

But what do you think? Was Superman the greatest superhero movie of 2025, or would you pick a different film? Let us know in the comments below, vote in our poll, and be sure to check out our various other best of awards for 2025 across film, TV, gaming, and comics. We’ll see you in 2026.

It's tough to really wrap your head around 2025 for Xbox. There were some real hits from Xbox Game Studios, fantastic day-one, third-party launches on Game Pass… and then a whole lot of baffling moves from Xbox as a platform, with multiple rounds of price increases, project cancellations, and layoffs. It was a year that constantly had our collective heads spinning. But hey, if you've been subscribed to Game Pass and playing on your Xbox Series X/S (or PC, or anything deemed an Xbox) this year, there was no shortage of great games to celebrate.

Here at IGN, we’ve voted across several categories for our end of the year awards, including our shortlist of the five best games that landed on Xbox in 2025. Those votes have determined the one winner that represents our pick for the best Xbox game of the year. With exclusives largely a thing of the past now, especially for Xbox – which published some high-profile games on PS5 this year – our contenders are simply what's been available on Xbox consoles this year, regardless of exclusivity or publishing status.

So, let's get to it by first recognizing the honorable mentions that made Xbox's year one banger after another, and then revealing the Best Xbox Game of 2025.

Honorable Mentions

Obsidian had an all-time year with three launches in 2025, all of which hit in different ways. It gave a jolt to start the year with a tightly packed fantasy RPG in Avowed to stave off the appetite for a new Elder Scrolls, then brought its co-op survival sequel into early access with Grounded 2, which got off to a great start. Compulsion Games weaved a unique artistic vision into a love letter to the American South with the action-adventure game South of Midnight, while id Software brought us back to Hell with a bit of a melee twist on its shooter roots in Doom: The Dark Ages. If Avowed wasn't enough, we kicked it like it was 2006 in Cyrodiil with The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, which remindeding us that Bethesda’s long-running fantasy series had the sauce well before Skyrim. We busted out the notepads and corkboards for the roguelike puzzler Blue Prince that hit Game Pass on day one, but we also champed at the bit for more stylish action after Ninja Gaiden 2 Black whet our appetite for Ninja Gaiden 4, which Xbox published for Team Ninja. Oh yeah, and there's an Xbox handheld now with the Asus ROG Xbox Ally – well, sort of; rather it's an Xbox-branded PC handheld, that is arguably one of the best ones yet. And since everything is an Xbox now, it doesn't really matter where you play these hits. The sheer variety of games that launched under the Xbox banner this year was indicative of how vast and great the medium can be – and none represent that quite as well as our five best Xbox games of 2025.

Runner-Up - Hollow Knight: Silksong

It seems that every year has an indie darling that folks rally around loudly, and Hollow Knight: Silksong was certainly that game in 2025. The jokes about Silksong never coming out have finally been laid to rest, and Team Cherry's long development journey resulted in a dense, daunting, and satisfying action-adventure – or "metroidvania", if you will. While it hit Game Pass on launch, its impressive sales figures and $20 price tag made it the talk of the town... aside from it being the wildly anticipated follow up to Hollow Knight, of course.

On its own merits, Silksong's dark and foreboding atmosphere matches the gruesome platforming challenges that make its exploration more involved than many of its contemporaries. Hornet's traversal mechanics are smooth and will have you flowing through Silksong's sprawling, web-like map, leading you towards some of the hardest-fought battles we've experienced this year. Being smart, nimble, and aggressive against these tough and unpredictable bosses is the key to victory, but you must stay committed and locked in, try after try, even if the runback can be grueling.

But for as punishing as Silksong may be, it's also frequently adorable, blessed with cute, memorable bug friends like Sherma, who sings his song and is generally a precious little guy!

Runner-Up - Split Fiction

Coming off of It Takes Two, which swooped in to secure Game of the Year back at The Game Awards 2021, Split Fiction continues developer Hazelight's catalogue of great split-screen co-op adventure games. Its premise – two novel writers trapped in their respective fictional worlds made manifest – paves the way for imaginative worlds and a mashup of gameplay mechanics and genres that are consistently exciting to play alongside a friend. Coordinating with your partner in puzzles, platforming, and high-speed action is a ton of fun as you phase in and out of fantasy and sci-fi worlds. Oftentimes it blends the two remarkably well, and packs in references that reflect where its two protagonists, Mio and Zoe, are as creatives (and, as any writer knows, that sometimes means they’re not very creative themselves.)

But that's the thing about Split Fiction – art doesn't always have to be good, but it's the process through which art is created that should be respected, and that can't be treated as a commodity to be manufactured. And just when you think you had Split Fiction figured out, its finale delivers some of the most memorable sequences in recent memory, elevating the experience to one of the best games of this year. If you haven't played it yet, find a friend, give them the free co-op pass, and see what it's all about.

Runner-Up - Keeper

We hadn't heard from the team at Double Fine in quite some time after Psychonauts 2 headlined many best of lists back in 2021, but this year we got a pleasant surprise in Keeper. Playing as a walking lighthouse may not seem too appealing on paper, but the Double Fine charm and distinct art style brings to life a world that's about showing rather than telling. Its puzzles have you looking at the environments with intent, and the little interactions you have with characters living in a seemingly abandoned world create tiny stories without having to say a word. Our review described Keeper as "a psychedelic exploration of life packed into a brief runtime" and it's a prime example of what a studio can do when left to its own creative devices – it's easygoing and impactful, and one of the standouts for 2025.

Runner-Up - The Outer Worlds 2

Back when we saw The Outer Worlds 2 in action for the first time earlier this year, we could tell it had the makings of a top-tier Obsidian RPG. We liked the original entry well enough, but it was just as much an attempt to create a foundation for a new universe as it was the team trying to separate itself from Fallout and build atop the reputation it earned from New Vegas years ago. With this year’s sequel, it seems as if Obsidian recognized the shortcomings of The Outer Worlds and has addressed almost all of them, creating a sequel that delivers what the studio is known for: dense, story-driven RPGs with a whole load of interconnected systems that let you play exactly how you want.

There's a concerted effort to improving gunplay and melee combat, which goes a long way in making its violent encounters a lot more fun. But it’s the deeper progression systems, along with intricate level design reminiscent of immersive sims like Deus Ex, that makes the overall RPG experience feel so much more dynamic. The game itself observes how you play, and offers tangible perks at the expense of some unusually creative debuffs as part of its Flaws system, with each one offered based on your actions. Such as system demonstrates in microcosm how The Outer Worlds 2 better accounts for your playstyle and shows you the consequences of how you interact with its world. And with a universe still rooted in dystopian satire, but with a good crew of companions and a tighter story told across much bigger worlds, The Outer Worlds 2 is Obsidian firing on all cylinders.

Winner - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Perhaps to the surprise of absolutely no one, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is IGN’s choice for the best game to hit Xbox this year. And if you're a Game Pass subscriber, you were treated to one of the best RPGs in recent memory on day one.

In its debut as a development team, Sandfall Interactive has drawn inspiration from classic Japanese RPGs (looking at Final Fantasy 10 and Persona 5 directly) to tell its own harrowing story about grief and the sometimes ugly ways it changes us. But while JRPGs are a clear influence, the studio’s French roots are significantly responsible for making Clair Obscur what it is, from its artistic vision to its storytelling style, right down to the unqiue music that both captures the hype of big boss fights and the atmosphere of its magical, painterly world.

Like any great RPG, Clair Obscur strives to give you an intimate understanding of its characters, drawing you in and making you feel for them in their moments of triumph and despair. It’s a credit to the studio's strong writing team, and performances from an incredible cast, that Expedition 33 is able to effortlessly pull you in through all the wild twists and turns of its story.

There’s also a top-tier turn-based combat system, bolstered by timing-based inputs for attacking and defending. That active element keeps you locked in during each and every battle with an intensity you wouldn’t feel otherwise. The intricate progression and customization systems for each character make you feel like a genius tactician, creating the best builds for their unique moveset and mechanics. And damn does it look good when it all comes together. Clair Obscur is a wonderful example of executing on a clear creative vision while simultaneously recognizing what made its inspirations so great. And it very easily won the hearts and minds of us here at IGN.

What was your favourite Xbox game of 2025? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to vote in the poll at the top of this page! For more IGN awards, you can check them all out in one place here, including our picks for the best PlayStation and Nintendo games of the year.

Michael is the tech reviews editor at IGN, but regularly contributes to games coverage with reviews, features, and news.

Did you see that Divinity reveal at The Game Awards and think, hey, I really should get around to playing Divinity: Original Sin 2? Great news, Larian just made it a much nicer experience on modern consoles with a free upgrade for PS5, Xbox Series, and Nintendo Switch 2.

This was announced in a new trailer, which highlights the differences in the new versions. It's nothing too crazy - just better resolution and framerate. But it's free if you own the game already on any of the previous platforms (PS4, Nintendo Switch, or Xbox One) and it will hopefully bring the eight-year-old game up to par with current technology on consoles.

If you don't own the game already anywhere, now's probably a good time to grab it. At the time of this writing, it's on sale in a few places. It's 50% off if you buy the regular NIntendo Switch edition down to $25, and then you get the free upgrade on Switch 2. On Xbox, it's down to $17.49. If you own the game on PC, don't worry, as you don't need an upgrade. You're already set with a great version of the game.

Divinity: Original Sin 2 is fantastic and well-worth checking out if you haven't yet. We gave the most recent Definitive Edition in 2018 at 9.6/10, saying it's "a new way to play one of the absolute best RPGs in years. And whether you’re diving back in on PC, or booting it up on the console for the first time, it’s flexibility, personality, and charm make for an amazing adventure."

It also may be worth checking out before the new Divinity comes out, as Larian has said that players of Original Sin 1 and 2 might "be able to enjoy greater understanding and continuity."

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

Amazon has brought forward the Prime Video release date of Fallout Season 2 by a day in a surprise move.

Season 2 now debuts tomorrow, Tuesday, December 16, at 6pm PT — one day earlier than previously announced. Confirmation comes direct from Las Vegas’ Exosphere of Sphere, tweeted by the official Fallout account, below.

Well, well, looks like Christmas came early on Sphere. The Fallout Season Two premiere, now arriving December 16 at 6 p.m. PT. pic.twitter.com/RHpSBBXJ6H

— FALLOUT⚡️ (@falloutonprime) December 15, 2025

To promote the launch of Season 2, the Sphere was turned into a post-apocalyptic snow globe featuring Fallout characters Lucy (Ella Purnell), Maximus (Aaron Moten), and The Ghoul (Walton Goggins), as well as a Deathclaw — one of the Fallout universe's most deadly monsters — attempting to break through the Exosphere itself.

The new season picks up in the aftermath of Season 1’s finale and travels through the wasteland of the Mojave to the post-apocalyptic city of New Vegas. The eight-episode season will now premiere tomorrow, with one episode rolling out weekly until the season finale on February 4, 2026. Amazon clarified to IGN that it is just Season 2, Episode 1 that premieres tomorrow – the rest of the season's episodes still premiere at midnight Tuesday nights / Wednesday mornings.

Fans of Obsidian's much-loved video game will be interested to hear that Season 2 takes a "fog of war" approach to how it juggles Fallout: New Vegas' various endings.

We've got plenty more on the Fallout TV show, including a Season 1 recap, below. We’ve also got an interview with Bethesda development boss Todd Howard, who has ruled out ever appearing on the show itself.

Meanwhile, Amazon has pulled its AI-powered Fallout Season 1 recap after fans noticed it made significant errors ahead of the launch of Season 2. To date, Fallout Season 1 has amassed more than 100 million viewers worldwide, ranking among Prime Video's top three most-watched titles ever.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

One Battle After Another hits HBO Max on December 19, Warner Bros. has announced.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s comedy action thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio hits the streaming service just shy of three months after it launched in theaters. The film will debut on HBO linear a day later, on December 20 at 8pm ET.

One Battle After Another leads the Golden Globes this year with nine nominations, including Best Picture – Musical/Comedy, and also features Golden Globe nominees Teyana Taylor and Chase Infiniti. It is expected to be in the mix for Best Picture at the Oscars.

The movie is set to be released on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K UHD on January 20, 2026. Plus, fans can look forward to a collectable steelbook in 4k UHD in the spring, which will include exclusive special features curated and produced by Anderson himself.

The streaming release date comes after One Battle After Another made $204 million at the global box office ($71 million domestic, $133 million international). That’s enough to make it the highest-grossing film of director Paul Thomas Anderson’s career, overtaking There Will Be Blood's $76.4 million haul back in 2007. But the bad news is that One Battle After Another reportedly needed around $300 million to break even theatrically.

Still, the film has all sorts of awards buzz about it, and it has its streaming run to help boost HBO Max. IGN's One Battle After Another review returned a 10/10. We said: "Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio finally team up, and the result is a 10/10 masterpiece."

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

He’s still on board! It mastermind Andy Muschietti recently opened up about whether or not he still plans to create a massive supercut of It and It: Chapter Two that would end up running over six and a half hours long.

During a recent reddit Q&A session for his new show It: Welcome to Derry, the filmmaker was asked: "[You've] previously talked about doing an Extended Cut that merges It and It Chapter Two in one seamless experience with hours of unused footage. Is this Cut still happening?"

To which Muschietti then responded: "Yes, still a big dream of mine. Since we've been involved heavily in this show, we haven't had time to execute it. Crossing fingers."

After It: Chapter Two was released in 2019, the filmmaker revealed he wanted to create a supercut of the two movies that would include completely new footage, deleted scenes, and even scenes that never made it past the writing process.

One scene in particular that was originally going to be included focused on a celestial turtle named Maturin that appears in Bill’s basement. The turtle is a staple of many King stories and as a cosmic entity very old and wise, he serves as the antithesis to evil entities like Pennywise. The scene was originally set to take place underwater, and ultimately was scrapped due to pacing.

Muschietti has had his hands pretty full lately, so he definitely hasn’t had time to get into the cut just yet. He and wife Barbara Muschietti developed It: Welcome to Derry alongside showrunner Jason Fuchs back in 2022, just three years after Chapter Two. The series premiered on HBO Max in October to a generally positive response, and just closed out its first season on December 14.

The filmmaker is locked in for at least two more seasons of Welcome to Derry, with the show — which currently takes place in 1962 — doing two more significant time jumps. Season 2 is set to take place in 1935 and season 3 will take place in 1908.

It: Welcome to Derry is now available to stream on HBO Max, alongside both of Muschietti’s It films.

Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.

Following a brand new trailer at The Game Awards, Housemarque's upcoming release Saros is now available for PS5 fans to preorder. Its physical copy is currently listed for $69.99 at various retailers (see here at Amazon) and, as its new trailer also revealed, it's set to be released next year on April 30.

Below, we've broken down where you can preorder Saros right now, alongside information on its digital deluxe edition and what preorder bonus you'll get to enjoy by grabbing a copy early.

Preorder Saros

Saros Preorder Bonus

For those who preorder Saros, you'll get the Hands of Shore Armor as a preorder bonus, which can be seen above.

Saros – Digital Deluxe Edition

There's also a Digital Deluxe Edition of Saros, which is listed for $79.99. This comes with a few extras alongside the Hands of Shore Armor preorder bonus and full game, including the Astra Armor, Onryo Armor, and Midgard Armor. Players who purchase this version will also get 48 hour early access.

• See it here at PlayStation Store - $79.99

What Is Saros?

Saros is the latest game from Housemarque, and is the studio's follow-up to Returnal. According to a post on the PlayStation Blog from Gregory Louden, Creative Director at Housemarque, Saros is "the haunting story of a lost off-world colony on Carcosa under an ominous eclipse. You play as Arjun Devraj [played by Rahul Kohli], a powerful Soltari Enforcer who will stop at nothing to find who he is looking for."

Louden also notes the return of "bullet ballet" style shooting, alongside "a new ability, Parry, where with perfect timing of R1 you can reflect certain projectiles back at enemies, destroying or staggering them."

Back when it was first announced, Louden detailed in another PlayStation Blog post that, "A key gameplay distinction between Saros and Returnal is permanent resources and progression making every death valuable." Because of this, you'll be able to come back stronger with each run to overcome obstacles you face.

Other Preorder Guides

Hannah Hoolihan is a freelancer who writes with the guides and commerce teams here at IGN.

The Russo Brothers, directors of Avengers: Endgame and the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, have posted a fresh Instagram teaser that Marvel fans are now attempting to decode.

The image, posted to Instagram this morning, shows a blurry black and white object that fans say makes the shape of a V. That really is all we have to go on — which is not much — and yet fans have quickly formed a long list of theories for what the V might represent.

Of course, Doomsday stars Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom — whose full name begins Victor Von. Could this V just be a nod to that? It seems to simple. What about V as a Roman numeral then, for the number five? Well, Doomsday would be the fifth Avengers movie. But again, there's nothing here we don't know already.

But what if V was a countdown? With a report that Avengers: Doomsday will get its first trailer attached to the upcoming Avatar: Fire and Ash, speculation is rife over when that trailer will find its way online. (As a reminder, the new Avatar movie launches in theaters this Friday, December 19.)

"V as in 5 in Roman numerals? It is five days until Fire & Ash — and supposedly the Doomsday trailer with it — releases, no? Maybe this is a cryptic countdown," suggested Marvel fan luthestreewhisperer on reddit.

As noted over the weekend, Doomsday will reportedly get not one but four trailers released with Fire and Ash over the course of four weeks, in a bid to keep the excitement going (and Avatar's tickets selling for repeat viewings).

With at least four big superhero teams in the movie, could each trailer focus on one of these in turn? Joining the line-up for Doomsday are members of the classic Avengers (including Thor and Loki), the New Avengers (AKA, The Thunderbolts), the Fantastic Four and the classic X-Men.

This isn't the first time the Russo Brothers have issued a cryptic Instagram tease, of course. Previously, the pair posted an image that appeared to show the outline of the letters "A V X", which many fans took to mean "Avengers Versus X-Men", a nod at the expected opening of the movie, before everyone realizes Doctor Doom is the bad guy they need to work together to defeat.

Avengers: Doomsday opens in theaters in almost exactly one year: on December 18, 2026.

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

Plenty of teenagers look forward to prom night, but what if that night literally never ends? That's basically the idea behind Dead Teenagers, a new Oni Press slasher horror series about a group of teens forced to relive a deadly prom night ordeal over and over again.

IGN can exclusively debut the first preview of Dead Teenagers #1. Check it out in the slideshow gallery below:

Dead Teenagers is written by Jude Ellison S. Doyle (Maw, Be Not Afraid) and illustrated by Caitlin Yarsky (Black Hammer Reborn, EC's Cruel Universe). The first issue features cover art by Yarsky, Naomi Franq, Keyla Valerio, and Brandt & Stein. Here's Oni's official logline for the book:

Since 1997, five friends have been trapped in the ultimate nightmare as a mysterious entity forces them to relive their first prom night over and over again . . .and re-kills them in new and increasingly insane ways each time. They dress up. They party. They make out. And no matter what they try to change, they always die . . . until now. Something is about to break the cycle that has kept Alicia, J.T., Ryder, Brandy, and their group of friends locked in a bizarre purgatory beyond all understanding . . . but what they find on the other side will be the most disturbing revelation of all.

"I think most of us have feared, at one point or another, that high school might literally never end,” said Doyle in a statement. “Those of us who’ve made it out can also recall looking back and realizing that what we took for granted, back in those days, was actually terrifying. Dead Teenagers is about both those feelings — about what it takes to get unstuck from your teen years and start growing up."

Dead Teenagers #1 will be released on March 18, 2026. You can preorder a copy at your local comic shop.

In other comic book news, Oni's Flux House imprint is getting a FCBD 2026 special, and we've got the full scoop on the huge twist in TMNT #13.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.

George Clooney’s over it. Over what, you might be asking? Well, he’s done "kissing girls" and making romance films — which, when you think about being a go-to romantic lead made him the heartthrob he is in the zeitgeist, is truly the end of an era.

“I’ve been trying to go the route Paul Newman did — ‘Okay, well, I’m not kissing a girl anymore,’” Clooney recently revealed in an interview with the Daily Mail, noting that it was a bit of a discussion in his household before he made the official call.

He continued: “When I turned 60, I had a conversation with my wife. I said, ‘Look, I can still play basketball with the boys. I play with 25-year-old guys. I can still hang, I’m in shape. But in 25 years, I’m 85 years old. It doesn’t matter how many granola bars you eat, that’s a real number.'”

Bethesda development chief Todd Howard has officially ruled out appearing on the Fallout TV show even in cameo form, insisting he’s better behind the camera than in front of it.

Ever since the Fallout TV series was announced, fans of the Fallout video games have wondered whether Howard might appear in, for example, a random Vault dweller, a ghoul, or some other cameo.

Arc Raiders developer Embark Studios has fully detailed the game’s Cold Snap update and its new cold-weather survival mechanics.

The update, out December 16, adds the new Cold Snap map condition, which is a winter variant across Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, Spaceport, and The Blue Gate maps. Cold Snap adds cold-weather survival mechanics fueled by snowstorms across Speranza. Snowfall reduces visibility, lakes freeze over, and the open surface becomes even more dangerous. Exposure to extreme cold causes frostbite, thus encouraging new strategies around healing items, loadouts, and indoor shelter.

Arc Raiders Cold Snap gameplay changes, from Embark Studios:

• Environmental Hazard: Cold, harsh weather introduces new risks for raiders who remain outdoors too long. Players must watch out for frostbite, a creeping condition that slowly drains their health bar.
• Shelter Mechanics: To prevent frostbite, raiders will need to adapt their tactics as the cold gradually seeps into their bones. Raiders must rethink their loadouts, ensuring they can heal themselves or their teammates and plan their extractions with care, finding shelter if needed.
• Visual Overhaul: Frost buildup, frozen lakes, snow accumulation and more across Dam Battlegrounds, Buried City, Spaceport and The Blue Gate maps.

Elsewhere, unique loot and rewards are available through the Flickering Flames event and Candleberry Banquet project.

Flickering Flames Event: An act of endurance and patience that tests Raiders’ survival skills during the Cold Snap. Raiders can unlock rewards across 25 levels, including new gear, customizations elements and Raider Tokens by earning Merits, which are automatically gained from XP in rounds. To activate the event, Raiders must have played five rounds of the game.

Candleberry Banquet Project: A new project that brings Raiders together to feel the fragile warmth that shines through the frigid cold. Raiders can earn rewards by scavenging unique items topside and collecting Candleberries. It features five stages, each revealing a new scene on the banquet table. Completing stages grants rewards such as cosmetic items, Raider Tokens and Merits, with Merits contributing progress in the Flickering Flames event.

Starting December 26, the Goalie Raider deck will be included in the base game. The new deck includes new items and feats for players to complete, offering rewards such as Raider tokens, cosmetic items and more. These include a hockey-inspired Raider outfit in several color variants, along with a hockey stick Raider tool.

And finally, the Expedition Project Raider Reset lets players restart their journey with certain buffs, advantages, and rewards. The Expedition Project will provide Raiders with an opportunity to undergo a reset, bringing a new raider and a new story for the player. This optional reset is unlocked by collecting key materials to build a Caravan for the existing Raider then signing up for the departure during the Expedition window. By departing, players will reset their character progress for a new Arc Raiders journey with exclusive buffs, advantages and rewards that carry over.

In a blog post, Embark explained why it’s doing the seasonal reset. “Progression wipes are a notoriously difficult thing to balance in online multiplayer games — we get that,” the developer said. “Mandatory global wipes have some obvious benefits: heavily invested players get to re-experience the initial grind once again and, for a time, the playing field is levelled. The optional Expedition Project is our solution to some of the problems that inevitably arise with mandatory wipes — specifically, by respecting your time investment in the game. We want to offer you the choice:

“Not completed as much as you’d like? Keep on raiding, building, and growing. Ready for a new challenge and to grind once again? Depart on the Expedition, and receive buffs, rewards, and bragging rights.”

Arc Raiders Cold Snap update release times:

Embark Studios launches Cold Snap on Tuesday, December 16, at 10.30am CET / 9.30am UK time / 1.30am PT / 4.30am ET.

Cold Snap includes limited-time events and elements running from Tuesday, December 16 until Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 10.30am CET / 9.30am UK time / 1.30am PT / 4.30am ET.

Cold Snap is the last update listed as part of Arc Raiders' 2025 content roadmap, and Embark has yet to outline what's coming in 2026. Arc Raiders sold over 4 million copies worldwide within two weeks of launch, cementing its commercial success. Nexon also revealed that the extraction shooter had reached a huge concurrent count of 700,000 players across all platforms. It's done so well it crossed over into the world of South Park with a surprise appearance that was put together in just a few days. Cementing its success, Arc Raiders won Best Multiplayer at last week’s The Game Awards.

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

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

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

The first trailer for Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2 has teased shock reveals for the Netflix show and answers to questions fans have been asking for years.

Warning! Spoilers for Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 follow:

The trailer picks up in the aftermath of the catastrophic events of Vol. 1 and the awakening of Will’s powers. Will (Noah Schnapp) and his mother, Joyce (Winona Ryder), have a heart to heart in which she reassures him the battle against Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) isn’t over.

Everything we have ever assumed about the upside down has been dead wrong.

Volume 2 of the final season of Stranger Things arrives Dec. 25th at 5pm PT. pic.twitter.com/GIbx0SErFD

— sƃuᴉɥʇ ɹǝƃuɐɹʇs (@Stranger_Things) December 15, 2025

Meanwhile, Holly (Nell Fisher) and Max (Sadie Sink) are trying to escape what we believe to be Vecna’s 1950s fantasy world, and they’re walking through strange doors to do it.

Then we get what I think is the killer quote from the trailer, which comes from Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo): “this whole time, everything we’ve ever assumed about the Upside Down has been dead wrong.”

Dustin and Steve (Joe Keery) are then seen looking at some sort of red, potentially dimensional mass that is whirling around above them. Whatever this is, it seems key to understanding the true nature of the Upside Down, which Stranger Things co-creators Ross and Matt Duffer have promised to explain in this fifth and final episode.

Elsewhere, Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) calls on Kali/Eight (Linnea Berthelsen), who she rescued from captivity by the military in Vol. 1, to help her find and kill Vecna. We see shots of Vecna / Henry Creel in various states as the central characters become increasingly distressed. Briefly, we see Will use his new powers again, as evidenced by his eyes turning all white as they did at the end of Vol. 1. Clearly, this is all gearing up for a big final showdown.

Ross Duffer took to Instagram last week to outline what to expect from Vol. 2. Episode 5, titled Shock Jock, picks up moments after the end of Sorcerer. Frank Darabont directed this one, although Duffer said Shock Jock is “far darker, and far scarier” than Darabont's previous episode, Turnbow Trap.

Episode 6 is called Escape from Camazotz, which was directed by Shawn Levy. “It’s the biggest episode of the three,” Duffer said, “and the performances make us cry every time we watch it.” It sounds like we might get a character death in this one. And based on the name, the episode will revolve around Holly and Max’s attempt to break free from the mind prison created by Vecna.

And finally, Episode 7 is called The Bridge, which the Duffer brothers co-directed with Levy. “Don’t want to say too much, but aside from the finale, it’s probably the most emotional chapter of the season,” Ross Duffer teased. More character deaths, perhaps?

Even with this trailer, we have a number of lingering burning questions. We see some sort of power wave fly across the sky of the Upside Down. What is its purpose? Is Vecna actually the ultimate villainous power in Stranger Things, or is it the Mind Flayer? And, as the trailer teases, what is the Upside Down really?

Where this is all going in Volume 2 is a matter of intense speculation among fans — and something we here at IGN have discussed ourselves (check out our article, Stranger Things Season 5: Our Biggest Burning Questions After Episodes 1-4, to find out more).

Stranger Things Season 5 debuts on Netflix in three parts. The first four episodes arrived for the Thanksgiving holiday on November 26. The next three episodes premiere on Christmas Day, and the series finale will debut on the streamer and in over 350 theaters nationwide on New Year’s Eve.

Stranger Things Season 5 release dates:

• VOL 1 - November 26, 5pm PT
• VOL 2 - Christmas, 5pm PT
• THE FINALE - New Year’s Eve, 5pm PT

We’ve got plenty more on Stranger Things, including Ross Duffer’s call to arms for fans to turn off “garbage” TV settings before watching Season 5. And be sure to check out our Stranger Things: Season 5, Vol. 1 spoiler review.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

James Cameron has dismissed criticism of 3D and high frame rate in his Avatar movies, pointing to their enormous box office success as evidence that audiences don’t mind it, and explaining why he likes the tech.

Ahead of the release of the third Avatar movie, Fire and Ash, Discussing Film asked Cameron if he’s bothered by negative feedback to the CGI-heavy franchise’s use of 3D and associated high frame rate.

“I think $2.3 billion says you might be wrong on that,” Cameron replied. “Well, that’s the argument from authority. But the argument from artistic is: I happen to like it, and it’s my movie.”

The special effects-heavy Avatar films cost a huge amount of money to produce, but they have historically made billions of dollars at the box office. Avatar remains the highest-grossing movie of all time (not adjusted for inflation), and has earned a staggering $2.9 billion across several theatrical runs. (Avengers: Endgame overtook Avatar for a brief period, before Avatar then stole its crown back via a fresh re-release.) 2022 sequel Avatar: The Way of Water earned $2.3 billion, meanwhile, cementing it as the third-highest grossing film of all time — just ahead of Cameron's own Titanic, which floats on $2.2 billion.

Avatar: Fire and Ash is expected to follow suit — and the pressure is on it to deliver for Disney so director James Cameron can realize his vision and release Avatar 4 and 5 over the next six years. But Cameron has sounded words of caution recently. Speaking on The Town with Matthew Belloni podcast, Cameron admitted he was feeling nervous about Avatar: Fire and Ash’s box office performance, and was mindful of the “forces” working against theatrical releases in 2025.

Expanding on his point about 3D and high frame rate, Cameron got technical, saying he likes the high frame rate to “smooth out” the 3D experience.

“We have a lot of different neurons that do a lot of difficult things,” he said. “But we have dedicated neurons for parallax. So when people say they get eye strain watching 3D, it’s not eye strain, it’s brain strain. Because we integrate into a stereoscopic perception of the world in our visual cortex. Those parallax sensitive neurons can’t fire if the vertical edges of things are jumping. The brain can’t process that. So if we’re having a stroboscopic effect that’s degrading the 3D experience then we’ll use high frame rate. It interpolates to a level that we actually can process 3D, and then that brain strain goes away.”

On the issue of Avatar's box office, Cameron admitted he was “absolutely” ready to walk away from Avatar if Fire and Ash flops. “I’ve been in Avatar land for 20 years,” he said. “Actually 30 years because I wrote it in ‘95, but I wasn’t working continuously on it for those first 10 years. Yeah, absolutely, sure. If this is where it ends, cool.” But Disney reportedly has a plan to encourage repeat viewings of Avatar: Fire and Ash in theaters — and it involves four different Avengers: Doomsday trailers.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

As major Hollywood actors license their voices to AI, and Coca-Cola uses algorithms to generate its latest holiday commercial, Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Knives Out director Rian Johnson has his own message on the subject: "F*** AI."

"Yeah, f*** AI," Johnson told The Hollywood Reporter. "It's something that's making everything worse in every single way."

Johnson made the comment last month, at a festival showing of his forthcoming Wake Up Dead Man, the third entry in his successful Knives Out murder mystery series starring Daniel Craig. Notably, this was before Disney — his former Star Wars paymaster — decided to splash $1 billion on a stake in OpenAI and license the very characters he'd previously directed for public use as generative AI video fodder.

"I don't get it," Johnson continued. "I mean, I get it in a 'This makes sense to save money by not paying artists' way. But then, what the f*** are we doing? Is this where we want to be?"

Last week, Disney boss Bob Iger announced an unprecedented licensing deal that would see 200 iconic characters unlocked for use in ChatGPT and Sora, allowing users to create their own shortform video content that would then be regurgitated up and made available to subscribers on Disney+.

"The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence marks an important moment for our industry, and through this collaboration with OpenAI we will thoughtfully and responsibly extend the reach of our storytelling through generative AI, while respecting and protecting creators and their works," Iger said in a statement.

Last week at The Game Awards, we learned that the next-gen Tomb Raider that developer Crystal Dynamics announced three years ago is titled Tomb Raider: Catalyst. Published by Amazon Game Studios, it's set to release in 2027 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X and S.

Meanwhile, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is a reimagining of the original Tomb Raider game, built with Unreal Engine 5 and due out next year. Both games will feature a new actor as Lara Croft: Alix Wilton Regan.

While the news was a surprise for some, actor Camilla Luddington — who portrayed Lara Croft in the 2013-2018 reboot trilogy — shared a bittersweet Instagram post about her time as the lead, saying she loved the fans and Croft will "forever be a part of [her]."

"I thought I’d make a post since I’ve been hearing from so many of you," she wrote. "I want to let you know that I have loved this fandom. To join the list of Lara Crofts before me was an incredible honor and she will forever be a part of me. The Survivor Trilogy was a decade of adventure I will never ever forget. I could not be prouder of what we created.

"And as always, a new actress receives this incredible gift to step into the boots. So with that said — [new Croft actor Alix Wilton Regan] if you’re ever in need of a [bow and arrow], I know the exact spot to look for one at Croft Manor."

Alix Wilton Regan has played a number of big video game characters over the years, including the Female Inquisitor in both Dragon Age: Inquisition and Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Samantha Traynor in Mass Effect 3, Alt Cunningham in Cyberpunk 2077, and Aya in Assassin's Creed Origins. Regan was set to play Joanna Dark in Microsoft's Perfect Dark reboot, but it was canceled as part of a major round of layoffs.

As spotted by Eurogamer, Regan also shared a post following The Game Awards announcement, claiming it was the "absolute highlight" of her career to date to have been cast, "surpass[ing] even my wildest dreams, quite frankly."

"We're. Just. Getting. Started," she wrote.

Here's the official blurb on Tomb Raider: Catalyst:

Tomb Raider: Catalyst, which has been in development by Crystal Dynamics since the partnership with Amazon Game Studios was announced in 2022, marks a bold direction for the series as Lara Croft embarks on a new adventure across Northern India. Tomb Raider: Catalyst is set in the wake of a mythical cataclysm that has unleashed ancient secrets and awakened the mysterious forces that guard them. When the most notorious treasure hunters from around the world descend on the region, Lara races to uncover the truth buried beneath the fractured landscape and stop those who would use its power for their own gain. As the ancient world collides with the present, Lara must decide who to trust among rivals and allies to prevent a catastrophe and protect a secret that could reshape the future.
Powered by Unreal Engine 5, Tomb Raider: Catalyst delivers the largest Tomb Raider world yet where Lara will traverse a landscape full of secrets, delve into lost tombs packed with intricate puzzles, and solve ancient mysteries using her unmatched brilliance and richly customized adventure tech. Perfect for longtime fans and newcomers alike, players will experience an exhilarating story of trust and betrayal that tests Lara Croft in new ways. Tomb Raider: Catalyst is set to launch in 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam.

Catalyst wasn’t the only Tomb Raider-related announcement at this year’s Game Awards. Catalyst’s first trailer was immediately followed by a surprise announcement of Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, a “reimagining” of the original 1996 classic. It is due out for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X and S sometime in 2026, as that’s when the franchise celebrates its 30th anniversary.

Here's the official blurb on Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis:

In a surprise announcement, Amazon Game Studios, Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog unveiled Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, a modern reimagining of Lara Croft's genre-defining 1996 debut. Developed in partnership between Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog, the game features stunning visuals powered by Unreal Engine 5, modern game design, and new surprises that honor the spirit and atmosphere of the original game. As Lara Croft, players will harness their wits and athleticism to explore exotic locations lost to time, traverse treacherous landscapes, solve deadly contraptions, and face lethal predators in their quest for the scattered pieces of the Scion — an artifact of immeasurable power.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis sets a new standard for re-envisioning a classic by masterfully balancing innovation with gaming heritage, capturing the wonder and excitement that defined a genre while igniting a new sense of discovery through expanded storytelling. The game arrives in 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam.

Be sure to check out everything announced at The Game Awards 2025 for more, as well as the winners list in full.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

The CEO of Stellar Blade studio Shift Up has received the Presidential Commendation at this year's Korean Content Awards for his work in the games industry.

According to Daum, and reported by Automaton, Hyung-tae Kim accepted the award, which is reportedly "the most prestigious content awards ceremony in Korea" and hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. Kim was recognized for his contribution to the Korean games industry with the games Goddess of Victory: Nikke and Stellar Blade.

"This Presidential Citation is thanks to the developers and fans who believed in and supported Shift Up," Kim said. "We will continue to do our best to further promote the competitiveness of Korean games on the global stage."

Stellar Blade launched in April 2024 exclusively on PlayStation 5. After selling more than 1 million copies in two months, Stellar Blade was seen as highlighting the potential for Korean-made triple-A console games. In July last year, Shift Up raised 435 billion won (approx. $320 million) in its first day of trade after an initial public offering. According to Bloomberg, that was the largest in the country for a gaming company since 2021, when PUBG maker Krafton Inc. raised $3.8 billion from its own IPO. 2024 went so well for the company that it gifted all its staff a PlayStation 5 Pro as well as a cash bonus of 5 million won (around. $3,400) last Christmas.

Meanwhile, Stellar Blade did wonderfully well on PC, where it launched in June this year. According to the developer's recent presentation to investors, Stellar Blade's PC release sold more than 1 million copies in three days, and has been recommended by 98% of its PC users, boasting an "overwhelmingly positive" user score on Steam.

That means, Shift Up claimed, that Stellar Blade is now the "best-selling PlayStation-exclusive launch IP in history" on PC, eclipsing games like Ghost of Tsushima, God of War, Marvel's Spider-Man, Horizon Zero Dawn, and The Last of Us in terms of peak concurrent users on Steam. Helldivers 2, of course, remains in pole position across both single and multiplayer games, and by some considerable margin, too, estimated to have sold 12.7 million copies.

Stellar Blade is now up to 3 million copies sold across all platforms. Don't forget that a sequel, Stellar Blade 2, is also on the way. Shift Up is also working on Project Spirits, to be published by Level Infinite.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

Larian publishing director Michael Douse has explained the studio’s thinking in the wake of the gruesome reveal trailer for Divinity, the Baldur’s Gate 3 studio’s next big role-playing game.

Divinity was announced at The Game Awards with a CG trailer that features extreme gore and sex. It begins with medieval fantasy villagers preparing for a ritual sacrifice, which involves burning a man alive. The villagers celebrate the occasion by playing music and dancing, laughing and chatting, feasting and drinking. At one point, someone throws up into animal feed. A mother and child look on with anticipation.

The burning of the man begins, and here things get very gory indeed. As his flesh tears and he screams in pain, some of the villagers are seen having sex. Others whip themselves. There’s more vomiting. Everyone seems thrilled, but as the burning man dies, something goes horribly wrong.

Disgusting wounds appear on the man. As his arm rips off we get a quick cut to an extreme closeup of someone eating meat. More sex. More vomiting. More pigs eating the vomit. And then the burning man explodes in a shower of gore. Something terrible is pouring out of his body. This, clearly, is not what was supposed to happen, and the villagers flee in terror. In the aftermath we see the statue Geoff Keighley has teased ahead of The Game Awards itself. It has not gone well for the villagers, but the pigs look like they're still having a good time mopping up.

It’s fair to say the trailer has sparked a great deal of debate. While some have praised the studio for not holding back when it comes to its dark themes (something Baldur’s Gate 3 won plaudits for), others have said the trailer goes too far. Indeed some have accused Larian of "pushing the morale line" with the trailer, labeling it “gore porn.”

Now, Douse has explained what Larian was going for here. In a tweet response to illustrator and YouTuber Kala Elizabeth, who had praised the studio for refusing to “hold back or sanitize stories to make them more palatable,” Douse said the Divinity trailer wasn’t about shocking the audience, rather “treating the audience with a level of intellectual respect.”

“The phrase ‘treating the audience with a level of intellectual respect’ came up a lot in planning,” he said. “It isn’t about trying to shock them, it's about trying to match their powers of comprehension so that it resonates. We know people are capable of appreciating a three dimensional world.”

This appears to have gone down well with Larian's fans. "I love this," Elizabeth replied. "As someone who plays durge, evil and renegade options I'm sad that more games don't seem to push that nuance and trust the audience anymore. Can't wait to see what y'all do next."

There’s still a great deal we don’t know about Divinity, of course, but fans think they’ve worked out who the burning man in the trailer is supposed to be. Larian has said Divinity is its next “major” game after Baldur’s Gate 3, and it is set in the world of Rivellon. Here’s the tagline: “the gods are silent. Rivellon bleeds. New powers stir.”

“Built by the team who brought you Baldur's Gate 3, Larian Studios unchains its ambitions to bring you an RPG with greater breadth and depth than ever before,” reads the official blurb.

While Divinity is a brand new game that doesn’t require experience with previous Larian titles, those who’ve played Divinity: Original Sin and Divinity: Original Sin 2 will be able to enjoy “greater understanding and continuity,” Larian added.

Swen Vincke, founder and game director of Larian Studios, said: “Despite our long history with the series, this is our first game entitled Divinity. We’re ready to bring everything we’ve done previously into one place. This marks the beginning of something with more breadth, depth, and intimacy than anything we’ve created before. We’ve been building toward this moment ever since we took our fate into our own hands. This is the Divinity we’ve always wanted to make and you're going to have loads of fun with it.”

Be sure to check out everything announced at The Game Awards 2025 for more, as well as the winners list in full. And if you’re wondering what all this Divinity business is about, check out our handy explainer here.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.