The weekend is officially here, and we've rounded up the best deals you can find! Discover the best deals for Sunday, March 9, below:

Apple AirPods 4 for $99.99

Streaming has made entertainment more accessible than ever, but that doesn't mean it's cheap. Most streaming services have continuously hiked their own prices and limited password sharing, and confusing licensing deals sometimes make it surprisingly difficult to find an entire franchise in the same spot.

Nowadays it's common to debate, as I'm doing constantly, which subscriptions are worth keeping for the long haul. Plenty of streaming services – particularly the newer ones – offer free trials, bundles, and discounts to try and attract new subscribers. "New subscriber," of course, meaning "different e-mail address."

The best time to save on subscriptions is undoubtedbly Black Friday, when most streaming services offer their biggest discounts of the year. But if you're trying to find savings like right now, these are some of the best streaming deals available.

Here Are the Best Streaming Deals Right Now:

Limited Time Streaming Deal: Disney+ and Hulu for $2.99/month

As of March 9, Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet Stellar Crown and Paldea Evolved three-pack blisters are still floating below retail at Amazon for around £12 each. That’s not going to last. Everyone’s too busy chasing Prismatic Evolutions, Surging Sparks, and the upcoming Journey Together sets, which means these two are slipping under the radar.

The Pokémon Company is already shifting print focus to newer releases, so picking up packs below RRP will soon be a thing of the past. If you’re looking to grab some of the best Illustration Rares and competitive Trainer cards in the game below retail price, this is the best time to start collecting.

Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—Stellar Crown 3-Pack Blister - Latias

Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—Paldea Evolved Triple Pack (Tinkatink)

At IGN, we're excited to celebrate women in our history and industry who create, inspire, empower and make positive change in this world; not just this month, but every month. We hope you'll join us in continued learning, celebrating and elevating women’s voices. Here's everything to know about Women's History Month and some great ways to celebrate this March.

The History Behind Women's History Month

Women's History Month began as a petition by the National Women’s History Project in 1987, with a purpose to "celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States and recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields."

Did you know Women’s History Month actually began as “Women’s History Week" during the week of March 7 in 1982? It wasn't until 1987 that this cultural event would become a month-long, national celebration. Efforts continued in order to keep Women's History Month recognized, and every President since 1995 "have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as Women’s History Month.”

TL;DR - 8 Ways to Celebrate Women's History Month

1. Learn About Women in History and Share Their Stories
2. Support Women-Owned Businesses and Professionals
3. Watch Movies or Shows Directed by Women
4. Read Books Written by Women Authors
5. Play Games Created by Women
6. Listen to Podcasts Featuring Women
7. Volunteer at Women-Based Organizations
8. Donate to Programs and Organizations Uplifting Women

1. Learn About Women in History and Share Their Stories

You can explore women's stories in history all across the web, from inventors to leaders and beyond. Great places to start include museums and their website archives like Smithsonian, organizations run by women such as StoryCorps, and trusted history-based publishers such as The History Channel.

2. Support Women-Owned Businesses and Professionals

From artists to streamers and beyond, there are so many ways to support women in business. You can shop online from the comfort of your home on sites like Etsy, and browse Women Owned Business Directories like WBD, or FoundedByHer as go-to resources for discovering awesome entrepreneurs. There’s even a way to filter on Amazon to shop women-owned retailers in a variety of categories.

In addition to buying from women business owners, supporting women in their career growth is another integral part of the journey to uplift women. SoundGirls is a perfect example of an organization that exists to provide women in the specific industry (audio) an opportunity to "meet and network with industry professionals, creating a strong support network.” Anything we can do to share women's success stories, contribute, and spread the word around organizations that exist to offer workshops, networking resources, and beyond, can all help support women in business.

Also see: 14 Great Women Comic Book Writers.

3. Watch Movies or Shows Featuring Women or Directed by Women

If you don't know where to start, Hulu has a featured collection of shows and movies with Black female leads to check out, and Showtime has a network called SHOWTIME WOMEN® which "Celebrates women in front of and behind the camera, bringing you the most unique, daring and groundbreaking films, documentaries and shorts from aspiring and established female talents."

After the 2025 Oscars, there are plenty of hit films you may want to catch up on. One of the biggest winners this year was Anora, featuring lead actress (and Oscar winner) Mikey Madison.

Here are more ways to watch Anora.

Discover Women Directors

In addition to celebrating women-led roles and actresses, there are some legendary films to watch and rewatch including big hits like Barbie, American Psycho and The Hurt Locker; all directed by women. If you don't know where to start, streaming sites like Netflix make it easy to browse movies directed by women.

Watch Women's Sports

Let's not forget women's sports either. From ESPNW covering major sports, from NWSL, WNBA, NCAAW and beyond, to a whole site dedicated to only women's sports (fittingly, justwomenssports.com), you can't miss it. We also want to shout out WOW (Women of Wrestling), who we have partnered with and interviewed at events including SDCC. You can find out where to stream WOW here.

Across soccer, basketball, wrestling and beyond, women's sports are becoming more popular and we love to see it. Stream most major events on:

4. Read Books Written by Women

There are so many books written by women to dive into, no matter what your favorite genre is. In fact, according to BookRiot, “Women now publish more than 50% of all books, and have since 2020. The increase in published books by women has also come with a boost for the book industry overall, which boasted a year-on-year increase of 12.3% in 2021 (if you're curious, publishing made $29.3 billion in 2021). With these stats we see what we've already known, really, which is that diversifying the publishing industry is not only the right thing to do, but people also just really like it.”

That said, women authors are everywhere, so it's time to get your reading on! For a powerfully educational list, here's 10 books by Black women to add to your reading list, too.

Here are some top-rated books by women authors to get you started via Amazon.

5. Play and Discover Women-Led Games

Behind several wonderful games are women creators, devs, directors, designers, writers and more. From Portal to Celeste; to the Uncharted series and the classic arcade game Centipede, there are so many brilliant games brought to you by women. Plus, it's even more impressive when a game makes a bigger cultural impact, such as Celeste's Five-Year Journey to Becoming One of the Most Important Trans Games Ever. (If you haven't played this charming, adventure-filled game yet, you can get it or download here on Nintendo.com for $19.99).

You can browse game lists across the web featuring women creators, such as G2A’s list and featured games created by women and games curated by women lists from Microsoft to get you started.

6. Listen to Podcasts Hosted by Women

Whether you're into news, history, comedy, pop culture or criminal storytelling, there is a comprehensive list of podcasts hosted by women out there. NY Public Radio compiled a list of over 100 women-hosted podcasts, so go check out what's there and may be new to you lately on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, or wherever you like to listen! From some of IGN's own podcast-listening ladies, we recommend the following (in no particular order):

1. You're Wrong About

In You're Wrong About, Sarah is a journalist obsessed with the past. Every week she reconsiders a person or event that's been miscast in the public imagination. Listen on Apple.

2. Ladies & Tangents

If you hate leaving the house but also want to feel seen, the Ladies & Tangents podcast is for you. Jeri and Ciara are besties and cousins, ready to carry you through their relatable conversations around companionship, human rights and more. Listen on Apple.

3. Scam Goddess

In Scam Goddess, Laci Mosley keeps you up to date on the latest scams and "breaks down historic hoodwinks alongside some of your favorite comedians! It’s like true crime only without all the death! True fun crime!" Listen on Apple.

4. Axe of the Blood God

RPG gaming fans can join Kat Bailey, Nadia Oxford, and Eric Van Allen as they explore Final Fantasy, Skyrim, and all the best in the wonderful world of role-playing games in Axe of the Blood God. Listen on Apple

5. What's Good Games

Another great podcast for gaming fans, join What's Good Games' Andrea Rene, Brittney Brombacher and Riana Manuel-Peña as they analyze the latest video game news each week and give hands-on impressions of upcoming titles. Listen on Apple.

6. My Favorite Murder

My Favorite Murder is the original hit true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. You, too, can join the growing fan club of "Murderinos". Listen on Apple.

7. This Ends At Prom

This Ends at Prom is a weekly podcast analyzing the staying power of womanhood featured in coming-of-age and teen girl movies from the queer, feminist cisgender and trans perspectives. Hosted by wives BJ Colangelo and Harmony Colangelo. Listen on Apple.

8. Girlfriend Material

This fabulous "Gay-Z" podcast features funny stories, cheeky chats, and moving moments with comedy creator and TikToker Rosie Turner! It doesn't matter where you are on your own LGBTQ+ journey of discovery, this podcast is for everyone! Listen on Apple.

9. A Little Queer

Another LGBTQ+ focused podcast, dive into queer culture, advice, and media with your new BFFs, Capri and Ashley. Listen on Apple.

10. The Artist In Me Is Dead

"The artist in you is dead, but what if it’s actually only dormant and you only need to nurture it back to life?" Explore creativity with host Rhonda Willers and guests every Thursday. She also explores when people feel most creative: what are they doing? How do they tap into their creativity? Listen on Apple.

11. Conversations With Moon Body Soul

Listen to host and owner of Moon Body Soul, Kaitee Tyner as she shares in topics across holistic wellness. If you're getting into self-care and need some inspiration, this is for you. Listen on Apple.

7. Volunteer at Women-Based Organizations

Not sure where to start? https://www.volunteermatch.org has a great database to match you with volunteer opportunities. Visit the site, search by your city or zip code, and find volunteer opportunities. You can select "More" from the volunteer category menu to select "Women" for both virtual and in-person opportunities to help women-based organizations in your area.

8. Donate to Programs and Organizations Uplifting Women

If you're unable to volunteer your time, consider donating to an organization that means something to you and the women in your life. You can donate directly or indirectly depending on the program or partnership you find!

For example, did you know our partner site Humble Bundle offers an easy and fun way to directly donate to causes throughout the year via gaming bundles? Right now, Humble is also partnering with CARE for Women’s History Month. When you purchase a Humble Choice membership this March, 5% of proceeds will support CARE’s programs.

Here are some other great organizations to consider supporting:

1. Girls Who Code
2. Black Girl Film School
3. Latinas in Tech
4. Girls Make Games
5. Women in Animation

Upgrading your setup with a curved gaming monitor is one of the best ways to improve your immersion. The best curved gaming monitors wrap into your peripheral vision and seem to draw you in, helping you get lost in your favorite game. So whether you're a competitive gamer looking for the extra edge in esports or a single-player aficionado hoping to get lost in your next storyline, I've got the best pick for you. These are the best curved gaming monitors of 2025.

TL;DR – These Are the Best Curved Gaming Monitors:

There was a time when choosing a great curved gaming monitor was pretty straightforward. But today, there are countless brands flooding the marketplace, too many me-toos that look the same on paper but don't stand toe-to-toe in real life. Of course, there are qualities you should look for depending on what kind of gamer you are. If you're a fan of shooters, a monitor with low input latency and a high refresh rate, should be on the top of your list. If you're looking for the most engaging and immersive experience, choosing a monitor with a deeper curve will be a better option. It's all about the details.

The Expert: Why Trust Us

I've been a gaming journalist for more than a decade. During that time, I've written for a number of major gaming publications and have tested more monitors than most people will use in a lifetime. I know what makes a gaming monitor great. More specifically, I know what makes a monitor great for different kinds of users. It's not all about panel type, refresh rate, and resolution. It's about how its different qualities come together to create something great that stands out from the riff-raff on Amazon. I cover monitors for IGN and make it my mission to give you the best recommendations to both save you money and ensure that you walk away with a great experience.

At IGN, we're gamers. Every review is filtered through multiple eyes to assure that you get the facts you need, when you need them. We make the connections so you don't have to and bring the best of the best to you, distilled down, in guides just like this one.

When you're done reading here, be sure to check out the Best Graphics Cards, Best Gaming Keyboards, Best Gaming Mice, and Best Gaming Headsets to complete your setup. A great gaming experience awaits.

1. Asus ROG Swift PG34WCDM

Best Curved Gaming Monitor

2. AOC C27G2Z

Best Budget Curved Gaming Monitor

AOC is no stranger to delivering high-value gaming monitors for gamers on a budget. The C27G2Z is exactly such a monitor. Offering a solid picture on a spacious 27-inch screen, an immersive curve, and exceptional responsiveness with its 240Hz refresh rate, all for under $200.

This monitor packs a lot for a little when it comes to investment. For its accessible cost of entry, you're getting a high-quality VA panel with a 1500R curve - still relatively gentle but more noticeable than the multitudes of 1800R monitors out there. Because of the way this panel works with its backlight, it's able to offer a deep 3,000:1 contrast ratio, roughly double that of competing IPS gaming monitors, and it's immediately noticeable. While its colors and viewing angles don't quite match that panel type's high standard, I've found VA panels still offer very engaging colors that are perfect for gaming.

The monitor's real selling point, however, is its responsiveness. AOC has outfitted it with a 240Hz refresh rate and a 0.5ms response time. That's enough for even high-level competitive gaming. It allows the monitor to offer improved motion clarity in comparison to most others around this price point. Ghosting also shouldn't be an issue at these speeds.

The drawback here is that to achieve its full refresh rate, you'll be limited to a DisplayPort connection since it only comes with HDMI 2.0. This won't make a big difference, though, as every modern graphics card supports this DisplayPort and consoles using HDMI port will still be able to top out at 120Hz like a great gaming TV.

The AOC also sells a 32-inch version of this panel, but I would recommend sticking with the smaller size. At 32 inches, 1080p makes individual pixels visible, leading to a screen door effect that you might find distracting. If you crave the extra real estate, however, and don't mind the slightly softer image, at the time of this writing both versions are the exact same price, so it remains an impressive value.

3. Dell Alienware AW3423DWF

Best Value Curved Gaming Monitor

For the hands-down best value in curved gaming monitors, look no further than the Dell Alienware AW3423DWF. Now retailing for a bit over $600, this QD-OLED display offers massive bang for the buck. I gave it a glowing review when it released last year for $1,100 and now that the price has almost halved, it's an incredibly easy recommendation to make.

OLED monitors don't come cheap, and there's a good reason for that. Their advanced panel technology allows them to deliver some of the best images quality money can buy. Because of the way, because it, every pixel is individually controlled, it essentially allows the AW3423DWF to have millions of local dimming zones. On top of that, it's been enhanced with a layer of quantum dots to provide more vivid colors and increased brightness. Its picture is stunning and with its current pricing, it's one of the best ways to experience OLED for yourself while also enjoying an immersive curve.

Like all OLED monitors, its SDR brightness isn't amazing, but if you use it out of direct sunlight, it should be just fine. When gaming in HDR, however, it's able to peak at 1000 nits. Between this high brightness and its deep contrast, its HDR experience for both movies and games is a treat for the eyes - and that's without considering Alienware's picture enhancements and presets.

This display runs at a peak of 165Hz, which while not the absolute fastest, is still a good value for a QD-OLED at this price. And don't forget, because of the way OLED monitors work, it will still be much more responsive than your average IPS or VA display. In fact, while most of those monitors run at 1ms, and the very best might be rated for 0.5ms, this monitor is rated for only 0.3 ms. For competitive gaming and esports, that means improved motion clarity and an exceptionally smooth experience (and yes, it also supports AMD FreeSync and is Nvidia G-Sync Compatible).

Overall, there is not much to dislike about this monitor at its current asking price. It received glowing reviews when it launched, my own included, and has only gotten better with time and multiple price cuts as Alienware has released its own competitors.

4. Acer Predator X34 OLED

Best Ultrawide G-Sync Gaming Monitor

So far this year, the reigning king of ultrawide curved gaming monitors is the Acer Predator X34 OLED. It checks all of the boxes for a great gaming monitor, including an outstanding picture, fast refresh rate, deep curve, and plenty of features to take your gaming experience to the next level.

This monitor isn't the only 34-inch ultrawide on this list. It offers quite a bit to set itself apart. Its curve offers a deep 800R radius that wraps into your peripheral vision and seems to draw you into the center of the screen to increase your immersion. Between its variable refresh rate support (Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync) and 240Hz refresh rate, all of the motion of your favorite games flows with a silky smoothness that looks amazing.

Since this monitor comes with the ultrawide version of 1440p, you won't need a top tier system to run it. Though, you should plan on at least a medium performance graphics card for the best experience. Its OLED panel offers fantastic colors with solid factory calibration. Compared to many other OLED monitors, however, it offers superior brightness with a peak luminance of 1,300 nits. This allows highlights to glimmer with a lifelike quality that helps bring games and movies to life

If you are a content creator and work with timelines, you'll surely see the benefit of its 21:9 ratio. This allows you to view more of the timeline at any given time and makes the monitor feel much more efficient to use. It lacks a dedicated sRGB mode, which is strange, but does come with a P3 mode for standardized colors.

There are a lot of curved ultra-wide gaming monitors out there, but the Acer Predator X34 OLED is the premier option for 2025.

5. MSI MPG 491CQPX

Best Curved 32:9 Super Ultrawide Monitor

How to Choose a Curved Monitor

Choosing a curved gaming monitor is very similar to choosing a great gaming monitor in general. It's important to consider what you will be using it for. If all you need to worry about is gaming, then that will narrow your choices down. If you plan to use it for productivity or creative work like video editing, there are other things to consider.

Resolution: Resolution refers to how many pixels make up the panel of the monitor. A higher resolution leads to a crisper image, however, can be more difficult to run requiring a higher performance graphics card. The three main resolutions are 1080p (1,920x1,080), 1440p (2,560x1,440), and 4K (3,840 x 2,160). Ultrawide monitors extend the first figure with their added width, but the second usually remains the same and can be used to determine the level of clarity they will provide.

Size: Choosing the right size monitor for your needs depends on several factors. The most basic is how much available space you have. Along with this, however, you should consider the type of gaming experience you are seeking. If you're choosing a curved monitor simply for the aesthetic, a gentle curve and 16:9 aspect ratio is probably going to fit your needs. If you want lots of extra usable space, then choosing a larger ultrawide (21:9) curved monitor will likely be the better choice.

While they're not hard rules, there are some basic guidelines to consider when it comes to size. For 1080p, 24 inches is usually considered the sweet spot, offering crisp visuals across a decently-sized field of view. For 1440p, 27 inches is considered ideal for this same reason. If you're opting for 4K, however, 32 inches is frequently recommended as it's large enough to offer a high pixel density without losing details to a compressed screen. You can shift any of these resolutions up in size but at the expense of a slightly softer image. For 1080p in particular, at 27 inches and above, you risk being able to see the individual pixels which create a "screen door effect" across the viewing area.

Panel Type: The next thing to consider is the type of panel being used in the display. There are three main panels being used today and one backlighting type that often gets referred to as if it were its own panel technology. The three types are IPS, VA, and OLED. TN panels are technically also available but offer the worst picture available in mainstream gaming monitors and should only be picked if you value response time over literally everything else (I suggest avoiding them). The backlighting technology is called mini-LED and is most often paired with IPS panels.

IPS, or In-Plane Switching, panels are well-loved for their great colors and viewing angles. They used to be plagued by slower response times, and while that is technically still true, there are many that offer 1ms or even 0.5ms response times, so that concern is largely a thing of the past among gaming monitors. Older and lower cost IPS monitors can still have significantly slower response times and problems with ghosting, however, so it's important to take note of its rated response time before pulling the trigger. IPS panels also offer relatively low contrast, which can make blacks look dark gray. Backlight bleed can also be an issue.

VA, or Vertical Alignment, panels are a middle-ground between the benefits of IPS and the speed of OLED and TN. They're backlit using LEDs. However, because of the way the pixels operate, they block light where IPS panels would allow it through. This allows them to offer much better contrast while still maintaining very good colors and a slightly faster response time.

OLED, or Organic Light Emitting Diode, monitors are the current key trend in the upper-middle and high tier of curved gaming monitors. With this technology, each pixel is individually controlled, only illuminating what's needed at any given time. Put another way, every pixel becomes its own local dimming zone, adjusting brightness right to the point of turning off, allowing this technology to offer the best contrast available in gaming monitors today. They're also well known for their incredible color and stunning HDR.

The downside to these monitors is that they frequently have low average brightness due to their higher power consumption and heat. Burn-in or image retention is another concern; however, manufacturers have gotten very good about covering burn-in under their included warranties, as well as integrating many different protective features to make this less likely to occur. It is still an important consideration, though, and an inherent risk to the panel type.

Brightness: A monitor's brightness is rated in nits or candelas per square meter (cdm/2). As a rule, I recommend aiming for at least 350 nits of brightness if your desk is out of direct sunlight and higher if your budget allows. 400 nits is necessary for the first level of VESA DisplayHDR certification; however, you should take that with a grain of salt. For HDR gaming and movies, I suggest looking for a monitor with a peak brightness of at least 1,000 nits so that you can experience true wide dynamic range.

Refresh Rate: Refresh rate is how many times the monitor updates its picture per second. For gaming, I recommend sticking to at least 120Hz, with 144Hz being the ideal starting point. If you are a competitive gamer, a 240Hz, 360Hz, or even 480Hz monitor can be a better choice as they offer lower input latency and better motion clarity. Anyone that is not gaming at at least a semi-professional level, however, isn't likely to experience the same benefit and competitive edge, so I recommend sticking to more affordable refresh speeds and reinvesting those funds elsewhere into your PC or into new games.

Curvature: A monitor's curvature is indicated by an "R" number that is usually clearly disclosed in the product listing. On Amazon, it usually features prominently in the listing's title. The "R" stands for radius. If the arc of the screen were to extend into a circle, the number would indicate its width. Accordingly, a higher "R" number means a shallower curve. It can be tempting to go for the deepest curve possible. However, it's important to note that anything at 1000R or below is very deep and will likely distort images and text a small degree. This makes them a better fit for pure gaming instead of productivity and other daily use tasks.

Additional Features: If you've already shopped around for a monitor, then you're probably already aware that there are a lot of curved displays with the exact same specs. It's here that you can begin to differentiate them from one another. An important thing to look for is support for variable refresh rate (VRR). This feature eliminates screen tearing and can include Low Framerate Compensation (LFC) to help your games play smoothly even if your computer struggles to run them. If you have an AMD graphics card, you'll want to be sure the monitor supports FreeSync. If you have an NVIDIA graphics card, it should be at least G-Sync compatible to ensure smooth, tear-free gameplay.

Likewise, there are many extra features that manufacturers will add to increase the value proposition and help each display stand out. If you intend to have multiple systems or a console hooked up in addition to your PC, choosing a monitor with a built-in KVM switch can make life more convenient. If you want to enjoy two different kinds of content, looking for one that offers picture-in-picture support can be wise.

Many gaming monitors also offer configuration software that can save you fumbling through the on-screen display (OSD) and even offer hotkeys to toggle settings and features. These can include features like Black Equalizer that let you peek into the shadows, on-screen reticles, or even built-in sniper modes that can zoom in on enemies. Some monitors even feature integrated AI to change contrast and picture settings depending on what's occurring in-game.

Upcoming Curved Gaming Monitors in 2025

There are always new gaming monitors being released, so rather than looking at individual models, it's helpful to look at the biggest trends guiding the industry. This year I was able to attend CES in Las Vegas and see many of the upcoming models firsthand. I have a full write-up of what's coming down the pipeline you can read here.

The biggest trend this year is once again OLED. Just about every major brand has multiple OLED displays the pipeline, spanning different for factors, designs, and intended audiences (though they're not always curved). Mini-LED monitors also look like they may be rising up as an alternative to this technology, solving the problems of brightness and burn-in at the expense of OLED's inky contrast. While most brands focused on their most premium and expensive models, there were also a number aimed at the middle of the market with more accessible prices.

Another trend to look out for this year is the collision of smart TVs with gaming monitors. Smart gaming monitors were a theme of the show. I reviewed an early model from Samsung at the end of last year that showcases the highlights of this approach: built-in game and movie streaming, live TV, and refined menus with TV-like picture settings. While I wasn't huge on the integration in that display, there's natural appeal for anyone that needs their monitor to serve double duty. Students in dorm rooms and gamers in small spaces should find a lot to enjoy in this current crop of smart monitors.

Curved Monitor FAQs

Are curved monitors better for gaming?

Many gamers think so, though this is in the eye of the beholder. In my experience, gentler curves are less perceptible and are more about the overall look of the monitor rather than practical impact. The influence of the monitor's curvature also depends on the size of the display. On smaller monitors, it's less noticeable, but on ultrawide gaming monitors, it can occupy more of your field of view and help create the effect of being drawn into the center of your screen. In terms of performance and responsiveness, a monitor's curve doesn't have an impact.

What is 800R, 1500R, and 1800R?

These numbers indicate the radius of the curvature on a gaming monitor. A lower radius indicates a deeper curve, whereas a higher radius is shallower. 1500R and 1800R curvatures are very gentle. 800R and 1000R, however, feel exceptionally curved and extend further into your peripheral vision. A very deep curve can be a gateway to immersion but can slightly warp text and objects that appear on the screen. This usually isn't very profound, and many gamers get used to it over time, yet if you do a lot of writing or are sensitive to this it can be distracting. I recommend leaving the deepest curves for gaming alone and opting for something a bit gentler for mixed use.

Are curved monitors good for work?

The answer to this question depends on the radius of the curve and the type of work that you'll be doing. Generally speaking, 1500R and 1800R curves are good for just about everything as their curvature is very mild. As mentioned in the previous answer, very deep curves usually aren't the best if you're doing a lot of typing or spreadsheet work due to the warping that can occur.

A curved ultrawide monitor can be a big asset for video editors and other creatives that use timelines in their work. Since these displays offer more horizontal space, you're able to view more of your timeline at any given time, and many people find this increases their efficiency. Outside of this use case and limited others, curved gaming monitors do not typically offer clear benefits compared to flat displays.

Where to Get the Best Curved Gaming Monitors in the UK

Chris Coke has been a regular contributor to IGN since 2019 and has been covering games and technology since 2013. He has covered tech ranging from gaming controllers to graphics cards, gaming chairs and gaming monitors, headphones, IEMs, and more for sites across the web. He currently specializes in gaming monitors, laptops, and chairs for IGN. Find Chris on Twitter @gamebynight.

Alongside sharing the news that a Black Torch anime is officially in production at VIZ Media, IGN is exclusively able to reveal its first trailer.

VIZ Media announced the Black Torch anime at its Emerald City Comic Con panel and the trailer below shows Jiro Azuma in his stealth uniform. He isn't alone, however, as he has his powerful mononoke Rago on his shoulder. There is also a tease of a dark figure reflected in the cityscape that hints at the danger to come.

For those unfamiliar, Black Torch was created by Tsuyoshi Yakaki and was originally serialized in Jump SQ. and Shonen Jump+ from 2017 to 2018. As for what it is about, here is the official synopsis of the upcoming anime to catch you up.

"A new era of ninja battles begins," the official synopsis reads. "Hailing from a long line of ninja, Jiro has been brought up by his grandfather in the ancient warrior art of the shinobi. Jiro also happens to be a particularly skilled communicator able to converse with the animal world. But life takes an abrupt turn thanks to a mysterious encounter in the forest with an injured black cat named Rago. Only, Rago's feline appearance is deceiving...

"It turns out the “ordinary” cat is the stuff of mononoke legend–the Black Star of Doom! Swarming in the shadows are more mononoke, eager to exploit Rago’s uniquely immense powers. To fight back against the tide of dark spirits, the undercover Bureau of Espionage is poised to seek and destroy. Of course, everyone has their motives when it comes to Rago’s powers. But Jiro and Rago are ready. A shinobi clash between boy and mononoke is about to ignite!"

SXSW's The Future of World-building at Disney Panel was filled with exciting details and teases of the future of Disney Parks, including how The Mandalorian and Grogu will be joining a new mission aboard Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run, that Imagineers will need to create a new type of ride vehicle with emotion for Magic Kingdom's Cars ride, and a tease of what the load area and lift off will look like for the new Monsters, Inc. attraction.

Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D'Amaro and Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman led the festivities and discussed what their teams are working on and how beneficial it is when they collaborate for exciting new experiences at Disney Parks.

There was a ton discussed, and we've gathered all the biggest announcements and reveals below!

The Mandalorian and Grogu Will Join Smuggler's Run in a New Mission at the Launch of The Mandalorian & Grogu Film

While we knew The Mandalorian and Grogu would be part of a new story on Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run at Walt Disney World and Disneyland, Disney confirmed the new experience would debut alongside The Mandalorian & Grogu movie on May 22, 2026.

The Mandalorian creator Jon Favreau and Imagineers Leslie Evans and Asa Kalama shared a bit more about the upcoming new story and revealed some concept art of locations that should excite fans of that galaxy far, far away. The images, which you can see below, include a Jawa's Sandcrawler on Tatooine, the Millennium Falcon and Mando's Razor Crest flying toward Cloud City on Bespin, and even a tease of visit to the wreckage of the second Death Star above Endor.

“This isn’t going to retell what happens in the movie – it’s more like participating in something that’s happening just off-camera from what you see in the film,” Favreau explained.

Imagineers captured scenes for this new story from the set of The Mandalorian & Grogu, meaning it should feel very authentic when it goes live.

In addition, it was also revealed that the wonderful BDX droids that have been seen at Disneyland will soon be making their way to Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris. There will even be a new variant as an Anzellan (like Babu Frik!) named Otto will sometimes appear on a BDX that needs a little tune up.

The weekend is officially here, and we've rounded up the best deals you can find! Discover the best deals for Saturday, March 8, below:

Apple AirPods Pro for $169.99

PlayStation or Xbox? It’s the long-running question of the modern video game world. At one point or another in your life, you’ve almost certainly been a part of this debate. Maybe you’ve started a Reddit thread, or made a TikTok video, or struck up a heated chat between friends about it. While there are gamers who preach the PC gospel, and Nintendo-as-god fanatics, much of the last two decades of video game history has been made as a result of Sony and Microsoft’s ongoing tete-a-tete. But is this ‘console war’ truly still being waged? The video game industry has gone through immense change in the last year, let alone over the previous two decades. Gamers’ habits, preferences, and options have all increased exponentially in part thanks to the rise of handheld gaming and younger generations’ expertise in building their own gaming machines. The battlefield is now practically unrecognisable compared to its tribal-like origins, but has a victor finally emerged from the trenches? Possibly – but the answer may surprise you.

The video game industry has rapidly evolved to become a financial juggernaut in recent years. In 2019, its worldwide revenue was $285 billion. Last year, it was $475 billion. That figure means that video games made more than the entire world wide movie and music industries in 2023, which made $308 billion and $28.6 billion respectively. There’s no sign of this growth stopping, either. By 2029, the industry is estimated to generate nearly $700 billion. Not bad considering its humble Pong origins.

All this considered, it’s no surprise that we’ve seen an uptick in Hollywood actors flocking to be a part of a scene with such a lucrative present and future. Mads Mikkelsen, Keanu Reeves, Jon Bernthal and Willem Dafoe to name a few have all starred in games released in the past five years. Their involvement reflects the monumental shift in the perception of video games. Even industry titans like Disney are making significant in-roads into gaming, having just invested $1.5 billion into Epic Games as part of Bob Iger’s second term challenge to solidify a gaming presence for the company. A rising tide should lift all boats – unless you’re aboard the U.S.S. Microsoft, which seems to have sprung a leak.

The Xbox Series X and S consoles are intended to be an upgrade from the Xbox One in every way. But their advancements have yet to prove truly enticing; the One currently ranks above the Series X/S by almost double the sales. When you couple this fact with comments from analytics company Circana’s games industry expert, Mat Piscatella, who has suggested that this current console generation is now past its selling peak, it paints a worrying picture for team Xbox. Things appear even worse when you look at console sales figures from 2024. According to Statista, the Xbox Series X/S sold less than 2.5 million units across the entire year – the PlayStation 5 sold the same figure in the first quarter of 2024 alone. There are also the allegations that Xbox is supposedly closing down its department which handles the manufacture and delivery of games to physical retailers, which feels ominously connected to its evasive response to a report that it plans to pull out of selling consoles in the EMEA region. If Xbox really has been involved in a ‘console war’, all of this points to the signal to retreat.

But Xbox isn't retreating – it has already surrendered. During the long Activision-Blizzard acquisition process, a statement from Microsoft found in the findings of fact revealed that the company doesn’t believe its Xbox division lost the console war – it thinks it never had a shot to begin with. So, what does a company built around a video game console do when its newest model is struggling to match its predecessor in sales, and its parent company openly remarks on its failure? It gets out of the console business.

It's no secret that Xbox Game Pass has become a key priority for the company. Leaked internal documents revealed the estimated prices Xbox expected to be asked to pay to put AAA-titles like Grand Theft Auto 5 ($12-15 million per month) and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor ($300 million) on the subscription service. Xbox taking such costs seriously demonstrates the company consolidating cloud gaming as a key direction for it moving forward. That goal is clear to see in Microsoft’s recent ‘This Is An Xbox’ advertising campaign, which suggests the company is keen to redefine how players think of Xbox – no longer a console, but an always-accessible service with some hardware to complement it instead.

It seems like this rethinking of what an Xbox is means that the brand’s official hardware won’t be limited to being a box under your TV. An Xbox handheld has been rumored to be in development for the past year or so, backed by another leaked document from the Activision-Blizzard dealings which hints at using handheld-friendly hardware for a next-gen 'hybrid cloud gaming platform'. But Microsoft’s pivot in strategy has hardly been a secret. From its announcement of plans to create a mobile game store to compete with Apple and Google, to Xbox chief Phil Spencer’s own admission that mobile gaming’s dominance in the sphere is shaping the company’s own path moving forward, the new M.O. seems simple: Xbox is the video game brand you can play whenever you want, wherever you are.

So why is Microsoft pivoting? Sure, Xbox has struggled over the past couple of generations, but doesn’t the video game console market reign supreme? You’d be surprised. In 2024, of the total 3.3 billion estimated video gamers, over 1.93 billion of them play via a mobile device. That, of course, includes your grandmother playing Candy Crush Saga and your “non-gamer” cousin who still clocks up hours of Clash of Clans. But mobile gaming is now so much more than these casual audiences – over the last decade it has quickly become the dominant pillar of the video game market among every generation, but especially Gen Z and Gen Alpha. In 2024, the total market valuation for the video game industry was $184.3 billion, with mobile games comprising exactly half of that entire figure at $92.5 billion (a 2.8% increase from the previous year). Where do consoles weigh in? At just $50.3 billion, or 27%, and that’s dropped 4% since 2023. No wonder Microsoft wants to turn your phone into an Xbox.

But this isn’t a new development. By 2013, the Asian market for mobile gaming was already dwarfing that of the western world by heights of 759% in South Korea and 280% in China. You might think GTA 5 was the most profitable game of 2013, but you’d be wrong: Both Puzzle & Dragon and Candy Crush Saga outperformed Rockstar’s juggernaut by $1.5 and $1.4 billion respectively. Take a wide-angle lens to the 2010s as a whole for video games, and you’ll find that five of the highest-grossing games were mobile games – Crossfire, Monster Strike, Honor of Kings, Puzzle & Dragon, and Clash of Clans. When you look back on the decade, I highly doubt any of these titles immediately spring to mind – and yet, I’m sure most reading this have the start-up music for Clash of Clans seared into their brains.

Phones are not the only platform drawing attention away from consoles. While not as significant as mobile gaming’s explosion, it’s clear to see that player habits have shifted toward a greater appreciation for PC gaming. Since 2014, there has been a year-on-year growth of 59 million new PC players, taking us from 1.31 billion in 2014 to 1.86 billion in 2024. It’s worth noting this rise is complimented by a gargantuan 200 million in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, during which streaming became a very attractive pastime for many house-bound players. But regardless of if Twitch called to them or not, gamers have become more technologically literate, educated by their peers online on how to build a PC powerhouse, what the best GPUs are, and how to overclock your circuit-ware. As a result, the PC’s global share of the video game market in 2024 lands at $41.5 billion – so it won’t be long until the PC battleline overtakes the army of console players, right? Well, maybe not. Netzoo’s 2016 Global Games Market Value report defined a $2.3 billion gap between console and PC – but in 2024, that gap has increased to $9 billion. So despite the rise of more advanced GPUs, circuit-boards, and Gen Z and Alpha’s technological craftiness, it’s a market that’s on the fall rather than the rise – at least for now. If that fall continues, it's not great news for Xbox, which has made Windows PCs its second home.

But it’s not just the dominance of mobile and the uncertain future of PC that Xbox has to contend with. Wars typically have two opposing sides, so it’s about time we looked at where PlayStation fits into this console war. Luckily for Sony, things are going pretty well. In its latest quarterly earnings report, Sony revealed 65 million PS5s have been sold to date – that’s a big lead ahead of the combined 29.7 million sales for the Xbox Series X/S. To break that down, for every one Xbox Series X/S bought, five PlayStation 5 consoles are also purchased. Sony’s Game and Network Services also saw a healthy 12.3% bump in its profits, helped specifically by healthy first-party sales including Astro Bot selling 1.5 million copies in under two months, and lifetime sales for Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut surpassing 13 million. The future looks very bright for the PS5. Ampere Analysis’ games research director, Piers Harding-Rolls, estimates that by 2029, Sony will have sold 106.9 million consoles. How do things look for the Xbox Series X/S’s future? Well, leaked Microsoft documents estimate that by 2027, it expects to have sold around 56-59 million units. While it’s not a directly comparable projection, it’s not good. In order for Microsoft to re-establish its competitive edge in the current market, it will need to close the 5:1 PlayStation-to-Xbox gap, significantly increase the number of units sold year-on-year, and also bolster the profitability of its exclusives. Projections don’t support a positive outcome for those first two requirements, and given Phil Spencer’s ‘no red lines’ mantra on Xbox titles coming to PlayStation and Switch (possibly even including the next Halo title), the argument could be made that PlayStation is already the King of Console.

But looking at the PS5 in isolation paints a different picture. 50% of all PlayStation users are currently still playing on older PS4s instead of PS5s, despite the newest generation now entering the second half of its life-cycle. Why is this? Well, of the top 20 best-selling games in the U.S. in 2024, only one is truly PS5-exclusive – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, at #19. Helldivers 2 does feature at #3 but was also playable on PC at launch. Looking beyond last year, if we disregard remasters of PS4 games, there are roughly 15 genuine PS5-exclusive games on the console as a whole. There’s little here to justify the console’s price in many people’s eyes.

If the PS5 is struggling to justify its regular $500 price tag, then it's understandable why the $700 PS5 Pro debuted to a mixed reception to say the least. The general consensus amongst tech journalists is that perhaps this upgrade came too early within the cycle, especially given the games advertised in its campaign were slightly upscaled generation-old remasters. When IGN polled its readers, the result was overwhelmingly clear – the PS5 Pro has little to offer for forking over that much cash. So, simply put, the PS5 simply isn’t a must-buy console – at least, not yet. This will undoubtedly change when the behemoth that is Grand Theft Auto 6 finally releases later this year, which is almost guaranteed to become the shining star of this generation and the first chance for the PS5 to show off its true power.

So, is the console war over? If you’re Microsoft, it would appear there was never any belief that there was a chance to battle Sony for supremacy. If you’re Sony, your new console has become a success but lacks the true pedigree to be claimed as a new leap forward yet, feeling more like a bunny hop than anything else. The true winner of the console war seems to be those who chose not to play it at all. Rumors of mobile gaming companies encroaching onto the traditional console gaming sphere will only ramp up in the years to come, with Tencent rumored to be in talks to buy out Ubisoft from the Guillemot brothers, having already purchased Sumo Group in 2021. Mobile gaming is becoming increasingly pivotal to the sustainability and profitability of these companies – Take-Two Interactive claim that 10% of the world’s population plays its subsidiary Zynga’s games every month. That means that it’s more than likely that your grandma playing Zynga Poker and Words with Friends 2 is funding the continued development of Grand Theft Auto 6 – not a sentence you would expect to read five years ago, but one reflective of the new state of play of the video game market. The next five years of video gaming history will be defined less and less by who has the most powerful hardware, and more about whose cloud gaming server farm can expand the quickest and strongest. The console war is over, but the mobile gaming war (and the myriad of smaller conflicts that inevitably spin out of it) has only begun.

Sab Astley is a freelance writer who has written for IGN, Polygon, TotalFilm, Rolling Stone, Radio Times, and Metro UK.

Novocaine is in theaters on March 14, 2025.

Edgar Wright made a name for himself with action comedies like Shaun of the Dead and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World – movies where normal, flawed dudes reluctantly kick ass and get the girl. But it’s been a while since we had a great one of those, so the space was open for directors Dan Berk and Robert Olson – best known for indie films like Significant Other and Villains – to take their own stab at that concept with Novocaine, a gnarly action-comedy romp about a guy with a rare genetic disorder who risks it all to save his one-night stand. Despite its shallow gimmick, Novocaine delivers a sharp script and a fresh take on the hapless hero, as brought to life by the irresistible Jack Quaid of The Boys fame.

Right off the bat, it’s apparent that Nathan Caine (Quaid) isn’t your typical schlubby hero-by-accident. He’s got a great sleep schedule, he drinks green smoothies for breakfast, and, well, he looks like the progeny of Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan. But growing up with CIPA – an often-fatal condition that makes it impossible for Nathan to feel pain or even temperature – has made for a very sheltered life of trying not to accidentally die. It’s a lonely existence, so after his work crush, Sherry (Amber Midthunder), coaxes Nathan out of his shell and into bed, it’s no wonder that he’s willing to put it all on the line to save her from a trio of kidnappers the very next day. After all, he’s on an all-liquid diet for fear of biting off his own tongue, and this is the woman who fed him his first-ever bite of pie.

Nathan might be oblivious to physical harm but he otherwise could not be less suited for hand-to-hand combat, and that contrast is delicious. As he stumbles into vigilante justice he strives – with all the decorum his assistant bank manager job requires – to outrun police detectives, career criminals, and his own mortality. It’s hard not to root for someone who’s down so bad he’ll stick his hand in a deep fryer; someone who pukes in distress after his first kill. It’s not every day you get to see a guy who reeks of having an up-to-date LinkedIn profile learn to fire a stolen gun.

Nathan’s written with care, humor, and specificity – hallmarks of Lars Jacobson’s clever script. There are some guys who are just plain bad, but most characters resist the straightforward morality typical of most action movies. Sherry is an excellent example of that complexity. Though she may be the impetus for Nathan’s spree, she’s no damsel; Nathan, who has recklessly forsaken his Bubble Boy-esque existence for a John Wick-style quest, is clearly the one in distress.

The premise is silly and the bloodshed is plentiful, but Novocaine is far from unfeeling. Perhaps its greatest asset is its earnestness. Our wet cat of a protagonist isn’t the only one who risks life and limb for human connection, and while the kidnappers are mostly just sociopathic thugs, one character turns out to be a great foil for Nathan with a very different relationship to pain. By the end, it’s apparent that Novocaine isn’t just about some guy who can’t feel physical pain. This is a story about the emotional agony of vulnerability, and the depths we will go to to share our lives – and our feelings – with other people. It’s set during the Christmas season, but the fact that Novocaine is premiering almost exactly five years after we all went into isolation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic feels somehow more appropriate.

We’ve all seen plenty of movies with fish-out-of-water heroes who groan or flail their way through fights. These can lean too far into cynicism, offering so much self-awareness that there is little room to surprise or delight. (For a recent example, see the horror-romance Love Hurts.) Novocaine, by contrast, effectively sells this well-trod cliche thanks in large part to Quaid, whose character feels grounded despite his wildly unusual circumstances. Quaid brings Nathan to vivid, glorious life, adding a sort of gawky ferality that is a real joy to watch. Humanizing details from the script – like the fact that Nathan’s online handle is MagicNateBall – pair perfectly with Quaid’s impenetrable charm.

That’s not to say that the script never crosses the line between clever and cutesy. (His last name shares a syllable with the word “novocaine” – we get it!) But this is a consummate popcorn movie, and it’s invigorating to see a fun, well-made, original film in a cinematic landscape that increasingly feels overtaken by shared-universe sequels and dour dramas. Novocaine goes down easy – or as easily as any movie with gory compound fractures and fingernail removal can.

Another Simple Favor streams on Prime Video beginning May 1. This review is based on a screening at the 2025 SXSW Film and Television Festival.

A sequel doesn’t have to be bigger, although many of them, including Another Simple Favor, choose to go this route. It doesn’t even have to be better, really, given the low expectations audiences historically have for follow-ups. What it has to be is more – specifically, more of whatever made the first film work well enough to justify a second one.

In the case of A Simple Favor, the thing that charmed audiences enough to bring in five times the budget was the effervescent chemistry between stars Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick (with some delicious bon mots and fabulous costume design as a bonus). The sequel delivers more of all these things: Kendrick is still tiny and spunky, the queen of the skeptical head tilt and sassy comeback. And Lively is still tall and unflappable, intriguing and intimidating at the same time.

The script gives them plenty of witty lines to volley back and forth, with enough left over for supporting players like Andrew Rannells, who tells his young daughter early in the film, “If you can’t be smart, be funny. If you can’t be funny, be pretty.” That’s typical of the script’s pithy, bitchy dialogue, written by returning screenwriter Jessica Sharzer along with Altered Carbon creator Laeta Kalogridis.

Another Simple Favor takes the action to Italy, where Emily (Lively) and Stephanie (Kendrick) reunite at the former’s wedding on the stunning island of Capri. At risk of spoilers, the natural question here is, “Didn’t Emily go to jail at the end of the last movie?” Yes, and true to the movie’s tongue-in-cheek tone, that’s explained away with a single line after Emily stomps back into Stephanie’s life in a pair of rhinestone-studded stiletto boots. Stephanie owes Emily – you guessed it – another favor, given the whole “sending her to prison after having sex with her husband, and then writing a book about it” thing.

Henry Golding is back as Emily’s errant now-ex-spouse, and his (unfortunately brief, for reasons best not explained here) appearance in the film is a comedic highlight. Weddings also bring family members back into the fold, and Allison Janney joins the cast as Emily’s estranged aunt Linda, who’s more conniving and dangerous than she appears. And of course there must be a husband, and Michele Morrone does his duty being hunky and a little scary as Emily’s betrothed Dante, who’s the heir to a massive fortune no one wants to talk about. (The Mafia. It’s the Mafia.)

Dante is using Emily, Emily is using Stephanie, Aunt Linda is obviously up to something, and bodies keep appearing in inconvenient places as this cutthroat crew prepares for the big day. One innovation Another Simple Favor brings to its Agatha Christie-esque plot is arranging events in a way that wrests them out of Emily’s control, and observing the shifts in her character and motivation that follow that change. This means that Stephanie is also out of control, which she hates, although her intelligence means that she’s never behind the curve for long.

There are a few too many plot threads for all of them to pay off – a subplot involving single mom Stephanie’s son Miles (Joshua Satine), conveniently away at a no-phones-allowed summer camp, goes nowhere, for example. And the film’s attempts to outdo its predecessor in intrigue are absurd in a way that’s sometimes fun, and sometimes off-puttingly bizarre. But this is Italy, birthplace of the giallo film. And intentionally or not, Another Simple Favor’s more lurid psychosexual twists are true to that particular genre.

If the plot escalations are variable, one area where bigger is unilaterally worse for Another Simple Favor is in the camerawork. Director Paul Feig is known for long takes designed not to interfere with his actors’ performances, and his lack of finesse with more complicated sequences is obvious in haphazardly assembled drone shots that sweep over the dramatic cliffs of Capri. This wouldn’t be that big of a deal, except that there are a lot of them, and they’re all nauseating.

Better to concentrate on what works: The performances, the script, and the costumes. Oh, the costumes. The contrast between Lively and Kendrick’s wardrobes tells you everything you need to know about their characters, with Lively’s breathtakingly luxe menswear-inspired ensembles contrasting with Kendrick’s momcore jean shorts and worn-out hoodies. She does get to wear some pretty dresses at the wedding festivities, in scenes that are smorgasbords of moneyed excess and natural splendor. Throw some slick Italo-pop on top, and you’ve got a piece of escapist entertainment that’s more clever than most. So what if it doesn’t always make sense?

The light heavyweight title is on the line tonight with the UFC 313 match in Las Vegas. Alex Pereira will be defending his title against Magomed Ankalaev in the main event of one of the biggest UFC fights of the year so far. Pereira was confident enough to throw down a $200K bet on himself, but will he be able to back that up with a win? Ankalaev earned his shot at the title after a 13-fight winning streak and presents a very real threat to Pereira.

If you're wondering when and where you can watch tonight's main PPV event, we've gathered all of the details below. There's also the prelim rounds starting earlier in the day that you can watch without purchasing the PPV package.

Where to Stream UFC 313 Live Online

Warning: Light spoilers follow for Mickey 17.

Adaptation is an art and few have made it as wryly fun as Parasite director Bong Joon Ho has with his new film Mickey 17. Though the film follows the broad narrative strokes of Edward Ashton’s similarly darkly playful sci-fi novel Mickey7, and has some of the same questions floating around about the nature of the self, the way Mickey 17 explores broader ideas about love, death, compassion, and violence couldn’t be more different.

Ashton’s story focuses on the perspective of Mickey (perfectly played in the film by a raucous Robert Pattinson at his most wonderfully weird), the titular “expendable” who gets killed and then cloned over and over on a dangerous space-colonizing mission. But that’s only a fraction of what gives the film version life. It’s through an increased focus on the supporting characters that Bong makes the film something he can definitively call his own. Like the central character who finds himself repeatedly replicated, this is no mere carbon copy, but something much more. Just as each of the Mickey copies had slight personality differences, eventually resulting in Mickey 18 being more aggressive, the film too puts its own twist on the novel’s narrative.

Different Planets, Different Deaths, and a Maniacal Expendable

In the book we get a sense of how Mickey was having a hard time back on his original planet of Midgard and needed to escape due to some debts, though this is changed in the film to be Earth. Where Ashton doesn’t give us much of a sense of what life was like on that planet, Bong makes this a focal point, showing how the people fleeing Earth are doing so in order to escape from what has become an increasingly inhospitable world. In both versions, Mickey and his shipmates are trying to set up some sort of beachhead colony on the icy planet of Niflheim. The scene in the movie where Mickey signs up to be an expendable is set against the backdrop of a devastating sandstorm that has become so normalized that people don’t seem to think much of it. In the book, Mickey has no relationship to Earth and Midgard doesn’t have any of the same ecological catastrophes driving people to look to the stars.

Yes, our planet does exist in the novel, but it’s referred to as “old Earth.” Meanwhile, Midgard is “almost a paradise” where people don't typically have money problems, as nearly everything is automated, from industry to agriculture. Just like other planets in the Union (which includes all the other established colonies), people seem to be doing well. The trouble is that Mickey is not skilled in any real way, which is something the film also establishes. What’s different in the novel is that he likes reading history and does so many times to learn more about what went wrong on a series of ill-fated colony missions. What gets him in trouble is that, while he can survive off a stipend he receives, he is searching for meaning and makes bad money decisions.

This is what brings us to the same element of him becoming an expendable. The first “death” we see (which actually ends up not killing him) is the same in both book and movie, and indeed, most of the ways that Mickey dies in the movie are similar. The primary difference is that there are more of them in the film, and Bong establishes that the repetitive nature of them is what becomes most crushing to the character. The main differences in the book in this regard are some of his early deaths. There is one extended portion devoted to a catastrophe on the ship that Mickey must fix by exposing himself to extreme amounts of radiation. There is a similar scene where he is also exposed to radiation in the film, but this is played more for grim laughs as we see him stranded outside before his hand is severed. The book, on the other hand, traps him inside and sees him even killing himself rather than die a slow painful death that he’ll be forced to remember when he gets reprinted.

The lore surrounding expendables and why doubles (the idea of multiple copies of the same person that becomes a key turning point in both stories) are an almost existential concern for many is deepened in the novel. In Chapter 17, the history buff version of Mickey takes us through the story of Alan Manikova. Though there is a version of this character in the film who becomes a serial killer and created multiple versions of his psychopathic self, the novel explores how he takes over another planet (known as Gault) where he builds an army of multiples. He then blew up a ship sent to see what his intentions were and another planet in the Union, Farhome, decided to launch an unmanned ship at him that would not slow down. Armed with explosives, it obliterated his planet at the speed of light (a la the striking scene from Star Wars: The Last Jedi). So while both the movie and book establish why it is that expendables are feared, the latter makes it clear that it’s because of a greater threat that a double once posed.

From Militaristic Leader to Outlandish Villain

Though both film and novel drop us into their worlds in similar ways, with the unlucky Mickey finding himself left for dead underground on said coldly desolate planet only to return back to the base above to find there is another version of him wandering about, Mickey 17 becomes radically different once we get to know the people that populate it. Where Ashton’s story finds a villain of sorts in the militaristic leader Marshall, Bong’s sharp sci-fi takes the name of the character and little else. Played in the film by an intentionally outlandish Mark Ruffalo, making his character in 2023’s Poor Things look downright restrained by comparison, he is an egotistical, self-centered, and generally unseemly fascist who, alongside his wife Ylfa (a terrific Toni Collette), has rallied a group of fanatical followers who seem to worship at his feet even as he not only puts them all at risk, but also views them with disdain. He needs to feel important, even if he’s an utter idiot, acting solely in his own self-interest and caring not at all for the destruction he causes to others.

It’s here that we see Bong effectively opening up entirely new thematic territory for himself and the film. Where the novel mostly keeps Marshall in the background as someone for Mickey to steer clear of, both because the leader views him as an abomination on religious grounds and because Mickey doesn’t want Marshall to figure out that he’s now a double, Mickey 17 brings him to the forefront. Sure, there are some elements carried over from the novel, but the character here is so much more deliberately over the top. It ensures the film tips into being more of a pointedly satirical farce.

The contemporary resonance isn’t just “this politician is such a buffoon,” but something greater in Bong’s hands as he shows how even the most cartoonish of men can still manage to hide how woefully out of their depth they are. Where the novel is much more about the day-to-day of Mickey figuring out how he’s going to keep his secret, the film is about how the dangers of fascism can be both existentially frightening and darkly funny. The film is far from subtle in how it explores this, blowing up all of Marshall’s excesses to comedic effect, but such figures rarely are. We can see just how nakedly insecure Ruffalo’s character is at every turn, but that doesn’t stop the brutish, blustering antagonist from bringing all of the characters to the edge of annihilation. Where the novel paints him as more of an obsessive military man, the film is about showing us a more alarmingly authoritarian yet still hilariously human figure.

As of March 8, the Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—Paldean Fates Premium Collection is back in stock at Amazon for around £50. This set includes eight booster packs, three etched foil promo cards, and an oversized Quaquaval ex, but the real draw is what could be inside those packs. Paldean Fates has some of the most valuable Shiny Pokémon cards we’ve had for a while.

Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet — Paldean Fates Premium Collection

If you’re after classic Pokémon, the Shiny Rare Pikachu is one of the hardest to find. Despite being the same rarity as other Shiny Pokémon, its £40+ price tag proves just how much collectors want it. Pikachu cards are usually easy to find (Bar Surging Sparks of course), but this one is different. It’s part of the Shiny Vault subset, which means there’s a huge pool of possible pulls, making it tough to track down.

Iono (Special Illustration Rare) is one of the best Trainer cards in the set and is selling for over £35. It’s one of the most playable supporter cards in the game, meaning players need multiple copies, and this version has incredible alternate artwork. It was the most expensive card in the Japanese version of the set, and while it’s not quite at that level in English, it’s still one of the best pulls you can get.

There’s also strong demand for Shiny Charmander and Charmeleon because no one wants an incomplete evolution line. Charmander is selling for over £25, and Charmeleon is around £15-£20, mostly because players want them to go alongside Shiny Charizard ex. These are the kinds of cards that only become harder to find over time, especially as more people complete their collections.

Paldean Fates Pull Rates

Paldean Fates has solid pull rates, making it one of the better sets to open if you’re hoping to find something valuable. Shiny Pokémon show up about once every three packs, and there’s a real chance of hitting a Special Illustration Rare or Hyper Rare every 50 to 60 packs. While that might sound like a long shot, it’s far better than what we’ve seen in some past special sets like Prismatic Evolutions and Shrouded Fable. Every pack feels like it has potential, which makes it easy to keep opening more.

Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of "Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior". Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.

Samsung has launched a major new spring sale on its online storefront with dozens of deals on items like smartphones, TVs, monitors, and plenty more categories. While it's only been a few weeks since the Galaxy S25 launched, you can already save hundreds of dollars on both the S25 and S25+. If you are an Android smartphone user waiting to upgrade, this is a sale worth looking at.

Below, we've compiled some of the best deals you can find during Samsung's spring sale. According to Samsung, new deals will be added every day, and we'll be sure to update this article with any new standout savings that may arise. This sale is set to end on Sunday, March 9, so don't miss your chance to save!

Samsung Smartphone Deals

First up, Samsung has a handful of great deals for its latest Galaxy smartphones. The biggest deal available is 32% off the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which is a great choice if you're interested in one of Samsung's folding phones. The Z Flip 6 is also $300 off, and you can even save on the recent S25+ or S25 Ultra. Overall, you're saving at least $300 across the board, regardless of which phone you may choose.

Samsung TV & Audio Deals

Next, Samsung has discounted various 4K TVs, like The Frame series or the 75" QN90D. These are all quality models that act as a perfect upgrade to any living room, bedroom, or media room. There's also savings on various Q-Series soundbars, which are essential for the best home theater experience. You can even save $200 off The Freestyle, an all-in-one projector that can create a huge image while outputting 360-degree sound.

Samsung Wearables & Buds Deals

Samsung has discounted both Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 7 models, which makes today the perfect time to upgrade if you're still using an older model. The newer Galaxy Watch 7 brought improved sensors, battery life, and more. We have it ranked as the best Android smartwatch out there. Additionally, both Galaxy Buds 3 and Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are excellent earbuds for Android users. While the battery life can be less than ideal at times, we still found the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro to be great in our 8/10 review.

Samsung Monitors, Memory & Storage Deals

Finally, there are many different deals on gaming monitors, memory cards, and storage options. Our favorite deal is 51% off the 34" Odyssey QD-OLED G8, as this deal includes a 32" ViewFinity S7 (S70D) 4K UHD Monitor free of charge. It's hard to beat two monitors for the price of one. You'll also find quality savings on other Odyssey models, like the Neo G8 which has a 4K UHD display and a 240Hz refresh rate. As for storage, the Pro Plus Sonic the Hedgehog 512GB microSD card is on sale for $44.99, and you can save $70 off this 4TB NVMe SSD that is compatible with PS5.