As promised, Housemarque brought a new trailer for its Returnal follow-up, Saros, to The Game Awards today, and it included a release date of April 30, 2026.

The trailer certainly looked lovely, showing off some gorgeous and haunted landscapes, a lot of psychological trickery, flashy combat, and The Sun.

Saros was first announced at a State of Play earlier this year as a follow-up to Housemarque's 2021 roguelite shooter, Returnal. It's not a sequel per se, but it's clearly full of that game's DNA. It stars Rahul Kohli as Arjun Devraj, a man searching for answers on a strange, shifting planet. Creative director Gregory Louden called Saros the "ultimate evolution" of the Housemarque gameplay-first experience.

We saw a bit more of Saros in September at another State of Play, showing off new features such as "Second Chance" (essentially a free revive) and some of Arjun's weapons and capabilities, and more of Saros' setting, the hostile planet Carcosa.

We gave Returnal an 8/10 when it came out, saying that "its roguelike runs are too long and it needs a way to save in the middle of them, but Returnal's third-person shooter action, clever story, and atmosphere are excellent."

You can catch up on everything announced at The Game Awards today right here.

Developing...

Marvel Rivals is halfway through Season 5, but that isn’t stopping NetEase Games from revealing Deadpool as the first playable hero for Season 6 at The Game Awards 2025.

The Marvel Rivals Deadpool reveal trailer doesn’t come with any gameplay, but it did come with the promise that the Merc with a Mouth will launch for the popular hero shooter alongside Season 6: Night at the Museum January 16, 2026. It’s the earliest NetEase has been ready to show off one of its new heroes, with its trailer highlighting Deadpool’s new voice and design, as well as some of the other elements players can expect next month.

Marvel Rivals Season 6: Night at the Museum arrives January 16th, 2026 UTC.
And yes - Deadpool is coming. Soon.

But first, the countdown continues: S5.5 launches on December 12th UTC.

🔥 The Merc and the Monster Hunter. Will the Museum survive?

After Gambit's attempt to steal… pic.twitter.com/yjFX9woiuP

— Marvel Rivals (@MarvelRivals) December 12, 2025

"After Gambit's attempt to steal a prized artifact from the Collector's Museum, he and Rogue return to the scene of the crime in an attempt to escape," a description for Season 6 from NetEase says. "The Collector responds in the best way to avoid getting his hands dirty: by sending in his 'top professional' and also...
"Deadpool... and the Merc with a Mouth opens the doors on every cage within the Collection, turning the Museum into the greatest intergalactic disaster this timeline has ever seen. But there's a hunter on the horizon ready to put a stop to the antics."

Marvel Rivals Season 5.5 is currently underway. The latest season introduced Gambit as its first playable hero, with Rogue joining the fight on PC and consoles tomorrow, December 12.

For all of tonight’s biggest highlights, you can check out everything announced at The Game Awards 2025. You can also keep up with our running list of all of the winners.

Developing...

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

Lords of the Fallen II publisher CI Games has shown gameplay footage of its Soulslike sequel during The Game Awards 2025, featuring new character Omeuras and enemy limbs flying everywhere.

Ahead of tonight's showing, IGN asked CI Games for more detail on what we'd just seen, keen for more detail ahead of the game's launch at some point in 2026.

Most prominent in the trailer is Omeuras, who CI Games creative strategist Ryan Hill told IGN is one of the sequel's central characters. She's brought to life by Hannah Melbourne, who previously played Agrias Oaks in Final Fantasy Tactics, and The Sorceress in Path of Exile 2.

"With the sequel, we wanted to craft a narrative that's more accessible and character-driven, while still honouring the environmental storytelling that Soulslike fans love," Hill said. "Players who want to dive deep into the lore absolutely can, but we also want every player to reach the end of the game understanding the journey they've taken and the pivotal role they've played in shaping this world."

Another key focus in the trailer is Lords of the Fallen II's new dismemberment feature, which allows you to lop limbs off enemies like nobody's business. Lords of the Fallen has never been squeamish with its blood and guts, but its developers say they have heard the call from fans for even more.

"When we asked our community just how far we should push the gore in the next Lords of the Fallen, the answer was loud and unanimous: 'go all in'," Hill noted. "This is a game made by adults for adults, and we didn't want to dilute the brutality or intensity of that experience. Soulslikes thrive on challenge, and that rush you get when defeating an enemy is unlike anything else. Enhancing that moment with a dynamic dismemberment system takes the satisfaction to another level - instead of enemies simply ragdolling to the floor, players can literally tear them apart."

So, can every limb be removed? "Yes - every limb can be removed."

Tonight's showing for Lords of the Fallen 2 comes just hours after CI Games launched a final surprise update for its predecessor, capping off almost two years' of post-launch support that has helped turn player sentiment around. While those updates have been welcomed, CI Games said it had learnt from the experience, and been listening to fan feedback "from day one."

"The journey from launch to Lords of the Fallen Version 2.5 (released yesterday) was transformative for our team. Over 70 updates later, the game evolved substantially, and that evolution was driven directly by our relationship with the community. Those learnings shaped not only how we build, but how we listen," Hill concluded.

"For the sequel, we’ve been actively engaging our fast-growing community from day one, understanding exactly what they want from the next chapter. You can already see some of those requests reflected in our new gameplay reveal trailer: a more varied game world, more distinctive and memorable boss encounters, and a deeper, more meaningful Umbral realm experience."

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

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

Blizzard has fully unveiled Diablo 4 expansion Lord of Hatred, confirming that it includes not one but two new classes, including the Paladin.

At The Game Awards 2025, Blizzard announced an April 28, 2026 release date for Lord of Hatred, which will see the Age of Hatred Saga, as Blizzard calls it, reach its climax. Campaign wise, players go up against eternal evil, Mephisto, but there’s a surprise return for Diablo 4 antagonist Lilith, who is back from the dead — shock horror! — after the events of the Diablo 4 campaign. Lord of Hatred adds the new region of Skovos, and there are significant gameplay changes, too.

The big news here is a pre-purchase of Lord of Hatred grants immediate access to the Paladin class, which is a fan-favorite from Diablo 2 and one of the most-requested classes for Diablo 4. Blizzard didn’t say what the mystery second class is.

Here’s the story setup:

In the aftermath of Vessel of Hatred, this next chapter drives players toward their final stand against Mephisto, whose deception and spreading influence threaten to twist Sanctuary into a world consumed by malice. As Hell’s legions surge and the ancient Pools of Creation draw Mephisto ever closer, the fate of humanity hangs by a thread. To stop him, the Wanderer must embrace an old foe long believed to be dead. Lilith returns, her prophetic last words echoing true, forcing a perilous alliance bound by necessity rather than trust. With time and allies running out, the Wanderer is in a desperate race to stop Mephisto before hatred reshapes the world forever.

The Paladin, as you’d expect, revolves around hammer and shield gameplay, and smites enemies with Holy Light power. The mystery second class “looms on the dark horizon,” Blizzard said, adding: “its power undeniable, its arrival poised to reshape the battlefield when Lord of Hatred launches in April.”

Skovos is the ancestral birthplace of the first civilization and the former home of Lilith and Inarius. It stands as Sanctuary’s oldest and most storied region. Now ruled by The Oracle and the Amazon Queen, this never-before-seen in-game land blends volcanic coasts, storm-lashed forests, and waterlogged ruins steeped in forgotten lore.

The expansion also reworks the Skill Trees to introduce new class-specific variants and expanded level caps, offering fresh buildcraft and strategic depth across all eight classes. There’s a new Loot Filter system to help you target desired gear more efficiently. Crafting is enhanced, with the return of the Horadric Cube. The new Talisman unlocks powerful set bonuses, expanding late-game customization.

Veteran players will be keen to know about the overhauled endgame, which you can tap into once you’ve finished the campaign. War Plans let players craft their own endgame progression path, selecting favored activities and layering strategic modifiers as they push toward high-value rewards. The Echoing Hatred stands as the Age of Hatred’s ultimate test: a relentless gauntlet of demonic hordes designed to challenge even the strongest builds. Meanwhile, for something completely different, the expansion adds Fishing!

Lord of Hatred includes the full Vessel of Hatred expansion, which players can access instantly via pre-purchase. Players who pre-purchase gain early access to the Paladin class, one extra Stash Tab, two more Character Slots, and three World of Warcraft décor items.

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

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.

Endnight Games showed up for The Game Awards 2025 with what may be one of the most unexpected announcements of the night: Forest 3 is coming.

A trailer for the latest in its line of popular survival games revealed a visual style unlike anything the series has seen so far. It’s a lot to digest, as first-person gameplay footage showed off lots of sci-fi technology, what seems to be a shoulder-mounted crane, and many new dangerous environments to explore.

Endnight began its survival series with The Forest in 2018 and followed it up with Sons of the Forest in 2024. A release date and platforms have not be announced, but we can likely expect to see Forest 3 come to PC.

For more from The Game Awards 2025, you can check out everything announced at The Game Awards 2025. You can also keep up with IGN’s running list of all of the winners.

Developing...

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

I'm not one to rewatch old Christmas movies over and over, but I'll always have a special place in my heart for the original Grinch movie. It's an absolute classic and I can't help but sit down and watch the whole thing any time it's on TV.

Unfortunately, trying to watch it on TV any day other than Christmas can be pretty difficult. You can stream the film on Peacock if you happen to have a subscription (I don't) or you can choose to drop some cash on a rental online. I myself have decided to take the superior third option and just buy it in 4K this year.

I had no idea that this movie was available in 4K before finding it on Amazon, but I'm glad that it's an option. What's crazy to me is that it's quite a bit cheaper to buy it in 4K than it is to buy it digitally right now. Prime Video has it listed at $19.99 to purchase it on its digital platform compared to $14.99 for an actual 4K disc, which seems absurd. Paying a $5 convenience fee to only sort of own something just doesn't sit well with me. As someone who has a Blu-ray player capable of playing 4K discs, it just makes more sense to pay less money for a better way to watch the movie for the rest of my life.

It also includes bonus features

In addition to the movie itself, you also apparently get access to special features I've never even heard of. There's two other full-on Grinch movies that involve the Cat in the Hat and Halloween. I don't know how I've gone my whole life not knowing there were follow-ups to the original Grinch cartoon, but it's a happy surprise. Here's a quick list of all of the bonus features included:

• Making Animation and Bringing It to Life (Audio commentary with the animator)
• Dr. Seuss and the Grinch - From Who-ville to Hollywood (A chronicle of the original book)
• Songs in the Key of Grinch
• TNT's Special-Edition Featurette with Phil Harman
• The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat (Film)
• Halloween Is Grinch Night (Film)

Jacob Kienlen is a Senior Audience Development Strategist and Writer for IGN. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he has considered the Northwest his home for his entire life. With a bachelor's degree in communication and over 8 years of professional writing experience, his expertise is spread across a variety of different pop culture topics -- from TV series to indie games and books.

Invincible VS has a character never before seen in Robert Kirkman’s superhero universe: Ella Mental.

Revealed at The Game Awards 2025 with gameplay footage, Ella Mental — voiced by Tierra Whack — joins established characters such as Omni-Man and Invincible to flesh out the roster of playable characters in the 3v3 tag fighter.

Ahead of her reveal, we got a chance to chat with not only Invincible series creator Robert Kirkman, but also several members of the development team at Quarter Up to find out some extra details about Ella Mental’s design, her playstyle, and some of the lessons that Quarter Up took away from their recent closed beta.

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

IGN: So to start, Robert, what can you tell us about this new character?

Robert Kirkman: Ella Mental is a completely original character to the game. We're coming in with a new corner of the Invincible Universe. The team reached out to Cory Walker and myself, wanting to see if it would be okay to add somebody new to the game to shake things up. And Cory and I took it as an opportunity to put the old creation hat back on and come up with something new for the Universe. And it's been pretty great. This team is really devoted to Invincible and is really committed to making sure that this game is an authentic experience on par with the television show and the comic book and any other kind of Invincible you would experience. And so to have a new character running around and being added to and fleshed out by them is really awesome and gratifying. And I think it just makes this game that much cooler.

IGN: So obviously this is going to be a character that's a part of this new story mode that you're making for Invincible VS. Can you tell us a little bit about what their role is going to be in that story mode?

Mike Rogers, narrative director: Yeah, we're not talking specific details in story mode just yet, but she will be appearing in the mode for sure. And you've seen a clip of how some of those characters interact with the principal Robot and Ella. And you'll have to wait and see exactly what the context, the wider context of all that is. But she's going to be a pretty pivotal part of the story and a pivotal part of the rest of the game too, because we've put a lot of love and effort into designing her kit and how she fights and what her personality's like and everything in between.

IGN: We can see in the trailer that she is voiced by Tierra Whack. Can you tell us a little bit about what it was like working with her? What was the casting process like?

Rogers: Working with Tierra was awesome. When we were trying to figure out how we were going to bring Ella to life and who would be the right person for her, Tierra was someone we thought of pretty early on. And we knew that Tierra was a big fan of the Invincible franchise. And I feel really lucky that she came aboard. She responded to the material really strongly. I think she identified with some of the stuff that we've written there and really, really brought a passion and a drive to the character. And I think that really helped heighten what we wrote and really bring this character that was so nascent to life.

And I'm really excited about all of her VO and how well it fits with what we envision for the character from the attacks to just like the conversations that they have. She's positive, she's energetic, but she's got this slight sardonic edge to her. And I think Tierra really brings that side of it to the character. So I couldn't be happier, and I think the whole team feels that way.

The next-gen, Unreal Engine 5-built Tomb Raider that developer Crystal Dynamics announced three years ago now has an official name and release window. Lara Croft’s new adventure for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S is titled Tomb Raider: Catalyst, and it will be released in 2027 and published by Amazon Game Studios.

The first trailer was showcased at the 2025 Game Awards. In it, we see the legendary adventurer (voiced by Alex Wilton Regan, who has appeared in Cyberpunk 2077, Mass Effect 3, and Dragon Age: Inquisition) wield her signature dual pistols as well as a new gadget: a wrist-mounted grappling hook of sorts that looks like it’ll be used in both traversal and combat.

Crystal Dynamics also gave us our first description of Catalyst’s story, saying it’s “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.”

But 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|S sometime in 2026, as that’s when the franchise celebrates its 30th anniversary.

Crystal Dynamics and Amazon shied away from calling it a remake, seemingly to allow for story and gameplay changes. The reimagining is also being built in Unreal Engine 5, and it’s being led by developer Flying Wild Hog (Shadow Warrior) in partnership with Crystal Dynamics and Amazon. The trailer shows off more platforming than Catalyst’s trailer did, perhaps suggesting a more platforming-heavy focus for the reimagining and maybe a larger emphasis on action for the new game. We’ll need to see more of each game to know for sure. But one thing is definitely certain: the T-rex will look a heck of a lot better this time around, as you can already see in the trailer.

"This innovative new chapter with Tomb Raider: Catalyst, and the thoughtful reinvention of the series' roots with Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, perfectly exemplifies our commitment to supporting developers with bold creative visions," said Christoph Hartmann, VP of Amazon Game Studios. "We're focused on delivering rich, story-driven experiences that resonate with both longtime fans and newcomers, strengthening our dedication to high-quality gaming experiences."

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

Ryan McCaffrey is IGN's executive editor of previews and host of both IGN's weekly Xbox show, Podcast Unlocked, as well as our monthly(-ish) interview show, IGN Unfiltered. He's a North Jersey guy, so it's "Taylor ham," not "pork roll." Debate it with him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan.

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight emerged from the shadows this evening at The Game Awards with a new trailer, revealing the anticipated adventure's release date.

As announced tonight, TT Games' open world Gotham game will arrive for PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on May 29, 2026. The footage also showed a fresh look at the Bat Cave and some of the many, many heroes and villains you'll meet around the city.

Batman will be assisted by Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl and Catwoman, as the heroes take on supervillains such as Two-Face, Poison Ivy, Firefly, Mr. Freeze, The Joker, The Penguin, Ra’s al Ghul, and Bane. Oh, and you'll also get to go behind the wheel of the Batmobile from Batman: The Animated Series and Batpod from The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises movies.

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight was first announced in August at Gamescom Opening Night Live as a pretty ambitious take on the caped crusader. Developed by TT Games, it features an open world version of Gotham. There are seven playable characters including Batman, all familiar allies like Jim Gordon, Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Catwoman, and Talia al Ghul. And a delightful Matt Berry is voicing Bane. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is planned for release on Nintendo Switch 2, PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.

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

We just got our first look at the debut game from Nagoshi Studio, the studio formed by Toshihiro Nagoshi under NetEase after he departed Ryu Ga Gotoku in 2021. It's called Gang of Dragon, and it sure looks an awful lot like Yakuza!

The trailer follows a man in a suit walking through the streets of Japan, before being knifed by a shady person. It then jumps to the same man, unknifed, sitting in a small bar as a group of Yakuza walk in and demand to settle up. The man's phone rings, he has a brief, cryptic conversation, before breaking out into a fist fight that he wins handily despite the Yakuza having guns. He then exits the bar unscathed and marches down the street, only to reveal the iconic sign that marks the real-life entrance to Kabukichō, the inspiration for the Yakuza series' Kamurocho.

The logo flashes, Gang of Dragon, briefly with the first letter of each word spelling out GOD highlighted. Sorry, no release date or platforms at this time.

This is the first game from Nagoshi Studio, which Toshihiro Nagoshi started in 2022 under NetEase after he left Ryu Ga Gotoku in 2021. It's for that reason and that reason alone that we know this can't be a Yakuza/Like a Dragon game despite it looking very very much like one, right down to the setting. It will be interesting to see how Nagoshi threads the needle of making something new after essentially creating and overseeing the Yakuza series for so long.

You can catch up on everything announced at The Game Awards right here.

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

Bruce Straley, game director of The Last of Us and Uncharted 4, has announced a new project, Coven of the Chicken Foot.

Revealed tonight at The Game Awards 2025, the creature-filled puzzle platforming adventure will be the first project to launch from Straley's indie studio Wildflower Interactive, following his departure from Naughty Dog back in 2022.

You play as Gertie, an elderly witch in a world inspired by traditional fantasy adventures. Described as an emotionally-rich, charming-yet-dark adventure with puzzle-platforming elements, the game will feature dungeons, forests and bogs to explore as Gertie collaborates with an odd familiar.

"The dungeons have been plundered and the monsters long slain," reads an official blurb for the game. "As the heroes move on, an elderly witch quietly gets to work. Coven of the Chicken Foot is a single-player adventure about the building of a bond between an elderly witch named Gertie and a peculiar creature, who must learn to work together to fulfill an oath. As their trust deepens, a dark revelation of what they’re up against will make them question their commitment to the oath and to each other."

"Wildflower Interactive is built on the notion of pushing myself creatively and working with like-minded creative people, driven by a strong desire to continue the conversation about what kind of experiences video games can deliver," Straley said in a statement today. "We’re doing that with Coven of the Chicken Foot. It nods at the fun and simplicity of old school games, while also evolving the pairing of storytelling and interactivity in a new, challenging way. I’m very proud of what we’ve built at Wildflower and can’t wait for people to explore the world we’re creating and get to know our lovable duo."

There's no word yet on a release date, just confirmation that Coven of the Chicken Foot is coming to PC via Steam.

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

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

The Game Awards 2025 had a big Hollywood surprise: the debut trailer for the Street Fighter movie.

The trailer, below, shows off the film's many characters and their special moves, lifted straight out of Capcom's famous fighting game franchise. I spotted Guile (Cody Rhodes) perform his iconic flash kick, Zangief (Olivier Richters) taking his hapless opponent for a spin, and Ryu's back throw.

The cast of the movie - the entire cast! - took to the stage at The Game Awards to hype up the crowd and excitement of the film, due out in theaters on October 16, 2026. There was even room for a fun joke at rival fighting game franchise Mortal Kombat's expense.

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

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.

Remedy Entertainment has announced Control: Resonant, the follow-up to IGN’s 2019 Game of the Year, Control at the 2025 Game Awards. It’s due out in 2026 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X and S, and it aims to be anything but a straightforward sequel.

For starters, you’re not playing as Jesse Faden anymore. Instead, it’s seven years later and you’ll take control of her younger brother, Dylan. He was taken by the Federal Bureau of Control at age 10, ending up in a coma after being inflicted by The Hiss. And speaking of The Hiss, it’s escaped The Oldest House where the first Control was set, spilling out onto the streets of Manhattan and turning it into a very bizarre place (as you can see in the trailer), overrun and literally twisted and folded by supernatural forces.

But the protagonist and setting aren’t the only significant departures for Control: Resonant. The style of combat differs as well. You won’t be wielding Jesse’s transforming Service Weapon. Instead, Dylan gets up close and personal with a crude, transforming melee weapon called the Aberrant, which will be augmented by Dylan’s supernatural special abilities. At first glance, it reminds me a bit of the lightsaber/Force powers combo in Respawns Jedi Fallen Order and Jedi Survivor games. I asked Remedy about the combat feel of Control: Resonant, and creative director Mikael Kasurinen told me: “Our combat is quite unique, and it has that Control DNA. It's push-forward, fast, and proactive. You master the combination of weapon blows and supernatural abilities, and chase enemies down. Dylan is nimble and light on his feet; movement is integral to our combat loop.

“Preparation is also crucial, creating a build that clicks with you; and a huge part of the experience is tactical thinking: How to combine shape-shifting melee attacks with supernatural abilities while in motion.

“There are intricacies to how you shape your character, and a lot of different progression systems that allow you to become more versatile, and stronger.”

So yes, you’ll be able to customize your builds. You’ll also encounter side quests and other factions to contend with. Meanwhile, enemies will have paranatural attacks, and they can traverse the environment as quickly as you can.

Remedy says that you don’t have to have played the first Control to understand the story here, and that the two games are, well… siblings.

"This is not a safe sequel," Kasurinen promises.

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

Ryan McCaffrey is IGN's executive editor of previews and host of both IGN's weekly Xbox show, Podcast Unlocked, as well as our monthly(-ish) interview show, IGN Unfiltered. He's a North Jersey guy, so it's "Taylor ham," not "pork roll." Debate it with him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan.

Full spoilers follow for Pluribus Episode 7, “The Gap,” which is available now on Apple TV.

Portrait of two lonely people. This is a woman, and this is a man, and they have nothing, and nobody, left in the world. Two human beings who are dying… But little do they know that their salvation, and that of the human race itself, awaits them… in The Twilight Zone.

Wait, wait! Make that, The Pluribus Zone!

We’ve already talked about Pluribus creator Vince Gilligan’s love of sci-fi, and while he’s clearly woven many genre tropes into his very buzzy new show – from end of the world concepts to telling stories about the real world through the thinly veiled layer of metaphor – for some reason this week’s episode, “The Gap,” gave me Rod Serling vibes in particular. Maybe it’s how “The Gap” bears similarity to various Twilight Zone premises: in Carol’s case, the exploration of a loneliness that can drive a person to the brink of insanity (“Where Is Everybody?”); for Manousos, it’s his dogged determination to make it through a dangerous landscape (“I Shot an Arrow into the Air”); and for the pair of them, it’s the idea of the last woman and last man left alive who are forced together to save humankind (“Two”). Of course, those ideas in and of themselves aren’t unique to Serling’s classic show either, but the combination of them all here really has me in a New Year’s Eve marathon mood three weeks early.

After months of speculation and a revealing leak earlier this week, Capcom has finally, officially confirmed what we all knew: Leon S. Kennedy is in Resident Evil Requiem, and he's here to kick butt.

Tonight, at The Game Awards 2025, a fresh trailer for Resident Evil Requiem saw Leon fully revealed, swinging into action as the now-grizzled veteran zombie fighter we all know and love.

We learned what many of us had expected, that Leon will feature as one of two playable characters, alongside the previously announced Grace Ashcroft. While Grace's campaign focuses on survival horror, Leon's separate antics will focus on action.

Earlier this week, the reveal of new Resident Evil: Requiem cover art featuring Leon finally put to bed one of this year's biggest gaming mysteries — something developer Capcom has itself refused to address — just days ahead of Requiem's appearance tonight.

Rumors have persisted for months over Leon's involvement in Resident Evil: Requiem, with Capcom specifically declining to answer IGN's questions over the character back at Gamescom in August. The game's developers have even suggested that Leon would be a poor fit as a protagonist for the game's quieter sections as he is now too grizzled to be scared. But through all of this, Capcom left itself with just enough wiggle room for Leon to still be lurking somewhere — presumably during Requiem's more action-packed sequences.

Despite Leon's involvement now being confirmed, Requiem may still have secrets left in store. There was no mention tonight of a potential third playable character — something raised earlier this week by a GameStop listing that referenced Rosemary Winters.

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

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

The Dungeons & Dragons franchise has been steadily making more attempts to expand into video games, and we're seeing that next effort with Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons, a new open-world single-player action-adventure that's all about wielding dark magic to battle foes.

Just revealed at The Game Awards 2025, Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons is the next project from developer Invoke Studios, the creators of Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance. Set in the D&D universe, Warlock focuses on the adventures of the warrior Kaatri, who embraces newfound dark powers to unleash some otherworldly magic in her fight against the forces invading the land.

"Warlock is a third-person action-adventure game built around immersive, expressive magic where you use spellcraft to solve challenges and take down monsters — and you do it all in your own creative way across all facets of the game," said Jeff Hattem, creative lead at Invoke Studios.

​Prior to the reveal, we got an early look at Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons and learned from the developers about the game's approach to "immersive, expressive magic" in its third-person combat and exploration across a connected open world. In the CG trailer, we get to see a variety of foes, such as undead warriors and even a Beholder monster that has been the bane of many D&D veterans.

​According to the developers, the new action-adventure is all about stepping into the "warlock fantasy," and the main narrative will be leaning into the lore of the D&D universe to focus on the story of Kaati — played by Tricia Helfer of Battlestar Galactica fame — as she goes down the path of the warlock. As it goes with D&D, warlocks form bonds with otherworldly beings known as Patrons, and the relationship between Kaatri and her patron will be one of the campaign's core stories.

​The developers stated that the gameplay would lean into player agency, with players using Kaatri's abilities and magic to overcome challenges. Though the team would not say outright whether it has immersive-sim qualities, they pointed to their previous work on games like Watch Dogs, Deus Ex, and Far Cry for the type of experiences Warlock aims to channel.

That freeform nature is a critical part of the traditional tabletop experience. However, the devs were clear that this new action-adventure is not really a traditional RPG. They also believe that its player-agency-driven experience will serve as a solid entry point for newcomers to the D&D universe.

"We're not trying to simulate the tabletop RPG experience, so there is no dice-rolling in the game — we're trying to really deliver a video-game experience first," said Dominic Guay, studio lead at Invoke Studios. "If you are not familiar with Dungeons and Dragons, you are not going to feel friction, like in that you're missing details of the world. But if you are a fan of the universe, you are going to be really excited about what we are doing with the lore of the series for Warlock."

After we only got a look at the CG trailer, the developers stated that a larger gameplay reveal is set for later in summer 2026. For more on reveals from The Game Awards 2025, check out our roundup of all the announcements from the show.

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

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.

Even after two years since its reveal at The Game Awards 2023, Archetype Entertainment's sci-fi action-RPG Exodus is still something of a mystery. Set in an original sci-fi universe from Wizards of the Coast – of Dungeons & Dragons fame – Exodus focuses on the accelerated evolution of human and alien civilizations, with players deciding the fate of different factions and humanity within the warring galaxy. Also, Matthew McConaughey will play a pivotal character who will guide players on that journey.

Prior to the reveal of the newest trailer at The Game Awards 2025, we got an early look and learned from the devs how the time dilation system will influence the player's story, in what they refer to as an adventure that feels like "Indiana Jones meets Interstellar."

"We try to give players a lot of agency in everything they do. Our goal is to almost make them feel like co-authors in the story, and not just along for the ride," said Chris King, game director on Exodus. "When it comes to Jun's story, you basically make a ton of moral choices, and then you see them play out across multiple generations due to time dilation."

With sci-fi author Peter F. Hamilton working with Wizards of the Coast to build the history and lore of Exodus, along with developer Archetype Entertainment having many former-Bioware devs on board, it's certainly tapping into the same tone and scale of the much-loved Mass Effect series. But in Exodus, the developers aim to present player consequences in a different way, with time as a constant force.

Set in the Centauri Cluster in the far future, Exodus follows humanity as it struggles to survive in its new home, Lidon, after the collapse of Earth. With their new home world also collapsing, lone human scavenger Jun discovers they have the ability to control mysterious artifacts from a powerful alien force known as Celestials, which allows him to help give humanity a chance at survival. But over the course of their journey, Jun will first see the results of their choices, shaped by interstellar time dilation, forcing them to directly confront the positive and negative consequences in the ever-changing galaxy.

The latest trailer offers a clearer glimpse of the stakes driving Exodus' main story, which sees protagonist Jun explore the galaxy with their allies and encounter factions shaped by their choices – including some human factions that have evolved into alien-like races over generations. Much like the Mass Effect series from BioWare, Exodus leans into player choice, and this also includes options for players to customize Jun's appearance and gender to fit their type of story.

During the developer interviews, the creative team explained that, in addition to narrative choices, the core combat and traversal will also offer options, such as going all out with Jun's arsenal of weapons and celestial powers, or using more stealthy tactics to overcome rival factions and complete complex tasks.

According to Drew Karpyshyn, narrative director on Exodus and former BioWare writer on both the Mass Effect series and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, the main story will show Jun's growth as an interstellar explorer and wielder of ancient alien technology tied to his lineage as a "Traveler."

"You begin the game as a lonely scavenger, but [Jun] has a connection to a powerful 'traveler' dynasty, and they also have access to some powerful alien tech, which only they can use," said Karpyshyn. "Over the course of the game, Jun reclaims their traveler heritage and becomes a champion, leader, and hero of the people, and ultimately, Jun is the only character able to stop the destruction of the human homeworld. I think people are really going to see the story of Jun when they get a chance to play it."

Exodus will also feature a variety of companion characters that can help in battle and help flesh out the story, and can even form some romances with. One particularly interesting companion from the trailer is an alien octopus who rides in a mech suit. Though this particular character is not romanceable, other allies will have opportunities to form deeper bonds in the story.

But one key character that is still something of an enigma is the ally played by Matthew McConaughey. Known as C.C. Orlev, he was once a legendary human explorer who went missing. Jun will eventually interact with Orlev, but only when they're needed the most. The trailer showed off a bit more of McConaughey's role in the game, and while it is a familiar wise elder type of archetype, it is still intriguing to see the actor make his video game debut with such an ambitious role.

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

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.