Eight hours and more than 10,000 parries later, a Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 superfan is being praised for beating one of the game's toughest bosses in frankly ridiculous conditions.

Underpowered but undeterred, Reddit user Recordbreaks has posted a screenshot showing that they beat the super strong Duollistes boss after managing 10,545 successful parries — which feels like more than I've completed in the entire game.

The encounter took eight hours, two minutes and 36 seconds, during which time Recordbreaks says they "took one break maybe for about 5-10 minutes" in order to go get snacks, then "went back to it."

The creators of Stranger Things have responded to a conspiracy theory that claims there exists a ‘Snyder Cut’ of Season 5 Volume 2 amid a petition with nearly 400,000 signatures.

Earlier this week, Stranger Things actor Randy Havens, who plays school teacher Mr. Clarke, pushed back on claims there is a secret 'Snyder cut' of Season 5 Volume 2, as a petition calling on Netflix and the show's creators the Duffer brothers to respond garnered hundreds of thousands of signatures online.

Ahead of the Stranger Things Season 5 finale on New Year’s Eve, Havens appeared to respond to an unverified, fan-made Google Doc detailing allegedly shortened storylines that had gained attention on social media. The Change.org petition that calls on Netflix to release the alleged “unseen footage” has over 378,000 signatures, at the time of this article’s publication.

The most-liked comment on the petition comes from someone who seems convinced that footage was cut from Season 5 Volume 2 for nefarious reasons. “We have been waiting since 2022 to see this last season,” they wrote. “To be robbed of scenes by Netflix which really could have gelled the show all together is absolutely unacceptable, and I speak on behalf of all fans that we have been betrayed for the show we love. We don’t sit down and do nothing, we need to show the Duffer brothers, Netflix, and especially Shawn Levy. We want our full episodes, we want the scenes which change everything. We want our show back.”

Stranger Things fans have slammed the petition and the Google Doc that appears to have inspired it, while praising Havens for hitting back on social media. Now, in a Variety interview, the Duffer brothers insisted the Google Doc is “obviously… not a real thing,” confirmed no scenes were cut from Season 5, and denied accusations of interference from Netflix.

“I don’t think there’s a single cut scene in the entire season,” Ross Duffer said, before Matt Duffer added: “The show has just grown so massive. Online, there’s just so much misinformation. Just tons of it. We would be here for hours trying to bat down the stuff that was not true. But at the end of the day, hopefully the work speaks for itself, and it is the show that Ross and I wanted to make. Netflix was, and has always been, incredible. I mean, there’s no interference or direction at all from them on us. They really trust us, and that’s been true from Season 1 on. It’s never changed, even though the show and the size of the audience have grown.”

Meanwhile, Stranger Things has suffered from review bombing after Season 5 Episode 7 met with lower audience scores than the Netflix series has typically seen. While the fifth and final season of Stranger Things had sparked complaints from some fans about the exposition-heavy writing, the varying quality of the actor's performances, and the plot armor some of their characters seemingly enjoy, Episode 7, called ‘The Bridge,’ became the focal point of a vociferous debate that spilled over into review aggregate websites.

Will Byers' coming out scene appears to have fueled this review bombing. In it, Will, played by Noah Schnapp, issues a lengthy monologue in which he tells a gathering of characters that he “doesn’t like girls.” The scene, which takes place as supervillain Vecna applies the finishing touches to his masterplan for world domination, ends with an emotional Will comforted by his friends.

The Duffer brothers were asked about the review bombing in the Variety interview, and explained Will’s coming out scene shouldn’t have come as a surprise. “The coming out scene is something we’ve been building to for nine years now,” Ross Duffer said. “It was a really important scene for us, and a really important scene for Noah — not just from a thematic point of view, but also a narrative point of view. This show has always been about our characters overcoming evil, and in order to overcome this evil, Vecna, in so many ways, represents all the dark thoughts and the evil of society. And for our characters to overcome that, it really becomes about embracing themselves, and then also embracing one another and coming together.”

Matt Duffer called the scene “the final step in Will’s journey.” He continued: “and Will is, in so many ways, the key to defeating Vecna. Volume 1 is really about self-acceptance, right? I mean, that’s sort of step one. And then step two is Will is talking to Robin — it’s something that he wants to do. He’s trying to figure out how to come out, and he knows that he needs to do that, and that that’s the final step for him. And he finds the courage to be able to do it. And it’s really the ultimate fuck you to Vecna. That was the intention.”

As for the review bombing campaign, Matt Duffer said the creators were not prepared for it. “Because it is, as Ross said, something we’ve been building for a really long time. I always say, Ross and I are many things, but subtle is not one of those things!”

Matt revealed that he’s been texting with Noah Schnapp after the coming out scene aired, “and he’s in a really good place. He’s very proud of the scene, and we’re proud of the scene.”

We've got plenty more on Stranger Things, including the Duffer brothers explaining what they were going for with the Season 5 finale and Eleven's ending, and first details on the live-action spinoff.

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.

Nintendo has said it was unwilling to backtrack on the design of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond's controversial open world hub despite seeing "changed" attitudes to open-world games, as the project had already been rebooted once already.

The Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 blockbuster launched last month to mostly positive reviews, but also a broad swathe of criticism specifically for its annoying supporting characters and bland open-world desert hub where you ride around rather aimlessly on a motorbike.

Now, in an interview with Famitsu (translated via ResetEra / Nintendo Everything), the Metroid Prime 4: Beyond development team has revealed that it struggled balancing Nintendo's desire to experiment with open-world gameplay with the Metroid series' core exploration, and ultimately had to stick to its original plan for the game rather than risk delaying it any further.

"At the start of the project, perhaps due to the influence of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, we saw a lot of comments on the internet saying 'we want to play an open-world Metroid,'" Nintendo said. (The interview does not label comments from individual developers by name.)

"However, Metroid's core element of 'increasing the amount of explorable areas by unlocking powers' is not very compatible with the 'freedom to go anywhere from the beginning' of open worlds," Nintendo continued. "Thus we thought to design a limited area that could be freely explored, and have that be a hub that could connect to other areas. Then we thought that if one could move around on the bike in a satisfying way in that area, it could be a segment that mitigates the tension from exploration, and paces the whole game."

In other words, the hub design seen in the finished Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was Nintendo's original compromise for including some open world elements while sticking to the franchise's core exploration in its main areas.

"In the end, the game took much longer than expected to finish, and we realized that players' impressions toward open-world games had changed," Nintendo added. "That being said, development had already been reset once before (when we started again from scratch with Retro Studios) so backtracking development again was out of the question, and we resolved to move forward with our original vision."

Arriving 18 years after Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, the last game in Retro Studios' beloved Prime trilogy, Prime 4 was officially announced at E3 2017. Initially, Bandai Namco was put in charge of development, but development was rebooted in January 2019 back at Retro Studios after Nintendo decided the game's development had fallen short of expectations.

Nintendo's comment that the open-world hub was part of its "original vision" for Prime 4 certainly suggests it was not Retro Studios' design, though the implication is that Nintendo only realized the flaws with it after the game's development was begun anew.

"During this time, shooting games and action games went through evolutions, with an increase in game speed in particular, but taking in those changes would have made it difficult to construct the tempo of an adventure game, so we actively chose to not take them into account," Nintendo concluded. "Therefore, I think this game is pretty much divorced from the changing of times."

The idea of Samus gaining psychic abilities also predated Retro Studios' reboot, and originated as an explanation for why she is now able to control the Charge Beam's directional shot. After Retro took over the project, Nintendo said it asked the studio to implement further gameplay features that expanded on the idea of Samus gaining a psychic power set.

"Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is an excellent, if relatively uneven, revival that reaches heights worthy of the Metroid name in its best moments," IGN wrote in our Metroid Prime 4: Beyond review, scoring the game 8/10.

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

If you’re all caught up on Stranger Things, you’ll be aware of a plot thread left dangling in the Season 5 finale that has to do with a briefcase. It turns out this will be addressed in a live-action Stranger Things spinoff — although there’s no word when.

Warning! Spoilers for Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 8, The Rightside Up, follow:

In the Season 5 finale, we see Henry Creel / Vecna finally face his greatest fear: the traumatic memory of the day he was infected by the Mind Flayer and gained his powers. In this scene set inside Henry’s mind, we finally find out what was inside the briefcase that child Henry opens after bludgeoning its previous owner, an unnamed scientist, to death. Inside is a mysterious rock, which glows with an unknown energy before fusing with Henry. This, we understand, is how Henry became one with the Mind Flayer, and sets in motion all the events of Stranger Things that followed.

Deus Ex lead actor Elias Toufexis has branded the franchise's owners as "psychopaths," as the wait continues for a new entry in the dormant stealth action series.

In a post on X, Toufexis laid out his work schedule for 2026, which he said included Bungie's upcoming shooter Marathon and three unannounced projects. Of course, this tease prompted Deus Ex fans to suggest that at least one of these mystery projects was a long-awaited new Deus Ex sequel — something Toufexis was quick to shut down.

"...no Deus Ex because the people in charge are psychopaths," Toufexis wrote.

Toufexis has been vocal in support of a new Deus Ex game materializing over the years, though it has now been a decade since the arrival of 2016's Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. Developed by Eidos Montreal, the game arrived on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One to positive reviews.

But rather than develop a follow up, the next few years saw Eidos Montreal put to work on Square Enix's failed Marvel's Avengers live-service game, as well as its own take on Guardians of the Galaxy, alongside its continuing role as a support studio for the Tomb Raider franchise. With these franchises taking priority, Deus Ex fell by the wayside.

Fan excitement for a new Deus Ex was rekindled after Square Enix sold Eidos Montreal — and the Deus Ex franchise — to publisher Embracer, and indeed, a new game in the series was reportedly worked on for two years. Alas, this project was reported to have been canned in 2024, amid Embracer's widespread restructuring.

"As you guys all know, Jensen is one of the characters I’ve played who is near and dear to my heart. It seems I will always be associated with him and that’s just fine with me," Toufexis wrote in a subsequent reddit post, after word of the game's cancellation spread.

"Alas, his story seems done. I’m relatively certain the game that was canceled was not an Adam Jensen story, so the cancellation angers me more than anything else because friends at Eidos got laid off. Video game companies right now are in a weird place. I hope it gets straightened out."

A year ago, Insider Gaming reported that Eidos Montreal was once again pitching an idea for a new Deus Ex title, though there was no suggestion this idea had been successful. Next up for the series will be Aspyr's recently-delayed Deus Ex Remastered, a polished up port of the franchise's original entry, which has been pushed from its original February 2026 launch date following fan concerns over its quality. The project currently lacks a new launch window, and pre-orders have been refunded.

Toufexis previously claimed he spent two years working on Far Cry 3, recording lines as the game's protagonist Jason Brody, before Ubisoft replaced him in the role. The voice actor claimed the reason for this switch was his work as the Deus Ex protagonist, whose voice had become too "popular" and recognizable.

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

Stranger Things creators the Duffer brothers have explained the Season 5 finale and its ending, which has sparked much debate among fans.

Warning! Spoilers for Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 8, The Rightside Up, follow:

Stranger Things ends with a definitive wave goodbye to all the central characters except Eleven, played by Millie Bobby Brown, who appears to sacrifice herself to ensure she cannot be used to create super weapons, another Vecna / Henry, or another bridge between our world and The Abyss.

18 months after that traumatic event, we see the central characters meet up for graduation and say their goodbyes. It’s at this point that Mike Wheeler, played by Finn Wolfhard, has a thought: what if Kali Prasad, also known as Eight (Linnea Berthelsen), used her dying breath to create the illusion of Eleven’s death, and an invisibility spell on Eleven herself, leaving her free to escape unseen?

Finn teases this revelation to the Dungeons & Dragons group as their final campaign comes to an end, suggesting Eleven cooked up a plan with Kali to fake her own death, then traveled to a far away small village — bordered by three waterfalls — to live out her days in peace. But this ending is unconfirmed. Finn and the others choose to believe it, and it’s left up to the audience to decide what they choose to believe as Stranger Things finally comes to an end.

So, why did Matt and Ross Duffer decide to leave Eleven’s ending on such an ambiguous note? Netflix published a Q&A with the brothers to accompany the season finale, and in it they explained what they were going for here.

“What we wanted to do was confront the reality of what her situation was after all of this and how could she live a normal life,” Matt Duffer said. “These are the questions that we’ve been posing this season that Hopper just doesn’t even want to think or talk about. Mike’s obviously talked about it a lot, but it’s sort of this fantasy version that would never work. There are two roads that Eleven could take. There’s this darker, more pessimistic one or the optimistic, hopeful one. Mike is the optimist of the group and has chosen to believe in that story.”

Ross Duffer added: “There was never a version of the story where Eleven was hanging out with the gang at the end. For us and our writers, we didn’t want to take her powers away. She represents magic in a lot of ways and the magic of childhood. For our characters to move on and for the story of Hawkins and the Upside Down to come to a close, Eleven had to go away. We thought it would be beautiful if our characters continued to believe in that happier ending even if we didn’t give them a clear answer to whether that’s true or not. The fact that they’re believing in it, we just thought it was such a better way to end the story and a better way to represent the closure of this journey and their journey from children to adults.”

“And the reality is, if Eleven is out there, the most that they could hope for is a belief that it’s true because they can’t be in contact with her,” Matt concluded. “Everything falls apart if that were the case. So if that’s the narrative, this is really the best way to keep her alive. And it’s about Mike and everyone finding a way to move past what’s happened.”

It sounds like Eleven’s ending will never be resolved, but there is more Stranger Things to come via a spinoff with completely new characters, a new town, and a new mythology. And if you’re now feeling at a loss for what to watch this year, check out The Biggest TV Shows Coming to Every Streaming Service in 2026.

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

The year’s barely out of the wrapping and the streaming gods are already flexing, hurling an avalanche of shiny new shows and movies straight at our eyeballs. Apple TV+ is keeping things relatively chill, but everyone else has clearly chosen chaos, flooding the apps with more content than any sane human could ever hope to finish. If your spare time is limited (or your tolerance for doom-scrolling thumbnails is already hanging by a thread), you’ll want to head straight for our carefully curated hits.

So let’s get you sorted. We’ve rounded up the must-watch films, binge-worthy series, and unexpectedly brilliant originals across Australia’s biggest platforms. Just pick your service, zero in on the gems, grab a snack, and settle in for quality screen time.

Table of Contents

• Foxtel/Binge
• Netflix
• Disney+
• Apple TV+
• Amazon Prime Video
• Stan

New in January on Foxtel and Binge

TV litter pick: RUN – 1 Jan : A six-part crime drama that dramatizes the true story of Brenden Abbott, an infamous Australian bank robber known as the "Postcard Bandit".

Movie litter pick: Freaky Tales – 4 Jan : A vibrant, genre-blending anthology film featuring four interconnected stories set in 1987 Oakland, California.

What notable movies are coming to Binge?

• Freaky Tales – 4 Jan
• The Postcard Bandit – 7 Jan
• The Strangers: Chapter 2 – 23 Jan
• Mr Burton – 31 Jan

What notable series are coming to Binge?

• RUN – 1 Jan
• Ponies Season 1 – 16 Jan
• Animal Control Season 4 – 16 Jan
• Scared of the Dark Season 1 – 16 Jan
• Bake Off: The Professionals Season 10 – 19 Jan
• The Great American Bake Off Season 8 – 27 Jan

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New in January on Netflix

TV litter pick: Stranger Things 5: The Finale – 1 Jan : Virtually anything I say about this will be taken as a spoiler. Not going to risk it. So maybe just watch it.

Movie litter pick: The Rip – 16 Jan : A high-stakes crime thriller that follows a team of Miami cops whose trust in one another unravels after they discover millions in cash inside an abandoned stash house.

What notable movies are coming to Netflix?

• People We Meet on Vacation – 9 Jan
• How to Train Your Dragon – 9 Jan
• How to Train Your Dragon 2 – 9 Jan
• How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World – 9 Jan
• The Rip – 16 Jan
• Lost in Translation – 29 Jan

What notable series are coming to Netflix?

• Stranger Things 5: The Finale – 1 Jan
• Run Away – 1 Jan
• Unlocked: A Jail Experiment Season 2 – 7 Jan
• His & Hers – 8 Jan
• Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials – 15 Jan
• Love Through a Prism – 15 Jan
• WWE: Unreal Season 2 – 20 Jan
• Bridgerton Season 4, Part 1 – 29 Jan

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New in January on Disney+

TV litter pick: Marvel’s Wonder Man – 28 Jan : A satirical, self-aware "love letter to Hollywood" that follows an aspiring actor who unexpectedly gains superpowers.

Movie litter pick: Hoops, Hopes & Dreams – 19 Jan : This doco tells the untold story of how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and an all-star team of civil rights activists used basketball to connect with young voters and build community.

What notable movies are coming to Disney+?

• Hoops, Hopes & Dreams – 19 Jan
• The Bourne Identity – 1 Jan
• The Bourne Supremacy – 1 Jan
• The Bourne Ultimatum – 1 Jan
• The Bourne Legacy – 1 Jan
• Jason Bourne – 1 Jan

What notable series are coming to Disney+?

• Chicago Fire Seasons 1–11 – 7 Jan
• A Thousand Blows Season 2 – 9 Jan
• Tell Me Lies Season 3 – 13 Jan
• Pole to Pole with Will Smith – 14 Jan
• Hey A.J.! – 14 Jan
• FX’s The Beauty – 22 Jan
• Tracker Season 3 – 28 Jan

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New in January on Apple TV+

TV litter pick: Shrinking Season 3 – 28 Jan : S3 introduces new faces, including Michael J. Fox and Cobie Smulders as Jimmy's love interest, alongside returning cast members as they try to embrace change and new beginnings.

What notable series are coming to Apple TV+?

• Drops of God Season 2 – 21 Jan
• Shrinking Season 3 – 28 Jan
• Yo Gabba Gabbaland Season 2 – 30 Jan

Sign up for a free 7–day trial of Apple TV+

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New in January on Amazon Prime Video

TV litter pick: The Night Manager Season 2 – 11 Jan : Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) embarks on a new mission in Colombia involving a dangerous arms dealer, Teddy Dos Santos (Diego Calva) and his seductive associate Roxana Bolanos (Camila Morrone).

Movie litter pick: Caught Stealing – 26 Jan : a dark crime thriller about a burned-out former baseball prodigy named Hank Thompson who inadvertently gets caught in a violent struggle between rival New York City gangsters.

What notable movies are coming to Prime Video?

• Steal – 21 Jan
• Caught Stealing – 26 Jan
• The Wrecking Crew – 28 Jan

What notable series are coming to Prime Video?

• Spring Fever – 6 Jan
• Beast Games Season 2 – 7 Jan
• The Night Manager Season 2 – 11 Jan
• Molly Mae: Behind It All Season 2 Part 2 – 16 Jan

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New in January on Stan

TV litter pick: Dear Life – 1 Jan : Lillian (Brooke Satchwell) grieves the tragic death of her fiancé, Ash, an organ donor, by secretly seeking out the recipients of his donated organs, leading to unexpected connections.

Movie litter pick: When A Stranger Calls – 11 Jan : Babysitter Jill Johnson receives terrifying phone calls while watching kids; things escalate until the police discover the close proximity of the caller.

What notable movies are coming to Stan?

• How To Train Your Dragon – 1 Jan
• How To Train Your Dragon 2 – 1 Jan
• How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World – 1 Jan
• Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story – 2 Jan
• Boyz N' The Hood – 5 Jan
• The Witches (2020) – 6 Jan
• When A Stranger Calls – 11 Jan
• Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie – 17 Jan
• Space Jam: A New Legacy – 17 Jan
• Space Jam – 17 Jan
• Source Code – 19 Jan
• Hairspray (2007) – 21 Jan
• Nobody – 23 Jan
• Sunshine – 24 Jan

What notable series are coming to Stan?

• Dear Life – 1 Jan
• Red Eye: S02 – 2 Jan
• Power Book IV: S03 – 2 Jan
• Changing Ends Season 2 – 3 Jan
• Gods of Tennis Season 1 – 10 Jan
• Accused: S02 – 15 Jan
• Regular Show: S01 – S08 – 21 Jan
• The Walsh Sisters: S01 – 22 Jan

Score your free 30–day trial of Stan

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I have a bad habit of saying I am done buying games, then immediately proving myself wrong. This week was one of those moments where curiosity, discounts, and a slightly weak spine all lined up. I have played most of these, loved many of them, and a few still live rent free in my brain years later.

Contents

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

This Day in Gaming 🎂

Today in My God You're Aging News, it's a thin list for birthdays to celebrate. Nevertheless, I happily baked a 10-shaped cake for Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, a WiiU classic. This was basically a minigame found within Super Mario 3D World that was red mushroomed up into a full title experience. Obviously, old mate Shroom Head didn't have the same abilities as Muzza, but he can pick up items to clock familiar Mushie Kingdom foes as you solve environmental puzzles. Brilliant for casuals and OGs alike, the Switch version is a treasure worth tracking.

Aussie birthdays for notable games.

- Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (WiiU) 2015. Get

Nice Savings for Nintendo Switch

• Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (-24%) A$68 Samus returns after an absurdly long wait, and early impressions suggest Retro is once again obsessed with atmosphere, scanning everything, and making you feel alone in space.
• Subnautica (-75%) A$11.20 A survival game powered by curiosity and dread, where the story unfolds through exploration and the ocean constantly reminds you that you are not welcome.
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (-23%) A$69 Nintendo doubled down on player creativity, and somehow made building nonsense machines the most compelling progression system of the year.
• Prince of Persia The Lost Crown (-52%) A$24 A confident return that blends tight platforming, smart combat, and some genuinely clever map design ideas.
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (-67%) A$24.70 Still kinda broken in spots, still brilliant, and still somehow a game I end up reinstalling every couple of years.

Or gift a Nintendo eShop Card.

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Exciting Bargains for Xbox

• Star Wars Outlaws (-78%) A$24 A scoundrel focused Star Wars game that shines when it leans into crime, reputation, and living on the galaxy's edges.
• Castle Crashers Rem. (-50%) A$9.90 Pure co-op nonsense with timeless humour, surprisingly crunchy combat, and the ability to ruin friendships in under five minutes.
• Assassin's Creed Valhalla (-55%) A$44.90 Best enjoyed as a Viking saga you dip into, rather than something you try to clear in one heroic sitting.
• Crisis Core FF7 Reunion (-56%) A$37.10 Zack Fair's story hits harder now, and the modernised combat does a lot of heavy lifting.
• Diablo III: Eternal Col. (-57%) A$43 Still one of the most dangerously playable action RPGs ever made.

Xbox One

• GTA V Premium (-58%) A$23 A ridiculous amount of content, and somehow still the backbone of Rockstar's entire empire.
• Battlefield 1 (-70%) A$8.90 One of the most atmospheric shooters DICE has ever made, with sound design that still flexes.
• Red Dead Redemption II (-73%) A$23 Slow, deliberate, and devastating in the best possible way.

Or just invest in an Xbox Card.

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Pure Scores for PlayStation

• Astro Bot (-42%) A$64 A joyful showcase of PlayStation history that understands fun better than almost anything else on the platform.
• Hogwarts Legacy (-55%) A$49.90 The fantasy of being a student at Hogwarts, realised with surprising confidence and care.
• Spider Man Miles Morales (-48%) A$48.90 Short, sharp, and bursting with style, this still feels incredible on a DualSense.
• Star Wars Outlaws (-78%) A$24 Even better when treated as a space western rather than a power fantasy.
• The Last of Us Part I (-36%) A$79.90 Still one of the strongest narrative experiences in the medium, rebuilt with real care.

PS4

• Immortals Fenyx Rising (-92%) A$7.90 A surprisingly funny and inventive open world game that deserved more love.
• Gran Turismo 7 (-48%) A$56.90 A stunning driving sim that balances car culture obsession with accessibility.
• WHAT THE GOLF? (-70%) A$7.70 A comedy game disguised as golf, and one of the funniest things I have played.

Or purchase a PS Store Card.

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Purchase Cheap for PC

• 40K: Space Marine 2 (-58%) A$37.50 This game understands that feeling powerful is half the appeal, and leans all the way in.
• Baldur's Gate 3 (-25%) A$67.40 Reactive, generous, and endlessly surprising, this is modern RPG royalty.
• Total War: Three Kingdoms (-100%) A$0 Free strategy of this calibre feels illegal, but I am not asking questions.
• Atomic Heart (-65%) A$31.10 Bizarre, bold, and never boring, even when it completely loses the plot.
• Crysis Rem. Trilogy (-59%) A$29.90 Still a benchmark for technical ambition, now without melting your PC.
• Red Dead Redemption 1 + 2 Bndl (-64%) A$57.40 Two all time greats that reward patience, empathy, and long rides into the sunset.

Or just get a Steam Wallet Card

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If you were gifted a Nintendo Switch 2 over the holidays, you’ll want to grab all the best Switch 2 accessories for a great playing experience in the new year. While there are tons of products for the gaming handheld, a controller should be near the top of your list. Even with the latest, upgraded Joy-Con, playing in docked mode connected to a great Switch 2 TV will be significantly better with a proper controller. Best of all, you don’t need to break the bank to get one. Right now, you can grab the PowerA Advantage Wired Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 for only $27.30. That’s over 30% savings, and the lowest price we’ve seen since it came out a few months ago.

Save 32% on This Wired Controller for Nintendo Switch 2

Now, this PowerA Advantage controller was designed specifically for the Nintendo Switch 2 and is officially licensed. It comes with a 10-foot USB-C cable for a seamless connection to the console. Plus, given it’s wired, you’ll never need to worry about battery life for endless hours playing Donkey Kong Bonanza or Hades 2. And you’ll be comfortable marathon sessions, as the ergonomics on this controller are on point and far superior to the Joy-Con. In our review of the PowerA Advantage Wired Controller for Switch 2, it even went head-to-head with the Switch 2 Pro Controller, and is especially well-suited for those who prefer a lighter option.

As for actual performance chops, this controller punches far above its price point. It has all the features you’d expect from a top Switch 2 controller, including the new C button and programmable back buttons. All of the buttons and triggers proved to be reliable and responsive during testing, and with Hall Effect sticks, drift shouldn’t be a big worry either.

Of course, given the sub $30 price tag, a few compromises will need to be made, so you won’t find a gyroscope, HD rumble, or Amiibo support. Still, if you want something for cozy winter nights spent in front of the TV, the PowerA Advantage Wired Controller for Nintendo Switch 2 is an awesome, affordable option. Don’t forget to add some of our favorite Nintendo games of 2025 to your library, too.

Danielle is a Tech freelance writer based in Los Angeles who spends her free time creating videos and geeking out over music history.

Happy new year, or almost new year, or just… whatever time it is when you’re reading this. For me, it’s the very tail end of 2025, and what better time to take a look ahead at some of the games coming out in the new year? Here are 2026’s biggest game releases

Before we get into it, just a heads up that this is by no means a 100% comprehensive guide to all the games coming out in 2026, as many of those haven’t even been announced yet. Also, as always, release dates are subject to change - I made something very much like this exactly a year ago in which I told you that GTA would be the biggest game of 2025… assuming it came out in 2025, which it didn’t. So, this is true in our regular monthly game release updates, but it’s especially true when we’re talking about games that are 11 months away, or games that don’t have release dates yet.

January

On January 15, Animal Crossing: New Horizons gets a new lease on life, and also a new mortgage to pay off when the beloved debt, yard work, and interior decoration sim comes to Switch 2 - and if you happen to be one of the 50 million people who bought Animal Crossing on the original Switch, you’ll be happy to hear that you can upgrade to the Switch 2 version for just 5 bucks. Meanwhile, if you’re still playing on Switch 1, you’ll still be getting access to a ton of new features with the 3.0 update, which adds a ton of new features including hotel renovation, and in-game items based on other Nintendo properties, as well as LEGO’s line of Animal Crossing sets.

You can’t spell “Purchase a Game In January” without JRPG, or a lot of other letters, but this is the time of year when fans of that particular genre are bound to be especially busy. Still on the 15th, there’s The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond The Horizon, which is the seventeenth installment in The Legend of Heroes series, or the thirteenth installment in the Trails series, and a direct sequel to 2022’s Legend of Heroes Trails Through Daybreak II. That’s coming to all the Switches, PlayStations, and PC.

New year, new you? Yeah, okay. Look, if you're going to seriously get yourself in shape in 2026, you might as well do it with the best gear while saving a small fortune on brand tax. Plus, you'll need something cool to watch in the background whilst you work out to keep your mind engaged.

Well, it's a good thing Amazon just dropped massive discounts on best-selling Peloton bikes, treadmills, and accessories. Plus, there are a ton of cult classic 4K + Blu-ray steelbooks on sale, too. We're talking about savings of over $600 here, so let's get into it:

TL;DR: Top Deals for Today

4K + Blu-Ray Steelbook Sale

Studio Ghibli fans, this sale is for you. With everything from Howl's Moving Castle to Spirited Away. Transformers: The Movie is here too, and it's the best way to listen to the best movie theme song in the world from Lion (I'll die on that hill).

From newer releases such as Straight Outta Compton to cult classics like The Blues Brothers, there's something for everyone in this sale, with the highlights shown above.

Save 64% Off Rosetta Stone Lifetime Subscription

Peloton + Fitness Sale

It's hard sticking to the gym, especially when you have a family and a full-time job to hold down. Peloton is a popular option for its quality equipment and a membership that gives you smart class recommendations based on your stats. And we've all tried buying cheap exercise bikes at somepoint, and in my opinion they ruin the positive start you're looking for on your fitness journey. It's an investment in yourself at the end of the day.

Peloton bikes and treadmills are pretty much like having a personal trainer inside your workout equipment whenever it suits you. Plus, accessories such as cycling shoes and dumbbells are up to 70% off, so it's a good time to give yourself the healthy kickstart you need for 2026.

Manga Box Set Sale

If you're planning on freeing up space to store One Piece manga, box sets one to four are all on sale. That's volumes 1–90 for a combined $636.26, down from $959.96, saving a massive $323.70. That's a little over $7 per manga, which usual are usually priced at $11.99.
If you're a Dragon Ball fan like me, the Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z box sets are locked in the sale too for $97.99 and $175.66 respectively. That's a total of $273.65, down from $449.98, for the filler-free best way to experience the series. The way Akira Toriyama presents his panels is ridiculously expressive and a masterclass in what Shonen Jump manga is and should be.

Magnetic Building Blocks (150PCS)

Hand Warmers

Cheapest at Amazon: MTG

Commander Masters is the best set to get into if you love playing Commander, getting you legacy card reprints that are ideal for the format. It's not cheap, but Amazon currently has the best pricing for Set and Draft booster boxes.
If you missed out on the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set when it dropped earlier this year, the game edition of Cloud Strife's Commander Deck, Limit Breaker, is at market value on Amazon right now. That just means you're getting it for a fair price compared to the secondary market, whilst being able to take advantage of that sweet Prime shipping.

Cheapest at TCGPlayer - MTG

TCGPlayer is still holding the top spot for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Play Booster Box preorders. It's a full $20 cheaper from its merchants right now, a saving worth getting over Prime shipping. The same goes for the Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box, a full $30 cheaper over Amazon's price.
Amazon has its preorder price guarantee, but that only counts if they drop the price before release. You can't price match other retailers with this guarantee, so if you see a steep discount on a preorder elsewhere, take your chances.

Cheapest at Amazon: Pokémon TCG

It’s great to see popular sets like Surging Sparks and Phantasmal Flames Elite Trainer Boxes crop up for less on Amazon, with the former being below market value alongside the Destined Rivals triple booster.

Cheapest at TCGPlayer: Pokémon TCG

It’s strange to see Silver Tempest sealed product showing up on Amazon right now. Perhaps we’ll see more Sword & Shield-era reprints on store shelves? Regardless, TCGPlayer has the Silver Tempest Elite Trainer Box for far less than Amazon, and the same goes for the Prismatic Evolutions ETB.

TCGPlayer also has the best deal on Destined Rivals Booster Bundles, currently sitting at $52.50. That means you get double the booster packs compared to the three-pack booster deal in the last section for less than double the price. TCGPlayer really has the no-brainer deals right now.

Skytech Gaming PC Holiday Sale

Considering we’ve just entered a memory chip shortage across the board, with even DDR4 RAM going for silly money, getting an RTX 5060 build with 32GB DDR4 for $1,079 is a great deal. You’ll have solid 1080p gaming with either an Intel i5-14400F or AMD Ryzen 7 5700 processor to boot. Personally, I’d go for the Crystal build. It costs the same and gives you far more room for bigger GPU upgrades down the line.

If you’re looking to go all-in with 4K gaming out of the box for under $3,000, the $2,799.99 Aqua build comes with a gorgeous clear white and blue case, complete with CPU liquid cooling, an RTX 5080, 32GB DDR5, and the absolute beast that is the Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

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.