It's that time of year. On January 22, Samsung will host its biannual Galaxy Unpacked Event, where they will announce their new line of 2025 Galaxy S smartphones. This is also when preorders go live. In advance of the event, you can place a reservation online in order to get it on some early bird perks if you end up placing a preorder. These include:
A bonus $50 Samsung credit
Up to $1,250+ in additional savings (most likely from trade-ins)
A chance to even their sweepstakes for $5,000 in Samsung credit
If you're even slightly interested in getting your hands on the new 2025 Galaxy S25 smartphone, there's no reason not to reserve. Since this isn't a pre-order, you don't have to place any kind of deposit, and there's no commitment to buy.
Although Samsung is tight-lipped about the details, we can infer that the new Galaxy S phones will be dubbed "S25" (last year's series was the S24) and will very likely come in its usual three variants: the Galaxy S25, S25 Plus, and S25 Ultra, with a potential fourth model - the Galaxy S25 "Slim" - being unveiled as well.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra was our favorite Android phone of 2024. In our Galaxy S24 Ultra review review, Jacqueline Thomas wrote that "The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is an incredible smartphone. It might look like yet another Galaxy device, but its titanium chassis and powerful processor makes this a durable gaming phone that can outrace the best of them."
The less expensive Galaxy S24 Plus was also a solid winner in our books. In our Galaxy S24 Plus review, Mark Knapp wrote that "The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is the best Android phone you can buy right now, but at $1299, it really needs to be. This is not only the fastest gaming phone you can buy today, but with its premium Titanium chassis, it might just be the most durable. Samsung is sweetening the deal a bit by adding a huge variety of AI tools, but many of them will probably be forgotten after you've been using the phone for a while. Still, don't let that get you down: if you want a premium Android phone in 2024, it's hard to imagine getting anything else.
Since the Galaxy S25 will be Samsung's new flagship phone, we expect improvements across the board. Galaxy S phones are well noted for their excellent build quality and premium aesthetic, powerful components, and a best-in-class camera. The incorporation of AI has been at the forefront of CES 2025 and I expect Samsung to follow suit with its own Galaxy AI algorithm. Rumors abound but concrete details are still wanting. We will all find out soon enough, and if the phone beats expectations, you'd be glad that you reserved in advance.
For more big tech news for this month, check out our CES 2025 hub for all of the latest updates.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
If you're looking for Squid Game X codes in Roblox, IGN's got you covered! In this article, you'll find a list of active and working Squid Game X codes in January 2025 that you can redeem for free rewards, including money to spend on outfits in the in-game store.
Active Squid Game X Codes (January 2025)
Here are all the active Squid Game X codes in January 2025 and the free rewards you get for redeeming them:
PENTA: $35 (NEW!)
150KLIKES: $55 (NEW!)
UPDATE11RELEASE: $75 (NEW!)
MINGLE: $45 (NEW!)
$100K$: $50 (NEW!)
All Expired Squid Game X Codes
The following Squid Game X codes no longer work and can't be redeemed as of January 2025:
UPDATE7RELEASE
$100M$
BAXTRIX_2
*100KLIKES*
^100MIL^
+80KLIKES+
75MIL
20KCONC
How to Redeem Squid Game X Codes in Roblox
Follow the steps below to redeem Squid Game X codes and claim free rewards in the Roblox Experience:
Open the Squid Game X Roblox Experience.
Once in the dormitory, you'll see a group of tiles on the left side of your screen.
Click on the blue bird icon underneath the shopping basket icon to open the Codes menu.
Input your code into the "Enter Code" field, double-checking for typos.
Press Enter and if active, your code will be redeemed.
Why Isn't My Squid Game X Code Working?
If the Squid Game X code you're trying to redeem isn't working, it's likely because of one of the following reasons:
The Squid Game X code is expired
There's a typo or accidental space in the code
When inputting a Squid Game X code into Roblox, ensure it's spelled correctly and that there are no accidental spaces before or after the code. We'd recommend copying and pasting codes straight from this page to ensure they're correct as we've tested and verified them.
If the Squid Game X code still isn't working, it's more than likely expired and can no longer be redeemed.
How to Get More Squid Game X Codes
Outside of bookmarking this article, the best way to get more Squid Game X codes as soon as they become available is to join the redifi Roblox Community. The creator posts new codes there the second they're released.
Meg Koepp is a Guides Editor on the IGN Guides team, with a focus on trends. When she's not working, you can find her playing an RPG or making miniatures.
Guardian of the Galaxy actor Bautista stars alongside Milla Jovovich while Resident Evil director Paul W. S. Anderson directs. In the Lost Lands is based on a short story of the same name and the trailer lists a theatrical release "this winter," though Martin himself said March 7 in his latest blog post.
From the mind of George R.R. Martin, #InTheLostLands starring Dave Bautista and Milla Jovovich is only in theaters March 7. Watch the official trailer now. pic.twitter.com/WffigMtM4G
"A Queen sends the powerful and feared sorceress Gray Alys to the ghostly wilderness of the Lost Lands in search of a magical power, where the sorceress and her guide, the drifter Boyce, must outwit and outfight man and demon," the synopsis reads.
Jovovich plays Gray Alys while Bautista plays Boyce, and the trailer shows plenty of action on both sides as well as a handful of meetings between the two.
The film has been floating around for almost a decade having been announced in 2015, with Jovovich incredibly cast that early too. It grew dormant for several years before finally emerging again in 2021, and four years later is finally ready for release.
The film likely has a lot of pressure behind it given Martin's previous adaptation, Game of Thrones, has become one of the most successful entertainment franchises of all time.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.
Riot Games is ringing in the New Year with a fresh season of League of Legends — the first of three season launches that players will experience in 2025. In typical Riot fashion, there's a cinematic trailer to go along with it, but this year's video is a major step-up from its predecessors. For one thing, it's absolutely stunning — thanks, of course, to a lending hand from Fortiche, the animation studio that brought Arcane to life. But more importantly, the five-minute video is leaving fans of Netflix's Arcane hopeful that this Noxus-themed trailer doubles as an exciting prelude to another League of Legends show.
There's a couple of apparent nods to Arcane that make their way into the end of the new cinematic. One of the biggest moments in the trailer that merges series with game comes when Black Rose members Vladimir and LeBlanc discuss how they need to take "advantage of the opportunity that has washed up our shores," which we're assuming is a reference to Mel. LeBlanc also comments that "Piltover was a lesson," which Arcane viewers will recognize as the Runeterra region in which the original show takes place.
Now, upon the cinematic's release, fans can't help but connect the dots that this Noxus-themed season of League of Legends is perhaps a subtle hint towards the Noxus-themed spin-off they've been waiting for.
One Rioter on Reddit, dubbed RiotMiddler, has denied that the cinematic trailer is a set-up for a TV show: "Regarding the intent of the cinematic, our goal was to set up some themes for Noxus for the season and a plot line that'll be continued this year in game/around game materials (not a tv show to be clear)."
But, like, have you looked at it? It very well may be true that the intent of the cinematic is first and foremost to promote the new Noxus-based season of League of Legends — there's no actual show storyline that's teased, nor any official release date for a new show attached. We're just saying, it seems unlikely that Fortiche went through the trouble of creating new designs for characters like Elise, Katarina, Vladimir, Darius, LeBlanc, and Trundle with no intent of introducing them into a future series.
Show teaser or not, we're hyped for this new season of League of Legends, which goes live tomorrow, January 9. It's a pretty historic patch that ushers in a total Noxian makeover for the Rift, a handful of visual changes to the map, and even some novel targeting animations for the all-new Noxian War Turrets. Until Riot decides to release an official announcement about its next TV series, we'll be waiting with bated breath (and probably re-watching Arcane).
Katie Reul is a freelance journalist whose entertainment reporting has been featured in IGN and Variety.
Starting this week, Best Buy is taking $200 off the Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme gaming handheld, now only $499.99. That's the lowest price I've seen for a brand new unit, even during Black Friday. This is an excellent gaming handheld for those of you who want to play your PC games anywhere without being tied to Steam's ecosystem.
Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme Gaming Handheld for $499.99
The Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme is a Windows 11 based gaming handheld PC. This is the higher end of the two Asus ROG Ally models with an AMD Zen 4 based Z1 Extreme CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. It boasts a 7" screen size with a sharp 1080p resolution and 120Hz refresh rate.
Whereas its main competitor, the Steam Deck, runs off a Linux-based Steam OS, the ROG Ally uses the tried-and-true Windows 11. The benefit is that the ROG Ally is compatible with pretty much any Windows-based game launcher, including Steam, Battle.net, Xbox Games Pass, Epic Games Store, GOG, Ubisoft Connect, and more. Obviously that makes it more attractive to gamers who like to play games that aren't available or are harder to install on the Steam Deck.
In our Asus ROG Ally review, Robert Anderson wrote that "the Asus ROG Ally truly feels like the portable Xbox Game Pass machine that many fans have been clamoring for. While a frustrating user experience, poor battery life, and a lack of Steam Deck-style touchpads do hold it back a bit, it’s undeniable how much fun this handheld is to use when it really gets ticking. With a beautiful 1080p screen that’s marvelously bright and perfect for playing on the go in any condition, alongside its powerful set of specs and a fierce price tag, it might actually be the Steam Deck competitor we’ve been anticipating."
Note that CES 2025 is here and there's even more competition in the hot handheld gaming PC market. The more compact and updated Lenovo Legion Go S has been announced and it's already up for preorder now. If you want to get your hands on the Lenovo Legion Go S, the Windows 11 version with an Z2 Go and 32GB of RAM will launch in January 2025, starting at $729. However, a more affordable version is launching in May 2025, with the same Z2 Go chip, but with 16GB of RAM and your choice of Windows 11 or SteamOS for $599. The Asus ROG Ally X was also released in 2024 and it's an all-around better gaming handheld, albeit at a $300 higher price point.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
Transformers: Reactivate developer Splash Damage has cancelled the online action game two years after it was revealed at The Game Awards.
The studio shared a message on X/Twitter announcing the "very difficult news" and that "a number of roles" are "potentially at risk of redundancy." Transformers: Reactivate was announced on December 8, 2022 with a beta expected in 2023, but this was perpetually delayed and obviously has now been fully cancelled.
"This decision did not come lightly, and it is a difficult time for the studio and our people," Splash Damage said. "We want to take a moment to thank the team who worked on Transformers for their dedication and passion."
While Splash Damage initially used the term "potentially" to describe layoffs, the statement later made it seem certain.
"While not being able to see the game through to release is painful, having to say goodbye to friends and colleagues hurts even more. We're now focused on doing everything we can to support them through this tough period, just as we are committed to caring for those who stay with us as we build a stronger Splash Damage for the future."
Transformers: Reactivate was described as a one to four player online action game coming to consoles and PC. "The gravest threat to humanity has arrived," its synopsis read. "And it’s already won. Earth is no longer ours; it belongs to them. All we have left is our hope for the Autobots, as we salvage them from the rubble left behind."
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.
Amazon's currently offering three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $44.88, 10% off its list price of $49.99. While not a massive discount, this is still a cheaper way to set you up with three months of Game Pass Ultimate compared to what you'd pay for the three months at regular subscription cost. Considering the new price of Game Pass Ultimate is $19.99/month, you're saving $15.09 with this three-month deal, which is well worth taking advantage of to enjoy the massive Game Pass library.
What's Coming Soon to Xbox Game Pass?
Game Pass has a nice rotation of new titles to play every month. If you're curious about what's in store for January, we've got you covered. The Xbox Game Pass January wave 1 lineup is:
Road 96 (Cloud, Console, and PC) – January 7 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard
Lightyear Frontier (Game Preview) (Xbox Series X|S) – January 8 Now with Game Pass Standard
Rolling Hills (Console) – January 8 Now with Game Pass Standard
EA Sports UFC 5 (Cloud and Xbox Series X|S) EA Play – January 14 Game Pass Ultimate
Diablo (PC) – January 14 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
Unfortunately, for those subscribing to the new Standard tier (available for $14.99/month), this does not give Game Pass users access to day one releases. This means big new releases on the platform like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will not be available on that tier.
What Games Are Leaving Xbox Game Pass?
Unfortunately with new games joining the catalog it means a few must take their leave. Below, we've listed the games that'll be leaving Xbox Game Pass on January 15.
The latest big release on the platform is Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which we gave a 9/10 in our review. IGN's Luke Reilly said, "With a host of gorgeous and lavishly detailed levels, satisfying combat hinged on jawbreaking haymakers, and a focus on slow-paced exploration, platforming, and puzzle solving (interspersed with a handful of high-voltage action scenes), The Great Circle is an irresistible and immersive global treasure hunt for Indy fans who’ve felt underserved by the likes of The Dial of Destiny and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."
If you're looking for even more savings on all things Xbox, have a look at our roundup of the best Xbox deals. There, we've highlighted all of the latest and greatest discounts on the platform, from incredible game deals to fantastic offers on high-quality headphones. Or, if you'd rather see what's going on with other platforms, check out our roundups of the best PlayStation deals, the best Nintendo Switch deals, and our overall roundup of the best video game deals.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.
The long-in-development Shadow of the Colossus movie may still have a shot at life, according to recent comments made by director Andy Muschietti.
Muschietti revived hopes for a film adaptation of the classic Fumito Ueda video game during a chat with Radio TU (via Reconectados). It’s not much, but after about a decade without any solid updates, it at least sounds like a feature-length version of Wander and Agro’s story could still come to be.
“I'm not a big gamer, but Shadow of the Colossus seems to me a masterpiece and I played it several times,” Muschietti explained (translated via DeepL). “The movie has been in development for 10 years and now the possibility of making it opens up.”
He continued, doubling down on his desire to bring a Shadow of the Colossus movie to the big screen by saying that it is not “an abandoned project.” It’s unclear why exactly it’s taken more than a decade to get the film out the door, but Muschietti did at least talk a bit about why it’s taking so long to come to fruition. For example, creating a good, movie version of this story involves working with Sony to determine its budget. He said: “There are different versions of the film and obviously I want them to give me 200 million, but this is another factor to take into account.”
“I love that movie, there's a script that I really like, but there are factors that have to do not with your hobby and desire to make it, but with how popular an intellectual property like this is,” Muschietti said elsewhere during the interview.
A film based on the classic giant-slaying PlayStation 2 title first reared its head in 2009, when The Hollywood Reporter reported that Sony Pictures’ Kevin Misher and now-Shogun writer Justin Marks had been tapped to work on the project. While Chronicle’s Josh Trank had originally been picked to direct, Sony would eventually land on It and The Flash director Muschietti to lead the film. That was in 2014, and updates have been few and far between since.
Still, 10 years later, today’s news suggests there may still be a chance for the movie to emerge. Just don’t expect to see it any time soon while the team at Sony works out all of the details. Perhaps more likely at this stage are movies based on Helldivers 2 and Horizon Zero Dawn, both of which were announced at CES 2025.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.
Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.
A datamine of mobile game Pokémon Go has confirmed The Pokémon Company will host a Pokémon Presents event in February 2025.
Established dataminer @mattyoukhana_ revealed on X/Twitter that the Pokémon Go code now references an event connected with what's being called Pokémon Presents 2025. Further text reveals it will take place on Pokémon Day, as expected, meaning February 27.
It's currently unclear when the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal will happen but it appears to be very soon given accessory maker Genki is currently showing off a mockup at the Consumer Electronics Show 2025. It's confirmed to be revealed before the end of March 2025 too.
An announcement ahead of Pokémon Day would certainly make sense, however, as it would allow The Pokémon Company to discuss its next big game during the Pokémon Presents. The February 27 event is the biggest on Pokémon fans' calendar and in the last few years has seen the likes of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet and Pokémon Legends Z-A announced.
This latter game, the next big release coming sometime in 2025, is therefore practically a shoe in for the upcoming event, and is increasingly likely to appear on Nintendo Switch 2 given how little The Pokémon Company has said about it so far.
Pokémon Presents events typically last around 30 minutes and feature big announcements like these alongside myriad on the rest of the Pokémon world. This includes games such as Pokémon TCG Pocket and, as is already known, Pokémon Go, but reveals for the anime, actual card game, and other products are common too.
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.
This includes bundle deals like the recently-announced Max, Hulu, and Disney+ bundle, which is one you absolutely don't want to miss out on. This mega bundle starts at just $16.99/month, which is an astonishing price to have three very popular streaming services right in the palm of your hand. You can learn more about that bundle deal and Max's subscription plans below.
How to Get the Disney Plus, Hulu, and Max Streaming Bundle
It's official, Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery have launched the brand-new Disney+, Hulu, and Max streaming bundle. The bundle can be purchased on any of the three streaming services and starts at $16.99/month for the ad-supported tier or $29.99/month for ad-free access across all three platforms. If you're looking to cut down on streaming costs and currently own all three of these, this is an excellent bundle to invest in. It'll save you quite a bit compared to what you'd pay for the three of them separately – 34% on the ad-supported plan and 38% on the ad-free plan!
If you're just looking to sign up for a standard Max subscription, you have four different options to choose from:
$9.99/month with ads
$99.99/year with ads (Save $19 off the monthly plan)
$16.99/month ad-free
$169.99/year ad-free (Save $33 off the monthly plan)
The ad-free tier also allows users to download shows and movies to watch on the go. Both of the tiers allow up to two concurrent streams.
Max also has an additional Tier called Max Ultimate Ad Free, and it's the most premium tier of them all. The details are as follows:
$20.99/month, ad-free with four concurrent streams
$209.99/year, ad-free with four concurrent streams
There is currently no Max free trial available as of January 2025.
Max: Bundle to Best
Alongside the big Max/Hulu/Disney+ bundle deal, Hulu also offers its own bundle deal with Max if you just want to have those two services. Simply pick out your Hulu base plan, which starts at $9.99/month, and then add Max to your account for an additional $9.99/month with the ad-supported plan or $16.99/month for the ad-free plan. If you'd like to learn more about Hulu's bundles, visit our page on Hulu's best bundles and deals right now.
What Is Streaming on Max?
Max brings together content from the old HBO Max service and Discovery+ under one roof. From Discovery, this includes programming from brands like HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Magnolia Network, and more. Some of the shows include Property Brothers, House Hunters, Fixer Upper, among others.
The service also maintains much of the content from HBO Max, including its slate of HBO Originals like The Last of Us, Euphoria, Succession, Barry, Curb Your Enthusiasm, White Lotus, House of the Dragon, and more. It also includes DC's slate of movies like Black Adam and The Batman, as well as other popular films like Dune: Part Two and Barbie. Plus, Max continues to house popular streaming series like Friends, Full House, and the Harry Potter movie collection.
In our updated 2024 review of Max, we gave it an 8/10, stating that, "For all its problems and an app that still runs a little too heavy, the extensive selection of well-curated choices make Max a worthwhile investment for cinema and TV lovers."
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.
Below, we've detailed all of the best Hulu deals and bundles so you can get started on your streaming adventures with its library right away. This includes the brand-new Hulu, Disney+, and Max streaming bundle, which starts at just $16.99/month and is currently the best value available for the streaming services following the Disney Plus and Hulu price hikes. To see even more streaming and bundle deals, make sure to check out our roundups of the best Disney Plus deals and the best Max deals.
How to Get The Disney Plus, Hulu, and Max Streaming Bundle
It's official, Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery have launched the brand-new Disney+, Hulu, and Max streaming bundle. The bundle can be purchased on any of the three streaming services and starts at $16.99/month for the ad-supported tier or $29.99/month for ad-free access across all three platforms. If you're looking to cut down on streaming costs and currently own all three of these, this is an excellent bundle to invest in. It'll save you quite a bit compared to what you'd pay for the three of them separately - 34% on the ad-supported plan and 38% on the ad-free plan!
Hulu deal for students — Get Hulu (With Ads) for just $1.99/month
If you're a student enrolled in a university (a US Title IV accredited college or university, per Hulu's website), you can sign up for Hulu (With Ads) for $1.99 a month. That's an excellent deal if you're a student, saving you $6 on the usual monthly price.
Hulu subscription tiers
Hulu is available in a couple of different tiers. The least expensive option is the ad-supported tier, which comes in at $9.99/month. This gives you access to everything exclusive, tons of movies, Hulu Originals, children's programming, and more. If you want to ditch the ads, the ad-free plan is $18.99/month.
Hulu: Bundle to Best
If you want a more affordable option when it comes to a Hulu subscription, you can't go wrong with a bundle, and Hulu has several to choose from:
Hulu + Live TV (With Ads) —Hulu + Live TV (With Ads) is $82.99/month and includes Disney+ and ESPN+. It also gives you access to more than 75 channels with live TV and unlimited DVR functionality.
Hulu + Live TV (Ad-Free) —The ad-free version of Hulu+Live TV is $95.99/month and comes with ad-free versions of Hulu and Disney Plus, although ESPN still shows ads.
Disney Bundle Duo Basic —This is the most economic bundle. It will set you back $10.99/month and comes with subscriptions to Disney+ and Hulu. Duo Basic lets you stream on multiple devices at once and comes with ad-supported versions of both Disney+ and Hulu. Plus, Hulu's app has merged with Disney+, so you can now watch everything in one app.
Disney Bundle Trio Basic —The Trio Basic bundle builds on the Duo Basic by adding ESPN+ into the mix, bumping up the price to $16.99/month. You can also download and watch select content on ESPN+ at this level.
Disney Bundle Trio Premium — The Trio Premium bundle is $26.99/month and comes with ESPN+ (with ads) and ad-free versions of Disney+ and Hulu. You can also download select content across all three streaming services.
What can you watch on Hulu?
There is a bonkers amount of shows and movies you can watch on Hulu. Let's start at the top and simply talk about the verticals on offer with the base subscription, because if we also talk about what is available via Disney+, ESPN+, or live TV, we'll be here forever. (You can also sync up Hulu with HBO to gain access to things like Succession and the new season of House of the Dragon.)
Here's what you get:
Network and Hulu Original television shows (AMC, Adult Swim, ABC, A&E, FX, etc.)
Movies (HBO, Hulu Originals, anime films, etc.)
Sports (NHL, Soccer, MLB, Auto Racing, NFL, College Football, PGA, Tennis, etc.)
News (ABC News Live, Good Morning America, World News Tonight, 20/20, The View, etc.)
Hulu television
Hulu has some amazing shows, including many that are finished or are ongoing. For comedy, Community and New Girl are awesome for self-contained highjinks, and It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia has a whopping 16 seasons available. What We Do In The Shadows, Modern Family, Cougar Town, Broad City, Abbott Elementary, and Drunk History; there is a ton of great stuff to get into, whether your sense of humor is edgy or not.
There are also some big originals, like The Bear, The Old Man, The Handmaid's Tale, and Only Murders In The Building.
As far as animated fare, there are modern adult classics like Rick and Morty and Bob's Burgers, as well as Futurama, Family Guy, and King of the Hill. Anime staples like Cowboy Bebop are also available. And if you want to bring more youth-friendly fun, Gravity Falls, Steven Universe, Animaniacs, Adventure Time, and Curious George are just a small sample of what Hulu has available.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.
Original story from Brian Barnett.
<b>Winner: Shogun</b>
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While the race for this year’s winner was close, there is no other choice for the top slot than the impeccable, intricate and intriguing Shōgun. The show — which was originally meant to be a limited series but has since been renewed for Season 2 at FX and Hulu — is immediately gripping in its first episode, demanding the attention of the audience in ways few shows know how to do these days. We are immediately plunged into the political and religious conflict plaguing the honorable Lord Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) and his loyalists. While characters like Toranaga, Blackhorne (Cosmo Jarvis) and Mariko (Anna Sawai) are quick to win our hearts, the secondary performances of Tadanobu Asano as the slippery Yabushige and Moeka Hoshi as the quietly devout Usami Fuji ensure Shōgun’s ensemble sings in every scene.
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There is no down moment in the series. Even the quietest scenes scream their importance while the actors do their work. There is an authenticity to Shōgun that insists on your undivided attention. In fact, said authenticity was a stipulation of Sanada’s involvement in the series. Acting as a producer as well as actor on the show, Sanada was an integral part of the casting process and had a hand in many aspects of the series.
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From bombastic explosions to sunken ships, quiet moments between conspirators and lovers, and the best use of the queen’s sacrifice play in recent history, Shōgun is undeniably the best show of 2024.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is shrouded in mystery, with plot details a closely guarded secret at Marvel Studios. But we now know one new thing — revealed by the actor who plays The Thing himself.
Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Ebon Moss-Bachrach dodged questions about The Fantastic Four, warning the host that he was media trained and wouldn’t spoil anything about the upcoming MCU film after a cheeky question about Dr. Doom actor Robert Downey, Jr potentially appearing on set.
Kimmel kept at it, sparking Moss-Bachrach into talking in vague terms about the process of doing motion capture work for the superhero. Kimmel then asked if he smoked a cigar during filming, trying to get confirmation that The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ version of The Thing smokes a cigar in the movie, as the comic book version is famous for doing.
"Er, no," was the slightly concerned response.
Then: “Do you say the words, ‘it’s clobberin’ time!’ at any point?”
It’s here Moss-Bachrach perhaps revealed something he shouldn’t have: "I slipped it in there a couple of times."
Amid excited applause, Moss-Bachrach quickly added: “We’ll see what happens! I don’t have final cut on this one. So we’ll see.”
Kimmel, satisfied, thanked Moss-Bachrach for giving him a morsel of new information. “You gave me something that you probably shouldn’t have,” he quipped.
“Yeah, and now it’s going to be a long ride home,” Moss-Bachrach sighed.
In November, Marvel Studios issued an update on The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The upcoming MCU movie, due out July 25, 2025, stars Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing.
Also listed in the update were Ralph Ineson as Galactus, Julia Garner as Silver Surfer, Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich, Natasha Lyonne, and Sarah Niles. The director is Matt Shakman and the producer is of course Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige.
Here’s the official The Fantastic Four: First Steps synopsis:
Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces Marvel’s First Family — Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as they face their most daunting challenge yet.
Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.
Fans are speculating that Robert Downey, Jr. will return to the MCU as iconic Marvel villain Doctor Doom at some point in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, or at least be teased in some way. Feige has confirmed that the Fantastic Four will appear in both Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Microsoft is looking to improve its Windows operating system on handheld PCs such as the Asus ROG Ally X and Lenovo Legion Go by making the software more like an Xbox console.
Microsoft vice president of Next Generation Jason Ronald said at a CES 2025 panel this shift is planned for 2025 and told The Verge it looks to bring "the best of Xbox and Windows together." This comes ahead of Xbox releasing its own dedicated handheld in a few years.
Ronald said during the event: "We’ve been really innovating for a long time in the console space and, as we partner across the industry, it’s really about: 'How do we bring those innovations that we’ve incubated and developed in the console space and bring them to PC and bring them to the handheld gaming space?"
We’re focused on really simplifying that and making it much more like a console experience.
He expanded on this to The Verge, saying Microsoft has spent "the last 20 years building a world-class operating system" that's "locked to the console." It's therefore now working out how to bring that experience to Windows.
"We’re focused on really simplifying that and making it much more like a console experience," Ronald said. "Our goal is to put the player and their library at the center of the experience and not all the [Windows] work that you have to do today."
It's unclear when specific details will come, but Ronald insisted it will be in 2025. "I think we’ll have a lot more to share later this year," he said. "I think it’s going to be a journey and I think you’ll see a lot of investments over time that you’re starting to see already, but we’ll have a lot more to share later this year."
The handheld gaming PC market has erupted over the last few years, perhaps inspired by the incredible success of the Nintendo Switch. Valve paved the way for PC developers with the Steam Deck, though others such as Asus and Lenovo soon followed.
For those who enjoy physical media – and why not, considering how pricy some streaming services are getting – there's been plenty of fun older movies getting the 4K treatment lately that are a real treat to add to the collection. The latest 4K release dropping in just a few months on March 25 is Tommy Boy, which is getting a 4K UHD steelbook for $29.99 (see here at Amazon). If you've been itching to add this classic comedy to your 4K collection, get your preorder in now at the link below.
Tommy Boy 4K UHD Steelbook Editions Are Up for Preorder
There's a steelbook edition with a yellow background available on Amazon that features fun artwork on the front and back cover that's sure to stand out in your collection. Alternatively, Walmart is selling a steelbook edition that comes with a two-sided poster. Either way, alongside the 4K UHD remaster of Tommy Boy, these steelbooks also comes with a Blu-ray and digital copy of the film to cover all your bases.
You can see a running list of what's releasing in the coming months in our breakdown of upcoming 4K UHD and Blu-ray release dates. This covers everything from films to television shows, both new and older, getting a 4K or Blu-ray release this year. So, if you're an avid collector of physical media, it's worth keeping track of what's still to come in the months ahead for 2025 to get ahead of the game.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelancer who writes with the guides and commerce teams here at IGN.
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![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/N5zg699us4wHDwLJQXHLK7.jpg "A Unitree Go1 robot dog doing a "handstand" at CES 2025")
