Developer Noodle Cat Games has announced Cloudheim, a new multiplayer action-adventure/survival/crafting game due out next year in 2026 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. It boasts a Zelda-like art style and a powerful physics-based combat system.

Noodle Cat hopes that the crafting mixes with the multiplayer and the physics-driven team-based combat and gameplay and lead to memorable gameplay sessions. You can take a look at the announcement trailer above and a bunch of first screenshots in the gallery below.

IGN will have more on Cloudheim as development progresses.

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.

The Switch 2 Nintendo Direct now has a time as well as a date: 6am PT on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. That’s 9am ET and 2pm UK time.

Nintendo has said it will use this Nintendo Direct to share a “closer look” at Switch 2, following its drive-by reveal of the console last month.

That reveal offered a look at the Switch 2 form factor, a glimpse at what looks like Mario Kart 9, and teased a potential ‘mouse’ mode for the new Joy-Con.

But there are still a number of unanswered questions about Switch 2, including what the mysterious new Joy-Con button does, how powerful the console is, and what its new ports might be used for.

The Nintendo Direct will also, hopefully, give us the full Switch 2 launch lineup of games as well as a release date, which is expected to be at some point between June and September 2025. Fingers crossed Nintendo announces the Switch 2 price, which analysts predict will be $400.

We are starting to build a picture of what to expect on Switch 2 in terms of games. There is a long list of rumored third-party titles coming to the console, and in an interview with IGN, Civilization 7 developer Firaxis called Switch 2’s apparent Joy-Con mouse mode "definitely intriguing.” French video game and accessories maker Nacon, publisher of the likes of Greedfall 2, Test Drive Unlimited, and RoboCop: Rogue City, has said it has Switch 2 games ready to go. The long-awaited Hollow Knight: Silksong is also rumored to be set for Switch 2. And just this week, EA said Madden, FC, and The Sims would all be a great fit for Switch 2.

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.

Universal has released the debut trailer for Jurassic World Rebirth, offering a good look at what to expect from the hotly anticipated action movie when it comes out in July.

The trailer, below, sets up the Scarlett Johansson-led team, which heads to a remote island that’s home to dinosaurs deemed too dangerous for the original park and, it turns out, is the research facility for the original Jurassic Park.

It doesn’t sound like the best of ideas, but apparently DNA from the eggs of the world’s three most massive dinosaurs will help create a drug that could save countless lives. As you’d expect, things do not go according to plan.

A new era is born. Watch the trailer for #JurassicWorldRebirth now. Exclusively in cinemas July 2. pic.twitter.com/BflkN6BQX1

— Universal Pictures UK (@universaluk) February 5, 2025

Here’s the official blurb:

Anchored by iconic action superstar Scarlett Johansson, breakthrough talent Jonathan Bailey and two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali, this action-packed new chapter sees an intrepid team racing to secure DNA samples from the three most colossal creatures across land, sea and air. Also starring acclaimed international stars Rupert Friend and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, the film is directed by dynamic visualist Gareth Edwards (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) from a script by original Jurassic Park screenwriter David Koepp.

Five years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion, the planet’s ecology has proven largely inhospitable to dinosaurs. Those remaining exist in isolated equatorial environments with climates resembling the one in which they once thrived. The three most colossal creatures within that tropical biosphere hold the key to a drug that will bring miraculous life-saving benefits to humankind.

Academy Award nominee Johansson plays skilled covert operations expert Zora Bennett, contracted to lead a skilled team on a top-secret mission to secure genetic material from the world’s three most massive dinosaurs. When Zora’s operation intersects with a civilian family whose boating expedition was capsized by marauding aquatic dinos, they all find themselves stranded on an island where they come face-to-face with a sinister, shocking discovery that’s been hidden from the world for decades.

Ali is Duncan Kincaid, Zora’s most trusted team leader; Emmy nominee and Olivier Award winner Jonathan Bailey (Wicked, Bridgerton) plays paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis; Emmy nominee Rupert Friend (Homeland, Obi-Wan Kenobi) appears as Big Pharma representative Martin Krebs and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo (The Lincoln Lawyer, Murder on the Orient Express) plays Reuben Delgado, the father of the shipwrecked civilian family.

The cast includes Luna Blaise (Manifest), David Iacono (The Summer I Turned Pretty) and Audrina Miranda (Lopez vs. Lopez) as Reuben’s family. The film also features, as members of Zora and Krebs’ crews, Philippine Velge (Station Eleven), Bechir Sylvain (BMF) and Ed Skrein (Deadpool).

Last month, Jurassic World Rebirth’s writer confirmed it has a sequence from the first Jurassic Park novel that didn’t make it into 1993’s seminal Jurassic Park movie, sparking speculation online. This is a sequence in which Dr. Grant and the two children (who are not characters in this new movie) attempt to drift through a lagoon in a rubber raft without waking a slumbering Tyrannosaurus rex. They don't succeed, and end up paddling for their lives, Vanity Fair confirmed.

Image credit: Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment.

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.

Marvel has denied using AI to create posters for The Fantastic Four: First Steps after fans spotted one image that includes what appears to be a man with just four fingers.

Marketing for The Fantastic Four: First Steps kicked off this week with a teaser for its debut trailer, as well as a series of posters published to social media.

One of these posters, below, raised eyebrows after fans noticed the man holding the largest Fantastic Four flag on the left appears to be missing a finger.

MultiVersus will shut down when Season 5 ends in May, but the sweeping changes to combat speed that were introduced in a new update have fans enjoying its gameplay now more than ever — and even sparked a #SaveMultiVersus trend on social media.

The community for the Warner Bros. platform fighting game woke up ready to dive into its fifth and final season when it launched yesterday, February 4, at 9am PT. Developer Player First Games had spelled out plans to shutter the project last week, teasing that the update would include DC’s Aquaman and Looney Toons’ Lola Bunny as its last playable characters. What was poised to be a somber sendoff for MultiVersus actually brought on extensive movement changes across the board, resulting in a much faster-paced experience overall. It’s a fundamental adjustment that players have begged Player First to implement for years, and it arrives just as things are coming to an end.

“#SaveMultiversus” https://t.co/xZAfif5XAe pic.twitter.com/CfDAJ13erF

— Mlick (@Mlickles) February 5, 2025

Players first took notice that combat in Multiversus had been sped up after Player First published a Season 5 Combat Changes Preview video on X/Twitter. For those who have played the free-to-play Warner Bros. fighting game in the past, the differences are impossible to ignore, as characters can be seen chaining together combos and moving across the screen faster than ever before. It’s a substantial shift away from the floaty gameplay fans criticized during the MultiVersus beta test in 2022, and it’s even faster than what was seen when it relaunched in May of last year.

Season 5 update patch notes reveal that the increase in combat speed comes as a result of a reduction to hitpause “across most attacks in the game.” It means stringing together combos will be faster than you remember regardless of who your main is, with a handful of specific characters receiving additional adjustments to their speed, too. Morty, LeBron, Iron Giant, Bugs Bunny, Black Adam, and many more feel especially quick thanks to changes that allow them to fast fall when using certain aerial attacks. Garnet, meanwhile, now has stronger ringout potential on the ground and weaker ringout potential in the air to help level out her impact as an already fast character.

>game dies

>they finally start doing clever marketing

>they actually improve the gameplay

Yeah sounds about right https://t.co/2375drzNCU

— Bring Back Banjo (@BringBackBanjoK) February 3, 2025

MultiVersus Season 5 turns the nearly one-year-old fighting game into something almost completely different, and those diving in already are finding far more to enjoy than just two new characters. The problem is that this... is it. Just as Player First finds its footing with an update that delivers long-awaited gameplay changes, MultiVersus will completely shut down come May 30. Its demise will bring the end of seasonal content drops as well as its removal from digital storefronts as Warner Bros. Games guts online play from the experience entirely, leaving only offline modes for fans to experiment with.

Now, fans are left feeling shocked and powerless as MultiVersus becomes the experience they’ve always dreamed of just in time for it to completely shut down. X user @PJiggles_ commented on the changes, calling MultiVersus “the most interesting bad game in existence,” referring to its beta rollout, 2024 relaunch, and sudden combat speed increase. Professional Super Smash Bros. player and content creator Jason Zimmerman (a.k.a. Mew2King) replied to a Player First post to ask why movement speed was increased now and not earlier.

“I know everybody's been playing the blame game when there likely isn't a single individual or even group who deserves the entirety of the blame,” one Reddit user said, “but man, if this was how the relaunch started off we could’ve really had something. (Apex Legends) is probably one of the worst monetization schemes out there but it lasted so long because it nailed the fundamentals at the start.”

It’s painful, especially as players gather not only to mourn the game’s demise but to celebrate such a drastic leap in quality. Reddit user Desperate_Method4032 said the Season 5 update fixed “every issue I had with the game,” explaining that things like touched-up shield animations helped turn MultiVersus into an experience that looks and feels far more polished. Although the gameplay shakeup follows confirmation of shutdown plans, they said the “potential” has them hoping Warner Bros. could reverse course.

“I'm not naïve,” Desperate_Method4032 said. “Just a fan with tons of love for the characters showcased in this game. But is it so wrong to have just LITTLE bit of hope that the game will make a comeback? There's just far too much potential to let things end like this. Not when the game finally feels like it found its footing.”

Sooooo

You announced the game was shutting down but then fixed the thing that made players quit

What https://t.co/YfvGsOiEv5

— Colin (@IntroSpecktive) February 4, 2025

Unfortunately, while some are expecting the worst and hoping for the best, Player First and Warner Bros. show no sign of backing down from their plan to cease service this summer. MultiVersus game director Tony Huynh took to X earlier this week to share a few closing thoughts while addressing long-unanswered player questions and concerns. Warner Bros. also disabled real-money transactions as of January 31, leaving players unable to purchase content without using previously earned in-game currency. The Season 5 premium battle pass has been made free for all players as one final gift.

MultiVersus will go dark, for good this time, at 9 am PT on May 30. While Warner Bros. has already initiated its shutdown plans, players are finding some joy by creating and sharing memes. It’s a bittersweet moment for the fighting game community as they relish a game that finally lives up to their expectations just before it meets its end.

This is what it feels like seeing everyone playing S5 #MultiVersus #SaveMultiVersus pic.twitter.com/7DS03efXCg

— Spider-Man For MultiVersus #SaveMultiVersus (@SpiderManForMVS) February 4, 2025

Multiversus dropping good gameplay while on its death bed https://t.co/gnxRAegeeO pic.twitter.com/r2QGcE6W6x

— Sho (@Shoyoumomo_) February 4, 2025

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor 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).

2025 looks like a stacked year for triple-A video games. Not only do we have the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 and its exclusive games to contend with, but we’ve got a long list of big hitters set for later in 2025, such as Borderlands 4, Mafia: The Old Country, and Ghost of Yōtei. And then there’s the inevitable new Call of Duty from Activision, no doubt set for October or November.

But the big one is Rockstar’s guaranteed behemoth Grand Theft Auto 6, which is still down for release in fall 2025 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S. Will it be delayed? Parent company Take-Two is so far sticking to the fall 2025 release window, but it’s that uncertainty coupled with all the other huge shooters coming out that means EA’s Battlefield may face a tricky job carving out some space for itself.

EA has the next Battlefield down for its 2026 fiscal year, which means before April 2026. That’s prime GTA 6 territory right there, and maybe even prime Call of Duty and Borderlands 4 territory. So, how much does EA have to consider release dates from competing games when it comes to working out when to launch Battlefield?

A fair bit, EA CEO Andrew Wilson admitted in a recent financial call — and it may even be willing to delay Battlefield if it has to.

“Certainly we exist in a competitive marketplace,” Wilson said in response to a question from an analyst on this exact topic. “I've had the great fortune to be in this company for 25 years and we have done a great job of competing with all of our great franchises over time.

“That being said, we've invested more in this Battlefield than any Battlefield before. We have four studios. We've had a meaningful amount of time. We're looking for this to be the biggest Battlefield we've ever made. And we of course want to make sure that we launch that into a window where we can deliver on the fullness of the promise of what Battlefield can be and grow the community to a level that is commensurate with the size of the game that we're making.

“I do believe that this year might be a nuanced year relative to competition. There may be some things happening in the year that may cause us to think differently about our launch timing. We have an FY 26 launch window that the team is targeting. We believe the game will be great and ready at that time, but if we got close to that timeframe and believed that this wasn't going to be a great window for us, then we would take a look at what an alternate window might be that would give us the appropriate time, energy, and player acquisition opportunity for this Battlefield to be all that it needed to be.”

As it stands, the new Battlefield will be out before April 2026. Let’s say November 2025 (Battlefield 2042 came out November 2021 and Battlefield 5 came out November 2018). What if GTA 6 launches in or around then? Perhaps EA will, in response, push Battlefield back to the first quarter of 2026, still making its fiscal year.

But what if it intends to release Battlefield Q1 2026 already, and then Rockstar announces a GTA 6 delay to Q1 2026? Could EA bring Battlefield forward? Or maybe it would, in that case, push Battlefield out of the fiscal year and into the next. That would be a big decision, but based on Wilson's comments, something EA is prepared for.

You can see why EA, and, we’ve heard, many other third-party publishers are holding their breath as they wait for Rockstar to announce the news the entire industry is hanging on: the GTA 6 release date. Once that’s out in the open, whether it’s for this fall as planned or a delay into 2026, all the other pieces will fall no doubt into place.

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.

Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket developer Creatures Inc. has gifted players 1,000 Trade Tokens — enough for just two significant trades — as it continues to investigate ways to fix the controversial mechanic.

Players logging in today will find the Trade Tokens in their Gift menu with no message, but Creatures Inc. posted on X/Twitter to thank fans for their feedback and patience. The developer was last week called "hilariously toxic," "predatory," and "downright greedy" after finally introducing trading to the trading card game.

Alongside the standard Pokémon TCG Pocket mechanic that restricts players from opening packs or Wonder Picking or, now, trading too much without spending real world money, the feature was also introduced with these Trade Tokens as an extra restriction. Players criticized the high cost of obtaining these, as they essentially had to delete from their collections five cards before trading one of the same rarity.

It's now been eight days since Creatures Inc. released trading to the incredible backlash, but it did have a heads up that fans weren't impressed when it outlined the feature almost three weeks ago. "Your concerns are seen," it said at the time. "Once this feature becomes available, I'd like to invite everyone to try it and provide feedback."

This made many players believe things would be better than expected, but this wasn't certainly the case. Creatures Inc. eventually responded by admitting "some of the restrictions put in place are preventing players from being able to casually enjoy" trading.

It also promised to alleviate complaints by introducing required items as rewards in upcoming events but has already failed to do so as the Cresselia ex Drop Event released February 3, includes none.

Fans complained trading is fairly clearly being implemented as a means of increasing revenue for Pokémon TCG Pocket, which is estimated to have made $200 million in its first month, before trading was possible.

This is also evidenced by the inability to trade cards of 2 Star rarity or higher, as if players could immediately trade for their missing cards, they wouldn't need to spend $10 or $100 or more for a random chance of getting them. It cost one player around $1,500 just to complete the first set, for example, and the third in three months arrived last week.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

As you’d expect, EA is eyeing the Nintendo Switch 2 as a platform for its games. In a recent financial call, CEO Andrew Wilson was asked directly about Nintendo’s next-gen console, and he replied to suggest the company has plans to release many of its games there.

Wilson singled out EA's money-spinning sports franchises, Madden and FC, as potentially finding “real energy” on Nintendo Switch 2, and also pointed to The Sims as a game that could do well on the console.

“Anytime a new console comes into the marketplace that's of a benefit to us, it gives us the ability to access and acquire new players,” Wilson said. “Typically, we've had franchises perform very well on Nintendo platforms. Certainly our expectation is that products like FC and Madden and others might find real energy on the platform as they have done in the past.

“When you think about something like The Sims and the My Sims cozy bundle, which performed well ahead of our expectations, 50% of all players were new to EA. That represents a great opportunity for us.

“So again, nothing in our models at this juncture, but our expectation is that anytime a great new console comes in the marketplace that gives us access to new players and new communities, that we have the IP that will benefit from that.”

While it comes as little surprise to hear the likes of Madden and FC will be released on Nintendo Switch 2, fans will be wondering what version of those games they can expect on the console. Historically, EA has released what it calls “legacy” versions of FIFA on Nintendo Switch, but in recent years it has aimed for feature parity for the rebranded FC franchise. Given the Switch 2 will be a more powerful console than its predecessor, perhaps FC 26, say, will be closer to the FC 26 on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.

Now Nintendo has announced the Switch 2, we’re starting to build a picture of what to expect on it in terms of games. There is a long list of rumored third-party titles coming to the console, and in an interview with IGN, Civilization 7 developer Firaxis called Switch 2’s apparent Joy-Con mouse mode "definitely intriguing." French video game and accessories maker Nacon, publisher of the likes of Greedfall 2, Test Drive Unlimited, and RoboCop: Rogue City, has said it has Switch 2 games ready to go. The long-awaited Hollow Knight: Silksong is also rumored to be set for Switch 2.

As for Nintendo, we know it’s working on a new Mario Kart. Expect to find out more at a Nintendo Direct in April.

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.

Star Wars Celebration 2025 will feature an official appearance from Sequel Trilogy star Oscar Isaac, sparking rumors of Poe Dameron's return to the galaxy far, far away.

The official Star Wars Celebration Instagram announced Isaac's appearance at the event, which takes place in Tokyo from April 18 to 20. Rey actress Daisy Ridley appeared at Star Wars Celebration 2023 and announced she would appear in a new film, so fans are wondering if Isaac will do the same.

The Sequel Trilogy wrapped up in 2019 with the infamous Star Wars: Episode 9 - The Rise of Skywalker, and Isaac has gone through the motions of sharing his distaste for appearing in Star Wars to being open to a return.

He said in 2020 he would only return to the franchise if he needed "another house or something" but had changed his mind by 2022, telling Variety he had "no real feeling one way or another" and was therefore "open to anything."

Isaac has otherwise criticised Star Wars owner Disney for turning down his proposal of a romance between Poe and John Boyega's Finn, saying the "overlords were not ready for that." Boyega similarly came away from the Sequel Trilogy with negative feelings towards Disney and the franchise but also made comments about being open to any roles later.

Speculation is therefore brewing over a potential return of all three main characters in the Rey film, which will take place roughly 15 years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker as she looks to rebuild the Jedi Order.

Ridley has already expressed her desire for Boyega to return alongside her, and with Poe making up the final part of the Sequel Trilogy's main trio, his return could make sense too. Definitive answers could come at Star Wars Celebration 2025, but fans will otherwise be waiting a while to see what comes together.

This is because Disney has delayed the impending Star Wars films again and again despite having more than a dozen announced. The Rey film, which is directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, hasn't been locked in as of yet but its earliest potential release date is now December 17, 2027.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

As Respawn’s battle royale Apex Legends nears its sixth birthday, EA has said it’s failing to do the business for the company, and outlined plans for what it called Apex Legends 2.0.

Speaking in a financial call on its third quarter results, EA said that Apex Legends net bookings (revenue) were down year-over-year, but performed in-line with the company’s expectations.

During a question and answers session with analysts, EA CEO Andrew Wilson was asked for an update on the performance of Apex Legends, and his response was clear: Apex Legends is a huge game with millions of players, but it’s simply not making enough money for EA.

“Apex is probably one of the great new launches in our industry over the last decade and has been loved by that core cohort and we've had over 200 million people play the game,” Wilson began. “However, the trajectory of the business of that franchise has not been headed in the direction that we have wanted for some time. We have been trying, tuning, and testing many things in the context of the ongoing support of the community.

“As we think about Apex today, I really think about the development happening across three core vectors. The first is how do we continue to support this incredible community that plays the game day-in and day-out, which numbers tens of millions of people, and that's both quality-of-life, anti-cheat, and all of the things that make the core experience great as well as the creation of new content for that community.

“And we continue to try and test and develop more and great content for that community. And I would say we have seen some progress in that, but probably not as much as we would have liked.”

So, what’s EA going to do to turn Apex Legends around in financial terms? Wilson said it’s working on a major update to the game, what he called Apex Legends 2.0, that sounds designed to reinvigorate the franchise, bring more people into the game, and, yes, make more money.

However, Wilson said he doesn’t want to release Apex Legends 2.0 on top of the next Battlefield, which is due out before April 2026. It’ll come out after that, so, probably, at some point during EA’s 2027 fiscal year ending March 2027.

“We do believe there will be a time where we need to do a more meaningful update of Apex as a broad game experience, and the team is diligently working on that,” Wilson said. “You should imagine we probably wouldn't drop that on top of a Battlefield launch. And so from a timing standpoint, our thinking right now is that that would exist post-Battlefield.

“And then on a longer-term time horizon, again, these franchises that exist at this level and have this much fan love don't come along all that often. What I think we've demonstrated as a company is an ability to build franchises that last 10, 20, 30 years and growing.

“Our expectation is that Apex will also be one of those franchises and that sometime on a longer-term time horizon, there will be an even bigger, more meaningful update to that broader game experience, an Apex 2.0, if you will. This will not be the final incarnation of Apex.

“So the team remains incredibly committed. We continue to invest behind the core community who continues to play, that numbers in the tens of millions of players. We do believe that there should be a more major update that will probably happen after a Battlefield launch just in terms of timing, and the team is diligently working through what that would be.

“And then longer-term, our expectation is that we'll continue to expand what this franchise is and how we support a core community of highly competitive players and new communities that want to come and experience all the greatness that Apex has to offer.”

Apex Legends 2.0 sounds a bit like what Activision tried with Call of Duty battle royale Warzone, which rebooted somewhat with a 2.0 version in 2022. The jury is still out on whether that was the right move, with fans of the free-to-play shooter often reminiscing about Warzone as it was in the first two years of its life. The situation with Apex Legends is different, of course, but EA will be mindful of how its competitors in the battle royale market have fared as they work to grow its player base.

Speaking of which, Apex Legends remains one of the top-played games on Steam via concurrent player count (Microsoft and Sony do not make player numbers public). However, it is well past its peak on Valve’s platform, and is on a trajectory to hit record lows.

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.

EA CEO Andrew Wilson has commented on the financial failure of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, saying it failed to "resonate with a broad enough audience."

Last week, EA restructured Dragon Age developer BioWare to focus on Mass Effect 5 only, meaning some who worked on The Veilguard were moved to projects at other EA studios, while other staff were laid off.

The decision followed EA’s announcement that Dragon Age: The Veilguard had underperformed on its expectations for the long-awaited action RPG. EA said Dragon Age "engaged" 1.5 million players during its recent financial quarter, which was down nearly 50% from the company's projections.

IGN has chronicled some of Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s development challenges, including layoffs and the departure of several project leads at different stages.

According to Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, BioWare staff believe it was a miracle Dragon Age: The Veilguard released a complete game “after EA forced live-service into it, then reversed course.”

Now, speaking in an investor-focused financial call, Wilson suggested its role-playing games need to have “shared-world features and deeper engagement alongside high-quality narratives.”

“In order to break out beyond the core audience, games need to directly connect to the evolving demands of players who increasingly seek shared-world features and deeper engagement alongside high-quality narratives in this beloved category,” Wilson said in prepared remarks.

“Dragon Age had a high-quality launch and was well-reviewed by critics and those who played. However, it did not resonate with a broad enough audience in this highly competitive market.”

Reading between the lines, Wilson is suggesting that if Dragon Age: The Veilguard had “shared-world features" and “deeper engagement,” it might have sold more copies. But it’s hard to understand that position when you consider EA backed BioWare’s major reset of Dragon Age. As IGN has reported, this reboot saw Dragon Age shift from the skeleton of a multiplayer game with repeatable quests, a tech base, and the outline of a story, to a full-blown single-player RPG.

Fans are already saying EA has learnt the wrong lessons from Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and are pointing to the enormous success of single-player only RPGs that have been released recently, including Larian’s all-conquering Baldur’s Gate 3. Either way, it seems Dragon Age is now dead, at least for the foreseeable future. But what does this all mean for Mass Effect 5?

EA CFO Stuart Canfield touched on EA’s decision to restructure BioWare to focus on the next Mass Effect, which has reportedly involved cutting the 200-person studio down to less than 100 people.

“Historically, blockbuster storytelling has been the primary way our industry bought beloved IP to players,” Canfield said. “The game's financial performance highlights the evolving industry landscape and reinforces the importance of our actions to reallocate resources towards our most significant and highest potential opportunities.”

It’s worth noting that single-player only games make up a tiny portion of EA’s overall revenue. The bulk of the company’s cash comes from live service (74% in the last 12 months). Ultimate Team is doing the heavy lifting here, but there are live service contributions from everything from Apex Legends to The Sims. The upcoming Skate is a live service, and the next Battlefield will inevitably be treated as such, too.

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.

Fellow bargain hunters and gaming connoisseurs, rejoice! Today's finest deals have landed, and as per usual, I'm here to sift through them. Whether you’re a platforming aficionado, a hardcore shooter fan, or a lover of social-calendar-destroying RPGs, there’s something for everyone. Let’s stop yacking and start saving.

In retro news, I’ve whipped up a wumpa fruit-flavoured cake for Crash Bandicoot 2's 26th birthday. I can vividly recall getting my arse handed to me at launch as I tried to jump, spin, body slam, slide, duck, and "death route" conquer my way to every gem needed for its secret ending.

I also have fond memories of a Simpsons pisstake of this franchise deployed around the same year. Apparently, "Dash Dingo" needed to find and devour "seven crystal babies" in the "Down Underverse" lest he spend eternity trapped in deep didgeridoo. Frankly, I'd rather play Knifey Spoony: The Video Game.

This Day in Gaming 🎂

Aussie birthdays for notable games.

- Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back (PS) 1999. eBay

- XCOM 2 (PC) 2016. Get

Table of Contents

• Nintendo Switch
• PC
• Xbox
• PlayStation
• LEGO

Nice Savings for Nintendo Switch

• Joy Con Comfort Grips (-50%) - A$10
• FAR: Lone Sails (-90%) - A$2.25
• Yoku's Island Express (-80%) - A$5.40
• Worms W.M.D (-80%) - A$9
• NEO: The World Ends with You (-60%) - A$33.98

Expiring Recent Deals

• What Remains of Edith Finch (-75%) - A$7.49
• Suikoden I&II HD Remaster (-14%) - A$69
• SteamWorld Quest (-90%) - A$3.79
• Trials of Mana (-60%) - A$31.18

Or gift a Nintendo eShop Card.

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Purchase Cheap for PC

• Battlefield 1 (-95%) - A$2.49
• Resi 4 Gold (-49%) - A$37.09
• Resi Village (-66%) - A$19.38
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As a PC gamer, sometimes you just want to crank up the graphics settings. But certain compromises need to be made with handheld gaming PCs and modest laptops. Filling that void in power is the goal behind the Ayaneo AG-01, a starship-inspired graphics dock that combines a docking station with a dedicated AMD Radeon 7600M XT graphics card to instantly boost the performance and expand connectivity on your Windows gaming handheld or notebook. It’s not the only dock to offer such features but it’s easily the most interesting and while it’s still expensive at $600, it’s reasonably priced compared to the competition with similar feature sets.

Ayaneo AG-01 – Design and Features

The Ayaneo AG-01 is probably the most unique external GPU available today. While it covers the basic features you would expect from a product like this, namely that it includes a dedicated graphics card with easy connectability to your handheld or underpowered notebook, Ayaneo has invested considerable effort in its aesthetic – making it look like a spaceship. Or, as Ayaneo puts it, a “graphics starship.”

Strange? Maybe a bit. But if there's one thing you can give to the company, it’s that its products always stand out. A clear line can be drawn from the retro theme of Ayaneo’s handhelds to much of its catalogue over the last year and this is certainly in a similar vein. The chassis of the dock is a mix of red and black (and is also available in gray). There's a knob on the left side that acts as a power button and performance selector between 100W and 120W, indicated by an RGB ring encircling the knob. The right side has the company name, product name, and GPU branding embossed in silver. There's also a small “Remake” badge that is reminiscent of the VHS era and a magnetic nameplate carrying the name of Ayaneo's founder, Arthur Zhang. Maybe I spend too much time considering PC components, but I also think it looks an awful lot like a desktop graphics card without the fans.

There’s more than pretty looks at play here. The chassis is made of metal to better help dissipate heat generated by the GPU. There are also prominent vents traced across its top and sides and active cooling to blow that heat out and keep performance high. That’s especially important here because, like all eGPUs, you’ll also be facing bandwidth limitations compared to if that card were natively installed in your system via PCI-E.

Around the back, you'll find its connectivity options. This is also where it becomes apparent that while it is a docking station in the traditional sense, it is much more targeted toward graphics in particular. For example, it includes both a USB4 Type-C port as well as an AccuLink port to connect to your device. You can also connect external monitors using either of its two HDMI 2.1 ports or its DisplayPort 2.0 outputs.

In addition, it features a single USB Type-A port, a gigabit ethernet connection, and a single pole jack for its power adapter. Around the left side, beneath the thruster vents, there is a removable panel that reveals an SD card slot for quick expandable memory for your device. Additionally, if you flip the unit over to the bottom, you'll find a quick-release plate opened with a locking knob that reveals an M.2 2280 SSD port to easily add larger, faster storage. This is perfect if your device has limited capacity and you want to maximize your transfer speeds and minimize loading times, though it runs at PCIe 3.0 USB speeds. In my testing, this was typically around 800 MB/s for both read and write.

The GPU driving the experience is the AMD Radeon 7600M XT. The "M" in its name indicates that this is actually a laptop chip that has been repurposed as a small-footprint eGPU (the entire unit measures 9.45 x 4.65 x 2.01 inches and weighs just over two pounds). The chip uses the RDNA 3 architecture and includes 32 compute units and 2,048 stream processors on a 128-bit memory interface. It also includes 8 GB of GDDR6 video memory, running at 18 Gbps, leading to a total memory bandwidth of 288 Gbps.

Looking for a new gaming system to take on the go?

Be sure to check out our guide on the best handheld gaming PCs!

If you are new to the world of eGPUs, it's important to note that you shouldn't expect the same level of performance from this chip as you would if this card were plugged or integrated directly into the motherboard. How a GPU connects to a system will have a direct impact on the performance and frame rate you can expect. When connected over USB4, you have a maximum bandwidth of 40 Gbps. However, the real world performance of USB4 is typically less. Connected over OCuLink, the maximum bandwidth is 64 GBps and does translate to higher FPS pretty much across the board.

USB4 offers some great features, however, like reverse 100W charging. If you connect using both OCuLink and USB, you can charge your device while playing. Ayaneo notes that the ethernet, USB, and SSD ports all share the same 10 Gbps of bandwidth, however.

Depending on your gaming needs, the knob on the top can swap between 100W and 120W power modes, feeding the GPU more juice to maximize frame rates. The fans can become quite audible but no more than a normal gaming laptop, and it wasn’t distracting when wearing a pair of headphones – and to me, the trade-off to get better frame rates was worthwhile.

Another thing that I like about the AG-01 is that it's self-enclosed. You really don't need to worry about software and instead can just plug it in and go. When so many devices rely heavily on software customization, including most Ayaneo products, it’s refreshing to have a device that’s ready to go out of the box.

It makes more sense to think of the AG-01 as an upgrade kit.

The final point worth remarking on is its cost. Initially, I was a bit taken aback by its $600 asking price. However, this is largely in line with competing devices and is in fact a bit cheaper than a number of others. A near-identical dock from BOSGAME is nearly $100 more, even with its $100 coupon, as is the ONEXGPU from ONEXPLAYER and the GPD G1. The only 7600M XT graphics dock I could find that costs less was the Minisforum MGA1 which lacks ethernet, a second HDMI 2.1 port, and any kind of expandable storage. If you don’t need those things, however, its specs make it a competitive value at less than $500 as of this writing. With this feature set, however, the Ayaneo AG-01 is competitively priced.

Ayaneo AG-01 – Performance

The AG-01 delivers on its promise: It instantly enhances the performance of compatible gaming handhelds and notebooks. It's simple and intuitive to use and just works. Well, with a couple of small caveats. First, while you can hotswap with the USB4 connection seamlessly like a Switch dock, OCuLink requires a full shutdown and restart to function. Second, you need to connect through OCuLink in order for the dock’s expandable storage to be recognized.

I was able to test the dock with both my Ayaneo Kun handheld which runs on an AMD Ryzen 7 7840U processor and Radeon 780M integrated graphics. For some quick OCuLink comparisons, I used the GPD Duo laptop, which features an AMD Ryzen 9 AI HX 370 processor with Radeon 880M graphics and a newer RDNA 3.5 architecture. What’s impressive is that the AG-01 via OCuLink is better every time, and would continue to be so even on two identically specced systems. But no matter which connection method you choose, you can count on a big increase in gaming performance compared to integrated GPUs currently on the market.

Note that I conducted my tests using the 120W power mode and the benchmarks below reflect that. Given that the dock will be plugged into a wall outlet when in use, it doesn't make much sense to limit graphics power to only 100W unless volume levels are a primary concern. I also used a locked 1080p resolution to keep comparisons consistent.

Ayaneo AG-01 Benchmark Results

These are very good results – in most cases, turning on the external GPU versus just using a system’s built-in processor bumps performance anywhere from 50% to almost double what the integrated GPU is able to provide. Of course, the amount of uplift will depend on which APU your system is currently running, however, it's unlikely that you'll experience anything other than a significant performance uplift when paired with what’s available now.

Throughout my tests, I generally tried to dial up the settings to something that would look great on an external monitor. To my surprise, this also improved performance compared to using the built-in display on the Ayaneo Kun. It was usually around five to ten fps, but it’s nice to know that you can have an even better experience when moving to a larger display.

If you happen to be in the market for a multi-purpose external GPU, it’s worth considering.

If your device supports it, OCuLink should be your connection method of choice. In my testing, it typically offered anywhere from 30% to 50% increases in average frame rate at the same settings. Some of this is due to the newer processor in my test system but it certainly doesn’t take all the credit. The higher bandwidth makes a meaningful difference and lets the AG-01 shine.

I also outfitted the dock with a Team Group M.2 SSD. Due to the USB connection, it didn’t offer the same kind of speeds you would expect if it were installed directly into a motherboard. The SSD itself is rated for 1,800 MB/s read speeds and 1,500 MB/s for writing data, and as I mentioned above, both typically hovered around 800 MB/s due to bandwidth limitations. If the goal is to use an SSD to minimize loading times, however, it’s perfectly fine and is an exceptionally easy way to increase the storage of your device.

These days, pretty much any thin, light, and reasonably powerful laptop is considered an ultrabook (apart from gaming laptops). The term "ultrabook" may have been born out of Intel's marketing team to describe high-end, premium laptops, but it is not limited to just Intel-powered ultrabooks anymore. At its core, an ultrabook should deliver outstanding productivity performance while also being slim, lightweight, and highly portable. It's a reliable laptop that won't weigh you down or force you to carry a charger everywhere you go.

TL;DR – These Are the Best Ultrabooks:

The best ultrabooks available today can be downright suprising with just how capable they are given their size and weight. Our overall best pick right now, the Asus Zenbook S 16, competes with high-end desktops all while sipping the smallest amount of power and running exceptionally quietly. From budget-friendly offerings to powerful workhorses capable of editing 4K video and beyond, these are the best ultrabooks you can buy right now.

1. Asus Zenbook S 16

Best Ultrabook in 2025

2. HP Pavilion Aero 13

Best Budget Ultrabook

3. Razer Blade 14

Best Ultrabook for Gaming

4. Microsoft Surface Laptop 11

Best for Students

5. Asus Zenbook S 14

Best for Business

6. Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Max)

Best Ultrabook for Creatives

How We Chose the Best Ultrabooks

To find the best ultrabooks, we first define what qualities an ultrabook needs to have to, a) be an ultrabook instead of a normal, if lightweight, laptop; and, b) be one of the best choices you can buy today. Any ultrabook needs to be thin, light, and have extended battery life. It needs to be dedicated to high-performance productivity, and if it can play games, that’s icing on the cake.

To form our list, we first evalutate the ultrabooks that we’ve reviewed and spent time with. With those early contenders written down, we consult other expert sources from across the web and look into major offerings from noteworthy brands (an ever-growing list). Critical impressions from industry experts are important, especially as they relate to our first criteria, and benchmark scores and real world impressions are all considered. We then turn to the community, poring over user reviews, Reddit recommendations, and cautionary tales to find the ultrabooks that are enhancing the lives of real users on a daily basis.

After compiling a list of the best choices, we break that down into key categories to help recommend the best ultrabook to you, no matter what kind of user you are. Whether you’re a work by day, game by night kind of user, a student, or a business professional that needs a dependable notebook to carry them through the day without weighing them down, we have the best picks, right here on this list.

Things to Consider When Shopping for an Ultrabook

Buying an ultrabook is not a minor investment, so you shouldn’t rush when making your decision. Before looking at ultrabooks, you’ll want to set your maximum budget – this means you won’t exceed what you can afford, allowing you to configure the right ultrabook to suit your needs. If you’re on a lower budget, you may need to sacrifice more powerful specs. Rather than looking at ultrabooks with 16GB of DDR5 RAM, for example, you could drop down to 8GB of DDR5 or even DDR4 RAM to save a bit of money.

Similarly, if you’re not fussed about using your ultrabook to play AAA games, integrated graphics like Intel Iris XE Graphics or Intel Arc Graphics will be plenty suitable. Rather than splashing out on an Nvidia RTX GPU, you can spend your money elsewhere on other components and features.

However, if you do have the budget to go big, then you’ll want to choose an ultrabook that’s more futureproof. With the latest generation of hardware, your ultrabook will last longer and won’t have to be upgraded as often. A 14th Gen i5 or i7 CPU or an AMD Ryzen 7000 or 9000 series processor with RTX 4000-series or AMD Radeon 7000-series GPU is a great place to start.

FAQs

What is an ultrabook laptop?

Intel coined the term “ultrabook” back in 2011 to describe laptops that are exceptionally thin, light, and use powerful hardware. These days, the term gets thrown around a bit more broadly to encompass laptops that aren’t necessarily the most powerful, but are exceptionally portable and are powerful enough to easily accomplish day-to-day productivity tasks with ease. Most ultrabooks also offer extended battery life so they can reliably get through a full eight-hour work day without dying on you.

Is a MacBook considered an ultrabook?

While a MacBook isn’t technically an ultrabook because it’s made by Apple, it could be considered a type of ultrabook. MacBooks are powerful yet lightweight laptops running on Apple’s macOS.

Are ultrabooks good for gaming?

Ultrabooks are not gaming laptops, so if fragging enemies or gaining levels is your bread and butter, you would be better suited with one of the best gaming laptops. With that in mind, if you’re willing to play at lower graphics settings or resolutions, it’s certainly possible to play games on many newer ultrabooks. Intel and AMD have made strides with the built-in gaming capabilities of its processors. Cloud gaming is another viable option that tends to work very well on ultrabooks, but requires a subscription to Xbox Game Pass, Nvidia GeForce Now, or other related game-hosting services.

Christopher Coke has been a regular contributor to IGN since 2019 and has been covering games and technology since 2013. He has covered tech ranging from gaming controllers to graphics cards, gaming chairs and gaming monitors, headphones, IEMs, and more for sites such as MMORPG.com, Tom’s Hardware, Popular Science, USA Today’s Reviewed, and Popular Mechanics. He is the current subject matter expert on laptops for IGN, personally covering most laptop reviews. Find Chris on Twitter @gamebynight.