Full spoilers follow for Doctor Who Season 2, Episode 2, “Lux”.

Doctor Who’s latest episode, “Lux”, is a gloriously weird outing from showrunner Russell T Davies that delivers just the right balance of chaos and charm. But beyond the surface-level delights of its fourth-wall-breaking mischief, something about this episode is now rattling around in my brain and won’t sit still. Not only because it was entertaining, but because it might be the smoking gun for something far more ambitious and strange going on behind the scenes.

Over the past few weeks, an increasingly bold leaker known only as 'Andrew' has been dropping oddly specific plot details from Season 2 of Doctor Who (15th of the revived era, and 41st of the series overall). Detailed, beat-by-beat spoilers, including character returns, major twists, and even claims that Ncuti Gatwa is departing at the end of the season, with no replacement in sight and another Who-hiatus looming.

Normally, I’d file this under the usual noise and move on. Doctor Who fans and haters alike have always given off a bit of a doomsday cult vibe. But, “Lux” has since aired, and one of the leaks was bang on: The Doctor and Belinda literally break through a TV screen to chat with Doctor Who fans, as characters in the show, watching the episode. It’s an incredibly meta, knowingly cliché gag, and a great fourth wall-breaking moment. But most interestingly, one of the fans turns to the camera and says, “I knew this would happen because it leaked online. #RIPDoctorWho.”

So what’s going on here? That scene was filmed some two years ago (Season 1 and 2 had back-to-back production schedules) and will now certainly raise more than a few eyebrows. And yet, I can already see a few ways this might be playing out. First: Maybe it’s all just a coincidence. The leaks were unintentional, and that standout line in "Lux" is simply one of those absurd, once-in-a-blue-moon alignments of fiction and reality. The kind of mind-bending prediction you’d expect from The Simpsons, and one that’s got me spiralling into conspiracy territory with no one at the wheel. Still, weirder things have happened.

Second: Somehow, Russell T Davies had a prophet-like vision, saw it all coming two years in advance, and wrote it in. Yeah, that’s also a bit of a leap, so I highly doubt it.

Third: What if the leaks aren’t accidental at all? There were a couple from the opening episode that were accurate, and now some in the follow-up. Perhaps they were planted deliberately, but only small, mostly harmless titbits, and are meant to prime the fandom discussions without giving too much away. The rest? A bluff, just noise to muddy the waters.

But indulge me in a fourth scenario for a moment. What if there’s more to this? If the leaks were deliberate, I’m not entirely convinced the show would opt to only mess with the core fandom just the once. Stay with me here, but what if every single leak was planted as part of a larger meta-marketing campaign, with the story eventually folding that chaos into itself? Light the kindling with the line from “Lux”, and watch it burn all the way to the finale as fans try to piece the season together, matching it up to the leaked info and wonder if they are getting played, or if this is just one big mess.

It might sound outlandish, but Davies has already been gleefully rewriting the rules of Doctor Who since his return. He’s not just playing with form; he’s baked in fantastical elements, permanently swapped “gravity” for “mavity,” pushed the show into strange, reality-warping territory it’s never fully embraced before, and thrown in more than a few fourth wall breaks. What’s one more step over the edge to him? And now this? It’s just a bit too on the nose to ignore.

And what about that #RIPDoctorWho line? With no renewal announcement from Disney and radio silence from the BBC, Davies hasn’t exactly done much to quell fears of a looming hiatus, even hinting at a break in interviews like his recent one on BBC’s Newsround. So keeping that line in feels… deliberate. It could’ve been cut without fuss.

Just how far does this go? Is Davies, in a devilishly meta bid for buzz, deliberately feeding the idea that the leaks signal the show’s end? It’s also not the only reference to the show’s supposed “end” either, as “Lux” closes with Mrs Flood dropping this zinger: “If you want to see a good show darling, I can recommend this one. Better warn you though, limited run only, show ends May the 24th.”

On first impression, it’s just another playfully ominous line that harks back to the fourth wall breaks from earlier in the episode. But that May 24th date isn’t random: it’s when part one of the season finale airs, and it’s also the exact date the Doctor is trying to return companion Belinda to as part of the season's narrative arc. Doctor Who has flirted with airdate symmetry before, but never this overtly, folding it right into the script.

Taken together with the #RIPDoctorWho gag, these feel less like throwaway jokes and more like morbidly self-aware nods to show’s recurring death knells, written long before the current silence around its future. Or, perhaps more optimistically, these are meta breadcrumbs leading to something far bigger, like a surprise recommission waiting in the wings. Hopefully, it’s the latter.

Yet, if the show really is weaponising fan anxiety over its future, building an entire meta-marketing campaign around it years in advance… then it’s either a stroke of unhinged, runaway genius or the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Senior Editor, Commerce, for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter/X or Bluesky.

Star Wars: Zero Company, Bit Reactor's upcoming new Star Wars tactics game, has been officially revealed at Star wars Celebration today for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X and S with a release window of 2026.

Zero Company takes place in the "twilight of the Clone Wars," and stars Hawks, a former Republic officer commanding an elite squad of operatives taking on a growing new threat. It's a single-player game, featuring turn-based tactics gameplay, and is said to incorporate "meaningful outcomes from player choices".

Gameplay will involve taking on various tactical operations and investigations all across the galaxy, and in between developing a base of operations and gathering intelligence through an informant network. Zero Company features a cast of brand new Star Wars characters spanning a range of different character classes and species, including a squad that players can swap in and out as they see fit. The main character, Hawks, is also customizable in both appearance and character class.

Star Wars: Zero Company is being developed by Bit Reactor, a new studio staffed with strategy game veterans, with support from Lucasfilm Games and Respawn Entertainment, and publsihed by Electronic Arts. This is the first we've seen of the game, after it was rumored for a long time and ultimately teased by EA just last week.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

The Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration 2025 was filled with teases for Season 2, a first look at Rory McCann as Baylan Skoll, stories from the making of the series, and much more. To ensure you don't miss a thing, we're here to break it all down in one place for you.

While we have yet to see footage of Season 2 of Ahsoka or get a release date, we did learn a bit about what we can expect in these new episodes and it's about time we jumped right in.

First Look at Rory McCann as Baylan Skoll in Ahsoka Revealed at Star Wars Celebration

The Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration gave us our first look at Rory McCann as Baylan Skoll in Season 2. For those unfamaliar, McCann is taking on the role after the passing of Ray Stevenson.

Stevenson died just three months before the premiere of Ahsoka, but his portrayal of Baylan was the high point of the series for many fans.

Ahsoka series creator Dave Filoni talked more about the challenge of moving on after Ray, especially because he was "the most beautiful person on screen and off." However, while it took some time, he is "confident Ray would be happy with the direction we've chosen."

For Filoni, Baylan is meant to be the parallel to Ahsoka in every way, and he's so grateful that "there's a blueprint for what this character should be because Ray had played him so iconically." Lastly, Filoni noted that he felt very fortunate to meet and cast McCann, as he knew his "whole focus was not letting Ray down."

Hayden Christensen Is Officially Returning as Anakin Skywalker in Ahsoka Season 2

After playing an important role in the first season of Ahsoka, it was confirmed at Star Wars Celebration that Hayden Christensen will officially be returning as Anakin Skywalker in Season 2.

We didn't learn much about what Anakin's role will be in these new episodes, but Christensen did stop by the Ahsoka panel to discuss returning as the beloved character.

"It was a dream to get to do," Christensen said. "The way they conceived how to do it was brilliant in getting to explore the World Between Worlds. I thought it was all really exciting."

This was also obviously a big deal for Ahsoka series creator Dave Filoni as he joked he knew he needed to work with Christensen/Anakin again and had to "invent entire dimensions to make it happen."

For Christensen, one of the joys of returning as Anakin was being able to bring to life a version of the character from the Clone Wars that he really didn't get to play.

"All of this had been presented well in the animated world, but I was really excited to do that in live action," Christensen said. "As much as I love the traditional Jedi robes I wore during the prequels, it was exciting to get to see Anakin with a new look."

Ahsoka Will See the Return of Many More Familiar Faces

The Ahsoka panel didn't feature a traditional trailer, but it did give us a glimpse into what we can expect from Season 2 and who we can expect to see return. The trailer had no moving footage and was just filled with images, but it did confirm Sabine, Ezra, Zeb, and Chopper will all be back.

Elsewhere in the panel, it was revealed that Admiral Ackbar will have a big part to play in the upcoming story and will face-off against Grand Admiral Thrawn. There will also be incredibly adorable Loth-Kittens and, according to Filoni, "X-Wings, A-Wings, and Wings I can't tell you about."

We don't yet know when Ahsoka will be returning to Disney+, but it was shared that the team is still re-writing episodes leading into production starting next week.

Behind-the-Scenes Stories Reveal More About Ahsoka

Alongside the big reveals for Season 2, we learned a lot more about Ahsoka, its inspirations, and more from the actors and creatives who brought it to life. It all began with Filoni sharing that he has been very inspired by Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazki in his life and that his favorite movie is Princess Mononoke. In fact, that film is the reason Ahsoka has two wolf fangs on her cheeks.

Filoni was joined by Jon Favreau and Rosario Dawson on stage and they talked a bit about how the Ahsoka series was brought to life. It all began after Season 1 of The Mandalorian and happened when Filoni and Favreau were taking about what they should bring to life next.

Filoni's love for Ahsoka Tano is no secret as he helped create her with George Lucas, and the pair agreed they should play with the idea of bringing her to live-action. This led to them doing an episode for Season 2 of The Mandalorian featuring her after finding the right person and aesthetic for the character.

We all know now that Rosario Dawson was the one chosen to play Ahsoka in live-action after Ashley Eckstein played her so wonderfully in the animated world, and Dawson talked about what it was like to find out she'd be playing the character.

This all happened after the big online push for Dawson to play Ahsoka, and Filoni and Favreau both agreed she'd be great for the character. When it was time for Dawson to get the role, she said they showed her art and drawings they had done of her as the character and she needed to mute herself on the video call because she was jumping up and down and freaking out.

Even still, they were treating this Ahsoka apperance as a one-off as they still weren't sure they could make Ahsoka work long term.

"Even if this never happens again, I’m so grateful," Dawson said. "It was just so magnificent on so many levels. To see the fan reaction that allowed this story to continue was a dream come true.”

As we all know, Ahsoka's journey would continue far beyond that one episode. While there was still doubt they could get Ahsoka on screen on a day-to-day basis as it was a complicated thing, it all proved to be worth it in the end.

"When we started to move into the Ahsoka episodes with revisted characters like Bo-Katan, everything shifted toward a continuation of what Dave and George had done with animation while culminating storylines that already been established," Favreau said.

For the team, Ahsoka is not so different from watching A New Hope as it it starts in the middle of Ahsoka's journey and there is so much that came before and after. It just made perfect sense.

There is also so much yet to learn about Ahsoka, and Dawson is just as excited about us as getting to explore and fill out her story.

"I did not know where this character was going in live action," Dawson said. "I could understand her fear, anxiety, and stress and desire to help from afar. She wasn't willing to take over the mentor role herself, so it became a wonderful thing that I got to explore."

For more, check out why Ahsoka delivers such a powerful testament to Anakin Skywalker's legacy and all the biggest news from The Mandalorian & Grogu and Andor panels.

Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on TikTok.

This review contains full spoilers for Doctor Who Season 2, Episode 2, “Lux”.

Following a disappointing season premiere, this week’s Doctor Who is a meticulously crafted descent into a retro-tinged nightmare, where daring storytelling collides with a pervasive, unsettling atmosphere. The TARDIS doesn't arrive in the expected sun-drenched glamour of 1952 Miami, but rather in its subtly sinister twilight. It’s a period setting rendered in immaculate detail: pastel hues, sharply tailored costumes, and a lovingly recreated slice of mid-century Americana. Drawn into a mystery surrounding 15 missing patrons at a once-bustling picture house, what begins with echoes of a standard Doctor Who caper, even cheekily evoking Scooby-Doo, quickly spirals into something far stranger and more ambitious.

That ambition is most profoundly realized in the work of director Amanda Brotchie and animators Framestore, whose contribution to this episode is fantastic. With fine finesse, they’ve managed to channel the kinetic energy and whimsical charm of the Fleischer Studios' animated heyday, crafting an unsettling combination of colorful whimsy and insidious presence in the form of Mr. Ring-a-Ding. Masterfully embodied by Alan Cumming, who delivers a tour-de-force vocal performance, the villain feels like he's stepped directly out of a 1930s cartoon reel, not just in style, but in physics, posture, and that off-putting grin. It’s classic rubber-hose animation, brought to life and warped just enough to feel wrong, possessed, and dancing to a silent, unsettling rhythm, tactically amplified by Murray Gold’s wonderfully creaky and classically Hitchcockian score.

If there’s a bum note to this, it’s the reveal that Mr. Ring-a-Ding is Lux, another all-seeing, all-knowing cosmic deity – a character type Doctor Who is certainly guilty of overindulging in these days. It’s hardly a fatal flaw, and the nightmarishly animated devil still manages to exert a captivating influence over the episode. Moreover, the reveal lends to a fitting end for the villain, with the god of light released to join the celestial tapestry above us in a surprisingly poetic send-off. But fingers crossed we don’t see another one-off fantastical god in disguise anytime soon.

The animated brilliance of “Lux” extends beyond Mr. Ring-a-Ding. Amid the episode’s chaos, the Doctor and Belinda are unexpectedly thrust into a cartoon reality, a turn in the story that transcends mere gimmickry. The resulting sequence is a delightfully bizarre and frenetic experience, brimming with quippy puns and one-liners delivered with the pace and precision of the best early Simpsons episodes. After the pun-laden stumbles of the season opener, it’s a relief to see Russell T Davies wield his wordplay with actual purpose: Not just twisting phrases for plot’s sake, but crafting lines that carry rhythm, wit, and a surprising amount of heart. Crucially, the inherent absurdity of the sequence never undermines the episode's sincerity, maintains tension, and exhibits a pacing that is atypical of Doctor Who, a show often constrained by its tight runtime. Against all odds, it not only works, but ends before it wears out its welcome.

That goes double for the episode's even bolder swing: a gleefully clichéd fourth-wall break where the Doctor and Belinda crash straight through a television screen into a modern-day living room, startling a set of bewildered Doctor Who fans mid-episode. With the fans decked out in stereotypical Who-dress-up – Tom Baker's scarf, Matt Smith's fez – it does come off as a bit too on the nose at first. However, the reveal of Mr. Ring-a-Ding's involvement and the fact that it’s actually part of the illusion swiftly recontextualizes the scene. As a result, it feels a lot more affectionate without pandering, folding fandom into the fiction, and smartly avoiding any strained winks or jabs. To my surprise, the whole detour ends up doing more than simply breaking the fourth wall; it starts to toy, with real intent, at the boundaries between fiction and reality, going so far as to brazenly acknowledge the online leaks that spoiled the scene’s very existence. It caught me off guard in a way the show rarely does, and I still haven’t quite decided whether it’s genius or not.

Yet, beneath all the meta references and structural flair, “Lux” is ultimately anchored by a powerful emotional core that pulses throughout the episode. While some of the dialogue still feels a little janky or rushed in places, and the supporting cast remains one-note – more functional than fleshed out – the episode’s simple, chaotic center still shines. Plus, any shortcomings on the periphery are quickly eclipsed by the leads, who make the episode feel like a stage built just for them. Ncuti Gatwa delivers yet another standout performance as the Doctor, carefully channeling the mischief of the character’s past incarnations with the warmth and gravitas of a silver-age superhero. There’s real conviction in his quieter moments, like promises to a grieving mother and reflections on how his humble police box gives people hope. It all lands like a statement of intent for Doctor Who itself. Gatwa’s scenes with Varada Sethu aren't drowned out by exposition but resonate with a dynamic rhythm shared by equals. I also especially love that Belinda being a nurse isn’t treated as a throwaway backstory – it’s embedded in her every instinct as a character, shaping how she operates. (It’s already propping up some great interactions with the Doctor.) The fact that she’s only been in the TARDIS for two weeks is astonishing. She somehow already feels foundational.

Score: 9/10

Verdict:

It was just revealed at Star Wars Celebration that Hayden Christensen will officially return as Anakin Skywalker in Season 2 of Ahsoka.

While we didn't learn much about what role Anakin will play in Season 2, it will undoubtedly be exciting news for fans that Ahsoka's time with her former master has not yet come to an end.

Christensen stopped by the Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration and shared what it was like returning to the character.

"It was a dream to get to do," Christensen said. "The way they conceived how to do it was brilliant in getting to explore the World Between Worlds. I thought it was all really exciting."

Ahsoka series creator Dave Filoni then joked that he had to find a way to work with Christensen/Anakin again and had to "invent entire dimensions to make it happen."

Christensen also shared that he and the team had many conversations about what else Anakin was up to during the Clone Wars.

"All of this had been presented well in the animated world, but I was really excited to do that in live action," Christensen said. "As much as I love the traditional Jedi robes I wore during the prequels, it was exciting to get to see Anakin with a new look."

Later in the panel, Filoni talked about how their shared work experience with George Lucas helped form a bond when determining how to bring back Anakin. This let them fill in each other's gaps in knowledge and let them create a really full interpretation of the character.

"I always have George's voice in the back of my head saying, 'faster, more intense!'" Christensen added.

For more, check out why Ahsoka delivers such a powerful testament to Anakin Skywalker's legacy, the first look at Rory McCann as Baylan Skoll in Ahsoka Season 2 and all the biggest news from The Mandalorian & Grogu and Andor panels.

Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on TikTok.

Star Wars Celebration has given us our first look at Rory McCann as Baylan Skoll in Season 2 of Ahsoka. For those unfamiliar, McCann is taking over as Baylan following the death of Ray Stevenson.

While we have yet to see McCann in action, the Ahsoka panel at Star Wars Celebration gave us a first-look image that you can see below.

Stevenson, who was also known for his work in Thor, RRR, Punisher: War Zone, Rome, and more, passed away from a brief illness three months before the premiere of Ahsoka. For many, Stevenson's portrayal of Baylan was the series' high point so far.

Ahsoka series creator Dave Filoni shared that losing Ray was obviously one of the biggest challenges in developing Season 2, especially since he was "the most beautiful person on screen and off."

Filoni and the team then revealed a bit more about what we can expect from Season 2, including that Hayden Christensen will return as Anakin Skywalker alongside Admiral Ackbar, Zeb, Chopper, and more.

In our review of Ahsoka's first season, we said it "struggles in its early episodes as the series works to get viewers up to speed on characters and concepts introduced in Dave Filoni’s animated Star Wars shows. But once the actors and cosmic plots are really given time to shine, Ahsoka finds a wonderful mix of rich lore, humor, and big battles that make it feel like classic Star Wars while also forging a path to something new."

For more, check out where Ahsoka ranks on our list of the best Star Wars Disney+ live-action TV shows and our explainer of the ending of Season 1 of Ahsoka.

Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on TikTok.

We’re on Day 2 of Star Wars Celebration 2025 in Japan, and IGN has all the details on the Andor: Season 2 panel happening right now! Stars Diego Luna, Genevieve O’Reilly, Adria Arjona, Denise Gough, Kyle Soller, Alan Tudyk, and creator Tony Gilroy were on hand to tout the new season, which launches its first episode on Disney+ on April 22. (Andor Season 2 will make its broadcast debut on ABC and FX on Wednesday, April 23, at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.)

Follow along below for live updates:

Diego Luna Says to Watch Rogue One After Andor Season 2

Diego Luna took the stage to inform the fans in attendance that Season 2 is “so big in every possible way. Everything matters so much because we’re getting close to Rogue One. We have all the characters from Season 1 plus many new characters. Many familiar faces you might be expecting. It’s going to be intense.”

Luna added, “Then when you finish watching the season, you should go to Rogue One because you're going to see (it as) a different film.”

Gilroy said that with Season 1’s storyline, “we took a whole year to do the whole season. Season 2, we’re going to do 4 years in one season. Each three episodes represent one year. We’re dropping them three a week. It’s basically like dropping a movie every week. We try to find the most important three to four days (story-wise) in each year to land on.”

Andor Season 2 Will Be "More Ambitious"

Executive producer Sanne Wohlenberg said this season is “wider, larger, more ambitious. Our extraordinary team really outdid themselves.” The second season boasts 140 sets across 7 stages. 2 backlots, 700 costumes for principals, 150 creatures, 30 droids ad 4100 VFX shots!

Gilroy said that “we’ll follow everyone you like and love. Cassian’s at center, but there’s a chorus all around him. We will tell every story full out. We go all in on all of them all the way.”

“For Mon Mothma, we start somewhere, this season takes us to whole new worlds. Whole new characters. We start in Chandrila. We start with a wedding and all the complications that brings.
Then we drive and we reach. For Mon, in particular, we see her have to work under the eyes of the Empire. We go to some dark places this season. She must step out of the shadows and risk everything to speak some truth.”

Deep Diving Into Andor Season 2 Characters

As for Dedra Meero’s arc this time around, Denise Gough said, ”We found out where Dedra comes from in this season. A little bit about maybe what makes her who she is. Things get real strange. Just to be part of this thing, every character is so fully drawn. I’ve never been part of such an ensemble. Dedra really shows herself this season. It wasn’t so much girl boss. It was much more fascist this season.”

Kyle Soller said the relationship between Dedra and his character Syril Karn is “really weird." Syril starts out the season feeling really good about himself. Promotion, new friends, on a new planet. Flexing the small amount of power he has in his little pocket of the Empire. Trying to flex this [Soller then pointed to Gough].”

Soller added, “It’s an amazing relationship because them coming together and opening themselves up to each other ultimately forces them into extreme situations that they never anticipated. So it’s pretty spicy.”

“When we first meet Bix in season 2, she’s left her home,” said Adria Arjona. “She’s really trying to reconstruct herself. Coping with everything that happened with Dr. Gorst. You get a sneak peek into this special relationship that starts forming (with Cassian). In this season, you really get to see these two characters come together.”

K-2SO Is Back on the Screen!

Andor Season 2 sees Alan Tudyk reprise his role from Rogue One as the droid K-2SO. Tudylk said: ”I always held up hope that K-2SO would return. I really wanted it to happen. I held out for my own spinoff, K2-Fast, K2-Furious. But Tony is a better writer. He has made an amazing show. We get to see how K and Cassian meet and the birth of K-2SO will be seen this season. It’s beyond anything I could have hoped. It feels like a very important series and it’s great to be a part of.”

K-2SO and Tudyk’s absence was keenly felt by Luna. “I missed Alan badly. It was seven very tough years. I was laughing the moment i saw him back in his very tight suit. We spent a lot of time in a cockpit. He’s the most generous and nicest partner you can have in a scene. He was always finding a way to make it more interesting, more fun. As an actor, that's beautiful. I never knew it was going to be so much fun. K is a character that has a soul. Alan took the character to another level. It was nice and awful to see how that character gets born.”

The Andor panel then concluded with an exclusive treat for the fans there: the screening of the first episode of Season 2! (Look for IGN’s review next week.)

For more Star Wars Celebration coverage, find out the latest on The Mandalorian & Grogu, the Ryan Gosling-starring Star Wars: Starfighter (and when it happens on the timeline), Star Wars Outlaws, and the new Darth Maul animated series.

Avatar: The Last Airbender is one of the greatest cartoons of all time. The story of Aang and friends has been adapted into a movie, a live-action series, and multiple video games. But the end of that story isn't actually the end of the story. There have since been a series of graphic novels that continue Aang's journey after the fall of Firelord Ozai and before the start of The Legend of Korra.

There have been five Avatar: The Last Airbender graphic novels released since the end of the animated series, and a new box set was just released that features all of them. Not only that, Amazon just recently dropped the price down to $83 in a historic new low.

Avatar: The Last Airbender Omnibus Boxed Set Sale

Here's your best opportunity to sign up for an Audible membership at a stellar price. Starting now and running through April 30, you can sign up for three months of Audible Premium Plus for just $0.99 per month. Premium Plus is Audible's highest tier plan and normally costs $14.95/mo. As a additional subscription perk, you get a free audiobook of your choice for each of those three months and you get to keep them indefinitely.

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Anyone who doesn't currently have an active Audible membership should be eligible. That includes new subscribers as well as existing members whose subscriptions have since expired. There's always a small your-mileage-may-vary disclaimer with these types of promotions, but fortunately it's easy to check if you qualify: log into your account, and if you see the $0.99/mo banner right on Amazon's Audible page then you're eligible for this promotion.

3 Months of Audible Premium Plus for $0.99 per Month

My standing desk was the most expensive purchase I made for my office when I had to start working from home. Whether it’s gaming or working at my computer, the constant sitting was beginning to take its toll on my lower back, and that made it ideal to switch to a standing desk. And if you find yourself looking to transform your workspace, the Autonomous SmartDesk 5 Pro is a good choice, designed with the user in mind. From its built-in cable management to its ability to preset your perfect desk heights, not to mention how easy it is to assemble, it’s an investment worth making.

Autonomous SmartDesk 5 Pro – Putting It Together

The instructions for the Autonomous SmartDesk 5 Pro show the number “2” with two people holding a box. So, it was easy to assume that I needed someone else to help me move the two boxes the desk came in (57lbs for the desktop and 85lbs for the frame) up a flight of stairs. And, I did. But from there, outside of one of the pages marked with the same two-person icon when you need to unpack the desktop and when the desk needed to be flipped upright, there were no other demarcations for two people on the other pages.

I am 5’4” and I don’t usually struggle when it comes to picking up and assembling things around the house. However, assembling the Autonomous SmartDesk 5 Pro is solidly a two-person job, if you want to hit the suggested 15 to 30 minute assembly time.

Admittedly however, I like to make everything hard for myself and that means I put the Autonomous SmartDesk 5 Pro by myself and was too stubborn to ask for help once it was upstairs. This made my solo assembly time just about 45 minutes. This was due in large part to trying to balance the two legs of the frame and move the heavier elements while holding another element upright.

The truth is, though, as hard as it was to manage putting together the base without a large wingspan myself, the Autonomous SmartDesk 5 Pro is very simple to assemble. This is thanks to the detailed instructions that took the time to include diagrams of every piece of hardware, desk part, and tool used (which was just an Allen wrench).

Additionally, the decision to package each of the hardware pieces in individual plastic bags allows for you to easily remove the specific part you need for each step, reseal the bag, and ultimately not have any mistakes of mixing up parts or misplacing them. It’s clear that a lot of thought was put into the instructions, which focus on delivering visual and numbered text instructions as well, that help guide people through the process versus the meme that Ikea’s barebones instructions have become.

While maneuvering the desk’s heavier parts is difficult to do alone, the actual nuts and bolts of assembling the Autonomous SmartDesk 5 Pro is as easy as can be, making the sub-30-minute completion time an honest representation if you have either the strength, wingspan, or another person to help.

Autonomous SmartDesk 5 Pro – Desktop Surface

The Autonomous SmartDesk 5 Pro’s surface itself is designed so that you don’t need to use a mousepad or desk mat while working. The desktop itself is sleek and smooth and fairly durable. The HDF wood has a powder-coated finish that easily allows the mouse to glide on the surface and helps you keep a minimalist aesthetic. But what really matters compared to the lower-end SmartDesk 5, which is made with MDF wood, is that HDF wood has a higher water resistance and, because it’s denser by nature, makes it more durable. We can all only avoid a spilled drink for so long, making this a solid feature. Additionally, one of the easily missed functional design choices is that the edge of the desk is rounded, allowing you to rest your forearms without applying direct pressure from a hard edge.

However, not using a pad underneath your mouse feels awkward to me. This feature is something you can do, but not necessarily something I’d recommend. Though what you use your desk for specifically will dictate how much mileage you get before adding your desk mat back in.

During the workday while I’m head-down in spreadsheets and other tasks, it’s perfectly fine as a capable desk for the work environment. However, my post-work gaming sessions helped highlight the difference in terms of ease-of-use and functionality. A personal choice more than anything else, the surface texture that eliminates the need for a mousepad at the very least makes it easy for you to achieve that clean girl desk aesthetic you see on Instagram that prioritizes simplicity over clutter – or in my case a giant desk mat with obnoxious anime print on it.

If I have one large critique, it’s that the Autonomous SmartDesk 5 Pro is short when it comes to its side-to-side length, which limits what you can do with it. I have a three-monitor setup that could barely fit on the desk, and that also left little to no room for my filing storage. Because of this, I decided to use it as a work station for this review, housing only my 32-inch monitor, laptop, keyboard, mouse, and laptop dock. While I’m let down by the length of the desk, which only comes in at 53 inches, the depth is something to highlight. At 29 inches, the Autonomous SmartDesk 5 Pro’s depth allows for desktop management without needing to mount your monitors for more space. And while I was using it as a workstation with one monitor, it was ideal, even if my gaming setup was too much for it to handle length-wise.

Need a better chair, too?

Check out our roundup of the best gaming and office chairs!

Autonomous SmartDesk 5 Pro – Cable Management

The cable management system is where the Autonomous SmartDesk 5 Pro really shines. Under the desk surface, there is a built-in hook and cable tray that swings down when open and is held in place by two bolts. When you open it and let it swing back, the Autonomous SmartDesk 5 Pro has a space dedicated to hold the desk’s power brick and a surge protector. But what’s smart about this design is the addition of metal dowels that allow you to wrap cords around to tuck them neatly into place. When you’re done organizing, you’ll just pull it back up and bolt it shut – all doable with your hands.

I am notorious for having bad cable management, so much so that I am no longer allowing myself to set up electronics in the house alone. Under my current desk, I’ve done my best to just shove cables into any small wedge and tie them off in precut holes in the furniture itself. And still, it’s a hellscape, to say the least. When I set up my Autonomous SmartDesk 5 Pro, I was still in a cable-ridden hellscape, don’t get me wrong. But instead of a chaotic web of black and white cords that would have been in plain view, the panel system allows me to hide my shame in peace.

Additionally, because the built-in hook and cable tray is large, you’re able to house multiple cables of varying sizes, and this ultimately deals with the biggest issue I have experienced using every standing desk whether in an office or at home. The length of the cable dictates just how high you can raise the desk before you yank something out of the wall or off of the desk itself, but the size of the tray allows you to house nearly everything, and at the very least, prioritize the shortest cables, helping mitigate this fear. Because they’re stationary in that spot, you can raise the desk as high as you want without worrying about cable restrictions.

The Autonomous SmartDesk 5 Pro also comes with a set of zip ties and a row of silicone cable clips to help you keep things organized. The reason this is interesting is that when I ordered my original standing desk, I needed to choose several add ons like a powerstrip, cable management supplies, and even add on the thin ledge attachment that I could clip below to house a powerstrip. The Autonomous SmartDesk 5 Pro, however, doesn’t try to make organization a “premium” feature, it’s simply part of the whole product, and that goes a long way.

Autonomous SmartDesk 5 Pro – Desk Height

When it comes to adjusting the Autonomous SmartDesk 5 Pro height, you can preset three heights that work for you. My choices were dictated by my sitting height, my standing height, and the height I need when walking on my underdesk treadmill. The in-desk design of the keypad makes it seamless and allows the user to have effortless control. Even if you don’t create saved height profiles, the fact that there is a number display means that you can keep track of the height settings that works for you.

Additionally, the Autonomous SmartDesk 5 Pro features anti-collision which stops the motor and prevents the desk from continuing to move if it detects harsh contact, and it’s meant to prevent damage and accidents. This feature can also be adjusted to your desired sensitivity, so while the recommended setting is 1, you can adjust it to your desired sensitivity. That said, the anti-collision is extremely sensitive, and anything above a 1 setting gets frustrating really quickly. While it’s not a feature I find too much use for, those in a home office who often have children or extremely curious pets will find this valuable.

To cap it all off, the Autonomous SmartDesk 5 Pro is really quiet. The whirring of the motor I heard whenever I lifted my old desk is gone. And while it wasn’t always distracting and a rather small element to call out, the near-silent motor is another feature dedicated to adapting to buyers’ lifestyles and usage needs.

Entertainment has hit critical mass over the last decade, with more shows and movies being produced and released than ever before. It’s impossible to keep up with everything hitting the digital space, whether it be Premium Video on Demand (PVOD) or a traditional streaming network. With that in mind, we figured it was well past time for us to whip up a little something to help you keep up (and catch up) with all there is to watch in the big, wide world of digital viewing. And thus, the Streaming Rewind was born!

We’ll update this list at the end of each week so you can check out what you may have missed, and what’s coming up on the weekend. We’ll keep it a mix of popular releases and noteworthy lesser-known titles to help you find what’s worth taking the risk on as well as dive into a few things that we loved and why we loved ‘em, or just break down a show or movie that left us with some opinions. Sometimes, we’ll even have guest entries from other members of the IGN staff. If you’re not interested in all that and just want to see a bulleted list of what’s out there, pop on down to the New and Noteworthy and ICYMI sections.

Captain America: Brave New World (Digital and Demand)

While it would have been nice if Sam Wilson got his own Captain America movie rather than the Thunderbolt Ross/Red Hulk movie we actually got, Captain America: Brave New World smashes its way onto digital and demand this week if you’ve been waiting on catching up with the latest chapter of the MCU. Though it’s one of the weaker entries to the franchise, it still features strong performances from Anthony Mackie (Cap), Carl Lumbly (Isaiah Bradley), and Harrison Ford (President Ross).

Daredevil: Born Again Season 1 Comes to a Close (Disney+)

Season 1 of Daredevil: Born Again has come to a close. Though Season 1 had to be frankensteined a bit behind the scenes with multiple creative teams being brought in to salvage the project, they managed to deliver a relatively connected and engaging new entry into the live-action Daredevil pantheon. Things come to a close with the city of New York and its subsequent heroes on their backfoot, but never forget that the arc of the universe bends towards justice.

The Woman in the Yard (Digital and Demand)

While The Woman in the Yard was met by a mixed reception, I found Jaume Collet-Serra’s exploration of grief and depression engaging. While it definitely should have ended about three minutes earlier than it did, Danielle Deadwyler grabs the audience’s attention as Ramona, pulling us along with her flawed character as she faces off against Okwui Okpokwasili’s Woman in the wake of her husband’s death.

#1 Happy Family USA (Prime Video)

The animated #1 Happy Family USA is a weird one, but it’s worth giving a few episodes a watch to see if you’re on its wavelength. Co-created by and starring Ramy Roussef as the voice of Hussein, the series follows a Muslim-American family as they navigate life in America post-9/11. The juxtaposition of normal teen life like having a crush on your hot teacher or just figuring out who you’re going to be crashes against the Hussein family reality of fearful neighbors, FBI surveillance and all of the ugliness that came along in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy – all depicted through a comedic lens.

New and Noteworthy This Week:

• Captain America: Brave New World, April 15 — Digital and demand
• The Woman in the Yard, April 15 — Digital and demand
• Government Cheese, April 16 — Apple TV+
• #1 Happy Family USA, April 17 — Prime Video
• The Rehearsal, April 20 — Max

ICYMI:

If you had too much going on last week, here are some of the notable things that premiered or debuted on streaming and digital that you may have missed.

• Novocaine, April 8 — Digital and demand
• Mickey 17, April 8 — Digital and demand
• The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6, April 8 — Hulu
• Black Mirror Season 7, April 10 — Netflix
• Hacks, April 10 — Netflix
• Yellowjackets Season 3 Finale — Showtime
• Doctor Who Season 2, April 12 — Disney+
• The Last of Us Season 2, April 13 — Max

The best LED strip lights can truly transform any space, softly illuminating any area, be it your office, desk, or kitchen. If you really want to make an impact, RGB lights can enhance your gaming PC setup. Whether you’re looking to add a subtle glow under your cabinets or create a vibrant RGB light show in your gaming room, the possibilities are endless.

TL;DR – The Best LED Strip Lights:

Just like smart light bulbs, LED strip lights are savvy investments that can help you save money in the long run. By pairing your lights with a compatible sensor or lighting up smaller areas with fewer LEDs, you can optimize energy usage and reduce your electricity bills. With a wide range of shapes, sizes, and colors available, you can easily find the ideal option to complement your space. Plus, many LED strip lights come with user-friendly apps that allow you to customize the lighting effects to suit your specific needs and preferences. (Here's where to find them in the UK.)

1. Philips Hue Bluetooth Smart Lightstrip Plus

Best LED Strip Lights

2. Wyze Light Strip Pro

Best Budget LED Strip Lights

3. Corsair iCUE Lighting Node

Best LED Strip Lights for PC

4. Elgato Light Strip Pro

Best LED Strip Lights for Streaming

5. Govee RGBIC LED Strip Lights M1

Best LED Lights for Gaming Setups

6. Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite

Best LED Strip Lights for TV

7. Nanoleaf Shapes Triangles and Mini Triangles Smarter Kit (17 Pack)

Best LED Strip Accent Lighting

8. Nanoleaf Essentials Lightstrip

Best Smart LED Strip Light

9. Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights Pro

Best Outdoor RGB Strip Lights

How to Pick the Best LED Strip Lights

Depending on what kind of vibe you want to create, you’ll want to focus on the brightness and color temperature of your chosen lights.

Brightness is measured in lumens; this allows you to gauge how bright the lights will be. Generally, higher lumens mean brighter lights. When it comes to color temperature, LED strip lights come in different options like warm white, cool white, and daylight. The color temperature can significantly impact the mood and ambiance of your space, so think about the atmosphere you want to create.

If you prefer a consistent color throughout, single-color LED strips might be the best choice for you. On the other hand, if you want the flexibility to change colors, RGB strips are an excellent option. RGB strips offer a wide range of colors and can be controlled with a remote or even a smartphone app, giving you ultimate control over your lighting.

One of the biggest things people overlook when picking the best LED strip lights is the length of the light strip versus the size of the space they're looking to fill. Measuring your space first will help you determine the appropriate length and ensure the strip fits perfectly in your chosen location.

Strip Light FAQs

Do LED strip lights use a lot of electricity?

No. LED lights draw much less electricity than standard lights or bulbs. While you might not use strip lights to light your entire home, they're fantastic for accent lighting and creating an ambient environment.

Can you cut LED strips?

It depends. Some LED strips can be cut without ruining the circuitry and others cannot. You should carefully read the product information before doing so. If the LED strips you purchase can be cut, the product will explicitly indicate the specific lines you need to cut along.

Do LED light strips get hot?

LED light strips can get a little warm to the touch, but certainly not as hot as a standard light bulb.

Where to Get the Best LED Strip Lights in the UK

Brian Barnett writes reviews, wiki guides, deals posts, features, and more for IGN. You can get your fix of his antics on Twitter (@Ribnax) or check out his show on Twitch (The Platformers).

Danielle Abraham is a freelance writer and unpaid music historian.

If you've been waiting for one of the more affordable Blackwell cards to come back in stock at a reputable retailer, here's your chance to pick one up at list price. Amazon currently has the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5070 Windforce OC 12GB Graphics Card exclusively for Amazon Prime members for $609.99 with free shipping. This is an excellent GPU for gaming at up to 1440p with high framerates and supports the latest DLSS 4 technology.

Note that the suggested launch price of a GeForce RTX 5070 card is $549.99. There are a few models at that price point but they have been extremely hard to find in stock. This Windforce model is priced higher because it's an OC version. That said, this is currently the lowest price you'll find for a standalone 5070 GPU.

Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5070 Windforce OC GPU for $609.99

LEGO has a seemingly endless amount of sets. The toy company has collaborated with practically every major franchise and puts out a number of new builds each month. Unfortunately, LEGO doesn't just continue making every new set forever. Alongside every addition to the LEGO family comes the departure of several others. Sets get retired just as fast as new sets arrive to replace them. If there's a LEGO build you love, it could potentially disappear forever within a year if you don't pick it up before its expiration date.

While there are still ways to buy LEGO sets that have long been retired, your best bet is to pick them up while they are still available at major retailers and haven't been marked-up by resellers. Depending on the popularity of the set, you can sometimes find them at Amazon even months after LEGO removes them from its website. I've gathered some of those options right here to give you a chance to pick them up before they're gone forever.

Retired LEGO Sets Still Available at Amazon

Some really cool sets were retired near the beginning of 2025, including builds that have been consistently popular but have just outlived their shelf life. The LEGO Taj Mahal for example is one of the best LEGO Architecture sets we've ever seen come out of that line, depicting one of the seven wonders of the world. There's also the Sonic Green Hill Zone set that IGN actually had the chance to build back in 2022 when it first came out. It's a fun tribute to the iconic video game level from the series. It is one of our favorite Sonic the Hedgehog LEGO sets and is great for any fan of the franchise. And the last, very noteworthy, LEGO set on this list worth pointing out is the Loop Coaster. It is the largest LEGO set on this list at a whopping 3,756 pieces and sets at about three feet high.

If you want to keep better track of what LEGO sets are retiring, I'd recommend checking out the Brick Economy website, which includes the full list. This is a great resource for collectors so they can keep tabs on any of the more expensive sets they have their eye on. One of the best times to buy a LEGO set at a discount is right before it gets retired.

Which LEGO Sets Are Retiring Soon?

It's fairly easy to find out what LEGO sets are retiring soon thanks to LEGO's "Last Chance to Buy" page that features all of them. Unfortunately, LEGO does not put the actual date that a set will be retired on this page, so it's hard to decipher when exactly each option will be officially removed. The safe assumption is that if it's on this page, it could be gone by the beginning of the month as the new sets become available.

Below I've gathered some of the most intriguing sets that are getting retired. There is a slew of Nintendo LEGO sets as well as some Star Wars and Marvel options worth a final look.

Easily the biggest news to come out of Star Wars Celebration 2025 was the reveal that Deadpool & Wolverine’s Shawn Levy is directing Star Wars: Starfighter, a new standalone, live-action film starring Ryan Gosling. Starfighter is shaping up to be the next Star Wars film released after 2026’s The Mandalorian and Grogu, with production starting this fall for a May 28, 2027 release.

But beyond those basics, we know very little about the plot of Starfighter right now. Lucasfilm only revealed one crucial detail - the film is set about five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. That places Starfighter further down the Star Wars timeline than any Star Wars movie or series to date.

What do we know about this period of Star Wars lore? Not a whole lot, frankly. That said, we can certainly speculate based on how The Rise of Skywalker ends and how the pre-Disney Legends universe handled this era. Let’s take a closer look at the big questions that linger after The Rise of Skywalker and how Starfighter may address them.

The Star Wars: Starfighter Games

First, we’d be remiss if we didn’t touch on the fact that Star Wars: Starfighter shares its name with a short-lived series of games from the PS2/Xbox era. The original Star Wars: Starfighter was released in 2001, followed by the sequel Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter in 2002.

The new movie might share a name with these two games, but we wouldn’t expect it to borrow much, if at all, from the games in terms of plot. The original Starfighter game is set during Episode I, showcasing some of the other heroic pilots before and during the Battle of Naboo. Jedi Starfighter, meanwhile, takes place during Episode II, focusing on Jedi Master Adi Gallia and Nym, a pirate character introduced in the first game. The new movie is set many decades after the two games, making it very unlikely it’ll adapt plot points from either one.

That being said, it’s always possible that the Starfighter movie could take a page from Jedi Starfighter in terms of its ship-to-ship combat. Jedi Starfighter was notable for introducing Force powers into the mix, allowing Adi to supplement her ship’s traditional weapons with abilities like a Force shield, lightning, and a shockwave. Could the movie do something similar? Is Gosling’s character a Jedi and a hotshot pilot? It’s certainly possible, and it would be one way of spicing up the fight scenes in the movie.

The Fate of the New Republic

The Rise of Skywalker may end with a final victory over Emperor Palpatine and his Sith Eternal, but the movie doesn’t really give us much insight into the state of the galaxy after the Battle of Exegol. The fate of the New Republic after the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens remains unclear. In the first chapter of the Sequel Trilogy, we see the First Order unleash its Starkiller Base superweapon, destroying Hosnian Prime and killing off the heads of the New Republic in one fell swoop. Most of the Sequel-era Star Wars projects have focused specifically on the conflict between Leia’s Resistance and the First Order, meaning we don’t have much insight into what became of the New Republic after its leadership was lost.

It’s possible that the New Republic still exists in the time of Star Wars: Starfighter, but we’d imagine it’s been greatly weakened. As it is, the Republic was already struggling prior to the rise of the First Order. As seen in the novel Star Wars: Bloodline, the New Republic government is eventually racked by conflict between Populists (who believe individual member planets should remain sovereign) and Centrists (who favor a stronger government and a larger military). That conflict may well carry over as the New Republic struggles to regroup and rebuild.

It also remains to be seen if some remnants of the First Order still persist five years after Palpatine’s defeat. Certainly, it’s not as if the Empire was wiped away after the Battle of Endor. It took years of fighting until the Rebellion finally conquered the Empire, and even then, they had the Imperial Remnant and Grand Admiral Thrawn to worry about. We may find that some traces of the First Order remain and have rallied around a surviving figurehead following Supreme Leader Kylo Ren’s death.

And that’s not even getting into the galaxy’s pirate problem. As seen in The Mandalorian and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, piracy is a real threat in the chaotic years after the Empire’s fall. As the New Republic struggles to establish a foothold, many pirates and smugglers take advantage of the lawlessness on the fringes of the galaxy. We have to assume that this problem has only grown in scope after The Force Awakens.

All of this is to say that there’s likely to be a power struggle in the galaxy during the era of Star Wars: Starfighter, leaving ample room for the sort of epic space battles fans have come to expect. Gosling could be playing a New Republic pilot fighting to restore law and order to a chaotic galaxy. In that sense, Starfighter could potentially be a replacement for Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron movie. Gosling’s character could also be a homegrown defender of a world trying to defend itself without the Republic’s protection. For all we know, he could be an ex-First Order trooper like John Boyega’s Finn.

Given that Starfighter is being billed as a standalone movie, we don’t necessarily see it being the one to establish the next overarching Rebels vs. Empire or Resistance vs. First Order-style conflict for the franchise. More likely, it’ll explore the lingering fallout of the conflict in The Rise of Skywalker, centering around a villain taking advantage of the current power vacuum in the galaxy.

Rebuilding the Jedi Order

Luke Skywalker began the New Republic era with high hopes, seeking to rebuild the Jedi Order that Palpatine destroyed and mentor a new generation of Force-sensitive pupils. For a while, his plans worked. We see Luke building his new Jedi Temple in The Book of Boba Fett, and we know from various books and comics that Luke established a decent-sized school over the years.

Unfortunately, it all went to hell when the Skywalker family curse struck. Corrupted by Supreme Leader Snoke/Palpatine and spurred on by Uncle Luke himself, Ben Solo lashed out and destroyed Luke’s temple, killing many students in the process. He then joined up with the Knights of Ren and became Kylo Ren, chief enforcer of Snoke’s First Order. His Jedi Order in shambles, Luke retreated to Ahch-To to live out the last of his days as a cranky, milk-guzzling hermit.

So what’s become of the Jedi? Many died in Ben’s attack on the Temple, but we can’t imagine all of them were killed, any more than Order 66 successfully purged every last Clone Wars-era Jedi. There’s still the question of what’s up with Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka Tano and if she’s alive and active during the Sequel era. Don't forget, her voice is heard among the Force ghosts at the end of The Rise of Skywalker, but Dave Filoni has also hinted that Ahsoka isn’t dead.

We know that Daisy Ridley’s Rey Skywalker is setting out to rebuild the Jedi Order (again) and carry on Luke’s legacy. That’s going to be the focus of the New Jedi Order movie directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. However, that film is set 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker, putting it a full decade after the events of Starfighter.

It remains to be seen whether Starfighter will address the current state of the Jedi at all. It may depend largely on whether Gosling’s character is Force-sensitive or not. If he is, we could see Ridley playing a small role in the film as Rey reaches out to this promising pilot. But if not, it may be that Starfighter is like Rogue One and Solo: A Star Wars Story - the rare Star Wars film that mostly ignores the Jedi in favor of ordinary heroes.

Are the Sith Still Around?

Just as we’re waiting to see what the state of the Jedi Order is post-The Rise of Skywalker, there’s also the question of whether there are any Sith characters still active in the galaxy. That movie cemented Ian McDiarmid’s Palpatine as the central villain of the entire Skywalker Saga, revealing he cheated his apparent death aboard the Death Star and was the secret hand pulling Supreme Leader Snoke’s strings. But with Palpatine dead and gone for real now (presumably), is there anything left of the Sith? Or did this ancient order finally die out along with him?

If the classic Expanded Universe is any indication, Palpatine won’t be the last Sith Lord. The various Star Wars Legends novels chronicled many conflicts in the years and decades after Return of the Jedi. Meanwhile, Dark Horse’s Star Wars: Legacy comic dealt with the rise of Darth Krayt and his army of Sith loyalists more than a hundred years after the events of the movies. There are always those hungry for power and ready to be seduced by the Dark Side.

This is definitely not the last time the galaxy will be threatened by a villain skilled in the ways of the Dark Side, whether or not they specifically call themselves Sith. As much as the Prequel movies hammer home the idea that the Sith follow the Rule of Two, the Clone Wars animated series showed us that Palpatine had multiple Dark Side rivals, including the Nightsisters of Dathomir and his former apprentice, Maul. It stands to reason that there are other players out there who might see an opportunity now that Palpatine is gone. Maybe he had another apprentice. Maybe there are surviving members of the Knights of Ren. Maybe another of Luke’s pupils has turned to the Dark Side.

Again, though, the real question is whether Star Wars: Starfighter is going to dive into any of this. If Gosling isn’t playing a Jedi character, there may be no reason to touch on the current state of the Sith in Starfighter. We may have to wait for the New Jedi Order movie or Simon Kinberg’s Star Wars trilogy instead.

Could Poe Dameron or Other Sequel Trilogy Characters Return?

Star Wars: Starfighter features a brand new lead character and is set in a period we haven’t seen in the movies or shows yet. It’s also a standalone movie, meaning we shouldn’t necessarily expect tons of familiar faces to show up and fight alongside or against Gosling’s character. Still, this is Star Wars. The movies rarely waste an opportunity to throw in cameos and callbacks. If we got a Darth Maul cameo of all things in Solo: A Star Wars Story, then surely someone from the Sequels is bound to show up in Starfighter, right?

Oscar Isaac’s Poe Dameron seems like the most likely candidate. He’s probably the best pilot in the galaxy now that Han Solo is dead, and he’s a decorated hero who survived many run-ins with the First Order. We have to assume Poe has some part to play in rebuilding the galaxy and restoring the New Republic, meaning he’s in a great position to lend a helping hand in whatever predicament Gosling’s character finds himself.

We could also see everyone’s favorite Wookiee making a return appearance. What is Chewbacca up to these days? Is he still Rey’s copilot, or have they parted ways now that she’s focused on rebuilding the Jedi? What if Gosling’s character, through a twist of fate, finds himself piloting the Millennium Falcon alongside Chewbacca? It would certainly be comforting to have that tether to the Skywalker Saga movies.

There’s also room for Boyega to return as Finn, especially if the film specifically deals with a conflict involving remnants of the First Order. Finn was frustratingly underutilized in The Rise of Skywalker, but that film did hint that he’s become a bit of a folk hero to those Stormtroopers deserting their posts and rebelling against the First Order. Has Finn continued to seek out like-minded soldiers and help them overcome their conditioning like he did? What if Gosling’s character is one of those troopers?

And then there’s Rey. As we’ve already discussed, whether or not she appears in Starfighter may largely depend on whether Gosling’s character is revealed to be a Jedi or not. Lucasfilm clearly has plans for Rey going forward, but Starfighter may not be part of those plans.

Which surviving character from The Rise of Skywalker would you most like to see in Star Wars: Starfighter? Cast your vote in our poll and let us know in the comments below.

For more on the future of the Star Wars franchise, find out why Lucasfilm needs to stop announcing movies and just make them, and brush up on every Star Wars movie and series in development.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.

Sigourney Weaver was a big part of The Mandalorian & Grogu panel at Star Wars Celebration 2025 and IGN had the chance to speak with her about her new character, how she hadn’t watched an episode of The Mandalorian before being cast, how Grogu stole her heart, and even if she thinks Grogu is more powerful than a Xenomorph.

The Mandalorian & Grogu is set to be released in theaters on May 22, 2026, and we hope this interview will help with the wait and give you some insight into one of the newest characters to join that beloved galaxy far, far away.

Here’s some good news for LEGO fans: Barnes & Noble, a company typically known for bookselling, is running a big sale on LEGO sets right now. You can save 25% off a whole bunch of sets, including some super popular ones among the IGN audience. That includes the lowest price yet on the Dune Ornithopter set, which is detailed and huge and comes with a bunch of awesome minifigures.

Save 25% Off LEGO Sets Today

The Ornithopter deal may be the cream of the crop in the sale, but there are plenty of other excellent prices on sets to go around. Some of the Star Wars LEGO sets are really cool and rarely get discounts. My personal favorite of these is the New Republic E-Wing vs. Shin Hati's Starfighter set, which has you build two fighter ships that can duke it out in zero gravity. Another (more modestly priced) set is BARC Speeder Escape, which is also pretty neat.

A handful of Disney LEGO sets are also on sale. One cool one is a set celebrating the company’s 100 year anniversary that has you piece together stylized versions of classic Disney characters’ faces, from Dumbo to Jasmine. There’s also a Disney castle in the LEGO Friends series, as well as a mood cube situation from Inside Out 2.

The sale ends on April 21, so you have the weekend to make your choices if you want to pick any up. If you’re interested in other kids of sets, check out our picks for the best LEGO Architecture sets, as well as the best LEGO Technic sets.

See more of our favorite LEGO Star Wars sets as well

Chris Reed is a deals expert and commerce editor for IGN. You can follow him on Bluesky @chrislreed.com.

For a limited time, Walmart has dropped the price on an excellent higher-end Sony TV. Right now you can pick up a massive 75" Sony Bravia XR X93L 4K Mini-LED Smart TV for just $1198 with free shipping. That's $2,000 off one of the best Sony non-OLED TVs and hundreds (even thousands) of dollars cheaper than getting a 75" OLED TV. It's also sold and shipped by Walmart direct, not a marketplace vendor.

75" Sony Bravia XR X93L 4K Mini-LED Smart TV for $1198

With the release of a new behind the scenes video today for "Superman Day," Warner Bros. and DC Studios have provided fans with a bunch of fresh new imagery from James Gunn's upcoming movie. That includes new looks not just of David Corenswet's Clark Kent/Superman, Rachel Brosnahan's Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor, but also various other heroes and villains from this summer's impending blockbuster.

You can watch the video at the top of the page here, but also check out the slideshow of images below for some highlights, including Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr. (last seen in animated form in Creature Commandos), and much more:

There's also plenty of footage of Gunn directing the film, including the scene from the trailers where Superman is, shall we say, down on his luck and face-down in the snow near the Fortress of Solitude. We get a good look at the Daily Planet crew (Wendell Pierce as Perry White, Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, and Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant), lots of cool Superman poses, and Gunn high-fiving one of Superman's robot pals.

Superman will be released on July 11, 2025, and is the first live-action movie in Gunn's new DC Universe. For a rundown on all the upcoming DC movies and shows in the works, follow the link. And vote in our poll below to let us know what you think of the Superman roster so far...

Nintendo has officially unveiled the Switch 2 in a 60-minute Nintendo Direct. While preorders were originally set to open in early April in the US, tariff-related uncertainty caused Nintendo to delay the preorder date to April 24. During the delay, Nintendo kept the price of the Switch 2 console and games the same, but raised prices on most Switch 2 accessories.

However, Nintendo said the tariffs won't affect the Switch 2's launch date, which is still scheduled for June 5, 2025. The upcoming console will cost $449.99 alone, or $499.99 bundled with Mario Kart World (a game that will retail for $79.99 if bought separately).

If you’re hoping to secure a Switch 2 on day one, you’ll have a few options (assuming you're ready when they go live and there's enough stock to go around). Nintendo is offering a registration system through My Nintendo Store, where invites to purchase will be sent out on a first-come, first-served basis. Priority will go to Nintendo Switch Online members with at least 12 months of paid membership and 50+ gameplay hours as of April 2, 2025.

All major retailers are also expected to open up preorders on April 24, 2025, as well. With demand expected to be high, here are some key tips from the IGN commerce team to improve your chances of getting a Switch 2 at launch.

1. Follow IGN Deals

• ✅ Follow IGN Deals on X
• ✅ Follow IGN Deals on Bluesky
• ✅ Subscribe to our IGN Deals Email Newsletter
• ✅ Opt into push notifications
• ✅ Bookmark our live pre-order guide

Even though we know Switch 2 preorders are supposed to go live on April 24, that doesn't mean they'll go live everywhere simulatneously. While Target has announced preorders begin at 12am ET, other retailers could push preorders live at any time on the 24th.

Plus, when a major piece of gaming hardware goes up for preorder at a retailer, there’s no telling how long it will be available. We’ve seen sought-after hardware sell out in seconds. The best and most reliable way to know when a listing goes live is to follow IGN Deals on X or Bluesky and keep an eye on those accounts in real time. (Wario64 and CAG are also reliable sources of real-time information).

From now through the launch on June 5, 2025 and beyond, we’ll keep followers posted on any preorder news. And when preorders do go live, we'll post links the moment they become available.

2. Log Into Your Retailer Accounts

There’s no point in clicking a live preorder link early if you’re not logged in. The precious seconds it takes to enter your login name and password could make the difference between you getting a Nintendo Switch 2 at launch and not. The retailers below are all likely to have Switch 2 preorders, so create an account if you have to, and make sure you’re logged in and ready before Switch 2 preorders go live.

• Walmart
• Target
• GameStop
• Best Buy
• Amazon

Note: It doesn't look like Amazon will get the Switch 2 in stock at all. For whatever reason, Nintendo and Amazon have been on the outs for the past couple of years, with Amazon not getting any first-party Nintendo hardware or software in for preorder. We'll update this if that changes for Switch 2.

3. Have Your Credit Card Saved in Your Account

Nintendo revealed all of the juicy details about the Switch 2 during its April Direct and we have since been waiting for preorders to go live in the U.S. The price of the new console wasn't too much of a surprise, but the reveal of the cost of first-party Switch 2 games at launch was definitely an eyebrow raiser. Most notably, Mario Kart World is going to cost $80 on its own at launch. In addition to that, Nintendo is launching a new line of Switch 2 accessories that have gotten similar price increases compared to the original Switch. They've even gotten more expensive since the original announcement.

The only Switch 2 accessory I was concerned about was the new Switch 2 Pro controller, which is now priced at a whopping $85. I already have multiple Switch Pro controllers at home and would prefer not to have to buy a new version. Thankfully, Nintendo confirmed in its developer interview that the original Switch Pro controller will be compatible with Switch 2.

Where You Can Still Buy Switch Pro Controllers

While many folks will choose to opt for the newer Switch 2 Pro controller, it's not going to be necessary for most games. If you already have a Switch Pro controller, you should be fine holding onto that so you can save $80 to spend on new games. If you don't already have a Pro controller and are planning on buying the Switch 2, the standard Switch Pro controller is still a cheaper option right now at $69.99.

It's possible these older controllers could sell out before the Switch 2 arrives to make room for the newer controller. Amazon already has a signifcant lack of stock and is currently only offering third-party alternatives. Alongside compatiblity for the regular Switch Pro controller, Nintendo has also stated that the original Joy-Con controlllers will also be compatible – though we generally recommend the Switch Pro controller over Joy-Con for most games.

When Will the Switch 2 Pro Controller Be Available?

If the only accessory you really care about getting your hands on is the new Switch 2 Pro controller, you're going to have to wait until the console launches. The new controller will be officially available alongside the launch of the Switch 2 on June 5. You should be able to preorder the new console starting on April 24, which is likely when the official accessories will also become available for preorder. The Switch 2 Pro controller will only be compatible with the Switch 2, however, so you won't be able to use it on the standard Switch.

Listings for the Switch 2 Pro controller have already started to go live at Walmart and Best Buy, but with no preorder date shown. Walmart also includes listings for the Switch 2 games you'll be able to preorder soon.

Need a handy USB charging solution for your car but don't want to deal with a rat's nest of pesky cables in your glovebox? For a limited time, Amazon is offering this Lisen 69W Retractable Car Charger for only $14.94 after you apply coupon code "12ZYRGF8" during checkout. This little car charger plugs into a standard 12V vehicle socket and can charge any iPhone (including both new and legacy models). It comes with retractable cables so you don't have to supply your own cable.

Lisen 69W Retractable Car Charger for $14.94

The Disney/LEGO partnership goes back a long way, and it encompasses a wide variety of sets. Some of these are meant to appeal mostly for kids. Others are bigger and more complex builds meant for display rather than play, and can easily be appreciated by adults. In any case, here are the 10 best LEGO Disney sets that you can buy in 2025. To make this guide specific and helpful, we are classifying "LEGO Disney" as the sets inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios and Disney Parks.

Best LEGO Disney Sets in 2025

LEGO Beauty and the Beast Castle

Dumbo

Mini Disney Sleeping Beauty Castle

LEGO The Nightmare Before Christmas

LEGO Disney and Pixar ‘Up’ House

Walt Disney Tribute Camera

Stitch

Young Simba the Lion King

Snow White Castle

Disney Castle

Warning: this review contains spoilers for Daredevil: Born Again season 1.

Daredevil: Born Again brings back Matt Murdock as the costumed protector of Hell’s Kitchen after an overly long absence and does a mostly solid job of capturing what made the original 2015-2018 Daredevil series on Netflix so good. Essentially acting as a fourth season of that show, Born Again has the same excellent lead actors, gritty drama, and hardcore fight scenes that the series made its name on, and all of that works as well as ever when it’s firing on all cylinders. However, there are times during its nine-episode run when it’s clear that this revival is missing a few of the key ingredients that made those first three seasons such standout superhero TV. Much like the Man Without Fear swinging from New York City rooftops, Born Again has its ups and downs, but thankfully in the end it manages to land on its feet.

Reprising their roles as hero and villain are Charlie Cox’s charming and guilt-ridden Matt Murdock/Daredevil and Vincent D'Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk/Kingpin, who speaks with an imposing voice as coarse as a limestone boulder and stands just as tall as one. Born Again offers a fresh spin on their classic rivalry that supercharges the story with an endless supply of juicy drama. The shocking assassination of Murdock’s best friend Foggy Nelson causes him to give up being Daredevil and fully dedicate himself to doling out justice with his lawyering skills instead of his fists, but hanging up the horns for good proves impossible when Wilson Fisk makes a surprise return and becomes the new mayor of New York City. (There was a time when a convicted felon winning a major political office might’ve seemed unrealistic, but today it’s maybe a tad on-the-nose.)

An early scene between the pair has them taking stock of the other’s new status quo and delivering veiled threats about what might happen should they slip back into their old ways. Though they’re just sitting in a cafe, it may as well be an active battlefield. Born Again is at its best when it pits these bitter enemies against one another as lawyer and mayor with the vigilante and villain just under the surface, forcing them to pursue their ambitions in new ways, all while struggling with their true selves starting to bubble up. Even during a rough patch of mid-season episodes, this marvelous core remains rock solid.

There are several other highlights of the early episodes worth mentioning: Clips from BB Urich’s people-on-the-street social media news show, The BB Report, give us a rare glimpse at how the common people of the Marvel Cinematic Universe feel about all the crazy superhero happenings in their city. That adds a much-needed personal texture to a world where bystanders are usually little more than collateral damage. A standalone episode in the middle of the season about Murdock cleverly foiling a bank robbery (without becoming Daredevil) is a pure delight from start to finish, even if it occupies a precious slot in a short season without moving the main plot forward. And as Murdock’s new love interest, Heather Glenn (Margarita Levieva), becomes dangerously entwined in his life, her therapist skills ensure she’s always ready with a piercing commentary on his masked persona (without even knowing she’s doing it). Meanwhile, Fisk reuniting with his beloved wife Vanessa and contending with the crime lords he left behind to enter politics leads to some of the season’s most vicious moments that feel ripped from your favorite mob movie.

It’s a good thing Born Again has such a sturdy foundation, because it allows the overarching story being told across the entire season to remain strong even while it frustrates with how reluctant it is to give starved fans the full-blown return we’d waited so long for. Murdock spends almost half of the season without actually suiting up, and when he finally does there are a few action scenes where Daredevil is briefly rendered in unconvincing, Gumby-like CGI. That’s a worrying error to make on a show that originally earned acclaim for its impressive, mostly practical fight sequences, but fortunately it’s not too pervasive; most of the fight scenes are appropriately intense, crunchy, and extra violent compared to what Disney+ has served up in its Marvel TV era. In fact, the season starts with a jaw-dropping brawl between Daredevil and Bullseye that should by all rights go down as one of the best superhero/supervillain fights the MCU has to offer.

Fans of the Netflix Daredevil series will definitely be feeling the absence of Murdock’s two closest allies, Foggy Nelson and Karen Page. With Foggy dead and Karen’s grief causing her to move away, a new cast of supporting characters are introduced, but they’re a hit and miss bunch that can’t fill the hole left by two thirds of Nelson, Murdock & Page. The aforementioned Glenn and BB (Genneya Walton) are great, as is the blunt Commissioner Gallo (Michael Gaston), who stands as the sole example of a law enforcement officer with integrity by standing up to Fisk and his detestable boot-licker Danny Blake (Michael Gandolfini). Then we have Murdock’s detective ally Cherry and Fisk’s right-hand man Buck, who are so forgettable that you may not know who I’m referring to even if you’ve seen the show. And while there was plenty of potential in the murderous mural painter Muse, who was the threat of a two-episode arc, he wound up being as developed as a rough pencil sketch.

Looking at the season as a whole, it sticks out that the first and last two episodes are a cut above the rest in quality. They’re shot with more style and creativity, and they’re scripted and executed so well that it almost feels like they’re from a different show. Turns out there’s a good reason for that: Born Again was given a massive creative overhaul midway through production that resulted in new episodes being shot. That may explain the uneven nature of the season, where it starts with a banger, meanders through the White Tiger- and Muse-centric episodes, and then springs back to life for a big finish. It’s impossible to know how it would’ve gone without that reworking, but from where we’re sitting on the outside looking in, the final result got the job done despite a bit of a patchwork feel.

A big part of that is that, for all its flaws, it at least ends on a very, very high note that inspires confidence season two will be more consistent in that regard. In particular, a return appearance from Jon Bernthal’s Punisher in the finale injects the story with an extra big dose of adrenaline and chaos, treating us to another polarized team-up with “Red” and showcasing the chemistry between Bernthal and Cox. Even when Frank Castle is not on screen throughout the season, his presence is felt thanks to Fisk’s anti-vigilante squad of brazenly corrupt cops appropriating his skull symbol—a commentary on a misguided real-world practice that the show tackles head-on.

You know things are bad when the Punisher shows up, and, indeed, the last episode leaves Daredevil on what may as well be his own personal Hell on Earth, all thanks to Mayor Fisk enacting his master plan. It’s a doomsday scenario so uniquely tailored to Matt Murdock’s character with its mix of legal maneuvering and criminal masterminding that it’s a little less preposterous that a super-powered Avenger doesn’t swoop (or swing) in to save the day than it might’ve been.

For this weekend only, Lenovo has dropped the price of its powerful Lenovo Legion Tower 7i Gen 8 RTX 4080 Super gaming PC to $2,346.99 after coupon code: "EXTRAFIVE". In our recent Legion Tower 7 review (the sample we received wasn't as powerful as this one), Jacqueline Thomas wrote that "The Legion Tower 7i is an incredibly powerful gaming PC, especially for the money you’re likely going to be paying for it. If all you want is a powerful, upgradeable machine without having to go through the trouble of building it yourself, it’s hard to find many gaming PCs better than this one."

Lenovo Legion Tower 7i Gen 8 RTX 4080 Super Gaming PC

To cap off two weeks of questions, confusion, and occasional answers about Nintendo Switch 2 pricing, pre-orders, DLC, Switch 2 Edition upgrades, controllers, and more, here's another weird scenario to add to the pile. According to an FAQ from Marvelous on the upcoming game Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma, at least some Nintendo Switch 2 physical cartridges will be compatible with the Nintendo Switch 1.

This comes from this Marvelous FAQ, which includes the following:

What is the physical "Nintendo Switch 2 Edition"?

The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is a red 64GB game card that includes, in full, the Nintendo Switch game and the Upgrade Pack.

There’s no need to download the full game: simply insert the card into either a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 console, and the correct version will launch automatically.

Like most modern titles, there may be small updates or patches available at launch to provide minor fixes and improvements, but rest assured: the complete game is on the game card, ready to play from day one.

This suggests you can purchase the Nintendo Switch 2 edition of Guardians of Azuma, and slot it into a Nintendo Switch 1 to play the Nintendo Switch 1 edition of the game if you so choose. If this is indeed the case, this is the first time we're hearing of the ability to play certain Switch 2 cartridges on the Switch 1.

We've known for a while that most Switch 1 games will be compatible with Switch 2. We also know that games that are exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2 (Mario Kart World, for instance), or Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of Switch 1 games (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Switch 2 Edition, with all the upgrades), won't be playable on the Switch 1. But the question of whether you can just take Switch 2 cartridges and plug them into the Switch 1 to get the Switch 1 version of the same game has been up in the air so far. Some players have spotted an image in the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour that suggested a tiny "notch" in the plastic of Switch 2 cartridges might prevent that from being the case, but whether that notch is preventative or not remains to be seen.

It's also unclear as to how exactly many games this will apply to. We know that first-party and some third-party physical Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games will include both the base game and the Switch 2 Edition upgrades on the cartridge, while other third-parties may choose to release Switch 2 Edition games as download codes in physical packaging. Additionally, some boxed Nintendo Switch 2 games will not actually have the game on the cartridge, but instead will contain a game-key card that will allow you to download the game once you insert it.

So essentially, when you purchase a Nintendo Switch 2 boxed game at retail, you might be getting any of the following:

• A physical Nintendo Switch 2-exclusive game cartridge that only works on the Switch 2
• A Nintendo Switch 2 Edition game that has a Nintendo Switch 1 version on the cartridge, as well as a Switch 2 upgrade, that may or may not be playable on both Switch 2 and in its base version on the Switch 1
• A game-key card that doesn't have the game on it, but allows you to download the game in question (and may or may not also be usable on the Switch 1 as well)
• A physical box with a download key for the Switch 2 that may or may not work on the Switch 1 as well

If all this has your head spinning, you're not alone. It's been a confusing ride trying to sort out what, exactly, you'll be purchasing when you buy boxed Nintendo Switch 2 games, and Nintendo has been hesitant to step in and clarify things just far. We reached out to Nintendo for comment on Marvelous' FAQ, specifically asking if it's true that some Switch 2 cartridges will be playable on Switch 1 and if so, which. We'll update this story if more information surfaces.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.