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IGN has shared a video, showcasing 13 minutes of gameplay footage from RoboCop: Rogue City – Unfinished Business. In this video, RoboCop comes face to face against a group of deadly mercenaries, all whilst navigating OCP’s crime-riddled OmniTower. Unifinished Business will be a stand-alone follow-up to RoboCop: Rogue City. Like its predecessor, it will be … Continue reading 13 minutes of gameplay from RoboCop: Rogue City – Unfinished Business →
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As well as Trailer 2, Rockstar has released 70 brand new screenshots showcasing the characters and places of Grand Theft Auto VI.
These high quality images show off characters such as Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos, as well as the supporting cast.
But we also have some fantastic images showing off the places we'll get to explore when GTA 6 launches in May 2026. These include Vice City itself, but we also get to go beyond the city boundaries to places such as Leonida Keys and Mount Kalaga.
These screenshots, as well as Trailer 2 itself, give is a good idea of what to expect from GTA 6's story and setting, although we're yet to see official gameplay.
Last week, Rockstar delayed GTA 6 from fall 2025 to May 26, 2026, in a significant push to the world's most anticipated game. The GTA 6 official website still lists GTA 6 for launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S, suggesting a PC release will come after.
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.
Director Joe Dante is best known for making Gremlins and Gremlins 2. But in 1998, he made another similar movie called Small Soldiers, which is now getting the 4K treatment with a sweet steelbook release. If you've been hoping to add this one into your 4K physical media collection for a good hit of '90s nostalgia, now's your chance. It's currently up for preorder at a few different retailers for $30.99 (see here at Amazon) and is set to release this summer on July 22. Bonus features haven't been revealed for the steelbook yet, but we'll make sure to update this once they're out.
The Small Soldiers steelbook cover is a very fun design, bursting with bright red and blue colors that will look great slotted in your physical media collection. It also features Commando leader Chip Hazard and Gorgonite leader Archer facing off on the front of it and the GloboTech X1000 chip on the back that brings these figures to life. If you're a fan of the film, it's definitely worth preordering.
Alongside this Small Soldiers 4K steelbook, there are plenty more films and shows releasing soon on 4K that are worth picking up for your library. If you're looking for more classics to purchase, it's worth checking out the Jaws 50th Anniversary 4K steelbook and the Jurassic Park Trilogy 4K steelbook that are available to preorder right now. These are a must for any physical media collection, especially in high-quality 4K UHD.
There's plenty more where these came from, too. Our roundup of upcoming 4K UHD and Blu-ray releases can point you in the direction of even more movies and films coming out over the next few months in a physical format. This includes exciting movies like Mickey 17 and the first season of Fallout, which is getting a 4K steelbook.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelancer who writes with the guides and commerce teams here at IGN.
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Lots of Pokémon TCG sets are feeling like gold dust right now, but Amazon UK has just provided a restock of great booster bundles — like those from Temporal Forces and Shrouded Fable — with plenty of others still available as well.
While we're still waiting to get invites to buy the Prismatic Evolutions Accessory Pouch Special Collection & 151 Blooming Waters Premium Collection at Amazon UK, these will be good enough to keep us going in the meantime.
Temporal Forces is back in two assortments over at Amazon UK: the Booster Display Box with 18 booster packs for £71.82 and the 36-pack version from £159.99. If you've yet to add any of the powerful ACE SPEC cards to your collection, here's the ideal chance to try and pull one or two.
Next, there's the Shrouded Fable Elite Trainer Box from the Scarlet & Violet set. For £44.99, you get nine boosters, a Pecharunt foil card, 65 card sleeves, 45 Energy cards, damage counter dice, a coin-flip die, two condition markers, a player's guide, and a stylish collector's box where you can keep everything tucked away.
Paradox Pokemon fans will also be pleased to know that the Paradox Fury Premium Collection is back in stock as well. Based on the Paradox versions of Johto's Legendary Dog trio, the premium collection offers seven Paradox Fury boosters along with the foil cards Walking Wake ex, Raging Bolt ex, and Gouging Fire ex.
In addition to a magnetic three-card holder, the collection even comes with an oversized display version of the Raging Bolt card.
If you're still after some Journey Together boosters, Amazon UK has those in stock too — selling 36-pack display boxes for £179.99, 14% down from the £209.99 price it was before. Although, the nine-booster Journey Together Elite Trainer box is also available, but for a hefty £74.99, way above RRP of £44.99
For more Paradox Pokemon cards, the retailer also has a handful of the 36-pack display boxes of Paradox Rift left as well for £153.98.
However, if you don't need as many boosters from that set, Amazon is also selling a handy Paradox Rift Iron Valiant Elite Trainer Box & Arctibax Triple Pack bundle for £57.98.
With it, you'll get 12 boosters in total, a foil Scream Tail or Iron Bundle promo card, 65 Iron Valiant Sleeves, Energy cards, a player's guide, and an Arctibax foil promo card.
Ben Williams – IGN freelance contributor with over 10 years of experience covering gaming, tech, film, TV, and anime. Follow him on Twitter/X @BenLevelTen.
Rockstar has released Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer 2, hot on the heels of announcing a big delay to the game.
The trailer, below, was captured on PlayStation 5, and offers a detailed look at what to expect from GTA 6's story.
"Jason and Lucia have always known the deck is stacked against them," Rockstar said in the official description.
"But when an easy score goes wrong, they find themselves on the darkest side of the sunniest place in America, in the middle of a conspiracy stretching across the state of Leonida — forced to rely on each other more than ever if they want to make it out alive."
Rockstar's GTA 6 website now contains lots of new information on the Vice City-set game, including bios for playable protagonists Jason and Lucia and the cast of supporting characters. Here's the official blurb, alongside brand new screenshots.
Jason wants an easy life, but things just keep getting harder. Jason grew up around grifters and crooks. After a stint in the Army trying to shake off his troubled teens, he found himself in the Keys doing what he knows best, working for local drug runners. It might be time to try something new.
Meeting Lucia could be the best or worst thing to ever happen to him. Jason knows how he'd like it to turn out but right now, it's hard to tell.
Lucia’s father taught her to fight as soon as she could walk. Life has been coming at her swinging ever since. Fighting for her family landed her in the Leonida Penitentiary. Sheer luck got her out. Lucia’s learned her lesson — only smart moves from here.
More than anything, Lucia wants the good life her mom has dreamed of since their days in Liberty City — but instead of half-baked fantasies, Lucia is prepared to take matters into her own hands.
Fresh out of prison and ready to change the odds in her favor, Lucia’s committed to her plan — no matter what it takes. A life with Jason could be her way out.
What if everything on the internet was true? Jason’s friend and a fellow associate of Brian’s, Cal feels safest hanging at home, snooping on Coast Guard comms with a few beers and some private browser tabs open.
The psychopaths are in charge. Get used to it. Cal is at the low tide of America and happy there. Casual paranoia loves company, but his friend Jason has bigger plans.
It's all about heart — the Jack of Hearts. Boobie is a local Vice City legend — and acts like it. One of the few to transform his time in the streets into a legitimate empire spanning real estate, a strip club, and a recording studio — Boobie's all smiles until it's time to talk business.
Top quality cuts. Boobie might seem like he's just out for himself, but it's his partnership with the young aspiring music mogul Dre'Quan for Only Raw Records that he's most invested in — now they just need a hit.
Only Raw... Records. Dre'Quan was always more of a hustler than a gangster. Even when he was dealing on the streets to make ends meet, breaking into music was the goal.
You're with the label now. Now that he's signed the Real Dimez, Dre'Quan's days of booking acts into Boobie's strip club might be numbered as he sets his sights on the Vice City scene.
Viral videos. Viral hooks. Bae-Luxe and Roxy aka Real Dimez have been friends since high school — girls with the savvy to turn their time shaking down local dealers into cold, hard cash via spicy rap tracks and a relentless social media presence.
One hit away from fame. An early hit single with local rapper DWNPLY took Real Dimez to new heights. Now, after five years and a whole lot of trouble, they’re signed to Only Raw Records, hoping lightning can strike twice.
Experience counts. Confidence, charm, and cunning — Raul’s a seasoned bank robber always on the hunt for talent ready to take the risks that bring the biggest rewards.
A professional adapts. Raul's recklessness raises the stakes with every score. Sooner or later, his crew will have to double down or pull their chips from the table.
Nothing better than a Mudslide at sunset. Brian's a classic drug runner from the golden age of smuggling in the Keys. Still moving product through his boat yard with his third wife, Lori, Brian's been around long enough to let others do his dirty work.
Looks like a Leonida beach bum — moves like a great white shark. Brian’s letting Jason live rent-free at one of his properties — so long as he helps with local shakedowns, and stops by for Lori’s sangria once in a while.
Rockstar also released information and screenshots on the explorable places in the state of Leonida, GTA 6's take on Florida.
Everything in Excess. We're a long way from the '80s, but Vice City is still the sun and fun capital of America.
The glamour, hustle, and greed of America captured in a single city. Each neighborhood has something to offer, from the pastel art deco hotels and bright white sands of Ocean Beach, to the bustling panaderías of Little Cuba and the bootleg brands of the Tisha-Wocka flea market, out to the VC Port, the cruise ship capital of the world.
Gateway to Paradise. The dress code is casual, the bars are loaded.
Life in this tropical archipelago isn’t flashy but it’s easy. Get your buzz on and pull up a deck chair but look out — you are right on the doorstep of some of the most beautiful and dangerous waters in all of America.
Welcome to the Wetlands. The untamable jewel of Leonida’s crown.
You never know what lies beneath the surface of this primordial expanse. The gators may be the most famous attraction, but there are far deadlier predators and weirder discoveries among the mangroves.
Live Hard. This is Leonida’s forgotten coast.
Cheap motels, shut-down attractions, and empty strip malls won’t bring the tourists back, but there’s a new economy in this once-popular vacation spot. It’s fueled by malt liquor, painkillers, and truck stop energy drinks. Jump on a dirt bike and hold onto your wallet.
Keeping Leonida Sweet. The battle for the health and wealth of Leonida begins here.
In the heart of Leonida, American industry and old school values still reign supreme — whatever the cost. The Allied Crystal sugar refinery provides the jobs, while the local biker gang provides almost everything else.
Wild, Wild Country. Room to breathe on the state's northern fringes.
A national landmark up against the state’s northern border, Mount Kalaga offers prime hunting, fishing, and off-road trails. In the lush surrounding backwoods, hillbilly mystics and paranoid radicals live far from the prying eyes of the government.
Last week, Rockstar delayed GTA 6 from fall 2025 to May 26, 2026, in a significant push to the world's most anticipated game. The GTA 6 official website still lists GTA 6 for launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S, suggesting a PC release will come after.
Rockstar released GTA 6 Trailer 1 in December 2023, which means Trailer 2 arrives one year, five months, and two days later. For comparison's sake, the time between GTA 5's Trailers 1 and 2 was one year, five months, and 28 days.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Microsoft has confirmed Wave 1 of the Xbox Game Pass May 2025 lineup.
In a post on Xbox Wire, Microsoft revealed 12 games hitting its subscription service, taking us up to May 20. The biggest hitter here is Doom: The Dark Ages, the latest game in id Software’s world-famous first-person shooter series. That is, as a Microsoft-owned game, a day-one Game Pass launch. But it’s not the only day-one Game Pass launch of May 2025.
Available today, May 6, is Dredge (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S), which hits Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass Standard. Here’s the official blurb, from Microsoft:
Dredge is a single-player fishing adventure with a sinister undercurrent. Sell your catch, upgrade your boat, and dredge the depths for long-buried secrets. Explore a mysterious archipelago and discover why some things are best left forgotten.
May 7 is a big day for Game Pass, with a number of additions: Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC) on Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass Standard; Dungeons of Hinterberg (Console), now on Game Pass Standard; Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn (Xbox Series X|S), now on Game Pass Standard; and Metal Slug Tactics (Console), also now on Game Pass Standard.
Here’s a big one: May 8 sees Revenge of the Savage Planet (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) hit Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass as a day-one title.
In a future knocked off its axis by corporate greed and stupidity, you have been made redundant and abandoned on the far edge of space with little gear and no safety net. You must explore every nook and cranny, collect dozens of upgrades, and turn over every mysterious alien rock if you want to get revenge on your former employer and return to Earth.
Also on May 8, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed (Cloud, Console, and PC) joins Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass Standard.
Join the legendary Turtle brothers straight from the sewer and slide into this new adventure of shell-shocking proportions. With the help of April’s insightful reports from the streets and Splinter’s sage guidance, gear up to fight crime and unravel an epic saga of justice and chaos!
Moving on to May 13, we’ve got Warhammer: Vermintide 2 (Cloud and Console) on Game Pass Ultimate and Game Pass Standard.
Making a return to the Game Pass library! Fight together with your friends against the forces of Chaos and Skaven in this epic 4-player co-op game set in the Warhammer Fantasy Battles world. Vermintide 2 expands the intense first-person combat with a brand-new enemy faction, 15 new career paths, talent trees, new weapons, an improved loot system, and more.
The main event is of course Doom: The Dark Ages (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S), on May 15 when the shooter hits Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass day-one.
Doom: The Dark Ages is the prequel to the critically acclaimed Doom (2016) and Doom Eternal that tells an epic cinematic story worthy of the Doom Slayer’s legend. In this third installment of the modern Doom series, players will step into the blood-stained boots of the Doom Slayer, in this never-before-seen dark and sinister medieval war against Hell. Get a head start on slaying demons with the Premium Upgrade, including up to 2-Day Early Access, the campaign DLC at launch, and more.
A day later, on May 16, Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo (Cloud, Console, and PC) launches on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass as yet another day-one title.
Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo is a papercraft adventure game where you’ll meet the many good and not-so-good folks of Limbo, a place where souls with deep regrets are cursed into repeating the same day on a loop.
Rounding out the May 2025 Wave 1 lineup on May 20 are Firefighting Simulator: The Squad (Cloud, Console, and PC) across Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass Standard, and Police Simulator: Patrol Officers (Cloud, Console, and PC) also across Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass Standard.
The following games are leaving the Game Pass library on May 15. As always, you can use your membership discount to save up to 20% to keep them in your library.
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.
This article contains spoilers for Thunderbolts.
Thunderbolts finally joined the MCU pantheon last week after a long wait and high anticipation. While none of us were quite ready for the film’s emotional exploration of depression and the quest to find one’s purpose, it was a welcome addition to Marvel’s traditional storytelling that clearly resonated with fans. While I’m on board with all of that, you might have already read just how much Thunderbolt’s ending missed the mark for me and, unfortunately, I have one more bone to pick with the MCU. Not to put too fine a point on it or anything, but I would like to know what in the hell this franchise is doing with Bucky Barnes. His trajectory in the last two films has been strange at best, and where we leave him at the end of Thunderbolts is downright irritating.
First we had the whole congressman situation unceremoniously dropped in our laps in Captain America: Brave New World. It didn’t make a lick of sense, but it was so out of the blue and so far-fetched for the MCU’s iteration of James Buchanan Barnes (Sebastian Stan) that it was hard not to laugh. Brave New World was already chock-full of distractions pulling from Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson with the film being a stealth Red Hulk movie and all, so it was pretty easy to write the moment off and hope Thunderbolts would offer some meaningful context.
No such context came, though, and Bucky’s MCU narrative only got worse.
Even worse, it became immediately evident that Bucky either had no interest in being a congressman or absolutely no knowledge of what it would entail. He wants to impeach Valentina (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) but isn’t even reading the packets?! To the point where it needs to be a scene?!
Listen. You do not become a United States congressman by accident. It is something that you have to actively choose. And, when you’re a former mind-controlled assassin whose history is so complex it broke the first iteration of the Avengers nearly beyond repair, you have to campaign like hell to convince people you’re not going to literally (or figuratively) blow more stuff up. America might have a history of electing some real pieces of work both in reality and fiction, but the kind of detachment from reality that benefits the Wilson Fisks of the world in voting scenarios doesn’t transfer to actually decent people so far as history and voters are concerned. In short: Bucky very likely had to fight for something he didn’t even want and, worst of all, made no dang sense for his character. But don’t worry, it gets worse.
Smash cut to the post-credits scene of Thunderbolts, where it’s revealed that not only did Bucky go along with Yelena (Florence Pugh) and the rest of the team when it came to letting Valentina get away with everything, but he was destroying his relationship with Sam over it.
Let’s start with the Valentina of it all. Bucky has a whole conversation with Val’s assistant Mel (Geraldine Viswanathan) in the first act of the film where he tells her that he didn’t have a choice who he worked for when he was Winter Soldier, but Mel does when it comes to working with Valentina. Mere days later, Bucky and the team are working for the enemy.
The film tries to skirt this with perhaps the least meaningful resolution to a Marvel movie yet with Yelena’s little “we own you now” whisper during Valentina’s press conference revealing the New Avengers, but the thinly veiled threat means absolutely nothing. Valentina got away with murder, and all of the Thunderbolts are now complicit.
Here’s the thing about the Thunderbolts, though. For the rest of the team, working with the evil overlord because of your own hubris makes sense. John Walker (Wyatt Russell)? Absolutely belongs on a team with Valentina. The guy hasn’t known right from wrong since the second he dosed up on super soldier serum and now has a misguided chance to absolve himself. Ghost (Hannah John Kamen)? Bless you girlie, I want nothing but wonderful things for you but the trajectory tracks. Red Guardian (David Harbour)? Yeah! Obviously. He wants to be with his daughter and he wants fame and fortune. Yelena? She’s still too green to see past her own ego and believes that she has the upper hand for once.
But Bucky? No. Bucky Barnes being willing to be tied to a woman who he knows murdered a bunch of people to get a super soldier serum on steroids is profoundly against character. Bucky’s past is marred with sins, but he didn’t make any of those choices. We were all able to collectively absolve Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) for the people he killed while under Loki’s (Tom Hiddleston) control, but all it takes is one weepy Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) for everyone to forget that Bucky Barnes was kidnapped, tortured, and used against his will for decades.
All of the above would be ridiculous on its own, but the Sam Wilson situation is where it shifts from absurd to inexcusable. At the beginning of Thunderbolts’ second post-credits scene, a forlorn Bucky sits on a couch in the tacky redesign of Avengers tower, lamenting to his new team that not only would Sam not be giving up the name “Avengers” but that he would be suing them for the rights.
Back in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Bucky delivers the most poignant line of his MCU tenure in “because if he was wrong about you then he was wrong about me!” It’s an emotional exchange between him and Sam, where Bucky’s frustration over the future Captain America’s reticence to take on the shield and all that it means finally comes to a head. Sam must be Captain America because Steve Rogers chose him to be, and if Steve made the wrong choice then maybe that means that his faith in his best friend was unfounded. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is marred with issues, but developing Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes’ relationship is the best aspect of the series by a mile.
Steve Rogers’ two best friends eventually become all that each other has as they fight through their respective struggles and gradually become best friends themselves. The MCU further solidifies this point by having Bucky appear right when Sam needed him the most in Brave New World. To then have Bucky completely betray Sam to side with a smarmy war criminal who made it her mission to create a would-be god? And to cram it all in a throwaway post-credits scene? Infuriating.
I don't know what the MCU is doing with Bucky right now, but boy do I hope they course correct before we have another Civil War on our hands.
When it launched in 2020, the Backbone One made a big splash in the mobile gaming scene. It offered a near-perfect way to experience mobile games, thanks to its compact, portable design, direct connection, and an excellent companion app that tied everything together. Since then, the mobile gaming landscape has evolved significantly – game streaming is more reliable, smartphones are more powerful, and recent games like Assassin’s Creed Mirage can now be played natively, with no console required.
Backbone’s latest release, the aptly named Backbone Pro, upgrades the original with customizable back buttons, full-size analog sticks, and Bluetooth connectivity. While it's not designed to replace the Backbone One, the Pro is a premium phone controller for players who want to game across multiple screens or are looking for a higher-end mobile gaming experience.
The Backbone Pro retains much of the design language from the Backbone One – from the distinctive trapezoidal shape to the button layout and extendable central area – but introduces several upgrades that deliver a more premium gaming experience. The first thing you’ll notice is the larger grips. While they nearly double the height of the Backbone Pro when compared to the original, they significantly improve comfort and ergonomics, especially during longer play sessions. A subtle micro-texture on the grips enhances the feel and helps prevent slippage, making the controller both functional and pleasant to hold.
But, there's a more important reason for the larger grips beyond improved ergonomics; the Backbone Pro now supports Bluetooth, allowing it to connect to a wide range of devices beyond just smartphones. This upgrade requires more sophisticated internals and dual built-in rechargeable batteries, which deliver up to 40 hours of playtime. The batteries add some heft without making the device feel heavy, instead creating a pleasant balance that feels great in hand.
The Backbone Pro supports two distinct modes: Handheld Mode, which uses a direct USB-C connection for near-zero latency gaming when your phone is docked, and Wireless Mode, which enables Bluetooth connectivity with devices like tablets (including iPads), laptops (PC and Mac), VR headsets (such as Meta Quest and Apple Vision Pro), and even select smart TVs with cloud gaming support.
A new feature called FlowState delivers a seamless connectivity experience reminiscent of AirPods, letting you switch between devices with a single tap. By allowing simultaneous connections to multiple devices, it eliminates the usual Bluetooth re-pairing hassle when jumping between screens. Like AirPods, the Backbone Pro also receives firmware updates automatically in the background, keeping the device current without interrupting gameplay.
As with many “Pro” devices today, the Backbone Pro includes two customizable rear buttons to enhance your gameplay. Positioned comfortably on the inner grips where your fingers naturally rest, they’re easy to reach without straining. While Backbone intentionally designed them to avoid accidental presses, I still experienced a few unintended activations while testing. That being said, they’re both comfortable to use and simple to assign, adding a layer of flexibility for players who want deeper control.
Another major upgrade in the Backbone Pro is the inclusion of full-size thumbsticks. Their larger size delivers a more console-like feel, with a concave shape and textured edges that enhance grip and precision. While they don’t use Hall effect sensors, which may disappoint some users, they’re still snappy, responsive, and satisfying to use.
The rear triggers have been upgraded with Hall effect sensors for greater accuracy and reliability. They offer buttery smooth actuation and feature a laser-etched texture that helps keep your fingers securely in place.
The face buttons and D-pad have also received a subtle upgrade, now featuring a premium translucent finish. They feel more responsive than before and are noticeably quieter to press. Rounding out the hardware, the Backbone Pro includes a 3.5mm headphone jack and a Bluetooth pairing button on the bottom left grip.
While the previous Backbone One featured a passthrough charging port, the Pro expands on this feature with the introduction of Parallel Charging. This allows the device to intelligently top off its internal battery while your phone charges through the USB-C passthrough. The result is less hassle with charging and more time jumping into games, no matter what screen you're using.
Despite all the advanced tech packed into the Backbone Pro, it still weighs in at just under 200 grams, making it one of the lightest "Pro" controllers on the market. Keep in mind, that’s just the controller alone. Once your phone is docked, the total weight can vary. Still, in Wireless Mode, the controller maintains a balanced, comfortable feel in the hand.
The Backbone Pro is compatible with USB-C smartphones, including the iPhone 15 and newer, as well as most Android smartphones. It comes with two upgraded, interchangeable magnetic adapters that let you use it with or without a phone case. Like the Backbone One, it doesn’t include built-in rumble, but it does take advantage of the iPhone’s haptic feedback to simulate vibrations in supported games.
Like the hardware itself, the Backbone app has seen a number of updates since my last review. It still serves as a central hub for all your games and services, but now leans more heavily into discovery and getting you into your next game as quickly as possible.
Within the app, you can play native games from the App Store, Apple Arcade, Google Play, Google Play Pass, and Netflix Games, or stream from services like Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Remote Play, Steam, Nvidia GeForce Now, and Amazon Luna.
Adding games is as simple as pressing the Backbone button while you're in-game. This automatically adds the game to your launcher so everything stays in one place. While this works most of the time, I still ran into a few games that refused to be added. It’s not a dealbreaker since you can always launch them manually from your phone’s home screen, but it puts a slight damper on what is otherwise a seamless experience.
If you're using the Backbone Pro, you can take things even further with customization. Remap any button, adjust thumbstick dead zones, fine-tune trigger sensitivity, and save unique profiles for individual games that can be swapped with a tap.
Backbone+ is also receiving updates alongside the Pro's launch. For those unfamiliar, Backbone+ is a subscription service that provides discounts on hardware and accessories, more than $35 worth of in-game rewards, and unlocks additional app features like 1080p/60fps game capture with cloud storage, Twitch streaming from within the app, and more.
One new addition is the Backbone Emulator, which supports retro gaming by integrating popular emulator cores like NES, SNES, Game Boy, and GBA directly into the app, with more cores planned for future updates. Backbone+ members will also soon gain access to a rotating library of free games for both Backbone One and Backbone Pro.
Backbone Pro makes meaningful upgrades over the original Backbone One in nearly every way, and it’s apparent when using it across a wide range of games. Whether I was bouncing between shooters like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 or dabbling in some Katamari Damacy Rolling LIVE, the Backbone Pro never skipped a beat.
The full-size thumbsticks feel significantly better to use and are on par with those of the PS5 DualSense or Xbox Wireless Controller. The same goes for the upgraded triggers, which are satisfyingly clicky and highly responsive. I was already a fan of the D-pad on the Backbone One, but this version somehow feels even better. It’s nearly silent and silky smooth, making it easy to slide between inputs with precision.
It took some getting used to using the Backbone Pro as a standalone controller since my hands are farther apart than usual, but the ergonomic design and well-balanced weight help it feel natural, even during long gaming sessions.
While I spent a good chunk of time in Handheld Mode, I was pleasantly surprised by how well the Backbone Pro worked with the Meta Quest 2 when streaming Xbox Game Pass games. Despite the potential for latency between cloud streaming and Bluetooth input, there was virtually no input lag, even in fast-paced shooters like Call of Duty or Fortnite.
An interesting party trick that I managed to pull off with the Backbone Pro was the ability to somewhat “handoff” games between devices. For example, I booted up a game on Xbox Game Pass in the Meta Quest 2 in Wireless Mode, paused it mid-game, docked my phone and swapped over to Handheld Mode and was able to fire the game up in the Backbone app, unpause, and pick up exactly where I left off. While this certainly won’t work with every game, it was a cool glimpse at what’s possible as cloud gaming continues to evolve.
Even though the Backbone Pro needs to be recharged in Wireless Mode, battery life was never an issue during testing. Parallel Charging while in Handheld Mode kept it topped up as it charged my phone, and unless you're using it exclusively as a standalone controller, you’ll rarely need to worry about battery at all.
Microsoft’s multiplatform strategy is clearly paying off when it comes to launching on PlayStation 5 as well as Xbox Series X and S and PC.
Confirmation comes from Sony itself, via a PlayStation blog post that revealed the top-selling PlayStation Store games for April 2025.
In the U.S. and Canada, the top three spots on PS5's non free-to-play download chart were all taken by Microsoft games: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Minecraft, and Forza Horizon 5.
It was a similar situation in Europe, with Forza Horizon 5 on top, followed by The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, then Minecraft.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which Microsoft backed by signing a deal for a day-one Game Pass launch as well as an appearance in Xbox showcase broadcasts, also appeared high up on both charts.
And let’s not forget Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, from Microsoft-owned Activision, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, from Microsoft-owned Bethesda, both of which appear in the charts.
What does this tell us? That good games, whether they come from Microsoft or otherwise, top the sales charts. That’s perhaps no surprise. It’s also no surprise to see these games do well on PlayStation. The PS5 was screaming out for a game like Playground’s wonderful racer, Forza Horizon 5, so its April launch on the console was hotly anticipated. Then there’s The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, which is scratching that Bethesda itch across PC and console, and the eternally popular Minecraft, even more popular now with the Minecraft movie going viral and breaking records.
This is now the new normal for Microsoft, which just announced Gears of War: Reloaded for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation coming in August. It seems inevitable that Halo, what was once the flagship Xbox exclusive, will also make the jump.
Last year, Microsoft’s gaming chief Phil Spencer said there were no “red lines” in its first-party lineup when it comes to going multiplatform — and that included Halo. Speaking to Bloomberg, Spencer said every Xbox game is up for grabs when it comes to making the multiplatform jump. “I do not see sort of red lines in our portfolio that say ‘thou must not,’ ” he said.
Spencer has said Xbox’s multiplatform push is in part about bringing in more money to Microsoft’s gaming business — with the pressure on to deliver following its eye-watering $69 billion acquisition of Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard.
“We run a business,” Spencer said in August. “It’s definitely true inside of Microsoft the bar is high for us in terms of the delivery we have to give back to the company. Because we get a level of support from the company that’s just amazing and what we’re able to go do.
“So I look at this, how can we make our games as strong as possible? Our platform continues to grow, on console, on PC, and on cloud. It’s just going to be a strategy that works for us.”
As former Xbox executive Peter Moore told IGN last year, bringing Halo to PlayStation will have been a topic of discussion at Microsoft for some time.
“Look, if Microsoft says, wait, we're doing $250 million on our own platforms, but if we then took Halo as, let's call it a third-party, we could do a billion… You got to think long and hard about that, right?” Moore said.
“I mean, you just got to go, yeah, should it be kept? It's a piece of intellectual property. It's bigger than just a game. And how do you leverage that? Those are the conversations that always happen with, how do you leverage it in everything that we would do?
“It's had its ups and downs, but look, Xbox wouldn't be what Xbox is without Halo. But yeah, I'm sure those conversations are happening. Whether they come to fruition, who knows? But they're definitely happening, I'm sure.”
Microsoft does face a potential backlash from hardcore Xbox fans who are already disgruntled after what they feel is a devaluing of the Xbox as a console, the lack of exclusives, and Microsoft’s marketing strategy for its gaming business. Losing Halo to PlayStation could spark yet another angry response, but Moore told IGN that won’t deter Microsoft from doing what’s right for its business.
“The question would be, ultimately, is that reaction enough not to make a fundamental business decision for the future of not only Microsoft’s business, but gaming in itself?” Moore said. “Those hardcore are getting smaller in size and older in age. You've got to cater to the generations that are coming through, because they're going to drive the business over the next 10, 20 years.”
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.
Put simply, there’s nothing on PlayStation 5 quite like Forza Horizon 5.
The Crew Motorfest? Close. Leaning hard into the philosophy of ‘if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em’, its fully fledged festival approach certainly makes Motorfest more like the Forza Horizon series than either of its predecessors.
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown? Sadly, no. The Forza Horizon series itself may owe a significant debt to the trendsetting MMO racing of the original Test Drive Unlimited, but Solar Crown went on to fly too close to the sun in this department. An always-online racer with no dedicated solo component? The Horizon series has allowed players to seamlessly slip between offline and online play since 2014’s Forza Horizon 2!
Need for Speed Unbound? Well, there are definitely several areas of Need for Speed’s impressive customisation suite that handily eclipse Horizon, but Unbound’s arcade focus on high speed hot pursuits means it’s not really a like-for-like comparison.
No, the pound-for-pound champ of modern open world racing is Forza Horizon 5 – and now it’s available on PlayStation 5 for the very first time. Its broad and beautiful Mexico map. Its delectably drift-friendly vehicle dynamics. Its mammoth, 900-odd car garage that goes way beyond just featuring the essentials, and is brimming with cult favourite cars that simply aren’t available in any other racing game. The whole box and dice. PlayStation users are being immersed in all of this, many for the very first time.
The reaction has been fun to watch.
This influx of brand new players has been something the team has been particularly looking forward to.
“Yeah, I’m super excited,” confirms Playground Games art director Don Arceta. “Like, brand new people; for many, this will probably be the first Forza Horizon game that they’ve ever played. So it’s super exciting just to think about that, and think about what our first Horizon experiences were.”
Arceta is especially keen to see what kinds of places and races PlayStation 5 players begin creating with Forza Horizon 5’s huge set of customisation tools – the Event Lab.
“We have over 800 props now in the Event Lab, and just seeing what the community’s done with that feature and mode – and the creativity of the community – it’s just mind blowing,” he continues. “I’m super excited, once we get into the PlayStation 5 users, about what they'll build, and the creativity that will come from that community.”
“You’ll actually get some pretty good Halo content too on the PlayStation, with the event lab props!”
In pleasing news, the port itself is proving to be as technically impeccable as its Xbox and PC counterparts, which is some flex considering the sheer girth of the game – and the fact that the engine that underpins it has never been unleashed on PlayStation before.
“As you can imagine, because the series has been based around the Xbox environment and architecture, there’s a lot of code and engineering that’s worked with that,” says Arceta. “So when we brought it to the PS5, it was no small undertaking. It was quite a huge task.”
“The PlayStation 5 version was developed by Panic Button, in collaboration with Turn 10 and ourselves, but Panic Button did an amazing job. So you get that amazing, quality experience that you get on Xbox and PC – now you get on the PlayStation, and it’s just amazing work that Panic Button has done.”
Personally I’ve never been able to look past the Forza series as a whole as home to the biggest and best bag of Hot Wheels on the block. No other racing series contains more weird and wonderful cars that I want, piled on top of a cavalcade of cars I didn’t even know I wanted. As a car fan, I love the idea of a whole new cohort of players potentially discovering their favourite cars in Forza Horizon 5 – cars their other racing games just haven’t been serving them.
For Playground Games lead game designer David Orton, however, it’s the sheer breadth of Forza Horizon 5 that he’s anticipating will impress new players.
“The breadth of Horizon is quite staggering,” says Orton. “I think what we find is players go in and find what they really enjoy but, because there’s so much freedom, that can really be whatever you want it to be.”
“We always pride ourselves on giving the player that kind of agency and freedom to do whatever they want, and the game will reward them and react in that way. I’m really looking forward to players just discovering the breadth of the content. If you just want to do road racing, or if you’re really into Rivals and track racing, you can totally do that. But if you love taking incredible photos, you can totally do that. If you’re into Event Lab, and you want to create content for other people, you can totally do that. Horizon is the space where really everyone is welcome, and there’s something in it for everyone. I think the feeling of people going in and realising this is more than just a racing game is what’s really exciting for me.”
“For me, a victory would be, like, ‘I can’t believe I’ve never played this game before,’” says Arceta. “I think the surprise.”
“That, for me, is a victory, because once they’re surprised, they’re engaged – and they want to learn more. So I’m really looking for that. The delight from players; just hearing their surprise and hearing their stories.”
Here, Orton is in agreement.
“Yeah, I think it’s that,” he adds. “Players who’ve never tried Horizon before – whether that’s because it’s on a different platform, or they’ve just never had the time to do it – to actually jump into this world and realise that it’s actually a really warm, welcoming place that’s full of fun, and finding a home at Horizon.”
“Players who’ve never played before realising that, ‘Oh my goodness, how have I never played this game before? This is incredible.’ That, to me, is a win. We’re about to target a cohort of players who may have never played a Forza title before. There’s a bit of an unknown to how people react to that, but I think when you look at the history of our titles, we’re continually perfecting our craft. We feel so excited to bring this to PlayStation. I think we’re going to bring in a whole load of new players and that’s really exciting.”
If there’s any hobby that’s more tribal than car culture, it’s those who hinge their identities on their video game console of choice. For racing game fans, however, one big wall has come down.
Let’s hope it’s not the last.
Luke is a Senior Editor on the IGN reviews team. You can track him down on Bluesky @mrlukereilly to ask him things about stuff.
© Wētā Workshop
© Nvidia
© LG
© Getty Images
© Kepler / Sandfall Interactive
© Raccoon Logic
It's one thing to successfully translate a secret in-game video game language, but it's quite another to translate it before the game is even out – yet that's exactly what YouTuber 2Chrispy has (somehow) managed to do in Donkey Kong Bananza.
Just like players managed to unravel the secrets in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's secret language, 2Chrispy used trailers, preview footage, and even the Nintendo Today app to decode the Ancient Monkey Scrolls in Kong's upcoming adventure.
"In the trailer, there were a lot of hidden details," 2Chrispy explained in a wonderful video describing his process. "But the one that stuck out most to me was the banana language. Watch to see how I decoded and deciphered every monkey letter I could find."
After cleverly spotting that an in-game item had an official name, Chip Exchange, Chrispy was, through painstaking, frame-by-frame work, able to work out all but five characters in the banana alphabet — or "Bananabet," as he calls it.
With his newly-discovered transcription skills, 2Chrispy has been able to translate pretty much every single sign, note, and written document seen in any footage published to date. To find out what they say, head on over to Chrispy2's YouTube video.
For instance, in one screenshot, 2Chrispy was able to translate an overhead sign, which reads "welcome," a neon sign that reads "factory," and a snow level sign that reads "ice." He then transcribed various notices that read "hint," "item," and a sign that said: "Message. Thank you for reading. Someone."
"I'm excited to see what other text we'll find in the game," he added. "Could we see references to DK lore? Missing Kongs? Any mention of the Kremlings or King K. Rool?"
"I think Bananza is on track to be one of the most gorgeous Nintendo games I’ve seen," we wrote in our Donkey Kong Bananza first hands-on preview. "It really does take advantage of Switch 2's hardware — the environments are beautiful and DK’s animations are wonderfully expressive, and I left feeling like the next generation of first-party Nintendo games had truly arrived."
Now that we finally have a release date and tech specs on the highly anticipated Switch successor, Nintendo Switch 2 — as well as an idea of how much first-party Nintendo games may cost on the new system — check out our deep dive into all the facts as we talk to industry experts. For more on Nintendo Switch 2, you can catch up on everything shown at last month's Nintendo Direct. Donkey Kong Bananza comes out July 17 for $69.99, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2.
Vikki Blake is a reporter, critic, columnist, and consultant. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has now sold an impressive 2 million copies after 12 days on sale. That’s up from the 1 million sold three days after launch.
It’s worth remembering that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was, alongside Bethesda’s Oblivion Remastered, a day-one Game Pass title. That makes this sales milestone all the more impressive for French developer Sandfall Interactive and publisher Kepler Interactive.
“We’ve watched in awe as so many of you began your journey,” reads a post on social media. “Feeling every step, every emotion, every revelation alongside you.
“To those just joining us: welcome.
“Tomorrow comes.”
When Bethesda shadow-dropped The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered amid the launch of fellow role-playing game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, most thought there could be only one winner. However, it turned out that there was plenty of room for both games to succeed.
Indeed, according to Kepler, not only did Oblivion not harm Clair Obscur, Clair Obscur actually benefitted from Oblivion’s release because it boosted excitement for the RPG genre.
Kepler Interactive’s senior portfolio manager Matt Handrahan told The Game Business last week: “We always knew that Expedition 33 had a very specific identity. When I was in the press, I saw the Western-style RPG and the Japanese-style RPG as having quite different appeals and audiences. I knew plenty of people that would play an Elder Scrolls game that wouldn't necessarily play Final Fantasy and vice versa.
“Also, by the time that we rolled around, we had momentum of our own and we felt pretty confident that we could stand beside it. I think there were other aspects, like the price point we were at and the inclusion in Game Pass… so we knew we would have a lot of interest around the game. We were confident in that. And it went as well as it possibly could have done in our eyes. And, actually, proximity to Oblivion didn't seem to harm us at all. In many ways, I think it just drew attention to quality RPGs that week and everybody was thinking and talking about the genre.”
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has done so well that French President Macron has praised the development team. Be sure to check out our tips for the important things to know before heading into the game.
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.
I think today's deals offer a solid mix of practical tech, collectible finds, and a few membership perks that are worth considering if you're looking to save on future shopping.
There’s nothing flashy for the sake of being flashy, just a handful of genuinely useful accessories, chargers that get the job done quickly, and a few standout prices on high-ticket items like the Pokémon TCG Classic Box and Ghost of Yōtei Collector’s Edition.
I want to point out that it’s also the kind of day where the smaller things make the biggest difference. A $7.99 cable or adapter that simplifies your setup, a discounted Sam’s Club membership that gets you free shipping or extra perks, or even a microSD card that saves you from constantly clearing out storage.
Sam’s Club has a handful of deals right now that make signing up feel like more than just a formality. New members can join the Club tier for $20, which is 60% off the usual $50, or upgrade to Plus for $60, saving $50 off the regular $110 price.
Club membership gets you access to Instant Savings, Sam’s Cash rewards, and the ability to share benefits with someone in your household. With Plus, you’ll also get 2% back on in-club purchases, free shipping on most orders over $50, and curbside pickup.
If you’re already browsing Sam’s Club, I think two standout Pokémon deals make the membership worth it on their own. The Pokémon TCG Classic Box is down to $194.76, more than $200 off its original $400 list price. It’s a collector-focused set with premium packaging and a rotating lineup of non-tournament cards (Basic Energy cards are the exception).
For something more giftable or kid-friendly, the Charizard EX Super Premium Collection is available for $49.94, down from $89.99. It includes 10 booster packs, a foil Charizard EX card, two evolution promos, and a display-ready Charizard figure. Between the membership deals and these rare Pokémon markdowns, I think it’s one of the better times to sign up.
There’s a solid mix of Pokémon TCG products back in stock right now, with a few standout deals worth flagging, whether you’re chasing hits, collecting promos, or just looking for decent value packs.
The Infernape V set comes with four booster packs, a foil Infernape V, a foil Empoleon, and a jumbo-sized Infernape V card. It’s a compact product with solid display value and a good pack selection. More importantly, it’s still one of the only ways to grab Sword & Shield-era boosters at retail prices, and it’s currently cheaper than the secondary market.
If you’re after something a bit more collectible, the Prismatic Evolutions Eevee ex box is a tempting option. Each one includes four booster packs, a foil promo featuring a random Eeveelution, and a storage box with built-in dividers for keeping your collection in check. If you're set on pulling a stamped Eevee ex, the promos in these boxes have sold for anywhere from $15 to nearly $60 depending on the evolution, so there’s definitely potential value here, even if you're effectively paying $15 a pack.
If you’re hunting singles instead of sealed product, scroll down for our top picks to grab right now.
INIU 10000mAh portable charger is available for $19.99, down from $36.99, but if you sign in to your Walmart account and clip the coupon listed, you can score an extra $8 off, bringing it down to $11.99.
It’s a slim, travel-friendly battery bank that offers 22.5W fast charging through PD 3.0 and QC4+ protocols. I like how compact this one is—definitely one of the easier power banks to keep in a daily carry bag or even a pocket.
It can charge an iPhone from 0% to 65% in around 30 minutes, and you’ll get multiple charges depending on the device. An iPhone 8 will get roughly 3.6 full charges, while AirPods can be charged over 13 times. It comes with a USB-C cable, travel pouch, and a 3-year warranty, which is a rare inclusion at this price point.
If you’re even a little curious about 3D modeling, the Humble Blender Bundle is offering 25 full tutorials for just $18. These courses cover Blender 4.4 fundamentals, geometry nodes, environment design, character modeling, and more, with full compatibility for Unity 6 and Unreal Engine. The total value adds up to $2,767, which makes this one of the best skill-building bundles I’ve seen in a while. Proceeds go to Alzheimer’s Research UK, and the offer is available for the next 16 days.
512GB Samsung PRO Plus microSDXC card + reader is on sale for $29.99, a savings of $39 off the regular $68.99. It includes a USB card reader and offers read speeds up to 180MB/s and write speeds up to 130MB/s.
It's Class 10, V30, and U3 rated, making it suitable for 4K UHD video recording and high-speed file transfers. With a 10-year limited warranty included, I think this is a dependable storage upgrade for devices like cameras, tablets, or handheld consoles (...but not Switch 2).
you’ve ever wanted to drink something that looks like it came straight out of your inventory screen, the Nuka-Cola Quantum 4-pack is now available for preorder at the IGN Store for $34.99. This version cranks up the sour factor with an “Extra Radiation” twist that’s really just berry lemonade with a serious kick.
I think it's a fun, functional collectible conversation starter (andpart sugar rush). Each set includes four twist-top glass bottles in a Fallout 4-inspired carrier box, complete with retro styling and no actual Rads (just cane sugar and citrus). It ships June 2025, which gives you time to plan your next cosplay party or stock up for a long vault stay.
This 4-pack of USB-A male to USB-C female adapters is currently $7.99 at Amazon, down from the typical $9.99. I think this is one of those small purchases that ends up being unexpectedly helpful. If you're still using a mix of USB-A and USB-C ports, these are a clean solution that don’t require extra cables or dongles.
They’re built with aluminum alloy housing, designed to stay plugged in with minimal protrusion, and work with devices like the iPhone 16 series, Apple Watch, AirPods, Nintendo Switch, and Samsung Galaxy S25. Just a heads-up: they’re not meant for video output, but they’re excellent for charging and file transfers. They also come with a 12-month service plan, which adds a little extra peace of mind.
This USB-C cable bundle from LISEN is marked down to $7.99 from $15.96. The set includes two 6.6-foot cables capable of 240W charging with PD 3.1 and QC 4.0 support. That makes them well suited for high-powered laptops like the MacBook Pro M4 or phones like the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
They’re made with a braided nylon exterior and reinforced with steel-armored connectors that have been tested for over 40,000 bends. These also support 480Mbps data transfer, so you're covered for fast file syncing too. I think it’s a strong buy if you’re replacing older cables or want something reliable for travel.
The Flareon sleeping plush is available at Walmart for $29.97. It’s an 18-inch premium plush in a relaxed, sleeping pose, made with soft material and officially licensed by Pokémon.
I think this is an easy pick for fans or collectors, especially since the size makes it good for display as well as cuddling. If you’re looking for a thoughtful gift or just want to add something playful to your space, this one hits the mark.
Preorders are now live for the Ghost of Yōtei Collector’s Edition, priced at $249.99. This is a follow-up set in the Ghost of Tsushima universe and comes with both digital and physical collectibles. Inside the box, you’ll find a wearable Ghost Mask, sash, replica tsuba, papercraft ginkgo tree, art cards, and a traditional Zeni Hajiki coin game.
Digital content includes the full game for PS5, a deluxe armor set, saddle, sword kit, early unlock maps, and other in-game bonuses. With a release date of October 2, I think this one will go fast, especially for fans of the original game.
The IGN Store has launched exclusive merchandise for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The collection includes prints, hoodies, t-shirts, mugs, and other themed gear. Prices start at $15 with a wide range of characters and designs represented.
Humble’s latest bundle features fifteen games and bonuses from id Software, including DOOM Eternal, DOOM 64, and multiple Wolfenstein titles. It also includes a coupon for 10% off DOOM: The Dark Ages. For $28, the value is strong across retro and modern releases, making this a savage deal for FPS fans.
Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of "Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior". Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.
Netflix has released a teaser trailer for Squid Game Season 3, and as well as offering a first glimpse at the culmination of the hugely popular show, has sparked a number of fan theories.
Season 3, which launches on Netflix on June 27, is the third and final season of Netflix’s most popular show. It picks up where Season 2 left off, with Gi-hun (Player 456) back in the games and still determined to dismantle them once and for all — despite the harrowing events of the previous season.
It’s time to play the final games 🔴🔵
— Netflix (@netflix) May 5, 2025
Squid Game Season 3 premieres June 27. pic.twitter.com/5ZyZ9HVl2Z
Here’s the official blurb from Netflix:
A failed rebellion, the death of a friend, and a secret betrayal. Picking up in the aftermath of Season 2’s bloody cliffhanger, the third and final season of Netflix’s most popular series finds Gi-hun, a.k.a. Player 456, at his lowest point yet. But the Squid Game stops for no one, so Gi-hun will be forced to make some important choices in the face of overwhelming despair as he and the surviving players are thrust into deadlier games that test everyone’s resolve. With each round, their choices lead to increasingly grave consequences. Meanwhile, In-ho resumes his role as Front Man to welcome the mysterious VIPs, and his brother Jun-ho continues his search for the elusive island, unaware there’s a traitor in their midst. Will Gi-hun make the right decisions, or will Front Man finally break his spirit?
So, what does this teaser trailer tell us? Fans believe that at the 46-second mark we see Player 246, the father of the sick girl in Season 2 (they’re being scanned behind the ear). If true, this would mean Player 246 survived the events of Season 2, during which it looked like they had died.
And if that’s true, perhaps that has implications for Guard 011, who worked at the same theme park as Player 246 before entering the games. Did 011 deliberately miss the kill shot on 246? What is 011’s plan, exactly?
Right at the end of the trailer we hear a baby crying. That may well be Kim Jun-hee's baby. Will Player 222 give birth during the events of Season 3? Fans fear that if so, we could be in for some real tragedy.
We also have new teaser images, below, that have similarly sparked speculation about what to expect from Season 3 in terms of the characters, their votes (if voting happens again), and the fate of their teams. One image shows Park Min-su (Player 125) wearing an O patch instead of an X patch, which suggests at some point in this upcoming season 125 ends up on a different team… again.
Is this the result of a change of heart and an associated change of vote? The teaser trailer shows the characters turning what looks like a gumball machine to find out whether they get a red or blue ball, so it may be the case that the don't have a choice which side they end up on this time around. That could have interesting implications for allies potentially now forced to be enemies.
Elsewhere, the shaman character, Seon-nyeo (Player 044), is seen with a prayer necklace that looks a lot like a key. And in one of the images we see a door shaped like a key hole. Could the two be related? Could this key unlock the door?
Squid Game Season 2 ends on a cliffhanger that sets up Season 3. Be sure to check out our Squid Game Season 2 review to find out what we think of the show.
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 plushies are adorable enough as they are, but the sleeping 18-inch versions like Flareon really add that premium "aw" into your collection.
This snoozing Eeveelution, currently only available at Walmart for $29.97 in the US, uniquely features the Flame Pokémon in a sideways sleeping position.
Made of a super-soft plush material, this is one of the ultimate sleepy Pocket Monsters available for a cuddle whenever you need one. Walmart's stock is region-dependent, so YMMV, but be sure to grab it now if you want this beautiful little owl to sit at your bedside.
There are currently only a few units of this sideways-snoozing Flareon left, so you'd better hurry if you want to grab this rare entry from the latest range of plushies. However, there's also the older Flareon plush available for $55.00, going off to dreamland as well, but being flat on its stomach instead.
Flareon isn't the only sleeping plush available at the megastore either. Walmart has plenty of other plushies available from the sleeping Pokémon range, including the 18-inch versions. For instance, there's the delightful Pikachu for $26.88, Squirtle for $29.97, Jigglypuff for $29.99, and Snorlax for $29.97.
As for the other 18-inch sleeping Pokemon plushies at Walmart though, that's where the prices have started to go up. For example, there are other Eeveelutions like Jolteon & Vaporeon for $55.00 each, Bulbasaur for $39.99, Charmander for $44.98, Totodile for $49.99, and Eevee itself for $69.99.
On the other hand, if you want to grab more tuckered-out Pokemon for your money, there are 5-inch sleeping plushies available as well. You can get the full Kanto starter trio; Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur; for $34.99 in a charming set.
By Jazwares, there's also a four-Pokemon sleeping set with Bulbasaur, Pikachu, Iggybuff, and Rilou for only $19.99. If it's a cheaper Eevee you're after, Walmart also has a Sleeping Eevee Figurine for $15.98. There's even a 5-inch Rowlet — one of the cutest modern Pokemon of them all — for $13.90.
Ben Williams – IGN freelance contributor with over 10 years of experience covering gaming, tech, film, TV, and anime. Follow him on Twitter/X @BenLevelTen.
The creator of Ecco the Dolphin has revealed that not only are there remakes of the original games underway, but a "third" instalment is also in development.
Revealed via a brief post on Xbox Wire, Ed Annunziata — the original creator of the famed, and fiendishly difficult, action-adventure games — was interviewed about raising awareness about ocean conservation, his life as a developer, and, right at the end, dropped this bombshell revelation:
"Me and the entire original team are going to remaster the original Ecco the Dolphin and Ecco: The Tides of Time games. Then we will make a new, third game with contemporary play and [graphics] sensibilities. Stay tuned."
There is, of course, already a "third" game. As the last mainline Ecco instalment, Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future was released on Dreamcast 25 years ago in 2000. However, creator Annunziata wasn't involved. A further sequel, Ecco 2: Sentinels of the Universe, which had been written as a direct sequel to Defender of the Future, was cancelled.
"I just want to finally be able to enter my secret password from the end of Tides of Time. I still have it written in the codes section of the game manual," wrote one fan, while another reminded us: "I wonder how many people know how completely bonkers the plot of the games are."
Annunziata didn't provide any additional details as to when we'll get to be reunited with Ecco, but a countdown on the official Ecco the Dolphin website is set to expire in 8,508 hours' time — that's about a year from now.
Ecco the Dolphin originally launched in 1992 on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, and was followed by a sequel, Ecco: The Tides of Time, in 1994. Ecco Jr. and Ecco Jr. and the Great Ocean Treasure Hunt were released in 1995, although they were "edutainment" games and primarily developed as learning tools.
Ecco the Dolphin sees you play as the titular dolphin, as your underwater world has been devastated by a swirling gust of air and water. You must help him navigate back through treacherous tropical reefs and freezing polar ice floes to reunite him with his dolphin pod. We thought the 2000 remake was okay, writing: "Ecco the Dolphin is a classic from SEGA. But sometimes classics should stay in the past.
"For those who have played Ecco before, there's really no reason to come back to it," we wrote of the 2007 remake in IGN's Ecco the Dolphin review. "There are no extras offered and the Achievements are junk. If you've never played Ecco, then you may want to give it a go. It really is one of the more innovative titles of its time. But, again, that time has long passed, and Ecco's gameplay doesn't stand the test of time like Sonic's."
The last Ecco the Dolphin game fared much better, getting a 7.6 score in IGN's Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future review, saying: "If you thought Flipper had personality, wait until you get a load of Ecco the Dolphin. Experience amazing visuals and an engrossing story, and defend the ocean that is rightfully yours."
Vikki Blake is a reporter, critic, columnist, and consultant. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
Nintendo is suing accessory firm Genki for trademark infringement after it shared renders of a Nintendo Switch 2 "mockup" months before Nintendo revealed official images of its new console.
Cast your mind back a couple of months, and you may remember that Genki — the accessories manufacturer at the heart of the Switch 2 mockup furore coming out of CES 2025 in January — was reportedly visited by Nintendo’s lawyers. At the time, however, Genki told the press it did not sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with Nintendo, and so had "nothing to worry about."
Genki told visitors the Switch 2 mockup, debuting three months ahead of Nintendo's formal unveiling, was allegedly based on a real Switch 2 system that Genki had seen and used as the basis for its accessories.
In court papers seen by IGN, Nintendo is now suing the company, accusing Genki of "embarking upon a strategic campaign intended to capitalize on the public interest surrounding Nintendo's next-generation console," suing for trademark infringement, unfair competition, and false advertising.
Nintendo asserted Genki "boasted its alleged early access to the unreleased console and allowed guests to hold and measure the mockups," adding that as Genki’s claims of compatibility "would be impossible to guarantee without unauthorized, illegal early access to the Nintendo Switch 2... Genki has misled and is misleading the public as to its ability to guarantee the compatibility of its products with the Nintendo Switch 2."
"In January 2025, [Genki] began advertising that it gained unauthorised access to Nintendo's upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 console, which had not yet been released or even revealed publicly by Nintendo," the court papers said.
"Following its initial claims of access to a genuine Nintendo Switch 2 console, Defendant's statements were contradictory and inconsistent, with Defendant later stating that it was never in possession of a console. Nevertheless, Defendant has since maintained its representation to consumers that its accessories will be compatible with the Nintendo Switch 2 upon the console's release."
The Japanese megacorp also alleged Genki of infringing its trademarks in its advertising and "in direct competition with Nintendo's and its licensee's legitimate marketing of authorized accessories."
Nintendo also took umbrage with a tweet from Genki on January 20, which showed CEO Edward Tsai with a finger to his lips and the caption: "Genki ninjas infiltrate Nintendo Kyoto HQ" and a pop-up on the Genki website that read: "Can you keep a secret? We can’t..."
In recompense, Nintendo seeks to prohibit Genki from using its trademarked "Nintendo Switch" name in its marketing materials, destroy any products or marketing that references Nintendo's branding, and recover unspecified "damages it has sustained as a result of Defendant's infringement, unfair competition, and false advertising, and that said damages be trebled."
Over the weekend, Genki posted a response on social media stating: "You may have seen that Nintendo recently filed a lawsuit against us. We’re taking it seriously and working with legal counsel to respond thoughtfully.
"What we can say is this: Genki has always been an independent company focused on building innovative gaming accessories for the community we love. We’re proud of the work we’ve done, and we stand by the quality and originality of our products. While we can’t comment in detail, we’re continuing preparations to fulfill orders and showcase our newest products at PAX East this week."
The statement closed on thanking people "for the overwhelming support [it has] received so far." "We’ll share more when we can, but for now, we’re staying focused on doing what we do best: building gear for gamers," it concluded.
Nintendo Switch 2 is set to debut on June 5. Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders went live on April 24, with the price still fixed at $449.99 — and they went about as well as you'd expect. Meanwhile, Nintendo has issued a warning to U.S. customers who applied for a Switch 2 pre-order from the My Nintendo Store, saying release date delivery is not guaranteed due to very high demand.
Check out IGN's Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order guide for more.
Vikki Blake is a reporter, critic, columnist, and consultant. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
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