Nintendo and The Pokémon Company’s patent infringement lawsuit in Japan against Pocketpair’s open-world survival game Palworld is ongoing. In the latest development, Nintendo has reworded one of the patents in the case, but what led up to this bizarre move?

Palworld is an open-world survival game that skyrocketed in popularity upon its Steam and Xbox early access launch back on January 19, 2024. It sold 8 million copies in just six days and racked up over 25 million players in one month.

The game world is inhabited by creatures called Pals, which you can capture and use (read: exploit) to carry out various tasks. The visual appearance of the Pals and the method of capturing them by throwing a ball (Pal Sphere), quickly drew comparisons to Pokémon, with the game even getting nicknamed “Pokémon with guns” for its darker, black humor-infused take on the creature collecting genre. With Palworld’s meteoric rise in popularity, it wasn’t long before Nintendo rival Sony got together with Pocketpair to form Palworld Entertainment in June 2024, a new business venture aimed at expanding the IP.

Nintendo and The Pokémon Company showed signs of keeping an eye on Palworld (for example, this official statement from The Pokémon Company back in January 2024). But it wasn’t until September 2024 that they officially announced they were filing a lawsuit in Japan against Pocketpair for infringement of patent rights.

The case involves three patents granted by the Japan Patent Office (JPO): two related to monster capture and release, and one related to riding characters. All three patents were filed in 2024, after Palworld came out. However, they are actually derived from earlier Nintendo patents dating from 2021. In other words, it seems that once Palworld came on the scene, Nintendo filed divisional patents that were geared to fight specifically against Palworld’s alleged infringement of the original patents.

Since then, Pocketpair has made changes to Palworld’s disputed mechanics. The November 2024 patch removed the ability to summon Pals by throwing Pokéball-like Pal Spheres (now Pals just materialize next to you when summoned). In May, another Palworld update changed how you can glide in the game — instead of directly grabbing onto Glider Pals, now you just simply use Pal-buffed Glider equipment.

It’s worth noting that these changes by Pocketpair are not an admission of guilt. Rather, as Japanese patent attorney Kiyoshi Kurihara pointed out on Yahoo Japan news last month, Pocketpair is following the standard three-pronged defense against patent lawsuits, which is to “deny infringement, argue that the patents are invalid, and avoid infringement through design changes.” He also noted that Nintendo does not have the upper hand, as there seems to be a fierce back-and-forth with Nintendo pushing for patent infringement and Pocketpair pushing for patent invalidity.

In short, Nintendo’s ride mechanic patent (which got a sudden rewrite recently) covers a system for mounting and maneuvering pre-selected “boardable characters” (tōjō kyarakuta). Commenting on X, Japanese lawyer Ryo Arashida pointed out that it could be argued that the way Palworld’s Glider Pals worked prior to the May update infringed part of the patent’s specifications, namely those about the player grabbing onto and hanging from the boardable character, and their subsequent control of that movement.

Prior to the May Palworld update, you could use an actual Glider Pal to glide (by grabbing onto its feet). However, post-update, players have to use a piece of equipment — a Glider — to glide, rather than actually using the Pals themselves. Instead, Pals now act as passive buffs on your gliding.

Ironically, as Arashida noted, Nintendo’s major argument to get the patent granted in the first place was that a “boardable character” was specifically a character and not a tool, like a parachute. “For this reason, claiming in the lawsuit that a ‘Glider’ (which is a tool) is a ‘boardable character’ would create a contradiction.”

This month, Nintendo reworded the ride-switching mechanic patent. Rewording a patent mid-case is legal as long as it doesn’t introduce any new concepts or technical matter. However, as pointed out by IP consultant Florian Mueller at GamesFray, this only tends to happen if the litigant (in this case, Nintendo) feels the patent is “at a fairly high risk of being deemed invalid in its original form.” Nintendo’s rewriting of the patent makes it more verbose. Mueller focused on the addition of “even when” (-attemo in Japanese) to the wording, noting that “even” is rarely used in patents because it's “too emphatic and subjective.”

Although it's not clear exactly what Nintendo’s motivations are behind this sudden rewording, it’s possible that it is using this as a last-ditch tactic to make it harder for the patent claim to be dismissed as invalid.

The case continues. Meanwhile, Pocketpair continues to update Palworld with new features, such as the recently released Terraria crossover.

Verity Townsend is a Japan-based freelance writer who previously served as editor, contributor and translator for the game news site Automaton West. She has also written about Japanese culture and movies for various publications.

South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone took to the stage during their hotly anticipated panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 to discuss the Season 27 premiere, which hit the headlines for skewering Donald Trump.

The episode, which you can read the details of here, roasts President Trump to such an extent that it sparked a rebuttal from the White House.

IGN was in Hall H to see Parker and Stone take their seats, and one of the first things they did was jokingly apologize for the season premiere, with Parker saying: “We’re very sorry.”

If you’ve ever found yourself paralysed by a backlog but still willingly opened your wallet for “one more banger,” we suffer the same disease, my friend. I’ve stared down more digital shopping carts than I'd care to admit, and today's deals haul came back stacked. In case I don't see you, stay safe, save often, and catch you Monday!

This Day in Gaming 🎂

In retro news, I'm commemorating the 35th birthday of Magic Sword, an arcade classic. In this Capcom hack 'n' slash side-scroller, you were cast as one of two He-Man types and set loose on 51 floors of mummies, dragons, and...er, Easter Island heads? Nabbing keys and releasing prisoners would add an AI party member who basically acted like a side weapon pod. What hooked me most: the left-field inclusion of a ninja. Because in the late '80s and early '90s, any game featuring a ninja instantly became a must-play. I was proper obsessed.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion, the promising looking beat ‘em-up from the developer of the well-received Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, announced two new playable characters as well as some big names for its voice cast during a panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2025.

First up, we have The Silver Surfer, which is an appropriately timed character announcement given the release of MCU movie The Fantastic Four: First Steps. “Imbued with the Power Cosmic, the Surfer can stun any adversary,” publisher Dotemu and developer Tribute Games said. “Easily gliding in the skies or close to the ground, insectoid invaders can’t escape Galactus’ former herald.”

The second reveal is perhaps more of a surprise as a playable character: Beta Ray Bill. “A fan-favorite recognized by the mighty Thor as a proven ally, and wielder of his own devastating hammer known as Stormbreaker,” Dotemu said. “Half-cyborg, half Korbinite, Bill’s strength can squash any bug battalion standing in his way.”

The Silver Surfer and Beta Ray Bill join Captain America, Wolverine, Spider-Man, Storm, Phyla-Vell, Venom, Nova, She-Hulk, and Rocket Raccoon on the playable roster of characters. The game launches with 15 playable characters, which means four are still to be announced.

As for the voice cast, Matt Mercer from Critical Role is set to play Nova and Annihilus.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion voice cast (so far):

• Brian Bloom (Captain America, Silver Surfer)
• Steve Blum (Venom, Beta Ray Bill)
• Trevor Devall (Rocket Raccoon)
• Cal Dodd (Wolverine)
• Josh Keaton (Spider-Man)
• Matt Mercer (Nova, Annihilus)
• Aileen Mythen (Phyla-Vell)
• Elysia Rotaru (She-Hulk)
• Alison Sealy-Smith (Storm)

Marvel Cosmic Invasion is due out later this year on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5 and Xbox. Here’s the official blurb:

In Marvel Cosmic Invasion, the immortal Super Villain Annihilus has launched an unprecedented attack across the galaxy, threatening all life as we know it. Super Heroes both Earth-born and cosmic must now join forces in a star-spanning adventure against the deadly Annihilation Wave. Brawl through the streets of New York City all the way to the depths of the Negative Zone to foil Annihilus’ vow to spread death across the cosmos in classically inspired side-scrolling combat.

Choose and control your own team of two characters while tagging between them mid-fight with the innovative Cosmic Swap system, capitalizing on distinct superpowers and special attacks to create unique team-ups and dish out devastating damage. Unlock stellar powerups and rewards while experimenting with different duos and bash through a fantastic collection of locales and nemeses from the Marvel universe. Marvel Cosmic Invasion’s action includes a range of accessibility features, empowering the whole family to be Super Heroes (or villains), and supports four-player drop-in/drop-out local and online co-op with crossplay.

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

We currently know six of the playable characters in fighting game Invincible VS. There will be more, of course. But just how many? Based on comments from Invincible creator Robert Kirkman in an interview with IGN at San Diego Comic-Con 2025, Invincible VS will have a massive roster.

Invincible VS is the upcoming 3v3 tag fighting game set in the Invincible universe. It’s developed by Skybound Entertainment’s first in-house game studio, Quarter Up. Already confirmed Invincible VS characters include Mark Grayson (Invincible), Atom Eve, Thula, Bulletproof, and Rex Splode. Check out IGN’s Invincible VS preview from June for more.

Fresh from his SDCC 2025 panel where he announced Battle Beast for Invincible VS, Kirkman told IGN that if fans are wondering if a specific character from either the Invincible comic or the Prime Video animated series will be in the game, there’s a “99%” chance they will be.

This, the ever chatty Kirkman added, was perhaps a spoiler.

“There's so much care being put into being true to the Invincible universe,” Kirkman began. “So if you're a fan of the comics or the show and you're like, ‘Oh, there's a fighting game coming, who would I like to be in that fighting game?’ There's a 99% chance they're going to be in the game. I'll just say that. That's a spoiler. I might get in trouble for that. I don't know.”

Kirkman continued: “The lineup is going to be absolutely insane. I'm so glad that we announced Battle Beast. You can't do an Invincible fighting game without having Battle Beast be one of the playable characters. There are other characters like that that will more than likely be in the game. So we'll see. We've got a lot of announcements to roll out. There's a really great team working on this and I can't wait for people to see everything is going into it.”

Who would you like to see playable in Invincible VS? Let us know in the comments below.

As for when Invincible VS will be released, Kirkman said 2026, which we knew already, but then he added: “Sooner than you may think… But next year. I'm not being specific.” Interesting...

Check out IGN's roundup of everything announced during Robert Kirkman's Invincible panel at SDCC 2025 for more.

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

Tron: Ares is one of the most anticipated movies of 2025, acting as the first Tron movie in 15 years. While it first entered development in 2010 following Tron: Legacy, Disney decided to have the film serve as a reboot in 2017, tagging Jared Leto to lead. While Tron: Legacy is loved for its sci-fi elements, the one thing unanimously loved by both fans and critics was the soundtrack, composed by Daft Punk.

The electronic duo split in 2021, leading the way for Nine Inch Nails to take over for Tron: Ares. Announced this week, Amazon has opened preorders on the Tron: Ares 2xLP Vinyl Soundtrack by Nine Inch Nails. Set to release in mid-September ahead of the film, this is the perfect item to prepare for the next chapter of Tron.

Preorder the Limited Edition Tron: Ares Vinyl at Amazon

Everyone’s favorite athletic canine is coming back for a sequel with Air Bud Returns next summer.

The dog lovers behind Air Bud Entertainment and Cineverse announced another sequel in its line of sports-playing dog movies today. It’s an announcement of distribution rights for the latter that will see Air Bud Returns bouncing its way to theaters sometime in the summer of 2026.

Air Bud Entertainment and Cineverse say their goal is for the new Air Bud movie to spark a “potentially long-term collaboration,” but the two entities stop short of spelling out what other projects could arrive in the future. while no plot or casting details have been revealed, we at least know Air Bud Returns will tell a unique story in the puppy-centered cinematic universe, and, most importantly, it stars a Golden Retriever.

“In Air Bud Returns, 12-year old Jacob has always dreamt of being a star basketball player,” an official description says. “After the passing of his father, that dream felt even more impossible. But everything changes when he and his mom move into his dad's childhood home in Fernfield. There, Jacob discovers an original VHS of the Air Bud movie in his father’s belongings and has a chance meeting of a stray golden retriever he names Buddy. Together they embark on a journey of healing, unite a team of misfits, and chase a championship. Through it all they learn to play from the heart, believe in each other, and always take the shot!"

Robert Vince, producer for the original 1997 Air Bud and all of its many sequels, has stepped up as writer and director for Air Bud Returns. In a statement, he teased a film that tells a “deeply human story” with themes of “adaptation, redemption, and teamwork.”

“Air Bud Returns isn’t just another sequel or remake — it’s a unique story,” Vince said. “This movie will engage nostalgic Air Bud fans while introducing a new generation to the beloved basketball-playing golden retriever, Buddy. It builds upon the legacy of the OG Air Bud with all the fun, the magic, heartwarming scenes, and Buddy playing basketball.”

Air Bud emerged as the movie world’s first basketball-playing Golden Retriever in the late ‘90s and quickly spawned a litter of sequels. These range from its original 1998 follow-up, Air Bud: Golden Receiver, all the way to the Air Buddies spinoffs, which include projects like 2009’s Space Buddies, 2012’s Treasure Buddies, and 2013’s Super Buddies. Including the Santa Paws franchise, there are 14 films in total, with Vince writing and directing 10 of them.

Air Bud Returns has no release date outside of its summer theatrical 2026 window. For more, you can read our 6/10 review of the original movie’s Special Edition DVD release. You can also see where Air Bud falls on our list of the 13 best basketball movies.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

Fans attending San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday got their first look at the upcoming animated film Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires during the Warner Bros. Home Entertainment panel where the first trailer for the movie was revealed.

Weren’t able to make the panel? Don’t worry because IGN can exclusively share the trailer for Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires with you here. Watch it via the player above or the embed below.

From Warner Bros. Animation, Ánima and Chatrone, Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires reimagines the Batman mythos through the lens of Mesoamerican culture.

According to the official synopsis, the film “unfolds within the vibrant and fierce culture of 16th century Mesoamerica. In the time of the Aztec empire, tragedy strikes Yohualli Coatl, a young Aztec boy, when his father is murdered by Spanish conquistadors. To warn King Moctezuma and his high priest, Yoka, of imminent danger, Yohualli escapes to Tenochtitlán.

There, he trains in the temple of the bat god Tzinacan with his mentor, developing equipment and weaponry to confront the Spanish invasion and avenge his father’s death. Along the way, he encounters key figures like the fierce Jaguar Woman and the enchanting Forest Ivy.“

Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires will be available in the US exclusively on digital on September 19 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on September 23. It will be available in both Spanish and English-language versions.

The English voice cast features Jay Hernandez (Hostel, Suicide Squad) and Raymond Cruz (Breaking Bad, Sons of Anarchy), while the Spanish version — Batman Azteca: Choque De Imperios — features the voices of Horacio García Rojas, Omar Chaparro, and Álvaro Morte.

Juan Meza-Léon directs from a screenplay by Ernie Altbacker. José C. García de Letona, Fernando De Fuentes S., Carina Schulze, Aaron D. Berger, Jim Krieg, and Kimberly S. Moreau are producers. Sam Register, Tomás Yankelevich, and Michael Uslan serve as executive producers.

The movie runs 89 minutes and is rated R for some violence and bloody images.

The physical and digital releases of Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires will include the following special features:

• The Battle Cry of Aztec Batman – Go behind the scenes and inside the voiceover booth with Jay Hernandez as he fulfils a childhood dream and reveals the creative process of becoming Batman.
• The Batman Mythology and Aztec Inspiration – Screenwriter Ernie Altbacker and Jay Hernandez reveal the film’s approach to melding the historically accurate world of the Aztecs with the iconic cast of Batman conic book characters.

For more DC coverage, find out the latest on Booster Gold coming to TV and learn whether James Gunn will retcon that Superman origin twist.

Amazon has just announced two new Kindle models, both of which are available to buy now. These aren't new devices necessarily, just slightly altered versions of the Kindle Colorsoft Amazon launched back in 2024. The latest 16GB model and the first Kids edition have joined all of the other latest Kindle editions on the market right now.

The main draw of the Kindle Colorsoft is that it offers full-color reading, rather than the black and white e-ink you'd get from the Kindle Paperwhite. The addition of color adds to the overall cost of the device, however, and it's one of the most expensive Kindles available. The new 16GB version does cut down the price a little bit, but at $250 it's hovering around the same price as an iPad.

New Kindle Colorsoft Models Available Now

The cast of The Fantastic Four: First Steps recently gathered to try out Marvel Rivals for the first time, and the actors' reaction to Invisible Woman’s skimpy Malice skin has the internet in tears.

Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm), and Joseph Quinn (Human Torch) recently gathered to play NetEase Games’ popular hero shooter with YouTuber Loserfruit. The resulting video is quite funny, showing the new Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) family as they fumble through a few matches as their in-game counterparts.

Meet the family! ✨Marvel Studios The Fantastic Four: First Steps cast's genuine reactions as they try out Marvel Rivals! 😄 pic.twitter.com/sq8lwMh7pp

— Marvel Rivals (@MarvelRivals) July 24, 2025

It's goofy and occasionally hard to watch as Pascal flails his stretchy arms at enemies, but the highlight is no doubt the Fantastic Four cast’s reaction to Invisible Woman’s infamous Marvel Rivals Malice skin. Fans of the game had already taken the time to see everything the shockingly revealing outfit had to offer when it made its debut with Season 1 in January. On the eve of the new Fantastic Four movie’s premiere, though, the cast is only just seeing it for the first time.

Kirby is the first to joke about the skin: “Thank you. This is my favorite bit of her as well,” she says of the video game version of her Fantastic Four character. “This is my favorite bit. Guys, watch out, like I said, for the sequel. You better watch it.”

The Fantastic Four: First Steps, of course, has yet to receive the green light for a proper MCU sequel, though we do know at least some of its major characters will make an appearance in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. Invisible Woman’s evil black-and-red Malice skin probably won’t make it into the MCU, but the slack-jawed Pascal still shared some of his thoughts.

“Here we go,” Pascal said. “Costume designer, take notes.”

Loserfruit’s video also includes the Fantastic Four cast’s reaction to other Marvel Rivals cosmetics, including Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman’s The Life Fantastic wedding skins. Of course, it’s how all four actors reacted to the Malice skin that has started to achieve viral status. You can see the group's reaction at 4:40 in Loserfruit's video and then see how it's spread to the internet below.

pic.twitter.com/8n9dQItgZq

— 🏆- Christian (@Braves246) July 24, 2025

Their reaction when they saw Sue's Malice skin 😭💀 pic.twitter.com/tFQ7kAvlGq

— Suebi ⓸ (@wasabitoffee) July 24, 2025

The Fantastic Four: First Steps officially lands in theaters tomorrow, July 25, and will introduce the first new live-action take on Marvel’s First Family in a decade. Meanwhile, a crossover featuring movie tie-in skins will arrive in Marvel Rivals starting tomorrow.

You can check out our 7/10 review of the film before you head to the theater. If you’re still looking for more on Marvel, you can read about all of the skins, characters, and other cosmetics coming in Marvel Rivals Season 3.

Screenshot via I Play Marvel Rivals with the Fantastic Four Cast by Loserfruit.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

In a surprising turn of events, Indiegogo, one of the largest global crowdfunding platforms second only to Kickstarter, has been acquired by board game crowdfunding site Gamefound.

In a joint announcement, Gamefound revealed it will be integrating its technology to enhance the Indiegogo platform, offering creators and backers more powerful tools than ever before. These include over 20 payment options, a full-featured mobile app, built-in marketing tools, and more robust pledge management. Indiegogo will also adopt Gamefound's flat 5% fee structure, putting more money in creators' pockets.

“It’s time for crowdfunding to be a forward-facing industry again,” said Julie dePontbriand, CEO of Indiegogo in the official release. “Gamefound’s technology is unrivaled, and we’re thrilled to bring it to Indiegogo’s diverse community. Together, we’re making crowdfunding more innovative, creator-friendly, and exciting than ever before.”

The two sites will continue operating independently for now, with Gamefound remaining focused on tabletop games and Indiegogo continuing to promote tech, film, and other creative projects. In the near future, Gamefound campaigns will also be discoverable through Indiegogo, opening the door to a much broader audience.

Indiegogo is one of the original crowdfunding pioneers, having launched over 17 years ago. In that time, it has amassed 38 million members and raised more than $3 billion for projects across the globe. By combining Indiegogo’s global reach with Gamefound’s cutting-edge infrastructure, the partnership might finally give Kickstarter a run for its money.

What does this mean for the board game industry?

Overall, this acquisition is a massive win for the board game industry. Gamefound will soon be cross-promoting its tabletop campaigns through Indiegogo, allowing creators to get in front of millions of new customers.

With fewer fees and more native tools to help promote projects, creators may finally start shifting away from Kickstarter for new campaigns. Since Gamefound doesn't have a paid promotion feature like Kickstarter Boost, it levels the playing field for smaller creators, too.

Large publishers are already favoring Gamefound, with six of the ten largest board game projects in 2024 successfully funded there, including the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077 board game that reached its goal in ten minutes.

Matthew Adler has written for IGN since 2019 covering all things gaming, tech, tabletop games, and more. You can follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @MatthewAdler and watch him stream on Twitch.

Chromebooks can offer amazing value for the money, whether you're looking for a laptop for studying, work, or just casual web browsing. There are even Chromebooks for gaming (and they're more impressive than you might expect). Don't let the low price tags on these laptops fool you – they're little workhorses.
Keep an eye out for Chromebook Plus models in particular. They feature more advanced hardware and stronger performance compared to basic Chromebooks. They also come with perks like a free 12-month Google AI Pro subscription, which includes access to Google Gemini and 2TB of Google Cloud storage.

TL;DR – These Are the Best Chromebooks:

Chromebooks aren't a perfect fit for everyone, though. Keep in mind these laptops can't run Windows or Mac apps, so depending on what your must-have apps are, you might be better served with one of the best laptops or MacBooks. With that said, Chromebooks are a great choice if you mainly use web-based tools like Google Drive or only need a laptop for basic tasks like web browsing and word processing. They also make great budget laptops – every Chromebook I picked is well under $1,000.

1. Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14

Best Chromebook

2. Acer Chromebook Plus 514

Best Budget Chromebook

3. Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus

Best Chromebook for Students

4. Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE

Best Chromebook for Gaming

5. Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714

Best 2-in-1 Chromebook

How to Choose the Best Chromebook

Choosing the right Chromebook starts with deciding on a budget and one or two must-have features. The vast majority of Chromebooks cost well under $1,000, with higher-end models ranging from around $600 to $800, mid-range models landing between $400 and $600, and budget options covering anything less than $400.

Beyond price, battery life and design are often deal-breaker features. Ideally you don't want to settle for less than 8 hours of battery life unless you're on a very tight budget. Even then, it may be worth saving a little extra money to get a Chromebook that can hit 8 hours. If you travel frequently or commute, it's a good idea to aim even higher, ideally around 10 hours or more.

Design comes down to whether or not you care about 2-in-1 functionality. Chromebooks mainly rely on the Google Play Store for apps, which can be a drawback but also means you can use apps designed for tablets if your Chromebook has a tablet mode. For instance, Goodnotes is a great notetaking app designed for tablets that could come in handy for students with a 2-in-1 Chromebook.

It's also important to consider how much storage you'll need. Most Chromebooks include 128GB or 256GB of storage. It's possible to find some with 512GB or more, but those models are less common and more expensive. Also keep in mind that if you get a Chromebook Plus model, you'll get a free year of Google AI Pro, which includes 2TB of Google Cloud storage.

Chromebook FAQ

Can Chromebooks use the same apps as Windows?

No, Chromebooks can't use Windows apps, but some Windows apps may have ChromeOS versions. Chromebooks are mainly limited to apps from the Google Play Store. Even then, not all apps on the Play Store are designed to work on Chromebooks. So, it's a good idea to double-check that your must-have apps are available on ChromeOS before switching from Windows or MacOS.

Can Chromebooks run Steam?

Some may be surprised to hear that Chromebooks can run Steam and play certain Windows games from Steam through Valve's Proton compatibility layer. Steam for Chromebook is currently available as a Beta app, but has the full Steam experience. Unfortunately, not all Chromebooks are eligible, so check Google's list of hardware requirements and supported Chromebook models to see if yours qualifies.

What is the difference between a Chromebook and Chromebook Plus?

Chromebook Plus laptops are a collection of Chromebooks with more powerful hardware, allowing them to handle more advanced apps and run Google's Gemini AI. Most new Chromebook Plus laptops also come with perks, like a free year of Google AI Pro, which gets you full access to Google Gemini and 2TB of cloud storage.

Stevie Bonifield is a freelance tech journalist who has written for IGN, PC Gamer, Tom's Guide, and Laptop Mag, covering everything from custom keyboards to gaming on Linux.

Books are great, obviously. They're also bulky space eaters – just ask the piles of books sitting around my apartment that don't fit on my already overstuffed bookshelf. If you have space for a real home library, how lucky for you! If not, do yourself a favor and get a good reading tablet. You'll miss out on the tactile joy of reading, but they make building out a personal library so much more accessible – including books you can read for free without leaving home – and far less messy. We found a few of the best tablets to make reading anywhere a bit easier.

TL;DR - These Are the Best Tablets to Read on:

Reading tablets come with varying capabilities. E-readers, like our top pick, the Kindle Paperwhite, are geared towards book formats, often featuring screens that attempt to mimic pages. These devices are more limited in what they can do – don’t expect to be scrolling socials or streaming shows when taking a break from reading. On the other hand, your more typical tablets, like the iPad Mini, can do a lot more, but the displays may strain your eyes and batteries deplete quicker. Notetaking functionality, like the Kobo Libra Colour offers, is also handy for students or people who like to write freely in book margins. Deciding which is best for your needs is a personal preference.

1. Kindle Paperwhite

The Best Kindle and Best Reading Tablet

2. iPad Mini (7th Gen)

Best iPad for Reading

3. Apple iPad Pro (2024, M4)

Best Tablet for Reading Comics and Manga

4. OnePlus Pad 2

Best Android Tablet for Reading

5. Kobo Libra Colour

Best Reading and Writing Tablet

How to Choose the Best Reading Tablet

Choosing the best reading tablet requires careful consideration of several factors to ensure that the device meets your specific needs. Whether you're an avid reader of fiction, a student reviewing textbooks, or a professional keeping up with all the PDFs your boss keeps sending, selecting the right tablet can significantly impact your reading experience.

One of the main things you have to look into is the display's quality. The screen is where your eyes will spend most of their time, making display quality paramount. Eye comfort is also crucial, especially for extended reading sessions. Tablets with blue light reduction features or e-ink technology, which mimics the appearance of paper, can help reduce eye strain. E-Ink screens are easier on the eyes, but LCDs are more versatile if you want to use the same tablet for multiple purposes.

Long battery life is essential for uninterrupted reading, especially when on the move. Looking into tablets with a solid battery life will ensure that you can enjoy your books, magazines, or documents without constantly worrying about finding the next power outlet.

Lastly, size and weight affect how comfortably you can hold the tablet for long periods. While larger screens provide more immersive reading experiences, they should not compromise the device's portability. A lightweight, slim design makes it easier to carry your tablet in a bag or even hold it with one hand.

Best Tablets for Reading FAQ

What is the best tablet for reading according to Reddit?

If you're hoping to look to Reddit for advice on which tablet is best for reading, users on the r/androidtablets subreddit have point out a few clear winners. The top commenter points out that the Aldocube 50 Mini and Mini Pro are great options for reading due to being lightweight with good screens at a decent size for reading. Other commenters recommended Barnes & Noble's Nook because the e-paper technology offers more of a similar reading experience you'd get from an actual book.

Are tablets good for reading books?

Sure they are, but you’re going to find that regular LCD screens will tire your eyes much faster than an e-ink model. Battery life is also something you’ll want to keep in mind because most standard tablets don’t last as long as a Kindle, for instance, since their hardware is more demanding.

Do you need a Kindle subscription to read ona Kindle device?

You don't need a Kindle Unlimited subscription to read books on a Kindle. There are other ways to downlaod e-books on your Amazon device or you can simply purchase books directly from the Kindle storefront with no subscription required. The benefits of a subscription are more if you plan on reading a lot of books and don't want to purchase them all. This is especially true if you're a fan of LitRPG books, which tend to be included with a subscription.

What is the best tablet for reading outside?

If you're looking to read your tablet on the beach or sitting at the park, the Kindle Paperwhite is what you want. Unlike many tablets, this e-reader features an e-ink display, which acts and looks similar to printed paper. That means battling severe glare, brightness, eye strain, and battery life will be far less of an issue compared to LCD screens. The Kindle Paperwhite is also IPX8 water-resistant, unlike many tablets, so getting splashed poolside or caught in the rain won’t slow the device down.

During his panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2025, Robert Kirkman announced that Matthew Rhys voices Dinosaurus in Invincible Season 4, and committed to a 2026 release window.

Warning! Potential spoilers for Invincible Season 4 follow:

Rhys, who played Philip Jennings in The Americans, plays Dinosaurus in Invincible. Dinosaurus is expected to be the next major villain to appear after Conquest, and in the comics seeks to heal the world from the toxic effects of human civilization.

BREAKING: Matthew Rhys will voicing Dinosaurus in the next season of Invincible. #SDCC pic.twitter.com/kf2eCYot6C

— IGN (@IGN) July 24, 2025

Meanwhile, Kirkman said all of Thragg’s lines have been recorded, but stopped short of announcing the voice actor. Grand Regent Thragg is the true main villain of the Invincible saga, and the ruler of the Viltrumite Empire.

With Season 4 set for release in 2026, fans are wondering what Kirkman’s master plan is for Prime Video's Invincible adaptation. During the panel, he said 7-9 series will be needed to tell the story from the comics.

“Roughly seven to eight to nine seasons I think would be necessary to do the complete arc from the comics of Invincible,” he said. “So we’ll see. Hopefully we get there. We get a tonne of support from Amazon Prime and couldn’t be more thrilled with how things are going. So, very excited and hopeful for it.”

As fans know, Invincible has at times seen a large gap between season releases, and during the panel he joked that Season 5 will be out in 2032, adding: “You can quote me on that.” Perhaps it’s more likely he’ll get close to completing the Invincible comic arc by then!

And finally, Kirkman addressed a complaint about the animation quality of Invincible, insisting it was improving with each season.

Robert Kirkman responds to criticism about the Invincible show’s animation. #SDCC pic.twitter.com/LAKkExRDO0

— IGN (@IGN) July 24, 2025

Outside of the Prime Video adaptation, Kirkman used his panel to reveal Battle Beast as a playable character in the upcoming Invincible VS video game. That’s a fighting game, but some fans are hoping for an open world Invincible game. Kirkman addressed this request, too, pointing to the massive budgets that would be required to make such a game a reality. Smaller scale Invincible games sound more realistic, based on Kirkman’s comments.

Robert Kirkman acknowledges the internet’s wish for an open world Invincible game. #SDCC pic.twitter.com/RKy3Sw7QxK

— IGN (@IGN) July 24, 2025

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

For the longest time, the prevailing advice (and sometimes requirement) for students buying laptops was to get something like a MacBook Air or even a Chromebook, two devices that are more than capable of lightweight research and writing workloads and are pretty affordable to boot. However, as more workloads become accelerated by GPUs, workstations and gaming laptops are becoming necessary for some college students – especially if you’re in a field like engineering or design.

It’s more important than ever to take a close look at your syllabus and find out the apps you’re going to be using in order to make a better call on your school laptop. You don’t want to put yourself in a situation where you are holding yourself back because your laptop struggles to handle the work. But you also don’t need to fork over thousands of dollars for some serious workstation when a more affordable gaming laptop can do the same kind of tasks.

What Even Is a Gaming Laptop These Days?

I’m old enough that when I think of gaming laptops, I instinctively think of thick, garish machines made of plastic and bright LEDs. But gaming laptops have come a long way in the last 10 years, and it's probably because manufacturers have realized that people are using them for more than just gaming.

You don’t even have to look far to see the impact of this. The new Razer Blade 16 is a gorgeous laptop that trims down its footprint to be nearly as thin and light as a MacBook Pro. This has come at the expense of some performance on the high-end, as Razer needs to limit the TDP of the GPU to make sure it doesn’t, like, melt, but the result is something that is more attuned to creative professionals than the gamers that made Razer a household name.

Likewise, the entire Asus Zephyrus lineup used to be marketed as high-end gaming devices. And while they’re still certainly capable of playing Cyberpunk, something like the Zephyrus G16 doesn’t really look like a gaming laptop – and that’s because it kind of isn’t. Instead, laptops like this that would have traditionally been known as gaming laptops come with Studio drivers pre-installed and are marketed more towards their AI and creative workload capabilities – plus it looks like it belongs in a board room. This kind of laptop is more akin to a portable workstation than what I’d call a ‘gaming laptop.' So what even is a gaming laptop in 2025?

It used to be that any laptop with a discrete GPU was a gaming laptop – quite simply it was a laptop that could play games. But as creative and AI workloads have ramped up in complexity, that distinction has become more muddled. There are plenty of laptops out there that have high refresh rates and high-end GPUs, but come preinstalled with Nvidia Studio drivers and are marketed and priced as creative workstations.

The fun part, though, is that you can install those Studio drivers on any Nvidia GPU, so you can unlock that creative or AI performance in a more affordable gaming laptop like the MSI Cyborg A15. It won’t be as pretty, or as easy, to carry around campus, but if you have a limited budget, it might be the best way to unlock the extra performance you need for your schoolwork.

The GPU Demands for STEM Work

To be clear, when I was in school studying philosophy, I didn’t really need a powerful laptop – in fact, I did most of my schoolwork in the campus computer lab because I didn’t even have a laptop. But if you’re using, I don’t know, Blender for schoolwork, you really don’t want to depend on a run-down school PC to get your final project out the door.

You also don’t need to drop thousands of dollars on a top-end workstation to get that work done. If you’re studying in a STEM field, it’s just important that you get something with a discrete GPU. Every time I’ve benchmarked Blender on a CPU, it is exponentially slower than on a discrete GPU, whether it’s on a desktop or a laptop. Likewise, if you’re creating AI models during your coursework, training it is going to take forever on an integrated GPU. Even a low-end discrete chip is going to significantly boost performance.

Gaming laptops aren’t going to be the right fit for every student, though. If your coursework primarily focuses on research, writing, or even diving into Excel, a MacBook or Chromebook is still going to be the way to go. Then again, having a device that lets you play PC games is a nice bonus.

Gaming In Your Downtime

There are plenty of students who can take advantage of the extra power of gaming laptops for their work, but also gaming laptops are just awesome. PC gaming is better and more diverse than ever before, and even a low-end gaming laptop is able to run most games. An English major isn’t going to need a GPU to boost their writing skills, but a gaming laptop is the best way to play games on campus – especially if you’re shacked up in a dorm room.

Because dorms aren’t really known for their spacious layouts, the more any single device can do, the better. A solid gaming laptop can also be an all-in-one schoolwork and entertainment device. No need to get a tiny TV and a PS5 if you can just play games on your laptop, after all.

You can technically play PC games on any laptop with a decent internet connection, too, thanks to services like Game Pass Ultimate or GeForce Now, but I wouldn’t recommend relying on your school’s Wi-Fi. Playing games on dedicated hardware is just going to be a better experience.

Take the Asus TUF A14 we reviewed last year, for instance. With its RTX 4060 – a last-gen part, mind you – this laptop was able to play everything in our test suite above 60fps. And that includes Cyberpunk 2077, one of the hardest PC games to run. RTX 5060 laptops have started trickling out, too, and while we haven’t had the chance to review one yet, you can probably expect similar performance out of them.

Battery life in gaming laptops also doesn’t take as much of a hit as it used to, either. Mostly thanks to the AMD chip in the TUF A14, the laptop lasted nine and a half hours in the PCMark 10 battery test. Now, you won’t get that kind of longevity while you’re actively playing games, but when you’re going around campus doing schoolwork, the laptop should last most of the day.

Plus, who doesn’t want the option of pulling up a game during a boring lecture that you’re not learning anything from anyways?

Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC components queen. You can follow her @Jackiecobra

After taking a year off in 2024 (partly to avoid the election cycle, as creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have said), South Park has returned. The series is making its comeback just in time to skewer every ridiculous thing currently happening in the world.

Despite The White House’s claims that the show "hasn't been relevant for over 20 years" (lol), Parker and Stone recently reached a new $1.5 billion streaming deal with Paramount. With the premiere of Season 27’s first episode mere days after the deal was inked, the animated comedy has already been making waves on social media.

If you’re hoping to get in on the fun through full episodes instead of clips on Twitter/X and Bluesky, here’s how you can watch new South Park episodes online.

How to Stream South Park Season 27 Online

Legendary Jazz musician, composer, and King of the Hill regular Chuck Mangione has died at 84.

TMZ reported on the famous brass artist’s passing today, saying that he died of natural causes in his Rochester, New York, home. The Bartolomeo & Perreto Funeral Home adds (via RochesterFirst) that Mangione died in his sleep Tuesday.

Mangione’s career in music traces back to the 1960s, where he managed to kick off his life as a professional musician alongside his brother, Gap, with records like Hey Baby! and Spring Fever. Mangione emerged as one of the most notable, recognizable jazz musicians of the century thanks to ‘70s hits like Give It All You Got, Bellavia, and, most famously, Feels So Good.