Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 is out now on Netflix, and with it comes major reveals not just for what’s gone before, but what’s coming next.
Warning! Spoilers for Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 follow:
In Season 5, Episode 4, we see Noah Schnapp’s Will display powers, complete with Eleven-style nosebleed. When all seems lost, he is able to take control of multiple Demogorgons and kill them, stopping the invasion from claiming the lives of much of the cast.
It’s a huge moment for Stranger Things and a significant development in what we know of Will’s abilities. Season 5 had built up to this moment by showing a growing connection between Will and the hive mind Vecna had created within the Upside Down, to the point where he was able to see through the eyes of the Demogorgons himself. In a prior scene, Will was seemingly able to force a Demogorgon to hold back against his mother (Winona Ryder), and then, right at the death, he levels up, eyes white and arms aloft as this new power ignites inside of him.
In an interview with IGN, Noah Schnapp and Millie Bobby Brown reacted enthusiastically to the revelation that Will would get powers, and teased that Volume 2 will explain how it works. We asked the pair if they shared notes on how to do the arm movements associated with Stranger Things psychic powers, but Noah countered to say he wanted Will’s movement to feel different.
“I remember talking about this with The Duffers,” Noah said. “They’ll explain more in Volume 2, like how it works. But the powers come differently, so I wanted to make sure that it wasn’t Eleven’s thing.”
That line about the powers coming differently is an interesting one. It’s something the Duffers explained in detail in a recent interview with Variety. They confirmed Will’s powers are proximity based — unlike Eleven, who can turn her powers on and off at will, essentially Will must be near the hive mind, which Vecna created within the Upside Down in order to take control of its various monsters.
“He taps into the hive mind,” Matt Duffer explained, “and then he can manipulate anything within the hive. You’ll see how far he can take it as you continue to watch. But that’s how he’s able to manipulate the monster. So he can’t open a door, because the door is not part of the hive mind.”
And how did Will get his powers? They came as a result of being hooked into the hive mind, which we see at the start of Season 5 in a flashback scene that takes us back to the moment Will was kidnapped by Vecna a decade ago. “So it’s very different from Eleven in that regard,” Matt continued.
Also in our interview, Millie Bobby Brown reacted to the shock return of Kali/Eight, who it turns out was captured by the military and confined to a room in a base inside the Upside Down.
"I didn’t know that she was coming back, so when I read it I was like, oh my god! Kali!" she said. "It just felt like that storyline started and never actually got the closure it deserved. So I’m really excited. I think what’s really exciting about the next volume is that she’s back for a reason and it’s pretty impactful.”
Kali, otherwise known as Eight, is one of the children who were experimented on in Hawkins Lab, and is a sort of sister to Eleven. She has psychic abilities, but not telekinetic powers like Eleven does. Given what has happened to Kali, it seems likely she’s not going to be happy about recent events.
Stranger Things Season 5 debuts on Netflix in three parts, with the first four episodes arriving for the Thanksgiving holiday on November 26. The next three episodes premiere on Christmas, and the series finale will debut on the streamer and in over 350 theaters nationwide on New Year’s Eve.
If you're hunting for the best offers this week, we're actively rounding up the strongest Black Friday deals on video games, tech, and more. You can find all our top picks and price drops in our full Black Friday hub, or check out our relevant pages for PlayStation, Nintendo, and Xbox deals.
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.
It's been a rough few years for Tony Stark, but things are looking up as 2026 dawns. Marvel is gearing up for the launch of a new monthly Iron Man series, as Superman and Dark Crisis writer Joshua Williamson hops over to the Marvel Universe to establish a bold new status quo. Williamson will be joined by Exceptional X-Men artist Carmen Carnero, as the world is reminded of one critical truth - Iron Man isn't the real threat; Tony Stark's big brain is.
To learn more about Tony's new status quo and new armor, IGN chatted with Williamson via email. Check out an exclusive preview of Iron Man #1 in the slideshow gallery below, and read on to learn more about the new series:
On Making the Jump From DC to Marvel
Williamson is one of the biggest names at DC these days, where he currently writes the flagship Superman series and has a major hand in the DC K.O. crossover event. That's why it was surprising to see Marvel announce a new Iron Man comic with Williamson's name attached. Williamson makes it clear that while he isn't leaving DC anytime soon, he did see an appeal in crossing over to the Marvel Universe for a change.
DC is my home, and I have a lot of love for that universe, its characters and the publisher as a whole," Williamson tells IGN. "But at the end of the day, I love all of comics, and there are a lot of Marvel characters that I love. And I would regret never working on them. I had to explore the opportunity. I’m not leaving DC, or Superman or GI Joe, but I knew I needed to take a swing at Marvel. I love that universe too much not to.
Williamson reveals that this series has been in the planning stages for the past year, saying, "A bit over a year ago I started to talk with Marvel editors here and there and that led to my awesome Iron Man editors offering me the new series. Iron Man is one of my favorite characters in all of comics, so it was impossible to turn down. I had to do it for the nerd in me, BUT I also had this idea for years that I wanted to do. I had a lot of thoughts on Tony and his world that I wanted to get down on paper. And luckily that story idea is the one we’re telling in the new series."
Williamson continues, "I also saw it as a challenge. It’s good to mix things up every once and while and surprise people by working on projects that are unexpected. And I think for a lot of people…me doing anything at Marvel was a surprise. But I’ve been having a lot of fun with the series and working with Carmen and my editors. That was also a big part of the appeal of working on a Marvel series, a chance to work with artists I’ve never worked with before."
Tony Stark's Dangerous Mind
As soon as Marvel announced the new volume of Iron Man, it became clear that one of the central themes of the book is going to be the notion that Tony Stark's mind, not the Iron Man armor, is the truly dangerous weapon. Williamson reveals that one of the goals is to explore what might have transpired if Tony never had that life-altering experience where Iron Man was forged in a cave. What other terrible weapons might have been created by someone so dangerous?
"I wanted the story to not be about the Iron Man armor but about Tony," Williamson says. Before Tony became Iron Man he was a selfish and ego driven person who used his genius for destructive gains. I’ve always wonder what role would someone like Tony have played if he never had his near-death experience in the bunker?"
Williamson continues, "When he thought he was going to die, it changed him. It was never the armor that Tony built in that cave. It was Tony. Tony is the creator. And I honed in on the idea of focusing on Tony as the creator who made a weapon…but TONY is the true weapon. We’ve seen him use his genius before in questionable ways, so yeah, Tony is the dangerous piece there. The armor has been stolen a million times now, and it always made me think…why don’t they kidnap Tony? Have him make new armors? And then it led me down a path of thinking about…what if instead of making new armors, someone made a new Tony?"
"What if instead of making new armors, someone made a new Tony?"
Despite that ominous premise, Williamson is also adamant that the new series is meant to be a fun superhero romp. As mentioned before, the past few years haven't exactly been kind to Tony Stark, and in some ways Williamson wants to get back to basics in terms of portraying Tony Stark as the suave, overconfident billionaire.
"I didn’t want Tony to read like a bummer," Williamson says. "I wanted the cocky version of Tony. The one who puts his foot in his mouth. The one who knows he is the smartest person in the room and doesn’t understand why that is a bad thing. I didn’t want to focus on the boardroom, or his money. I wanted to focus on Tony and pure super hero escapism. I want to see Tony’s role in the Marvel Universe in a different way. He is feeling a bit of 'is this all I’ve done with my life…build armor?' but he isn’t letting that get him down. He’s too distracted by Madame Masque and A.I.M. The events of the first five issues will make Tony confront a part of himself and then take him down a new path."
Williamson adds, "This leans a bit more classic with Tony as a suave Avenger. But he still feels a heavy responsibility to use his genius to help people. At the end of the day, I wanted to write a Tony that was fun to write and to read."
Iron Man's Enemies and Allies
Ryan Stegman and Adam Kubert's respective covers for Iron Man #1 hint at a large cast of both supporting characters and villains in the new series. Williamson confirms that Madame Masque will be a major focus of the series right out of the gate, with the villain doing nothing less than helping A.I.M. to build a new Tony Stark.
"Madame Masque knows Tony," Williamson says. "They once had a relationship. Maybe they still do? But Madame Masque knows some of Tony’s nightmares. She knows what he loses sleep over. And can use that against him. And she enlists A.I.M. to do it. Together they try to build a new Tony. And that makes Tony question his past, present and future."
But A.I.M. isn't the only threat here. It also appears that the series will be reviving the classic Thunderbolts roster, though Williamson confirms there's a new person wearing the mantle of Citizen V. But are they friend or foe?
"I’m a big fan of the original Thunderbolts and its cast. I had to find places for them," Williamson says. "Fixer has a role in the first five issues and the identity of the new Citizen V is a mystery that will be spread out across a few issues. It’s someone who sees Tony as dangerous and is keeping an eye on him. There will be a few mysteries and new pieces added to Tony’s ongoing mythology."
"I think there will be some concerns about Tony and what he is planning in response to what A.I.M. is doing from all kinds of corners of the Marvel Universe," Williamson teases. "But I also like the dynamic between the two of them. Two billionaires who have made…questionable choices and often seek redemption. I love writing the conflict between the two of them. They knew each other before they became Iron Man and Green Goblin, and I wanted to explore that relationship. Also when you have Norman…Spider-Man isn’t too far behind."
Designing the Mark 75 Armor
A new Iron man comic usually means a new suit of armor, and this series is no exception. Carnero has designed the Mark 75 armor, a suit that looks to be among the most powerful weapons in Tony's vast arsenal. But as for what specifically sets this new armor apart from its 74 predecessors, fans will just have to read the series to find out.
"Carmen did an amazing job on the new armor," Williamson says. "We wanted something that felt iconic. To start, we looked back at our favorite armors. My faves are Marks 4, 9, 12, 13, 15, 51 and 70. There are more but those were the ones that hit the vibe of we were going. How this armor is different for Tony will be played out across the first year. I don’t want to give it away yet. It’s a story piece that we’ll explore. Why Tony built this armor and now."
Williamson contineus, "Carmen took all the pieces that we’d talked about and created an awesome new look for Iron Man and Tony. She’s been a blast to work with and I hope people check out Iron Man #1 to see the beautiful work she’s done with Nolan Woodard!"
Iron Man #1 will be released on January 28, 2026. You can preorder a copy at your local comic shop.
So there are two options for this Black Friday deal; it just comes down to where you'd sooner buy a Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Box from. The good news is that Amazon has dropped its price to just under market value at $79.69, with TCGPlayer having the higher price point of $80.60.
The even better news is that TCGPlayer is having a Cyber Weekend event that's giving 10% cashback on all purchases from today until the end of Cyber Monday. Plus, if you pick up a TCGPlayer subscription, you'll get a boosted 13% cashback and free delivery, with longtime members getting a total 14%-16% cashback depending on how long you've been subscribed.
Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Box
Long story short, that means $8.06 cashback with the standard 10% and up to $12.89 back for existing TCGPlayer subscribers. You're effectively getting the Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Box for $72.54 or $67.71, which is the best deal overall.
You'll get nine Mega Evolution boosters, themed card sleeves, card dividers, dice damage counters, a tournament legal coin, and an exclusive Illustration Rare Promo card in this bad boy. Plus, the box itself is great for storage, so good luck pulling one of the top chase cards.
If you're after that Mega Lucario or Mega Gardevoir ex SIR still, TCGPlayer is the place to go for single cards too. It's owned by eBay and has all the value and price tracking information you'll need to make an informed choice when buying single cards. Plus, each seller has feedback and can be approved by TCGplayer, so you've got confidence when buying that epic card you've been after.
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.
Black Friday has arrived, and as you’d probably expect, there are plenty of deals on Magic: The Gathering products. Our beloved, TCGplayer, however, is doing things a little differently.
The retailer is offering 10% store credit back on everything - cards, packs, decks, and just about anything else (and 13% or more back for subscribers). It’s not restricted to Magic, either, with the Pokémon TCG, Riftbound, Lorcana, and just about anything included.
With that in mind, I’ve put together a list of cards that I’d recommend picking up. These aren’t super pricey cards necessarily, but are wishlist items that it probably makes sense to pick up if you’re getting something back for them.
The Best MTG Cards to Buy at TCGplayer This Black Friday
Sol Ring
Look, it’s hardly a rare card (you get a Sol Ring in 90% of preconstructed decks), but is it a Pip Boy Sol Ring? I think not.
Spice up your ramp with some radioactivity with this Universes Beyond card for around $30.
The Ur-Dragon
Dragon decks are hardly anything new, but the Ur-Dragon is a 10/10 beast with a huge mana cost that turns dragon attacks into card draw. It’s actually sliding in price, meaning it’s a decent time to snag it for around $30.
Play it as your Commander, and you can use all five colors for your deck, too.
Sauron, the Dark Lord
“Oh, you want to attack me? Better sacrifice something legendary”. A great deterrent, Sauron, the Dark Lord, is a 7/6 in its own right, and amasses Orcs when opponents cast spells.
You can get it for around $10 right now, too.
The One Ring
Sure, Post Malone may have the “One of One Ring”, but this legendary artifact can be found for around $80.
The One Ring is indestructible, can be used for card draw, and can grant protection for an entire turn.
When Stoneforge Mystic enters, you can find Equipment and put it into your hand. You can also tap and pay two mana to put it onto the battlefield, making it ideal for Equipment-based decks (we see you, Cloud Strife).
Omniscience
Playing in Blue? Omnscience is essentially a cheat code. Get ten mana together to play it, and you won’t need to pay any further mana once it’s on the field.
This anime-style version is $25 and comes from Wilds of Eldraine. In fact, it’s still Standard Legal.
Wan Shi Tong, Librarian
The newest card on this list, hailing from the Avatar: The Last Airbender set, this 1/1 bird can be flashed in at higher power and used for card advantage, then grows even stronger if foes search their library.
Wan Shi Tong, Librarian is sitting at around $60, so you’d get $6 back to use on more cards.
Ojer Taq, Deepest Foundation
Ojer Taq, Deepest Foundation is a 6/6 with vigilance that doesn’t double your creature tokens - it triples them. Better yet, when it dies, it becomes a land that taps for mana.
It’s down to around $22 right now.
Quantum Riddler
One of the stars of Edge of Eternities, Quantum Riddler, is still around $40. It’s a 4/6 with flying that gets you extra card advantage, and has a warp cost.
What’s not to love, especially with $4 back in store credit?
Ugin, Eye of the Storms
Ugin, Eye of the Storms is a Planeswalker from this year’s Tarkir: Dragonstorm, and this amazing Showcase variant is down to around $70.
He can add three colorless mana, gain you life, and lets you play nonland cards without paying their mana costs.
TCGPlayer Subscription
If you're planning on snapping up quite a few Pokémon cards in the sale, this is a great time to become a TCGPLayer subscriber. It costs $8.99 a month and gives users free delivers and 1% cashback regardless of the time of year.
Whilst this climbs to 3% after a years membership, subscriber will get a boosted 13% cashback over cyber weekend on top of their usual cashback. For longtime members, this could equate to 16% cashback, which is frankly insane.
Lloyd Coombes is an experienced freelancer in tech, gaming and fitness seen at Polygon, Eurogamer, Macworld, TechRadar and many more. He's a big fan of Magic: The Gathering and other collectible card games, much to his wife's dismay.
Black Friday is one of the rare times you can get big discounts on first-party Nintendo games, and Woot is this year’s best so far: letting you grab games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for only $37.
However, for today only, Woot has a bonus offer of 20% off any order when it’s placed through its dedicated Woot app, knocking around an extra $9 off, making it only $37.59.
While this price is for a physical copy of Tears of the Kingdom on the original Nintendo Switch, you can buy the $9.99 digital Switch 2 upgrade pack directly from Nintendo; with that, you’ll have the Nintendo Switch 2 edition of Tears of the Kingdom for only $47.
That’s a saving of over $30 compared to buying the digital version of the full game from Nintendo or the physical version from other retailers like Amazon.
To get the Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for only $37, you need to carry out the following steps:
Keep in mind, though, these bonus Black Friday deals are only available throughout today, 28 November, until 11:58pm CT.
Since the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 and the Switch 2 versions of its biggest games coming with it, we don’t expect Nintendo to be dropping major discounts such as these themselves anytime soon. In true Black Friday fashion, this very limited-time deal will likely be the cheapest way to buy Tears of the Kingdom for the foreseeable future.
Ben Williams – IGN freelance contributor with over 10 years of experience covering gaming, tech, film, TV, and anime. Follow him on Twitter/X @BenLevelTen.
Black Friday is finally here, and the sales weekend is already bringing in a whole batch of new deals to check out. That's especially true for Nintendo Switch fans, with up to 50% off a slew of Switch games, some top discounts on memory cards, and even some cheeky Switch 2 accessory deals.
There are also big discounts on games like Super Mario Odyssey, now just $30, alongside a whole host of other Switch games with mega discounts. Tears of the Kingdom finally got a deal as well, after being absent for most of the Black Friday build up, and is down to $38 at Woot (you can upgrade to the Switch 2 edition for $10 as well).
You can find all of Nintendo's Black Friday deals at the digital Nintendo eShop, as well as at participating retailers such as Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and Walmart.
Is Nintendo Switch 2 On Sale for Black Friday?
There’s no denying that the Nintendo Switch 2 has been a runaway sales success, but ever since its pricing was revealed, I've personally been wondering if we'll ever actually see a reasonable discount on the console.
But, as the nascent handheld hybrid comes into its first Black Friday sale, it’s not looking likely that the console will drop in price. Still, let me explain why not all is lost.
Your best bet in the Black Friday sales is to opt for one of the limited time Switch 2 bundles. The most popular, and still in stock, over the sale period has been the Mario Kart bundle, at $499. This includes the console and Mario Kart World, at a $30 discount compared to buying each individually.
It's a great way kickstart your Switch 2 collection, and the the best possible Switch 2 Black Friday deal we're getting. Everyone is after a Switch 2 for the holidays, whether for gifting or themselves, and the bundle is a limited-time offer, so if you're after one, I'd snap it while stock lasts, as I expect this will go before Christmas.
But, there's also some brand new deals to check out thanks to Walmart's official Black Friday sale finally going live. The retailer has undercut Nintendo's official sale, bringing games like Luigi Mansion 3, Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, and more down from their original $39.99 sale price, to now just $30. That's a huge additional saving, and what Black Friday is all about.
There's also loads of games at 20% off for today only at Woot right now. That's another proper Black Friday offer, if I ever saw one. Score Donkey Kong Bananza, Mario Kart World, and more at a discount for a limited time only via the Woot app.
Several third-party games also just got even better discounts as part of the new sale, including Star Wars Outlaws (including all its DLC) for $30 on Switch 2, $30 off its original list price.
Another top game, now under the $20 sweet spot, is Sonic X Shadow Generations, for just $15 on Switch. That includes a free Switch 2 upgrade as well. That was $25 everywhere else earlier this week, so you're saving an additional $10 on top if you've buying now. What a steal!
Best Switch 2 Accessory Deals for Black Friday
If you're setting up a fresh Switch 2, or just trying to get your launch unit properly kitted out, the headliner accessory deals for Black Friday 2025 are finally here.
For starters, for any gamers who’ve been feeling the pinch enough that they can’t splurge on an extra pair of Joy-Con controllers for your Nintendo Switch 2, Woot has a double Black Friday deal that will save you almost $30.
For this pair of Switch 2 Joy-Cons, in the same light blue & red colours as the console, Woot has initially knocked $10 off their original $99.99 price tag to $89.99. However, for Black Friday only (November 28), Woot is also offering an extra 20% off any order when placed through the Woot app.
To get your new pair of Switch 2 Joy-Cons for only $72 this Black Friday, here is what you need to do:
Next up, Switch 2-compatible MicroSD Express cards have dropped to the lowest prices of the year for Black Friday, from the modest 256GB to the mega 1TB capacities. My favorite deal is still on the 512GB version, now just $74.99 at Amazon.
But, if the Samsung P9 microSD card deal is still a little too steep for you, you're better off waiting until Cyber Monday to secure a discount on the 256GB memory cards instead.
Dropping from $59.99 to $39.99, this will certainly catch the attention of Switch 2 owners, especially since microSD Express cards are the only option for expanding their console's internal storage.
How Do These Deals Compare to Last Year?
In all honesty, this year’s deals are a mixed bag. The Switch 2 joy con deals, the fact the console is actually in stock and the discounted bundle still available, Super Mario Odyssey and the rest of the OG Switch lineup for $30 or, and the Samsung P9 512GB memory card for $75 are clearly fanatasic offerings, and nothing to sniff your nose at.
But, we're also left wanting for a lot of other Switch 2 related deals, whether that's more games, accessories, or console deals. There aren't any discounts on Nintendo's first-party Switch 2 games like Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Pokémon Legends Z-A.
Then when we're comparing the deals to last year, take the The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom discount, which is immensely popular (and for good reason). Last year, the original Switch version fell to just $29.99, which was a huge saving and a no-brainer for anyone who hadn’t picked it up yet.
This year, as there's a new Switch 2 edition that you can upgrade to or buy seperately, it's changed the dynamic completely. Say if Nintendo dropped Tears to $30 again, with a $10 upgrade, you could have the full Switch 2 version for just $40 instead of the new $70 MSRP.
While we've got the fairly good Woot discount, there's no way Nintendo would be caught with the game on sale right now, at least not for this year. The gaming giant wants you happily spend $70 on games like Tears of the Kingdom for Switch 2, not $40-$50. We can only help next year brings along some better Switch 2 deals, and keep our fingers crossed for no more price hikes.
You might have already seen my $20 or less roundup, which is still packed with heavy hitters from the last few years and perfect if you want maximum bang for your buck. I also recently covered the best games under $30 right now, sporting Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater as my top pick.
I've also got you covered if you're looking for a more comprehensive roundup of the best video game deals for Black Friday. I'd also highly recommend you check in with my best PlayStation and Xbox Black Friday roundups, both of which I'll be updating daily with the best offers over the sale weekend. After that, I will rest. Have a good one!
Robert Anderson is Senior Commerce Editor and IGN's resident deals expert on games, collectibles, trading card games, and more. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter/X or Bluesky.
If you know a Spider-Man fan or a Magic: The Gathering player, then there’s a perfect product that’s tailor-made for them this Christmas.
Magic’s Spider-Man set includes cards depicting classic comic moments, costumed heroes, and nefarious villains, and you can get an instant collection with the Gift Bundle. Better yet, this unique product is reduced by 25% at Amazon for Black Friday.
Get The MTG Spider-Man Bundle For Under $70 This Black Friday
This discount brings the $89.99 set down to $67.94, and includes ten packs, with nine Play Boosters and a single Collector Booster. Given Collector Boosters, when you can find them, are going for around $35 - $40 each, that’s a chunk of the value of this bundle tied up there.
It includes cards in foil or alternative art treatments, increasing the chances of finding something rare or valuable, but the other nine packs inside are Play Boosters, which are ideal for actually playing Magic: The Gathering.
Also included is an alternate-art promo card exclusive to the box, as well as 30 lands to help with deckbuilding.
Why the discount? It’s twofold. For one, this product seems squarely aimed at being a gift option this holiday season. The other is that, despite high hopes from Wizards of the Coast, the Spider-Man set just didn’t take off as they’d hoped.
Maybe it’s product fatigue, maybe it’s the set’s less-than-compelling mechanics, but it’s still got some awesome artwork that’s ideal for collectors and casual players.
Lloyd Coombes is an experienced freelancer in tech, gaming and fitness seen at Polygon, Eurogamer, Macworld, TechRadar and many more. He's a big fan of Magic: The Gathering and other collectible card games, much to his wife's dismay.
Save $150 On PlayStation VR 2 With Horizon Call of the Mountain
On Amazon’s Resale section of the listing above, look out for the $296.01 option which says ‘Save 15% at Checkout’.
Add the bundle to your basket, then you’ll get a tasty discount at checkout. And, given that the PlayStation VR 2 Horizon: Call of the Wild bundle usually starts at $399.99, you’re saving around $150.
As for condition, Amazon says, “Looks and functions as if it were new. Item will come in original packaging.” That means you’re still getting the headset and those handy controllers, as well as a game built specifically for PlayStation VR 2.
It’s a big step up from the original PlayStation VR, which launched on PS4, and offers an HDR OLED panel with 110-degree field of view, as well as a 120Hz refresh rate and some clever foveated rendering, so wherever you’re looking is rendered with more detail.
We gave the headset a 9/10 score from reviewer Gabriel Moss, who said, “With top-notch visual quality and immersively tactile Sense controllers, PlayStation VR2 represents a quantum leap over its predecessor, setting a new standard for console VR gaming.”
Lloyd Coombes is an experienced freelancer in tech, gaming and fitness seen at Polygon, Eurogamer, Macworld, TechRadar and many more. He's a big fan of Magic: The Gathering and other collectible card games, much to his wife's dismay.
CEO of gaming at Microsoft, Phil Spencer, has revealed that compared to this time last year, Game Pass cloud hours are up 45%.
Spencer said Microsoft was "building a future where gaming is more accessible that ever," and measures progress by looking at engagement, the "momentum" for which he described as "encouraging." He also reported that console cloud streaming hours are also up 45%, and 24% more on "other devices."
"Progress is also about more choice for players — play what you want, where you want — and that’s what drives us forward," he added. "Thanks to Team Xbox, our partners, and our players for helping make this vision real."
Without a baseline measure, though, its difficult to assess just how impactful this is for Xbox, not least because cloud gaming is available as part of Xbox Game Pass, and Microsoft’s shock price rise for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate last month saw prices jump 50% from $19.99 to $29.99 in the U.S., resulting in anger, cancellations, and frantic subscription stacking. Microsoft does not make Game Pass subscriber numbers public, nor does it say how many Xbox consoles it's sold. It tends not to announce game sales, either.
It's been a rocky year all round for the company. In July, amid layoffs that swept through Xbox, the founder of Microsoft-owned Arkane Studios hit out at Game Pass, calling the subscription model “unsustainable.” Raphael Colantonio, who founded the Dishonored and Prey developer and served as its president before leaving in 2017 to start Weird West maker WolfEye Studios, took to social media to ask: “Why is no-one talking about the elephant in the room? Cough cough (Gamepass).”
If you're hunting for the best offers this week, we're actively rounding up the strongest Black Friday deals on video games, tech, and more. You can find all our top picks and price drops in our full Black Friday hub, or check out our relevant pages for PlayStation, Nintendo, and Xbox deals.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
We made it: Black Friday is here. This is the best time to pick up any LEGO sets you’ve had an eye on. That’s because this is when you can reliably get the steepest discounts on sets. Typical sales throughout the year might drop prices by 20% or so. But on Black Friday, you can find sets for 30% off, 40% off, or even more. It’s the time to buy if you want to save as much as possible. LEGO official LEGO Store Black Friday sale is live today through Monday, December 1, and other retailers have their deepest discounts on sets as well. Let’s dive into the deals.
The Best LEGO Black Friday Deals
Here are all the best Black Friday LEGO deals we’ve found so far. We’ll be scouring the retailers throughout Black Friday and Cyber Monday and updating the list as items go out of stock and new sets go on sale.
Some of my favorite deals include the LEGO Pac-Man Arcade set (on sale at Amazon), which we built when it came out. You can turn a crank on the back of the set to make the characters move. Another is Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory set (on sale at Target), which we also built and has a moving chocolate waterfall, plus the Wonkatania ship.
LEGO Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise Is Available
Each year, LEGO releases a big, awesome set on Black Friday. This year’s release is the first Star Trek set – and they couldn’t have made a better choice if you ask me. It’s the iconic ship from Star Trek: The Next Generation, complete with minifigures of most of the crew, from Picard and Troi to Riker and Data. The gang’s all here. If you can order soon, you’ll also get a Type-15 Shuttlepod as a Gift With Purchase. It’s backordered at the time of this writing, but you can make sure you get one by ordering it now.
The Games Done Quick (GDQ) community regularly celebrates the art of speedrunning while raising money for different charities. Last year’s Awesome Games Done Quick event in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania raised approximately $2.5 million for the Prevent Cancer Foundation, marking the organization as one of the largest global fundraisers. Not only is each event a testament to the skills of runners, but it also highlights the generosity of this subsection of the gaming community.
GDQ is not just known for its impressive speedruns, though. It’s commonly praised for its diversity. From Games Done Queer, to Black in a Flash, the speedrunning charity regularly creates safe spaces for marginalized identities. And this year, across the weekend of November 29-30, disabled and neurodivergent runners and community members alike will have their own platform to raise awareness and money for the Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network, as well as showcase their speedrunning skills in games such as Tetris, Tunic, Dark Souls 3, and Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow.
Speaking with IGN, GDQ Disability and Neurodivergence Special event leads and speedrunners Madeleine “SatanHerself” Callan and Jaida “Anarchyasf” George discuss the importance of disability representation in the speedrunning scene, as well as the logistics of planning this event.
Making Speedrunning Inclusive
In March, Callan joined the GDQ team. She notes that the organization actively encourages the creation of different showcases, sometimes focused on specific games, and other times rooted in communities, like disabled and neurodivergent. After conferring with GDQ and formulating the idea for several months, she thought it appropriate to align the first disability speedrunning charity drive with International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which takes place on December 3. And to help organize and host the showcase, Callan brought on George, a speedrunner known for highlighting marginalized voices.
“I jumped at the opportunity when Maddie asked me to be on,” George says. “My Hotfix show [part of GDQ’s regular scheduled programming] that I started last November is called Hidden Heroes, and the point is to showcase marginalized speedrunners. Sometimes, when you are looking at the speedrunning space, it can seem overwhelmingly one kind of person, and you don’t often see people like me or people like Maddie on the big stage.”
George explains that her presence in the speedrunning scene is directly attributed to black speedrunners offering her opportunities to perform and compete. With over a decade of experience in the hobby, she was welcomed within black-led spaces and events at GDQ. And for Callan, her speedrunning career at GDQ is a tribute to the Frame Fatales community, an all women and femme speedrunning group. These groups, which offer safe and welcoming spaces within the greater speedrunning scene, were direct catalysts for the creation of the GDQ Disability and Neurodivergence Special. For Callan and George, elevating this community speedrunners, just as they were welcomed, is the most important aspect of building a new showcase.
“I often feel in professional spaces I can’t say the word Autism,” says Callan. “It makes people feel uncomfortable. I can’t say a myriad of the types of [disabilities] we’re going to be talking about during the event. I feel like in this space we made for ourselves, we can talk about [disabilities], and so many people are excited to.”
Callan explains that some runners have designed their showcases to highlight and educate audience members about their specific disabilities. “If you provide the safe space then people are going to flock to you. Do something that you’re excited about. And if you need more time, float around the space, and then, maybe you’ll feel more comfortable.”
Making Speedrunning Accessible
Establishing a safe and healthy environment for disabled and neurodivergent speedrunners is only one part of the overarching challenge of creating an accessible event. While most modern triple-A and indie games include some form of accessibility options or inclusive designs, they still cannot fully account for the individualistic nature of the disabled experience. This, according to Callan and George, helped drive discussions around ensuring that competitors could run from the comfort of their own homes.
That’s just one of many decisions made by the team to ensure the event is accessible to all. Another example is particularly beneficial for cognitive disabilities: “People who have speech impediments, or who are nervous about speaking for one reason or another, can get commentary buddies,” Callan reveals. “We’ve been linking people up with people who will help them with commentary, sort of like having a buddy support system. I’ve been enjoying seeing that come together and seeing people look at their limitations and saying, ‘I still want to try and see what I can do within this space.’”
To coincide with providing accessibility for casters and their specific runs, the disability and neurodivergent event also removes any kind of restriction on controls and control types. GDQ does traditionally allow unique controllers and control schemes to complete runs, like using a bicycle to beat Undertale or Peanut Butter the Dog’s makeshift paddles to beat Gyromite. But for disabled runners that need accessible controllers or schemes, George is making it very clear that GDQ encourages everyone to use what is necessary.
“Whatever it is you need to do to complete your run in a way that allows you to do it is encouraged,” she says. “I know there are people who play with alternative control styles. There is a particular person I know, who did not submit for the event, but uses a modified controller in a way that is helpful for them to do the hobby that they like to enjoy. Whatever people need to use, we are totally accepting.”
Callan does explain that there’s a chance that runs may be denied, not from an accessibility standpoint, but from a “technological limitation on the type of run that we can do, not the actual control scheme.”
Disability inclusion is still lacking across the greater gaming industry. From official fighting game tournaments restricting certain controls and settings, to companies like Microsoft outright banning third-party hardware, it’s difficult for disabled players to participate in events. Combine the lack of controls with little representation across major events, and disabled individuals struggle to fully belong in the scene. Callan and George ultimately want to rectify these missteps with the GDQ Disability and Neurodivergence Special. And, as Callan notes, creating a space where disabled runners can be welcomed and supported is what’s most important.
“My main message with this [event] and in general, as a person in this space, is to be proud of yourself,” she says. “Look at our positions in life and say ‘This sucks, and the world isn’t built for us, and it’s difficult when the world doesn’t want us to succeed, but that doesn’t mean we can’t come together and have fun and make a space for ourselves in the world that we want to see.’”
The GDQ Disability and Neurodivergence Special takes place this weekend, November 29-30, ahead of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, on December 3. You can watch the event streamed live on the GamesDoneQuick Twitch channel from 1pm ET/10am PT each day. You can find the schedule here.
Grant Stoner is a disabled journalist covering accessibility and the disabled perspective in video games. When not writing, he is usually screaming about Pokémon or his cat, Goomba on Twitter.
The Xbox Elite controller may not have seen any new hardware revisions in recent years, but it’s still a great way to upgrade your experience on console and PC.
While the store listing has the controller for $137.19, you can save 25% at checkout which brings it down to $102.89.
That’s a huge drop of almost 50% from the new price, making this an easy sell for anyone playing on an Xbox or PC.
The key standout features of the Elite Series 2 controller are its customizable pieces. Swap out thumbsticks, lock the triggers, or add back buttons for additional inputs, while you can also save up to three presets.
Add to that a rechargeable battery and a handy carry case that doubles as a charging cradle, and there’s a lot to like, and it has Bluetooth, too - perfect for connecting to your phone or tablet.
That includes a series of color options, including the slick limited edition options like Ice Breaker and Storm Breaker for under $50 each.
And, as with the Elite Series 2, they’re perfect for playing on console or PC.
Lloyd Coombes is an experienced freelancer in tech, gaming and fitness seen at Polygon, Eurogamer, Macworld, TechRadar and many more. He's a big fan of Magic: The Gathering and other collectible card games, much to his wife's dismay.
The cast of Shrek 5 will include Skyler Gisondo, best known as Jimmy Olsen in this year's Superman, as one of the ogre's two sons, Fergus and Farkle.
SNL and Happy Gilmore 2 actor Marcello Hernández will play the other male offspring of Shrek and Fiona, Variety has reported. Previously, DreamWorks Animation confirmed Spider-Man star Zendaya would voice the third of Shrek's triplets, Felicia.
Shrek and Fiona's trio of ogre babies first featured in 2007's Shrek The Third, and reappeared in minor roles within 2010's Shrek Forever After — once intended as the final movie in the series. But now, DreamWorks is keen on reviving its hugely-successful franchise, and clearly has plans to establish Shrek's kids as more of their own characters.
Shrek 2 and Madagascar 2 director Conrad Vernon is helming the new film, alongside Walt Dohrn, a writer on all of the seris' sequels. Its producers include Shrek Forever After's Gina Shay, as well as Illumination boss Chris Meledandri, known for helping Nintendo to success with its Super Mario Bros. Movie.
It's easy to see why DreamWorks and Universal Pictures are keen for a Shrek revival. The franchise's first four Shrek films collectively earned $2.9 billion, and spawned a series of spin-offs, including two Puss in Boots movies, a Broadway musical and more.
When Shrek 5 arrives, more than 17 years will have passed since the launch of the series' preceeding film. A first-look trailer, above, previously revealed Zendaya's character cringing as she looked at images of her dad put through an AI-style filter on his magic mirror.
Details of Shrek 5's story remain under wraps, though Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz are all set to return for the new movie, as Shrek, Fiona and Donkey, respectively.
The movie is currently set to arrive in theaters on June 30, 2027.
If you're hunting for the best offers this week, we're actively rounding up the strongest Black Friday deals on video games, tech, and more. You can find all our top picks and price drops in our full Black Friday hub, or check out our relevant pages for PlayStation, Nintendo, and Xbox deals.
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
Connexion
