↩ Accueil

Vue lecture

Stranger Things Secret Episode Theory Debunked by Netflix, Which Has Now Stated That 'All Episodes' Are Available

Netflix has dashed the hopes of Stranger Things fans expecting a secret final episode of the series, by confirming that "every" episode of the show is now available.

Fans unhappy with the hit series' final season have driven themselves into a frenzy in recent days on social media, and pushed the "Conformity Gate" theory that suggested Netflix had another episode waiting in the wings that would answer all of their questions and alleviate their various concerns. The theory centers on much of the final season being a dream — essentially replicating the Indoctrination Theory that unhappy BioWare fans conjured up years ago, following the launch of Mass Effect 3.

Yesterday, the Conformity Gate theory was dealt a huge blow by Netflix, which announced... a flashy trailer of other TV shows and movies coming in 2026 rather than anything Stranger Things related. And now, the streamer has updated its Instagram account to make the end of Stranger Things even clearer, for anyone still needing it spelled out.

"ALL EPISODES OF STRANGER THINGS ARE NOW PLAYING," reads the bio of Netflix's official Stranger Things account on Instagram, leaving no room for any final secret new episode still lurking behind the scenes that might be yet to release.

Of course, Stranger Things remains a huge and lucrative franchise for Netflix and there's plenty still to come — but from spinoffs, rather than the original show, which has definitively now ended. The animated series Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 will tell new adventures featuring the series' core cast (voiced by other people) set between Seasons 2 and 3. A second spinoff will be a new live-action series, though with all-new characters.

In a nutshell, don't expect Stranger Things' original cast to ever appear in live-action again. Stranger Things creators The Duffer Brothers have ruled out any kind of check-in on the original Stranger Things characters years later, saying it would be "a gross cash grab."

"Stranger Things was a generational event that barreled into a series finale with almost impossible expectations surrounding it," IGN wrote in our review of the Stranger Things series finale. "The Duffers certainly evolved into the successful blockbuster directors they so admired in their childhoods, but their enduring legacy will be mostly doing right by a cast of characters who beguiled the globe."

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

  •  

Star Wars Outlaws for PS5 and Xbox Series X Is Back to $20 at Amazon

Amazon has been dropping some very nice gaming deals recently to start off 2026. The latest offer to catch our eye is on Star Wars Outlaws for PS5 and Xbox Series X, which have both dropped to $19.99 for a limited time. This marks a return to the lowest price for both PS5 and Xbox Series X versions at Amazon, so this is a great opportunity to grab it. And why not spend these next few winter months journeying to a galaxy far, far away?

Star Wars Outlaws (PS5 and Xbox Series X) for $20

This Amazon Exclusive limited edition release of Star Wars Outlaws comes with some extras alongside the game. This version will set you up with The Rogue Infiltrator Character Pack, which features cosmetics for Kay and Nix that you can use in the game.

Still wondering if this is the game for you? Our review from IGN's Tristan Ogilvie called it a "fun intergalactic heist adventure with great exploration," though he noted at the time that it was "hindered by simple stealth, repetitive combat, and a few too many bugs at launch." However, since launch, it's received updates to give it a bit of a boost.

As mentioned before, this isn't the only video game deal to cross our radar over at Amazon. The retailer has had quite a few surprises up its sleeve recently, including a very big discount on Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and Astro Bot. Outside of Amazon, Walmart's even offering a great deal at the moment on Battlefield 6, if you've been waiting for a good time to add that to your library. For even more discounts on games, have a look at our roundup of the best deals of the day.

Hannah Hoolihan is a freelancer who writes with the guides and commerce teams here at IGN.

  •  

Netflix's His & Hers Review

If you’re from the South like I am, you know the sound: a light, echoing hum that softly screams whenever the temperature gets above 75. A sign of summer. Of languid days filled with both dread and possibility. Cicadas - those insects found all across the Eastern seaboard of the United States – are singing their song, which is both suffocating and soothing at the same time.

In Netflix’s new limited series His & Hers, based on the bestselling novel by Alice Feeney, cicadas are omnipresent whenever the characters step outside. It’s a small detail but one that reinforces the consistent, relentless Southern gothic nature of the show. Led by Tessa Thompson (Creed, Thor: Ragnarok) and Jon Bernthal (The Punisher, The Bear), His & Hers is the latest offering from Netflix’s seemingly unabated conveyor belt of glossy murder mysteries starring A-list talent.

But whereas many of those shows leave something to be desired in terms of execution and storytelling (see The Beast in Me, Pieces of Her), His & Hers, helmed by showrunners Dee Johnson (Fellow Travelers, Nashville) and William Oldroyd, blows past the usual paint-by-numbers whodunnit trap and quickly develops into something much more than the sum of its parts.

Thompson and Bernthal star as Anna and Jack, an estranged married couple reeling after the death of their young daughter. Anna, a news anchor in Atlanta, disappeared a year prior to the events of the show in an attempt to deal with her grief, leaving Jack (a detective) to move in with his sister in their hometown of Dahlonega, GA. Anna reappears to cover the story of a local woman who was stabbed to death, with Jack assigned to lead the investigation.

Plotwise, what follows is a pretty typical mystery that sees bodies pile up, secrets revealed, and more than a few expository flashbacks. But that’s where the similarities between His & Hers and most psychological thrillers end.

Bernthal and Thompson are at the top of their game here. Every scene they share crackles with yearning, grief, and a million layers of personal history. After losing their daughter, they lost each other, and being reunited both rips open old wounds and creates new ones.

Thompson projects a quiet strength, constantly balancing the sorrow of a mother who’s lost her only child with the persistent drive of someone destined to make a name for herself career-wise. For his part, Bernthal (with a subtle but impeccable Southern accent, something woefully absent in many a movie and TV show - I’m looking at you Benoit Blanc) shines as a man teetering on the brink. It just so happens that Jack was having an affair with the murder victim and was with her the night of the killing. This revelation leads to a cascade of poor decisions that compromises the investigation and paints Jack as one of the prime suspects.

While many of Jack’s attempts to hide his involvement border on the ridiculous (he swabs his niece’s mouth for DNA instead of his own, he constantly shouts down Priya, his investigation partner, when she asks simple questions) these lapses are forgivable - this is a soapy murder mystery after all.

To understand what truly makes His & Hers great, we have to dig into what the show is actually about. And to do that, we must talk spoilers. So turn away (and be sure to come back later!) if you don’t want to know who the murderer is and how the show ends.

Full Spoilers ahead for all six episodes of His & Hers.

When you approach a show like His & Hers, it’s easy to take it on its face as a bingeable, glossy mystery where everything is wrapped up by the finale. And it is! But it’s also much more.

The central mystery (who killed Rachel Hopkins?) is laid out at the very beginning of the show and resolved in an entertaining, if fairly typical fashion.

But Anna and Jack’s involvement, while unclear at the beginning, is slowly revealed to be much more than meets the eye. In short, Rachel was part of a high school “Mean Girls” group that also included Anna, Jack’s sister Zoe, eventual school headmistress Helen, and outcast Catherine. One by one, the girls, now adults, are murdered. The series leads us to believe that they’re all killed by a grown-up Catherine, now calling herself Lexi and posing as Anna’s rival news anchor.

In between the action, we’re treated to scenes of Jack and Anna leaving a thousand things unsaid with sparing glances and fleeting moments together. By the final episode, everything neatly fits together. Lexi, who supposedly killed out of revenge for the bullying she suffered decades ago, is dispatched by Priya after a brutal fight with Anna.

Pretty clean resolution, right? Well, there’s still almost an entire episode to go at this point so you know nothing is as it seems.

We flash forward to a year later. Anna and Jack are back together. She has her dream job and is pregnant. They’re co-parenting Jack’s orphaned niece and all seems right with the world. They go back to Dahlonega to visit Alice, Anna’s mother, who’s showing signs of dementia. Alice leaves a letter for Anna and - TWIST - it’s revealed that Alice, not Lexi, is the real killer. After viewing a video tape of Anna being raped as a teenager and the other girls doing nothing to stop it, Alice decided to hunt down all of the girls as payback.

This in and of itself is not exceptional. Red herrings in murder mysteries are nothing new. But the end of His & Hers both elevates the wow factor and sends a message with a capital M. Alice - who spent her life overlooked and discarded by everyone in her community, was accidentally responsible for the death of Anna and Jack’s daughter, and faked her dementia as a cover story for the murders - decided to give her daughter the life and opportunity she never had herself. As she says to Anna when explaining her motivations:

“Killing Rachel brought you home.

Killing Helen kept you here.

Killing Zoe gave you the family you lost.”

Twisted as they were, Alice’s actions are a macabre meditation on motherhood itself. And thus the true nature of His & Hers comes into focus: the lengths parents will go to protect their children and the devastation that comes when they’re unable to do so. This theme gradually builds throughout the series and explodes in a truly shocking denouement that makes you want to go back and re-watch the entire show.

His & Hers doesn’t reinvent the murder mystery. But it does kick it into a gear that’s far too rare in the genre nowadays. It’s entertaining, gripping, and heartbreaking from beginning to end, and achieves the rare feat of making you think long after the credits roll.

  •  

Johnny Knoxville Confirms New Jackass Movie Will Arrive in June

Actor, stuntman, and Jackass co-creator Johnny Knoxville has today confirmed that a fifth Jackass film is coming to cinemas this year, on June 26, 2026. Knoxville announced the news via Instagram.

“Well a wang dang and hot damn doodle, we are starting the year off with a bang,” wrote Knoxville. “We wanted to let you know that this summer Jackass is back! We will see you in theatres June 26th. More to come but wanted you to hear it from us first!”

A fifth Jackass film (or perhaps… eighth, if you feel like counting the .5 sequels built with unused footage that came in the wake of the second, third, and fourth Jackass movies) follows 2022’s Jackass Forever. The successful fourth instalment was certainly pitched as a last hurrah for the core crew of the trailblazing, slapstick stunt comedy series, but precisely who is on deck to return in Jackass 5 (and in what capacity) is still unknown in the wake of this initial announcement.

IGN’s Jackass Forever review, which has now erred in dubbing it the “final chapter in American comedy’s most chaotic saga”, declared it “a hilarious last hurrah for its original crew,” and noted “few recent films have been funnier or more delightfully nostalgic.”

Luke is a Senior Editor on the IGN reviews team. You can track him down on Bluesky @mrlukereilly to ask him things about stuff.

  •  

EB Games Proposes Closing All Stores in New Zealand

EB Games has made a proposal to close all its remaining stores in New Zealand, as well as its NZ distribution centre, reports The New Zealand Herald.

The proposal came as a letter sent to employees which explained “[t]his proposal is not final, and no decision will be made until we have completed a full consultation process in good faith with affected team members.”

The letter did, however, go on to confirm that if the proposal proceeds, all employment roles at EB Games New Zealand will vanish. The total number of job losses this will result in has not been reported. Employees have until January 12 to respond to the closure proposal.

EB Games’ Australian and NZ operation consists of 374 stores across the two countries, with 38 of them in New Zealand. The chain remains a part of US video game retailer GameStop, which acquired the EB Games business back in the mid-2000s. However, while EB Games locations in the US were rebranded as GameStop, stores in Australia and NZ remained identified as EB Games only.

Luke is a Senior Editor on the IGN reviews team. You can track him down on Bluesky @mrlukereilly to ask him things about stuff.

  •  

Qualcomm Can’t Make Me Care About Gaming on Snapdragon

The Qualcomm Snapdragon X and X2 processors may finally have access to Fortnite and Epic’s Easy Anti-Cheat, but despite how much Qualcomm is trying to push gaming on the Snapdragon platform this year, I just don’t care.

Fortnite runs on smartphones, after all. And while Easy Anti-Cheat opens up a whole new slate of games for Snapdragon X-series laptops, most of the titles we’ve seen running on Qualcomm systems aren’t exactly GPU intensive. Baldur’s Gate 3 was one of the bigger games shown on the original Snapdragon X Elite platform, though performance on Qualcomm’s reference designs hardly held up when compared to actual consumer systems.

And at CES 2026, Qualcomm was showing off its new high-end Snapdragon X2 Extreme chip running Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider in 2026?

Look. I love Shadow of the Tomb Raider. It’s a great game. It’s a great benchmark. But the game hit gaming PCs way back in September 2018 – over 7 years ago. It was a graphically intense game back on the RTX 2080. While it is impressive to see how smooth the game runs on integrated GPUs at 1080p and High graphics settings these days, it’s not exactly a bragging point.

Especially when AMD was running Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 at over 30 fps native on the Lenovo Legion Go 2’s Ryzen Z2 Extreme last year, and Intel is showing off thin and light Panther Lake laptops running Battlefield 6 with frame rates hitting over 200 fps (though that is with multi-frame generation).

While Qualcomm’s reference design Snapdragon X2 Extreme laptop did have Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong installed, neither game was running for the press demos. Instead, the company wanted to talk about using AI voice changing features while gaming, rather than talk performance.

Integrated GPU Performance Matters Most on Handhelds

When it comes to iGPU gaming, handheld gaming PCs are king. While I love being able to play some games on a general consumer or business laptop because I’m a monster, few people are going to use a Lenovo Yoga or Dell laptop for gaming.

And when it comes to handhelds, well. AMD got an early lead in the handheld market, and Intel is still trying to claw out space for itself. Qualcomm hasn’t even tried. At this point, it’s probably too late. Between the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme, Intel Lunar Lake, and the recently teased Intel Panther Lake handheld chips, Qualcomm’s opportunity to get a Snapdragon handheld out on the market has passed.

iGPU Gaming Only Goes So Far

While every gaming handheld around right now is an iGPU machine, no one is going to buy a general consumer laptop for gaming. Since Qualcomm doesn’t have a handheld, this makes the Snapdragon X platform’s lack of discrete GPUs even more obvious.

After all, a Microsoft Surface Laptop isn’t a gaming device. If it can run games, cool. But it’s not a gaming platform. Sure, Qualcomm laptops can now utilize AMD FSR and Qualcomm’s custom Snapdragon Game Super Resolution upscaling features, but it’s just not enough reason to care. Between having no handhelds, using reference design laptops that won’t hit the market, and not talking actual performance expectations using modern game titles, Snapdragon gaming isn’t any more compelling than it was last generation.

Madeline (She/Her) is a contributing writer at IGN. She’s been writing about comics, tech, and gaming since 2013. Her byline has appeared at sites like Laptop Mag, PCMag, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, CGMagazine, and Bleeding Cool.

  •  

This $15 Cordless Tire Inflator and Air Compressor Belongs in Your Car Emergency Kit

Every car absolutely needs a tire inflator as part of an emergency kit to be readily available at any time. If the only reason stopping you is the cost, then this deal should give you no more excuse. Ahead of Black Friday, Amazon is offering Prime members the Neverland cordless tire inflator and air compressor for just $14.99 after you clip the 18% off coupon and apply coupon code "NDKCVOXM" during checkout. Any brand of tire inflator you find on Amazon at around this price point was probably made from the one of few overseas factories. They might not have as many fancy features as other more expensive models, but they get the job done and that's what matters.

Neverland Cordless Tire Inflator and Air Compressor for $15

The Neverland tire inflator and air compressor features an internal lithium-ion battery. Cordless inflators are much more convenient to use because they don't need to be plugged in and can be charged with a standard USB Type-C cable. The compressor is rated for a maximum pressure of 150 PSI and can refill a 195/65 R15 tire from 25 to 36 PSI in about one minute. It also has an essential auto-stop feature to prevent you from dangerously overfilling your tires.

Like most tire inflators, this model can also be used as a cordless compressor to inflate other things as well, like bicycle tires, balls, inflatables, and more. The digital display is easy to read and can switch among four different units of measurements: psi, kpa, bar and kg/cm². It's also equipped with a USB output so that it can also be used as a 16,000mAh power bank to charg your phone or mobile electronics in a pinch.

Most people will get this tire inflator to keep their tires topped up, however it will come in handy during the real emergencies when you get a flat. Keep in mind though that If your tire has a puncture, there's no point filling it back up if it's going to leak again. So make sure you also have a tire patch kit on hand.

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

  •  

AU Deals: Battlefield 6 Leads a Week of Ridiculous Discounts

I have spent more hours than I care to admit scrolling digital storefronts, convincing myself I am only looking. This week’s batch finally justified the damage. There are some genuinely smart buys here, not just filler discounts dressed up as generosity.

Contents

This Day in Gaming 🎂

In retro news, I’m ensuring we all Don’t Starve by baking a 11th birthday cake for said indie great. When I was famished for things to play on my newly acquired launch PS4, I was surprised when this out-of-nowhere roguelike nourished me for dozens of hours. Being a masochist, there was so much to love about this—the complete lack of farming direction, the Burtonesque atmosphere of a storybook gone bad, and that increasingly bunghole-puckering stress of keeping shadow beasts and stomach grumbles at bay. Holds up quite well today, and you really ought to play this with a mate in the Don’t Starve Together co-op variant.

Aussie birthdays for notable games.

- Don't Starve (PS4) 2014. Get

Nice Savings for Nintendo Switch

  • Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (-24%) A$68 Retro Studios finally returns to first-person bounty hunting, blending classic Prime atmosphere with modern controls and a heavier narrative focus than earlier entries.
  • Sonic Frontiers (-51%) A$49.10 Open-zone Sonic that launched rough but matured beautifully, especially after free updates reworked combat, difficulty and traversal.
  • EA Sports FC 26 (-46%) A$49 Still the gold standard for licensed football, with career tweaks and Ultimate Team refinements keeping it dangerously addictive.
  • Blasphemous (-75%) A$9.30 A grim, pixel-perfect Metroidvania inspired by Spanish religious iconography and brutally precise combat.
  • Octopath Traveler (-50%) A$45.10 Eight intersecting stories, HD-2D visuals, and a turn-based battle system that still rewards experimentation.

Or gift a Nintendo eShop Card.

Back to top

Exciting Bargains for Xbox

  • Seagate 1TB Expansion (-28%) A$223.70 Pricey but seamless storage that runs Series X games with zero compromises.
  • Back 4 Blood (-60%) A$40 Turtle Rock’s Left 4 Dead successor, uneven solo but great fun with a coordinated squad.
  • DOOM Eternal Std. Ed. (-75%) A$13.70 One of the most aggressive shooters ever made, designed to keep you moving or dying.
  • Injustice 2 Leg. Ed. (-90%) A$8.90 A massive DC fighting package with years of DLC and story content included.
  • Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown (-92%) A$7.80 Arcade flight perfection with jet handling that feels heroic without losing tactical depth.

Xbox One

Or just invest in an Xbox Card.

Back to top

Pure Scores for PlayStation

  • Battlefield 6 (-37%) A$69 A back-to-basics approach that refocuses Battlefield on large-scale chaos and class identity.
  • LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (-80%) A$17.90 Nine films worth of slapstick co-op and brick-smashing brilliance.
  • Suikoden I & II HD Rem. (-30%) A$48.60 Two legendary JRPGs restored with modern visuals and quality-of-life upgrades.
  • Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin (-43%) A$39.50 A chaotic, combat-first spin on Final Fantasy that absolutely commits to its nonsense.
  • Deathloop (-80%) A$19 Arkane’s stylish time-loop shooter packed with smart level design and dry humour.

PS4

  • Dragon Ball FighterZ (-72%) A$28.20 A gorgeous tag fighter that looks and sounds exactly like the anime.
  • Overcooked! All You Can Eat (-75%) A$13.70 Party chaos perfected, especially if you enjoy yelling at friends.
  • Fallout 4 (-75%) A$6.20 Bethesda’s post-apocalypse sandbox that still rewards wandering off the beaten path.

Or purchase a PS Store Card.

Back to top

Purchase Cheap for PC

  • DREDGE (-64%) A$13.10 Fishing sim meets eldritch horror, with atmosphere doing most of the heavy lifting.
  • Overcooked! All You Can Eat (-73%) A$15.30 The definitive version of one of the best co-op party games ever.
  • The Invincible (-64%) A$16.10 A thoughtful sci-fi adventure inspired by Stanislaw Lem’s retrofuturism.
  • It Takes Two (-80%) A$9.90 Constantly inventive co-op design that never repeats itself for long.
  • Carrion (-80%) A$5.80 Reverse horror where you are the monster, powered by slick movement and pixel art.

Or just get a Steam Wallet Card

Legit LEGO Deals

Back to top

Adam Mathew is a passionate connoisseur, a lifelong game critic, and an Aussie deals wrangler who genuinely wants to hook you up with stuff that's worth playing (but also cheap). He plays practically everything, sometimes on YouTube.

  •  

HP's All-in-One Plan Leases You a Printer and Unlimited Ink for a Low Monthly Price

If you're in need of at-home printing but you don't want to deal with the upfront cost of buying a printer or the hassle of purchasing ink cartridges when they run out, then HP is offering a plan that might be perfect for you.

HP's All-in-One Plan is a convenient service that leases you a printer for a low monthly fee. Along with the printer, you get an unlimited supply of ink, continuous warranty coverage, and a monthy allotment of prints. There are several plans to choose from, with each offering a different printer and print allotment depending on your needs.

The four recommended plan tiers are as follows:

  • Basic - HP Envy inkjet printer with 20 pages of printing for $7.99/mo
  • Versatile - HP Envy Photo inkjet printer with 20 pages of printing for $9.99/mo
  • High-Volume - HP Smart Tank all-in-one printer with 100 pages of printing for $12.99/mo
  • Professional - HP OfficeJet Pro all-in-one printer with 50 pages of printing for $14.99/mo

The "High Volume" plan is marketed as the best value. It includes the HP Smart Tank 7602 all-in-one printer (retails for $470) and up to 100 pages of monthly printing. At $12.99 per month, it's not much more expensive than the "Basic" and "Versatile" plans, which come with a lower-end printer (with no all-in-one capabilities) and significantly less pages of printing per month. The one caveat is that it requires a three year commitment compared to two years for the other plans. Fortunately, HP offers a 30-day trial period during which you can test out the service with the freedom to opt out.

Is the HP All-in-One Plan worth it?

The big question is whether or not HP's All-in-One Plan is worth it in the first place. We can first break this out monetarily. The "High Volume" plan will run you $12.99 per month for 3 years, or a grand total of $467.64. As mentioned above, the printer you get retails for $469.99. That's about the same cost, but there are other factors to consider.

By buying the printer outright, you could probably find a discount. For example, it's currently on sale at Amazon for $349.99, saving you $120 right off the bat. Also, after 3 years, you'll still own the printer so that you can use it for many years after. If you subscribe to the plan, then you're out of a printer after 3 years unless you re-enroll.

However, by signing up for the plan, you avoid having to pay $400+ instantly, which is replaced by a more manageable monthly fee. You also essentially get three years of warranty service, as opposed to just one year if you bought the printer outright. You don't need to pay for ink during the life of the subscription. This is important because ink refills can get pricey very quickly to the point where it's often cheaper to just buy a new printer.

All things considered, it really depends on your situation. If you can justify the upfront cost, you plan to keep the same printer for more than three years, and you feel comfortable enough sourcing cheaper third-party ink, then just buy your own printer. If you'd rather stick with the convenience of letting HP worry about the printer along with its refills and maintenance, and you know that you can stay within tothe monthly printing allotment, then it's worth checking it out.

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

  •  

The Best Budget Gaming Mouse to Buy in 2026

Not every good gaming mouse costs more than $100. There are plenty of perfectly capable options that you can find for an absolute steal, like our favorite budget gaming mouse, the SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2, with its reliable performance and durable build for under $50. Here are five of the best budget gaming mice money can buy right now.

TL;DR – These Are the Best Budget Gaming Mice:

These mice all nail the basics, delivering accurate tracking, a comfortable grip, dependable controls, and a reliable connection. You may miss out on features like saving profiles, RGB lighting, or rechargeable batteries, but those are hardly a sacrifice considering the savings. Instead, you can put that extra dough toward other peripherals like a nice gaming keyboard or headset.

1. SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2

Best Budget Gaming Mouse

The wired version of the SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2 is our budget King: For less than $50 you get a fast, accurate mouse that stands up to more expensive devices in multiplayer matches. As we explain in our review, it's well-built, its clicks are bouncy, its tasteful RGB lighting is fully customizable, and while we wouldn't recommend it in palm grip it's comfortable for both claw and fingertip grippers. The Gen 2 is a step up on the original, adding slicker feet and a cord that's harder to tangle.

The wireless version performs just as well: its connection is stable in both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz modes and its sensor is slightly more powerful than the wired version, tracking your movements precisely. If you pop two AAA batteries in you can get a whopping 450 hours of battery life on Bluetooth, falling to a still-respectable 100 hours on 2.4G Ghz and a 1,000Hz polling rate. For casual single-player games, you can drop the polling rate to extend its life.

The big drawback of the wireless version is its weight: more than 100g with two AAA batteries, or around 95g with one. For those used to lighter mice, it might feel clunky. It's also more expensive and lacks RGB. For those reasons, the wired version is the one we'd recommend for most people.

2. Logitech G305 Lightspeed

Best Budget Wireless Gaming Mouse

If you’re on the hunt for a cheap yet reliable wireless gaming mouse, our testing of the Logitech G305 Lightspeed has proven it's the best option in that category. It just can’t be beat when it comes to performance versus price. For around $40, it’ll connect to your gaming PC or gaming laptop using a 2.4GHz wireless dongle. Even though it’s wireless, the Lightspeed tech ensures an ultrafast 1ms response time. Battery life shouldn’t be a concern either with it managing 250 hours of continuous play before you need to change the single AA battery.

The Logitech G305 Lightspeed comes packing a HERO optical sensor with an impressive 12,000 DPI sensitivity, 400 IPS precision, and up to 40G of acceleration. That means this mouse can track your speediest movements with incredible accuracy, giving you a leg up in FPS games. The six programmable buttons also mean you can customize the mouse to games or activities you’re performing, and t’s also super durable and compact.

3. Razer DeathAdder V3

Best Budget Ergonomic Gaming Mouse

The Razer DeathAdder V3's ergonomic design and tall dome shape, which provides extra support for resting your palm, is wildly comfortable. However, the bulkier build might not be the best for smaller hands. At least the matte finish and special finger ledge make this mouse suitable for various grip styles. All the buttons are easy to reach, while the low 59g weight and PTFE skates allow it to move at high speeds.

The Razer DeathAdder V3 is comfortable, but it also has the performance chops you want. The Focus Pro 30K Sensor is capable of some accurate, fast tracking and can handle accelerations up to 70G and speeds up to 750 inches per second; it’s probably overkill for most. An 8,000Hz polling rate means a quick response time and the optical switches are super dependable. You can also store up to five profiles on the mouse, so you can adjust the six programmable buttons to the perfect settings for all your favorite games.

4. Roccat Burst Pro

Best Ultra-Cheap Budget Mouse

You don't expect much mouse for $20/£15. But the Roccat Burst Core – the cheaper version of the excellent Roccat Burst Pro – is deceptively capable.

It is lightweight and comfortable, with a crowd-pleasing shape that fits hands of most sizes and grips. Its sensor won't win awards but it feels snappy, and its two thumb buttons are perfectly positioned. You even get customizable RGB in the scroll wheel.

At this price, compromise is inevitable. The left and right clicks feel and sound rattly, the cord never lies perfectly straight and, when I first took it out of the box, one the two feet on the bottom actually fell off.

But the clicks, while mushy, are reliable. They've never failed to register and I can spam them with no problems. And after I hastily stuck the mouse foot back on and whispered a prayer, it didn't fall off again and it glided fine across my mousepad. That feels like a low bar to clear – but then again, this is a low, low price.

5. Glorious Model O Eternal

Best Budget Ultra-Lightweight Gaming Mouse

It's obvious just from looking at the Glorious Model O Eternal where the weight has been trimmed: Its top and bottom are pocked with honeycomb holes, its bright RGB lighting leaking in to saturate the whole of its hump. It's a bold look, and not for everyone – but even if you don't like the design, you'll love how it feels in your hand.

At 55g, this is one of the lightest budget mice you can buy, and moving around your mousepad is effortless. The shell is surprisingly sturdy: despite the holes it feels solid in the hand and doesn't creak or bend under pressure. Just maybe don't eat cookies above it.

The side buttons are too small, the Glorious app is limited, and the cable feels cheap, but everything else is wonderful. The left and right clicks are crisp and reliable and the scroll wheel is one of the best I've ever used. Its sensor isn't top of the range but it's good enough for most gamers, and it'll serve you well whatever type of game you play. Best of all, you can regularly find it on offer for $30 or less. That's an absolute steal.

What to Look for in a Budget Gaming Mouse

When grabbing a budget gaming mouse over their more expensive counterparts, you’ll probably have to sacrifice a few features, whether that’s extra programmable buttons, a lower DPI sensitivity, or wireless functionality. One thing you should never settle for is subpar performance, and all of our picks are ready to game. But if you’re looking to branch out on your own when purchasing an affordable gaming mouse, we discuss what to seek out below to ensure the mouse is up to snuff.

To start, you want an comfortable mouse that feels great in hand. Some people grip with their fingertips, while others use a claw or palm grip, so the shape of the mouse is important. For left-handers, you’ll have a far more limited pool and often be stuck with ambidextrous options, but there are a good amount of ergonomic right-handed mice.

Next, you need to decide on wired versus wireless. These days, the differences between the two are negligible, though the price will increase to drop the wire. You’ll have to consider battery life and weight as well when going wireless. A lighter mouse allows quicker and more free movements, while a heavier option adds precision.

The DPI of a mouse is important, and you want an option that lets you switch between sensitivities. If you want to cover your bases for all games, a setting between 400 to 3,600 should be good, and almost every gaming mouse – cheap or expensive – should cover that range.

Beyond that, you’ll want the typical basic controls and maybe a few more inputs that you can also assign macros to perform different functions. A dedicated DPI button comes in handy for those who want to switch from speedy movements to more precise ones, while those into MOBA and MMO games could use a few extra programmable buttons on the side of the mouse.

Other features like RGB lighting can be a cool addition but unnecessary when trying to save. Overall, you want a mouse that fits into your budget and works well with the games you play.

Best Budget Gaming Mouse FAQ

How to Choose a Budget Gaming Mouse

The first and most important thing about choosing the right mouse for you is its shape. For the most part, mice come in exactly two shapes: ambidextrous or ergonomic. While it might seem like a simple choice that all right-handed users should pick an ergonomic shape while left-handed are left with whatever is ambidextrous, the way you hold the mouse is just as important too.

To that end, there are also two primary types of mouse grip: palm and claw. For the former palm grip technique, you'll want a mouse with a tall back that can support your hand, as well as some level of pinky and ring finger support. Claw grippers, on the other hand, should look for a mouse that's relatively short and has a small footprint.

Is it worth buying a cheap gaming mouse?

In this day and age, you really don't have to sacrifice a lot when you're trying to save a buck on a gaming mouse. Many of the cheap options out there offer a high level of DPI and polling rate to keep up with even the best premium gaming mice. That said, not all mice are built equal; some offer more buttons with others are ergonomically designed for a certain handiness (usually for right-handed users), so there are a few things to consider when buying something more affordable.

How much should you spend on a budget gaming mouse?

Although some of the best gaming mice brands have a budget option these days that offer decent quality, that doesn't mean you should buy just any cheap option. Although there are sometimes discounts that drop the price of some good wired mice down near $20, you'll usually want to spend a little bit more to get something you won't be disappointed in. The best budget mice tend to cost anywhere between $30 and $60.

Should you buy a PC controller instead of a mouse?

Honestly, it's completely up to you and your preferences, but some games are more . Most PC games support the use of PC controllers, and it can be cheaper than buying both a mouse and keyboard. It's also worth noting that if you already have an Xbox or PS5 controller, you should be able to connect that to your PC via a Bluetooth adapter.

Additional contributions by Danielle Abraham, a tech freelance writer based in Los Angeles who spends her free time creating videos and geeking out over music history.

  •  

Tangled Live-action Movie Finds Its Rapunzel and Flynn Rider

Disney's upcoming Tangled live-action film has found its Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, in Teagan Croft and Milo Manheim.

As reported by THR, these key roles are the first two to be finalized following Disney's decision to move forward with casting last month, after it became clear that Scarlett Johansson was no longer available to take on the role of Mother Gothel.

Croft and Manheim will step into the roles originally voiced by Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi. Croft is an Australian actress known for her appearances as Rachel/White Raven on Titans from 2018 to 2023, and starred as Jessica Watson in the Australian biographical drama True Spirit.

Manheim is best-known for his role as Zed in the Disney TV film franchise Zombies, and currently plays Wally in the Paramount+ series School Spirits. He also took second place on Dancing With the Stars in Season 27.

The role of Mother Gothel is still vacant following Johansson's departure, and is expected to be the next one to be cast. The Tangled film will be directed by Michael Gracey (The Greatest Showman), produced by Kristin Burr (Freakier Friday, Cruella), and with a script by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (Thor: Love and Thunder).

Disney's attempt at a Tangled live-action was first reported in December of 2024, after the animated film garnered plenty of positive reviews and grossed $592.5 million worldwide back in 2010, earning it a spot as a popular classic. The struggles of this year's live-action Snow White reportedly gave Disney brief pause on live-action adaptations more generally, but the subsequent success of Lilo & Stitch appears to have gotten the ball rolling again. Other Disney live-action films in development include a Beauty & the Beast spin-off about Gaston, adaptations of Hercules, Bambi, and most notably a Moana live-action set to release in July of this year.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

  •  

Dell Outlet Has the Best Deals on Alienware Area-51 Gaming PCs with RTX 5090 and 5080 GPUs

If you're looking for an absolute monster of a gaming PC, you can't go wrong with Alienware's new Area-51 prebuilts. Deals have been scarce since the recent surge in RAM and GPU pricing, however you can still get sizeable discounts from Dell's official outlet store. For now, clearance, like new (refurbished), and scratch and dent models equipped with your choice of GeForce RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 graphics cards are still on sale for considerably lower prices than buying new.

All PCs purchased through Dell Outlet include the same warranty as buying new. Dell's certified refurbished systems are submitted to a rigorous refurbishing process. These previously owned products could have observable minor blemishes that do not affect performance, or could look as good as new.

Alienware Area-51 RTX 5090 Gaming PC Deals

Alienware Area-51 RTX 5080 Gaming PC Deals

The Alienware Area-51 Is Dell's Flagship Gaming PC

The Alienware Area-51 is Dell's flagship gaming PC. Unveiled during last year's CES, the Area-51 is a super-sized upgrade to the mainstream Aurora R16 system. The significantly larger chassis features more premium build quality and a redesigned cooling system with greater net airflow. In fact, this is the only model that Dell feels comfortable enough to equip with the hot and power hungry GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card.

The RTX 5090 is the most powerful graphics card ever

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 has emerged as the most powerful consumer GPU on the market. Although Nvidia has prioritized software updates, AI features, and DLSS 4 technology to improve gameplay performance, the 5090 still boasts an impressive 25%-30% uplift over the RTX 4090 in terms of pure, hardware-based raster performance. The 5090 also has a whopping 32GB of VRAM (33% more than the 4090), making it the ideal candidate for a hybrid rig looking to do both gaming and AI work on the same machine. Check out our Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 FE review.

The RTX 5080 GPU will also run any game in 4K

Performance-wise, the RTX 5080 is no slouch. It's one of the fastest cards on the market, bested only by the $2,000 RTX 5090 and the discontinued $1,600 RTX 4090. This is a phenomenal card for playing the latest, most demanding games in 4K resolution at high settings and ray tracing enabled. Check out our Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 FE review.

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

  •  

Audible Kicks Off its First Sale of the Year, Get Premium Plus for Just $0.99 Per Month

Audible's first sale of 2026 is now live. Now through January 21, new and returning Audible subscribers can sign up for three months of Audible Premium Plus for just $0.99 per month, or £0.99 in the UK. This time around it doesn't look like you need to be an Amazon Prime member either. After the three months is up, your subscription will convert to the standard $14.95/mo, so make sure to cancel beforehand if you don't want to continue with the service. You also get a free audiobook of your choice for each of those three months that you get to keep indefinitely.

Note that if you recently signed up for an Audible Premium Plus promotion, you may not be eligible even if your subscription has ended. There's usually a wait period (about 3-6 months) before you are re-eligible.

3 Free Months of Audible Premium Plus

Audible is a subscription service that gives you access to hundreds of thousands of the best audiobooks without ever having to purchase them. There are two paid membership plans: the lower tier Audible Plus ($7.95/mo) and the higher tier Audible Premium Plus ($14.95/mo). The biggest difference between the two is the size of the audiobook library. Whereas Audible Plus only lets you listen to a selection of about 10,000 audiobooks, the Audible Premium Plus plan gives you access to a whopping 500,000 audiobooks.

Premium Plus includes other perks as well. Every month Premium Plus members get to pick one audiobook to keep in their library indefinitely, even after the membership expires. Also, Premium Plus members can get 30% off any additional audiobooks they wish to purchase in addition to exclusive limited-time discounts.

If you were already planning to purchase a couple of audiobooks, then it makes more sense to pay less than $3 to get three audiobooks you get to keep indefinitely and enjoy all the benefits of Audible Premium Plus for three months. This deal only pops up a few times per year, so don't waste your "first-time subscriber" eligibility status on a short 30-day trial.

Catch up the the latest novel releases, audiobook style

Several best-selling new and recent releases are available in an audiobook format and part of Audible's Premium Plus subscription plan. Rebecca Yarros' The Empyrean Series romantasy novels have consistently hit the top of the New York Times' best seller list throughout all of 2025 and they're all available in audiobook format. Sunrise on the Reaping, the latest Hunger Games novel, is narrated by Jefferson White, who you may already know from Yellowstone where he played Jimmy Hudstrom. The audiobook has a listening time of about 12 hours and 48 minutes. Stephen King released his Never Flinch crime novel in May 27 and it's also available as a nearly 15-hour long audiobook narrated by veteran Jessie Mueller. If you're a fan of Brandon Sanderson, check out Wind and Truth, book five of the popular The Stormlight Archive series. It was released in December of 2024 and runs an epic 63 hours long.

Looking for more free trials? Check out the best streaming services with free trials.

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

  •  

Fortnite Meets South Park as Official Trailer Reveals 5-Player Quints Playlist and a Free Mini Pass

The Fortnite South Park trailer is (officially) here, revealing an all-new short as Butters, Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny all drop in for five-player battle royale matches – a.k.a. Quints.

Epic Games published the full trailer for its South Park crossover content following a leak that wormed its way online earlier today. While the low-quality, unofficial version of the footage did show the Fortnite content in its entirety, there were a few key details saved while players wait for the event to launch this Friday, January 9.

Epic’s official trailer comes in at about two-and-a-half minutes longer than the leaked trailer, with the vast majority of that runtime filled with fresh scenes set in that iconic animated South Park style. The short sees the show’s main quartet back at their computers to play some video games while leaving Butters to sit alone in a lobby, all because he “lowkey” sucks at Fortnite.

“Actually, you just suck at Fortnite,” Cartman quips. “It’s not even lowkey.”

Butters, donning his tinfoil Professor Chaos costume, then uses the power of the Stick of Truth to transform the South Park school bus into a proper Battle Bus that whisks the group away into the world of Fortnite (and Cartmanland). It’s here the group is forced to add Butters to their squad, making for a pretty natural segway for Epic to introduce its big new feature: Quints.

As the fourth graders have proper battle royale mech suit skins built around them, Epic has used the trailer’s description to confirm that Quints is a five-player playlist for players to enjoy until the event concludes February 5. It’s an update that finally brings bigger party sizes to Fortnite after years of calls for increases, though additional details currently remain under wraps.

As for other changes the Fortnite x South Park event brings to the table, the studio has confirmed the crossover’s Born in Chaos pass will be free. This departure from previous mini passes, which typically cost players and included new skins, will now not include the new South Park outfits, instead allowing players to purchase them in the Shop.

The Fortnite South Park event comes to Chapter 7 for one month starting this Friday. While we wait to see how Towelie fits in as a Sidekick and what Easter Eggs Cartmanland has in store, you can see where Epic’s long-running battle royale landed in the list of top-played PlayStation and Xbox games in 2025. You can also check out other recent crossovers, including Kill Bill, Kim Kardashian, and Percy Jackson.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer 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).

  •  

Deals for Today: Gaming PCs, Laptops and Accessories on Sale

New Year, new gaming setup? I've found some scorching deals on Amazon for gaming laptops and pre-built gaming PCs with Nvidia GeForce RTX 5000 series graphics cards as standard. With Nvidia dropping 6x Frame Generation on 5000 series cards whilst rolling out DLSS 4.5 for 2000 to 5000 series GPUs, this is the time to upgrade your GPU loadout.

I've also found some insane deals on gaming keyboards and mice from the brands you love, including ASUS ROG, Razer, Logitech and more. But would you be covered with backup power if you had a power outage whilst gaming? Portable Power Stations are a great fail-safe to protect your gaming equipment from power surges whilst giving you some time to save your game or work. Don't panic, I've got some great deals on those too.

TL;DR: Deals for Today

Not a fan of going to the gym? I get it, some find it intimidating working out with strangers or don't have the monthly budget to pay respects at the Church of Swole. That's why I've found some home workout equipment that brings the gym and that personal trainer experience to you. Let's get into it:

Gaming PC and Laptop Deals

If you want a prebuilt gaming PC with legs and room for larger GPU upgrades down the line with ample cooling, I'd go with the Skytech Shadow Gaming PC. It's a good entry point for 1080p, high frame-rate gaming. Unlike the Storm and Crystal models, you're getting DDR5 RAM and an RTX 5060 Ti, which boasts higher performance over the standard 5060 and 5050 GPUs. Plus, the cheaper models only have a DDR4 RAM motherboard. If you're looking for a cheap build before RAM, GPU and SSD prices skyrocket, Skytech Shadow is a fair price by parts comparison and sets you up for future GPU upgrades without the worry of also replacing RAM and the motherboard.

If you'd prefer a gaming laptop, I'd 100% pay the extra $120 to get the Ryzen AI 9 270 CPU and RTX 5070 Mobile GPU. Yes, you're getting the same 32GB DDR5 RAM and 1TB SSD, but you're getting far better performance from the CPU and GPU.

Gaming Keyboard Deals

Gaming keyboards all do the same job more or less; it mostly comes down to the different type of switches and keycaps you prefer. If you like a low-profile laptop keyboard, Razer Joro is a good pick. If you want clicky button presses, wireless functionality and all the bells and whistles you could possibly want on a keyboard, ASUS ROG Azoth Extreme Wireless is $100 off right now.

A solid mid-range pick would be the Razer BlackWidow V4 Mini HyperSpeed Wireless. It has a massive 200-hour battery with quiet orange switches and pudding keycaps. For a budget gaming keyboard, I'd highly recommend Glorious GMMK for a cheeky 10% off right now. It has brown mechanical switches, which serve as a great hybrid for work and gaming. Plus, it's modular, making it a great modding platform.

Gaming Mice Deals

Again, it really comes down to preference when it comes to gaming mice. I prefer having something I can grip with some curves built into the sides. When it comes to a cheap wired option that's built well and has some RGB to make me game faster, I'd go for Glorious Model D (Minus) at a reasonable $28.68.

If we're talking wireless, I'd shell out $99.99 for ASUS ROG Keris II. The battery life is a respectable 127 hours, has up to 42K DPI alongside tri-mode connectivity. It's a versatile and responsive bit of kit with the ergonomics I look for in gaming mice.

Home Workout Deals

Half the challenge of going to the gym is getting into the mindset to get in there and put some graft in; it's intimidating for a lot of people. Luckily, there are a couple of ways to get a fantastic workout at home. The first route is equipment with a service, specifically Peloton. The deal is you can either pick a treadmill or exercise bike, grab a subscription and get that personal trainer experience in the comfort of your own home with all the bells and whistles of the latest high-tech, gym-quality equipment.

If you just want to go at your own pace whilst having quality gym equipment at home, EVKRun’s treadmill is $180 off right now at $399.98. It supports up to 400lbs, has 3.5HP and reaches speeds of up to 8.5MPH. If you're more interested in toning up over cardio, Pooboo's Power Cage is a squat rack, lateral pull-down system backed by a dual pulley cable configuration. It also includes various strength training attachments at a tidy $400 discount down to $1,199.99.

Portable Power Station Deals

Even if you're just looking for a power backup that you can charge at the wall, Portable Power Stations are products that you think you don't need until you get a power cut or you need some electricity whilst camping for a number of reasons.

I use an Anker SOLIX Power Station as a fail-safe for my office and gaming setup. If I have a power cut or surge, I have absolutely nothing to fear. Not only do I have that added protection of the Power Station keeping the electricity flowing as it should to my PC, but it gives me backup power to save my work or game progress before using it for something really important, like keeping my kids warm.

Picking a solar panel option makes sure you can stay powered on when camping or sitting in a field doing nothing whilst ignoring nature and gaming. Perfection.

MTG: Cheapest at Amazon

Amazon is putting out some decent pricing, with my favorite pick here being the "Game Edition" of Cloud Strife-themed Limit Break Commander Deck. It's around the same price as TCGPlayer, making it market value, with the artwork being based on in-game moments instead of the traditional MTG artwork.

The same can be said for the Marvel's Spider-Man Play Booster Box containing 30 booster packs with the following:
• 14 Magic: The Gathering cards
• 1–4 cards of rarity Rare or higher
• 3–6 Uncommon cards
• 6–9 Common cards
• 1 Land card (Traditional Foil Land replaces a Land in 20% of boosters)
• 1 card of any rarity is Traditional Foil; Foil Showcase Mythic Rare in 1% of boosters

MTG: Cheapest at TCGPlayer

Meanwhile, TCGPlayer is the place to go for MTG preorders. It's the cheapest for the Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box and Bundle, with the next Universes Beyond entry Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Play Booster Box, Turtle Power! Commander Deck and Bundle, the latter being over $15 cheaper than Amazon.

There's some gorgeous Final Fantasy scene boxes coming in cheaper than Amazon too, not to mention the standard Limit Break Commander Deck being just under $5 cheaper on TCGPlayer. It pays to shop around for sure.

Alienware Area-51 RTX 5090

This beast is loaded with an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU, GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card, 32GB DDR5-6400MHz RAM, and a 1TB SSD. That alone sells this system with the custom cooling that makes Alienware's Area-51 builds worth the premium. The good news is we're seeing a rare discount on something that has an RTX 5090 in it, a solid 10%, or $550 off, knocking this build down to $5,049.99. What's not to love?

2 Lisen 6.6ft 240W USB Type-C Cables

Thanks to my kids destroying countless USB cables over the years, I know what makes a USB-C charging cable that lasts. Braided wins out over rubber cable every day of the week due to its flexibility and durability. Thick caps on either side protecting the port will also be a lifesaver, but getting 240W-capable cables can sometimes cost a fortune.
Not today! You can get Lisen’s 6.6ft double pack for a ridiculously reasonable $5.60. These will handle fast charging for pretty much everything you can think of, from a mobile phone or Switch 2 to a MacBook. Even if you don't need a new cable, it's worth buying spares when deals like this crop up.

JVSCAM Cordless Electric Air Duster

Cleaning dust or crumbs out of your keyboard is a pain. No-one likes doing it and it takes ages to brush them all out. I was in the "Why the hell do I need an electric duster" camp, but then I bought one and I’m using it quite a lot.

I use mine to clear out vents, fans, GPU and more inside my PC, and even use it to get to hard-to-reach places in the car and on my desk. They're very handy to have in your desk drawer and it’s a great deal for $20.

Pokémon TCG: Market Value at Amazon

Well, the good news is you can get the Phantasmal Flames Elite Trainer Box with Prime delivery without getting stung. It has nine booster packs, a gorgeous Charcadet Illustration Rare promo, Mega Charizard X–themed sleeves, card dividers, a tournament-legal coin, alongside some nice-looking dice.

Cynthia’s Garchomp ex Premium Collection has four Journey Together and two Destined Rivals booster packs, so if Trainer Pokémon cards are your thing, you’re good to go.

Pokémon TCG: Cheapest at TCGPlayer

If it were me making a choice from the TCGPlayer selection here, I’d go for the Destined Rivals Booster Bundle. It’s $13 cheaper than Amazon right now and works out at $4.66 per booster pack, which is one of the best prices I’ve seen for Destined Rivals booster packs recently.

If you want a decent Mega ex card for your Grass-type deck, I’d recommend the Mega Venusaur ex Premium Collection. If you run Meganium alongside it from Mega Evolution, you can double your Grass Energy value while being able to move a Grass Energy from one Pokémon to another thanks to their abilities. That means you can set up and use Mega Venusaur ex’s “Jungle Dump” attack for 240 damage in one turn (it costs four Grass Energy).

You’ll also get the following booster packs:

  • 2 × Mega Evolution
  • 2 × Destined Rivals
  • 4 × Journey Together

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.

  •  

Save $50 Off the New Apple AirPods Pro 3 Earbuds

Heads up: AirPods Pro 3 earbuds just got a new price cut that beats all previous deals, including Black Friday. Amazon has lowered the price of the Apple AirPods Pro 3 earbuds to just $199.99 with free delivery. That's $20 lower than the Black Friday sale price, and a big drop compared to the retail price of $249. The AirPods Pro 3 is a solid upgrade and potentially a worthwhile purchase even if you already own a previous generation model.

AirPods Pro 3 Earbuds for $199.99 (New All-Time Low Price)

The AirPods Pro 3 launched on September 19 and is the newest generation AirPods Pro. Like its predecessor, this is easily the best earbuds for anyone who uses an iPhone. Although it looks pretty similar to the 2nd gen AirPods, there are some pretty significant improvements under the hood. The most notable new feature is the built-in heart rate sensing (which means you don't need an Apple Watch anymore), but the AirPods Pro 3 improves in other subtle ways as well, including better audio quality, better noise cancelation, long battery life, and a more weatherproof IP57 shell.

Released alongside the AirPods Pro 3 was Apple's "Live Translation", which is an Apple Intelligence feature that translates other languages on the fly. This isn't exclusive to the AirPods Pro since it can also be used with the 2nd gen AirPods Pro and the AirPods 4. First hand reports have been generally very positive, including this take from PCMag.

Joyroom 2,500mAh Portable Apple Watch Charger for $9.79

You no longer need to be near an outlet to charge your Apple Watch

If you need to buy a new Apple Watch charger, there's a better option than paying $29 for the official - but basic - charger. Amazon is currently offering the Joyroom Portable Apple Watch Charger that doubles as a 2,500mAh power bank for just $9.79 after you clip the coupon on the product page and apply coupon code "GJDNNUD8". Not only are you saving $20, you're also getting a charger that can keep your Apple Watch topped off even when there's no outlet nearby.

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

  •  

Every Kirby Game on the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2

Kirby has been a steadfast Nintendo mascot for 34 years, ever since the character debuted in 1992’s Kirby’s Dream Land for Game Boy. In addition to being a Smash Bros. staple, Kirby and his ever-evolving powers of inhalation have starred in over two dozen games, culminating in the series’ best-selling game to date, Kirby and the Forgotten Land.

With Kirby Air Riders kicking off a new wave of Switch 2 exclusives, we’ve compiled a list of every Kirby game on the Switch as well as new Kirby games coming to the Switch 2.

How Many Kirby Games Are on Switch?

Seven Kirby games have been released on Nintendo Switch, while 11 more retro Kirby games are playable with Nintendo Switch Online. The franchise debuted on Switch in 2018 with Kirby Star Allies; its latest release, Kirby Air Riders, arrived in 2025.

Every Kirby Game on Switch (in Release Order)

Kirby Star Allies (2018)

Kirby’s Switch debut came in 2018 with Kirby Star Allies. The action-platformer is played with a party of four (multiplayer or local AI) and sees Kirby combine abilities with allies to solve puzzles and enhance combat.

Super Kirby Clash (2019)

Series developer HAL Laboratories and Nintendo brought the pink puff back the following year for the free-to-play Super Kirby Clash. Like Star Allies, Clash is played with a team of four that can be controlled by other human players or AI. Unlike Star Allies, this is not a platformer but rather a standalone boss rush mode; it features a hub world for changing equipment and selecting quests, though the heart of the game is the series of boss fights that serve as those quests.

Kirby Fighters 2 (2020)

A sequel to the 3DS game Kirby Fighters Deluxe (an expanded version of the subgame Kirby Fighters found in Kirby: Triple Deluxe), Kirby Fighters 2 is exactly what it sounds like: a fighting game starring Kirby. It supports up to four players and features Kirby, Meta Knight, King Dedede, Bandana Waddle Dee, Gooey, and Magolor as playable characters.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land (2022)

The series’ standout game on Switch, Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a post-apocalyptic adventure in which Kirby gets sucked into a wormhole that appears above Dream Land. The Forgotten Land is the series’ first fully 3D platformer, complete with puzzles and Kirby’s signature ability-based combat. It’s the series’ best-selling game to date, selling more than 7.5 million copies by the end of March 2024. A Switch 2 version of the game released in late 2025 , introducing the Star Crossed World expansion.

Kirby's Dream Buffet (2022)

Kirby’s Dream Buffet is a dessert-themed multiplayer game released in 2022. It features three four-player game modes: race, minigame, and battle royale. The modes can be played separately or together as part of Dream Buffet’s Gourmet Grand Prix.

Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe (2023)

The series’ latest game, Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe is a remake of the 2011 Wii game Kirby’s Return to Dream Land. The action-platformer came to Switch with improved visuals, a new easy mode (Helper Magolor), three new abilities (Sand, Mecha, and Festival), and an all-new two-hour adventure called Magolor Epilogue: The Interdimensional Traveler.

Return to Dream Land Deluxe supports local co-op for up to four players, with each player taking control of either Kirby, Meta Knight, King Dedede, or Bandana Waddle Dee.

Kirby Air Riders (2025) *Switch 2 Exclusive

Kirby Air Riders was officially announced during the April 2025 Nintendo Direct as a follow-up to the 2003 Kirby Air Ride racing game on GameCube. Masahiro Sakurai, creator of both the Kirby series and Super Smash Bros., returns as director of the new game, and has described it as having a similar feel to Mario Kart. IGN's own review argues that once you learn some funky controls, "you’re in for a chaotic action racing game that’s a great time with friends and offers a ton to do on your own."

Kirby Games Available with Nintendo Switch Online

There are 11 Kirby games available with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. Those with a regular subscription can play nine Kirby games from NES, SNES, and Game Boy, while those with the more expensive Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription get access to two additional games: Kirby & The Amazing Mirror (GBA) and Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards (N64).

Here’s the list of Kirby games playable with Nintendo Switch Online, ordered by initial release date:

A new GameCube library will also be available in the NSO + Expansion Pack membership on Switch 2, which may include Kirby Air Ride.

What's Next for Kirby on the Switch 2?

Last year was a solid one for Kirby fans, with the release of both Kirby Air Riders and the Switch 2 edition of Kirby and the Forgotten Land with a new expansion. We don't have any news about what's next for the pink puffball, but we'll be sure to let you know as soon as that changes.

Jordan covers games, shows, and movies as a freelance writer for IGN.

  •  

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight - Here’s What Comes in Each Edition

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is set to release for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC on May 29. That is, unless you buy the more expensive deluxe edition, which is available to play on May 26. It finds Batman and a team of other Gotham's heroes fending off Joker, Penguin, and more of Akrham Asylum's finest. It's available to preorder now in two editions. Let's dive into the details.

Standard Edition

PS5

Switch 2

Xbox Series X|S

PC

The standard version comes with the game itself, plus the preorder bonus (see below for details).

Deluxe Edition

PS5

Switch 2

Xbox Series X|S

PC

The deluxe edition comes with the game itself, plus the following digital extras:

  • 3 days early access (May 26)
  • Legacy Collection
    • Arkham Trilogy Pack
    • Batman Beyond Pack
    • Party Music Pack
  • Mayhem Collection (releasing September 2026)
    • Play as The Joker and Harley Quinn
    • All-new story mission
    • Mayhem Mode

Upcoming Batman LEGO Sets Include Free Skins

LEGO is releasing four physical LEGO sets related to the game. One is a display-worthy Batman symbol, while the others are different incarnations of the Batmobile. Each one comes with a free golden skin you can unlock and use in the game. These are just a few of many terrific LEGO Batman sets, by the way.

Preorder Bonuses

Preorder any version of LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, and you’ll receive a free skin: The Dark Knight Returns Batsuit.

If you preorder the deluxe edition, you'll also get three days' early access, starting May 26.

What Is LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight?

As its title suggests, Legacy of the Dark Knight is a LEGO Batman game. While LEGO games used to be a dime a dozen, this Gotham-set one looks to continue the trend begun with LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, in that it’s a high quality game that appears to be made with a lot of care.

While it should still appeal to kids just fine, it’s not a button-masher. It incorporates stealth and combo-based action into the gameplay. In fact, it uses some of the same combat elements found in the Batman: Arkham series of games, if you remember those. It also has puzzles to solve and clue-based detective work, which fits with Batman’s character.

The story starts at Batman’s beginning, with Bruce Wayne training with The League of Shadows before donning the cape and cowl. Back in Gotham, he teams up with the likes of Jim Gordon, Robin, Catwoman, Nightwing, and Batgirl (all of whom are playable characters) as he takes on all manner of color villains, from Joker and Poison Ivy to Bane, Mr. Freeze, and more.

Along the way, there’s a heavy focus on collecting things, including 100 suits, more than 20 vehicles, and over 250 props and trophies to display in the Batcave.

More Preorder Guides

Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN's board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Bluesky.

  •  

Every LEGO Game on the Nintendo Switch in 2026

The collaborative relationship between LEGO and Nintendo, two world leaders in family-friendly entertainment that operate in the adjacent realms of toys and games, began with the 1999 release of LEGO Racers on N64. At least one LEGO game has been released on a Nintendo platform nearly every year since, and multiple Nintendo-themed LEGO sets have been released each year since they debuted in 2020.

The LEGO-Nintendo synergy has persisted through the Switch era, and with the Switch 2 now out in the wild, we’re looking back on the legacy of LEGO on the Switch.

How Many LEGO Games Are There on Nintendo Switch?

As of 2026, 19 LEGO games have been released on Switch, from LEGO Undercover City in 2017 to the most recent LEGO Party! game in 2025. Of the 19 games, nine are LEGO originals and 10 are licensed collaborations with other intellectual properties.

Every LEGO Game on Switch (Ordered by Release Date)

LEGO City Undercover (2017)

In April 2017, one month after the console’s launch, the series’ first game to hit the Switch was LEGO City Undercover, which is an original LEGO game originally released for Wii U in 2013. It’s based on the LEGO City series of themed building sets and tells the tale of an undercover police officer tracking an escaped prisoner.

LEGO Worlds (2017)

LEGO Worlds is another original game released on the Switch in 2017. Worlds is the most authentically LEGO game available on Switch; it steps out of the series’ usual action-adventure genre into the world of sandbox games (think Minecraft), allowing you to build structures and environments brick by brick.

The LEGO Ninjago Movie Video Game (2017)

The LEGO Ninjago Movie Video Game is, as its name makes clear, an adaptation of The LEGO Ninjago Movie. The game and movie, both based on LEGO’s own Ninjago line, were released in the U.S. on September 22, 2017. The action-adventure game features eight locations and several playable characters from the movie.

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 (2017)

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes draws characters and locations from Marvel movies and comics alike, with a massive roster of characters that (probably) includes every Marvel hero and villain you can think of. It’s a direct sequel to LEGO Marvel Super Heroes that ultimately pits you against the time-travelling villain Kang the Conqueror.

The first game is also available on the Switch, though you’ll find it further down this list – it wasn’t ported until 2021.

LEGO The Incredibles (2018)

Another LEGO-Disney collaboration, LEGO The Incredibles combines story beats from both movies, the 2004 original and 2018 sequel. The game was released alongside The Incredibles 2 in June 2018. It features over 100 playable characters, including all five members of the Parr family. This game is one of many Disney games currently available on the Switch in 2025.

LEGO DC Super-Villains (2018)

LEGO DC Super-Villains is a LEGO Batman spinoff focused on a collection of villains from the deep history of DC Comics, including The Joker and Lex Luthor. The villains must navigate the internal threat of personality conflict while pursuing the mysterious Justice Syndicate. It’s notably the first LEGO game to center its story around a player-created character.

LEGO Harry Potter Collection (2018)

The LEGO Harry Potter Collection is a compilation of two games: LEGO Harry Potter Years 1-4 and LEGO Harry Potter Years 5-7. The collection includes the complete LEGO Harry Potter experience, pulling characters, stories, and activities from all seven books and eight movies. This collaboration goes hand-in-hand with the many LEGO Harry Potter sets that have released over the last few years.

The LEGO Movie 2 Videogame (2019)

The LEGO Movie 2 Videogame is a movie tie-in that was largely knocked for its lack of originality and innovation. The game blends elements of traditional action-adventure LEGO games with the building elements introduced in LEGO Worlds.

LEGO Jurassic World (2019)

Originally released alongside the movie in 2015, LEGO Jurassic World came to Switch four years later in 2019. It features a 20-level campaign with five levels from each movie that had been released up until that point in time (Jurassic Park 1-3 and Jurassic World). In addition to characters from the Jurassic World movies, you can unlock playable versions of the franchise’s primary directors, Steven Spielberg and Colin Trevorrow.

LEGO Builder’s Journey (2021)

LEGO Builder’s Journey came to Switch in 2021 after debuting on Apple Arcade in 2019. While most LEGO games incorporate puzzle-solving, Builder’s Journey is all puzzles, all the time. It’s a beautifully designed game that tells its father-son story one geometric puzzle at a time.

LEGO Marvel Superheroes (2021)

First released in 2013, LEGO Marvel Superheroes didn’t come to Switch until 2021. It tells an original story with several of Marvel’s most recognizable heroes – Spider-Man, Iron Man, Hulk, Wolverine, Captain America, and others – teaming up to foil the apocalyptic plans of Doctor Doom and Loki.

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (2022)

The definitive LEGO Star Wars experience, The Skywalker Saga features reimagined scenes from all nine Skywalker movies: the original trilogy, prequel trilogy, and sequel trilogy. Within this sprawling collection are over 300 playable characters, 23 planets, and 100 vehicles. Compared to past LEGO games, The Skywalker Saga moves you closer to the action by shifting the camera from a zoomed-out third-person perspective to a tighter over-the-shoulder view. Considering the sheer amount of Star Wars LEGO sets out there, it's no surprise this made for one of the best Star Wars games of all time.

LEGO Brawls (2022)

LEGO Brawls is the worst-reviewed game on this list, based on Metascore (46). It’s an accessible, Smash Bros.-inspired fighting game originally released for Apple Arcade in 2019. Brawls features well over 100 minifigures/fighters from over 10 LEGO sets, including Ninjago and Jurassic World.

LEGO Bricktales (2022)

LEGO Bricktales is an original, puzzle-based adventure similar to LEGO Builder’s Journey, though on a larger scale. The game takes you to dioramas set in jungles, deserts, cities, medieval castles, and tropical islands. Bricktales was made by ClockStone Studio, the developer best known for its Bridge Constructor series.

LEGO 2K Drive (2023)

LEGO 2K Drive, from prolific sports game developer Visual Concepts, is a racing game set in the open world of Bricklandia. 2K Drive is a robust racing game that features street, off-road, and water races; story, single race, tournament, minigame, and free-roam modes; and a custom car-builder that our review called “excellent.”

LEGO Fortnite (2023)

LEGO Fortnite is a collection of LEGO-themed games housed within Fortnite. Epic Games and the LEGO Group have created several LEGO Fornite experiences since the collaboration was launched in late 2023. Among the current ways to play are a survival-crafting game called Odyssey, an online social RPG called Brick Life, and a level designer called LEGO Islands.

LEGO Horizon Adventures (2024)

The franchise’s latest game is LEGO Horizon Adventures, a collaboration between PlayStation’s Guerrilla Games and English support studio Studio Gobo. It’s a retelling of Horizon Zero Dawn, simplified and sanitized for a wider audience, that leans into the combat and platforming mechanics of LEGO action games before it.

LEGO Voyagers (2025)

The latest LEGO game is a two-player co-op adventure that is short and sweet. In our 8 out of 10 review, IGN praised its meorable puzzle games and fantasticly presented world. It doesn't have the same level of depth as co-op games like Split Fiction, or It Takes Two, but it's a fun game you can play together with someone.

LEGO Party (2025)

The second LEGO game we got in 2025, LEGO Party is, as you might guess, a party game along the lines of Mario Party. IGN's 8/10 review describes it as "Creative, colourful, and a consistent crack up... purpose-built to turn any boring old night into a block party filled with belly laughs." It feaures 60 minigames across LEGO sets from the Ninjago, Pirates, and Space themes. You can also customize your own minifigure and tackle Challenge Zones with up to three friends.

Upcoming LEGO Games on Switch 2

The Switch 2 has officially arrived, but plenty of games are still making their way to the original system. A new Batman game called LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is releasing on May 29, supposedly featuring an open-world Gotham City. We don't know too much more about upcoming games, but on the brick-building side of things, LEGO recently announced a new Smart Brick.

Jordan covers games, shows, and movies as a freelance writer for IGN.

  •  

Stranger Things, Pluribus, Heated Rivalry Among Nominees for 37th Annual GLAAD Media Awards

The 37th Annual GLAAD Media Awards nominations have been announced, with popular shows, movies, games, comics, and more among the categories, totaling almost 300 nominees.

Stranger Things, The Last of Us, Severance, Sandman, and Doctor Who are some of the nominees for Outstanding Drama Series, while Pluribus, Heated Rivalry, I Love LA, and The Hunting Wives are up for Outstanding New TV Series. Outstanding Comedy Series includes Abbott Elementary, Hacks, The Righteous Gemstones, and Hazbin Hotel.

Blue Moon, Christy, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale are a handful of nominees for Outstanding Film – Wide Theatrical Release.

Hades II, Assassin's Creed Shadows, Ambrosia Sky: Act One, and Old Skies are among the nominees for Outstanding Video Game.

The full list of nominees for the 37th Annual GLAAD Media Awards can be found below:

Outstanding Film – Wide Theatrical Release

  • Blue Moon (Sony Pictures Classics)
  • Christy (Black Bear Pictures)
  • Clown in a Cornfield (RLJE Films/Shudder)
  • Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (Focus Features)
  • The History of Sound (Mubi)
  • I Know What You Did Last Summer (Sony Pictures Releasing)
  • Kiss of the Spider Woman (Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions/LD Entertainment)
  • On Swift Horses (Sony Pictures Classics)
  • Twinless (Roadside Attractions)
  • The Wedding Banquet (Bleecker Street)

Outstanding Film – Limited Theatrical Release

  • Cactus Pears (Strand Releasing)
  • Fairyland (Lionsgate/WILLA)
  • Griffin in Summer (Vertical)
  • I Wish You All the Best (Lionsgate)
  • A Nice Indian Boy (Blue Harbor Entertainment)
  • Plainclothes (Magnolia Pictures)
  • Ponyboi (Fox Entertainment Studios)
  • The Queen of My Dreams (Product of Culture/WILLA)
  • Sorry, Baby (A24)
  • Young Hearts (Strand Releasing)

Outstanding Film – Streaming or TV

  • 10Dance (Netflix)
  • The Christmas Baby (Hallmark Channel)
  • Echo Valley (Apple TV)
  • Hedda (Amazon MGM Studios)
  • A Keller Christmas Vacation (Hallmark Channel)
  • Noah’s Arc: The Movie (Paramount+)
  • Oh. What. Fun. (Prime Video)
  • The Old Guard 2 (Netflix)
  • The Parenting (HBO Max)
  • Queen of Coal (Netflix)

Outstanding Documentary

  • Amy Bradley is Missing (Netflix)
  • Come See Me in the Good Light (Apple TV)
  • Enigma (HBO)
  • Heightened Scrutiny (Fourth Act Film)
  • I’m Your Venus (Netflix)
  • In Transit (Prime Video)
  • Love & Rage: Munroe Bergdorf (Peacock)
  • “A Mother Apart” POV (PBS)
  • Pee-Wee as Himself (HBO)
  • Sally (National Geographic)

Outstanding New TV Series

  • Boots (Netflix)
  • Chad Powers (Hulu)
  • Clean Slate (Prime Video)
  • The Four Seasons (Netflix)
  • Heated Rivalry (Crave/HBO Max (US))
  • The Hunting Wives (Netflix)
  • I Love LA (HBO)
  • Long Story Short (Netflix)
  • Mid-Century Modern (Hulu)
  • Overcompensating (Prime Video)
  • Pluribus (Apple TV)

Outstanding Comedy Series

  • Abbott Elementary (ABC)
  • Big Boys (Hulu)
  • Ghosts (CBS)
  • Hacks (HBO)
  • Hazbin Hotel (Prime Video)
  • Loot (Apple TV)
  • Palm Royale (Apple TV)
  • The Righteous Gemstones (HBO)
  • Survival of the Thickest (Netflix)
  • The Upshaws (Netflix)

Outstanding Drama Series

  • Brilliant Minds (NBC)
  • The Buccaneers (Apple TV)
  • Doctor Who (Disney+)
  • The Gilded Age (HBO)
  • The Last of Us (HBO)
  • Power Book III: Raising Kanan (Starz)
  • The Sandman (Netflix)
  • Severance (Apple TV)
  • Stranger Things (Netflix)
  • Yellowjackets (Showtime)

Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series

  • The Beast in Me (Netflix)
  • Chief of War (Apple TV)
  • Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (Peacock)
  • Hal & Harper (Mubi)
  • “Hotel Reverie” Black Mirror (Netflix)
  • Lost Boys and Fairies (Britbox)
  • Mr Loverman (Britbox)
  • Nine Perfect Strangers (Hulu)
  • Prime Target (Apple TV)
  • Wayward (Netflix)

Outstanding Reality Program

  • Back to the Frontier (Magnolia Network)
  • House on Fire (BET+)
  • Jay & Pamela (TLC)
  • June Farms (Prime Video)
  • Love on the Spectrum (Netflix)
  • Next Gen NYC (Bravo)
  • Selling Sunset (Netflix)
  • Southern Charm (Bravo)
  • Southern Hospitality (Bravo)
  • The Ultimatum: Queer Love (Netflix)

Outstanding Reality Competition Program

  • American Ninja Warrior (NBC)
  • The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Titans (AMC+/Shudder)
  • Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
  • Finding Mr. Christmas (Hallmark+)
  • I Kissed a Boy (Hulu)
  • I Kissed a Girl (Hulu)
  • Project Runway (Freeform)
  • RuPaul’s Drag Race (MTV)
  • The Traitors (Peacock)
  • The Voice (NBC)

Outstanding Children’s Programming

  • Be@rbrick (Apple TV)
  • Firebuds (Disney Jr.)
  • “Ghost Town” Mermicorno: Starfall (HBO Max)
  • “No Wrong Way to Be You” Sesame Street (HBO Max)
  • Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures (Disney Jr./Disney+)

Outstanding Kids & Family Programming – Live Action

  • Goosebumps: The Vanishing (Disney+/Hulu)
  • Jane (Apple TV)
  • School Spirits (Paramount+)
  • “Selamiut” Washington Black (Hulu)
  • XO, Kitty (Netflix)

Outstanding Kids & Family Programming – Animated

  • Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake (HBO Max)
  • The Bravest Knight (Hulu)
  • Jurassic World: Chaos Theory (Netflix)
  • Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (Disney Channel)
  • The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Disney+)

Outstanding Music Artist

  • Conan Gray, Wishbone (Republic Records)
  • Durand Bernarr, BLOOM (Durand Bernarr / DSING RECORDS / Create Music Group Inc.)
  • Elton John & Brandi Carlile, Who Believes in Angels (Interscope Records)
  • Ethel Cain, Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You (Daughters of Cain)
  • G Flip, Dream Ride (G Flip / AWAL Recordings)
  • Lady Gaga, MAYHEM (Streamline / Interscope Records)
  • Maren Morris, DREAMSICLE (Columbia Records)
  • Reneé Rapp, Bite Me (Interscope Records)
  • Ty Herndon, THIRTY, Vol. 1 (Club44 Records)
  • Young Miko, Do Not Disturb (The Wave Music Group / Capitol Records)

Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist

  • Amaarae (Golden Angel LLC / Interscope Records)
  • Chris Housman (Chris Housman)
  • Destin Conrad (Above Ground Ent / EMPIRE)
  • Eli (Zelig Music & RCA Records)
  • Frankie Grande (Casablanca Records)
  • Guitarricadelafuente (Sony Music Entertainment)
  • KATSEYE (HYBE x Geffen Records)
  • Shygirl (NUXXE / Because Music)
  • Snow Wife (SNOWGLOBE)
  • Wet Leg (Domino Recording Co)

Outstanding Broadway Production

  • Liberation, by Bess Wohl
  • Oedipus, by Robert Icke
  • Purpose, by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
  • Redwood, book by Tina Landau, music by Kate Diaz
  • Smash, book by Rick Elice and Bob Martin, music and lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman

Outstanding Podcast

  • Bald & The Beautiful (Studio 71)
  • Las Culturistas (iHeart)
  • The Daily Beans Podcast (MSW Media)
  • Handsome Podcast (Headgum)
  • Outlaws with TS Madison (iHeart)
  • The Read (Loud Speakers Network)
  • Shut Up Evan (Acast)
  • So True with Caleb Hearon (Wave)
  • Tactful Pettiness (PodcastOne)
  • We Can Do Hard Things (Audacy)

Outstanding Podcast Episode

  • “All-American Grift: We Investigated Trump’s Favorite Sports Troll” Pablo Torre Finds Out (Meadowlark Media)
  • “Carl Nassib” The Pivot Podcast (Shots Studio)
  • “Chappell Roan: Are People Scared of Me?” Call Her Daddy (The Unwell Network / SiriusXM)
  • “Dispatches From the Living Memory of Trans People of Color” Code Switch (NPR)
  • “Matthew, Daniel, & Islan” Crime Junkie (Audiochuck)
  • “Niecy Nash-Betts Opens Up About the Love That Changed Everything” House Guest (Scott Evans/Spotify)
  • “The Paper Doll: Dylan Mulvaney” Between Us with Heather and Terry Dubrow (iHeartPodcasts)
  • “Rachel Maddow: Trump’s Alaska Summit With Putin Is an ‘Abject Humiliation’” Pivot (New York Magazine / Vox Media)
  • “Reneé Rapp” Good Hang with Amy Poehler (The Ringer / Spotify)
  • “Straight Panic, Gay Excellence” I’ve Had It (PodcastOne)

Outstanding Video Game

  • Ambrosia Sky: Act One (Soft Rains)
  • Assassin’s Creed Shadows (Ubisoft)
  • The August Before (Silly Little Games/Catoptric Games)
  • Cabernet (Party for Introverts/Akupara Games)
  • The Great Villainess: Strategy of Lily (One or Eight/Alliance Arts)
  • Hades II (Supergiant Games)
  • Lost Records: Bloom and Rage (DON’T NOD)
  • Old Skies (Wadjet Eye Games)
  • Road to Empress (New One Studio)
  • The Roottrees are Dead (Evil Trout Inc.)

Outstanding Comic Book

  • Absolute Green Lantern, by Al Ewing, Jahnoy Lindsay, Jason Howard, Riley Rossmo, Sid Kotian, Iñaki Azpiazu, Pressy, Lucas Gattoni (DC Comics)
  • Avengers Academy: Marvel’s Voices, by Anthony Oliveira, Elsa Sjunneson, Carola Borelli, Bailie Rosenlund, Pablo Collar, Charles Stewart III, Alti Firmansyah, Minkyu Jung, KJ Díaz, Ruth Redmond, Dono Sánchez-Almara, Ariana Maher, Joe Caramagna (Marvel Infinity Comics)
  • The Department of Truth, by James Tynion IV, Martin Simmonds, Letizia Cadonici, Aditya Bidikar, Jordie Bellaire, Dylan Todd (Image Comics)
  • Exceptional X-Men, by Eve L. Ewing, Carmen Carnero, Federica Mancin, Nolan Woodard, Travis Lanham (Marvel Comics)
  • Minor Arcana, by Jeff Lemire, Patricio Delpeche, Letizia Cadonici, Steve Wands (BOOM! Studios)
  • The Oddly Pedestrian Life of Christopher Chaos: Children of the Night, by Tate Brombal based on an idea by James Tynion IV, Isaac Goodhart, Priscilla Petraites, Miquel Muerto, Aditya Bidikar (Dark Horse Comics)
  • Poison Ivy, by G. Willow Wilson, Marcio Takara, Brian Level, Atagun Ilhan, Mark Buckingham
  • Arif Prianto, Lee Loughridge, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, Tom Napolitano (DC Comics)
  • Runaways, by Rainbow Rowell, Elena Casagrande, Roberta Ingranata, Lee Ferguson, Dee Cunniffe, Travis Lanham (Marvel Comics)
  • Secret Six, by Nicole Maines, Stephen Segovia, Cian Tormey, Roger Cruz, Rain Beredo, Steve Wands (DC Comics)
  • Wynd: The Power of the Blood, by James Tynion IV, Michael Dialynas, Andworld Design, Nancy Mojica, Madison Goyette (BOOM! Studios)

Outstanding Original Graphic Novel/Anthology

  • Cannon, by Lee Lai (Drawn & Quarterly)
  • Dan in Green Gables, by Rey Terciero, Claudia Aguirre (Penguin Workshop)
  • First Kiss with Fangs, by Marker Snyder (Holiday House)
  • Gaysians, by Mike Curato (Algonquin Books)
  • Hey, Mary!, by Andrew Wheeler, Rye Hickman, Hank Jones, Frank Cvetkovic (Oni Press)
  • It Rhymes with Takei, by George Takei, Steven Scott, Justin Eisinger, Harmony Becker, José Villarrubia (Top Shelf Productions)
  • Low Orbit, by Kazimir Lee (Top Shelf Productions)
  • A Song for You and I, by K. O’Neill (Random House Graphic)
  • Spent, by Alison Bechdel, Holly Rae Taylor, Jon Chad (Mariner Books)
  • Trans History: From Ancient Times to the Present Day, by Alex L. Combs, Andrew Eakett, Tif Bucknor (Candlewick Press)

Outstanding Variety or Talk Show Episode

  • “Greg Mathis Jr. Opens Up About Living As His Authentic Self” Tamron Hall (Syndicated)
  • “Guest Host Alan Cumming on Attacks Against the Trans Community & Bringing Kindness Back in America” Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC)
  • “JHud Surprises Black Gay Weddings Founders with Special Anniversary Gift” The Jennifer Hudson Show (Syndicated)
  • “Kelly Clarkson Celebrates Trans Day of Visibility With ‘TRANSA’ Creator Massima Bell” The Kelly Clarkson Show (Syndicated)
  • Las Culturistas Culture Awards (Bravo/Peacock)
  • “Laverne Cox and George Wallace Star In Norman Lear’s Final Show, ‘Clean Slate’” The View (ABC)
  • “Max Salvador and Victoria SanJuan” Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (Bravo)
  • “New York Pride Week and Corporate Sponsors Pull Back by Trump” The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS)
  • “Trans Athletes” Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
  • “Transgender Soldiers Explain Why Trump’s Military Ban is Bogus” The Daily Show (Comedy Central)

Outstanding Magazine Overall Coverage

  • The Advocate
  • Cosmo
  • Gaye Magazine
  • The Hollywood Reporter
  • OUT
  • People
  • Poz
  • Rolling Stone
  • TIME
  • Variety

Outstanding TV Journalism – Long-Form

  • “Heart of Pride” (CBS 3 Philadelphia)
  • “HIV Unwrapped” +Life (Hulu / ABC Localish)
  • “Late to the Party: Coming Out Later in Life” (ABC)
  • “Living in Pryde” (GBH Boston)
  • “Living Proof” (Hulu)
  • “Pride 2025 – Rise Up: Pride in Protest.” (ABC 7 New York)
  • “Pride Edition 2025 | Storytellers” LatiNation (LATV)
  • “Shaye & Amanda Scott” It’s Ok To Ask Questions (NBC 5 Chicago)
  • “Still Marching: A NY1 Pride Month Special” (Spectrum News NY1)
  • “A Transgender Marine Speaks Out” (NBC 7 San Diego)

Outstanding TV Journalism – Segment or Special

  • “Community during fascism: Actress Laverne Cox on the importance of WorldPride in Trump’s D.C.” The Weekend (MS NOW)
  • “Final ride from SF to LA for AIDS/LifeCycle, but the fight to end HIV/AIDS continues” (ABC 7 San Francisco)
  • “High Stakes at the Supreme Court: Conversion Therapy” ABC News Live (ABC)
  • “How life is changing for trans Americans under the Trump administration” PBS News Hour (PBS)
  • “‘I still want to serve’: Transgender servicemembers face uncertain future under Trump admin” Meet the Press NOW (NBC News NOW)
  • “LGBTQ-inclusive mass held in Rome” Good Morning America (ABC)
  • “Meet Harper Watters, the barrier-breaker at the Houston Ballet” TODAY with Jenna & Friends (NBC)
  • “Minnesota Rep. Leigh Finke reacts to backlash against trans community” Talking Points (CBS 4 Minnesota)
  • “Transgender man speaks out after passport lists wrong gender under Trump policy” CBS Evening News (CBS)
  • “‘Violation of due process’: Lawyer of gay makeup artist deported speaks out” MS NOW Reports (MS NOW)

Outstanding Online or Print Journalism Article

  • “As the first out trans person in Congress, Sarah McBride is ready to fight for us” by Christopher Wiggins (Advocate)
  • “Detransition is rare, but it’s driving anti-trans policy anyway” by Orion Rummler (19thNews.org)
  • “He fled Iraq after he was jailed for being gay. Now Donald Trump is making his life hell.” by Daniel Villareal (LGBTQNation.com)
  • “I Spent Eight Years in Conversion Therapy Mistaking Shame for Faith” by TImothy Schraeder Rodriguez (TIME)
  • “King of Olympus” by Robert W. Fieseler (64 Parishes)
  • “Queer in present danger: Richmond’s LGBTQ+ community finding safe spaces in difficult times” by Justin Lo (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
  • “The Rainbows They Tried to Erase” by David Clarke (OutSmart Magazine)
  • “Tramell Tillman on His Emotional Coming Out Story, ‘Severance’ Delays and Acting With Tom Cruise the Day After He Got ‘Mission: Impossible’ Script” by Clayton Davis (Variety)
  • “Trans people didn’t ask to get pulled into any of this” by Mel Woods (Xtra)
  • “Vivian Jenna Wilson on Being Elon Musk’s Estranged Daughter, Protecting Trans Youth and Taking on the Right Online” by Ella Yurman (Teen Vogue)

Outstanding Online Journalism – Video or Multimedia

  • “12 days of pride” [series] (BET.com)
  • “Being Out” [series] (OutSports.com)
  • “Decades in, these women’s love was ‘Hidden Once, Hidden Twice’” (NPR.org)
  • “Extended interview: ‘Oh, Mary!’ Tony nominee Cole Escola” (CBSNews.com)
  • “From Struggling With Psoriasis to Becoming Soraya Sis: How This Drag Artist Learned to Embrace Their Skin” (EverydayHealth.com)
  • “Logo Legend – Jinkx Monsoon” (LogoTV.com)
  • “A Mother and Her Trans Teen Decide to Leave the U.S.” (NewYorker.com)
  • “Pride 50 2025: Celebrate Queer Changemakers” [series] (Queerty.com)
  • “Transcestors & Trailblazers: 30 Lives, 30 Legacies” (TransLash.org)
  • “Viral video of her torture shocked Colombia. The killings didn’t stop there” (CNN.com)

Outstanding Independent Journalism

  • Assigned Media
  • The Buckeye Flame
  • Charlotte’s Web Thoughts
  • Erin in the Morning
  • Impact Media
  • Queer Kentucky
  • The Queer Review
  • Trans News Network
  • Under The Desk News with V Spehar
  • Xtra Magazine

Special Recognition

  • The Drowsy Chaperone in Concert (Breaking the Binary Theatre)
  • Gaydar with Anania

SPANISH-LANGUAGE CATEGORIES

Outstanding Scripted Television Series // Serie de Televisión con Guión Sobresaliente

  • El fin del amor (Prime Video)
  • Mariliendre (Atresplayer)
  • Mujeres con hombreras (HBO Max)
  • Olympo (Netflix)
  • Serpientes y Escaleras (Netflix)

Outstanding TV Journalism // Periodismo Televisivo Sobresaliente

  • “Brasil: iglesias promueven la detransición de género” En Foco (FRANCE 24 Español)
  • “De maquillar reinas de belleza a preso en El Salvador” Noticias Telemundo (Telemundo)
  • “La historia del Stonewall Inn y la importancia de Nueva York para la comunidad LGBTQ+” Noticiero Univision 41 (Univision)
  • “Ni hombre, ni mujer: Intersexual” Noticias Telemundo (Telemundo)
  • “Ola arcoíris recorre América: ¿en qué punto están los derechos LGBTIQ+ en el continente?” Ellas Hoy (France 24 Español)
  • “Orgullo 2025 Avances, Desafíos y Caminos” Spectrum Noticias (Spectrum)
  • “El Orgullo, colores de libertad.” (CNN en Español)
  • “Raúl González revela por qué calló sobre su orientación sexual” Despierta América (TelevisaUnivision)
  • “Spirit Day una fecha para combatir el bullying a la comunidad LGBTQ+” Hoy Dia (Telemundo)
  • “Wendy Guevara, la sexta desigual” Desiguales (TelevisaUnivision)

Outstanding Online Journalism Article // Artículo sobresaliente de periodismo digital

  • “10 íconos LGBT+ que marcaron la historia de México” por Yet Akatzin Almazán (Homosensual.com)
  • “Las cosas positivas de la masculinidad que descubrí al transicionar como hombre trans” por Ronald Alexander Ávila-Claudio (BBC.com)
  • “Cuando la rebeldía perdura: envejecer siendo LGBTIQ+” por Mariana Escobar Bernoske (ElEspectador.com)
  • “El largo camino de las familias diversas para adoptar en México: ‘Lo que se busca es que los niños tengan un hogar’” por Paola Alín (ElPaís.com)
  • “Latinas trans denuncian que administración Trump ‘envalentona’ más ataques y discriminación en NYC” por Edwin Martínez (ElDiarioNY.com)
  • “My Coming Out Story” Quién [serie] (Quien.com)
  • “La Niñez Trans Existe” por David Cordero-Mercado (ElNuevoDia.com)
  • “La realidad de muchos jóvenes de la comunidad LGBTQ en México: poca aceptación familiar e ideas de suicidio” por Karen Esquivel (CNN.com)
  • “Que Nadie Te Diga Que no–El cine transfeminista de Gaby Castillo” por Andrea Dominguez y Andrés Camilo Gómez (sentiido.com)
  • “Un tercio de los mexicanos ha presenciado algún acto de violencia contra el colectivo LGTBIQ+” por Elena San José (El País.com)

Outstanding Online Journalism – Video or Multimedia // Periodismo digital sobresaliente: vídeo o multimedia

  • “Amor y crianza diversa: la historia de cómo Sergio y Juan Pablo adoptaron a Amalia” (El Espectador)
  • “Hemos Estado. Nuestra historia nunca se detiene” (Pride Mx)
  • “Hombre o mujer, ¿y nada más? Historia sobre el género y la identidad” (DW Español)
  • “El Nuevo Reggaeton Sin Censura” DOSIS Con Michelle Galvan (Univision)
  • “¿Tienes HIV, Mijo? A Mother’s Journey” Living y Ready (LatiNation)

Reconocimiento Especial

  • Andry José Hernández Romero
  • Before We Forget (Twenty Nine Palms Ent.)

A breakdown of the criteria for nominations of the 37th Annual GLAAD Media Awards can be found here.

Jessie Wade is Associate Director of Editorial Programming at IGN. You can find her playing cozy games on her Switch or watching the latest fantasy and drama shows, as well as getting lost in way too many fantasy romance books.

  •  

Arc Raiders Dev 'Looking Into' Balance Updates for Trigger Nade, Stitcher, and More After Holiday Delays

Arc Raiders players hoping for a new game update may not have to wait much longer, as developer Embark Studios says it is “looking into” balance changes for some of its most controversial weapons.

In a public message posted to the official Arc Raiders Discord, an Embark community manager known as Birdie teased the next patch “shouldn’t take too long” to launch “now that the team is back from the holidays.”

There’s no word on when exactly the new Arc Raiders update will be published, but any amount of communication suggesting a short wait is enough to get fans excited. Fans have spent the time since the December 16 launch of update 1.7.0 (a.k.a. Cold Snap) theorizing about what the new year may hold while sharing any new concerns with Embark. Although The Goalie Raider Deck helped tide players over late last month, the lack of a firm 2026 roadmap has left some fans curious about what’s to come.

One player tapped into some of their more pressing issues and shared them with Embark yesterday. They specifically take issue with what they believe is a “lack of urgency” at the studio, calling for communication and tweaks for Stella Montis, cheaters, the skill tree, Trigger Nades, and more. Birdie replied, and while not every point was addressed, it seems Embark has plans to tackle balance changes sooner rather than later – and a Trigger Nade nerf may be on the docket.

“The holidays delayed things a bit, but the dev team want you to know that they are looking into balance, for example, the stitcher, kettle, and trigger nade,” the community manager explained. “Rest assured that we hear you and work on delivering a good gaming experience, things are just not immediate.”

The shape these nerfs will take remains unclear for now, leaving some players concerned that they’ll do more harm than good before actually evening the playing field. It’s also unclear if the next Arc Raiders update will feature some of these teased balance adjustments, but it’s least being looked into as Embark gets back into the swing of things.

Today’s Arc Raiders news is a far cry from the 2026 roadmap fans have been hoping to see. While we wait for something more concrete from the team, you can read about why some fans are expecting to eventually see an Arc Raiders movie and TV show. You can also check out why Embark doesn’t have any plans to add more traditional PvP mechanics.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer 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).

  •  

Wolfenstein 3 Is Reportedly In Development

Another entry in the Wolfenstein franchise may be on the way, according to multiple reports today. Specifically, a Wolfenstein 3.

The possibility was first mentioned by Windows Central today as part of a 2026 Xbox predictions piece, and was corroborated by Kotaku. No hard details were provided, just that the game is in development with Machine Games and, per Windows Central, may be timed to coincide with the already-announced Wolfenstein TV series with Amazon.

This would be Machine Games' first return to Wolfenstein since 2019's Wolfenstein: Young Blood, which saw series protagonist B.J. Blazkowicz's twin daughters searching for him in France and, of course, fighting the Nazis. Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus, was all the way back in 2017, so a third Wolfenstein game would be a long-awaited return indeed. Of course, MachineGames has been a bit busy lately, helping out on Doom: Legacy of Rust and developing Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Windows Central also suggests the studio may be working on a "Rainbow Six Siege-like multiplayer game."

The Wolfenstein reports also aren't a huge shock, as Machine Games studio head Jerk Gustafsson said just this past September that the series was always meant to be a trilogy, and that "we're not done with Wolfenstein yet." A third game would presumably find a way to wrap up B.J. Blazkowicz's story, and would almost certainly find a way to wrap up the ongoing battle against the Nazis. It's unclear if it would take place before or after Young Blood.

Speaking of Young Blood, we weren't the biggest fans, giving it a 6.5/10 and calling it "an aggressively okay co-op shooter that doesn’t come close to recapturing the joy of its predecessor’s action or its surprisingly interesting characters and story." We did, however, love The New Colossus, saying it's "a fantastic single-player shooter" with "brilliantly written characters and performances" in our 9.1/10 review.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

  •  

HP Omen 16 Gaming PC with RTX 5060 Ti 16GB GPU Drops to $1,099.99 at Best Buy

If you're looking for a capable 1080p gaming PC for about $1,000, you can't do much better than this deal. For this week only, Best Buy has the HP Omen 16 gaming PC with RTX 5060 Ti 16GB graphics card for just $1,099.99 shipped. This prebuilt will be able to run games at 60fps+ framerate in 1080p and even 1440p thanks to the 16GB of VRAM.

HP Omen 16 Gaming PC with RTX 5060 Ti 16GB for $1,099.99

The HP Omen 16 is equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265F CPU, GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB GPU, 16GB of DDR5-5600MHz RAM, and a 1TB NVMe SSD. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265F CPU is a 20-core processor with a max boost clock of 5.3GHz. It's a solid general-purpose CPU that combines a high clock speed for games and plenty of cores for for multi-core performance. For games at least, you won't see any improvement upgrading to a Core Ultra 9.

The RTX 5060 Ti 16GB is much better than the 8GB found in most other prebuilts

The RTX 5060 Ti graphics card comes in two variants, with the only difference between the two being the amount of VRAM: 8GB or 16GB. Unlike the vast majority of prebuilts which are equipped with the 8GB model, this particular system is equipped with the RTX 5060 Ti 16GB model. If you can afford it, you should only get the 16GB model. Numerous outlets have shown that the performance gap between the 8GB and 16GB models is huge.

The RTX 5060 Ti (16GB) is a great GPU for 1080p gaming. It outperforms the RTX 4060 Ti by about 20%, and the gap widens in games that support DLSS 4 technology with multi-frame generation. The 16GB of VRAM also allows this GPU to hold its own in 1440p gaming, especially if you don't want to spend the extra $200-$300 to upgrade to an RTX 5070.

Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.

  •  

Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie to Present at Golden Globes Following Success of Heated Rivalry

The hype around Heated Rivalry has only continued to grow in the weeks after its Season 1 finale and the announcement of Season 2, continued release of press tour interviews that fans are eating up, and being nominated for the 37th Annual GLAAD Media Awards for Outstanding New TV Series.

Now, stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will be presenting at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards on Sunday evening, as confirmed by THR.

The Golden Globes are one of many appearances Williams and Storrie have planned, with Storrie presenting at the 32nd Annual Actor Awards (formerly the Screen Actors Guild Awards) on Wednesday, January 7; Williams will have his late night debut on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon also on January 7, along with a radio interview with Andy Cohen Live on Thursday, January 8; and Storrie will have his own late night debut on Late Night with Seth Meyers on Monday, January 12.

Following Episode 5 of Heated Rivarly, which ranks as one of the highest-rated TV episodes of all time on IMDb (it's current rating is 9.9), fans heavily pushed on social media that the show – along with Storrie for his incredible Russian monologue in episode 5 – is Emmy worthy. However, due to the show being funded by Bell Media (a Canadian company) and not co-produced by an American company, they are ineligible to submit for The Emmy Awards – they are eligible for the International Emmy's, though.

When Season 2 was announced last month, Crave shared that Heated Rivalry quickly became its top original series of all time, with its viewership increasing almost 400% within only two weeks of its premiere date.

Creator, director, and writer of Heated Rivalry, Jacob Tierney (Letterkenny, Shoresy), recently discussed the future of the show with EW, which is based off Rachel Reid's Game Changers book series. Tierney said Season 2 won't release at the same time of year as Season 1, as he hasn't begun writing it yet, but that fans can expect it to release shortly after that window – which seems to point at early 2027.

"It's not gonna be two years. It's not even gonna be 18 months, I don't think. So we're gonna go as fast as we can, while ensuring that we're doing as good a job as we possibly can," Tierney said.

Heated Rivalry is slowly being released internationally, with the show currently heading to the UK this weekend, releasing on January 10 on Sky.

Jessie Wade is Associate Director of Editorial Programming at IGN. You can find her playing cozy games on her Switch or watching the latest fantasy and drama shows, as well as getting lost in way too many fantasy romance books.

  •  
❌