Netflix is taking us back, not a few decades but millions of years to the era of dinosaurs. The streamer has revealed its official trailer, key art, and release date for the upcoming documentary series The Dinosaurs.

The poster features a monstrously huge dino mouth about to swallow a shark whole, and the trailer gives viewers a glimpse of exactly that in action, while narrator Morgan Freeman tells us: “This is the story of the dinosaurs.” Intense stuff! The sneak peek also gives viewers a look at many different types of animals sharing the world with dinosaurs, as well as several different types of dinos themselves.

Take an epic journey into a lost world in THE DINOSAURS, a new documentary series narrated by Morgan Freeman, premiering March 6.

From executive producer Steven Spielberg, Amblin Entertainment, and the award-winning team behind Life on Our Planet. pic.twitter.com/Dv5LC07n1F

— Netflix (@netflix) February 5, 2026

The series, which will consist of four hour-long episodes, is narrated by none other than one of the smoothest voices in Hollywood: Morgan Freeman. Plus, the legendary Steven Spielberg is producing the series, so there’s already two great reasons to watch.

Alongside the other details, Netflix also revealed the show’s logline: “Welcome to The Dinosaurs – an epic journey into a lost world. From executive producer Steven Spielberg, Amblin Documentaries, and the award‑winning team behind Life on Our Planet, this groundbreaking documentary series follows the rise and fall of the dinosaurs across hundreds of millions of years.”

Dan Tapster, Keith Scholey, and Alastair Fothergill will serve as co-showrunners, with Nick Shoolingin-Jordan directing the series and Lorne Balfe serving as composer. Industrial Light & Magic is also behind the visual effects and animation in the series.

The Dinosaurs is set to premiere on Netflix on March 6.

Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.

Today's Nintendo Switch Partner Direct has revealed a new exclusive for Switch 2 — bizarre-looking dinosaur survival game Tokyo Scramble.

While a trailer shown during the Partner Direct focused on tension, and the fact that protagonist Anne has to rely on setting traps for survival, a subsequent video posted by Binary Haze takes a more light-hearted approach.

In a montage of scenes we see a dinosaur (officially here called a "Zino") getting stuck going the wrong way up an escalator, as Anne makes a quip about its daily steps. Further clips show dinosaurs getting pelted with beach balls, repeatedly flattened and set on fire by various objects, electrocuted by a tripwire, rammed by a minecart and yanked off by a robot arm. Honestly, it's enough to make you feel sorry for them.

As well as hairy velociraptors, other Zino species include one that looks like a vampire bat, and another hairy creature that looks a cross between a dragon and that thing from The Neverending Story.

"A life-or-death struggle begins deep below Tokyo, where clear thinking and split-second decisions could make all the difference," reads an official blurb. "You play as Anne, a survivor who finds herself in a network of subterranean caverns overrun by Zino – mysterious creatures that resemble dinosaurs. Use stealth, strategy, quick thinking and unwavering determination to escape the prehistoric world alive."

Perhaps the most interesting thing about the game is your ability to share control with up to three other players across Switch and Switch 2 consoles via GameShare. Here, control of Anne's movement, actions, abilities and even the game's camera can be portioned out to a group.

Tokyo Scramble launches exclusively for Switch 2 on February 11 via the Nintendo eShop. For much more, here's everything announced in today's Nintendo Partner Direct.

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

If you're a horror fan who's been keeping an eye on the A Nightmare on Elm Street seven-film 4K collection since its release, we have exciting news: it's dropped to a brand new all-time low price at Amazon. It's currently on sale for $67.49 at the retailer, which is 36% off its list price of $104.98. This means you get all seven movies on 4K for just under $70, or about $10 a movie, which is a pretty sweet deal.

Considering this is the lowest price we've seen so far on this collection, now is an excellent time to grab it for your library if you've had your eye on it.

A Nightmare on Elm Street: 7-Film Collection on 4K for $67.49

Fans of 2023's Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo, got a delightful surprise this morning during the Nintendo Partner Direct, with the reveal of a surprise sequel coming to Nintendo Switch. It's called Paranormasight: The Mermaid's Curse, and it's coming out in just two weeks, on February 19.

The Mermaid's Curse follows a young pearl diver named Yuza who one day, while working, sees a ghostly version of himself. This sets off a chain of other strange incidents: corpses washing up, a girl with no memories, and townsfolks with ulterior motives. As Yuza, you'll question people around the island to try and find out what's going on, while also diving into the waters of the bay for clues. All of it has ties somehow to a centuries-old legend of a mermaid, and true to form, it all seems kind of creepy!

The original Paranormasight debuted in 2023 on Switch, PC, and mobile. While thematically similar, it told a different mystery story with different characters, and it's unclear if there will be narrative times between The Seven Mysteries of Honjo and The Mermaid's Curse. The first Paranormasight was well-received, and currently stands at an 85 critic score and 8.9 user score on Metacritic. We're still waiting to hear if the new game will come to other platforms, but given the mobile and PC releases of The Seven Mysteries of Honjo, it seems like a reasonable expectation.

You can catch up on everything announced at today's Nintendo Direct right here.

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

As Fallout Season 2 draws to a close, all signs point towards Colorado as the setting for the next adventure. A postcard left in an abandoned cryopod all but confirms that The Ghoul’s wife and daughter are waiting for him there, and a shot of the Enclave’s secret headquarters suggests that the show’s newly-revealed big bad is operating out of the Rocky Mountains.

For fans, this is an interesting new direction. After the first season explored California, the setting for the original two Fallout games, and the second expanded into the Mojave wasteland of Fallout: New Vegas, it seemed logical that the story would continue to visit familiar locations. Washington, D.C. or Boston, the settings of Fallout 3 and 4, respectively, seemed sensible bets. But certainly not Colorado, which despite geographically making sense for the next steps beyond the New Vegas strip, is barely a footnote in the RPG’s extensive lore.

Dive deeper into the Fallout archives, though, and Colorado becomes significantly more important. The state was planned to be the setting for what would have been Interplay and Black Isle Studios’ third Fallout game, codenamed “Van Buren”, which was cancelled back in 2003. Since then, dozens of design documents have fallen into public hands, revealing the intended storyline for what could have been the original Fallout 3. And as the show signals its intent to travel to the Centennial State, it’s impossible not to wonder if Season 3 will be at least a little inspired by the Fallout that never was.

The Second Apocalypse

Sony has finally announced Guerrilla’s Horizon live service multiplayer game, Horizon Hunters Gathering. It’s due out for PlayStation 5 and PC.

A “small-scale” closed playtest is due at the end of February, which you can sign up for via the PlayStation Beta Program. Expect crossplay and cross-progression. There's no release date yet, nor is there word on whether it's free-to-play or a premium game. The debut trailer, which includes gameplay, is below.

As you can see from the trailer and screenshots, Horizon Hunters Gathering has a cartooney art style, which is in contrast to the photrealistic visuals of the mainline Horizon series. Clearly, Sony and Guerrilla are trying to create a more lighthearted experience with Hunters Gathering, with the Zero Dawn and Forbidden West more serious offerings. There are strong Monster Hunter vibes, too.

In a post on the PlayStation Blog, game director Arjan Bak said that in Horizon Hunters Gathering, you fight deadly machines in tactical three-player co-op action and adapt your Hunter for intense missions.

"Combat is tactical, reactive, and deeply skill-based, building on the tactical precision of the Horizon games while embracing the dynamics of team play," Bak said. "The foundation of Horizon Hunters Gathering centers around challenging and replayable hunts."

Bak confirmed two game modes: Machine Incursion, which is described as "a high-intensity mission" where waves of machines pour out from underground gateways, led by a "formidable boss"; and Cauldron Descent, a longer, multi-stage trial in which "ever-changing rooms push Hunters to their limits, from brutal machine encounters to hidden doors that promise power and reward for teams prepared to open them." Both modes wil be available in the upcoming closed playtest.

There's a roster of Hunters to play as, each with distinct melee or ranged playstyles and weapons. Bak said there's also a rogue-lite perk system to craft the build you want. Story wise, there's a narrative campaign "which will introduce new mysteries, characters, and threats, but we’re keeping it under wraps for now," Bak said. "What we can say is that Hunters Gathering is fully canon and its story doesn’t stop at launch!"

The social hub is the name of the game: Hunters Gathering. It's "a vibrant social hub where players can connect, prepare, and celebrate victories together. Here, you can customize your Hunters, visit vendors, upgrade gear, and team up for your next adventure."

Horizon Hunters Gathering isn't the only multiplayer game set in the Horizon universe. Bizarrely, NCSoft and Sony are working on Horizon Steel Frontiers, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game designed for mobile devices, but also playable on PC. NCSoft is said to be working closely with Guerrilla to craft the world, but this is very much an NCSoft-developed game. Horizon 3, meanwhile, was in late 2024 described as being "a ways off." Sony is said to be aiming to start filming its live-action Horizon Zero Dawn movie this year, with a release at some point in 2027.

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

Listen, I’m always going to have a Leon-sized hole that needs filling and from playing his portions in the latest Resident Evil 9 Requiem demo, I’m pretty sure I’ll be taken care of (for the year, at least). The roundhouse kicks, the corny one liners, and the brutal blood-splattering finishers – things I loved from the recent Resident Evil 4 remake round out what’s otherwise a terrifying survival horror experience. And the crux of that survival horror is stealth and having the proper mechanics in place to make that tension tangible. So, not only does Grace’s side of Requiem evoke a petrifying sense of dread atop the classic puzzle-solving of the series, it’s also a fantastic expression of the kind of stealth-action gameplay I’ve been wanting for a while.

Our previous Resident Evil 9 Requiem preview by my colleague Dale Driver touched on plenty of sentiments I share; most notable for me being the refreshing balance between the drastically different playstyles of Grace and Leon as dual protagonists. Grace being timid and having to rely on moving slowly and carefully, contrasting with Leon being the action hero who blasts through every zombie. But it’s the Grace sections where Capcom is doing something really special with stealth gameplay that feels natural and forward-thinking.

Capcom has made a big deal out of zombie behavior where their presumed personalities as humans feed into how they move and react in the game world as zombies. One example being the zombie fixated on light switches in a dark hallway you have to pass through as Grace – instead of taking him head-on with your limited resources, you can slip by and hit a light switch down the hall to distract him to clear the path to the other end. While this isn’t a complicated situation on its own, it’s a microcosm of how Requiem is challenging you as Grace, where observation and environment are just as important as staying out of sight. The game doesn’t outright tell you this, so thinking outside the box can lead to more elegant solutions.

This notion of watching out for zombie behavior is flipped around at times, too. Like when walking through the dining room where zombies are just feasting on the dead bodies on the table, not giving a damn about your presence and leaving you alone. I wasn’t sure if they’d react to me poking around picking up items, yet I still treaded carefully and let them do their thing. Naturally figuring out how these enemies respond to you and their surroundings is a fascinating way to give variety to navigating the labyrinthine halls, and a touch of detail that isn’t often seen.

What’s more frightening is the butcher who roams the kitchen. Early in the preview, you have to slip through by pushing a cart to clear the path across the kitchen, and you have to do this undetected, which requires you to pay attention to his patrol pattern. It’s simple enough, and making a mistake means he’ll chase you down and show you how terrifying he is; one hit and you’re dead. But later in the playthrough where you have to revisit that general area, he begins patrolling the hallways around the kitchen, and here, his presence is truly felt. Hearing his footsteps set off alarms in my brain that he began lurking, and the tension that created changed how I navigated an area I already mapped out.

I would duck and peek out from adjacent rooms to see if he was coming, and make a mad dash to where I needed to go hoping for the best and not looking back. One time, I was peeking from the parlor room thinking I was out of sight, but the butcher caught me peeking just a little too confidently and pulled up on me – I now had this cat-and-mouse chase, luring him in one direction before juking him to get out of the room.

Probably the biggest comedy of errors during my playtime came from dashing to the cold storage room where my next objective was. I had a straight shot from, like, three hallways down and I risked it all by booking it and letting fate take the wheel. Just as I got to the last stretch, there was the butcher turning the corner and ending up right in front of me along his new patrol pattern. I backpedaled in a panic, pumped my one remaining shot from the superpowered Requiem pistol and the rest of my 9mm rounds, but it wasn’t enough; so I just took the L and reloaded my save.

The first time I got hit with a jump scare was when Chunk burst out into a hallway after I picked up a quest item. It began chasing me and it was easy enough to run to a room for safety since it couldn’t get through normal-sized door frames. But the rest of the surrounding hallways were fair game. And like many Resident Evils with puzzles, backtracking to this area later on filled me with dread. Thankfully, Chunk wasn’t as overbearing, but it’d more frequently completely block certain paths, forcing me to either take the long way around or wait things out until the coast was clear. But on my first attempt, I wasn’t exactly sure what its behavior pattern would be. And that’s a key part of making stealth gameplay interesting and horror work well – it’s that unpredictable nature of hostility.

These stalker-type enemies aren’t meant to be killed (as Grace, at least), and they’re also not quite like the persistent threats of Mr. X from Resident Evil 2 or Nemesis in Resident Evil 3. Each one seems to play different roles and present a different kind of dread throughout Requiem, which I suspect will lead to more variation. Even thinking back to the very first Requiem preview I played last year with the monstrous patient roaming the halls of the patient wing in Grace’s opening section, that was closer to a specifically scripted sequence. But it was a much more close-quarters stealth challenge where the windows of opportunity to escape were tighter. So, already, that’s three unique enemies playing into a horror experience in their own ways.

Requiem being primarily a survival horror game means it’s going to be a bit outside of what I traditionally expect from stealth-action games; or rather the stealth mechanics you see in so many action games. Hiding in tall grass, waiting for enemies to turn their backs, and getting a one-hit kill undetected is a tired trope at this point. Grace does get craftable single-use items for stealth kills, and I hope we’re challenged by limiting quantities so we have to really consider when to use them. But even then, Requiem doesn’t just deal in patrol patterns or throwing an object to cause a distraction, it also deals in vulnerability and the fear of unpredictability for Grace’s chapters. It’s not just the fear of getting detected, but the consequences that come with it.

Grace's portion of Requiem was about an hour-and-a-half to two hours of playtime. And after that, I was pretty exhausted from the tension. Don’t get me wrong, I was exhausted in a good way. However, that’s what makes the interstitial Leon sections so important. They’re a reprieve and an outlet to get all that stress out, a palette cleanser to balance things out and look at some of the same environments from a different perspective. This also offers a sort of best-of-both-worlds for the series, the slow and deliberate pacing of Resident Evil 7 alongside the top-tier action from Resident Evil 4, as examples.

After getting hands-on with a total of about four hours of Resident Evil 9 Requiem at this point, and sharing that experience with colleagues, I’m more excited for the series than I have been in recent memory. It’s the old mixed with the new, but all in a modern package with two protagonists I already like a lot. No shade to RE7 and RE Village, but Ethan Winters doesn’t compare to Grace, and definitely not my guy Leon. And with a thoughtful mix of action and stealth gameplay, February 27 can’t come soon enough when Resident Evil 9 Requiem hits PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.

Full spoilers follow for Starfleet Academy Episode 5, “Series Acclimation Mil.”

This week's installment of Starfleet Academy makes good on a promise Paramount+ essentially made last summer at San Diego Comic-Con when the streamer released a trailer for the series which seemed to indicate that the mystery of Captain Benjamin Sisko would be addressed. Sisko, of course, was the Starfleet officer and Emissary to the Prophets, played by Avery Brooks for seven seasons on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, who disappeared in the classic series finale "What You Leave Behind," apparently ascending to a higher form of life as one of the other-wordly and god-like Prophets himself.

And now the episode of Starfleet Academy which delves into this topic has been released. In “Series Acclimation Mil,” Kerrice Brooks' Sam -- who is something of an emissary herself for her people -- embarks on a mission to learn everything she can about Sisko. Along the way, none other than Cirroc Lofton returns as Jake Sisko, having played Benjamin's son in DS9 all those years ago. And while Brooks does not appear as the long-lost captain, we do hear his voice in the final moments of the episode... and if you look really closely, you can see an image of his face in the clouds in that last shot.

We spoke with showrunners Alex Kurtzman and Noga Landau about the decision to return to the story of the Siskos, how it was achieved, and more...

The Return of Captain Benjamin Sisko and His Son Jake

IGN: At what point did you say, "We want to address the Sisko of it all"?

Noga Landau: I have to say that when I started this job, people from my past, the most random people were emailing me, DMing me and saying, "Hey, congrats. And by the way, when is someone going to do something for Captain Sisko? When is someone going to do something for DS9?" So it felt like the universe was sending us a very clear message.

Wait, Leon Kennedy is in Resident Evil: Requiem? Yeah, okay, we've known that for a bit now, perhaps longer than Capcom wanted us too. But what is news today is that the long-rumored Leon S. Kennedy amiibo is real, and coming alongside the previously announced Grace Ashcroft amiibo this summer.

This was announced during today's Nintendo Partner Direct, which showed a trailer for Reqiuem mostly containing footage and news we've seen already. We knew about the February 27 release date, the Gold Editions of Resident Evils 7 and 8 releasing alongside it, and the special Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller. We'd also already heard about the Grace Ashcroft amiibo before.

But we didn't actually know about Leon. He was, uh, strongly suspected, even before we officially knew he was going to be in the game, something Capcom tried to keep hidden way longer than was necessary. Since his official reveal at The Game Awards, we've seen a sudden surge of love for the classic protagonist, with fans referring to him as a "Hot Uncle" and comparing him to Keanu Reaves. He's set to be getting a roughly equal amount of screentime to fellow protagonist Grace, so it only makes sense they'd both get amiibos.

We've seen a lot of Reqiuem on multiple platforms in the lead-up to its February release. Most recently, we previewed it on the Nintendo Switch 2 at a Nintendo event, and our previewer said that "I was so terrified by being relentlessly stalked by this monster that any concerns I had about the version I was playing instantly melted away." We also recently learned that speculation the game would be open world was "dead wrong" according to the game's direct.

You can catch up on everything announced at today's Nintendo Partner Direct right here.

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

During today's Nintendo Switch 2 Direct presentation, Square Enix made an exciting appearance to show off Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth, which will be joining its predecessor Remake and catching Switch players up on the story at last on June 3, 2026. We also learned via the Xbox Store that the game will hit Xbox consoles simultaneously.

We have known the entire FF7R saga would be on Nintendo platforms at some point. It was just a matter of time. Rebirth's appearance will effectively catch players on Nintendo platforms up with the story so far, just in time for what we hope will be the announcement and release of the third and final part of this saga.

Pre-orders for Rebirth on the eshop begin today, and there are various digital bonuses available for those who take advantage of that.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake first launched in 2020 to insanely high expectations...and yet delivered anyway. We gave it an 8/10, saying that it "breathes exciting new life into a classic while standing as a great RPG all its own." The game was originally a PS4 exclusive, but came to PS5 with Final Fantasy 7 Remake: Intergrade, and later to PC and Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2 as well just recently.

We similarly loved Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, giving it a 9/10 and saying it "impressively builds off of what Remake set in motion, both as a best-in-class action-RPG full of exciting challenges and an awe-inspiring recreation of a world that has meant so much to so many for so long."

You can catch up on everything announced at today's Nintendo Switch 2 Direct right here.

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

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales has reappeared at today's Nintendo Partner Direct with a proper release date of June 18, 2026.

Today's trailer highlighted four different "ages" that the main character, Elliot, will visit over the course of the game: The Age of Safekeeping, Reconstruction, Magic, and Budding. As he visits these ages, Elliot will see the scenery and people living in his hometown change, and he'll collect items and magic unique to each time period.

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales was first announced last July at a Nintendo Partner Direct. And though we've had a free demo available already, this is Elliot's first real emergence since the initial announcement.

The Adventures of Elliot is Square Enix's first attempt to translate its HD-2D style into a more action-focused game than a turn-based RPG. Rather than a part of heroes, Elliot can use different weapon types that will play differently and can be advantageous or disadvantageous against different foes. His fairy companion, Faie, can also either attack enemies herself or be controlled by a second player in a co-op mode.

You can catch up on everything announced at today's Nintendo Partner Direct right here.

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

I may have only played the opening couple of hours of Planet of Lana 2, but I lost count of the number of ways it reminded me of Star Wars. From just a single glance at one of its many gorgeous landscapes, you can see in the geography and architecture what look like Studio Ghibli interpretations of Ralph McQuarrie’s original sketches for Lucasfilm’s immortal sci-fi series. Peek within that frame and you’ll see rickety sci-fi vehicles and clunking robots that wouldn’t be out of place on the streets of Mos Eisley. Lend your ear to that scene, and the whirring sounds of those same droids and digitised radio chatter of enemy guards could easily be coming from R2-D2 and Stormtroopers, respectively. All of these aspects add up to something that is far more than referential, though, instead shaping a confident, expansive puzzle platformer sequel of its own original design.

One of the first things that hits you when booting up Planet of Lana 2 is the music. Again, the soaring of its strings and the twinkle of its brass conjure up strong images of a galaxy far, far away. But, this time, it shouldn’t come as a surprise — the sequel's score is once again composed by Star Wars: The Clone Wars orchestrator, Takeshi Furukawa. Incidentally, he’s also behind the music of The Last Guardian, a game that greatly inspired Wishfully, the small Swedish developer behind Planet of Lana 2. It carries on that same “child on a dangerous, yet wondrous adventure with a fantasy animal companion” legacy, this time with a darker tone as shades of Limbo and Inside come to the fore.

The 2.5D stealth-puzzle-platforming takes place on a bigger canvas compared to its 2023 predecessor. Two years after the events of that game, protagonist Lana has settled back into family life on the planet of Novo, though clearly mystery and intrigue still remain, both on its surface and bubbling below it. After a short tutorial section investigating the corpse of the hulking spaceship that brought her people to this new land, Lana’s sister is taken ill, and you’re promptly sent on a mission to hunt down rare ingredients for a remedy. This journey takes Lana to new regions of the world, which gives Wishfully’s art team new scope to stretch their creative muscles, but also presents welcome new ideas when it comes to puzzle design.

A now older, more confident Lana is more agile than before, able to slide under low-hanging metal for quick escapes and even dive into the ocean to solve whatever conundrums its depths are hiding. Lighter on her feet this time around, she’s practically a backflip and a handstand away from moving more like a Lara than a Lana. Whether clambering through caverns or broaching darkened mine shafts, platforming is more about patience and precision than speed and reflexes. The sequel’s expanded vision also extends to the framing of its puzzles, with larger areas demanding further exploration of the scene – you must look for helpful items in areas high above and further off-screen than you might expect.

That said, many of the challenges I faced through this two-hour demonstration were largely the sort of combat-avoidant stealth sequences that reward patience – as in, you must remain motionless while waiting for obstacles to morph into the required shape, or for enemies to turn the other way, creating a safe passage through. I would never say this becomes tedious, but for those who prefer a bit more zip and thrust to their action, here's a heads up that I wouldn’t necessarily expect that here. To those who didn’t play the original Planet of Lana, it’s much closer to a Little Nightmares than it is to a Metroid in its level design and enemy encounters. But similar to Samus’ space adventures, there’s a great sense of tactility to every heavy lever pull, as heavy machinery and hulking robots lurch and creak inside a mountain facility, dwarfing Lana and her even smaller, spherical companion, Mui.

This little ball of charm provides a furry edge to many of Planet of Lana 2's puzzles, with their newly increased ability set adding welcome extra variety to the mix alongside their existing skillset. I particularly enjoyed further explorations of Mui’s somewhat telepathic ability to control creatures around the world of Novo. For example, fish can be sent to zip around and deploy clouds of ink that masks the vision of larger-finned foes, and sticky balls of blob can create trails of sludge that transform into paths of fire to remove flammable obstructions. These fuse-like puzzles, which task you with examining the level geography as you trace its edges to reach your goal, were some of my favourites in this preview demo.

Although I’ve only seen around a third of the game, even at this early stage, I am wary that some mechanics are already on the edge of being used one too many times, threatening to turn some brainteasers into busywork. But, largely on the whole, the puzzles have proven fun and fair, compelling me to pause and think, but never to the detriment of the momentum of the story. It fits the urgency of the tale being told, with many mysteries lurking in the background. It's this intrigue that drove me through these early hours on the path to discovery, as well as the distinct sense of adventure as you hop around this thoroughly alien planet, painted with beautiful art and soundtracked by a sensational score.

Much like Star Wars does with its flashy lightsaber duels and thrilling space battles, Planet of Lana never forgets to put character front and centre, even in its puzzles. Reassuring nods and moments of murmur in an alien tongue help solidify the bond between Lana and her furry friend, all while keeping the story of their adventure foremost in mind. And, just like The Empire Strikes Back, Planet of Lana 2 teases in these early hours that it’s certainly not afraid to enter darker territory on a grander scale, whilst leaving plenty of time for those smaller moments. It’s all very promising, and a reassuring sign that the heart of its short and sweet predecessor is being carried over into this expanded, more ambitious sequel on March 5th.

Simon Cardy is a Senior Editor at IGN who can mainly be found skulking around open world games, indulging in Korean cinema, or despairing at the state of Tottenham Hotspur and the New York Jets. Follow him on Bluesky at @cardy.bsky.social.

Spoilers follow for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Episode 5, “Series Acclimation Mil,” which is available on Paramount Plus now.

So here it is – the Benjamin Sisko episode that Starfleet Academy has been teasing since at least as far back as last summer. The notion of returning to the mystery of what happened to Avery Brooks’ legendary Deep Space Nine captain is a daunting undertaking for the fledgling Starfleet Academy, but fortunately the episode’s writers (Trek vets Kirsten Beyer and Tawny Newsome) don’t attempt to alter or add to Sisko’s story – which after all was essentially completed with the end of DS9 – but rather use his legend to expand on one of the new show’s main characters, Sam (Kerrice Brooks).

I mean, that’s literally how the episode starts off as “A Story About Me” is scrawled over the “A CBS Studios Production” title screen. Make no mistake: “Series Acclimation Mil” is about Sam, not Sisko. The episode is even named after her!

Pearl Abyss has dropped another exciting features overview video for Crimson Desert, offering a better look at how combat will work as you "learn what it means to fight like a Greymane," unlocking skills, upgrading equipment, facing the threats of Pywel, and "grow into a formidable fighter."

The 10-minute trailer is packed with new details and insights, and focuses specifically on combat and progression, including how you can parry and counter attacks and upgrade your weapons.

Confirmation that dual-wielding is still coming is particularly exciting; as some of the overwhelmingly positive comments on the Crimson Desert subreddit explain, we've seen very little of the ability up until now.

Oh, and there's also a peek at how you can travel around Pywel, including by bear. No, that's not a typo — you ride a massive bear.

"My last bits of apprehension for this game have disappeared because of this," commented one happy fan. Another simply said: "March 19th cannot come soon enough."

"This game just gets better and better with every video. It is so impressive," added another impressed fan, while someone on YouTube wrote: "I honestly can’t remember the last time I was this excited for a game. Everything shown so far looks incredible, and I truly hope it delivers a deep, immersive adventure. I’m really looking forward to getting lost in this world and experiencing something special."

"It's not crazy to say that I'm more interested for this game's release than GTA 6," joked another impressed fan.

There's one more final features overview video still to come, but Pearl Abyss didn't reveal when just yet.

Crimson Desert is an open-world action-adventure set in the beautiful yet brutal continent of Pywel. Discover adventure, uncover wonders, and experience thrilling action as you witness the saga surrounding Kliff, leader of the Greymanes, whose mission takes him on an incredible journey. It's set to release on March 19 2026, for PC and Mac, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. For more, check out our thoughts about whether Crimson Desert is promising too much.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

The February 2026 Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase has come and gone after revealing three Bethesda games for Switch 2, an upgrade for Hollow Knight fans, and more.

The presentation was previously said to bring 30 minutes of Switch and Switch 2 announcements from Nintendo’s third-party partners, and it did just that. Highlights include a Switch 2 upgrade for the original Hollow Knight, a release date for the Switch 2 version of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and more Resident Evil Requiem. Plus, Bethesda fans with Nintendo’s latest hybrid console now know to look forward to ports for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Fallout 4, and The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion.

Fans didn’t see everything they were hoping for (we’re looking at you, The Duskbloods), but the show did still manage to pack in tons of announcements. We gathered all of the biggest reveals, so be sure to check out everything announced at the new Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase below.

Old School Anime-Inspired Co-op Game Orbitals Narrows Nintendo Switch 2 Release Window

Help Maki and Omura save their home! Use your wits in this 2-player co-op adventure to overcome the odds in a retro anime-inspired galaxy. @OrbitalsGame is coming exclusively to Nintendo Switch 2 this summer! #NintendoDirect pic.twitter.com/uFClReKRVI

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) February 5, 2026

Orbitals has captured the attention of anime and gaming fans since it was first announced, and now, developer Shapefarm is confirming plans to launch for Switch 2 this summer.

Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse Scares Up February Release Date for Nintendo Switch

Players will follow Yuza Minakuchi, a pearl diver who uncovers a spooky version of himself underwater, when the latest Paranormasight comes to Switch later this month. Pre-orders ahead of its February 19 release date are available today.

Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters Gameplay Kicks Up Switch Launch With Stylish Soccer Gameplay

Anime action met tense soccer gameplay in a brief look at Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighter shown during today’s Nintendo Direct. Expect to see Bandai Namco bring it to Switch sometime later this year.

Tokyo Scramble Delivers Underground Dino Horror With Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date

Tokyo Scramble will drop players (and their friends) into a subterranean dinosaur nightmare when Tokyo Scramble launches exclusively for Switch 2 nextg week, February 11. Its creatures, called Zino, can kill players instantely, so as today's gameplay shows, quick thinking and strategy are necessary for survival.

Valheim Brings Survival Gameplay to Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026

Gather your friends, sharpen your axe, and set sail on your very own Viking adventure! @Valheimgame arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 this year. #NintendoDirect pic.twitter.com/acO1rMOCcg

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) February 5, 2026

Popular Viking survival game Valheim is officially coming to Switch 2. First released in 2021, developer Iron Gate will bring its online building-and-crafting game to Switch 2 sometime later this year.

Hollow Knight Upgrade Shadow Dropped for Nintendo Switch 2

Everyone’s favorite bug warrior is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 with an upgrade that’s free for owners of the original – and it’s out today. It’s a surprise update for Team Cherry’s original hit Metroidvania that follows last year’s massively successful Hollow Knight: Silksong, adding in improved framerates and enhanced visuals.

eFootball Kick-Off! Scores Summer Switch 2 Launch

Real-world soccer is coming to Switch 2 with eFootball Kick-Off!. A short gameplay trailer revealed a sneak peek at how Konami’s football game looks on the Nintendo console ahead of its launch sometime this summer.

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales Takes Players on a Trip Through Time This June

Square Enix is bringing its time-hopping adventure, The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, to Switch 2. A gameplay trailer for the HD-2D journey promised a release date of June 18, 2026.

Super Bomberman Collection Explodes Onto Switch Consoles

It’s all the Bomberman you could ever ask for. Konami announced that its bundle of Bomberman classics, titled Super Bomberman Collection, is out for players on Switch and Switch 2. It’s a shadow-drop that unleashes the digital version today, with a physical release planned for August 2026.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date Confirmed

The fate of the planet is in your hands.@FinalFantasyVII Rebirth is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on June 3! #NintendoDirect pic.twitter.com/UG976uv15H

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) February 5, 2026

Hot off the heels of the launch of Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade for Nintendo fans, Square Enix made a surprise appearance during today’s Nintendo Direct to confirm that its sequel, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, is coming to Switch 2. It has a release date, too, with the publisher telling fans they’ll be able to continue Cloud and Sephiroth’s story June 3, 2026.

Pragmata Release Date Set for April

Capcom's Pragmata isn't Mega-Man, but it is coming to Switch 2 April 24, 2026. It's a release date that puts the puzzle action game out in a few months, with a demo out later today for those who just can't wait to see what it's like.

Turok Origins Announced for Switch 2 With Fall 2026 Release Window

The legend of Turok returns!

Hunt down prehistoric beasts and fight an alien threat across the Lost Lands in @Turokorigins, coming to Nintendo Switch 2 this fall. #NintendoDirect pic.twitter.com/L4CQe8du0y

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) February 5, 2026

Saber Interactive is mixing dinosaurs and aliens with Turok Origins on Switch 2. Highlights from its gameplay trailer showed off third- and first-person gameplay, co-op support, and a release window of fall 2026.

Kyoto Xanadu Transports Players to an Alternate Reality This Summer

Nihon Falcom’s Kyoto Xanadu mixes 2D and 3D action with social gameplay, and it’s coming to Switch and Switch 2 this summer.

“Set in an alternate reality where Kyoto is the capital of Japan,” an official description says, “Kyoto Xanadu players take on monsters and mysteries coming from the great labyrinth known as Xanadu. As a student, players will challenge the labyrinth and grow through their battles within Xanadu while also deepening bonds with various people during your daily life.”

Digimon Story Time Stranger Materializes on Switch and Switch 2 in July

Players will engage with the digital world once again when Digimon Story Time Stranger comes to Switch and Switch 2 July 10, 2026. Both consoles get physical and digital versions of the Bandai Namco release, with Switch 2 players also able to choose their preferred graphics mode. Pre-orders are available today.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok Launches for Nintendo Switch 2 in July

Cygames is bringing stunning action RPG gameplay to Switch 2 July 9, 2026. Gameplay for the project highlighted some of the massive beasts fans will fight with and against, with local and online co-op also available for those looking to team up with friends.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection Lands March Release Date

Capcom is bringing Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection to Switch 2 with a March 13, 2026, release date. A demo is available now, with players able to carry over their save data to the full game once they purchase it next month.

Arcade and Console Archives Revisit Classics in 2026

Console Archives is taking retro gamers with Switch 2s on a trip down memory lane with the release of Console Archives Ninja Gaiden 2: The Dark Sword of Chaos and Console Archives Cool Boarders later today. Rave Racer is also joining the Arcade Archives lineup later this month, with more Console Archives titles, such as Doraemon and Sonic Wings Special, also set to launch throughout the year.

Resident Evil Requiem Footage Highlights Gameplay and New Amiibo for Nintendo Switch 2

It’s no secret that the ninth mainline Resident Evil game, Resident Evil Requiem, is coming to Switch 2, with today’s Nintendo Direct doubling down on its February 27, 2026, release date with new gameplay. The footage shown also highlighted a new themed Pro Controller, as well as two new amiibo for Leon and Grace.

Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition Comes to Nintendo Switch 2 Later This Month

Bethesda Game Studios’ 2015 RPG Fallout 4 is coming to Nintendo Switch 2. As announced during today’s Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase, the Anniversary Edition will bring the base game, as well as some additional goodies like DLC, to players February 24.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Gets Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date

Microsoft is continuing to support Nintendo consoles, with Wolfenstein developer MachineGames’ Indiana Jones and the Great Circle now set to launch for Nintendo Switch 2. Expect to take Indy’s latest adventure on the go when it launches May 12.

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered Comes to Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026

Bethesda’s last announcement – and the final reveal of the Nintendo Direct – is The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered for Switch 2. Unlike Indiana Jones and Fallout, there’s no release date for the beefed-up version of the classic fantasy RPG, with the publisher instead only telling fans to look forward to its launch sometime this year.

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).

With perfect timing, the modders behind the Van Buren remake in Fallout: New Vegas have released a new teaser trailer.

UnitedWestTeam released the teaser, which sets up Fallout: The New West, the fan-made total conversion mod for Fallout: New Vegas inspired by Fallout: Van Buren, the cancelled Fallout 3 that was in development at Black Isle Studios in the early 2000s before the franchise moved over to Bethesda.

Why is this well-timed? Because Van Buren would have been set in post-apocalyptic Colorado, which is exactly where Amazon’s Fallout TV series is headed for Season 3.

Fallout: The New West aims to adapt the core narrative threads of Van Buren and turn them into a fully playable story built in the New Vegas engine. Expect modern gameplay systems, expanded roleplaying opportunities, and “the mechanical depth and tone that defined classic Fallout,” the modders said.

Here’s the official blurb:

Fallout: The New West is a fan-made total conversion mod for Fallout: New Vegas. In many ways, it tells the same broad story envisioned by Fallout: Van Buren, but restructured and expanded to form a cohesive, playable experience. The project’s primary narrative goal is to take the disparate plot threads and unfinished concepts found in the original design documents, including for example, the NCR–Brotherhood conflict, the Great Tribal War between Caesar’s Legion and the Daughters of Hecate, the fight for the soul of the Mormon State and much more, and weave them into a satisfying, unified narrative that adheres to the main plot as described in the design documents.

Players assume the role of a new protagonist, released from captivity in 2253, known as “the Prisoner,” and the story is set in an alternate continuity that predates and reinterprets the events of Fallout: New Vegas. Unfortunately due to many Van Buren concepts being folded into FNV, we cannot set the project in the same timeline. Our secondary goal is to incorporate many of the modern gameplay conveniences introduced through Fallout: New Vegas and its more than 15 years of modding, while preserving the distinctive mechanics and design quirks of classic Fallout found in the original design documents. Much of Fallout’s original charm is an acquired taste, and one that we believe remains worth acquiring.

It sounds exciting, and given the success of Fallout: London, which had Bethesda’s blessing, it may even have a chance of survival. Indeed, a new demo is apparently due out soon (an initial demo, which released under the name Fallout Revelation Blues, came out last year). This alternate start demo under the new name of Fallout: The New West will be followed up with the entirety of Act 1 of the game as a vertical slice, the modders said.

If Fallout: The New West does make it to release, it will see Van Buren realized — albeit in fan-made form — 20 years after it fell by the wayside. In 2024, Fallout creator Tim Cain revealed new information on how it ended up canceled amid significant financial problems at Interplay.

Cain, who worked on the first two, much-loved Fallout games in the mid-to late 90s before leaving Interplay to start a new studio called Troika Games, revealed that in the middle of 2003, an unnamed Interplay vice president asked him to play the Van Buren prototype, saying: “I don’t think they can get it done, so I’m just going to cancel it. But if you look over it and give me an estimate there’s a chance I wouldn’t cancel it.”

Cain said he played the prototype for two hours and asked the development team a number of questions before delivering his verdict to the vice president. “I said, ‘I’m convinced in 18 months you could have a really good game shipped.’ And he said, ‘huh, could it be done any faster?’ And I was like, 'oh, shoot, I’ve said too long.' I said, ‘well, even if you did a death march crunch I don’t think you could do it faster than 12, and then you’d be shipping something that was unbalanced and buggy, and the team would be destroyed. So I don’t recommend that.’

“And he said, ‘OK, thanks.’ As we walked out he basically explained any answer over six months was going to result in him having to cancel it, meaning the answer I just gave got the game canceled. But he was going to cancel it anyway. He thought it couldn’t be done in six months, and I just confirmed that to him.”

According to Cain, the cancellation of Van Buren was, ultimately, about money; Interplay’s dire financial situation meant it simply did not have enough cash to fund more than six months of further development. Interplay went on to close Black Isle Studios and cut its entire staff. The company released the console spinoff Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel in 2004 for the Xbox and PlayStation 2, but it was not enough. That same year, Interplay announced a licensing deal with The Elder Scrolls developer Bethesda for future Fallout games, and in 2007, Interplay sold the Fallout IP to Bethesda outright. The rest is history.

And if you’re wondering about the Fallout TV show’s journey to Colorado, check out what co-showrunner Geneva Robertson-Dworet and even Todd Howard himself have had to say about it.

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

UPDATE: Nintendo has now confirmed the Switch 2 release dates of various Bethesda games first identified in leaks earlier today — as well as upcoming Switch 2 launch of last year's The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.

Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition will launch digitally on February 24 and in a box on April 28. As expected, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle arrives on May 12. Last but not least, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is also on the way — later in 2026.

For much more, here's everything announced in today's Nintendo Partner Direct.

ORIGINAL STORY: Microsoft's next pair of games headed to Nintendo platforms now have leaked release dates, ahead of today's Partner Direct broadcast.

Dealabs' ever-reliable billbil-kun has now spilled the details of both Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Fallout 4 Anniversary Edition, which were previously confirmed for launch on Switch 2 last year.

Up first will be the Fallout 4 Anniversary Edition, which will launch its physical edition (containing a digital download code) on April 28, priced $59.99. Dealabs suggests the game could arrive digitally via the Nintendo eShop even sooner — perhaps as soon as today — though this is unconfirmed.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will then arrive on May 12, priced $69.99. Dealabs believes this date will apply to both the game's physical edition (likely containing a Game-Key Card) as well as its digital eShop release.

Finally, a physical version of Skyrim Anniversary Edition is also reportedly coming, following its eShop debut back in December 2025, albeit with notable performance issues. Boxed copies will be available from April 28, Dealabs reported, and contain a download code inside.

Fallout 4's Anniversary Edition includes the base game, six official add-ons, and over 150 pieces of Creation Club content. It's apparent announcement today would be well timed, following the finale of Fallout Season 2. Here's hoping it's more enjoyable than Amazon's disappointing Fallout announcement tease.

The beloved Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, meanwhile, launched on PC and Xbox back in December 2024 to rave reviews — IGN's own verdict returned a 9/10. A PlayStation 5 edition followed in April 2025, while its short-but-sweet expansion The Order of Giants followed last September.

These latest leaks come just hours after an updated ratings board listing suggested that Hollow Knight's Switch 2 Edition could arrive today as a shadow drop.

Officially, of course, we'll just have to wait and tune in to Nintendo's big Partner Direct broadcast, which is set to air imminently — at 6am Pacific, 9am Eastern or 2pm UK time.

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

UPDATE: As leaked earlier this morning, Hollow Knight will indeed launch its Nintendo Switch 2 Edition today. Confirmed by Nintendo during today's Partner Direct, owners of the acclaimed platformer on Switch will be able to upgrade to its Switch 2 Edition for free.

For much more, here's everything announced in today's Nintendo Partner Direct.

ORIGINAL STORY: With just hours to go until today's Nintendo Direct broadcast, an updated ratings board listing suggests Hollow Knight could get an imminent Switch 2 release.

Team Cherry's long-awaited game is now listed for Switch 2 with a February 5, 2026 release date, per the website of European ratings board PEGI. Hey, that's today!

Of course, Hollow Knight originally launched for Nintendo Switch back in 2018, though we learned a couple of months ago that the game would be getting an updated Switch 2 Edition at some point this year. Now, it seems, that new version is moments away.

Nintendo is due to air its latest Partner Direct later today, at 6am Pacific, 9am Eastern or 2pm UK time. This third-party game showcase will include 20 minutes of announcements featuring titles headed to Switch and Switch 2 that aren't developed by Nintendo itself — such as Hollow Knight.

Don't tune in expecting a new Mario game announcement, then, but do keep an eye out for more news on other upcoming Switch 2 releases such as this month's Resident Evil Requiem, and the promising-looking 007: First Light. Oh, and Hollow Knight now too. What will this new edition contain?

Alongside releasing Hollow Knight again on Switch 2, Team Cherry is now busy working on Sea of Sorrow, its first expansion to Hollow Knight: Silksong. Will we see more of this today as well? Time will tell, but as ever IGN will be reporting all of the major announcements live.

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

The latest episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy centers on the mystery surrounding Deep Space Nine's beloved captain Benjamin Sisko — and even includes a cameo of sorts from actor Avery Brooks.

Warning! Spoilers for Starfleet Academy follow:

Starfleet Academy's fifth episode, Series Acclimation Mill, was released today, and follows some notable hints by the show that it would reveal more about Sisko's fate. Indeed, the story does include new details on what happened next to Sisko's family following the events of Deep Space Nine's finale, which saw Sisko leave the physical plane to go live in a wormhole — while promising one day to return.

As Starfleet Academy's new character SAM investigates what happened, viewers get to see Ben's son Jake appear in hologram form (played by returning DS9 actor Cirroc Lofton) and meet a new incarnation of Trill lifeform Dax, both of whom reveal new detail on life after Deep Space Nine's credits rolled.

The boss of Take-Two has discussed Rockstar’s approach to marketing Grand Theft Auto 6, saying it needs to be “delicate.”

This week, as part of its latest financial results, Take-Two said marketing for what will surely be the biggest entertainment launch of all time kicks off this summer ahead of GTA 6’s confirmed November 19, 2026 release date.

It’s a statement of intent that Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick doubled down on in an interview with CNBC’s Jim Cramer. When asked how he knows GTA 6 will hit November, Zelnick said development progress is tracked every day, and pointed to the marketing milestone.

“We also announced that we have marketing beats coming this summer, and we don’t spend money on marketing until we’re pretty close to release,” he explained.

So, what can we expect from the marketing itself? Zelnick didn’t say exactly, but it sounds like it’ll be something unusual, at least from a video game marketing perspective. In the interview, Zelnick described the effort as a “challenge.”

“It is a challenge, because we want the product to be authentically owned by our consumers,” he said. “And so the marketing has to be delicate. It has to feel like, you know, this is real. We’re not selling hamburgers. We’re selling this unique art form.”

What this means is anyone’s guess at this point. Perhaps a social media-fueled ARG of some description? Real world GTA events of some kind that get fans involved? Given the enormous interest in all things GTA, nothing’s off the table here. All fans really want is GTA 6 Trailer 3, of course. That would do.

One thing Zelnick has been clear on is denying rumors that GTA 6 will be a digital-only release upon its initial launch. He told Variety there are no plans to do so, after reports suggested GTA 6 could delay its physical launch to 2027 to avoid leaks.

GTA 6 has of course already suffered from multiple leaks, both of development footage and of its first trailer, alongside a number of AI-generated fake leaks. Developer Rockstar North has also had to contend with a boiler room incident that sparked the need for numerous fire crews last month. Also last month, an employment tribunal rejected an application for interim relief filed on behalf of the fired GTA 6 developers at Rockstar Games.

Photo by CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty Images.

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

As unhappy players fight to get refunds out of Steam, an update from one of the studio's directors claims the "entire" development team working on the ill-fated MMO Ashes of Creation was reportedly laid off without notice or their January paychecks.

The shocking revelation comes from Intrepid Studios' former director of communications, Margaret Krohn, who revealed in a lengthy post on Twitter/X that three days after originally being told around 100 developers would be losing their jobs, a "confusing email" arrived confirming "all" staff would be laid off. "It is still shocking," Krohn wrote. "The entire studio gathered to try to understand what had happened and what it meant for our future."

Earlier this week, Steam quietly withdrew Ashes of Creation from sale after its director and leadership team quit just weeks after it launched as a $50 Early Access game on Steam. The game's director Steven Sharif said "much of" the senior dev team had quit "in protest," claiming that its management board had asked him to do things he "could not ethically support." According to Sharif, the Board then issued WARN Act notices — layoff warnings, in other words — to the remaining staff. It's unclear who sits on this mysterious board.

According to a new public record request, we now know that the formal WARN Act notification was issued on January 31 and indicated that 210 employees were "affected" by the filing, 123 of whom worked in California.

"In the end, none of us are receiving our final paychecks, the 60-day notice and pay outlined under the WARN Act, PTO payouts, or other compensation owed," Krohn explained.

"What matters most to me now are the people — both the players and developers. To my colleagues: this team is truly a family. The culture we built together is something I have never experienced anywhere else. In the midst of heartbreak and uncertainty, we have come together to review resumes, help with portfolios, share job leads, and support one another emotionally. That says everything about who we are as people."

"To the players: the entire development team was working extremely hard, pulling long hours, and wishes with all our hearts that we could give you Ashes of Creation. There are no words that fully express how sorry we are that this journey ended this way. You should pursue a refund, you deserve it."

Unfortunately, Steam doesn't seem to agree. While you can find plenty of people across Discord and Reddit claiming to have received refunds despite having played more than two hours, there's an equal number of players frustrated that their requests have been denied, and there seems to be little consistency across Steam's Support team.

"They denied me with 2.3 hours played. Bought in December and denied because it 'exceeds refund time,'" wrote one player, while another said: "I can't believe it… and I'm hearing they froze/reversed the December payment to Intrepid so basically Steam have stollen [sic] my money."

"How many hours did you have? I had 15 Hours played and got refunded on a manual process," replied one. "[Steam support] said to me if I open another ticket about this they will close it without reading," added this unhappy player who had failed to convince Steam of a refund despite several attempts.

The most successful requests seem to be via human checks, so players are still suggesting that those looking for a refund check the box to "request a refund," but instead contact Steam via the "I have a question about this product" box. That way, your request will be routed to a member of customer support, and not an automated service.

19,576 backers pledged $3,271,809 on Kickstarter to help make Ashes of Creation a reality, the most ever raised on the platform for an MMO. Refunds via Kickstarter seem unlikely given the game launched in Early Access form.

Pokémon character designer Yusuke Omura has revealed how he created the designs of the Ultra Beasts, showing that even rejected concepts can prove inspirational to artists later on.

Ultra Beasts first appeared in the 3DS games Pokémon Sun and Moon (known as Generation VII of the Pokémon games) back in 2016. They are extradimensional Pokémon that come from Ultra Space, and occasionally stumble into the Pokémon World through wormholes.

Pokémon series character designer Yusuke Omura tweeted on February 4 about how he designed the Ultra Beasts. For Sun and Moon, Omura was the lead Pokémon character designer, continuing to work alongside original Pokémon designer Ken Sugimori.

Omura explained that he came up with the Ultra Beasts’ looks by thinking back on his Pokémon designs that Sugimori had rejected. Omura then explained: “I then deliberately based the artistic direction (of the Ultra Beasts’ designs) on the reasons that these Pokémon were rejected.”

“In a way, they are like a collective manifestation of my own resentment, which is kind of scary.” Omura noted, before clarifying: “This doesn’t mean that I hate Sugimori or anything like that.”

The Ultra Beasts are more sci-fi or insect-inspired than the cuter, often animal or plant-influenced designs of Ken Sugimori’s original Pokémon, like Squirtle or Bulbasaur. They also often have exaggerated features, like the mosquito-like Buzzwhole’s chunky muscles, or the elegant Phermosa’s long antenna.

In response to Omura’s tweet, users chimed in with praise for the Ultra Beasts’ designs. “Thank you for bringing Ultra Beasts into the world!” one user replied. “I think their otherworldly appearance also opened up new avenues for Pokémon.” Omura replied “I designed them hoping that would be the case.”

“It really feels like the Pokémon world expanded thanks to the Ultra Beasts,” another commenter added. “The designer’s hard work really paid off.” Many others hope that the Ultra Beasts will appear in another mainline Pokémon game in the future.

With Pokémon marking its 30th anniversary this year, fans can look forward to at least one new game coming out: Pokémon Pokopia. But it’s likely that there are more announcements in the pipeline. For starters, Jigglypuff will be appearing at the Superbowl (of all places…) in a special anniversary video this weekend.

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

PlayStation 5 sales declined year-on-year during the crucial holiday quarter, but it’s pretty much neck-and-neck with the PlayStation 4 at the same point during its lifecycle, and it even outsold the Nintendo Switch 2 during the last three months of 2025.

Sony shifted another 8 million PS5 units during the three months ending December 31, 2025, a decline from the 9.5 million PS5s it sold during the same period in 2024. But there are a number of factors at play here. For a start, 8 million sales isn’t too shabby when you consider the PS5 price rises Sony put in place last year (Sony raised the prices of the PS5, PS5 Digital Edition, and PS5 Pro by $50 each in August). Then there’s the tough economic conditions globally that’s putting pressure on consumer spending generally to contend with.

And it’s also worth noting that the PS5, which is now five years old, actually outsold the six month-old Nintendo Switch 2 during the holiday quarter. This week, Nintendo said the Switch 2 sold around 7 million in the three-month period. PS5 sold 1 million more.

The PS5 has now sold 92.2 million units globally, which means it’s still lagging ever so slightly behind its predecessor, the PS4, at this point in each console’s lifecycle (PS4 had sold 94.4 million by now). But with the release of guaranteed console seller GTA 6 coming in November, the PS5 will receive a shot in the arm that may drive it to outselling the PS4 when the dust settles on both consoles.

And here's a fun stat: the PS5 has now officially outsold the PS3. As mentioned, PS5 has sold 92.2 million, and the PS3 managed 87.4 million lifetime sales (as of March 31, 2017). And while the PS5 has some way to go before matching the PS4's 117 million lifetime sales, with the help of GTA 6, it could eventually beat it.

Speaking during a webcast reviewed and transcribed by IGN following its financial results, Sony pointed to increased monetization of its growing PS5 install base as well as growing software sales as more than making up for the decline in console sales. It pointed to the release of Sucker Punch’s PS5 exclusive Ghost of Yotei, which made a “significant contribution” to the quarter, as well as ongoing revenue from Helldivers 2 and MLB The Show.

“FY25 Q3 sales decreased 4% year-on-year, primarily due to lower hardware unit sales,” Lin Tao, Sony’s chief financial officer, said. “Operating income increased 19% year-on-year, primarily due to the positive impact of foreign exchange rates and the impact of increased sales and network services and first-party software, setting a record for the third quarter in this segment.

“We upwardly revised our FY25 sales forecast 4% from the previous forecast to 4,630 billion yen, and our operating income forecast 2% to 510 billion yen. User engagement trended well during the quarter with the number of monthly active users across all of the PlayStation in December increasing 2% compared to the last December to a record high of 132 million accounts. And total play time for the quarter increased 0.4% year-on-year.

“Although conditions in the console hardware market during year-end selling season were more challenging than expected, we were able to steadily expand our PS5 install base in line with our original plan and exceeded 92 million units on a cumulative selling basis.

“While PS5 hardware unit sales have decreased moderately in the latter half of the console cycle, software revenue from the PlayStation Store reached a record high during the quarter, primarily driven by the contribution of major third-party franchise titles and new hit releases. PlayStation Plus significantly contributed to the results of the quarter as the shift to higher tiers of the service continued.”

Sony even waved away concern about potential further PS5 price rises as a result of the rising cost of memory fueled by the AI boom, insisting it’s already in a position to secure the minimum quantity necessary to manage the year-end selling season of its next fiscal year.

“Going forward, we intend to further negotiate with various suppliers to secure enough supply to meet the demand of our customers,” Lin Tao continued. “Given the stage of our console cycle, our hardware sales strategy can be adjusted flexibly and we intend to minimize the impact of the increased memory cost on this segment going forward by prioritizing monetization of the install base to date and striving to further expand our software and network service revenue.”

Sony also namechecked Bungie’s live service extraction shooter Marathon, which is due out in March after a significant delay. It sounds relatively confident in the game after it was retooled following negative feedback.

“We expect that Marathon, which is scheduled to be released on March 5, will be enjoyed by many users thanks to Bungie having strengthened the gaming experience,” Lin Tao said. “Next fiscal year, we plan to release new titles such as Saros and Marvel's Wolverine, and we intend to enhance our effort to increase the revenue of our studio business.”

Last month, an analyst report coming out of Japan suggested that Sony may push the launch of the inevitable PlayStation 6 beyond 2028 and lengthen the PS5 lifecycle instead.

David Gibson, senior analyst at MST international who focuses on game and tech companies, published a Japanese language report ahead of today’s financials giving insights into the Sony Group's current performance and potential next moves. “Sony expects the PS5 lifecycle to be longer than that of previous console generations,” Gibson said, adding that this is likely to push the PS6 launch back beyond previous predictions. “There’s a high likelihood that the PS6 launch will occur after 2028.” If Gibson is right, we won't see the PS6 until 2029 at the earliest.

Gibson suggested that Sony is more focused on existing PS5 users than boosting console sales, something the latest comments from Lin Tao now back up. Regarding PlayStation Network services and active PS5 users, Gibson observed that “PS5 user activity continues to set all-time record highs according to usage data. Sony is focusing more on retaining active users than expanding hardware sales.”

Photo by Anusak Laowilas/NurPhoto via Getty Images.

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

Hulk actor Mark Ruffalo appears to have confirmed that Thor star Chris Hemsworth will be back for Avengers: Secret Wars.

During a Buzzfeed interview, both Avengers were asked if they could accurately count the number of superhero projects they'd now been in. While counting, Ruffalo suggested Hemsworth was in six Avengers movies — even though his current total (including his announced appearance in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday) is five.

Marvel fans have pounced on the clip, which is now being shared around social media, as evidence that Thor survives the events of Doomsday long enough to be around for its sequel. There's the suggestion, too, that Ruffalo is speaking like he's in the same boat — which would mean Hulk makes it to Secret Wars as well.

Mark Ruffalo spoils that Chris Hemsworth is returning as Thor in ‘AVENGERS: SECRET WARS’

(via @BuzzFeedUK) pic.twitter.com/16BC4YS9pt

— Avengers Updates (@AvengersUpdated) February 4, 2026

While it's not a huge surprise to learn that Hulk and Thor aren't part of Doomsday's spree of seemingly-inevitable deaths, Hemsworth had previously sparked speculation he was preparing to say farewell to the character, after issuing an ominous sounding note of gratitude for having played the part (something he later backtracked on somewhat).

Thor's recent Avengers: Doomsday trailer (that's not a trailer, apparently) also struck a somber tone, as Thor begs for strength from his fallen father so he can return home to his daughter. And finally, there have been the usual questions around how long these actors want to continue playing the roles that have now taken up well over a decade of their lives.

"One, two, three, four — how many have we done?" Hemsworth says, counting out loud.

"Six," Ruffalo responds.

"Six?!" Hemsworth replies, surprised.

"Well, there will be," Ruffalo says.

After counting some more, Hemsworth then replies: "Yeah, but we haven't shot that one."

For those who've also lost count, four Avengers movies have been released to date (The Avengers, Age of Ultron, Infinity War, and Endgame) with a fifth, Avengers: Doomsday, already in the can. Secret Wars would certainly be a sixth (though this would seemingly put an end to the speculation that Marvel is secretly planning to split Secret Wars in two, to make a new Avengers trilogy.)

Of course, even if Thor (or Hulk) does appear in the multiversal Secret Wars, all bets are off as to what form any appearance might take. Even if Hemsworth does return, it could still be via flashback, alternate version, or even a deathly appearance set in Valhalla, hanging out with Jane and Heimdall.

For now, Marvel has said very little about Secret Wars, as it focuses attention on Doomsday. There's no official confirmation yet on any Secret Wars cast members (as, obviously, these would be a spoiler), though a report recently revealed that Stranger Things star Sadie Sink would reprise her Spider-Man: Brand New Day role in the movie, sparking speculation she was secretly playing a major character.

Image credit: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for SiriusXM.

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