Amazon is currently offering the second generation Apple AirPods Pro wireless noise-canceling earbuds for only $179.99 shipped, a savings of nearly 30% off. This deal is not quite as good as the one we saw during Black Friday (when it dropped to as low as $155), but it's the lowest price since then. This discount brings the price down to the same level as the AirPods 4 ANC, which retails for $179. Between the two, the AirPods Pro is still Apple's best earbuds because it offers better sound quality and better noise cancellation.

Apple AirPods Pro for $179.99

The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS) has announced the nominees for the 28th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards and the list reveals Astro Bot, Helldivers 2, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle are leading the charge with six nominations each.

The 2025 D.I.C.E. Awards will take place on Thursday, February 13 at 11pm ET/8pm PT at the Aria Resort in Las Vegas and there will be 60 games from 2024 competing for awards in 23 categories. Astro Bot, Balatro, Black Myth: Wukong, Helldivers 2, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will all be up for the top honor of Game of the Year.

While we already revealed which games earned the most nominations, we'd also like to share Balatro and Senua's Saga: Hellblade II came in second with five nominations each, and 1000xResist, Animal Well, and Batman: Arkham Shadow came in third with four nominations each.

You can check out the full list of D.I.C.E. Awards 2025 nominees below, and you can also see how they compare to our IGN Awards from 2024 and how these nominees and winners are picked.

Outstanding Achievement in Animation

• Astro Bot
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH
• Neva
• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction

• Black Myth: Wukong
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
• LEGO Horizon Adventures
• The Plucky Squire
• Senua's Saga: Hellblade II

Outstanding Achievement in Character

• 1000xRESIST - Watcher
• FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH - Yuffie Kisaragi
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle - Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones
• INDIKA - Indika
• Senua's Saga: Hellblade II - Senua

Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition

• Astro Bot
• Helldivers 2
• Monument Valley 3
• Senua's Saga: Hellblade II
• Star Wars Outlaws

Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design

• Frostpunk 2
• Helldivers 2
• Monument Valley 3
• Senua's Saga: Hellblade II
• Still Wakes the Deep

Outstanding Achievement in Story

• 1000xRESIST
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
• Metaphor: ReFantazio
• Still Wakes the Deep
• Thank Goodness You're Here!

Outstanding Technical Achievement

• Astro Bot
• Batman: Arkham Shadow
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
• Senua's Saga: Hellblade II
• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Action Game of the Year

• Batman: Arkham Shadow
• Black Myth: Wukong
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Helldivers 2
• Stellar Blade

Adventure Game of the Year

• 1000xRESIST
• ANIMAL WELL
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
• The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
• Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

Family Game of the Year

• Astro Bot
• Cat Quest III
• Little Kitty, Big City
• The Plucky Squire
• Super Mario Party Jamboree

Fighting Game of the Year

• Blazing Strike
• DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO
• Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns
• TEKKEN 8
• UNDERDOGS

Racing Game of the Year

• F1® 24
• MotoGP™24
• NIGHT-RUNNERS™ PROLOGUE

Role-Playing Game of the Year

• FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH
• Dragon Age: The Veilguard
• ELDEN RING: Shadow of the Erdtree
• Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
• Metaphor: ReFantazio

Sports Game of the Year

• EA SPORTS College Football 25
• EA SPORTS FC 25
• MLB The Show 24
• NBA 2K25

Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year

• Balatro
• Caves of Qud
• Frostpunk 2
• Tactical Breach Wizards
• Satisfactory

Immersive Reality Technical Achievement

• Alien: Rogue Incursion
• Batman: Arkham Shadow
• Skydance's BEHEMOTH
• Starship Home
• UNDERDOGS

Immersive Reality Game of the Year

• Alien: Rogue Incursion
• Batman: Arkham Shadow
• Escaping Wonderland
• Skydance's BEHEMOTH
• UNDERDOGS

Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game

• ANIMAL WELL
• Balatro
• Grunn
• INDIKA
• Mouthwashing

Mobile Game of the Year

• Balatro
• Halls of Torment
• Monument Valley 3
• Paper Trail
• Wuthering Waves

Online Game of the Year

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred
• Helldivers 2
• Marvel Rivals
• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Outstanding Achievement in Game Design

• ANIMAL WELL
• Astro Bot
• Balatro
• Helldivers 2
• UFO 50

Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction

• 1000xRESIST
• ANIMAL WELL
• Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
• Riven
• Thank Goodness You're Here!

Game of the Year

• Astro Bot
• Balatro
• Black Myth: Wukong
• Helldivers 2
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

IGN is proud to be the official media partner of the D.I.C.E. Awards and we will be exclusively streaming the ceremony, which will be co-hosted by Greg Miller and Stella Chung.

If you want to know more about how these nominees were picked and how the winners are chosen, the AIAS has shared the following;

"The Academy’s 30K+ members, comprised of the interactive publishing and development communities, recognize excellence in 23 different interactive game categories in one of the highest forms of recognition in the industry, the AIAS wore, "Titles were played and evaluated by members of the Academy’s peer panels to determine final nominees. These panels, one for each award category, are comprised of the game industry’s most experienced and talented experts in their chosen fields. Winners are determined as part of a confidential voting process and will be revealed on the evening of the show. A list of all the peer panelists can be found here."

Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.

Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on TikTok.

Half-Life fans have waited years for Valve to do… something Half-Life 3 related. That’s nothing new. But recent weeks have seen a step up in the hunt for clues, with some believing Valve has already started an elaborate alternate reality game (ARG) that will lead to the dramatic confirmation that Half-Life 3 is finally on the way.

This next level obsession, which GTA 6 fans will find instantly familiar, was kickstarted by Mike Shapiro, the voice actor behind Half-Life's mysterious G-Man. Late last year, in full G-Man mode, Shapiro published a cryptic tweet teasing some sort of news for 2025 alongside the tags #Valve, #Halflife, #GMan, and #2025. It was Shapiro’s first non-reply tweet since he congratulated Valve on the success of VR exclusive Half-Life: Alyx back in December 2020.

That was enough to send the rumor-mill into overdrive, but since then all sorts of wild theories have emerged within the Half-Life community. Some who have analyzed Shapiro’s tweet to within an inch of its life believe he has started an ARG for Half-Life 3, connecting the dots in such a way to lead them to the ultimate prize in video games.

Half-Life fans obsess about numbers. Valve, famously, can’t count to three. But can it count to 197? It turns out that Shapiro’s X/Twitter post contained images of the cover art of his new song, Best Long Dog. Buried within this image is the number 197. Bizarre!

Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles will give Jar Jar Binks his time in the limelight as a playable character when it launches later this month.

Developer Aspyr revealed the surprise character inclusion from a galaxy far, far away with a special trailer today. It’s the kind of reveal die-hard Star Wars fans have only dreamed (or had nightmares) about, as the video shows Jar Jar leaping through iconic locations as he beats down droids with a staff. It’s not quite Darth Jar Jar, but it’s still a goofy addition that few expected to see actually make its way into the upcoming remaster.

It’s a new year, and Goddess of Victory: Nikke is celebrating by rolling out lots of new content for players. There’s multiple collaboration events, free recruitment opportunities, a new version of a popular character, new story content, and in-person experiences.

The game has been a resounding success, recently celebrating its second anniversary as well as reaching 45 million downloads worldwide. Throughout its two years, it has collaborated with several renowned IPs, including Neon Genesis Evangelion, Chainsaw Man, Nier: Automata, Re:Zero Starting Life in Another World, and Dave the Diver. That tradition continues in 2025, with Shift Up recently announcing a collaboration with Stellar Blade as well as a second collaboration with Evangelion.

The Stellar Blade collab will unite two popular games developed by Shift Up. Stellar Blade is an action-adventure game available on PS5 that shares a similar setting with Goddess of Victory: Nikke. You play as Eve, and your mission is to reclaim Earth from monsters called Naytibas after humans lost their battle against them and were forced to flee the planet.

The Evangelion collab arrives in February and will feature loads of new content. It will add two brand-new recruitable SSR characters, named Asuka: WILLE and Rei Ayanami (Tentative Name), and Sakura will be a free-to-obtain collaboration character. Plus, there will be new collaboration character costumes (including free-to-obtain costumes), a new 3D event map, new collaboration event storyline, and a new bullet hell minigame.

These two collabs are the biggest events on the horizon, but they’re not the only updates to come to Goddess of Victory: Nikke. Things got started on the first day of the year, with the addition of a new recruitable version of Rapi, the game’s heroine. Called Rapi: Red Hood, she’s an awakened form of Rapi who has taken on the power of another strong Nikke called Red Hood. The new version of Rapi is an SSR Nikke, the highest rarity in the game. Rapi’s upgraded variant was also accompanied by new events that delve deeper into her story for the first time.

The start of the new year has also brought events that reward players with free chances to recruit characters. With the new events and story content, you can earn more than 100 recruitment opportunities in all. That gives newcomers or players who haven’t played in a while a chance to jump in and hit the ground running. Plus, the recruitment banner featuring popular character Scarlet: Black Shadow from last year’s New Year event will make a return.

The new year celebrations have also been happening in the real world, and that will continue with a pair of live concerts in Japan and South Korea. Called Melodies of Victory, the concert will first visit Pacifico Yokohama National Convention Hall in Japan on January 11. It’ll then move on to Kyung Hee University Grand Peace Palace in Seoul, South Korea on February 15.

For tickets and more information, you can visit the official websites for the Japanese concert and the Korean concert. You can also download Goddess of Victory: Nikke for free now on the game’s official website, on the App Store, or Google Play. If you want to be part of the community, you can join Nikke’s Discord, check their accounts on Twitter or Facebook, or stay up to date on their YouTube channel.

It’s been eight years since the Nintendo Switch launched in 2017, and after a long and successful reign, it’s about time we find out more about its successor. We’ve seen updates to the current Switch with the OLED and Lite models, but it feels like we’re finally close to a proper Switch 2.

After becoming the 2nd best-selling console in history last year, it’s fair to say that Nintendo wants to keep things close to its chest. Yet, even with all the secrecy surrounding the possibility of a new Nintendo Switch, leaks have steadily trickled out these last few months and we’ve collected all the details we could find about the mystery follow-up ahead of its eventual official announcement and release.

What Will the Nintendo Switch 2 Look Like?

The look and design of the Switch 2 — as we’ll call it for now until an official announcement — is the subject of some of the heaviest leaks in recent weeks thanks to third-party accessory manufacturers who are releasing prototypes of their Switch 2 accessories. The most high-profile of these comes from accessories maker Genki, which showed off a recreation of the Switch 2 at this year’s CES which it claims is based off of the specs of a real Switch 2 that Genki says it's seen and used – something it has since backtracked on.

IGN met with Genki at CES and looked at several details about the Switch 2 design we’ve seen in leaks recently, including Joy-Cons that attach magnetically to the tablet as opposed to slide on rails like in the current Switch. Genki CEO Eddie Tsai, who again claims to have based the company’s designs on a real Switch 2, also told The Verge there is an optical sensor that could potentially turn the Joy-Cons into something like a computer mouse.

Another new addition to the Switch 2 is a mysterious new “C” button on the right Joy-Con. There are some rumors that it could be related to some kind of camera function, but neither Genki nor any leaks have any real confirmation on what this new button does. Lastly, there is also a new USB port at the top of the Switch 2 that should let players charge the system in handheld mode if they prefer having the cable above the screen, rather than below it.

The Joy-Cons look to be the area of biggest change in the Switch 2. Alongside the magnetic attachments, in May 2023 a patent was filed with the United States Patent Office and published in September, which details a magnetic field for controls rather than the plastic circuit boards seen in the current generation console that could alleviate “Joy-Con drift.”

As for the form factor itself, based on the Genki model, the Switch 2 will be largely unchanged though it will be bigger. We brought a tape measure and found Genki’s Switch 2 model is 10.5” wide, 4.5” tall, .5” thick, and has an 8” screen. For comparison, the Switch OLED is 9.5” wide, 4.5” tall, also .5” thick, and has a 7” screen. The Switch 2 could also sport a U-shaped kickstand as opposed to the ones currently on the Switch and Switch OLED.

Switch 2 Specs and Performance

Less is known about the Switch 2’s internals, and therefore performance is still a mystery. Digital Foundry was able to confirm that the Switch 2 is running a custom version of Nvidia’s T234 mobile processor called the T239. Based on an octo-core ARM A78C CPU cluster and custom graphics unit based on Nvidia’s RTX 30-series Ampere architecture, Digital Foundry's findings makes me think the Switch 2 will be more powerful than a PS4, but not comparable to current-gen consoles like the PS5.

Another wrinkle is that sources have told Digital Foundry that the custom Nvidia chip may not feature a Deep Learning Accelerator (DLA) which would limit DLSS upscaling to 1440p rather than 4K.

Lastly, per yet another leak, alleged retail listings shows the Switch 2 supports newer models of SD cards with faster transfer speeds and performance comparable to SSDs.

Switch 2 Launch Games

While the look and specs of the Switch 2 are all well and good, what about the games? Well, we know even less about the launch games for the Switch 2 than almost anything else about the console. So, let's look at some of the games that launched with the first Switch, shall we?

Looking back, the first Switch launch titles were pretty paltry. Aside from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which was truly a stunning game, the rest of the Switch's launch offerings included games like 1-2-Switch, Just Dance 2017, Snipperclips, and Shovel Knight among others.

The launch "window" was a bit better with games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, ARMS, and Splatoon 2, plus Super Mario Odyssey towards the end of the year.

Will the Switch 2 launch games be any better? It's almost impossible to say. Nintendo still has some Switch games releasing in 2025 including Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, but that is almost certainly going to be a cross-gen game in the same way Breath of the Wild was for the Wii U and Switch. But who's to say if Metroid Prime 4 will be a launch game, or a launch window game?

Will the Switch 2 be Backwards Compatible?

Here’s one thing we do know: The Switch 2 will seemingly be backwards compatible.

Instead of a leak, this comes from Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa himself in a statement released on Nintendo’s official X account. At the November 2024 Corporate Management Policy Briefing, Furukawa announced that “Nintendo Switch software will also be playable on the successor to Nintendo Switch.”

Furukawa also says that “Nintendo Switch Online will be available on the successor to Nintendo Switch as well.”

This is Furukawa. At today's Corporate Management Policy Briefing, we announced that Nintendo Switch software will also be playable on the successor to Nintendo Switch. Nintendo Switch Online will be available on the successor to Nintendo Switch as well. Further information about…

— 任天堂株式会社（企業広報・IR） (@NintendoCoLtd) November 6, 2024

While this statement isn’t fully revealing, at the very least it confirms that current Nintendo Switch games will be playable on the Switch 2, and the version of Nintendo Switch Online we know today will also be on the Switch 2. The finer details, like whether or not it’s as easy as playing our games straight from our current Nintendo Switch cartridge, or some digital transfer, is not clear.

Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date

While Nintendo hasn’t yet announced any official follow-up to their incredibly successful Nintendo Switch console, a 2025 launch seems almost certain. We just don’t know when.

In February 2024, the Japanese publication Nikkei suggested that the proposed Nintendo Switch 2 would launch in March 2025 at the earliest, contradicting previous reports. While the article covered information we’ve heard before, like the proposed iterative design scheme, Nikkei did add that the 2025 date was likely due to the company stockpiling consoles to avoid scalping at launch. As any long-term Nintendo fan knows, procuring one of the company’s new consoles can be tricky business. Those who tried will remember how difficult it was to secure a Nintendo Switch at launch in 2017, with the console suffering from inflated pricing on the aftermarket due to crafty resellers.

Nintendo’s president, Shuntaro Furukawa, confirmed in an interview with Nikkei, and translated by VGC, that Nintendo will support the current-gen Switch until at least March 2025. This sentiment is also backed up by previous comments Furukawa made regarding the future of the Nintendo Switch in a financial briefing Q&A in 2022. In this interview, he committed to focusing on “building long-term relationships with our consumers (through Nintendo Accounts)," he went on to reiterate ", While continuing to release new Nintendo Switch software for consumers to enjoy, we aim to maintain relationships across hardware generations through services that utilize Nintendo Accounts and by providing opportunities for them to experience our IP through other non-gaming channels."

Even with all the juicy gossip, it’s best not to hold your breath on what’s coming from the Japanese tech titan’s next console until there is an official announcement; fingers crossed we’ll get that confirmation soon.

Nintendo Switch 2 Price

There are plenty of Nintendo Switch models to consider while shopping right now, with pricing shifting dramatically depending on the version you’re looking to invest in. Looking forward to a potential Switch 2, inflation and internal specs, amongst other variables, will likely play a part in what we’ll pay for a new console at launch.

It’s hard to know what the pricing of this mystery device will be, but we’ve listed the RRP of the current range of Nintendo Switch models as a reference:

• Nintendo Switch Lite: $199.99
• Nintendo Switch: $299.99
• Nintendo Switch OLED: $349.99

Nintendo Switch 2 Models

With the range of Nintendo Switch consoles currently on the market, you may be left wondering if you’ll have the same number of choices to pick between when the next iteration rolls around.

The latest Nintendo Switch OLED model features a remarkable screen, and it feels like the future of the console, it being the most recent edition to Nintendo’s lineup. However, according to a VGC report, the next-gen Nintendo Switch may potentially feature an LCD screen instead.

The current array of Nintendo Switch models are numerous and were released over the console’s multi-year lifespan, so it’s reasonable to believe there may be several versions of a potential Nintendo Switch follow-up, too.

This piece was originally published on April 4, 2024. It has been updated on January 9, 2025.

Hyper Light Breaker, the upcoming roguelike prequel to Hyper Light Drifter, tasks you with trekking into the Overgrowth alone or with a friend in order to restore peace by defeating the Abyss King. Today we have two exclusive new gameplay videos to share with you. Both are boss fights.

The first, which you can watch above, pits you against Dro, described by the developers at Heart Machine as "a furious wolven warrior." And the second, which you can watch below, showcases Exus, whom Heart Machine calls a "fierce gladiator."

Hyper Light Breaker launches into Steam Early Access on Tuesday, January 14. Check out our first hands-on preview from 2023, and if you still want more, we previewed it again last year. Oh, and check back on Monday for one more exclusive gameplay video!

Ryan McCaffrey is IGN's executive editor of previews and host of both IGN's weekly Xbox show, Podcast Unlocked, as well as our monthly(-ish) interview show, IGN Unfiltered. He's a North Jersey guy, so it's "Taylor ham," not "pork roll." Debate it with him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan.

Hard as it is to believe, it's been almost 50 years si8nce the original Micronauts toy line hit store shelves. The franchise has been dormant for quite some time, but that's about to change as Hasbro and Super7 join forces for a new series of Micronauts action figures.

Check out the slideshow gallery below for an exclusive first look at the first two figures in Super7's Micronauts line, Biotron and Baron Karza:

The Micronauts figures are part of Super7's Reaction+ line, featuring the same 3 3/4-inch scale and retro-style packaging the line is known for. The figures aim to be as close to the original 1976 versions as possible in terms of articulation, with 12 points of articulation and an O-Ring construction.

“The return of Micronauts really represents what Hasbro and our licensing business are all about – bringing unique interactive fun and collectible experiences for fans across multiple generations,” Marianne James, Senior Vice President, Global Licensing at Hasbro, tells IGN. “The team at Super7 have done an incredible job reintroducing the line for a new generation while capturing what made the original 1970s lineup so special. We look forward to exploring even more licensing opportunities with world-class partners like Super7 to give fans unique offerings from the brand like never before.”

Super7 co-founder and CEO Brian Flynn says, "As kids, Micronauts were undeniably some of the coolest action figures ever made. Their clear bodies and interchangeable pieces were like nothing else, and their fantastical designs were out of this world (in space!) and ignited imaginations everywhere. From the colossal Biotron and the magnetic Baron Karza to the dynamic Microtron and the translucent Time Travellers, Micronauts had it all - from aliens to robots to heroes! Being able to revisit the fantastical world of Micronauts with the same childhood excitement is nothing short of a dream come true for all of us here at Super7."

Both Baron Karza and Biotron will be released later in 2025, with more Micronauts figures hopefully to follow.

In other Micronauts news, animator Eric Rogers revealed that he oversaw a 52-episode Micronauts animated series that was completed in 2020 but never released. While Rogers himself fears the series has been written off for tax purposes, similar to Warner Bros.' Batgirl movie, IGN sources indicate the series could still see the light of day alongside a live-action Micronauts movie and series.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.

Sid Meier's Civilization 7 developer Firaxis has confirmed the highly anticipated strategy game will be Steam Deck verified upon its February 6 release date.

A simple post from the official Civilization 7 X/Twitter account made the announcement. "Civ 7 is officially Steam Deck verified," it said. "Make history on the go."

The next entry in the beloved franchise promises a "revolutionary new chapter" as it "empowers you to build the greatest empire the world has ever known." Its release is finally just a few weeks away, with a lengthy eight years between it and Civilization 6.

Firaxis announced "the next iteration of the legendary Civilization franchise" was in development as of February 2023 before fully unveiling it as Civilization 7 in June 2024. Fans were relieved to hear they didn't have further years to wait thanks to a 2025 release window, and Firaxis soon after confirmed the February 6 date.

IGN called it "a more daring, risky take on the formula than any of the past few iterations have been," in our first preview. We "think that's definitely the way to go, considering those older games aren't going anywhere and are still quite playable. From ages that completely transform your chosen civilization, to a bold, readable, but grounded new art style, Firaxis is already putting their best foot forward."

It's coming to PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X and S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. Those wanting to play on its release date will need to pay $99.99 for the Deluxe Edition, while those only willing to pay $69.99 (or $59.99 on Switch) will need to wait until February 11.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

New Year, new PC! This January is the perfect time to take advantage of the latest deals to upgrade your setup without feeling like your wallet’s been raided. If your current laptop is lagging or struggling with the latest games, now’s the ideal time to level up. This year’s Nvidia holiday gaming deals deliver impressive discounts across laptops, desktops, and GPUs from top brands like ASUS, Razer, MSI, and Acer.

Whether you’re after a budget-friendly option that can run the latest AAA releases, or a high-performance rig capable of adding raytracing and 4K gameplay, there’s something here to suit every player’s needs and budget. Here’s a roundup of the best deals you can grab right now.

Editor’s Note: This article is brought to you in partnership with Nvidia. If you're looking for US deals, consider our latest gaming PC deals here instead.

January Gaming Laptop Deals

Whether you’re climbing the ranked ladder during your commute or diving into AAA games like Dragon Age: The Veilguard from the comfort of your bed, a gaming laptop should deliver a trifecta: performance, durability, and value. This January, PC gamers can look forward to some killer deals on laptops featuring Nvidia Laptop GPUs. From sleek, travel-friendly builds to rugged workhorses ready for battle, there’s something for every type of gamer.

One of our top picks is the ACER Predator Helios Neo 16” laptop, which is £1099 at Currys right now, saving you a huge £600! Built with performance in mind, it packs impressive specs for the price, including an RTX 4060 Laptop GPU, making it ready to take on anything from Elden Ring to spreadsheets while saving you a hefty sum.

Looking for a cheaper option? The Acer Nitro V 15 is a fantastic alternative, now just £599.99 at Amazon—a solid £200 off the RRP. This laptop strikes a great balance between affordability and performance, featuring a 13th Gen Intel i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU. It’s a great choice for those seeking a capable and cost-effective gaming setup.”

January GPU Deals

Dale, Mat, and Jesse storm into 2025 with their opinions on Squid Game season 2 and discuss Jesse's mad playstyle for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 at length. "What do these have in common?" I hear you yell. Mass murder... lots of mass murder.

We also have an increased amount of feedback this week, with some juicy questions about cardigans and goodie hunting. Remember to send us your thoughts about all the new games, TV shows, and films you're enjoying or looking forward to: ign_ukfeedback@ign.com.

IGN UK Podcast 782: Squid Game and Jesse's Shocking KCD2 Playstyle

• IGN UK Podcast 781: The Big 2025 Movies and Games Preview
• IGN UK Podcast 780: The Alternative Game Awards 2024
• IGN UK Podcast 779: The Alternative Movie and TV Awards 2024
• IGN UK Podcast 778: The Game Awards Reveals and Ferry Fights
• IGN UK Podcast Special Episode: We Visited CD Projekt Red to Talk About The Witcher 4

Eidos-Montréal’s much-loved Deux Ex prequel series famously ended on a cliffhanger with Mankind Divided, frustrating fans. Now, they know exactly what they missed out on.

During an episode of the From Script to Life podcast, Human Revolution and Mankind Divided writer Mark Cecere discussed where protagonist Adam Jensen’s story would have gone in the third game, were it not canceled. The writers planned for Jensen to take out one member of the Illuminati rather than the Illuminati itself, which would have caused “Bob Page to become Bob Page.”

Bob Page is the antagonist of the original Deus Ex game, Ion Storm’s hugely influential 2000 cyberpunk adventure. So, in this way, Jensen’s fate is to cause Deux Ex.

“He can never catch up to the Illuminati,” Cecere explained. “We know this. We know the Illuminati keep going until 2050. We know some of those same characters that are in the Illuminati inner circle are in 2050. So Jensen can never get there and do something concrete.

“So, what can happen? That was the question we were trying to answer at some point. So we did have one name that we could get rid of, and that was the one that Jensen would have caught up to and done something.

“The repercussions were that by Jensen doing this, it causes Deus Ex, if that makes sense. And that’s the tragedy of Jensen, is that he causes what happens after — by doing something — he causes Bob Page to become Bob Page. That was where we were heading.”

Unfortunately, it seems unlikely we’ll ever get to see this version of events. After the release of Mankind Divided in 2016, previous owner Square Enix had Eidos-Montréal shift to other projects, including 2021's Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. Then, in 2022, Square Enix sold Eidos-Montréal and the Deus Ex franchise to controversial umbrella company Embracer. Work on a brand new Deus Ex game had already begun, but this too was canceled in 2024, resulting in signifcant layoffs at Eidos-Montréal.

At the time, Elias Toufexis, who played Adam Jensen, waved goodbye to the character seemingly for good, saying: “alas, his story seems done.” While Toufexis confirmed he had not worked on this latest canceled Deus Ex game and expressed hope that another company might pick up the Deus Ex licence, it felt final.

Now, reacting to Cecere’s comments, Toufexis said: “Hey this would have been fun huh?”

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

There's no better way to kick off the new year than with some nice video game deals. Thankfully Amazon and Walmart are already offering up some great discounts, including a first-time price drop on the physical edition of Black Myth: Wukong for PlayStation 5 (see here at Amazon, see here at Walmart).

Normally this game runs for $64.99 but you can grab it today for $56.99 at both retailers. This physical edition is well worth picking up as well considering it comes with a digital deluxe upgrade with some extra items. Check out the deal and more information on the digital deluxe items included below.

Black Myth: Wukong for PS5 Down to $56.99

Alongside a physical disc with the base game, this copy also comes with a digital deluxe edition voucher code that'll get you some cool items featured in the digital deluxe edition of the game. Those are:

• Bronzecloud Staff
• Folk Opera Mask
• Folk Opera Almsgiving Armor
• Folk Opera Leather Bracers
• Folk Opera Buskins
• Wind Chimes
• Selected Digital Soundtrack

We had plenty of praise for Black Myth: Wukong in our review. IGN's Mitchell Saltzman said that, "Combat is fantastic thanks to a great balance of careful resource management and lightning-fast, twitch-reaction gameplay that tested my skills as much as Elden Ring ever has, despite being a more traditional action game than FromSoftware’s style. Not only that, but there are a ton of exciting boss battles, a great variety of enemies, and the world they inhabit is an absolute treat for the eyes and ears."

If you're looking for even more physical game deals to take advantage of right now, look no further than Best Buy. Right now the retailer has a sale on Ubisoft games, so you can score discounts on the likes of Star Wars Outlaws, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, and more.

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

It’s been a long time coming, but the Fantastic Four are finally back in the spotlight. Between the team making their Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in The Fantastic Four: First Steps this July, the One World Under Doom event shaking up the mainline comic universe as Ryan North continues his acclaimed run on the property, and NetEase’s hero shooter Marvel Rivals making the F4 the focus of Eternal Night Falls (the first post-launch season), 2025 is shaping up to be the year that Marvel’s First Family reclaims their position as one of the Marvel universe’s core pillars.

Yet the fact that they were ever not is a crime in itself. The 2010s saw the Fantastic Four lose a lot of their luster between their comic series being cancelled from 2015 to 2018, Josh Trank’s 2015 reboot becoming one of the worst-received comic book movies of all time, and supporting cast members being removed from cartoons and video games, such as Doctor Doom not appearing in Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite despite being a series mainstay. That’s all set to change in 2025, with all the new media featuring the Fantastic Four being a much-needed correction. Let’s take a look at how we got here and why 2025 is the year of the Fantastic Four.

The 2010s: Less Than Fantastic

The 2010s were a pivotal decade for Marvel’s ascension to the top of the pop culture pyramid because of the rise of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Avengers were one of Marvel’s longest-running brands going as far back as 1963, but they weren’t household names in the same way Spider-Man or the X-Men were until Marvel Studios turned the likes of Iron Man, Captain America and Thor into superstars. Now, we’re happy that those long-standing Marvel heroes are as beloved by the general public today as they are by us nerds. But the rise of the MCU also had a dark side in how it dealt with the franchises Marvel Studios didn’t have access to on the movies side, where competitors they needed to outshine controlled certain characters. In particular, we're talking about the Fantastic Four and X-Men licenses once held by 20th Century Fox.

At the height of MCU mania in the mid-2010s, Marvel moved away from Fantastic Four and X-Men merchandise in favor of boosting properties they’d produced or were developing into films. That would be one thing, but the Fantastic Four also suffered the indignity of having their comic cancelled over the situation. Longtime Marvel writer Jonathan Hickman, who wrote the Fantastic Four book from 2009 to 2012 and is currently working on Ultimate Spider-Man, confirmed that Marvel stopped publishing Fantastic Four “because of their disagreement with Fox.” That Marvel resumed publishing the main F4 book when Disney was in the process of purchasing 20th Century Fox is most likely not a coincidence. Not to valorize corporate consolidation, but Disney reacquiring the Fantastic Four film license seems to have opened the gates for the characters to make their return to prominence in both comics and adaptations.

It’s important to remember that despite no longer being at the height of their popularity, we wouldn’t have a Marvel universe without the Fantastic Four. Their debut in 1961 was the genesis from which Stan Lee and Jack Kirby launched nearly all of the Marvel characters we’ve come to know and love in the time since, and their book featured the first appearances of many Marvel icons such as Doctor Doom, Silver Surfer, Galactus, the Watcher, Black Panther, Adam Warlock, Agatha Harkness, the Skrulls, the Kree, the Inhumans and more. That pedigree alone should permanently guarantee them a spot in Marvel’s main pantheon, but you’d be hard-pressed to find any media about the Fantastic Four beyond their own comic from the past decade or so. Luckily, we now know things are about to turn around.

2025: The Return of the Fantastic Four

It’s crazy to realize that the Fantastic Four will finally join the MCU a mere 17 years (!) after it began, but better late than never, we suppose. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is the second reboot of the Fantastic Four film franchise (third if you count the unreleased 1994 film), and will bring the F4 back to the big screen. The excitement for First Steps is a far cry from where we were 10 years ago, when Fox’s last attempt at an F4 film left fans worried that we’d never see the First Family in live-action ever again. It’s hard to overstate just how doomed (ha) the Fantastic Four felt when Fant4stic (as the title was stylized) bombed in theaters back in 2015. But now that they’re back in Marvel’s hands, we know that we’re not just getting a new take on the Fantastic Four, but that they’re also set to be major players in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, where the team will confront Robert Downey, Jr’s Doctor Doom.

But it’s not just the movies. Ryan North has been penning the main Fantastic Four comic for the past couple of years, and will also be writing Marvel’s big 2025 crossover event One World Under Doom. This series will feature the Avengers and Fantastic Four dealing with a world where Doctor Doom has not just taken up the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme, but is also the self-declared Emperor of Earth. It’s not the first time Doom has conquered the planet (see David Michelinie and Bob Hall’s Marvel Graphic Novel #27: Emperor Doom from 1987 and Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribić’s 2015 Secret Wars for his previous successes), but placing the Fantastic Four’s greatest nemesis at the center of their publishing year is surely a calculated effort on Marvel’s part to push the Fantastic Four franchise into the limelight as they prepare to make Doom their new Thanos for the Multiverse Saga.

And most pressingly, the Fantastic Four are set to join Marvel Rivals as the first batch of post-launch playable characters in Season 1: Eternal Night Falls, where the F4 and the rest of the hero roster must confront Dracula and his legions in New York City. Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman will join the battlefield on January 10 as the game’s newest Duelist and Strategist respectively, with the Thing and the Human Torch making their debut later in the season. The team’s robot companion HERBIE will also appear as a map item, with heroes needing to escort the little guy through the vampire-infested NYC. Making the Fantastic Four the focus of the first full chapter of Rivals’ overarching narrative shows how important they should be to every version of the Marvel universe.

It took some time, but with the Fantastic Four now back in movies, comics and games, hopefully we never again have to go through an extended period without Marvel’s First Family.

Carlos Morales writes novels, articles and Mass Effect essays. You can follow his fixations on Bluesky.

Registrations for Elden Ring Nightreign’s hotly anticipated network test go live today, January 10. Here’s everything you need to know to put your name down.

The network test will be held on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S only, whereas the full game will also launch on PC via Steam, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

To register, head to the Bandai Namco website and enter your details. It's worth noting that registration closes January 20, and only offers a chance to join the Elden Ring Nightreign network test. The test is open to those who do not subscribe to PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass Core.

Elden Ring Nightreign network test registration times:

• 6am PT, January 10
• 9am ET, January 10
• 2pm GMT, January 10
• 3pm CET, January 10
• 11pm JST, January 10

The test itself begins February 14 and ends February 17, with various session times planned. This means you won't be able to play the network test throughout the entire four days, rather during five three-hour periods only.

Elden Ring Nightreign network test session timings:

• February 14: 3am-6am PT / 6am-9am ET
• February 14: 7pm-10pm PT / 10pm-1am ET
• February 15: 11am-2pm PT / 2pm-5pm ET
• February 16: 3am-6am PT / 6am-9am ET
• February 16: 7pm-10pm PT / 10pm-1am ET

The network test is a “preliminary verification test in which the selected testers play a portion of the game prior to the full game launch,” Bandai Namco said.

"This large-scale Network Stress Test is designed to evaluate various aspects of the online system's functionality and performance.

"We are looking forward to your cooperation to make Elden Ring Nightreign even better."

Bandai Namco has yet to say exactly what the Elden Ring Nightreign network test will offer, but did warn some text and game features may be different than in the final version.

Elden Ring Nightreign is FromSoftware’s standalone co-operative spin-off set in a world parallel to that of 2022’s Elden Ring. It was announced at The Game Awards 2024 with a debut trailer, below, and a 2025 release window.

The network test will allow three players to team up and take their chosen Nightfarers to battle "against new terrors, and explore an ever-changing map to defeat increasingly challenging bosses and ultimately take on the Nightlord," Bandai Namco added, before confirming the network test features a three day-and-night cycle squads must try to outlast.

Here's the official blurb:

The all-new adventure in Elden Ring Nightreign begins at the Roundtable Hold, set in a universe parallel to the events of Elden Ring. Players must choose from eight unique characters, each with their own abilities and powerful Ultimates. Their journeys take them to Limveld, an ever-changing environment, where they will have to make split-second decisions when it comes to combat and exploration in the face of a night cycle that shrinks the map with the coming Night’s Tide.

At the end of each night, players will face a powerful boss and, if victorious, awaken to bigger challenges. Each session will culminate in the third night when they must face off against the chosen Nightlord. Individuals can fight the night alone, but strength will come in numbers. Nightfarers must learn to cooperate to take down these challenges, combining their unique abilities together for an unparalleled experience. All is not lost for those who fall in defeat. Unsuccessful runs will grant players relics to allow them to customize and upgrade their characters tailored to their personal play styles.

Elden Ring Nightreign is unlike any experience created before by FromSoftware, Inc. In this condensed action RPG, players will never experience the same journey twice as enemies, rewards, and Limveld itself are ever-shifting and evolving with each new session. Defeating greater enemies and venturing into the more dangerous parts of the map will uncover more powerful weapons and greater Rune rewards. Finding Sites of Grace gives each hero a chance to level up and gain crucial power. With each session-based adventure being akin to playing through an open-air dungeon, every journey provides an opportunity to grow lasting stat bonuses. Successful runs against the night bring players ever closer to defeating the Nightlord and unraveling the story behind each Nightfarer in this parallel world.

Last year IGN had the opportunity to visit FromSoftware and go hands-on with an early build of Elden Ring Nightreign. We came away impressed, stating that Elden Ring Nightreign “takes the cautious dungeon crawls of Elden Ring and turbocharges them into propulsive, slash ‘n’ dash speedruns.”

Check out IGN's interview with game director Junya Ishizaki for even more on Elden Ring Nightreign.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Dungeons & Dragons show Critical Role has cancelled this week's livestream due to the wildfires currently raging across Los Angeles.

As reported by Polygon, the LA-based Critical Role cancelled its January 9, 2025 livestream though said it intends to be back next week.

"As the evolving fires in Los Angeles are directly impacting our cast and crew, we're taking a break from streaming this week with the intention of returning to Exandria next Thursday, January 16," it announced on X/Twitter.

🚨IMPORTANT UPDATE 🚨

As the evolving fires in Los Angeles are directly impacting our cast and crew, we're taking a break from streaming this week with the intention of returning to Exandria next Thursday, January 16th.

In the meantime, the kindness of Critters like you has… pic.twitter.com/BvJzhUJsCj

— Critical Role (@CriticalRole) January 8, 2025

Critical Role senior vice president of marketing Rachel Romero told Polygon "some of our family, friends, colleagues, co-workers have lost their houses, businesses, and other places that feel like home to them.

"We are absolutely heartbroken to see so much destruction and loss in our own backyard and encourage everyone to take a moment and think through how they can best support, whether that is through a monetary donation, food or supplies donations here locally, or just sharing resources within your own network, whether it be online or offline."

Critical Role's own non-profit, the Critical Role Foundation, has donated $30,000 to the California Community Foundation’s Wildlife Recovery Fund. The crisis began January 7 and five wildfires are currently raging in the great Los Angeles area.

Production on some of Hollywood's biggest shows, including Fallout Season 2, has come to a screeching halt. Filming permits across fire-stricken areas have been withdrawn, which means the re-start of production for Fallout Season 2 has been postponed. NBCUnviersal said productions Hacks, Loot, Ted, Suits: LA, and Happy's Place were suspendended as well.

Elsewhere, CBS halted production on NCIS, NCIS: Origins, and After Midnight, while Disney paused Doctor Odyssey, Grey's Anatomy, and Jimmy Kimmel Live. Warner Bros. studio in Burbank was closed, affecting Abbot Elementary among other shows.

Image credit: Anna Webber/Getty Images for Prime Video.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Ubisoft has seemingly leaked the first expansion for Japan-set Assassin's Creed Shadows following its announcement of another delay.

As reported by Insider Gaming, the game's Steam page was momentarily updated to include information on a 10-hour piece of downloadable content called Claws of Awaji, which will add a whole new map to the open-world game.

"Pre-purchase now to get a bonus mission and the upcoming Claws of Awaji expansion," the Steam page read. "Travel to a new region, get over 10 hours of additional content, and unlock a new weapon type, new skills, gear, and abilities."

The phrasing is a little confusing, as it makes it sound as though Claws of Awaji will only be available to those who pre-purchase the game, similar to the previously announced "bonus mission" Thrown to the Dogs. This would be unusual, however, as major expansions such as this are usually reserved for Season Passes.

That being said, Ubisoft is ditching the Season Pass model for Assassin's Creed Shadows following major practice shake-ups in the wake of Star Wars Outlaws underperforming. Alongside scrapping the Season Pass, which would typically let players access two larger expansions for an additional $30 or so, Ubisoft is cancelling plans to charge players more to play on launch day. It is therefore assumed DLC expansions such as Claws of Awaji will be made free for all players.

Though details are restricted to the brief paragraph published to Steam, the name Claws of Awaji does shed some light on what players will find in the DLC. Ubisoft quietly revealed Assassin's Creed Shadows' world map in the Collector's Edition trailer, which showed nine detailed regions plus one small island left blank.

Five-time WWE world champion Seth Rollins has confirmed he is not in upcoming MCU movie Captain America: Brave New World, saying his role was cut following extensive rewrites of the script and subsequent reshoots.

Fans thought they had spotted Rollins' Captain America cameo in a trailer for the movie released last year, although Rollins denied it at the time. Now, it has emerged that the wrestler was set to appear in the film before his role was cut.

Not me, kid. Sorry.

— Seth Rollins (@WWERollins) November 10, 2024

Speaking in a video interview with YouTuber Chris Van Vliet, Rollins confirmed the news. “I wish it the best, but I am not a part of that film,” he said.

“Does my NDA still apply if I’m not on the film anymore?” he continued. “Truth be told, any answer I gave you would only be my opinion on it. The script went through a lot of rewrites and reshoots and so what I was there to do... Essentially my role got either repurposed or completely erased.

“I did do a bit of an audition to possibly pop into another role I believe, or the repurposing of my role. I’m not exactly sure on what it was.

“But they ended up going in a different direction with it. My understanding is there was just a lot of rewrites and a lot of reshoots. They know they’ve got a finished product that hopefully they’re happy with, and hopefully it’s successful. But it will be sans Seth Rollins.”

The Marvel Rivals Season 1 update appears to have done more than add the Fantastic Four — players say it's also cracked down on mods.

Ever since Marvel Rivals’ hugely successful December launch players have used mods to create custom skins despite concern over account bans. Popular mods include turning Iron Man into Vegeta from Dragon Ball and Mantis into a goth. There’s even a mod that turns Jeff the Land Shark into Pochita from Chainsaw Man.

Here’s the deal: The PlayStation 5 Pro is now available, carrying a hefty price tag of $699.99. That’s steep on its own, but it gets pricier if you also need to grab the PS5 Disc Drive and Vertical Stand—both of which are sold separately.

If you are willing to shell out on the new premium console (or were lucky enough to unwrap one over the holidays), here's another quick PSA: The PS5 Disc Drive will cost you $79.99 and the vertical stand will set you back $29.99. The disc drive has already sold out multiple times across most retailers, and is only now available again at Amazon. Shipping is delayed at two to four weeks, and stock is extremely limited, so snap one up as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Where to Buy PS5 Pro Disc Drive

Disney has recast the role of fan-favorite Star Wars character Baylen Skoll in Ahsoka Season 2 following the death of actor Ray Stevenson, with Game of Thrones' The Hound actor Rory McCann taking over.

As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Disney is opting to continue Skoll's story in Ahsoka Season 2 and potentially beyond instead of bringing it to a close following the death of Stevenson in 2023.

The famed actor, who also appeared in Thor, RRR, and Punisher: War Zone, suffered from a brief illness and died three months before the premiere of Ahsoka Episode 1. His portrayal of Skoll was widely considered a standout performance of the first season.

Sony has signalled that The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered on PC requires a PSN account three months before the game’s release on Steam.

As spotted by VGC, the Steam page for Naughty Dog’s single-player adventure includes the now-standard Sony requirement for a PlayStation Network account.

PC gamers had little hope that Sony would budge on the PSN requirement for its Steam releases, and so it has proved with The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered. As a result, PC gamers in over 100 countries won’t be able to buy the game on Steam because Sony does not operate PlayStation accounts in those markets.

PSN is available in just 73 countries, leaving many out in the cold. The Baltics, including states that are part of the European Union (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), and the vast majority of countries in Africa are also excluded. For years, some players in these countries have created a PSN in a supported region to get around the restrictions, but there are concerns that Sony could ban the accounts of those who do.

Sony’s PC push has been controversial to say the least, with most of its games suffering negative Steam reviews as a result of the PSN requirement regardless of whether the games themselves are great or run well. In September, God of War Ragnarök met with a ‘mixed’ user review rating on Steam following its PC launch, with most of the complaints revolving around the PSN requirement.

One disgruntled fan even created a God of War Ragnarök mod that removed the requirement, but it was pulled down out of fear of reprisal from Sony. Exacerbating the backlash is that Sony has doubled down on this policy even for single-player games, such as God of War Ragnarök, Until Dawn, and now The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered.

Sony’s PSN account requirement for its PC games was thrust into the limelight with the release of Arrowhead’s explosive PC and PS5 co-op shooter Helldivers 2 earlier in 2024. Helldivers 2 suffered a review bomb campaign on Steam after Sony made PSN accounts mandatory for PC gamers on Valve’s platform (Arrowhead subsequently decided to turn the user review history graph into a cape, which is ready for launch but has yet to release).

Sony eventually backed down and reversed Helldivers 2’s PSN account requirement, but the game remains unavailable in the many countries that lack PSN. And indeed all Sony’s games on PC now suffer from this problem.

When it announced the PSN requirement for Helldivers 2, Sony said it had to do with player security. “Account linking plays a critical role in protecting our players and upholding the values of safety and security provided on PlayStation and PlayStation Studios games,” Sony said in a statement issued at the time. “This is our main way to protect players from griefing and abuse by enabling the banning of players that engage in that type of behavior. It also allows those players that have been banned the right to appeal.”

Perhaps bracing itself for a backlash it knew was to come, Sony added: “We understand that while this may be an inconvenience to some of you, this step will help us to continue to build a community that you are all proud to be a part of. “Many thanks for your continued support of Helldivers 2!”

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered likely faces a similar backlash on launch that Sony’s other PC games have seen, despite the Steam warning months in advance.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Nintendo has commented on the various Switch 2 mockups and photos that have leaked in recent days, insisting they are not official.

The Japanese arm of CNET published a statement in response to accessories manufacturer Genki’s Switch 2 mockup, which it brought to CES 2025 in Las Vegas and showed off to press. According to Automaton, Nintendo told CNET that “the gaming hardware that Genki presented as Nintendo hardware at CES is unofficial and was not provided to the company by us.”

Genki also published a video showing a render of the Switch 2, which followed numerous leaked images of the next-gen console. Automaton said that Nintendo told Japan’s Sankei Shimbun these images and videos “are not official.”

IGN met up with Genki at CES 2025 to find out more about its Switch 2 mockup. At the time, Genki insisted that the mockup was based on a real Switch 2 system it had seen and used as the basis for its accessories. A Genki representative expressed surprise at the fervor over the company’s mockup, saying they felt all the information about the Switch 2 had already leaked and Genki wasn't saying anything new. "I didn't expect this much media attention, to be honest," they told IGN at CES.

Now, Genki appears to have backtracked. Automaton reported that a Genki representative admitted to Japanese publication Game*Spark that its Switch 2 mockup was based on leaked information that’s circulating in the industry, and that the official size of its product was undecided. Genki reportedly also admitted it had not actually seen Nintendo’s next-gen console, despite insiting it had just days ago.

While Genki's mockup did appear to add significant weight to a growing pool of past leaks on what the Switch 2 will be, it's worth noting that Nintendo has yet to officially reveal anything about the system, and all these claims are subject to change or total debunking. A formal announcement is expected in the first quarter of this year, per Nintendo.

Other reports had suggested that the Joy-Con’s alleged sensor may be used to turn the controller into a mouse. Meanwhile, alleged retail listings for Switch 2 MicroSD Express cards have suggested that the console supports the newer standard of SD cards in 256GB and 512GB form.

So, what was Genki's Switch 2 mockup based on if it wasn't real Nintendo hardware? Following the appearance of alleged images of the Nintendo Switch 2’s internals, fresh images allegedly showing the next-generation console’s Joy-Con appeared online late last week. The images, which show a left Joy-Con, were reportedly first posted to a Chinese social media website before they made their way to the Nintendo Switch 2 subreddit and western social media.

They include larger SL and SR buttons than on the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con, which you’d expect given the Nintendo Switch 2 is reportedly a bigger console than the original. These new Joy-Con allegedly ditch the railed lock method used by the current Switch in favor of electromagnetic suction controllers.

In September, unverified images — a mix of Computer-aided design (CAD) images and printed circuit board (PCB) photos — that were said to have originated from a Chinese website before making their way onto Reddit, depicted a device similar to the existing Switch console but with a larger screen and magnetic Joy-Con. There is reportedly a USB-C port on the top and bottom of the console, too.

Accompanying the images was an alleged specifications list that mentioned 12GB of RAM (the original Switch has 4GB), and 256GB of internal storage (the original Switch has 32GB). There’s a new "C" button on the right Joy-Con, allegedly, but no-one seems to know what this is for.

We also have a patent, filed July 2023 but published for the first time last week, that describes AI image upscaling technology that would help keep video game download sizes small enough to fit on a physical game cartridge while offering up to 4K textures.

Here’s what we know for sure: Nintendo has confirmed that the yet-to-be-announced Switch 2 will be backward-compatible with original Switch games and will feature Nintendo Switch Online. Nintendo has also said it will announce the Switch 2 by the end of March 2025, which means the reveal is fast approaching. As for a release date, the console is not expected to launch during Nintendo's current financial year, so it will arrive April 2025 at the earliest.

We even have developers outright saying they plan to release their upcoming games on the console, with others teasing a Switch 2 release for their games. When Switch 2 does eventually come out, Nintendo expects to have plenty of stock available, which in turn will hopefully combat scalping.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Thank your own personal deity—possibly Numen, not to be confused with Newman—it's Friday! Let's put this week out of its misery with some cheap games worth spending your next two days with. Personally, I'd gravitate to Ori: The Collection, Hollow Knight, Untitled Goose Game, and a sub-five-buck Brütal Legend. Why the latter? Because it is the greatest and best game in the world ...tribute.

In retro news, the system-selling Rogue Squadron turns 26 today, and I absolutely smashed at launch. Being one of the first titles to utilise the Expansion Pak, which added a whopping 4MB of extra RAM (!!!), it delivered a star war far, far, and away better than the previous N64 title holder, Shadows of the Empire. It's also been 28 years since Square released Tobal No. 1, a cult-hit 3D fighter featuring a robot who could un-life himself by flicking his own switch off. I still couldn't tell you what for.

At CES 2025, we had the chance to see everything new Razer was showing off which ran the gamut from practical to extravagant. Some new products are refreshes like the updated Razer Blade 16 laptops outfitted with the upcoming Nvidia RTX 5090 mobile GPUs, and some are proofs of concept that are in the far future like the in-game AI coach called Project Ava. Here's a rundown of our hands-on experience with

Razer Blade 16 Laptop (2025) with RTX 5000-series GPUs

With the announcement of Nvidia's new RTX 5000 series GPUs, Razer also revealed the updated models of its Razer Blade gaming laptops. We were able to see the Blade 16, specifically, in action and got a breakdown of all the notable changes. One big shift is that this lineup is moving from Intel to AMD for the CPU; top-of-the-line models will be using the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. This is said to help power efficiency without losing performance, which makes room for the slight increase in power draw of the new RTX 5000-series GPUs.

At just 0.59 inches in thickness, this refresh is also 32% thinner than the previous model. However, the keyboard has upped the travel distance to 1.5mm to feel closer to a low-profile desktop keyboard. As for memory, the RAM will be soldered to help keep the form factor slim; you'll be able to get the new Blade with 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB of memory. The Blade 16 still rocks the OLED display with a 2560x1600 resolution (QHD+) and 0.2ms response time.

The new Razer Blade laptops will be available sometime in Q1 2025 and prices will vary depending on the model and configuration of specs.

Laptop Cooling Pad and HyperBoost for Blade Laptops

Razer has been showing the Laptop Cooling Pad for a while now, but now we got to see the final design. It's akin to an elevated laptop stand with a large high-velocity 140mm fan underneath it. There are three different frames that magnetically snap into place on top of the Laptop Cooling Pad to properly handle the airflow and internal cooling solution of various laptops. Razer also showed off HyperBoost, which is preset in the Razer software that will keep Blade laptops (2023 models and on) running at peak performance as the Laptop Cooling Pad works at max capacity to prevent overheating. There is also an input hub that includes three USB-A ports and separate buttons that control fan speed and Chroma RGB lighting manually.

The Laptop Cooling Pad launches on January 30 for $149.99 and is available to pre-order on the Razer Store.

Gaming Handheld Device Dock

With so many handheld gaming PCs hitting the market beyond the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally, accessories such as a dock (akin to what the Nintendo Switch has) are increasingly useful. Razer is coming out with a universal dock for PC handhelds that is able to prop-up your device of choice, charge it with its 100W passthrough, and output to an external display. The stand is adjustable and able to angle your handheld regardless of the device's size. It connects to handhelds via USB-C and acts as a hub with multiple ports: gigabit ethernet port, four USB ports, and HDMI out.

Project Ava: In-Game AI Coach and Guide

What's arguably the most interesting thing Razer showcased was Project Ava, a voiced in-game AI assistant and coach. We saw it in action alongside a MOBA and it's able to analyze in-game situations in real time and provide insights on the spot. It's also able to look at your performance afterward and breakdown the things you did well and the ways you can improve with post-match analysis; you can think of it as an esports coach via AI.

We asked Razer about the ethical boundaries when it comes to the possibility of providing an unfair advantage, and a Razer representative stated that Project Ava has built-in boundaries so it's not able to pull data that players aren't privy to or tell the player what to do based on probability analysis. Razer said it's conscious of abiding by terms of service agreements to make sure Project Ava is compliant across different games.

Sometimes everyone already knows what happened to a project, we just need someone to confirm it.

In 2017 it was announced that there would be a live-action adaptation of the open-world crime game, Sleeping Dogs, starring Donnie Yen, who was riding high on the success of movies like Ip Man and Rogue One. Director Timo Tjahjanto was also approached to direct, giving this project a real pedigree for anyone who loves hardcore Asian action films.

Unfortunately, since about 2018 almost any mention of this movie disappeared. And now Polygon confirmed with Yen that this movie is no longer in the works.

"I spent a lot of time and did a lot of work with these producers, and I even invested some of my own money into obtaining the drafts and some of the rights," Yen tells Polygon. "I waited for years. years. And I really wanted to do it... And unfortunately... I don't know, you know how Hollywood goes, right?"

Yen calls it an "unfortunate thing," but says he's ready to move "on to better things."

Sleeping Dogs was released back in 2012 and was developed by the now defunct United Front Games and published by Square Enix. The open world action game was effectively Grand Theft Auto in Hong Kong, with plenty of influences from Hong Kong crime cinema like Infernal Affairs and Hard Boiled. Starring undercover cop Wei Shen as he infiltrated the local Triad, Sleeping Dogs became something of a cult hit thanks to its mix of action, world design, and star-studded voice cast (including Emma Stone and Lucy Liu). The Definitive Edition received an 8.5 in our review.

Unfortunately a sequel and planned spinoff, Triad Wars, never entered into production before United Front shut down, and now the movie adaptation joins the dormant game series.

Luckily for fans of Yen, he's been keeping himself quite busy both at home and abroad. Alongside the action movie The Prosecutor, Yen was last seen stateside as the blind assassin Caine in John Wick: Chapter 4, and according to Collider, is in talks to star and direct a Caine spinoff movie.

Matt Kim is IGN's Senior Features Editor.

Starting January 6, sign up to receive news and updates about Samsung's 2025 lineup of TVs and as a bonus, you'll receive a $100 credit good for any 2025 TV preorder. Since this isn't a commitment to preorder or buy, you don't need to place any kind of deposit. If you're planning to pick up one of these TVs as soon as they become available, there's no reason not to sign up and claim the discount.

$100 Credit on a 2025 Samsung TV Preorder

The Monster Hunter series first launched on PlayStation 2 in 2004 and has since won over many fans, evolving at a dizzying pace alongside new developments in hardware. While it may sound like a cliché to say that the whole world has been waiting for it, it's not an exaggeration to say that hunters from around the globe have eagerly awaited the next game in the series, Monster Hunter Wilds, releasing at last on February 28, 2025.

The gameplay loop that hunters imagine when they hear about Monster Hunter has remained the same throughout the series even after 20 years. Hunt gigantic monsters, strip them of materials, create equipment, then head back into the next hunt. At the same time, though, it seems rare for the game design of a series to so directly reflect the benefits brought about by advances in hardware. Monster Hunter: World, released in 2018, did away with the segmented maps that players were used to seeing in the series, instead allowing them to roam about a single stage without loading times. It also made many other changes, both big and small, but veteran players remained as passionate as ever, helping it to gain global popularity.

Gaining Confidence in Monster Hunter Via World

The development team also continues to believe that the major turning point for the series in recent years was World, which did away with the fragmented map from previous titles. While Monster Hunter did already have lots of overseas fans, the proportion of them still wasn't very large compared to the Japanese fanbase. Wilds Director Yuya Tokuda has returned following his work on World, and he has the following to say about this phenomenon:

"The gameplay loop for a game like Monster Hunter, where players repeatedly gather materials, is agricultural in nature,” he tells IGN. “Some people told me that they believed it would be hard for that to resonate with a global audience."

At the time of World's creation, the development team did know that the global market was full of shooters and competitive multiplayer games. Kaname Fujioka, who acted as Director starting with the first Monster Hunter and is now Executive Director and Art Director for Wilds, says this was a period when he thought about what makes Monster Hunter fun, focusing on what to do in order to bring the game to a wider audience.

"Cooperative games weren't part of the mainstream at the time, making World a major challenge for us,” he says. “If multiplayer cooperative play wasn't going to be big to begin with, we would have to reconsider the very form that Monster Hunter takes. But we had absolute confidence about the kind of fun that Monster Hunter provides, and it possessed a history as a series that grew in Japan to become what it was. We never believed that a Japanese sensibility wouldn't be able to land overseas."

The rest of the world would surely understand the fun of Monster Hunter. Believing this, the development team decided not to fiddle with or change the central elements of the series, instead keeping the core of what makes it fun intact while trying to convey that enjoyment to a broader range of players. The development team then performed a thorough analysis of what makes Monster Hunter fun in order to do that.

The change in the development team's environment must have also largely contributed to World's success. Ryozo Tsujimoto, long-time producer for the Monster Hunter series, tells IGN, "I think you can also credit the fact that it became easier to communicate with foreign fans starting with World. During World's development we developed a strong habit of looking into feedback that we received from overseas, investigating where the issues lay. By digesting what players tell us, regardless of where they're located, we're able to really think about what we're communicating and what's difficult to get across. I believe that this change of environment helped play a major role in changing our own awareness."

World gained the support of many players as a result, successfully gaining global popularity. Tokuda says that after seeing the reaction to World, he gained a redoubled confidence in the fundamental kind of fun found within the Monster Hunter games.

"Thanks to World, we were able to reaffirm that we hadn't made any mistakes with the core elements of Monster Hunter, giving us confidence once more,” says Tokuda. “It's because of our experience with World that we've been able to feel assured as we take the next step with Wilds, further improving its core while creating an even more attractive game."

The development team never bent, always believing in Monster Hunter's charm and the elements at the center of what makes it fun. They began developing Wilds with the success of World driving them forward once updates for World reached a pause. They say the team's mission at first was primarily to test out the available technology with a small team. Producer Tsujimoto tells us about those times.

"We predicted that the platforms for the game would be more powerful by the time it was released (with new-generation consoles having come in), and so our mission was to depict the world of Monster Hunter with the technology that would be available at that point in time," he explains.

What would be possible on new-generation platforms while still making use of their output from World? How could they use the possibilities opened up by new-generation consoles to further evolve the series? Fujioka makes repeated use of a key term when it comes to this: "immersion".

"Throughout the Monster Hunter series, we've always pictured game design that allows players to immerse themselves in hunts as hunters entering inside of Monster Hunter's carefully depicted ecosystems,” he says. “Players bought into that sensation to some degree in World, and we tried to take it even further in Wilds."

Through repeated technical verifications, it became clear that the team would be able to realize the image they've long held for Monster Hunter. Seamless map design, and an environment that changes with the passing of time. All of this would allow for an even deeper depiction of the ecosystem inhabited by massive monsters and the hunters who hunt them, generating further immersion. Depicting the world of Monster Hunter that has existed from the start of the series in greater depth and detail could allow for the surfacing of an ecosystem that includes the presence of humans in Wilds.

"It's nature's two faces of being bountiful yet harsh,” says Tokuda, explaining the world of Wilds. “By depicting these two sides, we hoped to create a world that includes those who live in and become involved with it, like the hunters."

Creating Dramatic Moments for All Hunters

While Wilds retains the traditional gameplay loop of accepting a quest and going to hunt the relevant monster, Tokuda says that hunters will now need to be aware of what monsters have spawned in the world, hunting them at their discretion based on the state of these monsters.

As an example, he explains one possible situation. You're after materials in order to craft a piece of equipment, and so you're sprinting through the Windward Plains on your Seikret. Just then, beyond a cloud of sand, you see a large monster that you aren't currently targeting. It's got several wounds, as it's likely already fought a number of other monsters. It's not as if you need its materials at this very moment, but the rewards would be vast. After a moment of hesitation, you turn back and go after the wounded monster. Hunters need the ability to adapt to their circumstances, and Wilds provides a world where players can experience just that.

"The design (in past Monster Hunter games) where you participate in one quest at a time does provide the benefit of a game that you can always play in a stable environment, but you can't help but feel this to be unnatural in ways for a game that depicts ecosystems in the wild,” says Tokuda. “It seems like a given that you'd face different monsters and winds from one day to the next, considering that nature-focused perspective."

Scenes before your eyes will change from moment to moment, creating dramatic experiences and giving hunters a sense of immersion as though they're really alive in the game's world. As easy as that is to say, it's by no means simple to realize it in a gaming setting. "There are only a few dramatic scenes and events you get to encounter and experience in everyday life over the course of a year," Fujioka says. Rather than simply constructing a world, we ask what kinds of scenes he wants playing out in front of hunters and his philosophy on creating a game that anticipates these kinds of experiences.

"You may only be able to see an evening's beauty for a few dozen minutes over the course of a day, but those moments leave an incredible impression on you,” he replies. “The team has constantly shared an awareness of how important it is to have these kinds of dramatic moments and experiences properly playing out before you in a game while also making sure that they don't appear unnatural. There's the risk of 'nothing happening' to a player within a large open world or with changes in circumstances like seamless shifts in weather. We discussed this concern many times during development, and I was quite aware as a designer to be compacting and connecting what we can do to make things more fun, creating dramatic twists that constantly play out before you."

What's important isn't the form that the game takes, but the form of each individual experience encountered by the player. Ever since the announcement of Wilds, many players have seen its seamless stages, real-time environmental changes and other new elements, and called it an "open world Monster Hunter". In fact, I admit that those were the first words to come to my own mind the moment I heard the news about Wilds. But Tsujimoto says that the developers never thought of themselves as making an open world game.

"It's not as if the words 'open world' came out of any of our mouths during development, either,” he says. “We wanted players to be able to experience a seamless Monster Hunter, and this is the form we ended up with as we implemented what we wanted."

I ask what genre they would call Wilds if they had to give it one, and the three developers look at one another. Fujioka says that while he believes they used phrases like "seamless map" and "seamless stages" during World as well, he could only describe Wilds as a game that gives players "a seamless Monster Hunter experience".

It seems that the development team consider the wide-open stages in Wilds as not their goal, but rather a result. According to Tokuda, "Creating large spaces wasn't the goal from the time we made World. It's more accurate to say that they became that large as well as seamlessly connected during the process of properly depicting Monster Hunter's world. More than its size, one of the things that makes Monster Hunter unique is its density of detail. We focused on adding enough density to our stages that just by walking through them, you'll make discoveries, notice interactable elements, and find so much in general, from targets of action to visual aspects. I think that level of detail is a part of depicting the world of Monster Hunter and its ecosystems."

Making Monster Hunter More Accessible, Not Easier

While the series continues to change with advances in hardware, its core gameplay has always stayed the same. This is because the developers have absolute confidence in what makes it fun. The changes made in World and the improvements found in Wilds have always come from a focus on finding ways to bring what makes Monster Hunter fun to an even larger audience.

"We have data showing that many of the people who quit World partway through did so before reaching the part where you're really playing Monster Hunter,” Tsujimoto says of the feedback they received from World. “I think there are a lot of reasons for that, but maybe they couldn't find monsters, or they didn't know what to do once they reached them, or maybe the weapon they brought didn't suit them once it came time for action. We've been incredibly careful in Wilds to guide players to the fun of Monster Hunter without changing the core of the series."

Mr. Fujioka explains that it's for this reason that the difficulty in Wilds generally follows suit from World.

"Monster Hunter is an action game, which means that you're always going to have some players who never complete the game no matter how much you adjust the numbers,” he says. “That's why we quite carefully analyzed the reasons players can't beat it, or why they can't make it to a hunt, then created a way for them to grow step by step. As you progress through the game, a moment will come when these skills that you've learned one at a time will suddenly all be required of you. At the end of the day, our goal with Monster Hunter is to create action that you can sink your teeth into, and the enjoyment of being able to finally defeat a monster by playing together with a team as one. We've had the goal in every title we've made for people picking up Monster Hunter for the first time to ultimately be able to reach the same skill level as veteran hunters."

Given Fujioka’s comments, it sounds as though the development team never even considered making monsters weaker in order to make the game more accessible. They believe in the hunters who decide to take on Monster Hunter, and they want to avoid at all costs lessening the fun that those hunters should eventually come to find. Instead of resorting to the simplest possible way to improve accessibility, they decided to think about a player's experience and design a game that matches it.

Tokuda continues, "For Wilds, we conducted an even closer analysis of a player's growth curve. It's good that Great Jagras, the first large monster in World, could easily be hit from many different angles, but it had a broad range of attacks in return, making it feel difficult for those not used to action games. Chatacabra, the first monster in Wilds, has only focused attacks, while the next monster, Quematrice, has wider-ranging attacks. We've designed it in this way so that players will gradually learn how to respond as they get used to the game's action."

Another Core: The Communication Factor

The developers also spoke about how one other element that helps define Monster Hunter is the communication between hunters. My first time playing Monster Hunter with others was with Monster Hunter Portable 3rd on the PlayStation Portable, but even back then there were already many veteran hunters who had come before me. I remember them taking me by the hand and guiding me through what I needed to bring on hunts and what to do when encountering a monster. But without those people around me, I doubt I ever would have ever become a hunter.

"You didn't even know where to mine, right?" Tsujimoto laughs. "Networked communication wasn't as easy back in those days, so it was like whoever found something became a hero. That information and enjoyment would then spread from there. We even had monsters that we never officially announced in order to encourage more communication."

Fujioka says these tricks existed within Monster Hunter from the very beginning.

"In the mission for Lao-Shan Lung, you're asked to simply repel the monster, but it's actually possible to kill it,” he says. “It's designed so that it can be properly defeated even if that isn't the goal. That information was never officially announced, though, so a player would get that experience and spread the information from there. We were intentional about putting that into the game."

Monster Hunter began as an action game that can be enjoyed with other players, communication included. That philosophy has remained consistent ever since its start in 2004.

"What we set out to create from the very start was action enjoyed with others, whether that's in the game's setting or in its gameplay,” continues Fujioka. “The focus is on how much fun we can bring players through its action, and just how solid the push and pull against monsters feels. I think that what makes Monster Hunter unique is that you can get a serious action experience whether you're playing alone or with three others."

It may be a little early to ask, but now that Wilds nears its release, what do the developers see in Monster Hunter’s future? When I ask Fujioka this, he replies with a forced laugh. "The future, huh..." He then goes silent for a bit, as if to think back on his time developing the game, then continues, picking his words with care.

"... Well, I think I've exhausted myself with Wilds, and it feels like it'll be difficult to take a broader view of the game until a while after its release,” he admits. “What I can say, though, is that there has been a dizzying amount of change in the last decade or two, like online games becoming the standard. Advances in hardware and technology are of course going to continue as well. It was a huge shock when the PSP came out and we saw the level of specs that portable games were now capable of. That would have been unimaginable 20 years before its release. All we can do is make games. But when something incredible that feels truly advanced comes along, we get so many ideas about what to do next with Monster Hunter. I think Monster Hunter is just going to keep changing to match the shifts and advances of the times."

The interview left me with the powerful feeling that these creators firmly believe in how fun Monster Hunter is. At the same time, their faith is strong that hunters around the world will enjoy Monster Hunter. They leave the core fun of the games untouched while bringing hunters to new horizons made visible by advances in hardware. After the leap that was World, these creators now aim for even greater heights with Wilds. I can barely wait until the day that I get to hunt in the world they've created with it.

Monster Hunter Wilds is scheduled for release on February 28. Check out our exclusive Oilwell Basin Ajarakan and Rompopolo gameplay videos, and look out for more exclusive interview articles and videos throughout January as part of IGN First.

Shuka Yamada is a freelance writer for IGN Japan. This article was translated by Ko Ransom.

Calling all Elden Ring fans: a brand-new figure of Malenia Blade of Miquella is up for pre-order at IGN Store. Cited by many as the most difficult boss in Elden Ring, this is one formidable foe you can now add to your collection. Check out the details below, and be sure to get your pre-order in before orders close!

Pre-Order S.H.Figuarts Malenia Blade of Miquella Figure Now

Ubisoft just delayed Assassin's Creed: Shadows by another month, amid a time of troubled financials, continued cost cuts, and ongoing rumors the company was preparing for a sale to gaming giant Tencent. In an emergency conference call today, investors grilled CEO Yves Guillemot and CFO Frederick Duguet for answers on all of the above - but their responses didn't provide much reassurance.

Ubisoft's call today came alongside not just the delay announcement, but a seeming confirmation of sorts that Ubisoft is preparing to sell, or at least strongly considering it. Per the press release, the company has "appointed leading advisors to review and pursue various transformational strategic and capitalistic options to extract the best value for stakeholders. This process will be overseen by the independent members of the Board of Directors. Ubisoft will inform the market in accordance with applicable regulations if and once a transaction materializes."

Back in October, Bloomberg reported that Ubisoft's founding Guillemot family and shareholder Tencent were in discussions to take the company private following a number of high-profile flops, game cancellations, and the collapse of the company's share price. At the time, the talks were merely exploratory, and Ubisoft told IGN it would "inform the market if and when appropriate." Today's update seems to suggest that such talks, either with Tencent or in some other capacity, have moved forward in some way.

But it's unclear exactly how, and Ubisoft's shareholders understandably wanted more details during the conference call today. But Guillemot and Duguet weren't biting. First, they were asked directly by a Morgan Stanley representative: "On the various transformation strategic and capitalistic options, it's a bit of a vague phrase if you don't mind me saying. Could you perhaps elaborate on the kind of things you're talking about? And perhaps particularly, there were press reports of detailed discussions with Tencent that were reported on in December. Should we read that there is now some sort of proposal which the independent board members are going to review against other options? Or is that not what you mean by that?"

Duguet replied:

The objective of this process is to unlock the best value potential of our assets to the benefit of our stakeholders, and to foster the best conditions to create great games in the fast-evolving market. That's the overall objective, so that's why we mentioned that we appointed leading advisors. So we are currently actively exploring different options. And we can't say more. Of course we won't comment on specific rumors we have seen in the market, but we are convinced there are several potential paths to generate value from Ubisoft assets and franchises. We will inform the market if and when a transaction materializes.

That...doesn't really clarify anything! And the Morgan Stanley guy seemed to feel the same, because he followed up by acknowledging Ubisoft didn't want to say what the different options were, but asked if they could say "whether there are any concrete courses of action or scenarios that are being considered, or is this more of an exploratory kind of process?" elaborating that he wanted to know what was different about this announcement as opposed to past statements by Ubisoft about such exploration.

Duguet's response was short. "We are limited with what we can say today, but we've started a process." Then, seemingly realizing this could be interpreted as a too-specific confirmation, added, "with advisors."

The other shareholders didn't let Ubisoft off the hook here. A Barclays representative pointed out to Guillemot and Duguet that Tencent had recently been designated as a Chinese military company by the U.S., and wanted to know if that would hinder it becoming the majority owner of Ubisoft. Guillemot declined to comment. A representative from HSBC asked "what stage" the advisors were at, and when Guillemot could expect to get some initial findings. Guillemot would only say they "have started working" and that they could expect "good progress" in the coming months.

Admittedly, there's only so much Guillemot and Duguet can say about a potential acquisition without throwing it into legal and negotiational jeopardy, but that doesn't mean the skepticism around the board's alleged plans wasn't warranted. A number of other questions went unanswered during the call, such as a question about how many AAA games Ubisoft expected to release in the coming fiscal year ("you'll know more by May") and what specific sort of feedback Ubisoft got that sparked the month-long delay of Assassin's Creed: Shadows (Duguet and Guillemot tag-teamed an answer about positive community sentiment that did not address the investor's actual question at all).

Overall, the tone of the discussion was one of significant concern for the health of Ubisoft and the shareholders' investments, and it's no surprise why. For several years now, Ubisoft has seemed to be in a strange, slow downward spiral, with a number of high-profile flops, layoffs, studio closures, game cancellations, and delay after delay after delay.

Meanwhile, rumors continue to spin about what exact proposals the board is considering, with some media outlets floating the idea that Tencent is increasingly reluctant to embrace Ubisoft due to the Guillemot family's insistance on retaining a significant amount of control. Sans Tencent, there are few other companies big enough and rich enough to spend the cash needed to save the albatross Ubisoft has grown into.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

NetEase Games has posted Marvel Rivals Season 1 patch notes, revealing every change coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S players when update version 20250110 drops later tonight.

Included in the full rundown are mentions of more substantial additions we’ve known about, such as new heroes Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman, as well as smaller changes, like a streaming mode feature and more fleshed-out graphics and settings options on PC. We also now have a first look at fixes for some of the glitches and bugs that players have dealt with, including a new “get unstuck” feature that can be used when your character finds themselves unintentionally attached to the terrain.

Also set to arrive in the upcoming Marvel Rivals update are a variety of tweaks to many of the roster’s heroes. Doctor Strange and Magik, for example, have had a few “minor movement ability discrepancies” fixed, while Winter Soldier’s ultimate ability will now respond more consistently. It’s a list of mostly small adjustments for players on all platforms that should ensure everyone enjoys a smoother experience across the board. There have also been a number of changes to tournaments, such as an automatic follow function, a faction reporting function, and a spectating channel.

“We will continue to vigilantly monitor game bug issues and fix them as fast as we can,” NetEase adds. “We also have another patch with new content in the works!”

The team detailed hero balance adjustments elsewhere, providing an inventory of every buff and nerf set to shake up the Marvel Rivals meta in Season 1. Highlights include hits to characters like Hela and Hawkeye, while heroes like Moon Knight and Storm are going into the new season with some improvements to their damage output. With these changes comes what NetEase is calling its Hero Hot List, which includes pick and win rate stats for every one of its playable characters.

Marvel Rivals Season 1 officially kicks off tomorrow, and you can click here to see its global release times. With its introduction of the Fantastic Four comes a story that pits Earth’s mightiest heroes against Dracula and his legion of the undead. The first half of the season gives players access to Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman, with the second half set to bring The Thing and the Human Torch. Meanwhile, as if the emergence of Dracula wasn’t enough of a clue, a recent leak has suggested that the vampire-hunting Daywalker Blade may make an appearance as a playable character in Season 2.

While we wait for more information on the future of NetEase’s popular hero shooter, you can read the full list of patch notes below.

Marvel Rivals Season 1 Version 20250110 Patch Notes

Rivals, Assemble!

As the light fades and the eternal night falls, Dracula and his undead legion have seized control of New York City. Before we embark on the epic battle to banish the darkness and restore the light, dive into the thrilling details of this update!

1. New Content

1.1 All Platforms

Heroes and Costumes

- Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman join Marvel Rivals!
- New Costumes: Mister Fantastic - The Maker; Invisible Woman - Malice!

Maps and Modes

- Explore the new Convoy map - Empire of Eternal Night: Midtown.
- Prepare for the thrilling arcade mode (Doom Match) and its map (Sanctum Sanctorum): 8-12 players will engage in battle, with the top 50% emerging victorious.
- New feature: In Convoy and Convergence, both sides can transition to the next spawn room sometime after the attacking side completes the current target.
- Enhanced feature: During the loading phase of a Quick Match, you can now view the Nameplates of both sides.

Season & Store

- Unlock a dazzling shiny new Battle Pass featuring 10 brand new sets of heroic costumes!
- Embark on the first thrilling half of the Midnight Features Season Event!
- Dive into the latest Twitch Drops event, featuring rewards such as the Hela - Will of Galacta costume. (Stay tuned for official announcements for specific times)
- We have revised the refresh times for various in-game content. Beginning with Season 1, the unlock time for daily missions, the availability of new items in the store, and the start time for most events have been adjusted from 7:00 (UTC+0) to 9:00 (UTC+0).
- Additionally, we have optimized the mission types and removed some of the more challenging ones.

Ranked

- Introducing the Celestial Rank, a tier above Grandmaster and below Eternity, consisting of 3 divisions.
- Rank Reset: based on your final Season 0 rank, ranks will be demoted by 7 divisions. For example, if you ended Season 0 at Platinum I, your Season 1 journey begins at Silver II.

Tournaments

- Newly added automatic follow function for tournament sign-ups: Faction members can opt to follow the captain on the sign-up page. When the captain/coach initiates or cancels the sign-up process, following members will automatically confirm. Please note, this feature, once activated, is effective for the current season only.
- New faction reporting function: Report factions for perceived misconduct in the same tournament within the past 90 days.
- New spectating channel: Chat in real-time with fellow rivals while spectating the same match.
- When spectating, the target player's hotkeys and crosshair settings will be prominently displayed.
- New setting option: Block all active invitations and faction join requests.

General

- Streaming Mode: In Settings - Social, new settings have been added under the social setting allowing streamers to conceal their name as needed (only effective locally; other players in the same match can still see it).

1.2 PC

Graphics and Settings

- Enhanced and optimized graphics settings for improved performance:
· New: Added a new "Off" option under "Anti-Aliasing".
· New: Included a "Performance" option for "Model Detail".
· New: Integrated a new "Off" option under "Global Illumination".
· New: Added a new "Off" option for "Reflection Quality".
· Optimization: Adjusted and optimized various parameters within the graphics settings.
- Mouse Settings: Under Settings, the Keyboard - Combat category now includes new settings for mouse smoothing and mouse acceleration, enabling customization as required.
- Support Intel® XeSS 2: With Intel® Xe Super Sampling 2 (XeSS 2), experience faster, smoother gameplay with higher image quality and a more connected playing experience with Intel® Xe Frame Generation (XeFG), Intel® Xe Low Latency (XeLL).

2. Fixes and Optimizations

2.1 All Platforms

General

- Resolved numerous issues related to notifications.
- Rectified various text errors.

Maps and Modes

- Solved several terrain issues causing characters to become stuck or move to unusual locations. Such issues will continue to be monitored and addressed. We have also added a "get unstuck" feature: if a character is stuck in terrain for a specific duration, you can now control it to return to the spawn room.
- Fixed various issues including floating broken objects, collision errors, etc.
- Fixed various map sound problems.
- Resolved an extremely rare issue where overtime couldn't be triggered or wouldn't end.
- Also resolved an exceptionally rare abnormal draw occurrence issue.

Heroes

- Corrected minor movement ability discrepancies for certain heroes (like Doctor Strange and Magik) at both low and high frame rates.
- Addressed occasional malfunctions with, or inability to use Wolverine's team-up ability.
- Fixed occasional incorrect resets of Winter Soldier's ultimate ability.
- Fixed an issue where the Winter Soldier's ultimate ability would sometimes fail to hit targets within its range.
- Corrected instances where Iron Man's ultimate ability would sometimes pass through Hela during her ultimate ability.
- Resolved occasional synchronization issues for Venom and Spider-Man after swinging and wall-crawling.
- Rectified a situation where Rocket Raccoon, while on Groot's shoulders, could irregularly place Battle Rebirth Beacons (B.R.B.) in abnormal map locations, trapping teammates after revival.
- Fixed occasional camera irregularities after Loki transformed into certain characters during his ultimate ability.
- Fixed a visibility issue that could sometimes occur when Adam Warlock/Mantis/Star-Lord were in soul form within the mist on Wakanda maps where they couldn't see or be seen by others.
- Rectified instances where Squirrel Girl's ultimate ability could get stuck on specific terrain.
- Fixed occasional damage loss in Rocket Raccoon's primary attack.
- Addressed irregularities and occasional failure to end Wolverine's Feral Leap, along with occasional abnormal behavior.
- Resolved instances where Luna Snow's ultimate ability occasionally failed to heal teammates.
- Fixed occasional sound irregularities that could occur after being consumed by the Jeff the Land Shark's ultimate ability.
- Addressed various ability sound and voice errors for several heroes.
- Optimized the playback rules for hero ability voices during combat to reduce auditory confusion.

2.2 Console

- Resolved an issue where after console matchmaking, teammates on Xbox were incorrectly shown as muted on other platforms, necessitating manual unmuting to remove the status display.
- Rectified instances where for some heroes, when the Field of View changed, the auxiliary sight intensity and crosshair sensitivity did not adjust accordingly.
- Resolved an issue where certain button settings were not taking effect as intended.
- The global focus switching algorithm has been optimized for smoother overall operation.

We will continue to vigilantly monitor game bug issues and fix them as fast as we can. We also have another patch with new content in the works! Be sure to follow our socials for all the latest news!

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.

Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.

Some may say we are in a renaissance of video game adaptations as we've been treated to The Super Mario Bros. Movie, another Sonic the Hedgehog film, and TV series based on The Last of Us and Fallout, and could soon be getting adaptations of God of War, Ghost of Tsushima, and so many more. The best part? A lot of these look so much better than video game adaptations we’ve gotten in the past.

How many will actually make it through development and see the light of day remains to be seen, and only a fraction of these have actual release dates. But we're watching these projects, and we're tracking them!

For the purposes of this list, we classify a “video game movie” or "TV show" as an actual adaptation of an existing video game, so something like Wreck-It Ralph (which is just a movie about video games) wouldn’t qualify. They don’t have to be faithful adaptations – they just have to be based on a real game.

Click on through the slideshow below for a glimpse, or read on to find out about the biggest projects with definite details. And if you see something incorrect, missing, or in need of an update, let us know in the comments!

What Are the Next Video Game Movies and TV Shows Coming Out? 2025 and Beyond Release Dates

For those keeping track, here's the full lineup of upcoming video game movie and TV show adaptations:

Video Game Movies in 2025 and Beyond

• A Minecraft Movie (April 4, 2025)
• Until Dawn (April 25, 2025)
• Mortal Kombat 2 (October 24, 2025)
• Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (Dec. 5, 2025)
• Street Fighter (March 20, 2026)
• The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2 (April 3, 2026)
• The Legend of Zelda (TBA)
• Ghost of Tsushima (TBA)
• Horizon Zero Dawn (TBA)
• Helldivers 2 (TBA)
• The Sims (TBA)
• Gears of War (TBA)
• Return to Silent Hill (TBA)
• Death Stranding (TBA)
• Days Gone (TBA)
• Dredge (TBA)
• Uncharted 2 (TBA)
• Pokemon: Detective Pikachu 2 (TBA)
• Stray (TBA)
• BioShock (TBA)
• Space Channel 5 (TBA)
• Comix Zone (TBA)

Video Game TV Shows in 2025 and Beyond

• The Last of Us: Season 2 (April 2025)
• Fallout: Season 2 (TBA)
• The Witcher: Season 4 and 5 (TBA)
• God of War (TBA)
• Mass Effect (TBA)
• Gears of War (TBA)
• Ghost of Tsushima Anime (2027)
• Devil May Cry Anime (TBA)
• Twisted Metal: Season 2 (TBA)
• Assassin's Creed (TBA)
• Splinter Cell (TBA)
• Castlevania: Nocturne: Season 2 (TBA)

The following titles have been reported to be in development in the past but their status is currently unknown and they may no longer be actually happening:

Announced Video Game Movies (Status Unknown)

• Mega Man
• Just Cause
• Duke Nukem
• Gravity Rush
• Dead by Daylight
• It Takes Two
• Sifu
• Slime Rancher
• Ark: Survival Evolved
• Pac-Man
• Streets of Rage
• Sniper Elite
• Toe-Jam and Earl
• Jak and Daxter
• Call of Duty
• Half-Life
• Saints Row
• Portal
• Yakuza
• Beyond Good & Evil
• Firewatch
• Metal Gear Solid
• The Division
• Just Dance
• Dragon's Lair
• Splinter Cell (Presumed Cancelled)

Announced Video Game TV Shows (Status Unknown)

• Horizon Zero Dawn
• A Plague Tale
• Nier: Automata: Season 2
• Disco Elysium
• Hunt: Showdown
• Alan Wake
• System Shock
• Grounded
• Life Is Strange
• My Friend Pedro
• Skull & Bones
• Child of Light
• Brothers in Arms

The following are the most definite projects that are currently in the works.

The Last of Us: Season 2

Release Date: April 2025 on Max

After a stellar first season, HBO's The Last of Us will be returning in April 2025 with seven new episodes that are based off the second game in the Naughty Dog and PlayStation franchise. We haven't been given many details on the new season's story yet, but we did learn who will be playing some of our favorite characters from the game, including Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, Young Manzino as Jesse, and Isabella Merced as Dina.

It was also confirmed by showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann that Season 2 will have a shorter episode count, but that Season 3 could be "significantly larger."

In our review of HBO's The Last of Us, we said it "is a breathtaking adaptation of one of the most impactful stories told in video games and brilliantly brings Joel and Ellie’s journey to a whole new audience. Taking the essence of what made the original tale so enduring, it builds out the world of the game while also switching up some aspects to almost entirely stunning effect."

A Minecraft Movie

Release Date: April 4, 2025

Peter Sollett (Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist) had once been attached to direct the Minecraft movie, which was scheduled to be released in March 2022. But due to the COVID-19 pandemic it was delayed and now has a theatrical release date of April 4, 2025. Napoleon Dynamite's Jared Hess later took over as director.

Aquaman himself, Jason Momoa, will star in the movie alongside Jack Black, who will play Steve. Also building some stuff will be Jennifer Coolidge, Emma Myers, Danielle Brooks, and Sebastian Eugene Hansen.

Until Dawn

Release Date: April 25, 2025

Supermassive Games' Until Dawn is set to get a film adaptation with Shazam! and Lights Out director David F. Sandberg. The Invitation's Blair Butler wrote the script and It's Gary Dauberman is doing the latest pass on it.

Until Dawn will be released in theaters on April 25, 2025, and it will feature a new story and cast of characters who will surely be in some terrible danger.

Mortal Kombat 2

Release Date: October 24, 2025

New Line is moving forward with Mortal Kombat 2, the sequel to 2021’s live-action adaptation of the legendary fighting game series. Moon Knight’s Jeremy Slater is writing the script and Simon McQuoid, who helmed the first film, is back to direct again.

Karl Urban plays Johnny Cage and Adeline Rudolph will be taking on the role of Kitana.

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2

Release Date: Dec. 5, 2025

Universal Pictures has confirmed that Five Nights at Freddy's 2 will make its way to theaters in 2025. However, we still don't know much about the film that will be the follow-up to Blumhouse Productions' most successful movie ever.

Street Fighter

Release Date: March 20, 2026

Danny and Michael Philippou, the Australian brothers who directed Talk to Me and are part of the YouTube channel RackaRacka, were supposed to direct Legendary's new Street Fighter movie but had to drop out due to scheduling issues. The film is moving ahead regardless with a 2026 release planned.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2

Release Date: April 3, 2026

Mario Day 2024 brought us the news that a new Super Mario Bros. Movie was officially in development and will be jump into theaters on April 3, 2026. We don't know much about the movie, but Shigeru Miyamoto shared the team is "thinking about broadening Mario's world further, and it'll have a bright an fun story!"

A sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie must have been the easiest decision for Nintendo as was seen by over 168.1 million people worldwide and made over $1.349 billion at the global box office.

Fallout: Season 2

Release Date: TBA on Prime Video

The first season of Prime Video's Fallout series was a huge success. In our Fallout TV show review, we said, "A bright and funny apocalypse filled with dark punchlines and bursts of ultra-violence, Fallout is among the best video game adaptations ever made."

While we don't know much about Season 2, showrunners Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner said the team is working "as fast as we possibly can" to get it out to fans. While you wait, be sure to check out the 14 things we want from the next batch of episodes.

The Witcher: Season 4 and 5

Release Date: TBA on Netflix

Netflix’s The Witcher will officially be returning for a fourth season, but it will be doing so with a new Geralt of Rivia as The Hunger Games’ Liam Hemsworth will be replacing Henry Cavill. We don't know much more about Season 4, but Netflix did share a first official look at Hemsworth as Geralt in May 2024. A fifth and final season is also in the works.

The Legend of Zelda

Release Date: TBA

The Legend of Zelda is officially getting the live-action film treatment and it's being produced by Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad, chairman of Arad Productions and former founder and CEO of Marvel Studios.

While we don't know anything else about what story the film will tell, it will be directed by Wes Ball and will be co-financed by Nintendo and Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. Nintendo will be financing more than 50% of the movie and the theatrical distribution will be done by Sony.

If, like us, you can't wait for The Legend of Zelda movie, be sure to check out that one time we predicted the film would eventually arrive via an April Fools' Day joke.

God of War TV Series

Release Date: TBA on Prime Video

Prime Video has officially announced that a God of War live-action series is in the works from Sony Pictures Television and PlayStation Productions. The show will follow the story that began in 2018’s God of War and will see Kratos and Atreus traveling to the highest peak in the nine realms of Norse mythology to spread the ashes of their late wife/mother.

At CES 2024, Sony confirmed writing was underway for the series. In October 2024, it was reported that Ronald D. Moore (Star Trek: The Next Generation, Battlestar Galactica, Outlander) had replaced the show's previous producers Rafe Judkins, Hawk Ostby and Mark Fergus as showrunner.

Mass Effect

Release Date: TBA on Prime Video

A Mass Effect movie adaptation was in the works at least as far back as 2010, though it never wound up happening.

In December, 2021, however, it was reported that Amazon was working on a deal to adapt the game as a TV series. It once again took a while, but in November 2024, it was confirmed that Amazon MGM studios had begun development on the TV version. Daniel Casey (10 Cloverfield Lane) will write and executive produce the show, while other producers include EA/BioWare's Michael Gamble, who's leading development on the next Mass Effect game, and Avi Arad, who was part of that initial movie announcement all those years back.

Ghost of Tsushima

Release Date: TBA

Sony Pictures and PlayStation Productions are developing a film adaptation of Ghost of Tsushima that will be helmed by John Wick director Chad Stahelski. We don’t know much about the project that is set to adapt the story of the game, but Stahelski has confirmed he wants the movie language and cast to be Japanese.

Stahelski also mentioned he is looking at ways to "expand further" into sequels and TV. So, expect a lot of Ghost of Tsushima in the future!

Ghost of Tsushima Anime

Release Date: 2027

A Ghost of Tsushima anime is on the way from Sony and Aniplex and it is set to launch exclusively on Crunchyroll in 2027. Instead of adapting the main game, this anime will instead focus on the Legends co-op multiplayer portion that was added post-launch.

Horizon Zero Dawn Movie and TV Show

Release Date: TBA

Horizon Zero Dawn has had both a movie and a TV show in the works, but the TV show has had a bit of a rocky road. In July 2024, it was reported that the series was no longer moving forward at Netflix. It may show up again in the future, but it wasn't a great sign.

As for the movie, Sony announced at CES 20255 that a big-screen adaptation of Aloy's adventure is currently very early in production.

Helldivers 2

Release Date: TBA

At CES 2025, Sony announced that the wildly successful Helldivers 2 would be adapted into a major motion picture from Sony Productions and Sony Pictures.

The Sims

Release Date: TBA

EA's long-running life simulation series The Sims is getting the big-screen treatment from Loki season 1 director Kate Heron and Margot Robbie's production company Lucky Chap. We have yet to learn anything else about the project, but it should be welcome news for fans nonetheless.

Gears of War Movie and Animated Series

Release Date: TBA

Netflix has partnered with The Coalition to develop a Gears of War live-action movie and an adult animated series. The movie will arrive first and, if these projects do well, there is “potential for more stories to follow!”

In March 2023, it was announced that the Gears of War movie will be written by Dune and Doctor Strange's Jon Spaihts.

Return to Silent Hill

Release Date: TBA

Return to Silent Hill is the upcoming film based on Silent Hill 2 and is "a mythological love story about someone so deeply in love, they're willing to go to hell to save someone." The film will see Jeremy Irvine and Hanna Emily Anderson taking on the lead roles and a recent Silent Hill Transmission gave us a behind-the-scenes look at the production of the movie. A first look at the terrifying Pyramid Head was also revealed earlier this year.

Death Stranding

Release Date: TBA

Hideo Kojima's Kojima Productions has partnered with A24 to adapt Death Stranding into a live-action feature film.

"The film promises to delve into the mysteries surrounding the apocalyptic event called the 'Death Stranding', which blurred the lines between life and death, and brought forth nightmarish creatures into a world on the brink of collapse," the official synopsis reads.

Devil May Cry Anime Series

Release Date: TBA

Netflix's Castlevania showrunner Adi Shanker is officially working on a new anime series based on Devil May Cry. We haven't learned much yet about the series, but Netflix's DROP 01 event gave us a short teaser trailer that previews the wild action to come.

Twisted Metal: The Series: Season 2

Release Date: TBA on Peacock

Twisted Metal star Anthony Mackie confirmed at 2023's The Game Awards that the Peacock show will be returning for a second season.

"I have to give a Sweet Tooth-sized thank you to our incredible fans - I read every comment and was so blown away by everyone's love, support, and rabid enthusiasm for a paper bag," Showrunner Michael Jonathan Smith wrote in a press release. "We are beyond thankful we get to continue the story of John Doe, Quiet, and Sweet Tooth as they face off against familiar faces and new grim foes in the long-awaited Twisted Metal tournament. The mixtape is made, and I’m thrilled to get back on the road with our stellar cast and crew."

In our Twisted Metal: The Series review, we said, "Though overloaded with jokes at times, Twisted Metal is a miraculously enjoyable blend of comedy, violence, and thoughtfulness."

Days Gone

Release Date: TBA

PlayStation Productions is reportedly developing a film based on Days Gone with X-Men: First Class story developer Sheldon Turner. The producers are said to be eyeing Outlander star Sam Heughan to play Deacon St. John.

Dredge

Release Date: TBA

Dredge, the part creature collector and part eerie horror Lovecraftian fishing game, will be getting a big screen adaptation from Story Kitchen. The media company wants fans to think of this film as "The Sixth Sense on the water. A grounded atmospheric cosmic horror blend of HP Lovecraft and Ernest Hemingway."

Pokemon: Detective Pikachu 2

Release Date: TBA

Legendary Pictures announced a sequel to Detective Pikachu in January 2019, two months before the original hit theaters. 22 Jump Street's Oren Uziel wrote a draft of the screenplay, and in 2023 it was revealed that Jonathan Krisel is directing and Chris Galletta is the latest writer to take on the follow-up.

Stray

Release Date: TBA

Annapurna has confirmed that a Stray animated movie is in development, and it comes from the studios new animated division that is led by former Disney Animation executives Robert Baird and Andrew Millstein.

BioShock

Release Date: TBA

There's always a lighthouse, and apparently there's always a BioShock adaptation in the works. After a previous attempt to bring the beloved first-person shooter to film form fell apart at Universal years ago, Netflix and Take-Two announced in early 2022 that a BioShock film adaptation is in the works for the streaming service. Hunger Games director Francis Lawrence is on-board to direct the film and Logan and Blade Runner 2049 writer Michael Green will pen the script for the story that will be “really true to the game itself.”

In October 2023, it was confirmed the was still in the writing stage but that the team was very optimistic about how the project was going, and in July 2024 producer Roy Lee said the film was still in the works but with a reduced budget.

Assassin's Creed TV Series

Release Date: TBA on Netflix

Netflix has announced that it will produce a live-action Assassin's Creed series, executive produced by Ubisoft's Jason Altman and Danielle Kreinik, which will be the first of multiple new projects. The live-action series will be an "epic, genre-bending live action adaptation." The collaboration will "tap into the iconic video game’s trove of dynamic stories" to create live-action, animated and anime series.

Unfortunately, the series lost Die Hard writer Jeb Stuart back in January 2023.

Splinter Cell Movie and TV Series

Release Date: Presumed Cancelled for the Movie, TBA for Series on Netflix

Many fans around the world have been hoping that Sam Fisher will finally make his long-awaited return. While we know a Splinter Cell Remake is on its way, it was also revealed that a movie and TV series were also in the works.

Back in 2012, it was reported that Tom Hardy was going to be starring as Fisher in a film adaptation, but we haven't heard any meaningful updates since around 2015 when Hardy said filming would begin in early 2016. As for the show, our last official update was in 2021 when Netflix gave a first look at what the animated series adaptation would look like.

Castlevania: Nocturne: Season 2

Release Date: TBA on Netflix

Netflix's Castlevania: Nocturne is coming back for a new season and will follow the "next chapter in the rise of Richter Belmont."

In our review of Castlevania: Nocturne's first season, we said it "fires on just about every cylinder it needs to. Action, horror, and period-specific turmoil coalesce in a sequel series of comparable quality to the first season of Castlevania."

Which of these video game movie or TV show adaptations are you most looking forward to? Let's discuss in the comments!

Note: This story was updated on 1/9/2024. It was originally posted on 10/21/2021.

Information about the Mass Effect TV show at Amazon has been sparse since its announcement back in 2021, but fans can start getting excited about this adaptation becoming a reality as conversation emerges surrounding who will be cast to play each character.

Just yesterday, voice actor Jennifer Hale told Eurogamer that not only is she pining for a role in the series, but she thinks the other voice actors from the games should also return for their parts in the TV adaptation as well.

"You will always get a yes vote from me on Shepard coming back in any form," said Hale, who voiced the female version of main character Commander Shepard in the original game trilogy. "That was such a gift, and it's a gift I will always be extremely joyful to receive."

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio will release the New Game Plus mode for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii as free downloadable content after facing controversy over charging for it in previous game Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.

RGG announced the New Game Plus mode during a Like a Dragon Direct today, January 9, though didn't say when the "post release patch" would arrive exactly. Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii itself launches February 21.

The studio faced backlash from fans in early 2024 when it revealed the New Game Plus mode for mainline entry Infinite Wealth would be locked behind the more expensive edition.

Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii similarly has different editions but these just include digital extras such as new crew members and skins, while the most expensive version has some physical bonuses such as an eye patch and pirate flag.

The game is a spin-off sequel to Infinite Wealth, the eighth mainline entry in the Yakuza / Like a Dragon series (or ninth including Yakuza 0). It follows Majima as he wakes up with amnesia and becomes a pirate, exploring the likes of Hawaii along the way.

A trailer released at the October Xbox Partner Showcase revealed a proper first look at ship combat akin to Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag and the return of the beloved character Taiga Saejima, perhaps teasing more ties to the main series than previously thought.

It will also be a decent bit longer than previous Yakuza spin-off Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, with its story taking around 15 to 18 hours to complete. Fans can also dress up Majima as longtime series protagonist Kiryu Kazuma, but only if they sign up for email notifications.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Transformers: Reactivate gameplay seems to have leaked following the announcement that the project was canceled yesterday.

Footage of what appears to be the early-in-development Transformers third-person action game found its way to X/Twitter just hours after developer Splash Damage revealed it had made the decision to “end development” for the project. The video, shared online by X account @DpzLuna, features fan-favorite Autobot Bumblebee as he blasts away enemy robots both in and out of car form. His movement options include the ability to drive around a few different city-like environments and use short, rocket-powered dashes during gunfights.

Texture-less roads, unfinished weapon effects, and more rough-around-the-edges elements suggest more work was needed on this version of the project, though it's unclear at what point in development the footage was captured. There’s also no telling whether the video we’re seeing today would have resulted in a cohesive package or which other Transformers players would have been able to control. Still, it seems some progress had been made on Transformers: Reactivate before it ultimately met its demise.

Transformers Reactivate Gameplay Unreal Engine 5#TransformersReactivate #PlayTFR #Transformers pic.twitter.com/rF707RAhij

— Transformers: Reactivate | DpzLuna (@DpzLuna) January 8, 2025

Transformers: Reactivate was originally announced as a new video game entry in the long-running robot universe back at The Game Awards in 2022. Splash Damage pitched it to players as an online action game with a “fresh, new story” for PC and consoles, but updates on its progress have been few and far between since its initial reveal. Hope for any news came to a halt yesterday when the team said it would no longer continue working on its Transformers game as it refocused resources on other projects amid fears of potential layoffs.

"While not being able to see the game through to release is painful, having to say goodbye to friends and colleagues hurts even more,” Splash Damage said at the time. “We're now focused on doing everything we can to support them through this tough period, just as we are committed to caring for those who stay with us as we build a stronger Splash Damage for the future."

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.

Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.

Nintendo is teaming with Lego once again but not for a Super Mario, Animal Crossing, or Mario Kart set this time, but instead a Lego Game Boy.

An incredibly brief teaser trailer was shared by Nintendo of America on X/Twitter, below, which showed a literal handful of bricks that make up the Game Boy including the iconic purple buttons and directional pad.

The finished product therefore wasn't shown, but an October 2025 release window was shared. Nintendo and Lego will likely share full details on the model, such as its price, number of bricks, and actual design, closer to the time.

Build the classic Nintendo system in LEGO® form. Coming October 2025. pic.twitter.com/XEyhbARqXq

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) January 9, 2025

Nintendo and Lego now have a long and presumably prosperous relationship having released myriad Nintendo Lego sets in partnership. This includes lines targeted at younger fans such as Lego sets based on Super Mario and Mario Kart, but also some more sophisticated models too.

These include, for example, the Lego Pirhana Plant, a 16-bit Mario and Yoshi from Super Mario World, and a colossal Bowser. It recently released the first The Legend of Zelda set too with the $300 Great Deku Tree.

The most similar product to this incoming Game Boy is, however, the Lego Nintendo Entertainment System. This arrived in 2024 as a replica of the classic games console and both Lego and Nintendo surely hope fans of it will buy the Lego Game Boy to go alongside.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Attack on Titan Revolution Update 2.5 is kicking off 2025 for Roblox fans with a new Armored Titan Raid, a rework for Fritz, new Abnormal variants, and more.

The update, which is live now for players across all platforms, launched earlier today and seeks to set the Attack on Titan simulator up for a colossal year. Arriving alongside the ongoing Christmas festivities, every gameplay tweak and cosmetic addition gives players new anime-themed gear and challenges to enjoy.

The aforementioned Armored Titan Raid tops the list of additions, with the team behind Attack on Titan Revolution describing it as a two-phase event that tasks soldiers with defending rescue boats while fighting off the plated beast. With this comes new Raid Artifacts, such as the Scars and Rifle, and cosmetics, like the Young Reiner’s Outfit and Marleyan Band.

Ubisoft has delayed Assassin's Creed Shadows yet again, this time by another month.

Assassin's Creed Shadows was due out February 14, 2025, but will now launch on March 20 instead. This is the game's second delay, after an initial release date of November 12, 2024 was pushed back to this year.

"As part of the renewed focus on gameplay quality and engaging Day-1 experiences, it has been decided to provide an additional month of development to Assassin’s Creed Shadows," Ubisoft said.

"This additional time will allow the team to better incorporate the player feedback gathered over the past three months and help create the best conditions for launch by continuing to engage closely with the increasingly positive Assassin’s Creed community. The game is now scheduled for March 20."

Ubisoft boss Yves Guillemot, added: "we are all behind our teams’ efforts to create the most ambitious Assassin’s Creed opus of the franchise and made the decision to provide an extra month of development to Shadows in order to better incorporate the player feedback gathered over the past three months that will enable us to fully deliver on the potential of the game and finish the year on a strong note."

This second delay to Assassin's Creed Shadows comes during one of the most troubling times in Ubisoft's history. The company is reportedly in buyout talks with Chinese megacorp Tencent after a torrid 2024 in which it closed studios, shut down games, and made mass layoffs. Star Wars Outlaws failed to meet sales expectations, and Call of Duty competitor XDefiant was discontinued.

Ubisoft’s shares fell to their lowest level in the last decade in September after Ubisoft made a series of dramatic announcements around the performance of its games. As well as delaying Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ubisoft announced a return to Steam after a period of PC launch exclusivity on the Epic Games Store, with Star Wars Outlaws recently releasing on Valve’s platform. However, the generally much-loved Assassin’s Creed Origins suffering a review-bomb campaign on Steam after a Windows PC update rendered it unplayable for some.

As part of the "strategic update" announced alongside Assassin's Creed Shadows' latest delay, Ubisoft said it had appointed "leading advisors to review and pursue various transformational strategic and capitalistic options to extract the best value for stakeholders." That's a lot of corporate speak that hints at a potential sale.

"This process will be overseen by the independent members of the Board of Directors," the company continued. "Ubisoft will inform the market in accordance with applicable regulations if and once a transaction materializes."

Meanwhile, Ubisoft warned that "significant" cost reductions are to come to the tune of more than €200 million (approx. $205 million) by FY2025-26 vs. FY2022-23 on an annualized basis. As part of this came the aforementioned closure of XDefiant and its San Francisco developer or — as Ubisoft put it: "In December, XDefiant was discontinued and three production studios in high-cost geographies were closed."

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Kingdom Hearts series director Tetsuya Nomura has shared a cryptic tease for the long dormant Kingdom Hearts 4 by pointing to the epilogue of Kingdom Hearts 3 and even a Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep connection.

The Kingdom Hearts X/Twitter account shared a message from Nomura on Birth by Sleep's 15th anniversary, where he discussed the crossroad scene at its climax.

He then connected some dots for less familiar fans, saying these crossroad scenes have long appeared in Kingdom Hearts and all follow the concept of giving something up to gain something in return. The brief epilogue at the end of Kingdom Hearts 3 was a crossroads scene in itself, and though he doesn't reference Kingdom Hearts 4 directly, he said an explanation of this epilogue is "a story for another time."

Nomura explained: "Crossroads act as an important point of divergence. To trace it right back, the motif was inspired by the well known crossroad myth from American folklore. The story goes like this: A young man makes a deal with the devil at a crossroads, trading his soul for the ability to play the guitar.

"The first time a crossroads appears in Kingdom Hearts is in Chain of Memories, which is about losing something to gain something. And in fact, all subsequent appearances of crossroads have the same significance.

"The greatest example is Birth by Sleep, a story where all three protagonists pay a heavy price to obtain something. But wait... When the Lost Masters gather at the crossroads in Kingdom Hearts 3, what is gained and what is lost? That's a story for another time."

This tiny, cryptic tease for Kingdom Hearts 4 is the most fans have had in years. Despite being revealed in September 2022 with a full cinematic trailer, developer Square Enix has since gone incredibly quiet and, in series tradition, left fans pining for more information.

The trailer showed flashy gameplay with protagonist Sora but Square Enix said this was from an Unreal Engine 4 demo, whereas the actual game will be made in Unreal Engine 5. It's already been analyzed completely too, and some even think there's evidence of a Star Wars section.

Otherwise, Nomura has said Kingdom Hearts 4 will, after 22 years and a whopping 18 games, finally shift the Kingdom Hearts narrative towards its conclusion.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

Recently revealed at CES 2025, Lenovo's Legion Go S with Windows is now up for preorder at Best Buy for $729.99. You won't have to wait too long to get your hands on it, either, as this version is set to release early this year on February 14. As a bonus, you can also score one month free of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate with your purchase. What better way to get started gaming on it?

Get your preorders in today at the link below. You can find more details further down on this gaming handheld's specs and our first impressions with it while at CES 2025, too.

Preorder the Lenovo Legion Go S