After years of diminishing returns, Black Mirror returns to form in season 7 with one of its best outings yet. The anthology series demonstrates its range and flexibility by getting back to its most dystopian roots, delivering an extremely fun sequel to a fan favorite episode, and tapping Paul Giamatti for a beautifully melancholy story about dealing with painful memories. Some of the episodes are a bit predictable or too focused on recapturing Black Mirror’s past glories, but for once, there isn’t a single dud in the mix.

Series creator and writer Charlie Brooker said people can get enough dystopia just looking out their windows these days, so the season 7 leans towards lighter and more optimistic stories. But the premiere, “Common People,” is as dark and bleak as anything he’s penned since season 1. Rashida Jones and Chris O’Dowd are immediately charming as Amanda and Mike, a working-class couple trying to start a family, but there are few things scarier than seemingly normal, happy people in an episode of Black Mirror. When a health crisis lands Amanda in the hospital, an experimental treatment seems like a miracle – but puts her very mind at the mercy of a greedy corporation.

The episode is a perfect crystallization of Black Mirror’s original mission to explore the dark intersection of technology and human nature. It’s a thorough rebuke of the United States’ cruel healthcare system, where people with chronic illness and lower incomes are made to suffer pointlessly while the wealthy enjoy the best treatment for both necessary and elective care. Beyond condemning corporate greed, “Common People” is also a scathing rebuke of people who find desperation entertaining, imagining an all too realistic livestream that’s a fusion of GoFundMe and MrBeast where people debase themselves for small donations. It’s a deeply tragic episode that evokes a feeling of powerlessness as potent as season 1’s “Fifteen Million Merits.”

Equally tearjerking is “Eulogy,” the rare Black Mirror episode where the novel technology is purely used for good. Here the disc used to play video games in “USS Callister” and “Striking Vipers” allows Phillip (Giamatti) to share his memories of his late ex, so they can be used in her funeral service. The journey through old pictures is gorgeously directed by Chris Barrett and Luke Taylor, with images coming into focus or even blossoming into color as Phillip reconnects to moments he thought he would rather forget and reconciles with his own role in the breakup. This is a classic Giamatti role – an isolated crank who might just have a good heart – and he unsurprisingly nails every aspect of the emotional journey.

“Bete Noire” is a quirkier tale, following confectionary developer Maria (Siena Kelly) as her world starts to unravel when Verity (Rosy McEwen), a former classmate, appears at the taste test for Maria’s latest creation. The discordant tone is set early by the ominous music that marks each passing day in Maria’s life: It feels totally at odds with the beginning of the story, where the biggest problem at the confectionary seems to be a staffer who’s annoyed that someone else is drinking her almond milk. McEwen does a great job alternating between the meek, helpful Verity all of Maria’s colleagues see to a gleeful, gaslighting villain. The plot is a bit too obvious, given frequently the high-tech way Verity is messing with Maria has been used in other, recent science fiction, but the episode still delivers a solid mix of psychodrama and comedy.

The nostalgic, queer love story of “Hotel Reverie” aims for the magic of season 3’s “San Junipero” – but in premise and execution, it’s an example of how remakes rarely live up to the original. This time, the sparks fly between Brandy Friday (Issa Rae) – an A-lister who steps into the lead role in a new version of a beloved film – and the AI recreation of the original’s star, Dorothy (Emma Corin). Corin and Rae have great chemistry, and Awkwafina adds plenty of comedy by leading the film crew trying to keep the slapdash production going as things quickly go off the rails. But “Hotel Reverie” ultimately feels more like a Star Trek holodeck episode than the second coming of Black Mirror’s romantic masterpiece.

Black Mirror often uses Easter eggs to connect its episodes into a shared universe, but season 7 draws the most direct connections. “Plaything” is effectively a dual-timeline spinoff of the interactive film “Bandersnatch,” following video game journalist Cameron Walker (played by Lewis Gribben in 1994 and Peter Capaldi in the present of 2034), whose life was transformed by the latest project from star developer Colin Ritman (Will Poulter), who served as the enigmatic mentor for the protagonist of Bandersnatch. Director David Slade seems to be emulating The Usual Suspects and Se7en in terms of structure and tone, with the story told in flashbacks presented by Cameron in an interrogation room. Unfortunately, the twist is predictable and the overblown good cop/bad cop dynamic doesn’t give Capaldi enough to work with.

Fortunately, Black Mirror shines in its first true sequel, “USS Callister: Into Infinity." The crew of digitally cloned Infinity coworkers may have escaped from being tortured on Robert Daly’s (Jesse Plemons) private server, but now they’re struggling to survive and gather resources as CEO James Walton (Jimmi Simpson) aggressively monetizes the MMO they fled to. Like the original, this is a love letter to Star Trek, combining aspects of The Search for Spock and The Final Frontier with the goofy bumbling of Lower Decks. It evokes the franchise in its music, visuals, and structure – and captures the signature Trek charm of unlikely comrades taking big risks together.

“Into Infinity” also delves into some of the same philosophical questions as Severance, with technology creating multiple versions of the same person. Cristin Milioti does excellent work transitioning between the Nanette Cole who is still an insecure programmer and the one who’s become a hardened starship captain. But the real star is Simpson, who is hilarious both as Walton’s callous real world self and his pathetic in-game clone.

Former Nintendo of America boss Reggie Fils-Aimé has pointed to the story of Wii pack-in game Wii Sports in thinly-veiled tweets addressing the controversy surrounding Nintendo’s decision to charge for Switch 2 tutorial game Welcome Tour.

Amid the furore around the $449.99 price of the Switch 2 and Mario Kart World's $79.99 price tag, there was also shock at Nintendo’s decision to charge for interactive instruction manual, Welcome Tour.

Nintendo revealed Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour during its Nintendo Direct last week. It’s a game set to launch alongside the Switch 2 in June that offers a guided tour of the console itself in video game form.

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is described as a "virtual exhibition" of the new hardware. Per Nintendo: "through tech demos, minigames and other interactions, players will get to know the new system inside and out in ways they may never have known about otherwise."

The Nintendo Direct showed footage of a small player avatar exploring a super-sized Switch 2, reading about the different features and facts about the console. It also includes mini-games such as Speed Golf, Dodge the Spiked Balls, and a Maracas Physics Demo.

IGN has confirmed that Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour costs $9.99 and is a digital-only product. That’s significantly cheaper than other Switch 2 games, but IGN has already reported to the complaints from some Nintendo fans that Welcome Tour costs money at all, with many saying it should be a Switch 2 pack-in, as DualSense tech demo game Astro's Playroom was for PlayStation 5.

Now, Fils-Aimé has tweeted three clips from IGN’s two-year-old interview with the former Nintendo executive in which he discussed the internal battle he had with legendary developer Shigeru Miyamoto to get Wii Sports as a free pack-in for the hugely successful Wii console.

In the first clip, Fils-Aimé says "it is an understatement to say that Mr. Miyamoto pushed back” on the call to make Wii Sports a Wii console pack-in. As we know, this is a battle Fils-Aimé won to a degree, with Wii Sports bundled with the Wii everywhere except Japan.

The story of Wii Sports pack in ...https://t.co/LhflSFWaL3

— Reggie Fils-Aimé (@Reggie) April 9, 2025

The second interview clip Fils-Aimé tweeted pointed to a similar battle to bundle Wii Play with the Wii Remote. In the clip from our interview, Fils-Aimé revealed he “pissed off” Miyamoto once again with the suggestion. “He was not happy about that either.”

And finally, tweeting “and the results,” Fils-Aimé clipped out the section from our interview in which he reveals that all this was, ultimately, the right call.

“In the Americas and in Europe Wii Sports was packed in with the Wii proposition. It was not in Japan, which created a bit of a test market. It was obvious that in the markets where Wii Sports was packed in that we became much more of a phenomenon. Wii Sports itself became much more of a phenomenon.

“We did pack the Remote with Wii Play. And it became the fifth best-selling piece of software in the history of the Wii.”

And the results.https://t.co/xrFTDeJMQf

— Reggie Fils-Aimé (@Reggie) April 9, 2025

It’s clear to see what Fils-Aimé is doing here. Although he’s not directly commenting on Nintendo’s Switch 2 strategy, he is making the point that free pack-ins have worked in the past for Nintendo consoles,so it stands to reason that it would do so again for Switch 2.

Fans know what’s up, too. “Hahaha, guys I think Reggie is watching our comments about the Switch 2,” said one X / Twitter user. “We know you would have packed in Welcome Tour,” said another.

This week, IGN published its interview with Nintendo of America's Vice President of Product and Player Experience, Bill Trinen, conducted at a recent Switch 2 preview event in New York, but before Nintendo announced the delay to pre-orders due to Trump’s tariffs.

Trinen said there’s more to Welcome Tour than it appears based on the showing during the Nintendo Direct and even during recent hands-on opportunities the media had access to. Based on what’s actually in the game, Nintendo decided $9.99 “is not an exorbitant price,” he continued.

There are a bevy of great wireless gaming headsets on the market, many of which pack several key features that we’ve come to expect. High-end wired headphones, however – the kind from companies like Sennheiser or Audio Technica that audiophiles gravitate towards – tend to focus on the things that matter most in the audio experience: comfort and sound quality. Beyerdynamic is in the conversation as well, and with its new MMX 300 Pro, you get a wired headset with that audiophile-level of sound quality, paired with impressive clarity from its built-in microphone.

At a regular price of around $300 USD, it’s a tough pitch considering that even the best wireless gaming headsets can be found for lower. But at the high-end where studio-grade audio quality is achievable, the MMX 300 Pro shows why good audio is worth investing in.

Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro – Design and Comfort

The MMX 300 Pro is built on a metal frame with leather-like padding wrapped around the headband for comfort – the padding buckles onto the headset so you can remove it, although there wouldn’t be any reason to do so unless you want to customize or replace it. Each earcup extends out to accommodate bigger heads and voluminous hair as most headphones or headsets would. The frame itself is flexible and can twist or contort without feeling like it’s going to snap or get damaged, so you get the impression of durability right off the bat.

What makes the MMX 300 Pro comfortable to wear for long sessions is the densely padded earcups with their velvety velour upholstery. Velour is my favorite material for earcups on headphones and headsets, and these strike a wonderful balance between comfort, breathability, and sound isolation. Although the headset has a slightly tight clamp to it, I never felt like there was too much pressure even after two or three hours of wearing them. And over the course of a week of using them daily, they started to break in and feel even easier to wear.

This isn’t a flashy headset; Beyerdynamic puts out the type of headsets that are no-nonsense, so you’ll see only a bit of branding along the side of what’s an otherwise fairly discreet-looking product. One thing to note here is that the microphone on the left earcup is not detachable – it can rotate nearly 360-degrees around to get it out of your face, and the gooseneck-style mic arm flexes into place so you can lock it into any position you need, but if you want the MMX 300 Pro to look like just a pair of headphones, well, sorry.

Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro – Features

The MMX 300 Pro is a slim package; you get the headset, a 3.5mm dongle to unify the audio and microphone jacks (handy for consoles), and a pop filter for the mic – that’s it. Along the detachable 8.2-foot cable is the microphone mute toggle and volume control wheel (which acts independently of the device it's connected to).

Since this is a wired analog headset, there are no onboard features like active noise canceling, built-in microphone feedback, or swappable EQ presets via software. This headset is tuned a specific way, so if you want to pair it with an amplifier or DAC, you can definitely get a more custom audio profile, but those are factors outside of the headset itself.

However, there’s a comfort in knowing that what you hear is what you get – especially when the MMX 300 Pro delivers some of the best audio I’ve experienced from a closed-back gaming headset. That’s because of Beyerdynamic’s “Stellar.45” audio drivers, which are also found on the professional-grade DT 700 Pro X and DT 900 Pro X headphones.

Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro – Sound Quality and Microphone

The MMX 300 Pro has the best sound quality I’ve experienced when compared to your typical gaming headset. By using the same tech found in its high-end headphones, Beyerdynamic stakes its claim on uncompromising audio, and that’s the hope considering the price tag.

As with other audio gear, I played ranked matches of Counter-Strike 2 and cleared several raid instances in Final Fantasy XIV, in addition to using the MMX 300 Pro as my daily headphones for music – the results were fantastic. Everything sounds full and bold due to its strong bass that doesn’t get distorted at loud volumes. Yet it remains balanced so as to not drown out other frequencies, so the clarity of mids and vocals are still highlighted. And with highs that tend to be ear-piercing at loud volumes on lower-end headsets, the MMX 300 Pro handled them wonderfully, letting me enjoy the details in the sound design of the games I played.

In Counter-Strike 2, gunshots and explosions didn’t sound distorted and had a punchy edge to them. But what’s most important in a game like this is positional audio. This being a closed-back headset, you tend to lose some of the spatial audio advantages of open-back headphones or a gaming headset with audio profiles specifically designed to tease out certain types of sounds or simulate distance. For gameplay in particular though, I still wouldn’t say I was at a disadvantage or advantage compared to other high-end headsets I’ve used. Even without special gaming features, the clarity and detail was enough for me to anticipate enemies around corners and figure out their actions to inform my decisions in a match. So to be clear, the MMX 300 Pro is no slouch here, which is expected from a headset of this caliber.

For Final Fantasy XIV, the new Dawntrail raid series introduced several incredible new songs, so I was happy to play with the sound at full blast. As I’ve said in the past, with all the sound effects of spells and attacks going off simultaneously in a party of eight players, FFXIV can be very busy sonically. However, it was nice to hear everything in full detail without any particular frequency sounding crunchy and still have the soundtrack playing in all its glory.

Some budget headsets are able to get away from their limitations with software-side solutions, but this can sometimes sound artificial. Audio gear in this range, on the other hand, doesn’t suffer from that problem, which is why I tend to gravitate towards headphones from companies like Beyerdynamic. I use the Sennheiser HD 599 as my everyday headphones, but the bolder bass of the MMX 300 Pro actually has me a bit bummed to go back to old faithful (I still love my Sennheisers, though). So, as someone who cares a lot about sound in the gaming experience, the MMX 300 Pro represents the kind of audio experience I believe is worth paying for.

To my surprise, it’s the microphone that justifies the price. I’m using an Elgato Wave 3 as my external microphone at the moment and will continue to do so. But if I had to rely on the MMX 300 Pro’s built-in mic, I wouldn’t be mad – in fact, I’d be pretty happy. I recorded my voice through Audacity and compared the two side-by-side, and the mic on the MMX 300 Pro rivals mid-range standalone mics. It has clarity worthy of streaming, podcasting, or just recording your voice for content creation. Even just hopping into Discord with friends, they were surprised to hear I was using a headset mic. Compared to the Elgato Wave 3, the headset mic is a bit muffled and still has some popping when pronouncing P’s (even with the pop filter), but the overall quality is very impressive. Simply put, the MMX 300 Pro has the best built-in headset microphone I’ve used thus far.

One caveat to consider, however, is that since this is a closed-back headset, it’s tough to hear yourself talk if you don’t have a way to monitor the microphone feed. With open-back headphones, this isn’t much of an issue, and good headsets like the recent Turtle Beach Stealth 600 and Atlas Air I reviewed recently offer sidetone. (Take note of the aside at the top of this review if you are interested in the open-back version of Beyerdynamic's headset.)

Crack open the piggy bank and stretch those thumbs because today’s bargains are banger-tastic. From high-speed karting to gritty sci-fi sagas, there’s something for every aficionado, and some of the prices are frankly outrageous (in a good way).

This Day in Gaming 🎂

In retro news, I'm celebrating the 17th birthday of Professor Layton and the Curious Village. I still have vivid memories of this head-scratching puzzler making me feel dumber than usual. The premise itself was elegantly simple, mind you: Professor Layton and his young assistant Luke are summoned to solve the mystery of a hidden inheritance. But the narrative beyond was interwoven with over 130 logic teasers and sliding block conundrums dispensed by the town’s quirky residents. Worth a replay (but have Google on hand).

Aussie bdays for notable games

- Professor Layton Curious Village (DS) 2008. eBay

- Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn (Wii) 2008. eBay

Contents

• Nintendo
• Xbox
• PlayStation
• PC
• PC Gear
• LEGO
• Headphones
• TVs

Nice Savings for Nintendo Switch

Over on the Nintendo Switch, Mario & Luigi: Brothership drops anchor with a tidy 20% off. It’s the first time in nearly a decade that the mustachioed duo has teamed up in a new game, and it marks the spiritual return of AlphaDream-style RPG zaniness. Alongside that, Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled skids into the spotlight with 22% off. It was a loving remake with so many retro references, even the cheat codes got a comeback.

• Mario & Luigi: Brothership (-20%) - A$64
• Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled (-22%) - A$55
• Sonic Forces (-25%) - A$45
• Life Is Strange: Double Exposure (-31%) - A$60
• Dragon Ball FighterZ (-45%) - A$50

Expiring Recent Deals

• Monster Hunter Rise (-75%) - A$15
• Ni No Kuni II: P.E. (-84%) - A$13
• The Escapists: Complete (-90%) - A$2
• Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory (-44%) - A$50
• Expeditions: A MudRunner (-42%) - A$49
• Star Wars Heritage Pack (-32%) - A$77

Or gift a Nintendo eShop Card.

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Exciting Bargains for Xbox

Over on Xbox Series X, GTA V hits its lowest price ever at just A$25. Nearly a dozen years in, Rockstar still drops fresh content into Los Santos like it's a live soap opera. Pair it with Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, where Cal Kestis' lightsaber customisation game is strong. I spent way too much time tinkering there and so can you.

• Space Marine 2 (-27%) - A$80
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (-24%) - A$84
• Grand Theft Auto V (-60%) - A$25
• Suicide Squad: KTJL (-83%) - A$20
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (-23%) - A$90

Xbox One

• Call of Duty: MW2 (-35%) - A$44
• F1 24 (-48%) - A$36
• FC 25 (-65%) - A$39

Expiring Recent Deals

• Shin Megami Tensei V (-62%) - A$34
• Resident Evil 4 (-28%) - A$43
• Gotham Knights (-86%) - A$15
• Tekken 8 (-42%) - A$49
• Wolfenstein: The Old Blood (-62%) - A$16
• Hot Wheels Unleashed (-28%) - A$40
• Borderlands: Handsome Col. (-53%) - A$34

Or just invest in an Xbox Card.

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Pure Scores for PlayStation

And on PS5, Tales of Arise is slashed to A$34, its emotionally charged story inspired by Studio Ghibli’s art direction. Meanwhile, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition gets a tidy 35% off, with its much-improved expansion, Phantom Liberty, bringing Idris Elba to Night City as the coolest spy in recent memory.

• Split Fiction (-16%) - A$59
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (-23%) - A$90
• DualSense Chroma Pearl (-135%) - A$109
• Tales of Arise (-67%) - A$34
• Grand Theft Auto V (-60%) - A$25
• Cyberpunk 2077: Ult. Ed. (-35%) - A$70
• Quidditch Champions Del. (-68%) - A$20
• Gran Turismo 7 (-21%) - A$99

PS4

• The Last of Us Part II (-21%) - A$48
• Blasphemous (-80%) - A$8
• My Friend Pedro (-80%) - A$5

Expiring Recent Deals

• Sonic X Shadow Gen. (-35%) - A$49
• Metaphor: ReFantazio (-33%) - A$77
• Elden Ring (-41%) - A$59
• Granblue Fantasy: Relink (-58%) - A$36
• TopSpin 2K25 (-81%) - A$19
• Dave the Diver (-35%) - A$20
• Trine: Ult. Col. (-80%) - A$16
• Bayonetta (-75%) - A$10
• Diablo III: Eternal Col. (-67%) - A$33
• Sonic Mania (-60%) - A$12

PS+ Monthly Freebies
Yours to keep from Apr 1 with this subscription

• RoboCop: Rogue City | PS5
• The Texas Chain Saw Massacre | PS4/5
• Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth HM | PS4

Or purchase a PS Store Card.

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Purchase Cheap for PC

PC players get spoiled too: Inside is going for a jaw-dropping A$3. A haunting platformer by the folks behind Limbo, it’s said the developers scrapped over 70 prototype ideas before locking in its eerie minimalist aesthetic. And for those who prefer stylish demon-smashing, the Devil May Cry Franchise Pack is slashing prices by 71%. Fun fact: Dante was originally meant to be a sci-fi cyborg named “Tony Redgrave”. Bullet dodged.

• Monster Hunter Wilds (-20%) - A$84
• Devil May Cry Franchise Pack (-71%) - A$30
• Inside (-90%) - A$3
• Marvel's Midnight Suns (-85%) - A$14
• Superhot (-70%) - A$11
• Planet Zoo (-75%) - A$17

Expiring Recent Deals

• Metaphor: ReFantazio (-30%) - A$81
• Control: Ult. Ed. (-85%) - A$9
• SteamWorld Heist (-90%) - A$3
• Sons of the Forest (-60%) - A$18
• Red Dead 2 (-75%) - A$23

Or just get a Steam Wallet Card

Laptop Deals

• Apple 2024 MacBook Air 15-inch (-12%) – A$2,197
• Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 5 (-36%) - A$879
• Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen7 (-27%) - A$1,018

Desktop Deals

• HP OMEN 35L Gaming (-10%) – A$2,799
• Lenovo ThinkCentre neo Ultra (-25%) - A$2,249
• Lenovo ThinkCentre neo 50q (-35%) – A$629

Monitor Deals

• LG 24MR400-B, 24" (-30%) - A$97
• Z-Edge 27" 240Hz (-15%) - A$279
• Samsung 57" Odyssey Neo Curved (-22%) – A$2,499

Component Deals

• MSI PRO B650M-A WiFi Motherboard (-41%) – A$229
• AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D (-7%) – A$876
• Corsair Vengeance 32GB (-35%) – A$82
• Kingston FURY Beast 16GB (-30%) – A$48

Storage Deals

• Seagate One Touch Portable HDD (-24%) – A$228
• Kingston 1TB USB 3.2 SSD (-17%) – A$115
• SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO (-63%) – A$29
• SanDisk 32GB Ultra SDHC (-53%) – A$9.90

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Legit LEGO Deals

• Boba Fett’s Throne Room (-55%) - A$72
• Friends Advent Calendar (-62%) - A$24
• Marvel: Red Hulk Battle (-34%) - A$59
• City: Doughnut Truck Toy (-33%) - A$20

Expiring Recent Deals

• Technic Ducati Panigale (-40%) - A$179
• Fire Rescue Motorcycle (-36%) - A$10
• 3in1 Medieval Dragon (-34%) - A$59
• Harry Potter: Hippogriff (-34%) - A$59

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Hot Headphones Deals

Audiophilia for less

• Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro (-49%) – A$179
• Sony WH-CH520 Wireless (-27%) - A$73
• SoundPEATS Space (-25%) - A$56.99
• Technics Premium (-36%) - A$349

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Terrific TV Deals

Do right by your console, upgrade your telly

• Samsung S95D 77" OLED 4K (-19%) - A$6,499
• LG 43" UT80 4K (-23%) - A$693
• Kogan 65" QLED (-50%) – A$699

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Apple TV+ is quickly becoming a must-own streaming service, with hits like Mythic Quest and Severance continuing to lead discussion across social media. With access available across the entire Apple ecosystem and most TVs or gaming consoles, Apple TV+ is accessible from wherever you prefer to watch your content. For a limited time, you can grab three entire months of Apple TV+ for only $2.99 per month. If you've been waiting for Severance Season 2 to wrap up before jumping in to binge it, now is the time to dive into a first-time subscription at a historically low price.

Save 70% Off Three Months of Apple TV+

Universal Epic Universe’s immersive design around the park is impressive, but the queue line for the Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry ride might just take the cake. It took me about 1,300 steps to get from ride entrance, to ride boarding area–which is about half a mile–and the entirety of the on-foot journey surrounds you with intricate designs, thoughtful details, and massive set pieces.

The entrance to Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry is located inside The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic in Universal Epic Universe. Basically, it's meant to look like 1920's wizarding Paris. After heading through the Métro-Floo (a massive transport network for wizards) and a tunnel that lights up as you step through, emulating a magical portal, you emerge into a replica of the British Ministry of Magic. I wouldn’t say I’ve ever dreamt of fictional government buildings, but the massive scale of just this room and the incredible detail in everything is wild. The to-scale offices that line the walls even have working ceiling fans.

Walking through this huge room with impossibly tall ceilings and statues leads you to more… and more, and more. Beautiful corridors, moving wanted posters, talking paintings, and even an impressive animatronic of the house-elf, Higgledy, are all worthwhile enough just to peek at, even if there were no ride at the end of the “tunnel.” Throughout, the queue introduces the “plot” of this ride: the trial of universally disliked Dolores Umbridge. Another theme choice I would have never imagined would be used for a family-fun attraction: a trial.

It took my group, on a private media tour, about twenty minutes to very leisurely trek through it all, but even then we weren’t all entirely satisfied–there were a lot of details to take in, and likely plenty of nods I completely missed. You can see way more pictures of the line below, some provided by Universal and others taken by me.

To specify further, though we did wind back and forth occasionally, we skipped a lot of the zig-zagging likely needed if the queue was full. Regardless, I just couldn’t believe just how long it went on—I suppose Universal anticipates this ride having full, long lines, and at least they’ve provided the expected crowd with spectacularly decorated, mercifully air-conditioned waiting rooms that even have water fountains installed on occasion.

As far as production value goes, the Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry ride and line are up there in Epic Universe compared to other rides, but Dark Universe’s Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment makes for tough competition as far as presentation goes. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to see most of the line areas for Monster’s Unchained, but you'll get to see everything you'd like yourself once Universal Epic Universe opens fully on May 22 in Orlando, Florida. For more on Epic Universe, check back soon for a full list of the coolest things we saw at the park.

Casey DeFreitas is a deputy editor of guides at IGN and is the team's resident Floridian. Catch her on different socials @ShinyCaseyD

It’s common to see “Pro” iterations of gaming hardware, and they always denote some sort of definitive version of a base model. Whether that’s something as big as a PS5 Pro or a minor distinction like the Razer Viper V3 Pro, there usually comes a price hike, but not without tangible benefits. In the case of the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro mouse, it’s harder to distinguish between itself and its original counterpart outside of the higher polling rate, a feature in which mileage will vary. That’s not to say it's bad, because the original Pulsefire Haste 2 is one of my top recommendations for mid-range gaming mice – it’s just that I don’t think the Pro does enough to fully justify the higher price tag.

HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro – Design and Features

More so than other gaming mice I’ve used recently, the Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro sports more of a pronounced look with clearly defined lines and cuts between the mouse buttons and sides of the body. You can see HyperX branding on the palm and side, but just a little RGB as a treat on the scroll wheel. It’s nearly identical to the original mouse, but I’m not a big fan of the muted gray color scheme, and unfortunately it’s the only one available right now.

The thumb buttons on the side have a somewhat thin profile but they bulge out in a way that makes them easy to feel out and hit, and they have a firm actuation that’s quite nice. Both mouse buttons are built with HyperX's own optical switches that are crunchy and responsive, making rapid clicks since they also have a good bounce to them.

Compared to my go-to mice from Razer and Logitech, the Pulsefire Haste 2 doesn’t have as prominent of a hunch on the palm area, making it a bit tough for palm grips but its somewhat longer profile at least makes claw grips feel natural. At just 61g, it’s fairly lightweight which makes it easier to whip around and its density helps make sure it doesn’t feel cheap. The PTFE mouse feet on the underside don't cover nearly as much surface area as Razer's flagship mice, and I notice that the Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro doesn't glide quite as well across my desk mat, although it's still smooth enough to be accurate while gaming.

It earns its "Pro" moniker with the 4,000Hz polling rate, which means it registers movements to your system much more frequently, giving mouse movement a smoother and more accurate feel. You have to use the high-speed receiver in the package that connects via a USB-C cable along with the 2.4GHz wireless dongle. Otherwise, you can use the standard 2.4GHz dongle along for a max polling rate of 1,000Hz. The mouse can also connect via Bluetooth, which adds a little versatility for more casual scenarios and work environments.

HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro – Software and Battery Life

The Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro is a pretty straightforward mouse focused on performance, so there isn’t too much to customize or tinker with outside of setting your polling rate. So long as you're connected using the high polling rate receiver, you can access 4,000Hz and 2,000Hz polling rates in the top-right of the HyperX Ngenuity software (the mouse is set to 1,000Hz by default). You can also set the lift-off distance to a higher 2mm, but the standard 1mm feels right for how I swipe my mouse in gaming scenarios. Otherwise, this is where you customize the RGB lighting color and pattern along the scroll wheel and set up to five DPI sensitivities you can cycle through using the DPI button atop the mouse.

Battery life is great on the Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro, lasting up to 90 hours on the standard 1,000Hz polling rate. It's also efficient with a swift default rest mode to save battery when not in use – after three days straight of usage, roughly accounting for 30 hours (including a few hours with the 4,000Hz polling rate active for gaming), the mouse was still at 60% charge. It's rated to last around 30 hours total using the resource-hungry 4,000Hz, which is comparable to other mice of this caliber.

HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro – Performance

Competitive gaming with the Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro felt right based on the rounds of ranked matches I played in Counter-Strike 2 and Valorant. The fast and accurate HyperX 26K sensor holds its own regardless of whether you're using the higher polling rate. I didn't miss a beat controlling my spray patterns, whipping around a sniper rifle for quick-scope shots, or carefully maintaining my aim around corners as I moved. The tactile and bouncy mouse buttons were solid for semi-automatic weapons as well, where you can only fire as fast as your clicking will let you.

I often maintain that higher polling rates aren't going to make you a better player and will likely not affect your performance. But I think I've grown to enjoy how much smoother a 4,000Hz polling rate since it's able to pick up on and read the most incremental movements regardless of the speed in which I'm swiping the mouse. If you run higher fps in competitive games and have a high-refresh rate monitor, the benefit can definitely be felt. But you still have to play smart in these games, so don't expect it to make you jump up on the scoreboards.

In a less competitive, but still intense, environment like Final Fantasy XIV, the firm scroll wheel and side buttons shined a bit more. I'm constantly adjusting my camera distance and pulling off important actions mapped to extra buttons, so having both of these features working well made sure I wasn't caught lacking in my weekly raid clears and daily dungeon runs. My time with FFXIV did highlight that I prefer more shapely mice with more prominent hunches and grooves for long-term comfort, and in this regard, the Pulsefire Haste 2 Pro (and non-Pro) is a bit lacking.

The PlayStation Portal is a top-notch remote game player, and with a game-changing update from late last year, you’re no longer required to have a PlayStation 5 to game with the device. That’s right: The PlayStation Portal supports cloud gaming if you’ve got a PlayStation Plus subscription (and a strong Wi-Fi connection). The current library of games is limited, but this added functionality brings even more value to the remote player. What would make a PlayStation Portal even better? Adding a few new accessories to the mix.

TL;DR - The Best PlayStation Portal Accessories:

Sure, the display on the PlayStation Portals is brilliant, and the DualSense-style controls are easy to use and comfortable to hold, but extras can take the experience further. Some great wireless earbuds or a headset will place you right in the center of the action in the best PS5 games. Given the device doesn’t support Bluetooth, options are limited, though. A charging dock or case will keep the PlayStation Portal safely stowed away when not in use and a screen protector can prevent scratches to the precious display at all times.

To help in the hunt for the PlayStation Portal accessories, our experts have carefully reviewed and selected five great items to elevate your experience with Sony’s remote player. Take a look at our picks below.

Additional contributions by Ural Garrett and Georgie Peru

1. PlayStation Pulse Explore Wireless Earbuds

Best PlayStation Portal Headset

2. Orzly Carrying Case

Best PlayStation Portal case

3. Turtle Beach Battle Buds

Best Wired Earbuds for PlayStation Portal

4. Ivoler Tempered Glass Screen Protector

Best PlayStation Portal Screen Protector

5. FYoung Charging Dock Station

Best PlayStation Portal Charging Dock

How to Pick the Best PlayStation Portal Accessories

When it comes to choosing the perfect accessories for your PlayStation Portal, it's all about finding the right balance between functionality, portability, and style.

While the PlayStation Portal is somewhat less portable than its name might suggest, you can still use it on the go using a wireless hotspot. If you’re frequently on the move, you might want to consider protecting your console with a screen protector or case. This reduces the risk of scratches or damage, and makes it easier to transport.

Next, think about your gaming environment. Will you be playing primarily indoors or outdoors? If you're planning on gaming al fresco or in brightly lit areas, investing in a screen protector with anti-glare properties can help ensure optimal visibility, even in sunny conditions.

The trouble with handheld consoles is the dreaded low battery warning interrupting your gaming session. To avoid this, you’ll want to equip yourself with a reliable portable charger, power bank, or convenient charging station. This means you can jump back into the game quickly.

PlayStation Portal Accessories FAQ

What is the point of PlayStation Portal?

The PlayStation Portal provides the best possible way to enjoy the PS5 Remote Play app, which lets you stream PS5 games from your console. PlayStation also introduced cloud gaming support with a subscription to PlayStation Plus for the PSP. However, the selection of games is limited.

Do you need a PS5 for PlayStation Portal?

No, the PlayStation Portal no longer requires a PS5 to operate thanks to recent update that allows the support for cloud gaming with a PlayStation Plus subscription. However, its catalog of streamable games is limited.

If you want to play your entire library of PS5 games, you'll need a PS5. The PS5 runs the games, so it must be on or in Rest Mode for the Portal to work. The console will then use a Wi-Fi connection along with a PlayStation Network account to stream the action to the Portal. No matter where you’re playing, the Portal and your PS5 must have a strong internet connection; 5Mbps is the minimum speed requirement, but Sony recommends 15Mbps for a more enjoyable playing experience.

Can you use PlayStation Portal anywhere?

As long as there is a Wi-Fi network, you can theoretically use the PlayStation Portal anywhere. But because there’s no web browser, networks that require a webpage login, like you’ll find at hotels, won’t work. Just understand that connection speeds and latency may vary.

What games can I play on PlayStation Portal?

You can play any game that runs locally on your PS5 or the games available for streaming with your PlayStation Plus subscription. The only exception is VR games, as the PlayStation Portal is incompatible with the PSVR2.

Does the PlayStation Portal support Bluetooth?

No, the PlayStation Portal doesn’t offer native Bluetooth support, so the selection of wireless headphones compatible with the remote player is limited. You can either grab something that supports PlayStation Link, PlayStation's proprietary wireless technology, like the PlayStation Pulse Explore Wireless Earbuds or the PlayStation Pulse Elite Wireless Headset, or grab a wired option with a 3.5mm jack.

When do gaming accessories go on sale?

PlayStation Portal accessories like cases and screen protectors regularly go on sale. The general rule of thumb is that the best times to buy games are also the best times to buy the accessories. Some of the more popular events where you're guaranteed to find discounts on gaming accessories are Amazon Prime Day in July and Black Friday in November.

Barnes & Noble is one of the best places to buy books, but it's also become a surprisingly great place to find LEGO sets and Blu-rays as well. As the desire for physical media experiences has started to become popular again, the bookstore has risen to the occasion. And while actual Barnes & Noble store locations are a great place to shop in person, the online store has started offering some great discounts lately.

Right now, Barnes & Noble is having a ton of spring sales on a lot of great stuff. Popular LEGO sets are marked down 25%, books are on sale, and even Blu-rays and DVDs are getting discounts. To see the full sale, you can browse the Barnes & Noble promotions page, or take a look at some of the breakout deals we've found below.

LEGO Sets Are 25% Off

AMD has announced its next-generation Ryzen 8000 processors for gaming laptops, led by the Ryzen 9 8945HX. However, unlike the Ryzen AI 300 series laptop chips released earlier this year, these processors are built on the last-generation Zen 4 architecture.

Team Red is releasing four new processors for high-performance gaming laptops, with the Ryzen 9 8945HX featuring 16 cores, 32 threads and boost clock up to 5.4GHz. On the other end of the spectrum, AMD is also launching the Ryzen 7 8745HX, with 8 cores, 16 threads and a 5.1GHz boost clock. These processors all have remarkably similar specs to their last-generation counterparts, with the AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX also being a 16-core part with a boost clock of 5.4GHz and 80MB of cache.

Still, these are the processors that will be paired with the fastest graphics chips in high-end gaming laptops. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile that I reviewed earlier this year did struggle with a lower-power AMD Ryzen AI HX 370 processor, even though it was built on the newer Zen 5 architecture. The Ryzen 9 8945HX processor, on the other hand, can be configured to run with anywhere from 55W to 75W, which should significantly boost performance, even if that performance boost would have been greater with a Zen 5 chip with the same power budget.

If you were waiting for AMD's latest processors to get a gaming laptop, they should be making their way into high-end gaming laptops over the next few months. I went ahead and broke down the specs of the new chips below.

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

The Apple Watch is undoubtedly the best smartwatch and one of the best accessories to pair with your iPhone. These watches link up simply with our favorite iPhone models and come with a wealth of features, from fitness tracking and health sensors to messaging and app support. Our favorite Apple smartwatch is the Apple Watch Series 10 with its thinner build and bigger screen than previous models.

TL;DR – These Are the Best Apple Watches:

Whether you’re upgrading an old Apple Watch or it’s your first time investing in one, Apple has a wealth of Watch models to choose from. There’s a robust option for adventurers and something on the cheaper side for budget shoppers. We’ve even included a non-Apple model for those who opt to use the best Android phones.

Additional contributions by Rudie Obias and Georgie Peru

1. Apple Watch Series 10

Best Overall Apple Watch

2. Apple Watch SE

Best Budget Apple Watch

3. Apple Watch Ultra 2

Best Apple Watch for Adventurers, Athletes, and Runners

4. Apple Watch Hermès

Best Luxury Apple Watch

5. Samsung Galaxy Watch 7

Best Apple Watch Alternative

Apple Watch FAQ

Which generation Apple Watch is the best?

The Apple Watch with the latest tech, advanced health tracking, and an always-on display is hands-down the Apple Watch Series 10. It has everything you need in a smartwatch and features Apple’s most powerful chip in an Apple Watch.

Can you use an Apple Watch with an Android phone?

Unfortunately, if you don't have an iPhone then you will be unable to activate an Apple Watch. The two platforms are incompatible together (by design), so you will need an iPhones to be able to use any of these Apple Watch models.

Are refurbished Apple Watches worth it?

Yes. If you’ll enjoy big savings over a new watch, consider a refurbished Apple Watch. These watches will look and work almost as good as new ones and often come with all the accessories. Occasionally, slight cosmetic defects may be visible, like a scratch or discoloration, but nothing that will hinder the smartwatch’s functionality. However, be sure you get it from a reputable dealer with a great warranty. Apple and Best Buy are two of the best options when it comes to buying a refurbished Apple Watch.

What's the difference between a smartwatch and a fitness tracker?

Smartwatches and fitness trackers have a similar feature set, especially when it comes to health tracking. While there is some overlap, smartwatches tend to offer more functionality with the ability to download a range of apps, respond to messages and notifications, download music, and more. Some can even function as tiny smartphones when connected to a cellular network. Where fitness trackers pull ahead is in battery life and size, as the screens and functionality are usually more subdued.

Do all smartwatches support cellular service?

No, cellular service isn’t available on every smartwatch. However, all of Apple’s current watch models – the Series 10, SE, and Ultra 2 – have the option to offer cellular support. Models that come with mobile data will cost more to purchase, and there’s often a monthly fee associated incurred from your provider's plan. But if you opt for cellular, the Apple Watch will essentially act like a tiny smartphone.

It’s that time again, that glorious time of year when Amazon runs a mega-sale on board games. This particular sale is a “Buy 1, Get 1 50% Off” sale that applies to a massive selection of games. Sweetening the pot, many of the games that qualify are already on sale on their own. If you buy two already-discounted board games and save an extra 50% off one, that’s called “deal stacking,” and it’s a pro move. You can view the whole sale here, or scroll on to see our picks, divided into board games for kids and board games for adults.

B1G1 Half Off - Board Games for Adults

Some of the most popular modern tabletop games are available in the sale, ranging from games everyone should have on their shelf (like Azul and Catan) to some slightly more niche picks (like Camel Up and Horrified). Then there's the beloved Ouija Board, which, what's the worst that could happen when you commune with the dead?

B1G1 Half Off - Board Games for Kids

Please know that, if you’re an adult, that doesn’t mean you can’t play the games for kids. Some of these games are really fun, whether you played them in your childhood (looking at you, Mouse Trap) or not because they're newer (Exploding Kittens, Hedbanz). These classic and newer games for kids are simple and quick to learn, which can be nice when you’ve been maxing out your brain power figuring out the rules of some of the strategy board games aimed at smarty-pants adults.

Chris Reed is a deals expert and commerce editor for IGN. You can follow him on Bluesky @chrislreed.com.

If you're looking for an Anker power bank that can handle the demands of a power guzzling gaming handheld like the Steam Deck or ROG Ally X, Amazon is offering an outstanding deal right now. You can pick up an Anker PowerCore 737 24,000mAh 140W Power Bank for just $49.99. Woot, the marketplace vendor, is owned by Amazon. This beats out the lowest price we last posted by about $20 and I don't think it can go any lower. I have owned this exact power bank for a few years now and highly recommend it; it has been on multiple flights and road trips and is still good as new.

Anker 737 24,000mAh 140W Power Bank for $49.99

Relive Marty McFly's time traveling adventures in glorious ultra high definition. For a limited time, Amazon is offering the Back to the Future: The Ultimate Trilogy in remastered 4K Ultra HD for only $29.99 after a 46% off instant discount. You'll have to get your order total to $35 to get free shipping, or log into your Amazon Prime account for automatic free shipping. This matches the best deal during Black Friday and is a great opportunity to add this amazing classic to your collection.

Back to the Future: The Ultimate Trilogy for $29.99

Starting today, Walmart has slashed the price of the 75" Sony X85K 4K Google TV down to only $648, a savings of $650 or 50% off. This is the lowest price we've ever seen, and $150 less than the best deal during Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Although the X85K is an older 2022 model, it has the features you'd want in a current-gen gaming TV.

50% Off 75" Sony X85K 4K Smart TV, Now $648

A new report from research firm Newzoo indicates the storm may be tightening on the battle royale genre, but Fortnite is still holding strong.

Newzoo's PC & Console Gaming Report 2025 has detailed a number of shifts and trends across the industry, and one of those moving trends is the battle royale genre. Newzoo's tracking indicates the battle royale genre has shrunk in playtime, going from 19% of playtime in 2021 to 12% in 2024.

Citing its Game Performance Monitor which looks at 37 markets (excluding China and India) across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, Newzoo indicated that as a pair, shooter games and battle royale games routinely account for 40% of playtime. So as battle royale playtime has gradually shifted down, shooter playtime has been going up.

Despite the 7% shift, the difference within the genre might be the more surprising number. Per Newzoo, Fortnite went from a 43% share of the battle royale genre in 2021 to a 77% share in 2024. Essentially, even as battle royale games trended down, Fortnite ate up more and more of the space within the genre.

Role-playing games have also seen some noticeable growth, up to 13% in 2024 over their 9% share in 2021. Newzoo reported that 18% of RPG time in 2024 was spent in major releases from 2023, spotlighting Baldur's Gate 3, Diablo IV, Honkai: Star Rail, Hogwarts Legacy, and Starfield.

As Newzoo stated in its report, the fight for attention in playtime and hours is fierce. While games like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Apex Legends carry on, other games fall by the wayside. Meanwhile, shooters and role-playing games seem to be encroaching on more territory and mindshare. Looking at the success of standouts in those genres, be they Marvel Rivals or Baldur's Gate 3, it's hard to argue.

With its constant slate of changes, updates, and growing library of gaming experiences and genres contained within it, it might not be surprising that Fortnite has weathered the storm. Still, time passes, and we'll doubtlessly see trends continue to shift as broad audience interests change as the years roll on.

Eric is a freelance writer for IGN.

You don't have to wait for the new 2025 LG TVs to drop to score a great deal on an older generation model. Right now, you can pick up a 2023 65" LG Evo C3 4K OLED TV for just $1,196.99 with free shipping on Amazon. This is a better deal than what I saw during Black Friday. The LG Evo C-series of TVs have consistently been our favorite high-end 4K TVs, especially for 4K HDR movies and gaming.

65" LG Evo C3 4K OLED Smart TV for $1197

Sony is rolling out a new update for PlayStation Portal users who are using its Cloud Streaming Beta. Some user experience and general functionality updates are getting added to the remote play system's cloud capabilities later today.

Sorting is a notable addition, as the update will allow players to sort games in the Cloud Streaming Beta catalog. Categories include Name, Release Date, and which titles were most recently added to PlayStation Plus.

Capturing gameplay will also be possible during a Cloud Streaming session. The usual create menu options apply, whether you're pulling up the menu, snapping a screenshot, or recording a video clip. In the PlayStation blog for the update, Sony said video clips up to 1920x1080 resolution and up to three minutes in duration are supported.

Additionally, gameplay will now pause when you open the PS Portal quick menu, go into the rest mode using the power button, or if a system error message is displayed. The rest mode pause will only last for 15 seconds, though; if the Portal remains in rest mode for over 15 seconds, the cloud streaming session will disconnect. Pause also won't be supported in online multiplayer.

Other updates include a queue for when the streaming server fills up, a notification of inactivity, and some user feedback tools. PlayStation said it will continue to add new features based on feedback.

The Cloud Streaming Beta is currently available to PlayStation Plus Premium members, and allows them to play select PS5 games from the PS Plus Catalog through cloud streaming on the PS Portal. While the Portal usually pulls from a PlayStation 5, an update last year made the Portal more of a standalone cloud streaming device, and it looks like Sony plans to continue tinkering with the feature over time.

As cloud streaming continues to gain a foothold in the modern gaming ecosystem, it'll be interesting seeing how Sony's offering evolves alongside its PlayStation Portal device. At the very least, it's nice to be able to snap several dozen screenshots while streaming to your Portal.

Eric is a freelance writer for IGN.

Here's a rare standalone GPU offer you don't want to miss out on if you're currently building yourself a high-end gaming PC. Woot!, which is owned by Amazon, is offering the Sapphire Nitro+ AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX Vapor-X Gaming Graphics Card for $999.99. Amazon Prime members get free shipping, the rest of us pay just $6. This is currently the best price you'll find for the best RX 7900 XTX on the market. The Nitro+ boasts an outrageously overbuilt cooling system, impeccable build quality, and as a result, high overclocking headroom. This GPU comes with a 90-day Woot! warranty.

Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX 7900 XTX GPU for $999.99

Alongside new exciting details, Disney has revealed that tickets for Destination D23: A Journey Around the Worlds of Disney will go on sale on April 14, 2025.

Destination D23: A Journey Around the Worlds is headed to Walt Disney World's Coronado Springs Resort from August 29 - 31 and will be filled with "exclusive presentations from the Walt Disney Archives and Walt Disney Studios, as well as spectacular entertainment and peeks into all the worlds of Disney, along with a variety of unique interactive activations and shopping experiences."

To secure tickets to the event, you will have to be a D23 Gold Member when they officially go on sale on April 14 at 10am PT/1pm ET. The lowest D23 Gold Member tier costs $49.99/year and gets you a ton of other perks like access to other events, exclusive items, and more. There are higher tiers with more perks and you can check all of those out right here.

General admission tickets will cost $299 and a limited number of Preferred ($549) and Premiere ($799) will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets will include "dedicated queues for reserved seating areas" and D23 Gold Members will be able to reserve a ticket for themselves and one other.

As for the event itself, there will be over 25 "specially curated presentations from across The Walt Disney Company" and an exclusive D23 Shopping Spree experience. While we are still waiting on details on the presentations, fans looking for the best merch will be delighted to know that The Walt Disney Company Store, Mickey's of Glendale, Disney Studio Store Hollywood, and Ink & Paint Marketplace will be the places to get the most sought-after goods.

On August 30, all attendees are invited to celebrate 25 years of The Emperor's New Groove at the D23 Kuzcotopia Night at Typhoon Lagoon. On the 31st, Disney '80s-'90s Celebration in Concert will take place and feature Broadway and Disney Animation stars taking the stage for one unforgettable night.

Fans will also be able to look forward to The Walt Disney Archives: Charting the Course, Disney Global Stories & Inspirations, which is a celebration of all the different cultures around the world that have inspired our favorite Disney experiences. These include Dwayne Johnson's Jungle Cruise costume, animation maquettes from The Lion King and Mulan, and even original puppets from EPCOT's Tapestry of Nations.

Lastly, those who are in Orlando a few days early can enjoy D23 Nights at Disney Springs and even A Goofy Movie Throwback Premiere on August 28.

There is much more to look forward to about Destination D23 and we'll be covering it here on IGN.

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

If you've not been keen to kick off the Nintendo Switch 2 generation with other retailers like Amazon and Argos, Nintendo Switch 2 games, controllers, accessories, and even microSD Express cards are finally available to pre-order at My Nintendo Store UK, with some exclusives only available directly from Nintendo.

What is available? Preorders of the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller for £74.99, the Joy-Con Charging Grip for £29.99, the official Switch 2 carrying case for £20.99, and the Joy-Con Wheel Set for £16.99. Along with the regular and Piranha Plant microphone cameras, there's even the Switch 2 All-in-One Carrying Case for £66.99 (exclusive to Nintendo), so you can take you full set-up with you, dock and all.

As for the one accessory some players will want more than anything, the Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube Controller, but preorders aren't sadly open for just anyone. This special GameCube Controller is only available for those who have been invited to preorder a Switch 2 by Nintendo, so check your emails.

If you click on the "available to pre-order" button underneath the GameCube controller's item description, you can only proceed by enterting the email address of which the company has invited to purchase. Unlike other retailers, Nintendo has maintained a strict set of guidelines as to who can pre-order a Nintendo Switch 2 from them, in order to prevent scalping. These include having a continuous Nintendo Online Membership of two years, spending time playing paid Nintendo Switch games, agreeing to share usage information, and opting to recieve promotional emails.

There's also physical versions of Switch 2's new exclusive games, Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, selling for £74.99 & £66.99 respectively. There's also the Nintendo Switch 2 editions of past original Switch games as well, like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom — selling for £66.99 each, £2 more than retailers like Argos who have the games list for £64.99.

For those who already own upgradable games like these on the regular Nintendo Switch, Nintendo have stated on their dedicated page that upgrade packs can be bought on the Nintendo eShop, at the My Nintendo Store, or via major retailers, although we've yet to see any of those available yet.

Although other stores like Amazon and Argos have been more lax, it seems like the console-maker itself isn't going to let up. As far as we've seen, the GameCube Classics Controller for the Nintendo Switch 2 is an exclusive to My Ninteno Store & its strict pre-order requirements. Nevertheless, we'll be updating this article as soon as we see any different.

If you're after one of the the 256GB microSD Express card to expand your Nintendo Switch 2's storage, My Nintendo Store has locked the behind the invite wall as well, but you can still preorder the Samsung version at ShopTo for £49.85, or at Argos for £49.99.

Ben Williams – IGN freelance contributor with over 10 years of experience covering gaming, tech, film, TV, and anime. Follow him on Twitter/X @BenLevelTen.

Major news, even if we all saw it coming: HBO's The Last of Us has officially been renewed for Season 3, less than a week before the premiere of Season 2 on Max.

“It can’t be for nothing,” Max revealed via its social media channels on April 9. “Season 3 is coming.” A deep red flare is featured burning bright in the bottom corner of a video accompanying the ominous caption.

It can’t be for nothing. Season 3 is coming. #TheLastOfUs pic.twitter.com/q5HxyvK9O6

— Max (@StreamOnMax) April 9, 2025

The Last of Us premiered in January 2023 to major acclaim, even being touted by some as the best video game adaptation thus far. Season 1 collected a whopping eight Emmy awards out of the 24 nominations it received. The highly-anticipated Season 2 will see leads Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal return as Ellie and Joel, alongside newcomer Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, a soldier who is dead set on revenge in the wake of losing someone close to her. Beef star Young Mazino, Alien: Romulus star Isabelle Merced, Captain America: Brave New World star Danny Ramirez, and legends Catherine O’Hara and Jeffrey Wright also be joining the cast for season 2.

Recently, series creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann opened up to IGN about their feelings toward the whole “Was Joel right?” debate that has been at the heart of the franchise since the game’s release back in 2013.

“I believe Joel was right,” the Naughty Dog studio head told us. “If I were in Joel's position, I hope I would be able to do what he did to save my daughter.” However, Mazin felt differently. “That's so interesting, because I think that if I were in Joel's position, I probably would have done what he did,” the Chernobyl showrunner noted. “But I'd like to think that I wouldn't. That's the interesting push and pull of the morality of it. And that's why the ending of the first game is so provocative and so wonderful. It just doesn't let you off the hook as a player.”

The Last of Us Season 2 premieres on Max on April 13, 2025 — but as for a release date on Season 3, that one’s still up in the air at this point. Check out IGN's spoiler free review of The Last of Us Season 2 for more.

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

There's a smartwatch to fit every wrist and need imaginable. Our top pick is the Apple Watch Series 10, but we’ve included many other quality options to suit many different needs, including some of the best Android smartwatches around right now and fitness trackers that runners and other athletes will find useful.

TL;DR – These Are the Best Smartwatches:

It’s 2025, and if your watch isn’t at the very least tracking your steps, then it belongs in a museum. Any good smartwatch will do far more than that, but even if you’re looking for it to do the bare minimum, you may be better suited for a budget-friendly fitness tracker. Smartwatches, however, will have GPS, notifications, music control, sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, and heaps more. Some connect to a cellular network, making them an ultra compact way to stay connected 24/7.

1. Apple Watch Series 10

Best Smartwatch Overall

2. Ticwatch E3

Best Budget Smartwatch

3. Amazfit Bip 3 Pro

Best Ultra Cheap Smartwatch

4. Samsung Galaxy Watch 7

Best Smartwatch for Android

5. Garmin Enduro 3

Best Smartwatch for Runners

6. Garmin Epix (Gen 2)

Best Fitness Smartwatch

7. Skagen Falster Gen 6

Best-Looking Smartwatch

8. Amazfit T-Rex 3

Best Rugged Smartwatch

9. Polar Ignite 3

Best Smart Sports Watch

What to Look for in a Smartwatch

Smartphone compatibility

This is the big one. Your choice of smartphone will determine your list of possible smartwatch options. The good news is that your choices have grown, but there are still some notable absentees, the biggest of which is the Apple Watch still being an iPhone exclusive.

Google has made big headway in equalizing the Wear OS for Android and iPhone users, but it’s not a totally level playing field yet. Among all the smartwatches that work with both platforms, there tend to be a few differences, often in the messaging experience.

Battery life

We’re all accustomed to plugging in our smartphones at night, but watches? Are you serious? Sadly in most cases, it’s something you need to think about. Unfortunately, battery life is almost always a trade-off with smartwatches.

The Apple Watch and many of the Wear OS smartwatches have rich screens and deep features but require daily (or nightly) charging in return. The best Fitbits will run for several days and unlock sleep tracking, but the watches have a less premium design.

Be sure to think not just about the features you want, but how much you’ll be using them and how diligently you'll be about charging them. Weekend warriors will need to be much more conscientious about running the GPS in an Apple Watch than a Garmin Enduro, for example.

To LTE or not to LTE

For a long time, all smartwatches required a Bluetooth connection with your phone in order to receive texts, make calls, and play music. Now, more watches are cutting the tether and offer a standalone data connection. This can be handy if you want to work out without a phone in your pocket. On the other hand, it will hammer the battery life a little more, particularly under intense use. A data connection will also come with a cost, usually around $10 a month tied to your phone contract, assuming you want to use the same number.

If you're super active and like to work out, you may want to also look at the best headphones for running to ensure you're finding the right fit.

Smartwatch FAQ

What's the difference between a smartwatch and a fitness tracker?

Both a smartwatch and a fitness tracker monitor and share metrics about your health and fitness, like heart rate, steps, calories, and sleep. However, smartwatches take things a bit further by offering more features that often includes GPS support, notifications, calls, apps, and music playback, acting as a tiny smartphone. Some even connect to a cellular network for added functionality.

Fitness trackers focus solely on your health data and usually have smaller displays with some overlapping smartwatch features. Notifications, app selection, and non-fitness-related functionality is limited, but battery life tends to be quite good compared to a more feature-rich smartwatch.

Do all smartwatches support cellular service?

No, not all smartwatches offer cellular support. Certain models of smartwatches, like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and Apple Watch Series 10, have the option to add cell service for an additional charge, essentially turning the wearable into a tiny phone. At the bare minimum, though, a smartwatch should have Bluetooth to connect with a smartphone or Wi-Fi. Otherwise, your smartwatch won’t be very useful.

Do I need a smartphone to use a smartwatch?

No, you don’t always need a smartphone to use a smartwatch, but in most cases, you’ll want one to enjoy the full capabilities of the watch and its features. Some smartwatches can connect to cellular networks or Wi-Fi for standalone functionality. But setup usually requires a smartphone, and a smartwatch’s apps often work in conjunction with a phone to use all the features on offer.

Danielle Abraham is a freelance writer and unpaid music historian.

Sony has published the list of PlayStation Plus Game Catalog additions for April 2025, revealing a lineup of games that includes highlights like Hogwarts Legacy, Blue Prince, Battlefield 1, and more.

All of the newcomers were detailed in a PlayStation.Blog entry posted on the site today. It confirms a list of eight titles set to arrive for PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers starting April 10, with more PS4, PS5, and Classic games trickling in as the month rolls on.

PlayStation Plus Game Catalog members starting at the Extra tier receive access to six titles, two of which launch with the service on day one. Those are Dogubomb’s critically acclaimed puzzle adventure Blue Prince, which launches April 10, and Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 2, which launches April 15.

PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers can also look forward to two old-school titles: Alone in the Dark 2 and War of the Monsters. You can see the full list of games coming to the PlayStation service, along with the dates they’ll be made available, below.

PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium Game Catalog Additions – April 2025

• Hogwarts Legacy | PS4, PS5
• Blue Prince | PS5
• Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 2 | PS5
• EA Sports PGA Tour | PS5
• Battlefield 1 | PS4
• PlateUp! | PS4, PS5

PlayStation Plus Premium Game Catalog Additions – April 2025

• Alone in the Dark 2 | PS4, PS5
• War of the Monsters | PS4, PS5

For more on Sony’s online gaming service, you can check out all of the titles added to the lineup in March 2025 here. You can also check out which games Essential tier subscribers gained access to for this month.

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

Lenovo just kicked off the best deals we've seen this year on official Xbox Series X wireless controllers. Starting today, the Pulse Red and Shock Blue colors cost only $34.99 after you apply coupon code "SPRINGGAMES". The Carbon Black, Velocity Green, Astral Purple, Electric Volt, and Deep Pink colors are $39.99 after you apply coupon code "SPRINGBACK". Not only are these the best controllers for the Xbox at this price, they're also one of the best PC gaming controllers.

Update: Some colors are going out of stock.

Xbox Controllers From $34.99

Aesthetics aside, these Xbox wireless controllers are identical to the one that's bundled with the Xbox Series X and S console. Standard features include textured grips, hybrid D-pad, button mapping with the Xbox app, a 3.5mm audio jack that works with any wired headset, and a Share button to upload screenshots and video.

The controller supports both Xbox wireless and Bluetooth connectivity. That means you can use it for your PC or mobile device. In fact, we think this is the the best PC controller you can get. If your PC doesn't have Bluetooth, you can still use it in wired mode with a USB Type-C cable or go out and buy a Bluetooth or Xbox wireless adapter.

Check out more of the best Xbox deals and the best IGN deals of today.

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

After a press tour that featured Jack Quaid looking progressively more beat up at a Clippers game, Novocaine arrived in theaters. The R-rated action comedy stars Quaid as a man who feels no pain, so it's starting to seem like 'The Boys' veteran goes out of his way to get covered in fake blood.

In her review for IGN, critic Lena Wilson states that “Novocaine offers more depth than its gimmicky 'man who feels no pain' premise may lead you to believe," with "clever storytelling and character writing that reminds us of a time when seeing movies in theaters was just plain fun.”

Whether you're still planning to catch Novocaine in theaters or would rather stream the action movie at home, check out the details below.

How to Watch Novocaine - Showtimes and Streaming Status

Novocaine is still showing in theaters. You can check for showtimes near you at the main theater links below:

• Fandango
• AMC Theaters
• Cinemark Theaters
• Regal Theaters

Where to Stream Novocaine Online

I just recently had my first kid and he is now at the age where he absolutely has favorite books. I'll hold up two options and he smacks his little hand against one of them and proclaims joyously that he has made a decision. More often than not, The Very Hungry Caterpillar is his favorite pick, but as we've added to our kids' book library over the past few months, he's starting to expand his interests.

As a parent, I've found that kids' books are one of the easiest things to buy more of. They're fairly cheap and overly abundant at pretty much every bookstore and toy shop. There's always room to save, though. Amazon is offering up a buy one, get one 50% off sale right now and some of the all-time greatest children's books are included. I've curated a list of some of my son's favorites below, but there are plenty more where that came from. There are even board games in this sale if you're looking for more than books.

Amazon Buy One Get One 50% Sale on Kids Books Today

If you take the time to scroll through Amazon's sale items, there's a ton of great kids books in there for all ages. If you're specifically looking for great picture books for babies and toddlers, the picks I've gathered are some of my absolute favorites. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle gets read multiple times every night and Dr. Seuss' One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish is consistently thrown into the mix.

If you're looking for something for kids who can actually start reading themselves, there are also some great options in this sale I didn't list above, including a ton of books from the Dog Man series, which recently received its first movie adaptation. There's also coming-of-age classics like Holes and Harry Potter.

Board Book vs. Hardcover

One quick note about this sale is that a lot of these kids books have different versions available, but not all of the versions are part of the sale, Most of the baby/toddler books I could find are board books, but there are a few hardcovers in here as well. The main difference between the two is that board books have pages made of stiff cardboard whereas hardcovers only have covers made of cardboard. Board books are the best option for little kids thanks to the books' seemingly indestructible nature.

When Does the Amazon Sale End?

Amazon has these types of sales fairly often and they tend to last somewhere between four and seven days. The last sale we saw came as part of Amazon's Big Spring Sale at the end of March and lasted about five days before it ended.

In this case, it's possible that Amazon is having this sale to match a similar spring sale happening at Barnes and Noble right now. The book retailer is offering a similar buy one, get one half-off sale on collectible children's books. This offer lasts through April 20, which could give us somewhat of an indication about how long we can expect Amazon to keep the sale live.

Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 adaptation of The Shining has arguably one of the most memorable final shots in all of genre cinema: the utterly unsettling photograph from the Overlook Hotel’s 1921 Fourth of July ball featuring a Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) who simply had not been born yet front and center in the image. Nicholson had been added to a real image that was altered for the movie — but the original faded into obscurity after its use in the film. That is, until now. That’s right, Shining-heads, the original 1921 Fourth of July ball photograph has been found a whopping 45 years after the film’s release.

Retired University of Winchester academic Alasdair Spark opened up about the process of sourcing the image on Getty's Instagram. “Following the earlier identification by facial recognition software of the unknown man in the photograph at the end of The Shining as Santos Casani, a London ballroom dancer, I can reveal that the photo was one of three taken by the Topical Press Agency at a St. Valentines Day Ball, 14 February 1921, at the Empress Rooms, the Royal Palace Hotel, Kensington," he explained. The post also included a new scan from the image’s original glass-plate negative, as well as other handwritten documents supporting the photo.

Spark revealed that he and New York Times staffer Arick Toller, as well as many passionate Redditors, went on a wild goose chase trying to source the image. “It was starting to seem impossible, every cross-reference to Casani failed to match. Other likely places that were suggested didn’t match,” he wrote via Getty. “There were some places we could not find images for and we started to fear that meant the photo might be lost to history, and never be found.” ⁠

The historian went on to explain that he had previously been told by on-set photographer Murray Close, who took the image of Nicholson that was superimposed over Casani for the film, that the picture had been sourced from the BBC Hulton Library. Spark was aware that Hulton purchased Topical Press in 1958, and that Getty later took over in 1991, which gave the former professor the idea to scour through the agency’s millions of images. From that search, they discovered the image was licensed to Hawk Films, Kubrick’s production company, on October 10, 1978, clearly for production of The Shining.

“Joan Smith had said the photo dated from 1923. Stanley Kubrick had said 1921 and he was correct,” Spark concluded. “The photo doesn’t show any of the celebrities I had speculated on — the Trix Sisters for instance — nor the bankers, financiers or presidents others like Rob Ager have imagined there. No devil worshippers either. Nobody was composited into it except Jack Nicholson. It shows a group of ordinary London people on a Monday evening. ‘All the best people,’ as the manager of the Overlook Hotel said."

Now if this doesn’t warm your movie-loving heart a bit right now, I don’t know what will. Stephen King’s novel The Shining was released in 1977 and has been adapted twice: Kubrick’s iconic film and horror maestro Mick Garris’ book-accurate 1997 miniseries.

Photo by Warner Brothers/Getty Images.

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

James Bond films are a must for any physical media collection. If you've been hoping to pick up some of the classics, the 007: James Bond Sean Connery Six-Film Collection on 4K is now available to preorder as both a standard 4K collection and as a sleek limited edition steelbook. The former will set you back $104.98 while the latter is available for $139.99. Both will release on June 10 this year.

Preorder 007: James Bond Sean Connery 6-Film Collection Limited Edition Steelbook

The collection comes with the following James Bond films:

• Dr. No
• From Russia With Love
• Goldfinger
• Thunderball
• You Only Live Twice
• Diamonds Are Forever.

If you've been hoping to score these films in 4K quality, now's your chance. Head to the links below to get your preorders in.

The limited edition steelbook for the Sean Connery 6-Film Collection comes with each film on 4K Ultra HD and in its own unique steelbook case. Each of those are then stored in a sleek steelbook library case that looks super high quality on the shelf. It even comes with a certificate of authenticity.

Preorder 007: James Bond Sean Connery 6-Film Collection on 4K

If you're on the hunt for some great PS5 deals, we're here to help. Here we've gathered up some of the best PlayStation deals available at the moment, including the fantastic new PlayStation 5 Slim Astro Bot bundle. With this you're getting Astro Bot for free alongside a new PS5 Slim console, what could be better than that? Another great deal is on Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, which has dropped to its lowest price ever at Woot. You can see these deals and so many more below. Here are IGN's top picks for the best PlayStation deals today.

PS5 Slim + Astro Bot Bundle

Best PS5 Video Game Deals

If you've been looking to pick up some new PS5 games, now's a great time to do it with some excellent discounts available. From Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (now down to its lowest price ever) to Sonic X Shadow Generations to Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, there are plenty of great deals worth checking out. Woot's deals only last for a limited time, though. So if something catches your eye, act fast to pick it up at that price.

Best PlayStation VR 2 Deals

Best PS5 SSD Deals

Where to Buy: PS5 Pro

Where to Buy: PlayStation Portal

How to Trade in Your Old PlayStation Consoles

If you're looking to trade in your old PlayStation consoles, you can do so at select retailers in-store and online. Often, the most widely available retailers are GameStop and Best Buy. However, you can also trade your used devices online at retailers such as Amazon and Microsoft.

Some retailers will offer you cash for your used goods, while others may provide you with a gift card that can be used in-store and online. This is a great way to offload your old gaming gear and get some money that you can put towards a newer console and games.

While trading devices in at retailers will often net you the lowest amount for your used consoles, there are also online marketplaces such as eBay, Craigslist, and OfferUp that may fetch higher prices, but you'll often be responsible for packing and shipping costs, or be required to meet someone in person for the transaction. The latter of which poses its own risks.

Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.

Maybe you’ve got one of the best gaming PCs or laptops and you want something that can easily back up or transfer all the precious data stored on it. It might be equipped with a top SSD, or you’ve got decently large external hard drives hanging around holding all your essential files, photos, and other content, but nothing compares to a great NAS (network-attached storage) drive, like our favorite, the Synology DiskStation DS224+.

TL;DR – These are the Best NAS Devices:

The best NAS drives come with significant storage capacity and hook into your home network to quickly transfer data to and from your devices. Smartphones, tablets, desktops, and laptops can be connected to the same network simultaneously, and it's easy to sync them up, making NAS ideal for digital media libraries. However, NAS doesn’t come cheap, so choose carefully. We’ve narrowed your search to eight excellent options for various use cases.

1. Synology DiskStation DS224+

Best NAS

2. UGreen NASync DXP2800

Best Budget NAS

3. Synology DiskStation DS223j

Most Affordable NAS

4. Asustor Lockerstor 2 AS6602T

Best NAS for Power Users and Professionals

5. Synology DiskStation DS1821+

Best Multi-Bay NAS

6. QNAP TS-264-8G

Best NAS for Media Streaming

7. Synology DiskStation DS923+

Best Network Attached Storage for RAID Configurations

8. ioSafe Duo Pro

Best Rugged NAS

What to Look for in NAS

Not everyone needs NAS, but it can be used to cure certain networking headaches. Do you and your family/housemates all share the same network? A NAS device allows you to share files with all of those computers from one central unit. Don’t want to back up all of your family’s computers individually? A NAS device gives you a way to do it all on one drive.

What are you using it for?

If either of the above scenarios resonates with you, a NAS device may be worth considering. If you find yourself in a situation where multiple devices in your home need to access the same tools or files, a NAS device can do that. It’s not just about storing things, but accessing them too.

The other reason for a NAS device is that you have a huge media library that you’d like to be able to access from multiple computers/TVs/tablets/etc. You could turn your NAS into a Plex server, so everyone in the home has swift access to the same movies, TV shows, and music.

Go diskless? How many bays?

You’ll find that most NAS devices come without disk drives, which means you’ll need to purchase them separately.

In many cases NAS makers don’t make hard drives, so they’ll sell their device without any disks included. You may already own some disk drives, in which case a diskless system poses less of a problem, but check the manufacturer’s recommendations as some brands of disks may work better than others.

Bays are what the disk drives go into, so the higher the number of bays the NAS has, the more potential capacity there is. Generally, two or more bays are best; multimedia systems will often have more.

Danielle Abraham is a freelance writer and unpaid music historian.

Having launched in 2019, Apple TV+ is one of the youngest streaming services available today. Over the years, the Apple-owned platform has grown into a powerhouse of original TV shows, like Ted Lasso and Severance, as well as movies like Killers of the Flower Moon. While it may not release new content at the same pace as something like Netflix, Apple TV+ is only a fraction of the price and comes bundled with just about every new Apple device purchase, making it easier than ever to check out its growing library. Below, we'll break down what Apple TV+ is as a service, how much it costs, and how to sign up for a free trial.

Does Apple TV+ Have a Free Trial?

Streaming has made entertainment more accessible than ever, but that doesn't mean it's cheap. Most streaming services have continuously hiked their own prices and limited password sharing, and confusing licensing deals sometimes make it surprisingly difficult to find an entire franchise in the same spot.

Nowadays it's common to debate, as I'm doing constantly, which subscriptions are worth keeping for the long haul. Plenty of streaming services – particularly the newer ones – offer free trials, bundles, and discounts to try and attract new subscribers. "New subscriber," of course, meaning "different e-mail address."

The best time to save on subscriptions is undoubtedbly Black Friday, when most streaming services offer their biggest discounts of the year. But if you're trying to find savings sooner rather than later, these are some of the best streaming deals available now.

TL;DR: These Are the Best Streaming Deals Right Now:

Three Months of Apple TV+ for $2.99/Month

Already one of the most affordable and reliable VPNs, SurfShark is having an 87% off birthday sale for a limited time, being available for as low as $1.99 or £1.49 a month in the US and UK for its SurfShark Starter Model tier. These lowest prices are under Surfshark's 24-month subscription model, where you'll pay $53.71 or £40.23 instead of $417.15 or £331.83, respectively. You can alternatively select 12 or three-month subscriptions, but you'll be charged more per month overall.

Welcome to our latest IGN First – a month of exclusive coverage in April, and it's all about The Outer Worlds 2. This is the very first look at its gameplay in real time, and it takes us through a quest where you infiltrate the N-Ray Facility to show off several of the game’s new features and mechanics, as well as how it’s rethinking level design. And one of the biggest things that stood out to me is how much deeper it’s going to be as an RPG with developer Obsidian looking back at its past and even drawing inspiration from immersive sims like Deus Ex and Dishonored.

While that DNA has always been a part of first-person RPGs, The Outer Worlds 2 has more sophisticated systems compared to the first game like a true stealth system and better tools to make the playstyle viable, including effective melee weapons and skills to make silent takedowns possible. Take, for example, the health bar above enemy heads – there’s a purple-colored readout that displays how damage a stealth attack will do, helping you judge whether or not you can get a one-hit kill or if it’s even worth pouncing on your target. Enemies will also detect dead bodies and alert guards, but you can quickly clean up if you have a skill to disintegrate bodies on the spot.

Later in the quest, you pick up the N-Ray Scanner, which lets you see certain objects and NPCs/enemies through walls. While this is crucial for finding important parts of more involved environmental puzzles, it’s also an important tool for a stealth and combat. There are enemies throughout the N-Ray Facility who cloak themselves; invisible to the naked eye, but not able to escape the lens of the N-Ray Scanner. If you’re not dilligent about using it, cloaked enemies can easily run up on you. That's just one example of how the addition of gadgets add a new wrinkle to gameplay.

There are several interlocking systems that factor into how you're able to play, leaning more into the RPG elements that make up specific character builds. So, stealth and those immersive sim sensibilities aren’t the only way gameplay is expanding in The Outer Worlds 2. Improving gunplay was a major focus for Obsidian, citing Destiny as a touchstone for what good gunplay should feel like. Not that this game is going to turn into an all-out shooter, but it plays closer to how a first-person game with firearms should play.

You see an example of this in the approach to the N-Ray Facility movement when we go in guns blazing. Movement has been tweaked to complement gunplay as well, letting you be more nimble and do things like sprint-slide while aiming down sights like an action hero – and with the return of Tactical Time Dilation (TTD), the bullet-time fantasy is again an effective part of your combat rotation. We were able to see throwables, which is by no means revolutionary for a game like this, but with their inclusion this time around, you have another tool that you can weave into your arsenal – and even do something sick like tossing a grenade, activating TTD, and shooting the grenade midair to have it blow up on unsuspecting enemies.

There isn’t much to share on the story front as of yet, let alone the context around the quest in the N-Ray Facility, but we do see how conversations have been tweaked slightly in the sequel. In the gameplay video above, there's a moment we confront an NPC named Exemplar Foxworth who's survived the cultist takeover of the place. She's bleeding out and you can help patch her up based on your Medical stat, or respond depending on your Guns or Melee stats. Although we couldn't dig into companions in more detail, this part also highlights the new companion named Aza, a former cultist who's a bit frantic but joins you to seemingly help undo what they've done.

Many of these elements were part of the original Outer Worlds in some form, but where that game was more about laying a new foundation for Obsidian, The Outer Worlds 2 looks to be a fully realized version of what it was trying to build with the first one. In addition to checking it out early, I had conversations with the folks at Obsidian to get insight on a ton of its new features and the vision that drove this sequel. It seems keen on wielding the RPG roots of the studio’s past while considering what a modern first-person RPG can be in the vein of a Fallout – and to be clear, they often referred to Fallout: New Vegas as a touchstone when making The Outer Worlds 2, so my hopes are certainly high.

That's just a taste of what's to come in The Outer Worlds 2 and what we're covering in this month's IGN First. I'll be breaking down character builds, the new flaws system, all the wild and wacky weapons, and how much bigger this sequel is through interviews with key people like original Fallout developer and creative director Leonard Boyarsky, game director Brandon Adler, and design director Matt Singh. Keep checking back at IGN all April long for more!

Michael Higham is the tech reviews editor at IGN, but is one of the RPG sickos on staff who still talks about Fallout: New Vegas on a regular basis. You can find him at @brazyazn.bsky.social.

Written and directed by Iraq War veteran Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland (Civil War, 28 Days Later), the new A24 film Warfare follows a platoon of US Navy SEALs in real time as they stake out insurgent activity from within the home of an Iraqi family. Warfare embeds the viewer within an Ramadi apartment building with the SEALs as they fight to survive until their evacuation vehicles to arrive and extract them. As Eric Goldman writes in IGN's Warfare review, this A24 release “is arguably among the most extreme ‘war is hell’ movies ever made by an American studio.”

Culled from Mendoza’s own combat experiences as a SEAL, Warfare’s logline touts that it is “based on the memory of the people who lived it.” Among those who lived it are two of the leading characters portrayed by Will Poulter (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Midsommar) and Joseph Quinn (Gladiator II, The Fantastic Four: First Steps), respectively. Poulter plays Eric, a captain in charge of one group of SEALs, while Quinn plays Sam, a petty officer gravely injured once Al Qaeda attacks their location.

I recently had the chance to speak to Poulter and Quinn – before the latter was announced as playing George Harrison in Sam Mendes’ quartet of Beatles biopics – about their experience making the film, the camaraderie between its young ensemble, and striving for authenticity at all times. (This interview has been edited for clarity.)

IGN: First of all, congratulations on this movie. It's pretty singular. I would imagine this is going to be an experience that 30 years from now you'll still be talking about and hopefully still all be friends and everything. It seems unlike probably any movie you've worked on, is that a fair assessment?

Joseph Quinn: That's a very fair assessment. And I'm pleased that you used the word singular. It was certainly a singular experience and a singular approach to filmmaking, which I think has resulted in a very unique cinematic experience, a very unique film. The circumstances were incredibly rare and the bond that we've created after that experience is quite special.

Will Poulter: Yeah, I'm also reminded of something that you said to us, Joe, as a group which really resonated with all the guys, which is like these experiences are maybe once in a career opportunities if you're incredibly lucky. And I think we all feel that. And I certainly hope that we will all be friends 30 years down the line. There's no sign of the friendship dissipating anytime soon, that's for sure.

IGN: Until about the last 20 minutes, it's actually the silence and not this cacophony of noise that is scary. So when you do hear something like a tank rolling in, there’s tension in just guys standing in a room looking at each other. In those scenes where you have very little dialogue for the most part, how are you communicating? It has to be almost the most primal form of acting.

Joseph Quinn: Yeah, that was a brief certainly. Alex and Ray made it very clear that in the moments of stillness, in the moments of inaction potentially, you could call it, it was our responsibility to hold these characters' truth and these characters what they would do in moments of boredom. And we rehearsed the script like a play in the first three weeks, and it was important for Alex and Ray to do what they wanted to do in the time that they had. They had these two cameras that needed to roam and pick up action as when in very, very long takes. We shot, I think, something like nine hours of footage in the first day. Or eight hours or something quite extraordinary.

IGN: I’d imagine then there was no sitting around and waiting on set then it sounds like.

Joseph Quinn: Certainly not. And we were all there because of the nature of the film and the fact that it takes place, the majority of it, in this apartment house. We were all there and we had to be there for each other's coverage. I say we had to, it was a privilege and a joy. But it was very funny, our inaction or our idleness, we would find ways to entertain ourselves as the SEALs did, whilst not getting in the way of the filmmaking itself. It meant that we had to be quite creative in distributing chuckles around quite liberally, and even in the moments of inaction, there was action there on and off camera.

Will Poulter: And the other thing about this that I think speaks to the singularity of the experience and how it broke with convention is how the bootcamp was in itself a rehearsal and the rehearsal was in itself like part of the bootcamp. What I mean by that is by going through that training process, not only did we learn this condensed Navy SEAL crash course of a skillset, but we also developed these bonds and understandings of each other so that when we got to set and we were presented with those moments of idleness where there isn't necessarily any dialogue or we don't have a prescribed action, we were falling back both on the training that we'd received and then also these instincts that we'd developed around each other.

We'd formed relationships that felt incredibly real and, critically, had been sort of shaped by Ray. He would say, "Oh yeah, you guys were pretty close," like it stands to reason that you would say that or you would be in that close proximity to him. And he spoke a lot about nonverbal communication and how that really is to a large degree how SEALs communicate with each other.

IGN: Will, I understand that since you play the captain, you took on a real leadership role, at least in terms of communicating with the director.

Joseph Quinn: If I may, I'm going to just jump in and say Will was exemplary in his display of leadership. There was an extracurricular necessity there, which he held with grace, kindness, and compassion. And also as one of the most experienced actors on set, he was able to be there for the younger members. It was a marvel to witness how-

Will Poulter: Wow.

Joseph Quinn: – the responsibility he took and it was inspiring.

Will Poulter: Oh, man, that's really touching. Thank you. I love you, man. … That means a lot from Joe because I respect him both as an actor and as a man immensely. He was also part of the leadership group. And, quite honestly, between myself, Charles [Melton], and Joe, I don't feel like any one of us feel like we could have taken on the responsibility that was bestowed on us as part of the leadership group without one another. Can't imagine doing it with any other guys. And I think we actually feel that same way about the whole group. There was a culture of leadership. And I think we all remain conscious of the fact that we were equals, but we had a sort of chain of command to honor in a way and a sort of militant structure to adhere to.

But yeah, I think it was a really, really trying experience at times. And so we needed that infrastructure to a degree to be able to operate effectively. And we all leant on each other and we allowed each other to, I think, take the lead where we naturally possessed expertise.

IGN: Maybe unlike some other films, there was no room for ego or any attitude from anybody. There's no one playing the star card or something.

Joseph Quinn: No, it was a relief. Not to say that you're wading through ego on a film set all the time, but this one couldn't hold it. It was a collective effort and we had to be a unit so that there is very little room for individual embellishments or an individual ethos. The group is far more powerful than you. And in all film sets there is a hierarchy in film sets and there was a hierarchy on this one, but I think in terms of just from a practical perspective, but amongst the acting department, other than the hierarchy imposed by or offered by Ray and Alex, it was incredibly democratic, which is a relief.

Will Poulter: And I think also in playing SEALs and being part of a high performing team, it required us to practice collectivism over individualism. And we were all reminding each other constantly of this idea that we were all a team before we were an individual. That was something that permeated everything that we did. And I think it ends up on screen in a subliminal way, in a nonverbal way.

IGN: Joe, did you practice different ways to moan and scream? Because there's like 45 minutes of you having to do that.

Joseph Quinn: I spoke to Ray about his memory of what he heard. It was a very brief conversation. It's such an arch examination of it and I didn't want to probe, but obviously we were basing this off memory so there was a necessity to try and get it as close to as it sounded, I suppose. And I had the great fortune of having the veteran that I played on set for a few days, Charlie Hildebrand, obviously which added another layer of responsibility there. And it revealed itself the way it was meant to happen I think. And there's only so many ways you can respond to something like this authentically as you can.

I think this was something that Alex was very interested in conveying in the film, which was with so many other films in the war movie genre, these men are mythologized and they are deified, and it is an extraordinary feat of bravery to put yourself in these situations. That being said, when something as disastrous as an IED of this size going off, you can fall onto protocol as much as you want, and these men do brilliantly and remarkably, there is something animal about the response to it, which I think completely overpowers any training. And whilst they are incredibly proficient military professionals, they are young men in an extraordinary circumstance and unfathomable level of pressure that they're all going through. And that is, I think, really revealed quite in a very extreme way.

Will Poulter: And one of the many examples of where the truth is just given preferential treatment over everything. And it's like in other films that potentially do look to maybe dramatize the war experience or, dare I say, on some occasions glorify and romanticize it, an uncomfortable scene like that might not make it in because it might erode its entertainment factor. And if it did erode the entertainment factor, it didn't really matter in this case because the truth was the guiding principle for everything that ends up in the film.

Warfare opens in theaters April 11.

Diablo 4 this week got its first roadmap of content, providing an overview of what’s coming to the action role-playing game in 2025, with a tease for what’s coming in 2026.

IGN interviewed game director Brent Gibson to go over the Diablo 4 roadmap, discussing everything from expansion two to upcoming IP collaborations. But in the wake of the roadmap’s release, Diablo 4’s community has expressed concern about 2025, and questioned whether there’s enough new content to keep them coming back.

“Oh boy! Can't wait for new Helltide color and temporary powers,” said redditor Inangelion. “It's gonna be so dope!”

It’s a sentiment shared by a number of hardcore Diablo 4 players who were hoping for more excitement around upcoming content.

“A new season in other ARPGs is like ‘let's put in a little housing system where you build up a home base with vendors that give you more gear’ or ‘let's put in a whole shipping system where traders from other lands bring materials that let you upgrade your items in ways that change your class mechanic entirely,’ “ added feldoneq2wire.

“A new season in D4 is ‘what color are we making helltides this time?’ And ‘what powers and reputation skins are we whipping up this time?’ “

“I'm not a Diablo 4 hater, I love the game, but there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of meat on the bone here which is a bit disappointing,” said Fragrantbutte.

“ ‘And more’ is doing a lot of heavy lifting here,” added artyfowl444.

The debate online got to the point where Diablo community manager Lyricana_Nightrayne stepped into the main thread on the Diablo 4 subreddit to address the complaints: “We added fewer details to the later parts of the roadmap to accommodate for things the team is still working on,” they insisted. “This isn't all that's coming in 2025 :)”

Part of the issue is Blizzard’s one-shot approach to seasonal content for Diablo 4. Some like that the experience resets somewhat each season, whereas others have complained that it makes engaging too deeply in each new season pointless. Where some say if all seasonal content remained constant Diablo 4 would become overwhelming, others say they’re thinking of ditching the game and not coming back until 2026 when more meaningful content comes out.

Mike Ybarra, former president of Blizzard Entertainment and corporate boss at its parent company, Microsoft, waded into the debate in a post on X/ Twitter.

“Don't ship to check a box,” Ybarra said. “Season's need to get off the cycle of shipping, spending two months to fix issues, then repeating.

“Pause and give the team time to really address the end-game issues. Playing for a week to then one or three shot a ‘uber’ boss 500 times for a unique, then quitting until next season is fundamentally not fun.

“Expansions schedule is too long - should be yearly. Reduce ‘story’ investment (costs so much for one time element in a ARPG) and focus on new classes, new mob types, new end-game activities that last more than a few days.

“If the cycle continues to just ship w/o fixing the fundamental issues, then I'm not sure where Diablo is going. You can add all the end-game activities you want, but you'll be running in place with the same issues. At some point there's just so many random things, it's not worth the effort.”

The comments on Diablo 4’s expansions have to do with the delay to expansion two, which was once due out in 2025 but will now launch in 2026. Blizzard’s initial plan for Diablo 4 was to release an expansion every year, and while expansion one, Vessel of Hatred, launched in 2024, expansion two will skip 2025.

In our interview, Gibson discussed the reality of continuing to develop Diablo 4 as a live service game with free seasonal content as well as a big paid-for expansion.

“I definitely feel like gamers are more hungry than they've ever been,” Gibson said. “And even if you delivered on their appetite today, that appetite will shift tomorrow. And so you just have to be in a really good spot to adapt to that situation. Because a lot of times too, what's important this month is going to be completely different three months from now. The priority of things can shift very, very quickly based on another game release or the state of your own game. Or maybe we've discovered something really cool and we want to be able to get it in there to change the formula.

“And so it is definitely a new way of developing. It is definitely high interaction with the community. The interesting thing about Diablo is that we have a lot of different community types, right? We have our casual players, we have our hardcore players. They all fall into subdivisions of types of players inside of that. And so what we look to do is season upon season, look at the things that are important to some of those groups and go after them with focus.

“When you take a look at something like what we're doing in Season 8, we know we have a ton of boss lair feedback and so we're adding in the quality of life improvements for those players where that is a big focus of their gameplay type, or we might shift to nightmare dungeons when we're in Season 9. And so it's an opportunity for us to address different groups at different times, leading to an expansion where we're going to be addressing everybody all at once with something big.”

Diablo 4 Season 8 launches later in April, with Season 9 currently due out in the summer, and Season 10 later in the year.

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 GameCube is coming to Nintendo Switch Online alongside the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, with a classic controller on the way too. But some small print indicates that Nintendo's new GameCube controller for the Switch 2 may only, officially, be meant for GameCube use.

Spotted in the details of the UK version of the Switch 2 GameCube controller trailer (thanks, VGC), a statement read: "The controller is only compatible with Nintendo GameCube - Nintendo Classics." This would indicate the GameCube controller is only going to work properly when playing GameCube games on the Switch 2 Online Expansion Pack, and not other Switch 2 games.

As VGC notes, it's worth considering that other Nintendo controllers with similar disclaimers have not been fully limited. Players have been able to make retro controllers work where applicable. Also, the same disclaimer isn't there in the Nintendo of America version of the trailer.

It's still interesting, given the classic GameCube controller has enough buttons to manage many common gameplay inputs on the Switch 2. It could be a case of setting expectations, or trying to avoid frustrations if someone, say, tries to use their GameCube controller like a mouse.

Even if this particular GameCube controller isn't your jam, Nintendo has confirmed the GameCube Controller adapter will work with the Switch 2 dock via USB port. Those who picked up the adapter back in the Wii U days are certainly getting some mileage out of the accessory.

The Classic GameCube controller for the Nintendo Switch 2 is planned to go live at launch with the new console, but the exact date those go up for pre-order hasn't been announced yet. Pre-orders have been on shaky ground as U.S. tariffs have introduced a fair bit of chaos.

It's a major update to the Nintendo Switch Online library that will grant subscribers access to a laundry list of classic 2000s-era titles, including The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and Soulcalibur 2, which will all be available at launch this summer. Of course, this library will be expanded upon in the years to come, with some teased titles including Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi's Mansion, Super Mario Strikers, Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness, and more.

If you're looking to pre-order a Nintendo Switch 2, GameCube controller, or other accessories and games, make sure to keep an eye on our Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order hub, which will stay updated with news and info.

Eric is a freelance writer for IGN.

While still usually priced at around £55 minimum if you want to get a physical copy, you can grab Assassin's Creed Shadows on PS5 for just £48.02 with Monster Shop on eBay.

Originally £56.49, already down from its base price of £69.99, you can get 15% taken off thanks to the "RALLY15" coupon code usable on any of the outlet's items available in the store right now. Apply the code at checkout, and you'll have £8.07 taken off with no delivery charge either.

It’s official: Shang-Chi is coming back to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The massive Avengers: Doomsday livestream revealed that Simu Liu would in fact be returning for the upcoming ensemble film — but because of how tight-lipped Marvel Studios is about potential spoilers, he was pretty quiet himself about the fact that his name was going to show up on the back of a chair alongside other MCU greats.

Last month's Avengers: Doomsday cast reveal was heavy on veteran X-Men actors. Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, and James Marsden are all now set to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, confirming the X-Men are in the film in a big way. Grammer famously played Beast in the Fox X-Men franchise before making his MCU debut via The Marvels' post-credits scene. Stewart played Charles Xavier/Professor X in the X-Men films before appearing briefly in the MCU via Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as a member of the Illuminati. McKellen, who played Magneto, has yet to appear in the MCU. Neither has Cumming, who played Nightcrawler, Romijn, who played Mystique, nor Marsden, who played Cyclops. It begs the question: is Avengers: Doomsday secretly an Avengers vs. X-Men movie?

"I knew I was going to be involved in it to some capacity,” Liu explained of the film during a recent appearance on the Jennifer Hudson Show. “But I didn't know who else they were announcing. They don't tell us anything. Tom Holland and Mark Ruffalo ruined it for all of us. Now, they don't tell us.”

Liu is of course referring to the now infamous leaks from Holland regarding the MCU’s Spider-Man series over the years and Ruffalo’s penchant for giving away all manner of plot points surrounding the Avengers. In the years since these hilarious snafus have taken over the news cycle, the Marvel bosses have absolutely made it a point to keep spoilers away, not just from the noted blabbermouths of the MCU, but from all cast members new and old.

The actor, who also had a featured role as one of the Kens in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, was also shocked to see some of the names that were set to appear alongside him. “I saw when Sir Ian and Sir Patrick were announced,” he said during the interview. “These are two of the greatest actors to have ever walked the face of the Earth. That blew my mind a little bit.”

Liu first appeared as Shang-Chi in Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in 2021, but has yet to see the character return to the big or small screen. Aside from the May 1, 2026 release date and the myriad of names we now have attached to the film, Avengers: Doomsday is something of a mystery at this point. But undoubtedly within the next year, more will be revealed — spoilers or otherwise.

Meanwhile, MCU fans have also turned their inquisitive gaze upon Robert Downey Jr’s hair after the Iron Man actor recently sent out a Doctor Doom-themed invitation for this 60th birthday party.

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