With the advent of PC gaming handhelds, the nearly limitless library of games on Steam and other PC clients are now at your fingertips anytime and anywhere. The best gaming handhelds have a hefty price tag, so ideally you can pick one up at a discount. The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X is one of the newest of the flagship gaming handhelds, and it's also arguably the best one. It costs $1,000 nearly everywhere, except for a couple of places.

Asus ROG Xbox Ally X for $915.27

Import (brand new) model

LEGO officially retired a ton of older sets in December 2025, but quite a few of them are still available to purchcase at various retailers today. If you missed your chance to grab any of these builds before LEGO retired them for good, now is the time to pick them up before they disappear from stock completely. Some of the most popular sets, like The Mighty Bowser, are already out of stock everywhere.

It's common for LEGO to retire a bunch of sets at the end of the year and many of those will shoot up in value once stock starts to become scarce. Major online retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Barnes & Noble still have many of these sets available at MSRP, but the LEGO Store is completely out of stock with no plans to produce more in 2026. I've rounded up all of the recently retired sets still available somewhere online, but some of these will likely sell out before the end of the month.

Recently Retired LEGO Sets Still Available in 2026

There are a ton of sets here that are being retired simply because there has been a lack of interest since they were first released, but that's not true for everything. Most notably, there are some key LEGO Harry Potter sets that were just retired that some collectors absolutely don't want to miss. These are part of the modular Hogwarts Castle build that is still getting new releases, so if you're actively building that, this is your last chance to grab things like The Owlery or the Potions Class set.

If you're a fan of the LEGO Disney sets targeted at adults, it's also worth noting that two key sets are quickly becoming scarce. The massive Disney Castle is currently only available from the Disney Store at MSRP as prices are skyrocketing at other third-party sellers. There's also the Snow White and the Seven Dwarves set disappearing from stores, which we called a "cozy and heartfelt tribute to Walt Disney's 1937 animated classic" when we reviewed it.

Another noteworthy set on this list is the Brickheadz Monkey D. Luffy set. The LEGO One Piece sets were released just last year and this is the first thing in that line-up to be officially retired. Season 2 of the live-action show is currently set to release on March 10, 2026 and will most likely feature a new line-up of LEGO tie-ins.

Do retired sets ever come back from retirement?

If you ever truly miss out on a LEGO set, the good news is that LEGO will sometimes bring them back as a redesigned set. The most recent example of this is the Hogwarts Icons - Collectors' Edition set that has completely sold out everywhere. LEGO has already launched a newer version of this set that looks quite similar called Sorcerer's Stone - Collectors' Edition.

New LEGO Sets for 2026

With older sets getting retired, newer sets are arriving to take their place. We saw a ton of new LEGO sets get released for January 2026 and there's plenty more to expect throughout the rest of the year. The upcoming LEGO Pokémon sets have recently gone up for preorder (out February 27) and the Star Wars Smart Brick sets are up as well (out March 1). For a full look at all of the new LEGO sets already available for 2026, check out the carousel below:

Every car absolutely needs both a jump starter and tire inflator as part of its emergency kit, so why not just get both in one package. For this weekend, Amazon is offering Amazon Prime members the Wolfbox 2000A Cordless Jump Starter with Air Compressor (Tire Inflator) for just $40.59 after you apply coupon code "PS4SCSWG". Non-Prime members can get it for $49.99 with same code. Wolfbox is a well-known brand and its products are higher quality than other similarly priced jump starters and air compressors you'll find on Amazon.

Wolfbox Cordless Jump Starter and Air Compressor for $40.59

When you're setting out to get a new gaming PC or laptop, you've probably noticed there are quite a few models out there without an Nvidia or AMD graphics chip. These devices usually come with an integrated GPU, rather than a discrete, or dedicated graphics chip.

PCs with and without discrete GPUs have their uses, but it's important to know the difference if you're on the lookout for a new PC, especially with Intel's new Panther Lake platform right around the corner. For most people, all you need to know that an integrated GPU is best for lightweight, everyday computing like web browsing and word processing, and a discrete GPU is better for gaming and heavier content creation like video editing.

What Is A GPU Anyways?

Most mainstream computers have two types of processors. A CPU, or a central processing unit, and a GPU, or a graphics processing unit. Traditionally, a GPU's purpose is to take visual data from the CPU and render it for display on your monitor. This is why dedicated graphics cards have been necessary for PC gaming for so long. Because of the sheer amount of visual data that needs to be processed in a video game, a dedicated GPU is necessary to avoid turning most video games into a slideshow.

In the last few years, though, the use-case for graphics chips has expanded drastically. It turns out that the thousands of cores in a GPU makes it extremely good at parallel processing. That makes it good for complicated mathematics, data science, and AI. That's also why graphics cards have only got more expensive over the last decade, due to the rise of cryptocurrency and AI.

Discrete GPU vs Integrated GPU

Pretty much every modern computer has a GPU in one form or another, but they're either going to be integrated into the processor, or they'll be a discrete GPU, which means it's on its own chip and board.

There are some desktop processors that don't have integrated graphics, though. While every modern AMD GPU has an integrated graphics chip, some Intel processors leave them out, usually to lower the cost. You can usually tell the difference from the name of the chip – if there's an 'F' at the end of the product name, it doesn't have an integrated GPU.

Getting an integrated GPU in your desktop processor is underrated, too. While you'll typically want to depend on a discrete GPU for gaming and content creation, an integrated GPU is excellent for troubleshooting if your graphics card is having problems. Just don't make the mistake of plugging your HDMI or DisplayPort into the motherboard instead of the graphics card.

The biggest difference between integrated and discrete graphics is that integrated graphics need to share resources with the CPU. That means they share the same power budget, which can be a problem if you're putting pressure on both the GPU and CPU – as most PC games do. Integrated graphics also rely on the same pool of system memory as your processor, which also means things can slow down exponentially in heavy workloads, and not just because DDR5 is significantly slower than GDDR6 or GDDR7.

This also means that, yes, the PS5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch 2, and pretty much all handheld gaming PCs use integrated graphics, rather than dedicated GPUs.

Discrete graphics, then, are dedicated graphics processors that have their own dedicated resources. In desktop gaming PCs, these typically take the form of graphics cards. These are GPUs soldered onto PCBs (printed circuit boards) with all the resources they need – dedicated video memory, power management, and usually a meaty heatsink. These cards will then slot into a PCIe slot on your motherboard, which then gives you access to more powerful graphics processing.

Laptops are a little different. Rather than a full graphics card, mobile discrete GPUs are usually soldered onto the motherboard in its own little section, paired with its memory and power delivery. There are a few laptops out there that have socketed GPUs, but they're extremely rare. As for integrated graphics in a laptop, they work identically to integrated graphics in any other processor, built into the main CPU and sharing its resources.

However, there is a way to add dedicated graphics to a laptop that doesn't already have them. Thanks to the high speeds of Thunderbolt 5 and USB 4, you can use an external GPU to power up your laptop. Not every external GPU is the same, though. When external GPUs first started blowing up almost a decade ago, they were typically external docks that you'd slot a graphics card into, and then hook into your system via Thunderbolt or a proprietary connector – usually depending on the laptop manufacturer.

More external GPUs come with built-in mobile graphics chips these days, though. These are usually smaller and more portable, but don't have the same kind of power of a desktop graphics card.

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

Warning: Full spoilers follow for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.

The fourth film in the 28 Days Later franchise, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple serves as a direct sequel to last year’s 28 Years Later (whew, that’s a lot of times saying “28” and “Later” already!), picking up right on the heels of that film. Directed by Nia DaCosta and written by series creator Alex Garland, the terrific film builds to a memorable finale, as Ralph Fiennes’ Dr. Ian Kelson and Jack O'Connell’s Jimmy Crystal come face to face. Both men have reacted to life in this post-apocalyptic Britain – decimated by a zombie-like rage virus – in very extreme ways, but where Ian has done what he can to honor the dead with his intimidating yet meaningful Bone Temple, Jimmy has embraced violence and madness. He has declared that he is the son of the Devil himself (or “Old Nick” as he calls him), torturing and killing other survivors he encounters alongside the select few he recruits as his followers, who are all forced to take on the name Jimmy as well.

Ian plays along with Jimmy’s threat to actually pretend to be the Devil to his group of Jimmys, lest he be killed, in an absolutely fantastic manner, with one hell of a performance set to Iron Maiden’s “The Number of the Beast.” But when Ian sees Spike (Alfie Williams) – the boy he befriended in the previous movie – has been forced to join Jimmy, he attempts to help him, leading to a deadly series of events in quick succession. Ian is fatally stabbed by Jimmy before Jimmy is turned on by both Spike and “Jimmy Ink,” a follower actually named Kelly (Erin Kellyman), who had grown increasingly dubious about his leader’s claims.

As Ian succumbs to his injuries, Kelly and Spike enact their revenge on Jimmy, with Spike stabbing him, and the two of them leaving the would-be son of the Devil crucified to the Bone Temple and hanging upside down. The last we see of Jimmy is his POV as one of the rage-infected lunges at him. Although anything is possible, for now it’s safe to consider that Jimmy is dead given he had no more allies and no way to protect himself…though I suppose it’s always possible he was simply infected himself.

Animal Crossing: New Horizon's big 3.0 update is now live, and with it a bustling hotel where you can decorate rooms and attract villagers from the game's massive roster of over 400 animals for a visit. But while these visiting pals can wander your island, see the sights, and even participate in activities like Group Stretching, there's one thing they can't do: stay forever.

The reason this is coming up is because you can invite new animals onto your island in various other ways. If they visit through the Campsite, they can be persuaded to stay. If you encounter them during Island Excursions, you can similarly invite them to come back home and live next door. You can even steal villagers from friends if you visit their towns while that animal is already moving out. But for some reason, the hotel works differently. Animals staying for a vacation won't move to your island, even if you have a vacancy, no matter how much you beg.

A number of players (me included) are upset about this! The hotel is the best method yet of meeting a lot of different animal villagers, since there are eight total rooms and they can all be full at any given time, meaning eight potential chances to find the villager of your dreams. These little guys will also roam around the island and do most of the things normal residents do while they're there. They even have dialogue about how they wish they could stick around longer!

What's even more tragic is that former island residents can come visit you via this feature, and they'll have unique dialogue talking about how much they miss living on your island. But there's no way to get them to return permanently. They're just there for a little relaxation, and then gone again.

As much of a bummer as this is, the Hotel is still a pretty good way to get familiar with what villagers are even out there, so you know when they come around the campsite or when you stumble over them on an Island Expedition that you want to bully them into moving in. Besides, you've surely banked enough Nook Miles by now to go on hundreds of Expeditions until you find the friend you want, right? Right?

We're playing New Horizons again just like you, and checking out the big 3.0 update and all the fun new stuff that's been added. We've catalogued some of the surprising little changes, including the ability to strafe and jump, and we've got tips if you, like us, are returning to your island after a long hiatus. Oh, and check out this Zelda stuff added in the 3.0 update!

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

In the early 1980s, filmmaking legends George Lucas and Steven Speilberg created Hollywood’s seminal action-adventure franchise starring Harrison Ford as a thrill-seeking archeologist and college professor named Indiana Jones. The adventures of Indy have now spanned over four decades, culminating in the most recent film, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

Scroll down to find out how to watch the Indiana Jones films in order, by narrative chronologically or release date.

Jump to:

• How to watch in chronological order
• How to watch by release order

How Many Indiana Jones Movies Are There?

The Indiana Jones film saga includes five movies. The franchise’s canon also includes The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, a TV series that ran for two seasons (and four made-for-TV movies) in the ‘90s. If you're curious to know where you can stream all five of the films, we have a breakdown of where to stream every Indiana Jones movie online to point you in the right direction.

Dozens of other Indiana Jones stories have been told through novels, comics, and video games. However, for the sake of this list, we’ve only chronicled the films and TV series.

Indiana Jones Movies in Chronological Order

These blurbs contain mild spoilers, including characters, settings, and broad plot points.

0. The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1992-1996)

Though nonessential to the Indiana Jones film saga, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles is the story’s canonical starting point. It’s optional viewing, but we’ve included it on this list for those interested in the whole story.

The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles stars four iterations of the intrepid adventurer: the child (played by Corey Carrier), the teen/young adult (Sean Patrick Flanery), the middle-aged man (played in a single episode by Harrison Ford), and the elder (George Hall).

The series primarily follows Flanery’s teenage/young adult Indy adventuring around the world, encountering and working with real-life historical figures, including former U.S. president Theodore Roosevelt, writer Leo Tolstoy, artist Pablo Picasso, infamous gangster Al Capone, famed jazz musician Louis Armstrong, and neurologist Sigmund Freud, among others. The series also explores Indy’s background, notably his relationship with his father.

1. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

Temple of Doom is the first Indiana Jones movie chronologically, despite being released after Raiders of the Lost Ark. Set a year before its predecessor, Temple of Doom kicks off with Indy surviving an assassination attempt in Shanghai before parachuting out of a cargo plane into northern India. There, alongside companions Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw) and Short Round (Ke Huy Quan), Indy agrees to help the locals locate their missing children and stolen sacred stone.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is considered the series’ “darkest” movie — the film’s dozens of deaths include a man’s heart being ripped from his chest, while a grotesque dinner scene features delicacies such as live snakes, giant beetles, eyeball soup, and monkey brains served fresh within their decapitated heads. Temple of Doom, alongside Gremlins, led to the creation of the MPAA’s PG-13 rating. (The rating system previously consisted of G, PG, M, and X.)

2. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Over 40 years ago, Raiders of the Lost Ark kicked off the Indiana Jones franchise. Set in 1936, Raiders of the Lost Ark takes Indy on a globetrotting adventure from South America and the U.S. to Africa and Asia. His first on-screen adventure pits Indy against Nazi forces, a recurring antagonist group in the series. The two parties race to retrieve the Ark of the Covenant, a gold-plated chest believed by Adolf Hitler to house divine power capable of aiding the Nazis in world domination.

3. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

Indy’s next global adventure featured another quest for an ancient artifact: the Holy Grail, a relic said to hold the power of immortality. Indy’s estranged father, Henry (Sean Connery), spent much of his life researching the Grail, eventually going missing in its pursuit. Guided by his father’s extensive notes, Indy sets off to find both his father and the relic, once again racing against the Nazis. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is the last film before the time jump to newer films.

4. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

After a nearly 20-year hiatus, Indiana Jones returned in 2008 with Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The series’ fourth and most recent entry introduced Shia LaBeouf as Mutt Williams, the son of Indy and Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), who returns for the first time since Raiders of the Lost Ark. Cate Blanchett stars as the primary villain, a Soviet agent named Irina Spalko.

Kingdom of the Crystal Skull once again sees Indy and his companions racing against a nefarious entity (this time the Soviets) to obtain another artifact of great power: a telepathic crystal skull with which the Soviets plan to control the masses. In addition to the familiar globetrotting and double-crossing, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull introduces extraterrestrial elements into the series formula.

Read IGN’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull review.

5. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

The next and final Indiana Jones movie is Dial of Destiny – the first Indy movie since Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was released 15 years ago. Alongside Harrison Ford and Mads Mikkelsen, Dial of Destiny stars Boyd Holbrook, Antonio Banderas, John Rhys-Davies, Toby Jones, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Indy’s goddaughter Helena. The story follows the latter's reunion with Indy, as the two of them work together to chase down an ancient artifact with incredible power.

James Mangold (Logan) directed the film, making Dial of Destiny the franchise’s first film not helmed by Steven Spielberg. (Spielberg told Deadline he was “peripherally involved” with the movie.) It's also the first Indiana Jones movie distributed by Disney, following its purchase of Lucasfilm in 2012.

Read IGN's review of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny or see where to watch Dial of Destiny.

Future Indiana Jones Stories

While Dial of Destiny is being called the conclusion to Indiana Jones's story, Disney and Lucasfilm were said to be "actively" pursuing a Disney+ TV series as of November 2022. Outgoing Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy has more recently stated that there are no plans for a new Indiana Jones movie, going so far as to claim "I don’t think anybody is interested right now in exploring it.” Could that mean there's a still a TV series out there? Possibly, but unlikely.

Outside of movies/television, Microsoft released Indiana Jones and the Great Circle back in 2024, an original story in the franchise set during "the height of" Indy's career. IGN awarded it a review score of 9, calling the action-adventure game "an irresistible and immersive global treasure hunt, and far and away the best Indy story this century."

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

Disney has unceremoniously pulled 14 of its licensed games off of Steam with no explanation, leaving us unable to purchase games like Disney's Hercules Action Game and Finding Nemo.

This was spotted by HappyCatEW over Steamgifts and Wario64 on Twitter/X, and shared by Polygon. The games are largely older ones from the 90s and 00s, and while they can still be played if you already owned them, they are no longer available for purchase. The newest game in the group is Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell's Adventure (2014), while the oldest, Stunt Island, is from all the way back in 1992.

Most of these games had fairly mediocre reviews, but whether or not any of them were good is beside the point. For a number of games on this list, Steam was the only place to play them on modern platforms. It's worth noting that some of these games, like Afterlife and Stunt Island, were also available on GOG, and appear to have been removed simultaneously with the Steam removal, meaning they're just not on PC anymore at all if you didn't already own them. So unless you own physical copies for ancient consoles instead, many of these games will be inaccessible.

The games removed are as follows:

• Afterlife
• Armed and Dangerous
• Disney's Chicken Little: Ace in Action
• Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell's Adventure
• Disney's Hercules Action Game
• Disney Planes
• Disney The Princess and the Frog
• Disney Winnie the Pooh
• Disney•Pixar Cars: Radiator Springs Adventures
• Disney•Pixar Finding Nemo
• Disney•Pixar Toy Story Mania!
• Lucidity
• Phineas and Ferb: New Inventions
• Stunt Island

Why is Disney doing this? We have no idea. We've reached out to Disney for comment on the situation, and will update if we get a response.

Disney's commitment to having a games business has been wishy washy over the years. After a boom of licensed games in the 90s and 00s (including many of the games listed above), Disney eventually slowed its output in the 10s and seemingly vanished from games entirely for several years. It more recently reentered the space with its classic characters in games like Disney Dreamlight Valley and Disney Illusion Island. However, it seems like it may be slowing down once again, at least for properties that aren't Marvel and Star Wars (whose history in video games is a bit more complicated and robust). Its most recent non-Marvel/Star Wars games came out in 2023 (Tron: Identity, Gargoyles Remastered, Disney Speedstorm), and there don't seem to be any plans for more anytime soon.

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

In case you missed the news, there’s a seismic shift going on at Lucasfilm right now. Kathleen Kennedy is stepping down as President of Lucasfilm after 14 years. She’ll be replaced by two executives in Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan, both longtime Lucasfilm veterans.

This is certainly a huge deal for Star Wars fans. Kennedy has been steering the starship since Disney first acquired Lucasfilm in 2012, and she’s been in charge through a new era of films and the expansion into live-action streaming shows. What does it mean for the future of Star Wars? It’s a little early to say, but we know one thing that needs to change immediately - Lucasfilm needs to stop announcing new Star Wars movies and start committing to actually making them a reality. Star Wars needs to find a clear road map again after years of chaos and misdirection.

The Rise and Fall of Star Wars Under Kathleen Kennedy

There can be no denying that Kennedy’s tenure as President of Lucasfilm was marked by some major successes. She took the reins of a franchise whose biggest days many assumed were behind it, following the conclusion of George Lucas’ Prequel Trilogy. Instead, Kennedy helped pave the way for a completely new era of Star Wars movies that expanded the Skywalker Saga decades into the future.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens was an unmitigated success, shattering box office records and appealing to a huge swath of moviegoers. The entire Sequel Trilogy remains one of the highest-grossing series of all time. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story showed the potential in projects that venture away from the Skywalker clan. And perhaps most notably, Kennedy’s Lucasfilm finally proved that Star Wars can work in a live-action TV format, something even Lucas was hard-pressed to accomplish. The Mandalorian spawned a whole new wave of live-action shows, including the critical darling that is Star Wars: Andor.

But for all those successes, Kennedy’s tenure became increasingly marred as time went on. The Sequel Trilogy may have been largely successful from a financial standpoint, but good luck finding a Star Wars fan who actually likes all three movies. The lack of a coherent, overarching direction for the trilogy and the diminishing returns at the box office speak for themselves. 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story underwhelmed critically and commercially, with even Kennedy herself labeling it as one of her regrets with the franchise. And as 2026 dawns, it’s now been over six years since a new Star Wars film has hit theaters (though that’ll finally change this year).

It hasn’t been entirely rosy on the streaming front either. The initial fervor over The Mandalorian has cooled in light of the more divisive Season 3, and Lucasfilm seems to be cutting back on new live-action streaming shows just as it’s become increasingly cautious on the theatrical front. The Acolyte has the dubious distinction of being the first Star Wars series to be canceled due to low ratings. Ten years ago, who would have imagined there wouldn’t be an automatic, built-in audience for a live-action Star Wars show?

It’s painfully clear that there’s been a waning of enthusiasm surrounding the Star Wars franchise in recent years. Certainly, not all of the blame can be laid at Kennedy’s feet. But perhaps the great, defining flaw of the Kennedy era is that Lucasfilm doesn’t seem to quite know how to respond to this lack of Star Wars enthusiasm.

It’s become a running joke over the years that Lucasfilm is very fond of announcing new Star Wars movies and then never getting around to actually making them. At various points, we were supposed to get a Rian Johnson-helmed trilogy, an Old Republic series from Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and DB Weiss, and even a movie from Marvel bigwig Kevin Feige. All of those projects are dead now. Then there are the many announced projects that have fallen into quiet limbo, like James Mangold’s Dawn of the Jedi, Taika Waititi’s movie, Donald Glover’s Lando movie, and the Rogue Squadron movie. And that doesn’t even get into the numerous times directors have been replaced on the films that actually move forward (Phil Lord and Chris Miller on Solo, Colin Trevorrow on The Rise of Skywalker, etc.).

It’s gotten to the point where it’s impossible to feel excited about a new Star Wars announcement because the inevitable first question is always, “What’s the likelihood this thing actually comes out?” As you can see, the odds aren’t great. Even with projects that seem to be in active development, like Dave Filoni's Mando-Verse/New Republic Movie, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's New Jedi Order Movie, and Simon Kinberg’s trilogy, it’s an open question as to whether those will see the light of day. Until the cameras start rolling and we have actual footage, it’s safer to assume the worst.

That sense of uncertainty and the constant pivoting have come to define Kathleen Kennedy’s Lucasfilm in recent years. And that’s exactly what needs to change as Filoni and Brennan take the helm.

It’s Time to Actually Make Star Wars Movies Again

At this point, we’re not particularly concerned about what direction Lucasfilm’s new masters take the Star Wars franchise. What matters is that they have a direction at all. Where is the future of this venerable but troubled franchise? Is it focusing on new movies set after the events of the Sequel Trilogy? Great. Is it fleshing out the Old Republic era in the Disney timeline? Fantastic. Is it more Mando-Verse/New Republic content? Fine.

Whatever Filoni and Brennan see as the future of the franchise, they need to develop a clear plan for Star Wars and commit to it. Fans have been subjected to too many false starts and announcements that don’t pan out. That’s where some of the waning enthusiasm around Star Wars is coming from. Again, it’s really hard to feel excited about any of these projects when we have no idea if they’re going to materialize.

As noted above, it’s been six years since we got a new Star Wars movie. And while there are currently two projects that have actually finished production and have release dates, if Lucasfilm doesn’t press forward, we may enter another multi-year lull without new films. That’s no way to energize a fanbase or convince anyone that the worst is behind us.

The best thing Filoni and Brennan can do to ring in this new era is make it clear that the days of indecision and waffling are over. Give fans status updates on the various movies and shows that have been announced. Make it clear which ones are being shelved and which are in active development. And maybe start being more conservative about which projects you formally announce. It’s no longer enough to hear that [insert writer here] is attached to a Star Wars movie. If it’s not in active development with a good sense of momentum, Star Wars fans really don’t want to hear about it.

The Filoni/Brennan news has obvious similarities to Warner Bros.’ decision to install James Gunn and Peter Safran as co-CEOs of DC Studios in 2023. Here, too, you have two executives sharing power. One is more focused on the creative side of things, while the other handles the business end. That approach certainly seems to have worked out well enough for DC Studios so far. And we can only hope that Filoni is as prolific on the writing/directing front as Gunn has been with Creature Commandos, Superman, Peacemaker, and Man of Tomorrow.

But the thing about Gunn and Safran’s DCU is that the two came out swinging with a clear plan in place from the beginning. When the DC Studios shake-up was announced, Gunn and Safran immediately revealed the “DCU Chapter One: Gods and Monsters.” They made it clear from the start that they had a road map in place and an overarching story direction in mind. Yes, some of those originally announced projects have fallen by the wayside, but that’s inevitable in this business. (Indeed, Gunn has been quite open on social media and elsewhere about the status of such projects.) What matters is that Gunn has a clear idea of the larger story he’s trying to tell with the DCU, and every act has been geared toward furthering that storyline.

This is exactly what we’d love to see from Filoni and Brennan. Not every Star Wars project needs to be part of the same storyline. The timeline is vast enough that we can and should be seeing projects set in many different eras and with many different characters. But we need confirmation that the new Lucasfilm Presidents have a road map in mind for Star Wars. We need a lot more cases like Shawn Levy's Star Wars: Starfighter, which moved uncharacteristically quickly from announcement to casting to full production.

The days of announcing new movies and quietly shelving them need to come to an end. That’s the first step toward reinvigorating the franchise and recapturing the excitement that was so palpable in those early years of Kennedy’s tenure. Forget Spider-Man. Star Wars needs a Brand New Day.

What do you think about this massive Star Wars shake-up? Will having a clear road map in place help get you jazzed about Star Wars again? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

And if you need help refreshing your memory on all the current Star Wars projects, here’s every Star Wars movie and show in development.

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

PlayStation is no stranger to releasing unique colors for its accessories throughout its over 30-year history. Since the PS5 launched in November 2020, PlayStation has expanded the DualSense controller line to include over a dozen additional standard colors, along with a swath of limited edition controllers featuring popular PlayStation characters and vibrant patterns. Whether you're looking to replace an existing controller, add to your collection, or just want to take a trip down memory lane, we've rounded up every PlayStation 5 DualSense controller color in order of release date.

If you're in the market for a DualSense alternative, our guide to the best PS5 controllers features a variety of different options we've reviewed.

All Dualsense Controller Colors by Release Date

White DualSense Controller

Release Date: November 12, 2020

Midnight Black DualSense Controller

Release Date: June 11, 2021

Cosmic Red DualSense Controller

Release Date: June 11, 2021

Starlight Blue DualSense Controller

Release Date: January 14, 2022

Galactic Purple DualSense Controller

Release Date: January 14, 2022

Nova Pink DualSense Controller

Release Date: January 14, 2022

Grey Camouflage DualSense Controller

Release Date: October 14, 2022

Cobalt Blue DualSense Controller

Release Date: November 3, 2023

Volcanic Red DualSense Controller

Release Date: November 3, 2023

Sterling Silver DualSense Controller

Release Date: January 26, 2024

Chroma Pearl DualSense Controller

Release Date: November 7, 2024

Chroma Indigo DualSense Controller

Release Date: November 7, 2024

Chroma Teal DualSense Controller

Release Date: January 23, 2025

White DualSense Edge

Release Date: January 26, 2023

Midnight Black DualSense Edge

Release Date: February 20, 2025

Special Edition DualSense Controllers

In addition to the standard DualSense controller colors, Sony has also released several limited edition controllers over the past few years. Arguably the most popular limited-time offering was to celebrate PlayStation's milestone anniversary in November 2024, when Sony launched an entire PlayStation 30th Anniversary collection that included a standard DualSense controller, PS5 Slim, PS5 Pro, PlayStation Portal, and DualSense Edge controller, each sporting the iconic grey color of the original PlayStation console.

While you may still be able to get your hands on some special edition controllers, they are often well above retail price as Sony only manufactures a limited amount. In addition to the 30th Anniversary collection, Sony has also released limited edition DualSense controllers celebrating the release of God of War: Ragnarok, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, the ill-fated Concord, Astro Bot, The Last of Us, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, and Ghost of Yotei. A new special edition God of War controller celebrating the series' 20th anniversary also launched last October.

From dumbbells to gaming headsets, there are some great discounts you should take advantage of heading into the weekend. Many deals, including Best Buy’s Winter Sale will be wrapping up over the next few days, so be sure to take advantage of all the savings while you still can. Take a look at all the best deals for today below:

TL;DR: Best Deals Today

Audible Premium Plus for $0.99/mo for First 3 Months

The Belkin Connect USB-C 6-in-1 Core GaN Dock Is 50% Off

40% Off the Dreamegg Sunrise 1 Alarm Clock

Razer BlackShark V2 X Gaming Headset Back to Lowest Price

Big Savings on PowerBlock Adjustable Dumbbells

Save $500 on the Acer Nitro 60 GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Gaming PC

Hisense 65" Class U6 Series MiniLED QLED UHD 4K Smart Fire TV (2025) Hits Lowest Price Ever

Save $11 on Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition for Switch 2

3 for $33 4K UHD Movies

Save $60 on the JBL Flip 6 Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Best Buy Video Game Winter Sale

The New Year's Sale may be over, and now we’re on to the Best Buy Winter Sale. Luckily, the savings are similar, bringing solid discounts on tons of popular titles. From Borderlands 4 for Xbox Series X getting 40% knocked off its price tag, to NINJA GAIDEN 4 for PlayStation 5 seeing a $30 price drop, there are some pretty awesome deals worth checking out.

Netflix has secured the exclusive streaming rights for The Legend of Zelda movie following its theatrical and home releases.

Scheduled to hit cinema screens on May 7, 2027, The Legend of Zelda is still shrouded in mystery, although we do have a few stills of Link actor Benjamin Evan Ainsworth and Bo Bragason as Zelda. The long-awaited live-action adaptation was announced in November 2023, and is produced by Nintendo's legendary creative boss Shigeru Miyamoto alongside Avi Arad, former CEO of Marvel Studios. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes' Wes Ball is directing, from a screenplay by Jurassic World writer Derek Connolly.

Marvel's four Avengers: Doomsday teasers have eclipsed one billion views online already, validating Disney and Marvel's unique approach to promoting the upcoming film that will star Robert Downey Jr. as Dr. Doom and see the return of Downey's fellow Avengers costars Chris Evans (as Steve Rogers), Chris Hemsworth (as Thor), and Shuri (Letitia Wright), along with OG live-action X-Men stars Patrick Stewart (as Professor Xavier), Ian McKellan (as Magneto), and James Marsden (as Cyclops), along with The Fantastic Four: First Steps's Ebon Moss-Bachrach (as The Thing).

The billion-view report for the Doomsday teasers comes from The Hollywood Reporter, who says that insiders have told them that the number is at 1.02 billion views. This of course doesn't include all of the eyeballs on these teasers when they each screened in front of Avatar: Fire and Ash for one week each in successive weeks.

The unique teasers aren't even teasers. Or trailers. So says the directors of Avengers: Doomsday, Joe and Anthony Russo. They're stories. They told fans to "pay attention," and one fan did, and that person's theory about what other narrative the trailers are building is gaining traction online.

If you missed any of the not-teasers-or-trailers, you can watch the most recent three below.

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

There are a bunch of big Star Wars projects in the works, like the Jon Favreau-directed The Mandalorian & Grogu movie, the confirmation of Ahsoka: Season 2, and a new Star Wars movie starring Ryan Gosling called Starfighter which is being directed by Deadpool & Wolverine's Shawn Levy. And yet amid all that, Kathleen Kennedy, president of Lucasfilm, is stepping down from her duties, with long-time Star Wars creator Dave Filoni and Lynwen Brennan replacing her. Filoni will now serve as President and Chief Creative Officer while Brennan will be Co-President.

While Kennedy's departure has been rumored for some time, now that it's actully happening it's clear that the Star Wars franchise is at a critical juncture. Will Filoni and Brennan be able to revive excitement in fans and mainstream audiences about what has been seen as something of a lagging series in recent years?

So let's take a look at all of the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows that we know about. While some are locked, others on our list are just industry reports that haven't been confirmed by Disney yet. We've also kept some older projects on our list that have long since been snuffed out, like the Jedi themselves! Their fire has gone out of the universe...

Click right through the scruffy-looking slideshow below to see what's coming, and a couple of "maybes" too...

What Are the Next Star Wars Movies and TV Shows Coming Out? 2026 Release Dates

For those keeping track, here's the full lineup of upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows:

Definitely Happening:

• Jon Favreau's The Mandalorian & Grogu Movie (May 22, 2026)
• Maul: Shadow Lord Series (2026)
• Star Wars: Visions Presents - The Ninth Jedi Series (2026)
• Star Wars: Starfighter Movie (May 28, 2027)
• Star Wars: Ahsoka Season 2 (In Production)

In Development:

• Dave Filoni's Mando-Verse/New Republic Movie
• Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's New Jedi Order/Rey Movie
• Simon Kinberg's Star Wars Trilogy

On Hold or Status Unknown:

• The Hunt for Ben Solo Movie
• Taika Waititi's Star Wars Movie
• James Mangold's Dawn of the Jedi Movie
• Star Wars: Lando Movie
• Star Wars: Rogue Squadron Movie
• The Mandalorian: Season 4 / The Book of Boba Fett: Season 2
• Carlton & Nick Cuse's Star Wars Series

Canceled/Dead:

• Star Wars: Rangers of the New Republic Series
• Untitled J.D. Dillard/Matt Owens Movie
• Rian Johnson's Star Wars Trilogy
• Kevin Feige's Star Wars Movie
• David Benioff & DB Weiss' Star Wars Movies

Here are the Star Wars projects that are closest to becoming a reality (or at least were in recent times)...

The Mandalorian & Grogu Movie (May 22, 2026)

Lucasfilm turned heads with the announcement of a Mandalorian spinoff movie separate from Filoni's Mando-Verse New Republic crossover film. Dubbed The Mandalorian & Grogu, this film will be helmed by The Mandalorian co-creator Jon Favreau. It's assumed the movie is taking the place of The Mandalorian: Season 4.

Filming wrapped at the end of 2024, meaning this will wind up being the first Star Wars project to hit the big screen since 2019's The Rise of Skywalker. The Mandalorian & Grogu has a May 22, 2026 release date.

Maul: Shadow Lord Series (2026)

The Star Wars franchise will remain in the post-Clone Wars, pre-A New Hope era for its next animated series, which focuses on the former Darth Maul as he seeks to rebuild his criminal empire in the age of the Empire. Lucasfilm teases the series will showcase Maul "plotting to rebuild his criminal syndicate on a planet untouched by the Empire." Sam Witwer will reprise his role as Maul. Look for it to debut on Disney+ in 2026.

Star Wars: Visions Presents - The Ninth Jedi Series (2026)

The animated anthology series Star Wars: Visions is getting a miniseries spinoff called Star Wars: Visions Presents - The Ninth Jedi. As the title suggests, this series will be a continuation of Production I.G.’s “The Ninth Jedi” shorts from Visions Season 1 and 3. It’s a natural choice, as there’s clearly far more story left to tell in this bleak yet adventurous take on the Star Wars mythos.

Star Wars: Starfighter Movie (May 28, 2027)

The next Star Wars movie hitting theaters after The Mandalorian and Grogu is Star Wars: Starfighter, directed by Deadpool & Wolverine's Shawn Levy and starring the Driver himself, Ryan Gosling. The film is set roughly five years after the events of The Rise of Skywalker, putting it further down the Star Wars timeline than any movie or show to date.

There are few details on what the film would be about, but Levy has been developing the project with scripter Jonathan Tropper since 2022. Tropper previously worked with the director on This Is Where I Leave You and The Adam Project. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the prospective movie would be unrelated to the Skywalker Saga and would be a standalone story.

Star Wars: Ahsoka Season 2 (In Production)

When Ahsoka: Season 1 ended on a cliffhanger, it was unclear whether those loose ends would be picked up in a second season or feed directly into Dave Filoni's Mando-verse movie. But production has now wrapped on Ahsoka: Season 2. There's no release window yet, though 2026 could be possible.

Dave Filoni's Mando-Verse/New Republic Movie (In Development)

Dave Filoni will make the jump from Star Wars shows to the big screen. Filoni is directing a movie set after the events of Return of the Jedi. The film is said to tie together shows like The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett and Ahsoka.

Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy's New Jedi Order Movie (In Development)

Ms. Marvel's Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy is directing the first Star Wars film set after the events of The Rise of Skywalker. Daisy Ridley will return to reprise the role of Rey Skywalker, with the film focusing on Rey's efforts to rebuild the Jedi after the final battle with Emperor Palpatine. It's expected that other actors from the Sequel Trilogy will also return.

At various points in its development, Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibson, and then Steven Knight, were attached to write the film. However, all have since left the project. Reports previously indicated that Rey as a character was still a major priority at Disney, and in January, 2025, George Nolfi (The Bourne Ultimatum) was the latest writer hired to script the film. But when Kathleen Kennedy announced her resignation from Lucasfilm in January, 2026, she did not mention the Rey project while discussing other films in development. Huh.

Simon Kinberg's Star Wars Trilogy (In Development)

In 2024 news broke that X-Men producer (and Star Wars Rebels co-creator) Simon Kinberg had been tapped to oversee a brand-new trilogy of Star Wars films. Kinberg will write the trilogy and produce. Sources gave conflicting reports as to what the trilogy will actually be about, though. It may be a direct continuation of the Skywalker Saga, effectively making Kinberg the architect of Episodes X through XII. However, others claimed the trilogy will focus on a new storyline. In January, 2026, Kathleen Kennedy revealed that Kinberg wrote something that was "very good, but not there. We’ve pretty much upended the story, and then spent a great deal of time on the treatment." From there she said Kinberg was expected to turn in "something" -- presumably a screenplay -- by March, 2026. All of which is to say it's still early days on this one.

The Hunt for Ben Solo Movie (On Hold or Status Unknown)

Fans got very excited when word came that Adam Driver and filmmaker Steven Soderbergh had pitched a Hunt for Ben Solo movie, even though the project was not given the go-ahead. A fan campaign since then has not led Disney or Lucasfilm to reverse their decision, but Kathleen Kennedy has said that “Steve Soderbergh and Adam Driver turned in a script written by Scott Burns ... It was just great. Anything’s a possibility if somebody’s willing to take a risk.” Time will tell if this one ever happens or not.

Taika Waititi's Star Wars Movie (On Hold or Status Unknown)

Thor: Ragnarok's Taika Waititi was tapped to direct a live-action Star Wars movie at one point, which he would co-write with 1917's Krysty Wilson-Cairns. Nothing else is known about the film yet, including when it's set in the Star Wars timeline... or if it will even happen. Kathleen Kennedy said in January, 2026, that she thinks the project is "still somewhat alive." Hope springs eternal!
The film dates back to at least 2021, when Waititi revealed he'd cracked the story for his movie, but the actual script was still in its early stages. In May, 2022, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy said that this would be the next Star Wars film released, while in March, 2023, Variety reported that it could be the project that snaps up the then-empty December, 2025, release date on Lucasfilm's slate. In February, 2025, however, Kennedy confirmed that she still hasn't seen a finished script from Waititi, saying “if we ever do get a script from Taika, it’s going to be fantastic.”

James Mangold's Dawn of the Jedi Movie (On Hold or Status Unknown)

At Star Wars Celebration 2023, we learned that Logan director James Mangold was going to be directing a movie about the very first Jedi Knights. Little was known about the movie, other than that it would be set roughly 25,000 years before the other films and would be "biblical" in scope. Unfortunately, in January, 2026, Kathleen Kennedy said that the film is now on the "back burner."

Star Wars: Lando Movie (On Hold or Status Unknown)

While Lucasfilm seems to have no plans for a sequel to 2018's Solo: A Star Wars Story, Donald Glover's Lando Calrissian was supposed to get his own live-action series at one point. The project was announced in December 2020, and was being developed by Dear White People's Justin Simien. However, Simien eventually departed the project, with Glover and his brother Stephen Glover taking over as writers. And in the fall of 2023 Stephen revealed that Lando was expected to take shape as a movie rather than a show. As of January, 2026, Kathleen Kennedy said that the project was "still somewhat alive." Great!

Star Wars: Rogue Squadron (On Hold or Status Unknown)

Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins was given the reins of a Star Wars theatrical film, which was originally slated to hit theaters in Christmas of 2023. Kathleen Kennedy teased, "This story will introduce a new generation of starfighter pilots as they earn their wings and risk their lives in a boundary-pushing, high-speed thrill ride. The legend of Rogue Squadron has been long beloved by Star Wars fans, and will move us into a future era of the galaxy."

However, as of November 2021 the film was no longer on the production schedule while Jenkins reportedly focused on Wonder Woman 3 (which has since been cancelled). Industry insider Matthew Belloni reported the film was the latest in a long line of Star Wars projects hampered by "creative differences." And in March of 2023, Variety reported that a source has stated that the film is no longer in active development. In April of that year, Kennedy told IGN the following: "Rogue Squadron, that definitely is something that we still talk about. Whether it's a movie, or whether it ends up being in the series space, that's definitely something."

The Mandalorian: Season 4 / The Book of Boba Fett: Season 2 (On Hold or Status Unknown)

There's currently no word on a fourth season of The Mandalorian or a second season of The Book of Boba Fett. The announcement of The Mandalorian and Grogu may mean the former series has ended its small-screen run, and we're not holding our breath for more The Book of Boba Fett at this point.

Carlton & Nick Cuse's Star Wars Series (On Hold or Status Unknown)

Lost co-showrunner Carlton Cuse was developing a streaming Star Wars series with his son, Watchmen and The Leftovers writer Nick Cuse, at one point. That's virtually all we know about this mysterious project, as there's no word on the plot, timeline, characters, or other story details yet. And with Disney seemingly pulling back on greenlighting new Star Wars streaming shows now, it seems unlikely that this one will move forward any time soon.

Star Wars Movies and TV Shows Released in 2025

• Andor Season 2 (April 22, 2025)
• Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld (May 4, 2025)
• Star Wars: Visions Season 3 (October 29, 2025)

Note: This story was updated on 1/16/2026. It was originally posted on 7/29/2021.

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

Amazon’s live-action Prime Video God of War TV show is charging forward, as Teresa Palmer (Warm Bodies, A Discovery of Witches) has joined its cast as Phoebe/Sif.

Deadline reports that the actress has officially signed on to star alongside Ryan Hurst, who joined the PlayStation series adaptation as Kratos earlier this week. The Earth goddess plays a somewhat smaller role in the video games the new show is based on and is most known for appearing during segments from God of War Ragnarok that feature the Ghost of Sparta’s son, Atreus, who has yet to be cast.

There are all kinds of immensely powerful gaming PC setups out there, carefully crafted and assembled with components hand-picked for the most optimal performance to drive your experience. Even the most meticulous of builds, however, aren’t complete without a great audio system to deliver the coveted, detailed sound that perfectly complements your system and delivers a major impact for your gaming and other computer-related endeavors.

Built-in monitor speakers, much like TV speakers, won’t cut it for most folks at the end of the day. Luckily, there is a vast amount of powered desktop speakers, soundbars, and other audio solutions that are itching for an opportunity to show what they’re capable of. Whether you want tons of bass, immersive surround sound, or speakers that put clarity at a premium, there’s an option out there that’s right for you.

TL;DR – These Are the Best PC Speakers for Gaming:

1. KEF LSX II

Best Speakers for PC

2. Creative Pebble V3

Best Ultra Cheap PC Speakers

3. Razer Clio

Best Non-Traditional PC Speakers

4. Logitech Z906

Best Surround Sound PC Speakers

5. Razer Leviathan V2

Best PC Soundbar

How to Pick the Best Speakers for PC

Gaming laptops, monitors and headsets don’t have much space for substantially sized drivers. Without much size to work with, these miniscule speakers typically cannot produce a full range of audio frequencies, which in turn hampers the listening experience.

By contrast, desktop computer speakers break out of that mold thanks to the advantage they have when it comes to size, amplification and overall components. Most speakers offer a two-way design consisting of a woofer and a tweeter, which work together seamlessly to produce lower and higher frequencies, respectively.

The two-way speaker design does a good job of covering the frequency range of human hearing, generally acknowledged as 20Hz-20kHz, but doesn’t get quite down to the very low end. With music, you don’t need to worry too much about hitting the 20Hz lower threshold, but if you’re watching movies or playing games with a lot of bass, you might want to consider speakers that include a subwoofer, although it will take up extra space under your desk.

You’ll also want your speakers to be powered, meaning they have an amplifier built-in (usually found inside one of the speakers) and will need to be plugged in. The audio signal coming from your computer needs to be amplified before it's sent out through the speaker drivers to your ears.

There are a few more options to keep an eye on and they can make life a bit easier. Having a headphone jack on the front of the speaker can be very convenient when you want to quickly plug in your headphones and not deal with reassigning outputs in your OS. A front-mounted aux-in is an easy way to attach a music source like your phone. Bluetooth functionality is another way some speakers will allow you to attach additional sources.

Your selection process will be heavily influenced by the space you have available for gaming and the audio that comes with it. Is there space to the left and right of your monitor, but not much elsewhere? A stereo pair of speakers will greatly improve your audio quality. Don’t have room to the sides, but do have room to spare beneath your desktop? A compact computer soundbar should do the trick. Is your computer on display in a room that’s got all kinds of breathing room? Opt for a system that has an included subwoofer, or a full surround sound package where you can place speakers at the rear of your room for a completely immersive gaming environment.

Additionally, if you have unique spatial needs but still want a wide, immersive soundstage, you can explore options that feature virtual audio enhancements. Technologies like THX Spatial Audio are meant to virtually mimic the sound of full surround sound setups, sending audio signals that coax your ears into believing that sound is coming from the side or behind you. It’s not a perfect science, and it’s not without its pitfalls. But it is compelling for those who don’t have space to spare.

As with any kind of audio upgrade, there are lots of things to think about here, including connectivity options, budget, and additional features. Gamers might want RGB lighting, for example, or audiophiles might look for built-in controls, subwoofers, etc. When selecting the best computer speakers, if you feel completely lost, it’s a safe bet to look for reputable brands known for producing high-quality speakers. Don't forget to read reviews and testimonials from other users to get insights into the reliability and performance of the speakers you're interested in.

PC Speakers FAQs

Is it worth buying PC speakers in 2026?

Absolutely. While modern laptops and high-end monitors have made strides in audio quality, their size and lack of space for speakers still physically limits them. If you care about sound quality even slightly, dedicated PC speakers will almost always outperform built-in alternatives. Beyond just volume, quality speakers reveal the nuances in a game’s sound design, like the crunch of gravel or the direction of distant gunfire, that helps to create a level of immersion that laptops or monitors just can’t match.

Can any set of speakers work with a PC?

Generally, yes, as long as the connections align. In 2025, the most common way to connect is via a 3.5mm auxiliary jack, which is found on nearly every motherboard and laptop. However, many modern speakers now use USB-C, which allows them to act as their own high-quality sound card, or Bluetooth for a wireless, minimalist aesthetic.

What do numbers 2.0, 2.1,and 5.1 mean for speakers?

When shopping for speakers, you’ll encounter numerical labels that describe the system's layout. The first digit represents the number of standard speakers, while the second digit refers to the subwoofer, or the speaker responsible for bass. A 2.0 system is the most traditional setup, consisting of a simple left and right speaker pair. This is ideal for music and smaller desks where space is at a premium, as it provides a clean stereo image without the need for a bulky floor unit.

If you want more "thump" in your explosions or a richer kick in your music, a 2.1 system is the common upgrade. This keeps the two desk speakers but adds a dedicated subwoofer to handle low-frequency effects. Moving further into the "immersive" territory leads to 5.1 systems, which feature five speakers: a left, center, and right speaker up front, plus two in the rear and a dedicated subwoofer. This creates a true surround sound environment where audio literally circles around you, though it requires significantly more wiring and space.

Are soundbars better than traditional speaker systems?

One isn't necessarily better than the other. It’s a matter of choosing the right tool for your desk. Soundbars are slim, all-in-one units designed to sit directly under your monitor, making them the perfect choice for minimalist setups or small apartments. While modern soundbars use digital processing to mimic a wide soundstage, they often struggle to match the true stereo separation of a dedicated two-speaker system. A traditional speaker setup allows you to place the units farther apart, creating a more accurate sense of space and directionality to your sound. If your priority is desk space and ease of movement, go with a soundbar. If your priority is immersion and accuracy, a multi-speaker system is usually the winner.

Nick Woodward is a sportswriter-turned-tech journalist, with bylines at Digital Trends and the like. You can find Nick covering all things A/V tech as a freelance writer at IGN.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End has returned for a second season. The first season landed as IGN’s Best Anime of 2024, so expectations are (deservedly) quite high. Fortunately, Kambole Campbell's review of the premiere says that the new season “follows up the excitement and complex world-building of its magic exam arc with a simpler, more grounded story." I am personally preparing for more existential crises.

Though reports suggest the new season may be significantly shorter than the first, Frieren is one of the anime I was most looking forward to in 2026 and certainly a highlight of this winter anime season. If you’re planning to tune in, here’s everything you need to know.

Frieren Season 2 Episode Release Schedule

The new season of Frieren will be streaming on Crunchyroll in the U.S. and UK. The first episode arrived on Crunchyroll on January 16 at 7am PT (3pm GMT). Subsequent episodes will be released on the anime streaming service at the same time every Friday.

How many episodes will there be total?

Some reports are indicating Frieren’s second season will only have 10 episodes, a pretty significant reduction from the previous season’s 28. The reduction, if true, could be a response to the manga being on an indefinite hiatus, giving the animation studio more leeway for future seasons. There’s also the chance that it’s the result of demanding production timelines, but there’s been no official confirmation.

Where to Stream Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End

Frieren Season 2 is releasing new episodes exclusively on Crunchyroll in the U.S. and UK. However, you can also stream the first season on Hulu, Disney+, and Netflix. The first season landed on Netflix around 18 months after airing, so it’s likely the second season follows a similar (very long) timeline.

Frieren Voice Cast and Characters

Frieren Season 2 continues to be produced by studio Madhouse, with Tomoya Nagataki taking over Keiichiro Sato’s role as director. While the studio has not announced a new voice cast for the second season, here’s the main Japanese voice cast from the previous one:

• Atsumi Tanezaki as Frieren
• Kana Ichinose as Fern
• Nobuhiko Okamoto as Himmel
• Hiroki Tôchi as Heiter
• Yôji Ueda as Eisen
• Chiaki Kobayashi as Stark
• Sayumi Suzushiro as Lawine
• Jirô Saitô as Denken
• Eiji Hanawa as Richter
• Haruka Terui as Sense
• Azumi Waki as Kanne

A Pokémon card store in Manhatten has become the latest target for thieves looking to steal merchandise featuring the lucrative pocket monsters — and this time, customers were held at gunpoint.

Speaking to ABC News, staff at the Poké Court outlet in the Meatpacking District have said that $100,000 worth of stock was stolen in just three minutes, as a team of three robbers burst into the newly-opened store during its first community evening event.

As one thief smashed glass cabinets to obtain expensive items, another held shoppers at gunpoint. A third, meanwhile, kept watch at the door. "It was a free event and then three armed men just came in and brandished guns in [customers'] faces," store owner Courtney Chin said. The shop has since employed a security guard.

Battlefield 6 Update 1.1.3.5 patch notes are here as EA and Battlefield Studios work to balance jet gameplay and melee combat amid the recently delayed Season 2.

A full breakdown of what is a smaller update for the troubled FPS installment was published on its official website today. BF Studios describes the update, which has a January 20 release date and serves as the first update Battlefield 6 has seen in a month and a half, as “a smaller set of focused improvements aimed at polish and consistency.”

Still, patch 1.1.3.5 delivers a set of improvements, gameplay tweaks, and balance changes fans have anticipated since launch arrived in October. Jet combat will feel quite different going into the extended Season 1, with cannon damage against other flying vehicles significantly reduced, requiring “approximately 40% more hits” to destroy targets. There’s currently no sign of the previously mentioned dedicated air radar, which was promised to arrive after Season 1 in December.

BF Studios has had a jet balance pass in its sights for some time, but the January 20 update for Battlefield 6 is also said to come with what sounds like a pretty wide-ranging update for melee combat. As players have complained of inconsistent knife and sledgehammer attacks, patch 1.1.3.5 aims to improve responsiveness, consistency, and sprint behavior for those who like to get up close and personal. Another set of smaller changes targets the Assault Ladder, which should behave, well, more like a ladder going forward.

Battlefield 6 Season 1 launched October 28 and was scheduled to bring its REDSEC offshoot, maps, weapons, modes, and more to the experience through early-to-mid January. As the three-part debut season came to an end, players were left wondering how Season 2 might reinvigorate an experience that was steadily falling out of favor with fans.

It wasn’t until January 13, much later than many expected, that BF Studios was finally ready to speak on Season 2, but the news update wasn’t exactly the one many were expecting. Instead of a roadmap, the team announced that Season 2 had been delayed to February 17, with its contents to be detailed at a later date. In its place, Season 1 will roll on, with smaller updates and bonuses to be delivered during the downtime.

Now, Battlefield 6 update 1.1.3.5 will keep the ball rolling, even if it’s just a slight nudge toward the next major content drop. In other news, it was announced this morning that The Division lead Julian Gerighty had left Ubisoft and to join BF Studios developer DICE.

Finally, you can read the full 1.1.3.5 patch notes below.

Battlefield 6 Season 1 Update 1.1.3.5 Patch Notes

With Update 1.1.3.5, we’re delivering a smaller set of focused improvements aimed at polish and consistency across Battlefield 6. This update enhances melee responsiveness, refines jet combat, improves ladder interactions, and resolves UI and HUD issues in Multiplayer and REDSEC, alongside fixes for Battle Royale and Gauntlet stability.

The update will be available on Tuesday, January 20, at 9 AM UTC (1 AM PDT, 4 AM EDT, 10 AM CET).

Major Updates for 1.1.3.5

• Improved responsiveness, consistency, and sprint behavior for melee attacks, including knives and the sledgehammer.
• Updated jet combat balance by reducing jet cannon effectiveness against other air vehicles.
• Updated and refined the UI and HUD across Multiplayer and REDSEC, improving armor bar visibility, reticle presentation, and menu navigation.

CHANGELOG

VEHICLES:

• Fixed an issue where vehicles could explode when a takedown was performed on an enemy soldier lying on top of them.
• Reduced jet cannon damage against other jets and helicopters, requiring approximately 40% more hits to destroy enemy air targets.

WEAPONS:

• Bipod attachments no longer display as always providing a hipfire accuracy bonus, as this bonus only applies while the bipod is deployed.
• Fixed an issue where the GRIM 1.50x optic on the DB-12 cost fewer loadout points than intended (15 instead of 25).
• Fixed an issue where the RPKM iron sights would shoot low when using the short barrel.
• Fixed an issue where the TR-7 Light Barrel incorrectly improved muzzle velocity.
• Fixed bipod mount input behaviour for Alternate, Lefty Alternate, Southpaw, and Legacy Southpaw presets so the bipod mount now follows the melee button.
• Improved attack speed for knife melee attacks.
• Improved buffering behaviour for knife and sledgehammer attacks.
• Improved consistency of melee damage timing against enemies and the environment.
• Improved consistency of recoil modifiers when using a controller across different weapons.
• Improved how sprint is interrupted when performing melee attacks. Sprint is now only interrupted until the attack reaches its target, rather than for the full duration of the animation.
• In the Firing Range, target dummies can now take damage while in the process of getting back up.
• Shooting with a suppressor now emits a small muzzle flash when viewed from close range only.

GADGETS:

• Fixed an issue where the GDPIS was not destroyed when targeted by the XFGM-6D Recon Drone, Defibrillators, or the Repair Tool.
• Fixed an issue where the Sniper Decoy did not properly hide scope glints from nearby snipers.

Assault Ladder

• Fixed an issue where ladders positioned above the player could not be entered.
• Fixed an issue where soldiers could be launched unexpectedly when attempting to enter a ladder.
• Improved the soldier animations while climbing ladders.

UI & HUD:

• Added a new option allowing players to customize the reticle colour inside weapon and gadget scopes.
• Fixed an issue where home screen focus navigation could become locked to the bulletin.
• Fixed cases where weapon menus displayed incorrect Reload Time stats for LMGs.
• Soldier lightning improvements to the front-end
• Improved front-end lighting to enhance the visual quality of soldier characters.
• The Reticle Colour option now correctly updates reticle colours for Thermal Scopes and other supported gadgets.

VFX & Video:

• Adjusted explosion particle effects by lowering the shockwave force.

REDSEC

WEAPONS:

• Fixed an issue where jump landing movement speed reduction behaved inconsistently in REDSEC compared to other multiplayer experiences.

MAP & MODES:

• Fixed an edge case in Gauntlet mode “Data Extraction” where the drone could disappear permanently if drives were deposited at the exact moment it landed.

UI & HUD:

Battle Royale

• Fixed an issue where the armor bar could disappear intermittently.
• Fixed an issue where the Airburst Incendiary Launcher icon appeared as a grenade in the loot feed.

Gauntlet

• Fixed an issue where the armor bar could disappear after quickly editing a loadout.

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

Disney Cory in the House, an obscure Nintendo DS game at the center of a bizarre viral campaign, is now being sold for hundreds of dollars on eBay.

Earlier this week, we reported that Disney Cory in the House was now close to dethroning the beloved Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as the highest-rated game on Metacritic by user ranking. Already, the game has surpassed the user ratings for masterpieces such as The Last of Us, The Witcher 3, and Resident Evil 4.

This 2008 Nintendo DS Disney tie-in has been the focal point of numerous viral campaigns over the years, which have seen the users of notorious internet imageboard 4chan propel the game to notoriety despite (or because of) the fact it is... not very good.

Bethesda’s former Elder Scrolls loremaster has revealed his idea for The Elder Scrolls 6 story, and how it would have set up The Elder Scrolls 7.

In an interview with PC Gamer discussing his dissatisfaction with working at Bethesda and subsequent departure from the company following the release of Starfield, Kurt Kuhlmann said if he had got the chance to lead The Elder Scrolls 6 it would have been like the beloved Star Wars movie The Empire Strikes Back.

Kuhlmann, who left Bethesda in 2023 after more than 20 years at the studio, said that in his story the elven supremacists the Thalmor would not only have been the big bad of The Elder Scrolls 6, but they would have ended the game on the road to victory. This, he said, would have turned Elder Scrolls’ long-running ‘player is the chosen one’ who achieves a definitive victory at the end of the game plot on its head, saying that while you would have “preserved hope for the future” by the end of The Elder Scrolls 6, “overall it looks like the Thalmor are on the march.”

The problem, Kuhlmann said, is that he doubts Bethesda would go for an Elder Scrolls game with a “bad” ending such as this, and a cliffhanger is "completely unfeasible" because it takes so long for Bethesda to release new mainline games in the fantasy series. "That's not a good way to end a game and say, yeah, we'll see you in 10, 15 years,” he said.

Alas, Kuhlmann’s idea is just that: an idea, and it’s unlikely that the actual storyline of The Elder Scrolls 6 will turn out to be anything like it. As for when we’ll find out, it could be some time yet. Last year, amid increasing pressure from fans for some information on the game, Howard said The Elder Scrolls 6 wouldn’t be out for some time. In an interview with GQ magazine to celebrate the release of Fallout 4 Anniversary Edition, Howard said The Elder Scrolls 6 is “still a long way off,” adding: “I’m preaching patience. I don’t want fans to feel anxious.”

More recently, speaking to Game Informer, studio design director Emil Pagliarulo pointed to GTA 6’s high-profile delays as the “smartest thing they could do.”

“What do fans really want?” he asked. “Do they want a game that comes out before it should and doesn’t meet their expectations? Or do they want the turkey that is in the oven for long enough to be delicious when it finally comes out of the oven, you know? That’s what I think people are going to want. So, we’re going to take our time and as long as it needs to be great.”

Earlier this month, former veteran Bethesda developer Nate Purkeypile said Bethesda may get “hateful comments” even if The Elder Scrolls 6 ends up just being as good as Skyrim, which he considers to be one of the top 10 games of all time.

In January last year, The Elder Scrolls 6 announcement became as old as predecessor Skyrim was when The Elder Scrolls 6 was announced. Skyrim was released on November 11, 2011, and The Elder Scrolls 6 was revealed on June 10, 2018 — 2,403 days afterwards. It is now seven-and-a-half years since the announcement, and we’re no closer, it seems, to the release of the game.

When the six-year anniversary of The Elder Scrolls 6 announcement arrived in June 2024, even Bethesda chief Todd Howard paused to say, "oh wow, that has been a while." The Elder Scrolls 6 is at least in production, with Bethesda confirming it had entered "early development" in August 2023 and "early builds" were available in March 2024.

Purkeypile said he assumed Bethesda announced The Elder Scrolls 6 so early because the studio was announcing Starfield at a time when it had already been so long since Skyrim came out, so “we needed to make sure people were not just pissed at us.” He continued: “it’s a very expensive way to do that, though. Those trailers are not cheap.”

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

Chris Pratt’s breakthrough film role was in director Timur Bekmambetov’s 2008 action romp Wanted. Now, nearly two decades later, Pratt reunites with Bekmambetov for the upcoming sci-fi thriller Mercy, where he plays Chris Raven, an LAPD homicide detective who finds himself in the literal hot seat when he’s accused of killing his wife.

In a near-future Los Angeles, justice is meted out by an artificial intelligence dubbed the Mercy Program, a system Raven himself championed until he wakes up strapped to an execution chair. Raven only has 90 minutes – played out in real time, making Mercy a literal ticking clock story – to prove his innocence to his AI judge (played by Rebecca Ferguson) or he will be executed.

Although he played (Andy Dwyer’s alter ego) FBI agent Burt Macklin for laughs on Parks and Recreation, “I've never played a serious detective before. And so this was a departure for me, something different for me to try,” Pratt told me when I moderated the panel for Mercy at New York Comic Con last October.

Chris Raven, Pratt explained, “is a part of this special new Mercy Program that they've designed, essentially using AI to modify their court system, to be more efficient and to face the rise in capital crime in this version of Los Angeles. They just want to get these murderers off the street and send a message. And so my character has put eight people in this chair, each of whom were found guilty and immediately executed. And I find myself now on the receiving end of justice.”

The hungover Raven has to not only serve as his own defense counsel but also the detective investigating his wife’s homicide and his own actions preceding the murder. His alcoholism, violent temper, and strained relationship with his wife all point to him being her killer – and the Mercy Program proving its lethal efficiency at dispensing justice. “You're really peeling back the onion of not only what happened that night, but who this person is,” Pratt said. “The deeper you go, the more you realize this is a man who may have committed this crime.”

Enjoy this exclusive scene from Mercy:

The Mercy Program’s AI grants defendants access to anything in its jurisdiction with a camera installed – from doorbells and traffic lights to cell phones and social media – to search for evidence to aid their defense. The court’s AI can also access any digital information a defendant has sent or received via text or email.

“All the evidence that's being presented to us [in court] is there at any moment, sometimes up to a thousand screens in front of me of my life, this character's digital life over the past 10 years, and that's being used as evidence against me,” Pratt said.

“So we had to shoot me in the chair, but we [also] had to shoot every bit of that stuff that would then be put in post-production and provided as me yelling at my wife on my daughter's Instagram, her secret Instagram page that I find out she had, or various FaceTime calls that were stored in the Cloud that is used as evidenced against me, all my friends, all my family, the things that they've said, security footage, all of the stuff that is the evidence being used to find me guilty. Or innocent.”

The Mercy Court chamber’s displays of visual information from multiple sources made the movie an ideal candidate for Bekmambetov’s Screenlife style, a film format he helped pioneer with Unfriended (2015), Searching 2018), and Profile (2021).

During the Mercy panel at NYCC, Bekmambetov reflected on how much of life people, including himself, spend in front of screens, speculating it’s as much as half of their time in the real world and the other half in a digital one.

“It means half of events, [the] most important events of my life happening, not in [the] physical world now, it's happening [virtually]. I'm saying, ‘I love you, sorry, you're fired,' whatever, it's all happening now in [the] digital world.”

For the director, Mercy then is not just about entertaining audiences as a Screenlife movie, but also, as he put it in the film’s production notes, exploring “how we behave and interact with technology.”

The many screens used in the Mercy Court ultimately make Mercy, which was filmed for IMAX and will play in 3D theaters, an Augmented Reality theatrical experience for audiences. “It'll be like an AR movie because it's not about three-dimensional faces,” Bekmambetov promised. “It's more about screens flying in the theater. Literally in the theater, you will see how the screens [are] surrounding you.”

Producer Charles Roven was also on hand at NYCC, where he recounted the “very complicated” task of shooting Mercy as a Screenlife movie experience.

“All of these screens are making a different point in terms of the trial. And I had never experienced anything like that. Watching it go from shooting each individual screen to bringing all those screens together in the courtroom and then having the screens come at you was complicated, very complicated. I had never done anything like it before. And even watching Timur's [other] Screenlife movies, he may have had one or two screens, but not 15 at this exact same time coming at you.”

Roven added, “That 3D experience will give you a kind of real-life sense of what Chris [Raven] is experiencing in the chair, because those screens will not just come at you in a 2D way. They'll almost look like they're coming at you out of the motion picture screen into the audience.”

Mercy opens in IMAX and 3D theaters on January 23.

Editor’s note: These interview quotes were edited for clarity.

Thinking of giving your PS5 setup a bit of a color refresh for the new year? Sony is here to help. The company has dropped a brand new Hyperpop Collection of console covers and DualSense controllers that features three striking new color options: Rhythm Blue, Remix Green, and Techno Red. If the controllers have caught your attention, they're now available to preorder from both Amazon and PS Direct for $84.99 each.

You'll have to wait a couple of months to get your hands on them, though, as they're set to be released on March 12. Don't let that stop you from placing a preorder, though. It's worth securing your favorite controller now, as there's every possibility they could sell out.

Preorder PS5 Hyperpop Controllers

Looks like LEGO isn’t done with The Legend of Zelda franchise yet. A new previously teased (and leaked) set based on the Nintendo 64 classic Ocarina of Time is up for preorder. It costs a relatively reasonable (for LEGO) $129.99 and will release on March 1. Comprised of over 1,000 pieces, it depicts the game’s final battle against Ganondorf. You can preorder it now, exclusively at the LEGO Store.

LEGO The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - The Final Battle