Let's make this simple: You want to know if there are any mid- or post-credits scenes in Scream 7. The answer is yes! Rather than the credits outright halting, there is a comedic “during-credits” scene (think Principal Rooney on the bus in Ferris Bueller) that runs for a bit alongside the closing credits scroll.

Full spoilers for the movie follow!

It’s been an incredibly bumpy road for Scream 7 to arrive in theaters, with notably controversial and heated events behind the scenes that have included the film’s initial intended star being fired, the resulting fan outrage over that decision, another actor departing, its original director quitting, and the series’ creator and original star then returning to what was now a drastically overhauled story compared to what we would have originally seen.

But with the film now here, how does it all play out? Who’s behind the Ghostface mask this time, and what’s their motive(s)? Let’s break it down!

Is Stu Macher Actually Alive?

Announced early on, Matthew Lillard’s return to the franchise for Scream 7 has been a big deal. His murderous character, Stu Macher, from the first film way back in 1996 remains a fan favorite thanks to Lillard’s endearingly deranged performance. Stu’s potential return is a major plot point in this movie, as Sidney (Neve Campbell) begins to get video calls from the new Ghostface killer which show a taunting Stu on the other end, appropriately aged from when we last saw him, with his face covered in scars thanks to the TV set Sid dropped on his head at the end of the original Scream.

But as many characters in the movie note, we live in the era of deepfakes and AI. So did Stu actually somehow survive all these years and return to get revenge on Sidney, or is this an elaborate hoax by the real killers?

When Sidney goes to rescue her kidnapped daughter, Tatum (Isabel May), in the final act, the messages from Stu escalate to include other deceased faces from Sidney’s past claiming they’re behind all of this, including: Scream 2 killer Nancy Loomis AKA Debbie Salt (Laurie Metcalf); Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger (Scott Foley); and one of Sidney’s closest friends, the late Dewey Riley (David Arquette), in what is clearly meant to add to her anguish.

But while they keep the Stu charade going as long as possible, when Sid finally comes face to Ghostface and learns who the actual killers are, it turns out to just be that – a charade. None of these killers are Stu, who is (presumably) still quite dead and wasn’t somehow in hiding all these years. And it was indeed our greatest modern villain, AI, used to fake those messages to Sidney.

Who’s Really Behind the Mask(s)?

Scream 7 pulls a notable swerve from the usual formula about a third of the way in, when Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) makes her big entrance into the film by plowing down a Ghostface trying to kill Sidney, Tatum, and Sid’s husband, Mark (Joel McHale), with her van, outright killing the bastard. The mask is whipped off, and it’s…some random dude?

Okay, we did see this guy for all of 20 seconds earlier in the movie, glowering at Sidney at the coffee shop she owns, but that’s literally it, so the reveal is certainly confusing for both the audience and the characters. It turns out he’s an escaped mental patient named Karl who killed three women years before, which leads Sid and Gale to Fallbrook, the facility where Karl was locked up.

There, they meet Marco (Ethan Embry), who works at Fallbrook and has plenty of helpful info – not just about Karl, but also a mysterious, amnesiac John Doe former patient who Marco confirms to be Stu when shown a photo. Per Marco, this John Doe and Karl were close friends, setting up the idea that Stu had manipulated Karl into becoming his accomplice for these new killings.

It turns out that none of Marco’s story about Stu/John Doe is true, and Marco himself is one of the actual killers. But where Karl's reveal is definitely intentional as far as its “Who the hell is this?” feel, Marco’s unmasking seems like a step too far for a genuine, final showdown Ghostface reveal. That’s because Marco – a character I’m not even sure was named earlier – is literally only in the movie in that one sequence where Sid and Gale visit the mental hospital. It’s the kind of “oh, it’s that guy from that one scene!” reveal that Heart Eyes did in an intentionally jokey way last year, but it feels like there’s meant to be more weight behind it here.

To be fair, the most notable reveal is saved for last in terms of the character who actually had the most screen time and fits more of the old school “someone who’s been close to Sid for awhile now” vibe. The mastermind behind all of this turns out to be Jessica (Anna Camp), Sidney’s neighbor and friend. Even there, though, this feels pretty lackluster since Jessica only appeared a handful of times in the movie, and also because the movie had killed off or terribly wounded nearly every other possible suspect by this point – including the entirety of Tatum’s friend group, all of whom are murdered – leaving Jessica as one of the only viable possibilities…even if it’s an underwhelming one.

So What Was The Motive This Time?

Scream 7 is an entertaining movie with some fun kills, but it has an especially weak reveal when it comes to the killers, both in terms of who they are (and how little audience impact it has to learn their identities) and their motivations. Previous Scream killers have been motivated by revenge – more than once – but also by everything from the desire for a showy trial, to wanting to be famous for fame’s own sake, to nuclear-powered toxic fandom. This is a series that has always maintained its fun, skewed reflection of evolving pop culture and celebrity; unfortunately, Scream 7 feels very muddled in that area when it’s time for the killer to start monologuing.

Karl was apparently just a deranged stooge; he was already a killer, and he may have been a Stab movie superfan (though it’s hard to know if this was part of Marco’s ruse), but he was manipulated by the real killers that just aimed him in the right direction. He never has any unmasked dialogue, and the characters all know he couldn’t have been operating alone once he’s dead, so it feels okay to leave him as more of a cipher.

It’s with ringleader Jessica that things get dicey. She loved Sidney’s book, Out of Darkness (as introduced in Scream 4), about fighting through her traumatic experiences, and it empowered Jessica to do something about her abusive husband by killing him and covering up that murder. But then Jessica’s explanation takes another turn, as Scream 7 uses Sidney not going to New York in Scream VI to help stop that film’s killer – which, in real life, was because Neve Campbell had a pay dispute with the studio – as a plot point in this film’s story and Jessica’s motivation. As Jessica explains, Sid avoiding that fight in New York felt like a betrayal to Jessica, who saw her as someone who never backed down. So she decided she needed to get rid of Sidney for failing to live up to Jessica’s idealized version of her, but also planned to kill her in front of Tatum, who she thinks can then take her mother’s place as the new Sidney…or something?

It’s all very convoluted (obviously), and also feels like too much of an echo of what’s come before in terms of characters like Scream 4’s Jill trying to fashion herself as the “New Sidney” or Scream 5’s Sam finding herself thrust into that role. And while Jessica’s “I’ll solve my problems with a killing spree” approach is not unusual for this series, it just feels like too much crammed in too fast about a character we don’t know that well, especially because one of the victims in all of this was Jessica’s own teenage son, Lucas (Asa Germann)! She explains that she was just fine disposing of him because his interest in true crime and horror had her assuming that he’d turn out like his dad.

And then there’s Marco, who…well, who knows what his deal is. He met Jessica at Fallbrook after she checked herself in there as a patient and, amusingly, we are told he used to work at Google to hand-wave that he has the background to pull off the highly credible fake Stu AI videos. But why is he doing this? I guess because he liked Jessica a whole lot? The movie doesn’t seem too interested in Marco at all to really properly explain it.

Ghostface Loses Face?!

The final confrontation involves not just Tatum held prisoner, but Mark, who is not actually dead as it seemed earlier, but very badly wounded. Mark is able to help Tatum get free from her bonds, and Sid quickly shoots and kills Marco, taking him and his “I guess just because” motivation out quickly. Jessica makes a run for it, leading to a fight between her and Sidney where both women unleash on each other with various stabbings and bashings before Tatum shows up to save the day and shoot Jessica.

Of course, as established since the first Scream, you gotta shoot these suckers in the head to keep them down for the count, and when Jessica tries to jump Sidney and Tatum one last time, the mother and daughter both shoot her and shoot her and shoot her directly in the face, in the process turning that face into a bloody, disgusting pulp. It’s a pretty memorable exit for one of the less impactful Ghostfaces.

Does Scream 7 Have a Mid- or Post-Credits Scene?

As mentioned at the top, Scream 7 does have its own version of a mid-credits scene…or during-credits scene to be accurate.

After the initial primary credits, including the standard Scream main cast titles accompanied by imagery of each cast member alongside their name, the crawl with the rest of the end credits begins, but it’s accompanied by one additional scene running alongside it.

Though their fellow Core Four members Sam and Tara might not be present, the Meeks-Martin twins, Chad (Mason Gooding) and Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown), return in Scream 7 and accompany Gale to town. It turns out that with Gale now doing her own true crime journalism show after her morning show ended, she’s using Chad and Mindy as her so-called interns, with Chad serving as her cameraman. Meanwhile, Mindy makes it clear she has her own aspirations as on-air talent, even attempting to sneak in reports away from Gale earlier in the movie only to be cut off by the savvy Ms. Weathers.

As is their lot in life, Chad and Mindy both get cut up by Ghostface along the way – though not nearly as brutally as last time out – and aren’t present for the confrontation with Jessica and Marco. But in the final proper scene of Scream 7, we see Gale telling an elated Mindy that she should be the one to file the report about what happened in the final showdown, as Gale instead goes to accompany Sid and Tatum to the hospital where Mark has been taken.

The closing credits show in-universe outtakes of Mindy and Chad as Mindy attempts to begin her intro, only to nervously and continually botch what she’s saying as Chad mocks his sister for even messing up her own name. Finally, she gets the intro right, presumably going into the full account of what happened as the sequence ends and the credits continue.

It’s an amusing little extra moment, though obviously nothing plot-significant. But it’s worth noting that Scream never had any sort of ending credits scenes at all prior to Scream VI, which had a super jokey, quick post-credit moment where Mindy mocked the very idea of post-credit scenes. So it seems that it’s now Mindy’s role to get increasingly longer, comedic bits for the Scream closing credits…

Buried between fresh footage of Pokémon Pokopia and today's truly momentous Gen 10 announcement for Pokémon Winds and Waves, Nintendo announced a miniature version of its legendary Game Boy — that's actually a kind of retro jukebox.

It sure looks like a Game Boy, only smaller. It also sounds like a Game Boy, and comes with classic-looking cartridges — though these only play tunes from the original Pokémon games' soundtrack.

In a neat touch, the cartridges include images from Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue that reflect the music on that particular cart. So, pop in a cartridge with the games' title screen on it, and it's the title screen music that you'll hear. Pop in a cartridge with Cycling Road on it and... you get the picture.

Sound on to be transported back to the 90s!

Listen to the same iconic sounds of the Game Boy system with the Game Music Collection. Embark on a nostalgic audio journey with 45 cartridges featuring music from the original Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue video games that 🎶 pic.twitter.com/A0VXq1bSmM

— Pokémon (@Pokemon) February 27, 2026

45 songs are featured, stored on 45 cartridges. (Or are they all stored on the main miniature Game Boy, and these cartridges just tell it which to play? It is unclear.) Priced at $69.99, the Game Boy Jukebox is available to purchase now via PokémonCenter.com in celebration of the Pokémon franchise's 30th anniversary.

"Relive cherished memories of your Pokémon adventures in the Kanto region by embarking on a new journey to listen to the songs and sounds that helped bring it to life!" reads an official blurb. "In this special collection, you'll find Game Boy Jukebox, a sound toy modeled after the original Game Boy system from Nintendo, along with 45 cartridges that you can insert into the device to hear a familiar melody or sound effect from the original Pokémon video games."

Alas, there does not appear to be any headphone jack — so you'll be listening to the tunes out loud.

Back to today's new creatures, there's a wave of love for fire pooch Pombon, though also calls for it remain standing on four legs after it evolves. For more of today's announcements, be sure to catch up on everything revealed in today's Pokémon Presents broadcast and all Pokémon species confirmed for Winds and Waves so far.

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

Gen Z and Gen Alpha have already reshaped culture so much in recent years, some for the better and some for the worse. Such is the lot of every generation in some way, shape, or form. But according to a recent study, they also want to change the way masculinity is portrayed on screen (despite the fact that what they're looking for is out there).

1,500 young adults ages 10-24 were surveyed by the Center for Scholars and Storytellers at UCLA, and their findings claim this demographic is more interested in seeing the male characters of film and television “moving away from isolation and other masculine stereotypes” and “towards vulnerability and connection” than the reliance on masculine stereotypes that have been prevalent throughout the industry for years. The study was conducted by Yalda T. Uhls, who founded the CSS at UCLA.

Her team has determined newer generations “are asking for a reimagining of how men show up in the lives of others,” according to the published study. “Whether it is a father, mentor, coach, or teacher, the message from the audience was the same.”

The study, which is quite literally named “Evolving Masculinity,” showed that this demo — which consists of young people born between 1997 and 2025 — wants to see fathers “enjoying parenting” by “showing love to kids” in films and television, particularly the youngest of this group (of course, with the lowest participant age being 10).

With parenting comes emotional responsibility — especially for yourself. It turns out 46% of the survey participants want to see “men asking for help, including with their mental health” in films and television, which means almost half of those surveyed see this as a fundamental part of storytelling that they aren’t getting enough of.

“There’s not enough nuance or authenticity in the way that these men show the full range of their emotions,” Uhls told The Hollywood Reporter recently. “Young people are going to make fun of it or reject it.”

Unsurprisingly, some folks have been poking fun at and rejecting something online — this study. The Hollywood Reporter used the 1982 action hit First Blood, starring Sylvester Stallone as Rambo, as the face of their coverage of this study, and that has led to some ribbing jokes on Twitter/X.

“First Blood ends with Rambo sobbing over his PTSD from the Vietnam War,” one user wrote, while another added, “Rambo sequel for Zoomers, in which the VA tells him his PTSD isn’t service-connected.”

But on the whole, fans (presumably belonging to older gens, but who's to say) came out to defend the Rambo franchise for having emotional resonance that would actually make it fit this new gen criteria for masculinity after all.

“The climatic scene in First Blood (where Rambo never kills anyone) is Rambo breaking down crying with grief over his dead friends in his surrogate father's arms,” one fan wrote on X/Twitter. “Isolation is basically the villain of the film. But, importantly, he still looks cool and shoots a big machine gun.”

In response specifically to the part of the study that noted the young gens want to see men dealing with their mental health, several users noted that the use of Rambo as a poser child for what the kids don’t want is actually contradictory. “THAT'S WHAT FIRST BLOOD IS ABOUT,” one fan wrote, while another added with wit, “They don't want Rambo, they want Rambo.”

The researchers pointed to TV shows Heated Rivalry and The Pitt as examples of the "better dads" their respondents say they want to see more of. "For decades, media has relied on the 'stoic provider' or the 'distant hero' as the default for adult men," the report says. "Our data shows that by primarily showing men in positions of power or physical strength, we ignore the roles that young people value, defined by empathy, patience, and emotional availability."

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

Full book and show spoilers ahead for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, Game of Thrones, and House of the Dragon.

The first season of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms was largely fantasy-free and unburdened by lore, allowing the show to serve as an entry point for viewers who might be new to Westeros. But just because the spin-off series lacks dragons and largely stands alone from the overall saga of A Song of Ice and Fire, that doesn’t mean it’s entirely disconnected from it. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ protagonists Dunk and Egg each play their roles in making sure one of the most consequential characters in all of Game of Thrones lore even exists.

Egg is just a kid squire in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, but he eventually grows up to be King Aegon V Targaryen, with Dunk serving as his Lord Commander of the Kingsguard. (Egg is dubbed Aegon the Unlikely given how far down the line of succession he was.) Dunk and Egg’s fates are intertwined, and the fortune teller they encountered in Episode 3 predicted what’s in store for them decades later (in stories as yet to be written by George R.R. Martin).

"You shall be king, and die in a hot fire, and worms shall feed upon your ashes, and all who know you shall rejoice in your passing,” the fortune teller told Egg (who was not yet revealed to be a Targaryen at that point in the show).

Aegon V’s apparent death at Summerhall has ties to one of the enduring mysteries of Game of Thrones: the identity of The Prince That Was Promised who will save the world from the darkness posed by the White Walkers.

So let’s break down what happened at Summerhall, what it meant for the Targaryens, and how Aegon V’s dragon obsession factors into the flagship Game of Thrones TV series.

Dunk and Egg’s Fiery Future: The Tragedy at Summerhall Explained

Summerhall is a Targaryen palace located near the borders of The Reach, Stormlands and Dorne. Egg’s time as Dunk’s squire instills in him a compassion for the smallfolk and an understanding of their needs. As King Aegon V, he sought to improve the lives of the lowborn, and his reforms made him plenty of enemies among the nobility. During his 26-year reign – which is chronicled by George R.R. Martin in his book The World of Ice & Fire: The Untold History of Westeros and the Game of Thrones – Aegon V dealt with several uprisings and political dangers posed by the aristocrats who loathed him for trying to grant freedoms and protections to the smallfolk.

Aegon realized he needed an insurance policy against such threats as well as a way to force the lords to abide by his rulings. He became obsessed with restoring the Targaryen line of dragons (who die off by the conclusion of House of the Dragon). Aegon spent years seeking ancient texts and lost lore about Valyrian dragon breeding, even commissioning expeditions to the port city of Asshai on the continent of Essos, a distant place said to be home of arcane secrets and where magic users can practice openly.

Aegon’s goal of hatching dragon eggs – a ritual that requires fire and a blood sacrifice – results in the tragedy at Summerhall. In 259 AC, Aegon V invited his extended family and allies to Summerhall in what was meant to be a celebration of the birth of his first great-grandchild. But that wasn’t all Aegon had planned while everyone was visiting his summer home.

While many details are lost to history – an ink blot on a maester’s letter chronicling his eyewitness account of the tragedy has kept the event shrouded in mystery – it’s believed that Aegon employed wildfire and sorcery to hatch dragon eggs and that the resulting blaze went horribly awry, killing nearly everyone present and destroying Summerhall.

Among those killed are Egg, Egg’s son Prince Duncan Targaryen, and many more. Dunk is believed to have perished but it's uncertain. (While the Targaryens lost a slew of would-be successors in the lead up to Egg becoming Aegon V, the deaths of so many members of the ruling dynasty at Summerhall only added to why there are so few Targaryens left by the beginning of Game of Thrones.)

While the tragedy at Summerhall is remembered for so much death, it also marked the birth of a pivotal figure in Game of Thrones lore: Prince Rhaegar Targaryen.

The Prince That Was Promised

Rhaegar Targaryen, the son of “The Mad King” Aerys II and his sister-wife Rhaella, was born at Summerhall as it was consumed by flames. It is said that the last heroic deed performed by Dunk – Ser Duncan the Tall, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard – was saving the pregnant Rhaella. If Dunk had failed to rescue Rhaella (and Rhaegar) then neither Daenerys Targaryen nor Jon Snow would have been born. By saving Rhaella, Dunk ensured that Jon Snow is alive to rally humanity against the White Walkers.

The Targaryens have long believed in dreams and prophecies and many of them, including Egg’s brother Daeron the Drunken, have the ability to dream of the future. Egg’s son Jaehaerys II was told by a woods witch that The Prince That Was Promised would be born of Aerys and Rhaella’s line, so he married his two kids to each other to ensure it would happen.

Their firstborn son, Rhaegar, also became obsessed with the prophecy of The Prince That Was Promised and lived his life as if he was the chosen one. He met at least one of the prophecy’s criteria, which is that the savior would be born amidst salt and smoke. Egg’s brother Maester Aemon (the old man at the Wall with Jon Snow) thought Rhaegar being born during the fiery destruction of Summerhall checked those particular boxes, but Rhaegar was not, in fact, the prophesied one. He would die years before the White Walkers showed up, perishing in battle during Robert’s Rebellion.

When I reviewed the original ROG Flow Z13 last year, I was impressed at how capable it was. For gaming, its hot new processor, the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (a.k.a. Strix Halo), challenged convention for the kind of framerates you should expect using onboard graphics. Its 2-in-1, dedicated graphics-less design ensured that it would be for a niche audience, but if you were a gamer looking for something like a Microsoft Surface that could play games, the ROG Flow Z13 is hard to beat.

Enter the Asus ROG Flow Z13-KJP, a collaboration between Asus and Kojima Productions that celebrates the ten year anniversary of Hideo Kojima’s studio. Artistically designed by Kojima Productions’ Yoji Shinkawa, it’s a version of the 2-in-1 gaming laptop that appears transported directly out of Death Stranding and maybe even the hands of a Porter themself.

Asus ROG Flow Z13 Kojima Edition – Design and Features

The KJP edition makes for a version of the Flow that you don’t need to be a fan of the game to appreciate. The gunmetal greys and black of the standard version have been replaced with muted gold and carbon fiber, the latter of which immediately draws the eye with its uniqueness. There are decals across its surface, labeling the ports and components hidden beneath, styled like schematics. If you had it side by side with the original, you might also notice that this version also has serrations along the sides, bringing to mind the hull of a spaceship.

Around the back are more creative touches. One heat vent is now part of a carbon fiber panel. The other has been laser etched into a pattern of dotted beams. It’s a design element that is easy to look at and take for granted but also makes the overall design stand out even more.

The included keyboard folio case has also received a facelift. The keycaps are now topped white and gold (WASD), as well as normal black for the outer ring of keys. The typeface is also different, now more stencil-like to create a militarized feel. It’s all intentional and cohesive.

The laptop also comes with its own hardshell carrying case, similarly drawn from the game world. Together, the two are very well done and make a great set. If you’ve got cash to burn, Asus is also releasing a trio of peripherals and accessories as a part of the collaboration: the ROG Delta II-KJP gaming headset ($270), the ROG Keris II Origin-KJP gaming mouse ($170), and the ROG Scabbard II-KJP deskmat ($70). It’s enough to complete a full Death Stranding-themed gaming setup.

But as you can probably tell from the price of the peripherals, each set to $35-$40 higher than their non-Kojima counterparts, these limited editions don’t come cheap. That applies to the Flow Z13-KJP especially with a price tag of $3,700, a full $900 more than the regular Z13 with matching specs. That puts it firmly in collector territory, so it’s a good thing that it pulls off the details so well.

Outside of the new skin, what we have here is essentially the same exact Flow Z13 we got last year in its highest configuration. That means the flagship Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 with its powerful Radeon 8060S integrated GPU and a whopping 128GB of high speed memory (LPDDR5X, 8,000 MT/s). It comes with an easily replaceable M.2 storage drive and a 13.4 inch, 1600p, ROG Nebula IPS display that really feels like it should be OLED at this price. Still, it’s a vibrant and fast (180Hz) display, and won’t leave you worrying about burn-in.

Because it’s a 2-in-1, it can also function as a Windows tablet by detaching the keyboard case. It’s easy to do thanks to its magnetic latch and POGO pins, but it also stays securely in place to act as a folio cover. If you’d rather use it as a normal screen, the bottom half of its rear panel folds out on a secure hinge to act as a full-length kick stand. It’s solid. Beneath the hinge, there are more schematic decals and the M.2 SSD bay for easy storage expansion in the future.

The screen is beautiful and doesn’t seem to lag behind traditional gaming laptops in any way. It gets plenty bright at up to 500 nits, can run at 180Hz to reduce motion blur and input lag, and supports stylus, multi-point touch, and gesture control to fit both professional and creative work. It’s remarkably solid for gaming thanks to its high speed and resolution, and its smaller size makes dropping to 1200p for more demanding games less of a downgrade.

There are also plenty of ports, which is a major upgrade from many other 2-in-1s that add a pair of USB Type-Cs and call it a day. Here, Asus has landed the Flow Z13 closer to a traditional gaming laptop with two USB4 ports, a full-size USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, a full-size HDMI 2.1, a headphone jack, a microSD card reader, and a power for a power adapter. You can connect peripherals directly, be it a controller or USB flash drive, and if you do need to connect a hub, it’s ready to deliver full speeds. And don’t forget eGPU support, if you’re inclined to improve gaming performance, is supported on either of its USB4 ports at full speed.

Of course, all of this is exactly the same as the original. It still supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, it still has a 13MP rear camera and 5MP IR camera in the front for Windows Hello login. It still has the same 70Whr battery that will get you around nine hours of work and an hour or two of gaming, depending on your settings. And Armoury Crate is still where you turn to adjust performance and customization settings.

The only difference outside of looks, then, comes down to the included carrying case and its weight. Thanks to the different design and materials, the Kojima version is slightly heavier at 3.79 pounds when using the keyboard case (2.76 pounds without). The regular version is 3.51 pounds (2.65 without the keyboard), which makes the Z13-KJP about a quarter pound (127g). But then the adapter is 35 grams lighter, so the two are very close in weight too.

The takeaway? This is a top-spec normal Flow Z13, Kojima-fied, and the decision to pick it up is going to come down to how much that resonates with you.

Asus ROG Flow Z13 Kojima Edition – Performance

The performance numbers here shouldn’t be any different than the original and they’re not. I ran the same benchmarks side by side with the original. That sample was 64GB, but didn’t make a big impact on our roster of tests.

Everything I saw while testing the ROG Flow Z13-KJP could fall within margin or error or to a couple of common culprits, like unknown background processes that decide to fire up and run invisibly. Ultimately, though, this is a case of same hardware, same performance.

With the exception of the Kojima model’s 128GB of memory. For most people, this is simply overkill. Even 64GB of memory is overkill for almost every game out there. The GPU being integrated into the CPU gives it the unique ability to offer configurable VRAM. Theoretically, you could configure it to have more VRAM than the highest-tier desktop GPU, but in practice, that doesn’t offer great returns. For the foreseeable future, there won’t be any games that fully take advantage of the maximum VRAM the Z13-KJP can provide — but it is one of the ways the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 can offer better performance than integrated GPUs have been able to in the past. More video memory raises the ceiling on performance so VRAM doesn’t become a bottleneck.

Instead this massive RAM store seems aimed at everything but gaming. If you’re interested in running local LLMs, extra memory can be a major asset. Likewise, if you’re a creative professional, a system like this can take on demanding tasks like 3D modeling and rendering. That much memory also means that multitasking isn’t going to be kneecapped. With that much memory, you’re more likely to max out your processor before running out of RAM.

Since the performance of the systems for gaming and day to day tasks is just about identical, this review presents a unique opportunity for a long-term revisit of a device I’ve used most days of the week for the last nine months. What’s it like to live with the Flow for more than just a few week review window?

Overall, pretty darn great. Even with the keyboard case, it’s light enough to easily carry without feeling weighed down (though I do use a backpack and not the dedicated case that came with the Z13-KJP). That said, while compact, it’s closer to a laptop in thickness than a competitor like the Microsoft Surface. Asus has to make room for extra ports and better cooling and the trade-off is girth. I’ll take the ports any day of the week, but there’s no denying that the Flow feels chunky after a while.

The versatility of the device is its shining feature, though, and what really won me over. As a daily carry, it was just about perfect for someone like me. When I needed to work, the keyboard case worked flawlessly and offered an enjoyably tactile typing experience. The USB-A port is clutch for my one “must have” dongle and if I need more, the USB4 ports provide enough power for my Dockcase 10-in-1 Smart USB hub to power everything else. Either can be used for charging, too, so I often left my adapter at home.

If I need to present to a room, I am able to connect wirelessly to our main display, mirror screens, and then write in OneNote or slide through a presentation using a stylus. Not included, by the way, and like the OLED screen, I really feel like it should be here at this price.

When it comes to gaming, one of the most repeated Z13 facts is that its Radeon 8060S offers Nvidia RTX 4060 mobile levels of performance. That’s true, but adopting this device also means adopting a mindset of maximizing performance, just like you would with a handheld gaming system. Both use integrated graphics, so it makes sense. It’s a constant game of balancing settings, resolution, performance, and battery life.

In apples to apples tests, the Z13 and RTX 4060 mobile trade blows, but that’s only half the story. The Flow can take advantage of all of the major performance enhancers, like FidelityFX Super Resolution and Fluid Motion Frames (frame generation). The same is true of the RTX 4060 with DLSS and Nvidia’s own frame generation solution. But, the point is, it’s possible to play modern games at decent settings and resolutions while also reaping the size and weight benefits of an integrated GPU.

It’s also the ideal system for streaming games from the cloud. I subscribe to Nvidia GeForce Now and the service works impeccably with the Z13-KJP. If I turn the resolution down to 1080p and run high settings, Battlefield 6 hovers right around 60 FPS locally. If I stream it over GeForce Now, I can easily hit triple digits at full 1600p resolution. The screen sometimes became pixelated due to the emphasis on latency over fidelity for a first-person shooter. A slower paced game like Baldur’s Gate 3, though, didn’t have the same issue 99% of the time.

I have spent hundreds of hours with the Flow Z13 and dozens with the Kojima version. I love it, but can also say that it isn’t going to make sense for many people. Even the standard version demanded a premium for its 2-in-1 yet gaming-centered design, but with this version, you’re getting that premium plus a major hike thanks to the Kojima collaboration.

Make no mistake, this is a very cool machine with a unique and appealing design. But are you willing to spend $900 versus the original ($1,500 compared to the 64GB version) for a case and exterior modeled after Death Stranding? I suspect only the biggest fans would say yes, but to them I can also say that this is a really well-done version.

Top Gun is turning 40 this year, and in celebration of that big anniversary, it's getting a limited edition steelbook (see it here at Amazon). If you're hoping to add this release to your physical media collection, the good news is preorders are now live, and it's sitting with a price tag of $29.99. The wait for it isn't too bad, either, as it's set to be released on May 5 this year.

Head to the link below to get your preorder in, and further down you can learn more about what bonus features you'll get to enjoy alongside the film, too.

Preorder Top Gun 40th Anniversary 4K Steelbook

The front cover for this steelbook highlights Tom Cruise's Maverick in the center, with a big waving American flag behind him, while the back of the case focuses on the skies instead, featuring a pair of fighter jets at the center. The inside of the case also features Maverick giving a thumbs up. You can have a closer look at its design below.

Top Gun 4K Steelbook Bonus Features

This 4K steelbook is also packed with great bonus features, including interviews, commentary, and plenty of featurettes. Check them out below:

Disc 1:

• 4K Ultra HD Feature Film
• 4K Special Feature
  • The Legacy of Top Gun
• On Your Six - Thirty Years of Top Gun
• Commentary by Filmmakers and Naval Experts

Disc 2:

• The Legacy of Top Gun
• On Your Six - Thirty Years of Top Gun
• Danger Zone: The Making of Top Gun (6-Part Documentary)
• Commentary by Filmmakers and Naval Experts
• Tom Cruise Interviews
• Multi-Angle Storyboards
• Best of the Best: Inside the Real Top Gun
• Behind-the-Scenes Featurette
• Survival Training Featurette
• And more...

If you've decided to grab Top Gun and are now feeling the need for even more 4Ks for your library, it's also worth perusing our rundown of upcoming 4Ks and Blu-ray releases. Whether you're in the mood for watching something new, or crave catching a classic in upgraded 4K quality, there's plenty to look forward to in the months ahead. Stock up on your favorites and get ready for many more movie nights.

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

We now have our hands on the Nintendo Switch 2, a new console from one of the biggest names in gaming. Alas, a new console is only as valuable as the library of games you can build on it.

Thankfully, Nintendo hasn't been shy about planned releases over the next year, which include a mix of Switch 2 exclusives, third-party releases, and the benefit of backward compatibility with any games still launching on the original Switch. Without further ado, here are all of the new Switch 2 games we can look forward to in 2026.

All Upcoming Switch 2 Games With Release Dates

Resident Evil: Requiem and Resident Evil Generation Pack (February 27, 2026)

It’s a big one. Resident Evil: Requiem will be available on Switch 2 at launch, marking one of the first third-party AAA releases taking advantage of a cross-platform release with the new Nintendo console. The new game will feature Grace Ashcroft and Leon Kennedy as dual protagonists, with each character bringing their own stealth and action gameplay.

Alongside the newest Resident Evil game, the Switch 2 will also be getting “Gold” editions of Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and Resident Evil Village, available separately or as part of a Resident Evil Generation Pack collection. Nintendo has also released the first special-edition Switch 2 Pro Controller alongside the new game.

Check out IGN's review of Resident Evil: Requiem for our thoughts on the game.

Charizard - love it or hate it, there’s no denying that this Pokémon is an icon in its own right. It may be #0006 in the Pokédex, but it’s #1 in the hearts of Trainers across the globe. Since taking place front-and-center on Pokémon Red’s cover art 30 years ago, this Fire-type is iconic in its own right.

Since its debut in the Base Set of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, back in 1996, Charizard has been printed on a whopping 50 unique cards. But which is the most iconic? Let’s settle it, once and for all.

10. Charizard VMAX (Champion's Path 074/073)

The reveal of Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves for Nintendo Switch 2 has given us our first look at the franchise's long-awaited 10th generation of creatures — as well as many returning favorites.

Below, we've rounded up every Pokémon species already confirmed to appear in the series' Gen 10 games — including its three new Starter Pokémon, the lovable Browt, Pombon and Gecqua.

Those three were the only all-new species announced today, alongside a returning cast of several dozen familiar faces that you'll be catching, hatching and trading all over again.

Today's first Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves trailer includes at least 28 species, which we've listed below. In brackets, we've also listed their accompanying evolutions (and in Pikachu's case, its baby species) as the inclusion of one Pokémon in a family typically means the inclusion of them all.

If this continues to be the case, the number of species technically confirmed is already around 50 (and likely a few more than that, as each starter creature will almost certainly get two evolutions).

For now, though, here's every Pokémon species we've seen in Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves with our own eyes:

Pokémon Winds and Waves confirmed species list

• Pikachu (Pichu, Raichu)
• Oddish, Gloom (Vileplume, Bellossom)
• Krabby (Kingler)
• Tangela (Tangrowth)
• Ledyba, Ledian
• Slugma (Magcargo)
• Wingull (Pelipper)
• Taillow (Swellow)
• Wailmer, Wailord
• Duskull (Dusclops, Dusknoir)
• Corsola
• Mareanie, Toxapex
• Sandygast (Palossand)
• Tropius
• Carnivine
• Tympole (Palpitoad, Seismitoad)
• Nymble (Lokix)
• Sizzlipede (Centiskorch)
• Lumineon (Finneon)
• Frillish (Jellicent)
• Tynamo (Eelektrik, Eelektross)
• Browt
• Pombon
• Gecqua

Of course, Pokémon now has 1028 unique species (including today's new starter confirmations). Recent games have typically featured a large chunk of that in their Pokédex, though it's been some time since the last title that featured every single species.

Add in costumed creatures, gender differences and other alternate forms, and quickly it becomes clear why no game has tried to cram everything in. Already Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves have introduced two new unique Pikachu, too, the improbably named Mr. Windychu and Ms. Wavychu. Yes, really.

Why has Pokémon stopped including every species in each game? In a nutshell, The Pokémon Company has suggested that there are now just far too many to feature in every game, and balance against everything else. Add that's not even counting the many regional species variants, Mega Evolutions, Gigantamax forms and more now found throughout the franchise.

Which species are you hoping to see return? And which starter will you be picking? Already there's a wave of love for fire pooch Pombon, though also calls for it remain standing on four legs after it evolves.

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

Early teasers for a 30th Anniversary Pokémon TCG set were shown during the recent Pokémon Presents livestream. It will feature "an exciting line of products" that will be released later this year, with minimal other details revealed so far.

This has the potential to be similar to the "Celebrations" set that was released in 2021 to commemorate Pokémon's 25th anniversary, and featured reprints of iconic cards like Charizard, Blastoise, and more.

Ring in 30 years of the Pokémon TCG! 🎉

To celebrate, an exciting line of products is set for simultaneous global launch in participating markets in 2026. Stay tuned for more details! #Pokemon30 pic.twitter.com/DdCpcpP7DV

— Pokémon TCG (@PokemonTCG) February 27, 2026

13 cards were shown off during the 30th anniversary teaser video, including Pikachu, Arceus, Raikou, Palkia, and several others, all of which could be getting reprints as part of the new set.

Teased with the line "The Future Awaits" were a potential look at new Mew and Mewtwo cards.

Enthusiast Pokémon site Pokebeach has also speculated that the new set will be called "Celebration Collection" that was trademarked back in November last year.

Pokémon TCG has already been rather busy in 2026, releasing its latest Mega Evolution expansion set, Ascended Heroes at the end of January.

Its follow up Perfect Order will be released on March 27, and will be honing in on many of the Pokémon featured in the Legends: Z-A game.

It's also heavily rumored that the set after this will be called "Chaos Rising", and is alledgedly scheduled to release on May 22, 2026. It's suggested this will rumored to be the Western release of Japan’s Ninja Spinner set that spotlights Mega Greninja.

The Pokémon Company has just unveiled the next generation of Pokémon games, Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves, and with it the three new starter Pokémon who we'll choose a partner from to accompany us on our journey. Among those starter Pokémon is a cute little Fire-type pomeranian-inspired dog named Pombon, and within seconds of its reveal, fans were begging it to stay on all four legs.

please let pombon remain on all fours, please arceus

— 𝓶𝓲𝓶𝓸𝓾 🧸🎀🌹 ꒰ bear vtuber ꒱ (@mimourie) February 27, 2026

If this is confusing to you, you probably have a healthy relationship with how many limbs creatures tend to stand on, but as I'm also in the "please don't stand up, Pombon" camp, allow me to explain. Pokémon starters tend to come in two varieties: two legs (and two arms/wings), and four legs. And often, those Pokémon will change how many limbs they are standing on at some point in their evolutionary lines. As an example, Mudkip starts on four legs, but when it evolves into Swampert, it stands on two, with its two front legs now serving as arms.

Pombon pls stay on all fours 🥺👉👈 https://t.co/BVoAGo9Z8b

— AL (@notalomaga) February 27, 2026

What fans are upset about is how in recent generations, most quadrupedal starter Pokémon end up standing up on two legs by the time they fully evolve. For example, Sprigatito, the grass cat from Scarlet and Violet, starts on four legs, ends on two. Sobble and Grooky from Sword and Shield do the same thing. As does Litten from Sun and Moon, Fennekin and Froakie from X and Y, and Tepig from Black and White. If that doesn't sound like too much, note that in almost every single generation, the starter Pokémon I didn't list above are already on two legs when introduced and stay there, so the end evolutionary result is often a trio of bipeds.

As we get closer to the release of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, a variety of fun tie-in goodies and toys are dropping for fans to check out. Even cereal brands are getting in on the fun. Both Trix and Lucky Charms have released some new variations on their cereals in collaboration with the upcoming movie, with each box offering their own tasty flavor.

If you're a big fan of Trix, this tie-in cereal comes in a blue raspberry flavor. Prefer the magically delicious Lucky Charms? This version is strawberry flavored with some galactic marshmallow shapes thrown in of planets and stars. Head to the links below to order a box if they've caught your eye.

Trix and Lucky Charms Super Mario Galaxy Movie Cereals

Amazon has revealed the first photo of its God of War series, showing off Kratos and Atreus.

Announcing its God of War TV show is now in production, Amazon issued the image below alongside the tagline: “Their journey to the highest peak begins.”

I almost feel sorry for Browt and Gecqua. How is an angry little leafy bird and a damp blue gecko meant to compete with the face card that Pombon showed off in the reveal trailer for Pokémon Winds and Waves? A tiny, smiley Pomeranian with eyes that could melt hearts as quickly as the fire he, in all likelihood, breathes, I fear that I already know I would die for him.

The thing is, when it comes to starter Pokémon, I’m not even traditionally a fire-type guy. I still insist to this day that there’s no cooler Pokémon than the hydro-pumping, water cannon-strapped Blastoise, so, naturally, my choice in that original generation was always going to be Squirtle. I’m not going to sit here making Brock’s Gym and Mt Moon harder for myself than it needs to be. That penchant for water transferred straight into Gold and Silver, with Totodile more often than not being my first Pokémon of choice. Just look at his little fanged face. Adorable.

And so, I would switch between elemental types for the next couple of decades, picking tactically, and thinking about what would make my onward journey the most fun and frictionless. I’m normally one to utilise an analytical approach to these things and not rush into a quick decision. So, when today’s Pokémon 30th anniversary stream ended with Gen 10’s reveal trailer, and inside of it hid our first peek at Winds and Waves starters, it was frankly embarrassing how quickly I decided that Pombon would be sitting snuggly in my very first Poké Ball. I’m not saying it’s as easy to give me an adorable little smile to get me on side, but in this case, the Pomeranian only went and did it.

Of course, we don’t yet know what any of these three starters will evolve into — I think it’s safe to assume larger birds, dogs, and geckos — but already I don’t even care. Sure, we’ve had our fair share of fire dogs over the years in Pokémon, perhaps most notably Cinnabar Island natives Growlithe and Arcanine, but Pombon is a fierce new breed, and one I will likely arm with quick attack, bite, and ember until he’s a big enough boy to incinerate any flammable fool stupid enough to stand in his way. Yes, even your tiny little Browt, if you, for some reason, decide that he’s the one for you in 2027.

The official Pokémon website describes Browt as a “lively but clumsy Bean Chick Pokémon”. Why would you want to hang out with a clutz? Gecqua is listed as an “intelligent Water Gecko Pokémon”. Brains are overrated; manners are everything. That’s why I’ll be making the actual smart decision and going with Pombon, the “friendly Puppy Pokémon”.

Stick with me, boy, I’ll keep you safe. Fire, come walkies with me.

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

The mainline Pokemon games make up one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time. From Pokemon Red and Blue to the Pokemon Legends, these games have amassed a huge audience that just keeps coming back for more year after year.

If you haven't played all of the Pokemon video games in the series, however, you may find yourself in a bit of a dilemma trying to figure out where to start in 2026. Most of the major titles in the series are excellent standalone games to dive into, but if you want to start from the beginning, there are two different ways to play in order: Chronologically or by release date.

Jump to:

• How to Play by Release Order
• How to Play in Chronological Order

Which Pokemon Games Should You Actually Play First?

Choosing where to start boils down to what Nintendo console you currently have. If you only have a Nintendo Switch, you can start with Let's Go Pikachu or Let's Go Eevee, which are kind of like remakes of the original Yellow version from 1998. You can also play Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl for another remake experience. Pokemon Legends: Arceus is also an option (and technically first up on the timeline), but it is very different from the other mainline games.

If you're wanting to dive right into Pokemon Scarlet and Violet or Legends: Z-A, it's worth noting that you likely won't be missing out on any overly pertinent information from the previous games. The only games in the main series you might not want to jump right into is Black 2 and White 2 as those are sequels.

How to Play the Pokemon Games in Chronological Order

The Pokemon timelne may seem pretty linear at first glance, but without enough obvious details to go off of, it can be pretty confusing to try to follow the chronology from title to title. Luckily, a now deleted tweet from Toshinobu Matsumiya has given us a starting point for some of the games. For the rest, we can only make educated guesses based on a few key details witin the games.

1. Pokemon Legends: Arceus

The first game in the chronology is very clearly Pokemon Legends: Arceus seeing as it's set in a time when the relationship between humans and Pokemon was only just starting to form. You spend a large portion of your time running around a vast open wilderness catching and battling wild Pokemon, and the people you interact with are clearly just beginning to understand the world of Pokemon. This game features crafting and research tasks, which greatly differentiates it from the usual gym battle formula we are used to.

Though we don't know just how long ago Pokemon Legends: Arceus takes place compared to the other games in the series, we do atleast know that it seems to feature the ancestors of Diamond and Pearl characters.

2. Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow

As the original games in the series, Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow are up next in the timeline. Bringing the first-generation Pokedex and introducing us to the classic Pokemon game formula, these best-selling games are what started it all.

Although we can't know for sure that these Game Boy games are up next in the timeline, the deleted Tweet from Game Scenario writer Toshinobu Matsumiya confirmed that the series starts with these. The technology featured in the game is also fairly limited compared to some of the newer games -- though still advanced enough to bring fossils back to life!

Bonus: Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen are remakes of the original Red and Blue games and thus are at the same exact point in the timeline. Much of the plot is the same as the originals with some key differences -- including visiting the Sevii Islands after becoming champion of the Elite Four.

3. Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald

Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald brought all new Pokemon and throws you into the Hoenn region -- which is some distance from both the Kanto and Johto regions. Considering this game features the third generation of Pokemon and some new technology, it seems most likely that it would take place after both Red and Blue and Gold and Silver. However, according to that same deleted tweet from Matsumiya, Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire take place at the same point in time as FireRed and LeafGreen.

This also means that Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are at the same point in the timeline here seeing as they are remakes.

4. Pokemon Gold, Silver, and Crystal

As the second game in the series (in terms of release date) Pokemon Gold and Silver take place three years after the events of Red and Blue. With some exciting new Gen 2 Pokemon and some of the best post-game content in the series, Gold, Silver, and Crystal were an excellent follow up to the original games. By traveling to the Kanto region after becoming the champion of Johto, you get a firsthand look at the passage of time. You even get to battle the protagonist from the first games, Red, who is quite strong.

This placement in the chronology also applies to the remakes: HeartGold and SoulSilver. Although the remakes offer some additional content, they are essentially just updated versions of the originals.

5. Pokemon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum

In terms of series release order, Pokemon Diamond and Pearl came a few years after Ruby and Sapphire. However, we now know from that deleted tweet from Matsumiya that Diamond and Pearl actually takes place at the same time as HeartGold and SoulSilver. This may seem a little bit confusing considering the advancements in technology we see in Diamond and Pearl, but we can likely just chalk it up to the actual date the games were created rather than the chronology within the Pokemon universe.

This would also mean that the remakes, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are set in the same point of the timeline. Though the timeline gets a bit wonky with the inclusion of Fairy-type Pokemon considering those weren't introduced until X and Y.

6. Pokemon Black and White

Featuring the fifth-generation of new Pokemon, Black and White was the second mainline game to come out on the Nintendo DS. Although we don't know exactly when the story takes place in the Pokemon universe, we do that it takes place after Diamond and Pearl thanks to Matsumiya's tweet. Since there aren't any obvious links to the previous games, we can only assume that Black and White takes place more than 3 years after Red and Blue.

7. Pokemon Black 2 and White 2

As a true sequel to Black and White, Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 offer a fairly obvious transition through the chronological timeline. We see changes where gym leaders pass on their duties to the next generation, Team Plasma has advanced their plot, and there is a new Champion. Between all of these things, we know that roughly two years have passed since Black and White, progressing the timeline forward in an uncharacteristically linear fashion.

8. Pokemon X and Y

As the first game in the series to allow payers to explore and battle in 3D, Pokemon X and Y was a fresh take on the classic Pokemon formula. While this is largely due to it being the first title in the series to be a Nintendo 3DS game, it definitely helped set up future games. While we don't know exactly when the game fits in the chronology, thanks to Matsumiya we atleast know that X and Y take place at the same time as Black 2 and White 2. However, it's possible that it is set in a different universe due to Mega Evolution being a thing.

9. Pokemon Legends: Z-A

Although we don't know its exact place on the timeline, we do know that Pokemon Legends: Z-A takes place pretty soon after the events of X and Y. Based on the characters and events in the story, it's clear that Z-A takes place sometime within five years of X and Y. It's in the same Kalos region as X and Y and appears to be a direct sequel.

10. Pokemon Sun and Moon

Happening a few years after X and Y, Pokemon Sun and Moon takes us to the Alola region. While we don't have any information from Matsumiya about where this game fits in the timeline, it features a few characters from X and Y that indicate that time has passed between games. An adult Red and Blue also make an appearance, though their exact age isn't revealed, so we still don't know exactly how much time has progressed since Red, Blue, and Yellow.

This also means that Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon take place at the same point in time as they are essentially remakes of Sun and Moon with some additional content.

11. Pokemon Sword and Shield

With the arrival of the Nintendo Switch came the first Switch-exclusive mainline Pokemon game: Sword and Shield. Featuring a brand-new region, new Pokemon, and the introduction of Gigantamax, Sword and Shield is essentially a soft reboot of the series. So that being said, we have no idea where it fits on the chronological timeline. There aren't really any hard references to the previous games, so there is no way of accurately fitting it into the known Pokemon universe.

One of the only clues we have about the timeline comes in the form of new technology. The addition of the Rotom Phone seemingly places us further in the chronology than Red and Blue at the very least, but that's all we can really gather. It's possible that Pokemon Sword and Shield simply takes place in an entirely different universe than any of the other games.

12. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

As the latest mainline entry in the series, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet brings all-new Gen 9 Pokemon and the open-world Paldea region to the Nintendo Switch. There haven't been any obvious clues revealed about where it lands on the timeline, so we unfortunately don't have enough information to try to accurately place it. That being said, if it follows the chronological structure of previous mainline games, it's possible that it takes place at the same time as the events of Pokemon Sword and Shield.

Upcoming Pokemon Games

Pokemon Pokopia

The next Pokemon-adjacent release is just around the corner. More of an Animal Crossing-like than your traditional Pokemon game, Pokopia places you as a Ditto who can transform and learn new skills to build up an island for your Pokemon friends. You can learn more about this new spin-off's gameplay in our hands-on preview.

Gen 10: Winds and Waves

One of the biggest announcements coming out of Pokemon Day 2026 was the confirmation of the next generation of mainline Pokemon games. Pokemon Winds and Waves will launch on Switch 2 in 2027, and we've already gotten our first look at the three new starters.

Pokemon Champions

Game Freak and The Pokemon Company also announced Pokemon Champions, a new battle game for both Switch and mobile devices, releasing for the former in April 2026. This is most likely the "multiplayer Pokemon game" that was alluded to in earlier leaks. More like Pokemon Showdown than other Pokemon releases, Pokemon Champions will allow trainers to battle with Pokemon they've caught and trained in other games through the Pokemon Home app. No release date information has been revealed.

Looking for additional Pokemon content? Check out our guide to the best Pokemon movies and Pokemon Video Games for more. You can also shop for the coolest Pokemon merchandise at the IGN Store for some of our favorite Pokemon toys.

Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness is finally headed to Nintendo Switch Online this March. As it's a GameCube game, it will only be available for Nintendo Switch 2 users.

The game was previously announced for Nintendo Switch Online back when the GameCube Classics were first revealed last April. However, the game was not given a release date at the time, and fans have anticipated its appearance for almost a year now. Also at that time, Pokémon Colosseum was shown, but that game was not given a release date today nor do we know when it will arrive on the service.

Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness first released on GameCube back in 2005, and was a successor to Pokémon Colosseum, taking place in the same region. The game is a single-player 3D adventure where the player travels the Orre region to fight, capture, and purify Shadow Pokémon. Pokémon XD was also compatible with Pokémon FireRed, LeafGreen, Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald at the time, allowing players to transfer Pokémon back and forth between games and use them to battle in a multiplayer Battle Mode.

When it first came out, we gave Pokémon XD a 6.8/10, saying, "Pokémon XD has merit on its own for players who may not have experienced the first GameCube design [Colosseum], but as a sequel this one doesn't have nearly the same 'oomph' as the original."

Unfortunately, not only did we not get a date for Colosseum, we also still have yet to see Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver, Crystal, Ruby, Sapphire, or Emerald on Nintendo Switch Online. The closest we've gotten is a Switch port of FireRed and LeafGreen, but it's not clear yet how, or even if, it would be compatible with XD.

You can catch up on everything announced at today's Pokemon Presents right here.

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

30 years on from the release of its original games, the 10th generation of Pokémon has been revealed.

As ever, two titles will launch together, with Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves set to arrive in 2027 for Nintendo Switch 2.

The games will be set across a sprawling open world featuring a string of islands, include underwater gameplay, and of course feature a brand new batch of Pokémon, including three new starter choices: Grass-type bird Browt, Fire-type pooch Pombon, and Water lizard Gecqua.

Marvel Comics is gearing up to introduce one of the darkest Alien comics ever published. Dubbed Alien: King Killer, this new series explores a colony world almost totally overrun by Xenomorphs, and one where it turns out that humanity is still its own worst enemy.

Check out the slideshow gallery below for an exclusive, unlettered preview of Alien: King Killer #1:

Alien: King Killer is written by Saladin Ahmed (Daredevil) and illustrated by Carlos Nieto (Ultimate Black Panther), with cover art by David Yardin (X-Factor). Here's Marvel's official description of the first issue:

When humanity has already lost the war against the Xenomorphs, what remains? Set on a planet overrun by the savage alien species, the dregs of humanity cling to the protection of the mysterious siblings known as the Three Kings. But these warlords have a fourth sibling who is out for revenge- and the humans' remaining protectors are harboring secrets deadlier than the aliens outside their gates. The first chapter in one of the most epic - and darkest - eras of the ALIEN universe!

Alien: King Killer #1 will be released on April 1, 2026. You can preorder a copy at your local comic shop.

This is just Marvel's latest foray into the Alien/Predator universe. Previous releases have included Aliens vs. Avengers and Predator Kills the Marvel Universe.

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

If I want to game on a flight, I typically have two options. Either I hold a device, like my phone, Switch, or Steam Deck, in my hands and crane my neck to watch it, or prop it on the tray table, hoping the seat in front won’t abruptly recline (which it usually does). Neither is comfortable for long. On the last trip, however, I had a third: a wearable display, called the RayNeo Air 4 Pro, and it may have finally made gaming fun on the go.

The TCL RayNeo Air 4 Pro may look like a pair of smart glasses, and though they are often labelled interchangeably as AR or XR ones, they are kind of neither. Yes, they project digital content in your field of view, but no cartoons or app icons will be superimposed in your room. A more apt description for them would be a head-mounted TV, or as some put it, “headphones for your eyes.” You put them on, and suddenly it’s as if you have been teleported to an empty movie hall, staring alone at a large, cinema-grade screen, unbeknownst to the people around you.

The latest generation of TCL’s glasses doesn’t offer a significant upgrade over its predecessor, but it does add a handful of meaningful changes that can elevate the viewing experience. Most notably, there’s now support for an industry-first HDR10 and improved Bang & Olufsen speakers, all while being half the price of its competitors at $299. And after streaming countless movies and games on them, it could be the new wearable display to beat.

TCL RayNeo Air 4 Pro – Design and Build

At the outset, the RayNeo Air 4 Pro’s all-black look and compact, Wayfarer-esque form factor help it pass as any regular pair of sunglasses. Part of the reason is the glossy, reflective cover plate on the front, which prevents outside light from entering your vision. It’s only when you unfold it that you notice the tech it hides.

The temples, for starters, house the speaker grilles, controls for the display and volume, and the USB-C port, and are far thicker than your standard shades. They can be adjusted to one of three vertical angles to align the screen with your eyes, but I and the few people who put them on were fine with the out-of-the-box settings.

The core circuitry of glasses lies inside the thick bar touching your forehead. Under that, you’ll find angled prisms that are designed to reflect displays embedded in the frame’s top. There’s even a nose pad, and another in the box should the default size not fit you. If you opt for a prescription, this is also where those lens inserts will slot in.

Wearing the RayNeo Air 4 Pro can feel awkward at first, particularly due to the bulky top, which can also get a tad warm after an hour or so of use. But thanks to its lightweight, plastic design (2.6 ounces), that feeling doesn’t linger for long, and I got used to its various oddities. What bothered me at times, however, was the USB-C cable connected to the end of the right temple, which threw the balance off a little.

TCL RayNeo Air 4 Pro – Display

The RayNeo Air 4 Pro comes equipped with a pair of 0.6-inch microLED displays that can project a virtual 120Hz screen of up to 135 inches at a 6-meter depth. In the 2D mode, its resolution maxes out at 1080p, while switching to 3D bumps that up to 4K.

Like any monitor, connecting the Air 4 Pro to a device is as simple as plugging it in, given that it supports DisplayPort video over USB-C. This means it works with nearly all modern computers and phones with USB-C ports, like the iPhone 17 and the Google Pixel 10 Pro. Pairing it with a gaming console, like a Nintendo Switch or a PlayStation 5, though, is a little more complex. You will need an HDMI-to-USB-C converter, and that can be hard to find, since USB-C-to-HDMI adapters are way more commonly available. TCL also sells its own for $59, as well as a JoyDock travel accessory for the Switch, which eliminates the need to carry Nintendo’s bulky dock.

Once you have the RayNeo Air 4 Pro up and running, it offers a sharp and bright image that goes toe-to-toe with more premium options. Its 1200-nit brightness was especially useful in daytime, when some light can leak into your vision and hamper your experience. This also helps with ignoring the reflections of yourself that can come up from the prisms in well-lit rooms.

The attached cover plate is see-through, so that you are never completely detached from your surroundings. But if you want to further cut down external light, you can snap on the bundled blackout shield, available in solid black and special Batman and Joker themes.

Because the Air 4 Pro’s screens have 3840Hz PWM dimming, flickers weren’t an issue, either, and combined with the built-in Eye Comfort mode, which reduces blue light, I was able to play games for more than an hour without feeling any eye strain. As you would when you come out of a movie hall, I did always need a few seconds when I took them off to adjust to real-world lighting.

Gaming and consuming other content on the RayNeo Air 4 Pro has been a joy. It’s the most immersive viewing experience I’ve experienced, especially while playing scenic games, such as Ghost of Yotei. The addition of HDR10 complements that even more, bringing the best out of scenes to create a lifelike picture. In fact, I was able to type this story in the RayNeo Air 4 Pro while resting on my bed’s headboard and using the laptop’s keyboard.

The one downside to the RayNeo Air 4 Pro is that it doesn’t offer as much control over the projection as some competitors. You can’t, for example, adjust its size or how far it is from your vision. Since its field of view is narrower than others, I often faced blurred corners and had to move my head to read text on the edges. The Air 4 Pro can also artificially upgrade content to HDR10, but that can be a hit or a miss and doesn’t do more than just boost the brightness.

TCL RayNeo Air 4 Pro – Speakers

The RayNeo Air 4 Pro’s quad integrated speakers do well indoors, producing ample loudness and clarity. Their open-ear design also means the people around you will be barely able to hear them, particularly in the Whisper Mode. Outside, though, such as on flights, they can be inadequate, and I usually end up switching to my earbuds. Attaching the silicone sound tubes, too, doesn’t much help the cause. The Surround Sound, similarly, felt gimmicky and couldn’t create an immersive environment.

TCL RayNeo Air 4 Pro – Software

On the glasses itself, you can adjust a few settings with the dedicated menu button, like the refresh rate, HDR, and picture modes. In addition, you can download the companion apps to enter the 3D mode.

On the desktop client, for example, you can pin individual windows in a 3D space, and work on them simultaneously. It was helpful at times and made me feel like I’m Tom Cruise in Minority Report, but transitioning between each window wasn’t as smooth as I’d like it to be. You have to wait a few seconds before the cursor switches focus and when you are in the middle of work, those can add up.

The mobile app, similarly, allows you to turn your 2D content, such as photos and videos, into 3D, while converting your phone into a remote you can point and click with. It’s a neat party trick and does well to add depth to foreground subjects, but it loses its appeal quickly and can be glitchy, at times. You can also experience spatial videos shot on an iPhone Pro in this mode.

The RayNeo Air 4 is, however, compatible with Android 16’s new desktop mode, and gives you an option to choose between that and traditional screen mirroring. I tried working on it at a cafe, while my phone was connected to a keyboard, and it was surprisingly productive, except for the questionable looks I got from other customers.

Sony has confirmed that Resident Evil Requiem is the first game to use its upgraded PSSR upscaler on PlayStation 5 Pro.

The company made it official in a post on the PlayStation Blog, where Mark Cerny, Lead Architect, PS5 and PS5 Pro, said the upgraded version of PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) is rolling out globally to PS5 Pro players in the coming weeks.

PSSR is an AI library that analyzes game images pixel by pixel as it upscales them, and it’s been used to boost the effective resolution of over 50 titles on PS5 Pro to date, Cerny explained.

“We’ve been hard at work on a new version of PSSR, which takes a very different approach to not only the neural network but also the overall algorithm,” he added. “We are happy to share that Resident Evil Requiem — shipping today — is the first title to use this more advanced PSSR, which is helping to keep both frame rate and image quality high.”

Capcom’s Masaru Ijuin, Senior Manager Engine Development Support Section R&D Foundational Technology Department, commented: “With Resident Evil Requiem, we focused on enhancing the presentation quality of the protagonist through an upgraded version of RE Engine to deepen the player’s immersion in horror. For example, each individual strand of hair and beard is rendered as a polygon, allowing it to move realistically in response to body motion and wind. The way light passes through his hair changes depending on how the strands of hair are overlapped as well. This detailed expression of texture is one of the many details that we would especially love for our fans to see.

“The upgraded PSSR has allowed us to elevate our expressiveness by successfully processing these details and textural particularities, which are traditionally difficult to upscale because of their intricacy. We hope you will experience this unprecedented level of horror and visual fidelity, and the new gameplay feel it delivers.”

To illustrate the point, Sony published one screenshot of Resident Evil Requiem featuring original PSSR upscaling alongside the same image featuring the new PSSR upscaling. The strands of hair do look slightly more defined in the second screenshot.

Cerny said the algorithm and neural network used in the new PSSR stems from Sony’s Project Amethyst partnership with AMD. “Through AMD’s FSR 4 upscaling technology, PC gamers have already seen the benefits of our collaboration,” he said. “With the updated PSSR, we’re delivering the very latest of this co-developed technology with a further six months of refinement for PS5 Pro players.”

Sony said multiple existing games will be upgraded to the improved PSSR in March, but there’s no word yet on which games will be included. There will also be a system software update at that time; selecting “Enhance PSSR Image Quality” in Settings on PS5 Pro will allow you to experience the new PSSR with any PS5 Pro games that currently support PSSR.

“Once the system update releases next month, try it and see, some games may have noticeably crisper graphics,” Cerny said.

The February 2026 Pokémon Presents celebrated the franchise’s 30th anniversary with 25 minutes of updates – and a first look at Generation 10, Pokémon Winds and Waves.

The show went about as fans expected. Most of the presentation focused on celebrating the series’ history, all while delivering announcements for spinoffs like Pokémon Pokopia, Go, Trading Card Game Pocket, and the upcoming Champions. Highlights include plans to bring Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness to the GameCube Classics catalog in March and, of course, a first look at Gen 10.

The real surprise for Winds and Waves was seeing what the game actually looks like in motion, with the presentation also showing off its three new starters and a release date window of 2027. You can see everything announced during the February 2026 Pokémon Presents in our roundup below.

The Pokémon Company Unveils the Pokémon Game Music Collection and a Tiny Game Boy Player

Pokémon is releasing a small music player based off of the original Game Boy that will play the original music from the games. #PokemonPresents pic.twitter.com/8PEKsSnqG7

— IGN (@IGN) February 27, 2026

The Game Music Collection is a new way for Pokémon fans to collect and listen to some of their favorite songs from the franchise’s beginnings. Releasing today, February 27, 2026, is a Game Boy-style music player that allows players to plug in cartridges for Pokémon Red and Blue.

Pokémon Trading Card Game Set Featuring Mew and Mewtwo Teased

The battle of the extraction shooters is on, but developers Bungie and Embark are presenting a united front on social media — even after Marathon temporarily censored Arc Raiders in chat.

After the Marathon Server Slam event went live yesterday (and hit impressive Steam concurrent player numbers), players noticed that Embark’s hugely successful Arc Raiders was censored in chat.

A clip showing Tyler 'Ninja' Blevins of Fortnite fame finding this out for himself went viral on social media after Jake Lucky posted it to Twitter / X, below. Other competitive shooters, such as Halo, Counter-Strike, and Apex Legends, were not censored.

ARC Raiders is censored in Marathon's chat in game LOL pic.twitter.com/W2XUiYfJ3S

— Jake Lucky 🔜 GDC (@JakeSucky) February 26, 2026

This censorship didn’t last long, and Arc Raiders is now allowed in Marathon chat. But the odd situation did spark a wholesome follow-up as the official Marathon account replied to the viral tweet to declare “Arc Raiders is awesome,” in an in-game chat screenshot.

And now, the official Arc Raiders account has replied to Marathon with a similarly loving statement: “No matter if you're a Runner or a Raider, loot is loot. We’ll save you a seat in the shuttle 🫶”

No matter if you're a Runner or a Raider, loot is loot.
We’ll save you a seat in the shuttle 🫶

— ARC Raiders (@ARCRaidersGame) February 27, 2026

So, all smiles on social media for now. But of course there’s huge pressure on Marathon to do well for Bungie, especially after Destiny 2’s downturn and the significant internal struggles at the legendary studio. In November, Bungie parent company Sony said the studio had failed to meet its sales and user engagement expectations, and recorded a 31.5 billion yen (approx. $204.2 million) impairment charge as a result. That was significant enough to drag down profits at Sony’s Game & Network Services Segment, which includes Sony Interactive Entertainment.

Sony chief financial officer (CFO) Lin Tao said at the time: “Regarding Destiny 2, partially due to the changes in the competitive environment, the level of sales and user engagement have not reached the expectations we had at the time of the acquisition of Bungie. While we will continue to make improvements, we downwardly revised the business projection for the time being, and recorded an impairment loss against a portion of the assets at Bungie.”

A few months before Sony's financial report, in August last year, Bungie CEO Pete Parsons left the company after 23 years and nearly 10 as CEO. He was succeeded by Justin Truman, previously chief development officer and fellow Bungie veteran. Parsons oversaw Bungie during many turbulent years, first taking over as CEO in 2016 from Harold Ryan and overseeing its break from Activision in 2019. He was at the helm throughout many of the events catalogued in our 2021 report on Bungie's internal work culture. Just months after our report, Bungie was acquired by Sony for $3.7 billion, ending the studio's flirtation with independence.

As the acquisition settled in, concerns began to arise about the studio's future. Destiny 2 was struggling, and Marathon was still years away. Then the layoffs came. In 2023, Bungie laid off roughly 100 individuals and delayed Destiny 2's The Final Shape DLC, with Parsons taking responsibility for the cuts. Developers told IGN at the time that the atmosphere at Bungie was "soul-crushing" as fears grew of a total Sony takeover of the company. In 2024, this was followed up with even more layoffs, impacting 220 people despite The Final Shape's success. 155 people were also integrated from Bungie into Sony at this time. In the wake of those layoffs, former workers claimed Bungie misrepresented its finances and had significantly overextended itself when Sony acquired the studio. It was apparently bad enough that at least one source described as a "well-connected former worker" went so far as to claim that Bungie faced dire consequences if the acquisition hadn't happened, saying that the "alternate history is insolvency."

Troubles continued to rock the studio through the rest of 2024 and into 2025, with Marathon seeing a delay out of its previous September 2025 release window. Most recently, Sony confirmed Bungie would be integrated into PlayStation Studios so the company could have more control over the developer.

Back in June last year, Sony said it remained committed to live service video games despite high-profile failures such as Concord, and insisted Marathon would be out before April 2026 despite the mixed alpha feedback and damaging accusations of plagiarism against Bungie. Since then Bungie has worked to improve not only Marathon, but the sentiment among gamers around it.

Sony will be keen to avoid another catastrophic launch like Concord, which was pulled offline just two weeks after launch, with one estimate suggesting it sold just 25,000 copies. It has proved a costly failure for Sony, with hundreds of millions of dollars wasted amid the closure of its developer, Firewalk Studios. Bungie now faces concern over its own future, with the pressure on Marathon to deliver. Marathon launches proper across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X and S next week.

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.

When it comes to the Pokémon Trading Card Game, there are thousands of cards you could consider ‘iconic’. These collectibles blend childhood nostalgia, high-stakes chasing, and jaw-dropping artistic brilliance into a beloved hobby that’s recently exploded in mass market appeal.

With Pokémon’s 30th Anniversary celebrations already fully underway, and with that huge Pokémon Presents event to boot, we’ve put together the definitive list of the 10 most iconic Pokémon cards ever printed.

You may ask - what’s this based on? It’s a healthy mix of current resale value, the cultural impact each card has had, and a card’s visual aesthetics, and also a bit of personal preference from myself as well (so just keep that in mind).

From playground legends of 1999 to modern-day chase cards of the 2020s, these are the top 10 most iconic Pokémon cards of all time.

10. Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat (Van Gogh Museum Promo)

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2’s long-awaited patch 12.0 launched this week, and with it came the new playable class, the Techmarine (check out the patch notes here if you want to know what's included). And while fans are having fun getting to grips with this new Astartes, Space Marine 2’s first ever voice pack has sparked a backlash.

The $4.99 Chapter Voice Pack 1 includes 450 re-recorded voicelines and a unique Space Marine Head cosmetic for each of the following Space Marine Chapters: Blood Angels, Space Wolves and Black Templars. It’s only available as a standalone purchase, and is not included in either the Season Pass 1 or Season Pass 2 (much to the annoyance of some fans). But it’s the way these new voice lines are incorporated into the game that has caused a “mostly negative” Steam user review rating for the DLC.

It turns out that equipping a DLC voiceline will revert to the class’ default voice when interacting with objectives, like when searching a Cadian’s body for codes in Inferno. This was unexpected and, in gameplay, a jarring switch. It means the Ultramarine standard voice lines still play for all the dialogue related to interactive elements within missions, so your Space Marine’s voice will flip flop back and forth, which feels awkward and janky.

Meanwhile, some players feel misled by the 450 re-recorded voicelines number on the Steam page. Most believe this number includes re-recorded voicelines across all languages, not just one.

“I have no idea where they got the 450 voicelines from, it mixes with the standard voice lines when doing operations and it sounds dead silent during the mission because there is no banter,” reads one negative review. “So far the only the difference that is noticeable is that emotes are different. The description seems very deceptive, I am very curious to find out where they got 450 number from.”

“I am insanely DISAPPOINTED!” reads another. “I've tested the Blood angels voice and I was disappointed that his lines were 80-90% what Vespasius [Vespasius is a Jump Pack Assault Intercessor of the Ultramarines Second Company and leader of Combat Squad Talasa] is just saying besides a few lines. FINE, maybe the writers aren't there anymore. But WHY IN THE EMPEROR'S NAME are the Ops voices not changed???? Check for the Inferno missions, on the part where your obtaining codes for the dead guardsmen, THE BLOOD ANGEL VOICE BECOMES LITERALLY VESPASIUS AGAIN WHEN HE DOESN'T GET THE CODE OR WHEN HE OBTAINS THE CODES!

“Not to mention there are no voices for the helmet versions yet! I'm wearing a helmet and my Blood Angel voice sounds like he doesn't got one! MAN I'm disappointed!”

Another disgruntled fan said: “Such a low-effort underwhelming DLC. Each of these voices lock you out of character banters, objective dialogues are spoken by the original character's voice actor through the vox instead the one you spent $5 on. Adding to the laziness, some voice lines are the same as their vanilla counterparts (ex. the Space Wolf sharing almost all of his reload alerts with Decimus) to the point where you're even questioning if you changed voices altogether. Something that Saber doesn't mention is also how after selecting a voice for a character, you can't revert that decision unless you spend 400 accolades to buy it back. Another complaint is how every single one of the faces presented in this DLC is the most unfazed depiction of stoicism in the galaxy, no expressions or lip sync whatsoever, just pure unadulterated void in each of their eyes. On a positive note however, each voice has different lines for every special ability, showcasing yet again how class locking is a moronic idea in PvE games.”

It’s a similar situation on the Space Marine subreddit, which is currently littered with complaints. One redditor posted a screenshot of a successful refund on the DLC, saying: “The voice pack is just not a worth the money. Not only was it underwhelming but I almost feel like it was just straight up false advertising. No mission dialogue? No banter between brothers or even not finding data on a Guardsmen? They gave us the option to equip the voice pack and keep our helmets on, but there is no helmet filter for the voices either. I’m a Black Templar fan and to my dismay, it seems like a lot of the voice lines are reused ones from Assault.

“I know they’d have to add voice lines to every new and existing mission, but that’s what you should be paying them to do. Why would they not go all the way and just release the pack at a higher price ? I’m not trying to be hateful, this game introduced me to the 40k universe and got me hooked. I love this game, I have sunk so many hours into it. That being said I’m just sad this didn’t meet the expectations that a lot of the community had.”

“Waiting to see if Steam will refund mine right now,” said another customer. “I did earlier. I hope Saber is getting slammed with refund fees for this nonsense,” another said. “From day one I've been telling people: it’s 700 lines in seven languages for three characters. So around 30 lines per character,” another said. “Saber did an abysmal job managing expectations. Telling people the amount of lines including all language versions is like measuring your dick and including the length of your spine.”

The upshot of all this is that what should have been a positive time for Space Marine 2, with all the cool new additions that came with patch 12.0, is instead perhaps the first meaningful community uproar the game has faced since its record-breaking launch in 2024. Space Marine 2 has been a huge success for Focus, developer Saber, and Warhammer owner Games Workshop, and is credited with leading an army of new fans to the hobby. It's so successful that Games Workshop has made Titus, the game's protagonist, the poster boy of the Warhammer 40,000 tabletop game. Space Marine 3 was announced as in development soon after Space Marine 2 came out.

So this DLC backlash is a rare misstep for Saber and Focus when it comes to Space Marine 2, but it will no doubt fuel concern some already have that the priority for both now is the development of Space Marine 3. IGN has asked publisher Focus Entertainment for comment.

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.