Full spoilers follow for Primal Season 3, Episode 7, “Heart of the Undead,” which is available on Adult Swim and HBO now.
What a cool opening couple of minutes we got this week, first with the slow-motion blood rolling off the running Fang, and then the POV shots as the dinosaur hurtles towards Mira’s village with her injured mistress on her back, finally culminating in Mira being carried into a hut where she falls unconscious as the camera fades to black along with her.
Of course, not only is Fang and everyone else worried about Mira here, but they’re also concerned about the health of her unborn child after the attack she suffered last week while battling those hog creatures. While watching “Heart of the Undead,” this actually made me ponder something for a moment – and forgive how morbid this is… what if the child of Spear and Mira who we saw in the final moments of Season 2 isn’t the baby Mira is currently carrying? After all, Genndy Tartakovsky has already undone the death of Spear which occurred in that episode, so what’s to keep him and his team from diverting from what we think we know about the rest of what’s to come as well?
But no, that’s not what’s going on here, and soon enough the medicine woman, after examining Mira, smiles at Fang and the little villager kid: The baby will be OK, and so will Mira. (I mean, come on. Sure, Primal is the type of show where in its pilot episode it killed both of our main characters’ children, but having Mira lose the unborn baby would be a step too far… uh, right?)
Anyway, after that tense opening, what this episode is really about is Spear’s realization that he has become a monster… or at least a monster in the eyes of most everyone around him, even his former best friend, Fang. This leads him on a Frankenstein-ian journey – villagers with torches chasing him out of town, spontaneous moments of literal self-reflection in a mirror of water, and eventually, apparent if transient death. The thing about the Frankenstein monster, as we all know – and now about Spear as well, it seems – is that these guys just don’t die that easily.
The thing about the Frankenstein monster – and now about Spear as well, it seems – is that these guys just don’t die that easily.
Except, Mira and Fang don’t know that, and by episode’s end they think Spear is truly gone again, down that waterfall. They have no reason to think that the connecting river and waterways have taken his unconscious body into some kind of volcanic hellscape, where skulls adorn spears and a weird-AF-looking man-creature awaits him. Why would they ever think that!
Questions and Notes From Anachronistic History
Funny how the villager who’s most afraid – sweat rolling down his face, eyes watering – is the one to make the first move and impale Spear. Ain’t it always the case?
The village child pantomiming to Mira everything that happened while she was asleep is just great.
Notice how Mira is not happy with Fang after the T. rex rejected Spear again and led to his being driven out of the village. Maybe Mira will also be the key to Fang finally accepting Spear again?
That’s a messed up snippet of a flashback that we got to the zombified sauropod dying in lava from Season 1’s “Plague of Madness.” There but for the grace of God, Spear…
Blue and Red Jr. don’t get a ton to do this week, other than be cute and hilarious and ever-loyal to Spear. Their mom could learn a thing or two from them.
Following various delays, Bungie is now ready to open Marathon's doors courtesy of a 'Server Slam' event from tomorrow, February 26, which will run until March 2.
Marathon is a PvP-focused extraction shooter set on the mysterious planet of Tau Ceti IV. Players inhabit the bodies of Runners, cybernetic mercenaries who have been designed to survive the planet’s harsh environments, exploring the lost colony that once inhabited Tau Ceti’s surface.
Marathon's full launch is scheduled for March 5 across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S, so this is an opportunity to try before you buy. Furthermore, Bungie's also using the Server Slam to test its anti-cheat systems, and is calling on players to report cheaters if they encounter them.
Here's everything you need to know about what content's available, the rewards you'll get for participating, and when the free server test goes live where you live.
Marathon Server Slam start times
Depending on where you are in the world, Marathon's Server Slam is set to go live on:
Thursday, February 26 — Monday March 2, 2026:
PST (San Francisco):
10am
CST (Austin, Mexico City):
12pm
EST (New York):
1pm
GMT (London):
6pm
CET (Paris):
7pm
Friday, February 27 — Tuesday March 3, 2026:
JST (Tokyo):
3am
CST (Beijing):
3am
AEST (Sydney):
5am
NZST (Wellington):
7am
Marathon Server Slam Missions and Activities
Infil into two zones:
Perimeter, an edge-site expansion on the colony's outskirts
Dire Marsh, the colony’s agricultural research hub
Take on the early contracts for five factions: CyberAcme, NuCaloric, Traxus, MIDA, and Arachne
Progress though the early faction levels and progression trees for each faction
Try out five of the six Runner shells that will be available at launch, plus our scavenger experience Rook
Play as a crew, solo Runner, form uneasy alliances with proximity chat, and more
Marathon Server Slam Rewards
Time spent during the Slam will "bank loot rewards you’ll receive at launch, based on how far you progress":
Complete your first mission: Unlock the Standard Arrival Cache
Standard implants (6x)
Standard Runner shell cores (4x)
Standard weapon chip mods (6x)
Weapons: Overrun and Hardline
Reach Runner Level 10: Unlock the Enhanced Arrival Cache (Green)
Enhanced implants (6x)
Enhanced Runner shell cores (2x for each shell, 12x total)
Enhanced weapon chip mods (4x)
Weapons: Enhanced Magnum and Enhanced Hardline
Reach Runner Level 30: Unlock the Deluxe Arrival Cache (Blue)
Deluxe and Enhanced implants (3x each, 6x total)
Deluxe and Enhanced Runner shell cores (1x each for each shell, 12x total)
Deluxe and Enhanced weapon chip mods (2x each, 4x total)
Weapons: Deluxe Magnum and Enhanced Volley Rifle
Backpack: Enhanced Base Backpack
PlayStation Plus subscribers will also be able to nab bonus weapon charms themed around Ghost of Yōtei, Death Stranding 2, and Helldivers 2 at launch. Marathon players on Steam automatically receive the exclusive Crowbar Weapon Charm (don't say Half-Life 3 confirmed!) when Marathon releases on March 5. Marathon players on Xbox Series X and S, meanwhile, get the exclusive Emerald Clutch Weapon Charm and Emerald Catch Weapon Charm.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
Christian Bale has told a reporter he is due to start filming Heat 2 in Chicago soon, confirming his appearance in the hotly anticipated sequel as part of an increasingly stacked cast that also includes Leonardo DiCaprio.
It’s the first time the American Psycho star has commented on his rumored appearance in Heat 2, which follows on from Michael Mann’s iconic 1995 heist film starring Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. However, we don’t know which character Bale will play, nor do we know Leonardo DiCaprio’s role. Mann worked with Bale on 2009 crime drama Public Enemies, so his appearance in Heat 2 would see the pair reunite.
The sequel is an adaptation of the 2022 novel of the same name, a collaboration between director Mann and thriller writer Meg Gardiner. Mann was open about his desire to direct a movie version at the time, and in 2023 was being coy over rumors about Adam Driver taking a role.
"Let me put it this way: Adam and I got along like a house on fire [on Ferrari]," Mann told Deadline. "We have the same work ethic, which is pretty intense. We like each other, and we had a great time working together artistically.”
The Heat 2 novel tells the story of the main characters before and after the events of the first movie, which has sparked speculation about how Mann will tackle portraying younger versions of Pacino and De Niro’s characters.
Speaking in October, Mann said he might experiment with AI to solve the issue. “I don’t experiment with technology gratuitously. When I have a dramatic need or aesthetic need for it, then I go deep into what I need,” he said, adding: “Aging and de-aging may be very important in the next film.”
In 2022, Pacino told The Independent that he would be open to using de-aging technology to reprise the role himself. Star Wars actor Adam Driver is rumored to be playing a younger version of De Niro’s character, while Elvis star Austin Butler is reportedly playing Chris Shiherlis, the late Val Kilmer’s character.
Photo by Robin L Marshall/Getty Images.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Final Fantasy 7 — and by that, I mean the original, not the three-part remake — is clocking up negative reviews after developer Square Enix re-released the game on Steam with quality of life improvements that seem to have had the opposite intended effect.
Announced last month and released just yesterday (February 24), this updated version of Final Fantasy 7 comes with a handful of new features, including a 3x speed mode — more on that in a bit — the ability to turn off random encounters, a "battle enhancement mode" that will max out the Limit gauge and let players recover HP/MP during battles, and a handy autosave feature.
Shortly after launch, though, it was clear there were significant issues with the new edition, not least the speedier combat that doesn't match the speed of the animations or menus, plus blurry textures, including in its important cinematic sequences.
Square Enix was on the case within hours and released a small update just a short while later, claiming it had "fixed the speed of certain scenes, including battles," and addressed other, unspecified "minor bug fixes." What it didn't address, however, is the forced 4:3 resolution, and while there will undoubtedly be players happy to jump in and experience the game in its native resolution, the 2013 edition that this new version replaces did let you select other resolutions, leaving some wondering why on earth this was changed.
The problem is compounded even further given this new version of the game replaces the 2013 Steam edition on the Steam storefront entirely, so players looking to buy Final Fantasy 7 for the first time will only have this option available — only those who already owned the 2013 edition are able to switch between the two.
"The battle animation speeds are WAY too high, even without the 3x speed, so the game just plays wrong and feels wrong right now. Hopefully, they fix this," wrote one player. "In addition, you appear to be locked into a 4:3 display, which makes sense as the original format, and many people will prefer to have it that way, but even the 2013 PC version has the ability to stretch it to full screen (which is how I prefer). This should be an option.
"It's very hard to recommend. May I suggest that companies make sure their re-releases at least function on a basic level before delisting their old versions? That'[d] be great," added another.
"I'd just play the 2013 version without glasses on if I wanted the game to look like this," quipped someone else.
All in all, the issues have brought the game's overall Steam user rating down to 'Mostly Negative,' with just 36% of players leaving positive feedback.
"Both the Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox versions have been incredibly well received and generated a lot of buzz online," Hamaguchi said. "That attention has also made me realize how many people are worried about this issue. However, our decision to go multiplatform with the FF7 Remake series will not in any way lower the quality of the third installment."
We also recently learned that the "core game experience is almost complete," and while Hamaguchi "really want[s] everyone to play it as soon as possible," the team has now moved on to "refining and polishing."
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
Jackass star Johnny Knoxville has said that the franchise's upcoming fifth film will be its final installment — and this time, it sounds like he really means it.
Due for release this summer, Jackass 5 will reunite the series' core surviving cast for one last compilation of pain-inducing stunts and silly pranks. Even Bam Margera is set to appear, albeit via never-before-seen archive footage.
And this time, it seems, the Jackass crew really are ready to ride off into the sunset — years after Jackass Forever seemed set to serve as its own swansong.
"This is the natural place to end," Knoxville, now 54, said in an interview with Rolling Stone. "So it's going to be absolutely awful.
"You hope it doesn't go well at all!" he joked. "Should be a f*cking train wreck. That's what you should hope for. I think we designed it that way."
But is this really the end? In a GQ interview conducted back in 2021, Knoxville said Jackass Forever would be his "last contribution to the franchise," only to subsequently be tempted back once again. As part of the same interview, however, co-star Steve-O declared that "every movie that we ever made was the f***ing last one. And not just the last one, but declared as the last one."
Indeed, IGN’s Jackass Forever review dubbed the movie as the "final chapter in American comedy’s most chaotic saga," and declared it "a hilarious last hurrah for its original crew."
All of which was correct up until last month, when Knoxville surprised fans by announcing Jackass 5, for launch this summer. "Well a wang dang and hot damn doodle, we are starting the year off with a bang,” wrote Knoxville on Instagram. "We wanted to let you know that this summer Jackass is back! We will see you in theatres June 26th."
Image credit: Michael Reaves/Getty Images.
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
Saints Row 1 design director Chris Stockman has said he believes the series is now “dead” and that owner Embracer has “zero ability” to do anything with the franchise.
The one-time Grand Theft Auto competitor hasn’t seen a new entry since 2022’s ill-fated reboot, Saints Row. It received a mixed reception from fans, with IGN’s Saints Row review returning a 6/10. “Saints Row delivers no shortage of shallow shoot 'em up thrills, but it's a very familiar and uninspired brand of sandbox fun,” we said at the time. Sales were depressed, and developer Volition shut down in 2023. We haven’t heard about Saints Row from Embracer since.
So, is Saints Row dead? Stockman, speaking in the Discord for his studio, Bit Planet Games, said he thinks it is, having pitched a revival to Embracer (via subsidiary Plaion) and heard nothing back.
Stockman, who left Volition during pre-production of Saints Row 2, said last month: “... honestly, I think the franchise is dead, unfortunately. I get the sense that Embracer has zero ability to do anything with it.”
He continued: “I wish things were different. I tried my best to offer a path forward but they've ghosted me.”
IGN asked Embracer for a statement on Stockman’s comments and for a status update on Saints Row, but a spokesperson said the company does not comment on “rumors and speculation.”
More recently, Stockman clarified he’d spoken to Plaion about Saints Row, and he asked about the possibility of selling the IP, “but as I mentioned before they refuse to respond to my messages and emails.”
“Companies of that size almost never sell their IP because it, ultimately, devalues their purchase price if they decide to sell or try to take on investment,” Stockman said.
The upshot of all this is Saints Row celebrates its 20th anniversary this year (the first game came out on August 29, 2006) and it feels like a new game in the series is further away than ever. But one thing seems clear: if the company does have a secret plan for a new Saints Row, Stockman isn’t involved.
“As long as they [Embracer] are in business they own it,” Stockman added. “If they went out of business or filed for bankruptcy it would get auctioned off to the highest bidder.
“They could license it to me or contract us to manage it. But I've done all I can do to try and make that happen.”
Upcoming Embracer games include Killing Floor 3, Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, the Embracer-owned Crystal Dynamics' new Tomb Raider games, and Darksiders 4. The fate of the Lord of the Rings MMO, developed by Amazon Games in collaboration with Embracer-owned Middle-earth Enterprises, is unclear. Dead Island 3 is in the works at Dambuster Studios, and is due out in the first half of 2028.
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.
LEGO is one of the most beloved toy brands. While these tiny plastic bricks have built their way into our hearts over the years, they've also made their way on to our screens. There have been a ton of LEGO movies and TV shows released as far back as the early 2000s, but the biggest and most notable films all stem from 2014's The LEGO Movie.
Since The LEGO Movie had its debut in theaters, there have been two spin-offs and a direct sequel that have received a theatrical release. If you're wondering where exactly you can watch those movies in 2026, we've gathered all of the up-to-date streaming details right here.
Where to Watch the LEGO Movies Online
Unfortunately, there is not singular location where you can stream all of the LEGO movies. The two spin-off films, The LEGO Batman Movie and The LEGO Ninjago Movie, are both currently available to stream with an HBO Max subscription. However, if you want to watch The LEGO Movie or its sequel, you'll need to buy or rent them digitally from a VOD platform.
All four of the films are available to buy or rent digitally from Prime Video or Apple TV. You can rent each movie for $3.99, with the exception of The LEGO Ninjago Movie, which is $5.99 for some reason.
Where to Buy the Movies in 4K
If you'd prefer to own the films rather than pay to rent or buy them digitally, you can currently find 4K Blu-ray editions of all four films on Amazon. There are also standard Blu-ray and DVD versions of each film available. Amazon is overall the best place to buy 4K movies in general, but you can also find all of the LEGO movies available on Gruv, which is the official storefront for physical movies from Warner Bros. and Universal.
Upcoming LEGO Movies
Although we have don't any set release dates or titles just yet, it was revealed back in 2024 that there are four live-action LEGO movies in the works for Universal. Of the four films coming down the pipeline, the only one we really have any concrete details about is the untitled live-action Ninjago film. There isn't any sort of director attached, but we do know that Kevin and Dan Hageman are reportedly writing the script. The two brothers are well-known for their work on the popular animated Ninjago TV series.
Darth Maul's new Disney+ TV series will show a changed version of the infamous Star Wars: The Phantom Menace villain — one who has learned that there's "something to respect" about the Jedi.
That's according to veteran Darth Maul voice actor Sam Witwer, speaking to Star Wars Insider (via The HoloFiles), who has previewed his character's upcoming return by discussing how things have changed in the years since he killed Qui-Gon Jinn, and then was cut in two by Obi-Wan.
For those who haven't followed what happened next to Darth Maul (who ended Phantom Menace in two pieces), the short version is he was revived, somehow, and enjoyed a popular run in the Star Wars: Clone Wars TV show. Now, the horny antagonist is back for more, this time as the star of Maul: Shadow Lord, a 10-episode animated show set to feature more of his exploits.
"We pick up after The Clone Wars," Witwer said, setting the scene. "The Empire has taken over, and Maul's reassessing everything. There were plans in place that were supposed to insulate him from the changes when the Empire came to power, and a lot of the people that were supposed to be there for him were not. He's getting back on his feet, the dust is clearing, and he's looking around at the Empire — the thing he and his master had been working toward since he was an apprentice — and thinking, 'Is this what Palpatine had in mind? How do I feel about this?'"
As the series will apparently show, Maul does not have a great feeling about this — what the Empire is up to and how it is simply a regime that exists for "influence, power and money." At the same time, Maul is also harbouring changed thoughts on his former master, following Darth Sidious' murder of Maul's brother Savage Opress.
"He was trained to hate and destroy the Jedi without ever questioning it," Witwer continued. "Now he’s looking at the galaxy going, 'Boy, we could sure use a Jedi Knight or two.' At least with the Jedi you knew where they stood. There's something to respect there. This Empire, he sees no values there, just the naked grab for influence, power, and money. Principles are gone. And he looks at that with a certain level of distaste. He may not have agreed with the Jedi Knights, but at least they had principles. You knew who you were dealing with and you could reason with that. There’s no reasoning with the Empire."
All of that said, don't expect Maul to suddenly become a cuddly character. "This show is bad guys versus worse guys," Witwer concluded, "and Maul's on the bad-guy side of that equation."
Star Wars: Maul — Shadow Lord will premiere via Disney+ on April 6, 2026, with two episodes being released each week until May 4.
Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
In a lengthy blog, Discord co-creator and CTO Stanislav Vishnevskiy admitted the company had "missed the mark" and "failed at [its] most basic job: clearly explaining what we're doing and why."
Discord initially announced plans to roll out the "controversial" age verification checks as part of its "internal safety systems" and "enhancing its age-appropriate protections for users worldwide while maintaining "privacy, community and meaningful connection on the platform." The changes would have been coming to countries with age verifications mandated by law, as well as those without.
The announcement came just months after Discord admitted that hackers had gained access to images of 70,000 government IDs, uploaded to the servers of a third-party vendor that it had entrusted with the data, following user contact with its Customer Support or Trust & Safety teams. Perhaps unsurprisingly, then, the news did not go down well, and thousands of members revolted, cancelling Discord's premium subscription, Nitro, and threatening to move their communities to other platforms, like Steam Groups.
In response to the community backlash and apprehension about third-parties vendors, Discord said it's moving to introduce more options and means of verifying your age, better transparency, plus that aforementioned delayed rollout.
Looking ahead, countries that have already passed age verification laws, like the UK, Australia, and Brazil, "may [still] require platforms to use approved methods like facial age estimation or ID checks," which means Discord cannot implement its own non-identifying systems, admitting, "we're not the only platform navigating this." For everyone else, though, the company reckons over 90% of people "will continue to use Discord without ever seeing an age verification prompt."
The firm stressed again that most people won't see any verification prompts, Discord does not get your identity, and if you don't verify, you can keep using your account — only age-restricted spaces could be limited. It also insisted it did not read DMs to determine your age, your age group is entirely private, and it will commit "to clearer vendor transparency" and "entirely on-device" age checks.
"We've made mistakes. I won't pretend we haven't. And I know that being a bigger company now means our mistakes have bigger consequences and erode trust faster," Vishnevskiy concluded. "I don't expect one blog post to fix that. Trust is earned through actions over time: shipping the things we promised, owning it when we miss the mark, and giving you real control over your own experience.
"But at our core, we build Discord because we love it and use it ourselves. Our motivation is simple: we want to build a great product for ourselves and the communities we’re part of. That doesn’t exempt us from the higher bar that comes with our scale; it motivates us to meet it. We’re listening. We'll get this right. And when we ship, you'll be able to see for yourselves."
Photo by Samuel Boivin/NurPhoto via Getty Images.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
AA publisher and developer Nacon has filed for insolvency, raising questions over the future of games such as GreedFall 2, Hell is Us, RoboCop, and Test Drive Unlimited.
Nacon, which is home to 16 development studios as well as a publishing arm, said it was forced into the decision after its majority shareholder, Bigben Interactive, failed to make a loan repayment. It has now asked a French court for permission to restructure its debt.
“The aim of this procedure is to assess all possible solutions to ensure the sustainability of the Company's activity under the best possible conditions, protect employees, and preserve jobs, while renegotiating with its creditors in a calm and constructive framework,” Nacon said. This procedure will enable the Company to continue its business, renegotiate its debts, and develop a credible and effective continuation plan.” The Court is expected to make its decision at a hearing in early March.
Nacon has a number of AA games under its belt, including GreedFall 2: The Dying World, which will release in its full 1.0 version on March 12. Nacon this week alerted press to its annual showcase event, dubbed Nacon Connect, which was set for March 4. It is expected to show off the likes of Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss, The Mound, Edge of Memories, and Endurance Motorsport Series. And just this morning Nacon launched the third major update for Dragonkin: The Banished, which is still in Early Access.
The publisher just released Styx: Blades of Greed last week. RoboCop: Rogue City - Unfinished Business came out last year, as did Rogue Factor’s Hell is Us. IGN has asked Nacon for comment on its ability to continue to release its games and maintain and support those it has out already.
BBI, which currently holds 56.72% of the share capital and 65.79%% of the voting rights of Nacon, announced last week that it was unable to make a partial repayment of €43 million “due to the unexpected refusal of its banking pool to respond to the drawdown notice.” At the time, Nacon issued a warning to the financial markets, and suspended trading in the company’s shares.
Nacon’s hope now is that it gets approval from the court to restructure its debt. If it is successful, its existing liabilities will be frozen for a period that could last up to 18 months. During this time, the debtor will present a continuation plan for its activities by restructuring its debt, hopefully ensuring its recovery.
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.
Arc Raiders players heading topside for the new Shrouded Sky update have their tin foil hats on after video of a mysterious UFO started circulating online.
Just as soon as clips of the new Firefly and Comet Arc threats began making the rounds on social media, so too has footage of a mysterious being not detailed in the patch notes. Originally posted by Reddit user Bewarden with the caption, “What in tarnation is that?” the 20-second video shows their character walking through a Hurricane at the edge of the Spaceport launch tower before a collection of bright blue lights can be seen moving overhead.
Mysterious UFOs have been spotted in ARC Raiders during the Hurricane map condition.
It’s unnerving at best and terrifying at worst, but things get spookier upon closer inspection. The low visibility brought about by the Hurricane makes it hard to get a good look at the lights, making it seem as though the Raider is watching two groups of drones moving quicker than normal. Watch again, and you’ll see those lights are attached to an enormous ship, gliding through the storm.
The AI entity known as the Arc is capable of many things. Drones, death orbs, giant spider-like robots, and more are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to enemy types, but players haven’t seen anything quite like the UFO shown in the clip. Studying it hasn’t been easier either, as only a fewothers have managed to capture and share their sightings online while developer Embark Studios remains silent.
It feels reminiscent of the time game developer Arrowhead Studios launched an update for Helldivers 2 that quietly added flying bug enemies without notifying players in its patch notes. As players spun a web of theories, that team denied that such creatures could possibly exist. Now, Embark seems to be following a similar strategy, leaving players to try and piece together what a building-sized UFO could mean for the future of Arc Raiders. Some even believe these sightings could be tied to the new large Arc teased to arrive with the Riven Tides update this April.
“Is that the f***ing mothership???” one player guessed.
“No explaining the thing will be murdering people probably in April,” one player theorized. “Who knows it could be the new ‘large arc threat’ they roadmapped. That would be cool af. A flying gigantic arc matriarch/queen type battle.”
We played through multiple raids since Shrouded Sky launched and were successful in seeing the ship just once. Although Bewarden was able to catch a glimpse of the UFO on Spaceport, our sighting occurred on Buried City. While we were also able to hear the ship fly overhead during a Blue Gate raid, it sped off before we could get a good look at it.
If you’re interested in hunting down the latest Arc Raiders mystery, we recommend playing during the Hurricane map condition and keeping your eyes on the sky around the time the raid has reached the halfway mark (about 15 minutes). Based on our testing and what others are sharing online, don’t expect to catch one of these on your first run.
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).
Now Xbox has a new boss, what happens next? In a new interview, Asha Sharma, a Microsoft executive who previously oversaw some of the firm's AI initiatives, kept things frustratingly vague, but did indicate that nothing is off the table when it comes to big decisions about recent controversial policies.
One of the big questions fans have for Sharma is whether Microsoft will reverse some of its recent policies, many of which have alienated the core Xbox fanbase. Fans have criticized Microsoft for leaving Xbox game exclusivity behind in favor of a multiplatform approach that has seen the company’s biggest brands — including Halo — make the jump to PlayStation. Why buy an Xbox now, when all Xbox games come out on everything?
In a new interview with Windows Central, Sharma avoided specifics when asked about the future and recent strategic decisions, only offering the cryptic "the plan's the plan until it's not the plan."
Here’s the quote in full:
"Right now, I need to learn, candidly. About the 'why' of these decisions, what we were optimizing for, and what the data says about the Xbox strategy today. That's the honest answer. I'm looking at lifetime value, not just what happened in a previous moment, or in short term efficiencies and things like that. The plan's the plan until it's not the plan."
What does that mean? It’s hard to tell. It feels like a holding statement, the kind of thing you might say when you don’t want to commit to anything either way. But it’s hard to see Microsoft all of a sudden pulling out of multiplatform game releases, especially when its studios have put so much effort into making Microsoft's policy a reality, and in some cases seen great success on the likes of PlayStation. Halo is coming to PlayStation this year, and that’s unlikely to change.
Will things change further down the line? Could Microsoft start releasing exclusives again, particularly in the context of the upcoming next Xbox? All eyes are now on Asha Sharma to find out. A 2027 launch for the next Xbox was recently described as the best case scenario. There isn't a great deal of time to sort everything out before the next crucial juncture in Xbox history.
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.
In the midst of swirling skepticism concerning the appointment of new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, who spent the last two years as president of Microsoft’s CoreAI Product group, Sharma and new Xbox Chief Content Officer Matt Booty have discussed the role AI will play at Xbox.
In an interview with Windows Central, the pair explained there will be no internal pressure on developers to use AI, and that the Xbox ecosystem will not be compromised by “slop.”
“I think that with any new technology, it brings possibilities as a tool, but even more important, especially now – we need to draw lines on what we won’t do,” said Sharma. “That’s what I attempted to do when I shared my opening letter. I will not flood our ecosystem with slop.”
“We won’t have careless output, we won’t have derivative work. I deeply believe in the words that I shared previously there.”
Booty noted that, while game developers are typically quick to experiment with new technology, Xbox’s goal for AI will be for it to function in a complementary role.
“Just as a group, game developers are always eager to adopt new technology,” said Booty. “When Photoshop showed up, it took about one month for it to appear in every game studio on the planet because it was so useful.”
“What I hear throughout our studios: it is the people, our artists, our coders, the writers – they’re doing the creative work. In my experience, any time there’s a new technology, what happens is there’s a need for more specialists, new specialists. It raises the bar on what the expectations are for the quality of the games.”
According to Booty, Xbox developers will not be forced to use AI, and having people behind the art Xbox makes is still the priority.
“We’ve got no pressure from Microsoft, there are no directives on AI coming down,” said Booty. “Our teams are free to use any technologies that might be beneficial, whether it’s helping write code or check for bugs – things more in the production pipeline. At the end of the day as Asha said, we’re committed to art made by people. Technology is only in support of that.”
B&H Photo has one of the best deals right now on a 4K-ready gaming PC. The Lenovo Legion Tower 5 RTX 5070 Ti gaming PC drops to just $1,749.99 with free delivery after an $850 discount. Most RTX 5070 Ti prebuilts cost above $2,000 these days, so this is one of the lowest prices I've seen. The RTX 5070 Ti is our best reviewed Nvidia GeForce Blackwell card and has the chops to run games in glorious 4K at 60+fps.
Lenovo Legion RTX 5070 Ti Gaming PC for $1,750
The Lenovo Legion Tower 5 Gen 10 gaming PC is equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265F desktop processor, GeForce RTX 5070 Ti graphics card, 32GB of DDR5-5600MHz RAM, and a 2TB M.2 SSD. The Core Ultra 7 265F is part of Intel's newest Arrow Lake-S lineup released earlier this year and boasts a max turbo frequency of 5.3GHz with 20 cores and a 36MB L2 cache. This is a solid all-around CPU for gaming, multi-tasking, and general workstation performance. It doesn't have as many cores as a Core Ultra 9 processor, but that doesn't matter for gaming since the vast majority of games will not be able to utilize more than 20 cores.
The RTX 5070 Ti GPU offers great 4K performance without pricing gamers out
The RTX 5070 Ti offers the best bang for your buck in terms of 4K gaming performance. It performs neck-and-neck with the previous generation RTX 4080 Super and pulls ahead in any game that supports multi-frame generation, especially with the recent DLSS 4.5 update. It is fully capable of running any game in 4K at 60fps. It also has 16GB of VRAM like the RTX 5080, making it viable for AI work. Since RTX 5070 Ti GPUs are pretty much non-existent as a standalone card, the only way to get one without paying a ridiculous markup is by getting an equipped prebuilt computer.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
Tired of the same old black brick of a power bank that litters the marketplace? If you're looking for something with top-notch quality and style, then you should check out the premium power banks, chargers, and cables from mfish. These head turners are a step up in craftsmanship, design, and features compared to the standard Anker, Baseus, and Iniu products that you'll generally find on Amazon.
Better yet, they don't carry a hefty price premium especially with these extra incentives. Save an extra 15% off sitewide after coupon code: "mfish×ign15" and this stacks with any instant discounts. Also, most items also include a free 4-in-1 USB cable, which usually costs $20. Shipping is free on orders totalling $39.99 and up, otherwise it's $6.
Nothing that mfish sells is "ordinary", but I've highlighted some of their more unique offerings below.
E-Rhino 140W USB-C Charger for $46.74
Free 4-in-1 USB cable with purchase
Looking for a charger with swag? The mFish E-Rhino charger features a stylish futuristic design in your choice of green, silver, or pink. It's no slouch in the performance department either. The compact GaN power brick houses four total outputs, including one USB-C port capable of up to 140W of Power Delivery 3.1.
With the coupon, the price drops to $46.75 (which means it qualifies for free shipping). You also get a really cool freebie in the form of an mFish Armored Dragon 6ft 240W charging cable. This is a 4-way cable that can convert to (1) USB-C to USB-C, (2) USB-C to Lightning, (3) USB-A to USB-C, and (4) USB-A to Lightning with an ingenious terminal design which prevents you from losing any pieces.
E-Monster Qi2 MagSafe Power Banks from $33.99
Free 4-in-1 USB cable with purchase
The mfish E-Monster power bank boasts an eye catching that's bound to turn heads. The decorative side is protected by a textured tempered glass that gives it a much more premium look and feel than the plastic power banks that are all too common nowadays. Both 5,000mAh and 10,000mAh MagSafe models are Qi2 certified and rated for up to 15W of wireless power delivery. There's also a 20W USB Type-C port if you need faster charging.
The 5,000mAh model is very slim, measuring a mere 0.3" thin and weighing 4.4 ounces. It's priced at $33.99 after coupon. The 10,000mAh gives you twice the battery capacity, but it's also considerably thicker and heavier and also includes a built-in kickstand. This model is priced at $49.29 with free shipping after coupon. Both include a 4-in-1 charging cable
E-Tank 240W Power Station for $110.49
Free 4-in-1 USB cable with purchase
The mfish E-Rhino power station is popular amongst influencers because it looks so very cool with its illuminated ringed power outlets. This is a compact, all-inclusive power station that is hefty enough to sit on your desk without moving around. Total outputs include three standard 3-prong AC outlets rated for up to 1,250W each and four USB-C ports with 240W maximum power output (140W max for a single port). The three AC outlets are raised and encased in a plastic sheath that can be illuminated to your choice of color. The lights aren't super bright so it won't distract you.
With the coupon, the price drops to $110.49 plus you get a free mfish Armored Dragon 6ft 240W 4-way charging cable. It's currently priced at $139.99 on Amazon with no cable included.
Aroma Bee 6ft 240W USB-C Scented? Cable for $4.24
"Aromatherapy cables"
mFish's "Aroma Bee" charging cable is down to just $4.24 from its original $16 list price. These cables are thicker than your standard USB cable but in a good way; they look and feel more durable, but they still bend well and comes in fun colors like pastel pink, blue, or purple. I'll mention that the "liquid silicone" sheath that mfish uses feels ultra silky smooth to the touch, and it's much nicer than any other silicone cable I've used before. They're terminated with RGB illuminated aluminum alloy connectors for that extra bling factor. It's rated for 240W, which is the max power rating for any USB cable.
What's really unique, though, is that the terminal ends acts as an electric diffuser. You read that right; there's a spot in the cable end to add in a few drops of oil for a little bit of aromatherapy. I believe some diffuser oil is actually included as well. I don't know if I'd use that feature myself, but for $4.24, I can't think of another cable with more features.
Super Mushroom 20,000mAh Modular Power Bank from $80
Connect two together for 40,000mAh of power
One of the more innovative mfish products is its Super Mushroom 20,000mAh 100W modular power bank. It boasts a cylindrical design with a translucent plastic outer casing that showcases the stylish lithium battery cells inside. What's really neat is that two of these power banks can be stacked together to form a single unit with a 40,000mAh capacity.
The coupon code doesn't work on this product because there's already an instant discount. The $99.99 sku drops to $80 in-cart and includes a single 20,000mAh power bank. The $199.99 kit drops to $160 in-cart and gets you two 20,000mAh power banks plus (1) a link module to stack the two power banks together, (2) a flashlight module, and (3) a magnetic charging module. Whatever package you decide on, you get a free mfish Armored Dragon 6ft 240W 4-way charging cable.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
The Sonos Presidents Day Sale is officially over and the vast majority of deals are kaput. However, arguably the best deal that came out of the sale is still available. The certified refurbished Sonos Arc has been marked down to just $449 with free delivery. That's 60% cheaper than an Arc Ultra and an excellent deal for anyone looking for a Dolby Atmos soundbar.
Sonos refurbished products go through rigorous testing; they come with all accessories, manuals, and documentation and are reshipped in "pristine" packaging. Most importantly, Sonos includes the same 1-year warranty as buying new.
Sonos Arc Soundbar (Refurbished)
The release of the Arc Ultra doesn't make the Arc any less of a great speaker. The 45" soundbar houses eleven precisely engineered internal speakers, including three tweeters and eight midwoofers each paired with Class-D amplifiers. It's capable of room filling audio by itself, but you'd still benefit from a separate subwoofer to round out the low end. Unlike the Sonos Beam, which only has virtual height channels, the Arc has two physical height channels for true Dolby Atmos support. The Arc also has a built-in microphone for smart assistant compatiblity, including voice control.
Why Sonos?
If you're looking for an easy solution to add great sound to your home, then you've probably already heard of Sonos. Sonos speakers are very easy to set up, don't take a large amount of space, and most importantly, offer distortion-free room-filling audio. They're definitely pricier than budget options, but the sound quality is comparable to speakers that cost hundreds more or take up much more space.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
The Arc Raiders Shrouded Sky update is here, but instead of Hurricanes and new cosmetics, all players can talk about are how it nerfs one of the best grenades for PvE.
Fans expected to see details about all of the new content when developer Embark Studios published lengthy patch notes for update version 1.17.0 earlier today. Information about playable pianos and beard cosmetics was all there, but what they also found was that the studio behind the massively popular multiplayer game had upped the crafting requirements for one of its most iconic tools: the Wolfpack.
As outlined in Shrouded Sky’s accompanying patch notes, the Wolfpack, a throwable equipment that showers Arc enemies with homing explosives, now requires one Rocketeer Driver to craft. Now, players will need the component, as well as two Arc motion cores and an explosive compound, to make just one Wolfpack.
The changes fall in line with a series of new adjustments to resource requirements, which see Arc components also added to the recipes for the Deadline mine, Trailblazer, Showstopper, and Vita Spray. It’s the Wolfpack tweak that has Raiders up in arms, though, mostly because Rocketeer Drivers are infamously rare and hard to collect. The most consistent way to find one of these epic items is to kill a Rocketeer – a task that currently takes two Wolfpacks to accomplish.
“Let me just kill a rocketeer to get 1 wolfpack that can half kill another rocketeer,” one Reddit user teased.
“I don’t even want the blueprint anymore,” another player replied.
“First time I’ve said this but if they keep going in this direction people will stop playing,” a X/Twitter user added. “It’s hard enough to gather some of these resources.”
The grenade can’t lock on to other players but can tear through hordes of small Arc, making it one of the best PvE tools Raiders have at their disposal. It can also quickly dismantle the armor featured on large Arc, such as the Matriarch, Queen, Leaper, and Bastion, but it’s the math asking players for two Wolfpacks to kill one Rocketeer that has fans questioning Embark's judgement. While showing concern about how update 1.17.0 asks players to work harder for crafting materials, some have started chiming in with their own recommendations for how to fix the issue.
“If rocketeers start consistently dropping more than 1x driver, we can talk,” one player suggested.
“They need to up the drop odds on drivers,” another added. “Right now you’re lucky if you get two. Make two the base with higher odds of 3+. Otherwise wolfpacks will basically just be used when looted on the map.”
Some players are asking for more rewarding Rocketeer loot and reduced requirements for the Wolfpack, but others are still exploring all Shrouded Sky has to offer. The February update launched today, focusing on map changes for Dam Battlegrounds and the new Firefly and Comet Arc threats as its latest additions.
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).
There's no need to pay $430 for the Bowflex SelectTech adjustable dumbbells when there are equally well-built options at a much lower price point. For Presidents Day, FED Fitness is offering its own DB1 Adjustable Dumbbells (52.5 pounds each or 105 pounds total) for just $314.93 with free delivery after you stack 15% off coupon code "FEDLOVED15" and 5% coupon code "IGN". This is technically a Valentines Day deal, but the coupon code is live through February 24 (which means it ends today). This is a good price for a complete dumbbell package with a solid 3 year warranty.
FED Fitness DB1 Adjustable Dumbbells (up to 52.5lbs each)
Each FED Fitness DB1 dumbbell is adjustable from 5 pounds all the way up to 52.5 pounds. The adjustment mechanism works similarly to the Bowflex SelectTech series; you turn a dial in 2.5 or 5 pound increments, which locks in a specific combination of plates that add up to the desired weight. Unlike traditional free weights that take up a decent chunk of space, these adjustable dumbbells are neatly contained in a compact package that measures just 16" square.
The build quality and materials is what you'd expect from a good, solid pair of dumbbells. Nearly the entire dumbbell is made of a tough steel alloy. The handle is rubber coated to eliminate slippage. The plates are hexagonal shaped so they won't roll around when you put them down. The adjustment dial and locking mechanisms have loud clicks for easy feedback. FED Fitness backs these dumbbells up with a 30-day money back return policy and a 3 year warranty.
Free weights are a great choice for anyone who wants to work out at home but is limited on space. A pair of dumbbells is all the equipment you need to get access to a wide range of exercises that can target just about every muscle in your upper and lower body. Supplement your free weight exercises with cardio and other workouts that use your own body weight as resistance (like pushups, burpees, or squats) and you may never need to purchase more equipment.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
Believe it or not, Marvel's long-running What If? series turns 50 this year. That's a lot of alternate universe superhero stories. But there's still plenty more ground left to cover, as Marvel reveals a brand new batch of What If? comics publishing in Summer 2026.
There's no particular unifying theme this time around. These What If? books stick to the classic formula, with each exploring realities where iconic Marvel storylines played out differently. For example, one of these issues is titled "What If... Cyclops Had Stayed With Madelyne Pryor?", revealing a world where Cyclops never left his wife and child to reunite with the newly resurrected Jean Grey. For a lot of X-fans, Cyclops ditching his family remains a black mark on the character's legacy even decades later, so we imagine there's going to be a lot of interest in this story.
Other intriguing titles in this What If? lineup include "What If... Thor Got Spider-Man's Symbiote Suit?" and "What If... Cassandra Nova Killed Charles Xavier?" The full lineup is below:
"What If... Cyclops Had Stayed With Madelyne Pryor?" by Gerry Duggan & Jan Bazuldua (June)
"What If... The Ultimate Universe Surved Secret Wars?" by Alex Paknadel & CAFU (July)
"What If... The Radioactive Spider Bit Jessica Jones?" by Justina Ireland & David Messina (July)
"What If... Kraven Survived His Last Hunt?" by J.M. DeMatteis & Yildiray Cinar (July)
"What If... Captain America Was Unfrozen in 2099?" by Marc Guggenheim & Ron Lim (August)
"What If... The Runaways Hadn't Run Away?" by Rainbow Rowell & Zulema Scotto Lavina (August)
"What If... Cassandra Nova Killed Charles Xavier?" by Ashley Allen & Sumit Kumar (August)
This new What If? line kicks off with the release of What If... The Uncanny X-Men #1 on June 3 and continues through August. Which What If? concept intrigues you most? Let us know in the comments below.
Spider-Man is one of the most iconic superheroes of all time, but he didn’t swing onto the big screen until director Sam Raimi helped bring 2002’s Spider-Man to life. Since then, Spider-Man has become one of the most profitable superheroes, with pretty much every film adaptation taking the box office by storm.
While it may be easy to watch the films in release order, there are those of us who love watching stories in chronological order to experience these stories in a whole new way. Luckily, the release order and chronological order of the Spider-Man movies and spin-offs are the exact same, so it really just comes down to how you want to watch all the films that tell the complete story of the Spider-Verse (pun intended!).
Below, you can find a mostly spoiler-free look at how to watch all the Spider-Man movies and their spin-offs in chronological order. You'll also see a few lists on Spider-Man movies in release order or with a particular actor. And if you want to just find out how to watch the Spider-Man spin-offs like Venom and Kraven and the like, check out Sony's Spider-Man Universe in Chronological Order.
While the wider Spider-Man Universe includes over a dozen movies, there are ten total films led by Spider-Man himself. Eight of those movies are live-action — three led by Tobey Maguire, two by Andrew Garfield, and three by Tom Holland — and two are animated, featuring a variety of Spideys.
2002’s Spider-Man is the one that brought Peter Parker into the world of live-action on the big screen. Starring Tobey Maguire as everyone’s friendly neighborhood Spider-Man and Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane, this film gave us many memorable moments, including the upside-down kiss that may still be one of the most iconic kisses of all time.
Oh, and it features Willem Dafoe and his fantastic first performance as Harry Osborne/Green Goblin and J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson, roles they would both reprise in future films beyond the Maguire-era.
Tobey Maguire’s journey as Spider-Man continues in 2004’s Spider-Man 2, and this time he must face off against Alfred Molina’s Doctor Otto Octavius when a tragic lab accident turns the Doctor into a supervillain. This second film in the Maguire era took place two years after the first and gave us the legendary scene featuring Spider-Man saving a runaway train with nothing but his spider-strength and web-slinging prowess.
Spider-Man 3 is the last film of Sam Raimi’s trilogy and the final entry starring Tobey Maguire as the titular hero. Whereas the first two films focused on one main villain, this third entry packed three baddies into its runtime, including Sandman (Thomas Haden Church), Venom (Topher Grace), and a new Green Goblin (James Franco). This movie, which takes place about a year after Spider-Man 2, is probably the most polarizing of the first three films, but it did give us Spider-Man’s Black Suit and that must give it some points, right?!
2012’s The Amazing Spider-Man saw Marc Webb swing into the director’s chair, and was the first to star Andrew Garfield as the web-slinging hero opposite Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy. The Amazing Spider-Man is another take on Spidey’s origin story and features some history about Peter’s parents. The big bad in this movie is Rhys Ifans’ Lizard, a mutated scientist who once worked with Peter’s father.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was the second and last film in the Garfield era and, much like the last film in the original Spider-Man trilogy, it featured a trio of villains. like. Taking place two years after the original, this sequel introduced Jamie Foxx’s Electro, Paul Giamatti’s Rhino, and Dane DeHaan’s Green Goblin, and was supposed to set up future entries in the franchise featuring Venom and the Sinister Six. Unfortunately, the film’s mixed review and lower box office performance contributed to all of those plans being scrapped.
While Captain America: Civil War is obviously not a Spider-Man movie, it did introduce the world to Tom Holland’s version of Spider-Man. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) recruits Holland’s Peter Parker after he has already become Spider-Man, and we get to see him facing off against or teaming up with many of the MCU’s greatest heroes.
Spider-Man: Homecoming, Tom Holland’s first solo film as Spider-Man, arrived in 2017 with Jon Watts at the helm. It takes place after the events of Captain America: Civil War, and tells the story of Peter Parker handling the twin challenges of high school and proving to Tony Stark that he’s ready to join the Avengers. Despite that, he still takes it upon himself to improve his skills and stop crimes as Spider-Man alongside hanging out with his friends MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon). Homecoming also introduces us to Michael Keaton’s Adrian Toomes/Vulture, a villain who will appear again down the line.
While there is no Spider-Man in 2018’s Venom, Tom Hardy’s version of the iconic Spidey villain does have a role to play in Holland’s Spider-Man story as future films will see their paths almost cross. It remains to be seen if Holland’s Spider-Man will ever actually run into Hardy’s Venom, but this character will undoubtedly have an important part to play in the future of the web-slinger, one way or another.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is another Spider-Man story separate from the mainline films, but it is one well worth a watch. The story centers around Shameik Moore’s Miles Morales, but Spider-People from many different multiverses quickly enter the picture and build a cast of characters, including Hailee Steinfeld’s Spider-Gwen, Jake Johnson’s Peter B. Parker, John Mulaney’s Spider-Ham, Nicolas Cage’s Spider-Man Noir, and more.
Avengers: Infinity War features a large cast of the MCU’s greatest heroes, and Tom Holland’s Spider-Man is one of them. He plays an important role in Infinity War and his growing friendship with Tony Stark is one of the highlights.
While certain plot reasons keep Tom Holland’s Spider-Man out of Avengers: Endgame for much of the movie, he still makes his presence felt in key moments of this film’s story. Also, it is the culmination of 21 MCU films before it and deserves a spot on the watch list.
Taking place after the events of Avengers: Endgame and dealing with much of what happened in that film, Spider-Man: Far From Home begins in New York City before taking Holland’s Peter Parker to Europe for a school trip. He wants to take a trip undisturbed from the world of superheroes, but the universe has other plans for him. Throughout Far From Home, Holland crosses paths with Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders), and Quentin Beck (Jake Gyllenhaal), who claims to be a hero from a different universe. Make sure to stick around for the post-credits scene here!
Much like the first Venom film, Venom: Let There Be Carnage is very much adjacent to the Spider-Man films rather than directly tied in. However, this film builds up the world of Tom Hardy’s Venom, and includes a post-credits scene that brings these two worlds closer together than ever.
Spider-Man: No Way Home picks up right after the post-credits of Spider-Man: Far From Home and is the most recent mainline Spider-Man film to be released. After Peter and his friends’ lives are turned upside down, he goes to Doctor Strange and asks him to make things right by making everyone forget that Peter Parker is Spider-Man.
However, things go awry and the multiverse opens up, bringing many familiar faces from previous films into the MCU. No Way Home is as much the next chapter in Holland’s story as it is a continuation of the Maguire and Garfield eras, and the fan service is just so wonderful, especially if you have seen the previous films.
Morbius, much like Venom, has very little in the way of Spider-Man specifically, but it helps build out the wider universe. We know Morbius takes place in the same universe as Venom as there are certain nods like a reference to the events “in San Francisco,” but the connection to Spider-Man is a bit more unknown. Morbius is a Spider-Man villain, and the film also sees the return of Michael Keaton’s Vulture, who looks to have a bigger role to play in the future of Spider-Man, hinting that Morbius could take place in the MCU or Sony or even a bit of both.
Across the Spider-Verse is another animated film that seemingly sits outside of the MCU. That being said, it dives deep into the multiverse and could eventually be pulled into the rest of the Spider-Man universe similar to how the other films were brought into the fold with No-Way Home. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is a direct sequel to Into the Spider-Verse, taking place about a year after the last film ended.
The film is largely centered around Miles Morales getting pulled further into the multiverse to join Gwen Stacy and a team of Spider-People to take on a powerful new threat.
While the Spider-Man spin-off Madame Web is connected to our favorite web-slinging hero, the events of the film don't feature him. Sure, there may be some spoilery links we won't ruin here, but this is a mostly standalone story in the Spidey-verse that you can watch at any time.
This film stars Dakota Johnson as Cassandra Webb and tells her origin story. We follow her as a paramedic in Manhattan who begins to develop powers to see the future and and tries to come to grips with trying to change what's to come. She is joined by Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, and Celeste O'Connor, who are all "bound for powerful destinies... if they can all survive a deadly present."
Tom Hardy had his last go-round as Eddie Brock, as well as Venom, in 2024's Venom: The Last Dance. Our review said "Venom: The Last Dance trips over its own tendrils and lets a boring, generic plot, and bad action distract from the surprisingly resilient central relationship between Eddie Brock and his symbiote bestie."
The Aaron Taylor-Johnson-starring Kraven the Hunter didn't fare well with critics, and appears to be the last live-action movie for now in the Sony/Marvel universe. And just think, none of these guys ever even got to meet Spider-Man!
Tobey Maguire Spider-Man Movies in Order of Release
Spider-Man (2002)
Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Spider-Man 3 (2007)
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Andrew Garfield Spider-Man Movies in Order of Release
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Tom Holland Spider-Man Movies in Order of Release
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Upcoming Spider-Man Movies
Following the release of Kraven the Hunter, Sony's Spider-Man Universe appears to be on hold, at least in terms of live-action movies not starring Tom Holland as Spidey. In fact, I think most folks assumed the Sony Spider-verse was dead. However, Sony has recently confirmed they're planning a full reboot of "their side" of the Spidey franchise. No word on what exactly that will entail, but thankfully we have some confirmed Spider-Man movies coming our way.
Beyond the Spider-Verse
The third Spider-Verse movie, Beyond the Spiderverse, is in development. While originally slated to release in 2024, we got official confirmation at CinemaCon that the new release date is June 4, 2027.
Nic Cage will also be continuing in his Spider-Verse role as Spider Man Noir for a live action Amazon series from producers Phil Lord, Chris Miller, and Orien Uziel.
MCU Spider-Man
Tom Holland's Spider-Man will continue in the MCU with Spider-Man: Brand New Day. It's scheduled to release on July 31, 2026, with Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi) on board as director. Sadie Sink (Stranger Things) recently joined the cast; she'll reportedly play either X-Men character Jean Grey or Mary Jane Watson. Jon Bernthal will also be reprising his role as the Punisher.
Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad fans are embroiled in a review bomb war after an episode of spinoff A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms threatened to dethrone Breaking Bad's Ozymandias' status as the only 10/10 episode of TV on IMDb.
For years Ozymandias enjoyed legendary status online as the only episode of TV with a 10/10 user review rating on IMDb, but A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 5, titled In the Name of the Mother, threatened to achieve the same rating after it released on HBO Max earlier this month.
It’s hard to know who shot first, but Breaking Bad fans began review-bombing A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms in a bid to drag its user review rating down from 10/10, thus, theoretically at least, preserving Breaking Bad’s place at the top. Predictably, this in turn activated Game of Thrones fans, who launched a counter offensive against Breaking Bad that similarly dragged Ozymandias down. The two sides have been trading 1/10 review scores ever since.
As it stands, Ozymandias, first aired September 2013, is down to a 9.5/10 user review rating on IMDb. “Good show, but this episode was a let down,” reads one 1/10 review left on Ozymandias. “They should have done a better job with character development. This episode was an egg when it should have been a slam Dunk. I really wanted this the to be the quintessential defining episode but the writers really knocked the rider off the horse on this one.”
“Changed my rating cuz of BB fans,” said another. “This episode deserves a 10 and I had it as a 10 for 13 years. But I'm tired of Breaking Bad fans review-bombing literally anything that comes close to 10. You ‘fans’ have review-bombed The Sopranos, The Wire, Mad Men, Bands of Brothers, Six Feet Under, now A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and many more. I'm sad that I had to become petty like you, but honestly, that's on you guys. Grow some *** and let everyone enjoy the things they enjoy. I hope some day I change my review back to 10 because this is one of the best episodes of TV.”
Another another 1/10 review reads: “Womp womp, if ya'll just accepted the fact that other shows can be just as good I wouldn't have to be here. We are taught how to share at a very young age and it amazes me how adults don't understand it still. You don't have to ruin another shows reviews just because you think your favorite show should be at the top, bunch of babies....”
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 5, In the Name of the Mother, meanwhile, also has a 9.5 user review rating on IMDb.
“I am just a victim of the review bombing,” said one person who left a 1/10 review score. “I have never been a side for review bombing or have never been a Game of Thrones hater. I personally think that both of the series are really good and both of the episodes deserve a perfect 10. But I know one thing well and that is Ozymandias deserves a perfect 10. So here I am, just defending the honour of Breaking Bad and Ozymandias.”
“REVENGE FOR OZYMANDIAS,” declares another 1/10 review. “I rated this episode one star purely out of loyalty. As a hardcore Breaking Bad fan, I can't forget how Game of Thrones fans review-bombed BB with one stars. So this is payback energy.
“Episode 5 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms wasn't even bad, but this rating isn't about quality, it's about history. Petty? Yes. Necessary? Also yes. 1 star. Justice served.”
Now, this review-bomb war has spilled over into the A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ Season 1 finale, The Morrow, which hit HBO Max over the weekend. “I never review-bombed anything before, and to all good GoT fans I have to say that I am sorry,” reads one 1/10 review left on February 24. “But you made Ozymandias 9.5. This is insane, I didn't even know that we were in a conflict until you started review-bombing. And all those people talking about ‘winter came’ and ‘the north remembers’ is crazy corny.”
“Leave Breaking Bad alone,” reads another. “Y’all got problems. Attacking Ozymandiaz because you don't wanna share a 10/10? Quit being petty and let game acknowledge game! I'll remove this once y’all change your ways but for now I have 100 more characters to write until this thing lets me post this. This show is great, episode is great, but you're fools for starting this beef.”
“Walter sends his wishes,” says another 1/10 review.
The upshot of this online war of review words is that Breaking Bad’s Ozymandias has ended its 13-year run as the only perfectly-scored IMDb show out of millions of TV episodes. Episode 14 of Season 5 is the climax of the series, the episode in which all the tension built up over the course of the previous seasons finally comes to a head as Walt is forced to face the consequences of his actions. IGN’s review of Breaking Bad Ozymandias returned a 10/10. We called it a masterpiece.
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Episode 5, In the Name of the Mother, depicts the Trial of the Seven and reveals Ser Dunk the Tall’s (played by Peter Claffey) tragic backstory. IGN’s review returned a 9/10. We said: “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms nears the end of its first season with a big, bloody, heartbreaking bang.”
As some fans react to the situation to call it pathetic, HBO is now leaning into this review-bomb battle in its social media posts. The official HBO Max Nordic social media team posted a cheeky clip of Game of Thrones' iconic Battle of the Bastards, pitting fans of both shows on either side. “The fans called the banners quickly,” reads the caption.
The irony, of course, is that Breaking Bad fans could have ended the week sharing the 10/10 spot with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. But now they've lost it themselves.
Underneath the jokes is a serious issue with user review ratings, which we’ve seen become subject to the whims of online review bomb campaigns multiple times over the years. Most recently, in December Netflix show Stranger Things suffered from review bombing as part of a backlash to Episode 7, called The Bridge. And in 2023, we reported on how a single person's grudge against AI: The Somnium Files propelled an obscure 2010 DSiWare game to the top of Metacritic. In the world of video games, PC gaming platform Steam is no stranger to review bombing campaigns, with some user user reviews to express their disatisfaction.
Photograph by Steffan Hill/HBO.
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.
Best Buy is offering an outstanding deal on a laptop that marries powerful gaming performance with a slim and lightweight profile. While supplies last, you can pick up an open box "excellent condition" Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 RTX 5080 gaming laptop for just $2,014.99 with free delivery. Compare that to the brand new price of $3,170. Getting any RTX 5080 equipped laptop for about $2,000 is an excellent deal, but this laptop raises the bar by cramming all of that power in the smallest chassis it can get away with.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 RTX 5080 Laptop for $2,015
The latest Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 gaming laptop is definitely one of the thinnest and lightest gaming laptops, measuring 0.63" thick and weighing in at under 3.5 pounds. It features a gorgeous 14" 3K 120Hz ROG Nebula OLED display, AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU, 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and 2TB NVEMe SSD. The entire shell is made of CNC-milled aluminum construction keeps the weight down and features premium accents like a huge glass touchpad.
The G14 is for anyone who wants a thin and light laptop that can be brought anywhere as a daily driver, but still with the power to play games. The RTX 5080 discrete graphics is capable of playing just about any game on the display's upgraded 2880x1800 resolution, especially if the game supports DLSS 4.5 (which most new games do nowadays). The RTX 5080 is power limited to a 120W TGP (standard for the 5080 mobile is 150W), but performance is still excellent. This is about as powerful of a GPU you can get while maintaining a slim footprint. Most RTX 5080/5090 gaming laptops are huge.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
The humble PS5 face plate, designed to help your console stand out or fit more stylishly in your home setup, is reduced - with options like the ever-popular Midnight Black down to just $39 - a discount of 28%.
Aside from that sleek Black variant, you can grab the Cobalt Blue face plate for $44, down from $59. One for the Sonic the Hedgehog fans, perhaps.
Looking for something striking? One of the red variants, specifically Volcanic Red, is discounted to $44, too.
More subtle is Chroma Pearl. At first glance, it looks like the standard white color, but look a tad closer, and you’ll see a subtle pearlescent touch in the light.
As a reminder, these face plates are for the Slim PS5 model, so they won’t work on launch PS5 systems, which is a shame.
There are other options that aren’t discounted, too. Remix Green looks like you could use it to avoid a hazard on the road, while Techno Red is how we imagine former WWE superstar Kane sets up his PS5.
Finally, Rhythm Blue offers a similar two-tone look, but with a softer blue than the Cobalt version mentioned earlier.
Lloyd Coombes is an experienced freelancer in tech, gaming and fitness seen at Polygon, Eurogamer, Macworld, TechRadar and many more. He's a big fan of Magic: The Gathering and other collectible card games, much to his wife's dismay.
2026 has already seen surges in the cost of RAM and GPUs. Unfortunately, this also affects the price of gaming PCs. Obviously this isn't an ideal time to be buying a new PC, but fortunately, there are still good deals to be found. If you're looking for a future-proof system, an RTX 5080 PC is powerful enough to set you up for 4K gaming for years to come.
The Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 5080 gaming PC has dropped to as low as $2,229.99 with free delivery after a $600 instant discount. This is currently one of the least expensive RTX 5080 prebuilts you'll be able to get right now. Most other RTX 5080 prebuilts are currently priced at $2,500 and up.
Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 5080 Gaming PC for $2,230
The $2,130 system is equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265F CPU, GeForce RTX 5080 GPU, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB SSD. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265F is a 20-core processor with a max turbo frequency of 5.3GHz. It's cooled by a 240mm all-in-one liquid cooling system. The 1,000W power supply gives you headroom for upgrades down the road.
The GeForce RTX 5080 GPU will run any game in 4K
Performance-wise, the RTX 5080 is no slouch. It's one of the fastest cards on the market, bested only by the $2,000 RTX 5090 and the discontinued $1,600 RTX 4090. This is a phenomenal card for playing the latest, most demanding games in 4K resolution at high settings and ray tracing enabled. The recent DLSS 4.5 update has further optimized multi-frame gen and upscaling so you can push really high framerates even in 4K. More games are supporting this feature, including Doom: The Dark Ages, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Borderlands 4, Stellar Blade, and Battlefield 6. Check out our Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 FE review for our hands-on impressions.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
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