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Bridgerton Season 4, Part 2 Review

Season 4 of Bridgerton ends with a bang. And that bang was the sound of my jaw hitting the floor when the final twist of the final episode was revealed. It seems there’s a new Lady Whistledown in town, and she promises to bring her readers (and the rest of us) “so much fun.”

Look, it may seem like an easy task, revisiting an updated version of the show’s central mystery (and one that didn’t appear in Julia Quinn’s books at that). But if that mystery keeps Julie Andrews (long may she reign) on our screens even a minute more than she would have been otherwise, sign me up. The finale shocker and its cliffhanger question – Who is Lady Whistledown? – is indicative of a leveled-up batch of episodes that elevates Season 4 of the Netflix regency drama from ho-hum to fantastic.

While Part 1 of the Benedict Bridgerton-centric season was at times plodding and frustrating, Part 2 takes off like a rocketship and doesn’t let up until the credits roll. It kind of makes one wonder (Dearest Gentle Reader) why Netflix insists on splitting up the seasons. But regardless of the rationale, the four new Bridgerton episodes are worth the wait.

When we last left our favorite very large 18th century British family, second son Benedict (Luke Thompson) had asked his maid-cum-paramour Sophie (Yerin Ha) to be his mistress (even though she was the woman he had unknowingly fallen in love with at a masquerade ball). Erstwhile Lady Whistledown Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) was finding it difficult to suss out her place in society now that her secret identity had been revealed. Matriarch Violet (Ruth Gemmell) was navigating a new relationship, and quiet Francesca (Hannah Dodd) was trying to find peace with her husband’s cousin.

When we pick up in Season 4, Part 2, a plodding and at times ridiculous confluence of events resets and takes off in spectacular fashion. Benedict and Sophie’s relationship grows deeper and more passionate. In a turn that will surprise absolutely no one, Benedict (internet memes be damned) finally realizes Sophie was the mysterious lady in silver and plots to find out a way to marry her, even though they are of different classes.

Violet, who at one point becomes betrothed to her love interest Lord Anderson (Daniel Francis), uses Benedict’s situation to realize that she is better off on her own and wants to revisit the spirited girl she used to be. And thus one relationship fizzles while another ramps up.

Sophie’s “wicked stepmother” and her stepsisters (one nice, one not) get their comeuppance, but in a way that’s both realistic and empathetic. In one of the season’s great surprises, we’re left with a feeling of sadness and empathy for the Season 4 “villains,” given that their station in the stuffy Regency era was no cake walk. Hats off to Katie Leung, who plays lead villain Araminta, for being so horrible the entire season but still not letting us hate her fully.

The season’s third main plotline revolves around resident Bridgerton introvert Francesca, her husband John (Victor Alli), and John’s cousin Micaela (Masali Baduza). For those who haven’t read the books, Micaela is a gender-swapped version of the character Michael - who eventually enters into a relationship with Francesca upon John’s death. Season 4, Part 2 sees John - surprise! - kick the bucket and Francesca and Micaela are left to pick up the pieces. Dodd and Baduza play the relationship brilliantly. There’s barely a hint of future romance, but there’s SOMETHING there even if you’re not quite sure what it is. And if you weren’t familiar with the books, you’d have a hard time placing it.

It’s a brilliant choice from the producers of the show that’s flawlessly performed by the two actresses. This isn’t the yearning we see between Sophie and Benedict but there’s a connection; one that’s severed when Micaela leaves in the middle of the night at the end of the season, leaving Francesca – and us – mourning what may have been (and probably will be in Season 5.

All of these plotlines synthesize into a Cinderella happy ending for Benedict and Sophie, culminating in a mid-credits wedding sequence, which is preceded by the Lady Whistledown reveal. Some might say that the surprise is a cop-out: returning the show to the surefire mystery that made it a success in the first place. But I disagree. The core mystery was always essential to the appeal of Bridgerton. The “Who is Lady Whistledown?” question balanced out the more romance-heavy and fantastical elements of the show and created a throughline for the series across changing protagonists and dramas. I’m glad the show is getting “back to basics,” and perhaps even more happy that Penelope will be given something to do other than half-heartedly pretend to care about her former alter-ego.

Bridgerton Season 4, Part 2 gets the show back on track after what had been a somewhat disappointing start to the season. It returns the series to where it was in earlier seasons, and that’s pretty great.

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Amazon Backs Out of Publishing Open-World Driving Game from Ex-Forza Horizon Developers

Amazon will no longer publish UK developer Maverick Games’ yet-to-be-titled open-world driving game, reports The Game Business.

“As part of our strategic evolution to focus on projects that leverage Amazon’s unique strengths and scale, including the recent re-launch of Luna and our Tomb Raider franchise partnership with Crystal Dynamics, we have decided to release Maverick Games from their publishing agreement with Amazon Game Studios,” the company explained in a provided statement.

“We have tremendous respect for the Maverick Games team and the compelling narrative-led driving experience they’re creating. This decision allows Maverick Games the flexibility to find a publishing partner whose strategic priorities are better aligned with bringing their game to market. We’re proud of what we accomplished together during our partnership and wish them every success in the future.”

Fortunately, this does not mean the end of the road for the project itself, with Maverick Games co-founder Mike Brown confirming on social media that development is continuing to progress strongly and plans are in place to share information about the game later this year.

Maverick Games was founded in 2022 following the departure of a number of staff from Forza Horizon developer Playground Games. At that time, former Forza Horizon 5 creative director Mike Brown was joined by producer Tom Butcher, technical director Matt Craven, technical art director Gareth Harwood, audio director Fraser Stachan, and art director Ben Penrose. It was revealed in January 2023 that the team was working on a “premium open-world game for consoles and PC.”

Amazon’s partnership with Maverick on this “narrative-led open-world driving” project was unveiled in mid-2004.

Luke is a Senior Editor on the IGN reviews team. You can track him down on Bluesky @mrlukereilly to ask him things about stuff.

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The $18 Iniu Qi2 Wireless Charging Station Charges Your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods With One Cable

If you're looking for a more elegant charging solution for your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch, then Amazon has a limited time deal that's totally worth your consideration. Right now the Iniu 3-in-1 Qi2-certified wireless charging station has dropped in price from $35.99 all the way down to $18.35 after you clip a 49% off coupon code. I actually have this exact model and highly recommend it. I use it every evening on my nightstand next to bed and I also bring it along on extended trips because it folds away so neatly.

Iniu 3-in-1 Charging Station for iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods

The Iniu 3-in-1 charging station has three separate sections reserved for wireless charging your (1) iPhone, (2) Apple Watch, and (3) AirPods. Obviously all three devices need to be MagSafe compatible for this to work. Only a single USB-C cable is needed for all three devices, saving you a couple of outlets and a rats nest of cables. The iPhone charger is QI2 certified, capable of delivery up to 15W of wireless inductive charging. Other smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy Ultra should work as well, as long as they are wireless charging compatible. The other sections support 5W of wireless charging.

The charging station works great at home by your bed, but it's also an excellent traveler. The entire unit folds into a small brick that measures a mere 4" long x 2.4" wide x 0.8" thin. It can easily be stowed away in any small bag or even a pocket. Better yet, a wall charger and USB cable are included in the package.

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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The $22 Baseus 100W USB-C Charger Will Fast Charge Even the Most Powerful Gaming Handheld PCs

From portable gaming handhelds to smartphones, our lives rely on portable, untethered electronics, and it can't hurt to always have a charger on hand. Amazon is currently offering a Baseus Picogo 100W USB Type-C wall charger for just $21.99 after you apply coupon code "76CRAZVA". You don't need to be an Amazon Prime member to get this deal. This diminutive adapter can fast charge even the most power hungry handheld gaming PCs like the ROG Xbox Ally X.

Baseus Picogo 100W USB-C Wall Charger for $21.99

The Baseus wall charger is tiny, measuring only 3.2" x 1.7" x 1.7" but it's still able to pack in three charging ports: two 100W USB Type-C and one 22.5W USB Type-A. Note that the maximum output for all three ports is 100W, so if you used both USB-C ports at time same time, you would pull 70W + 30W.

The 100W of USB-C Power Delivery is higher than what I typically see at this price point. This charger has a higher output than the stock adapters that come packaged with power hungry handheld gaming PCs like the Xbox Ally X, ROG Ally X, Legion Go S, and Legion Go 2; even though these handhelds support up to 100W charging rates, they're supplied with 60W max charging adapters. It's also compatible with devices like the Steam Deck and Switch 2 that can only accept a lower rate, since the charger only delivers as much power as the device allows, nothing more.

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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New York Attorney General Sues Valve, Alleging Its Loot Boxes Illegally Promote Gambling

The attorney general of New York Letitia James is suing Valve, alleging the platform illegally promotes gambling to children.

This comes from a press release issued by the attorney general's office today, which states that following an investigation, the office of the attorney general "found that Valve’s video games, including Counter-Strike 2, Team Fortress 2, and Dota 2, enable gambling by enticing users to pay for the chance to win a rare virtual item of significant monetary value."

"In Valve’s most popular game [Counter-Strike 2], the process resembles a slot machine, with an animated spinning wheel that eventually rests on a selected item. The randomly selected virtual items have no in-game functionality but can be sold online for money, with one item reportedly being sold for more than $1 million. The lawsuit alleges that Valve has made billions of dollars luring its users, many of whom are teenagers or younger, to engage in gambling in the hopes of winning expensive virtual items that they can cash in on. With this lawsuit, Attorney General James seeks to permanently stop Valve from continuing to promote illegal gambling in its games and to pay disgorgement and fines."

The lawsuit itself describes both the mechanics of how loot boxes work in all three games, as well as the ways in which users can "cash in" virtual items, either by selling them on the Steam Community Market, or by connecting their accounts to third-party marketplaces, the latter of which the attorney general's office says it found Valve "facilitates and even assists." The attorney general's office argues that Valve's loot box model is "quintessential gambling, prohibited under New York's Constitution and Penal Law." Gambling is illegal in New York with only some exceptions, which the attorney general says are all irrelevant here.

The question of whether loot boxes can or should be regulated as gambling has been ongoing for more than a decade, with different countries issuing various regulations around them over the years. China, South Korea, and some other countries require companies to disclose odds on receiving certain items in very specific ways. In Australia, the presence of loot boxes automatically nets a game an M rating (not recommended for children under 15, albeit not legally restricted), and anything with simulated gambling gets an R18+ rating, meaning it cannot be sold to minors. Belgium has attempted to ban them entirely, though it is apparently struggling to enforce this.

The New York lawsuit aims to permanently stop Valve from promoting gambling features in its games, make full restitution to consumers and give up all profit its made from this practice, and pay fines for violation of New York laws. If successful, this case could have significant ripple effects on the rest of the industry, as companies are forced to confirm to an increasing array of different loot box laws in different regions.

“Illegal gambling can be harmful and lead to serious addiction problems, especially for our young people,” said Attorney General James in a statement. “Valve has made billions of dollars by letting children and adults alike illegally gamble for the chance to win valuable virtual prizes. These features are addictive, harmful, and illegal, and my office is suing to stop Valve’s illegal conduct and protect New Yorkers.”

IGN has reached out to Valve for comment.

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

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How ONNIT Alpha BRAIN Supplements Are Ideal for Competitive and Late-Night Gamers

Editor's Note: This article is sponsored by ONNIT Alpha BRAIN.

Competitive PC and console gamers know that your mental state is just as vital as your skills and equipment when it comes to winning. If you’re not focused, a mispress or panic input could lead to your demise, especially in esports, where mere milliseconds matter most. Sure, getting enough sleep and breaks can help, but sometimes you just need a boost of focus during those extended gaming sessions and pivotal game moments.

If you haven't heard of ONNIT Alpha BRAIN yet, it's a nootropic designed to help you get past cognitive fatigue by supporting focus, memory, and clarity. From serious gamers to athletes, this brand is growing to gain international attention. (Apparently Joe Rogan is a fan.)

Keep on Gaming with Alpha BRAIN

Get free shipping on orders of $100+

ONNIT Alpha BRAIN is a premium supplement ideal for gamers who want to optimize their performance by improving reaction times, decision-making, and accuracy. Rather than relying on caffeine and other stimulants that aren’t always that great for you, Alpha BRAIN uses better science-driven ingredients to help improve your stamina and focus. Some of those ingredients include L-theanine, vitamin B6, phosphatidylserine, alpha GPC, and huperzia serrata extract, all of which support brain health. Best of all, they come packaged in a capsule form for easy consumption.

While this nootropic can be super beneficial for multiplayer gaming, it’s also great for when you need to concentrate on a work deadline or project. Alpha BRAIN promotes that “flow state” where you just stay locked in and concentrate on the task at hand without distraction.

If you are looking to stay focused during long gaming sessions, ONNIT Alpha BRAIN may be for you. It’s available in 30 or 90-count capsules, with free shipping on orders of $100 or more. You can save even more by subscribing.

There’s also an Alpha BRAIN Black Label for days when you need that extra caffeine kick and next-level focus. It’s not just capsules either; you can grab focus shots, neuro gummies, pre-workout, and instant powder, each with different brain-boosting ingredients, all of which should help improve your mental clarity.

What Is ONNIT?

ONNIT, the brand behind Alpha BRAIN nootropics, expertly curates formulas using globally-sourced, scientifically-backed ingredients. It then rigorously lab tests its products, ensuring purity and potency, before sending them to consumers. Beyond supporting cognitive functions, ONNIT offers other nootropics to improve mood, endurance, gut health, and more for optimal performance, no matter what you’re doing.

Danielle is a Tech freelance writer based in Los Angeles who spends her free time creating videos and geeking out over music history.

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Samsung Galaxy S26 Lineup and Galaxy Buds 4 Release Date in Australia

Samsung Unpacked has come and gone. Thankfully, your trusty team here at IGN has the inside scoop on some fresh Galaxy devices Samsung Australia is about to drop. From today (February 26), you can pre-order your devices before the March 11 release date hits. You’ll have the new Galaxy S26 or Galaxy Buds right as they hit the shelves.

Prices starting at:

About the new Samsung Galaxy Lineup

First things first, let’s dive into the specs of the new Galaxy S26. You’ll still have the common improvements you’ve come from Samsung—improved camera quality with a 200MP wide lens and 50MP telephoto lens, lightning quick charging ability, and of course, the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chip.

Yet, what really makes this device stand out is the world-first ‘Privacy Screen’ display on the Ultra. When enabled, this update narrows the arrangement of pixels to obscure your screen better. You can even hide your notifications or apps from view at the push of a button.

Samsung Australia also revealed a couple more surprises during Unpacked. They’ve reaffirmed a commitment to expanding Galaxy AI through a multi-modal mixture—with Google’s Gemini LLM, Bixby, and the introduction of Perplexity (an additional AI agent) into the mix. There’s the newly redesigned Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 on their way. Refreshed to better match the S26 design, these 96kHz buds will now have both the EQ and Adaptive Noise Cancellation settings better integrated with Galaxy OS.

So, before the release of the and Galaxy Buds 4 on March 11, you can jump in first and pre-order your devices through Samsung Australia now.

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Skate Developer Full Circle Hit With Layoffs as EA Looks to 'Better Support' the 'Long-Term Future' of the Game

Skate developer Full Circle has announced layoffs affecting an undisclosed number of staff as it aims to “better support” the “long-term future” of its free-to-play title.

Publisher EA revealed its “reshaping” plans with a blog post on the studio’s website. No detailed information about the number of affected employees or their roles was given, with the message only stating that “making changes to our team structure” means that “some roles will be impacted.”

“The teammates affected are talented colleagues and friends who helped build the foundation of skate.,” Full Circle said. “Their creativity and dedication are deeply ingrained in what players experience today. This decision is not a reflection of their impact and we’re committed to supporting them through this transition.”

The post mentions that tens of millions of players have played the free-to-play Skate reboot since it launched as an Early Access title for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X | S September 2025. Today’s restructuring is said “to better support skate.’s long-term future and focus the team on the things that matter most to you.” EA and Full Circle sign off by assuring fans they will work with the community as they “move faster, listen more closely, and deliver consistently” as development on Skate continues.

This decision is not a reflection of their impact and we’re committed to supporting them through this transition.

“To our departing teammates: thank you. skate. exists because of your hard work and dedication to the craft.”

Full Circle’s restructuring is only the latest in a string of layoffs and game cancellations at EA. Following layoffs impacting around 670 workers in early 2024, the Battlefield and Madden publisher cut 300 additional jobs across the company in April 2025. That move alone saw the cancellation of a new project set in the Titanfall universe at Respawn Entertainment, as the studio accounted for around 100 of the affected roles at the time.

EA went on to end remote hiring and push employees to return to the office the following month. The closure of Cliffhanger Games, the studio behind the now-cancelled Black Panther video game, then arrived just weeks later. September 2025 then saw the company announce it had accepted a $55 billion acquisition offer from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners, and Silver Lake.

Full Circle will continue development on Skate as it works to secure its long-term future. As detailed in a separate post last week, the free-to-play skating revival will soon launch into Season 3. The rest of its roadmap includes the promise of additional features, cosmetics, game modes, and more.

IGN reached out to EA for comment regarding the restructuring at Full Circle, but was pointed back to the note shared by the studio in lieu of further comment.

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).

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Stardew Valley Creator to Premiere Anniversary Video Revealing New Marriage Candidates Tomorrow

Stardew Valley creator Eric Barone (ConcernedApe) has announced that he will publish a video tomorrow revealing the two new marriage candidates coming to the game in patch 1.7.

I made a video for tomorrow's 10-year Stardew Valley Anniversary, it will "premiere" tomorrow at 11am PST.
In the video, I comment on some pre-release footage, and reveal the 2 new 1.7 marriage candidates at the end.
See you in the chat https://t.co/di6uAhYADr

— ConcernedApe (@ConcernedApe) February 25, 2026

In a post on Twitter/X, ConcernedApe shared the following message: "I made a video for tomorrow's 10-year Stardew Valley Anniversary, it will 'premiere' tomorrow at 11am PST. In the video, I comment on some pre-release footage, and reveal the 2 new 1.7 marriage candidates at the end. See you in the chat." He included a link to YouTube, where the video will appear tomorrow.

Tomorrow is indeed the 10th anniversary of Stardew Valley, which we celebrated earlier this month with an interview with ConcernedApe himself, during which he revealed that two new marriage candidates were coming with the planned 1.7 update. This is significant news for Stardew fans. There have been no new romantic relationships added to the game since its early days, and fans have long hoped for the opportunity to marry other villagers such as Robin, Sandy, the Wizard, or Marlon. We do not know at this time whether these will be existing characters with new dialogue and relationships, or if two new characters are being added, though fans suspect the former.

We also spoke to ConcernedApe earlier this month on a number of other celebratory topics, such as why there isn't a Stardew Valley TV show, and the one secret left that the Stardew Valley community has yet to find. You can read our full, in-depth interview with the creator right here.

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

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Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Only Has 7 Playable Characters Because They Are “More Differentiated With Much Deeper Gameplay” | IGN Fan Fest 2026

Ever since Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight’s reveal at gamescom 2025, one of the hottest topics surrounding it has been the surprisingly small number of playable characters on its roster. But developer TT Games promises that there’s a very good reason for this.

Over the past decade or so, Lego games ranging from DC and Marvel superheroes to Star Wars and Harry Potter droids and wizards have included unlockable playable character numbers stretching into the hundreds, but in the upcoming Legacy of the Dark Knight, that total at launch is just seven. Those that made the cut include the Bat family and a few friends: Batman, Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Jim Gordon, Talia Al Ghul, and Catwoman.

IGN recently spoke to the head of the TT Games development team, Jonathan Smith, to find out why this number has been reduced so drastically by comparison. “We're taking these individual characters on a journey,” Smith explains. “So you are constantly upgrading and developing new skills and opening up new abilities for each of those characters. Within the Bat family, as well, we really wanted to focus on making those characters really unique, making their personalities come across and their abilities very distinct.”

For example, Batman can throw batarangs and use his grapple to assist in combat as well as solve puzzles, but Catwoman can utilise her rangy whip and call in the help of her kittens by triggering a laser pointer on a target. Those same cats can also be directly controlled by the player to grant access to small vents and distract unsuspecting guards with a delightful “meow”.

You still get that moment in the Bat Cave where you've got all the different suits from all the different characters arrayed in front of you.

While the focus is seemingly on a deeper gameplay experience this time around, with a Rocksteady Arkham-influenced combo-based combat system leading that charge, fans of old-school Lego games shouldn’t fear too much, as Smith promises there will still be plenty to collect across its open world and movie-inspired levels.

“The story is more focused on a tighter roster of characters that are now more differentiated with much deeper gameplay,” confirms Smith. “So they work well in partnership with each other, and we then want to give you lots and lots of options to see the full range of what those characters can be by giving you more than a hundred different suits to collect. So you still get that moment in the Bat Cave where you've got all the different suits from all the different characters arrayed in front of you, colorful and glorious. You're still compelled to want to complete that collection.”

For more on Bat Suits, take a look at every one confirmed to be in Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight so far, and if you want to know a lot more about the game, check out more from our interview with the studio as part of IGN Fan Fest 2026.

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.

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'Really Glad to Have Some Space': Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Developer Breathed Sigh of Relief After GTA 6 Delay | IGN Fan Fest 2026

Rockstar's most recent GTA 6 delay might mean a longer wait for the year's biggest launch, but it also brought relief to other developers previously set to release games in the same timeframe.

That includes TT Games, the storied British studio behind numerous LEGO titles such as LEGO Star Wars, LEGO Harry Potter, and the promising-looking LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight.

Due to launch for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on May 29 (with a Nintendo Switch 2 edition to follow on later), the open-world Gotham action adventure is now set to launch within days of Rockstar's previous GTA 6 date — May 26.

TT Games made its Legacy of the Dark Knight release date announcement last December at The Game Awards, a month after Rockstar's latest GTA 6 delay was made public. (GTA 6 now looks to have a seemingly-final launch date, with marketing set to ramp up this summer ahead of its long-awaited arrival on November 19.)

"We knew we wanted to come out in spring of this year," TT Games Head of Production and Strategic Director Jonathan Smith told IGN in a recent interview, discussing the "space" now opened up by GTA 6's delay to this holiday.

"Look, I want to play that game [GTA 6], but we're also really glad to have some space for people to play Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. We're giving you an open city and a fantastic experience for all players. Which I thoroughly recommend."

Going hands-on with the game last year, IGN came away impressed, saying that "LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight was the Arkham Game you've been waiting for."

For much more, be sure to check out IGN's full Fan Fest preview describing how Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is balancing old and new to celebrate the best of the caped crusader's many exploits — plus new footage of the game — and check out more detail on why the game has a smaller roster of just seven playable characters.

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

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‘We Are Not Leaving Anything Behind’ — How Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is Balancing Old and New | IGN Fan Fest 2026

“We want to keep that Lego idea of ‘fun’ modern, relevant, and up to date, and not get stuck in the past”, says Jonathan Smith, Head of Development Team at TT Games.

It’s a tricky balance. For well over a decade, Lego games were the definition of consistency. You always knew what you were going to get: a series of puzzle and action-filled levels navigated by a wide roster of multiskilled licensed characters. But Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight looks set to distance itself from that formula, at least slightly. This is a new chapter in TT Games' history, one that blends a reverence for all things Batman — including, notably, Rocksteady’s Arkham games — with a deeper gameplay experience that was first experimented with by 2022’s Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga.

“With Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, we made a couple of really significant changes that fans really appreciated”, Smith states. “In particular, getting closer to the character, having a really immersive camera system, and then just starting to make the combat experience or some of the core gameplay systems deeper and richer than they had been before”.

“We don't want to lose the accessibility and immediacy, but that showed that we could add layers to that and make environments that were really big and broad and really deep and rich and rewarding,” Smith explains. “We've just gone further with Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, and then also found aspects of the Batman character and the Batman story, and in Gotham City, that have really worked well with that aspiration to get deeper. To be even more authentic in our treatment of Lego, in our treatment of the story, in our treatment of the characters.”

Characters, and in particular, the number of playable ones, have been a big talking point ever since this Lego Batman’s reveal. Fans of the series had become accustomed to rosters stretching into the hundreds in previous Marvel, DC, Star Wars, and Harry Potter Lego projects, but in Legacy of the Dark Knight, that number has been stripped down to just seven.

You are constantly upgrading and developing new skills and opening up new abilities.

It’s all in service of depth, says Smith. “We're taking these individual characters on a journey,” he explains. “So you are constantly upgrading and developing new skills and opening up new abilities for each of those characters. Within the Bat family, as well, we really wanted to focus on making those characters really unique, making their personalities come across and their abilities very distinct.”

One of those characters is Catwoman, who we got a brand new look at in action as part of IGN Fan Fest. TT Games is aiming to present the “essential version” of each Bat hero and villain, so naturally, Batman’s feline foe/friend channels all eras of her screen depictions, ranging from Julie Newmar’s ‘60s TV show thief to Zoe Kravitz's modern revenge seeker. Across the game, we’ll see glimpses of all of her incarnations, just as we’ll see her skillset grow beyond what we’ve seen in the films as the story progresses.

Tools at Catwoman’s disposal include a whip that can not only damage enemies, but aid in solving puzzles thanks to its flexibility (just don’t ask me how Lego plastic can be quite that bendy, I’m not a materials scientist). She’s also armed with a very handy laser pointer that can quickly summon a sharp-clawed kitten to scratch a Joker goon’s face to ribbons, or allow you to directly control a tamer four-legged friend to distract guards with a meow or crawl through vents to help unblock paths. Of course, she’s also highly trained in hand-to-hand combat, which remains largely consistent across each of the playable characters and is rooted in a punch, dodge, and parry system that TT Games isn’t afraid to say is influenced by Rocksteady.

“To make an essential, really cool Batman combat experience, of course, we honor, and we look to, and we draw upon the definitive work that Rocksteady did to bring that character to life,” explains Smith. “We want a really fluid combo-based combat system. We want very dynamic encounters.”

The story is more focused on a tighter roster of characters that are now more differentiated with much deeper gameplay.

That doesn’t mean that Legacy of the Dark Knight is fully pushing into action game territory, though. This is still a game that wishes to cater to all ages and audiences, so many of those old-school, adventure-focused Lego game staples are still to be found.

“The story is more focused on a tighter roster of characters that are now more differentiated with much deeper gameplay,” confirms Smith. “So they work well in partnership with each other, and we then want to give you lots and lots of options to see the full range of what those characters can be by giving you more than a hundred different suits to collect. So you still get that moment in the Bat Cave where you've got all the different suits from all the different characters arrayed in front of you, colorful and glorious. You're still compelled to want to complete that collection.”

Trying to appeal to everyone’s desires is often a risky strategy. Introducing an extra layer of complexity to combat, as well as character progression across a much-shrunk roster of heroes, could appeal to those looking for more of an action-heavy, “traditional” Batman game that the absence of an Arkham game has left a void for, but could risk alienating those who loved the joyful nature of the Lego games that TT built its reputation on. That’s not something that Smith is worried about, though.

“On the contrary, what we find with all our Lego games is that the more we can draw upon different aspects of a character, the wider we can make our gameplay, the more appealing it is to us as players, and to younger players and older players,” he answers. “There's something about Lego that just translates well for everybody. So the more we can put into that, we don't find that it misses the mark for anyone at all. It just brings more to the party.”

The Bat party will truly get started when Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight arrives on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on May 29, 2026, with it coming to Nintendo Switch 2 at a later date.

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.

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'We Draw Upon Everything': It Sounds Like Good News for Fans Wanting the Batfleck Suit in LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight | IGN Fan Fest 2026

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight developer TT Games has shared a positive-sounding update on whether suits from the Dark Knight's brooding Ben Affleck era will be included in the game.

While the game's character roster may be limited (and we've also got more detail on why that is, too), LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight will feature an enormous wardrobe of 100 Batsuits to celebrate the character's long history.

Already, there have been confirmations of Bat-clothes as worn by Robert Pattinson, Christian Bale, Val Kilmer, Michael Keaton and Adam West — but what about Ben Affleck, who portrayed the character in a handful of movies through the DCEU era, including Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League.

Batfleck's Batsuit has been a key question among fans of the Caped Crusader, and one that IGN was keen to ask TT Games Head of Production and Strategic Director Jonathan Smith when we recently got a chance to find out more about the promising-looking LEGO Batman game.

"We draw upon everything across the history of the franchise into this game," Smith said when questioned specifically about references to Ben Affleck's incarnation of the character and the DCEU era overseen by director Zack Snyder. "So yeah, you've got suits and moments and vehicles that everyone will recognize from across all movies," Smith continued.

While the majority of LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight's Batsuits are being kept under wraps for players to find, TT Games has already shown off around a dozen through early trailers. We've listed everything that fans have spotted so far below, along with further details if we have them.

Other than Batfleck, are there are there any other suits you'd like to see?

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Batsuits

  • Batman: The Brave and the Bold (from the Brave and the Bold animated series)
  • Golden Age Batsuit (inspired by Detective Comics #27, unlocked via pre-launch WB Games account signup)
  • Rainbow Batman (as seen in Detective Comics #241)
  • The Dark Knight (Christian Bale's outfit from the second Christopher Nolan movie)
  • The Batman (Robert Pattinson's suit from his 2022 movie)
  • The Serials (inspired by 1940s black and white Batman films)
  • Batman '66 (Adam West's costume from his classic TV series)
  • Batman Forever Sonar Suit (as worn by Val Kilmer in Batman Forever)
  • Batman: The Animated Series (inspired by the 1990s cartoon)
  • Batman '89 (Michael Keaton's suit from the 1989 Batman movie)
  • 2025 Batsuit (based on the minifigure used in recent LEGO toys)
  • And many more...

For much more, be sure to check out IGN's full Fan Fest preview describing how Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is balancing old and new to celebrate the best of the caped crusader's many exploits — plus new footage of the game.

Image credit: Kevin Mazur/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

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The $45 YUNZII Is the Least Expensive Full Aluminum Mechanical Keyboard I've Ever Seen

Don't pay an excessive price for a fancy PC keyboard with great build quality and features. Amazon is offering the YUNZII AL71 75% mechanical keyboard for just $44.99 with free shipping after a 50% off discount. The YUNZII AL71 boasts an outstanding feature set for its rock bottom price, including a full CNC anodized aluminum shell. It's a great keyboard that's ready to go out of the box, yet still offering modding enthusiasts tons of customization potential.

YUNZII AL71 75% Aluminum Keyboard for $44.99

The YUNZII AL71 is a compact 75% (71-key) mechanical keyboard for both Windows and Mac PCs. Both the top and bottom shell are made of a CNC milled silver anodized aluminum, making it feel heavier and more premium than standard plastic keyboards. "Crystal White" silent linear switches and keycaps are included, but they can be swapped out with 3-pin or 5-pin mechanical switches and most aftermarket keycaps of your choosing. The keyboard is gasket mounted, which means the internal components are sandwiched in layers of poron foam for a softer typing experience and pleasant sound profile. The plate is made of polycarbonate, which is a more flexible material used for "thwocky" keyboards.

The AL71 keyboard offers three modes of connectivity: (1) traditional wired over USB Type-C, (2) wireless Bluetooth, or (3) 2.4GHz wireless with the included USB dongle. An internal 4,500mAh lithium battery keeps it topped up for several days before needing a recharge. Nowadays a keyboard is incomplete without some form of RGB, and this keyboard has it in spades with south-facing RGB LEDs under every key and RGB strips along the side of the case.

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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Why Spear Was Resurrected for Primal Season 3 | IGN Fan Fest 2026

As part of IGN Fan Fest 2026, series creator Genndy Tartakovsky stopped by the IGN studio to talk all about the return of Primal, the challenges in resurrecting its main character Spear.

"What really gets amped up in the third season, I think, is the, really, the emotional stakes," Tartakovsky told IGN. "I think they're even bigger than anything that we've done. Because you're invested already in the character, there's a stress and anxiety right at the beginning. That's the feedback I've been getting back from people that watch it and that's great. The dream is to have people care for your characters."

One of the big challenges was bringing back Spear, who fans might remember met an unfortunate end at the hands of a Viking chieftain. Tartakovsky explained the decision to bring him back.

"Basically, I thought, at the end of Season 2, that was kind of it and I wanted Primal to be kind of everlasting," he said. "And so I feel like I'm finished with it, but then after I take a little break, I realized, 'Oh no, it's still so fresh.' And then the response is really strong, and then you start to think about, I just spent 20 episodes getting to create these characters, and for people to really like them. And then I kill one off, and then it's the end of the show.

"I realized it's too early, and what do I do now? Basically this idea popped up. Initially, the idea's almost like a joke but as I started to think about it, all these amazing story elements and emotional elements came out. For everything that I've ever done, I've always just trusted my gut, and my instincts said 'this is good.' I talked to the team and pitched it to everybody, and everybody was on board."

Watch Tartakovsky talk more about Spear, ideas he had for an anthology series, and who would survive in the world of Primal between Dracula, Samurai Jack, or Dexter, in the video above.

This is just the latest news from IGN's Fan Fest 2026 – check the schedule to see what else is coming and to keep up to date on all the latest from the worlds of entertainment and games.

Rachel Weber is the Head of Editorial Development at IGN and an elder millennial. She's been a professional nerd since 2006 when she got her start on Official PlayStation Magazine in the UK, and has since worked for GamesIndustry.Biz, Rolling Stone and GamesRadar. She loves horror, horror movies, horror games, Red Dead Redemption 2, and her Love and Deepspace boyfriends.

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Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection Developers Comment on New Locales Trailer, More | IGN FanFest 2026

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection’s release date is right around the corner, and IGN had the chance to speak to the developers in depth about a brand new locales trailer released at IGN Fan Fest. We’ve got never-before-seen concept art of the three main bases in the game – Azuria Castle, Sheparden, and Galyad – and insightful commentary from director Kenji Oguro, art director Takahiro Kawano, and lead game designer Daisuke Wakahara.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is shaping up to be a beautiful game, which is wholly supported by the diverse scenery you’ll encounter on your journey as an environmentalist Ranger. The Monster Hunter Stories 3 team allocated a lot of time and research into making the locations enjoyable for players, and their attention to detail shows. You can watch the new locales video with commentary direct from the developers above, or, if you’d like to immerse yourself in the scenery with no commentary and a few bonus scenes, check out the trailer below.

Azuria

If you’ve played the free demo version of Monster Hunter Stories 3, you’ve seen Azuria. This land features fields, forests, and picturesque mountains on the horizon with a castle town on a lake, lending a classic storybook backdrop.

“In the design process, we wanted to make the stereotypical fantasy castle type of design to depict how peaceful Azuria is, and to depict the beautiful nature of the world of Azuria and the castle itself,” Kawano said.

The team had some real-world inspiration that made its way into the concept art for the surrounding area of Azuria and its castle, specifically, a Spanish castle called Alcazar de Segovia. This wouldn’t be the first time the castle has inspired a creator – as part of its 100th anniversary, The Walt Disney Company revealed in 2023 that it was the inspiration for Snow White’s castle. A magical locale, indeed.

Kawano also described how the wing-like flags represent the wings of Rathalos to signify the special bond Azuria has with the endangered species. The town even has a runway of sorts for monsters to take flight, something uniquely logical for the Stories series, where Riders form bonds with monsters called Monsties and, as the name suggests, ride them.

The attention to detail in the scenery carries into the connection of Twisted Reflection's story as well. The main catalyst of the plot in Stories 3 is the “Crystal Encroachment,” a phenomenon with unknown origins affecting both the environment and monsters, but the crystals it leaves behind is used by the residents of Azuria and elsewhere as a source of light.

Sheparden

Sheparden is the second locale the protagonist and the rangers will visit, and if you’ve played a certain entry in the regular Monster Hunter lineup, you may recognize the lush environment.

“One key feature of [Sheparden] is that monsters from Monster Hunter Rise inhabit the area around it,” revealed Kawano. “So based on Monster Hunter Rise, as you may have known, it has a very Eastern, Asia-like taste. So Sheparden and the surrounding area is also designed after that art style.”

You might also notice a structure at the base of the stairs to the village elder’s place inspired by Japanese torii gates, clearly recognizable as orange, angular arches. Right beneath that torii gate are masks stuck into the ground, which represent the graves of the former elders of the village, explained Kawano.

Another Sheparden detail the team had to consider is that this village is not built for Riders the way Azuria is. As such, there aren’t stables – so Ratha, the protagonists’ Rathalos, is stuck into a very small space that’s part of an unused residence.

Galyad

Galyad is a bustling, prosperous town surrounded by desert and relatively desolate lands compared to Azuria and Sheparden. It’s covered in decoration, stones, and jewelry, somewhat fueled by the residents’ successful trade of Egg Quartz. Kawano described that as you get deeper into the city of Galyad, you might discover a boundary between the prosperous residents and the not-so-fortunate residents, and find slum-like areas.

The city’s architecture and design is actually inspired by Mediterranean regions and even has a Lagiacrus fountain in the city center. It's especially interesting given the desert environment – Lagiacrus is, after all, a Leviathan monster known to inhabit the water.

“Galyad used to be an ocean port city that was floating on top of the ocean,” Kawano explained. “So all the jewelry and the decorations were based off of the Mediterranean sea theme, but desertification has caused the city to lose all the water and it is currently barren, sandy. So that is the reason why there's a difference between the decorations and the actual cityscape itself.”

Monster Hunter 3: Twisted Reflection Q&A

Of course, I had to take advantage of the time I had speaking with the Monster Hunter 3: Twisted Reflection developers, so I asked a few questions unrelated to the new trailer I thought might be interesting. We got into the game's more mature protagonist, the weapon availability, the habitat restoration mechanic, and dual-element monsters.

The interview below has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

IGN: I'd say habitat restoration is one of the biggest new gameplay mechanics in Monster Hunter Stories 3. Can you describe the inspiration behind building the system and why you included it?

Kenji Oguro: The first reason we wanted to implement this feature into Stories 3 is because of the protagonist. He or she is the captain of the Ranger Corps and their objective is to protect and preserve the environment. So we wanted to express the preservation of the environment, not just only in the storyline, but in the actual gameplay cycle itself.

Tthe second reason we implemented habitat restoration is to expand on the Monster Hunter Stories series formula, where deepening bonds with the monsters is very important. In the previous entries, you would collect monster eggs from dens, hatch them, and raise them, but the places where you could get those eggs were very limited and were the same across all players. But for Monster Hunter Stories 3, by implementing this habitat restoration feature, every player will have their very own environment. So your environment and my environment might differ a lot.

By restoring the monster populations and sending them off back to the wilds, you might be able to find some rare eggs with dual-element monsters, as well as Deviant Monsters. [Deviant Monsters] are popular monsters from the previous Monster Hunter mainline series games. You might be able to find eggs of the Deviant monsters by raising the ecosystem rank within the habitat restoration feature. We wanted to reward players for helping to protect the environment and restoring the endangered species and growing their population in the world by providing rare monsters that might hatch from the eggs.

IGN: In the first Monster Hunter Stories, changing a Monstie’s element worked differently, and was achieved by swapping genes to change their stats. Can you tell us the reason behind changing this method to the new one?

Kenji Oguro: In the first Stories game, when you change the genes of the monster and get a dual-element monster, the element that monster possesses completely changes. So that might end up as a disadvantage for a player if you get the wrong combination. But for Stories 3, the team wanted to expand the user's options more and also make habitat restoration more unique. So they implemented habitat restoration and by raising the ecosystem rank and getting the rare eggs, you are rewarded with the dual-element monster.

For Stories 3, the dual-element monster will retain their original element. So if the original monster has a fire element, they will keep the fire element, and on top of that, they'll get their second new element. So in the combat, players might want to keep the original fire element and get a new element on top.

This gives players an advantage and more options when they are forming their parties. Usually for RPG games, players tend to go for the strongest character or strongest monster with the highest stats and abilities. But developing Monster Stories 3, with the dual-element feature, you get special monsters with different appearances. One of [my] favorites is the Velocidrome imbued with the dragon element. So you get a pitch black Velocidrome, very badass. And that was [my] favorite monster within the development cycle.

After finding [my] favorite dual-element monster, [I] found that, "Hey, maybe I can just play with my favorite monster instead of focusing on the stats or the ability skills." So that's one of the ways that the players can enjoy the game. It's not just going for the strongest, most powerful monsters, but instead finding a true partner that you love and want to bond with.

IGN: I played the Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflections demo, and I did notice that the Long Sword was added to this game. It hasn't been in Monster Hunter Stories yet. But I didn't see the Sword and Shield in my bag. Can you tell me if the Sword and Shield is in Monster Hunter Stories 3, and why you decided to add the Long Sword?

Daisuke Wakahara: So first off, we implemented the Long Sword because the Long Sword itself throughout the Monster Hunter series is very popular amongst hunters and riders. However, we did have some trouble implementing the weapon itself into the RPG formula in the previous games. But in Monster Hunter Stories 3, we were able to come up with a formula to have the Long Sword join the weapon roster.

In terms of Sword and Shield, unfortunately, it is not going to be included in Monster Hunter Stories 3.

And in terms of Sword and Shield, unfortunately, it is not going to be included in Monster Hunter Stories 3 this time around. The reason why we came to this decision is because we had to carefully think about the weapon balance.

When looking at the overall weapon roster for Stories 3, we have Slash, Blunt, and Piercing weapon types. And having both Long Sword and Sword and Shield would change the roster to go towards the Slash weapon types a little too heavily, so we had to take out the Sword and Shield from the roster, unfortunately.

IGN: The main character this time around is more of an adult than the previous protagonists in the Monster Hunter Stories series. Can you tell me why you made that decision to make the protagonist more mature this time around?

Takahiro Kawano: We wanted to differentiate this with the previous entry stories, Monster Hunter Stories and Monster Hunter Stories 2, where the focus was on a child growing into a young adolescent. We decided to start the story off with a full-grown adult as the elite rider. So in terms of the setting for Monster Hunter Stories 3, the protagonist actually starts off already grown up as a prince or a princess of Azuria, and is an elite rider.

IGN: Is there anything else you want to say to the fans watching before we let you go?

Takahiro Kawano: As you've seen in the video, we put a lot of effort into the background character designs for Monster Hunter Stories 3. So we’d like to have the players have fun and enjoy the beautiful scenery and the characters in Monster Hunter Stories 3.

Daisuke Wakahara: Thank you to all the players for supporting the Monster Hunter Stories series from the first title. You'll be surprised at how much the Monster Hunter Stories series has evolved throughout Stories 2 and the newest entry, Monster Hunter Stories 3. We are very confident in this game and that any player can enjoy it as an RPG title. So even if you haven't tried out the Monster Hunter Stories series yet, we highly encourage new players to try out the Monster Hunter Stories series.

Kenji Oguro: [I’ve] played through Monster Hunter Stories 3 10 to 20 times during the development process. And every time I go through the gameplay, there's something new that the player can find. I’m very surprised that there's many, many cards up the development team’s sleeves. So we highly encourage you, the players, to have fun with the game.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is coming to PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2 on March 12, 2026. You can play a free trial right now featuring a huge portion of the first area, Azuria, and continue your progress in the full release.

Casey DeFreitas is Deputy Editor of Guides at IGN, and is a first fleet Monster Hunter. Catch her on Socials like Bluesky @ShinyCaseyD.

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Bob Odenkirk Wants to Be a Different Kind of Action Star in Normal | Fan Fest 2026

Star of the new action-packed thriller Normal, Bob Odenkirk, joined IGN Fan Fest 2026 to talk about his role in the creation of his character Ulysses, and why he does his own stunts.

"I like doing my own fighting. And if I'm doing my own fighting, they can keep the camera on me and I can play the guy. I can do his expressions," Odenkirk explained. "I wanted to play a guy who actually got hurt, who actually got worn down as you watch the movie. He gets tired. He gets hurt. He gets dinged up because I just feel like that is actually not something you've seen a lot of. Action stars that I know of, I don't know all of them, but the ones that I know are somewhat... they're machines. They never really get hurt. They never accrue damage. And I wanted to play a guy who in these movies starts with a little bit of self-doubt and also accrues damage along the way."

His character in Normal, Ulysses, is a man sent to be temporary sheriff to the town of Normal, Minnesota, and soon finds himself caught up in way more excitement than he was expecting.

Odenkirk also spoke about his character in Normal compared to Hutch Mansell from the Nobody movies. "Both guys are, for different reasons, holding back their reactionary impulses. In the case of Hutch, he's doing it to present as a family man and to live that life, to live a double life, forcing himself to hold that in. So that's nobody. In Normal, here's a guy who's a little bit broken when we meet him. And it's because he made a choice once before that just destroyed his life that he had, his perfect life. And so he's just gotten gun-shy. But believe me, by the end of the movie Normal, he's not gun-shy any longer. Is he gun-crazy? A little bit. He's a little bit gun-crazy."

Normal is directed by Ben Wheatley and also stars Henry Winkler and Lena Headey. It will be released in theaters on April 17.

This is just the latest news from IGN's Fan Fest 2026, check the schedule to see what else is coming and to keep up to date on all the latest from the worlds of entertainment and games.

Rachel Weber is the Head of Editorial Development at IGN and an elder millennial. She's been a professional nerd since 2006 when she got her start on Official PlayStation Magazine in the UK, and has since worked for GamesIndustry.Biz, Rolling Stone and GamesRadar. She loves horror, horror movies, horror games, Red Dead Redemption 2, and her Love and Deepspace boyfriends.

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Amazon Already Has the Best Deal on Samsung Galaxy S26 Preorders

Samsung has officially announced its highly-anticipated Galaxy S26 lineup of smartphones with a release date of March 11. With the powerful new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip serving up meaningfully better performance, as well as a larger battery, more base storage, and other quality-of-life improvements, the Galaxy S26 is already turning some heads in the tech arena. And if you're interested in grabbing one, the entire Galaxy S26 family is already available for preorder.

You can preorder the Samsung S26 from the official Samsung site or via Amazon. If you're looking for the best bang for your buck, though, we'd recommend the latter, as Amazon is offering the most appealing deal for the Samsung S26: extra storage and a gift card. Those extras are going to be hard to pass up.

By preordering the Samsung S26 from Amazon, you can upgrade to 512GB at no additional cost while also netting yourself a $100 Amazon gift card. This deal is available across every phone in the Galaxy S26 family, including the Ultra, making this the most affordable way to get your hands on the most powerful device in Samsung's new lineup.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 is available in six colors: Black, White, Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, Silver Shadow, and Pinkgold. Note, however, that Silver Shadow and Pinkgold are online exclusives that require you buy the phone directly from Samsung. So, if you're adamant about getting your hands on one of those two colorways, you'll have to pass on the Amazon deal.

Amazon's deal lasts until March 10, just one day before the phone's official release, so you've got a bit of time to make a decision. That being said, we don't know how long supplies will last, so it might be better to take the plunge sooner rather than later if you're in dire need of an upgrade.

Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 are also available to preorder

In addition to the new lineup of Galaxy phones, Samsung also revealed the new Galaxy Buds 4 and Buds 4 Pro. The new earbuds follow up the Galaxy Buds Pro 3 which were released back in 2024.

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New AMD Radeon 9070 XT Graphics Cards Come With a Free Code for Crimson Desert

Similar to every other high-end GPU on the market, the AMD Radeon 9070 XT graphics card is selling for above MSRP in 2026. Fortunately, it's not as egregiously marked up as Nvidia cards, and now there's an even better incentive. For a limited time, you can purchase an AMD Radeon 9070 XT GPU on Amazon and get a free Crimson Desert code. Since Crimson Desert isn't out yet, you'll have to wait to download the full version of the game when it releases on March 19.

Buy an AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU, Get Crimson Desert Free

Note, the seller must be Amazon, not a marketplace vendor.

The Radeon RX 9070 XT Received a 10/10 at IGN

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT is the only 2025-released GPU that we gave a 10/10 score. Even though it costs $150 less than the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, the 9070 XT beats it out in several of the games we tested. In a few benchmarks, the results aren't even close. The 9070 XT approaches the performance of the $1,000 RX 7900 XTX but with better ray tracing and upscaling performance than its predecessor.

This is the least expensive graphics card from either AMD or Nvidia that I would comfortably recommend for playing the latest and most demanding games in 4K at 60fps or higher framerates.

The Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX 7900 XTX GPU is the best model to get

The Sapphire Nitro+ is widely considered the best models to get. Much like the high-end ASUS ROG Strix, the Nitro+ features a beefy vapor chamber cooling system, impeccable build quality, and as a result, high overclocking headroom and lower noise potential. It's usually a lot more expensive than other models but currently the price difference between this and the cheapest 9070 XT option listed on the page is only $80.

Crimson Desert is out on March 19

Crimson Desert is an upcoming open-world game for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X platforms that will be released on March 19. The studio, Pearl Abyss, also created the popular MMORPG Black Desert. Whereas Black Desert was a free-to-play game with microtransactions and gacha elements, Crimson Desert will be a primarily offline single-player experience with a retail price of $69.99. Getting it for free with your CPU upgrade, then, is a great perk.

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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Crimson Desert Drops New Behind-the-Scenes Look With Official Voice Actors | IGN Fan Fest 2026

Open-world action-adventure game Crimson Desert is coming on March 19 and a new IGN Fan Fest 2026 behind-the-scenes look at the game gives the cast of voice actors a chance to add some more fuel to the hype fire.

Crimson Desert stars Rebecca Hanssen as the voice of the fighter Damiane, Stewart Scudamore as the orc with the impressive axe Oongka, and Alec Newman as main character Greymane Kliff Macduff. All three give an insight into working on the project and bringing their particular characters to life.

"Oongka is a nomadic warrior," Scudamore says in the clip. "I think he has a passion for everything that is fighting for the cause, for his people, for his tribe, and for the Greymanes. First impressions, you're thinking, what can I bring to the table that I can connect? What's the in? His DNA was very economical."

"With Oongka, what surprised me was that he was more of a philosophical orc," Scudamore continues. "He had that sort of world-wise nomadic element. And what I found challenging for Oongka is that he often communicated in grunt, but it was finding those levels of grunt that was challenging."

Crimson Desert will be released on March 19 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), and the Mac App Store.

This is just the latest news from IGN's Fan Fest 2026 – check the schedule to see what else is coming and to keep up to date on all the latest from the worlds of games and entertainment.

Rachel Weber is the Head of Editorial Development at IGN and an elder millennial. She's been a professional nerd since 2006 when she got her start on Official PlayStation Magazine in the UK, and has since worked for GamesIndustry.Biz, Rolling Stone and GamesRadar. She loves horror, horror movies, horror games, Red Dead Redemption 2, and her Love and Deepspace boyfriends.

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New Look at Young Sherlock Shows the Future Detective’s First Encounter With Moriarty | IGN Fan Fest 2026

Archenemies. Bitter rivals. Lifelong friends? The relationship between legendary detective Sherlock Holmes and his supreme rival James Moriarty is the stuff of legend. Over the decades (and centuries), the dynamic between the two characters has served as the focal point of countless literary and on-screen adaptations. They’re the embodiment of good and evil. Holmes is moral and just; Moriarty cold and calculating. But the new streaming series Young Sherlock, premiering March 4 on Prime Video, puts a new twist on the classic rivalry.

Debuting at IGN Fan Fest 2026, a brand-new exclusive clip – which you can watch in the player above – shows the moment Sherlock Holmes meets his future adversary. And if the scene doesn’t scream “soon-to-be foes,” that was by design. I sat down with series star Hero Fiennes Tiffin (Harry Potter, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare), who plays Sherlock, to talk about his character’s relationship with Moriarty, working with Guy Ritchie, and what kind of Sherlock video game he’d like to see.

“Sherlock always needs a counterpart,” Tiffin says. “It is usually Watson. And in our story, having it be Moriarty, you realize they learn so much from each other. Enemies who used to be friends, that's just a fascinating thing to explore. So it is fun watching, knowing that this plane is going to crash and burn. They have slightly different approaches, but they still have loads of similarities and they make a great team. Butch and Sundance was a reference that our showrunner used a lot.

“I did some chemistry reads with people auditioning for Moriarty. We met with loads of people and everyone was really, really exceptional. And Dónal Finn [who plays Moriarty] came in and I think about 5 seconds into his first line, I was like, ‘This guy is going to make me look bad if I'm not careful.’ He is a sensational actor. We have very different approaches to acting. He's theater trained, and I've only done screen acting. We worked a lot of scenes in prep, making sure that we kind of finish each other's sentences or we sip our drink at the same time, stand up at the same time, sit down at the same time. And there are a few little moments where we try to create some kind of nuanced indications of their synchronicity because they are a great team.”

In the series, Sherlock Holmes is far from the detached and analytical detective we've come to know. As portrayed by Tiffin, he’s young, inexperienced, and somewhat cheeky. Tiffin says that while he wanted to make the character his own, he was definitely inspired by the renowned actors who’ve played Holmes on screen.

“Just being a fan I subconsciously digested a lot of Sherlock,” Tiffin says. “Specifically, Benedict Cumberbatch and Robert Downey Jr.'s portrayals. But when I got the role, I'd already watched the films two or three times, so I didn't want to directly watch [them] again and draw inspiration and make notes. I felt like I'd, in quite a healthy general sense, digested what I needed to before getting the role. So when it came to preparing for the role of Young Sherlock, it was prep directly correlating to the script.”

Given the almost-superhuman abilities of Sherlock Holmes, it’s easy to consider the character among the ranks of quick-witted superheroes like Batman, Black Panther, and Iron Man. Tiffin says he took inspiration from those characters as well.

“it's something that I've thought about a lot,” Tiffin says. “When I think about why people gravitate towards this character, I think it's because he is as close to being a supernatural character who isn't a supernatural character. He's as close to being beyond human in his capabilities. He’s just skin and bone the rest of us, but just an exceptional intellectual person. He’s close to being [a superhero], but he's not. And I think that's what makes him so alluring and intriguing.”

Guy Ritchie, who directed Downey Jr. in two Sherlock Holmes movies, serves as Executive Producer of Young Sherlock. Tiffin, who had a role in Ritchie 2024’s film The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, says working on Young Sherlock was the quintessential Guy Ritchie experience.

“When I worked on The Ministry of Gentlemanly Warfare, Henry Cavill had three pages [of the script] delivered to him about 20 minutes before shooting,” Tiffin says. "There were about four other actors [who] have no lines in response. We are just watching and listening, and we were all thinking ‘better him than me.’ [With Young Sherlock,] it became my turn. There's a scene at a party [where] Guy gave me a good two or three pages of dialogue with less than half an hour to learn, and it was terrifying. But if he gave you the option to just read the lines that you've learned the night before, you would always pick his. You're in good hands. He's asking a lot of you [but] he helps facilitate by knowing how he's going to edit it. So even if you feel like your acting might take a hit, you'd still want to do that. That's the biggest challenge with Guy: when he hands you dialogue last minute. But it's always for the best.”

Tiffin, who at times has been a big fan of Call of Duty and FIFA games, says he’d love to see his version of Sherlock Holmes adapted as a video game at some point.

“Maybe [like an] early Uncharted game,” Tiffin says. “You've got a mix of action, but you're also kind of puzzle solving. [Maybe] early Prince of Persia, the platform versions. I think there would have to be a lot of problem solving, I guess story mode. A single player combination of fighting and problem solving. I'd buy it, I'd play it."

Young Sherlock streams March 4 on Prime Video.

Michael Peyton is the Senior Editorial Director of Events & Entertainment at IGN, leading entertainment content and coverage of tentpole events including IGN Live, San Diego Comic Con, gamescom, and IGN Fan Fest. He's spent 20 years working in the games and entertainment industry, and his adventures have taken him everywhere from the Oscars to Japan to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Follow him on Bluesky @MichaelPeyton

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Devil May Cry Season 2 Exclusive Clip | IGN Fan Fest 2026

A new exclusive clip for Devil May Cry Season 2 has a couple of new characters it wants you to meet: Ebony and Ivory, Dante's trademark guns from the games. Devil May Cry Season 2 arrives on Netflix on May 12, 2026, and will see Dante once again at odds with his twin brother, Vergil.

"The interesting part is that Vergil’s a guy who can stand completely still and still feel like the most dangerous one in the room," Adi Shankar, the showrunner and executive producer of the animated series, told Collider. "His presence does the talking."

Season 1 of the show focused on Dante's conflict with the terrorist White Rabbit and an impending apocalypse. Shankar promised Season 2 will continue to deliver plenty of surprises for fans. “I’m allergic to formula. I dislike when successful shows turn into comfort food," he said in the same Collider interview. "Devil May Cry won’t be TV that loops. My mission for Season 2 was to capture the feeling of a 2000s film franchise entry where the audience can’t predict the next turn.”

Johnny Yong Bosch will return as Dante, Robbie Daymond will lend his vocal cords to Vergil once again, while Scout Taylor-Compton is Lady, AKA Mary Ann Arkham.

This is just the latest news from IGN's Fan Fest 2026 – check the schedule to see what else is coming and to keep up to date on all the latest from the worlds of entertainment and games.

Rachel Weber is the Head of Editorial Development at IGN and an elder millennial. She's been a professional nerd since 2006 when she got her start on Official PlayStation Magazine in the UK, and has since worked for GamesIndustry.Biz, Rolling Stone and GamesRadar. She loves horror, horror movies, horror games, Red Dead Redemption 2, and her Love and Deepspace boyfriends.

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007 First Light Cinematic Shows Lenny Kravitz Was Born to Be a Bond Villain | IGN Fan Fest 2026

Lenny Kravitz is playing villain Bawma in 007 First Light, and the latest trailer shows that he can serve Bond bad guys with the best of them. We've had a glimpse of the charismatic pirate king before, but this extended look shows just what happens when you upset him. Spoiler, it involves crocodiles.

“I’ve met some folks that are… similar to his character," Kravitz told IGN in January. "I grew up in the Bahamas as well as New York City, and there were guys who had [Bawma’s] vibe and were doing similar things in the islands. He’s an interesting guy. We’re not quite sure how he’s going to turn.”

“We wanted more than just a one-sided villain, like we wanted to have some kind of charisma," added 007 First Light Director Hakan Abrak. "He has more sides to him that could maybe turn out surprising in the story. You’ll need to wait to see that until the game comes out.”

007 First Light will be released on May 27, 2026, so while you wait check out our first big preview from last year.

This is just the latest news from IGN's Fan Fest 2026 – check the schedule to see what else is coming and to keep up to date on all the latest from the worlds of games and entertainment.

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Today’s Best Deals: $1 AMC A-List, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and MTG x Final Fantasy VII Commander Deck

Whether you’re looking to entertain the whole family with Shrek 4-Movie Collection in 4K Ultra HD or want to do things solo and delve into The Ghost in the Shell Legacy Edition Manga Box Set, the deals are solid today. I love nothing more than a solo movie theater day, and with AMC Stubs A-List for $0.99 for the first month, you don’t need to break the bank to watch all the latest movies. Plus, don’t forget to grab all the ridiculously great PS5 game discounts right now. Check out those deals and more below:

TL;DR - The Best Deals Today

27% Off Zelda: Breath of the Wild for Switch

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for Switch is only $43.99 at Walmart and Target, down from $59.99. This open-world adventure follows Link in post-apocalyptic Hyrule, where you get to explore stunning, vast locations, solve complex puzzles, and raid enemy camps. In our review of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, it earned a rare 10/10 rating, with Jose Otero calling it “evocative, exhilarating, and a masterclass in open-world design.” You can even grab the Upgrade Pack for $10 to play the Switch 2 Edition of the game; it’s a better deal than grabbing the Switch 2 version outright.

Get AMC Stubs A-List for $0.99 for the First Month

AMC has a pretty awesome promo going on for those considering becoming a Stubs A-List member. For just $0.99 for the first month, you’ll enjoy access to up to four movies per week in any format, including Dolby Cinema and IMAX. A three-month commitment is required, and you’ll be charged a price starting at $19.99 plus tax after the first month, depending on where you live. This offer is only valid for new members or former Stubs A-list members who cancelled their membership over 180 days ago.

PlayStation 5 Video Game Deals

PlayStation Direct launched an awesome sale on PS5 games and other retailers have followed suit. Notable discounts include God of War Ragnarok, Horizon Forbidden West - Complete Edition, Death Stranding 2, and more from PS Direct. While Astro Bot, Returnal, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, and Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound are on sale at Amazon, or you can score Ghost of Tsushima - Director's Cut, The Last of US Part 1/Part 2, and Gran Turismo 7 for $30 from Best Buy. There are some incredible deals worth grabbing.

The Ghost in the Shell Legacy Edition Manga Box Set Hits Low Price

The Ghost in the Shell Legacy Edition Manga Box Set - Deluxe has dropped to its lowest price on Amazon. The original Japanese cyberpunk comic series by Shirow Masamune has its edited pages restored. Plus, the Deluxe Edition localizations of The Ghost in the Shell 1.5: Human Error Processor and The Ghost in the Shell 2.0: Man-Machine Interface are also included. Each series is bound in hardcover and comes in a premium slipcase with new illustrations from Masamune. That’s not all, as 11 exclusive posters and a set of multicolored Fuchikoma robot stickers come with this box set.

New Low Price for the Shrek 4-Movie Collection - 4K Ultra HD + Digital [4K UHD]

Any fans of the iconic grumpy green ogre will want to grab this Shrek 4-Movie Collection in 4K Ultra HD + Digital [4K UHD]. This collection includes the original Shrek, Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, and Shrek Forever After. With awesome voice talents, hilarious storylines, and legendary soundtracks, it’s a fun watch for kids of all ages. You can grab this 4-disc 4K UHD collection with a few cool bonus features for only $27.93 on Amazon for 60% savings. That’s its lowest price ever

27% Off MTG x Final Fantasy VII Commander Deck - Game Edition

The Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy VII Commander Deck - Game Edition is a solid deal. Not only do you get the fantastic Limit Break Commander Deck, which includes 100 cards, 2 foil Legendary Creature cards, a 2-card Collector Booster Sample Pack, and more, but it also comes with an exclusive promo card and Final Fantasy VII game download code. There's a lot of value in this package.

$28 Off Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Amazon Exclusive Edition for Nintendo Switch

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Amazon Exclusive Edition for Nintendo Switch is only $31.99 when you clip the coupon, down $28 from the list price. This action-packed racing game, full of familiar faces, doesn’t stick to the track. You’ll be flying through the sky, the sea, space, and even time, and you can design your own vehicle to tackle every one of these unique twists and turns. In our review of Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, Jada Griffin found the game “fires on all cylinders with a fantastic roster, excellent courses, and a lengthy list of customization options.”

Free Game with Discounted 27" Samsung G5 OLED Gaming Monitor

Amazon discounted the 27" Samsung G5 OLED gaming monitor to the lowest price ever. It’s $200 off list price at $349.99, making it one of the least expensive OLED monitors you can buy. But to sweeten the deal even further, this already awesome deal also comes with a free game code for Resident Evil Requiem.

With this QHD display, you’ll get a quantum-dot OLED panel with deep blacks, near-infinite contrast, and a wide color gamut for a stunning picture. The near-instantaneous response times, 180Hz refresh rate, and Nvidia G-Sync support solidify the Samsung G5 OLED as a top-tier gaming monitor.

Lowest Price Ever on the Super7 ULTIMATES! Toho Godzilla Figure

Super7, the toy design company behind many of the top high-end, vintage-inspired figures, has its 7-inch ULTIMATES! Gray scale Toho Godzilla discounted by nearly 20% on Amazon. This Godzilla '89 Thirsty for Blood Figure features an interchangeable head and claws to match iconic moments from the comic. It features some incredible detail, sure to entice any King of the Monsters fans.

MTG: Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box Back Down to Low Price

The Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box is back down to its lowest price ever on Amazon. For just $124.98, you’ll get 30 Play Booster packs, making each about $4.16, which is a solid deal. Each pack even guarantees a foil. This is a really fun set that features creatures throwing spells; a nice departure from the most recent Universes Beyond Sets featuring Avatar, Spider-Man, and Final Fantasy.

MTG x Universes Beyond Preorders

If you’re interested in the upcoming Universes Beyond sets, MTG x TMNT and MTG x Marvel Super Heroes, these preorders are worth grabbing below. The TMNT Booster Box got a nice discount ahead of the release next Friday. Amazon even has a nice preorder price guarantee. Whether the price goes up or down, you’re paying the lowest amount.

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