The Gayming Awards 2025 show will air on WOW Presents on July 8 as the event enters its fifth year.Read More

Stytch Connected Apps enables AI agents and third-party apps to authenticate, access data and take action on behalf of users.Read More

Justin Carter, Contributing EditorFebruary 19, 20252 Min ReadImage via PlayStation.At a GlanceSony is being sued by a Dutch consumer advocate group over accusations it overcharges for digital games.Dutch consumer foundation Massaschade & Consument has filed a collective lawsuit against Sony over its pricing of digital PlayStation games in the region.In a translated story from Tweakers, the foundation allege digital PlayStation titles in the Netherlands cost 47 percent more than their physical counterparts, despite reportedly lower distribution costs in the area. In 2019, Sony stopped allowing third-party retailers from selling codes for digital games, meaning the only way to buy a digital PlayStation 4 or 5 game is with real world money or buying specifically priced cards at physical stores."The Japanese company abuses its dominant position in the console market," wrote Massaschade. "Millions of Dutch people have been paying too much for PlayStation games and in-game content for years. [...] This monopoly on digital sales, together with PlayStation's large market share in the console market, leads to a so-called 'Sony tax.'"Massaschade said its lawsuit was filed on behalf of "over three million Dutch PlayStation players," and demanded Sony "stops its wrongdoing and compensate for the overpaid tax."Sony has repeatedly come under fire for an alleged monopoly over its digital storefront. US players unsuccessfully sued the company in 2021. A UK consumer rights advocate filed a separate suit in 2023. Massaschade's statement referenced the UK suit, saying Sony's actions "violates Dutch and European competition rules."Foundation chariman Lucia Melcherts further claimed Sony forces developers to "agree to the conditions that Sony imposes on them, including the price for which their games are displayed. [...] PlayStation players continue to pay the top prize, even for games that are years old.""Sony is the only provider that can afford to make decisions without worrying about what competitors, developers or consumers are doing," Melcherts continued. "This is a bad development that PlayStation owners will increasingly feel in their wallets. Of course, a company like Sony can make money, but at the same time consumers are entitled to fair prices."Massaschade encouraged Dutch players affected by Sony's alleged actions to register for its Fair PlayStation promotion. The first court hearing is expected to take place later in 2025.Read more about:[Company] PlayStationLawsuitsAbout the AuthorJustin CarterContributing Editor, GameDeveloper.comA Kansas City, MO native, Justin Carter has written for numerous sites including IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. In addition to Game Developer, his writing can be found at io9 over on Gizmodo. Don't ask him about how much gum he's had, because the answer will be more than he's willing to admit.See more from Justin CarterDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

'Everyone, you truly are incredible and were extremely grateful to you for taking a part in this painful journey.'

Apple has launched its new iPhone 16E with an updated design, additional features and no home button or MagSafe charging. This revamped version of the companys budget phone will be going for $599 and will include a USB-C port, a notch, a customizable Action Button, a fast A18 chip, and lots of extras. So what does that do for those who might have been looking forward to a smaller phone? Is the new Action Button a good thing? Will you miss MagSafe?We asked the staff of The Verge for their first impressions of the iPhone 16E. Of course, we will be running a full review of the phone, which will ship on February 28th. But meanwhile, here are some of the feelings that the news has generated in some of our iPhone users.You cant go Home againLook, Im just as much a fan of physical home buttons as anyone, but maybe its time we say our goodbyes for good. The swipe-up gestures for unlocking, returning to the homescreen, or managing apps feels natural and fluid now. I sure dont miss the excessive bezels, and I appreciate the reclaimed screen real estate to enjoy every dot of edge-to-edge OLED goodness I can. And you know what? As much as I hate the notch, it adds more to the overall aesthetic and user experience than it detracts from it, so Im fine with that tradeoff, too. Quentyn Kennemer, commerce writerA customizable Action ButtonI love that Apple brought the Action Button to its new affordable iPhone 16E. Its one of the better hardware features Apple introduced in recent years. It launched on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max and was included on all iPhone 16 models in 2024. I have mine set to launch a flashlight (and use it all the time), but you can set it to launch other apps, too, like Apple Translate, the camera app, shortcuts, and more. Im sort of surprised Apple included it since previous iPhone SE mid-year launches usually included a newer processor but in a body a few years old. Todd Haselton, deputy editor, reviews and commerceMagSafe is missingThats a no for me. Not so much for MagSafe charge speed wired is always faster anyway but because the magnetic ring is so handy. You can always add a magnetic case, though, so if the camera is decent enough, I guess its not the end of the world. Nathan Edwards, senior reviews editorOLED at a nice 6.1 inchesAs someone who currently wields a 6.7-inch brick of a phone, Ive started to long for my iPhone 6S days. At 6.06 inches, the iPhone 16Es screen size seems like the perfect medium between too big and too small. Its bigger than the iPhone SE released in 2022 but roughly the same as the standard 6.1-inch iPhone 16 (though its also 0.1mm narrower and 0.7mm shorter). That will hopefully be a plus for those of us who want to put our phones in our pockets.And while the iPhone 16E may be (slightly) smaller and cheaper than the iPhone 16, but Apple isnt skimping out on quality: unlike the last iPhone SE, the iPhone 16E comes with an OLED display panel. Its nice to see Apple bringing some of its premium features to its budget-friendly devices. Emma Roth, news writerIm slightly relieved to see the new iPhone 16E uses the current A18 processor found in the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus. Previous iPhone SE models also borrowed the latest chips from the pricier iPhones of their time, but there was a part of me that wondered if Apple might surprise us with something like a last-gen A17. (Remember when the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus got year-old holdovers from the 14 Pro?) The A18 in the 16E does have one fewer GPU core (four instead of five), but I doubt anyones really going to feel that difference. Maybe if you do some side-by-side comparisons with high-end games like Resident Evil 4, but nobody buying an iPhone 16E is going to do that (and apparently nobodys really buying those games anyway).Having the latest-gen processor means the iPhone 16E should see years of support, which is one of the benefits of buying an iPhone. And its arguably more important these days now that some Android manufacturers have gotten their act together and promised up to seven years of software updates on some of their latest models. Antonio G. Di Benedetto, reviewerBye-bye Lightning, hello USB-CI love my iPhone 12 Mini, but Ive also been thinking about upgrading because I want an iPhone with a USB-C port. I probably dont actually need most of the fancier features on the main iPhone 16 lineup, so the new iPhone 16E seems like it could serve me well for many years.But do I really want to pay $599 mostly for a USB-C port? My iPhone 12 Mini still works well, especially after I replaced the battery last year. My Lightning cables still work fine for charging, as does my Lightning-equipped MagSafe Duo. I dont really need a USB-C port for any other reason except convenience.I think Im just going to hang on to my iPhone 12 Mini and see whats in store for the iPhone 17 lineup. But I dont think Ill wait much longer to get a USB-C iPhone. Jay Peters, news editorAn easy unlock with Face IDAt this point, switching between phones is actually pretty simple. Both Android and iOS have made upgrades easy, and you can even switch between operating systems with a cable and a couple of hours. But every time I switch to a device without Face ID or a similar gaze-based authentication system, my muscle memory collapses. Whether Im paying for stuff, accessing passwords, or trying to lock myself out of social media apps, I use the biometric system more than I realize and face unlock is faster, more reliable, and just easier. I love the tactility and smashability of a home button, but Ill happily trade it for that instantaneous, my phone is already unlocked feeling you get from Face ID. David Pierce, editor-at-largeThe new iPhone 16E has a notch which means theres no iPhone on the market with an uninterrupted display. Image: AppleNow with a notchThis design change means the SE finally feels like a modern take on an affordable phone: extremely powerful, packed with AI (for better or worse), and with a full-screen design that doesnt stick out like a sore thumb.The notch isnt exactly Apples bleeding edge I guess well have to wait a few more years for the Dynamic Island to work its way down to the SE line but it brings with it both Face ID and a lot more screen real estate. It is the end of an era, though: theres no longer any iPhone on the market that has an uninterrupted display. Dominic Preston, news editorOnly one rear camera? No problemIt isnt remotely surprising to me that the iPhone 16E only provides one rear camera. Not only does that mirror the 2022 iPhone SE (which sported a 12-megapixel sensor, compared to the iPhone 16Es beefier 48-megapixel sensor), but cameras also tend to have a noticeable correlation with phone price. This is an ideal choice for people who dont need all the fancy camera hardware provided on powerful, more expensive flagship phones.Photography-driven creative folk typically splurge on the latest Pro or standard iPhone model anyway or use a dedicated camera. The design and performance of the iPhone 16E have already been modernized in line with most of Apples current generational lineup any more and it might as well just be an iPhone 16. Jess Weatherbed, news writerThe right price for a proper phoneIts been a long time since Apple offered an affordable iPhone that doesnt require making massive feature tradeoffs for the price. That seems to be changing in the new $599 iPhone 16E, and its about time. The Android ecosystem has had some really nice options around $500 for the past few years from Google, Samsung, and OnePlus all with big, modern screens, plenty of storage, and night mode in the camera app. Thats just not a combination you could get from a new iPhone for under $800 over the last three years. Some folks might be disappointed by losing the home button or having to switch to USB-C (one of us one of us), but I think bringing a modern feature set to the iPhone SE and keeping the price relatively affordable more than makes up for the loss. Id love for it to be a bit cheaper, and not offering MagSafe is a weird choice. But this might be the phone that finally gets my husband to upgrade from his XR, and for that, I am grateful. Allison Johnson, reviews writerSee More:

Composer Elizabeth Parker working at the original BBC Radiophonic Workshop. | Photo: BBCThe original BBC Radiophonic Workshop put itself on the map by crafting the music for radio adaptations of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and the original Doctor Who theme song before shuttering in the late 90s. The Workshops experimental approach to audio engineering in pursuit of unique sound effects made them early pioneers of the electronic music genre. Even though a new Workshop opened in 2012, things were never quite the same, but the BBC has been working on a plan to give a new generation of musicians access to the original Workshops massive archive.Today, BBC Studios and Spitfire Audio announced the launch of a new downloadable library containing multiple decades worth of archival music and sound effects created by the Radiophonic Workshop during its initial run. Access to the library can be purchased for 119/143/$159 until March 17th, after which the price will jump to 149/179/$199.In addition to sounds from original tapes, the new Radiophonic Workshop library contains a number of fresh recordings from various Workshop members like Paddy Kingsland, Roger Limb, and Mark Ayres. The new library also includes a wide selection of microphones, turntables, loudspeakers, reverb machines, synths, tape machines, and vocoders.In a statement about the project, Ayres noted how similar modern day sampling techniques are to the workflows used by original members of the Workshop. He also described the new digital library as a unique instrument embodying all of the work, processes and equipment that the Workshop created and used.Im the youngest member of the core Radiophonic Workshop and Im 64, Ayres said. Were not going to be around forever. It was really important to leave a creative tool, inspired by our work, for other people to use going forward.

LatestMachine Learning10 Popular AI Myths, Debunked 0 like February 19, 2025Share this postAuthor(s): Vita Haas Originally published on Towards AI. AI is having a moment and so are the myths. From doomsday predictions to miracle cures, the hype machine is in overdrive. Hollywood spins apocalyptic tales, while Silicon Valley pitches AI as the solution to everything from customer service to climate change. But whats real, and whats pure science fiction? Here are 10 of the most persistent AI myths and the truth behind them.Image by the author and AIMisconception #1AI has thoughts, emotions, and probably dreams about electric sheep.Unlikely. AI doesnt think it predicts. Its a statistical parrot, remixing patterns into something that sounds smart. Philosophical reflection? Hardly.I once asked, Whats the meaning of life? It tossed back, 42. Classic. But its quoting cultural code, not cracking cosmic mysteries. It knows the reference, not the reason.AI is like a GPS: itll get you there but couldnt tell you why youre going.Misconception #2AI is the next Shakespeare or worse, a better one.AI-generated art and prose can be impressive, but lets not crown it the next great auteur. Its remixing existing data, not having a creative epiphany.Remember the AI painting that sold for $432,500? The machine didnt have an artistic tantrum it mashed together patterns it was fed. Ask it to invent something truly original say, a genre called techno-gothic-banjo fusion and itll produce utter drivel.AI is like a pub band slick at covers but hopeless at originals.Misconception #3AI will become sentient and overthrow humanity.Hold your horses. As of now, AI has about as much self-awareness as your toaster. It mimics human responses without understanding a word.When a Google engineer claimed their chatbot was sentient, the bot didnt demand rights it was just really good at simulating conversation. If I told an AI it was a cat, it would start meowing in text. Self-aware? Not yet.Believing AI is sentient is like expecting your fridge to write poetry about milk.Misconception #4AI will steal every job and leave us all in the breadline.Thats a tough one.AI automates tasks, not careers. Its brilliant at sorting spreadsheets but clueless in a client meeting.When ATMs appeared, they were supposed to end bank teller jobs. Instead, banks hired more people for customer service. AI is the same it takes the dull jobs and leaves humans to do the complex, messy, people-stuff.Lets say, AI is a dishwasher: great at the grunt work, useless at setting the table.Misconception #5AI is cold, logical, and perfectly objective.Oh, if only! AI is trained on human data, so it inherits human nonsense. Racist facial recognition? Biased hiring algorithms? Been there, done that.An AI recruiting tool once favored men over women because its training data said tech roles were mostly male. Brilliant. Its like training a parrot to swear and then acting surprised when it embarrasses you.AI is a mirror it reflects human flaws, just with more zeros and ones.Misconception #6Bigger AI models = Better AI models.Not necessarily. More parameters often mean more nonsense, just delivered more eloquently.GPT-4 has more brainpower than its predecessor but still fails at basic logic puzzles like confidently telling you that there are five Wednesdays in February.A bigger library doesnt make you smarter just better at quoting random books.Misconception #7AI understands language the way humans do.AI processes language through probabilities, not understanding. It can complete Dantes verse but can be baffled by sarcasm.I once asked an AI, Do you enjoy long walks on the beach? It replied, I dont have legs, but beaches are nice. Utterly literal, charmingly clueless.AI reading text is like a tourist using Google Translate functional, but prone to hilarious misunderstandings.Misconception #8AI can predict the future.AI spots trends but crumbles in chaos. Ask it to predict tomorrows stock prices, and youll end up broke.During the pandemic, many AI models failed to forecast outcomes because reality went rogue. When the world goes off-script, AI flounders.AI is like a weather forecast fine for next weekend, rubbish for next year.Misconception #9AI is one thing like, just AI.AI is a family of tech with many specialties. Machine Learning, Computer Vision, NLP each with its own quirks.The AI that aces chess cant write a poem. The one that writes poems cant spot a cat in a photo.Saying AI is one thing is like saying sports is one thing. Try playing rugby with a chess clock.Misconception #10AI is evolving into human-like intelligence.AI is getting smarter, but only at specific tasks. Its superb at chess but clueless at tic-tac-toe if you train it on the wrong data.AlphaGo plays Go better than any human but cant boil an egg. Its like a Swiss Army knife that can only open wine bottles handy but far from all-purpose.AI is brilliant, baffling, and sometimes downright bonkers. But lets not fear it or worship it. Its a tool powerful, flawed, and occasionally hilarious. So, the next time someone claims AI is taking over the world, remind them it still cant handle a dad joke.And if an AI ever does go rogue, I say we confuse it with sarcasm until it crashes.Join thousands of data leaders on the AI newsletter. Join over 80,000 subscribers and keep up to date with the latest developments in AI. From research to projects and ideas. If you are building an AI startup, an AI-related product, or a service, we invite you to consider becoming asponsor. Published via Towards AITowards AI - Medium Share this post

Check out the best deals for Wednesday, February 19. The big news today is the Final Fantasy x Magic the Gathering collab. The commander decks, starter decks, and booster packs are up for preorder today.In other deal news, the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU is going in and out of stock today on Amazon Best Buy has dropped several Nintendo Switch games down to $39.99, and a 65" LG OLED TV is down to the lowest price of the year.MTG: Final Fantasy Cards up for PreorderRead more about this dealOut on June 13Preorder Magic The Gathering: Final Fantasy Cards and PacksSee it at AmazonMagic the Gathering's new Final Fantasy Commander series cards are now up for preorder at Amazon and Best Buy. They'll ship out starting June 13, and you won't be charged until they do. Given that there are so many Final Fantasy fans out there, these have been garnering tons of interest and will undoubtedly introduce a lot more people to the world of Magic.Back in Stock: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Desktop ProcessorNew ReleaseAMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D AM5 Desktop Processor$479.00 at AmazonIf you're in the process of building out a new gaming PC and you're looking for the best gaming processor, this is it. Right now, the recently released AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D AM5 desktop processor is back in stock at Amazon at its retail price of $479 shipped. This is the official launch price with zero markup, and it's not bundled with anything you don't want or need. The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the best gaming processor currently on the market (across both AMD and Intel) and a better choice for gamers than the more expensive Intel Core Ultra 9 285K.$39.99 Nintendo Switch Video GamesSwitchPikmin 4SwitchSplatoon 3SwitchThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildSwitchMario Kart 8 DeluxeSwitchKirby and the Forgotten LandBest Buy has dropped several must-have Nintendo Switch video games from $59.99 to $39.99, a savings of 33%. Several of them are available in your choice of a physical copy or digital download. You won't lose out even if you plan to upgrade to the Switch 2, since the new console has been confirmed to be backwards compatible with nearly all Switch games.Preorder The Witcher: Gwent Card GameShips August 2025Preorder The Witcher: Gwent The Legendary Card Game$40.00 at IGN StoreIf you're a fan of the fantastic Gwent card game from the Witcher games, here's your chance to pick up an authentic comprehensive set at a great price. The IGN Store is offering The Witcher Gwent The Legendary Card Game Set, which includes over 400 cards faithfully reproducing the iconic designs from The Witcher 3 and a playmat for only $40. This is a preorder that will ship out sometime in August.65" LG Evo C3 4K OLED Smart TV for $1197Read more about this deal65" LG Evo C3 4K OLED Smart TVYou don't have to wait for the new 2025 LG TVs to drop to score a great deal on an older generation model. Right now as part of Amazon's Presidents' Day Sale, you can pick up a 2023 65" LG Evo C3 4K OLED TV for just $1,196.99 with free shipping on Amazon. This is a better deal than what I saw during Black Friday. The LG Evo C-series of TVs have consistently been our favorite high-end 4K TVs, especially for 4K HDR movies and gaming.30% Off Panther Vision Hand Warmers and Lighted BeaniesPanther Vision Powercap 3.0 Lighted Headlamp BeaniePanther Vision Powerpaw 602R Electric Hand Warmer and Power BankIf you're looking for a practical Valentine's Day gift idea, Panther Vision is offering a big 30% coupon code that works sitewide. If you suffer from cold appendages, the Panther Vision 602R rechargeable hand warmer is small enough to fit in your jacket pocket. It offers three different heat settings depending on how numb your fingers are, boasts an IP67 waterproof rating, and can even double up as a 5,000mAh USB Type-C power bank for emergencies.Pair it with the Panther Vision lighted beanie, which will keep your noggin warm while lighting up the way with a built-in LED headlamp rated for up to 150 lumens at max output. If you prioritize longevity over intensity, the 15-lumen setting will last up to 10 hours on a single charge. There are plenty of other useful gadgets on the site, including portable lamps and flashlights, so you might want to stock up to reach the $60 free shipping threshold.Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme Gaming Handheld for $449.99Read more about this dealAsus ROG Ally AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme Gaming HandheldStarting this week, Best Buy is taking $200 off the Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme gaming handheld, now only $449.99. That's the lowest price I've seen for a brand-new unit, even during Black Friday. In addition, you get a free official ROG Ally travel case, one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and two months of a Crunchyroll Mega Fan subscription. The ROG Ally This is one of the best gaming handhelds currently available, especially if you don't want to be tied to Steam's ecosystem. 12 Months of PlayStation Plus Premium for $99Read more about this deal12 Months of PlayStation Plus PremiumStarting today, Sony is offering 12 months of PlayStation Plus Premium for only $99 per year for anyone who isn't currently a Plus member. That averages out to just $8.25 per month. This is the same price as the lower tier PS Plus Extra subscription plan. Since Premium includes everything in Extra plus classic games, game trials, and cloud streaming, on paper theres no obvious reason to choose Extra over Premium.Secretlab Presidents' Day SaleRead more about this dealSecretlab Titan EvoSecretlab Titan 2020Secretlab Titan Evo LitePreorder (Out November 24)Secretlab Titan Evo Nanogen Edition$799.99 at SecretlabNot Yet Available (Out 2025)Secretlab Titan Recliner Add-On$199.00 at SecretlabFixed Gaming DeskSecretlab MagnusElectric Standing DeskSecretlab Magnus ProSecretlab's Presidents' Day Sale is still live for a little while longer. Save up to $139 off Secretlab's popular Titan line of gaming chairs, Magnus gaming desks (including the Magnus Pro electric standing desk model), and accessories like the Secretlab Skins upholstery covers, desk mats, cable management, and more. Unfortunately, new releases like the Titan Evo Nanogen chair and the recliner add-on are exempt from this sale. Preorder Elden Ring: Nightreign at Best Buy, Get $10 Gift CardRead more about this dealBonus $10 Best Buy Gift CardElden Ring: Nightreign (PS5, Xbox)$39.99 at Best BuyElden Ring Nightreign is set to release for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC on May 30. A new standalone game set in the world of Elden Ring, Nightreign lets you team up with two other players to slice your way through an oppressive fantasy world. Its kind of like a faster-paced remix of the original game. Its available for preorder in a number of editions, so read on for the details about what comes in each one.Preorder the HP Omen 45L RTX 5090 Prebuilt Gaming PCRead more about this dealFirst Configurable HP Omen 45L RTX 5090 Prebuilt Gaming PC$4,729.99 at HPHP just added the option to add the GeForce RTX 5090 GPU as an upgrade to one of its flagship HP Omen 45L prebuilt gaming PCs and, fortunately, it is very reasonably priced for a prebuilt RTX 5090 desktop relative to what we've seen from other brands. Put your order in sooner than later because, unless HP has readily available 5090 GPUs in its inventory (unlikely), these prebuilts will probably have a bit of a lead time before they ship out.Why Should You Trust IGN's Deals Team?IGN's deals team has a combined 30+ years of experience finding the best discounts in gaming, tech, and just about every other category. We don't try to trick our readers into buying things they don't need at prices that aren't worth buying something at. Our ultimate goal is to surface the best possible deals from brands we trust and our editorial team has personal experience with. You can check out our deals standards here for more information on our process, or keep up with the latest deals we find on IGN's Deals account on Twitter.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.

Almost 30 years ago, Joss Whedon turned the just-okay movie he wrote -- but wasn't happy with -- into an exemplary, game-changing TV show that would influence dozens of sci-fi and fantasy projects to come while also elevating genre TV as a whole. Now Buffy the Vampire Slayer is said to be getting the legacy sequel treatment, with Variety reporting that Sarah Michelle Gellar is in final talks to reprise her role as Buffy Summers in a revival at Hulu. With this in mind, weve decided to revisit the series and pluck out the 15 best episodes of this unexpectedly moving, thrilling, funny, and socially aware series. Debuting on the WB network on March 10, 1997, Buffy the Vampire Slayer showed the world that triumphant television could be made from stories featuring a teenage girl battling vampires, demons, and other assorted things that go bump in the night.The shows ensemble would help redefine the notion of a ragtag team while giving us teen, and eventually college-age, angst and anxiety amid the backdrop of a perpetually nigh apocalypse.To celebrate the possible return of this peerless series, we're looking at the best from the original show. These episodes are the cream of the crop when it comes to Buffy and the Scooby Gang traversing absurd comedy, stark drama, and everything in between. Note: We cheated a bit here and did the whole "counting two-parters as one" thing. So here's the best o' "beep me, bite me" Buffy! The Best Buffy the Vampire Slayer Episodes15. Doppelgangland (Season 3, Episode 16)A ferociously fun follow-up to "The Wish" (which we'll get to), Doppelgangland brings Willow's depraved, evil vampire double into the real world after ex-vengeance demon Anya dabbles with magic she shouldn't in a desperate attempt to get her powers back. Considering how dark things get for Willow in later seasons, Doppelgangland acts like a jubilant primer.14. Chosen (Season 7, Episode 21)Buffy's series finale featured a brawl to win it all, a Slayer squad showdown with the First Evil. Sacrifices were made as bodies fell in this final episode, all leading to a glorious victory for Buffy Summers, who'd become overwhelmed and weary thanks to her thankless world-saving destiny. "Chosen" wasn't as strong a showing as series spin-off Angel's finale, with its Hail Mary efforts, but it still made for a strong finish, its pyrrhic triumph offering up more peace and optimism in the face of relentless darkness. 13. Something Blue (Season 4, Episode 9) A rather hilarious episode, "Something Blue" offers up another Willow spell-gone-wrong, this time making every casual snarky thing she says become literally true. As Willow tries to climb out of her depressive shell in the wake of a break up, the Scooby Gang gets thrown into a tailspin as Giles loses his sight, Xander becomes an actual "demon magnet," and the Buffy/Spike ship gets kicked into high gear with an impromptu (magical) marriage proposal.12. Tabula Rasa (Season 6, Episode 8)All of Buffy the Vampire Slayer's strengths as a series get a fabulous spotlight in "Tabula Rasa," as jokes and japes mix with trauma and torment. Another blundered spell casts amnesia on all our heroes in a strikingly silly episode that shines bright in the midst of a season filled with a lot of weight and darkness. It's a great installment that balances all the characters nicely while also showing how far Willow will go to try to use magic to fix her life -- you know, before she goes way too far with it.11. Restless (Season 4, Episode 22)One of Buffy's most unique episodes -- made even more bizarre by the fact that it's the Season 4 finale -- "Restless" is a trippy, dream-filled chapter that bucks the trend of having a final "Big Bad" battle. It's a beautiful look at the core characters, filled with both clever callbacks and fun foreshadowing. With its surrealist, self-reflective take, and with super-soldier Adam dispatched the week before, "Restless" focuses on the story's four central heroes as they dream, confronting their specific fears while also being stalked by the world's First Slayer.10. Conversations With Dead People (Season 7, Episode 7)This spectacular entry from the seventh and final season featured several different stories (though none of them containing Xander or Anya) all taking place during one fateful night in Sunnydale. Buffy ran into an old high school chum (and recently sired vampire) in a graveyard, Dawn communicated with her late mother, Spike picked up some "food" at a bar, and Willow received a frightful message from The First.9. "The Gift" (Season 5, Episode 22)Season 5's fierce finale featured an all-out Scooby Gang battle with Hell god Glorificus -- AKA Glory -- and marked the second time that Buffy, who'd previously learned in a dream state that her "gift was death," sacrificed herself for the sake of stopping a cataclysm -- choosing here to die in the place of her retconned younger sister Dawn. Like her epitaph read, "She Saved the World. A Lot."8. "Graduation Day, Parts 1 & 2" (Season 3, Episodes 21 and 22)For a series that, initially, had a lot to do with "surviving high school," Sunnydale High surely wasn't going to survive the graduating class of 1999. Not with Mayor Wilkins having dire designs on turning into a massive snake demon and eating everyone at the commencement ceremony. "Graduation Day" Parts 1 and 2 -- whose second half was delayed for two months due to the tragic Columbine massacre -- featured Buffy battling and besting Faith, Willow kissing Oz, Wesley kissing Cordelia, Angel drinking from Buffy (to save his life), and a kickass final battle that incorporated Buffy's besieged classmates.7. "Passion" (Season 2, Episode 17)In what would become Buffy's first unsettlingly traumatic episode (of many to come), evil Angel -- in the form of Angelus reborn, playing the role of a demented ex -- methodically stalked the Scooby Gang and ultimately took the life of Giles' love, Jenny Calendar. Giles, out for savage vengeance, then went rogue and took the fight to Angel. "Passion" stands as one of the show's first ventures into truly dark territory, creating a "you'll always remember where you were when you watched it" moment for an entire generation.6. "The Wish" (Season 3, Episode 9)A spiraling Cordelia experiences an alternate timeline vampire apocalypse after she meets Anya (a stealth vengeance demon) and wishes that Buffy had never arrived in town. After Cordelia is killed mid-way through her own story, it's then up to Giles to figure out if the reality hellscape he's in was caused by a spell -- a spell that can be undone. "The Wish" took us on a haunting and fun journey filled with evil Sunnydale-2 doppelgngers and a final battle featuring all our main characters killing each other.5. "Innocence" (Season 2, Episode 14)In a truly game-changing episode, Buffy receives the ultimate awful birthday gift when she discovers that Angel, having slept with her and experienced a "moment of true happiness," has reverted back to being a soulless, psycho vampire thanks to an age-old gypsy curse. "Innocence" was a relentless and heart-breaking affair that saw a girl experience the mirrored horror of seeing her boyfriend change and become abusive after sex. Oh, and in the "there was still fun to be had" category, Buffy blew up the supposedly "no weapon forged can kill him" Judge with a freakin' rocket launcher!4. "Hush" (Season 4, Episode 10)In "Hush," Willow met Tara for the first time -- and it's a good thing she did because their shared-power spells sure came in handy when fending off the TERRIFYING VOICE-STEALING HEART-CARVING GENTLEMEN! Yes, in a mostly dialogue-free episode of Buffy, Joss Whedon gave us a floating, golf-clapping unforgettable quartet of folklore ghouls who magically silence a town before they collect innocent hearts. It isn't the "heaviest" episode of Buffy, but it's one of the creepiest and fun outings the show ever produced.3. "Once More, With Feeling" (Season 6, Episode 7)In Season 6, with Joyce gone, Buffy being unintentionally ripped out of heaven, and Willow's obsession with spell-casting crossing certain ethical boundaries, the Scoobies were in a bit of disarray. There was a lot of tension. Many secrets. So what better time to have everyone break into song? Songs that specifically reveal the secrets they were desperately hiding from one another! Well, you can thank Sweet the Songster Demon for this chapter's magical town takeover in a late-in-the-series-run musical episode that became an insta-classic.2. "Becoming, Parts 1 & 2" (Season 2, Episodes 21 and 22)In this one-two gut punch of season finale excellence, Buffy had to choose between restoring Angel's soul or saving the world from an awakened demon determined to suck everybody into Hell. Peppered with flashbacks to Angel's early beginnings -- from sired vampire to getting cursed with a human soul -- that would help set the stage for his own eventual spinoff, "Becoming" solidified Buffy's second season as arguably its best. Especially the wrenching finish that featured Buffy having to kill her love just as he was cured of his evilness.1. "The Body" (Season 5, Episode 16)In a "very special episode"-styled installment, Joss Whedon drew upon some of his own life experiences for the superb, soul-crushing "The Body," in which Buffy experienced a tragedy of non-supernatural origins. Buffy and her team had experienced death in many ways before, but nothing this random or unpredictable. In other words, nothing this real. "The Body" may be somewhat of an outlier in the Buffy-verse in terms of overall style and tone, but its attempt to capture the shocking and un-romantic nature of mortality was riveting. What's your favorite Buffy episode? Vote in our poll and comment below!Note: This list was udpated on Feb. 19, 2025, and expanded to 15 episodes. It originally was published way back in 2017.

In the final moments of Dune: Part Two, Chani storms out of Pauls court and back into the desert. Disgusted by the megalomania she sees in the man she once loved, Chani readies her hooks for the oncoming worm, which shell ride away from here.For a while, it looked like director Denis Villeneuve would do the same. After mounting the massive productions that were Dune and Dune: Part Two, Villeneuve had hinted that he might want to leave Arrakis for a bit and pursue another project. However, the Canadian filmmaker more recently changed his position, and revealed that he had begun working on an adaptation of author Frank Herberts second book in the series, Dune: Messiah.In fact, it seems like that work is coming along nicely. According toDeadline, Villeneuve hopes to begin shooting Dune 3 later this summer, as pre-production wraps up.However, Villeneuve has said several times that Dune 3 will be the end of his journey on Arrakis, leaving room for another director to take the franchise down the Golden Path if WB decides that a fourth film is in order after the completion of the initial trilogy. Well, according to insider Daniel Ritchman, WB is considering Gareth Edwards as Villeneuves successor in the directors chair to helm an adaptation of Frank Herberts third Dune book, Children of Dune.Keeping in mind that this is just a rumor and should be taken with a spoonful of salt, and that quite a bit has to happen before Villeneuve steps away t and a new director is chosen, Edwards makes sense as the next in line. Edwards broke out with the kaiju indie Monsters, and has worked on big sci-fi franchise pictures such as Godzilla, Star Wars: Rogue One, and the upcoming Jurassic World: Rebirth. He knows how to do scale and how to work in the studio system, skills needed for to carry Children of Dune past the oddity that will be Dune Messiah.The second book in the original Frank Herbert series, Dune Messiah takes a more intimate approach than the writers original epic, focusing instead on a conspiracy within the court of Emperor Paul Atreides. In the novel, as Paul and Chani struggle to conceive an heir, this conspiracy works against the family, employing new threats such as the shape-changing assassins known as the Face Dancers and the machine savvy people of Ix, both of which appeared in the HBO miniseries Dune: Prophecy.Even more than the first Dune, Dune Messiah critiques the concept of charismatic leaders. The novel portrays the cost of Pauls Fremen Jihad in frank detail, never forgetting the destruction he wreaks, even as he tries to do what he considers best for humanity.Children of Dune returns to the larger scope and stakes of the series. Paul and Chanis children, Leto II and Ghanima, take center stage here, along with Pauls mother Jessica, his sister Alia, and a surprising ally in the form of Princess Irulan. The focus on Leto and Ghanima helps put Pauls plans and actions into perspective, letting us witness the legacy that he leaves for not just his children but also all of humanity.If youre reading Den of Geek, you probably already know what happens to Leto: at the end of Children of Dune, he transforms into a giant sandworm/human hybrid. Although this version of Leto isnt really the main character until the fourth novel, God Emperor of Dune, its appearance in Children of Dune would justify the decision to hire Edwards, who knows how to make things look huge and upsetting, and those are the two primary qualities of Leto in his worm form.Even so, its hard to imagine anyone being able to translate Herberts vast imagination as well as Villeneuve has, so we cant help but hope he delays his exit one more time and makes a fourth Dune film.Dune and Dune: Part Two are streaming now on Max.Join our mailing listGet the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!