Nintendo fans are presumably eager to get their hands on the Nintendo Switch 2. But one in particular seems a bit more eager than most, as he's already starting the line in front of the Nintendo New York store two months in advance to ensure he gets one.YouTuber ChickenDog has started making the rounds as the "first" person to line up for the Nintendo Switch 2 at the New York store location. He started on April 5, two months before the planned June 5 launch of the new Nintendo console, and he said he plans to camp out and record updates as he does so.The "camping out" is a little more in the colloquial sense, as ChickenDog clarified in an update video that he has an AirBnB and hotel, as well as friends in the area, so he won't be braving the elements for two straight months. He's also got a crew of friends helping him hold the spot down when he's not physically there.There's certainly a history of Nintendo fans camping out for big console and game releases, including a month-long wait for the Nintendo Switch. It seems like ChickenDog is looking to follow in those footsteps, waiting out the two months for Switch 2.The YouTuber plans on recording and uploading content while he's out there, so head over to ChickenDog's YouTube if you want to follow all the updates day-after-day. Even without a tent or sleeping bag, waiting out for two months is a long, long time, so best of luck and some sunny skies to him.PlayAssuming ChickenDog stays the course, he'll need to hand over $450 just for a Switch 2, or $500 if he wants the Mario Kart world bundle. That is, unless the price goes up in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, which have already caused Nintendo to delay Switch 2 pre-orders.For more Switch 2 info, check out our big Nintendo Switch 2 interview with Nintendo of America's Bill Trinen going over price, mouse controls, and more.Image credit: ChickenDog / YouTube.Eric is a freelance writer for IGN.

MCU fans are known for analyzing footage to within an inch of its life as they hunt for plot clues. Now, they have turned their inquisitive gaze upon Robert Downey Jrs hair.The Iron Man actor recently sent out a Doctor Doom-themed invitation for this 60th birthday party, and as you'd expect it popped up online. It shows the MCU star with slightly longer curly hair; this is not the haircut of Tony Stark, thats for sure.Photos of RDJ at the party itself show the actor sporting a similar curly hairdo, sparking speculation about how his version of Victor Von Doom will look in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.He has this exact hairstyle right now in pictures, redditor Overall_Affect_2782 said. People are going to absolutely freak when it turns out this is his Doomsday look.This is likely a fun little unofficial prototype version of the eventual look that we will see in Avengers: Doomsday, added PhanStr.Erik Voss of the New Rockstars YouTube channel suggested Marvel and RDJ may be taking Doctor Doom in an Oppenheimer-style direction, but from another universe.Others are unconvinced. Based on this and the recent photos, I feel like Marvel just wanted Oscar Issac's hair from Moonknight to play Doctor Doom, joked NerdyDadOnline.Im laughing so hard that people think this is the legit design, declared FewWatermelonlesson0.Of course, this may all be nothing. It seems unlikely that RDJ would spoil Doctor Dooms look in the MCU via a birthday party invitation. But now production on Avengers: Doomsday has begun in London, all eyes are on Marvel for secrets.PlayLast month's Avengers: Doomsday cast reveal was heavy on veteran X-Men actors. Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, and James Marsden are all now set to appear in Avengers: Doomsday, confirming the X-Men are in the film in a big way. Grammer famously played Beast in the Fox X-Men franchise before making his MCU debut via The Marvels' post-credits scene. Stewart played Charles Xavier/Professor X in the X-Men films before appearing briefly in the MCU via Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as a member of the Illuminati. McKellen, who played Magneto, has yet to appear in the MCU. Neither has Cumming, who played Nightcrawler, Romijn, who played Mystique, nor Marsden, who played Cyclops. It begs the question: is Avengers: Doomsday secretly an Avengers vs. X-Men movie?Marvel and Robert Downey Jr. have teased theyre not done yet with the Avengers: Doomsday casting announcements, leading fans to believe other superhero stars could be on the way. Halle Berry, who played Storm in the Fox X-Men films, recently cast doubt on her chances of reprising the role.Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Ive got todays top deals lined up and honestly, its a bit of a vibe. Theres a handcrafted MainGear rig that looks like it belongs in a design museum and crushes modern games, a Pokmon TCG tin that leaves your pulls up to fate, and a Humble Bundle full of giant alien bugs and unapologetic chaos.MainGear Custom RTX 5070 PC, Pokmon TCG, and a Skyrim Dragonborn HelmetMainGear North RTX 5070$2,095.00 at MainGearPokemon TCG: Azure Legends Tin - 5 Packs$29.99 at AmazonHumble Bundle: Earth Defense Force CollectionSanDisk 256GB microSD Express microSD CardPokmon TCG: Shining Fates Collection Pikachu V Box$58.99 at AmazonThe Elder Scrolls Skyrim - Dragonborn Helmet - Replica$119.99 at IGN Store Pokmon TCG: Scarlet and Violet Shrouded Fable Elite Trainer Box$57.98 at AmazonWaiting on Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders? I've found a great deal on a Sandisk 256gb Micro SD Express card too . Oh, and if youve ever wanted to cosplay as a Dovahkiin desk ornament, the IGN Store has something special. I think its a solid haul; useful stuff, actual value, no sketchy third-party sellers in sight (Although Amazon is getting a bit cheeky with their Pokmon TCG mark-ups). Lets break it down.MainGear North RTX 5070MainGear North RTX 5070$2,095.00 at MainGearI think this is one of the smartest ways to get your hands on an RTX 5070 without building from scratch or skimping on quality. MAINGEARs setup skips all the common bottlenecks no mismatched parts, no airflow nightmares, no good enough corners cut. For $2,095, youre getting a clean combo of a Ryzen 5 7600X CPU, 16GB of DDR5 RGB RAM, and a 1TB NVMe SSD, all assembled by people who care about things like cable management. Its future-ready, quiet, and fast enough to leave your current rig feeling like a potato in comparison.Pokemon TCG: Azure Legends Tin - 5 PacksPokemon TCG: Azure Legends Tin - 5 Packs$29.99 at AmazonThis tin is pure Pokmon chaos in the best way. You get one random promo cardKyogre ex, Xerneas ex, or Dialga exand five booster packs; 2 x Surging Sparks, 1 x Stellar Crown, 1 x Temporal Forces and 1 x Obsidian Flames. Its a fun, low-stakes gamble for collectors or casual players who want a shot at good pulls without needing to take out a second mortgage.Humble Bundle: Earth Defense Force CollectionHumble Bundle: Earth Defense Force CollectionPay less to get fewer items, or pay extra to give more to publishers, Humble, and charity Oceana.EDF is the kind of game where logic goes out the window and fun takes over, and this $25 Humble Bundle gives you the best of it EDF 5, EDF 4, World Brothers 2, plus a ton of downloadable content. I think this is worth it just for the laugh-out-loud co-op mayhem alone, and it doesnt hurt that part of the proceeds go to charity while you blast oversized bugs into space.SanDisk 256GB microSD Express microSD CardSanDisk 256GB microSD Express microSD CardIf your current microSD card loads like it's on a coffee break, or if you need to expand your Nintendo Switch 2 storage on launch day, this ones a serious upgrade. I want this SanDisk Express card purely for the ridiculous transfer speeds up to 880MB/s read and 650MB/s write. Its built for 4K video, gaming, and surviving every possible disaster short of lava, and itll likely outlive every other accessory in your bag.Pokmon TCG: Shining Fates Collection Pikachu V BoxPokmon TCG: Shining Fates Collection Pikachu V Box$58.99 at AmazonThe Shining Fates Pikachu V Box is a great grab if youre chasing shiny cards or just really into oversized electric rodents. You get a Pikachu V promo, a jumbo card version for display, and four Shining Fates booster packs. It's pricey, but Shining Fates is out of print.The Elder Scrolls Skyrim - Dragonborn Helmet - ReplicaThe Elder Scrolls Skyrim - Dragonborn Helmet - ReplicaPre-order for September release$119.99 at IGN StoreThis Skyrim Dragonborn helmet replica isnt going to protect you in battle, but it will absolutely level up your desk setup. At just under six inches tall, its small enough to display but detailed enough to show off. I think its a solid collectible if youre still emotionally tethered to Skyrim and have no shame in displaying that fact proudly. Pokmon TCG: Scarlet and Violet Shrouded Fable Elite Trainer Box Pokmon TCG: Scarlet and Violet Shrouded Fable Elite Trainer Box$57.98 at AmazonThis Shrouded Fable ETB is the kind of set that makes you feel like youve got your TCG life together. It comes with nine booster packs, a Pecharunt promo, energy cards, dice, and a nice little collectors box to keep your chaos organized. Shrouded Fable is a slept on set, perfect for trainers who are sick of chasing Journey Together and Prismatic Evolutions stock.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.Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of "Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior". Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.

The gaming gods are smiling on us this week, with wallet-friendly wonders across all platforms (and even the chance to preorder a whole new one). Collected below is a pixel-and-polygon-packed parade of discounts, and whether you're into high fantasy, interstellar chaos, or cowboy epics, these price drops are hard to ignore.This Day in Gaming In retro news, I'm using a Flame Lantern to light a 20-candle cake for The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. This Game Boy Advance must-own was technically a prequel to Four Swords (GBA, 2002) and Four Swords Adventures (GC, 2004), and you can reexperience it on a Switch today.Aussie bdays for notable games- Zelda: The Minish Cap (GBA) 2005. eBay- Zelda: Four Swords Adventures (GC) 2005. eBay- Pokmon Dash (DS) 2005. eBayContentsNice Savings for Nintendo SwitchFirst up on Nintendo Switch, Bravely Default II (A$52) brings classic turn-based JRPG magic with a modern polish and an IGN 8/10. Meanwhile, Persona 5 Royal (A$66) adds new confidants and endings to the Phantom Thieves' stylish rebellion, and even has a cheeky nod to Lupin III hidden in its animation sequences.Preorders openNintendo Switch 2 ConsoleRequires a free to make / cancel First Membership that provides free shipping.Expiring Recent DealsBravely Default II (-35%) - A$52Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory (-44%) - A$50Dragon Ball Fighterz (-45%) - A$50Life Is Strange: Double Exposure (-31%) - A$59Outward Def. Ed. (-40%) - A$36Hades (-65%) - A$14Or gift a Nintendo eShop Card.Switch Console PricesHow much to Switch it up?Switch OLED + Mario Wonder: $539 $499 | Switch Original: $499 $448 | Switch OLED Black: $539 $448 | Switch OLED White: $539 $445 | Switch Lite: $329 $294 | Switch Lite Hyrule: $339 $335See itBack to topExciting Bargains for XboxOver on Xbox Series X, Red Dead Redemption 2 (A$20) is an epic so detailed that horse testicles shrink in the snow (amazing), while the mind-bending Metaphor: ReFantazio (A$77) channels the team behind Persona into a high-fantasy setting.Xbox OneExpiring Recent DealsStar Wars Outlaws (-55%) - A$49Star Wars Outlaws Gold (-60%) - A$68Monster Hunter Wilds (-14%) - A$99Gotham Knights (-86%) - A$15Tekken 8 (-42%) - A$49TopSpin 2K25 (-76%) - A$29No More Heroes 3 (-44%) - A$43Monopoly 2024 (-51%) - A$24Or just invest in an Xbox Card.Xbox Console PricesHow many bucks for a 'Box? Series X: $799 $749 | Series S Black: $549 $545 | Series S White:$499 $498 | Series S Starter: N/ASee itBack to topPure Scores for PlayStationOn PS5, Epic Mickey: Rebrushed (A$39) revives the concept of forgotten House of Mouse characters. Also, Helldivers 2 (A$49) serves up frenetic co-op mayhem with a wink and a satirical nod to Starship Troopers.Astro Bot (-24%) - A$84DualSense Starlight Blue (-17%) - A$99Space Marine 2 (-27%) - A$79Epic Mickey: Rebrushed (-61%) - A$39Helldivers 2 (-18%) - A$49Death Stranding 2 (-21%) - A$99PS4Expiring Recent DealsFinal Fantasy VII Rebirth (-57%) - A$49Alan Wake 2 Del. Ed. (-36%) - A$77Granblue Fantasy: Relink (-58%) - A$36Sea of Stars (-32%) - A$36Tales of Arise (-67%) - A$34Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos (-60%) - A$28Grand Theft Auto V: Premium Ed. (-64%) - A$20Sleeping Dogs Def. Ed. (-38%) - A$25DayZ (-49%) - A$40F1 24 (-67%) - A$36PS+ Monthly FreebiesYours to keep from Apr 1 with this subscriptionRoboCop: Rogue City | PS5The Texas Chain Saw Massacre | PS4/5Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth HM | PS4Or purchase a PS Store Card.What you'll pay to 'Station.PS5 + Astro Bot:$799 $679 | PS5 Slim Disc:$799 $798 | PS5 Slim Digital:679 $678 | PS5 Pro $1,199 | PS VR2: $649.95 | PS VR2 + Horizon: $1,099 | PS Portal: $329See itBack to topPurchase Cheap for PCOn PC, XCOM 2 (A$5!) is still the gold standard for tactical chaos. My favourite factoid about it: the missed 95% shot meme was so prolific, Firaxis tweaked the RNG under the hood just to appease Reddit. For story-rich space mischief, Guardians of the Galaxy (A$14) delivers, and yes, Cosmo the dog actually has more dialogue lines than Groot.Expiring Recent DealsLogitech G705 Wireless (-32%) - A$92Minecraft Legends (-100%) - FREE w/PrimeMafia III: Def. (-100%) - FREE w/PrimeSession (-100%) - FREE w/PrimeDeus Ex: Invisible War (-100%) - FREE w/PrimeMortal Shell (-100%) - FREE w/PrimeLegacy of Kain Defiance (-100%) - FREE w/PrimeOr just get a Steam Wallet CardPC Hardware PricesSlay your pile of shame.Official launch in NovSteam Deck 256GB LCD: $649 | Steam Deck 512GB OLED: $899 | Steam Deck 1TB OLED: $1,049See it at SteamLaptop DealsApple 2024 MacBook Air 15-inch (-12%) A$2,197Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 5 (-36%) - A$879Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen7 (-27%) - A$1,018Desktop DealsHP OMEN 35L Gaming (-10%) A$2,799Lenovo ThinkCentre neo Ultra (-25%) - A$2,249Lenovo ThinkCentre neo 50q (-35%) A$629Monitor DealsLG 24MR400-B, 24" (-30%) - A$97Z-Edge 27" 240Hz (-15%) - A$279Samsung 57" Odyssey Neo Curved (-22%) A$2,499Component DealsStorage DealsBack to topLegit LEGO DealsExpiring Recent DealsPink Flower Bouquet (-41%) - A$59Sunflowers (-41%) - A$14Cherry Blossoms (-41%) - A$14Lotus Flower (-41%) - A$14Insect Collection - A$127Back to topHot Headphones DealsAudiophilia for lessSamsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro (-49%) A$179Sony WH-CH520 Wireless (-27%) - A$73SoundPEATS Space (-25%) - A$56.99Technics Premium (-36%) - A$349Back to topTerrific TV DealsDo right by your console, upgrade your tellySamsung S95D 77" OLED 4K (-19%) - A$6,499LG 43" UT80 4K (-23%) - A$693Kogan 65" QLED (-50%) A$699Back to top Adam Mathew is our Aussie deals wrangler. He plays practically everything, often on YouTube.

A Minecraft Movie had a massive opening weekend at the box office and sparked pandemonium inside theaters, with popcorn being thrown, wild "CHICKEN JOCKEY!" screams, and even reports of police being called. But some are saying their experience was ruined by the chaos.Social media was flooded with videos showing overly enthusiastic cinemagoers screaming lines from the movie, openly filming with their phones, throwing popcorn, and clapping rowdily.One phrase in particular has risen to the top of the social media pile: "CHICKEN JOCKEY!" Jack Black, who plays Minecraft's famous playable character, Steve, says the line in the movie, and videos of screenings that took place over the weekend show it is sending teens delirious.PlayThe line is said during a scene in which Black and Jason Momoa face a cuboid Minecraft chicken who is ridden by a baby zombie in a boxing ring. Blacks Steve declares "CHICKEN JOCKEY!" after the baby zombie falls from a crate onto the chicken; a reference to the video game itself, where certain baby zombie characters are sometimes found riding a chicken.Given these fans had already seen the chicken jockey scene via a Minecraft trailer released in February, they were primed for release when they saw the movie in the cinema. And now, the chicken jockey line has taken on a life of its own, going viral on social media which in turn is fueling even more intense reaction.One person who filmed the reaction, X / Twitter user @ollie_twt, described the scenes: "the people behind me took their shirts off as well as the ones in the front that were standing. That was by far the loudest theater Ive ever been in and it was awesome."One Tik-Tok video viewed by IGN shows a person carrying another on their shoulders, mimicking the chicken jockey itself. Another video, below, shows a teen standing ready to throw two popcorn buckets over the audience during the chicken jockey scene.Another shows similar popcorn-throwing scenes:There are even reports of police being called to eject members of the audience, and complaints from theater employees who have taken to social media and online forums to say people throwing drinks and popcorn makes their jobs even harder. @salesmenpod This whole night was surreal and one of the most unforgettable movie experiences Ive ever had. . . #minecraft #movie #minecraftmovie #chicken #jockey #chickenjockey #fyp #viral #reaction #funny #meme #moviereview #featureme #clips #comedy #video #videogames #games #game original sound - Salesmen: After Hours While its clear a significant portion of the Minecraft movie audience is loving all the chaos, there are a number of fans who have expressed frustration that their experience was ruined by all the shouting and clapping.Then there are the bemused audience members who aren't in on the joke. Parents taking their young children, friends and family members who aren't as... online as the rest of us. @ickysnotbubble_ the audience was so hype #minecraftmovie #minecraftmoviememe QKThr - Aphex Twin Warner Bros. will no doubt be delighted by the virality of A Minecraft Movie, of course, as it heads into its second weekend. Its already secured an incredible $301 million during opening weekend. Could it eventually beat The super Mario Bros. Movie as the highest-grossing video game adaptation of all time?Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

The weekend is officially here, and we've rounded up the best deals you can find! Discover the best deals for April 6 below:Save on LEGO Super MarioLEGO Super Mario: Mario Kart Donkey Kong & DK JumboLEGO Super Mario: Mario Kart Baby Mario vs. Baby LuigiYou can save on these two LEGO Super Mario sets right now at Amazon. The first is DK Jumbo, featuring Donkey Kong riding in a unique kart, and the second is Baby Mario vs. Baby Luigi, with two karts included! If you're a Mario fan, don't miss out on adding these two amazing LEGO sets to your collection.Pre-Order the Dan Da Dan Season 1 Blu-ray for $24.49DAN DA DAN: Season OneDan Da Dan was one of my favorite anime series of 2024, and the fact that you can take home all of Season 1 for just $24.49 is an absolute steal. Following Momo Ayase and Ken Takakura, Dan Da Dan is a comedic adventure that throws together aliens, spirits, and so much more. Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed for $33.99Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed for Nintendo SwitchDisney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed brought the Epic Mickey series back for the first time in years, offering new visuals and retooled combat to the original game. Right now, you can save on this memorable 2024 game, with the Nintendo Switch version priced at $33.99.Logitech G915 TKL Tenkeyless Lightspeed Wireless RGB Mechanical Gaming KeyboardLogitech G915 TKL Tenkeyless Lightspeed Wireless RGB Mechanical Gaming KeyboardThis weekend, you can save over $100 off the Logitech G915 TKL Lightspeed Keyboard. This wireless mechanical keyboard is perfect for any setup, with a wide variety of customization options available. You can expect around 40 hours of battery with one full charge, with low profile mechanical switches to deliver faster speed and accuracy with each key press.Pre-Orders Are Live for Trails in the Sky 1st ChapterTrails in the Sky 1st Chapter - Nintendo Switch$59.99 at AmazonTrails in the Sky 1st Chapter - PlayStation 5$59.99 at AmazonTrails in the Sky 1st Chapter has officially opened pre-orders at Amazon, with both PS5 and Nintendo Switch copies available for $59.99. If you're unfamiliar with the Trails series, this is a remake of the very first Trails game, making 2025 the perfect time to jump into the series for the very first time. NIS America is set to bring the latest game in the series, The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon, to North America and Europe later this year, which is the first time ever the series will be caught up worldwide.SanDisk 1TB Extreme M.2 NVMe SSD for $59.99SanDisk 1TB Extreme M.2 NVMe SSD - PCIe Gen 4.0If you're in the market for a new SSD, this SanDisk 1TB Extreme Gen 4 SSD is on sale this weekend for just $59.99. It's perfect for media storage, games, or anything you need!Pre-Order A Minecraft Movie SteelbookA Minecraft Movie - Limited Edition Steelbook (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital)$37.99 at AmazonA Minecraft Movie is taking over the internet right now, whether for one of Jack Black's lines or the sold-out cinemas across the world. As the movie is out now, you can now pre-order this limited edition Steelbook from Amazon. Don't miss your chance to lock in your pre-order for A Minecraft Movie!Save on LEGO Animal CrossingLEGO Animal Crossing Fly with Dodo Airlines Airport PlaysetLEGO Animal Crossing K.K.s Concert in The Plaza SetYou can also save on LEGO Animal Crossing this weekend. These two sets are very high quality with a lot to offer! First, there's the Dodo Airlines set, which includes the iconic airport found in Animal Crossing New Horizons, plane and all. You can also save on the K.K.'s Concert in The Plaza Set, which includes town hall, a vehicle, and figures of K.K. Slider, Isabelle, and more!Apple AirTag 4 PackApple AirTag 4 PackWhy buy one AirTag when you can get four for just $69.99, down from $99? Throw one in your luggage, attach one to your keys, slap one in your backpack, and hand one to a forgetful friend. With Ultra Wideband Precision Finding and the Find My network, losing your stuff is basically impossible. This 4-pack is one of the best deals Apple offers, so grab it while its discounted.$40 Off This LEGO Back to The Future Time Machine SetLEGO Icons Back to The Future Time MachineYou can also save $40 off the LEGO Icons Back to The Future Time Machine set. If you're a fan of the beloved sci-fi trilogy, this is the perfect set to add some out of this world decor to your collection.Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for $32.99Final Fantasy VII Rebirth - PlayStation 5Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is $32.99 at Woot right now, making this the lowest we've ever seen the RPG. The massive adventure across the planet to track Sephiroth was one of the biggest games of 2024, and it's absolutely a must-play game. A 40+ hour main story awaits, with over 35 side quests available after you clear the story. College Football 25 for $9.99College Football 25 Standard Edition - Xbox Series XCollege Football 25 is only $9.99 at Best Buy right now for Xbox Series X. The world of college football is ever-expanding, and this is by far the biggest celebration ever made in a video game. Every FBS team is playable, totaling up to 134 different teams to choose from, with all unique traditions, songs, and chants implemented as well.Sonic Prime Season 1 Blu-ray for $11.33Sonic Prime: Season 1 [Blu-ray]Sonic fans, you can take home season 1 of Sonic Prime today for only $11.33 at Amazon. All eight episodes of the first season are available in this set, which is perfect for starting your Blu-ray collection.

A Minecraft Movie has enjoyed a record-breaking start at the box office, leapfrogging The Super Mario Bros. Movie to secure the biggest domestic debut in history for a video game adaptation.The Xbox game adaptation starring Jason Momoa and Jack Black, the latter of whom also starred in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, smashed box office expectations with an enormous $157 million at North American theaters. The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which for now remains the highest-grossing video game adaptation of all time, enjoyed $146 million domestically during its opening weekend in April 2023.A Minecraft Movie added $144 million via the international box office for a global opening weekend total of $301 million. A Minecraft Movie reportedly cost $150 million to produce before global marketing costs, so it may already be profitable for Warner Bros.PlayA Minecraft Movie is of course based on Mojang's Minecraft, the best-selling video game of all time. The Microsoft-owned sandbox remains one of the most popular video games in the world, and has movie tie-in DLC to capitalize on the films launch.IGNs A Minecraft Movie review returned a 6/10. We said: Napoleon Dynamite director Jared Hess puts a surprisingly specific and funny comic spin on A Minecraft Movies kid-friendly adventure, especially in its less antic first half.If youve seen the film, be sure to check out IGNs A Minecraft Movie Ending and Post-Credits Scene Explained With Director Jared Hess and Minecraft's Torfi Frans lafsson.Meanwhile, Disneys live-action Snow White looks set for disaster status after a disappointing opening weekend box office. Its now up to $168.4 million globally ($77.5 million domestic and $90.9 million international), and with a reported $250 million production budget, a Mufasa: The Lion King-style sleeper hit comeback may be beyond it.Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

New video game hardware announcements can become somewhat predictable. With each new generation of consoles you can expect to see near-certain staples like better graphics, faster load times, and new takes on beloved, plumber-and-turtle-oriented franchises.Even Nintendo, which has done this consistently across several generations, from the N64 analog controller, tiny GameCube discs, wacky Wii motion controls and Virtual Console, the Wii U tablet screen, and the Switchs built-in portability, has delivered these improvements with the Switch 2. But being Nintendo, the company again unveiled a few genuine shockers during the Switch 2 Direct.It's 2025 and we finally get online play.When I was four years old in 1983, my babysitter used to roll footballs at me like Donkey Kong rolling barrels at Mario. I would jump over them, making a Donkey Kong sound effect in the air, then grab a toy hammer and smash them like Mario. Thats how long Ive been a Nintendo fan. So I say this from a place of long-suffering experience: its going to be impossible to talk about this awesome reveal without revealing a little loving bitterness. PlayNintendo, as we all know, does not really play online well. Satellaview and Metroid Prime: Hunters aside, Nintendo has barely scraped the surface of whats possible with a unified multiplayer platform like those created by Sony and Xbox. Its never as easy to find and talk with friends on a Nintendo platform. Even the Switch required a separate app for voice chat.Shockingly, change appears to be here now. During the Direct, Nintendo unveiled GameChat, and it looks... really neat?! It's a four-player chat that supports noise suppression, video cameras for showing friends faces, and screen sharing across consoles, allowing you to keep an eye on up to four different displays inside a single screen. We know from the new Switch 2 accessibility features page that GameChat also supports text-to-voice and voice-to-text, allowing players to communicate multiple ways. Now we havent seen what, if any, unified matchmaking interface might tie into this just yet. But its already a big step, and Im hoping it means the last nail in the coffin for the abominable friend code forever. Miyazaki is bringing new blood exclusively to NintendoWhen I saw the first frames of this trailer, I thought I was seeing Bloodborne 2. The ambiance, the character design, and the environments all screamed the FROM Software house style. Thanks to Eric Van Allen at IGN, I now know that I was watching footage from The Duskbloods, a multiplayer PvPvE game designed by the softly-smiling monarch of video game masochism, Hidetaka Miyazaki. PlayI do not know where this man found time to direct a Nintendo-exclusive game. Im starting to think that he may never leave his office nor sleep, much like one of his own confused, hollowed characters wasting away in the high tower of some gothic prison. But Im grateful. FROM doesnt really miss anymore, so Im anticipating a tasty treat. A surprise to be sure, but a welcome onePlaySpeaking of people who need a vacation, apparently Super Smash Bros. director Masuhiro Sakurai has moved on from Smash to a new Kirby game? Did not see that coming. Get that man a nap! The original Kirby's Air Ride was, to put it bluntly, a pleasant-looking but aggressively unfun Kirby racer for GameCube. But Sakurai has made no secret of his deep affinity for Nintendos round, pink elder god, and its practically a certainty that a Sakurai-helmed take on the franchise will be a far more refined and enjoyable experience. Control issuesIt was almost a throwaway moment, but the Pro Controller 2 sounds genuinely Pro this time around when Nintendo announced the Pro Controller 2 has an audio jack now, which is another feature thats welcome about a decade later. More importantly, theyve added two mappable extra buttons. I LOVE customizable buttons, so this tiny surprise actually tickled me pink. No Mario?!This one genuinely shocked me. Near as I can tell, a lot of Nintendos Mario makers have been locked up in a secret bunker for years working on his next 3D adventure, which I assumed would be the big summer game for Switch. I was very wrong. Turns out the Odyssey team is the force behind Donkey Kong Bananza, the captivating new 3D platformer with a focus on destructible environments. Nintendo is once again playing against expectations as it so often does, trusting hardcore fans to flock to Donkey Kongs biggest game in generations and saving Mario for another day. PlaySwitch will also launch with extensive third party support and Mario Kart World. While World looks like a system-seller, I figured it would be timed as a Christmas-window family game. Nintendo usually leans on Mario, Zelda, or both to sell to their biggest fans during a consoles first year. But Nintendo is looking at Mario Kart 8s record sales with confidence, betting their most popular party game, alongside Bananza, will help move enough Switch 2 units to make launch a success.Forza Horizon x Nintendo was not on my bingo cardPlayOpen-world Mario Kart is here, whether it be for good or for ill. Im betting on good, as the zany physics, weird vehicles, and combat mechanics of Mario Kart should lend themselves well to navigating between and across tracks battling friends and sewing chaos. The short look we got seems to indicate a continuous world a la Bowsers Fury, but much larger and supporting myriad drivers. Its very expensivePlayThe Switch 2 costs too much. I get that everything is expensive right now, as tariffs go up, the yen goes down, and American inflation reignites. But $449.99 USD is a hefty price by any standard, and Switch 2 is the most expensive launch in Nintendos 40-plus US sales history. In fact, Switch 2 costs $150 dollars more than its predecessors launch price, and is $100 dollars more than the next-most-expensive Wii U. Successful Nintendo consoles and handhelds have often relied on lower prices as a differentiator, but Switch 2 will be looking to succeed without a price advantage. Jared Petty is a former IGN editor who likes writing about how wonderful and silly video games are. You can find him at Bluesky as pettycommajared.

Mozas R3 PC Wheel and Pedals bundle is a competitively priced and compelling pit stop for any newcomer looking to dip a leaden foot into simming. Also, its an ideal, ready-to-race package that will rev the engines of anybody who dreams less of shaving PBs on a track and more about shredding POS cars in Wreckfest 2.Better than that, though, its just big gobs of fun with physics a-go-go and punchy force feedback aplenty.While the 3.9Nm thrumming in this wheelbase doesnt exactly redline with its peak power, its still a solid and stylish DD unit that hums along like a finely tuned machine. Unlike its clunkier, noisier gear-and-belt-driven rivals at the entry level, the R3 is whisper-quiet and ridiculously compact in comparison. Better yet, the bundle is extremely mod-friendly, so upgrading your ride down the road is a cinchno need to swap out the whole chassis.Moza R3 PC Bundle PhotosMoza R3 Design and FeaturesThe Moza R3 Racing Wheel and Pedals bundle is a full-throttle, plug-and-play racing system. Inside the box, youll find Mozas new 3.9 Nm R3 wheelbase, a 280mm PC-compatible steering wheel, a set of SR-P Lite pedals, and a separate table clamp is also included. Believe you me, youre going to need that last bit of kit once the FFB gets going. Nothing jerry-rigged or half-arsed is going to hold this sucker down when the cars start cartwheeling.Said clamp is made entirely of steel and is rigid as hellquite sturdier than the plastic alternatives, and it has a generous 50mm of clamp space. Via the chaos of Wreckfest 2, I certainly gave that rigidity a run for its money. Thanks to a beefy desk and a straightforward system of four mount holes to secure the R3 wheelbase, this setup holds up well under the stresses of force feedback. Via the chaos of Wreckfest 2, I certainly gave that rigidity a run for its money.Weighing in at just 2.29 kilos and measuring a compact 120mm high, 135mm wide, and only 93mm long (excluding the steering shaft), the R3 is a pocket rocket of a wheelbase. Its boxy, industrial design gives it a serious motorsport aestheticfar more race-ready-looking than some of the older, plastic clamshells that are out there competing.Purchasing GuideThe Moza R3 Racing Wheel and Pedals bundle is available from Pagnian Imports and JB Hi-Fi for $549.95.MOZA R3 Bundle for PCA$549.95 at Pagnian ImportsI also like that the ports on the back are neatly arranged for easy access, with slots for pedals, a dash display, a shifter, a handbrake, and even an emergency stop device. Out of the box, the only one youll need is the pedal port, but expansion is as easy as adding aftermarket mods to a project car. There are also two threaded holes up top for mounting Mozas dash display.Wheel-wise, the one youre getting default here is a comfy D-shape affair with a grippy polyurethane wrapping. I like the feel of the clicky, short-throw paddle shifters that are crafted from sturdy black metal. And I dig that Moza allows for some customisation herethe brushed metal wheel rim is removable, and alternative rims are available to better serve your race discipline of choice.Size comparison between the R3 (top) and R9 wheelbases.Heading below the equator, we have the R3s pedal set, which is only an accelerator and a brake. If youre searching for a clutch experienceand thatd make perfect sense for OG muscle cars in Wreckfest 2you can make an extra pit lane purchase of a third pedal. Prices seem to be reasonable for that, and I know from experience that Mozas ecosystem is all about easy installation.Beyond that, these metal pedals feel a heck of a lot more robust than some of the plastic-heavy alternatives on the market. Resistance comes from springs rather than a load cell, so while theyre not championship-grade, they should be more than enough for entry-level sim racers. Theres also a surprising degree of adjustability, with pedal pads that can be repositioned higher or lower, and the entire pedal units can be moved left or right.Moza R3 x Wreckfest 2: PerformanceWith 3.9 Nm of peak torque, the R3 isnt exactly a torque monster, but its right in the slipstream of other entry-level contenders with similar price pricepoints. Its also perfect for some low-stakes, throw-around fun in a physics-heavy (yet nonetheless arcade-y) title like Wreckfest 2.Im not going to lie to you, though; I did need to do some tinkering to make Wreckfest 2 speak correctly with the R3, at least initially. However, thanks to the ever-changing landscape of Early Access, a few hotfixes meant I no longer had to constantly rebind/reverse my pedals in Mozas (usually quite capable) Pit House software. Everything works pretty much as it should now, and, obviously, support will only get better as yet more fixes roll out.Pictured: things rolling out that will definitely need fixes.The R3s FFB feels wonderful when you laterally thunk into other carstypically when youre using dodgem cars cornering logic to pinball past an apex while pinging some competitor off into a tree. Likewise, the feelings you get through the wheel when youre on the receiving end of such tactics and are forced to shred through some random fence or tyre pile are nice and visceral.Car-nage collisions aside, Id also be remiss if I didnt highlight how satisfying a stretch of clean racing can bethat basic yet intimate FFB conversation between balding tyres and terra firma. Obviously, with Wreckfest 2 having closer DNA to a rally experience than a staid, single-surface track racer, every lap can (literally) feel like a series of plot twists. Youd better believe your hands will notice the difference when you drift in and out of bitumen to gravel to mud and back again.Oh, and it goes without saying that any time theres a momentary lull in any and all force feedback followed by a wrist-rattling jolt, that is justwell, a chefs kiss experience. I can furnish you with two memorable examples of this. One, whenever you get some sick Dukes of Hazzard air and land on something you shouldn't have. And two, reversing from a bad corner upset, flicking into neutral, and then getting utterly and unexpectedly blindsided by some AI trying to break the land speedbump record through you.Incidentally, I would like to say that POV racing in Wreckfest 2 with a decent FFB wheel such as this is the rough racing equivalent of a mini horror game. With your peripherals increasingly blinkered by the cabin of a crumpling car, every race is basically a series of untelegraphed jump scares that reach out and grab you through this wheel. Obviously this driving on eggshells sensation becomes more pronounced when youre engaged in an actual demolition derby event, and some bastard has just bent your bonnet up over 80% of your windscreen.Tis but a scratch. It'll buff right out.I honestly shudder to think what those unexpected crashes will feel like for any gamer gripping a Moza R12 or higher. Those impacts youll get with 12 or 16 Nm worth of grunt will surely be the stuff of warning label justification. Hell, even a surprise bash through the 3.9 Nm force of the R3 delivers a respectable hand rattle. As unthinkable as it may sound, you may actually find yourself turning it down.All that being said, multiplying the Moza R3 Bundle with the Early Access antics of Wreckfest 2 is one of the funnest things Ive done all year thus far. Even as a proud owner of a Moza R12 wheelbase and pretty much every fancy add-on that comes with it, I was impressed by the performance and value proposition of this younger brother bundle. If you have budget aspirations of joining the simming sceneor you just wanna feel stuff crash harder than a stock market after tariffsI say turn the key on an R3. Adam Mathew is our Aussie deals wrangler. He plays practically everything, often on YouTube.Play

Lazarus brings together some of the most celebrated names in not just anime but all of entertainment. The completely original sci-fi series is helmed by none other than Cowboy Bebops Shinichir Watanabe, though critic Ryan Guar's review of the first five episodes states that Lazarus is far from a Cowboy Bebop revival. The animation was led by Mappa Studio (Chainsaw Man, Jujutsu Kaisen) alongside Sola Entertainment (Tower of God), while Chad Stahelski, director of the John Wick movies, designed the action sequences. With so much hype (and a little bit of mystery), it isn't surprising that Adult Swim picked up the anime to air new episodes in the U.S. at the same time as Japan. If youre wondering how to watch new episodes of Lazarus online, check out the details below. Where to Stream LazarusLazarus2052 - A miracle drug turns lethal, and humanity faces extinction. It's up to a team of outlaws known as LAZARUS to save the world. They have 30 days!See it at MaxNew episodes of Lazarus will be available to stream on Max (instead of Crunchyroll or Netflix) the day after they broadcast on Adult Swim. That means new episodes of Lazarus will arrive on Max every Sunday. Max subscriptions start at $9.99 and can be bundled with Disney+ and Hulu. According to a Warner Bros. press release, subbed versions of Lazarus episodes will air and arrive on Max 30 days after the dubbed episodes. How to Watch New Episodes LiveLazarus is airing simultaneously in Japan and the United States. In the States, you can watch new dubbed episodes of Lazarus live on Adult Swim during its Toonami block on Saturday nights. Aside from cable, Adult Swim is included in live TV subscriptions like Hulu + Live TV (which offers a three-day free trial). Lazarus Episode Release Dates The first season of Lazarus will include 13 episodes total. Each episode will air live on Adult Swim before arriving on Max. Note that episodes air at midnight (technically Sunday), but are part of Adult Swim's Saturday block, which is why that date is used. Think of it as you'll be staying up, not waking up, to watch new episodes. Assuming it won't have a mid-season break, here's what I predict the episode release schedule will look like for Lazarus Season 1: Episode 1: "Goodbye Cruel World" - April 5 (12am EST/9pm PST) Streaming: April 6, 2025Episode 2: "Life in the Fast Lane" - April 12 (12am EST/9pm PST) Streaming: April 13Episode 3: "Long Way from Home" - April 19 (12am EST/9pm PST)Streaming: April 20Episode 4 - April 26 (12am EST/9pm PST)Streaming: April 27Episode 5 - May 3 (12am EST/9pm PST)Streaming: May 4Episode 6 - May 10 (12am EST/9pm PST)Streaming: May 11Episode 7 - May 17 (12am EST/9pm PST)Streaming: May 18Episode 8 - May 24 (12am EST/9pm PST)Streaming: May 25Episode 9 - May 31 (12am EST/9pm PST)Streaming: June 1Episode 10 - June 7 (12am EST/9pm PST)Streaming: June 8Episode 11 - June 14 (12am EST/9pm PST)Streaming: June 15Episode 12 - June 21 (12am EST/9pm PST)Streaming: June 22Episode 13 - June 28 (12am EST/9pm PST)Streaming: June 29What Is Lazarus About? In a rare move for the anime industry, Lazarus is entirely original. No manga inspiration here, so no reading ahead to find out what happens. Heres the official plot synopsis from the Lazarus website: The year is 2052 - an era of unprecedented peace and prosperity prevails across the globe. The reason for this: mankind has been freed from sickness and pain. Nobel Prize winning neuroscientist Dr. Skinner has developed a miracle cure-all drug with no apparent drawbacks called Hapuna.Three years later, the world has moved on. But Dr. Skinner has returned - this time, as a harbinger of doom. Skinner announces that Hapuna has a short half-life. Everyone who has taken it will die approximately three years later. Death is coming for this sinful world - and coming soon. As a response to this threat, a special task force of 5 agents is gathered from across the world to save humanity from Skinner's plan. This group is called "Lazarus." Can they find Skinner and develop a vaccine before time runs out?Lazarus Voice Cast and CharactersLazarus was created by Shinichir Watanabe. Here's the main voice cast in Japanese and English: Mamoru Miyano (Japanese) and Jack Stansbury (English) as Axel Makoto Furukawa (Japanese) and Jovan Jackson (English) as DougMaaya Uchida (Japanese) and Luci Christian (English) as ChristineYuma Uchida (Japanese) and Bryson Baugus (English) as LelandManaka Iwami (Japanese) and Annie Wild (English) as EleinaMegumi Hayashibara (Japanese) and Jade Kelly (English) as HerschAkio Otsuka (Japanese) and Sean Patrick Judge (English) as AbelKoichi Yamadera (Japanese); David Matranga (English) as Dr. Skinner

Were nearing the end of the 2025 Mens March Madness Tournament. In perhaps one of the least interesting outcomes of all time, all four top seeds made it to the semi-finals. So, if you happened to base your entire bracket on the number 1, congratulations! With the rest of the tournament playing out over the next couple of days, it might not be worth picking up a new subscription or cable plan. But that shouldnt mean you have to miss out on the fun. With the magic of free trials, heres how you can watch the March Madness Final Four games online for free. How to Watch the Final Four Games for FreeParamount+See it at Paramount+The rest of the Mens March Madness tournament takes place today and Monday. That means you only need three days of a streaming service to watch the semi-finals and the National Championship. All three games will be airing live on CBS and simultaneously streamed on Paramount+, which happens to offer a 7-day free trial. In other words, if you sign up for Paramount+ right now, you can watch the Final Four games as well as the National Championship before your trial ends. Alternatively, you could use an HDTV antenna to watch the games live via your local CBS channel.Other Free Trials That Let You Watch March MadnessParamount may have the longest free trial (and cheapest ongoing subscription cost if you forget to cancel it), but plenty more live TV subscriptions include CBS. Services like Hulu + Live TV and DirecTV Stream might make sense for anyone who wants ongoing sports coverage, including NBA livestreams.3-Day Free TrialHulu + Live TVSee it at Hulu5-Day Free TrialDirecTV StreamSee it at DirecTV7-Day Free TrialFubo TVSee it at Fubo21-Day Free TrialYouTube TVSee it at YouTubeMarch Madness Final Four Game ScheduleThere's only three games left in the March Madness tournament, all of which are being played in San Antonio at the Alamodome. See the full tournament schedule at the NCAA website. Final Four (Semi-Finals) - Saturday, April 5(1) Florida vs. (1) Auburn - 6:09pm (CBS, Paramount+)(1) Duke vs. (1) Houston - 8:49pm (CBS, Paramount+)National Championship - Monday, April 7 TBA - 8:50pm (CBS, Paramount+) All Top Seeds, But a Range of Experience in the Final FourEvery one of these top-seeded teams has something to prove. This is Duke's first time reaching the Final Four since Coach K retired back in 2022, and the Blue Devils lead predictions for taking the crown. Florida won back-to-back championships in 2006 and 2007, though the last time they made it to the Final Four was in 2014. Meanwhile, this is only Auburn's second time ever making it to this stage. Houston actually holds the record for the most Final Four appearances without any Championship wins (seven total), most recently reaching the semi-finals in 2021. Blythe (she/her) is an SEO Coordinator at IGN who spends way too much time in character customization screens and tracking down collectibles.

The weekend is officially here, and we've rounded up the best deals you can find! Discover the best deals for April 5 below:Pre-Order the Dan Da Dan Season 1 Blu-ray for $24.49DAN DA DAN: Season OneDan Da Dan was one of my favorite anime series of 2024, and the fact that you can take home all of Season 1 for just $24.49 is an absolute steal. Following Momo Ayase and Ken Takakura, Dan Da Dan is a comedic adventure that throws together aliens, spirits, and so much more. Super Mario RPG for $19.99Super Mario RPG - Nintendo SwitchThe remake of Super Mario RPG is $19.99 at Target right now, which is a great price for this classic title. If you've yet to either play the original or check out the remake, this is the perfect time to do so. Composer Yoko Shimimura returned to compose the remake's original soundtrack, and each boss and environment has been expertly recrafted for the Nintendo Switch.Logitech G915 TKL Tenkeyless Lightspeed Wireless RGB Mechanical Gaming KeyboardLogitech G915 TKL Tenkeyless Lightspeed Wireless RGB Mechanical Gaming KeyboardThis weekend, you can save over $100 off the Logitech G915 TKL Lightspeed Keyboard. This wireless mechanical keyboard is perfect for any setup, with a wide variety of customization options available. You can expect around 40 hours of battery with one full charge, with low profile mechanical switches to deliver faster speed and accuracy with each key press.Pre-Orders Are Live for Trails in the Sky 1st ChapterTrails in the Sky 1st Chapter - Nintendo Switch$59.99 at AmazonTrails in the Sky 1st Chapter - PlayStation 5$59.99 at AmazonTrails in the Sky 1st Chapter has officially opened pre-orders at Amazon, with both PS5 and Nintendo Switch copies available for $59.99. If you're unfamiliar with the Trails series, this is a remake of the very first Trails game, making 2025 the perfect time to jump into the series for the very first time. NIS America is set to bring the latest game in the series, The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon, to North America and Europe later this year, which is the first time ever the series will be caught up worldwide.SanDisk 1TB Extreme M.2 NVMe SSD for $59.99SanDisk 1TB Extreme M.2 NVMe SSD - PCIe Gen 4.0If you're in the market for a new SSD, this SanDisk 1TB Extreme Gen 4 SSD is on sale this weekend for just $59.99. It's perfect for media storage, games, or anything you need!Pre-Order A Minecraft Movie SteelbookA Minecraft Movie - Limited Edition Steelbook (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital)$37.99 at AmazonA Minecraft Movie is taking over the internet right now, whether for one of Jack Black's lines or the sold-out cinemas across the world. As the movie is out now, you can now pre-order this limited edition Steelbook from Amazon. Don't miss your chance to lock in your pre-order for A Minecraft Movie!Apple AirTag 4 PackApple AirTag 4 PackWhy buy one AirTag when you can get four for just $69.99, down from $99? Throw one in your luggage, attach one to your keys, slap one in your backpack, and hand one to a forgetful friend. With Ultra Wideband Precision Finding and the Find My network, losing your stuff is basically impossible. This 4-pack is one of the best deals Apple offers, so grab it while its discounted.$40 Off This LEGO Back to The Future Time Machine SetLEGO Icons Back to The Future Time MachineYou can also save $40 off the LEGO Icons Back to The Future Time Machine set. If you're a fan of the beloved sci-fi trilogy, this is the perfect set to add some out of this world decor to your collection.Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for $32.99Final Fantasy VII Rebirth - PlayStation 5Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is $32.99 at Woot right now, making this the lowest we've ever seen the RPG. The massive adventure across the planet to track Sephiroth was one of the biggest games of 2024, and it's absolutely a must-play game. A 40+ hour main story awaits, with over 35 side quests available after you clear the story. Sonic Prime Season 1 Blu-ray for $11.33Sonic Prime: Season 1 [Blu-ray]Sonic fans, you can take home season 1 of Sonic Prime today for only $11.33 at Amazon. All eight episodes of the first season are available in this set, which is perfect for starting your Blu-ray collection.

Rejoice, fellow Nintendo fans. On Wednesday, the clouds parted, the sun rose, and the divine spectra; hand of Miyamoto reached down from the sky to grace us with Nintendos newest handheld carnival of joy, the Switch 2. After years of speculation, we finally have a clear look at the mysterious console hybrid.Sadly, while sleek, compact, and powerful, the rumours are untrue. The Switch 2 does not in fact pack a tiny little Reggie into every GPU. But after we spent an hour during the Direct glued to every word: dissecting it, screenshotting every image, poring over captured video for tiny clues to its form and function, we can finally apply something besides guesswork and give you some solid facts, including all the ways it leaves its beloved predecessor in the dust. Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories Gallery1. Switch 2 packs in a lot more raw graphical power than SwitchThis is probably the least-surprising revelation as practically every next-gen Nintendo console has been significantly improved over its predecessor (yes, even the Wii). Still, when released in 2017, Switch was hardly a cutting-edge powerhouse in comparison to Sony and Xbox consoles, and eight years later it noticeably struggles under demanding games. Nintendo and its partners were increasingly running up against the limitations of the hardware. This week we saw elements on display promising us a vastly improved experience: handheld resolutions up to 1080p, docked up to 4K, both with HDR, and framerates extending up to 120 fps. Its a welcome upgrade that should allow a wider variety of games to come to Switch 2. We may already see some of the fruit in EAs decision to host soccer and football games on Switch 2, and 2Ks intention to do the same with wrestling and basketball. Third parties revealed all manner of current-gen games to give us some idea of the Switch 2s increased capabilities, and what we saw was encouraging: a console/handheld capable of handling Elden Ring, Street Fighter 6, and other demanding software. And what Nintendo showed of their new first-party offerings was simply gorgeous. 2. Switch plays GameCube games. Switch doesntThe little purple lunchbox that could finally comes to Nintendo Switch Online, exclusively available on Switch 2. Nintendo has effectively drawn a fence between online experiences on Switch and Switch 2, and that means that from this point forward those who want to play some of Nintendos best retro games are going to have to shell out for better hardware. Sure, its only three games right now, but those three games are absolute bangers: The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, F-Zero GX, and, holy crap, Soul Calibur 2, complete with Link.PlayOkay, seriously. Soul Calibur 2 is incredible. If youve never played it with a friend you are in for such a treat. 3. Switch 2 recognizes the existence of the InternetWhen humanity later reviews and catalogues the glorious day in video game history, the opening chapter wont be about how Mario Kart is now like Forza Horizon, or about Donkey Kongs return in Bananza, or even about the announcement of the until-now secret project called Duskblood. Instead, the book will open and perhaps also close with the most significantly un-Nintendo thing to happen this week: easy integration of online features commonly available on other platforms. The company that brought us Friend Codes now graces us with GameChat, a feature-rich communication and visual sharing feature set for Switch 2. A noise-cancelling mic picks up your voice and shares it with friends. An optional desktop camera allows you to share your face, both in window-corners and in compatible games like Mario Party. You can also share screens across consoles remotely. Its much of what we gave up on asking Nintendo for years ago... a simple, straightforward tool for playing with friends. Im looking forward to seeing how it actually plays out. Talk to your friends! See your friends! Easily! At last, Nintendo.So much potential awaits with this feature. Where my mind keeps going is Monster Hunter, with teams of four benefitting from shared screens as they pursue and trap their prey. Its simply become unthinkable for Nintendo to voluntarily offer fans such a useful array of online features, but here we are living in the future at last. 4. Magnetic Joy ConsOkay, wed already guessed this but its still really cool. Joy-Cons now magnetically snap to the Switch 2 body rather than slotting in. Nintendo showed off how the steel shoulder buttons on each controller attract to the magnetic facing along the sides of the screen, locking them together. A press of a button releases the magnetic grip. This is a pretty great feature for my home setup, where a shelf top obstructs removing the Joy-Cons without removing the entire Switch from the dock, which sometimes leads to knocking the whole thing down. Im a fan. 5. A bigger screenBigger isnt always better with handhelds, but given the sharper resolution of the 1080p portable screen and the nature of most Switch games, the slight increase in size to 7.9 inches should be a net gain for most players. The first Switch sacrificed screen real estate for portability but I think Nintendo is making the right call in giving these elaborate, feature -rich games more space to shine. 6. Mouse controlsNintendo was weirdly excited to show off its innovative Joy-Con mouse features. A Switch 2 Joy-Con laid on its side can be scooted across a tabletop, and its telemetry tracked to provide precise pointing and rotation. It looks to be heavily-supported at launch by games like Drag x Drive, Civ 7, and Metroid Prime 4.PlayI do love wacky Nintendo. My guess is the mouse feature wont see much use past launch window (much like the microphone on the old DS) but Im actually 1000% in on playing Metroid Prime 4 with a mouse. As a PC gamer, I rarely enjoy FPS games that force me to use a controller, so this surprising option feels a bit liberating. Hopefully we get Mario Paint 2. 7. More storageThis one is more of a double-edged sword. Nintendo crammed the Switch 2 with 256GB of external storage, much more than the original Switch. But with all the Switch 2s extra graphics capacity, those asset-rich game files are going to be much bigger too, so it may be close to a wash. The memory is quicker as well to deal with larger game files, which means youll need a new, faster memory card for your supplemental storage. 8. Quality of life improvements are no small deal on Switch 2Nintendo tweaked the Switch hardware in response to nearly a decade of feedback. Switch 2 now features two USB-C ports, with one added on top to assist in charging while playing in kickstand mode. Nintendo added a fan to the doc to aid in cooling consistency. Sticks are larger and sound capabilities are improved. Even the Switch 2 Pro Controller is a step up, with an audio jack (at last!) and assignable buttons. No telling yet if the new controller contains the same miniaturized star that exists at the core of every Switch Pro Controller, giving it near-unlimited battery life. And one of the most subtle features might be most useful. I do a fair bit of Switch playing on my tabletop. The fact that the Switch 2 screen angle is adjustable in kickstand mode is a huge deal for me. Too often, ambient light at an airport or the angle of a tight airplane tray table make playing in kickstand seem like an exercise in futility. But with the ability to subtly shift angles, coupled with the new mouse feature, leads me to believe I might actually be able to enjoy a serious game of Civilization 7 on the go. 9. Switch 2 gives you more choicesSo first off, Switch 2 is backward compatible. Thats always good. Microsoft has already blazed a pretty amazing trail toward optimized backward compatibility on Xbox, and Nintendo has also wisely taken a note from its own Gamecube to Wii to WiiU history, making most Switch games a snap to play on new hardware. Backward capacity helps sell consoles their first year.While the Nintendo Switch 2 is backward compatible with Switch games, it also supports special new Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of certain Switch titles like Metroid Prime 4. These enhanced titles offer new features including a selection between a higher-res Quality Mode or a faster frame rate in Performance Mode. PlayOne really cool feature of these Nintendo Switch 2 Editions is that if you already own the original game on Switch, you will be able to purchase a simple Switch 2 Edition upgrade and enjoy all the new features on your new hardware. Let's hope it's not too expensive.Its also possible that Switch 2 Editions of Switchs notoriously-janky Pokemon games could be improved by these features. Let's hope so. Throwing hardware at things cant solve every problem but sometimes it really helps. 10. You need Switch 2 to play the newest games by the best developers on earthMario Kart World does everything we expect of Mario Kart and adds two key elements. The first is the ability to traverse a continuous world Forza Horizon-style, racing from course to course, free mode exploring, fooling around, and so on. The second is the swelling of the field size to 24 carts, which is, well, a lot to get ones head around when the shells start flying. It sounds like absolute bedlam. I cant wait. Nintendo took its time showing off new games but toward the end of the show we bought about a minute tease of a new Kirbys Air Ride game, Kirbys Air Riders, an announcement that would likely have resulted in a thunderous snooze were it not for the surprising involvement of one Mr. Sakurai, known equally for his self-immolating work ethic and his status as god of Smash Bros. I love Kirby, but Air Ride sucked... BUT its Sakurai so Im now 100% in. Then there was The Duskbloods, a trailer that produced some hysterics in me. At first I thought it was Bloodborne 2, then I thought it was a licensed FROM Software take on Castlevania, and then finally I accepted that what I was seeing was an entirely original Miyazaki game exclusive to Switch. My friends, remember: FROM Software does not miss. Probably you will die. Probably you will dodge roll. Certainly you will have a blast. And of course; the real King of Kong makes his triumphant return to 3D with Donkey Kong Bananza. Its a moment of absolution for Nintendo: 26 years after dropping the barbequed turd Donkey Kong 64 on an unsuspecting planet, a wiser, more skilled Nintendo has returned to the drawing board with whats sure to be a landmark adventure.Nintendo devs have been absolutely murdering 3D platforming on the Switch, not just with Odyssey and Bowsers Fury, but also with Kirbys incredible journey to the shores of the Forgotten Lands. Bananza was constructed to showcase far more capable hardware than these modern-day classics, which means that the devs had opportunities to iterate on ideas that wouldnt have been possible on a basic Switch.Jared Petty is a former IGN editor who likes writing about how wonderful and silly video games are. You can find him at Bluesky as pettycommajared.

Streaming has gone from being a cheaper alternative to cable, to an actually worse version of cable. The price of streaming services has skyrocketed since the early days, and content has been haphazardly strewn across different subscriptions. Not only that, each of the streaming services are continually raising prices on consumers. If you find yourself subscribed to Netflix, Max, Hulu, Paramount+, and Disney+ all at once you're probably paying way too much for streaming right now.Thankfully there are some options to cut down on your budget without just canceling your access to everything. There are ways to bundle services together, free trials, and streaming alternatives out there you can take advantage of. Below I've gathered a quick list of ways I've found to save money and still watch an endless stream of quality entertainment on the daily.Bundle Services Where You CanGet the Disney+, Hulu, Max Streaming Bundle$16.99/month with ads, $29.99/month ad-free.See it at Disney+The overall best way to save money on streaming is to take advantage of streaming bundle options. The first and most obvious bundle worth mentioning is the Disney+, Hulu, Max combo that puts all three of the popular streamers in a single monthly charge that is pretty good discount. This is the overall best deal in streaming right now and something I myself have taken advantage of. If you're currently paying for all three of those services separately, you are spending way too much money for no reason. Bundle it up while you still can.Outside of this bundle, there are also various live TV streaming services that bundle a cable-like experience with streaming. There's the Hulu + Live TV subscription that includes ESPN+ and Disney+ all in one bill. This is a great option if you want an all-in-one service that includes regular channels.Take Advantage of Free Trials7 Days FreeApple TV+ Free TrialSee it at AppleAnother great option for saving money is to utilize free trials. Although some a major streaming service like Netflix does not have a free trial, there are plenty of other options available. Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Apple TV+ all include a free streaming trial you can test drive for seven days or more. It's entirely possible to grab a free trial of Apple TV+ and binge both seasons of Severance within that seven-day period. You just need to remember to cancel the service before you start getting charged a monthly fee.Free trials can also be helpful if you're trying to catch a live sporting event. Many of the popular sports streaming services offer some sort of free trial for new subscribers that work in a pinch. Some of the best choices in this regard are the Hulu + Live TV free trial and the Fubo free trial, which get you access to a great variety of channels.Utilize Free Streaming SitesSling TV FreestreamSee it at Sling TVWith even some paid subscriptions now including ads, there are many free streaming sites out there that don't cost a penny. Sure, they have ads, but if you're already paying for the basic tier of a site like Hulu just so you can watch TV and movies that are available for free, you might as well not be paying at all. One great option I've used occasionally is Sling Freestream, which offers a ton of free channels and the option of free DVR when you create a free account. There's also Kanopy, which allows you to stream movies for free with the use of a library card.If you're looking for a place to more specifically stream anime for free, there are actually quite a few places with episodes available for free. Though the overall best option is the Crunchyroll free tier. You can also upgrade to premium with a free trial of the paid tiers if you want to test a full subscription.Get Yourself an HD TV AntennaOur Top PickMohu Leaf Supreme ProEnjoy long-range and solid, consistent reception with this amplified HDTV antenna that offers an easy setup and a 12-foot power cable.See it at AmazonThe last suggestion I have for anyone who specifically wants to watch live channels without having to log in somewhere online is to get yourself a good TV antenna. Some TVs come with a way to access live TV channels, but if yours doesn't then you just need to pick up an antenna and plug it in for free channels straight from the air. This will automatically get you access to major networks as well as local channels. I have one myself that I've used to watch live sporting events like the Super Bowl and the Olympics last year. It's also great for shows like The Bachelor, which tend to air live before they hit streaming anyway.A good indoor TV antenna costs around $50 or more, but it's a one time purchase you shouldn't need to make again. There's no recurring monthly payment involved, you just get some good old-fashioned live TV with ads.Find Free Movies on YouTubeYouTube YouTube Premium StudentStudents can save by signing up for YouTube Premium with their student email.See it at YouTubeSimilar to the free streaming sites we've mentioned above, YouTube offers quite a few free movies you can stream at any given time. There are literally hundreds of movies you can watch for free at any given time. In addition to those, there's also seemingly endless videos about every other topic available on YouTube. There are usually a lot of ads on videos if you don't have a premium subscription, but if you can get past that it's a pretty good free alternative to major streamers.For students who want to avoid the ads altogether, there's also a discount available that makes the service pretty cheap.Jacob Kienlen is a Senior SEO Strategist and Writer for IGN. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he has considered the Northwest his home for his entire life. With a bachelor's degree in communication and over 8 years of professional writing experience, his expertise is spread across a variety of different topics -- from TV series to indie games and popular book series.

If you have a Nintendo Switch (or plan to get a Nintendo Switch 2), youre probably familiar with Nintendo Switch Online. Beyond being essential for accessing multiplayer features and playing online with friends in popular games, its also one of the best ways to enjoy over four decades of classic Nintendo games, including titles from the NES, SNES, Game Boy, Nintendo 64, and (with the upcoming launch of the Nintendo Switch 2) the new GameCube libraries.If you haven't tried Nintendo Switch Online yet, don't worrywe've got you covered. Below, well walk you through how to activate the free trial, explain the different subscription tiers, share pricing details, and more.Does Nintendo Switch Online Have a Free Trial?Yes, Nintendo offers a seven-day free trial for Nintendo Switch Online, giving you access to online play for your Nintendo Switch (and eventually Nintendo Switch 2 games), cloud backup for your save data, select game soundtracks on Nintendo Music, and a library of over 100 NES, SNES, and Game Boy games.Nintendo Switch Online Free TrialSeven days free, then renewed at a monthly rate of $3.99. No Expansion Pack benefits are included. See it at NintendoClick the link above to sign up for the free trial. After your trial period ends, you'll be automatically charged for your subscription if it's not canceled.What Is Nintendo Switch Online?Nintendo Switch Online is a subscription-based service offered by Nintendo for use with Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 consoles. As the name suggests, it lets you enjoy online multiplayer and additional features for supported games, along with automatically backing up your save data to the cloud.But online play isnt the only benefit. With a subscription, youll also gain access to a growing catalog of Nintendo Classics spanning over 40 years. The standard subscription includes a curated collection of NES, SNES, and Game Boy games, while the Expansion Pack adds Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, and Sega Genesis games. For Nintendo Switch 2 owners, you'll also be able to play select GameCube games at launch with the Expansion Pack subscription tier.Nintendo Switch Online 12 Month Individual Membership + Expansion Pack eGift CardAlong with the retro game catalog, Nintendo launched the new Nintendo Music app in late 2024. It allows you to stream and download your favorite tracks from a wide range of franchises, including Mario, Zelda, Pokmon, Metroid, and many more.How Much Does Nintendo Switch Online Cost?Nintendo Switch Online is available as an individual plan or a family plan that supports up to eight accounts. Individual plans will run you $3.99 per month, $7.99 for three months, or $19.99 per year. Family plans are only available annually, priced at $34.99 per year.Nintendo Switch OnlineCompare plans, prices, and perksSee it at NintendoThe Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription, which adds additional Nintendo Classics and specific game DLC packs, is available as an annual subscription only. It costs $49.99 per year for individual subscribers and $79.99 per year for family memberships.How to Use Nintendo Switch Online - Available PlatformsNintendo Switch Online is primarily available on the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 systems. However, with the recent addition of the Nintendo Music app, its benefits are now technically accessible on mobile devices as well.Matthew Adler is a Commerce, Features, Guides, News, Previews, and Reviews writer for IGN. You can follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @MatthewAdler and watch him stream on Twitch.

Many of the best gaming keyboards Ive reviewed in recent years are tenkeyless ones that lop off the number pad to save desk space that also deliver high performance and fancy features. But I still want full-sized functionality on my keyboard, which is why I love the 96% layout where you still get all of the essentials with all of it crammed into a slightly more compact board with no gaps between keys or wasted space. They are tougher to find, however. And for that, I rode out the original Keychron K4 as my main until I spilled a drink over it and destroyed its mechanical switches. It was a solid keyboard that had everything I wanted at the time, but now its been updated with Hall Effect magnetic switches, and the results are fantastic.The Keychron K4 HE has been outfitted with Gateron double-rail magnetic Nebula switches and the frame has a slightly different trim, but its still the simple and sleek keyboard Ive always loved. While it doesnt have anything like an OLED control screen on the likes of a SteelSeries Apex Pro or Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75, I dont mind because sometimes its about getting the basics right, and offering that at a reasonable price.Keychron K4 HE - PhotosKeychron K4 HE Design and FeaturesI received the special edition of the Keychron K4 HE that comes in a cream white color scheme with wood grain along the side of the aluminum frame and a couple of gold keycaps for a pleasing accent. The OSA profile double-shot PBT keycaps are nice to the touch and have rounded edges for a softer overall look. There is RGB backlighting and a dedicated RGB key at the top-right to cycle through built-in RGB effects like breathing, waves, ripples, wheel, or just a single static color. But since the keycaps on the special edition dont have transparent legends, it only really seeps through between the keys (the standard edition does have transparent keycaps so I would recommend going with that model if it matters to you). Its bright enough to come through vividly even if it doesnt light up the key lettering.The 96% layout tickles a certain part of my brain and I like how neat everything looks despite being crammed together. Theres no wasted space, but that does mean I reach for the wrong key sometimes, like hitting home key instead of delete when working. Because its truncated in the way it is, you save a lot of deskspace without sacrificing the full suite of keys side-by-side with my tenkeyless SteelSeries Apex Pro, theres only a one-inch difference in width. The functionality I get back in return is very much worth it, and I find myself using the number pad often again for work or mapping additional actions/macros in games like the MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV.The Keychron K4 HE executes on the important parts extremely well with a rare layout that makes it all the more special.There aren't going to be groundbreaking high-tech features here, or even simple things like easily accessible dedicated media keys, which are things I find useful, but at least you dont necessarily lose that functionality since those are combined with other keys via the FN key. It is nice, however, to have 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth connectivity to give it a little extra versatility. The connection toggle is on the left side of the frame along with a Windows/Android-MacOS input toggle the buttons are smaller than I would prefer, but its one of those set-it-and-forget-it kind of situations.Keychron K4 HE Software and CustomizationThere's still a decent amount of customization on account of having magnetic switches, and theyre very easy to tinker with. Boutique manufacturers like Keychron have moved toward having web-based configurators as opposed to downloadable suites that bigger manufacturers use. (I get that Razer, Logitech, Asus, etc. do that to get you in their ecosystems.) You simply go to the Keychron launcher site, select your keyboard from the Connect menu, and you immediately have access to a full set of customization options.From here, you can set the actuation point on a per-key basis anywhere between 0.2mm and 3.8mm and in increments of 0.1mm and having a short actuation point is crucial for competitive gaming performance. You also have more nuanced features like one-key multi-command, which lets you map different inputs to various distances along the keystroke. And theres the analog gamepad feature that allows you to simulate specific sensitivities of controller inputs on a keystroke. Hall Effect switches are great for performance alone, but its this kind of versatility enabled by magnetic technology.Its pretty much expected for magnetic keyboards to have features like Rapid Trigger and LKP (last keystroke prioritization), the latter of which is the contentious SOCD (simultaneous opposite cardinal direction) input. We cover this with each magnetic keyboard since its becoming more commonplace and different companies call it something different. It certainly has its uses cases, but if youre not aware, SOCD (or LKP in this case) lets you hold one key and register an opposite direction every time you hit it, and re-register the key you're holding every time you let go of the other. You can counter-strafe (or jiggle strafe) at inhuman speed, making you a much harder target. Be aware that you will get kicked from Counter-Strike 2 matches, for example, if you exploit SOCD like LKP.Looking to upgrade your mouse, too?Best OverallRazer Deathadder V3 HyperspeedRazer made notable tweaks to its flagship mouse, making the V3 one of the best mice and further proving why Deathadders have been a staple for PC gaming for so long.See it at AmazonBe sure to check out our roundup of the best gaming mice!The extensiveness of options dont stop there, though Keychron has a fairly robust macro tool to map input sequences and set the timing of each input. You can also remap any key easily in the online configurator and set your RGB patterns and colors however you want. And its all neatly laid out and easy to understand, which several software suites cant exactly say.Keychron K4 HE PerformanceFor gaming, the Keychron K4 HE and the magnetic Nebula switches are as good as any other experience Ive had with Hall Effect keyboards. However, the one thing Ill note is that its rated at a 40g initial actuation force and a 60g bottom-out force while thats fairly standard, it does feel more firm on the touch than most other magnetic keyboards Ive used recently. It may wear you down a bit more over time, but there are advantages to this.When it comes to playing FFXIV, where Im constantly cycling through my attack rotation on close-by keys or trying to hit specific actions at important moments, having magnetic switches that are both firm on the actuation force but set to a shorter actuation point is incredible. I wont fat-finger a key because of the stiffer resistance and Ill register the input fast since the keystroke will be recognized much quicker. Its the best of both worlds in a game like FFXIV, especially as someone who has a heavy resting hand over his keyboard.In games like Counter-Strike 2 or Valorant, the short actuation points also come in clutch for jiggle-strafing, quick movements, switching weapons, or activating abilities on a dime. I went with 0.5mm with the K4 HE, which is much shorter than I would use on other keyboards, and that was the sweet spot. I played my usual batch of ranked matches to determine if this was suited for competitive game and it certainly passed muster for me. Although I may want to go with something lighter on the actuation force for competitive shooters, I certainly enjoyed using the K4 HE for them.Such is the case with most Hall Effect keyboards Ive used, but the smooth linear keystrokes of a magnetic switch are quite satisfying, especially as someone who always used linear mechanical switches like the Cherry MX Reds for nearly a decade. As I'm typing this right now, I get a kick out of the creamy "thock" of each keystroke and the clean feel of the magnetic switch, which you can also attribute to the different types of foam and padding tucked under the keyboard's plating.Purchasing GuideThe Keychron K4 HE is available for $135 for the standard edition and $145 for the special edition, and is available at Amazon or directly from Keychron. The standard version comes in all-black and has transparent legends to let RGB shine through the keycaps, while the special edition comes in black with woodgrain or off-white with woodgrain.

Originally launched as a free service to rival Xbox Live in 2010, PlayStation Plus has evolved significantly since its humble beginnings in 2010. The current iteration of PlayStation Plus is a subscription-based service for PS5 and PS4 users that is mandatory for online play, but also features additional tiers that add benefits such as a catalog of downloadable games, cloud streaming, and more.While Sony used to offer free trials for new users to its online service, PlayStation Plus does not currently offer any free trials.Can You Get PS Plus For Free in Other Ways?Although PlayStation Plus doesn't offer free trials to everyone, certain countries or regions may occasionally have access to a limited-time free trial according to Sony's website. Unfortunately, Sony doesn't reveal exactly who these free trials are for or when they are available, so you'll need to keep your eyes peeled. PlayStation also occasionally has free multiplayer events with no PS Plus subscription required, although these are often unpredictable.PlayStation does have occasional deals on PlayStation Plus subscriptions, however, they are often only available for new or expired members. Come on, Sony, share the love!What PS Plus Alternatives Have Free Trials?There really isn't a direct replacement for PS Plus as it's required for online play on PS5 and PS4, but there are some alternatives with free (or close to free) trials that offer a catalog of games to stream, if you so desire. However, most (if not all) of these alternatives require either a different console, a PC, or a mobile device to use the service. 1. PC Game Pass (14 Days for $1 - $11.99/month14 Days For $1Microsoft PC Game PassSee it at XboxHundreds of games available to playPlay Xbox Game Studios titles on day oneIncludes an EA Play subscription and Riot Games benefits2. Nintendo Switch Online (7-Day Free Trial) - Starting at $3.99/month7 Days FreeNintendo Switch OnlineSee it at NintendoIncludes dozens of NES, SNES, and Game Boy gamesNintendo Music app included in subscriptionAccess to discount game vouchers, retro game controllers, and limited-time games3. Amazon Luna+ (7-Day Free Trial) - $9.99/month7 Days FreeAmazon Luna+See it at AmazonAccess a catalog of over 100 gamesPlay games up to 1080p/60fpsAvailable on PC, Mac, and mobile devices4. Apple Arcade (1-Month Free Trial) - $6.99/month1 Month FreeApple ArcadeSee it at AppleAccess a growing library of over 200 ad-free gamesAvailable across all your Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro)Share your subscription with up to five family membersOther services like Ubisoft+ and EA Play feature publisher-specific catalogs of games to stream, but they don't currently offer any free trials.Matthew Adler is a Commerce, Features, Guides, News, Previews, and Reviews writer for IGN. You can follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @MatthewAdler and watch him stream on Twitch.

Here's your best opportunity to sign up for an Audible membership at a stellar price. Starting now and running through April 30, you can sign up for three months of Audible Premium Plus for just $0.99 per month. Premium Plus is Audible's highest tier plan and normally costs $14.95/mo. As a additional subscription perk, you get a free audiobook of your choice for each of those three months and you get to keep them indefinitely.Both new and currently expired Audible customers are eligibleAnyone who doesn't currently have an active Audible membership should be eligible. That includes new subscribers as well as existing members whose subscriptions have since expired. There's always a small your-mileage-may-vary disclaimer with these types of promotions, but fortunately it's easy to check if you qualify: log into your account, and if you see the $0.99/mo banner right on Amazon's Audible page then you're eligible for this promotion.3 Months of Audible Premium Plus for $0.99 per MonthNon-Current Subscribers Only3 Months of Audible Premium Plus for $0.99 Per MonthAudible is a subscription service that gives you access to hundreds of thousands of the best audiobooks without ever having to purchase them. There are two paid membership plans: the lower tier Audible Plus ($7.95/mo) and the higher tier Audible Premium Plus ($14.95/mo). The biggest difference between the two is the size of the audiobook library. Whereas Audible Plus only lets you listen to a selection of about 10,000 audiobooks, the Audible Premium Plus plan gives you access to a whopping 500,000 audiobooks. These include all-time classics like Frank Herbert's Dune, Harry Potter, Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire), The Witcher, The Sandman Series,and The Lord of the Rings.Although the seriously expanded library is the main draw of the Audible Premium Plus membership, there are some other nice perks as well. Every month Premium Plus members get to pick one audiobook to keep in their library indefinitely, even after the membership expires. Also, Premium Plus members can get 30% off any additional audiobooks they wish to purchase in addition to exclusive limited-time discounts.If you were already planning to purchase a couple of audiobooks, then it makes more sense to pay less than $3 to get three audiobooks you get to keep indefinitely and enjoy all the benefits of Audible Premium Plus for three months. This deal only pops up a few times per year, so don't waste your "first-time subscriber" eligibility status on a short 30-day trial.The newest Hunger Games audiobook just releasedSunrise on the Reaping is the newest Hunger Games novel, and it's also available as an audiobook. The book will be narrated by Jefferson White, who you may already know from Yellowstone where he played Jimmy Hudstrom. The audiobook has a listening time of about 12 hours and 48 minutes. It's free to listen with an Audible subscription.Looking for more free trials? Check out the best streaming services with free trials.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.

Its been a wild news roller coaster for U.S. gamers this week. It began with the celebratory full reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 in all its glory and games, followed closely by audience dismay over its $450 price tag and $80 for Mario Kart Tour, only for everyone to reel once again this morning as Nintendo announced it would hold off on pre-orders for the system until it could assess the impact of the Trump Administrations sudden, sweeping, unprecedented tariffs on just about every nation in the world.Weve written elsewhere about why the Nintendo Switch 2 cost so much to begin with, and what impact the industrys trade association thinks these new tariffs are likely to have on games writ large. But right now, the real question on everyones minds is, whats Nintendo going to do? When pre-orders do open, will the Nintendo Switch 2 be even more expensive?Normally, when there are questions to the tune of what is going to happen with video games?, I go ask a panel of expert industry analysts. While they cant literally predict the future, most of the time, they have a pretty solid consensus understanding, backed by evidence and data, of whats most likely to happen, and I turn around and write about that. Ive already done it twice this week.But for the first time since I started interviewing analysts on such topics, every single analyst I spoke to was effectively stumped. Several had guesses one way or another: Nintendo will raise the price, or wont. But every single one of them heavily caveated their response with an emphasis on the chaos of the moment. This has never happened before, its all happening very fast, and absolutely no one can accurately predict what Nintendo, Trump, or anyone will do tomorrow, next week, or months down the road.So with that rather astonishing disclaimer in mind, heres what all the analysts I spoke to did say:Sky-High SwitchWith everyone I spoke to taking their best wild guesses on what was going to happen, I ended up with a pretty divided panel. On the side of Nintendo will raise prices was Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games. Though he says he at first thought it was too late for Nintendo to raise prices after it had announced them, this delay has changed his mind. At this stage, he doesnt think Nintendo has much of a choice.It is very difficult to predict, but Nintendo will likely take a few days to run simulations and then announce hikes, not only for the system itself but also games and accessories, he said. I hope I am wrong but if sustained, these sky-high tariffs leave them no choice. Would you be surprised now to see Switch 2 hit US$500 for the base model? I wouldn't.What I also want to add is this: Why on earth did Nintendo not wait for the US to fix their tariffs first and then decide on pricing during a Direct a few days later? This made no sense.PlayMat Piscatella, senior analyst at Circana, heavily caveated his opinion (as did basically everyone else) with a reminder that this is all unprecedented and unpredictable. But ultimately, he too came down on the side of games prices generally, including Nintendo prices, likely going up. But how much, and on what is anyones guess. Based on the conversations I'm having, the breadth and depth of the tariffs surprised everyone, not just consumers, he said.Piscatella told me that Nintendo likely had some assumptions in mind about what the tariffs would be when it set the price originally. But when the actual tariffs came in on Wednesday, it was probably much higher than Nintendo, or anyone, anticipated.Every reasonable and responsible business that relies on international supply chains will be reevaluating its US consumer pricing at this point. They have to.Some territories and regions globally have historically been subject to higher pricing than other parts of the world when it comes to video games. The US could certainly be joining that group because of these tariffs. The haphazard and chaotic nature of the tariffs and their announcement obviously has many scrambling to navigate the fallout.Every reasonable and responsible business that relies on international supply chains will be reevaluating its US consumer pricing.Manu Rosier, director of market analysis at Newzoo, also predicts that hardware prices will increase, though he suggests software will likely not be impacted in the same way.While physical versions might be subject to tariffs, the growing dominance and lower cost of digital distribution would likely limit any broader effect, he said.Regarding hardware, however, the situation is more sensitive. If a 20% tariffor any substantial increasewere to be introduced, its unlikely that companies like Nintendo would absorb the additional cost by cutting into their margins. In such cases, the burden could shift to consumers in the form of higher retail prices.Holding the LineOn the other side of speculation, again with a heavy dose of telling me how unprecedented this is and how no one really knows what will happen, I find Joost van Dreunen, NYU Stern professor and author of SuperJoost Playlist. He acknowledges that a price increase on the Nintendo Switch 2 is possible, especially given the high tariffs on Vietnam. But he thinks the company will try very, very hard to avoid that."I believe the volatility from the Trump tariffs was already considered in the Switch 2's $449.99 pricing, he said. Given the first Trump administration's impact, Nintendo, like other manufacturers, has since restructured its supply chain to mitigate such geopolitical risks. Historically, Nintendo has aimed for a launch price around the $400 mark, adjusted for inflation, suggesting that the current price already reflects an anticipation of potential economic challenges stemming from ongoing trade disputes.Nevertheless, the unpredictable nature of these tariff decisionsexemplified by the recent situation in Vietnaminjects a significant amount of uncertainty into the market. This could compel Nintendo to find ways to absorb or offset additional costs, especially when initial product margins are typically narrower. While I expect Nintendo will strive to maintain the $449.99 price point, the external economic pressures may eventually force a reassessment if the trade landscape deteriorates further."Nintendo will not want to change the price having announced it, but I think everything is on the table now.Piers Harding-Rolls, games researcher at Ampere Analysis, agrees, saying that Nintendo runs the risk of consumer backlash if it raises prices further:The extent of the tariffs and its impact on Vietnamese exports are really bad news for Nintendo, he says. The company is now in between a rock and a hard place, having already announced the launch price. I have already suggested that the pricing would stay as announced until 2026 at the earliest but then might be adjusted if the tariffs stay in place. This delay in pre-orders is to give the company more time and it will be hoping some sort of solution will be found over the next few weeks. This is a pretty fluid situation after all. Nintendo will not want to change the price having announced it, but I think everything is on the table now. If the pricing does change, it will impact the brand and the US consumers view of the product at launch. I dont think that will put off loyal fans, but it might put off broader consumers who will take a wait a see approach. Thats particularly important during its first holiday season.Living in Unhinged TimesFinally, I spoke to Rhys Elliott, games analyst at Alinea Analytics. Elliott joined the first camp of analysts in predicting higher prices on both Nintendo hardware and software due to Trumps tariffs. He also pointed back to his comments in my previous analyst piece, where he spoke on Nintendo announcing cheaper digital editions of Nintendo Switch 2 games in certain markets. It seems the lower prices in other markets were to nudge Switch 2 buyers to digital, as I mentioned my comments to IGN about Mario Kart Worlds pricing. Nintendo might have wanted to do something similar in the US, but the tariff situation is so chaotic that Nintendo was in wait and see mode and decided to hedge its bets to see if it needed to offset the tariffs.Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories GalleryElliott went on to project a rather grim picture of what will happen to the games industry more broadly as a result of the tariffs, with his predictions in line with what a spokesperson from the Entertainment Software Association warned me of earlier this morning on the same topic. He says that the tariffs will result in a weaker, poorer nation, with consumers ultimately paying the price. Heres the rest of Elliotts take on this:Some manufacturers Nintendo included have been shifting their manufacturing to non-tariff-impacted markets, Elliott says. And even if companies can afford to switch up (no pun intended!) their supply chains, who knows which markets will get tariffs next as recent news supports. Companies cannot just lift up their whole supply chain and move everything to the US. Its just not logistically possible. Under current law (I cant believe I have to qualify this, but here we are), Trump would not be in power anymore by the time such a move would be completed for Nintendo and other manufacturers. We are living in theres no other word for it .. unhinged times driven by an unhinged man (and other forces).We are living intheres no other word for it...unhinged times driven by an unhinged man (and other forces).These extreme tariffs will also be bad for consumers in the US but are positive for the US administrations populist faade. Policies that lead to higher prices for everyday people amid a cost-of-living crisis are deplorable. They're bad for gamers and the games business. I wont comment on the real reason for the US tariffs, but a much stronger, much richer nation is not it.Whats more, time and time again, data has shown that tariffs harm the economy. Comparative advantage is a core principle of international trade theory. Basically, consumption and economic well-being are stronger when countries focus on producing goods they can efficiently produce (at the lowest cost compared to other goods) and trade for goods they are less efficient at producing. The trade war flies in the face of these core economic principles.Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

Itd be difficult for any TV series, let alone an anime series, to be greeted with higher expectations than Lazarus. And, as Lazarus proves, itd be equally difficult to live up to those expectations. The series comes from Shinichir Watanabe, creator of the undisputed anime masterpiece Cowboy Bebop. With action overseen by John Wick director Chad Stahelski and a soundtrack featuring original compositions by the tantalizing trio of Kamasi Washington, Floating Points, and Bonobos, it would seem Lazarus promises nothing but slick and exciting visuals, storytelling, and atmosphere. In the first five episodes, only some of those promises are fulfilled. The opening chapters of Watanabes mildly compelling mystery anime remain watchable not because of the style on display or how much we care about the characters, but because of its heightened, apocalyptic stakes. The beginning of Lazarus gives you no time to breathe: It instantly hits you with bucket loads of context and double-exposed imagery that define its vision of the future. The year is 2052, and a miracle painkiller called Hapna has exploded in popularity across the globe, ending humanitys relationship to pain and putting a large chunk of the population in a perpetual sleepwalk. Believing this was a mistake, the drugs creator, Dr. Skinner, announces that within 30 days, everyone who has ever taken Hapna will die. The sensory overload and intrigue surrounding this information is almost enough to paper over the clunky dialogue and poor acting (in the English version, anyway) that relays it. Dropping such a nuclear event in the first episode is a bold decision. My brain was flooded with curiosity as to how the world would react and questions of how this was even possible, and why someone would decide that genocide on this level was the answer. Its completely ridiculous, but Dr. Skinners speech announcing his intentions is packed with enough shock, intrigue, and mystery that it propelled me through the next four episodes despite some of the less interesting turns they take.Watanabe opts for a cold visual approach with Lazarus, with desaturated colors and metallic production design. That chilliness also reflected in the steely, detached members of the Suicide Squad-like team looking to get a cure from Dr. Skinner means that the plot and action need to deliver in order for the show to remain engaging. On this front, the results are mixed.Lazarus GalleryThe style of action on display is apparent from the scene that introduces Axel, an inmate being recruited for the dangerous mission at the center of Lazarus. Taking advantage of the situation, Axel uses his almost superhuman kung fu and parkour skills to escape, something he apparently has done over 100 times. The 2D animation is slightly aided by CG in these fight scenes, to great effect. It puts us extremely close to the action with punches flying right past us while still letting us understand whats happening on screen, thanks to the added mobility of the camera in CG. Even when the combat on Lazarus feels a little familiar Stahelskis blessing and curse, having now reshaped action filmmaking twice over as a stunt performer and coordinator in The Matrix movies and the architect of the John Wick franchise the way its presented still feels intense and spectacular.Yet theres still room for Lazarus action to improve in future episodes. Axel and his colleagues are so capable at hand-to-hand combat that theres no tension or peril in these scenes despite the unerringly good soundtracks best efforts to establish those feelings. As such, Im thankful for the one thrilling sequence that bucks this trend, involving a helicopter and a Green Goblin-esque glider.Theres still room for Lazarus action to improve in future episodes.A bigger problem is just how functional the characters are. Theyre a group of hyper-competent spies who are too aloof to seem like they care about their assignment which is, as a reminder, to prevent the deaths of billions of people. Lazarus frustratingly shies away from emotion in the middle of this doomsday scenario in favor of a cool factor that never actually feels that cool. Axel is meant to be the character we see this new world through, but he seems to find everything so easy, like he knows hes going to survive no matter the challenge. I want to feel the effect of each hour passing, bringing us closer to doom. I want to understand the exhaustion and panic that must come with being tasked to save the world. Instead, Axel treats everything like a game which could make for an interesting character arc past these five episodes, if Lazarus hadnt sacrificed my investment in him as a person from the get-go. (A similar constraint affects the side characters as well.) Watanabe has something to say through Lazarus, but its watered down and held back in these five episodes. The message about the way modern society sees and deals with pain is limited to monologues at the start of each episode, in which various characters detail their first encounters with Hapna. In a short span of time, a lot is said about how people desire numbness, and how readily available and monetized it is. But these first passages of Lazarus only touch on these topics briefly, leaving the big questions posed in the premiere about Skinners motivations and how the world at large might react to its impending doom to be answered (or not) by the episodes to follow.

Considering what it offers, Disney Plus is one of the best streaming services on the block. From classic Disney animated films to the latest Marvel shows and Star Wars movies, excellent kids' programming like Bluey, and so much more, Disney Plus puts an incredible range of high-quality viewing options at your fingertips. And with so much to check out, including season 2 of Andor on April 22, you'll want to find a plan that best suits you. We're here to help. At the moment, one of the best Disney Plus bundle deals available is the massive Disney Plus, Hulu, and Max streaming bundle. This starts at $16.99/month to get you all three streaming services with ads. It's one of the best bundles available at the moment, but we've included more Disney Plus bundle deals worth exploring below. If you're looking for more streaming deals from other services, check out the best Hulu deals and bundles and the best Max deals.How to Get the Disney Plus, Hulu, and Max Streaming BundleThe Disney Plus, Hulu, and Max streaming bundle can be purchased through any of the three streaming services and starts at $16.99/month for the ad-supported tier or $29.99/month for ad-free access across the three platforms. If you currently own all three and want to cut down on costs, this is a great way to bundle them together and save big on what you'd pay for them separately per month 43% on the ad-supported plan and 42% on the ad-free plan.Get the Disney+, Hulu, Max Streaming Bundle$16.99/month with ads, $29.99/month ad-free.See it at Disney+What Is the New Paid Sharing Plan on Disney Plus?In an effort to crack down on password sharing, Disney has unveiled a paid sharing plan for individuals outside of your household. Basically, anyone using your account that's not within your household will have to be added as an "Extra Member" to your account. This costs an additional $6.99/month for the ad-supported Basic subscription and $9.99/month for the Premium ad-free plan, and only one Extra Member slot is available per account. You can learn more from Disney's paid sharing explainer here.What Are the Different Disney+ Subscription Tiers?Sign Up for Disney+See it at Disney+Disney+ is available in a couple of different tiers. You can get the least expensive option (called Disney+ Basic) for $9.99/month, which gives you access to everything except the ability to download select shows to watch on the go. This tier is ad supported. If you want to get rid of ads and be able to download certain shows, you can spring for the $15.99/month or $159.99/year Disney+ Premium package.What Are the Different Disney+ Bundles?Disney+, Hulu Bundle Basic (With Ads)Get thousands of shows, movies, and Originals with Disney+ and Hulu (with ads)$10.99 at Disney+Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ Bundle Basic - $16.99Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ Bundle Premium - $26.99Want a way to save on your Disney+ membership? Bundles are a great, affordable way to go. As far as bundles go, there are two ad-supported bundles and two ad-free bundles. Here's the breakdown:Disney+, Hulu Bundle Basic is $10.99/month and comes with subscriptions to Disney+ and Hulu. This plan lets you stream on multiple devices at once and comes with ad-supported versions of both services.Disney+, Hulu Bundle Premium is $19.99/month and comes with Hulu and Disney+ with no ads. It also includes Disney+ Premium features like the ability to download shows to watch on the go.Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ Bundle Basic adds ESPN+ (With Ads) to the mix alongside Disney+ (With Ads) and Hulu (With Ads), bumping up the price to $16.99/month. You can also download and watch select content on ESPN+ at this level.Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ Bundle Premium is $26.99/month and comes with ESPN+ (With Ads) and ad-free versions of Disney+ and Hulu. You can also download select content across all three streaming services.Disney+ Gift CardsIf you want to help someone out and give them a gift that will keep on giving, gifting a one-year Disney+ card is a great way to go. It provides all the great things Disney+ offers and it costs a fraction of what it would take to buy even a small sampling of those movies physically.Disney+Give one of the best subscription services around as a gift. With Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic access, it's a great place to watch.See it at DisneyWhat Can You Watch on Disney+?There is a bonkers array of shows and movies you can watch on Disney+. Let's start at the top and simply talk about the verticals on offer here with the base subscription.Here's what you get:DisneyPixarMarvelStar WarsNational GeographicDisney on Disney+On the Disney front, you have awesome classic movies like The Sword In The Stone, Robin Hood, 101 Dalmations, Hercules, and Sleeping Beauty, modern classics like The Princess & The Frog, Tangled, and Frozen, and a wide range of animated shows, including Phineas & Ferb. You also gain access to a ton of vintage content like Escape to Witch Mountain, The Apple Dumpling Gang, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes, The Love Bug, and a whole lot more. The Disney Junior section is home to absolutely top tier animated shows like Bluey (which, for my money, is worth the price of admission on its own).There's way more on offer, too, including a ton of Muppet movies, new live-action films and adaptions, nature programs, documentaries, Pirates of the Caribbean, and musical programs featuring Taylor Swift (like her wildly popular The Eras Tour), Elton John, Ed Sheeran, and more.Pixar on Disney+When it comes to computer generated films, Pixar stands alone. Kicking off the revolution with Toy Story, Pixar has consistently put out fantastic films, and they are all here. From the Toy Story series to Finding Nemo, Cars, and more recent hits like Inside Out 2, there is a ton to love. Beyond even that, there are incredible shorts like Bao and Party Central, as well as a wide range of originals and series based on major films, such as Dory's Reef Cam, Forky Asks A Question, Cars On The Road, and more.Marvel on Disney+The MCU has become a true juggernaut, and there are many viewers who subscribe to Disney+ purely for access to nearly the entire MCU lineup of films and shows.PlayWhether you are a fan of the blockbuster action films, you are an appreciator of the classic 90s runs of "Saturday morning" cartoons like X-Men, or you are currently vibing to the funky theme of the 1981 Spider-Man series, there is a ton of Marvel to enjoy on Disney+. And with new movies and shows being added to the MCU all the time, including most recently Deadpool & Wolverine and Your Friendly Neigborhood Spider-Man, there is always more coming.Star Wars on Disney+A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, there was a film that changed everything. The original Star Wars is a seminal sci-fi fantasy work that inspired generations of creators, but there is still nothing quite like that far away galaxy. Disney+ grants access to all things Star Wars, including the remastered versions of the original trilogy (hopefully some day they'll add the theatrical cuts, too), as well as the prequels and sequels. You can also stay up-to-date on all the latest shows, including The Mandalorian and the critically-lauded Andor, which some viewers say is "the best Star Wars has ever been." There are also fantastic short series like Star Wars Visions, and longer-form series like The Clone Wars, The Bad Batch, Young Jedi Adventures, and a whole lot more.Take a look at our list of Disney+ alernatives for additional streaming services. To play while you watch, see our roundup of the best LEGO Disney sets. For more deals, dive into our Daily Deals page.Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.Original story from Brian Barnett.

It's official: The Nintendo Switch 2 is coming very soon. June 5, to be exact! Following a lengthy Nintendo Direct that showed off new games for the highly-anticipated console alongside more information on the Switch 2 hardware itself, some items are starting to go up for preorder. This includes microSD Express cards, which are the only storage cards the Switch 2 will be compatible with. Preorder MicroSD Express Cards at GameStopSwitch 2 CompatibleGameStop 256GB Express MicroSD Card$47.49 for GameStop Pro Members.$49.99 at GameStopSwitch 2 CompatibleGameStop 512GB Express Micro SD Card$80.74 for GameStop Pro Members.$84.99 at GameStopSwitch 2 CompatibleGameStop 1TB Express Micro SD Card$142.49 for GameStop Pro Members.$149.99 at GameStopQuite a few of these cards have already started to sell out, but there's a shining light at the end of the tunnel coming from GameStop. The retailer has created its own line of microSD Express cards that are available to preorder and come in varying capacities, from 256GB ($49.99) to 512GB ($84.99) to 1TB ($149.99). These are set to release on June 5, the same day as the console. You can preorder these cards below, but to stay up to date on more cards as they come back in stock keep our hub page for microSD Express cards bookmarked.The microSD Express cards have been disappearing fast from online retailers, so if you've been hoping to secure a storage upgrade ahead of the Switch 2's release you'll want to be quick to get your preorders in. If you're unsure if you'll need the extra space, it's worth noting that the Switch 2 is set to come with 256GB of internal storage, which is quite a bit more than the original Switch's 32GB. If you have an ever-expanding library of Switch games, it's always worth it to pick up some extra storage.Listings Are AvailableNintendo Switch 2 Preorders at Best BuySee it at Best BuyOutside of the additional storage, if you're curious when preorders will pop up for the console itself, make sure to mark your calendar for April 9. It's worth keeping our Switch 2 preorder guide bookmarked as well so you can stay up to date on when it drops and where it's available to purchase on the day. We've also put together a list full of tips to help increase your chances of getting a Switch 2. The countdown has begun, and we're here to help you secure a Switch 2 on day one.Hannah Hoolihan is a freelancer who writes with the guides and commerce teams here at IGN.

inZOI has sold 1 million copies in a week, developer and publisher Krafton has announced. Thats the fastest sales milestone ever for a game published by the South Korean megacorp.Kraftons The Sims competitor launched on PC via Steam in Early Access form on March 28 and quickly hit the headlines after players discovered they could run over and kill children. Krafton responded to say it had patched out what it called an "unintended bug."Despite this hiccup, inZOI has a very positive user review rating on Steam, and saw a peak of 175,000 concurrent viewers on Twitch, ranking third in the Games category. It rose to number one on Steams Global Top Sellers List (by sales revenue) just 40 minutes after release.Meanwhile, Canvas, inZOIs in-game user-generated content (UGC) sharing platform, saw over 1.2 million participants on launch day, and over 470,000 pieces of content uploaded.PlayIGNs inZOI Early Access review returned a 6/10. We said: inZOI is a visually striking life simulator with plenty of ambition, but not enough depth as of its Early Access launch.Clearly, inZOI is doing the business for Krafton, which highlighted its work promoting the game ahead of launch and its communication with the community as helping to build trust and momentum for release. The inZOI global showcase and demo build particularly attracted high interest, Krafton added.CEO CH Kim commented: We are grateful and excited to present inZOI to players around the world through Early Access. We will continue to actively communicate with players and foster inZOI as Kraftons long-term franchise IP.inZOI's Best and Most Cursed CreationsAs for whats next, Krafton said future updates will introduce new content, including mod support and new cities, with all updates and DLC provided for free until full release.In a recent note to players, Krafton said it will quickly apply fixes for reported issues through hotfixes during April amid complaints from some players about the state of the game. The scale of inZOIs global community is a next-level experience for us, Krafton said, before admitting its going through some trial and error in finding the optimal means of communication.Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

When the Nintendo Switch 2s $450 USD price was announced it turned heads given this is a bigger sticker price then weve come to expect from Nintendo in the past. However, with the rise in production costs and other economic uncertainties like tariffs, analysts did predict the Switch 2 to cost around $400 USD at least.Maybe the bigger shock was around the cost of Switch 2 games, which not only hit the new $70 USD standard for new games but also go as high as $80 in the case of games like Mario Kart World. Add in the additional cost of the various accessories if you want the full Switch 2 experience and it all totals a hefty sum.But if you adjust the launch cost of previous Nintendo consoles for inflation, how does Switch 2 stack up? And how does the Switch 2 price also compare to other consoles? The results might surprise you... Nintendo Switch 2 Price Vs Previous Nintendo ConsolesNESThe NES was released in 1985 and was sold for $179 USD at launch. That sounds like a bargain these days, but if you adjust the cost for inflation it would set you back $523 USD in 2025. Woof!SNESNintendo followed it up in 1991 with the SNES, which at the time cost $199 USD. It was $20 dollars more back then but taking into account the additional inflation between the two launch years, it would cost $460 USD in 2025.Nintendo 64Nintendos big 3D revolution came when the Nintendo 64 was released in 1996, which came in at the same $199 price point as the SNES. However thats $400 USD in todays terms after adjustments for inflation.Nintendo GameCubeThe Nintendo GameCube, whose games will be available on the Switch 2 through the Nintendo Switch Onlines classic library, hit the shelves in 2001 for $199 or $359 USD in todays dollars.WiiNintendos bold next step after the GameCube was the motion-controlled Wii which went on to become a global phenomenon. In 2006, the Wii hit shelves at $249 USD or about $394 USD in 2025.Wii UNintendo wasnt as successful with its follow-up the Wii U. It was released in 2012 for $299 USD at launch or $415 USD in 2025, making it closer to the Switch 2s pricing.Nintendo Switch Nintendo found its groove again with the Nintendo Switch, which will go down as one of Nintendos most-successful consoles of all time. The system hit stores in 2017 nearly eight years ago and retailed for $299 USD, or $387 USD in todays dollars, so still cheaper than Switch 2 when it hits the shelves on June 5.So there you have it, the original NES is the most expensive console Nintendo has ever launched if you adjust prices for inflation. Does that make Switch 2's price any easier to swallow? Absolutely not.Credit: IGNBut what about the games?While the Switch 2s price was largely expected by analysts and other trend watchers, the real head-turner was Nintendos pricing on games, which will retail as high as $80 USD for Mario Kart World, while others like Donkey Kong Bananza are priced at $70 USD (or $65 digitally).Its difficult to see exactly how that compares to the earliest NES cartridges at launch because unlike today, prices back then varied pretty wildly from one game to the next. For example, in the early 90s an NES game could cost as much as $45 USD, or $130 USD in 2025, while some sold for as little as $34, or $98 USD after adjusting for inflation which is still more than what Mario Kart World would cost today. But many are convinced that the cost of games could increase further.It's no surprise the Switch 2 hits the higher end of Nintendo's pricing, beaten only by the NES and SNES. Real-world factors do seem to be a big cause of this price increase given that Nintendo announced a cheaper, region-locked Switch 2 for Japan, Nintendo's key domestic market, for 49,980 JPY or $340 USD.How Switch 2's Price Compares to Other ConsolesWe did a similar cost analysis when the price for the PS5 Pro was announced, comparing the PS5 Pro to other Sony consoles. But how does Switch 2 stack up to some other past consoles?PlayStation 2The PlayStation 2 was released in 2000 and is the biggest selling console of all time. It cost $299 USD back then and now, adjusted for inflation, the PS2 would cost $565 USD in 2025!Xbox 360The Xbox follow-up was the company's most-successful console and was released in 2005 for $299 USD, or about $500 USD in 2025.Console prices adjust for inflation. The PS3 was super expensive! Image credit: IGNSo that's how the Switch 2's price stacks up against its predecessors and some rivals. For more, check out IGN's hands-on with the Switch 2 as well as games like Mario Kart World. Also, check out our chat with analysts on just why exactly the Switch 2 and everything around it costs so much.Matt Kim is IGN's Senior Features Editor.

Remember Marathon? Its Destiny developer Bungies next game, and it looks like were about to finally see more of it.Marathon is a PvP-focused extraction shooter set on the mysterious planet of Tau Ceti IV. Players inhabit the bodies of Runners, cybernetic mercenaries who have been designed to survive the planets harsh environments, exploring the lost colony that once inhabited Tau Cetis surface.It has been some time since we saw or heard of Marathon. In October, Bungie released a lengthy development update video that shed light on Marathon's mechanics, but stressed how early in development the game was. Player character models were, at that point, still "coming together," while enemy models were still in an "early state."PlayNow, though, half a year later, it looks like Bungie is finally ready to reveal what its been working on. A tweet from the official Marathon account, below, revealed a typically cryptic image and accompanying garbled signal noise. As fans have noticed, theres ASCII art of footage from the debut Marathon trailer. Given this is Bungie were talking about, a developer known for its mysterious teasers, hidden clues, and Easter eggs, theres probably much more here to discover, and fans are already working to find out what it all means.Either way, it very much looks like its finally happening for Marathon after what has been a troubled development.Marathon was revealed in May 2023 as a reboot of the classic Bungie franchise, but with all its themes of "mysteries, eeriness, and psychological creepiness." But Bungie itself has suffered several controversies in recent years, headlined by the laying off of 220 staff members, meaning 17% of its workforce, in July 2024: a move even industry peers criticized.Further controversy came when a report released weeks after the 220 job losses alleging former Marathon director Chris Barrett was fired after an internal misconduct investigation at Bungie. Barrett subsequently sued Sony Interactive Entertainment and Bungie for more than $200 million.This all comes as Sony rethinks its focus on live-service games. Sony president Hiroki Totoki said in November 2023 the company was committed to launching just six of the 12 live service games it was working on by March 2026, in a shift in strategy that saw The Last of Us multiplayer game cancelled.While Arrowheads Helldivers 2 was a breakout hit, becoming the fastest-selling PlayStation Studios game of all time with 12 million copies sold in just 12 weeks, Sonys other live service games were either canceled or suffered disastrous launches.Indeed, Sonys Concord is one of the biggest video game disasters in PlayStation history, lasting just a couple of weeks before it was brought offline amid eye-wateringly low player numbers. Sony later decided to kill the game entirely and shut its developer.And earlier this year, Sony reportedly canceled two unannounced live service games, one a God of War title in development at Bluepoint, the other in the works at Days Gone developer Bend.Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

With Mario Kart World cruising its way onto store shelves at $80, Nintendo fans who were otherwise stoked about the promise of the Nintendo Switch 2 have spent the last 24 hours balking at the prospect of doling out that many coins, even for a game they feel is a must-have.We wrote earlier today about why Mario Kart World, as well as the Nintendo Switch 2 itself and many of its accessories, are so dang expensive. But knowing the why of it doesnt really ease the pain on the wallet. Whats more, we learned just this morning that a number of Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games, including The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Kirby and the Forgotten Land, will also be $80. And with the AAA game price increase from $60 to $70 still firmly within recent memory, fans are now worried that more and more games, Nintendo or otherwise, are going to start getting more and more and more expensive.So what does the future hold? Are $80 games the new Nintendo normal?As usual, rather than speculate ourselves, we went and found some expert analysts to tell us what they think is going to happen.PlayA New Nintendo NormalNYU Stern professor and author of SuperJoost Playlist, Joost van Dreunen, believes Nintendo is using Mario Kart World as a test case for premium pricing, and will evaluate consumer response before applying this more broadly. Spoilers: the response hasnt been great so far! But sentiment is not the same as sales, and Nintendo will likely measure success by how well Mario Kart World actually sells.If the $80 price point succeeds, Nintendo will likely extend it selectively to their most valuable franchises rather than making it standard across their first-party lineup. Franchises that could potentially justify the premium pricing include:The Legend of Zelda - the next mainline entry following Tears of the Kingdom could command $80 given the series' prestige and the expansive scope these games typically offer.New 3D Mario adventures - for major releases in the vein of Super Mario Odyssey, Nintendo could position these as premium products.Super Smash Bros. - the next installment of this franchise would be a strong candidate for premium pricing due to its extensive roster and competitive staying power.Games that likely wouldn't justify the premium price include smaller-scale entries, remasters, and series with more niche appeal. Nintendo will probably maintain a tiered pricing strategy, with their tent-pole franchises at $80, mid-tier releases at $60-70, and smaller titles at traditional price points.Nintendo Switch 2 Game BoxesRhys Elliott, games analyst at Alinea Analytics, had a similar take, pointing to the top 10 best-selling Nintendo Switch games as a guide for what we might see get an $80 price tag in the future. I could see Nintendo pricing mainline Pokmon games, mainline Zelda games, and the inevitably imminent 3D Mario and Animal Crossing games at $80 physical (but $70 digital still).And James McWhirter, analyst at Omdia, added a suggested hypothetical Splatoon 4 to the list of possibilities, along with another thought on future monetization:For titles that do not adopt the $80 base price, Nintendo could lean in more heavily in alternative forms of monetisation, including those it has so far refrained from using, such as tying paid early access to higher value editions of its games.Grand Theft, Grand Price?That covers Nintendo, but what about other games? Earlier this year, we covered a flurry of speculation on one specifically: Grand Theft Auto 6. At the time, we were responding to rumors and discussion that Take-Two might price the sequel to the over 200 million selling blockbuster at $80, $90, or even $100. Analysts suggested that the high end of this was rather unlikely, but what about now? Will Grand Theft Auto 6 cost $80... or even more?Tiago Reis, market analyst at Newzoo, certainly thinks so. For sure. Big hits that are highly anticipated (e.g., GTA 6, new CODs) can get away with it due to franchise recognition. Most people are not going to stop buying these games because they are $10 more expensive. If consumers are willing to wait, they can get it at a discount a couple of months after release. But by then, these companies have already extracted max value/price from the people who are less price sensitive.Reis colleague Lauren Universe, client services manager at Newzoo, added: Frankly, I expect base GTA to be at least $80, with multiple options of various increased prices (like Civ 7) that include expansions, DLCs, and early access.PlayDr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games, agreed, and even expanded on who might be interested in raising prices beyond just Take-Two. I do believe there is a chance that companies like Microsoft or Sony could feel encouraged to raise their prices now. Would you be shocked if Take-Two now thought to themselves: If Nintendo can charge $80 for a Mario Kart game, we can do the same for GTA 6 - a title thousands of people have been working on for 12 years?Nuno Domingues Marques, also a market analyst at Newzoo, similarly brought up Sony and Microsoft as possible candidates for price hikes. I am unsure if Sony/Xbox will wait for their next generation to make the push or if they will adjust post-Switch launch, but certainly, it seems like the way forward. Third-party publishers will jump on it as soon as they feel it is justified, which is likely ASAP. Not all exclusive games will cost $80, in my opinion though. Games like Ratchet & Clank or other smaller niche experiences are likely to keep lower price points.But Elliott pushed back a bit on the idea that Mario Kart World could have opened a higher pricing floodgate. He pointed out that at least in the UK and Europe (U.S. price discrepancies are still unconfirmed), Nintendo is charging more for the physical edition of Mario Kart World than digital in an effort to push more consumers toward the digital edition. But he suspects that because the other two console platforms are far more digitally-oriented than Nintendo (something he discussed in more detail in our other piece on the Switch 2 pricing), this would be a tougher sell for other publishers.While I believe Take Two could charge over $70 for GTA 6, I maintain that it is a bad idea.While I believe Take Two could charge over $70 for GTA 6, I maintain that it is a bad idea for three reasons. [One,] the real cash cow is GTA Online and its recurring revenues, so limiting the total addressable audience at launch wouldn't be smart. Theres also a cost-of-living crisis happening globally and GTA appeals to everyone rich and less fortunate."[Two,] Rockstar needs to move players from GTA 5, and a higher floor for the switching cost would limit the GTA 5-to-GTA 6 player acquisition. Players not budging from GTA 5 is probably one of GTA 6's biggest threats, one GTA hasn't really faced before. After all, live services are mostly zero-sum in today's oversaturated attention economy. GTA 6 isn't just competing against competitors' games, it's competing with TikTok, Netflix, and even its predecessor."[Three,] Rockstar can easily charge $100 or more for an edition of GTA 6 with a week of early access, maybe with a shark card thrown in. Players with disposable income will pay for it. This is the best of both worlds for Take-Two. This is pretty much the norm for AAA games these days.Elliott concluded that even with all that in mind, GTA 6 nonetheless stands a better chance than any other game at withstanding a price hike with its consumer base intact. So ultimately, the question of GTA 6s pricing remains an impossible one to answer up to the point where Take-Two finally announces it.Living in Interesting TimesIll end on a hopeful note, though, which I got from both Mat Piscatella, analyst at Circana, and a couple of analysts at Newzoo. These folks told me that while were likely to keep seeing games get more expensive (and, as Piscatella points out, have already been for a while via Collectors Editions and similar), we may also see them get cheaper in certain ways. Other Nintendo games will certainly follow suit, said Brett Hunt, market analyst at Newzoo. It could, however, open the door for Nintendo to have an adjusted discounting strategy for the Switch 2.Marques agreed. Maybe we will see a bigger window of pricing as well, as seen from the Donkey Kong game. Creation of space for multiple different-sized games; games that cost $49.99, $59.99, etc., having distinct content depth and breadth expectations. I agree that maybe a new discounting strategy is coming from Nintendo.And as Piscatella put it, Nintendo may not be the only company that sees the need to break with $70 convention in more than just one way. We certainly could see other publishers try and establish even higher base prices for some of their new games. But we could also see more significant price promotion and discounting as well."With all of the uncertainty in the market, we're at a point where both publishers and consumers will have to figure out where things go next. These are, after all, interesting times."Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

Despite Nintendos official UK preorders not starting until April 8 (and April 9 in the US), major retailers including Amazon, EE, Argos, Currys (in-store), and Smyths have already gone live with preorders for the Nintendo Switch 2. Amazon UK, which had previously been accepting invite requests, has now started sending out its first wave of invitations, giving select customers the chance to secure a console ahead of launch. If youve registered your interest, now is the time to check your inbox. We've left handy links to find the console preorders below; otherwise, ensure you're also following @IGNUKDeals on Twitter/X for instant notifications for more news.Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World429.99 at AmazonNintendo Switch 2395.99 at AmazonNintendo Switch 2 Console Black Pre-Order395.99 at ArgosNintendo Switch 2 Console and Mario World Bundle Pre-Order429.99 at ArgosAmazon is still accepting preorder requests for Switch 2 and the Switch 2 Mario Kart World Bundle, and will continue to send out invitations until June 5. Unlike Nintendos own system, Amazons invites arent based on playtime, and not all requests will be approved. Any invite link sent out will also expire after 22 hours, so securing a preorder quickly is crucial. It's also worth noting with Amazon that the retailer doesn't charge until dispatch, so you won't pay a penny for your preorder until June. Moreover, some preorders are coming back with a June 7 delivery, but Amazon support has reassured concerned users that this is just an automated system error and delivery will still be for Switch 2's launch day on June 5. Some Switch 2 accessories are also already up for preorder, including the Switch 2 Pro Controller (74.99) (out of stock), and Hori's Switch 2 compatible Piranha Plant Camera (34.99). Both are available from ShopTo, even with a slight 5% off discount today using code SPRING. That brings the Pro Controller down to 71.10, and the camera to 33.10. There's also a Switch 2 screen protector that's 50% off right now.Switch 2: Accessories Available NowSwitch 2 Pro Controller (OOS) - 71.10 (was 74.99): Use Promo Code: SPRINGSwitch 2 Hori Piranha Plant Camera - 33.10 (was 34.99): Use Promo Code: SPRINGamFilm Tempered Glass Switch 2 Screen Protector x2: 3.99 (was 79.99)Lexar microSD Express 256GB: 79.99SanDisk microSD Express 128GB: 37.99Score Score 35% Off NSO Expansion Pack MembershipsGameCube games coming exclusively to the Switch 2's exclusive online library is one of the best features of the new console. To make those membership costs just that little bit easier, UK retailer ShopTo has NSO at 35% off right now, and there's an extra 5% when you use code SPRING at checkout. As you get your Nintendo Switch 2 preorders in, this is an absolute bonus bargain to consider.While some Nintendo Classics catalogues are unlocked with the base online subscription, you'll also need the Expansion Pack to play GameCube titles on Nintendo Switch 2. What's more, while you can subscribe to a monthly model for just Nintendo Switch Online, the Expansion Pack is only available on the 12-month plan, so make a note when purchasing. So, if you're the only Nintendo Switch players in your household, you can buy the individual Online + Expansion Pack plan for 24.55 or the Family Membership for 43.55 with the promo code SPRING.Nintendo Switch Online 12 Month + Expansion Pack 365 Days Membership Download (UK - EU)More Switch 2 Preorder NewsArgos had plenty of Switch 2 stock available to preorder on April 3, but is now temporarily out of stock and pausing orders. There's still a chance of the retailer being allocated more, so if you don't get your invite in through Amazon, stay tuned for more updates. Otherwise, ensure you're also following @IGNUKDeals on Twitter/X for instant notifications.As for the games, you can immediately preorder the physical version of Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza right now at Smythsalongside accessories like the Nintendo Switch 2 camera & Stealth Travel Kit case.On each product Amazon page, you'll be able to quickly register your interest before quickly getting a confirmation email. From then, you can be invited to purchase a Nintendo Switch 2 from Amazon UK anytime within the next three monthscovering you for the system's 5th of June, 2025 release date.The link to purchase that Amazon will send to you will last for 22 hours, so be sure to keep checking your emails so you don't miss out. Amazon hasn't provided an exact day and time as to when the first round of pre-orders will start, but we're assuming the first invites could be sent out as soon as Tuesday, the April 8, as that's when preorders will be open on the UK Nintendo store.PlayYou can also go to Currys in store to preorder a Nintendo Switch 2, just like you can with Smyths, though preorders for games and accessories don't seem to be available just yet. It hasn't provided any further information on when invites will be sent out either, but Currys & Smyths are both solid retailers to have as a back-up if you don't get an Argos pre-order in or an Amazon invite right away.Compared to the Nintendo Store, however, Amazon's, Currys', and Smyths conditions appear to be a lot more relaxed for sending Switch 2 preorder invites.For example, the Nintendo store will only send initial invitees to those based on conditions like being a Nintendo Switch Online player for a continuous two years before 31/3/2025, having higher playtimes with purchased/paid Nintendo Switch games (not free-to-play games like Fortnite, it seems), and opting in to share usage information with Nintendo.Nintendo Switch 2 System and Accessories GalleryOn Amazon's side, it merely seems to be a ballot system where invitees are selected at random. With Currys and Smyths, it looks like it will simply be a case of sending out an email when pre-orders are opened, followed by a queued ordering system. This was the method Currys used when taking PS5 pre-orders, and it worked without any site crashes at least.This means you could be in for a longer wait from these alternative retailers, but it's a lot less frustrating if you're certain you don't meet the strict requirements to order from Nintendo directly.On the other hand, if you weren't planning to have the funds for your Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order taken until near-dispatch in Junewhich is usually the case for retailers like AmazonArgos may not be the best option for you since we have confirmed you'll need to pay right away.Still, if you've already got the money necessary, Argos is currently the best option to secure your pre-order immediately.Nintendo Switch Online 12 Month + Expansion Pack 365 Days Membership Download (UK - EU)Nintendo Switch Online 12 Month Family Membership + Expansion Pack 365 Days Download (UK - EU)While you're keeping an eye out for pre-orders on the console, you can already get a deal on the online membership & GameCube games. Over at ShopTo, you can get up to 35% off a Nintendo Switch Online membership & Expansion Pass for one year.That means, on Nintendo Switch 2, you'll be able to play online and play GameCube classics like The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker & Pokmon Colosseum for only 25.85.Ben Williams IGN freelance contributor with over 10 years of experience covering gaming, tech, film, TV, and anime. Follow him on Twitter/X @BenLevelTen.

Disney's CinemaCon presentation was filled with footage showcasing some of the upcoming films from Disney, Marvel, and more. While the studios have yet to release most of the clips, we were in attendance and are here to break down the biggest moments for you from The Fantasic Four: First Steps to Thunderbolts* to Avatar: Fire and Ash and more.New Fantastic Four Footage Reveals a Major Plot Point... and the Female Silver SurferThe Fantastic Four took center stage at CinemaCon and we got a look at brand-new footage of the long-awaited film that will be released in theaters on July 25, 2025.The footage begins with Mark Gatiss' Ted Gilbert hosting his 1960s Ed Sullivan Show-style talk show and recapping the story of the Fantastic Four. We get to see the space trip that transformed them, their popularity amongst the people, and their powers, minus the stretching abilities belonging to Pedro Pascal's Reed Richards. We then cut to a look at the Fantastic Four's home life and see more of our favorite robot, H.E.R.B.I.E., who is cooking with Ebon Moss Bachrach's Ben. The big reveal here is... SPOILER WARNING... Vanessa Kirby's Sue Storm is pregnant. It doesn't end there as we were then treated to the first shots of Julia Garner's Shalla-Bal, the Silver Surfer. She says, "your planet is now marked for death," and that is followed by shots of Galactus' shadow over New York.Lastly, Reed is seen getting ready for a mission and questioning whether or not they are safe. We also saw a large crowd running through the city and a little girl finding a The Thing action figure before being enveloped in Galactus' shadow herself. The final shot is off the SIlver Surfer flying towards the camera on her surfboard.Thunderbolts: New Footage Revealed the Sad Outcome of Buckys Political CareerPlayTo help with the wait until Thunderbolts* is unleashed into theaters on May 2, Marvel has revealed new footage of the upcoming MCU film.It all begins with the team driving to Jefferson Starship's 'Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now,' and we hear Bucky (Sebastian Stan) and Red Guardian (David Harbour) talking about the Super Soldier Serum and Hydra. In the back, Yelena (Florence Pugh) is talking about her Widow's Bite bracelets with Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) and John Walker (Wyatt Russell). The vehicle our heroes are in then smashes through glass walls and a fight breaks out where we see some of the unique skills and powers of these Thunderbolts in action. The fight is interrupted by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), who tells them to come upstairs in what is revealed as the building once known as Avengers Tower.Valentina talks about purchasing Avengers Tower and then addresses the team one by one, all before mocking Bucky's brief time as a congressman as he couldn't even make it half a term. Bucky lunges at Valentina, but he is stopped by an unseen force that we soon learn is caused by the Sentry. His reign of terror doesn't end there either as the footage ends with him taking out our favorite new team with ease.Avatar: Fire and Ash Footage Introduced New Na'vi Allies and AdversariesAhead of its December 19 release date, Avatar: Fire and Ash was given an introduction by director James Cameron before the first-ever footage was shown to the audience. The Sully family are really put through the ringer on this one as they face not only the human invaders, but new adversaries: the Ash People, Cameron said in his introduction.We got to see about five minutes of the film in 3D, and it featured two new groups of Na'vi - the Tlalim clan, a.k.a. the Windtraders, and the Mangkwan clan, a.k.a. the Ash People. The former are nomads who "sail" the skies and the latter have rejected their diety and the ways of the Na'vi after a volcano destoryed their homeland and left nothing but ash.The next sequence starred Jak Sully, Neytiri, Lo'ak, Tuk, Kiri, and Spider living amongst the Windtraders and sailing high above the sky in their membrane-like sails that look like jellyfish. All is well until they are attacked by the Ash People. First Predator: Badlands Trailer Shown at CinemaConElle Fanning took the stage at CinemaCon to unveil the first trailer for Predator: Badlands, where the Predator is a... good guy?! This new Predator is a younger warrior who has been cast out from his tribe and chooses to work with Fanning's character. "Something unprecedented happens in this movie," Fanning said. "My character is not the one being chased. My character actually teams up with the Predator. And you get to see him in a completley new light. And... I'll stop there!"As for the trailer, it kicks off with Predator relics on a ship and then a Predator standing on the shore of a planet that is not Earth. He also isn't wearing his helmet. Alongside glimpses of the Predator being surrounded by giant deadly monsters and Fanning's character saying, "You're somthing that cannot be killed," the footage ends with a bang as the Predator roars and faces down another massive creature with no fear. Predator: Badlands will be released in theaters on November 7, 2025. Tron: Ares Footage Gives Us a Tease of the Digital and Real Worlds CollidingTron: Ares will be released in theaters on October 10, 2025, and CinemaCon gave us a tease of this new adventure that will see the digital and real worlds collide. The footage begins with a highly sophisticated program, Jared Leto's Area, entering the real world from his digital home. This momentous occasion marks the first time humanity has encountered these AI beings in their world.Ares can be seen speeding through a city on his red-tinged light cycle, leaving police cars in his wake that have no hope of catching him. A Recognizer can also be seen hovering over the city with terrified citizens looking on. Gillian Anderson's character, who appears to be a business executive, makes an appearance alongside Jeff Bridges' Kevin Flynn, who can be heard saying, "Are you ready? Because there's no going back." And yes, the footage was accompanied by music by Nine Inch Nails.Lilo & Stitch Clip Shows Stitch Causing Chaos at Jimmy's LuauPlayThe live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch is set to be released in theaters on May 23, 2025, and CinemaCon presented us with a clip that fans of the original should be familiar with. The footage takes place at Jimmy's Luau, where Nani works, and sees Lilo and Stitch joining her. People still think Stitch is some weird dog, even David, but he doesn't behave like a good boy as he escapes his leash and has a western showdown with Lilo with a soda gun. Zootopia 2 and Elio Steal Our Hearts With New Footage, Adorable Animals, and MoreZootopia 2 and Elio both got new looks at CinemaCon, wit helio getting roughly 10 minutes of showtime with footage we've seen in the trailers ane beyond. PlayFor Zootopia 2, Ke Huy Quan, who plays Gary De'Snake, took the stage to share new details about the much-anticipated sequel, including that Quinta Brunson will be playing an adorable quokka therapist named Dr. Fuzzby. Nick and Judy are seen chasing after Gary De'Snake and are searching for clues as to his wherabouts. Alongside the way, they stop at therapy and meet the wonderful Dr. Fuzzby.Lindsay Lohan Flirts With Chad Michael Murray Even Though She's Really Jamie Lee Curtis in New Freakier Friday Footage After Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis took the stage at CinemaCon, footage was shown of Lindsay's Anna, who is actually housing Curtis' Tess in her body after they swap, flirting with Chad Michael Murray's Jake. Jake then asks if Tess' husband is still alive and she confirms she is and that he's very old.Freakier Friday will be released in theaters on August 8, 2025.

New footage from TRON: Ares was unveiled today at Disneys CinemaCon presentation by two of its stars, Oscar winners Jared Leto and Jeff Bridges. The footage revealed the havoc unleashed when the highly sophisticated Program, Ares, enters the real world from the digital world. Its humanitys first encounter with AI beings and judging from this footage, its not the most cordial of meetings.Leto plays Ares, who is on a dangerous mission to our world which brings him into contact with Bridges Kevin Flynn, the protagonist of the prior two TRON films.The footage showed Ares on his red-tinged light cycle zooming through a real-world city pursued by police cars who are no match to catch him. The overwhelmed citizens are terrified by the sight of a giant hovering Recognizer looming over them. There was a quick shot of Gillian Andersons character, who appears to be a business executive.TRON: Ares ImagesThe emphasis of the footage -- which boasted music by Nine Inch Nails -- was on wild video game elements invading the real-world and the sort of terror and destruction they can yield. At one point, we hear Flynn say, Are you ready? Because theres no going back. And then we see Ares suiting up for action.The cast also includes Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Hasan Minhaj, Jodie Turner-Smith, Arturo Castro, and Cameron Monaghan. Directed by Joachim Rnning, TRON: Ares zooms into theaters on October 10, 2025.