With the arrival of the Switch 2, we’ve finally been getting some parity across the multiplatform sports games across all consoles, with EA and 2K’s offerings being much-better than their Switch 1 counterparts.
We thought we’d see the same from Sony’s MLB The Show 26, which has been confirmed for a 17th March 2026 release alongside the reveal of cover star Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees, who is returning to front for the second time.
Grounded 2 Update: The Toxic Tangle – Available Now
Summary
The Toxic Tangle update is available now, expanding Grounded 2 with a massive new Garden biome to explore, new creatures and gear, the mysterious Tang effect, and much more.
Ride into danger on the Ladybug Buggy, a heavy-duty mount with a water cannon, ramming charge, and serious tank energy.
The Founder’s Pack has been updated, with new decorative unlocks for players ready to show off their park style.
The garden is awake.
Ominent’s experiments have taken a sour turn, and a strange new corruption is spreading across Brookhollow Park. Tang now stains the soil, seeps into water, and clings to unsuspecting creatures—and it’s up to you to survive whatever’s brewing beneath the surface.
Welcome to The Toxic Tangle, the first major content update for Grounded 2, available now for all players. This update expands the park with a new biome, new creatures, armor and weapons, trinkets, building sets, and a few threats that may be more than they appear.
A Whole New Garden
Overgrown vines choke the greenhouse, creating twisting paths and hidden crawlspaces. These massive monstrosities and staggering structures all combine to produce that ‘how did I get up there?’ moment. The Garden biome is ripe for exploration, stacked with vertical climbs, secret stashes, and probably a bug or two you didn’t see coming.
From the pumpkin patch to the carrot jungle, every corner offers something to harvest, hoard, or accidentally aggro. It’s big, it’s messy, and it’s absolutely crawling with trouble. Bring your best gear—and maybe a backup plan.
The Ladybug Buggy Rolls In
One of Grounded’s most iconic bugs is finally rideable—and she’s not here to play nice.
The Ladybug Buggy is a heavy-duty, tank-style mount equipped with a pressurized water cannon. Use it to blast airborne pests out of the sky, rinse away sour Tang buildup, or just give your enemies a bad day. It can also ram headfirst into foes with a powerful charge and slowly regenerates health over time.
If you ever jumped on a ladybug in the first Grounded and wished you could stay there, this one’s for you.
New Threats (and Familiar Faces)
The Garden is full of life, but not all of it wants to share the space.
New creatures like the coordinated Earwigs, the bulky Potato Beetles, and the soon-to-be fan-favorite, the Woolly Aphid, will challenge your reflexes, your timing, and your trust in anything with antennae.
You might also want to keep your eyes open. The Masked Stranger may have retreated after your first encounter, but she’s not gone—and she may not be alone.
Oh, and the Snake Colossus? You’ll know it when you see it. Probably right before it sees you.
Mutation Updates, BUILD.M Upgrades & More
Mutations have leveled up. They’re now split into active and passive types—actives still work the way you know and love, but passives now apply automatically based on your weapon loadout. That means less menu juggling and more time doing cool stuff, like perfect blocking a Tang-covered Rust Beetle or showing off your hybrid build mid-fight.
And for all the architects, decorators, and “I-just-need-one-more-wall-piece” players out there, this update’s for you. The builder toolkit gets a serious upgrade with new kits like the Pumpkin Set, a refreshed Mushroom Kit, Scale Roof Set, updated Acorn Stairs, and a community request for floor hatches. It’s all about more pieces, better parity between sets, and smoother snapping to bring your backyard blueprints to life.
Whether you’re crafting a greenhouse hideout, a pumpkin fortress, or a garden party palace, we can’t wait to see what you build—and share. Tag us, drop it in Discord, or show it off wherever you hang out. We’ll be watching (with admiration, not binoculars).
The Garden MIX.R and O.R.C. wave challenges are also live, ready for anyone who thinks they’re tough enough to survive the swarm.
Lastly, the Founder’s Pack also grows with this update, adding new base-building items like the High Roller’s Dice Bag, Champion’s Banner, and more ways to personalize your park adventure.
What’s Next?
Alongside this update, we’re preparing for the return of Playgrounds Mode, entering PTB (Public Test Beta) in February with all the core tools from the first Grounded. Whether you’re building mini-games, boss arenas, or custom gauntlets, Playgrounds will give creators the tools they need to thrive. To keep an eye on what’s coming to Brookhollow Park, be sure to check out our updated roadmap for a sneak peek at what’s in store for Grounded 2.
There’s never been a better time to shrink down, suit up, and explore the weirdest corners of Brookhollow Park. The Toxic Tangle update for Grounded 2 is available now in Game Preview for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Cloud, and in early access on Steam —jump in today with Xbox Game Pass and untangle the chaos.
Shrunk again, but the world is much larger. Survive a sprawling open world alone or in co-op with friends. Craft weapons, forge armor, and build bases while exploring the park on your trusty Buggy mounts. Unravel hidden mysteries and face unexpected threats. But something else is out there—and it hasn’t forgotten you.
Shrunk to the size of an ant, you’ll find once-familiar spaces turned into a sprawling, uncharted frontier. Survive alone or in co-op with friends, crafting weapons, forging armor, and building bases as you explore manmade playgrounds overgrown by nature. Traverse this new realm on trusty Buggy mounts—your capable allies—and uncover the mysteries lurking beneath bright colors and towering structures. But stay wary: something else is out there, and it hasn’t forgotten you.
Survive, Adapt, Overcome
The world is relentless, but so are you. Shape your adventure with unique archetypes, each offering distinct abilities to match your playstyle. Whether you rely on precision, cunning, or sheer strength, you’ll need every advantage to survive against the threats lurking in the park.
Stronger Together
The perils of the park are daunting alone, but with friends, every challenge becomes an adventure. Work together to build, fight, and uncover the secrets buried beneath the grass. Whether you’re facing danger side by side or continuing your journey in a shared world, survival is always better with allies.
Because Walking is Bogus
They scurry, they fight, and now—they help you survive. Hatch, raise, and ride your own insect friends – Buggies! Saddle up and traverse through the park, fight on them or alongside them in battle, or use them to gather resources and build your base. The right partner could mean the difference between thriving and barely surviving.
A Shadow That Follows You
The threat is always there—watching, learning, waiting. You don’t know where it’s coming from, only that it never leaves. The deeper you dig, the closer it gets. Some mysteries should stay buried, but it’s too late now. It knows you’re looking. And it’s ready. Every answer drags you deeper, every step invites something closer. You were never alone. You thought you were in control. You were wrong.
The Ascended Heroes expansion is about to kick off the Pokémon TCG’s 2026 run with its 30 January release date fast approaching, and there are only a couple of places where you can reliably buy preorders for ETBs, booster packs, and collections right now.
That’s along with not every product being launched on that 30 January release date.
As expected, the usual drops at MSRP at sites like the Pokémon Center US and UK are already sold out. Preorders at Target are already sold out as well, while Best Buy’s selection is merely marked as “Coming Soon”.
With that, outside of keeping up with deal trackers, you’ll very more than likely have to pay above retail price for the time being.
That said, we’ll give you a full breakdown of the best places to get your buy for Pokémon preorders for whichever Mega Evolution: Ascended Heroes products you’re looking out for.
Only a handful of Pokémon TCG products for the Ascended Heroes expansion are launching right away on 30 January, with the Charmander and Ghastly Tech Collections preorders being the best to buy first — the cheapest being at Walmart for $39.97 each (random), or at Amazon for around $43 each.
Each collection gets you three Ascended Heroes booster packs, a titular promo card, and a tech sticker sheet.
Pre-orders for individual Ascended Heroes booster packs are sold out over at TCGplayer and aren’t listed at Amazon or Walmart, so the Tech Sticker Collections give you the best value for money.
Ascended Heroes Collection Blisters — Erika & Larry
One of the first Ascended Heroes products releasing with the set’s launch on 30 January, the Erika and Larry blister packs are arguably the second-hottest to buy right now — and pre-orders can be bought cheapest for $34.99 at Amazon.
However, whichever one you get between the Larry and Erika edition (Larry’s has a Komala promo card, and Erika’s with Tangela). If you want Larry’s specifically, you can spend a little more at Amazon, with the cheapest listing available being $39.95.
Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Boxes
As is normally the case with a new expansion in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Ascended Heroes is the most in demand, but pre-orders can be bought right now at TCGplayer for $117.85 or Walmart for $149.99.
The one thing to keep in mind with each option here is that these are individual or third-party retailers trading on each platform, but what they’re offering with their listings for Ascended Heroes Trainer Boxes is all the same:
Nine Ascended Heroes booster packs
N’s Zekrom foil promo card
65 themed card sleeves
40 Energy cards
Player’s guide
Six damage-counter dice
Coin-flip die (competition legal)
Plastic coin
Code card for the Pokémon Trading Card Game Live
Collector’s box, plus six organizational dividers
For the very serious collector’s out there, TCGplayer is also stocking resales of the Exclusive Pokemon Center edition of the Ascended Heroes ETB — the lowest for a whopping $399 plus $200 shipping; all of that extra money gets you an extra N’s Zekrom foil promo card, but also emblazoned with the Pokemon Center Logo, and arriving in an alternative box.
Keep in mind, however, that the Pokémon Company announced a delayed launch date of 20 February 2026 for Ascended Heroes ETBs to 20 February 2026. So, even if you do get a pre-order in before January 30, you’ll need to wait a few more weeks.
Ascended Heroes Mini-Tins
Also, with a delayed release date of February 20, listings for the Pokémon TCG’s Ascended Heroes Mini-Tins are still incredibly expensive on TCGplayer — making Walmart’s pre-order price of $29.99 the cheapest to buy right now.
Granted, whichever style of tin you’ll get among these is totally random, but is cheaper than paying over six times the price to get a specific one on TCGplayer.
Ascended Heroes Premium Poster Collections
Packing ten Pokémon TCG: Ascended Heroes booster packs, a titular promo card (Mega Gardevoir ex or Mega Lucario ex; and a poster to go with it, you can buy a pre-order of the Premium Poster Collections right now at Walmart for $124.99 each.
This is currently the only place to buy, with TCGplayer being sold out. Plus, keep in mind that whichever one you get of the two will be random.
Also, The Pokemon Company also announced these collections will be released at a later date of 20 March.
Ascended Heroes Booster Bundles
Offering a box of six Pokémon TCG booster packs, the Ascended Heroes Booster Bundle is best to pre-order at Walmart — offering the lowest price of $77.95, compared to TCGplayer sellers asking for $82.44 plus $200 shipping at best.
We expect better TCGplayer sellers with better offers to be closer to the Ascended Heroes Booster Bundles’ release date, which was also announced as an even further delayed date of 24 April 2026. In the meantime, though, Walmart’s the best go-to.
Ben Williams – IGN freelance contributor with over 10 years of experience covering gaming, tech, film, TV, and anime. Follow him on Twitter/X @BenLevelTen.
The release of GTA 6 may still be a long way off, but indie filmmaker Todd Wiseman Jr. has made an ambitious new short film, titled Six Stars, that essentially brings Grand Theft Auto into live-action. The short film is available on YouTube and can also be watched via the embed below.
Wiseman Jr. (The School Duel) wrote and directed Six Stars and also produced it with Christa Boarin. Trevor Gureckis (M. Night Shyamalan’s Old) composed the score.
The short film stars Anatomy of a Fall’s Milo Machado-Graner as a French teenage gamer who, according to the logline provided to IGN, “goes on an ‘American rampage’, spiraling through a world that can’t look away… where violence is packaged, shared, and applauded.“
Watch the entire seven-minute short film Six Stars via the player embedded below.
The logline adds: “Shot against the backdrop of Tampa, Florida, Wiseman Jr.’s hometown, Six Stars questions the representation of masculinity in today’s entertainment while simultaneously confronting the glorification and entertainment value placed on violence, one of The United States’ chief exports.”
Check out the poster and some select still photos from Six Stars by scrolling through the slideshow below.
Plus, watch this behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film here:
Reigns: The Witcher has been announced by indie publisher Devolver Digital, in collaboration with CD Projekt Red.
This card-based take on The Witcher features the familiar Reigns gameplay formula where players draw random opportunities and encounters then swipe left or right to choose what to do next (yes, exactly like a dating app).
Today’s reveal trailer features plenty of familiar faces from The Witcher franchise who will be familiar to fans of CD Projekt’s existing trilogy of RPG titles, including Yennefer, Triss, Vesemir, Dandelion, The Bloody Baron, Roach and… Maisy the Cow? We’re less sure about that last one.
Here, Geralt’s quests are retold as plays by Dandelion, who holds the hero’s fate in his hands. Whether sticking to the facts or stretching the truth, you’ll need to keep Geralt’s infamy in balance to ensure your run continues for as long as possible. And while your adventures with Geralt are likely to end in many deaths, each run will reward you with songbooks to perform on ever grander stages in the hope of ultimately reaching narrative immortality.
Reigns: The Witcher is developed by Reigns series developer Nerial, and set for launch on February 25 for PC via Steam and on mobile via Google Play and the iPhone App Store.
It feels anticlimactic to say so, and I don’t know why Geoff likes it so much, but Highguard seems decent. Adequate. S’alright. It’s a fine competitive FPS that’s capable of producing spirited, back-and-forth gun battles between spec ops wizards on bearback, which can in turn tickle the itches of anyone burnt out on battle royales or exasperated with extraction shooters. That’s me. I’m talking about me.
Terraria dev Re-Logic is kicking off 2026 in style with the monster ‘Bigger and Boulder’ update, rolling out on Switch today.
As is so often the case with Terraria content updates, this is a big one. The headline additions are a new crafting interface and inventory management tweaks, a fresh World Seed menu, and brand new Dead Cells and Palworld crossover content. Of course, there’s much more besides, including improved lighting and language support, new blocks and decor, bonus transformations and more bug fixes than you’d think possible.
This year, MLB The Show is all about leaving your mark like never before. More than any single game, it’s about The Journey. It starts by putting in the hard work in high school, with a continuous drive to be better than the day before and a hunger for a Hall of Fame career. That drive was top of mind throughout the development of this year’s game, which is why San Diego Studio and MLB The Show are proud to welcome back 3x American League MVP, Aaron Judge.
His journey has taken him from high school to college, then the minors to the majors, and on to the world stage. We’ve mirrored the same journey in our game, striving to create the most authentic MLB experience outside of actually being on the field.
Aaron continues to rewrite history. He was our cover athlete in 2018, after a record-breaking rookie year in 2017. He’s now a 3-time AL MVP, 7-time All-Star, 5-time Silver Slugger award winner, AL single-season home run record holder with 62 homers, and the 2026 Team USA World Baseball Classic Captain.
These are just a few highlights from his long list of achievements, and Aaron’s performances have not only inspired players on the diamond, but athletes and fans around the world. We’re excited to have him back as the cover athlete of MLB The Show 26. It’s now up to you; how will you leave your mark?
Official gameplay trailer drops next week
Check back next week, on February 3, to see our gameplay trailer featuring everything new we have in store for ‘26. We’ve got updates on the features you know and love, plus a few special surprises.
MLB The Show 26 launches on March 17, 2026 (*Early access begins March 13)
Get ready for launch with a few key updates:
Pre-orders for the Standard Edition and *Digital Deluxe Editions open on February 3, 2026 at 12 am EST/ 9 am PST on TheShow.com, platform stores, and participating retailers.
Purchasing the Digital Deluxe Edition gives you 4 days of Early Access starting on March 13, 2026.
Starting March 17, the Standard Edition of MLB The Show 26 is fully available.
The World Baseball Classic Tournament returns to Diamond Dynasty
This year’s cover features Aaron Judge in his Team USA World Baseball Classic uniform, so stay tuned to learn more about what this means for Diamond Dynasty in MLB The Show 26.
Homage x MLB The Show Returns
We’re also excited to announce the return of our Homage x MLB The Show apparel partnership! Since 2007, through crafted design, deep-cut storytelling, and Legendary Comfort, Homage has been helping fans pay homage to the people, places, and moments that matter most to them.
Similar to last year, we have an exciting variety of new drops that you can look forward to this year. Today’s drop is our Cover Athlete t-shirt, featuring Aaron Judge. In addition to adult sizes, we’re also excited to have youth sizes available! Cop the latest drop and own the show in style. Wear Homage and share your love for MLB The Show.
Stay in the know: Sign up for The Scouting Report & Your Show Account
Want the inside track on everything coming to MLB The Show 26? Sign up for the MLB The Show Scouting Report and get rewarded all season long with exclusive monthly Scouting Report Packs. From April through December, subscribers receive an exclusive Scouting Report Pack each month delivered straight to their inventory and filled with rewards you won’t want to miss.
Make sure you don’t miss your at-bat, sign up today on TheShow.com.
And while you’re at it, get ready for opening day by setting up your MLB The Show account. In ‘26, whatever platform you’re on, you can keep access to your entire inventory of cards. Step up to https://account.theshow.com and create your MLB The Show Account. Once you’re done, log in with your platform account and link it to your MLB The Show account. And that’s a win.
The journey is just beginning
Starting March 17, MLB The Show will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch with some special perks.
For more info on new features and sneak peeks on MLB The Show 26, check out our most recent blog post. And if you’re still game for more, keep reading here.
We’ll keep the action coming with regular updates, so keep an eye out for the Gameplay Trailer reveal next week, weekly feature reveals, Feature Trailer deep dives, updates on the Standard and Digital Deluxe Editions, a new pre-order loyalty discount and more.
Take a deep dive into the Orks faction in the latest trailer for Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4, the upcoming real-time strategy game sequel from King Art Games that’s due out later in 2026 for PC. It’s a mixture of cinematics and gameplay. Check it out above. And if you know anything about this universe, you probably won’t be surprised that the Orks are literally driven by mayhem and sporting a reckless, no-nonsense offensive playstyle. What you may not have been expecting is the scale of the carnage.
In particular, we get a great look at the Ork superunit, the Gorkanaut, which can crumple up dreadnoughts and go toe-to-toe with the likes of an Imperial Knight. Towering over the battlefield at a scale that sets Dawn of War apart from its predecessors, the number of guns on this thing could be described as both bewildering and hilarious. And that’s just what the Orks are about.
Dawn of War 4 has been our IGN First “cover story” all January long. If you missed any of our previous exclusive coverage, don’t miss our exclusive Ork cinematic trailer (watch it below), our hands-on impressions of the Ork faction, a look at how kill-sync animations are being enhanced with the combat director, and an interview with the creative leads behind the project.
We’ve got one more exclusive IGN First bit of coverage coming your way on Dawn of War 4 later this week. In the meantime, you can wishlist the upcoming RTS if you’re interested.
Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s executive editor of previews and host of both IGN’s weekly Xbox show, Podcast Unlocked, as well as our semi-retired interview show, IGN Unfiltered. He’s a North Jersey guy, so it’s “Taylor ham,” not “pork roll.” Debate it with him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan.
Well, the last one might have only appealed to folks open to taking on a mission that demands a bunch of crouch-walking, but you can’t say Helldivers 2‘s second warbond of 2026 isn’t offering plenty of bang for your buck. It’s got an exploding hammer. There’s other stuff in this Siege Breakers warbond too, but I’ll be honest, none of that can boast being a stick with a thing that goes boom taped to the end.
