Today, I am thrilled to officially unveil a new studio in the PlayStation Studios family. teamLFG originated at Bungie, but has also rallied developers from across the industry to bring to life an ambitious incubation project that I’m very excited about. The studio is now fully formed and ready to be introduced to the world.
I’ll let teamLFG introduce themselves properly and give a tiny glimpse of what they’ve been working on.
“Hello, world. It’s a delight to meet you, and we’re very grateful to be joining PlayStation Studios.
Our studio is headquartered in Bellevue, WA, with team members working both on-site and remotely throughout the U.S. and Canada. We are a team composed not just of industry veterans who have shipped titles like Destiny, Halo, League of Legends, Fortnite, Roblox, and Rec Room, but also industry newcomers with fresh creative perspectives and skills. We are passionate about exceptional action-based gameplay, moment-to-moment game feel, and richly social virtual worlds.
The “LFG” in “teamLFG” stands for “Looking For Group.” We are driven by a mission to create games where players can find friendship, community, and belonging. We want our players to feel excited when they log on to discover their teammates already hanging out online. We want our players to recognize familiar names and to make myths and memes out of each other. We want our players to love remembering that one time where they pulled off That Play that changed the whole story of the match. As we say on the team – dat’s da good stuff.
We will make immersive multiplayer worlds propelled by action games that players can learn, play, and master for countless hours. We want to build our games with our communities, inviting players to be a part of our development process through early access playtests. It’s critical that we stay nimble enough to react to player feedback, not just in our lead-up to launch, but throughout live service as we continue to grow the game and community for years to come.
Our first game is a team-based action game that draws inspiration from fighting games, platformers, MOBAs, life sims, and frog-type games. Players will inhabit a lighthearted, comedic world set in brand-new, mythic, science-fantasy universe. We can’t wait to reveal more.
‘Til then, we’ll do our best! Thanks for reading.”
Genshin Impact is one of the most popular gacha games in the world. The free-to-play action RPG from HoYoverse lets players spend a virtual currency called Primogems to have a chance (a “wish”) to obtain rare characters of varying power. It’s a microtransactions system that has proved controversial, but a money-spinner for the developers, generating billions of dollars in revenue over the years.
In most games of this type, the amount of money you have to spend to eventually pull a character is withheld from the player — and you can see why given the poor odds available. But now, HoYoverse has updated Genshin Impact to do just that, revealing front and centre just how much needs to be spent.
The Genshin Impact shop now tells U.S. players how many pulls you’re getting with each purchase (you can buy wishes directly with a direct conversion rate displayed) and how much you need to spend to guarantee pulling a character, which varies between $1.98 to $475.20. The figure is based on the base prices of the pulls (without bonuses) and if you hit the max pulls to guarantee the character (180 pulls).
So, while the posted figure assumes the highest possible price if you intentionally don’t buy the higher value (and more expensive) bundles, you could face spending nearly $500 pulling just one character in Genshin Impact.
Players have reacted with a mix of disbelief and positivity at the transparency.
“Whole thing is weirdly…. Transparent,” said redditor Zion-plex. “You see it clear as day, 100 bucks 50 pulls every time staring at you (whales think or maybe don’t even care they ‘know’ the math). Man, that’ll sting, even for those who can and will spend, there’s a lot of mental suppression that goes on.”
”Unmitigated positive,” said Whilyam. “The only people helped by obscuring costs are the ones who want to take advantage of people or make it easier for people with addictions to justify spending money.”
“I think it’s harder to justify the spending with abysmal conversion rate visible with your eyes,” added Mtboomerang. “I think the biggest problem with addicts is they follow the emotion then they will calculate. With the conversion rate visible now, their logic will shut their emotion down in time before they are deep in emotion abyss trying to come up with a reason.”
“Good changes that should be standardized for all Gachas and other similar games with gambling/loot box type mechanics,” said mikethebest1.
Some players are now calling on HoYoverse to just let Genshin Impact players buy characters directly, given they now know how much it could cost to obtain them through the gacha system.
“I wish they would just freaking sell the damn characters,” said yuusharo. “Horse armor works on me, I’d pay a freak ton on these games if I knew I’d get what I wanted every single time.
“Instead, the vast majority of their revenue comes from a tiny percentage of players exploiting gambling tendencies, preying on people like vultures. I hate it, I feel so gross whenever I succumb to that.”
So, why has HoYoverse added this layer of transparency to Genshin Impact now? It’s because it lost a court case against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) back in January that resulted in a ban on selling loot boxes
The age verification process will be rolled out to all U.S. players by May 20. If you don’t provide your age information by July 18, 2025, you could see your account suspended, the developer warned. If the verification is not completed by July 20, 2026, the personal information of your HoYoverse account will be deleted permanently.
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.
Publisher/ developer EA has confirmed it has no plans to raise the price of its games even as the likes of Microsoft and Nintendo jump to $80.
Addressing investors in its latest financial call, CEO Andrew Wilson said the company’s focus was to “deliver incredible quality and exponential value for our playerbase,” such as its hit co-op adventure Split Fiction, which has now sold 4 million copies.
“In terms of pricing power, our business is very different today than it was even just 10 years ago,” Wilson explained. “In a world where everything we did 10 years ago was about selling shiny discs in plastic boxes in retail shelves — well, that’s still a part of our business, it’s a significantly smaller part of our business, and we now have pricing representing everything from free-to-play all the way to deluxe editions and beyond.
“At the end of the day, whether we’re doing something that costs a dollar, or we’re doing something that costs $10, or we’re doing something that costs $100, our objective is always to deliver incredible quality and exponential value for our playerbase,” said Wilson. “And what we’ve discovered over the course of time is [when] we can marry quality and value together, our business is strong, resilient, and continues to grow.”
“From a guidance perspective […] we have reflected no changes in our current [pricing] strategy at this point,” added CFO Stuart Canfield.
It’ll be welcome news to some, given just last week, Microsoft confirmed it was raising Xbox prices as well as increasing the cost of controllers, headsets, and some games. The price hike for consoles and accessories has already taken effect, and while game prices will stay the same for now, we should expect to see Xbox charging $79.99 for new, first-party games around the holiday season.
Vikki Blake is a reporter, critic, columnist, and consultant. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
A new GTA 6 trailer is here and, in case you missed it, we broke down all of the secrets and details from it. Sadly, though, we’re going to have to wait until May 26, 2026, to actually play Lucia and Jason’s story. So, in the meantime, why don’t we think about all of the Rockstar games we’ve already enjoyed over the years and rank them for fun?
Rockstar has developed and released over 30 games since its creation in 1998, and is responsible for famous series such as Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption, and Manhunt. But which comes out on top? Just to clarify, you won’t see the likes of LA Noire or Max Payne 2 here, as we’ve strictly gone with Rockstar-developed games, rather than ones the studio has published. I’ve had a go at ranking them via one of our IGN Tier Lists, purely taking into account my personal enjoyment of each game over the years. Take a look at my tier list here:
Red Dead Redemption 2 is simply my favourite game of all time, so it was a pretty easy S-tier pick for me if I’m honest. It’s (perhaps unsurprisingly) joined its predecessor and GTA 5 in that category – both pioneers of the cinematic open world genre. I also have a particular soft spot for Max Payne 3 and its bullet time ballet, as well as GTA San Andreas (a game I played at a way too young age). Down at the bottom in the D-tier, we have the likes of Austin Powers: Oh, Behave! and Welcome to My Underground Lair!, a game that literally nobody in their right mind wants to play.
Don’t agree with me? Think that Vice City is better than GTA 4? Well, why not have a go at ranking all of Rockstar’s games yourself in a tier list below, where you can compare your own S, A, B, C, and D tiers with the whole of the IGN community.
We may have only seen two trailers so far, but where do you think GTA 6 will end up ranking when all is said and done? Let us know in the comments, as well as why you’ve ranked the games in the order you’ve chosen.
Simon Cardy is a Senior Editor at IGN who can mainly be found skulking around open world games, indulging in Korean cinema, or despairing at the state of Tottenham Hotspur and the New York Jets. Follow him on Bluesky at @cardy.bsky.social.
Regardless of the drop-off in Switch sales in recent years, we knew that this generation had been a good one for Nintendo’s financials. It has been so good, in fact, that the House of Mario has just surpassed another massive milestone in its latest Japanese market valuation (thanks, NintendoWire).
According to the market capitalisation tracker CompaniesMarketCap, Nintendo has now surpassed the $100 billion line in market valuation. This is the first time that the Big N has reached 12 digits, and, with a current estimated value of $100.16 billion, it’s quickly closing in on the title of the sixth-largest Japanese company in the world — currently held by Fast Retailing on $100.91 billion.
I pulled today’s deals because each one offers either a return of a hard-to-find product, a lower-than-usual price, or good old solid value. Some items like the Pokémon TCG: Mimikyu ex Box are back in stock for $49.99 after being hard to track down for a while, for example.
TL;DR: Deals For Today
There are also more cool deals like the LEGO Cherry Blossom that have had a nice price drop recently that I think you should check out too. If you’re looking to grab something on your list for less than usual, this is what I think is worth your time.
Pokémon TCG: Mimikyu ex Box
Mimikyu ex Box is available again at Amazon for $49.99. This has been in and out of stock recently, and now that it’s back at standard pricing, I think it’s a good time to pick it up if you’ve been waiting.
It comes with a Mimikyu ex foil promo, a Greavard card, an oversized Mimikyu ex, and four booster packs, including one from Silver Tempest. I picked one up to open casually, and I think the contents make it a well-rounded option for collectors or newer players looking to add a few cards and packs at once.
More Pokémon TCG Restocks
Several sealed Pokémon TCG products are also back on Amazon. One example is the Surging Sparks booster box, which is currently listed above MSRP. I would only go for that if you’re set on opening all 36 booster packs from Surging Sparks at once.
Other sealed options like tins and smaller boxes are closer to retail and offer more flexibility. These restocks tend to move quickly, so I’ve been checking them regularly to avoid overpaying later.
I’ve had both on my radar and noticed they’re still trending across marketplaces. They continue to be relevant cards for both competitive play and collectors, so I think now is a fair time to consider picking them up if you’ve been holding off.
LEGO Cherry Blossom
Amazon has the LEGO Cherry Blossom set available for $8.15 today. That’s a steep drop from the usual $14.99 price and a low I haven’t seen in a while.
It includes 430 pieces and builds into two cherry blossom branches in pink and white. I built it recently and think it works well as simple desk decor. It’s easy to assemble and feels more polished than its size and price might suggest. This is one of the best sets from our top picks for Mother’s Day.
More LEGO deals
There are several other LEGO sets discounted today. LEGO Roses is $9.03 and includes two adjustable red rose stems. LEGO Ideas Tree House is $174.99, which is 30 percent off and still one of LEGO’s best larger builds for display.
LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon is $67.99 and strikes a nice balance between detail and build time. Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit is $59.95 and includes a working gear mechanism for orbit simulation. The LEGO Mini Orchid is $23.99 and fits neatly into a small space while still looking like a proper decorative piece.
Xbox Controller – Robot White
The Xbox Wireless Controller in Robot White is $44.99 at Walmart. It features a hybrid D-pad, textured grip, and wireless support for Xbox Series X and S, Xbox One, PC, and mobile. I keep one connected to both my Xbox and laptop as it’s one of the best controllers out right now in my opinion. At this price, it’s a smart option if you need a backup or replacement.
Vibe Coding Super Bundle
The Complete Vibe Coding Super Bundle is available at Humble for $25 or more and includes 42 courses. These cover Unreal Engine, Python, automation tools, and SaaS development. Proceeds go toward Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
If you’ve been meaning to build development skills or start a side project, this bundle delivers a lot of content with long-term value.
Dreamegg Portable White Noise Machine
The Dreamegg Portable White Noise Machine is available for $18.99, and there’s a 15% off coupon on top of that. It’s small enough to carry in a coat pocket or travel bag and includes 16 different white noise and nature sounds.
It charges via USB-C and lasts multiple nights per charge. I keep something similar in my bag when traveling, and it’s made a noticeable difference in light-sleep environments.
Skyrim Vinyl Box Set
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Ultimate Edition Vinyl Box Set is $129.98 at the IGN Store. It includes four LPs containing Jeremy Soule’s complete remastered soundtrack and comes packaged in a quad-fold jacket with game artwork. The set also includes a sturdy slipcase. I’ve seen a lot of soundtrack vinyl over the years, and this is one of the more complete and visually polished collections available.
Suri Electric Toothbrush
SURI Electric Toothbrush is $101.15, marked down from $119.00. It includes a UV sanitizing travel case, an aluminum body, and recyclable brush heads. It also offers two brushing modes, a two-minute timer, and a battery that lasts 40 days on a single charge. I prefer this kind of straightforward, high-quality design over flashier models that require frequent recharging.
Stanley Quencher H2.0 Tumbler
Stanley Quencher H2.0 Tumbler in the 40 ounce Stargaze color is $33.69 today. It includes a rotating lid with three positions and vacuum insulation to keep drinks cold or hot for long periods. It fits into most cup holders and has a wide, sturdy handle. I’ve had one in daily use for a while and still think it’s one of the more practical bottles out there, especially when available below full price.
COSLUS Water Dental Flosser
COSLUS Water Dental Flosser is available for $29.98. It includes a 300 milliliter water tank, multiple pressure modes, and a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 30 days. There are several interchangeable tips included, and the build feels durable. I’ve used similar flossers before and found them much easier to use consistently than string floss. For this price, it covers all the basics and more.
Acefast AceFit Air Open Ear Headphones
Acefast’s AceFit Air Open Ear Headphones are $67.99 at Amazon today, and there’s a 10% off coupon available knocking the final price down to $61.19. These use an open-ear design that rests just outside the ear, which I’ve found helpful for staying aware of surroundings during walks or workouts. They’re lightweight, water-resistant, and include app-controlled EQ settings. If you’re not a fan of traditional earbuds, I think this design is worth trying.
GameSir Super Nova Gaming Controller
GameSir Super Nova Gaming Controller is $43.16 at Geekbuying, or $41 through their mobile app. It works with Switch, PC, Android, and iOS and uses Hall Effect sticks and triggers to reduce drift. You also get RGB lighting and a detachable faceplate.
I’ve looked into this controller recently and think it’s a solid pick for anyone who wants something more customizable than the standard options without going up to premium pricing.
Nerf Pro Gelfire Versus Pack
Nerf Pro Gelfire Versus Pack is $14.95 and includes two compact blasters, protective eyewear, and 4,000 Gelfire rounds. These rounds burst on impact and do not require cleanup. The blasters hold 60 rounds each and fire at up to 150 feet per second. I think this is an easy and affordable way to try gel-style play without investing in a larger setup.
INIU Portable Charger for $9.99 at Amazon
INIU 10000mAh Portable Charger is $19.99, and there’s a 50% off coupon available at checkout. It’s one of the thinnest chargers I’ve seen at just half an inch thick, and it supports USB-C input and output with 3 amp charging.
I’ve used similar models while traveling and think they’re ideal for pocket carry or tossing in a bag when you want something lightweight but capable.
Unlock Pro 3D Modeling Skills With Blender
If you’re even a little curious about 3D modeling, the Humble Blender Bundle is offering 25 full tutorials for just $18. These courses cover Blender 4.4 fundamentals, geometry nodes, environment design, character modeling, and more, with full compatibility for Unity 6 and Unreal Engine. The total value adds up to $2,767, which makes this one of the best skill-building bundles I’ve seen in a while. Proceeds go to Alzheimer’s Research UK, and the offer is available for the next 16 days.
Samsung PRO Plus + Reader microSDXC 512GB
512GB Samsung PRO Plus microSDXC card + reader is on sale for $29.99, a savings of $39 off the regular $68.99. It includes a USB card reader and offers read speeds up to 180MB/s and write speeds up to 130MB/s.
It’s Class 10, V30, and U3 rated, making it suitable for 4K UHD video recording and high-speed file transfers. With a 10-year limited warranty included, I think this is a dependable storage upgrade for devices like cameras, tablets, or handheld consoles (…but not Switch 2).
Fallout Nuka Cola Quantum by Jones Soda
you’ve ever wanted to drink something that looks like it came straight out of your inventory screen, the Nuka-Cola Quantum 4-pack is now available for preorder at the IGN Store for $34.99. This version cranks up the sour factor with an “Extra Radiation” twist that’s really just berry lemonade with a serious kick.
I think it’s a fun, functional collectible conversation starter (andpart sugar rush). Each set includes four twist-top glass bottles in a Fallout 4-inspired carrier box, complete with retro styling and no actual Rads (just cane sugar and citrus). It ships June 2025, which gives you time to plan your next cosplay party or stock up for a long vault stay.
Elebase USB to USB C Adapter 4 Pack
This 4-pack of USB-A male to USB-C female adapters is currently $7.99 at Amazon, down from the typical $9.99. I think this is one of those small purchases that ends up being unexpectedly helpful. If you’re still using a mix of USB-A and USB-C ports, these are a clean solution that don’t require extra cables or dongles.
They’re built with aluminum alloy housing, designed to stay plugged in with minimal protrusion, and work with devices like the iPhone 16 series, Apple Watch, AirPods, Nintendo Switch, and Samsung Galaxy S25. Just a heads-up: they’re not meant for video output, but they’re excellent for charging and file transfers. They also come with a 12-month service plan, which adds a little extra peace of mind.
LISEN USB C to USB C Cable 240W
This USB-C cable bundle from LISEN is marked down to $7.99 from $15.96. The set includes two 6.6-foot cables capable of 240W charging with PD 3.1 and QC 4.0 support. That makes them well suited for high-powered laptops like the MacBook Pro M4 or phones like the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
They’re made with a braided nylon exterior and reinforced with steel-armored connectors that have been tested for over 40,000 bends. These also support 480Mbps data transfer, so you’re covered for fast file syncing too. I think it’s a strong buy if you’re replacing older cables or want something reliable for travel.
I think this is an easy pick for fans or collectors, especially since the size makes it good for display as well as cuddling. If you’re looking for a thoughtful gift or just want to add something playful to your space, this one hits the mark.
Ghost of Yotei Collector’s Edition PS5
Preorders are now live for the Ghost of Yōtei Collector’s Edition, priced at $249.99. This is a follow-up set in the Ghost of Tsushima universe and comes with both digital and physical collectibles. Inside the box, you’ll find a wearable Ghost Mask, sash, replica tsuba, papercraft ginkgo tree, art cards, and a traditional Zeni Hajiki coin game.
Digital content includes the full game for PS5, a deluxe armor set, saddle, sword kit, early unlock maps, and other in-game bonuses. With a release date of October 2, I think this one will go fast, especially for fans of the original game.
Clair Obsur: Expedition 33 Merch
The IGN Store has launched exclusive merchandise for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The collection includes prints, hoodies, t-shirts, mugs, and other themed gear. Prices start at $15 with a wide range of characters and designs represented.
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.
One of the programmers behind the very first Grand Theft Auto has praised Rockstar for delaying GTA 6‘s initial release to May next year, observing (not in so many words) that the developers could have rushed out an early release consisting of a city’s worth of T-posing NPCs and whitebox freeways, and people would still have paid top dollar for the game.
Street Fighter creator Takashi Nishiyama is developing a brand new boxing game in collaboration with long-running boxing magazine The Ring. The news was revealed on the official X account of Turki Alalshikh, the Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority. Alalshikh acquired American publication The Ring back in November 2024.
According to the tweet, the untitled game will feature original characters and combine “The Ring’s unmatched authority in boxing with game developer Dimps’ decades-long experience in crafting classic games.”
Together with legendary Japanese video game designer Takashi Nishiyama, I am proud to announce a forthcoming boxing game presented by The Ring featuring original characters.
This strategic partnership between myself and Nishiyama brings together our unmatched authority in… pic.twitter.com/LRWyyZzkpz
Dimps is Takashi Nishiyama’s company. Its most recent game was Freedom Wars Remastered, a reworking of a PlayStation Vita game for modern consoles released in January 2025. According to the tweet from Alalshikh, development of the boxing title will begin soon.
The Saudi Arabian royal family has become increasingly invested in Japan’s gaming industry in recent years. In April 2024, it was revealed that 100% of Japanese game company SNK’s shares were now owned by the Saudi Crown Prince’s foundation. The Ring Magazine has also been involved in promoting SNK’s upcoming Fatal Fury: City of Wolves, hosting a boxing match collaboration at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on April 26, 2025. Of course, Nishiyama himself previously worked at SNK in the 1990s, creating the Fatal Fury series and producing many games in flagship SNK series like Metal Slug and King of Fighters.
Japanese people’s reactions to the announcement of The Ring x Dimps collaboration so far have generally ranged from surprised reactions of “What?!! I want to play it!” to curiosity as to what the final game will be like.
@ryo_redcyclone, an X user who frequently posts Street Fighter-related content, responded to the news with: “Commenting on the first Street Fighter, Nishiyama said: ‘I chose to focus on street fighting because established sports are restricted by rules.’ This time he is making a game based on boxing, a sport with rules, so I’m curious to see how it will turn out.”
Much of the concern seems to center upon whether boxing’s rules will restrict Nishiyama’s creativity, considering the roster of quirky characters and crazy moves that can be found in his previous fighting games.
Although Street Fighter has Mike Tyson lookalike Balrog, his kicks, not to mention his Buffalo Head move, clearly violate professional boxing rules. It will be interesting to see whether The Ring and Dimps’ new boxing game goes for a realistic or rule-breaking approach.
Verity Townsend is a Japan-based freelance writer who previously served as editor, contributor and translator for the game news site Automaton West. She has also written about Japanese culture and movies for various publications.
Polar Star is, basically, rock paper pistol, but with a few dab-handed puzzle twists that make it instantly compelling. You’re a saloon dwelling varmint sat at a table with nothing but your six shooter and a glass of whiskey for company, and you’re accosted by a chain of ne’er-do-wells. Perhaps there’s a bounty on your head. Perhaps it’s their whiskey you’re drinking. It’s not clear, but it seems nefarious. You know what ne’er-do-wells are like.
