Author: Game Infliction

Deals For Today: Pokémon TCG Sealed Product, Plus Surprise Gaming Keyboard and Mouse Discounts

This is one of the best Mondays we’ve had for deals for a while. Pokémon TCG sealed stock is sitting on digital store shelves, whilst single prices are down.

Amazon also decided to keep their Keyboard and Mouse sale after the countdown finished, while also holding a solid book sale that includes some of the best Legend of Zelda hardcovers.

TL;DR: Deals For Today

There are some classics up for grabs in the Xbox Game Studios Bundle, whilst IGN Store has some stunning Clair Obscure: Expedition 33 art prints.

We’ve also got some best sellers from over the weekend, including a LEGO Technic set, Jason X 4K Blu Ray, and a cracking deal on a Nintendo Switch 2 carry case that includes screen protectors. Let’s get into it:

Surging Sparks Booster Box

The Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet – Surging Sparks Booster Display Box includes 36 booster packs, featuring over 250 cards, new ACE SPEC mechanics, and dozens of special art cards.

While the $239.99 price reflects the early hype, it’s significantly over MSRP, so collectors looking for specific hits may be better off buying singles instead of ripping packs.

More Pokémon Restocks

It’s the same across the board with predatory pricing right now. Regardless of this being at a distributor or retailer level, it’s getting harder to find a good deal on sealed product.

At the moment, it’s a bargain finding something at MRSP. I’d seriously reccomend looking into the single Pokémon Cards below.

My Top Crashing and Climbing Pokémon Cards

Pokémon single prices are seeing big swings as trainers gear up for Destined Rivals. Greninja ex 214/167 has nearly halved in value this year, with Alakazam ex from 151 also down over 30%. Bulbasaur IR has dropped a massive 52%, making it a great pickup under $30.

Obsidian Flames fans can grab the Ninetales IR for around $18 after a 40% dip. On the flip side, Dragonite V Alt Art from Evolving Skies has nearly doubled since January, now around $225, and

Rayquaza VMAX alt art continues to climb past $649. With prices this volatile, picking up singles instead of sealed boxes can be the smarter move for most collectors right now.

GravaStar Wireless Mercury M1 Pro

GravaStar Mercury M1 Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse combines a lightweight magnesium alloy body with a 26,000 DPI PAW3395 sensor for ultra-precise tracking. It supports tri-mode connectivity across 2.4GHz, Bluetooth, and wired options, with up to 200 hours of battery life.

Fully programmable buttons, 4K polling support, and customizable RGB lighting round out a premium package for under $80 right now with stacked discounts. I’ve been using this for a couple of weeks now and it’s become my favorite for work and getting a bit of Fortnite in.

More Gaming Mouse Deals

Xbox Game Studios Game Bundle

The Xbox Game Studios Game Bundle offers eight PC games for just $10, including highly rated hits like Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Quantum Break, Wasteland 3, and Sunset Overdrive.

All titles redeem on Steam with no Xbox console required. With a total value of $214, it’s one of the best bundles running, and your purchase helps support the nonprofit Gameheads.

Corsair K70 RGB Pro Cherry MX Red

Corsair K70 RGB PRO Mechanical Gaming Keyboard features fast, linear Cherry MX Red switches, an 8,000Hz hyper-polling rate for ultra-low latency, and durable double-shot PBT keycaps. It also includes a soft-touch palm rest and a tournament mode switch for competitive play. Down to $99.37 from $169.99, it’s a strong pickup for serious gamers.

More Gaming Keyboard Deals

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Art Prints

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 12×16 Print brings striking artwork from one of 2025’s most anticipated games to your wall. Printed on premium hot press fine art paper or stretched canvas, each piece features vivid, fade-resistant colors on bright white, ultra-smooth stock or a durable solid wood frame. Officially licensed and exclusive to the IGN Store, it’s a perfect addition for fans prepping for the surreal world of Expedition 33.

Buy 2 Books, Save 50% on 1

Amazon is running a major Buy 2, Save 50% on 1 Book Sale across thousands of titles. Add any two eligible books to your cart and you’ll automatically save half off the lower-priced item at checkout. Popular picks include Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins, and The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel.

It’s a great chance to stock up on bestsellers, new releases, or even collectible editions at a serious discount. Just make sure to check for the “Qualifying Item” label before adding to cart. Oh, and don’t miss the below Legend of Zelda books.

My Favorite Books In This Sale

Apple AirPods Pro 2

Apple AirPods Pro 2 are down to $169 at Amazon, their lowest price in months. These premium earbuds feature powerful Active Noise Cancellation that removes twice as much background noise as before, Adaptive Audio for seamless switching between noise canceling and transparency modes, and personalized Spatial Audio for a more immersive soundstage.

Powered by Apple’s H2 chip, they deliver clearer calls, richer bass, and better battery life, with a dust-, sweat-, and water-resistant design. The addition of hearing health features and a customizable fit makes these a smart upgrade for iPhone users.

LEGO Technic Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit

LEGO Technic Planet Earth and Moon in Orbit Building Set is currently on sale for $59.95, down from $74.99 at Amazon. Designed for kids aged 10 and up, this 526-piece model lets young builders create a moving representation of the Earth and Moon orbiting the Sun.

It features printed months, moon phases, and an interactive crank mechanism to show how the orbits affect seasons. Whether used for learning or as cool space-themed room décor, it’s an imaginative way to bring the solar system to life.

Jason X 4K UHD Blu Ray

Jason X 4K UHD Limited Edition is now $28.99 at Amazon, down from its $49.95 list price. This cult sci-fi slasher flings Jason Voorhees into deep space, where he unleashes carnage on an unsuspecting spaceship crew.

The Arrow Video release comes packed with extras, including new and archival commentaries, documentaries, and a double-sided poster. Featuring Kane Hodder back in the mask and an upgraded 4K Dolby Vision transfer, this is a must for horror collectors.

Nintendo Switch 2 Travel Carrying Case

Keep your gear safe with the TZGZT Travel Carrying Case for Nintendo Switch 2, now just $12.84 at Amazon (down from $27.73). Designed for the new Switch 2, this lightweight EVA hard case holds your console, accessories, and up to 24 game cards securely. It also comes bundled with two 9H tempered glass screen protectors for added protection. Tough, waterproof, and shock-resistant, it’s perfect for travel or everyday carry.

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.

Grand Theft Auto 6 delay is causing emergency meetings at other studios

I want Grand Theft Auto 6 to be good, and if I had to bet money on it, I’d guess it likely will be. The world is weird right now, and I want both you and me to enjoy driving a car into a man. It very much sounds like it’s got Stephen Root from Barry in it! I love Stephen Root from Barry!

But, god, am I feeling some kind of way about it constantly sucking all the air out of the room. It feels less like we’re looking forward to a game, more that we’re in thrall to a captor that knows it can command attention whether it earns it or not. ( I do not believe Red Dead Redemption 2‘s excellence earns uncritical hype for all future projects, lest we forget Cyberpunk). There’s plenty that can be said about the recent trailer, but if I had to sum up my own misgivings with it, it’s that it has an air less of “look at this cool thing we made, we can’t wait to share it with you”, more dick-swinging swagger, a cocksure sense of, well, you’re going to buy this anyway, here’s some absurdly good-looking beer to tide you piggies over.

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Nintendo Insists AI-Generated Images Were Not Used in the Development of Mario Kart World After In-Game Billboards Sparked Speculation

Nintendo has disputed accusations it used AI-generated images to create billboards in Mario Kart World.

Rumors began to swirl when a Nintendo Treehouse livestream gave us a closer peek at the upcoming racer a few weeks back. Eagle-eyed fans pointed out that a handful of in-game advertising boards looked a little strange, with images of a construction site, a bridge, and a peculiarly tall car all raising eyebrows.

Of course, many pre-release titles include placeholder graphics that won’t be included in the final product, but Nintendo refuted claims that anything, even in its pre-release game, was AI-generated, saying in a statement to Eurogamer: “AI-generated images were not used in the development of Mario Kart World.”

Generative AI is one of the hottest topics in the creative industries right now and a burning issue within video game development itself. Apart from ethical and copyright issues, labor unions have expressed concern about the potential for generative AI to replace jobs, and video game performers have called for increased protections against its use.

In September last year, Nintendo developer legend Shigeru Miyamoto said the company would rather go in a “different direction” than the rest of the video game industry when it comes to AI. For example, EA CEO Andrew Wilson has said AI is “the very core of our business” — a comment IGN subsequently explored in more detail. But according to Miyamoto, Nintendo has a different outlook.

In an interview with The New York Times, Miyamoto brought up AI himself as an example of something where Nintendo would rather do things differently than its peers.

“It might seem like we are just going the opposite direction for the sake of going in the opposite direction, but it really is trying to find what makes Nintendo special,” Miyamoto said.

“There is a lot of talk about A.I., for example,” he continued. “When that happens, everyone starts to go in the same direction, but that is where Nintendo would rather go in a different direction.”

Miyamoto’s comments followed those made by Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa in July, who said generative AI can be used “in creative ways,” but its use “also raise issues with intellectual property rights.”

“We have decades of know-how in creating the best gaming experiences for our players,” Furukawa added. “While we are open to utilizing technological developments, we will work to continue delivering value that is unique to Nintendo and cannot be created by technology alone.”

The highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 — for which Mario Kart World is a console exclusive — is set to debut on June 5. Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders went live on April 24, with the price still fixed at $449.99 — and they went about as well as you’d expect. Check out IGN’s Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order guide for more.

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.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Dev Opens Game Up to Modders, Who Now Plan to Add Tau and Necrons and a Whole Lot More — but first… a Fishing Mini-Game?!

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 fans are rejoicing after the developer handed modders the keys to its internal editor, sparking hope it could ‘do a Skyrim’ and last for years with user-generated content.

Game director Dmitry Grigorenko took to the Space Marine 2 modding Discord to announce what he described as “our biggest milestone yet in supporting the modding community.”

Developer Saber Interactive has released the official Integration Studio for public use. This is the same editor the developers use internally for all gameplay development. This first release lets modders work with everything from level scenarios to game modes, tinker with AI behavior, abilities and melee combo logic, user interface and HUD elements, and make much of the general modding work with Space Marine 2 faster and easier.

“Not long ago, I promised we would support the modding scene — and we meant it,” Grigorenko said. “Watching this community grow, push boundaries, and create incredible experiences has been both inspiring and humbling. We’re excited to see what you build next — whether it’s a cinematic campaign, wild new game mode, or something we never saw coming.”

To get the ball rolling, Grigorenko released jokey concept art for a “Fishing With Daddy Calgar” mini-game, below, which is technically possible now with these tools. Calgar is Marneus Calgar, the leader of the Ultramarines chapter of Space Marines.

To find out what the Space Marine 2 modding community plans to do with this editor, I had a quick chat with Tom, aka Warhammer Workshop, the modder behind Space Marine 2’s excellent Astartes Overhaul. Fresh from releasing a mod that enables 12-player co-op in Space Marine 2, Tom told me that he now has access to all the scripting tools that control what happens in any particular mission, as well as for all the different game components like weapons and abilities.

This means modders could, for example, create a Space Marine 2 roguelite mode where modders spawn in one of the swarm sequences from the campaign with nothing but a combat knife, and progressively spawn bigger and tougher enemies, with percentage chances to spawn weapons, ammo, and health on death. “Killing a Carnifex might grant you a Heavy Bolter,” Tom suggested.

As for a brand new cinematic campaign, Tom said that while a Chaos campaign would “definitely” be doable, cutscenes are trickier because modders so far do not have access to the animation tools necessary.

However, Tom is currently planning on adding new factions to Space Marine 2, including the Tau and Necrons, as the modders have the rigs that will fit those. Meanwhile, the Space Marine 2 modding community is racing to actually make the Fishing With Daddy Calgar mini-game mod Grigorenko challenged them to.

Reaction from Space Marine 2 fans is hugely positive, and with good reason. While Space Marine 2 is well-received and has gone down as one of the best-selling Warhammer video games of all time, it is relatively limited in terms of its official offering. That is to say, it contains three factions only: Space Marines, Chaos (a mix of Chaos Marines and some Tzeentch Daemons), and the Tyrannids. Players had hoped for DLC that might extend the faction roster (the Space Marine 2 campaign teased the Necrons), but can now take matters into their own hands.

“This is how you keep a game alive for years like Skyrim,” said redditor Mortwight.

It’s a particularly interesting development in the context of Saber and publisher Focus Entertainment’s announcement that Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 3 is in development. Some Space Marine 2 fans have expressed concern about what this means for potential DLC, although both Saber and Focus have insisted they’re not abandoning the game. Still, Space Marine 2 is in a much better position now modders have the editor in hand.

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.

Please start making special editions like the Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy again

I started writing this piece as a sort of “oh, this was cool!” bit of game archaeology after seeing a post from Scott Krol – who shares consistently fascinating bits of ephemera on video and tabletop games – on the physical bits that came with 1984’s The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy adventure game.

“Infocom, known for their brilliant text adventures, was the first company to put physical items in with their games,” writes Scott. “In fact, Infocom were attributed as the first to coin the term “feelies” for physical goodies that came with the game”.

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Random: A New LEGO Mario Kart ‘Blue Shell’ Gift Has Been Revealed

That’s a spiny shell to you, mate.

We love the little GWPs (gifts with purchase) that Lego likes to drop with certain special sets from time to time, and this latest one is an absolute doozy for us Nintendo fans.

If you happen to have your beady eye already on the recently announced LEGO Super Mario: Mario Kart – Mario & Standard Kart‘ set, you may want to keep that same beady eye on alert, as this Lego Blue Shell, or ‘40787 Spiny Shell’ to give it its full sexy Lego label, has been revealed via a Building Instructions Page over at Lego.com (shoutout to Brickfanatics).

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Video: 10 GameCube Games We Want On Switch 2’s Online Expansion Pack

[Insert GameCube boot up sound here].

The Switch 2 isn’t just getting brand new games, but its online service will also be receiving a special update adding the GameCube library. While it’s set to start with only a handful of games, Nintendo has already teased some others.

Still, we’re sure there are many other requests – so Alex and Zion have now chimed in with 10 games Nintendo Life would like to eventually see show up on this classic Nintendo library. This includes both first and third-party games as well as some safe picks and dream releases.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

What’s on your bookshelf?: Game urbanist and author Konstantinos Dimopoulos

Hello reader who is also a reader, and welcome back to Booked For The Week – our regular Sunday chat with a selection of cool industry folks about books! I’m currently reading Dorothy Parker, who did more for the language than I’d previously though. I’m having quite regular moments of “oh, she said that”. More proof, if any were needed, that the soul of wit is as much depression and alcoholism as it is brevity.

This week it’s game city design expert and author of Virtual Cities, Konstantinos Dimopoulos! Cheers Konstantinos! Mind if we have a nose at your bookshelf?

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