We’ve finally gotten a good, long (ish) look at Pokemon Legends: Z-A, the second entry in the Pokemon Legends series and Game Freak’s major Pokemon release for the year (after surprisingly skipping 2024). In a brand new trailer, we got a first look at what it will be like to freely run along the rooftops of Lumiose City, which Pokemon will join us when we do it, and some of the changes to Mega Evolutions and battle mechanics.
This time around, players can choose between Todadile, Tepig, and Chikorita to be their starter monster as they explore Lumiose City with upgraded visuals and a few major gameplay tweaks. Specifically, new mechanics will allow players to hop to the city’s rooftops and see life in the Pokemon world from a new perspective. Gameplay for the Latest Legends title also reveals that we’ll be going back to the more traditional visual style the series has established over the last few years, too.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A was first announced at last year’s Pokemon Presents, and it’s been quiet on the news front ever since. At the time, all we saw was a cinematic trailer revealing it would be set entirely in Lumiose City from Pokemon X and Y, and that it would be coming to Nintendo Switch in 2025. We also saw a tease of a few Pokemon, a futuristic setting, and the Mega Evolution symbol.
Other than that, for the last year, fans have been piecing together guesses on what the game might entail based on that trailer and Pokemon Legends: Arceus, which introduced new Pokemon capturing mechanics to the franchise and an open zone format that resonated well with players, even if certain elements of the game felt drab and incomplete, especially in the back half. With no Pokemon game released last year, it seems like Game Freak may have gotten an extra year to really give Legends Z-A the polish that Arceus and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet simply didn’t receive. Let’s hope it pays off.
Developing…
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
Fancy a gaming PC deal that makes sense? HP is slashing $800 off its flagship HP Omen 45L RTX 4080 Gaming PC, bringing it down to $2,199.99 from a painful $2,999.99. That’s a hefty discount, which includes a $100 off coupon code: SURPRISEPC100. If you’ve been waiting for a proper gaming rig without selling a kidney, this might be it.
If you play Pokémon Go even semi-regularly, you already know that PokéCoins are basically essential. Whether you’re raiding, grinding XP, or hoarding Incense like a dragon hoards gold, you’re going to need a steady supply of these things. And while you could buy them directly through the game, that would be a rookie mistake because Best Buy has a way better deal right now.
Pokémon Go $50 Gift Card (7,000 PokéCoins)
For $42.50, you can get a $50 Pokémon Go gift card, which gives you 7,000 PokéCoins instead of the usual 6,700 $50 would get you in-app. That’s an extra 300 coins for free, and you’re saving $7.50 on top of that. More PokéCoins, less money spent.
Now, if you’re sitting on 7,000 PokéCoins, you might be wondering what to spend them on. Should you hoard them for future boxes? Blow them all on Remote Raid Passes? Maybe finally invest in that Pokémon Storage upgrade so you don’t have to suffer through constant “Your Pokémon Box is full” notifications? Decisions, decisions.
What can you buy with 7,000 PokéCoins?
To make things easy, here’s a breakdown of what 7,000 PokéCoins can get you in Pokémon GO right now:
15x Poké Ball, 5x Great Ball, 1x Lucky Egg, 1x Super Incubator
One-time only
Pokémon GO Individual Items
ItemPrice (PokéCoins)What It Does
Remote Raid Pass (x3)
525
Join Raid Battles remotely
Premium Battle Pass (x3)
250
Raid or get premium Go Battle League rewards
Super Incubator
200
Hatches eggs 33% faster
Egg Incubator
150
Hatches eggs (3 uses)
Lure Module (x8)
680
Attracts more Pokémon to a PokéStop
Incense (x8)
250
Lures wild Pokémon to your location
Item Bag Upgrade
200
Increases storage by 50
Pokémon Storage Upgrade
200
Increases max Pokémon capacity by 50
Pokémon GO Upgrades
UpgradePrice (PokéCoins)What It Does
Item Bag
200
Increases max item storage by 50
Pokémon Storage
200
Increases max Pokémon capacity by 50
Postcard Pages
100
Increases max saved Postcards by 50
Team Medallion
1,000
Lets you change teams (once per year)
If I had 7,000 PokéCoins burning a hole in my trainer bag, I’d probably go straight for the Voyager Box at 6,500 coins. It’s a ridiculous deal with 100 Lucky Eggs and 50 Star Pieces at 50% off, meaning I’d be set on XP boosts and Stardust bonuses for months.
If raiding is more your thing, stacking up on Remote Raid Passes (525 coins for three) is a solid move if you want to farm Legendaries without leaving your couch. And for anyone who’s perpetually running out of space (guilty), throwing a couple of Pokémon Storage and Item Bag upgrades into the mix would make life way easier.
Claim three free Pokémon in Pokémon Go
If you’re grabbing this PokéCoin deal, you might as well snag some free Pokémon while you’re at it. Right now, Pokémon GO is offering a triple code reward that gives you Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus at no cost. To claim them, log in to your Pokémon GO account on the Pokémon GO Live website and enter the following codes:
Tornadus: 4RD3GGA4ZMEGP
Thundurus: 4Q4UZLY6MUH9K
Landorus: 9PTA874LYDAJH
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.
A new Eternal Strands update has made various adjustments to the fantasy action-RPG‘s movement and so, restarted the inexhaustible debate as to what manner of jank is ‘good’ jank.
In a recent interview with VGC, Mario + Rabbids director Davide Soliani recalled the moment when the team received word from Ubisoft regarding the sales performance of 2022’s Sparks of Hope.
In short, the game didn’t meet Ubisoft’s internal expectations, with CEO Yves Guillemot even mentioning that Ubisoft should have waited for the Switch 2. But given the passion from its development team and the positive critical reception from players, Soliani and the rest of the staff felt somewhat demoralised by the announcement.
Trainers know the struggle with Pokémon TCG right now. A new set drops, you wait maybe 30 minutes too long to buy it, and suddenly every scalper on eBay is selling it for double MSRP with no remorse. But this week?
Things are different. Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart have restocked some of the most in-demand Pokémon TCG sets at retail price. No fighting over the last box at Costco, no sketchy third-party Amazon sellers charging a premium, just pure, untainted Pokémon goodness straight from the source.
Best Pokémon Day Deals 2025
One of the big catches here is Pokémon TCG 151 Booster Bundle, which comes with six booster packs from the Scarlet and Violet 151 set. I’m dying to fill my binder with some of the best cards from 151, like the gorgeous Special Illustration Rare Charizard or Venusaur ex, an absolute tank and playable. It’s been one of the hardest sets to find sealed at MSRP, and I don’t expect it to stay in stock long.
Another solid investment right now is Shrouded Fable. The Elite Trainer Box and Booster bundle are in stock at the time of writing and are both set to climb in value before the year is out. It’s overlooked by the community right now, but with it being a mini set much like 151, it’s a good idea to snap Shrouded Fable packs and boxes up now whilst it’s still available.
Pokémon: TCG Scarlet and Violet – 151 Booster Bundle
This set includes six booster packs from the Scarlet and Violet 151 expansion. Chasing the highly sought-after Special Illustration Rare Charizard ex or the beautifully illustrated Venusaur ex? This is one of the best ways to crack packs without breaking the bank. At the time of writing this is in stock, but this has been going in and out at Target for the past couple of weeks. Keep trying, they’re updating stock at random times.
Pokémon TCG: Collector Chest
This 2024 edition chest includes six Pokémon TCG booster packs, two foil cards featuring Scream Tail and Iron Valiant, and a couple of Pokémon coins. The extra bonus? It has four sticker sheets and a mini portfolio. Stock is going in and out right now, so keep checking back. The boosters inside are:
Two Twilight Masquerade
Two Temporal Forces
Two Paldea Evolved
Pokémon GO $50 Gift Card (7,000 PokéCoins)
Get 7,000 PokéCoins at a discount. This card saves you $7.50 over in-app purchases and lets you stock up on premium items like Incense, Lure Modules, and Poké Balls without paying full price.
Pokémon TCG: Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex Box
This collection features a promo Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex, two foil cards of Hoothoot and Noctowl, and four booster packs, including two from Surging Sparks. With Stellar Crown packs also included, this box is a great way to grab exclusive promos while adding to your collection.
Pokemon TCG: Scarlet and Violet Shrouded Fable Elite Trainer Box
This is the best artwork i’ve seen on a Pokémon TCG ETB, that goes for the 65 sleeves and card dividers too. The big sell here is Nine Shrouded Fable booster packs, but also comes with a lovely Noctowl Promo card, themes dice, status counters and a pack of energy cards for your bulk pile.
Pokémon – Trading Card Game: Azure Legends Tin
Each tin includes one foil promo card of either Kyogre ex, Xerneas ex, or Dialga ex, along with five booster packs. The boosters are two Surging Sparks, one Stellar Crown, one Temporal Forces, and one Obsidian Flames, giving you a solid spread of packs to open.
Pokemon TCG: Scarlet and Violet Shrouded Fable Booster Bundle
This bundle includes six Scarlet and Violet Shrouded Fable expansion booster packs. This is your best option if you want a more affordable way to hunt down chase cards from the set without committing to an ETB.
Mega Pokémon Building Toys Set Emolga and Bulbasaur’s Charming Woods
This set includes 194 pieces and two poseable Pokémon figures, Emolga and Bulbasaur. With a crank mechanism that adds motion, it’s a fun build for Pokémon fans of all ages.
Mega Pokémon Building Toys Set – Mini Motion Geodude
A 343-piece Geodude model with a built-in punching motion. Standing five inches tall, it’s perfect for collectors or anyone who wants a rock-type Pokémon throwing hands on their shelf.
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.
Late last week, former Striking Distance concept art director Jesse Lee took to LinkedIn to reminisce on their time at the The Callisto Protocol studio. “Thinking back to the very beginning of Striking Distance Studios, to today – nearly six years later. Most of the devs were laid off, and it is hard to sum it all up right now,” wrote Lee.
The release dates for an upcoming expansion pack for Sid Meier’s Civilization VII have seemingly leaked via the Nintendo Store. The first part of the Crossroads Of The World collection, slated for “early March” in the official roadmap, is indeed listed on the leaked image as due on March 4th, 2025, with the second part due on March 25th – lining up with the roadmap’s “late March”.
Specifically, March 4th brings three separate items: the Ada Lovelace, Carthage, and Great Britain packs. On the 25th of the month, they’ll be joined by Simon Bolivar, Bulgaria, and Nepal.
The are some discrepancies on the UK Nintendo store, however, with the release dates for each of the packs from the first set also listed as 25/03/2025.
If you’re still not sure about Tetris Forever, now might be the time to reconsider with the game rolling out its “biggest-ever update” today with the addition of two new classic MS-DOS games.
This includes the 1991 “cult classic” Super Tetris and the 1988 title Tetris (AcademySoft) v. 3.12. Here’s the official description for both of these titles:
.png?width=1920&height=1920&fit=bounds&quality=80&format=jpg&auto=webp)
