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I’m Getting Epic Pulls Thanks To These UK Pokémon TCG Booster Bundle Deals

Pokémon TCG is popping right now, and it’s not going to slow down throughout 2025 thanks to Prismatic Evolutions, the upcoming Journey Together expansion and the heavily rumoured return of Team Rocket cards. The current problem is stock, which is a massive challenge when finding recent sets for RRP in stores. Luckily, Amazon has our backs with Booster Bundles from Scarlet and Violet, including the immensely popular Surging Sparks.

UK Deals: Pokémon TCG Booster Bundles

What’s the point of ripping open boosters if you have nothing to chase? The good news is all of the below Booster Bundle deals have some immense chase cards that are either starting to even out or skyrocket in value. This is the best way to avoid the pricey world of single-card sales. Imagine buying a selection of Booster bundles and finding a £100+ banger? It’s not guaranteed, but it’s the thrill of the chase, right?

Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—Surging Sparks Booster Bundle

Pikachu ex 238/191 (SIR)

Surging Sparks is starting to calm down on the singles market thanks to recent restocks, but Pikachu ex-SIR still holds its value. Granted, it’s a much more respectable £280, but that’s still a lot of money for many people for one card. It’s a damn sight cheaper than November 2024 when this card was selling for well over £400, with some listings touching £500. Long story short, grab some Surging Sparks booster bundles while they’re in stock and cheap. You never know!

Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—Temporal Forces Booster Bundle

Raging Bolt ex 208/162 (SIR)

Honestly, I hated this Paradox rehash of Raikou when Scarlet and Violet DLC 2 dropped, but Raging Bolt has grown on me. Everyone wants Pokémon to take more risks with their games, so complaining about them taking risks is a bit of an oxymoron to me. This bad boy is currently zapping around the singles market for around £90. That’s a slow creep from around the mid-£70 mark around November 2024, but it’s a climb nonetheless. As this set runs out of stock, this price is bound to get higher, so get ripping some Temporal Forces.

Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—Twilight Masquerade Booster Bundle

Eevee 188/167 (IR)

You thought I’d go for Greninja’s ex (SIR) for this one, right? Too obvious and Illustration Rares need some love. Most of these cards are slept on right now, so it’s a great time to snap them up. Eevee IR is a prime example of how Illustration Rares will climb in value for their artwork; don’t sleep on them. Eevee IR is currently going for around £70, which has jumped from around £50 in October and November 2024.

Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—Shrouded Fable Booster Bundle

Cassiopeia 094/064 (SIR)

Shrouded Fable has shade thrown at it in the Pokémon TCG community. Still, plenty of awesome Chase cards have settled in price and are valuable. Cassiopeia 094/064 (SIR) is one of the coolest trainer cards, Secret Illustration Rares. It goes for around £40/£50 on the single card market, which is a nice settling point from its £35/£40 value at the end of 2024. Suppose you’re a big fan of Fezandipidi, Okidoki, Punkidori and Pecharunt. In that case, this is a top mini-expansion to rip open.

Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—Stellar Crown Booster Bundle

Terapagos ex 170/142 (SIR)

My take on the Scarlet and Violet era is solid artwork is and will be more valuable than Pokémon. We’re seeing bloody Magikarp cards going for good money right now; go back to the early 2000s and tell yourself that and kill yourself from the bans. Terapagos ex 170/142 (SIR) is one of the weirder legendaries in Pokémon. Still, it’s the basis of Terastalisation and featured heavily in Pokémon Horizons anime. It’s a stunning card that fetches around £70 raw, which is a nice settling point between the £60 to £90 fluctuations we saw back in 2024. Stellar Crown is also a slept-on set, but there are many superb Illustration rares and chase cards like this. Get those booster bundles ripped!

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.

Daily Deals: Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, Meta Quest 3S, PS5 Disc Drive, and More

The weekend is officially here, and we’ve rounded up the best deals you can find! Discover the best deals for Saturday, January 18, below:

Meta Quest 3S 256GB for $349

Amazon has the Meta Quest 3S 256GB VR Headset with Batman: Arkham Shadow for $349 today. This headset is perfect if you’re just entering the VR space, and it’s equipped with everything you need to experience all the latest games out there. In our 9/10 review, we stated, “Raw processing power, full-color passthrough, and snappy Touch Plus controllers make the Quest 3S a fantastic standalone VR headset that also brings entry-level mixed-reality gaming to the masses for – arguably – the very first time.”

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD for $49.99

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD just release for Nintendo Switch this week, and you can already save $10 off at Woot. If you enjoyed Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Returns HD is another excellent entry you are sure to have fun with. There are many different worlds to traverse through, with a variety of collectibles and items to discover.

PS5 Disc Drive Available at Target

If you are a recent PS5 Slim or PS5 Pro owner, it’s likely you have ran into some trouble looking for in-stock PS5 Disc Drives. These sell out quickly each time they are restocked, but Target has the item available right now for $79.99. If you’ve been looking for a PS5 Disc Drive, grab one before they’re gone.

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered for $19.93

As the name suggest, this collection packs in remasters of the first three Tomb Raider games, and you can score this bundle for only $19.93 this weekend at Amazon. Both the Nintendo Switch and PS5 versions of the game are on sale, so you can grab a copy for the platform of your choice!

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 SteelBook Up for Pre-Order

It’s been a month since Sonic The Hedgehog 3 released in theaters, and you can now pre-order the 4K Steelbook at Amazon. This edition includes a 4K UHD disc, a Blu-ray disc, and a digital copy that you can redeem. Sonic The Hedgehog 3 pits Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles against the formidable Shadow. If you’re a Sonic fan, this is the ultimate celebration of the franchise.

Save $44 Off This Xbox Elite Series 2 Core Wireless Controller

This deal from Target on the Xbox Elite Series 2 Core controller is one you can’t miss. Widely regarded as one of the best controllers on the market, the Elite Series 2 has so many great features you can use to your advantage. This includes modifying the tension of the thumbsticks, creating custom button profiles, and so much more. The Core version of the Elite Series 2 controller allows for a cheaper price point with less premium outer materials and textures. Additionally, you won’t get the paddles or charging dock in the box, so you’ll need to buy those separately if you’d like them.

Logitech G713 Mechanical Keyboard for $69

Normally $115.60, you can save $46.80 off this Logitech G713 keyboard today at Walmart. The G713 is a wired mechanical gaming keyboard with GX Blue switches. A cloud-shaped palm rest is included for maximum comfort, as well as support for Logitech’s Lightsync RGB. You can even customize both the top plate and keycaps to your liking!

Forget Prismatic Evolutions, I’m Buying These UK Silver Tempest Deals

Whilst Pokémon TCG trainers are scrambling to find Prismatic Evolutions this weekend, I’m thinking outside Bills PC Box by looking at older sets that are still available for RRP. Silver Tempest is in a unique position right now, with single card prices soaring and stock set to run out by the end of 2025. It’s also one of the cheapest sets to collect right now, with Elite Trainer Boxes dipping just below £40 at Amazon and Zavvi. But why Silver Tempest specifically? Let’s look at the insane pulls this Sword and Shield era expansion delivers.

UK Deals: I’m Buying Silver Tempest Before It Goes Out Of Stock

Lugia V 186/195 (Alt Art)

This is hands down the best Lugia Pokémon card out there; look at that amazing artwork! Whilst being playable to quickly get through a deck, this is one for the collectors. Lugia V Alt Art is starting to climb in value, from around £150 on the secondary market at the end of 2024 to around the £230 mark at the time of writing. There’s every chance to still pull one of these bad boys in Silver Tempest products on store shelves right now.

Rayquaza VMAX TG20/TG30 (Trainer Gallery)

Honourable Silver Tempest Mentions

– Lugia VSTAR 202/195 (Rainbow Rare)

– Unown V 177/195 (Alt Art)

– Regidrago V 184/195 (Alt Art)

– Trainer Gallery Cards, the artwork is stunning on them all

Trainer Gallery cards are still very cheap for the most part (usually under £5), so I’d highly recommend picking them up. They’re stunning, and their value will only climb as time goes on. Plus, they’re so fun to collect. Rayquaza Vmax is stunning, rocking its Dragon Clan routes whilst considering how massive this Pokémon is. This card has nearly tripled in value from the back end of 2024, with sold listings from December going for as low as £25. Most recent sales are going for between £60 to £80, and I don’t see that price getting any cheaper as 2025 progresses.

Pokemon TCG: Sword & Shield 12 Silver Tempest Elite Trainer Box

8 booster packs of Silver Tempest, Alolan Vulpix sleeves, dice, damage counters, and a cool box to store your bulk are a solid deal for £39.99. Unfortunately, this is the dark times before every ETB has a cool promo card, but it’s still a sweet deal. It’s also probably a good idea to keep one sealed if you’re a collector; the value for these will certainly rise as stock runs out in stores.

Pokémon Sword & Shield—Silver Tempest Build & Battle Stadium

For an extra £20 over the Silver Tempest ETB, trainers can snag 12 booster packs, two 40-card build and battle decks, extra energy cards, damage counter dice, coins, and status markers. There’s also a foil promo card. It’s certainly worth the extra few quid to pony up. It is perfect for trainers wanting everything they need to start battling with one handy product.

Pokémon Silver Tempest Triple Pack

Looking for cheap Silver Tempest pulls? The triple booster blister packs are a good deal at £12.99, with a cool promo card and game-legal coin to sweeten the deal. Buying three will get you one extra booster over elite trainer boxes for £1 less. If you’re not bothered about the ETB swag, this one’s for you.

Pokemon TCG: Sword & Shield 12 Silver Tempest Elite Trainer Box

An honourable mention goes to Zavvi as they’ve got a sale going this weekend with 20% off in-stock Pokémon TCG products. This brings down the Silver Tempest ETB to the same price as Amazon, but adding more products to your basket means a solid deal for any trainers looking to stock up on other Scarlet and Violet boxed products.

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.

Genshin Impact Developer Agrees to $20M Fine Over Loot Box Violations

Genshin Impact publisher Hoyoverse has agreed to a settlement with the United States Federal Trade Commission where it agrees to pay a $20 million fine, and be banned from sellling lootboxes to teenagers under the age of 16.

In press release by the FTC, the agency announced that the makers of Genshin Impact “has agreed to pay $20 million and to block children under 16 from making in-game purchases without parental consent,” as part of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission.

The FTC Director of of the Bureau of Consumer Protection, Samuel Levine, says that Genshin Impact “deceived children, teens, and other players into spending hundreds of dollars on prizes they stood little chance of winning.” Levine adds that companies that utilize “these dark-pattern tactics will be held accountable” if they decieve players, especially young children and teens.

The main charges against Hoyoverse by the FTC is that they allege the developer violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule by marketing Genshin Impact to children and collected their personal information, as well as deceive players about the odds of winning “five-star” loot box prizes, and how much it would cost to open a loot box int he first place.

The FTC claims the virtual currency system in Genshin Impact were confusing and unfair, and ultimately the system obscures the fact that players will ultimately spend large amounts of money to obtain “five-star prizes” and that children have spent hundreds to thousands of dollars to win them.

Alongside the fine and the ban, Hoyoverse will be required to disclose loot box odds and exchange rates for its virtual currency, delete personal information collected from children under the age of 13, and comply with COPPA rules going forward.

Matt Kim is IGN’s Senior Features Editor.

Driving Empire Codes (January 2025)

Looking to earn some free items and resources in Driving Empire? We’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find all of the free codes currently redeemable in the game, so you can stock up on new cosmetics and other useful resources.

Active Driving Empire Codes (January 2025)

Here are all of the currently active and working Driving Empire codes in January 2025 that you can redeem for free rewards:

  • NewYear2025 – $75,000
  • ZOOM – 2023 Fairway Zoomer

Expired Driving Empire Codes

Below, you’ll find a list of expired Driving Empire codes that no longer work and can’t be redeemed in January 2025:

  • THANKYOU
  • 50YEARS911TURBO
  • 1MILLIONLIKES
  • 950KLikes
  • CARCRUSHERS

How to Redeem Driving Empire Codes

To redeem Driving Empire codes, boot up the Roblox Experience and, once you’re in, follow the steps below:

  1. Look at the tabs next to the dollar counter in the bottom left-hand side of the screen. You’ll see icons for three tabs.
  2. Click on the gear icon to bring up the settings tab. As you do, you’ll see the codes bar.
  3. Input your code in this bar, being careful to make sure it’s in the right case and spelt correctly.
  4. Click the submit button and you should see the resources you unlock appear at the bottom of the screen.

Why Isn’t My Driving Empire Code Working?

If your Driving Empire code isn’t working, it’s likely due to one of two scenarios. The first is that the code was inputted incorrectly. Make sure you have the code inputted exactly as it is in the Active Codes section above. You can even copy and paste codes directly from this article over to Roblox if you want to make sure you’re inputting them correctly.

The other possibility is the code has expired or you’ve already used it. If you’ve used it, you’ll get a message below the bar reminding you the inputted code has already been redeemed. If you’ve inputted it and it doesn’t recognise the code at all, it likely means it’s no longer available to use and is expired.

How to Get More Driving Empire Codes

If you’re looking to track down new codes the moment they become available, you’ll want to make sure you’re a member of Driving Empire’s official Discord server. If you keep an eye on the Updates channel, you’ll see the developers revealing new codes you can cash in within their posts. You should also follow the game’s official X account, which will publish these codes when they become available.

What is Driving Empire in Roblox?

Driving Empire is a racing game where players get behind the wheel of lightning-fast sports cars and pit themselves against other drivers online. Along the way, they can collect a vast array of new rides, customize them with purchasable parts and cosmetics, and compete in hotly contested community events. So, do you have what it takes to become the ultimate racer?

Callum Williams is a freelance media writer with years of experience as a game critic, news reporter, guides writer and features writer.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero DLC 1: Hero of Justice Adds 11 New Characters This Month

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero will receive its first major downloadable content release on January 23, with the DLC 1: Hero of Justice pack adding 11 new heroes and more.

Bandai Namco announced the expansion with a trailer, below, and revealed the release date alongside word that anyone who buys the $34.99 Season Pass, which will eventually deliver three full DLC packs, can access it on January 20 at 3pm Pacific / 6pm Eastern / 11pm UK.

The pack of 11 new characters, which all arrive at once, includes Gohan (Super Hero), Gohan (Super Hero, Super Saiyan 2), Ultimate Gohan (Super Hero), Gohan (Beast), Piccolo (Super Hero), Piccolo (Potential Unlocked), Orange Piccolo, Orange Piccolo (Giant), Gamma, Gamma 2, and Cell Max.

The pack also comes with Piccolo’s Red Ribbon soldier disguise as a costume and three custom battles. Bandai Namco also teased “that’s not all” but didn’t say what other extras fans can expect.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero proved incredibly successful for the publisher, surpassing three million sales in a single day. It became the first sequel to the beloved Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi series in 15 years when it launched in October 2024.

Fans of the series immediately fell for its respect of Dragon Ball lore, through features such as the Encyclopaedia Mode.

They didn’t even get mad when one fight proved unbelievably difficult at launch, as Great Ape Vegeta had the coveted combination of random, unrelenting, and rapid attacks that all do big damage. Players were pulling their hair out at its difficulty and placement relatively early on in the game’s campaign, though Bandai Namco assured them it’s okay to lower the difficulty and move on.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.

Where To Buy Pokémon TCG: Prismatic Evolutions

Pokémon TCG: Prismatic Evolutions is hands down the most in-demand set of the Scarlet and Violet era, and scalpers know it. Everyone should have a shot at buying Pokémon cards, so treat this guide as a bible of where to find Prismatic Evolutions for retail pricing. Here are some quick tips before you dive into the links below to keep you safe from overpriced products:

– Note the price I’ve given: If it’s considerably higher, it’s a rip-off.

– No Stock? Be patient, more stock will be on its way throughout the year (Pokémon Company confirmed this)

– Buy direct from retailers, not third party: Some retail spaces have other sellers, such as Amazon and Walmart, buy direct for the best prices.

– Check In-Store: Some online retailers, such as Best Buy, offer stock updates for store pickups, but you can bet this won’t be live. Head to your local GameStop, Target, Walmart, or Best Buy if you’re striking out online.

Prismatic Evolution Boxed Products

These will be the most popular prismatic Evolution products, specifically the Elite Trainer Box for the stunning Eevee full art promo. Speaking of promo cards, there’s a complete set of Eeveelution ex cards with a Prismatic Evolution stamp to be found in the Suprise Boxes.

Whilst plenty of trainers will want the Prismatic Evolutions binder, the poster collection has standard holo promos for the first three Eeveelutions: Flareon, Jolteon, and Vaporeon. The stock has been jumping in and out of stock at the retailers below, so keep checking back.

Prismatic Evolutions Booster Tins and Bundles

Don’t think cheaper products won’t be popular. Everyone wants to open Prismatic Evolution packs right now, and there are some cool bits to grab out of the blisters and booster pack collections below.

There are the tech blisters featuring Leafeon, Sylveon, and Glaceon, with tins featuring colored Eevee coins and a fact card for one of nine Eeveelutions. There’s even a four-pack booster box with a lovely Eevee-themed soft pouch. The best value here is the six-pack booster bundle when you can find them. Check the links below and pop into the relevant stores to snag yours.

We’ll also keep up to date with stock refreshes for Prismatic Evolutions, older sets such as Surging Sparks, and upcoming sets like Journey Together. Just fight the FOMO and make sure not to pay extortionate prices for Pokémon cards if it’s still in print. Keep checking the above links; more stock will be available throughout 2025.

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.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Director Reportedly Exits BioWare

Dragon Age: The Veilguard director Corinne Busche is reportedly leaving EA-owned BioWare.

Eurogamer reported that Busche, who was game director on Dragon Age: The Veilguard from February 2022 to its launch last year, is set to leave the studio in the coming weeks. IGN has asked EA for comment.

There have been questions over Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s success ever since its release in October last year. Eurogamer reported that while Busche is leaving the studio, it is otherwise unaffected by any other changes.

Busche joined BioWare in 2019 after a stint at Maxis, where she helped design the systems on various The Sims projects. As part of IGN’s article, ‘How BioWare Finally Got Dragon Age to the Finish Line After a Tumultuous Decade,’ we detailed the game’s near decade-long development, which included a major reset that saw it shift from the skeleton of a multiplayer game with repeatable quests, a tech base, and the outline of a story, to a full-blown single-player RPG. Busche, as director, helped get Dragon Age: The Veilguard over the line during its final few years of development.

Eurogamer reports that Busche’s exit from BioWare is unrelated to Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s commercial performance. EA has yet to say whether sales and revenue met or exceeded expectations. The company is expected to report its Q3 2025 financial results on February 4.

Meanwhile, BioWare has confirmed it has no plans for Dragon Age: The Veilguard DLC. Rather it has turned its attention to Mass Effect 5, which the studio has teased at various points over the years but is yet to properly reveal.

In August 2023, coincidentally the same month that Larian’s all-conquering Dungeons & Dragons RPG Baldur’s Gate 3 released, BioWare laid off around 50 workers, including longtime veterans like narrative designer Mary Kirby, who had been with BioWare since Dragon Age’s inception.

At a higher level, the layoffs came amid an internal shakeup at EA that effectively resulted in it being split into sports and everything else. That summer, rumors spread within BioWare that it was about to be acquired. Star Wars: The Old Republic was allowed to go third-party, ostensibly so that BioWare could focus on Mass Effect and Dragon Age.

BioWare’s rollercoaster ride continued through Dragon Age’s reveal in 2024. Reactions to the initial reveal trailer were negative, sending the studio scrambling to release an early gameplay tease just days later to placate fans. The name change from Dreadwolf to The Veilguard wasn’t particularly well-received either. After that, though, impressions were generally positive.

Dragon Age fans are now left wondering, will BioWare be given the chance to follow up The Veilguard with another Dragon Age sequel?

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.

EA Sports Announces College Football 26, Available Summer 2025

College Football 26 will be released this summer following the resounding success of last year’s game, EA Sports has announced.

The series’ X/Twitter account announced the incoming sequel. “We said this place would be full again,” it began. “Thanks to our players, athletes, and fans for filling the house with us. Let’s keep that kick off energy going ‘til College Football 26 drops this summer.”

EA Sports didn’t reveal the cover stars, a specific release date, or any other details, though as College Football 25 arrived in July last year, it likely won’t be long before fans find out more.

It arrived as the first franchise entry in 11 years and was immediately successful, pulling in as many as 700,000 players in its first day of early access and a staggering 2.2 million by the end.

It later closed 2024 as the best selling sports video game in U.S. history in terms of dollar sales, putting it above even the professional league Madden NFL franchise.

In our 7/10 review, IGN said: “College Football 25 nails the on-field action with a dynamic feel, stellar graphics, and tons of smart gameplay tweaks. However, so much of what’s off the field feels unfinished, with UI issues and barebones modes that seem like they are waiting for a rebuild next season.”

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.

IGN UK Podcast 783: The Switch 2 is Finally a Real Thing

The Nintendo Switch 2 has finally been unveiled, and Cardy, Matt, and Jesse are here to delve deep into the short glimpse we’ve seen of the console so far, as well as some guesses at what could be going on in the new Mario Kart. They then remember the singular talent that was Twin Peaks creator David Lynch, before discussing some awards contender films in the form of A Real Pain and Emilia Perez.

Remember to send us your thoughts about all the new games, TV shows, and films you’re enjoying or looking forward to: ign_ukfeedback@ign.com.

IGN UK Podcast 783: The Switch 2 is Finally a Real Thing