Critical Role’s Robbie Daymond will join the cast of Assassin’s Creed Shadows next week, as a new character you can recruit as an ally for Yasuke and Naoe.
Daymond will play Rufino, a character he originally created for an Assassin’s Creed Shadows promotional one-shot. A quick glimpse at the character shows Rufino wearing a Portuguese-style doublet and sporting a lavish moustache.
Rufino will arrive as a recruitable ally in Shadows’ next game update, due next Wednesday, June 25. This will be the latest free drop of additional story content made available post-launch, following an earlier mission that served as a crossover with Dead by Daylight.
So far, Shadows’ extra story add-ons have been brief, with little more than 20 minutes gameplay each time. But as a recruitable ally — one of only half a dozen in the game — there’s scope here for Rufino to make more of an impact.
Still, it’s unclear exactly how large Rufino’s role will be. Will you be able to call upon him in battle, as your other allies can be? Will you be able to romance Rufino, even — something other allies are open to exploring. Or will Rufino simply just be another face that hangs around your hideout? Next week, we’ll find out.
Ubisoft previously stated that its June content update for Assassin’s Creed Shadows would also include new difficulty settings, gameplay immersion options, and an open-world alarm system to keep players on their toes. A much requested option to keep headgear on or off during cutscenes will also be added.
Further down the line, Ubisoft is working on a New Game Plus option and additionally story drops, including more crossovers. And before 2025 is out, Shadows will receive its first major expansion — Claws of Awaji — that is set to pick up from the game’s ending and add a new region of Japan to explore.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
In its first Q&A since Dune: Awakening launched on June 10, developer Funcom responded to questions on what’s next for its survival MMO, and in particular changes due to come to its endgame.
Funcom said it’s “currently formulating a plan” to improve PvP in the Deep Desert, which players have previously branded as “toxic” due to griefing. Funcom has already patched out the ability for players to squish other people with their Ornithopter, but senior game director Viljar Sommerbakk also revealed the team was considering tweaking Ornis further, such as equipping them with rockets that “reduces overall maneuverability and max speed”.
The team is also considering making Scout Orni rockets cost slightly more heat to fire, something Sommerbakk said would limit its combat usefulness relative to the Assault Ornithopter “while still allowing it to be an aerial threat.”
“We have a lot of plans to address [players’] points about respawn times and revives,” creative director Joel Bylos added. “Full loot is a decree that can be obtained via the Landsraad (so compete there if you want to make it a reality), there are control points in the deep desert already, we have no plans to reduce the DD size. As we work on the game, we will continue to work on making PvP more rewarding (I am sure you will note I am not being very concrete but that is because we are planning and watching how people are playing and finding the right points to address).”
Lead producer Ole Andreas Hayley said: “The Deep Desert will always stay a PvP free-for-all area, but we might consider adding other locations that offer factional warfare.”
“We want players to make meaningful decisions about what they bring with them and how they outfit their vehicles,” Sommerbakk continued. “Once players have engaged in PvP, we want the experience to be reliable, responsive, and clearly understood. This determines how PvP as a whole feels and how players make their moment-to-moment decisions in a fight. To ensure a more reliable experience in ground combat, we are continuing to address issues with movement desyncs and rubber banding, as well as ability activation reliability.”
There’s also some quality of life tweaks on the way, too, including named storage containers and vehicles, to help you differentiate, as well as “deposit/extract all” buttons for water storages and the like. We should also expect boss encounters as part of future dungeons as the team continues to evolve PvE content.
Interestingly, Hayley also teased that we could receive additional maps in the future, also.
“The Dune universe has a lot of interesting locations and worlds to explore, and we’re looking forward to continuing to build on top of the foundation we have,” he said.
Right now, there are no plans to make it easier to distinguish between NPCs and other players — “this is in line with the vision of the game” — and when asked if it would be possible to skip all dialogue and animations, Bylos said: “Absolutely not.”
We gave Dune: Awakening a Great 8/10 in our review, writing: “Dune: Awakening is an excellent survival MMO that captures Frank Herbet’s sci-fi world incredibly well, mostly to its advantage and occasionally to its detriment. The survival climb from dehydrated peasant to powerful warlord of Arrakis is a joy almost every step of the way, and the story and worldbuilding filled this nerd with absolute joy.
“There’s still plenty for Awakening to work on though, as its combat never really hits its stride, the endgame is a bit of a chaotic mess not worth the effort, and there’s quite a few technical bugs yet to be squashed, but even these rough patches felt like tiny desert mice next to the leviathan shai-huluds that are this survival game’s wonderful successes.”
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
A giant advert for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond at London’s Oxford Circus tube station states that the game is now available, sparking confusion from Nintendo fans on their morning commute.
First off, if you’ve seen the advert yourself, no — the current London heatwave hasn’t melted your senses. The advert, now spotted by multiple fans, really does say the game is “out now”.
Officially, Nintendo has not announced a Metroid Prime 4: Beyond release date other than a vague promise it will launch this year. But even if the game isn’t out now, its appearance on an advert in such a prominent location is giving Nintendo fans hope its launch is right around the corner.
“Any idea why the MP4 Beyond ad in the London Underground says ‘out now’?” Nintendo fan orchestar wrote on reddit. “I’m genuinely confused. Do they mean the Switch 2 is out? I wish the game was truly out though haha.”
Fans have speculated that the advert is perhaps outdated — maybe Nintendo did initially plan to launch Metroid Prime 4 now, and the wording wasn’t updated? Alternatively, we could be seeing a version of the advert not due until later, alongside the game’s actual release date.
Now a cross-gen title for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is set to finally arrive at some point in 2025 after a long and eventful development.
Originally announced back in 2017, the follow-up to Retro Studios’ beloved GameCube and Wii trilogy was rebooted in 2019, and development restarted by Retro Studios after an earlier version in the works at Bandai Namco failed to meet Nintendo’s standards. Years later, with Switch 2 on the horizon, Nintendo finally gave the game a proper unveiling in June 2024.
On Switch 2, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will run at 120 frames per second and offer optional controls that take advantage of the Joy-Con’s mouse feature. It seems most likely to arrive at some point between Donkey Kong Bananza’s July launch and Pokémon Legends: Z-A’s arrival in October.
In a new entry on Sony’s official PlayStation blog, Sucker Punch Productions’ co-creative director Nate Fox shared more insight into the research trips the Ghost of Yotei team took to Japan. Following on from his previous PlayStation blog contribution (more on that here), Fox yet again emphasized the team’s commitment to portraying feudal Japan in a respectful way, this time focusing on the efforts they made to represent the culture of the Ainu.
The Ainu are an indigenous people from north Japan, especially Japan’s northernmost main island of Hokkaido, which provides Ghost of Yotei’s setting. Their language, culture, beliefs, and traditions are distinctly different from the Yamato (also known as Wajin), the main ethnic group that makes up the overwhelming majority of Japan’s population today.
Ghost of Yotei is set at a pivotal point in the history — 1603 was the year the Tokugawa Shogunate was formed by Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of Japan’s great unifiers, putting an end to decades of civil war. Edo (now Tokyo) became Japan’s center of power, ushering in the peaceful Edo period in which Japan’s culture and society blossomed. However, at this time, Hokkaido was still a wild, sparsely populated island home to the Ainu, its formidable winter snow and rugged landscape making it a tough place to live.
“When setting a game in Hokkaido we knew a crucial element was doing our best to represent Ainu culture in a respectful way,” Nate Fox explained. “Thankfully we’d connected with an Ainu cultural adviser before setting out on our reference gathering trip.” Not only that, but they were invited by the adviser to meet her family, which led to the Ghost of Yotei team getting to forage for vegetables in the mountains. “It was a lovely way to make new friends and start our journey in learning about Ainu culture. That night we resolved to put foraging into our new game, we wanted players to be able to share (our) experience.”
According to Fox, the Ghost of Yotei team spent part of their research gathering trip in Oshima Peninsula, the southern part of Hokkaido that is closest to Japan’s main island of Honshu. In the 1600s, this was the domain of Matsumae clan, who would be given exclusive rights by the Tokugawa government to trade with the Ainu living further north. Fox observed that there are signs even today of how the mainland Japanese people of this time rarely lived any further north of Oshima. There is a “proliferation of cherry trees on the peninsula, brought there from Honshu, yet uncommon in the rest of the island. That really told the story of how sparsely settled Hokkaido was in 1603 by the Wajin people,” he noted.
“We’ve tried to mimic that quality in the game, leaning into areas of wilderness between homesteads.” This rugged wilderness will provide a backdrop for protagonist Atsu’s quest to take revenge on those who killed her family.
Fox and the team also went to the Nibutani Ainu Museum with their Ainu cultural adviser. Traditional Ainu houses (called cise) differ from traditional Japanese houses. The museum trip “really helped us get a sense for sorts of objects we’d see in the game and how they were used.”
We can get a glimpse of the inside of an Ainu house, with its large central hearth, in Ghost of Yotei’s official release date trailer (around the 2-minute mark). The woman protagonist Atsu is talking to in this scene seems to be Ainu, as she has a lip tattoo. This symbol of beauty for the Ainu would later be cracked down on by the Japanese government in the late 1800s, after it had fully annexed Hokkaido (source: Embassy of Japan in the UK). By then, measures to force Ainu to abandon their language and culture and integrate into Japanese society were in full swing.
(As a side note, J.K Goodrich’s 1888 account of Ainu houses paints a first-hand picture of the contrast, and complicated relations between the Ainu and Japanese at this time.)
Fox also touched on the time that the Ghost of Yotei team spent learning about Edo period Japan, which took them to Nikko Toshogu, one of the shrines in Japan dedicated to the unifying shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, who kickstarted the Edo period. “While there we obtained a blessing for the game from the enshrined deity, Tokugawa Ieyasu,” Fox explained, adding that they proudly display the ema (wooden plaque) and omamori (protective charm) that they obtained from Nikko Toshogu at the studio as reminders of their trip.
Reflecting on the research trip, Fox explained that “while our version of Hokkaido is fictional, the feeling of authenticity we strive to create has roots in those real world experiences.” It will be interesting to see how Ghost of Yotei portrays the contrast between the Wajin/Edo culture, and that of the Ainu.
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.
If you’ve been holding out for a solid deal, today’s lineup delivers some excellent finds. From a $12 power bank perfect for your Nintendo Switch 2 to a hefty Skytech gaming PC loaded with AMD’s latest hardware, there’s a little something for everyone.
TL;DR: Deals For Today
Vinyl collectors can also look forward to Woodkid’s emotionally rich Death Stranding 2 soundtrack, while digital deal hunters should check out the IGN Live 2025 Bundle. Eight well-reviewed PC games for just $22.
Hulu + Live TV Free Trial
Hulu + Live TV offers a three-day free trial that allows you to take the live TV streaming service for a spin. This is one of the overall best streaming free trials because it gets you a bundle of services. It is quite a bit shorter than the standard Hulu free trial of 30 days, but it’s a great way to test it out over the weekend.
Final Fantasy x Secret Lair
While boosters, Commander decks, and a new Starter Kit are up for grabs (if you can find them in stock), collectors will be most drawn to the highly coveted Secret Lair drops. Despite selling out instantly via Wizards of the Coast, these limited-edition mini-sets (Game Over, Weapons, and Grimoire) are still available through third-party platforms like TCGPlayer, though you’ll be paying premium prices well above the original $30–$40 MSRP.
Each set features beautifully reimagined cards themed around iconic Final Fantasy characters and spells: the Weapons drop highlights legendary arms like Cloud’s Buster Sword and Tidus’s Brotherhood, Grimoire centers on magic-wielders like Vivi and Aerith, and Game Over pays tribute to villains with cards like Spira’s Punishment and Meteorfall. All sets come in standard and foil variants, with Japanese versions available as well. If you’re considering adding these to your collection, be sure to check listings carefully and be prepared for markups ranging from $70 to $150 or more.
MTG Final Fantasy Chase Cards
It’s insane how quickly these cards have climbed in value just days after release, and I can guarantee you (almost) that they won’t be coming down any time soon. If you fancy saving some money ripping packs of MTG FF, just buy the card you want on TCGPlayer instead and save a fortune.
Where To Buy MTG: Final Fantasy
It’s finally here, Magic the Gathering: Final Fantasy is out in the wild. If you got a preorder for MSRP, well played, but many TCG and Final Fantasy fans missed out. Fear not, there’s still some options on sealed products available right now, including options from the secondary market with TCG Player which is around the same or lower than the pricing of big box retailers right now.
Pokémon Restock Updates
Checking these prices against TCG Player secondary market values, a lot of these products aren’t far off the mark. Make no mistake, they’re still way off MSRP, but finding Pokémon products on shelves that haven’t been marked up past the point of anyone caring is a positive. Still refusing to pay over MSRP for new sets? Well played, I’m proud of you. Here’s some single card highlights for you to shuffle through instead. Spoiler, there’s plenty of deals to be had.
Destined Rivals Singles Are On The Rise (Again)
It’s hard to stick a pin on Destined Rivals single card values right now, and the dips in value seem to match the little bits of stock distributors release to stores. Looking at the tracking charts for each of these cards, we can see mostly plummets from day one, then either upticks or cards for sale that exceed the original value at launch. It’s crazy, but we now know how low these cards can go. Sure there’s always attempts at market manipulation, but I wouldn’t buy any cards on the rise right now.
The Most Expensive Pokémon Cards In Packs RIGHT NOW
We’re not talking about vintage or out of print sets, all of these are incredible chase cards you can pull from booster packs available now. You can probably put money on their value going up as soon as their respective sets go out of print. If you don’t want to spend mega money ripping open packs, market values on these single cards are quite reasonable for the most part..
Destined Rivals Sealed Stock
Wew’re look to market values for Destined Rivals at the moment, seeing as big box stores are either fresh out of stock or charging over MSRP and what they’re worth on the secondary market. So here’s the full lineup to pop on your shelf or rip open like THAT Tyranitar. If you know you know.
Skytech King 95 Gaming PC
Skytech King 95 Gaming PC delivers serious performance for gamers ready to step into high-end territory without going overboard. Priced at $2,099.99 with a 5% coupon currently available on Amazon, this build features an AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU and a Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU, making it well-equipped for smooth gameplay at 1440p and capable 4K performance. It also includes 32GB of fast DDR5-5600 RAM, a 1TB Gen4 NVMe SSD for quick load times, and an 850W Gold-rated PSU to ensure stable power delivery. The system comes preloaded with Windows 11 Home, built-in Wi-Fi, and even includes an RGB keyboard and mouse to complete your setup.
Iniu 10,000mAh 22.5W USB Power Bank
If you need a budget-friendly power bank for your new Nintendo Switch 2, this deal is hard to beat. Amazon currently has the INIU 10,000mAh 22.5W USB power bank on sale for just $11.87 when you clip the 10% off coupon and use promo code F4M479K9 at checkout. That’s a 56% discount off its $26.99 list price. This compact charger can fully juice up a Switch 2 about 1.5 times and offers three outputs—including a 22.5W USB-C port with Power Delivery 3.0 for fast charging, plus two USB-A QuickCharge 4 ports. With over 18,000 Amazon reviews averaging 4.6 stars, it’s a reliable pick that rivals pricier options like Anker. It’s also TSA-compliant and travel-friendly thanks to its slim 10,000mAh capacity.
IGN Live 2025 Bundle
Celebrate IGN Live 2025 with a Humble Bundle packed with critically acclaimed games, all while supporting a great cause. For just $22, you can unlock a collection of eight PC titles worth $239, including fan favorites like Slay the Spire, The Medium, art of rally, Old World, and Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator. Whether you’re into strategic turn-based combat in Wartales, mystical adventures in Black Book, or fast-paced action in Bloodroots, this bundle has something for every kind of gamer. All proceeds benefit Child’s Play, a charity that brings games and technology to children in hospitals around the world. Redeemable on Steam and available across multiple platforms, this deal is only live for a limited time.
Woodkid for Death Stranding 2 On the Beach – 2LP Vinyl
Available now for pre-order, the Woodkid for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach 2LP vinyl features 16 original tracks composed by Woodkid for the upcoming sequel to Hideo Kojima’s acclaimed Death Stranding. Set to release on September 26, 2025, this deluxe edition includes collaborations with Elle Fanning and Bryce Dessner, alongside ethereal vocals from the Suginami Junior Chorus. Pressed on two translucent ultra-clear vinyl records, the soundtrack is packaged in printed sleeves and housed in a metallic case featuring official game artwork, wrapped with a translucent belly band..
Kirby and the Forgotten Land (Switch 2)
Kirby’s back with a fresh upgrade for Nintendo Switch 2 in a reworked version of Kirby and the Forgotten Land. This enhanced edition features smoother performance, higher resolution, and a brand new post-meteor storyline with extra Mouthful Modes. It’s the same colorful 3D platforming adventure, complete with abandoned malls, mystery-filled ruins, and chaotic boss fights, now with expanded content and improved visuals. You can even team up with a friend in local co-op to save the Waddle Dees and rebuild their town together.
Donkey Kong Bananza
With a Nintendo Direct dropping for Donkey Kong Bananza tommorow, it’s a good time to make sure you’ve got the Mario Odyssey-esque 3D platformer secured for day one. This physical edition has the full game on the cart and is giving DK the kind of 3D platforming love it’s been missing since the Nintendo 64 days.
FiGGYZ
FiGGYZ are a new line of 4.3-inch pixel art collectibles that snap into place with magnets and feature characters from major franchises like Sonic, Street Fighter, and Banjo & Kazooie. They’re compact enough for desks or shelves, and every release includes a chance at rare gold, silver, and bronze variants with drop rates as low as 1%. A clean, fun option for collectors who want to show off their favorite characters without clutter.
Monty Python And The Holy Grail – 4K UHD Combo + Steelbook
Monty Python and the Holy Grail gets the 4K UHD treatment in this limited edition SteelBook release, celebrating 50 years of absurdity. Follow King Arthur and his coconut-clopping knights on their chaotic quest for the Holy Grail, now with upgraded Dolby Vision visuals and Atmos audio. This edition includes a tribute feature with comedians and fans, plus a bonus “Near-Theatrical” HD cut of the film.
Badass Brawlers Bundle
Humble’s Badass Brawlers Bundle serves up seven beat-’em-ups for just $16, with a total value of $179. Highlights include River City Girls 2 with four-player co-op, the kaiju-smashing Dawn of the Monsters, and cult favorite Double Dragon Neon. Other picks like Full Metal Furies, Final Vendetta, and Young Souls round out a solid lineup of co-op-friendly, side-scrolling brawlers. All games redeem on Steam, and proceeds help support the charity SpecialEffect.
Self Adhesive Hook And Loop Cable Ties
These self-adhesive hook and loop cable ties from MUTOTO are a simple solution for tidying up cords around the house or office. Each pack includes 40 grey straps made from durable nylon with strong back glue, making them ideal for desks, entertainment centers, or kitchen setups. They’re adjustable, reusable, and easy to apply with no tools needed. Just stick, wrap, and adjust as needed. Be mindful when using on painted walls though, as the adhesive may cause damage if removed too soon.
Anker HDMI Switch
Anker’s 4-in-1 HDMI Switch lets you connect up to four devices to a single display, making it easier to swap between your console, PC, or projector setup. It supports 4K at 60Hz with HDR, Dolby, and DTS compatibility for crisp, lag-free viewing. The included remote allows for quick input switching, though you’ll need to supply your own batteries and charger. It’s a compact, reliable pick for anyone looking to simplify their entertainment or workstation setup.
This 3-pack of JSAUX tempered glass screen protectors is made specifically for the Nintendo Switch 2 and offers full edge-to-edge coverage without removing the pre-applied film. Each protector features 9H hardness to guard against scratches and drops, and the included guide frame makes installation quick and bubble-free.
Switch 2 tomtoc Slim Carrying Case
This Switch 2 case isn’t a chunk, protects all the buttons including the shoulders and triggers and has been tested for drops and bumps that are bound to happen. It also has an inlay to store up to 12 carts, so it ticks all my boxes.
The Legend of Zelda Master Sword
So this Master Sword replica is made of ABS and has sound effects alongside some iconic themes from across the Legend of Zelda mainline game series. The cuttons to activate it all are easy to reach when holding it, and in all honesty it sounds so cool. Just don’t go hitting your mate over the head with it, I reckon It would still hurt!
Borderlands 4 Preorders
Borderlands 4 preorders have finally landed, and the started edition is just under the $70 mark in a suprising move after the comments made by Randy Pitchford. We’ve had a bit of a behind the scenes look with the beggining of the “Beyond the Borderlands” video dropping on how to make a vault hunter, and it’s all looking good.
Narrative Arc Bundle
This Humble Bundle highlights seven story-rich indie games for $20, with a total value of $162. Titles include Harold Halibut, a stop-motion-style adventure; Six Ages 2: Lights Going Out, a myth-driven survival strategy game; and SEASON: A letter to the future, a reflective travel narrative. Also in the bundle are Dustborn, Mutazione, Venba, and Frank and Drake, each offering unique perspectives and storytelling formats. Purchases support the It Gets Better Project, and you can choose to pay more or less depending on the number of games you want.
Apple Mac and iPad Deals
Need an upgrade or a good introduction into the Apple ecosystem? There’s plenty of choices here, with the M4 chip powering the MacBook and Mac Mini, it’s just a case of thinking about if you’d like a traditional desktop setup or something you can take on the go. iPad A16 is perfect for pretty much anything too, even a bit of Apple Arcade.
Samsung 57″ Odyssey Neo G9 Gaming Monitor
This beast is the first Dual UHD gaming monitor, combining two UHD screens into one curved 1000R display and its $450 off. It supports a 240Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, with DisplayPort 2.1 for full performance. Quantum Mini LED backlighting with DisplayHDR 1000 and 2,392 local dimming zones delivers strong contrast and color accuracy. You also get ergonomic adjustments, CoreSync ambient lighting, and features like Picture-by-Picture for multitasking. Just note: full DUHD at 240Hz requires a compatible graphics card with DP 2.1 or HDMI 2.1 support.
Big Discounts On Crucial DDR5 and Storage
Crucial are one of the most dependable brands when it comes to M.2 and portable drives, and is a great option for those wanting the benefits of DDR5 RAM without flashy RGB and it’s price tag. Here’s some of the best deals in the Crucial price slashing marathon on Amazon right now. I currently use the X10 Pro 4TB for backing up files and folders on my PC and for watching videos on my projector, just a solid piece of kit.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (PS5)
Kingdom Come Deliverance II drops you into the brutal heart of 15th century Bohemia, and right now the PS5 version is just $47.99, down from $69.99. You play as Henry, a blacksmith’s son caught in a fight for survival, revenge, and rebellion. With over five hours of cinematic storytelling, a massive open world, and intense first-person melee combat, this sequel builds on everything that made the original a cult hit. Whether you’re swordfighting, smithing, or trying to navigate life in a war-torn land, this is medieval roleplaying at its most immersive.
DOOM The Dark Ages Art Print
This limited-edition DOOM The Dark Ages art print is a must for fans of the Slayer’s latest crusade. Officially licensed and hand-numbered out of 995 copies, it’s printed on high-quality art paper and comes with a certificate of authenticity. Produced by one of the UK’s oldest commercial printers, the A3-sized piece measures 11.69 x 16.53 inches and captures the brutal tone of the game perfectly. Pre-orders are open now, with shipping expected in July 2025.
Power Up Pride Bundle
Power Up Pride Game Bundle brings together seven standout indie titles for just $13, with all games yours to keep. You’ll find cozy village life in Echoes of the Plum Grove, charming shop sim gameplay in Sticky Business, and emotional storytelling in titles like Haven and A Normal Lost Phone. It’s a solid mix of narrative-driven adventures, life sims, and visual novels, all picked for their unique stories and engaging mechanics. Great value, great games, and a portion of your purchase supports charity through Xperience Studios.
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.
Nintendo has confirmed the age of Donkey Kong Bananza sidekick Pauline, sparking questions regarding the young character’s timeline and how Bananza’s story will tally with previous titles — such as Mario’s original arcade game, where DK was famously portrayed as the villain and Pauline was his abductee.
In a character profile found on Donkey Kong Bananza’s Japanese website, Nintendo states that Pauline is a “13-year-old girl who loves to sing. She used to live above ground, but for some reason she was brought to the underground world and transformed into a rock.”
Nintendo fans have been quick to highlight what this might mean for Pauline’s overall timeline — and the fact that DK and Pauline’s friendly team-up in Bananza is a very different vibe to the pair’s usual relationship of kidnapper and victim. Does something happen to DK, turning him evil? Or have we been getting Pauline and DK’s friendship wrong all these years?
Donkey Kong Bananza sees the two characters working together to help the teenage Pauline get back to the surface, in order to pursue her dream of becoming a world famous singer. Pauline’s appearance as a singer in Odyssey suggests that she does indeed make it.
But while Bananza looks story-wise to be an Odyssey prequel, the exact timeline here is somewhat unclear. Nintendo has never stated Pauline’s age in Odyssey, or in any of her other appearances, so it’s unknown how long before those events it is that Bananza takes place.
But by linking the character across these games through Pauline’s musical ambitions, it also highlights the fact that Odyssey’s Pauline does address her kidnapping by DK — something she describes as “traumatic.”
Pauline has been kidnapped by DK multiple times over the years. Most notably, she is saved from DK’s clutches in the original Donkey Kong arcade game, but she is then abducted again in various entries within the Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2 series.
In Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, Pauline is snatched by Donkey Kong after the she dares to pick a gift from Mario instead of DK. In Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again!, Pauline is kidnapped once more by an enraged DK, upset that he’s missed out on a theme park opening.
Later entries in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series paint Pauline’s interactions with DK in a kinder light, however, such as in Mario and Donkey Kong: Minis on the Move, where the two team up to host a mini-game, and Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars, where the pair plan Mario a surprise party.
Does something happen to sour DK and Pauline’s relationship at the end of Donkey Kong Bananza, turning the ape from an ally to kidnapper? Will we see the events of the original Donkey Kong arcade game take place within Bananza, perhaps, with Mario coming in to save the day? Or have we been getting it wrong all these years?
Some fans have suggested that Bananza will turn the Mario universe on its head by revealing that DK and Pauline are in fact friends — and that Mario has been the villain all along, effectively stealing Pauline back when she’s just been hanging out with her pal.
Hopefully all will be revealed when Donkey Kong Bananza arrives as Nintendo’s next major Switch 2 launch on July 17, 2025.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
Yesterday, the new patch 1.01.3 went live for Elden Ring Nightreign. It was a seemingly small patch, centered on bugs and quality-of-life tune-ups. It seemed like most players saw it and went about their day. But then, gradually, some started to notice a new option in their Expeditions menu.
A new Gaping Jaw undertaking, dubbed the “Everdark Sovereign,” was appearing on the Expeditions menu. Soon it became clear that FromSoftware had delivered on its promise to add enhanced bosses to Elden Ring Nightreign this month, and it did so without warning, letting players potentially stumble into the new venture. Watching the community piece this together, in the late hours of the night, was truly fantastic.
As confirmed this morning on Bandai Namco’s site, enhanced versions of current Nightlords—duibbed Everdark Sovereigns—will start appearing in Elden Ring Nightreign over the coming weeks. Each week, a new Sovereign will arrive in Limveld, with Gaping Jaw as the current Sovereign and both Sentient Pest and Darkdrift Knight due to get new, more challenging versions as well.
Everdark Sovereigns are only available while online, and each Sovereign will hang around for a week, then leave and get replaced by another one. You have to have beaten the base, original form of the Nightlord to challenge its Everdark Sovereign form.
Early reports from players indicate that this souped-up Gaping Jaw is, truly, enhanced. Videos of the fights show the empowered Adel zipping aruond the field, creating massive storms, and generally wiping the floor with entire trios of players in short order.
While you can tackle the Everdark Sovereign solo, or with friends and/or strangers, it seems like the new fight is truly adding some challenge, even for those who have been putting a lot of hours into Elden Ring Nightreign. To me, it’s reminiscent of Monster Hunter’s upgraded fights that get added post-launch, like Tempered versions of monsters, that seem meant to add extra challenge as players’ knowledge and power rises exponentially over time.
What’s the reward for felling an Everdark Sovereign? Well, a brand-new shop located in the hub area will let you spend all the Sovereign Sigils you’ll earn from a clear, and even this shop is a pretty exciting update. Alongside offering special Relics and other items, the Sigils allow playes to change the Roundtable Hold’s lighting, acquire the currently available skins, and set shifting earth statuses. The latter has been a major request from the community, and it’s great to see it addressed.
So while the patch notes for 1.01.3 were fairly unassuming at first, players now seem to feel like this is a huge update. The roll-out of enhanced bosses has already brought some new life and challenge back to Nightreign, and the promise of more to come is enticing, as are the new short-term pursuits to chase after.
Bandai Namco is also teasing this as the start of something: “This is only the beginning of the Everdark Sovereign cycle. As the power of the Night ebbs and wanes, the Sovereigns will soon return to the abyss they came from.” We already know Elden Ring Nightreign is due to get full updates down the road, so if this is an early indication of what we can expect, the long-term prospects for FromSoft’s new co-op survival action game seem good.
We’re a little less than a month away from the release of Donkey Kong Bananza, and now it’s getting an adorable amiibo to release alongside it. The brand new amiibo for the game (which you can see here at Best Buy) features Donkey Kong and Pauline, who was recently confirmed to be your trusty sidekick in the game. She’s catching a ride on DK’s back, holding on to his necktie.
This new amiibo is currently listed for $29.99 and is set to release on July 17, which is the same day as Donkey Kong Bananza. If you want the full Donkey Kong setup for launch day, don’t miss out on picking up this amiibo at the link below.
Preorder Donkey Kong Bananza Amiibo
In our first hands-on preview of Donkey Kong Bananza, IGN’s Logan Plant said, “on Switch 2, Nintendo is finally giving one of gaming’s biggest icons the love he deserves with a brand new, flagship, launch window 3D action-platformer, and if the first 30 minutes we spent with Donkey Kong Bananza are any indication, Mario’s original rival is looking poised to stand tall once again.” If you haven’t yet preordered the game, it’s worth checking out our Donkey Kong Bananza preorder guide to set yourself up with a copy ahead of its release.
If you’re already stocked up on Switch 2 games and are looking for some accessories to add to your Switch 2 setup instead, we’re here to help there, too. In our roundup of the best Nintendo Switch 2 deals, you can see some very nice discounts we’ve come across recently on a variety of items, from carrying cases to screen protectors and so much more. With Amazon Prime Day on the horizon as well, we’ll probably see some more Switch 2 accessory discounts popping up throughout the sale event. Keep your eyes peeled (get it?) when the sale kicks off on July 8.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelancer who writes with the guides and commerce teams here at IGN.
Fan-favorite rhythm game Beat Saber is ending support for PlayStation consoles.
From here on in, you shouldn’t expect any further updates or music packs if you play on PS4 or PS5, and from January 21, 2026, multiplayer support will also be withdrawn.
“As we look to the future and plan the next big leap for Beat Saber, we have made the decision to no longer release updates for PS4 and PS5 starting in June 2025,” the developer explained in a new FAQ entitled “End of Support for PS4/PS5” (thanks, Eurogamer).
“Our passion for VR remains unwavering. We are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead and what we can bring to Beat Saber fans who have been on this journey with us over the past [seven] years.”
The update stressed that you will still be able to play Beat Saber and have access to all of your previously purchased content, and cross-buy “remains active” between the PS4 and PS5 base game. You can also still buy songs and music packs that were released on or before June 18 — just nothing added to the catalog from today (June 19) onwards.
“We’re grateful for the incredible support you’ve shown us over the years, and we’re excited to share what the future holds for Beat Saber,” the update concluded.
For many players, this feels very much like the final nail in the coffin for PlayStation’s VR aspirations, as Beat Saber is still one of PlayStation’s biggest VR titles. Fans seem split between laying the blame with Sony and the lack of support its given to its VR headset, and Meta “wanting their game to be the best on Quest.”
“Absolutely baffling decision,” said one player on the subreddit. “Beat Saber still regularly tops the sales charts on PSVR1 and 2, I think dropping support for PSVR1 is understandable but not supporting PSVR2 feels like an absolutely insane move given how popular the game is on that platform.”
“This is a massively stupid f***ing decision,” added another. “I can’t overstate how mad I am about this.”
“The PlayStation VR2 may seem pricey, given that it costs $150 more than the base PS5 Digital Edition console you’ll need to use it,” we wrote when we reviewed the PSVR2 on release. “Even so, it’s such a quantum leap over the original PSVR in terms of ease of use, visual quality, and immersion that any PlayStation owner who loves VR should upgrade as soon as possible.
“Its 4K HDR OLED screen and excellently tactile Sense controllers are the most obvious improvement, but plentiful quality-of-life changes and the raw horsepower of the PS5 set a new standard for how VR games should play and feel on console. The downside is that, like any new platform, its thin launch lineup makes its lack of backward compatibility with original PSVR games a significant problem, but one that will only improve as Sony and other developers roll out new games that take advantage of the PSVR2’s unique features.”
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
Gears of War: Reloaded‘s upcoming beta weekend will now last a little longer and include more content as developer The Coalition responds to feedback from players.
“We heard you,” the team said on social media. “More maps. More modes. More time.”
As a result, this weekend’s upcoming multiplayer beta has been extended — so the beta now runs from Friday June 20 at 12pm PDT to Sunday June 22 at 9pm PDT — and Execution has now joined the mode pool alongside King of the Hill on Gridlock, Raven Down (Courtyard and War Machine), and Canals. You’ll also be able to play Team Deathmatch on the same maps via social matchmaking, with Gold Rush also in the pool.
That won’t quite quell the issues some players had about server stability but to be honest, that’s precisely what beta tests are for, right? Better to experience that instability now than when the game launches in a few weeks’ time.
Last month Microsoft announced Gears of War: Reloaded, a remaster of the original 2006 game, will launch on August 26 on PC, Xbox, and yes, even PlayStation. The shiny new version will come with improved visuals and audio, crossplay, and cross-progression, and all the DLC from the Gears of War: Ultimate Edition.
As a little treat for the Gears of War faithful, Gears of War: Reloaded will be a free upgrade for any players who purchased the digital version of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition before the announcement. If you’re one of the special ones, expect a code via a DM from Xbox ahead of the release.
“As we approach the 20th anniversary of Gears of War in 2026, we’re reflecting on what this franchise means. It’s about the stories we’ve told, the friendships we’ve built, and the unforgettable moments we’ve shared together. With Gears of War: Reloaded, we’re opening that door to more players than ever,” Mike Crump, studio head at The Coalition, said at the time.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
