Category: IGN

Pokémon card prices are moving fast this week, and TCGPlayer is coming out ahead of Amazon on some of the most in-demand elite trainer boxes. Black Bolt is going for $84 (25% cheaper than Amazon), White Flare sits at $80.95 (17% cheaper), Destined Rivals is $94.48 (also 17% off), and Twilight Masquerade is $86.87 (about 6% below). On top of that, the market is showing a clear divide: flashy Illustration Rares like Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and Terapagos ex are slipping, while useful cards like Hyper Rare Darkness Energy, Dusclops, and Okidogi ex are climbing steadily.

TL;DR: Deals For Today

Outside the TCG world, today’s tech deals are worth a look too. The standout is a buy-one-get-one offer on Baseus’s 10-in-1 charging station, giving you a full desktop power hub for as little as $15 each. iPhone users can also pick up the ultra-slim LISEN MagSafe battery pack for under $20, perfect for quick top-ups on the go. Rounding things out are a mix of other discounts across everyday essentials, so there’s a little something for everyone in today’s roundup.

Cheap Pokémon TCG ETBs

TCGPlayer is killing Amazon for the most in demand elite trainer boxes right now. Black Bolt is 25% cheaper at $84, White Flare is 17% below Amazon at $80.95 followed by Destined Rivals 17% cheaper at $94.48 and Twilight Masquerade at $86.87, which is a modest 6% cheaper. We’re still a ways off from MSRP, but if you want to get one of these ETBs this is the cheapest option right now.

Most Expensive Pokémon Cards from Japan’s Mega Brave and Mega Symphonia

Japan’s Mega Brave and Mega Symphonia Pokémon TCG sets have quickly gained popularity with collectors and competitive players alike, thanks to their focus on iconic Mega Evolutions, powerful Supporter cards, and premium artwork. High-value chase cards like Mega Gardevoir ex 092/063 and Mega Lucario ex 092/063 are priced at $664 and $444 respectively, while many others remain above the $100 mark.

These sets combine strong gameplay mechanics such as Psychic energy acceleration and hard-hitting Fighting-type attacks with visually stunning Special and Ultra Rare treatments that elevate their appeal. Booster boxes and Premium Trainer Boxes are available on TCGPlayer and include guaranteed rare pulls due to Japanese packaging rules. While the most expensive cards draw attention, more affordable options like Lillie’s Determination 086/063, Mega Kangaskhan ex SAR, and Mega Absol ex SAR offer great value with solid gameplay and collector-friendly art, making these sets a standout release for fans looking for both playability and display-worthy cards.

This Weeks Crashers and Climbers

Stellar Crown’s Illustration Rares like Squirtle, Bulbasaur, and Terapagos ex are dropping fast, with nostalgia-driven hype fading as supply grows and competitive players move on. Squirtle is down about 32% since February and Bulbasaur is down 31%, both sliding because their gameplay value is minimal. Earthen Vessel and the Special Illustration Rare Fezandipiti ex are also slipping, while Terapagos ex has been hit hardest, losing over half its value.

On the other hand, Shrouded Fable cards with practical utility are steadily climbing. Hyper Rare Basic Darkness Energy has gained around 17% as Dark-focused decks get more popular, and Dusclops is creeping up thanks to its creative ability. Even the Double Rare Fezandipiti ex is bucking the trend, nearly doubling in value as competitive players embrace it. Smaller gains from Powerglass and Okidogi ex reinforce the idea that functional, playable cards are holding their ground while flashy artwork is losing steam.

Nintendo Switch 2 Is on Sale at AliExpress

Brand new, genuine, imported, region unlocked units

LISEN MagSafe Portable Charger

Baseus Charging Station 67W

INIU Portable Charger, Slimmest Fast Charging 10000mAh

Fallout: Season One (4K Ultra HD)

Spawn [Limited Edition]

Pokémon TCG – Black Bolt Booster Bundle Set

BOOKOO Jump Starter 2000A

Apple 20W USB-C Compact Power Adapter

tomtoc Slim Carrying Case for Nintendo Switch 2

EUKI Compressed Air Duster-150000RPM

MTG Final Fantasy Commander Deck Price Drop

Amazon has dropped the Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy Commander Deck bundle to $189.99 (29% off MSRP), the lowest price yet and a significant saving over buying the decks individually. The set includes all four precons: Revival Trance, Scions and Spellcraft, Limit Break, and Counter Blitz. Limit Break offers strong reprints such as Darksteel Plate and Sword of the Animist, while Counter Blitz delivers powerful synergies built around counters and proliferate. Individually, three of these decks have been selling above $50, with Limit Break still listed at $72.50 on Amazon, making the bundle the best way to grab the full set at a discount.

MTG Aetherdrift Sale

Amazon has dropped one of the best Magic: The Gathering deals of the year, slashing the price of the Aetherdrift Finish Line Bundle from $79.99 to its lowest-ever $52.70. Packed with value, the bundle includes 2 premium Collector Boosters (worth nearly $20 each on their own), 6 Play Boosters, 20 foil lands, 3 exclusive Extended-Art cards, 2 foil Box Topper cards, a foil storage box, spindown life counter, stickers, and reference cards. Considering the Collector Boosters alone nearly cover the price, the rest of the contents are essentially a bonus, offering huge value for those chasing Aetherdrift’s rarest cards like the Radiant Lotus Fracture Foil or The Aetherspark First-Place Foil. With stock already more than halfway claimed, this deal won’t last long.

MTG Avatar Preorders Are Live

Best Buy and Amazon have posted its listings for Magic: The Gathering – Avatar: The Last Airbender,

The crossover Universes Beyond set officially launches November 21, 2025 (digital release November 18) and introduces bending-themed mechanics such as airbending, waterbending, earthbending, and firebending, along with fan-favorite characters including Aang, Katara, Zuko, Toph, and even the Cabbage Merchant.

Best Buy will offer multiple products at launch, including the $41.99 Scene Box, $189.99 Play Booster Box, $69.99 Play Booster Bundle, and $109.99 Commander’s Bundle. With full art treatments, collectible foils, and Standard-legal cards, this release is already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated MTG tie-ins of the year.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Trilogy [Limited Edition]

TMNT Classic Technodrome Playset – Amazon Exclusive

ACEMAGIC Vista Mini V1 Mini PC

Superman (2025) (Bonus X-Ray Edition)

The Legend of Zelda – The Complete Series

Fantom Drives – VENOM8 2TB NVMe Gen 4 M.2 Internal SSD

MTG: Spider-Man Play Booster Box Back In Stock

I’m expecting this MTG Universes Beyond expansion to web zip off shelves when it drops at the end of Feburary, so if you see a preorder like I have, just secure it.

The money won’t be taken from your bank until it ships either, so it’s a no brainer. I’ve also included the listings for the rest of the set from TCGPlayer incase you needed a massive ripping session.

McFarlane Marvel and DC Sale

Plenty of awesome figures to choose from here for more than 50% off in most cases. I absolutley love the comic front cover diorama ones, fantastic display pieces and belong on everyone’s show-off shelf for these kinds of prices.

LEGO Deals

We’re not just talk about bricks here, we’ve even got a cracking deal for a physical copy of LEGO Horizon Adventures on PS5 for $21.99, a massive 63% off. Sick of buying your better half flowers and them dying quick? Just make some out of LEGO Botanicals instead thanks to some big savings on Amazon. Even Harry Potter has rocked up with some deals

Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection Nintendo Switch

INIU Portable Charger

A Nightmare on Elm Street: 7-Film Collection

HOTO 25 in 1 Precision Electric Screwdriver Set

The decision to lock two of Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2’s six clans behind a DLC add-on pack is a “business” informed choice, publisher Paradox has said.

Bloodlines 2’s clans have been boiling the blood of fans for a little while now. It all started with the reveal that the game would feature four clans: Brujah; Tremere; Banu Haqim; and Ventrue. While this selection provides four different starting options for how you build your protagonist, it’s a more limited offering compared to the cult classic original Bloodlines, which featured seven clans.

Reacting to fan feedback, developer The Chinese Room has added a further two clans to Bloodlines 2 (Lasombra and Toreador), but these are only available as part of the Shadows and Silk add-on pack, which costs $21.99 as DLC, or is included as part of the $89.99 Premium Edition. The standard edition costs $59.99.

This DLC is available from day one, which has created the impression that the “full” roster has been carved up, with only those paying extra getting the complete launch experience. Some fans are now feeling like a vampire caught in the sunlight, especially because Toreador was a clan available in the original Bloodlines and is considered fairly significant to Vampire: The Masquerade mythology.

At Gamescom 2025, IGN was able to ask publisher Paradox why Lasombra and Toreador are only available as part of the add-on pack. We were told that additional content is “pretty typical” for games, but that adding fan-requested content comes at a cost.

“What the team has done here is make these two clans accessible on day one, while still understanding that the original experience is going to be with the first four,” said a Paradox representative. “You hear fan feedback and you’re like, ‘Okay, you know that they want these two clans. It’s highly sought after.’

“At the end of the day, business-wise, game development takes time,” they continued. “And [the two clans] is additional content that does get created. So instead of making it ‘day 30’ content, making it day one [content] allows it to be available for those players who have been asking for those two clans the entire time. And like I said, it’s business. That just happens the way that it does, but it provides that access on day one rather than them having to wait.”

As the representative mentioned, these additional clans were “highly sought after.” But their inclusion required an “an awful lot of time testing, listening, going through comments,” explained Ian Thomas, narrative director at The Chinese Room.

“We have spent so much time over the last couple of years extending the release date by going, ‘Yeah, we should really add some stuff about this’ and fattening out the game and deepening the story because of this sort of thing,” Thomas said.

“Because of people going, ‘Oh yeah, we really like that. Are we going to get that?’ In some cases we’ve gone, ‘No, artistically it doesn’t make sense to do that.’ And in some cases we have gone, ‘You know what, that would be really nice. Paradox, can we have a little bit more time and we’ll put that thing in?’ And Paradox have said, ‘We think it’d be nice too, have another few weeks.’”

Those weeks, plus many others, have contributed to Bloodlines 2’s later-than-originally-anticipated October 21, 2025 release date. And while we have waited a very long time for this sequel to a cult classic, it does now come with those six clans… at a price. As we mentioned earlier, not every fan is satisfied with the way these character-defining clans are being locked behind DLC.

While there’s some controversy around this decision, we have been able to play several quests and have come away from Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 feeling optimistic. It’s dripping with atmosphere and has some smart approaches to vampire abilities and the way an undead blood-drinker navigates a modern city.

Matt Purslow is IGN’s Executive Editor of Features.

Magic: The Gathering’s Universes Beyond sets may upset some purists, but there’s no denying the power of a crossover with another franchise.

Final Fantasy’s set was the biggest in history, while other crossovers have included Lord of the Rings, Warhammer 40K, and more. Next up, it’s a veritable pop culture goldmine with Marvel’s Spider-Man, launching next month.

Here’s everything on offer, and where you can still preorder before September 26.

Play Boosters and Bundles

Team Cherry has finally reemerged with a release date for the long-awaited Hollow Knight: Silksong. It’s coming out on September 4, 2025.

First announced in 2019, the release date for the long awaited sequel was finally shared more than six years after Silksong was announced.

Originally confirmed for just Nintendo Switch and PC, but eventually Xbox (and Game Pass) and later PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, Team Cherry has been slowly ramping up the conversation around Silksong after going quiet for a long time.

A trailer officially re-revealed the game at the Xbox Bethesda Showcase in June 2022, at which point Xbox also confirmed the game would be available sometime within the next 12 months. Team Cherry didn’t say anything itself, however, leaving some speculation around its release date.

That is until now, of course, and fans don’t have too long to wait before the next tough as nails, side-scrolling action adventure game. Players will have a whole new kingdom to explore, 150 new beasties to defeat, and a new gameplay mode of crushing difficulty.

Developing…

Pokémon has just announced an all new Mega Pokémon species set to debut in the upcoming Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 game Pokémon Legends Z-A.

In a video debuted today, fans got a first look at Mega Victreebell, a more bulbous version of the pitcher plant Pokémon.

This new spooky trailer sees the game’s heroes investigate a sweet smell in a creepy building after dark. After various jump scares (Espurr! A Clefairy doll!) we finally see the new Mega species.

Fans believe they’ve worked out the setting of Forza Horizon 6, based on a teasing social media post from a car import company connected to the game.

In a now-deleted Instagram post, vehicle import firm Cult and Classic shared an image purporting to show a Forza Horizon staff member digitally scanning a car made by Japanese manufacturer Kei for use in the series’ next game.

The post went on to state that the staff member had travelled to its premises in Australia to scan a series of Kei models, which are unusual to find outside of Japan. And it’s because of this (as well as the post’s subsequent removal) that fans now believe Japan is Forza Horizon 6’s setting.

“Exciting news!” the post read. “We have Cody here, from @forzahorizonofficial, shooting cars for the next installation in the series. As there are no late-model Kei cars in America, he has flown out from the states to use our cars as the basis for their digital versions.

“We are HUGE gamers here at Cult and Classic, and it is an honor to be supporting Forza and making Kei cards accessible virtually for people who can’t have them IRL.”

An Australian car importeur might have leaked Japan as the next ‘Forza Horizon’ setting.

Kei cars could imply that the next game is set in Japan.https://t.co/LKXk3tPlJA pic.twitter.com/uogacUBwOh

— Knoebel goes GamesCom (@Knoebelbroet) August 20, 2025

Japan has ranked highly among the most-requested locations for Forza Horizon 6, following previous series entries set in Australia, Mexico and the UK. Xbox boss Phil Spencer recently confirmed that the next Forza game would arrive in 2026, and this is widely expected to be a new Forza Horizon game.

As for the original Forza Motorsport series, Microsoft’s most recent round of staff cuts in July heavily impacted developer Turn 10 Studios, with one former employee stating that the Forza Motorsport team was “no more”, though some staff remain to assist on Forza Horizon development.

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

Magic: The Gathering’s current set may have taken us to space, but that’s not to say the Final Fantasy set that debuted in June 2025 is gone.

In fact, the set will be standard legal for quite a while yet, but given its incredible popularity, some products are unlikely to see reprints.

Chief among them are Collector Boosters and Collector Editions of Commander Decks, which are sold out, but are selling at a mighty high markup on the secondary market right now.

Final Fantasy Collector Boosters

Final Fantasy Collector Commander Decks

Commander Decks will likely see reprints, and they’re already slipping below MSRP, but the Collector’s Editions are a “one and done” kind of deal.

It’s worth stressing that these don’t offer any additional cards you won’t find in the standard versions, but give every single card a foil treatment. The price for that privelege is $159.99 and up, with the Final Fantasy 7 deck closer to $500 (blimey).

Final Fantasy: Affordable But Awesome Cards

Believe it or not, you don’t have to sell your house to buy Magic cards. There are a whole host of more affordable, but still awesome, cards you can find on the secondary market for a few dollars each.

Even some of the full-art, borderless cards are available if you know what to look for, and we’ve got a handy list.

Bonus Deal: Final Fantasy Commander Decks Just Dropped In Price Again

The complete Final Fantasy precons bundle is now just $185 on Amazon, $95 off its original list price, and the best discount we’ve seen so far on the Commander Decks.

gamescom 2025 is fully underway and there have already been a ton of huge reveals that have given a glimpse at the future of video games. We’ve already had Opening Night Live and a full day of previews and interviews and news, and we’ve decided to gather all the biggest moments right here to ensure you don’t miss a thing.

So, check out everything below and continue to check back throughout gamescom to see what other surprises have been revealed.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 New Trailer Reveals Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies Details, Release Date, and Much More

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 had a big night at gamescom’s Opening Night Live, as we got a first-look at its campaign, learned new details on multiplayer and zombies, got a release date of November 14, learned about its Open Beta, and much more.

The story of Black Ops 7 takes place in 2035 and is a follow-up to both Black Ops 2 and Black Ops 6. The campaign supports solo play of up to four-player co-op, with global progression for the first time for the franchise.

For more, check out why Black Ops 7 is the series’ biggest swing in years, how the devs are ‘paying attention’ to feedback over goofy skins, and how the series is using generative AI to “not replace, but streamline.”

How Call of Duty: Black Ops 7’s Campaign Weaponizes Fear

We talk to Call of Duty developers Miles Leslie and Natalie Pohorski at gamescom 2025 to find out how Black Ops 7’s co-op campaign takes cues from the Batman Arkham games by using fear toxin as the basis of the weirdest COD missions we’ve seen yet.

Hollow Knight: Silksong Shows Up at Gamescom: Opening Night Live With Almost 30 Seconds of New Gameplay, as a Treat

While we still don’t have a release date, Hollow Knight: Silksong showed up in a big way during ONL with a confirmation it will be out in 2025 and with almost 30 seconds of new gameplay. We also won’t have to wait long to learn more about this much-anticipated game as there will be a “special announcement” taking place this Thursday, August 22.

Hollow Knight: Silksong – We Played It!

As if the above wasn’t enough, we also actually got to play Hollow Knight: Silksong. Thankfully, we came away very impressed and said the “long-awaited sequel shows little sign of disappointing.”

“Yes, we’ve been waiting many, many years for this sequel, but everything at this stage points to it being worth it. Each aspect feels authored and prescribed to a clear vision — a piece of playable art that is as fun to wield as it is to watch (I should know, the gamescom queue was very long),” IGN’s Simon Cardy wrote. “It may have been the shortest of demos, but so far, Silksong is very much singing to me, maybe even more than the original.”

Kirby Air Riders – The First Preview

Following its big Nintendo Direct, we had the chance to play Kirby Air Riders at gamescom.

“The maximalism of Kirby Air Riders is its core charm; it feels brewed from impish, chaotic-neutral alchemy,” our previewer, Leanne Butkovic, said. “Even Nintendo is calling this a “vehicle action game,” not a kart racer, which honestly seems apt – a silly genre distinction for a purposefully unserious game. It might not have been the sequel the people were clamoring for, but I’m glad that it exists.”

Resident Evil Requiem Hands-On Preview

IGN’s Dale Driver had a chance to play a 20-minute demo of Resident Evil Requiem, and one of the biggest things we took away from playing the game is that a new, unstoppable stalker could be the scariest one yet.

Resident Evil: Requiem Trailer Shows Fresh Look at Grace Ashcroft’s Backstory, But Where’s Leon?

Resident Evil: Requiem showed up in a big way at ONL with a new story and gameplay trailer that dives deep into our protagonist, Grace Ashcroft. However, we are still waiting for Leon S. Kennedy, where is he?!

Resident Evil Requiem Takes Stalkers to the Next Terrifying Level

The latest stalker in the Resident Evil series takes the chase to the next level, hunting Grace Ashcroft throughout the hallways of the small but impactful Resident Evil Requiem demo. IGN’s Matt Purslow and Dale Driver got to go hands-on with the game and discuss their initial impressions of the latest Resident Evil game coming out in 2026.

Pragmata Aims to Break the Rules of Third-Person Shooters

Pragmata was playable at gamescom, and we said that, “while it produces a combat experience quite different to anything I’ve played before, I’m left wondering if that same level of ingenuity will be felt in Pragmata’s exploration and level design, too.”

Pragmata Rethinks Shooting but Is That a Good Thing?

Capcom’s Pragmata has a new system for shooting mechanics, asking you to do a hacking mini-game before each enemy encounter. It’s a fresh take, but is it a good thing? After playing the Pragmata demo at gamescom 2025, IGN’s Matt Purslow and Dale Driver have some mixed feelings, enjoying the innovation but with slight concerns that the process could wear thin over a full game.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword Skillfully Sharpens a PS2 Classic for a New Generation

Onimusha: Way of the Sword brings back the franchise for the first time since the PS2 days, and we walked away from playing this new game in a very positive way.

“The gamescom demo may have been short – little more than some winding paths and a boss fight in a temple – but it’s more than enough to convince me that Onimusha: Way of the Sword is built on rock-solid swordplay fundamentals,” IGN’s Matt Purslow said.

Onimusha Could be as Sharp as Sekiro Without the Soulslike Difficulty

Is Onimusha: Way of the Sword a triumphant return for the long-dormant franchise? IGN’s Matt Purslow and Dale Driver got to play the demo at gamescom 2025 and share their thoughts about the supernatural samurai fighting demon combat and the inevitable Soulslike comparisons. How does Onimusha compare to the obvious Ghost of Tsushima and Sekiro comparisons? Let’s find out.

LEGO Voyagers Might Already Be My Favorite LEGO Game Ever

IGN’s Ryan McCaffrey said Lego Voyagers just might already be his favorite LEGO game of all time.

“Will LEGO Voyagers have some poignant moment waiting for players near the end like fellow dialogue-free physics puzzle platformers Limbo and Inside? That remains to be seen, but even if it doesn’t, it’s clear that Voyagers intends to make its memories along the journey if not the destination. But hopefully it’ll do so in both.”

Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Announced, Featuring Open World Gotham

Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight was announced during gamescom’s Opening Night Live and it looks to be a love letter to many Batman movies and comics with a sprinkle of Batman Arkham combat thrown in. Oh, and it has Matt Berry playing Bane.

“Whether he’s the wrathful Dark Knight, the brilliant detective, or the unlikely father of the ‘Batfam,’ Batman has constantly evolved — shaped by the world around him while remaining a timeless symbol,” said Jim Lee, President, Publisher, and Chief Creative Officer, DC.

“This game brings together nearly every facet of his legacy, letting you experience the full range of what makes Batman iconic. Built with incredible care, creativity, and deep respect for the mythos, TT Games has crafted a love letter to the world of Batman.”

For more, you can check out how this game is the perfect combo of Arkham & Lego combat and 31 minutes of gameplay frme Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight.

Microsoft Still Can’t Say How Much the ROG Xbox Ally X Will Cost Due to “Macro-Economic” Conditions, Despite Announcing Release Date and Availability Details

While we learned that the ROG Xbox Ally X will be released on October 16, Microsoft still isn’t revealing the price of the system yet.

Speaking to IGN today at gamescom, Microsoft and Asus said the companies still needed “more time to figure out the macro-economic impact to pricing”. The statement comes amid a backdrop of frequently shifting market conditions, fuelled by ever-changing US tariffs.

Xbox Hardware Boss Says ‘Who Knows What the Future Entails’ Following Report Company Had Sidelined First-Party Handheld Plans

Amidst reports that Microsoft has sidelined first-party handheld plans with Asus’ ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X on the way, we chatted with Jason Ronald, Microsoft’s vice president of gaming devices & ecosystems, to see what we could find out.

“We’re just really excited about the partnership with Asus, we’ve found an ideal partner to bring their strengths with our strengths, and for us we’re really focused on just growing the category overall,” Ronald said.

Anno 117: Pax Romana – The Final Preview

We were able to go hands-on with the other half of Ubisoft Mainz’s Roman city-builder Anno 117: Pax Romana, and we said, “given the opportunities to define its culture across multiple evolutionary phases, Albion may even have more layers to it than the dedicated Roman settled that would, theoretically, serve as the epicentre the Empire. Colour me intrigued.”

Halloween Revealed by Friday the 13th: The Game Developer

Halloween was revealed at the Future Games Show and we had the chance to interview developer IllFonic on the single-player story mode, working with John Carpenter, and more.

The Blood of Dawnwalker Offers 2 Very Different RPG Playstyles

A team of former creatives behind The Witcher 3 are working on dark fantasy RPG The Blood of Dawnwalker, and our hands-off demo showed how the game is handling the parallel playstyles of human and vampire action.

Ghost of Yotei Trailer Confirms Free Legends Multiplayer DLC Coming in 2026

Alongside a trailer with new footage, Sucker Punch confirmed that the Legends multiplayer DLC, which first appeared in Ghost of Tsushima, will be released in 2026.

Black Myth: Wukong Developer Game Science Announces Sequel, Black Myth: Zhong Kui

Black Myth: Wukong developer Game Science is working on Black Myth: Zhong Kui, a character who is desribed as the “ghost-catching god who wanders between hell and earth.”

“Set against the backdrop of the classic Chinese folktale ‘Zhong Kui Banishing Evil,’ Black Myth: Zhong Kui is a single-player action role-playing game rooted in ancient Chinese fantasy,” GameScience said. —“The game will deliver distinctive experiences and gameplay features that push our limits, while also bringing fresh ideas and necessary changes to address past flaws and regrets.”

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is Xbox’s First Nintendo Switch 2 Game

Alongside a trailer for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s The Order of Giants DLC, it was also confirmed that the adventure will be released on Switch 2 in 2026. The Order of the Giants, on the other hand, will be released on September 4 and expands on the game’s Rome location and has Indy searching for the helmet of the Nameless Crusader.

Silent Hill f Gamescom Trailer Reveals Suzie Yeung as Hinako

Alongside a horrifying new trailer, it was confirmed that Suzie Yeung (Yuffie From Final Fantasy VII Remake) will be voicing protagonist Hinako in the English dub. As for the footage, it featured a lot of freaky dolls and we really don’t like freaky dolls.

Fallout Season 2 Trailer Reveals First-Look at a Deathclaw, Mr. House, and a Release Date

gamescom is about more than games, as it was the place where the debut trailer of Fallout Season 2 was revealed. The much-anticipated new season arrives on December 17 and will see Walton Goggins’ Ghoul and Ella Purnell’s Lucy finally getting to Vegas.

Fallout: Season 2 Trailer Ties The Ghoul’s Origin Story to Mr. House

The trailer for Fallout: Season 2 seemingly ties The Ghoul’s origins story to Mr. House. We will soon get to learn more of his backstory and how Coop went to Las Vegas before the war, where he met with the man who he claims was the main cause of the end of the world: Robert House.

FromSoftware’s Sekiro Gets the Anime Treatment via Crunchyroll in 2026 — Here’s the Debut Trailer and First-Look Images

FromSoftware’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is getting an anime adaptation called Sekiro: No Defeat, and it will be a retelling of “the game’s unforgettable story – a tale of loyalty and blood, set in a fantastical reimagining of Sengoku-era Japan.”

Elden Ring on Switch 2 Is a Disaster in Handheld Mode

We played Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition in handheld mode on Switch 2 and came away very disappointed with the game’s performance, especially when in the open areas like Limgrave. Frame rate drops were significant when turning the camera whilst exploring outside of the tutorial area, and this, combined with a confusing button layout on Switch 2, made combat confusing and exploration fairly dispiriting. We weren’t allowed to record gameplay at the booth, probably due to this fact, but you can hear our thoughts on Elden Ring Switch 2 handheld gameplay in this video. Elden Ring Tarnished Edition releases in 2025, so hopefully there’s time for Bandai Namco to work on its performance.

Borderlands 4 Has The Weirdest Weapons You’ll Ever See

Harlowe is the latest exciting addition to Borderlands 4’s vault hunter line-up. Randy Pitchford, founder and president of Gearbox teases what we can expect from the Gravitar-class hero, plus he reveals more about some of areas to explore and billions (!) of gun combos there are to play around with.

How Ninja Gaiden 4 Continues Ryu’s Legacy in New Ways

Ninja Gaiden 4’s producer and director Yuji Nakao reveals why they shifted away from the much-loved character of Ryu to new face Yakumo, goes into detail about its combat upgrades, and discusses how Ninja Gaiden 4 will continue the challenge the series is best known for.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Legacy of the Forge DLC Trailer Reveals September Release Date and Henry’s New Home

“Returning to Kuttenberg, Henry puts his blacksmithing skills to the test to acquire and repair a legendary burnt-down forge, where his father, Martin, spent his youth as an apprentice,” an official description for the Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Legacy of the Forge DLC says. “Venturing down memory lane, Henry learns of his father’s legacy as a blacksmith, revealing a part of his life that has remained hidden until now. Gaining new blacksmith prestige, Henry becomes a forge master, helping the
people of Kuttenberg with sword crafting, armor-smithing, and other quirky requests.”

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 Is Finally a Reality — but Its Developer May Surprise You

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 is real, but is not being developed by Relic Entertainment. Instead, it is in development at King Art Games, the studio behind Iron Harvest. In Dawn of War 4, which looks to return the RTS series to its roots, will have four facitons, “deeply satisfying gameplay,” and a “brutal, expanded Sync Kill system.”

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 – First Impressions From a Series Veteran

“I certainly wasn’t expecting a new Dawn of War any time soon, much less from a studio other than Relic,” IGN’s Leana Hafer wrote. “But from the bit of it I’ve played, it seems like King Art Games understands the assignment. As a Dawn of War 2 fan, I miss the emphasis on cover and move-and-fire tactics. But Dawn of War 4 has nevertheless made a big first impression. I can hardly wait to get dug in next year.”

Lords of the Fallen 2 Gets Official Reveal Trailer, Still on Track for 2026

CI Games has given Lords of the Fallen 2 its big coming out party, and this 2026 sequel looks to to be shaped by community feedback after an inital rocky reception at launch of the original game. As for the gameplay, expect to explore two parallel worlds, an expanded Umbral realm, and shared campaign progression in online co-op.

21 Years After the Original, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 Finally Has a Release Date

gamescom’s Opening Night Live gave us a release date of October 21 for Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, which is roughly 21 years after the original was released.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 – We FINALLY Played It

We also had the chance to play Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, and we came out of our play session “cautiously optimistic.” We may not love the combat yet, but its a well-written and well-voiced mystery story that also lets me explore our urban hunting ground with cool movement abilities.

Project Spectrum Is Looking Extremely Weird and More Than a Little Creepy

We had the chance to play eight minutes of Project Spectrum, and our previewer, Travis Northup, said it “left me with as many questions as I got answers, with lots left unexplained about how exactly this weird idea will work, but it also showed signs of a fairly new take on the asymmetrical multiplayer genre that’s become one of my favorite pastimes in recent years.”

Where Winds Meet’s Open World Could Take You 150 Hours to Fully Explore

Brutal sword fights and mastering devastating combos are at the heart of Where Winds Meet, an open world ARPG in which the action is so relentless there’s barely time to soak up the gorgeous visuals. It’s also massive, as the development team behind the game reveals in this gameplay walkthrough.

Monkey Island’s Ron Gilbert Is Making a New Roguelike RPG Where the Scrolling Screen Is Trying to Kill You (Again)

Monkey Island’s Ron Gilbert is working on Death by Scrolling, a rouguelike RPG when players are pursued throught Purgatory by a constantly-scrollins screen and Death herself.

Monster Hunter Wilds and Final Fantasy 14 Collaborations Reveal New Content Coming This Fall

Capcom and Square Enix are teaming up for exciting crossovers between Monster Hunter Wilds and Final Fantasy 14. Monster Hunter will be getting rideable Chocobos, Cactaurs, and more, and Seikrets and Palicos and hopping over to FF14.

Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes Aims to Deliver an FTL-Like Roguelike

Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hope is basically a turn-based roguelike that’s giving us big FTL vibes with a wonderful layer of Battlestar Galactica on top of it. In this game, you are actually a junker who is trying to catch up with the Galactica in hopes to find safe haven and, hopefully one day, find Earth.

Bubsy 3D Is Getting a Sequel, Almost 30 Years Later

Bubsy, that talking orange bobcat mascot from the 90s, is returning for a brand-new adventure called Bubsy 4D, and it will be the first new entry in the franchise since 1996’s Bubsy 3D.

Denshattack! Might Be a Killer Blend of Tony Hawk and Jet Set Radio

If you love Tony Hawk and Jet Set Radio, you may want to keep an eye on Denshattack!, which has you riding a train instead of a skateboard or roller blades. In this game, you have to be the fastest train on the track by doing incredible tricks.

Valor Mortis Announced From the Developer of Ghostrunner

Ghostrunner developer One More Level is back with a new game called Valor Mortis, and it is a single-player, first-person soulslike that takes place in an alt-history Eastern Europe during a ficitonalized version of Napoleon’s invasion. Valor Mortis will be released in 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

There’s been lots of excitement over the presence of a Hollow Knight: Silksong game demo on the show floor at Gamescom this year, in both the Xbox and Nintendo booths. And by all accounts, the demo seems pretty great. Our own previewer said it’s “a piece of playable art that is as fun to wield as it is to watch.” But some Silksong superfans hoping for new story, new bosses, or new content to reveal themselves in this demo might be a little disappointed, because the Gamescom demo is the same demo from six years ago at E3 2019. But shinier.

We first noticed this when reading through our previews of the demo from today alongside our preview from 2019. It’s more discernable when looking at 2019’s video footage, but both demos cover the same two areas – the early game Moss Grotto, and the later Deep Docks. They cover the same encounters and bosses as well. We’ve been able to comb over some other footage posted by other individuals from Gamescom and yup, looks like an updated version of the same demo.

To be clear, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. If anything, it shows how far the game has come in six years. Looking at similar clips from both demos, and there are very clear signs of polish. Lighting and backgrounds have been adjusted, platforms have been moved around slightly. Fans have even spotted the teensiest, tiniest dialogue change between the two demos. It’s also not surprising that neither area has undergone massive content changes in six years. If these two levels were ready for prime time in 2019, they were likely the closest to “done” at the time that Team Cherry had ready, and thus wouldn’t need developers to spend years tweaking them infinitely. And for what it’s worth, this is also the first time we’ve seen the game on both an Xbox Series console, and the Nintendo Switch 2, as the E3 2019 demo was only on Nintendo Switch 1.

The only real disappointment to be had here is that we’re not actually seeing any new content after such a long wait – no new bosses or enemies or characters or stories. So anyone looking to scour this new demo for clues as to what Silksong will be when it finally releases is probably not going to come up with much that we don’t already know.

Still, that probably won’t be necessary either. Team Cherry has announced an announcement of some sort for tomorrow, and after a rash of teases around Gamescom and the demo finally re-emerging after a six year cocoon, it seems likely that a release date is imminent. (Silk)soon, we won’t need to scour tidbits of footage for a crumb of new Silksong info. We’ll just be able to, finally, play the long-anticipated sequel to Hollow Knight for ourselves.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

Halloween was revealed at the Future Games Show during gamescom 2025 with a debut trailer and a raft of game details.

IllFonic, the asymmetrical horror specialist behind the likes of Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game, Friday the 13th: The Game, and Predator Hunting Grounds, is developing Halloween and will handle publishing with Gun Media. It’s based on the iconic 1978 movie, and is due out at some point in 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC.

Unlike IllFonic’s previous horror games, Halloween has a single-player mode. John Carpenter was involved, as was Compass International Pictures, which produced the original film.

Here’s the official blurb:

Step into the chilling world of John Carpenter’s genre-defining film, now transformed into a suspenseful one-versus-many stealth horror experience. Put on the iconic mask to become the ultimate slasher, Michael Myers, stalking and executing the citizens of Haddonfield one by one, or striving to thwart Michael Myers’ plans as Civilians determined to save the unaware townsfolk before it’s too late.

Stick to the shadows as Civilians, seeking out Haddonfield residents to warn them and searching for a way to contact the authorities. As Michael Myers, give them a reason to fear the dark and cut the phone lines to prevent the police from ruining his favorite holiday. Whether playing solo in story mode, against bots offline, or facing others in online multiplayer, each mode rewards stealth, strategy, and skillful play.

Staying true to the original film, IllFonic masterfully recreates the eerie atmosphere of Haddonfield across multiple maps and authentic locations. With a haunting ambience and score inspired by the legendary movie, Halloween brings the terror home in a new experience that will keep both old and new generations looking over their shoulders.

Ahead of the announcement, IGN had the chance to interview Chief Creative Officer Jared Gerritzen and Design Director Jordan Mathewson to find out everything you need to know about Halloween.

IGN: People know IllFonic for their multiplayer horror games. Why was having a single-player mode for Halloween important for you?

Jared Gerritzen: It’s definitely because of the games that we’ve done. This is our fifth runaround with a multiplayer only game. But in the past, in my previous jobs, anytime that a multiplayer-only game gets released, especially if it has a very strong fan base — it is just a fact that some people don’t play multiplayer games. And we’ve learned that in the past. In Ghostbusters we added the ability to play by yourself and better AI. Hardcore Ghostbusters fans were able to come in and play the game and get a great experience, and then they got the skills, and then they saw that multiplayer button and then they came in. And it’s really cool because I now know people that were like, I came in for Ghostbusters, but now I’m a multiplayer fan, and now I’m playing multiplayer games.

Because I do think that in this day and age we are getting these massively cool and exciting IPs, but if there isn’t a multiplayer experience and if there isn’t a single-player experience, I do think that people don’t get those itches scratched. And so year after year, each one of our IllFonic games, it’s an iterative process where we look at the last project and we try to do better. And so with this, it was very important, especially with it being Halloween, that we brought in an experience for people that don’t play hardcore multiplayer games.

Asymmetrical multiplayer games can be a little bit more hardcore too. And the stress of being the killer versus a bunch of bullies can be pretty daunting. And so we really wanted to make a way that people can play a single-player game, get a bit of a story, get deeper into the universe. And so it was very, very important. And that’s why we’ve not only ramped up our development team, really put in some major effort on getting some really awesome AI engineers, but also bringing on Pollard to help out with their skills and their abilities. So I think it’s going to be a really cool experience just to have that total package finally of a popular IP.

IGN: How will the single-player mode actually work? You mentioned story. How extensive will that be?

Jared Gerritzen: Well, so we can’t really talk that much about that because that’s definitely a different phase. But we are working with John. We are working with Malek [Akkad, President of Compass International Pictures]. We’ve got some really great writers that we’re working with to bring this world to it.

It will crisscross the film a lot. When we take an IP, we really, really have to be a fan of it. We turn down IPs more than we chase IPs. We know this film like the back of our hands. And so there’s a lot of things that I think that if you have never seen the film, you’ll get this great experience, but if you have seen the film, you’ll see those really cool moments that you’ve seen for decades. If you’re a fan that just knows who Michael Myers is and you’ve seen a couple of the newer films, that’ll be cool. But I think that it’ll be fun for people to be able to really connect to the OG film.

IGN: You’ve decided to focus on the original film. Why was that important for you, and how involved has John Carpenter been in the process?

Jared Gerritzen: Listen, I have definitely said we need to make sure John’s happy multiple times! John Carpenter’s put out genuinely some of my favorite films, like my top five films. He’s put out such amazing films that just us getting to work with him, like with Predator or being able to work with Dan Aykroyd and Ivan Reitman with Ghostbusters, we’re used to that. We’re used to people like, this is their baby, this is their thing. We’re playing in their sandbox. But I do genuinely feel that we leave making some really cool stuff that they’re very happy about.

Malek, this is his birthright. His father was the one that produced this. He has been working on and with Halloween since he was a child. And so him and John are really the arbiters where when we come up with a crazy idea, we have to come and present it and we have to explain it and most likely give them a couple of days to unpack it, and then come back and get more of those questions.

So the way that I see it is, by working with those guys and proving to those guys what we’re doing is right, I think that that should mean that anyone who’s a fan should also be happy with what we’re doing. Because with a video game, we have to add systems, we have to add gameplay, we have to make sense of a scene that in the film you’re like, okay, that’s a cool scene. But in the game, you don’t cut the camera, you don’t have a way to just go like, okay, other location cut. We’re trying to explain these things, and I genuinely feel some of the systems that we’re going to talk about when we start going more heavy with the gameplay, I think that people will definitely go like, oh wow, that explains some major components in the franchise. And when we’ve presented it, people have been very happy with it.

And honestly, something that we’ll talk about in the future, I’m extremely happy we figured it out, because it’s changed the way that you look at Michael Myers. It’s been very cool. It’s always stressful coming and saying, ‘Hey, here’s this wild idea.’ Honestly, the way that they see us is as a bunch of kids. 1978, I was two. Jordan was still floating around. I’m the person that says, ‘Okay, in the seventies we did this, phones had cables connected to the wall.’ And so it has been one of those really weird things where by choosing that era, it’s so far away, and technology has gone so far, that it’s like playing — I don’t want to say it’s as bad as a Red Dead — but it’s definitely like playing something that a lot of kids won’t understand.

Jordan Mathewson: It is the purest form of Halloween. It is the starting of that entire concept, and it’s been wonderful not only to go towards that period piece mentality of making a unique seventies American town that we see in the movie itself. And the reason it resonates and kind of clicks into that horrific element is it’s such a calm and normal, unassuming town that you wouldn’t expect there to be this mass killer on the loose.

So it gave us a really good, grounded foundation to lay down everything that we wanted to in the play space on top of it being in that era. It gives us just a lot of good things to work off of that keep it very focused into what Halloween is as a whole. It’s been really fun going down that path and focusing on that movie.

IGN: You can’t just make a phone call outside to help save you! Were there any moments during development when you had to explain to younger staff how things worked back then?

Jordan Mathewson: One that’s pretty tame is getting ahold of the police back then. We have 911 now, which is the understanding of how you get ahold of emergency, but it’s not quite the same back then. It wasn’t developed like that. So we have to do a lot of technological understanding syncs to make sure everyone is very well aware of what existed back then.

We do some research just how that technology would flow into the Illinois section of the country. The idea of landlines, phone cords, that kind of thing. The way that you dial, it’s not always buttons, sometimes it’s the rotary. So it’s very much a fun conversation, and we’re always exploring back and forth the different things. And then from there it’s like, how do we make this a gameplay mechanic? Because that can be fun if we’re thinking about trying to set it in place and not making it a hassle and actually making it a mechanic.

IGN: Does Halloween have a canon? Does that factor into what you’re doing? Do you have to obey any rules?

Jared Gerritzen: Yeah! There’s a lot of rules that are set that we don’t talk about, that have been there since the beginning. But there’s a lot of elements where we really try to use the film as the canon. We’re pulling from as many frames as we can.

There’s definitely contention points and caveat points that we have to go like, well, the gameplay. So it’s not one-to-one, but it’s pretty much like, these are elements, these are the factors that we have to pull in. But really it is about Michael’s Halloween night, like him going out. You’re not stalking Laurie in the day, and you’re not doing boring stuff. You’re going to that, okay, this is what he was doing when it wasn’t about him. And so those are the big things that we’re really trying to push.

It’s very difficult, but we have done this a lot in the past. And honestly, the great part is when we have to push out that wall and break out of the box.

IGN: Have you had any fun situations where someone has had to point out that it would actually be like this at this point? Who are the custodians of the Halloween lore?

Jared Gerritzen: Yeah! Malek and Ryan [Freimann, Trancas Films] are absolutely… they’ve been very diligent. They’ve been really great, and it’s added the authenticity.

The mask is probably the best. We had to capture the mask in the highest possible fidelity. Looking at original molds, looking at original masks, they’re degraded. It’s not like someone put it in and made it exactly the same, but the turnaround on making just Mike’s mask has been, I mean, that’s probably the greatest thing to go like, okay, where did you guys spend a lot of effort? And that was the key thing, because when you get the screenshots of the renders… there’s been a lot of Michael Myers’ out there and a lot of other games, and they’ve been made by top top artists, but it was part of like, okay, we’re doing all of these other things.

We put a laser beam on that mask, and every wrinkle, every crack, finding out exactly how it happened, talking to them like, ‘Hey, in this shot, it’s like this and this shot, it’s like that.’ And it’s like, well, yeah, because he took the mask off in between and when he pulled it down, it kind of folded a little bit differently or the hair’s a little bit different. So that’s been the thing that we’ve really kind of cut our teeth with them.

Like I said, we’re in their sandbox so we have to adhere to it, but they’ve been very understanding and very flexible for what we need to do.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.