Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is set to release for Nintendo Switch, PS5, and PC on September 19. A remake of the 2004 JRPG The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky, this new version follows the same adventure led by Joshua and Estelle, but with 3D graphics, new gameplay mechanics, and more quality of life improvements. You can preorder the game now at a variety of retailers (see it at Amazon). Read on for buy links, pricing info, and more.
There are no special, deluxe, or collector’s editions available for Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter. So if you want it, the standard edition is your only option.
What Is Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter?
The original game, The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky, first released in Japan in 2004. It didn’t make its way to the West until 2011, when it came out here for PlayStation Portable. The game has two direct sequels, Trails in the Sky SC and Trails in the Sky the 3rd. The overarching Legend of Heroes series spans much more time, with entries releasing between the 1980s and now.
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is a remake of the first entry in this sub-series. In it, you play as Estelle and Joshua, two Bracers-in-training who travel around the world, helping people in order to earn full Bracer status. The main overarching storyline revolves around the mystery of what happened to Estelle’s father, who has gone missing. The game is known for its many characters and many lines of dialogue. It’s sort of a relaxed, slow moving, hang-out game that verges on visual novel territory at times. It’s great.
Instead of the PS1-style sprite-based graphics of the original, this remake features full 3D anime-style graphics that look basically like the Tales or Dragon Quest games. It looks pretty great, especially since the story of the original is so good. It will be nice to experience it with a more modern presentation. The original game is still available on Steam.
Other Preorder Guides
Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN’s board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Bluesky.
For some time now, Tekken fans have been asking for a trip to Waffle House. Not in real life, mind you, but in-game. And while it sounds like Tekken 8‘s director is fishing for it, there hasn’t been a bit on the line from Waffle House.
Harada said he “fully understands” fans’ requests. So much so, in fact, that he’s already been thinking about it, and apparently taken action to try and make something happen.
“Over the past year or more, I’ve actually tried to make contact through several different channels,” said Harada on X/Twitter. “However, and this is purely my own speculation, I suspect that the lack of response may be due to the fact that the project I’m known for revolves around ‘fighting-themed video games.'”
To be honest, within the bounds of what I can say, I fully understand your (you guys) request—that’s precisely why I had considered taking on this challenge. In fact, I had already been thinking about it quite a while ago.
Harada noted that “no response” equals a very rare case. He also said if using a different name or format is acceptable, as long as “the core message is maintained,” then he would be willing to seriously reconsider and explore this again.
So it seems like Kazuya and Jin won’t be settling their familial differences beneath the yellow light of a Waffle House sign anytime soon. A parody version could happen though, or an in-universe facsimile. Harada suggested “Hustle House” in another post, which isn’t a bad option.
Tekken 8 is currently swinging into a new update with Patch 2.01, after confirming the impending addition of Fahkumram to the Tekken 8 roster. Back in April, Harada responded to fan frustration over Tekken 8’s Season 2, and said the tuning team is working “around the clock” to read feedback and work on future changes for the better.
Now, with The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, that tradition lives on, with one player spending seven hours lining up books to get the Dominoes chain reaction just right.
Redditor Muaxh03 uploaded the video below showing their work. We see the books slowly fall and knock the following book in a satisfying fashion.
Muaxh03 said they did not use mods to place the books, rather placed them one by one, which sounds particularly grueling. They admit to spawning the books, however. The entire process took seven hours.
“… almost every time I loaded the save something broke, it was not reliable so yes I had to deal with books falling or glitching most of the time, that’s why you can see some desynchronizing on the books, some fall slower or faster,” Muaxh03 explained.
NPCs were disabled, of course: “I would lose my mind if there was NPCs walking around,” Muaxh03 said.
While this effort is a good start for Oblivion Remastered Dominoes, previous efforts in past Bethesda games were more elaborate and involved varied objects. But playing around with books in Oblivion, even Oblivion Remastered, is a lot harder than you might think because you can’t rotate and place objects in Oblivion in the same way you can in Starfield or Skyrim.
“I spent the first 1-2 hours trying to learn how to place them good, after that the stairs took 2-3 hours because every time I tested it, it gave me different results, every time I loaded the save something broke,” Muaxh03 said.
Reaction from Oblivion players has been universally positive, with a mix of disbelief at the time, effort, and patience that went into placing the books so precisely in a game as fiddly as Oblivion.
What next? “Cool now fill a bookcase!” joked one player. “I would sooner fight a god in hand-to-hand combat unarmed. Last time I tried to put a book back the whole room ended up in shambles — SHAMBLES!”
Oblivion Remastered, developed by remake specialist Virtuos using Unreal Engine 5, has a long list of visual and feature improvements. It runs at 4K resolution and 60 frames per second, as you’d expect, but other changes are more meaningful. Everything from the leveling systems to character creation, and combat animations to in-game menus have been improved. Meanwhile, there’s lots of new dialogue, a proper third-person view, and new lip sync technology. The changes are going down well with fans, some of whom believe Oblivion Remastered would be more accurately described as a remake. Bethesda, however, has explained why it went down the remaster route.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
A statement published by Skydance Games confirmed the delay, with the development team working to add polish. There’s a hint that Skydance may soon release new information or show a fresh look at the game, however.
Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra is a narrative-driven adventure featuring Captain America, Azzuri, the Black Panther of the 1940s, Gabriel Jones of the Howling Commandos, and Nanali, a Wakandan spy embedded in Occupied Paris.
It hit the headlines early 2024 after an eye-catching trailer revealed as part of Epic Games’ State of Unreal event at GDC. It’s in development at the Skydance Games team, which is led by Hennig (Uncharted) and co-president Julian Beak.
Hennig’s Skydance team is also working on an untitled Star Wars game, which has yet to be fully revealed.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
GeoGuessr Steam Edition, a Steam reimagining of one of the world’s best-loved browser games, only released on May 8, but it’s already the second-worst rated game of all time on Steam.
The browser version of GeoGuessr is tremendously successful, boasting 85 million players and a whole host of customization options that let players tailor not only who they play against, but also what maps will spawn, if they’ll be dropped into an urban or rural setting, restrict spawns to certain geographical regions, toggle the ability to move, pan, or zoom — or not move, pan or zoom (NMPZ) — and more, including a smorgasbord of fantastic community-made custom maps.
Of the over 3,000 user reviews left thus far about the Steam version since last Wednesday, however, 84% are negative, with the majority of players complaining about the free-to-play game’s monetization system and stark lack of gameplay options compared to the browser edition.
In its defense, GeoGuessr does make this clear — in its FAQs, the developer states “having a GeoGuessr browser subscription does not grant you full access to the GeoGuessr Steam Edition, unless you have an Elite Yearly subscription” — and unlike the browser edition, which requires an annual payment, the Steam Edition Steam Pass is a “one-time purchase giving you access to the full game for the year.” It is also clearly marked as an early access title, so it can refine the gameplay, introduce new features, “and ensure the best possible experience with direct feedback from players.”
However, it’s clear from both the Steam discussion forums and GeoGuessr’s subreddit that the monetization model and lack of features has really taken players by surprise.
Though sold as free-to-play, GeoGuessr Steam arguably offers less than an hour’s free content (that’s how long it took us to complete it), hosts just one mode, Duels (wherein you ostensibly face-off against another human player), and lets you play in just one league: Amateur Division. That’s it. Without paying for the $2.50 monthly subscription — which does not bill monthly but instead requires a $30 upfront one-off payment — you cannot access higher ranks. There are no other modes at all at this time.
To be clear, GeoGuessr’s browser game is not free, either. While you can play three rounds a day for free, to unlock all modes, you need to subscribe to one of three premium tiers: Pro Basic at $2.49 a month, Pro Unlimited’s $2.99pm, or Pro Elite’s $4.99pm. Only the latter two include free access to the Steam game.
In an exclusive statement to IGN, GeoGuessr said it was “excited to have a first version of our game available on Steam, something that has been highly requested by our community for a long time.” It said that the Steam rollout “align[ed] with its vision of letting everyone explore the world, regardless of their preferred platform,” adding: “Bringing the game to Steam offers some great new possibilities, like connecting with Steam friends, enabling additional anti-cheat functionality, and so on.”
That anti-cheat functionality is hugely important to the GeoGuessr community, too. The browser game has long been plagued by cheaters using exploits, bots, or good ‘ole Google, despite it clearly being against the community rules, so it’s possible the developers hopes to lean on Steam’s architecture to help combat pervasive cheating.
“This is a major milestone for us, and also just the beginning,” explained head of marketing, Tomas Jonson. “The game is currently in Early Access, and we’re committed to expanding and improving both the free and paid experiences over time. Much of the feedback so far has been around the monetization of the game, with many wishing for a one-time purchase model.”
The developer said that as GeoGuessr relies on data from Google Street View, “where the costs for street view are ongoing and tied to the number of games played,” it based the Steam edition “on a model similar to what we use in the browser game.”
“The main exception that the Steam Pass is a non-recurring yearly purchase,” Jonson pointed out.
GeoGuessr suggests the Steam version will be in early access for “at least six months”, and it will “introduce new features and ensure the best possible experience with direct feedback from players.” It also states on its Steam page that it aims to “expand” the Steam game with “new modes, maps, and competitive features.”
“We really appreciate the high engagement and all the player feedback we have received so far. We’ll continue listening closely and working with the community as we further develop the Steam Edition,” Jonson concluded.
Vikki Blake is a reporter, critic, columnist, and consultant. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
A former Rockstar veteran has responded to recent rumors that a GTA 4 re-release on the latest generation of consoles could be in the works to say the game should be remastered.
The GTA 4 rumor began life with a post from Tez2, who is known within the GTA community for leaking Rockstar information. Tez2 suggested a GTA 4 port for modern systems may be released this year, and its existence was part of the reason Rockstar recently had a GTA 5 Liberty City Mod shut down.
However, it’s worth stressing that Rockstar has made no indication it plans to re-release GTA 4, and in truth such a game would come as a huge surprise, given the studio’s ongoing focus on GTA 6.
Obbe Vermeij, former Rockstar Games technical director who worked at the company from 1995 to 2009, was asked about the GTA 4 rumors on social media. While he hadn’t heard about them, he did say GTA 4, which he worked on, “should be remastered.”
“It’s a great game and there have been a number of successful remasters recently,” he added, perhaps referring to the hugely popular The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.
“I would like to see it updated,” Vermeij continued in another social media post. “Niko is still the best protagonist in any GTA game I think.”
As for how this potential remaster might work, Vermeij suggested Rockstar would perhaps port GTA 4 to the latest version of the Rage engine, which it uses to build its games.
Again, it’s worth pointing out that Rockstar has provided fans with no indication it plans to remaster GTA 4. We should remember the enormous undertaking that is GTA 6, and to take on a GTA 4 remaster or remake amid all that would perhaps be beyond the scope of Rockstar, even with its seemingly endless resources.
Rockstar could have an external studio handle the port, as it did with the port of Red Dead Redemption, but the timing of a GTA 4 re-release in 2025 makes little sense when you think about GTA 6’s initial fall 2025 release window. If GTA 6 were not delayed, it’s doubtful Rockstar would sell a GTA 4 remaster and GTA 6 in the same window, diverting the audience’s attention away from the main event.
Liberty City is the GTA series’ take on New York City, and was the setting for 2008’s GTA 4 as well as 2009 spin-off GTA: Chinatown Wars. GTA 6 is set in the fictional state of Leonida (Florida), which includes Vice City, GTA’s take on Miami.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Helldivers 2 has released a major new update to the game, which adds new Illuminate enemies, weapon customization and progression, and makes changes to the Superstore. Patch 01.003.000 is out now across PC and PlayStation 5.
Following a number of teases from developer Arrowhead, Helldivers 2 has unleashed a new invasion push from the Illuminate alien faction. This brings with it new enemies, as detailed on the PlayStation Blog, including the Stingray (jetfighters that provide Illuminate support from the sky, targeting Helldivers and lining up devastating strafing runs), and the Crescent Overseer, which has the ability to lay barrages on Helldivers in cover. There’s also the Fleshmob, which is described as a “failed” Illuminate experiment: “a Frankenstein’s monster of Voteless parts turned into a brute battlefield force that the Helldivers must work hard to destroy.”
Attention, Helldivers: This is a Galactic Emergency.
The true Illuminate invasion has begun. In a sudden and completely unprovoked offensive manoeuvre, the full Illuminate fleet is emerging from the Meridia Singularity. Nothing is safe – not even the Heart of Democracy itself. pic.twitter.com/2hgtK6akMb
Arrowhead teased “sightings of other, even larger ships, though details remain unclear on their abilities.” So perhaps there will be more for players to discover once they jump into the game.
Meanwhile, Helldivers 2 now has weapon customization and progression for the first time. Now, most primary weapons have levels that are achievable by completing missions, which then in turn unlock new attachments obtainable through Requisition. In addition to attachments, players can also unlock patterns for their weapons.
Here’s the official blurb:
Whether it’s tweaking sights for precision, changing color patterns, adjusting magazines for ammo capacity, muzzles to optimize weapon performance characteristics or adjusting under-barrel attachments for the handling you want, you’re in command of how your weaponry performs on the battlefield. This level of individual attunement is sure to make your favorite primary best in its class.
Arrowhead has also unlocked and deployed a stash of patterns for the FRV themed on the Viper Commandos, Freedom’s Flame, Chemical Agents, and Truth Enforcers Warbonds. This backlog of patterns unlock on May 15, with the launch of the Masters of Ceremony Warbond.
And finally, the Superstore has been changed so items you want are always available, as opposed to players having to wait for items to come back into rotation.
Outside new features, patch 01.003.000 brings with it an extensive balance pass, with changes to spread, drag, sway, melee weapons stamina cost, shrapnel spawning, and fire damage.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
The PC version of Stellar Blade launches via Steam on June 11 along a raft of PC-specific features, a trailer leaked by Sony itself has revealed.
The trailer, published by Sony Interactive Entertainment on the PlayStation YouTube channel before it was removed, also revealed a Complete Edition of Shift Up’s popular PS5 action game. As you’d expect, the internet captured the trailer, which we expect will be released officially soon.
The Complete Edition includes the base game and all the DLC released so far for both PS5 and PC. The news comes over a year after Stellar Blade’s successful April 2024 launch on PS5.
Stellar Blade has all the features you’d expect on PC, including AI upscaling via Nvidia DLSS 4 and AMD FSR 3, an unlocked framerate, Japanese and Chinese voiceover, ultrawide display support, higher resolution environment textures, and DualSense support for haptic feedback and trigger effects.
Elsewhere, the trailer reveals a new boss battle vs Mann, Leader of the Sentinels, and 25 new costumes, which we presume will also be made available on PS5. Players have also noticed that, at the end of the trailer, Eve lets go of a memory stick — a sequence that isn’t in the base game. Some are now speculating Stellar Blade is set for a new ending or maybe even DLC.
Stellar Blade was a big hit for Korean developer Shift Up, bringing in $43 million in royalties in its last financial year. It expects the PC version to outsell the PS5 version, which sold more than 1 million copies in two months. Shift Up has said it’s considering making another game in the franchise, too.
“Stellar Blade is great in all of the most important ways for an action game, but dull characters, a lackluster story, and several frustrating elements of its RPG mechanics prevent it from soaring along with the best of the genre,” we said.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
If you’re trying to keep up with Pokémon TCG without getting ripped off or left behind, here’s where to start, including the latest update on what can be bought here and now from trusted retailers in the US.
Quick Links: What’s in Stock and Where to Buy
If you’ve dedicated your life to pulling chase cards yourself, here’s what we can find in stock right now. Just watch out for pricing over MSRP, as we Pokémon trainers are in a weird spot right now, so don’t pay more than what you have to, or consider buying single cards instead of gambling on overpriced ETBs. Whatever you decide, make sure you’re having fun!
Pokémon Cards: Retailers You Can Trust
Trying to buy Pokémon cards at retail prices these days feels more like a boss battle than a shopping trip. Between lightning-fast sellouts, sneaky price hikes, and listings that vanish before you’ve even opened your browser, finding a good deal can be frustrating.
I’ve spent way too much time bouncing between sites, chasing restocks, and narrowly dodging scalpers. But after enough trial, error, and a few accidental overpays, I’ve figured out where the odds are at least somewhat in your favor.
Where to Buy Pokémon TCG Single Cards
I think TCGPlayer is the smartest place to spend money if you know what cards you’re chasing. Instead of rolling the dice on booster packs, you can just go buy the singles you want, or even check out other regions sets like Japan’s Glory of Team Rocket.
It’s also where I go to check actual card values instead of relying on whatever price Amazon randomly assigns. There are deals to be had, you just have to be willing to search a bit. It’s Pokémon eBay, but cleaner.
Pokémon TCG Expansions: Release Schedule
Scarlet & Violet: Destined Rivals (May 30)
Pokémon TCG’s next big release, Destined Rivals, arrives May 30, and I’m already prepping my shelf space and emotionally budgeting like I won’t blow it all on an Elite Trainer Box I absolutely do not need.
This set brings back Trainer’s Pokémon, reintroduces Team Rocket for another round of villainous fun, and includes some of the best card art we’ve seen in ages. If you’re into flashy collectibles or just enjoy the feeling of cardboard power coursing through your veins, this one’s for you.
Preorders are currently out of stock everywhere at the time of writing, but it’s worth bookmarking the relevant listings and checking back daily this week for more updates, as we’re expecting even more stock drops between now and release day.
Scarlet & Violet: Black Bolt and White Flare (July 18)
The Pokémon Company recently announced a new split expansion for the Pokémon TCG, continuing the Scarlet & Violet series. Titled Scarlet & Violet: Black Bolt and Scarlet & Violet: White Flare, both expansions will release on July 18, 2025, at participating retailers worldwide.
Preorders have started to go live, which we’ve been covering, but it’ll be a hard fought battle so ensure you’re already bookmarking the listings below and checking out IGN’s dedicated Black Bolt and White Flare preorder guide for more updates.
Latest Update: The Pokémon Center and Best Buy kicked things off last week, while Amazon’s listings are up but not live yet. Stayed tuned for more, and follow @IGNDeals to be kept in the loop.
The expansions focus on the 156 Pokémon originally discovered in the Unova region. Each Unova Pokémon will appear as either an illustration rare or a special illustration rare card, with different versions available in Black Bolt and White Flare products.
July 18, 2025: Scarlet & Violet Black Bolt/White Flare ETBs (9 boosters, promo, accessories); Binder Collection (5 boosters, Zekrom/Reshiram album); Unova Poster Collection (6 boosters, Snivy/Tepig/Oshawott promos, poster); Unova Mini Tin (2 boosters, art/sticker card).
August 22, 2025: Booster Bundle (6 Black Bolt/White Flare boosters).
Pokémon Card Market Watch: What Should I Buy This Week?
Another week, another hectic shift in the Pokémon single card market watch whilst trainers are waiting for Destined Rivals to drop.
Whilst we’re finally seeing a noticeable climb in Sword and Shield era Pokémon Cards, Scarlet and Violet series cards are settling back down into the realm of reality for the most part.
Big Crashers
The most dramatic crash this week is Greninja ex 214/167, crashing by nearly half when compared the the start of this year. We’re also seeing some nice price drops across Obsidian Flames and the elusive 151 expansions.
Meanwhile, Dragonite V from Evolving Skies is doing the opposite, nearly doubling in value compared to the start of this year, and the artwork alone always made this card undervalued. Charizard V Alt Art is also a banger, depicting a Pokémon battle against Venusaur whilst slowly climbing up in value.
Big Climbers
Moving onto this weeks climbers, Rayquazza VMAX alt art is one of the main grails of the Sword and Shield era. It was already a $500+ card, but at $649.99 it shows no signs of slowing down. This could arguably hit the $1,000 mark in a few years, so I’d get one if you can afford it.
There can’t be enough Kanto love in my book, and Charizard V Alt Art smashes it out of the park with this Venusaur battle. The angle is great and it feels like a moving card instead of a static body shot so many Pokémon cards are guilty of (Looking at you, WotC era). It’s earned another $40 since January, and there’s no reason why this card can’t get over $200 before the year is out.
Where to Buy Pokémon TCG – Scarlet & Violet 2025 Sets
What was once a post-Scarlet & Violet cooldown has turned into another full-blown Pokémania, and whether you’re hunting sealed product, singles, or ETBs, knowing where to shop is half the battle.
To help you on your quest, we’ve rounded up all the best places to buy Pokémon cards right now in 2025, from trusted online stores to physical retailers that still stock the good stuff. While plenty will currently be out of stock, consider this your one stop shop to find all the links you’ll ever need for each set.
Journey Together
Released March 28, 2025. Journey Together brought back nostalgic Trainer’s Pokémon cards from the Gym Heroes era. N’s Zoroark ex and Lillie’s Clefairy ex end the chaos of endless secret arts for a more curated, collectible experience.
With just 16 Pokémon ex, 11 illustration rares, and three hyper rare gold cards, it’s easier to track what’s worth pulling without feeling like you need a PhD in pack odds. Fancy snagging the Enhanced Booster Display Box with its bonus N’s Reshiram illustration rare or pull Iono’s Bellibolt ex? This set screams nostalgia with a new coat of paint.
Journey Together – Top 10 Single Cards
Prismatic Evolutions
Released January 17, 2025. Prismatic Evolutions kicked off 2025, and it’s all about Eevee and its many evolutions. You won’t find these cards in the usual booster packs. Instead, they’ll be released in boxed sets throughout the year, each packed full of exclusive cards celebrating Eevee and friends.
With over 175 cards, including unique designs and new game mechanics, Prismatic Evolutions is shaping to be a hit with collectors and competitive players alike.
Prismatic Evolutions – Top 10 Single Cards
Best Prices: Pokémon TCG MSRP Guide
The fandom is down to just being happy that they can find any Pokémon TCG stock at MSRP as it stands, making the hobby look a bit bleak. But with world events being what they are, it’s given investors and collectors itchy feet with their stacks of ETBs and sealed product from these sets.
If you’re ever not sure what something should cost, here’s the list to follow. These are the standard MSRPs to go by when deciding if a product is worth picking up.
Pokémon TCG MSRP Guide (as of May 2025)
Booster packs and bundles
Standard booster pack: $4.49
3-pack blister: $12.99
Booster bundle (6 packs): $26.99
Build & Battle Box: $19.99
Build & Battle Stadium: $59.99
Elite Trainer Boxes
Standard ETB: $49.99
Pokémon Center ETB: $59.99
Premium collections
Premium Collection Box: $39.99 to $49.99
Super Premium Collection: $99.99
Ultra Premium Collection: $119.99 to $129.99
Tins and boxes
Mini Tin: $8.99
Standard Tin (V or ex): $24.99
Collector’s Chest: $29.99
Preconstructed decks
Single Battle Deck: $9.99
V Battle Deck: $14.99
League Battle Deck: $29.99
Battle Academy Box: $19.99
Booster boxes
36-pack Booster Box: $140
What Pokémon Cards Should I Collect In 2025?
This is the time for trainers who just love the hobby to keep an eye on single card prices, as the market does seem to be rectifying itself from the months of inflated prices we’ve seen.
Whilst it’s not quite time to jump on high ticket Pokémon cards just yet, it’s a great time to snap up some beautiful cards that are slept on.
Even factoring in the Paldea Evolved Booster Packs that are getting hard to find, it makes sense to pick this beautiful promo card up now whilst it’s still cheap.
It’s also worth considering the Pokémon Center exclusive version of this card that’s stamped and included in the Pokémon Center Exclusive Paldea Evolved ETB.
The artwork that Scarlet and Violet / Sword and Shield sets put out on their SIR, AR and IRs are absolutely stunning. I would put solid money on these cards becoming valuable parts of a collection in years to come. Plus, they’re awesome to get graded and have in your collection cabinet or shelf.
The State Of Pokémania 2025
There are two main reasons for stock shortages in 2025: Scalpers and print runs. The Pokémon Company has told us on a number of occasions over the years that they’re upping print runs of in-demand sets to meet demand, and (eventually) the market gets flooded.
Just think, those ridiculously priced Evolving Skies booster boxes on TCG Player were a dime a dozen at one point. The scalper situation is going to happen whenever there’s an in-demand product, and it’s not very fair on real trainers who just want to collect and play Pokémon for the love of the hobby.
The crypto-turned investor bros aren’t helping either, but give someone an opportunity to turn $1 into $5 and they’ll do it.
This doesn’t mean I condone any of this behaviour, far from it, but retailers should and need to do more to ensure everyone has a fair shot at buying Pokémon TCG. Loyalty and member drops, “X” amount per household, invitation-based preorders and re-stocks are all solid way’s to control Pokémania.
The problem is only a few retailers are doing this, making it easy for scalpers and bot groups to snap up stock. Retailers such as Costco seem quite happy to let chaos ensue as human beings fight each other for bits of cardboard. Common sense doesn’t float with these kinds of people, so restraints and control need to be put into place.
If retailers started implimenting these measures and TPC begin to flood the market with enough product for everyone to enjoy, it would make a more accessible hobby for everyone. For collectors, values of legacy chase cards would eventually climb as sealed stock goes out of print anyway, everyone wins. Well, bar the scalpers, but screw ’em.
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.
It’s back, once again. Seth MacFarlane’s American Dad is returning to Fox once more and is now officially slated to have its second debut on the network in 2026, alongside new episodes of MacFarlane’s other hit series Family Guy.
Bringing both series back for the midseason marks a homecoming for the shows, which was originally with Fox from 2005 to 2014 before moving to TBS through March of this year. Both American Dad and Family Guy are part of a push to keep a “winning position” in primetime television programming.
“Building on our winning position in both key demos and co-viewing this season, Fox delivers a 2025-26 schedule that’s filled with irreverence, fun and much-needed laughter,” Fox Entertainment CEO Rob Wade said in a statement via Variety. “Next year more than ever, we’re bringing that promise to life with a terrific slate to delight our audiences across linear, Hulu and beyond.”
Fox is currently full of new developments when it comes to the what and how of their upcoming programming, including unveiling the name of their new streaming service. Fox One will combine news, sports, and entertainment programming into one platform, according to a press release from the network, and will include both live streaming and on demand access to the full catalog of Fox brands, including the option to bundle with Fox Nation within one platform.
American Dad does not yet have a premiere date for its Fox resurgence, but no matter what, we’ll be watching (and singing that theme song). And it seems it will probably be available on Fox One at that point too, but we’ll know for sure sometime next year.
Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images.
Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.
