The creator of Ecco the Dolphin has revealed that not only are there remakes of the original games underway, but a “third” instalment is also in development.
Revealed via a brief post on Xbox Wire, Ed Annunziata — the original creator of the famed, and fiendishly difficult, action-adventure games — was interviewed about raising awareness about ocean conservation, his life as a developer, and, right at the end, dropped this bombshell revelation:
“Me and the entire original team are going to remaster the original Ecco the Dolphin and Ecco: The Tides of Time games. Then we will make a new, third game with contemporary play and [graphics] sensibilities. Stay tuned.”
There is, of course, already a “third” game. As the last mainline Ecco instalment, Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future was released on Dreamcast 25 years ago in 2000. However, creator Annunziata wasn’t involved. A further sequel, Ecco 2: Sentinels of the Universe, which had been written as a direct sequel to Defender of the Future, was cancelled.
“I just want to finally be able to enter my secret password from the end of Tides of Time. I still have it written in the codes section of the game manual,” wrote one fan, while another reminded us: “I wonder how many people know how completely bonkers the plot of the games are.”
Annunziata didn’t provide any additional details as to when we’ll get to be reunited with Ecco, but a countdown on the official Ecco the Dolphin website is set to expire in 8,508 hours’ time — that’s about a year from now.
Ecco the Dolphin originally launched in 1992 on the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, and was followed by a sequel, Ecco: The Tides of Time, in 1994. Ecco Jr. and Ecco Jr. and the Great Ocean Treasure Hunt were released in 1995, although they were “edutainment” games and primarily developed as learning tools.
Ecco the Dolphin sees you play as the titular dolphin, as your underwater world has been devastated by a swirling gust of air and water. You must help him navigate back through treacherous tropical reefs and freezing polar ice floes to reunite him with his dolphin pod. We thought the 2000 remake was okay, writing: “Ecco the Dolphin is a classic from SEGA. But sometimes classics should stay in the past.
“For those who have played Ecco before, there’s really no reason to come back to it,” we wrote of the 2007 remake in IGN’s Ecco the Dolphin review. “There are no extras offered and the Achievements are junk. If you’ve never played Ecco, then you may want to give it a go. It really is one of the more innovative titles of its time. But, again, that time has long passed, and Ecco’s gameplay doesn’t stand the test of time like Sonic’s.”
The last Ecco the Dolphin game fared much better, getting a 7.6 score in IGN’s Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future review, saying: “If you thought Flipper had personality, wait until you get a load of Ecco the Dolphin. Experience amazing visuals and an engrossing story, and defend the ocean that is rightfully yours.”
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.
As if impressive Steam concurrent player numbers and Bethesda’s own announcement of 4 million players wasn’t enough to cement it as a hit, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is now the third best-selling game of 2025 in the U.S. after just one week on sale.
Oblivion Remastered, which shadow-dropped on April 22, has a peak concurrent player count of 216,784 on Steam. While impressive, that figure doesn’t tell the whole story, given Oblivion Remastered also launched on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S, as well as straight into Game Pass.
Now we have a new milestone: after just one week on sale, Oblivion Remastered became the third best-selling game in the U.S. of 2025 so far by dollar sales. That’s according to Circana’s Mat Piscatella, who took to social media to say Oblivion Remastered trails only Monster Hunter: Wilds and Assassin’s Creed: Shadows at the top of the 2025 sales chart.
It’s worth pointing out that Circana’s sales charts do not include players via subscription services. So, we know that Oblivion Remastered is a sales hit despite also being available on Microsoft’s Game Pass.
With this success, it seems inevitable that more remasters of Bethesda games will follow, with most suggesting either Fallout 3 (it was leaked back in 2023) or Fallout: New Vegas are next.
If either game is indeed next, what should players expect? Bruce Nesmith, one of Fallout 3’s designers, has pointed to Fallout 3’s “not good” gun combat, which he expects Bethesda would improve significantly for a remaster.
Speaking to VideoGamer, Nesmith said Fallout 3 Remastered would have shooting more in-line with that of Fallout 4. “What did you see in Fallout 4? That will tell you what they felt was necessary to change from Fallout 3,” Nesmith said.
“I know in Fallout 4 there was a lot of work done on the gun combat, because Fallout 3 is the first time they ever tried to do a shooter-style game. And, well, I think the work that was done was amazing.”
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.
Nesmith said Fallout 3 Remastered would probably include improvements and changes along similar lines to Oblivion Remastered.
“[Fallout 3 combat] didn’t hold up to shooters at the time,” he said. “Also, it’s an RPG shooter, it’s not a run-and-gun shooter. But a lot of work was done on that for Fallout 4. So I anticipate seeing a lot of that work go into it, assuming they’re doing the same thing.”
It’s a busy time for Bethesda, which is working on The Elder Scrolls VI and, maybe, more Starfield. Throw in remasters and ongoing work on Fallout 76 and the Fallout TV show, which is heading to New Vegas for Season 2, and fans are in for a treat in the coming years.
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 big part of the fun with Star Wars Day each year is seeing a new wave of toys and collectibles revealed by companies like Hasbro, Sideshow, and Hot Toys. This year’s event certainly didn’t disappoint, as we got glimpses of a wide range of upcoming products, ranging from less than $20 to over $1500. What can we say? Being a Star Wars collector is nothing if not an expensive hobby.
From Sideshow’s epic Luke Skywalker Red 5 statue to Hasbro’s nostalgia-heavy Episode III figures to Hot Toys’ mind-bogglingly detailed Jar Jar Binks figure, these were the coolest figures and collectibles revealed during Star Wars Day 2025.
Hot Toys’ Star Wars Figures
Hot Toys revealed quite the impressive lineup of 1:6 scale figures for Star Wars Day, including a couple of major characters who have surprisingly never gotten the Hot Toys treatment before now. The real surprise is definitely the Jar Jar Binks figure. Love him or hate him, there’s no denying that this Jar Jar looks like he walked right off the screen. He’s even got seamless arm joints and two swappable face sculpts for recreating all those wacky poses.
Hot Toys is also filling a glaring hole in the Sequel Trilogy lineup by finally releasing a Poe Dameron figure. Fittingly, Poe is wearing his Resistance X-Wing jumpsuit. We’re also getting another of the fan-favorite Republic Commandos in the form of Clone Commando Boss, and the company’s new Star Wars Rebels-inspired line of animated figures is getting a Darth Vader to accompany the previously announced Stormtrooper figures.
Hasbro’s Star Wars Toys
Hasbro revealed a number of new figures in both the 6-inch Black Series line and 3 3/4-inch Vintage Collection line. Hasbro continues to capitalize on the 20th anniversary of Revenge of the Sith by releasing new Black Series figures in packaging based on the classic RotS toy line. Next up are Aayla Secura and a Magnaguard droid. Black Series collectors can also augment their Imperial trooper collections with a Rogue One-themed 2-pack that includes both a Shoretrooper and a Death Trooper.
On the Vintage Collection front, Hasbro has a couple very interesting multi-pack releases in the works. The “Stormtroopers of the Empire 3-Pack” features a Snowtrooper, Scouttrooper and a Sandtrooper. The “Cantina Adventure 4-Pack” includes four aliens from the iconic Mos Eisley sequence, including Hammerhead, Walrus Man, Greedo, and Snaggletooth. It should go great with Hasbro’s crowdfunded Mos Eisley Cantina playset.
Finally, Star Wars prop collectors will be happy to know that a new ForceFX Elite lightsaber based on the weapon used by Rebels’ star Ezra Bridger is in the works.
Sideshow’s Star Wars Figures and Posters
Not to be outdone,. Sideshow Collectibles had a wide lineup of figures, statues, and art prints to reveal. Undoubtedly the showpiece of their Star Wars Day lineup is the Luke Skywalker: Red Five, Standing By Premium Format Figure. This massive 1:4 scale, mixed media statue features Luke decked out in his X-Wing jumpsuit and climbing up the ladder to his trusty ship. What really makes this piece special (and especially expensive) is that Sideshow went to the trouble of actually sculpting a portion of the X-Wing so that it hangs in mid-air.
Sideshow is also continuing to release 1:6 scale figures alongside distributing Hot Toys’ releases. Sideshow is focusing on its “Scum and Villainy” line, which highlights the many aliens and creatures that don’t necessarily receive attention from Hot Toys. The second wave of Scum and Villainy figures is focused on characters from Jabba’s Palace in Return of the Jedi, like Bib Fortuna, Klaatu, and Vizam.
Finally, Sideshow showed off the latest 1:10 statue from Iron Studios, which happens to be a shrunken-down version of their 1:4 scale Darth Vader statue. This Empire Strikes Back-inspired piece still looks mighty cool in the new, smaller scale.
Let us know in the comments below what your favorite Star Wars Day 2025 reveal was, and why it’s Hot Toys Jar Jar.
Rockstar Games has revealed that Grand Theft Auto 6’s release date is May 26, 2026, and indie game publisher Devolver Digital says it’s already making plans to be there with a new game of its own.
The company took a lighthearted shot at what is indisputably set up to be the biggest game launch of 2026 with a release date announcement of its own on X/Twitter. Now that GTA 6 has a proper release date, Devolver Digital has announced plans to release a mystery title on that same May 26 date. It’s a chaotic marketing strategy that Devolver Digital seems serious about following through on at least for now.
The mystery game’s release date arrives after the company previously made the promise to launch a game of its own when Rockstar finally announced its long-awaited GTA 6 release date. We now know that date to be May 26 of next year, so naturally, Devolver Digital has a message: “You can’t escape us.”
Devolver Digital has an extensive library of smaller-scale titles such as Hotline Miami, Enter the Gungeon, The Messenger, Katana Zero, Cult of the Lamb, and more. Whether the company plans to release a follow-up to an existing series or something new entirely remains to be seen. Upcoming entries in its catalog of games include Baby Steps and Stick It to the Stickman, two projects that are due out before 2025 comes to an end. There’s also Enter the Gungeon 2 and Human Fall Flat 2, which are both expected to arrive sometime in 2026, though developer No Brakes Games has already assured fans that it has no intention of releasing the latter on May 26.
We can confirm that Human Fall Flat 2 will NOT be releasing on May 26, 2026 https://t.co/zl3GbjSmia
More than a year out from launch, GTA 6 is already positioned to be a juggernaut video game. It’ll be Rockstar’s first numbered entry in its critically acclaimed sandbox series since 2013, with many doing everything they can to ensure they’ll be able to play on day one. Devolver Digital is doing its best to get a slice of that pie in a very Devolver Digital way, but we’ll have to wait to see exactly how it will do so.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
Interested in sealed products? Amazon is discounting a selection of TCG boxes and bundles. From legacy boxes to recent releases, many of these products are coming in over MSRP, which is why I want to let readers know that retailers putting pricing up isn’t their only option during Pokémania 2025. TCG Player is a secondary marketplace that is widely used in the US for the gold standard on current Pokémon TCG values thanks to its value tracking across the secondary market. Let’s get into it, regardless of ripping open booster packs or finding that dream chase card:
Infernape V Box
This set comes with four booster packs, a foil Infernape V, a foil Empoleon, and a jumbo-sized Infernape V card. It’s a compact product with good display value and a steady mix of packs. This big box set is one of the only ways to buy Sword and Shield era booster packs at retail, and it’s cheaper than the secondary market right now. Looking for Fusion Strike or Lost Origins singles and sealed product? I’ve got you covered there too:
Azure Legends Tin
This five-pack tin includes a random promo card featuring Kyogre ex, Xerneas ex, or Dialga ex. Two of the packs are from Surging Sparks expansion which is nice to see amongst the mix of Stellar Crown and Temporal Forces. If you’re only after some illustration rares and nothing too expensive, you’ll find plenty of single cards for you binder for less below:
Clair Obsur: Expedition 33 Merch
The IGN Store has launched exclusive merchandise for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The collection includes prints, hoodies, t-shirts, mugs, and other themed gear. Prices start at $15 with a wide range of characters and designs represented.
Surging Sparks Booster Box
This full booster box contains 36 packs from Surging Sparks. For players who want 36 packs to open in one sitting, this works out the cheapest, but it’s still around $60 above MSRP. Most of the chase cards from this set can be bought for less:
This includes 18 booster packs, three exclusive promo cards, a magnetic card holder, a playmat, and a deck box. It’s built for collectors who want full presentation value. Once again, if you just wasnt a certain card, take a look at the singles market before you buy:
Prismatic Evolutions ETB
This box includes nine booster packs, a full-art Eevee promo, 65 themed sleeves, and a wide array of gameplay accessories. This is also nearly three times the MSRP, which is crazy. If you really want to box and contents, go for it, but there’s better options on the secondary market right now:
Shrouded Fable ETB
This ETB focuses on Pecharunt with a sweet looking promo and comes with nine booster packs, themed card sleeves, dice, condition markers, and a collector’s box with dividers. Same situation here, it’s a cool addition to your collection, but this has gone up by around $10 from last week. Meanwhile the singles market is crashing:
Paldean Fates Booster Bundle
This six-pack bundle features cards from the Paldean Fates line, which centers on Shiny Pokémon. The pricing puts it just under the typical cost of buying packs individually, but it’s still expensive compared to the cards that can be bought right now in this set:
Prismatic Evolutions Surprise Box
Each box includes four booster packs and one foil promo featuring a random Eevee evolution. The included storage box has built-in dividers, which helps keep growing collections organized.If you fancy paying $15 per booster and want the stamped regular ex eeveelution card, go for it. The stamped cards go anywhere from $15 to nearly $60, so there’s arguably value in this box when considering the promo.
2004 Pokéball Bundle
Each bundle includes three collectible tins, nine total booster packs, and sticker sheets. This box in particular contains Poké Ball, Premier Ball, and Moon Ball tins.
2004 Pokéball Bundle
The same situation here, but trainers will get Poké Ball, Great Ball, and Ultra Ball tins instead.
Surging Sparks Booster Bundle
One of the cheaper ways to get Surging Sparks boosters right now, albiet overpriced (again). There’s only five cards in Surging Sparks that can’t be bought for under $50, check it out:
151 Poster Collection
If you want to keep this sealed for your collection, go for it. Otherwise, this is a waste of money for three booster packs. Here’s some cool single card options:
Grand Theft Auto fans, there is some good news and some bad news. The good news is finally, after all these years, we have an actual day-and-date release time for GTA 6. The bad news? It’s around six months later than the ‘Fall 2025’ we were originally told. To many in the video game industry, the new date of May 26, 2026 is a welcome sigh of relief – dozens of publishers and developers of all sizes were fearful of meticulously planning their release campaigns only to later discover they’d be releasing in the same month as this herculean title. However, there are many undated heavy-hitters due to land next year that will now be frantically searching for a new date.
What’s clear is that Grand Theft Auto 6 has found itself touted as the lynchpin to the video game industry’s near future – any news on the project’s development has a huge ripple effect. So how does a six-month delay reflect a significant change in Rockstar’s corporate culture, call into question this year’s console market revenue, and potentially affect the Switch 2?
Last year, the video game industry’s total revenue hit $184.3 billion, a 0.2% increase from 2023. Contradicting analyst predictions of a slight downturn, it prompted a sigh of relief for video game manufacturers and publishers. However, in the console space, revenue dropped by 1% – and we’re already seeing the consequences. A downturn of console hardware sales combined with a heightening technology tariff war has forced prices up for both Microsoft and Sony. This generation needs a definitive console-shifting title – it needs Grand Theft Auto 6.
Research groups estimate the crime sequel to make $1 billion off pre-orders alone and $3.2 billion in its first year of launch. It took Grand Theft Auto 5 three days to make $1 billion, could it take Grand Theft Auto 6 just 24 hours? Circana analyst Mat Piscatella believes that “there’s probably never been a more important thing to ever release in the industry,” because the game’s impact will help define our understanding of the video game industry’s potential growth over the next decade. There are rumors that it could be the first-ever $100 video game, making it a new watershed moment for the industry. That new benchmark could give the industry the shot-in-the-arm growth many analysts say it needs. However, it’s also possible Grand Theft Auto 6 is simply too much of a monolithic outlier to create progress outside of itself.
In 2018, Rockstar Games had a publicity crisis on its hands. Reports of 100 hour weeks alongside formerly mandatory overtime whilst developing Red Dead Redemption 2, plus former and current employees speaking on intense crunch periods stemming from Grand Theft Auto 4, painted a stark picture of one of gaming’s titans. Since then, the company has reportedly undergone an internal reinvention of sorts – according to a Bloomberg report, contractors being converted to full-time employees and a ‘flexitime’ policy enabling workers to take time off for every hour of overtime worked are just two of the many more compassionate policies enacted. Earlier this year, Rockstar’s old reputation threatened to rear its head as staff were made to return to the office five days a week to close out Grand Theft Auto 6’s development – a move which makes the reason behind the delay pretty clear. Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier confirmed as much on BlueSky, explaining that his own Rockstar sources said that there’s “Too much work, not enough time, and what appears to be a real desire from management to avoid brutal crunch.” Rockstar can’t properly deliver a game that will change the video gaming world if it slips back into old habits; while the delay is disappointing to those playing, it’s undeniably a huge relief to those developing.
This generation needs a definitive console-shifting title – it needs Grand Theft Auto 6.
If you’re a publisher, releasing your game at the same time as Grand Theft Auto 6 is akin to throwing a bucket of water into a tsunami. Discussing the formerly scheduled ‘Fall 2025’ release window, a report by The Game Business highlighted how such a nebulous date was affecting publishers worldwide. One studio boss called Rockstar’s game “a huge meteor and we’ll just have to stay clear of the blast zone,” while another questioned “if we move out of 2025, what if Rockstar do, too?” (An unsurprisingly predictive worry). We even have the likes of EA CEO Andrew Wilson implicitly commenting on the game’s looming shadow in the context of the new Battlefield, citing “some things happening in the year that may cause us to think differently about our launch timing.”
However, huge releases don’t always overshadow those around them. Despite launching at the same time as Bethesda’s Oblivion remake, Kepler Interactive’s original RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 still sold over one million copies in just three days, with senior portfolio manager Matt Handrahan even joking that it was the video game industry’s Barbenheimer moment. It’s hard to believe such a moment can exist for Grand Theft Auto 6, of course, and so it goes unsaid that such a quirky idea will not be part of any publisher’s campaign plans. Don’t expect a Grand Theft Fable moment in 2026.
Currently, it’s unclear to what extent the new May 26, 2026 release date will shake up the plans of other publishers and developers. There are still many heavy-hitter titles that are undated including the likes of Fable, Gears of War: E-Day, EA’s new Battlefield title, Mass Effect spiritual successor Exodus and more. There will certainly be some developers now scrambling to change their internal release date plans, but the wider public will be none the wiser. However, this flag planting by Rockstar no doubt means that developers and publishers will feel more confident in announcing their release plans to the world. But they might want to hold on a minute.
It seems very unlikely that this will be the final date for Grand Theft Auto 6 for two reasons. Both Grand Theft Auto 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 were subject to two date delays, with the first delay being to the second quarter of the next year, followed by a second delay to the third quarter of that same year. Right now, Grand Theft Auto 6 is replicating that exact same timeline, delayed from Fall 2025 to May 2026, so one more delay to October/November 2026 seems a reasonably educated prediction.
That October/November window seems even more likely when you consider the potential for both Microsoft and Sony to create a new console bundle including the crime sequel, which will surely shoot up sales around the holiday period. Sony sold 6.4 million PlayStation 4s during October – December 2014, more than double the consoles they sold between April and September of that year. Of course there would have been the classic Christmas boost, but what else happened in that time frame? Grand Theft Auto 5 released on PS4.
Rockstar only has one shot to get this right – what’s six more months after 13 years?
What could be the bigger surprise, though , is that Nintendo may be one of the parties most affected by this delay. Recently, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick pledged full support for the Switch 2, leading fans to speculate about if Grand Theft Auto 6 may also be eyeing a Switch 2 launch. Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy’s Definitive Edition saw a surprise launch onto the Nintendo Switch, so there’s precedent for an adult franchise on a typically family-friendly console. Many believed the Switch technology wasn’t powerful enough to run a game like Grand Theft Auto, however last year modders released a video showing off an in-progress port of GTA 5 running on Switch using the game’s leaked source code. While it does seem unlikely that Nintendo would have factored Grand Theft Auto 6 into the Switch’s first-year success, there’s a clear, strong relationship between publisher Take-Two and Nintendo that shouldn’t be ignored. When looking at the console market as part of the overall video game industry, Nintendo is still a huge part of that no matter how much of an island they may seem. The Nintendo Switch was still host to an array of generation-defining games including The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Red Dead Redemption, Metal Gear Solid, Crysis and more. And with Cyberpunk 2077 arriving on Switch 2 at launch, complete with its current gen-only Phantom Liberty expansion, we shouldn’t ignore the potential for “miracle” ports.
What’s clear is that there is a hell of a lot riding on Grand Theft Auto 6. Many different head honchos of the video game industry, from studio heads to chief analysts, believe that this generation-defining game will be the one to break the industry’s growth stagnation. It’s hard to deny the global feverish demand and anticipation for a game that has effectively been in the works for over a decade. There are impossibly high expectations on the teams at Rockstar Games to deliver something that not only single-handedly restores the video game industry back to its pre-pandemic growth, but also presents an entirely new kind of video game experience that will become the new benchmark for developers and publishers moving forward. Rockstar only has one shot to get this right – what’s six more months after 13 years?
Sab Astley is a freelance writer who has written for IGN, Polygon, TotalFilm, Rolling Stone, Radio Times, and Metro UK.
The following article contains spoilers for The Last of Us season 2, episode 4.
The Last of Us season 2 hits its midway point with its strongest episode so far. It adapts one of the most memorable sections of the game – Seattle Day One – and so that means we get Ellie and Dina checking out Downtown before moving onto the Channel 13 TV studio and escaping the WLF through the subway tunnels.
There are five key sequences from the original game that are adapted for this episode. Here we’ve compared them against the original source material, analysing what’s changed and what’s stayed the same. You can see both versions in the video above, or read on below for our written explanations.
Downtown
Ellie and Dina arrive in Downtown Seattle shortly after this episode begins. This section of the game was open by design, and so allowed you to look around several different buildings. We get just two of them in the show; Weston’s Pharmacy and Valiant Music Shop. The pharmacy gets only a couple of minutes of screentime but it does feature an adaptation of The Last of Us’ key gameplay mechanic: opening drawers and looking for junk.
Valiant Music Shop, meanwhile, gets more love. The show’s set has windows adorned with music-themed vinyl decorations, just as it does in the game. On the ground floor is the same red drumkit, and Dina plays around with them just as she does in the game. It’s upstairs where the main event happens, though, when Ellie discovers a guitar in an overgrown room. Bella Ramsey’s performance of A-ha’s Take On Me is very similar to that seen in the game, with a talk-y vocal style and slow melody.
The Forward Base
Episode 4 introduces us to the leader of the WLF, Isaac Dixon. This sequence is adapted from much later in the game’s sequence of events, when you play as Abby rather than Ellie, although due to the game’s overlapping dual timeline structure it seems likely that this sequence takes place at the “correct” time in the show.
During Abby’s half of the game, we see her visit the WLF’s forward operating base. There she meets Isaac, who is briefly seen conducting a torturous interrogation on a member of the Seraphites. In the show, we see a version of this scene play out in its entirety. Similar to the game, the WLF’s captured Seraphite has been stripped completely naked, but the show sees them tortured in a kitchen rather than a bathroom. Isaac’s brutal methods of torture were only implied in the game, but in the show we see him actively injuring his prisoner in an attempt to learn more about the Seraphites’ plans.
Channel 13
Ellie and Dina’s trip to the Channel 13 TV studio was naturally going to be the central event of this episode. In the game this is the sequence when the duo are first confronted with the murder cult-like methods of the Seraphites, as well as marking their first move towards finding where Abby is. The show recreates the key elements of the TV studio in grisy detail; WLF soldiers are strung up above the studio floor, and the Seraphites’ symbol is drawn on the wall in blood just as it is in the game. Ellie’s investigation of the area is interrupted by members of the WLF who, as in the game, are horrified to see what has become of their comrades.
The escape from the TV studio is shown to be a little more frantic than it is in the game, and the stormy weather adds even further drama to the scene, but in general the set design and pathway Ellie and Dina take feels authentic to the game, even if it’s not a one-to-one recreation.
The Tunnels
One of The Last of Us Part 2’s most exhilarating sequences is Ellie and Dina’s journey through the Seattle subway tunnels. Bathed in red light and infested by clickers, it’s a genuinely terrifying level. Unsurprisingly, HBO went to lengths to capture the striking visuals here, with the abandoned subway cars eerily lit by the WLF’s red flares and searching flashlights.
There are key differences between the game and the show’s version of events, though. This is very much a survival horror sequence in the game, with just a small but incredibly deadly collection of infected to avoid. The show, meanwhile, makes this more action packed – rather than have the infected lurk around the subway cars, they arrive as a charging, clawing horde. This makes the sequence much more action-oriented, with Ellie and Dina scrambling to get away rather than sneaking through the tunnels.
There are changes made to the sequence’s climax, too. In the game, Ellie gets trapped in the turnstile and Dina saves her by shooting an attacking clicker in the head. In the show, both Ellie and Dina get trapped in the turnstile, and Ellie allows herself to be bitten by the attacking clicker to protect Dina. It’s this bite that results in Ellie revealing her immunity to Dina. In the game, that reveal comes a few minutes prior, when Ellie’s gas mask is shattered by an attacking runner. Because spores are not a concern in the show (at least for now), the characters do not wear masks and thus this turn of events couldn’t be used.
I’m Pregnant
The last scene of this week’s episode recreates the culminating part of the game’s Seattle Day 1: Dina reveals to Ellie that she’s pregnant. In both versions, Dina shares the news at the Pinnacle Theater, which the duo has made their home base. In the game, it’s a subdued and anguished moment, with Dina looking notably stressed by the idea. The show’s take is quite different, as the reveal pretty much instantly turns into an impassioned kiss between Ellie and Dina.
The weekend is officially here, and we’ve rounded up the best deals you can find! Discover the best deals for May 4 below:
Save 30% Off This LEGO Star Wars R2-D2 Set
To celebrate May the 4th, you can score this 2314-piece LEGO Star Wars R2-D2 set for just $167.99. This is an excellent collector’s item for any collection, as R2-D2 is the perfect size to fit on any shelf! Every detail from the iconic droid is captured in this set, including its rotatable head!
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga for $10
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is by far the biggest LEGO game available, with hundreds of characters to collect across numerous planets. You can pick up the game for just $10 at Amazon right now for PS4, making this a deal you won’t want to pass on. All nine films are included in this game, with characters from newer Disney+ Star Wars series as well.
LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon A New Hope 25th Anniversary Collectable Model for $67.95
Next up, you can also save on this LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon Set. This set celebrates the 25th anniversary of LEGO Star Wars, making it a must-own for any collector. Many of the Falcon’s iconic details are all here, including the round table inside and the satellite dish on top.
Monster Hunter Wilds for $54.99
Monster Hunter Wilds is still one of the biggest games of 2025, and you can save $15 off the PS5 version for a limited time at Woot. This is by far the most beginner-friendly Monster Hunter to date, with new features like Focus Mode that allow you to approach fights in new ways. In our 8/10 review, we wrote, “Monster Hunter Wilds continues to smooth off the rougher corners of the series in smart ways, making for some extremely fun fights but also lacking any real challenge.”
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake for $45.67
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake was one of my favorite games last year, offering gorgeous HD-2D visuals, an orchestrated soundtrack, and plenty of charm. This weekend, you can save ~$15 off a Nintendo Switch copy, which is a sweet deal considering this game has not made it on sale much. Now is the time to start building your catalog for Nintendo Switch 2, and what better place to start than Dragon Quest?
11th Gen iPad for $299
First up, you can save $50 off the newest iPad. Powered by the A16, the newest 11th-generation iPad is an exceptional addition to any workspace. You can use this device with both Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard Folio to make the most out of it without having to go for the iPad Air or iPad Pro.
Pre-Order Ghost of Yotei Now
Ghost of Yotei is finally up for pre-order at Amazon. Set in the Hokkaido region in 1603, you’ll play as Atsu to gain revenge on those who killed your family. While not much has been revealed for this game yet, we can expect Yotei to play very similarly to its predecessor, Ghost of Tsushima.
Visions of Mana for $34.99
Visions of Mana released at the end of August, and it’s available on sale for the first time this weekend. This is the first new Mana game in almost two decades, starring a cast of characters on a quest to save the world. In our 8/10 review, we stated, “Visions of Mana finally brings the long-dormant classic RPG series into the modern age, looking great and playing even better thanks to multi-layered class and skill systems that interact in clever ways.”
Corsair K70 RGB PRO Mechanical Keyboard for $99.99
You can save $70 off the Corsair K70 RGB PRO Mechanical Keyboard this weekend at Amazon. This keyboard comes with Cherry MX RGB Red Switches, which provide a linear and fast response. There’s a magnetic soft-touch palm rest included that you can use if you wish, in addition to durable double-shot PBT Pro keycaps. At $99.99, this is a really solid deal.
Super Mario Party Jamboree for $44.99
With the recent reveal of Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games, it’s no question that you are going to want to save anywhere you can. The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Super Mario Party Jamboree is set to cost $79.99, but you can upgrade from a Nintendo Switch copy for presumably $20. This weekend, save your cash and pick up a copy of Super Mario Party Jamboree from Woot for only $44.99.
The weekend is officially here, and we’ve rounded up the best deals you can find! Discover the best deals for May 3 below:
Monster Hunter Wilds for $54.99
Monster Hunter Wilds is still one of the biggest games of 2025, and you can save $15 off the PS5 version for a limited time at Woot. This is by far the most beginner-friendly Monster Hunter to date, with new features like Focus Mode that allow you to approach fights in new ways. In our 8/10 review, we wrote, “Monster Hunter Wilds continues to smooth off the rougher corners of the series in smart ways, making for some extremely fun fights but also lacking any real challenge.”
11th Gen iPad for $299
First up, you can save $50 off the newest iPad. Powered by the A16, the newest 11th-generation iPad is an exceptional addition to any workspace. You can use this device with both Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard Folio to make the most out of it without having to go for the iPad Air or iPad Pro.
Pre-Order Ghost of Yotei Now
Ghost of Yotei is finally up for pre-order at Amazon. Set in the Hokkaido region in 1603, you’ll play as Atsu to gain revenge on those who killed your family. While not much has been revealed for this game yet, we can expect Yotei to play very similarly to its predecessor, Ghost of Tsushima.
Visions of Mana for $34.99
Visions of Mana released at the end of August, and it’s available on sale for the first time this weekend. This is the first new Mana game in almost two decades, starring a cast of characters on a quest to save the world. In our 8/10 review, we stated, “Visions of Mana finally brings the long-dormant classic RPG series into the modern age, looking great and playing even better thanks to multi-layered class and skill systems that interact in clever ways.”
Xbox Series X for $479.99
Xbox announced this week that the Xbox Series X will increase in price by $100 in the United States. This puts the almost five-year-old console at $599.99, but you can still score an Xbox Series X for under its previous MSRP at Amazon right now. At $479.99, you’re saving $120 off the new price of Xbox Series X, and there’s no telling when or if we will see it this low again soon.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga for $10
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is by far the biggest LEGO game available, with hundreds of characters to collect across numerous planets. You can pick up the game for just $10 at Amazon right now for PS4, making this a deal you won’t want to pass on. All nine films are included in this game, with characters from newer Disney+ Star Wars series as well.
OK, that statement isn’t always true, but it usually is. Delayed projects sometimes result in bad games (looking at you, Duke Nukem 3D), but much more often taking more time produces good stuff. Spending meticulous weeks to get something just right matters in art, as does finding the bravery to throw out ideas that seemed wise in concept but never panned out. Think about how many half-finished games you’ve ever bought and played and then wished the publisher had just delayed until it was right and ready. Got that thought in your head? OK, hold onto it.
GTA 6 is delayed, and that’s good, because it will probably be better for the delay.
Rockstar has a long history of delaying games to make sure they’re ready for market, a strikingly consistent bit of discipline that places them alongside Nintendo in an elite fraternity of studios that wait until the casserole is fully cooked before serving. And boy, is it always delicious.
I’ve been playing GTA games as long as they’ve been around, starting with four-player PC GTA LAN parties. I’ve played the most obscure (London 1969), the best (GTA V), and the true best (Chinatown Wars for DS). I’ve ransacked and crashed and shot my way through these goofy, wonderful worlds for decades. And thankfully, these games are practically always late… and not coincidentally, always great. Here’s every delay in GTA history (and some Red Dead too).
Grand Theft Auto III
Rockstar’s New York offices were located only a few blocks from the World Trade Center, and Take Two didn’t waste any time briefly delaying GTA III following the September 11 attacks. . Marketing VP Terry Donovan announced the delay only days after the tragedy:
“Our decision is based on two factors, firstly it has been a little difficult to get work done in downtown Manhattan in the last week since basic communications infrastructure has been intermittent at best, and secondly we felt that a full content review of all our titles and the marketing materials we use to represent them was absolutely necessary for us in light of the horrifying event we all witnessed in the United States last week.”
He continued: “As for Grand Theft Auto, since the game is so huge the review is no short process. So far we have come across certain small contextual references that we were no longer comfortable with, as well as a couple of very rare gameplay instances that no longer felt appropriate to us. We apologize to you and all the people waiting for this game to ship for the delays that have now ensued, but I’m sure you can understand our reasoning. Rest assured the game will be phenomenal…and you can expect it to hit shelves in late October.”
Even with only minimal content changes, the delay was a wise decision for Rockstar and players alike. Blasting cops and ambulances in Liberty City so soon after the violent deaths of thousands wouldn’t have been appealing to anybody.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
The co-prize for shortest delay is shared between Vice City and San Andreas. Back in the olden days before downloadable game stores and day-one patches, manufacturers guessed ahead of time just how much of a physical product they’d need to produce for a given shelf date, and sometimes they guessed wrong. Rockstar delayed Vice City by seven days to give them time to manufacture more discs (and thus meet the tremendous day-one demand for a GTA III follow-up).
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories and Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
Okay, so real talk: The GTA handheld games go hard… hard enough that it’s worth dusting off your ancient PlayStation Portable or DS to try them. GTA’s excellent forays onto portables usually arrive on time, but Vice City Stories for PSP was delayed for two weeks in North America, and longer in parts of Europe.
The best GTA of them all (fight me!) didn’t arrive precisely on time. The incredibly creative and intricate DS gamechit shelves two months later than expected. When it did finally arrive, it blew the socks off of critics, and it’s one of gaming’s great tragedies that nobody bought it… we might be playing Chinatown Wars 3 on our new Switch 2s right now if they had.
Grand Theft Auto IV
After GTA III changed the landscape of video games, anticipation for GTA IV was palpable. With clunky RenderWare left behind and a brand new console generation to work with, Rockstar Leeds was aiming for the stratosphere. Bringing their vision to reality ultimately demanded several months of delay.
As Rockstar’s Sam Hause explained, “The new consoles [PS3 and 360] are allowing us to create the Grand Theft Auto game we always dreamed about. Every aspect of the game and its design has been completely transformed. The game is huge and is pushing the hardware platforms to their absolute limits. The top engineers from Sony and Microsoft are working closely with the team in Edinburgh right now, helping us to fully leverage the power of both platforms. As always, our goal is to surpass even the wildest expectations of the game’s fans, and to create the ultimate high definition video game experience.”
Grand Theft Auto V
The biggest console game of all time was a long time coming. GTA V finally landed in September 2013, but was originally anticipated to arrive in the spring of that same year. But in late January 2013, Rockstar released the following message:
“We know this is about four months later than originally planned and we know that this short delay will come as a disappointment to many of you, but, trust us, it will be worth the extra time. GTAV is a massively ambitious and complex game and it simply needs a little more polish to be of the standard we and, more importantly, you require. ‘To all Grand Theft Auto fans, please accept our apologies for the delay, and our promise that the entire team here is working very hard to make the game all it can be. We are doing all we can to help ensure it will meet if not exceed your expectations come September – we thank you for your support and patience.’”
They weren’t wrong. GTA V went on to become the most successful console game of all time, and alongside RDR2, it’s a true jewel in Rockstar’s crown.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Speaking of RDR2… it’s not a part of the GTA series, but it is Rockstar’s best game and I love talking about it. In keeping with the tradition of Rockstar quality-based delays, we’re adding a bit of an appendix by mentioning Red Dead Redemption 2, which was delayed twice, first in spring 2017 for quality assurance purposes. The second delay came in February 2018, pushing RDR2 to late October. The statement from Rockstar explained that, again, this was a quality issue.
“We are excited to announce that Red Dead Redemption 2 will be released on October 26th 2018. We apologize to everyone disappointed by this delay. While we had hoped to have the game out sooner, we require a little extra time for polish.
“We sincerely thank you for your patience and hope that when you get to play the game, you will agree the wait will have been worth it. In the meantime, please check out these screenshots from the game. We look forward to sharing a lot more information with you in the coming weeks.”
That delay, like all the others here, worked out swimmingly, delivering a true work of art still unparalleled in adventure gaming.
So friends, don’t despair. GTA 6 will come, and when it comes, it will almost certainly be very, very good. See you in Vice City.
Jared Petty is a former IGN editor who likes writing about how wonderful and silly video games are. You can find him at Bluesky as pettycommajared.
