Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 publisher Paradox is now offering PlayStation Store pre-order refunds as it makes “big changes” after a backlash to its decision to lock clans behind DLC.
The furore began with the confirmation that Bloodlines 2 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.
Developer The Chinese Room added a further two clans to Bloodlines 2 (Lasombra and Toreador), but these were only available as part of the Shadows and Silk add-on pack, which costs $21.99 as DLC, or 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. As you’d expect, fans were quick to express their dissatisfaction.
At gamescom 2025, a representative for publisher Paradox told IGN the decision was a “business” informed choice, prompting further outcry. Then, last month, a post on Discord from Paradox suggested a significant change would be coming ahead of launch, and now the publisher has gone one step further by issuing PlayStation Store pre-order refunds.
“PS Store pre-orders will be refunded on Sept 8. You’ll be able to pre-order again before launch on Oct 21.
“Thanks for your patience; we’ll share more soon!”
Fans are now wondering whether Paradox will include Lasombra and Toreador by default and not as DLC at base game price. Certainly, the sentiment online is that’s the expectation.
“Honestly nothing short of fully including them at base game price will turn me around on this,” said one social media user in response to the announcement. “Otherwise I’m skipping.”
“The only way to salvage this and regain trust with the community is to sell the base game as-is with all clans available and rather sell DLC with new side stories and cosmetics on the side or just add the cosmetics/side stories as part of a higher tier eg deluxe edition/premium edition, as that won’t mess with the main story/narrative etc,” said another.
Some expressed thanks for the reaction to the backlash. “I’m very excited and hopeful to see what you came up with for the two clans locked behind DLC issue,” said one fan. “I’d like to thank you for listening to community feedback and working to fix the issue. I’m sure refunding store pre-orders was not an easy decision.”
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 has suffered a difficult development and a number of high-profile delays, but it is a crucial release for Paradox. The publisher will be keen to give it the best chance possible to succeed, and backtracking on its DLC plans may be the only viable option at this stage. While you wait to find out, check out IGN’s Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 hands-on preview.
Be sure to stay up-to-date with all the latest from IGN by clicking here and setting IGN as a preferred source in Google.
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.
Exit 8, a live-action horror movie adaptation of the anomaly-spotting indie game of the same name, opened at movie theaters in Japan on August 29. Despite enjoying a profitable opening weekend, the Japanese film has attracted some controversy in its home country over a scene that depicts a tsunami, as well as the production company’s delay in issuing an official warning about this potentially upsetting content.
Originally released on Steam in November 2023, The Exit 8 is a first-person puzzle game set in looping passageways of a Japanese subway station. Starting by the sign for Exit 0, players must reach the titular Exit 8 by looking out for anomalies – if they see something strange they must turn back. If everything seems normal, they must keep walking straight ahead. Make the correct choice, and the number on the exit sign goes up by one. Make the wrong choice, and you go all the way back to zero. With its creepy atmosphere and occasional jump-scares, the game quickly shot up in sales and gained widespread popularity with streamers. It has since been ported to multiple platforms and even has a VR version.
The movie Exit 8 uses the iconic elements of the game to present a psychological horror. Kazunari Ninomiya plays the main character, an asthmatic unnamed man stuck in the daily grind of commuting to work on the subway who is struggling to come to terms with becoming a father. Like in the game, Ninomiya’s character gets trapped in the looping subway passages and must successfully spot anomalies to reach Exit 8. The movie also touches on themes like bystander apathy, dissociation from reality, and how smartphones can make us lose track of our surroundings.
The film has an uneasy atmosphere and is almost exclusively set within the claustrophobic bounds of the subway station. The subway passages evoke the game, right down to the wandering salaryman NPC, posters, and the overly shiny white, tiled walls. Some of the anomalies are similar to those in the game, while others are unique to the movie (one of which will likely be appreciated by Parasite Eve fans).
On September 1, the movie’s official X account posted a content warning to potential viewers about “certain scenes that may evoke traumatic memories of natural disasters, like tsunamis.” This post led to an outpouring of varied responses. Although some users thanked the production company for the heads-up, others criticized the timing of the warning, which came three days after the film hit theaters. “Shouldn’t this have been issued on opening day?” and “I wouldn’t have gone to see it had I known,” are among the critical user comments reported on by Japanese news outlets like Yahoo! Japan/J-CAST.
Meanwhile, some commenters who hadn’t seen the film yet mused about whether the depiction could really be traumatic enough to warrant such a warning, considering the “mild” rising water that appears in the game, plus the film’s G rating (suitable for all) from Japanese film classification board Eirin.
The Exit 8 game does feature an anomaly where a red tide of blood follows the player (in a possible homage to The Shining). However, on X, movie viewers rushed to assure people that the film’s scene is very different and much more realistic. “I think people who are familiar with the The Exit 8 game are more likely to let their guard down,” said one user, adding that the movie’s scenes are “about 500 times more ‘real-life tsunami’ than the game’s.” Others urged those with experience of disasters like the devastating 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami (which killed almost 20,000 people) to refrain from seeing the film. With the movie getting a “suitable for all” rating, some users wondered if Eirin had done its job properly.
Having seen the Exit 8 movie, I can confirm that the tsunami scene is more realistic and prolonged than the game’s. The torrent of water that floods the subway corridors is not blood-red but brown with mud, and quickly submerges a young boy. There are first-person shots from the viewpoint of the main character, conveying his panic as he struggles to get to the surface of the strong waters. There is also an intense scene in which the main character tries to save the boy by getting him on top of the ceiling’s exit sign, followed by a prolonged shot of the boy curled up fetus-like and surrounded by debris.
The Exit 8 movie has been heavily advertised in its home country, and had the highest-grossing opening weekend for a live action-movie in Japan so far this year (source: Anime News Network). The main actor Kazunari Ninomiya has a strong fan following dating back to when he was a member of the hit boyband Arashi. These factors mean that a larger audience, including those unfamiliar with The Exit 8’s source material, are likely to check out the movie, and has amplified the criticism surrounding the tsunami scene.
Exit 8 is currently showing at movie theaters in Japan. It has already been screened at some international film festivals including Cannes, with further, staggered releases planned in various countries. Neon acquired North American rights to Exit 8 in August, and plans a theatrical release in early 2026.
Be sure to stay up-to-date with all the latest from IGN by clicking here and setting IGN as a preferred source in Google.
Verity Townsend is a Japan-based freelance writer who previously served as editor, contributor and translator for the game news site Automaton West. She has also written about Japanese culture and movies for various publications.
League of Legends strategy game Teamfight Tactics is getting a temporary single-player PvE mode called Ao Shin’s Ascent later in September, Riot Games has announced.
Teamfight Tactics is the 2019 spinoff of Riot’s enormously popular MOBA League of Legends based on Dota Auto Chess. Eight players build teams and fight to be the last person standing, with their units automatically battling after being placed strategically on the game board between rounds. Riot describes TFT as “the world’s largest PC strategy game.”
TFT is traditionally a PvP game, but Ao Shin’s Ascent, due out September 24, is its first-ever progression-focused PvE mode. Players take on escalating PvE battles and bosses, with roguelite progression that grants permanent power in the mode’s Journey Track.
Ao Shin
Here’s the official info, from developer Riot Games:
SUMMIT THE MOUNTAIN: Climb the mountain while strengthening your board, arming yourself with powerful Augments, and preparing for an ultra-powerful Boss.
CRAFT YOUR PATH AND CHALLENGE: Select your difficulty, your Guide, the Boss you’ll fight, and more to make every run feel and play differently!
KEY MECHANIC; GUIDES: The odds aren’t stacked in your favor at the start — recruiting a selection of unlockable Guides can help turn the tides by giving you access to novel strategies and power! Take Zoe for random loot, or grab a bundle-exclusive Guide like Battle Queen Gwen to access powerful Items from various TFT sets!
PROGRESS TO THE SUMMIT WIN OR LOSE: Make progress on your climb win or lose, via the Journey Track. The more runs you take on, the stronger you get!
UNLOCK GUIDES AND POWER WITH THE FREE JOURNEY TRACK: Unlock Guides, and power through the Journey Track. Clear the summit with at least 12 Guides to claim a free Ao Shin’s Ascent Portal reward.
PURCHASE BUNDLES: The Ao Shin’s Ascent Guide Pack (575 RP) comes with an emote and both Bundle-exclusive Guides: Truth Dragon Yasuo and Battle Queen Gwen. And the Ao Shin’s Ascent Mega Bundle (2780 RP) comes with that Emote, both Guides, Legendary Little Legend: Awakened Ao Shin, the Little Legend Sol Harbinger Ao Shin, and the second K.O. Coliseum Pass Plus!
Christina Jiang, Events Product Lead for Teamfight Tactics, said: “Ao Shin’s Ascent represents everything we love about TFT — experimentation, strategy, and a dash of chaos — while introducing a roguelite twist that challenges players to adapt and persevere. This progression-based mode is our most ambitious PvE experiment yet, building on the strong global player engagement we’ve seen with Set 15, K.O. Coliseum. It marks a major step toward giving TFT players more ways to play, more ways to test themselves, and more reasons to return for the next climb.”
And here’s a comment from Michael “Skip” Scipione, Senior Game Designer for Teamfight Tactics: “With Ao Shin’s Ascent, we wanted to push TFT forward with bold new mechanics that expand on its core gameplay. Bosses evolve with shifting modifiers, and the new progression system means each run builds toward the next, letting players experiment with different approaches against an ever-changing challenge. It’s a way to expand TFT’s core mechanics while giving players new stories to create with every climb.”
Teamfight Tactics: Ao Shin’s Ascent launches on September 24 at 10am Pacific Time, shortly after the release of patch 15.5. The mode will be available until the end of patch 15.6 on October 8.
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.
Director Tetsuya Nomura has heard the cries for updates on Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 and Kingdom Hearts 4, and he’s happy to report that development is “progressing really smoothly.”
It’s a largely inconsequential but still welcome update for two of Square Enix’s most anticipated games that arrived during the recent Final Fantasy 7: Ever Crisis second anniversary broadcast. As reported on and translated by Gematsu, Nomura took the opportunity to address waves of comments from fans hoping to see the team make an announcement.
“Apparently, [co-director Motomu] Toriyama mentioned in an interview that something might be released around the second anniversary [of Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis],” Nomura said when addressing comments specifically related to the Final Fantasy 7 Remake series. “So that’s probably where those expectations are coming from. Right, so things are progressing really smoothly. I can’t really say more — if I suddenly went, ‘Well, actually…,’ everyone would be really surprised! [Laughs.]”
Nomura goes as far as to say that the “release timing has already been decided” but stops short of clarifying when exactly Square Enix will share more. For now, he asks fans to be patient, adding that work on Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 is “moving forward according to that schedule.”
Development for Kingdom Hearts 4, meanwhile, is progressing in a similarly positive direction, though Nomura says even less about when any further updates may arrive on this front.
“And this has also come up in the comments here and there,” Nomura added, “but Kingdom Hearts IV is likewise steadily moving forward according to schedule, so please look forward to it.”
Kingdom Hearts 4 was announced in 2022, and updates have been distressingly few and far between since. It wasn’t until May 2025, not even four months ago, that Square Enix was willing to share a substantial update, and even then, all fans had to hold onto was a handful of new screenshots and a short message from the team.
“We’ve seen how excited you are, and we are truly grateful from the bottom of our hearts,” Square Enix said at the time. “We are equally excited and can’t wait to share more about Kingdom Hearts IV when the time is right. Until then, we appreciate your patience.”
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer 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).
Former Bethesda Softworks marketing boss Pete Hines has opened up about the Fallout 76 bag controversy of 2018, saying it led to “probably the dumbest thing” he ever did at the company.
Hines, who served as senior vice president of global marketing and communications at Bethesda before announcing plans to retire in 2023, touched on the infamous Fallout 76 Power Armor Edition during an interview with DBLTAP. The first true multiplayer Fallout experience came with too many issues to count at launch, but it’s the goodies promised with its collector’s edition that live with the former Bethesda executive to this day.
The company unveiled the pricey Power Armor Edition with the promise it would include a T-51B Power Armor Helmet, an exclusive steel case, collectible figures, and, of course, a canvas West Tek Duffel Bag. Players who picked up their copies upon the launch of Fallout 76 in late 2018, however, were surprised when the package included a cheap, nylon bag instead.
Hines doesn’t remember this element of the launch of Fallout 76 fondly, recalling how his involvement in the contents of the Power Armor Edition led to one of his biggest mistakes at Bethesda.
“My first reaction was, ‘When the f**k did we add a canvas bag to this collector’s edition?’ Because the version I approved did not have one,” he said. “They were trying to add more value to the Collectors Edition. We were always fighting with the finance people about margins, right? I would throw shit fits around. ‘We cannot charge $300 for this, it’s f***ing insulting.’ But in this case, their hearts were in the right place.”
It’s probably the dumbest thing I ever did at Bethesda.
Hines continued, explaining that the decision to include a nylon bag came as a result of a canvas shortage.
“There was literally a canvas shortage, and some folks decided we’re going to do this instead. My biggest failing there was not pushing immediately for making and sending one to everybody that wants one. Because I was still annoyed that the damn thing was in there in the first place, and nobody had told me and that this canvas shortage happened. It’s probably the dumbest thing I ever did at Bethesda.”
Fallout 76 had a notoriously rough start but is generally regarded to be in much better shape these days. Bethesda has delivered an ocean of updates and post-launch content in the years since, with the CAMP Revamp update arriving just a few days ago. We gave the multiplayer Fallout game a 7/10 in our updated review last year.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer 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).
When Arkane Austin delivered its cult-classic immersive sim, Prey, for PC and consoles in 2017, not everyone at Bethesda Softworks was happy shipping the sci-fi immersive sim with that name.
Former Bethesda marketing boss Pete Hines, who announced his retirement from the company in 2023, spoke about the name of Arkane’s now-beloved 2017 game during a recent interview with DBLTAP, saying that he was one individual at Bethesda who feared the baggage that the Prey name carried.
“Don’t even get me started on that,” Hines said when asked about Prey’s name. “I definitely pissed some people off internally over that because I fought so hard against using that name. I’m the head of the spear, but I had a lot of people across my team – brand, PR and community – and we feel like we’re burdening it with a name where we spend more time explaining why it’s called Prey than we do talking about the game.”
That is wasted excitement. We could be turning that into something positive.
Hines adds that he regrets losing the battle to give the 2017 Prey a fresh start. He adds, “But nobody on this planet could have put more of a good faith effort into changing minds on that.”
“My whole point was, look how much time we spend talking about what the game is versus why it’s called this and like, that is wasted energy,” Hines continued. “That is wasted excitement. We could be turning that into something positive.”
Prey is now seen as one of the better immersive sims for more reasons than one, but it took some time for it to achieve cult-classic status. In addition to the confusion surrounding its title, game-breaking issues for PC players at launch helped tarnish its reputation out of the gate.
Bethesda eventually issued numerous fixes for those on that platform, but the damage had already been done. Tech issues almost certainly hurt Prey’s commercial performance, with Colantonio believing that its strange name also contributed to lost sales.
We gave the 2017 Prey game an 8/10 in our review. At the time, we said, “Prey’s space station is fantastically explorable and its shape-shifting enemies maintain tension when combat doesn’t.”
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer 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).
Bethesda Softworks’ former senior vice president of global marketing and communications, Pete Hines, says gaming subscription services like Xbox Game Pass are “worth jack s***” if the game developers who create content for them are not properly supported.
The ex-Bethesda figurehead, who announced his retirement in 2023 after 24 years with the company, opened up about the state of the gaming industry during a new interview with DBLTAP. In addition to touching on the early days of the company behind Fallout and The Elder Scrolls, Hines spoke about what he feels the future of services like Game Pass looks like.
He admits his retirement from the Microsoft-owned Bethesda means his view on the matter may not be up to date. However, Hines says he witnessed what he “considered to be some short sighted decision making several years ago” that now appears to be “bearing out the way I said.”
“Subscriptions have become the new four letter word, right? You can’t buy a product anymore,” Hines said. “When you talk about a subscription that relies on content, if you don’t figure out how to balance the needs of the service and the people running the service with the people who are providing the content – without which your subscription is worth jack s*** – then you have a real problem.”
That tension is hurting a lot of people, including the content creators themselves, because they’re fitting into an ecosystem that is not properly valuing and rewarding what they’re making.
Gamers have discussed the viability of platforms like Game Pass since its launch in 2017. While a service flooded with hundreds of games for subscribers to play sounds like a dream come true for players, how the developers behind these games receive support has been hazy.
“You need to properly acknowledge, compensate and recognize what it takes to create that content and not just make a game, but make a product,” he elaborated. “That tension is hurting a lot of people, including the content creators themselves, because they’re fitting into an ecosystem that is not properly valuing and rewarding what they’re making.”
Two Bethesda studios – Redfall developer Arkane Austin and Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks – were shut down in May 2024, though the latter was eventually saved after PUBG publisher Krafton acquired it from Xbox. In the wake of mass layoffs and studio closures, original Arkane founder Raphael Colantonio called Game Pass the “elephant in the room” and an “unsustainable model.” He added, “I don’t think GP can co-exist with other models, they’ll either kill everyone else, or give up.”
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer 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).
With Hollow Knight: Silksong out now, many players are celebrating its unexpectedly low $20 price tag. But some independent developers are pointing out that great as this may be, it could lead to unreasonable expectations for other indie games that can’t afford to sell for that low.
This comes from a number of threads on social media from developers of games such as Unbeatable, Dorfromantik, and others. In one Bluesky thread, Unbeatable director RJ Lake says that Silksong should cost $40, “and I’m not even joking.”
But Lake isn’t upset at Team Cherry for charging $20 – that’s their perogative. But it will have an impact on gaming audiences. As Lake explains:
“millions of people will probably buy silksong on day one, and it was a game that had a very ‘low’ budget, because the budget is ‘these devs worked on it without direct pay for however long they wanted to do that,'” Lake writes. “it had a ‘these devs are independently wealthy’ budget of ‘effectively zero dollars.’
“they can price however low they want, as a result. their return on investment is infinite no matter what they do. but by charging such a low amount, they are causing lizard brain signals to fire off saying ‘this kind of game is worth twenty dollars. you should expect this game for twenty dollars.’
“if enough of those lizard brain signals fire, some kinds of games with actual budgets to pay people who need to live are going to get priced out of existence unless they can get the kind of organic groundswell you can’t plan for”
A lot of other indie devs think Lake might have a point here, including folks from Deck 13 and Red Squirrel Games. Over on Twitter/X, Basti Games, the developer of Lone Fungus: Melody of Spores, asked the audience how much Lone Fungus should cost given Silksong’s $20 price. Basti had originally been planning on making Lone Fungus $20, too. But because it’s shorter in length than Silksong, should it be cheaper?
As a dev making a smaller Metroidvania than Silksong, which I originally though would be fairly priced at 20 USD… what should I price it now?
It’ll be a 10-15+ hours game, but it was made by one person with limited dev time and funds, I can’t afford to give it away for free. https://t.co/FFcgz6TI1z
Fortunately for Basti, the replies overwhelmingly encourage them to price it at $20 if that’s what’s required. “Dude charge 20$,” wrote one fan. “Price is not about the game is about context. They are able to price 20$ for a bigger game because they steem to receive a million times the cost. You are a small company, dude charge 20$ you deserve thst”
Another wrote, “10-20 is totally fair imo. Team cherry could have made silksong 40 and still sold hotcakes, the fact they didn’t just means they are cool as fuck. Don’t hold yourself to standards of giants, or else you’ll have to climb a staircase.”
Still, other developers are worried too. In an Eurogamer article on the subject, Dorfromantik developer Toukana’s co-founder, Zwi Zausch, said that the studio’s next game, Star Birds, would have its pricing impacted by Silksong.
“We’re trying not to compete too directly with Silksong, both in terms of release date and pricing. Of course, these are two very different games with potentially different player bases, but there’s definitely some overlap. That makes things tricky, especially since Star Birds is a joint project between two studios, together employing more people than Team Cherry.”
Indie game prices has historically been a challenging subject, as teams balance needing to ensure all their members are adequately paid, uncertainty around sales numbers, and the volatility of audiences in deciding not to buy smaller games at prices they perceive as too high. As AAA game prices climb fro $60 to $70 to $80, there has been renewed discussion on where indies should fall – many can’t afford to go lower than $20, but many will also lose sales if they don’t.
“People have less money now and are buying fewer games,” says Mike Rose, founder of No More Robots, “so you have to set yourself up to hopefully be that one game they buy when they do have money. And if you are a higher price, it’s now actually a bit offputting.”
Writing on social media, Ubisoft audio architect Rob Bantin shared the real reason why the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Star Wars Outlaws uses a Game-Key Card — a physical cartridge that requires owners still download the game, rather than including the full thing on the cart.
The answer? It’s all due to the Switch 2’s data speeds, and how quickly the hardware can read information from its bespoke cartridges, versus games downloaded to the console’s internal memory.
“[Star Wars Outlaws game engine] Snowdrop relies heavily on disk streaming for its open world environments, and we found the Switch 2 cards simply didn’t give the performance we needed at the quality target we were going for,” Bantin wrote.
The information has come as a surprise to some Nintendo fans who have previously grumbled over the use of Game-Key Cards, which are cheaper and therefore increasingly popular among developers of larger games which would otherwise require more costly cartridges with increased memory capacity.
“I don’t recall the cost of the cards ever entering the discussion – probably because it was moot,” Bantin continued.
While not a comprehensive reason for all developers to use Game-Key Cards, Bantin went on to explain that it was important for Ubisoft and its Snowdrop development team, especially as Outlaws was originally developed for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S — console platforms that had faster SSD memory on board.
“I think if we’d designed a game for Switch 2 from the ground up it might have been different,” Bantin said. “As it was, we’d build a game around the SSDs of the initial target platforms, and then the Switch 2 came along a while later. In this case I think our leadership made the right call.”
Last month, Nintendo launched a fresh fan survey that quizzed Switch 2 owners for their opinions on buying digital games instead of boxed copies, and specifically asked for feedback on Game-Key Cards, following their less-than-stellar initial reception among fans who prefer their physical games to include… well, the full game.
I don’t mind skipping over fluff deals, and you know by now I don’t put up with nonsense like that. These are solid markdowns on products people are already paying attention to, including two solid PS5 games, a collectible Blu-ray, or just a cheap snack to stash away.
Resident Evil 4
This remake was already a must-play for me when it launched, but at $15 it would be rude not too. Capcom rebuilt a survival horror classic with modern controls, polished visuals, and new mechanics that keep it feeling fresh while still honoring the original. If you missed it at full price, this is a great chance to grab it.
Final Fantasy XVI
Final Fantasy XVI goes big in every way . Darker storytelling, faster combat, and those cinematic Eikon battles that really show off the PS5’s power. It’s a dense, story-driven game that still feels very approachable thanks to its action-first design. Getting a major release like this for under $25 feels like strong value, especially if you’ve been waiting for the right price to dive in.
The Boy and The Heron
This is Miyazaki’s latest film and it’s already an award-winner, so owning it on SteelBook is an easy call if you’re a Studio Ghibli fan. Beyond the collectible packaging, there are some worthwhile extras too (interviews, storyboards, behind-the-scenes looks) that make this more than just a standard Blu-ray release. The discount isn’t massive, but it’s still nice to save a few bucks on a title you’d probably want in your library anyway.
HORI USB Camera for Nintendo Switch 2
This one’s a little more niche, but I was surprised to see such a steep discount on an officially licensed Switch 2 accessory. HORI’s USB camera works across different play modes and comes with everything you need to set it up right away. It’s not something everyone will need, but if you’ve been curious about adding a camera to your Switch setup, this is a good time to try it without paying full price.
OREO Gluten Free Original & Double Stuf
I’ll be honest: this one caught my eye because it’s just a crazy-good pantry deal. Twenty snack packs for just over $5 is tough to beat, especially since gluten-free products rarely see discounts this steep. At about a quarter per pack, these are perfect for tossing in a bag or keeping at your desk.
007 First Light: Legacy And Standard Edition Preorders
The standard edition of 007 First Light includes the base game for $69.99 and is available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC (via Steam or Epic). Physical copies are offered for all consoles, though Switch 2 uses a game-key card rather than a full cartridge, meaning you’ll still need the card inserted to play but can lend or resell it like a typical game card. Preorders also come with the deluxe edition upgrade at no extra cost, adding early access for digital buyers plus exclusive DLC skins and outfits. For fans who want something more collectible, the Legacy Edition ($299.99) comes packed with extras. Alongside the full game in a steelbook case, it includes a Golden Gun figurine with a stand and hidden compartment, a certificate of authenticity, and a bundle of deluxe DLC skins and outfits. Between the display-worthy replica and the bonus in-game content, this edition is tailored for Bond enthusiasts who want both a showpiece for their shelf and extra flair in-game.
LEGO Disney & Pixar Wall-E & EVE
The LEGO Disney & Pixar WALL-E & EVE Building Set (43279) is one of the new LEGO sets for September. It comes with 811 pieces and builds four characters from the movie: WALL-E, EVE, M-O, and Hal. Each has movable parts, like WALL-E’s rolling tracks and EVE’s poseable arms, plus small accessories like the plant in a boot. Once built, the figures stand about 5 inches tall and work well as shelf or desk décor.
EUKI Compressed Air Duster
The EUKI Compressed Air Duster ($39.99) is a rechargeable alternative to disposable air cans, built with a 150,000 RPM motor and three speed settings for different cleaning tasks. It weighs just 315 grams and can handle everything from clearing dust out of keyboards and PCs to inflating air beds or drying surfaces. A full charge takes about 2.5 hours and provides up to 100 minutes of use, with built-in protections for safe performance. The kit comes with a USB-C cable, storage bag, brushes, and a non-slip handle.
Runbox Slim Card Holder
RUNBOX Slim Card Holder Wallet is a minimalist aluminum case designed to hold 6–12 cards securely, with a quick-access pop-up button for easy retrieval. At just 0.5 inches thick and 2.6 ounces, it fits comfortably in any pocket while still offering expandable storage thanks to its metal backplate. Built-in RFID blocking helps protect against digital theft, and silicone clips inside keep cards firmly in place.
Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution – Phantasmal Flames Preorders
With the Pokémon Center listings going live for preorder at any moment, it’s only a matter of time until the first expansion for the new era of Pokémon TCG, Mega Evolution: Phantasmal Flames, comes pouring down to other retailers. First up will be Best Buy, normally around 24 hours after the Pokémon Center launch, followed by Target then secondary market and small seller allocations being available on TCGPlayer. Amazon and Walmart have been known to stock Pokémon TCG preorders in the past, but it’s not always a guarantee. Phantasmal Flames drops on November 14, with prerelease events running the week before, and the big headline is Mega Charizard X ex returning in full force. What makes this set even more exciting is its size , about 90 cards before secret rares, which makes it the smallest English set in nearly a decade. For collectors like me, that usually means a much more manageable chase, while still packing in plenty of heavy hitters for players.
The product lineup looks pretty stacked too. We’ll be getting the usual booster packs and booster box (36 packs), a 9-pack Elite Trainer Box featuring a shiny new Charcadet promo, and an Ultra-Premium Collection built around Mega Charizard X ex. On top of that, two theme decks for Mega Gengar ex and Mega Diancie ex are arriving a few weeks early on October 24, which is a fun way to get a taste of the set before launch. If you’re like me and love cracking packs, the booster box is the way to go, but the UPC is already looking like the big collector piece this time around.
What ties it all together is the Japanese set Inferno X, which hit shelves there in late September. That set had only 80 cards, and once you add in the Mega Gengar and Mega Diancie decks, you basically get the full Phantasmal Flames lineup. We’ve already seen some killer reveals, including the Mega Charizard X ex secret rare previewed at Worlds, so I’m fully expecting that to be the chase card when this launches. Between the smaller set size, Charizard hype, and some solid gameplay cards, I think this one’s going to fly off shelves and I’m definitely locking in my preorder.
Back To The Future Steelbook Preorders Are Live
The 40th anniversary Back to the Future steelbooks are a collector’s dream. Each movie in the trilogy is getting its own limited-edition release on October 14, with sleek new steelbook packaging featuring inside-and-out film artwork. Priced between $29.99 and $34.99, each edition includes the movie on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and digital, along with a treasure trove of bonus features, from archival documentaries and outtakes to new retrospectives with co-writer Bob Gale and cast/crew members.
Pokémon TCG: Holiday Calendar (2025) Cheaper At TCGPlayer
The 2025 Pokémon TCG Holiday Calendar is shaping up to be a holiday highlight for fans without breaking the bank. While Amazon has it listed for $67.94, with the lowest price right now is actually at TCGplayer, where you can snag it for just $61.97. Inside, you’ll get a festive advent-style box with 25 surprises: eight foil promo cards with a snowflake Poké Ball stamp, six booster packs, seven fun packs, two coins, sticker sheets, and a bonus code card for Pokémon TCG Live. With boosters pulled from recent Scarlet & Violet expansions like Destined Rivals and Journey Together, this calendar offers both collectible promos and real gameplay value at the best price you’ll find online today.
Marvel Legends Series Wolverine Premium Roleplay Mask
Hasbro’s Marvel Legends Series Wolverine Premium Roleplay Mask is a must-have for fans of the clawed mutant, whether you’re into cosplay or just want a striking display piece. Priced at $99.99 and set to release on October 1 (with preorders live now at Amazon), this full-scale 1:1 mask recreates Wolverine’s look from Deadpool & Wolverine. It sports the classic yellow-and-black design with realistic battle damage and white eye screens, giving it a screen-accurate edge. The mask also comes with its own display stand, so it’ll look just as good on a shelf as it does when you wear it.
Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 + 4 Under $35
As part of Amazon’s Labor Day sale, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 has dropped to its lowest price yet, making now the perfect time to grab it. Normally priced higher, this updated collection delivers classic arcade skateboarding with a modern polish. In our review where we scored it an 8/10, we praised the game for proving “the series’ over-the-top skateboarding formula is totally timeless,” even if some of the tweaks to THPS4 and the soundtrack choices didn’t fully land. At this price, though, you’re getting an iconic piece of gaming history for less than ever before.
Pokémon TCG ETBs and Booster Bundles
When it comes to sealed Pokémon TCG products, the real bargains today are on ETBs and booster bundles. White Flare is sitting at just $75 on TCGPlayer, which is a nice break from the usual $90+ price tags. Even the newer Destined Rivals and Black Bolt boxes are running cheaper there than anywhere else. And if you don’t want to spring for a full ETB, Prismatic Evolutions booster bundles are going for as low as $59, which feels like an easy pickup if you’re chasing singles without committing to a whole box.
I’m also eyeing a few of the new Funko Pop! preorders that just went live. Turtwig drops at the end of September for $15.99, while Ninetales and Absol are both set for mid-December at $14.99 each. These usually disappear around launch week, so if you’re the type who likes locking in new releases before they vanish, it’s probably worth snagging them now instead of hunting later at inflated prices.
Pokémon Funko Pop! Deals
Amazon’s been quietly slashing prices on a bunch of Pokémon Funko Pops, and some of them are cheaper than a booster pack. The biggest surprise for me was Horsea at just $4.31—that’s wild considering it normally goes for $12.99. There are plenty of others worth adding to your shelf too, like Fidough for $7.99, Dratini for $11.30, and even the 10-inch Pikachu for $62, which is a solid drop from its usual $75.99. Whether you’re filling gaps in your collection or just want a budget-friendly pick-up, today’s lineup has a nice mix of starters, legendaries, and fan favorites.
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.
