Players woke up to find that Virtuos’ massive re-release received an unexpected update earlier today. With no patch notes or clear answer as to what the update addressed, most proceeded with their play sessions as normal. Others, however, quickly found that the first Oblivion Remastered update was causing more problems than it fixed
Yoooo why would @virtuosgames push an update to Oblivion Remastered that removes all upscaling right before the games first weekend?!!?
“Can’t change the upscaling methods anymore,” one Reddit user pointed out. “It’s set to ‘off’ and while the arrows are clickable nothing happens. So I closed the game, disabled fluid motion in the NVidia app (was testing something before the patch came) and started the game again. Loading times for my save are long again and still can’t change upscaling settings lol.
“Now I am stuck with 40-60 fps in high settings with a 5800X3D and a 5080. Nice patch :D”
While some players haven’t noticed much of a change in performance, others are reporting new struggles related to low framerates. Many have also noted that upscaling settings have been completely closed off, leaving fans with major visual issues ahead of Oblivion Remastered’s first weekend in players’ hands.
Bethesda finally attempted to address concerns with a post published on its official support page. As for what today’s Oblivion Remastered update was meant to fix, the post explains the patch simply included “a few backend tweaks and nothing directly impacting game play.” Unfortunately, it seems those who own Oblivion Remastered through the Microsoft Store are the ones running into problems with their upscaling and anti-aliasing options.
“Any graphic settings adjusted prior to the Microsoft Store hotfix are still enabled and function normally,” Bethesda clarified. “However, you will temporarily be unable to adjust those settings due to the issue with the settings UI. The team is taking a look and working out a resolution, we will share more info as soon as we can.”
For now, there’s no telling when exactly a resolution for what was originally supposed to be an under-the-radar hotfix will arrive. In the meantime, it appears players on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X | S consoles can continue playing with no issue.
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).
Marvel Rivals developer NetEase Games has laid out its plans to take some of the pressure off of Strategists players just days after fans launched a community-wide Support strike.
Much of Marvel Rivals Season 2 has gone over swimmingly. New characters, maps, and modes helped the hero shooter push forward as the team promises quicker seasons and even more playable heroes, but its balance changes have introduced entirely new issues. Strategists – a character class that largely functions as Marvel Rivals’ Support pool – aren’t having much fun as Vanguards and Duelists have taken power.
The decreased viability of the Support class has been the topic of discussion in the Marvel Rivals community since Season 2 launched earlier this month. With other roles given more power on the battlefield, many Strategist players have reported not only an abundance of punishing matches but toxic ones, too, as teammates hop into text and voice chats to place the blame on them. It all reached a boiling point this past week when hundreds of players began taking to social media to declare they would stay away from the healer spot until NetEase explained how it might make the experience more enjoyable for all.
“We just want basic respect.”
“We’re not asking to be glorified or seen as the ‘hardest’ role – because I don’t think we are,” one Reddit user commented. “We just want basic respect. It’s tiring to be called brain dead or worthless when your stats are solid and you’re playing your role the way it’s meant to be played.”
I Need Healing
Whether the strike has been successful or if players are simply choosing to stray from a challenging class, NetEase says it wants to take action. In a Dev Talk post published to its website today, NetEase addressed the concerns revolving around the Strategist class. Its approach to relieve some of the pressure is two-pronged and involves buffing the Support role while also making its Competitive mode more rewarding.
The team says Strategist “threat levels” will be elevated in an upcoming patch. This means potentially buffing heroes like Invisible Woman or Jeff the Land Shark while hitting Vanguards like Captain America and Groot with nerfs to their survivability, while Spider-Man’s Amazing Combo ability will get decreased damage range. Details on exactly which characters will receive changes have yet to be revealed.
“Since this is a mid-season balance adjustment, we aim to be cautious, keeping changes minimal to enhance the experience of certain heroes without drastically altering the overall meta,” NetEase explained. “As we move into S2.5, with Ultron’s arrival and new Team-Up Ability adjustments, we’ll consider broader, more comprehensive balance changes.”
Meanwhile, Competitive is a Marvel Rivals offering that has seen slightly altered stats since the launch of Season 2. Duelists, in particular, have had an advantage when it comes to performance ratings, while Vanguard and Strategists have been at a slight disadvantage. As a result, NetEase plans to adjust performance rating calculations “to ensure fairness across all heroes.”
“Balancing the game and rank adjustments is a challenging endeavor, and we can’t guarantee perfection 100% of the time,” the Dev Talk adds. “However, we remain humble and attentive, striving to address issues promptly and enhance your experience. Stay tuned for official patch announcements for more updates. Thank you for your support and patience!”
Marvel Rivals Season 2 introduced Emma Frost as its newest playable Vanguard hero, with Season 2.5 set to include Ultron in the near future. While we wait to see if the upcoming balance changes please those participating in the Support strike, you can read up on a recent Marvel tease that could see a collection of swimsuit skins joining the game.
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).
Even if you enjoyed NieR: Automata and its predecessor, NieR: Replicant, you could be forgiven for not knowing that game actually got a sequel, and a pretty good one too. Unfortunately, that sequel, mobile game NieR: Re[in]carnation, hasn’t been available for almost a year after being taken offline in April of 2024.
But fortunately, a Square Enix website is dropping some pretty wild in-universe hints that this might be about to change.
As pointed out to us on BlueSky by journalist Willa Rowe, an official NieR website that’s currently publishing a NieR special movel to commemorate the series 15th anniversary is teasing something NieR: Re[in]carnation-related via cryptic in-text hints and webpage source code. As a part of today’s update to the novel, the just-published chapter 4 ends with some strange text that reads as follows:
[WARNING] : Recovery protocol initialized…[ERROR] : Redirecting to backup node: < https://www.jp.square-enix.com/nierreincarnation/ >[INFO] : Analysis comments added to the source code. [FATAL] : Process forcibly halted.
What does THAT mean? Who knows? But wait, there’s more. If you hit “View Source” on that page, there are even more weird teases in the code comments, as hinted at above. They read, in order:
TODO: Optimize rendering efficiency. Contradictions in “Her” emotions may interfere with signal clarity. Ensure transission remains undistorted.
FIXME: Visibility settings enabled for crashed observer system. He is watching…Adjust access permissions before deployment. His name is…………
HACK: Log discrepancy detected. Records indicate previous modification attempts due to excessive interference from The Cage. Cross-check against original transmission before proceeding.
Okay, there’s a lot here, some of which is inscrutable and some of which makes sense. “The Cage”, for instance, is the main location where most of NieR: Re[in]carnation takes place. And “Her” is a key character (yes, that’s Her name) in Re[in]carnation as well. Between that and the hyperlink, it’s pretty obvious what all this is referencing, but what exactly will become of it remains anyone’s guess.
The two final chapters of the novel are scheduled to publish on May 2, a week from today, and it’s possible it may also pull back the curtain on whatever’s happening here. Fans are speculating that it may be leading up to some sort of port or re-release of NieR: Re[in]carnation, which has been completely unplayable anywhere since it went offline last year. They’re also pointing out that the chapters of the special novel, which are currently only available in Japanese (but which fans are translating), have some pretty significant tie-ins to all three other NieR games.
If you’re unfamiliar with Re[in]carnation, I highly recommend keeping an eye on this, especially if the end result is another opportunity to play it. Re[in]carnation is a good game in its own right that many slept on due to its being a mobile gacha game, but critically, it’s also the direct sequel to NieR: Automata, and effectively is NieR 3, for those who have been waiting for it. Who knows? Maybe a new Re[in]carnation release could include some new content that ties the ongoing stream of loose NieR-related threads together at last.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
Bethesda Game Studios and Virtuos’ The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered includes the original’s infamous Dupe Item Glitch – and fans are loving it all over again 20 years later.
Since the mega-hit remaster launched for PC and consoles earlier this week, Elder Scrolls veterans have been beside themselves as they revisit iconic locations and characters from Bethesda’s classic fantasy RPG. It’s a total visual overhaul that remains so faithful to the original 2006 experience that Virtuos even thought to include some of its more memorable bugs and even a few handy glitches.
In Oblivion Remastered, players have found they’re still able to use a version of the original’s Dupe Item Glitch, just the same as they did nearly 20 years ago. It allows the user to duplicate nearly any item in the game, and it only involves navigating through a few menus and a barrel or storage crate. That means unlimited arrows, ingredients, and even infinite money if you’re willing to be patient and haul everything to a merchant after you’re done. You can see our explanation of how to do the Dupe Item Glitch here.
There’s been some debate about a few other Dupe Item Glitch exploits that seem to have been fixed, but the consensus is generally that Virtuos’ move to keep such a niche bug in some capacity is amazing. Now, in 2025, both returning and new Elder Scrolls fans can see Cyrodiil just as it was in 2006, with many important wrinkles and bumps left intact, and the reaction is impossible to deny.
To those upset that Oblivion Scroll Duping got Removed I have great news! DUPES ARE BACK BABY!!! pic.twitter.com/Y21CowLJqq
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).
I’ve found the best cards from Journey Together and Paldean Fates on TCG Player for less than the cost of these booster bundles. If you’re collecting Pokémon cards for the actual cards (not just the thrill of cracking packs), TCG Player is your best friend. I’ve been watching both Journey Together and Paldean Fates, and the single prices are falling fast. Meanwhile, sealed bundles are creeping up. You can still grab them if you want the experience, but if you’re hunting chase cards, buying singles is the smarter route.
TL;DR: Deals For Today
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—Journey Together Booster Bundle
This six-pack bundle of Scarlet and Violet: Journey Together is holding steady at 50.99, but most of the real value in the set is now on TCG Player, where chase cards are trending down. If you’re looking for specific pulls, going the single route will save you money. There’s still some standout cards here. Lillie’s Clefairy ex is the most expensive in the set right now, and for good reason. It’s competitively viable and features Lillie, who always bumps card prices on name recognition alone.
N’s Zoroark ex (Special Illustration Rare) continues a clever story thread from N’s Zorua and is a binder-ready display card. Salamence ex showcases Tsuyoshi Nagano’s first Pokémon art, which alone is worth a look. There’s also Hop’s Zacian ex, a handful of golden Iono and Bellibolt ex cards, and some surprisingly nice takes on Wailord and Articuno. It’s a great set, but if you know what you’re after, singles are the smarter path.
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet: Paldean Fates: Booster Bundle
Paldean Fates brings back shiny Pokémon in a big way, including the return of the fan-favorite Baby Shinies. The booster bundle runs a little higher at 66.97, and honestly, that’s more than what you’d pay for most of the good cards inside if you went straight to TCG Player.
There are a few exceptions. Bubble Mew still holds its value even after a major drop, and is the one card where sealed might still make sense if you enjoy the gamble. But most of the shinies, including some really clean alternate arts, are affordable enough to collect without diving into packs. I’ve put together a catalog of the best-value cards if you want to go that route.
Expedition 33 T-Shirt
Expedition 33 just dropped and IGN Store already has one of the better pieces of game merch I’ve seen in a while. This tee uses the game’s cover art in a clean design that doesn’t scream licensed product, which I appreciate. It’s made to order in sizes up to 3XL. It’s 100 percent ringspun cotton and feels like a shirt you’ll actually want to wear more than once.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Steam)
Expedition 33 just launched and it’s one of the more original turn-based RPGs I’ve seen in a long time. The concept is bizarre in the best way. Once a year, a mysterious figure paints a number. Everyone of that age dies. This year, it’s 33. You’re part of the group sent to stop her. The world blends Belle Époque France with surreal fantasy, and the combat mixes turn-based mechanics with real-time dodging and targeting. It’s visually gorgeous, built in Unreal Engine 5, and there’s already a good amount of buzz behind it. Standard edition is 39.99, Deluxe is 47.99.
Create, Paint & Animate Bundle
This is one of the better Humble art bundles I’ve seen in a while. You get a 12-month license for Clip Studio Paint Pro, which is already worth the entry price, along with a massive pack of digital tools including brushes, comic panel assets, 3D models, and Moho Debut for animation. If you’ve been meaning to get back into digital art or just want to try new software without spending hundreds up front, this is a great way to start. Plus, proceeds support No Kid Hungry.
Bose QuietComfort Bluetooth Earbuds
If you’ve been thinking about finally getting serious noise cancellation in your life, Bose QuietComfort earbuds are down to 149 right now, a solid 30 bucks off. These are great for travel, commuting, or just finding some quiet during work hours. Battery life is 8.5 hours on a single charge, with an extra boost from the case. IPX4 water resistance makes them solid for workouts too. I like the responsive touch controls and the ability to fine-tune the EQ with the app. They also do a surprisingly good job switching between devices with multipoint Bluetooth.
Soundcore by Anker Space A40
For budget earbuds with real noise canceling, I think Soundcore’s Space A40 are unbeatable at this price. They’re 44.99 right now, down from 79.99, and come packed with features you usually only get on higher-end models. They offer 50 hours of total playtime, a compact and comfortable fit, hi-res wireless audio with LDAC, and adaptive ANC that adjusts depending on your surroundings. They’re solid for everyday listening and more than good enough to double as travel earbuds too.
GameStop Nintendo Switch 2 Pre-orders
GameStop will be one of the only major retailers still offering preorders for the new Switch 2 this morning. The $499.99 bundle includes the console and Mario Kart World, which looks like it’s built to show off whatever upgrades Nintendo has under the hood. Preorders go live at 8 a.m. PST, and considering other retailers sold out overnight, I’m not expecting these to last long. There’s also the solo Nintendo Switch 2 console, launch games and tons of accessories to add to your basket too. Here’s my top picks:
Pokémon TCG Charizard ex Super Premium Collection
I like this bundle because it gives you something to actually hold onto, not just a few random booster packs. It includes three promo foil cards (Charizard ex, Charmander, and Charmeleon) a detailed Charizard figure, and 10 booster packs. That’s solid value, and it’s all bundled in a way that makes sense for collectors or players.
At under $50, it’s hard to argue with the appeal. The Charizard line has always been popular, and the cards in this set are exclusive promos that won’t be around forever. I think this is an easy pickup if you’re looking to build your collection or just want something that looks great out of the box.
Monster Blu Ray 4K Sale
Streaming is convenient until your favorite movie vanishes from your watchlist without warning. That’s why I still keep a stash of 4K discs, and Amazon’s latest deal makes it easy to bulk up the collection. Right now, you can pick any three eligible titles for $33, which is a pretty great deal considering a single 4K Blu-ray usually runs around $20 or more.
I think this is the kind of sale that slips under the radar because there’s no flashy banner or countdown timer. But when you start scrolling and see stuff like Inception, The Dark Knight, 1917, and E.T., it kind of speaks for itself. If you’re into collecting or just want some reliable movie night options that don’t rely on a Wi-Fi signal, this is worth jumping on.
WD_Black 2TB C50 Xbox Series X|S Storage Expansion Card
Storage space on Xbox runs out fast, especially if you’re hopping between big AAA titles. I think the WD_Black 2TB C50 is one of the better expansion options out there, and right now it’s down to $179.99 on Amazon, which is $50 off the usual price.
It’s officially licensed, plug-and-play, and gives you the same performance as internal storage thanks to Xbox’s Velocity Architecture. I’ve used one for a while, and honestly, it’s the difference between deleting something you’ll want to play later or just moving on with your day.
Beats Fit Pro
If you’ve been looking for earbuds that actually stay in your ears while you move, the Beats Fit Pro still nails it. They’re down to $169 at Amazon right now, which isn’t the steepest discount ever, but considering how rarely Apple gear goes on sale, I’ll take it.
I’ve used these for running, working, and dodging people on Zoom calls. They’ve got solid noise canceling, great sound, and yes, they work just as well on Android as they do on iPhones. I think they’re still one of the few earbuds that don’t require a small fortune or daily resets.
LEGO Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Mos Espa Podrace Diorama
This LEGO Star Wars Podrace Diorama is one of those builds that feels designed for fans who grew up on Phantom Menace and now pretend they’re “collectors.” It’s on sale for $65 right now, down from the usual $80.
I think it works well as a display piece without screaming “toy.” You get Anakin’s and Sebulba’s podracers in brick form, plus a detailed canyon scene. If you’re trying to justify another LEGO set, just call it a stress-relief project and move on.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
This is currently the best price for Oblivion on PC bar subscribing to Game Pass. I’ve played the original Oblivion enough times to know exactly where it shows its age, which is why I’m glad this remaster exists. The updated visuals and improved UI give the game a second life without losing what made it great in the first place. You still get the full experience, including expansions like Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine, plus all the classic side content.
If you missed it the first time around or just want to revisit Cyrodiil without modding your setup into oblivion (pun intended), this is the version to get. I think forty bucks is a fair ask for one of the most influential open-world RPGs of its time, especially with all the extras baked in.
Pokémon TCG 151 Single Card Crashes
I’ve been tracking the Pokémon 151 singles for a while, and a few prices have finally started to slide into that sweet spot between “collectible” and “still reasonable.” Blastoise ex (Illustration Rare) is sitting around $66, and Venusaur ex is close behind at $60. Even Charizard ex, in Secret Rare form, has dipped to around $39, which is surprising considering how popular it is.
If you’re trying to complete the set or build out Gen 1-themed pages, now’s a good time to grab singles like Charmander, Bulbasaur, or Squirtle for under $40. Most of these aren’t meta-competitive, but they’re stunning in a binder and full of nostalgia. I think this wave of price dips won’t last long once more collectors start closing out their sets.
CUKTECH 15 Ultra Power Bank
I’ve gone through enough power banks to know when one’s actually designed with some thought behind it. This one pushes up to 140W with USB-C PD3.1, which means it can charge a MacBook or gaming handheld fast enough to matter. The smart display is a nice touch too. It shows real-time stats, not just another blinking light.
The 20,000mAh capacity is plenty for multiple phone charges or a full laptop cycle, and the recharge time is quick if you’ve got the right charger. I’d say it’s ideal if you travel with more than one device and hate juggling low battery warnings.
Cleer ARC 3 Open Ear Headphones
I like the open-ear design because it avoids the usual trade-off between situational awareness and good audio. These stay just outside your ears, but the sound quality still holds up thanks to Dolby Atmos and Snapdragon Sound support. And the fit’s more comfortable than most earbuds I’ve worn, especially for longer sessions.
The battery life is solid with up to fifty hours total from the case, and it includes features like auto volume adjustment and UV sterilization. It’s built for someone who actually uses their earbuds all day, not just in short bursts. If that’s you, I think you’ll appreciate the attention to detail here.
Pokémon TCG 151 Booster Bundle
I really want this listing to disappear into the tall grass. It’s six booster packs. That’s it. For $66.65. The MSRP was closer to $30, which makes this a laughable markup for what’s essentially a fancy six-pack with no promo cards.
I love Pokémon 151. It’s packed with great Kanto art, and yeah there’s some killer hits in there. But paying twice retail for the chance at a Charizard? That’s a pass. I think if you’re going to spend over $60, you should at least know what you’re getting.
I dug up some single card options that are actually worth the money. You can grab Alakazam ex for around $10, a clean Zapdos holo for under $5, and even that Blastoise art rare for $66 or less if you don’t mind a little light play.
Godzilla is one of the biggest names in entertainment, with over 70 years of history since Ishiro Honda’s 1954 film. Over the years, there have been numerous interpretations of the legendary beast, from World War II-inspired movies to clashes with other beasts in the Monsterverse. There’s a lot to love about every film, especially if you’re a fan of action. Starting today, you can purchase three of the most recent Godzilla movies in 4K for only $33. Now is the time to add three films involving the legendary beast to your Blu-ray collection.
This sale is part of Amazon’s larger three for $33 4K movie promotion that just started. There are quite a few other great films in there if you’d prefer to shop the full sale yourself.
3 Godzilla 4K Blu-rays for $33
Starting today, you can purchase three of the most recent Godzilla movies in 4K for only $33. Now is the time to add three films involving the legendary beast to your Blu-ray collection.
This sale is part of Amazon’s larger three for $33 4K movie promotion that just started. There are quite a few other great films in there if you’d prefer to shop the full sale yourself.
49″ Odyssey QD-OLED G9
think this might be the best gaming monitor deal I’ve seen all year. The QD-OLED G9 just dropped to $1,049.99, which is $700 off its original price. That’s not a typo. This is Samsung’s top-of-the-line 49-inch ultrawide, and right now it’s a steal.
The Dual QHD resolution makes games look absurdly sharp, and the 240Hz refresh rate with 0.03ms response time means it’s as fast as it is pretty. Add G-Sync and FreeSync support, and you’ve got yourself a monitor that won’t blink even when you’re about to lose a ranked match.
I want this on my desk just so I can stop squinting at my minimap like an old man with bad Wi-Fi. It wraps around your field of view and makes even spreadsheets feel dramati
57″ Odyssey Neo G9 Curved Gaming Monitor
If the QD-OLED isn’t wild enough for you, this 57-inch Neo G9 is here to take your eyeballs hostage. It’s the world’s first Dual UHD monitor, and it costs $1,799.99 right now instead of its usual $2,299.99. Plus, there’s an extra $50 credit applied at checkout.
Mini-LED tech, 240Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and enough real estate to run an airport. I want this so badly I’m thinking of measuring my apartment just to see if it’ll fit.
The HDR 1000 support and insane brightness make everything pop, and Samsung even threw in CoreSync lighting to make sure your desk feels like a spaceship.
Samsung T9 4TB Portable SSD
I think this is the drive to get if you’ve got a ton of large files and zero patience. The T9 4TB model is down to $299.99, and it’s fast. I’m talking 2,000MB/s fast. You can load, edit, and transfer without watching a loading bar crawl across your screen.
It’s built to survive up to a 9.8-foot drop, which, yes, I find oddly specific. But hey, it means it’ll probably survive your daily backpack abuse. If you’re a video editor or just someone who hoards game installs like they’re rare Pokémon, this is a solid pickup.
Samsung T5 4TB Portable SSD
This one’s all about durability and capacity. The T5 EVO gives you 4TB of space in a compact shell, and it’s priced the same as the T9. It doesn’t hit the same crazy speeds, but it’s still great for moving big files and not worrying about losing them to the floor gods.
I want this for backup storage or even game library overflow. It’s a solid pick if you don’t need bleeding-edge speeds but still want to keep everything in one pocket-sized vault. Buyers can also snag a free Sonic the Hedgehog branded 256GB MicroSD card + adaptor with this deal too.
Journey Together Booster Bundle
Amazon’s been a bit shady with this one. While the overpriced Elite Trainer Box is sitting at a wild $99.49, this six-pack bundle is actually close to MSRP and ships directly from Amazon. It’s quietly hidden under separate listings, which feels intentional given how quickly the ETB sold out when it dipped below $40 last week.
Journey Together Sleeved Booster
One Journey Together pack, one total mystery. If you just want to open something without overthinking it, this gets the job done. It’s also about as low-stakes as Pokémon TCG gets unless you’re picking up cards off the sidewalk.
Journey Together Elite Trainer Box
Yes, this is the same box that was selling for around $40 days ago. It’s now being offered at the highest price yet, and not even by resellers — this inflated price is from Amazon itself. You get nine booster packs, a promo, sleeves, and extras, but you’d be paying more than double what it’s worth. I’d pass unless it drops again.
Terapagos ex Ultra-Premium Collection
I want to say this isn’t excessive, but you’re getting 18 Stellar Crown booster packs, three promo cards, a playmat, a deck box, and a magnetic card display. Excessive, but in a good way. It’s basically a portable shrine to Terapagos, and somehow still manages to feel worth it if you’re deep in the hobby.
Pokémon TCG Stacking Tin
Three booster packs and two sticker sheets in a tin that stacks. That’s the whole pitch. I think it’s a fun pickup if you’re buying for a younger fan or just want your cards stored in a tiny themed cylinder for some reason.
Paldean Fates Booster Bundle
Six packs focused on shiny Pokémon, which will either be a collector’s dream or a gamble depending on your luck. In my opinion, the price feels high unless you’re chasing specific cards, but that hasn’t stopped anyone before.
Iono’s Bellibolt ex Premium Collection
Six packs and two foil promos, plus acrylic standees and a sticker sheet, because Iono’s entire personality is now available in merchandise form. I think this one’s a solid pick if you like your collections playable, displayable, and mildly ridiculous.
Shrouded Fable Elite Trainer Box
This box comes with nine Shrouded Fable booster packs, a Pecharunt promo, sleeves, dice, and more organizational tools than your average office desk. It’s one of the more practical bundles, assuming your definition of practical includes themed card sleeves.
Poké Ball, Premier Ball, Moon Ball Tin Bundle.
Each bundle comes with three Poké Ball tins and nine booster packs total, plus stickers in case the Poké Balls weren’t festive enough. You’re paying for variety and presentation here, which is half the fun anyway.
Poké Ball, Great Ball and Ultra Ball Tin Bundle.
Same again but includes a Pokéball, Great Ball and Ultra Ball. This is the OG choice and look brilliant mixed in a graded card display. All Pokémon TCG should come in a Pokéball in my opinion!
Surging Sparks Booster Bundle
If you don’t need sleeves or dice and just want to crack open six fresh packs from Surging Sparks, this one does the job. In my opinion, it’s the most straightforward way to feed the shiny card habit without the extra clutter.
Paradox Clash Tin
You get five packs and one of two promo cards, chosen by fate or some algorithm pretending to be fate. A decent middle ground for players who want something compact with a bit of flair and a good chance at useful pulls.
Azure Legends Tin
This tin is a lucky dip between Kyogre, Xerneas, and Dialga, which makes it great if you enjoy a little chaos with your collecting. Five packs and a foil promo make it pretty reasonable for the price, especially if you’re not picky.
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.
EA’s highly anticipated Skate revival will require an “always on” internet connection.
In an updated FAQ on the official blog, developer Full Circle gave a “simple answer: No,” adding: “The game and city are designed to be a living, breathing massively multiplayer skateboarding sandbox that is always online and always evolving. You’ll see bigger things evolve, like changes to the city over time, as well as smaller things, like live events and other in-game activities.”
An “always on” requirement means games cannot be played offline, even if you avoid multiplayer modes or prefer to play alone. However, in this case, Full Circle prefers Skate to be connected to the internet “to deliver on [its] vision of a skateboarding world, the game will always require a live connection.”
“That is probably not much of a surprise if you’ve been in our playtest,” the developer added.
That’s because in September 2024, the team began its Always-On Playtest. The new phase “tests the game in a permanent live environment, with servers running around the clock.”
Skate’s early access launch is set for 2025, although there’s still no confirmed date at this time. It was announced during EA Play way back in 2020, but at the time was stated as “very early” in development. Since then, Full Circle has kept the community up to date with closed community playtests of early builds and, last month, added microtransactions.
You can spend real-world money on a virtual currency called San Van Bucks, which in turn is used to buy cosmetic items. It sounds like Full Circle wants to test Skate’s microtransaction purchase system, as it told players it wanted them to have a “positive experience when purchasing items from the Skate store.”
“We know that using real money during a playtest is a little unusual, but we think it’s the best way to properly assess and adjust the system before launch,” the team added in today’s blog update. “If you see prices or other things changing over time, please understand that this is normal. And of course, you will receive the amount you spent during playtesting in San Van Bucks (SVB) when we reset for Early Access launch.”
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.
When I first saw a demo of Dune: Awakening over a year ago, I went from being skeptical that a survival game on the famously barren world of Arrakis could even work, to being absolutely hyped to get my hands on it. Now, after enduring the unforgiving conditions and hostile lifeforms of a desert planet for nearly 20 hours in the closed beta, I’m confident developer Funcom has the foundations of an absolutely stellar MMO that makes fantastic use of one of the greatest science fiction worlds ever created. Harvesting raw materials from the brutal wasteland, constructing bases, upgrading your character and loadout, and then bringing all of that to bear against raiders and rival houses is just about as good as I’d hoped for. That said, I still feel like I only got a small taste of the larger game, as all of the major social spaces, most of the PvP, and especially any of the all-important endgame areas were kept out of reach. And it’s also no wonder the release date for Dune: Awakening was pushed back a month while I was in the beta, as the build I played was absolutely rife with bugs and performance issues that will definitely need ironing out. Even so, I was quite impressed by the vast majority of what I saw, and am more optimistic than ever that they might just be able to pull this thing off.
If you only just recently got spat back up by a Shai Hulud, Dune: Awakening is an upcoming massively multiplayer survival game from the team of developers who gave us the quite underrated Conan Exiles. The premise is simple: you find yourself on Arrakis and have to find a way to not die there, and if you know even a little about the setting, then you should understand just how tall of an order that is. In typical survival game fashion, you’ll start off with almost nothing, and turn piles of rocks and scraps of metal harvested from the wilds into tools to help you survive, building shelter along the way to protect yourself from the harsh environment. While you might (and frankly, wouldn’t be blamed) for wondering how the heck jogging around a massive, featureless desert could possibly be fun, Funcom has actually done a great job of filling each region with shipwrecks to plunder, hidden caves and fortresses to blast your way through, and mountain ranges to climb. And while there’s plenty of empty space with nothing but unremarkable piles of sand to greet you, these spaces are actually used to great effect as obstacles keeping you from the next area, which must be navigated across quickly, lest you find yourself on the business end of a giant sand worm.
For example, early on you’ll be limited to a very small area that’s cut off from higher level areas that contain better loot and materials you need to craft better equipment. But crossing the massive distance of sand that stands between you on foot is a death sentence, as you’ll undoubtedly draw the attention of an angry worm in the process. To get to the other side, you’ll have to go through the steps of constructing your first vehicle, a small motorbike, then race across the gap as quickly as you can. This clever use of empty space brilliantly turns what I thought would be a weakness in the setting into a strength, and finding ways to cross a completely barren area with a Shai Hulud hot on your tail actually made up some of my favorite moments.
Similarly, the oppressive nature of the sun, which forces you to dart from shaded area to shaded area, turns the entire planet into a high stakes game of “the floor is lava” that can make otherwise uneventful jaunts from one place to another into an entertaining minigame. Refusing to take sun exposure seriously will drain you of ever-valuable water, wipe out your health, and kill you in pretty short order, which kept me on high alert, and since each region increases the heat level, you’re constantly having to invent new equipment back at your base to give yourself the best odds at survival. Sure, it can be a bit of a pain now and again when you hit the head and come back to find the sun’s shifted position and you’re now frying to death in the merciless heat, but hey, that’s just the price you pay for living on Arrakis, my friend, and I mostly enjoyed this little minigame that just made survival that much more tricky.
Of course, in addition to crossing arid deserts and dodging sunlight, you’ll be fighting off bands of bloodthirsty raiders and exploring forgotten places with a gun or sword in hand. The third-person gunplay isn’t groundbreaking by any means, as you’ll duck behind cover, toss grenades, and and return fire in pretty by-the-numbers encounters, but for an MMO with a massive number of players on the server, it’s still quite admirable that they managed to pull off gunplay that feels this snappy. And with a whole bunch of skill trees to pick from and build into – like the tricky and stealthy Mentats or expert survivalist Planetologists – there’s tons of ways to differentiate your character from the rest of your guild. As for myself, I focused most of my skill points into the tried-and-true soldier, which I expected might be a tad boring, but was pleasantly surprised to find myself very happy to be grapple-hooking around and tossing deadly gadgets to and fro.
Running and gunning with friends at your side is especially entertaining, and there were moments, like when my co-op partner used her Bene Gesserit skills to force an enemy to walk out into the open, then I threw a grenade to take them out, where combat really shines. There was also just the tiniest sampling of PvP in the beta build, focused on a couple crash sites that allowed for player-on-player violence, but due to server populations being fairly low in the closed beta, it was hard to get a sense for how this aspect will shake out. In any case, the vast majority of PvP hot zones are in the endgame areas I wasn’t allowed to progress to, so it seems we’ll probably have to wait for the full game to get a good feel on PvP anyway.
As a longtime fan of Dune, it also just feels so good to explore and learn more about a world that I’m quite fond of, and Funcom has clearly put a ton of effort into worldbuilding and lore, even despite taking quite a bit of creative liberty by placing Awakening within a parallel reality and canon than the books/movies. There are little details that have a massive impact on gameplay, like how incredibly valuable water is treated as the ultimate resource – you’ll drain blood from every fallen enemy, turn your own bodily fluids into water with a stillsuit, and take down bases just to pillage every drop of liquid gold they’ve got hidden away. And since water is required to make advanced materials used for crafting more higher level equipment, you’ll need to harvest and stockpile as much as you can, in addition to drinking it just to keep yourself alive. I won’t go into spoilers, but this kind of attention to detail touches just about every aspect of the world, including the factions and characters you meet along the way, which should be a treat for any fan of the setting.
If there’s anything to be concerned about with this otherwise thoroughly engaging beta, it’s the fact that I encountered a whole heap of bugs and performance issues during my time with it, which included everything from crashes to framerate dips, characters and objects getting stretched out bizarrely, and more. With the final version set to debut very soon, I was then pretty relieved when, in the middle of the beta, Funcom announced a month-long delay, presumably to address these issues. As always, it’s tough to gauge how much of this is cause for concern when betas are sorta designed to help highlight and patch these sorts of issues, but the sheer number of problems me and my friends encountered while playing was definitely cause for alarm with the launch date so near.
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered has become something of a lightning rod for the ongoing debate around Nintendo’s pricing for the Switch 2 and its games, with some fans saying the company behind Mario could learn a thing or two about video game pricing from Bethesda.
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.
The base Oblivion game costs $50 and includes all the DLC originally released. It’s an impressive, high value package, and for many it makes Nintendo’s Switch 2 game pricing look even worse.
Compare and contrast, as many are doing, Oblivion Remastered to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, which costs $70, or The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2, which costs an eye-watering $80. There’s a $10 upgrade path for existing owners of the OG Switch versions, and Nintendo Switch Online subscribers can upgrade for free. But Nintendo’s standalone pricing here has sparked a backlash online, especially when you consider the jump to $80 not only for Tears of the Kingdom, but for a number of other Switch 2 games.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Breath of the Wild comes with improved visuals and performance, achievements, as well as support for the new “Zelda Notes” service in the Nintendo Switch Online app. If you already own Breath of the Wild on the Switch, you won’t get those features automatically; you need to upgrade to the Switch 2 Edition to gain access.
If you don’t own the game, you can buy the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Breath of the Wild for $70, $10 more than the game initially retailed at (so basically the price of the original game and the pack). But it won’t include the DLC Expansion Pack, so if you want access to that, it’s another $20 on top of that. That makes $90 total for the full Breath of the Wild Nintendo Switch 2 experience.
And here we have Oblivion Remastered, which some are saying is good enough to be called a remake, with all the DLC thrown in for $50. You can see why Nintendo is coming out poorly in the wake of comparisons.
“Nintendo will look at them and say ‘those guys could have made $30 extra,’ ” joked redditor Cultural_Writing2999. “It’s hard for them to learn much of anything over the sound of all that money being printed,” geldonyetich added.
This response taps into the idea that Nintendo is charging what it’s charging for Switch 2 because it knows people will pay for it. As Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games, told IGN: “Nintendo is charging this price because they feel they can and that people will pay.”
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.
PlayStation Plus is an online gaming service for PlayStation platforms that includes free monthly games, limited-time trials, online multiplayer, and member-exclusive discounts. It also includes a catalog of hundreds of current and classic games for Extra and Premium members.
As noted by Push Square, the removal of 22 games on May 20 includes two high-profile first-party Sony PS3 games, both set to exit the PS Plus Premium library.
That’s because both Resistance: Fall of Man and Resistance 2 are no longer purchasable on the the PS Store, making the PS Plus Premium streaming service the last place to play them unless you happen to have both games and a working PS3 still at home. Both titles are being removed less than a year after they were added to the library at the end of 2024.
Resistance is a series of alternate history first-person shooters Insomniac developed following its work on the Ratchet and Clank games. Three Resistance games were released for the PS3 before Insomniac moved on to other projects like Marvel’s Spider-Man and new Ratchet and Clank games.
While it’s unusual for Sony to remove first-party games from this service, it’s not unheard of, as demonstrated by the shock removal of both Horizon games — Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon: Forbidden West — in August 2024. But at least you could still buy both of those games when they were removed; Resistance: Fall of Man and Resistance 2 will now completely disappear for modern consoles.
Interestingly, Resistance 3 and Resistance: Retribution will remain on the service. It’s also worth noting that more recent first-party PS4 game InFamous: Second Son is also leaving PS Plus.
Insomniac’s Resistance series has been dormant for some time now. In February, Insomniac founder and outgoing president Ted Price revealed that there was a real push to get Resistance 4 made, but unfortunately the game never received the green light. Resistance, like Horizon developer Guerrilla’s Killzone shooter series, has fallen by the wayside.
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.
Breath of Fire IV is back from the dead on PC, 25 years after its original launch.
Capcom’s much-loved role-playing game first launched on the PlayStation in Japan and North America in 2000, then in Europe a year later. The PC port came out in Europe and Japan in 2003.
It revolves around a man called Ryu (not that other Capcom Ryu) who can turn into a dragon. He teams up with other warriors to prevent an emperor from destroying the world.
As part of its ongoing Preservation Program, GOG has fully updated Breath of Fire IV for modern PCs and released it DRM-free on its platform.
The enhanced version is fully optimized for modern systems, with Windows 10 and 11 compatibility. There’s both English and Japanese localizations, along with improved graphics powered by an upgraded DirectX renderer, new display options like Windowed Mode, V-Sync, Anti-Aliasing, and refined gamma correction for better visuals. The audio engine has also been upgraded, restoring missing environmental sounds and adding new configuration options.
Breath of Fire IV isn’t the only classic game revived on GOG today. The list below includes Ultima Underworld 1+2, as well as Ultima 9. This means the entire Ultima series is now preserved and available within GOG’s Preservation Program.
Here’s the full list:
● Ultima Underworld 1+2
● Ultima 9: Ascension
● Worlds of Ultima : The Savage Empire
● Ultima Worlds of Adventure 2: Martian Dreams
● Worms: Armageddon
● Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood
● Realms of the Haunting
● Tex Murphy: Under a Killing Moon
● Stonekeep
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.
