Uncharted Synergy Sends a Previously Unloved MTG Card’s Price Skyrocketing by 1200%

Magic: The Gathering is fully into its crossover era, and while the Avatar: The Last Airbender set isn’t far away, Secret Lair has seen Wizards of the Coast truly cut loose.

That means we’re getting some truly bizarre synergies, including one for Thieving Varmint. A ‘mana dork’ for cards that aren’t yours, we’re not sure anyone fits the idea of pilfering better than Nathan Drake from the PlayStation Secret Lair drop.

Nathan Drake, Treasure Hunter is a three-cost card which has 3/2 base stats and First strike.

It also has the uncanny ability to spend mana of any color to activate abilities of permanents on your battlefield that you don’t own, and cast spells from other players. It’s particularly handy, then, that Nate can also take cards from your opponents’ libraries.

In a game of Commander, you could be throwing around 2, 3, or 4 spells per turn using those that aren’t yours, so long as you have the mana, and that’s where Thieving Varmint comes in.

Thanks to this new synergy, Thieving Varmint has jumped to sit around $9.73 market price, which is a massive jump from its previous average at $0.70-$0.90 only a few months ago (according to data from TCGPlayer).

Featuring in Outlaws of Thunder Junction’s Commander Decks, Thieving Varmint is a 2/1 with Deathtouch and lifelink for two-cost, which is pretty useful, but you can tap it and pay a life to add two mana of any one color to cast spells you don’t own.

Get a board state going early on with your own lands and Thieving Varmint, and you can be using other players’ spells against them with reckless abandon.

As a reminder, Nathan Drake, Treasure Hunter is only found in the PlayStation Secret Lair drop, hence why he’s almost $30 on his own on the secondary market.

Lloyd Coombes is an experienced freelancer in tech, gaming and fitness seen at Polygon, Eurogamer, Macworld, TechRadar and many more. He’s a big fan of Magic: The Gathering and other collectible card games, much to his wife’s dismay.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 x Yoshitaka Amano Collaboration Now Available on IGN Store

Here’s one for fans of the massively popular RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The IGN Store has just launched exclusive new Clair Obscur artwork by legendary artist Yoshitaka Amano. Even if you don’t recognize the name, you’ll recognize his work – Amano is the artist behind the iconic artwork for the Final Fantasy series. This is no coincidence, as the team behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and most notably the Studio Co-Founder, François Meurisse, confirmed in an interview with GamesRadar that they were heavily inspired by the Final Fantasy franchise when creating Expedition 33. This art truly showcases the game’s beauty and depth.

Amano has joined with IGN Store and Sandfall to lend his talents for this new series of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 art. Check out the exclusive drop below and order right now on IGN Store.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 x Yoshitaka Amano Collaboration

The art captures a breathtaking scene. Broken and bloodied, Maelle and Verso face the feared expedition slayer, The Dualliste, in the depths of the Forgotten Battlefield. The battle is a defining moment for Expedition 33, but it’s not just a fight…it’s a reckoning. Amano’s brush brings the tension, sorrow, and grace of this struggle to life.

The art is available in four limited editions:

1 – Esquie Edition – Hand Signed by Yoshitaka Amano

  • Edition Size: 33
  • Print Size: 30 x 38 in. (Art: 24 x 32 in.)
  • Printed on 305 gsm Cold Press Fine Art Paper with Waterbased Giclée Ink
  • Hand Numbered
  • Esquie Face UV Spot Clear Print
  • Hand Signed by Yoshitaka Amano!

2 – Esquie Edition

  • Edition Size: 333
  • Print Size: 30 x 38 in. (Art: 24 x 32 in.)
  • Printed on 305 gsm Cold Press Fine Art Paper with Waterbased Giclée Ink
  • Hand Numbered
  • Esquie Face UV Spot Clear Print
  • Single Color Hand Highlights
  • Auto-Pen Signature

3 – Lumiere Edition

  • Edition Size: 1000
  • Art Size: 24 x 32 in. (Full Bleed)
  • Printed on 305 gsm Cold Press Fine Art Paper with Waterbased Giclée Ink
  • Single Color Hand Highlight
  • Hand Numbered
  • Auto-Pen Signature

4 – Expeditioner Edition

  • Edition Size: 3333
  • Art Size: 18 x 24 in.
  • Printed on 240 gsm Poster Paper with UV Ink
  • Hand Numbered

Euro Truck Simulator 2’s Nordic Horizons expansion finally delivers its cargo later this month

Start using maps to check out service stations in Scandinavia, as Euro Truck Simulator 2‘s Nordic Horizons expansion is set to release on November 27th.

This DLC was announced back in January 2024, and as it shuffles out of SCS Software’s ever-busy DLC pipeline, it’ll leave some coaches and a recently revealed trip to Ireland waiting in the traffic queue. The devs have also been doing plenty of cool existing area revamps.

Read more

The Indie Game Awards 2025 GOTY Nominee List Is Packed With Switch Hits

Plus a handful that we’d love to see on Switch 2.

It’s that time of year again, folks. GOTY season is almost upon us, and while Mr. Keighley’s big event is staying quiet on its nominees for the time being, other shows are already gearing up to crown a winner.

One such event is the Indie Game Awards, a developer-focused awards show centred on — you guessed it — indie games, which has today revealed its final award nominees across 18 different categories.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Free Play Days – Grand Theft Auto Online, Rubber Bandits, Soccer Story, Train Sim World 6: Standard Edition and Wreckfest

Free Play Days – Grand Theft Auto Online, Rubber Bandits, Soccer Story, Train Sim World 6: Standard Edition and Wreckfest

Ah snap, here we go again with tons to play this weekend with Free Play Days! Train Sim World 6: Standard Edition (Console + PC with XPA) is available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential members to play from Thursday November 13 until Sunday, November 16.

Grand Theft Auto Online (Series X|S) is free for all Xbox members to try from November 11 until November 17 (Xbox Game Pass Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential membership not required). New to GTA Online? Find out where to get started here.

Rubber Bandits, Soccer Story and Wreckfest are free for all Xbox members to try during Free Play Days (Xbox Game Pass Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential membership not required).


How To Start Playing


Scroll down and find and install the games on each of the individual game details pages on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and navigate down to the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S.


Keep The Fun Going


Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and achievements earned during the event! Please note that discounts, percentages, and title availability may vary by title and region.


Free Play Days (Game Pass Membership Required)


Xbox Play Anywhere

Train Sim World® 6: Standard Edition

Dovetail Games


47


$49.99

$34.99

Train Sim World 6: Standard Edition
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery, Xbox Play Anywhere
Expect the Unexpected in Train Sim World 6! Face new challenges as you master the tracks and trains across 3 new routes. Brand-new gameplay includes Train Faults and Random Events with new locomotives and units on routes encompassing stunning British coastline, busy Leipzig and suburban New Jersey as well as the ability to bring your existing Train Sim World collection with you. Save 30% until 23rd November!


Free Play Days For All


Grand Theft Auto Online (Xbox Series X|S)

Rockstar Games


670

Xbox Game Pass

Grand Theft Auto Online
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Play GTA Online for free now through November 17 and experience the dynamic and ever-evolving online universe where you can rise from street-level hustler to become a kingpin of your own criminal empire. Get started with GTA$4,000,000 in the Career Builder, enjoy stunning visuals with three detailed graphics modes, and all the latest content playable solo or with friends.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Rubber Bandits

Flashbulb


243


$9.99

$1.99

Rubber Bandits
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery, Xbox Play Anywhere
Rubber Bandits throws 1-4 players into a wild party brawler to steal, smash, and scavenge as much cash as you can! Prepare for hilarious physics-based combat with wacky weapons and a huge lineup of criminal characters.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Soccer Story

No More Robots


211

$19.99

Soccer Story
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery, Xbox Play Anywhere
The world might as well be over Soccer Inc. has closed every local stadium, team and tournament. What kind of world can survive without the beautiful game? Thankfully a magical soccer ball has chosen you, our Savior of Soccer! Grab your ball and boots, then save soccer for free now as part of Xbox Free Play Days!


Wreckfest

THQ Nordic


399


$29.99

$11.99
Xbox Game Pass
Free Trial

Wreckfest
Break the rules and take full-contact racing to the limit with Wreckfest! Expect epic crashes, neck-to-neck fights over the finish line and brand-new ways for metal to bend – These are the once-in-a-lifetime moments that can only be achieved in Wreckfest, with its true-to-life physics simulation crafted by legendary developer Bugbear, who also brought you FlatOut 1 & 2! Burn rubber and shred metal in the ultimate driving playground!


Don’t miss out on these exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential members! Learn more about Free Play Days here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire to find out about future Free Play Days and all the latest Xbox gaming news.

The post Free Play Days – Grand Theft Auto Online, Rubber Bandits, Soccer Story, Train Sim World 6: Standard Edition and Wreckfest appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Walmart’s Pokémon TCG Black Friday Drops Start Today, Here’s What’s Up for Grabs

Heads up, Pokémon TCG collectors, as another hot limited-time drop is hitting Walmart as part of its early Black Friday sales (that are starting today!)

Whilst it’s going to be hell catching these deals, paid Walmart+ members will get five hours of early access; music to the ears of any fellow Pokémon trainers, I’m sure.

So what’s up for grabs? From Nov. 13, 4 pm PT / 7 pm ET, Walmart will open the floodgates for three Pokémon TCG Special Collection boxes for Walmart+ members.

Outside of preordering new sets, it’s next to impossible to find Pokémon TCG products like these at market value, never mind MSRP, so this deal isn’t to be missed and is well worth getting a Walmart+ membership for.

Selling for $24.99, at MSRP, each box contains eight booster packs and features three foil promo cards that differ depending on the set you pick up: Snorlax ex + Blissey ex, Greninja ex + Kinggra ex, or Incineroar ex + Torterra ex.

If you’re not already a member, it’s admittedly a slight drag that you’ll essentially have to add the membership cost onto the price to pick this up and avoid the eye-waterlingly high resale prices, but needs must.

It’s $12.95 per month, or you can opt for an annual membership which is half off right now, and down to $49, previously $98. That’s not a bad deal at all, and includes a whole lot more than just early access to Pokémon cards. So make sure to get that boxed off and logged in ASAP to avoid missing out on this top Black Friday deal.

Best Pokémon Cards To Chase From These Sets

Whilst I wish you all the luck in the world, the chances of pulling top chase cards from these boosters is ridiculously difficult.

If you’re like me and don’t have the money to spend on endless sealed product, you’ll likely savew money in the long run just buying your chase cards instead.

Here’s the top five you could pull from these boxes, complete with where to buy links and up-to-date market value information.

Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN.

MacVulpes InCulkin stares at a guy spitting blood, as Fallout season 2’s latest trailer sets up many family searches

Ok, before you get angry, all I know is that the Home Alone guy’s playing someone either in Caesar’s Legion or who dresses as a member of Caesar’s Legion, not that he’s nailed on to be wolf hat bloke. I just liked the headline. Now that disclaimer’s out of the way, Amazon’s Fallout TV series has gotten another trailer ahead of its December 17th debut.

As previous trailers have outlined, this chain of episodes is set in NEW VEGAS. That’s NEW VEGAS, the setting of obscure 2010 RPG Fallout: NEW VEGAS. There are characters, factions and things from NEW VEGAS, which the established cast will be interacting with because they’re heading to NEW VEGAS. Capische?

Read more

Red Dead Redemption Coming to Nintendo Switch 2, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, New Rating Suggests

Rockstar’s cowboy classic Red Dead Redemption is now cleared for launch on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.

A new ESRB rating has popped up for Red Dead Redemption on modern consoles (where it will come rated M for Mature, due to blood and gore, intense violence, nudity, strong language, strong sexual content and use of drugs).

The rating also mentions “zombies”, likely referring to the games’ beloved Undead Nightmare expansion — so fans should probably expect this to come too.

Rockstar is yet to make this new version of Red Dead Redemption official, but it does now have 12 months to fill since the most recent delay to Grand Theft Auto 6 — which is now slated for launch November 19, 2026.

Originally released back in 2010 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, Red Dead Redemption is now also officially available for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PC. Of course, you can play the PS4 version on PS5 (and the Xbox 360 version on Xbox Series X/S) but no native version for modern consoles exists, yet.

(Of course, no modern console version of Red Dead Redemption 2 exists yet either, but one thing at a time.)

Earlier this month, Rockstar was criticized by fans and employees alike after it fired more than 30 staff it said had leaked confidential company details. Workers organized a physical protest outside Rockstar offices in response, and more than 200 employees signed an open letter that alleged the job losses were an attempt at union busting.

All fired staff are believed to have been members of the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) union members, organized via an external Discord channel. This week, the IWGB confirmed it had filed a legal claim against Rockstar — to which the company is yet to respond.

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

220 Rockstar staff sign letter to management calling for “immediate reinstatement” of fired workers

Over 200 staff at GTA 6 developers Rockstar North have signed a letter to management calling for the “immediate reinstatement” of 31 workers fired recently by the company. Rockstar claimed they fired these staffers for “gross misconduct”, subsequently accusing them of sharing confidential info publicly. UK union the IWGB, of which the fired staff were members, have accused Rockstar of union busting and filed legal claims against the company.

The union have also held protests outside Rockstar North and Take-Two’s UK offices.

Read more

Pokémon Pokopia Trailer Showcases Animal Crossing-Style Gameplay — Plus A Mysterious Pale Pikachu, Mossy Snorlax and Professor Tangrowth

An extended trailer for Pokémon Pokopia has offered a deep dive into the upcoming Animal Crossing-like life sim, and a curious first-look at some all-new Pokémon designs.

The start of the game will see you help out an original character, Professor Tangrowth, who seems to be Pokopia’s main quest giver. This looks to be a unique-colored Tangrowth in an outfit, rather than a new regional form.

Weirder still, however, are a ghostly pale version of regular Pikachu, and a mossy Snorlax that has a pale flower growing out of his head. Again, these are not specified to be new regional forms, but the trailer deliberately leaves it unclear exactly what these new designs are meant to suggest.

Over on the freshly-updated Pokémon Pokopia website, these creatures are given character names, though still appear to be based on the species’ regular forms. For example, “Mosslax” is described thus: “Moss has grown all over this Snorlax, and a flower sways atop its head. How long has it been asleep?”

Amid the ruins of an old town, Prof Tangrowth and other creatures soon give your main character quests to tame the world’s landscape using Pokémon abilities, create new environments to attract more Pokémon, and so on.

Once you’re up and running, multiple Pokémon can work together on more complicated projects, such as building houses and other ameneties like fountains.

As well as copying other Pokémon abilities (Water Gun from Squirtle, for example, to water plants), you can fully transform into a couple of species to help you travel around quicker. You can surf by transforming into Lapra, and fly by transforming into Dragonite, for example.

Multiplayer for up to four people is supported, as is GameShare — allowing you to play with others who don’t have the game themselves on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.

Earlier this week, Nintendo confirmed Pokémon Pokopia’s March 5, 2026 release date and surprised fans by revealing it would be the first Nintendo-published game physically released via Switch 2 Game-Key card.

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