Subnautica 2 developer Unknown Worlds has dropped a new vlog.
Offering a behind-the-scenes look at the all-new deep-sea predator, and “how the team has used Unreal Engine 5 AI for lifelike behavior, real-time reactions and tense encounters for players,” the 10-minute vlog is one of the first development updates we’ve had since the studio’s entire leadership was fired amid a messy public falling out over a $250 million bonus from parent company, Krafton.
The update claims new giant squid-like predator Collector Leviathan represents “the next step in the franchise’s evolution with a creature that is both visually striking and powered by advanced AI to create tense, dynamic encounters.” The video shows off the “aggressive” first encounter players will endure when they meet the enemy in Subnautica 2.
Here’s the official blurb on the Collector Leviathan from Unknown Worlds:
The latest developer vlog provides a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Collector Leviathan, from early concept art by Visual Development Lead Cory Strader to insights from the Unknown Worlds development team. This creature was designed to push boundaries of immersion and threat in Subnautica 2.
Aggressive First Encounter: The Collector Leviathan is the first hostile leviathan players will meet in Subnautica 2.
Responsive AI: Powered by Unreal Engine 5 behavior trees and stimulus systems, it reacts to light, sound, and player actions in real time.
Lifelike Movement: Fully simulated tentacle animation creates more natural and unpredictable interactions.
Immersive Combat Design: A terrifying roar and powerful shockwave attacks amplify the sense of danger.
Antonio Muñoz Gallego, AI designer for the creature, said: “The Collector Leviathan is not just a monster that blindly attacks players. It is an intelligent and highly threatening deep-sea lifeform that actively reacts to player behavior and pursues them.” He added: “Our main goal with our creatures was to make them feel reactive, so the Leviathan is constantly re-evaluating the situation in real time. To achieve that, we use Unreal Engine 5 behavior trees and our AI stimulus system.”
The vlog will be a welcome update for Subnautica fans. For months now, most coverage about the game has concerned the painful breakdown between Unknown Worlds’ founders and Krafton, which acquired Unknown Worlds in October 2021. Over the summer, reports came to light that Subnautica 2’s early access release was delayed to 2026 just months before Krafton was due to pay a $250 million bonus to the development team “against the wishes of the studio’s former leadership.”
Then, last month, Unknown Worlds itself sued Cleveland, former CEO Ted Gill, and studio co-founder Max McGuire for allegedly stealing game design files shortly before they were fired.
It’s worth noting that now Hollow Knight: Silksong has come out, Subnautica 2 is the most wishlisted game on Steam, which suggests that despite all the legal drama surrounding the game, there’s huge interest in it. That’s perhaps little surprise given how big a hit Subnautica was, but it will be interesting to see how fan reception evolves as the sequel gets closer to launch.
Subnautica 2’s Early Access release was recently delayed to 2026.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
A new Hollow Knight: Silksong mod lets folks load directly into any of the metroidvania‘s boss fights from a dedicated menu, essentially turning the game into a choose your own bottom kicking adventure.
After all, who doesn’t crave the ability to deliberately battle the one boss they’re actually good at beating over and over again, ego juice coursing through their veins, a roar of sheer powerful ecstacy reverberating around their quarters? Or, you know, you might just fancy some practice ahead of your next full run through the game.
Assassin’s Creed fans are reacting with disappointment after a new report on Ubisoft’s long-expected Black Flag remake has stated that the game will no longer contain any modern day gameplay.
The report, published by French outlet Jeuxvideo, states that all of Black Flag’s modern day sections have been removed from the upcoming piratical remake.
In the original Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag, players occasionally pop out of the Animus to explore the offices of Abstergo Entertainment, unlocking clues to how the story of pirate Edward Kenway is tied to the series’ overarching modern day narrative.
Ubisoft is reportedly adding extra content from Kenway’s pirate era to make up the lost gameplay hours (including additional story for his fellow pirate Mary Read that never made into the base game, which would indeed be welcome).
Other changes for the remake include overhauled combat and gear systems that act closer to other more modern Assassin’s Creed games.
Overall, though, the excision of Black Flag’s modern day portions looks to be the most noteworthy change — and one that is not going down well with some fans, especially after the threadbare modern day storyline in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
“I hope it’s not true that they removed the modern day sections,” wrote havewelost6388, in a long reddit thread discussing the report. “Without the modern day storyline and ancient aliens sci-fi stuff, modern AC games are just Witcher 3 clones with stealth mechanics.”
“They need to stop removing modern day content,” added ZeroZelath. “It’s honestly one of my favorite parts and that stems from the earlier games. I was actually looking forward to it in Shadows after how Valhalla ended but then… Shadows had literally nothing. It was such a big disappointment on that front. Like genuinely, the modern day stuff is part of how the franchise works so it should always be present in some form and be telling an overarching story.”
“Omg, Ubisoft! STOP REMOVING THE MODERN DAY SEGMENTS!!!” added kamuigui. “The best of the series is the fact that was very clear that we were in a simulation!”
As well as adding to Assassin’s Creed’s overarching story, the modern day sections in Black Flag tie closely into the narrative of Kenway’s historical quest — leading some fans to question how Ubisoft will handle the lack of wider context.
“Wouldn’t removing the modern day scenes remove a pretty big part of the story regarding the sage?” questioned Ari441.
“I don’t see how you can do the story without the modern day stuff tying it all together,” Pizzaplanet420 added. “The ending of the game [in the modern day] is literally the bookend to the entire story…”
Of course, delving back into the series’ previous modern day storyline featuring long-term antagonist Juno would require a bit of re-explaining at this point — but considering how that storyline ended up being dropped and concluded in a spin-off comic, this could have been a good opportunity to do more there.
Many moons ago, I missed my chance to join a weekly Twilight Imperium play session. Missed my chance, or dodged a bullet? Twilight Imperium is an infamously complicated and backstabby boardgame, the kind of baroque strategy space opera that can swallow up entire days and expose any number of terrible character flaws along the way.
Thank goodness there’s now a PC version in the works for Steam, which will at least remove the need to set up the pieces and remember what they do. Here’s a trailer.
Super Mario’s 40th anniversary celebrations are now officially underway, and apart from all the exciting announcements during last week’s Direct broadcast, Nintendo’s official websites have also been updated with the series’ timeline.
More Switch titles are slowly beginning to receive Switch 2 game upgrades, and Dragami Games has now announced its own plans for Juliet’s zombie hack-and-slash Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP.
The title will be getting a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition featuring “high frame rate”, “high resolution”, and it will be made available as an upgrade for existing Switch owners. It’s scheduled to arrive at some point in November 2025. It hasn’t been revealed just yet if this will be a free or paid upgrade for existing owners.
Mario Tennis Fever is set to release exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 on February 12, 2026. Announced during the Mario 40th anniversary portion of the September Nintendo Direct, the game features a new Fever Shot mechanic, 30 Fever Rackets, and 38 playable characters – the most of any game in the series to date. It’s now available to preorder for $69.99 at all the usual retailers (see it at Amazon). Read on to see what this game is, where you can buy it, and more.
There aren’t any special editions for this one, so the standard edition is all you get. Note that, as with all first-party Nintendo Switch 2 games released so far, the full game is included on the cartridge.
Mario Tennis Fever Preorder Bonus?
So far, no preorder bonuses have been announced for Mario Tennis Fever. If that changes, I’ll update this section.
What Is Mario Tennis Fever?
Mario Tennis Fever is the latest in a series of Mario-themed tennis games dating back to the Game Boy era, and the first since Mario Tennis Aces arrived on the original Switch in 2018. Fever brings back familiar shots like topspins, slices, and lobs, but introduces some new defensive maneuvers like slides and dives to help you whack the ball back across the court.
Keeping rallies going builds up your Fever Gauge. Once full, you can unleash a powerful Fever Shot with an augmented effect based on the Fever Racket you have equipped. You can create an icy spot under your opponent with an Ice Racket, shrink your opponent with the Mini Mushroom Racket, and create a shadow self to play beside with the Shadow Racket.
The game has numerous modes to play, including a competitive Tournament mode and a Trial Towers mode that has you complete various objectives during matches. Then there’s Mix-It-Up mode, which introduces new rules as you play. That mode also includes Wonder Flowers you can touch to get some trippy additions to the court. There’s also an elaborate-looking Adventure mode that involves the baby versions of Mario, Luigi, Peach, Wario, and Waluigi re-learning how to play the game. It looks pretty silly, in a fun way.
Online, you can play casual matches against opponents in the Online Room, or you can choose to play in Ranked Matches. And if you’re feeling nostalgic for the Wii era, you can also swing your Joy-Con 2 to hit the ball.
Other Preorder Guides
Looking for what games are now available to buy? Check out our guide to all of the Switch 2 game preorders now live after the September Nintendo Direct.
Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN’s board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Bluesky.
From an outside perspective, I think it was probably fairly obvious that MindsEye was never going to do very well. There was barely any game to show off, so they mostly didn’t. What they did show didn’t look very good either, and when it came out, it was a glitchy mess. This all put 300 staff members at risk of being laid off, the full extent of which still being not particularly clear. And in a recent interview, the game’s lead actor Alex Hernandez has shared his own experience of being the face of the game (spoiler alert: it’s not great).
There are a bevy of games available in the world that let you play as what can only be described as “a little guy.” However, you can throw all of them out of the window, because I have found the game that has the perfect iteration of such a creature. It is called Letters to Arralla, and in it you quite simply play as a turnip, who has the juiciest derriere I’ve ever seen in perhaps any game ever. Yes, even more so than one of those anime gacha games, this turnip’s rump has got some serious jiggle physics.
Looking to stretch your gaming and entertainment budget, today’s lineup of deals and preorders has something for just about everyone. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is officially up for preorder on Switch, Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, giving longtime fans a fresh way to experience the classic RPG ahead of its February 2026 release. Meanwhile, Amazon is offering steep savings on everyday essentials like the Lisen 240W USB-C cable two-pack for just $5.30 and the INIU 20,000mAh 65W portable charger for $35.98—two picks that make charging your gear easier at home or on the go.
TL;DR: Deals For Today
On the collectible side, the 60th Anniversary edition of A Charlie Brown Christmas is available for preorder in a limited Zoetrope vinyl release, complete with spinning Peanuts animations that bring the music to life. And for handheld gamers looking to boost storage and speed, the Lexar 512GB Play PRO microSD Express card is back in stock at $119.99, with blazing-fast read and write speeds that make it a strong match for the Nintendo Switch 2. From gaming classics to holiday nostalgia, today’s mix of deals and preorders is stacked with solid finds.
Anycubic Kobra 3 3D Printer with Multi-filament Printing for $232
Here’s a great opportunity to pick up a fully featured 3D printer for a supremely low price. AliExpress via Anycubic’s official store is currently offering the Anycubic Kobra 3 3D Printer Combo – which also includes the Anycubic Ace Pro Multi-Color Printer Module – for just $232.08 after you apply coupon code: “USDEAL56“. A similar model (the V2 version) sells for $400 on Amazon. This is a phenomenal deal for a 3D printer, let alone one that also includes the multi-printing module that normally sells for $200+ by itself. The affordable price makes this a great first choice for newcomers to the world of 3D printing, but there are enough features here to satisfy the seasoned professonal.
DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined Preorders
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is now up for preorder on Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, ahead of its February 5, 2026 release. This reimagined classic brings Akira Toriyama’s character designs into a vivid diorama-style world, blending familiar charm with fresh visuals. Players will travel through time by piecing together ancient stone fragments, restoring lost islands, and uncovering mysteries that shape the present. With streamlined storytelling, revamped turn-based combat, and the new Moonlighting mechanic that lets you level two vocations at once, it’s designed to feel both nostalgic and modern. Preordering also nets early buyers a special Hero costume and bonus items to start the adventure.
LISEN for iPhone 17 Charger Cord
Amazon has a solid back-to-school deal on the Lisen 6.6ft 240W USB-C cable two-pack, now just $5.30 with code YK4MDIC5. That works out to about $2.80 per cable—far less than the $10 or more you’d typically pay in stores. Each cable supports up to 240W of power delivery, making them strong enough to charge laptops as well as phones, tablets, and even the Nintendo Switch 2. At 6.6 feet, they’re a handy length for everyday use, and the braided nylon design adds durability. With over 3,800 reviews averaging 4.6 stars, this is an easy way to stock up on reliable USB-C chargers without spending much.
INIU Portable Charger
INIU 20,000mAh 65W portable charger is down to $35.98 (20% off) at Amazon, making it a smart pickup if you need reliable power on the go. With enough juice to fully charge a MacBook Pro 14″ at top speed, it’s also great for phones, tablets, and handhelds like the Steam Deck. Three output ports let you charge multiple devices at once, and the compact design even includes a built-in phone stand for streaming while you recharge. Backed by a 3-year warranty and holding a 4.5-star average from over 3,300 reviews, this power bank balances speed, capacity, and durability at a solid price.
A Charlie Brown Christmas (60th Anniversary) [Zoetrope LP]
The 60th Anniversary edition of A Charlie Brown Christmas is now available in a limited-edition Zoetrope picture disc vinyl for $32.99 at Amazon. This collectible release celebrates both the 75th anniversary of Peanuts and the 60th anniversary of the holiday special, featuring iconic Vince Guaraldi Trio tracks like Linus and Lucy, Skating, and Christmas Time Is Here. The two-sided Zoetrope vinyl showcases animated holiday scenes that come to life as it spins, making it as much a display piece as it is a listening experience
Lexar 512GB Play PRO microSD Express Card
Lexar 512GB Play PRO microSD Express card is built for serious handheld gaming, with read speeds up to 900MB/s and write speeds up to 600MB/s. That’s about four times faster than a standard UHS-I microSD, meaning quicker load times and faster downloads for your Nintendo Switch 2, Steam Deck, or ASUS ROG Ally. With 512GB of storage, there’s plenty of space for a large game library, and it’s backwards compatible with UHS-I and UHS-II devices for flexibility. At $119.99, it’s a future-proof pick for anyone who wants top performance and room to grow, backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
Pokémon TCG Price Watch
If you’re looking to stock up on sealed Pokémon TCG product, TCGPlayer remains the most reliable place for market-low pricing across the board. The vast majority of booster packs, tins, and trainer boxes are sitting cheaper there than on Amazon, often by $5-$15.
Bundles like the White Flare Binder Collection and the Shining Fates Collection Pikachu V Box are up to $40 off, deals that everyone should be snapping up right now. It’s worth keeping an eye on these dips, since Amazon tends to fluctuate prices more often than dedicated TCG retailers.
Silver Tempest has proven to be one of the most collector-driven sets of the Sword and Shield era, with prices pulled between nostalgia, competitive play, and limited supply. The clear winner is Lugia V (Alternate Full Art) 186/195, which has surged 68% since July to $427, cementing itself as the set’s chase card.
Trainer Gallery standouts like Rayquaza VMAX TG20/TG30 and Blaziken VMAX TG15/TG30 have also doubled or tripled in value thanks to strong artwork and nostalgia, while even Lugia VSTAR continues climbing on competitive strength. At the same time, cards like Regidrago V (Alternate Art) and Alolan Vulpix VSTAR have cooled as the meta shifted away from them, with values slipping back toward the $12–$14 range.
Snag Classic Mega Evolution Cards Before Market Rise
The market for XY-era Mega Evolution Pokémon cards is heating up fast ahead of Pokémon Legends: Z-A and the upcoming Mega Evolution TCG set. Collectors aren’t waiting for modern reprints, they’re chasing the originals, and prices are showing it. Some cards have exploded in value, while others have steadied after sharp climbs, creating both momentum plays and entry points for buyers. Leading the surge is M Rayquaza EX (Shiny Full Art – Ancient Origins), which has skyrocketed over 426% this year, from $275 in January to $1,450 today.
M Gengar EX (Secret Rare – Phantom Forces) isn’t far behind, up nearly fivefold to $415, cementing its place as one of the most sought-after Megas. Other heavy-hitters include M Rayquaza EX (Full Art – Roaring Skies), now at $656, M Charizard EX (X – Flashfire) climbing past $349, and Primal Groudon EX (Shiny Full Art), which has more than doubled to $349. These climbers show how nostalgia, unique mechanics, and iconic artwork are driving a collector frenzy.
But not every Mega Evolution is running away in price. Some cards have plateaued after strong early-year gains, leaving a rare buying window before the next spike. M Mewtwo EX (Full Art – BREAKthrough) climbed from $37 to $145 but has leveled off in recent weeks, while M Alakazam EX (Full Art – Fates Collide) sits steady just under $100 after jumping from $28 earlier this year.
Even Charizard is showing signs of cooling, M Charizard EX (Generations) and M Charizard EX (Full Art – Evolutions) have tripled since January but are holding in the $190-$200 range for now. These pauses don’t signal weakness; rather, they reflect consolidation before the broader Mega Evolution wave hits with new set releases. For collectors and investors, the message is clear: the grails are climbing fast, but the plateaued cards may be the smarter pickups before Mega hype takes over the market again.
Crown Zenith Prices Are Rising
The Crown Zenith market has been showing two very different stories this month. On one hand, several Galarian Gallery Ultra Rares are slipping as hype fades, with fan-favorites like Leafeon VSTAR and Suicune V dropping more than 20% from their peaks.
On the other hand, the gold Secret Rares are climbing steadily, led by Giratina VSTAR and Arceus VSTAR, as collectors chase the scarce, high-end pieces of the set. This split reflects a maturing market: casual collectors are less interested in mid-tier Eeveelutions and V cards, while serious players and investors are doubling down on the big four golds.
Among the crashers, Leafeon VSTAR has fallen from nearly $50 to the $43 range, and Glaceon VSTAR is down 26% since February, hovering in the mid-$30s. Deoxys VMAX has slipped under $37, while Suicune V and Raikou V both lost more than a quarter of their value since spring. These are still striking artworks, but set fatigue and limited competitive relevance are pushing prices down.
Meanwhile, the climbers are commanding all the attention. Giratina VSTAR (Secret) has surged nearly 20% since July to $180, making it the definitive chase of Crown Zenith. Mewtwo VSTAR is also up more than 30% this summer, with its Charizard battle artwork driving collector demand. Rounding out the gains, Arceus VSTAR, Origin Forme Dialga VSTAR, and Origin Forme Palkia VSTAR are all trending higher as well, thanks to their powerful abilities and limited supply. Taken together, the set still holds broad collector appeal, but it’s clear the market is consolidating around the golden Secret Rares as the safest long-term holds.
First Party Nintendo Switch 2 Preorders
Nintendo’s 2025 first-party lineup is shaping up to be one of its strongest in years. Pokémon Legends: Z-A is set to arrive in October, followed closely by Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 bundled together for Switch 2.
Then in December, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond lands with its own set of new amiibo figures, alongside Kirby’s big return in Kirby Air Riders. Between new entries in cornerstone franchises and fresh collectible amiibo launches, fans will have plenty to keep their Switch 2 libraries stocked through the holidays.
Third Party Switch 2 Preorders
The third-party slate for Switch 2 is just as impressive, with several big franchises making the jump to the new hardware. Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection launches in December with a full set of classic fighters, while Borderlands 4 and Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake hit this fall.
Beyond that, titles like Hades II, Octopath Traveler 0, and Cronos round out the lineup for RPG fans. Whether you’re into fighters, shooters, or sprawling JRPGs, the Switch 2’s preorder catalog already feels packed, and today’s deals cover every one of them.
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.
