A new Pokémon TCG deal as appeared in the wild, this time it’s the Mega Evolution-themed Mega Latias ex Box at market via Amazon. That means $37.30 for two Mega Evolution, one Destined Rivals and One Journey Together boosters alongside a very playable promo Mega Latias ex card and not-so playable jumbo card.
Pokémon TCG: Mega Latias ex Box
The Best Pokémon Cards you could pull from Mega Latias ex Box
It’s really awesome to think about the chase cards you have a chance of pulling in this ex box, but that chance is usually quite slim. If I have a chase card I’m after and I don’t have packs to rip off-hand, I usually check out TCGPlayer for the best price and sort myself out that way. Considering booster boxes for any set are going near or over $200 right now, you’d be suprised at how much money you’ll save over opening booster packs. Here’s the top ten Pokémon card you can pull right now from mega Evolution, Destined Rivals and Journey Together, their values and where to buy 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.
The patch is a pretty small one, admittedly, but it does make a few small tweaks — adding in a few more voice lines, adjusting enemy AI behaviour, and the usual “bug fixes”. It’s available to download now on all platforms, so make sure you grab it ASAP.
The third anniversary of Goddess of Victory: Nikke arrives in November, and today it launched its biggest in-game event yet that includes the culmination of the main “Rapture Queen” storyline and the largest-scale battles the game has seen.
If you don’t know about Goddess of Victory: Nikke, it’s a free-to-play third-person idle shooter from Korean developer Shift Up that’s available on Android, iOS, and PC. Downloaded more than 45 million times since its launch in November 2022, it has a roster of more than 160 “Nikke,” android soldiers who you take into battle in an effort to reclaim the overworld from a vicious race of aliens called Raptures who forced humanity to flee underground.
That conflict comes to a head in this new story event, which will see players face off in a final battle against the evil Rapture Queen. But that’s just scratching the surface of what’s coming in the anniversary update. The other big addition is the new Surface Beta mode, which features large-scale simulation-style battles where you assemble Nikke squads, fight Raptures, collect resources, and capture strongholds.
And, of course, it wouldn’t be a major update without new recruitable characters. New SSR characters Nayuta and Liberalio will be recruitable through the normal gacha system, while SSR Chime will be a free anniversary event character. Nayuta and Liberalio will take center stage in the new story content, with Nayuta rallying her Pioneer Squad against the Rapture Queen, who Liberalio reveres as a mother figure.
The anniversary event adds a new gacha costume for Red Hood and pass costumes for Crown and Siren. Plus, it’s bringing back a re-run of the powerful Pilgrim characters, letting you choose one of Modernia, Dorothy, or Red Hood as your exclusive event pull. And there will be limited-time challenges like new boss fights, a new Union Raid, Solo Raid, and multiple minigames and events.
With the third anniversary fast approaching, we chatted with game director Yoo HyungSuk. He’s a 15-year veteran of the Korean gaming industry who started his career as a combat planner on MMORPGs. His previous work also includes being the director/planning director for games like Overhit and Lost Ark. He joined Shift Up in 2020, when he was named game director of Goddess of Victory: Nikke. We talked to him about the game’s successful three-year run, how the dev team approached the new anniversary content, their plans for the future, and more.
According to your livestream, the new anniversary story content leads to what is a “final battle.” Could you explain why such a storyline is being launched at this point?
Yoo HyungSuk: Since launch, Nikke has had a considerable number of stories that are spread in all directions. We realized the need to slowly gather the stories that have branched out over the past three years into a single storyline, and the third anniversary is the starting point of this plan.
Nayuta, the featured character for the third anniversary update, is unique compared to previous Nikke characters. Can you talk about the concept behind the development of this character and the different abilities they have?
Yoo HyungSuk: All members of the Pioneer squad are based on classic JRPG parties. Snow White is the heavily armored knight and tanker. Scarlet is the agile swordswoman and DPS. Rapunzel is the priest who heals. That’s how it works.
Nayuta is the fourth member, so she was designated as the monk who supports. We didn’t want her to be stronger than the other three members in combat, so we developed her to focus on utility, which led to the abilities she has now. Her main ability is using her clones to learn massive amounts of information. As a former D.E.E.P. member, she’s also familiar with over-technology.
You’re also introducing a new gameplay mode called Surface Beta to launch alongside the third anniversary. Can you tell us more about it?
Yoo HyungSuk: As its name suggests, the Surface Beta content allows players to explore the biggest world in Nikke. To make the experience more immersive, we decided to adopt a simulation-style battle system instead of the existing shooting battle format. We incorporated fun elements across the expansive field, such as uncovering hidden areas and solving puzzles. Mainly, we want players to experience the battles against Lord-class Raptures. As Raptures have basic gimmick patterns based on the surface, it is important to choose the squads’ locations wisely. We will also introduce even stronger bosses in the future, so stay tuned for more!
Your dev team has consistently created new minigames throughout Nikke’s three-year run. What factors are usually considered when deciding what type of minigame to develop?
Yoo HyungSuk: In major events like this anniversary, minigames are not mini. Given how important this update is, we put more effort into the game mode, with this one featuring a never-before-seen genre with unique visuals and an impressive scale. It’s a management simulation-style game where you restore Eden, which was destroyed for a mysterious reason.
Just the fact that we’re here celebrating the three-year anniversary shows how successful the game has been and how it’s maintained a connection with the community. What do you think are the reasons for that success?
Yoo HyungSuk: We think our Commanders enjoy unique content and stories that are different from other games. In this age of content overload, providing gameplay, visuals, and stories similar to other titles would be nothing short of boring.
Fans of our game have a deep understanding of our content and stories. Since we have to keep delivering excellent content and narratives without disappointing them, we really try to emphasize to the whole development team that they should truly love the game and then it’s not just work. We will continue keeping this in mind and work harder to make our game better, so please stay tuned.
Since Nikke first launched, what have been the biggest difficulties you’ve run into and how did you overcome them?
Yoo HyungSuk: In the past three years, our biggest problem has been figuring out how to adapt to this fast-changing era and deciding what content and stories we should deliver to bring players for maximum fun. This issue has persisted for three years and will continue into the future. We are game developers, and fun is the core value of any game, so it’s only right that we face this challenge and keep bringing more fun and new content to our players. So it’s both a joyful and difficult journey.
That’s an interesting perspective. Do you think needing to adapt to that change has helped keep the dev team engaged? I imagine it can sometimes be difficult working on the same game for years even after release, dealing with complacency or burnout. But do you think having those consistent challenges to overcome helps with that?
Yoo HyungSuk: Yes, when we set endless goals it’s indeed possible to encounter problems like job burnout. Like boxers, we need to constantly compete, prove our ability, and have strong mental resilience.
This is why, from the very beginning, we’ve emphasized to the development team that, rather than aiming for zero mistakes, what matters more is learning from the mistakes and growing. After adopting this mindset, we noticed that continuously setting goals actually helps improve the team’s focus.
You’ve been able to collaborate with some big franchises, from Evangelion to Stellar Blade to Nier: Automata to the recent Resident Evil. What’s the process in deciding who to collaborate with?
Yoo HyungSuk: Collaborations are decided through various discussions, but recently, we’ve focused on finding IPs that players who like Nikke will enjoy, even if they’re not familiar with it. We designed the Resident Evil minigame with this perspective in mind, and we hope players are having fun with it.
Nikke has also shown up at some surprising real-life events, like the San Diego Padres baseball game and on the Hudson River in New York. Will we see Nikke at other real-world events in the future?
Yoo HyungSuk: Of course! Bringing multifaceted enjoyment that goes beyond the game to our Commanders makes us happy. In particular, seeing Rapi throw the first pitch at Petco Park in San Diego was especially an honor for us. We’ll continue to do our best, so please keep watching us.
Speaking of the future, what does Shift Up have planned for Goddess of Victory: Nikke in 2026?
Yoo HyungSuk: In 2026, we will continue to work hard to give you fun experiences, both in-game and beyond. We’re preparing various events and updates to surprise you, and we’re ready to bring more special surprises for the 3.5 and fourth anniversaries. I’m already excited now. In 2026, we also plan to improve the quality of our operations to provide a more stable experience. Hope you all enjoy the game.
Since the third anniversary’s story is centered around the “final battle” theme, could you give us a hint about what comes next?
Yoo HyungSuk: We hope in 2026 our story could move on to the next stage. We plan to gather the countless stories we’ve told so far, converge them into one culminating point, and then move forward.
Nikke has built up quite a following of passionate fans around the world in its three years. As we celebrate the anniversary, is there anything you want to say to the players who’ve been on this journey with you?
Yoo HyungSuk: This year, we participated in the LA Anime Expo with Cosmograph and had the opportunity to talk to American players in person. Many of them expressed their gratitude, and some even shed tears of excitement upon meeting us. This left a lasting memory in my heart.
For those of us who spend all day in the office, this opportunity to meet players in person is extremely invaluable. Being able to personally feel the love from fans is truly blissful. Although developing the game and providing live service is sometimes hard and exhausting, the support from players pushes us to overcome difficulties and pick ourselves back up over and over again, and come up with more exciting and fun events.
Goddess of Victory: Nikke is available to download for free on the game’s official website, or on the App Store or Google Play. You can also join the game’s community on Discord, Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube.
Onion Games have released the English language version of Stray Children, a “bittersweet, fairytale RPG” I hadn’t heard of till Oisin wrote it up in June, and then became very excited about.
Created by Onion Games, the developers of Moon: Remix RPG Adventure, Stray Children takes place in a world of kids besieged by monstrous adults. The kids live in a stronghold, while the adults, aka Olders, roam the landscapes beyond, each “carrying the heavy load of their own inadequacies, self-doubt, and all of the grievances that grown-ups gather”.
Below, we’ve listed everything included in the ACNH 3.0 update — which is coming to the base Switch 1 game too — and outlined all of the Switch 2 Edition additions (heh), so you can see all of the new stuff at a glance.
Setting the World Stage for Virtua Fighter’s Return to Xbox
Zachary ReeseComms Manager, Sega
Ready? Go! Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage officially launches today for Xbox Series X|S, marking its triumphant return to the Xbox platform after an almost 20-year absence. A lot has happened with Virtua Fighter over those many years, and the timing couldn’t be more perfect for Xbox players to get back into the ring to compete in what we feel is the most refined Virtua Fighterentry yet.
Not only did we add some long-awaited features that fighting game fans have been asking us for, such as cross-play support, rollback netcode, an expanded training mode, and the return of series antagonist Dural as a downloadable character. But we are also adding a brand-new single-player mode to the game – World Stage!
On that topic, we have asked the Legacy Virtua Fighter Project producer, Seiji Aoki, to talk more about World Stage mode and what it adds to Virtua Fighter 5’s enduring legacy.
“When we originally released Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. earlier this year, a lot of fans who bought the game really wanted to see single-player content get added to the game. The new World Stage mode was created in response to this. In a way, we wanted to prove to fans that we are always listening to them, and to that end, we wanted to make this new release the best Virtua Fighter yet.
“Perhaps the older Virtua Fighter fans may remember that in Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution, a game I worked on, there was this feature called Quest Mode which quickly became a fan favorite. There, you had to fight your way through these arcades inside this city. From there, you would then start to make a name for yourself by competing in local tournaments. The CPU players you faced were based on real-life player data taken from Japanese game centers (or arcades).
“World Stage mode was directly inspired by Quest Mode. Here, you will participate in this huge tournament where you can name your opponents and play against CPUs based on real-life professionals, with real names you may recognize!
“On top of that, the team spent a lot of time packing this new mode with plenty of content so they can stay engaged for a very long time. For example, there is a list of challenges featured in this mode that includes objectives such as climbing through the many ranks, that will unlock in-game items that players will be able to customize their characters with. There are also side tournaments that will feature their own unique rivals you can compete to win exclusive titles you can use online.
“In our eyes, this mode is an easy recommendation both for those new to the franchise and those returning to the game, so the team is really excited to see how players will react to it.
“Features like the World Stage mode and multi-platform cross-play support (a first for the Virtua Fighter franchise) are all thanks to our amazing community which has been supporting us all this time, giving us all this great feedback and comments that allow us to improve upon the game. We would love it if they kept sharing us their thoughts, and we will continue to appreciate their support as always.”
Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage 30th Anniversary Edition
Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first 3D fighting series – this edition includes exclusive costumes, pre-production artwork, soundtracks, and more.
30th Anniversary Edition contains:
“Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage” Base Game
VF 30th Anniversary Swimsuit Costume Set
VF 30th Anniversary Soundtrack Collection
VF Pre-Production Artwork
DLC: Legendary Pack & Yakuza Series Collaboration Pack
VF 30th Anniversary Ranking Titles
The pioneer 3D fighting series continues to evolve as Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage arrives on Xbox Series X|S.
Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage takes the gameplay of Virtua Fighter 5 to new heights:
Rollback Netcode and Cross-play support let you take on any challenger, anywhere, across the globe in the most intense battles yet.
A brand-new single-player mode, “World Stage”: Challenge powerful rivals on a solo quest to become the ultimate fighter
Enhanced replay functionality and improved training tools.
Since first launching in 1998, the Thief series of stealth games helped define the genre, maintaining notoriety across several games spanning nearly three decades. Steven Gallagher (Creative Director at Eidos-Montréal) and I are here to give PlayStation Blog readers the first glimpse into the next iteration of the franchise, Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow.
Thief VR is coming to PlayStation VR 2 on PlayStation 5 on December 4, available for pre-order on the PlayStation Store now. We’re also sharing the latest gameplay trailer captured on PS VR2. This trailer demonstrates how Thief VR is an opportunity to step into the boots of a Master Thief and embody what makes the franchise unique in a compelling new take by developer Maze Theory and publisher Vertigo Games, aided by the OG Thief creators at Eidos-Montréal.
Takes a thief to make plans for a thief
Every great Thief game includes an array of tools and challenges that naturally encourage avoiding combat using stealth, numerous solutions to any problem, and requiring close attention to your surroundings using all senses. It can be challenging at first, but taking your time can make it feel incredibly rewarding. Levels are fairly open and non-linear to support player agency—a trademark of the immersive sim genre. Allowing players to do what they want, not what they’re told, says Steven, is a staple in allowing their own unique narrative to emerge.
Utilizing dark shadows to progress through darker plots, powerful, oppressive atmospheres, plus a bit of dry wit are all signature elements of Thief storytelling—and each aligns with the immersive simulation of VR. “The sense of presence VR provides makes the experience all the more intense and engaging,” says Steven. “The immediacy of being able to naturally use your head to watch your back as your hands pick locks with the help of haptic feedback, is as real as it gets to being in the City.”
Darkness is a solo thief’s only ally. PS VR2 OLED lenses have a stronger, more natural contrast, giving a competitive advantage in the shadows. Next-gen sound integration helps players listen closely for danger. There’s a sense of tangible anticipation and intimacy created by sneaking around in the dark in VR —peeking around corners —before slipping in through a window with your actual head and hands.
Feels like old times…
Thief VR blends classic stealth gameplay with next-generation immersion. Players embody an up-and-coming thief named Magpie through the dystopian fantasy steampunk world known as the City. As Magpie, they will be encouraged to use their variety of tools, keen observation, and creativity to stealthily remain unseen from guard patrols as they infiltrate noble manors to steal ancient artifacts (and more?), while under the watchful eye of a familiar thief called Garret.
Thief VR is made by fans for fans. Familiar ears will recognize the iconic Stephen Russell as Garrett, but there are plenty of other connections as well. For example, from a gameplay perspective, the stealth mechanics and engaging gameplay of Thief: The Dark Project (1998) and Thief II: The Metal Age (2000) were the main inspirations for the gameplay pillars of Thief VR.
Together with Steven, we’re connecting Thief titles across time and console generations. Since joining Eidos-Montréal in 2008, his experience working on animation, cinematics, and, eventually, narrative design for Thief (2014) has been invaluable as the brand consultant for Vertigo and Maze Theory. He’s also kept a secret locked away in Thief’s VR history.
“Towards the end of Thief (2014), Eidos-Montréal tried creating their own playable VR demo as part of Sony’s Project Morpheus, the first iteration of PlayStation VR”, Steven reveals. “Unfortunately, we weren’t particularly experienced in making VR back then, so the overall product ended up being a bit hard to play.”
Since a great video game narrative is the result of the player and the protagonist feeling like one, VR has been and continues to be a natural choice for the franchise. We’re especially thrilled to have his help bringing Thief VR finally into the light of day, using the latest technology on PlayStation VR2.
We’re not leaving without what we came here for
Previous experience as a Thief isn’t necessary to feel like one yourself when playing Thief VR. Everyone is invited to become their own fully present Master Thief in a world created nearly 30 years ago. VR has unlocked a new level of the palpable tension that Thief games are known for. We’re looking forward to seeing how PS VR2 players get themselves in and out of suspenseful situations without getting caught starting December 4.
Pre-orders are live now, and for a limited time, a 10% discount will be available.
That sparked concern for The Lord of the Rings MMO. Now, one former Amazon Games developer hit by the cuts has indicated the game has indeed fallen by the wayside.
“This morning I was part of the layoffs at Amazon Games, alongside my incredibly talented peers on New World and our fledgling Lord of the Rings game (y’all would have loved it),” the developer said in a now-deleted post on LinkedIn.
“It’s always tough to see such a strong team go through something like this — I’ve been lucky to work with some of the most skilled, creative, and kind developers I’ve ever met here.”
The line “y’all would have loved it,” does suggest The Lord of the Rings is now dead. Neither Amazon nor Lord of the rings rights holder Embracer have responded to IGN’s request for comment.
Although The Lord of the Rings was announced in 2023, in August last year, Amazon Games boss Christoph Hartmann told IGN it was still early days. “We’re still trying to find the hook, find that idea of what it is because we don’t just want to go and do the same thing over,” Hartmann said at the time.
“While it’s tempting sometimes with an existing IP, that’s not the point of doing it. You’ve got to find a fresh twist, and we’re still, I think, in that period where we really want to find out what could be the hook, what could be the thing which is different to all the other games out there. So it’s a little bit early.”
In 2023, Embracer said it needed to be “exploiting Lord of the Rings in a very significant fashion” by turning it into “one of the biggest gaming franchises in the world.” Embracer bought the rights to The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit in August 2022 and announced plans to explore opportunities to create new games, movies, and more based on the famous intellectual property soon after.
This isn’t the first time Amazon has canceled a Lord of the Rings MMO. In 2021, it halted a Lord of the Rings MMORPG that was first announced in 2019 amid a contract dispute with Tencent.
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.
Apex Legends is rolling out its Season 27 update next Tuesday, November 4th, and RPS has been furnished with an overview of its meatiest rejigging work. I haven’t playtested this megapatch so unlike with Season 25, I can’t say from experience how any of these changes will get you killed. Still, since it tweaks my favourite map, my favourite playable Legend, and my favourite hovercar, I feel uniquely qualified to declare without evidence whether they’re good or not.
Resident Evil Requiem is set to release for PS5, Xbox, Switch 2, and PC on February 27. It puts you in the shoes of Grace Ashcroft, an FBI intelligence analyst who, unlike most Resident Evil protagonists, is not used to fighting horrific enemies. It will also let you switch between first- and third-person perspectives at any time.
RE Requiem is available to preorder now (see it at Best Buy). It’s coming out in a number of editions, with some neat extras to go along with it, so read on for a breakdown of what comes in each one.
Four weapon skins including S&S M232 Weapon Skin: Apocalypse
Two charms including Charm: Mr. Raccoon
Audio Pack: Raccoon City Classic
Files: Letters from 1998
Switch 2 Pro Controller – Resident Evil Requiem Edition
Switch 2 Pro Controller Resident Evil Requiem Edition
Here’s an unusual one for Nintendo. You can get an official Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller that’s etched with Resident Evil Requiem imagery. It costs $99.99 and will arrive February 27, the same day as the new game.
Switch owners who have missed out on the last two mainline Resident Evil releases can pick up a three-pack for Switch 2. The Resident Evil Generation Pack comes with Resident Evil 7 and all its DLC, Resident Evil Village and all its DLC, and Resident Evil Requiem. It comes in a tasteful box to house all the games.
Resident Evil Requiem amiibo Announced
They’re not available for preorder yet, but Capcom has announced it will release a Grace Ashcroft amiibo in summer 2026.
Resident Evil Requiem Preorder Bonus
Preorder the game, and you’ll get the following in-game item:
Grace’s Costume: Apocalypse
What Is Resident Evil Requiem?
The game kicks off when a body is discovered in an abandoned hotel. The person seems to have died from a strange, unidentified disease. You, as FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft, are sent to investigate the mysterious death, which just so happens to have occurred at the same hotel where your mom died eight years ago.
As you face your traumatic past, you also uncover a connection between this new body and the events of Raccoon City — where your mom was a reporter, who escaped from the carnage.
As for the gameplay, you can swap at any time between first-person and third-person perspectives. There seems to be another murderous character chasing you through the game, as our game critic discovered during a Resident Evil Requiem hands-on preview. We’ll have more info as Capcom trickles it out ahead of the game’s release in February 2026.
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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.
