Category: Video Games

Pokémon Day Deal: Catch a Pokémon Go $50 Gift Card For 15% Off

If you play Pokémon Go even semi-regularly, you already know that PokéCoins are basically essential. Whether you’re raiding, grinding XP, or hoarding Incense like a dragon hoards gold, you’re going to need a steady supply of these things. And while you could buy them directly through the game, that would be a rookie mistake because Best Buy has a way better deal right now.

Pokémon Go $50 Gift Card (7,000 PokéCoins)

For $42.50, you can get a $50 Pokémon Go gift card, which gives you 7,000 PokéCoins instead of the usual 6,700 $50 would get you in-app. That’s an extra 300 coins for free, and you’re saving $7.50 on top of that. More PokéCoins, less money spent.

Now, if you’re sitting on 7,000 PokéCoins, you might be wondering what to spend them on. Should you hoard them for future boxes? Blow them all on Remote Raid Passes? Maybe finally invest in that Pokémon Storage upgrade so you don’t have to suffer through constant “Your Pokémon Box is full” notifications? Decisions, decisions.

What can you buy with 7,000 PokéCoins?

To make things easy, here’s a breakdown of what 7,000 PokéCoins can get you in Pokémon GO right now:

Pokémon Go Shop Boxes

Box NamePrice (PokéCoins)What’s InsideSpecial Offer?
Explorer Box5,25020x Super Incubator, 30x Egg Incubator39% off
Voyager Box6,500100x Lucky Eggs, 50x Star Pieces50% off
Starter Box10010x Pinap Berry, 1x Lucky Egg, 30x Poké Ball–
Beginner Box15015x Poké Ball, 5x Great Ball, 1x Lucky Egg, 1x Super IncubatorOne-time only

Pokémon GO Individual Items

ItemPrice (PokéCoins)What It Does
Remote Raid Pass (x3)525Join Raid Battles remotely
Premium Battle Pass (x3)250Raid or get premium Go Battle League rewards
Super Incubator200Hatches eggs 33% faster
Egg Incubator150Hatches eggs (3 uses)
Lure Module (x8)680Attracts more Pokémon to a PokéStop
Incense (x8)250Lures wild Pokémon to your location
Item Bag Upgrade200Increases storage by 50
Pokémon Storage Upgrade200Increases max Pokémon capacity by 50

Pokémon GO Upgrades

UpgradePrice (PokéCoins)What It Does
Item Bag200Increases max item storage by 50
Pokémon Storage200Increases max Pokémon capacity by 50
Postcard Pages100Increases max saved Postcards by 50
Team Medallion1,000Lets you change teams (once per year)

If I had 7,000 PokéCoins burning a hole in my trainer bag, I’d probably go straight for the Voyager Box at 6,500 coins. It’s a ridiculous deal with 100 Lucky Eggs and 50 Star Pieces at 50% off, meaning I’d be set on XP boosts and Stardust bonuses for months.

If raiding is more your thing, stacking up on Remote Raid Passes (525 coins for three) is a solid move if you want to farm Legendaries without leaving your couch. And for anyone who’s perpetually running out of space (guilty), throwing a couple of Pokémon Storage and Item Bag upgrades into the mix would make life way easier.

Claim three free Pokémon in Pokémon Go

If you’re grabbing this PokéCoin deal, you might as well snag some free Pokémon while you’re at it. Right now, Pokémon GO is offering a triple code reward that gives you Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus at no cost. To claim them, log in to your Pokémon GO account on the Pokémon GO Live website and enter the following codes:

  • Tornadus: 4RD3GGA4ZMEGP
  • Thundurus: 4Q4UZLY6MUH9K
  • Landorus: 9PTA874LYDAJH

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.

Mario + Rabbids Director Recalls “Harsh” Ubisoft Comment On ‘Sparks Of Hope’

“It was a bit hurtful”.

In a recent interview with VGC, Mario + Rabbids director Davide Soliani recalled the moment when the team received word from Ubisoft regarding the sales performance of 2022’s Sparks of Hope.

In short, the game didn’t meet Ubisoft’s internal expectations, with CEO Yves Guillemot even mentioning that Ubisoft should have waited for the Switch 2. But given the passion from its development team and the positive critical reception from players, Soliani and the rest of the staff felt somewhat demoralised by the announcement.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

My Favorite Pokémon Day 2025 Deals Direct From Retailers

Trainers know the struggle with Pokémon TCG right now. A new set drops, you wait maybe 30 minutes too long to buy it, and suddenly every scalper on eBay is selling it for double MSRP with no remorse. But this week?

Things are different. Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart have restocked some of the most in-demand Pokémon TCG sets at retail price. No fighting over the last box at Costco, no sketchy third-party Amazon sellers charging a premium, just pure, untainted Pokémon goodness straight from the source.

Best Pokémon Day Deals 2025

One of the big catches here is Pokémon TCG 151 Booster Bundle, which comes with six booster packs from the Scarlet and Violet 151 set. I’m dying to fill my binder with some of the best cards from 151, like the gorgeous Special Illustration Rare Charizard or Venusaur ex, an absolute tank and playable. It’s been one of the hardest sets to find sealed at MSRP, and I don’t expect it to stay in stock long.

Another solid investment right now is Shrouded Fable. The Elite Trainer Box and Booster bundle are in stock at the time of writing and are both set to climb in value before the year is out. It’s overlooked by the community right now, but with it being a mini set much like 151, it’s a good idea to snap Shrouded Fable packs and boxes up now whilst it’s still available.

Pokémon: TCG Scarlet and Violet – 151 Booster Bundle

This set includes six booster packs from the Scarlet and Violet 151 expansion. Chasing the highly sought-after Special Illustration Rare Charizard ex or the beautifully illustrated Venusaur ex? This is one of the best ways to crack packs without breaking the bank. At the time of writing this is in stock, but this has been going in and out at Target for the past couple of weeks. Keep trying, they’re updating stock at random times.

Pokémon TCG: Collector Chest

This 2024 edition chest includes six Pokémon TCG booster packs, two foil cards featuring Scream Tail and Iron Valiant, and a couple of Pokémon coins. The extra bonus? It has four sticker sheets and a mini portfolio. Stock is going in and out right now, so keep checking back. The boosters inside are:

  • Two Twilight Masquerade
  • Two Temporal Forces
  • Two Paldea Evolved

Pokémon GO $50 Gift Card (7,000 PokéCoins)

Get 7,000 PokéCoins at a discount. This card saves you $7.50 over in-app purchases and lets you stock up on premium items like Incense, Lure Modules, and Poké Balls without paying full price.

Pokémon TCG: Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex Box

This collection features a promo Bloodmoon Ursaluna ex, two foil cards of Hoothoot and Noctowl, and four booster packs, including two from Surging Sparks. With Stellar Crown packs also included, this box is a great way to grab exclusive promos while adding to your collection.

Pokemon TCG: Scarlet and Violet Shrouded Fable Elite Trainer Box

This is the best artwork i’ve seen on a Pokémon TCG ETB, that goes for the 65 sleeves and card dividers too. The big sell here is Nine Shrouded Fable booster packs, but also comes with a lovely Noctowl Promo card, themes dice, status counters and a pack of energy cards for your bulk pile.

Pokémon – Trading Card Game: Azure Legends Tin

Each tin includes one foil promo card of either Kyogre ex, Xerneas ex, or Dialga ex, along with five booster packs. The boosters are two Surging Sparks, one Stellar Crown, one Temporal Forces, and one Obsidian Flames, giving you a solid spread of packs to open.

Pokemon TCG: Scarlet and Violet Shrouded Fable Booster Bundle

This bundle includes six Scarlet and Violet Shrouded Fable expansion booster packs. This is your best option if you want a more affordable way to hunt down chase cards from the set without committing to an ETB.

Beyond the TCG, there’s a bunch of Pokémon merch and accessories on sale. The Mega Pokémon Building Toys sets featuring Emolga, Bulbasaur, and Geodude are discounted and make for solid display pieces or gifts for younger fans. Into Pokémon GO? A $50 digital gift card for 7,000 PokéCoins is available for $42.50, which is a better deal than buying in-app.

Mega Pokémon Building Toys Set Emolga and Bulbasaur’s Charming Woods

This set includes 194 pieces and two poseable Pokémon figures, Emolga and Bulbasaur. With a crank mechanism that adds motion, it’s a fun build for Pokémon fans of all ages.

Mega Pokémon Building Toys Set – Mini Motion Geodude

A 343-piece Geodude model with a built-in punching motion. Standing five inches tall, it’s perfect for collectors or anyone who wants a rock-type Pokémon throwing hands on their shelf.

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.

“Most of the devs” at The Callisto Protocol studio Striking Distance laid off

Late last week, former Striking Distance concept art director Jesse Lee took to LinkedIn to reminisce on their time at the The Callisto Protocol studio. “Thinking back to the very beginning of Striking Distance Studios, to today – nearly six years later. Most of the devs were laid off, and it is hard to sum it all up right now,” wrote Lee.

The layoffs were confirmed this week in a statement from parent company Krafton to PC Gamer, which you can find below. Apologies for spoiling anyone’s game of official statement bingo but, yes, it contains the word “agile”.

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Upcoming Civilization VII expansion release dates seemingly leaked by Nintendo

The release dates for an upcoming expansion pack for Sid Meier’s Civilization VII have seemingly leaked via the Nintendo Store. The first part of the Crossroads Of The World collection, slated for “early March” in the official roadmap, is indeed listed on the leaked image as due on March 4th, 2025, with the second part due on March 25th – lining up with the roadmap’s “late March”.

Specifically, March 4th brings three separate items: the Ada Lovelace, Carthage, and Great Britain packs. On the 25th of the month, they’ll be joined by Simon Bolivar, Bulgaria, and Nepal.

The are some discrepancies on the UK Nintendo store, however, with the release dates for each of the packs from the first set also listed as 25/03/2025.

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Tetris Forever Adds Two More Classic Games In Its “Biggest-Ever” Update

“Tetris Forever now includes 21 playable games!”.

If you’re still not sure about Tetris Forever, now might be the time to reconsider with the game rolling out its “biggest-ever update” today with the addition of two new classic MS-DOS games.

This includes the 1991 “cult classic” Super Tetris and the 1988 title Tetris (AcademySoft) v. 3.12. Here’s the official description for both of these titles:

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Nintendo Switch 2 Doesn’t Need To Worry About Steam Deck Sales

Steam Deck has sold roughly 4 million units.

As the Steam Deck turns three years old, and many of us laud its praises for allowing accessible PC gaming on-the-go, market research firm IDC has estimated that the handheld console has shifted roughly around 4 million units since its arrival in February 2022.

The Verge spoke to the IDC, which uses supply chains to estimate the amount of gaming systems have been shifted worldwide in order to create spending forecasts (via Push Square). According to IDC, roughly 6 million handheld units — which includes the Lenovo Legion Go and Asus ROG Ally, among others — have been sold, not consoles such as the Ayaneo or GPD, which are manufactured in China.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Undermine(d): How World of Warcraft’s New Update Added Driveable (and Driftable) Vehicles

WoW Undermine(d) Hero Image

Undermine(d): How World of Warcraft’s New Update Added Driveable (and Driftable) Vehicles

Summary

  • One of the lead developers for Undermine(d) joins us to talk about the latest chapter for World of Warcraft.
  • This new city is unlike any we’ve seen before in Azeroth, bustling with life, with streets made for speed!
  • Find out more about how you’ll drive and drift around city streets in brand new hot rods.

Imagine taking New York and smashing it into a steampunk vibe where safety doesn’t matter. That’s the feeling you get when you step into Undermine, the new zone that went live this week in World of Warcraft. I had the pleasure of leading this zone’s design alongside my super talented teammates on the WoW team – and I’d love to tell you more about this never-before-seen goblin city… and its wild, driveable vehicles.

Deep Dive, Then D.R.I.V.E.

WoW Undermine(d) Screenshot

Adding a dynamic twist to the World of Warcraft experience, this new update introduces the D.R.I.V.E. feature, also known as our Dynamic and Revolutionary Improvement to Vehicular Experiences (we took that acronym and manifested it into that mouthful, you’re welcome! It’s sick).

This new feature allows players to travel on the ground with a mechanically intriguing G-99 Breakneck – otherwise known as WoW’s take on a hot rod. You will unlock this car pretty early while questing – complete “Eyes from Above” in the main campaign, then accept “No More Walkin’ Here” and progress through the Breakneck’s tutorial.

The design philosophy behind these vehicles is rooted in the art style of World of Warcraft goblins, where everything looks cobbled together yet oddly ingenious. The G-99 Breakneck has exaggerated features—like massive flames shooting from the scoop—which fit perfectly within the chaotic streets of Undermine.

WoW Undermine(d) Screenshot

One of the key aspects we wanted to bring to this feature was the ability to drift, which is a classic mechanic in older racing games. Bringing this to World of Warcraft was a challenge, but it ignited excitement across the team. Our goal was to capture that feeling of freedom and control, akin to the sensation of getting your first car and the newfound access it brings.

The car isn’t just for getting around; it’s also a passenger mount, allowing friends to join in and explore the streets of Undermine together. Players can participate in races, testing their skills on both regular and reverse courses. For those who might get motion sick or find the speed too much, we’ve ensured that the experience is accessible, offering options to customize with a lower top-speed engine immediately after unlocking the car, or to use regular ground mounts instead—whichever you prefer.

Take to the Streets

WoW Undermine(d) Screenshot

But your new car would be nothing without somewhere interesting to drive it. In Undermine, you’ll see these cars racing around you, providing both a vibrant backdrop to your adventures and an invitation to join in the chaos. Tasks like delivering hot towels, or fighting a ghostly tiger that is rudely scaring children, allow you to become a true part of the fabric of the city.

As you can probably tell, Undermine is full of life. As you drift your car around the streets (above sewers with fighting rings in them!), you will encounter pirates, mobsters, people who want to break your ankles, the best cooks you’ve ever met, and so much more.

Beneath Undermine’s false sky is a city that bustles with energy, a hub of commerce and culture for goblins. This diverges from the usual city landscapes you’d see in World of Warcraft—this is a densely populated city that’s very much lived in, bustling with life as people go about their day-to-day business.

The zone itself is a testament to the possibility of more. With features like Slam Central Station, which can take you anywhere your imagination permits, Undermine stands as a beacon of goblin ingenuity and ambition. The city is filled with cleverly named landmarks like the Incontinental Hotel and the Gallagio, reflecting a unique society driven by growth.

WoW Undermine(d) Screenshot

The narrative of Undermine is all about bettering one’s circumstances. It ties into the main storyline of The War Within, with characters like Orweyna introducing players to the Ringing Deeps and the initial chapters of the story. You’ll meet (or be reintroduced to, if you’ve played in the past) characters like Renzik and Gazlowe, who provide a window into the lives of those who call Undermine home. While some characters, like Gazlowe, left to find something different, others see Undermine as their home—for some, there’s anywhere but home. For others, there’s no place like home.

As the story unfolds, Gazlowe undergoes a change of heart, leading to a revolution where players can take down dictators and liberate the streets. This narrative of reclaiming the city highlights the power of the people over oppressive forces.

Join us in Undermine, a city of fast wheels and dark deals. It doesn’t matter if you drift an inch or a yard, drifting’s drifting!

The Undermine(d) update is live now in World of Warcraft, available on PC via Battle.net. To learn more, visit WorldOfWarcraft.com.

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