One of the biggest barriers to jumping into the current generation for PlayStation players has been the rising cost of living, squeezing wallets so tight that there’s sadly been no room for a PS5 in the budget.
Editor’s Note: Brought to you in partnership with PlayStation.
PS5 Astro Bot Bundle – Save £109.99
For those almost ready to pull the trigger on buying a PlayStation 5, but have been waiting for a price drop, buying the Astro Bot bundle is the best way to get on board in more ways than one.
Whichever you go for, those prices are £109.99 lower than if you bought each console and the game individually, which you can put towards more games, another DualSense controller, or leave nestled safely in your savings account.
The delightfully beloved platformer that won Game of the Year at the Game Awards 2024, Astro Bot is arguably one of the best titles to have bundled with a new console if you haven’t had the chance to play it yet.
Since it’s a PEGI 7-rated celebration of PlayStation’s history & a fun adventure in its own right, it’s one of the finest for any gaming household, whether to play yourself or with the children in your family.
An Extra £50 Trading In A PS4 Console
Although trading in your PS4 to put towards a PS5 or PS5 Pro has been an option already, PlayStation is offering an extra £50 on top of what you would normally get for your old console, going as high as £150.
At PlayStation’s Trade-In hub page, you can quickly get your PS4 evaluated, ship your console over free of charge, and receive an added £50 voucher along with what you would get for the trade-in as standard.
For example, you could get £100 for a PS4 Pro in good condition and £50 with the trade-up voucher, totalling £150 off a £339.99 PS5 Digital Console & Astro Bot bundle, leaving you with only £189.99 left to pay for your shiny new PlayStation 5 console and added game to get you started.
If you already have a PS5, but your old PS4 has since been going unused and gathering dust, you can still send in your PlayStation 4 in and put your boosted trade-in money towards a PS VR2 headset—so you can jump into exclusive games like Horizon Call of the Mountain for a more affordable price.
Lease a PS5 with PlayStation Flex
For you who want to dive into the PS5 ecosystem but don’t have the immediate funds to do so, PlayStation Flex is the console-maker’s new interesting way to add a PS5 to your home for as low as a mere £10.99 a month.
This is thanks to PlayStation UK’s new partnership with Raylo, a top tech leasing service that has been on the service and earning high Trustpilot reviews since 2019.
Through the new PlayStation Flex page powered by Raylo, you can effectively set up a rental agreement and have a PS5 Pro, PS5 Slim, or PS5 Digital Edition delivered to your door. Including those consoles, you can also lease a PSVR 2 and some accessories too:
Playstation 5 Pro consoles – from £18.95 a month
PlayStation 5 Digital Edition (with extra DualSense Controller) – from 13.95 a month
PlayStation 5 Console (Slim with Disc Drive) – from £11.99 a month
PlayStation 5 Digital Edition – from £10.99 a month
PlayStation Portal Remote Player – from £6.49 a month
PlayStation 5 Digital Edition & Astro Bot Bundle – from £11.49 a month
PlayStation VR2 Horizon Call of the Mountain Bundle – from £12.95 a month
DualSense Edge Wireless Controller – from £7.99 a month
You can choose a 36-, 24-, 12- or rolling monthly lease with payments being lower the longer you sign up for. No matter which way, PlayStation Flex can make for a quick and easy barrier to entry to start your PS5 journey.
Ben Williams – IGN freelance contributor with over 10 years of experience covering gaming, tech, film, TV, and anime. Follow him on Twitter/X @BenLevelTen.
Ahead of the hotly anticipated Switch 2 Nintendo Direct, two former employees of the company have expressed concern about Mario Kart 9’s ability to convince people to upgrade to Switch 2.
Nintendo revealed the Switch 2 with a brief look at the new Mario Kart game, which gave us an idea of what to expect from what is likely a launch title.
There’s a huge deal of excitement around Mario Kart 9 and the Switch 2, but in a video published to their YouTube channel, former Nintendo PR managers Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang questioned Nintendo’s ability to out-d the all-conquering Mario Kart 8.
“Everybody has the expectation, ‘oh my gosh Mario Kart it’s a slam dunk, it’s a system seller, this is definitely the right game to put in front of this new system,’ but I think you’re right because if you look at the situation of Mario Kart up to this point, it’s a little bit different than what has been in the past and I’m not sure that transition for Nintendo or for the people who have been playing Mario Kart, I’m not sure that’s the slam dunk that people think it is.”
Ellis and Yang’s point here is that Mario Kart 8 and the Switch version, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, have been so successful for so long, that Nintendo faces an uphill battle convincing the mainstream Nintendo audience to upgrade, especially if they’re having to hand over at least $400 on a Switch 2 to do so.
Nintendo is, they believe, a victim of its own success here. Mario Kart 8 has sold an incredible 67.35 million copies on Nintendo Switch, which itself is the second best-selling console of all time with 150.86 units shifted. Pretty much everyone with a Switch has Mario Kart 8 at this point, and while it isn’t part of the video game zeitgeist, it is about as perfect a Mario Kart game as can be expected.
How does Nintendo top Mario Kart 8 and 67 million sales, then? Ellis and Yang believe Nintendo may struggle to do so, which is bad news for a company that always wants to see the numbers go up.
“It’s a bit unconventional to have a game coming out that’s probably going to be the premier launch title for your new console to have this kind of history,” Yang said.
“This is very unlike Nintendo. Usually when they have a launch title, like Breath of the Wild for example, it’s like this new game-breaking, genre-bending thing that’s never been seen before, and that’s what’s going to make you want to buy the new hardware.
“But we’re kind of in a bit of a different situation with Mario Kart and honestly it’s because of how successful Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has been for Nintendo.”
The question now is whether Nintendo has done enough with Mario Kart 9 to convince existing Switch owners to upgrade. While there are plenty of familiar vehicles and faces in the Mario Kart 9 footage we’ve seen so far, there’s also a new track and some interesting details that suggest a new twist on the established formula. The most prominent theory posed by the community so far is that this may be the Mario Kart entry that finally takes the series open world.
Undoubtedly, the pressure is on Nintendo to deliver. “How is Nintendo going to convince me that I want to get the new Mario Kart?” Yang wondered. “That I need a Switch 2 to get the new Mario Kart?”
Ellis added: “I do think there are going to be some people who ask themselves, ‘I’m pretty happy with the Mario Kart I’ve been playing,’ and… Mom: ‘hey kids, we have Mario Kart at home…’ like, looking at this box and be like, ‘hmm, I’m not sure we need this Timmy.’
“I have no doubt this is going to be an incredible game. I have no doubt that every Mario Kart sells well. But in terms of the hill that this one in particular has to get over… This is Nintendo’s goal. This is always their goal: ‘we have to do better than the last one.’
“It’s like, well are you really going to do better than 75 million? And it’s the same question with the Switch 2. It’s like, ‘oh you just did the best-selling console ever.’ It’s just these goals that they have for themselves are going to be incredibly hard to match.”
Ellis said that because of how extensive Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is already with the sheer number of tracks and characters already available, Nintendo can’t use the same messaging with Mario Kart 9 that it did with Mario Kart 8. Nintendo needs, according to Ellis, find a new angle to differentiate Mario Kart this time around.
The pair also called into question Mario Kart 9’s visuals as being significantly improved on Mario Kart 8, saying that in graphics terms “it’s not really blowing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe away.”
“I could probably play that for another 10 years and still think it looks okay,” Ellis said of Mario Kart 8.
“Its positives is also its downfall,” Yang added.
We’ll find out hat Nintendo has up its sleeve for Mario Kart 9 soon enough, of course, during the Nintendo Direct on April 2. In the shorter term, Nintendo is set to host a Nintendo Direct focused entirely on the existing Nintendo Switch today, March 27.
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.
Amazon quietly restocked a bunch of Pokémon TCG bundles just days ago and stock is already running low. These Scarlet & Violet sets have been MIA for weeks, and now they’re back at retail prices. I already added a couple to my cart, Surging Sparks Booster Bundle, Shrouded Fable ETB and Paldean Fates Booster Bundle. Trainers need to snap these up quick. If they’re gone by the time you get there, that’s on you.
PlayStation Slim Disc Edition (Import) for $367.94
Looking for the least expensive PlayStation 5 console you can your hands on? As part of its US Anniversary Sale, AliExpress is offering an imported Sony PlayStation 5 Slim Disc Edition gaming console for $367.94 shipped after $80 off coupon code “MAYUE008“. This is a brand new and retail boxed product that is stocked in a US warehouse and qualifies for local delivery, which means it ships free and arrives within about 1-2 weeks.
Deals For Today: Pokémon TCG – Surging Sparks Still In Stock and Cheap Power Banks+
I also spotted a couple of power banks on sale from INIU and Anker. If you’ve ever watched your phone die mid-flight or mid-text, you know why I’m excited. These things are cheap, fast, and less annoying than asking strangers for a charger at an airport. Do with that information what you will. Oh, and while we’re on the topic of things I absolutely don’t need but definitely want: the Gamera: Attack of Legion action figure is up for preorder at the IGN Store for a cool $560, and Humble Bundle just dropped a massive Dragonlance book bundle that practically dares you to add 25+ fantasy novels to your backlog for the price of lunch.
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet – Surging Sparks Booster Bundle
I want this bundle purely for the thrill of cracking six packs in a row and pretending I’m building a deck for Worlds. The Surging Sparks expansion is still new enough to feel fresh, and at $45.02, it’s a decent value compared to scalper prices that make you question your financial decisions. If you just want to dip into the latest set without going full collector mode, this is it.
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet – Paldean Fates Booster Bundle
Shiny Pokémon are back, and apparently so is my addiction to them. The Paldean Fates bundle gives you six chances to pull something sparkly, and while $69.94 isn’t exactly pocket change, I think the potential dopamine hit is worth the gamble. It’s in stock, it ships fast, and I’ve made worse choices at 2 a.m. on eBay.
The World of Dragonlance Bundle
I’m not saying this is the nerdiest thing you can buy today, but it’s definitely on the leaderboard. Humble Bundle just dropped a massive Dragonlance collection; 25+ books for about the cost of lunch. If you’ve ever wanted to get lost in magical twin drama, cursed artifacts, or the politics of dwarves (because who hasn’t), this is your sign. Plus, part of your purchase supports Room to Read, so now your TBR pile can come with good karma.
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet Shrouded Fable Elite Trainer Box
In my opinion, this is the one to grab if you’re all-in on the set. Nine booster packs, a Pecharunt promo, themed sleeves, dice, and an actually-useful storage box? For $54.96? I’ve spent more on less at Taco Bell. Plus, it’s still Prime eligible, which means you don’t have to sell your soul for free shipping. Win-win.
Gamera – Attack of Legion – Action Figure
This is what happens when you give kaiju collectors exactly what they want: a 9.5-inch figure of LEGION from Gamera 2, complete with flying parts, glowing bits, and articulation that would make Spider-Man jealous. Sure, it’s $560, but I’ve seen statues half as cool go for double that. If you’re the kind of person who rearranges shelf space for something before buying it, I totally get it.
INIU Portable Charger, 22.5W 20000mAh
This thing charges your phone like it’s got something to prove. At $26.98, it gives you a full week’s worth of backup power and a built-in flashlight just in case you drop your phone and your dignity under your car seat. I want it purely because it has an LED readout that makes me feel like I’m operating a mission control panel instead of just charging my AirPods.
Anker Power Bank (PowerCore 10K)
I think this is the best deal of the day, and not just because it’s $17.99. It’s slim, light, and can survive a drop better than my will to stay off social media. Anker knows what it’s doing, and this charger just works. No random overheating, no mystery ports, just plug it in and keep scrolling through whatever app is currently ruining your sleep schedule.
Hulu + Live TV Free Trial
Hulu + Live TV offers a three-day free trial that allows you to take the live TV streaming service for a spin. This is one of the overall best streaming free trials because it gets you a bundle of services. It is quite a bit shorter than the standard Hulu free trial of 30 days, but it’s a great way to test it out over the weekend.
Samsung 49″ Odyssey QD-OLED (G93SC) Series Curved Gaming Monitor
With a 240Hz refresh rate, Dual QHD resolution, and 0.03ms response time, this 49-inch ultrawide OLED is built for high-performance PC gaming. The 1800R curve and HDR True Black 400 make it incredibly immersive, while FreeSync Premium Pro helps keep gameplay smooth and responsive.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 10.4′ 64GB WiFi Android Tablet
This Android tablet comes with an S Pen included, a 10.4-inch display, and Samsung DeX for multitasking. At under $200, it’s a solid pick for casual gamers, students, or anyone who wants a lightweight, entertainment-ready tablet with productivity perks.
Humble Heroines Bundle 2025
Celebrate Women’s History Month with a killer bundle featuring female-led games. Titles include Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, Control: Ultimate Edition, Darksiders III, Beyond: Two Souls, and more. It’s a $160+ value for just $12, or pay extra to give more to publishers, Humble, and charity.
roborock S8 MaxV Ultra Robot Vacuum & Sonic Mop
With a whopping 10,000Pa of suction, self-refilling, self-emptying, sonic mopping, and even hot-air mop drying, the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra takes hands-off cleaning to the next level. It’s packed with AI features and even supports pet tracking and video calls.
Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition (32 GB)
Amazon’s newest Kindle adds color to the mix with a 7″ Colorsoft display. It still lasts up to 8 weeks on a single charge and now supports wireless charging and full-color highlights. It’s ideal for reading graphic novels, cookbooks, or anything where visuals matter.
Beats Studio Pro – Wireless Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones
Enjoy spatial audio, active noise canceling, and up to 40 hours of battery life. These over-ear headphones are compatible with both iOS and Android, and support lossless audio over USB-C. A strong option for commuters, creators, and music lovers.
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i 16″ RTX 4080 Gaming Laptop for $2513
This Lenovo Legion Pro 7i gaming laptop drops to $2,513 at AliExpress after $100 off coupon code “IFPRZAZ” is applied. The Legion Pro 7 is Lenovo’s top-of-the-line gaming laptop and we rarely see discounts for this model. This particular configuration features a powerful Intel Core i9-14900HX CPU and RTX 4080 GPU for comfortable high-fps gaming on the 16″ display’s native 2560×1600 resolution.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth – Exclusive Amazon Edition
$32.99 for this masterpiece? I genuinely laughed. I paid full price, and I don’t even get the exclusive Cloud and Sephiroth controller skin. If you’ve ever wanted to explore Midgar’s post-industrial wastelands with emotionally repressed sword boys with a price lower than Black Friday’s, here you go.
Sony WH-1000XM5
I think these might actually cancel the noise in my soul. The sound is incredible, the fit is dreamy, and the battery life is better than my phone’s. Honestly, $249.99 for peace and quiet? Cheaper than therapy.
Smart LED Display Case Smarter Kit (4 Pack)
If you’ve ever looked at your shelf of figures, sneakers, or LEGO builds and thought, “This could be more dramatic,” I highly recommend these cases. I want my collectibles to feel as important as they think they are.
Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones Bluetooth On-Ear Headset with Microphone
At $38, these are the definition of “just throw them in the cart.” I use them for work, walks, and pretending I’m on a call to avoid conversations. Plus, 50 hours of battery life? That’s just showing off.
Kingdom hearts Integrum Masterpiece
$59.99 to cry over Disney characters and complicated lore? Yes, please. I think this collection should come with a warning and a box of tissues. It’s that much of a journey.
B100 Bluetooth Speaker
This speaker is tiny, but it’s loud enough to offend your upstairs neighbors and cute enough that they won’t stay mad. It survived my shower playlist and a weekend camping trip without flinching.
INZONE H3 Wired Gaming Headphones With Mic, PS5 Headphones
Crisp comms, no lag, and a mic that doesn’t make me sound like a robot underwater. I want to pretend I’m a competitive esports player, and this headset lets me live the fantasy.
Sony ULT Field 1 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker
This speaker is basically the action hero of the portable audio world. It’s waterproof, rustproof, and probably judge-proof. I tossed it in my bag, it bounced around all day, and still blasted bass like nothing happened.
Sony ULT WEAR Over-Ear Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones with Alexa Built-in
Bass so strong it could cause an existential crisis. These are like strapping a subwoofer to your ears, but in a comfy, eco-friendly kind of way. I think I saw my dog flinch the first time I hit the ULT button.
Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Premium Noise Canceling Overhead Headphones
XM4s are the previous-gen MVPs. They’ve still got top-tier ANC and that dreamy comfort that makes you forget you’re wearing them. At $179.99, I’m thinking of buying a backup pair for future me.
Sony BRAVIA Theater U Wireless Wearable TV Speaker with Bluetooth
A wearable speaker sounds ridiculous… until you try it. I felt like a sci-fi character watching a movie with surround sound on my shoulders. Honestly, I want to wear this to Zoom calls just for the audio flex.
Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8
My living room sounds like a private screening room now. I think this soundbar made my couch comfier just by association. Movies, games and music are all better with this beast.
Sony SRS-XP700 X-Series Wireless Karaoke Party-Speaker
I didn’t need a party speaker, but I bought this anyway. Complete with lights, bass and karaoke ports, it’s basically a party in a box. I want to say I got it for the sound, but really, it’s the lights.
Sony 65-Inch Mini LED QLED 4K Ultra HD TV BRAVIA 7
This TV made me realize I’ve been watching in peasant resolution my whole life. Mini LED, PlayStation 5 optimization, and colors so vivid I nearly apologized to my last TV for talking trash about it.
Sony 85-Inch Class 4K Ultra HD BRAVIA 3 LED Smart TV
I want to live in this TV. It’s 85 inches of 4K glory, and somehow still cheaper than a vacation. Probably because you won’t need one after this, seeing as your living room becomes the destination.
Sony 65 Inch Mini LED QLED 4K Ultra HD TV BRAVIA 9 Smart Google TV
This one’s for the people who want it all: QLED, anti-reflection, studio-calibrated modes, and picture quality so good I paused a show just to stare at a lamp. I think my eyes are spoiled now.
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.
Sony’s Killzone franchise has been dormant for quite some time. Now, in a new interview, Killzone composer Joris de Man has joined the chorus of people who’d like to see it come back.
Speaking to VideoGamer for the PlayStation: The Concert Tour, de Man expressed a desire for Killzone’s past entries to return.
“I know that there have been petitions for it,” de Man said. “I think it’s [tricky] because, I can’t speak for Guerrilla or anything… I don’t know if it will ever happen. I hope it will because I think it is quite an iconic franchise, but I also think it kind of has to take into account kind of the sensitivites and the shift in, I guess, what people want because it is quite bleak in some ways.”
In what shape or form Killzone could return, though, is a bit flexible. De Man noted that a remastered collection could be more successful than a brand new entry, to start.
“I think [a] remastered one would be successful, I don’t know if a new game would be as much,” de Man said. “I don’t know if people have moved on from it and want something. I don’t know sometimes I get the sense that people want something a bit more casual, a bit more quick.”
The Killzone games are slower-paced, weightier shooters compared to the likes of Call of Duty. Killzone 2 in particular was infamous for its apparent input lag, which made it feel like it lacked responsiveness on PlayStation 3. In terms of visuals, tone, and atmosphere, the Killzone games are dark, depressing, muddy, and gritty.
Still, it’s been a little over a decade since the last entry in Killzone Shadow Fall, and the idea of a return for Killzone — or even one of Sony’s other PlayStation shooter franchises — is still tantalizing for some fans. Whether it ever happens or not, the hold-outs can know they’ve got at least one more person in their corner.
Sony has revealed RoboCop: Rogue City (PS5), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (PS4, PS5), and Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker’s Memory (PS4) as its trio of PlayStation Plus Essential titles for April 2025.
The gaming giant unveiled next month’s service additions in a PlayStation.Blog post today. Each joins a catalog of titles available to subscribers of the cheapest PlayStation Plus tier at no additional cost and will remain available until the next batch of games rolls out come May 5. Every game in today’s list is available starting April 1.
PlayStation Plus users will note the April 2025 lineup has a little something for everyone. Teyon and Nacon’s brutally accurate ‘80s love letter, RoboCop: Rogue City, is likely the biggest headline for players this month. This first-person shooter puts players into the hulking metal shoes of Alex Murphy himself as he works to save a crime-riddled Detroit from another murderous threat.
One of its more recent and substantial updates arrived in January of last year, granting players access to a much-asked-for New Game Plus mode. With or without a reason to revisit its story mode, we felt RoboCop: Rogue City was worth checking out at launch and gave it a 7/10 in our review.
PlayStation Plus subscribers looking to scratch that bloody action itch with friends can check out Sumo Digital and Gun Media’s asymmetrical multiplayer adaptation, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Players work to survive – or kill – others in a set-up that pits survivors against the bloodthirsty Slaughter Family.
It’s an experience not for the faint of heart that aims to simulate what it might be like to hear Leatherface rev up his iconic chainsaw just feet behind you. In our 6/10 review at launch, we said it offered “a few entertaining, technically challenged hours of fun.”
RoboCop and Leatherface will no doubt get your blood flowing, so it’s nice that Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker’s Memory is here to bring down the tempo just a bit. Bandai Namco expanded on the already massive digital world of digital monsters with this turn-based monster collector offshoot back in 2018. It’s got more than 320 Digimon to meet and collect as players look at the events of the original Cyber Sleuth story from a new perspective.
As RoboCop, Leatherface, and Agumon make their way onto PlayStation consoles next week, players should make sure to download the March 2025 titles while they still have the chance. It was a particularly strong lineup that included Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Sonic Colors: Ultimate, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection. So, if you’re a subscriber or a non-subscriber who has been looking for a good opportunity to sign up, make sure to add all three games to your library before the offer goes away March 31.
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).
Activision, Treyarch, and Raven Software have detailed a special Return to Verdansk event and free trial period that will coincide with the launch of the original Call of Duty: Warzone map next week.
The team behind the current iteration of the massively popular military shooter battle royale experience shared everything players could ever want to know about Verdansk’s revival today. Included with a breakdown of all new and returning features, locations, modes, and more was a schedule for the Return to Verdansk event, which includes an ammo crate filled with rewards to earn from launch on April 3 to April 15.
Activision is calling its limited-time event a “celebration” of the return to the open-world map that started it all. It includes 12 unique zones to explore in Battle Royale and Plunder modes, each with safes to crack and exclusive rewards to obtain. Most goodies come in the form of loading screens, sprays, emotes, finishing moves, etc., but there is a rare chance that your hidden safe will grant access to an Operator skin completely unique to the Return to Verdansk event. Acquiring all 12 rewards also gifts players the freedom to use one of Modern Warfare 2019’s most infamous melee tools: the Kali Sticks.
Thankfully, if you’re the kind of player who can’t sink in the time to loot all 12 safes and try for that rare skin, you’ll be happy to know all players earn six free rewards simply for logging in. They are as follows: Kilo 141 (primary weapon), Domino (Warzone Operator), Mil-Sim USEF (Warzone Operator), Blue Legacy (Contrail for Verdansk Veterans), Coming Home (Parachute for Verdansk veterans), Like We Never Left (Gunscreen for Verdansk veterans).
Weapons Free
Call of Duty: Warzone’s return to Verdansk is more than just a simple retread. The OG map’s reintroduction marks a significant moment for longtime fans and Activision, so it makes sense that the publisher wants to see as many players get in on the fun as possible.
As Warzone launches into its most significant seasonal update in years, players will be allowed to access all Premium Black Ops 6 content for 24 hours starting on April 2 at 9:00 a.m. PT. That means unlimited access to Zombies and Multiplayer modes and a whole day to unlock a treasure trove of rewards that can be carried over to Warzone. It’s an access period that launches alongside Season 3 that same day, meaning all trial players can enjoy the full experience of the update at no extra cost.
The trade here is that Warzone will be down from April 2 – 3 as the team welcomes Verdansk in and sees Urzikstan out. Once the downtime ends, though, it’s back to Atlas Superstore, Stadium, Gora Dam, and more on console and PC for the first time since 2021. For more on all things Call of Duty, you can read up on how Activision is battling cheaters to help prepare for Verdansk’s return to Warzone.
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).
Ever since the upcoming DLC for Lies of P, Overture, was announced, fans have been speculating about what mysteries it might contain. And at the Game Developers Conference last week, IGN learned at least one mystery it won’t explain: the base game’s buck-wild twist of a final cutscene.
For those who haven’t yet finished Lies of P, here’s the spoiler-free version: there’s a cutscene that plays at the end of the game that seems to suggest where Neowiz might be taking the Lies of P universe next. It’s a pretty wild twist of a scene, which has left fans speculating how it might be implemented and whether we’ll get an explanation in the DLC. However, Lies of P director Jiwon Choi confirmed that this cutscene isn’t DLC-related. All he’d say beyond that was, “Please stay tuned for additional announcements in the future.”
Neowiz has already announced a full-blown sequel to Lies of P, which means it’s likely this cutscene is instead related to that. But we don’t really know any details about Lies of P 2 either, just that it’s being worked on. And Choi wouldn’t share any sequel hints in our chat with him, either.
“What I can certainly tell you is when we share such news or media and assets with you, you’ll know for sure that we are ready to present it to you. And that follows very our strict focus on quality [amid] all the pressure that we talked about in the past. So that is the one promise that I can share with you, that when we actually share those contents with you and the news, we will be ready to share that with you.”
SPOILERS AHEAD FOR THE ENDING OF LIES OF P. READ BELOW THE VIDEO AT YOUR OWN RISK.
The scene we’re referring to that we asked Choi about is, of course, the Dorothy scene. We wrote about this in detail here, but the short version is that the game’s final cutscene depicts Paracelcus speaking to someone on the phone, eventually mentioning that he will “find her, for sure. Another key of ours: Dorothy.” We’re then shown the unmistakable striped sock legs and ruby slippers of Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, suggesting that whatever comes next for Lies of P, it will tie into other public domain “fairy tales”. But we still don’t know how or why, and we now also know it won’t be in Overture.
SPOILERS END HERE.
We did manage to glean a few hints about what will be in the DLC. Choi recommends that while they want for Overture, Lies of P fans should replay the base game, as there are clues in the world of the game already that suggest what might be coming:
“When you play through the base game again, you’ll see many hints that we scattered throughout the whole experience,” Choi said. “A lot of hints and a lot of windows into the world, and you’ll be able to actually see that and experience that in expansion…There are many things that I actually wanted to accomplish when we were working on the base game. It didn’t get put into the base game, and all of that, at least key elements of that are going to be included in expansion.”
He adds that some fans are already onto Neowiz’s tricks, saying that he regularly reads fan theories online and that “some of them are quite close.”
We also learned a few other tidbits: Choi told us that the DLC should take roughly between 15-20 hours to complete “for experienced players” and will become available to players once they’ve passed a “certain” chapter of the game, and then accessible all the way to the end. And we know from the game’s announcement that the DLC is technically a “prequel”, with the main character getting transported back in time to Krat just before its fall. The DLC will feature new locations, new enemies and bosses, new characters, and new weapons – though again, Choi was keen on keeping the details on these a surprise for the release.
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.
Looking to dominate the court with Basketball: Zero codes? Well, you’re in luck! We’ve searched for all active working codes for the Roblox experience, so you don’t have to. Redeem these for a range of bonuses that include Lucky Spins and cash, helping you swish your way to victory.
Working Basketball: Zero Codes (March 2025)
Below, you’ll find a list of all the currently active Basketball: Zero codes we’ve found as of this month:
1MLIKES – 3x Lucky Style spins, 3x Lucky Zone Spins
400KWOW – 1x Lucky Style Spin, 15,000 Money
All Expired Basketball: Zero Codes
Time’s up on these codes, unfortunately. As of this month, the following codes no longer work:
100KW
WCHROLLO
How to Redeem Basketball: Zero Codes
First, you’ll need to like and join the Basketball: Zero group on Roblox to be able to use codes
Then, load up the Basketball: Zero Roblox experience
In the bottom right corner of the screen, you’ll find the codes button. It’s purple with a gift box icon.
Copy your code and paste it into the box
Press redeem and claim your bonuses!
Why Isn’t My Basketball: Zero Code Working?
Typically, when a code stops working, it’s just because it’s expired. However, plenty of codes for Roblox experiences are also case-sensitive. So, it might be that you’ve typed it incorrectly. Whether a code has been entered incorrectly in Basketball: Zero, or it’s expired, you’ll see a pop-up saying “code doesn’t exist.”
To avoid using an incorrect code, we’d recommend copying them directly from this article and pasting them into the code box. We test them all before we add them to the article, so you can be certain that if it’s on here, it’s a valid code. Just be sure to check you haven’t added a sneaky extra space in there when copying it over.
How to Get More Basketball: Zero Codes
We check for codes on a daily basis, so if there’s a new code, you’ll be able to find it in this article. If you want to search for them yourself, however, you can head over to the Basketball: Zero Discord server.
What is Basketball: Zero in Roblox?
It’s no surprise that in Basketball Zero, you’ll be playing… basketball. The fast-paced 5v5 game will see you dribbling the ball across the court to face opponents and try to score as many points as possible. By unlocking new styles and zones, you’ll earn a range of atheles and bonuses that will give you special advantages. The Flash, for example, has excellent speed and agility, while the Star athelete can leap like no other. Redeeming the codes above will give you chances at Lucky Spins, which unlock the Styles and Zones, while the cash will enable you to unlock emotes and goal effects, to really celebrate the wins.
Lauren Harper is an Associate Guides Editor. She loves a variety of games but is especially fond of puzzles, horrors, and point-and-click adventures.
If you didn’t already know it, Honor of Kings is one of the most played games in the world. Taking the number one spot in the Chinese MOBA charts, the TiMi Group is taking its free-to-play characters – and world – in a new direction with Honor of Kings: World. While its scale and monetization screech in dissonance, its flashy combat, diverse roster of playable classes, and multiplayer-flexible modes do carry some promise.
During my half-hour-long hands-on with Honor of Kings: World at Tencent’s GDC booth, I took some time to toy around with a couple of World’s different classes, take on a boss inspired by Chinese folklore, and see a brief glimpse of the story.
Although it boasts many of the same characters as its mobile MOBA predecessor, Honor of Kings: World is no MOBA. Instead, it’s a class-driven action game – for PC as well as mobile, by the way – with the kind of over-the-shoulder, action-driven combat you might expect from something like Genshin Impact. But rather than locking mechanics or gameplay behind randomized drops like in MiHoYo’s game, Honor of Kings offers players different classes to choose from. And while the same overall control scheme unifies each class – a dodge, three standard abilities, and an ultimate of sorts – the roster of different classes struck me as fairly diverse, each with its own abilities and special perks.
Honor of Kings: World is no MOBA. Instead, it’s a class-driven action game – for PC as well, by the way.
Usually, you’ll be able to play with two separate classes, though sometimes you might need to stick with just one for story purposes. It seems like TiMi’s put a lot of effort into the dual-class system, allowing you to switch between the two during combat. The most interesting example they showed during my demo was starting a long, multiple-attack combo and switching characters once the target was launched into the air to extend a combo. It kind of reminded me of a tag system in a fighting game.
With 11 different classes in the demo I played, I’m certain there are tons of different combinations and ways to style on your opponent. But since this was my first time playing, I looked for balance above all else: I stuck with an even-keeled loadout, using a sword-wielding class for my primary role and a ranged gunner for the second. The two nicely filled in gaps left by the other during my attempt at a boss fight: I’d lay down fire using the gunner’s active reload mechanic to improve my damage and rate of fire when the boss was spitting out attacks in a frenzy, making sure to dodge the occasional flaming projectile and then rush him down with my sword, laying on the damage with a vengeance.
This swapping was easily my favorite part of the demo. I enjoyed hammering away at the boss’s stance meter, breaking his stance, and shooting the gunner’s R ability as I closed the distance, swapping to my sword class, and unleashing a devastating ultimate attack of sorts to juice every second from the boss’ temporarily weakened state.
Taking the boss down to a certain point also revealed an interesting story beat that eventually led to me playing as a completely separate character from the pre-built avatar provided for the demo. TiMi didn’t offer much information on how frequently to expect this kind of change, only that it would happen from time to time. The demo took place somewhere closer to halfway through Honor of Kings: World’s runtime, opening up my two classes’ skill trees just enough for me to have some fun with them without overcomplicating its combat.
The boss itself was a giant monkey character with various different masks, with a personality and attacking style for each. According to the developer leading my demo, this mechanic has its roots in a traditional style of Chinese theater called Bian lian. One mask might see him spitting fire in a massive area of effect on the map, while another might see him throw around a few melee attacks. I loved this melding of culture, history, and story with a gameplay mechanic.
Aside from briefly seeing another journalist in my demo in a hub area before the tutorial, I didn’t have a chance to check out any of World’s multiplayer offerings. TiMi showed a few clips of four-person squads crawling dungeons and taking on bosses before our demo, but teased something that sounded more like an MMO. That part is still a work in progress, so they didn’t share much beyond acknowledging that there would be a bigger scale multiplayer mode in the full game, so I’m curious to see what that looks like given my demo’s single-player scope.
I left the demo concerned about monetization.
Before the demo, one of TiMi’s developers walked me through some of World’s premise and setup, saying that Honor of Kings: World was a gift of sorts to the MOBA’s loyal fanbase that’s propelled it to massive success in the ten years since its launch. True as that may be, I left the demo concerned about monetization.
When another journalist asked about how TiMi plans to make money with Honor of Kings: World, the developer leading our session gave a concerning answer. “The game’s gonna be based around social, so outfits and stuff,” they said.
On its own, funding a free-to-play game with cosmetics isn’t necessarily a problem – especially since the developers made it clear that there wouldn’t be any pay-to-win – but given Honor of Kings: World’s scale, with flashy cutscenes, tons of playable characters, and epic boss fights, I can’t help but feel concerned about whether or not World’s model is financially sustainable, regardless of whether or not it’s based on one of the most successful games of the century.
Honor of Kings: World undoubtedly has a bright future ahead of it, provided TiMi can stick to its promise of giving fans of its MOBA hit a celebration worthy of its success. Even though I’m still a little worried about the amount of microtransactions that Honor of Kings: World could potentially need to fund its high production value, I still had a ton of fun dodging the big primate’s swings.
Wouldn’t we all like to know what our future looks like? Well, I decided to take a sneak peek at mine and walk in the shoes of 50-year-old me for a day via InZoi, the new life sim competitor out of Korea looking to take The Sims on at its own game.
Join me as I get accustomed to a new city, try new foods, attempt to make new friends, and even chart a new career. Fair warning, though, things may get dark quickly. It’s far less interesting for me to describe the video, though, so I think you should just watch is instead. You can do that below!
Simon Cardy is a Senior Editorial Producer who can mainly be found skulking around open world games, indulging in Korean cinema, or despairing at the state of Tottenham Hotspur and the New York Jets. Follow him on Bluesky at @cardy.bsky.social.
