President and CEO of The Pokémon Company, Tsunekazu Ishihara, shared a small bit of insight about the company’s possible future plans with wearable technology during a panel discussion at the inaugural PokémonXP in San Francisco, CA.

During the Producing Pokémon: A Conversation with Mr. Ishihara panel at the main PokémonXP stage, Ishihara spoke about how Pokémon has evolved alongside major technological shifts in handheld gaming and wireless connectivity over the years. He said after smartphones arrived, they had to change their approach a little to accessories.

“In the past, these gadgets or companion accessories [like the Pokéwalker and PokémonGO Plus] were kind of like these cool secret weapons you could pull out of your pocket and do something really cool with,” Ishihara said, “but today I was thinking, going forward, maybe a challenge for us is going to be figuring out how we can integrate Pokémon more with some of the wearable technology, like smart watches, smart glasses, or even smart rings, for example.”
The comment comes on the tail of the reveal of the Fitbit Air Special Edition Pokémon Sleep, a wearable health tracker with full connectivity to Pokémon Sleep, a Pokémon app that essentially gamifies sleep into collecting Pokémon.

Ishihara is also the founder and previous CEO of Creatures Inc., a co-owner of the Pokémon franchise alongside Nintendo and Game Freak, who together make The Pokémon Company International. Ishihara has experienced the complete history of the franchise, from Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green to the conception of the anime and trading card game. During the panel, Ishihara said he’s always loved handheld gadgets and toys and is particularly passionate about them.

“I really hope Pokémon and the people who are stewarding it will continue to be creating entirely new forms of play that really excite people. And also that humanity, in general, will continue to really enjoy those experiences. And maybe even across three or four generations in the future,” Ishihara said.

Casey DeFreitas is the deputy editor of guides at IGN, and has attended the Pokémon World Championships since 2017. She's here at PokémonXP! Catch her on socials @ShinyCaseyD, and at Worlds!

Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil movie is on track to have the most profitable opening weekend out of any film adaptation of Capcom’s flagship horror franchise.

Stats aggregated by Box Office Pro, a business-to-business trade magazine and the official publication of the National Association of Theater Owners, are giving optimistic predictions for Cregger’s Resident Evil.

The zombie flick is projected to earn $40M – $50M during its opening weekend this September — an amount that would make it the most financially successful opening weekend for any Resident Evil movie ever released in theaters.

For comparison, the highest amount earned during an opening weekend for a Resident Evil movie was for Resident Evil: Afterlife, which netted $26,650,26 when it opened in 2010.

Resident Evil: Apocalypse and Resident Evil: Extinction both earned around $23 million during their opening weekends. The original RE movie, released in 2002, scored $17.7 million for its opening weekend, with the lowest amount going to 2021’s Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. (That’s not too surprising; the film was widely panned by fans and critics alike, with IGN giving it a 6 out of 10 at the time.)

Enthusiasm for Cregger’s take on the series is at an all-time high, even though the famous filmmaker has publicly eschewed the idea of creating a 1:1 adaptation of the games. Rather than trying to live up to what fans have already played, Cregger follows an average Joe who gets caught up in the Racoon City Incident — and so far, it’s looking pretty solid.

Cregger has included more than a few cheeky references to the games (the main character scrambling for ammo, Heavy Field shotgun shells from Resident Evil 4, first-person action sequences, a typewriter and the mention of Umbrella), and considering his impressive resume of highly-lauded horror films (Barbarian, Weapons), this fresh take on the beloved video game franchise experiencing a good about of hype.

Speaking with IGN at San Diego Comic Con, Cregger explained why he chose to pursue a different approach than most fans likely expected, admitting that he “took liberties” with the source material.

“I am not trying to adapt a video game,” he told us. I'm not using the characters from the games. I'm not telling a story that the games tell because I'm not going to be able to do it better than the games. The games are so well executed, and to me, Leon and Claire and these characters, they exist so perfectly in the games that anyone I cast and any difference that I do with them would be, probably, to the detriment of what I was trying to do."

Cregger’s Resident Evil has been described as an "all gas, no brakes" thrill ride and the "Fury Road of horror." At one hour and 35 minutes long, we’d expect nothing less, and we’re keen to see if box office predictions line up when September 18 finally rolls around.

Image credit: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images

Virginia (she/her) is IGN’s News Editor. With ten years of experience reporting on games and entertainment, she’s got a storied background in the fighting game community, influencer news, and viral online trends. Find her on Twitter at @TheeMissGlaze.

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has suggested Project Helix will encompass more than one device, saying that Microsoft has been working on "a great family of devices."

As Microsoft attempts to navigate mass layoffs across its gaming branch, the company has mostly played its cards close to the chest when it comes to its mysterious next-gen Xbox console. Project Helix was formally announced with the promise of PC game-playing capabilities back in March of this year, and now Sharma may be teasing something more.

The Xbox CEO teased some of what's to come for Project Helix during an interview with the BBC at gamescom 2026. While Microsoft wants to stay tight-lipped, some of what she had to say suggested the gaming hardware might be more than a simple box release.

"We're not sharing more on Helix, I know you had to ask it," Sharma said when asked if Project Helix will be a "discless" console. "But look, we've been hard at work on a great next generation and a great family of devices for Helix, and we'll share more soon."

With so little to go on, Sharma's comment could mean a lot of things. This past generation, for example, saw the release of not one but two Xbox consoles with its Series X/S releases. The X, considered a more powerful device, features a disc drive, while the S is an all-digital device.

The mention of a "family of devices" for Project Helix doesn't exactly mean that there will be something like a Project Helix Series X/S, but it does suggest Microsoft may be preparing for a next-gen console that could be just as untraditional as the one it follows.

Despite Sharma suggesting in the past that Project Helix may be targeting a holiday 2027 release, we don't know exactly when the new gaming hardware will launch. In June, she acknowledged that a mass audience won't be willing to spend "thousands of dollars" on a "console generation," teasing that Microsoft will explore "new business models" as it looks to the future.

While we wait to see what exactly Project Helix and its family of devices are, you can see why we think the next-gen Xbox console needs to clearly communicate its strengths and be more than a simple Series sequel. While it's unclear if it will allow fans to use physical game discs in a traditional sense, what is clear is that Microsoft will soon allow Xbox fans to digitize their video games.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer 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).

Yep, you read that right. Hooters: The Movie is in the early stages of pre-production, and some of the chain’s original founders are directly involved.

As reported by Deadline, the film is inspired by the “real events” behind Hooters’ creation, following best buds Ted and Lenny as they create a sprawling legacy for themselves with their famous ‘breastaurant’ chain — only to have their life’s work jeopardized by the US government.

Ted falls head over heels for a gal named Diane after seeing her on a TV commercial. Ted convinces Lenny to drive down with him to Clearwater Beach, Florida, where they recruit Diane to become the original Hooters Girl. The flick is described as part buddy comedy, part biopic that tells the “wild journey” of how the iconic American eatery got its start.

One of Hooters’ co-founders, Edward Droste, is both producing the film and co-authoring its screenplay. Jon Rosenbaum (Benchwarmers 2: Breaking Balls) is set to direct, and casting is already underway. Filming is scheduled to begin in November in Florida's Tampa and Clearwater areas, which is where the very first Hooters restaurant opened its doors all the way back in 1983.

“I think people are going to enjoy watching how we were really just some guys who didn’t know what we were doing, but had a great time doing it,” Droste said in a press release. “And of course, our world-famous Hooters Girls are the real stars. It’s time to deliver a taste of our big-hearted culture and famous humor to the world.”

“From the moment I first learned the Hooters origin story, I knew it would make an incredible movie,” Rosenbaum remarked. “It’s the perfect combination of a hilarious buddy comedy and an inspiring biopic for a beloved American brand: Two lifelong friends with no idea what they’re getting themselves into, a crazy idea they’re willing to bet everything on, and a wild journey that culminates in the creation of something bigger than they could ever have imagined. It’s not at all what people will be expecting – and it’s mostly true! I can’t wait to bring this story to life.”

If you’re unfamiliar, Hooters is a casual dining / sports bar chain known for its wings and its waitresses, young ladies who are often clad in white t-shirts and orange shorts. The chain was actually founded by six people: Lynn D. Stewart, Gil DiGiannantonio, Ed Droste. Billy Ranieri, Ken Wimmer, and Dennis Johnson.

At the time of writing, there are around 200 locations within the US, and 60 internationally in areas including the Bahamas, the Czech Republic, Japan, Switzerland, and more.

Image credits: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Virginia (she/her) is IGN’s News Editor. With ten years of experience reporting on games and entertainment, she’s got a storied background in the fighting game community, influencer news, and viral online trends. Find her on Twitter at @TheeMissGlaze.

Ryan Laley, the solo indie developer behind upcoming asymmetrical horror game Mimic, has shared a video confirming his gamescom was "cut short" after he and other developers had their laptops stolen.

A teary Laley took to X/Twitter to share a video explaining why his "gamescom is over early," saying that "all our laptops have been stolen" after he and others had their booths "raided" overnight. Bringing Mimic to the Cologne, Germany gaming event meant getting the opportunity to show it off to a new audience of potential partners and eager gamers alike, but stolen gear would bring that dream to an end.

"As an indie, solo dev, this s**t's expensive and hard to do all by yourself," he said. "And to have this happen is beyond frustrating – it's heartbreaking."

My #gamescom cut short. Our equipment was stolen last night from the booth.

Police reports have been filed.

At a loss for words to describe the feeling. Just defeated. Gonna do my best with what's left of the week.

But a huge blow financially and mentally pic.twitter.com/dKpp3Of6df

— Mimic | Ryan Laley (@RyanLaley) August 28, 2026

Laley went on, saying the gamescom theft was reported to the proper security teams and authorities. Despite the effort he and others were putting in, he noted, "I don't expect it, obviously, to be found or returned."

"I don't know what I'm going to do now," he added. "I can't do my job. We'll post updates if I get any updates, but effectively, gamescom is over for me."

gamescom kicked off when Opening Night Live (ONL) aired Tuesday, August 25, letting developers loose for the rest of the week to show what they bring to the table. At the time of this story's publication, there are still more than two days left in the show, making Laley's loss an especially painful one. Thankfully, his story and video gained enough traction to reach the eyes of developers looking to help.

The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 team at CD Projekt Red quickly chimed in, apologizing to Laley for the circumstances he'd been thrust into. They admitted they wouldn't be able to "help right this second," but they did promise to "send a few things" his way.

"No choom should have to start from zero," its post said.

Gaming industry expert and Don't Scream developer Joe Henson (a.k.a. Indie Game Joe) went as far as to post a video message reply offering his support. It's an offer that Laley seems to have accepted.

Thank you for the support everyone. Long crazy day.

I'm still around this weekend if you want to catch up at Gamescom. I'll be boothless but still in my Mimic shirt (a fresh one DW) so come say hi if you see me :)

Looking forward to meeting other Devs and trying out their… pic.twitter.com/b0gro1BL0Y

— Mimic | Ryan Laley (@RyanLaley) August 28, 2026

Thank you everyone for outpouring of love and support today! You are the reason why I love this industry

❤️

— Mimic | Ryan Laley (@RyanLaley) August 28, 2026

"Thank you everyone so much for your support and love," he said in a follow-up post. "I'm trying to say thanks to everyone, but honestly, my fingers aren't fast enough. Huge shout-out and thanks to @IndieGameJoe, who kindly donated the money to replace my stolen hardware. He truly is a champion for the little guys, and [I'm] so thankful for his support towards all of us indies!"

Laley returned with an additional post later, thanking everyone again for their support. Although he will no longer have his booth, he still encouraged anyone interested in Mimic to find him at gamescom.

"Words can't describe how much I'm grateful for everyone's support," he said. "I'm a mentor and trainer in Unreal Engine, I train a lot of people up and go to a lot of universities, talk to a lot of students who want to get into games, and one of the things I always say to them is how friendly and warm and supportive of each other it is. Today is just evident of that. Proof that you guys are amazing."

Today at gamescom we arrived to our station in the business area hall to discover that our two laptops had been stolen over night, despite the presence of Koelnmesse security.

These were machines we were using to demo iam8bit Presents titles Petal Runner and Escape Academy 2 to…

— iam8bit @ gamescom hall 5.2 stand C051 (@iam8bit) August 28, 2026

We were robbed at Gamescom.

On Wednesday, we arrived at our booth in the Indie Area to find our cabinet forced open. Two laptops and a Steam Deck were gone.

The devices contained not only our Gamescom demo, but also personal, company, and critical information.

Here’s our story pic.twitter.com/ZghaSx9RJB

— The Zibbo Show ➡️ Wishlist on Steam 💥 (@tesserastudios) August 28, 2026

Unfortunately, Laley was far from the only person affected by thieves at gamescom. Publisher and pop-culture collectible company iam8bit shared its own message reporting stolen goods at gamescom, saying that it had two laptops taken overnight. It added that, "on top of disrupting our very busy appointment schedule, this theft has potentially put unfinished builds of these games at risk of being leaked."

Tessera Studios, which is working on the game show-inspired The Zibbo Show, also published a video announcing it had been "robbed at gamescom." They called the damage it's caused the team "pretty huge."

For now, gamescom organizers have yet to publicly comment on the reports of theft at the event. IGN has reached out for comment.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer 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).

The AirPods Pro 3 is Apple's best earbuds and the perfect gift for any student heading back to school. While supplies last, Walmart is offering open box units for just $144 with free shipping. They are sold and shipped by Walmart direct and are in "excellent condition with no signs of usage". The AirPods Pro 3 currently sells for $249 new at the Apple Store.

AirPods Pro 3 Noise Canceling Earbuds for $144 (Normally $249)

Amazon's popular Reacher series may be coming to an end in September, but plenty of other great additions are coming to the streaming service to take its place. In fact, there's a Reacher spin-off arriving on the same day of the finale to do exactly that.

If you're wondering how to make the most of your Prime Video subscription next month, I've curated a quick selection of movies and shows that are absolutely worth your time. You can also jump to the full list of September releases to see the full breakdown by day.

What's Worth Watching?

Over the Garden Wall - September 1

If you're looking for something cozy and wonderful to watch right before fall kicks off, I highly recommend Over the Garden Wall. It only ran for one season on Cartoon Network, but it has everything you could ever want in an animated series. It has some of the weirdness you'd expect from Adventure Time with just enough darkness to fit the summer-to-fall transition.

Like many other Cartoon Network favorites, it was removed from HBO Max years ago but has been available at other services since then. It also got it's first Blu-ray release this year if you'd prefer to own all 10 episodes yourself.

Chef - September 1

For fans of Jon Favreau and food, I recommend checking out 2014's Chef. It's a movie about food and family that resulted in Favreau creating a spin-off docuseries where he learns about the culinary world. Here's a quick summary of what we thought of the film in our review:

"Take away the sentiment, and the bitterness, and you’ve got a fun film about family, food, and the importance of staying true to yourself. Just make sure you eat before watching this one." - Chris Tilly

Van Helsing (2004) - September 1

The 2004 movie starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale is an excellent vampire hunter movie to revisit in the fall. It's a wonderful throwback to simpler times when you could just toss Wolverine into a vampire movie and it just worked. This film also came pretty shortly after Kate Beckinsale's first Underworld movie, solidifying her place in the genre forever.

Demon Slayer (S1-4) - September 15

The Demon Slayer series is one of the most popular anime shows in recent years. There have been four seasons and a few movies so far, so it's a great time to dive into the series for the first time.

The story is set in early 20th century Japan, centering on a teenage boy who becomes a demon hunter to avenge his family and save his sister. Amazon is also bringing the Mugen Train movie to its service, so you can catch up on most of the story pretty quickly this month.

Neagley - September 16

On the same day that Reacher Season 4 comes to an end, Prime Video is dropping all eight episodes of the spin-off series at once. The show focuses on private investigator Frances Neagley as she unravels the suspicious death of her friend. Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson) will guest star in the series in a more supporting role.

The Love Hypothesis - September 23

IGN hasn't had the chance to watch The Love Hypothesis ahead of its release, but it's intriguing nevertheless. The movie is based on Ali Hazelwood's popular romance novel of the same name, which actually got its start as Star Wars "Reylo" fanfiction. The story is about an experiment in dating between two highly educated individuals who are trying to prove a point.

Everything Coming to Prime Video in September

Note: This list is subject to change in September pending additional announcements from Amazon. Click on any of the links provided to see IGN's review.

September 1

• A Serious Man (2009)
• Ali G Indahouse: The Movie (2003)
• American Classic (2026)
• Army ff Darkness (1993)
• Atomic Blonde (2017)
• Bird On A Wire (1990)
• Blow Out (1981)
• Blue Crush (2002)
• Blue Crush 2 (2011)
• Borat: Cultural Learnings of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006)
• Breaking News In Yuba County (2021)
• Breezy (1973)
• Bruno (2009)
• Cape Fear (1962)
• Cape Fear (1991)
• Carlito’s Way (1993)
• Carlito’s Way: Rise To Power (2005)
• Carrie (1976)
• Carrie (2013)
• Cat People (1982)
• Chef (2014)
• Collateral (2004)
• Conor McGregor: Notorious (2017)
• Coogan’s Bluff (1968)
• Death Becomes Her (1992)
• Desperate Housewives Seasons 1-8 (2004)
• Devil (2010)
• Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)
• Don’t Breathe (2016)
• Dracula Untold (2014)
• Dressed to Kill (1980)
• Duck You Sucker – A Fistful Of Dynamite (1972)
• Eagle Eye (2008)
• Eastern Promises (2007)
• Everybody Loves Raymond Season 1-9 (1996)
• Fear (1996)
• For Love Of The Game (1999)
• Frost/Nixon (2009)
• George A. Romero’s Land of the Dead (2005)
• Halloween II (1981)
• Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
• Hannibal (2001)
• Hart’s War (2002)
• Hour Of The Gun (1967)
• Ice Age (2002)
• Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)
• It Came From Outer Space (1953)
• Jack Reacher (2012)
• Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016)
• Leatherheads (2008)
• Matinee (1993)
• Max (2015)
• Meet Joe Black (1998)
• Morbius (2022)
• Mr. Baseball (1992)
• Munich (2006)
• Now You See Me (2013)
• Now You See Me 2 (2016)
• Over the Garden Wall (2014)
• Overboard (1987)
• Prince of Darkness (1987)
• Raging Bull (1980)
• Rain Man (1988)
• Raising Cain (1992)
• Reality Bites (1994)
• Slaughterhouse-Five (1972)
• Teen Wolf (1985)
• Teen Wolf: The Movie (2023)
• The Alamo (1960)
• The Bone Collector (1999)
• The Brink’s Job (1978)
• The Edge Of Seventeen (2017)
• The First Omen (2024)
• The Great Escape (1963)
• The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965)
• The Horse Soldiers (1959)
• The Longest Yard (2005)
• The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)
• The Mummy (2017)
• The Muse (1999)
• The Purge (2013)
• The Purge: Anarchy (2014)
• The Purge: Election Year (2016)
• The River Wild (1994)
• The Shepherd of the Hills (1941)
• The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
• The Skeleton Key (2005)
• The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004)
• The Thing (1982)
• The Visit (2013)
• The War Wagon (1967)
• They Live (1988)
• Trap (2024)
• Uptown Girls (2003)
• Valkyrie (2008)
• Valley Girl (1983)
• Van Helsing (2004)
• Videodrome (1983)
• Wild at Heart (1990)
• Winchester ’73 (1950)
• Windtalkers (2002)
• Witness For The Prosecution (1957)

September 4

• ONE Championship on Prime (2026)
• NWSL: Bay FC vs. Kansas City Current (10 p.m. ET)

September 9

• MLB: Colorado Rockies at New York Yankees (7:05 p.m. ET)

September 10

• Bombshell (2019)

September 11

• NWSL: Kansas City Current vs. Orlando Pride (8pm ET)

September 15

• Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba S1-4 (2019)
• Demon Slayer – Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train (2021)

September 16

• Neagley (2026)
• Reacher Seasoon 4 Finale

September 17

• Thursday Night Football: Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills (8:15pm ET)

September 18

• NWSL: San Diego Wave vs. Kansas City Current (10pm ET)

September 19

• WNBA: Chicago Sky at Atlanta Dream (7pm ET)
• WNBA: Seattle Storm at Golden State Valkyries (9pm ET)

September 23

• MLB: Tampa Bay Rays at New York Yankees (7:05pm ET)
• The Love Hypothesis (2026)

September 24

• Go Deep: The DeSean Jackson Story (2026)
• The Fire Inside (2024)
• Thursday Night Football: Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers (8:15pm ET)

September 25

• NWSL: Gotham FC vs. Chicago Stars (8pm ET)
• Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood (2019)

September 27

• WNBA Playoffs First Round (Matchup and times TBD)

Prime Video Subscription Options

Anyone who has an Amazon Prime membership will automatically have access to Prime Video. There's a 30-day free trial available for new subscribers as well as a 6-month free trial for students. That subscription will get you access to the Prime Video streaming library with ads, so you'll still need to pay a bit extra to go ad-free.

Amazon raised prices for its ad-free streaming tier earlier this year while rebranding it to Prime Video Ultra. As of April 2026, you'll need to pay an additional $4.99 per month to remove the ads from your service.

Jacob Kienlen is a Senior Audience Development Strategist and Writer for IGN. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he has considered the Northwest his home for his entire life. With a bachelor's degree in communication and 10 years of professional writing experience, his expertise is spread across a variety of different pop culture topics -- from TV series to books and the latest LEGO sets.

Handheld gaming PCs grant you access to a nearly limitless library of PC games that you can play anytime and anywhere. There are plenty of brands and models available nowadays, but the Legion Go S is still one of our favorite - and one of the most affordable - gaming handhelds. For a limited time, Woot, which is owned by Amazon, is offering the Legion Go S AMD Ryzen Z2 Go Edition handheld gaming PC for just $529.99. Amazon Prime members get free shipping, otherwise add on $5 for delivery. This is a brand new, unused product and includes a 90-day Woot warranty.

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The new 4K restoration of the uncut French version of Gandahar is being released in New York City on August 28 before expanding nationally.

Man, who remembers the crop of great, strange, watch ’em in your buddy’s finished basement (probably after a couple of bong hits) animated classics like Heavy Metal, Fantastic Planet, Wizards, and the such? Pre-internet, popping these movies into your VHS or DVD player was like playing the freak-out lottery: What weird and wonderful delights awaited you were anyone’s guess.

And now, Janus Films has unleashed a new 4K restoration of one such title, the late French animator René Laloux’s Gandahar. Laloux was also the mind behind 1973’s better-remembered cult classic Fantastic Planet (aka La Planète Sauvage). Like that film, 1987’s Gandahar is a trippy (I promise not to use that word again in this review) visit to a far-out realm, only in this case it’s a land where soulless robots attempt to overtake a seemingly utopian society, and the battle for freedom must be fought not just in the here and now, but also 1,000 years in the future. Along the way, the dangers of genetic experiments, the consequences of creating an ultimate weapon, and the effect such decisions have on future generations are all explored. Also, clothing is optional for half of these characters (the female half, as was the wont of the time).

An edited and dubbed version of the film called Light Years was released in North America by (cough) Miramax Films in 1988. That cut even featured dialogue written by legendary sci-fi scribe Isaac Asimov, who adapted the French script, but now Janus has given us the complete and original version of the sci-fi adventure. And really, the steady (sometimes somnambulistic by today’s standards) pace, the heady visuals and concepts, and the French line readings make an English version of Gandahar – voiced by the likes of John Shea, Jennifer Grey and Christopher Plummer, as Light Years apparently was – just seem wrong.

The film begins with scenes of bucolic, if strange, beauty, as a group of blue-skinned villagers fish and eat and play. An anteater-type creature is born from a plant, and immediately the babe suckles at a woman’s chest as if she’s its mother. (Maybe she is?) Birds peck at giant berries while the villagers collect them, giant snails feed while a shepherd looks on, but then suddenly… an attack! The people of Gandahar are being turned to stone by the C-3PO-like (only mean, and black) Men of Metal.

And so in the city of Jasper (which is centered in a giant statue of a woman) the leader of the Council of Women (who has huge eagle wings sticking out of the sides of her head) is advised by her lead scientist (who looks like he’s come straight out of the Green Lanterns’ Guardians of the Universe) to send out an emissary to investigate the situation. (And yes, I could keep inserting parentheticals around just about every noun in this movie to explain some kind of weirdness, which is half the film’s charm right there.)

The young “Servant” Sylvain (voiced by Pierre-Marie Escourrou) is put on the case, and while the character hits his marks as a hero – he rides a flying, flapping, funky mechanical jellyfish; shoots a gun that uses ammo which quickly propagates as spiky weeds; gets the girl; and saves the day – he’s also dry as the desert landscape where that jellyfish crash-lands. Alas, none of the human characters in this tale are particularly engaging, but that’s OK because it’s the weirdos and oddballs that Gandahar is all about.

Take the Deformed, the outcasts of Gandahar who are the result of scientific experimentation – “victims of your genetic games,” they tell Sylvain – and as such have all manner of physicality, from multiple heads to mouths for knees to my favorite, the dude who is just a huge head/chest with arms that he walks on. Also blessed/cursed with the ability to see the future, only to lose it, the Deformed now speak in the past and future tense because that’s how they see the world around them: In 1,000 years, Gandahar has fallen. 1,000 years ago, Gandahar will be saved.

Then there’s Metamorphis (Georges Wilson), a giant brain hanging out in the middle of the Eccentric Ocean, as it is rightfully called. Another forgotten legacy of Gandahar, Metamorphis is either the villain of the film or its hero, depending on your point of view. But that’s the thing about Gandahar the movie – just as its imagery is off-kilter but also beautiful, its loopy time-travel story isn’t terribly interested in adhering to traditional concepts of what an animated film needs to be. So yes, sometimes it’s slow, sometimes its hero is kind of lame, and sometimes it’s rough around the edges. But just like Fantastic Planet before it, it’s not the kind of thing that passes for big-screen animation these days, and that kind of makes it a must-watch right there. (Pass the bong.)

Amazon is offering the lowest price I've seen on ASUS' powerful ultraportable gaming convertible. You can pick up a brand new Asus ROG Flow Z13 gaming laptop with 32GB of RAM for just $1,699.99 with free shipping after a $400 off discount. The Asus Flow Z13 (in tablet mode) isn't much bigger or heavier than a handheld gaming PC, but it boasts way better gaming performance that rivals full-sized laptops.

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Editor's Note: This article is sponsored by X-Chair.

X-Chair's "top of the line" office chair - the X-Tech Executive - retails for $1,845, although it's currently on sale for $1,384. That places this chair firmly in the super premium tier. As far as ergonomic chairs go, the rule of "you get what you pay for" is fairly accurate, most of the time. High quality chairs are really expensive for a reason. And for people who spend several hours per day sitting, whether it be for work or for gaming marathons, the investment is justifiable.

2026 has been a very interesting time for ultralight gaming mice, with different brands having different takes on their flagship offerings. For Logitech, it's opted for haptic feedback and rapid trigger powers more commonly associated with the best gaming keyboards with its G Pro X2 Superstrike, while Razer has focused on getting the basics nailed with a fast, responsive rodent in the Viper V4 Pro.

Corsair has chosen a different tack with its Sabre V2 Pro, eschewing a lot of features in the name of getting the weight down to just 36g with its flagship choice – for instance, there isn't any Bluetooth, the software is a bit basic and it isn't built as well as rivals – but it opens up an interesting conversation about the different approaches taken for ultralight gaming mice and where we might be headed next.

Every year, the NBA 2K series, like our favorite NBA teams, teases enough improvements to give us a sliver of hope; a renewed sense of faith that maybe things will be even better than last time. Although that faith was rewarded last year, that hasn’t been the case in the 10 hours I’ve spent with NBA 2K27 so far. While the on-court play does feel better thanks to smoother and more responsive defensive movements, some new features, like MyCareer Eras, are the opposite. Instead, they act like magnifiers, placing a spotlight on issues that have consistently plagued this series, like an ever-growing emphasis on microtransactions. That can turn what should be an energizing session of hoops into a tiring exercise in scrutiny.

Let’s kick things off with the good stuff: the on-court experience. Offense, although it still feels largely the same, has a few new tricks up its sleeve that make it slightly more challenging than last year. For starters, Rhythm Shooting is much less forgiving than in 2K26 since you’ll have to actually hit the green part of your shot meter to make jumpers. Full disclosure: I religiously use the square button to shoot because it’s what I’ve been doing since 2K10. With this change, I've become even more partial to the classic hold-and-release method since there just doesn’t seem to be an incentive to master Rhythm Shooting’s more finicky timing and down-up motion. Of course, there may come a point when I’ll need to really dig into the latter, but today is not that day.

Then there’s the new logic-based Dunk Meter, which, instead of only showing up when you perform Skill Dunks like in 2K26, now appears whenever you drive to and attempt a shot at the rim. The goal, as always, is to hit the green, but it won’t always be that simple, because this feature takes the defender’s positioning into account. That means even if you get a near-perfect release on your way to a jam, a well-timed contest from a towering, highly-rated defender like Zach Edey or Victor Wembanyama could turn it into a miss.

I’ll admit, taking the Dunk Meter into account did take some getting used to, meaning I’ve missed more than a few slams in trying to master it. But after playing several matches, I’ve come to appreciate the greater sense of realism it lends to 2K27. As much as I would want every poster dunk attempt to go in, even a strong and sure-handed player like Giannis can and should get stuffed at the rim every now and then.

That, of course, leads me to the side of the ball that flusters dribblers, causes turnovers, and wins championships. If last year’s defense was a benchwarmer who barely played any minutes, this year it’s the Most Improved Player. As soon as I hopped into a match, the change felt immediate; being near a defender and putting a hand up actually altered a shot! Gone are the dark days when every jumper, even contested ones, felt like they would go in; now that both sides of the ball are balanced, playing through an entire match, at least in the offline modes, feels better than ever.

Now it’s time to head on over to MyCareer’s neck of the woods, with its latest single-player journey, dramatically titled Fire and Concrete. Like always, this tale follows our recurring hero MP, showing his hoops growth in stages from humble high school roots all the way to a career in the pros. Unlike its predecessors, though, this one’s a doozy, spanning 11 chapters – and bigger always means better, right? Right? Oh, if only that were true.

As soon as I jumped into the thick of things, some flaws immediately stood out, beginning with the story itself. Early on, a key plot point is rushed through in an animated vignette instead of actually unfolding in a motion-captured cutscene, as if it were a commercial as opposed to a career-defining incident. It flashes by so fast that I almost missed it, and makes the start of MP’s journey, arguably the most important part, feel like an afterthought.

Then, there’s MP himself, who, so far, has been very hard to root for. It’s like all the personality has been sucked out of this version of him and given to the supporting characters instead. That said, I am still only in the first half of the story, so our protagonist could eventually experience some much-needed personal growth as the rest of it unfolds. But right now, I’d rather be playing as his funny cousin Cam, voiced and mocapped by Vince Staples, who steals the spotlight in every scene he’s in with his quick one-liners and witty comebacks.

Being the narrative nerd that I am, you’d think my biggest frustration would lie with Fire and Concrete’s lackluster story. Well, it doesn't. Instead, what I’ve been most disappointed with so far is MyCareer Eras, a new mode that lets you drop a created player into one of the six significant time periods in the NBA. Sounds exciting, right? I mean, it does on paper. But then you realize that creating more than one custom character means having to begin with a paltry 60 overall rating each time. So, if you want to actually compete in these Eras, you’ll have to either grind out a crazy amount of matches in The City or spend real money to give your characters an immediate boost.

You might be asking, “Why don’t you just use your upgraded Fire and Concrete player in Eras?” Well, the answer is I can’t. Once you start a save file in the story mode, that player is essentially locked to the Modern Era. You also can’t switch from one era to another, which means if you want to try out all of the time periods, you’ll need to make six separate characters. Do you see my problem now? I didn’t think it was possible, but with this mode, developer Visual Concepts has somehow made microtransactions even more glaring and obnoxious than ever.

But that’s all just part of the opening tip, dear reader, and there’s still a long way to go before we get to the final buzzer. There’s still plenty I haven’t seen that I’m excited to check out between now and then, including the new mode, MyNBA Legacy, which seems like a throwback to Create a Legend from 2K12 and 13 – not to mention all the changes to The City and MyGM. Don’t worry, I won’t be gone long. Once we reach crunch time after the weekend, I’ll be back like MJ in his last game, ready with my final score.

Sony's official professional grade PlayStation DualSense Edge controller is much nicer than the standard DualSense controller, and a worthy upgrade for the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6 game, but it retails for $200. Fortunately, for a limited time, there's a way to get it even for much less.

Sony PlayStation DualSense Edge Controller for $121.97

Used "Like New" Condition

Prominent Kick streamer Neon has responded after Rockstar appeared to reference him in a side mission shown during their special GTA 6 first-look trailer on Netflix.

Rockstar broke the internet yesterday when it premiered 26 minutes of gameplay footage from Grand Theft Auto 6 on Netflix, causing brief issues on the platform and even on Twitch, where a number of streamers were reacting to the showcase in real time.

Speaking of streamers, the highly-anticipated showcase featured a side mission where Lucia steals a car — only for a content creator to hop out of the trunk after the heist is finished, asking his viewers, “Holy sh*t chat, what do I do?”

Fans couldn’t help but notice a striking resemblance between the fictional influencer and a real-life streamer named Neon. The two boast similar features and even have the same style of haircut, prompting netizens to recreate that Leonardo DiCaprio meme as they watched the preview from home.

Neon went live on Kick the next day, where he officially addressed the topic — and while he didn’t provide any solid confirmation that he truly was the inspiration for GTA 6’s streamer character, he did thank his audience for getting him popular enough to make it a legitimate theory.

"We made it! We f**kin’ did it!” an excited Neon said as he sat in the back of a car. “Shout out to everyone in the chat. I've seen some reactions: A lot of people weren't the happiest, a lot of people were showing support.

“Two streamers did text me. You know who you are, and I appreciate you. Thank you guys. …Would a B-Tier streamer really be in [this game]? Nah, I’m just kidding. That is f**kin’ sick, bro! Streaming is really taking over the game. I'm just so happy and blessed and grateful to even be seen like that, in that way.”

N3on celebrates his alleged inclusion in GTA 6

"We f'in did it..shout out to everyone in the chat..I've seen some reactions, a lot of ppl weren't the happiest, a lot of ppl were showing support..2 streamers did text me..I appreciate u..streaming is really taking over the… pic.twitter.com/FOelAyJL2q

— yeet (@Awk20000) August 28, 2026

Later that same day, Neon recreated the scene beat for beat during a live stream in a moment that went viral on social media.

NEON recreated the streamer scene from the new GTA 6 trailer perfectly 😭 pic.twitter.com/XzVLur6Cwf

— ryan 🤿 (@scubaryan_) August 28, 2026

The streamer moment sparked a few big reactions from a handful of other popular broadcasters, with the likes of Kai Cenat, IShowSpeed, and Jynxi in disbelief that a content creator was included in the game.

“Wait, chat, they got streamers in the game?” a stunned IShowSpeed asked his viewers.

IShowSpeed couldn’t believe GTA 6 added streamers into the game pic.twitter.com/HDkPHoRLOH

— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) August 27, 2026

“Is that a streamer?” Kai Cenat shouted, his jaw dropping to the floor.

Kai Cenat finds out a streamer is on GTA 6 pic.twitter.com/sT0w3XTBvY

— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) August 27, 2026

“They have streamers. They’re adding streamers to GTA 6,” a shocked Jynxi said. “Oh my god, it’s a brainrot IRL streamer, too!”

Jynxzi was in shock after seeing Rockstar games add IRL streamers to GTA VI 🤯 pic.twitter.com/SXpLcEHkJC

— clippedbytm (@clippedbytm) August 27, 2026

Streamers are just one of the many real-life parallels featured in GTA 6. Check out our full coverage of the game right here on IGN, as well as a full list of all the side activities we spotted and 69 things we learned during our time at Rockstar HQ when we got a sneak peek at what’s in store come November 19.

Virginia (she/her) is IGN’s News Editor. With ten years of experience reporting on games and entertainment, she’s got a storied background in the fighting game community, influencer news, and viral online trends. Find her on Twitter at @TheeMissGlaze.

The big Grand Theft Auto 6 extended look (mostly) went off without a hitch, and apparently, it was Rockstar Games' idea to bring it to Netflix in the first place, not the other way around.

Amidst the unprecedented amount of hype for GTA 6, there was a fair amount of confusion from fans, who questioned Rockstar's decision to make its gameplay debut a Netflix exclusive for six hours after its premiere yesterday. This first real look at Jason and Lucia's story definitely managed to wow viewers, but even after 27 minutes of Vice City, the question remained: Why Netflix?

Many assumed it to be a high-value deal cooked up by the streaming giant to pull eyes its way, but apparently, that's not the case. A Rockstar PR representative told Kinda Funny Games ahead of the big reveal that it was actually the GTA 6 developer's idea to stream the extended look on Netflix. The quote is: "We wanted to go to Netflix."

It's a response that may generate more questions than answers. Rockstar first raised eyebrows when it confirmed plans to bring GTA 6: Extended Look exclusively to Netflix earlier this month, promising what eventually turned out to be a lengthy version of a long-awaited third trailer – but only for subscribers. Even with the knowledge that the full presentation would eventually drop on YouTube just a few hours later, fans who have been waiting 13 years for the next Grand Theft Auto were annoyed to hear they'd have to wait even longer if they didn't want to fork over the cash.

"This is unbelievably scummy," said one fan on X at the time. "Everyone is excited for the extended look of GTA 6, but it's premiering on Netflix first, which will influence people to get a subscription. This needs to be called out, because if any other studio, such as Bethesda, did this, they would be crucified."

Still, some were willing to be patient and see if there might be something more to Rockstar's grand plan. At least some of the hesitation then turned to excitement after Strauss Zelnick, CEO of parent company Take-Two Interactive, promised that the extended look would be worth the price for early admission.

He went as far as to say that the plan was "an example of Rockstar trying new things" as marketing for GTA 6 truly kicked off. He also told Bloomberg, "I think when the title is launched on Netflix, if you watch it, you'll understand more."

"If you're not a Netflix subscriber, you definitely should be one," he told IGN at the time. "And as for the trailer itself, it's coming soon enough that I'll let you arrive at your own conclusion."

Well, the trailer is here, and while it certainly managed to impress, it's still not clear why Rockstar felt the need to bring GTA 6: Extended Look to Netflix, specifically. That said, there are still months to go before launch arrives. Nothing about the developer's future marketing plans has been revealed yet, so it's possible we could see other entries or even episodes added to Extended Look in the future.

For now, though, all we know is that Rockstar has its reasons. IGN got an early peak at all things GTA 6 ahead of yesterday's gameplay reveal and walked away just about as impressed as everyone else. You can check out our thoughts in our preview, and then be sure to see what we had to ask the developer in our interview. You can also check out 69 details we learned while visiting Rockstar HQ, the GTA Online character who's making a comeback, and the Red Dead Redemption 2 Easter Egg hidden in the extended look.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer 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).

Are you still playing racing games like Gran Turismo 7 or Forza Horizon 6 without a racing wheel? Seriously, you're missing out. If the primary reason you haven't yet jumped onto the bandwagon is the price, then here's a deal that should convince you otherwise. The G29 and G920 were already one of the best racing wheels under $300.

56% Off Logitech G29 Racing Wheel and Pedal Set

Used "Like New"

It’s been a huge week for trailers, specifically for games (though the entertainment front hardly took the week off). Of course, the big headline from this week is GTA 6. (Did your Netflix break when you tried to log on to watch the Extended Look right when it dropped?) But gamescom has also been busy shelling out one trailer after another since Tuesday’s Opening Night Live. What’s included here is merely a tiny smattering of the biggest hits; you can peruse all of them — there are currently 187 — at your leisure on IGN’s YouTube channel.

Here are the trailers you should watch from this week (and here’s what you missed last week).

Grand Theft Auto 6 extended look

In the trailer event to end all trailer events, Rockstar finally dropped a long 27-minute look at the most anticipated game of the decade after enduring a series of brutal leaks (that seems like it might also have been a crypto scheme). What else is there to say that my esteemed colleagues have not already? Obviously, it looks insane.

GTA 6 is coming out on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on November 19.

Fable quest gameplay

There’s tons of new footage from Fable that you can check out from gamescom — plus, read our preview — but I was particularly drawn to these 18 minutes of quest gameplay that takes the Hero through the massive and gorgeous Bowerstone (130 homes and 30 businesses and you can go in all of them???), highlights some character interactions (I also would have thrown the beer at Humphry), and shows off a tiny bit of combat (I scrubbed back on shooting that one thug in the knee with an arrow like three times, very good).

Fable releases on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on February 23, 2027.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered + Songs of the Past DLC

The Witcher 3 got a twofer out of gamescom 2026: a remaster trailer (which will be free for players who already own the game) and the Songs of the Past DLC. Any excuse to hang out with Geralt another time is cool in my book. The Remaster, of course, looks super slick, but Songs of the Past especially has me intrigued with the freakiness of Letten.

The Witcher 3 Remaster is available September 29; the Songs of the Past DLC does not currently have a release window.

Final Fantasy VII Revelation gameplay trailer

The Weapons! Are! Here! The FFVII Revelation look out of gamescom — the first since SGF — was fairly short, focusing mostly on those giant monsters, but it did show off more of the aerial and submarine combat that’s coming in the trilogy-ending FFVII remake. Hell yeah, brother.

Final Fantasy VII Revelation comes out in spring 2027.

No Law

No Law was a fun gamescom reveal — it’s an FPS where you play as the field-tested, now peace-seeking Grey Harker. I don’t know much else about what it’s actually about, but I do know that this tongue-in-cheek, cyber-noir, gadget-driven stealth game that also lets you blow some heads off seems pretty dang fun.

No Law releases on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in 2027.

Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d and Pichu

First teaser for Aardman's stop-motion POKÉMON’ series ‘THE MISADVENTURES OF SIRFEITCH'D & PICHU’.

Releasing in 2027. pic.twitter.com/6Wx7pGDb9J

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) August 28, 2026

Legendary animation studio Aardman (the folks behind Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, Chicken Run, and more) revealed the first teaser for the upcoming stop-motion Sirfetch’d and Pichu teamup series at PokémonXP and holy crap, does it look super cute.

The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d and Pichu releases in 2027 on Disney+.

Ali G: Who Iz I?

Did we really need the return of Ali G in 2026? I dunno, probably not. Would I have preferred a Borat 3? I mean, yeah. Either way, Sacha Baron Cohen has another Ali G movie coming out this fall.

Ali G: Who Iz I? releases in theaters October 23.

Possible Love

POSSIBLE LOVE, a new film from Lee Chang-dong, acclaimed director of Burning and Secret Sunshine, is South Korea's Official Selection for International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards®.

Two married couples cross paths to film a documentary that causes them to face their… pic.twitter.com/IKxrLsTtKW

— Netflix (@netflix) August 26, 2026

Lee Chang-dong hasn’t made a film since 2018’s Burning. His latest, which Lee has said is 10 years in the making, has already been selected as South Korea’s Oscars entry for Best International Feature. Just from the trailer (and an excellent directorial track record; I mean, have you seen Secret Sunshine?), it’s not hard to see why Lee’s film was selected. If I feel devastated after two minutes, imagine what the power of two hours holds!

Possible Love releases in select theaters October 23 before it comes to Netflix on November 6.

Fjord

This year’s Palme d’Or winner is finally crossing over to the states (and is already among extremely early whispers about Oscar nominations). The subject matter in Cristian Mungiu’s film is unpleasant: Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve’s family, with their five young children, is on the verge of being torn apart from allegations of physical abuse. Still, I’m eager to watch; Reinsve and Stan are both incredible performers.

Fjord releases in theaters October 9.

The History of Concrete

Learn to love again. John Wilson’s THE HISTORY OF CONCRETE is in theaters starting September 18. #TheHistoryofConcrete pic.twitter.com/Qp2lDBm8d4

— Magnolia Pictures (@MagnoliaPics) August 27, 2026

Were you a fan of the HBO show How To With John Wilson a couple years back? Were you sad when it ended? If you, like me, fall into this category, you’ll be delighted to know that Wilson has made a feature-length documentary called The History of Concrete that premiered at Sundance and is apparently very good. It finally got a trailer this week and it looks perfectly John Wilson-y.

The History of Concrete gets a limited release in theaters September 18.

Get Jiro

First trailer for the ‘GET JIRO’ animated series.

The series follows a sushi chef in a dystopian version of LA where customers resort to murder to secure a table at major restaurants.

Releasing October 3 on Adult Swim. pic.twitter.com/V0Pc2LTVCK

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) August 27, 2026

This one’s a fun surprise: Based on the 2012 graphic novel from Joel Rose and the late Anthony Bourdain (whose biopic Tony you should see), Get Jiro is a violent animated series from DC Studios about a sushi chef who chops the head off of a customer who uses soy sauce when he explicitly said not to and grates the face off another chef (they probably also deserved it).

Get Jiro premieres on Adult Swim October 3 and streams on HBO Max the following day.

Unabomber

To understand the hunt, you have to understand the mind.

Inspired by true events, UNABOMBER stars Russell Crowe, Jacob Tremblay, Annabelle Wallis, and Shailene Woodley. September 25. pic.twitter.com/iJTumS10Tx

— Netflix (@netflix) August 27, 2026

This upcoming Netflix movie — starring Jacob Tremblay as Ted Kaczynski, plus Shailene Woodley and Russell Crowe — gives off big "just-OK limited series" vibes, so I’m somewhat skeptical that this'll be any good. But I’m also dumb enough to give it a try.

Unabomber releases September 25 on Netflix.

Leanne Butkovic (she/they) is an Editorial Programming Manager at IGN, where they've also written about TV, movies, and games.

Grand Theft Auto 6 is out in November, but only for two platforms: PlayStation 5 and Xbox. That means you won't be able to play it on a handheld gaming PC or Switch 2 portable console for quite a while. If you do want to play Grand Theft Auto on a mobile type device from the comfort of your bed or couch away from the TV, the only easy way will be by using a PlayStation Portal connected to your PS5 console Fortunately, there's a way to get a massive discount on one today.

Xbox gamers can do the same with Xbox Ally using Remote Play, but the cost to own both devices is greater.

PlayStation Portal (Used: Very Good) for $147