It seems there's time for one more Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced leak before the game's big reveal — with part of its trailer now circulating online.

The trailer clip shows our first look at in-game footage, featuring pirate hero Edward Kenway, the legendary Blackbeard, ship combat, and lots of explosions. And already, fans have begun lining up the comparisons with the original Black Flag to see how the two versions of the game may compare.

The short snippet shows Edward in his iconic pose, cutlasses drawn, then a scene on deck with Blackbeard and his telescope. There's a quick shot of Adéwalé mustering the crew to load the Jackdaw's cannons, before Edward takes the wheel and ship-to-ship combat begins. Kenway's original voice actor Matt Ryan can be heard too, following hints from the actor himself that he had returned to the role.

First look at Assassins Creed Black Flag Resynced gameplay.

Reveal showcase coming this Thursday.pic.twitter.com/J7RNOA81JC

— KAMI (@Okami13_) April 21, 2026

A shot featuring Edward and Blackbeard is now being pored over by fans, who have noted Resynced's vastly improved character models and lighting. Which, to be honest, you would expect considering that the original Black Flag launched back in 2013.

Assassin's Creed Blackflag - Original vs Remake !! pic.twitter.com/rFthV58eBv

— AMIT ROY (@GamerInVoid) April 21, 2026

"At least graphically Black Flag Resynced looks really faithful," wrote one fan on social media. "I fear I'm getting excited." Said another: "It doesn't seem like a simple remaster either. It looks like we're getting a pretty decent, fun remake."

Yesterday, Ubisoft announced that it would fully reveal Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced this week, following years of leaks. The publisher even poked fun at itself by naming the project as the "worst kept secret" in video games — something that only continues to be true.

The Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced: Worldwide Reveal Showcase will be available to watch this Thursday, April 23 at 9am Pacific / 12pm Eastern / 5pm UK time. Tune in then for the full reveal — and all the details here on IGN.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

Ubisoft has confirmed when it will officially unveil Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, via a dedicated showcase later this week.

The Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced: Worldwide Reveal Showcase will be available to watch this Thursday, April 23 at 9am Pacific / 12pm Eastern / 5pm UK time. Ubisoft is even having a bit of fun here, and branding the event as the full reveal for "gaming's worst kept secret."

Assassin's Creed fans will be able to tune in via YouTube at that point and see exactly what Ubisoft has in store for this freshened up version of its beloved pirate game. Already, however, today's announcement offers up one clue: Ubisoft is calling Black Flag Resynced "the iconic solo pirate adventure" — suggesting that the game's multiplayer mode is no longer included.

The project's official name, Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced, was first spotted last December, when it popped up via a European ratings board listing. But fans have been following the project's development for years, following internal leaks that pointed to the project's existence and hints from the original game's lead actor, who is expected to return.

Previous reports have suggested that Black Flag Resynced will be a substantial remake of the series' beloved piratical entry, with visual and gameplay upgrades that see the game closer in quality to last year's Assassin's Creed Shadows. New story content will reportedly be added to flesh out more of hero Edward Kenway's life, though the game's modern day gameplay sections have apparently been excised — something that many fans aren't happy about.

Tune in later this week for the full reveal — and all the details here on IGN.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

In March, Ubisoft released the first piece of concept art for Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced, confirming the existence of the remake of the beloved pirate installment of the series, and today we have a release date, July 9. The date was reported by Insider Gaming but hasn't been confirmed by Ubisoft as yet.

In a (now deleted) March blog post from Ubisoft's Jean Guesdon, Head of Content did hint at the rumors of the remake. "Speculation around Assassin's Creed is not new, but it's worth repeating: "Nothing is true. Everything is permitted." Well, except in this case, some whispers have a little more wind in their sails. Keep your spyglass on the horizon. 🦜"

The project's official name, Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced, was seen in December, when it popped up via a European PEGI ratings board listing. That sighting followed a few hints from the original game's lead actor.

"Players can be excited about some remakes,” Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said in June 2024, “which will allow us to revisit some of the games we've created in the past and modernize them; there are worlds in some of our older Assassin's Creed games that are still extremely rich.”

Rachel Weber is the Head of Editorial Development at IGN and an elder millennial. She's been a professional nerd since 2006 when she got her start on Official PlayStation Magazine in the UK, and has since worked for GamesIndustry.Biz, Rolling Stone and GamesRadar. She loves horror, horror movies, horror games, Red Dead Redemption 2, and her Love and Deepspace boyfriends.

UPDATE: Microsoft has confirmed plans to debut Metro 2039 as part of an Xbox First Look showcase with developer 4A Games and publisher Deep Silver.

"Xbox has always been a home for the franchise, and we’re honored to continue that relationship by bringing you a first look at this next exciting chapter," said Will Fulton, Xbox Wire Editor, in a post on Xbox Wire.

Xbox First Look: Metro 2039 is set for Thursday, April 16, at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern / 6pm UK.

ORIGINAL STORY: A brand new Metro game is reportedly set to be revealed this week as part of a so-far unannounced Microsoft Xbox showcase.

NateTheHate, who has a number of accurate leaks, including the correct dates of Nintendo Directs, to their name, took to social media to say the new Metro game is called Metro 2039, and it will be announced as part of a Microsoft show set for April 16. It’s unclear at this stage what type of show Microsoft has up its sleeve, or whether it will also include first-party Xbox game news. There’s also a rumor that Sony plans a State of Play showcase for this week, although that’s unconfirmed for now.

News of a new Metro game shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, given developer 4A Games has talked about working on it in the past. But the name of the game is new, as is significant gameplay footage from a previous version of the game, which leaked over the weekend.

The subterranean survival-horror Metro video game franchise, which is based on Russian writer Dmitry Glukhovsky's post-apocalyptic book series, so far includes Metro 2033, Metro: Last Light, and Metro Exodus. VR game Metro Awakening came out in 2024. Metro Exodus came out in 2019, which means it’s been seven years since the last mainline entry in the franchise.

IGN’s Metro Exodus review returned an 8.5/10. We said: “Metro Exodus brings its survival horror to the surface without sacrificing any of the series’ signature tension.”

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Nintendo’s latest promotional push for the Switch 2 has officially arrived, and on the surface, it’s a straightforward deal: from April 12 through May 9, you can save $20 when purchasing the console alongside Super Mario Galaxy 1 + 2 as part of a new bundle offering.

At $500 total, that $20 discount might seem fairly modest, but the broader context of the gaming landscape makes this brand-new offer far more significant than it initially seems.

Australian YouTube content creator Karl Jobst is suing Donkey Kong record holder Billy Mitchell for defamation following the conclusion of a previous dispute between the two last year.

Filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida (via Dexerto), the lawsuit alleges Mitchell engaged in the “unauthorized appropriation of name or likeness and intentional infliction of emotional distress.” Jobst’s complaint notes his status as a creator with more than 1 million subscribers on YouTube, suggesting that damage to his “reputation for credibility and trustworthiness” has negatively affected his earnings.

The filing follows a previous defamation suit Mitchell filed against Jobst related to comments made in a video titled “The Biggest Conmen in Video Game History Strike Again!” which he posted in 2021. Following a years-long battle, the court sided with Mitchell in April 2025, ordering the content creator pay the arcade gamer a total of around $240,000 (AU$340,000).

Now, Jobst alleged public comments made by Mitchell related to the former’s bankruptcy process and crowdfunding campaigns are false, clarifying that he made these statements “with knowledge of their falsity or with reckless disregard for the truth.” Jobst claimed these statements caused him to suffer presumed damages and actual injury related to insult, pain, embarrassment, emotional suffering, harm to his relationship with his audience, lost future earnings, and more.

One example included in the filing shows an X/Twitter post from Mitchell that claimed Jobst “engaged in serious illegal activity before and during” the bankruptcy process. Another involved claims Jobst created a GoFundMe “with the knowledge and intent to fund the existing lawsuit on false premises.” The filing also points to a separate statement from Mitchell shared during an August 2025 livestream that claimed Jobst “scammed his viewers out of 200,000,” adding, “He actually scammed his viewers out of more than $500,000.” Jobst denied these allegations.

Mitchell has published an X post since the complaint was filed April 8. Replies to the post mostly revolve around Jobst and Mitchell’s previous, infamous dispute. “I look forward to winning Best Supporting Actor again,” Mitchell said.

Photo by David Greedy/Getty Images.

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 Nintendo Switch Online classic games catalog has today been updated with three more titles, including arcade favorite Pac-Man.

Nintendo Switch Online subscribers can access the three new (or rather, old) titles via the Nintendo Classics NES app now, and play Pac-Man, Mendel Palace and The Tower of Druaga.

Pac-Man needs little introduction, as this is the classic experience from the yellow hero's arcade days. Chomp pellets, avoid ghosts, and gobble up Power Pellets to turn the tide. Should you risk getting all the fruit too? Yes, yes, you should.

Prepare to be a-maze-d! #NintendoSwitchOnline members can now enjoy three more classic #NES games:

👻 PAC-MAN
⭐ Mendel Palace
🛡️ THE TOWER OF DRUAGA pic.twitter.com/TId6fEaV5W

— Nintendo UK (@NintendoUK) April 9, 2026

Mendel Palace, meanwhile, is a puzzle game originally released in 1989 by a small team known as Game Freak — yes, the same developer that would later go on to make Pokémon, a franchise you're more likely to have heard of. Mendel Palace is an unsurprisingly simpler affair, which asks you to flip panels to ward off enemies and activate special effects.

Last but not least is The Tower of Druaga, the Namco action RPG originally released in arcades all the way back in 1984. Amusingly, the game has been described as a "fantasy Pac-Man", with knights, wizards and locked doors arranged in somewhat similar-looking mazes. Can you reach the tower's top?

Anything take your fancy? If not, IGN has a full list of every other game already available via the Nintendo Switch Online classic game catalog, across every platform from Game Boy to GameCube.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

GTA 5 has three playable characters. Nice one. Lego City Undercover has over 300. Look, my tongue is firmly within my cheek here; I don’t actually believe that Rockstar’s much-heralded efforts were surpassed by this once Wii U exclusive Lego game that came out just months before Michael, Franklin, and Trevor’s story. But while Undercover is by no means a masterpiece, there are some areas where it genuinely shows ambition beyond Rockstar’s. Please stick with me. I haven’t gone mad.

Yes, we’re all clinging on through this multifaceted apocalyptic present to make it to GTA 6, and you’ll no doubt have several recommendations about what to play in its place over the months preceding its launch. Red Dead 2 is my favourite game ever, but that’s an obvious one. The Saints Row games are fun, but we’ve already got a new Scary Movie coming this year if you want to revisit that puerile place in time. Sleeping Dogs will forever be the hipster pick thanks to its stylish Hong Kong action, but have you played it recently? It’s fine. That’s why I come here bearing the gift of Lego City Undercover — a good, if not quite great, take on the open-world city genre, but one that was forgotten all too quickly.

GTA 4’s Four Leaf Clover, you are not going to get here, with Rockstar’s trademark sprawling, cinematic missions not part of Undercover’s offering. Missions instead are limited in scope, with chases short and rarely taking advantage of the scope of the larger city map, instead taking place in small puzzle-filled pocketed environments outside of the free-roam area. The same limits can be seen in combat, which almost entirely consists of hammering down the attack button and putting plastic fist to face. In that regard, though, it's very similar to a Rockstar game; Let’s face it, you’re not playing GTA for its rudimentary cover-based gunplay, but for those high-stakes set-piece events that you rarely find elsewhere.

Whether it’s Grand Theft Auto or Red Dead, the very first gunfight or car chase will ultimately feel almost identical to its first, albeit with slightly more exotic weaponry. What you will discover in Lego City, though, is greater systemic progression when it comes to problem-solving than that found in any Rockstar game. Abilities unlocked throughout the story mode can then be taken advantage of when exploring the open world, providing the key to unlock its many secrets. This approach gives you a genuine reason to switch up which minifig you’re playing as, since each harbours its own unique skill.

GTA 5 may have had three protagonists, but outside of each having their own story missions, there was little reason to switch between them. Sure, they each had special abilities, such as Franklin slowing down time while driving, but those skills weren’t effectively integrated into the gameplay. Lego City Undercover, meanwhile, makes great use of characterful, unique abilities which are directly tied to problems and objectives. There are some genuinely nifty detective-like quirks, such as scanning heat signatures in a surrounding area when searching for suspects. Could the bank-robbing clown be the orange silhouette sporting an oversized curly wig hiding in a shed? Probably. In that sense, its crime-stopping borrows as much from L.A. Noire as it does GTA, just without the often unintentionally hilarious interrogation sequences where you can falsely accuse foreign diplomats of major offences involving minors. That wouldn’t quite fit the happy-go-lucky Lego mould, I guess.

Undercover, just like every other entry in TT Games’ library, is made for the whole family to enjoy, and so takes that rock-solid Rockstar open world base and tweaks it with every age of player in mind. There’s a charm to every interaction, such as a film noir-ish, jazzy double bass being plucked while you sweep an area for footprints using a UV light. Nearby chattering NPCs, meanwhile, provide a PG version of what you may hear on a Los Santos street corner. In great Lego fashion, each item you collide with along the city’s roads is packed full of studs, just like the backstage area of a Magic Mike show.

With hundreds of golden bricks, disguises, and vehicles to unlock across its map, the collecting in Lego City Undercover seemingly never ends. It’s something GTA has never quite cracked. Yes, some of Rockstar’s games have had their list of collectibles, such as Liberty City’s horde of lost pigeons, but they always feel like stumbled-upon surprises, rather than rewards hidden behind puzzles in the style that the Batman Arkham games kicked off with their Riddler trophies. Perhaps this makes the city feel a little too artificial for Rockstar’s tastes, but Lego City’s embracing of all things plastic means its metropolis is stacked full of things for its 300 minifigs to find.

I’ve always had a soft spot for the Lego Games. Indeed, Undercover’s precursor, the Lego Island series, formed many of my earliest gaming memories, as pizza boy Pepper Roni tussled with The Brickster in very limited open worlds. Lego City Undercover feels like the natural evolution of those turn-of-the-century adventures; a grown-up version of that idea — not necessarily tone-wise, but certainly mechanically. It was also an opportunity for developer TT Games to tell a story and build a world outside of established licenses, like Star Wars, Marvel, or Harry Potter, and while I’m not going to pretend Undercover is a crime opus akin to GTA's finest, its solid original story does help make it a genuinely legitimate GTA clone for all ages. Even its titular metropolis is a mishmash of American cities such as New York and San Francisco — something Rockstar has been doing for decades with Grand Theft Auto.

Beyond the fact that this is a Lego game we’re talking about, there are reasons why Undercover isn’t typically discussed alongside more enduring open-world crime games. Lego City Undercover came out in the Spring prior to GTA 5’s release, and it shows. 13 years on, it's perhaps easy to forget just how far forward Rockstar’s masterpiece pushed the open-world genre. Instead, it would be far fairer to compare this plastic city to earlier Grand Theft Autos such as the PS2’s Vice City and San Andreas, and 2008’s GTA 4. In fact, it commits many of the same crimes as those now somewhat dated cities do. Perhaps the most egregious is the fact that the whole of its map isn’t open from the get-go, gated off until certain events in its story occur in an effort to prevent you from seeing all of its many locations straight away. It’s somewhat frustrating, especially, I can imagine, if you’ve got a younger child who just wants to drive around it all without worrying about story. Thankfully, this approach is something open-world games have almost entirely put behind them in the years since.

Something more positive Undercover takes from the 2000s “3D universe” era of GTA games is their larger-than-life tone, which, while remaining somewhat intact across 4 and 5, was much less nuanced back in the day, resulting in their caricature-led stories. Its crime tale crucially puts you on the other side of the law, but is similarly cartoonish, playing out like a Lord and Miller take on The Departed as performed by the cast of Anchorman. It goes big on laughs while not really attempting to pull any other emotion out of you, which is no bad thing at all. Whereas Rockstar opts for classy homage, TT Games go for whole-hearted plastic parody: less satire, more spoof. That difference in comedic values perhaps most emphasises the difference in the games, with GTA the memorable cinematic experience you’d sit down to watch with popcorn, and Undercover feeling more like the snackable popcorn itself: sweet and fun, but with no real nutritional benefit outside of the moment.

Undercover first came out just six months prior to Marvel Super Heroes, which I’d argue approaches its open-world even better, but otherwise doesn’t relate to GTA anywhere near as much, so we’ll park it to one side here. It was a real golden age for Lego Games, though, and one where it really felt like TT Games had cracked the formula as to how to pack open worlds with collectibles and opportunity, while also making getting around them a joy in itself, whether it be via police-issued grapple hooks or superheroic flight. It’s something I’m hoping the imminent Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight can recapture in its Gotham setting. Would I be so brave and bold as to suggest that it could eclipse GTA 6 this year? No, the only way that could realistically happen is if the latter doesn’t actually hit its November date.

Do I honestly think Lego City Undercover is better than any modern GTA game? No — there’s a pure, undeniable, blockbuster sense of cinema to Rockstar’s creations that’s hard to resist, especially in the way they tell their stories. Would I actually prefer to play it in 2026 over Vice City? Maybe. It’s certainly more ambitious when it comes to mission design. So, could GTA 6 learn from Lego City Undercover’s approach to packing each playable character with unique skills that unlock different aspects of its world, improving the quality of its collectibles, or maybe even introducing co-op? I’d be surprised, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t like to see it. Imagine if Lucia were an explosives expert, but Jason specialises in safecracking, and depending on who you pick to play as on a certain mission, it dictates the events of each.

More than anything, I just want to let you know about this game that didn’t get quite the amount of love it deserved when it first arrived 13 years ago. If you need any more convincing, you can check out our fully deserved 8/10 review it got at release. It’s now on your radar in case it passed you by. Embrace the brick. Thank me later.

Simon Cardy is a Senior Editor at IGN 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.

Monolith Soft, Nintendo's Legend of Zelda development partner, has discussed its work on recent series blockbusters such as Breath of the Wild — and confirmed plans for its role to expand on future games.

The new details, found on a freshly-launched Monolith Soft website that celebrates its Legend of Zelda development team, comes just days after a major leak claimed that Nintendo was prepping an Ocarina of Time remake for launch this Christmas.

While the website does not divulge the Zelda game that Monolith Soft is working on next, there's fresh detail on how the company (which Nintendo now fully owns) collaborates with its owner's internal Zelda team, and confirmation that it has taken on more development responsibility over time — with the partnership set to continue on future, unnamed projects.

Zelda fans have long known of Monolith Soft's work on the Zelda series, beginning with Wii entry The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Famed for its work on the Xenoblade series, Monolith Soft was originally brought in by Nintendo simply to provide some more development muscle — beginning a partnership that has seemingly flourished over subsequent entries.

"Monolith Soft had a solid track record of development, and being part of the Nintendo Group, we felt we could openly discuss various things that we couldn't tell companies outside the group, so we asked them to handle it," Nintendo producer Daiki Iwamoto said. "However, it was the first time we had outsourced the design and planning for Zelda, so we were a mix of excited and anxious."

"Monolith Soft joined the project just before the first footage of Breath of the Wild was released to the public," Monolith Soft producer Yasuhiro Fujita noted. "The direction of the game design and art style had already been decided."

After working together again on 3DS game Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Monolith Soft's relationship grew deeper as Nintendo planned the ambitious Breath of the Wild. Following its success, the studio's team then worked on Breath of the Wild's DLC and its standalone sequel Tears of the Kingdom. Now, it's clear that both Monolith Soft and Nintendo want to grow the partnership further, with the former taking on a more central role.

"The team is still in its developmental stages, and we feel like 'we're all building the game together, and also building the team together,'" Fujita said of Monolith Soft's Zelda team. "We want to increase the opportunities for us to proactively suggest things like, 'This is what I want to do,' or 'I think this would be good.' I believe we have the relationships and production environment to do that."

"We want Monolith Soft to take on more and more core roles as a strong partner in creating Zelda from the ground up," Nintendo's Iwamoto concurred. "Based on the know-how we've cultivated while working together so far, let's further enhance the overall team strength at Monolith Soft and continue to create unique series titles together in the future."

2026 marks the Zelda series' 40th anniversary, something fans expect Nintendo to finally acknowledge later in the year with the announcement of that Ocarina of Time remake and a better look at the upcoming live-action The Legend of Zelda movie. While the next all-new Zelda game may still be some way off, an Ocarina of Time remake would certainly keep fans happy in the interim, while also providing a nostalgic hit to celebrate the franchise's milestone birthday. Could Monolith Soft be taking on the project solo? That remains to be seen, but this interview certainly suggests the studio has established itself as a big part of Zelda going forward.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

Yoshihisa Kishimoto, the creator of the Double Dragon and River City (Kuno-kun) franchises, has died at the age of 64.

This was confirmed by his son, Ryūbō Kishimoto, on multiple social media channels.

"This is the son of Yoshihisa Kishimoto," he wrote on Facebook. "I am sorry to inform you that my father has passed to rest on 04/02/2026... I hope you will continue to enjoy my father's works, including Kuno-kun. Thank you."

In a follow-up post on Twitter/X, he continued, "I'm sorry for not being able to reply, but thank you very much for the many heartfelt memory messages. I'm truly delighted to learn that there are people around the world who have played the Kunio-kun series extensively and understand my father even more deeply than I do. Please continue to enjoy my father's works with a smile in the future."

Kishimoto is an industry luminary, beginning his career at Data East working on laserdisc games, and eventually joining several colleagues at Technōs. There, he became known for his work on numerous beat-em-ups over the years, especially Double Dragon and the Kunio-kun series, which was known in the West as River City. His early work was based in part on a breakup he went through during his school years, as well as Bruce Lee's martial arts films such as Enter the Dragon. It was from this that in 1986 he created Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun, or Renegade as it was titled internationally, the first game in the River City franchise. With his team at Technōs Japan, he went on to create numerous sequels for arcades and, eventually, games for the NES, SNES, and PlayStation.

Kishimoto eventually left Technōs, citing a desire to work on something other than the same franchises over and over, as well as frustration that the studio was spending less and less money on game development. In the years since, he worked independently under the name "Plophet", making his own original work as well as consulting on other games. His most recent work was as director on Double Dragon IV in 2017, which was published by Arc System Works after it acquired the license from Technōs, though he also collaborated and consulted on more recent River City games.

Ryūbō Kishimoto stated that a private funeral for his father would take place tomorrow.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

The newest LEGO Super Mario: Mario Kart adult set, available exclusively at the LEGO Store, features Luigi in a Mach 8, which made its video game debut in Mario Kart 8. You mount the completed set on a buildable, tiltable stand, so that Luigi can drive up an incline or drift slide into a turn.

The Luigi Kart set is organized into 22 bags. You build the Mach 8 in a similar manner to other stylized LEGO cars. A web of LEGO Technic rods and pins forms the vehicle's underlying foundation. And then, you lay bricks on top of that – sort of like laying wet strips on a paper mache model — to give the vehicle its signature shape.

The car is blue with yellow trim and fins, and it looks – true to its name – like a modified jet fighter. Turn the steering wheel, and the front wheels turn accordingly. There's also a cluster of rocket flame pieces coming out the back of the model. If you rotate the back wheels, the flames rotate, to give the impression of a turbo boost.

I love any set that incorporates mechanical elements – interlocking gears and hinged pieces — into its construction. The special effects on the Luigi Kart are minimal, but I appreciate the effort that went into them. As anyone who's attempted to build a vehicle with loose LEGO bricks can attest, it is a feat to simply line gears up, nevermind get them to accomplish something.

Then you build Luigi. You start with the torso, complete with overalls and big gold buttons. Then you build the legs and shoes in a sitting position (Luigi cannot stand and is missing his butt). Next you build the arms and two white gloves with movable, opposable thumbs. And lastly, you build the head. The hat goes last, which requires you to build two separate pieces that lock together at the brim. You can turn Luigi's head and pose his arms, either to grip the wheel or to celebrate and pump his fist after a win.

There is no "better" side to face out, nor is there a worse side :to face toward the wall. LEGO designed this set to look appealing from every angle. Interestingly, nostalgia hits hardest when viewing this model from the back rather than from the front; that's the view we've become familiar with after three decades of playing Mario Kart video games.

This LEGO set is the second of its type. Last spring, LEGO released a build of Mario driving his classic, Standard Kart. We reviewed and enjoyed that set, citing its chunky, expressive visuals and accessibility. This Luigi set is more of the same; the things that were good in the Mario set are still good in the Luigi set.

But whereas the Mario set was an innovation–the first of its kind–the Luigi builds off the reliable template of its predecessor. We enjoyed the Luigi set for its visual appeal, but the build experience is redundant, because I had built something extremely similar to it less than a year ago. And whereas the Standard Kart, with its front portion connected to its steering wheel, created some interesting design choices, the Luigi Kart is a more straightforward vehicular build, even if the final result looks cooler. Of course, if you never built the Mario set and just want the Luigi set, none of this should matter. But if you plan on having both, the comparison is inevitable.

There's nothing wrong with repeating what works, per se. But future sets should acknowledge this redundancy by trying something bolder and more daring. A differently proportioned character like, say, Koopa Troopa or Toad or even Bowser, could help shake things up. Similarly, an eccentric Kart model – one whose design veers far from that of a traditional vehicle – could make things more interesting.

Imagine Princess Peach, in an alternate costume, driving a Prancer. Or imagine Yoshi driving a Flame Rider. The more left-field the LEGO designers go with their design choices, the better.

LEGO Super Mario: Mario Kart – Luigi & Mach 8, Set #72050, retails for $179.99, and it is composed of 2,234 pieces. It is available exclusively at the LEGO Store.

Interested in more LEGO Mario sets? Check out our roundup of the best LEGO Nintendo sets currently on sale.

It’s April Fools’ Day 2026, and that means it’s once again time to comb through another round of the best jokes and pranks the gaming industry has to offer.

Social media feeds have already been filled with high-quality, low-quality, and downright confusing gags from AAA and indie games alike. You won’t have to look too hard to see some fake – and even some very real – updates that have already made their way to projects like Peak, Hitman, Lords of the Fallen, Minecraft, and more, and if you act quickly, you can even snag some truly bizarre Sonic and Silent Hill merch.

More April 1 pranks will almost certainly sneak their way online in the hours ahead, but we’ve gone ahead and collected some of our favorite April Fools’ Day video game jokes for you to see, below. After that, be sure to check out highlights from 2023, 2024, and 2025, too.

It's Time for Bubsy Feet Pics

Everyone's favorite feline joined April Fools' Day 2026 with the launch of his OnlyPaws site. Yes, it does come with a gallery of paw pics (and the news that Bubsy 4D pre orders are open), but it also directs eager subscribers to instead send their money to The Wildcat Sanctuary, a Minnesota-based non-profit that provides sanctuary to wild cats in need.

Sega Is Feeling Extra Blue This April Fools’ Day

We’re excited to announce that we’re making our SEGA logo 3% more blue.

We hope you enjoy this upgrade.

Please take a moment to familiarise yourself with the new look. pic.twitter.com/6IrI7hdSIS

— SEGA (@SEGA) April 1, 2026

Sega felt its classic logo needed a facelift, so it injected it with approximately 3% more blue. As if the change wasn’t obvious enough, the before and after image provided should help clear things up.

Get Your Sanic Merch Right Here

OK, so maybe the bluer Sega logo won’t stick around, but it looks like the new merch available on the Sonic the Hedgehog publisher’s official store will. Introducing the Sanic Collection, a three-shirt drop that features Sanic & Shedew, Sanic Adventure, and Sanic & Knackle tees for $32 each.

CD Projekt Red Gives Roach the Spotlight in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Introducing, Project R.O.A.C.H. 🐴✨

A revolutionary gaming controller that puts you in the saddle, making your next adventure in the Continent more realistic and tactile than ever before!

Ride off into the sunset on R.O.A.C.H. today: https://t.co/v3JfZyYEGw pic.twitter.com/QSszL9Jnqh

— The Witcher (@thewitcher) April 1, 2026

Roach, Geralt’s trusty horse companion, has always been the secret star of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and now, CD Projekt Red is giving her time to shine. A video for the Ride on a Controller Horse (R.O.A.C.H.) highlights stunning new technology, with more information about the high-quality prank available here.

Crytek Adds Beetles With Hats to Hunt: Showdown 1896

Crytek warned players that “Hunters are NOT ready for this” in the latest video update for Hunt: Showdown 1896, revealing an update that was first thought to be “too bold” and “too dark”: beetles with hats. Now through April 15, players can input a code (UA2D-2N3M-87N4-98XY) to add cute little cowboy hats for the Stalker, Fire, and Choke beetles. As if it was any surprise, players are already beginning for this to be one prank that outlives the holiday.

PowerWash Simulator Does the Unthinkable With Date the Dirt Dating Sim

Introducing our next chapter💐💘

Ever wanted to learn more about the muck in Muckingham? Does Dust want to settle down? Is Grime clingy? Can you ever get over Stain?

Well, now you’ll get all the answers!

Date the Dirt – Coming soon✨ pic.twitter.com/RqjFatmaT0

— PowerWash Simulator (@PowerWashSim) April 1, 2026

Behold!

Screenshots of dialogue that didn't quite make the final cut✨

Maybe you'll get to see some of Grime's and Duckweed's dialogue, if you ask nicely👀💦 pic.twitter.com/DP9VZAMDuY

— PowerWash Simulator (@PowerWashSim) April 1, 2026

A PowerWash Simulator dating sim was inevitable, right? For this April Fools’ Day, the folks at FuturLab teased what it would be like if players got to know Dust, Grime, Eggy, and even Chuck the garden gnome.

dbrand has a Message for Gamers: It’s Time to Touch Grass

Gaming and tech skin maker dbrand has brought back its Touch Grass look for iPhone, Nintendo Switch, Xbox and PlayStation consoles, and more. However, its 2026 re-release comes with a bonus with every order: a Blue Sky skin.

Arma Turns Into Farma for April Fools’ Day

OUT NOW!

It's a peaceful life. Make Farma, not war. pic.twitter.com/RVIrrsK3io

— Arma Platform (@ArmaPlatform) April 1, 2026

Bohemia Interactive has laid down its weapons to instead get behind the wheel of a tractor. A trailer for its Arma Reforged farming rebrand, Farma Reforager, shows what it would be like if the mil sim went off in a fresh direction.

Bendy and the Ink Machine Summons the Avengers of Indie Horror

WATCH THE REVEAL TRAILER! They came from worlds apart… for an all new #BENDY game! 🦾🖤#BendyNS @mobgamesstudios @NeighborGamesHQ @MeTattletail @Euphoric_Bros @Basically_Games @FNAF_ScottGames pic.twitter.com/zhS8999OV0

— Bendy (@Bendy) April 1, 2026

One of the more impressive pranks of the day came in the form of a new (and unfortunately fake) extension of the Bendy and the Ink Machine Universe. The trailer for Bendy: Nightmare Syndicate shows what Five Nights at Freddy’s, Hello Neighbor, Baldi’s Basics, in Education and Learning, Poppy Playtime, and other iconic indie horror games would look like in that classic Bendy style.

Payday 3 Leaves the Life of Crime Behind

NEW ANNOUNCEMENT!

We’ve been listening to your feedback, and we’re now expanding PAYDAY 3 with a brand new game mode. We’re beyond excited to finally show what we’ve been cooking in the studio. pic.twitter.com/dssd3Aw0eK

— PAYDAY (@PAYDAYGame) April 1, 2026

Starbreeze Studios says it’s been listening to “feedback” and has unveiled its new be-a-regular-guy update. There’s actually very, very little Payday to be had in its video, but that’s kind of the point.

Hitman Killer Agent 47 Gets a Makeover With New H.A.I.R.

Introducing H.A.I.R.

H.ostile
A.rea
I.ntegration
R.esource

Every style, a choice. Every strand, a strategy. Every comb, calculated.#HITMAN #Agent47 pic.twitter.com/r1xwUSoWIk

— HITMAN (@Hitman) April 1, 2026

What would Agent 47 look like with a full head of hair? It’s a question we’ve all surely asked ourselves, so IO Interactive unveiled its new H.A.I.R. project to show exactly what everyone’s been missing out on. See one of the most iconic characters in games wearing hair from the Mario world, KPop Demon Hunters, Baldur’s Gate 3, Resident Evil, and more in the video above.

Konami Launches James Sunderland Body Pillow to Save You from Your Restless Dreams

5ft of James... need we say more? pic.twitter.com/2Uwl2nspvh

— Konami (@Konami) April 1, 2026

It's the five-foot merch every Silent Hill 2 fan has dreamed about. Available to pre-order now on the official Konami store for $69.99 is a body pillow featuring James Sunderland, but if you want one you'll need to act fast, as it's only available to order for seven days.

Konami offers further clarification on its store page: "Yes, this is real. Yes, you can pre-order it. No, we’re not going to explain ourselves."

10 Hours of Mega Starmie

The Pokémon Company is currently running a 10-hour livestream of nothing other than Mega Starmie. What more could you possibly ask for?

Peak Kicks Friendship to the Curb

we decided giving your friends a helping hand is lame af so its kick now pic.twitter.com/2RAHfruXYJ

— AGGRO CRAB 💥 (@AggroCrabGames) April 1, 2026

Peak is at its best when you’re climbing a steep mountain with your friends at your side – or is it? For April 1, Aggo Crab has traded the ability to lend pals a helping hand in favor of a full-on kick mechanic. There’s no telling how long it will stay in the game itself, but for now, players are having a blast.

Lords of the Fallen Brings Players Into the Action With Helmet Vision

Coming soon: HELMET VISION.

See less. Feel more. pic.twitter.com/qATVlUrDLY

— LORDS OF THE FALLEN (@lotfgame) April 1, 2026

Third-person gaming is great and all, but CI Games thinks the cutthroat combat might be better from a first-person perspective. For April Fools’ Day 2026, the developer showed off Helmet Vision, literally giving players a sliver of the action.

Ubisoft Goes Out on a Limb With Rayman Redesign

new redesign wdyt pic.twitter.com/8XB012zy5v

— Rayman (@RaymanGame) April 1, 2026

Gamers know Rayman as the video game mascot without arms and legs, but what if that changed? Well, whether you want to see what that would look like or not, here it is.

Minecraft Breaks the Mold With Herdcraft Update

THE HERDCRAFT UPDATE

Who needs an inventory when you can have the world? Herd blocks, command items, and live in the moment with the Herdcraft update! Say goodbye to dull inventory management and embrace a better, mindful way to build and craft. It just makes sense!

Read more… pic.twitter.com/PfbFVgLpqO

— Minecraft (@Minecraft) April 1, 2026

Mojang is doing away with all of that pesky inventory management this April Fools’ Day with the Herdcraft update. Exclusively available via Minecraft: Java Edition, players will now notice that blocks and items simply obey your commands instead of sitting idly in the menu.

“It’s technically mandatory to play it right now,” a blog post about the prank update says. “Didn’t read those terms and conditions, did you?”

Capcom Lets Leon and Grace Switch Places in Resident Evil Requiem

Sound ON. 🔊

Happy April Fool's Day from us and @Nik_apostolides and @asantalbano! pic.twitter.com/djmQxyThOu

— Resident Evil (@RE_Games) April 1, 2026

Capcom brought back Leon S. Kennedy and Grace Ashcroft actors Nick Apostolides and Angela Sant’Albano, not to reprise their roles, but to switch them instead. A clip shared on the franchise’s official account reveals each star swapping lines from some of Resident Evil Requiem’s most memorable moments.

The Annual Overwatch April Fools' Day Update Is Here

Rules? Where we’re going we don’t need rules! 😎

Hop into Underwatch with all its glory NOW for a limited time! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/t3rHBVTFDA

— Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) April 1, 2026

Blizzard Entertainment is back with another April 1 update for Overwatch, bringing remixed and OP abilities for the roster. Highlights for this year's changes include a GG shield for Domina, a Gracie-shooting shotgun for Junker Queen, a lock-on camera for Vendetta, and more googly eyes than ever before.

Get Ready With Me Joins Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 as the Smallest Map Ever

Let's get ready to start the day! 😉 pic.twitter.com/xkHBwxVugm

— Treyarch (@Treyarch) April 1, 2026

Treyarch added a map smaller than Shipment for April Fools 😂 pic.twitter.com/KkSzKOKQAb

— Zac - Immortal (@WhosImmortal) April 1, 2026

Treyarch took to social media to show a top-down image of a mysterious map that has made its way into Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. Called GRWM (Get Ready With Me), this teeny tiny map is already available in-game, and its size makes Shipment look giant in comparison.

Meet the OwlBrick

The first-ever console built specifically for CRPGs.
Meet the Owlbrick. The best place to play your favorite games and a solid foundation for your RPG experience.

Claim your Owlbrick now: https://t.co/PlPFcwU0Xh pic.twitter.com/q1JMuqQLaT

— Owlcat Games (@OwlcatGames) April 1, 2026

Owlcat Games has designed the first-ever console for CRPGs: The OwlBrick. Featuring auto combat, romance assist, and a face scan tool, this not-fake-at-all hardware is looking to be the next big thing.

Invincible VS Roster Expands With Painfully Creative Joke Characters

ALL ABOARD! Next stop, emotional damage. pic.twitter.com/r8N3wp8o7f

— Invincible VS (@InvincibleVS) April 1, 2026

Just when players thought Conquest had rounded out the Invincible VS launch roster, Skybound Games and Quarter Up took to social media to pull more characters from every (and we really mean every) corner of the Invincible universe. The full lineup of 100% not-real characters includes Eve's dad, Rapidly Aging Flaxan, Allen's Cat, the Invincible Train, and last but not least, Thicc Omni-Man.

Slime Rancher Devs Channel Doom in Trailer for Tarrminator 5

Fill up your water tank Ranchers, Tarmageddeon is here. pic.twitter.com/2uTMcFSq6S

— Slime Rancher (@slimerancher) April 1, 2026

The Slime Rancher team at Monomi Park thought their colorful cozy game could use some Doom music, so they gave it just that. A trailer for Tarrminator 5, coming never, offers a peek into another universe where the Slime Slayer rules.

Risk of Rain Ditches the Risk – and Just About Everything Else

The future of the Risk of Rain franchise is now! 🌧️ pic.twitter.com/9aPLjaBa12

— Risk of Rain (@RiskofRain) April 1, 2026

For April Fools' Day 2026, the Risk of Rain 2 devs decided the risk may not actually be worth the reward. So, for the totally real next chapter of Risk of Rain, players can look forward to just Rain. No music, no enemies, no fun items. Just rain.

Pragmata Is Finally a Mega-Man Game (Sort Of)

PRAGMATA is a Mega Man Game? April Fools! 😜#PRAGMATAMoonBytes - Part 6 pic.twitter.com/W73dyOrmZL

— Capcom Europe (@CapcomEurope) April 1, 2026

Capcom has heard your theories, and while they may not be true, it's willing to entertain them for a little while longer.

Bungie Offers Relaxation from Marathon Matches With Algae Pond Bath Bomb

Sink in. Reset your vitals. Return mission-ready.

Inspired by the nutrient ponds of Tau Ceti IV, the Algae Pond Bath Bomb delivers a restorative soak engineered for post-deployment recovery.

Because even hardened Runners deserve regulated restoration. pic.twitter.com/I1bR4qFYP0

— Marathon (@MarathonTheGame) April 1, 2026

While other companies have pushed for real April Fools' Day merchandise to buy, Bungie seems content with its prank product being little more than a harmless (and gross) gag. The Algae Pond Bath Bomb is inspired by the planet of Tau Ceti IV in Marathon, and despite the studio's wishes, fans say they want to give the green disc a taste test.

Rebungered: That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Bunger

A new game from the team that brought you Bugsnax and Octodad.

Out now on https://t.co/AAjUAL6FtP pic.twitter.com/I8JvYcvCRx

— Bugsnax (Young Horses) (@YoungHorses) April 1, 2026

Bugsnax social media showed up with prank that comes in two parts. The first is an anime-style opening for a project called Rebungered: That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Bunger, and the second is that this project is real. Following the link in the Bugsnax post directs players to a playable text-based adventure game where – you guessed it – you play as a Bunger. It's a full-fledged story with six endings and seven achievements to unlock.

Satisfactory Unleashes Jason

Simply put: Men are underrepresented in games. We're changing that. pic.twitter.com/D2aVUxhYrW

— Satisfactory (@SatisfactoryAF) April 1, 2026

After waves of comments from players begging to play as a man Pioneer in Satisfactory, Coffee Stain Studios has come up with a solution: Jason. Backed by Linkin Park, Jason finally gives men some representation in video games.

The Division 2 Audio Update Puts Players Right Into the Action

We’ve taken immersion to the next level.
Hear The Division 2 like never before. Available now. pic.twitter.com/xp9VFbA0jP

— Tom Clancy's The Division (@TheDivisionGame) April 1, 2026

Ubisoft is tweaking audio in The Division 2 ever so slightly to make sure players feel as though they are right in the middle of the action. You can hear some of the subtle changes in the video above.

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).

Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto has discussed having a "vague idea" for Peach and Rosalina's true relationship while making the original Super Mario Galaxy — something the new Super Mario Galaxy Movie finally gives "some meat" to.

Speaking to Forbes, Miyamoto recalled working on Galaxy with veteran Mario director Yoshiaki Koizumi — who famously wrote Galaxy's story in secret after hours, while Miyamoto and other developers weren't around.

Opening up about that process now, Miyamoto said he and Koizumi had "a lot of discussion" back in the day, but the two never came to an agreement on how it would all play out. Ultimately, Galaxy (the game) leaves Rosalina's origins mysterious, though fans have long believed the two princesses to be related. Now, more than a decade later, Miyamoto said he was pleased that relationship is finally being fleshed out.

"When we were developing Super Mario Galaxy, the director for that game, Yoshiaki Koizumi, and I were discussing what Rosalina and Peach's actual relationship was," Miyamoto said. "We had this vague idea about what their actual relationship could be, and how it would play into the concept of space.

"We had a lot of discussion about this, but we never came to a conclusion. So we decided that let's take this opportunity to give this idea some meat and get into the specificity of it, and we had a lot of fun having this discussion back and forth."

Without getting into spoiler territory, it's safe to say that The Super Mario Galaxy won't disappoint fans hoping to finally find out more details about Rosalina's origins, and why the two princesses have always looked alike.

Elsewhere in the same interview, Miyamoto discussed the inclusion of Star Fox hero Fox McCloud in the movie, something that surprised many fans when it was announced by Nintendo last week. Miyamoto revealed that the idea initially came from animation studio Illumination, with Miyamoto asked for his thoughts. The creator of Mario (and Star Fox) was on board with the idea, but then needed to begin "lobbying" at Nintendo.

"As the creator of Star Fox and this movie taking place in space, I felt that I wanted to see that," Miyamoto said of Fox McCloud's inclusion. "I wanted to see what it would be like, but I also felt that there may be significant resistance internally about that idea, so after I got this proposal, I contacted the necessary parties involved and started my lobbying activity here at Nintendo.

"However, I was surprised to find that a lot of people saw a lot of potential with it and were really excited to see what would come out of this."

As for how Twisters star Glen Powell got cast as Fox, Illumination boss Chris Meledandri revealed that the actor had actually pitched to play the character in a standalone movie, unaware that conversations were already underway within Nintendo about his appearance in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.

"[Powell] explained that we had to understand how deeply he loved the character of Fox McCloud," Meledandri said. "His dream was one day to be part of a Star Fox movie. I'm listening to this going, 'he has no idea that Miyamoto-san and I are talking about Star Fox being in this new movie,' and Glen is expressing this passion for this."

"I will say that the team that's working on the movie, including the actors, there are a lot of Mario fans," Miyamoto concluded, hinting at the potential for multiple future Mario movies (plural) in future. "From them, there are a lot of ideas about wanting to use different characters, almost to the point that we couldn't fit everything in. So we're really looking forward to creating more films."

On the subject of further movies, Bowser voice actor Jack Black has suggested the third Super Mario Movie will arrive in 2029, a date which would likely mean there will be a big Nintendo movie in theaters every year for the remainder of the decade.

Next year will see the launch of Nintendo's live-action The Legend of Zelda movie, currently set to debut on May 7, 2027. Then there's that leaked Donkey Kong spinoff, which would make sense to arrive in 2028 following a two-year break for Nintendo's big screen animated adventures — and as a lead-up to the third Super Mario Movie.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

When Shigeru Miyamoto first created the little Italian plumber climbing the skyscrapers in 1981's Donkey Kong, I doubt he imagined the pixelated fella would end up fully realized on the big screen one day.

Yet, here we are. And after 40 years of evolution, Miyamoto says he believes Mario has finally become a "person" in a sense, thanks to that film debut.

Miyamoto told us this in an interview we conducted at the Nintendo Museum in Kyoto, ahead of the release of the Super Mario Galaxy Movie. We asked him about the design of Mario and how it's evolved over the years, eventually landing on what we see in the movie:

"Just like the first design I made of Mario is very different from the current Mario, Mario continues to evolve as a character, and when working with Chris [Meledandri]-San, you know, obviously, there's the phase of going from illustration to 3D to become models and figures. And once it becomes a movie, I've been saying that it becomes a person. And now that the 'person' has gone through, you know, struggles and really evolved or grew as that person, having all different kinds of emotions and really grown as a character. And I think seeing Mario or seeing any character go through a rich expansion of character, I think that's something that I'm sure the character is happy about and I feel happy about it."

Meledandri, also in the interview, noted that Illumination's designers usually start "with the most recent iteration of each character from Nintendo," and that design evolution comes when they add details, like Mario's individual mustache hairs. Miyamoto also told us that he still takes his pen and marks up Illumination's CG drawings with his own ideas during the design process, just as he hand-drew Mario all those years ago.

Toward the end of the interview, Miyamoto again reminisced about Mario's evolution over time, comparing him to another famous mascot:

"So right from the get-go, when I created Mario, and, you know, looking at Mickey Mouse, Mickey Mouse is a character that evolves and grows alongside animation," he said. "And we felt that Mario is a character that grows and evolves alongside digital technology. And so as we have more digital technology that allows many ways to distribute that and share that with more people, those things come together to form this unison. And as we're talking about these films, we started to feel like films are another medium that Mario can star in and be featured in. And so really seeing that come together provides us with more opportunities for people to be able to engage with and be introduced to Nintendo, the world of Nintendo, and that this kind of coming together is something that I appreciate and love seeing."

We spoke to Miyamoto and Meledandri about all sorts of things, including R.O.B. and other cameo appearances in the film, and why they skipped Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine and went straight to galaxy. You can read our full interview with both of them right here. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie hits theaters on April 1, 2026, and you can read our review of the film here.

See at IGN Store:

Nintendo will be "furious" with last week's major leaks that detailed numerous Switch 2 games set to launch throughout the rest of 2026 and into 2027, including a Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake and launch details for the next big 3D Mario platformer.

That's according to ex-Nintendo employee Kit Ellis, who now hosts the Kit & Krysta podcast that dissects the latest goings on at their former employer.

Last week, renowned leaker Natethehate effectively laid out Nintendo's full launch plans for the next 12 months and beyond, in astonishing and frankly unprecedented fashion. Numerous Nintendo games have leaked in the past, of course, but it's hard to remember such open discussion of the company's upcoming release slate happening quite like this in the past.

Natethehate's leak not only spoiled the announcement of a Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake this Christmas, but of a new Star Fox game and fresh Switch Sports title due this summer.

The coming months will also reportedly see the launch of previously-announced games such as Splatoon adventure spinoff Splatoon Raiders, Rhythm Heaven: Groove and Fire Emblem: Fortune Weave, alongside Switch 2 Editions for Pikmin 4 and Xenoblade 2.

Finally, Natethehate claimed that Nintendo's long-awaited next 3D Mario platformer would not arrive in 2026 — something that has come as a blow to fans counting the many years since the launch of Super Mario Odyssey, nearly a decade ago.

"I can promise you that Nintendo is absolutely furious about this," former Nintendo of America PR manager Kit Ellis said in a post on social media. "If you're trying to avoid this stuff, good luck, because it's all over the place," he continued, noting that Natethehate had "a very accurate track record for a really long time now."

"My mind goes to Nintendo and how they really have a problem with leaks right now that they don't seem to be able to solve," Ellis said, highlighting the unprecedented nature of the leak and what it means for a company like Nintendo that relies on the element of surprise to help market its upcoming games.

"This isn't just somebody cryptically tweeting out a few things 24 hours before a Nintendo Direct," Ellis said. "This is somebody who has laid out their entire line-up for the rest of this year and part of next year's. For a company like Nintendo whose approach to marketing is propped up by the element of surprise, it's a big problem.

"This just feels like uncharted territory for Nintendo. They've had leakers before, and they've dealt with leakers before. This feels like a different situation and I don't know what's going to happen next. But for the company overall, this is going to become a major priority going forward."

Nintendo is yet to comment on the leaks, and seems unlikely to do so. Reportedly, the company does not plan to host any major announcement showcase before this summer's annual June Nintendo Direct. Earlier today, Microsoft announced plans for its own Xbox Games Showcase.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

You know that feeling of simultaneous delight and dismay you get when you finally roll the credits on a really good game? Well, a new report claims that that feeling is not only real, but has a name, too: "post-game depression."

According to a new study into the phenomenon, post-game depression (P-GD) is the "sense of emptiness that arises after completing a deeply immersive game," resulting in a sense of "loss, emptiness, or sadness."

As reported by News Medical Life Sciences, the paper claims that while "this phenomenon is widely reported by players (e.g., in social media), little research has been done in this field."

The study, published in January's edition of Current Psychology and obtained by IGN, claims to be the first-ever quantitative measure of post-game depression. The researchers conducted two studies with 373 participants and drilled down into four subscales of the phenomenon: Game-related Ruminations, Challenging End of Experience, Necessity of Repeating the Game, and Media Anhedonia, which is the term given to the inability to experience pleasure from activities that are usually enjoyable.

"Despite the widespread discussion of this phenomenon on platforms such as social media and YouTube, there is a notable absence of scientific investigation," the paper explains. The most comprehensive insight into this topic thus far had been provided by Piotr Klimczyk, who explored P-GD back in 2023 and found those four main aspects related to P-GD.

"The uniqueness was primarily associated with being a one-of-a-kind game that pushed the boundaries of its genre or with the richness of its story and characters, making the experience deeply emotional," the paper explains. "Some felt the ending came too soon, while others struggled to accept that the game actually concludes (experiencing the end of a game-related experience as challenging). Then came the realization that there would never be another first playthrough (being confronted with the impossibility of another first playthrough), and with it, the feeling that the game could never again evoke the same level of tension, joy, or sadness. These feelings lingered for days or even weeks, resulting in media anhedonia – no other video game or form of entertainment seemed capable of filling that void, so to speak."

Those 2023 findings — which measured P-GD, wellbeing, emotional mood, positive mental health, runimation and reflection, as well as the type of game played in one study, and P-GD, depressive symptoms, runimation and reflection, and emotional processing in the other — suggested that the emotional investment we put into games is particularly brutal when we develop "deep attachments to characters who may die within the narrative."

Now, in this latest research, the paper authors concluded that they "found the four-factor version of the P-GDS to be internally consistent and valid" and developed a new scale to help researchers quantify it.

"We observed positive correlations between the intensity of post-game depression and stronger depressive symptoms, tendency to rumination, and disturbances in emotional processing, as well as with lower well-being. Finally, role-playing games have been revealed to evoke stronger post-game depression than other games."

That means, of all the genres sampled by the participants, it was RPGs that resulted in the strongest reactions when the game was finally finished (which, in my view, makes The Last of Us Part 2 very much an RPG!).

"As the first generation of video game users transitioned from children to adults, their emotional needs have evolved," the paper adds. "The development of more serious, mature video game content reflects this shift in the emotional and psychological demands of an ageing player base. Accordingly, video games are not solely designed to provide fun or pleasure.

"Some games evoke deep emotions such as contemplation, sadness, or existential reflection. Others instil fear in players through survival horror mechanics and narratives. Moreover, the 'soulslike' genre introduces frustration and challenge, transforming the gameplay into a demanding experience that ultimately provides a sense of achievement and competence."

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

A huge plot point from The Super Mario Galaxy Movie — and indeed, all of Nintendo canon — looks to have been spoiled by a ratings board listing.

We'll cover the spoiler in detail below, and discuss its implications not just for the movie but various Nintendo games. This is your last chance to look away, rather than watch the movie for yourself when it arrives in theaters next week on April 1.

Warning! Super Mario Galaxy Movie spoilers follow.

A rating for the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has spoiled the fact that the film includes "flashbacks to the separation of a girl and her younger sister." While the characters are not named, fans are convinced this relates to Peach and Rosalina — who the movie will seemingly confirm are siblings.

The revelation that Peach and Rosalina are related — and how — is more than 18 years in the making, and fills in a narrative gap that Nintendo itself decided to keep frustratingly unanswered within the original Super Mario Galaxy game.

Galaxy's plot slowly reveals more of Rosalina's backstory and makes reference to her being separated from her mother, via pages of a storybook that players collect. (Nintendo published this book as a physical item last year, sparking fan speculation it would revisit this storyline again.)

Over the years, behind the scenes details on the game's development have revealed evidence that Nintendo once planned to make a direct link between Rosalina and Peach within the game, before it ultimately decided to keep things vague. Still, Rosalina's appearance was designed so that she closely resembles Peach, and fans have spent nearly two decades debating the exact relationship between the pair (another popular suggestion has been that they are mother and daughter).

The issue of Peach's origins — and the briefest hint at her birthplace beyond the Mushroom Kingdom — was teased in 2023's Super Mario Bros. Movie, meanwhile.

"You don't seem like you're from here," Mario says at one point.

"I don't know where I'm from, my earliest memory is arriving," Peach replies, as a flashback shows her as a toddler, turning up in the Mushroom Kingdom via a warp pipe. Dressed in a skirt decorated with stars and moons, she is quickly found by a group of Toads. "I was so lucky they found me," she continues. "They took me in, raised me like one of their own, and when I was ready they made me their princess."

"Maybe you're from my world?" Mario suggests, though Peach seems to disagree.

"There's a huge universe out there, with a lot of galaxies," she hints, as the camera pulls back to focus on the night sky. At the time, fans believed this was a nod towards Peach's own galactic origins — and with it, the link between her and Rosalina that Nintendo ultimately shied away from confirming long ago.

Mario games are not known for their story, and Super Mario Galaxy's director Yoshiaki Koizumi has admitted he wrote Galaxy's storybook in secret each evening, after other developers had left the office. Ultimately, he surprised even Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto with the idea, and an adapted version of his plans was ultimately included.

Elsewhere, the BBFC's Super Mario Galaxy Movie listing describes the film's brief moments of mild violence, threat and horror, as well as "brief and infrequent moments of very mild rude humor." According to the BBFC, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie does not include any swearing, drug references, discrimination or sex.

"Fight scenes involve kicks, punches, laser gunfire and use of fantastical weapons. Violence is occasionally intense but often includes comic moments," the rating concludes. "A brief verbal reference is made to decapitation."

With Rosalina and Peach's connection seemingly set to be confirmed, one of Nintendo's biggest lore mysteries looks to have been answered. Next up, how about an answer to the identity of Bowser Jr.'s mother?

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social