Tom Phillips

'There's Been a Big Shift in Gaming And We All Know It': After Three Decades of LEGO Video Games, The World's Biggest Toy Company Reveals How It's Staying Relevant Amid Seismic Changes in Play - IGN As LEGO celebrates the 30th anniversary of its video games, the world's biggest toy company reveals how it's staying relevant amid seismic changes in how people play.

"There's been a big shift in gaming and we all know it."

Here's a chat with the bosses of Lego's video game division on how the world's biggest toy brand is navigating the current sea changes in gaming, three decades on from its first launch

www.ign.com/articles/the...

As Comet 3I/Atlas Whizzes Past Earth and Clash of Clans is Threatened By a Looming Asteroid, YouTube Scientist Hank Green Says We're Detecting More Space Objects Than Ever — But Should We Really Be Wo... As Comet 3I/Atlas whizzes past Earth and Clash of Clans is threatened by a looming asteroid, YouTube scientist Hank Green tells IGN we're detecting more space objects than ever — but should we really ...

Spoke to awesome internet science chap @hankgreen.bsky.social about asteroids, video games and spirit gum.

Here's why it's a good thing that lots of nearby space objects seem to be in the news right now, and why a big one probably won't hit Earth

www.ign.com/articles/as-...

Thanks, that's my mistake - had meant to say first time with Black Ops.

omg

Fans Want Pokémon to Sue After Department of Homeland Security Video Uses Ash Ketchum to Promote ICE — But The Company's Former Legal Boss Says He 'Wouldn't Touch This' - IGN The Pokémon Company's former chief legal officer has said he would not take action over an official Department of Homeland Security video that features footage of people being handcuffed and arrested ...

Pokémon fans want the famously litigious company to kick off against the Department of Homeland Security, after an ICE propaganda video featured Ash Ketchum.

But Pokémon's formal legal chief has said formal action is unlikely. Here's why -

IGN UK Podcast 817: Dying Light: Mr Beast

Care for some audible delights for your delicate podcast-loving ears? Of course you do!

From my time with Dying Light The Beast to the lovely @tomphillipseg.bsky.social going all in on AC Shadows' latest DLC & hot Alien Earth chatter with @daledriver.bsky.social

open.spotify.com/episode/2kH5...

Lastly, a note on Metroid Prime 4. While it hasn't been delayed to 2026, it received oddly little fanfare despite a decade in development. Curious about Nintendo's expectations of it and its ability to grow that franchise. No mention of it getting a dedicated Direct, while Kirby gets a second.

Nintendo are the masters of monetising nostalgia, or identifying key parts or extensions of games its fans will respond to and pay more for ($20 for Mega Raichu DLC? I'm probably there).

$100 for a Virtual Boy accessory (or $25 for a cardboard version). DLC for a Pokemon game that's not yet out, which will bring the total outlay to around $100. Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 ports with seemingly minimal upgrades for $70, or $40 each. That talking Mario flower toy won't be cheap either.

And for those core fans, well, yesterday saw almost every major franchise represented (and for the Animal Crossing crowd, there was a new Pokémon Animal Crossing-like which seems assured to sell). In the cold light of day, though, some of the pricing raises eyebrows.

The recent launch of a Mario merchandise range for toddlers and kids was another example of this. For core fans, Nintendo is a way of life. And as Mario hits 40, Nintendo is ensuring its franchises are embedded in a new generation.

With Switch 2 now released, yesterday's Nintendo Direct offered the clearest look in years at where the company is headed - smartly monetising nostalgia, doubling down on core IPs, and increasing each franchise's value and reach beyond core gamers through movies, books and toys.

Ubisoft Staff Reportedly Raised Concerns About Saudi Arabia Deal for Assassin's Creed Mirage DLC, as Company Insists it Maintains Creative Control - IGN Ubisoft employees have raised concerns around the company's partnership with Saudi Arabia to create new Assassin's Creed Mirage DLC, a fresh report has revealed.

Ubisoft tells IGN it maintains creative control over its upcoming Saudi Arabia-funded Assassin's Creed Mirage DLC, as a report claims staff flagged concerns over the partnership.

Assassin's Creed Shadows Will Finally Wrap Up 2 Key Storylines in its Claws of Awaji Expansion, Even if Yasuke is Now Taking on a 'Support Role' - IGN No one can accuse Assassin's Creed Shadows of skimping on things to do, or reasons to stick around long after its campaign wraps up. Ubisoft itself recommends you set aside 60 hours to reach the game'...

Assassin's Creed Shadows ends after 100 hours with a couple of major plot threads still left dangling.

I chat with the team behind its expansion about how the main game's narrative shifted, finally wrapping up Naoe's story now, and what Yasuke's up to

Looking forward to playing that big new Indy video game out today

Spider-Man Star Tom Holland Looks Unrecognizable in New LEGO Short Film — He Takes a Break From Filming Brand New Day to Tell IGN Why - IGN Tom Holland explains why he's taking a break from filming Spider-Man: Brand New Day to appear in a new LEGO short film, in which he plays a varied and rapid-fire cast of characters.

Always good to meet another Lego fan!

Chatted with Tom Holland about why we should never feel too old to play, and how he bonded with his Spider-Man: Homecoming co-star by building an enormous Lego Death Star together.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Developers Detail Clever System That Increases the DLC's Difficulty Based on How Much of the Base Game You've Played - IGN Nearly a year on from the launch of MachineGames' brilliant Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, the studio is back with an additional chapter, The Order of the Giants, which arrives on September 4. Fo...

This is really smart! Lots more chat here too on how The Order of the Giants fits in with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle's main story.

I can't wait to play more of this very good video game.

The Big Resident Evil Requiem Interview: Why the Game's Monster Got Supersized, Why it's Probably Not Lisa Trevor, and a Tease for Areas Beyond Raccoon City — Just Don't Talk About Leon - IGN Last week in Cologne, Capcom's nerve-jangling Resident Evil Requiem demo was one of the highlights of the Gamescom 2025 show floor — but plenty of questions remain. Here, IGN sits down with director K...

The Big Resident Evil Requiem Interview: Why the Game's Monster Got Supersized, Why it's Probably Not Lisa Trevor, and a Tease for Areas Beyond Raccoon City — Just Don't Talk About Leon

Pokémon Go Boosting Level Cap and Rebalancing Experience, In First Major XP Change for 5 Years - IGN Pokémon Go is introducing a new, higher level cap and rebalancing the XP requirements for existing levels — though no player will see their current level reduced.

Finally! After five years it's time to get back on the levelling grind to become a Pokémon master all over again

Microsoft Still Can't Say How Much the ROG Xbox Ally X Will Cost Due to "Macro-Economic" Conditions, Despite Announcing Release Date and Availability Details - IGN Microsoft has confirmed release date and availability details for the ROG Xbox Ally X, its upcoming gaming handheld made by Asus, but notably held off on confirming how much the device will cost.

Xbox and Asus are currently unable to announce a price point for the companies' new gaming handhelds due to the current impact of "macro-economic" conditions, they tell me
www.ign.com/articles/mic...

BioShock Studio Cloud Chamber Undergoes Layoffs, Appoints Rod Fergusson New BioShock Head

2K Games is laying off an unknown number of individuals at BioShock studio Cloud Chamber, as it undergoes efforts to "rework" its upcoming new BioShock game.

Rich is a true legend of the games industry, and as talented and tireless a colleague as you could ever hope to work alongside. Wishing him and all the @digitalfoundry.bsky.social team the very best for the future - they are completely deserving of all your support.

Topless Bruno Mars, Ryan Reynolds, Ryu from Street Fighter and Jason Momoa in Fortnite, with no nipples.

Mario topless in Super Mario Odyssey, with nipples.

Where are Fortnite's nipples? Mario has them. I have them. Do you know the reason?
Just something I need to get off my chest.

Plants vs Zombies: Replanted Is a New 'Anchor for the Franchise,' PopCap Says, and a Chance to Reacknowledge the Series' Roots - IGN As PopCap announces a "definitive" new version of its beloved Plants vs Zombies, the studio has reflected on the evolution of its garden tower defense franchise — and why now is the right time to go b...

Plants vs Zombies is going back to its roots.

A polished-up remake of the tower defense classic will serve as a fresh "anchor for the franchise", PopCap has told me.

Amid Claims Pokémon TCG Pocket Features a Design Traced From Fan Art, Creators Point Out That Pokémon's Legal Terms Likely Allow the Company to Monetise Any Fan-Made Content It Wants - IGN The Pokémon fan community is alight with concern that a piece of fan artwork has been copied to create an upcoming card within Pokémon TCG Pocket.

Sure, Pokémon TCG Pocket might feature a card design traced from fan art - but Pokémon's own legal terms suggest it has the right to do so:

Bet you dreamed about bananas, didn't ya?

Chloe Kelly, Hannah Hampton, Lionesses... incredible 🦁🥲

Fantastic Four, the film that wished it had quality of Thunderbolts* while making the box office Thunderbolts* wished it had

*Leonardo DiCaprio pointing meme*

Nintendo Confirms Actors Set to Play Link and Zelda in Live-Action The Legend of Zelda Film - IGN Nintendo has confirmed the lead actors for its upcoming live action The Legend of Zelda movie.

I still think this is probably a terrible idea but... the casting is good? Bo Bragason was great in The Jetty

www.ign.com/articles/nin...