The USPTO has rejected Nintendo’s controversial 'summon character and let it fight' Pokémon patent, after it was heavily criticized by IP lawyers last year.

In November, the director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) ordered a reexamination of the patent after IP lawyers had criticized the U.S. patent system and the USPTO for awarding it.

At the time, IP expert Florian Mueller took to social media to say Nintendo “should never” have received a "summon character and let it fight" patent in the first place, while video game patent lawyer Kirk Sigmon told PC Gamer "these claims were in no way allowable."

Nintendo and The Pokémon Company are currently embroiled in ongoing litigation with Pocketpair's Palworld in Japan, and patents are at the heart of the lawsuit. This particular patent sums up how Pokémon games work in that you summon Pokémon to battle other Pokémon in the hope of adding them to your collection. But, as was pointed out last year, there are countless other games that use similar mechanics, such as Persona, Digimon, and even Elden Ring, depending upon how the patent is interpreted.

Games fray reported that the USPTO rejected all claims of the patent in question, based on ”prior art” references in the form of published U.S. patent applications. Games fray said two of those earlier patent applications were filed by Nintendo itself, and one each by Konami and Bandai Namco.

It’s worth noting that this rejection is non-final, so there’s a long way to go before Nintendo accepts the decision. It may appeal, for example, which would drag this out even longer. But what will be of most importance is its potential impact on the lawsuit with Pocketpair, which has gone quiet since October last year.

Palworld launched on Steam priced $30 and straight into Game Pass on Xbox and PC early 2024, breaking sales and concurrent player number records in the process. Pocketpair boss Takuro Mizobe has said Palworld's launch was so big that the developer couldn’t handle the massive profits the game generated. Still, Pocketpair acted swiftly to capitalize on Palworld’s breakout success, signing a deal with Sony to form a new business called Palworld Entertainment that’s tasked with expanding the IP. It later launched the game on PS5.

After Palworld’s huge launch, comparisons were made between Palworld’s Pals and Pokémon, with some accusing Pocketpair of "ripping off" Pokémon designs. But rather than file a copyright infringement lawsuit, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company went down the patent route. They want 5 million yen (approx $32,846) each plus late payment damages, as well as an injunction against Palworld that would block its release.

The case involves three main patents granted in Japan: two related to monster capture and release, and one related to riding characters. All three patents were filed in 2024, after Palworld came out. However, they are actually derived from earlier Nintendo patents dating from 2021. In other words, it seems that once Palworld exploded onto the scene, Nintendo filed divisional patents that were geared to fight specifically against Palworld’s alleged infringement of the original patents.

Since then, Pocketpair has made changes to Palworld’s disputed mechanics. A November 2024 patch, for example, removed the ability to summon Pals by throwing Pokéball-like Pal Spheres. In May last year, another Palworld update changed how you can glide in the game. At the time, Pocketpair said it was being forced to patch Palworld due the lawsuit.

The case has rumbled on, with Nintendo even rewriting a mount-related patent mid-lawsuit, and arguing that mods should not count as prior art.

All eyes will be on Presiding Judge Motoyuki Nakashima, who leads the patent division of the Tokyo District Court. Meanwhile, Pocketpair has continued to update Palworld as it prepares for its 1.0 launch.

At the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in March 2025, IGN sat down for an extended conversation with John “Bucky” Buckley, communications director and publishing manager for Palworld developer Pocketpair. We spoke following his talk at the conference, 'Community Management Summit: A Palworld Roller Coaster: Surviving the Drop.' During that talk, Buckley went into candid detail about a number of Palworld’s struggles, especially the accusations of it using generative AI and stealing Pokemon’s models for its own Pals. He even commented on Nintendo’s patent infringement lawsuit against the studio, saying it “came as a shock” and was “something that no one even considered.”

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.

Jack Karlson’s 1991 arrest outside a Brisbane, Australia Chinese restaurant – the video of which went viral when it was uploaded to YouTube nearly two decades later – has been added to Australia’s National Film and Sound Archive. Karlson’s iconic monologue is one of nine selections that form the organisation’s 2026 ‘Sounds of Australia’ capsule.

“Each year, the National Film and Sound Archive recognises recordings that travel far beyond their original moment,” the NFSA explains on its website. “The Sounds of Australia collection now takes in earworm jingles, animal calls, landmark speeches and automated messages: audio that echoes through everyday life to shape our sonic landscape.”

Karlson’s memorable and theatrical reaction came while being compelled into a police car, in which he swings between indignantly railing against the circumstances of his arrest (“What is the charge? Eating a meal? A succulent Chinese meal?”), sarcastically complimenting the officers on their technique (“Ah, yes, I see that you know your judo well”), and shouting at police to, “Get your hand off my penis!”

I was playing Crimson Desert last night and noticed two blue dots on the map that weren’t there before. Curious, I raced to their location to see what they were. It turns out, they were NPCs I’d set to work as the boss of the Greymanes, both toiling away on a “mission” to improve some local farmland. So I sat and watched them for a minute, then a few minutes, then, for quite a while. And they were making improvements to the land in front of my eyes, or, in real-time, according to the in-game clock.

Pearl Abyss’ open world action adventure initially revolves around main character Kliff’s effort to rebuild the Greymanes after a devastating event early on scatters them to the wind. You establish a base camp and, as you recruit more of your comrades, find that you are able to send them out to work. Missions might involve construction, mining, logging, there’s all sorts they can do.

But rather than simply vanishing for the set amount of in-game time then reappearing at camp, these NPCs will actually go where you’ve sent them, and actually work the land. It’s an impressive mechanic to discover actually works, but there’s even more to it than meets the eye.

One of the NPCs I was watching work told me they’d meet me for a drink after work. And so, at nighttime, there they were, having a drink in the tavern.

Crimson Desert’s quest system involves a huge number of missions for various factions, and some depend on certain NPCs being available to either start them or continue them. So, if you send those NPCs out to work, they won’t be in your camp for you to interact with. But you can visit them at their workplace and talk to them to continue the mission, which adds another dose of realism to Kliff’s adventure.

Of course, Crimson Desert doesn’t properly explain all this (thankfully, we've got a guide to Greymane camp management), so some players are having to discover the game’s inner workings for themselves. I’m doing the same thing, and it’s fun to see players marvel at mechanics such as these as they realize the extent of their complexity.

石像が出来る過程が気になったので最初から最後までひたすら監視してみた🐺#紅の砂漠 #祝400万本 pic.twitter.com/UFs765Cqou

— たけ (@otomati1026) April 1, 2026

One player said that if you send NPCs on battle or recapture missions, you can fight alongside them. I haven’t done that yet, but it’s something I’m excited to try.

“My first dispatch was to rebuild the house that was hit by a sky stone,” said one player. “I could watch them construct the house step by step in stages. It was insane!”

Crimson Desert has this whole camp management game within a game, which you need to engage with to some extent to progress the story, but can dip out of if it’s too much. And already I can feel it becoming a lot to manage, because as well as the NPC missions, there’s the upkeep of the camp itself to think about, trading (you can even monitor the value of goods), and your own house to furnish. No wonder Kliff doesn’t have much to say — he’s too busy running a small town.

We’ve got plenty more on Crimson Desert, which has just hit the 4 million sold mark. We recommend you take a look at our guide to Things to Do First in Crimson Desert, plus Things Crimson Desert Doesn’t Tell You (we’ve got 28 and counting!). We’ve also got a guide to the Best Early Weapons we recommend picking up, the Best Skills to Get First (including a handy explainer of the skills system), and 34 Essential Tips and Tricks to help you succeed in Pywel.

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.

Milly Alcock is set to play Supergirl in the next big DC Universe movie, and with that comes an intense scrutiny from fans. But, she says, she already has experience working under the microscope of fandom: on Game of Thrones spinoff House of the Dragon.

Alcock played the younger version of Rhaenyra Targaryen in the HBO show, and won plaudits for her performance. Off the back of that, she was cast as Kara Zor-El in the follow-up to James Gunn’s Superman, in which she made a cameo. Now, Alcock is firmly rooted in the rebooted DCU, headlining a movie of her own, and may end up in subsequent DCU movies such as next year’s Man of Tomorrow.

And so, in an interview with Vanity Fair, Alcock was asked if “the famously fickle Game of Thrones fandom” had prepared her for “the inevitable backlash.” She replied to say that due to her experience working on House of the Dragon, she understands that she will get comments about her appearance, but it sounds like she won't let them bother her.

“It definitely made me aware that simply existing as a woman in that space is something that people comment on. We have become very comfortable having this weird ownership of women’s bodies,” she said. “I can’t really stop them. I can only be myself.”

According to the interview, Alcock told herself she’d never do another big franchise project after wrapping up House of the Dragon, but she started to get anxious after failing to work for a year. “I was so s**t-scared that my life was over at 22,” she said. “And, of course, it wasn’t.”

She was similarly dismissive of concerns about the superhero genre expressed by the likes of Martin Scorsese and Ridley Scott. Scorsese famously said Marvel movies were "not cinema," and Ridley Scott called superhero movies “boring as s**t,” with scripts that “aren’t any f***king good.”

“I get it. They’ve been around for f***ing ever making phenomenal films,” Alcock said. “Not every film is for everyone. The beauty of art is that you can be selective.”

Alcock’s comments arrived alongside a new Supergirl trailer, which shows a lot more of Jason Momoa’s Lobo. We also see David Corenswet’s Superman make a brief appearance, and find out that Krypto the Superdog only has three days to live. Supergirl hits theaters on June 26, 2026.

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.

Pokémon Go is celebrating April Fool's Day with a big in-game surprise — and the best part is that it really isn't a joke.

Today sees the long-awaited launch of fan-favorite creature Mimikyu, the ghostly Pokémon who dresses up in a Pikachu costume. Fans have been clamouring for Mimikyu's release for years, with its continued non-appearance every Halloween now something of a meme in the game's community.

This week, developer Niantic announced what appeared to be a fairly bland-looking Electric-type Pokémon event, scheduled to take place over the April Fool's Day week. Fans had hoped that something more was afoot — and indeed, as April 1 arrives around the world, Pokémon Go finally delivered.

Load up Pokémon Go today and you'll see Mimikyu silhouettes appearing on your radar. Could this be a trick, though? After so long, surely the creature wouldn't just launch on April Fool's Day? Many fans have said they assumed this was a prank by Niantic, designed to get their hopes up only for the rug to be pulled... but no, this really is the arrival of Mimikyu, with more to come this evening.

As well as appearing in the wild and in random event task rewards, today's Spotlight Hour, taking place from 6 to 7pm local time, will see increased Mimikyu spawns in the wild alongside that of Pikachu. Several other Mimikyu encounters can also be found in the current event's pass, which had been obscured with "?" until now.

Of course, all of this had been somewhat spoiled by datamined information floating around social media that pointed to Mimikyu's upcoming release. But for the majority of Pokémon Go's playerbase who don't sit online, today will bring a new species to catch that should come as a very pleasant surprise.

Mimikyu is one of the Pokémon franchise's most beloved creatures, though no one has seen its actual appearance and lived to tell the tale. Underneath its crooked Pikachu disguise, the real Mimikyu lies hiding. "Its actual appearance is unknown," reads Mimikyu's Pokédex entry from 3DS title Pokémon Sun. "A scholar who saw what was under its rag was overwhelmed by terror and died from the shock." A similar entry from Pokémon Ultra Moon reveals another such tale: "A gust of wind revealed what hides under this Pokémon’s rag to a passing Trainer, who went home and died painfully that very night."

Last week, it was revealed that The Pokémon Company was already considering a future where the total number of pocket monsters available hits "maybe 10,000" species. At the time of writing, the Pokémon franchise extends to 1,025 species — including the three new starter creatures already unveiled for next year's Switch 2 games Pokémon Winds and Waves.

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

A ramen shop in Japan has proudly declared it has become an official Warhammer retailer, selling Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer: Age of Sigmar miniatures alongside noodle soup.

DenfamiNicoGamer reports that the owner of Mendokoro Maruwa, which is in Sakusabe, Chiba Prefecture (Tokyo's eastern outskirts), believes this to be a world first. "Probably the first in the world!,” they said in a post on Twitter / X. “A ramen restaurant is becoming an official Warhammer retailer!"

Mendokoro Maruwa plans to sell Warhammer miniatures as well as paints and tools. The ramen shop owner says they’re no veteran Warhammer fan (despite being the same age as Warhammer itself), but is enjoying the hobby as a beginner. “I've been immediately captivated by its charm, so I'd like to share it with a wide audience," they said. The plan is to eventually hold play events outside of normal business hours - and just in time for the launch of Warhammer 40,000 11th Edition, too.

"Once I got hooked on Warhammer, even though I'm a ramen shop, I ended up signing a contract with Games Workshop!" the owner said in another X / Twitter post. "Menya Maruwa has become an official Warhammer retailer lol. I'm a total beginner, but I'm gonna dive in headfirst, so looking forward to your support."

“Just as a tentative plan, I'd like to reach the gameplay event by Golden Week,” the shop owner added. “Since it'll be held outside the ramen shop's business hours, the regular menu won't be available, but I think we can prepare some light snacks and drinks. For Citadel colors only, we plan to have brush painting available inside the shop as well. I'm a total beginner, so please be kind to me!!”

It looks like the announcement has done the trick. Tweeting this morning, Mendokoro Maruwa said Warhammer fans had already visited the ramen shop.

“I'm delighted to have hobbyists visit us right away,” they said. “It will be shipped from the warehouse today, and the Warhammer corner is scheduled to be set up by the weekend. So exciting, isn't it?”

Online reaction is positive, too, with one person saying: “Off to buy Citadel colors……… Gonna go eat some ramen.”

“Sooo, the ramen shop near my place is doing ‘weird stuff’ again, but it's a perfectly normal and delicious ramen joint,” said one seemingly regular customer. “They serve stuff like tsukemen with chocolate sauce on it, but it's a regular ramen shop.”

えーうちの近所のラーメン屋が『また』変な事してますが、ちゃんと普通に美味しいラーメン屋です。
チョコソースのかかったつけ麺とか出しますが普通のラーメン屋です。 https://t.co/u2B1to19EL pic.twitter.com/tcNz4TmzWD

— クロちゃ(๑╹ᆺ╹)麺垢 (@kurotea_men) March 31, 2026

Warhammer and ramen is an unlikely duo — you definitely don’t want to spill any broth on your lovingly painted miniatures! But it might be handy to have some delicious food right there midway through an epic, four-hour game of Warhammer 40,000.

Warhammer has exploded with popularity over the last 10 years, and owner Games Workshop has successfully expanded its audience globally. We’re in a golden age of Warhammer video games, and, with Warhammer 40,000 in particular, the potential for a mainstream appeal with Henry Cavill’s cinematic universe for Amazon Prime Video. So perhaps it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to see Warhammer products sold in places you wouldn’t expect, like a ramen shop in Japan!

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.

Jack Black has suggested that the unannounced but inevitable third Super Mario Movie will arrive in three years' time.

The Tenacious D singer and voice of Bowser made the remark during an interview with Cinemex, while improvising a new song for his character. After finishing the tune with a flourish, Black joked that fans should keep an ear out for it to appear in the third Super Mario Movie.

"Don't be surprised if you hear that coming out next time, in 2029," he said.

A 2029 launch for the third Super Mario Movie would not be surprising, seeing as Nintendo and Minions animation company Illumination took three years to make the new Super Mario Galaxy Movie, following the 2023 arrival of Mario's first animated film.

Following the same release cadence for a third chapter makes sense, and it is widely expected that The Super Mario Galaxy Movie will once again be a financial hit, more than justifying the decision to turn Mario's big screen adventures into a full trilogy. Could Galaxy even go on to eventually top the first Super Mario Movie's $1.36 billion box office haul? It seems possible.

Yesterday, Deadline reported that Mario's new movie was set to open with a $350 million global box office haul — something that would see it become the biggest film of the year to date, with US advance ticket sales slightly ahead of the first movie. However, its opening box office projection is still just shy of the $387.8 million global opening earned by the first film.

A 2029 date makes sense for other reasons, too. Nintendo is back in theaters next year with its live-action The Legend of Zelda movie, currently set to debut on May 7, 2027. And 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. In other words, while the company is yet to confirm this itself, we may have a big Nintendo movie in theaters every year for the remainder of the decade.

With Mario Galaxy Movie now released, we wrote yesterday about what might be next for Nintendo's franchise, including the logic behind the sudden appearance of Star Fox. While we won't spoil things here, the future seems bright for further crossover characters in future — something that will inevitably leave fans wondering whether a full Super Smash Bros. Movie might ever be possible.

"While it loses points for not engaging in a strong emotional core like its predecessor, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie racks up some extra lives by stuffing Easter eggs into the runtime to the point of bursting," we wrote in IGN's Super Mario Galaxy Movie review, awarding the film a 6/10 score. "It’s fun seeing all that stuff on screen, but without some kind of relatable story thriving underneath those references, it’s not as effective as it could be."

Image credit: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images.

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

Stellar Blade developer Shift Up has bought Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami's new studio, Unbound, and will help to create and publish its next game.

Mikami, the legendary Japanese designer also known for his work on Devil May Cry, Dino Crisis, and The Evil Within, founded Unbound after leaving Tango Gameworks prior to Microsoft’s closure of the studio — the Hi-Fi Rush developer has since been acquired and reopened by PUBG owner Krafton. This new enterprise was born in 2022 and has remained fully independent until now, having not released or revealed a project in that time.

Speaking in an announcement video, Mikami teased that he was working on “a fairly large game,” insisting “we’re going to create a masterpiece of a game.”

“I’ve come to see my vision and ideals more clearly, and I don’t think I’ve ever been in a situation where, as a creator, our wavelengths and direction align this closely,” he said. “So for as long as my career continues, I would really like to keep working together. And for the first time in a while, I’ll be fully involved on-site to work on a fairly large game, and I’m really looking forward to it. To all the gamers waiting for this, I hope you can wait just a little longer for its release. That’s how I feel. Thank you so much for everything. Thank you very much.”

According to a post on the Shift Up website, Unbound is currently “developing original PC and console-based IPs targeting the global market” and “the company plans to directly handle the publishing of Unbound’s upcoming titles and gradually build its own global service capabilities.”

The deal signals further ambition for the Korean developer, which launched action-adventure Stellar Blade to great success in 2024. A sequel is in the works after Stellar Blade sold over 3 million copies. Shift Up is also working on Project Spirits, to be published by Level Infinite.

Shift Up CEO Hyung-Tae Kim added: “I find it deeply meaningful to join forces with Unbound, which brings together a world-class development team led by CEO Shinji Mikami. This acquisition will serve as an opportunity to deliver the best gaming experience to users worldwide and further solidify Shift Up’s global development competitiveness.”

It comes at a time when Asian, and in particular Korean, game development is finding success after success, with Pearl Abyss’ Crimson Desert currently the most talked about game in the world, selling 4 million copies in just 2 weeks.

Kim recently received the Presidential Commendation at last year's Korean Content Awards for his work in the games industry. He was recognized for his contribution to the Korean games industry with the games Goddess of Victory: Nikke and Stellar Blade. "This Presidential Citation is thanks to the developers and fans who believed in and supported Shift Up," Kim said at the time. "We will continue to do our best to further promote the competitiveness of Korean games on the global stage."

While it's a rare case for a game to be quite that prosperous, Mikami and Shift Up will certainly be aiming high with this new project. What would you like to see from it? Something that hails back to Mikami’s horror roots? Or something completely fresh like Hi-Fi Rush? Let us know in the comments!

Image credit: Shift Up.

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.

Crimson Desert has now hit the 4 million copies sold mark, two weeks after launch.

Pearl Abyss’ open world action adventure launched on March 19 and sold 2 million copies in a day. It then hit 3 million sales in five days, and now, just over a week later, it’s added another million to its sales total.

“Thank you to all the Greymanes who have been a part of this journey with us and for all of your incredible love and support,” a statement published to the Crimson Desert X / Twitter account read.

Player sentiment on Crimson Desert has improved significantly since launch, when it was met with a ‘mixed’ user review rating on Steam. Since then, a number of major patches have drastically improved the experience, adding everything from a storage box to more summonable mounts. Pearl Abyss’ quickfire updates have helped to improve Crimson Desert’s Steam user review rating, which is now on ‘very positive.’

Peak Steam player concurrents have not just held steady, but increased, with 276,261 hit on Sunday. Steam doesn’t paint the entire picture of a multiplatform game’s success; the actual peak concurrent will be higher, but neither Sony nor Microsoft make their player numbers public.

What’s clear is that Crimson Desert is a hit. According to the Korean business press, Pearl Abyss reportedly spent seven years making Crimson Desert, with development costs coming in at 200 billion won (approx. $133 million). Last week, Pearl Abyss CEO Heo Jin-young said Crimson Desert was on its way to 5 million sales, so it looks like the game has legs.

The natural next question is whether Pearl Abyss will expand the game with DLC, or even an expansion. Pearl Abyss CEO Heo Jin-young last week said there were no solid plans for any DLC, and cast doubt on the possibility of official mod support, but a Nintendo Switch 2 version is apparently being explored.

If you’re jumping into Crimson Desert’s huge open world, we recommend you take a look at our guide to Things to Do First in Crimson Desert, plus Things Crimson Desert Doesn’t Tell You (we’ve got 28 and counting!). We’ve also got a guide to the Best Early Weapons we recommend picking up, the Best Skills to Get First (including a handy explainer of the skills system), and 34 Essential Tips and Tricks to help you succeed in Pywel.

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.

In many ways the ultimate otome game, Love and Deepspace has an army of fans all around the world. Some 80 million players have found love in the dreamy eyes of Xavier, Zayne, Rafayel, Sylus and Caleb. Many of my own female friends in Japan, the UK, the United States and Europe are head over heels in love with this game, from the way it explores themes of romance, to its gritty sci-fi combat that enhances the feeling of overcoming hardship together with the one you love.

While daily check-ins in many mobile games may feel like a chore, in Love and Deepspace they are a chance to feel cherished every day by a perfect lover. And behind the soft whispers that tug at the heartstrings, there is a deeply scientific psychological understanding that pulls players in and keeps them hooked.

At the GDC Festival of Gaming held in San Francisco in March, members of this woman-led development team from Infold Games offered a peek behind the boudoir curtain via multiple talks, a rare chance to see the naked truth of their approach to game design. Afterwards, IGN Japan spoke exclusively with Love and Deepspace producer Lizi Cheng to find out more about the ideal boyfriend, period trackers, and love at first sight.

IGN: Love and Deepspace has a huge global fanbase. How do you go about creating male characters that can appeal to so many different types of women in so many different cultural situations in different countries of the world?

Lizi Cheng: I was surprised the game became so popular in other countries and other regions, but I think the reason is that good content and good characters really are key. If girls from different cultural backgrounds all think the same guys are hot, I think there's some commonality in terms of universal beauty standards. Then again, each of the love interests has his own personalities and characteristics.

IGN: Japan produces a lot of otome games, but very few have found success overseas. Some have
even replaced their Japanese characters with ones designed to appeal to Western players. Did you ever feel concerned about releasing the game with the characters exactly as they are to a global audience?

Lizi Cheng: Our development team is a purely Chinese team, and we really have not conducted in-depth
research about other cultures. So we think it would be very dangerous for us to adapt the characters in that way. We want to focus on what we are good at.

IGN: Love and Deepspace is a live service game, which means you have to keep coming up with new content. There's already a lot of detail in the game, but you have to constantly find new ideas and new fun ways to interact with the characters in the game. Can you tell me a little bit about that process?

Lizi Cheng: Sure. We want to make sure we provide a fresh experience for our players, and we also want
to make sure we consider what the player wants. And so for that, we definitely try to gather data and we conduct surveys with our players to get their feedback and comments. And based on all of the data, we will create a priority list. And then we can know exactly what they want and what they need.

IGN: Voice acting is super important for a romance game to make the characters relatable and loveable. What kind of direction or feedback do you give to your voice actors in the studio?

Lizi Cheng: Lots of it! Actually, each time when we do recording, we will have our writers follow for the
entire session. In terms of the details of our script, we wanted to really have a detailed look at the tone of voice and also the line reading in terms of its specific context, and make fine changes for the best quality. Sometimes we’ll re-record a line more than 50 times so that we can reach the best outcome.

IGN: You've also been adding various new features since the game launched, with one of the most recent being the Home system. Do you plan to keep expanding the Home system and to add new features to it? For example, things like a kitchen, pets, or new ways of interacting together at home?

Lizi Cheng: As you mentioned, the Home system is really based on daily life. So we want to consider all the things you just mentioned. But we’re still in discussion.

IGN: Last year, you added a menstrual cycle tracker feature, enabling the boyfriends in the game to show an extra level of care for the player when they’re at their lowest. We’ve never seen that in a game before, so I think it surprised a lot of people. How did you come up with this system, and why do you think it's an important feature to have in the game?

Lizi Cheng: The inspiration is again based on daily life – and for women, the menstrual cycle is part of daily life. Our team members thought this was a feature that we needed to include, and we also had positive feedback based on survey data from the game. Also, in Chinese culture, we think a boyfriend should care for the girlfriend's physical condition during her period, when she’s weak. And so because of that, we definitely think that by adding this feature, it will really create a kind of emotional bond between the two of them. We wanted this feature to allow the player to feel warm and cared for. As we mentioned in our GDC talk, anything that we feel a boyfriend should do is revealed in this game.

IGN: I watched a GDC talk by Xianzi Feng, the game’s art director, and she showed a slide that explains the scientific breakdown behind the concept of “love at first sight” – biological triggers such as looks and scent, cognitive resonance that tells you “he gets me,” and narrative projection that lets your mind fill in the blanks, all of which converge to create a vibe that makes you fall for someone. She then explained how your team broke this down and implemented it into the game. Could you explain this concept?

Lizi Cheng: In Chinese, we say things reach an ideal state when all the factors align. So definitely, in terms of timing, when and how you meet your significant other and how we can make it memorable is very important. We want to make sure that all of the factors can come into play. And for each of the love interests, we want to focus on their “first sight” – the circumstances under which they meet. We put a lot of thought into this, so that we could create a deep impression for all players.

This is one of the core experiences we want to deliver to our players. So it involves all the different factors of game development, including the visuals, the situation, the storyline, the performance, the atmosphere, the timing and the voice. We bring all of these elements to the player. And because of that, when the player sees him for the first time, they can form a reallyhave a deep memory of who he is and what kind of charm he has. So I think this is very important.

IGN: With all the distractions of modern life and social media, I think a lot of people are really quite lonely. You mentioned in your talk that when someone plays Love and Deepspace, they feel they are not alone. The game even has AR features that allow you to hang out with your man during your daily routine. Do you feel the game fulfils a need that people might have to find love and connection?

Lizi Cheng: It's not really our aim to service those who feel lonely. Different players have different pursuits and preferences. But the game itself really can provide you with this love and bond. So those
who feel lonely in daily life will definitely find this kind of emotional bond, and feel not lonely by playing the game. But we are not only dedicated to them.

IGN: Considering how popular the stories are with fans, would you ever consider doing spinoffs
into novels, movies, TV, animation or comics?

Lizi Cheng: We don't have a plan for that right now. We think this game is really based on the experience
between the player and the love interest, so we think it's not suited to adaptations. I think those kinds of non-interactive narratives would harm the experience and also harm the immersion.

IGN: As an ongoing game, do you have a fixed ending in mind? Or will it go forever and ever and
ever? Lizi Cheng: There's no ending. It's ongoing, definitely. And we want to make sure we can build a lasting bond with our players. For the games that we previously operated, they had more than 10 years of experience. Love and Deepspace is only headed into its second year, so want to keep it going for much longer.

IGN: Have you ever considered VR, AR or XR versions to allow people to meet the boys up close?

Lizi Cheng: In the game, we already use AR technology to allow players to pose with the characters. And
also we have a VR demo that has already been used at offline events, where our players had the chance to meet the male characters. It's a small simulation VR experience where a whole scene takes place in a cafe or in a restaurant. It's a date setting, and you will meet the love interest by wearing the VR glasses and you can have more interaction; you can talk to him, you can touch him, and also, in VR, you can hold a camera so that the love interest can pose while you take photos of him. This was only available for an event, not for home VR. We're still in the experimental stage.

IGN: I’ll just ask one more question. You mentioned during your GDC talk that the boyfriends in the game will “strive to do better at the things a real boyfriend might struggle with." If a man like me plays the game and sees the ideal men you and your team have created, can I learn what will make me a more attentive or a better boyfriend or husband?

Lizi Cheng: It depends on you. Maybe you can have a try.

IGN: I thought that at the start of the game, Zayne is sometimes a little bit rude to the player character – but she likes him anyway. (Jokingly) Does that mean the lesson is that my wife would prefer me to be ruder to her?

Lizi Cheng: (Laughs.) No! Then you’ve misunderstood. Different players have different sensations or experiences when they interact in the game. You have a very interesting perspective; you think that Zayne is rude to the character, but some players reflect that Zayne is very gentle.

IGN: OK, I'll pay much more attention next time. Thank you!

Love and Deepspace’s latest update Ghosts’ Final March is out now.

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.

Spoilers follow for Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, Episodes 2 and 3, which are streaming on Disney+ now.

Adding a bit of added context to what is now a two-episode combo review: I wrote rough early versions of my Born Again Season 2 episode reviews as I watched the advance screeners for the season for the first time, so that both my reactions and any speculation on what’s to come are “pure.” But with Disney+ making the late decision to put out the second and third episode together – while all the rest of Season 1 will still be released one episode at a time – I will reiterate that the season improves after a slower start, and I can see why they decided they’d rather get through these first three quicker.

Jumping into Episode 2, after he saved Matt from offscreen in the premiere, we’ve got Bullseye (Wilson Bethel) back in the flesh and blood again. And he seems to be in a strange headspace, acting like the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen's own guardian devil and maybe his shadow of sorts? Dex’s decision to seek refuge in Clinton Church, and even ask to see Sister Maggie – Matt’s mother – is a fascinating turn of events, especially looking back at Daredevil Season 3, where Dex was impersonating Daredevil.

He truly seems to mean no harm to Matt and his loved ones, at least currently, as he targeted those AVTF agents coming for Cherry at the hospital. Having once literally stood in Matt’s DD boots, does he now want to walk his path in a less overtly monstrous, yet still decidedly lethal, way? Wilson Bethel has always been great as Bullseye and it’s exciting to see him get what feels likely to be a more expanded role this time out, after he was only at the beginning and end of Season 1 (thanks to only being added during that season’s extensive creative overhaul).

Episode 2 manages to make the AVTF even more hateable and to even more pointedly echo current events as we saw more of how they operate in that sequence where Soledad (Ashley Marie Ortiz) and Angela (Camila Rodriguez), the wife and niece of the late Hector Ayala/White Tiger, got caught up in an escalating series of events at the bodega. Everything we saw that AVTF guy do when stumbling upon some teens stealing booze only made things worse, including calling Soledad’s hand on his arm “assault” and hauling her away, making it very understandable why the locals were so up in arms. It also served to make it very satisfying seeing Daredevil beat the hell out of some more AVTF guys later on when they tried to take in Josie. I just wish Angela was a more fleshed-out character to give greater weight to her getting ahold of her uncle’s amulet and clearly aiming to take over the White Tiger identity, as she did in the comics.

The dream Vanessa (Ayelet Zurer) has about Dex hunting her felt a bit weird, and played a bit goofy visually, especially on the heels of Heather’s Muse visions being introduced. Unless there’s some outside influence causing these things to happen, it’s a bit redundant to have both occurring simultaneously.

That dream pushes Vanessa to suggest to Fisk they leave New York entirely for their private island, in what is a questionable shift for her character. Her entire arc since we’ve met her has been about her becoming more of Fisks’s true match, his Queenpin if you will. This included last season where she was upset by Wilson suggesting they back away from their criminal activities for his mayoral image, and was proud of what she’d accomplished while he was gone and she took charge. To now have her switch to wanting them to flee feels off.

BB being the one making the Mayor Kingpin videos is hardly a surprise, given she was the most obvious character to be doing it, but that’s fine since they let us know so early in the season. And I liked her conversation with Daniel about Fisk, where it’s clear she’d like to get him to see why he should turn against his boss - even as he continues to only want to look at how he’s personally benefiting and ignore the actual awfulness going on around him.

Fisk knowing Matt is Daredevil is one of those plot points that can be fun but also tricky to navigate, because there are scenarios where one would presume he’d finally just reveal it. That being the case, it was gratifying to have Buck bring up the idea to Fisk here. Some may argue against Fisk’s logic that revealing it now would only complicate matters with the public, given Matt Murdock saved Fisk’s life, but I think it sounds like a credible concern. And like Matt himself said, in grim admiration, Fisk instead calling on the city to find the missing, oh-so heroic Matt is a wickedly clever way to make it much more difficult for him to stay hidden.

As for Episode 3, it was the stronger of the two new episodes, and it must be said that Born Again Season 2 sure is giving good billy club action! It felt like DD was already using that weapon more than ever in the previous episodes, but the third episode’s concluding action sequence went especially big on the billy in some rather thrilling ways. There was even an awesome, Sam Raimi-style point of view shot as the club flew through the air into the face of an AVTF a-hole.

For many reasons, this action sequence was the best one yet for Season 2, as Matt broke out all of Kingpin’s underground prisoners, including Jack Duquesne, the Swordsman. We not only got great Daredevil fighting moments here, but great Swordsman ones as well, as the two teamed up for a good old-fashioned oner, with Jack using pipes as his impromptu swords and once more showing how good he is in a fray too - for the first time since Hawkeye’s finale nearly five (!) years ago. Tony Dalton seemed to be having as much fun as Jack was, punctuated by his huge grin when Jack was handed a weapon to use by Daredevil. The end of the oner (yes, yes, there were plenty of spots where the hidden edits could be placed, as is usually the case with these things) had a very funny punchline too, with Daredevil yelling “MOVE!” to the freed prisoners.

As noted above, this episode was a step up for Season 3, bringing more forward momentum and excitement with it. The storyline with the half-sunken tanker was starting to feel too drawn out, so it’s good to have that sucker blown up at the end (though it sure sucks for the patsies Fisk was willing to let die after Mr. Charles suggested this out to get his weapons).

But wait just a second: Is Heather Glenn pulling a Tommy Jarvis?! For those who aren’t familiar with Friday the 13th lore, young Tommy killed Jason in the fourth F13 movie, and then we got repeated hints Tommy was potentially going to take on the Jason persona himself for a couple of movies - including seeing Tommy with a hockey mask in his drawer. All of which feels pretty reminiscent of Heather pulling that Muse mask out of her desk. Of course, all the Tommy as Jason teases never paid off, as he never actually went full psycho killer, so let’s see if Heather mimics Tommy fully or goes down a bloodier path.

Taking Heather in this direction is amusing but also feels rather random, as the writers attempt to figure out what to do with this character. Better served right now is Kirsten McDuffie, who was another one of Season 1’s undercooked new characters. With Matt off the grid, Kirsten is essentially getting to represent the lawyerly side of things that is usually a key part of Daredevil stories, stepping up on her own to defend Jack in court. Nikki M. James and Tony Dalton played well off each other, as they planned his defense and discussed how dire things are, with Jack evoking the Reign of Terror no less.

It was funny and a bit jarring to hear Matt go full Batman and use a fake, overly gravely voice to talk to Kirsten so she wouldn’t recognize Daredevil’s voice. I do feel like this is a place where maybe we just go with comic book logic/suspension of disbelief and let him talk more normally? But mileage will vary.

Though she’d been referenced a few times, it was pushing credibility to not have New York’s governor directly intervene with what Fisk was getting away with, so happily that was rectified here. Lily Taylor is a terrific choice to play Governor Marge McCaffrey, selling both the audience and Fisk on why she’d let things play out previously (including that old chestnut, voter popularity), but no longer was going to give him that luxury. And hey, it’s a Mystic Pizza reunion for Vincent D’Onofrio and Taylor!

Winter is finally over, and the night is no longer dark and full of terrors. Instead, it’s full of new anime to watch. Spring has arrived with a wave of returning favorites, new original shows, and anticipated adaptations all vying for your attention and screen time.

If you can only subscribe to one anime streaming service, then you might want the one with the biggest library that offers new episodes almost immediately after they premiere in Japan. In that case, Crunchyroll continues to be your best option. To give you a sense of what's ahead, here's every anime that will be simulcast on Crunchyroll as part of the spring anime season.

New Spring Anime: Highlights on Crunchyroll

Dorohedoro Season 2

Premieres April 1

The first season of Dorohedoro was one of the wildest things to happen in 2020, which is saying a lot. After an excruciatingly long wait, the show is finally back. This is a wacky, bonkers anime set in a hell hole of a city so miserable its citizens call it The Hole, which is constantly visited by sorcerers from another dimension who do cruel experiments on the citizens. The focus is on a big man with a crocodile head who loves gyoza — really. Produced by studio MAPPA, Dorohedoro blends brutal, gory action with slice-of-life comedy and a kick-ass cyberpunk aesthetic. Don’t miss this one.

Daemons of the Shadow Realm

Premieres April 4

The highly anticipated new anime based on a manga by the creator of Fullmetal Alchemist is finally here. Daemons of the Shadow Realm has a fascinating and intriguing premise that packs some hard-hitting twists and reveals. The show focuses on a set of twins who are said to one day command mighty supernatural creatures known as daemons and save the world. This is a dark fantasy anime made by Bones, the legendary studio that adapted Fullmetal Alchemist, which already makes it a must-watch. Add in Hiromu Arakawa’s ability to craft memorable characters that are morally ambiguous and complex worlds, and there’s a lot to look forward to in Daemons of the Shadow Realm.

One Piece — Elbaph Arc

Premieres April 5

After Season 2 of the live action Netflix show, the One Piece anime is finally back, and it’s coming with some changes. Starting with this arc, the legendary anime is shifting to a seasonal format, meaning we’re only getting a maximum of 26 episodes per season. Though that means less One Piece, it also means the possibility for better and more concise pacing, which is great timing because we’re entering an exciting new story arc.

After escaping Egghead Island, the Straw Hats finally make it to the legendary Elbaph, land of the giants. Expect plenty of shenanigans (like adventures in Legoland!), tearful reunions, some wacky villains, plenty of spectacular fights, and the introduction of some of the best characters in all of One Piece.

Witch Hat Atelier

Premieres April 6

This is the big new fantasy anime premiere, an anime said to be the perfect filler for the Frieren-sized hole in your heart. Witch Hat Atelier is set in a world where only a privileged few can use magic. But when sweet young Coco discovers the huge secret to magic, she accidentally causes a tragedy that sets her on a path to becoming a witch apprentice and fix her mistakes. The two-part premiere introduces an interesting and complex world with a unique take on magic that’s more like a love letter to arts and craftsmanship. Coco’s journey is just starting, but it has the makings of a grand adventure.

Liar Game

Premieres April 6

Madhouse is one of the best anime studios out there, producing some absolute gems. This makes every new anime they announce something worth checking out, but when you combine that with a killer premise you have a must-watch for the upcoming anime season.

Liar Game follows a college student who gets a mysterious letter and a suitcase with 100 million yen, inviting her to participate in a high-stakes game of lies, deception and betrayal. In order to win, the student teams up with a former con artist to cheat and lie her way to taking the money from the other contestants and leaving them in giant debt. Imagine Squid Game but with less brutal killings and more psychological warfare. The original manga has been adapted into live-action film, TV, and even a stage play, showing the never-ending appeal of the story.

Everything Coming to Crunchyroll in April

Dan Da Dan Season 2's physical release was officially announced this week, and will be available on Blu-ray in both a standard and Collector's Edition starting on July 14. You can preorder the Collector's Edition over on Amazon right now for about $65, which includes an exclusive booklet, three sets of sticker sheets, and plenty of behind-the-scenes bonus features to keep you entertained ahead of Season 3's expected release in 2027. As one of IGN's runner-ups for Best Anime Series of 2025, Dan Da Dan is definitely worth your time if you haven't given it a watch yet.

Check out the full rundown below for where you can preorder the upcoming Season 2 Collector's Edition, what's included, benefits of owning the physical version versus streaming, and where both seasons are currently available to stream.

Where to Buy the Dan Da Dan Season 2 Collector's Edition

On April 1, NASA's Artemis II is set to embark on its 10-day mission to not only bring the first people around the moon and back in over 50 years, but also to take humans farther than they've ever gone before in space.

To ensure you don't miss this momentous occasion, we're here to provide everything you need to know about how to watch Artemis II's launch, what you can expect, who will be aboard, what it means for the future of space travel, and more.

Spider-Noir, the upcoming superhero series starring Nicolas Cage, debuts on MGM+ on May 25, 2026, and then on Prime Video on May 27, allowing Spider-Noir to qualify for the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards just ahead of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ May 31st cutoff date for consideration.

While you might think an action-oriented, period superhero show might be considered a drama, the awards site Gold Derby exclusively reports that Spider-Noir will actually campaign in the Comedy category of the Emmys.

As Gold Derby points out, that would pit Spider-Noir against the likes of perennial Emmy nominees Hacks, Only Murders in the Building, and Shrinking, or see Nic Cage in the running for the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series against the likes of Martin Short or Jason Segel.

"Nicolas Cage delivers a singular, deeply original take on Ben Reilly, and I’m incredibly excited for audiences to see his performance," co-showrunner and executive producer Oren Uziel told Gold Derby.

"Alongside an exceptional ensemble cast — including Lamorne Morris, Li Jun Li, Karen Rodriguez, Abraham Popoola, Jack Huston, and Brendan Gleeson — this was a truly unforgettable collaboration, and I hope audiences feel that spirit."

Set in an alternate universe 1930s New York City, Spider-Noir follows gumshoe Ben Reilly (Cage) as his latest case has him cross paths with the city’s biggest gangster, Silvermane (Gleeson), and his super-powered cronies.

Spider-Noir will be available to watch in both Authentic Black & White and True-Hue Color.

While you await the arrival of Spider-Noir, discover why the show proves why we still need Sony’s Spider-Man universe.

The 78th Primetime Emmy Awards will be broadcast on September 14, 2026.

Amazon's Invincible series just kicked off its fourth season, so a tie-in sale on all the Invincible comics as part of its Big Spring Sale seems like a nice bit of corporate synergy. While you can save on individual comics, the most cost-effective way to read through the entirety of Mark Grayson's journey from troubled teen to iconic superhero is to pick up the three Invincible Compendiums, which are all $20 off.

If you want the full Invincible experience, you should consider picking up the three spin-off compendiums, which explore the adventures of Atom Eve, Rex Splode, Tech Jacket, The Astounding Wolf-Man, and more.

Save $20 on All Three Invincible Compendiums

The Invincible Compendiums are a great way to experience the entire Invincible comic book series, as the three books cover all 144 issues printed across its 15-year run. Not only will it save a ton of space on your shelf, it's also much cheaper than buying every issue. Each one is on sale for about $45, down from the standard $65 price.

If your only exposure to Invincible is through the Amazon animated series, there's still plenty of story left to enjoy reading through the Compendiums. With Season 4 currently airing, we're not even finished with the second Compendium's content yet. Based on series creator Robert Kirkman's estimates, the animated series will likely need about 7-8 seasons to adapt the entirety of the comic book run.

Invincible Universe Compendiums Are Also on Sale

If you've already read through Mark Grayson's journey as Invincible, then you should definitely check out the spinoffs, which feature popular characters from the Invincible universe. While these contain a collection of smaller runs, each one is on sale for about $30 right now, so you can scoop them all up for under $100.

The Invincible Universe Compendium collects Invincible Presents: Atom Eve #1-2, Invincible Presents: Atom Eve & Rex Splode #1-3, Guarding the Globe (Vol. 1) #1-6, Guarding the Globe (Vol. 2) #1-6, and Invincible Universe #1-12.

The Tech Jacket Compendium covers Zack Thompson's adventures as the Galactic Guardian of Earth with Tech Jacket #1-8, Tech Jacket Digital #1-3, and Tech Jacket (2014) #1-12. Fun fact: Tech Jacket #1 is actually the debut of Invincible, which included a preview of the titular hero's first issue.

Finally, The Astounding Wolf-Man Compendium includes Gary Hampton's origin story as he grapples with his newfound werewolf abilities. This collection includes Wolf-Man #1-25 and Invincible #57.

Matthew Adler has written for IGN since 2019 covering all things gaming, tech, tabletop games, and more. You can follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @MatthewAdler and watch him stream on Twitch.

It’s your last chance to save during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. However, it’s not the only place where you can score some awesome discounts. Woot, the Amazon-owned deals website, has plenty of items available for unbelievably low prices right now. And if you’ve been in the market for the best headphones to pair with your iPhone, iPad, and other Apple devices, the AirPods Max got a nice big price cut.

The Apple AirPods Max with USB-C connector is down to just $399.99 on Woot for a limited time while supplies last. Normally going for $549.99, these over-the-ear, noise-cancelling headphones are $150 off, matching Black Friday’s all-time low price. You can get the Midnight, Starlight, Blue, Purple, or Orange colorways on sale. It’s likely the best deal you’ll find on a brand-new pair of AirPods Max for a long time, so grab it while you can. Amazon Prime members can also enjoy free shipping, otherwise add on $5 for the delivery fee.

$150 Off the Apple AirPods Max

Amazon's Big Spring Sale is almost over, and now is the time to score deals before the sale ends tomorrow. While the '3 for 2' deal for movies, books, and vinyl has ended, there are still some great Blu-ray deals live.

One of our favorites is the Pokémon Movie 1-3 Collection, which is on sale for $10.49 right now. This package contains the first three Pokémon anime films: Pokémon: The First Movie, Pokémon 2000: The Movie, and Pokémon 3: The Movie. If you're a fan of the Pokémon anime or just getting into the series, this collection is a great way to experience some of the earlier days of the beloved series.

Save 25% On the Pokémon Movie Collection Blu-ray

Amazon's Big Spring Sale is here, and there are many great video game deals out there. You can save on plenty of PS5 games, Switch games, and accessories. However, one of the best gaming deals available today is the Luke and Jamie Street Fighter 6 amiibo for $9.99 a piece, and it's not even an Amazon deal. (It was for a hot minute.) Instead, get this springtime deal at Best Buy today before it expires.

Street Fighter 6 is still swinging almost three years later, and DLC is showing no signs of slowing down. Amiibo continue to be released as well, with Capcom especially bringing more with each new game release. It's not often we see amiibo priced at 75% off, so don't miss your chance to save big here on Luke and Jamie.

Score Street Fighter 6 Amiibo for $9.99 Each at Best Buy

Sony shocked everyone recently by announcing global price increases for all PS5 consoles, which go into effect April 2. With the PS5 Pro's price approaching $1,000 now, people are scrambling to buy a PS5 before next week. Since the price isn't going down anytime soon, one of the better deals right now is for a like-new PS5 Pro at Amazon Resale for under $715. Stock is likely limited, so don't wait too long or you might be out of luck.

Amazon Resale is actually having a Big Spring Sale of its own this week, offering up to 40% off used and open box products.

Save on a Like-New PS5 Pro at Amazon Resale