Following its reveal last year, Secrets of Strixhaven quickly became my most anticipated Magic the Gathering set of 2026. While I adored our brief stop in the wilds of Lorwyn, there's just something about Strixhaven's dark academia atmosphere and art nouveau stylings that captivates me. After attending a preview event in which Wizards of the Coast offered press a first-look at what some of Strixhaven's secrets are, I feel fairly confident saying that Secrets of Strixhaven should be your most anticipated Magic set, too.

Secrets of Strixhaven is an incredibly powerful set--one that brings back high-value cards and gorgeous art treatments while also introducing a shockingly strong mechanic with prepare. We've prepared an overview of the set's new mechanics as well as a look at some of the set's most jaw-dropping cards.

While their frames might be reminiscent of Omen and Adventure cards, prepare is an entirely new mechanic designed for Secrets of Strixhaven that grants you access to some powerful spells. While the card type is still a creature and should be treated as such when resolving spells, abilities, and the like, these cards feature an incantation in the bottom-right portion of the card that they can cast if they are prepared.

It's not often that a quest in Arc Raiders sends you topside with an explicit goal of downing one of the game's biggest foes, but you'd best be prepared when it does. In the case of Settled in Full, you'll be going up against a dangerous Bastion so that you can take a Bastion Cell for its corpse.

If you're heading into fight against a Bastion with the goal of obtaining a Bastion Cell, we highly recommend you bring an augment with a safe pocket. It'd be a shame to waste your time and resources getting the cell only to lose it in a bad turn of events.

When you're ready to take down a Bastion for Settled in Full, check the tips below.

Arc Raiders is overflowing with challenging enemies to take down, and some quests will send you out to take materials from them. This is what the Test Case quest from Apollo is all about, tasking you with obtaining a Hornet Driver, Fireball Burner, and Firefly Burner.

Though completing the tasks in Test Case is a straightforward affair, you'll need to be prepared with appropriate shields and ammo, as some of these enemies can be a little irritating at times--especially if they catch you out in the open. Additionally, we'd recommend bringing an augment with a safe pocket or three so you can store the requested materials there, meaning you won't lose them in the event of your death.

When you're ready to find the materials for the Test Case quest, follow the steps below.

The third and final raid of World of Warcraft: Midnight's first season is set to go live March 31, but that didn't stop a group of clever players from trying and technically succeeding to kill its ultimate boss early. Spoilers for Midnight's story ahead.

The March on Quel'Danas raid sees players looking to take down the corrupted dark nauru L'ura, who after the events of the Voidspire raid, has been used by Xal'atath to transform the Sunwell into the ominous sounding Darkwell.

Since the isle of Quel'Danas and the new Darkwell aren't exclusively instanced (they are simply part of the map), players who go to investigate the big shadowy laser beam in the sky can, in theory, see L'ura hovering above the corrupted Sunwell. I say in theory, because a debuff called Overwhelming Oblivion surrounding the Darkwell is intended to make sure players don't ever get close, dealing 45% of a player's total HP per second.

Later quests in Arc Raiders tend to have multiple steps, and Dust on the Wires is one of the most substantial. Though it's a fairly easy quest to complete, you'll want to be prepared for a good bit of running around on Spaceport.

Dust on the Wires contains an item you'll need to extract back to Speranza with, so we'd strongly recommend that you bring an augment sporting a safe pocket to ensure you can safely get it home even if you're killed.

When you're ready to complete Dust on the Wires, follow the steps below.

The latest patch for Bungie's new extraction shooter, Marathon, is here--and with it, Bungie is making its stance on movement exploits clear.

Patch 1.0.5.2 includes a fix for a movement exploit that allowed Thief players to cancel her slide animation by pulling out her Grapple Device, while still retaining momentum. (An example of the exploit in action can be seen here.)

In the 1.0.5.2 patch notes, Bungie explained why exploits like these aren't something the studio wants to encourage.

April Fools' Day is upon us, and once again, it's the most skeptical time of the year. You can't believe anything that you see or hear on this particular day, as the gaming industry has a longstanding tradition of pulling "got 'em" pranks on people. Sure, some people might be allergic to fun on April Fools' Day, but the intention here is to have a laugh and enjoy the silliness that comes with this celebration of mischief, lies, and trickery.

So far, it looks like a few games have jumped the gun and gone live with their gags. PUBG: Battlegrounds is going all-in on the event with a limited-time April Fools' mode, and Pokemon Pokopia is referencing one of our favorite Family Guy jokes. We'll be keeping an eye on everything for tomorrow and will update this post with all the new gags from publishers and developers, so be sure to bookmark this page. If you're looking to do some more reading on the subject matter, you can also check out our feature on the best April Fools' Day gaming jokes of all time.

Winning a chicken dinner in PUBG: Battlegrounds is no easy feat, as it requires skill, accuracy, patience, and luck--and who has time for that? Instead, you can cheese your way to victory with a new April Fool's Day limited-time mode in the battle royale game and disguise yourself as a prop in the game. Each "Prop Hunt" match features 12 players divided into three Hunters and nine Props, and matches are designed to be a lighthearted alternative to PUBG's traditional combat-heavy gameplay.

Microsoft is adding a new Xbox Game Pass perk in the form of special bonuses for a number of free-to-play titles from World of Tanks studio Wargaming.

Game Pass subscribers for any tier of the membership program will be able to get in-game perks for titles like World of Warships, World of Warships: Legends, World of Tanks: Modern Armor, and World of Tanks Blitz. The upcoming World of Tanks: Heat will also get the new Game Pass perks.

The Game Pass bonuses are coming over the next 12 months, Microsoft said, and they begin with a range of perks for World of Warships across Xbox and PC on April 9. You can see a rundown of the perks for World of Warships below, as shared by Microsoft.

In the Clamoring for Attention quest in Arc Raiders, Tian Wen seems to think that some well-timed distractions can assist in pulling ARC out of position. She wants you to test this theory around Blue Gate, so be prepared to make some noise.

For this quest, you'll need to bring a Battery and Wire x3 into the match with you to make some repairs. Alternatively, you can find these items in the match, but that seems like an unnecessary hassle if you have some in your stash already.

When you're ready to set off to Blue Gate to complete the Clamoring for Attention quest, we've got you covered below.

Microsoft's upcoming Halo game, Halo: Campaign Evolved, has no in-game shop. Halo Studios community director Brian Jarrard confirmed this on social media.

"There is no shop," he wrote.

Jarrard said this in response to a fan who was wondering if the fact that Halo: Campaign Evolved will have a special skin for people who buy soda meant there would be an in-game shop. There is no in-game shop, so it seems people will need to drink soda to get the "Fantastic Spartan Armor," which makes Master Chief look like a can of Fanta. That is currently the only known way.

While Resident Evil Requiem has had a monopoly on survival-horror talk since it launched, fans of old-school Resident Evil might want to check out Ground Zero. Developer Malformation Games has announced an April 16 release date for the retro-inspired survival horror game, and it'll be launching for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Set in South Korea, Ground Zero takes place two months after a devastating meteor impact. An elite Korean operative, Seo-Yeon, and her Canadian partner are sent to investigate the city of Busan, and they quickly discover that strange growths have infested the metropolis and hordes of mutant survivors prowl the streets. It's up to players to discover the truth of what really hit Busan by shooting, stabbing, and roundhouse-kicking their way through danger.

If you're getting PS1 vibes from Ground Zero, that's by design. A love letter to classic PS1-era survival horror games, Ground Zero features pre-rendered backgrounds and fixed camera angles alongside its nostalgic graphics, as well as puzzles, custom difficulty modifiers, and even tank controls for an extra layer of nostalgia. Combat is inevitable, but players who can fight back with skill will be rewarded with more Genome Points, which can be traded for powerful gear upgrades.

If you like when Arc Raiders sends you on quests to collect items for Tian Wen, then Outstanding Balance is right up your alley. This time, you'll be heading to Blue Gate to track down Dodger's Stash for Speranza's favorite gun-shop owner. Be prepared to visit more than one spot, though.

Dodger's Stash will need to be brought back to Tian Wen, meaning you'll have to extract with it in your inventory. With this in mind, we highly recommend bringing an augment that offers a safe pocket.

When you're ready to tackle Outstanding Balance, follow the steps below.

Gearbox Software has announced a new Borderlands-themed art print with profits going to a charity that helps promote positive mental health for military veterans.

At PAX East recently, Gearbox showed off the one-of-one oil-on-wood painting from artist Erik Thor Sandberg depicting the Borderlands 4 bad guy, the Timekeeper. Gearbox also created prints of the art that anyone can buy, with 100% of the profits from sales going to the Stack Up charity.

The 18 x 24 prints are available exclusively through GameStop for $50. It releases on May 25.

After launching in 2010--and again in 2016 with the Warmastered Edition for PC, PS4, Wii U, and Xbox One--the original Darksiders is riding onto PS5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles on May 19. Publisher THQ Nordic has announced a new port of the action-RPG, and a few more details on how the PS5 version will differ from the PS4 edition have also been revealed. Physical and digital editions will be available, priced at $30, but there has been no mention of an upgrade path yet for owners of the last-gen version of the Warmastered Edition.

On PS5, Darksiders will be presented in a native 4K resolution and at a "stable" 60fps. DualSense and Activities Cards support has been added, and the game now features a photo mode. It's likely that these graphical upgrades will also be present in the Xbox Series X version, and just like the 2016 release, the Warmastered Edition includes all previously released content.

The debut game from developer Vigil Games, Darksiders followed the horseman of the apocalypse, War, and his steed Ruin as they battled across the wastelands and demon-infested dungeons of a post-apocalyptic Earth. The game featured a unique art direction led by popular comic book artist Joe Madureira, and the game is best described as a blend of Devil May Cry's action with the exploration of The Legend of Zelda.

An official Pokemon Pokopia and Ikea collaboration starts tomorrow--and no, that's not an April Fool's joke--to celebrate Ikea's 20th year in Japan. The event involves both real-world and in-game furniture, though honestly, Pokopia's adorable furniture seems like the vastly superior product here.

"Over its 20 years in Japan, Ikea has believed that a home you truly love grows with you. This belief led to a special collaboration between Ikea Japan and Pokémon's new game, Pokemon Pokopia." reads a statement on Ikea Japan's website (via machine translation). "The message we want to convey is that, just like in the Pokemon Pokopia game, everyone can create a home that reflects their own personality in real life."

So, how exactly is that happening? Starting tomorrow, April 1, a new, Ikea-themed Developer Island will go live in Pokopia, where players can visit in-game versions of Pokemon-themed rooms that will also be on display in Ikea locations in Japan. Players will need to use the Mysterious Goggles and enter a code (which Nintendo will presumably release tomorrow) to get to the island. As for exactly what lies within the island--and what players can get out of visiting it--we're not entirely sure. We do know it will feature some adorable in-game versions of Ikea furniture. According to Pokemon fansite Serebii, the event will last from April 1-30.

Musician and Game of Thrones actor Ed Sheeran has revealed that he rejected a Fortnite collab, saying he doesn't play the game and didn't want to lend his name to something he doesn't care about. Instead, Sheeran worked with The Pokemon Company on a Pokemon song because he loves Pokemon.

"[My record label] asked me to do something for Fortnite. I was like, 'I don't play Fortnite.' I feel like whenever you see my face near any product, I want it to be something I actually do," he told Jackson Warne recently (via ShiinaBR).

"It has to be real. So when my record company was like, 'We can put you in Fortnite, I was like, 'I don't really want to do that.' But, I do play Pokemon. We contacted Pokemon and that's why we did the song. I love Pokemon."

A significant part of the Arc Raiders experience is collecting materials, whether it's to craft weapons and parts, or to invest in projects back in Speranza so you can gain additional rewards. That second option is what you'll be doing if you engage with the new High-Gain Antenna project, which sees you completing an antenna by contributing a variety of materials you find during raids. Doing so will earn you rewards, including usable items and Raider Tokens.

As with past projects you may have completed already, the High-Gain Antenna project can be found in the Projects section of the Raider tab. This is where you'll contribute items towards the rewards you want as you work on completing the full project. It won't be a straightforward process, and there's even a chance you may have to do a bit of killing along the way if you want to get all that sweet loot back home with you.

In the guide below, we'll detail every step of the High-Gain Antenna project and the rewards you'll earn for completing each one.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Xbox, and as part of its celebrations, Microsoft's gaming brand is collaborating with Fanta to offer a very 2001-coded celebration. Nothing is more 2000s than consuming soft drinks with high levels of sugar, and this team-up with the brands will feature a special-edition collection of Fanta cans and bottles that have special QR codes printed on them. Once the code has been scanned, you'll gain access to three Xbox-themed interactive challenges, and completing them will unlock Xbox in-game rewards for the following titles:

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 -- Tactical Orange Calling Card and 1-Hour 2XP Level Token
• Call of Duty: Warzone -- Tactical Orange Calling Card and 1-Hour 2XP Level Token
• Diablo IV -- Citron Whirl Town Portal
• Forza Horizon 6 -- 1966 Toyota Sports 800 Fanta Edition (Can be redeemed after the game launches)
• Halo: Campaign Evolved -- Master Chief Fantastic Spartan Armor (Can be redeemed after the game launches)
• World of Warcraft -- Fantastical Goblin Wave-shredder Mount and more WoW rewards

Several other prizes like Xbox Series S consoles, ROG Xbox Ally handhelds, Xbox wireless controllers, and Xbox Game Pass subscriptions will also be given away, and Fanta is introducing a brand-new special-edition flavor, called Fanta Crimson. Xbox and Fanta's partnership will continue through May with an interactive experience inspired by Diablo's world of Sanctuary, and the prizes for facing off against the Lord of Hatred, Mephisto, include a trip to BlizzCon, Xbox hardware, and downloadable game codes.

The last couple of months have been a busy time for Xbox following the departure of Phil Spencer, with his role as Microsoft Gaming CEO being filled by Asha Sharma. Developer Direct and Partner Preview livestreams have already been held, and the annual Xbox Games Showcase will once again be held in June. Following the broadcast, Xbox will host a deep dive on Gears of War: E-Day, shedding more light on the game since it was first announced in 2024.

Mario Kart World's newest update just added a chaotic battle mode and made some changes to a couple of items that already have players celebrating.

The Ver. 1.6.0 patch of the Nintendo Switch 2 launch game includes Bob-omb Blast, a battle mode first introduced to the series in Mario Kart: Double Dash for GameCube. It's similar to the standard Balloon Battle mode, where you score points by hitting other players with items, except that players can only use Bob-ombs--and they can carry up to 10 at a time. Expect pandemonium on the battlefield.

Bob-omb Blast has come to #MarioKartWorld on #NintendoSwitch2! Use nothing but Bob-ombs to burst the balloons of your rivals, racking up points along the way. Score the most points to win in this returning battle mode! pic.twitter.com/HF5q9pvCOh

Earlier this month, fans spotted a Bob-omb icon in an image shared by Nintendo, leading many to believe that the company had accidentally let slip that the mode was on its way. Bob-omb Blast joins Balloon Battle and Coin Runners as one of three battle modes in World--fingers crossed that Nintendo will add Shine Thief from Double Dash and Renegade Roundup from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe down the line.

Weapons and Barbarian director Zach Cregger has further teased his upcoming Resident Evil movie, saying he's making a movie that's unlike anything he's ever seen. He also addressed how he expects there to be fan blowback for what he's doing with the Resident Evil franchise.

"I love the idea of being pitted against a world that is hellbent on annihilating you," Cregger told The New York Times. "It just feels fun and I haven't seen a movie that offers that sort of experience."

He went on to say that if his movie deviates from popular Resident Evil lore, he would expect that some part of the fandom to "crucify" him.