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Eight months after the Switch 2 edition of Stardew Valley was released digitally, a physical edition of the upgrade has popped up at Fangamer.
The physical Switch 2 edition, which is listed at $39, might not be the most worthwhile purchase for anyone who already owns the OG. It technically includes the original Switch version of the game, which is almost always under $35 on Amazon, and the otherwise free Switch 2 upgrade pack.
As someone who doesn’t have a physical edition of the game, however, I'm feeling very inclined. What you’re really paying those $5 extra for is a beautiful cartridge and the new Switch 2 packaging. Five years ago I would have said that’s a pretty silly thing to cough up a couple extra bucks for, but in 2026, I have nothing but praise for any commitment to physical media.
The Switch 2 edition of Stardew Valley is currently available for preorder from Fangamer, Target, and Best Buy. All retailers have the game listed at $39.99 with a release date of February 5, 2026.
Some Reddit users are already theorizing that date may line up with the release of Update 1.7, but that seems a little far-fetched. The Fangamer listing confirms the Switch 2 edition includes the 1.6 update of the game, with future free updates “available to download as they’re released.”
While Fangamer notes the final product may look different from the mock-up, I think we can trust the main strokes. The listing shows a variation of the OG’s box art, with the same farm and animals but in a lighter, more pastel color scheme, which can be reversed to show off a "Joja-themed" cover. It also comes with an 18-page guidebook, presumably the same one as the existing Switch version.
Stardew, which was originally released on Steam in 2016, got its first physical release for the Xbox One and PS4 a year later. That Switch edition, which also produced in collaboration with Fangamer, was released as both a Standard and a Deluxe edition back in 2020.
The new Switch 2 edition seems to only be getting the Standard treatment. For now, at least. If you do want all of the extra Deluxe edition goodies, there’s nothing stopping you from grabbing that for the OG Switch and then getting the Switch 2 upgrade pack for free through the Nintendo Store.
What’s Different in Stardew Valley’s Switch 2 Edition Mouse-style controls for Joy-Con 2Up to 8-player online multiplayer + 4-player local co-op supportGameShare: Play with up to 3 friends with one copy of the gameI’ve already bought Stardew digitally on my PC and Switch, and I’m still definitely considering grabbing the physical release for Switch 2. Maybe I'm particularly vulnerable to cash grabs these days, but just a few years ago I was 100% side-eyeing a certain Bethesda game for getting a million different editions.
The reality is the physical media landscape has shifted dramatically in the past decade, and any release on disc or cartridge seems to take particular... dedication. PlayStation, citing the continued shift to digital purchases, has committed to abandoning discs altogether.
Nintendo, on the other hand, recently reported that almost 40% of purchases of its games are still from physical editions. The reality is that I’m willing to use the scraps in my wallet to support that.
In the case of Stardew, a solo-developed masterpiece that’s consistently gotten updates over the course of 10 years, I’m even more open to celebrating (and investing in) that preservation.
Stardew Valley recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. We re-reviewed the game back in 2024, giving the cozy masterpiece a well-deserved 10/10. We also got the chance to sit down with creator Eric Barone (ConcernedApe) earlier this year to learn more about the independent developer’s journey to now and what he plans for Stardew going forward.
While there’s still no exact release date, we know a little about what to expect from the next major Stardew update, 1.7, including two new marriage candidates. The developer has also confirmed he is "still grinding" on his next standalone game, Haunted Chocolatier.
Blythe (she/her) is an Audience Development Coordinator at IGN who spends way too much time in character customization screens and tracking down collectibles.
The Cosmere RPG was first released last year, but it only recently hit a major milestone for tabletop games: It's available at Target. If you're looking for a copy of the Stormlight Starter set, you can currently pick it up at your local Target store for only $24.99.
"It's hard to get our things into these non-traditionally book sales markets, so we're really excited that Target was willing to give us a try," said Brandon Sanderson in his most recent YouTube update. "So, you can grab this and you can start into the RPG and Target will think that we're cool and maybe they will carry other Brandon Sanderson stuff in the future."
Target has long been a place to buy board games, but it is fairly rare to see a traditional tabletop RPG on the shelves. The addition of something like Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere RPG at a store like Target is good news for other book-to-tabletop adaptations looking to break through. It may seem like a fairly niche market, but we've already seen big success for the Dungeon Crawler Carl RPG earlier this year so it's clear there's a growing interest for these sorts of things.
What we said in our reviewIGN had the chance to go hands-on with the Cosmere RPG core rulebook and starter set and gave it an 8 out of 10. Here's a summary of what we thought in our review:
"The Cosmere RPG’s initial offerings on Roshar are a strong first go for this new TTRPG system that offers a focus on flexible character development and stronger narrative mechanics than its peers." - Scott White
Sanderson also pointed out that the starter set includes the Bridge Nine adventure, which is meant to introduce players to RPG mechanics. He also said that there "aren't any book spoilers in the starter set", so you don't need to worry about ruining someone's Cosmere book journey if they haven't started the Stormlight Archive just yet.
Sanderson has worked with Brotherwise Games on a number of other tabletop adaptations and doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon. The next big game is set to be Stormlight: War for Roshar, which is set to hit Kickstarter in the fall of 2026.
Outside of the tabletop space, Sanderson has recently stated that he's finished the first draft of his Mistborn screenplay. The first Cosmere movie adaptation will eventually be coming to Apple TV, but there has yet to be any sort of release date attached.
Jacob Kienlen is a Senior Audience Development Strategist and Writer for IGN. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he has considered the Northwest his home for his entire life. With a bachelor's degree in communication and 10 years of professional writing experience, his expertise is spread across a variety of different pop culture topics -- from TV series to books and the latest LEGO sets..
The Call of Duty socials team accidentally posted an internal marketing image for Modern Warfare 4, and fans suspect it may be AI-generated.
Earlier today, the Call of Duty Twitter account posted a render of a soldier walking toward the camera while promoting the game's appearance at Gamescom. Eagle-eyed fans examined the image and noticed that the soldier's gun appeared to be warped in an odd way, possibly suggesting the image was AI-generated. The graphic was eventually taken down, and the Call of Duty team stated that it was posted by mistake.
NEW MW4 IMAGE pic.twitter.com/SBIuhXIkYY
— Forward (@ForwardLeaks) August 18, 2026"Earlier today, an image was mistakenly posted to one of the Call of Duty accounts," said a Call of Duty rep on social media. "It included a temporary render from a marketing style guide. The image was a placeholder and not taken from in-game. We’ve taken it down."
Fans have now begun speculating that Activision has been using AI to generate concepts for marketing material. This probably won't come as a surprise to many Call of Duty fans, as Activision has admitted to using AI to make assets for Call of Duty. On the game's Steam page, there is a disclosure that confirms the usage of generative AI tools to develop assets for the game. Some of these assets include things like calling cards in Black Ops 7.
Following backlash to Black Ops 7's usage of AI in November 2025, Activision issued the following statement: "Like so many around the world, we use a variety of digital tools, including AI tools, to empower and support our teams to create the best gaming experiences possible for our players. Our creative process continues to be led by the talented individuals in our studios."
Nearly a year later, players are still frustrated by Activision's usage of generative AI, with some casting doubt over claims that the artwork was merely a placeholder.
"Activision? Using AI slop for Call of Duty!? Surely there’s been some mistake; they would never," joked one fan. "From a Style guide? How much AI was used in development and art?" asked another fan.
Whether or not there will be any obvious examples of AI-generated content in Modern Warfare 4's beta this weekend remains to be seen. If not, fans will certainly be keeping their eyes open for it when the game launches in October.
Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN's news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.
Grand Theft Auto 6 appears to have suffered yet another significant leak after what looks like legitimate gameplay videos and an image of the full map appeared online.
Two videos showing GTA 6 gameplay have emerged: one featuring protagonist Jason playing basketball outside his home, the other showing Jason driving a car and attacking an NPC. An image reportedly of the complete map has also hit the internet.
While it is currently unclear how these assets emerged or how old they are, they all point to a cryptocurrency and a website that reportedly belong to a group called 'CyberLeek.' The website contains three demands of Rockstar Games and other video game publishers, seemingly in response to the all-digital future suggested by digital preorders, “fake” single-player DLC, and the removal of single-player content consumers have paid for.
Contained within the manifesto is criticism of the lack of a physical disc for GTA 6, as well as The Crew, which was at the heart of the Stop Killing Games consumer movement after Ubisoft made it unplayable even by those who bought the game. CyberLeek goes on to threaten other video game publishers, presumably with gameplay leaks such as this one suffered by GTA 6.
“Publishers should beware,” the manifesto concludes. “If CyberLeek can reach Rockstar, no one is safe. This is a message to all big corpo: behave, or be the next target.”
The authenticity of the gameplay and map image remains unconfirmed, but it appears that Rockstar and parent company Take-Two are working to remove video uploads from across social media. Meanwhile, the memecoin advertised by the assets now has a huge amount of attention on it, although there is some concern online that it is part of a cryptocurrency scam. IGN has asked both Rockstar and Take-Two for comment.
Assuming the leak is legitimate, it comes just days before the release of Grand Theft Auto 6: An Extended Look, which is a timed Netflix exclusive. That’s due Thursday, August 27, and will remain exclusive on Netflix for six hours before it makes its way to other platforms such as YouTube.
GTA 6 has suffered a number of leaks over the years. In 2022, more than 90 videos and images from an early version of GTA 6 were leaked online by hackers in what was one of gaming's biggest security breaches. "We take leaks very seriously indeed and they disappoint all of us, it's really frustrating and upsetting to the team," Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said in response. The British teenager responsible was recently released from indefinite imprisonment at a secure hospital and is now awaiting a retrial.
In December 2023, the first GTA 6 trailer leaked on X/Twitter less than 24 hours before its scheduled premiere, leading to Rockstar officially posting the trailer on YouTube early. Rockstar developers took to social media to express their frustration at the leak, which Zelnick later called "disappointing." "In terms of the leak, that's always disappointing for the team, but ultimately, I don't think it hurt us," he said.
In April this year, Rockstar confirmed company information was accessed as part of a third-party data breach, but it insisted the incident had “no impact on our organization or our players.”
GTA 6 is due out on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S on November 19, 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.
A former Naughty Dog developer has revealed that Uncharted: Drake's Fortune featured dynamic scaling difficulty in order to make the game longer.
In a new interview with FRVR, ex-Naughty Dog designer Benson Russell opened up about how Uncharted: Drake's Fortune had a somewhat difficult and complicated development process. For instance, he noted that the team designed environments without accounting for how combat would operate within them and had to find ways to make it work. However, their biggest challenge was that, after everything was set in place, the game was very short.
Russell joked that there was no way they could sell a five-hour-long game with no multiplayer for $60, so they came up with a strategic solution: dynamic difficulty. The game's difficulty scales, and it's partially to slow the player down and extend their overall playtime.
“We ended up putting a dynamic difficulty system in, but its key thing was to slow the player down if they were too good," he said. "That’s one of the big ones. That’s one of reasons why Uncharted 1 gets so hard. If you’re doing really good for the difficulty level you have it set on — it’s all time-based! We would do a bunch of focus tests and we would grab the average times per encounter… if you beat a combat encounter faster than the average that we had, we would start cranking the difficulty.”
The dynamic difficulty system was featured in all three of the original Uncharted games, but it was tuned more carefully to match your skill level rather than to control the pacing of the game itself. So, if you ever felt like the difficulty dramatically spiked in the first Uncharted title, you're not crazy. Naughty Dog simply thought you were playing the game too fast and put some obstacles in your way to slow you down.
Russell also recently spoke about how he is uninterested in a remake of the first Uncharted game. He believes the games largely hold up and that a remake would require Naughty Dog to make big changes that risk altering what fans love about them. Whether a remake of the first game ever happens remains to be seen, but it wouldn't be shocking, given studios are mining their old titles for new releases.
Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN's news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.
Primary Portal Games
World of Warcraft
Sturmgrenadier is more organised, more active, and more structured than most guilds you would come across in WoW. We believe this gives us a distinct advantage in being the best guild we can be for our members, because everyone knows where they stand, and are treated equally. Players with negative attitudes will not be tolerated. That means that there is no epeen measuring, no belittling of other players, and no trolling.
EVE
EVE Online is Sturmgrenadier’s longest-played game, with over 16 years of continuous influence throughout New Eden. Traditional hallmarks of our gaming syndicate; organization and leadership, have propelled our in-game history to include participation in many of the defining moments of EvE gameplay.
New World
New World is an upcoming massively multiplayer online role-playing video game by Amazon Game Studios set to release in May 2020. Set in the mid-1600s, players colonize a fictional land modeled after British America in the Atlantic Ocean. Players scavenge resources, craft items, and fight other players.
Coming Soon!
Game is in early Alpha/Beta.
Join us and get involved early!
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