Sunday, August 9, 2026

Marvel Tokon PC Launch Is So Bad That Famed FGC Content Creator Maximilian Dood Uninstalled the Game on Stream

Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls' launch weekend has been filled with so many PC issues that even famed fighting game community (FGC) content creator Maximilian Christiansen (a.k.a. Maximilian Dood) couldn't help but uninstall the game on stream.

If publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment and developer Arc System Works weren't already sounding alarm bells, they should be now. Maximilian Dood, who has earned his place as one of the go-to creators for fighting game content, uninstalled Marvel Tokon after spending just two days with the 4v4 superhero tag fighter, saying its PC port was "really s**t."

"This is bad, chat. I don't think I can play this anymore," he said during an August 7 livestream titled "Last day with PC version, sheesh." "It's making me like the game significantly less. The game is un-fun when we have to deal with all this. It's un-fun. It's fun coming up with solutions and stuff like that to issues, to combat, but you can't do anything. You just have to watch it stutter like crazy."

Marvel Tokon launched for PC and PlayStation 5 last week, August 6, and while those on PS5 don't seem to be running into any trouble, those on PC have reported nothing but. Most have taken their concerns to its Steam page, where it quickly plummeted to just 44% positive reviews in all languages, granting it a "Mixed" rating. Now, after Arc System Works promised to investigate some of those issues, the situation is even more dire, with 41% in all languages and a "Mostly Negative" 39% in English.

Maximilian Dood's very public issues with the PC port bring the trouble to the front of the conversation. As the weekend comes to an end without any proper fixes, it looks like Marvel Tokon will have to put in the work to bring back fans on that platform.

"I've pretty much come to the conclusion I have to, probably, abandon the PC version," he said before navigating to his Steam library and uninstalling the game. "The next time we stream, I'm going to exclusively be playing the PlayStation 5 version – that's it. It's too frustrating.

"I'll have to just unlock everything all over again. There's no cross-progression, so I'll have to figure that out, but the PC version is too frustrating. It's too frustrating running a gambit of this even working, to being really frustrating, to knowing that the PlayStation version, you can only play PlayStation people and be completely fine."

While Marvel Tokon is pummeled on PC, the console version seems to be working just fine. Maximilian Dood reported as much himself, going on to host a separate stream titled "PS5 version works, thank god." How long it will take for Arc System Works to fix up the PC version or if it will ever be up to snuff for those who have already turned away from it remains to be seen.

"Tried Tokon on PS5 against only PS5 players and had a wonderful time," Maximilian Dood said in a follow-up post on X/Twitter. "Even with 3 bar, 100+ ms, matches were smooth. Just going to stay away from the PC version completely until things get figured out."

While we wait, you can read IGN's Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls review so far. You can also check out our breakdown for the evolution of Marvel fighting games, and you can see how Maximilian Dood played a part in the new Street Fighter movie.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).



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The Best Deals Today: Civilization VII, AirPods Pro 3, Spider-Man: Brand New Day Steelbook, and More

A new weekend has arrived, and today, you can save on Civilization VII, select LEGO sets, AirPods Pro 3, Saros, Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection, and more. Check out our top picks for Sunday, August 9, below.

Civilization VII for $19.99

Amazon has Civilization VII on sale for $19.99 this weekend, saving you $20 off a physical copy. In our 7/10 review, we wrote, "Civilization 7's improved warfare and added bits of narrative flair give me reasons to keep clicking one more turn late into the night, but the desire to streamline and simplify this legendary 4X series feels like it has also gone a bit too far, particularly when it comes to the interface."

AirPods Pro 3 for $189

AirPods Pro 3 are a fantastic upgrade over the 2nd generation, bringing a built-in heart rate sensor, redesigned eartips for better noise cancellation, and improved sound quality. Right now, you can score a pair for only $189 at Amazon. I've had a pair since launch and have been incredibly happy with them, especially coming from the original AirPods Pro.

Back to the Future LEGO Set for $159.99

Back to the Future is one of the best sci-fi films ever, and the iconic DeLorean time machine is a huge part of the film's legacy today. If you're a fan of the BTTF trilogy, look no further than this LEGO Icons Time Machine set, featuring the DeLorean with parts for each movie, minifigures for Doc Brown and Marty McFly, and accessories like the hoverboard. You can save $40 this weekend on this set, which saves you 20% off MSRP.

Pre-Order Spider-Man: Brand New Day on 4K Blu-ray

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the most popular movie of the Summer, with the film on track to easily become the highest grossing of the year so far. Pre-orders for the physical copies, including Steelbooks, have already gone live at retailers like Walmart, so now is the time to lock in your copy before they are sold out.

Fate Return to Avalon: Takashi Takeuchi Art Works for $40.42

Takashi Takeuchi has one of the most recongnizable art styles for good reason. The legendary artist pioneered Type-Moon's art for franchises like Fate and Tsukihime. Right now, you can pick up this fantastic hardcover collection of Takeuchi's Fate artwork for $40.42 at Amazon. Almost 300 pages are included, featuring art from games, promotional material, limited events, and much more. It's perfect for any Fate fan.

Lego Batman Forever Set for $74.99

The classic Batmobile from Batman Forever is here in Lego form, with a Lego DC Batman minifugure starring the suit used in the move. This weekend, you can save 25% off this 909-piece set, which is a great addition to any comic book fan's collection. The cockpit on the Batmobile opens up to reveal seats and a detailed interior, and you can easily put this vehicle on any shelf or table.

Weapons 4K Blu-ray for $14.99

Weapons was one of the most beloved horror films of 2025, featuring a unique and gripping story with plenty of horror. If you're excited for the upcoming Resident Evil film and haven't yet checked out the latest from Zach Cregger, this is a great time to do so.

Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection for $29.99

Amazon has PS5 copies of Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection on sale for $29.99 today, which saves you $10 off this collection of seven games. In our 8/10 review, we wrote, "The Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection is the best way to play as the most underrated version of the Blue Bomber."

LEGO Marvel Iron Spider-Man Bust for $47.99

This weekend, you can save 20% off the LEGO Marvel Iron Spider-Man Bust set at Walmart. This set features both a buildable bust for the Iron Spider and a minifig, so you can use the web-slinging hero in any set you'd like.

Saros for $49.99

Saros is on sale for $49.99 today at Amazon, which matches the lowest price we've seen so far. As one of the biggest PS5 exclusives in 2026, now is a great time to check out Housemarque's latest if you haven't. In our review, we wrote, "With Saros, Housemarque once again proved that its bullet-hell sensibilities mesh incredibly well with fluid and super-challenging action. This is primarily a test of skill that's as much a rhythmic dance as it is a fireworks show with a punch-packing sci-fi arsenal."

Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused on nonsense-free Japanese gaming (in 2019) and has contributed to various publishers writing about the medium.



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Saturday, August 8, 2026

Freddy Fazbear's Pizza Opening Permanent Location Featuring Animatronic Stage Shows in 2027

Freddy Fazbear's Pizza is coming to life thanks to a new collaboration between Five Nights at Freddy's and entertainment and retail center American Dream.

The all-encompassing New Jersey mall announced it would be collaborating with Five Nights at Freddy's and its creator, Scott Cawthon, with a social media post today. It came with a brief teaser that set the mood with the promise of a grand opening in 2027.

"The world of Five Nights at Freddy’s is arriving at American Dream," a short teaser description on the American Dream website said. "Step into an immersive experience inspired by the iconic horror franchise and be among the first to discover what awaits behind the doors."

Five Nights at Freddy's fans have dreamed of visiting a real-life, Chuck E. Cheese-style Freddy Fazbear's Pizza location since the franchise began in 2014. American Dream may finally have the answer for the request, though what exactly will be included in its collaboration remains to be seen.

However, the company did pull back the curtain with a follow-up post on Facebook. It explained the attraction will be a "permanent immersive restaurant experience." The New Jersey location will be set up to be a "a functional reimagining of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, designed to immerse guests in the world of the iconic franchise."

That means food to eat, arcade games to play, and even animatronic stage shows featuring Freddy and the Fazbear Band. Foxy's Pirate Cove and "immersive multiplayer survival-horror experiences" will also be available.

It may not be a total surprise considering American Dream offers a variety of activities that include dining experiences, shops, and a Nickelodeon theme park, but yes, it looks like you will, in fact, be able to eat a real slice of Freddy Fazbear's pizza there. Another ScottGames teaser from earlier today, which seems to be linked to the American Dream announcement, featured an unnecessarily mysterious pizza. Some of the more creative fans said they were able to make out the words "coming soon" hidden within the image, too. IGN was able to spot the hidden message for the most part, as well, by tweaking the image's colors and brightness.

Five Nights at Freddy's has really only gotten bigger since it first sliced its way into the horror scene in the 2010s. Most recently, fans have been treated to the movies, of which there are currently two. Universal Pictures attempted to animate its iconic animatronics with Halloween Horror Nights festivities in 2025, and even more recently, Spirit Halloween unveiled a life-sized Freddy Fazbear prop of its own.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).



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'They Fundamentally Don't Understand Art' — Doom Dev Blasts Xbox After Microsoft 'Gutted' id Software With Layoffs

After layoffs ripped through Doom developer id Software in July, id Software lead services programmer Chris Hays has taken aim at Xbox: "They fundamentally don't understand art."

Hays, who is currently employed at the studio behind first-person shooter classics like Doom Eternal and has been with the team since 2010, unloaded on the recent decision to cut 136 staff during a recent conversation with Andre Peschke on Auf ein Bier. He didn't mince words, to put it lightly.

"It's hard to make a game that is AAA, that's like we've done before, with half the people. And by hard, I mean impossible," Hays said. "It's hard to make a game when there are entire departments that are gutted that you need, entire disciplines that are gone.

"So, if they've got some kind of new plan for how this is going to work, that hasn't been told; we don't know what that is. The reassurances that we're still the same id and we're still going to do things, well, first of all, we're not the same id. We're half the same id. id was the people. What made us special was the people and the relationships we have."

The "reassurances" Hays mentioned at least partially refer to some of the messages that have emerged in the fallout of last month's layoffs. id issued a statement to IGN July 10 that thanked fans for their support, acknowledging that, while the studio had been "impacted," the restructuring left it at "about the same size we were when making Doom 2016." It added, "We still have the crew we need to build the games and tech we're known for."

id reclaimed its title as a leading FPS studio with its 2016 Doom game and went on to keep its crown with 2020's Doom Eternal and 2025's Doom: The Dark Ages. Hays said id's overseers at Microsoft and Xbox are trying to minimize the "unrest."

"Studio management is given talking points on things that are allowed to be said and what is not allowed to be said," he added. "It feels like it is, instead, more reassurances. They don't want more people to jump ship and say, 'Oh, there's no more future in id, so we're all going to leave,' and then there's no one left. They don't want unrest. At the end of the day, most of it was just trying to tell us that, 'Oh, no, everything is fine. Things will be OK.'"

Hays said the reality is that id now houses "less" than the number of staff that worked on Doom 2016. He noted that fans will certainly have their preferences in the series but added, "There is a lot more that went into each of the [Doom] games that went along. We made bigger and better games, but that's with twice as many people as we had. So, we have fewer than we had before. So, are we going to make something equivalent to a single-player Xbox 360 game? Because that's the size of the studio we have."

id has a special place not only in gaming history but in the hearts of those who have continued to show up for the studio's work in the decades since its inception. Doom has also stood the test of time – so why was id hit so hard?

That's the question Peschke asked, but Hays said he has "no idea" why the layoffs were spread out like they were. One topic the question did lead to, however, was Game Pass.

"On the ground level, we don't get to know what that is," he said. "We can have guesses just like everyone else. I know that we have serious issues with how Game Pass is done. Whenever we see the [Microsoft] financial reports that say there were, you know, poor sales under Bethesda. What's a sale if you have Game Pass? Are you saying that poor sales means poor number of games sold? Because, of course.

"You're not doing a game-sold business model. They fundamentally don't understand art. They don't. They don't understand art. They don't understand games. They don't understand that business model."

While the layoffs at id seem to have shaken the Doom studio's foundation, the employees lost represent a fraction of the total layoffs that swept through Xbox teams in July. It's part of a "reset" that new CEO Asha Sharma called the "most significant restructure in Xbox history" at the time. It immediately impacted 1,600 staff the day of its announcement, with another 1,600 spread throughout the current financial year.

Hays said he would "love to try to hit the goals that are set for" id, but those goals aren't evenly communicated. Instead, they are told to "just make the best game we can."

"Under ZeniMax, before the acquisition, that was also how it worked for attributing success," he added. "If we did well on a score for critical acclaim, and we had decently solid sales but they weren't meeting expectations, then that is a problem for marketing and sales. If you scored low, you didn't make a good game.

"They tried better to find that. That is obviously not how Microsoft is operating. It doesn't make any sense."

Asked to elaborate on why Xbox and Microsoft don't understand art, Hays said, "If you cut half of a studio and don't actually take in account how it's made, you don't understand that the cohesion between our teams was what was important. What made us successful."

id launched Doom: The Dark Ages last year and went on to release its Revelations DLC last month. IGN called it "Amazing" in our 9/10 review. For more, you can read about why one of our writers believes Xbox is dismantling its future to rebuild a past it can never recapture.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).



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Upcoming PS5 Games: The Future of PlayStation Exclusives

After what seemed like the end of console exclusives, Xbox and PlayStation are officially getting back into the game. (Let's be real, Nintendo never left it.)

While the past generation of PS5-exclusive games eventually made their way to PC, Sony announced in May 2026 that future single-player games will actually be exclusive to the console. That was a recent announcement, so things are being ironed out, and some games that have been development will still see a simultaneous launch on both systems.

Without further ado, here’s what games you have to look forward to under the PlayStation banner in 2026 and beyond.

Upcoming PS5 Games

Marvel’s Wolverine - September 15, 2026 (PS5 Exclusive)

Insomniac Games

The next PS5-exclusive game comes from none other than Insomniac, the studio behind the massive Spider-Man and Miles Morales games. While they’re moving away from your friendly neighborhood web-swinger, the studio is keeping things in the Marvel family with a new take on the clawed Canadian mutant. The linear action game will loop in other familiar faces from the world of X-Men, and Insomniac has promised plenty of gore and… other things... that warranted an M-rating.

Phantom Blade Zero - October 29, 2026 (Timed PS5 and PC Exclusive)

S-Game

This Wuxia-inspired action game comes from Chinese studio S-Game, and is technically the fifth entry in the Phantom Blade series. The original games were developed in RPGMaker and translated as ‘Rainblood,’ and while the new entry looks graphically stunning, studio founder Soulframe Liang stated in a PS blogpost that he sees Zero as a “spiritual rebirth” of those originals.

After a short delay from earlier this year, Phantom Blade Zero is set to launch on October 29, 2026 on both PS5 and PC. It’s not a full exclusive, however, and will be released on Xbox and Switch 2 a full year later, in Fall 2027.

God of War Laufey - February 16, 2027 (PS5 Exclusive)

Santa Monica Studio

The next mainline God of War game was revealed at a State of Play in February 2026. God of War Laufey will feature none other than Kratos’s wife and Atreus’s mother, Faye, in a story that overlaps with the timeline of the 2019 reboot and Ragnarok.

After passing away in Midgard, Faye wakes up in the Everywhen, a plane in the afterlife with gods from across mythologies vying for power. Her journey isn’t over, and she still wants to support her family. She won’t be alone, either, getting help from a gelatinous cube and a ribbon. Yep, chew on that.

God of War Laufey is officially set to be released exclusively on PS5 on February 16, 2027. You can check out our full interview with the team at Santa Monica Studio for more.

Until Dawn 2 - 2027 (PS5 Exclusive)

Firesprite

An Until Dawn sequel was revealed at the same State of Play as God of War Laufey. While we don’t have too many details, our first trailer showed off a new cast of characters, including Neil Newbon of Astarion fame. The story will follow a group of fake ghost hunters looking for clicks on a ‘haunted’ island, who ultimately find themselves wrapped up in a very real and deadly crisis. Expect the return of big consequence decision making, tons of possible endings, and some gnarly cutscenes.

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet - TBA (PS5 Exclusive)

Naughty Dog

To be honest, there’s a chance Naughty Dog skips the PS5 generation entirely. The studio's last new game was technically The Last of Us: Part 2, just before the current-gen console's launch. Thankfully, we now know what the company has been working on in the interim, and it’s in fact an entirely new IP.

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet places you as Jordan A. Mun, a rogue bounty hunter stuck on the remote planet of Sempiria in an alternate, 80’s-inspired version of the future. Details have been sparse since the game’s announcement, but Neil Druckmann has commented on the game’s title and focus on faith.

There’s been no word on a release date, though Naughty Dog employees have reportedly been under quite the crunch to get through the end of development.

Fairgame$ - TBA (PS5 and PC)

Haven Studios

The only multiplayer game on this list is also one I wouldn’t quite get your hopes up about. Fairgame$ was announced all the way back in 2023, though reports of the new IP date back to 2021. The heist shooter was supposed to be the debut game from Haven Studios, but the team had also been tapped to support the ill-fated Concord. The studio's founding member, Jade Raymond, and its creative director, both left the studio in 2025, a generally massive year for studio shuffles under PlayStation.

Last we heard, Fairgame$ was delayed to 2026, which is… right now. After the success of Helldivers 2, it seems pretty certain that if this one does launch, it'll also be playable on PC. We’ll let you know if we hear anything more.

Bonus: GTA 6 - November 19, 2026 (Timed Console Exclusive)

Rockstar Games

We're straying away from first-party PlayStation titles, but its worth calling out what's expected to be the biggest game launch of all time. While GTA 6 isn't under PlayStation and won’t be exclusive to the PS5, it will in fact be exclusive to consoles. That means you’ll only be able to play it on the PS5 or Xbox Series X/S for a yet to be announced window of time after its release.

Blythe (she/her) is an Audience Development Coordinator at IGN who spends way too much time in character customization screens and tracking down collectibles.



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Friday, August 7, 2026

Palworld 1.0 Showed Me Why Everyone Loves Survival Games

Survival games have been wildly popular for years now. I’ve dabbled here and there to see what the fuss is about, but I’ve always fallen off after a few hours. Usually, I get tangled up in one meagerly explained system after another until I lose track of what I’m supposed to do, and my time with the game peters out.

When Palworld 1.0 came out to rave reviews, I figured I’d give the genre another shot – and I’m glad I did. Palworld’s gradual, newbie-friendly onboarding helped me see what a whole lot of people have loved about survival games all along. Palworld made me a believer.

I’m glad I came in at the 1.0 mark, because I’ve heard Palworld had a much steeper learning curve out of the gate. But now, new players start with a series of missions designed to guide you through the game’s numerous systems. You learn how to punch trees to get wood to create a crafting bench. You learn how to make a club you can use to beat some Pals to death (it’s a dog-eat-dog world out there) to get wool. You then use that wool to make clothes. You set up a camp. You build a house. You activate a teleporter and explore deeper into the game world.

Before long, you’re gliding off cliffs Zelda-style before whomping on every Pal you see to catch them in spheres to put them to work. You can deploy them at your camp, ride them, or have them fight by your side to take on big roaming Pals and towering bosses. It’s a blast. And there’s no way I would have stuck with it if it hadn’t held my hand and eased me into the systems that make up the game.

I still have a long way to go, because I was nowhere near powerful enough to defeat the first boss solo. But those early missions gave me a much-needed handle on what else I can spend my time doing as I level up enough to become a threat. There's a vast world out there I can keep exploring, all while catching Pals and building up my base. I’m having a blast doing it.

Palworld’s 1.0 is available on Steam, Xbox, and PS5. It costs $29.99, but you can save a few bucks on a Steam copy at Fanatical, which is currently running its summer sale.

Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN's board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Bluesky.



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Obsession Star Inde Navarrette Wants to Voice a Resident Evil Character

The internet’s favorite final girl says she’s branching into voice acting and would love to play a role in Capcom’s flagship horror franchise, Resident Evil.

Navarrette opened up about this new career path during an interview with Variety's Tiana DeNicola in late July, saying she’s been getting into the Resident Evil games lately.

When asked if she’s been approached to do any voice acting for games, Navarrette confirmed that yes, she has, and she’s starting that journey “soon,” though she didn’t mention any specifics about the projects she’ll be working on.

“I wanna try something smaller to kind of test the waters, and then later, [do something] different, because video games are obviously a big interest of mine,” she revealed. “I love that world, specifically — the Resident Evil world.

“I would die inside,” she continued when DeNicole described the possibility as “perfect” for her before turning the conversation toward a film adaptation of the series.

“I don’t think they’ve made a Resident Evil movie yet, have they?” she asked, prompting DeNicole to bring up Zach Cregger’s upcoming film, which hits theaters this September.

“Okay, I will buy a ticket,” Navarrette said. “That’s exciting!”

Navarrette’s love for video games is well-chronicled at this point, with her Twitch channel going viral (before she scrubbed all of her VODs) after her breakout role in Obsession launched her to international fame.

Speaking with GQ, she said she grew up playing party games on the PlayStation 2 with her mother and older brother before transitioning into narrative-driven titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 and The Last of Us. She’s also a massive Call of Duty buff, which prompted one fan to gift her a sealed 2009 copy of Modern Warfare 2 in a wholesome moment that took social media by storm.

Navarrette essentially has carte blanche in terms of roles she’d like to pursue at this point, given the outstanding critical reception to her performance in Obsession. Resident Evil isn’t the only franchise she’s been publicly wishlisting lately; she also mentioned meeting with Jake Schreier, director of the upcoming X-Men film, saying she’d love to play Mystique in a future movie.

For now, news of the actress’s forthcoming roles are still under wraps, but that isn’t stopping fans from bugging Schreier and Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige about fitting her in the X-Men universe somehow — and having her play the shape-shifting Mystique doesn’t sound too bad, given the hauntingly convincing way she was able to switch between Wish Nikki and Real Nikki in Obsession.

Image Credits: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures/CAPCOM

Virginia (she/her) is IGN’s News Editor. With ten years of experience reporting on games and entertainment, she’s got a storied background in the fighting game community, influencer news, and viral online trends. Find her on Twitter at @TheeMissGlaze.



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Marvel Tokon PC Launch Is So Bad That Famed FGC Content Creator Maximilian Dood Uninstalled the Game on Stream

Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls ' launch weekend has been filled with so many PC issues that even famed fighting game community (FGC) conte...