NBCUniversal is entering the great streaming war with the early release of its Peacock platform. Members of Comcast's Xfinity X1 and Flex services will be able to enjoy a sneak peek of Peacock beginning Wednesday, April 15, 2020. Peacock will launch globally on Wednesday, July 15, 2020. Peacock boss Matthew Strauss told reporters that his team is evaluating the possibility of moving up the national release if they feel like the platform is ready. "We really believe this is a long-term strategy," Strauss explained. "We’re going to do everything we can to accelerate, but we also see the value of testing and learning." The streamer also unveiled a demo of what the service will look like running on the Xfinity platform, which you can check out in the video below or at the top of the page. Read on to learn how you can experience Peacock for yourself and what to watch when the new streaming service launches. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/14/peacock-xfinity-preview-trailer"]

How to Watch Peacock

Beginning on April 15, Comcast's X1 and Flex customers will be able to get an early preview of Peacock Premium at no extra cost, by simply saying "Peacock" into the Xfinity Voice Remote. For those of you unfamiliar with Comcast's services, Xfinity Flex is a 4K streaming device that's free with Xfinity internet. If you're not an Xfinity subscriber, Peacock will launch nationally on July 15 for $4.99 with commercials, and $9.99 for an ad-free version. The Peacock app will be available to download via mobile, desktop, and set-top box devices on July 15. NBCUniversal has not released a full list of the devices you'll be able to use the Peacock app on.

What to Watch on Peacock

At launch, Peacock will be home to more than 15,000 hours of TV shows and movies from NBCUniversal's entertainment library. The streamer will include "clip-based" channels featuring sketches from the SNL Vault, Jimmy Fallon, and Seth Meyers. On the news front, Peacock will feature highlights from NBC Sports, NBC Nightly News, and more.

Peacock Shows

If you're looking to catch up on your favorite NBC comedies, dramas, and animated series, here's a list of some of the titles you can binge below:

• Law & Order: SVU
• Parks & Recreation
• 30 Rock
• Blindspot
• Chicago P.D.
• Chicago Fire
• Chicago Med
• New Amsterdam
• Manifest
• Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist
• Bluff City Law
• Council of Dads
• Lincoln Rhyme: The Hunt for the Bone Collector
• Days of Our Lives
• Saturday Night Live
• King of Queens
• Everybody Loves Raymond
• Two and a Half Men
• A.P. Bio
• Frasier
• Saved By the Bell
• George Lopez
• Cheers
• Yellowstone
• Friday Night Lights
• House
• Battlestar Galactica
• Psych
• Parenthood
• Monk
• Heroes
• Covert Affairs
• Warehouse 13
• Sliders
• Necessary Roughness
• The Commish
• Murder She Wrote
• Columbo
• The Rockford Files
• Airwolf
• Seaquest
• Alfred Hitchcock Presents
• Sabrina: The Animated Series
• Fievel’s American Tails
• Care Bears Get Out
• New Adventures of He-Man

Peacock Movies

On the film side, Peacock will include hundreds of movies from the NBCUniversal library. Here are some of the titles you'll be able to watch:

• Jurassic Park franchise
• E.T.
• Meet the Parents
• Schindler’s List
• Shrek
• Evan Almighty
• Liar Liar
• Fletch
• Ray
• Lost in Translation
• Definitely Maybe
• Reservoir Dogs
• Children of Men
• Moonrise Kingdom
• American Psycho
• Meet Joe Black
• Monster’s Ball
• Blue Crush
• The Blair Witch Project
• Fear
• The Story of Us
• You, Me, and Dupree
• Robin Hood
• Leap Year

Peacock Shows and Movies Coming Soon

Premiering later this year and into 2021, Peacock will feature new original series like its Saved By the Bell reboot, and the ambitious sci-fi series Brave New World starring Alden Ehrenreich (Solo: A Star Wars Story) and Demi Moore (Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle). Check out what other new movies and TV shows are coming to Peacock in the list below:

• Brave New World
• The Capture
• Psych 2: Lassie Come Home
• Angelyne
• Intelligence
• Rutherford Falls
• Lost Speedways
• Saved By the Bell

It's important to note that not every film and TV title in NBCUniversal's vault will be available at launch. The Office, for example, which is still available to stream on Netflix, will debut on Peacock at a later date. Films like The Bourne Trilogy and Fast & Furious franchise also fall under this same category.

• The Office
• This Is Us
• The Blacklist
• Downton Abbey
• Suits
• Bates Motel
• The Mindy Project
• Keeping Up With the Kardashians
• Married With Children
• Roseanne
• Pawn Stars
• Storage Wars
• Ancient Aliens
• Cold Case Files
• The Bourne Trilogy
• Knocked Up
• Bridesmaids
• Baby Mama
• Apollo 13
• The Big Lebowski
• Notting Hill
• Scent of a Woman
• Meatballs
• The Hurt Locker and Open Water

Which titles are you looking forward to checking out when Peacock launches? Let us know in the comments section below. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/01/tiger-king-whos-the-worst"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] David Griffin still watches DuckTales in his pajamas with a cereal bowl in hand. He's also the TV Editor for IGN. Say hi on Twitter.

PlayStation will offer Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection and Journey for free as part of its Play At Home Initiative that also includes a $10 million creative fund for indie developers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. PlayStation president Jim Ryan revealed the details of the $10 million fund and free games on PlayStation.Blog, but also said more information and participation criteria will revealed at a later date for those developers looking to take advantage of it. "Independent developers are vital to the heart and soul of the gaming community and we understand the hardships and financial struggles that many smaller gaming studios are facing." Ryan said. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2015/09/30/uncharted-the-nathan-drake-collection-review"] As far as the games, Journey and Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection will be free to all PS4 customers, not just those with PlayStation Plus, from April 15 - May 5 to "help keep the PlayStation community entertained at home." Its important to note that, once you redeem the games, they are yours to keep forever. For those in China and Germany, Sony will be offering Knack 2 instead of Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection. "During these days of physical distancing, fans have turned to gaming for moments of respite and enjoyment." Ryan explained. "At Sony Interactive Entertainment, we are privileged to bring this much-needed entertainment. We know this is just one small step and we are thankful to be able to offer this support to our players, our communities, and our partners." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2012/12/19/igns-best-ps3-game-of-2012-journey"] Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection was released in 2015 and includes the first three Uncharted titles. In our review, we said "Missing bells and whistles aside, these three exemplary games have never looked or played better than they do here, so whether you’ve played them before or not, Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection should be in your library." Journey was released in 2012 and won IGN's Game of the Year for that year, as well. In our review, we said "Journey celebrates the poignancy of nature, it startles you with the unexpected, and empowers you in an exhilarating, unforgettable conclusion. The hours spent completing Journey will create memories that last for years. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-playstation-first-party-exclusive-review&captions=true"] Also, don't forget that Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is one of the free PlayStation Plus games for April 2020, so be sure to grab it so its ready when you finish Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com. Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN who can't wait and is so excited he just can't hide it. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

PlayStation will offer Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection and Journey for free as part of its Play At Home Initiative that also includes a $10 million creative fund for indie developers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. PlayStation president Jim Ryan revealed the details of the $10 million fund and free games on PlayStation.Blog, but also said more information and participation criteria will revealed at a later date for those developers looking to take advantage of it. "Independent developers are vital to the heart and soul of the gaming community and we understand the hardships and financial struggles that many smaller gaming studios are facing." Ryan said. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2015/09/30/uncharted-the-nathan-drake-collection-review"] As far as the games, Journey and Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection will be free to all PS4 customers, not just those with PlayStation Plus, from April 15 - May 5 to "help keep the PlayStation community entertained at home." Its important to note that, once you redeem the games, they are yours to keep forever. For those in China and Germany, Sony will be offering Knack 2 instead of Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection. "During these days of physical distancing, fans have turned to gaming for moments of respite and enjoyment." Ryan explained. "At Sony Interactive Entertainment, we are privileged to bring this much-needed entertainment. We know this is just one small step and we are thankful to be able to offer this support to our players, our communities, and our partners." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2012/12/19/igns-best-ps3-game-of-2012-journey"] Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection was released in 2015 and includes the first three Uncharted titles. In our review, we said "Missing bells and whistles aside, these three exemplary games have never looked or played better than they do here, so whether you’ve played them before or not, Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection should be in your library." Journey was released in 2012 and won IGN's Game of the Year for that year, as well. In our review, we said "Journey celebrates the poignancy of nature, it startles you with the unexpected, and empowers you in an exhilarating, unforgettable conclusion. The hours spent completing Journey will create memories that last for years. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-ign-playstation-first-party-exclusive-review&captions=true"] Also, don't forget that Uncharted 4: A Thief's End is one of the free PlayStation Plus games for April 2020, so be sure to grab it so its ready when you finish Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com. Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN who can't wait and is so excited he just can't hide it. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake has fans of the original 1997 game around the world reliving some of their favorite moments in Square Enix's modern take on the game, including the game's cast. Some have weeped hearing Tifa's iconic theme for the first time. Others are rejoicing over the weirdness of the original retained in this remake. One person, though, was brought to tears hearing her own voice in the game for the first time as one of the game's main characters, Aerith Gainsborough. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ign.com%2Fslideshows%2Fevery-ign-final-fantasy-game-review&captions=true"] Briana White, who provides Aerith's English voice, is also a YouTuber and Twitch streamer. While recording her play through she reached the point in the remake where Cloud meets Aerith for the first time, and was immediately brought to tears. Just like the rest of us, then. You can check out the special moment below, but if you haven't started the game yet, there are spoilers in the video for the game's earlier hours.

I was not prepared for this moment. Hearing my voice over work in the finished product for the first time... Pure magic. (light spoiler warning) #FF7R pic.twitter.com/ECelqkicqQ

— TheStrangeRebel (@TheStrangeRebel) April 14, 2020

As you can see, White isn't quite sure where to go before she realizes where she's at in Midgar and which scene she's about to reach. After the scene begins, White begins to cry after hearing the first bit of her VO work for Aerith, which isn't even words — just panicked shrieks. As the scene continues, Aerith actually says words causing the tears to start up again. She laughs at Aerith's remarks to Cloud's too-cool-for-you attitude as well. Yeah, we laughed and cried too, Briana, you're not alone. Not that we voiced any of the characters or anything. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/09/the-journey-to-final-fantasy-7-remake"] For more, check out our guide to the cast of Final Fantasy 7 Remake to see who voices characters alongside White. After that, read about the cast's thoughts on living up to fan expectations surrounding the game, and if you're playing yourself, be sure to read up on our battle system guide and combat tips. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. He, too, cried when hearing Aerith for the first time. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake has fans of the original 1997 game around the world reliving some of their favorite moments in Square Enix's modern take on the game, including the game's cast. Some have weeped hearing Tifa's iconic theme for the first time. Others are rejoicing over the weirdness of the original retained in this remake. One person, though, was brought to tears hearing her own voice in the game for the first time as one of the game's main characters, Aerith Gainsborough. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ign.com%2Fslideshows%2Fevery-ign-final-fantasy-game-review&captions=true"] Briana White, who provides Aerith's English voice, is also a YouTuber and Twitch streamer. While recording her play through she reached the point in the remake where Cloud meets Aerith for the first time, and was immediately brought to tears. Just like the rest of us, then. You can check out the special moment below, but if you haven't started the game yet, there are spoilers in the video for the game's earlier hours.

I was not prepared for this moment. Hearing my voice over work in the finished product for the first time... Pure magic. (light spoiler warning) #FF7R pic.twitter.com/ECelqkicqQ

— TheStrangeRebel (@TheStrangeRebel) April 14, 2020

As you can see, White isn't quite sure where to go before she realizes where she's at in Midgar and which scene she's about to reach. After the scene begins, White begins to cry after hearing the first bit of her VO work for Aerith, which isn't even words — just panicked shrieks. As the scene continues, Aerith actually says words causing the tears to start up again. She laughs at Aerith's remarks to Cloud's too-cool-for-you attitude as well. Yeah, we laughed and cried too, Briana, you're not alone. Not that we voiced any of the characters or anything. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/09/the-journey-to-final-fantasy-7-remake"] For more, check out our guide to the cast of Final Fantasy 7 Remake to see who voices characters alongside White. After that, read about the cast's thoughts on living up to fan expectations surrounding the game, and if you're playing yourself, be sure to read up on our battle system guide and combat tips. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Wesley LeBlanc is a freelance news writer and guide maker for IGN. He, too, cried when hearing Aerith for the first time. You can follow him on Twitter @LeBlancWes.

2K has announced a brand new XCOM game. Titled XCOM: Chimera Squad, this brand-new standalone title is set five years after the events of XCOM 2. XCOM: Chimera Squad features an all-new story set in the XCOM universe. Although it is set five years after the events of XCOM 2, Firaxis says Chimera Squad is “neither a sequel nor expansion.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/14/xcom-chimera-squad-game-reveal-trailer"] Here’s a synopsis of the plot according to a press release sent by 2K.

“Set five years after the events of XCOM 2, humans, hybrids and aliens are now working together to forge a civilization of cooperation and co-existence. However, not all of Earth’s inhabitants support the interspecies alliance. City 31, a model of peace in a post-invasion world, is opposed by mysterious groups whose agendas threaten to shatter this delicate interspecies alliance. Chimera Squad, an elite force of human, hybrid, and alien agents, must work together to destroy the underground threats driving the city towards chaos.”

[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=xcom-chimera-squad-screenshots&captions=true"] Some of the new features in Chimera Squad include unique Alien and Human agents with distinct personalities and abilities, including species-specific attacks. There’s also a new Breach Mode that adds a new combat phase focused on coordinating assaults across different entry points. XCOM: Chimera Squad will release digitally on PC via Steam on April 24. For a limited time, the introductory price for Chimera Squad will be set at $9.99 before it increases to $19.99 on May 1. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/14/xcom-chimera-squad-gameplay-overview-trailer"] Check out IGN’s review of XCOM 2  and the expansion, War of the Chosen, here for more coverage on the popular turn-based tactics game. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.

2K has announced a brand new XCOM game. Titled XCOM: Chimera Squad, this brand-new standalone title is set five years after the events of XCOM 2. XCOM: Chimera Squad features an all-new story set in the XCOM universe. Although it is set five years after the events of XCOM 2, Firaxis says Chimera Squad is “neither a sequel nor expansion.” [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/14/xcom-chimera-squad-game-reveal-trailer"] Here’s a synopsis of the plot according to a press release sent by 2K.

“Set five years after the events of XCOM 2, humans, hybrids and aliens are now working together to forge a civilization of cooperation and co-existence. However, not all of Earth’s inhabitants support the interspecies alliance. City 31, a model of peace in a post-invasion world, is opposed by mysterious groups whose agendas threaten to shatter this delicate interspecies alliance. Chimera Squad, an elite force of human, hybrid, and alien agents, must work together to destroy the underground threats driving the city towards chaos.”

[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=xcom-chimera-squad-screenshots&captions=true"] Some of the new features in Chimera Squad include unique Alien and Human agents with distinct personalities and abilities, including species-specific attacks. There’s also a new Breach Mode that adds a new combat phase focused on coordinating assaults across different entry points. XCOM: Chimera Squad will release digitally on PC via Steam on April 24. For a limited time, the introductory price for Chimera Squad will be set at $9.99 before it increases to $19.99 on May 1. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/14/xcom-chimera-squad-gameplay-overview-trailer"] Check out IGN’s review of XCOM 2  and the expansion, War of the Chosen, here for more coverage on the popular turn-based tactics game. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Kim is a reporter for IGN.

The upcoming Pokemon TCG expansion Rebel Clash features numerous pocket monsters from Sword and Shield making their way to the card game for the first time. IGN is excited to offer the first look at seven new cards from the set, and they just so happen to be some of the weirder, some might even say disturbing, Pokemon from Gen 8. Take a look at the cards by flipping through the slideshow below or keep scrolling for the article. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=7-new-pokemon-cards-from-rebel-clash&captions=true"]

Galarian Mr. Mime and Galarian Mr. Rime

  First up is Galarian Mr. Mime and its evolution, Galarian Mr. Rime. As if the regular, almost-but-not-quite human Mr. Mime wasn’t unsettling enough, its Galarian form is a brand new type of nightmare fuel -- one that dances! Galarian Mr. Rime would be somewhat charming if we were at least sure where its face was. Is it on the head or the tummy? It’s the kind of question that will haunt us til our final days. All that said, Galarian Mr. Rime has the useful “Screen Cleaner” ability that protects your Pokemon from the effects of your opponent’s attacks. At the moment there aren’t many potent effects that would warrant automatically running a 1-1 line, but this card will always be there should the metagame ever call for it.

Appletun and Flapple

  For those who’ve always wanted to know what would happen to an apple or a whole apple pie if they were enchanted by a wizard to become dragons, now we know. Flapple and Appletun are two Pokemon that would be kind of cute if they didn’t make us so hungry. The good news is that both of these delicious looking Pokemon make for pretty decent cards. Crunchy and flavorful as its baked pie crust may be, Appletun’s “Delicious Aroma” ability is a free gust effect on a coin flip. Aggressive decks will favor the new Boss’ Orders card, but Appletun may be at home in more slow-paced decks that are looking to stall out the game by repeatedly stranding a Pokemon in the active position. But if you like your crisp, tasty apples on the fly, then maybe Flapple is the one for you. Its “Apple Drop” ability has the potential to become the basis of a combo deck where the goal is to continually loop Flapples from the field, into the deck, and back out again in order to set up knockouts with perfect math. It’s not something that seems viable at the moment, given the current card Standard card pool, but this is definitely a card to reconsider with the release of future sets.

Malamar V and VMAX

  Malamar has become a bit of a meme in the Pokemon TCG, but Malamar VMAX is all business. Its Max Jammer attack deals a strong 180 damage (perfect for two-shotting opposing VMAXes) and the effect allows you to take the most important card in your opponent’s hand and put it on the bottom of their deck. Pair this effect with other hand disruption cards like Marnie, Reset Stamp, or Chip-Chip Ice Axe to make sure your opponent draws dead while you have free reign to knock out the rest of their Pokemon. Of course, that’s easier said than done. With the release of Professor’s Research and Quick Ball, it’s easier than ever to topdeck your way into cards that will refill your depleted hand, so it’ll be hard to make a hand-lock stick. Max Jammer’s three energy cost makes it quite slow compared to other decks in the format, so that may be what stops Malamar VMAX from reaching great heights in the competitive scene, although cards like Bede and Counter Gain are options to help speed things up. It’s worth mentioning that Dragapult VMAX is the most-hyped card in Rebel Clash, and it just happens to be weak to Darkness, so Malamar VMAX may be worth considering if you’re looking to counter the metagame.

Boltund V

We’ve saved the best for last. The other cards have potential, but Boltund V is just downright great. Instead of going YOLO trying for a Turn 1 Full Blitz with Pikachu & Zekrom GX, Lightning decks can fall back on the more dependable Boltund V thanks to its Electrify attack that, for one Lightning energy, can accelerate two Lightning from the deck onto your Benched Pokemon. But Boltund V is more than just a way to accelerate energy. It can make for a decent attacker in a pinch thanks to its Bolt Storm attack that does 10 damage and then 30 more for each Lightning energy on your side of the field. Lightning decks are all about flooding the board with energy, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Boltund V used as a backup attacker or even as the star of its very own deck. Suffice to say, Boltund V is a very, very good boy. Do you have thoughts on these new cards coming in Rebel Clash? Or have you not thought about the Pokemon TCG since you got a 1st Edition Charizard all those years ago? Let us know down in the comments. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joshua is Senior Features Editor at IGN. If Pokemon, Green Lantern, or Game of Thrones are frequently used words in your vocabulary, you’ll want to follow him on Twitter @JoshuaYehl and IGN.

The upcoming Pokemon TCG expansion Rebel Clash features numerous pocket monsters from Sword and Shield making their way to the card game for the first time. IGN is excited to offer the first look at seven new cards from the set, and they just so happen to be some of the weirder, some might even say disturbing, Pokemon from Gen 8. Take a look at the cards by flipping through the slideshow below or keep scrolling for the article. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=7-new-pokemon-cards-from-rebel-clash&captions=true"]

Galarian Mr. Mime and Galarian Mr. Rime

  First up is Galarian Mr. Mime and its evolution, Galarian Mr. Rime. As if the regular, almost-but-not-quite human Mr. Mime wasn’t unsettling enough, its Galarian form is a brand new type of nightmare fuel -- one that dances! Galarian Mr. Rime would be somewhat charming if we were at least sure where its face was. Is it on the head or the tummy? It’s the kind of question that will haunt us til our final days. All that said, Galarian Mr. Rime has the useful “Screen Cleaner” ability that protects your Pokemon from the effects of your opponent’s attacks. At the moment there aren’t many potent effects that would warrant automatically running a 1-1 line, but this card will always be there should the metagame ever call for it.

Appletun and Flapple

  For those who’ve always wanted to know what would happen to an apple or a whole apple pie if they were enchanted by a wizard to become dragons, now we know. Flapple and Appletun are two Pokemon that would be kind of cute if they didn’t make us so hungry. The good news is that both of these delicious looking Pokemon make for pretty decent cards. Crunchy and flavorful as its baked pie crust may be, Appletun’s “Delicious Aroma” ability is a free gust effect on a coin flip. Aggressive decks will favor the new Boss’ Orders card, but Appletun may be at home in more slow-paced decks that are looking to stall out the game by repeatedly stranding a Pokemon in the active position. But if you like your crisp, tasty apples on the fly, then maybe Flapple is the one for you. Its “Apple Drop” ability has the potential to become the basis of a combo deck where the goal is to continually loop Flapples from the field, into the deck, and back out again in order to set up knockouts with perfect math. It’s not something that seems viable at the moment, given the current card Standard card pool, but this is definitely a card to reconsider with the release of future sets.

Malamar V and VMAX

  Malamar has become a bit of a meme in the Pokemon TCG, but Malamar VMAX is all business. Its Max Jammer attack deals a strong 180 damage (perfect for two-shotting opposing VMAXes) and the effect allows you to take the most important card in your opponent’s hand and put it on the bottom of their deck. Pair this effect with other hand disruption cards like Marnie, Reset Stamp, or Chip-Chip Ice Axe to make sure your opponent draws dead while you have free reign to knock out the rest of their Pokemon. Of course, that’s easier said than done. With the release of Professor’s Research and Quick Ball, it’s easier than ever to topdeck your way into cards that will refill your depleted hand, so it’ll be hard to make a hand-lock stick. Max Jammer’s three energy cost makes it quite slow compared to other decks in the format, so that may be what stops Malamar VMAX from reaching great heights in the competitive scene, although cards like Bede and Counter Gain are options to help speed things up. It’s worth mentioning that Dragapult VMAX is the most-hyped card in Rebel Clash, and it just happens to be weak to Darkness, so Malamar VMAX may be worth considering if you’re looking to counter the metagame.

Boltund V

We’ve saved the best for last. The other cards have potential, but Boltund V is just downright great. Instead of going YOLO trying for a Turn 1 Full Blitz with Pikachu & Zekrom GX, Lightning decks can fall back on the more dependable Boltund V thanks to its Electrify attack that, for one Lightning energy, can accelerate two Lightning from the deck onto your Benched Pokemon. But Boltund V is more than just a way to accelerate energy. It can make for a decent attacker in a pinch thanks to its Bolt Storm attack that does 10 damage and then 30 more for each Lightning energy on your side of the field. Lightning decks are all about flooding the board with energy, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Boltund V used as a backup attacker or even as the star of its very own deck. Suffice to say, Boltund V is a very, very good boy. Do you have thoughts on these new cards coming in Rebel Clash? Or have you not thought about the Pokemon TCG since you got a 1st Edition Charizard all those years ago? Let us know down in the comments. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joshua is Senior Features Editor at IGN. If Pokemon, Green Lantern, or Game of Thrones are frequently used words in your vocabulary, you’ll want to follow him on Twitter @JoshuaYehl and IGN.

A rumored datamine alludes to a 'Pokemon Pink', which may have been planned as a companion piece to the 1998's Pikachu-focused Gen 1 spin-off, Pokemon Yellow. The news arrives thanks to Pokemon Historian Dr. Lava, based on information posted in an archived thread on 4chan. Dr. Lava, who has documented a number of Pokemon leaks and datamines, called the information "almost certainly legit". On ResetEra, you can see a screenshot of the alleged leaked source code, with the header referencing a Pink and a Yellow version of the game. It's thought that the information arrives from the same person or group that leaked the Spaceworld demo ROM (a prototype of Pokemon Gold and Silver) and a series of beta Pocket Monsters that were circulated back in 2018. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2016/11/18/pokemon-1998-vs-pokemon-2016"] The Pokemon community has surmised that a Pokemon Pink would likely have featured Clefairy or Jigglypuff in the spotlight instead of Pikachu - Clefairy having been mooted as a potential mascot for the series before Pikachu's popularity, and Jigglypuff becoming popular due to the Pokemon anime. Twitter user SnorlaxMonster noted in a reply to the original tweet that a Japan-Only Game Boy Camera frame once featured Pikachu and Clefairy standing side by side, but this was changed into a Wario Land design for the European release of the peripheral. How intriguing! In other Pokemon news, The Pokemon Company recently announced that players who disconnect from ranked matches in Pokemon Sword and Shield may be permanently banned. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/11/13/pokemon-sword-and-pokemon-shield-review"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN who still can't get the theme from Clefairy Says out of his brain. Hit him over the head with a proverbial rubber mallet on Twitter.