The much-anticipated fourth season of Stranger Things is set to be the biggest yet for the series, and the cost to make it so is allegedly just as big as this new season is said to have a per-episode cost of $30 million.

As reported by the Wall Street Journal, this news comes via a longer article about Netflix's shift to being more cost-conscious after years of "prioritizing growth over cost-efficiency." Stranger Things was used as an example of a show that needs "under-the-radar, relatively low-cost hits" to balance out its massive price tag.

"Under-the-radar, relatively low-cost hits are necessary to balance out the costs for big-ticket programming such as the special-effects-filled show Stranger Things, whose new season has a per-episode cost of $30 million, according to people close to the show," WSJ writes.

This would make Stranger Things fourth season one of the most expensive seasons in history, and it would put it above the Halo TV series' budget of $10 million per episode, Game of Thrones' final season budget of $15 million per episode, The Mandalorian's $15 million per episode price tag, and the $25 million per episode budget said to accompany Disney+'s Marvel shows. While it may not be quite as expensive as the reported $465 production budget of Prime Video's The Lord of the Rings series, it is still one of the biggest.

This "holy grail" for Netflix is shows like Squid Game and Virgin River that do not cost nearly as much as a Stranger Things would but still become bonafide hits. Virgin River, for example, cost roughly $3 million per episode. Bridgerton, on the other hand, costs "more than three times as much" and is not as efficient as Netflix desires.

This particular focus on success without breaking the bank also comes with the danger of quickly cancelling shows that are not "resonating," even if they are very expensive like Jupiter's Legacy and Hit and Run. Those two projects were cancelled after only about a month on Netflix.

Stranger Things is obviously a huge moneymaker for Netflix, and one of the biggest reasons is that it draws people back in who may not be regular subscribers. Netflix values shows like these that appeal to "less-frequent users of the service, who are the most in danger of canceling their subscription, compared with heavy users, company executives said."

For more, check out our Stranger Things season 4 trailer breakdown with the Duffer brothers, our look at who the new villain is, and how Netflix is slashing animation amid subscriber drops.

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. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

The much-anticipated fourth season of Stranger Things is set to be the biggest yet for the series, and the cost to make it so is allegedly just as big as this new season is said to have a per-episode cost of $30 million.

As reported by the Wall Street Journal, this news comes via a longer article about Netflix's shift to being more cost-conscious after years of "prioritizing growth over cost-efficiency." Stranger Things was used as an example of a show that needs "under-the-radar, relatively low-cost hits" to balance out its massive price tag.

"Under-the-radar, relatively low-cost hits are necessary to balance out the costs for big-ticket programming such as the special-effects-filled show Stranger Things, whose new season has a per-episode cost of $30 million, according to people close to the show," WSJ writes.

This would make Stranger Things fourth season one of the most expensive seasons in history, and it would put it above the Halo TV series' budget of $10 million per episode, Game of Thrones' final season budget of $15 million per episode, The Mandalorian's $15 million per episode price tag, and the $25 million per episode budget said to accompany Disney+'s Marvel shows. While it may not be quite as expensive as the reported $465 production budget of Prime Video's The Lord of the Rings series, it is still one of the biggest.

This "holy grail" for Netflix is shows like Squid Game and Virgin River that do not cost nearly as much as a Stranger Things would but still become bonafide hits. Virgin River, for example, cost roughly $3 million per episode. Bridgerton, on the other hand, costs "more than three times as much" and is not as efficient as Netflix desires.

This particular focus on success without breaking the bank also comes with the danger of quickly cancelling shows that are not "resonating," even if they are very expensive like Jupiter's Legacy and Hit and Run. Those two projects were cancelled after only about a month on Netflix.

Stranger Things is obviously a huge moneymaker for Netflix, and one of the biggest reasons is that it draws people back in who may not be regular subscribers. Netflix values shows like these that appeal to "less-frequent users of the service, who are the most in danger of canceling their subscription, compared with heavy users, company executives said."

For more, check out our Stranger Things season 4 trailer breakdown with the Duffer brothers, our look at who the new villain is, and how Netflix is slashing animation amid subscriber drops.

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. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

The Wachowski Sisters are auctioning off items from their personal collection - including props from the sets of The Matrix, Cloud Atlas, Sense8, and Jupiter Ascending - to raise money for trans youth.

Lilly Wachowski shared the news on Twitter, saying that Lana and her were doing some "spring cleaning" and thought it was the perfect time to auction off some pretty wonderful items for a good cause.

From a Lightning Rifle Prop from The Matrix to the Nebuchadnezzar Designation Plate Concept Maquette to original concept art and blueprints to a Chip n' Dale figurine that was gifted to the sisters by Susan Sarandon, there is a wide range of available items to bid on in the 170 lots. You can even win a trio of awards IGN gave the Wachowskis for The Matrix in 2000!

You can see a few of the many items in the slideshow below and click here to see the full collection!

"hi youse," Lilly Wachowski wrote on Twitter. "So me and Lana have been doing some spring cleaning at our Raiders of the Lost Ark warehouse and have happily decided to pass on some of the best treasures we've been collecting over the years!! no ark of the covenants but some pretty major and magical artifacts!

"Also many very reasonable items for a variety of budgets! Everything must go!!!!!! and the best part is, ALL proceeds go to -- Protect & Defend Trans Youth Fund - buy some cool sh*t and stand the f*ck up for trans lives!

"Like who doesn't need these [Caine Wise Screen-Worn Latex Ears from Jupiter Ascending]? worn by superhunk @channingtatum!"

The Protect & Defend Trans Youth Fund provides "critical funds to organizations providing direct services to trans youth and advocating for the rights of trans youth in states currently targeted by anti-trans policies. For more information and ways to take action, head to trans-week.com."

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. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

The Wachowski Sisters are auctioning off items from their personal collection - including props from the sets of The Matrix, Cloud Atlas, Sense8, and Jupiter Ascending - to raise money for trans youth.

Lilly Wachowski shared the news on Twitter, saying that Lana and her were doing some "spring cleaning" and thought it was the perfect time to auction off some pretty wonderful items for a good cause.

From a Lightning Rifle Prop from The Matrix to the Nebuchadnezzar Designation Plate Concept Maquette to original concept art and blueprints to a Chip n' Dale figurine that was gifted to the sisters by Susan Sarandon, there is a wide range of available items to bid on in the 170 lots. You can even win a trio of awards IGN gave the Wachowskis for The Matrix in 2000!

You can see a few of the many items in the slideshow below and click here to see the full collection!

"hi youse," Lilly Wachowski wrote on Twitter. "So me and Lana have been doing some spring cleaning at our Raiders of the Lost Ark warehouse and have happily decided to pass on some of the best treasures we've been collecting over the years!! no ark of the covenants but some pretty major and magical artifacts!

"Also many very reasonable items for a variety of budgets! Everything must go!!!!!! and the best part is, ALL proceeds go to -- Protect & Defend Trans Youth Fund - buy some cool sh*t and stand the f*ck up for trans lives!

"Like who doesn't need these [Caine Wise Screen-Worn Latex Ears from Jupiter Ascending]? worn by superhunk @channingtatum!"

The Protect & Defend Trans Youth Fund provides "critical funds to organizations providing direct services to trans youth and advocating for the rights of trans youth in states currently targeted by anti-trans policies. For more information and ways to take action, head to trans-week.com."

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. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

The Bad Guys has passed Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore to win the domestic weekend box office with ticket sales of $24 million.

As reported by Variety, the latest animated film from Dreamworks ended Fantastic Beasts 3's one-week run atop the box office. The third Fantastic Beasts film placed third and saw its ticket sales drop 67% to $14 million. Domestically, Fantastic Beasts 3 has earned $67 million.

The Bad Guys cost $70 million to produce, so it still has some ground to make up. Its international run is doing its part as the film has grossed $63 million, bringing its global total to $87.1 million.

In our The Bad Guys review, we said that it is "a slick, hilarious heist movie with buckets of laughs and a lot of heart. It’s Ocean’s Eleven meets Little Red Riding Hood with Sam Rockwell’s Wolf going on a charm offensive to stay out of jail… and he might just win you over in the process."

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 placed second with $15.2 million in ticket sales and its $145.8 million domestic total is only $3 million away from surpassing the original's North American total.

The Northman placed fourth in its opening weekend by bringing in $12 million. Initial estimates said The Northman cost $90 million to produce, but tax incentives may have brought that total closer to $70 million. The Northman added another $5 million internationally.

In our The Northman review, we said it "is a dreamlike viking revenge saga that shies away from bloodshed, but is still enjoyable."

Rounding out the top five was Nicolas Cage's The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent with ticket sales of $7.1 million. The film will Cage stars as himself is said to have cost $30 million.

In our The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent review, we said, "having a deep and abiding love for the vast filmography of Nicolas Cage is not an outright requirement for enjoying The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, but it would certainly help."

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. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

The Bad Guys has passed Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore to win the domestic weekend box office with ticket sales of $24 million.

As reported by Variety, the latest animated film from Dreamworks ended Fantastic Beasts 3's one-week run atop the box office. The third Fantastic Beasts film placed third and saw its ticket sales drop 67% to $14 million. Domestically, Fantastic Beasts 3 has earned $67 million.

The Bad Guys cost $70 million to produce, so it still has some ground to make up. Its international run is doing its part as the film has grossed $63 million, bringing its global total to $87.1 million.

In our The Bad Guys review, we said that it is "a slick, hilarious heist movie with buckets of laughs and a lot of heart. It’s Ocean’s Eleven meets Little Red Riding Hood with Sam Rockwell’s Wolf going on a charm offensive to stay out of jail… and he might just win you over in the process."

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 placed second with $15.2 million in ticket sales and its $145.8 million domestic total is only $3 million away from surpassing the original's North American total.

The Northman placed fourth in its opening weekend by bringing in $12 million. Initial estimates said The Northman cost $90 million to produce, but tax incentives may have brought that total closer to $70 million. The Northman added another $5 million internationally.

In our The Northman review, we said it "is a dreamlike viking revenge saga that shies away from bloodshed, but is still enjoyable."

Rounding out the top five was Nicolas Cage's The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent with ticket sales of $7.1 million. The film will Cage stars as himself is said to have cost $30 million.

In our The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent review, we said, "having a deep and abiding love for the vast filmography of Nicolas Cage is not an outright requirement for enjoying The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, but it would certainly help."

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. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

The official reveal of the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 appears to be imminent as Infinity Ward's Twitter has gone dark. Furthermore, its header image appears to feature Ghost lurking in the shadows.

If you head to Infinity Ward's Twitter, you will notice that its profile picture is all black, which companies have done before ahead of a big reveal. IW's header image also appears to be a black image, but you can see the faintest image if you look close enough.

After IGN brightened up the image, it sure looks like fan-favorite Ghost is hiding in the dark waiting for his next move. You can see the brightened-up image below and compare it to Ghost and his iconic skull mask in light.

Infinity Ward working on Modern Warfare 2 is no secret as it all but confirmed the news back in February when it shared what its teams were working on.

"COD 2022 is a sequel to MW 2019, and being designed with a new Warzone experience (both led by @InfinityWard)," IW wrote on Twitter.

This new game will not be a remaster of 2009's Modern Warfare 2, but will instead continue the story that began in the Modern Warfare reboot from 2019.

In our review of 2019's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, we said that its "varied gameplay modes and excellent gunplay suggest the series is headed in a promising direction."

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 may be the last Call of Duty for some time as 2023 will reportedly be the first year in nearly two decades without a new proper entry.

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. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

The official reveal of the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 appears to be imminent as Infinity Ward's Twitter has gone dark. Furthermore, its header image appears to feature Ghost lurking in the shadows.

If you head to Infinity Ward's Twitter, you will notice that its profile picture is all black, which companies have done before ahead of a big reveal. IW's header image also appears to be a black image, but you can see the faintest image if you look close enough.

After IGN brightened up the image, it sure looks like fan-favorite Ghost is hiding in the dark waiting for his next move. You can see the brightened-up image below and compare it to Ghost and his iconic skull mask in light.

Infinity Ward working on Modern Warfare 2 is no secret as it all but confirmed the news back in February when it shared what its teams were working on.

"COD 2022 is a sequel to MW 2019, and being designed with a new Warzone experience (both led by @InfinityWard)," IW wrote on Twitter.

This new game will not be a remaster of 2009's Modern Warfare 2, but will instead continue the story that began in the Modern Warfare reboot from 2019.

In our review of 2019's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, we said that its "varied gameplay modes and excellent gunplay suggest the series is headed in a promising direction."

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 may be the last Call of Duty for some time as 2023 will reportedly be the first year in nearly two decades without a new proper entry.

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. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Update (4/23/22) - Ubisoft has also confirmed that it has no plans to add NFTs to Project Q.

After various leaks, Ubisoft has officially announced Project Q, a "team battle arena letting players truly own the experience" that is not a Battle Royale.

Ubisoft announced the news on Twitter, saying "the game is in early development and we will keep testing, so for now all you can do is register for upcoming tests." Alongside sharing the first concept art for the game, Ubisoft added that it is not a Battle Royale and will instead "feature a variety of PvP modes with one single goal in mind: FUN!"

The image shows four characters in what very well may be Central Park in New York City. While it is only concept art, it looks to give hints as to some of their abilities. The character on the left is using a handheld rocket of sorts and has what appears to be dynamite on her.

Another character has a lightning bolt in their hair and yellow attire, teasing they may have lightning abilities or could be very fast. There is also an older character holding a shovel that looks to have the ability to fly or glide. Lastly, a character with glasses is standing on the bridge taking it all in.

As reported by VGC, leaked gameplay of Project Q had begun leaking online after Ubisoft invited players to test this new game. It has a look similar to Fortnite but, as Ubisoft states, it is not a Battle Royale.

It was said to have two game modes in a Battle Royale called Showdown and a control-style mode called Battle Zone, but Ubisoft's statements could mean Showdown is a different type of mode. The game also said to have heroes with unique weapons, abilities, and skills and something called "Wonders."

Weapons are said to be different than your traditional offerings and include a "deck of cards, fireworks, hammers, sticks, and paintguns."

Project Q is another game that was part of the GeForce Now database leak that also included a PC version of Final Fantasy VII Remake and God of War, a remaster of Chrono Cross.

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. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Update (4/23/22) - Ubisoft has also confirmed that it has no plans to add NFTs to Project Q.

After various leaks, Ubisoft has officially announced Project Q, a "team battle arena letting players truly own the experience" that is not a Battle Royale.

Ubisoft announced the news on Twitter, saying "the game is in early development and we will keep testing, so for now all you can do is register for upcoming tests." Alongside sharing the first concept art for the game, Ubisoft added that it is not a Battle Royale and will instead "feature a variety of PvP modes with one single goal in mind: FUN!"

The image shows four characters in what very well may be Central Park in New York City. While it is only concept art, it looks to give hints as to some of their abilities. The character on the left is using a handheld rocket of sorts and has what appears to be dynamite on her.

Another character has a lightning bolt in their hair and yellow attire, teasing they may have lightning abilities or could be very fast. There is also an older character holding a shovel that looks to have the ability to fly or glide. Lastly, a character with glasses is standing on the bridge taking it all in.

As reported by VGC, leaked gameplay of Project Q had begun leaking online after Ubisoft invited players to test this new game. It has a look similar to Fortnite but, as Ubisoft states, it is not a Battle Royale.

It was said to have two game modes in a Battle Royale called Showdown and a control-style mode called Battle Zone, but Ubisoft's statements could mean Showdown is a different type of mode. The game also said to have heroes with unique weapons, abilities, and skills and something called "Wonders."

Weapons are said to be different than your traditional offerings and include a "deck of cards, fireworks, hammers, sticks, and paintguns."

Project Q is another game that was part of the GeForce Now database leak that also included a PC version of Final Fantasy VII Remake and God of War, a remaster of Chrono Cross.

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. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.