Technology

SAVE OVER $829: Score a free iPhone 17 from T-Mobile when signing up for a 24-month plan of an Experience plan and add an eligible line. No trade in is necessary to score this free iPhone 17 deal.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Free Apple iPhone 17 from T-Mobile Pre-order Here

If you're an Apple iPhone fan and you've been running with an older model, it's probably time to upgrade. Since Apple just announced the new iPhone 17, there's hope on the horizon that you'll soon be able to score the newest model. Doing so with T-Mobile means you could be in for a totally free iPhone by following a bit of fine print.

Beginning on Sept. 12 at 5 a.m. PT, T-Mobile is offering a free iPhone 17 to customers who sign up for 24 months on an Experience plan and add a new line. Maybe best of all, you don't need to trade in your old phone to be eligible for the free iPhone 17.

You can also get a free iPhone 17 Pro when signing up for the Experience Beyond plan and trading in an eligible phone in any condition.

SEE ALSO: The coolest iPhone 17 cases you can buy for your new phone, starting from just $29

Mashable Tech Reporter Alex Perry explained the new Apple iPhone 17 comes with some much-anticipated upgrades. For starters, the camera got a big-time glow-up and a much improved refresh rate. "While some annual iPhone upgrades feel very incremental, this year's batch of new iPhones does feel like it has a little more juice than usual," wrote Perry. "Part of that is the new design, as Apple has reimagined the rear camera bump as a wider, more horizontal camera island (dubbed "the plateau" in Apple speak)."

In terms of colors, we're not mad about the options available for the iPhone 17 since we have lavender, sage, blue mist, white, and black to choose from. If your favorite color is burnt orange, you'll want to go with the fancier iPhone 17 Pro.

T-Mobile mentions the free iPhone 17 comes for those who go with an Experience plan with the carrier which includes the Experience More and Experience Beyond options. The Experience More plan is the more affordable option, starting at $85 per month for a single line. It comes with some perks like Apple TV+, Netflix, and 60GB of mobile hotspot data.

To snag the free iPhone 17 Pro, you'll need to trade in an eligible phone in any condition and sign on for two years of service on the Experience Beyond plan which starts at $100 per month for one line.

Instead of paying full price for the new iPhone 17 or iPhone 17 Pro, snag it for free at T-Mobile by going with an Experience plan from the carrier.

Nintendo announced a Nintendo Direct livestream to close out the week, after weeks of rumors and leaks suggesting there would be one.

One of the biggest brands in gaming is fresh off a successful launch for the Nintendo Switch 2 console, but there's a pretty big void where information about upcoming games should be. Sure, we know about Kirby Air Riders, Pokemon Legends: Z-A, and a few others, but we're sort of flying blind regarding the next year or so of Switch 2 games.

The good news is that there's a big, 60-minute Nintendo Direct on Friday morning at 9am ET. That's a lot of time for Nintendo to fill, and while there will be some Switch 1 games in the mix, let's talk about the Switch 2 games we really need to see from Nintendo during the livestream.

SEE ALSO: A whopper of a Nintendo Direct is coming this week: When is it and how to watch Nintendo Direct September 2025: 5 Switch 2 games we need to see

I should note that most of these are games that are already announced. It's hard for me to say we "need" to see something that hasn't been confirmed yet, after all.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond I want it so badly. Credit: Nintendo

First up is Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, which has been an albatross around Nintendo's neck for eight years now. Originally announced in 2017, with development internally canceled and restarted a couple of years later, this tentpole Switch 1 game has become a tentpole Switch 2 game by virtue of its odd development cycle.

Strangely, despite Nintendo's repeated insistence that Prime 4 is still coming this year, it doesn't have an official release date yet. I can't make any guarantees because I'm just some guy, but I would be extremely surprised if this Direct doesn't fix that. I'd call this a near-certainty.

Hades II Frothing at the mouth for 'Hades II.' Credit: Supergiant Games/Steam

Hades II is in a somewhat similar place as Metroid Prime 4: It's supposed to come out this year, but there isn't a date for it yet. We called the early access version one of the best games of last year, so needless to say, we've got our eyes on Hades II. It's coming to Switch 2 before other consoles, so if a release date announcement is coming anytime soon, it might be on Friday. Fingers crossed.

The Duskbloods I just want to know what this game is. Credit: Nintendo

Perhaps the most intriguing known quantity coming for Switch 2 is The Duskbloods, the new game from Elden Ring developer From Software. This was announced as a big Switch 2 exclusive back in April, but the trailer was enticingly vague. We know it's a multiplayer game of some kind, with a sort of steampunk-inspired setting and plenty of gross monsters to kill, but that's it. This game isn't set to come out until 2026, but who knows? It could be early 2026, and if that's the case, it might be time to unleash some firm details on those of us who really want to play it.

Splatoon Raiders Look at those cool squid kids. Credit: Nintendo

Splatoon Raiders is an interesting case because Nintendo originally announced it in a mobile app, separate from any Direct livestream a few months ago. There's a very short and very uninformative trailer that makes it look like a single-player survival game set in the Splatoon universe. That's a really neat idea, as a guy who loves Splatoon but doesn't necessarily always want to play against other people online.

This one also feels like it's almost certain to show up, at any rate.

Whatever is next for either Fire Emblem or Animal Crossing The next one of these will probably sell like 30 million units. Credit: Nintendo

In terms of games that haven't actually been announced but feasibly could be, two major Nintendo franchises come to mind: Fire Emblem and Animal Crossing. I'm not greedy enough to ask for both, but I think it's possible we hear from one or the other on Friday.

My rationale here is that the last Animal Crossing came out more than five years ago and was a monumental success for Nintendo. It's very possible the next one isn't ready to show yet, but I'm certain there is a next one coming for Switch 2. Nintendo doesn't need any help selling Switch 2 consoles, necessarily, but announcing a new AC game would certainly drive some sales by itself.

Fire Emblem hasn't been dormant for quite as long, with the last release in early 2023, but there have been persistent rumors of a new one (whether a true new game or a remake of an older one) coming to Switch 2. Again, it's entirely feasible that neither of these series are ready to shine the spotlight on whatever is next for them just yet, but 60 minutes is a lot of time to fill. There's gotta be something like this in there.

Honorable mention: The next batch of Switch 2 upgrades Hey, you should really play 'Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition,' especially if it gets a Switch 2 upgrade. Credit: Nintendo

One final thing worth noting is that every previously announced Switch 2 Edition of an older Switch 1 game is already out. There are also no announced plans for any free upgrade patches for any older Switch 1 games right now, though there are certainly plenty that could still use it. Whether Nintendo feels like charging for upgrades that add new content or simply patching games so they run better on Switch 2, I would expect to see at least one announcement related to this during the Direct.

My hope is that any or all of the Xenoblade Chronicles games get upgrades because I'm a sicko, but I'll take anything at this point.

SAVE $170: As of Sept. 11, shop Staub's pumpkin-shaped dutch ovens for 46% off. Get the classic Staub Pumpkin Dutch Oven in burnt orange for $199.99 and save $170 for 46% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Staub Staub 3.5-quart Pumpkin Dutch Oven $199.99 at Zwilling
$369.99 Save $170 Get Deal

Is that a chill I sense in the air? Fall weather is creeping in, and if you're ready to haul out your sweater collection, then you're also probably thinking about fall cooking. Maybe you're dreaming of a hearty beef stew or rich pot of French onion soup? Whatever you've got up your sleeve, you'll need the right vessel, and what's more festive than a pumpkin-shaped Staub? What's even better? A pumpkin-shaped Staub that's on sale.

As of Sept. 11, Staub has marked down all of their pumpkin cast iron cocottes. Both the .75-quart mini ovens and the 3.5-quart full-sized dutch ovens are on sale, and they're up to $170 off. The best deal is on the 3.5-quart Staub, which is normally priced at $369.99, but currently marked down to $199.99. That gives you 46% off for $170 in savings. Savings on the pumpkin dutch oven vary by color but the classic burnt orange is down to $199.99.

If you're not looking for the best deal but just a taste of fall, the petite pumpkin dutch oven is 16% off, bringing it down to $49.99.

While the outside of the Staub pumpkin dutch oven is decorative, the inside is covered in enameled cast iron and the lid comes in handy for long simmering stews and braises. It's dishwasher, microwave, broiler, and oven safe, too. The oven has the pumpkin shape on the inside, perfect for creating a pumpkin-shaped sourdough. Grab the Staub pumpkin dutch ovens for $199.99 and save 46% off the festive cookware.

Navigating an email inbox isn’t fun, and Google is constantly trying to improve how that works in Gmail. The latest updates will make it easier to find and track all your purchases, as well as find good deals among the piles of clutter.

In the landscape of prestige television, few shows are called "the greatest ever made" as frequently as The Wire, but this is not just for its brilliant writing—it's a realistic portrayal of a modern American city. Here's why you shouldn't miss this show.

Visual Studio Code is releasing a major update this month, version 1.104. This update, also known by its code name "Eclipse," is bringing some great new features, especially for its AI-powered chat and a bunch of quality-of-life improvements.

Just as it seemed like physical media like DVDs and Blu-rays were about to disappear, the failures of the streaming industry has led to the rediscovery of media ownership. The thing is, if you didn't come up with DVDs and Blu-ray discs, you might not be aware of the restrictions that come with them.

SAVE $150: The Dreame AirStyle Pro styler and dryer is on sale at Amazon for $249.99, down from the list price of $399.99. That's a 38% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dreame Dreame AirStyle Pro $249.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $150 Get Deal

Now that we're in the middle of September, the temperatures are less suitable for walking outside with wet hair. Grandma would not be pleased to see anyone head off to school or work in the morning with wet hair. To keep her from worrying, get that hair dry before leaving the house thanks to this great deal at Amazon.

As of Sept. 11, the Dreame AirStyle Pro styler and dryer is on sale for $249.99 at Amazon, marked down from the standard price of $399.99. That's a 38% discount that takes a sweet $150 off.

Dreame is making a name for itself by producing attention-worthy dupes, namely coming after Dyson and Shark. The Dreame Airstyle Pro looks a whole lot like the Dyson Airwrap but comes in at a much lower price, especially thanks to today's deal. Currently, the Dyson Airwrap is selling for $599.99, which means you'll save a whopping $350 by going with the Dreame AirStyle Pro.

Dreame considers the AirStyle Pro to be a seven-in-one hair styler and high-speed dryer, and it comes with tons of attachments to make this happen. There's the fast dryer attachment, the flyaway attachment, auto-wrap barrel, hard smoothing brush, soft smoothing brush, volumizing brush, and even more. To top it all off, it comes with a lux storage box.

SEE ALSO: Mashable's favorite e-reader, the Kobo Clara Colour, now comes in white

You also get three temperature settings and three wind speed settings on the Dreame AirStyle Pro. Dreame uses JetAirflow technology to help keep hair protected from overheating which is also said to reduce frizz.

Dreame also added user-friendly features to the AirStyle Pro like an anti-tangle cord that rotates 360 degrees and a filter that's easy to clean. The body of the styler itself weighs just 0.64 pounds, making it a lightweight styler.

If you tend to leave home with wet hair, make grandma happy by snagging the Dreame AirStyle Pro and drying your hair before heading out. It's on sale today at Amazon for under $250.

It’s been a busy week at Apple with the drop of the latest iPhone 17 and the new Apple Watch 11. Amid the bustle of activity, Apple is also officially dropping watchOS 26. There are plenty of changes coming down the pipeline, and tucked in among all the other new features are four brand new watch faces.

Per Apple’s release notes when installing the update, the four new watch faces include nods to classic watches, and the incorporation of Apple's new Liquid Glass design language:

Exactograph is a modern re-imagination of a traditional regular watch which separates out hours, minutes, and seconds for more precise timekeeping. 

The new Exactograph watch face. Credit: Apple

Flow uses Liquid Glass numerals that refract a fluid orb of color that responds to your wrist movements. 

The Flow watch face, which incorporates Liquid Glass elements. Credit: Apple

Waypoint acts as a live compass that shows where you are in relation to saved locations in (Apple) Maps or points of interest (Available on the Apple Watch Ultra).

The Waypoint face, exclusive to Apple Watch Ultra. Credit: Apple

Hermès Faubourg Party features animated shorts that appear based on the time of day or your movements, with a series of characters (Available on Apple Watch Hermès).

An Apple Watch Hermès-exclusive face, featuring animated characters. Credit: Apple

As you may have surmised, the Waypoint watch face is exclusive to the Apple Watch Ultra while the Hermès Faubourg Party is exclusive to the Apple Watch Hermès. In addition to the new watch faces above, the Photos watch face has received a Liquid Glass makeover, so it’ll look new as well. 

The updated Photos watch face. Credit: Apple

All Apple Watch users who upgrade to watchOS 26 will get the Flow and Exactograph faces. According to Apple’s website, that will include all Apple Watches from the Series 6 onward and all three Apple Watch Ultra generations. The Apple Watch SE 2 is also invited to the party. 

The update will begin rolling out to the appropriate devices on Monday, September 15. Beta users should already have access to it now. 

WatchOS 26 was initially announced at WWDC, so most of the new features have been announced already. Apple Watch users will be treated to a new Liquid Glass design, the new AI-powered Workout Buddy, and the inclusion of Live Translation in addition to a number of improvements of things like the aforementioned Photos watch face and the addition of a Notes app. 

SAVE UP TO 53%: As of Sept. 11, Soundcore headphones are marked down up to 53%. Find the Soundcore V20i open-ear headphones for $23.49, knocking 53% off for $26.50 in savings.

Best Soundcore headphone deals Best open-ear headphone deal Soundcore V20i open-ear headphones $23.49 (Save $26.50) Get Deal Best headphone deal Soundcore Life Q20 headphones $29.99 (Save $30) Get Deal Best earbud deal Soundcore P20i earbuds $19.98 (Save $20.01) Get Deal

Dreaming of long fall walks? Wearing a sweater in the cool crisp air and listening to the new Taylor Swift album. If you're ready to upgrade your headphones for the new season, Soundcore has some great deals for you.

Soundcore is our go-to for budget-friendly headphones. They start under $100, but still deliver high-quality sound. And when they're on sale, you can score a pair of headphones or earbuds with active noise cancellation for under $50.

Soundcore's headphones are especially good for students who don't want to spend an entire paycheck on a pair of headphones but still want to be able to block out the noise while studying in the library.

Right now there are a ton of deals to be had on Soundcore headphones, offering savings up to 53% off. Here are all of the best deals now.

Best Soundcore deal Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore V20i open-ear headphones $23.49 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $26.50 Get Deal Why we like it

Headphone trends come and go, but right now sleep earbuds and open earbuds are the buzziest. Sleep earbuds provide comfort while blocking out noise, but open earbuds are a safe option that allows you to be aware of your surroundings while still listening to music.

Right now, you can find Soundcore's open-ear headphones for their lowest price ever. As of Sept. 11, the Soundcore V20i open-ear headphones are down to $23.49, saving you $26.50 for 53% off. That's officially their lowest price ever, from its previous low of $24.99.

Open-ear headphones are ideal for working out. When you're on a run or on a bike, and want to listen to your pump-up playlist but still want to be aware of traffic, open-ear headphones allow for the best of both worlds. The Soundcore V20i, hook around the ears for a comfortable yet snug fit. Plus, you can take calls with the V20i, which have four mics in them.

Looking for a more traditional pair of headphones? Don't worry, there are still a ton more Soundcore deals to explore.

More Soundcore deals

• Soundcore P20i earbuds — $19.98 $39.99 (save $20.01)

• Soundcore Life Q20 headphones — $29.99 $59.99 (save $30)

• Soundcore Space A40 — $44.58 $79.99 (save $35.41)

• Soundcore Q20i earbuds — $44.99 $69.99 (save $25)

• Soundcore Life Q30 headphones — $55.98 $79.99 (save $24.01)

Microsoft is shutting down its Outlook Lite app for Android, a lightweight version of its email client that was designed for low-end phones and slower networks. The app will be retired starting on October 6, 2025, and after that date, new installations will be blocked.

This episode of How It Hits breaks down The Long Walk and its place in a long tradition of deadly competition stories, from Battle Royale to The Hunger Games. Why do we keep coming back to these narratives—and why do they so often put kids in the arena?

SAVE $34: As of Sept. 11, you can get both the Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds and Soundcore Q20i noise-cancelling headphones for just $265.98. That's $34 in total savings and $9 cheaper than buying each pair separately on sale.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds and Q20i noise-cancelling headphones $265.98 at Amazon
$299.98 Save $34 Get Deal

Over-ear headphones and compact earbuds both have their time and place. But when it costs hundreds of dollars for each, you often have to make a tough decision. If you're torn between the two, we recommend checking out this bundle deal from Anker Soundcore. For under $270, you can get your hands on both.

As of Sept. 11, you can get the Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds and Q20i noise-cancelling headphones bundled together for only $265.98. A $300 value, that saves you about $34 total. The Sleep A30 earbuds are $230 on their own, so this bundle deal essentially gets you the Q20i headphones for only $36.

We're huge fans of the Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds. They're the only pair of sleep earbuds on the market that feature active noise cancellation and it works great. Mashable's Bethany Allard tested them for a few months and had mostly positive things to say. "They bring the best of what I would expect from a premium sleep earbud — active noise cancellation, solid battery life, and plenty of optimization for sound in comfort," she writes. One of their only pitfalls is the price tag — although, with this bundle deal, we can definitely look past that.

The Soundcore Q20i headphones are budget-friendly over-ears that go beyond the basics. They offer active noise cancellation, 40-hour battery life (with ANC on), transparency mode, customizable EQ, and multipoint connectivity. They're not the most advanced headphones on the market by any means, but they'll get the job done.

Not to rag on Apple, but for less than half the price of AirPods Max, you can get a solid pair of noise-cancelling over-ear headphones and premium sleep earbuds from Anker Soundcore. In this economy, that's a major win.

The iPhone 17, fancier Pro version, and an all-new slim model are just slightly better iterations of the iPhone you already have in your pocket. While everyone loves an upgrade, not everyone needs an upgrade.

SAVE $300: As of Sept. 11, get the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra robot vacuum and mop for $999.99, down from its usual price of $1,299.99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 23% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra $999.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $300 Get Deal

Ready to stop spending so much of your time vacuuming and mopping manually? This fall, let the robots handle it with this fantastic deal on a robot vacuum from Amazon. Not only will it save you some serious money, but also the most precious commodity: time.

As of Sept. 11, get the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra robot vacuum and mop for $999.99, down from its usual price of $1,299.99 at Amazon. That's $300 off and a discount of 23%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The best robot vacuums in 2025

This premium robot vacuum and mop combo is a great pick for automating your entire cleaning routine. It boasts a self-cleaning, self-emptying docking station as well as AI navigation and 10,000Pa of strong suction so you don't have to worry about going over floors again to suck up every bit of debris.

This model really can do it all, from automatically switching from vacuuming to mopping to save you time, auto-emptying its dust bins, and using intelligent dirt detection to find where all the grime is lurking. It even handles heated air drying for mop messes, so you're good to go minutes after mopping the floor. No more gross puddles to have to worry about drying yourself.

If you're tired of handling all these tasks, this robot vacuum and mop combo can make things significantly easier on you. Just be sure you jump on the deal quickly as it's currently a Lightning Deal, which means it can disappear fast.

Throughout her career, Sydney Sweeney has proven herself to be an accomplished genre hopper, tackling teen dramas like Euphoria, rom-coms like Anyone But You, and horror films like Immaculate. But with Christy, she leaps into a new genre: the Oscar bait biopic.

Directed by David Michôd (The King, Animal Kingdom), Christy stars Sweeney as famed boxer Christy Martin, a pioneer for women in the sport. While the film follows Christy's boxing journey, it also examines her traumatic upbringing with her homophobic mother Joyce (Merritt Wever) and her relationship with her abusive husband and trainer Jim (Ben Foster).

The latter takes up the bulk of Christy's first trailer, with Jim even threatening to kill Christy should she ever leave him. Also on display in the trailer is Sweeney's muscular transformation into Martin, the kind of physical commitment that's catnip for Oscar voters. (See: Christian Bale in The Fighter or Charlize Theron in Monster.) But beyond its Oscar bait-y premise, how does the film actually stack up?

SEE ALSO: 'Christy' review: Sydney Sweeney's Oscar-bait swing is a big miss

Following its world premiere at 2025's Toronto International Film Festival, Christy garnered mixed reviews. Some critics praised Sweeney's performance while pointing out the film's flawed, even bland storytelling.

In her review out of TIFF, Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko criticized Sweeney's performance along with the film as a whole, writing, "Despite the premiere buzz, Christy is not the Oscar contender that Sweeney, who also produced the film, seems to have swung for. Its script is a mess, creating clumsy archetypes and hitting on Lifetime movie cliches with no self-awareness."

Christy hits theaters Nov. 7.

Imagine this: you come home, turn on your PC or laptop, and it won’t boot. Now what? You had important work to do. Panic sets in, and you don’t know what to do next.

The Tesla Model Y may still be the best-selling electric crossover in 2025, but cracks are starting to show. Sales have slipped hard over the past few months, and plenty of shoppers are eyeing other options.

X (formerly Twitter) seems to be dominated by videos when you open the app or access the site — and if the news of the day happens to be something violent or disturbing, it can be easy to stumble across content that you don't want to see automatically playing.

The safest way to avoid disturbing social media content is to avoid the apps altogether, but if you do want to access X on a day when unpleasant news is trending, there's a setting you can tweak that will at least stop videos from autoplaying in your feed.

SEE ALSO: Twitter lets you put content warnings on your tweets. Here's how to do it. How to stop videos autoplaying on X Total Time

• 1 minute

What You Need

• X on desktop or smartphone

Step 1: Navigate to "Settings and privacy"

This is under "More" if you're using desktop.

Credit: X

Step 2: Navigate to "Accessibility, display and languages"

Step 3: Click/tap on "Data Usage"

Credit: X

Step 4: Click/tap "Autoplay", then select "Never"

This will stop all videos from autoplaying when you're using X.

Credit: X

It's worth noting that while you can stop autoplaying videos, this won't remove videos from X altogether — and there's still a chance you may see disturbing images while browsing on the app.

If you've seen violent or disturbing content online, and need to talk to somebody, here are some resources:

Crisis Text Line / 988lifeline.org / Samaritans / Find a Helpline

To report harmful content go to the Safer Internet Centre.

Pre-order 'Space Marine 2: Ultima Limited Edition' on Amazon Pre-order for Xbox Space Marine 2: Ultima Limited Edition $99.99 on Amazon Pre-Order Here Pre-order for PS5 Space Marine 2: Ultima Limited Edition $99.99 on Amazon Pre-Order Here

When Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine launched in 2011, it stood apart from the cover-heavy shooters of its era. Where Gears of War and Mass Effect 3 had you crouched behind walls, Space Marine sent you charging into the fray with a chainsword in one hand and a bolt rifle in the other. It was messy, fast, and brutal in a way other shooters weren’t at the time.

The sequel, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, keeps that same energy but scales it way up. Developed by Saber Interactive, best known for World War Z, it is a third-person action game where you carve through endless Tyranid swarms, swap between six classes in replayable three-player missions, and test your skills in 6v6 PvP. Think God of War’s close combat mixed with World War Z’s swarms, only here you are a genetically engineered supersoldier in bright blue power armor.

SEE ALSO: 'Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Mirror Edition' comes to PS5 and Xbox Series X: Release date and price info

Now Space Marine 2: Ultima Limited Edition is due Nov. 18 with some physical goodies and all DLC and season pass content released so far.

What's inside the Ultima Limited Edition

The Ultima Limited Edition is the most complete version of the game available. It includes:

• Base game with campaign, co-op missions, and PvP

• SteelBook case with exclusive artwork

• Macragge’s Chosen DLC with an Ultramarines cosmetic pack that adds a chainsword skin, bolt rifle skin, and Crux Terminatus shoulder piece, all usable in campaign, operations, and multiplayer

• Season Pass 1 with a mix of cosmetic packs and champion packs:

  • Ultramarines Cosmetic Pack with over 30 items including heraldry decals, successor chapter markings like Novamarines and Praetors of Orpheus, unique helmets, and new paint colors

  • Dark Angels Chapter Pack with more than 40 items tied to the Dark Angels and their successors

  • Salamanders Champion Pack with a full-body power armor set for the Sniper class and a matching Bolt Sniper Rifle skin

  • Raven Guard Cosmetic Pack with heraldry and paint schemes

  • Imperial Fists Champion Pack with a Tactical class armor skin and weapon

  • Space Wolves Chapter Pack with successor heraldry and colors

  • Blood Angels Cosmetic Pack with heraldry and armor markings

  • White Scars Chapter Pack with chapter-specific decals and paint

• Season Pass 2 with more customization and champion packs:

  • Black Templars Champion Pack with full armor for the Bulwark class and a Power Sword skin

  • Imperial Fists Cosmetic Pack with more than 40 cosmetics across Imperial Fist successors

  • Ultramarines Champion Pack, a class-specific full armor set, coming after launch

  • Additional packs and chapters to be announced

In short, Chapter Packs focus on modular cosmetics like decals, paint colors, helmets, and greave markings, while Champion Packs deliver complete armor sets for one class plus a matching weapon.

Is Space Marine 2 newcomer friendly?

Warhammer 40k is famous for having decades of lore, thousands of pages of novels, and a tabletop game that can be overwhelming if you are not already a fan. The good news is that Space Marine 2 is designed to be approachable even if you know nothing about the setting.

The story follows Captain Titus of the Ultramarines, a character from the first game, and throws him into a clear fight against a terrifying alien swarm. You do not need to know the full history of the Imperium, the Horus Heresy, or the countless Space Marine chapters to enjoy the campaign. The focus is on action, spectacle, and survival rather than deep lore.

Who are the Tyranids?

The main villains in Space Marine 2 are the Tyranids. They are an alien hive species that exists only to consume. Imagine the xenomorphs from Alien mixed with the endless Zerg from Starcraft, then dial the scale up until they devour whole planets. They are not individuals but part of a collective hive mind that overwhelms enemies with sheer numbers. For a newcomer, all you really need to know is that they are terrifying, they never stop coming, and killing them in huge swarms is the core of the game.

SEE ALSO: '007: First Light' could be the best James Bond video game since 'Goldeneye'

For players who want to learn more, the game includes nods and references for fans of the wider universe, but it never requires you to read outside material to understand what is happening. At its core, the story is simple: you are a genetically engineered soldier defending humanity against alien monsters. That makes it an easy entry point for anyone curious about Warhammer without the homework.

What comes after launch

The Ultima Edition and base game release worldwide on Nov. 18, 2025. Focus Entertainment has already confirmed more content will follow:

• Ongoing Season Pass 2 drops with new Champion Packs and Chapter Packs

• Season 3 and Season 4 are planned but details are not yet announced

• Some packs may release on consoles first, with PC players getting them later

Should you preorder the Ultima Limited Edition?

If you only want to play the campaign, the standard edition will be enough. But if you plan to dive into co-op operations or PvP where customizing your Marine matters, the Ultima Edition is a strong value. It includes two full season passes and the Macragge’s Chosen DLC upfront, saving you from buying them separately later.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Ultima Limited Edition is available to preorder now for $99.99 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. It launches worldwide on Nov. 18, 2025.