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Hasbro Responds to DHS Using AI Optimus Prime in Deportation Posts

Hasbro has responded to the Department of Homeland Security’s recent AI-generated social media posts that used the likeness of the Hasbro-owned character, Transformers’ Optimus Prime , to promote its deportation program, stating that DHS’ posts were created without their consent. One DHS ad is an AI-generated fake movie poster for “Transformers: Age of Deportation” featuring Optimus Prime with DHS and ICE insignia. A second DHS post showed Optimus face to face with a Sikh man, declaring, “Self-deport or find out” and “America for Americans. Get off our roads; you don’t know how to drive Mr Singh.” That post – which the DHS has since deleted – was widely blasted as being blatantly racist. Hasbro responded Thursday with the following statement on their Instagram account : “Optimus Prime is a beloved character who represents humility, leadership, compassion and justice. Hasbro is aware of the recent posts using his likeness. These posts were done without permission and do not represent the Transformers brand or Hasbro.” As Entertainment Weekly points out, the DHS’ Optimus Prime spots were also criticized for coming on the heels of the death of Peter Cullen , the actor who voiced Optimus for decades. Cullen’s final performance as the iconic Autobot leader will be in Optimus Prime: Awakening, an upcoming short film that will be presented with 40th anniversary screenings of The Transformers: The Movie . The Trump Administration widely uses (often AI-generated) imagery and videos that appropriate pop culture in their social media posts. The DHS’ Optimus Prime posts come on the heels of the White House’s AI video featuring President Trump as a Green Lantern and the release of the designs for new Space Force uniforms that have been likened to those worn by the Galactic Empire in the Star Wars franchise or by the soldiers in Starship Troopers, a sci-fi film that lampoons fascism.

IGNIGN•Jim Vejvoda11 Sept

Brandon Sanderson Praises the Upcoming MTG Star Trek Set for a 'Perfect Kirk' Card

Brandon Sanderson, author of the beloved Cosmere series , has long been a fan of Star Trek and Magic the Gathering. These are topics he has talked about frequently over the years, but thanks to the upcoming MTG Star Trek crossover, he got to talk about both things at the same time. Sanderson and his co-host, Dan Wells, kicked off this week's podcast by discussing a few of the new cards being released this November. In particular, Sanderson pointed out the mono red Captain James T. Kirk card featuring what they agreed was "a perfect Kirk". "I thought their Kirk was really clever," said Sanderson about the card. "If you have no options, he gives you them, right? He draws you a card and/or you discard a card and then draw one. So if you have no cards in hand, he gives you a card. So he solves the unsolvable problems, he makes a red shirt, and he buffs your team with a rousing speech." The specific card Sanderson is talking about here is one of multiple versions of William Shatner's portrayal of James T. Kirk from the original series . It's a card you can pull from the base set, as opposed to one of the Commander Decks up for preorder. The MTG Star Trek sets aren't releasing until later in November, so it's unclear how common of a card this will be right now. As for why Brandon Sanderson is talking about it on his podcast this week, we can only speculate. It could be that he just loves Star Trek and Magic the Gathering and wanted to spend some time talking about it. However, his penchant for tabletop adaptations and obvious interest in Magic the Gathering would suggest something more. This is perhaps just another sign that a Universes Beyond collab is in the works for Sanderson's sprawling Cosmere books. This isn't exactly a new theory, as fans have been convinced that Sanderson's MTG collab is all but inevitable for a while now. Outside of his own personal interest, Sanderson showcased his ongoing relationship with Wizards of the Coast when he exclusively previewed a new card for Tarkir Dragonstorm back in March 2025. There's also been some discussion on Reddit about how he actually already created a custom Stormlight Archive set. With the upcoming Apple TV adaptation in the works and massive new Stormlight board game on its way to Kickstart later this year, I certainly wouldn't rule out an MTG crossover like this in the future.

IGNIGN•Jacob Kienlen10 Sept

Use MapGenie's Mortal Shell 2 Map to Track Essential Locations and Items

Need help figuring out what to do next in Mortal Shell 2? Our friends over at MapGenie have a Mortal Shell II interactive map that tracks essential locations across Fallgrim, including chests, Map Fragments, valuable items, and much more. Mortal Shell II Interactive Map On MapGenie's map, you can use map markers to check off your exact progress toward completion! You can also filter specific markers in the left-hand sidebar. The available filters for MapGenie's Mortal Shell 2 interactive map include: Landmarks , including Dungeons , Beacons , Gates, and Bone Gates. Items , such as Keys, Map Fragments , Chests, and Ovum. Permanent Pickups , such as Burnt Effigies, Grisha Remnants, Weltcaps, and Common Moonshine. Equipment , including Weapons, Tarstones , Shells, and Mortal Clothing. Materials , such as Smithing Stones and Glimpses. Lore , including Journals and Tattered Notes. Enemies , including Bosses and Major Bosses. Other noteable map markers, such as Stone Platforms and Offering Candles. Mortal Shell 2 Guides and Game Help On the IGN side, our Mortal Shell II wiki is here to help with burning questions you may have on your journey across Fallgrim. Our coverage includes: Mushroom Village Offering Chest Sunken Village Offering Chest How to Fix the Tarforge and Enhance Items Seals Explained - Block, Parry, and Harden Items and Consumables Explained How to Change Difficulty Meg Koepp is a Guides Editor on the IGN Guides team. When she's not working, you can find her trying to win Victory Royales in Fortnite or tinkering with her AYN Thor.

IGNIGN•Meg Koepp10 Sept

The Best iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max Cases

It’s September, so Apple just had a huge event , where it released an annual Pro phone update in the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max . The standard iPhone 18 and follow-up to the iPhone Air didn’t make an appearance, though. Sorry, regular phone-havers, but you’ll have to wait a little while longer. Featured in this article These new slabs of glass and metal are spendier than in years past , starting at $1,199 for the Pro and $1,299 for the larger Pro Max – a $100 price jump from their predecessors. Not that you wouldn’t have wanted to anyway, but protecting them is even more important. We’ve poked around, and picked out the best cases you can grab right now. Apple TechWoven Case with MagSafe Best iPhone 18 Pro Case Your number one bet for an iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max case will be Apple’s first-party case. It’ll fit the best, and it supports both MagSafe and Apple’s Crossbody Strap and Wrist Strap accessories. The switch from FineWoven to TechWoven last year seems to have been the right call – by all accounts I’ve read, the cases have held up far better over the last year. The only things not to like about them, then, might be the look, as the colors haven’t gotten any more exciting this year. There’s also the feel; I’ve got issues with certain textures, and the TechWoven case gives me the creepy crawlies when I touch one. The other thing to note is the price. Apple first-party cases don’t come cheap, and this year is no different. Expect to shell out $59 for the TechWoven case. Dbrand Grip Case Best iPhone 18 Pro Case for Fashion Dbrand’s collection of cool case designs comes straight to the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. While you can certainly pick one that just has a single color, the company also has slick-looking options, like skins that look like X-rays of the interior of the phone or just the inside if you popped the back off. There are also cases with groovy inky splotches and the Sketch cases that look, well, like sketches. The Grip Case is priced comparably to Apple’s first-party TechWoven cases, and most will run you $60, with some exceptions that are cheaper or more expensive (when not on sale). Dbrand Ghost Case Best Clear Case for iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max Dbrand’s Ghost Case is made up of a clear polycarbonate backing, complete with camera bump cover, and a dark edge. This take on the transparent case won’t ever yellow, Dbrand promises, because the part made with TPU, a material that usually darkens over time, is already dark and opaque. That also has the added advantage of feeling grippier in-hand. The Ghost Case comes with an integrated magnetic ring for Qi2 wireless charging – the iPhone 18 Pro charges at up to 25W on a compatible charger. It’s on the pricey side, at $60, although right out of the gate, the company is selling it at a $10 discount. Bullstrap Original Leather Case Best Leather iPhone 18 Pro Case Bullstrap has been my go-to for leather iPhone cases for years. Although its cases don’t tend to be quite as thin as Apple’s leather options were, it does offer the open-bottom design that I’ve always liked for using the swipe up gesture from the bottom of the phone. (There is a closed-bottom option, too.) The cases also feature clicky, metal buttons. The cases don’t come cheap at $100 each, but the ones I’ve owned in the past have always felt like high-quality leather that develops a pleasing patina with time. For those who just can’t give up leather, Bullstrap’s is among the best. Peak Design Everyday Case Best Budget iPhone 18 Pro Case Peak Design has made quality smartphone cases for years, particularly in the days before MagSafe, when the company offered its SlimLink modular accessory cases. The Everyday Case doesn’t support those, but it’s hard to see a need for them in a world filled with MagSafe accessories that accomplish the same thing. It helps that the Peak Design Everyday Case, at $40, is the cheapest case on this list. You could absolutely find something at an even lower price, but you would be hard-pressed to find one that makes your phone feel as sturdy and pleasing to the touch as the cloth-backed Everyday Case. Your iPhone 17 Pro Case Best iPhone 18 Pro Case (Redux) Last month, Otterbox started straight-up listing its iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max cases as compatible with their 2026 replacements, and that’s as true today as it was then. According to Apple’s tech specs for the 18 Pro and 17 Pro models, they share the exact same dimensions. A word of caution: there could be very subtle differences between the phones. Apple doesn’t give the exact measurements for the camera bump, for instance, and we don’t know if the buttons are in the exact same place. That could lead to tiny, annoying inconsistencies. Still, if you like the one you have and it’s not too beaten up, it might be worth trying it to see if you can save yourself a few bucks on a new case! How to Pick an iPhone 18 Pro or 18 Pro Max Case Whether you’re case-hunting for the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max, the general advice I’d give is the same: Set your budget and needs, then look for options that fit it, from manufacturers you’ve trusted in the past. Given how much more durable phones are in 2026 than they were, say, 10 years ago, I tend to prioritize slimness and how they feel in my hand. But you might be more interested in a case that you could run over with a tank, or that offers extras like a kickstand or an integrated credit card slot. If you don’t see or like the cases your favorite manufacturers have produced, your best bet is take a look at a few stories like this, figure out which cases, or at least which manufacturers, get mentioned the most. I’d only check the lists from sites you’ve heard of and that you feel you can trust. I do my best to pick cases from companies that haven’t done me wrong, but I certainly haven’t tried them all, so it’s best to get multiple opinions. And if you’ve come here from the future, several months into the iPhone 18 Pro life cycle, you’ll probably be able to find a few actual reviews. The same thing applies, there: consider reviews from sources you trust. When I’m looking at them, I care most about people whose taste generally most closely matches my own.

IGNIGN•Jacqueline Thomas10 Sept