Title: Clanker Runs Full Speed Into A Wall And Then Snaps In Half After Stumbling Backwards Like A Looney Toons Character Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2026 21:00:48 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/clanker-runs-full-speed-into-a-wall-and-then-snaps-in-half-after-stumbling-backwards-2000726696 Also: did Take-Two's stock really lose $2.8 billion this week?

Title: Pokémon’s Battle System May Not Be Turn-Based For Much Longer Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2026 20:30:47 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/pokemon-champions-turn-based-real-time-battles-winds-waves-2000726753 Game Freak wants Pokémon Champions to preserve the old style

Title: People With Eyes Accuse System 3 Devs Of Using Gen AI On Its James Pond Reboot Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2026 20:00:03 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/james-pond-gen-ai-slop-accusations-system-3-2000726706 System 3 denied the accusation in a blog post, but c'mon man look at that cow

Title: Rockstar Games Reportedly Remains In The Dark About Who’s Leaking GTA 6 But Still Moving Ahead With Netflix Reveal Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2026 19:20:07 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/rockstar-games-reportedly-still-in-the-dark-about-whos-leaking-gta-6-and-how-2000726726 Multiple gameplay clips are circulating despite strict security protocols to keep information from leaking

Title: Psychonauts Dev Now Owns All Its Games Made Under Xbox And Their Publishing Rights: ‘Buying Any Of Our Games Helps Support The Studio’ Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2026 18:57:26 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/psychonauts-dev-now-owns-all-its-games-publishing-rights-2000726713 'Everything, we got back, the transfer of the IP came back to us'

Title: Monopoly Go x The Simpsons crossover is almost here Date: Tue, 02 Jun 2026 08:41:21 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/monopoly-go-the-simpsons-crossover-details Monopoly Go players have been looking forward to a major crossover event for what felt like months, and though most of the details ended up leaking, nothing actually beats official information. Read more

Title: Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.3 will take us deeper into the World in Canvas and make Mortenax Blade playable Date: Fri, 22 May 2026 13:43:44 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/honkai-star-rail-version-4-3-all-details HoYoverse has today delivered full details on the next major update for Honkai: Star Rail. Version 4.3, dubbed The Lethe Below the Living, will be available for all players on June 1. The upcoming update adds a new chapter to the Planarcadia arc, and introduce a new playable character. Read more

Title: Forza Horizon 6 explodes on Steam even before it's officially out Date: Fri, 15 May 2026 11:00:02 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/forza-horizon-6-steam-numbers-big-launch Steam is abuzz this week with a couple of long-anticipated launches, but in Forza Horizon 6’s case, at least, the game isn’t even out for what will be most of its players. The anticipated sequel in the open-world driving game series doesn’t officially launch until May 19, but owners of its most expensive version - the Premium Edition - can play it right now. Read more

Title: Mystic Messenger's most loyal players are getting banned in droves for seemingly playing the game too much Date: Fri, 15 May 2026 10:02:10 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/mystic-messenger-ban-wave-thousands-of-hourglasses-anniversary Mystic Messenger, arguably one of the best dating sims around, has been dormant for about seven years. Despite not receiving new content or any meaningful updates in all that time, the game remains popular with its core fans, many of whom just woke up to some shocking news about their accounts. Read more

Title: Forza Horizon 6 review - The driving game for everyone still can’t seem to escape its car-collecting legacy Date: Thu, 14 May 2026 12:00:03 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/forza-horizon-6-review There is this idea that, for a long-running series to remain as consistently popular as Forza Horizon has been, it needs to diminish itself somewhat with each new entry, gradually losing more and more of its edge in a bid to appeal to the widest possible audience. Read more

Title: Call Of Duty’s Most Controversial Item Is Back In Modern Warfare 4, But With Some Major Changes Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2026 20:02:01 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/call-of-dutys-most-controversial-item-is-back-in-modern-warfare-4-but-with-some-major-changes/ One of the most infamous and controversial items in Call of Duty is the Riot Shield. Some love it. Some hate it. Well, it's back in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, but with a few key changes. With MW4's beta now live, we're seeing the game in action and learning more about it. This includes new details on the Riot Shield, including how it's now destructible. Not only that, but the new Riot Shield can be placed on the ground to allow players to create their own cover, wherever they are. What's more, the Riot Shield is now unlocked as a field upgrade as opposed to occupying a weapon slot. https://twitter.com/InfinityWard/status/2090852829409763502 "In use, the shield provides frontal protection while advancing or holding a position. It can also be used offensively, with a new heavy melee attack that knocks enemies down and creates space in close quarters," Activision said. When planted in the ground, players can mount their weapons to it for improved stability. The Riot Shield can also be used strategically in MW4's objective-based modes where players hunker down in one particular spot. To balance things out, Activision made the Riot Shield destructible in MW4. In the past, it could soak up bullets like a sponge, and people loved and hated that. In MW4, it's "durable enough to support a push or cover a retreat." However, it will eventually break, and Activision said that should encourage players to use it strategically as opposed to opting for "sustained use." The MW4 beta is going on now for people who preordered the game. An open beta, meanwhile, runs August 28-September 1, and that doesn't require any preorder. The beta includes not just multiplayer, but also a campaign mission, Entrenched, and a glimpse at the future of Call of Duty: Warzone. MW4 launches in full on October 23 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Switch 2. It's the first game since 2013's Call of Duty: Ghosts to be released on a Nintendo platform.

Title: The Best Games To Play When Your PC Is Basically A Potato Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2026 20:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-best-games-to-play-when-your-pc-is-basically-a-potato/ Gaming has never been more expensive. We’re here to investigate why, and help you play more while spending less. Welcome to GameSpot Cheap Week. It's no secret that PC gaming has gotten extraordinarily expensive in recent years, with components reaching record-high prices due to a perfect storm of factors. The days of solid-state drives and RAM being sold for reasonable prices feel well and truly over, but the good news is you don't need a monster rig to enjoy some of the best PC games out there. A good game is a good game, even if it doesn't make your PC cooling system emit gusts of air hot enough to melt the skin on your hands. For GameSpot's first-ever Cheap Week, we're looking at experiences that can entertain you for hours on end and don't require cutting-edge hardware. If you've been rocking the same mid-range laptop since 2016 or you recently got an entry-level PC before prices went through the roof, these games should run just fine on your system. What's our baseline? For this list, we looked at games that can comfortably be played with zero or few graphical concessions. We're talking games that run fine at 1080p--preferably at 60fps--are compatible with a wide range of configurations, and are contemporary. Ideally, if you have 4GB of RAM, an old-school GPU like the Nvidia 1060, or an onboard chipset that you'd find in most laptops, these games should work just fine on them. Balatro It's just a game of poker--how engaging could it be? Several hours later, you find yourself still glued to your screen in Balatro, wondering where all the time has gone as you boot up yet another hand in this poker roguelike. Balatro is game design perfected, a gauntlet of cards where every run tasks you with obtaining an ever-increasing score while various hurdles are thrown in your way. A deckbuilder with teeth, you'll use special Joker cards to sidestep the rules of poker, and every win feels immensely satisfying. Considering that the PC requirements are incredibly low, this is one game where you get the most bang for your buck. See on Fanatical Note: Integrated Media Company–the group that owns GameSpot’s parent company Fandom–has proposed to acquire a majority ownership of Balatro publisher Playstack. Slay the Spire 1 and 2 Even though Slay the Spire 2 has usurped its place as the go-to deckbuilding roguelike, there's still plenty of magic in the original Slay the Spire. Setting a benchmark for its genre, Slay the Spire is a delicious tactical puzzle that rewards players who think several steps ahead to outwit enemies. A pioneer of its time, the game still looks fantastic thanks to its signature art direction, and those eye-catching visuals won't tax your PC too much. And if you fall in love with that game? Then you'll want to check out its sequel, which doubles down on all of its best ideas, throws in innovative multiplayer, and has low PC requirements to boot. See on Steam Hades Supergiant Games made a name for itself with story-driven games, and Hades is often considered to be one of its best-ever projects. Marrying the idea of roguelike action with a narrative that expands with each new run, Hades also features gorgeous, hand-drawn art that complements its fast and fluid action. The game's emphasis on failing upward also makes it feel consistently rewarding to play, while its soundtrack is a combo of wicked and divine beats that'll push you to escape the bowels of the underworld. See on Steam Dave the Diver With a nostalgic pixel-art style that's easy on the ol' CPU, Dave the Diver offers two distinctive gameplay experiences that are perfectly fused together. Half of the game tasks you with exploring an ocean full of delectable fish and monsters, and once you've secured your deadly catch, it's time to whip up some meals inside a busy sushi kitchen. It's quirky, full of fun storylines, and the cycle of progression makes it hard to put down once it gets its hooks into you. See on Fanatical Factorio Another great PC game that's all about the gameplay loop, Factorio is an endlessly satisfying grind to build optimized machines. As a crash-landed survivor saddled with mining resources, Factorio quickly teaches you about its interconnected gameplay systems, from factory lines to power grids, and in the years since it was released, the game's community has released numerous mods to improve on an already fantastic experience. The low-res visuals are also a treat, allowing for the game to run on extremely modest setups while you marvel at the sprawling network of conveyor belts that you've built. See on Steam Dredge Dredge might look like a simple fishing game and boat-management simulator, but beneath the surface, it's full of unsettling, Lovecraftian horror. That sense of dread and its gameplay loops made it a big hit when it arrived a few years ago, and the tension of navigating across a hostile ocean full of supernatural threats made it stand out. Those vibes, quickly shifting from daytime coziness to nighttime dread, make for a compelling experience, while the game's eerie mystery will also spur you on to see the end of the story. See on Fanatical A Little to the Left Another great game that transforms minimalist art into eye-catching levels, A Little to the Left is the ideal game for anyone who enjoys keeping their personal world tidy. A puzzle game that taps into the satisfying need to properly arrange things, it features playful chaos initiated by a mischievous cat and multiple stages where you organize things based on shape, weight, and various other factors. The pastel visuals make for a calming game, and best of all, one that won't melt your GPU. See on Fanatical Stardew Valley One of the greatest pioneers of gaming's cozy era, Stardew Valley taps into that primal urge to leave the rat race behind and settle down for a peaceful life. Fans say that it re-energized the stale genre of farming games, as its combination of Harvest Moon-inspired mechanics and player-friendly ideas made the idea of establishing an agricultural empire more approachable than ever before. Stardew Valley has also expanded with several free DLC drops over the years, and the lo-fi visuals make it easily accessible on a wide range of systems. (You can enjoy a variety of mods, including a great voice mod, too.) See on Steam Minecraft With hundreds of millions of sales over the years, Minecraft has cemented itself as an evergreen classic. It's a showcase of creativity, as players have used the game's crafting tools to create incredible worlds, machines, and experiences for everyone to discover, and every day offers a chance for something new. Its graphics might look simple, but that's part of the secret sauce that has allowed Minecraft to remain relevant and accessible to multiple generations of players. See on Minecraft Store Vampire Survivors Out of all the "just one more turn" games on this list, Vampire Survivors reigns supreme amongst them. The bullet-heaven game--or "survivaton" as its creators now refer to it--has come a long way since it first debuted in the early 2020s, but the thrill of transforming into a warrior who can slay thousands of monsters in a single run hasn't been diminished in the slightest. Deceptively simple to look at and play, there's a dimension of depth to this low-res game, as well as a sense of satisfaction that's hard to beat when you're watching an explosion of damage numbers on your screen. See on Steam Into the Breach The chances of a AAA Pacific Rim game where you get to cancel the apocalypse are pretty slim, but at the very least, we have Into the Breach (the rare game to get a 10 in GameSpot's review). While Guillermo del Toro's cinematic masterpiece clearly inspires the idea of mechs vs. kaiju, it's the direction that Into the Breach takes that makes it feel special. Its turn-based action gives you clarity about the enemies' upcoming actions, and combined with the ability to manipulate their positioning to make them attack each other, gives you the opportunity to feel like a genius as you turn back the tides of destruction and keep civilians safe. It looks like it'd be right at home on an NES console, but surprisingly, the pixelated visuals do a bang-up job at emphasizing how the end of the world is only a few bad turns away. See on Steam Age of Empires 2: HD Edition The HD edition of Age of Empires 2 hits the sweet spot for fun and accessibility on a wide range of systems, and 27 years later, the game is still a masterclass in real-time strategy design. Thanks to the HD upgrade, the old-school visuals look better than ever, and the years of content drops have made an already meaty game even bigger with new campaigns and civilizations. See on Fanatical Papers, Please We've all been at the mercy of bureaucracy at one point in our lives, but in Papers, Please, you're the one enforcing diplomatic red tape (or not). Papers, Please gives you the final say when your passport checkpoint is visited by refugees aiming to escape from their wartorn countries. It's the kind of game that uses its minimalist design to be weirdly satisfying, as there's a thrill to the art of juggling passport inspections with heart-wrenching ethical dilemmas. See on Steam Celeste You'll die, you'll cry, and you'll try again as Celeste's punishing difficulty and instant respawns will keep you in front of your screen for many an hour. Both brutal and forgiving thanks to its generous respawn points, Celeste is all about small victories as you inch closer to the summit of a treacherous mountain. There's a sense of joy when you finally clear a jump, and this masterclass in level design is still a striking exploration of mental health and dealing with tragedy. See on Steam Turbo Overkill The best boomer-shooter games don't just rely on nostalgia to keep you entertained: They offer a few modern ideas to the retro-inspired formula, as well. Turbo Overkill is a prime example of blending '90s action with modern-day hyper-fast movement mechanics, and the glue that holds the whole thing together is a chainsaw slide that never gets old and keeps you in the fight. Even though it's pulling from classic games for its visuals, Turbo Overkill looks surprisingly good in action, and it runs comfortably on a barebones setup to boot.  See on Steam Dead Cells The late 2010s gave birth to several brilliant metroidvanias, and it's downright criminal that Dead Cells doesn't get enough praise for how it expertly blended that classic genre with clever twists on the roguelike formula. The goal was simple: You'd guide a reanimated corpse across a treacherous island in search of an escape. With each level becoming progressively more dangerous and guarded by lethal bosses, Dead Cells requires you to have quick reflexes and an eye for buildcrafting as you choose various weapons and steadily transform into the ultimate killing machine. Full of compelling gameplay and beautifully designed levels, each run is a desperate dash toward freedom that keeps you invested until the bitter end. See on Fanatical Capcom Arcade Collections Compilations of classics from yesteryear aren't a novel idea, but few studios revisit past glories as Capcom does. The company has released several editions of its arcade hits--ranging from the Arcade Stadium to the Fighting Collection--and each one does a brilliant job at making you feel like you're about to dump several quarters into a nearby arcade cabinet. The presentation is spot-on, the games won't tax your PC, and you can customize the experience with quality-of-life features that you wish you'd had all those years ago when you first set foot in your local arcade. See on Fanatical Cult of the Lamb A game about sects and violence, Cult of the Lamb is a dark delight. It might look cute on the surface, but this little combo of roguelike action and cult management is full of blood, gore, and the occasional sacrifice of one of your followers to a dark deity. Those cartoonish visuals allow for Cult of the Lamb to run on a variety of systems, and even though they aren't too taxing, they're still an impressive showcase of strong art direction coupled with fun gameplay. Grab the recent expansions, Unholy Alliance and Woolhaven, and prepare to build a flock that can serve your dark designs. See on Fanatical FTL: Faster Than Light Plenty of games have put you in command of a spaceship, but in FTL: Faster Than Light, the danger of outer-space exploration is thoroughly hammered home. It's a game that hits the perfect balance of permanent death with rewarding meta-progression gameplay systems. The tension it creates is unmatched, and each playthrough will keep you on the edge of your seat. Thanks to its simple but effective 2D design, you can comfortably play this game on everything from a modern PC to a laptop that's old enough to burn CDs. See on Steam Among Us Exploding in popularity during the COVID-19 lockdowns, Among Us is a viral sensation that's still going strong to this day--and it has a great animated series tie-in! Designed to be playable on even the most venerable of PCs, that availability makes Among Us easy to jump into, while its treacherous gameplay and easy-to-learn mechanics make it even easier to recommend. See on Steam Resident Evil 4 Sure, the remake of Resident Evil 4 might be one of the greatest games of all time, but don't count the original out, as it still holds up pretty well to this day. A good-looking game amplified by its vintage charm and low hardware demands, Resident Evil 4 is still a blast of survival-action fun. And if you do decide to upgrade one day? There are plenty of player-made mods that elevate the visuals and drop in some impressive improvements. See on Fanatical Disclosure: GameSpot and Fanatical are both owned by Fandom.

Title: Coco Opens Kingdom Hearts 4 To These Potential Disney Worlds Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2026 19:47:38 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/coco-opens-kingdom-hearts-4-to-these-potential-disney-worlds/ In the middle of Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep, Lea--well before he becomes fan-favorite character Axel--makes a brief appearance, leaving a big impression on protagonist Ventus with his rather boisterous behavior. At the end of this scene, Lea makes a declaration that outlines his outlook in life. "I want everybody I meet to remember me. Inside people's memories, I can live forever." In what might seem like a coincidence at first, the D23 trailer for Kingdom Hearts 4 begins with a remarkably similar moment. Recreating a scene from Coco, the character Héctor loses a friend to “the Final Death,” which occurs to anyone in the Land of the Dead once they are forgotten in the living world. The scene is essential to the film’s world-building and more than fitting with the larger Kingdom Hearts franchise, which heavily emphasizes memory as a central component of the heart. We’re still at least a year away from the release of Kingdom Hearts 4, but based on what we know about the game and its story, the world of Coco already seems like a perfect thematic fit for the game and the series as a whole. Kingdom Hearts creator Tetsuya Nomura said as much, stating that he considers how Disney worlds “synergize with the overall main story progression with Sora.” And through the reveal of Coco, we might have a better sense of what other Disney worlds are to come. Another reason why the Land of the Dead makes perfect sense for Kingdom Hearts 4 is Sora’s … “situation,” let’s call it. After fading away at the end of Kingdom Hearts 3, presumably due to his abuse of the Power of Waking, the game’s secret ending and subsequent KH4 trailers show that Sora is now in Quadratum, a world that appears to be a simulacrum of our own real world. But as Strelitzia explains to Sora in KH4’s debut trailer, Quadratum is “similar to an afterworld.” It’s also known that Donald Duck and Goofy are trying to track Sora down, searching in the Underworld as depicted in Hercules, only to be informed by Hades that our favorite keyblade wielder isn’t there. Judging from the extended D23 trailer, their search eventually takes them to the Land of the Dead. It’s evident that Sora has “moved on” in some fashion, but he isn’t necessarily dead. The inhabitants of Quadratum appear to be very much alive, and Sora’s Land of the Dead look includes skeleton paint, similar to what the still-living Coco protagonist Miguel dons in that world. With how focused our early looks at Kingdom Hearts 4 are on the living, dead, and in between, I’m left thinking that other Disney worlds featured in the game could continue that narrative throughline. A strong candidate for a Disney world would be another Pixar gem: 2020’s Soul. While Coco interprets Mexican folklore, Soul presents an original concept on, well, souls--specifically, how they gain their personality traits and passions, and what happens to a soul after death. The film follows a jazz musician named Joe Gardner, who, after accidentally falling down a manhole, becomes a disembodied soul. Determined to avoid the “Great Beyond,” the film’s version of an afterlife, he ends up in the “Great Before,” where nascent souls prepare for life in the living world. With Sora being in a strange status between life and death, the scenario of Soul seems like the perfect adventure for him to get tangled in. Meanwhile, Kingdom Hearts fans seem convinced that KH4 will finally include a Star Wars world, based on what appear to be walker footprints in a forest world that resembles Endor from Return of the Jedi. One can definitely find overlaps between the metaphysical concepts from Kingdom Hearts and the Force from Star Wars, which connects all living beings. And when a being dies, they become one with the Force--with certain individuals gaining new life as a Force ghost after death. It’d be fun to see Sora swinging a lightsaber Keyblade around, but him learning about the nature of the Force and potentially communing with those who have moved on could prove to be narrative gold for Kingdom Hearts. And while it might be fun to see Spider-Man or the Avengers join the fray, I wonder if Black Panther would actually be the best Marvel representation, if Kingdom Hearts 4 were to include any. Black Panther is a standout property after the 2018 film became a phenomenon, and better yet, using the MCU movie as a Disney world gives Kingdom Hearts access to the Ancestral Plane. It’s an astral dimension that acts as the afterlife for Wakandans--a space that the Black Panther, after consuming the Heart-Shaped Herb--can enter to speak with their ancestors. It would probably be cultural taboo for Sora to enter that plane, but the movie’s themes of connecting with departed family members would still make for good story fodder. We’ll have to wait until late 2027 to see if any of these Disney worlds made the cut, and how the worlds included fit with Kingdom Hearts 4’s grand narrative. For now, remember our predictions, and get them memorized.

Title: We Aren’t Talking Enough About All That Hayden Panettiere Brought To Video Games Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2026 19:39:43 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/we-arent-talking-enough-about-all-that-hayden-panettiere-brought-to-video-games/ This past week, the world lost Hayden Panettiere. Only 36 years old, the former child actress established herself as a household name in numerous iconic roles in film and television. From Claire, the super-powered cheerleader from Heroes, to Kirby Reed, the horror know-it-all from the Scream franchise, Panettiere proved herself to be a highly versatile actress in an ever-evolving industry. But perhaps some of her best acting work was found in video games, and we’re not talking enough about some of the fantastic performances she delivered in powerhouse games. Early on in her career, Panettiere took on voice acting roles in films such as A Bug’s Life and Dinosaur for Walt Disney Pictures. This built up her reputation within the company and led to her being cast in a major role in what would ultimately be one of Disney’s most ambitious projects of all time: Kingdom Hearts. A crossover between Square Enix’s Final Fantasy franchise and the world of Disney, Kingdom Hearts told the story of Sora searching for his lost friends through various Disney worlds. Panettiere voiced Kairi, one of Sora’s best friends and one of the secret Princesses of Heart that act as a driving force for the entire game’s narrative. Though early portrayals of Kairi have been critiqued for making her a damsel in distress, Panettiere’s performance brought a feeling of hope and optimism to the character that quickly established her character as the heart of the original game’s narrative. Panettiere would return to voice Kairi in the sequel, Kingdom Hearts II, which saw her character become the driving force of the plot when Kairi is kidnapped by the villainous Organization XIII. With these appearances Panettiere cemented herself as one of the main players in the wildly popular franchise. Panettiere also lent her voice to Xion in Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days, a spin-off that focused on the villainous organization from the sequel and Chain of Memories. 358/2 Days allowed her to stretch her voice-acting chops and deliver a more emotional performance in line with that particular entry's main tone and themes. Panettiere challenged herself even further when she accepted the lead role in Supermassive’s hit horror game Until Dawn. In it, Panettiere plays Sam, a kind and intelligent young woman who serves as the game's "final girl" after she and her friends are hunted down by supernatural forces during a strained trip to the mountains. An interactive title, the game used high tech motion capture technology to capture performances of real life Hollywood actors and implant them into a video game. This allowed Panettiere to not only voice Sam, but to physically portray her as well, more closely emulating her  work in films and television. Although Until Dawn is packed with well-known actors and solid performances, it's easy to identify Panettiere’s performance as Sam as one of its strongest. Despite the game's melodrama--and the fact that games were still fighting the battle to be seen as artistic and meaningful--Panettiere approached the role with the same verve as she approached her roles in film and television. Her attachment, and to a greater extent, her commitment, arguably leant a lot credibility to the title. Her charming performance also offered a new spin on the “final girl” typically seen in horror films, as Sam doesn’t have any emotional baggage and tends to get along with every character in a relatively drama-free manner. Yet the biggest spin is that she can be killed in the story just as any other character can, and the narrative shifts to work around this major change. This means that, depending on your decisions, you may only see part of her performance, or only one version of it. Panettiere had to deliver multiple takes of the same material, which is probably best equated to an actor using every single take they film for a movie--it’s not an easy process. The game was remade in 2024, and added an entirely new epilogue end scene that brought back Panettiere’s character. With the recent announcement of a sequel in full production, one can’t help but wonder if there were plans to somehow bring her character back into the fold. Hayden Panettiere was a once in a lifetime talent. Though she got started at an early age as a child actor in various projects, she remained untethered to any one role, instead carving out a niche as a versatile actress. Though it could have been easy to stay in “girl next door” type roles, such as her work in I Love You Beth Cooper, she found ways to branch out into unconventional roles for “pretty” girls--her career in video games is but one example of this.  Panettiere's work in video games gave the titles emotional weight, and a level of professionalism that was carried over from her work on the big and small screens. She also carried with her a deep sense of empathy that was reflected in her activism for marine life, her campaigns against domestic violence, and her willingness to discuss mental health struggles, such as post-partum depression. In an industry where authenticity is a rarity, she remained vulnerable. Her passing is a great loss not only to films and television, but to video games as well, as she leaves behind a legacy of roles that will live on and be cherished for generations to come.

Title: GTA 6 Leaker Has Not Been Identified Yet – Report Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2026 19:29:14 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-6-leaker-has-not-been-identified-yet-report/ One of the biggest stories in gaming this week has been the ongoing GTA 6 gameplay leaks, which are all about hyping up a memecoin for profit. A new report provides insight into how Rockstar is handling the situation internally. Bloomberg reported that Rockstar has yet to identify the party responsible, or how such a breach happened. One top executive at Rockstar sent a memo to staff this week "denouncing the leaker and promising the incident wouldn't detract from the excellent work they've done," the report said. Additionally, it was reported that Rockstar is not planning to change its marketing plans for GTA 6 due to the leak. Some had theorized that the leak might have some effect on the planned reveal on Netflix on August 27, but that's apparently not going to be the case. After GTA 6's first trailer leaked in December 2023, Rockstar responded in real time and released the trailer ahead of schedule, so there is precedent to Rockstar altering plans based on leaks. GTA 6 suffered a massive leak in 2022. At the time, Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick said it was “really frustrating and upsetting,” but the leaks had no financial impact on the company. Take-Two lost more than $2 billion in its total value this week since the latest leaks began, but there could be any number of different reasons for that apart from the leaks. It has also come to light that Take-Two, which owns Rockstar and the GTA franchise, subpoenaed Microsoft and Discord as part of its effort to hunt down the party or parties responsible for the leak. GTA 6 is set for release on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Title: 10 New Movies to Watch This Weekend on Netflix, HBO Max, and Hulu (August 21-23) Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2026 21:00:14 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/new-movies-streaming-this-weekend-netflix-august-21-23/ It’s finally the weekend. While there are a lot of great movies to watch in theaters (and also Insidious: Out of the Further), there’s also plenty to watch from home, whether you’re renting or streaming. Here are some of our favorite picks, whether you're looking for a summer blockbuster or some straight-to-video horror.

Title: Noomi Rapace’s Sci-Fi Thriller 'Hot Spot' Is Like 'Dune's Deranged Cousin Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2026 20:00:14 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/hot-spot-noomi-rapace-director-interview/ In Hot Spot, there are cyber witches, blood-transfusion worms, retrofuturist ’80s noir-fits, dried-up landscapes, ancient Greek ruins, and an omnipotent AI known as “The Head” that has effectively made humanity dependent on technology for survival. At the heart of it is a detective mystery, though Smoczynska refuses to go from point A to B in a straight line. Noomi Rapace plays Rana, a mysterious rebel leader who refuses to connect to the system, but this not just the star of Prometheus and Constellation doing the sci-fi heroine thing yet again. The movie is vivid and occasionally grotesque. Smoczynska says she isn’t really interested in whether you can follow it all or not. Just vibe.

Title: 3 Marvel Movies Definitely Missing From Disney's Official 'Avengers: Doomsday' Watchlist Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2026 20:00:14 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/avengers-doomsday-mcu-movie-watchlist-missing/ Doomsday will soon be upon us. On December 18, Marvel Studios will release its biggest film since Avengers: Endgame, if not its biggest film ever, with Avengers: Doomsday. And while official plot details remain under wraps, it's pretty clear that several different universes will be suffering through an incursion, where entire realities collide into each other resulting in the destruction of one or all of the universes involved. So far, it seems the main Marvel Cinematic Universe (Earth-616) will be colliding with the universe featured in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, as well as some simplified version of Fox's X-Men universe (which will finally give us comic-accurate costumes for the characters).

Title: Psychonauts Developer Double Fine Reveals Post-Xbox Comeback Plan Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2026 19:48:49 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/double-fine-kickstarter-xbox-layoffs/ Shortly after its tumultuous departure from Microsoft, Psychonauts developer Double Fine has announced what it’s working on next. The studio revealed a Kickstarter campaign for the next edition of its long-running game jam series, Amnesia Fortnight. Company CEO Tim Schafer delivered the news on the Kinda Funny podcast.

Title: HBO and James Gunn Confirm New 8-Part Action True-Crime Series Spinoff Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2026 19:09:23 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/dc-jimmy-olsen-show-people-v-gorilla-grodd-hbo-max/ The DC Universe is growing with another Superman spinoff. In the wake of James Gunn and Peter Safran rebooting the DCU with 2025's Superman, we got this year's misfire Supergirl, and are getting a proper sequel in 2027's Man of Tomorrow. Now, the Superman family is growing again with a new comedy series coming to HBO Max: The People v. Gorilla Grodd. That's the mockumentary-style series that will follow the Daily Planet's Jimmy Olsen investigating a murder case that centers on a psychic gorilla accused of patricide.

Title: Bring the Fire: Play Games on GeForce NOW With New Firefox Browser Support Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2026 13:00:24 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-firefox/ It’s a new way into the cloud.  GeForce NOW welcomes Firefox support to the cloud, opening up another way to jump into high-performance PC gaming straight from the browser, starting today. Whether on a school laptop or everyday PC, it’s now even easier to play supported PC games without downloading a dedicated app. Plus, discover 12 new games streaming from the GeForce NOW library this week, led by Gallipoli.  No Downloads. Just Firefox. This cloud is on fire with new ways to play on Firefox. GeForce NOW is now supported on Firefox, expanding access across even more devices.  Members can outfox big downloads and jump into high-performance PC gaming directly from the browser — no waiting on lengthy game installs or updates. The experience delivers GeForce RTX-powered performance at up to 1440p and 120 frames per second for GeForce NOW Ultimate members.  Simply download the latest version of Firefox, head to play.geforcenow.com and start playing. The cloud handles the heavy lifting, so games are ready to play without taking up valuable storage space on the device. Firefox joins Chrome, Edge and Opera in supporting GeForce NOW on Windows browsers. Deploy the Games Land on the beaches of the Gallipoli Peninsula in BlackMill Games’ Gallipoli, the latest entry in the WW1 Game Series. Fight as soldiers of the British and Ottoman Empires in intense 25v25 objective-based battles across coastal shores, deserts and urban battlefields, with 10 historical classes and over 50 authentic weapons and equipment options. Teamwork is key in its grounded, one-shot-one-kill combat. Take command as an Officer, provide cover as a Heavy Machine Gunner or Sniper, keep the squad going as a Stretcher Bearer and more while navigating challenging campaigns. Head to the frontlines from the cloud with no lengthy game downloads or installs taking up local storage space. Play directly in the newly supported Firefox browser, or take the action across PCs, Macs, Chromebooks, handhelds and more with GeForce NOW cloud saves. In addition, members can look for the following games streaming throughout the week: Stars Reach (New release on Steam, Aug. 18) The Sinking City 2 (New release on Steam, Aug. 18) Gallipoli (New release on Steam, Aug. 20) DIVE or DIE – Children of Rain (Steam) Escape the Backroom (Xbox, available on Game Pass) Hell Is Us (Xbox, available on Game Pass) High on Life (Steam) High on Life 2 (Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass) Parcel Simulator (Steam) Starvester (Steam) The Thaumaturge (Xbox, available on Game Pass) Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered (Epic Games Store) Dates listed above reflect when games are released on their respective stores. GeForce NOW availability may vary, as games are onboarded after release and added throughout the week. Keep an eye on GeForce NOW channels and GFN Thursdays for availability updates on announced titles. To try GeForce NOW in Firefox, start with a GeForce NOW day pass and experience premium cloud gaming directly from the browser. If members later upgrade to a Performance or Ultimate membership, the cost of the day pass can be applied toward the first membership purchase. What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below.

Title: Class Is in Session: GeForce NOW Levels Up Linux, Chromebooks and More Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2026 13:00:33 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-linux-native-app/ GeForce NOW is giving cloud gaming an extra-credit upgrade just in time for back-to-school season. The native Linux app for GeForce NOW is officially out of beta. GeForce NOW is also delivering new cloud optimizations that make Frame Generation feel even more responsive while streaming. On top of that, Performance members will see higher frame rates in demanding games thanks to a CPU performance adjustment.  Plus, learn how GeForce NOW can add high-performance GeForce RTX gaming to the Chromebooks students already rely on for school – and how eligible new owners can take advantage of Chromebook Fast Pass. It all adds up to more ways to move from assignments to adventures across nearly any device. The only homework left is to decide what to play. This week, nine new games join the GeForce NOW library. The Cloud Gets Extra Credit GeForce NOW keeps getting better. The native Linux app for GeForce NOW has officially graduated from beta. Built on months of community feedback, the release focuses on performance, stability and polish while continuing to support Ubuntu 24.04 and later. A new Flatpack repository makes getting started and receiving future updates even easier. Visit the download page for more information and instructions. The cloud handles the rendering, so Linux gamers can tap into the latest GeForce RTX performance while staying on their preferred setup — without local hardware upgrades, compatibility headaches or complicated workarounds. Smooth gameplay makes the grade. GeForce NOW has also optimized DLSS Frame Generation in the cloud, reducing latency and making games feel more responsive. The improvements are especially noticeable when streaming at 60 or 120 frames per second in 1440p and 4K, helping every mouse movement and camera pan feel more immediate. Performance members will also enjoy additional server software optimizations to improve frame rates in select CPU-intensive games, helping demanding titles run more smoothly while delivering an even better gameplay experience. The cloud-side upgrade happens automatically, with nothing for members to install or configure, and at no additional cost. From Class Mode to Game Mode Class dismissed. Game on. Chromebooks already in backpacks can double as a PC gaming powerhouse, with GeForce NOW giving everyday school setups extra credit.  Chromebooks handling lectures, group projects and browser tabs can transform into high-performance GeForce RTX gaming PCs in just a few clicks. When class is out, open a supported browser or app and stream more than 2,000 supported PC games from existing libraries, with the cloud handling the heavy lifting. The same flexibility extends to Macs, Surface devices, everyday laptops, Steam Deck and mobile devices. Plus, eligible new Chromebook and Chromebook+ owners can claim a year of GeForce NOW at no cost with Chromebook Fast Pass, with priority access and no ads.  Study. Stream PC games. Same device.  Ready for the Weekend Follow the chain of command, streaming from the cloud. In addition, members can look for the following new games streaming this week: Car Wash Simulator (New release on Steam, Aug. 10) Pax Autocratica (New release on Steam, Aug. 10) Clawed (New release on Steam, Aug. 13) Hell Let Loose: Vietnam (New release on Steam, Aug. 13) Sandustry (New release on Steam and Xbox, Aug. 13) Cat Mail Co. (Steam) Misery (Steam) Monster Hunter Wilds Prologue Demo (Steam) Pratfall (Steam) To cap things off, a creator known as “Madelyn” recently shared how GeForce now makes cloud gaming affordable and accessible across nearly all her devices, calling it “a game changer” in her video: What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below.

Title: GeForce NOW Shakes Up August With 26 New Games Date: Thu, 06 Aug 2026 13:00:11 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-august-2026-games-list/ August is here, bringing 26 new games for GeForce NOW members.  Command the seas in World of Warships: Legends and discover what’s next in the GeForce NOW library, starting with the eight newly added games this week.  In addition, GeForce NOW is at the QuakeCon gaming conference this week in Grapevine, Texas, with hands-on experiences awaiting attendees. Return to QuakeCon  Visit the NVIDIA booth at QuakeCon to experience GeForce RTX 5080-powered Ultimate cloud gaming in action, with demos showcasing stunning visuals at up to 5K 120 frames per second on an ultrawide display, as well as seamless gameplay on the Lenovo Legion Go S handheld device. Conference attendees can see how thousands of PC games, including fan-favorite Bethesda titles, can move effortlessly across laptops, Macs, handhelds, mobile devices, TVs and more — letting members pick up where they left off on nearly any supported screen. Gamers not at the show can try out Ultimate cloud gaming in action with a day pass and jump into Bethesda titles from any device. All Games on Deck Sail the seas from nearly any screen. World of Warships: Legends drops anchor on GeForce NOW this week, bringing free-to-play naval combat. Captains can command destroyers, cruisers and battleships across massive multiplayer battles while exploring the latest update, featuring the Pacific Hammer Campaign, a new line of U.S. destroyers and more. Chart a course straight into the latest content across devices today without any installs needed, and check out all the games available this week: Big Walk (New release on Steam Aug. 4) Beacon Pines (Free on Epic Games Store Aug. 6) Sovereign Tower (New release on Steam Aug. 6) Expeditions: Samurai (New release on Steam Aug. 7) The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales (Xbox, available on the Microsoft Store) The Incident at Galley House (Steam) Machine Party (Steam) World of Warships: Legends (Steam) And look forward to the games coming throughout the month: Pax Autocratica (New release on Steam Aug. 10) Car Wash Simulator (New release on Steam Aug. 10) Clawed (New release on Steam Aug. 13) Hell Let Loose: Vietnam (New release on Steam Aug. 13) Sandustry (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass, Aug. 13) The Sinking City 2 (New release on Steam Aug. 18) Mortal Shell II (New release on Steam Aug. 20) Gallipoli (New release on Steam, Aug. 20) Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 (New release on Steam Aug. 25) Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass, Aug. 27) Breathedge 2 (New release on Steam Aug. 30) World of Warships: Legends (Steam) High on Life (Steam) High on Life 2 (Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass) Paradise Killer (Steam) Misery (Steam) Pratfall (Steam) Starvester (Steam) Extra Joy From July In addition to the dozen games announced last month, 15 more joined the GeForce NOW library.  Breath of Fire IV (Steam) Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (Ubisoft Connect) CloverPit (Xbox, available on Game Pass) Dinoblade (Steam) Dino Crisis (Steam) Dino Crisis 2 (Steam) Esports Manager 2026 (Steam) Funnel Runners (Steam) Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok Demo (Steam) Halo: Campaign Evolved (Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass) Mistfall Hunter (Steam) Onimusha: Way of the Sword DEMO (Steam) Pathogenic (Steam) Sudden Attack Zero Point (Steam) The Life and Suffering of Prince Jerian (Steam) Mistfall Hunter didn’t make it this month. Stay tuned to GFN Thursday for the latest updates. What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below. Share a game screenshot or clip that perfectly sums up your day so far. — NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) August 4, 2026

Title: Best in Class: Stream PC Games and Study on the Same Laptop With GeForce NOW Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2026 13:00:20 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-back-to-school-2026/ Back to school means balancing assignments, deadlines and downtime. GeForce NOW makes it easy to have it all. With cloud gaming, everyday laptops used for class can also become GeForce RTX-powered gaming setups.  When it’s time to switch from studying to gaming, members can jump into Halo: Campaign Evolved, as GeForce NOW is bringing one of the gaming world’s most celebrated titles to nearly any device through the cloud, alongside eight total games joining the GeForce NOW library this week. From A+ to AAA Gaming  This back-to-school season, the easiest upgrade isn’t replacing laptops in backpacks. It’s unlocking even more from these same laptops, from creating to gaming. With a GeForce NOW membership, Chromebooks, Macs and Surface devices can become GeForce RTX-powered gaming PCs in the cloud. The GeForce NOW library features thousands of supported PC games, letting members stream titles they already own from digital stores like Steam, Xbox PC Game Pass and Epic Games Store in just a few clicks. The cloud keeps games up to date and ready to play, making it easy to jump into a match between classes, after homework or whenever there’s free time. Time spent waiting on downloads, patches and installs becomes time spent in game instead. The Ultimate membership enables best-in-class experiences by delivering 5080-class performance in the cloud with NVIDIA DLSS, ray tracing and NVIDIA Reflex technologies for responsive, visually rich gameplay — all on the hardware gamers already own. A creator known as “Menguiny” recently put this to the test after picking up a MacBook Neo. GeForce NOW turned the laptop — usually the creator’s go-to for editing videos and everyday work — into a top-notch gaming machine, too. Another creator, “TechWithSeong” highlighted that same versatility GeForce NOW offers. Rather than juggling separate devices for work and gaming, he used GeForce NOW Ultimate to stream supported PC games across the devices he already owns — from a MacBook used for editing to gaming on the go with handheld devices. Gamers can start with a day pass and experience all the premium benefits without a monthly commitment. Plus, the cost of a day pass can be applied toward a first membership purchase — it’s like earning a little extra credit along the way. Everyone, at Their Stations Needlers never looked so sharp. Experience the Master Chief’s iconic journey on GeForce NOW in Halo: Campaign Evolved — a modernized remake of Halo: Combat Evolved’s campaign — rebuilt with high-definition visuals, updated cinematics and refined gameplay. Whether discovering Halo for the first time or returning after 25 years to finish the fight, it’s as the Master Chief says: “We’re just getting started.” Crash-land on the mysterious ringworld alongside Cortana and uncover great secrets while battling overwhelming Covenant forces. Fight through the rebuilt campaign, then continue the adventure with three brand-new missions featuring the Master Chief and Sergeant Johnson. Expanded weapons, iconic vehicles, hijackable Wraith tanks and optional Skull modifiers offer even more ways to play. Suit up across PCs, Macs, Chromebooks, handhelds, mobile devices, TVs and more with GeForce NOW Ultimate, powered by GeForce RTX 5080-class performance in the cloud. Experience Halo with NVIDIA DLSS, ray tracing and NVIDIA Reflex technologies delivering higher frame rates and ultralow latency that keep every firefight feeling responsive and worthy of a Spartan. From solo gaming to online co-op modes, GeForce NOW cloud saves let members log in and pick up exactly where they left off across supported devices — no lengthy downloads, extra storage space or expensive hardware upgrades required. The only thing left to carry is the mission. Let’s Play Today In addition, members can stream the following games this week: Halo: Campaign Evolved (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass July 28) Mistfall Hunter (New release on Steam July 29) Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (New release on Ubisoft Connect July 30) Sudden Attack Zero Point (New release on Steam, July 30) The Ranchers (New release on Steam, available July 30) Corsair Cove (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass July 31) Funnel Runners (Steam) Pathogenic (Steam) What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below. Which game lore are you so familiar with that you can give a school presentation on it? — NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) July 29, 2026

Title: GeForce NOW Sets Sail With ‘Path of Exile: Curse of the Allflame’ Joining the Cloud Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:00:16 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-path-of-exile-allflame/ Lock in and load up the cloud. GFN Thursday brings fresh updates and new adventures, all ready to play without waiting for downloads. Set sail in Path of Exile: Curse of the Allflame and charge in Battlefield 6 Season 4 both launching major content for members this week. Then revisit Capcom legends like Breath of Fire IV, Dino Crisis and Dino Crisis 2, jump into Halo: Campaign Evolved Advanced Access and discover nine titles arriving on GeForce NOW. The Curse Calls Prepare to brave the unforgiving waters of Wraeclast. Path of Exile: Curse of the Allflame launches Friday, July 24, sending Exiles into the perilous Frozen Seas. Guided by formidable corsair captain Valerie and her cursed navigator Vesper, gamers must piece together scattered treasure charts, board the legendary vessel — the Sovereign — and chart a course into the abyss. Descend into the depths using Allflame Lanterns to uncover valuable relics while surviving the dangers lurking beneath the waves. The update introduces sweeping changes, including a complete rework of sockets and links. The Scion also gains the all-new Luminary Ascendancy, the Mercenaries of Trarthus return alongside mysterious Atlas Anomalies, and the preexisting Abyss, Legion and Talisman mechanics receive revitalized gameplay and exclusive rewards. GeForce NOW members can dive in the moment it launches across their devices, no downloads needed. Learn more about the latest additions on the Path of Exile website. Rise Through the Ranks The next operation begins. Battlefield 6 takes the fight further with Season 4, bringing new battlegrounds, expanded progression and new ways to play.  Take to the land, air and sea with the massive Tsuru Reef and the return of the fan-favorite Wake Island, coming in phase two. Both feature aircraft carriers with operational flight decks, new naval vehicles and a dynamic wave system that helps move every match. The update also introduces Custom Lobbies and Spectator Mode, delivering more ways to play. From large-scale multiplayer battles to intense vehicle combat, GeForce NOW lets members deploy across nearly any device. Ultimate members can stream with GeForce RTX 5080-powered performance across PCs, Macs, handhelds, mobile devices, TVs and more. Whether returning to the frontlines or enlisting for the first time, members can leap into the latest Battlefield update the moment it arrives on GeForce NOW — without waiting for patches. Dragons and Dinosaurs — on Any Device Classic adventures, now in the cloud. Three iconic Capcom adventures arrive on GeForce NOW this week, ready for longtime fans to revisit and new players to discover. Journey through the rich fantasy world of Breath of Fire IV, a role-playing game following the intertwining stories of Ryu and Fou-Lu. Master an array of skills and magic to unlock strategic victories in battle and go head to head with unique enemies using powerful Dragon Transformations.  Raw instinct takes over in Dino Crisis and Dino Crisis 2, the survival-horror series that combines pulse-pounding action, resource management and thrilling dinosaur encounters. Pursued by a relentless prehistoric terror, players fight to survive from the facility to the world of the Cretaceous Period. Whether reliving unforgettable moments or discovering these legendary titles for the first time, gamers on GeForce NOW can experience gaming history on supported devices like Chromebooks, Fire TV and Steam Deck — no legacy hardware required. Spartans — Start Early Spartans don’t have to wait. Players who prepurchase the Premium Edition of Halo: Campaign Evolved can suit up for Advanced Access before the game’s global launch on Tuesday, July 28.  Start the weekend with all the new games arriving on GeForce NOW: ZeroSpace (New release on Steam, available July 20) The Life and Suffering of Prince Jerian (New release on Steam, available July 20) The Planet Crafter (New release on Xbox, available on Game Pass July 21) Carnival Hunt (New release on Steam, available July 23) Dinoblade (New release on Steam, available on July 23) Breath of Fire IV (Steam) CloverPit (Xbox, available on Game Pass) Dino Crisis (Steam) Dino Crisis 2 (Steam) The last word goes to the Community Corner. One GeForce NOW member recently shared they found themselves back on GeForce NOW Ultimate because they missed the flexibility of gaming across devices like Steam Deck. Their post sparked a discussion about why members tap into cloud gaming, whether as a backup, a travel companion or their primary way to play. What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below.

Title: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 – New Multiplayer and Early Access Beta details Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2026 18:01:18 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/08/21/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4-new-multiplayer-and-early-access-beta-details/ Call of Duty: Next has wrapped, following a packed showcase of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. From live Multiplayer gameplay to new intel on modes, maps, movement, weapons, Warzone, and more, Call of Duty: Next offered the most extensive look yet at what’s ahead for Modern Warfare 4. Now it’s your turn to play. The Modern Warfare 4 Early Access Beta is available now on PlayStation 5, with a wide range of content to experience across two Beta weekends. Here’s what you need to know before deploying. Boots on the ground: Movement and weapons Modern Warfare 4 returns to grounded, boots-on-the-ground combat while introducing new ways to move fluidly through the environment. Climb and rapidly descend pipes, reposition while hanging from ledges, aim and fire while suspended, and seamlessly chain movements together while maintaining greater control and momentum. Get acquainted with these systems in the Mobility Course, a dedicated training facility featuring guided tutorials and timed courses. Learn the fundamentals, then return throughout the Beta to improve your movement, weapon handling, marksmanship, and completion times. There’s an extensive arsenal to experiment with, too. Across the Beta, access 22 weapons, including firepower available through Multiplayer progression, default loadouts, and Campaign. Customize your weapons through Gunsmith and fully level supported weapons to earn powerful new Apex Attachments, specialized modifications that alter how a weapon performs without taking up a standard attachment slot. Need some build advice? Gunny can recommend weapon builds based on the attachments you’ve already unlocked. Maps, modes, and Kill Block Battle across six Core 6v6 maps throughout the Beta, spanning globally diverse environments from snow-covered New York rooftops and a dense South Korean shopping district to a covert armory on the outskirts of a French rail terminal and a Mexican lithium refinery. Deploy across Rooftops, Silkworm, Transit 213, Cachette, Lotus, and Lithium. Classic 6v6 game modes including Team Deathmatch, Domination, Hardpoint, Kill Confirmed, and Search and Destroy are joined by new ways to compete. Inflation turns every elimination into a cash bounty: build your team’s total while staying alive, because being eliminated leaves some of your collected cash behind. In Hijack, fight for control of a Data Spike, carrying, throwing, and even passing it between teammates as you push toward the enemy Comm Station. Plant the Spike to score over time and defend it through detonation for a bonus. Then there’s Kill Block, the Westbridge Training Facility’s modular live-fire battleground. Built from three interconnected Slabs, Kill Block continually reconfigures its routes, sightlines, weather, and combat spaces between rounds, creating more than 500 possible combinations. Deploy there in classic 3v3 Gunfight or take on the new, larger-scale Gunfight 10v10. For an even larger fight, Ground War: Combat Outpost brings 24v24 vehicle and infantry combat to expansive play spaces. Establish Outposts to earn resources, put those resources toward completing further objectives, and contend with powerful airborne Killstreaks across two maps available during the Beta: Imjin Farmland and Wolves Stadium. Play the Modern Warfare 4 Early Access Beta now Players who have pre-ordered Modern Warfare 4 or redeemed a Beta Code can jump into Early Access now on PS5. Open the PlayStation Store, search for the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta, and choose Download. Once installed, launch the Beta from your Home screen or Game Library. Weekend One runs through August 25 at 10:00am PT, followed by Weekend Two, the Open Beta, from August 28 at 10:00am PT through September 1 at 10:00am PT. Weekend Two is open to everyone — no pre-order or Beta Code required. Just download the Beta on PS5 and jump in. Your install and progression from Weekend One continue into Weekend Two. There are also eight Beta rewards to earn across both weekends, unlocked as you progress to Level 30. Earn all eight during the Beta and they’ll carry over into Modern Warfare 4 at launch, including the Dread Tiger Operator Skin for Reece and the Level 30 Beta Forged Weapon Blueprint for the Han 86 Assault Rifle. Campaign comes to the Beta For the first time in Call of Duty Beta history, play a Campaign mission before launch. In Entrenched, fight alongside infantry and armored vehicles in a large-scale assault to prevent a strategically vital nuclear power station from falling into enemy hands. Weekend Two: Call of Duty: Warzone Resurgence There’s even more incoming when Weekend Two begins August 28. Call of Duty: Warzone joins the Modern Warfare 4 Beta with Resurgence on Zodiac, an all-new map set around a DRC Advanced Systems drone assembly and manufacturing headquarters. Battle through offices, rooftops, tunnels, and the surrounding shoreline, keeping your squad in the fight as you eliminate enemies and complete Contracts to shorten redeployment timers, then outlast every opposing squad to secure the win. The Modern Warfare 4 Early Access Beta is available now on PlayStation 5. Deploy across Multiplayer, put the new movement and weapon systems through their paces, take on Entrenched, and return for even more when the Open Beta begins August 28. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 launches October 23.

Title: Share of the Week: Katana Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2026 17:00:01 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/08/21/share-of-the-week-katana/ Last week, we asked you to unsheathe katanas from your favorite games and share using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s sharp highlights:  call_me_xavii shares Atsu drawing her katana as a duel begins in Ghost of Yōtei JAA_PhMode_0510 shares a glowing katana in Cyberpunk 2077 JLunarTraveler shares a birdseye view of Jin and his katana in Ghost of Tsushima rorottino shares a red-drenched moment from Death Stranding 2: On The Beach xenobitz shares a character with their katana raised in Fortnite crimsonashtree shares Narmaya holding their katana to the side in Granblue Fantasy: Relink Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme, or be inspired by other great games featuring Photo Mode. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week? THEME: Breathtaking ViewSUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on August 26, 2026  Next week, share breathtaking views and vistas from the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

Title: Tails of Iron 2: Blood & Brine – Free Expansion Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2026 15:00:01 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/08/21/tails-of-iron-2-blood-brine-free-expansion/ Today, Blood and Brine, the free expansion for Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter, arrives on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. This new post-game adventure sends Arlo away from the frozen North to Hardshell Brook, a coastal region packed with 11 quests, 10 new bosses, nine armour sets, new music, and a fishing system with 32 aquatic creatures to discover. You’ll need to finish the main campaign before you can set sail. Play Video Cast off for Hardshell Brook After everything Arlo has survived across the Ratdom, his next problem sounds almost relaxing: help two shipwrecked sailors build an aquarium. Jaimie and Sam have washed ashore after losing their vessel, and their plan is to fill a new attraction with rare sea life, draw in visitors, and earn enough to repair their ship. That means somebody has to do the fishing. Hardshell Brook gives Arlo a very different landscape to explore, with sunlit docks, open water and plenty of unfamiliar faces. You’ll cast your line in different fishing spots and hunt down 32 creatures for the aquarium, gradually turning an empty collection into something much stranger. Fishing gives the adventure a quieter rhythm between battles, but we haven’t forgotten what kind of world this is. Some things under the surface are much happier trying to eat Arlo than being displayed behind glass. And as the aquarium grows, so do the questions around Jaimie and Sam. Their story about what happened at sea might not be quite as simple as it first appears. A rougher kind of seaside break Hardshell Brook may look warmer than the snow-covered Wastes, but it is definitely not safer. Across the expansion’s 11 quests, Arlo will encounter new enemies on land and beneath the waves, along with 10 boss fights designed around fresh attack patterns and hazards. We also wanted to make the coast feel different in combat, so Blood and Brine introduces ship arena battles that take fights out onto the water. One moment you might be exploring the harbour or checking a fishing spot; the next, you’re on deck dealing with something enormous that has decided your boat looks like lunch. There are nine new armour sets to collect as well, giving you more options to prepare for these encounters and, just as importantly, more ways to make Arlo look suitably battle-worn for a trip to the seaside. Indie heroes enter the Ratdom One of our favourite parts of making Blood and Brine has been working with other independent studios. We’ve always loved seeing how different indie teams build memorable characters and worlds, so we wanted to bring a few of those familiar designs into our hand-drawn medieval setting. The expansion includes crossover armour inspired by Blasphemous, Cult of the Lamb, Dave the Diver, Death’s Door, Moonlighter, and Beyond Galaxyland. Rather than simply dropping those costumes into the game, our artists redrew and adapted each set so it feels at home on Arlo and inside the Ratdom. Seeing recognisable heroes reinterpreted as armour for a very determined rat has been a lot of fun, and we’re hugely grateful to every team who let us play with their designs. A thank you to everyone who joined Arlo’s journey Blood and Brine started as another adventure for Arlo, but it grew into a much bigger addition than we first expected: a new region, new quests and bosses, new music, a new fishing mechanic, and a small celebration of the indie games we admire. More than anything, it’s our way of saying thank you to everyone who has supported Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter. We hope returning players enjoy discovering what is waiting along the shores of Hardshell Brook, and that anyone who has not yet finished Arlo’s original campaign has one more reason to sharpen their blade. Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter – Blood and Brine is available today as a free expansion on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. Complete the main campaign, ready your fishing rod, and prepare to set sail. The waters of the Ratdom are anything but peaceful. To celebrate the launch, Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter is 60% off on PS5 and PS4 from August 12–26 as part of PlayStation’s Ready, Set, Play promotion.

Title: Code Vein II Mask of Idris DLC launches September 9 Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2026 14:00:56 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/08/20/code-vein-ii-mask-of-idris-dlc-launches-september-9/ Earlier this year, Code Vein II invited players into a post-apocalyptic action RPG where they fight alongside unique partners, wield powerful blood-based abilities, and battle fierce enemies to prevent the world’s destruction. Today, we’re excited to announce that the Mask of Idris DLC launches on September 9, 2026. This all new DLC introduces a history-altering story separate from the main campaign, taking players on a new adventure alongside two new partners. As you progress through the DLC, you’ll unlock new weapons and Formae to help overcome formidable new bosses. Launching alongside the DLC is a free update for all players, introducing additional features to further enhance the gameplay experience. However, today, we’ll take a closer look at everything coming in the Mask of Idris DLC. (SPOILER WARNING: The trailer content includes story details from the base game) Play Video Please note that certain play conditions must be met before you can access the Mask of Idris DLC. For full details on the required conditions, please visit our official Bandai Namco channels. Once you’ve met the requirements, you’ll embark on a new adventure that transcends time and space to uncover a history-altering story in The Forsaken World. The Forsaken World Throughout Code Vein II, history has been altered countless times, leaving behind scattered pockets of alternate space worlds known as Temporal Rifts. These spaces preserve residual traces of branching paths of history created by the past intervention of the great hero Idris. Though they were meant to disappear over time, the Temporal Rift continued to expand, eventually becoming what is now known as The Forsaken World. At its center lies the Spindle of Pathos, a colossal, swirling force that draws in emotions from across time and space. As its influence continues to grow, it now threatens to consume the world the protagonists are fighting to protect. It is here that your journey begins as you battle to save the world from its impending fate. As you venture into the Forsaken World, you’ll be joined by a new partner, Liv Voda, and Lou Magmell, a familiar face with a different story to tell. Together, you’ll confront powerful new threats and uncover the mysteries hidden in this fractured realm. Liv Voda – The alluring guardian of time and space​ Liv Voda is the original guardian of The Temporal Rift, and half-sister of Valentin Voda. She had abandoned her duties out of boredom and ​ been away from the frontier region for many years. ​ She has a combative personality, and her hair and eyes glow brightly when her emotions run high.​ Liv’s preferred combat style is aggressive attacks with a focus on melee combat. Her weapon of choice is the Halberd. She gracefully dances across the battlefield, relentlessly assailing enemies with continuous attacks from her Formae Chariot Rave and nimble evasive steps. Her Linkage Trait makes enemies more susceptible to staggering from weapon attacks. This trait, combined with her support Formae Mad Blood Dance (which boosts both her own and the protagonist’s attack power, with its effect extending upon each successful hit), forms a powerful synergy. Overwhelm your foes with coordinated teamwork. Lou MagMell – A lonely girl in the Forsaken World​ Lou Magmell is not the same Revenant girl the protagonist encounters in the main story but a different individual who entered the Forsaken World after experiencing a separate tragedy. The truth behind her past will gradually unfold as the story progresses. Despite her own hardships, she joins the protagonists in their fight to halt the expansion of the Forsaken World. New weapons and formae To prepare players for the challenges ahead, the Mask of Idris DLC introduces a collection of new weapons that broaden your combat options. Whether you prefer swift strikes or devastating power, these additions provide new ways to customize your fighting style. Grave Knocker is a martial arts Formae compatible with all weapon types, allowing players to unleash a powerful aerial kick that creates shockwaves to stagger surrounding enemies. Upon landing, a second shockwave expands, making it an effective ability for controlling groups of enemies. Sword of Karma: Idris summons a great sword imbued with the flames of Pathos, allowing players to unleash a series of powerful strikes and extended combo options. With its long reach and devastating final blow that sends flames of Pathos forward, this Formae provides both offensive power and flexibility in combat. Prepare to journey into the Forsaken World with the Mask of Idris DLC, featuring a new story, powerful allies, new weapons, and challenging battles. Whether you’re a returning player or discovering Code Vein II for the first time, experience this new adventure when the DLC launches on September 9.

Title: A field guide to Gran Turismo 7’s 1.71 update, out today Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2026 13:00:46 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/08/19/a-field-guide-to-gran-turismo-7s-1-71-update-out-today/ Gran Turismo 7’s 1.71 update roars onto PS5 today*, bringing with it new cars, as well as introducing  three new World Circuits, while Whistler added as featured Curation in Scapes.  Play Video Each of the four cars in this update offers a different kind of driving experience. Whether you are chasing style, discovery, precision, or something new, this update is built to be explored your way. To help you decide which one to drive first, check out the below guide, detailing what makes each one special and shows you exactly how to jump in. 1.71 update – Car Field Guide  Each car fits into a simple category:  Street Icon Sleeper Pick Pure Driver Next Gen Performance Pick what feels right, start simple, and explore from there. New Cars*** ’97 Toyota Chaser Tourer V *Can be purchased from Used CarsCategory: Street Icon View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Street Icons are all about presence, style, and cultural impact. These are the cars players connect with and make their own. The Chaser has instant attitude. Its stance and silhouette give it a natural presence, while its roots in tuner culture and the world of drifting give this Toyota a ton of street cred. This is the kind of car that quickly becomes a favorite because it reflects how players choose to drive, customize, and express themselves. How to experience it in GT7 Start here: Take it to Tokyo Expressway and run a clean lapThen try this: Add a livery in GT Auto and head to the Tuning Shop to start modifying the ChaserLevel up: Capture a replay or Scapes photo that shows your version of the car ’97 Toyota Mark II Tourer V *Can be purchased from Used CarsCategory: Sleeper Pick View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Sleeper Picks are understated at first glance, but reward players who spend time with them. Not to be confused with the Chaser, the Mark II carries quiet confidence. It may not demand attention immediately, but it connects with players who enjoy discovering something a little deeper. It represents a side of car culture where reputation is built through feel, knowledge, and performance rather than appearance alone. How to experience it in GT7 Start here: Take it to Tokyo Expressway or another urban track and get a feel for itThen try this: Compare it to other road cars from a similar eraLevel up: Tune and test different setups to find what suits your style If you enjoy finding hidden favorites that reward time and attention, this is your car. ’08 Caterham Seven Superlight R500 *Can be purchased from Brand CentralCategory: Pure Driver View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Pure Driver cars strip everything back and focus entirely on the connection between driver and road. The Caterham delivers one of the most direct driving experiences in GT7. Lightweight and responsive, it puts every input in your hands with no distractions. It is less about power and more about precision, making every corner and braking moment feel earned. How to experience it in GT7 Start here: Run a Time Trial on a technical track like Deep Forest RacewayThen try this: Focus on improving lap consistency over multiple runsLevel up: Refine braking, cornering, and racing lines to shave off time If you want to feel every input and improve with every lap, this is where to start. ’25 Hyundai IONIQ 6 N *Can be purchased from Brand CentralCategory: Next Gen Performance View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Next Gen Performance cars represent the evolution of speed, technology, and driving feel. The IONIQ 6 N brings a modern edge to the update. It reflects where performance is heading and invites players to experience something different from traditional expectations. It feels fresh, responsive, and part of a new chapter in driving. How to experience it in GT7 Start here: Take it to a fast circuit like High-Speed RingThen try this: Run a custom race against modern performance carsLevel up: Compare its performance across tracks and refine your driving approach If you want to experience where performance is going next, start here.Want to learn more about August Update 1.71? Then head over to gran-turismo.com.Haven’t purchased Gran Turismo 7 yet but want to get a feel for it? Download My First GT on the PlayStation store for free and hop into the game! Play Video And in case you missed it this past weekend, the Gran Turismo World Series – GT’s live event – was a blast in Tokyo! If you want to catch the excitement in person for the next round in Singapore, tickets are on sale right now: gran-turismo.com/GTWS *Gran Turismo 7 1.71 update will be available for free for Gran Turismo 7 players beginning today at 11:00pm PDT / August 20 at 7:00am BST / 3:00pm JST**. **Internet connection required for update.  ***Credits (paid or via game progression) required to purchase vehicles.

Title: Indecently cool FPS platformer Cicadamata" is out now - please get yourself down that rabbit hole Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2026 18:35:28 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/indecently-cool-fps-platformer-cicadamata-is-out-now-please-get-yourself-down-that-rabbit-hole I've already humiliated myself attempting to describe the sensory enormity that is Cicadamata", the new movement shooter from flowergarden with the tricksy title punctuation, so instead of writing additional sentences such as "this game is like drinking the aurora borealis" (OK, one more) or "this game is like surfing the Niagara Falls during a freak shower of potassium pellets" (enough!), I'm just going to transcribe the latest trailer. Read more

Title: Sandustry is the first factory simulation game I've played that gets heaps right Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2026 17:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/sandustry-is-the-first-factory-simulation-game-ive-played-that-gets-heaps-right Before we talk about Sandustry, the excellent new spelunking factory builder from Lantto Games and Hooded Horse, we need to revisit that most quintessentially vidyagame of topics, the post-industrial countryside of Wales. Early on in my recent 105-mile "review" of the MSI Cyborg 14 laptop, I walked through the old slate quarries near the village of Aberllefenni – the longest continually operated slate mining setup in the world until its closure in 2003. Read more

Title: GTA 6 leaker hunt is on, as Rockstar owners Take-Two file subpoenas asking Microsoft and Discord for records Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2026 15:45:04 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/gta-6-leaker-hunt-is-on-as-rockstar-owners-take-two-file-subpoenas-asking-microsoft-and-discord-for-records Well, the chase has begun. Rockstar parent company Take-Two are after the identity of the hacker or hackers behind this week's GTA 6 leak. Having spent a number of days swatting clips with takedowns, while the leakers dumped more and more across the net, Take-Two have filed multiple subpoenas in federal district court asking Microsoft and Discord to share records related to accounts which have been involved in posting and sharing the leaks. Read more

Title: "The lines between redemption and revenge will blur", promises Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2's latest trailer as the series locks in a late October release Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-lines-between-redemption-and-revenge-will-blur-promises-cyberpunk-edgerunners-2s-latest-trailer-as-the-series-locks-in-a-late-october-release Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2, the second series of the anime CD Projekt Red and Netflix grafted onto the former's cyberverse following Cyberpunk 2077's release, will premiere on October 20th. Having previously revealed the four new Night City dwellers its plot will be following, the show's creators have now put out another trailer teasing the tale of "revenge and redemption" in store. Read more

Title: Among Shadows is a Nightreign-style dark fantasy RPG with a touch of Among Us that makes me think wistfully of Dark Souls at its most treacherous Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:42:55 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/among-shadows-is-a-nightreign-style-dark-fantasy-rpg-with-a-touch-of-among-us-that-makes-me-think-wistfully-of-dark-souls-at-its-most-treacherous Among Shadows is the kind of videogame genre arithmetic that often proves less than the sum of its parts, but I'm cautiously enthused by its talk of disease, betrayal and Elden Ring: Nightreign-flavoured swordwizarding. The gist: this is a fantasy action-RPG with an Among Us-style social deduction element. You are a member of the Order of the Secret Fire, sent into a supernaturally blighted region to track down sources of corruption, while looting gear and levelling yourself up. Read more