Title: FromSoftware Says Nintendo Has Been A Big Help In Making Sure Switch 2 Exclusive The Duskbloods Doesn’t Just Drop Players In And Hope ‘They Figure It Out’ Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2026 15:56:41 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/fromsoftware-says-nintendo-has-been-a-big-help-in-making-sure-switch-2-exclusive-the-duskbloods-doesnt-just-drop-players-in-and-hope-they-figure-it-out-2000726202 Can Nintendo help polish some of the upcoming action-RPG's new player onboarding?

Title: The Scariest Thing In The Silent Hill: Townfall Gameplay Trailer Is How Scots Pay For Electricity Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2026 15:45:24 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/silent-hill-townfall-gameplay-demo-video-impressions-2000726181 The 19-minute-long gameplay demo left me with more questions than answers, one of them being 'Damn, y'all live like that?'

Title: Rockstar Games Hasn’t Posted Anything Online In 48 Hours As GTA 6 Leaks Keep Getting Worse Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2026 15:15:33 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/rockstar-games-hasnt-posted-anything-online-in-48-hours-as-gta-6-leaks-keep-getting-worse-2000726182 The company hasn't posted anything on any of its official channels or pages since Tuesday

Title: Subnautica 2′s Co-Op Buddy System Update Is Live, And Has The Coolest Chat Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2026 14:45:57 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/subnautica-2-buddy-system-update-co-op-1-2-patch-notes-unknown-worlds-2000726159 Version 1.2 of the early access build also adds ways to revive friends, trade items, and airtag your luggage

Title: The Best And Worst Parts Of Every Metal Gear Game Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2026 14:10:59 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/best-worst-parts-every-metal-gear-solid-game-msg4-2000726160 Here are the high and low points of every major entry in the hit Konami espionage series created by Hideo Kojima

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: GTA 6 Leaker Might Have Playable Build Of The Game Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:12:19 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-6-leaker-might-have-playable-build-of-the-game/ Here we go again: A new day means new apparent leaked footage of Grand Theft Auto VI. In fact, one of the latest clips appears to show that the person sharing these videos has access to a playable build of the open-world game.  The leaker, who goes by CyberLeek on social media, posted an alleged gameplay video in which Jason Duval shoots at a wall. The bullet marks spell out "LEEK," seemingly proving that CyberLeek has access to a playable build of GTA 6. Before that footage, the video features a blue-and-yellow prop plane flying over what appears to be Vice City. At one point, the game pauses while the player swaps through different radio stations, like V-Rock playing "For What It's Worth" by Stevie Nicks and Back Country Radio playing "Rhinestone Cowboy" by Glen Campbell. There's even Symphony FM. CyberLeek is claiming they will release the ending for Lucia Caminos later today, while also offering up an online poll about whether they should. Previous GTA 6 leaks included Jason playing basketball and literally shocking gameplay footage where he shoots people with a taser-like weapon. CyberLeek has claimed to be doing this for the rights of gamers--especially as an act of defiance after Rockstar revealed GTA 6 wouldn't arrive on disc. Keep in mind CyberLeek is also putting advertisements to buy memecoins on these videos, too. GTA 6 is set to get an official "Extended Look" trailer exactly a week from today on August 27. That footage will first appear on Netflix on 3 PM ET, before then becoming available on Rockstar's YouTube channel at 9 PM ET. GTA 6 is set to come out November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. GTA 6: 241 Screenshots To Ease The Wait View Images

Title: Welcome To GameSpot Cheap Week Date: Mon, 17 Aug 2026 16:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/welcome-to-gamespot-cheap-week/ Gaming is expensive. That's always been true, even if other hobbies could be worse in that regard, but recent years have seen the situation only become more extreme. Enter GameSpot Cheap Week. All this week, we'll be publishing assorted features looking at how we got here--why are consoles so expensive, what goes into game pricing--and ways in which you can play more while spending less, be it through mods, libraries, or games that just don't cost an arm and a leg. Check back with this page as we publish more all throughout the week! Why Are Video Game Consoles So Expensive These Days (And Games Historically Cheap)? The Best Games Under $10 Looking To Save Money? Here’s How (And Why) You Should Finally Tackle Your Backlog Game Subscriptions You Might Secretly Already Have Voice Mods Can Make Your Favorite Games Feel Brand New Again 15 Great Total-Conversion Mods To Make Your Old Games Feel Brand New 14 Games That Give You The Absolute Best Bang For Your Buck What Goes Into A Game Price Tag? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FatSqS3VYY

Title: Game Companies Could Learn Wrong Lessons From GTA 6’s $80 Price, Analyst Says Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/game-companies-could-learn-wrong-lessons-from-gta-6s-80-price-analyst-says/ 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. Grand Theft Auto 6's standard edition will retail for $80, and as the highest-profile game to set its price this high, players are likely wondering if other game publishers will follow suit with their AAA releases. That remains to be seen, but at least one industry analyst thinks publishers could be making a mistake if they do. As part of a wide-ranging interview with GameSpot on how a game's price is determined, Ampere Analytics' Rhys Elliott explained how other publishers could make pricing decisions based on GTA 6's price, believing it opened the floodgates for every major AAA game to be $80. "So my worry is that a lot of publishers read 'GTA is $80' as a green light and push their own run-of-the-mill or new-IP games to $80, when the right lesson is the opposite. What most will (and should) do instead is hold a $70 base and layer premium editions on top--$80 to $100 with early access, cosmetics, a season pass--the way it's always been done. I'm not saying that's ethical, but it lets the FOMO-prone superfans pay more while everyone else pays the base, or waits for the discount." With the cost of living rising ever higher and gaming becoming even more expensive over the last few years, $80 for most AAA games is certainly a tough sell (though people are also paying for GTA 6's $100 edition at very high rates). Thus far, we've seen Nintendo even hesitate to price most of its games at $80, with the company opting to keep the major release Donkey Kong Bananza at $70. As the price of consoles continues to rise--next-gen systems could very well eclipse $1,000--the price of individual games will be even more important for the average consumer. If publishers don't know this already, they're certainly going to learn it soon.

Title: What Goes Into A Game Price Tag? Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/what-goes-into-a-game-price-tag/ 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 a time of change in the gaming industry and nowhere is that more evident than the prices of games. What was once a fairly standard number has become incredibly variable, from ultra-cheap games like Vampire Survivors and Peak to pricey blockbusters like Mario Kart World and the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6. For Cheap Week, we wanted to take a closer look at how publishers set their prices, and the potential impact that different pricing strategies can have on a game's success.  The state of video game prices With some notable growing pains, the industry has widely adopted $70 USD as its default price point for new AAA releases. That appears to be the status quo for the foreseeable future, with a few notable exceptions. Mario Kart World launched at $80, a higher asking price that seemed aimed at pushing players toward the Switch 2 bundle that packed it in for the equivalent of just $50. And Grand Theft Auto 6 will be priced at $80 for the standard edition. It's possible that other publishers will follow suit, but, for now, GTA 6 seems like a special case--essentially, Rockstar knows it has a generational event on its hands, so it can get away with asking for an extra 10 bucks. Grand Theft Auto 6 One aspect that is contributing to price fluctuations is the stratification of the game business more broadly. Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden recently pined for a return to the days of AA gaming--a space for smaller projects within the traditional publisher system that don't need to be huge blockbusters.  Layden is correct that the space for games with a smaller scope has diminished, and is less common than it once was. The push for publishers to maximize profits has created a multitude of downstream effects, not least of which is a striving for bigger games that will turn into huge blockbuster sellers. But while AA development has diminished, it certainly hasn't disappeared. Mid-tier publishers like Atlus, Saber Interactive, and THQ Nordic have taken up the mantle to make games at a lower budget, expecting a lower return on investment. That includes entries in smaller or more niche franchises like Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, Turok Origins, and Wreckfest. Larger publishers have grown more risk-averse, but there are exceptions. Capcom launched a new unproven franchise this year with Pragmata, and has already said it was successful enough to warrant a sequel. That's a hopeful sign that more publishers will make space in their budgets and workflows for smaller games.  Pragmata The AA space means there's still room for games to launch at a lower price, without being the smaller scope associated with indie PC games. Pragmata launched at $60 instead of the $70 that is becoming increasingly the norm for big-budget games. Nintendo, similarly, has been experimenting with more price variety. It recently launched both Star Fox and Splatoon Raiders at $60 for physical copies, but $50 for their digital editions. (Then again, Nintendo's prices are stubbornly fixed, and even much older games will retain their launch MSRP for years.) And one of the advantages of Game Pass in its heyday was the notion that it would help keep the AA space thriving by offering them as part of an all-you-can-eat model. Then there are smaller and independent games, which largely release only on digital marketplaces, sometimes with physical editions put out post-launch by boutique publishers. This is the space with the widest range of prices, since the scope of the games is so variable. You might find a smaller indie game for just $5 or even less, while larger games or established franchises could be as much as $40. Hades 2, which was essentially indie game royalty, was priced at $30--an invitingly low price point for a fantastic game, but a savings compared to most games in the AAA space. Bigger publishers have also been known to dabble in these price points, like in the cases of Marathon or Helldivers 2, both of which Sony published at $40. Lucy James of the curation newsletter LookingFor.Game (and former longtime GameSpot producer) says she's noticed that AAA publishers are experimenting with lower prices, not higher ones. "I'd say most of the interesting stuff happening in pricing right now is definitely within the AAA space: companies toying with the price increases on some games but not others, like Nintendo, or releasing games that previously would have been $60 at $50 or $40."  Similarly, the indie market is a fertile ground for trying out different price models, especially in particular genres. Friendslop, as it's been called, has been especially popular for a low-price, low-risk price point that's meant to be inviting for new players.  Peak "You see a lot of 'friendslop' games launch in the $5-$10 region," James said. "It's an enticing lower price point, less than the cost of a movie ticket, and it can easily be an impulse purchase. $70 or $80 games cause you to take a beat and really consider if this purchase is going to be 'worth it.' With cheaper games, the perceived value is lower, so it's less of a big deal if you drop the game shortly after buying it, or just let it sit in your backlog."  So in broad terms, this is the modern state of the video game industry. Smaller, usually independent releases on digital storefronts have a wide range of low prices from $5 to $40, depending on their scope and what they can demand. AA games, remakes, and new releases with a more niche audience are $50 and $60. And AAA blockbusters are mostly $70, with the occasional $80 price point. But how did we arrive at this point, and what goes into these pricing decisions? How to pick a price (without a dartboard) Publishers constantly experiment with prices because a higher price doesn't necessarily mean a better return on investment. If a game sells significantly better at $20 than $25, it's worth coming in at the lower price and selling more volume. Meanwhile, if a game has significant long-term content plans like DLC or season passes, it may be better to catch as many players as possible with a lower price and then continue a steady revenue stream. This was the core of the proliferation of free-to-play games like Fortnite and Apex Legends. For more insight, we talked with Rhys Elliot, head of market analysis at Alinea Analytics. GameSpot: What goes into determining a game price?  Elliot: In theory, it's a straight function of production cost, expected sales volume, and what the market will bear. But in practice--and I’m generalizing here--it can be a bit of an internal tug of war. The finance teams, for example, obsess over margins, while the marketing and PR teams want a low price for player goodwill, and so on. One sometimes-overlooked input, though, is how price-inelastic your audience is. That's the fancy way of saying how many buyers you lose when you nudge the price up. GTA or a mainline Nintendo game can raise prices and barely feel it because their audience will pay almost anything--especially at launch. A mid-tier or new-IP game raising its base price just sheds the price-sensitive buyers it can't afford to lose, really. For a live-service or online-heavy game, the box price isn't really the product anymore, it's the customer-acquisition cost for the thing that actually prints money over a decade--microtransactions, battle passes, subscriptions, and all that jazz. What kinds of mistakes do developers and publishers make when pricing a game? A common one is treating [the phrase that] "higher price equals more revenue" as if it's obviously true. It looks right in isolation on a spreadsheet, but it's often wrong in practice. It ignores volume and, crucially, the funnel. If a higher base price shrinks the day-one audience, you're shrinking the top of the funnel that can feed future word of mouth and revenue. So my advice to publishers is usually something along the lines of "price in a way that matches what your game actually is." A captive-audience tentpole can hold $80, then a viral co-op game or a genre-led indie will usually make more going cheap, winning on volume, and monetizing the audience over time. Another mistake is misjudging that elasticity I mentioned, assuming your game has GTA-level pricing power when it doesn't. Plenty of publishers are about to make exactly this error, and Xbox learned that lesson with The Outer Worlds 2, before backtracking. Mispricing relative to what the back-catalogue market is doing will become more of a challenge too, I reckon. Every new release now competes with a decade of bangers that are permanently on sale a few clicks away. If you price a good-not-generational game at $80 when a player can grab three all-time classics for the same money during a sale, you're fighting a battle you'll usually lose. The back catalogue is the real competition now, not the other new releases. That’s a cumulative problem as well. The own goal of aggressive-monetization can be another snafu. Stacking day-one DLC and in-your-face storefronts onto a full-priced game can feel pretty minging to a lot of folks. We saw this recently with Black Flag Resynced: Players were furious about the day-one DLC, even though, per our data, barely anyone actually bought it. That game had a low base price, but some of that goodwill was smashed with the in-your-face upsells. Those sorts of reputational hits stack. Poisoning the well for the next launch to squeeze a rounding error today isn’t the way to go. The Outer Worlds 2 Do you expect higher-priced games like GTA 6 to raise the ceiling, or is that more of a special case? It's worth remembering $80 wasn't even GTA's invention. Nintendo got there first with Mario Kart World, and a few others have tested it. GTA 6 has more pricing power than any game on the planet, and it still landed its base edition at $80--not $90 or $100. If the biggest release in the industry's history looked at going higher and decided not to, that tells me $80 is a genuine ceiling, not a floor. Even GTA didn't think it could push past it with its base edition. The publishers who can actually sustain an $80 base all share traits: a captive, price-inelastic launch audience that won't shop around or wait for a sale. There's Nintendo [with its] locked-in, discount-averse fanbase, a marquee [of] PlayStation first-party tentpoles, maybe From Software, and the big annual sports franchises. $80 for other publishers is a risk. So my worry is that a lot of publishers read "GTA is $80" as a green light and push their own run-of-the-mill or new-IP games to $80, when the right lesson is the opposite. What most will, and should, do instead is hold a $70 base and layer premium editions on top, $80 to $100 with early access, cosmetics, a season pass--the way it's always been done. I’m not saying that’s ethical, but it lets the FOMO-prone superfans pay more while everyone else pays the base, or waits for the discount. Meccha Chameleon While everyone's arguing about the $80 ceiling, some of the biggest hits of the last couple of years have gone the other way and cleaned up. Palworld launched in early access under $30 and has done 30M-plus copies for around $700M. Helldivers 2 came in at $40, not the $70 you'd expect for a game that size, and became a phenomenon. Meccha Chameleon, a $6 game from two people, is currently 2026's best-selling game on Steam by units. Slay the Spire 2 is doing absurd numbers at $25. What a game is worth So with all that in mind, how does this play out in the real world, in an actual developer? For that, we spoke with David D'Angelo from Yacht Club Games, which recently released Mina the Hollower. Its previous franchise-starter, Shovel Knight, launched in 2014 at just $15. But it also provided years of post-launch support, for free, to backers of its Kickstarter. Yacht Club has spoken openly about how that decision made things difficult, even as it kept up a cadence of publishing Shovel Knight spin-offs. These days you can find the Shovel Knight Treasure Trove, with all of its extra DLC campaigns included, for $40.  However, Mina the Hollower was priced relatively cheaply, at just $20. Yacht Club has said that the team just figured it would sell more copies at that price than a higher one, so the decision seemed right. D'Angelo also notes that it was surprisingly easy for the team to reach a unanimous decision.  "When we did the Kickstarter, we thought it'd be a $25 or $30 game," D'Angelo said. "But I think everyone on the team individually came to the realization that people would be hesitant to buy a game at more than 20 dollars in today's economy. And we all realized the most important thing to us was getting more players able to hop on board at launch." D'Angelo says that the team didn't approach it as attempting to recoup costs, exactly. Instead, he says Yacht Club tries to approach the question of what the game is actually worth, or relatedly, what they think people will pay for it.  Mina the Hollower "We hope to keep the price as high as possible because overall we think games are undervalued! The hardest part of setting Mina at $20 is that we thought it was easily worth $30. $20 for Mina is a steal."  And with that value consciousness in mind, he said, Yacht Club didn't build in room for sales or bundles.  "Gamers these days expect games for free; from iPhone making games a dollar, to subscription services, to free or heavily discounted games," he said. "We're trying as much as possible to avoid devaluing our games in such a manner. We know discounts and bundles are a big problem, but we try to avoid big discounts. We set the price based on what people will be paying at full price. Hopefully discounts don't end up affecting us too much. "For us, the trickiest thing here actually is creating a physical/retail edition of the game. It isn't worth anyone's time unless it's priced sufficiently over the cost of goods. That's hard to justify with a $20 price point."  And for a smaller indie publisher like Yacht Club, the success of one game directly impacts the prospects for the next one. That makes it crucial to get the price right the first time.  "We don't really operate in terms of sales targets," D'Angelo said. "We instead see how the game performs, and we change how we operate as a result of that. If the game sells really well, maybe we can be more ambitious in our future projects or bring on more team members to help. If the game doesn't sell as well, maybe we need to scope down what we're working on or figure out how to develop it faster. So the price potentially impacts what we're able to tackle in the future. But hopefully we can offset that by selling the game to more people."  By all accounts, Mina the Hollower has been a huge success for Yacht Club. After co-founder Sean Velasco said that selling 500,000 would be considered "golden" in terms of success for the studio, the team announced that it hit 300,000 copies after just three days. About a week and a half later, it hit that golden 500,000 number. That was in May, so it's surely continued to sell more copies since then. Whether it's Mina the Hollower at $20 or Grand Theft Auto 6 at $80, publishers set prices at what they believe the market will support. That means that you actually have most of the power to determine how games are priced. What a game is worth in hard numerical dollars relies largely on what it's worth to you.

Title: Take-Two Loses Billions In Market Value Since GTA 6 Leaks Began Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2026 15:53:48 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/take-two-loses-billions-in-market-value-since-gta-6-leaks-began/ GTA 6 is set for a big reveal on August 27 with an extended trailer coming to Netflix, but ahead of that, alleged gameplay footage is leaking everywhere. The leaks began earlier this week, and Rockstar owner Take-Two's stock price has fallen this week as well. Take-Two has seen its total market cap lose billions, as the company's share price began the week around $245. Today, shares are trading around $236. GTA 6 releases this November on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The share price of a company can be affected by news, and the GTA 6 leaks have been substantial, generating numerous headlines and even jokes from the US government. Another factor that could be affecting Take-Two's share price includes its top boss Strauss Zelnick selling $10 million worth of shares recently. Additionally, Take-Two's recent earnings report showed that the company lost more than $30 million the past three months, with net bookings falling, too. Another new development for Take-Two's stock recently was the disclosure that the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan bought nearly 150,000 shares of the company worth more than $37 million. Take-Two's share price has bounced around a lot so far this year, and, as of today, it's down more than 6% year-to-date. Over the past year, Take-Two stock is up 3.3%. Anyone who has been a long-term shareholder has benefitted greatly, as Take-Two stock is up about 50% in the past five years. When GTA 5 came out in 2013, Take-Two's stock price was about $18. Today, it's above $235. GTA 6 also suffered a leak in September 2022. At the time, Zelnick said it was "really frustrating and upsetting," but the leaks had no financial impact. Set for release on November 19, GTA 6 is coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The developers at Rockstar were reportedly testing the game for Switch 2, but fans should not get their hopes up.

Title: Sega's Golden Axe Officially Returns in New Streaming Comedy Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:33:42 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/golden-axe-tv-show-trailer-release-date-september-2026/ After finding box-office success with Sonic the Hedgehog in Paramount's live-action film franchise, the next logical step in Sega-sanctioned adaptations is obviously Golden Axe, the late '80s fantasy-themed beat-'em-up arcade game. The upcoming Golden Axe TV series looks surprisingly as silly as the Sonic franchise, based on the streaming show's first trailer, and designed to appeal to The Legend of Vox Machina fans.

Title: Switch 2 Just Got One of The Best Zelda-likes in Years Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:31:36 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/pipistrello-and-the-cursed-yoyo-switch-2-recommendation/ Hey, remember when Nintendo announced a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time? I wouldn’t blame you if you’ve somehow convinced yourself that it was all a dream. Since its June reveal, we have learned absolutely nothing about a massive game that’s supposedly coming out this year, despite not having a firm release date yet. Considering that Nintendo historically hosts a Direct stream in September, we’ll hopefully learn more about it soon. But until then, something has to whet your Zelda-sized appetite.

Title: Borderlands 4 Story Pack 2 DLC Adds New Island and John Wick-Inspired Story Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:31:14 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/borderlands-4-story-pack-2-interview/ One year after its release, Borderlands 4 is getting a major expansion. Story Pack 2 is coming on Sept. 10, bringing with it a chunky new DLC called FL4K and the Last Resort. In a video interview with Polygon, the team at Gearbox broke down what’s new in the update, which draws inspiration from Lord of the Flies, The Lost World, and John Wick.

Title: 'Skyrim' Mod Makers Wage War Over Competing Ambitious Graphics Mods Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:23:36 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/best-skyrim-graphics-mods-cs-enb-patreon-dmca-notice-boris-vorontsov/ In early August 2026, a mod called Community Shaders stunned the Skyrim fandom with its impressive graphical features. While the mod has elated Elder Scrolls fans on PC, its existence has angered a high-profile creator behind a popular rival mod. Now, the creators of the new Skyrim mod are facing the possibility of future legal action.

Title: All map and weapon loot pool changes in Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4 Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2026 15:48:42 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/fortnite-chapter-7-season-4-c7s4-override-map-weapons-loot-pool-poi/ FortniteChapter 7 Season 4, also known as "Override," will take you into a video game-themed world featuring new map POIs, weapons, and items from hit games franchises like Sonic the Hedgehog, Mega Man, and Pac-Man.

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: Sharpen the Sword, Skip the Downloads — ‘Onimusha: Way of the Sword’ Is Coming to GeForce NOW Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2026 13:00:34 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-onimusha-coming/ Onimusha: Way of the Sword is coming to GeForce NOW at launch, with the playable demo available this week. It’s joined by Denshattack! rolling in with five new games arriving in the cloud. Plus, GeForce NOW officially launches in India, moving from beta to public availability — meaning gamers can sign up without a waitlist. Pick Up the Oni Gauntlet Cloud-powered. Samurai-approved. Capcom’s next legendary action adventure is coming to GeForce NOW. Onimusha: Way of the Sword will arrive on the cloud at launch on Thursday, Sept. 3.  Members can jump into the action even sooner with the demo now available to stream. Set in a dark fantasy vision of Edo Japan, follow a lone samurai wielding the legendary Oni Gauntlet against relentless demonic Genma. Master precise swordplay, unleash powerful abilities and absorb the souls of fallen enemies as supernatural battles unfold across a haunting world filled with mystery and danger. Ultimate members can experience every clash with GeForce RTX 5080-class performance in the cloud across PCs, Macs, handhelds, mobile devices and TVs. From the first swing in the demo through launch day, GeForce NOW lets members step into battle the moment it’s available — no downloads, storage space or expensive hardware required. Gamers can find the demo in the GeForce NOW app demo row and add the title to their wishlists today to be ready when the blade is drawn.  India Levels Up The wait is over. GeForce NOW has officially exited beta in India, bringing the world’s highest-performance cloud gaming service to more gamers across the country.  This week, gamers can choose from monthly Performance and Ultimate memberships, flexible day passes or the basic, free offering — making it easier than ever to experience GeForce RTX-powered cloud gaming. GeForce NOW now supports UPI payments, giving gamers across India a fast, secure and convenient way to purchase memberships and day passes.  Premium memberships unlock GeForce RTX-powered features like ray tracing, NVIDIA DLSS and NVIDIA Reflex, along with higher resolutions, faster frame rates and priority access to streaming. With thousands of supported games — from blockbuster releases and free-to-play favorites to indie hits — members can enjoy PC games they already own without the cost of upgrading to high-end gaming hardware. Join the conversation with the GeForce NOW community on Reddit.  Go Off the Rails This Weekend “Denshattack!” is pulling into the cloud. Denshattack! — the off-the-rails, train‑wrecking action game — is now available to stream on GeForce NOW, letting members embrace pure chaos from almost any device.  Take control of runaway trains and send them barreling through crowded tracks, explosive obstacles and delightfully destructive layouts, chaining spectacular crashes with just the right mix of precision and pandemonium. Its colorful, tongue‑in‑cheek presentation and physics‑driven mayhem turn every run into a highlight reel of derailments — perfect for quick sessions, score‑chasing and laughing at just how wrong a single turn can go when the throttle never lets up. In addition, members can look for the following to play this week: Denshattack! (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass on July 15) The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu (New release on Steam, available July 15) Heave Ho 2 (New release on Steam, available July 16) Fogpiercer (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass on July 17) Onimusha: Way of the Sword DEMO (Steam) The GeForce NOW community keeps discovering new games to play, with members discussing the most beautiful games on the service. What game has impressed you most on GeForce NOW? Let us know on X or in the comments below.

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: Inside the brutal puzzles of Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival  Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2026 12:15:07 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/08/19/inside-the-brutal-puzzles-of-clive-barkers-hellraiser-revival/ It’s dark. The walls are oppressively grey, spikey and close. And there’s a disturbing noise of chattering teeth that sounds like it’s coming from, well, everywhere. Then, I see him. Flesh warped, eyeless sockets sunken, mouth wide, teeth full. The Chatterer – the source of the ever-present and unnerving noise. Player character, Aidan, runs away, but seconds later Chatterer remerges in front of him in a crackle of electricity. Aidan tries another path of escape and Chatterer again fizzles into view. Down a seething red, fleshy corridor and the chattering figure zaps in front of him again. But there is a way to escape, you just need to know how. Play Video This is just part of my introduction to Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival, a first-person survival horror hitting PlayStation 5 on October 8. And while this is a fairly straightforward puzzle element that I’m being shown, there are far more elaborate and equally disturbing ones that Assistant Game Director Vid Rajin is eager to walk me – or more accurately in this case, run – through. A labyrinth of terror Although Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival features a number of firearms and weapons, that’s not the purpose of the demonstration I’m immersed in. The focus is very much on how the game aims to test your nerve through its reality warping environments and the mysteries they hold, all encased with the gruesome tension the series is famous for. In fact, Hellraiser is a franchise which doesn’t necessarily lend itself to combative action, given its psychological and deeply disturbing investigation of the lines between pleasure and pain. To translate that into a game was one of the challenges faced by the teams at Mad Head Games and Saber Interactive, aiming to give the puzzles an appropriate edge. “We use the Genesis Configuration – a puzzle box – at the centre of things,” explains Vid. “Mysterious puzzle boxes are literally key to everything in Clive Barker’s universe, so it writes itself in terms of helping to craft puzzles and how to manipulate the world. We have a background in adventure games and hidden object puzzle titles, so we took our experience from those, but we want to make sure we have a narrative purpose for puzzles wherever we can.” The earlier example of our encounter with Chatterer is a clear sign of that bleeding of narrative and puzzles, as is another environmental teaser where Aidan is wandering through his house near the start of the game. At first it appears normal – but twisted little elements, such as photos on a wall being crooked or distorted soon become clear. And trying to escape the various rooms only leads to them repeating. The only way to solve this tormenting loop? By turning back instead of trying to move forward, which changes the entire setting. “The labyrinth Aidan is trapped in is intertwined with the real world,” says Vid. “So in the case of the looping rooms, the environment is almost trying to tell Aidan something, to get him to change his perspective, and make the player figure out another approach to what they might have been doing.” Controlling the Genesis Configuration Learning lessons is a fundamental part of any horror story, which makes Vid’s point fit smartly into the game, aping one of the mainstay themes of the genre no matter the medium – you learn or you die. Be it reversing your course to escape the looping room or outmanoeuvring Chatterer by discovering which corridor he doesn’t teleport in front of you in, understanding the importance of finding unconventional routes is crucial. Hints are offered by the labyrinth itself, although for some of the more traditional puzzles, like opening a safe via a sliding picture lock, clues can be something far less intimidating, such as discovering a diagram on a desk. But a chunk of progressing through Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival is through using the Genesis Configuration itself. While it can channel power for offensive abilities like setting enemies on fire, Vid reveals how it’s essential for overcoming many of the present environmental puzzles.  Some puzzles have clear binary solutions. One example is using the Genesis Configuration to rotate a giant wheel, which in turn would realign the narrow walkways Aidan found himself on within a spike-laden room to plot a safe route through. Another demoed its transformative properties: we stood in a courtyard hub, with three main gates. Each one could only be opened by retrieving a statue’s missing item – such as an appropriately macabre tongue or hand – and then changing the Genesis Configuration into the correct shape to act as a key. But there are others which have multiple ways of solving them. What those are, the studio remain tight-lipped, keen for players to discover themselves.  And while many revolve around traversal, the labyrinth itself, and all the horror that await within, there are a few incidental and familiar parts for survival horror fans. “We have classic lock pick mechanism puzzles as well [such as]safe combinations which reward you with useful items, like crafting resources, ammo, some nice upgrades, or even like a new weapon,” says Vid. “And you have to manage your inventory in a similar way to the Resident Evil games.” Inspiration outside of hell Between these types of traditional survival horror puzzles and more surreal, M.C. Escher inspired interiors that help fashion the environment, Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival is shaping up to be something fans will appreciate. The development team – fans themselves – also had the advantage of Clive Barker himself advising from its initial conception and Doug Bradley reprising his role as Pinhead from many of the movies, to help keep them on track. “They were a huge help, especially in giving us small details,” says Vid. “The pressure to make something to honor the franchise is always there, but it’s been alleviated by the positive response from the fans so far.” Prepare for oblivion With a campaign that Vid suggests could take over 12 hours to complete, Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival aims to deliver a sharp experience that captures the visceral and psychological intensity of its source material. And if you own a PS5 Pro, you can expect higher graphic settings and PSSR sSupport to hone in on the horror. Can your chattering nerves handle a piercing face to face with Pinhead and his cenobites? Find out on October 8 when Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival launches on PS5, available for pre-order now.

Title: (For Southeast Asia) Pulse Elevate wireless speakers launch November 12, 2026 Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2026 01:33:26 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/08/18/20260818-speaker/ Update (August 19, 2026): Pulse Elevate wireless speakers in Midnight Black and White will launch starting on November 12, 2026,* with a recommended retail price (RRP) of  SGD 319 / MYR 1,099 / THB 8,499 / PHP 14,709 / VND 6,999,000. Pre-orders for Pulse Elevate speakers will be available starting from September 2, 2026 in local retailers.. With Pulse Elevate wireless speakers, experience lifelike audio for desktop gaming and on the go – read more about Pulse Elevate wireless speakers here. *Availability may vary by market and retailer. 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 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 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 We’re excited to share a first look at the Pulse Elevate wireless speakers – the newest addition to our lineup of PlayStation audio accessories  – which we revealed earlier today during State of Play. Pulse Elevate builds upon the immersive next-level gaming audio experience we introduced to players with Pulse Elite wireless headset and Pulse Explore wireless earbuds, combining powerful technologies like planar magnetic drivers and PlayStation Link into new form factors for players to experience with their favorite games. As the first wireless speakers developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Pulse Elevate fits seamlessly in a PS5, PC, or Mac desktop gaming setup and can be enjoyed on the go with a PlayStation Portal remote player or smartphone. The wireless speakers feature exceptionally lifelike audio, ultra-low latency and lossless PlayStation Link wireless connectivity. Play Video Here’s an overview of the speakers’ key features: Lifelike desktop audio: Each speaker features studio-inspired planar magnetic drivers for lifelike sound across the entire audible spectrum. This means players can hear games exactly how developers intended – whether they’re playing on PS5, PC, Mac or PlayStation Portal.On the PS5 console, the driver technology further enhances immersion in PS5 games that support Tempest 3D AudioTech by positioning audio cues with incredible accuracy. The speakers also feature built-in woofers that deliver rich bass tones for a fuller soundscape. Built-in mic with AI-enhanced noise rejection: Pulse Elevate seamlessly introduces a high-quality voice chat experience into a desktop gaming setup with a microphone integrated within the right speaker. With AI-enhanced noise rejection technology, the mic also helps identify and remove unwanted background noise for crystal-clear voice communication, providing a new level of headset-free voice chat for desktop gaming. PlayStation Link ultra-low latency and multi-device connectivity: Pulse Elevate is powered by PlayStation Link technology for ultra-low latency and lossless connectivity to deliver sound as it happens on compatible devices including PS5, PC, Mac, and PlayStation Portal remote player. The speakers are also compatible with Bluetooth devices, so players can listen simultaneously via a PlayStation Link-connected device for in-game audio and a separate Bluetooth-enabled device for music, voice chat, and more. Pulse Elevate wireless speakers will feature a PlayStation Link USB adapter that is compatible with USB-C ports. Built for both desktop gaming and portability: With the built-in rechargeable battery, players can take Pulse Elevate on the go when gaming with a PlayStation Portal remote player via PlayStation Link, or with a mobile device or smartphone via Bluetooth. The included charging docks make it easy to jump back into a desktop gaming setup.  Highly customizable audio: Pulse Elevate speakers feature built-in volume controls and are designed to be easily adjusted for the ideal horizontal and vertical orientation in a player’s desktop setup. Players can further personalize their audio experience on PS5 or PC* with the option to adjust EQ, sidetone, volume, and mic mute settings directly via system menus. Pulse Elevate wireless speakers will launch in 2026 and will be available in both Midnight Black and White.** What games are you looking forward to trying with our new speakers? Stay tuned for more information on launch date and availability in the coming months. *PC options available post launch. **White available while supplies last from direct.playstation.com (where available) and select retailers. Availability may vary by country.

Title: New NBA 2K27 gameplay details on The City, co-op, MyNBA eras, and more Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2026 18:00:23 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/08/18/new-nba-2k27-gameplay-details-on-the-city-co-op-mynba-eras-and-more/ Enter the World of 2K and get your competitive fix with the NBA 2K27 Preseason Breakdown: Game Reveal recap! Live from the Inuit Dome in Los Angeles, CA, NBA 2K hosted a 45-minute livestream detailing the most exciting updates and in-game enhancements coming in NBA 2K27. In case you missed it, we’ve got you covered. Read on to learn more about what you missed from the August 18 showcase. Play Video Balanced gameplay Gameplay in NBA 2K27 strives for the most balanced experience to date, introducing meaningful new offensive tools like Step-Through Up-and-Unders and reworked defensive systems like improved Hands-Up Shot Contests to deliver a rewarding experience on both ends of the floor.  Powered by ProPlay, the game continues to push the limits of courtside authenticity by leveraging advanced machine learning capabilities. When you take the hardwood in 2K27, you’ll see heightened fidelity in animations and the real-time evolution of on-court adjustments. As players around the league find new ways to create separation, we’re finding new ways to innovate, giving hoopers of all skill levels the ultimate playground to prove they belong. Introducing a co-ed City For the first time, we’re introducing a co-ed City, where you can create a female MyPlayer and compete in The City alongside our global community of hoopers. All MyPlayers, male and female, are built on the exact same framework. Your height, badges, attribute ratings, and wingspan are strictly determined by the MyPlayer build you create, not your appearance. All game modes within The City are completely co-ed, with full access to The REC, The Theater, Street Kings, Park, Proving Grounds, Ante-Up, Starting Five, plus the all-new Crew HQ and Casual Corner. One thing to note: Female MyPlayers are a City-only experience. New environments to hoop in The Rec, The Theater, Ante-Up, and Seasonal Parks all feature brand-new environments. Based on community feedback, The Rec now rotates randomly between five unique environments available right at launch: High School Gym Outdoor Court Private Gym Crowded Arena Season-Themed Venue Builder customization & new Badge Tokens The biggest game-changer is the introduction of Badge Tokens, which you’ll use to equip Badges. In the Builder, you can see in real time how your selected size and position affect which Badges you qualify for and how many tokens each Badge will cost. The Builder provides real-time feedback, showing you the exact tokens required as you adjust your attributes.  There are 53 Badges in 2K27, including 19 brand-new Badges built to create a more balanced playing field. Badge synergy Unleash your full potential with the all-new Synergy system, the next evolution of Badges and boosts.  Synergy slots provide a +1 boost, or a massive +2 boost to your Badges. They are broken into two parts: Fuse and Reaction. Fuse Badges receive a permanent +1 or +2 boost for the entire game, pushing that Badge beyond its current tier to maximize its potential, even up to Legend tier.  Reaction Badges are directly paired with Fuse Badges. The effect is triggered automatically once you’ve activated your Fuse Badge a set number of times during a game. Once triggered, the Reaction Badge receives the same +1 or +2 boost for the rest of the game. Exchange without limits For the first time in MyTeam, you can exchange any of your Player Cards (Free Agent cards excluded), even cards earned from Season level rewards, for elite rewards. Every single card you earn, pull, or unlock is a meaningful asset toward building an unstoppable lineup. Even when you complete a Collection for a Collection Reward, cards will now become unauctionable rather than locked in, meaning they can still be used in The Exchange after being used to get a Collection Reward. MyNBA Legacy: Build a 100-Year Dynasty The headline addition to MyNBA in NBA 2K27 is MyNBA Legacy, a single-player, player-locked mode that bridges the gap between running the front office and dominating on the hardwood. Choose any player in the Modern Era, earn experience to upgrade their Attributes and Badges, and create a legend. Whether you’re committed to writing the next century of NBA history, or looking for a casual sandbox experience, MyNBA Legacy has something for everyone. MyCareer Eras For the first time in MyCareer, you can choose to step outside the modern NBA and build your career in one of five historical eras. We took the foundation of MyNBA Eras and brought it directly into MyCareer, allowing you to insert your MyPlayer into the exact moments that defined basketball history. Compete across five iconic eras: The Magic vs. Bird Era The Jordan Era The Kobe Era The LeBron Era The Steph Era Co-op MyCareer We’re bringing a massive community request to life: for the first time ever, you can invite a friend with NBA 2K27 to play co-op multiplayer directly in your MyCareer. This is made possible by your Running Mate, Trace Miller—a custom teammate you meet in the G League who stays with you all the way through your NBA career. When Trace is introduced, you choose one of nine build templates that feature shades of NBA superstars and earn points through gameplay to upgrade his attributes, Badges, and playstyle.  Your co-op partner takes control of Trace exactly as you’ve built him, and you both earn your own separate, full amounts of VC and Season XP.  Trace is the ultimate Running Mate, helping you unlock your full potential on the court. Grab your Crew and hit the courts in The City early by pre-ordering NBA 2K27 Deluxe Edition or Ultra Edition to receive up to 9 days of Early Access*, starting August 26. *Early access begins at 9:00am PT, August 26. Availability may vary by region and time zone. 

Title: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles composer Kumi Tanioka says that she didn't make the new, very likely AI-generated album on her Spotify page Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:14:06 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/final-fantasy-crystal-chronicles-composer-kumi-tanioka-says-that-she-didnt-make-the-new-very-likely-ai-generated-album-on-her-spotify-page Well, here's something that's a bit of a bummer. You'll probably best know Kumi Tanioka as the composer behind Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, though her work can also be found across the likes of Final Fantasy 11, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, and more recently, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book. But lately, it seems like someone's been trying to pass off an entirely AI generated album as her work, much to Tanioka's own confusion. Read more

Title: Hold the throne, NBA 2K27's new MyNBA Legacy mode sounds a lot like basketball Crusader Kings 3 Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2026 14:59:32 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/hold-the-throne-nba-2k27s-new-mynba-legacy-mode-sounds-a-lot-like-basketball-crusader-kings-3 Lo, a new power rose in the East. The warlord Michael of Jordan united the people of Chicago under the crest of the bull, then with his general Scottie of Pippen and the triangular religion of bishop Phil of Jackson, conquered the whole realm. Alas, those feeble heirs who inherited Michael's fiefdom upon his passing into retirement failed to retain all he'd won, and soon kings named Kobe of Bryant and LeBron of James vied for supremacy. This, I assume, is how a playthrough of NBA 2K27's new MyNBA Legacy mode might go, given it seems to have taken cues from Crusader Kings 3's multi-generation dynasty-crafting. Read more

Title: Black Myth: Zhong Kui shows off 15 minutes of rollparrysliceage, and I've just learned that the bloke it's named after was a lethally effective headbanger Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/black-myth-zhong-kui-shows-off-15-minutes-of-rollparrysliceage-and-ive-just-learned-that-the-bloke-its-named-after-was-a-lethally-effective-headbanger Game Science have put out a fresh trailer showing off Black Myth: Zhong Kui, their follow-up to Chinese mythology-stuffed action-RPG Black Myth: Wukong, in action. A year on from its reveal at 2025's Gamescom, Zhong Kui's looking as slicey and rolly as its predecessor, despite a switch in protagonist. Read more

Title: A playable build of GTA 6 appears to have leaked, as Rockstar and Take-Two scramble to take down videos Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2026 11:19:55 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/a-playable-build-of-gta-6-appears-to-have-leaked-as-rockstar-and-take-two-scramble-to-take-down-videos The crypto-peddling hacker group who leaked footage of GTA 6 earlier this week appear to have access to a playable version of Rockstar and Take-Two Interactive's forthcoming open world game, if recent videos are any indication. Read more

Title: All of the pirates in Hooded Horse city builder Corsair Cove hate me because I can't make them eyepatches fast enough Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2026 11:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/all-of-the-pirates-in-hooded-horse-city-builder-corsair-cove-hate-me-because-i-cant-make-them-eyepatches-fast-enough Stories of pirates are full of swashbuckling, daring-do, and grog. But Limbic Entertainment's city builder Corsair Cove reveals those hijinx are only a sideshow: logistics is the star. As the proud owner of a tropical island surrounded by high seas dotted with patrolling Spanish galleons, pirate hunters, and kraken, your focus is squarely on building the infrastructure to support pillaging, rather than taking a firsthand approach to the scallywaggery. To keep your pirate populace happy, initially they'll only need basic food, drink, and shelter. In time, though, they'll start asking for finer things, like leather boots, jolly roger flags, and turtle soup. All of which you'll need to produce by rinsing the resource deposits on your island. Keep them happy, however, and they will set out on the ocean, crewing your vessels, and risking their lives against the threats that circle your enclave. As a fan of the Anno series, the first hours of Corsair Cove were enthralling, but the sheen did begin to rub off after eight hours or so. Right about the time my pirates started to hate me. Read more