Title: 9 Perfectly Ice-Cold Video Games To Help You Survive The Summer Heat Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2026 22:00:07 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/hot-out-play-nice-cold-video-games-2000712347 Frozen, or on the rocks

Title: Hollywood Is Desperate For The Next Backrooms As Studios Buy Up Film Rights To More Creepy Online Media Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2026 21:30:33 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/hollywood-is-desperate-for-the-next-backrooms-2000712351 Movie studios are hoping popular online horror content like The Mandela Catalogue will win young people over

Title: Suicide Squad Devs Open Up About The Game’s Struggles: ‘I Started Feeling Like I Wasn’t Making Games Anymore, I Was Following A Spreadsheet’ Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2026 21:04:29 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/suicide-squad-devs-open-up-about-the-games-struggles-i-started-feeling-like-i-wasnt-making-games-anymore-i-was-following-a-spreadsheet-2000712357 Kill the Justice League's prolonged development proved fatal for creativity

Title: Microsoft Announces New AI Company Days Before Mass Layoffs: ‘A Learning Loop In Which Human Capital And Token Capital Compound’ Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2026 20:30:20 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/microsoft-announces-new-ai-company-days-before-mass-layoffs-a-learning-loop-in-which-human-capital-and-token-capital-compound-2000712342 Read the room

Title: Captain America’s Bulge Won’t Stop Jiggling In His New Marvel Rivals Summer Skin Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2026 20:00:36 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/marvel-rivals-captain-america-summer-skin-physics-2000712337 Steve Rogers got the shield and the hammer

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: Phoebe Bridgers Follows Up RuneScape-Filled Music Video With Her Own Video Game Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2026 21:58:52 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/phoebe-bridgers-follows-up-runescape-filled-music-video-with-her-own-video-game/ Over the past decade, Phoebe Bridgers has firmly established herself as one of the indie singer-songwriter scene's most captivating artists. However, leading up to the release of her third album, Lost Weekend, it seems as if the musician is looking to diversify her portfolio a bit. Days after sharing her RuneScape- and LARP-filled music video for the album's first single, "Lost Boys," Bridgers took to social media to announce her and her team made a "little game" based on the track. https://www.instagram.com/phoebebridgers/p/DaTasaUgYj3/?hl=en Also titled Lost Boys, the game follows the motorcycle-riding elf persona Bridgers assumes in her music video and can currently be played on Bridgers' official website. Like the vast majority of browser games, Lost Boy's gameplay and overarching premise are extremely simple: Press arrow keys to gather coins while avoiding running into goblins, walls of fire, and other obstacles. Its Temple Run-esque gameplay is accompanied by low-poly visuals and a chiptune version of "Lost Boys" that can be downloaded as a ringtone. Upon its release late last week, the "Lost Boys" music video quickly made nerd news thanks to Bridgers' inclusion of footage from Old School RuneScape. About a minute into the video, the classic MMO RPG is shown being played by actor Skyler Gisondo, who you might recognize from his role as Jimmy Olsen in 2025's Superman. With this video, Bridgers' joins the long list of celebrities who publicly appreciate video games, and the very short list of celebrities who have dressed up as an ethereal elf and showcased LARPing in a music video.

Title: It’s Not Too Late To Shop Best Buy’s 4th Of July Sale Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2026 21:54:53 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/its-not-too-late-to-shop-best-buys-4th-of-july-sale/ Miss out on all the Prime Day deals? Fear not--Best Buy is giving you a second chance to cash in on low prices with its annual Fourth of July event. An incredibly long list of items are discounted right now, spanning everything from video games and headsets to prebuilt gaming PCs and iPads. We've sifted through them all, and below you'll find our favorites. Keep in mind that these prices will disappear on July 5, so be sure to carve out some time before the fireworks to see if anything on your wishlist is included. See all deals at Best Buy Video Games There's a pretty impressive list of video games on sale during Best Buy's Fourth of July event. If you haven't yet played Borderlands 4, now is a great time to add the chaotic looter-shooter to your catalog. Best Buy has it for $35 (was $50), and the open-world game offers hundreds of hours of adventure. It's not perfect, but if you're seeking frantic combat or fun cooperative action, it's a good choice at this new price. A bunch of RPGs are seeing nice deals, too, including Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake for $20 (was $40), Octopath Traveler 0 for $35 (was $50), and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for $20 (was $50). If you prefer nightmare-inducing games, Resident Evil Requiem is just $56 (was $70). That's one of the lowest prices we've seen since the game dropped in February. Our review gave it an 8/10, saying it makes a handful of tweaks to the usual formula that result in a big impact on overall playability. Other great discounts include Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 for $30 (was $50) and WWE 2K26 for $45 (was $70). If nothing on our list of favorites catches your eye, consider perusing the full catalog--there's a massive list of games worth checking out. Borderlands 4 (PS5, Xbox) -- $35 ($50) Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake (PS5) -- $20 ($40) Dragon Quest Reimagined (PS5, Xbox, Switch, Switch 2) -- $45 ($70) Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (PS5) -- $20 ($50) Octopath Traveler 0 (Switch, Switch 2) -- $35 ($50) Persona 3 Reload (PS5) -- $20 ($70) Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army (Switch 2) -- $25 ($50) Resident Evil Requiem (PS5, Xbox, Switch 2) -- $56 ($70) Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 (PS5, Xbox, Switch 2) -- $30 ($50) WWE 2K26 (PS5, Xbox, Switch 2) -- $45 ($70) PC Gaming Let's be honest--this isn't the best time to be shopping for a gaming PC. Component prices are soaring due to the ongoing AI frenzy, making PC gaming more expensive than it's ever been. However, Best Buy does have a few good offers for high-end prebuilts, giving you a chance to save over $600. One stand out deal is the Alienware Aurora Desktop for $2,350 (was $3,180). It has plenty of storage, heaps of RAM, and top-tier processors--so while it's expensive, it should be pretty futureproof. There are a bunch of good PC accessories too, with several gaming mice and keyboards from Alienware, Acer, and Asus represented in the Fourth of July sale. If you're an MMO buff seeking a mouse upgrade, the Asus ROG Spatha X Wireless is $114 (was $150). Featuring 12 programmable buttons (many of which are large, easy-to-press side buttons), a magnetic charging stand, and the ROG 19,000 dpi sensor, it's a solid companion for World of Warcraft, The Elder Scrolls Online, and Guild Wars 2. Over on the keyboard side of things, the popular Razer Huntsman V2 TKL Wired Keyboard is $80 (was $150). The lack of a keypad frees up space on your desk for sweeping mouse movements, and Razer made sure to pack the board with its usual assortment of programmable RGB lights. Doubleshot PBT caps provide extra durability, while its 8,000Hz polling rate provides low latency that's overkill for just about every situation you'll encounter. Alienware Aurora Desktop (Intel Core Ultra 9 Series 2 285, 32GB RAM, RTX 5070, 2TB SSD) -- $2,350 ($3,180) MSI Aegis ZS2 Gaming Desktop (Ryzen 9 9900X, 32GB RAM, RTX 5070, 2TB SSD) -- $2,530 ($3,140) Acer Nitro 27-Inch Gaming Monitor -- $160 ($200) Alienware AW620M Optical Gaming Mouse (7-Buttons) -- $70 ($100) Asus ROG Falchion Ace 75% Wired Keyboard -- $160 ($220) Asus ROG Spatha X Wireless Gaming Mouse (12-Buttons) -- $114 ($150) Glorious Model D3 Lightweight Wireless Gaming Mouse -- $100 ($160) Glorious Model O Lightweight Wired Gaming Mouse -- $40 ($50) Razer Huntsman V2 TKL Wired Keyboard -- $80 ($150) Samsung 32-Inch Odyssey G5 Gaming Monitor -- $220 ($350) Gaming Accessories While there aren't any notable deals for first-party controllers like Joy-Con or DualSense, plenty of notable third-party options are cheap. For Switch and PC, the 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller is a popular choice--and that's even more true now that it's $55 (was $70). Along with programmable back buttons and Hall Effect joysticks (to help prevent drifting), it comes bundled with a useful charging dock. For Xbox and PC, the Scuf Valor Pro Wireless Controller is $150 (was $190). This is essentially an alternative to the Elite Series 2, featuring adjustable instant triggers, four programmable back buttons, and TMR thumbsticks (which tend to be even better than Hall Effect). Mobile gamers can pick up the Scuf Nomad Wireless Mobile Gaming Controller (iOS) for $40 (was $70). If you find yourself playing intense mobile games on the road (such as Guild Wars Reforged or Diablo Immortal), check it out now that it's cheap. It sits on both sides of your phone, turning it into something akin to a Nintendo Switch. Hall Effect sticks and customizable rear paddles make it a pretty durable and versatile choice under $50. As for headsets, there's a wealth of options to choose from. This includes the affordable Turtle Beach Atlas 200 Wired Headset for $55 (was $70), all the way up to the premium Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 Wireless Headset for $150 (was $200). 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller (Switch, PC) -- $55 ($70) Elgato Game Capture Neo -- $110 ($130) Scuf Nomad Wireless Mobile Gaming Controller (iOS) -- $40 ($70) Scuf Valor Pro Wireless Controller (Xbox, PC) -- $150 ($190) SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Headset (PS5, Switch, PC) -- $250 ($380) Turtle Beach Atlas 200 Wired Headset (PS5, Xbox, PC) -- $55 ($70) Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 3 Wireless Headset (PS5, PC, Mobile) -- $90 ($110) Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 Wireless Headset (PS5, PC, Mobile) -- $150 ($200) Apple If you've ever been shopping for an Apple product, you know they rarely go on sale. So while most of the current price cuts at Best Buy are around $50, they're nothing to scoff at. iPads are the big deal of this sale, with a variety of models and colors seeing nice discounts. Consider picking up the iPad Pro 13-Inch (M5 Chip, 512GB, WiFi) while it's $100 under MSRP, or the more affordable iPad 11-Inch (A16, 128GB, WiFi + Cellular) for $579 (was $599). We've only listed a handful of models below, but there are dozens of configurations getting deals at Best Buy for the Fourth of July. There's also a nice discount on Apple AirPods Max 2, which are $499 (was $549). These were a bit cheaper on Prime Day, but a discount is a discount. Apple AirPods Max 2 -- $499 ($549) iPad Pro 11-Inch (M5 Chip, 256GB, WiFi) -- $1,149 ($1,199) iPad Pro 13-Inch (M5 Chip, 512GB, WiFi) -- $1,599 ($1,699) iPad 11-Inch (A16, 128GB, WiFi + Cellular) -- $579 ($599) More Deals And Preorders Hundreds Of 4K Blu-Rays Are On Sale For Prime Day, Some Up To 60% Off Save Up To 70% Off Video Games And Hardware In Woot’s Summer of Gaming Sale Meta Quest 3S Drops To Its Lowest Prince In Months Thanks To Pime Day This Deals Returns To A Simpler Time When The Xbox Series X Was Less Than $600 This PlayStation Portal Deal Bundles Accessories And Free Cash (Sort Of) Snag The First Six Dune Books For Over 50% Off Before Dune: Part Three Hits Theaters mClassic Graphics Upscaler For Retro Game Consoles Is Over 60% Off For Amazon Prime Day This Prime Day Deal Is For Anyone Traveling With A Switch 2 This Summer Prime Day PS5 Deals Include Big Discounts On Elden Ring, Dragon Quest, And More Best Buy’s Tech Fest Discounts Rival Amazon’s Prime Day Amazon Prime Day 2026: The Best Elgato Deals For Streamers, Gamers, And Podcasters Amazon Prime Day: Nintendo Switch 2 Games Are Up To 60% Off For A Limited Time If You Act Fast, You Can Grab Pokemon Legends: Z-A On Switch 2 For $45 The Best (And Most Affordable) Family Gaming Console Is Now Even Cheaper One Of Our Favorite Switch 2 Controllers Is 31% Off For Prime Day More Deals And Preorders Links (10)

Title: Best Uniforms In College Football 27 Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2026 19:28:46 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/best-uniforms-in-college-football-27/ Whether you want to admit it or not, uniforms can play a significant role in selecting a team for a particular game mode in College Football 27. After all, you're going to be staring at whatever uniform you select for the duration of games and perhaps across many seasons, so you might as well enjoy what you're looking at. As always, there are several uniform options for every school in College Football 27. While some schools have far more choices than others, you'll usually find at least four or five uniform combinations regardless of who you're using. If you're stuck in an endless loop trying to find the best uniforms across 100+ teams, though, you might be at the menu screen for a while. Fortunately, we've compiled a list of the best uniforms in CFB 27, and you can see them in action below. The list is in no particular order. New Mexico Lobos - Current Alternate A school can either completely mess up its identity or hit the nail square on the head when it comes to changing around its base color scheme. Suffice to say, New Mexico absolutely nailed it with their Current Alternate uniforms in CFB 27. Instead of the standard black and red colors of the traditional uniforms, the Lobos are decked out in a turquoise jersey with red and white stripes. Paired with white pants and a striped helmet, these uniforms look fantastic on the field and actually give you a reason to play as New Mexico. UTEP Miners - Current Throwback We have another uniform that bucks the current color scheme for a school. However, in UTEP's case, their Current Throwback uniforms call back to the 1980s, when the team donned orange and light blue instead of navy blue. The helmets of these uniforms also have a fantastic throwback logo, replacing the current UTEP script logos. With pants to match and "UTEP" firmly over the front of the jersey, these go great with an already stacked UTEP uniform wardrobe. Minnesota Golden Gophers - Current Away Option Minnesota is a highly underrated school when it comes to uniforms. The Golden Gophers have a variety of color combinations and alternate options, but our favorite is the Current Away Option uniform. This uses a golden chrome helmet that features the large maroon "M" logo on one side and a massive gopher logo on the other. The base jersey and pants aren't anything out of the ordinary for Minnesota, but they go terrifically with the helmet. Oregon Ducks - Shoe Duck Alternate You knew it was coming; it was inevitable. Oregon continues to have the best lineup of uniforms in college football, and CFB 27 is no different. While there are a number of uniforms we could have selected, we've gone with the Shoe Duck Alternate that was introduced in 2025. Aside from looking amazing, this uniform hints at the rich history of how Oregon and Nike's relationship started as a cherry on top. The alternate duck logo on the side of the jersey, the marble numbers and helmet, and the golden wings on the uniform make this one of CFB 27's best. Kansas Jayhawks - Current 2nd Alternate There's just something about that Kansas logo that makes any of its uniforms feel classic, but the Current 2nd Alternate option takes the cake for us. Of course, you have the iconic Jayhawk logo on the helmet, but the rest of the uniform is bright red. Kansas' uniforms all have great lettering and numbers, but this jersey takes things to a new level with the words "Rock Chalk" written in between the shoulder stripes. It's an all-around great look that pops on any field you play on in CFB 27. Louisville Cardinals - Iron Wings Alternate Louisville is a team with an almost Oregon-level amount of uniform options. The school has a slew of alternate jerseys that all look terrific, but we're going with the Iron Wings Alternate. This uniform incorporates "The Ville" nickname on the front of the jersey, which is completely gray, along with the pants. Meanwhile, the helmet is bright red with an alternate Cardinals logo on it. You could sub that helmet out for one of Louisville's black helmets to match The Ville's lettering, but the red does look good with the socks and undershirts on the players. Florida International Panthers - 2024 Vice Alternate Finally, we're rounding out the list with the Florida International Panthers. If you've never played as this school in College Football games, it's likely because they've been so poor in recent years. While this makes them a prime Dynasty rebuild candidate in CFB 27, the Panthers make up for their deficits on the field with some outstanding uniforms. Most notable are their Vice uniforms, of which they have three. However, our favorites are the 2024 Vice Alternate uniforms, which incorporate the classic pink and blue colors of Miami Vice. You'll also find palm tree outlines on the uniform as well as a custom helmet with "Vice U" written across it. The uniform is one of the flashiest in the country, hands down.

Title: $2.50 Steam Sale Has Everyone Smashing The Surveillance State Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2026 19:15:43 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/2-50-steam-sale-has-everyone-smashing-the-surveillance-state/ One of Ubisoft's most underrated games, Watch Dogs 2, is on a super steep sale on Steam right now. So steep, in fact, that it seems to have inspired a new crop of folks to trawl through the technocratic world of digitized San Francisco to put an end to the surveillance state at a time when we're all under some sort of surveillance IRL. Over on the game's Steam store page, you can pick Watch Dogs 2 for just $2.50 until Thursday, July 9. That's a 95% discount for a game that normally retails for $50. And that's just the base game! If you wanted to grab the DLC--which includes new cars, co-op adventures, outfits, weapons, world missions, and more--then you can snatch up either the Deluxe Edition for $3 or the Gold Edition for $4. Really, no matter how you look at it, this is a steal for the game. Likely as a result of this nearly five-finger discount for a game that launched in November 2016, Watch Dogs 2's player count has soared. According to player tracker SteamDB, over 10,000 people are playing it right now, and it saw a 24-hour peak of over 16,000 people. These numbers are steadily encroaching on Watch Dogs 2's all-time concurrent high of 18,138 players. That's impressive for a nine-year-old game. The game's surging popularity also makes a lot of sense considering the themes it tackles. As the Oakland-native Marcus Holloway, you get racially profiled and wrongfully accused of a high-tech robbery. This incident causes Marcus, an up-and-coming hacker, to join the hacker group DedSec--an Anonymous-esque collective hellbent on dismantling the technocracy ruling Ubisoft's San Francisco Bay Area. Through a series of hijinks, all meant to raise DedSec's clout, you confront the billionaires and the technology that's making life hell for the digital city's population. It's a riveting narrative with a protagonist that's very Black and very fun. There are a lot of debates around whether we're in a surveillance state at the moment. However, given the rampant use of AI, the overreliance on systems that all communicate with one another--think of smart homes--and the infrastructure that makes all of this technology run, it's not hard to conclude that someone could be surveilling you. A cyberattack can occur in which a hacker gains access to, say, your webcam to watch you, making your "private" home much less so. In any event, it makes for good gameplay opportunities In GameSpot's Watch Dogs 2 review, we awarded the game an 8/10, calling it an "effortless mix of covert and action-oriented gameplay [with] a likeable cast that knows how to have fun in their own way." That's exactly what you get when you play Watch Dogs 2, which is one of those games that's hard to put down despite some conflicting narrative decisions. Now's a great time to pick it up, especially if you hate the government surveilling you.

Title: Why Is Sony Killing Discs? It’s “All About Profitability And Control,” Expert Says Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2026 18:22:39 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/why-is-sony-killing-discs-its-all-about-profitability-and-control-expert-says/ Sony recently announced that it will stop supporting PlayStation game discs in January 2028. Even though Sony continues to sell many millions of discs, the share of digital game sales continues to rise as physical falls, and Sony cited this shift as the reason why it's going all-digital in the future. Now, Alinea Analytics analyst Rhys Elliott has weighed in with his thoughts on the matter, saying there is more to the story, and it's not necessarily a consumer-friendly decision. "This is all about control," Elliott wrote. He pointed out that physical game discs hold value for a company like Sony only until they're sold--rentals and resales of the same disc do not put any more money into Sony's pockets. "Every resale and rental is value flowing to players and retailers instead of to the platform. Without discs, that converts into a fresh full-price digital sale or it doesn't happen at all, and both outcomes obviously suit Sony better than a thriving second-hand market," he said. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FatSqS3VYY Elliott went on to say that physical retail pricing is "elastic" and is based on supply and demand. This leads to an environment where pre-owned games are regularly sold for less than what Sony charges itself on digital stores. In killing discs, gamers on the fence about buying a game can no longer "just wait and buy it used," Elliott said. "This move is all about profitability and control for PlayStation, at the expense of consumer choice," he said. On the more positive side, Elliott said developers stand to gain from the shift away from discs. Developers need to submit "gold master" copies of their new releases for certification, and this can happen about three months before launch. "On paper, that means a finished, cert-ready build of a game a quarter of a year before anyone's meant to play it," he said. "The reality is that already-stressed devs throw together a rough, held-together-with-tape build whose job is to survive cert, get it stamped, and then actually ship the game via a mandatory day-one patch." "Assembling those builds pulls the team's attention onto cert box-ticking tasks that should come after the core development, like controller-disconnect handling, storefront compliance, edge-case plumbing, and all that," he said. "Polish can be the difference between a clean release and a rocky one, so technically a digital-only title can punt the 'final' build much closer to launch.For a studio up against the wall (read: all of them…) that flexibility could mean the world. So that’s one silver lining." Elliott also predicted that, should others embrace Sony's all-digital policy, then times might get even tougher for brick-and-mortar retailers. Rockstar's GTA 6 will be sold at physical retailers, but players are getting a code in the box, not a game disc. "A code-in-box has none of the things that made physical worth choosing: no resale value, no lending, less collectability. The physical channel has no reason to exist, so it's the end for most dedicated games retailers. The nail in the coffin," he said. It's not just Sony that has reported an increased share of digital games compared to physical games, as Nintendo, Capcom, EA, and others have as well. Many expected Sony's announcement about ending support for PlayStation discs to be bad news for video game retailer GameStop, but the company's smallest business unit today is software.

Title: Dragon Strikers gets surprise season 2 2027 release date by Disney Plus Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2026 22:26:50 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/dragon-striker-season-2-release-date/ Dragon Striker quietly premiered on Disney Plus in June, and it's one of the easiest recommendations I'll make all year. Disney barely marketed the fantasy sports series to its Lilo & Stitch-enamored mainstream audience, but without exaggerating, it deserves to be mentioned alongside the best family animation on television.

Title: Mushuko Tensei season 3 looks like its most devastating season yet Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2026 21:49:45 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/mushuko-tensei-season-3-anime-expo/ Few modern anime have evolved as dramatically as Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation. What began as the story of a deeply flawed man getting a second chance in another world has steadily transformed into an expansive fantasy saga about consequences and growing up, without ever losing sight of the messy humanity at its core.

Title: Amazon Prime members can now stream 2025 superhero hit Dispatch Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2026 20:18:10 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/amazon-gaming-luna-july-2026-dispatch-12-free-games/ Each month, Amazon Prime members get two new batches of games: one to keep, and one to stream via Luna. Its cloud gaming library includes some standout titles, like Control, Hollow Knight, and the Tomb Raider Survivor trilogy. The latest edition is Dispatch, one of the best superhero video games around.

Title: Akira 4K and IMAX rerelease announced for 2026 Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2026 20:07:10 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/akira-rerelease-4k-imax-movie-theaters-date/ If you missed the 4K remaster of Akira in theaters when it debuted in 2020, you have a second shot this summer. Crunchyroll announced Thursday that Katsuhiro Otomo's landmark anime movie will return to theaters — for one day only — in 4K and IMAX format in September.

Title: Xbox upheaval news: Rumors, changes, and cancelled games in 2026 Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2026 19:38:47 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/xbox-layoffs-cancellations-studio-closures/ The last several months have been a roller coaster for Xbox. Microsoft's gaming division saw a major leadership turnover back in February, with CEO Phil Spencer abruptly leaving the company along with his heir apparent Sarah Bond. Incoming CEO Asha Sharma and chief content officer Matt Booty moved quickly to reestablish trust in the flagging brand. They ditched the unpopular and confusing "This is an Xbox" advertising campaign. They cut prices on Xbox Game Pass after a 50% price hike sparked an exodus from the service. They reaffirmed that new high-end hardware was in the works, in the form of Project Helix. They boldly declared that their organization would no longer be called "Microsoft Gaming" (nerdish, uncool) and instead adopt an all-caps XBOX (shouty, uncool in a different way). Xbox hosted a barnstorming summer showcase on June 7, and gave away hundreds of translucent green Series X consoles to fans who attended live.

Title: The Ultimate Summer Sale Pairing: Steam Sale Meets GeForce NOW Discounts Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2026 13:00:34 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-steam-summer-sale-2026/ Summer savings are heating up. From the Steam Summer Sale to GeForce NOW membership discounts, this week’s GFN Thursday delivers double the deals and more ways to get the most value from cloud gaming. Plus, Dark Scrolls joins the growing Devolver lineup, alongside Square Enix’s The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales. They lead the charge for six new games joining the GeForce NOW library this week. Steam Dreams Are Made of These Add to cart, not to storage. The Steam Summer Sale is here, bringing discounts across thousands of PC games as one of the year’s biggest opportunities to grow a gaming library. Supported Steam games can be streamed across devices with GeForce NOW, making it easy to buy a game once, keep progress synced and pick up where the gameplay left off on PCs, Macs, handheld devices, phones, TVs and more. In other words, the Steam Summer Sale brings the deals; GeForce NOW adds the flexibility.  As new titles expand collections, storage demands and hardware requirements expand with them. GeForce NOW helps remove those barriers by streaming supported games from powerful GeForce RTX servers in the cloud, allowing members to enjoy today’s biggest games on devices they already own. Since downloads and installs are handled in the cloud, games can be added to the cart without being added to storage. Check out the “Sales & Special Offers” row in the GeForce NOW app to discover the discounts today. The Ultimate Upgrade to Level Up for Less The upgrade every game deserves. The deals don’t stop there. Pair GeForce NOW’s summer sale with the Steam Summer Sale to spend less time waiting on downloads, managing storage or needing pricey hardware upgrades — and more time gaming. Get $70 off a 12-month Ultimate membership or $35 off a 12-month Performance membership and experience GeForce RTX-powered gaming in the cloud across devices. The Ultimate membership unlocks GeForce RTX 4080- and 5080-class performance in the cloud with up to 4K resolution, up to 120 frames per second (fps) and advanced technologies like NVIDIA DLSS, ray tracing and NVIDIA Reflex. Dig Into Devolver Written in chaos. Dark Scrolls, the kinetic action roguelite from Devolver Digital, arrives on GeForce NOW with its blend of fast combat, evolving builds and unapologetic chaos. Set in a warped fantasy world that doesn’t take itself too seriously, players battle through shifting arenas packed with enemies, hazards and power-ups that can turn a run from fragile to unstoppable in seconds. Stack abilities, experiment with wild combinations and adapt on the fly as the game constantly raises the stakes — rewarding bold play as much as careful movement. On GeForce NOW, Dark Scrolls is ready the moment players are, streaming across devices with no downloads or setup required. It joins a growing lineup of Devolver Digital titles on the service — Cult of the Lamb, Hotline Miami, Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number, Inscryption, Enter the Gungeon and Ball x Pit — each delivering that distinct mix of style, surprise and controlled chaos, and just a click away with GeForce NOW. A Storybook Across Centuries The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales arrives on GeForce NOW, delivering a charming, narrative-driven adventure filled with mystery and discovery. With a hand-crafted world and a focus on exploration, it blends classic adventure gameplay with modern, character-driven storytelling. Follow Elliot — a curious traveler bound to a mysterious Millennium Core — as he’s pulled across eras in a journey that spans neon skylines, forgotten ruins and quiet villages on the edge of legend. Each era has its own rules and rhythms, with Elliot’s reactions and scribbled journal notes giving the story a warm, personal touch. Stream the cinematic-quality visuals and responsive gameplay with GeForce RTX power in the cloud for Ultimate members. Experience Elliot’s time-twisting journey in sharp detail across supported devices — no high-end rig, patches or paradox prep required. Just jump in and pick up from wherever the last chapter left off. In addition, members can look for the following: Dark Scrolls (New release on Steam, available June 22) SAND: Raiders of Sophie (New release on Steam, available June 22) Deer & Boy (New release on Steam, available June 23) EMPULSE (New release on Steam, available June 24) The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales (Steam) FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves (Steam) Leaving the last word to the Community Corner, one GeForce NOW member recently shared being “so impressed” by GeForce NOW. They gave the service a spin because of affordable pricing and took a lower-end PC from 20-30 fps on low settings to 60+ fps with settings maxed out — really putting the WoW in their World of Warcraft.  What are you planning to play this weekend? Maybe even more importantly, what device are you planning to play on? Let us know on X or in the comments below.

Title: Sync and Stream: GeForce NOW Connects to Members’ Game Libraries Across Devices Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2026 13:00:32 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-game-stores/ Play favorite titles from popular game libraries, keep progress synced and jump back into gaming sessions on virtually any device. That’s the power of GeForce NOW cloud gaming. From providing access to members’ favorite game libraries to offering some of the season’s best membership pricing, GeForce NOW is making it easier than ever to get more from the cloud this summer. Plus, check out the seven new games arriving in the GeForce NOW library this week. Hit Play Across Top Game Stores That’s a whole lotta ways to play. Whether it’s blockbuster franchises, competitive shooters, sprawling role-playing games (RPGs) or indie gems, GeForce NOW supports thousands of games from leading PC game stores, making it easy to bring existing game libraries to the cloud. Connect supported game store accounts and stream titles with GeForce RTX power. Games that include cloud-save functionality help keep progress intact across devices. Start a game on one screen, pick up where playtime left off on another and spend less time managing installs and storage space. Jump into fan favorites like Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt streaming through GOG. These sci-fi and fantasy favorites support cloud saves, making it easy to continue where play left off. GOG single sign-on and game library syncing — coming this summer — will make that process even smoother. Explore ancient mysteries in the Assassin’s Creed franchise or team up for tactical action in Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege through Ubisoft+, delivering iconic worlds and competitive experiences to the cloud.  Whether joining massive, all-in combat in Battlefield 6 or shaping the fate of Thedas with compelling companions in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the EA app offers action-packed experiences and beloved RPGs. Find them in the GeForce NOW app by simply searching and filtering by store. Choose the Screen, Keep the Adventure Gaming doesn’t always happen at a desk — community members are sharing how GeForce NOW lets them play across their favorite devices. GeForce NOW Ambassador and cloud gaming creator Anytime Anywhere Gaming recently showcased Dead as Disco — a PC title without a native mobile version — running on an iPhone through the cloud. As he put it: “One of the coolest benefits of GeForce NOW is I can take the same copy of the game I own on Steam and carry it to my iPhone … it’s super awesome being able to play a game on a multitude of devices without having to buy it again.” That flexibility extends beyond mobile. One GeForce NOW member on Reddit shared being “blown away” by the experience of playing on Mac through the cloud, highlighting how GeForce RTX-powered gaming can be enjoyed across devices, no upgrades required. Whether via phone on the go, on a MacBook between work meetings or on a TV in the living room, GeForce NOW helps make PC gaming accessible across nearly every screen. Upgrade and Unlock More This Summer Summer lovin’, havin’ a sale. For a limited time, annual memberships are available at the best prices of the year: $35 off a 12-month Performance membership $70 off a 12-month Ultimate membership Performance memberships deliver high-quality cloud gaming across devices, while Ultimate unlocks GeForce RTX 5080-class performance in the cloud with up to 5K resolution, up to 120 frames per second and advanced technologies like NVIDIA DLSS, ray tracing and NVIDIA Reflex. Pair these special prices with thousands of supported games across top PC game stores. Plus, with GeForce NOW, spend less time downloading, upgrading hardware and managing storage — and more time gaming. New on the Cloud  In addition, members can look for the following: Embers of the Uncrowned Demo (New release on Steam, available June 13) Pro Cycling Manager 26 (New release on Steam, available June 15) Aphelion (Steam) Citizen Sleeper (Epic Game Store, free from June 18-25) Megastore Simulator (Steam) OPERATOR (Steam) Super Meat Boy 3D (Xbox, available on Game Pass) What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below.

Title: Save Big and Play Bigger: GeForce NOW Summer Sale Brings Major Membership Savings Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2026 13:00:17 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-summer-sale-2026/ The GeForce NOW summer sale kicked off today with limited-time savings of up to $70 off a 12-month membership, making now the perfect time to upgrade to get the best of the cloud and see just how far Ultimate gaming can go. PC gamers are driven by one thing: the love of the game. But getting there can be complicated — setups take space, hardware takes planning and downloads take time. GeForce NOW removes the barriers and delivers instant access to games, high-performance GeForce RTX power in the cloud and the ability to play across nearly any device — all with one membership. Regular upgrades and new features continue to expand the experience, building the value of that membership over time.  Plus, GeForce NOW is always delivering new games — including epic adventures across Tyria. Guild Wars 3 is coming to GeForce NOW, bringing its next-generation massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) experience to the cloud at launch. While awaiting its arrival, the journey begins today with Guild Wars 2 and Guild Wars Reforged, along with limited-time exclusive rewards. Instantly Elevate Every Device PC gaming demands more from players than ever. Bigger game files and more frequent updates can turn the urge to play into a long list of to-dos. GeForce NOW streamlines that experience. Installs, patches and updates are handled in the cloud, so games are ready to launch in just a click. Time that would’ve been spent waiting on progress bars can go back into playtime, making it easier to fit gaming into quick breaks on busy days. High-performance NVIDIA GPUs in the cloud means access to always-ready GeForce RTX performance without having to purchase new hardware. Members can tap into powerful servers that meet rising game requirements and keep pace with today’s games. And memberships continue to improve with platform upgrades — like the free Ultimate upgrade to the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture — extending their value, as well as the life of gamers’ devices, over time. All of the gaming. Laptops, phones, tablets and TVs — devices most gamers have at home and already use for school, work and everyday life — can all act as gaming screens. Streaming means not having to worry about hard drive space for installs and updates, or needing the latest devices.  Level up playing on Linux. These benefits are reinforced by continuous quality-of-life improvements like smoother sign-ins, new platforms — like Linux and Amazon Fire TV — and refinements that make it faster and easier to get into a gaming session. Together, these benefits make GeForce NOW the easiest way to enjoy PC gaming both instantly and over time, while keeping the focus on what matters most to gamers: getting into the game. The Biggest Gaming Upgrade, the Best Price of the Year Sale-ing into summer with huge savings. For a limited time this summer, GeForce NOW memberships are available at some of the year’s best pricing — with major savings on 12-month memberships: $35 off a 12-month Performance membership $70 off a 12-month Ultimate membership The Performance membership delivers smooth, high-quality cloud gaming across devices, with streaming up to 1080p at 60 frames per second (fps) and access to RTX-powered servers for supported games. The Ultimate membership steps things up with RTX 4080‑ or 5080‑class performance in the cloud, supporting up to 4K and beyond on ultrawide displays, up to 120 fps, and advanced features like ray tracing, NVIDIA DLSS and NVIDIA Reflex for a more responsive, visually rich experience. These limited-time discounts won’t last long — beat the heat and jump into GeForce NOW.  A New Legend Rises One of the best things about the cloud is that every week, new games become available to stream — including new AAA games at launch and the latest content and rewards.  The land of Orr awaits. Guild Wars 3 marks the next adventure in Tyria — an action-adventure MMORPG where fluid combat, deep character building and a living world of magic and mystery shape every journey. Alliances are forged, spirits awaken and every step forward leaves a lasting mark on an untamed frontier. Be among the first to raise the banner. Gamers can add Guild Wars 3 to their wishlist today and stay up to date on every reveal as it marches toward launch. While the next chapter in Tyria prepares to unfold, its legacy is ready to be played today. Return to adventure in Guild Wars 2 and Guild Wars Reforged, and unlock exclusive in-game rewards for a limited time — available for GeForce NOW Premium members today through Saturday, July 11, and free to all members beginning Friday, June 12. Be on the lookout for an email with codes to redeem.  In Guild Wars 2, the “Masterpiece Emote Tome” turns every victory into a moment of flair — a chef’s kiss to triumph. Start playing by applying the code through an ArenaNet account or during account creation, then log in to access the emote. In Guild Wars Reforged, the “Vision of Lyssa” costume brings elegance and illusion to life and includes an account upgrade. Inspired by the twin goddess, this striking ensemble can be worn over any armor. Redeem by adding the code in game, then visit a Costume Maker NPC to claim the reward. But Wait, There’s More Duet Night Abyss from Hero Games makes a splash on GeForce NOW, plunging players into a submerged world where survival is shared. Control a synchronized duo tethered by fragile oxygen lines, navigate glowing reefs, drowned ruins and shadowy chasms where every move demands trust and timing. The game’s moody visuals and tense, cooperative focus give each dive the feel of a playable deep-sea thriller. GeForce NOW is kicking off a new Community Corner for the summer, spotlighting stories and creations from members across the globe. This week, a community story takes the spotlight as a Linux gamer on Reddit shares how GFN has helped them with accessibility gaming, saving storage space on massive titles and minimizing upgrades. In addition, members can look for the following: NBA THE RUN (New release on Steam, available on June 9) Witchspire (New release on Steam, available on June 10) SpaceCraft (New release on Steam, available on June 11) Duet Night Abyss (Launcher) DOOM Eternal (Epic Games Store) The Elder Scrolls Online (Xbox, available on Game Pass) Farever (Steam) World of Tanks: HEAT (Wargaming) Finally, Pro Cycling Manager 26 is now scheduled to launch on Monday, June 15, and Denshattack! is now expected to launch on Wednesday, July 15.  What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below.

Title: NVIDIA, KRAFTON, NC and Reigning ‘League of Legends’ Champions T1 Celebrate RTX Spark at Korea’s PC Bangs Date: Sun, 07 Jun 2026 07:00:15 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/krafton-nc-t1-korea-gaming-pc-bang-rtx-spark/ At GTC Taipei at COMPUTEX last week, NVIDIA unveiled RTX Spark, the superchip that reinvents Windows PCs for the era of personal AI agents. On the heels of this announcement, NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang headed to South Korea, where he introduced RTX Spark to the nation’s passionate gaming community. Leading game developers — including Korea’s KRAFTON and NC — are already working to bring their titles to RTX Spark-powered systems.  Designed for local AI, creating and gaming, RTX Spark brings together 30 years of NVIDIA innovation to slim Windows laptops with all-day battery life and small, ultraefficient desktop PCs.  With the superchip, gamers can play AAA games at 1440p resolution and over 100 frames per second with NVIDIA ray tracing, DLSS and Reflex technologies. In addition, RTX Spark supports all NVIDIA RTX technologies, including the recently announced DLSS 4.5 Ray Reconstruction, which features a second-generation transformer model for realistic image quality.  RTX Spark Ignites Korea’s Gaming Community Korea has played a major role in spearheading esports and driving the boom in PC bangs, or internet and gaming cafes. With longstanding collaborations rooted in the country, NVIDIA in October celebrated 25 years of GeForce in Korea with a free festival for gamers, highlighting the rich gaming ecosystem that has been built over decades.    On Friday, Huang headed to T1 Base Camp — a PC bang owned by T1, one of Korea’s top esports teams. There, he met with T1’s reigning League of Legends World Champion team, including six-time World Champion Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok to unveil RTX Spark.  NVIDIA and Riot Games — developer of League of Legends — are collaborating to bring the title as well as VALORANT to RTX Spark, expanding gamers’ access to high-performance gaming on slim laptops.  To mark the occasion, T1 Base Camp attendees had the chance to win RTX Spark laptops, League of Legends and T1 merch signed by Huang and Faker, as well as GeForce RTX 5090 GPUs.  Surprising PC-Bang Gamers  Later, Huang headed to Seoul’s Gangnam district, where he surprised PC-bang gamers with a first look at RTX Spark with KRAFTON and NC.  At the first stop, Optimum Zone PC, Huang and KRAFTON Chairman Byung-gyu Chang showcased PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS and Subnautica 2 on RTX Spark to a captivated crowd of gamers.  Gamers then got the surprise chance to play with the unreleased PUBG Ally, a co-playable character built with NVIDIA ACE technologies on RTX Spark laptops. PUBG Ally resulted from AI research and development at KRAFTON and NVIDIA, part of an initiative to create next-generation game characters that act like teammates and enable more meaningful, immersive engagements with players. Next, Huang stopped at another PC bang, Portal PC, where he showcased NC’s CINDER CITY and AION 2 on RTX Spark, with support from Taekjin Kim, co-CEO of NC.  NC and NVIDIA began working together in the early 2000s on the Lineage franchise and have since collaborated to integrate RTX technology into many of NC’s flagship games, including Lineage 2, AION, Blade & Soul, AION 2 and CINDER CITY.  Gamers at Portal PC were given the chance to play a demo of NC’s highly anticipated open-world massively multiplayer online tactical shooter CINDER CITY on GeForce RTX-powered PCs.   CINDER CITY will support the DLSS 4.5 Dynamic Multi Frame Generation and Super Resolution features at launch. Plus, gamers will be able to experience the title on slim RTX Spark laptops and compact desktops when the game is released later this year.  In addition to KRAFTON, NC, and Riot Games, 100+ Windows software providers and game developers are embracing RTX Spark. These partners include NetEase, Remedy Entertainment and XBOX.  Learn more about RTX Spark and its launch partners.

Title: Forecast: Fun Ahead — 18 Games Join in June to Stream on GeForce NOW Date: Thu, 04 Jun 2026 13:00:27 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-june-2026-games-list/ June’s forecast with GeForce NOW: 100% chance of gaming. GeForce NOW is lining up new adventures for the month, from big-name blockbusters to quirky indies ready for the spotlight. Members can dive into fresh worlds, squad up in new playlists and discover “just one more run” favorites — all streaming from the cloud, no downloads or upgrades required.  Eighteen games are coming this month, starting with the 10 games arriving this week with the highly requested Neverness to Everness.  A World Beyond City limits end where reality bends. Step into a surreal, supernatural open world in NTE: Neverness to Everness from Hota Studio. Reality bends, streets twist into impossible angles and the uncanny waits around every corner. Play as an anomaly hunter drawn into a strange metropolis alive with anomalies, cosmic oddities and dreamlike encounters. Explore the city’s districts at street level or from impossible heights, uncovering secrets, side stories and hidden paths woven through the tangled skyline. Combat and exploration blend together as players move between quiet, eerie spaces and sudden bursts of action.  Every alleyway and rooftop hides something strange and new, from bizarre characters to otherworldly phenomena that reshape the environment in unexpected ways. Streaming with GeForce NOW lets the game’s distinctive art direction and atmospheric lighting shine, keeping the city’s moody glow, deep shadows and supernatural effects crisp and sharp.  Whether wandering its streets on a big screen or checking in from a laptop, NTE: Neverness to Everness stays fluid and immersive — powered by the cloud. June Games Juicing Up the Cloud A legend returns. Return to the Valley of Mines in Gothic 1 Remake, a faithful rebuild of the original experience that expands the world with more detailed questlines, additional nonplayer character routines and reactions, new traversal abilities and a fully modernized combat system. Step into the role of the Nameless Hero and explore a dangerous prison colony filled with rival factions, ancient magic, deadly creatures and choices that shape the journey ahead.  Whether revisiting a classic or discovering it for the first time, GeForce NOW makes it easy to jump into the adventure instantly across nearly any device, no downloads required. Check out what all is available this week: Jurassic World Evolution 3 (New release on Xbox, available on Game Pass) Fatekeeper (New release on Steam, available June 2) House Flipper Remastered Collection (New release on Steam, available June 4) Pro Cycling Manager 26 (New release on Steam, available June 4) GOALS (New release on Steam, available June 4) Gothic 1 Remake (New release on Steam, available June 5) NTE: Neverness to Everness (Launcher) The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition (Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass) Tomb Raider I-III Remastered (Epic Games Store) XCOM: Enemy Unknown (Steam) And look forward to the games coming throughout the month: STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions (New release on Steam, June 11) SpaceCraft (New release on Steam, June 11) Denshattack! (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass, June 17) The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales (New release on Steam, June 18) Dark Scrolls (New release on Steam, June 22) Monopoly: Star Wars Heroes vs. Villains (New release on Steam and Ubisoft, June 30) Farever (Steam) FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves (Steam)  More From May In addition to the 16 games announced last month, 18 more joined the GeForce NOW library: Alchemy Factory (Steam) Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes (Steam) Blades of Fire (Steam) BeamNG.drive (Epic Games Store) Directive 8020 (Steam) Disco Elysium (Xbox, available on Game Pass) Oddsparks: An Automation Adventure (Epic Games Store) Ostranauts (Steam) Planet Coaster 2 (Epic Games Store) PowerWash Simulator 2 (Xbox, available on Game Pass) Resident Evil Requiem Demo (Steam) Romestead (Steam) SPLITGATE: Arena Reloaded (Xbox, available on Game Pass) Subnautica 2 (Steam, Epic Games Store and Xbox, available on Game Pass) Sunderfolk (Epic Games Store) TerraTech Legion (Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass) Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II (Steam) World of Tanks: HEAT (Steam) What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know X or in the comments below.

Title: Players’ Choice: Vote for June 2026’s best new game Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2026 15:00:04 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/07/02/players-choice-vote-for-june-2026s-best-new-game/ Last month was filled with fighting, sports, and adventure! Some big new releases included The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, Dead or Alive 6 Last Round, and NBA The Run. Which game was your favorite?   How does it work? At the end of every month, PlayStation Blog will open a poll where you can vote for the best new game released that month. After the polls close we will tally your votes, and announce the winner on our social channels and PlayStation.Blog. What is the voting criteria? That’s up to you! If you were only able to recommend one new release to a friend that month, which would it be? Note: re-released games don’t qualify, but remakes do. We define remakes as ambitious, larger-scale rebuilds such as Resident Evil 4 (2023) and Final Fantasy VII Remake. How are nominees decided? The PlayStation Blog editorial team will gather a list of that month’s most noteworthy releases and use it to seed the poll. View Poll

Title: What Dune: Awakening brings to PlayStation 5 Sept 22 Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2026 13:00:18 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/07/02/what-dune-awakening-brings-to-playstation-5-sept-22/ On September 22, Dune: Awakening is coming to PlayStation 5. Dune: Awakening is an open world survival game set on the most legendary planet in the universe: Arrakis. Rise from survival to greatness, as you explore, build, craft, and unravel a cinematic Dune story that asks the mind-bending question: what if Paul Atreides was never born? Dune: Awakening has been available on PC since last year, and during that time we’ve added a ton of content and enhanced core gameplay systems. The game is better than ever, and with its debut on PlayStation 5, we’re adding even more including a full single-player mode. PlayStation gamers will be treated to the best version of Dune: Awakening yet. All the enhancements and additions that we’ve been working on for the past year will be on PlayStation day one. We’ve put together a Developer Deep Dive video exploring what’s coming in the PlayStation 5 version of the game. Check it out: Play Video Optimized for PlayStation 5 The team has spent a lot of time and effort making sure the experience on PlayStation 5 is the best it can be. UI and controls have been tailored to the console experience, and we’ve put a lot of focus on making sure the game is highly optimized for both PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro. On the base PlayStation 5, Performance Mode will run at 60fps with frame-gen. On PlayStation 5 Pro, Performance Mode runs at 60fps without frame-gen. Quality Mode will run at 30fps on both systems. The game runs in upscaled 4K on both PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro, in both Performance and Quality Mode. We’ll provide more specific technical details as we get closer to launch, including an overview of native resolutions. Survival games generally have a reputation for being complex and challenging to learn. With Dune: Awakening, our design philosophy from day one has been to make it a more accessible survival experience. Not less challenging, but less challenging to learn. We’ve implemented systems that teach you the game and ease you into its core elements, and there is also a strong narrative thread that guides you through the journey from survivalist to hero instead of just dropping you in the middle of a literal sandbox. To put it like this: if you’re skeptical about survival games, Dune: Awakening is a great portal for you into the genre! Single-player mode: a game changer The biggest new addition PlayStation 5 gamers can look forward to is the single-player mode. Right now, on PC, the game is exclusively multiplayer and single-player mode is by far one of the top-requested features. Making an inherently multiplayer game work in full single-player has not been an easy task. The team has spent months making sure the experience translates well. It’s not just removing multiplayer functionality; every aspect of the game needs to make sense in a single-player format. For example, in multiplayer, the endgame in Dune: Awakening is built around players competing over specific objectives to make sure their faction – House Atreides or House Harkonnen – gains control over the Landsraad. Controlling the Landsraad gives them the ability to make decisions that can impact gameplay for everyone across the server. In single-player, instead of removing or downscaling this part of the game, we’re instead simulating other players competing for these objectives, making sure it’s still a compelling and engrossing part of the experience. We’re also introducing a wide range of gameplay customization options, allowing you to scale the difficulty to your liking. Want to harvest resources faster or even disable the sandworm? That’s your choice. You can also customize all these options if you choose to rent a private server for you and your friends. The new single-player mode allows you to play the game the way you want to, at your own pace. Available in digital and physical format We’re also excited to share that we’ll be releasing a physical edition of Dune: Awakening. We’re teaming up with Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe who will put the game on shelves in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, and with Solutions 2 GO for North and South America. It will also be released in retail in Japan, with a publisher to be announced later. In Japan, the game is expected to release in October, with pre-orders commencing soon. With the third installment in Denis Villeneuve’s and Legendary Entertainment’s epic Dune franchise coming to theatres in December, the physical edition can be a great holiday gift for Dune fans around the globe. Can you survive on Arrakis? Arrakis is a test that few will survive, and Dune: Awakening represents the ultimate survival fantasy. On September 22 it’s time to prove whether you can survive the most dangerous planet in the universe. Dune: Awakening can be wishlisted and pre-ordered today.

Title: PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for July – Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, For the King II, CrossCode Date: Wed, 01 Jul 2026 15:30:05 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/07/01/playstation-plus-monthly-games-for-july-call-of-duty-modern-warfare-iii-for-the-king-ii-crosscode/ July PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup brings blockbuster thrills, high fantasy adventure and retro-inspired 2D RPG action to all PlayStation Plus members* from Tuesday July 7 until Monday August 3.  Let’s take a closer look at each of the games.  View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III – Cross-Gen Bundle | PS5, PS4 Call of Duty returns with an all-new campaign, modernized versions of classic Multiplayer maps and an open-world PvE Zombies experience. The campaign, a direct sequel to the record-breaking Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, sees Captain Price and Task Force 141 face off against ultranationalist war criminal Vladimir Makarov as he extends his grasp across the world. In Multiplayer, the 16 maps that launched with Modern Warfare 2 in 2009 return with upgraded graphics, new modes and innovative gameplay features. In Modern Warfare Zombies, team up with other squads for the first time ever as you work together to survive in the largest Zombies map yet. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image For the King II | PS5, PS4 Once beloved by her people, Queen Rosomon has turned against her subjects, casting them into servitude in the darkness of Fahrul’s mines whilst building alliances with sinister and malevolent forces. Gather your party in four player co-op or adventure alone through Fahrul as you risk everything to fight the tyrannical queen and bring an end to her oppressive reign. From the creators of For The King, the much-loved RPG that blends roguelite and tabletop gameplay comes a new chapter in Fahrul’s history, designed on an updated engine bringing innovation and gameplay refinement for returning heroes and new adventurers alike. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image CrossCode | PS5, PS4 This retro-inspired 2D action RPG might outright surprise you. CrossCode combines 16-bit style graphics with butter-smooth physics, a fast-paced combat system, and engaging puzzle mechanics, served with a gripping sci-fi story. CrossCode is all about how it plays! Take the best out of two popular genres, find a good balance between them and make a great game. That’s what CrossCode does. You get the puzzles of old school Action Adventure dungeons and are rewarded with the great variety of equipment you know and love from RPGs. During the fast-paced battles you will use the tools you find on your journey to reveal and exploit the enemies’ weaknesses and at the same time will be able to choose equipment and skills for a more in-depth approach in fighting your enemies. *PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup may differ by region. Please check PlayStation Store on release day for more information. 

Title: An update on PlayStation Store for PS3 and PS Vita Date: Wed, 01 Jul 2026 11:58:05 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/07/01/an-update-on-playstation-store-for-ps3-and-ps-vita/ After nearly two decades of supporting the PS3 console generation, we wanted to let you know we will be closing the PlayStation Store on PS3, as well as on PS Vita. PlayStation Store on PS3 will close in select markets starting this year, followed by global closures for PS3 and PS Vita next year. That means new content purchases will no longer be possible once the PlayStation Store closes on these devices. To ease the transition, players will still be able to download previously purchased content after the closing date for the foreseeable future.  As the PlayStation Store continues to evolve to support modern commerce systems, including updated payment processing standards, PS3 and PS Vita are no longer able to support these updates at the level required. As a result, we will need to close PlayStation Store on these devices in the timeframes as follows: Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua – PlayStation Store on PS3 will close starting August 2026. Additional Latin American and Middle Eastern countries – PlayStation Store on PS3 will close starting late 2026. In all other countries, PlayStation Store on PS3 and PS Vita will close in July 2027. We know this news may be disappointing to PS3 and PS Vita players who hold a special place in their hearts for this generation of gaming. PS3 and PS Vita represent an important era in our PlayStation history, so this was not an easy decision for us to make.  As we continue to expand the PlayStation experience on newer devices that most of our users are playing on today, we need to focus more resources on delivering the best gaming experiences on these platforms as we look ahead towards the future.  To our amazing players, we want to give our heartfelt thanks for your ongoing passion and support, which has helped inspire us to shape PlayStation into what it is today. We are excited for the future ahead as we continue to push the boundaries of play. We look forward to having you on this journey with us as we explore new game worlds and new adventures that have yet to come.  For an important update on physical disc production for new games releasing on PlayStation consoles announced today, please click here.

Title: Physical disc production ending in January 2028 for new games releasing on PlayStation consoles  Date: Wed, 01 Jul 2026 11:58:03 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/07/01/physical-disc-production-ending-in-january-2028-for-new-games-releasing-on-playstation-consoles/ As consumer preferences and the broader entertainment industry continue to shift away from physical discs to digital, physical game disc production for all new games releasing on PlayStation consoles will be discontinued starting January 2028.  Following this date, new games will be available on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital formats only. This transition has no impact on games that already released, or will be releasing, prior to January 2028 in disc format.   This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs. This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today.   We’ll continue to prioritize our resources to drive innovation in how players can access games and provide choices as to where players prefer to purchase new games, whether that’s at retailers or PlayStation Store. We remain committed to delivering a world-class gaming experience to our fans and we thank you for your continued support.   For important updates on PlayStation Store for PS3 and PS Vita announced today, please click here.

Title: "I could feel myself coming apart at the seams": Suicide Squad leads on almost leaving the games industry after its failure Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2026 20:26:20 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/i-could-feel-myself-coming-apart-at-the-seams-suicide-squad-leads-on-almost-leaving-the-games-industry-after-its-failure Crikey, remember Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League? That sure was a mess. It was a public mess too, one where there were seemingly some attempts to save the game, but none that could have shifted it away from its inherent flaws. But for the game's co-director Axel Rydby and associate design director Johnny Armstrong, the behind the scenes events were enough to almost turn them off from the games industry entirely. Read more

Title: Ithaca is a road trip RPG about climate resistance and dealing with the hostage you have in your trunk Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2026 19:24:07 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/ithaca-is-a-road-trip-rpg-about-climate-resistance-and-dealing-with-the-hostage-you-have-in-your-trunk The ethical quandaries around car usage aside, we can all agree there's nothing like a road trip, right? When better a time is there to think about every single decision you've ever made in life than on an open stretch of road with only other cars to stop you? It feels like a great setting for a video game, despite there not being very many road trip games. But another one is entering the fray and it's called Ithaca, a "narrative road-trip with RPG elements about environmental resistance." Read more

Title: That's a bummer: Frictional's Soma follow-up Ontos has been delayed into 2027 Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2026 17:07:52 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/thats-a-bummer-frictionals-soma-follow-up-ontos-has-been-delayed-into-2027 To be truthful, these days it's generally surprising when a game isn't delayed these days, whether that be for a month, months, or even a full year. But perhaps in a year like this one, where a certain game that promises to engulf every other game around it like that black hole it truly is is due for release in November, you can't blame a studio opting to delay to get things in ship shape. Which is exactly what Frictional are doing with Ontos, pushing their next game from this year into 2027. Read more

Title: Seoul-set MMO shooter Cinder City halves its RAM requirements, after initial specs listed 64GB of memory Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2026 16:43:30 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/seoul-set-mmo-shooter-cinder-city-halves-its-ram-requirements-after-initial-specs-listed-64gb-of-memory RAMnarök may not be a literal cataclysm, of the kind that smashed Cinder City’s version of Seoul into dirty bits, but it ironic that the upcoming tactical shooter MMO seemingly spent much of the past day oblivious to the fact that there’s a worldwide memory crisis going on. Upon yesterday’s launch of its Steam page, Cinder City declared a set of system requirements that listed 32GB of RAM among the minimum specs – twice what you’d typically see for a modern, well-budgeted 3D game – and a honking 64GB in the recommended specs. I contacted a representative for publishers NC (formerly NCsoft), because, I mean, yeesh, and a day later, and have not received clarification either way. However, as of this afternoon, those recommended specs have silently changed: the GPU requirement rising from a RTX 4060 to an RTX 4070, but RAM dropping from 64GB to somewhat less outrageous 32GB. Read more

Title: The Video Game History Foundation calls on the ESA to offer "meaningful solutions" for preserving digital-only games Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2026 16:11:06 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-video-game-history-foundation-calls-on-the-esa-to-offer-meaningful-solutions-for-preserving-digital-only-games While it's not really all that relevant to us PC lot, you've still probably heard word from Sony "How To Lend Games To Your Friends" PlayStation about them no longer printing new games to discs come 2028. It's awful for a whole host of reasons, and of course the concern of preservation comes at the top of the list. This move from Sony in turn prompted a response from the Video Game History Foundation's Frank Cifaldi, who had some bigger fish to fry than just what Sony are doing in calling on the Entertainment Software Association to help facilitate more "meaningful solutions for archives and museums to legally preserve digital-only content." Read more