Title: Stop Killing Games Joins Lawsuit Against Sony Over Its ‘Total Control Of PlayStation Store Pricing’ Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:53:14 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/stop-killing-games-joins-lawsuit-against-sony-over-its-total-control-of-playstation-store-pricing-2000723377 Both Stop Killing Games and DoesItPlay are lending their support to a lawsuit against the digital 'monopoly'

Title: Chainsmoker Cat Anime Investigated By Japan’s Broadcasting Ethics Watchdog For ‘Illegal Drug Use’ Depictions Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:41:48 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/chainsmoker-cat-anime-investigated-by-japans-broadcasting-ethics-watchdog-for-illegal-drug-use-depictions-2000723427 Japan's BPO youth committee recently took issue with 'a scene of self-injection' which was featured in the new anime

Title: Looks Like The Nintendo Switch 2 Is Getting A Fancy Zelda-themed Special Edition Console And Controller Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:20:05 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/nintendo-switch-2-zelda-special-40th-anniversary-pro-controller-2000723454 Can we please just have more Joy-Con options that don't involve buying a whole console? Please?

Title: The First Official Crossover Between Marvel And Star Wars Is Happening Next Year Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:56:04 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/the-first-official-crossover-between-marvel-and-star-wars-is-happening-next-year-2000723451 Famous heroes, like Captain America, and villains, like Darth Vader, from both franchises will appear in a five-part comic run

Title: It Took Less Than A Week For Someone To Drain All The Water Out Of Pokopia’s New Oceanic Town Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:30:22 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/pokopia-bubbly-basin-drained-water-2000723399 The water is extremely not fine

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: 2011 The Lord Of The Rings Game Gets Surprise Re-Release Today Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:02:56 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/2011-the-lord-of-the-rings-game-gets-surprise-re-release-today/ Out of nowhere, the Embracer-owned Aspyr Media announced and released a new edition of The Lord of the Rings: War in the North today across PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC. The game was originally released in 2011 for PS3, Xbox 360, Switch 2, and PC, but now it's available on the latest generation of consoles for $20 (or $18 through August 25) as part of a "Legacy" edition. The new version features online or local split-screen co-op and "optimized" solo play, though further specifics about the updates and upgrades were not detailed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_gZuaXTDEo War in the North was originally developed by Snowblind Studios, which closed in 2012. The game takes place in Middle-earth, but doesn't adapt the books or movies. It does, however, feature characters and story details from J.R.R. Tolkien's books and Peter Jackson's movie series, following EA's own games that only had the rights to elements of Jackson's movies specifically. The game has three different playable characters: the ranger Eradan, the elf Andriel, and the dwarf Farin. Players can swap between each during battle. The characters have their own unique skills and abilities, and players can upgrade them over time with new weapons and powers. The game also incorporates the franchise's iconic eagles, with players able to call in Beleram to fight. Some of the characters players will meet in the game include Aragon, Gandalf, and Elrond, while the game also takes players to famous Middle-earth locations like Rivendell, Lorien, The Lonely Mountain, and Mirkwood. The Lord of the Rings might be set for a revival for video games, as Embacer--which now owns the rights to the series--has teased a renaissance for The Lord of the Rings games in the future. Kingdom Come developer Warhorse is making a new The Lord of the Rings RPG, while Crystal Dynamics is said to be developing one as well. Both studios are owned by Embracer.

Title: First Switch 2 Special Edition Might Celebrate Zelda’s 40th Anniversary, If Leaks Are Hy-Real Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:55:14 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/first-switch-2-special-edition-might-celebrate-zeldas-40th-anniversary-if-leaks-are-hy-real/ Nintendo might be preparing for a 40th celebration of The Legend of Zelda series, with Switch 2 possibly getting its first special-edition system based on the beloved franchise. A new leak on social media shows a Triforce decked-out Switch 2 dock, with what appears to be black and green Joy-Con 2 controllers decorated with flourishes of gold.  The Centro LEAKS account on X posted two purported pictures of the Zelda-themed Switch 2 and Switch 2 Pro Controllers. Nintendo hasn't released any official statements about a new system or controller--let alone anything about a Zelda 40th-anniversary event. However, it's been common in the past for the company to bring out special Zelda consoles for new games in the franchise, such as the Tears of the Kingdom OLED Switch and Hyrule Edition Switch Lite that launched alongside Echoes of Wisdom.  https://twitter.com/CentroLeaks/status/2087196417433485448 In June, Nintendo did unveil a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time that's set to come out later this year. That said, the leaked images above don't seem to tie into that upcoming game specifically. Instead, the supposed special-edition system and controller seem more similar to the gold Hyrule Edition Switch Lite.  Switch 2 is still outpacing original Switch hardware sales, with over 23 million sold so far. That means Switch 2 has already passed lifetime sales of Wii U and Nintendo GameCube. A couple of months ago, Switch 2 celebrated its first birthday.  Meanwhile, Sony has officially announced a special-edition PS5 Marvel's Wolverine system, along with other products.  Best Zelda Games, Ranked – Where Does Echoes of Wisdom Fall? View Images

Title: Sony’s All-Digital PlayStation Future Needs A Little More Steam Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:00:10 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sonys-all-digital-playstation-future-needs-a-little-more-steam/ There is no stopping Sony's all-digital future for video games. I don't mean to sound pessimistic, but the company's decision to kill off physical game discs in 2028 and effectively turn the PlayStation Store into the only place in town where you can grab a new PS5 title won't be stopped by an endless barrage of memes in the replies section. Like Thanos preparing to snap the universe into a 50% discount on life, it's inevitable. Sony has said as much in recent comments, carefully tiptoeing around the subject with polite, investor-friendly language and stats that seemingly reinforce the plan, as the company said that 82% of games sold during the April-June quarter were digital sales. We've written about the topic, how it's the end of an era, why people are so (justifiably) upset, and the response from some of the biggest names in the industry, but now is the time to look forward and focus those energies where it counts. If Sony wants to increase its profits and sell games in a digital-only format, then it also needs to ensure that the consumer process is safe and fair, because it'll have healthy competition from other platforms. And one way it could do that is by taking a page out of Steam's book, as Valve's digital platform helped usher in an end to physical PC game sales decades before Sony was catching flak for following in those footsteps. Sony needs to protect its customers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FatSqS3VYY&t=30s It's high time that Sony built a game-refund system for the PlayStation Store. The company has been slow to adopt one of the most basic forms of consumer protection, and outside of incredibly rare instances like Cyberpunk 2077 and Concord, you've been out of luck in case you bought a game that working as advertised. That needs to change, and Sony shouldn't just emulate Steam's process for refunds--buy a game, play it for less than two hours, or own it for less than two weeks and you can claim a refund--but improve on its entire storefront as well. One major way that Sony could make using its storefront better would be by focusing on discoverability, because right now, the front page is dominated by a mix of first-party releases, free-to-play games, and upcoming AAA releases. Curation is desperately needed, especially for the smaller developers putting out the kind of in-between content that helps fill the gap between big releases. Sony has made an effort to cut down on slop through its marketplace, sweeping low-effort trophy-farming titles out the door, but it needs to focus on balancing big-name releases with smaller games that deserve to be in the spotlight. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOWq-zO-5t4 This shouldn't be too difficult either, as with all the data it collects on players, having a program that generates recommendations based on your gaming habits should be feasible. Throw in more user-friendly options like a rewards program--RIP PlayStation Stars--kill any plans around dynamic pricing, and you've got the start of a healthy marketplace to herald in the next PlayStation era. A specialized focus and consumers with more investment in the storefront is an easy win for everyone, and if Sony wants to pioneer a digital future for console gamers, then it owes them the best possible experience.

Title: Mortal Kombat 3 Isn’t Off The Table, But Its Director Is Busy With A Very Different Movie Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:38:33 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mortal-kombat-3-isnt-off-the-table-but-its-director-is-busy-with-a-very-different-movie/ The recent Mortal Kombat movies have been hailed for adapting the bloody fighting games to the big screen, but will the duology ever become a trilogy? Simon McQuoid--the director of the two movies--isn't so sure, as he's currently focused on a very different project. When quizzed by The Wrap on the topic of Mortal Kombat 3, McQuoid diplomatically replied that he wasn't sure yet if a threequel would be made, but he was open to the idea. "I think it's still going through its life cycle. So I don’t know yet. I'm not sure," McQuoid said. "I feel like there are other stories that I want to tell that aren't necessarily in Mortal Kombat, and I have multiple things in development, one of which we're just casting now, and that's not Mortal Kombat at all--something that is in the real world and very much a deep dive into a singular character and character study. I'm excited about it. But I never want to close doors. I'm just always trying to open doors." Ludi Lin as Liu Kang in Mortal Kombat 2. The 2021 Mortal Kombat movie directed by McQuoid made $84 million at the global box office, but given that theaters were reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic at the time, the low figure is understandable. The 2026 sequel didn't do much better, bringing in only $129 million during its run. Hollywood movies are typically expected to at least double their production budget when they hit theaters, and with Mortal Kombat 2 reportedly having an $80 million budget, it fell short of that mark. It's worth noting that Mortal Kombat 2 also had a lengthy delay, as it was originally scheduled to launch on October 24, 2025. If a third movie does get greenlit and McQuoid returns to direct, he has hinted at telling different stories set in the Mortal Kombat universe. “That’s both overwhelming and really exciting,” he said earlier this year. “There’s always a, ‘What about that character?’ It never really stops.” While Mortal Kombat 3 looks unlikely for now, you won't have to wait too much longer to see another live-action fighting game adaptation on the silver screen. Street Fighter will be out on October 16, and judging by the recent teaser featuring Jason Momoa's Blanka, it looks like it's going to be wild.

Title: Third Straight Year Of Layoffs Hits Until Dawn, Little Nightmares 3 Dev Supermassive Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:22:45 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/third-straight-year-of-layoffs-hits-until-dawn-little-nightmares-3-dev-supermassive/ Supermassive Games has announced job cuts for "up to 75" people--marking the third straight year of significant layoffs at the studio. This latest round of reductions comes almost three months after the release of Directive 8020, the newest entry in The Dark Pictures horror anthology. In a statement on X, Supermassive noted the firings were "a necessary step to help ensure the sustainability of the company." That's not the first time the Until Dawn developer has cited "sustainability" after layoffs, either. In 2024, there were reportedly 90 employees let go, with up to 150 positions at risk. Supermassive pointed to "continued sustainability of the company" in regard to those cuts. Then, in 2025, there were around 36 people laid off at Supermassive. Nordisk Games acquired Supermassive in 2022 and also owns Just Cause developer Avalanche Studios as well as Metroid Dread developer MercurySteam. In the past year, Avalanche has closed down its Liverpool location, and MercurySteam has enacted a round of job cuts, too, according to GameDeveloper.  Supermassive is probably best known for 2015's Until Dawn, though it wasn't behind the Until Dawn remake. In fact, Sony revealed Until Dawn 2 back in June, developed by Firesprite. Meanwhile, Supermassive took over development duties for Little Nightmares 3, after Tarsier made the first two games in that series.   Supermassive’s Best Movie-Style Horror Games Ranked View Images

Title: Marvel Tokon’s Anime Style Is Great, but Its Lack of Fashion Stinks Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2026 18:00:12 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/marvel-tokon-fighting-souls-costume-color-variety/ Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls has a lot going for it, from its invigorating 4v4 tag fighting to its great story mode full of motion comics. The PC version even seems to be fixed now, after a few days of players struggling to get Marvel Tokon running well. One thing the new Marvel fighter doesn’t have going for it, however, is a wide variety of what makes superheroes so iconic: Their costumes!

Title: 'Overwatch''s Big Battle Pass Changes For Season 4 Have Fans Celebrating Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:33:11 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/overwatch-battle-pass-season-4-changes-fans-celebrating/ Overwatch is having a big year. On top of releasing eight new heroes over the last few months, Blizzard has a new update that will rework this shooter's Battle Pass system to make it more player-friendly.

Title: Fortnite Giving Away Free Skin Ahead of Control Resonant Launch Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:31:05 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/fortnite-control-skin-free-steam/ Remedy Entertainment's Control was released in 2019, and over seven years later, fans are finally getting their hands on a sequel. Control Resonant launches on Sept. 24, 2026. This time around, players take on the role of Dylan Faden, Jesse's brother. Dylan wields a powerful shapeshifting weapon called the Aberrant, and players must master all of its forms in order to excel in combat and survive in Control Resonant's world.

Title: 'The Mighty Nein — Stories Untold' Review: A 10/10 Spin-Off of Critical Role's Best Campaign Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:00:12 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/critical-role-best-campaign-2-spin-off/ For years, Critters have followed the adventures of Critical Role’s adventuring parties Vox Machina, The Mighty Nein, and Bells Hells. These three groups have ventured throughout the world of Exandria to kick butt and steal audiences' hearts… and they’re all out of butt. Those stories have been filled out through Critical Role’s expansion into other forms of storytelling, such as its animated adaptations, comics, and novels.

Title: When Does House of the Dragon Return? Everything We Know About Season 4 Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:49:52 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/house-of-the-dragon-season-4-release-date-plot/ The epic finale of House of the Dragonseason 3 aired on Aug. 9, with HBO’s Game of Thronesspinoff delivering plenty of treachery, dragonfire, and bloodshed. While there were numerous dramatic deaths, the episode left some big questions about the fates of key characters and the future of the Seven Kingdoms. If you can’t wait to find out what happens next, we have answers about House of the Dragon season 4's release date and plot.

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: GeForce NOW Turns Up the Heat With New GeForce RTX 5080-Powered Toronto Server Date: Thu, 09 Jul 2026 13:00:55 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-toronto-expansion/ This GFN Thursday brings more games, more power and more ways to play on GeForce NOW.  The cloud gaming service is expanding with a new GeForce RTX 5080-powered server in Toronto, bringing dedicated high performance in the cloud closer to members across the region. NTE: Neverness to Everness also gets an update in the cloud, making it even easier to jump into the latest content from the supernatural adventure without a single download or more storage space needed. It leads the way for GeForce NOW bringing native touch control to the game, coming soon. There’s even more to explore with three new games joining the GeForce NOW library this week.  Take It to the Next Level in Toronto The forecast is looking cloudy in Canada. A new GeForce RTX 5080-powered GeForce NOW server is coming to Toronto, expanding service in the region and bringing dedicated cloud gaming performance closer to local members. The new server will roll out within days, giving more players access to top-tier cloud gaming across Canada. Ultimate members can stream across PCs, Macs, handhelds, mobile devices, TVs and more with GeForce RTX 5080-class power in the cloud. Enjoy up to 4K resolution and beyond on supported ultrawide displays, up to 120 frames per second, plus NVIDIA DLSS, ray tracing and NVIDIA Reflex technologies.  Bring on the ‘999 Nights’ Reality bends — on any device. Step into the surreal world of NTE: Neverness to Everness with the NTE Version 1.2 “999 Nights” update.  This version introduces a massive gameplay evolution, plunging players into an immersive, tabletop-inspired fantasy role-playing game on the Warren Continent — a new permanent game mode featuring its own dedicated progression system. This narrative and mechanical expansion is elevated by the debut of two powerful characters, Shinku and Iroi, alongside an unprecedented fashion upgrade featuring a sweeping collection of 19 new character outfits. To top it off, exploration gets a high-octane upgrade with Draco, a revolutionary new motorcycle vehicle, making this version an absolute playground for combat strategy, stylish customization and high-speed urban traversal.  Plus, GeForce NOW will soon be rolling out native touch controls to NTE: Neverness to Everness, which will make it even easier to explore the city’s mysteries from supported mobile devices. Look for the game in the GeForce NOW app to seamlessly jump between devices and continue the adventure — no downloads, storage space or expensive additional hardware required. Embark on Expanded Adventures The journey continues in Granblue Fantasy: Relink with the Endless Ragnarok expansion. Known for its dynamic combat, diverse roster of Skyfarers and thrilling online co-op, Relink returns with fresh story content as mysterious beings known as the Ragnalia threaten the Zegagrande Skydom. Strange gateways, powerful new foes — including the mighty Beelzebub — and fresh challenges await across the skies. The expansion also introduces additional ways to play, including summon abilities that add another layer of combat strategy, co-op quest tiers and a solo mode filled with unpredictable encounters. Master traits offer more opportunities to customize favorite characters, giving both longtime Skyfarers and newcomers plenty of reasons to take flight. Jump into the latest action with the following games to play this week: Esports Manager 2026 (New release on Steam, available July 6) Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced (New release on Steam and Ubisoft Connect, available July 9) Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok Demo (Steam) As GeForce NOW continues to expand, so does the community discovering cloud gaming. One new Ultimate member summed up their first impressions: “Finally caved and got GFN Ultimate… and wow.” Another longtime PC gamer shared how GeForce NOW completely changed their perspective after years of skepticism, calling it “a good alternative” for casual players and encouraging others to “try the one month and upgrade to the yearly before the sale ends.” What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below.

Title: First look at Marvel’s Wolverine Limited Edition PS5 Console bundle and accessories  Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2026 14:00:10 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/08/11/first-look-at-marvels-wolverine-limited-edition-ps5-console-bundle-and-accessories/ Last month, the team at Insomniac Games and Marvel Games shared lots of new details and reveals at San Diego Comic-Con for Marvel’s Wolverine. Today, we’re giving a first look at the PS5 Digital Edition – Marvel’s Wolverine Battle Yellow Limited Edition Bundle, which features a PS5 Digital Edition that captures the raw ferocity of Wolverine alongside a matching DualSense wireless controller and a game code for Marvel’s Wolverine. Play Video View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Inspired by Insomniac’s Battle Reborn suit and claws, the PS5 Digital Edition – Marvel’s Wolverine Battle Yellow Limited Edition Bundle will be available globally and channels Logan’s unmistakable intensity through a bold yellow finish. The design brings in Wolverine’s exposed claw marks and lets players peek under the hood of the PS5 Digital Edition and see what’s underneath. The DualSense wireless controller also features furious slashes inspired by his famous claws, giving players a striking way to bring the game into the palm of their hands.  The DualSense Wireless Controller – Marvel’s Wolverine Battle Yellow Limited Edition will also be available for standalone purchase globally. It was important for us to capture the primal energy of Wolverine in this new look for the PS5 console, and it has been fantastic collaborating with Insomniac Games and Marvel Games on the design. We worked alongside Jock, the Scottish graphic artist who contributed to the key art for Marvel’s Wolverine and whose work across comics helped inspire the bold, graphic tone of this limited edition design: “I wanted to show Wolverine at his fiercest for Marvel’s Wolverine Limited Edition PS5 Console bundle and accessories. I still draw all my artwork traditionally, so the opportunity to marry cutting-edge hardware with the energy and looseness of hand-drawn ink is incredibly exciting. I’m stunned by how well the console and accessories captured the raw energy of the drawing, bringing Wolverine to life in a completely unique way. ” – Jock, Graphic Artist “His [Jock] illustrative works have the energy and dynamics needed to capture the kinetic and violent nature of our hero. One whose primary interaction with the world is with unbreakable Adamantium claws. Jock’s illustrations are grounded and raw and perfectly personify Wolverine.” – Marcus Smith, Insomniac Games View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image If you already own a PS5 (model group – slim) or PS5 Pro console, you’ll be able to purchase PS5 and PS5 Pro Console Covers – Marvel’s Wolverine Battle Yellow Limited Edition directly from PlayStation where direct.playstation.com is available* and in limited quantities through select retailers outside of these regions. These console covers include covers for both PS5 consoles with disc drives, and consoles without disc drives. 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 also revealing another special PS5 Pro console cover design for players looking to channel another side of Wolverine. Inspired by the adamantium bonded to Logan’s skeleton and claws, the PS5 Pro Console Covers – Marvel’s Wolverine Adamantium Limited Edition feature the same dramatic claw-slashed details with a premium metallic finish that evoke Wolverine’s raw power and let players peer into the PS5 Pro console. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image A matching DualSense Wireless Controller – Marvel’s Wolverine Adamantium Limited Edition also features the same metallic finish and will be available for separate standalone purchase. You can purchase the Marvel’s Wolverine Adamantium Limited Edition PS5 Pro console covers and DualSense wireless controller design where direct.playstation.com is available* and in limited quantities through select retailers outside of these regions.  Insomniac Games is bringing an all-new original action-packed experience with Marvel’s Wolverine, and we hope you enjoy these designs inspired by the game and character. We can’t wait for players to experience Marvel’s Wolverine on PS5 when it launches beginning September 15, 2026.  View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Marvel’s Wolverine Limited Edition Bundle and Accessories Purchase Information Marvel’s Wolverine PS5 Digital Edition bundle and accessories are available for pre-order starting August 19 at 10 AM local time. The following are available at direct.playstation.com* and through select retailers. PlayStation 5 Digital Edition – Marvel’s Wolverine Battle Yellow Limited Edition Bundle  $649.99 US / £569.99 GBP/ €649.99 EUR / ¥96,980 JPY RRP DualSense Wireless Controller – Marvel’s Wolverine Battle Yellow Limited Edition $84.99 US / £74.99 GBP/ €84.99 EUR / ¥12,480 JPY RRP The following are exclusively available through direct.playstation.com in regions where it is available* and select retailers outside of these regions: PlayStation 5 Console Covers – Battle Yellow Limited Edition $74.99 US / £64.99 GBP / €74.99 EUR / ¥9,980 JPY RRP PlayStation 5 Pro Console Covers – Marvel’s Wolverine Battle Yellow Limited Edition $74.99 US / £64.99 GBP/ €74.99 EUR / ¥9,980 JPY RRP PlayStation 5 Pro Console Covers –Marvel’s Wolverine Adamantium Limited Edition $74.99 US / £64.99 GBP / €74.99 EUR RRP DualSense Wireless Controller – Marvel’s Wolverine Adamantium Limited Edition $84.99 US / £74.99 GBP/ €84.99 EUR RRP Marvel’s Wolverine Limited Edition PS5 Console bundle and accessories will be available beginning September 15 in limited quantities. Check our website for more details. *Regions where direct.playstation.com is available: U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Austria. Visit direct.playstation.com for more details. direct.playstation.com Purchase Information:     Starting August 19, 2026 at 7:00am PT / 10:00am ET in the U.S., and 10:00am local time in the U.K., France, Germany, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, players will be able to pre-order Marvel’s Wolverine PS5 Digital Edition Console bundle and accessories through direct.playstation.com, while supplies last.  When ordering directly from PlayStation, enjoy free launch day delivery for eligible pre-orders. Visit direct.playstation.com for more details. 

Title: No Man’s Sky developer Hello Games celebrates 10-year anniversary Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2026 15:00:33 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/08/10/no-mans-sky-developer-hello-games-celebrates-10-year-anniversary/ I feel surprisingly emotional today. Ten years ago, on 9th August 2016, PlayStation Travellers across the universe set foot on their first alien planet in No Man’s Sky. The first words from their exosuit rang out in their helmet: “Hazard protection active”. Perhaps you were there ten years ago, or perhaps you joined later. All around the universe, other Travellers have woken up on countless other planets, light years apart from each other. They took their first steps on their first planet and brought a new unexplored universe into existence together.Since then, millions of players have made No Man’s Sky their home, built insane bases, built communities, made friends, and created custom ships that look like everything from Spongebob Squarepants to entire Cathedrals. Play Video Over the last decade, the No Man’s Sky players have joined us in another type of journey as we grew, expanded and deepened what No Man’s Sky could be. With now 40 major updates, all free, we have expanded our sandbox universe with base-building, exocraft, settlements, mechs, pets, living ships, expeditions and rebuilt the universe several times over. On PlayStation we introduced support for PSVR, then PS5, and then PSVR2. Allowing players to immerse themselves in the universe in much deeper ways. PlayStation Travellers have been there since the dawn of this new universe; it’s kind of our Big Bang moment! Since then, tens of millions of Travellers have spent hundreds of millions of hours exploring and sharing their discoveries and the universe is more vibrant now than it ever has been. Voyagers released last year saw more players than we’ve had since launch… and still, all these years later players have explored less than 1% of the planets in No Man’s Sky.In a similar way our small team feels we have a lot left to explore in what No Man’s Sky can be. In the background we are busy cooking on our next game Light No Fire, and big things for the future of No Man’s Sky. More will follow!Our journey continues. 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

Title: PlayStation Store: July 2026’s top downloads Date: Mon, 10 Aug 2026 14:00:10 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/08/10/playstation-store-july-2026s-top-downloads/ It’s time to see which PS5, PS4, PS VR2, and free-to-play games topped last month’s download charts. In July, Call of Duty: Black Ops II dominated the charts for PS5 and PS4 in the US and EU. While I Am Cat became the number one PS VR2 game in the US and EU. Check out the full listings below. What titles are you playing this month? PS5 Games US/CanadaEUCall of Duty: Black Ops IICall of Duty: Black Ops IICall of Duty: Black OpsCall of Duty: Black OpsEA Sports College Football 27Assassin’s Creed Black Flag ResyncedAssassin’s Creed Black Flag ResyncedEA Sports FC 26EA Sports FC 26PalworldHalo: Campaign EvolvedMinecraftPalworldHalo: Campaign EvolvedNBA 2K26Escape the BackroomsMinecraftNBA 2K26Escape the Backrooms007 First LightUFC 6UFC 6The Mound: Omen of CthulhuThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt007 First LightIt Takes TwoEchoes of AincradGrand Theft Auto VMLB The Show 26Resident Evil 4Grand Theft Auto VBackrooms: Escape TogetherAvatar Legends: The Fighting GameThe Mound: Omen of CthulhuBattlefield 6Forza Horizon 5Call of Duty: Black Ops 7Gran Turismo 7It Takes TwoBattlefield 6 *Naming of products may differ between regions *Upgrades not included PS4 Games US/CanadaEUCall of Duty: Black Ops IICall of Duty: Black Ops IICall of Duty: Black Ops IIIEA Sports FC 26Batman: Arkham KnightRed Dead Redemption 2Red Dead Redemption 2Batman: Arkham KnightCall of Duty: Black OpsCall of Duty: Black OpsGang BeastsA Way OutCall of Duty: Modern WarfareThe ForestEA Sports FC 26Call of Duty: Modern WarfareThe ForestCall of Duty: Black Ops IIIDestiny – The CollectionAssassin’s Creed OdysseyMortal Kombat XMortal Kombat XNBA 2K26God of WarA Way OutUnravel TwoMinecraftMinecraftGod of WarGang BeastsDevil May Cry HD CollectionThe Last of Us RemasteredDying LightDevil May Cry HD CollectionMiddle-earth: Shadow of WarDying LightBloodborneMiddle-earth: Shadow of WarResident Evil 5Mafia: Trilogy *Naming of products may differ between regions PS VR2 Games* US/CanadaEUI Am CatI Am CatSynapseJob SimulatorBeat SaberCreed: Rise to Glory – Championship EditionJob SimulatorMetro AwakeningThe Walking Dead: Saints & SinnersBeat SaberCreed: Rise to Glory – Championship EditionAlien: Rogue Incursion VRAlien: Rogue Incursion VRHorizon Call of the MountainAmong Us 3D: VRArizona Sunshine VR RemakeZero Caliber VREscape – Backrooms Horror VRArizona Sunshine VR RemakeAmong Us 3D: VR *PlayStation Store purchases only. Game upgrades or games bundled with hardware not included Free to Play (PS5 + PS4) US/CanadaEURobloxFortniteFortniteRobloxMarvel RivalsRocket LeagueRocket LeagueeFootballCall of Duty: WarzoneCall of Duty: WarzoneTom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege – Free AccessFall GuyseFootballValorantApex LegendsAsphalt LegendsFall GuysTom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege – Free AccessAsphalt LegendsStumble Guys

Title: Share of the Week: Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced – Jackdaw Date: Fri, 07 Aug 2026 16:00:18 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/08/07/share-of-the-week-assassins-creed-black-flag-resynced-jackdaw/ Last week, we asked you to share moments about Edward Kenway’s pirate ship, the Jackdaw, using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights: _GenieCrazy_ shares the Jackdaw facing off against a British ship gh_holy_mash shares the Jackdaw sailing into the rising sun WarDragon989 shares a smoky view of the pirate flag waving off the Jackdaw during a battle lucaslu_ckli shares Edward crouched on the ship’s bow Photomode_Raro shares a view of a whale breaching as Edward steers the ship Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme, or be inspired by other great games featuring Photo Mode. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week? THEME: Big WalkSUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on August 12, 2026  Next week, grab some friends and share moments spent puzzling together in Big Walk, available now as a PlayStation Plus Monthly game. Use #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

Title: Celebrate 30 years of Quake with a brand-new episode, available today Date: Thu, 06 Aug 2026 18:15:30 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/08/06/celebrate-30-years-of-quake-with-a-brand-new-episode-available-today/ In 1996, id Software smashed through to another dimension – in one sense of the word, pioneering first-person shooters in the third dimension with the release of Quake, and in another, hurtling players feet-first into Quake’s otherworldly realm – a place beyond our reality where kinetic combat and a moody eldritch setting took FPS players to new heights. 30 years later, Quake has inspired countless hours played and frags tallied locally or online in Deathmatch, not to mention real-world connections and a major role in the rise of FPS esports with QuakeCon, North America’s largest LAN party (also celebrating the big 3-0 this year!). To ring in the 30th anniversary of Quake, just in time for the 30th anniversary of QuakeCon, MachineGames, in collaboration with id Software, return to bring you a brand-new episode for the iconic FPS: Play Video Available today as a free update for Quake on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, Dawn of the Machine features a full 19-map campaign accompanied by a brand-new soundtrack and Deathmatch map.  Dawn of the Machine is a celebration of Quake’s history and influence on the developers at MachineGames and id Software. Following the team’s work on Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants DLC, Lead Level Designer Andrew Yoder at MachineGames approached the studio’s Game Director Jerk Gusfafsson about an expansion for Quake. Gustafsson, Yoder and the rest of the team that worked on similar projects – dubbed internally as Quake Club – set forth three major goals for what would become Dawn of the Machine. First and foremost, of course, was celebrating Quake’s 30th anniversary. “We wanted to create something that felt authentic to the spirit of the original game: Horror! Action! Madness!” says Yoder. As such, players will face deadly twists on familiar entries from Quake bestiary such as the Rocket Ogre, Demo Dog, and Blood Shambler, rising to the challenge with new weapon variants like ricochet-blasting Laser Cannon and the lightning-infused Super Axe for classic, fast-paced Quake carnage. The second goal the team pursued was giving veteran Quake players a new experience. Previous Quake episodes released by MachineGames alongside id Software, such as Call of the Machine and Dimension of the Machine, featured a traditional hub structure which reset the player’s progression between major areas. Instead, Dawn of the Machine has players battle through a continuous episode with continuous progression, which according to Yoder provided the team with “a challenge, requiring much more coordination and iteration to create.” To set the stage for its design, Dawn of the Machine has players back in the boots of Quake’s battle-hardened protagonist Ranger as he escapes an illusory dimension where time folds back onto itself. As the looping cycle of time progresses, so too will players as they discover ways to break the loop, uncover upgrades to their health and ammunition supplies and eventually take down The Nightmare Machine, the source of Ranger’s planar prison. “Nothing you see can be trusted,” says Yoder, “but there is a path to break through the illusion, defeat the schemes of the outer gods and escape.”  An early boss battle concept (left), plus early level plans (right) for what would become The Matriarch of Decay. Both underwent significant iteration during the production of Dawn of the Machine. The third goal in developing Dawn of the Machine was allowing the multifaceted and multitalented team at MachineGames and id Software to exercise their skills collaboratively on a smaller project compared to a modern AAA video game project. Some members of the Quake Club have made their own maps since the game’s release in ‘96 while others, including Yoder, have joined in more recently, making Quake Club a place for anyone on the team to contribute something to the project. “Quake Club has always been an opportunity for the team to learn and have fun,” says Yoder, adding that high-quality modding tools and Quake’s relative visual simplicity to the photorealism of modern day AAA titles allow team members to pitch in their expertise, even for tasks normally outside their area of specialization. As one example, Dawn of the Machine’s new soundtrack came about from an offer from Christian Plogfors, Advanced Level Designer at MachineGames. In addition to contributing two levels to the episode, Plogfors created a soundtrack with a dark, ambient tone expertly suited to the trippy, ethereal world of the expansion. “Christian proceeded to make a fantastic set of tracks that give the episode its own identity,” says Yoder. “The whole episode is so much stronger thanks to his contribution, stepping outside his normal role and bringing his other skills and passions to serve the project.” Reflecting on 30 years of Quake, Yoders says the opportunity to make Dawn of the Machine has been a privilege. “The team here owes a lot to Quake and its legacy,” he says, “Quake Club and our work wouldn’t exist without the wider Quake community and our friends at id Software.”

Title: Paralives' latest update throws out its wonderfully awful homunculi babies and makes it so that dead bodies should no longer litter the streets Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:30:59 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/paralives-latest-update-throws-out-its-wonderfully-awful-homunculi-babies-and-makes-it-so-that-dead-bodies-should-no-longer-litter-the-streets The beauty of an early access game is being able to look at something funky, say "that's not right," and as long as you're correct and not an irritating know-it-all making feedback that's not actually helpful, see it changed in (very slow) real-time. Paralives' latest update is here, and with it comes an improvement (?) to the life sim's babies after a number of people complained at how they looked. Read more

Title: I'm enjoying leaving my body behind in Project Looking Glass, an astral horror game in which you telewarp around a map of your terrible memories Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/im-enjoying-leaving-my-body-behind-in-project-looking-glass-an-astral-horror-game-in-which-you-telewarp-around-a-map-of-your-terrible-memories The great enemy of my sanity is 4.15pm. That's 45 minutes of workday remaining - just enough time to find and turn around a news story before Julian sounds the Thrice-Girdled Klaxon of Labour's End. The sensible thing to do would be to pick a nice, easy write-up like "Developers XYZ are still making that videogame they were making before, say it's going pretty well". But inevitably, my appetite defeats my reason, and I find myself firing up the demo for something like Project Looking Glass, a cathode ray horror game in which you are a grieving woman participating in secret Cold War astral projection experiments. Read more

Title: Even 10 years on, Sean Murray feels like he could work on No Man's Sky "forever," even if he knows "there probably is some end date" for it Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:28:30 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/even-10-years-on-sean-murray-feels-like-he-could-work-on-no-mans-sky-forever-even-if-he-knows-there-probably-is-some-end-date-for-it What's that? It's been 10 years since No Man's Sky launched? Oh! That's gone by a bit too quick! In that time the planet hopping survival game has changed drastically, starting life frequently derided for missing promised features, slowly morphing into what it is now. The game now has a massive mish mash of features that have kept people coming back year after year, and according to Hello Games co-founder Sean Murray, he could keep going as long as they do. Read more

Title: Supermassive Games are the latest studio to announce layoff plans, with 75 jobs at risk just three months after Directive 8020 launch Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:30:29 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/supermassive-games-are-the-latest-studio-to-announce-layoff-plans-with-75-jobs-at-risk-just-three-months-after-directive-8020-launch Until Dawn and The Dark Pictures Anthology devs Supermassive Games have announced the beginning of redundancy consultations for up to 75 of its staff, a process that will almost certainly add to the thousands of layoffs endured by the games industry over the past few years. Posted on Not Twitter earlier today, the announcement of these imminient cuts comes just three months after Supermassive’s most recent horror adventure, Directive 8020, and contains wording that’s uncomfortably reminiscent of the studio’s last round of mass redundancies in July last year. That, too, followed a previous round in early 2024, in which an estimated 90 workers at the UK-based studio lost their jobs. Read more

Title: "Time will tell": Bit Reactor talk queerness in Star Wars: Zero Company and whether they'll keep working with Saudi-owned EA Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/time-will-tell-bit-reactor-talk-queerness-in-star-wars-zero-company-and-whether-theyll-keep-working-with-saudi-owned-ea In Bit Reactor's XCOM-style tactics RPG Star Wars: Zero Company, you play a custom character called Hawks who is referred to using they/them pronouns. With my armchair producer hat on, I suspect this is partly just a way to avoid recording several sets of voice lines for different player pronoun choices. But Zero Company as a whole does support expressions of gender that differ from heteronormative male and female archetypes – or at least, which differ enough to make me, a cisgender writer, curious about expressions of queerness and transness elsewhere in Star Wars. While creating a character for the beta, I wondered about how notions of gender might differ across the humanoid species depicted in the game, including Mirialans, Devaronians and Togrutas. In the end, I created a Devaronian character with green hair and copious freckles, whom I would gingerly designate as "Trying Their Best". Read more