Title: Witcher 3 Fans Are Divided Over Whether The Remaster Graphics Are Peak Or Lifeless Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2026 18:41:38 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/witcher-3-fans-are-divided-over-whether-the-remaster-graphics-are-peak-or-lifeless-2000738696 Some players are so turned off they want to go back to the 'pre-master' version

Title: Blizzard Seems To Be Surveying Players About Adding Demon Hunter, Witch, Tinker, Bard, And More Classes To WoW: Forever Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2026 18:02:47 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/blizzard-survey-players-demon-hunter-wow-forever-2000738699 Warden, Necromancer, and what sounds a lot like a vampire are also on the list

Title: Xbox’s Experiments With Cloud Gaming Seem To Be Collapsing Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2026 17:16:27 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/xbox-cloud-gaming-controller-microsoft-asha-sharma-interview-samsung-2000738661 An awful lot of things no longer appear to be an Xbox

Title: PlayStation’s Free PS Plus Games For October Aren’t Really Scary At All Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2026 16:16:10 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/playstations-free-ps-plus-games-for-october-arent-really-scary-at-all-2000738654 Sony's selection of freebies for next month include a racing game, an EDF spin-off and one game with some creepy vibes

Title: Directive 8020 Will Finally Add Online Multiplayer Just In Time For Spooky Season Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2026 16:00:02 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/directive-8020-will-finally-add-online-multiplayer-just-in-time-for-spooky-season-2000738639 While the game's Movie Night mode supports local co-op, Supermassive will add its online component this October

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: The Splinter Cell Remake Is Still Lurking In The Shadows Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2026 18:41:08 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-splinter-cell-remake-is-still-lurking-in-the-shadows/ A remake of the original Splinter Cell game was first announced nearly five years ago, and since then, we've seen exactly zero seconds of the game in action, or even a trailer. However, as we know with Sam Fisher, silence can be deceiving, and it looks like Ubisoft is actively recruiting for several roles on the project. Spotted by Insider Gaming, job openings for a few different positions, including level designer and producer, have been posted within the last few months. This isn't necessarily indicative of how far along the project is--people are hired and leave all the time--but it does at least let us know that the project is still in active development. It's also not the first time we've seen job listings pop up, but with company in as volatile a state as Ubisoft, you never know. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4A9iFjaKeMk It's unclear exactly what shape this remake will take, as geopolitical dynamics have changed quite a bit since 2002. It's also unclear how much influence it would take from the later games in the series, with Conviction and Blacklist both including more action-aligned mechanics like Mark & Execute. Since the release of Splinter Cell Blacklist in 2013, we haven't gotten a new Splinter Cell game. Sam Fisher has made numerous appearances, however, including a few guest missions in Ghost Recon and an inclusion in Rainbow Six Siege. The Netflix animated series also released last year, with Liev Schreiber taking over voice duties from Michael Ironside.

Title: Xbox CEO Insists It’s Not For Sale Amid Studio Closures, Layoffs Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2026 18:11:12 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-ceo-insists-its-not-for-sale-amid-studio-closures-layoffs/ The "Xbox reset" has people wondering whether Microsoft is preparing to exit the video game business, but Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has flatly denied that the gaming division will be put up for sale. "Xbox is not for sale," Sharma said to The New York Times. "We will do whatever it takes to set the company up for success, and we will look at the right partnerships, the right operating model, and everything needed to achieve that." Sharma's comments come in the wake of analysts predicting that Microsoft could sell Xbox off entirely. Compared with Microsoft's profitable cloud computing and artificial intelligence businesses, Xbox has paled in comparison, and the gamble on Xbox Game Pass hasn't paid off, despite Microsoft investing tens of billions in acquiring several video game publishers and studios over the years. Xbox’s accountability margins amount to only a 3% profit, a small return on investment for its parent company. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiYNNGR4uLo Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has said that Xbox will have to start pulling its weight under Sharma's leadership, and the Xbox CEO previously told employees that the Xbox business was not in a healthy state. Nadella has also praised Sharma's cuts at Xbox, saying they have led to a "streamlining" of the division. If Sharma is setting Xbox up to generate more profit for Microsoft, then it's all part of a years-long strategy in the making. Halo is now an Activision project, and is likely several years away as the publisher is currently building a new team to develop the next Master Chief adventure. Meanwhile, two of Blizzard's biggest upcoming games will arrive at the end of this decade: Diablo 5 is aiming for a 2029 launch, while StarCraft is set for 2030. At the same time, Xbox has also tasked several of its studios with working on its Fallout franchise, with multiple new games in the series in various stages of development. "We've got a long way to go with Microsoft," Sharma said to the NYT. "And we’re going to take the long-term view." The Best Xbox Series X Games In 2026 View Images

Title: You Can Hate The Sonic Movies, But They Help The Games Get Made, Sega Says Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2026 17:43:36 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/you-can-hate-the-sonic-movies-but-they-help-the-games-get-made-sega-says/ Sonic has had a rough go at things lately, what with the myriad games that haven't been hitting like they used to. Sega appears to be aware of that and has acknowledged that, although the games have struggled recently, the franchise as a whole is back in the zeitgeist again--and it's all thanks to the live-action movies. In an interview with Automaton at the Tokyo Game Show, series producer Takashi Iizuka spoke about the impact that director Jeff Fowler's three live-action movies have had on repopularizing Sonic again. "Thanks to the movies, awareness of the Sonic series has grown, and more people around the world have become interested in Sonic as a character and in the games," Iizuka said when asked about the positive effect other media has had on the franchise. "That has contributed to game sales as well. Strong game sales mean we have more resources available when making the next title, which allows us to deliver something of even higher quality. That creates a positive cycle. In that sense, multimedia and transmedia expansion are majorly beneficial for the games." Iizuka went on to say that movies weren't the only medium that has improved Sonic the Hedgehog's cachet in recent times. Anime has contributed as well, and so has Netflix, which has made film and television production more ubiquitous for Sega. "In the past, even if we decided to make an anime as part of our transmedia strategy, we had to approach television broadcasters and other outlets that would air it, and we couldn't move forward without their approval," Iizuka continued. "With Netflix, on the other hand, once we decide to work together on something, we can distribute it worldwide. That's has [sic] been a major advantage when it comes to expanding the brand." Iizuka's comments echoed similar sentiments from earlier this month. In an interview with One More Game on September 21, Iizuka said the live-action movies essentially saved the franchise. "The biggest milestone for me was the first movie," Iizuka said. "That had been a great hit and definitely changed the course of this franchise." So, whether you like those live-action movies or not doesn't really matter because, in Sega's eyes, the Blue Blur would've stayed just that: a blur that goes poof and is gone ... forever. Iizuka did leave us a little nugget to chew on, though: "Also, we don't use the game developers' resources for transmedia projects, so you don't have to worry about a new game being delayed because we're making movies or anime," Iizuka told Automaton.

Title: WoW: Forever Is Keeping More Than 12,500 Items Secret Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2026 17:24:45 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/wow-forever-is-keeping-more-than-12500-items-secret/ World of Warcraft: Forever is looking to keep its secrets, as over 12,500 items in the game's files have been kept hidden from dataminers. The WoW: Forever beta is currently in full swing, and in addition to new dungeons, abilities, and even a whole new playable race, players are quickly discovering there are tons of new items that will completely change how this old-school version of WoW is played. Whether it's items with far more spellpower at early levels or gear tailored towards professions, Blizzard is definitely mixing things up so that the game's leveling journey, and its endgame, are going to feel all new. As broken down in detail by Icy Veins, part of how Blizzard looks to be accomplishing this is by keeping almost 40% of the game's nearly 32,000 items a secret. Dataminers can technically see that these 12,000 plus items exist and even where many of them potentially come from, but can't see what their stats are. Many of these items are assumed to be all-new, though some are likely variants or modified version of items from WoW Classic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvueCoFTkCk&t Players have already taken a bite out of that 12,500 item total, having discovered over 4,400 "hidden" items in the Forever beta. Once an item has been discovered, it's then revealed in the game's backend. Icy Veins notes that not all the items datamined might actually exist in Forever, as it lists a number of items that were part of WoW Classic's Season of Discovery and might not make it into Blizzard's new version of the MMO. Many of the hidden items come from raids and dungeons, including tier sets. So far, players have uncovered a few different sets, such as some low-level dungeon item sets, as well as full loot tables for early-game dungeons like Wailing Caverns, Ragefire Chasm, Shadowfang Keep, and the Deadmines. The beta's level cap is currently 20 (but will be raised to 30 before the beta's end), meaning players will likely uncover even more dungeon loot ahead of launch.  The aura of discovery and mystery players are experiencing as they explore Azeroth once more is just one of the reasons Forever's beta looks to be wildly popular. Multiple WoW devs, including Blizzard VP Holly Longdale, have commented that the beta is breaking player-number records, and Blizzard has had to raise the beta's population cap as a result. However, the beta hasn't been without controversy, as a recent streamer scandal involving gold trading has players demanding Blizzard do more to combat real-money transactions and gold buying.  WoW: Forever's beta ends October 21, with the game's full launch set for November 4. Blizzard's third version of its MMO will add over 1,000 new quests to classic Azeroth, as well as new zones and endgame content. Though there won't be a new class at launch, a recent Blizzard survey revealed 11 new potential WoW: Forever classes that could come to the MMO in the future.

Title: Yes, Guile’s Street Fighter Movie Theme Goes With Everything Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2026 16:47:31 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/yes-guile-street-fighter-movie-theme-goes-with-everything/ The Street Fighter movie is shaping up to be a love letter to Capcom's classic fighting game series, with its goofy action and costumes, but if there's one crucial element it's nailing, it's the franchise's sound. Specifically, Guile's iconic theme, which is legendary for its ability to complement anything in life. How does the movie version match up? It's not straying from what is considered fighting game soundtrack perfection, but it is adding to it with a kickass guitar solo and a few more cinematic tweaks, allowing the main theme to do all the heavy lifting. Listen to it yourself, from one of the streaming links below: Apple Music Spotify Amazon Music YouTube Music Deezer Tidal Guile's Theme is one of those evergreen memes of the late 2000s and early 2010s, and while it's nowhere near as popular as it once was--YouTube probably got sick of all those 10-hour uploads--it's still instantly recognizable. The original theme debuted in the 1991 arcade release of Street Fighter II and was composed by Yoko Shimomura. For the upcoming Street Fighter movie, the score was produced by Leo Birenberg and Zach Robinson (Cobra Kai), who say that the original game soundtracks were instrumental in shaping their musical identities. "As young and budding composers, we listened to Yoko Shimomura's iconic Guile’s Theme probably more than Raiders of the Lost Ark," the duo said in a press statement. "We hope fans will hear the love and reverence we hold for this music within our version of Guile’s Theme. https://youtu.be/U6sbm1OaJb8 The full Street Fighter soundtrack will feature 39 tracks in total, and it'll be available starting October 16. The movie releases on the same day, and so far it looks like it's leaning fully into the absurdity of its source material. WWE performer Cody Rhodes plays Guile, and if you feel like cosplaying as him, you can grab an official Street Fighter popcorn bucket shaped like his iconic hair. Absolutely perfect, no notes. Street Fighter will be landing a month after another film based on a Capcom video game series, Resident Evil, hit theaters. So far, the Zach Cregger-directed movie has been a critical hit and, commercially, continues to smash franchise records. Street Fighter Movie: Release Date, Cast, And Everything We Know So Far View Images

Title: Modern Warfare 4's New 'Counter-Strike' Mode Officially Announced Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2026 18:46:56 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/modern-warfare-4-collateral-mode-counter-strike/ Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is taking a page from Counter-Strike with a new multiplayer mode built around one of the classic shooter's defining mechanics: buying your gear with money earned during the match. Called Collateral, the new mode puts an economy system on top of the familiar Search and Destroy formula, creating a version of Call of Duty where every death and purchase could have consequences.

Title: Dressmaker Players Are Having a Blast Secretly Ruining Dresses Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2026 18:27:33 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/dressmaker-sabotage-revenge-customers/ Every service job has that one customer that really has it coming to them. Dressmaker is the rare game that offers you a hilarious opportunity for catharsis, should you be so inclined. On its surface, this is a cozy little sewing sim: You pick fabric, cut a pattern, and stitch buttons on by hand. You deliver a dress, then get a nice thank-you and a tip. It’s the kind of game you’d expect to play with a cup of tea and zero stakes for the ASMR vibes and quick burst of dopamine a la Powerwash Simulator or Unpacking. But then, when you meet a customer rude enough, you might just find yourself wondering if the fabric you select for their commission absolutely must match their specifications. It would seem the game’s developers were hoping you’d ask that question.

Title: Enter Polygon's Secretlab ATLAS Giveaway Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2026 18:08:18 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/polygon-secretlab-atlas-giveaway-point-it-out/ It's been a glorious few weeks here at Polygon. Not only have we had the privilege of gracing the airways with more episodes of Point It Out! with Matt Patches and Simone de Rochefort, but we've also been able to give out two top-of-the-line gaming chairs to our listeners. Congratulations to the winners so far!

Title: Disclosure Day streaming release date: When will it come to digital, Peacock, Blu-ray, and DVD? Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2026 17:51:18 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/disclosure-day-streaming-release-date-peacock-netflix/ Disclosure Dayis Steven Spielberg’s first sci-fi blockbuster since 2018’s Ready Player One, and it’s a return to form for the genre legend. The film, about people attempting to tell the world that aliens have been visiting Earth for nearly 80 years, combines the wonder and spectacle of Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrialwith the tense chase scenes of the Indiana Jones series.

Title: GTA 6’s Wildlife Gameplay Might Do Something Red Dead 2 Never Could Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2026 17:48:41 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/gta-6-wildlife-hunting-animals/ After a few weeks of relative quiet following August’s gameplay debut, Rockstar Games is back on the press circuit with more details about Grand Theft Auto 6. This time around, the news comes via an exclusive 14-page cover story in Game Informer.Members of the development team shared new information about the game’s dynamic weather system, intricately detailed NPCs, Leonida’s six distinct regions, and all the recreational activities Jason and Lucia can enjoy in their downtime.

Title: Contain the Chaos: ‘CONTROL Resonant’ Launches on GeForce NOW Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2026 13:00:36 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-control-resonant/ A warped Manhattan is waiting in the cloud this week. Remedy Entertainment’s CONTROL Resonant brings Dylan Faden’s extraordinary abilities and a paranatural crisis to GeForce NOW at launch. With the release comes the final days of the CONTROL Resonant Ultimate Membership Bundle. Purchase a 12-month GeForce NOW Ultimate membership through Sunday, Sept. 27, and receive CONTROL Resonant at no additional cost. GeForce NOW support is coming soon to Googlebooks, a new category of laptops bringing together the best of ChromeOS and Android. To top it off, DragonSword: Awakening leads nine new games this week, bringing an anime-style open world to supported devices. Take Control on the Cloud Explore a warped Manhattan on the brink of paranatural annihilation in Remedy Entertainment’s CONTROL Resonant. Harness Dylan Faden’s extraordinary abilities to battle the Hiss, the Mold and other reality-bending threats while searching for his sister, Federal Bureau of CONTROL Director Jesse Faden. Dylan must master his new powers and the ever-changing forms of the Aberrant, his paranatural melee weapon, to face a cosmic threat that has escaped the Oldest House and swept through the city. Ultimate members can stream the next chapter of the CONTROL franchise with GeForce RTX 5080-class performance in the cloud, including NVIDIA DLSS 4, ray tracing, NVIDIA Reflex and Cinematic Quality Streaming technologies, with up to 5K high dynamic range on supported devices. Skip the 100GB local install and expensive PC upgrades, and step into the chaos the moment the mission begins. The clock is ticking: the CONTROL Resonant Ultimate Membership Bundle ends Sunday, Sept. 27. Cloud Gaming Meets Googlebooks GeForce NOW support is coming soon to Googlebooks — Google’s new category of laptops, and the first designed for Gemini Intelligence. Googlebook is crafted with premium materials for powerful performance. Secure by design, its Titan C chip and multigrade protection keep viruses out and hackers away. It also lets users jump from phone to laptop without skipping a beat, and access files and apps from phones directly on the laptop. As Googlebooks begin rolling out this fall, GeForce NOW support will bring the cloud gaming library to the new laptop category, making it possible to stream the latest PC games with GeForce RTX-powered performance — and without local installs. Keep an eye on GeForce NOW social channels for more availability details later this year. Awaken the Dragon Sword A dragon has awakened after 60 years, and the legacy of six heroes waits to be uncovered. Hound13’s DragonSword: Awakening transports players to the radiant, anime-style continent of Orbis, where Lute’s journey to become the hero known as the Dragon Sword begins. Explore meadows, secret cellars, deep seas, caves and dungeons alongside trusted allies and collectible Familiars. Build a team from 19 heroes, stack Status Ailments with Active Skills and chain Signal Skills into spectacular tag-team combos. Each character carries a story of their own to uncover along the way. The journey travels across supported devices, including Steam Decks, Firefox browsers and Amazon Fire TV devices, making players ready for the next adventure in Orbis. The Dragon Sword awaits. In addition, members can look for the following games joining the cloud this week: Dune: Awakening (New release on Xbox, Sept. 22, available on Game Pass) Stick It to the Stickman (New release on Steam, Sept. 23) CONTROL Resonant (New release on Steam, Sept. 24) Wild West Pioneers (New release on Steam, Sept. 25) DragonSword: Awakening (Steam) Everything Is Crab (Steam) LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight (Steam) Over the Top: WWI (Steam) Roadside Research (Steam) Dates listed above reflect when games are released on their respective stores. GeForce NOW availability may vary, as games are onboarded after they’re released and added throughout the week. Keep an eye on GeForce NOW channels and GFN Thursdays for availability updates to announced titles. Those new to GeForce NOW can start with a day pass to try premium cloud gaming before committing to a membership. Better yet, the cost of a day pass can be applied toward a first monthly membership — making it easy to level up with GeForce RTX-powered cloud gaming. Which cloud-bound adventure is calling this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below.

Title: Cute Critters Come to the Cloud: ‘Aniimo’ Launches on GeForce NOW Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2026 13:00:55 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-aniimo/ A new creature-catching adventure is ready to stream from the cloud this week. Pawprint Studio’s Aniimo arrives on GeForce NOW at launch, inviting gamers to explore the vibrant continent of Idyll across supported devices. Also this week, 007 First Light receives a path-tracing update on GeForce NOW, alongside a smashing limited-time Deluxe Edition sale on Steam and Epic Games Store. Gaijin Network’s fractured-multiverse action game Active Matter and Annapurna Interactive’s acclaimed space mystery Outer Wilds are also among 11 new titles joining the cloud this week. Explore Idyll With the Cutest Companions The path to Idyll begins now. Aniimo is a free-to-play, open-world creature-catching role-playing game where every creature encountered can become a companion. Catch Aniimo with Aniipods, then Twine with them to take on their form and use unique skills to solve puzzles, win battles and overcome challenges. Glide, dive and burrow across Idyll, then return to a personal RV to build a warm, interactive Homeland alongside Aniimo companions. Stream Aniimo on a Steam Deck, in the newly supported Firefox browser and across any other supported devices — without waiting through its 45GB download or making room in local storage. There’s always room in the Homeland for one more Aniimo. Choose Your Path Licensed to render. In the critically acclaimed, multimillion-selling 007 First Light, follow James Bond as a young, resourceful and sometimes reckless recruit in MI6’s training program, and discover a reimagined origin story of the world’s most famous spy. Incorporating IO Interactive’s signature stealth gameplay with world-class Bond action, players can embark on missions in breathtaking locations around the globe, drive iconic vehicles and dive into a cinematic adventure in pursuit of a rogue agent who’s always one step ahead. Path tracing has now been added to 007 First Light, introducing extra-detailed lighting, shadows and reflections, making its levels and set pieces even more cinematic, immersive and realistic. And NVIDIA DLSS 4.5 Ray Reconstruction ensures the fidelity, clarity and accuracy of these additions are at their absolute best. Ultimate members can stream with GeForce RTX 5080-class performance, with up to 5K high dynamic range and cinematic-quality streaming. DLSS 4.5 Super Resolution and Dynamic Frame Generation accelerate frame rates and enhance image quality. A limited-time opportunity awaits: the 007 First Light Deluxe Edition is on sale on Steam from Sept. 15-29 and on Epic Games Store from Sept. 3-18. The mission is on sale. The getaway car is in the cloud. Matter of Time Gaijin’s Active Matter, a realistic military shooter set in a fractured multiverse, has launched on GeForce NOW. As an operative stuck in a time loop, join dangerous raids for loot or intense player vs. player battles. Fight against rivals from other timelines, survive physics-breaking anomalies and try to stay alive. Harvest active matter, gather loot and extract to a safe place before the whole zone ceases to exist. Ultimate members can take on each raid with GeForce RTX 5080-class performance in the cloud, delivering high frame rates, advanced graphics features and low latency across supported devices. The zone won’t wait — and neither does the next loop. Let’s Get Loopy Every loop holds another secret. Outer Wilds joins the GeForce NOW library this week. As the newest recruit of Outer Wilds Ventures, search for answers across a strange, ever-changing solar system trapped in an endless time loop. Gamers can trace mysterious signals, decipher alien writing and discover hidden locations before an underground city is swallowed by sand or a planet crumbles beneath their feet. There’s even more to stream this week: Active Matter (New release on Steam and Gaijin, Sept. 15) Aniimo (New release on Steam, Sept. 15) RuneScape: Dragonwilds (New release on Xbox, Sept. 15, available on Game Pass) Train Sim World 7 (New release on Steam, Sept. 15) The Guild 1 Remake: Europa 1410 (New release on Steam, Sept. 17) The Blood of Dawnwalker (GOG.com) Mixtape (Steam) Neon White (Steam) Outer Wilds (Steam) Stray (Steam) What Remains of Edith Finch (Steam) Dates listed above reflect when games are released on their respective stores. GeForce NOW availability may vary, as games are onboarded after they’re released and added throughout the week. Keep an eye on GeForce NOW channels and GFN Thursdays for availability updates to announced titles. Ready to take this week’s new games for a spin? Start with a day pass to try premium cloud gaming before committing to a membership. Even better, the cost of the day pass can be applied toward a first monthly membership — making it easy to level up with GeForce RTX-powered cloud gaming. What’s on the playlist this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below.

Title: Boots on the Ground: ‘WARDOGS’ Goes All Out on GeForce NOW at Early-Access Launch Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2026 13:00:18 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-wardogs/ Gear up: The latest PC games and major updates are ready to play on GeForce NOW this week. WARDOGS drops onto the cloud at early-access launch, alongside the Valheim 1.0 Deep North update and Bus Simulator 27 — part of nine new titles joining the cloud. The newest PC releases can demand serious hardware, storage space and upgrade budgets. GeForce NOW puts GeForce RTX-powered performance in the cloud, so members can jump into the newest titles across supported devices without needing expensive PC upgrades to keep up. From a 100-player tactical firefight to a frozen Viking frontier and a growing bus empire, every adventure is ready when members are — no downloads or storage management required. Who Let the ‘WARDOGS’ Out?   Take on the Control Zone: WARDOGS launches on GeForce NOW today, bringing BULKHEAD’s large-scale tactical first-person shooter to the cloud at early-access launch. Up to 100 players across three teams battle to control randomized zones in a large-scale military sandbox, where tactical gunplay, combined-arms combat, building and destruction can change the course of a match. There’s no single route to victory. Outfit a loadout, coordinate a squad, fortify a strategic position or take the fight to the enemy in vehicles. Every team play action earns cash, giving players more ways to invest in gear and vehicles that can turn the tide. Ultimate members can stream the fight with GeForce RTX 5080-class performance in the cloud for a tactical advantage. Pick up the battle across supported devices without waiting on a huge game install or clearing local storage first. Ice, Ice in the Deep North, Baby Sharpen the axes and raise the shields – Valheim has left early access with its 1.0 update, letting members stream the final biome in Iron Gate’s Viking survival saga through Steam and Xbox Store.  Set sail for the Deep North, a frozen frontier filled with new enemies to face, weapons to craft and strongholds to build before the cold closes in. The 1.0 launch also arrives alongside new platform versions with full crossplay support, making it easier to rally the clan. Whether returning to a long-running world on a PC or Mac or beginning a fresh voyage on a Steam Deck or Amazon Fire TV Stick, members can head to the Deep North across supported devices without waiting for downloads. The Wheels on the Bus Go ‘Round in the Cloud The route to the top starts here. Hop into the driver’s seat. Bus Simulator 27 is now streaming from GeForce NOW.  Drive a fleet of more than 45 officially licensed buses from 13 manufacturers through Felicia Bay, a sunny region with two cities, 20 districts and a full day-and-night cycle. Build routes, manage timetables and grow a successful bus company in Story, Career or Sandbox mode. And there’s even more to stream from the GeForce NOW library this week: Bus Simulator 27 (New release on Steam, Sept. 8) Halloween: The Game (New release on Steam, Sept. 8) Honeycomb: The World Beyond (New release on Steam, Sept. 8) Wanderburg (New release on Steam, Sept. 8) Shroom and Gloom (New release on Steam, Sept. 10) Train Sim World 7 – Advanced Access (New release on Steam, Sept. 10) WARDOGS (New release on Steam, Sept. 10) Welcome to Elderfield (New release on Steam, Sept. 10) Death Stranding Director’s Cut (Epic Games Store) Dates listed above reflect when games are released on their respective stores. GeForce NOW availability may vary, as games are onboarded after release and added throughout the week. Keep an eye on GeForce NOW channels and GFN Thursdays for availability updates on announced titles. One GFN community member recently returned after six years, saying NVIDIA DLSS 5 technology renewed their interest in GeForce NOW cloud gaming. Ready to try it out, too? Start with a day pass to test premium cloud gaming before committing to a membership. For those who decide to keep playing, the cost can be applied toward their first monthly membership. What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below.

Title: ‘NBA 2K27’ With NVIDIA DLSS 5 Leads 28 New Games Coming to GeForce NOW Date: Thu, 03 Sep 2026 13:00:35 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-september-2026-games-list/ September is here with 28 more games streaming on GeForce NOW this month, led by a slam dunk: NBA 2K27 with the NVIDIA DLSS 5 3D-Guided Neural Rendering feature. Through NVIDIA’s close collaboration with Visual Concepts and 2K, DLSS 5 brings a new level of lifelike lighting and material detail to the court — tuned by developers to support the game’s authentic broadcast-style presentation. Members can also walk the line between human and vampire in Rebel Wolves’ The Blood of Dawnwalker and step into genma-haunted Kyoto in Capcom’s Onimusha: Way of the Sword — part of the 10 games joining the GeForce NOW library this week. Take the Court With DLSS 5 Showcase your moves. NVIDIA, Visual Concepts and 2K have brought DLSS 5 3D-Guided Neural Rendering to NBA 2K27, delivering a new level of sports realism for players streaming from the cloud at launch.  DLSS 5 enhances and tunes lighting and materials to make the action feel even more lifelike — from how light catches hair and skin to the detail preserved in the facial geometry of real-world athletes — achieving new levels of authenticity.  GeForce NOW Ultimate members in NVIDIA-operated regions can stream NBA 2K27 across PCs, Macs, handhelds, mobile devices, TVs and more. DLSS 5 is available when streaming from a GeForce RTX 5080-powered rig in the cloud. Tip off without waiting for downloads or managing storage, and experience NBA 2K27 from the cloud with the visual fidelity of DLSS 5. Walk the Line Between Day and Night Human by day. Vampire by night. Rebel Wolves’ newly launched The Blood of Dawnwalker is streaming from GeForce NOW. The open-world, dark-fantasy action role-playing game transports players to 14th-century Europe, where war, plague and rising vampire powers have reshaped history. Play as Coen, a young Dawnwalker fighting to save his family while caught between his humanity and cursed vampiric strength. His abilities — and the choices available to him — change between day and night, shaping how players explore, fight and uncover the secrets of the world around them. Sink teeth into the fresh adventure from nearly any supported device, with Ultimate members tapping into GeForce RTX 5080-class performance in the cloud. Skip the installs and let GeForce NOW handle the heavy lifting, leaving more time to take a bite out of everything Coen’s new world has to offer. Skip the Downloads and Sharpen the Sword Pick up the Oni Gauntlet. Capcom’s Onimusha: Way of the Sword arrives on GeForce NOW at launch, giving members a way to jump straight into the series’ return instantly from the cloud. Fight across a twisted vision of Edo-period Kyoto as a lone samurai wielding the mystical Oni Gauntlet. Master precise swordplay, unleash powerful abilities and absorb the souls of fallen enemies while battling relentless Genma beneath mysterious clouds of Malice. Ultimate members can stream every clash with GeForce RTX 5080-class performance in the cloud across PCs, Macs, handhelds, mobile devices, TVs, the newly supported Firefox browser and more. Cut to the chase by skipping any downloads and storage management and step into battle. In addition, members can look for the following titles streaming this week: Breathedge 2 (New release on Steam, Aug. 31) Serious Sam: Shatterverse (New release on Steam, Aug. 31) Crimson Moon (New release on Steam, Sept. 1) The Blood of Dawnwalker (New release on Steam, Sept. 2) NBA 2K27 (New release on Steam, Sept. 3) SpeedRunners 2: King of Speed (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass, Sept. 3) Onimusha: Way of the Sword (New release on Steam, Sept. 4) How to Fish (Steam) Shelves and Sorcery: Tidy Up the Enchanted Shop (Steam) VHOLUME (Steam) And look forward to the games coming throughout the month: Bus Simulator 27 (New release on Steam, Sept. 8) Halloween: The Game (New release on Steam, Sept. 8) Honeycomb: The World Beyond (New release on Steam, Sept. 8) Wanderburg (New release on Steam, Sept. 8) Shroom and Gloom (New release on Steam, Sept. 10) WARDOGS (New release on Steam, Sept. 10) Welcome to Elderfield (New release on Steam, Sept. 10) Active Matter (New release on Steam, Sept. 15) Aniimo (New release on Steam, Sept. 15) Train Sim World 7 (New release on Steam, Sept. 15) The Guild 1 Remake: Europa 1410 (New release on Steam, Sept. 17) CONTROL Resonant (New release on Steam, Sept. 24) Nivalis Nights (New release on Steam, Sept. 29) Mixtape (Steam)  Neon White (Steam)  Outer Wilds (Steam)  Stray (Steam) What Remains of Edith Finch (Steam) All the Extras From August In addition to the 26 games announced last month, 18 more joined the GeForce NOW library.  Cat Mail Co. (Steam) Monster Hunter Wilds Prologue Demo (Steam) Stars Reach (Steam) DIVE or DIE – Children of Rain (Steam) Escape the Backroom (Xbox, available on Game Pass) Hell Is Us (Xbox, available on Game Pass) Parcel Simulator (Steam) The Thaumaturge (Xbox, available on Game Pass) Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered (Epic Games Store) STAR WARS Zero Company (EA app and Steam) Baldur’s Gate 3 (GOG) Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (GOG) Cold Fear (GOG) IRON NEST: Heavy Turret Simulator (Steam) Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (GOG) Mount & Blade: Bannerlord II (GOG) No Man’s Sky (GOG) The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (GOG) Dates listed above reflect when games are released on their respective stores. GeForce NOW availability may vary, as games are onboarded after release and added throughout the week. Keep an eye on GeForce NOW channels and GFN Thursdays for availability updates on announced titles. New to GeForce NOW? Start with a day pass to try premium cloud gaming before committing to a membership. Better yet, the cost of the day pass can be applied toward a first monthly membership — making it easy to try GeForce RTX-powered cloud gaming with the latest releases, then level up for more. What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below.

Title: GeForce NOW Gives Gamers More Ways to Play at Gamescom 2026 Date: Thu, 27 Aug 2026 13:00:33 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-gamescom-2026/ NVIDIA’s Gamescom announcements are revealing what’s next for GeForce NOW, with new ways to play, more supported devices and platforms, and even more big PC games headed to the cloud. New NVIDIA DLSS 4.5 technology controls give members more ways to fine-tune gameplay, while expanded support for new Steam devices, GOG single sign-on, Firefox browser support and more Amazon Fire TV devices continue broadening where and how GeForce RTX-powered PC gaming can be enjoyed. Gamescom is also bringing a blockbuster lineup of PC games to GeForce NOW. CONTROL Resonant, Gears of War: E-Day, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, The Blood of Dawnwalker and STAR WARS Zero Company are all coming to the cloud at launch.  For a limited time, members can also get CONTROL Resonant with the purchase of a 12-month GeForce NOW Ultimate membership. The Gamescom extras don’t stop there. To celebrate, GeForce NOW is giving away more than 40 prizes in our Community Giveaway — including gaming hardware and GeForce NOW Ultimate memberships. There’s even more fun to come. Check out the list of 13 games joining the GeForce NOW library this week. Next-Level Cloud Gaming More ways to choose how to play. This fall, GeForce NOW is introducing new NVIDIA DLSS 4.5 controls in the cloud, giving Ultimate members more choice over how supported games look and perform, even without the latest hardware. Powered by NVIDIA RTX graphics, each control offers something different: DLSS Super Resolution sharpens image quality, while Dynamic Frame Generation delivers lower latency and stutter for smoother streaming, and Ray Reconstruction enhances ray-traced visuals. Together, these technologies make it easier to tune supported games for image quality, responsiveness or a preferred balance between the two.  Stay tuned to GFN Thursdays for details about best practices for enabling DLSS 4.5 overrides and how Dynamic Frame Generation can help Ultimate members enable more graphic settings while still getting smooth streaming. Stream full steam ahead with the Steam ecosystem. GeForce NOW is also adding community-requested support for Steam Machine with Steam Controller later this fall, and later for Windows and macOS, delivering more ways to play and making it even easier for longtime Steam players to jump into the cloud using familiar hardware. The additions build on existing Steam Deck support and expand compatibility across the Steam ecosystem. Get your GOG on with one click into the library. Launching GOG games just got even easier. With GOG single sign-on now available on GeForce NOW, members can securely link their account once, automatically sync supported games and launch them without having to sign in to GOG again — all with a single click. With fewer steps between opening the app, skipping any downloads and jumping into gameplay, it’s another way GeForce NOW continues streamlining access to PC gaming libraries, making it easier to play the GOG library of games on TV platforms since gamers are automatically logged into their GOG accounts. Find popular titles, like Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt, in the app in the dedicated GOG row. Or search and filter for GOG games, then jump into supported titles from almost anywhere — all streamed from the cloud. Check back on GFN Thursdays for the latest games joining the GeForce NOW library, including newly supported games streaming from GOG. Outfox nearly any device with GeForce RTX gaming. Plus, GeForce NOW is now officially supported on Firefox, expanding browser access across all major Windows browsers. Members can jump into supported PC games directly from Firefox without downloading a dedicated app. Ultimate members can enjoy GeForce RTX-powered gaming at up to 1440p and 120 frames per second. Simply download the latest version of Firefox and visit play.geforcenow.com to get started. The cloud handles downloads, installs and updates, keeping local storage free while games stay ready to play in the cloud.  Bring the fire to living rooms with GeForce NOW. GeForce NOW is expanding support to additional Amazon Fire TV devices. GeForce NOW first launched on Fire TV devices earlier this year, and will soon expand to the Fire TV Stick 4K Select, a 4K streaming stick that’s ready to game right out of the box. Streaming from the cloud means supported PC games are ready to play using a compatible controller, making it easy to enjoy GeForce NOW on the biggest screen in the house with even more options to play from the comfort of the couch.  And that’s not all the awesomeness from Amazon. Later this year, Fire TV users will be able to purchase GeForce NOW memberships directly through Amazon, creating a more seamless path from device setup to gameplay. These new features will arrive alongside some of the biggest games coming to the cloud throughout the year. Get Ready for Launch Five newly announced and highly anticipated games are coming to GeForce NOW at launch: CONTROL Resonant, Gears of War: E-Day, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, The Blood of Dawnwalker and STAR WARS Zero Company.  Better yet, members can lock in one of them early: For a limited time, purchase a 12-month GeForce NOW Ultimate membership and receive CONTROL Resonant at launch at no additional cost, and be first to experience Faden’s next chapter. The offer is available Tuesday, Aug. 25, through Sunday, Sept. 27. Ultimate members can stream the full lineup with GeForce RTX 5080-class performance in the cloud, including NVIDIA DLSS 4, ray tracing, NVIDIA Reflex and Cinematic Quality Streaming technologies, with up to 5K high dynamic range on supported devices.  Whether diving into new worlds or returning to iconic franchises, GeForce NOW lets members skip expensive hardware upgrades, massive installs and storage management so they can jump straight into the action the moment each game launches. Here’s a closer look at what’s coming: Contain the chaos. Explore a warped Manhattan on the brink of paranatural annihilation in Remedy’s CONTROL Resonant. Harness Dylan Faden’s extraordinary powers to battle the Hiss, the Mold and other reality-bending threats while searching for his sister, Federal Bureau of CONTROL Director Jesse Faden. Emergence begins. Experience the horror and brutality of Emergence Day in the Coalition’s Gears of War: E-Day. Fourteen years before the original Gears of War, join Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago in a gripping origin-story campaign as the Locust Horde first erupt from below, igniting a desperate fight for survival. Rally squads and fight on in multiplayer with a reimagination of Gears’ iconic PvE mode, Horde Siege, or go head to head with a refined versus PvP. Pick up the Oni Gauntlet. Fight across a twisted vision of Edo-period Kyoto in Capcom’s Onimusha: Way of the Sword. Wield the mystical Oni Gauntlet, master intense swordplay and battle relentless demonic Genma beneath mysterious clouds of Malice. Walk the line between day and night. Step into 14th-century Europe in Bandai Namco’s The Blood of Dawnwalker, where war, plague and rising vampire powers have reshaped history. Play as Coen, a young Dawnwalker torn between humanity and cursed strength, and shape his path while fighting to save his family. Command the galaxy’s finest. Lead an elite squad behind enemy lines in STAR WARS Zero Company, a single-player turn-based game set during the twilight of the Clone Wars. Command former Republic officer Hawks and Zero Company through tactical battles and high-stakes missions where strategy, squad composition and player choices shape the fate of the galaxy. More Ways to Win Gaming gear and Ultimate memberships are up for grabs. GeForce NOW is marking Gamescom with a community giveaway featuring more than 40 prizes. Gamers will have a chance to score a MacBook Neo, Steam Deck or Chromebook — each paired with a one-year GeForce NOW Ultimate membership — along with Amazon Fire TV Sticks and GeForce NOW Ultimate memberships ranging from one month to one year. Head over to the GeForce NOW community on Reddit for all the giveaway details and how to enter. The Hunt Is On Squad up and fight for survival in Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2, streaming on GeForce NOW this week at launch. Assemble a four-player fireteam of Colonial Marines and battle through swarms of Xenomorphs, deadly new threats and increasingly desperate encounters. With deeper squad mechanics, new and improved classes, smarter enemies and expanded customization, every mission puts teamwork — and nerves — to the test. Members can also look for the following games joining the cloud this week: Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 (New release on Steam, Aug. 25) Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy (New release on Steam and Xbox, Aug. 27, available on Game Pass) STAR WARS Zero Company (New release on EA app and Steam, Aug. 27) Baldur’s Gate 3 (GOG) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 – Open Beta Weekend (Battle.net, Steam and Xbox available from Aug. 28 10am PDT  to Sep. 1 at 10am PDT. For more information please visit the Call of Duty website). Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (GOG) Cold Fear (GOG) IRON NEST: Heavy Turret Simulator (Steam) Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (GOG) Mount & Blade: Bannerlord II (GOG) No Man’s Sky (GOG) Paradise Killer (Steam) The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (GOG) Dates listed above reflect when games are released on their respective stores. GeForce NOW availability may vary, as games are onboarded after release and added throughout the week. Keep an eye on GeForce NOW channels and GFN Thursdays for availability updates on announced titles. To experience GeForce NOW, gamers can start with a GeForce NOW day pass and try premium cloud gaming before committing to a membership. Better yet, the cost of a day pass can be applied toward a first membership purchase, making it even easier to level up when ready. Check back every GFN Thursday for new games, new features and even more ways to play on GeForce NOW. Which Gamescom announcement has you most excited? Let us know on X or in the comments below.  The future of PC gaming is on display with GeForce NOW. DLSS 4.5 controlsExpanded device support Upcoming AAA games More ways to play Community giveaway Firefox browser support… and more! #gamescom Details https://t.co/Rz6RnX0Pt4 pic.twitter.com/sShKRhzrD3 — NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) August 25, 2026

Title: PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for October: F1 25, Hunt: Showdown 1896, Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2026 15:30:30 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/09/30/playstation-plus-monthly-games-for-october-f1-25-hunt-showdown-1896-earth-defense-force-world-brothers-2/ Race for podium glory in F1 25, take on monsters and other players in Hunt: Showdown 1896, then battle voxel versions of EDF enemies in Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2. Together, these three games form the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for October. All be available to PlayStation Plus members* from Tuesday October 6 until Monday November 2. Let’s take a closer look at each of the games. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image F1 25 | PS5  Leave your mark on the world of racing in F1 25, the official video game of the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship. Enjoy single player experiences such as Career and My Team 2.0, letting you create your own F1 stories as you take control as the Owner of a Formula 1 team. Then take the race online against other players, including a brand new multiplayer mode in F1 World, where you and your friends race as a squad against AI drivers. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Hunt: Showdown 1896 | PS5  Hunt: Showdown 1896 is a new era of the addictively unforgiving extraction shooter. In corrupted backwaters lost to history, fight back alone – or with friends – against timeless evil. Twisted monsters and other ruthless Hunters stand between you and your Bounty. Risk everything as Hunt consumes you. Race competing Hunters to track down bosses, send them to hell, claim their bounty, and fight your way to extract. If others only slow you down, go alone. If you find strength in numbers, take up to two teammates along. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 | PS5, PS4 The square Earth is under attack by giant enemies. Teammates scattered around the world are waiting to be rescued. Select 4 teammates from among those you have collected and create your own team. Design the team perfect for your play style, select your equipment, and then deploy to battle. In addition to soldiers from the mainline EDF series, this game also includes soldiers from the EDF spin-offs, and enemies who ravaged the planet in previous releases have also crossed over into this world to join the fight. Enjoy fighting numerous enemies, including redesigned voxel versions of old favorites, as well as new enemies unique to this release. Enjoy four player online co-op and two player local split screen on PS5 and PS4.  View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Last chance to add the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for September PlayStation Plus members have until Monday October 5 to add Sniper Elite: Resistance, MLB The Show 26, Wobbly Life and Chained Echoes to their game libraries.  View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Spider-Man Brand New Day Avatars – Included for PlayStation Plus  Spider-Man: Brand New Day is coming to Sony Pictures Core October 6. To celebrate that release, Limited-edition Spider-Man: Brand New Day avatars will also be released on Tuesday October 6, exclusively on Sony Pictures Core for a limited time**. PlayStation Plus members can claim avatars in-app at no extra cost. Non-PlayStation Plus members must get Spider-Man: Brand New Day on Sony Pictures Core to get the avatars.   View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image PlayStation Plus Exclusive HorrorFest Packs To celebrate the spooky season, PlayStation Plus members can enjoy horror-themed in-game item bundles for a variety of PS5 and PS4 games***. This includes the Call of Duty: Warzone Horror Bundle (available October 1), Hunt: Showdown 1896 Starter Pack (available October 6), and the Overwatch 2 Dragur Reinhardt + 5 Tier skips Pack (October 7). Find out more about these and other PlayStation Plus Exclusive Packs here. *PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup may differ by region. Please check PlayStation Store on release day for more information. PS Plus is subject to recurring subscription fee taken automatically until cancellation. Age restrictions apply. Terms apply: play.st/psplus-usageterms  **Promotion ends October 20, 2026. Avatar voucher code expires 6 October 2027. Licensed for consumer use only. Non-transferable, not for sale or resale. Available in regions with Sony Pictures Core.  ***Base game must be owned to access pack contents. 

Title: How Control Resonant’s art design and tech shaped its bosses, paranaturally-twisted Manhattan and more Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:00:09 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/09/29/how-control-resonants-art-design-and-tech-shaped-its-bosses-paranaturally-twisted-manhattan-and-more/ With its gravity-defying set pieces, memorable boss fights, and decidedly different take on Manhattan, Control Resonant, released last week, is staking its claim to be one of 2026’s big hitters on PlayStation 5. I had the chance to talk to Lead Level Designer Anne-Marie Grönroos, Art Director Elmeri Raitanen, and Lead Gameplay Designer Sergey Mohov to dig into the inspiration behind the striking art direction and design of the sequel’s characters and environments. Designing Dylan Games featuring super-heroic protagonists are all about fulfilling the ‘power fantasy’ of transporting us away from our day-to-day lives. But this is the world of Control. And sure, Dylan lets us rise – quite literally – above the norm, but there’s a reason why Remedy often illustrates his very human clumsiness. “There is a deliberate groundedness in how Dylan moves and fights,” explains Elmeri. “We wanted to show that everything has a cost.” “When he uses Reach, he’s just kind of swept off his feet” – Sergey Sergey expanded: “Dylan’s animations demonstrate that everything he does is difficult. It takes effort to use the Elevate ability, and shifting gravity is disorienting to him.” So while we don’t know what it’s like to run at super speed or levitate, we do know what it’s like to stumble or fall over, and when Dylan does this, we empathise and connect with him. “That’s a big part of one of the themes of the game,” says Sergey. “Somebody can be really powerful, but at the same time yearning for human connection and trying to learn how to interact with others.” Mapping out ‘Strange York’ Similar to how Dylan’s animations and design affects how the player feels controlling him, Dylan’s actions topple, break, and buckle the expansive world around him for a reason. “In Control, dynamic destruction and reactive environments played a huge part of the second-to-second gameplay loop, making combat feel visceral and rewarding,” explains Elmeri. “In Resonant we wanted to retain that even on a larger stage, so when you slam the ground or create a shockwave, leaves kick up from the street, fire hydrants start spraying water, and trashcans spew litter.” With the larger environment to play in, Remedy had the challenge of matching the expectations set by Control’s confined, Brutalist inspired design with the openness of a brutalised Manhattan, offering a contrast between familiarity and freedom. “A new paranatural threat in the Patterning gave us the opportunity for unexpected and crazy visuals,” says Elmeri. “The Federal Bureau of Control (FBC), at face value, looks like a believable office space. Then when something otherworldly happens, it feels impactful because we had first established a baseline for the story.” “The more mundane areas can also act as a palate cleanser,” says Anne-Marie. “They keep the more paranatural areas surprising. It’s also why we placed the most normal zone, The Central, in the middle of the game world where it creates a baseline of the normal New York. Familiarity with the real-world environments creates contrast, and makes the paranatural stand out even more.” “It was also a challenge to use a real world location,” explains Sergey. “For example, in the real New York the last phone booth was removed around 2022. But we have them in the Remedy universe New York. It’s not meant to be a one to one representation of real life. It is what we call ‘Strange York’, an iconic movie-like retro version.” When it came to other items placed in ‘Strange York’, Remedy followed a particular design ethos. “Most concepts for objects around the environment started with an intended gameplay purpose and an idea of what that object is used for diegetically,” says Anne-Marie. “Or it could also be used to draw the player’s attention, like the FBC satellite dishes around many of the Fast Travel doors, or the deflated FBC balloons near the map towers – in which case it can be up to the concept artist to come up with a reasonable in-world function and backstory. The gameplay function can also evolve based on the concept, and sometimes things need to be added to the concept to address player feedback.” Designing the Gap One of the greatest contrasts comes from The Gap, a stark, grey and otherworldly representation of Dylan’s psyche. “There was a lot of exploration about how to convey the Gap,” says Sergey. “We took inspiration from film and iconic locations, even something like The Truman Show where Truman reaches the end of the world and there’s just a door in the sky. Dylan has spent all this time in a concrete building, locked up and experimented on, and that’s what is most familiar to him. Which is why the Gap visually represents that.” The Gap is the raw, honest concrete Dylan has felt under his bare feet during captivity.” – Elmeri Diving into the Sinkhole Another striking visual part of Control Resonant comes from its Sinkhole mission, where Dylan fights enemies across floors, walls, and ceilings in a gravity warped apartment building. “It started as a prototype to test how it would feel underneath the city through increasingly strange, twisted environments,” says Anne-Marie. “Deep sea exploration and cave diving were some of the inspirations, along with different underground themes, like subway tunnels. Some of those ideas ended up being used in The Subway Fault instead. “We hadn’t yet nailed down the rules of the gravity shifting back then, and didn’t know how big of a part that would play later, but when we set the rule that everything that looks like a walkable surface should be a walkable surface, gravity shifting completely changed how certain areas were played.” “It was quite disorienting to work on,” reveals Sergey. “But it allowed us to focus the player on what was in front of them and create some really cool combat encounters and traversal challenges.” The origin of the Resonants When it came to boss fights, Remedy intended them to be ‘skill checks’ for the player – but their overall creation was a complex alchemy of development talent. “We asked the full team to send their ideas for bosses to us,” reveals Sergey. “We then picked what would best fit the specific kind of player experience that we wanted from a specific boss, and developed it further. “The Deserter boss is in a transformed factory environment specifically built to house it.” – Sergey “We then built the prototype for each, and assessed the size and shape of the space that this creature needed to be in. Then we would describe its behavior in a technical specification document. The iterated version would go to the concept artists who would work with the writers to figure out the visuals and space; how they fit the environment, the theme of the zone, and their identity.” “Each Resonant boss was built on a theme, like controlling people inspired by mycelium or a hive mind,” says Elmeri. “We wanted to evoke awe in the player and create a sense of the majestic or divine. So we referenced a lot of medieval iconography and church architecture.” Harnessing the power of PS5 “From the very beginning of development we wanted to evolve the game to be more player-driven in terms of exploration, progression, and narrative,” explains Sergey. “It definitely helps to have a powerful system because even though people loved the relatively confined spaces of Control, we wanted to open it up. “We wanted bigger draw distances, more physics objects, and more enemies on screen. It’s definitely Remedy’s biggest game – I think one zone in Resonance is larger than any of the other zones in our previous games.” The opportunities afforded by PS5 also extended to Control Resonant’s extensive use of the DualSense Controller’s features, such as listening to radio calls via its built-in speaker, and getting feedback from specific abilities on the Adaptive Triggers. “Getting that feeling of resistance and an extra click contributes a great deal to making the abilities feel more powerful,” explains Sergey. “And that’s important in things like combat, so you don’t have to look at Dylan’s interface; you can just feel your way through instead.” Want to see all of this hard work in its final form, and experience it for yourself? Control Resonant is available now on PS5.

Title: (For SEA) God of War Laufey pre-orders available starting September 29, editions detailed Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2026 02:05:06 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/09/28/20260929-gow/ God of War Laufey is coming to PlayStation 5 consoles on February 16, 2027. We’re excited to announce that pre-orders are now live on PlayStation Store and at all participating retailers. To get you ready, we’re breaking down what comes with the God of War Laufey pre-order bonus and Digital Deluxe Edition. After that, we’ve got some brand-new screenshots and footage of Faye’s combat to round us out! View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image God of War Laufey – Pre-order bonus**  When you purchase your copy of God of War Laufey before launch you will receive: Last Wish Armor Set* Phranque Golden Leaves Appearance* (cosmetic)  In-game resource pack View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image God of War Laufey – Digital Deluxe Edition  The God of War Laufey Digital Deluxe Edition contains:  Dark Alchemy Armor Set*  Dark Alchemy Blade*  Dark Alchemy Bow Scales* Dark Alchemy Catalyst* In-Game Resource Pack Digital Mini Artbook  Official God of War Laufey Digital Soundtrack View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Introducing Faye’s Serpent Bow An enchanted bow with the shifting form of a serpent, Faye’s new weapon in the Everywhen can go from dormant to notched at lightning speed, allowing her to weave deadly arrow strikes alongside her other attacks. Much like the deadly bite of its namesake, the Serpent Bow will tear through Faye’s enemies in both close-quarters and ranged combat.  Precision mode: Full-aim  By fully pressing down the aim trigger, Faye will have more precise aim and increased draw distance. By striking at certain points on an enemy’s body, Faye can impair their movement or ability to strike, giving her the perfect opening to follow-up with a melee hit.  While in this aim mode, Faye can charge up the bow and stack up to five arrows for a powerful volley – perfect for taking advantage of Phranque’s ability to launch enemies up into the sky. Hip-fire mode: Half-aim  With a half press of the aim trigger, Faye will enter a more mobile hip-fire stance. In this aim mode, she can unleash a cluster of arrows for devastating damage to enemies at close range. The Serpent Bow’s quick-fire style allows Faye to juggle airborne enemies and extend combos as she seamlessly swaps between weapons and abilities.  Select your shots  Alongside the two fire modes, Faye can utilize a variety of arrow types that deepen your preferred playstyle. Rapid fire, explosive detonations, multi-target – Faye’s bow is a versatile weapon that can create and capitalize on openings.  Serpent Scales  Shed one form and embrace another – the Serpent Bow can be equipped with different types of Scales that will change both the look of the weapon, as well as the type of playstyle it specializes in via a unique perk (such as the Dark Alchemy Bow Scales from the Digital Deluxe Edition).  In addition to the equipped Scales, the Serpent Bow also has unlockable skills which allow Faye to expand its capabilities even further.  Expressive power Faye is an expert warrior with the ability to harness a range of skills to command the flow of the battle. Her armor options will allow you to choose between a range of gameplay perks, stats, and unique looks. You can also customize her other gear to further enhance different playstyles: Blade: Customizable element of Faye’s sword   Scales: Customizable element of Faye’s Serpent Bow      Catalyst: Powerful artifacts capable of channeling the potent magic of the Everywhen, Faye will be able to choose from a variety of Catalysts with different effects  A glimpse of the Everywhen On behalf of everyone at Santa Monica Studio, thank you so much for all the interest and support shown for the game since our reveal in June.  We’ll be back before you know it with more news for God of War Laufey, but to tide you over in the meantime we’ll leave you with a few more peeks at what the afterlife of the gods has in store for you at launch on February 16, 2027.  View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image *Unlock in-game items via story progression. **Available via download code for physical Standard Edition. Internet connection and account for PlayStation required.

Title: Suri: The Seventh Note launches Oct 30 on PS5 Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2026 13:06:18 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/09/28/suri-the-seventh-note-launches-oct-30-on-ps5/ After four years of development, we’re ecstatic to reveal that our debut game, Suri: The Seventh Note will finally be available from October 30, 2026 on PS5. Every environment, character, and animation has been meticulously illustrated to create a distinctive visual identity. The island itself draws inspiration from the rich artistic and architectural traditions of India, blending influences from Rajput forts, Theyyam Culture, Himalayan monasteries, and diverse regional cultures into a vibrant fantasy world that feels both familiar and original. Play Video Whether you’re chasing perfect runs, uncovering hidden paths, mastering every movement ability, or simply taking in the world around you, Suri brings together gameplay, music, and culture in a world built to be explored. While this would be obvious to some from the onset, there’s just as much thought (if not more) that’s gone into Suri’s music. Stay awhile and listen (to master) Instrumental in our journey was to make music not just something you heard, but something you mastered.  Eighty percent of the music you hear in the game has been recorded with original analogue instruments rather than something synthesised electronically. This is because we wanted to preserve the texture of the music. Through our trailers you’ll notice a layered medley of instruments in-line with what you’d expect from various regions of India. Indian music inspirations So when the player arrives in the southern part of the island of Suri, we’d use a veena instead of a sitar, for instance. And then when we go to the desert portions of the game, we look to Rajasthan and its musical traditions. Along with an intense focus on audio variety came an interesting constraint to solve. How do we adapt musical variety to the speed at which human thumbs can move on a controller?  This ended up being the craziest and most important concern that we had. And it was quite challenging too because we have to work around certain restrictions. For example, there needs to be a minimum time window for the player actions to happen. 480 milliseconds to slay the beat After a lot of trial and error, we found the sweet spot: for us, it’s around 480 milliseconds, so we need to maintain a gap of 480 milliseconds between the main beats of the game. When making a game like this, a major restriction is that we can’t follow any one pure genre in particular because it won’t always work with the gameplay. So we have to create a hybrid of genres and styles.  Why the world of Suri revolves around 480 milliseconds We chose 480 milliseconds between the main consecutive beats to create enough space for the player’s input response while still maintaining the game’s momentum. This timing allows us to accommodate the fail window around the player’s response without making the interaction feel slow or disconnected. A longer window could disrupt the spacing, rhythm, and overall mood of the experience, making the game feel less responsive. On the other hand, a shorter window may make the fail state too subtle or quick for the player to consciously or subconsciously recognize that they have fallen off rhythm. The 480 ms interval therefore provides a balance between responsiveness, rhythmic clarity, and gameplay momentum. Inventing our own music genre Take for example the Indian aesthetics; we can’t have very authentic Indian music in the game because of the sort of rhythms and timing required, but we can utilise it with the cutscenes and narration drawings. The music is very bouncy and not aggressive in nature. And also, we’ve decluttered a lot of the sounds and brought the essential and functional beats up top. Essentially we’ve taken a hip-hop-like structure and laid Indian textures (Indian percussion instruments) over it.  Pre-order now Suri: The Seventh Note launches on October 30, 2026, and you can pre-order the game now on PlayStation 5. Whether you want to experience Ajira’s journey with the base game or go all-in with exclusive content and early access, there are two editions to choose from. Standard Edition The Standard Edition includes: Suri: The Seventh Note — Base Game 20% pre-order discount (with PlayStation Plus membership) Digital Deluxe Edition The Digital Deluxe Edition includes: Suri: The Seventh Note — Base Game Exclusive Chandini Skin DLC 20% pre-order discount (with PlayStation Plus membership) 3 day early access to the full game Exclusive to the Digital Deluxe Edition The Chandini Skin and DLC will not be available for separate purchase. They can only be obtained as part of the Digital Deluxe Edition. If you decide to purchase the Digital Deluxe Edition after launch, you’ll still receive both the Exclusive Chandini Skin and DLC. Choose your edition, get ready to feel every beat, and be there when Ajira’s journey begins. Built with the PlayStation India Hero Project Suri: The Seventh Note is proud to be part of the PlayStation India Hero Project. Growing up, PlayStation games inspired us to dream bigger as developers. To now bring our own game to the platform is something we’re incredibly proud of. Working closely with the PlayStation team has helped us bring our vision to life, particularly while developing our Rhythm Haptics Engine and ensuring that Suri feels right at home on PS5. Their support throughout development has been invaluable, and we’re incredibly excited to finally share what we’ve been building with players around the world. The rhythm Is coming For years, we’ve been building the island of Suri. We’ve created its world, its music, its movement, and its rhythm. We’ve watched Ajira’s journey take shape from an idea into a game we can finally share with you. Now, we’re counting down to the moment you can experience it for yourself. Suri: The Seventh Note launches on PlayStation 5 on October 30, 2026. Choose your edition, get ready to feel every beat, and be there when Ajira’s journey begins. Pre-orders are live today.

Title: God of War Laufey pre-orders available starting September 29, editions detailed Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2026 12:00:14 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/09/28/god-of-war-laufey-pre-orders-available-starting-september-29-editions-detailed/ God of War Laufey is coming to PlayStation 5 consoles on February 16, 2027. We’re excited to announce that tomorrow, September 29 at 10:00am local time pre-orders officially go live. To get you ready, we’re breaking down what comes with the God of War Laufey pre-order bonus and Digital Deluxe Edition. After that, we’ve got some brand-new screenshots and footage of Faye’s combat to round us out! View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image God of War Laufey – Pre-order bonus**  When you purchase your copy of God of War Laufey before launch you will receive: Last Wish Armor Set* Phranque Golden Leaves Appearance* (cosmetic)  In-game resource pack View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image God of War Laufey – Digital Deluxe Edition  The God of War Laufey Digital Deluxe Edition contains:  Dark Alchemy Armor Set*  Dark Alchemy Blade*  Dark Alchemy Bow Scales* Dark Alchemy Catalyst* In-Game Resource Pack Digital Mini Artbook  Official God of War Laufey Digital Soundtrack View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Introducing Faye’s Serpent Bow An enchanted bow with the shifting form of a serpent, Faye’s new weapon in the Everywhen can go from dormant to notched at lightning speed, allowing her to weave deadly arrow strikes alongside her other attacks. Much like the deadly bite of its namesake, the Serpent Bow will tear through Faye’s enemies in both close-quarters and ranged combat.  Precision mode: Full-aim  By fully pressing down the aim trigger, Faye will have more precise aim and increased draw distance. By striking at certain points on an enemy’s body, Faye can impair their movement or ability to strike, giving her the perfect opening to follow-up with a melee hit.  While in this aim mode, Faye can charge up the bow and stack up to five arrows for a powerful volley – perfect for taking advantage of Phranque’s ability to launch enemies up into the sky. Hip-fire mode: Half-aim  With a half press of the aim trigger, Faye will enter a more mobile hip-fire stance. In this aim mode, she can unleash a cluster of arrows for devastating damage to enemies at close range. The Serpent Bow’s quick-fire style allows Faye to juggle airborne enemies and extend combos as she seamlessly swaps between weapons and abilities.  Select your shots  Alongside the two fire modes, Faye can utilize a variety of arrow types that deepen your preferred playstyle. Rapid fire, explosive detonations, multi-target – Faye’s bow is a versatile weapon that can create and capitalize on openings.  Serpent Scales  Shed one form and embrace another – the Serpent Bow can be equipped with different types of Scales that will change both the look of the weapon, as well as the type of playstyle it specializes in via a unique perk (such as the Dark Alchemy Bow Scales from the Digital Deluxe Edition).  In addition to the equipped Scales, the Serpent Bow also has unlockable skills which allow Faye to expand its capabilities even further.  Expressive power Faye is an expert warrior with the ability to harness a range of skills to command the flow of the battle. Her armor options will allow you to choose between a range of gameplay perks, stats, and unique looks. You can also customize her other gear to further enhance different playstyles: Blade: Customizable element of Faye’s sword   Scales: Customizable element of Faye’s Serpent Bow      Catalyst: Powerful artifacts capable of channeling the potent magic of the Everywhen, Faye will be able to choose from a variety of Catalysts with different effects  A glimpse of the Everywhen On behalf of everyone at Santa Monica Studio, thank you so much for all the interest and support shown for the game since our reveal in June.  We’ll be back before you know it with more news for God of War Laufey, but to tide you over in the meantime we’ll leave you with a few more peeks at what the afterlife of the gods has in store for you at launch on February 16, 2027.  View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image *Unlock in-game items via story progression. **Available via download code for physical Standard Edition. Internet connection and account for PlayStation required.

Title: First-person RPG Queen's Domain pitches you against an island of gorgeous freaks with naught but a flying sword and infinite throwing daggers Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2026 16:07:02 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/first-person-rpg-queens-domain-pitches-you-against-an-island-of-gorgeous-freaks-with-naught-but-a-flying-sword-and-infinite-throwing-daggers Fantasy RPG Queen's Domain is frequently likened by certain other websites to From Software's King's Field games and The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind, so I'm going to put my nose in the air and forcibly compare it to something else. Looks like, errrrrr, a first-person Ico with Mayan architectural influences, maybe a touch of Final Fantasy's Ivalice period here and there. It's set on an island with shorelines you could compare to Halo's Silent Cartographer level, if you rubbed your eyes with breakfast cereal. Have I thoroughly confused you? Don't worry, here is a trailer. Read more

Title: "NO GAME NO LIFE": Grasshopper Manufacture have leapt from the jaws of NetEase and gone indie again Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2026 15:30:00 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/no-game-no-life-grasshopper-manufacture-have-leapt-from-the-jaws-of-netease-and-gone-indie-again No More Heroes and Killer7 developers Grasshopper Manufacture have split from erstwhile parent company NetEase, founder Goichi "Suda51" Suda has announced. NetEase bought them back in 2021, as part of the acquisition of Gungho Online Entertainment. Now, they're going indie. According to Suda, the change reflects "a strong desire to deliver titles in an even wider variety of styles to video game lovers everywhere". Read more

Title: The importance of being earnest: How Marvel Tōkon's Deadpool trades ridicule for fighting game reverence Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2026 15:00:12 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-importance-of-being-earnest-how-marvel-tokons-deadpool-trades-ridicule-for-fighting-game-reverence Deadpool’s a weird character. Like fellow mutant Wolverine, Wade Wilson is a trained killer whose primary superpower is a healing factor that lets him recover and reform from any wound, even if bisected or decapitated. Unlike Wolverine, Wade knows he’s in a fictional medium, be it a comic book, movie, or game, and physically can’t stop quipping about that fact and referencing things in and out of his world. It’s up to the writer whether this is sheer coincidence (as in, he’s genuinely just psychotic and his insane ramblings happen to be the truth), or a true meta awareness granting him power over narrative itself. This is a trait that Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls handles smartly, which in a way is surprising, because it usually makes him quite annoying. In most appearances, Deadpool references everything — nothing is safe. Marvel editorial, art of all mediums new and old, assorted real-life celebrity drama, specific stories from comics’ past (not just Marvel, either), and more I can’t think of right now; all of it ripe fruit for Wade to riff on in one of the many jokes-per-minute spouting from his scarred mouth. This became true of the vast majority of his comic runs, once the meta awareness, fourth-wall-breaking became a central part of his character identity, and defined non-comic appearances like High Moon’s 2013 Deadpool game and Ryan Reynolds' (admittedly, kinda perfect) portrayal from the 2016 film onwards. No, X-Men Origins: Wolverine does not count. Read more

Title: Crimson Desert's first expansion, Charting the Unknown, delayed so Pearl Abyss get more time to polish and stabilise the red pudding Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2026 14:30:00 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/crimson-deserts-first-expansion-charting-the-unknown-delayed-so-pearl-abyss-get-more-time-to-polish-and-stabilise-the-red-pudding A little bit of extra waiting is in order for Crimson Desert's first proper expansion, Charting the Unknown. Originally set to arrive midway through October, it's now been moved back by a couple of weeks to allow for some extra fine-tuning of the thousand or so funky open world activities devs Pearl Abyss have jammed into it. Read more

Title: Come play the flute and reshape the very earth in Songs of Glimmerwick, a magic school RPG from the creators of Eastshade Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2026 14:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/come-play-the-flute-and-reshape-the-very-earth-in-songs-of-glimmerwick-a-magic-school-rpg-from-the-creators-of-eastshade It has perhaps never been easier to join a witch or wizard school without being a Guy Who Rhymes With Bally Trotter. Academies of the occult abound in videogames. True, there has yet to be an amazing Little Witch Academia adaptation, and I'm still waiting for that Arbitrary Metric take on Naomi Novik's A Deadly Education, to say nothing of Failbetter's take on Terry Pratchett's Equal Rites, but in the short term, I've been enjoying the demo for Songs of Glimmerwick, which goes on sale today. Read more