Title: Meta Promises Lightweight VR Multimedia Headset, Launching in Spring 2027 Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2026 14:30:33 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/meta-vr-glasses-promises-a-lightweight-vr-multimedia-headset-launching-in-spring-2027-2000736857 But will IMAX movies and Xbox Cloud Gaming in VR convince the skeptics?

Title: State Of Decay 3 Studio Almost Sold To Splash Damage Before The Deal Fell Through Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2026 14:15:40 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/state-of-decay-3-studio-almost-sold-to-splash-damage-before-the-deal-fell-through-2000736948 The company behind Brink was nearly set to buy former Xbox studio Undead Labs with the financial backing of the publisher behind an upcoming Star Wars game

Title: Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 Is About To Make Me Go Back To The Old Me Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2026 13:32:47 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/cyberpunk-edgerunners-2-release-date-streaming-netflix-2000735749 It’s been a while since I went back home to Night City

Title: Instead of Announcing Ace Attorney 7, Capcom Is Porting The Fifth Game Into VR For Some Reason Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2026 12:45:18 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/instead-of-announcing-ace-attorney-7-capcom-is-porting-the-fifth-game-into-vr-for-some-reason-2000736853 The wait continues as Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies gets a VR remake

Title: Boys Don’t Die: A Halo Retrospective Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2026 12:10:55 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/boys-dont-die-a-halo-retrospective-2000736763 'No, I think we're just getting started.'

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: Silent Hill: Townfall Is The Franchise’s Answer To Alien: Isolation, And It’s Already On Sale Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2026 13:30:00 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/silent-hill-townfall-is-the-franchises-answer-to-alien-isolation-and-its-already-on-sale/ There’s something about a spine-tingling atmosphere and the fear of being scared that draws me into playing horror games. There’s something captivating about removing the power fantasy some video games have and putting you into a more vulnerable, hunted situation, and Silent Hill’s tension makes those frightening shenanigans even more terrifying. When I saw Silent Hill: Townfall was changing the formula by Resident Evil 7-ing the franchise, I was intrigued, and now I can wholeheartedly recommend it. Best of all, you can get a Steam key for cheap at launch. Despite the first-person perspective giving me the aforementioned RE7 vibes, playing Silent Hill: Townfall is a lot closer to Alien: Isolation or Outlast—which, thankfully, are some of my favorite horror games of all time. Set in 1996, you play as Simon Ordell, who finds himself in the fog-covered Scottish town of St. Amelia. Stop me if any of this sounds familiar, but wait—he’s in Scotland, not the United States of America. So, it’s slightly different. Thankfully, you’re not just skulking around this fog-smothered location without a helping hand. You’re armed with an old handheld CRTV, which functions as an enemy locator and a helpful tool for puzzles, a la Alien: Isolation’s Motion Tracker. Less sci-fi, more old-school. As Simon, you’re not some warrior who can shred through monsters, but you can fight back, opting for melee weapons like trusty pipes to help you do your dirty work. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cm1Z1IFTtX4 Of course, the best horror games live and die by their fear factor. What’s the point of stomping around an abandoned town if the threat doesn’t feel menacing? Fortunately, Silent Hill: Townfall continues the series’ tradition of making each area feel tense and unwelcoming. While the monster designs might not be as iconic as classics like the nurse or, unsurprisingly, the legacy of Pyramid Head, they’re still good enough to warrant some shudders from me. If you’re looking to buy Silent Hill: Townfall on PC, you don’t need to pay the listed price on Steam. Instead, you can grab the game for just $37.49 / £33.73 at Fanatical, giving you a 25% discount on the typical price. Considering the game has only just released, that’s an absolute bargain, and you’ll have some extra cash towards the boatload of other games coming up later this year. Not bad, in my eyes. I still have no idea what Townfall even means as a subtitle, but I know it’s an excellent experience, so that should be enough to sell you on it, right? Disclosure: GameSpot and Fanatical are both owned by Fandom. This story was created in collaboration with Fanatical’s deals team.

Title: The Best Nintendo Switch Games In 2026 Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2026 12:50:00 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/best-nintendo-switch-games/2900-3828/ The Nintendo Switch and its successor, the Switch 2, is home to tons of great games, including dozens of titles you can only find on Nintendo's handheld hybrid systems. Many of these are published by Nintendo itself, since the company makes great use of its own hardware, but there are plenty of third-party and indie games exclusive to the Switch consoles as well. With such a strong catalog of games, narrowing down the standouts to the very best isn't super easy, but that's what we've attempted with our list of the best Nintendo Switch games. We aimed to include a mix of genres, franchises, and both AAA and indie games. The Switch era of gaming might be winding down now that its successor, the Switch 2, has arrived, but it looks like this groundbreaking hybrid handheld-console from Nintendo is going to have a lengthy retirement tour. Over the years we've seen Nintendo's biggest franchises reach new heights on the Switch, and the console has also established itself as a powerful platform for third-party releases. While some franchises nabbed multiple spots on this list--Zelda, Metroid, Pokemon--we tried to limit repetition where possible. The picks below aren't in any particular order, and to make things easier, we've listed them all in alphabetical order. For more Switch game recommendations, check out our lists of the best Switch games, the best multiplayer Switch games, and great Switch games for kids. If you're specifically looking for games from some of Nintendo's most famous franchises, we have roundups of every Zelda game and every Mario game on Switch. Animal Crossing: New Horizons Animal Crossing: New Horizons remains one of the most popular and wholesome games on Nintendo Switch. Just as lockdowns began happening across the world, Animal Crossing: New Horizons invited players to a tranquil island for a relaxing loop of activities like fishing, bug-catching, and perfecting the layout of their virtual homes. Nintendo has steadily introduced new features to New Horizons, including plenty of free content as well as the massive Happy Home Paradise DLC. New Horizons also has robust customization features, including a new terraforming feature that gives you complete control over the terrain of your island. Whether you're conversing with your fellow residents, trying to finish your museum catalog, or visiting your friends' islands, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a constant charmer. Read our Animal Crossing: New Horizons review. Advertisement Bayonetta 3 A showstopper of confident combat and demonic dance-moves, Bayonetta 3 gets action in a way that few other games do. A cocky blast of fun that caps the Bayonetta trilogy off on a high note, Bayonetta 3 isn't afraid to mix up its formula with the arrival of a new character who's a perfect contrast to the elegant anarchy of the titular witch. With a multi-dimensional storyline, full-scale kaiju battles, and even a Hollywood-level chase sequence, Bayonetta 3 doesn't forget why fans fell in love with the series in the first place. Read our Bayonetta 3 review. Advertisement Celeste A wonderful platformer with an important message, Celeste feels right at home on Nintendo Switch. Madeline makes the trip to the treacherous Mount Celeste, a snow-covered mountain filled with perilous cliffs and interesting characters. Rendered in gorgeous pixelated graphics, Celeste plays like an old-school platformer and relies largely on well-timed jumps. It feels superb in motion, and the level design gradually grows more challenging as you acquire new abilities that cleverly expand the gameplay. It's a difficult game, but you can tweak the settings to fit your skill level to enjoy the story. Celeste tells a moving tale about finding yourself and overcoming self-doubt that creeps into your mind. It's one of the most poignant games in recent years as well as one of the best side-scrolling platformers on Switch. See our Celeste review. Advertisement Chained Echoes The Nintendo Switch is home to several of the best RPGs around, including many which are heavily inspired by the classics of the 16-bit era. Chained Echoes is a prime example of this, as the game's blend of nostalgia with forward-thinking gameplay is a joy to play. Exploration remains smooth thanks to enemies being visible on the map, the traditional leveling system is dumped for upgradeable stats and skills that improve over time, and combat is dynamic as you're tasked with keeping an eye on an Overdrive meter that can turn the tide of battle when you're in a pinch. All of that adds up to an enjoyable game to play, while the complex narrative centered around political intrigue and the human cost of war will keep your eyes glued to the screen. Advertisement Cuphead Studio MDHR's Cuphead is a glorious ode to classic cartoons and a tremendous run-and-gun. Cuphead originally released for Xbox One and PC before being ported to Nintendo Switch. It made a smooth transition and runs flawlessly on the Switch hardware whether you're playing on your TV or in handheld mode. Cuphead's art style immediately stands out. The hand-drawn characters and animations look ripped out of a 1930s cartoon, giving Cuphead a visual style that will always look great. The jazzy audio design rounds out the presentation, transporting players to a different time. Essentially, it's a playable cartoon. Cuphead is far more than just a beautiful artistic triumph; it's also an aptly designed run-and-gun filled with exciting boss fights and cleverly made side-scrolling levels. If you're not afraid of a challenge, Cuphead is an absolute must-play game whether you play solo or cooperatively with a friend. The Delicious Last Course expansion only added to Cuphead's greatness by offering a brand-new playable character and some of the most impressive boss fights and animations across the whole package. See our Cuphead and Cuphead DLC reviews. Advertisement Dead Cells Dead Cells is an amalgamation of rogue-likes and metroidvanias, and the result is an influential game that will likely be considered one of the best in both genres for years to come. Set in a procedurally generated castle, you play as a reanimated mass of cells taking hold of a prisoner's body. The labyrinthine castle is crawling with dangerous enemies and littered with secrets waiting to be uncovered. Each time you die--which tends to happen fairly regularly--you have to start over again. Critically, there are permanent upgrades, which allow you to make progress and see new areas with each subsequent run. With finely tuned and stylish action combat, an array of cool abilities and weapons, and an expertly designed map that changes each time you play, Dead Cells compels you to see it through to the end. And like all good roguelikes, Dead Cells makes you want to play through it again and again. Dead Cells has a bunch of great add-on content, including a great Castlevania-themed DLC, which really does feel like a perfect pairing. Read our Dead Cells review. Advertisement Donkey Kong Country Returns HD As Nintendo prepares to launch the Switch 2, it's increasingly reaching into its back catalog for more games. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD goes back to the original Wii, reintroducing the first time Retro Studios brought back the beloved DKC side-scroller series. The game is still tough-as-nails, but it packages the quality-of-life features from the 3DS port that allow you a little more flexibility. With impeccable stage design that pays homage to the classic Super NES DKC games, this is a solid platformer that deserves its flowers. Read our Donkey Kong Country Returns HD review. Advertisement Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake One of the most influential RPGs of all time has finally gotten the glow-up it deserves. Dragon Quest III was an incredible, genre-defining classic in its day, helping to break new ground with innovations like a robust job system and party recruiting. The HD-2D Remake recontextualizes this in the retro-modern aesthetic of games like Octopath Traveler or Triangle Strategy. The gameplay is faithful to the original, while packing just enough quality-of-life enhancements to make it smoother for current day play. It's the best way to enjoy a true classic. Read our Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. Advertisement Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition Square Enix's long-running Dragon Quest franchise has consistently stuck to its roots, and Dragon Quest 11 embraces its traditional JRPG identity. In an age where more and more JRPGs are injecting traditionally Western gameplay features into their systems, Dragon Quest 11 embraces what it has always done so well. It's simply a fantastic turn-based role-playing game filled with charming characters, a beautiful world, and a deeply satisfying combat system. On Switch, you can switch between two distinct styles: modern 3D visuals and a classic 8-bit top-down presentation. The latter is especially intriguing for handheld mode. Read our Dragon Quest 11 review. Advertisement Fire Emblem: Three Houses Relentlessly engaging and rife with variety, Fire Emblem: Three Houses is the most impressive entry in the beloved strategy series. You play as a professor who oversees one of three houses at a mysterious monastery. There, you cultivate relationships and train your students to be prepared for the battles ahead. While recent Fire Emblem games have leaned more into social simulation, Three Houses takes this concept to the next level and includes some well-implemented management sim features. It strikes a wonderful balance between storytelling, preparation for the next battle, and the always-wonderful tactical combat scenarios the series is known for. With deftly written characters, an exceedingly good tale, and smart tweaks to the layered combat system, Fire Emblem: Three Houses is an astonishing experience from start to finish. And more than any other Fire Emblem game before it, Three Houses encourages multiple playthroughs to see the whole story, and each playthrough is different. Read our Fire Emblem: Three Houses review. Advertisement Hades 2 Any follow-up to a critically acclaimed game is going to have its work cut out for it, as developers have to tread a fine line between familiar gameplay and enhancing it with new ideas. The original Hades already felt like a complete and superb dive into the Greek underworld, but Hades 2 builds on that foundation to deliver not just a beautifully polished experience but also one that feels fresh and exciting. Combining a captivating narrative with best-in-class roguelite gameplay, Hades 2 improves on its predecessor meaningfully and in every way possible. Not only does it feel better than ever to play, but new weapons, abilities, and an impressive amount of content will keep you hooked to your Switch screen for a very long time as you attempt yet another perfect run in the underworld. Read our Hades 2 review. Advertisement Hollow Knight It's a good thing that Hollow Knight is such a good metroidvania that you can comfortably hop into whenever the fancy strikes you, because it makes the wait for its sequel Silksong that much more bearable. The original game had some rough edges, but these were smoothed over in time and the bug's life adventure that came out of this was nothing short of exceptional. Hollow Knight is haunting and elegant: an aggressive collection of combat and exploration that feels right at home on the Switch. This version also contains all of its DLC, a sizable chunk of content that expands on the game massively and is enhanced by its gorgeous visual design. Read our Hollow Knight review. Advertisement Hollow Knight: Silksong Years of development behind locked doors lent a mythic quality to Hollow Knight: Silksong, but the wait was more than worth it for this confident sequel. Doubling down on everything that made 2017's Hollow Knight a smash hit, Silksong is a masterfully crafted game full of deep character-building options, challenging combat, and beautifully designed levels. It's undeniably frustratingly difficult at times, but few games can elicit a sensation of triumph as powerful as the fist-pumping moments you'll regularly find in Silksong when you overcome deadly challenges. It doesn't reinvent the metroidvania formula, but it does perfect it. Read our Hollow Knight: Silksong review. Advertisement The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy There's no shortage of great tactical-RPGs on the Switch, and you can add The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy to that list. The fourth game from developer Too Kyo Games, The Hundred Line offers a rich narrative full of mystery and intriguing characters, relationship-building diversions, and strategic action that carries a high sense of risk and reward. If it sinks its hooks into you, expect to spend a lot of time playing The Hundred Line, as it features strong performances and dozens of potential endings to unlock. Advertisement Into The Breach Subset Games' Into the Breach is a rare type of game that feels and plays like nothing before it. Developed by FTL studio Subset Games, Into the Breach is a roguelike tactics game that takes place on tiny grids. In the distant future, the monstrous Vek are threatening humanity. To save the world from monsters, you assemble a team of three mechs who take on the Vek in small-scale battles on eight-by-eight grids. Each battle only lasts several turns, and the goal isn't to overpower the Vek; instead, you're trying to deter their attacks and limit damage on critical infrastructure. You can also see a preview of each Vek's next move at the start of every turn, allowing you to strategize for the best possible outcome. Into the Breach is more like chess than a traditional tactics game, and you'd be surprised at how involved the matches can get. Into the Breach innovates on the form more than any other game in recent memory. See our Into the Breach review. Advertisement Jack Jeanne There's no shortage of visual-novel and otome games on the Switch, but if you're looking for one that delivers mature storytelling through exceptional voice-acting and polished rhythm gameplay, grab a download of Jack Jeane. An elegant blend of genres that features a narrative written by Tokyo Ghoul mangaka Sui Ishida, the game subverts typical romance tropes to deliver a deep story about the performing arts. It also looks gorgeous, thanks to stunning, watercolor-esque illustrations by famed artist Sui Ishida. Advertisement Kirby and the Forgotten Land Simply put, Kirby and the Forgotten Land is the best game in series history. As Kirby's first 3D platforming adventure, Forgotten Land offers remarkable variety and depth compared to earlier entries in the series. Kirby's iconic Copy ability works incredibly well in 3D, adding depth to both puzzles and combat. With six unique worlds that each contain levels that are littered with secrets and novel design quirks, Kirby and the Forgotten is one of those platformers that constantly surprises. Kirby's new Mouthful Mode ability is a charmer and spices up gameplay even more. The lengthy mainline stages are complemented by short and sweet time trials dubbed Treasure Road. These optional levels utilize Kirby's Copy and Mouthful abilities in fun and interesting ways, and completing them feeds into the overall loop that compels you to upgrade Copy abilities to make them even cooler. Kirby and the Forgotten Land is an absolute delight from start to finish whether you're playing solo or alongside a friend or loved one in local co-op. Read our Kirby and the Forgotten Land review. Advertisement The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was a Switch launch title, but it remains one of the best games on the platform all these years later. Many fans have called it the best game in the entire franchise--though the next game on this list has a strong argument, too. Breath of the Wild was Nintendo's first real foray into open-world games, and it's easily one of the best in class. Breath of the Wild provides a sense of exploration never before seen in the series. The sprawling open world of Hyrule is gorgeous and serves as Link’s personal playground. He can climb virtually anything, which creates an incredible sense of scale and freedom. This overarching change extends to the central progression as well. Replacing elaborate dungeons with tons of small-scale Shrines allows you to approach the adventure in your own way. Breath of the Wild is one of the few open-world games that isn't littered with extraneous systems and objectives. It prides itself on offering a slower pace and a more scenic, desolate world that's ripe for exploring, whether you're on foot, horseback, or scaling a cliff searching for a new discovery. Breath of the Wild is a stunning, brilliant adventure. Read our The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild review. Advertisement The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom After decades of playing the damsel in distress or a sidekick to Link's heroism, Zelda is now finally taking center stage in her own adventure. Echoes of Wisdom looks remarkably similar to the Link's Awakening remake for Switch, with the same playfully animated aesthetic. But Zelda takes the lead this time with her own distinct mechanics. Using a special wand, she can summon "Echoes" of the objects and enemies she encounters, using them to cleverly solve puzzles and fight in combat encounters. While Zelda can take the form of a swordfighter like Link, her combat hooks are different enough to set this game apart and let Zelda forge her own path at last. Read our The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom review. Advertisement The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Six years after the release of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Nintendo captured lightning in a bottle again with its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom. Building on the foundation of the groundbreaking Switch launch game, Tears of the Kingdom hits all the right notes for a sequel. It's bigger, bolder, and even more ambitious than the first game, and at the same time, it makes great strides towards addressing some of the more lingering issues from Breath of the Wild. The Legend of Zelda at its very best, Tears of the Kingdom links to the past by borrowing the best elements from older games in the franchise, and delivers a rewarding experience that's endlessly captivating. The end result is a masterpiece of intelligent engineering and fun gameplay that will become a new gold standard for future Zelda games. Read our The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom review. Advertisement Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope Who would have thought that a tag team of Mushroom Kingdom superstars and Ubisoft's Rabbids could produce such a gem? Following up on the absurd strategy of 2017's Kingdom Battle, Sparks of Hope refines the turn-based strategy formula with genuinely clever improvements. It's a game that the rest of the genre should pay attention to, as Ubisoft Milan and Paris make big changes that help create a better game with an even better sense of pacing. It's also just a hoot to play, with the sheer joy woven into every pixel shining in this sequel. From Luigi's barely contained cowardice to the hilarious silliness of the Rabbids, Sparks of Hope is a chaotic but clever little masterpiece on the Switch. Read our Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope review. Advertisement Mario Kart 8 Deluxe An expanded port of the excellent Wii U game, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the best racing game on Nintendo Switch. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe currently contains more than 40 racers and 48 tracks, including many of the best courses from Mario Kart history. Deluxe adds several notable features, including driving assistance settings for new players and two item slots. It also has an extended Battle mode, which winds up making Mario Kart 8 Deluxe the most content-rich and well-rounded entry in series history. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe released during the Switch's launch window, but it remains one of the most popular multiplayer games on the console for good reason. It should be in every Nintendo Switch owner's library. See our Mario Kart 8 Deluxe review. Advertisement Mega Man: Star Force Legacy Collection When you think of Mega Man, you think of Capcom's iconic hero running and gunning through stages full of hazards and gimmicky bosses. But for a time, some of the best Mega Man games were redefining what the franchise could be. Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection is a rarity, a collection of classic Nintendo DS games given a new lease on life. The full trilogy and its variants are available to play, and not only do they still look superb thanks to their adorable pixel-art, but they've been enhanced with meaningful quality-of-life additions to boot. A return to the trilogy is a reminder of just how strong the storytelling was, as the games tell a touching coming-of-age tale. You've also got the original Nintendo DS two-screen layout seamlessly converted into a crisp single-screen experience that perfectly balances multiple displays, while the restored online features help complete the package. Advertisement Metroid Dread After a nearly two-decade wait, Metroid returned to its side-scrolling roots for an adventure that closed out the current Metroid saga. Remarkably, Metroid Dread lives up to the high expectations set by longtime fans. Developed by Mercury Steam (Metroid: Samus Returns), Metroid Dread is a wonderful adventure that sticks to its roots. Dread shines mechanically, with fast-paced combat, a wide range of upgrades to acquire, and a stable of bosses that test your fortitude and counterattack skills. Dread also introduces the EMMI, creepy robots who patrol designated zones and cause instant game overs if you're caught. It's an absolute joy to explore the maze-like locales, and Dread's huge swath of secrets to uncover encourages multiple playthroughs. Metroid Dread is easily one of the best side-scrollers on Switch, and it's a reminder that going back to your roots can be a truly excellent idea. Read our Metroid Dread review. Advertisement Metroid Prime Remastered Few games stand the test of time, but Metroid Prime is one of the select few titles from a bygone era that still feels as good to play today as it did on the GameCube back in 2002. More than two decades later, it's even better as this first-person shooter got a massive facelift for Nintendo's hybrid console. Looking better than ever, Samus Aran's shift to the third dimension is a great example of evergreen gameplay design that influenced an entire generation of action games in its wake. It's still Metroid right down to its first-person bones, but the slick action and well-paced exploration can be enjoyed without needing to don some nostalgia-goggles. Read our Metroid Prime Remastered review. Advertisement Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Metroid Prime 4: Beyond can be an uneven game at times, as the focus on creating a character-driven story while introducing a few open-world elements to the formula results in highs and lows. To its credit, any issues in Metroid Prime 4 are quickly forgotten once the classic formula kicks in. Atmospheric locations, the joy of solitary exploration, and breathtaking action feel better than ever in this polished adventure, while new abilities and outstanding performance make for a Metroid Prime game that was worth waiting so many years for. Read our Metroid Prime 4: Beyond review. Advertisement Mina the Hollower It might have taken a few extra months to see the light of day, but the wait for Mina the Hollower was worth it. Shovel Knight developer Yacht Club Games has proven that it's no flash-in-the-pan studio, as Mina the Hollower is a masterful adventure from start to finish. Set in a beautifully hostile world that feels like it was ripped straight out of a punishing NES game, it combines the open-world flow of classic The Legend of Zelda games with souls-like combat that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The end result? A magical tour through a haunting world, enhanced by catchy chiptune tracks, secrets around every corner, and combat that tasks you with being creatively cunning. Read our Mina the Hollower review. Advertisement Monster Hunter Rise The Monster Hunter series has a long history on Nintendo platforms dating back nearly a decade, and though Monster Hunter World didn't release for the Switch, Capcom rectified that with the excellent Monster Hunter Rise. Though it started as a Switch exclusive, Rise has since been ported to other platforms and received a massive DLC, Sunbreak, that makes it all the more enjoyable. Rise adds a level of verticality through the Wirebug tool. Though perfect for shorter gameplay sessions, it also fits comfortably as a mainline entry with a big map, online multiplayer action, and a ton of depth in the various weapon types for players looking to experiment. With a mix of classic monsters and newcomers, it's a great entry point and perfect for the series' veterans. Read our Monster Hunter Rise review. Advertisement Mouse P.I. For Hire How does a boomer shooter stand out in a crowded genre? In the case of Mouse P.I. For Hire, going very retro is one way to make an impression. Combining old-school rubber-hose animation with satisfying shoot-'em-up action, Mouse P.I. For Hire hits a sweet spot between riveting gunfights and absurd comedy that's bolstered by its polished animation. Presented as a cartoon caper with film noir aesthetics, the retro-style shooter offers plenty of style and substance inside of a charming package. Read our Mouse P.I. For Hire review. Advertisement Octopath Traveler 2 The Switch has become a hub for classic JRPG goodness, and Octopath Traveler II is a prime example of this. Square Enix's follow-up to the original game retains all the classic charm of the SNES era, mixed with graphics that blur the line between modern and retro gaming. Not just a good-looking game, Octopath Traveler II is satisfying to play thanks to its combo of non-linear storytelling, freeform exploration, and strategic combat, all of which serve to deliver a challenging adventure told across multiple viewpoints. Like the best sequels, it builds on the ideas that the original game pioneered, improving and iterating on its unique elements. If you're looking for a cozy JRPG that'll easily consume dozens of your hours, Octopath Traveler II is worth picking up. Read our Octopath Traveler 2 review. Advertisement Opus: Prism Peak Fans of Opus: Echo of Starsong were in for a long wait--and a few delays--with Opus: Prism Peak, but it was worth it. Like its predecessor, Opus: Prism Peak is the kind of game that pulls at the heartstrings, delivering an emotional story and fusing it with gameplay that perfectly complements it. A bittersweet narrative adventure about a world-weary photographer and an amnesiac girl, it's the kind of game that's perfect for anyone who feels jaded by life, as it's a story of loss, hope, and perseverance told through a camera lens. Advertisement Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Perhaps the most beloved of Mario's many RPG incarnations, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door received an excellent and loving remake on Nintendo Switch this year. The bright, colorful visuals look better than ever thanks to an HD remaster, the heartfelt and often funny dialogue still shines through years later, and the turn-based battle system still feels dynamic and incredibly balanced. In addition to remastering a beloved game, a new fast-travel, hint, and training options help streamline the experience and make it more approachable for newcomers. This is the definitive way to experience a classic all over again, or for the first time. Read our Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door review. Advertisement Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo plays--and looks--like a love-letter to the Zelda-likes of the Game Boy Advance era, but with some neat twists on the formula. Like the best games in this genre, there's a satisfying sense of reward for exploration and experimentation, and when combined with a novel gameplay system that asks you to take on some "debt" and clear it, Pipistrello shines. It's a quirky tribute to a bygone era of gaming, all wrapped up in a package of energetic visuals and catchy music. Advertisement The Plucky Squire At first glance, The Plucky Squire appears to be another indie Zelda-like, albeit one with a particularly lovely storybook art style. But it takes a turn when the hero of the story is thrown out of his book, and into the real world of a fan's bedroom, by the villain. The adventure then has you jumping in and out of the book at will, manipulating the words on the page, and even opening and closing the book to slide objects around for puzzle-solving. It's an inventive hook with loads of cool applications, and on top of that, The Plucky Squire keeps you on your toes with an impressive level of variety. Read our The Plucky Squire review. Advertisement Pokemon Sword & Shield Pokemon Sword & Shield ushers in the Galar region, an expansive locale filled with new Pokemon and a familiar but refined loop. Once again, you're working to be the best that ever was, starting off with one Pokemon and no badges and slowly working your way to filling out your Pokedex and becoming the Pokemon League Champion. The Galar region has several Wild Areas (including DLC areas), new open sections filled with different species of Pokemon roaming in plain sight. These sections offer a nice change of pace to the streamlined journeys of previous games, and the new Dynamax mechanic and rotating raids add more continuous content to enjoy. With a great collection of new Pokemon, more customization options available at your fingertips, and a wealth of content that only gets more substantial when you factor in the pair of expansions, Pokemon Sword & Shield is a worthy addition to the beloved franchise. Read our Pokemon Sword and Shield review. Advertisement Pokemon Legends: Arceus Pokemon Legends: Arceus sits somewhere between a mainline game and a spin-off. Taking place well before the events of any other RPG entry in the series, Arceus sends players to the Hisui region (Sinnoh) to complete the first Pokedex. Arceus' core gameplay revolves already scouring the land in search of Pokemon, which can be caught by simply lobbing Poke Balls. Arceus also has the familiar turn-based battle system, which makes it feel like a mainline game in many respects. Mainline story missions take place in sprawling areas, which gives Arceus an open-world feel, and with plenty of optional missions as well, Arceus boasts a surprising amount of compelling content. Crafting systems and resource management incentivize exploration, and it's pretty easy to lose hours simply exploring the locales in search of new Pokemon and resources. Pokemon Legends: Arceus is a must-play for Pokemon fans, and even lapsed fans might enjoy the refreshing loop. Read our Pokemon Legends: Arceus review. Advertisement Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Admittedly, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet on Switch is a game where its best features are often overshadowed by poor technical performance. But beneath the performance gripes, this is a Pokemon adventure that shines with frictionless gameplay, a surprisingly touching story, and a world that's teeming with life. The Spanish-influenced locales and punchy soundtrack combined with dozens of new Pokemon to catch and secrets to uncover make for a thrilling adventure, one that's hard to put down once the signature "gotta catch 'em all" gameplay sinks its hooks into you. Read our Pokemon Scarlet and Violet review. Advertisement Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown The classic platformer series made a return as a metroidvania, and the results are stellar. This new Prince of Persia revolves around Sargon, the youngest member of a specialized Persian royal guard called the Immortals, who gets caught up in a web of intrigue and betrayal when one of their own kidnaps the kingdom's prince. That leads his band to the mysterious and cursed Mount Qaf, where the adventure takes place. With fine-tuned combat, nail-biting platforming, and excellent new metroidvania quality-of-life features, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is both a leader in its genre and a triumphant return for the classic franchise. It's definitely worth checking out, and the handheld nature of the Switch makes it easy to explore while lounging with your favorite baking show. Read our Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown review. Advertisement Rhythm Heaven Groove Rhythm Heaven Groove did an amazing job at reviving a classic franchise after a decade-long hiatus. The series has always been known for its catchy audio-cue-driven gameplay and polished music, and this new entry amplified that core gameplay with both creative and absurd scenarios to play through. Featuring more than 80 bite-sized rhythm minigames and an audio-first focus that allows you to visually enjoy the chaos unfolding on your screen, Rhythm Heaven Groove is a wild collection of imaginative concepts and foot-tapping tunes. Read our Rhythm Heaven Groove review. Advertisement Schrodinger's Call Visual-novel games might not be to everyone's taste, but when the genre gets imaginative, the experience is incredibly unique. Set 21 nanoseconds before the moon collides with Earth and ruins everyone's day, players step into the shoes of Mary, the Last Confidant. Sitting in a dark room where her only company is a talking cat and a telephone, Mary has to answer their calls and help them find peace in a game that is full of touching character moments, beautiful artwork, and a haunting atmosphere. Advertisement Shin Megami Tensei V The Shin Megami Tensei mainline series may not be as popular in North America as the Persona series, but JRPG fans shouldn't miss out on Shin Megami Tensei V. This Nintendo Switch exclusive captures the unique atmosphere that the series is known for and complements it with brilliant battles that require players to be strategic with their decisions. The story is a slow burn, but it's filled with interesting characters and choice-driven plot points that make it engaging throughout. If you're looking for a JRPG on Switch that you can sink dozens and dozens of hours into, Shin Megami Tensei V is a great choice--and you don't need to have played previous entries to enjoy it. Read our Shin Megami Tensei V review. Advertisement Shotgun Cop Man A platformer game without a dedicated jump button sounds like heresy, but Shotgun Cop Man runs wild with that idea thanks to its gung-ho energy, clever level design, and cartoonish action. It's a short-but-oh-so-sweet experience as well, as you chase after the devil and use the titular Shotgun Cop Man's trigger-happy set of skills to deliver a ballistic kiss of death to anything that gets in your way. Advertisement Splatoon 3 Splatoon 3 isn't as novel an experience the third time around, but this squidtastic game still knows how to make a splash. Family-friendly action in a colorful world, Splatoon 3 refines its formula and creates a highlight reel of fun zone mechanics in online competition, a single-player mode that is delightfully challenging, and clever multiplayer maps. With a massive amount of multiplayer modes and options on offer, Splatoon 3 is a buffet of content that you won't run out of anytime soon. Veterans to the series might need some more convincing before they hop back into familiar territory, but for anyone who has yet to play a Splatoon game, Splatoon 3 is the perfect entry point. Read our Splatoon 3 review. Advertisement Stardew Valley Tired of the hustle and bustle of city life, you move to your grandfather's farm in Stardew Valley, a picturesque rural community where life moves slower than you're used to. Stardew Valley is both a relaxing farming sim and a wonderful social sim filled with relatable characters. Though it lets you make your own fun, Stardew Valley does have a clever loop that slowly builds as you develop relationships, acquire new gear, and uncover the game's many secrets. It's easy to pour hundreds of hours into Stardew Valley. There's so much to see and do, and after a while, Stardew Valley has the familiarity of home, one that's always a pleasure to return to. Read our Stardew Valley review. Advertisement Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury Super Mario 3D World was one of the best Wii U games, and the recently released expanded port takes the platforming magic to new heights. Super Mario 3D World is a great blend of 3D Mario platforming and the classic Mario course structure. The sheer inventiveness on display across its 12 worlds (including four challenging bonus worlds) is enough to make this one of the better modern Mario games, and the fact you can play the entire campaign with up to four players makes it a great pick for families. Bowser's Fury brings something entirely different to the table with an open-world design with a series of mini levels that gradually unlock as you collect Cat Shines and square off against a very large and angry Bowser. Overall, the package includes a staggering amount of variety and demonstrates how Nintendo's trusty mascot still has tricks up his sleeve all these years later. Read our Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury review. Advertisement Super Mario Bros. Wonder Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the first new 2D Mario in years not under the "New Super Mario" brand, and the reason why couldn't be clearer. While the New SMB series was well-made as a retro throwback, Super Mario Wonder is a true evolution of Mario mechanics that pushes the series forward in ways that we haven't seen for years. The marquee Wonder effects imbue every stage with wild, unique mechanics, while a new Badge equipment system lets you experiment with different powers. New stage types and power-ups abound as well, making this an absolute delight. Read our Super Mario Bros. Wonder review. Advertisement Super Mario Odyssey Super Mario Odyssey is a relentlessly joyful 3D platformer that gives players far more freedom than they've had in previous 3D Mario games. Super Mario Odyssey has a series of large, open levels, each of which is chock-full of Power Moons to find by completing tricky platforming sequences, besting foes, and solving puzzles. It also introduces a new array of moves thanks to Mario's sentient hat Cappy. If you're playing Super Mario Odyssey with young children, the cooperative mode is excellent, as it allows one player to take control of Cappy, who can't take damage. Super Mario Odyssey is Mario's biggest adventure yet, with more to see and do than ever before in a 3D Mario game. Read our Super Mario Odyssey review. Advertisement Super Smash Bros. Ultimate With more than 80 fighters so far, more than 100 stages, and a wide variety of content whether you're playing multiplayer or refining your skills against the CPU, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the most comprehensive and plentiful brawler in franchise history. The expansive roster of characters with totally different playstyles is impressive enough to keep you playing for the long haul, but Smash Bros. Ultimate is far more than just a collection of Nintendo characters and anime characters with swords hitting each other repeatedly; it's a deeply satisfying brawler that refines the overall gameplay to make the most technically sound Smash Bros. to date. It's full of video game history, too, from unlockable trinkets to iconic music. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the best fighting game on Nintendo Switch. We'd also recommend the Fighter Passes, which grant access to additional characters and stages. Read our Super Smash Bros. Ultimate review. Advertisement Tetris Effect: Connected Tetris and the Nintendo Switch are a perfect match, so it's no surprise that the best iteration of the classic puzzle game has found its way on this list. Tetris Effect: Connected has been around for a few years, delighting fans with its jaw-dropping mix of special effects, catchy music, and block-stacking, but it only just arrived on Switch in 2021. This is pure Tetris, but it adds heaps of style that creates an entrancing experience that's easy to get captivated by. Tetris Effect has a great single-player campaign mode as well as a slew of game variants in its Effects mode. The "Connected" portion of the experience lets three players join up to fight increasingly challenging CPU-controlled bosses. Whether you're primarily playing solo or dropping garbage blocks with friends, Tetris Effect: Connected is the best way to play Tetris. Read our Tetris Effect: Connected review. Advertisement Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream Nintendo's social life sim revels in absurdity, offering a digital break from reality that is exquisitely strange. Whether you're going wild with the character creator or using the game's tools to create all kinds of famous Miis, Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream feels empowering, and it doesn't judge you for getting up to shenanigans with the citizens on your console. At the same time, there's a cozy charm to the game, as relaxing activities and lighthearted fun provide a perfect avenue of escape from reality. Advertisement UFO 50 UFO 50 might just be the best deal in gaming right now. Not only are you getting 50 games rendered in a retro-flavored style from a group of all-star developers, but each one is a showcase of creativity and experimentation. Familiar genres get a fresh twist, there's an engaging narrative behind the development of these games that ties into a fictional studio, and the entire experience is a nostalgic treat. Advertisement Vampire Crawlers Vampire Survivors popularized a new genre of roguelike bullet-heaven games, but could developer Poncle recapture that magic by shifting to the world of deckbuilding games? The answer is a resounding yes, because Vampire Crawlers combines the simplicity of the developer's breakout game with the engaging "just one more turn" energy of assembling a deck of cards to take down legions of monsters. That makes for a tight and focused experience, one that rewards you after every run and smartly incorporates Vampire Survivors characters and lore to give that game a fresh perspective. If you're looking for a roguelike deckbuilder that isn't too complex and offers a lunchtime distraction, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better game than this in 2026. Read our Vampire Crawlers review. Advertisement Wax Heads 2026 might go down as one of the coziest in years of gaming, as the genre expanded with new themes and ideas throughout the year. One of the highlights was Wax Heads, a strong reminder that Spotify's algorithm will never be a match for a record store employee who's ready to broaden your tastes. Part puzzle game, part store-management simulator, Wax Heads does a brilliant job at not only making you feel like a record store employee, but a part of the conversation as you dish out recommendations for your customers and help new shoppers discover the magic og music. Advertisement Xenoblade Chronicles trilogy Between Mario and Zelda, it's a shame that Xenoblade Chronicles doesn't get more love on Nintendo platforms. But for anyone looking to see superstar developer Monolith Soft at its very best, the trilogy of Xenoblade Chronicles games available right now are masterpieces of JRPG design, worldbuilding, and incredible visuals. Make no mistake, these games are incredibly deep and have steep learning curves, but stick with them and you'll find a rewarding experience waiting for you at the end. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is easily the best of the bunch, a lengthy and stunning adventure that can keep you occupied for the rest of 2023. A testament to just what the Switch is capable of when a developer is firing on all cylinders, each Xenoblade game is worth investing your precious time and delivers a unique magic that you'll only find on Nintendo hardware. Read our Xenoblade Chronicles 3 review. Advertisement

Title: Xbox’s New Mythic Achievements Take 15 Seconds To Tell You “Good Job” Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2026 12:12:08 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xboxs-new-mythic-achievements-take-15-seconds-to-tell-you-good-job/ Xbox Achievements have remained mostly the same since they were first introduced decades ago, but it looks like they're set to evolve slightly with the introduction of "Mythic" Achievements. Similar to PlayStation's platinum trophies, it looks like players will have to earn every Achievement in a game before they're awarded one of these. How do you know if you've earned this rare level of kudos on your PC or Xbox? Don't worry, unlocking a Mythic Achievement will result in your system rewarding you with a lot of digital fanfare. As spotted by Klobrille, unlocking a Mythic Achievement will trigger a lengthy animation and sound effect, running almost 15 seconds in total: https://twitter.com/klobrille/status/2102548362914365594 On the surface, it looks like adding a Mythic Achievement to your shelf is a sign that you've truly done everything there is to do in a game, so sitting back and enjoying the lengthy applause from your Xbox after you've poured hours into it makes sense. According to TrueAchievements, Mythic Achievements are worth zero Gamerscore and are tracked separately from your usual Achievements. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma had teased the rollout of these new awards back in August, but it looks like they're rolling out during another bleak week at Xbox. As part of ongoing cuts, hundreds of people have been laid off across Xbox Game Studios, studio consolidation has resulted in various developers being grouped under new arms of Xbox, and things are not looking good for Ninja Theory. Undead Labs has also found a new owner--that has not been officially revealed yet--but the move away from Xbox has resulted in downsizing at the State of Decay 3 developer.

Title: Meta’s $1,300 VR Glasses Could Be The Most Expensive Way To Play Xbox Games Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2026 10:59:20 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/meta-1300-vr-glasses-could-be-the-most-expensive-way-to-play-xbox-games/ For years, Meta has had one of the best entry-level virtual reality headsets with the Quest 3 and its slightly lower-specced successor, the Quest 3S. The VR hardware packs a punch, but if you're looking for an even lighter option, the company's new VR glasses could catch your attention. Essentially a Quest 3 that's designed to be easier to carry around, the Meta VR Glasses also come equipped with some impressive screens--and a massive price tag of $1,300 when they launch in Spring 2027. According to Meta, the VR Glasses weigh just 100 grams, thanks to a pocket-sized puck that is tethered to the specs. This unit houses all the tech for running apps and games on the VR Glasses, and inside you'll find a Qualcomm Snapdragon Reality Elite chipset, 128GB of storage, 12GB of RAM, and a battery. The glasses feature 5K Micro OLED lenses, which can output 2412 x 2288 pixels per eye at a 120Hz refresh rate. https://youtu.be/xyD_bmMy5nQ Out of the box, these can access all apps and games from the Meta Quest catalog, and they support Xbox Cloud Gaming. Meta also says that they're "IMAX-Enhanced certified" as they support the Dolby Vision HDR format, and they can be used to watch 3D movies. When they arrive, users will have a library of 75 games that they can play using only their hands, or they can connect it to a gaming console or handheld as an alternate display option. These do not come with controllers by default, but you can buy Touch Plus controllers separately or pair an existing Quest 3/3S set with the glasses. The other big feature touted by Meta are Holograms, avatars that use a photorealistic recreation of your visage. Similar to the Personas used in Apple Vision Pro headsets, you can use these to interact with people when you call other Meta VR Glasses owners. The catch here is that Holograms will be rendered as a flat stereoscopic video stream, but Meta says it plans to evolve these over time and eventually use them to replace the current cartoon-inspired avatar system. The price tag will likely be the biggest obstacle for Meta, as at $1,300 it is more than double the cost of a 512GB Quest 3 headset and several times more expensive than a Quest 3S. The portability factor is a plus, but if you're looking for high-tech glasses that you can use specifically for watching movies or as a second screen for your consoles, then something like the Viture Beast and Pro 2 XR glasses are worth looking at. They may not be lightweight virtual reality devices, but they offer plenty of bang for your buck at a much lower price than the Meta VR Glasses. But for pure VR gaming purposes, Meta's new VR Glasses could be a solid option, considering how the platform is already home to dozens of great games and upcoming ports, like High on Life. If you need a pricy option right now, there's also the Steam Frame, a VR headset from Valve that costs over $1,000 and has begun shipping out.

Title: Discord Begins Rolling Out Age Verification–And A Sponsorship With FanDuel Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2026 21:12:45 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/discord-begins-rolling-out-age-verification-and-a-sponsorship-with-fanduel/ Discord has officially begun rolling out age-verification measures as of today. The company first announced age verification--and, subsequently, limits placed on accounts of those under 18--back in February of this year, but delayed a full implementation until just recently. According to the official announcement blog post, this delay was done in order to include more age-assurance options, including several that do not rely on controversial biometric or digital ID systems, which have raised privacy concerns--especially after a well-publicized hack exposed tens of thousands of Discord users' personal IDs. Instead, they are using an algorithmic combination of factors to determine user age, including how long your account has existed, the servers you're in, the games you play, and other factors, detailed in a technical blog published alongside the announcement. (However, this model is not available in all territories, such as the UK and Austrialia--both of which have enacted strict social media bans and age verification laws.) While Discord assures users that "More than 90% of you won’t be asked to confirm your age," the company also acknowledge that their model isn't flawless, and some accounts will need to verify their age to use a non-age-restricted Discord account. If users want to avoid uploading ID or video, they can use services like Apple Pay, Google Play, Google Wallet, or AgeKey, or enter a credit card number. With any attempt at age verification comes controversy, however, and users of Discord were quick to notice that age verification was rolling out at the exact same time as sponsored ads for sports betting website FanDuel were appearing for American users. Obviously, it's illegal to use FanDuel if you're under 21 (or 18 in some jurisdictions), so it didn't take much for social media users to assume a connection between the two events. We have reached out to Discord for comment on the sponsorship, as well as other potential age-restricted product or service sponsorships in the future. A Discord spokesperson responded, "We’re taking a deliberate, user-first approach to evolving our ads business to add genuine value that connects naturally with our users' sports, gaming and entertainment interests.” According to Discord, this sponsorship was a limited test in the United States and that "Discord’s policies still prohibit ads for traditional real-money gaming, including casinos and sportsbooks." It was also noted that "Daily Fantasy Sports ads, and FanDuel brand ads on Discord are intended for adults, and we are using a range of age signals to help ensure they are age appropriate. We use age group signals to exclude teens from seeing inappropriate ads and to make sure they have the right settings." In the meantime, if you don't want to see sports betting ads on your Discord, go to Settings, then Data and Privacy, and scroll down to Sponsored Content. Then go to Manage Sponsored Content and choose to disable "Real Money Gaming." This will hopefully continue to work in the future for other advertising categories you may want to disable, as well.

Title: Winter Shimanoyama region treasure hunt location in Forza Horizon 6 Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2026 15:06:15 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/forza-horizon-6-fh6-treasure-hunt-location/ The winter Shimanoyama region treasure hunt is one of the weekly activities in Forza Horizon 6Series 5, "British Automative." Whenever a new hunt begins, a box appears somewhere on the map and, to locate it, the only hints you have are the region's name and a picture. Completing this challenge helps you get closer to claiming the weekly and the Series cars.

Title: How to solve the Clara Woods puzzles and open the Atlas Way gate in Silent Hill Townfall Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2026 15:02:10 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/silent-hill-townfall-clara-woods-puzzles-open-the-atlas-way-strange-gate/ The Clara Woods puzzles in Silent Hill: Townfall are all part of the same objective; to open the CEG employee lockers and unlock the Atlas Way gate. This gate, also referred to as the strange gate, leads to the CEG Headquarters, but it requires a special item to open. Only by solving the three smaller Clara Woods puzzles, the floppy disk puzzle, the tapepuzzle, and the lamenting poem puzzle, will you be able to craft this item.

Title: Epic's New Free PC games Are Now Live, and They're Only Available for a Limited Time Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2026 14:59:15 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/epic-games-store-free-games-9-24-2026-download/ The Epic Games Store is offering two great free PC games this week for Epic users. For a limited time, you can grab a much-loved mech auto-battler and a unique deck-building roguelike at no charge.

Title: Pokémon TCG Pocket's Next Set Officially Guarantees Rare Cards Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2026 14:54:15 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/pokemon-tcg-pocket-deluxe-pack-mega-announced/ Another month, another new expansion for Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket. On Thursday, The Pokémon Company announced Deluxe Pack: Mega for the mobile digital card game.

Title: Where to find sweet leaves in Fire Emblem Fortune's Weave Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2026 14:42:51 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/fire-emblem-fortunes-weave-sweet-leaves-location-where-to-find/ You need sweet leaves to complete Leda's "Simple Drink Recipes" perform quests in Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave. As part of her campaign, the Rose of Caelus has access to unique missions that not only unlock new skills but also increase the number of drinks you can buy, which are great consumables to take into battle.

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: Leading Publishers Bring Blockbuster PC Games and Technology to NVIDIA RTX Spark Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2026 15:30:48 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/gamescom-rtx-spark-pc-games-technology/ NVIDIA is bringing the next wave of RTX gaming to the Gamescom conference running this week in Cologne, Germany, with support for new games, anti-cheat technologies and increased visual quality.  Electronic Arts, Embark and Ubisoft are among the latest game publishers and developers bringing their blockbuster titles to NVIDIA RTX Spark ahead of its launch this fall. They join the publishers that announced RTX Spark support at COMPUTEX in May, including KRAFTON, NetEase, Riot Games and XBOX.  NVIDIA is working closely with game developers and ecosystem partners to ensure today’s top PC games — including EA’s EA SPORTS F1 25 and Apex Legends, Ubisoft’s Anno 117: Pax Romana and Embark Studios’ ARC Raiders and THE FINALS — run seamlessly on RTX Spark devices. “We’re excited to bring Anno 117: Pax Romana to a new generation of RTX-powered PCs,” said Stéphane Jankowski, Ubisoft executive producer of Anno 117 : Pax Romana. “Our teams build the game to be seen wide: full districts, long sightlines, thousands of details at once. Seeing RTX Spark hold that level of fidelity from a single chip is genuinely impressive.” RTX Spark reinvents personal computing, bringing personal AI agents, advanced content creation and high-performance gaming together in a platform engineered from the ground up for the next wave of Windows PCs. For gamers, RTX Spark combines Windows devices with NVIDIA RTX technologies, including DLSS and Reflex.  Bringing Anti-Cheat to RTX Spark Supporting modern PC gaming goes beyond running the game itself. Many of today’s biggest online games rely on sophisticated anti-cheat technologies, to enable fair play across the multiple platforms these games run on.   NVIDIA has been working with EA to bring native EA Javelin Anticheat support to RTX Spark, including for EA’s biggest multiplayer games, such as EA SPORTS F1 25. RTX Spark launches this fall.  RTX Delivers Next-Generation Gaming RTX Spark is just one part of NVIDIA’s lineup of gaming announcements at Gamescom, including: DLSS 4.5 Ray Reconstruction is available now, featuring NVIDIA’s latest second-generation transformer model to deliver even higher image quality in ray- and path-traced content. It replaces traditional denoisers with an NVIDIA supercomputer-trained AI network to reconstruct higher-quality pixels in the parts of a ray-traced frame where rays were not sampled. Path tracing comes to CONTROL Resonant and 007 First Light to deliver new levels of visual fidelity.  NVIDIA ACE technologies are coming to Aniimo in early 2027, letting players naturally interact with their creatures. Gears of War: E-Day includes RTX Mega Geometry integration, advancing image quality on GeForce RTX GPUs, alongside ray tracing and DLSS 4.5. RTX Remix keeps remastering PC classics, with a major Painkiller RTX mod update available now and The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind RTX coming soon. GeForce NOW gives members more ways to play with new DLSS 4.5 controls, expanded support for Steam Machine and other devices and platforms, plus blockbuster PC games including CONTROL Resonant, Gears of War: E-Day and more coming to the cloud at launch. Find more on NVIDIA’s announcements at Gamescom in this GeForce article. 

Title: Luma Island is coming to PS5 Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2026 13:00:40 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/09/24/luma-island-is-coming-to-ps5/ We’re Feel Free Games, the team behind Luma Island, and we’re very excited to share that Luma Island is coming to PlayStation 5! Luma Island launched on PC in November 2024, and since then more than 800,000 players have joined us on the island. Now we’re getting ready to welcome PlayStation players too. Play Video Luma Island is designed to bring different kinds of players together, whether you’re an experienced gamer or new to games. Different difficulty modes and plenty of ways to play mean everyone can explore the island at their own pace. In Luma Island, players start out with an old caravan and a rundown farm. From there, what you do is really up to you. You can build and decorate your farm, grow crops, raise animals, choose from eight professions, meet townsfolk and hatch Lumas, magical companions that join you on your journey. But there’s a lot more to discover away from the farm. Explorable environments on Luma Island include forests, mountains and thick jungles, along with caves full of resources, ancient temples with puzzles and traps, hidden treasure and plenty of secrets waiting to be uncovered. You can also make your way to Pirate Cove, with its own areas to explore and pirate-themed minigames and challenges. Gameplay variety is an important part of the Luma Island experience. You can spend an evening working on your farm or fishing, then head out the next day to explore the island or venture into its many mysterious temples. There’s always something else to discover, and exploring one part of the island can lead you towards your next adventure. You can do all of this by yourself, or play together with up to 4 players online. Build together, share resources, explore the island, or head out looking for your next challenge. Luma Island will also support cross-platform play across PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, so you can explore the island together, even when your friends are playing on another platform. Players get to decide how relaxed or challenging they want their adventure to be. Luma Island has three difficulty modes: Cozy, Adventure and Hero. In Cozy Mode, there’s no combat unless you choose it, while Adventure and Hero add more challenge. There are no stamina bars or inventory limits either, so you’re free to spend your time on whatever you feel like doing. If you want a relaxed evening tending your farm, decorating or fishing, you can do that. And when you’re ready for something more adventurous, you can grab your tools and see what else the island has waiting for you. We’re really excited to finally bring Luma Island to PS5, and we hope PlayStation players will feel right at home on the island. Luma Island is coming to PS5. You can wishlist it on PlayStation Store starting today.

Title: Fading Echo makes a splash on PlayStation 5 today Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2026 15:00:40 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/09/22/fading-echo-makes-a-splash-on-playstation-5-today/ Hi PlayStation players! This is Sylvain from Emeteria, a New Tales studio, the team behind Fading Echo, and we’re excited to share that our fast-paced elemental action-adventure RPG is launching today on PlayStation 5. In Fading Echo, you play as One, a young Legend fighting to save Corel, a fractured world being consumed by a mysterious force known as the Paradox. To survive, you’ll experiment with One’s powers, manipulate the elements around you, and shift between realities to find new ways through combat, exploration, and puzzles. So, let’s dive in! Become water – then weaponize it Water – or Æther, as it’s known in the world of Fading Echo – is at the heart of One’s abilities. She can manipulate it, use it against enemies, and even transform herself into a living blob of it. One of our goals with Æther form was to make movement itself part of your toolbox. As a blob, you can build momentum, surf through pipes, squeeze through narrow cracks, and launch yourself across the environment. This can help you reach new areas and solve environmental puzzles, but it can be just as useful in combat. Get above an enemy, for example, and you can water-bomb them on the way down, making quite a splash. It’s as effective as it is fun. And movement is only the first ripple. One can also unleash waves of Æther and powerful charged blasts, drenching enemies and changing the state of the battlefield. But drenching an enemy is just the beginning: Æther reacts with elements such as lava, toxic waste, and even Paradox corruption, opening up all kinds of possibilities. Drench an enemy before conducting energy through them. Solidify elements to change the battlefield. Or look to your surroundings and set off a chain reaction that turns the situation in your favor. Play Video We designed these systems to reward experimentation rather than push you toward a single sequence of attacks. When you enter an encounter, we want you to look at the enemies, the environment, and the elements at your disposal and ask yourself: What happens if I try this? Sometimes everything will flow according to plan. Sometimes you’ll find a solution we didn’t see coming. There’s rarely just One answer. Bend reality to find another way Corel is no longer one stable world. The Paradox has fractured it into alternate realities, and One can shift between different versions of the same space – and even different versions of herself. Reality shifting is another system we wanted players to use across exploration, puzzles, and combat rather than for one specific purpose. A path blocked in one reality might be accessible in another. An element you need to solve a puzzle could exist on the other side of a shift. Sometimes, instead of looking for another route through the space in front of you, you’ll need to think about what that same space looks like in another reality. Combat follows the same principle. Shifting can change the resources, hazards, and elements available around you, so the same encounter can play out differently depending on where you choose to fight. For us, Æther, movement, elemental reactions, puzzles, and reality shifting are all parts of the same toolbox. We want you to learn how each system works, then start combining them and finding your own solutions. Explore a world consumed by the Paradox Of course, One has bigger problems than finding increasingly creative ways to deal with enemies. Paradox Corruption is spreading across Corel, twisting reality and consuming what remains of the world. At its center is Maddock, the ruthless leader of the Paradox on Corel, who stands in the way of One’s attempt to save it.Your journey will take you across floating islands and fractured realities as you search for a way to stop the corruption before there’s nothing left to save. And while Fading Echo is a single-player adventure, One won’t make that journey entirely alone. Across Corel, you’ll meet a small group of unlikely allies. Some stand beside One out of loyalty, others out of guilt, and some because they have nowhere else left to go. Each has their own relationship with this decaying world, and with One herself. But One’s journey isn’t only about saving Corel. It’s also about discovering who she is, uncovering the mysteries of her past, and finding the answers she’ll need to save her future. We’ve built Fading Echo around experimentation and giving you the freedom to find your own way through its world. If you’d like to get a first taste before jumping into the full adventure, a demo is also available today on PlayStation 5.  Now it’s time to dive in, PlayStation 5 players! Fading Echo is yours, and we can’t wait to see how you make your way through Corel.

Title: (For Southeast Asia) Lisa x PlayStation arrives this October: First look at the DualSense wireless controller Date: Tue, 22 Sep 2026 01:03:04 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/09/21/20260922-lisa/ Last year, we teamed up with Lisa for the first time on our global PS5 campaign. Today, we’re taking our collaboration a step further with an all-new DualSense wireless controller – Lisa Limited Edition designed with Lisa herself. Play Video Lisa’s journey has taken her from her roots in Thailand to Korea and beyond, as she’s become a defining figure in global pop culture – from her dynamic stage presence to her bold approach to fashion. Hear from her directly on the collaboration: “Gaming is something I do whenever I have time to relax, so getting to create this collection with PlayStation was very exciting. I had a lot of fun adding in little details that I knew my fans would notice, and I wanted the fans to have something they can connect with. I’ve always loved expressing myself through music and fashion, so this collaboration gave me a new way to be creative and show a different side of myself. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I do.” – Lisa Fans won’t have to look far to find Lisa in the details. From the very start, we worked closely together to incorporate elements that held personal meaning for her. Her iconic bangs and eyes take center stage on the DualSense wireless controller touch pad, joined by her signature stars and bold “LL” lettering, all set against a Chroma Pearl colorway – Lisa’s personal favorite. In Southeast Asia, the DualSense wireless controller – Lisa Limited Edition will be available in highly limited quantities at participating retailers beginning on October 30 for a recommended retail price of SGD 115 / MYR 419 / IDR 1,549,000 / THB 2,890 / PHP 5,411 / VND 2,399,000. Pre-orders will begin on October 2, while supplies last.  Alongside the DualSense wireless controller – Lisa Limited Edition, fans can also look forward to the release of her new EP, Press Play, on October 23. Come and Press Play! View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image

Title: Lisa x PlayStation arrives this October: First look at the DualSense wireless controller – Lisa Limited Edition and all-new merchandise Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2026 12:00:58 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/09/21/lisa-x-playstation-arrives-this-october-first-look-at-the-dualsense-wireless-controller-lisa-limited-edition-and-all-new-merchandise/ Last year, we teamed up with Lisa for the first time on our global PS5 campaign. Today, we’re taking our collaboration a step further with an all-new DualSense wireless controller – Lisa Limited Edition and a new merchandise collection designed with Lisa herself. Play Video Lisa’s journey has taken her from her roots in Thailand to Korea and beyond, as she’s become a defining figure in global pop culture – from her dynamic stage presence to her bold approach to fashion. Hear from her directly on the collaboration: “Gaming is something I do whenever I have time to relax, so getting to create this collection with PlayStation was very exciting. I had a lot of fun adding in little details that I knew my fans would notice, and I wanted the fans to have something they can connect with. I’ve always loved expressing myself through music and fashion, so this collaboration gave me a new way to be creative and show a different side of myself. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I do.” – Lisa Fans won’t have to look far to find Lisa in the details. From the very start, we worked closely together to incorporate elements that held personal meaning for her. Her iconic bangs and eyes take center stage on the DualSense wireless controller touch pad, joined by her signature stars and bold “LL” lettering, all set against a Chroma Pearl colorway – Lisa’s personal favorite. The DualSense wireless controller – Lisa Limited Edition will be available in highly limited quantities directly from PlayStation and at participating retailers globally beginning on October 30 for a recommended retail price of $84.99 USD / ¥12,480 (including tax) / €84.99 / £74.99. Pre-orders will begin on October 2 at 10am local time, while supplies last.  View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Lisa x PlayStation merchandise pictured above available on Lisa’s official Amazon store beginning October 23.  Lisa x PlayStation merchandise collection Launching this October in the U.S., the Lisa x PlayStation collaboration goes beyond gaming with a collection of PlayStation merchandise featuring Lisa’s designs, including apparel, hats, tote bags, keychains, stickers, a DualSense controller carrying case, and more. The collection gives fans new ways to bring their love for PlayStation and Lisa into their everyday lifestyle. The Lisa x PlayStation merchandise collection will include two unique assortments available in limited quantities in the U.S. Select merchandise will be available to pre-order directly from PlayStation on October 2 at 10am ET, and launch on October 30. Additional items will launch on October 23 on Lisa’s official Amazon store at amazon.com/lisa and in the Amazon Music app.    Alongside the DualSense wireless controller – Lisa Limited Edition and Lisa X PlayStation collection launching this October, fans can also look forward to the release of her new EP, Press Play, on October 23. We can’t wait to see how fans make the Lisa x PlayStation look their own when it launches.  Come and Press Play! View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Buy direct from PlayStation purchase information Starting at 10:00am ET on October 2, players in the US will be able to pre-order the DualSense wireless controller – Lisa Limited Edition and Lisa x PlayStation merchandise collection direct from PlayStation through direct.playstation.com in limited quantities, while supplies last. Starting at 10:00am local time on October 2, players in the U.K., France, Germany, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, players will be able to pre-order the DualSense wireless controller – Lisa Limited Edition direct from PlayStation through playstation.com/store/hardware in limited quantities, while supplies last.

Title: Silent Hill: Townfall — 9 ways first-person changes the iconic horror formula Date: Mon, 21 Sep 2026 07:00:18 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/09/21/silent-hill-townfall-9-ways-first-person-changes-the-iconic-horror-formula/ The Silent Hill franchise has evolved with its most recent entries, expanding into settings that go beyond the eponymous foggy American town. In Silent Hill: Townfall, it also taps into a new way to terrify players, shifting from a traditionally third-person perspective to first-person. The series has previously offered glimpses of first-person gameplay, including Silent Hill 4: The Room (PS2, 2004) and Silent Hill: The Short Message (PS5, 2024). However, Silent Hill: Townfall is the first time you’ll face all the horrors of a full Silent Hill experience through the eyes of its protagonist. Play Video Here are nine ways Silent Hill: Downfall uses its first-person perspective to create a more intimate horror experience and amp up its scares. A claustrophobic perspective Silent Hill: Townfall puts you in the shoes, and viewpoint, of its protagonist character, Simon Ordell, which means you can’t see as much of the world around you as you might in a third-person Silent Hill game. You must be on your guard for threats coming from the side or behind you. The game also uses a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, making the screen wider at the sides but shorter vertically, creating a cinematic presentation — but one that also makes your vision feel realistically restricted. That change in presentation forces you to pay close attention to your surroundings and to listen for enemies you might not be able to see right away. A CRTV to see through the fog Characters in Silent Hill games often carry radios that can give them hints about when enemies are nearing them in the fog — when the radio emits static, danger is close. Townfall takes a more visual approach to this idea with its CRTV, a handheld device you can tune to different frequencies to see the positions of nearby enemies. L1 lets you hold the CRTV up in front of you as you move around, so you can see both what it displays and the world around you. The device also gives a helpful haptic pulse in your DualSense controller to let you know when a new enemy is near. Melee combat It’s a staple of Silent Hill games to battle twisted horrors using everyday objects like pieces of wood. But in Townfall, combat gets harrowing, as monsters throw themselves at your face and your only defense is to hold up a flimsy object to block them. You’ll need to react quickly to stop counterattacks and get some blows in if you want to stay alive. Stealth for survival Combat isn’t always an option in Townfall, and often you’ll have to sneak past enemies to survive. Ducking behind objects like fences, signs, and parked cars with Circle allows you to slip by many enemies unnoticed. You can also hold R1 and use the right analog stick to lean around corners or peek over the top of cover to see where enemies are so you can better avoid them — or scare yourself when you realize just how close they are. Running and hiding No matter how sneaky you are, sometimes, you just have to run for it. You can sometimes lose an enemy just by rounding a corner or ducking behind something, breaking their line of sight. You can also slip inside cabinets, closets, and lockers to hide, where you can watch them through a crack in the door or on the CRTV. But be careful: If an enemy sees you slip into a hiding place, they’ll chase you down and pull you out. Aiming weapons with motion control Motion control is one of Townfall’s useful features, which you can enable in its settings menu. This lets you tilt the DualSense controller to aim when using a firearm or throwing an object. Motion control makes it easier to dial in attacks on enemies with extra precision. But it also makes combat more frightening, since it’s tough to hold your controller perfectly still when your hands are shaking in fear. Dividing your attention The new first-person gameplay means you’re always worrying about what could be just out of view. When you open a door, you’ll need to quickly check what’s on the other side or risk stumbling into an enemy. Actions as innocuous as rifling through drawers or reading emails on a computer become eerie, since you’re vulnerable to monsters that may be shuffling around you. Even using your map (by hitting Triangle) causes you to hold it up in front of your face, robbing you of the ability to see what’s sneaking up on you. Searching your environment for clues Townfall’s first-person view makes puzzles more engaging but also more dangerous. With a more intimate perspective, you can search the environments around you for clues like notes left on desks or diagrams hidden in drawers. But that also means you often need to scour rooms and buildings for the information, and with creatures often stalking around in search of Simon, you’ll have to watch your back. Getting a glimpse of Simon’s inner life The first-person perspective isn’t all about scares. It also gives you a deeper look into Simon’s psyche at certain points. Rather than Simon speaking his thoughts aloud, you’ll sometimes see text appear over the screen to give you a sense of his inner monologue, bringing you a little closer to the character and giving you a sense of how he’s affected by what he’s seeing. For example, he might think “I feel sick…” when seeing something unsettling. With Silent Hill’s first big foray into first-person, Townfall provides plenty of scares as you make your way through the frightening fog of St. Amelia. You can feel the fear for yourself when Silent Hill: Townfall launches on September 24 on PlayStation 5.

Title: Discord roll out revised age verification following delay due to pushback, pledging to be "safer for teens, same Discord for Adults" Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/discord-roll-out-revised-age-verification-following-delay-due-to-pushback-pledging-to-be-safer-for-teens-same-discord-for-adults Discord have rolled out a revised global age verification system, having delayed deploying one earlier this year following largely privacy-based backlash. Read more

Title: Steam Frame-ready VR rhythm game Beat Saber is adding hand-tracking and a punchy new mode in its "biggest update ever" Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2026 11:32:32 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-frame-ready-vr-rhythm-game-beat-saber-is-adding-hand-tracking-and-a-punchy-new-mode-in-its-biggest-update-ever I’m not saying that the reveal of Beat Saber’s "biggest update ever" was timed to coincide with a swell of VR interest induced by the new Steam Frame. But I am going to infer it, without evidence, before immediately moving on to what the sweaty sword-slashing rhythm game can expect when said update lands in Spring of 2027. First and foremost is an entire new mode, Flux. This sees Beat Saber ditch the sabers and dial up the beating, demanding your own bare hands punch, prod, and slap their way through notes. A Beat Saber Unarmed build, basically. Looks fun! If probably no less tiring. Read more

Title: Bethesda say new underlings Obsidian will retain their "distinct" creative identity, despite no longer being as free to work on their own creatively distinct series Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/bethesda-say-new-underlings-obsidian-will-retain-their-distinct-creative-identity-despite-no-longer-being-as-free-to-work-on-their-own-creatively-distinct-series Obsidian will remain a "distinct" Obsidian with their own "creative identity and strengths", despite no longer operating independently of fellow Xbox-owned RPG makers Bethesda. That's according to Jill Braff, president of Bethesda and Microsoft's casual games division, in a memo sent to staff at the former following this week's layoffs and reorganising of studios at Xbox. Read more

Title: After eighteen years of jaggedy bowling, a new mod bestows GTA 4 with DLSS and FSR support Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2026 10:30:09 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/after-eighteen-years-of-jaggedy-bowling-a-new-mod-bestows-gta-4-with-dlss-and-fsr-support Rockstar’s modding guidelines, recently updated in advance of GTA 6, say much about how you can’t dream up unofficial story missions, or give the upcoming instalment a cheeky unofficial PC port. But they don’t say a goddamn thing about crowbarring DLSS, DLAA, and FSR into 2008’s Grand Theft Auto IV, which is exactly what ChunkLeChuck’s DLSS IV mod has gone and done. Read more

Title: Following id layoffs, Quake Champions drops free-to-play nonsense and becomes a £9 game on Steam Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2026 09:19:58 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/following-id-layoffs-quake-champions-drops-free-to-play-nonsense-and-becomes-a-9-game-on-steam After nearly a decade as a free-to-play game, Quake Champions is dropping all that nonsense in favour of being a nice and simple premium release on Steam. That means no more battle passes, no more loot boxes, no more premium currencies. They've even got rid of the store. If you've played the game through any free events on Steam in the past, then you will be upgraded to a full version of the game automatically. And if you've bought any premium currencies in the past two months will be refunded. However, while this is a welcome change, it should be seen in the context of Xbox's mission to fire 3200 developers. Read more