Title: Skydance Institutes Company-Wide Mandatory Return To Office So It Can Avoid Saying ‘Layoffs’ So Soon After Merger Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2026 23:00:49 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/skydance-institutes-company-wide-mandatory-return-to-office-so-it-can-avoid-saying-layoffs-so-soon-after-merger-2000749847 In addition to a five-days-a-week in-office mandate, the company is also offering employee buyouts

Title: Here’s How The Way Activision Talks About Call Of Duty Launch Weekend Sales Has Changed Over Nearly 20 Years Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2026 22:30:49 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/heres-how-the-way-activision-talks-about-call-of-duty-launch-weekend-sales-has-changed-over-nearly-20-years-2000749843 It hasn't been bragging about Modern Warfare 4 sales despite rave reviews

Title: I’m Having A Blast Waiting In Line For An Hour To Play One Minute Of A Platformer With One Million Levels Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2026 22:00:45 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/i-waited-in-line-one-minute-jono-2000749830 I'm doing my part!

Title: AI Has Triggered A PS5 Homebrew Gold Rush, But It’s Also The Reason GTA 6 Can’t Be Pirated At Release Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2026 21:30:32 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/ai-has-triggered-a-ps5-homebrew-gold-rush-but-its-also-the-reason-gta-6-cant-be-pirated-at-release-2000749776 One hacker is being accused of ruining everyone's chances of pirating GTA 6 after reporting a massive hypervisor exploit to Sony

Title: What Does It Even Mean To ‘Save’ Mass Effect? Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2026 21:10:43 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/mass-effect-5-universe-save-petition-bioware-signatures-shutdown-cancelled-2000749836 Thousands of fans are rallying around a campaign to save the series after BioWare's shutdown, but what does that look like?

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: This Book Release Is Basically GTA 6 Launch For Thirsty Women, And Larian Knows It Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2026 03:27:38 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/this-book-release-is-basically-gta-6-launch-for-thirsty-women-and-larian-knows-it/ You might have noticed that Baldur's Gate 3 has an extraordinarily large female audience, and for years, I've had my own theory as to why this is. Much like Dragon Age (rest in peace, my sweet angel), Baldur's Gate 3 features high stakes, fantasy-filled adventure, swords and sorcery, and charming characters that you can smooch. Essentially, it's a Romantasy--a term given to the plethora of women-oriented novels that feature all of the above. Regardless of if you love or hate the term, Romantasy has exploded in popularity over the past decade, and part of that is thanks to writer Sarah J. Maas and her A Court of Thorns and Roses series. For over five years, that series has been on hold while Maas worked on other novels, but now, the sixth book in the series, A Court of Splintered Harmony, is finally here--or at least it will be later tonight. Anyways, it's basically GTA 6 release day for thirsty women, and Larian's latest post proves that team is well aware of it. Earlier today, Larian took to Instagram to share a post referencing the series ahead of A Court of Splintered Harmony's release. In it, the studio shows off a few of the saga's most notable characters in Baldur's Gate 3's character creator while ACOTAR-related audio plays over top. But while Larian celebrating ACOTAR was already enough to made me giddy, the best thing about this post is that it proves that someone at Larian knows ball. Each clip perfectly pokes fun at a character's most iconic (or notorious) moment, or references an inside joke from the ACOTAR community. This includes Feyre's watery bowels, the invisible fleck of dust Rhysand is constantly picking at, and the fact that Feyre's garden-loving sister Elain probably could have helped her family and grown a few crops while they were, you know, starving to death in a small cottage. And the Withers-Suriel comparison? Masterful. Suffice to say that as both an avid reader and gamer, Larian's post delighted me. And as someone who has been yelling about how many of the best games around are secretly Romantasy games (The Witcher 3, The Blood of Dawnwalker, just about every Final Fantasy...), you have no idea how validated I feel right now.

Title: Here’s Another Mass Effect 5 Leak To Break Your Heart Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2026 23:31:44 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/heres-another-mass-effect-5-leak-to-break-your-heart/ If last week's mysterious Mass Effect: Universe trailer leak wasn't painful enough for you in the wake of BioWare's sudden closure, we've gotten yet another taste of The Game That Could Have Been, this time courtesy of award-winning video game composer Austin Wintory.  Known for his beautiful and haunting soundtracks for games like Flow, Journey, ABZÛ, Aliens: Fireteam Elite, Sword of The Sea, John Wick Hex, and Hades II, Wintory was also evidently working on the Mass Effect: Universe soundtrack. From the sounds of things, EA and the now-defunct BioWare were considering having Wintory produce the game's OST. And thanks to Wintory, we at least know what the game might have sounded like. "Mass Effect was my ultimate white whale, my all-time dream project," Wintory wrote in a post on Bluesky. "For the last couple years I'd been in discussion with BioWare & EA to take on the project, and as part of that, I wrote close to 20 minutes of music to explore where the franchise can go next. May as well share it!" Wintory shared the music alongside an image that reads, "Mass Effect: Universe, the music that might have been." "So here you go," Wintory added in a follow-up post linking to a YouTube upload of the test-run tracks. "Thank you again to my friends at both BioWare and EA. To even dream in your sandbox was a privilege." The video features 20 minutes of Wintory's experimental score, featuring seven unique tracks and one remix. Text displayed within the video itself also reveals more about the nature of Wintory's talks with EA and BioWare, along with his inspiration for the soundtrack. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBO8s_McKjU "In 2007, when the credits rolled on my first playthrough of Mass Effect, I remember calling a friend and saying, 'I can't believe I already know this will be among my favorite all-time games.' Usually, it takes the passage of time before we can be so sure something truly belongs to the ages, but in this case, the confidence was instantaneous," Wintory wrote. "This trilogy is my most-cherished gaming experience of my lifetime, and as a professional composer, represented my most sought-after 'White Whale.' For me, there is no greater dream project to be part of." According to Wintory, nothing had been finalized yet, but both EA and BioWare seemed eager to get him on board. So Wintory, in all his love for the franchise, cooked up a little surprise for the Mass Effect: Universe team. "For the past several years, I'd been in dialogue with people both at BioWare and EA to potentially jump into Mass Effect 5," Wintory explained. "As part of those conversations, I decided to surprise the team by writing/recording a giant love letter to the franchise, with my idea of where it can go next. When I wrote this (in 2025), I knew nothing of what they were planning, so this was a bit narratively speculative. The concept was a direct homage to Jack Wall and Sam Hulick's incredible work on the first game, while leaning even harder on true analog synths, and a more complex integration of the orchestra (almost akin to the hybrid nature of The Matrix)." While it seems that Mass Effect: Universe will never see the light of day, at least we have the beautiful soundtrack-that-could-have been, for what looked to be an equally beautiful game.

Title: WoW: Forever Just Got Another Major Racial Ability Shakeup Before Launch Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2026 22:48:46 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/wow-forever-just-got-a-major-racial-ability-shakeup-just-before-launch/ World of Warcraft: Forever's release is just around the corner, but developer Blizzard is making one final pass at the game's racial abilities before launch in response to beta feedback. In a forum post, WoW community manager Kaivax posted a list of significant changes to many of each race's unique abilities that players expressed concerns about during Forever's beta. Those changes include tweaks to tauren, humans, orcs, dwarves, and Skyborne elves. "In taking a final pass on these, we've prioritized racial identity, which means that some races will naturally be slightly more effective than others at certain combat roles," Blizzard said. "In some places where we had replaced role or class-focused racials with generic ones, we're rolling those changes back." https://youtu.be/miSndSl23bI?si=kQoKkM4LGLofOsk- The exception to that mindset is weapon-specialization abilities, Blizzard said, which existed for humans and orcs both in WoW Classic and early on in Forever's beta and made each race more effective with specific types of weapons. "While those have a strong fantasy component to them, it is not healthy in the long run for future raid and dungeon loot tables to be evaluated through the lens of 'required' weapon types," Blizzard said. "At the same time, we're doing a tuning pass on some of the remaining passive bonuses to help ensure that they aren't skewing outcomes in a way that limits player preferences."  Humans, widely viewed by the community as one of the most "optimal" races to pick thanks to their powerful passive abilities, have lost some of their power in combat. Ruthless now only grants 1% critical strike chance instead of 2%. In exchange, their Human Spirit passive has been buffed from 5% to 10%. Tauren have seen some significant changes, with massive buffs to their unique Plainsrunning ability but a loss to some of their combat effectiveness. Plainsrunning will now grant 2% movement speed per stack up to a max of 60% increased movement speed, at the price of no longer increasing mounted movement speed and the loss of hit chance and crit damage from their Endurance passive.  Orcs have seen their 1% crit chance removed and replaced with an earlier passive, Command. Now, orcs will deal 5% increased Warlock and Hunter pet damage. Dwarves have had their critical damage passive removed, instead replaced with a 1% chance to hit with attacks and spells. Last but not least, Forever's newest race, Skyborne elves, have seen some major changes. Their haste bonus from Wind-Blessed has been reduced to 2% from 3%. They also now benefit more from using their Skysight and Read Leyline abilities at elemental convergence or leyline sites, with stronger effects that persist through death. It's just the latest (and sounds like the last, at least for a while) batch of changes to Forever's various races. Blizzard said these changes, a little over a week before Forever's launch, were to address feedback players had during the beta about some abilities feeling "too generic," while others were "objectively stronger than others." You can read the full racial ablity changes below. Blizzard looks to be making plenty of changes to Forever in the last stretch before release. It announced last week that it will be getting a new PvP-server option after all, and that the MMORPG's controversial layering system will see improvements in time for launch. WoW: Forever arrives November 4. WoW: Forever Racial Ability Changes 10/26 Human Ruthless now increases critical chance by 1% (was 2%). Human Spirit now increases Spirit by 10% (was 5%). Dwarf Earth Fury (2% increased critical strike damage and healing) removed. Added: Artisan’s Precision - Increases hit chance with spells and attacks by 1%. Tauren Plainsrunning now grants 2% movement speed per stack (was 1%), for a total max increase of 60% (was 30%). Plainsrunning no longer increases mounted movement speed. Endurance no longer provides any modifiers beyond 5% increased Health (no hit chance or critical damage modifiers). Orc Savage removed (1% increased critical strike chance). Command re-added, increasing Warlock and Hunter pet damage by 5%. Skyborne Wind-Blessed Haste bonus reduced to 2% (was 3%). Read Leyline now increases Mana and Health regeneration by 50% (was 100%), with a 15-second duration. This ability cannot be used while Innervate is active, and will be replaced by Innervate as a more powerful effect. Using Read Leyline at a Ley Line now also grants “Attuned” for 1 hour. While Attuned, the benefit of Read Leyline is increased to 100% regeneration increase. Attuned persists through death. Skysight is now a 15% increased movement speed (was 10%), with a 15-second duration. Using Skysight at an elemental convergence now also grants “Charged” for 1 hour. While Charged, the benefit of Skysight is a 30% movement speed increase. Charged persists through death.

Title: Diablo 4’s War Plans Are Getting A Huge Upgrade In Season 16 Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2026 19:14:12 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/diablo-4s-war-plans-are-getting-a-huge-upgrade-in-season-16/ Diablo 4's War Plans system is getting a major upgrade in Season 16, giving players even more control over their endgame activities and rewards. Developer Blizzard introduced War Plans earlier this year as part of the game's second (and last) expansion, Lord of Hatred. It's an endgame system where players can essentially create a playlist of endgame activities, along the way ranking up those activities via a skill tree to make them even more rewarding. It was a welcome addition, but unfortunately only gave players minimal control over what activities would appear as part of their plans. Players could also only reroll their War Plans a limited number of times, meaning if you didn't like a particular activity, oftentimes you were stuck having to do it. All of that looks to be changing in Season 16 with the addition of a new meta-progression system called War Plans Tactics. By completing War Plan activities, players will be able to invest points into the tactics tree to make it so certain activities are more likely to appear and specific types of rewards will drop. How players reroll their War Plans is also changing, with a new currency called Marks of Wisdom that will cap at 20 and should let players reroll their plans more often. As detailed by Blizzard in a blog post ahead of the season arriving on the Diablo 4 public test realm October 27, players will be able to assign up to three points into each endgame activity and up to three points into different types of rewards.  "Earn points from completing War Plans activities, then invest these points into nodes to increase the chance of preferred activities or rewards appearing," Blizzard said. "This allows you to tailor your War Plans more closely with both your goals and playstyle." A look at Diablo 4 Season 16's War Plans Tactics skill tree. Putting at least one point into Helltides or Nightmare dungeons also grants the choice of increased chances for Greater Helltides and Escalation Nightmare dungeons, respectively. On the reward side, players will be able to make it so they are more likely to earn armor, weapons, jewelry, Obducite, salvage, gems, gold, activity keys, Horadric Cube materials, or Talisman items from activities. The new tactics system isn't the only change coming to War Plans. A new seasonal War Plans tree, Tyrael's Boons, will also be coming with Season 16. There will be four Tyrael's Boons' paths to invest points into, with Blizzard stating players will be able to choose up to four of the six nodes within each path. Those four paths are: Curious Addition: Upgrades the Purveyor of Curiosities to increase the chances for more and higher quality items. Merchant of Mystery: Adds a new merchant in Torment difficulties that sell item caches in exchange for Forgotten Souls. Scent of Gold: Increases the amount of gold, experience, and materials you earn. Trash for Treasure: Reduces transmuting costs, increases chances to earn Obducite and salvage, and can even grant a new Horadric Cube recipe that allows players to upgrade a Tempered Affix on an item into a Greater Affix. The changes to War Plans look to be the biggest features coming as part of Season 16, but there will additionally be a new type of gear to acquire, Horadric legendaries. These special legendaries will synergize with specific Talisman charms, with Horadric legendary jewelry items even counting for Talisman set bonuses. That should open the door to all kinds of new set and charm combinations that are sure to result in some wild new endgame builds. Diablo 4 Season 16 will be playable on the PTR until November 3, with the full season set to launch December 1. Though Diablo 4 won't be getting additional expansions, it will get a new class, the Amazon, in the first half of next year. As for what's next for the franchise, Diablo 5 is slated to arrive in 2029. Blizzard has already revealed three of the game's playable classes and promised it will have more classes at launch than any previous Diablo game.

Title: The Best PS5 Games In 2026 Date: Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:13:00 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/best-ps5-games/2900-3832/ These are the very best PS5 games. The PlayStation 5 library is large and growing, so we've rounded up a selection of our absolute favorites, ranging from new PS5 games to modern classics, big-budget AAA releases to indie gems, and everything in between. As a new year begins, it's a good time to catch up on games you may have missed, and this list should serve as a starting point. Every game on this list gets our mark of approval as the very best the platform has to offer. This list includes recent favorites like The 2024 Game Awards winner Astro Bot and one of GameSpot's Games of the Year, Metaphor ReFantazio, as well as more recent games like Nioh 3. Plus, there's no shortage of other first- and third-party hits, like Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Diablo 4, and Street Fighter 6. The PlayStation 5 is leading the market at more than 92 million units sold. The console has also gotten a facelift with the PS5 Slim model, the beefy PS5 Pro refresh, and a portable peripheral (of sorts) in the form of the streaming PlayStation Portal. For even more recommendations to get the most out of your PS5, be sure to check out our best PS5 controllers and best PS5 headsets. While you're at it, check out some of our selections for the best games on other platforms, best Xbox Series X games, best Xbox One games, and best Nintendo Switch games. 007 First Light 007 First Light proves that James Bond doesn't need to be a relic of a bygone era, as Hitman developer IO Interactive puts its signature spin on Britain's favorite secret agent. The studio charts a new origin for the world-famous character, establishing a new foundation that has everything a Bond fan could ask for: gadgets, guns, and one-liners. Every stage in this globe-trotting adventure is a playground of possibility, anchored by exceptional performances from the cast and a story that shows just how Bond earns his 00 status. It's arguably the best Bond adventure in decades, as IO Interactive makes excellent use of its license to thrill. Read our 007 First Light review. Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced might not hit the peaks that its source material, Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, hit 13 years ago, but that doesn't mean that it's a bad game. Divorced from the high bar that its predecessor set, this remake of the classic high-seas adventure is a faithful modernization, one that offers gorgeous visuals and polished gameplay while also sanding away the rougher edges. It might not have any real surprises to offer players, but on its own, the Black Flag remake is still a seaworthy entry in the franchise that's worth checking out, especially if you never played the original. Astro Bot PlayStation mascot Astro had already debuted on PlayStation 5 with Astro's Playroom, a pre-installed tech demo that showed off the capabilities of the DualSense controller. In Astro Bot, the adorable little Sony mascot comes into its own with a full-fledged sequel that is also, as of now, the best-reviewed game of the year. Not only does Astro Bot squeeze technical wonder out of the PS5 capabilities, but it's also just a constantly surprising and impeccably well-crafted platformer that earns a place next to the very best the genre has to offer. It's a can't-miss on PS5, especially if you enjoyed the little taste from Astro's Playroom. See our Astro Bot review. Baldur's Gate 3 Larian's masterpiece RPG is an incredible display of player agency and choice. The game replicates the Dungeons & Dragons experience like no other, giving you the freedom to approach scenarios in almost any way you can imagine, truly crafting your own tale as you engage with a multitude of memorable characters. It's mechanically complex but approachable, often beautiful to watch, and always gripping. Read our Baldur's Gate 3 review. Advertisement Big Walk Big Walk is easily one of the most wholesome games on PS5 right now, thanks to its endearing art direction and a focus on camaraderie in this multiplayer adventure. It's a stress-free social experience, one that's highly gratifying and full of moments that'll stick with you once you've solved the final puzzles. At its core, Big Walk is a game that's all about making memories, and once you reach the end, the greatest moments from this game will be living rent-free in your head for years to come. Read our Big Walk review. Advertisement The Blood of Dawnwalker With a strong pedigree of veteran developers behind it, Rebel Wolves' debut game is pure dark fantasy bliss. The grounded atmosphere, high stakes, and the pressure of a looming deadline make for a fresh action-RPG, one that never feels bloated with meaningless side quests or checklist activities. A compelling cast of villains and the Dawnwalker gameplay system also add depth to the game, while the 30-day resource system is a cleverly implemented countdown that forces you to think more carefully about each choice you make. Read our The Blood of Dawnwalker review. Advertisement Blue Prince What if you inherited an old manor house, but it changed radically every time you entered it? That's the core premise of Blue Prince, one of this year's best-reviewed games. The first-person puzzle game has you exploring the Mount Holly house, with its ever-shifting layout that you help to draft as you goal. The primary goal is to reach the final room and earn your inheritance, but the house holds many mysteries that unfold beautifully as you make your way through. Read our Blue Prince review. Advertisement Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 The Call of Duty formula might be, well, formulaic at this point, but there's no denying it's still highly effective. This year's game is a return to form for the series after last year's divisive entry, with a back-to-basics campaign mode that's a welcome change. Plus, you get rock-solid multiplayer and the return of CODs extraction shooter mode, DMZ, which delivers thrills and chills aplenty in this immersive slice of the Modern Warfare 4 package. Read our Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 review. Available for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2. Advertisement Castlevania: Belmont's Curse In an age of big-budget blockbusters, does Castlevania still have room to shine? The answer is a resounding "YES," because Castlevania: Belmont's Curse proves Konami's monster-slaying franchise still has plenty of magic. Evil Empire hasn't just revived Castlevania, it has revitalized it with snappy action, a smart parry system, and a tarot card gameplay mechanic that adds an incredible amount of depth to the experience. Add demanding boss fights, a campaign that honors Castlevania's history, and customizable difficulty that makes the game highly approachable, and you've got a Castlevania game that raises the bar for the franchise. Read our Castlevania: Belmont's Curse review. Available for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch. Advertisement Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Easily one of the biggest surprises of the year, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a harmonious fusion of turn-based JRPG gameplay and souls-like combat. The end result is a riveting gameplay experience full of fist-pumping moments of joy when you nail the timing on parries and dodges. The game also features a story that pulls no punches, thanks to an all-star cast flexing their dramatic muscles as they breathe life into a cast of lovable heroes and believable villains. Read our Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 review. Advertisement Control: Ultimate Edition While Control was a great game when it launched in 2019, it had some issues with performance on PS4, especially on base models. With the power of the PS5, Control runs amazingly well. The particle physics really pop in 4K, and the performance is silky smooth. The Ultimate edition comes with both of Control’s expansions, which expand on a story that’s full of surprises and gripping performances. In Control, you play as Jesse Faden, the new director of the Federal Bureau of Control, a secretive agency that investigates supernatural events. Control’s combat is thrilling, with a great mix of standard third-person gunplay and abilities that ooze with style. The story is thought-provoking and, at times, mind-bending. It’s also elevated by a foreboding atmosphere and beautiful art style. If you missed out on Control the first time around, you can now play it in its ideal form on PS5. See our Control review. Advertisement Control Resonant Nobody does weird like Remedy Entertainment, and Control Resonant is another example of just how bizarre the studio can be with its themes, visuals, and storytelling. It's also a blast to play, as the fast-paced action remains consistently fun and encourages experimentation. It's a brilliant expansion of the world of Control, showing just how talented the Finnish developer is at thinking outside the box and taking a big swing at a new genre. The end result? A delightfully absurd and visually imaginative action game that keeps you hooked with its well-polished gameplay. Read our Control Resonant review. Advertisement Crimson Desert You can tell that Pearl Abyss spent years crafting Crimson Desert because the game has an astonishing amount of content. A grand fantasy adventure, Crimson Desert offers an unparalleled amount of freedom within its sandbox. Whether you want to continue along the story's golden path or get up to hijinks of the wacky variety, Crimson Desert will give you all the tools to make your journey across Pywel feel special. It's also one of the best-looking games of the year, so don't be too surprised to sink dozens of hours into this massive open-world experience. Read our Crimson Desert review. Advertisement Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Years in the making, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is legendary developer Hideo Kojima at his best. It's a wonderfully weird and masterfully crafted post-apocalyptic adventure that's stuffed with small details to savor and substantially improved gameplay. Death Stranding 2 is also a surprisingly sincere experience, one full of moments of subtle reflection from a developer at the top of his game. Read our Death Stranding 2: On the Beach review. Advertisement Deathloop Deathloop is set on Blackreef island, a strange place where the party never stops and everyone wants to kill our protagonist, Colt. The island is stuck in a time loop, and the only way to break it is by hunting down and killing a list of targets. Colt retains his memories from each loop but so do all of his targets. They know he's coming. Deathloop is an absolutely enthralling shooter that deftly weaves into systems into the loop in a coherent manner that gradually builds over time. It also tells a gripping tale and features some incredible acting. It earned a rare 10/10 in our review. See our Deathloop review. Advertisement Denshattack The mark of a great game is one that locks you into its world, making you scooch forward on your seat and devoting 110% of your thought process to perfecting it. Denshattack is one such game, a masterclass in entering a flow state as you grind railway lines, perform sick tricks, and spit in the face of authority with an impossibly agile train. Backed up by a killer soundtrack, sharp visuals, and some of the best level design of the year, it's pure high-speed bliss with a fresh attitude that we can't get enough of. Advertisement Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred Diablo 4 was already a fantastic game when it launched, with Vessel of Hatred further polishing its grimdark gameplay systems. Lord of Hatred builds on that momentum, combining fantastic quality-of-life improvements with two new classes and a narrative that pulls no punches. The new Warlock and Paladin classes are a blast of fun that make you feel like a powerhouse in Sanctuary, endgame content is more approachable, and the much-needed update to skill trees is well-designed. Like Lord of Destruction and Reaper of Souls before it, Lord of Hatred elevates Diablo 4 and is a must-play part of Blizzard's dark fantasy series. Read our Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred review. Advertisement Advertisement Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Elden Ring was the runaway hit of 2022 and our Game of the Year. We've been patiently awaiting the promised Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, and this year From Soft delivered in a big way. The DLC provides a massive new area to explore, dense with secrets to uncover and new challenges to overcome. The smart balancing system lets you experience the feeling of progression even with your most overpowered build, and it deepens and expands upon the beloved Elden Ring lore in rich, sometimes shocking ways. Read our Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree review. Advertisement Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Final Fantasy VII Remake impressed us with how it rethought the very structure of what a classic game remake could be. The second in the planned trilogy, Rebirth, expands its scope outside the steampunk city of Midgar and into a lush open world, giving you no shortage of activities and minigames to occupy your time as you pursue the deadly Sephiroth. While this middle chapter loses some of the focus of its predecessor, it makes up for it by further polishing the already tightly designed combat, introducing a wide cast of new and familiar faces, and deepening the mysteries at the heart of the remake trilogy. Plus, we just can't get enough Queen's Blood, the new card game that's so good it could stand on its own as a separate release. See our Final Fantasy VII Rebirth review. Advertisement Ghost of Tsushima / Ghost of Yotei Ghost of Tsushima was the last major exclusive to release on PS4 and made the most of the hardware since it already looked incredible and ran extremely well. The free PS5 upgrade makes the details of Tsushima’s lush open world even more rich and expressive. If you missed out on Ghost of Tsushima at the end of the PS4’s lifecycle, the upgrade, which supports gameplay at 60fps and 4K resolution, makes it look and feel like a native PS5 game. You play as Jin Sakai, a samurai who barely staves off a violent death and sets off on an adventure to thwart the first Mongol invasion of Japan. Ghost of Tsushima has great, fluid combat and well-integrated stealth mechanics. The open-world quest structure does feel fairly familiar, but all of the other aspects make it worth the occasional repetition. Outside of the campaign, there’s a surprisingly awesome co-op multiplayer mode dubbed Legends that adds numerous new layers to an already-great game. You can also opt for the Director's Cut, which includes a brand-new story expansion that adds to the overall narrative. See our Ghost of Tsushima review. Its sequel, Ghost of Yotei, sticks very closely to the template set by Ghost of Tsushima, making for a comfortably familiar game. It might offer few surprises in the gameplay department, but Ghost of Yotei still excels as a tentpole PS5 release: it's gorgeous, you can sink dozens of hours into its romanticized slice of feudal Japan, and its gripping tale of revenge is full of surprises along the way. Read our Ghost of Yotei review. Advertisement God of War / God of War Ragnarok God of War is one of the most stunning PS4 games, and it is even prettier on PS5. The PS5 update adds a performance mode with 4K resolution that runs at 60fps. God of War is one of the best PlayStation exclusives in a long time already, so it’s definitely worth revisiting or playing for the first time on PS5 if you haven't yet. Its sequel, God of War Ragnarok, is a massive expansion of the concept and a continuation of the story. It's just as visually outstanding, while refining the already stellar combat and giving you new tools and RPG-like features to help you make the combat your own. It also continues, and possibly concludes, the apocalyptic story that the first game began, making these two a perfect duology to experience on your PS5. See our God of War Ragnarok review. Advertisement Hades 2 The original Hades was a sublime roguelite, but its sequel takes everything that made the first game great and transforms it into an exceptional follow-up. A good roguelite is all about working toward that one perfect run, an idea that Hades 2 excels at with its polished gameplay, varied arsenal, and powerful boons from the gods. At its core lies a captivating narrative, a story that'll keep you coming back for more, and as a sum of its parts, Hades 2 is a sublime sequel. Read our Hades 2 review. Advertisement Hitman: World of Assassination IO Interactive’s Hitman reboot trilogy has proven to be one of the most inventive and interesting stealth-action series ever made. Hitman 3 caps off the World of Assassination trilogy on an all-time high note for the franchise as a whole. The hallmark of the trilogy has been player choice in intricate sandbox-style levels, and that is readily on display in Hitman 3, giving players a dizzying number of ways to tackle objectives as Agent 47. Brilliant level design is complemented by lively characters who draw you into this mesmerizing and often absurd world. Hitman 3 also places a greater emphasis on its story, which trickles down to the atmosphere to create a campaign that feels more consequential. With the "World of Assassination" update, you can play through all three games of content along with the engaging roguelike Freelancer mode. See our Hitman 3 review. Advertisement Advertisement Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Capcom has had a string of wins with its established franchises, recently releasing a steady stream of well-received new games like Street Fighter 6 alongside remakes like Resident Evil 4. Kunitsu-Gami shows the publisher hasn't lost its step for new franchises, producing an inventive blend of demon-slaying action and tower defense strategy that each feel intense and satisfying in their own ways, and especially combined together. Inspired by Japanese folklore, you need to constantly balance purging the demons, rescuing villagers, and building traps. It's a lot to manage, but spinning these plates simultaneously creates a compelling gameplay loop that's hard to put down. Read our Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess review. Advertisement Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight We've gone years without a solo Batman game, but fortunately, TT Games has arrived to save the day with its new Lego Batman adventure. While the core premise of exploring familiar worlds, bashing everything in sight so that you can build obstacle-clearing gadgets, and collecting all the things that remain in place, Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight enhances that formula and makes it feel better than ever. Clever puzzles, a focused roster of characters, and meaty combat on their own feel terrific, but the game also serves as a brilliant celebration of all things Batman. Read our Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight review. Advertisement Lumines Arise A synesthesia-fueled sequel. Lumines Arise successfully transitions the cult-classic puzzle game series to the Tetris Effect field. Each puzzle is as engrossing as ever, Journey Mode is complemented by several other modes, and the game is a must-have for PlayStation VR2 owners. It might have a high skill ceiling, but once you find your flow, Lumines Arise quickly becomes an experience that effortlessly evokes emotions with its beautiful level design. Read our Lumines Arise review. Advertisement Marathon Bungie's return to its Marathon roots is a fresh spin on the classic IP, one that's full of fist-pumping highs thanks to its extraction shooter setup and painful lows when things don't go according to plan. It's that constant sense of risk and reward that makes Marathon stand out, while clever ideas like the Contracts system to keep the story flowing alongside a customization system that incentivizes experimentation all add up to create a memorable trip to the abandoned ruins of Tau Ceti IV. Read our Marathon review. Advertisement Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Following the blockbuster success of the first Spider-Man game from Insomniac and its interstitial sequel Miles Morales, Marvel's Spider-Man 2 lets the two Spider-Men join forces in a sprawling and gorgeously rendered New York City. The two are come face to face with Kraven the Hunter, who has come to New York targeting Spidey's rogues gallery. The dual protagonists lets you play with two sets of powers, while the cinematic story is a treat for long-time web-heads. Read our Spider-Man 2 review. Advertisement Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls With jaw-dropping visuals and hard-hitting action, Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls scratches the itch for a Marvel fighting game that hasn't been felt in many years. A brawler that puts its own spin on the classic comic book tradition of thrilling team-ups, Marvel Tokon raises the bar for tag-fighters. In a year full of great fighting games, it's an instant classic in this genre. Read our Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls review. Advertisement Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 While everyone has come for Metal Gear Solid 4, you won't want to sleep on the handheld classics included in this compilation of classic Solid Snake games. Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 does an amazing job of rescuing Metal Gear Solid 4 from PS3 purgatory, while Peace Walker and Ghost Babel complement Snake's greatest adventure with their retro charm. Advertisement Metaphor: ReFantazio Persona series director Katsura Hashino has returned with his first new game since 2016, and it's a fantastic one. Metaphor: ReFantazio is similar structurally to the Persona series, but it features a new original storyline set in a fantasy world, and a wide array of characters to find and classes to unlock. The turn-based RPG combat unfolds beautifully into deep layers of strategy, and the story is an affecting meditation on the power of storytelling. Metaphor: ReFantazio is one of the few games in our history to earn a 10/10 review. Read our Metaphor: ReFantazio review. Advertisement Mina the Hollower A love letter to classic top-down Legend of Zelda games, Mina the Hollower is a nostalgic treat. Not only does it feel like an adventure game from yesteryear, but developer Yacht Club Games has also packed in Bloodborne-inspired combat that feels organic and perfectly meshes with the design principles, creating a perfect link between two distinct worlds. Read our Mina the Hollower review. Advertisement MLB The Show 25 The annual baseball season means a new MLB game, and this year's MLB The Show 25 is the best it's been in years. A revised progression system makes Road to the Show better than it's been in years, and this iteration makes significant tweaks to the defensive and free agent systems. The Storylines mode remains a standout, delivering another season of the Negro Leagues story, albeit without a new individual story to set it apart. All in all there's a reason The Show has gained a reputation as a premiere annual sports franchise and this year's doesn't disappoint. Read our MLB The Show 25 review. Advertisement Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection Who would have thought that one of the best Monster Hunter games in the entire franchise would be its spin-off, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection? That's what makes this threequel such a pleasant surprise, as it takes the key elements of the Monster Hunter IP and freshens them up with thrilling turn-based combat and a story that keeps you on your toes. Read our Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection review. Advertisement Nioh 3 Nioh 3 doesn't stray too far from the playbook that it wrote in its previous outings, as this Team Ninja-developed game requires 110% of your attention at any given time when facing off against deadly adversaries. A solid jumping-on point for newcomers, Nioh 3 features a refined sense of gameplay that enhances its core systems, making it easily the best entry in the series to date. It asks a lot of a player with a combat style that emphasizes careful planning and quick reactions, but in return, it provides a satisfying experience to savor. Read our Nioh 3 review. See at Amazon Advertisement No Man's Sky No game had a better comeback story last generation than No Man’s Sky, the ambitious space-exploration sim from Hello Games that originally launched to mixed reception in 2016. In the years since, Hello Games has changed the narrative from unfulfilled promises to exceeding expectations. From adding a bevy of new features like base-building and space fleet management to introducing entirely new ways to play thanks to multiplayer, No Man’s Sky has become a wonderful experience. On PS5, No Man’s Sky runs in 4K at 60fps, has more detailed planets, and features better lighting and shadows. For a game that focuses on exploration and discovery, No Man’s Sky’s visual and technical improvements make it an even worthier voyage across space. See our No Man's Sky Next review. Advertisement Onimusha: Way of the Sword Capcom's revival of the classic Onimusha series is yet another win for the company in 2026, as this action-RPG shows that not every game has to crib from the soulslike handbook--but it sure doesn't hurt to borrow a few ideas from it! A thrilling clash of steel, Onimusha: Way of the Sword captures the excitement of close-quarters battle with its polished gameplay, as you take on all manner of nightmarish foes in an adventure that blends a beautiful art direction with grotesque monsters. Read our Onimusha: Way of the Sword review. Advertisement Phantom Blade Zero Several of the best action games of recent memory have emerged from China, and Phantom Blade Zero could be the next addition to that list. S-Game's new title looks, plays, and feels like a big-budget Wuxia martial arts extravaganza brought to life in exquisite detail, and while its story won't be winning any awards, it shines with stylish gameplay. With free-flowing action, an arsenal of varied weapons to master, and gameplay where you attack and defend at the same time, it's highly recommended for any action fan. Read our Phantom Blade Zero review. Available for PC and PS5. Advertisement Pragmata It feels like Capcom can't stop winning in 2026, as after the release of Resident Evil Requiem and Monster Hunter Stories 3, the company's next game is a sci-fi adventure full of heart and interesting gameplay systems. An excellent shooter built around the idea of hacking your opponents to weaken them before you deliver a killing blow, Pragmata balances that strategic depth with a heartfelt story. With millions of units already sold and a sequel looking likely, we can't wait to see what the future holds for this new breakout hit from Capcom. Read our Pragmata review. See at Amazon Advertisement Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart A PS5 exclusive, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is a thrilling adventure in the action-platforming series, and it looks and feels incredible on next-gen hardware. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart introduces a lovable new character, Rivet, who teams up with the iconic duo after they're thrust into an alternate dimension. With gorgeous visuals, immersive DualSense functionality, and new traversal tools that refine platforming and combat, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart was one of the first games that felt truly "next-gen" and is a must-play for any PS5 owners. See our Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart review. See at Amazon Advertisement Resident Evil 4 Resident Evil 4 is one of the most revered third-person action games of all time, and one that helped set the standard for years to come. Capcom's decision to remake the classic couldn't have come lightly, but the studio pulled off the feat with aplomb and met the understandably high expectations. The remake of Resident Evil 4 is not just a significant visual improvement over the original. It's a thoughtful reimagining of the best parts of RE4, and a reinvention of the pieces that were less successful. The result is a game that is both recognizable and fresh, paying homage to a fantastic game and making it feel utterly modern in the process. See our Resident Evil 4 review. See at Amazon Advertisement Resident Evil Requiem Resident Evil Requiem is the best of the franchise's two distinct eras, as it expertly juggles the sweat-inducing terror of its survival-horror past with the tight power fantasy of the later survival-action games. Grotesquely gorgeous to look at and full of moments that put a new spin on the bioterror of the franchise, Requiem is both a love letter to Resident Evil and an exciting glimpse of what its future could be. Read our Resident Evil Requiem review. See at Best Buy Advertisement Returnal Returnal is not a game for everyone--it's extremely difficult and its roguelite structure can feel overwhelming at first--but those who keep playing will be rewarded with one of Housemarque's best games. Essentially a AAA-level third-person shooter with arcade sensibilities, it retains the essence of Housemarque's older, smaller games like Nex Machina and Resogun, with dodging through enemy projectiles and memorizing their attacks playing a huge role. But on top of this is a surprisingly deep story focused on an astronaut named Selene and a planet that she just can't seem to escape, even in death. Shortcuts and a little bit of luck can make the run between the game's six different biomes much less daunting, and little tidbits of exposition and world-building make even your failed runs feel worthwhile. And that's good, because you're likely going to have a lot of them before you see the ending. See our Returnal review. Advertisement Saros Saros might look like Returnal 1.5 on the surface, but you don't have to dig too deep to see how Housemarque has improved on its predecessor's formula of roguelike third-person action. Featuring exhilarating moment-to-moment action and gorgeous visuals on PS5, Saros is also a roguelike for the masses with smart options that keep you in the fight for longer. Various gameplay systems also guarantee a sense of progression and satisfaction with each run, while an unlockable toolkit of intelligently designed gameplay modifiers gives you a fighting chance when you explore the hostile alien landscape of Carcosa. Read our Saros review. Advertisement Silent Hill F Swapping the misty streets of the US for Japan, Silent Hill F is a strong reminder as to why the survival-horror series has been a cult-classic for so many years. More than just an intense and surreal journey that unfolds across labyrinthine streets, Silent Hill F is both gorgeous and grotesque. The game also tackles heavy themes throughout its narrative, and combined with masterfully crafted gameplay and replayability, it cements its status as the definitive Silent Hill experience. Read our Silent Hill F review. Advertisement Silent Hill: Townfall Fans of survival-horror have been spoiled for choice lately, thanks to the return and rise of the Silent Hill franchise. Silent Hill: Townfall marks a big shift for the series, as it ditches the safety of a third-person design for a first-person experience that amplifies the scares. Developer Screen Burn has come out swinging with this spin-off, continuing the successful comeback tour of Silent Hill with a terrifying dive into uniquely Scottish horror that fans will be dissecting for decades to come. Read our Silent Hill Townfall review. Advertisement Split Fiction Hazelight has made a name for itself as the premiere cooperative game studio, and Split Fiction is just the latest display why it's earned the title. The platform action game follows the story of two aspiring writers--one sci-fi author and one fantasy author--whose worlds are smashed together by a high-tech firm. What makes Split Fiction stand out is Hazelight's characteristic inventiveness, consistently surprising the players with new challenges that test their cooperative prowess. Read our Split Fiction review. Advertisement Star Wars: Galactic Racer A Burnout-inspired Star Wars game from Need for Speed veterans was always a winning formula, but Fuse Games takes it a step further by adding roguelite flavor, creating an engaging, challenging experience. Who would have thought that Star Wars racing with a run-based structure and randomized progression paths could be this good? In lesser hands, the game could have crashed and burned like Sebulba on the final lap of Jabba the Hutt's pod-racing tournament, but Galactic Racer takes pole position with a slick, polished take on what racing games can do when they think outside the box. All that, and Biddy Blas too. Read our Star Wars: Galactic Racer review. Available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Advertisement Street Fighter 6 Street Fighter 5 was a divisive part of the long-running fighting franchise, and clearly Capcom intended Street Fighter 6 to be a reset. It appears to be mission accomplished, as the latest game is getting praise across the board for being an excellent entry for fighting game veterans as well as a great entry point for those who have had trouble penetrating the scene. A newly refined combo system also helps novices learn not just how to pull off complicated moves, but also the strategy behind when and why to do it. Perhaps the wildest revision is a new World Tour mode, which has you create a custom fighter with their own blend of moves that you learn from several masters--famous Street Fighter characters like Ken and Chun-Li. And the fighters themselves are a diverse set of strange and inventive new characters alongside classic faces like Blanka and Dhalsim. It all comes together to be the best Street Fighter package in years. See our Street Fighter 6 review. Advertisement Advertisement Trails in the Sky: 2nd Chapter Last year's remake of the first Trails game laid a foundation for future returns to classic entries in the longrunning RPG series. Trails in the Sky: 2nd Chapter takes full advantage of that solid platform, further refining the gameplay and hitting the ground running with a powerful narrative that has a satisfying payoff. Expanding heavily on the cryptic, political machinations of the shadowy organization Ouroboros, 2nd Chapter's great story is enhanced with modernized gameplay, brand-new content, and options to cleverly streamline the gameplay. Advertisement

Title: 9 Spooky 'Far Side' Comics That Are Perfect to Read Before Halloween Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2026 08:00:17 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/best-far-side-halloween-classic-monsters/ During this time of year, all the classic monsters enjoy their annual resurgence. Vampires rise from their coffins, mummies emerge from their tombs, and witches fly in on their brooms to stalk the world of the living via decorations and costumes. Many people also enjoy horror marathons of the old Universal monster movies. Given the spirit of the season, I’ve decided to dig around for nine great Far Sidecomic strips featuring classic monsters.

Title: 8 Most Entertaining Sci-Fi Books of the 21st Century That Are Impossible to Put Down Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2026 04:52:17 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/most-fun-sci-fi-books-21st-century-so-far/ Science fiction writers imagine humanity's future in order to explore our present and past. The best sci-fi is a mix of cautionary tale and social commentary, but books about heady topics like artificial intelligence, alien encounters, and galaxy-spanning wars are often filled with dense explanations of theoretical technologies or complex political factions. It doesn't have to be that way. While dry and heavy sci-fi can be extremely rewarding to read, the genre also offers plenty of lighter options filled with humor and adventure. If you want some laughs in your future, check out these eight extremely fun sci-fi books that grapple with modern issues facing humanity in the 21st Century.

Title: Major 'Avatar: Seven Havens’ Korra Reveal May Be Hiding the Truth About the Cataclysm Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2026 04:00:18 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/avatar-seven-havens-big-korra-reveal-feels-like-a-total-fakeout/ For more than two centuries, the world of Avatar: Seven Havens has remembered Korra as the Avatar who destroyed everything. Everybody from Ellora to New Ba Sing Se has grown up hearing that story, and episode 7 seemingly gives Pavi (Saheli Khan) and Nisha (Aishu Devan) them proof: They witness their predecessor in the Avatar State, tearing apart Republic City as spiritual energy whips through its burning streets.

Title: Phantom Blade Zero release time in your time zone Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2026 02:01:21 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/phantom-blade-zero-release-time-when-edt-pdt/ S-Game's Phantom Blade Zero is a unique action game that lets you experience the Wuxia aesthetic and fight enemies as a true legendary swordmaster. The protagonist is Soul, a powerful member of the Order who has only 66 days to find a new heart. As he travels, Soul learns about a complex network of conspiracies.

Title: 24 Years Later, Nintendo's Most Divisive Mario Game Is a Miracle on Switch 2 Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2026 01:06:52 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/super-mario-sunshine-nintendo-switch-online/ I can’t remember what I had for lunch yesterday, but I still remember the daySuper Mario Sunshine launched in 2002. It was a summer's day and I couldn’t wait to line up at the GameStop in the Natick Mall to pick up my pre-ordered copy. It was getting rave reviews — a 9.4 from IGN, a 9.75 from Game Informer, perfect marks from Nintendo Power! — so it felt like an instant classic. Players at the time seemed to agree, considering that the 3D platformer would go on to become the third best-selling GameCube game of all time. Everyone loved Super Mario Sunshine.

Title: Cloud Deployment Incoming: ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4’ Arrives on GeForce NOW Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2026 13:00:20 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-call-of-duty-modern-warfare-4/ Lock in and load out this GFN Thursday. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 arrives on GeForce NOW at launch, bringing a new campaign, multiplayer action and DMZ, high-stakes extraction mode to supported devices. The campaign also gets an enhanced look: GeForce RTX 5080-class performance arrives for Ultimate members, bringing support for ray-tracing features in the cloud. There’s a new way to join the cloud, too: Existing supported Fire TV Stick users can now purchase one-month Performance or Ultimate memberships directly through Amazon, making it easier to sign up and start streaming on the big screen. Plus, Square Enix’s FINAL FANTASY RESONANCE brings cinematic pixel art and strategic battles to the cloud, and The Elder Scrolls Online’s Echoes of Skyrim Season adds the entire Greymoor Chapter free for all ESO Standard Edition owners. It’s all part of six games joining the GeForce NOW library this week. Deployment Without the Downloads Squad up and answer the call on the cloud. Activision and Infinity Ward’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 launches today on GeForce NOW. Members can drop into the trenches in Korea, close-quarter combat in New York, high-octane chases through Paris, night raids in Mumbai and city-wide engagements to reclaim occupied territory. Fight as Private Park, a young South Korean soldier facing live combat for the first time alongside his squad as a routine patrol turns into a desperate fight for survival. Beyond the front lines, operator-turned-outlaw Captain Price is operating outside the system he once served, pursuing revenge through covert missions as the conflict spreads. Multiplayer pairs precise combat with fluid movement, a dozen core 6v6 maps from around the world and battlegrounds that are shaped by the campaign’s global conflict. The DMZ extraction mode sends players into contested territory to recover valuable technology, weigh objectives and decide when to get out. Loot, fight, negotiate, betray and extract — it’s all fair in the cloud and battleground. Ultimate members can now experience the campaign with ray tracing, powered by newly added GeForce RTX 5080-class performance across PCs, Macs, handhelds, mobile devices, browsers, supported TVs and more. With game downloads and installs handled by GeForce NOW, members can spend less time preparing a local rig and more time preparing the next loadout. A New Way to Play A new way to join GeForce NOW on Fire TV. GeForce NOW in-app purchase is rolling out to existing supported Fire TV Stick users, making it possible to purchase a membership directly through Amazon using an existing account. Transactions are processed through Amazon’s billing system, creating a more seamless path from setup to gameplay. GeForce NOW transforms Fire TV into a powerful PC gaming rig in the cloud. Members can stream supported PC games they already own or purchase new titles from digital stores including Steam, Epic Games Store, Ubisoft Connect, Xbox PC Game Pass, GOG and EA. The library includes thousands of ready-to-play games, including many of the world’s most-played titles and more than 100 free-to-play games. No downloads, installs, patches or updates stand between a new game and playtime. An Amazon Fire TV Stick, the GeForce NOW app and an Ultimate membership are all it takes to level up the living room with GeForce RTX 5080-powered gaming. A Pixel-Perfect Fantasy Classic roots. A new adventure. Square Enix’s FINAL FANTASY RESONANCE launches today on GeForce NOW, bringing the series’ classic roots into a cinematic pixel-art world. Travel with companions bound by fate and uncover the truth behind a force threatening to bring everything to ruin. Strengthen the party with Visions of beloved FINAL FANTASY characters, each bringing unique skills and abilities to battle. Dynamic camera angles and pixelized 3D models give familiar fantasy a fresh perspective. Exploit enemy weaknesses to stagger foes, break their defenses and seize extra turns before finishing the bonus phase with powerful Resonance attacks. Airships, crystals, espers and moogles bring familiar series favorites to a world filled with secrets to discover. GeForce NOW handles the game’s downloads and storage in the cloud, leaving more space on supported devices for everyday essentials. Save the inventory management for potions and Phoenix Downs. Step Into a New Season in Tamriel Familiar lands. Fresh reasons to return. The Elder Scrolls Online’s second season, Echoes of Skyrim, launched Wednesday, Oct. 21, free for all ESO players and ready to stream through GeForce NOW. Season Two gives everyone who owns ESO Standard Edition access to its Skyrim content and the Antiquities treasure-hunting system. The Markarth downloadable content follows Monday, Nov. 9, rounding out the additions with two classic zones to explore.  The Season also introduces Solo Dungeons, reimagining challenges previously designed for groups. Moon Hunter Keep and March of Sacrifices have been redesigned and rebalanced for players ready to tackle their dangers alone. Earn new rewards and take on new challenges at your own pace without needing to find a group. A new Tamriel Tome also launched Oct. 21, offering both free and premium battle pass reward tracks.  In addition, members can look for the following titles joining the GeForce NOW library this week: We Were Here Tomorrow (New release on Steam, Oct. 20) FINAL FANTASY RESONANCE (New release on Steam, Oct. 22) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 (New release on Oct 23, available in the Call of Duty app) CONTROL Resonant (Epic Game Store) Crimson Desert (Epic Games Store) Planet Zoo 2 (Xbox app, supports XBOX Play Anywhere) 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. Gamers who want to test out high-performance GeForce NOW cloud gaming can 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’s on the mission board this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below.

Title: Dial Up the Cloud: NVIDIA DLSS 4.5 Controls Arrive on GeForce NOW Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2026 13:00:59 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-enshrouded-update/ Dial in the next gaming session this GFN Thursday. New NVIDIA DLSS 4.5 controls give GeForce NOW members more choice over how supported games look and perform in the cloud, even without the latest hardware. Then, step into the Shroud as Keen Games’ Enshrouded leaves early access with its 1.0 release, or let the bolts fly in Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2. Both are streaming on GeForce NOW at launch. With 10 new games joining the cloud this week, members can put the new controls to work in supported titles and keep playing across supported devices without downloads, installs or expensive hardware upgrades. Fine-Tune the Cloud With DLSS 4.5 Controls More control, more cloud power. NVIDIA DLSS 4.5 controls are now available on GeForce NOW, giving members more choice over how supported games look and perform in the cloud, even without the latest hardware. DLSS Super Resolution sharpens image quality, while Dynamic Multi Frame Generation delivers lower latency and reduces stutter for smoother streaming, and Ray Reconstruction enhances ray-traced visuals. In addition, Ultimate members streaming on GeForce RTX 5080-powered cloud rigs benefit from the maximum available options, including Dynamic Multi Frame Generation up to 4X.   From James Bond’s globe-trotting missions in 007 First Light — now with path tracing support — to CONTROL Resonant’s reality-bending Manhattan and the shadowy scares of Resident Evil Requiem, the controls help fine-tune supported games for image quality, responsiveness or a preferred balance between the two. These new settings are available in the GeForce NOW app under settings, for Windows, macOS, Chrome OS and Steam OS platforms. Members can read here for more details on using the feature with their membership tier, and more information on how to get the smoothest cloud game streaming for some games on GeForce NOW. Rise, Flameborn Enshrouded 1.0 brings the co-op survival action role-playing game out of early access and into its full release. Rise as a Flameborn, the last ember of hope of a dying race, and venture into a vast world of survival, action and role-playing, where a corrupting fog has consumed a once-beautiful kingdom. The title brings improvements to existing systems, alongside expansions in combat with nine new spells, new mage and archer skills, reworked wands and upgradeable Eternal spells and arrows. New enemy variants keep encounters fresh, while a new biome raises the player level cap to 50 and equipment cap to 55.  GeForce NOW offers Enshrouded 1.0 ready to play in the cloud at launch across supported devices. Skip the 60GB local install to save precious storage space, then step into the Shroud without waiting for downloads or needing to make room for the update. Let the Bolts Fly Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 is now streaming on GeForce NOW. The brutal, fast-paced sequel to the retro first-person shooter brings more enemies, more weapons and new ways to purge. Picking up directly after the original game, a branching single-player campaign sends the fight to grimdark new worlds. Choose between the formidable Sternguard Veteran Malum Caedo and the swift Sister of Battle Nyra Veyrath, each with distinct abilities, weapons and play styles. From towering hive cities to jungle mangrove swamps, new enemy types await in every biome. GeForce NOW keeps the campaign ready in the cloud. No local rig upgrades or game installs stand between members and the fight — the Emperor’s work waits for no loading bar. In addition, members can look for the following joining the GeForce NOW library: Deep Dish Dungeon (New release on Steam, Oct. 13) Planet Zoo 2 (New release on Steam, Oct. 13) Total War: SHOGUN 2 – Complete Edition (New release on Steam, Oct. 13) Valor Mortis (New release on Steam, Oct. 13) Among the Trolls (New release on Steam, Oct. 14) over the hill (New release on Steam, Oct. 14) Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 (New release on Steam, Oct. 14) Beyond These Stars (New release on Steam and Xbox, Oct. 15), available on Game Pass Tenebris Somnia (New release on Steam, Oct. 16) The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered (Xbox), available on Microsoft Store Also this week, the performance of DLSS 5’s 3D-Guided Neural Rendering model is improving by 2X, enabling even more gamers to enjoy DLSS 5’s transformative uplift in lighting and materials at high frame rates and settings. The new, more performant DLSS 5 model will debut in NBA 2K27 on Oct. 16 on GeForce NOW, GeForce RTX 50 Series GPUs and RTX Spark laptops. 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. Gamers who want to test out the new 4.5 controls and high-performance GeForce NOW cloud gaming can 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’s on the playlist this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below.

Title: Rally Up: ‘Gears of War: E-Day’ Launches on GeForce NOW Date: Thu, 08 Oct 2026 13:00:46 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-gears-of-war-e-day/ Gears of War: E-Day leads the charge on GeForce NOW this week, bringing Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago’s first fight against the Locust Horde to the cloud with GeForce RTX-powered performance. A new way to join the action is also coming: Fire TV users will soon be able to purchase GeForce NOW memberships directly through Amazon, creating a more seamless path from device setup to gameplay. Keep an eye out for availability in the coming weeks. There’s more in store this GFN Thursday, with the cloud serving up 10 games, including seven new releases. Emergence Day Is Here Gears of War: E-Day is now streaming on GeForce NOW following its global release on Tuesday, Oct. 6. Set 14 years before the original Gears of War, the prequel follows Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago as they confront the terrifying arrival of the Locust Horde on Emergence Day. The series’ brutal combat, desperate survival and larger-than-life action return with a new origin story for the legendary partnership. Ultimate members can take on the Horde with GeForce RTX 5080-class performance in the cloud, plus technologies including NVIDIA DLSS and NVIDIA Reflex. From campaign missions to cooperative and competitive modes, GeForce NOW keeps the fight ready across low-power laptops, Macs, mobile devices, handhelds, Firefox and other browsers, and more — no massive downloads or expensive gaming rig required. New on the Cloud Menu Members can look forward to the following games joining the GeForce NOW library this week: Gears of War: E-Day (New release on Steam and Xbox, Oct. 6), available on Game Pass STAR WARS: Galactic Racer (New release on Steam, Oct. 6) Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival (New release on Steam, Oct. 8) Forever Ago (New release on Steam, Oct. 8) Order of the Sinking Star (New release on Steam, Oct. 8) Silver Pines (New release on Steam, Oct. 8) Permafrost (New release on Steam, Oct. 9) Graveyard Keeper 2 (Steam) Solasta II (Steam) Tyr (Steam) The Xbox version of Dune: Awakening didn’t join GeForce NOW in September as previously shared. Stay tuned to GFN Thursday for updates on game availability. Dates listed above reflect when games are released on their respective stores. GeForce NOW availability may vary, as games are onboarded after they are released and added throughout the week. Keep an eye on GeForce NOW channels and GFN Thursdays for availability updates on announced titles. Gamers who want to test out high-performance GeForce NOW cloud gaming can 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’s on the play list this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below.

Title: Fall Into 25 New Games on GeForce NOW This October Date: Thu, 01 Oct 2026 13:00:54 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-october-2026-games-list/ Spooky season is streaming in. Alongside falling leaves, pumpkin spice and everything nice, 25 new games are joining GeForce NOW throughout October, including six ready to play this week. From a new CONTROL Resonant reward for Performance and Ultimate members to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered joining the cloud, this GFN Thursday is packed with fresh reasons to play. Claim Rewards A new reward from a world gone sideways. CONTROL Resonant is streaming from the cloud for GeForce NOW Performance and Ultimate members. Explore a warped Manhattan on the brink of paranatural annihilation as Dylan Faden harnesses 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. Performance and Ultimate members can claim the Third Ice Baseball Cap reward for CONTROL Resonant. After claiming the reward code, launch the Steam or Epic Games Store version of CONTROL Resonant, select “Options” from the main menu, navigate to “Gameplay” and choose “Enter Redeem Code.” The reward can be equipped after completing Act 1. Cap it off: Claim the reward from Thursday, Oct. 1, through Sunday, Nov. 1, at 11:59 p.m. PT, before it slips into another dimension. The White Wolf Rides Again The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered launched Tuesday, Sept. 29, and is now streaming for Performance and Ultimate members. Follow the iconic tale of Geralt of Rivia, a monster slayer for hire, as he tracks down the Child of Prophecy in a war-torn, monster-infested open world. The remastered adventure brings Geralt’s beloved world back at refreshed specs across nearly any device. GeForce NOW handles the rendering, downloads and storage in the cloud, so there’s no expensive hardware upgrade or lengthy install standing between the trail and the next contract. Ultimate members can take the Continent further with GeForce RTX 5080-class performance in the cloud — high-end horsepower worthy of the White Wolf, with no local hardware upgrade required. In addition, members can look for the following titles streaming this week: Minecraft Dungeons II (New release on Xbox, Sept. 29), available on Game Pass Nivalis Nights (New release on Steam, Sept. 29) The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered (New release on Battle.net and Xbox Play Anywhere, Sept. 29), available on Microsoft Store Bookshop Simulator (Steam) Megastore: Tidy Up Together (Steam) Planet Coaster 2 (Xbox), available on Game Pass And look forward to the games coming throughout October: Gears of War: E-Day (New release on Steam, Oct. 6) STAR WARS: Galactic Racer (New release on Steam, Oct. 6) Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival (New release on Steam, Oct. 8) Order of the Sinking Star (New release on Steam, Oct. 8) Silver Pines (New release on Steam, Oct. 8) Permafrost (New release on Steam, Oct. 9) Deep Dish Dungeon (New release on Steam, Oct. 13) Planet Zoo 2 (New release on Steam, Oct. 13) Total War: SHOGUN 2 – Complete Edition (New release on Steam, Oct. 13) Valor Mortis (New release on Steam, Oct. 13) Among the Trolls (New release on Steam, Oct. 14) over the hill (New release on Steam, Oct. 14) Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 (New release on Steam, Oct. 14) Beyond These Stars (New release on Steam, Oct. 16) Tenebris Somnia (New release on Steam, Oct. 16) Dimraeth (Steam) Graveyard Keeper 2 (Steam) Solasta II (Steam) Tyr (Steam) More from September In addition to the games announced last month, 11 more joined the GeForce NOW library. The Blood of Dawnwalker (GOG.com) Death Stranding Director’s Cut (Epic Games Store) DragonSword: Awakening (Steam) Dune: Awakening (Xbox) Everything Is Crab (Steam) LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight (Steam) Over the Top: WWI (Steam) Roadside Research (Steam) RuneScape: Dragonwilds (Xbox) Stick It to the Stickman (Steam) Wild West Pioneers (Steam) Dates listed above reflect when games are released on their respective stores. GeForce NOW availability may vary, as games are onboarded after they are released and added throughout the week. Keep an eye on GeForce NOW channels and GFN Thursdays for availability updates on announced titles. Gamers who want to test out high-performance GeForce NOW cloud gaming can 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’s on the playlist this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below.

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

Title: (For Southeast Asia) Crunchyroll Arrives for PS5 and PS4 users in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand Date: Tue, 27 Oct 2026 02:01:28 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/10/26/20261027-roll/ We are excited to share that Crunchyroll, the global and ultimate destination for anime fandom, has arrived for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 users in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. Anime fans can now subscribe to Crunchyroll directly through PlayStation Media Hub on PS5 or PS4.  Crunchyroll offers hundreds of anime titles, including Black Clover Season 2 and Overgeared.  The Crunchyroll Mega Fan membership is now available through PlayStation Store on PS5 or PS4 for IDR 49,000 / MYR 14.90 / THB 119 per month. It includes ad-free viewing, offline downloads on supported devices, streaming on up to four devices simultaneously, and access to Crunchyroll Game Vault, a collection of over 100 anime-inspired mobile games included with the membership. 

Title: New Marvel Cosmic Invasion: The Siege of Castle Doom gameplay details Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2026 16:00:09 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/10/26/new-marvel-cosmic-invasion-the-siege-of-castle-doom-gameplay-details/ What was Doctor Doom up to during the Annihilation Wave? How would the master of Latveria react to an invasion of this magnitude to his doorstep? This was the first question we’ve asked ourselves while tackling the design of our second DLC for Marvel Cosmic Invasion. We knew players demanded a mode promising a lot of replayability.The idea was to offer something that would mix a perfect combination of classic Beat Em Up combat and an evolving mode that brought a new angle and some unique challenge to the genre – something that would perfectly accompany the addition of the two new playable characters: The Invisible Woman and Doctor Doom.Doom’s Castle Doomstadt seemed like the perfect candidate for this combination. Design Intent It was obvious to organize the new game mode around the duality of Reed Richards and Doctor Doom. Through voice-overs, the leader of the Fantastic Four guides the heroes through their ordeal while Doom mocks their efforts to invade Doomstadt. This notion brought us the idea of creating gauge mechanics. As Doctor Doom’s brand new Cosmic Inductor charges up with energy to give him massive power, a Siege Gauge charges up each time the heroes get bested by enemies within the halls of Castle Doom. But every victory yields batteries charging up a Stabilizer, stalling Doom’s progress.We thought this theme and core gameplay enhanced the classic experience of the main campaign by tackling uncharted design territories and giving more ways to interact in the midst of the combat with new equipment, new power-ups, strategies and player decisions that can change the course of each run in a matter of seconds. The ever-changing experience The philosophy behind the level design of our new mode was to create a great sense of navigation and surprise within the corridors of the Castle Doomstadt. We aimed to create impactful moments that can reinvent themselves in new encounters, dangers and patterns that can become familiar after multiple runs without taking out the sense of adventure. The Siege of Castle Doom has more than five times more encounters than the main game without the addition of the new events, traps and hazards that form the environmental challenges. Reaching Doctor Doom is no easy task. The Halls of Doom are filled with torturous medieval-era tools. Heroes will be challenged by harsh blizzards freezing the Castle Battlements.  Beware of the Tower of Solitude’s treacherous elevator platforms where Doom is developing his many experiments. But to progress through these dangerous halls, the players will have to carefully choose which direction to take by selecting themed doors. Equipment: Arms the player with a variety of special powers, whether they’re imposing force fields or devastating energy blasts. Events: Leads the heroes to an arena where the rules are temporarily changed, potentially giving bonuses or penalties, depending on the outcome. Heal: Gives your hero much needed healing. Infinite: Power-up door where the player can be gifted infinite ammo or infinite focus. Progression: Where your hero can collect a random amount of batteries that will fill Reed’s Stabilizer Gauge. Build the best team against Doom Atop the castle, Doom is charging up his Cosmic Inductor to make himself into Earth’s Champion.Players will need to be careful to not increase the Siege Gauge before gathering enough batteries to create Stabilizers and give Reed Richards the chance to increase the hero’s efficiency with the help of Perks. The Perks system allows for leveling up with many branches: Offense, Defense, and Tactical, all based around their own theme. Perks are applied individually to each hero. Together, they will be able to unite their different strengths to create the best possible squad. Coordinating decision making for the builds will create a clear strategy, enabling even more chances for victory. In multiplayer, an MVP system will even reward the most effective players in the runs by showcasing their statistics. Back at the lab When collecting Stabilizers, heroes can reach Reed Richard’s Lab where they can expand their experience and unlock even more content. All-new unlockables such as equipment, events, and modifiers will reshape your Castle Doom experience. Completing a run will unlock a brand new palette for your hero, adding even more customization to your favorite character.We are excited to welcome you to Castle Doomstadt and give you a brand new adventure within Marvel Cosmic Invasion on November 10.

Title: Celebrate Helldivers 2 Liberty Day 2026 with in-game gifts today Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2026 10:00:05 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/10/26/celebrate-helldivers-2-liberty-day-2026-with-in-game-gifts-today/ We at Arrowhead Game Studios are excited to mark Liberty Day, the Helldivers 2 in-universe celebration, that’s now in its third year. As with previous celebrations, we’re marking the anniversary with a range of in-game gifts for active Helldivers, decorating your ship lobby to mark the occasion, and much more. The history of Liberty Day Long ago, before the formation of the Democratic Council, humanity lived in utter undemocratic chaos. Citizens of Super Earth had no reliable sources of truth. People believed anything, everything, with erratic voting records influenced by information, misinformation, and disinformation. Society was crumbling, descending into total democratic anarchy. We needed leadership and action to unite our beliefs, our votes, and our views. We are so fortunate that the Democratic Council came together at this pivotal moment to give us the first and final draft of the tenets of Managed Democracy, which guide us on our true path to liberation. Now, every October 26, we come together to celebrate all the wonderful things Managed Democracy has given us. From fair elections and strong family values to the Helldivers themselves as our galactic peacekeepers. How we celebrate For Liberty Day 2186, we have some new celebration items especially for our Helldivers: aboard your Super Destroyers this year, we have drafted new regulations regarding holiday ship adornments for October 26. Now, for 24 hours on our special day, you will see banners, rugs, party supplies, and other fun decorations aboard your ship. We are also continuing our custom of a Liberty Day gift for our active duty Helldivers: The AR-23L Liberator Legacy1. This classic modeled after weapons used in the First Galactic War will bring a retro flair to modern loadouts. The AR-23L Liberator Legacy will be rewarded at the conclusion of the Liberty Day celebrations. Be sure to log in and participate in the celebrations to claim your gift. Finally, we are bringing back some community minigames for Liberty Day, including Minidivers*. Work together in the chat to send emoji stratagem codes and stop the waves of enemies. Adopt-a-SEAF. Receive your very own blueberry to care for and send on missions. Meet your new friend on the frontlines. Oath of Enlistment*. Do your part and receive a copy of your oath to keep. Raise the Flag*. Salute in the chat and raise the flag together. *Only available to members of our official Discord server. Officially recognized Liberty Day parties Many citizens choose to throw parties for Liberty Day. This year, the Party Planning Protocol was enacted by High Command to help citizens plan their regulation Liberty Day celebrations, which includes the creation of the Liberty Day Party Pack. This pack contains everything a citizen needs to get started, from games and decorations to recipes and printable Helldiver helmets. Instructions for downloading the pack can be found via the link here. Other popular Liberty Day activities: The Liberty Day Pyre. Families gather around the pyre at home and reflect on patriotism while children open their Liberty Day gifts. Liberty Day Parades. Check with your local colony or city to find out your parade routes. Did You Know: You don’t have to miss the parade because you’re stationed on your Destroyer. The Liberty Day Parade in Prosperity City will be broadcast to your ships no matter where you are in the galaxy. The Mandatory Salute. Helldivers and citizens alike throughout the entire galaxy are required to salute in unison as a show of our democratic unification. Helldiver Enlistment. There’s no better time to take the oath and do your part. Orbital Bombardment of the Moon. Send a message to the enemies of Liberty using over 15,000 megatons of ordnance. Fireworks. Light the spark of civic duty in every citizen with a patriotic fireworks display. No matter what, the most important thing to do on Liberty Day is to be free. Enjoying the freedom afforded to us by Managed Democracy is what unites Super Earth’s citizens under one common cause–no matter where in the galaxy they might be. Super Merch Store Celebrate what Managed Democracy means to you with Super Merch. Complete select in-game achievements before February 28, 2027 to unlock special items for purchase on the Helldivers 2 Super Merch store. Reach Level 100 and earn the ‘Hell Commander’ title to unlock the Hell Commander Pin. Complete 75 missions and secure some cuddly backup with the Private Teddy Snuggles Plush.2 Plus, celebrate Liberty Day with all-new rewards. Visit the Super Merch Store today (October 26) to discover the latest additions. Helldivers 2 on PlayStation Plus Game Catalog3 Thinking of enlisting? Candidates eager to spread Managed Democracy across the cosmos can join up right now with a PlayStation Plus Extra membership, with Helldivers 2 available as part of Game Catalog, or alternatively you can drop some credits to sign up for the galactic frontline by purchasing the game at PlayStation Store. Gear up for Liberty Day with new officially licensed merchandise Bring the action of Helldivers 2 to your collection with all-new merchandise available now for Liberty Day and coming soon. Available now at Displate, the Helldivers 2 Display Shards collection features a limited edition set of six metal collectibles, each featuring artwork inspired by the game. You can also show your allegiance to Super Earth with a collection of metal posters from Displate that brings Liberty Day to your walls. Available for pre-order starting on November 20 from FiGGYZ, celebrate the heroes and enemies of Helldivers 2 with this limited edition, individually numbered FiGGYZ collector’s box set. Each set includes four pixel-art magnetic figures – Helldiver (Quick Draw), Helldiver (Flagbearer), Hulk, and Devastator. Visit PlayStation.com for more information on these products and where to purchase. Happy Liberty Day 2186, Helldivers – Stay free. Full-day celebration privileges apply only to Class A citizens or higher. Class B citizens receive a one hour mandatory celebration period during which they may step away from their labor duties to attend their local parade and participate in the Mandatory Salute. 1 Rifles are distributed at the end of Liberty Day, 23:59 CET on October 26, 2026. Available to all players who have played since September 26, 2026, 00:00 CET.2Criteria must be met by February 28 2027 at 9:59am PT. Eligible players must order the product between August 12 2026 and March 31 2027 at 11:59pm PT. Limit one per player, unavailable to ship where prohibited by US regulations. Private Teddy Snuggles Plush is unable to ship to Japan at this time.3Gameplay requires internet access and paid-for PlayStation Plus membership (sold separately) on PS5. PlayStation Plus membership subject to recurring subscription fee taken automatically until cancellation. Age restrictions apply. Full terms: play.st/psplus-usageterms.

Title: Share of the Week: 007 First Light Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2026 16:00:57 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/10/23/share-of-the-week-007-first-light/ Last week, we asked you explore the new Photo Mode in 007 First Light using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. Here are this week’s highlights: call_me_xavii shared Bond blasting at enemies with his Aston Martin WildJogurt shared a turtleneck-wearing Bond receiving mission orders lucaslu_ckli shared a stylist look at James’ Aston Martin m1rko_vp shared a black and white portrait of James looking dashing in the field Milz_VP shares James checking out his outfit in the mirror wern_r shares James posing next to Jack the bulldog  Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme, or be inspired by other great games featuring Photo Mode. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week? THEME: CostumeSUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on October 28, 2026 Next week, share your favorite in-game costumes or outfits from the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

Title: Saros: creating the epic Overlords of Carcosa Date: Fri, 23 Oct 2026 11:59:40 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/10/23/saros-creating-the-epic-overlords-of-carcosa/ Housemarque and Nixxes developed Saros in close collaboration; one area was developing the set-piece bosses. Housemarque brought the creative vision, world, combat language, visual concepts, and signature bullet-hell DNA. Nixxes brought the bosses to life through encounter design, animation, environments, lighting, and technical implementation. The result was a set of encounters designed to challenge players, surprise them, and deliver the kind of spectacle PlayStation players expect from a Housemarque action experience. Spoilers for the bosses of Saros ahead, so read at your own risk. Play Video Collaboration with Housemarque Boss fights in Saros are fully staged encounters, not just enemies with larger health bars, so that required close collaboration from the start. Housemarque handled boss concepts, visual direction, and VFX identity. Nixxes focused on animation, environments, technical design, boss behaviour, and attack implementation, with Housemarque’s final review and collaboration. The road to developing a boss started with a briefing that outlined the vision, gameplay goals, and visual direction for the encounter. From there, Nixxes pitched its take, built early prototypes and first-playable versions, refining each encounter through iteration, playtesting, and polish until shipping. Play Video Play Video What makes a Saros boss? When designing bosses for Saros, we followed a few guiding principles, starting with three distinct phases for every boss encounter, each with its own identity, changing how the encounter looks, feels, and plays. A typical boss battle in Saros lasts about three to eight minutes (Saros: Zenith has a tighter arcade experience), with the challenge coming mainly from boss behaviour, arena transformation, environmental hazards, bullets, beams, and physical attacks. These were also designed to encourage players to use their shield, jumping, parrying, and dashing abilities, knowing that a good boss attack should make players move with intent, not in panic. Most importantly, when players were defeated by a boss, we asked: do they understand why they lost, do they know what to do differently next time, did it feel like their own mistake rather than something unfair, and do they want to try again? The Bosses Prophet — the wall boss The Prophet was our introductory boss and a first major test for players. Because the Prophet appears early in the game, we wanted it to teach players what a Saros boss could be without becoming a major progression blocker. With the Prophet, we wanted a fight that felt dramatic and threatening while still welcoming players to the structure and expectations of boss combat. Architect — the flying boss The Architect is one of the game’s most dramatic encounters, fought atop a massive tower after earlier foreshadowing. The boss comes at you with everything it has, destroying the environment as the fight unfolds, and it doesn’t quit until the very end. The entire encounter centres on the collapsing arena, making the grapple hook a fundamental part of the battle. You are not just fighting the boss; you are fighting to survive the arena. Shepherd — the massive boss The Shepherd is the game’s largest boss and biggest visual spectacle, set on a ship on a stormy sea. It has an intimidating scale and culminates in a terrifying transformation by the end of the encounter. This boss is all about tentacles, which you must dodge and jump over throughout the fight. The tentacles also shrink the arena and spawn attacks from unexpected directions. In a dramatic conclusion, you face the boss on a sloped arena. Priestess — the magic boss The Priestess uses illusion and transformation, making for a less grounded, more surreal encounter with a strong phase identity. We wanted players to feel the Priestess could be the final boss, even if the journey was not over yet. The encounter evolves from illusion-based clone combat into a large-scale, floating arena, encouraging players to combine combat, puzzle-solving, and platforming to survive. King — the final boss As the final boss, we wanted the King encounter to feel direct, intense, and skill-focused. It is also a major narrative moment, and the encounter needed to reflect its importance. The boss battle escalates in personality as much as in challenge. It starts controlled and relentless, then becomes more brutal, and finally something feral and unpredictable. As a result, the King doesn’t rely on a complicated gimmick. Instead, the fight tests everything the player has learned, where mastery matters most. Looking back and looking ahead to Saros: Zenith Working on bosses for Saros was an amazing opportunity for the Nixxes content team. We aimed to make each one feel fair, thrilling, and worth trying again. And each encounter challenged us to think about how we could create the most memorable moments for the player. More importantly, it let us collaborate closely with Housemarque on the fast, responsive, high-intensity action that defines the game. With Saros: Zenith, players can return to these battles in Housemarque’s new Overlord Rush mode and experience them in a fresh, faster, and more replayable way. We are excited to see how players take on the challenge and fight to reach the top of the Leaderboard. Play Video

Title: The GameMaker engine series behind Undertale, Hotline Miami and Spelunky is going free for commercial use on PC Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2026 18:15:00 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-gamemaker-engine-series-behind-undertale-hotline-miami-and-spelunky-is-going-free-for-commercial-use-on-pc Here's some upbeat news to end the day on (unless one of the other awful people working here posts something diabolical, once I'm done) - you'll soon be able to publish games created using the latest GameMaker tools for free on PC alongside web and mobile. Read more

Title: With Xbox cuts not done, Microsoft offer voluntary buyouts to around 60,000 workers across the company in latest attempt to get rid of staff Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2026 17:40:40 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/with-xbox-cuts-not-done-microsoft-offer-voluntary-buyouts-to-around-60000-workers-across-the-company-in-latest-attempt-to-get-rid-of-staff Staff at Microsoft continue to recieve emails they'd probably rather not be getting. After telling some the other week of plans to mandate four days in the office starting in February and presiding over multiple rounds of layoffs at their gaming division Xbox, Microsoft are now offering volutary buyouts to 60,000, roughly 25% of their overall headcount. Read more

Title: Steam's AI disclosures are akin to "forcing developers to list their voting history", says man who must hate seeing eggs virtue signal that they're free-range Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2026 17:03:44 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steams-ai-disclosures-are-akin-to-forcing-developers-to-list-their-voting-history-says-man-who-must-hate-seeing-eggs-virtue-signal-that-theyre-free-range How could someone do this to you, fruit, meat, and other foods on the shelves of this shop? You've been forced, in a horrific crime against the companies responsible for you, to reveal some details about how you were produced. No, this isn't reasonable information to offer a would-be purchaser, so that they can feel more comfortable and confident in knowing what they're about to spend their hard-earned money on. It's a bat signal for the anti-battery farming hate mobs and is robbing innocent food producers of their ability to rake in cash without having to reveal some basic info about their products. You might as well stick "mandatory political essays" on the packaging of frozen peas! Read more

Title: 220,000-signatory petition to "save Mass Effect" doesn't mention BioWare, suggests giving Mass Effect 5 to somebody else Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2026 16:17:51 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/220000-signatory-petition-to-save-mass-effect-doesnt-mention-bioware-suggests-giving-mass-effect-5-to-somebody-else The word "BioWare" does not appear in a recent Change.org petition asking EA to "save Mass Effect", which has gained around 220,000 signatories as of writing. The nearest the petition gets is an allusion to "recent revelations" that have "cast a shadow over its future", which is a remarkably gentle way of saying that the parent company shanked the creators to balance their books, after going into historic debt. Still, one can hardly reproach the petition organisers for not mentioning BioWare - after all, EA announced that they were closing BioWare a whole four days ago, and the funeral baked meats must coldly furnish forth the pitchdeck. There are other videogame studios, aren't there? Just get one of them to make the thing. Maybe Owlcat, developers of the Mass Effect-flavoured The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, who've shared the Change.org petition on their socials. Read more

Title: "IT FLIPS UP," Fallout New Vegas modders yell after releasing a funky Pip-Boy based on cancelled entry Van Buren's design docs Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2026 13:30:00 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/it-flips-up-fallout-new-vegas-modders-yell-after-releasing-a-funky-pip-boy-based-on-cancelled-entry-van-burens-design-docs One of the days last week was October 23rd. It's the date in the Fallout universe when the bombs dropped and has morphed into a time for yearly community happenings plus, in Bethesda's case, usually some marketing. Sometimes, modders behind long-running projects time up standalone releases with it, as has been the case this year with the folks behind Fallout: The New West, the project aiming to make their own version of Black Isle Studios' cancelled third Fallout game. They've released a few guns inspired by the canned entry, which you may know by its codename Van Buren, but the headliner from this gear drop for New Vegas is a funky new Pip-Boy design. Read more