Title: Take-Two’s Boss Seemingly Takes A Subtle Shot At 2025’s Worst-Reviewed Game Date: Thu, 28 May 2026 13:30:14 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/take-twos-boss-takes-a-subtle-shot-at-2025s-worst-reviewed-game-2000700171 Strauss Zelnick says former Rockstar employees have tried and failed to make another massive hit like GTA

Title: Yoshi And The Mysterious Book: The Kotaku Review Date: Thu, 28 May 2026 13:00:32 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/yoshi-and-the-mysterious-book-the-kotaku-review-2000699833 Even with cute creatures, some extremely creative ideas, and loads to do, there’s something missing at the heart of Yoshi’s latest adventure

Title: Subnautica 2 Devs Will Probably Get That $250 Million Payout Krafton’s CEO Tried To Avoid By Asking ChatGPT For Help Date: Thu, 28 May 2026 12:54:22 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/subnautica-2-devs-will-probably-get-that-250-million-payout-kraftons-ceo-tried-to-avoid-by-asking-chatgpt-for-help-2000700166 The survival game has been selling millions of copies in its first month

Title: Slay The Spire 2, As Told By Steam Reviews Date: Thu, 28 May 2026 12:05:00 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/slay-the-spire-2-as-told-by-steam-reviews-2000699834 If you ignore all the reviews about Doormaker and 'DEI,' it almost sounds like Slay the Spire 2 is a great game?

Title: 10 Billion Pokémon Cards Were Printed Last Year And It Still Wasn’t Enough Date: Wed, 27 May 2026 21:42:05 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/10-billion-pokemon-cards-were-printed-last-year-and-it-still-wasnt-enough-2000699977 The Pokémon Company can't keep up with insatiable demand

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: Genshin Impact Luna 7 brings us the first playable Hexenzirkel as things take a turn in Sumeru Date: Fri, 08 May 2026 13:44:39 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/genshin-impact-version-luna-7-nicole-new-quest-details HoYoverse just wrapped up a new Genshin Impact Special Program, where the developer revealed everything there is to know about the game’s next major update. Truth Amongst the Pages of Purana, or as its friends call it, Luna 7, was unveiled as part of the showcase. Read more

Title: The Best Games Of 2026 (So Far) Date: Fri, 08 May 2026 16:28:00 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/the-best-games-of-2026/2900-7436/ Once again, the year in gaming has seen no shortage of high-quality releases and GOTY contenders. Looking ahead, there are many highly anticipated games coming out in 2026, but how well will they score when they arrive? That remains to be seen, but, as in previous years, we'll keep track of all the games that hit a review score of at least 8 and list them below. That doesn't mean that games that fall below that threshold aren't worth your time, as they can still entertain you for hours on end if you can overlook some of their flaws. We'll also be keeping track of those titles below, but for now, the focus here is on must-play games. 2025's best games included Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Silent Hill F, alongside entries from smaller studios like The Seance of Blake Manor, Dispatch, and Blue Prince. As a reminder, GameSpot does standard game reviews, reviews in progress, and we'll sometimes publish updated reviews of ongoing games if there have been major changes to them. Most of our reviews are also adapted for video, so if you'd like to hear the soothing voices of our producers tell you exactly why a game is worth your time, you can hit up our YouTube page. To keep things simple, we'll be listing the games below alphabetically, based on their scores. Cairn -- 9 Cairn represents a new peak for mountain-climbing games, as it fuses a vivid sense of wonder with a feeling of true peril. It's you against the world as you guide the protagonist Aava up steep cliffs and search for that one handhold that won't spell certain doom when you shift your weight. With equilibrium being a key component of the experience, Cairn also knows exactly when to let players breathe, offering moments of quiet reflection as a counterbalance to when you hit a metaphorical--and literal--wall on your ascent. Read our Cairn review, and watch the video review here. Available for PC and PS5. See on Fanatical Featured in this image Cairn View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred -- 9 Diablo expansions are a big deal, as these add-ons have given rise to some of the best moments in the franchise. Lord of Hatred can proudly stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Lord of Destruction and Reaper of Souls, as it brings fantastic quality-of-life improvements, two new classes that make you feel like a powerhouse, and a thrilling narrative to the table. Diablo 4's Hatred Saga comes to a satisfying conclusion, while the new Warlock and Paladin classes offer explosive fun honed by major changes to the core gameplay. Read our Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred review. Available for PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One. See on Steam Advertisement Esoteric Ebb -- 9 What happens when you combine a tabletop Dungeons & Dragons session with Disco Elysium? You get Esoteric Ebb, a charming fantasy game where sweat-inducing die rolls govern your fate. Set in an original fantasy world that's brimming with personality, Esoteric Ebb is charming and surprisingly hilarious, as you don the chainmail of an idiot with a talent for magic: all that and a killer soundtrack. Read our Esoteric Ebb review. Available for PC. See on Fanatical Advertisement Marathon -- 9 Marathon is admittedly a lot to take in the first time you boot it up, but stick with it, and you'll find an extraction shooter that captures the highs and lows of the genre. Its art direction is a visual feast, the gunplay packs a punch, and there's a surprising amount of depth in each 20-minute excursion to Tau Ceti IV. How Marathon will shape up over the long term remains to be seen, but Bungie has delivered an exciting game with strong fundamentals, rich lore, and tactical gameplay that could get even better in time with post-launch DLC drops. Read our Marathon review. Available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. See on Fanatical Advertisement Mewgenics -- 9 All the joy of breeding an army of cats with none of the real-life responsibility of spending a fortune on food and kitty litter, Mewgenics is a challenging experience with unparalleled depth. The Binding of Isaac and The End is Nigh developers Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel have delivered a complex game, balancing the joy of managing an ever-growing collection of cats with the nail-biting "just one more run" energy you'd expect from the best roguelites. Read our Mewgenics review. Available for PC. See on Steam Advertisement Mina the Hollower -- 9 Now that it's finally out of the gate, Mina the Hollower is proving that is well worth the wait. A masterclass in design that combines the retro aesthetics of Game Boy-era Zelda games with souls-like gameplay, Mina the Hollower is a love letter to the path that feels refreshingly modern. Developer Yacht Club Games has come out swinging with an ambitious game, one that's densely packed with content and charm, while demanding combat ensures that your attention never drifts away for a single second. Read our Mina the Hollower review. Available for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, and Switch. See on Steam Advertisement Mixtape -- 9 This year is going to go down as one of the best for video games with a music bend, thanks in part to standout titles like Mixtape. A sincere look at the horrors of growing up from Australian developers Beethoven & Dinosaur, Mixtape also features one of the best soundtracks of the year so far. Music and memories collide in grand fashion, and the end result is a heartfelt coming-of-age story. Read our Mixtape review. Available for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2. See on Fanatical Advertisement Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection -- 9 Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection proves just how good a spin-off from a mainline series of games can be, as this charming threequel checks multiple boxes for a great gaming experience. A compelling story, a colorful cast of characters, and a flashy combat system all add up to build an all-time classic Monster Hunter game, successfully standing tall next to several of the best games in the main Monster Hunter franchise. Read our Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection review. Available for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2. See on Fanatical Advertisement Nioh 3 -- 9 Team Ninja's souls-like Nioh games have established themselves as fast-paced and punishing adventures. Nioh 3 doesn't stray from that established formula, but it does add compelling new additions and refinements that sharpen the experience. With the introduction of "open-field" design that adds more exploration and discovery to the mix, quality-of-life enhancements, and rock-solid combat, Nioh 3 is the best game in the series to date and Team Ninja at its best. Read our Nioh 3 review. Available for PC and PS5. See on Fanatical Advertisement Pokemon Pokopia -- 9 The idea of a Pokemon-themed cozy life sim sounds like an interesting idea for a spin-off, and it's one that has been expertly realized in Pokemon Pokopia. A well-executed combination of the design sensibilities of Animal Crossing and Dragon Quest Builders--with some Viva Piñata inspiration for good measure--Pokemon Pokopia is an elegant celebration of the Pokemon franchise's 30th anniversary. Read our Pokemon Pokopia review. Available for Switch 2. Pokemon Pokopia (Game Key-Card) $70 See at Amazon View at other stores See at Walmart See at Best Buy See at Nintendo Store See at GameStop Advertisement Pragmata -- 9 One of 2026's contenders for game of the year, Pragmata is a refreshingly original IP in an ocean of sequels and remakes. It's no one-trick pony, as the constantly evolving hacking minigames, challenging gameplay that only escalates the more you play, and the heartfelt story make for a standout experience on PC and console. Read our Pragmata review. Available for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2. See on Fanatical Advertisement Saros -- 9 Housemarque knows a thing or two about roguelite bullet-hell adventures that keep you glued to the screen, and Saros builds on Returnal's foundation to deliver a rollercoaster of fun and challenge. While it's not as unforgiving as Returnal, prepare to die and try (try!) again as you master the exquisitely aggressive gameplay of Saros. The game successfully flips Housemarque's roguelite formula on its head, and the result is an intoxicating rush of power when the stars align. Read our Saros review. Available for PS5. See on Amazon Advertisement 007 First Light -- 8 With Hitman developer IO Interactive at the helm, 007 First Light is a showcase of the studio's greatest strengths. From intricate worldbuilding to top-tier stealth, the first James Bond adventure in many years shares a lot of DNA with Agent 47, but it also breaks free from those comparisons by excelling in other gameplay areas. A game that's laser-focused on delivering a tightly constructed story complemented by rough-and-tumble action, precision shooting, and an arsenal of one-liners, 007 First Light is a successful and confident reinvention of Bond for the modern era. Read our 007 First Light review. Available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. See on Amazon Advertisement Big Hops -- 8 What happens when Super Mario meets The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild? You get Big Hops, one of the first great games of 2026. A 3D platformer with plenty of charm and heart, Big Hops keeps things simple and polished as it confidently hops into vibrant worlds. That makes it an approachable game for all ages, and with its well-executed gameplay, it's a constantly satisfying adventure. Read our Big Hops review. Available for PC, PS5, and Switch. See on Steam Featured in this image Big Hops View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Forza Horizon 6 Forza Horizon 6 doesn't stray from the formula it has been fine-tuning since 2012, but it doesn't need to either. Instead, Forza Horizon's tour of Japan is a celebration of car culture that is constantly rewarding and looks as good as a million-dollar supercar. Forza Motorsport's open-world spin-off has become Microsoft's champion racing game franchise, and this new entry in the series is firing on all cylinders with its mix of fast cars, wild showdown races, and intelligently designed systems that complement the racing experience. Read our Forza Horizon 6 review. Available for PC and Xbox Series X|S. See on Amazon Advertisement Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight -- 8 Batman is no stranger to the world of Lego, having headlined several games in the past, but this new entry featuring the Dark Knight is more than just a toybox of destructible environments and cheeky humor. It's a celebration of the Caped Crusader's rich legacy, and it plays like the Arkham sequel fans have been waiting over a decade for. Full of heart and charm, Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight keeps your eyes glued to the bat-screen with enjoyable gameplay, Easter eggs, and a playful take on the beloved Gotham vigilante. Read our Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight review. Available for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. See on Amazon Advertisement Mario Tennis Fever -- 8 Mario has developed into quite the sportsman over the years, and Mario Tennis Fever might just be his best athletic adventure yet. While the core mechanics of Mario Tennis remain largely unchanged, it's the fun and flexible Fever Rackets that serve up some great content and add a layer of unpredictability to every match. Alongside the enjoyable Adventure Mode, challenges, and special game types, Mario Tennis Fever is a grand slam winner for Switch 2 owners. Read our Mario Tennis Fever review. Available for Switch 2. See on Amazon Featured in this image Nioh 3 View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Mouse: P.I. For Hire -- 8 With a game like Mouse: P.I. For Hire, looks do matter--and those looks are an exquisite throwback to the rubber hose aesthetic of classic cartoons wrapped up in a film noir aesthetic. Not just a visually engaging adventure, Mouse: P.I. For Hire also flexes some beefy gameplay muscles with kinetic gunplay and weapons that deliver some gloriously silly slapstick violence. Read our Mouse: P.I. For Hire review. Available for PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch 2, and Switch. See on Nintendo Advertisement Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf -- 8 Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf sticks to the winning formula of the first game, giving players a beautiful world to explore and savor, thanks to its strong art direction and fantastic soundtrack. While it takes a while for the story to truly get going, the second half of this adventure is a bold and stunning collection of fascinating puzzles and platforming, all built around a central mystery that keeps you hooked to your screen. Read our Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf review. Available for PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch 2, and Switch. See on Steam Advertisement Reanimal -- 8 Critics of the Little Nightmares co-op horror game series say that the terror of the original game has been somewhat muted in its sequels, and if you feel the same way, then you'll want to check out Reanimal. It more than lives up to the legacy of Little Nightmares, as this spiritual successor surpasses it with a game design that makes exploring a haunting and unsettling world quite enjoyable, especially with a co-op partner in tow. While its puzzles aren't too challenging, it's the unsettling imagery that leaves a lasting impression as you guide siblings through a nightmarish world and toward freedom. Read our Reanimal review. Available for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2. See on Fanatical Featured in this image Mario Tennis Fever View Game Hub Follow Advertisement Resident Evil Requiem -- 8 Imagine Resident Evil's greatest hits bundled into one delightfully macabre package, and you've got Resident Evil Requiem. A highlight reel of the heart-pounding horror and action that has defined the series for 30 years, Requiem refines the formula behind the games and polishes it with small but thoughtful gameplay additions to create a gorgeously gruesome experience. Read our Resident Evil Requiem review. Available for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2. See on Amazon Advertisement Vampire Crawlers -- 8 Roguelike deckbuilders feel like an oversaturated genre these days, but Vampire Survivors developer Poncle puts a fresh spin on the genre with a spin-off game that's hard to put down. Capturing all the magic of its breakout hit bullet-heaven game and reimagining it as an approachable deckbuilder that gets better with each run, don't be too surprised if the "just one more turn" energy of Vampire Crawlers keeps you awake way past your bedtime. Read our Vampire Crawlers review. Available for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch. See on Steam Advertisement World of Warcraft: Midnight Midnight is the 11th expansion for World of Warcraft, and it continues to make major foundational changes to Blizzard's legendary MMO. With enough content to cater to both veteran players and newcomers, Midnight builds on that momentum with challenging endgame activities, welcome overhauls to the user interface, and a robust housing system that gives you the opportunity to turn a slice of Zeroth into a dream home. Read our World of Warcraft: Midnight review. Available for PC. See on Amazon Advertisement WWE 2K26 -- 8 WWE 2K26 doesn't offer many changes to the bread-and-butter gameplay of previous releases, but this year's entry in the sports entertainment series does address a long list of issues. The focus on quality-of-life improvements makes each match feel more fun than ever before, thanks to the added layers of polish, while new match types, a story mode focused on CM Punk, and an overhauled Island mode put WWE 2K26 in the main event spotlight. Read our WWE 2K26 review. Available for PC, PS5, and Switch 2. See on Amazon Advertisement Zero Parades: For Dead Spies -- 8 Any spiritual successor to Disco Elysium certainly has its work cut out for it, and while Zero Parades: For Dead Spies doesn't quite reach that benchmark, it's still a powerhouse spy thriller full of interesting ideas. Featuring razor-sharp writing and fascinating characters, Zero Parades is a clandestine tale of espionage with rich RPG systems that encourage you to fail upwards. Read our Zero Parades: For Dead Spies review. Available for PC. See on Steam Advertisement Every other GameSpot review in 2026 Not every game released this year is a winner, but that doesn't mean that they're not worth playing. If you can overlook some of their issues, you might find yourself pleasantly surprised, and we'll be running a list of the games that didn't make the cut above. These will be arranged in alphabetical order so that you can quickly find what you're looking for. Code Vein 2 -- 6 Crimson Desert -- 7 Crisol: Theater of Idols -- 6 Darwin's Paradox -- 7 Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined -- 7 God of War: Sons of Sparta -- 5 High on Life 2 -- 7 Highguard -- 6 Hytale (Early Access) -- 6 Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered -- 7 People of Note -- 7 Pokemon Champions -- 7 Romeo is a Dead Man -- 5 Scott Pilgrim EX -- 7 Super Mario Bros. Wonder + Meetup In Bellabel Park -- 7 Tides of Tomorrow -- 7 Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties -- 6 Yoshi and the Mysterious Book -- 7 Featured in this image REANIMAL View Game Hub Follow Advertisement

Title: Assassin’s Creed’s Wildest Move Just Got Recreated In Real Life Date: Thu, 28 May 2026 12:57:19 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/assassins-creeds-wildest-move-just-got-recreated-in-real-life/ More than hoodies, hidden blades, or alien artifacts, one of the defining features of Assassin's Creed is the Leap of Faith. Ever since the first game, players have been yeeting their characters off of tall structures and into conveniently placed bales of hay, and now, several people are attempting that feat in real life. Ahead of the release of Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced, Red Bull Gaming organized a tropical jaunt for several athletes, tasking them with recreating Edward Kenway's signature leaps from the game. In total, the Red Bull crew took on four challenges: Jumping from a cliff into the ocean water, leaping from the top of a pirate ship, falling into a pile of sand, and capping the challenge with a Leap of Faith into hay.  Unsurprisingly, jumping into water resulted in zero fatalities, although there was some hesitation from the group when they were on the ship, due to the motion of the waves making the vessel sway about. https://youtu.be/LcTqca3NV18 Once they got to the third challenge, things started to look a little hairy, with the sandpile not exactly providing the softest landing. The highest point from which a jump was executed was from 12 meters, with one of the Red Bull athletes coming dangerously close to missing the sand entirely. From there, the crew took on a classic Leap of Faith into hay, upping the ante and breaking the previous world record by jumping from a height of 18 meters--and in full Assassin's Creed cosplay. Once again, the team miraculously survived, setting a new world record in the process. It's an impressive feat, although the 2016 Assassin's Creed movie contains an even more hair-raising recreation of the Leap of Faith. One of the highest freefalls performed in decades at that time, stuntman Damien Walters jumped from a height of 38 meters, landing on a massive stunt mattress below--good thing it wasn't a pile of hay, we guess. Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced - Standard Edition (PS5, Xbox Series X) $60 | Releases July 9 Preorder at Amazon View at other stores Preorder at Best Buy Preorder at Target Preorder at GameStop Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Digital Deluxe Edition (PS5, Xbox Series X, PC) $70 | Releases July 9 Preorder at Ubisoft Store Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced Collector's Edition (PS5, Xbox Series X, PC) $200 | Releases July 9 Preorder at Amazon View at other stores Preorder at Best Buy Preorder at Target Preorder at GameStop Preorder at PS Direct Fortunately, you won't need to risk life or limb to perform these stunts in Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced. Launching on July 9 for PC and console, the game is a complete remake of Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag and brings it up to par with modern entries in the series. Opinions are mixed on some of the changes it introduces, which range from a refresh of the narrative to the removal of tailing missions with immediate fail states. Ubisoft has also begun promoting the game with a real-life treasure hunt, with $500,000 in booty waiting to be claimed. 10 Ways Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Differs From Ubisoft’s Original Pirate Adventure View Images

Title: Marathon Is Going Free-To-Play, But Not For Long Date: Thu, 28 May 2026 12:22:07 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/marathon-is-going-free-to-play-but-not-for-long/ With a new season starting soon, Bungie is offering Marathon at its best price yet next week: free. For the low price of nothing, anyone interested in checking out the extraction shooter on PC, PS5, or Xbox Series X|S can grab a free trial for the game starting June 2 and running through June 9, with progress carrying over if they decide to drop $40 on it. PS5 players won't need a PS Plus subscription to go online, either. With Marathon sales reportedly not being as great as Bungie hoped for and player numbers being modest at best, this might be the best chance for the developer to introduce people to the game. The June 2 date also coincides with the start of Marathon's second season, which will add the new Night Marsh zone, a new Sentinel Runner shell, and more deadly hardware. The important thing to note is that a new season also means that player inventories are wiped, leveling the playing field. This means that you won't have to worry about running into fellow Runners equipped with top-tier loot at the start of the season. Other updates coming in the season include the Cradle, a new system that will let you level up your Runner shell stats without needing to worry too much about faction progression, increased faction progression speed, a larger Vault, and several quality-of-life changes. If you're curious, Marathon is worth trying out as Bungie has put its own fresh spin on the extraction shooter genre. https://youtu.be/a1i801SDrJA "Bungie's slick extraction shooter is great at creating tense battles, incredible highs, and painful lows, with a future that's full of promise," Phil Hornshaw wrote in GameSpot's Marathon review. Marathon appears to be Bungie's main priority for now, as the studio recently announced that Destiny 2 will receive one final content update in June. While the server lights will remain on for the foreseeable future, this update will serve as an epilogue of sorts to the live-service game, just when its story was starting to get good. 'Significant" layoffs are also expected to follow now that Destiny 2 is being sunset, but Bungie has confirmed that it is also developing several ideas for future games. 7 Marathon Beginner Tips To Help You Survive On Tau Ceti View Images

Title: Forza Horizon 6’s Most Hated Driver Has Become An Internet Legend Date: Thu, 28 May 2026 12:20:55 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/forza-horizon-6-most-hated-driver-has-become-an-internet-legend/ Tales are circulating around Forza Horizon 6 currently, as players are being tormented by a four-wheeled Baba Yaga known as Bowie Knife99. An AI Drivatar unclouded by conscience, remorse, or delusions of morality, Bowie Knife 99 prowls the streets of Japan, fueled by petroleum and homicidal urges. Already a legend, the perfect driving organism has become something of a meme since the launch of Forza Horizon 6, one that has broken free and has begun popping up in other spaces. For the uninitiated, Drivatars in Forza Horizon 6 games are AI-controlled opponents that mimic the driving style and skill of players in the game. They emulate how people drive and can be challenged to a race, giving online players some surprisingly authentic competition on the track. And then there's Bowie Knife 99, as this Drivatar aims to beat players with pure aggression and unhinged driving. Bowie Knife 99 has been a menace, hunting down players and wiping them out mid-race. So terrifying is the thought of running into Bowie Knife99 that players have begun a quest to hunt down the automobile anarchist and give it a taste of its own medicine. Even Xbox is aware of Bowie Knife99, and has joined a chorus of players who all share the same opinion: He can't keep getting away with this! Not content to just terrorize Forza Horizon 6 players, the legend of Bowie Knife99 has now spread across the world. Even Major League Baseball has joined in on the fun: https://twitter.com/MLB/status/2059499510481494299 Battlefield is willing to lend a hand--or a rocket launcher: https://twitter.com/Battlefield/status/2059661271834689622 Even Master Chief fears the Forza Horizon 6 boogeyman: https://twitter.com/Halo/status/2059699909054656943 Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 developer Warhorse Studios has issued a challenge to Bowie Knife99: https://twitter.com/KingdomComeRPG/status/2059275871261708400 Walmart Canada isn't taking any chances and has banned Bowie Knife99 from its stores: https://twitter.com/WalmartCAGaming/status/2059398691539099671 It looks like the ruthless drivatar has been spotted in Gotham: https://twitter.com/LEGODCGame/status/2059848390939185396 Clearly, the staff at Marvel's Wolverine developer Insomniac Games aren't in a mood to talk: https://twitter.com/insomniacgames/status/2059228651804360928 Maybe the South Park gang can stop his rampage: https://twitter.com/Warcraft/status/2059723002095280461 Rare reckons it's time to abandon ship: https://twitter.com/SeaOfThieves/status/2059718833930191246 Leave Mega Man alone, you bully: https://twitter.com/MegaMan/status/2059730712912449640 Ubisoft knows a thing or two about lethal blades: https://twitter.com/assassinscreed/status/2059708217957998784 Not even Crimson Desert is safe from the menace: https://twitter.com/CrimsonDesert_/status/2059809380410044774 And the team over at Invincible Vs has summed up how ever Forza Horizon 6 player feels about Bowie Knife99: https://twitter.com/InvincibleVS/status/2059381925924454850 For now, the identity of Bowie Knife99 remains a mystery, but they've already established their legend in Forza Horizon 6 and the world. They're the antithesis to heroes like Let Me Solo Her, and their reign of car-nage might only just be starting. But don't let that specter discourage you from trying out the game, as Forza Horizon 6 is proving to be one of the best entries in the series. While it doesn't deviate drastically from the path established in previous games, Forza Horizon 6 still provides plenty of digital dopamine hits while also fixing one of the most annoying aspects of the series. Best Forza Games: Ranking All 15 Games View Images

Title: PS5’s Coolest DualSense Controllers Are Discounted For Days Of Play Date: Wed, 27 May 2026 22:49:00 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/days-of-play-dualsense-controllers-on-sale/ Sony's Days of Play sale has officially kicked off, and if you're in the market for a new DualSense controller, you can snag great deals on several variants. Like previous years, the DualSense controller has gotten a nice discount of around $20, dropping the price from $75 to $55 on average. See All Days of Play 2026 Deals Amazon Walmart PlayStation Direct Best Buy Target It's not just the signature white controller or its alternate colorways on sale either, as Sony has also discounted several limited-edition models, including the gorgeous Death Stranding 2 and Marathon versions that combine the unique iconography of each game with a slick finish. One of the great things about the DualSense is that it also works on PC, via a USB-C tether or wirelessly through Bluetooth. This makes it ideal for several PC ports of PlayStation Studios games like Ghost of Tsushima or Returnal, leveraging the powerful haptic features of the peripheral to enhance a gameplay session. Overall, the DualSense is one of the more popular controllers out there, as they look and feels great to use. Some of our other favorite designs include the elegant line of Chroma controllers--Chroma Pearl is especially eye-catching--the loud Hyperpop controllers, and the beautiful Volcanic Red. For anyone who's after a more premium controller, the DualSense Edge is also on sale. Normally $199, you can snag one of these in White or Midnight Black for just $169, a nice savings of 15%. These are rarely discounted, so grab one while you can, as the premium controller comes with the following accessories that allow you to customize it to your tastes: DualSense Edge Controller (White) $169 (was $199) PlayStation Direct Amazon DualSense Edge Controller (Midnight Black) $169 (was $199) PlayStation Direct Amazon Two pairs of swappable paddles Three pairs of stick caps: standard, tall dome, low dome Trigger locks with three stopping points Two customizable Function buttons for menus/settings Braided USB-C cable with optional connector housing Hardshell carrying case Beyond that, you can check out all the DualSense controller deals below available through the PlayStation Direct Store and Amazon. If you're looking to pair it with several more accessories, you can also save $100 on a PlayStation VR2 headset, and you can match your new controller with a PS5 console cover. Days of Play: DualSense controllers on sale DualSense controllers for PS5 and PC Chroma Indigo -- $60 ($80) PlayStation Direct Amazon Chroma Pearl -- $60 ($80) PlayStation Direct Amazon Chroma Teal -- $60 ($80) PlayStation Direct Amazon Cobalt Blue -- $55 ($75) PlayStation Direct Amazon Cosmic Red -- $55 ($75) PlayStation Direct Amazon Death Stranding 2: On the Beach -- $64 ($84) PlayStation Direct Galactic Purple -- $55 ($75) PlayStation Direct Amazon Genshin Impact Limited Edition -- $65 ($85) PlayStation Direct God of War 20th anniversary -- $65 ($85) Best Buy Target Gray Camouflage -- $55 ($75) PlayStation Direct Amazon Marathon Limited Edition -- $64 ($85) PlayStation Direct Amazon Midnight Black -- $55 ($75) PlayStation Direct Amazon Midnight Black (Includes PC USB cable) -- $55 ($75) PlayStation Direct Amazon Remix Green -- $64 ($85) PlayStation Direct Amazon Rhythm Blue -- $64 ($85) PlayStation Direct Amazon Starlight Blue -- $55 ($75) PlayStation Direct Amazon Sterling Silver -- $55 ($75) PlayStation Direct Amazon Techno Red -- $64 ($85) PlayStation Direct Amazon Volcanic Red -- $59 ($79) PlayStation Direct White -- $55 ($75) PlayStation Direct Amazon Check Out More Deals And Preorders GOG’s Square Enix Sale Includes 11 Classic Final Fantasy, Mana, And SaGa Games This Xbox Series X Bundle Includes Forza Horizon 6 And A Controller For Free 8BitDo Reveals Ultimate 3E Modular Controller For Xbox And PC Secretlab Gaming Chairs And Desks Are Getting Big Memorial Day Discounts Best Buy’s Memorial Day Sale – Save Up to 75% On Handhelds, Controllers, Games, And More Save 25% On Coffee Talk Tokyo At Fanatical Preorder 8BitDo’s Stunning Ultimate 3 Controller In Lavender Dusk Create Your Own Indie Showcase With These Limited-Time Bundle Deals Show More Check Out More Deals And Preorders Links (5)

Title: Cataclysm Arcade Kickstarter promises a TCG where player victories shape the story Date: Thu, 28 May 2026 13:01:18 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/cataclysm-arcade-kickstarter-launch-interview/ When Brian David-Marshall first unveiled Cataclysm Arcade at PAX Unplugged last year, the veteran Magic: The Gathering commentator and tabletop designer pitched the upcoming trading card game as something deliberately different. Set in a bizarre, post-apocalyptic “retroverse” where gangs, mutants, synthetics, and monsters battle for survival in a gladiatorial blood sport, the game was built around one central idea: what if opening a booster pack was enough to start playing immediately?

Title: Is Backrooms 2 coming out? Director Kane Parsons says Backrooms is just 'the first part' of his story Date: Thu, 28 May 2026 12:00:19 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/will-there-be-backrooms-2-sequel-kane-parsons/ The A24 horror movie Backrooms tells a start-to-finish story: A troubled man (Chiwetel Ejiofor) discovers a portal to a mysterious, seemingly endless space, and finds something there that changes his life. But by the end of the film, it’s clear this experience is just one among many. And the events in this movie potentially set up endless other Backrooms stories. So is Backrooms 2 on the way?

Title: Donkey Kong 64 is coming to Nintendo Classics on Switch Online Date: Thu, 28 May 2026 10:43:50 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/donkey-kong-64-nintendo-classics-switch-online/ Nintendo has announced that Rare's Donkey Kong 64 — which, until last year's Donkey Kong Bananza, was the only fully 3D Donkey Kong platformer — is coming to the Nintendo 64 collection in Nintendo Classics next week. The 1999 game will be added on Wednesday, June 3, for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers.

Title: 007 First Light safe codes and door codes Date: Wed, 27 May 2026 20:10:36 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/007-first-light-all-safe-door-codes-list/ If you explore off the beaten track, you'll find plenty of 007 First Light safe codes. The problem is, some of them are trickier to unlock than others. Most safes are optional, but unlocking them will either reward you with a collectible or give information that can help James Bond gain access to new areas and complete the task at hand.

Title: Path of Exile 2 'Return of the Ancients' update release time in your time zone Date: Wed, 27 May 2026 20:00:18 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/path-of-exile-2-poe2-return-of-the-ancients-0-5-update-release-time/ Path of Exile 2's "Return of the Ancients" update will be released soon, bringing a complete overhaul of the game's endgame system. While players won't see new classes or weapons with patch 0.5, the additions and modifications made to the endgame mechanics and map significantly changes the PoE 2 experience.

Title: License to Stream: ‘007 First Light’ Coming to GeForce NOW With an Ultimate Bundle Date: Thu, 21 May 2026 13:00:22 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-007-first-light-ultimate-bundle/ The mission begins now. GeForce NOW is dialing up the action with a blockbuster mix of spy thrills, high-speed racing and member rewards — plus eight new games joining the cloud this week, all ready to stream instantly. Leading the drop: the 007 First Light Ultimate Membership Bundle, which brings a brand-new way to jump into one of the year’s biggest releases and discover James Bond’s reimagined origin story. Rev the engines — the Horizon Festival is calling. Forza Horizon 6 is now available on GeForce NOW — bringing the series’ signature open-world racing and festival energy directly to members, wherever they play. Stream a world built for speed, style and freedom instantly across devices, with no downloads required. Step Into the Cloud of Espionage A license to stream. A mission worth accepting arrives. Starting today through Wednesday, June 10, 007 First Light is included with the purchase of a 12-month GeForce NOW Ultimate membership. Lock it in before the game’s launch, and it’ll be ready to play the moment it goes live on Wednesday, May 27 — no preloads, no waiting, no mission briefings required. This is a new, original take of Bond’s story — before the tux fit perfectly and the martinis got specific. 007 First Light drops players into a sharp, cinematic origin story packed with globe-trotting espionage, close calls and choices that shape how the world’s most famous agent takes form. Expect stealth, spectacle and just enough chaos to keep things interesting. Stream it all with GeForce RTX 50 Series GPU power in the cloud, with up to 5K high dynamic range and cinematic-quality streaming for Ultimate members. It’s high-end PC gaming, minus the high-end PC. Redeeming the mission is simple: After purchase, get the game by going to the “Available to Redeem” section in the account portal, signing in to a Steam account and completing the redemption. The game is for members to keep — and ready to play across devices at launch with GeForce NOW. Welcome to the Festival Engines roar. Crowds surge. The road stretches endlessly forward. Forza Horizon 6 is the ultimate automotive playground — a shared world where racing, exploration and creativity come together. Every road, trail and skyline is designed to be driven, discovered and mastered. Take on a wide range of events, from high-speed street races to off-road expeditions, or drop into live activities happening across the world. Build a garage of iconic cars spanning decades of automotive history, each brought to life with incredible detail and customization. The Horizon Festival is more than competition — it’s a celebration of car culture and music. Seamless online features connect players across events and challenges, making every session feel alive and unpredictable. Powered by the cloud, GeForce NOW delivers the festival in stunning detail. Members experience ultrasmooth performance and vivid environments without needing to wait for installs or upgrading hardware. With technologies like NVIDIA DLSS enhancing performance and visual fidelity, every reflection, speed blur and finish-line sprint hits at full intensity. Community Spotlight Community-created content takes the spotlight this week, as GeForce NOW ambassador Cloud Gaming Battle sits down with Andrew Fear, GeForce NOW product manager director at NVIDIA, to dive into what makes the service tick. The conversation covers how GeForce NOW brings high-performance PC gaming from the cloud to a wide range of devices, giving a closer look at the tech, thinking and passion behind the platform. It’s a conversation that the GFN Reddit community is calling “genuinely inspirational.” In addition, members can look for the following: Forza Horizon 6 (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass, May 19) Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core (New release on Steam, May 20) Luna Abyss (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass, May 21) Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II (New release on Steam, May 21) ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies (New release on Steam, May 21) Splitgate Arena Reloaded (Xbox, Available on Game Pass) Sunderfolk (Epic Games Store) TerraTech Legion (Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass) What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below. Rev your engines — the Horizon Festival is calling. @ForzaHorizon 6 is now streaming on GeForce NOW – stream a world built for speed in the cloud today. pic.twitter.com/hJuKFT2GZp — NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) May 19, 2026

Title: Sea You in the Cloud: ‘Subnautica 2’ Early Access Dives Onto GeForce NOW Date: Thu, 14 May 2026 13:00:08 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-subnautica-2/ Editor’s note: The Gaijin single sign-on feature is now up and running. Dive masks on — Subnautica 2 is making a splash on GeForce NOW day-and-date with launch, so members can plunge into the title’s brand-new alien ocean from almost any device. It leads 11 new games joining the cloud this week. A limited-time HITMAN World of Assassination reward event brings signature tools of the trade — equal parts precision and unpredictability. At the same time Le Chiffre from CASINO ROYALE, played by the legendary actor Mads Mikkelsen, returns to HITMAN World of Assassination. Play for free through May 25 and earn a unique reward for 007 First Light. Meanwhile, engines are already revving — the highly anticipated Forza Horizon 6 races onto the scene with early access, starting today for players who preordered the Premium Edition on Steam or purchased the Premium Upgrade Bundle for PC Game Pass. GeForce NOW members can jump in once early access becomes available on the service — no preinstalls or downloads needed.  It all highlights what GeForce NOW does best: turning PC gaming collections into play-anywhere experiences across devices, with no install, updates or the latest hardware required.                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Making Waves Explore the unknown with the cloud. Jump into a shared-world ocean frontier in Subnautica 2 — where survival, exploration and creativity rise to the surface together. Every reef, trench and stormy horizon is crafted to be swum through, studied and slowly tamed as players chart their own course beneath alien waves. Descend into a living seascape of dynamic ecosystems, mysterious ruins and creatures that range from curious to colossal. Take on story-driven missions, dive into resource-rich biomes and construct bases above and below the surface to turn hostile waters into a home. Whether playing solo or with a crew, the ocean stays vast and unpredictable. On GeForce NOW, every current, glow and shadow streams with crisp detail and fluid performance straight from the cloud. Members can plunge into the depths in moments, skipping downloads and hardware upgrades.  Keep It Classy Shaken, stirred and slightly unhinged. Suit up, agent — things are getting a little explosive. A new HITMAN World of Assassination reward event lands on GeForce NOW, giving members a stylish (and slightly unhinged) way to make an impression. Each item leans into HITMAN’s signature tone — equal parts precision, chaos and dark humor. Here’s what’s waiting: Free users: The Purple Streak Explosive Duck — a remote explosive disguised as an innocent rubber toy. Performance members: The Purple Streak Explosive Duck and the Bomb Dynamite, a classic TNT bundle built for loud, messy exits. Ultimate members: Full Ultimate Bundle — adds the Purple Streak Fiber Wire (a sleek, silent takedown tool) and the Purple Streak Swimwear Suit (a bold outfit that trades stealth for style) to the Purple Streak Explosive Duck and the Bomb Dynamite. Starting today, all members get access to the rewards, which will remain available through Sunday, June 14, first come, first served. To claim, log in to a GeForce NOW account, head to the rewards section in the account portal and redeem.  One mission, a handful of questionable tools and a clear message: Stealth is optional, style is not. Splashy New Games In addition, members can look for the following: Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes (New release on Steam, May 11) Outbound (New release on Steam, May 11) Directive 8020 (New release on Steam, May 12) Subnautica 2 (New release on Steam, Epic Games Store and Xbox, available on Game Pass, May 14) Blades of Fire (New release on Steam, May 14) Forza Horizon 6 (Early access on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass, May 14) Disco Elysium (Xbox, available on Game Pass) Oddsparks: An Automation Adventure (Epic Games Store) Planet Coaster 2 (Epic Games Store) Sudden Strike 5 (Steam) Super Battle Golf (Steam) The Gaijin single sign-on feature is coming soon and is currently in development with Gaijin. Updates will be shared in a future GeForce NOW Thursday once the feature is live. What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below.   Which gaming genres do you play the most? — NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) May 13, 2026  

Title: Linked and Loaded: Gaijin Single Sign-On Now Available on GeForce NOW Date: Thu, 07 May 2026 13:00:27 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-gaijin-sso/ Less typing, more tanking. Faster logins mean more time in the gaming action — and this week provides GeForce NOW members with a smoother path straight into the battlefield. Cloud gaming is all about instant access to titles across devices, and the latest GeForce NOW update removes another layer for members jumping into their Gaijin libraries from anywhere. With seven games joining the cloud this week, the action keeps growing — now backed by NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 performance for Ultimate members across nearly the full GeForce NOW library, spanning both Ready-to-Play and Install-to-Play titles. One Gaijin Login to Rule Them All Less typing, more tanking. Gaijin account linking is now cleared for takeoff on GeForce NOW, making it easier to jump straight into battle without extra logins. With Gaijin single sign-on, one quick sign-in connects a Gaijin.net account to the cloud, so supported titles are ready to launch with fewer clicks and no password juggling. Just head to the GeForce NOW app on PC or Mac, dive into the settings and log in under “Connections.” Once linked, supported Gaijin games on GeForce NOW — like the combined-arms chaos of War Thunder — are ready to stream without logging in each time. It’s the same library-first, platform-linking magic members already enjoy with Xbox, Ubisoft Connect and more, now extended to Gaijin so existing PC accounts work seamlessly across devices. Groovy New Games Groove or go down. Dead as Disco from Brain Jar Games drops players into a neon-soaked fever dream where every punch, dodge and takedown hits on the beat. This rhythm-infused brawler blends stylish combat with pulsing tracks, turning each fight into a dance floor showdown. Chain combos, stay in sync and keep the groove alive as the chaos escalates. Now available to stream on GeForce NOW, it’s all about timing, flair and fighting like the music never stops In addition, members can look for the following games, all ready to play on GeForce RTX 5080-power for Ultimate members: Dead as Disco (New release on Steam, May 5) HUNTDOWN: OVERTIME (New release on Steam, May 7) Nuclear Option (Steam) Sintopia (Steam) Kiln (Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass) Hotel Architect (Steam) PowerWash Simulator 2 (Xbox, available on Game Pass) What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below. What has been your most-played game so far this year? — NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) May 5, 2026

Title: It’s Gonna Be May: 16 Games Hit the Cloud This Month, With More NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Power Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2026 13:00:47 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-may-2026-games-list/ [Editor’s note] The blog has been updated to note that GeForce RTX 5080-power expansion also extends to the Install-to-Play library. It’s gonna be May — and the cloud’s in full festival mode.  16 games are joining GeForce NOW this month, including new AAA titles arriving on launch day from Steam, Xbox, PC Game Pass and GOG, so members can stream their PC libraries instantly across almost any device. Headline launches include the highly anticipated Forza Horizon 6 and 007 First Light, both ready to hit the cloud on day one. Meanwhile, the GeForce NOW Ultimate membership dials things up with expanded RTX 5080‑class performance across the cloud gaming library, bringing higher frame rates, richer visuals and more responsive gameplay to even more of the games members already love. Ultimate members now get priority access to RTX 5080‑class rigs, making it easier than ever to tap into next‑generation PC power from almost any device. GeForce NOW is also celebrating 30 years of Firaxis in style, with more of the studio’s classics coming as Install‑to‑Play titles for instant access — just in time for a Steam celebration sale on select Firaxis games supported in the cloud. And this week kicks things off with six new games dropping into the cloud, setting the stage for a May packed with new adventures. The Cloud Keeps Getting Bigger AAA titles are landing throughout the month on their launch dates. Members can pick them up from their favorite PC stores — Steam, Xbox, PC Game Pass and GOG — and stream their PC gaming libraries instantly on GeForce NOW without having to repurchase titles to play across devices. The highly anticipated titles hitting the cloud this month include:  Stream it on GeForce NOW. Forza Horizon 6 from Playground Games: The Horizon festival is back and bigger than ever. This is Horizon Japan — stretching from the iconic downtown streets of Tokyo City all the way to the snowy Japanese Alps — introducing the most dense and vertical map yet. A massive new open world, a stacked car roster and that legendary “one more race” energy are all heading to GeForce NOW on the title’s launch date. Members can pick it up on PC via Steam and Xbox, including Game Pass, then hit full throttle from the cloud on almost any device. 007 First Light from IO Interactive: The game brings a modern James Bond origin story to the cloud when it launches Wednesday, May 27, for PC, inviting members to step into the shadows as Bond begins his journey. Experience a mix of stealth and action built around a “breathing” gameplay loop with IOI’s cinematic, set piece-driven storytelling. Approach encounters through stealth, direct action or creative improvisation, with multiple viable paths to each objective that let players define Bond’s style. It’s ready on day one for players grabbing it on Steam, Xbox on PC or GOG. More Power GeForce NOW Ultimate is expanding what premium cloud gaming looks like. Starting today, Ultimate members can stream even more of their games on RTX 5080 virtual gaming rigs — bringing the power of the NVIDIA Blackwell RTX architecture to a wide range of titles. This update significantly broadens access to 5080 performance beyond the list of GeForce RTX 5080-optimized titles. Now, across nearly the entire GeForce NOW library, members can experience higher frame rates, richer visuals, and more responsive gameplay by default at up to 5K 120 frames per second or 360 fps at 1080p. With RTX 5080 in the cloud, Ultimate members unlock the same cutting-edge features available to GeForce RTX 50 Series GPU owners. That includes NVIDIA DLSS 4 technology for sharper image quality and higher performance, NVIDIA Reflex for reduced system latency and faster input response, and advanced ray tracing for more lifelike lighting and reflections.  With RTX 5080 powering the default Ultimate experience, GeForce NOW delivers next-generation performance to more games, extending the value of a GeForce NOW membership. See more details in the knowledgebase article. 30 Years of ‘One More Turn’ Happy 30th, O mighty Firaxis Games. GeForce NOW is celebrating three decades of Firaxis — the legendary studio behind Civilization and XCOM — with a growing lineup of some of the best strategy games on the cloud. Throughout May, GeForce NOW is rolling out a collection of classic Firaxis games, available as Install-to-Play titles for instant access. Expanding beyond Civilization V and Civilization VI and the series’ signature “one more turn” gameplay,  GeForce NOW will showcase the studio’s broader legacy.  Take to the stars in Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth, lay tracks in Sid Meier’s Railroads!, defend the globe in XCOM 2, and command the skies in Ace Patrol and Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies. Add to that the anniversary celebration on Steam with discounts of up to 90% on games in the Firaxis catalog for a limited time. It’s the perfect time for members to build their Firaxis collection in the cloud. May-jor New Games One wrong turn from glory to graveyard. Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era is the official prequel that returns to the roots of the genre-defining, critically acclaimed turn-based strategy series. Raise grand armies and wield devastating spells to overcome foes in solo and multiplayer, set against a grim, war-torn world of uneasy alliances and hard choices. Now available to stream on GeForce NOW, every decision shapes a path defined by power, strategy and hard-earned victories All roads lead to Rome. Some also lead directly into a volcano. Anno 117: PAX Romana is turning up the heat with its first downloadable content (DLC), Prophecies of Ash, dropping a massive new volcanic island into the heart of the Roman empire. Build a thriving city on Cinis, juggle new production chains like obsidian crafting and new items, and try to stay on the good side of Vulcan — a new deity to worship —  while a very active volcano looks in the background. Additionally, the DLC introduces a new resource a new trader, Ceacilia, and several new specialists. Available to stream on GeForce NOW, the DLC is ready to play without waiting on big downloads or patches — just jump in, claim the new land and see whether the empire can handle a little fire and brimstone. Check out what else is available this week: Global Rescue (New release on Steam, April 27) s&box (New release on Steam, April 28) Far Far West (New release on Steam, April 28) INDUSTRIA 2 (New release on Steam, April 29) Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass, April 30) Bus Bound (New release on Steam, April 30) And look forward to the games coming throughout the month: Conan Exiles (New release on Steam and Epic Games Store, May 5) Dead as Disco (New release on Steam, May 5) HUNTDOWN: OVERTIME (New release on Steam, May 7) Outbound (New release on Steam, May 14) Starminer (New release on Steam, May 27) Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core (New release on Steam, May 18) Forza Horizon 6 (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass, May 19) Luna Abyss (New release on Steam, May 21) ZERO PARADES (New release on Steam, May 21) 007 First Light (New release on Steam, Epic Games Store and Xbox, available on the Microsoft store, May 27) Hotel Architect (Steam) Kiln (Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass) Nuclear Option (Steam) Sintopia (Steam) Sudden Strike 5 (Steam) Super Battle Golf (Steam) Adding to April In addition to the 10 games announced last month, 11 more joined the GeForce NOW library: ‘83 (Steam) Crimson Desert (Xbox, available to play via Xbox Play Anywhere) DayZ (Xbox, available on Game Pass)  Diablo III (Ubisoft Connect) MapleStory M (Steam) Morbid Metal (Steam) PRAGMATA SKETCHBOOK – Demo (Steam) Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition (Steam and Ubisoft) Tides of Tomorrow (Steam) Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard from Vampire Survivors (Xbox) Windrose (Steam) Outbound didn’t make it to the cloud this month due to its launch date being moved. Stay tuned to GFN Thursdays for the latest. What are you planning to play this weekend? 

Title: Tag, You’re It: GeForce NOW Levels Up Game Discovery With Xbox Game Pass and Ubisoft+ Labels Date: Thu, 23 Apr 2026 13:00:51 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-in-app-labels/ GeForce NOW is doubling down on what matters most: gamers. This week’s upgrades bring smarter libraries, making it easier than ever for gamers to turn a PC collection into a cloud-powered flex. It starts with giving existing libraries time to shine. Gamers can bring the games they love to the cloud, stream them with high performance and see the value of a GeForce NOW membership grow with new games, rewards and features. First up, finding something to play gets an upgrade. The new in-app labels, first announced at GDC, are now live — making it simple to spot titles and new releases from connected subscription services like Xbox Game Pass and Ubisoft+. All that sets the stage for six new games rolling onto the cloud this week. Leading the charge is Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard, a chaotic new spin on the fast, unpredictable and packed-with-personality Vampire Survivors universe. Even the vampires can’t avoid the spotlight this time. Round it out with a thunderous new Marvel Rivals skin for Thor, and it’s a lineup fitted to perfection. Just Play It GeForce NOW lets members connect their existing gaming subscriptions to bring more of their games with them on the go, across devices. Today, keeping track of which games can be streamed just got even easier. New in‑app game labels on GeForce NOW make it easy to see which titles are part of Xbox Game Pass or Ubisoft+ game libraries once accounts are connected. Tagged and ready. Clear labels now appear directly on each game’s details — eliminating guesswork and making it simple to see exactly what’s available to play instantly from connected subscriptions. Stream hundreds of NVIDIA RTX-powered titles with a single click. More clarity, less searching — and one more reason the cloud gaming library has never looked better. Feeding Time Make sure to bite hard. Get fired up for the feeding frenzy — Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard is a roguelite horde escape game that stacks absurd power‑ups and turns every run into a highlight reel of close calls. Stay mobile, grab upgrades and try not to become the snack. Every build becomes a delightful walking disaster, with weapons, perks and abilities combining into wild synergies that can turn a run from barely surviving to absolutely steamrolling in just a few upgrades. Dense enemy waves, screen‑filling attacks and unpredictable upgrade paths keep each attempt fresh — and dangerously prone to “one more run.” On GeForce NOW, all that chaos stays razor sharp, with smooth performance for dodge‑heavy moments, crisp effects even when the screen is packed and the ability to jump back into the madness from any supported device. Thunder Drip Thor is striking poses again. The God of Thunder is trading his classic red cape for an umber‑toned, battle‑ready look that can only mean one thing: a serious style upgrade. GeForce NOW Premium members get first access to the Thor Midgard Umber Skin in Marvel Rivals starting today, and those on the free tier can grab it starting Friday, April 24, bringing stormy flair to the battlefield.  Claim the reward by Saturday, May 23 — or before Odin hoards them all. Redeem through the GeForce NOW account portal and enter the code in game on Steam. Then stride forth, majestic and moody, because this look is eternal — at least until the next mythic crossover. Time for Adventures Members can look for the following new games this week: Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard from Vampire Survivors (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass, April 21) Tides of Tomorrow (New release on Steam, April 22, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) ‘83 (New release on Steam, April 23, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) Diablo III (New release on Ubisoft Connect, April 23) Crimson Desert (Xbox, available to play via Xbox Play Anywhere, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) MapleStory M (Steam) What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below. Settled Systems Pandora Raccoon City Thanks for taking us on a trip through the cloud @airiesummer #GFNShare pic.twitter.com/4XKgnCPl6J — NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) April 21, 2026

Title: BeamNG.drive speeds onto PS5 this year Date: Thu, 28 May 2026 13:00:25 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/05/28/beamng-drive-speeds-onto-ps5-this-year/ At its core, BeamNG.drive is a driving sim unlike any other, powered by an uncompromising real-time soft-body physics engine. “When console?” is a question we’ve been asked, in some form or another, for the better part of a decade and I’m excited to be able to say we’re bringing our world of cars and chaos to PlayStation 5. While the game is best known for its spectacular car crashes, they are merely an outcome of the physics doing its job underneath. In BeamNG.drive, every component of the vehicle is simulated individually as a network of nodes and beams that can flex under load, deform, or even break outright when pushed too far. As a result, vehicle behavior is never scripted, but emerges from those tiny interactions, allowing the game to produce true-to-life handling dynamics with incredibly accurate damage modeling. And all of it happens really fast — the physics engine updates at a rate of 2kHz — meaning the vehicle is being fully re-evaluated two thousand times every second. Play Video This system allows for things that are normally impossible to depict outside of pre-rendered cutscenes. Damage is not cosmetic, and no two crashes feel alike. Take a buggy across rocky ground or hit a curb at the wrong angle and you can trace how every impact gradually propagates through the structure of the vehicle, part by part, just like it would in real life. The freedom to experiment is near-limitless. A versatile lineup of a thousand detailed vehicle configurations is on offer for any type of automotive enthusiast. Chasing lap times? Supercars, sport cars, and muscle cars are warmed up and waiting. Picking up groceries? Grab an SUV, a minivan, or one of those intentionally questionable mid-90s sedans. Urban chauffeuring? There are buses, taxis, and a limousine at your service. Dirt is your final frontier? Purpose-built desert trucks and rock crawlers will get you there, probably. Having a rough day? An entire fleet of heavy machinery is standing by, ready to help you “accidentally” drop a 40-ton marble block onto an unsuspecting van. All of this is accompanied by a large selection of trailers and props, ranging from a simple traffic cone all the way to a giant spinner to wreak havoc with. For those who like to tinker, customization is available across the board, and depending on the model, it can be remarkably extensive. Start paint-deep or dig in and swap the engine, suspension type, change drivetrain layout, fit different wheels and tires, sprinkle in some aftermarket performance parts – until you’ve engineered a creation that Theseus himself wouldn’t be able to recognize. Every tweak will be reflected in how the car feels on the road, and you can take it even further with adjustable sway bars, ride height, tire pressure, locking differentials, high/low range transfer cases, triple-bypass shocks on the off-roaders, adaptive spoilers, and much more. Whether you’re chasing a personal best, picking a line through technical terrain, or reversing a loaded trailer into a tight dock, BeamNG.drive meets you where you are. There’s plenty to discover as you test out that fresh custom setup. The game comes with a dozen open-world maps, featuring coastal, mountain, desert, industrial, and suburban environments, all packed with a variety of gameplay experiences. Players who enjoy a more structured approach can make use of the mission system that offers a selection of races, time trials, police chases, and other challenges, while Freeroam mode is perfect for exploring the world on your own terms, with simulated traffic or without. There’s no wrong way to play. The level of fidelity and depth that BeamNG.drive is known for is a serious challenge on any platform. To preserve what makes the experience special, extensive optimization and careful refinement were required under the hood across performance, controls, interface, overall usability, and many other systems. Bringing BeamNG.drive to consoles has been a complex undertaking for the team, and this milestone reflects the enormous effort that went into navigating countless technical challenges and meeting unique architectural demands. In all ways, BeamNG.drive has always been a labor of love – starting from a humble tech demo to the massive community the game boasts today. Releasing on PlayStation 5 is a huge achievement for us, and we’re looking forward to sharing this adventure with the console audience.

Title: Marathon Season 2 arrives June 2 Date: Wed, 27 May 2026 15:16:22 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/05/27/marathon-season-2-arrives-june-2/ What secrets lurk in the dark as night descends on Marathon’s second season? Season 2 is coming June 2, bringing new challenges, new opportunities, and new ways to play. You’ll be able to try out Season 2 for yourself with Marathon Open Play Week from June 2-  9. During Open Play Week, the full game will be available on PlayStation 5 (no PlayStation Plus membership required) and any progress you make will carry over into Season 2. Today we’re excited to bring you an overview of what to expect when the lights go out. Play Video Into the night Veteran Marathon players already know that Dire Marsh can be an unforgiving place. With its deadly mixture of long sight lines, elevated perches, and concentrated points of interest, one wrong move in the Marsh can change a run in an instant. For Season 2, we’re offering up a new vision of the Marsh, as night descends in the zone, the light disappears, and the tension skyrockets. With the new Night Marsh zone, light comes at a premium, with multiple areas that feature pitch darkness. Even the exterior wayfinding lights you might rely on are reduced, amping up the dependence on quiet steps, maximum awareness, and a quick trigger finger. Thankfully, players will have new tools at their disposal, including attached lights on their Runner shells, as well as new loot options they can use to combat the darkness, including Darksight scopes and signal flares. But beware: the light you may be using to find your way might just be a beacon for an enemy. Alongside the challenge of navigating the darkness of Night Marsh comes new enemies to contend with as the anomaly stirs. Meanwhile the UESC has increased its presence to fortify the Complex building for reasons unknown. What are they protecting? The answers will be yours to discover. Play Video Sentinel With Season 2, we’re introducing more variety to the Runner mix in the form of Sentinel, a new defensive shell designed to control space and shape encounters before they even begin. With a mixture of tools and abilities that offer defensive safeguards, superior intel, and deadly traps, a skilled Sentinel player can control tempo, force hesitation, and turn enemy aggression into deadly mistakes. Be reborn In Season 2, you’ll have more control over your Runner shell progression over the course of the season thanks to the Cradle. This new system will let you level up the WEAVEworms that create your cybernetic body and shape your upgrade path as the season continues. You’ll do so with WEAVEworm Energy you can earn and use to level up your Cradle, routing that Energy into upgrade paths that unlock stat gains and access to new perks. Best of all, you can reallocate your Energy at any time during the season: Simply reset to have your Energy refunded and start again. With the Cradle we’re offering more customization, allowing you to fit your Runner shell into your preferred playstyle. A fresh start with new tools Season 2 will begin with a full reset for all Marathon players, leveling the playing field, so that every Runner is once again on the same page gear-wise. It’s a time when everyone is discovering what’s new and learning how to survive Tau Ceti together. As you build your Runner back up, we’ll have more fun to find, including two new weapons to collect–a small-arms SMG known as the KKV, designed for close-range DPS, and the D54 Battle Pistol, which comes equipped with an integrated red dot optic. Look for new mods, cores, and implants to continue refining your Runner shell into the biocybernetics merc you were born (and reborn) to be. Season 2 also brings increased faction progression speed, a larger Vault, improvements to some of the more frustrating contracts, and more quality-of-life changes to help you on your climb. Finally, if you’ve played previous Bungie games before, you might know about Bungie Rewards – our ongoing program that lets you unlock the ability to purchase exclusive game-inspired rewards by completing challenges in the game. We’re happy to share that Bungie Rewards will be coming to Marathon with Season 2 and you can look for more details coming soon. Until then, grab those flashlights and watch your six. You never know what surrounds you in the darkness…

Title: PlayStation × Dragon Quest: celebrating the RPG franchise’s 40th anniversary Date: Wed, 27 May 2026 14:00:07 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/05/27/playstation-x-dragon-quest-celebrating-the-rpg-franchises-40th-anniversary/ On May 27, 2026, Square Enix’s beloved national RPG phenomenon, Dragon Quest, celebrates its monumental 40th anniversary. Crafted by series creator Yuji Horii, character designer Akira Toriyama, and composer Koichi Sugiyama, the world of Dragon Quest has evolved over time, continuing to capture the hearts of fans worldwide. In this article, we’re putting the spotlight on six major mainline titles released on PlayStation. Let’s take a look back at the historical backdrops of their original releases, their place in the franchise, and the groundbreaking innovations they brought to storytelling, gameplay systems, and overall presentation. Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past Platform: PlayStation | Release Date: August 26th, 2000 (Japan) / November 1st, 2001 (US) This is the historic milestone where the legacy of Dragon Quest and PlayStation began. As the first mainline entry to land on the PlayStation, it introduced 3D polygon graphics to the series for the very first time. Spanning across a massive, two-disc CD-ROM set, its epic saga revolving around mysterious stone tablets became the talk of the industry as a true behemoth of a game, taking over 100 hours to complete. Featuring a unique system where collecting “Fragments” allows players to travel between the past and present, the game tasks you with gradually restoring a lost world. On top of the series’ familiar vocations, players could now even change into Monster vocations!  Visually, it marked the franchise’s first foray into 3D maps, letting players rotate the camera to explore their surroundings. It felt like a true evolutionary leap into the PlayStation era. Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King Platform: PlayStation 2 | Release Date: November 27th, 2004 (Japan) / November 15th, 2005 (US) Harnessing the processing power of the PlayStation 2, this entry stood as the series’ very first fully 3D title. With characters, environments, and cutscenes all rendered in beautiful 3D, players could finally explore a breathtaking world that stretched as far as the eye could see. It also introduced foundational mechanics like character-shaping “Skill Points,” making it a definitive turning point for the franchise. This was also the first mainline title to be released following the merger of Square and Enix. The narrative follows an epic quest to break the curse of the wicked jester, Dhoulmagus. This title laid the groundwork for future entries by introducing now-staple systems like the “Psyche Up” mechanic, “Skill Points,” and the “Alchemy Pot.” Its stunning cel-shaded character animations, immersive behind-the-scenes field camera, and seamless real-time cutscenes delivered a cinematic, three-dimensional adventure perfectly fitting the PS2 generation. ​​ Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age Platform: PlayStation 4 | Release Date: July 29th, 2017 (Japan) / September 4, 2018 Developed as part of the Dragon Quest 30th anniversary project, this title served as both a return to the series’ roots and its grand culmination. Pivoting away from the online world of Dragon Quest X Online, this entry brought the franchise back to its offline origins, building a brand-new world rich with nostalgic homages to past titles. While exploring a deeply resonant narrative that redefines “What is a Hero?”, the game cleverly weaves in elements that tie back to the legendary “Erdrick Trilogy.” Combat features the dynamic “Pep” and “Pep Powers” systems, while character progression utilizes the customizable “Character Builder.” It also added “Draconian Quest” modifiers for high-difficulty challenges, offering immense gameplay freedom. Between the gorgeous, high-definition world rendered in Unreal Engine 4, the inclusion of retro “Spell of Restoration” passwords, and legacy throwbacks, longtime fans had plenty to celebrate. Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age is available on PlayStation Store.  Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation Platform: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 | Release Date: PlayStation 5: November 14th, 2024 (Japan & US) /  PlayStation 4: August 24th, 2017 (Japan) The grand finale to the iconic “Erdrick Trilogy” that began with Dragon Quest and Dragon Quest II: Luminaries of the Legendary Line. The original 1988 release was such an astronomical success that it became a literal social phenomenon in Japan. The 2024 PlayStation 5 version is a full remake that completely reimagines the visuals using “HD-2D,” a beautiful fusion of pixel art and 3D graphics, while heavily modernizing the gameplay systems. It also sparked massive buzz with new narrative twists that bridge the gap to Dragon Quest I & II. This version features expanded story episodes centered around Ortega, the protagonist’s father, allowing players to dive even deeper into the Erdrick lore. The addition of the brand-new “Monster Wrangler” vocation and the “Monster Arena” battle tournament greatly expands the variety of gameplay. The HD-2D aesthetic beautifully preserves the nostalgic spirit of the original while delivering a cutting-edge visual experience, further heightened by fully voiced event scenes and a sweeping orchestral soundtrack. Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is available on PlayStation Store. Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake Platform: PlayStation 5 | Release Date: October 30, 2025 (Japan & US) In 1986, the original Dragon Quest launched as Japan’s very first premier home-console RPG, followed in 1987 by the smash-hit sequel Dragon Quest II: Luminaries of the Legendary Line. This full remake bundles both legendary titles into a single package, completely overhauled with fresh scenario content, brand-new features, and gorgeous HD-2D graphics. By diving into this bundle after completing the chronological prologue of Dragon Quest III, players can experience the sweeping interconnectedness of the “Erdrick Trilogy” at its absolute best. Combat has been revamped to allow battles against multiple monsters in DQ I, while DQ II features a party of up to four characters, introducing a brand-new princess from the Kingdom of Moonbrooke. Exciting new elements have been implemented across both games, such as “Scrolls” that teach specific skills, and the inclusion of DQ II’s collectible “Sigils” into DQ I. The HD-2D art style seamlessly blends pixel-art characters with 3D backdrops to deliver an experience that feels wonderfully nostalgic yet completely fresh. Combined with fully voiced cutscenes and a majestic orchestral score, immersion into the franchise’s roots has never been deeper. Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is available on PlayStation Store. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined  Platform: PlayStation 5 | Release Date: February 5, 2026 (Japan & US) A completely reconstructed remake of the classic Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past. Reborn with a charming “Doll Look” puppet-like art style, it preserves the profound worldbuilding of the original while increasing the overall density of the story. The biggest selling point here is sheer accessibility. Combat has been dramatically sped up, and travel is faster than ever thanks to Zoom-based fast travel. Complete with a hint feature that tracks down nearby Fragments and a user-friendly UI designed for easy navigation, this stress-free experience ensures that every player can see the adventure through to its grand finale. While the original game was a massive epic requiring over 100 hours to beat, this version streamlines the overall pacing, condensing the gargantuan storyline without losing its emotional weight. On top of that, it introduces brand-new scenario content, including an episode following Kiefer later in life. Combat supports three selectable speed tiers and auto-battle options, and weaker enemies can be defeated instantly with a quick strike right on the field map for seamless progression. The unique “Doll Look” visual style—achieved by photographing actual hand-carved wooden puppets and translating them into CG—alongside the addition of full voice acting, makes this a truly distinctive journey. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is available on PlayStation Store.

Title: No Man’s Sky: The Swarm update launches today Date: Wed, 27 May 2026 13:00:44 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/05/27/no-mans-sky-the-swarm-update-launches-today/ Hello, No Man’s Sky turns 10 in August, and we feel very lucky that we still get the chance to work on it every day. What we love about sci-fi, and about No Man’s Sky, is that it can be a canvas for so many ideas. Our last update introduced Pokemon-style pet battling, which players have put a ton of hours into, but takes place on just a small table… our next update is something much larger…. Play Video Something new, huge and foreboding is hanging in the sky above planets. Unlike anything we’ve seen before. Players are going to need a combined community effort to figure out what is going on. Travellers will boot up to be greeted with a personality test, dividing players into three factions, each will need to co-operate, strategise and compete to counter the Hive of Glass, an existential threat to the universe. A war effort is being launched from the Nexus, with defenses rapidly being constructed, and a new bulletin page tracking progress. Your contribution to the face-off with the Hive is being logged for all to see in both the Anomaly and the Galactic Atlas (https://galacticatlas.nomanssky.com/). Travellers will want to keep a constant eye on which squad is contributing the most to the war effort. The most effective faction will be memorialised in the Space Anomaly for all time! Epic space battles are at the core of science fiction, and The Swarm update brings our biggest and most epic space battles to date. The Hive of Glass protects itself by releasing swarms of robotic drones, creating an awesome spectacle of battles with hundreds of ships. The Hive itself is a weapon too, with the iris opening to release the largest weapon we’ve ever seen in No Man’s Sky. A laser capable of destroying freighter fleets and perhaps even something as large as a space station…While in space there are huge battles, on planet there is investigating and pillaging the remains of crashed drones (using the newly-acquired Gravity Gun we introduced earlier this year). Shot down drones need to be salvaged and researched. There are miniature planetary swarms to defeat, and research efforts to sabotage the swarm’s network. The secrets of the Hive’s origins and weaknesses can be uncovered and shared with your fellow rebels. As well as saving the universe, there are a host of rewards, including a full suit of armour that has a retro sci-fi feel, a new rifle, huge new  jetpack and much more. I love that this year we’ve had players collecting trash with a new gravity gun, battling pets in  the Xeno Arena, and now fighting off a high action threat to the universe in The Swarm.The prospect of all existing Travellers converging on a single area of the universe to take the largest space battles to date, against the back-drop of an ominous, mysterious Death Star like construct, with the ability to destroy space station sized objects… is going to make for some exciting weeks ahead for us and for players. We can’t wait to see how this plays out.Our journey continues.

Title: (For Southeast Asia) Days of Play 2026 begins May 27 Date: Wed, 27 May 2026 02:02:57 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/05/26/20260527-dop/ Days of Play is back for 2026! Beginning on May 27, this year’s event will have great offers on PlayStation games and accessories, new content for PlayStation Plus, special PlayStation Tournaments and more[1]. 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year in gaming, full of exciting new game releases, experiences, and milestones. With Days of Play, now is the perfect time to pick up that game that’s been on your “to-play” list for months or discover something new that could become one of your all-time favorites. Days of Play kicks off on May 27 at 12:01AM and runs through June 10 at 11:59PM local time in each region. The overview below covers everything we have in store for this year’s activities. Visit the Days of Play 2026 website for further details as we’ll be sharing regular updates throughout. PlayStation Plus – Monthly Games for June, exclusive packs, game trials and more PlayStation Plus[2] content available during Days of Play this year includes upcoming Monthly Games, a bonus Game Catalog entry, Game Trials, and more. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Monthly Games for June To start, here are the Monthly Games* for June, available for all PlayStation Plus members beginning June 2: Grounded Fully Yoked Edition Nickelodeon All Star Brawl 2 Warhammer 40,000: Darktide EAFC26 Monthly Game Extension: EA Sports FC 26 (part of PS Plus May Monthly Games lineup) will remain available as a PlayStation Plus Monthly Game through June 16. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image New Game Catalog addition on June 9 Destiny 2: Legacy Collection (2025), including The Final Shape expansion, will be available for Extra and Deluxe members from June 9. The rest of the Game Catalog lineup will be fully revealed next month. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Exclusive Packs (Available for all PlayStation Plus members) ·       EA Sports FC 26 Icons Player Pack* (available until June 16) includes: o Gold Starting XI Pack o 3 Iconic Players Picks ·       War of Tanks: HEAT: PlayStation Plus Pack (available on May 26) includes: o Agent Skin (Kent): Wave Rider o Vehicle Skin (XM1 90): Royal Blue o 250,000 Credits ·       Marathon Null Tempest Digital Bundle (available on June 2) includes: o Null Tempest — Vandal Runner shell style o Null Tempest — Overrun AR weapon style o Tempest Factor — Profile background o TEMPESTworm — WEAVEworm Weapon Charm * Requires EA Sports FC 26 & all game updates. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Game Trials (Available from May 27 to June 10 for PlayStation Plus Deluxe members) As part of Days of Play, PlayStation Plus Deluxe members can enjoy Game Trials of more than 40 acclaimed indie games, from Baby Steps, Lumines Arise to multi-award winner Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The full lineup can be found here from May 27. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image PlayStation Indies Avatars We’re giving away new PlayStation Indies-themed avatars to all PlayStation players. Starting June 4, players can access avatars that commemorate popular PlayStation Indies titles that will be offered through PlayStation Plus during Days of Play. Visit the PlayStation Plus web page or PlayStation Plus Days of Play Page on your console to get the voucher code. The avatars are free for all PlayStation players to redeem. Select games will be on sale on PS Store. PlayStation Plus members will get additional discounts on selected titles, like Cairn, Kena Bridge of Spirits, Balatro and more.  PlayStation Tournaments Throughout Days of Play, participate in special PlayStation Tournaments[3] in games such as EA Sports Madden NFL 26, NBA 2K26, Tekken 8, Mortal Kombat 1, EA Sports UFC 5, EA Sports College Football 26, Gran Turismo 7, Astro Bot, Asphalt 9: Legends, and Fortnite.   Players who participate in at least one match during Days of Play will receive a unique Days of Play PS Avatar. During the competition, there will also be “Golden Tournaments” within EA Sports FC 26, EA Sports Madden NFL 26, and Mortal Kombat 1. These will feature double virtual currency rewards for winners, along with a unique Golden Tournament avatar for all participants. All participants in tournaments for Gran Turismo 7 will also earn an exclusive Days of Play livery, while participants in the Fortnite Days of Play Cup will compete for a piece of a global cash prize pool worth $200,000.4 The games featured in Days of Play tournaments vary by region. See the official rules for participating games in each region: https://playst.cc/dop-rules Days of Play 2026 Deals We’re celebrating Days of Play with promotions across games and accessories from  participating retailers (prices may vary), and on PlayStation Store. For more information on your local deals, be sure to check out the Days of Play 2026 website. There will be offers for PS5 accessories and games, including: SGD 140 / RM 480 / IDR 1,620,000 / PHP 5,600 off PlayStation VR2  SGD 56 / RM 180 / IDR 680,000 / PHP 2,200 off Pulse Elite wireless headset SGD 39 / RM 130 / IDR 470,000 / PHP 1,038 off DualSense Edge wireless controller SGD 12.10 /RM 54 / IDR 250,000 / PHP 866 off DualSense wireless controllers Deals on popular PS5 titles (on disc) like Ghost of Yōtei, DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH, Astro Bot, and Stellar Blade. Join or upgrade PlayStation Plus membership with these outstanding offers This Days of Play, save on a new or upgraded PlayStation Plus membership. Players in participating countries who join PlayStation Plus during PlayStation’s Days of Play promotion can save up to 33% on a 12-month membership.* Current PlayStation Plus members can save 33% on the remainder of their membership when upgrading from PlayStation Plus Essential/Extra to PlayStation Plus Deluxe.** *Discounts vary by region/tier and are subject to certain eligibility restrictions. Game library varies over time, region/country, and plan. PS Plus is subject to a recurring subscription fee taken automatically (at the then current PS Store price) until cancellation. Terms apply: play.st/psplus-usageterms. **At the end of your current subscription, you’ll be charged recurring subscription fees (at the then-current PS Store price) for PlayStation Plus Deluxe at your current billing frequency, unless cancelled. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Hundreds of game offers on PlayStation Store Keep the Days of Play celebrations going with hundreds of digital games and add-ons on offer at PlayStation Store. Be sure to check the Days of Play 2026 website for regular updates from May 27 through June 10. 1Internet and active PS Plus membership required. PS Plus is subject to recurring subscription fee taken automatically until cancellation. Terms apply: play.st/psplus-usageterms. Must be at least 18+ and a resident of an eligible country. Void where prohibited. See full rules on PS5 or PS4 console. 2PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup, availability of Classics, Game Trials and Game Catalog varies over time, region/country, and plan. PlayStation Plus is subject to a recurring subscription fee taken automatically until cancellation. Terms apply: play.st/psplus-usageterms. 3Days of Play PlayStation Tournaments is only open to residents of the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bolivia, Brazil*, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong*, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia*, Ireland, Japan, Kuwait*, Lebanon*, Luxembourg, Malaysia*, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Oman*, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar*, Romania, Saudi, Singapore*, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa*, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand*, United Arab Emirates*, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay. (*) Residents of the marked countries are not eligible for the DoP Sweepstakes 4 Residents of Hong Kong and Taiwan are not eligible for the Fortnite Days of Play Cup. See playst.cc/dop-rules official rules for Fortnite’s Days of Play Cup.

Title: Krafton have reportedly agreed to pay Subnautica 2's devs that $250 million bonus, following strong early sales Date: Thu, 28 May 2026 10:29:05 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/krafton-have-reportedly-agreed-to-pay-subnautica-2s-devs-that-250-million-bonus-following-strong-early-sales Subnautica 2 publishers Krafton have reportedly agreed to pay the up to $250 million earnout to Unknown Worlds' devs, this being the bonus which was a major point of contention in the legal dispute between the former and the three Unknown Worlds bosses who were ousted last year. Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill was reinstated as a result of the ensuing legal action, paving the way for Sub 2's early access launch this month. Read more

Title: The Steam Deck OLED's price hikes have killed its status as the best deal in PC games hardware Date: Thu, 28 May 2026 10:01:00 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-steam-deck-oleds-price-hikes-have-killed-its-status-as-the-best-deal-in-pc-games-hardware Ongoing memory chip shortages, caused by a proliferation of AI-huffing data centres, continue to make PC games hardware scarcer, less affordable, and generally miserable. The latest victim is the Steam Deck OLED, which returned to stock yesterday – and it’d be very nice to end the sentence there, but alas – with some barely believable price hikes. Read more

Title: Witcher 3 modders have already added Geralt's new sword from the Songs of the Past expansion to the base game Date: Thu, 28 May 2026 09:09:35 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/witcher-3-modders-have-already-added-geralts-new-sword-from-the-songs-of-the-past-expansion-to-the-base-game Yesterday, May 27th, CD Projekt finally held their hands up and revealed that the extra DLC long-rumoured to be coming to The Witcher 3 is indeed a thing. It's called Songs of the Past and will arrive in 2027, they said, also lobbing out some promo art of Gerry from the River holding a sword in front of a spooky tree bloke. Cue a Witcher 3 modder cracking their knuckles and immediately getting to work re-creating the sword from the artwork and adding it to the RPG as a way for folks to celebrate the news. Read more

Title: The demand for weapons in Subnautica 2 reveals the difficulty of separating open worlds from conquest Date: Wed, 27 May 2026 18:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-demand-for-weapons-in-subnautica-2-reveals-the-difficulty-of-separating-open-worlds-from-conquest When I play Subnautica 2, I often feel as though I am swimming in two worlds simultaneously. On the one hand, there's the world that goes on without me, the world of wonky indigenous beings living out their lives, careless of my presence: shoals of unharvestable fish swizzing past like dropped fireworks, growth cycles half-deciphered in flooded laboratories, crested hammerheads idly circling their territories. On the other, there's the world that goes on for me, its rewards and hazards colour-coded and reasonably predictable, its flora and fauna gated-off and patterned according to their role within the crafting and progression systems. Read more

Title: Paralives is possibly the first ever videogame with a character editor that gives people motion sickness Date: Wed, 27 May 2026 16:44:03 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/paralives-is-possibly-the-first-ever-videogame-with-a-character-editor-that-gives-people-motion-sickness Cosy life sim Paralives launched into early access this week, sweetening the initial reception with a roadmap full of free goodies. I've been looking forward to the game, if only because there has been such disappointment of late on the life sim front – Paradox Tectonic's Life By You fell foul of funding cuts, Inzoi is a horrible haunted Botox catalogue, and EA's plans for The Sims 5 remain nebulous and live-servicey. Paralives? It appears both throwback and forward-thinking, a game of rosy cheeks, antique shops and smaller mechanical touches like skill progression juddering to a halt if your character's needs aren't met. It's the champion this wayward genre needs. What could go wrong? Ah, it seems the character creator has been making people physically ill. Read more