Title: Pokopia’s Massive 2.0 Patch Makes Pokémon Stop Being Divas Date: Wed, 05 Aug 2026 14:20:03 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/pokemon-pokopia-2-0-patch-notes-bubbly-basin-expansion-dlc-2000721906 The life sim’s new Bubbly Basin DLC is out, but so is a big update for everyone

Title: Borderlands Movie Director Says The $33 Million Box Office Flop Ended Up Being ‘Something That Belonged To Nobody’ Date: Wed, 05 Aug 2026 14:00:35 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/borderlands-movie-director-says-the-33-million-box-office-flop-ended-up-being-something-that-belonged-to-nobody-2000721882 He says the adaptation died on the editing room floor

Title: You May Have Missed A Big Spider-Man: Brand New Day Reveal If You Didn’t See The Movie With Captions Date: Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:45:57 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/spider-man-brand-new-day-paul-rabin-mj-boyfriend-captions-2000721890 People who have seen the movie with closed captions are reporting one character may have been more than they appeared

Title: Candy Crush Bosses Reject Developers’ Union Demands, Saying The ‘Current Operating Model Is The Right Fit’ Date: Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:31:43 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/candy-crush-developer-rejects-collective-bargaining-agreement-2000721520 Union group says decision is 'naturally disappointing' to employees who supported the effort

Title: Bloodbath Ahead For EA As It Looks To Cut $700 Million In Annual Costs Under Saudi Arabia Date: Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:15:56 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/bloodbath-ahead-for-ea-as-it-looks-to-cut-700-million-in-annual-costs-under-saudi-arabia-2000721875 The Battlefield maker has billions in debt to service as part of its leveraged buyout

Title: Monopoly Go x The Simpsons crossover is almost here Date: Tue, 02 Jun 2026 08:41:21 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/monopoly-go-the-simpsons-crossover-details Monopoly Go players have been looking forward to a major crossover event for what felt like months, and though most of the details ended up leaking, nothing actually beats official information. Read more

Title: Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.3 will take us deeper into the World in Canvas and make Mortenax Blade playable Date: Fri, 22 May 2026 13:43:44 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/honkai-star-rail-version-4-3-all-details HoYoverse has today delivered full details on the next major update for Honkai: Star Rail. Version 4.3, dubbed The Lethe Below the Living, will be available for all players on June 1. The upcoming update adds a new chapter to the Planarcadia arc, and introduce a new playable character. Read more

Title: Forza Horizon 6 explodes on Steam even before it's officially out Date: Fri, 15 May 2026 11:00:02 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/forza-horizon-6-steam-numbers-big-launch Steam is abuzz this week with a couple of long-anticipated launches, but in Forza Horizon 6’s case, at least, the game isn’t even out for what will be most of its players. The anticipated sequel in the open-world driving game series doesn’t officially launch until May 19, but owners of its most expensive version - the Premium Edition - can play it right now. Read more

Title: Mystic Messenger's most loyal players are getting banned in droves for seemingly playing the game too much Date: Fri, 15 May 2026 10:02:10 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/mystic-messenger-ban-wave-thousands-of-hourglasses-anniversary Mystic Messenger, arguably one of the best dating sims around, has been dormant for about seven years. Despite not receiving new content or any meaningful updates in all that time, the game remains popular with its core fans, many of whom just woke up to some shocking news about their accounts. Read more

Title: Forza Horizon 6 review - The driving game for everyone still can’t seem to escape its car-collecting legacy Date: Thu, 14 May 2026 12:00:03 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/forza-horizon-6-review There is this idea that, for a long-running series to remain as consistently popular as Forza Horizon has been, it needs to diminish itself somewhat with each new entry, gradually losing more and more of its edge in a bid to appeal to the widest possible audience. Read more

Title: Rip And Tear Into Doom: The Dark Ages At Its Lowest Price Ever Date: Wed, 05 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/rip-and-tear-into-doom-the-dark-ages-at-its-lowest-price-ever/ There’s nothing more gratifying than slaughtering countless demons as the silent, formidable killing machine that is the Doomslayer. While the franchise is probably older than many of you reading, initially releasing in 1993, the recent reboots have brought back the brutal Doom Guy with all of the modern features we’ve come to know and love from the best FPS games. The latest entry, Doom: The Dark Ages, is everything you’d want from the series, and now it’s at its lowest price ever. Doom 2016 played more like your traditional Doom experience, while its sequel, Eternal, had an almost Quake-like feel to it. Despite the heavy armor he wears, it’s surprising how swiftly the Doomslayer moves. Doom: The Dark Ages twists the formula ever so slightly, turning you into a walking tank with a chainsaw-style version of Captain America’s shield at your side. If that sounds awesome, it is. If it doesn’t, I don’t know what to tell you. It’s a much more cinematic take on the franchise, seeing a version of the Doomslayer enslaved by the Maykrs and used to assist the Night Sentinels during a demonic invasion of Argent D’Nur. Prince Ahzrak, the leader of the demons, is looking for the Heart of Argent, attempting to do what all hellish villains do and destroy everything. They’re not very nice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASzx2EAXyzs&pp=0gcJCaMLAYcqIYzv Doom: The Dark Ages delivers its narrative fairly well, and it has some memorable moments that make the Doomslayer’s story stronger than ever. However, it’s where the ripping and tearing action that Doom remains strongest. You can switch between a crossbow that doubles as a nuclear bomb strapped to an arrowhead, a gun that uses bits of skulls as lethal shrapnel, fittingly called the Skullcrusher, and plenty more weapons on the fly. What remains your blood-covered bread and butter throughout is the shield. It’s not only a good defensive option, helping you protect yourself against powerful demons as they attempt to attack you, but you can also throw it like Captain America (see, it is cool!) or lodge it into stronger foes, constantly damaging them as you send a whole army’s worth of bullets and other ranged attacks their way. It’s great, and it’s even better when that roaring soundtrack kicks into life. If you’re looking to get Doom: The Dark Ages, you can grab a cheap Steam key from Fanatical for just $20.64 / £20.64. That’s a 71% discount on the list price and cheaper than Steam’s lowest price ever. So, what are you waiting for? Get out there and start killing some demons. Well, after downloading the game, of course. Disclosure: GameSpot and Fanatical are both owned by Fandom. This story was created in collaboration with Fanatical’s deals team.

Title: Black Ops 1 And 2 Ports Sold 11 Million Copies Combined On PlayStation, Benefitting Both Xbox And Sony Date: Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:22:15 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/black-ops-1-and-2-ports-sold-11-million-copies-combined-on-playstation-benefitting-both-xbox-and-sony/ The recently released ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 for PlayStation sold more than 11 million combined copies, generating nearly half a billion dollars, according to industry analyst Rhys Elliott. The games, which were developed by Iron Galaxy, were shadow-dropped on PS4 and PS5 on July 9, featuring campaign, multiplayer, and Zombies. The games were not remakes with improved graphics or new features, but instead "straight 1080p ports," as Elliott put it. Technical experts found that the ports feature barely any noticeable improvements at all, and that was the whole point for many. Fans wanted the OG experience, made available on modern systems. According to Elliott, the $40 games sold so exceptionally well due to massive pent-up demand (the games are available to PS Plus subscribers for $20 until August 6). Previously, the only way to play the games on PlayStation was to find an old PS3 and go from there since they were never made available via backwards compatibility on PS4 or PS5. "As per our estimates, Black Ops 2 sold 8.2M copies on PlayStation (93% on PS5, 7% on PS4) for about $325M, while Black Ops 1 sold 3.0M (94% via PS5) for $110M. Combined, that’s $435M on PlayStation in under a month," Elliott said. The Black Ops ports were hugely popular. Microsoft and Activision are the big winners here, and so is Sony--its 30% cut works out to about $130 million "for doing basically nothing" but hosting them, Elliott said. "Basically zero marketing or ongoing development costs are eating into that check. That single month of cataloge CoD sales on a rival platform effectively funds a massive slice of Xbox’s quarterly first-party operational overhead," Elliott explained. "And the combined $435M is already nearly as much as Forza Horizon 6 has made via base game sales all year." Elliott described the move to release the Black Ops ports as a "low effort, low risk, high reward catalogue mining." Activision also released $30 DLC bundles for both games, featuring many multiplayer maps. He added that the success of the Black Ops ports further demonstrates that Microsoft is not going to make Call of Duty exclusive to Xbox--there is simply too much money to be made by having Call of Duty on PlayStation. Elliott went on to say that the success of the ports also demonstrates that a "proper" reboot of Black Ops "would do absolute gangbusters." The next new Call of Duty game is this October's Modern Warfare 4. A multiplayer beta for the game goes live later this month.

Title: MARVEL Tokon: Fighting Souls – Official Loki Laufeyson Character Gameplay Guide Date: Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:16:53 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/videos/marvel-tokon-fighting-souls-official-loki-laufeyson-character-gameplay-guide/ Meet Loki Laufeyson, the God of Mischief and God of Lies! In this Character Guide, we cover his unpredictable toolkit so you can outsmart your rivals in every battle. Learn about Loki’s illusion-based feints, counters, icy projectiles, magical attacks, and erratic movement. Dominate with his high-risk playstyle, which is built around confusing opponents and exploiting their bad habits to your advantage! MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls is coming to PS5 and PC on August 6th, 2026 PT!

Title: The Ironmouse Sprite Is Live Now In Fortnite, But It Seems There’s More To Come Date: Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:12:08 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-ironmouse-sprite-is-live-now-in-fortnite-but-it-seems-theres-more-to-come/ Ironmouse's Sprite is now available to claim in Fortnite, but it seems there could be more on the way as the popular VTuber teased some further content for September. On a recent stream, when asked about whether she would be releasing a Fortnite skin, Ironmouse said, "Just a Sprite today. Period." She shortly followed that up with, "That's all I'm going to say ... Also, do you guys know that I have a Subathon coming up in September and a lot of cool things are happening? I'm just saying, you know." The Ironmouse Sprite was released as a standalone addition to the game in honor of her streaming anniversary on August 4. To get it, search the map for Sprite Chests, kill an opponent wearing it, or it could be found wandering the island randomly. Equipping it will take up a new inventory slot, Ironmouse will appear on your back, and you'll get the ability to regenerate health over time when low. While you're regenerating health, you'll also gain a Cloak that will give you partial invisibility, as well as the low gravity effect. While the Ironmouse Sprite is available to get now, some players were reporting issues with the item. Occasionally the Sprite would not be granted if players extracted from a match with one, or some Sprite Chests would be empty. On the issue, Ironmouse said, "If it's broken, I'm sorry, it wasn't me." After several hotfixes, it seems the Fortnite Ironmouse Sprite issues could be fixed now, but is this the last we'll see of Mousey in the battle royale? It seems like we'll have to wait until September to find out, but I, for one, would absolutely grab an Ironmouse skin. The 16 Worst Fortnite Skins Of All Time View Images

Title: Beast Of Reincarnation’s First Patch Will Tackle Tiny Text And Broken Cameras Date: Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:01:49 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/beast-of-reincarnation-first-patch-will-tackle-tiny-text-and-broken-cameras/ Beast of Reincarnation launched this week, and while the game does have several technical issues, co-developer Game Freak says that a patch is on the way. This will target several areas of the game, including bug fixes, improvements to the pacing of the game's story, and increasing the font size to something that doesn't require the Hubble Space Telescope to read. Game Freak says that it's aiming to release the patch next week. One of the fixes will be for the game's camera, as many players have complained about it being too close to the protagonist Emma, making battles harder than they need to be. "Story pacing improvements" are also listed; increased text size is on the way, and the game's default graphical mode will switch from Cinematic to Performance mode. In our Beast of Reincarnation review, GameSpot's Jake Dekker commented on how the game's lack of polish holds it back from reaching its true potential. "Beast of Reincarnation is an ambitious game that often overextends itself. The lack of polish taints its versatile combat, the mundane performances and wearisome dialogue suffocate its tantalizing story, and the uninteresting areas drag down strong art direction," Dekker wrote. Out now for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, Beast of Reincarnation was developed by longtime Pokemon studio Game Freak and Fictions. If you're on Xbox or PC,  and you have a Game Pass Ultimate/PC Game Pass subscription, you can download and play the game right now as it was added to the service this week. To help you out on your journey, you can check out GameSpot's Beast of Reincarnation guides, including helpful tips, the best skills to focus on, and how to change the difficulty.

Title: Disney Plus signs deal to feature TikTok content, days after killing Wonder Man Date: Wed, 05 Aug 2026 14:30:55 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/disney-plus-tiktok-deal-wonder-man-cancelled/ As streaming services continue to scramble for ways to compete with social media, Disney just announced a new deal with TikTok that will bring user-created content to Disney Plus. As part of the streamer's new “Verts” feature on the mobile app, select Disney-themed TikToks from participating creators will appear on the platform, with “characters and stories from across Disney’s brands including Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, FX and more.”

Title: All shrine locations in Beast of Reincarnation Date: Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:49:48 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/beast-of-reincarnation-shrine-locations-dragon-vein-stimpacks/ Be sure to find all the shrine locations in Beast of Reincarnation, as it will boost the maximum number of stimpacks you can carry to a whopping total of eight. Stimpacks are your go-to health recovery items, so it's always useful to obtain more, but don't expect an easy task; shrines, also known as dragon vein shrines, are often hidden in easily missable corners of the world.

Title: All armor locations in Beast of Reincarnation Date: Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:38:08 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/beast-of-reincarnation-armor-locations-map-where-to-find/ Don't miss any armor locations in Beast of Reincarnation, as they can offer better defense and higher resistance against unfriendly golems and bothersome Nushi. While there's only one armor slot in Beast of Reincarnation, which means you won't be fussing over greaves, gloves, helmets, and the like, wearing the right type of body armor can grant you a useful advantage in battle.

Title: Big Walk’s Best Feature Is One for the Italians Date: Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:30:11 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/big-walk-hand-gestures/ Growing up as a kid with a rebellious streak, there was a time in my life when I tried to resist my Italian heritage. My father was born in Abruzzo, and I was always close to Italian culture as a result, but I spent years trying to distance myself from it. It was a futile resistance. I couldn’t help but absorb cultural quirks from my father and his friends. I never realized that until the first time someone noted how much I talk with my hands. I felt like a walking stereotype at the time, but I’ve since come to embrace the theatrical way I communicate. Nothing emphasizes your frustration like an impassioned flick of the wrists.

Title: How to learn Dive from Manaphy in Pokémon Pokopia Date: Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:24:13 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/pokemon-pokopia-how-to-dive-manaphy/ You can Dive in Pokémon Pokopia, even if you don't own the Bubbly Basin DLC. The feature was added in a free update available to everyone, which means everyone can start exploring and building underwater — once you meet the requirements. Dive becomes available after you complete a couple of specific quests in Pokopia, and you have to learn a different move first.

Title: Best in Class: Stream PC Games and Study on the Same Laptop With GeForce NOW Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2026 13:00:20 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-back-to-school-2026/ Back to school means balancing assignments, deadlines and downtime. GeForce NOW makes it easy to have it all. With cloud gaming, everyday laptops used for class can also become GeForce RTX-powered gaming setups.  When it’s time to switch from studying to gaming, members can jump into Halo: Campaign Evolved, as GeForce NOW is bringing one of the gaming world’s most celebrated titles to nearly any device through the cloud, alongside eight total games joining the GeForce NOW library this week. From A+ to AAA Gaming  This back-to-school season, the easiest upgrade isn’t replacing laptops in backpacks. It’s unlocking even more from these same laptops, from creating to gaming. With a GeForce NOW membership, Chromebooks, Macs and Surface devices can become GeForce RTX-powered gaming PCs in the cloud. The GeForce NOW library features thousands of supported PC games, letting members stream titles they already own from digital stores like Steam, Xbox PC Game Pass and Epic Games Store in just a few clicks. The cloud keeps games up to date and ready to play, making it easy to jump into a match between classes, after homework or whenever there’s free time. Time spent waiting on downloads, patches and installs becomes time spent in game instead. The Ultimate membership enables best-in-class experiences by delivering 5080-class performance in the cloud with NVIDIA DLSS, ray tracing and NVIDIA Reflex technologies for responsive, visually rich gameplay — all on the hardware gamers already own. A creator known as “Menguiny” recently put this to the test after picking up a MacBook Neo. GeForce NOW turned the laptop — usually the creator’s go-to for editing videos and everyday work — into a top-notch gaming machine, too. Another creator, “TechWithSeong” highlighted that same versatility GeForce NOW offers. Rather than juggling separate devices for work and gaming, he used GeForce NOW Ultimate to stream supported PC games across the devices he already owns — from a MacBook used for editing to gaming on the go with handheld devices. Gamers can start with a day pass and experience all the premium benefits without a monthly commitment. Plus, the cost of a day pass can be applied toward a first membership purchase — it’s like earning a little extra credit along the way. Everyone, at Their Stations Needlers never looked so sharp. Experience the Master Chief’s iconic journey on GeForce NOW in Halo: Campaign Evolved — a modernized remake of Halo: Combat Evolved’s campaign — rebuilt with high-definition visuals, updated cinematics and refined gameplay. Whether discovering Halo for the first time or returning after 25 years to finish the fight, it’s as the Master Chief says: “We’re just getting started.” Crash-land on the mysterious ringworld alongside Cortana and uncover great secrets while battling overwhelming Covenant forces. Fight through the rebuilt campaign, then continue the adventure with three brand-new missions featuring the Master Chief and Sergeant Johnson. Expanded weapons, iconic vehicles, hijackable Wraith tanks and optional Skull modifiers offer even more ways to play. Suit up across PCs, Macs, Chromebooks, handhelds, mobile devices, TVs and more with GeForce NOW Ultimate, powered by GeForce RTX 5080-class performance in the cloud. Experience Halo with NVIDIA DLSS, ray tracing and NVIDIA Reflex technologies delivering higher frame rates and ultralow latency that keep every firefight feeling responsive and worthy of a Spartan. From solo gaming to online co-op modes, GeForce NOW cloud saves let members log in and pick up exactly where they left off across supported devices — no lengthy downloads, extra storage space or expensive hardware upgrades required. The only thing left to carry is the mission. Let’s Play Today In addition, members can stream the following games this week: Halo: Campaign Evolved (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass July 28) Mistfall Hunter (New release on Steam July 29) Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (New release on Ubisoft Connect July 30) Sudden Attack Zero Point (New release on Steam, July 30) The Ranchers (New release on Steam, available July 30) Corsair Cove (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass July 31) Funnel Runners (Steam) Pathogenic (Steam) What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below. Which game lore are you so familiar with that you can give a school presentation on it? — NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) July 29, 2026

Title: GeForce NOW Sets Sail With ‘Path of Exile: Curse of the Allflame’ Joining the Cloud Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:00:16 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-path-of-exile-allflame/ Lock in and load up the cloud. GFN Thursday brings fresh updates and new adventures, all ready to play without waiting for downloads. Set sail in Path of Exile: Curse of the Allflame and charge in Battlefield 6 Season 4 both launching major content for members this week. Then revisit Capcom legends like Breath of Fire IV, Dino Crisis and Dino Crisis 2, jump into Halo: Campaign Evolved Advanced Access and discover nine titles arriving on GeForce NOW. The Curse Calls Prepare to brave the unforgiving waters of Wraeclast. Path of Exile: Curse of the Allflame launches Friday, July 24, sending Exiles into the perilous Frozen Seas. Guided by formidable corsair captain Valerie and her cursed navigator Vesper, gamers must piece together scattered treasure charts, board the legendary vessel — the Sovereign — and chart a course into the abyss. Descend into the depths using Allflame Lanterns to uncover valuable relics while surviving the dangers lurking beneath the waves. The update introduces sweeping changes, including a complete rework of sockets and links. The Scion also gains the all-new Luminary Ascendancy, the Mercenaries of Trarthus return alongside mysterious Atlas Anomalies, and the preexisting Abyss, Legion and Talisman mechanics receive revitalized gameplay and exclusive rewards. GeForce NOW members can dive in the moment it launches across their devices, no downloads needed. Learn more about the latest additions on the Path of Exile website. Rise Through the Ranks The next operation begins. Battlefield 6 takes the fight further with Season 4, bringing new battlegrounds, expanded progression and new ways to play.  Take to the land, air and sea with the massive Tsuru Reef and the return of the fan-favorite Wake Island, coming in phase two. Both feature aircraft carriers with operational flight decks, new naval vehicles and a dynamic wave system that helps move every match. The update also introduces Custom Lobbies and Spectator Mode, delivering more ways to play. From large-scale multiplayer battles to intense vehicle combat, GeForce NOW lets members deploy across nearly any device. Ultimate members can stream with GeForce RTX 5080-powered performance across PCs, Macs, handhelds, mobile devices, TVs and more. Whether returning to the frontlines or enlisting for the first time, members can leap into the latest Battlefield update the moment it arrives on GeForce NOW — without waiting for patches. Dragons and Dinosaurs — on Any Device Classic adventures, now in the cloud. Three iconic Capcom adventures arrive on GeForce NOW this week, ready for longtime fans to revisit and new players to discover. Journey through the rich fantasy world of Breath of Fire IV, a role-playing game following the intertwining stories of Ryu and Fou-Lu. Master an array of skills and magic to unlock strategic victories in battle and go head to head with unique enemies using powerful Dragon Transformations.  Raw instinct takes over in Dino Crisis and Dino Crisis 2, the survival-horror series that combines pulse-pounding action, resource management and thrilling dinosaur encounters. Pursued by a relentless prehistoric terror, players fight to survive from the facility to the world of the Cretaceous Period. Whether reliving unforgettable moments or discovering these legendary titles for the first time, gamers on GeForce NOW can experience gaming history on supported devices like Chromebooks, Fire TV and Steam Deck — no legacy hardware required. Spartans — Start Early Spartans don’t have to wait. Players who prepurchase the Premium Edition of Halo: Campaign Evolved can suit up for Advanced Access before the game’s global launch on Tuesday, July 28.  Start the weekend with all the new games arriving on GeForce NOW: ZeroSpace (New release on Steam, available July 20) The Life and Suffering of Prince Jerian (New release on Steam, available July 20) The Planet Crafter (New release on Xbox, available on Game Pass July 21) Carnival Hunt (New release on Steam, available July 23) Dinoblade (New release on Steam, available on July 23) Breath of Fire IV (Steam) CloverPit (Xbox, available on Game Pass) Dino Crisis (Steam) Dino Crisis 2 (Steam) The last word goes to the Community Corner. One GeForce NOW member recently shared they found themselves back on GeForce NOW Ultimate because they missed the flexibility of gaming across devices like Steam Deck. Their post sparked a discussion about why members tap into cloud gaming, whether as a backup, a travel companion or their primary way to play. What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below.

Title: Sharpen the Sword, Skip the Downloads — ‘Onimusha: Way of the Sword’ Is Coming to GeForce NOW Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2026 13:00:34 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-onimusha-coming/ Onimusha: Way of the Sword is coming to GeForce NOW at launch, with the playable demo available this week. It’s joined by Denshattack! rolling in with five new games arriving in the cloud. Plus, GeForce NOW officially launches in India, moving from beta to public availability — meaning gamers can sign up without a waitlist. Pick Up the Oni Gauntlet Cloud-powered. Samurai-approved. Capcom’s next legendary action adventure is coming to GeForce NOW. Onimusha: Way of the Sword will arrive on the cloud at launch on Thursday, Sept. 3.  Members can jump into the action even sooner with the demo now available to stream. Set in a dark fantasy vision of Edo Japan, follow a lone samurai wielding the legendary Oni Gauntlet against relentless demonic Genma. Master precise swordplay, unleash powerful abilities and absorb the souls of fallen enemies as supernatural battles unfold across a haunting world filled with mystery and danger. Ultimate members can experience every clash with GeForce RTX 5080-class performance in the cloud across PCs, Macs, handhelds, mobile devices and TVs. From the first swing in the demo through launch day, GeForce NOW lets members step into battle the moment it’s available — no downloads, storage space or expensive hardware required. Gamers can find the demo in the GeForce NOW app demo row and add the title to their wishlists today to be ready when the blade is drawn.  India Levels Up The wait is over. GeForce NOW has officially exited beta in India, bringing the world’s highest-performance cloud gaming service to more gamers across the country.  This week, gamers can choose from monthly Performance and Ultimate memberships, flexible day passes or the basic, free offering — making it easier than ever to experience GeForce RTX-powered cloud gaming. GeForce NOW now supports UPI payments, giving gamers across India a fast, secure and convenient way to purchase memberships and day passes.  Premium memberships unlock GeForce RTX-powered features like ray tracing, NVIDIA DLSS and NVIDIA Reflex, along with higher resolutions, faster frame rates and priority access to streaming. With thousands of supported games — from blockbuster releases and free-to-play favorites to indie hits — members can enjoy PC games they already own without the cost of upgrading to high-end gaming hardware. Join the conversation with the GeForce NOW community on Reddit.  Go Off the Rails This Weekend “Denshattack!” is pulling into the cloud. Denshattack! — the off-the-rails, train‑wrecking action game — is now available to stream on GeForce NOW, letting members embrace pure chaos from almost any device.  Take control of runaway trains and send them barreling through crowded tracks, explosive obstacles and delightfully destructive layouts, chaining spectacular crashes with just the right mix of precision and pandemonium. Its colorful, tongue‑in‑cheek presentation and physics‑driven mayhem turn every run into a highlight reel of derailments — perfect for quick sessions, score‑chasing and laughing at just how wrong a single turn can go when the throttle never lets up. In addition, members can look for the following to play this week: Denshattack! (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass on July 15) The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu (New release on Steam, available July 15) Heave Ho 2 (New release on Steam, available July 16) Fogpiercer (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass on July 17) Onimusha: Way of the Sword DEMO (Steam) The GeForce NOW community keeps discovering new games to play, with members discussing the most beautiful games on the service. What game has impressed you most on GeForce NOW? Let us know on X or in the comments below.

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

Title: Joyride Through July With 12 Games Coming to GeForce NOW Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2026 13:00:23 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-july-2026-games-list/ Summer is heating up — and GeForce NOW is taking players along for the ride. Start the month with Monopoly: Star Wars Heroes vs. Villains, bringing a galaxy far, far away to the iconic board-game franchise, alongside 12 new games joining the cloud this month.  Plus, don’t let the sun set on the biggest GeForce NOW savings of the year. Level up for less before the deals disappear. Light Side, Dark Side, Cloud Side  The Force is strong with this one. Rule the board, you must. Choose a side in Monopoly: Star Wars Heroes vs. Villains, the classic property-trading board game reimagined with legendary characters, locations and rivalries from across the Star Wars universe. Play as iconic heroes or infamous villains — each with unique abilities — to assemble a team and experience cinematic moments while competing with family and friends across locations from every era of the saga. Every roll of the dice brings new opportunities to build an empire and claim victory. GeForce NOW makes it easy to take the battle between the light and dark sides across nearly any device. Jump into a match on a low-powered PC, Mac, phone, TV, tablet or handheld device and keep the fun going across the galaxy. Check out what’s available this week: Monopoly: Star Wars Heroes vs. Villains (New release on Steam and Ubisoft, available June 30) Meccha Chameleon (Steam) And look forward to the games coming throughout the month: Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced (New release on Steam and Ubisoft Connect, available July 9) Denshattack! (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass July 15) The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu (New release on Steam, available July 15) Heave Ho 2 (New release on Steam, available July 16) Fogpiercer (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass July 17) ZeroSpace (New release on Steam, available July 20) The Planet Crafter (New release on Xbox, Available on Game Pass July 21) Carnival Hunt (New release on Steam, available July 23) The Ranchers (New release on Steam, available July 30) Corsair Cove (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass July 31) Juicy Extras From June In addition to the 18 games announced last month, 10 more came to the cloud.  Deer & Boy (Steam) DOOM Eternal (Epic Games Store) Embers of the Uncrowned Demo (Steam) EMPULSE (Steam) The Elder Scrolls Online (Xbox, available on Game Pass) NBA THE RUN (Steam) SAND: Raiders of Sophie (Steam) Voidling Bound (Steam) Witchspire (Steam) World of Tanks: HEAT (Wargaming) Last Call for Cloud Summer Savings The clock is ticking. Get gaming at the best price of the year. The final days of the GeForce NOW Summer Sale are here. Before the savings disappear, gamers can save $35 on a 12-month Performance membership or $70 on a 12-month Ultimate membership — unlocking GeForce RTX-powered gaming in the cloud across devices they already own. The Performance membership delivers smooth, high-quality gaming with RTX-powered servers, making it easy to jump into favorite titles across PCs, Macs, phones, handhelds and TVs. The Ultimate membership takes cloud gaming to the max with RTX 4080‑ or 5080‑class performance. Experience cinematic visuals, ultralow latency and responsive gameplay powered by technologies like NVIDIA DLSS, ray tracing and NVIDIA Reflex — all without the cost of a new gaming rig. Hear directly from the GeForce NOW Community. One GeForce NOW member recently called the Summer Sale “quite significant” after realizing the savings were even larger than expected in their local currency. By locking in a year of Ultimate, they calculated their monthly cost dropped from roughly 29 CAD to 17 CAD – showcasing how GeForce NOW continues to help gamers around the world enjoy the games they love, wherever they choose to play. Plus, check out this spreadsheet, made by a community member, featuring discounted games streaming on GeForce NOW  and build out a bigger library at the best bargains during the Steam Summer Sale. What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below.

Title: The Power of Motherhood Amid Chaos – 1998: The Toll Keeper Story Date: Wed, 05 Aug 2026 03:53:23 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/08/04/20260805-toll/ In Indonesia, there is a saying that perfectly captures the core concept of our game, 1998: The Toll Keeper Story—”A mother’s love knows no bounds, spanning across all time.” This beautiful sentiment slowly but surely transforms into a harsh reality when that very maternal instinct is tested against a backdrop of escalating, threatening chaos. This is Dewi’s story. While deeply inspired by our own homeland’s history, the events of 1998 in Indonesia, where a severe monetary crisis triggered widespread social unrest that victimized innocent groups, remain tragic yet universally relevant today. It often feels as though the world refuses to learn from the mistakes of the past. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Dewi, alongside other characters like Heru and Sinta, does not stand there to fight a massive tide that is far beyond her control. Day after day, from inside the toll booth she operates, she witnesses the raw human struggle for survival, all while fighting tooth and nail to keep her own baby safe and healthy. This entire conflict unfolds through a document and currency-checking mechanic that will feel instantly familiar to fans of Papers, Please. Amidst the routine, Dewi’s toll booth becomes a sanctuary where affected citizens air their grievances, regardless of whether they support or oppose the government of that era. The choices Dewi makes will ultimately shape the conclusion of her story. Without ever intending to romanticize the tragedy that inspired it, this narrative will be brought to life through hand-drawn cutscenes, rendered in the GameChanger Studio’s signature art style. A diary at the end of each day will also serve as a space to reflect on the deep anxieties Dewi faces, both as a woman and as a mother. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image With the features offered by the PlayStation 5, we are confident we can make Dewi’s journey even more immersive. The answer to this ambition lies in the Haptic Feedback technology, which will adapt uniquely to the various types of vehicles passing through Dewi’s booth. These vibrations will serve not only as vital gameplay clues but also as a physical representation of the earth-shattering challenges Dewi must endure while navigating her pregnancy. We hope that the emotions and message we wish to convey through Dewi’s journey in 1998: The Toll Keeper Story will leave a lasting, profound impression on you when you experience it on the PlayStation 5. View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Trailer link: : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4YT-R7l6wM Store link: https://store.playstation.com/en-id/concept/10018178/

Title: Crimson Moon battles demonic corruption on September 1 Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2026 16:00:48 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/08/04/crimson-moon-battles-demonic-corruption-on-september-1/ Earlier this year, we introduced Crimson Moon, our gothic high renaissance action RPG. You play as a Nephilim, a powerful half-human, half-angel warrior sworn to reclaim the fallen city of Gildenarch from the demonic corruption consuming it.  Today, we’re excited to announce that Crimson Moon is only weeks away, launching on PlayStation 5 on September 1. Play Video Over the past few months, we’ve shared more of Crimson Moon’s brutal melee combat, replayable hunts and challenging boss encounters. Today, we’d like to focus on one of our favorite ways to experience the game: two-player online co-op. Every hunt is better together  While Crimson Moon is fully playable solo, every hunt can also be tackled in two-player online co-op.  Co-op isn’t simply about having another player dealing damage. Every hunt dynamically scales between solo play and two-player co-op, ensuring encounters remain challenging however you choose to play.  You’ll also share a communal life pool throughout each hunt. If your partner falls in battle, you’ll have the opportunity to revive them and keep the hunt alive – but each death brings your team one step closer to failure.  Those are the moments we love most. A perfectly timed rescue as a boss enters its final phase, a desperate last-second victory… or watching an overconfident partner meet their demise when everything was going so well.  Whether you’re coordinating Weapon Arts, experimenting with different builds, or standing shoulder-to-shoulder against towering bosses, co-op adds a whole new layer of teamwork to every hunt. Built for PlayStation 5  We’re committed to making Crimson Moon feel right at home on PlayStation 5.  Players on PlayStation 5 Pro can take advantage of native support for upgraded PSSR, helping deliver a sharper image as you explore the blood-soaked streets of Gildenarch and battle the horrors lurking within. One adventure, two editions  From the beginning, our goal has been to create an action RPG packed with replayability, satisfying progression, and memorable co-op, while offering exceptional value to players.  Crimson Moon launches for $19.99, while Crimson Moon: Deluxe Edition will be available for $29.99.  The Deluxe Edition includes the Ceremonial Armor Set, the Axe of the Gods – a guitar-shaped axe worthy of any legendary Nephilim – and access to our upcoming Post-Launch Content Expansion.  If you decide you’d like to upgrade later, the Crimson Moon: Deluxe Edition Upgrade will also be available for $10, giving Standard Edition players access to all Deluxe content whenever they’re ready.  As a thank you to the PlayStation community, every PlayStation player – whether they choose the Standard or Deluxe Edition – will receive the exclusive Sonai Magistrate Armor Set at launch. We’ll see you in Gildenarch From your first steps inside Sanctus Clypeus to your final stand against the legendary Dead Gods, every hunt is an opportunity to discover powerful new gear, experiment with different builds, and push deeper into Gildenarch’s increasingly dangerous Wards. Gather your allies, for the hunt begins on September 1.

Title: Gameplay first look – Mafia: The Old Country’s Man of Honor expansion Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2026 15:00:49 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/08/04/gameplay-first-look-mafia-the-old-countrys-man-of-honor-expansion/ Hi everyone, I’m Josh Zammit, design director at Hangar 13 working on the Man of Honor expansion* for Mafia: The Old Country. We’re super excited to share the first look gameplay above, and I’d like to reveal a bit more about the Free Ride content included in the DLC. Man of Honor features two new story chapters set in the earlier days of Enzo Favara’s service to the Torrisi crime family, letting you team up with respected mafioso Ennio Salieri to settle old scores. In addition to the two new story chapters, owning the Man of Honor expansion grants you access to a new set of exclusive jobs and extreme challenges we’re adding to Free Ride mode, along with new collectibles and locations added to the Valle Dorata map. Play Video If you haven’t played Mafia: The Old Country yet, Free Ride mode lets you explore the Sicilian countryside at your own pace, or take on a collection of repeatable Challenges separate from the critical path that include combat encounters, stealth missions, and different kinds of races. In the new Man of Honor Free Ride content, you’ll take on new assignments from Salieri himself, who has set up shop in a Porto Almaro warehouse where he spends his days devising new schemes and smuggling stolen goods. Longtime Mafia fans know Salieri well, given his central role as the Don of his own crime family in the city of Lost Heaven, where the original Mafia and Mafia: Definitive Edition take place. Making Salieri the focal point of Man of Honor lets us showcase who he was before his emigration to America and subsequent rise to power, deepening his backstory in a really engaging way. Though still feared and respected in Sicily, this younger Salieri is much scrappier and has to hustle to get his cut of the Family’s various rackets. With Salieri as your new point of contact for Man of Honor’s Free Ride content, you’ll drop by his hideout to pick up two types of contracts: Challenges and Jobs. Salieri’s Challenges follow a similar format to the ones you can currently take on in Free Ride mode, but with amped-up difficulty that will test the mettle of even the most seasoned soldato. Salieri’s Jobs introduce brand-new mission types, tasking you with tracking down your objective and dealing with anyone who tries to get in your way. Seeking hidden caches of valuable loot, towing high-value vehicles back to Salieri, delivering stolen trucks full of precious-but-fragile goods—whichever job you take, success will line your pockets with extra Dinari. You can spend those ill-gotten gains to add new outfits, Charms, weapons, vehicles, and horses to your collection, all exclusive to this expansion. As you can see in the gameplay footage, the unique weapons and Charms you can earn in Man of Honor gave us space to play around with perks that push just beyond the bounds of period-accurate realism. For example, take the Rimbalzu throwing knife, which bounces to a second target so you can quickly and silently take down multiple enemies from the shadows. It would take near-impossible skill to throw a ricochet between targets every time, but the effect is incredibly fun and empowering, especially for players who prefer the stealthy approach. We wanted to design fresh and exciting weapons for a range of playstyles, and the added stopping power of these additions to Enzo’s arsenal can help give you an edge during Salieri’s most difficult assignments. Along with all the new items and missions on offer, there are plenty of optional activities you can seek out as you explore the Valle Dorata. Keep your eyes peeled for collectible Wanted Posters which, in keeping with a fun series tradition, use members of our development team (myself included) in period-accurate attire for their mugshots. You can also soar through the air in your turn-of-the-century automobiles via added Stunt Jumps, or destroy delivery trucks loaded with sulfur to hit back at the people who betrayed Salieri. The Man of Honor expansion for Mafia: The Old Country arrives next week on August 14. We can’t wait to see how you tackle the new content in Free Ride mode, and what the fans think of a younger Ennio Salieri in the added narrative content. Until then, mafiosi. *Base game required. Some content requires unlocking via gameplay.

Title: Players’ Choice: Vote for July 2026’s best new game Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2026 14:00:25 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/08/03/players-choice-vote-for-july-2026s-best-new-game/ Last month was filled with adventures big and small, sports action, and spiritual battles! Some big new releases included Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, Denshattack, Halo: Campaign Evolved, Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game, and more. Which game was your favorite? How does it work? At the end of every month, PlayStation Blog will open a poll where you can vote for the best new game released that month. After the polls close we will tally your votes, and announce the winner on our social channels and PlayStation.Blog. What is the voting criteria? That’s up to you! If you were only able to recommend one new release to a friend that month, which would it be? Note: re-released games don’t qualify, but remakes do. We define remakes as ambitious, larger-scale rebuilds such as Resident Evil 4 (2023) and Final Fantasy VII Remake. How are nominees decided? The PlayStation Blog editorial team will gather a list of that month’s most noteworthy releases and use it to seed the poll. View Poll

Title: Beast of Reincarnation hands-on: parry-rich combat and the cutest mutant pup Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2026 08:00:10 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/08/03/beast-of-reincarnation-hands-on-parry-rich-combat-and-the-cutest-mutant-pup/ Even from its first full reveal in 2025, Beast of Reincarnation was making all the right noises. Roaring through the crowd of impressive action role-playing games, Game Freak’s trek into a post-apocalyptic Japan blends the mythological with the mechanized into something fresh – helped by a “one woman and her dog saving the world”’ narrative. But that’s not everything Beast of Reincarnation brings to the PlayStation 5 wilds. After spending a lot of time with the full game ahead of its August 4 release, I experienced a touching story, in-depth game mechanics, intense Souls-like combat, and quite possibly the most adorably blighted giant dog companion anyone could wish for.  A world of mutated mystery 4026 Japan is not a place we would recognize. Plants, birds, beasts, and even humans have been overwhelmingly corrupted by a strange cataclysm called the Blight. Entire Blight forests have spread their poison far and wide, pushing the remnants of humanity into scattered settlements. And chief of all the mutates are the Nushi, powerful and often colossal beings who spread fear and destruction wherever they roam. The cause of all this is said to be the fabled Beast of Reincarnation, which resurrects every 100 years. And so one person is tasked to end this cycle of doom… Humanity’s last hope Blighted from birth, Emma is an outcast with no memory of her origins. She’s initially stoic and near emotionless, punished by her colony for her affliction. But her condition also makes her valuable, able to absorb the powers of each defeated Nushi to herself, with the aim of using that power to kill the Beast. Of course, as the game progresses you discover it’s not that simple, but for us as players it makes Emma the perfect character to explore beautiful but sinister forests, the crumbling ruins of civilization, water logged underground bases, and mysterious habitats. Parry or die Emma is an incredibly versatile protagonist, feeling light and agile on the DualSense controller. She’s equipped with swift sword swipes via R1 that can be chained into a combo, projectile weapons including bolts and arrows that can offer a tinge of resistance when pulled on an adaptive trigger, a nimble dodge with a tap of the Circle button, and a block and parry using L1. And this is where Souls fans will rejoice – because that parry is the key to survival. Fighting against early beasts and basic corrupted golems – humans who escaped the Blight by trapping their souls inside a machine – was fun and easy enough but hacking away on R1 won’t get you very far against the smarter, tougher, or larger foes. My first encounter with Chapter One’s tricky boss, a colossal deer-like Nishi, was just a hint of what was to come, its vicious and repeated antler attacks requiring parries to open up a counterattack. Later in the game, mini-bosses and enemies with more complex unblockable assaults required pin-point parries and counters to win. Timing is everything. Wielding the power of corrupted nature  Thankfully, that’s not everything to Beast of Reincarnation’s layered combat system. Antagonists can be staggered by reducing their relevant meter with multiple attacks and leaving them open to a finisher using R1. I was also able to perform instant kills on grunts by sneaking up on them or taking satisfying headshots with a projectile. While the Square button unleashes Emma’s devastatingly effective Nushi Skills and Blade Arts combos. But mastering Emma’s Blight abilities is the real game changer. Tapping R2 when a jump point is highlighted in the environment fires out root-like tendrils of her hair to yank Emma to higher areas. Similarly, holding down R2 creates a temporary hair platform that Emma can walk across, and the Cross button raises Emma high into the air with her locks. Using her verticality as a distancing technique was not only valuable in combat, but it meant I could utilize a ‘death from above’ assassination with R1. This levelled the field against multiple enemies who have a cone of vision I could exploit and led to a rewarding victory in a particular fight against a tough pike-wielding golem and his small army. And then there’s Emma’s best boy by her side… Genuinely, Koo is the bestest of boys The large wolf-like Koo is the perfect battle companion, able to be directed to attack enemies, or utilising his powerful Bloom Arts, a turn-based menu style special attack which you select using Triangle. If I was able to time my following button press correctly during the short corresponding mini-game, Koo’s Bloom Arts skills were invaluable, especially as the Fluorescence Points used to unleash them are earned via successful parries. When combined with Emma’s time slowing Entanglement Overdrive after pressing L3 and R3 together, the duo quickly became a formidable force in my hands. Koo also guides you to objectives with a visual pheromone indicator, barks when he finds something of interest, and even brings back items to Emma. While Koo has his own life bar, he’s hardy and capable, and you can expand his skill slots by increasing Emma’s rapport with him via petting him (creating a pleasing tremble of the DualSense controller haptics), giving him treats, and keeping him clean via a shower available in the Cleanse Walker, Emma’s mobile base. Food, systems, and skill trees There’s a lot of hidden depth in Beast of Reincarnation, too. Multiple weapons can be found and enhanced, skill trees for both Emma and Koo meant I was unlocking more abilities as I progressed, different enemy types fought each other on sight making combat even more entertaining, and the presence of the mysterious Violet – who only Emma can see and hear – offered intriguing questions to the narrative. And that’s not even mentioning the importance of food. Emma and Koo will only naturally heal from their wounds if their hunger gauge isn’t empty. But food also offers bonuses to stats like HP, Attack, and Defense, so they’re not just another resource check. And better yet, Emma’s surrogate little sister Kagura can cook meals from ingredients you find on the field, her culinary skills increasing the more you engage with her, and her meals becoming more expansive and beneficial based on the recipes you bring back. I was even able to raise a chicken for eggs and grow crops on the Cleanse Walker to give Kagura more food options, with different seedlings having various harvest times. A beastly battle Emma and Koo’s adventure is a lengthy one, full of intrigue and tender narrative beats to accompany its rousing and challenging combat. So if you’re game for the hunt, you better sharpen your sword skills ahead of Beast of Reincarnation’s PS5 release on August 4.

Title: Beast of Reincarnation is getting some "story pacing improvements" in its first patch, as part of "ongoing adjustments" from Game Freak Date: Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:45:17 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/beast-of-reincarnation-is-getting-some-story-pacing-improvements-in-its-first-patch-as-part-of-ongoing-adjustments-from-game-freak Beast of Reincarnation, the soulslike about a girl and her dog battling an array of beasties in post-apocalyptic Japan, came out yesterday, August 4th. Developers Game Freak are already hard at work on patches for it, with the first set to include some "story pacing improvements" that should hopefully help address some of the gripes our Callum highlighted in his freshly published Beast of Reincarnation review. Read more

Title: I like being king of some weird and sexy knights in fantasy RPG Sovereign Tower, but I'm not convinced the time travel element is my cup of spiderwine Date: Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/i-like-being-king-of-some-weird-and-sexy-knights-in-fantasy-rpg-sovereign-tower-but-im-not-convinced-the-time-travel-element-is-my-cup-of-spiderwine Between the accidental incest, the dragons, and the farcical aquatic ceremonies, King Arthur's reign was a real rollercoaster and a half, but at least he never had an Ursula. In Sovereign Tower, the turn-based "Round Table management RPG" from Wild Wits Games, Ursula is one of the knights you can recruit to send on quests around a downfallen fantasy kingdom. Ursula has a shrewd mind and a nose for the arcane, making her a fine choice in theory for missions that involve stolen grimoires and talking wheels of cheese. But she is also a creepy little git with no sense of responsibility. She hates when I ask her to do anything "diplomatic", like attending village fetes. She hates retrieving eldritch relics, despite her character stats being perfect for this. She hates when I say anything too grown-up in the throneroom. She hates answering questions. Like many a housecat, she both craves attention and resents it. Also like many a housecat, she eats spiders. In one early optional chinwag, you find Ursula grinding up stray orb-weavers to make a beverage apparently beloved of whatever dubious county she hails from. Read more

Title: Beast Of Reincarnation review: A briefly fun Sekiro-like that becomes chewing gum for the brain Date: Wed, 05 Aug 2026 11:54:55 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/beast-of-reincarnation-review Beast Of Reincarnation opened pretty promisingly. Its first stretch dropped me into a sprawling fantasy forestscape full of deadly spore-sprouting woodland creatures, gave me a sick hat and a fireball-shooting dog, then strapped a katana in my hand and introduced a real solid parry clang that would fire dopamine into my brain every time I landed it. Considering the generous parry window let me effortlessly deflect the boulder-sized suckerpunches of a 9ft grizzly bear, I figured this was shaping up to be a very pretty and particularly accessible Sekiro-like. And what’s more, it was from the minds behind Pokemon, Game Freak, who were trying something very different after being trapped making games under the beady, all-seeing eye of a kawaii yellow rat for so many decades. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long to realise the cool hat, the fireball-shooting dog and a satisfying parry clang were a cunning facade. Beast Of Reincarnation is, in fact, a big old wad of chewing gum for the brain. I got the sweet taste up front, before it quickly squished down to the slimy, flavourless nothingness I continued chewing on autopilot. Read more

Title: EA’s Saudi takeover will be "a real waste" if it turns the publishers into a "sequel-and-mega-franchise machine", Helldivers 2 studio boss says Date: Wed, 05 Aug 2026 11:17:25 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/eas-saudi-takeover-will-be-a-real-waste-if-it-turns-the-publishers-into-a-sequel-and-mega-franchise-machine-helldivers-2-studio-boss-says Well, it's happened. EA's thumbs up from the European Commission, the $55 billion leveraged buyout by Saudi Arabia, Silver Lake and Jared Kushner-founded investment firm Affinity Partners has gone through. With the publishers now privately owned and saddled with a bunch of debt, questions loom about what their future will look like. The CEO of Helldivers 2 studio Arrowhead, Shams Jorjani, hopes the answer won't be EA narrowing further into "a sequel-and-mega-franchise machine". Read more

Title: "If Quantic Dream wants to destroy jobs, it must pay": French union call strike as they demand extension to layoff negotiations with Star Wars Eclipse studio Date: Wed, 05 Aug 2026 10:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/if-quantic-dream-wants-to-destroy-jobs-it-must-pay-french-union-call-strike-as-they-demand-extension-to-layoff-negotiations-with-star-wars-eclipse-studio The French Syndicat des Travailleureuses du Jeu Vidéo (STJV) union have called for an open-ended strike at Star Wars Eclipse developers Quantic Dream, as negotiations over the laying off of staff following the decision to end development of MOBA Spellcasters Chronicles rumble on. The union say around 115 workers are affected, and are demanding an extension to the negotiating period over these planned cuts. Read more