Title: I (18F) Have A Giant Wolf (???M) Following Me Around And Scaring Me For Fun Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2026 19:45:50 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/beast-of-reincarnation-koo-dog-wolf-teleport-abilities-2000721649 Beast of Reincarnation’s Koo is just trying to be included and then he smoke-bombs your ass

Title: Minecraft Adds Concrete Stairs After Making Fans Wait Nearly A Decade And People Are Excited Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2026 19:15:19 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/minecraft-adds-concrete-stairs-after-making-fans-wait-nearly-a-decade-and-people-are-excited-2000721630 Concrete slabs and stairs are included in the recent snapshot update

Title: Star Wars Eclipse Maker Accused Of Dragging Out Layoff Negotiations: ‘Quantic Dream Wants To Destroy Jobs, It Must Pay’ Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2026 18:45:18 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/star-wars-eclipse-maker-accused-of-dragging-out-layoff-negotiations-quantic-dream-wants-to-destroy-jobs-it-must-pay-2000721604 As layoff negotiations drag on, some workers are calling for a new strike

Title: Physical Media Fans Are Sick Of Expensive Vinyl Albums With Unfinished Tracks Or Missing Songs: ‘A Bait-and-Switch Isn’t Cool’ Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2026 18:15:53 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/physical-media-fans-are-sick-of-expensive-vinyl-albums-with-unfinished-tracks-or-missing-songs-a-bait-and-switch-isnt-cool-2000721582 Artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Raye are catching flak from collectors and fans for selling incomplete records

Title: A Nun With A Gun Is Everyone’s Favorite Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave Character Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2026 17:53:14 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/fire-emblem-fortunes-weave-nun-with-a-gun-new-weapon-2000721578 'So anyway, I started blasting.' — Anatoila, probably.

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: Riftbound Directors Says Game Used To Be A Lot Like Magic: The Gathering–Until Players Rejected It Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2026 19:56:48 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/riftbound-directors-says-game-used-to-be-a-lot-like-magic-the-gathering-until-players-rejected-it/ In recent years, the trading card game (TCG) environment has seen a boom of new games entering the market. There are still genre mainstays, like Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon, and Yu-Gi-Oh!, which continue to receive support and feature a thriving secondhand market. However, new original IP TCGs like Flesh and Blood and Sorcery are making rounds at the local game store level and beyond. But licensed IP TCGs, like One Piece and the upcoming Cyberpunk TCG, have also taken the tabletop world by storm. Riftbound, the League of Legends trading card game, is no exception. After releasing late last year (at least in English), Riot Games' popular TCG has developed quite a large fanbase, leading to a massive presence at Gen Con in Indianapolis. GameSpot's Jessica Cogswell was present during the show, and got the chance to sit down with Riftbound game director Dave Guskin, who explained that the Riftbound team is much smaller than you'd think. With such a small team, you have to wonder what other games the team looked to for guidance. Resource systems, which are costs you'll typically pay to play or activate cards, are present in most TCGs. Guskin, who worked previously as a designer on Magic: The Gathering (and is also a big fan of the game), took inspiration from that game's mana system. "[I'm] a big fan of Magic's [mana system]," he explains. "I actually thought, 'Okay, we're going to start with the resources in the deck. That's the appropriate amount of variance for game variety.' We tried it with players and they completely rejected it. They were like, 'This is horrible. I don't want to not play this game.'" "So then I was like, 'Well, I'm not the right person to design this resource system,'" Guskin continued. "I recruited my two designers, Dave and Jon, who had joined shortly after the start, [and said], 'You've got to find a better resource system.' They tried like 10 or 12 different systems. Then they found one they liked, brought it to me, and were like, 'Okay, you're going to hate this,'" referring to Riftbound's Rune resource system. "[They told me,] 'So what you do is you get rid of your own resources,'" Guskin explained. "And I was like, 'I hate it'. They're like, 'No, no, you've got to play it.' And as you saw, when you actually play it, you're like, 'Wow, this is actually pretty cool.' So that was all them--they were amazing at making that system. And now it's one of the things that TCG players of other games say they like the most about Riftbound." In Riftbound, Runes operate similarly to Magic's lands in that you'll "tap" them (or exhaust, in this case) to pay a cards cost. But cards in Riftbound will often have two costs: Power and Energy. The Energy cost is represented by the top-most, colorless number in the upper left corner of a card, while the Power cost--which is also locationed in the upper left corner of the card but below Energy--is tied to one of Riftbound's six Domains (think Magic's colors). To pay a Power cost, you have to recycle a Rune of that Domain, which means placing it on the bottom of your 12-card Rune deck, referencing the two designers' "get rid of your own resources" pitch to Guskin. Riftbound is nearing its one year mark since its English release, with its fourth expansion Vendetta having recently hit store shelves. This week also marks the game's biannual State of the Game updates, which details changes coming to organized play, upcoming products, and next year's roadmap.

Title: Mistfall Hunter Has Made Me A Believer In Extraction Games Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2026 19:41:44 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mistfall-hunter-has-made-me-a-believer-in-extraction-games/ Mistfall Hunter is a fascinating mix of games. On the one hand, it’s a dark fantasy action-RPG with some deep class-building and light souls-like mechanics. On the other, it’s a PvEvP third-person battle royale that sits firmly in the extraction shooter genre. Typically, I’d avoid the latter kind of game, as my low vision makes shooters difficult for me to play, but for some reason, I just can’t get enough of developer Bellring Games’ take on the extraction shooter. In fact, Mistfall Hunter is changing my mind on the genre as a whole. Mistfall Hunter is taking the internet by storm, with a concurrent player count surpassing 40,000 on Steam after its July 29 launch. Its formula is familiar to anyone with any experience in the extraction genre. You drop into a world, kill some baddies, and hunt for loot, while other players hunt for you. Your goal is to get out before you're stuffed into a grave and your booty is plundered. It’s a recognizable gameplay loop, but what makes this game so compelling is how it turns the extraction shooter into an extraction brawler. Instead of long-ranged firefights with pistols and rifles, you enter a dark fantasy setting filled with Lovecraftian horrors and skeletal jerks, and are forced to do battle with swords and shields. Sure, you can still engage in ranged combat with the archer and sorcerer classes, but Mistfall Hunter is at its best when you’re fighting in tight spaces with leather and steel.  The mechanics, reminiscent of souls-likes such as Elden Ring and Lords of the Fallen, bring a melee-focused intensity that demands careful positioning and considered character specialization: elements that you don’t often see in other extraction games like Arc Raiders and Escape from Tarkov. And because there are characters to interact with and quests to complete as you embark on your journey, either solo or in a group of three, there is more story progression alongside the loot-collecting.  It’s giving single-player action-RPG with a multiplayer environment as the backdrop, and I love it. More Than Another Extraction Game I've always wanted to enjoy extraction shooters. I’m enamored by the frenetic combat and frightful extraction of the genre, and I’m just a sucker for some good loot, too. But my low vision--brought on by a rare eye condition called keratoconus means terrible depth of field and even worse perception. I often end up filled with bullets before I even see who shot me--especially in multiplayer shooters. This is why I don’t play the likes of Call of Duty games anymore; I just can’t compete with the sweaters in those lobbies.  And so, despite being interested in games like Hunt: Showdown or Marathon, I skip them, and games like them, because of my horrible aim and the toxicity players express in voice chat when you “suck” at a game. Mistfall Hunter, however, actually gives me the opportunity to compete in a competitive environment because it doesn’t rely on pixel-perfect shooting accuracy. It's an extraction brawler that puts a greater emphasis on close-quarters encounters, and since I'm the type of girl who has beaten many hardcore single-player RPGs over the years (such as Lies of P and Nioh 3), I trust my ability to swing a sword far more than my skill with shooting a gun. You have to face me one-on-one. And one-on-one, I stand a chance.  That’s what I love most about the game. Someone as blind as me can be a threat with a big sword. I’m like that fictional blind samurai Zatoichi, or even that Sengoku-era swordsman Toda Seigen. Hell, thinking about swinging a sword while blind is reminiscent of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’s Chirrut Îmwe, and honestly, who doesn’t like a badass martial artist who’s whooping your ass with little to no eyesight? When An Entire Genre Finally Clicks As I play more Mistfall Hunter, trying to level up my Withered Knight to the max so I can unlock every ability and become a true terror on the battlefield, I find my curiosity surrounding the extraction genre reignited. There have been myriad other extraction games that have launched since Escape from Tarkov put the genre on the map with an extended closed beta in 2017. Arena Breakout: Infinite, Dark and Darker, Delta Force, The Mound: Omen of Cthulu, and so many more have caught my eye in recent years, but most--if not all--of these games are first-person shooters. Maybe I’ll still give them a shot, despite knowing just how bad my aim is and how awful players will be. Mistfall Hunter has truly made me reconsider my relationship with an extraction game, as well as my thoughts on what an extraction game could be. Like, what if there were an extraction mecha game where you pilot a gundam-esque robot, embarking on scavenger missions for parts while battling against crazed AI, rebel pilots, and other players? Armored Core 6: Fires Of Rubicon but an extraction game. Maybe there could be an extraction racer that demands you be the first one to reach the withdrawal point before an EMP immobilizes your car and some deadly mist suffocates you in the driver's seat, kind of like Pacific Drive. Or maybe--and hear me out--someone builds an extraction cooking game. Collect the ingredients, cook the dish, and serve it to patrons with the quickness so that you can clock out before your competitors? I’m just spitballing, but Mistfall Hunter’s unique spin on the extraction genre creates room for other forms of experimentation. I think the potential is endless, and I can’t wait to see what other developers end up doing now that Bellring Games has introduced the extraction brawler as a subgenre to the larger extraction game formula. For now, I’ll just keep swinging my big sword with my low vision as I collect tons of loot and search for an exit. Maybe I’m hitting the air in the process, but know that I’m definitely coming for you.

Title: How To Cancel PlayStation Plus Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2026 19:17:29 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/how-to-cancel-playstation-plus/ Life is expensive these days. If you're looking to cut back on spending and want to do away with your PlayStation Plus membership, it's very easy to do so. There are plenty of reasons why you might want to cancel PlayStation Plus, just like there are numerous reasons for cancelling Xbox Game Pass. Below you can find instructions on how to cancel PlayStation Plus, as shared by PlayStation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiwBu7M023s How to cancel PlayStation Plus from the internet Sign in to Account Management. Select Subscription from the menu on the left of the screen.  Select Cancel Subscription next to PlayStation Plus. How to cancel PlayStation Plus from your PS5 Go to Settings > Users and Accounts. Select Account > Payment and Subscriptions > Subscriptions > PlayStation Plus. Select Cancel Subscription. How to cancel PlayStation Plus from your PS4 Go to PlayStation Plus > Manage Membership > Subscription. Select Cancel Subscription. When you cancel PlayStation Plus, you'll retain member benefits until the end of the current billing cycle. However, after that, you'll lose access to the service's numerous perks including monthly games, online multiplayer, and online storage support, among other things. August brings with it some pretty great additions to PlayStation Plus, including the critical darling Big Walk--which we called one of the best co-op games of all time--along with Dying Light 2 and Signalis. Sony recently upset gamers by announcing that it will stop supporting physical game discs starting in January 2028. The data clearly shows that digital adoption is rising, but plenty of people still love physical discs. Sony continues to sell many millions of physical game discs annually, but experts believe Sony wants to exert more power and control over users and is ushering in an all-digital future on PlayStation leading into the PS6 era.

Title: Turns Out, The Team Behind Riftbound Is Shockingly Small Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2026 19:15:41 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/turns-out-the-team-behind-riftbound-is-shockingly-small/ During last week's Gen Con, Riftbound, the League of Legends trading card game (TCG), boasted a massive presence. Fans were able to enter two different booths to get their hands on cards and exclusive merchandise, as well as meet some of the talent behind the game's creation and design. GameSpot was onsite for the show, and had the opportunity to interview Riftbound Game Director Dave Guskin, during which we learned that the team behind the popular TCG is significantly smaller that you might think. At the end of our time with Guskin, the longtime designer reflected on how the game isn't even a year old yet (referring to its English release in October of last year), saying, "It's been so wonderful to have the community grow around the game, and see what people love. I always say, our team is quite small compared to the player base. So we rely on that partnership between development and community to figure out what's awesome, what's not, and how to fix it". GameSpot's Jessica Cogswell, who conducted the interview, was intrigued by his mention of the team size. She went on to ask Guskin just how big the team actually is, and if Riftbound's creation was a concentrated effort or a case of a few team members with big ambitions. Gurskin confirmed it was the latter. "A little over two years ago, I want to say it was just me, my boss, and one analyst," Guskin said. "And we were just pitching the game to executives. We were like, 'Just give us a chance.' And they were like, 'Okay, you can have two more people.' So then we made the systems and we tested with players [with just five people]." As development ramped up, Guskin explained that Riot allowed a few more people to join the Riftbound team. Since then, the number has consistently grown, reaching what now feels like "huge growth," according to Guskin. "But it's still like less than 50 people across all functions of Riftbound, which is sort of crazy," he said. "I think we'll keep growing, which is awesome, but we've come at it from a very scrappy place. Like, 'Can make something really awesome for players, do it quickly, and do it without really having to do too much in the way of shooting for the moon, right?'" Guskin continued. "'Let's find something that we know players will love. Let's take stuff from Legends of Runeterra, from other strategy games at Riot, from the people who know how to make League of Legends champions in a different sort of game, and then get that out to players quickly, and then iterate.' So, I feel like it's been pretty crazy". Riftbound recently released its fourth expansion, Vendetta. Its biannual State of the Game updates are also continuing to roll out until August 5, in which they've laid out changes coming to the game's rules and card templates, its roadmap for 2027, and more.

Title: PSA: A Big Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave Reveal Gets Spoiled In The Nintendo Direct Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2026 19:03:39 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/psa-a-big-fire-emblem-fortunes-wave-reveal-gets-spoiled-in-the-nintendo-direct/ Fire Emblem fans had plenty of information to sink their teeth into during today's Fortune's Weave Direct presentation, with new characters, new settings, and a new "gun" showcased during the 22-minute livestream. However, the Direct also threw a wrench into the plans of those who wish to be spoiler-free going into Fortune's Weave, as a major story beat from early in the game was revealed in the final five minutes of the video. We're about to dive into that spoiler right now and its implications for how Fortune's Weave will play out, so if you have not watched the video and wish to stay unspoiled, do not venture below the video we've shared below. Seriously, this is your spoiler warning: Turn back now if you want to stay blind. After 18 minutes of explanations on the characters, mechanics, and world of Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, the year 1449 appears on the screen--and then immediately progresses forward five years to 1454. The Dagdan Empire still stands, but it has been rendered apocalyptic after being ravaged by a demon god called Balor. It's then revealed that Fortune's Weave will take place across both years, with the main protagonist, Eshmel, summoned by Sothis to help the heroes in the past prevent the calamity of the future through key moments in each hero's story. How exactly that will play out, however, was not explained. The Fortune's Weave Direct introduced us to the four heroes of the Dagdan Empire--Cai, Dietrich, Leda, and Theodora--as they compete in a tradition called the Heroic Games. Players will be able to switch between each hero at will, playing out their stories in parallel if they so choose. Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave will launch September 17 exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2.

Title: 'Grand Theft Auto 6' Is to Blame for 'Danganronpa 2x2's Delay, but Not for the Reason You Think Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2026 19:16:44 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/danganronpa-2x2-writer-delayed-game-to-play-grand-theft-auto-6/ In the lead-up to Grand Theft Auto 6's long-awaited release this November, the rest of the games industry is getting out of the way as much as possible. The number of games delayed or moved away from a November release date continues to grow. Danganronpa 2x2 is one such game, and its developers are the first to admit that Grand Theft Auto 6 played a part in that decision.

Title: Ice Cream Man uses generative AI, director Eli Roth confirms Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2026 19:02:55 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/eli-roth-ice-cream-man-generative-ai-confirmed/ Director Eli Roth has clarified that his upcoming horror film Ice Cream Man uses generative AI in a limited capacity after previously telling Polygon that one of the movie's AI-assisted sequences was hand-drawn.

Title: What time does the Gears of War E-Day early access multiplayer beta start in your time zone? Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2026 19:01:11 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/gears-of-war-e-day-early-access-beta-release-time-edt-pdt/ The Gears of War: E-Day early access multiplayer beta will start on Thursday, Aug. 6, but only for those who have pre-ordered the game or own Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass.

Title: Koei Tecmo is putting out an “AI chat RPG” based on the Atelier Ryza series, and it sounds bleak Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2026 18:50:55 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/koei-tecmo-atelier-ryza-chat-ai-rpg/ SpiralAI and Koei Tecmo’s studio Gust just announced RyzaChat: Your Midsummer Dream Story with AI Ryza, an “AI chat RPG” set in the Atelier Ryza universe. It seems like a bit of a nightmare. According to Automaton, the iOS and Android game is entirely built aroundhaving conversations with an AI chatbot version of series protagonist Ryza.

Title: Sega's '90s-era Fire Emblem Competitor Was Years Ahead of Its Time Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2026 18:33:02 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/games-like-fire-emblem-sega-shining-force/ The Aug. 4 Nintendo Direct was all about Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, the tactical RPG coming to Nintendo Switch 2 next month. The showcase revealed a bunch of new info about Intelligent Systems' latest, including new details about how the game's four branching story paths will merge together. While Fire Emblem has been around since 1990, it truly popped off amongst worldwide gaming audiences with 2019's Fire Emblem: Three Houses, whichhelped bring the subgenre out of the niche and into the mainstream by combining turn-based battles with Persona-like social sim elements. In the years since, other studios have followed suit with excellent tactical RPGs like Ubisoft's Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hopein 2022 and last year's stellar remake Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles. But the latest Nintendo Direct reminded me there's one publisher I'd particularly love to see get in on this burgeoning trend, and that's Sega.

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: 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: Silent Hill: Townfall Developers discuss the Scottish setting, retro technology, first-person combat Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2026 15:00:00 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/07/30/silent-hill-townfall-developers-discuss-the-scottish-setting-retro-technology-first-person-combat/ Launching September 24 on PlayStation 5, Silent Hill: Townfall marks the latest entry in the iconic psychological horror franchise. In this article, we bring you insights from Motoi Okamoto, producer for the Silent Hill series at Konami and Jon McKellan, writer and director at Scotland-based developer Screen Burn Interactive.   Could you share why you chose Screen Burn as the development team for this title? Motoi Okamoto: We were introduced to Screen Burn by Annapurna Interactive, who co-published the title with us. Annapurna has an incredible track record of success with narrative and art-driven indie games, so we fully trusted their taste. I had personally played Screen Burn’s previous titles Stories Untold and Observation, and both were fantastic, so I felt confident leaving the project in their hands. When asking Jon to handle the narrative, were there any specific requirements or guidelines regarding what makes a game “Silent Hill?” Okamoto: While Konami does have an internal “bible” or storyline guidelines, I believe the most crucial part of the process is for the developers and writers themselves to analyze the Silent Hill series and build their own bible. Handing over a thick manual from our end wouldn’t necessarily resonate with a team. That’s why we ask every development team we collaborate with to go through that personal discovery process. What were your thoughts on setting the game in Scotland? Jon McKellan: Scotland is where we grew up; it’s the environment most familiar and natural for us to depict. To create a meticulous, persuasive setting, we felt it was essential to build a world we knew inside and out. That’s why we chose Scotland. On top of that, Scotland is naturally a very foggy region, making it a perfect fit for Silent Hill. There were times when we’d take photos outside and think, “We’re literally standing in Silent Hill right now…” Okamoto: Silent Hill frequently collaborates with development studios worldwide. Through these partnerships, we can blend diverse regional cultures and perspectives to deliver fresh, innovative horror experiences. This title marks the first full-length Silent Hill game to adopt a first-person perspective. While Silent Hill: The Short Message (released in 2024) also used first-person viewpoint, it was a smaller standalone experience. Despite being developed by different teams, did that title influence Silent Hill: Townfall? Okamoto: Beyond having different developers, the production timelines were completely different, so there was no direct exchange of technical know-how. The fact that both Silent Hill: Townfall and Silent Hill: The Short Message ended up in first-person was purely coincidental. McKellan: Since there was no overlap, our team at Screen Burn was able to play Silent Hill: The Short Message with a completely fresh perspective. For Silent Hill: Townfall, a first-person viewpoint was an indispensable foundation for integrating the mechanics around the CRTV device. Honestly, the CRTV couldn’t work from any other perspective. While the first-person view brings many changes compared to traditional titles in the series, we took great care to maintain that distinct, atmospheric Silent Hill feel and presentation. What was the motivation behind evolving the series’ iconic radio into the CRTV? McKellan: The concept of changing the radio to the CRTV was there from the very start of development. In the earliest stages, it was a standard radio, but we set a challenge for ourselves: how could we make the radio an active tool rather than a passive one? By turning it into a visual device where you can watch video signals in addition to hearing audio, the possibilities exploded—from how we handle narrative presentation to how it integrates into gameplay, like stealth. Plus, as you might be able to tell from Screen Burn’s past games, figuring out how to manipulate slightly outdated analog technology is right up our alley. Are there scenes that simply couldn’t exist without the CRTV? McKellan: So much of the presentation and gameplay was designed around the premise of the CRTV. Rather than asking “Which scenes couldn’t exist without it?”, we approached development by asking, “How can we best leverage this device to its fullest potential in every moment?” Could you tell us more about your meticulous, almost obsessive, dedication to recreating retro gadgets and environments? How do you feel that enhances the Silent Hill experience? McKellan: Older analog tech and gadgets mean a lot to us, and we have a real fondness for them. Nostalgic elements like these are things that not just us, but players everywhere have touched and experienced, evoking a sense of familiarity. We deliberately designed moments that play against those nostalgic feelings. In a modern context, analog technology feels a bit unstable, unreliable, or hard to trust completely. We wanted to create a situation where players have to rely on this device to survive, even while feeling uneasy about relying on it too much. As for our environmental design, we take pride in saying it borders on obsession. Believing that a place actually exists is what makes players truly care about it, and making players care is the most important thing of all. Red and black are used very prominently in this game. What was the intention behind this color palette? McKellan: Part of it is simply that they are a striking pair of colors, but as you progress through the game, players will discover that these two colors hold a deeply symbolic and vital significance for our protagonist, Simon. The creatures in Silent Hill: Townfall feel tougher than in previous entries. Is the game balanced to favor stealth over combat? McKellan: We’ve provided players with multiple options to handle encounters. Rather than forcing a single playstyle, we want players to experiment and discover which approach feels most effective or suitable for each situation as they fight to survive. How did you approach the concept of multiple endings? McKellan: The endings in Silent Hill: Townfall aren’t determined by a simple binary choice at the end. Instead, the culmination of the player’s actions throughout their playthrough dictates which ending they reach. We designed this freedom so that the ending feels genuinely earned based on the player’s unique journey. Okamoto: All three main endings can be reached right from your first playthrough, whereas the secret ending becomes accessible after clearing the game once. It follows a structure similar to the original Silent Hill and Silent Hill 2, meaning players won’t be forced to replay the game two or three times just to see all primary endings. Could you share how PS5 features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers enhance the game’s presentation? McKellan: Through the DualSense wireless controller’s adaptive triggers, players won’t just feel the weight of firearms—haptics allow you to literally feel the footsteps of certain approaching creatures right in your hands. Motion control (gyro) also enables intuitive aiming. Early in development, I was actually a bit skeptical about how well motion controls would fit, but once we implemented them in-game, it felt so natural that I couldn’t go back to traditional controls. Using motion controls, you can also manipulate the map as if holding it directly in your hands. Additionally, certain puzzles require you to physically tilt the CRTV—mimicking the everyday motion of holding up a phone to search for a signal, which is another fun way we’ve integrated the motion controls. As a producer, how do you feel about the DualSense controller’s adaptive triggers and haptic feedback? Okamoto: The Silent Hill series has historically been praised for its visuals and sound, but with the PS5, being able to bring the sense of touch into the horror experience feels like a massive step forward. 3D Audio is another crucial element for modern horror. How have you used sound design to heighten the terror in Silent Hill: Townfall? McKellan: Because Silent Hill: Townfall is played in first-person, your visual field of view is naturally restricted, making audio far more important. We intentionally created situations in which players must rely heavily on subtle noises and audio cues to perceive threats lurking beyond what their eyes can see. Silent Hill: Townfall launches on PS5 September 24. 

Title: The demo for 500 FINGER FILLET taught me that none of you should let me anywhere near a kitchen knife, also can someone call a doctor Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2026 18:12:32 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-demo-for-500-finger-fillet-taught-me-that-none-of-you-should-let-me-anywhere-near-a-kitchen-knife-also-can-someone-call-a-doctor I have learned something about myself today: I shouldn't be allowed near kitchen utensils. This is a problem because I am the cook of the house, and yet my time with the demo for 500 FINGER FILLET proves most unanimously that I am going to cut one, maybe more, of my fingers off. It feels like an inevitability, one I can't escape from, because I did in fact cut off almost every single finger on my left hand in 500 FINGER FILLET, an incredibly stressful roguelite where you only need to click your left mouse button. Read more

Title: This Game Costs 200 Dollars is a game that really does cost $200, doesn't look very good, and almost made its dev $1.3 million Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2026 17:15:52 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/this-game-costs-200-dollars-is-a-game-that-really-does-cost-200-doesnt-look-very-good-and-almost-made-its-dev-13-million I do not have $200 to spare on one single video game right now. In this economy, spending such an obscene amount of dough on one game would be tantamount to throwing it down the drain, it would position me as a bourgeois elite who cares not for their fellow persons, it would label me as someone so silly that they should never be trusted with anything ever again. The funniest punchline to this would be that I did in fact spend $200 on a video game, specifically a video game called This Game Costs 200 Dollars, but I didn't do that because [see my opening comment]. Instead, I will tell you about how this game almost made its developer $1.3 million. Read more

Title: Sci-fi MMO Cinder City is getting a pre-alpha playtest later this month so you can put its RAM hogging requirements to the test Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2026 16:23:04 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/sci-fi-mmo-cinder-city-is-getting-a-pre-alpha-playtest-later-this-month-so-you-can-put-its-ram-hogging-requirements-to-the-test I haven't the foggiest idea whether Cinder City will be any good or not. Visually, if you showed it to me without a logo or any form of identifying information, I'm not even sure I could distinguish it from any other sci-fi shooter. But the shooting looks PS3 as hell, with slightly awkward movements made moreso by the realistic look, and a futuristic HUD that seems like it's meant to be diegetic. How it actually feels is another question, but one that some of us can soon answer, as sign ups for a playtest are now open. Read more

Title: Is 8GB VRAM enough for a graphics card in 2026? Yes, but GPU makers should still try harder Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2026 15:07:03 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/is-8gb-vram-enough-for-a-graphics-card-in-2026-yes-but-gpu-makers-should-still-try-harder The amount of memory a PC needs is a matter that's divided PC owners since before the days of DDR1. Different apps, games, and in-game settings all have different demands, so what works for one rig can be quite different to what works for another. In 2026, with component prices so stratospherically high - Nvidia and AMD are both cranking theirs up still - what truly constitutes a need is up for even further debate. There’s no better example of this argument than around VRAM, or video RAM. While a - shall we say enthusiastic - school of thought has developed around 8GB becoming insufficient for modern demands, that's done little to change the hardware makeup of low-end and mid-range graphics cards that are going on sale. Nor has it apparently convinced many players to upgrade. Indeed, the majority of Steam users still play on GPUs with 8GB VRAM or less. Read more

Title: 13th century Mongolian courier sim The Legend of Khiimori becomes a battle against supernatural "poison of the earth spirit" with its Corruption Update Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2026 14:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/13th-century-mongolian-courier-sim-the-legend-of-khiimori-becomes-a-battle-against-supernatural-poison-of-the-earth-spirit-with-its-corruption-update Up to this point, The Legend of Khiimori is a game I've primarily known as that pretty chill-looking Mongolian mail delivery game heavy on horses. Sure it's clearly got some survival elements to it, but the main draw has always - and from what Edwin's told me based on his time with it - been in galloping across pleasant plains. However, with Khiimori's latest update, those plains have become infected by a supernatural scourge. Read more