Title: Former Dev Says Midnight Club 5 Was Canceled Because The Series Was Rockstar’s ‘Red-Headed Stepchild’ Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2026 19:39:36 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/former-dev-says-midnight-club-5-was-canceled-because-the-series-was-rockstars-red-headed-stepchild-2000721232 Nearly 16 years after Midnight Club: L.A., it seems unlikely that a new entry in the series will ever be made

Title: The Week In Games: Heavy Artillery Fire Incoming Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2026 19:00:13 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/the-week-in-games-heavy-artillery-fire-incoming-2000721224 We also finally get to see Game Freak's take on the Soulslike

Title: Pokopia’s Big Update Will Fix My Biggest Issue With The Game Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2026 18:40:05 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/pokopias-big-update-will-fix-my-biggest-issue-with-the-game-2000721266 I swear I'll be more organized this time

Title: Xbox’s Disc-To-Digital Plan Rolls Out This August According To Leaked Roadmap Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2026 18:20:04 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/xbox-disc-to-digital-original-xbox-games-pc-backwards-compatibility-2000721243 The roadmap also states that original Xbox games will launch on PC in October

Title: Studio Behind Netflix’s Widely Panned World Cup Game Reportedly Shutting Down Just 8 Weeks After Launch Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2026 17:40:08 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/studio-behind-netflixs-widely-panned-world-cup-game-reportedly-shutting-down-just-8-weeks-after-launch-2000721235 Refractor Games part-owner Delphi Interactive has reportedly shut the whole place down

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: Here’s Your Chance To Get Lego Batman: Legacy Of the Dark Knight For Just $1 Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2026 19:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/heres-your-chance-to-get-lego-batman-legacy-of-the-dark-knight-for-just-1/ As someone who has stopped playing Lego games in recent years-not because I've lost my childhood innocence, but because I simply haven't enjoyed them-Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight feels like a blueprint for the future of the brick-building franchise. It's fun for kids and adults alike, and almost every joke lands in a way that few games have managed for me in years. The last time I remember laughing this much at a Lego game was Darth Maul's appearance, where multiple lightsaber blades shot out in the silliest way possible. It's an experience I highly recommend, even if you're an adult, and the chance to get it for just $1 is difficult to pass up. If you're looking to get Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight for just $1, here's your chance. The Fanatical Mystery Vault Bundle offers various Steam keys, ranging from a single key for $1 / £1 to 25 keys for $17.49 / £17.49. Each key is a random Steam game, and while you'd have to be particularly lucky to get Bruce Wayne's latest bricky adventure, there's still a chance. Either way, you'll get plenty of games to add to your growing Steam library, ranging from underplayed indie titles to classic AAA games you may have previously passed on. You'll also be entered into a prize draw for a chance to win a Steam Machine and Steam Controller. However, I'm mainly buying keys in the hope of winning one of the Golden Vaults, which are packed with new releases like Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, Echoes of Aincrad, and more. One can dream. I'm not lucky enough to pull the rarest Pokemon cards, so surely I'm due some luck here. Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight brings together Batman's biggest movie appearances into a single story while adding plenty of jokes, bizarre changes, and familiar Lego antics. It takes my second-favorite superhero's typically gruff attitude and turns it into something that's unashamedly silly. For example, one scene from 2022's The Batman, where the Dark Knight heads to Penguin's Iceberg Lounge, becomes a rhythm-based dance-off between Batman and Gordon. While the combat doesn't reach the heights of the Arkham games, it's a simplified version that's more fitting for a family-friendly experience. It remains fun, with a unique twist on the Bat-gadgets you've come to know and love as you battle hardened criminals and supervillains alike. There's something particularly satisfying about turning mobsters into a ball of glue before sending them flying across the arena. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LJuJ8FZZqY After years of brooding Batmen on the big screen, and a noticeable wait since the last Lego Batman game, it's been a blast seeing the character brought back in a way that only TT Games could deliver. Batman last headlined a Lego game in 2014, although he also appeared in Lego DC Super-Villains in 2018. (I also think The Lego Batman Movie is one of the best versions of the character, so I had to get that opinion in there.) Disclosure: GameSpot and Fanatical are both owned by Fandom. This story was created in collaboration with Fanatical's deals team.

Title: Steam Cyberpunk Fest Is Full Of Hidden Gems And Modern Classics Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2026 18:02:55 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/steam-cyberpunk-fest-is-full-of-hidden-gems-and-modern-classics/ It's time for another sale on PC games, and this time, you can strap in for Steam Cyberpunk Fest 2026, which shines a light on the games that celebrate the future and the inevitable dystopia we're headed towards. Constant surveillance, corporations becoming national powers, and neon lighting are hallmarks of the genre, and plenty of games have dipped their toes into that dark future. With so much to choose from, where does one even begin? We've taken a look at the games on sale and dropped some of our picks below for a mix of hard-hitting futurism and atmospheric worldbuilding, all spread across various genres. As a reminder, Steam Cyberpunk Fest runs August 3-10, and once it concludes, it'll be followed by Pins & Pegs Fest (August 17-20) and PvE Survival Crafting Fest (August 31 - September 7). For a closer look at what the rest of the year holds in store--as well as the first half of 2027--you can check out our feature on all the upcoming Steam sales. All Steam Cyberpunk Fest deals Cyberpunk 2077 $18 (was $60) We might as well start this list off with the biggest name in the genre, Cyberpunk 2077 and its phenomenal expansion Phantom Liberty. Almost six years after it first launched in a disastrous state, Cyberpunk 2077 has had numerous upgrades installed, polishing the game to a level where you genuinely feel like you're a citizen in a neon-soaked dystopian future. Strong on storytelling and buildcrafting gameplay where you fine-tune your Edgerunner, Cyberpunk 2077 gives you all the tools you need to be a Night City legend. And with a new anime series inspired by the game on the way, now is the perfect time to hop in and see what all the fuss is about. See on Steam RoboCop: Rogue City $4 (was $50) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nutwkk18DSQ The 2023 RoboCop game checks all the boxes for a cyberpunk game: You've got a corporation that has more power than elected officials, everything is baked in a neon glow, and gangs of criminals who are content to commit fashion crimes on top of the usual felonies. RoboCop: Rogue City not only nails that atmosphere, but also the feeling of being a cybernetic cop programmed to mete out justice by stylishly taking down every bad guy in CRT-scale sight with slick gunplay and brute machine force. The game also shines a light on what Alex Murphy does between cases, and the Unfinished Business expansion is a great standalone campaign that imagines RoboCop if it were an unofficial Raid movie. See on Steam Kusan: City of Wolves $12 (was $15) It might look like a cyberpunk-themed version of Hotline Miami, but Kusan: City of Wolves successfully carves its own identity through bloody battles, a deep grid-based upgrade system, and an adrenaline-pumping soundtrack full of hard-hitting Korean hip-hop. Full of hardcore action where there's no room for error, the game is all about lightning-fast combat with the intensity dialed up to 11. See on Steam Ghostrunner 1 and 2 Ghostrunner -- $7.49 (was $25) Ghostrunner 2 -- $8 (was $40) You can't spell cyberpunk without some of the letters in dystopia, and the Ghostrunner games are a fun blast of high-octane energy and parkour. Death is always a single blow away, but by the time you master the gameplay, you'll be a lean-and-mean killing machine who can wallrun and power-slide their way to victory. A synth-heavy electronic soundtrack and a game world that emphasizes the depressing nature of megacorps taking over society only adds to the techno-magic of these gems. See on Steam Into the Grid $11.68 (was $14.88) No list about cyberpunk games is truly complete without at least one title that focuses on hacking, and that's where Into the Grid earns its spot. If you're not jaded by the idea of playing a roguelike deckbuilder, then you'll appreciate how Into the Grid combines the genre with clever spatial strategy and resource management as you work your way through corporate servers. It's a neat twist on established deck-building tropes, and the tactical simulation of cyber-infiltration is given a sharp presentation. See on Steam Dystopika $3.49 (was $7) You might have fantasized about living in a cyberpunk world, but have you ever considered building your own? Dystopika gives you all the tools you need to build the dystopia of tomorrow, without any of the megacorp pressure. It's the darker side of cozy city-building, as there are no goals or objectives to chase. Simply place buildings, erect giant billboards, and watch your metropolis come to life in this sci-fi zen game. See on Steam Bomb Rush Cyberfunk $16 (was $40) It's not cyberpunk, it's cyberfunk! A spiritual successor to Jet Set Radio, you play as an up-and-coming graffiti artist who has lost their head--literally. On a quest to reclaim your noggin, you'll get to explore several boroughs, tag the walls with spraycan art, and use extreme sports skills to evade the militarized police of a dark future. Full of smooth gameplay and a stellar soundtrack, you'll want to check this out if you've been pining for those halcyon Dreamcast days. See on Steam Transistor $4 (was $20) Hades developer Supergiant is best-known for its roguelite adventures featuring a pantheon of Greek gods and legends, but before it tasked players with escaping the underworld, it was combining emotions and action in Transistor. An elegant combo of art deco and cyberpunk themes, Transistor also fuses real-time combat with turn-based tactics as you take part in an emotional narrative driven by music. See on Steam Metal Eden $8 (was $17.58) Metal Eden doesn't chart new ground for boomer-shooters, but it still deserves praise for mixing satisfying moment-to-moment action with sharp cyberpunk style. If you're looking for fluid action, movement options that feel empowering, and a slick aesthetic, then you'll want to grab a download of this exciting and well-designed shooter. See on Steam Cloudpunk $7 (was $20) There's something magical about the idea of a cyberpunk city, and in Cloudpunk, you'll get to explore the metropolis of the future from up high. You'd think that delivering packages in a future where you have access to gravity-defying cars would be easy, but with towering skyscrapers and corporate conspiracies dogging you, you have to keep your eyes on the prize. Cloudpunk nails the cyberpunk aesthetic with its art direction, and with dozens of interesting characters to meet and decisions that have a lasting impact on the world around you, it's a great game for anyone who enjoys that sci-fi atmosphere. See on Steam Nobody Wants to Die $3.74 (was $25) Nobody Wants to Die reimagines a hard-boiled detective story as an adventure that asks some hard-hitting questions about human nature. Primarily a detective game with a striking cyberpunk neon-noir atmosphere, players are given crime-solving tech to track down a serial killer targeting the elites who have found a way to cheat death. Branching dialogue choices help to shape character interactions and how the game ends for you, but it's the questions about transhumanism that'll stay with you by the time you roll credits on this somber mystery. See on Steam Katana Zero $9 (was $15) Another action game where you're only a single blow away from death, Katana Zero balances that intense race through meat grinder gauntlets with cunning time-manipulation gameplay and lightning-fast encounters. It's also a looker, as the neo-noir pixel art style--combined with the awesome synth soundtrack--keeps you on your toes and sweating as you attempt to nail a perfect run. See on Steam

Title: All Phasmophobia Easter Eggs And Secrets Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2026 17:49:43 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/all-phasmophobia-easter-eggs-and-secrets/ Phasmophobia is full of spooky, funny, and downright weird easter eggs that ghost hunters should keep an eye out for. From props that reference classic horror movies like The Ring and Friday the 13th to hidden pieces of lore and nods to popular Phasmophobia streamers, there are plenty of secrets for eagle-eyed players to uncover on select maps. After all, ghost hunting doesn’t have to be scary all of the time. While finding many of these secrets offers you nothing but sheer joy, there are two main map easter eggs that present you with a series of head-scratching puzzles. However, if you manage to solve them, you’re rewarded with a special ID Card and Badge. So, below, we break down all the hidden references and secrets to look out for in Phasmophobia, and how to solve the Point Hope and Nell’s Diner easter eggs so you can claim your nifty prizes. In This Article All easter eggs in PhasmophobiaFriday the 13th's Jason maskSlender ManThe Ring TVCorpse under the cabinThe Blair Witch Project stick figurePotato with a face Ridgeview basement photosWillow Street's catsJojo was hereWerewolf howlThe O'Bake OffDeveloper pet platesAttic postersLilith the spiderScore 666 in basketballBathroom engravingsSaw toilet heartBloody MaryNautical flag warningDemon Dog posterBurning the crucifixHow to solve the Nell's Diner Ghost in the Machine easter eggHow to solve the Point Hope Ferryman of the Drowned easter egg All easter eggs in Phasmophobia Friday the 13th's Jason mask Jason Voorhees is a staple at any spooky campsite. Phasmophobia's Maple Lodge Campsite features the most easter eggs of all the maps, and many of the game's coolest, with several referencing classic horror movies. If you walk to the end of the pier near the lodge house and look in the water, after a few seconds, a hockey mask similar to the one Jason Voorhees wears in the Friday the 13th movies will appear. This references how Jason drowned in the water at Camp Crystal Lake before returning for his revenge on unsuspecting camp counselors years later--fitting for a campsite map. Slender Man Ever feel like you're being watched? Because you probably are. This easter egg can be found in the Maple Lodge Campsite and Camp Woodwind maps. If you look into the woods surrounding the campsite, you may spot the familiar--and unwelcome--figure of Slender Man: a pale-faced, thin, and unnaturally supernatural figure wearing a suit. Slender Man is a fictional character that originated as a creepypasta meme, but has now become a digital urban legend. Slender Man won’t always appear, but make sure to check the forest for him, particularly around the area the van is parked, each time you play these maps. The Ring TV You don't even need to insert the VHS tape. Another horror movie reference in the Maple Lodge Campsite can be found in the main lodge near the pier. Enter the lodge using the key found on the ‘Welcome’ mat outside, and find the TV in the corner of the ground floor. Turn the TV on using the remote control on the coffee table. The TV screen will turn on, but be fuzzy, and then the phone in the lodge will begin to ring. This is a reference to The Ring (Ringu), in which, after watching a supernatural videotape, characters receive a phone call telling them they’ll die in seven days. Corpse under the cabin You might need a Tier 3 flashlight for this one. Leave the lodge with The Ring easter egg in it, and turn right to follow the cabin around to a fence, next to a gap under the lodge. Shine a flashlight (ideally Tier 3) under the cabin, angling to the left a bit, and you should see a corpse wrapped in a sheet hidden deep underneath the cabin. The Blair Witch Project stick figure This might be more immersive seen through a video camera. When you enter the Maple Lodge Campsite, turn left before the reception building to enter Campsite A. On the left of the campsite, behind the BBQs, you should see a familiar stick figure hanging. This is a Twana,  a humanoid stick figure that is the symbol of the Blair Witch, from the classic horror movie The Blair Witch Project. Potato with a face  Let's start with the weird potato with a face. This item can be found in two places. The easiest place to find it is Tanglewood, where it's hidden in the kitchen, in the right-side cupboard under the counter with the spilled grocery bag on it. You can also find it in Sunny Meadows, in the Bake House, in the top oven, the second in from the left. The potato face is a reference to Phasmophobia streamer PsychoHypnotic, who used to use the potato filter regularly. When you drop the potato, it makes the same sound as his Twitch alert. Ridgeview basement photos Kinetic Games HQ isn't far from the New Forest. In the basement of 10 Ridgeview Court, you may spot a board covered in photographs. The photos were taken by Jack Skinner, Kinetic Games' art lead, and are of the New Forest in the U.K., close to the developer's headquarters in Southampton. Willow Street's cats If only ghosthunters had nine lives too. The reworked Willow Street map features many cat-themed items, including cat toys, climbing frames, and a hidden Schrödinger-esque cat in a laundry hamper in the closet (that may or may not actually exist). In the art room of the house, you can find a wall in the corner behind the door featuring many cat sketches and photographs. These cats all belong to members of the Kinetic Games team. In addition, Willow Street is named after Willow, the late cat of Kinetic Games art director Corey Dixon (cjdxn). Jojo was here An easy-to-miss streamer reference. In the main Phasmophobia lobby, walk over to the Event Board and look at the table below the board. On the front-right side of the table (closest to the filing cabinet) is etched text that reads: “JOJO WAS HERE.” This is a reference to Twitch streamer JOJOsaysbreee. Werewolf howl It's not just ghosts that lurk around Bleasdale. When using a Parabolic Microphone on the Bleasdale Farmhouse map, you may hear a werewolf howl. This is rare and doesn’t always occur. The O'Bake Off Wonder if it's written by Bloody Mary Berry? Another Bleasdale Farmhouse easter egg can be found in the kitchen. On the counter, next to a sign that lists groceries, you can find an ‘O’Bake Off’ cookbook that references one of Phasmophobia’s ghosts, the Obake, and The Great British Bake Off (also known as The Great British Baking Show in the U.S.), a British television baking competition. Developer pet plates The Kinetic Games team loves to include their pets in Phasmoiphobia. In Bleasdale Farmhouse, go to the pink tea room and look at the pet plates in the corner. The pet pictures are of real-life pets of Kinetic Games developers. Attic posters I can't wait to see The Poltergeists in August. Another one in Bleasdale Farmhouse. Go up to the attic and through the beaded door to enter the purple attic room. On the wall opposite the entrance, you’ll find posters that reference Phasmophobia maps, ghosts, and elements, including a festival poster featuring bands such as “Edgefield,” “Jinn,” and “Sanity Drain.” Lilith the spider Keep an eye out for Lilith in the attic. In Bleasdale Farmhouse, in the same room as the posters, you’ll find three terrariums, each with a photograph of a spider and its name. Except the photograph that’s meant to be on one of the terrariums (of “Lilith”) has fallen below. Lilith has managed to get free, and you can find her wandering around the attic if you look closely enough. Score 666 in basketball Only 666 shots to go. This is a tricky one. When you score 666 (the number of the beast) baskets in the basketball minigame in the lobby, lightning will strike. You can track the number using the scoreboard. Bathroom engravings They're more than simple graffiti. In Camp Woodwind, go to the bathroom building next to the generator. On the outside of the building, you’ll see names etched into the wood that refer to the beta team. Saw toilet heart This heart will look familiar to fans of the Saw films. Another easter egg you can find in Camp Woodwind is inside the bathroom building. Go into the bathroom and open the second cubicle to find a toilet with a white heart drawn on the water tank. This is a reference to the first Saw film, in which the heart indicated where Adam and Gordon would find the hacksaws needed to escape Jigsaw’s trap. Bloody Mary You don't actually need the mirror for this easter egg. Bloody Mary is an urban legend that involves a person chanting “Bloody Mary” three times in a mirror to summon a spirit. However, in Phasmophobia, you don’t need a mirror; say “Bloody Mary” three times with voice chat on, and it will anger the ghost. Nautical flag warning Maybe you should heed the warning. In the child's bedroom in Point Hope, nautical flags are hanging. These are alphabet nautical flags, with each corresponding to a different letter. If you translate the flags in the bedroom from left to right, they spell out “GET OUT.” Demon Dog poster Not just a fictional movie poster. In Nell’s Diner, players can find a Demon Dog film poster in the main diner, next to the doorway leading to the vending machines. This is a reference to a Phasmophobia pre-release feature that was axed: dead players would be chased by a demon dog and could be revived if they outran the hellish canine. In addition, the diner features posters, signs, and license plates that reference other elements of Phasmophobia. For example, many of the license plates feature the names of ghosts, like the Wraith and Banshee. Burning the crucifix She can't hurt you, but she'll definitely scare you. This requires the Summoning Circle cursed object to spawn in the chapel in Sunny Meadows. If it does, use an Igniter to light all the candles, and the large crucifix in the chapel will burst into flame. Simultaneously, a woman in a white patient's gown will appear. She can’t hurt you, but she may give you the fright of your life. This ghost is known by players as Patient 07; you can also find her body in the Morgue. In addition, if you use a UV light in one of the padded rooms in the Hospital Wing, you can see tally marks and bloody handprints on the door. Players believe this room belonged to the mysterious Patient 07. How to solve the Nell's Diner Ghost in the Machine easter egg Nell’s Diner is one of two maps that features an easter egg that, when solved, rewards you. To solve this easter egg, follow these steps (and make sure to take a UV Light with you): Turn on the fuse box and go to the Manager’s Office. Locate the safe behind the manager’s desk. Shine a UV torch on the Post-it note that reads “Reminder” on the notice board above the safe. You’ll see three arrows: down, up, and left. You need to find these arrows around the diner for the safe code. To identify the first number, find the arrow traffic sign near the diner’s entrance; it points down toward the ‘4’ in the Banshee license plate. The first number is therefore 4. Next, go out the front of the diner and look for the arrow in the sand below the diner’s big road sign. The arrow points toward a piece of metal that looks like a ‘1,’ so the next number is 1. To get the final number, go to the bins near the side door to the diner. Underneath the electric box beside the blue bin is a graffiti-ed ‘5’, pointed to by an arrow next to a pallet by the bins. This is the last number. Go to the safe again and enter the code. The safe will open to reveal a credit card; pick it up. Take the card to the ATM near the vending machines in the bathroom hallway. Insert the card into the machine to get a dollar. Use the dollar on the Mr. Sprinkles machine by the ATM; this causes a coin to drop onto the floor; pick it up. Take the coin to the staff room (next to the Manager’s office) and use the coin on the arcade machine. A specter-like skeleton will emerge from the arcade machine and fly outside, before becoming huge and towering over the diner. When the skeleton appears, you have completed the easter egg and have unlocked the Ghost in the Machine ID Card and badge. How to solve the Point Hope Ferryman of the Drowned easter egg Point Hope also features an easter egg that, upon solving, rewards you with a unique ID Card and badge. Follow these steps to claim it (and make sure you take a UV light with you): Go up the stairs until you reach the room with the pool table (fourth floor). By the stairs that go up, you’ll see a trio of seashell pictures, each a different color: green, blue, and orange/red. You need to drop the pool table’s corresponding colored balls into one of the table’s holes in the order of the pictures: green first, then blue, then the solid bright orange (the one that almost looks red). If you do it correctly, you’ll hear a click and a key will now sit in the (previously empty) slot on the side of the pool table closest to the fireplace. Take the key. Go up the stairs until you reach the small room with the ‘Automatic Machine’ warning sign, the one above the room with the rocking horse (and occasionally Monkey Paw) on the work table. Turn right, and you’ll find a locked cabinet next to a yellow cloth. You can now open it with the key. Inside, you’ll find a small cog and a slot where another, larger cog should be. You now need to find it. Go down one floor to the rocking horse room, and look to the left of the worktable. You’ll find a yellow cog leaning against a cabinet, beside a broom and a spilled can of enamel. Pick it up. Go back upstairs and insert the cog in the gap in the cabinet; the cogs will then begin to turn. Head downstairs and out the lighthouse’s front door. To your left, you’ll see a bell. Interact with the bell three times at a medium pace until you hear an odd, fire-like noise. If it doesn’t work, try ringing it faster or slower. Go all the way to the top of the lighthouse and onto the balcony. If you look down below, on one of the beaches, “UV” is spelled out with rocks. Go back inside through the door, and shine your UV light on the lighthouse light until it turns light purple. Go back onto the balcony, and you’ll hear underwater sounds. If you shine your UV light around, you will see the greenish silhouettes of drowned spirits. And that's it; you've completed the Point Hope easter egg and will be rewarded with the Ferryman of the Drowned ID Card and badge

Title: Spider-Man: Brand New Day Wins Over Hideo Kojima, Then Conquers The Box Office Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2026 12:50:25 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/spider-man-brand-new-day-wins-over-hideo-kojima-then-conquers-the-box-office/ Spider-Man: Brand New Day came out swinging at the box office on the weekend, as the new Spidey movie took in a Hulk-sized $927 million at the global box office. In the US, the domestic box office take clocked in at an impressive $355 million, which works out to 38.3% of the opening weekend haul. Once again starring Tom Holland as the webhead, Spider-Man: Brand New Day earned the biggest opening of the year so far--and by a comfortable margin when compared to other 2026 blockbusters like The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. In the US, it opened in 4,487 theaters. Update: Final ticket sales data has just come in, with Sony confirming that Spider-Man: Brand New Day made $360 million on its opening weekend. The new figure now gives Brand New Day the largest domestic opening weekend in history, with Avengers: Endgame dropping to second place. It's also comfortably ahead of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, that other movie featuring Brand New Day stars Holland, Zendaya, and Jon Bernthal. The new Marvel movie is doing well on the critical front, as GameSpot's sister site Metacritic has recorded a "generally favorable" metascore of 66 for the film from 56 reviews. Legendary game director and cinephile Hideo Kojima also found time to go watch it, and on his social media account, he commented on the film's themes of loneliness and isolation. "A lonely hero. A lonely Spidey. A lonely Peter Parker," Kojima wrote. "It felt fresh, and I really enjoyed it. Genuine, heartfelt filmmaking is becoming increasingly challenging. Because of that, this is a film that puts the 'Brand' in 'Brand New Day' to the test, as part of a blockbuster franchise that simply cannot afford to fail." While the movie does examine emotional withdrawal and self-imposed seclusion, it also features some inspiration from Insomniac's Spider-Man games. The new "Fresh Start" suit was added to Marvel's Spider-Man 2 last month, and director Destin Daniel Cretton also spoke about how the game's high-energy combat finishers made their way into the movie. All Spider-Man 2 Suits And How To Get Them View Images

Title: Xbox Price Hikes Are Now In Effect Worldwide Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2026 16:19:14 +0000 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-price-hikes-are-now-in-effect-worldwide/ Buying a new Xbox just got a lot more expensive in the US, Europe, and UK. The previously announced Xbox Series X|S price hikes are now in effect as of August 1, and people should expect to pay significantly more. In the US, all 512GB Xbox models went up by $100, while the 1 TB systems are now $150 more expensive. All 2 TB models are discontinued. You can see all the new US prices below, and prices for other regions further down (via VGC). Xbox Series S 512GB - $500 Xbox Series S 1TB - $600 Xbox Series X 1TB digital edition - $750 Xbox Series X 1TB with disc drive - $800 In Europe, the cheapest new Xbox--the 512GB Xbox Series S--is going up from €350 to €500. The system originally launched in 2020 at €300, so it's gone up by €200 since then. The 1TB Xbox Series S is now going for €600 (was €400). Moving on to the Xbox Series X, the 1TB digital model is now €750 (was €550), while the 1TB disc version is a whopping €800 (was €600). That's the most expensive edition, and it works out to about $920 USD. Xbox consoles are now more expensive globally. The UK is seeing Xbox price hikes, too, where the cheapest Xbox--the 512GB Xbox Series S--is now going for £430 (was £300). The highest-end version, the 1TB disc version of the Xbox Series X, is now selling for £670 (was £500). Microsoft previously raised prices in October 2025. The company said it hoped another increase would not be necessary, but "console storage and memory prices have increased by more than 2.5x, and we expect another doubling by the fall of 2027." A report from Windows Central said Microsoft was losing $150 per console sold. Microsoft, along with Sony and Nintendo, are set to receive tariff refunds, and none of the companies have announced any plans to return any money to consumers who paid more. Beyond the tariff-related impacts, the ongoing AI-fueled memory and component shortages are expected to continue, and another Xbox price hike could come in 2027. In response to the new, higher prices for Xbox consoles, Microsoft rolled out new Buy Now, Pay Later and 0% APR financing options. Microsoft also sells certified refurbished Xbox consoles for lower prices. As for other consoles, the PS5 got its latest price hike this past April, while the Switch 2 is getting a price increase in September.

Title: More Pokémon Pokopia DLC and update news revealed Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2026 19:27:20 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/pokmon-pokopia-has-new-anti-motion-sickness-features-coming-for-ditto-divers/ Pokémon Pokopia receives the first stage of its three-part expansion pass, Bubbly Basin, this Wednesday. Fans are beyond excited to dive back into the game, especially now that they get to go below the surface and explore the depths of the ocean.

Title: Everything you need to know for Fields of Mistria 1.0 launch week Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2026 19:00:12 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/fields-of-mistria-launch-week/ If you’ve played Harvest Moon or are looking for a Stardew-like with shades of Zelda and a ‘90s-inspired, Sailor Moon aesthetic, this is it. Fields of Mistria is a $14 farming and life-simulation RPG created by the independent team at NPC Studio. It’s been in early access for two years, and now the full game is launching on Steam on Aug. 5.

Title: Street Fighter 6 players furious about latest update as new character Yasmine is released Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2026 18:58:14 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/street-fighter-6-balance-patch-players-furious-yasmine-released/ Street Fighter 6 just got its long-awaited Aug. 3 update, and the fan response has not been pretty. The short version is that the patch barely shakes up the game’s core systems, while making strange nerf and buff decisions for much of the roster.

Title: Pokémon Center update could change everything for 30th anniversary pre-orders Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2026 18:27:35 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/pokemon-center-security-check-change-captcha-upc-price-preorder-drop/ Trading card game fans have spent the last few weeks feeling anxious, as The Pokémon Center slowly doles out new waves of 30th anniversary pre-orders. So far, the prevalence of bots programmed to make lightning-fast purchases while collectors wait for hours has made every drop a miserable affair. Much of the time, scalpers clean out the best products before most people can even load the page. But now, The Pokémon Company might finally be putting an end to that nightmare.

Title: Love and Deepspace Valko furor leads to game's worst month ever Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2026 18:17:07 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/love-and-deepspace-just-had-its-worst-month-ever/ Since it was released in 2024, romance gacha game Love and Deepspace has been a massive hit for developer and publisher Papergames. It's been hugely popular with its devoted player base, who have been more than happy to shell out real-world money on its digital heartthrobs — until last month. New data shows Love and Deepspace's revenue has hit an all-time low, and it's likely due to the biggest controversy the game has faced.

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: 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: Silent Hill: Townfall hands-on report Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2026 07:00:24 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/07/29/silent-hill-townfall-hands-on-report/ The line between supernatural horrors and the psychological struggles of characters is often blurred between Silent Hill games, but it might never have been as hazy as it is in Silent Hill: Townfall. I recently played about four hours of the first-person survival-horror game, in which protagonist Simon finds himself in a foggy Scottish town full of horrors, but seemingly can’t quite make out what’s real and what’s only in his mind. My preview began at the start of Townfall, with Simon apparently responding to a letter asking him to return to the mysterious town of St. Amelia. One moment it appears Simon is drifting towards the dock aboard a boat. The next, he bursts out of the water and pulls himself ashore as if he’s just awoken there. The details of Simon’s arrival to St. Amelia seems intentionally ambiguous. He sets off into St. Amelia, trying to find out what’s going on, but it seems to be abandoned. As you make your way down the city streets, he hears shouting and sees flashes, implying there’s a protest or a riot — only to discover the town square is empty of people. Is Simon hallucinating, or are dark forces leading him on in St. Amelia? It’s impossible to say, especially after Simon answers a ringing pay phone and hears a cryptic voice pushing him to find a woman named Zoe. He’s suddenly transported into an underground structure hued in red light, which indicates it as part of Silent Hill’s twisted version of the real world, known as the Otherworld. Exploring the structure leads Simon, impossibly, to an apartment, where you discover the hand-held TV that is Townfall’s most important item. Tuning signals on the TV provides hints about how to solve puzzles, and you’ll need it to access an elevator that somehow returns you to the streets of St. Amelia. A foggy past As writer and director Jon McKellen explained, the puzzles you’ll face in Townfall are also direct hints about the story. The signals you find on the CRTV are directly related to St. Amelia’s and Zoe’s pasts, providing clues about who she was and where she might have gone. Visiting Zoe’s empty apartment reveals that she’s a nurse, leading to the clinic where she worked. A set of three scales sits in her office, each awaiting an object that was important to her — but which she felt symbolized her failures, which led her to disappear from her job. In Zoe’s apartment, you find her ID badge, and in the nearby pharmacy, you can find a prescription Zoe ordered, but discover that she mistakenly called in the wrong dosage. When you make your way to the apartment of Zoe’s coworker, you collect her medical bag with a broken stethoscope inside, the symbol of her inability to truly hear her patients. Zoe’s story is inextricably linked with that of the town, which seemed to have suffered some sort of medical outbreak, and with Simon, even though he doesn’t know who she is. Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. This town is full of monsters Townfall is the first Silent Hill game in which you’ll fight creatures in first-person, and compared to other recent titles like Silent Hill 2 or Silent Hill f, the change in perspective makes for some harrowing moments. A third-person camera makes it a little more viable to potentially dodge attacks and move around enemies, but in first-person, your options narrow to facing the threat head-on, or making a run for it. That adds an intensity to every battle, especially since it can be easy for Simon to get overwhelmed. While following in Zoe’s footsteps, Simon learns that St. Amelia isn’t completely empty. Marauding the streets are faceless, writhing creatures, wrapped in industrial straps and sporting axe blades for faces. Luckily, you can sometimes find pieces of wood to use as clubs to defend yourself, although these aren’t plentiful. If a monster sees you and attacks, you can block its vicious charges and swings with your melee weapon by holding L2. The trick is then to strike back with R2 when you see an opening. But combat is fast and frenetic, and enemies don’t go down easily. What’s more, your makeshift club can only survive the onslaught for a couple of battles. Combat in Townfall is only something to resort to if you have no other choice. A much better option is to avoid enemies altogether. Turning the CRTV to certain signals allows you to see monsters through walls and fog, and you can duck behind walls, cars, and fences gives you a chance to stay out of sight. Hold L1, and you can peek over or around objects to see what’s awaiting you. If something does spot you and give chase, the town has small spaces like closets, sheds, and half-opened doors where you can duck in and hopefully hide yourself until the danger passes. Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. A later section of the preview, in which the Otherworld invades the streets, sends you through the yards and alleys of a neighborhood. Here, I faced a new type of creature, which fires vicious tentacles from its chest to attack at range, or can grab and overpower you almost instantly, especially if your health is low. Verify your age to view this content. Verify your age to view this content. Luckily, I also had a new weapon: a revolver. It might be more of a liability than a real defense, though. The gun is powerful but incredibly loud, and while it was good for quickly killing enemies, it always made the situation worse by drawing more. It also reloads slowly when you hit Square as Simon presses each cartridge into the cylinder individually. Stealth is, again, the best option here, and you can pick up small objects like bottles and bricks to throw as distractions, or use machines you come across, such as radios or TVs, to draw an enemy away so you can slip around them. A PS5 Pro-enhanced experience Townfall channels an uncanny realism in St. Amelia, thanks to making heavy use of the PS5’s features. Its visuals are enhanced by the PS5 Pro, and it leans on aspects of the DualSense controller to create a singular experience. The game uses a 2.35:1 aspect ratio to create a cinematic experience, and sports both a 30FPS Quality setting and 60FPS Performance setting. The developers at Screen Burn visited and photographed real coastal towns in Scotland in order to recreate their look and feel, and Townfall uses PS5 Pro’s upgraded PSSR to create a town that looks incredibly realistic at high resolution. Ray tracing to create hauntingly beautiful environments, whether they’re full of fog in the regular world, or bathed in oppressive red light in the Otherworld. Haptics feedback with the DualSense controller adds a lot of intensity to combat, from the smash of a wood plank against an enemy, to the blast of blocking a counter-attack. Townfall also makes use of the DualSense’s gyroscope for certain controls, making them feel more tactile. With motion controls enabled, when you use the CRTV to hunt for signals in radios or other devices, you’ll need to physically move and twist the controller to tune in. You can also use motion controls with firearms, moving the whole controller to carefully adjust your aim and land headshots at key moments. Though my time with Silent Hill: Townfall left me with plenty of questions and a lot of mysteries, its twisting psychological machinations captured exactly what I like about the series. Its emphasis on tough combat and stealth mechanics also give it plenty of ways to make you jump out of your seat. You can try to keep your cool when Silent Hill: Townfall launches on September 24 on PlayStation 5.

Title: Ball x Pit final update The Naturalist arrives August 6 Date: Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:00:14 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/07/28/ball-x-pit-final-update-the-naturalist-arrives-august-6/ Hello PlayStation Blog community! I’m back for the last time (…maybe) to share what to expect in the latest and final, free Ball x Pit update. Titled The Naturalist Update, players can expect more of what they love when it releases next week on August 6 and I’m here to share a brand new trailer, gameplay clips, and give you some content details of what to expect in the next update. Play Video To give a little backstory, it turns out we couldn’t stop making content for this game. We had a little breathing room before release and a pile of ideas we didn’t want to waste, so we honestly just… kept going. Which would explain all of that extra chaos making its way to you as free content. We’ve been so excited to see what new ball combinations the community has been cooking up after each and every update, tuning into your videos and content on social channels has been amazing. So for that, we thank you! 2 new characters Players of Ball x Pit: The Naturalist Update will come across two new unlockable characters, each with opposite personalities. The Ballbearer doubles down on firepower (literally), giving you double the amount of ball slots to build an arsenal at the cost of giving up passive items entirely. The Hoary Hoarder takes the opposite approach, lugging around an oversized backpack stuffed with gear. They only have room for two ball slots, but make up for it with twice as many passive slots, letting powerful item Evolutions do the heavy lifting. 11 New Balls Lightning Bug lights up the battlefield by spawning a firefly with every bounce. Each one seeks out the strongest enemy before zapping nearby targets with a burst of lightning. Mosquito Kingdom slowly builds a buzzing swarm, spawning one or two mosquitoes whenever it hits an enemy. The mosquitoes hunt down the weakest target on the field, dealing between 100-150 damage with each attack, and if one lands the killing blow, well, you simply recover a small amount of health back. Drill tears through enemies from behind, piercing straight through them and dealing extra damage along the way. Flesh starts off weak, dealing only half damage, but it rapidly increases in speed with every bounce until it becomes a blur tearing across the screen. Armageddon calls down a destructive meteor shower the moment it hits an enemy. The first impact marks the target, then flaming meteors rain across the area, dealing heavy damage to every enemy caught within a three-tile radius. 5 New Passives Platinum Dumbbell rewards clean shots, giving your balls a damage boost that lasts until they finally collide with the back wall. Inglorious Hammer keeps the pressure on after a bounce, causing balls that hit a wall or the back of the arena to immediately strike a random enemy for reduced damage. Remote Detonator turns every kill into another explosive opportunity. Whenever an enemy goes down, it spawns a level 1 Bomb Ball whenever an enemy dies, keeping the chain reaction going and filling the battlefield with even more booms. ..aaand of course there’s more that we don’t want to spoil! The team and I appreciate your time for reading and all the support surrounding the game since launch, and we hope you’re excited as we are to finally jump into the final free content update! Ball x Pit: The Naturalist Update will be available for all PS5 players next week on August 6.

Title: Samsung, who've been accused of worsening the RAM crisis via price fixing, reckon components will only get more expensive in 2027 Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2026 16:22:35 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/samsung-whove-been-accused-of-worsening-the-ram-crisis-via-price-fixing-reckon-components-will-only-get-more-expensive-in-2027 Samsung have become the latest company to declare that the ongoing memory crisis isn't going away or getting better any time soon. The chip makers think the RAM shortage will only get worse in 2027 and supply of the tech won't stop being squeezed until 2028 at the earliest. Read more

Title: Tongue your friends in Big Hops Together, the froggy platformer's new eight player co-op update, which was inspired by Mario mods Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2026 16:19:55 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/tongue-your-friends-in-big-hops-together-the-froggy-platformers-new-eight-player-co-op-update-which-was-inspired-by-mario-mods Big Hops is the cool 3D platform game with the frog who can use their tongue as a grappling hook. Despite much questing and fervent prayer, I have yet to encounter a frog that can do this in reality. Real-life frogs are a slothful, unimaginative bunch, content to use their tongues purely to catch food with. Some frogs, like the African dwarf frog, don't even have tongues at all. What foul sorcery is here! It's just as well, then, that we have Big Hops, which is being updated with the ability to play through the whole campaign in eight player co-op. With eight frogs in the field, the tactical applications of tongues multiply exponentially. You can tongue items right out of your friend's backpack! You can tether yourself to another frog like in Chained Together, but with the option of letting go before your mate walks you into a laser! The developers, Luckshot Games, are calling the update Big Hops Together. It's available right now in beta, with the official release coming 9th August. Read more

Title: Capcom are reworking Dragon’s Dogma 2's infamous Dragonsplague so you can "enjoy the strategic decisions we originally envisioned" for it Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2026 15:43:40 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/capcom-are-reworking-dragons-dogma-2s-infamous-dragonsplague-so-you-can-enjoy-the-strategic-decisions-we-originally-envisioned-for-it I know full well that pally RPG Dragon’s Dogma 2 has its Dark Arisen expansion out this year. Still, two years and one megalo-DLC announcement after release, what I still find most fascinating about it is the Dragonsplague: an insidious affliction that quietly infects your mates (or Pawns, whatever) and heightens their fighting prowess, but if left untreated, can induce a bescaled hissy fit that will kill the entire population of your favourite NPC village. Overtuned, ill-communicated bullshit, or laudably bold application of arrogance-punishing friction? These days I lean the latter, but still, what an interesting mechanic that I can think about it on and off since 2024. Capcom, meanwhile, always seemed to play the hedging game, patching in various tweaks and tunings to Dragonsplague in an attempt to placate both camps. The game’s Title Update 3.2, due in late August (ahead of Dark Arisen on October 9th), appears to come down further on the 'Angry fire virus can be fun, actually' side - though according to a Q&A with producer Naoto Oyama and expansion director Kento Kinoshita, these upcoming changes will bring Dragonsplague more in line with Capcom’s original vision for it. Read more

Title: Fantasy RTS Flow of War is an immediately moreish blend of worker herding, fortress building, and 90s-style visuals Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/fantasy-rts-flow-of-war-is-an-immediately-moreish-blend-of-worker-herding-fortress-building-and-90s-style-visuals My workers in Flow of War are tireless and uncomplaining, labouring away silently in the face of all adversity. Nonetheless, I can feel their seething irritation when I plant my fortress layout awry. Flow of War is a "classic RTS" with an economic element that mostly runs itself. You conjure a bunch of minions from your town hall, pop down templates for cropfields, forges, wells, and suchlike, and watch as your drudges get on with the building and resource-gathering. Where you can contribute is in laying out those structures in an efficient way, so that your serfs accomplish as much as possible before the timer runs down and you have to fend off a fresh wave of attackers, emerging from hellportals around the map. After 30 minutes with the demo, I have mostly learned what not to do. Read more

Title: AMD graphics card price hikes are reportedly following Nvidia's, as the AI-fuelled RAM shortage continues to set wallets alight Date: Mon, 03 Aug 2026 14:27:04 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/amd-graphics-card-price-hikes-are-reportedly-following-nvidias-as-the-ai-fuelled-ram-shortage-continues-to-set-wallets-alight Yep, RAMnarök ain't going away. The ongoing memory crisis isn't getting better. It's far too busy continuing to fuel hikes in the prices of memory-dependent hardware like graphics cards with AMD reportedly having joined Nvidia on the list of firms raising how much they're charging for GPUs. Read more