Title: One Of The Last Surviving Writers On The Original Star Trek Is Returning As Part Of A New, Massive 60th Anniversary Comic Date: Tue, 19 May 2026 22:20:06 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/star-trek-60th-anniversary-comic-idw-original-series-writer-tribbles-special-paramount-picard-2000697531 David Gerrold, who wrote the episode 'The Trouble with Tribbles,' is one of many writers and artists working on the upcoming IDW anthology book

Title: Plex Burns Through Any Remaining Goodwill By Raising The Price Of Its Lifetime Subscription By $500 Date: Tue, 19 May 2026 22:05:32 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/plex-burns-through-any-remaining-goodwill-by-raising-the-price-of-its-lifetime-subscription-500-2000697583 Starting in July, Plex Pass lifetime subscriptions will cost $750

Title: Yoshi And The Mysterious Book Reviews Make It Sound Perfect For People Going Into It With The Right Level Of Curiosity Date: Tue, 19 May 2026 21:30:26 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/yoshi-and-the-mysterious-book-reviews-make-it-sound-perfect-for-people-going-into-it-with-the-right-level-of-curiosity-2000697519 Breezy and charming, the latest Switch 2 exclusive could be the best new Yoshi game in years

Title: Hironobu Sakaguchi Shares His Surprise At Everyone Hating On Final Fantasy 6 Remake AI Slop Date: Tue, 19 May 2026 21:00:58 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/hironobu-sakaguchi-shares-his-surprise-at-everyone-hating-on-final-fantasy-6-remake-ai-slop-2000697526 He followed up his tweet praising an AI-generated fan trailer for a Final Fantasy VI remake with AI-sloppified work of his own

Title: Hasbro Kills Star Wars Jedi Director’s Dungeons & Dragons Game Just One Year After Announcing It Date: Tue, 19 May 2026 20:44:16 +0000 Link: https://kotaku.com/hasbro-kills-star-wars-jedi-directors-dungeons-dragons-game-just-one-year-after-announcing-it-2000697552 Stig Asmussen's studio is no longer developing a big single-player action game set in the fantasy universe

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

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

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

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

Title: Petit Planet preview: HoYoverse's first foray into family-friendly games is very careful to colour within the lines Date: Thu, 30 Apr 2026 14:38:34 +0000 Link: https://www.vg247.com/petit-planet-preview-hoyoverses-first-foray-into-family-friendly-games-is-very-careful-to-colour-within-the-lines This isn't a complaint, but I can't help but feel like every new game I pick up at the moment is Animal Crossing. Heartopia? Animal Crossing. Pokopia? Animal Crossing. Tomodachi Life? You guessed it, Animal Crossing! I am unashamedly one of those people who thinks the gaming landscape of the 2020s peaked early when New Horizons gently shepherded us all through lockdown, so perhaps I shouldn't be surprised that – now that we're well past the midpoint of the decade, I hate to remind you – a bunch of studios have come to the same conclusion, and either spun up their own take on the idea, or repurposed an existing IP to include more Animal Crossing-like elements. Read more

Title: This Awesome Xbox Controller Is 60% Off For A Limited Time Date: Tue, 19 May 2026 16:17:00 -0700 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/power-a-advantage-wired-controller-deal/1100-6540010/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f PowerA Advantage Wired Controller for Xbox Series X|S Starts at $10 with first-time customer bonus coupon (was $50) See at Woot With video game controller prices higher than ever before, many gamers are hoping to find a deal when they're in the market to buy one--and Woot has a terrific deal on a PowerA model for the next few days, slashing the price from $50 to just $20. You can save even more by using coupon code CONTROL at checkout, which cuts an additional $5 off the price--or, even better, if you're a new Woot customer, you can create a free account and use the coupon code, which cuts $10 off the order. That means you can get this PowerA pad for just $10. Note that the coupon code is only valid through May 22. Since Woot is owned by Amazon, you also get free standard shipping if you're an Amazon Prime member (and that goes for all your orders, not just this one). Another neat perk you get as a Prime member is free express shipping anytime you buy a Woot t-shirt, so you won't have to wait long to wear your new loot. PowerA Advantage Wired Controller for Xbox Series X|S Starts at $10 with first-time customer bonus coupon (was $50) If you prefer your controllers wired and spend a lot of time gaming on Xbox or PC, this is a great controller for you. The PowerA Advantage Wired Controller is licensed by Xbox and is highly customizable thanks to Multi-Zone RGB with four individual lighting zones and three modes, allowing you to set thousands of color combinations. A Built-in IR transmitter also lets you control compatible Lumectra Zone RGB lighting accessories using your controller.In additional to making the controller light up any way you want, this also comes with mappable Advanced Gaming Buttons, Dual Rumble Motors, 3-Way trigger locks, impulse triggers, dual rumble motors, anti-friction rings, and precision-tuned analog sticks, making it both ergonomically pleasing and highly responsive. And if you're worried about having to sit close to the PC or Xbox, don't be: this controller comes with a 10-foot cable, so you'll still be able to sit back and enjoy playing in comfort.This controller is compatible with both Xbox Series and Xbox One, as well as Windows 10 and 11. Woot's deal slashes the price on this controller to $15 by using the code CONTROL at checkout, or $10 if you're new to Woot. You can get that price through May 22 at 11:58 PM CT, but at this price, we don't expect this controller to be in stock for long. Grab it now if you want to take advantage of this low price. See at Woot While the discounts are not as deep as this one, Woot does have some great deals on other video game accessories, including controllers, headsets, cases, and more. These are the ones worth checking out.Woot's Best Gaming Deals8BitDo All-Button Arcade Controller for Switch and Windows -- $60 ($91)8BitDo Controller For Switch/Switch 2 -- $47 ($70)The C64 Mini: Black Edition -- $70 ($120)Controller Gear Xbox Pro Charging Stand -- $15 ($40)CRKD Nitro Deck for Nintendo Switch/OLED -- $35 ($60)GameSir Super Nova Wireless Gaming Controller -- $35 ($60)Hori Wireless Fighting Commander Octa Pro Controller -- $60 ($110)Hori Wireless Horipad Turbo For Switch 2 -- $43 ($65)JLab Talk Pro USB Microphone -- $35 ($149)Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe -- $45 ($60)The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening -- $48 ($60)Metaphor: ReFantazio Launch Edition -- $18 ($70)My Arcade Pac-Man Pixel Pocket Pro -- $20 ($29)Numskull Quarter Arcades Burger Time Mini Arcade Cabinet -- $90 ($250)PowerA Advantage Wired Xbox Series X|S Controller -- $20 ($45)PowerA Enhanced Wireless Switch 2 Controller -- $30 ($60)Raidou: Remastered - The Mystery of the Soulless Army Launch Edition -- $25 ($50)Super Mario Bros. Wonder -- $47 ($60)Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate Deluxe Edition -- $20 ($40)Sign up for GameSpot's Weekly Deals Newsletter:Continue Reading at GameSpot

Title: Best Buy's Memorial Day Sale - Save Up to 75% On Handhelds, Controllers, Games, And More Date: Tue, 19 May 2026 16:00:00 -0700 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/best-buy-memorial-day-gaming-sale-2026/1100-6540016/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f Best Buy's 2026 Memorial Day Sale Now through May 25 See all deals at Best Buy Memorial Day is a week away, but the retail gods know the great majority of folks are ready for a delicious retail therapy session much sooner, so sales are already on. Should you be looking out for good deals on both hardware and games, Best Buy's Memorial Day sale has plenty of both with more than 1,300 products on sale in the gaming category alone. We've broken out some of the best deals in each category for you, so check that out below. The sale runs through May 25, but don't wait to snag what you want, as things do sell out.Nintendo Switch DealsBest Buy has some notable Memorial Day deals on both Switch and Switch 2 games, from indie darlings like Balatro to series mainstays like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.Assassin's Creed Rebel Collection + Assassin's Creed III -- $20 ($30)Balatro -- $20 ($30)Digimon Story: Super Sleuth Complete Edition -- $27.50 ($53)Hello Kitty Island Adventure -- $30 ($40)Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment -- $50 ($70)Just Dance 2026 Edition -- $25 ($50)Lego Horizon Adventures -- $28 ($40)Madden 26 Standard Edition -- $30 ($50)Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree -- $25 ($40)Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics -- $25 ($40)Metroid Prime 4: Beyond -- $40 ($70)Monopoly -- $15 ($30)PGA Tour 2K25 -- $40 ($70)Read Only Memories: Neurodiver -- $25 ($45)Super Mario RPG -- $44 ($60)PlayStation and Xbox DealsMore than 300 games are on sale across the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/Xbox One categories, so if you want to beef up your collection or pick up games you missed, this is a great opportunity to do so.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Title: Crunchyroll's Month-Long Sale Includes Big Deals Anime Blu-Rays Date: Tue, 19 May 2026 15:30:00 -0700 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/crunchyroll-blu-ray-sale/1100-6540025/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f Crunchyroll Two-for-One Anime Sale Score anime for free in this sale See at Crunchyroll Store Nothing beats a well-stocked shelf full of anime Blu-rays, and if you're looking to refresh your collection, then you'll want to check out Crunchyroll's Two-for-One Ani-May Sale. While the brand is known for its massive library of streamable anime, physical media is still a popular option among fans of Japanese animation, and the site is offering hundreds of Blu-rays at a discount as part of the event. Pick three eligible items from the site's shop, and you'll get the lowest-priced item for free in your basket. We've rounded up several great deals below, dividing them between standard Blu-ray releases and collector's edition bundles. See all deals at Crunchyroll Continue Reading at GameSpot

Title: How To Unlock The Bioreactor In Subnautica 2 Date: Tue, 19 May 2026 14:20:00 -0700 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/subnautica-2-bioreactor-scan-location-guide/1100-6540048/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f Do you want to unlock the Bioreactor in Subnautica 2? This massive fixture creates energy for your base, and all you need to do is put a few fibers and fuels to keep it running. That said, you still need to scan a bunch of blueprints for it.Table of Contents [hide]Subnautica 2 base guide - The BioreactorBioreactor fragment #1Subnautica 2 base guide - The BioreactorThe Subnautica 2 Bioreactor can only be unlocked upon scanning three fragments. Several are scattered in the Shallows region, and we've listed a few that we've found in our playthrough. As usual, we encourage you to read our mini-walkthrough, since it gives you an idea as to where you ought to go next for the campaign.Bioreactor fragment #1You're going to stumble upon this Bioreactor fragment sooner or later. That's because it's in the area that gets a marker for the Chap blackbox signal (assuming you're doing the tasks given by the NOA Terminal).Continue Reading at GameSpot

Title: How To Unlock The Thermal Plant In Subnautica 2 Date: Tue, 19 May 2026 14:20:00 -0700 Link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/how-to-unlock-the-thermal-plant-in-subnautica-2/1100-6540047/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f Are you searching for the Thermal Plant in Subnautica 2? This is a viable source of power for your base, but you need to head to a more hazardous area just to obtain it. Our guide has all the details that you need.Table of Contents [hide]Subnautica 2 base guide - The Thermal Plant Subnautica 2 base guide - The Thermal PlantThe Subnautica 2 Thermal Plant is unlocked once you're able to scan two of its fragments. The good news is that a couple of fragments are right next to each other. The bad news is that they're located in a location that's not for the faint of heart.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Title: What time does Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight release in your time zone? Date: Wed, 20 May 2026 04:01:23 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/lego-batman-legacy-of-the-dark-knight-release-time-edt-pdt/ Calling all Batmen, Batwomen, and Batthems: the Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knightrelease time is almost here. The fourth Lego game where Batman is the titular hero (although he's also featured in other Lego games, such as Dimensions and DC Super-Villains), Legacy of the Dark Knight loosely follows the entire Batman movie saga, beginning with young Bruce Wayne in the League of Shadows, before exploring plenty of his classic storylines and battling numerous recognizable foes.

Title: 15 years later, Midnight in Paris remains as relevant as ever Date: Tue, 19 May 2026 23:00:21 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/midnight-in-paris-15th-anniversary-review/ Fifteen years ago, I graduated from college with a literature degree and absolutely no idea what to do with it.

Title: The Super Mario Bros. movie directors head to Netflix Date: Tue, 19 May 2026 21:29:16 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/netflix-super-mario-movie-directors-deal/ Netflix has struck a deal with Michael Jelenic and Aaron Horvath, the directors behind The Super Mario Bros. Movie and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, to develop new content for the streaming service, the company announced Tuesday. The directing duo will develop animated series and films exclusively for Netflix, with first-look rights for live-action projects.

Title: Where to find redjade ginseng in Arknights: Endfield Date: Tue, 19 May 2026 20:31:38 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/arknights-endfield-redjade-ginseng-location-map/ You'll need to find redjade ginseng in Arknights: Endfield in order to make some of the recipes needed for the "Supply: Wuling Super Chef" event. To complete this event and get all the rewards, you just need to bring some prepared food to the Competition Host NPC in Wuling City.

Title: God of War Faye spinoff could answer a major mystery Date: Tue, 19 May 2026 19:16:10 GMT Link: https://www.polygon.com/god-of-war-faye-leak-state-of-play-who-blew-horn/ Months after a leak that claimed a new God of War game was coming, and as Summer Game Fest looms, God of War fans are speculating about what the new entry in the series' Norse saga might entail. One of the more popular theories being bandied about by PlayStation fans is what the new game's rumored protagonist, Faye, might bring to the story — and whether it will finally answer a long-standing God of War mystery: Who blew the horn?

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

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

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

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

Title: No Need for Space Gear — Capcom’s ‘PRAGMATA’ Joins GeForce NOW on Launch Day Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:00:11 +0000 Link: https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/geforce-now-thursday-pragmata/ Head straight for orbit with GeForce NOW — no space helmet required.  PRAGMATA, Capcom’s long-awaited sci-fi action adventure, touches down on GeForce NOW the same day it launches worldwide. The futuristic journey through a cold lunar station in the near future can be streamed instantly from the cloud to almost any device, no console or heavy hardware needed. That’s only the beginning. Five new titles join the cloud this week, expanding April’s gaming galaxy with fresh adventures and endless possibilities.  Plus, the GeForce NOW Ultimate membership comes to gamers in India for the first time, with the service now available in beta and operated by NVIDIA.                Time to see what’s landing on GeForce NOW. A Mission Gone Wrong PRAGMATA is Capcom’s newest sci-fi action adventure that blends heart, high-tech and a hauntingly quiet world set in the near future. Step into the boots of Hugh Williams, an investigator navigating a lunar research station gone silent and Diana, a young android. Armed with an arsenal of weapons and the ability to hack, every corridor and console becomes part of a cinematic experience filled with tense exploration and fast-paced action. The story unfolds amid the cold vacuum of the moon after a massive quake hits the station researching Lunafilament — a material said to be able to create anything given enough data. Awake, injured and disoriented, Hugh crosses paths with Diana, the mysterious android girl known as a Pragmata. Now, they must work together as they face the rogue station on their way back to Earth. PRAGMATA shines in stunning clarity with ray-traced lighting and NVIDIA DLSS 4 technology boosting frame rates and image quality. Stream it on launch day at full fidelity, even without the latest hardware — no need to wait on a large install or worry about hardware specs. Hugh and Diana’s lunar mystery is ready when the moment strikes. Let’s Play Today Heroes in the cloud don’t have to wait for updates. Fortnite: Save the World is now free and ready to stream instantly on GeForce NOW. The storm hits hard and the heroes hit harder — jump into a co-op adventure that mixes base-building, looting and all-out action against waves of Husks. Craft the ultimate fort, set sneaky traps and team up to protect what’s left of the world — no waiting for updates or patches, just pure fight-and-build mayhem. The storm’s closing in, but thanks to the cloud, the party’s jumping right into the action. “Save the World” isn’t available on mobile devices, including tablets. In addition, members can look for the following: REPLACED (New release on Steam and Xbox, available on Game Pass, April 14, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) Windrose (New release on Steam, April 14, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss (New release on Steam, April 16, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) PRAGMATA (New release on Steam, April 16, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) PRAGMATA SKETCHBOOK – DEMO (Steam, GeForce RTX 5080-ready) What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below. You’re loading into a game and can invite ONE person to your squad… Who’s your pick? — NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) April 15, 2026

Title: 007 First Light on PS5 Pro: upgraded PSSR upscaling details Date: Tue, 19 May 2026 14:00:26 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/05/19/007-first-light-on-ps5-pro-upgraded-pssr-upscaling-details/ With the launch of 007 First Light, PlayStation 5 Pro players will experience the game with upgraded PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) enabled by default. Upgraded PSSR is the next-generation, machine-learning-based upscaling technology from Sony Interactive Entertainment, designed to reconstruct a sharper, more stable image from a lower internal resolution, and at IO Interactive, the results spoke for themselves almost immediately. A cleaner, more stable image Upgraded PSSR brings a clear step up in image quality across the world of 007 First Light, from the dense foliage of outdoor environments to the close-up detail of character work in cinematic moments. The improvements are most visible in the kinds of scenes that have traditionally been the hardest for upscalers to handle. Cleaner picture, less flicker and graphic noise Upgraded PSSR substantially reduces shimmering and flickering artifacts, delivering a calmer, more cohesive image, especially in scenes packed with fine geometry and high-frequency detail. Better temporal stability under motion Whether the camera is sweeping through an environment or the player is sprinting between cover, upgraded PSSR holds the image together far more convincingly than before. Moving objects retain their definition instead of breaking up. Sharper reconstruction of hair and fine detail Hair, fabric, and other fine elements are reconstructed with greater clarity, which matters a great deal in a game where character presentation is central to the experience. “Upgraded PSSR gave us a meaningful jump in image quality across the board — cleaner, more stable, and noticeably sharper on the kind of fine detail that’s hardest to get right. It’s a clear upgrade for our PS5 Pro players.” – Henrik Schlichter, Technical Director, IO Interactive A remarkably smooth integration One of the most striking things about upgraded PSSR from a development standpoint was how little work it took to get a great-looking result. Our engineers had the new upscaler integrated in record time, and the output was strong enough out of the box that no per-scene tuning was required across the wide variety of locations and lighting conditions in 007 First Light. “We integrated upgraded PSSR in about a day and were essentially happy with what we saw straight away. No per-scene tuning, no special-case work — it just held up across the whole game. That’s not something we get to say very often about a piece of new tech.” – Jon Rocatis, Principal Render Engineer, IO Interactive Available at launch on PS5 Pro Upgraded PSSR will be the default upscaler on PlayStation 5 Pro for 007 First Light at launch. Players on other platforms will continue to benefit from FSR 3.1.5, which remains our upscaler of choice outside of PS5 Pro. We’re excited for players to experience 007 First Light at its visual best on PS5 Pro, and we’ll keep looking for opportunities to push image quality further as the platform and its tools continue to evolve.

Title: Time travel, trials, and treasure awaits in The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales Date: Mon, 18 May 2026 14:00:08 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/05/18/time-travel-trials-and-treasure-awaits-in-the-adventures-of-elliot-the-millennium-tales/ We’re excited to show you more of the early portion of Elliot and Faie’s adventure in The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, coming to PS5 June 18. At this point in the game, our dynamic duo has teamed up and ventured through a Doorway of Time, granting them access to the Age of Reconstruction, which is 250 years in the past. Play Video You’ll see how the people of this era cling together in a village called Littlehope, eking out an existence with meager resources and defenses. From here, Elliot and Faie will embark into a dangerous world that resembles their home in the Era of Safekeeping, but subtle differences will keep the spark of exploration alive. One of the main attractions in this demo is the Doorway Ruins, located in the eastern section of Philabieldia. This dungeon has it all: platforming, puzzles, plenty of beastmen to do battle with, and treasure to discover. You can even get a powerful new sword for Elliot, which will come in handy when you go to face the dungeon’s formidable boss, the Tag Guardians. In this fight, you’ll have to defeat a Greatsword Guardian and a Great Bow Guardian. The guardians move quickly and aggressively, with the Greatsword Guardian wielding a huge blade with surprising range and the Great Bow Guardian launching shots at you from afar. Elliot has all seven weapon types available to him in this demo, so you can find the strategy that works best for you. With the hammer, for example, Elliot can unleash a devastating charge attack, and with the boomerang, he can deal damage from afar. By changing up Elliot’s magicite setup, you can also find new ways to customize the combat experience to your liking. Faie’s magic will also come in handy as she can help Elliot speedily escape a tricky situation. Speaking of Faie’s abilities, it’s also possible to unlock a new power for her in this demo. By seeking out the Shrine of the Mystic, Faie can learn the Warp ability, which enables Elliot to teleport to her location. This is super useful for solving puzzles and for evading enemy attacks. There’s plenty more for Elliot and Faie to do beyond the Doorway Ruins and Shrine of the Mystic. The pair can freely fast travel to any discovered adventuring guideposts in the two eras unlocked in this demo, so you can check out what secrets the world has to offer. One fun piece of side content we’ve implemented is cat collecting, which is exactly what it sounds like. Throughout the world, you’ll find cats that you can collect on behalf of a cat-fancying traveler. You’ll get various rewards for your efforts, so it’s definitely worth keeping an eye out for any stray felines. When you want to take a break from adventuring, you can also check out Faie’s Magic Lessons, which are fun minigames accessed through the menu. The sprint minigame in particular is a favorite of ours, and it will have you racing down an icy mountain, pursued by an avalanche. Through these minigames, you can unlock records that allow you to listen to the in-game soundtrack. I hope this preview has grabbed your interest. This is just a small look at what the full game has to offer, and we can’t wait for you to embark on your journey with Elliot and Faie when The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales launches on PlayStation 5 on June 18, 2026. To give you a better glimpse of what to expect, we’re excited to share a Q&A with the development team. (Note: All answers are translated from Japanese.) Why did you choose to make this an action RPG rather than a turn-based game?  Tomoya Asano: Through the HD-2D visual style, we first explored the RPG genre with  Octopath Traveler, followed by the strategy genre with Triangle Strategy. Building on that progression, we wanted to reach an even broader, newer audience with this latest entry, which led us to adopt the action RPG genre for this title.  As the development team, what lessons did you learn from other HD-2D games that you applied to this project? Could you tell us about the challenges you faced in incorporating HD-2D into the action gameplay, and how you overcame them? Naofumi Matsushita: The appeal of HD-2D lies in the fact that, by using 3D backgrounds, we can create a sense of depth in the maps and scenery, even though the characters are 2D. The challenge was how to fuse that strength with 2D action gameplay. In pixel-art 2D action games, the entire screen tends to be dominated by the ground of the map. However, that prevents players from feeling the depth of a 3D environment, and the visuals can end up feeling rather dull to users. In this title, particularly in the field areas, we’ve implemented a drum roll technique where the map curves in the background to reveal distant terrain. By applying unique innovations to further maximize the visible range, we’ve created an experience that conveys a sense of depth despite being a 2D action game. We achieved this through careful coordination with the development team, and is a key creative aspect that differs from our previous HD-2D titles. Furthermore, we’ve introduced a unique element—controlling your fairy partner Faie—and added elements to the core battle system that allow players to use their own strategies. Our intention was to let players enjoy traditional fun within a beautiful visual style while also providing a new experience through these unique elements. We achieved this balance by playing the game extensively and refining it day by day. Could you tell us about the development team’s vision for this time-travel action RPG?  Tomoya Asano: Having worked on many RPGs over the years, I’ve come to realize that the past plays a crucial role in storytelling. The idea that if players could actually experience that past led to the creation of a storyline where you travel back through time using the Doorway of Time to explore different eras. So, rather than traveling to every corner of the world, this story focuses on untangling the history of a single nation within a specific region. Naofumi Matsushita: The tagline is derived from, “Hope is always there,” a phrase that appears in the story itself and holds deep significance for us. I’d like players to discover and experience the theme and message for themselves by actually playing the game. And I would love for players to enjoy this thousand year journey as they experience the history of the town and the lives of its people unfold across the four eras. We hope you enjoyed this extended look at The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, and prepare to explore more dungeons and take on giant bosses when the game arrives on June 18 for PS5.

Title: Official PlayStation Podcast Episode 541: Legendary Run Date: Fri, 15 May 2026 17:20:09 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/05/15/official-playstation-podcast-episode-541-legendary-run/ Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com! Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or download here Hey, everybody! Sid, Kristen, and I are back this week to discuss min/maxing runs in Saros, the music and vibes of Mixtape, and other games that’ve been keeping us busy. We also have a special interview about Ghost of Yōtei Legends endgame raids with Sucker Punch Lead Designer Darren Bridges. Stuff We Talked About Next week’s release highlights: Darksiders: Warmastered Edition | PS5 R-Type Dimensions III | PS5 Coffee Talk Tokyo | PS5 Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freeks | PS5 Bubsy 4D | PS5 LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight | PS5 Scuf Omega PS5 controller — Check out the new officially licensed performance controller from Scuf. It features 28 inputs and numerous customization options to cater to a wide variety of gaming preferences. Saros “Finding Carcosa” dev diary  — Peek behind the curtain of the third-person sci-fi shooter and see how Housemarque brought protagonist Arjun to life. Spoiler: It’s a mix of performance tech and a bad experience with LA traffic jams. PlayStation Plus May Game Catalog PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium Star Wars Outlaws | PS5  Red Dead Redemption 2 | PS4 Bramble: The Mountain King | PS5, PS4 The Thaumaturge | PS5 Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn | PS5 Broken Sword – Shadows of the Templar: Reforged  | PS5, PS4 Enotria: The Last Song Standard Edition | PS5 PlayStation Plus Premium Time Crisis | PS5, PS4 The Cast View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Sid Shuman – Senior Director of Content Communications, SIE View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image Kristen Zitani –  Senior Content Communications Specialist, SIE View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image O’Dell Harmon Jr. – Content Communications Specialist, SIE Thanks to Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music. [Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]

Title: Share of the Week: EA Sports FC 26 Date: Fri, 15 May 2026 16:02:53 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/05/15/share-of-the-week-ea-sports-fc-26/ Last week, we asked you to share your goal-winning moments from EA Sports FC 26, available to all PlayStation Plus members* as part of the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup for May. Here are this week’s highlightings: Photomode_Raro shares the ball being kicked up and close to the foreground. call_me_xavii shares a goalie holding the ball outside the goal. fsantos1697 shares a view of the crowd at the stadium. lucaslu_ckli shares a goalie reacting in disbelief at a goal, while the opposing player runs off Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme, or be inspired by other great games featuring Photo Mode. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week? THEME: HandsSUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on May 20, 2026  Next week, put ‘em up! Share moments focusing on characters using their hands in the game of your choice. Use #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.  *PlayStation Plus Monthly Games lineup may differ by region. Please check PlayStation Store on release day for more information.

Title: Ghost of Yōtei Legends Raid: building the multiplayer mode’s endgame Date: Fri, 15 May 2026 12:00:03 +0000 Link: https://blog.playstation.com/2026/05/15/ghost-of-yotei-legends-raid-building-the-multiplayer-modes-endgame/ Launched last month, the Ghost of Yōtei Legends Raid forms the endgame of Sucker Punch’s multiplayer mode, as Ghosts face off against the last two of the supernatural Yōtei Six, The Dragon and Lord Saito. Well, them, plus a horde of warriors and labyrinth strongholds that four players must cooperate together to survive. With enough time now passed, we sat back down with Lead Designer Darren Bridges to delve into the creative processes behind the Raid. Spoilers follow, so if you’ve yet to level up and tackle the Raid, then bookmark this article until you’ve returned to the lobby flush with success. The full interview will be available to listen to later today on the Official PlayStation Podcast. Play Video “One of our original thoughts was: it’s like an escape room where people are trying to kill you.” The Raid’s elevator pitch “One of our original thoughts was: it’s like an escape room where people are trying to kill you. It’s four player, hardcore, challenging content. And there are puzzles that you need to work together as a team to complete. And, of course, there are enemies who are also trying to kill you, so it often will involve a lot of learning, coordinating, and performing as a team in order to succeed.” Learnings from Ghost of Tsushima Legends and its Raid “[Ghost of Tsushima Legends] was the first time we’d done anything like that as a studio. It had a lot of successes. It brought that level of challenge and learning and team coordination requirements. But it was also kind of unbalanced in the pacing and the length of it. A lot of players weren’t able to play it. The first time I played the second chapter of the Raid with my friends, I think it took six hours. So you had to have a group of four who were committed and could set out that amount of time. So it was epic, but it was also kind of inaccessible in that way. You know that you’re serving multiple audiences. When you’re building content, there are people who want really hardcore and those who don’t have that much time. They may want to play, but they may not be able to set aside that much time. So we wanted to enable those same experiences of challenge, but make it easier for players to step in. If they had to step away, they could rejoin. So this time in Ghost of Yōtei Legends, the missions are paced a little more consistently and, if we’ve enabled it so that if you replay it, you can play just the boss. So if your team has made it through the puzzles, but then you’re struggling with the boss, run out of time, someone has to leave… you can come straight back to the boss.” “I love hearing in a co-op game where there’s no text on screen naming something, how every team comes up with their own language for describing or expressing it.” Raid missions built to prepare you for what’s to come “When we were building the Raid, we wanted to introduce elements [on the mission to the boss encounter] that would prepare you for what you’re going to face in the fight. “So in The Dragon fight, you’ll see the giant Bo-Hiya missiles dropping, so you get a little bit of an introduction to that. And then Saito’s giant sword attack that is mostly undodgeable. If you hit your ultimate, you can avoid it, but it’s just kind of damage that you have to take. And so we introduce that ahead of his fight. We want them to make sense and build off the things that you learned throughout the rest of the experience. I would also say I love hearing in a co-op game where there’s no text on screen naming something, how every team comes up with their own language for describing or expressing it. Every time when we watch streams there’s a natural language evolution that happens in-game as people are trying to describe this thing and communicate to each other.” Adding new threats to throw players off their game… “In The Dragon fight, there’s a moment where bombs start dropping on individual players, and you have to run around. In Legends in general, you can’t hurt other players, but suddenly there’s bombs dropping on you. So wherever you go, you’re creating a danger area. So as everyone’s panicking, you see someone running towards you, and if you cross paths, you’re both going to get blown up by the bombs that are falling. So you have to coordinate to either avoid the giant bombs or destroy them.”  …and discovering surprising ways to counter those dangers “If you are a Shinobi and vanish, the bombs stop tracking you, stop dropping. And if you can get near your teammates and cause them all to vanish, it’ll skip that entire bomb drop sequence. That was actually something that we didn’t plan for. But when we were testing it, we saw it, and we’re like, oh, that’s actually really awesome.” “We wanted to create moments which we call ‘Group Jump Rope’, where everyone has to do something together as a team, and other moments where one person can be the hero and carry and support the rest of the team.” Built to work together… “A lot of our combat team play Raids in different games. Especially boss-type Raids. So they’re excited to express that design in the Yōtei universe and with the Yōtei combat mechanics. “One of my favorite parts is the Shadow Saito guys that attack you. I mean, I hate them. But the fun part is it’s a great moment for players to practice calling things out for each other. If one player sees the boss getting ready to summon you can call it out, and then everyone else can prepare and try to react in time. We wanted to create moments which we call ‘Group Jump Rope’, where everyone has to do something together as a team, and other moments where one person can be the hero and carry and support the rest of the team. So you want blends of those throughout the battle.” …and Builds to work together “We wanted to have elements that would reward or encourage different build types, or build craft and people bringing their ingenuity and theory to it. We made sure to place a Gear Station right at the beginning of the [Saito] boss fight. So anytime you die as a team, you’ll start back right at the Gear Station. You can tweak your build. And for that fight, you’ll want some perfect parry buffs, to help you against the shadow warriors. Then you need some way to deal with his health, reduce the damage from his big explosion attacks, either, you know, healing, or, you know, some other way. So we wanted the Team Build to impact the experience.” “Those teams have a different mindset, even in how they play. It feels like building an obstacle course with your local team and then throwing Olympians at it.”  Watching the first team of players complete the Raid “When you’re making something, you’re always like ‘no one’s going to beat that, this is going to be tough, this is going to slow people down’. And sometimes it does, and sometimes it doesn’t. “The world’s first team beat Saito, I think, in like two minutes. And they had spent, I think, an hour or so leading up to that point. And so I thought, oh, you know, I was thinking, proportionally, it’ll probably be another half hour or something… and they just headshot him. They found the most kind of efficient and optimal way to defeat him. And that team, those teams, have a different mindset, even in how they play. It feels like building an obstacle course with your local team and then throwing Olympians at it. But it’s awesome. You never know exactly what will happen, but that’s part of what makes it exciting. And then a lot of the other teams that we watched took more of what we would have expected, two to three hours, to learn and repeat and practice and defeat that boss. So there’s always a variety. “There’s not many times in game development where you actually get to release content and see how people react. It’s especially fun with Raid type content, where teams have prepared leading up to that point. It’s really cool when they’re streaming with a Raid team, they will often have their mics on and broadcasting audio. You get a window into what they’re thinking as they’re playing and that communication… you get to see all of it evolving as they’re playing. It’s a very clear window into their full experience. So as developers, that’s really fun to see.” A Ghosts’ tale concluded  “The Raid update was our last major planned update for Legends. It finishes the story of the Yōtei Six in that mode. We’ve loved to see players playing it, continue to play it and enjoy it. It’s been great.” You can enjoy the Raid and the entire elections multiplayer mode with Ghost of Yōtei, available now on PlayStation 5.

Title: The long awaited Civilization 7 Test of Time update is here, bringing a huge suite of changes with it Date: Tue, 19 May 2026 21:54:02 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-long-awaited-civilization-7-test-of-time-update-is-here-bringing-a-huge-suite-of-changes-with-it The day that all of you Civvers have been hoping for is here. Firaxis have been promising Civilization 7's Test of Time update for a while now, and as I write these words into existence, that very update is available for you to download, complete with the most requested feature, the ability to play as one civ for a whole campaign. Read more

Title: Johan is like if Sekiro were about a medieval manuscript of a rabbit came to life that's on a quest for revenge Date: Tue, 19 May 2026 20:28:46 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/johan-is-like-if-sekiro-were-about-a-medieval-manuscript-of-a-rabbit-came-to-life-thats-on-a-quest-for-revenge Oh I do love a good bit of silliness, I do. Does the heart wonders! Today my daily dose of it comes in the form of a game called Johan, a very Sekiro-esque action game where you play as a rabbit that has leapt from the pages of a medieval manuscript into the world of the living in order to get "revenge against the armies of knights that ravage the land." Read more

Title: Take a nice long look at some Paralives gameplay ahead of its early access launch next week Date: Tue, 19 May 2026 19:01:38 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/take-a-nice-long-look-at-some-paralives-gameplay-ahead-of-its-early-access-launch-next-week Paralives, originally slated for release in 2025, is now right around the corner with an early access launch slated for May 25th next week. So what better a way to whet the appetite than with a nice lengthy look at the game in action, right from making your own Sims- sorry, Paras, through to overseeing their entire lives. Read more

Title: Subnautica 2's EULA is causing a bit of a ruckus, but Unknown Worlds say they're "looking into" the current terms Date: Tue, 19 May 2026 17:06:01 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/subnautica-2s-eula-is-causing-a-bit-of-a-ruckus-but-unknown-worlds-say-theyre-looking-into-the-current-terms It wouldn't be Subnautica 2 if there wasn't a little bit more controversy to be found, would it? This time it comes in the form of the game's EULA which, as roughly collated by a post over on the Stop Killing Games subreddit, includes some stipulations that certainly sound a bit sketchy on the face of it, though others also sound like a legal team member playing it overly safe. Read more

Title: Outward 2 lines up a July release date with the promise that even your dusty old potato of a PC can run it Date: Tue, 19 May 2026 16:05:12 +0000 Link: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/outward-2-lines-up-a-july-release-date-with-the-promise-that-even-your-dusty-old-potato-of-a-pc-can-run-it There is no denying that plenty of RPGs, purposefully designed so or not, are some kind of power fantasy. You're the destined hero, the chosen one, you've heard it all before. Outward 2, like its predecessor, doesn't position you as such a figure. You are simply just a regular adventurer, surviving as best they can. And now, the sequel has a release date! Read more