Games news

• Arc Raiders Continues To Be A Huge Hit, Reportedly Achieving These New Records

  05-01-2026 16:12 via gamespot.com
  
  Arc Raiders was a breakout hit in 2025, and it's still growing. New data from Alinea Analytics states that the game enjoyed its biggest day ever on Sunday, January 4, when it came to daily active users.It was reported to have had 3.2 million daily active users on January 4 across platforms. Additionally, the research group said Arc Raiders passed 12 million copies sold over the weekend.The number of Arc Raiders copies sold daily began to "stabilize" in early December, but the recent 20%- off sal
  
  Read more

• Garfield Craps On Mario Over Upcoming Mario Kart Game Shutdown

  11-07-2026 02:23 via gamespot.com
  
  In the kart-racing genre, Mario Kart's reigns supreme. But the social media team behind Garfield Kart: Furious Racing and Garfield Kart 2: All You Can Drift didn't miss a chance to dunk on Nintendo's decision to sunset Mario Kart Tour this fall.On X, the official account for Garfield Kart declared its superiority to Mario Kart because it "will not randomly kill your game license."
  https://twitter.com/GarfieldKartX/status/2074947859644809275
  While the Garfield Kart games are far behind Mario Kart
  
  Read more

• Microsoft Refutes Notion That Foreign-Worker Visas Were Behind Mass Xbox Layoffs

  10-07-2026 21:57 via gamespot.com
  Since news broke of Microsoft's recent round of mass layoffs--which affected 1,600 people immediately and will reach double that number over the next year--a number of reports have claimed that mass approvals of foreign-worker visas were behind the decision. Now, Microsoft communications lead Frank X. Shaw has refuted what he calls "bad information."
  In a Twitter post, Shaw said that while there are Microsoft workers using H-1B visas, they are "not specific to Xbox and represent a small percenta
  
  Read more

• This Promising DayZ Rival Is Thankfully Pivoting To PvE Before Launch

  10-07-2026 21:50 via gamespot.com
  
  Zeverland, the upcoming open-world zombie sim for PC, plays a lot like DayZ, but the team at Quantum Quirks has announced a major shift in the game's design following a closed alpha test. According to the studio, players wanted the PvPvE game to be an entirely cooperative PvE experience instead, so much so that the team is meeting the community's requests and turning Zeverland into exactly that. "You talked. We listened," the studio said on the Zeverland Steam page."We've decided to shift Zeverl
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Roblox’s Latest Crossover Is One I Guarantee You’d Never Guess

  10-07-2026 21:41 via gamespot.com
  
  The Rolling Stones, one of the most legendary rock bands of all time, are coming to Roblox. The band is launching an "immersive" new game inside Roblox today, July 10, but it's only going to be around for a short time.
  The Stones are coming to Roblox's The Block virtual venue starting today and ending on July 17. The in-game event will feature "classic hits" and new songs from the band's Foreign Tongues album, which released on July 10.As for the game, players are called on to work together to "
  
  Read more

• AC Black Flag Resynced Is A Hit, But People Are Particularly Upset About One Thing

  10-07-2026 20:47 via gamespot.com
  Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced launched on July 9, and the swashbuckling pirate adventure game got off to a great start. Vantage Studios, the new company in charge of the Assassin's Creed brand, announced today that Resynced sold more than 2 million copies in its first 24 hours. It hasn't been a total success story, however, and the negativity surrounding the game pertains to the usual culprit: microtransactions.Beyond the strong sales and player numbers, Resynced is scoring well with crit
  
  Read more

• GTA 6 Preloading: Start Date And What To Know About Digital And Physical Copies

  10-07-2026 18:42 via gamespot.com
  
  After years of development and multiple delays, Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto 6 is finally launching on November 19, and you can now actually preorder the game. The $80 game arrives on November 19, but you can actually preload it a week earlier, which is nice for the countless people who no doubt want to begin playing the second they can.
  Here's everything you need to know about GTA 6 preloading.GTA 6 preload scheduleGTA 6 players who preorder a digital copy of GTA 6 can begin preloading on Novemb
  
  Read more

• Xbox Is Teasing Something Big For Next Week Amid Disc-To-Digital Rumors

  10-07-2026 17:47 via gamespot.com
  
  The future is looking increasingly digital for next-gen video game consoles, but one method that might ease the transition is a disc-to-digital service that allows users to bring their libraries with them. While there is speculation that this feature will launch around the time that Xbox debuts its next-gen console, Project Helix, a first taste of the future might be arriving sooner than expected.Xbox Insiders received a message in lieu of an update this week, with Xbox's program lead Brad Rosse
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Game Pass Gets A Few Freebies For This Weekend Only, Including One Where You’re A Teddy Bear Fighting Nightmares Come To Life

  10-07-2026 17:21 via gamespot.com
  
  The weekend is here, and if you're looking for something new to play on Xbox but don't want to spend any money, you're in luck. The Free Play Days promotion is back this weekend, with three games offered up for the low, low price of $0, or at least nothing beyond the price of a Game Pass membership.
  MLB The Show 26, which is the newest entry in the professional baseball series, is free this weekend. The survival game The Alters is free as well, along with the FPS Stuffed, in which you play as a
  
  Read more

• Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3’s New Transformations Look Nerfed, But That’s Not The Full Story

  10-07-2026 17:00 via gamespot.com
  
  Bandai Namco dropped the first gameplay reveal for Dragon Ball Xenoverse 3 this week, showcasing one of the game's missions and new key combat features. While the core beat-'em-up gameplay has been retained from the previous games, it's the approach to transformations in Xenoverse 3 that has Dragon Ball fans talking, as many believe this signature component has been nerfed for the threequel.One of the big changes in Xenoverse 3 revolves around how and when players can use their high-powered skil
  
  Read more

• Harry Kane And Erling Haaland, Best Known For Their Gaming Skins, Are Facing Off This Weekend At The World Cup

  10-07-2026 16:35 via gamespot.com
  
  The 2026's Men's World Cup is heating up, and one of this weekend's most-anticipated matchups is between Harry Kane of England and Erling Haaland of Norway, who are of course best known for their gaming skins.England captain Harry Kane has a Fortnite skin, while Norway striker and noted Xbox fan Erling Haaland has his own Clash of Clans skin. On June 11, the two gaming skins who are also know for their sporting prowess will play to decide who gets through the semifinals of the World Cup.Erling H
  
  Read more

• Xbox CEO Joins Fed’s Task Force To Help With Price Stability And Employment After She Raised Xbox Prices And Laid Of Staff

  10-07-2026 15:32 via gamespot.com
  
  The United States central bank, the Federal Reserve, has announced new task forces to "advance the conduct of monetary policy," and its board has chosen Xbox CEO Asha Sharma to help guide one task force pertaining to AI, as part of a wider effort to help create jobs and keep prices stable.
  The new Productivity and Jobs task force will look into the "economic impact of new general-purpose technologies," including AI, to help the Fed make better policy decisions. Sharma is joined on this task forc
  
  Read more

• Xbox CEO Joins Federal Reserve’s Productivity And Jobs Task Force Amid Tumultuous Time

  10-07-2026 15:32 via gamespot.com
  
  The United States central bank, the Federal Reserve, has announced new task forces to "advance the conduct of monetary policy," and its board has chosen Xbox CEO Asha Sharma to help guide one task force pertaining to AI, as part of a wider effort to help create jobs and keep prices stable.
  The new Productivity and Jobs task force will look into the "economic impact of new general-purpose technologies," including AI, to help the Fed make better policy decisions. Sharma is joined on this task forc
  
  Read more

• Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Has The Best Launch The Series Has Seen In Years

  10-07-2026 14:56 via gamespot.com
  
  Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced isn't just the best-reviewed game in the series in 13 years; it's also off to a flying start with more than 100,000 players on Steam alone. That's one of the highest opening weeks for an Assassin's Creed game in several years, and the number doesn't include Black Flag Resynced's availability through other PC storefronts, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, either.One thing to note is that not every Assassin's Creed game has been available through Steam at launch, but B
  
  Read more

• Former BioWare Writer Says EA Always Favored Mass Effect Over Dragon Age

  10-07-2026 14:54 via gamespot.com
  
  Following the disappointing sales of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, it's looking like BioWare's fantasy IP won't be making a comeback anytime soon. Former Dragon Age lead writer David Gaider believes that the series may be dead, and the game's poor commercial performance--according to EA's expectations--was likely the final nail in its coffin."Throughout the entire time I was there, we were always one breath away from the project being shelved," Gaider said to PC Gamer. "The thing that hap
  
  Read more

• Call Of Duty: Black Ops 1 And 2 Ports Are Out Now On PS5, But DLC Costs Extra

  09-07-2026 20:56 via gamespot.com
  
  The ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010) and Black Ops 2 (2012) are available now. The ports, which were confirmed in June, are developed by Iron Galaxy in conjunction with Activision.
  As announced previously, these are not remasters or remakes--if you enjoyed the games in their original states, that's what you're getting here.
  The games cost $40, but PlayStation Plus members can get each for $20 through August 6. There is no bundle that puts them together.
  Black Ops 1 and 2 are out now on PS
  
  Read more

• New Counter-Strike 2 Map Has Players Rescuing Dogs Instead Of Hostages, And That’s Very Nice

  09-07-2026 18:53 via gamespot.com
  
  A new, fan-made map for Valve's free shooter Counter-Strike 2 has a unique spin on the game's popular Hostage Rescue mode, having players instead rescue dogs in danger.The "Shelter" map (via Dexerto) takes place in a fictionalized suburban animal shelter, as players race to stop "Phoenix Biotechnical" from kidnapping animals for medical trials.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rtd0HLui7W4
  As you can see in the walkthrough video below, Shelter is a large, impressively detailed map, featuring all ma
  
  Read more

• Palworld Won’t Raise Its Price Following 1.0 Launch

  09-07-2026 18:07 via gamespot.com
  
  After more than two years in early access, Palworld has launched in 1.0, and there's some good news for anyone looking to dive into it. Usually, early access games charge a smaller fee to entice users, increasing the sticker price once the full release goes live. Palworld developer Pocketpair is bucking that trend, and it says that the game's price will remain at $30 following its full launch on PC and console."After much thought, we have decided not to raise the price of Pal
  
  Read more

• How One Teacher (And A Private Investigator) Revived The Beloved Franchise Of Your Childhood

  09-07-2026 18:00 via gamespot.com
  
  The Backyard Sports series' resurgence began a few years ago with a re-release of the classic 1997 game Backyard Baseball, but this month's launch of Backyard Baseball--an all-new entry--is a monumental step for a franchise that had been on ice for years. But getting there wasn't easy, requiring years of work (and the help of a private investigator) to even acquire the rights, let alone find a development partner who could revive such a legendary franchise.Playground Productions CEO Lindsay Barn
  
  Read more

• GTA Online’s Next Big Heist, The First Since 2020, Is Coming Soon And It Looks Great

  09-07-2026 17:02 via gamespot.com
  
  While fans await news about GTA 6, Rockstar continues to update GTA Online, and its next big update is coming very soon.The Kortz Center Heist, the first major brand-new heist in the game since 2020's Cayo Perico, releases on July 14, Rockstar Games has announced. In this heist, players will meet up with Mr. Faber and Raf De Angelis to steal valuable art.
  Players will be able to acquire an Art Studio for their home as part of the new update, and after doing so, a "gifted counterfeiter" will occu
  
  Read more

• Boy Shocked By Electrical Current While Playing Video Games After House Is Struck By Lightning

  09-07-2026 16:15 via gamespot.com
  
  A teenage boy sustained injuries after lightning struck his home as he was playing video games, hitting him with an electrical shock.
  The 13-year-old boy, Vladyslav Skuridin, told ABC News via a statement from his mother that he "felt a shock go through my whole body and I saw a super bright white light." He said he "quickly jolted back" and felt "super dizzy and confused."
  He was playing a game on his computer at the time."Also, I kind of just started screaming because there was a super loud bo
  
  Read more

• The Elder Scrolls 6 Devs Fear “More Delays” After Layoffs Have “Crushing Effect On Morale”

  09-07-2026 15:51 via gamespot.com
  
  The Elder Scrolls 6 is one of the biggest upcoming games in the works at the Xbox-owned Bethesda Game Studios. But after Microsoft's sweeping layoffs, which also impacted BGS, developers there have expressed concerns about the impact on The Elder Scrolls 6 and the possibility of a delay.
  A source at BGS told IGN that the developers have been "very excited and hyped" for The Elder Scrolls 6, and that the big Xbox "reset" has "had a crushing effect on morale" at the studio.
  "We were already runnin
  
  Read more

• New Perfect Dark, Co-Op Doom Were Reportedly In The Works At Id Software Before Mass Layoffs

  09-07-2026 15:42 via gamespot.com
  
  Doom: The Dark Ages just received the Revelations expansion earlier this week, the latest work from prominent developer id Software. But what the studio was reportedly working on next sounds fascinating, according to GamesBeat. The team was reportedly playing around with a new Perfect Dark game, a co-op or multiplayer-centric version of Doom, and a John Wick-esque experience named Fury.However, the chances these projects ever get fully fleshed out seem low after mass layoffs hit id Software earl
  
  Read more

• GTA 6 Fans Are Getting Excited Again For A Date In August, As Take-Two Makes A Notable Change

  09-07-2026 15:00 via gamespot.com
  
  Grand Theft Auto 6 preorders have finally arrived. New screenshots were also recently released. The game's November 19 release date is locked in. But Rockstar Games is still staying relatively quiet about the specifics of GTA 6, like what new kinds of gameplay experiences it provides. To date, all that's been revealed are screenshots, story descriptions, and cinematic trailers. Fans are eagerly awaiting the arrival of any new information about the game, or a third trailer, and while it remains t
  
  Read more

• Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Delivers The Series’ Best Reviews Since 2013

  09-07-2026 14:24 via gamespot.com
  
  The first big release of July 2026 has set sail, and so far, it looks like Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is hitting a critical high note that the series hasn't seen since Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag. The remake of the 2013 game currently has a metascore of 84, a number that previous games have not reached for a very long time.In comparison, the original Black Flag has a metascore of 88, and the highest review score aggregate between that game and its remake was Assassin's Creed Odyssey
  
  Read more

• Persona 4 Revival Producer Confirms Some Noteworthy Character Changes Are Coming

  09-07-2026 00:41 via gamespot.com
  
  Persona saw a big presence at Anime Expo last weekend, featuring a dedicated booth, panels, and merchandise to promote the series' 30th anniversary, as well as the upcoming Persona 4 Revival and Persona 6. The staff behind P4R was also giving press interviews, and one comment by General Producer Kazuhisa Wada has been drawing attention.Speaking to Anime Corner, Wada discussed some changes would be made to parts of the game, particularly with regard to one specific character."We haven't changed a
  
  Read more

• Your Loyalty To Sony Or Xbox Means Nothing, Analyst Says

  08-07-2026 21:29 via gamespot.com
  In response to Sony announcing that it will stop producing physical game discs for PlayStation starting in 2028, a lot of people have had a lot of things to say. One of those voices is Circana analyst Mat Piscatella, who offered a refreshing, if not brutal, reminder that your loyalty and love of PlayStation--or any other game console or franchise--means nothing to the corporate overlords controlling them. It's all about money, and it always has been.
  "You can love your preferred video game ecosy
  
  Read more

• New Fallout Game Is New Focus For New Vegas Developer Obsidian Entertainment – Report

  08-07-2026 21:25 via gamespot.com
  
  Obsidian Entertainment--the developer behind Grounded, The Outer Worlds, and Avowed--will reportedly shift strategies to work on a new Fallout game. That means that a planned Avowed sequel and other unannounced projects will get shelved in the process, according to Bloomberg. It's unclear whether this new Fallout game from Obsidian will be Fallout 5 or a spin-off similar to New Vegas. Fallout 5 was reportedly "greenlit" a year ago, though there were no details about the lead developer. In 2
  
  Read more

• Over 220,000 People Petition Sony Not To Kill Physical PlayStation Game Discs

  08-07-2026 21:20 via gamespot.com
  
  As Sony plans to kill all PlayStation disc production in January 2028, a Canadian retailer has done what everyone was probably thinking of doing: urging the company to change its mind with a petition that's garnered over 220,000 signatures.PNP Games is an independent retailer based in Canada that started in 2005 by selling games on eBay. Since then, it opened three locations around Canada, becoming a budding business that supplies its customers with everything from home goods like art and drinkw
  
  Read more

• Xbox Kills Obsidian’s Avowed Sequel In The Wake Of Layoffs – Report

  08-07-2026 20:58 via gamespot.com
  
  Xbox's big reset continues, as the company has targeted RPG icon Obsidian Entertainment, laying off about a quarter of its staff and cancelling a sequel to the underrated 2025 action-RPG Avowed.According to a July 8 Bloomberg report, Obsidian Entertainment has cancelled "multiple projects" so that the California-based developer can focus on a bigger franchise: Fallout. As part of the cuts, Avowed was a casualty, along with 52 workers, per a July 8 Game File report.As Bloomberg noted, progress on
  
  Read more

Follow @Games_news_au on Twitter!