Games news

• This Game Was Labeled A Success. Its Developer Laid Off 85% Of Staff 2 Months After Release.

  04-08-2026 15:21 via gamespot.com
  
  In June, Netflix released an officially licensed FIFA World Cup game, and while it was not a critical success, Netflix management later singled it out as a successful release. Now, however, the studio behind the game, Refactor Games, has enacted a round of mass layoffs affecting the majority of the studio.Cofounder Nathan Burba told GamesBeat that the studio has laid off 85% off its staff. This amounted to about 80 people, according to Insider Gaming. The studio's co-owner, Delphi Interactive, w
  
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• James Pond’s New Trailer Has AI Alarm Bells Ringing, Comments Turned Off

  19-08-2026 17:00 via gamespot.com
  
  It's a good time to be a fan of retro video games, thanks to all the various compilations hitting the scene, and for the James Pond enthusiasts out there, their time has finally come. Developer System 3 has announced the James Pond Legacy: The Pond is Not Enough collection, but the reveal trailer is being dragged over claims that it features generative AI art and assets. Comments on the video quickly started pointing out the telltale signs of AI images, prompting System 3 to shut
  
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• Redfall Bosses Explain What Happened With The Failed Xbox Exclusive

  19-08-2026 16:13 via gamespot.com
  
  Former Arkane bosses Harvey Smith and Ben Horne have opened a new studio, Black Pony Immersive, which is now working on "imaginative first-person action-RPGs." The last game they worked on was the ill-fated Xbox-exclusive vampire game, Redfall. Both Smith (Redfall director) and Horne (Redfall producer) have now discussed that project and what went wrong.Horne told The Game Business that Redfall was born during the live-service boom, and the team had to figure out, "How do we do this?"Smith added
  
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• Pokemon Krispy Kreme Boxes Are Being Listed For Ridiculous Sums Of Money

  19-08-2026 15:43 via gamespot.com
  
  The Pokemon franchise is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year with various promotions, and the Krispy Kreme collaboration is easily the sweetest team-up. Like all things related to Pokemon, a box full of pocket monster doughnuts has attracted the eyes of resellers looking to make a quick buck on used--and sadly, empty--boxes from the promotion.On eBay, you can find several listings for the Pokemon Krispy Kreme doughnut boxes, with some users asking for up to $100 per box. While the doughnu
  
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• Dishonored Director Announces New Studio, And Fans Should Be Very Excited

  19-08-2026 15:27 via gamespot.com
  
  The fate of Arkane Studios is in limbo and the Dishonored franchise may be permanently on ice, but franchise co-creator Harvey Smith isn't giving up on immersive sims. The veteran game director has founded a new studio focused on games that sound a whole lot like Dishonored. "Today, veteran game developers Harvey Smith and Ben Horne revealed Black Pony Immersive, a new game studio built to design and develop imaginative first-person action-RPGs set within well-realized worlds, where players
  
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• Horizon Multiplayer Game Being Rebooted To Remove Live-Service, Next Mainline Horizon Game “Years Away,” Report Says

  19-08-2026 15:17 via gamespot.com
  A major development has come to light regarding Guerrilla's long-in-development live-service Horizon game, Horizon Hunters Gathering. After negative player feedback from the game's various tests, the Amsterdam-based studio has been "working to reboot the game since June," Bloomberg reported.The plan to reboot the game involves removing its live-service elements and shifting it to become "more of a traditional cooperative multiplayer game with a story mode andfar smaller scope," the report said.
  
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• The Biggest Surprise About The Blood Of Dawnwalker Is How Little RAM It Needs

  19-08-2026 14:37 via gamespot.com
  
  Ahead of its release next month, the official PC requirements for The Blood of Dawnwalker have been revealed. The game is shaping up to be a good-looking dark fantasy adventure, but fortunately, it only requires a modest amount of power to run at 1080p and 60 frames per second. The biggest surprise here is the amount of RAM you'll need to hit various presets (specifically, GPU VRAM) as developer Rebel Wolves doesn't expect players to need more than 16GB of the precious PC resource to run the gam
  
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• GTA 6 Leakers Say They Acted For Gamers’ Rights, While Pushing A Memecoin

  19-08-2026 14:34 via gamespot.com
  
  The consumer rights group Stop Killing Games has addressed this week's Grand Theft Auto 6 leaks, urging people not to support the hackers claiming responsibility for leaking footage of the game ahead of its November release. The group released several minutes of what appears to be GTA 6 gameplay, and while developer Rockstar Games hasn't officially commented yet on the footage that has spread online, its owner, Take-Two Interactive, wasted no time in issuing DMCA takedown notices.This
  
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• Epic Mickey Brought An Icon Back To Disney, And Warren Specter Doesn’t Want You To Forget

  19-08-2026 00:48 via gamespot.com
  
  After over four decades in video games, developer Warren Specter is retiring from the industry. But as Specter moves towards the door, he wants to make sure that the team behind his 2010 game Epic Mickey gets their due for bringing one of Walt Disney's earliest creations back home to Disney.In 2003, the development document for Epic Mickey reportedly spurred then-Disney president Bob Iger to eventually regain the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, a breakout animated character created by Disney
  
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• Apparent GTA 6 Footage And Map Leak As Rockstar Issues Takedowns

  18-08-2026 21:45 via gamespot.com
  
  New footage and details about Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto 6 appear to have been leaked online. While the full veracity of the intel has yet to be confirmed, Rockstar's DMCA takedown requests suggest that some of it could be legitimate.. And the person or persons behind the leak has issued some biblical demands if the company wants to avoid any additional unauthorized disclosures.The leaker, who goes by Cyberleek, has issued the following "commandments" to Rockstar and other game publishers:
  
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• Surprise Xbox Game To Be Announced At Gamescom, Insider Says

  18-08-2026 21:17 via gamespot.com
  
  Microsoft is gearing up to announce a new game at Gamescom this month, it appears, and it could be from an established series.Insider NateTheHate 2 said, "I've heard of a neat Xbox announcement that should be at Gamescom." He said it will be a "new game in a series" as opposed to a new IP. And no, it's not a new Banjo-Kazooie game, he said.He added that, whatever the project is, it's from a franchise that Microsoft owns, but it's not being made by a studio that Microsoft owns. That leaves open a
  
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• Don’t Boycott GTA 6, Help Win Justice Instead, Fired Devs Say

  18-08-2026 20:28 via gamespot.com
  
  A group of former Grand Theft Auto 6 developers accusing Rockstar Games of union busting and currently engaged in a legal battle with the studio doesn't want players to boycott the game.In a video posted by the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain, fired members of the union made clear how they would like fans to support them in their ongoing legal dispute with Rockstar."We're going to make this easy for you," the former devs state. "Don't boycott GTA 6. Win justice for the people who hel
  
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• PlayStation Plus Is Removing 10 Games Soon, So Finish Them While You Can

  18-08-2026 20:10 via gamespot.com
  
  Last week saw several new games announced for the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for Extra- and Premium-tier subscribers, and as you'd expect, a few games are also on their way out. In total, 10 more games are leaving soon, although Sony hasn't listed an exact departure date yet. For reference, nine games are leaving the Game Catalog today, so you'll likely have a few weeks left to play the ones listed below.As for what's only going to be around for a little while longer? Say goodbye to a fun Per
  
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• Deus Ex And Immersive Sim Founding Father, Warren Spector, Retires From Game Development

  18-08-2026 20:05 via gamespot.com
  One of the gaming industry's most notable icons, Warren Spector, has decided to retire and will no longer be actively involved in game development.Spector is credited as one of the founders of the immersive sim genre, with Deus Ex and Thief acting as his most recognisable projects while at Ion Storm. Spector went on to develop Epic Mickey and its sequel, eventually landing at Otherside Entertainment to develop a spiritual successor to Ultima Underworld, which he helped produce while at Looking G
  
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• NBA 2K27 Just Rewrote The Sports Game Story Mode

  18-08-2026 20:00 via gamespot.com
  
  The launch of NBA 2K27 is quickly approaching, and 2K Sports has provided a deep dive into all of the new features and additions coming in this year's game. From gameplay-specific innovations to changes to some of NBA 2K's most iconic game modes, all areas of the game have been revamped for 2K27.
  The headlining features may be what's going on in MyCareer mode, but we're covering the full spectrum of new toys coming to the series in 2K27.
  Below, you can find all the new content and changes that 2
  
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• Control Resonant Still Comes Out Next Month, Unless You Want It On Disc

  18-08-2026 19:42 via gamespot.com
  
  Remedy Entertainment has announced that Control Resonant "has gone gold." In other words, main development is complete, and the action-RPG is ready to arrive on September 24--but there's an unfortunate catch here. The physical edition of the title has actually been delayed almost a month to October 15. That means people who want the game on disc are going to have to wait a few weeks to play as Dylan Faden in the sequel.The staggered release between digital and physical for Control Resonant was r
  
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• Battlefield 6 Free Trial Overlaps With Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta This Weekend

  18-08-2026 17:36 via gamespot.com
  
  Battlefield and Call of Duty are overlapping this weekend, as the latest entries in both franchises have exciting opportunities on tap for fans.Battlefield 6 is free now through August 25 to celebrate the launch of the game's big new update, including the return of the fan-favorite Wake Island map and the debut of the Top Gun crossover. This also includes a brand-new mode, Carrier Strike. Additionally, the free week includes the Tsuru Reef, Cairo Bazaar, and Hagental Base maps, along with Wake I
  
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• Sony’s Oasis-Loving CEO Thinks We’re Going To Crave Human-Made Art In The Age Of AI

  18-08-2026 17:21 via gamespot.com
  
  The use of AI in creative fields has been a thorny issue, and analysts predict that the growing presence of AI-generated content will drive people to seek more authentic, human-made content. Sony CEO and Oasis superfan Hiroki Totoki is one such person, as he believes that while AI can help "enhance" creativity, the human factor is what makes people gravitate toward film, music, and video games."AI cannot replace it. AI can enhance human creativity," Totoki said to the Wall Street Journal. "It is
  
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• Xbox Game Pass Reveals Its Next Wave Of August 2026 Games

  18-08-2026 15:16 via gamespot.com
  
  The second wave of games for Xbox Game Pass in August has been revealed, and this month, you can check out a few day-one releases amongst the releases. Several of these games will also be available through Game Pass Premium, as the library of that tier continues to expand.Xbox Game Pass August wave 2 gamesAugust 18Egging On (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC), now with Game Pass Premium; joining Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game PassAugust 19Vapor World: Over the Mind (Cloud, Console, a
  
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• Former PlayStation Boss Weighs In On Sony Killing Off Physical Game Discs

  18-08-2026 15:02 via gamespot.com
  
  Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida has commented on Sony's recent announcement that it will end support for physical game discs in 2028. Speaking to Gamerbraves, Yoshida said he "didn't know they were planning that." He said he feels for people who want game discs, but he believes it’s not “such a big issue” for many people because they already need to download patches, DLC, and updates."Even with physical disc games, in most cases, developers are constantly updating a
  
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• PS6 Is Still A Mystery To Sony, Including When It’s Coming Out

  18-08-2026 14:41 via gamespot.com
  
  The PlayStation 5 console will celebrate the sixth anniversary of its launch in November, but what does the future hold in store for Sony's gaming ambitions? Current expectations are for a PlayStation 6 to eventually hit the market, but when it'll arrive is another question entirely. Analysts can only guess as much, but don't expect Sony's top brass to have answers either.Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Sony CEO Hiroki Totoki confirmed this, saying that the company
  
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• Baptiste’s New Trailer Proves You Should Never, Ever Trust A Creepy Doll

  18-08-2026 14:00 via gamespot.com
  
  Horror movies have long warned us of the perils of puppets, and that's a vibe you'll explore firsthand in upcoming horror game Baptiste. A vessel for evil--according to the totally scientific research of Annabelle and all those Chucky movies--there's nothing worse than a puppet that has had its switch set to evil. You can discover that terror for yourself in this exclusive new trailer for Baptiste ahead of its eventual release on PC and console.Taking place after a family tragedy, the game is se
  
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• Xbox Game Pass Is Losing The Witcher 3 And Several More Games In August

  18-08-2026 13:48 via gamespot.com
  
  Another batch of Xbox Game Pass titles are on their way out at the end of the month, and it looks like the service will be losing some cool, cute, and critically acclaimed games.Listed on the "Leaving Soon" tab on the Xbox mobile app, the list includes the following five games exiting the subscription service on August 31: Another Crab's Treasure, I Am Your Beast, Neon Abyss, One Lonely Outpost, and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition. As usual, you can save 20% on these games if you decid
  
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• An Exclusive Castlevania Game Is Shutting Down

  17-08-2026 22:48 via gamespot.com
  
  The Apple Arcade-exclusive Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls won't be playable for much longer, developer Konami has announced.In a post on social media and the game's official website, Konami confirmed Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be removed from Apple's gaming subscription service on August 20. Despite Konami stating the game has "continued to be supported by many players," it will also shut down permanently and no longer be playable on September 3. "We would like to express our grati
  
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• Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta Trailer Shows Off Franchise’s Most Ambitious Map Yet

  17-08-2026 21:20 via gamespot.com
  
  Activision has released a teaser trailer for the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 first beta weekend, and it looks pretty great. The trailer shows off some of the content in the beta, and that includes, for the first time in the franchise's history, a slice of the game's single-player campaign.The first beta runs April 21-25, and it's available for those who preorder the game on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The beta allows players to try the campaign mission, Entrenched, along with the m
  
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• Kingdom Hearts 4 Lets You Play As The Final Fantasy Universe’s Most Powerful Black Mage

  17-08-2026 21:07 via gamespot.com
  
  For good reason, developers often don't let playable characters in video games get too overpowered, lest they make a game too easy to plow through. But Kingdom Hearts 4 seems to be straying from that principle, as Donald Duck was revealed to be a fully playable character in last weekend's extended D23 trailer.In a segment of Kingdom Hearts 4 taking place in the Underworld from Hercules, players will take control of Sora's perennial sidekicks, Donald and Goofy, in platforming and battle sequences
  
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• Someone Finally Made Another Game For People Who Miss Peggle

  17-08-2026 19:55 via gamespot.com
  
  We're closing in on the 20th anniversary of Peggle, and since then, nothing has come quite as close to matching the pure, joyous sensory overload of Popcap's little peg-clearing masterpiece. Can Hyperdrop fill that gap for juggling skill and luck to clear stages? Maybe!Coming soon to PC, Hyperdrop is the debut game from developer Dark Dark Goose and publisher Devolver Digital is billed as a pachinko roguelite. The setup is deviously simple, as you're tasked with turning an empty pegboa
  
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• Mistfall Hunter Players Are Begging For This One Addition, And The Devs Just Won’t Do It

  17-08-2026 19:28 via gamespot.com
  
  Mistfall Hunter has been out for almost three weeks now, with the extraction brawler launching on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on July 29. Dating back to even its open beta, the community has been begging developer Bellring Games for one addition: a dedicated mode for teams of two.All over the game's official subreddit are posts from players asking that the developer include a duos mode.
  "I need duos," Redditor broman510 titled an August 11 post. "In this, duos vs trios seems so hard a
  
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• GTA 6 Does Look A Bit Different In New PS5 Promo

  17-08-2026 18:29 via gamespot.com
  
  Sony is flexing its video game muscle with a new "It Happens On PS5" ad campaign, and the one-minute video features arguably the most anticipated title ever: Grand Theft Auto VI. Now, to be clear, there are only snippets of old footage for the open-world experience. But you should know by now that won't stop the internet from poring over every single little detail.For example, the X account DriftRespawn notes that letterboxing has been removed in the new PS5 promo from a clip where Jason Duval i
  
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• A Call Of Duty Studio Could Work On Halo, Report Says

  17-08-2026 17:57 via gamespot.com
  
  After Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard, one of the first things people theorized was that the company would have one of Activision's numerous Call of Duty studios work on Halo. That already happened, according to a new report, and though it hasn't led to anything yet, that could change down the road.According to Rebs Gaming, who has accurately reported on unannounced Halo news before, Microsoft enlisted Sledgehammer Games to help develop a Halo multiplayer game.
  Halo InfiniteSledgehammer r
  
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