Games news

• Why A Nintendo Direct Is Likely To Happen Next Month

  24-08-2026 19:48 via gamespot.com
  
  There's something about September when it comes to Nintendo Direct events. The company behind Mario, Link, and Donkey Kong has held special livestreams during that month in nine out of the past 10 years. The only exception is 2024, but even then, there was a Nintendo Direct on August 27 (an Indie World Showcase alongside Partner Showcase).With that sort of history, a Nintendo Direct seems very likely to occur next month. For starters, there are two big elephants in the room: release dates for Th
  
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• Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026: All The Biggest Announcements, Games, And Trailers

  25-08-2026 19:15 via gamespot.com
  
  Gamescom Opening Night Live is here, and once again, we're expecting a bumper night full of new game reveals, gameplay deep-dives, and more from Geoff Keighley's second big show of the year. As usual, we'll be keeping tabs on the event--and the preshow hosted by Kyle Bosman that starts at 10:30 AM PT / 1:30 PM ET--so if you don't have time to sit down for all of the announcements, you can check back here for updates on all the big announcements.Taking place from the Gamescom showfloor, Gamescom
  
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• McDonald’s Halo: Campaign Evolved Skin Has Me Loathin’ It

  25-08-2026 18:31 via gamespot.com
  
  Eating a Big Mac can help you obtain a special armor set for Master Chief in the UK and Ireland. Thanks to a new McDonald's collaboration with Xbox, there is a new Halo: Campaign Evolved skin that's mainly red and gray, with a yellow visor and flourishes. It costs 1,500 rewards points in the McDonald's app--a tier in the US that will get you a free apple pie, small coffee, or vanilla cone.Now we could talk about the hilarity of a Master Chief skin for a game predominately played from the first-p
  
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• Dispatch Is Getting The Physical Edition Fans Have Been Waiting For, Plus A Vinyl Soundtrack

  25-08-2026 18:15 via gamespot.com
  
  Ahead of the first anniversary of Dispatch, developer AdHoc Studio has announced that the superhero workplace comedy-drama is finally getting a physical edition release for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch. Published in partnership with PM Studios, the release offers fans a choice between a standard and a steelbook edition, each featuring an assortment of physical and digital goodies.The $50 Standard Deluxe Edition includes the full game on disc/cartridge, all DLC, an artbook with a digital
  
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• The Lord Of The Rings Extended Trilogy Is Massively Discounted Just After Surprise Game Re-Release

  25-08-2026 17:01 via gamespot.com
  
  If the recent re-release of The Lord of the Rings: War in the North got you excited about the fantasy franchise and looking for more, Amazon currently has a great deal going for the Peter Jackson movies.
  The retailer is selling a digital copy of the three-movie extended-edition bundle for just $15. It normally goes for $45, so this is quite a deal, at least if you're OK owning the movies digitally.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zckJCxYxn1g
  2026 is the 25th anniversary of the films, as The Fello
  
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• Latest GTA 6 Leak References Irony Of The Game Being A Digital-Exclusive

  25-08-2026 16:42 via gamespot.com
  
  Yet another alleged GTA 6 leak has emerged, showing off one of the game's main characters, Jason, visiting a video game store that sells physical discs. This has prompted people to point out the irony of GTA 6 being a digital-exclusive game.In the clip, we see Jason visit a store called Game Horde where he uses binoculars to zoom in on the shelves, showing various games and consoles."This is not about actual discs. It's about ownership. Resale rights still matter, even in a digital-only era," re
  
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• The Asus ROG Xbox Ally X20 Costs $1,300, And The OLED Screen Better Be Worth It

  25-08-2026 16:20 via gamespot.com
  
  Almost a year after launch, the Asus Xbox ROG Ally is getting an upgrade--and a hefty price increase--in the form of the X20 model. Revealed earlier this year as part of a bundle sold with a set of XR glasses, Asus has opened preorders for the handheld gaming PC, with prices starting at an eye-watering $1,300 from the official Asus online store and Best Buy.What does an extra $300 get you? The biggest draw is the screen, as Asus has equipped this model with a 7.4‑inch 1080p OLED
  
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• Why GTA Games Are A “Stab In The Heart,” But Also Amazing, For Ex-Dishonored Dev

  25-08-2026 16:03 via gamespot.com
  
  According to industry veteran Raphaël Colantonio, who worked on the Dishonored series at Arkane before starting his own studio, GTA games are "the biggest tease" and also "the biggest disappointment" for people who love immersive sim games.
  "I don't mean that in an offensive way because of course who am I and who are they? They make games that sell I don't know how many thousands times more than mine and they are so incredible at doing surface simulation," he told Press Box PR. "But that&rs
  
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• New Mario Kart World Switch 2 Bundle Coming In September, And It’s $50 More Expensive Than The Original

  25-08-2026 15:11 via gamespot.com
  
  Ahead of the Switch 2's price hike in September, Nintendo has announced two new Switch 2 bundles for the US.The Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle ($550) launches in late September, while the Switch 2 + Nintendo Switch Sports bundle ($530) arrives alongside the game on October 22.
  People may recall that Nintendo offered a Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle when the console launched in June 2025. It was priced at $500 back then, but was subsequently discontinued. Due to various economic pressures
  
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• Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026: Start Time, How To Watch, And What To Expect

  25-08-2026 08:59 via gamespot.com
  
  The second of Geoff Keighley's big three shows, Gamescom Opening Night Live, kicks off in a few hours, and it's looking to be another big livestream full of new game trailers and reveals. Like previous years, ONL will be livestreamed directly from Germany, following a 30-minute preshow. Multiple games have already been teased, and if you're looking to tune in, here's how you can do so.How to watch Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0rCUootNUs
  Gamescom Opening
  
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• The Duskbloods Playtest Was Even More Popular Than Elden Ring Nightreign’s

  24-08-2026 21:52 via gamespot.com
  
  It sounds like fans were eager to learn everything they could about From Software's The Duskbloods, as one of the game's producers has revealed the Switch 2 exclusive saw higher playtest sign-ups compared to Elden Ring Nightreign.Speaking during a livestream hosted by Japanese gaming publication Famitsu (and translated by GamesRadar+), From Software producer Yasuhiro Kitao stated the number of applications for The Duskbloods playtest eclipsed that of the developer's previous multiplayer experime
  
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• I Can’t Believe I Missed Mortal Shell 2’s Best Item, Silly Me

  24-08-2026 21:34 via gamespot.com
  
  From awesome Tarstones to exceptional weapons, there are a lot of really good items to find in Mortal Shell 2. While you can miss them if you're not doing your due diligence while exploring, there's an early-game item that you really don't want to miss because of how it trivializes most fights. Unfortunately for me, I missed it and realized way too late, so let me regale you with my troubles in the hopes that you don't make the same mistake as I did.The first boss you fight happens in the prolog
  
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• Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Is Way Ahead Of Black Ops 7 Already By One Metric

  24-08-2026 21:12 via gamespot.com
  
  Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is nearing 400,000 copies sold on Steam already, and that's well ahead of where last year's Black Ops 7 stood at launch on Valve's platform. This is according to Rhys Elliott of Alinea Analytics, who added that pre-sales on Steam alone work out to around $21 million in revenue.Elliott said Black Ops 7 managed to hit around 200,000 copies pre-sold on Steam by launch. Modern Warfare 4 has doubled that, and with two months still to go before release.Modern Warfare 4 i
  
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• GTA 6 Leaks: A Timeline Of The Events So Far

  24-08-2026 21:01 via gamespot.com
  
  It's been a busy few weeks for Rockstar and Take-Two following a series ofleaked GTA 6 gameplay videos and images. Beginning in mid-August 2026, an anonymous individual or group calling itself CyberLeek began publishing unreleased Grand Theft Auto 6 material. The first wave included gameplay videos and apparent images of the GTA 6 map.The situation is still unfolding, so we've got a roundup of all of the events of the most recent GTA 6 leak in chronological order, along with what the footage app
  
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• My Cat Doesn’t Care About The Metal Gear Box, Just The Box It Came In

  24-08-2026 20:34 via gamespot.com
  
  At long last, Metal Gear Solid fans can soon get their hands on the one piece of merchandise that truly matters: themed boxes for their cats. Konami has announced an official line of Metal Gear Solid cat merchandise that'll be available exclusively at CatCon 2026, to mark the release of Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2. We swear we're not making this up, but Konami says that it will have a booth--again, at a cat convention--where it will sell the novelty items for two days in
  
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• Red Dead Redemption 2 Is Getting A Mexico Expansion Soon, But Not From Rockstar

  24-08-2026 20:04 via gamespot.com
  
  Red Dead Redemption 2 never received official story DLC, but one modder is doing the work developer Rockstar never did with an ambitious Mexico mod that will further connect the prequel to the events of the original Red Dead Redemption.It's called Nuevo Paraiso--The Forgotten Frontier, and a new trailer highlights what fans can expect from the project. Alongside restoring and recreating Mexican locations from the original Red Dead Redemption, the mod also adds new settlements, gang hideouts, tre
  
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• Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Is Basically A Netflix Castlevania Reunion

  24-08-2026 20:03 via gamespot.com
  
  Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is shaping up to be a good-looking entry in the franchise after a long hiatus, and by the sound of things, it has a pretty stacked voice cast as well. Konami has revealed the roster of actors bringing various characters to life in the Evil Empire-developed game, and when it comes to the franchise's biggest bad, Dracula, they've brought back someone with vast experience to play the lord of darkness: Graham McTavish.While McTavish is a seasoned actor with voice r
  
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• Hideo Kojima Says He’s Aware Of His Mortality As He Celebrates 63rd Birthday

  24-08-2026 18:34 via gamespot.com
  
  Game designer Hideo Kojima celebrates his 63rd birthday today, August 24, and he does not plan to pack it up anytime soon.Posting on social media, Kojima said he is aware he will not live forever--in fact he already knows how he wants to die--so he is being particularly thoughtful about how he spends his time."As I get older, the things I 'have to do' and the things I 'want to do' continue to increase. At the same time, the time I 'have to do them' continues to decrease," he said. "I constantly
  
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• Mortal Shell 2 Players Really Hate Those Bear Traps, And So Do I

  24-08-2026 18:10 via gamespot.com
  
  Mortal Shell 2 has a lot of tough enemies waiting to knock you out of your shell and stuff your carcass into a coffin. Many of them are terrifying because of their difficulty, ugliness, or both. Still, nothing compares to the greatest enemy developer Cold Symmetry made for the souls-like action-RPG: those gosh-dang bear traps.Danger lurks around every corner in this game. Walk here, and you might get ambushed by a rabid miner just itching to stab you with a pickaxe. Stand there, and you'll likel
  
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• New Indie Fishing Game Is More Popular Than Modern Warfare 4 Beta On Steam

  24-08-2026 17:51 via gamespot.com
  
  Everyone has heard of Call of Duty, and yet, a video game that you've probably never heard of is outperforming the first Modern Warfare 4 beta on Steam. How to Fish looks like a surprise hit with over 341,000 concurrent players today, per Steam. Plus, developer Dazed Games has announced the co-op title has already sold over 1 million copies after launching August 20. It's currently available for just under $5, with a regular $8 price tag.That easily tops the early-access beta for Call of Duty: M
  
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• Witcher 4 Release Window Narrowed Down, As Dev Teases “A Surprise Or Two” At Gamescom About Other Things

  24-08-2026 17:33 via gamespot.com
  
  CD Projekt Red has narrowed down the release timing for The Witcher 4, confirming the RPG is coming sometime in 2028. The company confirmed this in a new video that sets the table for Gamescom this week.
  There won't be any Witcher 4 news at Gamescom, but CD Projekt Red will highlight The Witcher 3's new Songs of the Past DLC at the showcase, while there will be "a surprise or two to share" during livestreams planned throughout Gamescom.More than 500 people are working on The Witcher 4 now, CD Pr
  
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• GTA 6 Leak Shows Off Apparent Nudist Colony

  24-08-2026 17:29 via gamespot.com
  
  A new clip showing leaked Grand Theft Auto 6 footage has made its way online, and it looks like you're going to be able to visit a nudist colony in Leonida.
  The clip, which just runs for a few minutes, shows co-protagonist Jason walking near a pool and several hot tubs, with dozens of naked people hanging around and dancing.
  Some of them seem relatively neutral to Jason's presence, while others are annoyed with the completely clothed man walking around and looking at them with binoculars. That s
  
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• GTA 6 Leaks Don’t Matter, So Please Calm Down, Ex-Rockstar Director Says

  24-08-2026 17:08 via gamespot.com
  
  Former Rockstar North director Obbe Vermeij has commented on the many GTA 6 leaks that have emerged over the past week. Vermeij, who was the technical director for GTA 3, GTA: San Andreas, GTA 4, and other titles in the series, told everyone to "clam down" because "the leaks are a nothing burger."He said Rockstar is intentionally staying quiet as part of the company's marketing strategy to generate as much hype as possible for GTA 6, and the leaks are not prompting Rockstar to amend its plans. T
  
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• Final Fantasy Resonance Has More Going For It Than Just Its Impressive Cast

  24-08-2026 15:00 via gamespot.com
  
  Ahead of its release in October, Square Enix has dropped several new details about Final Fantasy Resonance, its HD-2D reimagining of the mobile game Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius. Based on the first season of Brave Exvius, here's a closer look at the game's world, characters, gameplay, vision systems, and completionist content.Empires strike backThe Zoldaad Empire has a few defectors.Two of the regions that players can explore include the powerful military nation of Zoldaad and the city of ma
  
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• The Blood Of Dawnwalker Devs Heard Your 60fps Requests And Have Good News For Console Players

  24-08-2026 14:00 via gamespot.com
  
  If you wanted to play The Blood of Dawnwalker at 60fps, you'd originally need to get the PC version and hope your rig was up to scratch. Developer Rebel Wolves didn't initially list a 60fps mode for Xbox Series X, PS5, and PS5 Pro when it recently released a quick look at the graphical modes for those consoles, but the developer says it will now be added via a day-one patch when the game launches in September."Performance mode was already in the works, but it was still being tested. We simply we
  
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• Call Of Duty’s Most Controversial Item Is Back In Modern Warfare 4, But With Some Major Changes

  21-08-2026 22:02 via gamespot.com
  One of the most infamous and controversial items in Call of Duty is the Riot Shield. Some love it. Some hate it. Well, it's back in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, but with a few key changes.With MW4's beta now live, we're seeing the game in action and learning more about it. This includes new details on the Riot Shield, including how it's now destructible. Not only that, but the new Riot Shield can be placed on the ground to allow players to create their own cover, wherever they are. What's mor
  
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• GTA 6 Leaker Has Not Been Identified Yet – Report

  21-08-2026 21:29 via gamespot.com
  
  One of the biggest stories in gaming this week has been the ongoing GTA 6 gameplay leaks, which are all about hyping up a memecoin for profit. A new report provides insight into how Rockstar is handling the situation internally.Bloomberg reported that Rockstar has yet to identify the party responsible, or how such a breach happened. One top executive at Rockstar sent a memo to staff this week "denouncing the leaker and promising the incident wouldn't detract from the excellent work they've done,
  
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• CoD: MW4 DLC Honors Real-Life Medal Of Honor Recipient Who Lost His Eye And Teeth In Grenade Blast

  21-08-2026 21:05 via gamespot.com
  
  Activision has announced that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 willhave day-one DLC, and like in years past, it will focus on a real-life military hero, with proceeds going to charity.
  The Call of Duty Endowment Valor Pack, launching on October 23 alongside the game, adds the real-life Medal of Honor recipient Kyle Carpenter to the game as a playable character.
  Carpenter was in Marjah, Afghanistan, when, on November 21, 2010, he put himself in front of a grenade to help save the life of his fellow
  
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• Mortal Shell 2’s Latest Update Alleviates One Of The Game’s Biggest Headaches

  21-08-2026 20:40 via gamespot.com
  
  Developer Cold Symmetry has released its latest souls-like action-RPG, Mortal Shell 2, on August 20 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. And not even a day after launch, the studio already dropped a patch that makes some welcome tweaks, including addressing one of the game's most annoying issues: gold farming.On August 20, Cold Symmetry shared a breakdown on the game's subreddit and Steam page of what Balance Patch 1 does.A welcome adjustment is a refund of the Glimpses--a rare currency u
  
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• Naughty Dog’s Intergalactic Adds An Actor From The Last Of Us And Uncharted

  21-08-2026 19:49 via gamespot.com
  
  Another actor has joined the cast for Naughty Dog's upcoming new IP Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.Robin Atkin Downes, who played Robert in Naughty Dog's The Last of Us and multiple characters in the studio's Uncharted games, said on social media that he's set to appear in Intergalactic. He didn't say who he is playing, but as you can tell from the video below, he's obviously very excited about it.
  https://twitter.com/Robin_A_Downes/status/2090646298718597618
  Downes is a prolific video game
  
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