Games news

• Phasmophobia Twitch Drops: How to Earn In-Game Rewards

  07-07-2026 17:32 via gamespot.com
  
  Phasmophobia Twitch Drops are a great way to earn special in-game rewards that you can't obtain simply by playing. By linking your Twitch account with your Phasmophobia account and watching Kinetic Games partner streams for a set amount of time, you can unlock special ID cards and badges, with Kinetic promising future updates will offer cosmetics and other in-game items, too.However, these Twitch Drops aren’t available all the time. Instead, Kinetic Games launches limited-time Twitch Drop
  
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• The Viture Beast XR Glasses Made Me Question Whether I Need A TV For Gaming

  08-07-2026 19:08 via gamespot.com
  
  It has never been easier to take your gaming with you, thanks to options like the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, or your smartphone. The downside to a portable gaming setup mostly comes down to the screen, as it can be harder to parse what you're seeing on a seven-inch LCD when compared to the much larger TV in your room. Extended Reality (XR) glasses have been presented as a solution, but early attempts at creating wearable screens were clunky and headache-inducing to wear for long periods. Fortu
  
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• Subnautica 2 Update Now Lets You Stun Those Aggressive Fish

  08-07-2026 18:59 via gamespot.com
  
  Subnautica 2's Adaptive Measures update is live, bringing quality-of-life changes and a much-needed way to defend against the world's aggressive fish. The patch notes reveal the addition of new Biolab locations, improved the wreckage exploration, and a way to finally fight back against those angry fish biting at your limbs.Since launch, developer Unknown Worlds has emphasized Subnautica is not about combat, but players have still been asking for a way to fight back against the aggressive fish at
  
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• Bernie Sanders Rips Microsoft For Xbox Layoffs And Price Hikes

  08-07-2026 18:21 via gamespot.com
  
  Microsoft recently announced mass layoffs affecting 4,800 people, including 3,200 at Xbox, and now US Senator Bernie Sanders (D-VT) has ripped the technology giant for cutting staff at a time when it's making massive profits.
  Posting on social media, Sanders pointed out how Microsoft made more than $100 billion in profit in 2025, with CEO Satya Nadella getting paid $96 million. He also called out how US President Donald Trump's new tax plan would save Microsoft $12.5 billion.
  "Please don’t
  
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• Build Your Own Criterion Closet With Up To 50% Off Blu-Rays And Box Sets

  08-07-2026 18:04 via gamespot.com
  
  Many movie collectors have opted to go digital these days, but considering that films are periodically removed from streaming services, others prefer to maintain a physical collection. If you're a Criterion fan in that boat, we have excellent news for you. Both Amazon and Barnes & Noble are having monster sales on Criterion 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD collections with discounts as high as 50%. It runs through July 26 and includes new releases and preorders too, so you can even get a great deal
  
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• England Has A New King, And He’s Thirsty For Blood In Vampirium 1997

  08-07-2026 17:53 via gamespot.com
  
  Thomas Was Alone and Amberspire developer Bithell Games has announced its next project, a non-linear horror game in which the vampire King of England tasks you with assassinating his enemies. Set in an alternate timeline during the late '90s--so you're probably safe from hearing Hanson's MMMBop on repeat--Vampirium 1997 is billed as an immersive sim boiled to its essence by game director Mike Bithell."Dracula is King of England. At his command, master your dark gifts to assassinate his enem
  
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• Paralives Team Might Have Shed Some Light On Why The Sims Ditched Its Open World

  08-07-2026 17:30 via gamespot.com
  
  The Sims 4 juggled multiple ideas during development, but one idea from its predecessor that was eventually scrapped was the idea of an open-world city for players to explore. Instead, The Sims 4 offered smaller, instanced neighborhoods that were separated by loading screens, something that many fans considered to be a major step back from what The Sims 3 had achieved.So what was the reason for these smaller locales? The Sims 3 was notorious for how it pushed PCs to the edge with its demanding g
  
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• Paralives’ Success Shows Being Generous To Players Isn’t Unreasonable

  08-07-2026 17:30 via gamespot.com
  
  Earlier this year Paralives released in early access, and so far, things are looking good for the life-sim. The game has proven to be popular since its May launch; the cozy vibes have been praised, and the promise of free post-launch DLC and updates for the lifespan of Paralives continues to be a big selling point. In an industry focused on extracting the maximum amount of cash possible out of every player, it has become the norm--just look at how GTA 6 is locking in-game shops away from pl
  
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• Paralives Isn’t Interested In Taking Down The Sims

  08-07-2026 17:30 via gamespot.com
  
  Fans of life-simulator games have been eating well lately, as the dominance of The Sims 4 has been challenged by new kids on the block like InZoi and Paralives. While both of these titles are considered to be serious challengers in a cozy genre of living your best life, the team behind Paralives doesn't see itself as a "Sims-killer," preferring instead to view the game as another option in the genre. After all, competition in this field will ultimately benefit players by offering them more choic
  
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• The Sims’ Biggest Competitor Is Ignoring All Of The AAA Rules Of Game Dev, And That’s Why It’s Already A Huge Success

  08-07-2026 17:25 via gamespot.com
  For the past 25 years, The Sims has reigned supreme over the life-sim genre and for good reason. Maxis' groundbreaking title revolutionized what the genre could be, introduced players to a level of immersion never before seen, and subsequently, inspired developers to create boundary-pushing life-sims of their own. Yet despite wave after wave of new, innovative life-sims hitting the scene--and growing discontent from Sims players--The Sims has remained relatively uncontested; precious few titles
  
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• Palworld Reaches A Huge Player Milestone Ahead Of 1.0 Launch

  08-07-2026 17:14 via gamespot.com
  
  After two and a half years in early access, the Pokemon-like game Palworld has reached 40 million players before its 1.0 release. Developer Pocketpair announced this milestone just days before the game's massive 1.0 update, which brings several major changes to overhaul the game."Palworld passes 40 million players," the developer said on social media. "Thank you all so much for your incredible support! Over the last two and a half years, Palworld has grown alongside our community."Of course, hit
  
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• World Cup Star Erling Haaland Shows Off His Gaming Setup, Wants Xbox To Sponsor Him, And Is Excited For GTA 6

  08-07-2026 16:38 via gamespot.com
  
  If you've been watching the World Cup or soccer in general, you're surely familiar with Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, and now he's provided a deeper window into his life and specifically his gaming habits.
  In a "day in the life" video on his YouTube channel (via PureXbox), Haaland began by saying he's a big fan of Xbox, so much so that he even owns the Xbox minifridge and it's not just for show. As you can see in the video, he has it stocked with MTN Dew and Coke. "One day, Xbox, I want them
  
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• Minecraft Is Adding A Highly Requested Feature It’s Been Missing For 17 Years

  08-07-2026 15:57 via gamespot.com
  
  A new update coming to Minecraft is adding something the game has never had in its 17-year history and it's something everyone loves to do: sit down.
  In a new video, producer Gustav Höglund confirmed that there will finally be a "straightforward" way to take a load off, and that's with a new craftable cushion that players can sit on. As Höglund noted, people have found creative ways to sit down already by way of plopping down in a boat, a mine cart, or by riding an animal. But that's n
  
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• Pokemon Winds And Waves Could Have 300 New Pokemon, But Don’t Get Too Excited

  08-07-2026 15:19 via gamespot.com
  
  Pokemon Winds and Waves won't be out until 2027, but it looks like a few Poke-leaks are already surfacing. The Switch 2 exclusive is the next mainline entry in the series, and like previous games before it, it'll introduce a whole new region populated with unique Pokemon. Just how many new Pokemon will there be? According to one report, we could be looking at hundreds of new critters to collect.Traditionally, each new mainline Pokemon game introduces around 100 new Pokemon--Generations
  
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• Was This Duck Trying To Get Secrets About The Witcher 4?

  08-07-2026 14:51 via gamespot.com
  
  It's nesting season for ducks in Poland, and one mallard mom chose CD Projekt Red's office in Warsaw to lay its eggs, the studio recently shared. For anyone scared that this story does not have a happy ending, fear not. It's safe to read on.
  The Polish developer said the duck laid eight eggs at an open-air part of the impressive-looking modern office. The momma duck "cared for them attentively throughout the nesting period," and CD Projekt Red staff gave her plenty of room to sit on the eggs in
  
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• Mario Kart Tour Will Be Unplayable After Nintendo Shuts It Down In September

  08-07-2026 13:09 via gamespot.com
  
  Nintendo has announced that it will shut down Mario Kart Tour on September 29, ending its seven-year run on mobile devices. Originally launching in September 2019, Mario Kart Tour was one of several games released for mobile devices as Nintendo made a push into that space. Most of those games have since been shut down, but Mario Kart Tour proved to be a lucrative spin-off of the main series, employing controversial gacha game mechanics to keep players invested the racer."We sincerely thank the m
  
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• Where To Find Monkey And Cat Pets In Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced

  08-07-2026 12:00 via gamespot.com
  
  Are you eager to tame monkey and cat pets in Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced? These cute critters can be found in certain locations in the Caribbean. Once you've obtained at least one, you can choose them as a mascot for your ship, the Jackdaw, where the creature will lounge next to you on the wheel.Cats and monkeys in Assassin's Creed Black Flag ResyncedAs of the time of this writing, we've found two of each type of pet in Assassin's Creed Black Flag:
  Soot the CatAlbert the MonkeyDark Anim
  
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• Where To Find Blackbeard’s Treasure In Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced

  08-07-2026 12:00 via gamespot.com
  
  Are you scratching your head about Blackbeard’s Treasure in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced? This is a new mission that’s exclusive to the remake, and it provides a rather fitting conclusion to the narrative arc involving the rather controversial Edward Thatch. We’ve got all the details for you right here in our guide. That said, please be reminded that this article contains spoilers.Blackbeard’s Treasure Map and Burn Blackbeard’s Beard in Assassin’
  
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• How To Complete All What If Rifts In Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced

  08-07-2026 12:00 via gamespot.com
  
  Are you curious about the Rifts in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced? Unlike the original, which also had a modern-day story, Resynced presents a different narrative arc. Think of these Rifts as “What If” scenarios, alternate outcomes that would’ve occurred had characters taken a new path in their lives. Of course, not everything is as it seems, so you still need to be wary. Our guide has all the info that you need, but be ready for a few spoilers, too. In This Article
  
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• Black Flag Resynced Is A Bad Remake Of Peak Assassin’s Creed

  08-07-2026 12:00 via gamespot.com
  
  I've been conflicted about Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced since it was announced. The original 2013 pirate action-adventure is one of my favorite games ever, so my immediate reaction to hearing it was getting a remake for current-era consoles was excitement. In that very first announcement video, Ubisoft said that Resynced would not reinvent protagonist Edward Kenway's tale, but that there would be large changes to combat, parkour, stealth, and the structure of the overall story. And while
  
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• All Treasure Maps And Solutions In Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced

  08-07-2026 12:00 via gamespot.com
  
  Are you searching for all the Treasure Maps in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced? Each one points to a location of a Buried Chest somewhere in the Caribbean. The drawings show landmarks, though coordinates should provide some helpful hints. Our guide has all the details that you need to obtain various goodies while exploring. In This Article Treasure Maps and Map Piece RestorationNorthern Caribbean Treasure MapsTreasure Map (North) #1: Great InaguaTreasure Map (North) #2: Mariguana Isla
  
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• All Mayan Stelae Locations In Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced – Mayan Mysteries Guide

  08-07-2026 12:00 via gamespot.com
  
  Are you wondering about where to find all Mayan Stelae in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced? Much like the original, this task has you scrounging the Caribbean for ancient monoliths to obtain strange stones. Our guide has all the details that you need to find these locations.Mayan Mysteries guide - Where to find all Mayan Stelae and Mayan StonesThere are a total of 16 Mayan Stelae in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced. Whenever you spot one of these pillars, climb on top of it a
  
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• One Final Fantasy Game Is Shutting Down, But You’ve Still Got Time To Play

  08-07-2026 10:22 via gamespot.com
  
  With Final Fantasy VII Revelation set to complete the remake trilogy soon, fans have been eagerly revisiting FFVII's various releases and spinoffs in anticipation, speculating about what the future might hold for the finale. Unfortunately, one of those spinoffs, the live-service game Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis, now has a Doom timer attached to it--meaning you'll need to play it as quickly as possible before it shutters if you want to see what it has to offer.Released on December 2023, Final F
  
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• Sony Tries To Change The Subject After Killing PlayStation Discs

  08-07-2026 01:01 via gamespot.com
  
  To kick off July, Sony made the surprising announcement that it plans to end support of physical discs for PlayStation games at the beginning of 2028. In the week since that news, Sony kept quiet on social media. Now, Sony has attempted to start a new conversation with gamers, but it's not going well so far.In the message seen below, Sony touts the FlexStrike wireless fight stick. Under normal circumstances, this product could have been positively received on its own terms. Unfortunately for the
  
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• Project Hail Mary Blasts Off On Blu-Ray This August

  08-07-2026 00:53 via gamespot.com
  
  Project Hail Mary Limited Edition Steelbook (4K Blu-ray)Currently sold out | Releases October 11Preorder at Amazon Project Hail Mary (4K Blu-ray)$28 (was $38) | Releases August 11Preorder at AmazonPreorder at WalmartProject Hail Mary (Standard Blu-ray)$25 (was $32) | Releases August 11Preorder at AmazonPreorder at WalmartProject Hail Mary (DVD)$26 | Releases August 11Preorder at AmazonPreorder at Walmart
  After crushing the box office back in March, Project Hail Mary is coming to Blu-ray this Aug
  
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• Arc Raiders’ Matchmaking Update Gives Players What They’ve Always Wanted

  07-07-2026 22:58 via gamespot.com
  
  The latest Arc Raiders update is out now, and alongside the opening of the Expedition 4 window and an upcoming crossover event with Embark's first-person shooter The Finals, the extraction game is getting a matchmaking overhaul that fulfills one of players' biggest wishlist items.Starting today, Arc Raiders offers separate matchmaking buckets for solo, duo, and trio queues. This means that players who may prefer to express different playstyles depending on their team size can now find lobbies th
  
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• College Football 27 Is Pissing Everyone Off

  07-07-2026 22:00 via gamespot.com
  
  Ask players what their favorite mode is in EA's revitalized College Football series, and most will tell you it's Dynasty or Road To Glory, which give players control of an entire school football program or a created player, respectively. Unlike Ultimate Team, EA's long-standing pay-to-win mode seen in all of its sports games, these modes have largely been untouched by microtransactions. But College Football 27 has crossed a line, according to many players who have voiced their frustrations onlin
  
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• Yes, PlayStation Is Making A Gaming Monitor–And You Can Preorder It Now

  07-07-2026 21:55 via gamespot.com
  
  PlayStation 27-inch Gaming Monitor with DualSense Charging Hook$349 | Releases August 27Preorder at Best BuyPreorder at PlayStation Direct
  As PC gamers will tell you: The living room isn't the only place you can play games. But for consoles, most peripherals are designed with a non-desk setup in mind. Until now! PlayStation's new gaming monitor--designed specifically for enjoying a PS5 in a desk-bound context--is available for preorder. The 27-inch gaming monitor even features a DualSense chargi
  
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• Some Of The Most Impressive Gaming Tech Ever Wasn’t Enough To Save Devs From Xbox Cuts

  07-07-2026 21:49 via gamespot.com
  
  This week, id Software and Microsoft are launching Doom: The Dark Ages Revelations, an expansion to the latest critically-acclaimed entry in the enduring first-person shooter franchise. It's just the second game to make use of id Tech 8, the latest iteration of the engine with its own storied history and influence on the games industry. It could, potentially, also be one of the last, in the wake of Microsoft's brutal gutting of id Software as part of its thousands of announced layoffs.The scale
  
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• Microsoft Spent $80 Billion On Its Bet For Xbox Game Pass. It Did Not Work.

  07-07-2026 21:20 via gamespot.com
  A new report sheds more light on the situation at Xbox that led to the big news this week that Microsoft was cutting 3,200 jobs at the gaming company, divesting from studios, and making other cutbacks to "reset" the business.
  Bloomberg reported that Microsoft spent"nearly $80 billion" in the past 10 years on deals to help revitalize Xbox and realize its dream for Xbox Game Pass, but those plans did not pan out the way Microsoft envisioned.
  Xbox CEO Asha Sharma said this week that the big bets ma
  
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