Patch Notes #38 - weekly gaming digest
Welcome to the 38th edition of Patch Notes, let’s get this bad boy going.
This edition will cover the week from August 25 to August 31.
What caught my attention this week
Hoyoverse has just unveiled a teaser for their Pokémon-like game, set within the Honkai universe. If you've been following the gaming industry over the past few years, you're likely aware of how dominant Hoyoverse has become, almost having a Midas touch…
So, their attempt to eat Pokémon’s lunch is a massive challenge I’ll be keeping an eye on.
TLDR
Iconic game publisher Acclaim marks its return with a showcase next month
Hideo Kojima 'already wrote the concept' for Death Stranding 3, but isn't making it right now
All characters in Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds announced so far
Borderlands 4 developers credit Borderlands 3 DLCs for inspiring the sequel’s tone
Capcom Tokyo Game Show 2025 booth will feature Monster Hunter Stories 3 & Outlanders, Pragmata, and Onimusha
Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles will have sound novels available in all language versions
The Switch version of Tales of Xillia Remastered will run worse than the original PS3 copy
A Nintendo Direct is reportedly planned for mid-September
Shueisha Games announces TGS 2025 lineup
Koei Tecmo announces TGS 2025 lineup
Team Liquid claims third consecutive World of Warcraft Race to World First title
Bungie boss Pete Parsons out after 23 years
Blizzard co-founder’s game startup struggles amid industry glut
Revealing 4 Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Hero Project games coming to PlayStation
NBA star Luka Dončić is coming to Overwatch 2
Exclusive: "Maybe we'll leave Arrakis" – Dune: Awakening producer teases big things for the game's future
Helldivers 2 Into the Unjust update takes the battle to the alien Hive Worlds
Sony finally makes the PlayStation refund process easier, killing the support chat bot
Gamescom 2025 breaks attendance records with 357,000 visitors
Resident Evil Requiem wins big at Gamescom Awards 2025
Skate’s early access date has finally been confirmed
Devil May Cry, Dragon’s Dogma director Hideaki Itsuno explains why he left Capcom, and what’s next
Kpop Demon Hunters is the most popular Netflix movie ever
Haunted Chocolatier has fishing, books, and a new screenshot so pretty I want to live in it
Atari now owns the rights to five Ubisoft games: Cold Fear, I Am Alive, Child of Eden, Grow Home, and Grow Up
Xbox is bringing cloud gaming to lower Game Pass tiers, in addition to PC games
“The hardware is at its limits”: Final Fantasy 14 may soon be the next game to leave PS4 behind
Crystal Dynamics lays off "a number of talented colleagues"
Less than 4 years after a $3.5bn evaluation, Rec Room is letting "roughly half" its team go
Elden Ring Nightreign adds high-difficulty Expedition mode ‘Deep of Night’ on September 11
Ken Levine reminds the world Judas exists with update on a slick gameplay feature
Square Enix reveals full English voice cast for Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles
Thunderful Group shareholders approve $5.3 million Atari acquisition
US hardware revenue reaches $384m driven by Switch 2 sales | US Monthly Charts
Bloober Team's CEO wants to bring horror games back to Nintendo in a big way
Mega Hawlucha announced for Pokémon Legends Z-A
FNCS 2025 Global Championship format and schedule explained
Blizzard's Diablo team forms union seeking protection in wake of Microsoft layoffs
Yooka-Replaylee lands autumn release date
Lost Soul Aside demo now available on PS5 and PC Steam
That really sucks' — Battlefield 6 developer DICE knows anti-cheat measures like secure boot mean some PC gamers just won't be able to play the game
PlayStation 6 handheld rumors are ramping up, this time with claims it’s dockable
Metal Gear Solid Delta Tactical Edition - get $15 DLC pack for free while you can
VCT 2025: Americas Stage 2: teams, schedule, details
Honkai: Nexus Anima revealed, here's how to sign up for its beta test
Genshin Impact 6.0 isn't actually called that, will instead be known as "Version Luna 1", and is coming in early September
Angry Video Game Nerd 8-bit launches October 23
Hollow Knight: Silksong's price may have been leaked by GameStop, and it's actually quite cheap
Path of Exile 2 free weekend now live with exclusive cosmetics
Darkest Dungeon 2's latest update adds bloodsucking bug-people to its grand campaign mode, and you can try the sequel for free this weekend
75% of Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition Nintendo Switch 2 sales were physical, CD Projekt reveals
After years of waiting, Escape From Tarkov might finally be coming to Steam
Borderlands 4 post-launch roadmap reveals the return of something fans loved from Borderlands 2
Kaiju No. 8 The game is now available worldwide on iOS and Android
Stardew Valley will be getting another update after all
Biggest news of the week
Iconic game publisher Acclaim marks its return with a showcase next month. VG Chronicles
Acclaim, the US game publisher famous in the 1990s, is making a comeback after declaring bankruptcy in 2004. The company, now led by CEO Alex Josef, will hold a showcase on September 10 to reveal the first titles of its revival. Josef emphasized that the goal is not just to revive old properties but to channel Acclaim’s chaotic energy into something fresh and exciting. To support this vision, an advisory board including Russell Binder, Mark Caplan, and wrestler Jeff Jarrett has been formed. Over its original run, Acclaim released nearly 300 games, including hits like Mortal Kombat, NBA Jam, Turok, and various licensed titles from WWF, The Simpsons, and South Park.
Hideo Kojima 'already wrote the concept' for Death Stranding 3, but isn't making it right now. IGN
Hideo Kojima confirmed that while he isn’t currently planning to make Death Stranding 3, he has already written the concept for it and hopes someone else may create it in the future. Speaking in Riyadh during the Death Stranding 2 World Strand Tour, Kojima explained that the ending of Death Stranding 2 served as the finale to the first two games, which is why he isn’t moving forward with a third himself. He also revealed he has given a USB stick containing his ideas and plans to his assistant, describing it as a kind of will for Kojima Productions to continue after his death. Despite no Death Stranding 3 for now, Kojima is working on other projects, including the Death Stranding live-action film with A24, Xbox horror game OD, and the Metal Gear successor Physint.
All characters in Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds announced so far. GameSpot
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is set to feature the largest character roster in the franchise, combining Sonic staples with surprising new faces. Classic characters like Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Shadow, Amy, and Eggman appear alongside others such as Espio, Jet, Omega, Cream, Metal Sonic, Vector, Silver, and Storm. The game also includes major crossovers, bringing in Persona 5’s Joker, SpongeBob and Patrick, Pac-Man and his ghost gang, Minecraft’s Steve, Alex, and Creeper, plus Hatsune Miku. Some racers launch with the game, while others arrive in Season Pass waves, DLC packs, or as pre-order bonuses like the Werehog. Additional confirmed racers without images yet include Blaze, Rouge, Zavok, Charmy, Zazz, Egg Pawn, Rusty, Nine, and Dread.
Borderlands 4 developers credit Borderlands 3 DLCs for inspiring the sequel’s tone. GameSpot
Borderlands 4 shifts to a more grounded tone while keeping the series’ trademark humor intact. Gearbox developers explained that the Borderlands 3 DLCs—such as Moxxi's Heist of the Handsome Jackpot, Bounty of Blood, and Psycho Krieg and the Fantastic Flustercluck—helped inspire this direction by balancing comedy with deeper themes of love, closure, revenge, and redemption. The game is set on the authoritarian world of Kairos, offering a contrast to Pandora’s chaotic “wild west” setting, and humor will be more organically tied to the narrative rather than feeling forced. Narrative director Sam Winkler and lead writer Taylor Clark stressed that memes and surface-level jokes were deliberately toned down, though one self-created meme still appears. Lin Joyce added that the series’ identity remains intact, with many of the original team members still involved. Borderlands 4 launches September 12 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, with a Switch 2 release in October.
Capcom Tokyo Game Show 2025 booth will feature Monster Hunter Stories 3 & Outlanders, Pragmata, and Onimusha. RPG Site
Capcom has revealed its Tokyo Game Show 2025 lineup, featuring eight titles including Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Pragmata, and two new Resident Evil games. Popular releases like Monster Hunter Wilds and Street Fighter 6 will also appear, with updates expected during the Online Program airing on September 24. Playable demos of Monster Hunter Outlanders will be available at both Capcom’s booth and Tencent’s Level Infinite booth, which will also host Goddess of Victory: NIKKE. TGS 2025 runs from September 25–28, with Capcom’s website providing details in multiple languages.
Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles will have sound novels available in all language versions. RPG Site
Square Enix confirmed that Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles will bring back the Sound Novels feature for all supported languages, including English, French, and German. The game releases worldwide on September 30 for PlayStation 4 & 5, Nintendo Switch 1 & 2, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. The enhanced edition adds full voice acting, improved controls, refined movies, and a rewritten story to fit the new features. Players can expect updates like expanded unit capacity, a Job Tree for progression, three difficulty modes, and quality-of-life improvements such as autosaves, presets, and Tactical View. Chronicles mode also returns with voiced events, a State of Affairs menu, and its own achievement system.
The Switch version of Tales of Xillia Remastered will run worse than the original PS3 copy. TheGamer
Bandai Namco has announced Tales of Xillia Remastered, set to release on October 30 for major platforms. While it’s a big win for JRPG fans, the Switch version comes with a drawback—running only at 30fps with slight fluctuations, compared to the PS3 original which reached 60fps during battles. In docked mode, the game hits 1080p, while handheld mode drops to 720p, but the lack of smooth performance is seen as a disappointment. Meanwhile, Xbox and PlayStation versions will run at 60fps, with the PC version potentially reaching 120fps. This performance gap highlights a recurring issue, as Bandai Namco’s Digimon Story: Time Stranger also faced frame rate limitations.
A Nintendo Direct is reportedly planned for mid-September. VG Chronicles
A Nintendo Direct presentation is reportedly scheduled for mid-September, with some sources pointing to September 12—just one day before the 40th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. While the lineup is still unconfirmed, many expect it to include the long-awaited release date for Metroid Prime 4 Beyond, which was recently rated by multiple international boards, including the ESRB. The game is still officially planned for release this year on both Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. Nintendo also recently showcased Kirby Air Riders in a dedicated 45-minute Direct, confirming its November 20 launch on Switch 2.
Shueisha Games announces TGS 2025 lineup. Gematsu
Shueisha Games has revealed its Tokyo Game Show 2025 lineup, set for September 25–29 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba. Featured playable titles include ANTHEM#9, ATMOSFAR, No Straight Roads 2, OPUS: Prism Peak, and the mobile RPG unVEIL the world. The publisher emphasized that it will prepare a large number of demo stations to ensure attendees can experience as many of the games as possible. This marks one of Shueisha Games’ biggest showings at TGS to date.
Koei Tecmo announces TGS 2025 lineup. Gematsu
Koei Tecmo has announced its Tokyo Game Show 2025 lineup, with the event scheduled for September 25–28 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba. The company’s showcase will feature three major playable titles: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment for Switch 2, Ninja Gaiden 4 for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC, and Nioh 3 for PS5 and PC. These high-profile releases highlight Koei Tecmo’s continued focus on action-driven franchises. Additional details on the publisher’s TGS 2025 plans will be shared at a later date.
Team Liquid claims third consecutive World of Warcraft Race to World First title. Esports Insider
Team Liquid has claimed its third consecutive World of Warcraft Race to World First title by defeating Dimensius the All-Devouring in the Mythic Manaforge Omega raid on August 24, 2025. The clear came on the guild’s 385th pull, making Liquid the first team to secure every Race to World First victory in a single WoW expansion. Dimensius proved especially punishing, requiring more pulls than all other bosses in the raid combined and keeping the competition with Echo and Method tight until the final day. With the War Within expansion concluded, WoW now looks ahead to its next chapter, Midnight, launching within the next six months.
Bungie boss Pete Parsons out after 23 years. Kotaku
Bungie has announced that longtime CEO Pete Parsons is leaving the studio after more than two decades. Parsons, who first joined during the Halo 2 era and took over leadership in 2016, guided Bungie through its Destiny 2 expansions, independence from Activision, and its $3.6 billion Sony acquisition in 2022. His departure comes amid declining interest in Destiny 2, an indefinite delay for Marathon, and internal struggles following layoffs in 2023 and 2024. Justin Truman, a 15-year Bungie veteran, will step in as CEO, pledging to refocus on both Destiny and Marathon.
Blizzard co-founder’s game startup struggles amid industry glut. Bloomberg
Blizzard co-founder Mike Morhaime revealed that his new studio, Dreamhaven, is struggling after both of its recent titles underperformed. Wildgate sold only 130,000 copies in its first month, while Sunderfolk reached just 62,000 since April, leading to expenses outpacing revenue. Morhaime told staff the company must urgently cut costs to survive while he seeks new financing. The struggles highlight broader challenges for veteran-led startups, as a saturated market, rising competition from “forever games,” and declining venture funding make it harder for new releases to find an audience.
Revealing 4 Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Hero Project games coming to PlayStation. PlayStation Blog
Sony revealed the first four titles supported under its new PlayStation MENA Hero Project, which spotlights game developers from the Middle East and North Africa. The lineup includes Red Bandits (Saudi Arabia), a stylish heist-action game about rebelling against a monopoly; Enci’s Solution (UAE), a narrative 2.5D platformer with techno-dystopian flair; The Perfect Run (Tunisia), a time-looping superhero RPG; and A Cat’s Manor (Bahrain), a creepy puzzle-adventure starring a stitched-up cat. All four games will launch on PS5 and PC. The initiative mirrors PlayStation’s similar Hero Projects in India and China, part of its broader effort to support emerging voices in global game development.
NBA star Luka Dončić is coming to Overwatch 2. GameSpot
Blizzard is bringing NBA star Luka Dončić into Overwatch 2 as his in-game persona, Sharpshooter 77. The event will feature themed rewards, including a 77 loot box giveaway, a golden basketball weapon charm, a spray, and special hero skins like Fadeaway Fan Cassidy, Luka Dunkcic Lúcio, and Hooper Trooper Zarya. Dončić, now with the Los Angeles Lakers, is also an avid Overwatch player ranked among the top 500 in North America. To promote the crossover, Blizzard is running billboard ads in Dallas, Los Angeles, and even Katowice, Poland, where Dončić plays for Slovenia’s national team.
Exclusive: "Maybe we'll leave Arrakis" – Dune: Awakening producer teases big things for the game's future. TheGamer
Dune: Awakening has seen a steep decline in player numbers since launch, with issues like cheaters, griefers, and lack of content driving many away. Funcom, however, is sticking to its ambitious ten-year plan, with expansions, DLC (The Lost Harvest), and new content dropping every few months. Executive producer Scott Junior said the team isn’t worried about current player counts, emphasizing that breaks are fine as long as players enjoy returning. He also teased that the story may eventually move beyond Arrakis to other iconic Dune worlds like Caladan or Giedi Prime.
Helldivers 2 Into the Unjust update takes the battle to the alien Hive Worlds. EuroGamer
Arrowhead has announced Helldivers 2’s next major update, Into the Unjust, launching on September 2. The update takes players to the Hive Worlds, the insectoid Terminids’ home, where battles unfold in underground tunnels without support from Super Destroyers. It introduces new enemy types, missions like escorting a mobile oil rig, and objectives to destroy the Hive Lung to slow the Gloom. Alongside the update comes the new Dust Devils premium Warbond, featuring weapons, strategems, and cosmetics. The news coincides with the game’s Xbox Series X/S release, which also debuts a Halo-themed Warbond for all platforms.
Sony finally makes the PlayStation refund process easier, killing the support chat bot. EuroGamer
Sony has introduced a new update to the PlayStation Store that makes the refund process much simpler. Players can now request refunds directly through the PlayStation website or app by accessing their transaction history, removing the need to deal with the old support chat bot. The refund rules remain the same, covering purchases within 14 days that haven’t been downloaded or played, unless the product is faulty. This change is part of broader PlayStation Store improvements, which also include new accessibility features and Apple Pay support.
Gamescom 2025 breaks attendance records with 357,000 visitors. VG Chronicles
Gamescom 2025 set new records with 357,000 visitors from 128 countries, surpassing last year’s 335,000. The show featured 1,568 exhibitors from 72 countries across 233,000 square meters of space. Online viewership also surged, with Opening Night Live hitting 72 million views, an 80% jump from last year, and the full program reaching 630 million views worldwide. Organizers called it the biggest and most international Gamescom yet, reinforcing its role as the leading global gaming event.
Resident Evil Requiem wins big at Gamescom Awards 2025. GamesIndustry
Capcom dominated the Gamescom Awards 2025 with Resident Evil Requiem, which won four prizes including Best Sony PlayStation Game, Best Visuals, Best Audio, and Most Epic. The title, launching in February 2026, was showcased with a new trailer and a playable demo. Ubisoft also scored three awards, with Anno 117: Pax Romana taking Best PC Game and recognition for its showfloor booths. Nintendo returned to the platform categories, with Mario Kart World winning Best Switch 2 Game and Donkey Kong Bananza earning Best Gameplay. Other highlights included Hela winning both Most Wholesome and Most Entertaining, Tiny Bookshop receiving Games for Impact, and Hollow Knight: Silksong claiming the Best Trailer award after unveiling its long-awaited release date.
Skate’s early access date has finally been confirmed. VG Chronicles
EA and developer Full Circle have confirmed that Skate, the first new entry in the series in 15 years, will launch in Early Access on September 16, 2025. The game will be free-to-play with cross-platform multiplayer and progression, available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Seasons will roll out every three months, featuring new events, updates, and a Skate Pass with free and paid tiers. However, Skate will require a permanent online connection, as its evolving city and live events are central to the experience.
Devil May Cry, Dragon’s Dogma director Hideaki Itsuno explains why he left Capcom, and what’s next. VG Chronicles
Hideaki Itsuno, longtime Capcom director of Devil May Cry and Dragon’s Dogma, has left the company after 30 years to pursue new creative challenges. He explained that while Capcom prioritizes sequels to established franchises, he wanted his “last chance” in the industry to focus on building a wholly original AAA action game. Now leading Lightspeed Studios Japan, backed by Tencent, Itsuno has recruited several former Capcom veterans to work on the project. He describes the upcoming game as a “Japanese-style” action title, emphasizing creativity, strong animation, and variety, while aiming for efficient development within a controlled budget.
Kpop Demon Hunters is the most popular Netflix movie ever. IGN
KPop Demon Hunters has officially become the most popular Netflix movie of all time, reaching 236 million views since its June release. The animated film gained 25.4 million views in just one week and has shown virtually no decline in audience numbers, a rare achievement. Produced by Sony Pictures Animation, it follows K-pop band Huntrix as they battle demons, earning praise as a “spectacular animated action musical.” Netflix is now expanding the franchise with a live-action remake, stage musical, sequels, and special events, comparing its cultural impact to Disney’s Frozen.
Haunted Chocolatier has fishing, books, and a new screenshot so pretty I want to live in it. PCGamer
Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone confirmed that Haunted Chocolatier will feature fishing and books, alongside sharing a stunning new autumnal forest screenshot. Fans quickly spotted water in the image and asked about fishing, to which Barone replied simply, “there is fishing,” hinting it may improve on Stardew Valley’s divisive minigame. He also revealed that instead of posting long philosophical rants online, he’s channeling them into books within the game’s library. While Haunted Chocolatier has no release date yet, Barone is now fully focused on development following the release of Stardew Valley 1.6.
Atari now owns the rights to five Ubisoft games: Cold Fear, I Am Alive, Child of Eden, Grow Home, and Grow Up. PCGamer
Atari has acquired the rights to five Ubisoft titles: Cold Fear, I Am Alive, Child of Eden, Grow Home, and Grow Up. Atari CEO Wade Rosen said the company plans to reintroduce these games while exploring ways to expand their franchises. Since Atari also owns Nightdive Studios, known for high-quality remasters, fans are hopeful that some of these titles could receive modern remakes or revivals. Many are especially excited about the possibility of a Cold Fear remake, a short but atmospheric survival horror game originally set on a storm-tossed ship.
Xbox is bringing cloud gaming to lower Game Pass tiers, in addition to PC games. VG Chronicles
Microsoft is expanding Xbox Cloud Gaming to the lower-cost Game Pass Core and Standard tiers, starting with a beta for Xbox Insiders. Until now, cloud streaming was only included with the $20 Ultimate tier. The test also lets Core and Standard subscribers stream PC versions of select games for the first time. The move follows hints of a more affordable cloud-focused tier, as Xbox looks to make streaming more accessible worldwide.
“The hardware is at its limits”: Final Fantasy 14 may soon be the next game to leave PS4 behind. TheGamer
Naoki “Yoshi-P” Yoshida has warned that Final Fantasy 14 may soon drop PS4 support as the MMO nears the console’s hardware limits. Despite Sony previously raising the platform’s data cap for the game, Yoshida says those limits are now nearly maxed out. He emphasized a desire to support PS4 players “as long as possible” but admitted service will eventually have to end on the system. If confirmed, FF14 would join other live service titles like PUBG and Genshin Impact in phasing out the last-gen console.
Crystal Dynamics lays off "a number of talented colleagues". GamesIndustry
Crystal Dynamics has confirmed a new round of layoffs, citing “evolving business conditions” and the need to safeguard its long-term stability. The studio thanked affected employees for their contributions and promised transition support, though it did not specify how many roles were cut. Leadership stressed that development of the next Tomb Raider remains unaffected. This marks the company’s third downsizing in under two years, following job cuts in September 2023 and March 2025.
Less than 4 years after a $3.5bn evaluation, Rec Room is letting "roughly half" its team go. GamesIndustry
Less than four years after being valued at $3.5 billion, Rec Room is laying off “roughly half” of its staff. Co-founders Cameron Brown and Nick Fajt said the decision was “one of the toughest choices in Rec Room history” but necessary for the company’s survival, while emphasizing it was not a reflection on employees’ talent. Impacted staff will receive three months’ pay, six months of health benefits, and keep their computers to aid in finding new work. The leadership admitted responsibility for missteps, citing heavy but unsustainable investments in creation tools across multiple platforms. Despite the cuts, they stressed that this painful reset is needed to give Rec Room a chance to thrive long-term.
Elden Ring Nightreign adds high-difficulty expedition mode ‘Deep of Night’ on September 11. Gematsu
Bandai Namco and FromSoftware announced that Elden Ring Nightreign will receive a new high-difficulty Expedition mode, “Deep of Night,” on September 11. Designed for veteran players, the mode features stronger enemies, randomized Nightlord targets, and exclusive items like Depths Relics and weapons with both powerful and detrimental effects. Difficulty increases the deeper players descend, with rankings tied to wins and losses, challenging players to push beyond Depth 3 for the ultimate test.
Ken Levine reminds the world Judas exists with update on a slick gameplay feature. EuroGamer
Ken Levine, creator of Bioshock, resurfaced with a dev blog update on his long-silent project Judas, introducing a new gameplay feature called Villainy. This system, inspired by Shadow of Mordor’s Nemesis system, lets player choices determine which of the “big three” allies may turn into antagonists if neglected, making their betrayal feel like “losing a friend.” First revealed in 2022, Judas still has no release date, but the update signals renewed development activity and promises more blogs to come.
Square Enix reveals full English voice cast for Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles. RPG Site
Square Enix has announced the full English voice cast for Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles, launching September 30 across PS5, PS4, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Notable cast members include Joe Pitts as Ramza Beoulve, Gregg Lowe as Delita Heiral, and Eleanor Bennett as Princess Ovelia. The game, which excludes War of the Lions content, features the original scripts, offers a free Switch-to-Switch 2 upgrade, and introduces Sound Novels in all languages for the first time.
Thunderful Group shareholders approve $5.3 million Atari acquisition. GamesIndustry
Thunderful Group shareholders have approved Atari’s $5.3 million acquisition, making Atari the majority shareholder with roughly 82% ownership. The deal, finalized on August 28, 2025, involves Atari purchasing 333 million shares at SEK 0.15 each, with payment due within three banking days. Thunderful owns several studios and publishers, including Coatsink and Rising Star Games, while Atari recently expanded its portfolio by acquiring Ubisoft IPs such as Cold Fear, I Am Alive, Child of Eden, Grow Home, and Grow Up, which it plans to re-release and expand across new platforms.
US hardware revenue reaches $384m driven by Switch 2 sales. GamesIndustry
US hardware revenue rose 21% to $384 million in July 2025, its highest July figure since 2008, fueled by strong sales of the Nintendo Switch 2, which has sold over two million units since launch and is 75% ahead of the original Switch’s pace. Switch 2 topped hardware sales for the month and year-to-date, while EA dominated software charts with College Football 26 and the MVP Bundle 2025, followed by Donkey Kong Bananza and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4. Overall video game content spending grew 4% to $4.5 billion, driven by mobile and subscription growth, lifting total consumer spending to $5.05 billion.
Bloober Team's CEO wants to bring horror games back to Nintendo in a big way. TheGamer
Bloober Team, fresh off the success of its Silent Hill 2 remake and with Cronos: New Dawn launching next week, has expressed strong interest in bringing horror games back to Nintendo platforms. CEO Piotr Babieno highlighted the GameCube era, when titles like Eternal Darkness and Resident Evil 4 thrived, calling it a “gold time” for Nintendo fans and suggesting his studio hopes to open a new chapter on Switch 2. While specific plans remain undisclosed, Babieno confirmed there are concrete ideas in motion, pointing to inspirations ranging from Luigi’s Mansion to full psychological horror experiences.
Mega Hawlucha announced for Pokémon Legends Z-A. VG Chronicles
The Pokémon Company has revealed Mega Hawlucha for Pokémon Legends Z-A, joining Mega Victreebel as a new Mega form. First teased in a wrestling-style poster with Machamp, Mega Hawlucha was officially shown in a new trailer. Announced during the Pokémon World Championships, the game will also feature Z-A Battle Club, a new four-player multiplayer mode, and Mega Rogue battles against giant Mega-Evolved Pokémon. Pokémon Legends Z-A launches October 16 for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, with Switch players able to upgrade, while the Switch 2 edition offers improved resolution and frame rate.
FNCS 2025 Global Championship format and schedule explained. Esports Insider
The Fortnite FNCS 2025 Global Championship will take place in Lyon-Décines, France, from September 6–7, featuring 33 trios in a 12-game tournament, marking the first time the championship uses a trios format instead of duos. The event has a $2.001m prize pool, with $450,000 awarded to the winning team, all of whom qualified through regional Majors and Grand Finals. Notable storylines include the disqualification of Skits and his teammates for cheating, with their spot passed to another Oceania team, and top contenders such as XSET’s co-owner competing alongside Ben “Bugha” Anderson and Jaxon “Eomzo” Fretz. Defending champion Peter “Peterbot” Kata, now with Joshua “Cold” Butler and Maguire “Ritual” Morton, will aim to secure back-to-back titles.
Yooka-Replaylee lands autumn release date. EuroGamer
Yooka-Replaylee, Playtonic’s updated version of Yooka-Laylee, will release on October 9 for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2, priced at £24.99 with a 30% discount for owners of the original game. The game features a refined story, enhanced art and animations, a new Rextro’s Arcade, updated collectibles and tonics, a new map and guide character, improved controls and camera, and a fully orchestrated soundtrack by Grant Kirkhope and David Wise. The release aims to modernize the original adventure while keeping it playful and visually vibrant.
Lost Soul Aside demo now available on PS5 and PC Steam. RPG Site
A free demo for Lost Soul Aside is now available on PlayStation 5 and PC (Steam), featuring two sections and selected combat encounters, though save data does not carry over to the full game. The PS5 demo is 38.76GB, and the full game is also available worldwide on both platforms, letting players try different abilities, weapons, and boss fights.
“That really sucks” — Battlefield 6 developer DICE knows anti-cheat measures like secure boot mean some PC gamers just won't be able to play the game. IGN
Battlefield 6 PC players must enable Secure Boot to play, a requirement tied to DICE’s anti-cheat measures. Some gamers faced difficulties during the open beta because enabling Secure Boot involves BIOS configuration, TPM 2.0 activation, and ensuring the Windows disk uses GPT rather than MBR. While this prevents some PCs from running the game, DICE technical director Christian Buhl emphasizes that these measures make cheating significantly harder. Despite the inconvenience, DICE is satisfied with the anti-cheat performance and prioritizes a strong system to combat cheaters, though it acknowledges some players may be unable to access the game.
PlayStation 6 handheld rumors are ramping up, this time with claims it’s dockable. IGN
Rumors suggest a dockable PlayStation 6 handheld could be coming, reportedly backwards compatible with PS4 and PS5 games, featuring a 16CU RDNA 5 iGPU and varying clock speeds in handheld and docked modes. Leaks estimate prices at $299–$399 for a PS6S, $399–$499 for the handheld, and $549–$699 for the base PS6, with a potential fall 2027 release. Sony executives confirm next-generation console development is ongoing, emphasizing that players still value local gameplay over cloud-only solutions. Former SIE CEO Shawn Layden noted PlayStation likely cannot go fully disc-less due to its global market reach, and AMD reportedly secured the PS6 chip contract in 2022.
Metal Gear Solid Delta Tactical Edition. Get $15 DLC pack for free while you can. GameSpot
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater – Tactical Edition is available now on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC for $69, including a free $15 Sneaking DLC Pack with 10 cosmetics for Solid Snake. The Collector’s Edition, which added a Terrarium Diorama, steelbook, and other extras, sold out quickly. PC players can save 25% on Steam keys: Standard $52.38 (was $70) and Digital Deluxe $59.87 (was $80). Retailers include Amazon and Walmart, and the Tactical Edition is a limited launch version; future standard editions won’t include the DLC voucher.
VCT 2025: Americas Stage 2: teams, schedule, details. Esports Insider
The VCT Americas Stage 2 Finals runs from August 29–31 at the Riot Games Arena in Los Angeles, featuring Sentinels, G2 Esports, NRG, and Cloud9 competing for the final VALORANT Champions Paris spot. The double-elimination playoffs start with Sentinels vs. G2 in the Upper Finals, while NRG faces Cloud9 in the Lower Bracket; all Lower Finals and Grand Finals matches are best-of-five. Saturday also hosts the OVERRIDE Showmatch, letting viewers vote on in-game rules, and a Stage 2 Finals Block Party with artist alleys, team booths, fan activities, and live music. Sentinels and G2 enter as top seeds, while NRG and Cloud9 fight for the last Champions Paris berth.
Honkai: Nexus Anima revealed, here's how to sign up for its beta test. GameSpot
HoYoverse has announced Honkai: Nexus Anima, a new gacha game with creature-collecting elements that differ from Pokémon, featuring auto-battler-style combat, playable Anima in minigames, and customizable player characters. The beta, called the Nexus Bond Test, is open on iOS and PC with multiple language options, and runs until September 12. To join, players can sign up on the official website, log in with a HoYoverse account, and complete a questionnaire about device, gaming habits, and spending. No full release date has been announced yet.
Genshin Impact 6.0 isn't actually called that, will instead be known as "Version Luna 1", and is coming in early September. VG247
Genshin Impact’s next major update, officially called Version Luna 1 (not 6.0), launches globally on September 10, introducing the new Nod-Krai region and kicking off the year-long Song of the Welkin Moon saga. The update adds three new companions—Lauma, Flins, and Aino—along with new combat mechanics like Lunar Reactions and the Kuuvahki elemental force, plus features such as Meeting Points, expanded Adventure EXP sources, artifact previews, and Masterless Stella Fortuna. Players can also look forward to free bonuses on login, including a 5-Star character of their choice and Primogems, while Miliastra Wonderland will add UGC stage creation in a future update.
Angry Video Game Nerd 8-bit launches October 23. Gematsu
Angry Video Game Nerd 8-bit launches on October 23 for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series, Xbox One, Switch, and PC via Steam, with physical editions (including a NES cartridge) available through Limited Run Games. The side-scrolling action platformer lets players control The Nerd across pixel-art levels filled with zombies, mechanical skeletons, and ghoulish reapers, facing familiar bosses from the Angry Video Game Nerd universe while collecting power-ups and exploring alternate routes.
Hollow Knight: Silksong's price may have been leaked by GameStop, and it's actually quite cheap. TheGamer
Hollow Knight: Silksong may launch at a surprisingly low price of $19.99 on Nintendo Switch 2, according to a GameStop listing. While Team Cherry hasn’t officially confirmed pricing, this would make it only $5 more expensive than the original Hollow Knight, offering a highly anticipated game at an unusually affordable cost compared to other major releases.
Path of Exile 2 free weekend now live with exclusive cosmetics. RPG Site
Path of Exile 2 kicks off its first free weekend from August 29 to September 1, letting players try the game on PC, Steam, Epic, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5 without an Early Access key. Participants can earn exclusive cosmetics like Exile’s Hood, Staff, and Cloak by completing in-game quests, while Twitch Drops and Discord rewards offer additional items such as the Clam Stash Skin, Abyssal Helmet, Cape of the Abyssal, Storm of Valako Portal, and a Chaos Orb Twitch Chat Badge.
Darkest Dungeon 2's latest update adds bloodsucking bug-people to its grand campaign mode, and you can try the sequel for free this weekend. PCGamer
Darkest Dungeon 2’s latest update adds the Curse of the Court campaign to Kingdoms mode, introducing vampiric bug-people and three new Kingdom maps, along with music, achievements, and gameplay tweaks. To celebrate, the game is playable for free this weekend until September 1, and it’s also on a 63% discount at $14.79, letting players explore the grim, strategy-driven sequel at its deepest sale yet.
75% of Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition Nintendo Switch 2 sales were physical, CD Projekt reveals. IGN
CD Projekt revealed that 75% of Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition sales on Nintendo Switch 2 were physical, thanks to the full game and expansion fitting on a 64 GB cartridge, offering a plug-and-play experience. The launch success was boosted by Switch 2 day-one availability and exclusive enhancements, with CD Projekt highlighting positive reception from players and media. Nintendo is surveying its userbase about preferences for physical versus digital games, reflecting ongoing debate over Game-Key Cards versus cartridges. Meanwhile, the Switch 2 has seen record-breaking hardware sales, moving 1.6 million units in its debut month in the U.S..
After years of waiting, Escape From Tarkov might finally be coming to Steam. TheGamer
After nearly a decade of Early Access, Escape from Tarkov might finally be coming to Steam, following years of being available only through its proprietary launcher. Battlestate Games teased the move with a GIF hinting at “steam,” fueling speculation ahead of the game’s 1.0 full release on November 15. The Steam launch could attract a large wave of new players, expanding the hardcore shooter’s already significant PC audience.
Borderlands 4 post-launch roadmap reveals the return of something fans loved from Borderlands 2. RPG Site
Borderlands 4’s post-launch roadmap reveals a mix of free updates and paid DLC through early 2026, including the return of Pearlescent weapons and shields from Borderlands 2. The first paid bounty pack arrives this fall with new missions, bosses, and Legendary gear, while a Story Pack in early 2026 introduces a new Vault Hunter, a mini-campaign, and a cosmic-horror-themed expansion featuring Mad Ellie. Free updates will add challenges like Invincible Bosses, weekly encounters, and Black Market features, giving fans a rich endgame grind. Pearlescent drops will be ultra-rare with high power, bringing back a beloved collectible system from Borderlands 2.
Kaiju No. 8 The Game is now available worldwide on iOS and Android. RPG Site
Kaiju No. 8 The Game, a free-to-play turn-based RPG based on the manga and anime, is now available worldwide on iOS and Android, with a PC release on Steam coming later. The game features three story modes—Main Story, Memories, and Character Stories—alongside turn-based battles where players form squads of four Japan Anti-Kaiju Defense Force officers. It includes character growth systems, equipment crafting, and original storylines with full voice acting. Pre-registrations surpassed 1.1 million, granting rewards like a ★5 character of choice, gacha tickets, Dimensional Crystals, and Credits.
Stardew Valley will be getting another update after all. EuroGamer
Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone surprised fans at the Stardew Valley Symphony of Seasons concert in Seattle by announcing that, despite previously stating update 1.6 would be the last, another update is coming to the farming sim. While details and timelines remain unknown, the news raises questions about its impact on Barone’s next game, Haunted Chocolatier. Stardew Valley’s last major update added new NPC dialogues, home renovations, and turtle pets, further boosting its long-term appeal. Nearly a decade after launch, the game has sold over 41 million copies worldwide, with PC leading at 26 million and Nintendo Switch at 7.9 million.
Biggest releases this week
