Just prior to GTA 6 taking center stage by Fraser Gilbert Yesterday, 5pm We’re drawing nearer to compiling our Pure Xbox Game of the Year summary for 2026, and with that thought in mind, we recently inquired from you which titles you regarded as your favorite GOTY selections before December arrives. However, what about Metacritic? As you might be aware, Metacritic calculates an average score based on the professional critiques submitted for a game. Provided that the title has seven or more critic reviews, it is included in a list of the “Top Games” for that platform. Multi-platform titles often receive significantly more reviews on PS5 and Switch compared to Xbox, which can occasionally distort the top 10 rankings a little, but nonetheless, we have an impressive collection of the 10 finest Xbox games of 2026: Hades 2 (95) Resident Evil Requiem (93) Mixtape (92) Forza Horizon 6 (90) Ace Combat 8: Wings of...
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“We’re talking about ongoing assistance for Samson.” by Fraser Gilbert Yesterday, 6pm Just a few days ago, we released a “Hands On” article about our experience with Samson on Xbox Series X, but regretfully, the development studio responsible for the game has now been compelled to shut down. In a message shared on Twitter, Liquid Swords founder Christofer Sundberg indicated that Samson has performed “much better” on consoles compared to its initial PC launch, yet it hasn’t been sufficient to salvage the studio. Here’s what he expressed: As observed, Sundberg discloses that his team is “talking about ongoing assistance for Samson,” which may imply that there’s still potential for updates and general bug remedies at the very least. We will need to be patient and see what transpires next, but Sundberg (who notably was one of the developers of the Just Cause franchise) notes that the situation is “not the end of the world”...
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Showcasing a probable appearance from Shrek 2 Remastered! by Fraser Gilbert 5 hours ago It’s nearly time for another Xbox showcase! The forthcoming event is the ID@Xbox Showcase in collaboration with IGN, featuring 18 titles including several World Premieres (and most likely a lot of Xbox Game Pass games!). “IGN and Xbox are collaborating once more to present you a fresh edition of the ID@Xbox showcase. On October 20, we’ll be showcasing exclusive unveils from numerous new and forthcoming games that will be arriving on Xbox and PC. This year’s livestream will encompass trailers, gameplay, and more from 18 remarkable titles…” The scheduled date for this week’s Xbox Showcase is Tuesday, October 20th. Here are the start times: North America: 10am PDT / 11am MDT / 12pm CDT / 1pm EDT UK/Ire: 6pm BST Europe: 7pm CEST / 8pm EEST Asia/Oceania: 2am (Wed) JST / 1am (Wed) AWST / 4am (Wed) AEDT It has...
Read MoreDMZ is also occurring today! by Craig Reid 4 hours ago Welcome back to your most recent update on new titles debuting on Xbox today! It seems there are seven newcomers arriving today, alongside early access to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4‘s new DMZ feature. Meanwhile, We Were Here Tomorrow captures the limelight as the next significant co-op journey from the acclaimed We Were Here franchise. At this moment, there are no fresh Xbox Game Pass launches scheduled for today. Nevertheless, we’re anticipating an announcement in a few hours regarding what’s on the horizon for XGP for the remainder of October. So, who knows? There might be an unforeseen addition to today’s roster. Thus, here’s what is releasing on Xbox today (October 20): We Were Here Tomorrow (Series X|S, PC, Cloud) On a mission to rescue your fellow Explorers, you and your companion become ensnared beneath the Antarctic ice. Upon awakening, you discover...
Read MoreTrails in the Sky 1st Chapter debuted last year to near-unanimous praise from reviewers and enthusiasts. It was a meticulously created, ground-up revival of the initial game in the Legend of Heroes series, which first launched in 2004. The revival introduced complete 3D graphics, intricate combat, and a variety of enhancements aimed at making it considerably more accessible for newcomers. With Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter, Nihon Falcom has continued this fan-favorite revival with a sequel that mirrors the triumph of its forerunner, featuring a more powerful storyline and a somewhat darker atmosphere. Set immediately following the conclusion of the initial game, our protagonist siblings Joshua and Estelle Bright have triumphed over Colonel Richard and thwarted his coup. Peace is restored to the Kingdom of Liberl, and the siblings finally advance to senior Bracers. Estelle manages to enjoy at least one peaceful night’s rest before awakening to discover her brother missing, with startling...
Read MoreA Switch 2 exclusive by Jim Norman Yesterday, 5:15pm Image: CD Projekt Red Following its revelation earlier this month, CD Projekt Red has today unveiled its newest update for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered, which includes some console-specific enhancements for Switch 2. Version 5.01 has begun distribution in most areas today (the developers note that it will debut in Japan once it completes certification), encompassing everything from gameplay adjustments to UI oddities. Specifically on Switch 2, the update has enhanced “visual clarity and fidelity” and resolved some bugs present at launch. The complete patch notes were published on the game’s official site, and we have compiled them for you to review below. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Remastered Ver. 5.01 (19th Oct 2026) Gameplay Resolved an issue where the “Automatically Apply Blade Oils” functionality only activated if enabled during the active game session. Resolved an issue where, under certain conditions, player-controlled...
Read MoreImage: Zion Grassl / Nintendo Life In case you haven’t observed, another opportunity to experience The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is approaching. The upcoming 5th November launch date for the Switch 2 remake has invited us to delve into our OoT recollections, stirring feelings of nostalgia for the beginnings of our fondness for the game — after all, you can play it as often as you desire, but you only experience a ‘first playthrough’ a single time. For the majority of us at Nintendo Life Towers, those initial memories transport us back to the N64, although some individuals may have first encountered the game via the GameCube, its 3DS remake or the NSO library. Heck, you might not have even recognized this obscure gem until Nintendo revealed it for Switch 2 (we doubt many of you reading this fall into that category, but hey, there’s a possibility). Subscribe to Nintendo Life on...
Read MoreJoin the quest today Update : Here’s your notification that Capcom has now launched the Monster Hunter Wilds prologue demonstration on the Switch 2 eShop. Yet again, it will enable you to enjoy the game with friends and family through local gameplay. Your saved progress will also transfer to the complete journey when it debuts on Switch 2 in December. As per the Switch 2, the prologue demonstration necessitates approximately 12.8GB of available storage for installation. Original Story: : Last month, Capcom revealed that it would be launching a Prologue Demo for Monster Hunter Wilds on the Switch 2. It has now issued an update regarding this, stating that it will be accessible next week on 19th October 2026. It will be an entirely complimentary download and allows you to transfer your saved data to the full game when it is released on 4th December...
Read MoreThe recent live-action Street Fighter film premiered in theaters last week, and the critic evaluations are now coming in. The initial worldwide box office update has also been released, indicating that the movie has reportedly earned $51.1 million during its opening weekend. In contrast, the Mortal Kombat 2 film, which debuted in theaters earlier this year, made $63 million globally upon release. The site Rotten Tomatoes currently displays a critic score of 41%, while Metacritic scores show an average of 44/100. User ratings for the Street Fighter film appear to be more positive, with audiences (and fans) granting this latest installment an average score of 79% on the film and television platform, and 6.7/10 on Metacritic. Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube853k Here’s a recap of what the reviewers have commented on regarding this new live-action movie: Street Fighter Movie (2026) – Critic Review Round Up IGN – 6/10: “Kitao Sakurai doesn’t consistently manage...
Read More“Technological progress will continue, but…” Image credit: RGG Studios The Japan Actors Union has released new protocols, guidelines, and limitations pertaining to AI-generated voice utilization. This encompasses a complete prohibition on the reproduction of the voices of deceased performers, unless the individual had sanctioned its usage during their lifetime. According to Automaton, these guidelines aim to safeguard an industry that has faced exploitation by generative AI. One instance involves voice actor Kenjiro Tsuda (Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man) suing TikTok in an effort to eliminate AI-generated vocal reproductions from the platform. Although he ultimately lost that case, he established a precedent that an individual’s voice is entitled to protection under publicity rights legislation. System Shock – Official ‘Blessings of AI’ Launch Trailer Here’s a System Shock trailer!Watch on YouTube The guidelines address four principal aspects. The first emphasizes consent and stipulates that approval must be obtained at “every step” of the generative AI process....
Read MoreImage credit: Sony / PlayStation Ken Kutaragi, the creator of PlayStation and designer of the initial three PlayStation consoles, has mentioned that individuals being frustrated about Sony’s cessation of game discs is likely a “mindset issue”. He comprehends it, he pointed out, but that doesn’t render it “financially sensible” for Sony to continue producing them. Kutaragi spoke with Video Games Chronicle at the Game Republic New Horizons event, where he stated: “I realize that physical discs have transformed into a symbol of ‘owning’ games. I genuinely grasp that mindset… However, no one believes is essential for a connected device like a smartphone, for instance, because people feel that they will retain their content. Thus, it’s a mindset. “I truly understand ,” he added, “but I don’t consider it financially sensible. Perhaps it’s a mindset issue.” A brief history of console reveals… – Eurogamer Ken Kutaragi appears in the...
Read MoreImage credit: Embark Studios Arc Raiders continues to thrive nearly a year after achieving viral popularity, and it’s all due to Embark Studios’ strategic approach of releasing a significant new update, Frozen Trails, coinciding with a complimentary weekend. This Frozen Trails update elevated the extraction shooter to version 2.0 earlier this month – on the 8th of October – and promptly resulted in an influx of Steam players drawn to its intense PvEvP confrontations. A new analysis from Alinea Analytics‘ Rhys Elliott now indicates that a comparable resurgence occurred across all platforms where the game is offered. As per the analysis, Arc Raiders’ revival peaked with an astonishing 1.7m daily players engaging on the 14th of October, marking its highest player count in six months, predominantly driven by the previously mentioned update. Interestingly, player figures notably peaked just after the free trial weekend ended on the 12th of October – although approximately 150,000 new...
Read MoreImage credit: Square Enix Final Fantasy 7 Revelation will permit players to access Hard Mode from the very outset of their adventure, in contrast to FF7 Remake and Rebirth, which required users to complete the game before unlocking the harder difficulty option. This information comes from director Naoki Hamaguchi, who informed Hardcore Gamer that the Hard Mode in Final Fantasy 7 Revelation “won’t operate in precisely the same manner” as it did in the past. For next year’s concluding chapter, the developers “reconceptualized the high-difficulty experience to correspond with the new game design.” This time, the realm of Gaia is said to open up quite early in the gameplay. Cloud and his team can head straight to some of the game’s most difficult battles as soon as they take off in their flying vessel, irrespective of their preparedness for the conflict. Thus, Square Enix‘s strategy towards difficulty had to be adjusted as well. “Hard...
Read MoreImage credit: Digital Sun Digital Sun – the independent studio behind addictive roguelike Moonlighter and atmospheric RTS Cataclismo – has postponed a scheduled Steam playtest for its upcoming title, ReVamp, due to worries about “games being reverse-engineered, replicated and published before the original is even out.” The developer had intended to allow players into its vampiric “Tower Defensevania” ReVamp towards the close of this eerie month, but a rising trend of gen-AI imitators replicating both classic and forthcoming games left the studio concerned. Watch on YouTube “So many of you registered for ReVamp’s initial playtest here on Steam (thank you!), but we’ve opted to initiate with something more limited on our Discord, with the public playtest set to follow at a later date,” the developer mentioned in a recent Steam blog post. Digital Sun highlighted concerns regarding “reports of games being reverse-engineered, replicated and published before the original has even launched,” expressing that “sharing...
Read More(Image credit: Lego) Just when I believe I’ve observed everything, someone decides to transform a chicken into a Lego Millennium Falcon. More precisely, they have fashioned the galaxy’s swiftest heap of junk utilizing a Moana Lego Hehei kit (which is adorably google-eyed and frequently available for less than $30 at Amazon). Enthusiast Switz399 shared their creation on reddit, and it’s… rather impressive, actually? Yes, it might appear slightly more floral than Han Solo’s ship usually is because of the flowers on Heihei’s foundation. Yet, it’s unmistakably the scruffy nerf herder’s aircraft. Most remarkable of all is the revelation that they seemingly utilized every single part in the box. Don’t waste, don’t want, I assume. Will it Falcon HeiHei Chicken from r/lego In addition to the design being accurate (including the challenging cockpit that protrudes at a peculiar angle), this construction adeptly captures minor yet easily-overlooked features like the circular grills at the rear and...
Read More(Image credit: Netflix/CD Projekt Red) Cyberpunk: Edgerunners season 2 is nearly here, with the inaugural episode of the upcoming season scheduled to launch live on Twitch. CD Projekt Red declared that the debut will broadcast live on its official Twitch channel on October 20 at midnight EST. You can view the official announcement below to ascertain your particular time zone. For episodes 2-10, however, having that Netflix subscription will be necessary. The studio also revealed that select streamers will co-stream the episode on their individual channels, and users will have the opportunity to earn Twitch Chat Badges. Edgerunners is heading to Twitch! 🔥 Catch the initial episode of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 on our official Twitch channels on October 20: 🕛 12:01 AM CEST / 3:01 PM PDT / 9:01 AEDT / 7:01 AM JST 🕛 12:00 PM CEST / 3:00 AM PDT / 9:00 PM AEDT / 7:00 PM JST 🕘 9:00 PM CEST...
Read More(Image credit: Jagex) In January 2023, an Old School RuneScape enthusiast made history by soaring to 200 million proficiency in the MMO’s challenging Agility skill in less than a minute by redeeming eight years worth of accrued minigame tickets. It was unparalleled – a ‘witness it to believe it’ instance, akin to observing someone topple a series of dominoes as vast and intricate as the Taj Mahal. On October 16, 2026, another OSRS player, Vollshtandig, achieved 200 million Agility proficiency following a 3,475-hour effort that is somehow even more daunting. A few months earlier, Vollshtandig revealed his ambition to attain 200 million proficiency in every skill – a feat that only 73 individuals have accomplished in OSRS’s history, or merely 60 if you consider the newly introduced skill Sailing – by focusing on them individually. Once he selects a new skill, he cannot gain experience in any other until he achieves max proficiency in...
Read MoreYou may not be familiar with the municipality of Skövde, Sweden, but if you’re frequently following Steam’s most popular games, you’ve likely encountered some of the titles emanating from its surprisingly prolific game development community. This town of approximately 58,000 residents has produced numerous viral successes – especially in the survival category – resulting in its own Hollywood-esque “Walk of Game” that honors all of them. Skövde’s Walk of Game welcomes titles that have achieved sales of at least 3 million copies (or reached 15 million downloads for free games) and have had no less than 50% of their development time spent in the town. Games celebrated in the city’s pavements comprise Goat Simulator and Satisfactory from Coffee Stain Studios, V Rising from Stunlock Studios, Valheim from Iron Gate, and Raft from Redbeet Interactive. RV There Yet? has been immortalized in the streets of our town Skövde, Sweden! In addition to the other remarkable...
Read More(Image credit: Grinding Gear Games) Blizzard’s Diablo franchise is what most individuals associate with the term ARPG, yet Path of Exile is undoubtedly the nearest contender. Directly and explicitly motivated by Diablo 2, Grinding Gear Games’ free-to-play ARPG enjoys an exceptionally devoted and substantial player community of its own, and it’s not difficult to discover genre aficionados who regard it as their preferred choice for various reasons. The instance we’re here to discuss involves Joe Ziegler, the game director most recognized for directing Riot’s competitive shooter Valorant and subsequently Bungie‘s extraction shooter Marathon, who claims to have an astounding 3,437 hours logged in Path of Exile due to the unmatched complexity of buildcrafting it presents. “ARPGs to me revolve around buildcrafting and the ingenuity of assembling components,” Ziegler shares with PC Gamer. “And I believe Path of Exile is the most unrestricted manifestation of that. The extent of experimentation one can experience in...
Read MoreHere’s The Situation by Stephen Tailby 10 hours ago Creator Supermassive Games has recently launched a substantial new update for its newest Dark Pictures horror expedition, Directive 8020. The complimentary update introduces online multiplayer to the sci-fi story-driven game, enabling up to five participants (a copy of the game each is necessary) to share the experience together without needing to be in the same location. There are a couple of distinct methods to engage with the game together online. The first is Custom Mode, in which all participants select a character initially, and control alternates between users depending on which character is highlighted. Round Robin Mode eliminates character selection and merely cycles control among players at predetermined intervals. Playing online, you may all vote on which decisions to make at specific moments, either reaching an agreement or choosing your individual paths and observing which option prevails. The update also introduces new customisation downloadable content,...
Read MoreImage: Push Square So, it appears increasingly probable that the PS6 will carry a hefty price tag. A report that circulated extensively over the weekend asserts that constantly rising component prices will place Sony in a highly challenging situation concerning next-gen console releases. In summary, it is speculated that the platform owner will invest just below $1,000 for each PS6 it manufactures. So, unless it intends to market the device at a considerable loss, this unit is poised to demand a premium at retail. Thus, with the prospect of a potential $1,000 PS6 in mind (which translates to approximately £750 or €900), I would like to know if you would actually cover that cost. Of course, we’re still lacking comprehensive next-gen information at this moment. Your stance might completely shift based on launch titles or hardware/software attributes. For this poll’s intention, we are considering solely the pricing aspect. Is any console deserving of that...
Read MoreImage: Push Square While developer Bungie refines Marathon and resurrects Destiny 2’s discarded material, it might be negotiating to undertake a fresh project. Per insider Quarterman – as disclosed by Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grubb during his Game Mess Mornings podcast – the Sony studio may be in line to carry on the Star Wars Battlefront series. This scenario leans heavily into classic rumour territory, so consider all this with considerable skepticism, but Quarterman mentions that Disney has been encouraged by the sustained popularity of Star Wars Battlefront 2, which saw an immense surge of players unexpectedly last summer. Subscribe to Push Square on YouTube172k (It even managed to lead the PS4 sales charts for several months.) “The executives at Lucasfilm have been actively deploying probe droids to find a development partner to undertake the responsibility of crafting a sequel,” Quarterman states, as interpreted by Grubb. The document continues to assert that contenders include EA...
Read MoreCan’t discover a better price than complimentary by Graham Banas 5 hours ago In what has turned into a bit of a ritual for PSVR2 rhythm favorite Synth Riders, the impending celebration of Halloween signifies that Kluge Interactive is providing the game with an update featuring a complimentary new tune. This year, the track at hand is ‘Lord & Master‘ by Apashe. A deep cinematic piece, this leans back slightly towards the original essence that Synth Riders showcased at its inception, which is a highly appreciated comeback. Although the recent series of DLC packs, such as the massive Linkin Park one, have been fantastic, they haven’t truly encapsulated that synth essence. While this Apashe track doesn’t take us completely across home plate in that regard, it still resonates in that same vibe. Plus, it’s complimentary! Who would decline free content, especially when the gameplay loop remains one of the most remarkable experiences available on...
Read MoreWith a scribblecore style and a narrative so chaotic it’d make even Suda51 grin, Stupid Never Dies is certainly not your typical roguelite. I believe this point is crucial, as this inaugural action venture from Japanese developer GPTRACK50 is stepping into a genre that’s rapidly filling up with choices. Davy’s plunge into the depths of the earth’s infernal core doesn’t really innovate compared to its counterparts, but it offers such a peculiar mix that I feel it merits your focus. You assume the role of the previously mentioned adolescent, a pop punk genius who’s been transformed into a staggering cadaver at the world’s end. When he encounters the frozen figure of a beauty named Julia, he flushes himself down a toilet to confront a wicked deity named KOM, all driven by the desire to resurrect her. The game’s initial hours are crammed with exposition, and I believe the developers could have exercised a lighter...
Read MoreA recent surge of generative AI-driven game replication is compelling established gaming studios to modify their development approaches—and in one significant indie studio’s scenario, it entails reducing a previously-scheduled public playtest due to concerns over being outpaced by vibe-coding imitators. The indie studio in question is Digital Sun Games, widely recognized for Moonlighter and Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault. The firm is currently developing an upcoming “Tower Defensevania” title named ReVamp and had announced earlier this month intentions to conduct a public playtest to gather player insights, collect data, and enhance the forthcoming game. However, those intentions are now on hold. In a message posted on Steam and Bluesky, the studio communicated to players that the team is “worried by recent reports of games being reverse-engineered, reproduced, and released prior to the original’s launch.” (via Kotaku.) “With the release still months away, a substantial public version of ReVamp seemed like too significant a risk,”...
Read MoreKitten Space Agency and Icarus creator RocketWerkz alongside gaming platform provider Ahwoo—both established by seasoned DayZ creator Dean Hall—have revealed the open-source launch of the game development framework referred to as “BRUTAL,” a C#-centered framework that provides developers with an alternative to third-party gaming engines such as Unity, Unreal Engine, or even Godot. This framework integrates C# and .NET with C++ libraries and low-level graphics access, serving as a basis for developers to construct and sustain their own development resources. Such choices have gained appeal following significant issues like the Unity Runtime Fee incident and Epic Games’ declaration regarding the deprecation of Unreal’s Blueprints functionality, which have raised concerns for some developers about the reliability of their technology stacks. RocketWerkz has been actively utilizing BRUTAL in the creation of Kitten Space Agency, though developers in search of an external case study should refer to the latest update on Ludeon Studios’ Rimworld. The developer announced...
Read MoreA fresh occasion in Split promises a waterfront location, a global audience merging AAA and indie – and no scheduling application Image credit: Splitscreen A new Croatian development conference is striving to bridge the void left by the recently-passed and beloved Reboot Develop, which concluded this year with the organizer being issued a bankruptcy order. The “no-stress” Splitscreen, occurring in the Croatian capital from April 20–22, 2027, has been established by a fresh team, yet aims to embody the same essence that made its predecessor a favored destination for the global sector. The essential components: a global audience, an ancient town, a coastal hotel where indie developers can mingle (and enjoy cocktails) with AAA veterans – and no scheduling application. The latter was deemed the “most-desired feature” by individuals consulted during the event’s inception, according to director and co-founder Hrvoje Mitic, leading to an emphasis on social engagement rather than the widespread Meet2Match. “The...
Read More“Our affiliates are weary of the delays and are ready to take necessary actions to achieve a just contract, equitable pay, and appropriate working conditions.” Image credit: Activision Quality Assurance United-CWA Members of the Activision Quality Assurance United-CWA (AQAU-CWA) union have cast their votes to permit a strike if needed, asserting that Activision has “failed to negotiate in good faith regarding crucial matters” in the quest for an initial contract. The AQAU-CWA’s negotiation committee commenced discussions with Activision in August 2024, following their formation in March when more than 600 QA workers united. Microsoft voluntarily acknowledged the union under its labor neutrality agreement, which it established with the CWA in 2022. The CWA now represents nearly 2,500 employees at Activision Blizzard. “For two years, Activision has postponed and hindered discussions instead of fulfilling their obligation to negotiate in good faith with the committed employees who work on highly successful titles that the gaming community...
Read MoreQualified games must have been released on PC or console between January 1 and December 31, 2026 Image credit: Game Developers Choice Awards The 2027 Game Developers Choice Awards (GDCA) will be welcoming entries from publishers and developers for the very first time. Games launched on PC or console from January 1 to December 31, 2026, are qualified. Titles must be submitted for evaluation. GDCA 2027 imposes no entry fees, and the deadline for submissions is November 1, 2026. In the past, the GDCA operated using a nomination-based voting framework via the International Choice Awards Network (ICAN), an exclusive panel consisting of over 500 creators, developers, and industry professionals. Additionally, two new award categories have been added: Best Game Launch and Best Gaming Tech. Victors will be revealed at the 2027 GDCA ceremony on Tuesday, March 2 during the GDC Festival of Gaming. Earlier this year, the GDC Festival of Gaming declared further modifications...
Read MorePersonnel on the D&D and Studio X groups will now cast their votes in a National Labor Relations Board election Image credit: UWOTC-CWA Wizards of the Coast is denying to provide voluntary acknowledgment to a union initiative by its Dungeons & Dragons and Studio X teams. Personnel will instead participate in a confidential-ballot election supervised by the National Labor Relations Board. As reported by Wargamer, the union, United Wizards of the Coast-CWA, declared the decision via Twitter/X on Wednesday, October 14, and a company representative affirmed it. Wargamer accessed an email purportedly sent to Wizards’ US employees, in which the organization states that it is “not impartial on the issue of unionization.” It further mentions that it prefers to communicate with employees directly instead of through unions. The email indicates that eligible workers have the right to make their own choices, and that Wizards will respect the result of the election regardless of how...
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