Netflix and Rockstar Games worked together on the recent 26-minute GTA 6 Extended Look trailer, and it seemingly paid off in multiple ways for the streaming company. After Netflix's own data showed that the Extended Look was incredibly popular with viewers, it's now been reported that the Extended Look drove more than 100,000 people to sign up to Netflix that day in the US alone.

This is according to Ampere Analysis, which added that the Extended Look was the third-biggest Netflix event in 2026 for new subscriber sign-ups. The two bigger events were the final season of Stranger Things and the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano MMA fight, Ampere said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpPpqZwUwl0

Ampere went on to say more than 5% of US Netflix members who hadn't watched any content on the service in the previous 30 days before the Extended Look came back to watch it "before anything else." Ampere said this "reactivation rate" was higher than any other show or movie on Netflix during that 30-day period.

"More than 100,000 sign-ups from a six-hour exclusive window shows the pulling power of a major gaming event. For Netflix, it also offers a way to compete with YouTube for gamer attention and to bring lapsed viewers back to the platform. For Rockstar, Netflix opens GTA 6 up to audiences beyond the franchise’s traditional core," Ampere's Louise Wooldridge said.

The Extended Look was indeed just that--offering the deepest look yet at Rockstar's big new game. The video showed off a variety of gameplay and cutscenes, and teased out some of the new features people can expect. For more, check out GameSpot's breakdown video above to get up to speed with everything we learned about GTA 6 in the new footage.

GTA 6 launches on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, and it appears people in the US will be among the last in the world to get to play.

A decade ago, at its PlayStation E3 press conference, Sony introduced veteran game designer Hideo Kojima in grand fashion to show off the first trailer for Death Stranding. It's now 2026, and that partnership appears to have fizzled out, as Kojima's Metal Gear Solid spiritual successor, Physint, has found a new home at Xbox after Sony dropped it. The Metal Gear Solid creator has also confirmed that he received notice from the company that it intended to cancel Phsyint, leading to several months in which the project was shopped around before Microsoft stepped in to sign a publishing deal.

It's yet another baffling decision made by Sony as it continues to set a new speedrunning record for jettisoning goodwill, and naturally, the Internet has a thing or two to say about its divorce from Kojima--including how his studio, Kojima Productions, is situated directly across the road from Sony. You can't make this stuff up!

https://twitter.com/milktst/status/2097886264649490701 https://twitter.com/philiparola/status/2097938828204146875 https://twitter.com/ItsRyanHyett/status/2097944205138022833 https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:hkkn5gfv3zwfzzeeqj3rssfn/post/3mv54aqbwg223 https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:o5v2ehhranox5nubskub6424/post/3mv53vuhark23 https://twitter.com/FunSpeculation/status/2097886852174782611 https://twitter.com/slothsaretight3/status/2097881425408368750 https://twitter.com/realradec/status/2097906192198574122 https://twitter.com/TheVTran/status/2097902322257195516 https://twitter.com/MasterLeytrx/status/2097877698894770267

Physint is the second game from Kojima Productions to be made in partnership with Xbox--the first is his upcoming horror game OD--but don't expect to see it for a long time. While the game is a return to his Metal Gear roots with its focus on stealth and espionage, Kojima is also aiming for it blur the lines between movies and video games. Back when the project was still being supported by Sony, Kojima mentioned that it was still several years away from being released, and that timetable may have slipped further after the Sony drama.

GTA 6 is one of the most-anticipated games ever, and it arrives on November 19. People naturally want to know when exactly that day it will be available to play, and now it looks the like first indication of that has come to light.

GTA Vice scoured PlayStation Store listings for the game across 63 countries and regions, and discovered that the game will not have a global simultaneous release. It looks like the US will be among the last major markets to get it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpPpqZwUwl0

Again, this is all based on PlayStation Store listings and is not confirmed by Rockstar. GameSpot has followed up with the developer seeking comment.

According to GTA Vice, GTA 6 will unlock--on the PlayStation Store, at least--at midnight local time. That means people in New Zealand and Australia will get in first and the US will be among the final major regions to get started.

In short, GTA 6 will become available to play in New Zealand at midnight in the country, which works out to 5 AM PT / 8 AM ET on November 18. People in the US will then have to wait 16 hours to play GTA 6 where they live.

If this is accurate, then people in the US will be in for a tough day as they see the game go live for other people and have to wait. If you're concerned about spoilers, that's another reason to be on guard that day.

It is also worth mentioning again that this information may not be accurate, or that details could change, so people should wait to hear directly from Rockstar about launch times.

While GTA 6 unlocks on November 19, preloading for what we're expecting to be a very big game begins on November 12. That is also when the game's physical edition--which includes a code in a box--will be able to buy in stores, though it does not unlock until November 19.

According to SensorTower, GTA 6 has already sold more than 5 million copies via preorders, and that number could climb to 25 million by launch. That would work out to more than $2 billion in revenue, which is reportedly enough to pay for the game's development budget.

Nintendo of America has announced a "Customer Appreciation Sale," offering 30% off games and access, with Nintendo specifically citing its tariff refunds as the reason why it's running the sale, at least in part.

"The Customer Appreciation Sale is our way of saying thank you to Nintendo players for their continued support and is made possible in part by tariff-related refunds. While Nintendo absorbed most tariff-related costs, the refunds helped make promotions like this one possible," the company said.

Nintendo, like Sony and Microsoft, got money back from the US government related to tariffs, which were implemented by US President Donald Trump and later deemed illegal by the Supreme Court. All three companies argued in court that they should keep the money and give nothing back because that's just how capitalism works.

The Customer Appreciation Sale runs September 13-26 on the Nintendo eShop, Nintendo Store, and select retailers. Items on sale vary by retailer, but shoppers can expect discounts on digital and physical games, DLC, accessories, Amiibo, and apparel.

Not every gaming company is taking such a hard line on this topic. Panic, the company behind the Playdate gaming handheld, said it will pass its own refunds on to customers who paid more. People should get about $12 back.

“It’s just not our money to keep, and it felt really good to give it back,” Panic’s Cabel Sasser told Game Developer. “That’s an easy way to know you made the right decision.”

Many companies received major tariff refunds, and they are handling refunds differently. For example, Wamart and Home Depot have said they will use the cash infusion to lower prices on a variety of products, but not directly refund anyone..

“At the end of the day, a product is worth what somebody’s willing to pay for it, and there is a lot of choice in this marketplace,” Bryan Eshelman, a managing director at consulting firm AlixPartners, told CNBC.

As for Nintendo, it's been a busy week, as the company held two Nintendo Directs this week. For more, check out GameSpot's rundown of all the big news from the Zelda Direct and the general Nintendo Direct.

Star Wars Zero Company released late last month, and it became one of my favorite games of the year almost instantly. I recently finished it, and while I was very satisfied with how it all wrapped up, there was one thing--a certain achievement--that was missing, and it filled me with a rage I can only satiate by complaining about it online.

You see, like the XCOM series it took so much inspiration from, Star Wars Zero Company features a permadeath mechanic. With the exception of main protagonist Hawks, any of the allies you take into battle will permanently disappear if they're killed in battle.

Aside from accidentally knocking someone off the side of the map because I was still going through the tutorial segments in the first hour or so (I restarted the mission in this case), I managed to get through the entire game without losing anyone. Well, except for the poor fellow who automatically dies in the opening segment. The credits rolled and I waited for the achievement to pop up on my Xbox.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5QGkOGZubQ

Indeed. There are achievements for everyone from making an almost-impossible shot to changing some cosmetic items, but there is no achievement for making it through the game without losing a squad member. There is, however, an achievement for having a squad member die on your watch. If you're on PlayStation, it's a literal participation trophy.

I'm not actually a big achievement guy, and this isn't that big of a deal--I'm much more interested in making sure the team at Bit Reactor gets paid so it can continue making amazing turn-based tactics games like Zero Company. But if you make a sequel, please give me my reward.

With Rockstar's GTA 6 on the horizon, and poised for massive success, many people might be interested in buying stock of Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two, as opposed to selling it. One Take-Two executive, CFO Lainie Goldstein, recently sold a big chunk of shares, prompting some to theorize as to why. But the answer is not very exciting at all and doesn't speak to anything specific about her views on GTA 6 or the company's outlook generally going forward.

A regulatory filing (via The Motley Fool) revealed that Goldstein sold 1,335 shares of Take-Two on September 2 at a price of $217.65. The total sale price worked out to $282,039. That's a fat stack of cash, but it was an automatic sell-to-cover sale to satisfy tax witholding obligations. Not very exciting stuff.

Following the sale of these 1,335 shares, Goldstein continues to hold a whopping 282,039 shares of Take-Two, which are worth more than $60 million on the open market. The value of those shares could climb significantly, as numerous stock analysts at big banks are projecting Take-Two's stock to grow significantly, with some saying it could go beyond $300 per share.

Take-Two currently trades at around $211/share, which is down more than 16% so far this year and down about 14% in the past 12 months. The company's share price got hammered in January after Google announced new AI tools for game development, and the stock price has not fully recovered.

GTA 6 is set for release on November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. It's a big game and will undoubtedly contribute meaningfully to Take-Two's bottom line, but the company also has numerous other major franchises and sources of revenue. In a non-release period, GTA makes up less than 15% of Take-Two's overall revenue.

Sony has revealed today that it will no longer be working with Kojima Productions on stealth action game Physint, while Kojima announced that Xbox has stepped up to rescue the project. The change in publishers means both of Kojima's upcoming projects are now being made in partnership with Xbox, a departure from his long history of developing games for the PlayStation.

PlayStation's official statement didn't say why it chose to end its support of Physint, leaving gamers to speculate on the reasons behind its shock exit. "We continue to have great admiration for Hideo Kojima's vision for the game," Sony said, adding, "we look forward to continued close collaboration with Hideo Kojima and his award-winning independent studio in the future."

https://twitter.com/PlayStation/status/2097875212427735146

Kojima posted from his personal account with more details, saying that PlayStation cancelled Physint as of mid-June this year, and the new collaboration with Xbox came as a result of the studio's determination to keep the project alive.

https://twitter.com/HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN/status/2097877506401681753

"We're honored that Kojima-san has chosen Xbox to work with Kojima Productions on Physint," said Xbox CEO Asha Sharma in a statement. "His ambition to challenge conventions reflects the kind of creativity we want to support at Xbox."

Though it may be surprising after Kojima's long history of collaborating with PlayStation, from his work at Konami to both Death Stranding games, Kojima also has an existing working relationship with Xbox, which is publishing his upcoming horror game OD.

Xbox's statement added that its collaboration with Kojima Productions will go beyond these two games, also collaborating "across film and television to bring new stories to broader audiences."

Kojima assured fans that despite the change in publishers, development on Physint "is ongoing and will continue moving forward," though the game is still likely in an early phase of development. Kojima has said that Physint will be his return to Metal Gear-like action-espionage games, adding that it would use cutting-edge technology to blur the lines between movies and video games.

For more than three decades, Pokemon and its various card and video games have enjoyed sustained popularity around the world. And at least one prominent collector and investor--Griffin Gaming Partners co-founder Peter Levin--believes that Pokemon's enduring appeal not only extends to the present, it could continue even if the world suddenly came to an end.

"Pokemon is a global phenomenon," Levin told The Hollywood Reporter. "I'm absolutely convinced that if the world suffered an apocalypse tomorrow, the following day the global currency would be Pokemon cards. Pokemon cards are beating the S&P 500 by 3,000%. Emanating from Japan, it really took hold around the world in the late '90s and early 2000s. It then had a zenith moment and then a nadir moment, and ever since then, it's been on a parabolic growth curve."

As unlikely as that scenario might seem, there could be a very entertaining movie based on survivors using Pokemon cards as currency during an apocalypse. It would be probably even better with actual Pokemon--like the Detective Pikachu movie--but Levin's really hit on fun idea even if it doesn't have a basis in reality.

Everything Levin said about Pokemon's popularity is correct. There's a reason why the Japanese mob reportedly used rare Pokemon cards to launder money or for increasingly brazen robberies of Pokemon cards from stores across the US. Some people are willing to pay ridiculous amounts of money for the rarest Pokemon cards and collectibles.

However, that value can only hold if the cards have some intrinsic value outside of Pokemon fans. They're only valuable as long as someone puts real currency toward them. Without that network of dedicated buyers, Pokemon cards wouldn't be worth the paper they're printed on when the world goes to hell.

Before any potential apocalypse comes along, Pokemon is getting a new stop-motion animated series on Disney+. The September 2026 events for Pokemon Go were also recently announced. Earlier this summer, Pokemon Pokopia received a DLC update as well.

I am not enthusiastic about what feels like an inevitable future wherein games and gaming subscription services are inundated with advertisements. That said, I am excited to reinstall Skyrim so I can play an elaborate Ikea ad.

Newly released on Bethesda's Creations site, Kallax Storageborn is a remarkably in-depth Skyrim mod that features the titular Ikea item. But rather than simply adding the Kallax shelving unit as an item you can use to organize your in-game house, the mod turns it into a companion that follows you around, holding an unlimited number of items on your behalf. Oh, and the Kallax is voiced by Matt Berry.

You can get a taste of the mod in the video below, showing off Berry's performance and even a modified version of the opening "You're finally awake" sequence. There are new items to obtain, including the Allenblade, which looks like a giant allen wrench, and the Meatball Helmet. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tBlFZsMuO8

With the mod installed, there's a new series of quests that kicks off to find the parts to assemble the Kallax, eventually all culminating in a boss fight. To trigger the quest, you'll have to become over-encumbered, which raises the need for a walking, talking shelving unit in the first place.

Aside from the audacity of this idea in the first place, and the inexplicable yet wonderful inclusion of Matt Berry, I'm personally tickled by this focus on the Kallax. As someone who owns four of them in various sizes to display all of my various Legos, foolishly purchased collector's editions, and duck-ified versions of Yakuza characters important business papers, the idea of one following me around in Skyrim is genuinely amusing.

The mod is available for both the PC and Xbox versions of the game, and it's out now for free.

The Kallax Storageborn mod

Following the big Steam leak that revealed achievement lists and more for upcoming games, Microsoft has officially released the list of Achievements for Gears of War: E-Day, and there is a Shrek/Smash Mouth-inspired one among them.

Players can unlock an achievement called "HEY NOW, YOU'RE AN ALL STAR..." by accumulating 25,000 kills in the Versus multiplayer mode. This Achievement provides 25 Gamerscore.

For anyone just catching up, 2001's Shrek famously featured the Smash Mouth song, "All Star,"

The most difficult Achievement to unlock appears to be "Dead Serious," which requires players to 100% the campaign on the highest difficulty, Insane, reach 25,000 kills in Versus, achieve max player level, and max out four classes. Players who do that will be rewarded with 85 Gamerscore, which is the most for any single Achievement in the game.

It is a big year for both Xbox and Shrek, as both celebrate their 25th anniversaries this year. The original Shrek movie was re-released in theaters this past summer, and Shrek himself showed up in various video games. As for Xbox, the biggest news event for the 25th anniversary has been Microsoft's decision to lay off thousands of people, close development studios, and cancel games.

Gears of War: E-Day releases on October 6 for Xbox Series X|S and PC, with early access arriving October 1 for people who pay more. E-Day will also be available on Xbox Game Pass at launch. There was a lot of evidence that Microsoft canceled a PS5 edition at the last minute; Microsoft denies this, but no one believes them.

Achievement NameAchievement DescriptionPointsThe Lucky Ones Died on E-DayEarn all other Achievements.0FNGComplete Boot Camp.15Emergence BeginsUnlock during Act 1 of the Campaign.15We Must ImproviseUnlock during Act 1 of the Campaign.15The Bigger They Are…Unlock during Act 1 of the Campaign.15The Scorched LegionUnlock during Act 2 of the Campaign.15You Want What On the Front of a Gun?!Unlock during Act 2 of the Campaign.15Got to the ChoppaUnlock during Act 2 of the Campaign.15Get Back You Eight-legged FreakUnlock during Act 3 of the Campaign.15Twice the Pride, Double the FallUnlock during Act 3 of the Campaign.15…The Harder They FallUnlock during Act 3 of the Campaign.15End of the LineUnlock during Act 4 of the Campaign.15The Only Good Bug is a Dead BugUnlock during Act 4 of the Campaign.15Nothing Left but the FightUnlock during Act 5 of the Campaign.15For My BoysUnlock during Act 5 of the Campaign.15You’re My BrotherComplete all Acts of the Campaign on Co-Op (any difficulty). 15Side PieceComplete all Secondary Objectives in the Campaign (any difficulty).15Relax. I’m the Map.Discover all Hard Cases in the Campaign.15Memories From E-DayFind all Collectibles in the Campaign (any difficulty).15Lift Outta HellComplete and Survive 50 Horde Siege Missions (Infantry difficulty or higher).15Best I Can Do Is a Pizza PartyComplete any 100 Secondary Objectives in Horde Siege.15Turn It Up to 11Execute 50 enemies Stunned by the Sonic Disruptor in Horde Siege.15Never Fight AloneExtract from Horde Siege with all squadmates alive on Allfather difficulty.15Just Let Me Get One More…Get 100 Revives.15I Am Heavy Weapons GuyKill 10 enemies in a row using a single detached turret.15I’m All Amped UpMaintain 30 seconds of Adrenaline with the Injector in Horde Siege.15Somebody Set Us Up the BombPlant the bomb in Demolition and have it explode without the enemy defusing it.15Spotted and SlottedPulse 1,000 enemies with the Pulse Drone in Horde Siege.15Field ServiceReach Player Level 100 and Re-Up for the first time.15Form-Up!Receive the max reward from a Perk Cache in Horde Siege (any difficulty).15Who Loves Ya, Baby?Revive 20 players from other squads in Horde Siege.15Down, but Not DeadRevive 250 squadmates from DBNO with the Stim Vaporizer in Horde Siege.15BrotectorSave another player from a struggle with a Locust.15Stacks, On Stacks, On StacksSpend 150,000 Energy at the Supply Cache in Horde Siege (any difficulty).15Like a BossSuccessfully complete 25 Invasion Events in Horde Siege (any difficulty).15Quartermaster Unlock all Supply Cache items in the Campaign.15This Is My RifleUnlock all Weapon Mods in Horde Siege.15It Only Game, Why You Heff to Be Mad?Win a game of Conquest without the enemy team scoring.15Crepe du RavenCarefully inspect the underside of a Raven in Horde Siege.15Okay, Boomer.Carve-up a Boomer.15Days Since Last Accident: 0Commit a workplace safety violation on Battleship in Versus.15Right in the TickerConvert a Ticker to express air mail and return to sender.15Chainsaw Go BrrrrrrrrrLet a chainsaw do what it does best against a Locust in Campaign or Horde Siege.15Explosive IndigestionPlay a game of explosive cornhole with a Bilefrog.15I Didn’t Hear No BellSave your entire squad while you’re moments from death in Horde Siege.15Two Grubs, One Gut-PunchShow two Grubs what a single Gut-Puncher round can do.15Payback’s A PitchTake revenge on an Armored Wretch that stunned you.15Remember KalonaComplete all Acts of the Campaign (any difficulty).25Today We Are Canceling the ApocalypseComplete all Acts of the Campaign on Insane difficulty.25HEY NOW, YOU’RE AN ALL STAR…Get 25,000 kills in Versus.25I WILL MASSACRE YOUKill 50,000 Enemies in Horde Siege (any difficulty).25Siege SpecialistReach max level with the Assault, Breacher, Marksman, and Medic classes in Horde Siege.25Got Your Wings Re-up for the final time and claim your wings.25For Whom The Bell TollsComplete Campaign on Insane, complete all side missions, find all hidden items.75Dead Serious100% Campaign on Insane, 25,000 kills in Versus, max Player Level, and max 4 classes.85

Activision has revealed new information about one of the perks for preordering Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, and it's a bit unusual.

People who preorder the game on any platform get the Inner Circuit M4 weapon blueprint, but those who preorder on Xbox will get a translucent OG green version of the gun to celebrate Xbox's 25th anniversary this year. Like the OG translucent Xbox, the weapon blueprint allows players to see through it.

If you preorder MW4 on any other platform, you'll get the same gun, but without the Xbox flourishes. Not only that, but if you're playing on PlayStation or Switch 2, you won't even see the translucent Xbox design. Only people playing on Xbox will.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgE7Bx9juyE

Both versions of the gun are functionally identical, however, featuring the same attachments and gameplay characteristics.

The standard version The translucent Xbox version

Beyond this exclusive weapon variant, Microsoft is rewarding Xbox MW4 players by offering them a $5 credit to buy it on Xbox.

Microsoft owns Activision and the Call of Duty franchise, so this kind of exclusive offering makes sense. When Microsoft bought the franchise, it promised regulators that it would not water down Call of Duty games for platforms outside of Xbox, claiming 100% parity between platforms.

“We have no goal of somehow trying to use Call of Duty to get you to buy an Xbox console," former Xbox CEO Phil Spencer said in 2023.

Modern Warfare 4 launches on October 23 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, and PC.

A group of 1,900 employees at Blizzard Entertainment has successfully signed a union contract with Microsoft, securing several guarantees for members. Represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA), the contract has given the Blizzard workers more workplace flexibility and guaranteed wage increases, but several other industry-first agreements could make this a blueprint for other video game unions to follow.

One of the big wins for the Blizzard union is artificial intelligence guardrails, as the contract stipulates that Microsoft cannot use AI to automate or replace jobs without first talking to the union. Another big win are the job-recall rights for employees, because if they're laid off, Blizzard must offer them an open role within 14 months and inside the union's network before hiring someone from outside. Laid-off union members will also get an additional four weeks of pay--regardless of how long they worked at the company--hybrid schedules that allow them to work from home, and formal systems to settle disputes within the workplace.

"It's a new day at Blizzard, where greater power for workers is translating into more innovative games for players," CWA president Claude Cummings, Jr. said to Game Developer. "I am so proud of CWA bargaining teams, taking on tough fights and winning strong contracts that set new standards for working people across our industries."

In an interview with Aftermath, Blizzard workers spoke about how the negotiating process with Microsoft dragged on. As one Blizzard employee explained, Microsoft eventually agreed to ratify the union contract after it was convinced that it would be mutually beneficial. Union leaders and members mobilizing outside of Blizzard headquarters to protest also helped seal the deal on the contract.

These protections come at a time when Microsoft has been called out for mass layoffs at Xbox Game Studios, which started with 1,600 retrenchments and will see another 1,600 people let go throughout the year. It's not the first time rolling layoffs have hit Xbox either, as thousands of jobs have been cut since the company finalized its acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The gaming industry has also historically had very few unions, leaving workers with very little say during these dark times.

Things might be slowly changing, as unions steadily gain more power in the industry. Across the pond, a group of former Grand Theft Auto 6 developers who accused Rockstar Games of union-busting are preparing for a legal battle against the developer. A hearing at the Glasgow Tribunals Centre will begin on September 10 and could run until October 15, while the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain will hold a rally to support the staff it also represents.

Nintendo's new 40th-anniversary Zelda-themed Switch 2 console went on sale on September 8, the same day it was announced, and it sold out immediately.

I bet you can guess what happened next. Listings for the $520 limited-edition console popped up on eBay the same day, with sellers hoping to make tidy profits. There are numerous listings on eBay asking for $800 and $850--that's about 50% more than the list price. It appears there is a single seller account offering five different units, so this is very clearly a scalping scenario, and it may run afoul of eBay's own rules.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ymw9UTRu1V0

This kind of thing is pretty normal, as people are known to take advantage of a limited-edition product to make some money on the demand.

The Zelda console releases on October 29 as part of Nintendo's celebration of the franchise's 40th anniversary. The console sports a spiffy black-and-gold design, featuring the Triforce design as well. Nintendo is also selling anniversary editions of the Switch 2 Pro controller and a Switch 2 carrying case, both of which also feature the Triforce design. The Pro controller ($100) also sold out.

The Switch 2 Zelda system has been described as being a limited-edition, so it remains to be seen if Nintendo will replenish stock soon, or ever.

The next Zelda game is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time's remake, which releases on November 6 for Switch 2. The game features a lot of significant changes from the 1998 original, and the internet had some thoughts.

For more, check out GameSpot extended coverage of the Ocarina of Time remake via the stories below:

• Why Is Link The Worst-Looking Character In The Ocarina Of Time Remake?
• Is The Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Remake Even Bothering With Its Big Twist?
• Ocarina Of Time Remake’s Map And Level Design Looks Quite Similar To The Original So Far

Another Nintendo Direct came and went without mention of a new Mario game, ending the franchise's 40th anniversary year not with a bang, but with a resounding "huh?"

Despite rumors and murmurs from noted leakers, there was no reveal of a 3D Mario game at the September 2026 Nintendo Direct. In fact, the only mention of Nintendo's mascot was a free update to Mario Kart World, which allows you to play SNES courses already in the Free Roam map in Versus mode.

Traditionally, Nintendo consoles have been blessed with a 3D Mario not long after they hit stores. Super Mario 64 was a launch title for the Nintendo 64, and Sunshine, Galaxy, 3D Land, and Odyssey all released within a year of their respective platforms' lifecycles. (Wii U title Super Mario 3D World launched a year and four days after the console, but that's close enough.)

https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/2097696070990016647?s=20

Meanwhile, there hasn't even been a hint of a 3D Mario game for Switch 2. At the very least, Mario fans have been able to enjoy Donkey Kong Bananza, which was developed by the same team that made Super Mario Odyssey--and it certainly has a lot of Odyssey's DNA. Still, the lack of a mainline Mario game puts a damper on a monumental anniversary year for the jump-happy plumber.

Yes, Mario hit it big at the box office with The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, but all Switch 2 owners have gotten are ports and a tennis game. And while Nintendo counted the adorable Yoshi and the Mysterious Book as part of the celebration, that game is notably Mario-less.

Zelda fans are at least getting a full remake of the beloved Ocarina of Time for that franchise's 40th, and a brand-new 3D Kirby game marks the pink puffball's 35th birthday. Even Metroid fans are eating well now. Mario will surely have his due soon, and video game development is a notoriously long and difficult process. But Nintendo seemed ill-prepared for Mario's 40th birthday, and the fact that a successor to Super Mario Odyssey might not come until a decade after that game's release is a disappointment tantamount to finding that the princess is in another castle.

The Duskbloods, From Software's new game and one of the Switch 2's biggest exclusives, was missing-in-action during the September Nintendo Direct.

That normally wouldn't be too shocking, except for the fact The Duskbloods is still slated to release this year. With less than four months to go until the end of the year, the window for The Duskbloods is closing.

One might have assumed the next game from the creators of Elden Ring would receive a release date as part of the presentation, as well as perhaps a glimpse at some of the maps and playable characters not featured in a recent The Duskbloods closed network test. The fact it wasn't shown or mentioned at all is more than a little worrying.

The closed network test for The Duskbloods in August didn't exactly go as planned, with From Software actually cancelling the first day of sessions due to technical difficulties and server issues. Its problems were later resolved for the playtests' subsequent days, allowing players to jump in and take a stab at The Duskbloods' unique blend of cooperative and competitive soulsborne action. It wouldn't be surprising if, given the network test, From Software realized it needed more time to iron out The Duskbloods online multiplayer kinks. 

Nintendo could, of course, be waiting to hold a special The Duskbloods Direct in the coming weeks just ahead of the game's launch. It's an approach Nintendo has been fond of more recently, holding dedicated Directs for big games like its Star Fox remake, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, and the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake. In the case of Star Fox and Ocarina of Time, both games received release dates as part of their dedicated presentations.

A similar scenario could definitely play out with The Duskbloods, though it's still odd that the game was a no-show at a presentation dedicated to games coming this winter and early next year. 

Whether The Duskbloods will release this year, or be pushed into 2027, remains to be seen. Demand, however, is certainly there. A From Software employee recently revealed interest in The Duskbloods playtest surpassed that of Elden Ring Nightreign's. 

Though we didn't get another look or release date for The Duskbloods, there were some big announcements during the latest Nintendo Direct. Metroid Ravenous, a new 2D entry in the series, is coming early next year. An open-world Kirby game, Kirby and the World Beyond, is slated for Spring 2027.

Sony has confirmed which games are coming to the PlayStation Plus games catalog for September 2026 for Extra and Premium subscribers.

This month, subscribers can look for ward to WWE 2K26, Ball x Pit, RuneScape: Dragonwilds, and Date Everything. Slitterhead, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, Dungeons of Hinterberg, and Sniper Elite: Resistance are also on the way for Extra subscribers.

PlayStation Plus Premium members, meanwhile, are getting Mega Man X Command Mission and Metro Redux. You can see the full list of PlayStation Plus games for September below, along with their release dates.

More games are on the way.

PlayStation Plus Extra

• RuneScape: Dragonwilds (September 15)
• WWE 2K26 (September 15)
• Ball x Pit (September 22)
• Date Everything! (September 9)
• Slitterhead (September 22)
• Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound (September 29)
• Dungeons of Hinterberg (September 29)
• Sniper Elite: Resistance (September 29)

PlayStation Plus Premium

• Mega Man X Command Mission (September 15)
• Metro Redux (September 15)

When Rockstar released GTA 6's first trailer in December 2023, the game looked like it was coming along well, but it wasn't "fully formed" back then. That's according to Rockstar North boss Rob Nelson, who said in an interview that the trailer's song, Tom Petty's "Love is a Long Road" was a "mission statement" for the developers to rally around to get the game finished.

"With the first trailer for this game, the Tom Petty song was a real sort of mission statement. You don’t have the game fully formed, you have an idea of what it’s going to be, but you really have to push hard to pull that together and so when this team is able to do that--and it’s definitely made with everything that you’ve got, but it’s the best of everything you’ve got at that point--it’s put together in such a way that it helps be a bit of a guiding light of what it needs to feel like," he told Trois Couleurs.

Also in the interview, Nelson spoke about how one of the first things the developers did after deciding that GTA 6 would be set in Vice City AKA Miami was to travel there.

"We'll go there. And just feel it, and go out and just drive around. Almost always on our own at very first, just a handful of people, and we’ll take a ton of pictures, and soak as much of it up as we can and see what speaks to us and start to talk about it and share ideas about what we want to incorporate," he said.

GTA 6 is set for release on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. According to SensorTower's data, the game has already sold 5 million copies via preorders, generating more than $500 million in revenue.

Rockstar is partnered with Sony for GTA 6, and part of that deal includes a GTA 6-themed DualSense controller. It goes on sale September 10 at 7 AM PT / 10 AM ET for $85.

As part of the Nintendo Direct today, Nintendo announced a free update for Mario Kart World that adds courses from the original Mario Kart game, 1992's Super Mario Kart. People don't have to wait--the update is out today.

Classic courses from that game, including Choco Island, Vanilla Lake, and Ghost Valley, will be available to play in Versus. There are 10 courses in total.

https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/2097696070990016647

Additionally, players can ride over question-mark panels to grab items, just like it worked decades ago in the original game.

Additionally, two new routes are coming to Mario Kart World's Knockout Tour. These include Turnip Rally and Propeller Rally.

All of these updates are coming to Mario Kart World today, September 9, via the game's free 1.8.0 update. For more, check out GameSpot's rundown of all the big news from the Nintendo Direct.

Square Enix has announced a remake of the 1995 RPG classic, Romancing SaGa 3: Destinies United, during the September Nintendo Direct. Billed as a "full 3D remake" by the company, this new version of Romancing SaGa 3 will feature upgraded graphics, fully voiced cutscenes, overhauls to combat and other mechanics, selectable difficulty levels, and several more new features.

Set in a world with scheduled despair, the game follows eight protagonists on their quest to find the survivor of a calamity. Each protagonist has their own reason for doing so, but the driving force behind their actions is the Rise of Morastrum, an event that occurs every 300 years and results in all newborn life being destroyed, save for one survivor, the Child of Destiny.

Like the original game, players will have the opportunity to meet and recruit over 20 other characters along the way, each with individual stats and abilities. These characters can be further fine-tuned with a Nonastrum, a star of fate that the player assigns, which influences their affinity for techs and spells. The Freeform Scenario System will also see player choices shape the characters they meet, and in battle, these warriors can "glimmer" new techniques, gain evasion skills, and perform powerful United Attacks.

Square Enix added that War Mode and the Business minigame will also return, allowing players to command armies or grow a trading empire when they're not busy with the main storyline.

Romancing SaGa 3: Destinies United will launch for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch consoles on February 16, 2027. The SaGa series was a hit franchise for Square, with the first entry in the sci-fi RPG kicking off in 1989 on the Game Boy. A pioneer in open-world exploration and non-linear storytelling, Romancing SaGa and other entries in the franchise have periodically cropped up over the years, and in 2024, Square Enix released Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven.

Onyx: The Dark Grip was a surprise announcement at today's Nintendo Direct, especially considering it's playable only in handheld mode. A Switch 2 exclusive, the 2.5D horror title comes from Bloober Team, the developer behind the Silent Hill 2 remake and Chronos: The New Dawn.

The portable-only title will see players becoming "the mysterious Entity," using touch-screen controls to "manipulate reality," according to the YouTube trailer. The protagonist's name is Holden, and he enters a desolate, fog-filled town where things aren't normal (surprise, surprise). Along with the touch screen, motion controls are also utilized to "realign reality."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zS7-Se04c8w

Bloober Team has talked about this Nintendo project in the past, which was previously referred to as Project M. Additionally, the studio noted last year that it wants Switch 2 to become the scariest place in gaming. The Direct helped that cause, too, as Capcom revealed that ports of remakes for Resident Evil 2, 3, and 4 are on the way for Switch 2 on October 16.

As for Onyx: The Dark Grip, it's slated to hit Switch 2 in 2027.