Last week saw several new games announced for the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for Extra- and Premium-tier subscribers, and as you'd expect, a few games are also on their way out. In total, 10 more games are leaving soon, although Sony hasn't listed an exact departure date yet. For reference, nine games are leaving the Game Catalog today, so you'll likely have a few weeks left to play the ones listed below.

As for what's only going to be around for a little while longer? Say goodbye to a fun Persona spin-off, some Toy Story adventures, and a few tactical-RPGs.

PlayStation Plus Game Catalog games leaving soon Grab 'em before they're gone.

• EA Sports Madden NFL 26
• Persona 5 Tactica
• Romance of the Three Kingdoms 13
• Toukiden 2
• Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back
• Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue
• Toy Story 3
• Shadowrun Returns
• Shadowrun Hong Kong: Extended Edition
• Shadowrun Dragonfall: Director's Cut

The removal of Toy Story games makes sense, as both Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear to the Rescue and Toy Story 3 are part of the upcoming Toy Story: Retro Roundup compilation coming to PC and consoles on October 15. That collection also includes the original film tie-in game that was released for Sega Genesis, the Game Boy Color edition of Toy Story 2, the Buzz Lightyear of Star Command video game--which is based on the underrated animated series spin-off--Toy Story Racer, and the official A Bug's Life game as a bonus.

The Shadowrun games are also pretty great, as developer Harebrained Schemes put a neat spin on the tabletop source material and followed up on the 2013 release with two well-received expansions. If you're a fan of the Persona series, you'll also want to check out Persona 5 Tactica for how it reimagines the Persona 5 crew as cute little warriors summoned to a strange land and tasked with saving the day. It's not too dissimilar to Fire Emblem with its focus on tactics and grid-based movement, but it features a much smaller number of units taking to the battlefield.

The other notable exit is Madden NFL 26, but since a new game in the series launched earlier this month, you can imagine most people are focused on the newer release right now, as it introduces some sizable updates to gameplay. Next week, Sony is expected to reveal the next batch of free games for all PlayStation Plus subscribers in September, so don’t forget to check back to see what's on the way during the month when Green Day goes into hibernation.

Best Open-World Games On PlayStation Plus Extra And Premium View Images

One of the gaming industry's most notable icons, Warren Spector, has decided to retire and will no longer be actively involved in game development.

Spector is credited as one of the founders of the immersive sim genre, with Deus Ex and Thief acting as his most recognisable projects while at Ion Storm. Spector went on to develop Epic Mickey and its sequel, eventually landing at Otherside Entertainment to develop a spiritual successor to Ultima Underworld, which he helped produce while at Looking Glass in the early 1990s.

Announcing the news on LinkedIn, Spector, who is currently 70 years old, reflected on a career that spanned nearly 45 years, 17 game releases, board game and tabletop contributions, and more. Spector admits that he has mixed feelings over retirement, but says he no longer finds the same joy in the gaming industry that he once did and thinks a new generation of developers deserves its time to shine.

"To all of you reading this I want you to remember that games are not a solved problem yet--there is, I hope, plenty of experimentation and innovation to come," Spector concluded in his post. "And to all you young developers out there, I've said it before and I'll say it again, your job is to make people forget people like me ever existed."

Spector admits that there still three games he would love to make (and stops shy of naming them), but plans to write several books and provide valuable consulting work to those who need it. Spector began working on System Shock 3 over a decade ago before the project was seemingly abandoned several years later.

Spector's final game, Thick as Thieves, launched earlier this year. It was announced as a PvPvE immersive sim, but was restructured as a single-player and co-op adventure instead. Otherside Entertainment announced that the game would no longer receive content updates after it failed to live up to expectations in the weeks following its launch.

The launch of NBA 2K27 is quickly approaching, and 2K Sports has provided a deep dive into all of the new features and additions coming in this year's game. From gameplay-specific innovations to changes to some of NBA 2K's most iconic game modes, all areas of the game have been revamped for 2K27.

The headlining features may be what's going on in MyCareer mode, but we're covering the full spectrum of new toys coming to the series in 2K27.

Below, you can find all the new content and changes that 2K27 has in store when it launches on September 4, or even sooner on August 28 for Deluxe or Ultra Edition players.

In This Article

• Gameplay Changes
• MyTeam overhauls player XP
• MyCareer adds eras and co-op
• MyPlayer finally brings women into The City
• MyNBA adds more GM options
• The City adds casual modes to onboard new players

Gameplay Changes

First up, let's get into an area that 2K Sports has honed in on for 2K27: gameplay. All of the new gameplay changes are driven by another year of the series' ProPLAY technology, which allows the developers at Visual Concepts to take real NBA footage and turn it into gameplay animations. This has transformed the devs' ability to create realistic offensive and defensive moves that players can use in games.

This is immediately noticeable on offense, as 2K27 adds some of the most popular and well-known moves to a player's skill set. Dribbling has been broken down further to allow for more freedom of movement, while the new Dynamic Layup Engine gives players a way to adjust their movement mid-air. All of this should make dribbling and driving to the hoop feel smoother and offer a higher skill ceiling when it comes to offensive moves.

As for the defensive side of the ball, shot contests have been upgraded to be more aggressive, and there's now a system that shows you exactly how strong your contest was after it happens. You now also have more control over steals, as there's a new ball collision system that takes several factors into consideration when you go in for a steal.

Outside of basic offense and defense, NBA 2K27 plans to implement a variety of new systems to general gameplay, including a new Takeover system that rewards players in five key areas: Shooting, Finishing, Playmaking, Defense, and Rebounding. As you play a game, a meter for each of these areas will increase or decrease, and once you max out a meter, the Takeover Ability will activate.

You'll also find new Advanced Controls to help you out all over the court, as well as new and improved Rhythm Shooting mechanics and better AI logic in 2K27.

MyTeam overhauls player XP

MyTeam is one of the core modes in NBA 2K, and there are some notable changes and updates to the mode this year. This starts with a brand-new player XP system that gives you the opportunity to level up every Player Card you own. You can level up these cards through gameplay, and the more you level them, the more rewards they're given. Some of the card rewards include having a Takeover Ability active at the start of the game or extra attribute boosts. You'll still keep level progress on a card if it's sold and then reacquired, so there's no starting over involved.

Speaking of which, The Exchange in MyTeam has been updated to now accept any Player Card in a player's collection. This essentially gives value to any card you acquire, and no card will be forced to sit around in your collection for the entire year.

MyTeam is also adding a rotating list of multiplayer modes, including some fan-favorites, implementing a cross-platform Auction House across PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch 2, and expansions to both Breakout and Gauntlet.

MyCareer adds eras and co-op

There are a couple of massive additions to MyCareer in 2K27.

Headlining the additions is the ability to now pick from one of five eras to start your career in, just like you can in MyNBA. These eras include the Magic vs. Bird Era (1984), the Jordan Era (1991), the Kobe Era (2003), the LeBron Era (2010), or the Steph Era (2016). Each era has its own identity, with the visuals changing depending on which one you pick. You'll even find era-specific broadcasts, HUDs, and on-screen filters to really immerse you. Last year, you could take your created player into MyNBA Eras, but it wasn't a mode that focused on your character like 2K27's now will.

However, if you decide to take the modern path for MyCareer in 2K27 and not dive into one of the eras, you'll get to experience the "Fire & Concrete" story, which features 11 chapters that take your player from high school to college to the pros. During this journey, you can now potentially be the number one overall draft pick or hand-pick your team, as draft position is no longer fixed in MyCareer.

Another first for MyCareer is the ability to take on the mode in co-op in 2K27. You can invite a friend to join your MyCareer playthrough as a teammate named Trace Miller, who will remain with your player through their entire career. Your multiplayer partner gets to choose a build for Trace Miller and even level them up with attributes and unique skills.

MyPlayer finally brings women into The City

MyPlayer is coming with a completely new look in 2K27, and it's the first bit of content you can experience. Starting on Aug. 21, the new NBA 2K HQ app goes live and gives players a chance to design their entire MyPlayer build from scratch before the game is released.

Players can take advantage of the new Badge and Synergy systems or use one of 40 custom blueprints of NBA players to streamline their build. You can also decide to create a female MyPlayer, which is the first time ever that female MyPlayers can be built in NBA 2K. Female MyPlayers share all of the same traits as their male counterparts, and can be taken into The City. There are even new WNBA animations to use if you decide to take that path.

Any build you create in the NBA 2K HQ app can be directly uploaded to your account and will be ready to use on launch day.

MyNBA adds more GM options

MyNBA has attempted to become even more realistic in NBA 2K27, and a majority of the changes in the mode are derived straight from community feedback.

Some of the most notable changes include a way to pitch free agents during the Moratorium Period of the offseason, more realistic CBA mechanics, including First and Second Apron restrictions, and 10-day contracts for both the NBA and WNBA. You'll also find 20 changes surrounding roster control and league management, with a more expanded trading system, the ability to stash International players, and the option to acquire players via the buyout market.

MyNBA now also features a 100-Year Dynasty sub-mode, where you can take control of both a player on the court and the front office over the course of 100 years. You can pick a current NBA player or a created player and use them as the foundation for your 100-year journey as the leader of a team.

The City adds casual modes to onboard new players

One of the major changes to The City in 2K27 is the ability for both male and female MyPlayers to interact with it. It's a true co-ed City, and all MyPlayers will share the same framework in 2K27, so there are no disadvantages in building a female player.

As you're navigating The City, you'll find several new, rotating environments at The REC, The Theater, Ante-Up, and Seasonal Parks, as well as the new Crew HQ. The Crew HQ is the team version of MyCourt, as it provides a dedicated spot for teams to practice, invite other teams to play, and even throw tournaments.

If you're not quite up for anything too sweaty in The City, you can now join matches at the Casual Corner. Here, you can find unranked matches in both 3v3 and 5v5 that are meant to be for newer players who might not be ready for ranked games yet.

Remedy Entertainment has announced that Control Resonant "has gone gold." In other words, main development is complete, and the action-RPG is ready to arrive on September 24--but there's an unfortunate catch here. The physical edition of the title has actually been delayed almost a month to October 15. That means people who want the game on disc are going to have to wait a few weeks to play as Dylan Faden in the sequel.

The staggered release between digital and physical for Control Resonant was revealed by Remedy on Bluesky. In fact, there is a way to play the game even earlier on PS5. You can get two-day advanced access on Sony's system by preordering Control Resonant's digital deluxe edition for $70 (while the base edition costs $60). 

https://bsky.app/profile/remedygames.com/post/3mteiagzddp2c

Buying physical versions of video games is a hot-button issue after Sony detailed last month that it's ending disc production in 2028. That all but guarantees that the eventual PS6 won't feature a disc drive. On top of that, Grand Theft Auto VI won't arrive on a disc at all, even in the boxed edition. 

As for Control Resonant, it follows up 2019's Control and sees players taking on the role of Dylan, who's the sibling of the original game's Jesse Faden. There's no parry mechanic in the action-RPG, as Remedy wants people to focus on offensive abilities. The Remedy title will also deal with trauma and redemption.

Control Resonant is set to release on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Battlefield and Call of Duty are overlapping this weekend, as the latest entries in both franchises have exciting opportunities on tap for fans.

Battlefield 6 is free now through August 25 to celebrate the launch of the game's big new update, including the return of the fan-favorite Wake Island map and the debut of the Top Gun crossover. This also includes a brand-new mode, Carrier Strike. Additionally, the free week includes the Tsuru Reef, Cairo Bazaar, and Hagental Base maps, along with Wake Island.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CR8kWmA90Bs

Meanwhile, the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 beta runs August 21-25, offering people a first taste of the game's multiplayer and campaign.

While the Battlefield 6 free period doesn't cost anything, to play MW4's beta this weekend, you need to preorder the game (and it's not available on Switch 2). MW4's second testing period (August 28-September 1) is free and open to everyone, while it also expands to Switch 2.

Battlefield and Call of Duty have been competitors in the FPS space for a long time, with Activision's franchise historically performing better. However, Battlefield topped Call of Duty in 2025, with Battlefield 6 finishing the year as the No. 1 best-selling game in the US. Black Ops 7, meanwhile, finished fifth, representing the Call of Duty franchise's lowest annual sales volume since 2008.

The use of AI in creative fields has been a thorny issue, and analysts predict that the growing presence of AI-generated content will drive people to seek more authentic, human-made content. Sony CEO and Oasis superfan Hiroki Totoki is one such person, as he believes that while AI can help "enhance" creativity, the human factor is what makes people gravitate toward film, music, and video games.

"AI cannot replace it. AI can enhance human creativity," Totoki said to the Wall Street Journal. "It is really up to us. We take advantage of AI, or we face a threat from AI."

While Totoki views AI as a tool, other creative figures in the video game industry have pushed back against it entirely. Celebrated Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu has said that while it's possible for AI to help with transitions in game music between sounds, he's not interested in using generative AI to create new music for games. "I think it still feels more rewarding to go through the hardships of creating something myself," he said.

Prolific video game voice actor Troy Baker has also commented on the subject, saying that while AI can create content, it "cannot create art" because it lacks human experiences to draw from. Meanwhile, games like Mecha Chameleon are celebrated as an antithesis to AI slop, thanks to titles that emphasize and embrace human-crafted imperfections.

In Asian territories, the adoption of generative AI does appear to be growing. A survey conducted by the organization behind the Tokyo Game Show found that over 50% of Japanese video game developers are integrating AI into their production, while 50% of the developers who took part in a GDC survey believe that generative AI is hurting the video game industry.

When video game studios have revealed that they are using AI, the pushback has largely been negative. Examples include Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis developer Crystal Dynamics confirming that character designs--including Lara Croft herself--are 100% human-crafted while AI is used for early concept art and placeholder assets, and Sony said that it used machine-learning algorithms in Marvel's Spider-Man 2 as part of its tests to speed up game development.

The second wave of games for Xbox Game Pass in August has been revealed, and this month, you can check out a few day-one releases amongst the releases. Several of these games will also be available through Game Pass Premium, as the library of that tier continues to expand.

Xbox Game Pass August wave 2 games

In terms of new releases, Ultimate subscribers can grab Vapor World: Over the Mind, Blood Dungeon, and Resonance: A Plague Tale. Vapor World: Over the Mind will be released through the Game Preview program, and it's described as a narrative-driven souls-like platformer focused on deflection combat. Blood Dungeon is a new 2D platformer from the creators of Nidhogg, while Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy is a big departure from the previous Plague Tale games.

For members of Xbox Game Pass Premium--the tier below Xbox Game Pass--several more titles are being added throughout the month. Egging On, a game about guiding a delicate egg through perilous levels, is now available through Xbox Game Pass Premium, and it'll be joined by BlazBlue Entropy Effect X, Relooted, Starsand Island, Aerial Knight's Dropshot, and Young Guns throughout the rest of August.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTHp24XyhyQ

In terms of new releases, subscribers can grab Vapor World: Over the Mind, Blood Dungeon, and Resonance: A Plague Tale. Vapor World: Over the Mind will be released through the Game Preview program, and it's described as a narrative-driven souls-like platformer focused on deflection combat. Blood Dungeon is a new 2D platformer from the creators of Nidhogg, while Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy is a big departure from the previous Plague Tale games.

For members of Xbox Game Pass Premium--the tier below Xbox Game Pass--several more titles are being added throughout the month. Egging On, a game about guiding a delicate egg through perilous levels, is now available through Xbox Game Pass Premium, and it'll be joined by BlazBlue Entropy Effect X, Relooted, Starsand Island, Aerial Knight's Dropshot, and Young Guns throughout the rest of August.

August 18

Egging On (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC), now with Game Pass Premium; joining Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass

August 19

Vapor World: Over the Mind (Cloud, Console, and PC), Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass via Game Preview

BlazBlue Entropy Effect X (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC), now with Game Pass Premium; joining Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass

Relooted (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC), now with Game Pass Premium; joining Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass

August 20

Starsand Island (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC), now with Game Pass Premium; joining Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass

August 25

Aerial Knight’s DropShot (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC), now with Game Pass Premium; joining Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass

Blood Dungeon (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC), Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

August 27

Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC), Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

August 31

Young Suns (Cloud, Console, and PC), now with Game Pass Premium; joining Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass

September 1

Shelldiver (Cloud, Console, and PC), Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

As a reminder, Game Pass will also lose four games on August 31, including CD Projekt Red's hit fantasy game The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt. Microsoft has also confirmed that NBA 2K26 will exit Game Pass on September 6.

The Best Xbox Game Pass Games In 2026 View Images

Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida has commented on Sony's recent announcement that it will end support for physical game discs in 2028. Speaking to Gamerbraves, Yoshida said he "didn't know they were planning that." He said he feels for people who want game discs, but he believes it’s not “such a big issue” for many people because they already need to download patches, DLC, and updates.

"Even with physical disc games, in most cases, developers are constantly updating and adding game data anyway. Anyone who chooses to purchase a physical version will still need to download new patches, DLC, or updates. So, not having a disc, I don’t understand if it’s such a big issue," he said.

For fans of physical media, Yoshida said it "would be a shame if physical games were no longer available to collect."

In regard to how the end of physical game discs could impact pricing, Yoshida said "the digital price point can be anything." One industry expert said part of the reason Sony is killing off physical game discs is to exert more price control and make more money generally. The end of physical game discs would, in theory, have a significant impact on the secondhand market, too.

“For those people who choose to buy or sell games, the lack of discs may become an issue,” Yoshida said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FatSqS3VYY

Sony's announcement about ending support for discs might make business sense, but it's upsetting a lot of people and prompting concerns about game-preservation issues, among other things.

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, for his part, said there are "plus and minuses" to the end of physical media, but overall he thinks it's not a big issue.

 “There are pluses and minuses, but we think it will not disturb too much the industry.”

Sony is ending support for physical game discs as it also faces uncertainty around when it may release the PS6 and how much the console might cost due to the ongoing memory and component shortages.

Gaming has gotten more expensive than ever in recent times. Here at GameSpot, we're spending a week covering the ins and outs of the current landscape, and offering insights into how you can play more while spending less.

The PlayStation 5 console will celebrate the sixth anniversary of its launch in November, but what does the future hold in store for Sony's gaming ambitions? Current expectations are for a PlayStation 6 to eventually hit the market, but when it'll arrive is another question entirely. Analysts can only guess as much, but don't expect Sony's top brass to have answers either.

Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Sony CEO Hiroki Totoki confirmed this, saying that the company has yet to set a date for the launch of the PS6. It's not hard to see why Sony is hesitant to do so, given the current tech climate and the vocal feedback to its plans to move to an all-digital future for game releases on its platform. This echoes previous statements made by Totoki, who said back in May that the PS6 release date and price were still up in the air. Several months later, it looks like there's still no concrete answer on how much a PS6 will cost or when it'll be released.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FatSqS3VYY

The biggest challenge right now is navigating the trade wars and the disruption to supply chains, as the all-consuming demand for critical components by AI companies has helped create a massive global shortage of high-tech parts that were once easily available and affordable to buy at scale. The situation is already looking dire for 2027, with three of the biggest PC memory manufacturers reportedly already sold out for next year and no plans to manufacture additional components.

Sony has already increased the price of a PS5 console in 2026--with the PS5 Pro now an eyewatering $900--and while it hasn't hinted at further increases yet, its rival Microsoft has already warned that things are going to get worse before they get better.

On the plus side, there are alternative ways to make gaming more affordable, and GameSpot is addressing this with its Cheap Week features.

Horror movies have long warned us of the perils of puppets, and that's a vibe you'll explore firsthand in upcoming horror game Baptiste. A vessel for evil--according to the totally scientific research of Annabelle and all those Chucky movies--there's nothing worse than a puppet that has had its switch set to evil. You can discover that terror for yourself in this exclusive new trailer for Baptiste ahead of its eventual release on PC and console.

Taking place after a family tragedy, the game is set at Jagged Shore Cliff, a remote location where a mother and her son attempt a new start in life. It's not long before the duo discovers a dusty cabinet that holds an unsettling doll inside, ignores the warning never to release it, and then watches as all hell breaks loose. With sinister forces assaulting their grip on sanity, it's up to players to guide the protagonist, Tom, to safety while navigating a suffocating atmosphere and oppressive darkness.

Still suffering from the loss of his family, Tom must uncover gruesome secrets, solve puzzles, and stay a step ahead of the supernatural forces--and that damn doll--before it claims his soul in this story-driven psychological-horror game. There's no release date for it yet, but it is headed to PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2.

As the spooky season draws closer, horror fans can also look forward to more chills and thrills in the months to come. The Sinking City 2 has just launched in case you're hungry for some Lovecraftian suspense. Halloween: The Game will allow you to stalk Haddonfield's residents in September, and Silent Hill Townfall is bringing some Scottish horror to your screen soon. There's also the new Hellraiser game in October that looks like BioShock with a BDSM aesthetic that has gone too far, and Neverway looks like it'll scratch that itch for combining Stardew Valley-inspired farming with existential dread.

30 Best Horror Games To Play In The Dark In 2026 View Images

Another batch of Xbox Game Pass titles are on their way out at the end of the month, and it looks like the service will be losing some cool, cute, and critically acclaimed games.

Listed on the "Leaving Soon" tab on the Xbox mobile app, the list includes the following five games exiting the subscription service on August 31: Another Crab's Treasure, I Am Your Beast, Neon Abyss, One Lonely Outpost, and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition. As usual, you can save 20% on these games if you decide to buy them before they leave Game Pass. Another Crab's Treasure is a cute take on the souls-like genre, I Am Your Beast plays like a first-person version of Hotline Miami, and Neon Abyss is a slick, action-packed 2D roguelike platformer.

The biggest departure here is The Witcher 3, as Game Pass subscribers will be losing access to CD Projekt Red's open-world masterpiece set in a world of swords and sorcery. The good news is that the game usually retails for a pretty low price, so if you're in the middle of a quest, it's worth picking up, especially when you can score a sizable discount on it. Microsoft typically adds and removes games from Game Pass in two waves per month. Earlier this month, Game Pass saw four games wave goodbye, but the library was bolstered with new arrivals like Beast of Reincarnation and access to the Gears of War: E-Day beta.

Game Pass removals for August 31 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

• Another Crab's Treasure
• I Am Your Beast
• Neon Abyss
• One Lonely Outpost
• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition

The Apple Arcade-exclusive Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls won't be playable for much longer, developer Konami has announced.

In a post on social media and the game's official website, Konami confirmed Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls will be removed from Apple's gaming subscription service on August 20. Despite Konami stating the game has "continued to be supported by many players," it will also shut down permanently and no longer be playable on September 3. 

"We would like to express our gratitude to all of our players for their enthusiastic support throughout the years," Konami said. "The entire development and operations team sincerely thanks you for being part of this journey."

https://twitter.com/Konami/status/2089398860447695213?s=20

Konami didn't give any real reason for the decision. Originally released in 2019, Grimoire of Souls was removed from mobile storefronts and then re-released as an Apple Arcade exclusive in September 2021 with a number of improvements, including the removal of various microtransactions.

At the time of its release, Grimoire of Souls was the first new Castlevania game since 2014's Castlevania: Lord of Shadows 2. Its story concluded back in 2022 with an update that provided new revelations related to Dracula's defeat in 1990's Castlevania 3: Dracula's Curse.

Despite being on mobile, Grimoire of Souls is in many ways a traditional 2D Castlevania game, featuring character designs from longtime franchise artist Ayami Kojima and music from Michiru Yamane. Many franchise fan-favorites, including Alucard and Simon Belmont, are playable characters, and the game even supports multiplayer co-op. 

One look at the comments about the game's shutdown on X or its launch trailer on YouTube shows there is definitely an appetite for Castlevania: Grimoire of Souls to be ported to consoles or PC. Whether its removal from Apple Arcade means Konami may eventually sell it on other platforms remains to be seen.

Thankfully, Castlevania fans don't have to wait long for a new entry in the series. Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, from the makers of the critically acclaimed Dead Cells and The Rogue Prince of Persia, is coming this December. Despite the developer's roguelite pedigree, Belmont's Curse will be a Castlevania game in the classic style, according to Konami.

Activision has released a teaser trailer for the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 first beta weekend, and it looks pretty great. The trailer shows off some of the content in the beta, and that includes, for the first time in the franchise's history, a slice of the game's single-player campaign.

The first beta runs April 21-25, and it's available for those who preorder the game on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The beta allows players to try the campaign mission, Entrenched, along with the modular map Kill Block (among others).

Kill Block, the most ambitious Call of Duty multiplayer map ever, mashes up several fan-favorite Call of Duty maps in a unique way that should keep players on their toes. Modern Warfare 4’s Kill Block is set at the fictional West Bridge Advanced Military Training Facility, where modular battlegrounds reconfigure before every match, creating hundreds of potential map combinations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGQoDkezJ0Y

MW4 is coming to Nintendo Switch 2, but the first beta weekend won't be available on that platform because preorders don't begin until August 26 on Nintendo's console, for reasons Activision has not disclosed.

The MW4 beta will open to everyone August 28-31, with no preorder requirement. This second period includes the same single-player campaign mission, along with different multiplayer maps, access to the big Ground War mode, and a first opportunity to try Warzone's new Resurgence Zodiac map.

MW4 launches on October 23, which is about a month before GTA 6 arrives on November 19. The game is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Switch 2. It's the first Call of Duty game on a Nintendo platform since 2013's Call of Duty: Ghosts. It's also the first Call of Duty game since Ghosts to skip PS4 and Xbox One.

MW4 is also notable because, unlike Black Ops 7 and Black Ops 6 before it, the game will not launch directly into Xbox Game Pass as part of Microsoft's shifting multiplatform release strategy.

For good reason, developers often don't let playable characters in video games get too overpowered, lest they make a game too easy to plow through. But Kingdom Hearts 4 seems to be straying from that principle, as Donald Duck was revealed to be a fully playable character in last weekend's extended D23 trailer.

In a segment of Kingdom Hearts 4 taking place in the Underworld from Hercules, players will take control of Sora's perennial sidekicks, Donald and Goofy, in platforming and battle sequences. The trailer also shows off a combo attack combining Goofy's shield-spinning and Donald's star-shooting.

"But wait," you might say. "What do you mean Donald Duck is overpowered?" Yes, Donald is the party member who fails to heal you at opportune times, but one cutscene in Kingdom Hearts 3 shows off the sheer magnitude of his wizardry at its absolute peak. A dramatic moment at the start of the story's endgame has Donald, defending his friends from Terra-Xehanort, fire off the Zettaflare spell--a feat almost unheard of in the larger Final Fantasy universe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMzfX88ZmTw

The giant freaking beam of fire hopefully speaks for itself.

A famous Reddit post that went up shortly after Kingdom Hearts 3's 2019 release posited that this stunt proves that Disney's favorite ill-tempered duck is the most powerful mage in the wider Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy universe. With some calculation, the user (very roughly) estimated that Donald's Zettaflare produced over 5.5 million hit points. And if you're unfamiliar with numeral prefixes, "zetta" represents one sextillion, or 10 to the 21st power. That's a really big number.

Zettaflare is a rare sight in Square Enix games; after Kingdom Hearts 3, Final Fantasy XVI featured the move, with series-staple summon Bahamut delivering the spell in the form of a giant beam from space that would rival the Death Star. But in the case of Bahamut, we're talking about a giant dragon, so Donald can technically still hold onto the title of the most powerful mage (and probably a black mage, since he stubbornly refuses to heal you when you most need it).

There's no telling if Kingdom Hearts 4 will make use of or even just reference Donald Duck's stratospheric power scale, but soon you too can play as him and neglect to heal Goofy on your adventure. The game is set for a late 2027 release, and series creator Tetsuya Nomura is adamant that it won't be delayed beyond that timeframe.

We're closing in on the 20th anniversary of Peggle, and since then, nothing has come quite as close to matching the pure, joyous sensory overload of Popcap's little peg-clearing masterpiece. Can Hyperdrop fill that gap for juggling skill and luck to clear stages? Maybe!

Coming soon to PC, Hyperdrop is the debut game from developer Dark Dark Goose and publisher Devolver Digital is billed as a pachinko roguelite. The setup is deviously simple, as you're tasked with turning an empty pegboard into an unstoppable scoring machine. You'll be able to do just that by upgrading pegs, allowing you to activate physics-defying gravity wells, explosions, and multiball buffs whenever they're struck.

You can also upgrade your balls, making them bigger and filled with volatile energy. You can take things a step further by making them sticky or extra-bouncy, or you can use unique balls that have different properties and physics behaviors--please stop giggling. Like any good roguelite, you can expect to fail upward until you achieve that perfect run, harmoniously combining upgrades and buffs as you bounce around the stage. Once you've finished a level, you can take on increasingly difficult stages, face off in boss battles, and tinker with your builds.

https://youtu.be/lucjM70_d4c

The other big influence that you might have noticed--visually, at least--is Geometry Wars. If you're a fan of that particular aesthetic, Hyperdrop has plenty of neon-soaked visuals for your eyes to absorb. You can try out a demo for the game right now on Steam, and if you're a fan of this genre, then you can also check out all the other related games as part of Steam Pins and Pegs Fest. Like its other themed Fests, there'll be discounts on games that incorporate pins and pegs into the design. Steam Pins and Pegs Fest is now live and runs through August 20.

Hyperdrop isn't the only game in recent memory to address the Peggle-shaped gap in the market. Other titles include Peglin, which remixes Peggle with Slay the Spire-inspired gameplay, and Roundguard, which is a pretty fun bouncy dungeon-crawler. Both of these games are on sale during Steam Pins and Pegs Fest, so you can score a pretty good deal on these Peggle successors.

Mistfall Hunter has been out for almost three weeks now, with the extraction brawler launching on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on July 29. Dating back to even its open beta, the community has been begging developer Bellring Games for one addition: a dedicated mode for teams of two.

All over the game's official subreddit are posts from players asking that the developer include a duos mode.

"I need duos," Redditor broman510 titled an August 11 post. "In this, duos vs trios seems so hard and almost impossible; most of the time [one] of us is getting jumped by 2 and poked down by one."

"We need duos," Matta114 posted on August 17. "I don't care if the game is balanced for trios. I'll take unbalanced duos over trios with some random 3rd dude that runs the opposite direction every game."

"Upvote for duos," wrote PuwudleRS in an August 8 post that generated 1.3 upvotes. "I am addicted to this game, but I CRAVE the duo experience this game has to offer. Please devs, I am begging with my life."

The common complaint from the community is that duos would allow friends more flexibility when playing together. Not everyone has two other people online at the same time and willing to play the same game. You can queue into trios, but you and your bestie will get a random third fill-in--and randoms are oftentimes unpredictable and unreliable.

"Between the lack of comms from randoms, to people flaking out in fights and leaving their teammates die, to the ******* stealing all the loot (especially if the third is a melee and they can grab the bodies first)," Redditor kennypeace wrote on August 5. "The amount of times I've died, watching someone loot a dead player, whilst their teammates are fighting for their lives, is unbearable. [Three] stack is miserable at the moment, and I'm not even gonna mention the bloody lag (in Europe, hope you Americans are faring better over there) that may be helped by lowering the team count."

Unfortunately, the community's call may never be answered. Back in March 2026, developer Bellring Games took to X to share that it currently has "no plans" to add a duos mode to Mistfall Hunter. Even though the studio knows it's a "highly requested feature," duos would impact the game's matchmaking efficiency.

"More importantly, it would exacerbate balance issues," Bellring Games said. "It is difficult to ensure balanced gameplay for duos while also maintaining balance for trio and solo modes. For now, we are prioritizing other areas of development."

Redditors have called for users to "make a suggestion for duo queues" in the Discord, and now the support-hub server is rife with users begging the team to add duos. Aside from the official statement posted on X, Bellring Games hasn't said anything else regarding a duos mode. It appears this tug-of-war will probably go on for a while.

At least Mistfall Hunter is a cool experience, a fascinating amalgam of souls-like combat and extraction shooter elements to create something of an extraction brawler. It's made me a believer in extraction games as a whole.

Sony is flexing its video game muscle with a new "It Happens On PS5" ad campaign, and the one-minute video features arguably the most anticipated title ever: Grand Theft Auto VI. Now, to be clear, there are only snippets of old footage for the open-world experience. But you should know by now that won't stop the internet from poring over every single little detail.

For example, the X account DriftRespawn notes that letterboxing has been removed in the new PS5 promo from a clip where Jason Duval is hanging on to the back of a convertible, with Lucia driving the car. This scene first appeared in GTA 6's Trailer 2 from May 2025. The "It Happens On PS5" video is full screen instead of having black horizontal bars at the top and bottom. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6Su0IfHRms

That's not all, either. The scene does seem lighter in the PS5 ad, and Lucia's face has a few minor differences. Her eyebrows are less pronounced and her hair color appears browner, though this might be because of the changed lighting in general. 

It's important to keep in mind that video games change as development proceeds, so these tiny differences could just be part of that process for GTA 6. We shouldn't be shocked to find out about other alterations when the GTA 6 "Extended Look" trailer hits Netflix on August 27, either.

We're now fewer than 100 days away from GTA 6, and the hype train shows no signs of slowing down.. GTA 6 won't arrive on a disc, and Sony is killing disc production in 2028--which has caused a major backlash, at least on social media. However, it doesn't seem to be impacting GTA 6 preorders. 

Last but not least, it's not just GTA 6 in the new PS5 commercial. Marvel's Wolverine and God of War Laufey also get some of the spotlight. Meanwhile, GTA 6 is set to launch November 19.

GTA 6: 241 Screenshots To Ease The Wait View Images

After Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard, one of the first things people theorized was that the company would have one of Activision's numerous Call of Duty studios work on Halo. That already happened, according to a new report, and though it hasn't led to anything yet, that could change down the road.

According to Rebs Gaming, who has accurately reported on unannounced Halo news before, Microsoft enlisted Sledgehammer Games to help develop a Halo multiplayer game.

Halo Infinite

Sledgehammer reportedly began work on a prototype in June of this year, but whatever this was ended up getting canceled in July--only basic gameplay elements like player movement were said to have been tested.

That doesn't mean the idea of a Call of Duty studio working on a Halo game is gone forever, however. The report said, "Microsoft is still exploring the proposition, but they have not greenlit anything yet."

In July, Windows Central reporter Jez Corden said he heard a "crazy rumor" that Microsoft "might put Halo under Activision." He said this wasn't a sure thing, but it could be part of a larger restructuring to help Halo "start delivering on the level of potential that it actually has."

The Halo series has fallen from its heights, with many fans saying the series, under Halo Studios, has been unable to achieve the same critical and commercial success as it did under Bungie. The latest game in the main series, Halo Infinite, was a disappointment to many.

The latest remaster of the original Halo game, this July's Halo: Campaign Evolved, didn't resonate with everyone, either, and the lack of multiplayer support cofounded many, including the franchise's co-creator. Campaign Evolved didn't get off to the best sales start, either, it appears.

No new Halo games have been announced, but Halo Studios is said to be working on a new Halo multiplayer game that is "like Fortnite" in terms of its live-service approach.

It appears Sony is preparing to remove an entire studio's library from the PlayStation Store after August 23, according to Ukrainian developer Ternox Games.

The developer behind Stonks-9800, a stock market sim with an '80s vibe, took to X on August 16 to reveal the news. Ternox Games stated that, without any reason, their contract with Sony was "unilaterally terminated" and all of their games will be pulled soon. And now, Stonks-9800--which has been in Steam Early Access since July 2023 and has an "overwhelmingly positive" rating on the platform--will no longer make its way to PS5 as a result of this termination.

https://twitter.com/Taimumari/status/2089021552012525708

"Sony PlayStation unilaterally terminated my PlayStation developer and publisher agreement without giving me any reason," the developer wrote. "My existing games are scheduled to be removed from the PlayStation Store after August 23."

In a follow-up X post, Ternox Games said PlayStation Support "refuses to listen to my arguments or even respond to my emails in any way." As a result, Stonks-9800 is no longer launching on PlayStation 5, and they will no longer be able to self-publish on PlayStation. 13 games, some of which Ternox Games published, will be pulled after August 23.

"I had hoped to release the PS5 version in 2027 and make a physical disc edition while that was still possible," the studio continued. "Sadly, that will not happen--but I'll do my best to create a physical edition for PC and Switch. I'm really sorry that this happened and that I failed the developers whose games I published. But there's nothing I can do about it now, unfortunately. I still have a tiny bit of hope that this decision will be reconsidered, so please share this message if you can."

It's unclear why this is happening since Ternox Games' titles doesn't appear to fall under the shovelware category. However, due to Sony's "stricter guidelines" on shovelware, and the company's intent to remove as many of these games as possible, some online have suggested that Ternox Games got caught in the crossfire.

Sony has been in hot water lately, especially following the announcement that the company plans to stop producing physical PlayStation discs in January 2028. Under just about every post and video the company puts out are comments from netizens decrying Sony's decision. It's come to the point where over 220,000 people have signed a petition urging the company to change its mind.

The Switch version of the dinosaur-survival game Ark: Survival Evolved is ramping down its online support. Developer Studio Wildcard announced "with wistful hearts" that official servers for the Ark: Survival Evolved and its Ultimate Survivor Edition will shut down on August 31.

The game reached "over a million players" on Switch since the game launched in 2018. The Ultimate Survivor Edition is a remaster made by Grove Street Games.

"We want to thank everyone who has been a part of this journey," the developers said.

Ark's single-player modes and unofficial servers will remain "fully playable" after the official servers go dark on August 31. That's a nice silvering lining, though playing online with other people is one of the game's main appeals.

Unofficial servers will help people keep playing online, but it might not be as easy or the experience as consistent.

Ahead of the shutdown for official servers, Survival Evolved is available for $5 on the eShop, while the Ultimate Survivor Edition is marked down to $12.50. Both games are playable on Nintendo Switch 2 via backward compatibility.

The latest Ark game, Survival Ascended, is not available on Switch, but Studio Wildcard is working on it.