Activision chief marketing officer Tyler Bahl has confirmed that a new sub-series is on the way for Call of Duty. Modern Warfare 4 is just over a week away from launching (though campaign early access starts tomorrow) and marks the fifth straight year of either a Black Ops or Modern Warfare entry in the franchise. That looks set to change going forward.

Speaking with The Game Business, Bahl elaborated on why Activision won't do back-to-back sequels in the same sub-series. "[The Call of Duty community] wanted something fresh, and even though there were different time settings, and ways to play the game with new features, that tonal shift is something that they were looking for. So, we've already stated that a future title is going to be a new sub-franchise, and we've already laid the groundwork."

Last month, Black Ops developer Treyarch teased that it's working on "something that nobody's ever experienced before." Meanwhile, Sledgehammer Games is reportedly in charge of 2027's Call of Duty, which might also introduce a new sub-series for Call of Duty. The last game in the franchise to not be a Black Ops or Modern Warfare entry was 2021's Vanguard--created by Sledgehammer. So there is precedent there for the studio. 

In addition, Activision is now in charge of the Halo franchise. Xbox management is stating that a new team will be spun up for the new Halo game, but it wouldn't be surprising to see a Call of Duty studio being heavily involved. 

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 comes out October 23 on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2. Preordering the FPS unlocks campaign early access for tomorrow, October 16, as well as the DMZ mode on October 20.

Every Call Of Duty Game, Reviewed: Black Ops Cold War, Warzone, Modern Warfare 2019, Black Ops 4, WWII, And More View Images

One of the biggest games that PlayStation Plus subscribers can play as part of their membership is Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto 5. However, the game will reportedly get yanked from the service soon, just ahead of GTA 6's release.

People on Reddit say they have received a notification telling them that GTA 5 will be removed for Extra and Premium subscribers on November 17. That is two days before GTA 6 launches on November 19, so the timing certainly suggests Sony and Rockstar are trying to migrate people to the new game.

https://www.reddit.com/r/PlayStationPlus/comments/1x4swlq/gta_v_is_the_first_game_that_is_leaving_the/

The notice also includes a link directing people to the preorder page for GTA 6. "Whether you've yet to experience the tale of Franklin, Michael, and Trevor, or want to revisit it before Jason and Lucia's Vice City story begins, now's the time," Sony's notice said.

GTA 5 has rotated in and out of Xbox Game Pass over the years as well, and it is not currently available through the service.

GTA 6 launches on November 19, and the game's steamy launch trailer just arrived. The trailer was stuffed with exciting new details, so be sure to read up on GameSpot's 10 things we noticed from the GTA 6 launch trailer.

Rockstar's GTA 6 is releasing this November, and some believe it will blot out the sun when it comes to the impact it will have on the greater gaming market. The game could also help other titles, like Activision's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. That's according to Activision chief marketing officer Tyle Bahl, who said in an interview that GTA 6 will drive more people to gaming overall, and this could act as a rising tide that lifts all ships, including Modern Warfare 4.

“Well, no offense to Zelda, but [GTA and COD] are the two biggest games of the year. And more people coming in to the dashboards, more people taking the dust off their Xbox or PlayStation and playing again, is going to be more eyeballs for us overall," he told The Game Business.

His comment about Zelda is in reference to Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake for Switch 2, which launches on November 5. It's expected to be a huge hit, just like MW4 and GTA 6.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLFRQaQT0qM

Another publisher, Ubisoft, is not afraid of GTA 6, either. CEO Yves Guillemot said when a big game like GTA 6 comes out, it helps everyone in the industry. One of Ubisoft's biggest games, Rainbow Six Siege, is actually planning to debut new content right around the time GTA 6 launches.

Bahl also stated that a big differentiator for Call of Duty is "spending time with friends," and he thinks this will hold true for MW4 this year even with GTA 6 coming to market just a few weeks after MW4 releases on October 23.

"When we look at our research and say, ‘What is the most exciting things about our games? Is it the gunplay?’ It’s actually spending time with friends. And so, we stand on our own [in that regard]," he said. “If more people are talking about games, if there’s more press around it, that’s going to be good for everybody, not just us.”

MW4's campaign unlocks on October 16 for people who preorder, and the full game--comprising campaign, DMZ, and multiplayer--arrives for everyone on October 23. GTA 6 arrives 27 days later on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Street Fighter is officially spin-kicking its way into theaters this week, starting with previews on Thursday and leading into the crucial opening weekend. It's the second movie based on a Capcom IP to make its way to the silver screen this year--following Zach Cregger's Resident Evil film in September--but so far, early estimates for the martial arts extravaganza aren't looking too healthy.

According to Deadline's box-office-predictions, Street Fighter is expected to take in under $70 million worldwide. Of that figure, it's estimated to open with a US box-office take in the high 30 millions on 3,500 screens, and a take in the mid-30 millions internationally.

Typically, movies need to make at least double their production budget back to be considered successful, and with Street Fighter costing $82 million to produce, it doesn't look like it'll recoup its expenses in its first weekend.

There's still a chance it could be a small hit if word of mouth drives audiences to theaters, and in terms of competition, Street Fighter has a few weeks to dominate cinemas as it'll be the biggest action film on the block--at least until the November 1 re-release of V for Vendetta, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The movie won't open in the potentially lucrative market of China, but internationally, the lion's share of sales is expected to come from Mexico, Brazil, the UK, Australia, and Asian markets.

https://youtu.be/U6sbm1OaJb8

How does that opening stack up against other recent video game movie adaptations? Resident Evil got off to a solid start with a $60 million domestic opening last month, and so far, the film has grossed $324 million worldwide, making it a surprise commercial hit and Cregger's biggest film yet. Meanwhile, Mortal Kombat 2 did much worse when it launched in May, making only $38 million on its opening US weekend and finishing with a worldwide box office total of $129.5 million.

As for the other Street Fighter movies, they've had mixed results. According to Box Office Mojo, the first Street Fighter movie starring Jean-Claude Van Damme made $99.4 million during its run, which is pretty great for a 1994 flick, but 2009's Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li was a huge flop. It had an opening weekend of $4.7 million in the US, and it made $12.7 million worldwide.

Street Fighter movies lifetime box office totals

• Street Fighter (1994) -- $99.4 million
• Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (2009) -- $12.7 million
• Street Fighter (2026) -- TBA

Street Fighter Movie: Release Date, Cast, And Everything We Know So Far View Images

Rockstar is sticking to its trend of releasing some new GTA 6 news every Thursday it seems, and today's treat was the reveal of the launch trailer. After what feels like an eternity of waiting for anything, the launch trailer is the fourth official video look we've gotten at GTA 6, and the first since August's Extended Look premiered on Netflix.

The GTA 6 launch trailer is 90 seconds long exactly, and it gives us a closer look at some of the in-game action (and its new soundtrack composers). While some of what see is pretty typical of games in the Grand Theft Auto series, there are a few surprising additions, and some things that hint toward just how deeply realistic the game is.

Lucia starts the game in prison

While an earlier trailer suggested as much, it now seems more certain that Lucia's journey in GTA 6 starts with her in prison. While working at the marina, Jason receives a call from her. While we don't know anything about the conversation that takes place after, the fact that she's still incarcerated while he's out and working tells us that he'll probably be keeping pretty close tabs on when she's getting released, especially since the two have clearly remained in contact.

There's plenty of physical intimacy

We already knew that Jason and Lucia would be able to get up close and personal. In the launch trailer, though, we see them spending time in bed and even in the shower together. The emphasis on intimacy alongside violent sequences adds depth to their relationship, which we already know is going to be central to the game's events. It remains to be seen the degree to which these are decisions the player takes, as opposed to being scripted into the narrative, since it's been emphasized that Jason and Lucia aren't necessarily a couple.

Lucia's movement could be restricted

Having said that, Lucia has an ankle monitor during one shower scene, suggesting that her release from prison could be subject to certain conditions. For a period of time, she may need to reside at a specific premises, or have certain times that she needs to be at home. That same ankle monitor can be seen in some of the game's key art.

Coordinated arms operations

We may be able to experience Jason's past military life, either in a flashback mission or a stealth mission in the present day once he and Lucia have started making money. He's seen wading through swamp-like waters with some companions, with some pretty high tech gear including night-vision goggles.

Definitely not any console favoritism

For the second time in a GTA 6 trailer, a PS5 controller can be seen. The DualSense controller doesn't appear to match the limited edition GTA 6 ones that Sony recently launched preorders for, though.

The dog has goggles

We already knew you can pet the dog in GTA 6, but we definitely didn't know that one will have their own teeny tiny, adorable pair of goggles to protect them when accompanying Jason on missions. I don't actually know if they're Jason's dog; I just really want them to be, and I'm already brainstorming name ideas.

Spring break?

The moment above, showing two characters in striking pink balaclavas and wielding guns (while a bunch of guns adorn the background), is striking on its own, but it might actually be a reference to the movie Spring Breakers, in which we see women touting guns with similar headwear.

Dense beaches

Leaks had already suggested as much, but it certainly looks as if there won't be any shortage of crowds on the beaches of Vice City. No word on whether flying a plane this low will earn you some Wanted stars.

Crypto jokes inbound

It was probably already a safe bet, but that same plane featuring what sounds like a crypto coin suggests that the world of cryptocurrency may be a target of GTA 6's satire.

We'll continue to dig into the trailer and will update this post with any other standout details we notice. For more, we have a ton of GTA 6 screenshots, and we've got a good idea of the characters, locations, and vehicles that'll be in the game now. Preorders are now live, with the standard edition costing $80, and the Ultimate Edition costing $100 with a host of bonus content.

With a new (and steamy) launch trailer going live to remind you of its November 19 release date, Grand Theft Auto 6 is starting to look like a slick new chapter in the series. It's also sounding like a great sequel, and that's no accident as the game features an original soundtrack by French electronic music duo Justice.

On top of that, a new single from Justice called "Flower in a Hurricane" will be featured on Grand Theft Auto 6: The Album, the official game soundtrack, and the track also includes Tame Impala, SZA, and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard.

If you're unfamiliar with them, Justice is a duo consisting of Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay, and they rose to fame with their 2007 album, Cross. They followed that up with Audio, Video, Disco in 2011, Woman in 2016, and after a seven-year hiatus, Hyperdrama in 2024.

The pair have earned several Grammy nominations over the years and a ton of awards for their catchy mix of rock and disco themes, creating chart-topping hits. And that soundtrack will probably sound great in one of GTA 6's absurdly detailed night clubs.

https://youtu.be/JWxoRY7AFSw

While Justice crafts the core musical sound of GTA 6, players will also be free to flip through several radio stations and podcasts in the game. Like previous GTA entries, these encompass a wide variety of musical genres, from outlaw country rock to reggae.

These will represent the “next evolution of in-game radio, and more,” Rockstar says, and players can listen to them while driving or on foot. The developer also revealed more details about the GTA 6 album, which features 34 songs written specifically for the game, including new music from Keith Richards and Travis Scott.

Grand Theft Auto 6 will launch for PS5 and Xbox Series X next month, and while a PC port hasn't been announced yet, it might be coming sooner than you think.

GTA 6: 268 Screenshots To Ease The Wait View Images

As we inch ever closer to the tidal wave that is Grand Theft Auto VI approaching over the horizon, some minds are turning to awards season and how many awards Rockstar's next epic will catch in its wake. Some, like Insider Gaming, are beginning to report that--just barely--GTA will be eligible for The Game Awards, Geoff Keighley's annual December extravaganza, which has led others to wonder if that was by some nefarious design.

The official website for The Game Awards lists November 20, 2026 at 9 PM PT as the cutoff date for this year's ceremony, which means that any game that launches before that time can be considered for nomination. As GTA VI is scheduled to launch one day earlier on November 19, that means GTA VI and TGA '26 will likely be intertwined this year.

Jason and Lucia at the club.

Now, before torches are lit and pitchforks are sharpened, evidence suggests that date was not put in place specifically for GTA to be eligible this year. If anything, it was Rockstar that planned around Keighley's schedule, as the Friday before Thanksgiving has routinely been the cutoff for TGA nominations.

Last year, the cutoff was November 21, as referenced in this Polygon article regarding Dispatch's eligibility. In 2024, eligibility was cut off on November 22, as evidenced in this Polygon article exploring the games that missed 2024 and were eligible in 2025.

2018 was the last time a Rockstar project was eligible for The Game Awards, as Red Dead Redemption II landed 10 nominations and four wins. Notably, one of those wins was not Game Of The year, which went to Sony Santa Monica for the God of War reboot.

Grand Theft Auto VI's eligibility for TGA 2026 was never in doubt--well, unless it got delayed again. Now that we're likely clear of that scenario, it's only a matter of time until we see just how many trophies are headed to Vice City.

Rockstar Games has published the launch trailer for GTA 6, and it's pretty spectacular. The game has been in development for more than a decade, and it's finally set for release on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

The trailer features the new song, "Flower in a Hurricane" from Justice featuring Tame Impala, SZA, and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. Justice also composed the entire original score for GTA 6.

The trailer itself shows off lots more of Vice City and its people, places, and criminal activities. We also see very steamy scene with Lucia and Jason in the shower. Jason and Lucia are lovers and partners in crime, and cultivating their relationship is a big part of the game. Or, you can have them break up and just be friends who commit crimes together.

The new trailer was captured on a base PS5. The trailer carries the PlayStation branding and even features an in-game controller that looks like a DualSense because Sony and Rockstar are working together to promote GTA 6.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rz1B4B2yBZY

After a decade-plus of development, GTA 6 launches on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, with a PC release expected in early 2027.

Part of the reason why Rockstar has taken so long with GTA 6 comes down to the process of crafting the fine details, and that includes a new sweat system.

Reporter Jason Schreier said on his YouTube page that Rockstar created a new system in GTA 6 that will make Lucia or Jason perspire different amounts "depending on how much effort they're putting in."

For example, "If they're dancing extra hard in the nightclub, they will sweat more than if they are not," he said. The sweating system is expected to also apply in other areas, like when hitting the gym or just being outside in the heat of GTA 6's version of south Florida.

Lucia in a club in GTA 6.

GTA 6 is not the first game to make new strides in the area of bodily fluids, as EA Sports--many years ago--made sweat look more realistic in the Madden franchise. And years before that, 2K Sports improved the in-game sweating system in the NBA 2K series.

Rockstar also aimed for more realism in GTA 6 by going on ridealongs with police officers and visiting strip clubs. GTA 6 isn't a life-sim, though, and Rockstar took strides to find the balance between simulating life and making a fun experience.

GTA 6 launches on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, and it's expected to be the biggest game ever. Despite that, its expected success will not fix the many deep and serious issues with the current video game market, experts say.

If you've ever wondered what would happen if you put an AI VTuber, her evil twin, their creator, a cow, an imp, and a monkey in a car in a post-apocalyptic desert and told them to drive thousands of kilometers, congratulations. You've got the same brain as Vedal987, the creator of Neuro-Sama and her twin, Evil.

The girls, along with Vedal, KokoNuts, Camila, and Crelly, kicked off a marathon of The Long Drive on October 12, with the ambitious goal of making it through a game that demands a lot more than just keeping a vehicle pointed in the right direction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZoC_8wP118

Each person streams their own perspective of the chaos, with Vedal's channel switching between Neuro, Evil, and himself. The six have been apparently finding new ways to turn their road trip into an insurance company's worst nightmare.

For the unfamiliar, The Long Drive is an open-world driving and survival game set in a procedurally generated desert. Players need to scavenge for supplies, maintain their vehicles, manage fuel, and navigate an enormous stretch of road while trying to survive the journey.

https://youtu.be/ulVpu2mN6ZI

The ultimate destination is about 5,000km away, and it'll take you the same amount of time to drive that 5,000km as it would in real life. While the lore-accurate goal is to get to the protagonist's mother's house, Neuro and Evil prefer to imagine Disneyland as the final destination. There's plenty of freedom, but the game's physics can be hilariously unpredictable, turning a regular drive into slapstick comedy.

If you recall the last time Neuro-Sama did a marathon stream, she ticked off all of the ways to die in Minecraft Hardcore one by one, leading to the slow descent into insanity for her companions. It seems like this time around, she's taking the same approach.

Camila is mangled in that car, somewhere.

The first major casualty arrived before the group had even settled into the journey. Camila fell victim to the game's physics, becoming entangled with the car, eventually succumbing to her injuries. Shortly after, Evil also passed away thanks to Camila accidentally dropping a truck on her head.

Things only got more absurd when Vedal managed to get himself stuck in a well, taking advantage of the physics to launch himself out, and then immediately dying from the impact of the fall.

How's the view up there, Vedal?

Since their expedition began, there's been a plethora of incredible deaths. Vedal shot Camila, Crelly died in a car crash, and Neuro and Evil got stuck in the ground. Perhaps the most hilarious example of The Long Drive's physics causing mishaps, though, was watching Neuro soar across the sky with no one else having any idea how that happened.

Not a bird, nor a plane.

The marathon is keeping me riveted, not just because of the unreliable physics. The unusually long objective combined with a group of people who could just wander off, die, lose their car, or get separated along the way is pure cinema.

The game is difficult enough when you consider it's pretty hard to find a vehicle that can accommodate everyone. So much so that a makeshift seat has been installed on the roof of the Neuro Car. Just don't let the twins sit there--the game will break.

Vedal has modded in a custom Neuro and Evil livery.

The Long Drive really is long, and at the time of writing, the friends are around 53% of the way through their trip, having done three days of streaming for roughly 10 hours per day. The desert is vast, and the cars are unreliable, but even if the most dangerous obstacle on their route is a well, I have faith in the chaos and will be following their journey closely.

As development on Cyberpunk 2 continues, game director Gabe Amatangelo has shared more thoughts on the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel and how his plans have evolved as CD Projekt Red has started to assign more people to its creation. In a new blog post, Amatangelo spoke about what the theme of cyberpunk means to him, remarking that he wanted to explore ideas of dehumanization. With more people now working on Cyberpunk 2, Amatangelo explained that the project is becoming a "reflection" of the people working on it as they add their own ideas to the mix.

"I had the idea of Cyberpunk 2 in the beginning, but it evolves as I involve more people," Amatangelo said. "And it evolves as I empower the team and individuals within them to contribute. It becomes something else, right? It becomes this thing that I've shepherded, but it's ultimately a reflection of the team's hearts and souls. And I look forward to sharing that."

Amatangelo added that, because video games have been a major influence in his life, he hopes they will continue to impact the people who immerse themselves in those digital worlds. "Video games impacted my life. They opened my mind, and got me motivated and excited. And I want to make sure that doesn't go away for this generation or the next," Amatangelo concluded.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOwI_kMZ_2o

While there's no clue as to when Cyberpunk 2 will be released, it is one of several big projects in development at CD Projekt Red. The company has ambitious plans to release an entire trilogy of Witcher games within a six-year period, starting with The Witcher 4. CD Projekt Red will also look to avoid a repeat of the infamous Cyberpunk 2077 launch debacle, when the game arrived in a broken, buggy state that took many months to fix.

While the game improved massively over those months, received plenty of free post-launch support in the following years, and received a critically acclaimed expansion in the form of Phantom Liberty, the troubled launch still did major reputational damage to CD Projekt Red.

But right now? Cyberpunk 2077 is pretty great, and worth picking up. It continues to be a best-seller--especially when it gets a big discount--and with season two of the spin-off anime series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners launching on October 20, interest in the game is likely to spike once again. On top of that, Paramount has also announced that it's making a Cyberpunk 2077 movie.

Thanks to devices such as the Steam Deck and Steam Machine, as well as the ongoing issues with Windows, gaming on Linux looks a lot more attractive over the last few years. Its biggest hurdle is still multiplayer games and their anti-cheat systems, but Epic Games is committed to bringing one of the biggest around to the operating system soon.

Epic Games has announced that it is working on a Linux version for Fortnite. It's going to act as a test for Epic's overhaul of EAC (Easy Anti-Cheat), its solution to those developing multiplayer games in Unreal Engine to prevent cheating (most recently used in Gears of War: E-Day). Epic says that it has offered Linux support for its current version of EAC, but that most developers (itself included) opted not to use it and instead omit Linux support entirely because of its inability to be as protective as its Windows version.

A native rebuild of EAC, that doesn't require translation layers such as Proton, would help Epic bring the software up to par with Windows, at which point it would be comfortable finally releasing a native Linux version of Fortnite. In a blog post, Epic says that once it has reached this stage, it will make this available to other developers, too.

"We are also planning to pilot EAC Linux v2 in Fortnite first, where we’ll test it in a live environment and refine it based on what we learn. Once we’ve validated EAC v2’s effectiveness, we’ll make it available to more game developers so they can bring their multiplayer games to Linux players too."

Epic hasn't shared a timeline for when it expects Fortnite on Linux, but does say that its pilot program will be available through its new Epic Game Store launcher. Announced at the same time, Epic has decided to follow through with its commitment to AI-developed software earlier this week, with the new launcher labelled as "vibe coded" because "programming is hard". This version is still in preview and lacks all of the features currently on the main version of the store launcher, but Epic says that it is already seeing some speed improvements (even if they're just a few seconds here or there).

That might be too steep a price to pay depending on your appetite for linking your credit card details to an app that is being iterated on without much (or any) human intervention. And it's already led to some strange bugs that certainly would've been caught without being rushed into the hands of users.

https://bsky.app/profile/papapishu.bsky.social/post/3mxtzp6xtwc2u

Earlier this week Epic Games reportedly delayed a Star Wars/ Marvel crossover title as the company pivots towards an "AI-first" production model that does away with "hand-written code."

Microsoft is reportedly surveying a subset of Xbox users about changing its plans for exclusive games going forward--possibly in a big way--and that's no surprise given Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has alluded to changes to the exclusivity strategy in the future.

At the same time, a survey like this is not necessarily indicative of anything beyond Microsoft conducting research. After all, there is an entire team at Xbox called Xbox Research that ... researches all manner of things, and the results of that research doesn't always lead to changes in the marketplace.

Windows Central reports that a new survey was issued to some Xbox Insiders this week, and the site confirmed the survey to be real.

The survey asks how members might feel about the totally nuclear option of making all Xbox-developed games except Call of Duty exclusive to Xbox on console.

"Imagine it was announced that all future title releases from every Xbox-developed gaming franchise except Call of Duty will be console-exclusive to Xbox," the survey asks.

It goes on: "For Minecraft only, existing titles would no longer be available for purchase on PlayStation or Nintendo consoles and would not receive any new content updates. However, there is no impact to any of the existing titles or content you already own. Nothing changes on PC with this announcement."

The survey asks respondents to say in this scenario, where they would be most likely to play any of the exclusive content. The choices are:

• On an existing Xbox I own
• On a new Xbox Series X|S I would decide to purchase
• On a PC
• I would skip playing because it would now be unavailable on my preferred console
• Something else
• Not interested in playing the exclusive content

Another page of the survey specifically asks about Fallout, polling users about how they would feel if future Fallout games would be console-exclusive to Xbox, and with nothing changing at all on PC.

Windows Central reported that the survey also asked these same questions about The Elder Scrolls, Doom, Physint, Diablo, and Minecraft.

In a memo to staff, Sharma and Xbox boss Matt Booty said they will “re-evaluate” the approach to exclusivity, which could mean a lot of things. Surveying fans is likely connected to this endeavor.

Fans have called on Microsoft to return to exclusive games, but it remains to be seen if that will happen. Sharma and Booty also said they will consider changing things up in regards to “windowing,” which followed on from a report that said some other games beyond Call of Duty titles could be kept out of Game Pass at launch and for a period of time, similar to how movies are only available in theaters at first before coming to digital and streaming.

The so-called nuclear option of making all non-Call of Duty first-party games exclusive to Xbox on console would indeed be a bonafide return to exclusivity, but it also seems quite unlikely given how much money Microsoft could miss out on. At the same time, Sharma has pledged to fans that that Xbox needs exclusives to return to growth as part of the big Xbox "reset."

A survey like this offers an inherently hypothetical scenario, and it could simply be part of Microsoft's fact-finding mission to get a pulse of the fanbase. It would be an entirely different thing for Microsoft to commit to exclusives in this way and invest meaningfully to do so.

Sharma's other efforts so far as the new Xbox CEO have included mass layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations. She has also said Microsoft's big bet on Game Pass did not work.

Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto 6 releases on November 19, but when will you be able to read reviews? According to historical precedent and a new report, reviews for the open-world crime game should be available before launch.

Insider Gaming reported that reviews for GTA 6 will be posted at some point before November 19, but the exact timing is unknown for now. According to insider NateTheHate, Rockstar will send copies of GTA 6 to reviewers before the end of October, so any time now, seemingly.

A scene from GTA 6. What history tells us

The last GTA game, GTA 5, was released on September 17, 2013, and reviews for the game were published starting on September 16. For Rockstar's next game, 2018's Red Dead Redemption II, reviews also went live one day prior to release.

This doesn't necessarily mean Rockstar will follow the same playbook for GTA 6, however. Nothing is confirmed at this stage.

GTA 6 launches on November 19--unless it's delayed again--for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. It's expected to be the biggest game of 2026 and maybe all time, and it's reportedly on pace to earn $2 billion in revenue before launch.

A lot of new details about GTA 6 recently came to light, including how the game originally had a bigger scope and could have launched sooner, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick’s response to a big delay, and the absurd amount of detail in the game.

We also learned that GTA 6 did not in fact cost $1.5 billion to make and that an entire studio was spun up to create NPCs. Rockstar also discussed how its GTA 6 realism experiment began with beer and sandwiches and that the studio says it won’t need another eight years to release its next game. Beyond all of this, Rockstar reacted to the game's high-profile hack in 2022.

The Electronic Software Association (ESA) has a serious bone to pick with retro handhelds that are packaged with tons of unlicensed pre-installed, calling these devices "superfakes" that should face some sort of suppression by the US government.

According to an October 6 filing with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR)--which monitors marketplaces that are accused of engaging in or enabling piracy and counterfeiting--the ESA is urging the government to clamp down on what it calls "illicit plug-and-play consoles and handheld devices." The ESA wants the USTR to add these emulation devices to the Notorious Markets List, the agency's annual report identifying which markets are participating in such behavior, thereby barring or slowing their profits.

"In the video game sector, illicit plug-and-play consoles and handheld devices are the functional equivalent
of superfakes," the ESA told the USTR. "They can look and feel like legitimate, mass-market consumer electronics: molded housings, color displays, polished user interfaces, retail packaging, product reviews, warranty-like representations,
and listings on familiar e-commerce platforms. Yet their commercial appeal rests solely on a concealed
memory card or internal drive loaded with hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of unauthorized
copies of copyright-protected games."

The ESA puts a specific spotlight on Anbernic, a console manufacturer that sells 3DS- and Game Boy-looking devices packed with thousands of games from systems like the NES and SNES to the PlayStation 1 and Sega Genesis. Though maybe the most prominent example, another one that comes to mind is rapper Soulja Boy's various console attempts.

The filing also targets digital marketplaces that it says distribute or sell modded accounts and pirated games such as Eldorado, FunPay, G2A, and Voices38. In short, the ESA is seeking some kind of restitution for the harm that "superfake" retro consoles pose to the gaming industry writ large.

"A single device can substitute for lawful purchases across multiple video game publishers and console generations, divert sales from authorized games, compilations, subscriptions, remasters, and licensed retro hardware," the ESA wrote. "Because the product is often delivered with an immediately usable catalogue of pirated games, it removes the technical friction that once separated mainstream consumers from video game piracy. Sellers commonly use the illicit library as a key selling point, and the commercial price often reflects this."

To achieve that restitution (or regulation), the ESA is "respectfully requesting" that the USTR implement the following seven steps so that the governments where these "superfakes" operate can hold their businesses accountable:

• Treat preloaded unauthorised game libraries as core evidence of commercial-scale piracy
• Inspect bundled and separately shipped storage media
• Require sellers to substantiate authorisation for included games and protected branding
• Suspend repeat sellers and linked storefronts, not merely individual listings
• Preserve seller, payment, shipment, and advertising records for enforcement
• Improve customs targeting for devices and components associated with preloading operations
• Coordinate action against manufacturers, exporters, importers, fulfilment providers, and online marketplaces that knowingly facilitate these products

Being the face of a video game is a demanding role, as the people who step into these positions involved in these roles often find themselves on the receiving end of a lot of toxicity. Former Overwatch game director Jeff Kaplan knows this all too well, as he promoted the hero shooter for several years and regularly interacted with its fans--albeit at a "personal cost." 

After leaving Blizzard Entertainment in 2021, Kaplan has been quietly working on The Legend of California, the in-development game at his new studio, Kintsugiyama. Reflecting on his time as the face of Overwatch, Kaplan spoke to GameSpot about how Overwatch needed someone to fill that role. For Kaplan, this was part of Overwatch's growth and continued existence, and he felt it was needed at the time.

"This is going to sound ridiculous, but I'm not someone who likes attention," Kaplan said of his time in the public-facing position. "I'm not much of an extrovert. I don't have a heavy social media presence. And so, a lot of me putting myself out there when I was at Blizzard was sort of to serve my game and my team--doing a job and a role."

Overwatch--and Blizzard as a whole--has had tremendous highs and lows over the years. During periods of content droughts or Hero changes, players would often target Kaplan and other developers on the game with verbal abuse and threats. There has never been a silver bullet to eliminate player toxicity, but Blizzard discovered that dropping a ton of content into Overwatch helped change player sentiment.

Overwatch added all 10 of these heroes throughout 2026.

While his departure from Blizzard back in 2021 wasn't easy, Kaplan said that being freed of the responsibility of being associated with Overwatch and fading into the background turned out to be "pretty great" in the end.

"There were a lot of emotions mixed up in leaving Blizzard, but one of the things that was sort of much needed for me, on a personal level, was that withdrawal," Kaplan said. "To stop reading the subreddits, to not talk to anybody. It's not like I had a game that I needed to talk to anybody about, and I don't have the need to see my name in headlines or, you know, like, 'Let's Google and see where I'm being mentioned today.' That's just not me as a person. So, it was very soothing to my soul to sort of fade into the background and just put all of that aside for some time. It was pretty great, actually. It was very needed for me."

Kaplan went on to explain his thoughts on if studios even need a  public face for their games, citing both Valve and Rockstar as companies that "do a great job of promoting their games" despite not having a designated speaker. 

"There doesn't need to be [one]," Kaplan said. "But I think it was good for Overwatch to sort of let the players know, 'We're one of you, we're listening.' It showed a level of transparency and engagement, like, 'Hey, this thing is being made by real people.' Blizzard always runs the risk of kind of, 'Oh, it's just a nameless, faceless corporation' if we don't put ourselves out there. 

Kaplan presenting an update for Overwatch.

"I think people like [current Overwatch director] Aaron [Keller] or myself, kind of [thought], 'Hey, we should really let these people know: We play the game too. We have opinions too.' That was sort of the strategy, but it comes at a cost to you personally. I know a lot of extroverts who love it and are like, 'I just did press for eight hours, and I feel energized!' And I'm like, 'Oh my god, I need to hide under a rock for seven days because I did one interview.'"

Currently, Kaplan and the rest of the team at Kintsugiyama are working on The Legend of California, a multiplayer survival-action game set in the wild west. The title doesn't have a release date yet, but if you're interested in taking part in an upcoming playtest for the open-world shooter, you can check out its Steam page and request access.

Jeff Kaplan, Overwatch's former director, said he's not played the game he was the public face of since April 2021, when he left developer Blizzard after nearly 20 years to go indie. He called his relationship with Blizzard's shooter one of "clinical separation."

Kaplan revealed this to GameSpot in an interview that dove into his history with Blizzard and the creation of his new game, The Legend of California. 

When asked if he had continued to play Overwatch or kept tabs on it in the wake of it dropping the "2" from its name and its addition of 10 new heroes over the course of the year, Kaplan said he hadn't. He said he's essentially cut all ties with the game he used to direct.

"With Overwatch, I had a very almost clinical separation, knowing how the WoW thing had gone," Kaplan said. "I've literally not played the game since April 2021."

He continued: "I don't, for my own psyche, I don't read the subreddits. After I said my goodbye to competitive Overwatch and the Overwatch subreddit, I never go back and read. I don't watch YouTube [videos]. I don't search for my name in Overwatch. I don't search for Overwatch. I sort of just disconnect. I actually tell all the algorithms like, 'Yeah, I'm not really interested in Overwatch anymore. I know you think I'm the Overwatch guy, but like, that's just not for me anymore.'"

It was a lesson Kaplan learned when he left the World of Warcraft team in 2008 after working on Blizzard's MMORPG for six years. He said it was more painful to step away from WoW than it was for Overwatch.

"Oddly, leaving WoW was a training moment for me," he said. "When I left WoW to work on Titan [the game that would eventually become Overwatch], it was, I think, November or December of 2008. And WoW was who I was at that point. I worked every minute--every waking minute--on WoW. If I wasn't working on WoW, I was playing WoW. And every time I played WoW, I had this notepad next to the desk that I'd be filling out to walk in the next morning and go, 'These are all the things we need to change.'

World of Warcraft recently released its 11th expansion, Midnight.

"It was kind of shocking in a very negative emotional way to step away from WoW, because it was such a part of who I was and how I identified. It was who I was as a game developer."

As a result, when it came time to leave Overwatch and Blizzard behind, Kaplan said he was "used to that moment" of having given everything to a game, and the need to establish a "healthy separation" between him and his former work.

"I was kind of used to that moment of what it meant to give all of yourself, your heart, your soul--because it's not just a job, there's no one who can do this and have it just be a job--and then have this shocking moment where you realize it doesn't belong to you. It belongs to the team, belongs to the players, it belongs to Blizzard, but it doesn't belong to you," Kaplan said.

Kaplan said he was trying to avoid becoming Uncle Rico from the film Napoleon Dynamite, an old man reliving his glory days of playing football by watching tapes of his games.

"I don't want to be Uncle Rico," Kaplan said. "Overwatch happened. I was a part of it. There's a group there now and Overwatch is now about them. Both the players and the developers, that's their Overwatch now. They're making it, they own it, they play it. I'm onto this new thing, and that's where I'm at in my life."

Google has released its list of the "top trending costumes" ahead of Halloween, and Minecraft's Verity has made the cut.

The Frightgeist list, as it's called, is based on what's trending on Google. The list is topped by Buddy the Unicorn from director Casper Kelly's horror movie. The character Nikki from Curry Barker's viral horror hit Obsession makes the cut, too.

Verity ranks No. 7. For anyone just catching up, Verity is a horror web series from ThatMob, and it takes place inside Minecraft. The character Verity is a smiling face that becomes increasingly unhinged--you can watch the full movie below. This is not to be confused with the new Anne Hathaway movie Verity.

People searched for Verity the most in Los Angeles, California, Google said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6f3PhauXyg

The top trending Halloween costumes overall include:

1. Buddy the Unicorn
2. NeeDoh
3. Nikki (from Obsession)
4. Agamemnon (from The Odyssey)
5. Lily Love Braids (from Poppy Playtime)
6. Oliver Tree
7. Verity (from Minecraft)
8. Carl (from Dungeon Crawler Carl)
9. Disco Scooby Doo
10. Hazel Hook (from Descendants)

Google also published lists specific to kids, pets, and duos. You can see those lists below.

Kids costumes:

1. Dolly Parton
2. Ella Langley
3. Dumpling
4. Shakira
5. Oliver Tree
6. Ash Ketchum
7. Hannah Montana
8. Spider-Gwen
9. Michael Jackson (Thriller era)
10. Pomni

Pet costumes

1. Centipede
2. Dolly Parton
3. Bullseye
4. Diet Coke
5. Princess Donut
6. Lamb Chop
7. Pua
8. Baked Potato
9. Roach
10. Tow Mater

Duo costumes

1. Disco Scooby and Shaggy
2. Cyclops and Jean Grey
3. Nikki and Bear
4. JLo and Maverick
5. Hannah and Garrett
6. Cowboys and Angels
7. Ricky Bobby and Carley Bobby
8. Wall-E and Eve
9. Woody and Bullseye
10. Joe Dirt and Brandy

Microsoft has announced a new controlled called the Xbox Nano Controller, and it's smaller than the existing Xbox controller, and it costs less.

Microsoft says the controller is designed to fit nearly every pocket and budget. "Its compact design offers a great option for younger players, smaller hands, or anyone seeking something portable for play on the go," the company said.

The Nano is the smallest controller Xbox has ever released.

The Xbox Nano controller is a bit over five inches in length and weighs 3.5 ounces--it's the smallest controller Microsoft has ever made. It features all 18 gameplay buttons you'd expect, so Microsoft says it should feel familiar.

The smaller controller comes with a smaller price, too: $50 USD. Microsoft partnered with Samsung on a bundle that comes with a controller and two months of Game Pass Ultimate (for new subscribers) when they buy a new Samsung TV this holiday. For anyone planning to use this new controller for cloud streaming, Microsoft will soon put caps on how much you can play before you must pay more to keep going.

Additionally, Microsoft and Facebook company Meta are working on a new bundle featuring the Nano controller, two months of Game Pass, and a Meta Quest headset.

The Nano.

The Xbox Nano controller uses rechargeable batteries and a programmable action button for quick access to things players want, like taking a screenshot or capturing gameplay.

The Nano is much smaller than the standard Xbox controller.

You can preorder the Xbox Nano controller now. The Nano was the second new gaming controller revealed today, following Sony's announcement of a limited-edition DualSense controller for Gran Turismo.

PlayStation has revealed this month's batch of new arrivals for the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog. Most of these games will be available starting October 20.

Don’t forget, all PS Plus members can claim three freebies this month–F1 25, Hunt: Showdown 1896, and Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2–but you only have until November 2 to do so.

Kicking things off in October is Mafia: The Old Country, a prequel to the original trilogy of Mafia games. If you're looking for something that won't take you too long to play, has a great story, and solid action gameplay, it's a great option for a weekend game.

A PS Plus re-release of Horizon Forbidden West will also be available this month, and even though it's an open-world game that plays things very safe, it's still one of the best-looking games on PlayStation. Mycopunk offers an engaging looter-shooter experience where you tear through fungal enemies; Poppy Playtime: Chapter 2 is a spooky treat for this month; and The Midnight Walk comes highly recommended. Mixing handcrafted art with a creepy dark fantasy design, this game from the minds behind Lost in Random will have you working to survive and outsmart the many monsters after the adorable Potboy.

The Midnight Walk

If you haven't checked out the excellent action-RPG Tales of Arise, you can strap yourself in for an enhanced edition of the lengthy game this month, and Monster Energy Supercross 25 is a pretty decent recreation of supercross motorcycle competition.

Rounding out the list are two more games for the PlayStation Classics library: Dino Crisis 2 and RollerCoaster Tycoon 3. As a reminder, you'll need a PlayStation Plus Premium subscription to access these retro games.

PlayStation Game Catalog for October

• Mafia: The Old Country | PS5
• Horizon Forbidden West | PS5, PS4
• Mycopunk | PS5
• Poppy Playtime: Chapter 2 | PS5, PS4
• The Midnight Walk | PS5
• Tales of Arise – Beyond the Dawn Edition | PS5, PS4
• Monster Energy Supercross 25: The Official Video Game | PS5
• Dino Crisis 2 | PS5, PS4 (PS Plus Premium sub required)
• RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Complete Edition | PS5, PS4 (PS Plus Premium sub required)

New Game Trials for PlayStation Plus Premium members

A few more Game Trials are being added to PlayStation Plus for Premium-tier subscribers. Starting October 20, you can play Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy and Mortal Shell 2 for free (for a few hours).