Today, during Gamescom Opening Night Live, Disney Illusion Island developer Dlala Studios introduced its next game: Murals, which puts a new spin on some classic childhood stories, and will launch on PC in 2027.

Murals is an isometric action-adventure game set within multiple famous fairy tales, including Hansel and Gretel, The Little Mermaid, and Rapunzel, but not the way you might remember them. Rapunzel's hair, for example, is actively trying to kill her, while "Sleeping Beauty" is suffering from insomnia and hasn't slept in weeks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D42nkf8EHMk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D42nkf8EHMk

Players will control a nameless hero as they fight through these twisted fairy tales with help from Eeries, which the game describes as "mystical, slightly very haunted, doo-dads and whatchamacallits" that enhance the hero's abilities.

Some Eeries enhance the hero's weapon, like Strength In Misery's ability to deal more damage to enemies with status effects, while others affect the hero themselves, like Thorny's passive ability to sometimes damage any attacking enemy that hurts the hero.

Murals, which is developed and published by Dlala, is the studio's first original IP in over a decade. Its most recent projects include Battletoads and 2023's Disney Illusion Island..

Gamescom Opening Night Live is here, and once again, we're expecting a bumper night full of new game reveals, gameplay deep-dives, and more from Geoff Keighley's second big show of the year. As usual, we'll be keeping tabs on the event--and the preshow hosted by Kyle Bosman that starts at 10:30 AM PT / 1:30 PM ET--so if you don't have time to sit down for all of the announcements, you can check back here for updates on all the big announcements.

Taking place from the Gamescom showfloor, Gamescom Opening Night Live kicks off at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET, and Keighley has already dropped a few big game names for this year's edition. Gears of War: E-Day, Metro 2039, and Final Fantasy 7 Revelation are some of the biggest games being shown off, and they'll be joined by new looks at Tides of Annihilation, Ananta, Game of Thrones: War for Westeros, Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons, and The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past.

Worms: Galactic Tactics

And we're kicking things off with the preshow! Presented by the Final Bosman himself, our first trailer is for a new Worms tactics game that takes a page from the XCOM playbook. It looks like the original Worms is also coming back in some form.

Train Sim World 7

The next chapter in the longrunning Train Sim World series launches on September 15.

Roller Coaster Tycoon Wonderworks

Think you have what it takes to run the ultimate theme park? You can put your skills to the test when Roller Coaster Tycoon Wonderworks launches in early access soon.

Animo

Animo looks like it might be getting a visit from The Pokemon Company soon, but until then, the new trailer for the game showed off plenty of cute critters battling each other and one titanic dragon.

Genigods: Nezha

An ARPG rooted in ancient Chinese creation mythology, players will take on titanic monsters as the Spirit Pearl, the first being forged by the Goddess of Creation Nüwa.

Perceptum

Need some horror that's all about things that go bump in the night? Perceptum looks like it'll scratch that itch when it launches in 2027.

Acornia: Mirror Worlds

This bake-and-brawl management adventure game from Splashteam continues to look adorable, and it's out next year.

Valor Mortis https://youtu.be/Y0gerXKXaWU

One more trailer for the upcoming first-person souls-like Valor Mortis from Ghostrunner Studio One More Level, which launches on October 13 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

TankRat

We've got a release date for TankRat, where you'll battle swarms of corrupted mech-monsters from your heavily armed vehicle. It's out on January 17, 2027.

Humankind 2

The sequel to 2021's Humankind aims to improve on the 4X strategy formula, and once again, players can guide their nation through various eras of human history. It'll be coming to PC in 2027.

Murals https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHkHMcMhvjo&pp=ygULTXVyYWxzIGdhbWU%3D

What do centuries-old fables like The Little Mermaid, Rapunzel, and Hansel & Gretel all have in common? Besides the original fiction being nightmare fuel, they're also all featured in Murals, an original IP from Disney Illusion Island developer Dlala Studios. The isometric action-adventure game is set across multiple famous fairy tales, and players will control a nameless hero who must brave dark, twisted takes on these beloved stories.

Age Twisters

Age Twisters is a two-player co-op narrative adventure game, where you'll play as a grandfather and granddaughter who team up to solve puzzles. It looks adorable, but it has no release date yet.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword

In case you missed it, there's a demo out there for Onimusha: Way of the Sword. And if you've already played it? Then it's time to boot it up again, as Capcom has added more content to this early--and free--slice of the game.

Mariachi Legends

I didn't have a Mexican vampire metroidvania on my Gamescom bingo card, but Mariachi Legends is scratching an itch for that very specific scratch I didn't know I had. It launches in April 2027.

Elta: Defy All Gods

Get ready to brawl your way out of corrupted worlds in Elta: Defy All Gods. You've also got an adorable dragon-god companion, free-form melee combat, and fluid platforming, so this might be worth keeping an eye on.

Two hours of game trailers

Two whole hours! We hope you don't need the loo for a while.

Nodus Fall

HoyoVerse made a name for itself with anime-inspired live-service games, but for its next title? It looks like the developer is taking on Elden Ring developer From Software with a high fantasy adventure that looks gorgeous. Called Nodus Fall, players take on the role of a Weaver in this co-op action game.

Rainbow Six Tactics

It's the first brand-new Rainbow Six game in many years! Rainbow Six Tactics. Featuring 15 unique Operators, players will take part in missions across the globe in this XCOM-inspired title. It's out in 2027.

Gears of War: E-Day

After a fun weekend in the Gears of War: E-Day multiplayer beta, the focus is on the story with this new trailer for the game. It's the darkest hour for humanity as Emergence Day leaves cities across Sera ruined, but it looks like humanity isn't ready to go down without a fight. Gears of War: E-Day launches on October 6.

Ananta

NetEase's free-to-play GTA-meets-Spider-Man game Ananta is all about keeping the peace and building a social media empire. It looks wonderfully ridiculous, and it launches on January 15, 2027, for PC and PS5.

Silent Hill Townfall

In case the next few months don't look busy enough, you can try out some small-town Scottish horror in Silent Hill Townfall. The new trailer showed off more of the spooky game in action, and it's the first Silent Hill to be played from a first-person perspective. It's out on September 24.

Resonance: A Plague Tale

The next Plague Tale game is also out soon, and instead of having too many rats, it focuses on puzzles, exploration, and combat.

Sea Remnants

A fresh look at Sea of Remnants next, a pirate-themed RPG with some stylish visuals. I can't say I'm too big a fan of the trailer's use of cheesy country music, though.

Tides of Annihilation

Your ears are not deceiving you! That is indeed Resident Evil Requiem's Grace Ashcroft actor, Angela Sant'Albano, taking over the role of Gwendolyn in Tides of Annihilation. The Arthurian Legend action game continues to look great, and you can wishlist it now on Steam.

Eating a Big Mac can help you obtain a special armor set for Master Chief in the UK and Ireland. Thanks to a new McDonald's collaboration with Xbox, there is a new Halo: Campaign Evolved skin that's mainly red and gray, with a yellow visor and flourishes. It costs 1,500 rewards points in the McDonald's app--a tier in the US that will get you a free apple pie, small coffee, or vanilla cone.

Now we could talk about the hilarity of a Master Chief skin for a game predominately played from the first-person perspective, though Halo: Campaign Evolved does let you experience the classic game in third-person. Or we could talk about how this particular armor set (seen below via RebsGaming) looks like something that should be available to just customize within the title's menu. It's really not much more than a palette swap. 

https://twitter.com/Mr_Rebs_/status/2092254489067630741

But probably the biggest issue is the armor set, named Side Mission, just screams bland and boring. Like if you're going to have a McDonald's-specific skin in Halo: Campaign Evolved, give it some fun character. Put the iconic "M" arch on Chief's helmet, for instance, sort of like the added decal flair on Magneto's helmet. Or make the visor look like Ronald McDonald, similar to what we did with the horrifying thumbnail on this story.

Now Halo: Campaign Evolved isn't the only Xbox-owned game to get a special reward at McDonald's in the UK and Ireland. The other titles involved in the collaboration are Forza Horizon 6, Fallout 76, Candy Crush Saga, World of Warcraft, and Overwatch. GameSpot has reached out to McDonald's about a similar promotion coming to other parts of the world, including North America.

We also have codes to grab free alternate armor sets in Halo: Campaign Evolved. For more, check out GameSpot's Halo: Campaign Evolved review. The game is available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and for the first time ever, PS5. 

Halo Games, Ranked – The Best Halo FPS Games View Images

Ahead of the first anniversary of Dispatch, developer AdHoc Studio has announced that the superhero workplace comedy-drama is finally getting a physical edition release for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch. Published in partnership with PM Studios, the release offers fans a choice between a standard and a steelbook edition, each featuring an assortment of physical and digital goodies.

The $50 Standard Deluxe Edition includes the full game on disc/cartridge, all DLC, an artbook with a digital copy, four digital comics, a Superhero Dispatch Network booklet, a download key for the game soundtrack, and a double-sided poster. If you feel like spending a little more, you can grab the Steelbook Deluxe Edition for $60. This includes all of the aforementioned extras, as well as a steelbook cover featuring box art created in-house at AdHoc Studio. The steelbook edition might also be released later due to manufacturing times, AdHoc added.

Each version will be available from retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Target, Walmart, and more. With the Nintendo copy of Dispatch, AdHoc has noted that it is the Switch 1 version of the game, and it includes the Switch 2 Edition upgrade pack--as well as some censorship, but the studio did manage to apply some hilarious fixes to meet Nintendo's standards.

Dispatch Deluxe Edition contents Dispatch Steelbook Deluxe Edition

• Full game on disc/cartridge
• The Art of Dispatch digital artbook: 100+ pages of behind-the-scenes concept art
• Four digital comics:
  • Issue #1: Splash & The Last Bender
  • Issue #2: Pas De Deux & Shellshock
  • Issue #3: Get Up
  • Issue #4: The Death of Mecha Man
• Original soundtrack digital download code
• SDN’s Guide to Dispatching, a 16-page printed booklet
• Double-sided Mecha Man poster
• Steelbook cover (Only in Steelbook Deluxe Edition)

On top of all that, the complete Dispatch soundtrack is also getting a physical release via Lost in Cult Records. Andrew Arcadi and Skyler Barto's original score will be joined by several licensed tracks, and this will be available in two editions. The Prime Edition has all three records pressed on classic black vinyl, while the Astral Edition offers the same three records, each pressed in the colors of a key Superhero Dispatch Network employee: Mecha Man blue, Invisigal translucent purple, and Blonde Blazer's red-and-yellow color scheme.

Preorder at Lost in Cult

The first 500 Astral sets ship with a certificate of authenticity signed by composer Andrew Arcadi through Lost in Cult's website, and if you want to double up, you can get both the Standard Deluxe Edition of Dispatch with a vinyl edition of your choice bundled together. This deal will also save 10% off the pair.

One of last year's hit games--despite it being snubbed during the awards season--Dispatch is a narrative-heavy adventure that follows Robert Robertson III, formerly the superhero Mecha Man. With his mech suit trashed, Robertson takes up a post at the local branch of the Superhero Dispatch Network (SDN) as a dispatcher, overseeing a team of former supervillains. A critical and commercial hit, a sequel might already be in development.

If the recent re-release of The Lord of the Rings: War in the North got you excited about the fantasy franchise and looking for more, Amazon currently has a great deal going for the Peter Jackson movies.

The retailer is selling a digital copy of the three-movie extended-edition bundle for just $15. It normally goes for $45, so this is quite a deal, at least if you're OK owning the movies digitally.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zckJCxYxn1g

2026 is the 25th anniversary of the films, as The Fellowship of the Ring debuted in 2001. The sequels The Two Towers and The Return of the King followed in 2002 and 2003, respectively. They were all big hits critically and commercially.

Return of the King, for its part, swept at the Oscars in 2004, winning all 11 of the awards it was nominated for, including Best Picture and Best Director for Jackson. There are more The Lord of the Rings movies now in the works, including The Hunt for Gollum in 2027.

As for the game series, recent entries like The Lord of the Rings: Gollum and Tales of the Shire left a lot to be desired. There are new games now in the works, including a "deeply immersive" game from Kingdom Come studio Warhorse. Additionally, Tomb Raider studio Crystal Dynamics is said to be working on its own The Lord of the Rings game. There will also be more re-releases of "classic" The Lord of the Rings games coming up.

Yet another alleged GTA 6 leak has emerged, showing off one of the game's main characters, Jason, visiting a video game store that sells physical discs. This has prompted people to point out the irony of GTA 6 being a digital-exclusive game.

In the clip, we see Jason visit a store called Game Horde where he uses binoculars to zoom in on the shelves, showing various games and consoles.

"This is not about actual discs. It's about ownership. Resale rights still matter, even in a digital-only era," reads a watermark on the video.

https://twitter.com/littleblass/status/2092246597329379332

GTA 6 will be sold at brick-and-mortar retailers, but the game's physical edition only includes a code in the box. The data shows that more and more people, on a percentage basis, are buying games digitally today. But a lot of people still want physical game discs, while many have also expressed concerns about game preservation concerns in a digital-only era.

When the GTA 6 leaks began, the person claiming responsibility listed off various "commandments," including the following:

• Thou Shalt Not Sell Digital Preorders
• Thou Shalt Not Sell Fake Single-Player DLC
• Thou Shalt Preserve Single-Player Content

For more, check out GameSpot's timeline of the GTA 6 leaks so far.

GTA 6 launches on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The gameplay leaks have been extensive, but they don't matter and people should calm down, a former Rockstar director has said.

Rockstar and Take-Two have yet to identify the person or people responsible for the leak. Whoever they may be, they appear to have access to the game.

In 2022, GTA 6 suffered its first major leak of gameplay footage. The autistic 18-year-old suspect was apprehended and ordered to live in a secure hospital for life. In July this year, it was reported that the person, Arion Kurtaj, left the secure hospital and is now in a “normal prison” awaiting a new trial.

While the leaks have shown a lot of new footage and revealed new insights about GTA 6, we're now just days away from Rockstar releasing official footage of the game on Netflix on August 27.

Almost a year after launch, the Asus Xbox ROG Ally is getting an upgrade--and a hefty price increase--in the form of the X20 model. Revealed earlier this year as part of a bundle sold with a set of XR glasses, Asus has opened preorders for the handheld gaming PC, with prices starting at an eye-watering $1,300 from the official Asus online store and Best Buy.

What does an extra $300 get you? The biggest draw is the screen, as Asus has equipped this model with a 7.4‑inch 1080p OLED 120Hz HDR display. The shell is also constructed from translucent plastic so you can see the inner workings of the ROG Ally X20, and those internals include an 80Wh battery, 1TB of storage capacity, 24GB of DDR5 RAM, and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity. The X20 also features a redesigned layout meant to improve airflow and thermal efficiency, as these units can get hot while running demanding games.

Asus added that it has improved the D-pad and installed TMR magnetic induction analog sticks. The unit still runs on the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor, which is capable of handling modern games smoothly. If you've got $2,500 to spare, you can also grab a bundle deal that includes the ROG Ally X20, a pair of 240Hz ROG XReal X1 glasses, a Dbrand Killswitch protective case set, and a Pelican case to store everything in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiYNNGR4uLo

That's a lot of dough for a handheld, but it's not too surprising. The global shortage of memory driven by AI has seen component prices skyrocket, and several manufacturers of handheld gaming PCs have had to adjust their prices. Earlier this year, AyaNeo suspended preorders and early-bird sales of its Next 2 handheld in response to rapidly rising costs, while console prices are also feeling the pinch. The silver lining is that the makers of retro handhelds are filling the gap for affordable gaming on the go, and these cheap units make more sense than ever in 2026.

Pricing for the $1,000 Xbox ROG Ally X and its smaller-specced $600 sibling hasn't increased (yet), and both machines are a pretty great option for playing PC and Xbox games on the go--if you can afford them. While both devices did have some teething issues with their software, recent updates have smoothed out these problems, and the Xbox app works well as a platform for users to launch games from Microsoft's store, Steam, and more.

According to industry veteran Raphaël Colantonio, who worked on the Dishonored series at Arkane before starting his own studio, GTA games are "the biggest tease" and also "the biggest disappointment" for people who love immersive sim games.

"I don't mean that in an offensive way because of course who am I and who are they? They make games that sell I don't know how many thousands times more than mine and they are so incredible at doing surface simulation," he told Press Box PR. "But that’s such a stab in the heart for me when they don’t go more than surface level where there’s no long-term consequences to anything you do."

GTA games, instead, offer more of a "fantastic sandbox with incredible execution, incredible cinematography, [and] great gameplay," Colantonio added.

He went on to say Rockstar has a formula and that he "understands why they do it." At the same time, Colantonio said a game like Skyrim is more to his liking. He said in Skyrim, there is "just one instance of the world," so your actions have real, meaningful, and lasting consequences.

"You really own your consequences as a player. Everything is playable and you have to deal with your choices for the rest of the game," he said.

Colantonio was speaking about GTA games so far, and not specifically GTA 6. Rockstar has yet to share specifics on how it might have updated the formula for the new game, or if there might be further reactivity to choices players make.

He theorized that Rockstar's belief with the GTA series is that offering too much in the way of choices having real, lasting consequences confuses the player too much, so the developers take a different approach.

"What Rockstar basically say is, you know what? That part sucks. It’s too hard to do. It confuses players and most players won’t care at all anyway," he said. "Here’s what we will do instead. We put a guy with a question mark on their head. They have a mission for you. When you want to play the mission, we open an instance of the world in which nothing else matters than what's inside this instance. Then, because of that there is a trade off."

This setup works well for GTA games, Colantonio said, because it affords Rockstar the ability to have incredible set pieces and action sequences. But, again, that's not something he's personally interested in.

"People are going to be thrilled but none of it matters. That's the thing. We don't have to deal with the consequences. The players don't have to deal with the consequences. Therefore, we can push the buttons, crank things up to 11, and I totally get the draw," he said. "I totally understand why people are into it. I understand why they would be into it as developers. I understand why it sells so much but this is not my values, not that my values are not to sell a gazillion units!"

He went on to say that GTA games allowing players to fail missions and try them again breaks immersion.

"If you fail the mission, you find yourself back out on the street and there’s the same guy with the same question mark over his head who you click on and you’re ready to restart the mission. There’s nothing immersive to me in that," he explained.

Again, Colantonio said he makes these remarks "with the greatest respect" for Rockstar and what they do. "They do things that are amazing," he said, adding that he expects to get flamed for what he's saying about Rockstar and GTA.

"But no, I respect them a lot. It's just that it's not my bike," he said.

Asked what he would think of Rockstar making GTA 7 an immersive sim kind of game, Colantonio joked that Rockstar should do it if they want to sell fewer copies.

"It's highly respectable. It's great in so many ways. It's just not my thing, and I couldn't imagine a world where they would want me in there because I'm going to bring some bizarre stuff. They're going for more direct paraphernalia where instantly you know the gameplay. It doesn't need digestion and there isn’t anything obscure like what we do here, so yeah it's a difference like the difference between Steven Spielberg and David Lynch or whatever," he said. "One is going to sell gazillions and the other one is going to be a little more indirect and obscure and sometimes land a hit."

Colantonio ended his thoughts by saying he is "really, really looking forward" to GTA 6 because he wants to see "how far they can push the instant simulation, surface simulation, because they do all that so incredibly well, and it's inspiring, and I love that."

GTA 6 launches on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. The game has seen numerous gameplay leaks this month, and Rockstar and Take-Two are said to be hunting down the people or parties responsible. Whatever happens, Rockstar is sticking with its plans to show the game off, in an official capacity, on August 27 via an extended trailer on Netflix.

As for Colantonio, he now heads up WolfEye Studios, which launched its first game, Weird West, in 2022. WolfEye is now working on a new game that hasn't been announced yet.

Ahead of the Switch 2's price hike in September, Nintendo has announced two new Switch 2 bundles for the US.

The Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle ($550) launches in late September, while the Switch 2 + Nintendo Switch Sports bundle ($530) arrives alongside the game on October 22.

People may recall that Nintendo offered a Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle when the console launched in June 2025. It was priced at $500 back then, but was subsequently discontinued. Comparisons to the new bundle are not entirely 1:1, however, as the original 2025 bundle did not include a Switch Online membership.

Due to various economic pressures, Nintendo is raising the price of the Switch 2 by $50 on September 1, bringing it up to $500. That new price is factored in to the new bundle price, which is why it's $550.

The new Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle comes with a Switch 2, a code for the digital version of Mario Kart World, and a 3-month Nintendo Switch Online individual membership. Nintendo says the $550 price point represents a savings of $38 compared to buying each item individually, but that's not the whole story.

Currently, the Switch 2 costs $450 and Mario Kart World is $80, so that works out to $530 together. You can get three months of Switch Online for $8 on Amazon, for a grand total of $538, so you can save money (about $12 before tax) by purchasing everything now as opposed to waiting for this new bundle to release.

The new Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle.

The Nintendo Switch 2 + Nintendo Switch Sports Resort bundle, meanwhile, includes a Switch 2 system, a code for a digital copy of Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, and a 3-month Nintendo Switch Online individual membership. Purchasing these items separately would cost you $28 more, Nintendo said.

Say hello to the new Switch 2 bundle with Nintendo Switch Sports Resort.

Nintendo Switch Sports Resort is the newest entry in the series, featuring 12 sports at launch, including wacky new ones like thumb wrestling.

The second of Geoff Keighley's big three shows, Gamescom Opening Night Live, kicks off in a few hours, and it's looking to be another big livestream full of new game trailers and reveals. Like previous years, ONL will be livestreamed directly from Germany, following a 30-minute preshow. Multiple games have already been teased, and if you're looking to tune in, here's how you can do so.

How to watch Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0rCUootNUs

Gamescom Opening Night Live and the preshow will be livestreamed through the official YouTube and Twitch channels. You can also watch it live via the official Gamescom website.

• YouTube
• YouTube (GameSpot)
• Twitch

Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026 start time

You can start watching the preshow at 10:30 AM PT / 1:30 PM PT on August 25, and the big Gamescom Opening Night Live show will start immediately after at 11 AM PT / 2 PM PT. Gamescom Opening Night Live is scheduled to run for around two hours.

• 11 AM PT
• 2 PM ET
• 7 PM BST
• 8PM CET
• 4 AM AET (August 26)

What to expect

Gamescom Opening Night Live host Geoff Keighley has already confirmed several games for the show:

• The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past
• Final Fantasy 7 Revelation
• Gears of War: E-Day
• Ananta
• Tides of Annihilation
• Metro 2039
• Game of Thrones: War for Westeros
• Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons

That's a pretty stacked lineup, and with the next couple of months looking to feature a chunky selection of titles looking to avoid being caught in GTA 6's wake when it launches in November, we could be in for an especially packed edition of Gamescom Opening Night Live this year. A new look at Final Fantasy 7 Revelation comes just a few months after it was shown off in detail at Keighley's other show, Summer Games Fest, and we'll likely get our first look at the real-time strategy gameplay for Game of Thrones: War for Westeros.

While we've already seen plenty of it, more Gears of War: E-Day is never a bad thing, as Microsoft isn't wasting any time in hyping up its big holiday season blockbuster. Then you've got The Witcher 3 legacy expansion, Songs of the Past, Tides of Annihilation continues to look like an exciting twist on Arthurian legend, and Metro 2039 might just be the bleakest entry in the franchise yet.

But those games are only going to soak up a small chunk of ONL's time, leaving plenty of room for other reveals. Other big upcoming games like Marvel's Wolverine, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and Control Resonant could also be shown off, and we expect smaller--but ambitious--titles to also be in the spotlight between the biggest trailers.

And that's just Tuesday night, as the rest of this week is going to be very busy. Ahead of the GTA 6 Extended Preview on August 27, there's also the Future Games Show on August 26, the Gamecom Awesome Indies Show on August 27, and two Xbox livestreams from the Gamescom show floor on Wednesday, August 26, and Thursday, August 27. Microsoft says that viewers can expect a mix of interviews, gameplay reveals, new trailers, and more.

Upcoming 2026 Video Game Showcases: Gamescom, The Game Awards, And More View Images

It sounds like fans were eager to learn everything they could about From Software's The Duskbloods, as one of the game's producers has revealed the Switch 2 exclusive saw higher playtest sign-ups compared to Elden Ring Nightreign.

Speaking during a livestream hosted by Japanese gaming publication Famitsu (and translated by GamesRadar+), From Software producer Yasuhiro Kitao stated the number of applications for The Duskbloods playtest eclipsed that of the developer's previous multiplayer experiment.

"We were really surprised," Kitao said. 

Given that Elden Ring Nightreign's playtest was available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S (the full game was also available on PC and last-gen consoles) the fact that The Duskbloods received more interest on Switch 2 sounds like it should be impossible. The Switch 2 is also a relatively new console, having only been available for around a year, meaning its user base is much smaller compared to that of the other two consoles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK2m1pr27q0

While it is surprising on the surface, perhaps there is some logic to be deciphered here. Elden Ring Nightreign went on to sell more than 5 million copies, with its DLC alone selling 2 million copies in under a week. The game's popularity and success proved From Software could make a wildly fun, multiplayer-focused souls-like, perhaps generating more interest for The Duskbloods.

It also probably helped that there was almost no information known about The Duskbloods prior to the closed network test, encouraging players who wanted to learn more to sign up. While players knew it was multiplayer in nature, the exact structure of The Duskbloods, its playable classes, and its mechanics were all a mystery. The Duskbloods being helmed by legendary From Software director Hidetaka Miyazaki also doesn't hurt.

Such a large number of playtest applications bodes well for The Duskbloods, even if the network test got off to a rough start with server and connectivity issues that saw From Software cancel its first session. The test also served as the world's first introduction to Zork, one of the game's playable characters that has already become a bit of a meme.

GameSpot's Jake Dekker came away impressed during his hands-on The Duskbloods preview, saying he'd "never played anything like it" and "couldn't wait to play more." The Duskbloods is still slated to release sometime this year but does not currently have a release date.

From awesome Tarstones to exceptional weapons, there are a lot of really good items to find in Mortal Shell 2. While you can miss them if you're not doing your due diligence while exploring, there's an early-game item that you really don't want to miss because of how it trivializes most fights. Unfortunately for me, I missed it and realized way too late, so let me regale you with my troubles in the hopes that you don't make the same mistake as I did.

The first boss you fight happens in the prologue. After some light exploration and acquiring your first shell, Haros, you roll up on the Tar Golem, who absolutely wrecks your stuff. It's designed as a forced loss, so actually putting up a fight is pointless, especially since a cutscene plays showing that Haros saves your life anyway.

It's here that you loot your now-dead shell for the Vatra's Seal, which hardens your body to nullify incoming damage and freezes you mid-animation. It's actually a pretty overpowered seal. Not only does it cancel out damage, causing enemies to get knocked back if they attack your shell, but it also acts as an animation cancel, letting you interrupt your attacks by hardening your body to guard. Time the harden just right and you've got a perfect parry, which deals massive posture damage and eventually leads to a counterattack.

Vatra's Seal is essentially the main ability from the first Mortal Shell. But instead of it being tied to one specific shell, when you loot Haros' corpse in the sequel, you can harden your body no matter which shell you currently have equipped. It rules.

Sadly, I totally missed out on this item.

Having played--and loved--the beta, I had the option to skip the prologue and get a handful of goodies, including the Vatra's Seal, for free. My silly self insisted I replay the prologue simply because, and right after the Tar Golem fight, I--for whatever reason--just ... sprinted to the next area.

So, boom. Haros goes down, I move on, and before I know it, I'm inside Proxima, hookshotting from enemy to enemy and dealing tons of lightning damage. It rules. Except, hm ... something was missing. I check my seals maybe 10 or 15 hours into the game and see that I don't have the Vatra's Seal. So, I Google, wondering if there's a way I can recollect it despite not looting Haros' body and being too far into the game to restart at this point. And, no. Once you leave the prologue area, there's no way to go back and collect the seal.

Cue the biggest, longest sigh you've ever heard.

I'm making do with the Untarnished Seal, which is one of four seals (or three, if you missed the Vatra's Seal as I did) in the game. It's ... fine. You get a guard that blocks you from incoming damage until your posture meter is broken, at which point you enter a prolonged vulnerable state. And if you guard at the right moment, you can perfect-parry attacks.

But the Untarnished Seal is no Vatra's Seal. And while the Infinite Seal lets you animation cancel, you don't get a guard, so missing your parry means you take damage. The Vatra's Seal really is the best of both worlds, as it negates all damage when used, freezes your body mid-animation, and still gives you a perfect parry. And I completely missed it.

So, dear player, I implore you: If you're jumping into Mortal Shell 2 for the first time, make sure you loot Haros' body. Even if you don't end up using the Vatra's Seal the entire game, you'll be grateful to have the option. Because I don't even have that.

Anyway, developer Cold Symmetry has released a pretty helpful patch for the game that makes some welcome changes, including nerfing bosses and increasing the amount of gold you find in the world. What's not helpful, though, are the bear traps, which are getting on players' nerves.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is nearing 400,000 copies sold on Steam already, and that's well ahead of where last year's Black Ops 7 stood at launch on Valve's platform. This is according to Rhys Elliott of Alinea Analytics, who added that pre-sales on Steam alone work out to around $21 million in revenue.

Elliott said Black Ops 7 managed to hit around 200,000 copies pre-sold on Steam by launch. Modern Warfare 4 has doubled that, and with two months still to go before release.

Modern Warfare 4 is selling well so far on Steam, it seems.

MW4's beta put up big numbers on Steam during its early-access period, reaching a peak of more than 115,000 concurrent users. Black Ops 7, meanwhile, peaked at about 100,000 concurrent users on Steam, even after it went live for everyone outside of a beta weekend, according to ChalieIntel.

MW4 performing better than Black Ops 7 by some metrics already is not a total surprise, as last year's game was a commercial disappointment. In fact, its sales ranking in the US was the lowest for the series since 2008.

The next MW4 beta is coming up this weekend, running August 28-September 1. This will be an open beta, so anyone on any platform can play without needing to preorder. Additionally, this beta will extend to Nintendo Switch 2.

MW4 is expected to have stronger outright sales overall in part on PC because it is not included with PC Game Pass like Black Ops 7 was.

Impact on console sales

Elliott also observed that MW4 could help improve sales of PS5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles. MW4 is the first entry in the series since 2013's Call of Duty: Ghosts to skip PS4 and Xbox One, so the launch of MW4, combined with the current-gen-only GTA 6, will "for sure nudge the last-gen holdouts," Elliott said.

The newest consoles are more expensive than ever today, thanks to a variety of factors, including tariffs, AI, and the capitalistic demands to always make more money. As such, anyone buying a new console to play MW4 or GTA 6 who hasn't kept up with the news is in for a shock at the register or online checkout. For its part, Microsoft is encouraging people to buy a used console or use a Buy Now, Pay Later service to help fund the cost of an expensive new console.

MW4 launches on October 23, while GTA 6 arrives at long last on November 19.

It's been a busy few weeks for Rockstar and Take-Two following a series of leaked GTA 6 gameplay videos and images. Beginning in mid-August 2026, an anonymous individual or group calling itself CyberLeek began publishing unreleased Grand Theft Auto 6 material. The first wave included gameplay videos and apparent images of the GTA 6 map.

The situation is still unfolding, so we've got a roundup of all of the events of the most recent GTA 6 leak in chronological order, along with what the footage appears to show, and CyberLeek's communications so far. Ahead of the footage being posted more widely, several Reddit users believe that infrastructure including the main CyberLeek domain and backup spelling variants were registered as early as August 14. They also claim that a $CYBERLEEK token, liquidity pool, website, and voting program were created around August 15.

August 18 Jason plays basketball

The first clip was around a minute long, and showed protagonist Jason Duval outside the oceanside house that's already been seen in official Rockstar marketing material. It showed off a Focus mechanic, where making a basket increased Jason's Focus level, as shown on the HUD. It's unclear whether this Focus system is present across all of the gameplay, or only in minigames such as basketball. It was initially unclear whether the footage was genuine, but as Rockstar begin issuing DMCA takedown notices, it appeared to verify the legitimacy.

CyberLeek's manifesto

Accompanying the first leak were some "commandments" from CyberLeek, including:

• Thou Shalt Not Sell Digital Preorders
• Thou Shalt Not Sell Fake Single-Player DLC
• Thou Shalt Preserve Single-Player Content

CyberLeek's clearest complaint is around digital preorders. It argues that this doesn't benefit customers since the product is a digital download that cannot sell out. GTA 6 will not be released on a physical disc, despite having physical premium editions available.

Jason's road confrontation

The second clip to surface on August 18, titled Random Video 1, showed Jason driving before becoming involved in an altercation with an NPC. It appeared to show that a wide variety of items can be used as weapons, including a wrench.

So far, CyberLeek has only shown footage of Jason's gameplay. The map

Also on August 18, CyberLeek published images purporting to show the map of GTA 6's city, Leonida. GTA mapping communities have extensively researched the images and found that numerous details line up with years of reconstructed information from Rockstar's official marketing materials. The map appears to be made up of a series of in-game screenshots stitched together to show the entire open world.

August 19 Taser video

A third video appeared to show Jason breaking into a facility and using a taser, which would be a new type of weapon for the series if it's in the final build. Many theorized this clip could be from 2025 at the earliest, since it featured a track by Tate McRae that was released in January 2025. It shows Jason could be capable of cloning keys or smashing windows when near vehicles. Jason also seems to collect a hat from the ground and put it on. Vehicle-health and fuel-status bars are shown, too.

After a short cut away, Jason and his friend drink beers on a boat while laughing about using a VPN. Quite apt.

Junkies

A fourth video, titled Junkies, showed Jason kicking a police officer off a motorcycle before stabbing him and driving away on it. It showed a potential wanted level of six stars, something that didn't feature in GTA 5. He then approached a community living underneath a bridge, and as Jason's wanted level increased, a warning appeared on the UI stating that the cops are looking for him and have his description.

It also showed the use of something called Zombix, which will apparently have a weaker effect on your health the more you use it. Bystanders also seem to have the ability to report your crimes.

Stop Killing Games distances itself

Stop Killing Games--an international consumer campaign that hopes publishers will keep purchased games in a playable state after official support ends--has distanced itself from CyberLeek and its tactics. "Using illegal means to make a point is unacceptable to us," it said.

https://twitter.com/StopKilingGames/status/2089892615923622375?s=20

It also urged people to not buy the CyberLeek memecoin. "Do not send these people your money, no matter how much sympathy you may feel for their actions," it explained.

The polls begin

CyberLeek has a memecoin called $CYBERLEEK that appears on all of the watermarked footage. This cryptocurrency's value depends on internet speculation or attention, and CyberLeek said that its token would fund a "secret project." There's been no word so far on what that secret project might be.

As an incentive for people to purchase the token, CyberLeek began running polls for users to decide on the footage they wanted to view next. Whichever poll option had the most tokens purchased against it would be the next released footage. One poll asked users to choose between a car during the day, a car at night, a motorcycle at night, or a plane during the day. The plane won, with 64.4% of the total, leading to the release of the plane video.

August 20 Extended gameplay

This video was the one that really got people talking, as some theorized that the leaker may have access to a playable build of the game. As Jason flew over the city in a plane, it showed the density of the environment, and added new locations. A few radio stations are scrolled through, giving a better idea of what the GTA 6 soundtrack could sound like. However, the most important moment was when the character apparently was directly controlled and used gunfire to spell "Leek" on a nearby wall.

Ending threats

At the same time, CyberLeek threatened to release further material, including potential story and ending spoilers, unless Rockstar and other publishers change their approach to digital games. Some of the videos feature watermarked threats such as, "No physical discs? Then more leeks!"

August 21 Subpoenas

Rockstar parent company Take-Two filed multiple subpoenas requesting that Microsoft and Discord assist it in discovering CyberLeek's identity by providing information on its users. One subpoena filed with the Southern District Court of New York on August 20 showed that it was issuing DMCA takedown notices in order to "obtain the identity of an alleged infringer or infringers," adding that the information would only be used to protect Take-Two's rights.

Take-Two has asked Microsoft and Discord to come up with the internal records before September 4, asking for information including Discord account IDs, registration emails, IP addresses, linked connections, and more.

According to Discord itself, as of the afternoon of August 24, the company has not yet been served with a subpoena.

Seeking advertisers

A new "Contact" tab appeared on the CyberLeek website on August 21 that stated that the individual or group responsible is looking for funds "through community support and strategic partnerships" by selling ad space on its forthcoming leaks. It stressed that this is not a "ransom," though, so that's okay. It'll set those interested back a 400 XMR (Monero) fee, which currently converts to just shy of $165,450. And that's just the fee to contact those responsible.

First hypercar video

The next video to surface is the first hypercar video, which shows Jason driving through the streets in the Truffade Thrax--a car that's currently in GTA Online--performing burnouts and taking part in some pretty irresponsible driving. As far as content goes, it's one of the more uneventful leaked videos, but it does give a good idea of how the city could look at sunset.

August 22 Strip club teaser

This video began with Jason driving the same hypercar as the previous video, with smoke coming from the tires and engine. He then pulled into a gas station, refueled the car, and ran into the shop. Jason appeared to punch the shopkeeper and steal some cash. He then robbed another gas station before crashing into a barrier and damaging the car significantly. Afterwards, Jason is seen approaching a strip club and walking in. The video's watermarked message reads, "3mil marketcap = stripclub." It was interpreted that this meant if the $CYBERLEEK coin hit a market cap of 3 million, the full strip club video would be released.

The leaks just keep on coming. Strip club

As teased earlier on, the next video to leak showed a strip club with Easy Rider branding, which could be the name of the establishment. It's got all of the behavior you'd expect from such a place, including large warnings to not "come on to the dancers." There are plenty of neon lights, NPCs, more leaked soundtrack titles, and Jason even uses some binoculars to get a better look at the dancers. At the end of the clip, a cutscene inside a men's bathroom is shown and Jason interacts with another NPC.

August 23 Wasted

Another day, another leaked video. This time, Jason drove a car to the gas station. It appears to be Jason's personal vehicle--the Vapid Ganado. An NPC is spilling fuel on the floor while talking to themselves until Jason steals his truck and drives off, running him over as he goes. As he drives off, Jason crashes into another vehicle and both of them explode. Here, we see what appears to be the GTA 6 "Wasted" screen as Jason dies.

After a short cut, the video returns to yesterday's leaked footage of Jason in the urinals and a quest prompt telling him to return to Lucia. This is the first time Lucia has been mentioned in the leaked footage.

Fake GTA 6 downloads

There are multiple copies of an apparent 113GB GTA 6 file circulating around the internet, but it appears to be padded malware. According to Tom's Hardware, testers say the file is 99.99% empty zeroes, with the remaining space taken up by a 50KB virus. Apparently, downloading and opening that file will whitelist your entire C:\ drive in Windows Defender and kill all of your security software. Probably don't touch that, then.

August 24 Yet more nudity

A new clip showing leaked GTA 6 footage found its way online on August 24, showing a nudist colony in Leonida. Jason's walking around near a pool and several hot tubs while dozens of naked people dance nearby. While some of them don't seem bothered by his presence, after he looks at a woman with binoculars, she physically attacks him. The leak shows the most detailed nudity I've ever seen in a game before, which is equal parts impressive and alarming.

The most notable detail though, if you can draw your eyes away from all the genitalia, is the watermark. "Do you want a Lucia-led prologue? CL has been evading spoilers," it reads. CyberLeek has put up another poll, and asked gamers to show up dressed as leeks in front of the Take-Two and Rockstar offices while holding physical game discs.

As the leaks continue--with more threats being made, and Take-Two seemingly not much closer to identifying CyberLeek--if you're trying to avoid spoilers, you should consider adding filters to your social-media feeds to remove any mentions of GTA or CyberLeek. As this story continues to develop, we'll update the timeline with new events.

At long last, Metal Gear Solid fans can soon get their hands on the one piece of merchandise that truly matters: themed boxes for their cats. Konami has announced an official line of Metal Gear Solid cat merchandise that'll be available exclusively at CatCon 2026, to mark the release of Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2. We swear we're not making this up, but Konami says that it will have a booth--again, at a cat convention--where it will sell the novelty items for two days in October.

According to Konami, attendees can purchase cat-scratch boxes modeled after the iconic boxes of Big Boss and Old Snake, as well as plushie pet toys and cat collars inspired by Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. The goodies will also be sold through OKS Gear Shop for those two days. There'll even be a meet-and-greet with Kat Curtis and the catfluencer "One Eared Uno," and I am only now learning that this is a thing. The duo will be featured in a special playthrough video of Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2.

Exclamation point!

CatCon 2026 runs October 10-11, and if you can't make it in, please do not think about getting a giant cardboard box to sneak past security. You might fool human sense, but there's a good chance that your plans will be foiled by the actual cats in attendance when they find themselves unable to resist the siren lure of cardboard fortifications.

You can stick to digital cardboard boxes in classic Metal Gear Solid games in case you don't want to take that risk, as Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 launches for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch consoles on August 27. So far, we've found it's an exciting return to the past that offers not just the enjoyable Peace Walker and Ghost Babel from the handheld eras of Metal Gear Solid, but also frees Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots from PS3 purgatory.

Red Dead Redemption 2 never received official story DLC, but one modder is doing the work developer Rockstar never did with an ambitious Mexico mod that will further connect the prequel to the events of the original Red Dead Redemption.

It's called Nuevo Paraiso--The Forgotten Frontier, and a new trailer highlights what fans can expect from the project. Alongside restoring and recreating Mexican locations from the original Red Dead Redemption, the mod also adds new settlements, gang hideouts, treasure hunts, minigames, bounty-hunter missions, random encounters, and more. 

The mod even features a new protagonist for the series, Sadie Adler. She's a prominent character from Red Dead Redemption 2 who mentions moving to South America. That means it's not too much of a stretch to assume she traveled through Mexico on the way there, giving the mod a convenient hero that doesn't conflict with the game's existing story.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S-nv2iTrUg

Though playing as Sadie will be "reccommended" for narrative reasons, players can choose to experience the mod as franchise faces Arthur Morgan or John Marston as well. 

This isn't mod author Roxis724's first rodeo. They are responsible for a number of different Red Dead Redemption 2 mods, including an earlier Mexico expansion that served as the starting point for Nuevo Paraiso. However, over the last few years, the scope and ambition of the mod looks to have grown considerably. 

In an update about the mod's development from January, Roxis724 stated the development team was working to not only make the mod look great, but to feel "real" and reflect the "oppression, despair, and social tension" of the time period. The goal is to provide an immersive experience that sets the stage not only for the events of the original Red Dead Redemption but real Mexican history.

"More than a journey across the border, The Forgotten Frontier expands the world of Red Dead Redemption 2 while providing a glimpse into the social and political tensions that would soon erupt into the Mexican Revolution of 1911, giving players a deeper understanding of the events that shaped Mexico and its people," the trailer's description reads. 

Red Dead Redemption fans won't have to wait much longer to experience Mexico, as Nuevo Paraiso--The Forgotten Frontier is slated to release September 16. It will be available to download for free on PC through Nexus Mods.

Rockstar, of course, has had its hands full developing Grand Theft Auto 6 in recent years. The game's November 19 release date is inching closer with an official deep-dive reveal slated for August 27. In the meantime, a string of high-profile and ongoing GTA 6 leaks has given fans their best look at the game in action, even as Rockstar works to find the person responsible.

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is shaping up to be a good-looking entry in the franchise after a long hiatus, and by the sound of things, it has a pretty stacked voice cast as well. Konami has revealed the roster of actors bringing various characters to life in the Evil Empire-developed game, and when it comes to the franchise's biggest bad, Dracula, they've brought back someone with vast experience to play the lord of darkness: Graham McTavish.

While McTavish is a seasoned actor with voice roles in Killzone, Dragon Age: Origins, and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves--and made a damn good Doctor Doom in Marvel's Midnight Suns--he also voiced Dracula in Netflix's Castlevania animated adaptation. He was only around for two seasons, but McTavish's performance was praised for being nuanced as he flipped between the roles of monster, husband, and father in the show. He also popped up in the second season of Devil May Cry, voicing the main antagonist Arius von Enhrenberg.

It looks like a reunion of sorts for the Castlevania anime, as Alejandra Reynoso returns as Sypha Belnades, and Liam O'Brien, who previously played Isaac in Castlevania: Curse of Darkness, is once again cast as the character.

https://youtu.be/EpCS2VPsMd8

Beyond McTavish, the rest of the vocal talent in Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse features a talented lineup. Abby Trot has been active since 2013 and is a prolific voice actor in anime, with her biggest role currently being Momo Ayase in the wildly popular Dandadan. JB Blanc brings almost 40 years of experience to the role of Trevor Belmont, and he previously voiced Brauner in Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, as well as several roles in Lords of Shadow. The always-reliable Aaron LaPlante rounds out the cast as Death--and he probably doesn't talk vulgar smack like Malcolm McDowell did in the Netflix series. Here's a closer look at the full cast:

• Abby Trott as Rose Belmont
• JB Blanc as Trevor Belmont
• Alejandra Reynoso as Sypha Belnades
• Graham McTavish as Dracula
• Ray Chase as The Fallen
• Erica Lindbeck as Joan of Arc
• Melique Berger as Medusa
• Liam O'Brien as Isaac
• Dawn M. Bennett as Carmilla
• Aaron LaPlante as Death

Launching on October 15 for PC and consoles, Castlevania: Belmont's Curse arrives just in time to celebrate 40 years of the whip-wielding franchise, and it's being developed by The Rogue Prince of Persia developer Evil Empire. The studio has also worked on Dead Cells in the past, and while some of that DNA is in Belmont's Curse, Evil Empire says the classic Castlevania formula of 2D action-exploration is what drives this adventure. 

"The upcoming entry in Konami's storied 2D sidescroller series makes use of good ideas from recent entries in the genre, while adding a bunch of its own," Phil Hornshaw wrote in GameSpot's Castlevania: Belmont's Curse preview.

There's something about September when it comes to Nintendo Direct events. The company behind Mario, Link, and Donkey Kong has held special livestreams during that month in nine out of the past 10 years. The only exception is 2024, but even then, there was a Nintendo Direct on August 27 (an Indie World Showcase alongside Partner Showcase).

With that sort of history, a Nintendo Direct seems very likely to occur next month. For starters, there are two big elephants in the room: release dates for The Duskbloods and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake. Both are slated to come out this year, so it's about time for more specifics on these hotly anticipated titles.

In addition, Nintendo also likes to pull back the curtain on the following year's lineup during September Direct events. For instance, last year's presentation saw the company reveal Mario Tennis Fever, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, and Pokemon Pokopia. These are all Switch 2 exclusives that arrived in the first half of 2026. Before that, in the September 2023 Direct, Nintendo unveiled Princess Peach: Showtime (which launched in March 2024) and the remaster of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (which arrived in May 2024).  

Here is a breakdown of dates for Nintendo Directs in September over the past decade: 

• September 12, 2025
• September 14, 2023
• September 13, 2022
• September 23, 2021
• September 17, 2020 (Mini Partner Showcase)
• September 4, 2019
• September 13, 2018
• September 13, 2017
• September 1, 2016

Early 2027 still seems fairly open for Switch 2, meaning Nintendo needs to fill out the calendar. Xenoblade Genesis could possibly be on the way during that timeframe, or maybe we'll be surprised with Pokemon Winds and Waves. As noted above, it's more than possible that totally new games are revealed, too.

Nothing is official yet, obviously, but looking at the past paints a clearer path for when Nintendo Directs happen. With that, it's safe to assume a new Direct is coming sooner than later. And there is plenty to talk about for Switch 2 this holiday season and into next year.

The Legend Of Zelda Movie–Here’s What We Know So Far View Images

Game designer Hideo Kojima celebrates his 63rd birthday today, August 24, and he does not plan to pack it up anytime soon.

Posting on social media, Kojima said he is aware he will not live forever--in fact he already knows how he wants to die--so he is being particularly thoughtful about how he spends his time.

"As I get older, the things I 'have to do' and the things I 'want to do' continue to increase. At the same time, the time I 'have to do them' continues to decrease," he said. "I constantly need to reassess how I use my time and how I live my life. That said, once you’ve taken something on, you can’t simply put it down and walk away."

Kojima also pointed out that 2026 marks his 40th anniversary of making games, having begun his professional career in 1986. Additionally, 2026 represents the 10th anniversary of Kojima Productions, the studio he founded after leaving Konami. At the latter, he ran an internal unit also called Kojima Productions.

Also in his post, Kojima said he wants to "remain focused on creating games," even though he is receiving "various opportunities and offers" to do other things. He didn't elaborate as to what these might be, but it was previously reported that Kojima was asked if he wanted to direct the Death Stranding movie before he opted to sit out and let Michael Sarnoski direct.

Kojima has a number of projects currently in the works, including the espionage game Physint and the horror game OD.

Kojima Productions seemingly updated Death Stranding 2's night sky scene to honor Kojima's birthday.

https://twitter.com/KojiPro2015_EN/status/2091542178581598674

What's more, Kojima's staff got him a pretty boss cake--check it out below, along with a photo of Kojima and his friend Geoff Keighley.

https://twitter.com/KojiPro2015_EN/status/2091800610727485665 https://twitter.com/geoffkeighley/status/2091548542426837361

Mortal Shell 2 has a lot of tough enemies waiting to knock you out of your shell and stuff your carcass into a coffin. Many of them are terrifying because of their difficulty, ugliness, or both. Still, nothing compares to the greatest enemy developer Cold Symmetry made for the souls-like action-RPG: those gosh-dang bear traps.

Danger lurks around every corner in this game. Walk here, and you might get ambushed by a rabid miner just itching to stab you with a pickaxe. Stand there, and you'll likely see a hulking beast sauntering over with death in their eyes. But the worst of it is when exploring--and more often when fighting--you get caught in a trap meant for beasts, not people.

https://www.reddit.com/r/MortalShell/comments/1vwuuro/bear_traps/

As showcased by Redditor Parcori in the above August 24 video, they died after beating the first open-world boss you encounter, the Great Arbiter of Flesh. This is a tough battle, especially because it occurs near the very first beacon in Fainweald, Mortal Shell 2's starting zone. Miss a parry once or twice, and you're likely dead. That's frustrating enough, but what makes it particularly aggravating are the bear traps littered around the arena.

These bear traps are literally everywhere! Sometimes in front of enemy camps. Sometimes in front of chests. Sometimes in front of NPCs. Sometimes they're just out in the world, lying in wait like a panther preparing to pounce on its prey. I hate them a lot, and I'm not the only one.

"The damn bear traps," Redditor mountainyoo posted on August 20 with a Robot Chicken video of a gummy bear screaming after stepping on a bear trap.

"Who else steps on absolutely every bear trap?" PurplePassenger7078 asked in an August 19 Reddit post. "I'm just so used to sprinting in games, and this game punishes me every single time lmao. I think it's a bit excessive in certain areas."

"I just started Mortal Shell and all I can say is: BEAR TRAPS," said Redditor Easy_Direction_6076 on August 22, sharing a video of Sideshow Bob from The Simpsons repeatedly stepping on a rake.

"Me whenever I spot a bear trap," posted Pointblankadvance on August 20, using a similar video as Easy_Direction_6076.

I can't tell you the number of times I've stepped on bear traps while exploring. And it always happens at the worst possible times: low health and mid-fight. Although I'm breezing through the game, there are a handful of bosses that've almost caused me to throw my controller through the TV. Still, what pisses me off more than, say, the Hexapod or Isaac, the Scholar Prince boss fights are ... you guessed it, bear traps. Ugh.

Mortal Shell 2 is available now on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Cold Symmetry recently released a substantial update that nerfed a handful of bosses and made gold more plentiful so you can upgrade your equipment more often.