Sonic has had a rough go at things lately, what with the myriad games that haven't been hitting like they used to. Sega appears to be aware of that and has acknowledged that, although the games have struggled recently, the franchise as a whole is back in the zeitgeist again--and it's all thanks to the live-action movies.

In an interview with Automaton at the Tokyo Game Show, series producer Takashi Iizuka spoke about the impact that director Jeff Fowler's three live-action movies have had on repopularizing Sonic again.

"Thanks to the movies, awareness of the Sonic series has grown, and more people around the world have become interested in Sonic as a character and in the games," Iizuka said when asked about the positive effect other media has had on the franchise. "That has contributed to game sales as well. Strong game sales mean we have more resources available when making the next title, which allows us to deliver something of even higher quality. That creates a positive cycle. In that sense, multimedia and transmedia expansion are majorly beneficial for the games."

Iizuka went on to say that movies weren't the only medium that has improved Sonic the Hedgehog's cachet in recent times. Anime has contributed as well, and so has Netflix, which has made film and television production more ubiquitous for Sega.

"In the past, even if we decided to make an anime as part of our transmedia strategy, we had to approach television broadcasters and other outlets that would air it, and we couldn't move forward without their approval," Iizuka continued. "With Netflix, on the other hand, once we decide to work together on something, we can distribute it worldwide. That's has [sic] been a major advantage when it comes to expanding the brand."

Iizuka's comments echoed similar sentiments from earlier this month. In an interview with One More Game on September 21, Iizuka said the live-action movies essentially saved the franchise.

"The biggest milestone for me was the first movie," Iizuka said. "That had been a great hit and definitely changed the course of this franchise."

So, whether you like those live-action movies or not doesn't really matter because, in Sega's eyes, the Blue Blur would've stayed just that: a blur that goes poof and is gone ... forever. Iizuka did leave us a little nugget to chew on, though:

"Also, we don't use the game developers' resources for transmedia projects, so you don't have to worry about a new game being delayed because we're making movies or anime," Iizuka told Automaton.

World of Warcraft: Forever is looking to keep its secrets, as over 12,500 items in the game's files have been kept hidden from dataminers.

The WoW: Forever beta is currently in full swing, and in addition to new dungeons, abilities, and even a whole new playable race, players are quickly discovering there are tons of new items that will completely change how this old-school version of WoW is played. Whether it's items with far more spellpower at early levels or gear tailored towards professions, Blizzard is definitely mixing things up so that the game's leveling journey, and its endgame, are going to feel all new.

As broken down in detail by Icy Veins, part of how Blizzard looks to be accomplishing this is by keeping almost 40% of the game's nearly 32,000 items a secret. Dataminers can technically see that these 12,000 plus items exist and even where many of them potentially come from, but can't see what their stats are. Many of these items are assumed to be all-new, though some are likely variants or modified version of items from WoW Classic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvueCoFTkCk&t

Players have already taken a bite out of that 12,500 item total, having discovered over 4,400 "hidden" items in the Forever beta. Once an item has been discovered, it's then revealed in the game's backend. Icy Veins notes that not all the items datamined might actually exist in Forever, as it lists a number of items that were part of WoW Classic's Season of Discovery and might not make it into Blizzard's new version of the MMO.

Many of the hidden items come from raids and dungeons, including tier sets. So far, players have uncovered a few different sets, such as some low-level dungeon item sets, as well as full loot tables for early-game dungeons like Wailing Caverns, Ragefire Chasm, Shadowfang Keep, and the Deadmines. The beta's level cap is currently 20 (but will be raised to 30 before the beta's end), meaning players will likely uncover even more dungeon loot ahead of launch. 

The aura of discovery and mystery players are experiencing as they explore Azeroth once more is just one of the reasons Forever's beta looks to be wildly popular. Multiple WoW devs, including Blizzard VP Holly Longdale, have commented that the beta is breaking player-number records, and Blizzard has had to raise the beta's population cap as a result. However, the beta hasn't been without controversy, as a recent streamer scandal involving gold trading has players demanding Blizzard do more to combat real-money transactions and gold buying. 

WoW: Forever's beta ends October 21, with the game's full launch set for November 4. Blizzard's third version of its MMO will add over 1,000 new quests to classic Azeroth, as well as new zones and endgame content. Though there won't be a new class at launch, a recent Blizzard survey revealed 11 new potential WoW: Forever classes that could come to the MMO in the future.

The Street Fighter movie is shaping up to be a love letter to Capcom's classic fighting game series, with its goofy action and costumes, but if there's one crucial element it's nailing, it's the franchise's sound. Specifically, Guile's iconic theme, which is legendary for its ability to complement anything in life. How does the movie version match up? It's not straying from what is considered fighting game soundtrack perfection, but it is adding to it with a kickass guitar solo and a few more cinematic tweaks, allowing the main theme to do all the heavy lifting. Listen to it yourself, from one of the streaming links below:

• Apple Music
• Spotify
• Amazon Music
• YouTube Music
• Deezer
• Tidal

Guile's Theme is one of those evergreen memes of the late 2000s and early 2010s, and while it's nowhere near as popular as it once was--YouTube probably got sick of all those 10-hour uploads--it's still instantly recognizable. The original theme debuted in the 1991 arcade release of Street Fighter II and was composed by Yoko Shimomura.

For the upcoming Street Fighter movie, the score was produced by Leo Birenberg and Zach Robinson (Cobra Kai), who say that the original game soundtracks were instrumental in shaping their musical identities. "As young and budding composers, we listened to Yoko Shimomura's iconic Guile’s Theme probably more than Raiders of the Lost Ark," the duo said in a press statement. "We hope fans will hear the love and reverence we hold for this music within our version of Guile’s Theme.

https://youtu.be/U6sbm1OaJb8

The full Street Fighter soundtrack will feature 39 tracks in total, and it'll be available starting October 16. The movie releases on the same day, and so far it looks like it's leaning fully into the absurdity of its source material. WWE performer Cody Rhodes plays Guile, and if you feel like cosplaying as him, you can grab an official Street Fighter popcorn bucket shaped like his iconic hair. Absolutely perfect, no notes.

Street Fighter will be landing a month after another film based on a Capcom video game series, Resident Evil, hit theaters. So far, the Zach Cregger-directed movie has been a critical hit and, commercially, continues to smash franchise records.

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

Now that development of future Halo games is being handled by Activision Blizzard's hands, some former developers of the series have spoken out to share their thoughts on the shocking but not entirely surprising mix-up. This includes the former franchise creative director, who has provided some salient advice to the Call of Duty publisher.

Frank O’Connor has worked on Halo for over 20 years, first working as a writer and community manager before serving as the game's franchise creative director from 2003 to 2023. This is a guy who knows Halo like the back of his hand, and with all that series expertise, he took to LinkedIn on September 25 to share some thoughts on how to make the next Halo great.

"Pro-Tip: Do NOT tie it to hardware/services launch cycles, do not try to force it into a shape (or aging platform) that it can't fit and do NOT abandon sandbox," O’Connor said in response to Xbox's former social media manager, Genevieve Harrison, who was pontificating on Activision Blizzard's development tactics. "Pro-Pro-Tip: Hire Bungie, Halo Studios and other laid-off folk who are bursting w. talent and ideas that got nerfed or shut down over the years."

In laying out these tips, O’Connor gave three ways the next Halo game could bring the franchise back to its former glory.

The first is a "classic" Halo game that focuses on a sandbox, movement, and shooter experience. It'd be "tailored to a core audience [and] scaled to be successful with that core audience and attractive to a broader one so it can grow."

A second option could be "something new [and] modern" that reinvents the game. O’Connor suggests this "surprising but fantastic" reinvention could be an action-sandbox game that's a "new take" on the FPS or an "action RPG" that's fundamentally different, but its success comes from a strong story and IP use.

Lastly, O’Connor thinks that an Activision Blizzard-esque Halo game could be viable. It could be a sandbox game with "player, progression, and business models" that the publisher is well-known for with the likes of CoD. Given that experience, maybe this idea could be "a big annual or semi-annual spectacle" with consistent content.

O’Connor couched these ideas, saying that none of them are "easy, guaranteed, or necessarily viable." Still, he believes that one "could be successful" now that Activision is driving the Warthog.

O’Connor isn't the only former developer who shares his opinion on the CoD publisher taking over the Halo reins. Co-creator Marcus Lehto also weighed in, saying on September 23 that he is "shocked but not entirely surprised" by the move. Like Lehto, we're all "eager to learn more about what’s next," and for right now, all we know thus far is that the next Halo game will be a "full-feature, mainline installment" in the long-running series.

Following an initial rollout to Xbox Insiders, the Xbox disc-to-digital program is officially available for all Xbox One and Xbox Series X users. The program allows you to receive digital licenses for a whole bunch (but not all) of your physical Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S games, and Microsoft has outlined how it works and a pretty neat trick you can use.

In order to claim your digital license for a supported Xbox game, all you need to do is put it into an Xbox console while you're signed in. You'll get a notification to let you know you've received a license. One cool thing is this can be an Xbox Series X or an Xbox One console, even if you're exclusively claiming Xbox Series X games.

https://twitter.com/xbox/status/2105040959192916253?s=46

While the disc will also automatically start installing when you insert it, you can turn this feature off by going to the Profile & system section in the settings, then Devices & connections. You'll see an option for Disc and you can uncheck "Play disc automatically."

This way, you can more quickly claim licenses in bulk. With a disc inserted using this method, you'll have to manually select the game card on the home screen, select it with the Menu button, and then claim the digital license. Once that's done, you just eject the game and move on to the next one. When you've finished the process, re-check that "Play disc automatically" box for whenever you get your next physical game to play.

If your license isn't available to claim, there's a good chance the publisher doesn't support the program. Major companies like Square Enix and Ubisoft don't appear to support it yet, which could limit its usefulness for those who want to truly digitize their entire collection.

Once you've claimed the digital license, you should still be able to lend the physical game to a friend, but they will then get the digital license. If they give the disc back to you, you'll receive the license back after re-inserting the game into your own system.

Xbox has undergone major changes since a new leadership team took over. Under Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, Microsoft's gaming division has had waves of mass layoffs, parted ways with several studios, and consolidated its remaining developers under Activision, Blizzard, King, and Bethesda. All of this is being done to make Xbox a profitable part of the Microsoft empire and to grow its reach, but former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden has suggested that the company should "pick a lane" and narrow its focus.

"I said in another interview a couple of months ago, you've got to pick a lane," Layden said to The Expansion Pass when he was asked if he had any advice for Sharma. "Either you're going to be a platform competitive with PlayStation--which Xbox has not been competitive with PlayStation for years--but that's not out of the window. You can still make another run at it. And there are certain decisions you have to make around that about the platform. We talked about exclusivity. We talked about how do you incentivize third parties to support your platform in a meaningful way. These are all things around the platform business, or you sit back and realize you are the biggest game publisher in the world--maybe Tencent's bigger--but in the Western world you are the biggest game publisher out there with Activision, Blizzard, Bethesda, and all the other pieces."

"Be that. This is your Dreamcast moment. When Sega decided, 'We're just going to be on PlayStation 2 and we're going to get out of the hardware business and just be a great software company. It can be done. It has been done before. That's my advice. Pick a lane."

https://youtu.be/rUwPH-s8TVw?si=C6Y_AOa7-ByyOQ5N

The "Dreamcast moment" that Layden refers to is the rise and fall of Sega's last home console--the moment when Sega realised it could no longer compete in the gaming hardware market and had to shift entirely to software. Microsoft has been notoriously secretive with the sales of its Xbox hardware, as it's believed that it trails far behind Sony's PlayStation 5 (95.3 million units sold as of June 2026).

The future doesn't look too good for Xbox console sales either, as analysts predict that only 2.5 million Xbox Series X|S units will be sold in 2026, as Microsoft prepares for a "rapid wind-down toward zero" ahead of its next-gen console launch.

Would it make sense for Xbox to shift towards being a software-only company then? There's certainly evidence to suggest that it might be a viable path forward, as several of its first-party games have done very good numbers on PC and PS5, and if it's streamlining operations to focus on hit franchises like Fallout and Forza Horizon, there is an audience for those games.

Of course, releasing games on PlayStation and Steam also means that Xbox has to give up a cut of its revenue, whereas it gets to keep 100% of first-party game sales when they're sold through Xbox console and PC storefronts. Microsoft also charges a fee to third-party developers, so there's a lot of nuance behind the math of sticking with gaming hardware or focusing purely on software.

While it already feels like it's been around forever, October 31 will mark the one-year anniversary of Riftbound, the trading card game based on Riot Games's popular League of Legends franchise, releasing in Western markets. The game has seen four set releases so far, but there's one more on the schedule, Radiance, before we hit that one-year milestone.

There are many exciting cards being revealed as we get closer to Radiance's October 23 launch, and today, we have an exclusive look at the Overnumbered variants of one of the set's most notable names. We've seen the card's base form before, but this new art is a beauty to behold.

Without further ado, here's the Overnumbered variants for Ekko, Boy Who Shattered Time.

• Ekko, Boy Who Shattered Time (Legend - Ekko)
  • Colors: Fury/Mind (Red/Blue)
  • Empower: Exhaust 1 rune and Ekko to empower him
  • Disempower Ekko and exhaust him to reduce the cost of the next unit you play this turn by 2 and a recycled rune of any color and give that unit "Kill me at end of turn."

Ekko is known for his ability to bend time to his will, while also creating temporary clones of himself to confuse opponents. With this new card, he can effectively give that ability to other units in your deck, though they will be sent to the discard pile at the end of the turn.

Building a deck around this legend will capitalize on cards who can make an immediate impact on the board, like units with Accelerate who enter ready and can attack immediately. Considering that Accelerate costs are one exhausted rune and one recycled rune, Ekko's discount means you'll still pay less to summon the Accelerated unit.

Radiance, Riftbound's fifth major set, launches October 23 in local game stores and big-box retailers. Prerelease events, or "Pre-Rifts" as they're known in Riftbound, will be held at local game stores beginning October 16.

More than a decade has passed since The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt first launched, and on Steam, the game is doing better than ever. With the launch of The Witcher 3 Remastered, the game has surged up the Steam charts and has reached its best concurrent players level--ever. At the time of writing, the CCU has peaked at 120,975 players, beating the previous January 2020 record of 103,329 players.

That older milestone was reached after The Witcher TV series launched on Netflix, but the new numbers have blown it out of the water. The game is also available through other PC storefronts like GOG and the Epic Games Store, as well as on PS5, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X|S, so it's likely that the total number of players is much higher. Clearly, there's still a lot people out there who are more than happy to toss a coin to their Witcher.

https://twitter.com/thewitcher/status/2104959102858178595

The Remastered Edition of The Witcher 3 is a big one, as it added numerous technical and graphical improvements to the original 2015 game. What makes this even more impressive is that the game is reaching these player numbers at a very busy time on the gaming calendar, as numerous high-profile games have launched in an effort to avoid being caught up in the wake of GTA 6's November release. Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Control Resonant, Marvel's Wolverine, and Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave all landed within weeks of each other, and that's not including the live-service games which regularly dominate the charts.

One other thing worth noting is that The Witcher 3 Remastered is a free upgrade to anyone who already owns the game. Considering that it has lifetime sales of 65 million units globally (as of May 2026) and has been regularly discounted, it's likely that plenty of existing owners of The Witcher 3 dived back into the game to see all the new improvements. If you're wondering if the download juice is worth the squeeze, you can check out GameSpot’s in-depth breakdown of what’s new in the remaster to see all the changes for yourself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oEdB5S2d3U

Beyond a return to the Continent, Witcher fans have much to look forward to. The Witcher 3 is getting a new expansion in 2027, Songs of the Past, and The Witcher 4 could be out as soon as 2028. CD Projekt Red is rumored to be working on a multiplayer Witcher game, and the company recently confirmed that it is working with Scopely on a new mobile game based on one of its franchises--which could be The Witcher or Cyberpunk.

The front page of Steam has long been a hot commodity for game developers and publishers, but next year, some big changes are coming. Valve has announced that it'll be changing how it handles game discoverability during sales and promotions on Steam, as it'll be moving away from the old model of a tightly controlled page through a manually curated calendar to dynamic, personalized recommendations that'll cater to individual user preferences and their purchase history.

Historically, Valve employees selected which games got featured in a limited number of fixed slots on the Steam front page, and only a fraction of discounted games got valuable front-page visibility. According to Valve, preliminary experiments resulted in up to 10 times as many games appearing per day in the Discounts & Events section, leading to measurable increases in store page visits and wishlist additions.

Steam deals page

What does this mean? For developers, it means that they won't need to rely on relationships, manual pitches, or sheer luck to potentially get a front-page placement. This will also effectively level the playing field for all developers, as smaller teams and publishers typically don't have the budget to compete with AAA blockbuster marketing teams. Valve added that it has already paused scheduling curated placements in the Weekend Deals, Midweek Deals, and Daily Deals sections, and it will soon roll out new and updated tools to help developers better manage their discounts and sale events on Steam.

"Our goal is to let developers focus on crafting the most compelling games and deals for customers, and not spend time trying to convince someone at Valve to feature their products," Valve wrote. The rollout window for this change to the Steam storefront will be in early 2027.

This news comes on the eve of a new Steam sales event, as the week-long Steam Autumn Sale kicks off on October 1. There'll also be a new Next Fest held at the end of October, while themed events for the rest of 2026 include Steam Scream V Fest, Auto-Battler RPG Fest, and Cooking Fest before the Steam Winter Sale in December.

If you thought September was a big month for new releases, then you ain't seen nothing yet. As the days tick down to the November launch of Grand Theft Auto 6, numerous games are looking to avoid being caught in the blast radius of the year's biggest release, which has led to an absolutely stacked October. Between original releases, sequels, and hot indie games, the next couple of weeks are loaded with options across a wide variety of genres and ideas. You can check out our top picks below, and if you want to see what's closing out the year, you can also read through our list of upcoming 2026 games.

Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTVVw9fsHVA&pp=ygUvRHluYXN0eSBXYXJyaW9ycyAzOiBDb21wbGV0ZSBFZGl0aW9uIFJlbWFzdGVyZWQ%3D

• Release date: October 1
• Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2

We're suckers for a good Dynasty Warriors game, as these one-against-too-damn-many-enemies simulators are perfect for when you want to turn your brain off and revel in being a battlefield badass. There have been many games in the series over the years, and Dynasty Warriors 3 is often considered a high point for the series, as it further refined its musou formula. If you've never played it, you can grab this new remaster, which enhances the original with Unreal Engine 5 graphics, numerous gameplay tweaks, and plenty of cannon-fodder troops to mow down.

Ghost of Yotei: Complete Edition https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bQrrWCRkMY&pp=ygUgR2hvc3Qgb2YgWW90ZWk6IENvbXBsZXRlIEVkaXRpb24%3D

• Release date: October 1
• Platforms: PS5

Ghost of Yotei fans can look forward to a whole lot of new content for the game--like the new narrative expansion Echoes of Sekigahara and the new combat-survival mode--but if you haven't played it yet, now is a fine time to grab the game's Complete Edition. This $70 version of the game gets you all of that new content, as well as the base game, the online co-op mode Ghost of Yotei Legends, and all of the Digital Deluxe Edition content.

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5irVTl0mD8

• Release date: October 2
• Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S

In the mood to take a trip to the danger zone? You can do just that in Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, Bandai Namco's long-running aerial-action series. This new entry in the franchise will let you take to the skies to participate in dogfights, eliminate threats, and rise through the ranks to earn your wings. Developer Project Aces has done its homework to push the series to new heights with Wings of Theve, and when you're not in the cockpit, there's a first-person story mode to experience.

Aion 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZV1pQP09p8&pp=ygUGQWlvbiAy

• Release date: October 5
• Platforms: PC

Aion 2 wants to be the one game where the sky isn't the limit, as Developer NCSoft has made verticality a key part of the MMORPG. Built on Unreal Engine 5 across a world that NCSoft says is up to 36 times bigger than the original Aion, combat is built around seamlessly chaining skills--on or above the ground--adapting to encounters, and using precision timing to triumph. The game also looks visually stunning thanks to its Unreal Engine 5 visuals, and you can expect to dive into over 200 dungeons after you're done spending a few hours in the highly detailed character creator.

Gears of War: E-day https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRFE0gCsgLg

• Release date: October 6
• Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S

After seven years, Gears of War is back and ready to tell the story of humanity's first, disastrous encounter with the Locust. So far, it looks like the campaign will harken back to the horror-inspired roots of the first game as you fight through several days of hell, using an arsenal of classic weapons and completely overhauled gameplay mechanics. Multiplayer is where Gears of War: E-day looks like it'll really shine, as alongside classic PvP, the new Horde Siege mode looks like a playground for creating unique stories as teams fight against the odds to accomplish various objectives and at least one Smash Mouth-inspired Achievement.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acy2Cixyya0

• Release date: October 6
• Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S

We've had several Star Wars racing games in the past, but Star Wars: Galactic Racer looks like it'll stand out from the pack by cribbing a few ideas from successful genres and throwing in some Burnout influences for good measure. Developer Fuse Games is aiming to evolve the racing-game genre by fusing roguelite progression and replayability with high-speed competition, while also showing what the citizens get up to for fun when they're not dealing with warring empires on a daily basis. Just remember: Sebulba did nothing wrong.

Hellraiser: Revival https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEOr2w8moTg

• Release date: October 8
• Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2

In a welcome change of pace, a cult-classic horror franchise from the '80s and '90s is getting a video game adaptation, and it's not an asynchronous multiplayer title. Instead, Hellraiser: Revival looks and plays like a very horny Resident Evil, as you're thrown into a struggle for survival against Pinhead and his Cenobite goons--and all in the name of love. Saber Interactive has been promising a fresh spin on Clive Barker's books and film adaptations that is designed to make you feel uncomfortable--one that holds nothing back and isn't afraid to create a realm of pure, gory torment. No tears please! It's a waste of good suffering.

Silver Pines https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfN4uMZK0Cw&pp=ygUMU2lsdmVyIFBpbmVz

• Release date: October 8
• Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, Switch

Time for some horror, and Silver Pines looks like an intriguing new game to check out if you're looking for some metroidvania-inspired suspense. Billed as a love letter to classic survival-horror games, Silver Pines follows an investigator caught up in a dark web of intrigue as they have to slug it out with the terror lurking in a small town and solve the puzzles blocking their progress. The game oozes atmosphere with its eye-catching art direction, and you'll also need to carefully manage your scarce resources as the darkness creeps up on you.

Legion Was Here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqVxHCm0JHg&pp=ygUPTGVnaW9uIFdhcyBIZXJl

• Release date: October 13
• Platforms: PC

What's the coolest part of the Mission: Impossible movies? Contrary to popular belief, it's not watching Tom Cruise tempt fate with a risky stunt, but those glorious disguises. Legion Was Here captures that charm, as you'll need to use your skills to steal faces and impersonate dangerous individuals to survive deadly conversations in this dark-comedy spy deduction game. If you're the kind of person who spends far too long in the character-creation part of games, then you'll get a kick out of Legion Was Here.

Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6Snuv1BMjE

• Release date: October 9
• Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2

In case you thought Capcom was done after releasing four big games this year, think again. Dragon's Dogma 2: Dark Arisen is an expanded version of the sequel, featuring a new region to explore and enhanced gameplay. Set in the long-abandoned region of Norgan, players will join forces with the enigmatic Eir and journey to unravel the secrets of the undying Fallen Dragon.

Valor Mortis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvpxF8upFQM

• Release date: October 13
• Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S

Your typical soulslike is a third-person adventure, but can shifting to first-person shake up that formula? That's an interesting premise from Ghostrunner developer One More Level, as the studio is reimagining the Napoleonic Wars through a lens of challenging combat and mutated soldiers who'd look right at home in a Resident Evil game if it took place during the Battle of Waterloo. One other ace that the game has up its sleeve is its price; as compared to the other $70 releases coming this month, Valor Mortis will set you back just $40, and it's a day-one Game Pass title.

Planet Zoo 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnw_niw9nzQ&pp=ygUMUGxhbmV0IFpvbyAy

• Release date: October 13
• Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S

The first Planet Zoo game tasked players with building a planet-sized sanctuary for all creatures big and small, and the sequel looks like it'll expand considerably on that idea. Even more tools will be at your disposal to help with your conservationist creativity, and the game's menagerie will include new aquatic and flying species.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qkg4CpTRugE&pp=ygUad2FyaGFtbWVyIDQwIDAwMCBib2x0Z3VuIDI%3D

• Release date: October 14
• Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S

The first Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun game was a fun throwback to the past with its boomer-shooter design, and it looks like Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 isn't straying far from that established formula. More guns and more enemies to turn into pixelated giblets sounds like a fun time, and to seal the deal on its heavy metal influences, the game even features a musical cameo by none other than Doom 2016 and Doom Eternal composer Mick Gordon. The sequel is slightly switching things up, as you can choose to play as either Ultramarine Malum Caedo or Battle Sister Nyra Veyrath when you take on the daemonic demigod Vashtorr and hordes of enemies from the Warp.

Over the Hill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRwRd-RfrwI&pp=ygUVT3ZlciB0aGUgSGlsbCB0cmFpbGVy

• Release date: October 14
• Platforms: PC

If you enjoyed cozy racing games like Art of Rally and Absolute Drift, then you'll want to check out Over the Hill from Funselektor Labs. This time, the focus is on the golden age of offroading, as you'll need to guide your trusty all-terrain vehicle to its final destination. If you don't feel like tackling challenging trails on your own, the game features a co-op mode for friends to join you for a few sessions of scenic minimalism.

The Witch's Bakery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xRCu4qaPhI&pp=ygUSdGhlIHdpdGNoJ3MgYmFrZXJ5

• Release date: October 14
• Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, Switch

What's better than a fresh loaf of bread from a French baker? A fresh loaf of bread from a French baker who also happens to be a witch, that's what. The Witch's Bakery is a 2D narrative adventure where you'll get to serve up delicious baked treats, but also use your baking skills to heal the hearts of local Parisians.  Each day is split into three phases, where you'll get to work, explore, and hone your magic. But more importantly, are you going to finish that croissant?

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hisx60NSqtY

• Release date: October 15
• Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch

Gears of War isn't the only big franchise making a comeback after a years-long absence, as Castlevania is once again cracking its whip this month. Set in a version of Paris that has seen better days before Dracula transformed the French capital into a monster-infested hellscape, this new entry in the series has been developed by the Rogue Prince of Persia studio Evil Empire. It looks like classic Castlevania, with the 2.5D approach that Evil Empire has taken, as you'll be battling all manner of monsters, fallen French legends, and more on your journey to take down Dracula. Heck, it's even a Netflix reunion of voice actors from the Castlevania animated series.

Enshrouded https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6atVNfcECU&pp=ygUKRW5zaHJvdWRlZA%3D%3D

• Release date: October 15
• Platforms: PC, PS5

The early-access journey of Enshrouded comes to an end soon, as the game's official 1.0 release hits PC and consoles on October 15. In case you missed it when it was first announced, Enshrouded draws inspiration from games like Valheim and Minecraft, giving you all the tools you need to survive and thrive in a fantasy world. You've got everything you could ask for to easily build a kingdom, or if that doesn't appeal to you, you can drop the hammer and pick up a sword for some adventuring fun instead.

Bluey's Happy Snaps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpX7Ogr39zw&pp=ygUTQmx1ZXkncyBIYXBweSBTbmFwcw%3D%3D

• Release date: October 15
• Platforms: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch 2, Switch

New Bluey games have been arriving at a steady clip lately, with the latest titled Bluey's Happy Snaps. This time, it's up to you to take the adorable Bluey and Bingo to new locations and start shooting--with a camera, you weirdo. You can visit familiar spots from the show, and use your snaps to create your own scrapbook of memories when you're done.

Stupid Never Dies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_33MQFuVEY&pp=ygURU3R1cGlkIE5ldmVyIERpZXM%3D

• Release date: October 22
• Platforms: PC

It's going to take a lot of effort to stand out in October, but Stupid Never Dies might have that magic sauce thanks to a weird title, imaginative visuals, and plenty of gameplay to sink your teeth into. As the weakest zombie alive, Davy, it's up to you to power up the lovestruck hero by defeating the mysterious KOM, recovering humanity's lost knowledge, and surviving the deadly depths of an interdimensional dungeon. The debut game from GPTrack50, Stupid Never Dies is all about eat-or-be-eaten action, as Davy can munch enemies to steal their powers, replace his body parts with powerful tech, and unleash his imagination to transform reality.

Final Fantasy Resonance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QD0MUx40l6c&t=57s&pp=0gcJCS8MAYcqIYzv

• Release date: October 22
• Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, Switch

1997 marked the start of a new 3D era for Final Fantasy, but what if the franchise stuck to its 2D roots? That's the question that Final Fantasy Resonance aims to answer, as it revives a dead mobile game and transforms it into a HD-2D adventure. What might make this one special is how the original story features several famous faces from across the Final Fantasy franchise as "Visions" that can join you in battle, ranging from Final Fantasy 6's Terra to Final Fantasy 16's Clive Rosfield. The game also looks gorgeous--as you'd expect from an engine used to power titles like Octopath Traveler--and it has received various enhancements like voice acting and overhauled battle systems to make it play like a traditional RPG.

Nintendo Switch Sports Resort https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZmCtpTSI4E&pp=ygUdTmludGVuZG8gU3dpdGNoIFNwb3J0cyBSZXNvcnQ%3D

• Release date: October 22
• Platforms: Switch 2

Nintendo's sports games are a fun way to keep your body moving, and in Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, you can take part in a wide variety of activities. Both single-player and co-op multiplayer will be offered, and the sports included for your trip to Wuhu Island range from archery and tennis to some extreme activities like skateboarding and table tennis. The real star of the show is thumb wrestling, as after you've declared a thumb war, you can use the Joy-Con 2 controller to move your mighty digit to victory.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1usju9Bjo4

• Release date: October 23
• Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, Switch

The year just wouldn't feel right without some Call of Duty in the mix, and 2026's entry in the blockbuster series is all about Modern Warfare once again. If you've played any Call of Duty games in the last 20 years, you know to expect a weekend-warrior campaign, this time with a conflict involving North Korea and an evil Mads Mikkelsen, plenty of multiplayer action, and an extraction shooter experience in DMZ. What you shouldn't expect is a day-one launch on Xbox Game Pass this year, as Call of Duty is returning to its premium roots. Xbox gamers can still get an exclusive perk, as well as a heck of a cool weapon blueprint as a preorder bonus.

Emberville https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPsCEHnjBJc&pp=ygUKRW1iZXJ2aWxsZQ%3D%3D

• Release date: October 27
• Platforms: PC

Emberville has been in development since 2023, and if you've been looking for a blend of Stardew Valley-like farming and Diablo-flavored combat, this might be just the game for you. The action-adventure RPG features the voice talents of the Witcher himself, Doug Cockle, and Alex Jordan, who voiced multiple versions of the character Dolski in The Alters. The game also features a two-button system for combat that has plenty of depth, as well as a leveling system that allows you to experiment with classes and abilities.

Phantom Blade Zero https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCClGv4MNDA

• Release date: October 29
• Platforms: PC, PS5

Action-game fans have been eating well throughout 2026, and we hope you saved room for a side of Phantom Blade Zero. Another action-RPG inspired by Chinese mythology, folklore, and horror, Phantom Blade Zero is all about mastering fast-paced combat in a dark fantasy semi-open world. Featuring martial arts inspired by the Golden Age of Hong Kong action films--and overseen by the legendary Donnie Yen--the game follows an assassin named Soul, who only has 66 days left to live and stylishly exact his revenge.

PlayStation has revealed this month's batch of free games for PlayStation Plus subscribers. All PS Plus members will be able to claim a trio of freebies starting October 6--F1 25, Hunt: Showdown 1896, and Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2. If you haven't claimed September's PlayStation Plus free games yet, make sure to do so before next Tuesday.

The Formula One games from Codemasters have been an annual treat for racing game fans, and F1 25 is no different. Building on previous releases, the game includes all the official teams and drivers from the 2025 F1 season, a robust career mode, My Team 2.0 in single-player, and the multiplayer mode, F1 World, which pits players against a squad of AI drivers.

If you haven't played it yet, Hunt: Showdown 1896 is an unforgiving extraction shooter in which players must track down bloodthirsty monsters. You're not only racing against the clock, but also your fellow hunters as you track down dangerous prey, fight to survive, and use every tool at your disposal to successfully escape the deadly swamps.

Finally, Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 once again sees the planet under attack by gigantic, blocky enemies. A crossover featuring heroes from across the EDF franchise, you'll have to assemble a team to take down new threats and save the day.

With Halloween a few weeks away, PlayStation Plus subscribers can also claim free horror-themed in-game item bundles for a variety of games, like Call of Duty: Warzone and Overwatch. These will roll out throughout the month.

PlayStation Plus October 2026 games

Available October 6 through November 2

• F1 25 (PS5)
• Hunt: Showdown 1896 (PS5)
• Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 (PS5, PS4)

World of Warcraft: Forever's new take on classic Azeroth is opening the door to all kinds of new ideas in the old-school version of Blizzard's MMORPG, and new classes look to be one of them.

Blizzard, of course, has added a total of four new classes over the last two decades to the modern version of WoW: Death Knight, Monk, Demon Hunter, and Evoker. But an alleged leaked survey pushed to select WoW players via Blizzard's Battle.net launcher is now asking about potential new classes for WoW: Forever, the recently revealed third version of the MMO that will introduce new quests, zones, and content to the "vanilla" version of WoW. 

It's not the first time Blizzard has conducted a survey this way, and while Blizzard asks participants not to disclose the survey's details, their contents almost always find their way online. That's the case here, as players were quick to share information about 11 potential new classes listed in the survey, and content creators like Bellular have gone as far as to provide a full breakdown. Information contained about each of these potential classes includes basic lore, what types of weapons they would be able to use, the armor class they would wear, the resources they would use, what roles they would fill, and even signature abilities. The classes listed in the survery are:

• Bard
• Death Knight
• Demon Hunter
• Illusionist
• Monk
• Necromancer
• Metalborn/Runemaster/Runeknight
• San'layn
• Tinker
• Warden
• Witch

Three of the new classes would essentially be "new," old-school versions of existing WoW classes like Demon Hunter, Monk, and Death Knight. Considering how fast-paced classes like Monk and Demon Hunter are in the modern version of the game, their Forever counterparts would likely feel significantly different.

It's the eight "new" classes that are the most exciting, however. Some of these are ideas that have existed in WoW lore for ages or ones that Blizzard even originally toyed with during the game's early development. The Tinker, for example, is a class many expect to come to the modern version of WoW at some point but is listed in the survey. They would be the ultimate engineer, capable of using mech suits and gadgets to tank, deal damage, and support other players. 

Another potential class, the Necromancer, was an idea Blizzard originally had planned for vanilla WoW, only for it to eventually be scrapped. In Forever, Blizzard is proposing a version of the class that seems like it's taking some inspiration from Diablo 2's class of the same name, with abilities like Bone Spear and Corpse Explosion. The survey additionally lists the San'layn, a group of vampires who broke free of the Lich King's domination. This class seems like it would lean fully into the vampire fantasy, with a number of blood-based abilities that could make them similar to retail WoW's Blood Death Knight specialization.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zerqLHQPN9Y

Two other classes steeped in WoW lore proposed in the survey are the Warden and Runemaster. Wardens are the iconic Night Elf faction famous for hunting down and imprisoning Azeroth's greatest threats. How exactly that would work when it comes to Horde players is unclear, but the survey notes that the Wardens would open their ranks "out of necessity" in order to deal with greater threats.

Runemasters, on the other hand, are beings infused with power by the Titans who use a rune system that sounds similar to that of modern WoW's Death Knights to heal and fight. That rune system itself was originally for an early version of the Runemaster class that was later scrapped and its core mechanic repurposed. This class appears to have been listed by multiple different names in various versions of the survey, also appearing by the name Metalborn and Runeknight.

Other classes seem almost entirely new. The survey lists classes like Bard, Witch, and Illusionist among potential additions. The Bard sounds about like what you would expect, a healer and support class capable of buffing allies, while the Witch and Illusionists are two new flavors of spellcasters. Illusionists would summon and conjure creatures and objects to aid them in battle, while the Witch uses dark powers like blood rituals and even the power of the old gods to buff allies and destroy their foes. 

Whether or not any or all of these potential new classes will eventually make their way into Forever remains to be seen, but Blizzard does have, well, forever to make them a reality. In the meantime there's plenty new for WoW: Forever players to discover, including over 1,000 new quests, four new zones, an account-wide Legacy perk system, and more. WoW: Forever's beta is currently live until October 21, with Forever's full launch set for November 4.

GTA 6 will not include its own spoof on one of Florida's most iconic venues: Walt Disney World. I adore all things Disney, including the parks. But I also appreciate and enjoy Rockstar's penchant for sarcasm and making fun of things. And Disney World? There is a lot to poke fun at. So I am a bit bummed that Walt Disney World--or whatever Rockstar would name its simulacrum--won't appear in GTA 6. 

Game Informer asked Rockstar if Florida's central region, including Orlando and its tourist destinations like Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, would be represented in GTA 6 in some form, and Jack McPherson said they wouldn't. However, McPherson stressed that GTA 6 will offer the "full Florida experience" in numerous other ways. 

“We have to constantly evaluate the diversity of landscapes, towns, structures, landmarks, vistas, plant species, rock formations and everything else before we work with design and narrative to distill a list down that best works with and serves the game’s needs. So, while we may not have those exact locations, everything we have is geared to getting that full Florida experience!”

Lucia and Jason in GTA 6.

GTA 6 also won't feature SeaWorld or Florida's iconic "Space Coast," featuring Cape Canaveral's historic launch pad. 

I am not too surprised by any of this, though, considering GTA 6 takes place in Vice City, a stand-in for Miami, which is a four-hour, 230-mile drive from Orlando. I know GTA 6 is going to be a big game--featuring the biggest game map Rockstar ever made--but I never expected the map to run all the way up to Orlando. 

Jay Klaitz, who famously portrayed Lester in Grand Theft Auto 5, previously said in an interview that he wondered if Rockstar would create its own, legally distinct version of Disney World that could be called “Psycho Park.”

“That would be interesting too if they sort of delve into that environment,” he said.

While GTA 6 might not feature its own take on Disney World, it's possible the park could be referenced in GTA 6's radio chatter, and some spoofs could come there. The well runs deep for things Rockstar can make fun of Disney World for, including its ever-increasing ticket prices, the price to buy literally anything in the parks, and the so-called Disney Adult phenomenon, just to name a few options. I love Disney, but even the most diehard fans have their issues.

As it happens, the last game in the series, GTA 5, was set where Disneyland--the OG Disney park--is located in the Los Angeles area, and that game also did not feature its own theme park spoof that players could visit. However, GTA 5 featured a film production company known as Fred's Pictures, which was an obvious reference to Disney.

GTA 6 launches on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. 

Activision has confirmed that one of the Call of Duty franchise's most notorious maps, Shipment, is coming back for this year's Modern Warfare 4.

After fans spotted it in the newly released trailer for MW4's PC version, the Call of Duty account directly confirmed its return with a dedicated post.

Shipment, which debuted in 2007's Modern Warfare 4, is a tiny map filled with shipping containers that players can dash through. Due to its small size, players can get wiped out in their spawns easily, and the action generally is extremely chaotic. Some people love the map. Others hate it.

https://twitter.com/CallofDuty/status/2104969093409648927

Shipment's return in 2026's MW4 is no big surprise, as it's been featured in numerous Modern Warfare games over the years. It also showed up in Call of Duty: Vanguard and Call of Duty: Mobile.

While Activision has confirmed that Shipment will return in MW4, the company did not say if it will be among the 12 6v6 maps available at launch, or if it will be released sometime later.

For those who enjoy Shipment, its inclusion in MW4 is just the latest piece of good news. Before this, Activision confirmed that MW4 will finally fix how double XP tokens work and the dreaded "update requires restart" notice is going away. Additionally, MW4 will usher in a feature in Warzone that lets you avoid seeing all those wacky skins. The game also has a brand-new, Counter-Strike style mode.

Modern Warfare 4 launches on October 23 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, and PC. The game marks the first Call of Duty release on a Nintendo platform since 2013’s Call of Duty: Ghosts. It’s also the first game since Ghosts to skip PS4 and Xbox One.

World of Warcraft: Forever is opening up old wounds when it comes to Blizzard's actions (or in many players' views, inaction) against bots and real-money gold buying, with a recent incident involving a popular streamer becoming a flashpoint for the MMORPG.

WoW Classic streamer Ziqo was recently seen on stream accepting large sums of gold from strangers in the lead up to a $100,000 WoW: Forever beta dueling tournament on October 17. In a clip in which he was traded 380 gold from a level one character (a huge amount in WoW Classic/Forever, particularly in a beta that's only been out for two weeks), Ziqo can be heard saying there's no way that amount of gold is "natty" but accepts the trade anyways. In another clip, he accepts 175 gold from a different level one character named El Delivery. 

The community immediately saw huge cause for concern. Not only did gold buying already appear to be alive and well in the Forever beta after Blizzard previously said it would be more aggressive in taking action against gold buyers, but the streamer looked to be effectively buying his way to victory in the upcoming tournament. With that amount of gold, Ziqo would be able to essentially buy anything he needed in the lead up to the tournament, giving him an advantage. The WoW Classic subreddit became aflame with calls for Blizzard to take action.

https://www.reddit.com/r/wowforever/comments/1wsf0km/ziqo_accepting_rmt_gold/

Without mentioning Ziqo by name, WoW community manager Kaivax shared Blizzard's stance on real-money transactions (RMT) in WoW: Forever via a forum post on September 28. While Blizzard has always looked to take action and punish gold sellers, Kaivax said, it will increasingly take action against those buying or accepting RMT gold as well.

"It's important to know that while we have always actioned RMT seller's accounts as quickly as possible, we will increasingly take action against buyers' accounts," Kaivax said. "That means that we will remove the illicit gold from the recipient and/or take further actions, which can include closing accounts.

"We're once again asking all players to be very cautious when it comes to accepting gifts from strangers or other one-sided transactions. If it becomes apparent that a recipient knew or should have known that gold wasn't from a legitimate source, they may be subject to account actions as well." 

According to Ziqo, Blizzard has since removed the ill-gained gold he received (as well as some additional gold he hardened the old-fashioned-way) but as of writing has not punished him further. 

Many on the WoW Classic subreddit are calling for Blizzard to stay true to its words from Kaivax's forum post and take further actions against Ziqo's account, as it's obvious he knew the gold could not have been legitimate. 

"We can all agree it's not good for the integrity of the game when streamers get showered with free gold on stream," Reddit user Nino171 writes in a post calling for streamers like Ziqo to be banned just like any regular player would. "Treat everyone equally. Streamers should have to watch what they accept for free, just like any other player." 

https://www.reddit.com/r/classicwow/comments/1wt4w39/blizzard_is_in_zugzwang/

Even if Ziqo isn't banned from the game, some are calling for him to at the very least be banned from the upcoming tournament by its organizers. Others on the game's forums are calling for Blizzard to ban accounts permanently that are caught engaging in RMT trading, with a call to "make an example of these streamers."

For now, it's unclear if Blizzard will punish Ziqo further with an account ban, but it's definitely caused many in the Forever community to lose faith that Blizzard is willing to put its money where its mouth is in regards to cracking down on those both selling and buying in-game gold. 

WoW: Forever's beta, which costs $60 to gain access to, is currently live until October 21. The new version of WoW Classic with over 1,000 new quests, as well as new dungeons, raids, and zones, is proving to be popular, with Blizzard recently stating it had to once again increase the beta's population cap. WoW: Forever will launch in full November 4.

Mythic Achievements for Xbox Insiders will officially roll out starting today, and Microsoft has provided more detail on how its new milestone system works. Designed to celebrate the biggest Xbox achievements that a user has unlocked throughout their PC and console history--and similar to PlayStation Platinum Trophies--Mythic Achievements are earned whenever all original achievements for a game have been earned.

Microsoft added that achievements added later through DLC or updates aren't required, and once you've earned Mythic status, it's yours to keep forever. This will be applied retroactively, so if you maxed achievements in any Xbox games over the years, expect to see a 15-second notification telling you what a good job you've done. Once the full Mythic Achievement system rolls out to the entire Xbox community, player profiles will be updated with a new Gaming tab where they can view their achievements, track their next Gamerscore milestone badge, and revisit games.

A preview of what a Mythic Achievement will look like.

This will make it easier to track progress toward earning a Mythic Achievement, as a new progress bar at the top of each game's achievement list will show exactly how close you are to gaining Mythic status. There'll also be an option to focus on the original achievements you still need, and achievements added later will receive an "add-on" tag to make the chase clearer to follow. There's no date yet for when Mythic Achievements will roll out of the Xbox Insiders program to the rest of the Xbox userbase.

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma had teased back in August that Mythic Achievements were on the way, but they're arriving during another round of mass layoffs at Microsoft's gaming division. Hundreds more people have been laid off across various Xbox departments, various developers have been consolidated under Activision and Bethesda, and the Xbox Game Studios portfolio has also shrunk with the exit of several teams. Ninja Theory's future looks uncertain, while Undead Labs has started downsizing as part of its move to a new, undisclosed owner.

Gears of War: E-Day is launching into Xbox Game Pass, and because of that, the majority of the game's moneymaking potential will be cannibalized by its inclusion on the service. That's according to Rhys Elliott of Alinea Analytics, who released a report today that covers this, the game's initial sales on Steam, and the possibility of a PlayStation 5 port sometime down the road.

According to Elliott, E-Day has surpassed 120,000 copies sold on Steam at this point, generating more than $7 million in revenue. The game arrives on October 6, but people who pay more can jump in starting October 1. For more, check out the official global launch times for E-Day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRFE0gCsgLg

Elliott's data showed that E-Day has already sold more than 2X what Halo: Campaign Evolved did over a similar period of time. With 120,000 sales on Steam already, E-Day is unlikely to hit 1 million copies on the platform ever, Elliott said.

Additionally, he said "most" of the revenue from the Xbox version will be "eaten up by Game Pass. The game's inclusion on Game Pass might also encourage some people to sign up, so sales alone do not tell the whole story.

In any event, Microsoft has already decided to pull some key titles out of Game Pass, presumably due to lost revenue. Microsoft's Activision division no longer puts new Call of Duty games into Game Pass at launch, for example, with this October's Modern Warfare 4 not coming to Game Pass until Fall 2027. Going forward, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has said the company might opt to "window" other titles, presumably to help Microsoft make more money from direct game sales.

In 2023, Microsoft admitted that putting games into Game Pass cannibalizes full-game sales. At the same time, a game coming to Game Pass can actually help improve sales in some scenarios.

Microsoft made a big bet on Xbox Game Pass, spending billions of dollars to buy up studios with the aim of funneling content to the service to encourage people to sign up. New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has said Microsoft's bet on Game Pass did not work out. "Our core business weakened, and we added more teams, more investment, and more time, hoping for a better outcome," she said.

Elliott previously said Gears of War: E-Day (along with Clockwork Revolution) are being sent out to die due to their exclusivity to Xbox. They are also coming to PC, but not PS5.

Elliott told GameSpot that Microsoft will never succeed in the console space and promising fans exclusive games to help drive console sales is not going to make a difference.

“Console as we know it is over for Xbox–and has been for a while. There’s no turning that ship. But they still need to pretend to care until they’ve transitioned to pastures where they can return to growth (if they succeed),” he said.

“A Gears console exclusive does not shift meaningful numbers of Series X units. Exclusivity as a hardware-driver is over for them, because the install base it would drive simply isn’t responsive enough to justify the cost of building hardware at a 5x component premium. And those games are on Steam anyway,” he added.

Elliott went on to say that Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution are “sacrificial lambs for hearts-and-minds, not economics.”

Also in the report, Elliott addressed the rumor that Microsoft canceled a PS5 port of E-Day. He said Microsoft should not have done this, as bringing the game to PS5 would have "added some much-needed extra revenue."

While E-Day might not be coming to PS5 at launch, Elliott said he foresees a port coming to market "at some point."

There was obvious evidence of a PS5 edition of E-Day. However, Microsoft denied that it canceled a PS5 version at the last minute, but did not deny its existence.

Another strange wrinkle to the story is that Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg has said E-Day is not a timed-exclusive for Xbox. However, Greenberg said in 2021 that Starfield was not a timed-exclusive on Xbox, but then it did come to PS5, so it's hard to believe some of the things that Microsoft says about its release plans.

Halloween season is almost upon us, and if you're looking to dress up as the Resident Evil movie's in-over-his-head courier, Bryan (played by Austin Abrams), then here's a checklist of everything you need to pull off the Raccoon City look. Fortunately, Bryan's look is surprisingly easy to pull off, as director Zach Cregger and costume designer Caroline Fahrer settled on an outfit that's grounded in the real world, will keep you warm on a chilly night, and can probably handle a few bites from any citizens who have come down with a bad case of the T-Virus.

As detailed by Resident Evil News, dressing up as Bryan requires sourcing a few brand-name items and scuffing them up. The actor's main clothing consists of RVCA fatigue pants, a deep yellow plaid shirt and grey hoodie from New Yorker, and Nike Jordan Spizke low sneakers that'll need some customization. For the medical bag, if your local hospital doesn't want to sell you one, the official popcorn bag should do the trick.

https://twitter.com/RENews_X/status/2104728868162826249

The devil is in the details, so to really sell the idea that you've been through hell and back, you'll need to do some distressing on the outfit. For example, the thumbs on the gloves were cut off and replaced with stitches, and to scuff up the pants, you can use sandpaper to wear them down.

Fake blood will seal the deal, and you can easily make a bucket of the stuff with corn syrup and food coloring to nail the viscosity--a word of caution: it can be very sticky once applied. Dribble the concoction on your costume, get some friends to chuck massive water balloons at you as you sprint down a deserted street, and you'll be ready to win a few Halloween contests.

After two weeks at the box office, Resident Evil has scared up some impressive numbers. The film kicked off its run by breaking the record for the biggest opening weekend in the franchise, and so far, it has made more than  $100 million at the North American box office, beating the record that had previously been set by 2010's Resident Evil: Afterlife ($60 million). Currently, it's the fourth highest-grossing live-action Resident Evil movie so far, and it's getting closer to usurping 2016’s Resident Evil: The Final Chapter ($312 million) as the highest-grossing film in the series.

Strangely, the movie has only had a "moderate" effect on Resident Evil game sales, as the movie reenergized the existing fanbase and pumped up engagement for the franchise in September.

The creator of a mod project that sought to bring Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto 5 to Switch is closing up shop, apparently at the request of rights owner Take-Two. This action comes in the same month that Rockstar published a new "Mod Guidelines" notice informing people they need to "respect our games" and are not allowed to modify its games to operate on consoles or devices that are not officially supported by Rockstar. GTA 5 was never released on Switch.

Paralympics Productions announced (via GamesRadar) that it will shut down on October 3. The developer thanked people for their support and apologized for not being able to deliver GTA 5 for Switch.

He also said he's "thankful for Take-Two's mercy," which makes it sound like this situation could have been worse for the modder.

"This is the definitive end," the developer wrote. "Peace out, girl scouts."

https://twitter.com/M0jso/status/2104610351358820703?

The developer went on to say that they had received a cease-and-desist notice. He said he plans to comply with this because "I'm not an idiot." No legal action has taken place as of yet, he added.

In other replies, the developer responded to people asking him to release his code so others could pick it up and take things from there. He said he won't do this because it would escalate the cease-and-desist into a formal lawsuit.

He could, in theory, fight Take-Two in court, but the developer said he would most likely lose. "They have solid grounds and with me being cocky, it shows real intent for 'mayhem," he said. "So I can't even appeal to a jury or something like I didn't know what I was getting into."

The GTA 5 port for Switch from Paralympics Productions was due to be released "in the coming days," the developer added. "I'm not releasing anything new and I'm not coming back. It's truly over. And no, no one will take over the project."

GTA 5 never came to Switch, and GTA 6 is not expected to be released on Switch 2. However, it was previously reported that Rockstar was exploring the possibility of bringing GTA 6 to Switch 2.

The demand for PlayStation 5 Pro consoles is currently outpacing supply in Japan, due to ongoing memory shortages that have yet to be resolved. Now, Sony is offering Japanese players a unique way to earn their way into a PS5 Pro lottery system, but only if they can demonstrate that they've already been gaming at a certain level.

Sony's Japanese PlayStation blog notes that players who want to enter the PS5 Pro lottery must have 60 hours of gameplay time on their PlayStation accounts between September 2024 and September 2026. That time can be split between PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 consoles.

Some hardcore gamers can get in 60 hours of playtime in a week or even more. So, the threshold isn't too extreme. But it's likely in place to prevent scalpers from getting their hands on PS5 Pros and flipping them on the secondary market at greatly inflated prices.

If Japanese players meet the criteria laid out by Sony, they will be entered in the lottery system and subsequently notified that they have a chance to purchase a PS5 Pro directly from the gaming publisher. However, if any buyers fail to act on their opportunity, their systems will be offered to other players in a future lottery.

Sony's decision to stop supporting physical PS5 discs starting in 2028 has drawn pushback from some players, but the company appears dead set on following through with that edict. Earlier this month, Sony settled a lawsuit alleging that its PlayStation Store violated state and federal laws governing digital game prices. Sony admitted no wrongdoing in the settlement, which is valued at nearly $8 million.

Looking ahead to next year, Sony has revealed that it will be skipping the 2027 CES, which will mark the end of an association with the event that dates back decades.