Following the report that said Battlefield 1's Jack Lowden is circling the role of James Bond for the next 007 movie, it’s now rumored that another actor who appeared in a video game, Jack Barton, could be in the mix as well.

PageSix reported that Bond 26 director Denis Villeneuve and casting director Nina Gold are looking at a "stream of unknowns" to play James Bond next. One such person is Barton, who played Messmer the Impaler in Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree expansion.

That is Barton's only video game credit. On TV, he appeared in Steven Knight's SAS: Rogue Heroes and the TV show War of the Worlds. In film, Barton appeared in Yorgos Lanthimos' Oscar-winning 2023 movie Poor Things.

The report went on to say Barton will do a screen test to play James Bond, as will other contenders, including Lowden. These tests will begin in early September and will also reportedly include people like Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, Paul Mescal, and Harris Dickson.

In May this year, Bond movie production company Amazon MGM Studios said the search for the next James Bond actor was underway and that the film studio would not comment on the casting process.

It has been a long wait for the next James Bond movie, as the latest entry, No Time to Die, was released in 2021. However, it was expected to be release much sooner, but had three delays due in part to COVID.

Daniel Craig played James Bond in five 007 films, and wrapped up his run with No Time To Die. Amazon MGM Studios bought the franchise and reportedly paid a lot of money to regain creative control from the longtime series stewards Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson.

The new James Bond movie will be directed by Villeneuve, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker known for the Dune franchise. He’s also directed the movies Prisoners, Sicario, Blade Runner 2049, and Arrival.

Sony has already confirmed that it's headed toward an all-digital future soon, but what about Xbox and its next-gen console, Project Helix? In a new interview, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma didn't give any concrete answers about whether Project Helix will have a disc drive, instead focusing on the topic of next-gen hardware affordability.

"This next generation, we have to be thinking about efficiency and affordability alongside performance," Sharma said to the BBC. "All of the industry needs to start to innovate on affordability and efficiency. That is something that we have not had to do [previously]. But with the crisis that's currently happening in hardware and components, it is absolutely something all of us need to be thinking about, innovating on, and giving people more choice in terms of how they play their console and how they purchase their console."

On the topic of physical media, Sharma said her focus was on giving players choices for how they purchase their games. "I want to make sure people have a choice. There are stacks of games on everybody's shelves," she said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ANSUtDfr5A

While Sony's pivot to digital has been poorly received so far, Xbox has been laying the groundwork for this shift away from physical games for several years now. Options like Smart Delivery, Play Anywhere, and the recently announced disc-to-digital program has helped make the transition easier while still giving Xbox owners the option to purchase physical games. In comparison, PlayStation owners will be limited to a single storefront run by Sony, one that currently doesn't offer consumer-friendly services like refunds or gifting, as Valve's Steam platform does. It's no wonder that the decision to go digital has been so unpopular and has resulted in a flood of negative comments whenever Sony posts anything online.

Xbox, on the other hand, is primed to win a war of opinion if it offers some form of physical ownership of its games, even if that section of its market only makes up a tiny number of sales. Project Helix is still rumored to be a digital-only console so that Microsoft can cut costs on its production, but according to rumors, it'll be backwards-compatible with older games. Given how the new disc-to-digital program works, it might be worth keeping an Xbox Series X or Xbox One console around so you can bring your physical games with you, in case it doesn't have a disc drive of its own. 

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xboxs-disc-to-digital-program-officially-announced-and-it-sounds-pretty-great/

Ahead of today's GTA 6 Extended Preview on Netflix, developer Rockstar Games has revealed plenty of new details on the highly anticipated open-world game. In a new interview, Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson divulged how the game, similar to GTA: San Andreas, will require you to take good care of the protagonists Jason and Lucia, as the duo will need to engage in exercise, healthy eating, and relaxation if they want to stay in shape. Just like real life, but with more immediate gains.

Getting physical

First off, Jason and Lucia's physiques will change according to how you take care of them between missions. Working out will visibly build muscle for the pair, while gorging on food will make them get noticeably heavier. Rockstar says it wants to enable "self-expression" amongst players without losing "the essence" of the characters. On that topic, Jason is ex-military and a drug runner, while Lucia has just finished a stint in prison when GTA 6 starts.

You'll also need to ensure that Jason and Lucia get some rest between their outings, as staying awake for several days or constantly evading the police will take a toll on them. Players will have the option to play as the couple or go solo in the game, and swapping between them is designed to be a seamless experience. "The thing we love about this medium is the way these characters aren’t empty avatars that you can do whatever you want with," Nelson said to Dazed (via Shinobi602). "Their story becomes a journey you share with them."

Contrary to what your parents told you, looks do matter--especially in Vice City. Nelson says that Vice City is built around vanity, and how Jason and Lucia appear will "carry significant weight" as players interact with social media stars, celebrities, and tourists.

Choice and consequences

Rockstar is also aiming to make the world of GTA 6 more reactive to players, with repercussions for certain actions. Rockstar says that the consequences will "cut much deeper" than in previous GTA games.

NPCs are more distinct than ever

The various GTA 6 leaks have so far shown off an impressively populated city, and Nelson said that Rockstar has done a lot of research to create diverse crowds of NPCs. The studio spent years in Miami and its surrounding areas to nail the feel of the game, meeting with people from all walks of life. Rockstar met club promoters, infamous individuals, law enforcement, ex-criminals, and even gun dealers, and the NPC variety includes a wide range of factors to make large groups of unique NPCs.

Rockstar says that it developed new tools to "build the most detailed and varied character population" for GTA 6. With multiple branches across the world, Rockstar's LA office was dedicated solely to working on NPCs.

The developer also brought in over 50 real street artists to create murals for the game, and when it came to vehicle handling, real race-car drivers were hired to help fine-tune how cars behave in Vice City.

Following several days of leaks, the first new look at GTA 6 will debut exclusively on Netflix later today, followed by a wider release on platforms like YouTube. Rockstar addressed the leaks this week, describing them as "heartbreaking" for the team ahead of the game's November launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-6-extended-look-how-to-watch-what-to-expect-and-more/

Former President of PlayStation Studios, Shuhei Yoshida, has praised Microsoft's recently announced disc-to-digital program, writing that it is a "great move by team Xbox."

The former executive posted his opinion on the program on X with no other commentary, but it's a notable remark given how much of Yoshida's career was spent at Xbox's main competitor. That's especially true when you consider the differences in approach Microsoft and Sony seem to be taking as we march towards an all-digital future, with Sony announcing that it plans to stop PlayStation disc production for new titles from January 2028. It, unlike Xbox, hasn't yet announced a method for current physical game owners to continue using their discs on a potentially digital-only PlayStation 6.

Xbox's approach is relatively straightforward. After inserting a disc into an Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S console, you will be granted a digital license for the game which enables you to play it across Xbox, PC (where compatible), and Xbox Cloud Streaming without requiring the disc any longer. The catch is that if you happen to sell the disc or lend it to a friend, that digital license will be revoked from your profile and associated with any new one that makes use of the disc itself. It's a smart way to ensure your physical library is still playable in the case of a new Xbox shipping without a disc drive, for an example.

Yoshida spent over 30 years working at Sony, eventually becoming President of SIE Worldwide Studios (now known as PlayStation Studios) from 2008 to 2019. Yoshida then became the head of PlayStation Indies before retiring in 2024. Earlier this year, Yoshida revealed that he'd been fired from his former presidential role for not listening to Jim Ryan, the former CEO and chairman of Sony Interactive Entertainment.

Yoshida has remained vocal within the games industry, providing consulting services and appearing at conventions and conferences as a speaker. He recently discussed the role of AI in game development, saying that "from a developer’s standpoint, it’s going to be a really tough future."

The countdown to Grand Theft Auto 6 is winding down, and ahead of its launch in November, developer Rockstar Games has a new look at the game on the way. But unlike other trailers or developer previews, this one won't be dropping on YouTube first, as Netflix has an exclusive on it for several hours. If you're planning to watch--and you have a Netflix subscription--here's everything you need to know about the upcoming GTA 6 preview.

When to watch on Netflix

Grand Theft Auto 6: An Extended Look will premiere on Netflix at the following times on August 27:

• 3 PM ET
• 12 PM PT
• 8 PM BST
• 9 PM CEST
• 10 PM SAST
• 12 AM GST (August 28)
• 5 AM JST (August 28)
• 7 AM AEST (August 28)

When to watch on YouTube

Following its six hours of Netflix exclusivity, the GTA preview will be available to watch on YouTube and the official GTA 6 website.

• 9 PM ET
• 6 PM PT
• 2 AM BST (August 28)
• 3 AM CEST (August 28)
• 4 AM SAST (August 28)
• 6 AM GST (August 28)
• 11 AM JST (August 28)
• 1 PM AEST (August 28)

Netflix subscriptions: How much do they cost?

While you absolutely do not need Netflix to watch the Extended Look--since it will be free on YouTube a few hours later--if you can't wait, there are  several options available, ranging from ad-supported to pricier premium subscriptions.

• Netflix Standard with ads -- $9 per month
• Netflix Standard -- $20 per month
• Netflix Premium -- $27 per month

What to expect

Unsurprisingly, Rockstar Games is keeping mum on what will be shown during the preview--but one leaker hasn't been dropping a ton of pilfered content lately. There's no word yet on how long the Extended Look will run for or what parts of the game it'll cover, but fans are expecting brand-new footage and a proper look at how GTA 6 will play. If it's anything like the previous games in the series, expect driving, shooting, and a closer look at Vice City.

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-6-leaks-a-timeline-of-the-events-so-far/

After Gamescom Opening Night Live and the Future Games Show, we can't help noticing that there are multiple titles coming up that let players either assume control of an animal or play anthropomorphic characters who resemble human/animal hybrids. To keep track of these upcoming titles, we ran down a full list of animal-centric games below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuYhh4zSTlA Amphibian

Developer: Jarcorp Interactive

Systems: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch

Release Date: 2028

Amphibian is a retro RPG that casts players as humanoid frogs on a quest to save their world. As seen in the trailer below, the game apparently commits to its froggy bit by recording all of the dialogue as ribbit sounds. However, the English translations appear on-screen.

https://youtu.be/0rMcYmfuwTY Bye Bye Bonnie

Developer: Brainwash Gang and Raw Fury

Systems: PC

Release Date: TBD

Bye Bye Bonnie is also a four-player co-op adventure at a decidedly smaller scale. These creatures are minuscule compared to the world around them. Even their ship is small, although it's large enough that the characters have to jump up and down on the controls to guide it through the obstacles ahead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Illo-K0Jsvo Haunted Paws

Developer: LazyFlock

Systems: PC, Switch, Switch 2

Release Date: TBD

Haunted Paws is a "cozy co-op horror" adventure that puts players in control of two puppies that have to rescue their owner from a haunted mansion. These dogs are more conventional than Amphibian's frogs, but they still find ways to drive cars and play video games while staying one paw ahead of some malicious ghosts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7K6kahO2Ak Gravhounds

Developer: Octopus Panic

Systems: PC, Xbox Series X|S

Release Date: November 2

Conversely, Gravhounds leans even harder into anthropomorphic canine heroes with very human-like dogs who have been sent across the galaxy to colonize a planet. It's unclear how these dogs were bred into humanoid beings, but they share a desire to earn a trip back home.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6-POrGg-yI DNA Nemesis

Developer: Catalisol Limited and Aeternum Game Studios

Systems: PC

Release Date: December 2026

The third-person shooter DNA Nemesis appears to have some thematic overlap with Gravhounds. In this game, the player characters appear to be humans with animal traits genetically engineered into their bodies. Some of them even have animal heads, which may give them an advantage in combat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12vIaNtmaZ8 Zoopunk

Developer: TiGames

Systems: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5

Release Date: TBD

Zoopunk also seems to go over similar territory, but with more polish than DNA Nemesis. In this game, anthropomorphic animals wage a war against deadly machines in a futuristic world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJU_js3YC90 Stray Dog: Nobody Cares

Developer: Parry Frames Studio.

Systems: PC

Release Date: TBD

The fantasy adventure Stay Dog: Nobody Cares was announced before Gamescom, but it also continues the trend of animal titles that are coming down the line. In this case, players step into the paws of a sword-wielding dog on a quest.

Some games just aren't long for this world, and that’s exactly the case with the Portal-like and Halo-like shooter Splitgate: Arena Reloaded, which is getting put on a form of life support starting in early September.

Developer 1047 Games took to X on August 26 to announce the news. In a lengthy statement, the team shared that active development for Splitgate: Arena Reloaded is ending, effective immediately. At the same time, the team's other game, the 6v6 Titanfall-like movement shooter Empulse, will also no longer receive any more updates.

https://twitter.com/1047Games/status/2092654331841724551

"The reality is that neither game is generating enough revenue to support the ongoing cost of dedicated servers," 1047 Games said. "We have continued covering the costs because we wanted to give both games every opportunity to grow, but we have reached the point where that is no longer sustainable. We have loved working on these games, playing them, and building them with this community, and we wish we could continue supporting them."

Despite development ending for both games, 1047 Games said that neither one will simply get shut down. Instead, both Empulse and Splitgate: Arena Reloaded have been "reworked to support peer-to-peer play." So, starting September 3, the dedicated servers will go offline, and both games will be playable for the foreseeable future through a P2P server-hosting browser. This means that you'll only be able to find matches when other people are online and hosting games instead of relying on servers to find games for you.

This is exactly what happened with the first Splitgate in August 2025. Released in 2019, the dedicated servers went offline on August 29, 2025, and entered a similar peer-to-peer multiplayer environment.

It's a bit of a bummer, actually. Originally released as Splitgate 2 before re-entering a beta form in June 2025 and returning as Splitgate: Arena Reloaded in December 2025, the game was giving Portal-like mechanics, Halo-esque shooting, and Quake-like movement in a very fast-paced environment. As a sequel to Splitgate, it also expanded what the original did by adding a 60-player battle royale mode and a map creator called the Lab.

Unfortunately, now, Splitgate: Arena Reloaded will get nothing new to make it exciting and fresh again. On the other hand, Empulse will receive one final update sometime soon that adds a new map, along with a cross-regional price cut. After this, what you see is what you get.

Now that Gamescom has kicked off, a seemingly endless barrage of new game trailers are hitting social media, and it's easy for smaller projects to get lost in the shuffle. But as a longtime fan of American McGee's Alice (and someone who still hasn't stopped mourning the franchise's undeserved fate), one title from today's Find Your Next Game showcase immediately caught my eye: Cutout, a 2D side-scrolling action game in which you play a paper doll with the power to snip off and steal the limbs of her enemies.

In Cutout, players control Lena, a "child of the forest" who takes the form of a 2D paper doll. After discovering a pair of scissors--and tapping into her internal rage--Lena embarks on a quest through a grimdark fairytale world full of enemies whose limbs she can sever and attach to her own body, giving her unique powers. But there's a catch: Enemies can also steal Lena's limbs and use them against her in battle.

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

In addition to stealing various limbs for advantage in combat, players will also be faced with choices that will shape what kind of person Lena becomes.

"Will you claim what they denied you, or heal what they destroyed?" an unseen narrator asks in the game's trailer.

From the spooky-cute fairytale aesthetic to the surprisingly violent premise and even Lena's striped stockings, Cutout is definitely giving off major Alice vibes (with a dash of Little Nightmares in there, too). We'll likely never get another Alice game from American McGee (thanks, EA), but with Cutout on the way, fans of nightmarish fairytales finally have a spiritual successor to look forward to.

Developed by Italian studio 906 Games, Cutout does not yet have an official release date, but is listed as "coming soon" on Steam, where it's currently available to wishlist.

A new deep dive has dropped with some fascinating takeaways from Rockstar Games on the most anticipated release of the year, Grand Theft Auto 6. We've learned a lot already, including a feature returning from San Andreas and how switching between the two protagonists works. Now, we're finding out that you might want to reconsider going on those classic GTA rampages when this new GTA hits PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on November 19.

In the Autumn 2026 Issue of Dazed magazine, some Rockstar Games developers talked about what you can expect when GTA 6 drops this November. While you're probably looking forward to rampaging through Leonida as you'd do in just about every other GTA game, the team is really cautioning you from doing so.

Because GTA 6 puts a greater emphasis on visual feedback (especially regarding how activities like exercising impact protagonists Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos appearance) and the deeper relationships you can have between the two main characters and all the other characters, GTA 6 features a heightened realism that makes you think twice about what you do and how you do it.

While Rockstar Games didn't explicitly say what this means, you can infer it from Dazed's feature. GTA 6's world is quite reactive to your actions. Not only do Jason and Lucia physically change based on how you treat them, but NPCs also respond to whether you're walking, running, driving frantically, or holding a weapon. And with the enhanced realism that the team baked into the game, going on a rampage may not just cause the cops to pull up on you; it may lead to NPCs acting differently to you, which could pose all sorts of problems.

We'll find out soon enough, as GTA 6 comes out on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Until then, be careful when scrolling online. There are leaks just about everywhere now.

As with so many other companies, including video game console makers, Panic increased the price of its Playdate handheld when US President Donald Trump implemented sweeping tariffs. When those tariffs were deemed unlawful and refunds become available to companies, most kept the money for themselves--but Panic has now confirmed it will be passing those refunds on to customers.

Word of the refunds was emailed out to impacted customers recently. In the email, Panic explained how it had charged extra to compensate for its increased costs due to the tariffs, and that it had now received refunds from the government. With that money secured, it's automatically refunding the tariff amount--$12.36--to anyone who paid that surcharge, and the money should automatically end up in their accounts within the next few days.

A Playdate system

This move is in marked contrast to companies like Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft, among others. Although many companies have sidestepped addressing the possibility of tariff refunds directly, there have been instances of them touting the impact of those refunds on their financials: both Sony and Nintendo highlighted the positive impact on their revenue from suddenly having a bunch of free money show up in their bank accounts. 

The lack of refunds has led to class-action lawsuits that remain undecided. Nintendo, for its part, claimed in a court filing that it only imposed "modest and selective price adjustments," highlighting that it avoided increasing the Switch 2 price last year. “Nintendo or one of its retailers set a price for each product, and consumers decided whether that price was worth paying,” Nintendo said. “Those who bought Nintendo’s products received exactly what they bargained and paid for: a console, game and/or accessory at a price to which both parties agreed.”

"If a consumer did not want to pay the advertised price, they were free to abstain from purchasing the product or seek out competing products," it added.

On its website, Panic had provided a detailed rundown on what it was doing and why, explaining that due to the low margins it makes on the hardware, it couldn't afford to absorb the cost of tariffs. "Just so you know: We hate this. We know money is tight for everyone. We thank you for your patience and your kind understanding. Our deepest dream is that we can delete this line item, and this page, entirely, someday soon," it wrote back in February, shortly after the Supreme Court ruled against the tariffs.

Whether or not that page does go away, Panic is now refunding these charges, despite the work it took to secure the refunds.

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

"Still, it took a lot of work for us to file all the paperwork to get the refund from the government, and it took work to build a little system to process the refund, and sometimes it felt like, wait, why are we seemingly doing more work than even gigantic companies are on this issue? That felt weird," he added. "But I guess it makes sense in a way, because our small size means we’re far more directly affected by something like a tariff."

Panic's Neven Mrgan added on Bluesky, "[R]efunding tariffs took a bit of work on our end, ande definitely lost sales over the stupid thing after it was announced, but we still all agreed refunding them to customers was the right call."

While this move by Panic is unlikely to put any real pressure on bigger companies to follow suit, it does demonstrate that such a move is possible. If nothing else, it helps to spotlight a delightful little gaming system that you might otherwise be unaware of.

Despite the "heartbreaking" leaks plaguing Rockstar Games right now, the team is speaking a bit more about what you can expect when Grand Theft Auto 6 hits PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on November 19. This includes detailing how switching between the dual protagonists, Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos, works.

British youth-culture magazine Dazed released its Autumn 2026 Issue, which features some fascinating quotes from key members of Rockstar Games' development team and some interesting tidbits about GTA 6. Within the feature is a bit of a breakdown of what it's like jumping between the game's two protagonists. While you can choose to play as a couple or wreak havoc independently in Leonida, you can also freely jump between Jason and Lucia as you play the full game.

More specifically, as Jason is driving on the highway, you (as Lucia) could scroll the in-game phone in the passenger seat. When things take a turn for the worse, as they always do in GTA, the game will fluidly let you switch between Jason to swerve through traffic and Lucia to shoot at folks. And as a reward for a job well done, the two can hop on a jet ski to soak in the sun while snuggling in bloody matrimony.

As Dazed notes, GTA 6 will undoubtedly be the franchise's first demonstration of true romance, with the story focusing on a romantic, crime-ridden relationship where the choices you make have consequences.

Although GTA as a franchise isn't known for its romance, it has featured multiple playable protagonists before. The last entry, Grand Theft Auto 5, let you swap between three characters: Franklin Clinton, Michael Townley, and Trevor Philips. In almost any given moment, you could control any of the three characters as the camera zoomed out and zoomed back in to wherever they were in the world. What's being described in GTA 6, although reminiscent of GTA 5, sounds much more fluid and seamless, particularly because Jason and Lucia are a romantic couple and not just friends doing crimes together.

Thankfully, with the game just two months away, we'll learn just how fluid and seamless character swapping is when GTA 6 launches on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. That is, if we don't learn more about the game from all the recent leaks circulating on the internet.

Most Dungeons & Dragons games over the years have put you in the shoes of an adventurer who sets out to explore a fantasy world, defeat dangerous monsters, and bask in the riches you're rewarded. But what about the people those adventurers interact with during their journey? In Dungeons & Dragons: Long Rest Tavern, you'll have the chance to experience a very different side of D&D, running an inn full of weary travelers who just want a nap and some beer.

Developed by Homo Ludens and set in a section of Faerûn known as the Dalelands, Long Rest Tavern (a play on the "long rest" mechanic in D&D) will let you grow your humble, small tavern into a formidable operation, with adventurers making use of your new recipes to enhance their abilities. You'll also have to deal with a rival innkeeper looking to stifle your business, so success is far from guaranteed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2eSIp9QjRw

We get a quick look at gameplay in the official reveal trailer, showing a Sims-like interface for building out the tavern. You'll be able to hire staff, each with their own specialties, strengths, and weaknesses, and you can assign challenges to the adventurers who stay at the inn. Dice will factor into this part of the experience, much like they do for so many elements of traditional D&D.

To be honest, the quick reveal trailer for Long Rest Tavern made a better first impression on me than the Warlock gameplay trailer shown during Gamescom Opening Night Live. It's too early to make any judgments, but it certainly looks like a novel and creative way to experience D&D.

Dungeons & Dragons: Long Rest Tavern will be available in 2027 on PC.

The latest gameplay leak for GTA 6 has arrived, and it contains new story spoilers. As such, if you care about that and spend time on the internet, be prepared to scroll away fast if something that looks like GTA 6 comes across your feed.

Read on for more information about the latest leak.

For about a week, most of the GTA 6 gameplay leaks focused on the playable character Jason, prompting people to wonder about the other playable character, Lucia. Well, the new leak, reportedly from the game's prologue, shows Lucia in prison, something that an official GTA 6 trailer alluded to previously. (We aren't linking to the leak here but you can find it yourself easily if you want).

The prologue leak also teases some of Lucia's backstory, and it's prompted fan theories about where her story may go. Some people online are theorizing that Lucia cuts a deal with the Feds to get out of prison in exchange for turning on her partner, Jason. That kind of story has been told about a bajillion times in media, so here's to hoping Rockstar does something a little more interesting.

The very first GTA 6 trailer, released back in 2023, was set to Tom Petty's "Love Is a Long Road," and many thought that song choice was intentional based on the lyrics. Petty sings about a girl he knew who "said she cared about me" but opines that "love is a long road" with many twists and turns.

Rockstar invited people to see GTA 6 and talk to the developers, and one report from Dazed confirms new details about the Jason-Lucia relationship. Rockstar senior VP of narrative Rupert Humphries said GTA 6 is set up as a "Bonnie and Clyde-type narrative," and if Rockstar follows that story, things might end up very bad for Jason and Lucia.

According to the report, players can choose to play as Jason or Lucia or "as a couple." The game has a "fluid system" where players can be driving as Jason or Lucia at one point and then shoot at their enemies from the passenger window as the other character. Players can also ride a jetski together in different seats.

The official plot description for GTA 6 states that after an "easy score goes wrong," Jason and Lucia "find themselves on the darkest side of the sunniest place in America, in the middle of a criminal conspiracy strteching across the state of Leonida." It goes on to say Jason and Lucia are "forced to rely on each other more than ever if they want to make it out alive."

GTA 6 launches on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Rockstar will finally show off the game in detail via a Netflix stream on August 27.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 is one of the most highly anticipated games in the entire Warhammer franchise, and we'll be able to play it very soon. Even better, it's going to feature a guest appearance by one of the most legendary composers in the history of first-person shooters.

On October 14, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 will release across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with a Switch 2 release to follow "shortly after" the other versions, according to the official announcement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRCcxzt-j8A

If you like the tune blasting in the game's release-date trailer, there's a good reason for that: Mick Gordon of Doom and Wolfenstein fame is responsible. His composition is described as a "cameo" appearance and will play during the final boss fight. If that doesn't get you pumped to slay the enemies of the Emperor, nothing will.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 expands on the first game's boomer-shooter action, letting you play as either Ultramarine Malum Caedo like in the first game or as Battle Sister Nyra Veyrath. You'll be going up against the daemonic demigod Vashtorr as well as countless other enemies, and if it's anything like the first game, you can expect to be turning lots of them into tiny pieces of bloody flesh. The first game was also brutally difficult, and we expect the sequel to follow suit.

Savage Planet series developer Raccoon Logic announced a new game at Gamescom today, and it's not what anyone would expect.

Breakaway Hockey League is a new "high-skill" 4v4 ice hockey game with five-minute matches, ranked play, and what the studio called "larger-than-life spectacle."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIqv5Qg2Tmo&t=1s

In development for PC, Breakaway Hockey League has players controlling just one member of the team, not the entire lineup like you might find in EA's NHL series. Raccoon Logic is promising things like realistic puck physics and "physical checking," along with other things you'd expect from a hockey game, including skill moves like dekes and picking your corners with precision shooting.

Raccoon Logic is hoping Breakaway Hockey League will lead to "highlight-reel moments" with its more arcade-y setup, which in turn people may share online. The game promises players "dramatic breakaways, clutch saves, and bone-rattling hits."

Raccoon Logic's marketing boss Hugo Agostinho said the team created Breakaway Hockey League in part because of a gap in the market with hockey games vanishing from PC. That's not totally true, as Steam is filled with hockey games like Bush League Hockey, Hoser Hockey, and Backyard Hockey '02, just to name a few. In any event, Raccoon Logic sees an opportunity for Breakaway Hockey League to stand out with its blend of "skill, speed, and violence."

"We're aiming to keep the soul of hockey while adding the purity of modern competitive action games," game director Steve Masters said.

Agostinho acknowledged that there are fantastic indie-style ice hockey games on Steam, but these do not scratch the specific itch that Breakaway Hockey League is going for.

"Growth of the game on a global scale"

Speaking to GameSpot at Gamescom, Agostinho said ice hockey continues to expand into new territories and reach more people, and Breakaway Hockey League is coming to market against that backdrop. He pointed out that a team from Florida, the Panthers, have now won back-to-back Stanley Cups, and he admitted he's feeling pretty salty about a US-based team doing so well. But it's also helping grow the game.

"The growth of the game on a global scale and then the types of audiences has also expanded significantly," he said. "We see places like Japan, China, France, Italy, all having their own hockey scenes. We have a professional hockey league for women in the PWHL. Montreal won the first cup, which is where the studio's based, so it's very exciting there."

He also pointed out how the HBO series Heated Rivalry recently helped introduce even more people to ice hockey. He said the show, along with other factors, has helped make hockey appealing to people other than the typical "hockey bro with a missing tooth."

"One of the funniest things I've heard is a lot of the fans who've gotten into hockey from Heated Rivalry ... they'll go to games and call it 'hockey boy aquarium.'"

Raccoon Logic is planning to launch Breakaway Hockey League via Steam Early Access, but before that, the studio is hosting alpha and beta playtests with a focus on "rapid iteration" as the studio develops the game alongside the community.

"We are making this not so much for like hardcore hockey fans as we are for like the Overwatch, the Valorant player, the Rocket League player, the Counter-Strike player," Agostinho said. "And a lot of our inspirations for design even actually come from shooter shooter games, and not so much sports games, which is a really cool place to start for something like this."

On-ice action

Unlike EA's NHL series, Breakaway Hockey League has players controlling just one skater, and not from a top-down presentation. Instead, the game is presented with a third-person, over-the-shoulder camera. The third-person perspective is aimed at making you "feel like an athlete" as opposed to watching a hockey broadcast, Agostinho said. Additionally, this perspective makes the game feel "more immersive," he said.

Unfortunately, no gameplay footage for Breakaway Hockey League has been released so far, but that's coming soon, the developers said.

One of the world's biggest gaming shows, Gamescom, is now underway in Cologne, Germany, and hundreds of thousands of people are expected to attend. The organizers sold out the entire 233,000 square meter exhibition floor at the Koelnmesse exhibition center, with more than 1,600 exhibitors signing up to show off their games and products.

In short, Gamescom is huge. It might not be the world's largest gaming event, as that title belongs to ChinaJoy, which had more than 438,000 attendees this year. But Gamescom is a bona fide juggernaut, and it's stayed strong, and grown, while other events have come and gone (looking at you, E3!).

GameSpot caught up with Gamescom boss Tim Endres (director of Gamescom at Koelnmesse) and Stefan Heikhaus (director of Gamescom and events) to discuss how the event comes together each year, how the organization defines success, and how the show has been impacted by the death of E3.

We also chatted to the pair about partnering with Geoff Keighley for the big kickoff show, Opening Night Live, and what Gamescom is doing to help shine a light on smaller games that might struggle to get noticed in the sea of blockbusters that dominate the headlines. The organizers also discussed bringing Games Done Quick to Gamescom for the first time, as well as Gamescom's new Gaming for Democracy initiative to help use the show as a platform for good.

You can see our full interview below, and be sure to stay with GameSpot for the week to get all the biggest news, videos, and interviews from the show floor.

Gamescom is now underway, but how early do you begin planning each August's show, and what is that process like, generally speaking? 

Tim Endres: Planning for the next Gamescom begins while the current one is still taking shape. An event of this size is an ongoing cycle of listening, analyzing, and improving. After each edition we closely examine feedback from all our communities. This feedback directly feeds into decisions regarding hall planning, crowd flow, accessibility, program structure, and more.

At the same time, the industry moves extremely fast. We must understand early on which topics are becoming relevant, which communities are growing, where publishers and developers see value, and how fans want to experience games on-site and digitally. 

How do you define and measure success for a giant event like Gamescom? 

Stefan Heikhaus: There are two sides to this answer. One is numbers: visitors, trade visitors, exhibitors, international participation and digital reach. But numbers alone do not define success for us. What matters just as much is the quality of the experience: whether fans, content creators, journalists, exhibitors and industry professionals feel comfortable, inspired and connected, and whether they have an extraordinarily good time at Gamescom. That is why feedback after the event is so important to us--it helps us improve things year after year.

Gamescom is known for bringing in thousands upon thousands of attendees. In this post-COVID world, have you seen attendance normalize back to historical trends?

Tim Endres: We have seen a very clear recovery since returning to a physical event. But it is not simply a return to the pre-pandemic model – Gamescom has since become a hybrid event. After two digital-only editions, Gamescom returned to Cologne with 265,000 visitors in 2022. That increased to 320,000 in 2023, 335,000 in 2024 and 357,000 visitors from 128 countries in 2025. At the same time, digital reach went from 228,000 to over 1.1 billion views. The way people experience Gamescom has changed.

The digital layer has become much more important.

The on-site event in Cologne is still the emotional center and the place where fans meet, play, celebrate, and connect. But the digital layer has become much more important. With that, we reach more people than ever before with our event.  

Can you talk about your partnership with Geoff Keighley for Gamescom Opening Night Live, and how the synergy works to benefit both parties?

Stefan Heikhaus: Working with Geoff Keighley and his team has been a very valuable partnership since the first meetings back in 2018. They bring deep industry knowledge, a strong creative vision, and many years of experience in producing large-scale shows. On our side, we make sure that Gamescom Opening Night Live is closely connected to the on-site experience and to the spirit of Gamescom itself.

That is where the synergy really comes in: Gamescom Opening Night Live is not just a standalone showcase. It is the official kick-off to the world’s biggest games event. Fans can watch major announcements on Tuesday night and then experience many of those games during the week in Cologne. Many of the reveals and news are explored in greater depth by journalists, content creators, and our official programming such as the Gamescom studio throughout the week as well. That connection between a global digital stage and a real-world festival atmosphere is what makes the format special. The energy and enthusiasm of fans is tangible during the stream, and I believe that is something the global audience really feels. 

For Gamescom, the show is a key pillar of our hybrid concept and helps us reach the global community. At the same time, the show benefits from being directly embedded in a week where the entire industry comes together in one place.

Gamescom is one of the biggest gaming shows in the world.

Big consumer events in gaming have come and gone over the years, but Gamescom has been going strong for multiple decades now. What has allowed Gamescom to grow and thrive in the way that it has while others have come and gone?

Tim Endres: I think Gamescom’s strength is that it has continued to evolve with the community and the industry. It is not only a consumer show and not only a business event. It brings together the whole gaming ecosystem in one place. At the same time, Gamescom has grown into a hybrid event. When digital formats became more important, we expanded them. During the pandemic, instead of disappearing from the calendar, Gamescom continued as a digital event. Today, formats such as Gamescom Opening Night Live, the Gamescom awesome indies show and Gamescom epix are important pillars of Gamescom. And finally, on-site experience matters. There is a very specific atmosphere when the halls, the city and the global gaming community come together. People come for the announcements, but also to meet each other, discover games, and be part of a shared culture. This emotional aspect is difficult to replace.

Games Done Quick is coming to Gamescom for the first time--how did this partnership come about and what makes it so exciting for your and the Gamescom audience?

Tim Endres: Speedrunning has been part of Gamescom in different forms for many years, but 2026 is the first time we are working with Games Done Quick. For us, GDQ is a fantastic partner because they bring together passion of the speedrun community and social engagement — all things that are very much part of gaming culture. Gamescom GDQ will run for three days, from August 28 to 30, live on site at Gamescom and streamed worldwide through GDQ’s official Twitch and YouTube channels. The program speaks for itself: From blindfolded runs to a shared-controller run of Hades 2 to up to regular speedruns of fan favorite games such as Hollow Knight: Silksong. The schedule is full of things fans can look forward to in the usual GDQ manner.

At the same time, donations will support Gaming for Democracy, an initiative of the Foundation for Digital Games Culture and Bertelsmann Stiftung. With that, we are not just bringing premium entertainment to the show floor but also use Gamescom as a platform to support the good cause and make community efforts visible.

Getting prominent placement and attention at a big event like Gamescom may feel challenging for smaller developers and publishers--what are you doing to help those kinds of teams have a place and find success at Gamescom?

Stefan Heikhaus: Smaller teams have always been an essential part of Gamescom. On-site, we support them through special offerings for the exhibition space in the Gamescom indie area as well as the Gamescom invest circle, where young studios can meet investors, publishers and strategic partners. Digital initiatives such as the Gamescom awesome indies show, the Gamescom steam event, and Gamescom biz complement that offering. For 2026, we are also continuing to invest into and develop the Gamescom awesome indies show together with IGN, giving indie games from Gamescom an even stronger global stage. Not to mention that indie games, too, have the chance to be part of Gamescom Opening Night Live.

Our aim for Gamescom is to be the number-one platform where people discover indie games. That is why we will once again listen to feedback, evaluate it and improve for following years. Yet, welcoming 420 exhibitors in our indie area for the first time already is a good sign that we are moving in the right direction.

Has Gamescom seen discernible effects following the cancellation of E3 years ago? More people and businesses signing up to attend? 

Tim Endres: Gamescom has always been its own thing. Yet, we have naturally taken on a larger share of the global spotlight. But we would not reduce the growth of Gamescom to one single factor. Gamescom continued to take place every year, expanded its hybrid model and built formats such asGamescom Opening Night Live, the Gamescom awesome indies show, regional editions with Gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show and Gamescom latam--we continuously expanded our expertise and reach which ultimately led to the success we are currently seeing. In 2025, we exceeded 1 billion views on our content until the end of August of that year for the first time. In 2026, we booked up the available exhibition space for the first time. That success comes from years of dedication and hard work. And the continuous adaptation to an ever-changing games industry.

You now have Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show and Gamescom latam--both of which have found large audiences as well. How are these shows going, and do you see opportunities for growing further with more shows?

Stefan Heikhaus: Gamescom latam in São Paulo and Gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show in Bangkok are important parts of the Gamescom family. With Gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show, we brought together a globally connected B2B platform and a strong fan-focused B2C experience. Gamescom latam, too, is growing with each passing year and we are very proud to see how both events evolve while keeping their regional DNA. For now, our focus is on developing these existing formats further and making sure they create value for their regional communities, exhibitors and partners. We always keep an open mind, but there are currently no concrete plans to launch additional regional Gamescom events.

Anything else people should know about Gamescom 2026?

Tim Endres: While we talk a lot about Gamescom awesome indies show and Gamescom Opening Night Live, the Gamescom studio program, too, is worth following. The special thing about this is that we not only feature a high number of content pieces throughout the week--it really is a symbol of our globalization aspect. Since last year, we have featured Gamescom studio content in four languages. German and English have been part of the studio for many years already. But we will continue to invest in Mandarin and Japanese content as well. With that, we want to ensure that Gamescom becomes even more accessible around the world. We see these markets as very important for our global approach and therefore want to deliver news in a way that works best for the audience.

Grand Theft Auto 6 is just two months away, and although the game has suffered some "heartbreaking" leaks recently, Rockstar Games is slowly peeling back the curtain on the year's most anticipated release. Now, a new deep dive has revealed that a feature from San Andreas is returning--and it sounds better than ever.

In Dazed magazine's Autumn 2026 Issue, some key figures from the Rockstar Games team opened up about what you can expect when GTA 6 hits PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on November 19. Alongside talking about how the characters are more believable and what it's like switching between protagonists Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos, the developers expressed that you will really want to watch the characters' physical appearance.

GTA 6 will see the return of some "interactive systems" that change the way Jason and Lucia look. If you eat too much? Both characters will put on weight. If you exercise? Both characters will gain muscle. And if you get little to no sleep? Well, let's just say you'll need more than under-eye masks to refresh both characters' skin.

Basically, anything you do in GTA 6 will affect the world of Leonida, as well as the appearance of both Jason and Lucia.

This is reminiscent of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. If you didn't take care of protagonist Carl "CJ" Johnson by exercising regularly and reducing the amount of Cluckin' Bell he eats, then CJ would become overweight, have less stamina, hold weapons differently, and be unable to start certain missions.

It's unclear if a heavier and more tired Jason and/or Lucia would be barred from beginning certain missions, but it does sound like their health and well-being will be a factor in the way they carry themselves throughout the game.

We won't have to wait too much longer to find out, either, as GTA 6 arrives on November 19 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Unfortunately, there are a lot of other details floating around due to leaks. So, if you don't want anything spoiled, be careful when scrolling on the internet.

Ubisoft's recent re-release of the original Heroes of Might and Magic 3 on Steam couldn't have gone much worse, as Ubisoft literally forgot to include the game files.

The arrival of the turn-based strategy classic should have been an easy win for the publisher, offering an all-time-great game, bundled alongside its two expansions, for $10 ahead of a full remake slated to arrive next year. The only issue is when players forked over the cash and installed it, they noticed the "game" was only 23.49KB in size. 

As players soon discovered, Ubisoft had forgotten to include the actual game files for Heroes of Might and Magic 3. Users took to Steam's user reviews to warn others and express their disbelief. According to one user, trying to play the game instead opened a command prompt window with the text "Dummy executable ensure that you are on the right Steam branch."

As one negative user review on Steam states, "Best CMD prompt simulator of 2026. 10/10." Others continued the pile on, stating "You will own nothing and be happy," while another asked "Dude, where's my game?"

This has since been fixed to include the actual game people paid for, but according to another user review, that fix still took close to 11 hours after launch to arrive. 

It won't surprise you to learn that most of the negative user reviews on Steam for the re-release are related to the snafu, with people sounding more than a little dumbstruck by how Ubisoft forgot to include the game with its game. Many are pointing prospective Steam buyers to instead purchase Heroes of Might and Magic 3 Complete on GOG, where it's currently on sale for $5. Ubisoft hasn't yet commented on the mix-up or offered an explanation. 

Ubisoft will get a chance to redeem itself when it releases its full Heroes of Might and Magic 3 Remake next year. The remake will include updated 4K visuals, the original campaign, and both of the game's two expansions to tell "one unified story, enhanced with a new prologue, epilogue, and cinematic scenes."

Owlcat Games has given players a new look at its upcoming sci-fi RPG based on The Expanse. The latest trailer for The Expanse: Osiris Reborn aired during Gamescom's Find Your Next Game showcase, giving players a better look at Owlcat's take on one of the TV show's most frightening foes: Project Caliban.

In The Expanse TV show (and the books upon which it is based), Project Caliban is a top-secret experiment run by a company called Protogen, which hopes to harness the recently discovered Protomolecule to create supersoldiers. Unsurprisingly, the results are tragic—and terrifying. Based on the trailer, Osiris Reborn players will be facing off with both Protogen's hired guns and one of Project Caliban's many unfortunate human test subjects, who has taken the form of a human-Protomolecule hybrid, just like the one shown in Season 2 of The Expanse TV show.

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

When it comes to the Protomolecule's appearance, it seems that Owlcat is taking inspiration from the television show rather than the book series--in the show, the Protomolecule is a bright, glowing blue; in the books it's described as a slimy, brownish substance rather than the bioluminescent blue seen in the latest Osiris Reborn trailer.

The new trailer also provides a better look at a female version of the player-character (simply called "the Captain" in-game) as she explores the Protogen facility on Ganymede. Osiris Reborn players can also choose to play as a male character, but after complaints about the original male player-character's voice acting surfaced in the wake of the game's April 2026 beta test, Owlcat Games has recast the role of the male lead (which is likely why we don't hear a word from him in this trailer).

The Expanse: Osiris Reborn does not yet have a specific release date, but is expected to launch for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S sometime in Q2 2027. It is currently available to wishlist on Steam.

Legendary actor Tim Curry has died, aged 80. The star of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, the English actor was also celebrated for his work in the recording booth, bringing dozens of animated series and video game characters to life-- including a scene-stealing performance as Premier Anatoly Cherdenko in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3.

While a cause of death hasn't been revealed, it is worth noting that Curry had been battling various health issues after he had a major stroke in 2012. The English actor dealt with short-term memory and mobility issues following this, although he continued to work in the entertainment industry.

Film roles like Darkness in Legend, the concierge in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Pennywise in Stephen King's It, and Long John Silver in Muppet Treasure Island cemented his role as a Hollywood legend, and he was also a regular on several TV series throughout the decades. Curry regularly appeared on stage--including a memorable performance as King Arthur in Spamalot--and he even released several albums.

For many fans, Curry will be forever immortalized for his plans to escape to the one place uncorrupted by capitalism: SPACE!

https://youtu.be/g1Sq1Nr58hM

Curry's death is sadly the latest in the entertainment industry, as country singer Dolly Parton also passed away this week, and last week, Nashville star Hayden Panettiere's death sent shockwaves when it was announced.