Gamescom had a flurry of announcements during the ONL presentation, but also glimpses of already-announced games, including the long-awaited sequel to Hollow Knight, Hollow Knight: Silksong. Taking on the role of Hornet this time around, the princess-protector is on a deadly pilgrimage in an unfamiliar world. At Gamescom, we got to go hands-on with the game, and you can check out the new gameplay in the video below.

As the game was delayed time and time again, fans became increasingly angsty about when it would actually be released. But here we are, and yes, we've played it, but there's a small caveat...which we'll get into.

While it's not the best audio, so you can't appreciate the somber tones of Christopher Larkin's score, you get the idea of how Hornet moves and how her attacks work. As she was in the first Hollow Knight game, Hornet is equipped with her trusty needle, which also features a charged-up attack to do a little bit more damage. The boss fight with Mother was simple enough, and it's great to finally dive back into the world of Hollow Knight again.

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In the wake of Sony's announcement that it's raising the price of the PlayStation 5 in the US, analyst Daniel Ahmad has said Nintendo could potentially follow suit and hike the price of the Switch 2 due, in part, to tariffs.

Ahmad said Nintendo explored the possibility of raising prices on the Switch 2 earlier this year, when tariffs for Vietnam, where some of the consoles are produced, were at 10%. The tariff rate for Vietnam is now 20%, and this "definitely" impacts how much money Nintendo makes, Ahmad said.

He further predicted that Nintendo may not be willing to raise the price of the Switch 2 right now, but said the company may reconsider in 2026 after the busy holiday shopping season.

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PS5 Slim Digital Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Bundle

$400 | Valued at $570 starting August 21.

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The PS5 Slim Digital Black Ops 6 bundle is in stock at PlayStation Direct for $400, but it probably won't be available for much longer. In what seemed like an inevitability, PlayStation announced hardware price increases in the US on PS5 consoles. All three models are increasing by $50 on August 21, which bumps the PS5 Slim Digital from $450 to $500.

Released in May, the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 PS5 Slim Digital bundle already offered terrific value at its $400 promotional price. Based on current prices, the bundle is valued at $520. Even if you don't care about Call of Duty, you're still saving $50 versus buying the console on its own. Based on the new PS5 prices, the savings doubles to $100 just for the console. Black Ops 6 is just the cherry on top here.

PlayStation also released a regular PS5 Slim version of this bundle for $450, but it's no longer in stock at any retailers. Since this is a promotional console bundle, it's unlikely to increase in price alongside the standalone PS5 Slim Digital. But it's also unlikely to be in stock when the price increases go into effect.

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Kalypso Media has unveiled Tropico 7 at Gamescom for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S--as well as a day-one release on Game Pass. The city-building game is set to arrive in 2026, which would be seven years after the last entry in the series, Tropico 6.

Once again, Tropico 7 will see players taking on the role of El Presidente to oversee an island nation. What's new for this sequel includes a terraforming feature that means you can disappear mountains; a political affiliation system to select your type of dictatorship; and council negotiations with faction leaders. The last element is teased in the game's announcement trailer (seen below), in which El Prez sits with what looks like a military leader and hippie.

There is a new developer for Tropico 7 with Kalypso's in-house Gaming Minds Studio, known for working on the Rail Empire and Port Royale franchises. For Tropico 6, Limbic Entertainment was the team behind the simulation title, but it was acquired by Bandai Namco a few years ago.

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Haemimont Games and Paradox Interactive have announced that they are remastering their sci-fi strategy city builder Surviving Mars. Appropriately titled Surviving Mars: Relaunched, this new version of the game will feature "enhanced graphics," new UI, and even some new content not featured in the original game.

One such addition is a new gameplay feature called Martian Assembly, which adds colony factions into the game. This means that colonists will now have their own agendas and personal demands, with the ability to set up laws and policies--you'll even be able to gain full independence from Earth. Another key aspect of this remastered version of the game is that there will be "expansive" mod support that works across all platforms. These platforms include PC, as well as PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Aside from including the original base game, the remaster will also feature every single bit of DLC. That includes all of the game's major and minor expansions, cosmetics, and radio stations. The game is launching at $40, but players that own the original version of the game will be able to pick it up at a discounted price of $20, as long as you're doing so on the same platform you originally bought it on.

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MSI Thin 15.6-Inch Gaming Laptop

$599 (was $900)

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If you're looking for an entry-level gaming laptop, Walmart is discounting the MSI Thin 15.6-Inch Gaming Laptop to $599 (was $900). Featuring a GeForce RTX 4050 and 512GB SSD, you'd be hard-pressed to find a laptop as well-equipped as this for under $600. We're not sure how long the discount will stick around, so cash in while you can.

MSI Thin 15.6-Inch Gaming Laptop $599 (was $900)

• GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 6GB
• CPU: Intel Core i5-13420H
• Screen: 15.6 inches (FHD, 144Hz)
• RAM: 16GB DDR4
• SSD: 512 GB

MSI is responsible for many of our favorite gaming laptops, monitors, and other accessories, as the brand typically produces high-quality gear with reasonable price tags. This specific laptop is usually a bit pricey at $900, but now that it's listed for just under $600, it's an easy recommendation for anyone seeking an entry-level laptop for gaming. The RTX 4050 isn't the most powerful GPU on the market, but it'll run less-demanding titles with ease, along with newer releases at low settings.

Beyond its GPU, the laptop features an Intel Core i5-13420H, 16GB DDR4 RAM, and 512GB SSD. The whole thing clocks in at just over four pounds, so you should have no problem tossing it in a backpack and lugging it around the office or campus. Internet connections should be smooth thanks to Wi-Fi 6E support, and even though you can customize its appearance with all sorts of RGB lights, the laptop is relatively muted compared to other gaming rigs, thanks to an all-black design and understated MSI logo.

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Before pulling the trigger on the MSI Thin 15.6-Inch Gaming Laptop, take a peek at the Lenovo LOQ 15. Walmart is slashing its price to $880 (was $1,220), and since it boasts a more powerful RTX 4060 GPU and 1TB SSD, it might be worth the extra $80.

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Disney Dreamlight Valley is back at it again with an all-new Star Path, this time with a focus on summer vibes and retro aesthetics. You can score a wide variety of unique motifs, clothes, furniture, and more in the exciting Retro Roadtrip Star Path, granting you tons of new ways to decorate your valley (or yourself).

But before you can claim all these cool things, you'll need a limited-time currency that is only earned by completing Star Path duties. Here are all of the Retro Roadtrip Star Path duties and how to complete them.

All Retro Roadtrip Star Path duties and how to complete them

• Buy seeds from the Forgotten Lands - Buy seeds from Goofy's Stall in the Forgotten Lands
• Cast around for seafood - Catch any seafood
• Catch fish in gold ripples - Catch legendary fish
• Catch fish somewhere dazzling - Catch fish in Dazzle Beach
• Catch fish somewhere peaceful - Catch fish in the Peaceful Meadow
• Collect some shoreline shellfish - Pick up Clams, Oysters, or Scallops
• Complete Boutique Challenges - Complete challenges at Daisy's Boutique
• Cook a fairly fancy appetizer - Cook a 4-star appetizer
• Cook a fairly fancy dessert - Cook a 5-star dessert
• Cook a fairly fancy dinner - Cook a 3-star entree
• Cook a perfect appetizer - Cook a 5-star appetizer
• Cook a perfect dessert - Cook a 5-star dessert
• Cook any 2-star meal - Cook a 2-star meal
• Craft a potion you can really dig - Craft an Even More Miraculous Shovel Varnish
• Craft any refinement Item - Craft any refinement item, such as Brick, Iron, Gold, Rope, etc
• Dig anywhere in the Valley - Dig holes anywhere
• Dig for pottery material - Dig for Clay
• Dig up a root vegetable with many eyes - Harvest potatoes
• Earn 5,000 Dreamlight - Obtain 5,000 Dreamlight
• Earn 7,500 Dreamlight - Obtain 7,500 Dreamlight
• Feed the sunbird critters their favourite food - Feed sunbirds their favorite flowers
• Fish somewhere forgotten - Catch fish in the Forgotten Lands
• Fish somewhere frosty - Catch fish in the Frosted Heights
• Fish somewhere that's always Sunlit - Catch fish in Sunlit Plateau
• Fish somewhere trustworthy - Catch fish in the Glade of Trust
• Fish somewhere valorous - Catch fish in Forest of Valor
• Gain 10,000 Star Coins - Obtain 10,000 Star Coins
• Get crafty! - Craft any items
• Give the sea turtle critter their favourite food - Feed sea turtles some seaweed
• Go fish! - Catch fish anywhere
• Harvest different fruits - Harvest different types of fruit
• Harvest something white and fluffy - Harvest Cotton
• Mine for blue gems - Mine for any blue gem
• Mine for green gems - Mine for any green gems
• Mine for oval gems - Mine for any oval gems
• Mine for purple gems. Mine for any purple gems
• Mine for red gems - Mine for any red gems
• Mine for something shiny - Mine for any shiny gems
• Mine for square gems - Mine for any square gems
• Mine for white gems - Mine for any white gems
• Mine for yellow gems - Mine for any yellow gems
• Mine precious gems with a Royal Tool - Mine for any shiny gems
• Open up fresh Memories - Fine and pick up Memory Orbs
• Pet your critter companion - Interact with your companion to pet it
• Pick blue flowers - Collect blue flowers
• Pick the fruit that put Snow White to sleep - Harvest Apples
• Practice MINE-fulness - Mine any nodes
• Sell fish - Sell any fish at Goofy's Stall
• Sell fruit - Sell any fruits at Goofy's Stall
• Sell gems - Sell any gems at Goofy's Stall
• Sell seaweed - Sell seaweed at Goofy's Stall
• Spend time with a joyful emotion - Hang out with Joy
• Spend time with a sorrowful emotion - Hang out with Sadness
• Tackle Royal Tasks - Complete Royal Duties
• Take a picture of Scrooge's shop - Take a photo of the outside of Scrooge's shop
• Talk with a joyful emotion - Have a daily discussion with Joy
• Talk with a sorrowful emotion - Have a daily discussion with Sadness
• Uproot Night Thorns - Remove Night Thorns or Splinters of Fate
• Whip up a 1-star meal - Cook a 1-star meal

For more on Disney Dreamlight Valley, check out our comprehensive guides hub.

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Recently, The First Descendant developer Nexon ran a Creative Challenge program on TikTok that allowed users to submit content they have made to be used in ads for the game. However, it was quickly discovered that a number of videos submitted for the challenge, which later appeared on the official First Descendant TikTok account, had been entirely AI generated. These AI videos even included the likenesses of content creators who had no part in making them, and as a result Nexon has put out a statement on Steam apologizing for the situation.

"We would like to sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and disappointment caused by the recent issue regarding the TikTok Creative Challenge," the Steam post reads. It goes on to note that TikTok had confirmed with Nexon that the video sharing social media currently has no system to "verify potential copyright infringement, and TikTok is now conducting further investigations to identify any additional cases." The post also said that Nexon is taking the situation "very seriously," further adding that it plans to improve its advertising and marketing processes.

It's worth noting that not only were the content creators used in these AI videos not involved in their creation, they also did not give their permission for their likeness to be used--one creator, DanieltheDemon, noted that he did not consent for his likeness to be used in such a way in a comment on a TikTok by Game Central.

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Multiplayer in Call of Duty games has become colorful over the last few years, as players have been able to dress up as their favorite celebrities and pop-culture icons before dropping into a match. Between WWE performers and I Know What You Did Last Summer's iconic slasher, there have also been original creations mixed in, and this has been met with a mixed reception by the playerbase. With Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 on the way, Activision has spoken about how it's listening to fan feedback and how it will "calibrate" what it has to offer when the game launches in November.

"We have thought about this, and I think if you look at us, we're always looking at community feedback," Black Ops 7 associate creative director Miles Leslie said to IGN. "We always try to make sure that we are trying to touch the widest audience. I've had the pleasure of working on Call of Duty now for almost 20 years, and we're constantly looking at ways to push into different audiences and fans, and that's what you saw with that; there are fans that really love it. Obviously, there are fans who those may not be their favorite. We're going to try to calibrate that as we move forward, and we take that feedback seriously."

In comparison, Battlefield 6 will have more "grounded" skins in the game, according to design director Shashank Uchil, who referenced Call of Duty's unusual DLC skins. "I don't think it needs Nicki Minaj. Let's keep it real, keep it grounded," Uchil said. Call of Duty fans have also pointed out how the current state of the game is at odds with how it originally presented itself as a serious action game--complete with real-life quotes from historical figures like Winston Churchill--when compared to its present-day form and abundance of lucrative skins.

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PS5 Slim Digital Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Bundle

$400

See at PS Direct

Sony is raising PS5 prices in the US, with every system going up by $50. The company said it is continuing to "navigate a challenging economic environment" and will pass the cost on to consumers in the form of higher prices. The new prices go into effect on August 21.

The new prices can be seen below. All three models are still available for the lower prices at Amazon and other retailers until tomorrow. Notably, the PS5 Slim Digital bundle with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is still in stock at PlayStation Direct for $400, so you're saving $100 compared to the new price and getting a free game.

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A few weeks ago, after yet another frustrating match of Marvel Rivals caused me to power off my console and loudly deride the game and its players, my boyfriend asked how many hours I had played. The game launched shortly after my segue into the world of freelancing, and I had a lot of spare time on my hands. When my boyfriend, who often plays when I do, told me he had logged 16 hours so far, I conservatively guessed "at least double that."

When I looked at my stats, I nearly threw up. I had spent more than 16 days in the NetEase hero shooter's ranked mode (I don't play anything else) since its December 2024 launch. That's over 400 hours, and for most of that time, I was frustrated, annoyed, or "tilted," as the kids say--desperate to reach an arbitrary goal I had set for myself before I could properly take a break from the game.

Those shocking gameplay numbers, coupled with an unceremonious rank tumble after the Season 3 rank reset a few weeks ago, made me realize something.

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Anthem, being a live-service game, could easily have shut down at some point in time even if it had been incredibly successful. That's just the nature of the format: If there's not enough money being made, there's no incentive to keep servers running. The reality that we're currently in is one where Anthem performed incredibly poorly, and as of next year, will be completely unplayable. And in a recent interview, the game's executive producer Mark Darrah said that he "always knew it was going to go away eventually."

"Anthem could have been built in a way where this wouldn't be necessary," Darrah said. As an example of what he means, he pointed to Destiny and how it has "sophisticated bits of technology for host migration," and the fact that it's peer-to-peer--meaning one computer can act as a server for another without the need for a central server. "We didn't know how to do that, and we frankly couldn't afford to do that," Darrah continued. "But we could have done something."

He does also admit that the game likely would have been uglier, had more latency issues, and a worse experience "second-to-second" to get a game that wouldn't need to be sunset down the line. On the other side of things, he also posited how maybe it would be better to have a world where games don't have such high fidelity, but at least they would always be playable.

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Microsoft announced the release date for the ROG Xbox Ally devices today, confirming they will release worldwide on October 16. However, the company has not disclosed the price points, telling fans to sit tight for a bit longer for pricing and preorder dates. Additionally, a report has emerged that claims the price of the most expensive ROG Xbox Ally device could run you $900.

Xbox executive Jason Ronald told IGN that the "macro-economic climate is challenging" when it comes to pricing. This is likely a reference to the ongoing tariff situation, which has led to increases in prices for some products, including gaming items.

Beyond the impact of tariffs and other macro-economic factors, Ronald said it's "always a challenge" to set a product's price and have it strike the "right balance between affordability and price point."

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A release date for the ROG Xbox Ally has been revealed, as the handheld gaming PC will be go on sale starting October 16. Microsoft hasn't confirmed pricing for the devices yet, but it did explain how games will be optimized for these systems. One thing to note here is that there will be two different versions of the ROG Xbox Ally--a base model and a more premium "X" handheld--so performance will vary across them.

During its Gamecom 2025 livestream, Microsoft said that the base model Xbox Ally targets a resolution of 720p, while the Xbox Ally X aims for a 1080p resolution. Both units can run in one of three modes--Silent, Performance, and Turbo--and for frame rates, games that hit certain benchmarks will receive a specific compatibility tag.

Microsoft says that it has worked with game studios to optimize thousands of games for handheld compatibility, with the overall goal here being that you can install them and start playing right away. This has resulted in two tags that will accompany optimized games, similar to Valve's Steam Deck Verified program for its handheld gaming PC:

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With Xbox bringing more games to other platforms, word has just emerged of Bethesda's first game heading to Switch 2. Now, a leak suggests that another Bethesda game, Starfield, is also on the way to the handheld.

Yesterday's Gamescom Opening Night Live presentation included the announcement of a Switch 2 port of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle coming out sometime in 2026--and according to NateTheHate, Starfield will come out on Nintendo's recently released console in the same year.

Indiana Jones & the Great Circle won't be the only Bethesda game coming to Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026.
See that planet? You can go there.
Aside from landing on PS5... Starfield is planned for release on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026. pic.twitter.com/DmcgEpbPuN

— NateTheHate2 (@NateTheHate2) August 19, 2025

NateTheHate also claimed that Starfield is indeed coming to PlayStation 5, as rumors have persisted since the RPG's 2023 release. A separate report from this month alleges that Starfield will release on PS5 in the spring of 2026.

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Following its release on PC on Steam Early Access in 2024, Ubisoft's The Rogue Prince of Persia is releasing today on console, including through Xbox Game Pass.

Ubisoft announced this during the Xbox Gamescom livestream today. The game is launching for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud, and PS5. It's coming to Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 later this year.

The game's 1.0 release on PC is slated for sometime in August, and with the month winding down, it should happen anytime now if that schedule is still in place.

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Development on Stardew Valley may have slowed down earlier this year so that developer Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone can focus on his next game, Haunted Chocolatier, but that doesn't mean it's going into hibernation. In fact it's even going so far as to jump worlds through an upcoming collaboration with Infinity Nikki, of all games, as revealed in a new trailer.

The trailer kicks off with a group of Junimos, those cute, apple-looking creatures that help you tend to your chores on the farm, before revealing a strawberry-looking asteroid that had crash-landed. After inspecting it, the asteroid explodes, shooting off one of the Juminos into Infinity Nikki's world, turning it 3D as it does so. As cute as the trailer might be, it's also quite light on details.

There's no word on what the collaboration will look like in-game, but at the very least a date for the collab has been set: September 1. That's the same date Infinity Nikki receives its next big update, version 1.9, aka the "Music Season." The full scope of version 1.9 is yet to be revealed, though it is set to introduce a new Home feature where you'll get your own house on a secluded island that you get to decorate yourself.

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Kirsten Dunst is keeping busy with a mix of indie films and big-name projects, including her next role in Roofman, a crime comedy directed by Derek Cianfrance and co-starring Channing Tatum. And although the Oscar-nominated actress had stepped away from summer blockbusters, she's ready to dip her toes back into bigger films and already has one in mind: Minecraft 2.

In a recent Town & Country interview, she spoke openly about the balance between creative passion and financial security, admitting that sometimes she just wants to make a movie that pays well. She mentioned her kids loved the first Minecraft movie, prompting her interest in potentially acting in the sequel. "Maybe I can just make a movie where I don’t lose money?" she said.

Throughout her career, Dunst has managed to move between blockbuster hits and indie gems. Her breakout role came as Claudia in 1994's Interview With The Vampire before she starred as Mary Jane in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy. She's also gone on to critically acclaimed performances in films like Melancholia and The Power of the Dog--which earned her an Oscar nomination in 2022. As director and collaborator, Sofia Coppola added, "She’s never hokey...I feel like she's in her Gena Rowlands age and can do complex roles."

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 associate creative director Miles Leslie has commented on the fact that 2025 marks the first time since 2021 that there will be new Call of Duty and Battlefield games released in the same year. How does Leslie feel about the competition? He told IGN that he recently played the Battlefield 6 open beta and concluded that "it's a fun game," but Activision is staying focused on its own product.

"We're fans of all games and I think we look for inspiration anywhere. But we're focused on our own craft. They're doing their thing," he said. "We know if we can hit our goals, we're going to deliver what the fans want and that's the key, because if we're happy when we're play testing, then we know fans are going to be happy play testing."

Leslie added: "We're fans of the FPS genre. We're fans of lots of games. Let's all have fun."

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For the first time ever, Activision is releasing new Call of Duty: Black Ops games in consecutive years. Beyond that, the same two developers that led the production of Black Ops 6--Treyarch and Raven Software--are once again co-leading the development on Black Ops 7.

With Activision previously stating how important it is to have a three-year production cycle for each new Call of Duty game, many are wondering how it's even possible that Black Ops 7 is coming just a year after Black Ops 6. Treyarch associate creative director Miles Leslie told IGN that development on Black Ops 7 actually began at the same time as Black Ops 6--that game had a franchise-longest four-year development cycle.

"They were started at the same time," Leslie sad. "So obviously they have different production ramp-up times, but they were started in parallel and greenlit at the same time. That was a really unique challenge, but also fun to be able to know that you're going to do that. Black Ops 6 is going to be 1991 rogue team, and now how do you flip the script on Black Ops 7 in 2035?"

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