Typically, when a live-service game is shut down by its publisher, the assumption is the game failed to perform in some way--usually financially--and that its underwhelming performance resulted in its discontinuation. Star Wars Hunters--Zynga's multiplayer shooter set in the Star Wars universe--is being shut down in October, but despite a lower-than-anticipated attach rate, Zynga CEO Frank Gibeau says it was "no failure" at all.

Speaking with The Game Business, Gibeau said that the team at Zynga built a "great tech base" and a "fun game" with Hunters, but the game did not emerge as a "viable business." Specifically, Gibeau cites a lack of "organic installs from the license" as a contributing factor in its imminent discontinuation.

Star Wars Hunters

"We had some issues with how we could explore the intellectual property--could you play Darth Vader or could you not? That sort of thing," Gibeau said. "We ended up with a cross-platform game on Switch and mobile that ran perfectly. It was fun. But it didn't engage over the long term. And it wasn't a viable business."

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To say Dead Island 2's development was rocky is probably an understatement. The action-RPG took nine years from reveal to launch and went through multiple studios in the process. Now, former Deep Silver head of communications Martin Wein has revealed part of what happened after the sequel was unveiled at Sony's E3 2014 press conference. Basically, the game as it existed then "sucked," he said.

GamesIndustry.biz reports that Wein opened up about Dead Island 2 at a Develop:Brighton panel when he was asked whether he could remember a time when marketing or player research assisted in game development. "I can actually give you an example where myself and the product team caused about an eight-year product delay," said Wein.

Now with GameFlex Consultants, Wein stated that he and his team "were mightily proud" of Dead Island 2's reveal trailer--seen above. The video sees a jogger going for a run on the beachfront before turning into a zombie himself. About a month after the trailer's debut, Wein said that "we had a major milestone with the development studio that was in charge at that time. And boy, that game sucked."

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Inner Space: A Novel

Paperback: $15.19 (was $19) | Kindle: $13

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One of the writers for The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, Jakub Szamalek, just published his latest thriller novel, Inner Space, on July 15. The book sounds quite a bit different from the plot lines of the games Szamalek has worked on, taking place aboard the International Space Station and following a gripping plot about real-world conflicts and espionage. Nevertheless, fans of The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077--and anyone looking for a grounded, realistic sci-fi and spy thriller, for that matter--can grab a 20% launch discount on the paperback edition at Amazon, dropping the novel to $15.19 (was $19). There's also a Kindle version available for $13. Early reviews are positive for the book, so be sure to check it out before this deal disappears.

Inner Space: A Novel Paperback: $15.19 (was $19) | Kindle: $13

Inner Space follows Lucy Poplasky, a commander aboard the International Space Station. The station is experiencing an ammonia leak, which just so happens to coincide with Russia's invasion of Ukraine--and the US believes the ammonia leak could be an act of sabotage. However, when the Russians aboard the ISS claim to know nothing about the source of the leak, tensions quickly escalate. Beyond serving as a fast-paced thriller, it explores the concept of space travel and the reasons why humanity has chosen to explore the stars.

The paperback edition of Inner Space is currently available for $15.19 (was $19), though it's unclear how long this 20% launch deal will last. If you prefer digital formats, the Kindle edition isn't on sale, but it's quite affordable at $13. You can also download a free sample of the book's intro, so you can give it a quick read to see if it catches your interest.

See at Amazon (Paperback) See at Amazon (Kindle)

Beyond working on two hit CDPR games, Szamalek is the narrative director for the upcoming The Blood of Dawnwalker, which received an extended gameplay demo earlier this year. It revealed a bunch of gruesome vampire powers--though you'll need to pay close attention to the position of the sun, as none can be used during the day. If you're interested in checking out Szamalek's narrative chops before the game releases next year, consider adding Inner Space to your bookcase while it's cheap.

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That's the sound of sizzle-ing coming to Minecraft. Jack Black's earworm "Lava Chicken" from A Minecaft Movie has officially been adapted into the game. While this isn't the first thing from the movie to leap over to the game, it's obvious that Mojang has decided to incorporate more of the movie's cartoonish humor.

Originally spotted by Dexerto, the song is part of Minecraft's latest update and remixed by EDM duo Hyper Potions. So, how do you get it? Players need to find and defeat a chicken jockey in the game (another part of the movie that became instantly memetic). However, if there are no chickens around, a spawned zombie has a 0.25% chance of being a chicken jockey; if there are chickens around, this is bumped to 0.4875% (via PC Gamer).

At 34 seconds, Jack Black's song from A Minecraft Movie became the shortest ever to crack the Billboard Hot 100 over the summer--a record previously held by, well, Jack Black for "Peaches" on the Super Mario Bros. Movie. soundtrack.

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Drag x Drive, the Nintendo-developed wheelchair basketball game, will be getting a limited-time demo ahead of its launch next month.

Nintendo announced via the Nintendo Today app (via Eurogamer) that the "Drag x Drive: Global Jam", which will take place from Saturday, August 9 to Sunday, August 10 across three time slots. Nintendo Switch 2 owners with a Nintendo Switch Online membership can try out the online team-based multiplayer before its official launch on August 14.

The three sessions will take place at the following dates and times:

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Bethesda Game Studios has teased plans to add more content to Fallout 76 based on the Prime Video TV series. Creative director Jon Rush said in an interview with Variety that the game studio and TV teams are in discussion "all the time," but it's too soon to say what specific content may be in the works.

"Lining things up with the seasonal releases of the show, it's stuff that we talk about all the time, and we do have plans for things here and there. I'm not going to go into detail on any of those now, but the two teams do talk to one another," Rush said.

While there may be opportunities for crossover content, Rush pointed out that Fallout 76's story is the furthest back in time for the series and the TV show is the furthest into the future. "So there's a lot of room where we don't necessarily need to overlap. There are some things that we could overlap the stories ,that could exist, but we largely try to keep those pretty simple," Rush said.

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007 First Light--the upcoming James Bond game from Hitman developer IO Interactive--will bring the famous secret agent back in his own game for the first time in years. And while MGM has been very protective of Bond, there was only one specific request made by the studio during production of the game.

IO Interactive franchise director Jonathan Lacaille recently told VGC that aside from a request, "Don't make him a killing machine,'" the studio has been very open to IO Interactive's new take on Bond.

"They've considered every idea we've had," recalled Lacaille. "There weren't many massive nos or anything like that. It was always more like, 'Yeah, but, we could do it this way, or…' So it's always been very collaborative, and a lot of good feedback, because they've been working with the franchise for so long as well, so it was great to have them so involved in the project, right? I'm sure it was a fun ride for them as well.'

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The Analogue 3D has been delayed once again, and it will now be shipping out in late August. Analogue says that recent tariff changes in the US are to blame, but the company is prepared to cover these extra costs and will not pass them on to consumers who preordered the $250 retro-game console.

"Following last week’s sudden tariff changes, Analogue 3D will now begin shipping next month. We're absorbing the costs--your preorder price stays the same. No additional charges," Analogue said in a statement on its website.

Several East-Asian countries are facing steep tariffs following US President Donald Trump's announcement on July 7. These range from 25% to 40%, with these import taxes being charged on goods as they enter the US and paid for by American consumers and businesses.

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Phasmophobia will finally be releasing into version 1.0 next year, which is a comprehensive update that the game's creator says will feel "like playing a new game." Details are intentionally scarce so that players will be able to go into the updated game and discover what's new for themselves.

Phasmophobia creator Daniel Knight spoke to Eurogamer about the upcoming overhaul, which is being called Horror 2.0--despite the fact that its release will coincide with game version 1.0. "We're basically going to be reworking the entire horror in the game," Knight said. "So everything is going to be changing."

As far as what "reworking the horror" looks like in practice, we may not find out until the update is released. "I can't reveal too much because when we release the update, we're just going to tell everyone there's a new update, go and play," Knight explained. "We're not going to do too many patch notes. We just want people to go in. Almost like they're playing a new game."

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Earlier this summer, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition made its debut on Nintendo Switch 2. Now, CD Projekt Red is bringing the game to Mac almost five years after it was released on PC and consoles.

Starting on July 17, Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition will be available on Macs with Apple silicon via the Mac App Store, Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG.com. According to Apple, this port will take advantage of "the advanced technologies of Metal" for a "smooth performance," as well as "sharp visuals, amazing battery life, and seamless gameplay."

The game will also have support for spatial audio and head-tracked spatial audio on Mac, which can be utilized with AirPods. Cyberpunk 2077 can be run on Apple silicon Mac configurations with 16GB or more of unified memory. But for the best performance, it's strongly suggested for systems on macOS 15.5 or later.

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HBO's The Last of Us recently lost Neil Druckmann as a director and co-showrunner, but a top boss at the company is not worried about his departure from the popular series. HBO content chairman Casey Bloys commented on Druckmann's departure and revealed a 2027 window for Season 3 in a new interview.

He told Variety that it was "great to have Neil involved in the beginning." Druckmann helped provide a "blueprint" for where the TV series is headed. That, combined with how the show's other top boss, Craig Mazin, is staying on, helps Bloys have faith the show will be fine.

"So I think we'll be in excellent shape. I'm not worried at all," he said.

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Microsoft has rolled out the latest expansion of its "Stream your own game" feature allowing Xbox Insiders to stream their Xbox games on PC.

While it's already possible to stream games from the Xbox Game Pass catalog, "Stream your own game" allows you to stream other console games you own. Today's announcement expands this feature this to PC users, following its rollout to TVs and browsers on supported devices last November and on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles in April.

'Stream your own game' is available to Xbox Insiders who are also Game Pass Ultimate members. It can be accessed via the Xbox PC app in all 28 countries where Xbox Cloud Gaming is available. No installation is required, as you only need to open the app and select one of over 250 supported titles to begin streaming instantly.

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Star Trek Comics Megabundle

$24

See at Humble Store

Humble has announced a new bundle of comic books, and this time, it's setting a course for the Star Trek galaxy. This is easily one of the biggest Humble Bundles to date, as Star Trek fans can explore the franchise with a collection of graphic novels that span multiple eras. From the original Star Trek to The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Discovery, there's a lot on offer here.

Star Trek Comics Megabundle $24

For just $24, you'll get the entire collection of 93 books, which is valued at $849 in total. If you don't feel like spending that much, you can get a curated selection of four graphic novels for just a buck or 52 graphic novels for $12 and upgrade to the full collection if you want more. Proceeds from the sale--you can specify how much of your purchase you want to be donated when you check out--will go toward the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, a non-profit organization that works to protect the comic book industry and the people working within it.

As for the comics on offer, there are dozens of gems here. If you're a fan of old-school Star Trek, you can read up on Captain Kirk and the gang's final year in action, Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy's working in the new frontier of medicine, and see just what happened to Khan Noonien Singh between the events of the original series and his revenge-fueled return in Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan.

See at Humble Store

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Nintendo has officially confirmed the lead actors for its live-action The Legend of Zelda movie, as Zelda will be played by Bo Bragason, and Link will be portrayed by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth.

"I am pleased to announce that for the live-action film of The Legend of Zelda, Zelda will be played by Bo Bragason, and Link by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth. I am very much looking forward to seeing both of them on the big screen," veteran Nintendo developer Shigeru Miyamoto wrote in a social media post.

This is Miyamoto. I am pleased to announce that for the live-action film of The Legend of Zelda, Zelda will be played by Bo Bragason-san, and Link by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth-san. I am very much looking forward to seeing both of them on the big screen. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/KA5XW3lwul

— 任天堂株式会社 (@Nintendo) July 16, 2025

An English actress, Bragason's first major role was in the 2017 television series Three Girls, and she also appeared in the 2021 horror film Censor. Since then, she has had several more roles in TV series and films. Interestingly, she also voiced a young version of the character Luna in Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy, a 2021 CG-animated film that tied in to Final Fantasy 15.

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So far, there have only been a handful of third-party games confirmed for the Nintendo Switch 2, but an industry insider has claimed that many studios don't yet have development kits, and this is to blame for the limited announcements.

That's according to YouTuber Nate the Hate (via TheGamer), who discussed the console's noticeable lack of titles from third-party studios and indie partners in his most recent podcast episode.

"This has been a talking point amongst Nintendo fans really since the Switch 2 has come out, and it's definitely spurred up once again in the most recent days," Nate the Hate said. "And that is the question of, 'Where are the games? Where are the game announcements from third parties and indie partners? And when are they going to be happening?'"

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With the launch of Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate comes many changes. There's the new Portal system, a new location to explore, and plenty of new Exotics. One of those is the Graviton Spike; a 150 RPM hand cannon with two firing modes. Its Arc mode has an impressively fast firing rate, while its Stasis mode is slower but hits harder.

When the weapon is overcharged, each mode uses a portion of that overcharge to inflict additional effects on final blows or precision hits. Its Arc mode will call down a lightning strike, while rounds fired from the Stasis mode explode and form crystals which can be shattered for additional damage. To switch between the two, use the the weapon's intrinsic Temporal Manipulation IV perk.

How to get Graviton Spike

First, you'll need to complete the full The Edge of Fate campaign and ensure your Rosetta ability is level 3. After doing so, an Exotic quest called Graviton Through the Ages will open up. Finishing the campaign on either Legendary or Normal difficulty will make the Exotic quest appear.

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Clown in a Cornfield 4K Steelbook Edition

$40 | Release Date: TBA

Preorder at Amazon

Clown in a Cornfield Blu-ray

$26 | Release Date: TBA

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Released in theaters on May 9, Clown in a Cornfield was a big success for IFC. Grossing nearly $4 million, it set an opening weekend record for the production company, surpassing its previous horror hit, Late Night with the Devil. Despite the niche success, there’s a good chance horror fans missed out on the slasher flick's short theatrical run. Luckily, for those who missed out and fans who want to revisit the movie, preorders are now open for the upcoming Clown in a Cornfield Blu-ray release. Several different formats are up for grabs, including a premium 4K Steelbook Edition Blu-ray--though we’re still waiting on a firm release date. Nevertheless, preordering now locks you in for Amazon's preorder price guarantee, and you won't be charged until your order ships.

Clown in a Cornfield 4K Steelbook Edition $40 | Release Date: TBA

We’re still waiting for specific details, but we do know that the Clown in a Cornfield 4K Steelbook includes both 4K Blu-ray and standard Blu-ray formats of the film. You’ll also get a few sheets of magnets, featuring Fredo the clown and a bunch of accessories. The main attraction, however, is the steelbook case featuring creepy wrap-around artwork. No bonus materials have been confirmed, but we expect it will likely include the same extra content as the standard Blu-ray that is also available for preorder.

Preorder at Amazon Clown in a Cornfield Blu-ray $26 | Release Date: TBA

The standard Blu-ray version of the film is quite a bit cheaper than the 4K Steelbook Edition. It also doesn't have a firm release date, we do know it’ll come with a nice bonus feature--commentary from director Eli Craig, author Adam Cesare, and actors Carson MacCormac and Katie Douglas. It's also worth noting that a DVD edition is available for $23 as well, in case you're looking for the most affordable way to own the horror flick on disc.

Preorder Blu-ray at Amazon Preorder DVD at Amazon Clown in a Cornfield 4K Steelbook

The Clown in a Cornfield film is based on a series of novels by the same name by Adam Cesare. Most of these are discounted right now, and you’ll find both paperbacks and hardcovers for most of the books. The storyline is chronological, so be sure to start with the original book, Clown in a Cornfield, before moving on to Frendo Lives and The Church of Frendo. A fourth novel is also in the works, making this a good time to catch up on the series.

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Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Console Heroes Green Hill Zone Cartridge Diorama

$20 | Releases July 15

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Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Console Heroes Carnival Night Zone Cartridge Diorama

$20 | Releases August 2025

Preorder at Amazon

Street Fighter 2 Console Heroes Ken Stage Cartridge Diorama

$20 | Releases August 2025

Preorder at Amazon

Altered Beast Console Heroes Graveyard Cartridge Diorama

$20 | Releases August 2025

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Sega Genesis Console Heroes Display

$50 | Release October 2025

See all Sega Genesis Console Heroes Sets at Amazon

If you miss the era of cartridge-based gaming, you'll want to check out Wilder Toys' new line of Console Heroes Sega Genesis Cartridge Dioramas. These miniature displays resemble popular Sega Genesis game cartridges, and unfold to unveil tiny diorama scenes from the games they're inspired by. So far, five Sega Genesis displays have been announced, including sets based on levels from Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Super Street Fighter 2, Altered Beast, and a larger set that resembles the Sega Genesis console itself.

The cartridge sets are all available to preorder now for $20 each. The Sonic 2 display launches July 15, while the Sonic 3, Altered Beast, and Super Street Fighter 2 sets launch in August. The Sega Genesis console display will be available for $50 later in October, though preorders are not currently available at Amazon. Check out more info on all the Console Heroes Sega Genesis Cartidge Dioramas below.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Console Heroes Green Hill Zone Cartridge Diorama $20 | Releases July 15

This diorama, based on Sonic the Hedgehog 2's iconic Emerald Hill Zone level, features Sonic and his trusty sidekick, Tails.

Preorder at Amazon Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Console Heroes Carnival Night Zone Cartridge Diorama $20 | Releases August 2025

This piece features Sonic and Knuckles the echidna striking familiar poses in a miniaturized scene from Sonic the Hedgehog 3's classic Carnival Night Zone.

Preorder at Amazon Street Fighter 2 Console Heroes Ken Stage Cartridge Diorama $20 | Releases August 2025

This display features figures of Ryu and Ken squaring off in a striking recreation of the Super Street Fighter 2's Sega Genesis cartridge art.

Preorder at Amazon Altered Beast Console Heroes Graveyard Cartridge Diorama $20 | Releases August 2025

The Altered Beast Console Heroes Cartridge Diorama recreates the infamous graveyard stage from the beginning of the game. It includes figures of the resurrected Roman Centurion in his werewolf form and the Aggar boss monster.

See at Amazon Sega Genesis Console Heroes Display $50 | Release October 2025

The Sega Genesis Console Heroes Display includes a fold-out Diorama based on the console, plus a cartridge storage tray for storing other Console Heroes dioramas (or even real Genesis carts), plus four figures, including:

• Super Sonic figure
• Mech Suit Robotnik figure
• Death Bringer figure
• Mr. X figure

While final images have not been revealed, several photos of the set have surfaced online, and it looks to be a much bigger that the cartridge dioramas. Preorders are not yet available at Amazon, but we expect it'll show up ahead of its October 2025 release, so keep checking the retailer's listings.

See all Sega Genesis Console Heroes Sets at Amazon

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During Destiny 2's The Edge of Fate main story quest, you'll often find red chests around the new planet of Kepler that require in-depth knowledge of an unfamiliar language. This unfamiliar language is the Aeonian people's mother tongue, and during the early stages of being on their planet, you won't have any idea what they're saying. Your new friend Lodi has a basic understanding of their language, but there are location-specific abilities that you can unlock in order to further bond with them as well as open these chests.

A locked chest needing the Rosetta upgraded.

As you progress through The Edge of Fate's campaign missions, you'll be asked to meet with the Dean, Rebecca. She will send you on a short quest to take down a few enemies and gather some information. At the end of this task, you'll be rewarded with the Rosetta equipment. The Rosetta allows you to understand the Aeonian language on a surface level, as well as open the chests that were previously inaccessible.

As you progress further through the campaign you can complete some missions in any order you choose. To maximize the amount of these chests you can open, we recommend focusing on any missions that reward Rosetta upgrades. The more you upgrade the Rosetta, the more Aeonian language you can speak and understand, and the more secrets on Kepler you can uncover.

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This week is Fanatical's Bundle Bash 2025. Similar to the retailer's Bundlefest events, Fanatical launches a new PC game bundle deal each day of Bundle Bash, which runs from July 14 to 18. Tuesday, July 15's new collection is the Build Your Own Super Strategy Bundle--which, as the name implies, lets you mix and match from a list of 17 PC strategy games for as low as $1.45 per title. This follows the new Build Your Own RPG & Fantasy Bundle that launched on Monday, July 14, which offers a similar deal on a selection of RPGs and action-adventure games. You'll find more info on both bundles and all the games available in each below.

Fanatical Bundle Bash 2025 at a Glance

• Monday, July 14: Build Your Own RPG & Fantasy Bundle (Bundle Bash 2025)
• Tuesday, July 15: Build Your Own Super Strategy Bundle
• Wednesday, July 16: TBA
• Thursday, July 17: TBA
• Friday, July 18: TBA

There are still a few days left of Fanatical's Bundle Bash 2025 event, so be sure to check back tomorrow for the next new bundle drop. All the new bundles debuted during Bundle Bash will be available for several more weeks after the event is over, so you'll have plenty of time to grab these discounted collections. All games purchased in these bundles are delivered as official keys, most of which can be redeemed through Steam or other PC gaming storefronts, such as the Epic Games Store.

Plenty of other bundle deals are available at Fanatical beyond these new Bundle Bash offerings, including the new Build Your Own Capcom Summer Bundle, which offers up to 22 Capcom games from series like Mega Man, Street Fighter, Resident Evil, Monster Hunter, and more, for as low as $6.25 per game.

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