Nintendo has added three new SNES games for Switch Online members, with one particular title releasing outside Japan for the first time ever. Mario & Wario is a puzzle-platform title from 1993 that was actually developed by Game Freak--before the studio developed Pokemon. Of note, the game reportedly has always featured English text, even though it didn't see the light of day in the US for over three decades.

Mario & Wario does require mouse controls, according to Nintendo's video (seen below) posted on YouTube. Wario has thrown a bucket on Mario's head, so it's up to players, controlling a forest fairy, to guide the plumber to safety across 100 levels. On Switch 2, people can utilize the Joy-Con 2 on its side instead of a traditional mouse plugged in via USB like on Switch.

The other two games now available as part of Nintendo Switch Online are Bubsy in: Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind and Fatal Fury Special. The former can get you acquainted with the wisecracking bobcat before Bubsy 4D arrives, while the latter is a fighting game that lets players take control of Axel Hawk, for instance, who was a CPU boss in the original Fatal Fury 2 release.

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The Battlefield 6 release date has finally come around, promising one of the most engaging FPS games experiences in recent memory. With so much hype around the title, it wouldn't be surprising to stumble upon connectivity issues, or long queue times. Whether it's a problem with the game's servers or something to do with your hardware can be difficult to determine, we've got all you need to know about the current Battlefield 6 server status.

You may also want to check out our guide on how to turn on secure boot if you're playing on PC, since it's a requirement for Battlefield 6.

Battlefield 6 server status

The Battlefield 6 servers are currently down in the lead-up to the game's launch. They will go live at 8 AM ET /11 AM PT / 4 PM GMT.

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Battlefield 6 officially launches today, October 10, and it seems the game is poised for a massive debut. Analyst Rhys Elliott of Aliena Analytics said in his newsletter that the game reached 1.8 million pre-sales on Steam alone prior to launch, which works out to more than $100 million in revenue. Right now, Battlefield 6 ranks as the No. 1 best-selling game on Steam in the US and globally.

"All signs, at least pre-launch, suggest Battlefield is back in the fight. Our estimates reflect a perfect storm of pent-up demand after years of missteps and a huge potential comeback narrative," he said.

This data pertains to Steam only. The game is also coming to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. It's not on Game Pass, but people can get the $100 edition for $17/month via EA Play Pro.

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Dozens of employees and former workers at Mindseye developer Build a Rocket Boy have signed an open letter to the studio's leadership, demanding a response to allegations of the staff being mistreated. Together with the Game Workers Branch of the Independent Workers of Great Britain, the 93 BARB employees and ex-employees have singled out studio leaders Mark Gerhard and former GTA lead developer Leslie Benzies, citing various issues.

According to the letter, BARB leadership allegedly failed to effectively communicate with workers, and staff were subjected to "unbearable" levels of overtime in the four months leading to the launch of MindsEye. The workers also claim that redundancies have been "mishandled" and have caused distress for all employees.

"These and many other issues, some of which have been made public already, have caused pain and stress for your employees," the letter reads. "Our experience at the company has been one of burnout, job insecurity, health issues, and the failure of a game that many of us have put years of our lives into."

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Thirty years ago, the first game in the Heroes of Might & Magic series was released. This week, Ubisoft celebrated that milestone by announcing that two of the classic Heroes of Might & Magic games are now available to PC Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers.

During Ubisoft's Heroes of Might & Magic 30th Anniversary Showcase, the publisher revealed that Heroes of Might & Magic II: Gold and Heroes of Might & Magic III: Complete have been added to Game Pass. After making the announcement, Ubisoft's (and former GameSpot editor) Chris Watters said, "I can think of no better way to teach a new generation the meaning of key words like throng, necromancy, and logistics."

Ubisoft also revealed that the next game in the series, Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era, has been delayed to 2026. However, a demo is available now on Steam. This will be the franchise's first game since 2015, when Might & Magic Heroes 7 was released.

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Actor Ralph Ineson, who played the pirate Charles Vane in Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, has reacted to the recent revelation that Ubisoft reportedly canceled an American Civil War Assassin's Creed game.

He said on social media, "Once again, f**k off."

A report from Game File said the idea for a game's setting--the American Civil War and the Reconstruction era of the 1860s and 1870s--was deemed too controversial. The report said the game was canceled early in development and would have put players in control of a Black protagonist who escaped enslavement and started a new life away from the South. He is later recruited by the Assassins, returns to the South, and confronts prominent racist groups like the Ku Klux Klan.

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One gameplay staple of extraction shooters is the regular "wipe" that resets everyone's in-game progress back to square one. Arc Raiders developer Embark Studios knows that this system can be controversial, and to keep things fair, the studio aims to make wipes a voluntary feature of the game through its Expedition Projects.

Players will unlock an Expedition Project at level 20. Each Expedition cycle runs for roughly eight weeks and players will contribute toward overall progress. Once the Expedition is complete, they'll have the option to reset their progress and lose all gained levels, skills, and their inventory, while their cosmetics and achievements will remain. Players who do not complete an Expedition can instead carry their progress over to the next cycle.

Ideally, this will keep things balanced for everyone. Players who don't have as much time to commit to playing Arc Raiders won't have to worry about booting up the game and discovering that they've lost all their progress, while dedicated players will be rewarded with unique cosmetic rewards, permanent account unlocks, and buffs that are applied for the duration of the following Expedition cycle.

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Tavern Keeper developer Greenheart Games has officially announced that its fantasy-themed business simulator will be launching in Steam Early Access on November 3. A follow-up to Game Dev Tycoon, Greenheart Games is celebrating the development milestone with a new trailer for the game and an updated demo that has gone live ahead of the October edition of Steam Next Fest.

Similar to management games like Two-Point Hospital, Tavern Keeper is all about running your very own inn and dealing with the challenges of the service industry within its fantasy setting. The game mixes light humor with an in-depth simulation mode that allows you to tweak your establishment's design to a high degree, as well as detailed decorative elements in its sandbox mode that allow you to create everything from bustling taprooms to relaxing reading corners.

Tavern Keeper also offers a campaign narrated by English actor Steven Pacey, and this part of the game will see players build taverns across several varied challenges. Each region will offer its own challenges, fantasy cultures, and stories.

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Electronic Arts has been implementing AI technologies in its development cycles for years, and while EA says there is no content in Battlefield 6 made using generative AI, the technology is "very seducing," according to DICE GM Rebecka Coutaz.

She told BBC Newsbeat that EA's teams use genAI in the early stages of development "to allow more time and more space to be creative." But Battlefield 6 has no genAI-created content. She is optimistic about the technology overall, though. "If we can break the magic with AI it will help us be more innovative and more creative," she said.

Another Battlefield 6 developer, Fasahat "Fas" Salim, told the site that genAI is "not anything to be scared of" in the video game industry and that teams are now working on figuring out how to best implement the technology into future development pipelines.

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The Wolf of Wall Street Limited Edition Steelbook (4K Blu-ray)

$35.49 | Releases December 16

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The Wolf of Wall Street earned five Oscar nominations when it released in 2013, and it's remained incredibly popular over the years thanks to standout performances from Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, and Margot Robbie. And if you happened to miss out on the steelbook that launched long ago and subsequently sold out, you'll be glad to know that it's getting a much-anticipated new 4K Blu-ray release with The Wolf of Wall Street Limited Edition Steelbook releasing on December 16. Preorders are live at Amazon and Target and you can lock-in your copy for $35.49-- and considering the previous 4K Blu-ray versions sold out, it's worth doing so early.

The Wolf of Wall Street Limited Edition Steelbook (4K Blu-ray) $35.49 | Releases December 16

This version of The Wolf of Wall Street includes both 4K Blu-ray and digital copies of the film with support for Dolby Vision and Dolby Audio. The main attraction, however, is the eye-catching steelbook featuring Leonardo DiCaprio's Jordan Belfort on the front, golden $100 bills on the back, and an artistic blue and yellow scene across the case interior.

Note that Target is currently offering the steelbook for $35.49, while it's $37 at Amazon. However, these prices will likely fluctuate ahead of release--and preordering at Amazon makes you eligible for any price cuts between now and December 16. You also won't be charged until the item ships.

Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Target The Wolf of Wall Street Limited Edition SteelbookThe Wolf of Wall Street Limited Edition Steelbook Bonus Features

A handful of bonus features are packed into the steelbook. This includes:

• The Wolf Pack: Interviews with the cast and crew about Scorsese's method for bringing Jordan Belfort's story to the big screen
• Running Wild: A behind-the-scenes look at how the movie was brought to life
• The Wolf of Wall Street Round Table: A discussion between Scorsese, cast, and crew, about the film's development

If this steelbook version sells out, consider picking up The Wolf of Wall Street on 4K Blu-ray. It's only $19.49 and is eligible for Amazon's buy two, get one free deal. It also includes all the same bonus features as this premium steelbook.

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Final Fantasy VII & Final Fantasy VIII Remastered: Twin Pack (Switch)

$40 | Releases December 9

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Final Fantasy IX (Switch)

$40 | Releases December 9

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Great news if you're looking to complete your collection of physical Final Fantasy releases on Switch--the Final Fantasy VII & Final Fantasy VIII Remastered: Twin Pack and Final Fantasy IX Switch physical editions are finally launching in North America. These originally launched in Japan and Europe a few years ago, but US fans were stuck with digital versions on the eShop. While you could import and play the physical versions from other regions thanks to the Switch's region-free hardware, these new US releases will (hopefully) be easier to find when they launch on December 9. Preorders for both games are now live at Amazon for $40 each. While there are no preorder bonuses announced at this time, it's still worth securing early copies, since physical Final Fantasy Switch releases tend to be very popular.

Final Fantasy VII & Final Fantasy VIII Remastered: Twin Pack (Switch) $40 | Releases December 9

The Final Fantasy VII & Final Fantasy VIII Remastered: Twin Pack includes, as the title implies, the HD ports of the PS1 versions of Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VIII Remastered. Both games appear to be included in full on the cartridge.

Preorder at Amazon Final Fantasy IX (Switch) $40 | Releases December 9

The Final Fantasy IX physical release includes the HD version of the original Final Fantasy IX on the cartridge.

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All three games offer the same core experience as the original PS1 RPGs, but with HD graphics and higher resolution presentation. Final Fantasy VIII Remastered in particular features new character models that are more detailed than the PS1's--though they still resemble the PS1's 3D models' art direction, and use the original animations, so it's not a huge change. All three games also feature optional toggles to turn off random encounters, make your characters invincible, and more. While these are Switch games, you can of course play them on Switch 2 as well.

With these new Final Fantasy VII & Final Fantasy VIII Remastered: Twin Pack and Final Fantasy IX physical releases, it's now possible to grab physical editions of almost every mainline Final Fantasy game--plus some of its best spinoffs--on Switch. The first six entries in the series are all included in the Final Fantasy I-VI Collection Anniversary Edition, and the Switch version is on sale for $69 (was $75). Though if you're looking for the best deal, it's also available on PS4 for just $53. The pixel remaster versions of these games maintain the classic 2D gameplay of the NES and SNES RPGs, but feature new pixel art (and not the ugly redrawn sprites of the mobile re-releases from a few years ago), as well as other tweaks like the ability to play with the original chiptune soundtracks or new orchestrated versions, optional battle speed and difficulty settings, and more.

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Classic King Book Box Set

$29.73 (was $58) with coupon | Eligible for B2G1 Free

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The recently released Stephen King novel box set is on sale for roughly 50% off at Amazon. Published by Scribner at the end of July, Classic King Box Set 1 collects a trio of early '80s horror novels: Pet Sematary, Christine, and Cujo. The paperback books and display box have eye-catching vintage artwork and fonts. For a limited time, you can snag the box set for only $29.73 (was $58) by clicking the coupon on Amazon's store page. As an added bonus, Classic King Box Set 1 is eligible for Amazon's Buy Two, Get One Free Book Sale through October 11.

A few other box sets and all of King's 2025 releases are featured in the B2G1 free sale, too. You could pair the Classic King Box Set with his latest original novel Never Flinch, the massive new anthology set in the world of The Stand, or the wonderful reimagining of Hansel and Gretel. Even the first-ever hardcover edition of The Long Walk, which was published on Tuesday, is eligible for the promotion.

B2G1 Free Stephen King Books: 2025 Releases

• New Tales of Stephen King's The Stand -- $21 ($35)
• Hansel and Gretel -- $21.53 ($27)
• The Life of Chuck -- $13.72 ($20)
• The Long Walk -- $29
• Never Flinch -- $19 ($32)

B2G1 Free Stephen King Book Box Sets

• Classic King Box Set 1 -- $29.73 ($58)
  • Christine, Cujo, Pet Sematary
• The Gwendy Trilogy Omnibus Edition -- $13 ($22)
• Stephen King Short Fiction 4-Book Box Set -- $31 ($56)
  • The Mist, Art Pupil, The Body, The Sun Dog
• The Dark Tower 8-Book Box Set (Paperback) -- $116.91 ($161)

Let's take a closer look at Classic King Box Set 1. You can also check out a much longer list of B2G1 free Stephen King books at the bottom of this story.

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Ever since Ghostface appeared in Call of Duty years ago, I've been impatiently waiting for my favorite horror icon to arrive in my favorite multiplayer game. I knew it was just a matter of time, and thankfully that time is now. Fortnitemares 2025 adds Ghostface among so many other crossovers, like Scooby-Doo, Terrifier's Art the Clown, indie horror hits REPO and Poppy Playtime, and more, to Fortnite. But not all of these collabs got the same treatment, and even cooler than the upcoming Ghostface skin is the new Scream-inspired weapon.

In Fortnite's latest Halloween event, you can find the new Last Call weapon inspired by Scream's legendary slasher. The weapon is more like a set of features; it's a knife with attached movement abilities, voice lines, and, when equipped, a full Ghostface costume. Unlike the Scooby Snacks or Doja Cat's Thorn Ripper, which are both fun but also reskins of pre-existing items, the Last Call isn't quite like anything the game has included before, and as a huge fan of Scream, I think Epic absolutely nailed the design.

The slasher GOAT arrives in Fortnite.

First, there's how you acquire it. You can't pick up the Last Call knife in chests or find it as floor loot. Instead, you have to visit a phone booth. Stepping into the phone booth briefly, you emerge dressed as Ghostface, and you'll switch out of the all-black costume and iconic white mask whenever you unequip the knife, which taps into Scream's long list of killers claiming the role of Ghostface over the years.

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Up until now, every character confirmed to appear in Invincible Vs--the 3v3 tag fighter starring characters from Skybound's Invincible series--has been a souped-up superhero. Today, at New York Comic Con, Skybound and developer Quarter Up changed that, as Global Defense Agency head Cecil Stedman has officially been added to the playable roster.

Designing a human character to fight against superhuman opponents on the level of Omni-Man and Invincible requires a change of approach. GameSpot sat down with Robert Kirkman, creator of Invincible, and multiple members of the dev team at Quarter Up to speak about the process of bringing Cecil and his unique abilities to the game.

"Only" human

As a "normal" human among superheroes, Cecil relies less on superior strength and speed, and more on the vast resources of his government agency to provide extra firepower. This idea was key to Cecil's appearance in Invincible Vs, as it's those resources that make him a very formidable foe.

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A 17-year veteran on the Halo development team has left the company, posting an ominous-sounding message on the way out.

Glenn Israel said on LinkedIn that he is "no longer contributing to the Halo universe" after working on the sci-fi series since 2008. Israel got his start on the Halo franchise at Bungie before joining 343 Industries--now known as Halo Studios--as art director.

Israel said in his post that there is "little more I can say for the moment" about the nature of his exit from the Halo development team. He added, "I intend to share this particular story in its entirety when it is absolutely safe to do so next year."

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If you're wondering how long it takes to beat the Battlefield 6 campaign, we have you covered with this mission guide. The game comes packed with a full campaign, collectibles to hunt down, and plenty of achievements to earn. Below, we'll break down the mission list and all of the side objectives you might want to tackle during your playthrough of Battlefield 6's story.

How long is Battlefield 6 - Campaign length and missions

Battlefield 6 has a total of nine campaign missions. On average, it should take you around 4-5 hours to complete the campaign on the normal difficulty level. Of course, you can take your time to explore the map, hunt down collectibles, and attempt the game's specific achievement/trophy requirements. A harder difficulty could lead to slower mission progression, naturally.

Battlefield 6 campaign mission list

• Always Faithful
• The Rock
• Operation Gladius
• Night Raid
• No Sleep
• Moving Mountains
• Nile Guard
• Operation Ember Strike
• Always Forward

Side objectives for completionists

Achievement hunters will likely take much more time with the Battlefield 6 campaign. There are 30 dog tags and a T-Rex dinosaur toy collectible to find within the nine missions. At launch, we'll have a full Battlefield 6 collectible guide and also a breakdown of the ten campaign rewards you can unlock for finding all the dog tags.

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Fortnite's latest edition of Fortnitemares includes horror icons like Jason, Ghostface, the Scooby Gang, and Doja Cat. The only nonfictional character on that list has already made some waves across social media--or at least the Fortnite X account that was supposedly being run by her.

Doja Cat was scheduled to take over the Fortnite X account on Wednesday before the release of the Fortnitemares announcement, but she says it wasn’t actually her after the account posted a message about "rose toys" that some assume was referencing sex toys. Doja Cat responded directly from her actual account.

"I told them not to, man. That’s not even me," she wrote on X. "I said this yesterday and then said 'don’t post that' :/."

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Earlier this year, developer Heart Machine released Hyper Light Breaker in early access after a nearly two-year delay. However, the game's development is winding down due to layoffs at Heart Machine.

As reported by Game Developer, a spokesperson for Heart Machine said the layoffs "will include a conclusion on the project, [and] it reflects broader forces beyond our control, including shifts in funding, corporate consolidation and the uncertain environment many small studios like us are navigating today."

A follow-up statement from Heart Machine indicated that it isn't completely abandoning Hyper Light Breaker, and there will be a more polished version of the game coming in January 2026 as at least one final update.

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Warner Bros. and Legendary have announced A Minecraft Movie 2. The sequel is set to hit theaters on July 23, 2027. That's a couple months after the live-action The Legend of Zelda movie comes out.

Assuming the schedules hold, A Minecraft Movie 2 will come to theaters on the same day that The Simpsons Movie 2 arrives in July 2027.

The announcement of the sequel is no surprise at all. The original film, released in April 2025, made more than $950 million worldwide. It's the No. 2 highest-grossing video game movie of all time, and the No. 69 highest-grossing movie of all time for all films ever released.

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Hot Wheels Mario Kart: Bowser's Castle Raceway

$50 (was $86.39)

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The newest Mario Kart Hot Wheels track set is on sale for a terrific price at Amazon and Walmart. Bowser's Castle Raceway launched in September for $86.39, but you can get this large Hot Wheels Mario Kart track for only $50 for a limited time. It's one of several Hot Wheels discounts in the Walmart Deals event, and Amazon is matching it. It's the No. 1 bestseller in its category on Amazon, so it may sell out before the promotion ends October 12.

For Mario Kart Hot Wheels collectors, Bowser's Castle Raceway marks the first appearance of Kamek. You'll also have plenty of storage space for your collection, as the castle doubles as a 35-car garage. Notably, this is the first Mario Kart set to use Hot Wheels' new Speed Snap assembly system.

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