Hold on tight to the graphics cards you have, because those sitting on retailer shelves are about to get a lot more expensive, irrespective of whether you prefer AMD or Nvidia.

Last week, Nvidia GPUs were confirmed to be getting a substantial price hike, with anything between 20% and 30% being reported. That gave AMD the perfect moment to communicate a price increase of its own, with market analyst Harukaze571 reporting that the company had been waiting for Nvidia to make the first move.

The report, via PC Gamer, suggests that AMD was planning its own GPU price hike, but was worried about its effect on current stock, the price sensitivity of consumers, and more. Unlike Nvidia, however, AMD's increase seems mild by comparison, with the company aiming for "at least 10%" but falling short of specifying an upper limit.  Harukaze5719 added that, "price positioning is expected to be similar to that of the Nvidia series graphics cards," with the increases set to start taking place this week.

This increases are, notably, applying to partners, who then have to figure out how much to pass onto consumers. But given the thin margins that GPUs are currently sold at, it is unlikely that many, if any, will be able to absorb any part of the cost.

The increases across the board are attributed to the ongoing demand for memory, which is a core component for GPUs that requires large quantities of high speed modules. Samsung, which supplies a lot of memory for applications including and beyond GPUs, has already increased prices this year, and plans to hike them by a further 20% this month too. The company is expected to continue doing so until 2028 at the earliest.

These are all causing massive knock-on effects across the industry. The Xbox Series X and Series S had its new, increased prices go into effect at the start of the month, with Nintendo soon to follow with its announced Switch 2 price hike. Sony was forced to increase the price of the PlayStation 5 earlier this year, with all three companies likely looking at the possibility of further increases in the further should memory prices continue rising.

When Baldur's Gate 3 launched in 2023, it didn't take long for modders to add new camera options, including a third-person view. Now, a new third-person mod is expanding the view of Baldur's Gate 3 and allowing veteran players a chance to revisit the game from a fresh perspective.

The true third-person mod was created and posted by Nexus mods user Relysia, who acknowledges that it builds upon the previously released native camera tweeks mod and retains its features. However, the new mod adds a way to toggle between an over-the-shoulder camera view and the normal view. Relysia also shared a video comparison between the earlier mod and the current one, as well as a broad overview of its features and options.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lg-0Y00Ipw

As originally used in the game, the camera was locked and didn't allow players to look up or down when using close view. The true third-person camera mod offers more leeway for players to move the camera with the touch of a button. It also keeps the camera "locked tight on your character" and adjusts the FOV when the player is running or crouching while also accounting for different heights for each character.

During combat and turn-based sequences, the mod auto-switches to distant view before reverting to close view. Relysia notes that the mod works best with a controller, but it can also be used with a keyboard. There are some known issues and bugs that remain to be worked out, but the "fix stuck camera" button should be able to help players out if they find themselves trapped in a bad camera angle.

Last year, a group of modders announced their plan to recreate the original Baldur's Gate in Baldur's Gate 3. Remakes of Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate 2 are rumored to be in the works, but they have yet to be confirmed by Wizards of the Coast. A Baldur's Gate TV series is also in development, but Baldur's Gate 4 may have more trouble coming to fruition. At least one developer passed on Baldur's Gate 4 after expressing a desire to avoid following up on the work created by Larian Studios.

Buying a new Xbox just got a lot more expensive in the US, Europe, and UK. The previously announced Xbox Series X|S price hikes are now in effect as of August 1, and people should expect to pay significantly more.

In the US, all 512GB Xbox models went up by $100, while the 1 TB systems are now $150 more expensive. All 2 TB models are discontinued. You can see all the new US prices below, and prices for other regions further down (via VGC).

• Xbox Series S 512GB - $500
• Xbox Series S 1TB - $600
• Xbox Series X 1TB digital edition - $750
• Xbox Series X 1TB with disc drive - $800

In Europe, the cheapest new Xbox--the 512GB Xbox Series S--is going up from €350 to €500. The system originally launched in 2020 at €300, so it's gone up by €200 since then. The 1TB Xbox Series S is now going for €600 (was €400).

Moving on to the Xbox Series X, the 1TB digital model is now €750 (was €550), while the 1TB disc version is a whopping €800 (was €600). That's the most expensive edition, and it works out to about $920 USD.

Xbox consoles are now more expensive globally.

The UK is seeing Xbox price hikes, too, where the cheapest Xbox--the 512GB Xbox Series S--is now going for £430 (was £300). The highest-end version, the 1TB disc version of the Xbox Series X, is now selling for £670 (was £500).

Microsoft previously raised prices in October 2025. The company said it hoped another increase would not be necessary, but "console storage and memory prices have increased by more than 2.5x, and we expect another doubling by the fall of 2027."

A report from Windows Central said Microsoft was losing $150 per console sold.

Microsoft, along with Sony and Nintendo, are set to receive tariff refunds, and none of the companies have announced any plans to return any money to consumers who paid more.

Beyond the tariff-related impacts, the ongoing AI-fueled memory and component shortages are expected to continue, and another Xbox price hike could come in 2027.

In response to the new, higher prices for Xbox consoles, Microsoft rolled out new Buy Now, Pay Later and 0% APR financing options. Microsoft also sells certified refurbished Xbox consoles for lower prices.

As for other consoles, the PS5 got its latest price hike this past April, while the Switch 2 is getting a price increase in September.

Love and Deepspace just had its worst financial month to date, as the dating gacha sim's revenue has cratered. While it was pulling in around $30 - $60 million in revenue every month (per Sensor Data), July saw the game make a noticeably smaller amount of cash, to the tune of $10.3 million. That's a massive 73% drop when compared to June 2026 ($38 million), and the fall can all be traced back to the announcement--and subsequent cancellation--of Valko, who would have been the game's sixth love interest.

In comparison, top gacha games like Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, and Zenless Zone Zero--all produced by HoyoVerse--continue to dominate the revenue charts, with ZZZ in particular rocketing up from 15th place to third place in July.

You'd think that revealing an occasionally furry love interest wouldn't result in a fandom being ripped apart, but you'd be wrong. Valko proved to be a polarizing figure, as the ruggedly handsome tech CEO and werewolf clan leader has half the Love and Deepspace community baying for his blood, while the other half is actively boycotting and petitioning for developer Papergames to officially add him to the gacha Otome game.

Valko dissenters have cited concerns that a new character will take developer attention away from the game’s main story and established love interests, while those for Valko argue Eastern beauty standards led to his swift dismissal.

Things got even worse for Papergames, as it decided to pull its booth from one of the largest anime and gaming conventions in Asia, BilliBilli World 2026. The Chinese Government has also gotten involved, taking aim at Valko's promotional slogans that could be perceived as problematic and promoting home intrusions and sexual assault. "What’s wrong with letting a wolf into the house?" the text for Valko reads, after he was shown

"This kind of entertainment-driven, traffic-driven creative work disregards public order and morality, crosses legal boundaries, and may ultimately endanger public safety," a representative from the Ministry of Public Security News and Media wrote. Since then, characters and storylines were removed and are in the process of being re-certified, as the Chinese government holds considerable power over what it allows in and out of the country when it comes to entertainment.

The government is also treating Love and Deepspace as a warning to other game studios, saying that any content that "deliberately blurs the lines of illegality, glorifies dangerous behavior, or undermines public safety" will face removal. The writing might be on the wall for Papergames, as it looks like its community is ready to break up with Love and Deepspace.

An 18-year-old from New Hampshire released a game called This Game Costs $200 earlier this year as a joke--but a lot of people bought it. The game generated $1.3 million in sales, but creator Michael Major didn't get anywhere near that big of a payday.

He told WMUR that he set the price at $200 because that was the maximum a game could be listed for on Steam, and he expected no one to buy it. When he saw revenue of $1.3 million, he "almost died," Major said. To be sure, there are games on Steam that cost more than $200--there is a $1,000 game, for example.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlKPZxn7RF4

The developer only walked away with $2,000, however, in part because of mass refunds. Major also said it's curious that the majority of sales came from China.

"I'm not joking. I have heard of expensive games on Steam being used for money laundering. I have no idea. I could be on a hit list right now," he said.

Steam sales data shared in the video showed that the game sold 6,717 units, but 6,707 people got refunds, meaning 99.9% of sales were refunded. The lifetime gross revenue for This Game Costs $200 was $1.38 million, but Major walked away with $2,045 after all the refunds.

The Steam page for This Game Costs $200 describes it as "the swindle to end all swindles."

"This game is also a psychological experience, where I try to convince you that this game truly does cost 200 dollars," reads a line from its description.

The game takes place in the world of Schizopia and has players walking around a map full of cases of beer and packs of cigarettes.

The game has one review, from someone who played for 0.6 hours and said they recommend it. They said they made a lot of bad decisions in their life, like eating a toilet water-soaked sandwich straight from the bowl. But spending $200 on This Game Costs $200 was not the worst decision they ever made, they said.

This Game Costs $200 is a sequel to This Game Costs $10.

A famous poet once said, "Work sucks; I know." That timeless truth is the backdrop for HR: Human Remains, an upcoming first-person horror game in which demons have taken over the world, but you're still clocking in for your desk job. 

Today, GameSpot can exclusively reveal the release date; it's coming to Steam on September 22. Check out the brand-new release date trailer below for more.

With an aesthetic reminiscent of the original PlayStation era, HR: Human Remains has a darkly humorous tone, but is still very much a horror game.

In it, you'll be stuck as an office clerk, interacting with co-workers and your extra-horrible bosses while uncovering a story with multiple endings to experience based on your choices.

There are Sunday Scaries, and then there's whatever this guy has got himself into.

You'll need to solve puzzles to explore hidden places, while also collecting items with which you can decorate your break room. To me, it sounds sort of like three parts Hellraiser and one part Office Space, and I can surely dig that. 

The game is on the way from developer DennisCorner and publisher Black Lantern Collective, which specializes in indie horror games. You can check out HR: Human Remains on Steam.

30 Best Horror Games To Play In The Dark In 2026 View Images

A new Nintendo Direct has been announced, and this time, the focus is on Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave. If you're interested, you can tune in at 7 AM PT / 10 AM ET on August 4 to watch the broadcast. Nintendo says that you can expect "roughly 20 minutes" of new information about the game.

One of several big first-party games from Nintendo scheduled for launch this year, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave is the first game in the longrunning tactical-RPG series to be developed exclusively for Switch 2 consoles. The last time it was in the spotlight was during the June Nintendo Direct, where a few more details about the game were revealed.

The game will feature four characters competing to win the Dagosian Games--a high-stakes tournament--with combat taking place inside of an arena. This is a departure from the battlefields of previous Fire Emblem games, but outside of the tournament, there'll still be opportunities to explore new locations and deal with bandits who are hoarding treasure.

Each of the four main champions also possesses a special crest that can grant them special abilities in combat, and it looks like there'll be social events to take part in when you're not fighting for glory.

Launching on September 17, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave enters a stacked month of new releases as several games are attempting to hit the ground running before heavyweight titles like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and GTA 6 descend.

Preorders are open for Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, with the standard edition priced at $70 - $80 depending on whether you want a physical version or a download code. You can also pick up the Special Edition of the game for $120, which includes the full physical edition of the game and a selection of collectibles.

Marvel's Wolverine is finally slashing its way onto PS5 next month, and ahead of its release, it looks like the game is going to earn its Mature 17+ rating with blood and ass. According to the Entertainment Software Rating Board, the game contains blood, gore, drug references, strong language, and "partial nudity," but it's not specified whose gluteus maximus is on display.

"A handful of sequences briefly depict a character's exposed buttocks," the ESRB rating reads. That's a pretty vague description, but we'd wager that we could see Wolverine's butt paraded about, given the character's habit of being occasionally transformed into a naked and feral mutant weapon by shadowy organizations like Canada's Department H. Read the comics if you don't believe us!

It's a scene that has been adapted into live-action media as well, with longtime Wolverine actor Hugh Jackman's butt briefly appearing in alternate cuts and near-misses during several scenes across multiple movies. He infamously refused to wear a modesty sock during the filming of his adamantium implants in X-Men: Origins - Wolverine, and in 2014's X-Men: Days of Future Past, audiences got a full look at his backside during the '70s hotel room scene.

Other characters in the game include Jean Grey, Sabretooth, Mystique, and Lady Deathstrike, but we're guessing that they won't be around for scenes requiring them to get cheeky.

There's also precedent for this when it comes to PS5 games, as Ghost of Tsushima and its sequel Ghost of Yotei both featured brief scenes where you could see the uncovered rears of their respective protagonists. If the Ghost of Tsushima film ever enters into production, actor Daisuke Tsuji said that he's prepared to show some skin.

Beyond seeing exposed hams, the ESRB also noted that Marvel's Wolverine will allow you to tear enemies apart and that the game features some naughty language.

It's not long to go now, as Marvel's Wolverine launches on September 15 for PS5. For more on the game, you can check out all the Easter eggs we've spotted so far, every costume revealed for Marvel's Wolverine, and 13 new details we learned at San Diego Comic-Con about Logan's adventure.

Every Upcoming Superhero Game To Look Out For In 2026 And Beyond View Images

Bruce Straley, the Naughty Dog veteran who worked on the Jak, Uncharted, and The Last of Us franchises before leaving to start his own studio, is asking his followers why they are excited for GTA 6.

Posting on social media, Straley said he's asking this question out of genuine curiosity, and not simply to stir the pot. "No shade, just curious," he said.

Straley said he's unsure if he's interested in playing GTA 6, so he was asking followers to share the reasons why they are excited for Rockstar's next big game.

"What do you hope is new in GTA 6 you haven’t already experienced in its predecessors? OR simply, Why are you gonna play GTA 6? Because I don’t know if I’m interested & I’m not sure if I’m an outlier," he said.

https://twitter.com/bruce_straley/status/2083992004137259228

Straley ended his post by reminding people that he worked in "the sausage factory a long time," which is likely a reference to Naughty Dog.

Straley got a lot of responses to his post. Someone said they are looking forward to whatever Rockstar is cooking up in terms of new dynamic weather events, and Straley said he's excited about the possibilities here.

"Using that crazy [Red Dead Redemption 2] weather tech to create dynamic events sounds sick. I can’t imagine that would be their priority at all, but that got me excited! Someone AAA should do that," he said. Someone else suggested a surfing system in GTA 6, and Straley said that would be fun.

Another person said if GTA 6 has nonlinear missions that offer the player multiple solutions to one task, that would be compelling. Straley concurred.

"I think this is why I’m not very interested (yet?). RD2 looked awesome--maybe the best, but the systems themselves weren’t very deep. I was disappointed everything boiled down to 'follow the yellow line,'" he said.

Another person said "deep [gameplay] systems don't have mass appeal," and Rockstar makes mass market games. Straley pushed back, saying, "Having deeper systems would allow for more varieties of players to play in their own style. And it feels like the potential of 'open world' should come with a payoff of 'open approaches' to gameplay. Just my opinion," he said.

Straley worked at Naughty from 1999 to 2017, and he co-directed The Last of Us and Uncharted 4 during his time there. As for why he left, he said 18 years was "a long time for anybody to be anywhere," and he wanted to find "new problems to solve" and "new creative outlets."

He said Naughty Dog was the "pinnacle" of game developers, going on to note that he didn't want to join another AAA studio because he didn't want to deal with "a whole different bureaucratic or cultural system."

Straley is now heading up Wildflower Interactive, which is making a game called Coven of the Chicken Foot. Microsoft was set to publish the title before the company backed out. Wildflower found other funding to keep going.

As for GTA 6, Rockstar's long-awaited open-world crime game launches on November 19 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Some are expecting further announcements this week tied to parent company Take-Two's next earnings report on August 7.

Inde Navarrette reached a new level of fame this year after starring in Curry Barker's horror movie Obsession. She's also a big fan of video games. She's now revealed that she's been offered roles in games, and that she loves Shrek.

"Yes, and I'm starting my journey with that soon," she told Variety when asked if any studios had come calling to ask her to be in a video game. "I want to try something smaller to test the waters and then later, different. Video games are, obviously, a big interest of mine."

She is a big fan of Resident Evil, adding that she would "die inside" if she got the chance to have a role in one of the games someday.

Navarrette did not name the companies that have pitched her or what games she could appear in.

Inde Navarrette in Obsession.

Also in the interview, Navarrette talked about some of her earliest memories with video games, and her comments are highly relatable. She said one of her favorites from yesteryear was the Shrek game for PS2, Shrek Super Party. In particular, she said she's a fan of the characters' big heads in the game.

Navarrette went on to say that Call of Duty is another favorite gaming series of hers. She's mentioned this before, and Activision obviously took note, hiring her to appear on a Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 panel in July.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnvlSfoB0Fw

Navarrette is a gamer who, like any reasonable person, watched Henry Cavill videos to help build her gaming PC. She also formerly hosted Twitch streams for Call of Duty.

Obsession, meanwhile, was made on a reported $750,000 budget and has earned more than $470 million worldwide, making it a huge success. Prior to Obsession, Navarrette starred in Netflix's 13 Reasons Why.

Summerslam weekend saw several new champions emerge, but Cody Rhodes wasn't one of them. While the American Nightmare failed in his bid to dethrone CM Punk as the WWE Undisputed Champion, at least he managed to turn heads with his ring outfit, which went all in with Street Fighter influences. Rhodes--who plays Guile in the upcoming Street Fighter movie--hit the ring with a mask that captured the absurdity of Guile's signature hairdo and M. Bison's Shadaloo organization.

Given that the Street Fighter film was one of Summerslam's sponsors, it wasn't too surprising to see Rhodes geared up to help promote the upcoming movie. Just before he appeared, the PPV featured a character select screen in the same style as Street Fighter 2, with WWE performers like Seth Rollins, Danhausen, and Becky Lynch subbing in for Capcom's brawlers. You can see the entrance for yourself, in the timestamped video below:

https://youtu.be/ZgFWYMrAnNQ?t=279

In the ring, Rhodes' costume consisted of tights that mixed white with camouflage patterns similar to what Guile wears in his default Street Fighter costume, and on his entrance coat, you could spot Rhodes' name stitched on in the familiar Street Fighter font. Sadly, the former WWE champion didn't use a single Sonic Boom or Flash Kick attack against Punk. It's worth noting that Street Fighter wasn't the only video game-related sponsor for Summerslam, as Gears of War: E-Day was also prominently displayed on the ring mat.

Rhodes--and the rest of the ensemble cast--will hit theaters soon when Street Fighter arrives on October 16. Ahead of its release, the marketing for Street Fighter has begun to start up, and last week saw a sneak peek at one of the film's fight scenes. In case you missed it, you can click the link to see an imprisoned Ryu (Andrew Koji) take on a beastly incarnation of Blanka (Jason Momoa).

Street Fighter Movie Cast Revealed, Including An Unexpected Eric Andre Role View Images

Stellar Blade: Blood Rain is being promoted with an AI-slop music video created by developer Shift Up, and it's all about as soulless as you might expect.

The video, which looks to be completely AI generated, features protagonist Evie singing an "original" song titled "Wanna be in Love" as she explores the dystopian cyberpunk city seen in the game's official announcement trailer that debuted as part of Summer Games Fest.

At one point while wandering the city, Evie picks up a KPop Demon Hunters keychain. Towards the end of the video, there is "behind the scenes footage" of Shift Up developers "on set" with Evie, giving her direction, doing her makeup, and high-fiving members of the team.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ncuote9ADo

An entirely AI-generated video serving as the first major piece of marketing for the Stellar Blade sequel following its reveal is certainly a choice, though it's more than a little concerning Shift Up somehow decided this was a good idea.

It is, however, not all that surprising. Shift Up CEO and Stellar Blade director Hyung-tae Kim earlier this year said (as translated by Automaton) during a South Korean "Economic Growth Strategy" briefing he believed AI to be an "essential tool for going up against large competitors like China on a global level." He also said AI will not result in people losing their jobs, even though it will enable "one person" to perform the "work of 100 people." South Korea as a whole is doubling down on AI, with the country set to invest nearly $14 billion in AI and related infrastructure.

The Stellar Blade franchise is no stranger to controversy, ranging from having to patch out unintentional racial slurs to the culture war over the appearance of main character Eve and her revealing outfits in the first game. Stellar Blade: Blood Rain is proving to be no exception, with some criticizing the sexualization of Evie, who appears more childlike in appearance, even as Shift Up promises "more appealing" outfits.

In an interview with IGN, Kim was asked whether he was worried about using a younger-looking character for Blood Rain, and how that may be perceived by players. He said Evie is indeed younger and smaller in size than Eve, but largely dodged the question.

"If you actually play the game, you will not think that," Kim said.

Stellar Blade: Blood Rain does not yet have a release date. However, the original Stellar Blade is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 later this year. 

World of Warcraft is getting the Dungeons & Dragons treatment, with the iconic tabletop roleplaying game set to translate developer Blizzard's popular MMORPG into a proper pencil-and paper-experience this November. 

D&D: World of Warcraft is bringing a lot to the table, with everything a dungeon master might potentially need to create an Azeroth campaign. For starters, all 13 WoW classes will be playable, with six additional subclasses, three modified ones, and over 40 class specializations to choose from. The expansion additionally adds 11 WoW races (or species, as they are called in D&D), including tauren, draenei, forsaken, and trolls, along with WoW-specific rules for existing D&D races like humans, dwarves, goblins, orcs, and elves.

"From Azeroth's ancient races to newcomers from distant realms, these species bring a wide range of histories, cultures, and perspectives to your adventures," Blizzard writes in its announcement. "Your choice of species can even grant a starting Renown Score with one of Azeroth's factions--so whether you ride out 'For the Horde! or 'For the Alliance!', your allegiance is baked into your origin."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yMOZlYqsnY

Blizzard's MMO is filled with iconic spells, items, and enemies, and D&D: World of Warcraft includes those as well. There will be over 60 new spells added as part of the expansion, as well 25 new magic items that include mounts and companion creatures. 

D&D's spin on WoW even attempts to replicate some of the gameplay and systems longtime players of the MMO are all too familiar with. The expansion adds 10 WoW professions to choose from, allowing players to spend their downtime crafting items or improving their gear. There are even 25 different factions that players can grind out Renown with. Just like in WoW proper, increasing Renown with a faction will grant perks and rewards for those who the climb ranks.

On the monster front, 50 new monsters are being added as part of the setting alongside 30 dungeon bosses. Seven of WoW's most iconic dungeons will be playable, including the Deadmines, Onyxia's Lair, and the Scarlet Monastery. An optional Icecrown Citadel Adventure Map Pack will also be available--one that will carry players level 16-20 from the lower spire of the citadel to the Frozen Throne and a confrontation with the Lich King himself.

For WoW players who aren't keen on sitting down at the table, there are still a few reasons to take notice. Preordering certain editions, including the D&D: World of Warcraft Ultimate Bundle or Collector's Edition, unlocks D&D-themed items in WoW, including a Black Dragon mount, Gazer pet, Mimic chest toy, and Mimic chest housing decor. The cheapest option for snagging the in-game items according to the official D&D Beyond website appears to be by preordering the $80 physical and digital combo edition.

D&D: World of Warcraft will release November 17, with early access beginning November 3. In other WoW news, Blizzard will be adding the viral Jimothy to the MMORPG in the game's next update, while a Blizzard employee was recently fired for allegedly helping a group of players cheat in a Mythic+ dungeon.

US tariffs may have forced Sony to increase the prices of its PlayStation hardware, but the company is now benefiting from those tariffs being refunded. As part of the company's latest earnings report, it noted an increase in operating income can be attributed in part to tariff refunds--refunds it seems unlikely to pass onto consumers who paid those higher prices.

Those refunds were issued earlier this year after the US Supreme court declared tariffs implemented by President Trump to be unlawful. Sony's Q1 2026 earnings (covering April through June) call out tariff refunds as one of the positive contributors to a 37% increase that its Game & Network Services business saw.

Shortly after the tariffs were first implemented, Sony raised the price of its PS5 consoles in August 2025, and again in May 2026. The company has not issued an official statement regarding any potential passing of the refunds back to consumers, and earlier this year, a class-action-complaint was filed. The plaintiffs are arguing that Sony passed the cost of its price hikes onto consumers, and if the nationwide class suit is successful, Sony would be required to pay an undisclosed sum to anyone who purchased a PlayStation console from August 1, 2025.

Although Sony has not explicitly said it will not share tariff refunds with consumers who paid higher prices, we've already seen Nintendo and others retain those refunds for themselves. Sony calling out the positive impact on its operating income also suggests no plan to pass along those refunds.

It's worth noting that Sony has never mentioned the US tariffs as the sole reason for the console price hikes, as it referenced "pressures in the global economic landscape" as the reason for the last price increase. The ongoing RAM shortage driven by large-scale investment in AI and data centers has also been a key factor in console price increases.

Xbox manufacturer Microsoft explained that it had to enact another price hike in June because console storage and memory prices had more than doubled, and it also expects another doubling of component prices in 2027, suggesting more price hikes will follow soon after.

This probably sounds familiar, as a class action lawsuit was filed in April 2026 on behalf of Nintendo consumers. The plaintiffs are arguing that Nintendo had an obligation to refund customers who purchased its products, following its decision to claim refunds on the tariffs.

In a reply, Nintendo disputed the claims and said that customers were never forced to make a purchase and that it didn't raise the price of all of its products. "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," Nintendo wrote.

In more Sony news, the ratio of physical-to-digital game sales increased last quarter, PS5 console sales are slowly creeping toward the 100 million lifetime sales mark, and Sony has broken its silence over its decision to go all-digital with game sales in 2028.

Suspicions are arising among Legend of Zelda fans that the Ocarina of Time remake will launch in mid-November--just within spitting distance of Grand Theft Auto 6. The theories revolve around an apparent pattern of Nintendo's Amiibo releases, and it's hard to blame anyone for buying into them.

Per Kotaku, fans claim to have spotted a November 11 release date (adjusted to November 12 with the correct regional system clock settings) for a pair of Kirby Air Riders Amiibo figures (Sword Kirby and Noir Dedede) on Nintendo UK's store--though those listings have since been removed. And fans have observed that Nintendo generally releases Amiibo figures on the same day as its first-party game launches, whether the Amiibos tie into those launches or not.

Two Kirby Air Riders Amiibo figures are set to release in November, according to apparent listings on the Nintendo UK store.

For instance, the Mineru's Construct Amiibo for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is coming out on September 17, the same day that Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave releases on Switch 2. Earlier this year, the King Dedede & Tank Star Amiibo launched simultaneously with Rhythm Heaven Groove on July 2, and the Meta Knight & Shadow Star Amiibo coincided with Pokemon Pokopia on March 5.

That all leads many to the conclusion that Nintendo is releasing something in mid-November. With Nintendo firm on a 2026 release window for the Ocarina of Time remake, taking a prime November spot appears logical.

Of course, Ocarina of Time would be facing off against the most anticipated video game launch in recent history with GTA 6, which is set for a November 19 launch. Pretty much every other gaming company has scrambled to avoid being near the epicenter of GTA 6's release, leading to an awfully crowded September. Nintendo seems like the one big player (if you don't count Atari with its Barbie game re-releases, or Devolver with whatever it's planning for GTA 6 day) willing to poke Rockstar's upcoming blockbuster with a stick.

Presuming this prediction becomes reality, it'll be a fascinating example of counter-programming. Zelda (especially Ocarina of Time) and the GTA franchise are heavy-hitters with different audiences, and with GTA 6 not on Switch 2 at launch, the Ocarina of Time remake will give Switch 2-only players something to get their hands on in November. Both titles would have the opportunity to thrive despite occupying the same space on the calendar.

And if you're a fan of both franchises, November could be the opportunity to eat two entire cakes to yourself, which could be a fun, albeit possibly overwhelming and time-consuming feat.

Nintendo’s Top-Selling Switch 2 Games Of All Time View Images

Developer Bellring Games' extraction brawler Mistfall Hunter is finally out after a handful of betas, and following its July 29 release, the developer has already dropped an update that made one of the game's best classes even better.

Launched on July 30, this new update makes some important balance adjustments to the newest class, the Withered Knight. During the beta, the hallowed sentinel only wielded a greatsword. But now that the full game is out, the Withered Knight gets a second weapon like the five other classes: a polearm and shield. It's this set of weapons that saw some improvements, with Bellring Games boosting the damage of some of its attacks to make the Withered Knight even more deadly in combat.

Despite sitting in the B-tier on GameSpot's class rankings, what makes the Withered Knight such a lethal class is its ability to apply constant pressure, its heavy burst damage thanks to the Wither skill (which explodes after afflicting a character or monster), and its chase-down potential with its dash attacks and grappling hook. It's a perfect mix between a flanking assassin and an aggressive brawler, making the Withered Knight scary to face head-on.

The July 30 update also fixes a plethora of issues that've cropped up. This includes things like adjusting the visual discrepancies with the Sorcerer's Flameblade, addressing connection problems for console players, ironing out game crashes, and fixing unresponsive keys when quickly closing the guide UI.

They're all very welcome fixes for a game that has the potential to expand the extraction genre. At the time of writing, almost 30,000 people are playing the game on Steam, suggesting that there's a possible desire for more games in the genre that aren't just shooters.

You can check the full patch notes for Mistfall Hunter's July 30 update below.

Mistfall Hunter's July 30 Update Patch Notes

Class Balance Adjustments

• Withered Knight — Polearm and Shield:
  • Charged Dash: Energy drain during the shield-raising charge phase has been slightly reduced, and the turning performance of a Tier-1 charged dash has been slightly improved.
  • Basic Attack: Damage of the 1st and 3rd thrust hits has been slightly increased.
  • Spear Barrage: Damage multiplier slightly increased.
  • Rainbow Piercer: Energy cost slightly reduced, and cooldown slightly reduced.
  • Block: Energy cost reduced.

Key Bug Fixes

• Fixed incorrect key prompts in the Sorcerer's spellcasting tutorial in the beginner guide for certain languages.
• Fixed a mismatch between the visual effect range and actual damage range of the Sorcerer's Flameblade.
• Fixed an issue where repeatedly entering and exiting the area around a Soul Tree while summoning an extraction point would incorrectly consume an extra Soul of Return.
• Fixed an issue where items could not be split via the secondary menu.
• Fixed an issue where some matches on console platforms could not reconnect after a disconnect.
• Fixed an occasional impassable-area anomaly in the "General Harald" challenge.
• Fixed an issue where some keys would occasionally become unresponsive when the guide UI was closed very quickly.
• Fixed a game crash caused by moving the cursor to specific regions with the stick on the Seasonal Leaderboard screen while using a controller.
• Fixed an issue where equipment could not be unequipped from the Loadout system while using a controller.
• Fixed an issue where certain gem slots could not be selected via the D-pad in the Auction House while using a controller.
• Fixed an incorrect pop-up shown when exiting the game on the Xbox PC platform.
• Fixed an occasional display anomaly on the deck screen on PS5--the issue can be resolved by restarting the game.
• Fixed an issue where the public Training Room settings could not be opened while using a controller.
• Fixed missing audio for the Execution Animation: Execute--Voidflame Requiem.
• Fixed an incorrect description for the Sorcerer talent Chant Guard. The correct description reads: Increases Chanting Speed for Stardust spells. When chanting Stardust spells, the first attack received will not interrupt chanting (Stardust Torrent's casting phase also benefits from this effect). This effect has a cooldown.

August is shaping up to be a fun month with the release of games like Beast of Reincarnation and Pro Jank Footy, and if you're a fighting game fan, you can also grab Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls. Officially out next week, physical copies of the game have managed to break their street date, and naturally, there are plenty of spoilers online.

While we won't be listing them here, please start fine-tuning your filters for specific keywords. From what we've seen online, details include various game secrets, trophies, story details, and more. A lot of these details had been kept under wraps--and even managed to escape being data-mined during the recent open beta--but a few people who got their hands on the game early have wasted no time in spoiling those surprises for everyone else.

Posts detailing the secret content are being taken down as quickly as they go up, but you can't unsee a leak before that happens. It's a pity, because developer Arc System Works has crafted some pretty good narratives for its fighting games--like Guilty Gear and Dragon Ball FighterZ--and the single-player campaign for Marvel Tokon was penned by award-winning comic book writer Kieron Gillen.

If your spider-sense can help you dodge the leaks, then you won't have to wait too much longer to play the game. Marvel Tokon officially launches on August 6 for PC and PS5. So far, 2026 has been a great year for fighting game fans with all of the high-profile releases in the genre. Invincible Vs kicked things off in April with some brutal brawling, Avatar Legends has been a hit with fans of the series despite the high skill ceiling needed to master it, and Street Fighter 6 has continued to add new characters to its roster.

If you're on PC and looking to grab a bargain, you can preorder Marvel Tokon for just $54 at Fanatical, a nice little 10% discount.

Disclosure: GameSpot and Fanatical are both owned by Fandom. 

While Microsoft itself just set a record for the biggest single-day market cap swing in history, the company's Xbox division is struggling. How will new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma turn things around?

In a memo to staff obtained by The Verge, Sharma shared the top Xbox priorities for the current fiscal year and beyond. These included four main buckets--Core, Content, Creation, and Connection. Some of the efforts include making Minecraft "the world's creator platform" and getting Xbox games to become "global franchises." She also wants to "strengthen" the Xbox platform, "led by console" and undertake an effort to "extend the worlds that fans love."

Here are the four pillars, as written by Sharma:

• CORE: Strengthen our platform, led by console
• CONTENT: Grow great games into global franchises
• CREATION: Make Minecraft the world’s creator platform
• CONNECTION: Extend the worlds that fans love

Xbox revenue decreased by 7% for the latest fiscal year, or about $1.7 billion. It's not uncommon for businesses to have up and down swings, but what's particularly notable here is that most of Microsoft's other divisions are booming.

Microsoft's Windows and Devices division dipped, too, but not by as much as Xbox. Additionally, every other business unit showed year-over-year revenue gains. Microsoft's biggest success in the past year was its "server products and cloud services" division, which jumped by $31 billion thanks in part to the AI craze.

"Our business did not grow with our audience"

Sharma said in FY2026 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026), more than 200 million "new players" came to Xbox, "but our business did not grow with our audience."

She said Microsoft must "close that gap by investing in what players value." She said this will take time--but not that much time, at least for the first stage. Sharma said Xbox is expected to "return to growth" by the end of FY2027, so by June 30, 2027.

In her memo, Sharma said for FY2028 and FY2029, the Xbox division must "move into businesses producing meaningful player value and revenue acceleration." She also talked about trying to "scale what works" and by FY2030, she said Xbox's ambition is to "be halfway to our long-term daily-player goal with sustained double-digit growth in players and engagement and industry-leading margins."

Xbox is undergoing a "reset."

Additionally, Sharma said Xbox is already "one of the largest stadiums" out there, reaching 100 million people daily, 500 million monthly, and nearly 1 billion each year. Sharma also spoke about how important console is to Xbox, saying console "generates the majority of Xbox revenue and remains the foundation of our fandom." Microsoft is working on a new system, Project Helix, but it may be undergoing changes due to AI-related memory and component pressures that are being fueled, in part and ironically, by Microsoft.

Also in the memo, Sharma talked about moving away from a decentralized model for game development to a system that is "more focused around our strongest franchises and biggest new ideas." Part of this has included divesting of five studios and re-focusing on games like Fallout and Elder Scrolls that have the best chance at succeeding.

She added that Xbox leadership is coming up with "long-term plans" for the company's biggest franchises, spanning games, film, TV, consumer products, live experiences, sponsorships, and doing more in China.

On the subject of games specifically, Sharma said Xbox already has three franchises that generate $1 billion or more annually. She didn't name them outright, however. She also said Microsoft will invest in Minecraft "more than ever before."

As for film and TV projects, Microsoft is working with Paramount on a Call of Duty movie that's coming in 2028. There is also a Gears of War movie in the works for Netflix. A Gears of War animated TV show is coming as well. There is also a new Minecraft movie set for release in 2027, a third season of Fallout, and a Sea of Thieves movie. In total, Microsoft has a dozen film and TV projects in the works.

Earlier this year, Xbox's new chief strategy officer, Matthew Ball, spoke frankly about how Xbox languished in recent years and what comes next.

Another way Microsoft is trying to get back to growth is by cutting staff. The company laid off 1,600 people this month and will part ways with another 1,600 people in the next year.

For more, check out GameSpot's breakdown of the Xbox studios that are left and what they're working on.

Three decades ago, Nintendo discontinued its Virtual Boy console after it failed to catch on. But now, two of the unreleased Virtual Boy titles are set to make their debut on Nintendo Switch Online.

Nintendo has announced that D-Hopper and Zero Racers will be available on Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pass on August 4. D-Hopper was originally known as Dragon Hopper, and it's a fantasy action-adventure game that puts players in control of a prince as he attempts to bring down an evil regime and free his loved ones, fairies, and elemental spirits from their grasp. Zero Racers is a racing game that was inspired by the SNES hit F-Zero. Both D-Hopper and Zero Racers would have been released in 1996 if Nintendo hadn't pulled Virtual Boy from store shelves.

https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/2083002205519413357

Nintendo is also catering to Virtual Boy fans with its latest additions to Nintendo Music. The following games have been added to that lineup and are available to listen to now.

• Virtual Boy Wario Land
• Mario Clash
• Galactic Pinball
• Teleroboxer
• Mario's Tennis

Although Oculus Rift creator Palmer Luckey once opined that Virtual Boy had "hurt the VR industry," Nintendo surprised players by adding support for select Virtual Boy titles in September 2025. It even released a plastic replica Virtual Boy as well as its cardboard counterpart to recreate the experience of playing the games in a primitive form of VR. As an unexpected benefit, players can also use the Virtual Boy replicas to access VR modes in Switch titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey.

Additionally, the GameCube's signature Mario game, Super Mario Sunshine, will arrive on Nintendo Switch Online on August 13.

Whether you're a veteran gamer or not, it's okay to admit that Motion Twin's 2018 roguelike-metroidvania Dead Cells is kinda hard. So much so that, eight years later, acclaimed filmmaker and avid gamer Guillermo del Toro has implored the studio to make it a little more forgiving for "the elderly players." Well, Motion Twin heard the phone ringing, saw the caller ID, picked the phone up, and granted del Toro's wish--or, rather, reminded him this option already exists.

In a July 29 IGN interview, del Toro quite literally begged the French developer to make a version of the game that doesn't include respawning. For him, dying and restarting made it difficult to both explore the world and make tangible progress.

"Dead Cells was really interesting to me," del Toro said. "I just hate respawning, because you only get about 35 levels and then you start again. You get faster, but please, do a version without respawning for the older, for the elderly players. I'm available. Contact me and send it to me, please. I beg you!"

Motion Twin responded to del Toro's request on July 30, telling IGN that the roguelike-metroidvania has a somewhat easier mode already: Assist Mode.

"We'd like to officially add this moment into our own personal Cabinet of Curiosities," the developer said. "We are surprised and truly honored to see that Mr. del Toro is a Dead Cells player, and we can even help him right now: there is an Assist mode in the game! This mode lets you resurrect at the start of the current biome or closest checkpoint, rather than restarting the entire run."

The studio then thanked del Toro for his "kind words" and "time on the game," concluding that they hope "this little message" helps him enjoy the game more.

Released in June 2022 as part of version 2.9 and known as both the Accessibility Update and Breaking Barriers Update, this patch introduced a variety of accessibility options that let you tweak the game's settings to fit your preferred playstyle. Assist Mode came packaged with this update and, alongside customizing settings, it let you respawn at the nearest save point instead of restarting the entire run. There were other features folded into version 2.9 as well, including the ability to adjust the damage you take from enemies and traps, an auto-hit setting, and the option to increase the parry window.

So, if del Toro's looking for something like Alive Cells instead of Dead Cells, then Assist Mode perfectly encapsulates that.

Being the gamer that he is, del Toro has worked on a number of video games in recent years. While he's done some work on unreleased projects in the 2000s and 2010s, his contribution is probably most recognized in P.T., since he co-directed that game with bestie Hideo Kojima. He also made a cameo in Kojima Productions' 2019 UPS sim Death Stranding, though it was only his likeness and he didn't voice the character.