As part of the July Nintendo Direct, Square Enix announced Octopath Traveler 0. The newest entry in the HD-2D series launches for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 on December 4. The game was revealed during the Nintendo Direct, but it is also coming to PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Microsoft Store.

It's called Octopath Traveler 0 because players "start from zero" and go on a quest for "restoration and retribution." Along the way, players will "confront powerful villains and rebuild your hometown."

"Octopath Traveler 0 is an expansive RPG that offers a fresh and exciting take on this acclaimed franchise," reads a line from the game's description. "The game tells a gripping story of restoration and retribution, set across the realm of Orsterra. Our tale begins in the idyllic town of Wishvale in the verdant Woodlands region--although it's not peaceful for long. Due to an… unfortunate event we won't ruin here, the charming settlement is completely destroyed."

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A brand-new HD-2D action-RPG from Square Enix has been announced during today's Nintendo Direct presentation. The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is set to release during 2026, but a demo exclusively for Switch 2 players will be available later today followed by a post-play survey to get feedback.

The game, which is developed by Team Asano--responsible for the Octopath Traveler and Bravely Default series--follows the story of Elliot and his fairy companion, Faie, They travel across Philabeldia--a continent overrun by tribes of beasts, while a protection spell cast by Princess Heuria keeps the Kingdom of Huther safe. After a set of ruins is discovered beyond the castle walls, Elliot and Faie head out to investigate.

Elliot and Faie face multiple challenging battles fought with swords, bows, chains and sickles, and more. There are seven weapon types in total, but you can strengthen those by equipping different combinations of Magicite--collections of skills and buffs that alter the way you fight. One such example is the Linked Arrows Magicite, which adds an extra hit to enemies around your target when using a bow.

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EA revealed Plants vs. Zombies Replanted for Switch and Switch 2 at today's Nintendo Direct presentation. The remaster brings back the original tower-defense title with HD visuals and new local co-op functionality.

Plants vs. Zombies Replanted will provide "the same charm, chaos, and sun-powered defense players know and love," according to EA. That means positioning different garden friends, like Peashooters and Cob Cannon, on a backyard grid to mow down the undead, who are moving from right to left to attack. Eventually, players will meet Crazy Dave, who sells upgrades to protect your yard. In addition, EA stated in a press release that Plants vs. Zombies Replanted will offer "new levels, fresh twists, and 15 years of never-before-seen franchise history at your fingertips."

The original game launched in 2009 on PC and then came out on iPhone and Xbox 360 in 2010--plus a ton of other platforms afterward. Plants vs. Zombies also started a whole new franchise, including spin-off titles like Garden Warfare.

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During today's Nintendo Direct presentation, Koei Tecmo debuted a new trailer for Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, the Musou-style action game that was announced during a Nintendo Switch 2 Direct earlier this year.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment takes place in Hyrule's distant past, and it follows Princess Zelda after she's transported back in time during the events of Tears of the Kingdom. Many characters who appeared in TOTK during those flashbacks--including King Rauru and Queen Sonia--will fight enemy hordes alongside Zelda throughout this new Musou-style game.

Fresh gameplay shown in today's Partner Direct trailer showed off new partner-based attacks, where two characters join forces for crowd-clearing attacks--in one scene, we see Zelda and Rauru link hands and blast a crowd of Bokoblins with two beams of light. The end of the trailer also teases a bipedal mech of some kind, though we don't get to see any of its abilities; instead, we only see it being assembled while lying down.

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Hideo Kojima is known for making divisive games, and it appears that tradition will continue with one of his next projects, OD. Speaking to Ssense, Kojima said people will be surprised by it and have strong feelings.

The game is "something totally different," he said, adding," People will love it or hate it."

Kojima went on to say that he isn't too stressed about whatever people say about OD when it comes out. The true test will come possibly decades later. "The real evaluations come after--10 or 20 years from now," Kojima said.

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Nintendo's first post-Switch-2-launch Direct is here, and its first Partner Direct for the platform. Kicking things off, Capcom revealed Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, a spin-off series that started life on the Nintendo 3DS. It looks like you once again take on the role of a rider as opposed to hunter, with you being the sole Rathalos rider in this game's world Azuria. While it was all in-game footage, no actual gameplay was shown off, but it is slated for release in 2026. Right now it's been confirmed for Nintendo Switch 2, but there was no mention if it will be exclusive to the platform.

Another day, another Elden Ring Nightreign update, this one notably bringing sweet relief to couples forced to have a third wheel everywhere as it adds in a highly requested two-player expeditions mode. This new option doesn't change the game all that much--it simply lets two people play together as opposed to the solo and trio options that were available before. You'll now also find that the Expedition Type setting name has been changed to Number of Players, and the game has apparently been balanced for just two players as well.

In terms of quality-of-life improvements listed in the patch notes, one big one is that new filtering options are available on the relic effect filter screen so you have a "more precise selection of relic effects." If you choose multiple effects for one condition, any of your relics that match up with your chosen effects will show up too, but if you choose multiple effects for several conditions, only relics that have those exact conditions will be displayed. You can set up to 100 relic presets now as well, and there's an option to sell and favorite acquired relics in the rewards and purchasing menus.

Outside of that, there are smaller things like passive and special effects being added to the information available in the results menu, and you can now skip a part of the cutscene once you've beaten the Night Aspect. A feature where you're forcefully disconnected after a certain amount of time passes if the number of expedition participants is set to one has been removed too.

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The popular Rengoku event has returned to Rainbow Six Siege. Live now, and running until August 13, the limited-timed game mode--where two teams of five battle to capture an alter--offers players new game mechanics, specialized weapons, and unlockable cosmetics. That includes the first Masterpiece animated skin made available via the Rengoku event Memento.

Like before, the Rengoku event tasks players with controlling a particular area of a map using shotguns and powerful kunai. These special throwable items can poison enemies, create barriers, start fires and more. A few new variants, like a freeze kunai, have also been included this time around. Players will need to plan their moves accordingly if they hope to be successful…or not, as part of the fun comes from the chaotic nature of a given match.

No Rainbow Six Siege event is complete without some form of microtransaction. That same goes for this limited-timed mode. There are a few free items that can be unlocked by logging in during the event or rewarded via Twitch Drops. New event-based bundles for select operatives can also be purchased in the shop. And there’s a signature event bundle (that features a universal weapon skin) as well as a Masterpiece animated G36C skin for Ash and Lana, which comes as a reward for unlocking all of the Rengoku Collection items. Recent events and updates, including the Siege X release, have seen huge bumps in player count for the decade-old game. With the Rengoku event proving popular in the past, Ubisoft may expect a similar trend in player count throughout the coming weeks.

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In the realm of Warhammer 40k, players have faced formidable enemies for years. But Warhammer publisher Games Workshop has run into an unlikely foe that it has yet to defeat. According the company's latest financial disclosure, Games Workshop's plan for a new car park have apparently been derailed by a "cute looking" bat

As spotted by IGN, Games Workshop has shared its latest financial report for investors, and notes that a "cute looking pipistrelle bat is delaying our work on our new temporary car park," before adding that the company is "carefully looking after the bat."

Games Workshop has reported huge profits across its business, but there are just two things holding the Warhammer 40,000 maker back right now: Trump's tariffs and a "cute looking" bat. https://t.co/OplJQMSbmN pic.twitter.com/9u0FSfA0PC

— IGN (@IGN) July 30, 2025

The report notes that Games Workshop amassed huge profits for its fiscal year ending in June 2025. However, President Trump's tariffs are a larger concern going forward for the company's lucrative physical goods business.

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After ordering massive layoffs across the company earlier this month, Microsoft shared its report for investors at the end of its fiscal year. One of the bright spots for Microsoft was Xbox Game Pass, which had nearly $5 billion in annual revenue for the first time.

The complete transcript of Microsoft's investor report is online, but it doesn't break down the specifics of Game Pass' milestone in terms of subscribers or even the specific revenue amount that it reached. Last year, Microsoft announced price hikes for Game Pass and introduced Xbox Game Pass Standard, which doesn't include day one access for the company's biggest games. That perk is reserved for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers.

Following the release of the best-selling PlayStation games in the second quarter of 2025 in the US, Microsoft noted that it was "the top publisher on both Xbox and PlayStation this quarter," before crediting the cross-platform launches of Forza Horizon 5 and Oblivion Remastered for achieving that feat. Other Microsoft titles including Doom: The Dark Ages, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Minecraft also appeared as best-sellers on PlayStation's Q2 chart.

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Lego Star Wars 3-in-1 Adventure Gift Set (423 Pieces)

$45 | Walmart Exclusive | Valued at $63

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Walmart has revealed its latest Star Wars Lego Gift Set. The new bundle costs $45 and comes with a trio of existing playsets. Two of the sets are based on The Clone Wars, while the third features characters from The Mandalorian. The Lego Star Wars 3-in-1 Adventure Gift Set isn't available to buy yet, but the store page is live, so it should be up for grabs soon. Walmart also has a new Lego Minecraft 5-in-1 Gift Set that is available to purchase now for $45.

The 423-piece Star Wars bundle will be of particular interest to those who like collecting minifigures and for kids who love staging battles with their Star Wars Lego kits. You'll get nine minifigures, five droids, three vehicles, and several interactive weapons and structures that are ideal add-on packs for larger Lego sets.

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Lego Minecraft 5-in-1 World Explorer Gift Set (522 Pieces)

$45 | Walmart Exclusive | Valued at $61

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Minecraft fans can get a brand-new Lego bundle exclusively at Walmart while supplies last. The Lego Minecraft 5-in-1 World Explorer Gift Set costs $45 and features five playsets that are typically sold separately. All told, the World Explorer Gift Set has 522 pieces, 15 minifigures and buildable mobs, a handful of small structures, and a wide assortment of weapons and other accessories. If you were to buy all five of these builds separately, you'd wind up paying $61, so this bundle saves you 25%.

Lego Minecraft 5-in-1 World Explorer Gift Set - Only at Walmart

This isn't the first Walmart-exclusive Lego Gift Set. Last year around this time, Walmart released a 3-in-1 Adventure Gamer Gift Set. Like most of these official bundles, which have unique packaging, last year's Minecraft Lego Gift Set sold out pretty fast. If you're interested in the 5-in-1 Explorer Gift Set for yourself or as an actual gift, we'd recommend buying it soon, as it's unlikely to be available during the holiday season.

Take a closer look at the contents of the new Lego Minecraft Gift Set below. Walmart also has a new Lego Star Wars 3-in-1 Gift Set for $45, but it's not available to purchase just yet.

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Lego Icons: Optimus Prime Transformers 2-in-1 (1,508 Pieces)

$144 (was $180)

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Optimus Prime is one of the most popular and highly rated buildable models in the Lego Icons lineup--for good reason, too. The 1,508-piece collectible display set has an exceedingly clever 2-in-1 design that allows Transformers fans to convert the Autobot leader into his signature truck. Multiple major retailers recently restocked the set with a 20% discount that dropped the price to $144 (was $180). The deal is sold out at Amazon and Walmart, but Target has restocked the discounted set.

It's a great time to add Optimus Prime to your Lego collection, as the Transformers series is about to get its third member: Soundwave. The Decepticon joins the Lego Icons: Transformers lineup on August 4, but Lego Insiders can purchase the 1,505-piece display model for $190 starting this Friday, August 1.

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Gearbox Software has released a new character short for the upcoming looter shooter, Borderlands 4. Called “Yolt”, this video introduces Rafa the Exo-Soldier moments before he cuts ties with the morally bankrupt Tediore Corporation. It also displays a few of his abilities, including the Arc-knives--powerful energy-based swords deployed by Rafa’s exosuit.

Early on in the short, Rafa can be seen proudly wearing a new exoskeleton during a live Tediore Corp. showcase. Things take a turn for the worse when his commanding officer reveals the finer points of the suit--like how it can operate even if the wearer dies--as well as the company’s desire to cut expenses. The ensuing chaos is comically violent; Rafa goes from standing at attention to fighting to blasting enemies to bits in a manner of seconds.

What’s interesting about Rafa’s short is its inherently darker tone. While the events are still campy/in line with past Borderlands games, there is a seriousness to the themes being introduced. It’s possible that Borderlands 4 will not only have plenty of jokes for fans come September, but an engaging character-driven story as well.

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These days, Baldur's Gate 3 is probably the first thing that comes to mind when people think "Dungeons & Dragons video games," but there's a long history of D&D video games stretching back to before Baldur's Gate 3--or even its predecessors like Baldur's Gate 1 and 2, Planescape Torment, and Neverwinter Nights--ever existed. Throughout the '80s and early '90s, there was a long list of titles like Eye of the Beholder, Pool of Radiance, and Champions of Krynn that adapted older D&D editions into video game form--and many are still considered important classics that are worth revisiting today. If you've ever been curious about these beloved PC games, you'll want to check out Humble's Dungeons & Dragons Classic Collection game bundle, which includes up to 30 old-school D&D PC RPGs, strategy, and action games, for just $10. But you'll want to act fast, as the bundle will only be available until August 7.

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Like other Humble bundles, a portion of all Dungeons & Dragons Classic Collection revenue is donated directly to charity. For this deal, Humble is donating proceeds to Covenant House, which provides food, shelter, and ongoing services to homeless and trafficked young people. If you want to donate more, you can increase your pledge beyond $10 and change the revenue split between Humble, the game publishers, and Covenant House before checkout.

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Donkey Kong may have been Nintendo's first breakout star, but for decades, the character was more commonly associated with other developers than he was with his creators. While numerous studios have put out Donkey Kong titles over the years, the simian really came into his own under the stewardship of Rare, who reinvented the character with 1994's seminal Donkey Kong Country. Though it hasn't been involved with the series since the early 2000s, Rare's work was so beloved that it effectively defined Donkey Kong for the next two decades--and that influence can still be felt throughout the newly released Donkey Kong Bananza.

It's surprising how much of Rare's DK survived in Bananza. Despite some visual references to past Donkey Kong titles, everything Nintendo had shown off leading up to the game's launch suggested it would be a complete reboot of the series. Even beyond the lore implications of Donkey Kong teaming up with an inexplicably young Pauline, Bananza's freewheeling, destructive gameplay and subterranean setting are a marked departure from the Donkey Kong Country of old, giving the game a flavor and identity that's wholly distinct from every DK title before it.

This first impression is not entirely off the mark; right from the outset, Bananza feels like a new direction not just for the character, but the series as a whole. While the game boasts plenty of platforming challenges to overcome, its core loop revolves around smashing your way through dense environments, using DK's mighty strength to carve up the terrain and unearth hidden collectibles. It makes for a decidedly different gameplay experience than previous Donkey Kong titles. And yet, despite this stark change in direction, Bananza still retains a number of elements that Rare's Donkey Kong games pioneered.

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BlackShark V3 Pro Wireless Gaming Headset

$250

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BlackShark V3 Wireless Gaming Headset

$150

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BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed Wireless Gaming Headset

$100

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Razer just launched a V3 series of its flagship BlackShark gaming headset. The lineup is headlined by the BlackShark V3 Pro Wireless Gaming Headset. The $250 wireless headset is the only model in the lineup with active noise cancellation. It's available in Xbox, PlayStation, and PC versions, but it's worth noting the Xbox edition of all of the V3 models has universal compatibility. If the V3 Pro is a bit too expensive for your budget, Razer also released two substantially more affordable models--the $150 BlackShark V3 and the $100 BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed. The V3 Pro releases August 4, while the other two models are available now.

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While all three BlackShark V3 models share the same over-ear form factor and core features, there are, of course, some notable differences--one of the biggest being their wireless connection quality. The BlackShark V3 and V3 Pro are the first to use Razer’s HyperSpeed Wireless Gen-2 connectivity, which the company says offers playback latency as low as 10ms. The BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed uses the previous version of the technology, which is still a solid low-latency 2.4GHz option. All models also support Bluetooth wireless pairing and wired connections via USB or 3.5mm.

The BlackShark V3 Pro is also the only of the three with ANC, and it uses Razer’s high-end Gen-2 TriForce Bio-Cellulose 50mm drivers. By contrast, the BlackShark V3 uses the Gen-2 TriForce Titanium 50mm drivers, while the V3 X HyperSpeed is equipped with TriForce 50mm drivers. The V3 Pro also features a detachable HyperClear full-band 12mm mic, while BlackShark V3 has a detachable HyperClear super-wideband 9.9mm mic, and the V3 X HyperSpeed uses a detachable HyperClear 9.9mm cardioid mic.

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Marvel Rivals' Season 3.5 update is coming August 8, and it will not only add the long-awaited vampire-hunter Blade, but also bring major changes to team-up abilities and competitive play.

Blade enters NetEase's hero shooter with a number of sword-based abilities capable of slicing through foes in a deadly series of spins and slashes. However, he also comes equipped with a shotgun ideal for dealing damage at mid-to-close range. His ultimate ability sees him draw the Sword of Dracula to leave a deadly trail of slashes in his wake. Combined with the ability to prevent incoming enemy heals for a brief period of time and his maneuverability, and Blade looks to be a potent addition to the game's Duelist lineup.

The Daywalker isn't the only new addition coming with the game's August 8 patch. As outlined in a new Dev Vision video, it will also add, remove, and adjust a number of team-up abilities. Guardian Revival, which saw Mantis and Star-Lord take advantage of Adam Warlock's regenerative abilities, is being removed, as is Luna Snow and Iron Fists's Atlas Bond.

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What do you make when you combine Scrabble, Wordle, and Balatro? It's Birdigo and it's out now. This single-player word and deckbuilding game combines elements from those games, guiding a flock of birds on a global migration by forming words from a deck of letter cards. Each word propels the flock forward, with longer or more strategic words generating more "flaps," which determine how far the birds travel.

Gameplay centers around building words using a hand of letter cards drawn from your evolving deck. Some cards come with special abilities and certain letter combinations that can dramatically increase your score. As the game progresses, you collect new cards, upgrades, and modifiers like enchanted feathers or bird songs that change the rules in your favor. The key is to balance word-building with careful deck management to keep your flock moving along.

Help birds migrate using big words.Gallery

Birdigo uses roguelike mechanics, so each game is a fresh run with randomized elements, and the challenge increases the further you get. You'll face progressively harder levels and need to adapt your strategy based on the cards you collect and the goals of each round. The objective is to travel as far as possible and rack up a high score before your flock can no longer continue.

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With Fortnite OG existing as its own permanent mode now, we aren't expecting another throwback mini-season in the vein of last year's Chapter 2 Remix or the original OG season the year before. But with the upcoming Chapter 6 Season 4 starting on August 8, we're pretty much guaranteed a new mini-season in November, because Fortnite has never had a four-month season on purpose before. Instead, the hot rumor since the beginning of May is that we'll be getting another collaboration mini-season like Star Wars season in May, this time with The Simpsons taking center stage.

When you consider Epic's cozy relationship with Disney, plus its long history of Fox Animation collabs--including three cartoon dads Fortnite dropped for Father's Day this past June--this rumor sounds pretty plausible. Indeed, there's been nearly no skepticism about it at all. November is still a long ways away, though, and a lot can happen between now and then. While we wait, let's see what exactly the rumor mill has said about this one.

When would the Simpsons mini-season start?

According to next season's update schedule, Chapter 6 Season 4 should end on Saturday, November 1, which indicates it'll have a live finale event to wrap things up during the day. If things work the way they did after the Death Star Sabotage event in June, the new mini-season would begin that same evening after 4-7 hours of maintenance. Otherwise, it would start the next morning, on November 2.

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