After an 11-year journey and a transition from solo development to an entire team, Lost Soul Aside is finally here and it's … not doing so hot. It only launched today and it's already sitting at a Mixed rating on Steam, with even positive reviews having their fair share of complaints. These include poor audio mixing and English dubbing, a bland story, and an odd checkpoint system, but also some annoying performance issues in certain places. While the official Lost Soul Aside X account hasn't addressed all of those complaints, it did share a statement on the matter.

As it stands, some cutscenes in the prologue are pre-rendered as 4K, 30-frames-per-second videos, which in some cases are causing stuttering during playback. The Lost Soul Team apologised for this, noting that it is "actively working on optimizations, and future updates will address this to deliver a smoother gameplay experience. Thank you for your continued support and patience!"

Lost Soul Aside initially started development as a project inspired by Final Fantasy--namely Final Fantasy 15--from solo developer Yang Bing, but in 2017 he formed Ultizero Games with support from Sony. The action game was delayed multiple times over the years, and was even supposed to launch in May of this year, before eventually arriving today.

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This week, the Communications Workers of America (CWA) announced that more than 450 developers of Blizzard Entertainment's Diablo team have voted to unionize under the CWA. The successful outcome of this effort means workers will now be represented by CWA Local 9510 in Irvine, California; Local 1118 in Albany, New York; and Local 6215 in Austin, Texas.

The newly formed union will represent a wide range of jobs across Blizzard, including designers, engineers, artists, and support staff. Microsoft, Blizzard's parent company, has officially recognized the union. This unionization campaign is not an isolated event at Blizzard, as earlier this month, the studio's Story and Franchise Development team also voted to unionize.

"With every subsequent round of mass layoffs, I've witnessed the dread in my coworkers grow stronger because it feels like no amount of hard work is enough to protect us," said Diablo producer and organizing committee member Kelly Yeo (via Game Developer). "This is just the first step for us joining a movement spreading across an industry that is tired of living in fear."

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Pokemon Legends: Z-A launches for Switch consoles soon, and to celebrate, the Pokemon Company has announced a special event for the game that will feature live lucha libre wrestling. Also known as the best form of wrestling by people of quality, the event will kick off on September 25 at Arena Mexico in Mexico City.

The Pokemon Company says the showcase will feature four exhibition matches, with one of the confirmed performers being Mistico--who performed in the WWE during the early 2010s under the ring name of Sin Cara. The Pokemon Company added that tickets for the event will go on sale soon, but if you can't make it, the matches will be streamed via the official Pokemon and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre YouTube channels.

The announcement was made shortly after the reveal of a brand-new Mega Evolution for Pokemon Legends: Z-A. Fittingly, the Pokemon getting the power-up in the game is Hawlucha, a Luchador-themed Pokemon with unique high-flying moves in its arsenal. Hawlucha's Mega Evolution doubles down on its wrestling inspiration, giving it ornate plumage and making it look ready for a main event match at the next Wrestlemania.

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Microsoft wants to ensure it's easier to return to recently played games no matter what device you pick up. Your Xbox play history should now start syncing across consoles, PC, and eventually the ROG Xbox Ally, thanks to an August update rolling out now.

In other words, if you start playing Gears of War: Reloaded on your Xbox Series X|S, but then decide to move to your PC another day, the cover-based shooter should be ready to roll from your play history. Cloud-enabled games should also start appearing in your recently played list, according to Microsoft. That includes if you checked out a Game Pass title via the cloud or actually own it, such as an original Xbox game like The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind.

This cross-device play history will obviously be a boon for the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds when they launch this October. Picking up where you left off in a game on the portable device while on the go is one of the system's main selling points, though that title will have to be compatible with the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X. While still in preview, Xbox is making it easier to track your owned games, too.

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High on Life launched on the original Nintendo Switch earlier this year, but now the game is getting a bit of a console upgrade. As announced by developer Squanch Games, High on Life is now available on the Nintendo Switch 2, and it comes with several small but welcome improvements. That isn't even mentioning the very agreeable upgrade path.

First of all, you can use the Joy-Con 2's mouse controls if you like playing your first-person shooters as if you're on a PC--a nifty use of the feature we'll surely see in other FPS releases further down the line. There's also improved VFX and texture quality, a higher frame rate, and an enhanced resolution while docked that brings the game up to 1080p and 30 frames per second.

The good news for those of you who already own the game on the original Switch and have also picked up a Switch 2 is that you can upgrade the game completely for free. Or, if you're buying it for the first time, it'll set you back $40 digitally.

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The second incarnation of Final Fantasy 14 debuted in 2013, and it's proven to be far more resilient than the version that arrived in 2010. However, there's been discontent in the FF14 community lately over the removal of a popular mod, which led to the game's subsequent review-bombing on Steam. Now, director Naoki Yoshida has addressed the mod controversy with an appeal to players.

Yoshida's complete remarks were posted on FF14's official site, and he requested that excerpts from his statement not be used by media outlets. But since his response was nearly 2,000 words, a concise recap is unavoidable. The issue started when Square Enix's lawyers sent a letter to modder DarkArchon regarding Mare Synchronos, a mod that allowed players' customized avatars to be visible outside of their own game. Once Mare Synchronos was removed at Square Enix's request, some fans shared their fury in the form of negative Steam reviews.

Although Yoshida notes that he tolerates mods and has admiration for some fan-made creations, he's against mods that violate the game's intent or design in a negative manner. As a potential example, Yoshida noted that Square Enix could face legal consequences in some countries over nude character mods on display in the game. He also cited customized appearances that mimic paid content from from the game as an example of devaluing the services and collectibles that Square Enix sells to provide the revenue the game needs to remain financially viable.

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Nintendo has a friendly public image thanks to its line of family-friendly games, but Cronos: The New Dawn developer Bloober Team wants to start a second golden age of horror on Switch 2. During the GameCube era, Nintendo's console was home to numerous cult-classic horror games, and Bloober Team CEO Piotr Babieno wants to see more spine-tingling games released for Nintendo hardware.

"I'm trying to make my personal dreams come true," Babieno said to The Game Business. "I am a huge Nintendo fan. I grew up with Nintendo consoles. The most important horrors, like Eternal Darkness, Resident Evil 0, Resident Evil 4--were available on Nintendo GameCube. It was a golden time for Nintendo fans. In some ways, we would like to be the ones to open a new chapter for Nintendo right now. We have some plans. We are not able to share our vision for the future yet. But definitely Nintendo fans could take a look at Bloober Team."

Babieno added that Luigi's Mansion could be a good indicator of what fans can expect from the studio, as it gave players a cozy horror experience. The CEO says that there is a "huge possibility to repeat such an idea" in the future.

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Madden NFL 26 has only been out for two weeks, but EA has already prepared the first update for this year's edition. Most of the changes address bugs or other issues that have come up since the game officially launched on August 14. It's also introducing Nike Rivalries, a new feature that will bring "community pride" to some of the most famous rivalries in the league.

According to EA, Nike Rivalries is part of a new four-year deal between Nike and the NFL that will "celebrate football's most storied rivalries" with customized uniforms that represent their respective cities. Each iteration of Nike Rivalries will focus on teams from two different divisions, and this year's subjects are the AFC East and NFC West.

Players from the NFC West and AFC East show off their custom looks in Nike Rivalries.

EA also announced that the Madden NFL 26 update will introduce a customized playbook that was created in collaboration with retired quarterback Kurt Benkert. The playbook is called Benkert's Dimes, and it's available in Play Now when selecting playbooks.

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Earlier in 2025, Square Enix executives shared their desire to "reboot" the company over the next three years. However, not every game will make it out to the other side of that time frame. Two mobile games from Square Enix's top franchises are set to be shut down in Japan at the end of October.

The impending ends of Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius and Dragon Quest of the Stars were confirmed in Square Enix's social media posts (via GamesIndustry.Biz). Both titles originally launched in 2015, although Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius was shut down outside of Japan last year and Dragon Quest of the Stars was closed internationally in 2021. Now, both games are getting delisted on October 31. In-app purchases for each title have also been suspended.

Before the final shutdown goes into effect, Dragon Quest of the Stars will reach its 10th anniversary on October 15, followed by Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius on October 22.

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A Lost Soul Aside demo has been released alongside the Final Fantasy-inspired action game's launch today, allowing curious players to get a taste of the gameplay before committing to purchase.

According to its listing on the PlayStation store, the free demo will include two of the game's boss battles. Both battles appear to be from different parts of the game, allowing you to try out both basic and advanced abilities. The first fight is against the Rose Queen, a quick enemy who deals out "flurries of rapid strikes." You can try out some late-game abilities and a two-handed greatsword in the second boss battle against Holy Knight Commander Victor and the Ancient Mecha. Keep in mind that your progress in the demo will not transfer to the full game.

Lost Soul Aside started as the solo project of Chinese developer Yang Bing, who started building it from Unreal Engine assets back in 2016. The project gained visibility and traction through trailers. Eventually, thanks to the Sony program China Hero Project, a full dev team joined Bing, founding the studio UltiZero Games.

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Back to the Future Trilogy: 40th Anniversary Editions

New 4K Anniversary Box Sets & Limited Edition Steelbooks arrive October 14.

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Back to the Future is celebrating its 40th anniversary with several new 4K Blu-ray box sets and collectible editions on October 14. The ever-popular Ultimate Trilogy will be replaced by the 40th Anniversary Trilogy, a box set with over nine hours of bonus features, including new retrospective featurettes on the original 1985 classic. The 40th Anniversary Trilogy also has an Amazon-exclusive Steelbook Gift Set edition with some unique collectibles like a replica mini Gibson guitar. Unsurprisingly, the $150 Gift Set sold out in approximately 10 minutes, but at the time of writing, it's back in stock at Amazon with a purchasing limit of one per customer.

Back to the Future: 40th Anniversary Steelbook Trilogy Gift Set (4K Blu-ray)

$150

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By the time you read this, there's a good chance the Limited Edition Gift Set is gone again. The good news is that all three Back to the Future films are getting 4K Blu-ray Steelbook Editions as part of the anniversary celebration.

Back to the Future: 40th Anniversary Editions

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Arcade1Up Ms. Pac-Man Head-to-Head Arcade Table

$600

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Arcade cabinets were the original competitive esports of their time, and if you're looking for an even more intense approach to setting a new high score benchmark, you can check out this deal on Arcade1Up's new Ms. Pac-Man Head-to-Head Arcade Table. This model moves the screen from a vertical to a horizontal position for two-player head-to-head action, and it's loaded with 12 games. You can order it now for $600.

Arcade1Up Ms. Pac-Man Head-to-Head Arcade Table $600

Ms.Pac-Man headlines this arcade cabinet with its vintage-inspired design and controls, but you can also play other arcade games like Dig Dug, Galaxian, Mappy, Rolling Thunder, and Rompers on it. On a technical level, the table features glowing controls to recreate a retro aesthetic, durable joysticks and buttons, and a 17-inch LCD screen.

• Dig Dug
• Dig Dug 2
• Galaxian
• Galaga
• Galaga ‘88
• Mappy
• Ms.Pac-Man
• New Rally X
• Pacmania
• Rolling Thunder
• Rompers
• Tower of Druaga

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Like other Arcade1Up cabinets, this new Ms. Pac-Man machine is built to be both stylish and durable. To help protect the screen, there's a clear acrylic top installed on top of it, and it's designed to be a space-saving collectible. The selection of games listed above is also a compilation of all-time classics, as in addition to the timeless appeal of Ms. Pac-Man and Pacmania, Dig Dug offers a charming descent into the depths of the planet, Tower of Druaga is still a beloved action-RPG focused on escaping mazes, and Galaga set a new standard for shoot-'em-ups when it was first released in 1981.

If you'd like to fill out your own home arcade, several Arcade1Up cabinets are also on sale right now. These are billed as "Classic Special Edition" cabinets that don't include a riser. This drops their size down to four feet--but you can purchase a riser for just $59 to get it back to standing height--and helps to save space. Currently, Walmart is offering the Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, and Mortal Kombat 2 arcade cabinets for $334 each. All models come pre-loaded with extra games in addition to their marquee titles.

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Humble Book Bundle: Martha Wells - Murderbot and More Books

14 ebooks for $18

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If you enjoyed Season 1 of Murderbot on Apple TV+ and haven't read the award-winning books the sci-fi comedy is based on, the latest Humble Book Bundle should be on your radar. Martha Wells' Murderbot & More is a jam-packed ebook bundle featuring every novella, novel, and short story in The Murderbot Diaries series as well as several of the author's acclaimed fantasy novels. The full $18 comes with a total of nine novels, five novellas, and two short stories in the Murderbot universe.

All of the ebooks in this Humble Bundle are EPUB format, the universal standard for electronic books, so you will be able to enjoy your new books on any device with your preferred reading app. And like all Humble Bundles, your purchase will benefit a great cause. A portion of your payment will go to the World Central Kitchen (WCK), a non-profit organization dedicated to addressing food insecurity across the globe. The WCK works to create sustainable programs and steps in during times of humanitarian crises and in the wake of natural disasters. Proceeds from your purchase are split between the WCK, Humble, and Macmillan Publishers, and you can manually adjust the percentages to give more/less to each party.

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A new rumor points to a potential 2028 release window for the Steam Deck 2.

The source of the rumor is a post on forum NeoGAF from hardware leaker KeplerL2. Within a thread about Steam Deck competitors, a user wondered if the upcoming ROG Xbox Asus Ally would be undercut by new portable PC releases from MSI or Valve. KeplerL2 replied, "Steam Deck 2 is 2028," without further details. Officially, Valve has released no information on the timing or the potential hardware of a Steam Deck follow-up.

In response to speculation about a revised Steam Deck in 2024, Valve said the next model would be a "generational leap." The original Steam Deck first launched in February 2022 and was followed by a OLED upgrade in November 2023. Valve has continued to support both platforms with new updates and features.

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In 2015. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt elevated the fantasy action-RPG franchise to new heights. Now, publisher CD Projekt Red is teaming up with RoadCo Entertainment and GEA Live for a U.S. tour of The Witcher in Concert.

Heidi Joosten will conduct the music for the tour, which will have stops in 45 cities starting on August 30. Joosten's on-stage musicians will include the Polish folk metal band Percival Schuttenbach as part of its 15-piece ensemble. The concert will feature a special arrangement of The Witcher 3's score that was arranged by Paulina Porszke and Nikola Kołodziejczyk under the supervision of the game's co-composer, Marcin Przybyłowicz.

Cinematics from the game and "immersive visuals" will be paired with the music, as players revisit Geralt of Rivia's "bold, emotional journey across the Continent." Tickets have already gone on sale at the tour's official site, and the complete lineup of tour dates, cities, and locations is below and begins later this week.

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Fortnite dropped a bunch of new collabs in quick succession this week with Gorillaz, the Front Man from Squid Game, and the One Punch Man cosmetics on Tuesday and Wednesday. But apparently Epic isn't done with this week just yet, because the Fortnite Instagram account just teased a new skin based on a space dwarf from the co-op shooter Deep Rock Galactic.

The Fortnite Instagram posted a story teasing the Deep Rock Galactic collaboration.

The countdown timer indicates this six-foot-tall dwarf skin will hit the Fortnite item shop on Friday at the usual shop reset time at 5 PM PT. It'll likely have some accessories that come with it, like a pickaxe, back bling, and wrap--though that's not always the case with individual gaming skins like this. The Goat from Goat Simulator, for example, never received any accessories, and Goat Simulator and Deep Rock Galactic share the same publisher. The image above is the entire tease, and so there's no way to tell what else, if anything, might come with it.

This is a rare example of Fortnite collaborating with another video game that isn't available on the Epic Games Store. It's not something that happens a lot, but it's not particularly shocking either, since Halo just got a slot on the current battle pass despite also not being on EGS.

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We're a few weeks removed from the Battlefield 6 open beta, and by all accounts, the test was a massive success. While it was live, the beta topped the Steam charts while also placing highly on both Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5's active-user leaderboards. Once it was over, its absence (and some freebies) prompted a huge spike in sales of its predecessor, Battlefield 2042. The vibes around Battlefield haven't been this good in a while, thanks to that beta.

Feedback has been coming in quickly since the beta ended, with many fans taking to social media and forums to talk about what they most liked and disliked about this new Battlefield experience. However, there's one particular reaction that I find fascinating, and that's players being happy about the lack of collaborations with outside IP.

Battlefield 6

"Forniteification," as some call it, has turned other franchises into interactive IP catalogues, tapping into current trends and nostalgic trips to yesteryear in order to sell skins and other cosmetics. Battlefield's biggest competitor, Call of Duty, has embraced the concept, enlisting a range of established faces from WWE wrestlers to Cheech and Chong to Nicki Minaj into its platoon.

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Gears of War: Reloaded launched this week with a few issues. Thankfully, developer The Coalition is on the case, and fixes have already been deployed or are coming soon.

In a social media post, the studio said it has resolved an issue that blocked players from accessing the Adam Fenix and Anya Stroud skins they got for preordering the game on Xbox and Steam. The developer has also fixed an issue with Steam crashes, and an update is rolling out today, August 28, to address it.

The developer said it took some time to prepare and release this fix because it had to be tested first. The patch rollout might briefly interrupt services, Microsoft warned.

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Battlefield 6's Secure Boot requirement on PC caused more than a few headaches for players during the game's recent open beta, and while the game's technical director laments the need for it, he also said it's "one of the strongest tools in our toolbox to stop cheating."

In an interview with Eurogamer, Battlefield 6 technical director shared some insight into the need for the Secure Boot requirement and his feelings on it. He said even though it caused some to be unable to play (GameSpot even put together a guide on how to turn on Secure Boot), it's needed to ensure a "fair play experience" and that, overall, the team is happy with how the anti-cheat performed during the beta.

"The fact is I wish we didn't have to do things like Secure Boot," Buhl said. "It does prevent some players from playing the game. Some people's PCs can't handle it and they can't play: that really sucks. I wish everyone could play the game with low friction and not have to do these sorts of things."

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Nearly a decade after its release, No Man's Sky continues to get updates from developer Hello Games. Now, Voyagers, one of the latest updates for No Man's Sky, has inspired something special for the company's next game, Light No Fire. According to Hello Games co-founder Sean Murray, innovations in No Man's Sky will lead to a large ocean to explore and an even bigger planet.

"Much of the technology we're introducing with [No Man's Sky: Voyagers] is shared with our next game, Light No Fire, which is a truly open world, a shared Earth-sized planet, with real oceans to traverse, needing large boats and crews," Murray told PC Gamer. "We love that we get to share this technology with players early."

Hello Games debuted the first look at Light No Fire in late 2023, and Murphy called it "the first real open world." Unlike its predecessor, the entire game takes place on a single world inhabited by all of the players in the game. Voyagers was the first No Man's Sky update to include the possibility of making ships that are big enough to feature multiple player- characters as part of the crew.

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