The Summer Game Fest 2026 live show has ended, and what a show it was! The annual event is one of the biggest in the gaming calendar, and we went in expecting a barrage of new game reveals and exciting announcements.

This year certainly delivered, and was jam-packed with exciting reveals ranging from the announcement of the long-awaited third instalment of the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy to a brand new Stellar Blade game.

There's no need to worry if you didn't manage to watch the show, as we were there live in Los Angeles to bring you the very latest news! Read on for a no-nonsense list of everything that was announced, plus my live reactions to the event as it happened.

Everything announced at Summer Game Fest 2026 live showcase

Here's a summary of everything that was shown in the order that it happened.

• Resident Evil Veronica (Code Veronica remake) - coming 2027
• Mighty Cuphead Adventure - in development
• Alien Isolation 2 - in development
• Gen Atlas - in development
• Blood Message - in development
• Stranger Than Heaven - Out January 15, 2027
• Haex - Coming 2027
• Dead by Daylight - 10th anniversary update will add Longlegs content
• Mortal Shell 2 - beta release
• Sand Raiders of Sophie - server slam open now
• New Assassin's Creed Black Flag Remake trailer - out July 9
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - The Last Ronin - in development
• Fortnite Runners Chapter 7 Season 3 - releasing today
• Gundam Rogue Orbit - Coming 2027
• An Egg Streamly Hard Game - Out July 24, 2027
• Crossfire - in development
• Control Resonant - Out September 24, 2027
• Guild Wars 3 - in development (beta begins Fall 2027)
• Star Wars Galactic Racer - Out October 6, 2027
• End of Abyss - Out October 1, 2026
• Last Harbor - in development
• Virtua Fighter Crossroads - Coming 2027
• Runescape Dragonwilds - Out September 15, 2026
• The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales - Out June 18, 2026
• Orbitals - Coming summer 2026
• Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions - Out June 11, 2026
• Soulframe - in development
• Grounded 2 - update out August 11, 2026
• Mafia The Old Country: Man of Honor expansion - Out August 14, 2026
• 1666 Amsterdam - in development, early access in 2026
• Saw Genesis - in development
• Lords of the Fallen 2 - Coming Fall 2026
• Star Wars Zero Company - Out August 27, 2027
• The Blood of Dawnwalker - Out September 3 + sequel teaser
• Among Us Story On Guard - in development
• 007 First Light - new story mission in development
• Final Fantasy 14 - coming to Nintendo Switch 2
• Turok: Origins - coming to Nintendo Switch 2
• Armatus - coming to Nintendo Switch 2
• Gothic Remake - available now
• Aion 2 - Coming September 2026
• Wuthering Waves x Cyberpunk Edgerunners update
• Monster Hunter Wilds Ascendance - Coming 2027
• Swords of Legend - in development
• Hot Wheels Infinite Rush - Out September 29, 2026
• Sonic Racing CrossWorlds - Year Two roadmap
• Attack on Titan 3 - Out July 1 2026
• Clutch - Spring 2027
• Chronicles Medieval - early access 2026
• Sea of Remnants - in development
• Hitman 3 - The Wizard DLC play for free from June 5 to July 5
• Palword 1.0 update - Out July 10
• The Wolf Among Us 2 - Coming 2027
• The Wolf Among Us Remastered - Coming holiday 2026
• Stellar Blade Bloodrain - in development
• Street Fighter 6 Year 4 + Final Fantasy 7 collaboration - coming soon
• Final Fantasy 7 Revelations - Coming spring 2027

Summer Game Fest 2026 date and start time

The Summer Game Fest live showcase event started on June 5, 2026 at 5PM ET / 2PM PDT / 10PM BST / 11PM CEST.

How long is the Summer Game Fest 2026 live showcase?

The Summer Game Fest 2026 live was broadcast live from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and lasted for two hours.

How to watch the Summer Game Fest 2026 live showcase

You could tune in to the Summer Game Fest 2026 live showcase via either the official Game Awards YouTube channel or its Twitch page.

Hello and welcome to our live Summer Game Fest 2026 coverage!

My colleague Rob is on his way over to the live event, but I'll be keeping up with the stream alongside all of you from my hotel in downtown...

We're currently waiting for the show to start, with the action set to kick off one our from now!

Let me know what you want to see!

From a new Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer to the reveal of a new Star Wars Jedi game, I've been seeing lots of speculation about what might appear in the show today.

What do you want to see tonight? Let me know in the comments of this article.

More than 145,000 viewers have tuned in

There's still a decent chunk of time to go before the show begins in earnest, but that doesn't mean that viewers aren't already flooding in to the official stream.

Over on the official Game Awards feed, I'm seeing more than 145,000 other viewers watching right now.

Just half an hour to go folks

Just 30 minutes to go until the Summer Game Fest 2026 stream begins in earnest.

Now is the time that you should be making any last minute food and drink arrangements to make sure that you don't need to get up once the announcements are underway.

At least one Star Wars game is appearing

EA has confirmed that the upcoming Star Wars game Zero Company will be shown today in a new post over on X.

It's a gritty strategy game set alongside the events of the Clone Wars that follows a cast of customizable operatives.

It sounds pretty much like a Star Wars take on the legendary Xcom strategy franchise, which is certainly an idea that appeals to me.

Look out for "a single player, narrative game" at the end of the show

A new X post from present and organizer Geoff Keighley has confirmed that the show will end on "a single player, narrative game" thanks to "feedback" - presumably some of the backlash to the announcement of failed online shooter Highguard last year.

Could this be a Grand Theft Auto 6 tease? It would certainly fit the bill, but I think that it would be best to temper expectations for now.

Here's a little peek behind the curtain at my current setup.

For some reason my hotel room doesn't actually have a desk area, and I felt a little bad chatting on a video call in the lobby...

Meanwhile here's what my colleague Rob can see! I'm not jealous...

Okay, maybe a little bit.

Just under 15 minutes to go now! Get ready everyone...

The countdown has officially begun on stream. If you haven't tuned in yet, get that tab open.

Great news!

I managed to convince Rob that he should send me a selfie from the event on the promise that it would not appear in our live coverage.

Hopefully he's too busy watching the show to see this...

We're now just a couple minutes away from the big show...

The showcase has officially begun!

The live stream has officially begun and you bet that means that presenter Geoff Keighley is on stage, looking rather stylish in a shiny crimson suit.

Here's a photo from Rob in the audience.

He's starting off by looking back at the biggest games of the year so far and praising some major sellers, including a decent handful of indie titles.

Now it's time for our first announcement!

It's something set in Paris and it's a first person game. Honestly I'm getting some Bioshock vibes from this...

I'm interested to see what it might be.

Technical difficulties? It looks like the stream jumped back a little, but I'm back in.

So far we've seen an older lady showing the protagonist around a rather dirty look apartment. The vibes are definitely a little off with this one...

Hang on... Is this a Resident Evil game?

Yep, that's the long-rumored Resident Evil Code Veronica remake - now called Resident Evil Veronica.

It's going to come out in 2027.

A message from the team behind Cuphead now, with a puppet character revealing that there's a new Cuphead game in development with more of that lovely hand-crafted art style.

Plus a surprise look at a game called Mighty Cuphead Adventure, a pixel-art retro platformer.

No release date for either of them yet...

Co-host Lucy James has just taken to the stage to reveal another game.

It's a game from both Sega and Creative Assembly, so I'm thinking a new Alien Isolation sequel!

Yep, I'm locking in my prediction now as we see plenty of Alien looking scenery and a few flashes of the Xenomorph!

That's official then. It's called Alien Isolation 2 - how exciting!

The devs are now on stage talking about the game, which will be set on a new colony world.

It seems the scope of this next game is a massive step up from the last.

Ico creator Fumito Ueda just got a shoutout and is actually sitting in the audience!

Now it looks like we're going to see his next game...

It seems to be something very sci-fi themed, with the newly shown trailer barraging us with plenty of abstract imagery on some kind of alien planet inhabited by robotic creatures.

There was a little bit of shooting, and some absolutely mega robots.

The title is Gen Atlas. You can whishlist it now.

Now we're looking at Blood Message, an upcoming action title from Chinese gaming giant Netease.

It's set in ancient China and is a narrative-driven experience with a mix of stealth and challenging combat.

The trailer confirmed that the first hands-on previews will begin tomorrow, and I'm already booked to give it a go!

Now a new trailer for Stranger Than Heaven, the upcoming historical Like A Dragon series prequel.

We're being bombarded with the names of some of the celebrities that will feature as characters and... hang on? Tupac will be in the game?

We also have a release date: January 15, 2027.

Now Snoop Dogg, who is also being featured, has come on stage to talk about the game!

He's also talking his efforts with Death Row Games, a studio working on some hip hop themed projects.

Okay, now for something a little different. A game called Heax, which comes from former Division developers.

Plenty of shooting, creepy monsters, co-op play, and some pretty mind-bending environments on show.

There's also some kind of cube, which looks important. Perhaps that's what players will be trying to get their hands on in the game.

A Dead by Daylight tease now, and it looks like it's tied in with the popular Longlegs horror movie.

Now some Mortal Shell 2, with a look at its big medieval inspired fantasy world and some more combat.

And a trailer for Sand: Raiders of Sophie, which seems to have players creating their own weird vehicles and duking it out in a desert.

Now here's a game that everybody should be able to recognize. It's the upcoming Assassin's Creed Black Flag remake!

It looks pretty slick, and I really like the updated graphics.

Now we're on to a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game from action game giants PlatinumGames subtitled The Last Ronin.

Only a brief look today, so presumably it's pretty early in development.

Ben Starr is now on stage! I bumped in to him in the lift of my hotel earlier...

Starr introduced a load of new Fortnite content, which will be added in the latest Chapter 7 Season 3 update tonight.

The game's latest end of season live event will kick off later today!

A sci-fi title from Bandai Namco up now, apparently connected to a massive franchise though I'm not entirely sure what it might be from the look of it so far...

We also saw a little bit of gameplay with some third-person hack and slash combat.

That's Gundam Rogue Orbit, releasing in 2027.

A solo dev project is up now and it's a physics platforming game about geese that has you and other players trying to transport fragile eggs.

I can't lie, I'm not that keen on this one. It looks pretty generic and dull. It drops on July 24, 2026.

We just got a trailer for Crossfire, a third-person action game that looks almost like Uncharted crossed with Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon.

It contained plenty of intense third-person shooting, loads of modern military gear, and some glimpses of action set pieces.

It seems like it will be part of the long-running online Crossfire series, which are online shooters with a massive community in Asia.

Now we're getting a fresh trailer for Control Resonant, with a slightly more extended look at its twisted vision of Manhattan.

It finally arrives on September 24 this year.

A surprise MMO announcement now, with the reveal of Guild Wars 3!

It was just a cinematic trailer, but I liked what I saw.

I've never been much of an MMO guy, but maybe now is the time to go check out some of the older Guild Wars titles. I know the first game was re-recently re-released, presumably in anticipation of this reveal.

The game will come to both PC and PlayStation 5 but there's no word of a release date quite yet.

Some exciting pod racing action on the stream now, with a new trailer for Star Wars: Galactic Racer.

It looks pretty sick, with loads of fast-paced action as you speed around different planets.

The trailer also showed that Sebulba from the film series will be in the game!

That was followed by a brief look at End of Abyss, a kind of creepy looking Little Nightmares-esque title being published by Epic Games.

Then, keeping with the horror theme, was a title called Last Harbour - an unsettling aquatic adventure.

How here's a big announcement for fighting game fans: we're getting a look at the next Virtua Fighter title.

It's called Virtua Fighter Crossroads and is being developed by the team behind the Yakuza games. The trailer looks surprisingly cinematic for a fighting game, which suggests that story might be a big focus.

Virtua Fighter Crossroads will release some time in 2027.

More details will be shown in a dedicated showcase later today.

Now a new trailer for RuneScape: Dragonwilds, which brings the popular MMO franchise to console for the first time.

This game is already out in PC early access over on Steam, and seems to have been received pretty well so far. It's sitting at an overall "very positive" rating on the platform.

A load of Nintendo Switch 2 games being shown, with a sizzle reel of major titles including cute anime co-op adventure Orbitals.

A new trailer for Soulframe, the upcoming MMO from the team behind Warframe.

No major news on it apparently, but I do like the look of everything that's been shown so far.

A new trailer for Grounded 2, which we now know is coming to PlayStation 5!

A trailer then announced that a Mafia: The Old Country expansion will drop on August 14, 2026.

It's called Man of Honor and will tie in with the very first game in the series.

A very cool looking witch game up now, and I'm really liking the look of it!

We're seeing loads of creepy black cats, sinister rituals, and weird magic.

The game is called 1666 Amsterdam, and can be wishlisted right now.

You'll even be able to download and play a 30 minute prologue today!

Another sizzle reel of the game now, showing the fact that you can play as a cat!

Hang on... Billy from the Saw franchise is on stage now. Are we about to see the announcement of a new Saw game?

Yep, that's exactly what it is. Saw Genesis is an upcoming horror game that ties in to the long-running movie franchise.

Only cinematics have been shown so far, so it's hard to tell exactly what kind of game this well be.

Okay, we're seeing some gameplay now. It looks like the game is set some time in the First World War, which is definitely an interesting creative choice.

It was also confirmed that this will be a multiplayer game, in a 3v1 format.

A new trailer for Lords of the Fallen 2, with some big environments and a look at some of its characters.

It was only a short trailer, though.

Here's that Star Wars Zero Company trailer that I mentioned earlier.

It looks like my description that it was a Star Wars take on Xcom was pretty spot on - with the trailer showing off the huge depth of squad customization and giving us an early look at some of the battles players will have to fight through.

The trailer ended with the reveal that Anakin Skywalker will appear in the game!

A dark fantasy title now, centred around vampires. I'm thinking this is going to be Blood of Dawnwalker, which is set in 14th-century medieval Europe.

It was indeed The Blood of Dawnwalker. Interestingly there were glimpses of a modern day narrative as well, which seemingly will be a separate title.

A new standalone Among Us game? This is certainly a surprise!

It's a stylized mystery game by the looks of it, and is titled Among Us Story On Guard.

Now there's some kind of on-stage Among Us skit, and honestly I'll just spare you the details because it's a little cringe.

Speaking of cringe, it's being followed up by a trailer for an animated series based on the game.

It's meant to be a comedy series I suppose, though the jokes don't seem particularly funny...

It's streaming now on Paramount+.

Our first tease for some 007 First Light DLC! That was certainly fast.

It was a very short trailer, but certainly gives those currently playing through the game something to look forward to.

Now a quick Gothic Remake trailer. The game is out right now.

A stylish action game is being shown now, with flashy characters duking it out against monsters and even flying mechanics.

It's a sequel apparently, called Aion 2, though I must admit I'm not exactly familiar with the original game.

The Wuthering Waves X Cyberpunk 2077 collab is being shown now, with a little trailer highlighting returning Edgerunners characters like Rebecca and Adam Smasher.

A release from Capcom now, by the looks of it something in the Monster Hunter series.

New DLC for Wilds perhaps?

It's a big Wilds expansion called Ascendance, seemingly focusing on a new region and introducing new creatures!

It's about time we got our first soulslike game, so here it is!

I'm honestly surprised it took this long for us to get one.

That was one long, soulsike bossfight!

The game is called Swords of Legends and is inspired by Chinese myth.

Now here's something a bit more light-hearted! A new Hot Wheels game, with loads of toy cars zooming around what looks to be an open world map.

I'm getting some surprising Forza Horizon vibes from this one, which is definitely a good thing.

That was Hot Wheels Infinite Rush and it will be out on September 24 this year.

Trailer highlighting loads of exciting crossover content coming to Sonic Crossworlds, and a new indie game called Pico Park starring the blue hedgehog and his friends.

An Attack of Titan game from Koei Tecmo now - apparently depicted the series' entire story from start to finish!

It's called Attack on Titan 3, with more information to come in July it seems.

A look at Clutch now! This game comes from ex Forza Horizon devs, and combines intense sports racing with seedy underworld activity.

We've been seeing lots of the game on social media over the last few weeks, with posts from official accounts highlighting the high level of car customization that will be available to players.

The game will also feature some unique tools for drivers to use, like grapple hooks.

It's out Spring 2027 per this trailer.

A medieval combat title now, which almost looks like a cross between Total War and Mount and Blade - two series that I absolutely love.

The game is called Chronicles Medieval, and will come out in early access in 2026.

The next announcement is a big new trailer for Sea of Remnants, a huge open-world pirate adventure that I flew out to China to play last year.

I'm really looking forward to this one. It's really ambitious, with a big cast of companion characters to recruit and a really stylish puppet-inspired art direction.

Pre-registration is open now, if you want to be among the first to play.

Oh nice, a Hitman announcement now - presumably a new Elusive Target update.

Yep, that's exactly what it is: a new celebrity Elusive Target starring Wiz Khalifa!

No, this isn't a Pokemon announcement... This is something to do with Palworld - maybe a new update?

Yep, the survival game is getting a 1.0 version on July 10!

A very long-awaited announcement now, with a fresh trailer for The Wolf Among Us 2!

It's been so long that I honestly forgot this one was even happening, but it looks like just what fans have been waiting for.

Hopefully this trailer will end on a release date!

No release date, but it will be out in 2027.

Oh, and the original game is being re-released later this year with a new remaster so you can experience it all over again!

Now we're getting a look at something that seems like it might be a Stellar Blade sequel. Color me intrigued...

We're seeing the protagonist walking through a busy city, and then fighting all kinds of disgusting parasite creatures.

The more I see, the more I'm convinced this is a Stellar Blade game.

It is indeed Stellar Blade, and a sequel called Stellar Blade Blood Rain!

It said to star a new protagonist, and follow on from the events of the last game.

A look at upcoming content for Street Fighter 6 with its fourth year, featuring loads of new fighters.

We've got Yasmine, Arjun, Bosch, and even Tifa from Final Fantasy 7 all on the way!

I've been playing loads of Street Fighter 6 recently, so I'm glad to see that it's going to be getting more updates.

Okay, Geoff is teeing up the final announcement... What do we think it's going to be?

It's the long-awaited third entry in the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy!

We're getting a beefy trailer here, showing Cloud and friends facing off against a variety of big bosses.

The title? Final Fantasy 7 Revelation!

The devs have taken the stage to confirm that the game will be launching simultaneously on all platforms, so no PS5 exclusivity this time around.

The central theme of the game is apparently "resolve", with the remake series coming to its long-awaited narrative conclusion.

Now we're getting another trailer, going into the story in greater depth.

The game takes place in the series' most expansive open world, which players can explore in the Highwind airship.

You'll be able to dive from the Highwind using a parachute, almost like dropping from the battle bus in Fortnite.

The hybrid battle system is back, though has apparently been upgraded this time around with the ability to switch between characters seamlessly.

Fan-favorite character Vincent Valentine will be playable too, voiced by Matt Mercer.

Cid Highwind, your airship's pilot, will also join you in battle.

A third Final Fantasy Revelation trailer? This one showing a flashy in-game cutscene.

And finally we know that it will drop in Spring 2027! It's coming to Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC - all on the same day!

And that's a wrap! What did you think of the this year?

I thought it was definitely a step up from last year, though I'm not a huge Final Fantasy fan so I can't say I found the Revelation announcement that exciting. The Code Veronica remake news was awesome to see though, even if it has been rumored for ages!

Need a recap of everything that was shown? Head back up to the top of this page for a full list.

You may assume Lego is running out of runway with licensed-IP games. You’d be wrong. I’ve spent two hours in the new Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, and having played and loved the original Lego Batman trilogy, I’m now doubly excited to play this latest title.

One thing I appreciate about TT Games is its measured approach to changing the formula. A new Lego game will rarely feel like a total reinvention, but there’s almost always something fundamentally different that could make its way into future iterations.

In Batman’s Lego lifecycle, we’ve seen that a few times already: DC Superheroes introduced the first open world hub and voice acting, and Lego Batman: The Videogame was the first to feature an original storyline. Now, Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight challenges Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga for its claim to fame as the biggest departure from the traditional Lego game formula, inheriting its RPG skill trees and combo system but adding a bunch of exciting new ideas, pushing the limits of what a Lego game can be.

Some changes might feel like a loss; being limited to seven playable characters, for one, could raise some eyebrows. But more than ever, Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight feels like a classic RPG, especially when compared to the older Lego action-adventure platformers of yore, and I think it’ll go down a treat when it releases soon on May 22, 2026.

OK, I’ll watch the Waynes die… again

One thing we’ve known for a while now is that Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight will feature references to a far wider range of Bat-media than previous titles, including the 80s movies, the latest movie starring Robert Pattinson (swoon) and, of course, the comics.

You’ll play through from life as a young Bruce Wayne training with The League of Shadows, later build a family of allies to defeat some of Batman’s most legendary foes. It’s a real love song to one of the most enduring superheroes, and from what TT Games tells me, it’ll see Bruce Wayne’s origins and relationships explored in more depth than ever before… at least, in Lego form.

In my two-hour demo of the upcoming game, I was shown three different points in the game; the first was early-on in a The Batman (2022)-inspired sequence that saw Jim Gordon and the Bat navigate the lower levels of Falcone’s Iceberg Bar — which you learn are actually home to a giant soft-play for his henchmen called Falcone’s House of Fun.

Diving into ball pits and squishy squeeze rollers dressed as Batman wasn’t on my 2026 bingo card, but it was on my bucket list — and it’s the exact kind of creative nonsense I love in Lego games. Add to that the comically thick New York mobster accents, ample smashable and unlockable content, and everything from a chase sequence to platforming puzzles, and you end up with delightfully dynamic level design that’s sure to entertain all ages.

That’s a great segue to one of the exciting additions to Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight — difficulty levels. Now, older players can join in on the fun without feeling the grind thanks to two new increased difficulty levels: Caped Crusader and Dark Knight.

I played mostly in the former, which ups the ante with more enemies and advanced enemy types appearing more often, but with unlimited lives, whereas the latter poses even more challenging combat, more enemies and tougher bosses, plus limits the number of lives.

It was also my first opportunity to try the more complex combat system, which pairs combos with the new counter system. I can’t think of a better IP to introduce more complex combat than Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, and I really enjoyed the increased focus on crowd control and timing as you battle different enemies in everything from from defensive to melee to ranged combat. Granted, it’s still far from challenging (though I didn’t try Dark Knight difficulty…) but it keeps you on your toes more than older Lego games would have.

Plus, the new environmental takedowns are brilliant. Pummeling cronies into hot dog stands, dumpsters and more makes for some satisfying vigilante action.

It’s not a heist!!!

The second save I tried jumped forwards to date night (read: definitely a heist) with Catwoman, featuring a fun little safe-breaking mini-level, and, later on, Dick Grayson’s introduction.

This section also allowed me to explore Gotham City a little, and I’m really excited to spend some more time on this once I play the full game. The overworld is sprawling, offering new heights (literally) of exploration and discovery thanks to its taller buildings and traversal mechanics.

The greater focus on verticality primes Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight to be my favorite playable Lego Gotham City yet, and there’s plenty to see and unlock.

Most of the puzzles I found from villains like The Riddler were pretty easy, and I very much doubt that changes with difficulty levels — par for the course, yes, but I hope there’s more challenge to eke out Batman’s detective roots in the final game.

It’s never been easier to get around in a Lego game now you can aim, grapple and even propel yourself by slinging from one roof to another, though I did encounter a few awkward glitches where I was stuck beneath a platform or on a building’s corner. Thankfully, these were far from game-breaking, and the character usually manages to scoot itself into a better position — plus the software I played on wasn’t final.

I also had the chance to check out the Batcave, and I’m pretty excited to see how this evolves through gameplay. There’s plenty to do here, from upgrading your gear with Wayne Tech chips, admiring your costume and vehicle collection to decorating with unlockable items — including decorations from levels you’ve played in as well as shop-bought items from Bat Mite. Or, you can just hitch a ride on the Sub Wayne to head back out to the city.

The last section of the game I tried showed the boss fight against Poison Ivy, in which the Dark Knight and the Boy Wonder face off against a giant two-headed Snapdragon made entirely of Lego pieces, showcasing all of the game’s various combat features into one super fun package. Again, on Caped Crusader mode it’s far from difficult, but you do need to stay on your toes somewhat against its various area of effect abilities.

I saved the city again. It was off the chain.

There’s hours of fun to be had in Lego Batman: Legend of the Dark Knight, and I’ve barely scratched the surface here despite only spending two hours in the game so far myself.

It marries a lot that I love about Lego games with elements of traditional Bat-media and games like Batman: Arkham Asylum while still keeping things lean and fun. That coming at the expense of playable characters does little to assuage me when there’s so much more to collect and explore, and there’s still plenty in that more limited roster to enjoy when it comes to costumes and vehicles.

Ultimately, its greatest calling card is that this marks the first Lego Batman game I’d recommend as a gameplay experience for adults thanks to the new difficulty modes and combat system, and while it’s far from challenging, you’ll at least face a few close shaves and be pushed to do more than button mash to attack.

Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight releases on May 22, 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam and Epic Games, and Nintendo Switch 2, and all pre-orders of Standard & Deluxe Editions will receive The Dark Knight Returns Batsuit, inspired by the acclaimed comic book series. Plus, Deluxe Edition pre-orders will also receive 72-hour early access to the game beginning on May 19th, prior to the main launch on May 22nd.

If you’re wanting to go all-in on the Lego side of things, there are a number of newly-launched Lego DC Batman sets that include unlockable in-game digital content, which you can shop at the Lego store US and UK.

• Fortnite's Star Wars Day celebrations have officially begun
• Three new game modes made by Epic and Lucasfilm have been added, alongside hundreds more made by creators
• New Star Wars cosmetics and events will be released throughout May

Epic Games has released the roadmap for its month-long Fortnite x Star Wars Day celebrations, which includes a "galaxy of new Star Wars games" and more to keep fans busy.

While Star Wars Das officially begins on May 4, three new game modes made by Epic and Lucasfilm, along with hundreds of islands made by creators using the official Star Wars toolkit, are available in Fortnite as of today.

"After years of creating Star Wars experiences with Disney and Lucasfilm, we gave Star Wars’ heroes, worlds and assets to Fortnite creators so they could build the experiences they’ve always dreamed of playing. It’s now possible to create a limitless variety of games in the Star Wars universe that anyone in Fortnite can play," said Adam Sussman, president of Epic Games.

The three designed by Epic and Lucasfilm are Galactic Siege, a Battlefront-like mode featuring large-scale, PvP class-based battles with 10v10 combat across iconic Star Wars planets.

Then there's Escape Vader, a four-player co-op game where you need to hide, run, and survive against Darth Vader, and lastly Droid Tycoon, where players build and customize droids using authentic Star Wars blueprints, manage their workshop and factory systems, and unlock rare components and special missions.

"Interactive entertainment is rapidly becoming one of the defining forces in how audiences experience stories, and Disney is fully embracing that evolution," added Sean Shoptaw, executive VP of Disney Games and Digital Entertainment. "Games offer a uniquely powerful way to deepen engagement, expand our worlds, and connect with fans in real time. As this space continues to grow, we see extraordinary potential to elevate Disney storytelling in ways that are innovative, social, and built for the way people play today."

With the release of these modes also comes new Star Wars Quests, with more to come every week in May, all offering free rewards upon completion.

New The Clone Wars skins and accessories for Ahsoka Tano and Anakin Skywalker have also arrived in the Item Shop today, along with the return of more Star Wars Outfits, and players can unlock a free Carbonite Fishstick Back Bling for linking their account to MyDisney.

On May 14, Lego Fortnite Odyssey will get its own Star Wars update with a new Hover Bricker, hover vehicles, the Mandalorian and Grogu, and Star Wars enemies.

Additionally, on May 19, players can log in and join the The Mandalorian and Grogu Watch Party Island to see a special message from creator Jon Favreau and get a 10-minute sneak peek of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu ahead of the theatrical release on May 22.

However, players must first collect bounties and defend the city against waves of enemies, find Grogu, and spend 20 minutes exploring Nevarro to unlock the exclusive Mandalorian Sanctuary loading screen.

Finally, on May 26, players can visit the island’s amphitheatre to watch a Q&A with Favreau about the film and making of The Mandalorian and Grogu Watch Party Island.

• Sony has confirmed players won't need constant internet access to play digital PlayStation games
• A 30-day license verification countdown has been introduced fpr new digital games
• A one-time online check will be required to validate the game license

Sony has finally responded to the ongoing PlayStation license controversy, confirming that a constant internet connection won't be required to play digital games.

Earlier this week, a new '30-day license check' was spotted on digitally purchased PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 games, immediately raising concerns among users. It was initially thought that the system would revoke game licenses if players didn't log in to their PSN account or connect their console to the internet.

This would apply to digital games bought after the latest March system update, and reportedly not impact previous purchases.

"Potential major DRM issue rolled out by PlayStation (and Xbox as well, allegedly). All new PSN purchases now have a 30 day validation countdown. Already investigating to find out more details," spotted X/Twitter user 'DoesItPlay'.

However, Sony has now addressed the issue and, at the same time, quelled worries by confirming that users only need to be connected to the internet and complete a one-time license authentication. Beyond that, no further checks will be required.

"Players can continue to access and play their purchased games as usual," a Sony Interactive Entertainment spokesperson told GameSpot. "A one-time online check is required to confirm the game's license, after which no further check-ins are required."

Thankfully, the new system shouldn't cause too much trouble for users, but any PS5 and PS4 digital games bought from the PS Store going forward will need to be authenticated once.

It's suspected that the license check is to prevent potential refund scams, specifically filing for a refund and then immediately disconnecting from the internet to continue playing the game.

In other news, Sony has begun rolling out its new PlayStation age verification system in the UK and Ireland as part of the UK's Online Safety Act (OSA). The process is currently optional, but will become mandatory in June 2026.

Those who don't complete age verification will lose access to many PlayStation communication features like text and voice chat, messaging, Discord voice chat, streaming features, and more.

Users should receive an email asking them to complete the age verification steps. If you haven't received yours yet, you can check out the official FAQ to get started.

• Former Naughty Dog artist Heather Cerlan revealed that the controversial death in The Last of Us Part 2 was divisive internally
• Cerlan says the studio was "split" on the decision
• The death was hugely controversial among fans back in 2020

Spoilers ahead for The Last of Us Part 2

A former Naughty Dog developer has revealed that the controversial death in The Last of Us Part 2 was also a divisive element within the studio.

If you've played The Last of Us sequel, you'll know that Joel Miller, the protagonist of the first game, is brutally killed by Abby Anderson in an act of revenge at the beginning of the story.

At the time of the game's release in 2020, Joel's death caused a huge uproar among fans, with many hating the decision. Others praised the bold move for subverting expectations and delivering one hell of an emotional journey for Ellie.

Now, in a lengthy interview with Kiwi Talkz, Heather Cerlan, who worked as an artist on The Last of Us, The Last of Us Part 2, Uncharted 4, and The Lost Legacy, confirmed that the death was just as controversial at Naughty Dog as it was among fans.

"Oh yeah, most of the studio was like, 'really you're going to?...'", Cerlan said, before trailing off to avoid spoilers.

"I think the studio was pretty split on like, the outcome of what happens," she continued. "Yes, absolutely. It was controversial internally, too."

Joel's death also leaked ahead of the game's official release, which led to online abuse and death threats being sent to Abby's actress, Laura Bailey, and her new-born son.

Bailey later opened up about the abuse she received in Grounded II: Making The Last of Us Part 2.

"Every time I went online, that's all I saw. Death threats and threats of violence, and the worst of it, the really hardcore death threats got past along and they [the police] made sure they weren’t anyone who lived close by," Bailey said at the time.

"They were threatening my son, who was born during all of it, and yeah, it was rough. But, you know, more than anything, it just kind of like taught me to keep a distance."

Naughty Dog is currently working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. The star of the game, Tati Gabrielle, shared in an interview last year that she was aware of the hate The Last of Us: Part 2 cast members, like Laura Bailey, Ashley Johnson, and Troy Baker, received back in 2020, and that director Neil Druckmann had been preparing her for a similar situation.

"Neil's been bootcamp-ing me," Gabrielle said. "I know Troy's experience, I know Ashley's experience… I know Laura Bailey's experience.

"I got a lot of love, but there was a lot of hate over me being a woman, me being a woman of color, me having my head shaved, all these things that I didn't even actually initially see — I'm out of the social media zeitgeist for that reason — but once I did, Neil was like, 'Ignore it. No matter what, me and you, we're going to make something beautiful. We're going to make something that we're proud of.'"

• Sony is under fire for new rumored '30-day license check' for digital purchases on PS5 and PS4 consoles
• The DRM feature was spotted by several users, and seems to only impact purchases made after the March system update
• Sony is yet to explain whether the feature is intentional or a bug

Sony has been under fire over the last few months over significant price hikes on PlayStation 5 and PS Portal hardware amid the ongoing memory crisis and wider economic struggles. Unfortunately, the company is back in the spotlight again, for the wrong reasons — and arguably the worst yet.

As reported by VideoCardz, several PlayStation users spotted a new '30-day license check' on digitally purchased games on PS5 and PS4. This supposedly revokes game licenses if users don't log in or connect their console to the internet within 30 days, meaning that they can no longer be played until the console is connected to the internet again.

This seemingly only applies to games that have been bought after the latest March system update, and reportedly won't impact previous purchases.

Unsurprisingly, the situation has left several users panicking, effectively labelling the measure as a new form of console digital right management - or DRM.

Comment from r/GamingLeaksAndRumours

Comment from r/GamingLeaksAndRumours

It has also sparked comparisons to Microsoft's Xbox One controversy back in 2013, when it revealed a DRM feature that required users to be online every 24 hours or games would stop working, alongside frustrating restrictions on game resales.

Notably, Sony famously mocked Microsoft with a short video on how to share games on PS4, but now in 2026, Sony is seemingly following suit. That's, of course, if this new license check is intentional.

Concerned users have already reached out to PlayStation's chat support, and based on the replies, it appears as though this new DRM measure is indeed intentional, despite suggestions that it may be a bug. We've reached out to Sony for a statement, but haven't received a response yet.

If this is a fully intended feature, then it will undoubtedly place Sony in consumers' bad books. Microsoft was forced to walk back on its initial DRM feature thanks to strong backlash, and it won't be a surprise to see the same pressure mounted on its rival this time around.

• PlayStation age verification has begun rolling out for users in the UK and Ireland
• As part of the UK's Online Safety Act (OSA), age verification will be mandatory in June
• Many communication features will be unavailable if the user doesn't verify their age

Sony has begun rolling out PlayStation age verification for users in the UK and Ireland.

The age verification process, which is part of the UK's Online Safety Act (OSA), is currently optional, but will be mandatory starting June 2026, according to the FAQ.

Sony is asking players to complete the process to avoid interruptions later this year and keep access to PlayStation communication features like text and voice chat, messaging, Discord voice chat, streaming features, broadcasting to YouTube and Twitch, joining parties or group sessions, and other in-game user-generated content (UGC).

It explained that some games offer their own communication tools or UGC features, and if age verification is not completed, certain features will be unavailable.

"Because each title is designed differently, the specific features affected may vary by game," Sony said. "As titles update their implementations over time, additional in-game features may become restricted for users who have not verified their age.

Players have reacted to the new change, with one Reddit user saying, "Sony making age verification mandatory for core PlayStation social features feels like a preview of where the internet is heading."

Others have said they shouldn't have to verify their age if they've owned their account for more than 18 years, with some suggesting that if a purchase was made with a credit card, Sony should automatically know the user is an adult.

TechRadar Gaming's own Managing Editor, Rob Dwiar, received an email alerting him to the age verification. In case you haven't received yours yet, it reads:

"Verify your age to keep using communication features. At Sony Interactive Entertainment, we are committed to creating safe, age-appropriate experiences for players and families while respecting privacy and giving players and parents meaningful control over their gaming experience.

"As part of our compliance with global regulations, you'll need to verify your age later this year to continue using PlayStation communication features, such as messages and voice chat. You will still be able to access other PlayStation services, like games, trophies, and the Store, if you do not verify your age."

A QR is also attached to the email, prompting users to scan and follow the steps to verify their age.

Sony is using Yoti for age verification, the same service Microsoft uses for Xbox after introducing the mandatory feature last year. A government-issued ID, a facial scan for estimated age, and a mobile provider check can all be used to verify the user's age.

You can verify now or scan the QR code on the FAQ to get started if you haven't received an email yet.

• Former Obsidian creative officer Chris Avellone says Bethesda doesn't have the "engineering know-how" to create a Fallout: New Vegas remake
• Avellone says the studio doesn't have the source code
• He adds that they may have "aspects of the code" but "they had no idea how to reassemble it"

Obsidian Entertainment co-founder and former creative officer Chris Avellone has said a Fallout: New Vegas remake may not be possible because Bethesda lacks the "engineering know-how."

In a recent interview with YouTube channel TKs-Mantis, Avellone, who also wrote for New Vegas, said he doesn't think the company would be able to create a modern version of the 2010 role-playing game (RPG), like last year's The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, which was co-developed by Bethesda and Virtuos (via GamesRadar).

"Just really simply, I don’t think Bethesda has the engineering know-how to make a remaster of New Vegas at all," Avellone said, adding that he knows people "enjoyed some of the visuals" of Oblivion Remastered, but overall it seemed the reception was kind of negative."

TKs-Mantis brings up the rumors about a Fallout 3 remake, suggesting Bethesda once again use the game's Gamebryo engine and Unreal Engine 5 for visual enhancements, like Oblivion Remastered, and that fans want the same for New Vegas.

Avellone explained that "just pragmatically, it would make more sense to try out that process with Fallout 3 before going to New Vegas, just to see what all the problems and issues are as a result," but there is "one reason" it would be impossible.

That reason being, he claimed, was that the studio head, Feargus Urquhart, didn't give Bethesda the game’s source code after development ended.

"The very last milestone for New Vegas was ‘please deliver all the source code and the ability to make the build, and we’ll pay you, like, $10,000 for that milestone,’" Avellone said. "Now, what that milestone really meant was if all those assets are given to Bethesda, that means they can recreate the game at any time. So, for reasons unknown to me, but I have suspicions, Feargus decided not to cash out that milestone and did not deliver it."

He continued, saying, "It’s not a strange decision if you feel, which would not be out of the realms of possibility, that he felt that the New Vegas experience cheated him out of X amount of money, in which case cutting off the revenue stream from that product for a time would be a possibility. I could certainly see that, and I’m not saying that’s the case."

When asked to clarify if Bethesda has the source code, Avellone said, "They may have aspects of the code, but everyone that I talked to after that period of time said they had no idea how to reassemble it."

In September 2023, it was reported that Microsoft court documents showed plans to remaster Oblivion and Fallout 3. While Oblivion Remastered did in fact turn out to be true, Bethesda has yet to announce any new remake projects.

Oblivion Remastered, although leaked ahead of time, was shadowdropped, so if a Fallout 3 remaster is in the works, there's always the possibility of that happening again.

For now, the studio is developing The Elder Scrolls 6, which was announced back in 2018. Fallout 5 is also expected to launch after The Elder Scrolls 6.

• A character model for Rockstar Games' canceled game, Agent, has been found
• A dataminer discovered the mode within GTA 5's leaked source code
• The character model appears to be a remix of GTA 4's Niko Bellic

A fan has discovered what appears to be the early model for the main character for Rockstar Games' canceled project, Agent.

In 2023, the source code for GTA 5 was leaked, leading to all sorts of discoveries over the years, but this week, a fan shared a new discovery that shines some light on Rockstar's PS3 spy game Agent, which never saw the light of day.

User XanaBax shared their findings on the GTA Forum (thanks, Kotaku), which included assets and character models for an unknown character, suggesting that one in particular was the main character of Agent.

XanaBax explained that three of the four models were from GTA V and weren’t related to Agent, but suspects the fourth, which shows a man wearing army fatigues, wasn't a GTA 5 asset.

The dataminer claims the model was buried within a folder titled 'Jimmy', which was reportedly the codename for Agent and was also under the hierarchy list labeled 'Player', suggesting that this character was the playable protagonist.

The filename also included the mention of "NorthRig", which could be Rockstar North, the studio that was originally developing the game.

What's more, it appears that the character is a kind of remix of Grand Theft Auto 4's Niko Bellic. XanaBax explained that "some parts of the model are taken from/edited versions of Niko Bellic" and the head model "has more or less the same UV map (excluding the hairline)."

The boots pictured are Niko's boots, and the camo pants are an edited version of Niko's.

The model has never been used in GTA 5 or GTA Online, and XanaBax claims it has a 2009 date attached, which would be two years after Agent was first mentioned by Rockstar.

"Agent takes players on a paranoid journey into the world of counter-intelligence, espionage and political assassinations during the height of the Cold War at the end of the 1970s," Rockstar teased at the time.

The project was first teased at E3 2007 in partnership with Sony, but was officially announced at E3 2009. The game was slated to release in 2010, but after a long period of radio silence, the trademark finally expired, and in 2021, Agent‘s official website was taken down.

A former Rockstar developer shared that both Agent and GTA 5 were being developed simultaneously, but more resources and people were eventually moved onto GTA 5, leading to Agent's apparent cancellation.

In other related news, fans have uncovered a collection of hidden Grand Theft Auto 4 assets on a second-hand Xbox 360 that turned out to be a Rockstar Games development kit.

• Even more apparent shovelware games have been removed from the PlayStation Store
• Sony has removed games like Water Blast Shooter - Wet Gun, Supermarket CEO Simulator, and Jesus Simulator
• Sony has been delisting hundreds of shovelware games since last year

Sony has delisted even more alleged shovelware PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 games from its storefronts.

As reported by Eurogamer and spotted by a user on PSNProfiles, games including Urban Driver Simulator, Water Blast Shooter - Wet Gun, Supermarket CEO Simulator, Racing Car Chaos: Extreme Stunt Showdown, as well as a so-called Jesus Simulator, have all been removed.

"Looks like spring cleaning has hit some more shovelware publishers, namely GOGAME CONSOLE PUBLISHER LTD, VRCFORGE STUDIOS and WELDING BYTE S.R.L. Seems like they were hit just as April rolled around," posted forum user 'HuntingFever'.

Sony has been tackling "spam" shovelware software for some time now. Although it's unclear if it was a direct result, the company's ongoing battle followed an investigation by IGN which featured interviews from game developers criticizing the lack of quality control across the PlayStation Store and the Nintendo eShop and the never-ending list of "spam" and "slop" games, along with poor discoverability for studios.

Last year, users found evidence that developer RandomSpin - which released over 40 titles in just 2024 alone - has had most of its games removed, including Bodycam Shooter, Supermarket Simulator Pro, Backrooms Brotherhood, and Backrooms Inside The Escape.

These games, as well as other titles that can be found on the PlayStation Store, typically feature recycled assets and AI-generated images that copy other popular games already available on the platform.

In January, Sony removed over 1,000 shovelware games from the PlayStation Store, all of which were listed under a single developer, ThiGames, so it's clear the company has no plan to stop its battle any time soon.

• The Elder Scrolls Online Collection: Gold Road is now available for free on PS Plus
• The game is also coming to PC Game Pass and Xbox Play Anywhere in June
• New content will be released in early 2027, taking players back to the Skyrim setting

Zenimax Online Studios has announced huge plans for The Elder Scrolls Online, including a PC Game Pass release.

During the 2026 Seasons Direct today, alongside new playable content coming to the game next month with Season Zero: Dawn and Dusk, the developer revealed that players will return to Tamriel's frozen north of Skyrim to explore an "iconic region" not previously seen in The Elder Scrolls Online.

This update will also introduce the game's first-ever Excursion Zone, as well as dynamic blizzards that "affect the gameplay of the zone itself."

What's more, The Elder Scrolls Online Collection: Gold Road, which includes the base game and all major Chapter zones (including Morrowind, Summerset, Elsweyr, Greymoor, Blackwood, High Isle, Necrom, and Gold Road) is available for free right now if you're subscribed to PlayStation Plus.

The offer is included in the PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for March and ends on April 6. It is playable on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, so be sure to grab it while you still can.

On top of this, The Elder Scrolls Online is coming to PC Game Pass on June 2. It will also be added to Xbox Play Anywhere, so owners will be able to dive in on a range of Xbox platforms at no additional cost.

Earlier this year, Zenimax announced the game's very first event zone, the Night Market, which arrives on April 29. A limited-time player-versus-environment (PvE) zone described as "new, experimental content".

Two new story content updates are also on the way, and are each focused on the Thieves Guild and Sheogarath.

• Naughty Dog head Neil Druckmann has teased the future of The Last of Us
• In a throwback Instagram post, the developer shared the first sketches of characters Joel and Ellie from 2003
• Druckmann also referred to a "few stops that remain on the road ahead"

Naughty Dog studio head and The Last of Us director Neil Druckman has seemingly teased the future of the PlayStation series.

In a recent Instagram post, Druckmann shared a post that read, "Cleaning out the garage today and stumbled on my original sketches from 2003 for a game pitch about a man, his surrogate daughter, and a trek across a broken America."

The director included the sketches, which early early renditions of Joel and Ellie years before they came to life in Naughty Dog's The Last of Us for the PlayStation 3.

The now-beloved post-apocalyptic game went on to be the studio's biggest, critically acclaimed title, and later received an equally acclaimed sequel in 2020 with The Last of Us: Part 2.

However, it's the rest of Druckmann's post that has fans speculating on the future of the series.

"Been a wild journey," he added. "Grateful for every part of it, especially the few stops that remain on the road ahead."

Could Druckmann be teasing The Last of Us Part 3? Yet another update for The Last of Us Part 1 and Part 2 for current-gen consoles? We'll have to wait and see.

Naughty Dog typically announces new content and news on its annual Last of Us Day, which is held on September 28, and other major reveals during Sony's State of Play showcases.

Druckmann also announced last year that he was stepping away as co-showrunner on HBO's The Last of Us series following season 2, but will remain involved at a "high level", so there's always a possibility the developer is talking about the television adaptation in his post.

Druckmann touched on the possibility of The Last of Us Part 3 rumors, saying, "the only thing I would say is don’t bet on there being more of 'Last of Us.' This could be it." However, the director's statement contradicted what he'd previously said about the potential of there being "one more chapter to this story".

During the Grounded 2: Making of The Last of Us Part 2 documentary, Druckmann spoke on the series finality, saying, "If we never get to do it again, this is a fine ending point. Last bite of the apple, the story's done."

He also mentioned that he has a "concept" that could be "as exciting" as both The Last of Us games, adding, "I've been just thinking about it, 'is there a concept there?' And for now years, I haven't been able to find that concept."

For now, Naughty Dog is working on its new single-player game in development for the PS5, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.

Chill, walking simulator-cross-traveling painter game Eastshade has been in my backlog for a while now. If memory serves, it’s because I found mention of it having wonderful virtual landscapes during a time when I was writing about that aspect of games.

Now, years on, I’ve finally made it into the world of EastShade and have fully embraced my role as a visiting painter for hire, intent on fulfilling some last requests by their late mother.

It’s a simple game in a small world, but its gentle chillness has been perfect to discover, seven years after its initial release. After a frantic and action-filled playthrough of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Eastshade has been a welcome change of pace to relax and soak up a wonderful world while painting its beauty.

An artist in residence

Playing as an artist who travels to the island country of Eastshade, you set out with an inauspicious beginning, shipwrecked in a cave with only your easel to show for yourself.

However, you have made it to where you wanted to be and soon find yourself in the small settlement of Lyndow having gentle chats with strangers, teaching children to paint, staying in the inn, as well as building up a purse of money through selling feathers, collecting quests, and, importantly, getting your artist's eye in by painting some vistas.

You’ll travel to a few different areas of the map, each with some small locations to fast travel between, inhabited by the anthropomorphic Eastshadian animal folk, and the gentleness carries on throughout your journey, although you can spice it up with some passive-aggressive or sarcastic answers in conversation if you wish.

Oh, to be a travelling painter

A small map on the whole, but that soon opens up to something that’s a little larger, but that can still be traversed on foot. And doing so is more than worth it, too, as the land is filled with some of the most pleasing landscapes and use of natural planting and landscape elements that I’ve enjoyed in a long time. So much so that I couldn’t help but take some of my own screenshots of the game.

And that’s at the core of what Eastshade does well: it makes taking screenshots the main mechanic of the game to progress, but also to capture moments, places, views, people, chickens, hot air balloons, and complete tasks.

What came out of this simple act, though, was a deep level of care in getting the right, or best, and most fabulous painting composition right for my mysterious commissioners. I would spend ages adjusting the on-screen view to make sure a tree was on the third, or that I’d capture some color from some plants, or get the best view of the daily eclipse to ensure the composition was top-notch.

It’s a charming little game, and I’m very pleased indeed to have found the time to get it out of my backlog and now, with a platinum trophy achieved to boot, in my completed library. It’s not perfect by any means, and is a little buggy here and there with environments that won’t load, or soft-locking save screen, but its undeniable chill factor, and slow pace was just what I needed at a time when life can feel loud, busy, and complicated.

• A new Fortnite Unreal Editor update has been released
• The update adds all-new Star Wars-inspired assets and tools
• Creators can design their own Star Wars islands and publish them from May 1

Epic Games has released a huge Fortnite Unreal Editor update that lets players create their own Star Wars islands.

As of today, Fortnite developers can access a curated collection of assets and tools from Epic Games' "largest IP toolset to date" and build Star Wars-inspired maps in Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) and Fortnite Creative.

The toolset includes all-new Star Wars templates and gameplay features, which also means players get access to all available Star Wars characters, like Luke Skywalker, Rey, Princess Leia, and The Mandalorian's Din Djarin, several locations, licensed music, vehicles, and 25 weapons from past Fortnite Battle Royale seasons.

The trailer demonstrates just how creative fans can get, and it looks like you can even go as far as creating a worthy Star Wars Battlefront 2 successor if you know what you're doing.

Four UEFN starter islands are currently available to start with, including the planets Hoth, Tatooine, and Nevarro. Two new Star Wars flat grid islands are also available for Fortnite Creative.

"Bring your island to the next level with Niagara-powered visual effects, making it easier to create large-scale moments from dogfights in asteroid fields to dramatic hyperspace entrance and exit sequences," Epic said.

Developers can also expand environments by adding iconic Star Wars locations, like the Death Star, Tatooine Cantina, and Resistance Base, and use background assets like a Star Destroyer to add scale to their scenes.

You can also customize lightsabers with Scene Graph and access Force powers for gameplay abilities like Push, Heal, and Mind Trick by using a special crafting workbench where players can modify their characters’ Force powers, as well as the appearance of their lightsabers.

There are also Team Conquest and narrative roleplaying templates to try out before building your own island.

Although the tools are available now, creators won't be able to publish their designs until May 1. Until then, Epic Games will continue to introduce more functionality to the toolkit, including first-person support for weapons and custom items and inventories in Beta.

• Two new heroes are coming to Marvel Rivals: White Fox and Black Cat
• White Fox arrives as part of Season 7 on March 20, 2026
• Black Cat is expected to follow in Season 7.5

Developer NetEase Games has unveiled some of the new content coming to its Marvel hero shooter, Marvel Rivals, in its next season, and it includes a new hero and map.

White Fox will be joining the game's already gigantic character roster as a strategist, armed with martial arts skills and a suite of supernatural abilities. She can deploy her Yeowoo Guseul (fox marbles) to heal teammates and inflict damage, while storing energy to infuse into teammates to grant them powerful effects.

In addition to a host of tweaks and balance changes, Season 7 will also introduce a new convergence map, Lower Manhattan, which is inspired by its overall story arc.

In addition to showing us White Fox in action, the flashy animated Season 7 trailer also reveals that iconic Spider-Man villain Black Cat is coming to the game, and is expected to arrive as part of the subsequent Season 7.5 update.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding her release date, Marvel Rivals fans have already taken to social media to praise the character's rather racy design. "This announcement trailer was magnificent and I cannot wait to play as Black Cat in this season," wrote one X user. "Us Rivals fans are continuing to EAT!"

"Yeah this update is HUGE," added another.

The 'sick design' of White Fox has also been getting plenty of praise, though some fans are expressing confusion at the character's inclusion, given her unusual origins. Like the (now quite popular) Marvel Rivals character Luna Snow, White Fox debuted in the 2015 mobile game Marvel: Future Fight rather than a traditional comic book, although she has appeared in a few comic series since.

Season 7 is set to begin on March 20, 2026, and if you want to get in on the action, you can download Marvel Rivals for free on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC.

• A lawsuit against Sony for "unfair" charges on the PlayStation Store has begun
• It accuses Sony of “exploiting" UK customers by charging higher prices on its store
• Around 12.2 million PlayStation users in the UK could be compensated for any purchases, amounting to around £2 billion total if the case is won

A class-action lawsuit filed against Sony could mean millions of UK PlayStation users are entitled to a collective £2 billion in compensation for alleged unfair charges made on the PlayStation Store.

As reported by Sky, the case, which has been branded 'PlayStation You Owe Us', was filed in 2022 by consumer campaigner Alex Neill, who accuses Sony of “exploiting its UK customers, by charging them too much” for the sale of digital games and in-game content.

The lawsuit also claims that Sony broke competition law through its control of the PlayStation Store, and argues that "Sony has a near monopoly on the sale of digital games and add-on content".

Since game developers are charged a 30% commission for selling their games on the PlayStation Store, and Sony sets the price of games, Neill alleges the cost is "excessive and unfair" and 20% more than physical editions.

"The result is that Sony can and does set the retail prices of all such content itself without facing any retail competition for digital content," said Robert Palmer KC, on behalf of the claimant. "It allows it to obtain monopoly profits from digital distribution, setting retail prices at what it refers to as its target margin of an excessive and unfair 30% above the level of the digital wholesale prices."

He also added that players are inclined to purchase digital games from the PlayStation Store, since only three of Sony's current consoles contain a disk drive.

If Neill wins the case, an estimated 12.2 million PlayStation users in the UK could be compensated for any purchases "over a period of about" 10 years (specifically between August 2016 and February 2026), amounting to around £2 billion total, and £162 each.

Users will automatically be included in any judgment on an "opt-out" basis.

Sony has argued against the claims, saying that its distribution model is justified because allowing third-party stores for downloads would introduce security and privacy risks.

The trial began on Tuesday, March 10, and is expected to last around nine weeks before a verdict is made.

• Epic Games is increasing the price of all Fortnite V-Bucks Packs
• From March 19, a standard $8.99 Pack will now give 800 instead of 1000 V-Bucks
• The V-Bucks featured in the Battle Bundle and Fortnite Crew will also be lowered

Epic Games has announced that it will be raising the prices of Fortnite's V-Bucks this month.

Starting from March 19, the company said it will be offering fewer V-Bucks per Pack, meaning in a standard $8.99 Pack, you'll now receive 800 V-Bucks instead of 1000 V-Bucks. The full V-Buck Pack changes can be viewed below.

"The cost of running Fortnite has gone up a lot, and we're raising prices to help pay the bills," Epic Games said in a blog post.

Fortnite's Battle Pass will also now cost 800 V-Bucks instead of 1000 V-Bucks, and will now award 800 instead of 1000. The additional 500 V-Bucks in Bonus Rewards are also being dropped from the new system.

"You can earn 800 V-Bucks when completing the Battle Pass, which is enough to get the next one. There are no longer V-Bucks in the Bonus Rewards of the Pass," Epic explained.

Additionally, Fortnite's Battle Bundle, which includes the Battle Pass and the first 25 levels of the pass already unlocked, is going down from 2,800 to 2,600 V-Bucks.

Fortnite Crew, the monthly subscription service which is now included with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, is also lowering its V-Bucks rewards from 1,000 to 800 V-Bucks.

Like the main Battle Pass, the OG Pass, the Music Pass, and the Lego Pass are also seeing changes:

• The OG Pass will cost 800 V-Bucks (previously 1,000). 
• The Music Pass will cost 1,200 V-Bucks (previously 1,400).
• The LEGO Pass will cost 1,200 V-Bucks (previously 1,400).

Fortnite players aren't too excited about this change, because although the general price of the Packs isn't increasing with real-world money, their value is.

"Bro changing the battle pass vbucks amount from 1500 to 800 is literally game breaking. This season was already kinda bad but now I’m just uninstalling," one player said on Reddit, while another announced they were "Cancelling my crew tonight. Good job Epic!,"

Another criticised the way Epic announced the news, saying, "'The cost of running Fortnite has gone up a lot, and we’re raising prices to help pay the bills'. Such a crazy way to deliver that news. I mean at least attempt to sugarcoat it."

Last month, Epic Games announced that PC players spent $1.16 billion on the Epic Games Store, up 6% year over year, while Statista reports that the company generated an estimated $6.21 billion in gross revenue in 2025 compared to $5.81 billion the previous year.

• The monthly PlayStation Plus games for March 2026 have been revealed
• They include Monster Hunter Rise, PGA Tour 2K25, The Elder Scrolls Online Collection: Gold Road, and Slime Rancher 2
• Members can claim the free games from March 3

Sony has officially announced the next batch of PlayStation Plus games for March 2026.

Starting from March 3 through to April 6, all members of PlayStation Plus tiers, including Essential, Extra, and Premium, will be able to claim four games next month.

Like with almost every monthly PS Plus collection, the games for March were leaked ahead of time, but Sony has now confirmed what they are in a new PlayStation Blog post.

The games include PGA Tour 2K25, the latest entry in the golf simulation series, and let players compete in The PGA Championship, The U.S. Open, and The Open Championship.

There's also The Elder Scrolls Online Collection: Gold Road, which grants access to the base game and all major Chapter zones, including Morrowind, Summerset, Elsweyr, Greymoor, Blackwood, High Isle, Necrom, and Gold Road, as well as all the biomes and quest arcs across Tamriel.

Monster Hunter Rise will also be on offer. The game was originally released on Nintendo Switch in 2021 before it arrived on PS5 and PS4 in 2023.

Finally, there's Slime Rancher 2, the adorable sequel to the award-winning hit, which TechRadar Gaming's Gaming Editor Dashiell Wood calls "the kind of game I could play for hours and hours" and "one of the most relaxing games I've ever played."

You can check out the full list of games and their platforms below:

PlayStation Plus games for March 2026

• PGA Tour 2K25 - PS5 
• Monster Hunter Rise - PS5, PS4
• Slime Rancher 2 - PS5 
• The Elder Scrolls Online Collection: Gold Road - PS5, PS4

Members have until March 2 to claim February's PlayStation Plus games, which include Undisputed, Subnautica: Below Zero, Ultros, and Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown.

• Modder Fandera has released a new Witcher 3 mod that adds a new questline for Ciri
• The 'Dawn on Kovir' mod acts as a prelude to The Witcher 4 and took Fandera approximately 800 hours to create
• The ambitious questline takes between 45 minutes and 1.5 hours to beat and takes place in Kovir and Poviss

A new mod for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has been released, adding a brand new questline for Ciri that takes place before the events of The Witcher 4.

Created by Alexander Fandera-Maslov, aka Fandera on Nexus Mods, the 'Dawn over Kovir' mod follows Ciri and takes place after the main Witcher 3 campaign and acts as a prelude to The Witcher 4.

Speaking to PC GamesN, Fandera-Maslov said the project took roughly "800 hours, from initial concept to final testing" to create, and even introduces the new regions of Kovir and Poviss for players to explore, which is where CD Projekt Red's next game will take place.

"While hunting monsters, Ciri increasingly finds them not in the forests, but in people," the mod description reads. "Disillusioned with humanity, she balances between compassion and rage. Will the witcheress be able to master her anger and avoid becoming a monster herself?"

If you're waiting for The Witcher 4, Dawn over Kovir may be up your alley.

All you'll need to play the questline is the latest version of The Witcher 3 installed, that's the next-gen version, as well as two additional mods to run it: Community Patch - Shared Imports and Custom Player Characters.

Fandera said the questline should take between 45 minutes and 1.5 hours to complete, and since it was created before the release of The Witcher 4, "the questlines may overlap or be enhanced by the new Ciri game."

The questline is also balanced for the 'Pain and Suffering difficulty,' and the modder also hopes to implement full voice acting in the future, along with improved animation and gameplay.

"My preferred direction is working with real people, potentially professional actors or experienced members of the Witcher fan community," Fandera said.

The full 1.0 update is planned to be released "before the end of 2026", Fendera told PC GamesN.

I installed the mod myself, but unfortunately couldn't get it to run due to a scripting error. It seems to be an issue for a few other players, but not all, and is something Fandera is looking into.

Hopefully, an updated version will be released soon so I can finally dive in and scratch that Witcher itch.

• The PS5 sold 8 million units in FY25 Q3, outselling the Nintendo Switch 2 by 1 million
• The console has also surpassed 92.2 million global units sold and officially outsold the PS3
• Sony says Ghost of Yotei among other live service games, contributed to the PS5's sales in Q3

Despite launching over five years ago, the PlayStation 5 managed to outsell the Nintendo Switch 2 in the latter half of 2025 by 1 million units.

According to Sony's latest financial results, during FY25 Q3, which begins October 1 and ends on December 31, the PS5 sold 8 million units compared to the Switch 2's 7 million, and has officially surpassed 92.2 million global units sold.

This comes after Nintendo informed investors that Western hardware sales for the Nintendo Switch 2 were not as strong as they expected by the end of 2025.

The 8 million achievement is a decline from the 9.5 million Sony managed to sell during the same period in 2024, and the PS5 is still lagging in lifetime sales compared to the PS4's 94.4 million. However, the PS5 has now officially outsold the PS3, the latter of which sold 87.4 million lifetime sales as of March 31, 2027.

During the webcast (via IGN), Sony’s chief financial officer Lin Tao attributed Sucker Punch's Ghost of Yotei, as well as other live-service titles like Helldivers 2 and MLB The Show, to the rise in PS5 sales during Q3.

"In the studio business, Ghost of Yotei, a tentpole title we released in October, exceeded the sales of the previous title in the same period of time and significantly contributed to the financial results of the quarter," Tao said.

"Our established live service titles like Helldivers 2 and MLB The Show also contributed stable recurring revenue."

Tao continued saying, FY25 Q3 sales decreased 4% year-on-year, "primarily due to lower hardware unit sales," but operating income increased by 19% year-on-year, which Tao explained was "due to the positive impact of foreign exchange rates and the impact of increased sales and network services and first-party software, setting a record for the third quarter in this segment."

"We upwardly revised our FY25 sales forecast 4% from the previous forecast to 4,630 billion yen, and our operating income forecast 2% to 510 billion yen," the CFO added. "User engagement trended well during the quarter with the number of monthly active users across all of the PlayStation in December increasing 2% compared to the last December to a record high of 132 million accounts. And total play time for the quarter increased 0.4% year-on-year.

"Although conditions in the console hardware market during year-end selling season were more challenging than expected, we were able to steadily expand our PS5 install base in line with our original plan and exceeded 92 million units on a cumulative selling basis."

The PS5 launched in November 2020, and Tao explained that although PS5 hardware unit sales decreased moderately in the latter half of the console life cycle, games across PSN, third-party titles, and PS Plus contributed heavily to software revenue overall.

"While PS5 hardware unit sales have decreased moderately in the latter half of the console cycle, software revenue from the PlayStation Store reached a record high during the quarter, primarily driven by the contribution of major third-party franchise titles and new hit releases," Tao said. "PlayStation Plus significantly contributed to the results of the quarter as the shift to higher tiers of the service continued."

In terms of future software, Tao mentioned Bungie Marathon, which launches next month, and is expected to be "enjoyed by many users thanks to Bungie having strengthened the gaming experience", as well as first-party titles Saros and Marvel's Wolverine.

Tao said they're both planned for release "next fiscal year" and Sony intends to "enhance our effort to increase the revenue of our studio business."

It appears that the PS5 is performing well and may even be able to beat the PS4 in lifetime sales before the end of its life cycle if it keeps on. 8 million units in just three months is impressive, especially considering the price hike that was introduced in August last year.

However, it seems that Sony has no intention of increasing the console's price anytime soon, even amidst the generative AI wave and increased tariffs, with Tao confirming that the company intends to negotiate with various suppliers to secure enough supply to meet customer demand.

"Given the stage of our console cycle, our hardware sales strategy can be adjusted flexibly and we intend to minimize the impact of the increased memory cost on this segment going forward by prioritizing monetization of the install base to date and striving to further expand our software and network service revenue," Tao said.

• Overwatch 2 will be rebranded to just Overwatch
• A year long narrative titled "The Reign of Talon" will start next month and will be told throughout the year across six seasons
• 10 new heroes will be added during this time, alongside brand new skins, events, and game features

Blizzard Entertainment has announced that it's dropping the "2" in Overwatch 2, alongside major year-long plans for the hero shooter.

During the latest Overwatch Spotlight livestream, the studio revealed that less than four years after launching Overwatch 2, the title will be reverting back to simply "Overwatch" when its very first year-long narrative kicks off next month.

"Overwatch is more than just a digit: it's a living universe that keeps growing, keeps surprising, and keeps bringing players together from around the world," Blizzard explained in a press release. "This year marks a huge turning point in how the development team envisions the future of Overwatch, so we are officially dropping '2' and moving forward as 'Overwatch'."

The storyline, titled "The Reign of Talon", will begin on February 10 with Season 1 and will be told across "a multi-faceted, fully-connected story across the entire year" through to Season 6. The arc starts with a new cinematic and will unfold through motion comics, in-game events, new voice lines, animated hero trailers, and short stories.

After The Reign of Talon concludes, a new story and Season 1 will then launch in 2027.

To tell the upcoming story, Overwatch will receive 10 new heroes throughout the year, with the first five dropping when Season 1 begins next month.

They include three characters from the antagonist Talon faction, Domina (Tank), Emre (Damage), and Mizuki (Support), while the Overwatch team will get Anran (Damage) and Jetpack Cat (Support). New heroes are expected to be added between Season 2 and Season 6.

Alongside a UI/UX overhaul, a Competitive Rank Reset, Stadium Hero, Vendetta, and other system and match improvements, Blizzard will add new sub-roles divided between the three existing roles, each with their own specific skills.

Tanks will get Bruiser, Initiator, and Stalwart. Damage is divided into Sharpshooter, Flanker, Specialist, and Recon, and Support will be consist of Tactian, Medic, and Survivor.

A Conquest Meta event, which will offer new missions tied to lore and a plethora of rewards across five weeks, will also be added next season, as well as a new Japan Night map in Season 3, and new collaborations and hero skins to look forward to.

From February 10 to February 23, Overwatch will team up with Hello Kitty & Friends for a crossover that will introduce six themed hero skins for Juno, Kiriko, Mercy, D.Va, Widowmaker, and Lucio.

Reign of Talon will have faction-themed skins, alongside new bundles, regular shop updates, and a new Mythic Hero skin every season, starting with Mercy’s Celestial Guardian and Juno’s Star Shooter in Season 1. Mei will also receive her first Mythic mid-season.

Last but not least, Overwatch will also be coming to Nintendo Switch 2, with the existing Overwatch 2, which is already playable on both Switch platforms, getting a Switch 2 upgrade edition in Spring.

• Tom Clancy's The Division: Definitive Edition is now available for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC
• The bundle was leaked last month after advertisements were spotted in the wild
• This latest version has replaced the Gold Edition on all console storefronts

Ubisoft has officially released Tom Clancy's The Division: Definitive Edition for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.

While it may look like the company didn't formally announce the latest edition of the 2016 game, it in fact did via a Twitch stream last week, but it clearly flew under the radar.

The announcement comes after advertisements for the package were spotted in Japan in early January, along with brand-new merchandise.

The Definitive Edition has been released to mark the game's 10th anniversary, and while many fans speculated that it would be a remaster or remake, unfortunately, that's not the case.

The Division: Definitive Edition is now available for $49.99 on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC, and doesn't appear to feature any new content or graphical updates for current-gen platforms. However, Ubisoft does mention that 60FPS is available on PS5 in the Twitch VOD.

The edition includes the base game, Season Pass and its exclusive outfits, the Underground, Survival, and Last Stand expansions, along with a bunch of extra weapons and outfit packs that have already been available for some time.

"Get the complete The Division experience in this Definitive Edition! The base game, all three Season Pass expansions, and multiple cosmetic packs await you," its description reads on the Xbox store.

"The Definitive Edition also includes gear sets, weapon skins, and customization options, everything you need to stand out as an elite agent."

Aside from the aformentioned 60FPS for PlayStation, the description makes no mention of any upscaling, frame rate improvements, or visual upgrades for current-gen.

"So the Definitive Edition is just a new bundle? Here I was thinking that 'definitive' might mean 'improved' or 'remastered' (in some sense) and not just 'stuff you can buy regularly for $10 plus cosmetics that now costs $50'," one fan wrote on the game's subreddit.

Some fans are also pointing out that this latest version is a replacement for the already existing Gold Edition, only with extra cosmetics that have been available separately.

After some investigating, it looks like the Gold Edition has already been removed from storefronts, including the Ubisoft store.

Last month, Ubisoft announced layoffs at Massive Entertainment and Ubisoft Stockholm, which affected 55 jobs, as part of a restructuring effort.

The company has confirmed that The Division franchise will remain a priority, as work on the next iteration in the series, The Division 3, continues, along with updates on The Division 2 and the game's Survivors extraction mode.

• UK retailer Game is closing the last of its stores and will now operate as concessions in 200+ Sports Direct and House of Fraser stores
• This comes after the Frasers Group-owned business entered administration last month
• Managing director Nick Arran is also stepping down from the company after nine years

UK retailer Game is officially closing the rest of its standalone stores, after entering administration in late January, as managing director Nick Arran steps down after nine years.

Last week, it was reported (via The Business Desk) that the Frasers Group-owned business had filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators (NOI) through law firm RPC, which gave it a 10-day protection from creditor action while it considers next steps for its UK operations.

The filing came after the company reduced its physical footprint following a series of store closures last year, which saw six outlets shut down in August 2025, following its major downsizing plan first announced in 2020 to reduce the network by 30 stores.

Now, according to a report from The Game Business (via VGC), the long-running video game retail chain has decided to close its three remaining stores, putting an end to its standalone business.

Game's online store will continue to trade products, such as hardware, accessories, and software, but the store will only operate as concessions within 200+ Sports Direct and House of Fraser stores across the UK.

After taking charge of the chain in 2020, it was also confirmed that Nick Arran will be exiting the company after nine years.

The former managing director spoke to GamesIndustry.biz in 2023, stating at the time that the retailer was moving away from the games business to focus on selling other products, like toys.

"Gaming is our core business and we will be last man standing selling physical video games," Arran said.

"We see our place in the market as proving that there is a place for physical, whether that be the collector's editions, which we see as the vinyl of video games, or the gifter who doesn't want to wrap up a download code for Christmas. But we need to be realistic. We have a business to run and the expectation is this will decline. So we need to fill that gap."

The retailer has been slowly moving away from its standalone stores for a few years now, but not before it entered administration for the first time in 20212, which saw the closure of 300 stores before it was bought by Frasers Group in 2019.

In April 2024, staff were laid off and moved to zero-hour contracts after it halted all trade-ins in its stores to phase out its pre-owned stock.

The following month, Game announced it was discontinuing its Xbox All Access offer and permanently shuttered its reward scheme and Elite membership tier.

• Sony is encouraging PS4 users to upgrade to PS5 via console messages
• A new analyst report suggests that Sony wants to extend the PS5 lifecycle to retain its current playerbase
• It's also suggested that the PS6 won't arrive until after 2028

Sony is sending messages to PlayStation users still using their PS4, suggesting that they finally switch to the current-generation PS5, and it could be tied to a PS6 launch delay.

As PushSquare reports, PS4 owners are now receiving messages from Sony, encouraging them to upgrade to a PS5, along with a QR code that takes them to PlayStation's official website, where more information about pricing and deals can be found.

"Whether you’re catching up with hits from 2025 like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, ARC Raiders, and Ghost of Yotei or getting ready for the most anticipated games of 2026, including SAROS, 007 First Light, Nioh 3, and so much more, now’s the perfect time to upgrade your PS5 console," the message reads.

Notably, all these games are only available on PS5 and other current-gen hardware, so it sounds like Sony is persuading players to finally take the plunge.

However, a new analyst report may have shed some light on the situation.

According to a recent Sandstone Insights Japan report published by senior analyst at MST, David Gibson, Sony may push the launch of the PS6 to after 2028 in order to extend the PS5's lifecycle (via IGN).

The report notes that Sony’s earnings for the third quarter are expected to exceed previous predictions, with first and third-party titles continuing to drive sales, and game and network services, including PSN subscriptions, are expected to remain strong.

In addition, Q3 sales for Sony are forecasted for around 1.8 trillion yen total (approx. $11.6 billion), with operating income at 160 billion yen (approx. $1 billion).

With the PS5 hardware and software continuing to push big numbers, it's suggested that Sony will want to expand the life of the console, therefore delaying the launch of the PS6.

"Sony expects the PS5 lifecycle to be longer than that of previous console generations," Gibson stated, adding that the PS6's launch likely won't occur until after 2028.

Gibson also suggested that Sony is more focused on retaining existing PS5 users over boosting console sales, as well as noting that PSN services and active PS5 users are at an all-time high.

"PS5 user activity continues to set all-time record highs according to usage data," Gibson said. "Sony is focusing more on retaining active users than expanding hardware sales."

The tech and games industry has suffered price hikes over the past year or so; an issue we've seen recently is due to memory shortages and the ongoing rise in tariffs.

For now, it seems like PS5 consoles aren't going to be hit with another price increase like last August, although Gibson believes it could happen eventually.

Gibson explained that "rising memory prices will not impact short-term performance thanks to Sony’s existing inventory", but said the increased memory costs could affect the company in the fiscal year, adding, "Sony might pass future cost increases onto consumers."

• Epic Games has tweeted a teaser for an upcoming collaboration with The Office
• Official details are currently scarce, but rumors point to the update arriving soon
• Chapter 7 continues on, with South Park being the latest major collaboration

Epic Games has teased a Fortnite collaboration with The Office, sharing an image with the words "Builds. Beets. Battle Royale." – a reference to a quote from the show.

The latest teaser was posted on X (see below), showing a picture of some beets. This is a nod to Dwight Schrute from The Office, who is a beet farmer in the show. While we're yet to hear more on a potential The Office crossover from Epic Games officially, there have been some rumors circulating amongst popular Fortnite leakers.

Fortnite leaker @ShiinaBR recently shared a leak suggesting that The Office, Space Jam, and other tie-ins were planned for release in Chapter 7. So far, Epic Games has seemingly confirmed The Office via the aforementioned teaser. We're yet to hear anything about the other leaks, which also include Ed, Edd, and Eddy.

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1: Pacific Break is currently underway. For all the latest updates, including the release date for the next season, be sure to check out our Fortnite Chapter 7 guide.

The anticipated Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag remake is perhaps the worst-kept secret in gaming right now. News of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced (rumored to be the official title) has been surfacing regularly over the last year or so, and with developer Ubisoft having now re-uploaded the game’s entire soundtrack for no apparent reason, it’s essentially a foregone conclusion that a remake announcement is imminent.

And while I’m certainly happy at the prospect of jumping back into one of the best Assassin's Creed games ever made, I’m not entirely convinced that Black Flag is in need of a remake, certainly not over older games like Assassin’s Creed and Assassin’s Creed 2.

Ubisoft has yet to announce anything official about the Black Flag remake, though rumors point to some significant changes being made to the original version of the game. Here’s what I’d like to see changed in a potential redo, and some things that I absolutely, under no circumstances, want Ubisoft to include.

The tempest

I’ve not quite been sold on the last few Assassin’s Creed games, finding both Valhalla and Shadows to be lacking in the parkour, story, and world design departments. That doesn’t mean that a potential Black Flag remake shouldn’t ignore the modern games entirely, however.

Shadows, in particular, is an absolute industry leader in weather and environmental effects. The seasonal changes, the heavy rain, snow, and sleet – the dynamic weather in Shadows is brilliant in how it ties into gameplay, and it would be absolutely stunning when applied to Black Flag’s West Indies.

Black Flag’s setting was really ahead of its time, especially with regard to its large oceans and water effects. Now imagine how a proper dynamic weather system could tie into sailing, exploration, and more.

Tempestuous storms and rolling fog would seriously up the ante for ship combat, as would more modern particle effects for cannon-fire and sea spray. If I could choose one thing for a Black Flag remake to plunder from Shadows, it would absolutely be the dynamic weather.

Hardcore parkour

Modern Assassin’s Creed titles approach parkour in a completely different way than the first six games in the franchise.

I loaded up Black Flag recently, and spent half an hour or so running just around the rooftops of Havana. Parkour still feels surprisingly good. It’s lightning fast, dynamic, and most importantly, it leaves plenty of control in the hands of the player.

You see, parkour is too heavily automated in recent games. The animations are better than they’ve ever been, but the actual moment-to-moment flow of the movement is more restrictive, and you don’t really have all that much control in how you move from point A to point B.

I’m worried that Ubisoft might be about to crowbar modern parkour systems into Black Flag. They actually did something similar already with Assassin’s Creed Mirage.

That game, despite being an homage to the first Assassin’s Creed, features parkour that’s secretly just a tweaked version of Valhalla’s. This does not work at all in the confines of Baghdad, a city that is supposed to evoke the bustling locales of the first three Assassin’s Creed games. The result is a slow and far too streamlined system that pales in comparison to the parkour of games that came out nearly 20 years ago.

Post-launch updates to both Shadows and Mirage have improved things significantly, but it’s all made one thing very clear to me: Black Flag’s parkour does not need replacing, it just needs updating and refining.

Cleaner animations and an updated control scheme are all that a remake of Black Flag really needs to have.

Freedom Cry

I look back quite fondly on Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag - Freedom Cry, though I’ll be the first to admit that it’s nowhere near the best DLC we’ve had in the Assassin’s Creed universe. A potential Black Flag remake does raise the question as to whether Freedom Cry needs to be brought along for the ride. I’m going to be somewhat controversial and say that no, it really doesn’t.

Now, having replayed Freedom Cry recently, I’m here to tell you that you probably do not want to play a straight-up remake of it as much as you think you do.

The story is great, the blunderbuss and machete weapons are fun enough, but the actual structure, the gameplay, and feel of the DLC are seriously lacking. The majority of the missions are tailing ones (more on that later), and the ship combat is really just more of the same from the base game. I would much rather see Freedom Cry protagonist Adéwalé’s role expanded and folded into Black Flag.

While the events of Freedom Cry do take place after Black Flag has ended, Adéwalé could have a much larger, more prominent role in the Black Flag remake.

Give Adéwalé his own missions that borrow from the Freedom Cry playbook and plot, and have the story side of Freedom Cry play out as post-game content. I’d love to see some of Freedom Cry be incorporated here, but simply tacking on a remade Freedom Cry onto the Black Flag package? It’s just not going to be worthwhile.

It’s worth noting here that we have never seen an Assassin’s Creed remake before. We have no idea whether Ubisoft intends to follow the plot and structure of the original, or do something like the Resident Evil series and establish a completely new version of events. I’d quite like to see the latter, as it’d allow for characters like Adéwalé to be fleshed out and given more prominent roles.

Chasing its tail

Many of us look back on games like Black Flag through rose-tinted glasses. It is an undoubtedly fantastic game, and one that really stands out in the series for being something completely unique when compared to what came before.

The problem is that broader memory of Black Flag, the one that evokes snapshots of thrilling ship battles, hair-raising stealth, and larger-than-life supporting characters, isn’t quite the full picture.

Black Flag does not feature the mission structure we’ve come to expect of modern AC games, and it’s particularly plagued by tailing missions. These are a much-maligned part of the Assassin’s Creed franchise, and fairly so. Black Flag, and Assassin’s Creed 3 before it, are the worst offenders for having players slowly tail a target for the duration of a main mission. It’s always dull, and during a replay, it’s quite surprising just how often it crops up.

Black Flag has possibly the worst implementation of a tailing mission in the entire series, as well as one where you tail a ship while sailing the Jackdaw in a swamp.

These either need to be reworked completely or taken out of the game. Modern entries like Assassin’s Creed Shadows handle tailing quite well by giving players more stealth options when approaching a target, or by giving them the choice to kill a tail early and track down the info they’re hiding later on.

This is one area of Black Flag that I think needs modernizing entirely, and please, don’t make me do ship stealth, it simply doesn’t work.

That’s quite enough loot

According to a particular Black Flag remake rumor, the game will lean into loot and gear stats for Edward Kenway’s arsenal, likely in the same way as we’ve seen in the modern games.

Personally, I cannot stand constantly picking up slightly higher-level loot items of the same kind, and I much prefer the older AC games’ approaches to bespoke weapons and simple upgrade trees.

Black Flag does not need the same role-playing game (RPG) treatment first utilized in Origins, nor does it need bloated enemy healthbars and damage numbers. The combat in Black Flag is fast, brutal, and simple, though it definitely fits the protagonist better than having a slew of legendary swords and pistols constantly thrown into a player’s inventory.

This is a pirate game, however, so a better loot variety would be welcome. What I really don’t want to see is the same loot system as employed in Shadows, where I have 20 katanas of varying levels, each one as forgettable as the last.

It’s very likely that Ubisoft will incorporate some of the more RPG-heavy systems seen in recent games when designing a Black Flag remake. A skill tree could be great, and expanding crafting would fit with the treasure-hunting setting. All in all, however, turning Black Flag into a full-on RPG would be a mistake, one that would introduce a whole heap of the very issues that have made modern Assassin’s Creed games so uneven and sometimes even difficult to recommend.

Ubisoft needs to walk a very fine line between old and new here, especially with a game as beloved as Black Flag. The trick will be to modernize aging control schemes and world design while preserving the original’s focus. Easing off on the urge to fill the remake with sprawling RPG loot systems will be key.

We’ll have to wait and see whether Black Flag is indeed getting a remake. All signs point to yes, but it’s important to note that Ubisoft has never acknowledged the remake’s existence, nor has it commented on the recent rumors and leaks.

Hopefully, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced sticks closely to the original game, as it’s still a fantastic entry into the Assassin’s Creed series, and one that inspired countless games in its wake.

Marvel Rivals Season 6 launched January 16, bringing Deadpool as a brand new Hero. The iconic mutant has been heavily requested ever since Marvel Rivals launched, and now players will be able to dive in and push the front line forward while utilizing multiple styles of play.

There's a fresh Season 6 Battle Pass too, giving players plenty to claim before the arrival of the next Season of Marvel Rivals. Now that NetEase has revealed the full details for Marvel Rivals Season 6, we can start to dig into what's changed. It's remarkable just how quickly the game's meta can switch up with each major update, and it's no surprise that Marvel Rivals still ranks highly on our best PC games list.

I've now played 300 hours of Marvel Rivals since launch, and I've been jumping in at the start of every season to try out the new Hero. I'm very excited to get my hands on Deadpool, and absolutely ready to try out his role-switching abilities. It's not just the arrival of Deadpool that'll switch up Season 6, however, as there are changes to Heroes like Hulk and Gambit that will surely change the meta going forward.

Here's the Marvel Rivals Season 6 launch info, alongside details on what to expect from the new major update.

Marvel Rivals Season 6 start time

Marvel Rivals Season 6 launched January 16 at the times below:

• East Coast (US): 6AM ET
• West Coast (US): 3AM PT
• United Kingdom: 11AM GMT
• Australia (Sydney): 10PM AEST
• Japan (Tokyo): 8PM JST

This matched the launch timings of the last five seasons, which have been like clockwork.

Downtime kicks in, and then Marvel Rivals always goes back online precisely two hours later.

Marvel Rivals Season 6 Downtime

Marvel Rivals Season 6 downtime began at the following times, and lasted 2 hours.

• East Coast (US): 4AM ET
• West Coast (US): 1AM PT
• United Kingdom: 9AM GMT
• Australia (Sydney): 8PM AEST
• Japan (Tokyo): 6PM JST

Marvel Rivals Deadpool

Deadpool finally joins Marvel Rivals in Season 6, and as expected, he's a completely unique type of Hero. In a first for the game, Deadpool is actually a Vanguard, Duelist and Strategist all rolled into one. He has dual pistols and a katana to deal huge damage either up close or from a distance, he has the ability to place down a shield bubble, and can even heal teammates with his main attacks.

As the match progresses, Deadpool can choose to upgrade certain abilities. His Ultimate then tasks you with carrying out certain attacks, then you'll gain bonuses based on how well you do. Strategist abilities operate in a similar way, while Vanguard is all about throwing down a shield and tanking damage. As such Deadpool is easily the most complex Hero we've seen in Marvel Rivals so far, and it'll take some time before his abilities and role-switching becomes clearly understood.

Marvel Rivals Season 6 Hero Balancing

The following Hero balancing updates are now live in Marvel Rivals Season 6:

• Hero balancing (buffs): Hulk, Captain America, Doctor Strange, Iron Fist, Blade, Cloak and Dagger, Emma Frost, Black Panther
• Hero Balancing (nerfs): Angela, Daredevil, Gambit, Invisible Woman, Rocket Raccoon

Marvel Rivals Season 6 ranked changes

There's plenty of Ranked Changes added as part of Marvel Rivals Season 6. Here's the headline info:

• Rank rewards: Reach Gold for a bonus Deadpool costume
• Nameplates: Diamond and Platinum, Crests of Honor for Grandmaster, Celestial, Eternity, and Top 500
• Placement: From Season 5 onward, your first 10 ranked matches are Placement Matches. Your performance determines your starting tier

Marvel Rivals Season 6 live coverage as it happened

Hello there

Hello and welcome in, as I cover the live launch of Marvel Rivals Season 6. We’re now less than 24 hours away from the new season, which adds Deadpool as a much-requested Hero. Here’s what you need to know.

When does downtime kick in?

Marvel Rivals will enter downtime at the following times on January 16, 2026:

• East Coast (US): 4AM ET
• West Coast (US): 1AM PT
• United Kingdom: 9AM GMT
• Australia (Sydney): 8PM AEST
• Japan (Tokyo): 6PM JST

So, when will Season 6 actually launch?

Marvel Rivals Season 6 is expected to launch 2 hours after downtime kicks in. As such, it’ll be here around the times below:

• East Coast (US): 6AM ET
• West Coast (US): 3AM PT
• United Kingdom: 11AM GMT
• Australia (Sydney): 10PM AEST
• Japan (Tokyo): 8PM JST

Deadpool arrives in Marvel Rivals

After being pretty much the most-requested Hero for Marvel Rivals since launch, Deadpool will be added as part of Season 6. He’s a mix of all three classes, and can heal teammates, place down shields, or just focus on outputting heaps of damage.

Season 6 Roadmap revealed

NetEase has now revealed the full Marvel Rivals Season 6 roadmap. Looks like Season 6.5 will arrive February 13, but before then there’s a new map, a new event, and skins for Spider-Man, Hela, and more!

Season 6 kicks off with the Whack-a-Jeff event

Complete different missions to feed Deadpool mouth-watering chimichangas by catching the fastest, sneakiest, and most adorable shark in the world! You can then unlock a brand new outfit for Jeff the Land Shark.

All new Battle Pass revealed

NetEase has revealed the Battle Pass for Season 6. There’s new outfits for Invisible Woman, Gambit, Venom, and more. Check out the trailer above to see if you’re favorite character is getting new items.

Buffs and nerfs for Marvel Rivals Season 6

NetEase has revealed the buffs and nerfs for each Hero that's changing in Marvel Rivals Season 6. You can read the full details here, or check below for an overview:

• Hero balancing (buffs): Hulk, Captain America, Doctor Strange, Iron Fist, Blade, Cloak and Dagger, Emma Frost, Black Panther
• Hero Balancing (nerfs): Angela, Daredevil, Gambit, Invisible Woman, Rocket Raccoon

Twitch Drops for Season 6

There's new Twitch Drops for Marvel Rivals Season 6. Watch any Marvel Rivals streamer on Twitch and you'll gradually unlock the rewards shown in the image above. After 4 hours, you'll unlock the Will of Galacta costume for Invisible Woman.

That’s all for now

I’m heading off now, but I’ll be back tomorrow morning to cover the launch of Marvel Rivals Season 6. This will include a look at when the game goes into downtime, and moment to moment impressions once everything is back online.

Marvel Rivals Season 6 releases later today!

We’ll see Marvel Rivals Season 6 go into downtime in just one hour. It’ll be offline for approximately two hours before all of the new content comes out.

Mr. Pool's Interdimensional Toy Box

Deadpool arrives with a new Team Up with Jeff the Land Shark. Jeff gains Jeff's Cuddle Buddy ability through his Team-Up with Deadpool. As the Team-Up Anchor, Deadpool gains bonuses depending on what role he’s playing. This could make him a very good combo with Jeff, though we’ll have to see how powerful Cuddle Buddy is.

Marvel Rivals Season 6 estimated release time

Marvel Rivals Season 6 is expected to come out at the times below:

• East Coast (US): 6AM ET
• West Coast (US): 3AM PT
• United Kingdom: 11AM GMT
• Australia (Sydney): 10PM AEST
• Japan (Tokyo): 8PM JST

Just 30 minutes until downtime

Marvel Rivals Season 5.5 will end in just 30 minutes. The game will then go offline for downtime, and you won’t be able to access it. Make sure to start finishing up any games and challenges now, as you may be kicked from the game in the middle of a round.

Marvel Rivals is down

Marvel Rivals is currently down, as the game goes offline and the devs prepare for the new season.

This is expected to last two hours. Look out for an update file that’ll drop any minute, you’ll need it to access Marvel Rivals Season 6.

Marvel Rivals Season 6 update file has arrived

You can now download the Marvel Rivals Season 6 update file!

It’s 42.4 GB for me over on Steam, so expect a similar size file on other platforms. You’ll need it installed by the time the game goes back online if you want to jump in right away so get that download going!

Just 90 minutes of downtime to go

According to NetEase’s own estimates, and based on how previous seasons have worked, we can expect 90 more minutes of downtime.

I’ll be providing an update as soon as Season 6 is here, so stay tuned for news.

Battle Passes carry over

Didn’t get a chance to finish all of Season 5’s Battle Pass?

Don’t worry, as you can access it at any time, even when the new Battle Pass is here. This is true for all past Marvel Rivals Battle Passes so there's no need for any FOMO.

60 minutes to go!

Marvel Rivals Season 6 should be here in just an hour.

Make sure you’ve downloaded the most recent update version of the game, and prepare for servers to go back online.

My update is still downloading right now, but I'm hopeful that it will be finished by the time the servers are back up. Fingers crossed!

Additional proficiency rewards have been added for the Lord tier

NetEase has added new rewards to the Lord tiers of Heroes in Marvel Rivals!

If you’ve previously maxed out a character, there will now be more to work for, so jump back in and see what else you can earn with your favorite Heroes.

30 minutes to go!

There’s now just 30 minutes of downtime left for Marvel Rivals Season 6.

I’ll be jumping into the Practice Range as soon as servers go back online, as I can’t wait to try out Deadpool and see how his role-switching abilities work in action.

The next Marvel Rivals Hero will be Elsa Bloodstone

NetEase has already revealed that Season 6.5 will launch on February 13, 2026, bringing in a brand new Hero. This is going to be Elsa Bloodstone, who features in the Season 6 announcement trailer, and is heavily involved in the new storyline.

Marvel Rivals Season 6 is now live

Marvel Rivals servers are back online, and Season 6 is here. You can purchase the new Battle Pass, try out Deadpool, and start working through the new event. I’ll be providing some impressions of the new Hero as I play. I'm particularly interested to see how he fits into certain team compositions, and whether he’s viable as a Vanguard, Duelist and Strategist in equal measure.

Whack-a-Jeff event is live

You can now complete the tasks shown above to unlock food for Deadpool. Feed him in the Whack a Jeff event tab and then unlock exclusive rewards.

Deadpool and Jeff team up!

Jeff the Land Shark and Deadpool can now Team Up. This adds a new ability for Jeff, and as anchor Deadpool gets some bonuses depending on what role he's playing.

Deadpool is extremely complex - first impressions

I've been busy trying Deadpool out in the Practice Range, and he's very complicated indeed. First off, you need to choose whether you want to play Deadpool as a Vanguard, Duelist, or Strategist. This opens up different abilities, and then changes the upgrade paths available as you play.

You can choose to upgrade certain abilities during a match, and knowing what to focus on is going to take some serious practice. We'll have to wait and see what the best of the three versions of Deadpool is, and whether it's better to upgrade specific abilities over others.

New Accessories for Season 6

There's new Accessories in-game, including a Deadpool Jeff Plush, a Black Panther Plush, and a tiny Tony Stark. These can be equipped to your Hero, giving you a bit of extra visual flair while you play.

Watch the latest developer vision to see what's changed

You can check out a fifteen minute breakdown of Season 6 as part of the Developer Vision series. These are great deep dives into balancing changes, Team Ups, and more. You'll get some insight on what's being planned for the future of Marvel Rivals, and a look back on how Season 5.5 ended.

New Spider-Man skin arrives

To celebrate the release of Marvel Cosmic Invasion, there's a new Spider-Man skin available in Marvel Rivals. Suit up with Spider-Man's Marvel Cosmic Invasion costume, which can be found in the store.

That's all for now

Now that Marvel Rivals Season 6 is out and in the hands of players, I'm signing off. I'll be back on February 13 to cover the launch of Season 6.5, and hopefully we'll have gotten more info on Elsa Bloodstone by then.

• Marvel Rivals Season 6 arrives tomorrow (January 16) and will add a new Hero Proficiency system overhaul
• The new system will add new hero levels and tiers to achieve
• Players can earn new rewards, like Dynamic Avatars, Units, nameplates, and more

Marvel Rivals Season 6 is almost here and will introduce an upgraded Hero Proficiency system that will offer all-new rewards.

The next major update for NetEase Games' online hero shooter arrives tomorrow, January 16, adding the long-awaited multi-role Deadpool to the roster, along with a fresh Battle Pass, season event, and more.

Another update comes in the form of a massive Hero Proficiency overhaul, which will increase the level cap on heroes and introduce more tiers and more rewards.

Currently, the system only offers Lord as the highest level, but the update will allow players to grind even more until they reach Count, Colonel, Warrior, Elite, Guardian, and then the top honor of Champion at level 70.

Some of the rewards on offer range from new animated Dynamic Avatars, Units that you can spend in the store on hero skins, Unstable Molecules, nameplates, nameplate frames, titles, badges, and more.

It's a huge improvement on the current system, which offers a few rewards and an alternate avatar to show off your progress; I can't wait to spend an absurd amount of time grinding my favorite heroes further.

For all the major updates, check out our Marvel Rivals season guide for everything you need to know, including roadmap details, release times for Season 6, and more.

• Anthem's servers have officially been shut down by EA
• Players of BioWare's 2019 online shooter are sharing their farewells online through final gameplay clips, memes, and memories
• Other players are hopeful the game will see a revival one day

After almost seven years online, EA has officially shut down Anthem's servers for good.

At some point on January 12, 2026, Anthem servers officially went offline, making BioWare's 2019 online sci-fi shooter no longer playable to those who own a copy of the game.

Unfortunately, dedicated players who have spent years roaming Anthem's world as Freelancers are forced to say goodbye, and the fond memories, farewells, as well as the 'Press F to pay respects' memes, are already rolling in online.

"To my last squad in my last strong hold, it's been an honor," one player shared on the Anthem subreddit.

"Thank you Freelancers. Remember: Strong alone. Stronger together," another wrote.

Many players have also been sharing footage of their "final flights" within the game, commemorating their last play session ever. Meanwhile, others, who heard the news that the servers were due to be shut down, shared their PlayStation Platinum Trophy achievements after purchasing the game this week.

"All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain." from r/AnthemTheGame

However, some players are remaining hopeful that the game could one day make a comeback.

"Here's to some, REALLY wishful, thinking that this game gets revived one way or another," said user Renegade888888.

Another redditor responded, writing, "One thing would be nice is if they took the game down to work on the 2.0 because they are re doing the game engine and can't have it running while they do it. So they just decided to take it down so they can work on it. But yeah wishful thinking."

Anthem was released in February 2019 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC, but didn't soar into success, unlike BioWare's other popular franchises, Mass Effect and Dragon Age.

EA announced that the game's servers would close on January 12, 2026, last July, after "careful consideration", leaving players with only 180 days of playtime left.

"We deeply appreciate your dedication, passion and support over the years and we’d like to thank you for that," EA said in a blog post at the time. The company also confirmed that Anthem's shutdown hasn't led to any layoffs.

• South Park is coming to Fortnite on January 9 with a free mini pass
• The crossover will introduce Outfits for Cartman, Kenny, Stan, Kyle, and Butters
• Players can also enjoy a brand new 5-person playlist called Quints until February 5

Epic Games has revealed that its next Fortnite crossover will be with the popular animated TV series South Park.

Although the collaboration was leaked ahead of time, the latest Born in Chaos trailer confirms that South Park's Cartman, Kenny, Stan, Kyle, and Butters will be headed to Fortnite and the new Cartmanland on January 9.

In addition to these new additions to the Item Shop, players will also be rewarded with free items from the free Born in Chaos mini pass, as well as take part in a limited-time 5-person playlist called Quints, which will conclude on February 5.

This is a first for Fortnite, allowing teams of five to queue up together in Battle Royale or Zero Build in games consisting of 20 teams per match.

The South Park ensemble won't just be joining the battle as themselves, though. As showcased in the trailer, Butters, dressed in his Professor Chaos costume, uses the Stick of Truth to turn the South Park school bus into a Fortnite Battle Bus.

Butters, Cartman, and the rest of the gang are then revealed to be donning personal mech suits that will give the little guys a fairer advantage in matches to come.

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1: Pacific Break is currently underway. For all the latest updates, including the release date for the next season, be sure to check out our Fortnite Chapter 7 guide.

• Sony has patented new AI 'Ghost Player' tech that will play PlayStation games itself when users get stuck
• The AI system would train from gameplay clips from YouTube and Twitch, as well as PlayStation Network Data
• The AI Ghost would analyze a player's game to identify the scenario they are trying to progress through and then process the gameplay data to find the best solution

Sony has patented new AI technology that will take control of PlayStation games when the player gets stuck.

As reported by BoingBoing, the patent, which was originally filed in September 2024, details a new AI-generated system dubbed "Ghost Player" that would be able to generate AI-powered "ghosts" that would assist players.

Essentially, the "AI Ghost" would demonstrate how to progress a level if a player got stuck, or take full control and progress the scenario instead.

Sony explained in the filing that the AI would be trained from past gameplay videos from YouTube and Twitch, and data from the PlayStation Network, in order to find the best solution and solve the problem.

"Some solutions have included the use of a character that a user can follow. However, the character is usually a graphic image or outlined image of a prior player that played the game and the user must follow the character watching the moves that occurred (including moves and interaction that is not relevant to the user's current gameplay scenarios)," Sony explained.

"This is not, however, very useful for real-time assistance to a player that is encountering some difficulty with a specific scenario of gameplay or along the player's specific gameplay path. This is because the character does not know specifically what the player is playing or the context of the user's gameplay.

"Further, the character is typically only performing actions of one prior player. Further yet, the character is only presented for general game scenarios that relate to the game, not in relation to the context of the player's current gameplay."

It's also said that the AI system would be able to analyze a player's game state data to identify the scenario they are trying to progress through. The AI would then process the gameplay to find the best solution.

"The relevant interactivity is for the context of the gameplay of the player, not just some prior gameplay of another player," the patent reads.

"The ghost character can therefore be controlled by the assistance Al engine during gameplay and provide the player with visual illustrations of how certain game scenarios are played in order for the character controlled by the player to be able to achieve progress in the game."

It sounds like an interesting idea, but what about, for instance, FromSoftware games, which famously don't offer an easy mode? If I'm stuck on an Elden Ring boss, will the AI Ghost take over and beat it for me, minimizing all my hard-earned progress?

Though the patent does make mention of ways for the AI Ghost to offer "limited assistance", along with more detailed and comprehensive assistance, would it be a system I can opt out of completely?

The patent doesn't mention any plans to implement this feature in future PlayStation hardware, but it's hard to ignore how quickly AI is finding its way into the gaming space, like Microsoft's Gaming Copilot feature, which was introduced last year as an AI companion.

With 2025 in the rear view mirror, it’s safe to say that it’s been an utterly fantastic year for gamers.

With the roaring success of unexpected hits like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Dispatch absolute masterpieces such as Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and Donkey Kong Bananza the last twelve months of gaming are likely going to go down in the history books as some of the best ever.

Obviously, Grand Theft Auto 6 is going to be at the top of almost every gamers’ wishlist as we enter the year - with the Rockstar Games project set to become one of the biggest releases of all time - but there are loads of other things to get excited about too. We devour all kinds of games here at TechRadar Gaming (it is literally our job to cover them, after all) and there are plenty of games on the horizon that we’re really feeling the hype for.

This is our definitive list of our anticipated games of 2026, including some games that we’ve already managed to experience in a hands-on capacity and others that we’re just desperate to try. Although all these titles are currently meant to come out in the next weeks and months, do still bear in mind that development can be a tricky beast and the odd few might wind up subject to a delay so make sure to follow our news coverage for the latest announcements to stay in the know.

With that said, let’s dive into our picks!

Dashiell Wood, Gaming Editor

Grand Theft Auto 6

It wouldn’t be a most-anticipated list for 2026 without Grand Theft Auto 6 would it? And that’s for good reason: the next GTA game has all the makings of an all-time great video game - maybe even the all-time great.

We just know that there's going to be excellence in every conceivable way: the writing, story, and missions are surely on track to be some of the most memorable yet. The action is going to be peak Rockstar, the world and exploration are sure to be second-to-none, featuring a massive world that yearns to have all its nooks and crannies explored with an unparalleled level of realism.

However, I’m very eager to see GTA 6 in the context of current console hardware, too. The partnership between the developer and PlayStation surely points toward a game that’s going to be unreal on PlayStation 5 Pro, particularly, but how else will Rockstar make use of and indeed, push the current consoles to their limits?

I’m hoping for plenty of graphical options to be given to us as players, but also for one of the best-looking games to come our way when it lands late next year - unless there's another delay, of course!

Rob Dwiar, Managing Editor

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave

Few Nintendo properties get me more excited than Fire Emblem does; its character-driven turn-based battles are usually a highlight in the libraries of any consoles they happen to grace. The upcoming Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is a strange one, seemingly being connected to Fire Emblem: Three Houses with its reuse of Crests and the return of fan-favorite character Sothis.

The last mainline entry, Fire Emblem Engage, was pretty disappointing for me. It ditched the themes of sociopolitical struggles for something much more straightforward. Plus, its arguably nostalgia-baiting use of pre-existing Fire Emblem heroes made it feel more like a shoehorned spin-off rather than an earnest attempt at an entirely new game. It was an interesting take on the formula, partnering up with said heroes via the titular Engage system was definitely unique, but it ultimately left me wanting something more grounded.

So my hopes are high for Fortune’s Weave. We still don’t know much about the game, but its debut trailer at the last Nintendo Direct showed a return to a continent-spanning conflict with several key players involved - not unlike the Fire Emblem games of old. And having a game like this on the improved Switch 2 hardware can only make for a satisfyingly smooth experience, too.

Rhys Wood, Hardware Editor

John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando

What’s not to love about a new horde shooter from the genre masters over at Saber Interactive, not least one bearing the name of legendary horror director John Carpenter?

Set in a not too distant future, you play as a band of second rate mercenaries hired by a dodgy company to exterminate a malevolent entity known as the Sludge God. Dead set on terraforming Earth, it has overrun forests and transformed unlucky humans into rabid, muddy zombies.

The only thing standing between it and total domination is you and your friends, armed with an arsenal of full auto weaponry, explosives, souped up vehicles, and, of course, katanas. We haven’t seen too much of the game so far, but all of the early trailers suggest that it absolutely nails that 80s action-horror movie tone and I’m absolutely desperate to dive in the second it arrives.

Dashiell Wood, Gaming Editor

The Duskbloods

A FromSoftware game developed exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2? That's an easy sell. The Duskbloods is going to be multiplayer-focused, which did admittedly have me a bit skeptical at first.

After Elden Ring: Nightreign, however, I believe that FromSoftware has more than proved itself in the way of multiplayer design.

I’ve been quite blown away by how good the Souls formula has translated into a game with live service elements. You even glide into each map on a hawk, in a move that’s reminiscent of Fortnite. Hopefully, The Duskbloods takes some of the design choices from Elden Ring: Nightreign, while making use of all the bells and whistles of Nintendo’s new hardware.

Mostly, I just love the prospect of a Nintendo exclusive FromSoftware game. Will it make use of the Switch 2’s handheld features? Will it have a robust enough server design? Only time will tell.

Still, from what I’ve seen so far, The Duskbloods could be a very interesting endeavor for a studio at the top of its game.

Jake Green, Evergreen Editor

Control Resonant

We’ve only just seen the full reveal of Control Resonant, but even when we knew nothing about it, ‘Control 2’, as we had to refer to it previously, was already one of my most anticipated games. Now we’ve seen what it’s about, and a little sliver of what it looks like, where it's set, and what it’ll play like, my hype cannot be contained.

Shifting focus to Dylan is a cool move; and expanding the game into an expansive Manhattan world is a bold one. Embracing all the weirdness of Control’s story and its space-time-defying, inter-dimensional setting is a recipe that feels perfect for the next step in the Control saga. If it offers some brilliantly executed combat that evolves the Service Weapon, and combines it with a raft of new supernatural powers, then it’ll be a killer experience.

A sequel that takes all of what made Control brilliant, and pushes the boundaries of what a game can be, is shaping up to be a brilliant move for Remedy, and it’s odds on that it's going to be one of the games of the generation for me if it sticks the landing.

Rob Dwiar, Managing Editor

Neverway

I don’t play nearly as many indie games as I should, but next year I’d like to start changing that with Neverway, a psychological horror take on farming life sims like Stardew Valley and Sun Haven.

I’m already loving the pixel art and muted color palette, lending a general sense of unease to even the most innocent of tasks like planting crops or talking to your neighbors.

I’m just so intrigued by it all, even if the titles it’s taking most of its inspiration from aren’t always my cup of tea.

Rhys Wood, Hardware Editor

Subnautica 2

Subnautica 2 has been long in development, and after a recent delay, it’s now launching in early access some time in 2026.

What excites me most about the prospect of a new Subnautica game is the fact that it’s planned to be fully co-op, with support for up to four players. I absolutely love exploring survival games with my pals, and a deep alien ocean tops the list of my personal favorite videogame locales.

We’ve not been shown much gameplay yet, and Subnautica 2’s development has been a little rocky so far, but I’m still excited for it. I rarely engage with early access releases, but for Subnautica 2, I'm willing to make an exception. If it’s even half as good as the first game, I’ll be happy, and I plan on spending a lot of time exploring different biomes, building up an underwater base, and hunting Leviathans.

Hopefully, we’ll see more on Subnautica 2 sooner rather than later, as there’s still a lot of questions left to be answered. I’d like to know what sets the game apart from its predecessors, how transformative the jump to Unreal Engine 5 is, and exactly how the co-op works in practice.

Jake Green, Evergreen Editor

Styx: Blades of Greed

I’m feeling the need for greed. Specifically, Styx: Blades of Greed - the next instalment in the criminally underappreciated criminal goblin simulator series.

The games all follow a similar template in that they’re basically stealth action metroidvanias in which you explore large environments as the titular green menace stabbing your way through legions of human guards and trying to get your hands on as much shiny loot as possible.

Every entry so far truly captured the feeling of being a weird little gremlin and this next one looks like it’s going to take the potential for deviousness to new heights with a wealth of cool powers. Thanks to a magical quartz, Styx can now do everything from turning invisible to sneak even more effectively to mind controlling guards and simply walking them into the nearest pit.

All the trailers that have been released to date suggest that the games’ sense of humor hasn’t changed either. You might think that constant wisecracks and self referential, fourth wall breaking jokes would seem more than a little dated in 2026 - and you’d be right, but the odd eye-roll worthy remark only adds to the overall charm.

Dashiell Wood, Gaming Editor

Romeo is a Dead Man

The latest directorial effort from No More Heroes and killer7 creator Goichi Suda looks, as per usual, like a seriously wild trip.

We’ve seen little of the upcoming action game so far, but it appears to blend the best gameplay elements of No More Heroes and other Grasshopper titles like Shadows of the Damned and Lollipop Chainsaw (the original, mind, not the iffy remaster).

The promise is almost painfully Grasshopper, starring an agent brought back from the brink of death as a cyborg killing machine. As the titular Romeo, it looks like it’s our job to dispatch hordes of zombies, demons, and all manner of creepy cryptids with plenty of melee and ranged weaponry.

I’m a huge fan of Grasshopper’s work, and I particularly love Suda’s irreverent style mixed with his pointed social commentary. Look past all the flash and flamboyancy (and then learn to embrace it), and in everything from The Silver Case to Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes, you’ll find seriously engaging narratives and a desire to buck industry trends - and I’m hoping Romeo is a Dead Man will be no exception.

Rhys Wood, Hardware Editor

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4

The next entry in this real-time strategy behemoth series looks like it’s going back to the roots, grittiness, and moreish gameplay of the legendary first game.

The combat I’ve experienced in Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 already brought me right back to the LAN parties I had about 20-odd years ago, and the lengthy battles and sheer scale are things I remember really fondly. It appears that both of these concepts are making a big return next year.

The game looks to be in very safe new hands, too, as developer King Art Games appears to be building on all that Iron Harvest was, and taking it into the brutal, hostile, epic world of Warhammer 40,000.

Players returning to Kronus will be able to play one of four factions right from the off and, as well as the mighty Blood Ravens, there have been strong hints that there’s going to be some Dark Angel action for us too.

The immense satisfaction of slowly expanding into a map, resource point by resource point, to assert dominance over the enemy was already obvious to me in my hands-on early in 2025, and I can't wait to experience more of it and get into the granular details of running a mega Blood Raven army mission after mission.

For a few reasons, nowadays, there are only a couple of games that will have me sat at my gaming PC for hours on end, and Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War 4 is surely going to be one of them when it lands in 2026.

Rob Dwiar, Managing Editor

Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered

Yep, this is my guilty pleasure pick. I’ve been a massive fan of the Dynasty Warriors franchise ever since taking a chance on a bargain bin copy of Dynasty Warriors 6 back in my university days. And a return to one of the most fondly remembered entries in the series, with Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered, sounds like the perfect complement to the modern touches of Dynasty Warriors Origins.

I loved Origins, but I did lament the complete lack of series staples like tons of playable officers and strong weapon variety. But now is a chance to apply the best, most satisfying aspects of Origins to a reimagining of a certified PlayStation 2 classic.

Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered seems to be packaging everything from the original game along with its Xtreme Legends expansion.

Plus, more than two decades of hardware improvements mean the game’s battles should be as exceptionally hectic as what we get in more recent entries. I think this one’s going to be a real treat when it arrives in March, and I can’t wait to play one of the series’ best games with a fresh coat of paint.

Rhys Wood, Hardware Editor

007 First Light

007 First Light looks like it’ll be a superb implementation of the world’s coolest spy in a video game, and having seen a bit of it in 2025 at Gamescom, I was sold from the very first moments. It really does look to channel everything that makes a Bond movie great - but also mixes in the perfect amount of Hitman, too.

I’m really looking forward to several parts of the game and how it puts them into the globetrotting spy adventure action formula. Chief among them is the suite of Bond-y gadgets that we’ll get to play with. I want to be all over using the watch to take out baddies, or hacking systems from afar to wreak havoc, using pens or sandwiches to blow things up, and getting behind the wheel of a weapon-laden Aston in breathtaking setpiece action.

The locations on offer are likely to be spectacular destinations too, perfect for a Bond adventure; as a fan of digital landscapes and environments, I can’t wait to see what virtual playgrounds IOI are going to throw us into.

All in, there’s so much to look forward to, both known and unknown, and I’m already champing at the bit to get stuck in.

Rob Dwiar, Managing Editor

Forza Horizon 6

I’m not really much of a racing guy, but every now and then an arcade racing game pulls me in and I get completely obsessed. This happened in a big way with Forza Horizon 5, and I’d wager I put at least 200 hours into that game. Forza Horizon 6, then, really has me excited. It’s set in Japan, and even if it’s just more of the same, I’ll be there on day one.

In truth, Forza Horizon 6 is pretty much the only Xbox exclusive I’m genuinely excited for. It comes first to PC and Xbox, note the wording there, and I expect it to arrive on PS5 not long after.

Even so, I’ll be digging out the Series X to make sure I get in early, and I can’t wait to see how Playground Games evolves the formula moving forward. Having just spent hundreds of hours admiring rural Japan in Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Ghost of Yōtei, it’s Horizon’s potential take on forests and mountain regions that most excites me.

The Forza Horizon games are masterful in their dynamic weather systems and bite-sized renditions of iconic world wonders. I’m expecting the new entry to be absolutely gorgeous, and to make use of the very best of what the current generation of consoles can achieve.

If Playground Games plays its cards right, I may even be picking up Forza Horizon 6 twice next year, as the potential for a PS5 Pro version is something I truly can’t resist.

Jake Green, Evergreen Editor

Resident Evil Requiem

Keeping with the earlier zombie theme for another pick, I of course couldn’t overlook Resident Evil Requiem given just how highly it sits on my personal wishlist.

This tantalizing next instalment in the legendary survival horror franchise takes the action back to where it all began: Racoon City. You venture into the ruins of the midwestern town as new protagonist FBI agent Grace Ashcroft, with much of the action centered around an abandoned hotel where her mother was murdered years prior.

Having recently replayed the remakes of both Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 in preparation for its release, I’m desperate to re-explore iconic environments like the Racoon City Police Station to see just how much they’ve changed.

I went hands on with a small slice of the game earlier this year, which only cemented my excitement. It seems like the perfect combination of everything I enjoyed from the remakes and Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, including the introduction of a new horror to dynamically stalk you through certain environments.

Now that we know for sure fan-favorite Leon S. Kennedy is going to be a major playable character, I’m even more hyped to find out where this new chapter will lead.

Dashiell Wood, Gaming Editor

Don't stress about the prospect of having to keep everyone entertained over New Year's and the wider holiday period. Whipping out that dusty old Monopoly box, putting on a classic movie, or forcing everyone out on a walk is going to be good enough for a few hours, but having a couple of games to play with the family on standby is the perfect way to stave off boredom.

Whether you're new to the world of gaming or an experienced player, there are plenty of fantastic choices suitable for all ages that can help bring everyone together. I've assembled this bespoke list of potential picks with my own first-hand experience as TechRadar's Gaming Editor and that of my colleague Jake.

Together, we've spent hours playing each of these inclusions with friends and can say that they're a sure-fire ticket to family fun. I've included titles for a wide range of platforms too (be that PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2) to try and ensure that there are options for everyone regardless of whether you have the very latest consoles on hand.

6. Mario Kart World

I have so many fond memories of playing Mario Kart with my family over the holidays back in the Wii days, and the arrival of a new entry in the series earlier this year is the perfect excuse to keep that tradition alive.

Mario Kart World was almost certainly wrapped up under many Christmas trees this year, along with the shiny new Nintendo Switch 2 console, so get it hooked up to the TV and pass those Joy-Con 2 controllers around for some racing action.

It's a cute and colorful casual racer with an emphasis on approachability and replayablity. The handful of optional assist settings and the simplicity of the controls means that even those who haven't played a game before will quickly get the hang of things.

This entry not only looks the absolute best yet, but also introduces the ability to drive off the courses for the first time with each track set in one giant open map. There are loads of racers to unlock and play as, and some cool new modes like Knockout Tour to try so you're not going to run out of things to do.

Don't have a Nintendo Switch 2? The previous entry, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, is a little different but still fantastic on the original Nintendo Switch.

5. Lego Voyagers

If you'd have told me last year that I would ever get emotional over a Lego brick, I probably would've laughed at you. Then I played Lego Voyagers, a surprisingly moving two-player adventure starring two adorable little bricks.

Together, you explore a mysterious world filled with breathtaking views and neat little puzzles that require both players working together to complete. Easily my favorite part of the game, aside from the atmospheric music and sound effects, is just how good it looks.

Almost everything is built from real bricks, with amusing representations of animals like crabs. The lighting effects are nice and warm, which makes it a real treat for the eyes across the board.

It's a short game too and I rolled the credits in just a few hours making it a good choice for a cozy afternoon.

This one is only playable with two people though, with no support for more players. If you're looking for a Lego game that can entertain a group, keep reading for our thoughts on Lego Party later on.

4. Split Fiction

Split Fiction is another game that's ideal for a duo. It follows two contrasting writers, one a creator of sci-fi and the other fantasy fiction, who become trapped in a digital world based on their respective stories.

Variety is the name of the game here, with bombastic levels that experiment with mechanics taken from a wide range of genres. This is definitely one for slightly more experienced players than the likes of Mario Kart World, but it's plenty forgiving if you're not yet fully comfortable navigating a 3D space.

It's bursting with memorable moments that I don't want to spoil too much, but a few of my favorites include a segment where you get to play as a sentient hot dog and another that's a high-speed space motorbike chase. Like Lego Voyagers, this is a title where both players need to work together closely in order to succeed, which makes it a perfect way to bond.

If you go with the Nintendo Switch 2 version, just be aware that you do need two full sets of Joy-Con 2 controllers to play locally, or access to a Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller in addition to the pair included with your system.

2. Lego Party!

Another brick-themed pick here and, I’ve got to be honest, when I saw that there was a Lego party game attempting to go after the Mario Party crown, I was skeptical at best.

Having spent last weekend playing Lego Party! with friends, however, I can say that I actually prefer its take on a party game experience. It’s simpler to understand, more streamlined in its mechanics, and much fairer in its rewards and in deciding an eventual victor.

Lego Party! pulls from several popular Lego properties like Ninjago to offer a handful of puzzle boards for players to compete through. It's filled with vintage Lego humor, with zany characters, and a family-friendly collection of jokes, puns, and goofs. You’ll battle it out in a wide range of minigames, each easy to understand but difficult to master.

What I love most about Lego Party! is its decidedly different approach to your final scores. In Mario Party, I often found that I'm leading the pack before being told, right at the end, that I’d lost a bunch Stars because another player had collected more Coins than me.

It’s always felt a bit cheap, and Lego Party!’ is much more straightforward. If you have the most Gold Bricks at the end of the game, you win, no shenanigans, no cheap losses. Perfect.

1. Just Dance 2026 Edition

The Just Dance series is always a fantastic choice for any kind of gathering and the latest installment, Just Dance 2026 Edition, is comfortably the best version yet.

This party game has you trying to match the motion of on-screen dancers to a range of popular songs in beautiful minimalist music videos. The tracklist has a great variety to it, with inclusions for K-pop fans, TikTok addicts, and even kids in an impressively animated Bluey song that looks just like an episode of the show.

If you're not happy with the included selection, every copy comes with a free trial for the Just Dance Plus subscription that unlocks hundreds more songs and can be continued for just $24.99 / £19.99 a year if you wish.

The best part? You don't need to splash out for multiple controllers in order to play with up to six people. Just get everyone to download the compatible Just Dance Controller app and you can control everything from your collective phones. There's no messing about trying to find enough pads for everyone or frantically searching for spare controller batteries here.

This is also one of the few games on this list that's great for a solo player - with high scores to chase, unlocks to obtain, and even a few fitness oriented tracks to help burn calories - so you can continue playing even when the holidays end, and wow everyone with your skills this time next year.

Corsair Void v2 MAX Wireless review: one-minute review

If you’re in the market for a new headset, you don’t want to sleep on Corsair’s new Void Max Wireless V2. It’s the upgraded version of the Corsair Void Wireless V2, one of the best wireless gaming headsets we’ve tested, adding Sonarworks SoundID through iCue and simultaneous dual connectivity to the mix, to the tune of a small price increase.

It offers solid connectivity, offering both 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth across PC, PlayStation 5 (using the dongle), Nintendo Switch 1 and 2, and mobile, with an Xbox version sold separately. Plus, with extensive battery life of up to 130 hours over Bluetooth and up to 70 hours over wireless, the Void v2 MAX is comfortable and performs great on test, making it a fantastic headset for long gaming sessions.

Still, I wish it had a wired option, and perhaps a detachable microphone – that would have perfectly rounded out the feature set in this Max version, for me, but it’s nonetheless a fantastic mid-range option with ample fun and useful features.

Corsair Void v2 MAX Wireless review: price and availability

• List price: $149.99 / £119.99 / AU$249
• Announced September 2025
• Lands in the mid-range of wireless gaming headsets

Sitting comfortably in the mid-range price bracket, Corsair’s Void v2 MAX Wireless justifies its price with a neat design, decent customizability and some great sound smarts, offering a slightly more interesting look and experience than the more budget-friendly alternatives. It skips the deluxe design, features and audio specs from much more pricey options like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite while still hitting the mark on most of the must-haves.

It’s $30 / £20 / AU$60 more expensive than the original Void v2 Wireless released in April 2025, and while it largely offers the exact same experience, the added option for simultaneous 2.4Ghz and Bluetooth connectivity in addition to the Sonarworks SoundID through iCue sweetens the deal.

Corsair Void v2 MAX Wireless review: Specs

Corsair Void v2 MAX Wireless review: Design and features

• Easy, quick connectivity
• Stylish design
• Flip-to-mute mic – but it’s not detachable

There are no significant design changes between the standard and Max versions of Corsair’s Void v2 headset. Out of the box, the Corsair Void v2 MAX Wireless comes with just the headset, USB 3.0 dongle, USB 3.0-to-USB-C charging cable, and a QR code to open out the instruction manual.

Available in white and black, the design of these headsets is sleek yet unmistakably gamer-coded headsets thanks to the two slim RGB light strips. The geometric cups are cushioned with breathable memory foam padding, and the adjustable frame ensures a comfortable fit over your head. There are two buttons on the left: one to turn the headset on and off, and the other is customizable to different functions, as well as a small scroll wheel to control the volume on the side.

The mic arm can be flipped up to mute input or keep it out of your face when not in use, but it’s a real shame they didn’t opt to make it removable for this more premium option – if they had, these would be more socially acceptable to use in place of the best wireless headphones while you’re out and about. Instead, the Corsair Void v2 MAX Wireless remains confined to my gaming desk. To the same end, I wish they’d offered a dongle adapter with this version; the USB 3.0 receiver feels dated when many consoles and machines are moving towards USB-C.

After charging, it’s simple to set up the headset; if you’re using the dongle, it’ll automatically pair with your headset, or you can pair via Bluetooth by pressing and holding the lower of the two buttons on the left side of the headset. When using the Void v2 MAX Wireless on PC, you’ll want both the Dolby Access app and the Corsair iCUE software; the former allows you to enable Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio, while the latter offers device customisation. When playing on PS5, simply head to the console’s sound settings and enable the Tempest 3D Audio.

Corsair Void v2 MAX Wireless review: Performance

• Superb battery life
• Lightweight and comfortable in use
• Excellent audio performance

As you can expect from Corsair, performance is reliably good across the board. The audio and microphone quality is great, and they’re comfortable to wear, to boot.

I’ve been using the Corsair Void v2 MAX Wireless as my main gaming headset for a month, often playing for hours on end, and I’ve yet to experience any discomfort. Its memory foam cushions, lightweight design and excellent battery life make it a go-to for extended gameplay sessions, whether I’m hooked up to my Nintendo Switch 2, PS5 or my PC.

I’m still not quite over my Baldur’s Gate 3 era, and the Corsair Void v2 MAX Wireless headset was the perfect companion to enjoy the rich audio landscape of the Sword Coast and the lively voice acting of its fantastic cast. The headset’s noise suppression works wonderfully in tandem with iCue software’s EQ, meaning everything was rendered with great clarity and depth. I also spent some time in Valorant on PS5, finding it super easy to pick out environmental cues thanks to the impressive audio clarity and Tempest 3D Audio.

Dual connectivity worked well on test, and came in handy a few times I wanted to answer calls or listen to a podcast on my phone while playing a less audio-reliant game, and when I used the headset to chat with friends over Discord, I received several comments on the solid microphone quality.

Best of all, I could complete most of my testing without ever needing to recharge the headset, because it offers around 70 hours of battery life via 2.4GHz wireless and an impressive up to 130 hours on Bluetooth; based on my testing, that’s an accurate benchmark from Corsair.

Should you buy the Corsair Void v2 MAX Wireless?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider...

Still not sold on the Corsair Void v2 MAX Wireless? Here’s how it compares to more of the best gaming headsets.

How I tested the Corsair Void v2 MAX Wireless

• Used as my main gaming headset for four weeks
• Connected to my Nintendo Switch 2, PC and PS5
• Played a variety of games across genres

Typically, I use my iconic Razer Kraken Kitty V2 wired headset, but putting this to one side to try the Corsair Void v2 MAX Wireless granted a better all-round experience and the benefits of dual connectivity. I used it with my Nintendo Switch 2, gaming PC, and PlayStation 5, playing everything from first-person shooters to RPGs like Baldur’s Gate III and Assassin's Creed: Shadows to see how the headset works in different environments.

I used all of the advertised features, and exhaustively used the headset over my four weeks of testing to see what the long-term experience is like and ensure comfort, performance, and software all work as promised.

First reviewed November-December 2025

Read more about how we test

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Gen 2: two-minute review

If you’re looking for a PS5 headset that boasts unrivaled customization options, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Gen 2 is an endlessly versatile wireless gaming headset option. And while it is indeed a tweaked version of the multiplatform model, one that swaps out the control wheel on the right earcup for one that dials in sidetone, this headset can be used on a whole host of platforms to great effect.

After using the headset for 100 hours, I’ve found myself keeping it on for music listening and work calls throughout the day. It’s a Gen 2 version of an existing headset, with a larger battery that I’ve found to be good for just over 50 hours, and a few extras in terms of software compatibility. Having also used a SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 review, I can say with confidence that this is a big step up in terms of user experience and comfort.

All in all, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P offers everything I want from a PS5 headset, and I’ve been impressed by the custom audio profiles for games like Fortnite and Alan Wake 2. While the Arctis app is easy to use on mobile, some features, like creating custom EQ profiles, are locked to the desktop app. I’d love to see full functionality on the mobile app, as having to jump between devices to use the full suite of features is a little frustrating. Similarly, you have to use the desktop app to update firmware.

Audio quality for the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P is great across the board and has held up while I’ve been testing the headset with gaming, work calls, and music listening sessions.

There’s a handful of music EQ profiles to play around with, and they offer the usual Bright, Heavy, Bass Boost options you’ll find on most EQing programmes these days. I love the fact that Side Tone is controlled via a wheel on the right ear cup, as it allows me to dial it up for online, voice-chat heavy games, and then back down for when I’m playing a single player title.

Battery life was pretty much bang on the 54 hours claimed by the manufacturer (my estimate was 52 hours following a full charge), though I did find that the battery drained a little quicker when using both the Bluetooth and 2.4Ghz functions simultaneously. As such, I never actually ran out of battery (besides the testing for battery life), as a quick charge at the end of the day would boost the headset up enough to last comfortably more than the following day’s usage.

Retractable microphones are my preference in a gaming headset, and I’ve really appreciated being able to neatly slot away the microphone while I’m using the headset for music or single-player games. Other gaming headsets I’ve owned have had detachable microphones, and sooner or later, they get misplaced, rendering the device useless for certain kinds of games. The red light that indicates muting is a nice touch too, giving me a clear signal that, yes, I am indeed muted on a call once again.

I’ve unfortunately also had two instances requiring me to hard-reset the device. This seems to happen due to an endless cycling of the Bluetooth pairing when connecting and reconnecting between multiple devices. To reset the headset, you have to remove the foam from one of the earcups and then use a pin to poke down into a very tiny hole.

This isn’t ideal, and particularly frustrating when you don’t have the right tool on hand to initiate the fix. I’ve kept the headset’s firmware updated throughout this review, so for now, I’m unable to say whether this issue is something that’s prevalent and planned to be fixed.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Gen 2: price and availability

• List price: $199 / £179.99 / AU$399
• More expensive than the Gen 1 version at launch, which was $179.99 / £174.99 (about AU$310)
• Competitive pricing with a great feature set that matches rivals

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P launched in October 2025. It’s positioned somewhere in the middle of the mid-range premium gaming headsets in terms of cost, and it’s in-line, though slightly more expensive than the Gen 1 version due to its refreshed and updated feature set.

At $199 / £179.99 / AU$399, the headset has a number of competitors like the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3. It’s exactly the same price as the Stealth 700 Gen 3, and shares many of the same features, though the Turtle Beach has the SteelSeries beat on battery life by a considerable margin.

Then there’s the Razer Kraken V4, a cheaper alternative ($179 / £179 / AU$329) to the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P. You get a little less battery life and THX Spatial Audio, which really improves the audio experience. Unfortunately, this THX Spatial Audio is only available on PC, so if you’re a console gamer, you may find the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P’s suite of software features a lot more useful in your setup.

For the price, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P does offer great value for money in terms of build quality and features. It doesn’t have Active Noise Control (ANC), though you can’t find another headset that does in this price range. In fact, ANC is very uncommon in the gaming space as of yet, so for now at least, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P feels fully featured.

It’s also worth mentioning that, despite having launched in October of this year, there have already been deals and discounts for Black Friday that brought the headset down by $20 on average. Even if you can’t find a deal on the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P headset, it’s still great value for money for what you’re getting.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Gen 2: specs

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Gen 2: design and features

• Comfortable and lightweight design that feels sleek and unobstructive
• Simultaneous 2.4Ghz wireless and Bluetooth audio is a real winner
• Three cleanly designed colorways

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P comes in three colors: Black, White, and Pink, though the design largely follows the same of other Arctis Nova headsets. Comparing it to my own SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5, the 7P is noticeably improved in build quality. It’s slightly heavier, and the headband is a PVD (Physical Vapour Deposition)-coated steel that’s much more sturdy. At a glance, however, this is the same design we’ve seen from other SteelSeries gaming headsets, just a little bit more premium-feeling.

In comparison to the weight of competitors like the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 (14.3oz / 408g) and the Kraken V4 (12.3oz / 397g), the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P is noticeably lighter (11.3oz / 326g). I often find gaming headsets too bulky and heavy for extended use, though the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P has been superbly comfortable to wear all day. I was given the Black color variant for review, and it’s a big upgrade on the White model I’ve used for the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 (which discolored and yellowed a little after a few months of use).

Another thing I like about this headset is the retractable microphone. It slots neatly into the left earcup and can be pulled out and replaced smoothly. There’s even a small red LED on the tip of the microphone to indicate when the device is muted. Personally, I need a little bit of Side Tone in my gaming headsets, which usually plays back a bit of my speech audio into the headset while using the microphone. The 7P version here has an adjustable dial on the right earcup to adjust Side Tone, a nice feature that’s exclusive to the PlayStation-centric version I’ve been testing

There’s a mute button, a volume wheel, and two pairing buttons that activate Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connections, respectively. These all feel solid, though there’s nothing particularly interesting to report about them. Other headsets might use a click here and there on their volume wheels, but I can’t say I was left wanting with the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P’s more straightforward offering.

This 7P variant is multiplatform across PC, mobile, Mac, PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch 2, Meta Quest 2 and Quest 3, and Nintendo Switch, as are the 7 and 7X variants. The difference between the models is that in the 7, the right ear cup has a chatmix volume wheel (tailored for PC functionality), rather than the 7P and the 7X’s Side Tone wheel. The PS5 doesn’t use chatmix, so the Side Tone wheel is more useful if you’re primarily playing on PlayStation. If you want proper Xbox compatibility, the 7X is the headset that’ll connect to Xbox devices. The 7 and 7P will not.

Having separate buttons for each connection type works like a charm, and they even have slightly different sound effects upon activation. This streamlines a potentially finicky process that can often crop up with simultaneous connectivity devices like this.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Gen 2: performance

• Fantastic sound across gaming, music, and work calls
• Arctis app’s custom game profiles truly make a difference
• Comfortable and versatile enough to become a daily driver

The SteelSeries Arctis 7P excels in audio quality, mostly leaning on the Arctis app to offer a deep level of customization in how your in-game audio is mixed. I’ve played hundreds of hours of online games like Fortnite, Battlefield 6 and Arc Raiders using the headset, and found in-game audio to rise to the occasion, regardless of what I’m playing. I often chose to use the headset without the companion app, instead relying on default settings to play a whole host of games. I found the audio to be well-balanced and with adequate levels of bass without needing to tweak things in-game.

Similarly, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P will perform great when streaming music, though it’s not really positioned as a music-first product, lacking noise cancelling and the clarity you’ll get from a dedicated set of more audio-focused headphones.

Generally, the headset features solid audio quality and performance in default settings, with very few issues with stuttering or streaming, whether connected to Bluetooth or 2.4Ghz signals. I had quite a few problems with the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 in this respect, frequently finding that my audio would glitch or cut out entirely from time to time. Whatever’s been finetuned for the 7P model has ironed out these issues completely, and I’ve had a very smooth experience switching between Bluetooth and 2.4Ghz modes so far.

A huge plus point of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P is its compatibility with the companion Arctis app, which adds flexibility and features. You can download the Arctis app on your phone, and from there you can tweak the Bluetooth audio, the 2.4Ghz audio, and microphone profiles on the fly. It’s a robust app that has custom profiles for games like Battlefield 6, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, and Fortnite.

In online competitive titles, enemy footsteps are bumped up in the EQ mix, and the difference is stark. Having spent around a hundred hours playing Arc Raiders on the headset with the “FPS Footsteps” custom profile enabled, I’ve been able to hear enemies sneaking up behind me, saving me from a potential ambush.

Unfortunately, custom EQ settings are locked to the desktop app, so if you want to make your own audio profiles, you’ll need to load up another device. I’d like to see this compatibility added to the mobile app, as having to open up my laptop and connect my headset to a separate platform really complicates what should be a simple process.

Microphone quality isn’t perfect out of the box, but after some tweaking in the Arctis app, it sounds great when playing online with other players. At this price point, the audio quality from the microphone is standard, but nothing to write home about, though I’ve had reports from my regular gaming group that the microphone sounds noticeably better than on my SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5.

All in all, however, I have very few gripes with how the Steel Series Arctis Nova 7P performs day to day. The simultaneous Bluetooth and 2.4Ghz connections have made the headset a staple for me, whether I’m gaming, working, or chatting to pals on Discord.

Should I buy the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Gen 2?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Gen 2: Also consider

Still not sold on the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P? Here are two competitors that might better fit your needs.

How I tested the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Gen 2

• Tested daily for a month, between gaming and work sessions
• Used primarily on PS5 Pro, but also on my MacBook Air, and Google Pixel 7
• Compared directly to the Steel Series Arctis Nova 5, which I’ve now used daily for over a year

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P has become my daily driver for the last month or so. I’ve been using it as my main gaming headset, playing Arc Raiders and Fortnite with pals online. I’ve also used the headset for work, joining meetings and presentations, and using the microphone to speak. I’ve regularly had both audio streams running simultaneously using the Bluetooth and 2.4Ghz wireless functions, especially while gaming.

On my PS5 Pro, I’ve tested the custom audio profiles in the Arctis app. Audio for Fortnite, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Battlefield 6 all offered distinct differences when paired with their respective custom profiles. Primarily, I’ve played around 60 hours of Arc Raiders, a game where audio is particularly vital. The FPS Footsteps profile saved my life a bunch of times by lifting low-end audio and making enemy footsteps clear and pronounced.

On my MacBook Air, I used the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P to listen to music, and applied some of the dedicated music profiles from the Arctis app to test audio quality. During my testing, I was able to compare the headset to the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 and noted the upgrades offered by the newer version. I also paired the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P to my Google Pixel 7 to test calls, Discord Mobile audio, and to access the Arctis app’s full suite of features.

First reviewed October-December 2025

Read more about how we test

• NetEase Games has confirmed that it has "bigger plans" ahead for Marvel Rivals in 2026
• Marvel Games executive producer Danny Koo says 2025 was a "warm-up period" and that the team has "already planned more than a year ahead"
• NetEase publishing and marketing lead Yachen Bian also teases new game modes in the new year

After a hugely successful year for NetEase Games' team-based shooter Marvel Rivals, the studio has confirmed that it has "bigger plans" ahead.

Speaking in an interview with Den of Geek after The Game Awards 2025, where it was revealed that Deadpool and Elsa Bloodstone will be added to Marvel Rivals Season 6, NetEase discussed the past year of content updates and how it aims to build upon the game's success in 2026.

"2025 was more of a warm-up period for us," revealed Marvel Games executive producer Danny Koo. "Next year, we're going to have bigger plans. We're not going to slow down. We've already planned more than a year ahead and I can't wait for our players to see it."

Marvel Rivals is now in the middle of Season 5.5 and has already added a ton of new heroes and villains to the roster, including The Fantastic Four, Jean Grey, Rogue and Gambit, Daredevil, and more.

The studio even added an exciting, limited-time Marvel Zombies mode, which has been extended twice, as well as a limited-time 18v18 Conquest (Annihilation) mode, and according to NetEase publishing and marketing lead Yachen Bian, the team wants to add even more ways to play.

"In the next year, we want to provide more game modes," Bian said. "It's why we have prototypes in the game, like PvE and 18v18. We want to give the players more choices of different game modes beyond the basic gameplay because your fundamental experience might be very different. When you're fighting against zombies, it's quite different from fighting against other people."

Season 6 is scheduled for a January 16, 2026, release and will add Deadpool, with Elsa Bloodstone expected for Season 6.5. While we know the update will also feature new competitive changes and a fresh battle pass, players will have to wait and see what's in store for the rest of the year, but Koo confirmed the team is all in on delivering new content regularly for fans.

"It's a lot of hard work and it always feels different and exciting," said Koo. "This game is releasing new content every week. Even my own team comes in every day asking what's new today. Everyone's excited. They want to continue to make this happen. Everyone wants to make this the biggest game possible."

• Hardware and physical software unit sales in November 2025 were the worst they've been in the US since 1995
• Circana reports that 1.6 million units of video game hardware were sold in the US last month, which was the lowest since the 1.4 million units that were sold in the US in 1995
• The PS5 was November's best-selling console in both units and dollars and Black Ops 7 was the best-selling game of the month

Video game hardware and physical software sales just had their worst November in the United States since 1995, despite the holiday season.

According to the data from Circana's latest report from executive director, Mat Piscatella, who writes on BlueSky that there was a decline across hardware, console spending, and accessories in November 2025, making it the worst November for games in terms of hardware units and physical software sales in the US in 30 years.

Piscatella reports that 1.6 million units of video game hardware were sold in the US last month, compared to 3.9 million units in November 2019, and that last month's results were at their lowest ever since the 1.4 million units that were sold in the US in 1995.

Monthly spending for hardware last month was $695 million, a 27% drop compared to November 2024, and also the lowest hardware spend in the same month in the US since 2005.

The average price paid for a new unit of hardware last month was also $439, compared to $235 in 2019, and also 11% higher than last year, but physical software spending fell 14% when compared to a year ago, which Piscatella said is an all-time low for a November month since 1995.

Content - Sensor Tower reports the top 10 mobile games by U.S. consumer spend in Nov and rank chg from Oct as: MONOPOLY GO!, Royal Match, Last War: Survival, Candy Crush Saga, Clash Royale, Kingshot, Gossip Harbor, Whiteout Survival (+1), Pokémon Go (+5) and Township.

— @matpiscatella.bsky.social (@matpiscatella.bsky.social.bsky.social) 2025-12-18T14:15:53.483Z

It's also said that total projected spending across video game hardware, content, and accessories fell 4% when compared to a year ago, to $5.9 billion, and that monthly hardware spending dropped by 27% when compared to a year ago, to $695M.

"This is the lowest video game hardware spending total for a November month since the $455M reached during the November 2005 tracking period," Piscatella said.

Still, the PS5 was November's best-selling hardware in both units and dollars, which is "the first time this has occurred since the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2", while the Switch 2 ranked 2nd place.

Interestingly, the NEX Playground ranked 3rd in hardware units sold during November, with the Xbox Series placing 3rd in dollars.

In terms of software and despite the bad month overall, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 was the best-selling game of November, making it the 7th best-selling game of 2025 so far. However, Piscatella said the Call of Duty franchise "experienced a double-digit percentage full game dollar sales decline when compared to November 2024."

The game was followed by Battlefield 6, which has been doing exceedingly well in the first-person shooter (FPS) genre this year, beating out Black Ops 7 in terms of concurrent players on Steam.

I’ve been replaying The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt this month as my Christmas game, and it’s proving just as excellent, if not better, this time around after nearly a decade of not even booting it up.

Those more-than-200 hours I originally put into the game on PS4 years ago have almost paled into insignificance, and this has been as fresh as any return to a favorite game can ever be.

It’s been a joy to wander about Skellige’s landscapes, soaking up the atmosphere, weather, and music; heartwrenching to play quests such as the one with the Bloody Baron all over again; and grimly enjoyable to get stuck into the misery of the ongoing war and the politics surrounding it.

However, this playthrough - my 10-year-anniversary, Witcher-concert-inspired playthrough - has been elevated enormously by investing in one simple ability that I ignored the first time around: Delusion, one of the first abilities in the Axii sign skill line.

It’s such a game-changing and tangibly effective ability that I’m already hoping - maybe even assuming - that Ciri has it in The Witcher 4, important as it is to my Geralt in his latest adventure. Let me explain.

Changing your mind

I’d almost certainly missed this ability on my first playthrough those 10 years ago, because I was so focused on building a damage-heavy tanky Geralt, I consistently overlooked the signs on the whole. Throw in the fact that Delusion isn’t really that useful in combat, and I probably binned it for another skill that gave me more attack power.

What is definitely evident is that using a fully-powered Delusion from quite early in the game changes so many outcomes, conversations, and series of events - I have a reliable memory and know for a fact that I didn’t have all these conversations or events in my first playthrough.

What’s more baffling about me not using it before is that it can be a set-and-forget skill - and given the way The Witcher 3’s UI is, I much prefer to try and aim for that on the whole rather than swapping in and out constantly. Ain’t nobody got time for that. You could even (probably) get away with having it active with only one point on it for at least a while if you need the other points elsewhere.

It’s a tremendously useful ability in this same vein, too. It can help you avoid a whole heap of unnecessary bloodshed, combat, and, well, death, that life on The Continent and in Skellige can do without, frankly. It very much fits into a Geralt who is more of a lover than a fighter, and can really help you avoid drawing the sword all that often. Also, I’m older and less hotheaded now than I was 10 years ago, and I like to think my Geralt is too.

It’s helped me get loads of extra experience points quicker and earlier on in the game too, with each use in conversation - even if it’s unsuccessful - giving you 40 points of EXP when it’s fully upgraded. So it has practical implications for progress, as well as narratively, and even the vibes and attitude of your Geralt as a problem solver.

Powers of persuasion

I know this isn’t a groundbreaking thing at all - in fact, it’s quite a simple thing in-game that’s also a core Witcher skill; Ciri simply has to have this in The Witcher 4, and, you know what, she certainly will. Surely.

I absolutely want to see Ciri wave her hand poetically at angry peasants or arrogant and stubborn nobles who won’t see reason, or at riled-up folks who, simply by a weird gesture of the hand, will hand over a sack of coin. I imagine it’ll at least be deployed in those ways for Ciri in The Witcher 4 - similar to The Witcher 3 - but I do hope there might be more practical application in combat. A more powerful and effective means to cause enemies to attack their own, perhaps.

However, in the build-up to The Witcher 4, it’s another little thing I’m very pleased to have discovered all these years later in one of the best games ever made, and that’s added another mile an hour or two to my hype train.

• Marvel Rivals Season 6 was unveiled at The Game Awards 2025
• Deadpool is the next Hero set to be added
• It all releases on January 16, 2026

NetEase aired a brand new trailer for Marvel Rivals during The Game Awards 2025, revealing Deadpool as the new Hero for Season 6.

Even though we're awaiting the arrival of Marvel Rivals Season 5.5, it seems players will already be able to check out plenty of info on Season 6. The latest trailer unveils Deadpool, as he takes on monster-versions of Heroes like Captain America. This is all coming January 16, 2026.

Deadpool has been at the top of fans' wishlists since the arrival of Marvel Rivals last year, and the Merc With a Mouth joins the game next season. The theme will be 'Night at the Museum', based around The Collector's ecclectic exhibits in Knowhere.

That's not all, as we also got a glimpse at Elsa Bloodstone, the infamous Marvel monster hunter. It's expected that she'll be the new Hero for Season 6.5. All in all, it looks like Marvel Rivals will be kicking off a whole new year of content with one heck of a bang.

You can follow the launch of Marvel Rivals' next season as part of my Marvel Rivals Season 5.5 launch live blog. I'm counting down the minutes until the new update goes live, before giving my early impressions of Rogue.

Marvel Rivals Season 5.5 launched on December 12, bringing Rogue as a brand new Vanguard. The iconic mutant has been heavily requested ever since Marvel Rivals launched, and now players will be able to dive in and push the front line forward using shields and heavy attacks.

There's still a fresh Season 5 Battle Pass too, giving players plenty to claim before the arrival of the next Season of Marvel Rivals. Now that NetEase has revealed the full details for Marvel Rivals Season 5.5, we can start to dig into what's changed. It's remarkable just how quickly the game's meta can switch up with each major update, and it's no surprise that Marvel Rivals still ranks highly on our best PC games list.

I've now played 300 hours of Marvel Rivals since launch, and I've been jumping in at the start of every season to try out the new Hero. I'm very excited to get my hands on Rogue, and absolutely ready to be pulled back into a Vanguard role. It's not just the arrival of Rogue that'll switch up Season 5.5, however, as there are changes to Heroes like Wolverine and Luna Snow that will surely change the meta going forward.

Here's the Marvel Rivals Season 5.5 launch info, alongside details on what to expect from the new major update.

Marvel Rivals Season 5.5 start time

Marvel Rivals Season 5.5 launched December 12 at the times below:

• East Coast (US): 6AM ET
• West Coast (US): 3AM PT
• United Kingdom: 11AM GMT
• Australia (Sydney): 10PM AEST
• Japan (Tokyo): 8PM JST

Marvel Rivals Season 5.5 Downtime

Marvel Rivals Season 5.5 downtime began at the following times, and lasted 2 hours.

• East Coast (US): 4AM ET
• West Coast (US): 1AM PT
• United Kingdom: 9AM GMT
• Australia (Sydney): 8PM AEST
• Japan (Tokyo): 6PM JST

Marvel Rivals Rogue

Rogue joins Marvel Rivals Season 5.5 as a Vanguard. She has an exclusive ability that steals powers from enemies she eliminates. We've already seen her steal Dr Strange's shield, and Loki's regenerative healing move. Her Ultimate drains Ultimate energy from nearby foes, which could be absolutely devastating when targeting support characters like Luna Snow.

Explosive Entanglement is a team up between Gambit and Magneto introduced in Season 5. Rogue joins this Team Up, and powers up her attacks with healing energy, and AoE damage. Overall, Rogue could be the most versatile Vanguard ever introduced, thanks to her ability to steal powers from enemies.

Marvel Rivals Season 5.5 Hero Balancing

The following Hero balancing updates are now live in Marvel Rivals Season 5.5:

• Hero balancing (buffs): Thor, Emma Frost, The Thing, Blade, Phoenix, The Punisher, Human Torch, Wolverine, Scarlet Witch, Loki, Luna Snow, Ultron
• Hero Balancing (nerfs): Peni Parker, Psylocke, Daredevil, Gambit, Invisible Woman, Rocket Raccoon

Marvel Rivals Season 5.5 ranked changes

There's plenty of Ranked Changes added as part of Marvel Rivals Season 5.5. Here's the headline info:

• Rank rewards: Reach Gold for a bonus Rogue costume
• Nameplates: Diamond and Platinum, Crests of Honor for Grandmaster, Celestial, Eternity, and Top 500
• Placement: From Season 5 onward, your first 10 ranked matches are Placement Matches. Your performance determines your starting tier

Marvel Rivals Season 5.5 live coverage as it happened

Welcome on in, as I countdown the hours until the launch of Marvel Rivals Season 5.5

There’s a new season of Marvel Rivals dropping tomorrow (December 12), and it adds one of the most sought-after Heroes yet. Rogue joins the battle as a new Vanguard, and she looks mighty powerful.

When does Marvel Rivals Season 5.5 start?

Marvel Rivals Season 5.5 kicks off on December 12 at the times listed below:

• East Coast (US): 6AM ET
• West Coast (US): 3AM PT
• United Kingdom: 11AM GMT
• Australia (Sydney): 10PM AEST
• Japan (Tokyo): 8PM JST

This is an estimation based on the confirmed downtime start time, and the fact that the game is expected to be offline for precisely two hours. This has been the case all year between seasonal switchovers.

Season 5.5 roadmap revealed!

NetEase has revealed the full roadmap for Marvel Rivals Season 5.5. There's a New Years Eve Time Square event where players can gather and countdown to 2026. There’s also new game modes and skins to enjoy.

Downtime will kick in at this time

Downtime for Marvel Rivals Season 5.5 will kick in on December 12 at the times below:

• East Coast (US): 4AM ET
• West Coast (US): 1AM PT
• United Kingdom: 9AM GMT
• Australia (Sydney): 8PM AEST
• Japan (Tokyo): 6PM JST

Rogue joins the battle

The new Hero for Marvel Rivals Season 5.5 is Rogue. She’s a Vanguard that uses power-stealing abilities to make use of a versatile kit. Her Ultimate steals Ultimate Energy from foes, making it a very unique skill indeed. She teams up with Magneto and Gambit, adding an AoE effect to attacks, and a healing aura to teammates.

Luna Snow gets a new skill

Luna Snow is easily the best Strategist in Marvel Rivals, and now she’s getting even stronger. Idol Aura can be activated on Luna herself, healing her while she’s healing others. She also gets a 10% boost to damage and healing while the ability is active.

Developer highlight video

NetEase has released an extensive deep dive into Season 5.5, focusing on Rogue and changes to Team Ups. Watch it below:

Marvel Rivals will feature at The Game Awards

The official Marvel Rivals Twitter account shared an image showing Jeff the Land Shark in the audience for The Game Awards 2025. It looks like there will be some kind of Marvel Rivals announcement tonight, so stay tuned for updates to this page.

New event features a fantastic Iron Man reward

The Seeds of the Gardener event drops alongside Marvel Rivals Season 5.5. It’s a kind of mini Battle Pass with rewards like Iron Man Mark 1, a Captain America werewolf skin, and more.

Rogue teams up with Gambit

Rogue joins Magneto and Gambit's Team Up. She'll get an area of effect damage buff to her regular attacks, and they'll also heal nearby allies. Well worth pairing her with the new Strategist, then.

That’s all for today

I’m heading off now, but I’ll be back an hour before downtime kicks in to cover the live release of Season 5.5. Until then!

Just one hour until downtime

Hello and welcome back. We're now just one hour away from downtime, and therefore only a few hours until the launch of Season 5.5!

Deadpool is coming to Marvel Rivals

Marvel Rivals got an amazing trailer at The Game Awards last night, revealing Season 6, and a brand new Hero. That's right, Deadpool is coming to Marvel Rivals alongside Season 6 on January 16.

How long is Marvel Rivals downtime expected to last?

Downtime has been estimated at 2-3 hours by NetEase. Over the last year, the switchovers have taken pretty much exactly 2 hours each time. I predict the same here, unless there's any unexpected delays.

Rogue is a Vanguard

I love what Marvel Rivals has done with Gambit and Rogue this season. Many had expected Rogue to be Strategist, and Gambit a Duelist, but NetEase has subverted expectations. Rogue joins as a new Vanguard, following Gambit as a new Strategist.

30 minutes until downtime

It's just half an hour until downtime kicks in. Marvel Rivals will go offline, and servers will be inaccessible. You still have time to clear up any daily or weekly challenges before the new season arrives.

Just ten minutes to go until servers are offline

It's time to wrap up your games in Marvel Rivals, as downtime will start in 10 minutes. Keep an eye out for a new update, as you'll need to download and install it before you can play the new season.

Marvel Rivals is down

Downtime for Marvel Rivals just kicked in. Marvel Rivals is down, and servers are offline. An update should drop in the next few minutes, and I'll be sure to keep you in the loop when it does.

The Marvel Rivals Season 5.5 update file is here

Make sure to check for an update on your preferred platform for Marvel Rivals. On PS5, version 1.000.061 just triggered for me, and it's 6.139GB. You'll need this installed to play the new season.

I'll be trying Rogue out once Season 5.5 goes live

Once Marvel Rivals Season 5.5 releases, I'll be jumping into the Practice Range to try out Rogue. Specifically, I'd like to see how her power stealing works, as it has the potential to be extremely useful against certain team compositions.

90 minutes until Marvel Rivals Season 5.5 is expected to go online

By NetEase's latest estimates, Marvel Rivals Season 5.5 should launch in just 90 minutes. I'll update this page as soon as the servers go back online.

Marvel Season 5.5 should launch in just one hour

We're now just one hour away from the launch of Marvel Rivals Season 5.5. Hopefully, the update goes smoothly, and the game will be back online at the estimated time.

Holiday events and Costumes coming December 19

Marvel Rivals Season 5.5 will ring in the Holidays on December 19. There will be a new event to work through, as Costumes for Psylocke, Squirrel Girl, Daredevil, and more.

Downtime should end in 30 minutes

Just 30 minutes to go until Marvel Rivals Season 5.5 is expected to launch. I'll be jumping in as soon as things go live, playing as Rogue and taking on the Vanguard role. Personally, Vanguard is my preferred role, and I can't wait to see how her Ultimate ability works against Strategists like Luna Snow.

10 minutes 'til launch!

10 minutes to go before Marvel Rivals Season 5.5 launches worldwide. If you try to sign in before then, you'll be greeted with the "Login Error" message. This is just while servers are offline for maintenance.

Marvel Rivals Season 5.5 is now live

You can now jump into Marvel Rivals Season 5.5, as downtime has ended. Take a look at the new Character lore, earn some free XP by taking on events, and try out Rogue in the Practice Range to get a feel for the new Vanguard.

Deadpool is a Duelist

You can find Deadpool in the Heroes menu of Marvel Rivals already! He's listed as a Duelist, so that's a great early reveal.

Rogue hits hard

I'm trying out Rogue in the Practice Range, and she hits very hard indeed. Her kit is very technical, and her shield is definitely going to take some getting useful. I do like her Team Up with Gambit, as it adds a healing effect to her punches.

Explosive Entanglement

Rogue joins Magneto and Gambit for a Team Up called Explosive Entanglement. It adds a ranged blade attack for Magneto, similar to his Season 1 Team Up with Scarlet Witch. Rogue gets an area of effect for her melee damage, and healing for teammates. As anchor, Gambit gets bonus health.

Rogue's full moveset

Here's a screenshot of Rogue's full moveset in-game. Of course, her power stealing ability can end up taking a bunch of different forms, I even managed to take a Luna Snow's freeze attack during a game and then freeze her with it.

Elsa Bloodstone joins Marvel Rivals next year

Thanks to a recent trailer at The Game Awards, we know that Deadpool and Elsa Bloodstone are the next Marvel Rivals Heroes. It's likely that Elsa will drop for Season 6.5, though we don't really know anything about her yet.

Keep working through the Battle Pass

Marvel Rivals Season 5.5 doesn't switch up the Battle Pass, so you can continue working your way to the final Scarlet Witch Costume reward. There's loads of free Units in there as well, allowing you to pick up new skins in the Store.

That's all for today

I'm heading off now. With Marvel Rivals Season 5.5 here, it's time for me to jump in and play a bunch of games as Rogue. So far, I've played three matches as her, and she's extremely interesting. It's going to take a while to work out her combos, but she's feeling very promising indeed. Until next season!

With Black Friday and Cyber Monday now firmly in the rear view mirror, you may be looking around for ideas of what to gift the gamers in your life as we edge nearer to Christmas and the holidays.

And I am here to help by suggesting gaming hard drives like Seagate's Astro Bot Limited Edition external Game Drive for PS5, which you can now order for $159.99 at PlayStation Direct.

It's got exclusive artwork, a wonderfully apt Astro-blue LED, and a plug-and-play USB connection that makes it both a brilliantly useful PS5 accessory but also one that's bound to be well-received by any PlayStation collector or enthusiast.

Here's why.

More room to breathe

On a practical note, any PS5 external hard drive can be extremely practical gift for PlayStation 5 users - particularly those on the OG console or PS5 Slim - who have a huge game library and need some more space for lots of games.

And that's likely to be a good chunk of people, especially those who were keen PS4 and PS5 players, and have taken a library of PlayStation 4 games over to S55.

As storage solutions go, it might not be as fast as the best PS5 SSDs or external SSDs like the Seagate Game Drive External SSD for PS5 I use, but it's got a simple USB plug-and-play functionality, a huge 5TB of virtual shelf space for games, and is not pretending to be anything that it isn't: it's a straightforward, visually attractive storage option.

A design worth gifting

Moving beyond the relentlessly practical side of things, limited edition products like this also have huge potential as gifts due to their, well, limited edition nature.

These are quasi-unique products with aesthetics that can give off more than just a design, and can spark some joy in a player, and take them back to playing a game instantly (Astro Bot in this case).

I've talked a bit about this kind of concept when it comes to limited edition PlayStation DualSense controllers, too, and I think, for enthusiasts and collectors at least, it really does ring true: there's something extra special about having nice things that are of, by, about, or feature your favorite gaming brands, series, and characters.

With more than five years of the PS5 generation under our belts now, too, it's also possible that limited edition gear is more attractive than ever for enthusiasts and PlayStation fans. With whatever Sony has planned next on the horizon, it's the perfect time to stock up on nostalgic memorabilia from this console generation.

This is even more so the case for things like the Limited Edition Seagate Astro Bot external HDD if a player already has the two Astro Bot limited edition DualSense wireless controllers, for example, and adding to those will only enhance the collection.

As a result of all the above, and much like Seagate's other excellent gaming hard drives and storage solutions, the Limited Edition Astro Bot external Game Drive HDD for PS5 will make a perfect gift for any PlayStation gamer this Christmas and holiday season.

• PlayStation just launched its 2025 Wrap-Up
• It seems to be working for some, but load times are slow
• In 2024, the PlayStation Wrap-Up fully crashed

It’s December, and that means end-of-year wrap-ups are all the rage – and not to be outdone by Spotify or Apple Music, PlayStation is entering the fray again with its now-annual PlayStation Wrap-Up.

Just like the 2024 edition, PlayStation Wrap-Up 2025 lets you look back at your year in gaming on the PS5 or PS4. It presents key data like your top games, how much you played, and even insights into how you play, as well as the accessories you use in some cases, all on a dedicated landing page.

Unfortunately, as with last year – though seemingly not due to a full-on crash – PlayStation Wrap-Up 2025 is a bit slow-going after you log in and move through the experience, at least for some.

I repeatedly encountered an “Uh oh… Looks like something went wrong :(” screen. Though some other folks, according to posts online, have made it in successfully.

The odds might be more in your favor, though, so let’s walk through how to access your PlayStation Wrap-Up 2025 and what the PS5 maker is serving up in this year’s edition.

To start, you’ll need a PlayStation account and at least 10 hours of gameplay on a PS5 or PS4. If you meet those requirements, you can head over to https://wrapup.playstation.com. Fair warning: I can’t even get the “Uh oh” screen anymore – refreshing or trying to sign in only gives me a 500 Internal Server Error.

On my first sign-in, I quickly saw my top games list, with Grand Theft Auto V at the top. However, when I tried to click on the next dataset, I got the “Uh oh” screen, then an error page, and finally a server error. It seems a rush of folks are trying to see their wrap-up. It is working for some users, according to posts on Reddit and X (formerly Twitter), but the results are mixed.

Considering last year’s full crash, when PlayStation had to take the experience offline, this year is performing a bit better – though we’ll need to monitor it closely to see if the issues persist. I’ve been able to log back in and get a better look at the games I’ve played this year – 12 in total – but I still can’t get to the next slide.

PlayStation’s Wrap-Up 2025 announcement blog post teases that it’ll also share all your trophies earned, total hours spent playing, and detailed genre breakdowns. Even more interesting is the tease of insights tailored around the devices you use with your PlayStation, such as PSVR 2, your favorite DualSense controller – Icon Blue, anyone? – and the Portal handheld.

It is clear that some people have gotten in and are seeing a nice sharecard, with some classic PlayStation theming, that's ready for posting. Just check out this Reddit thread, where some users can't get the experience to load, and others are comparing notes on top games and total hours spent gaming. I wouldn't be surprised if the rush of folks trying to get their own PlayStation Wrap-Up 2025 is causing all this instability.

I made it to the next screen, which showed off my genre, but then I hit another 500 error. After a few refreshes, it took me back to the main login screen. So if you're in the same boat, a lot of refreshes and patience might be the key.

You can try to log in and view your PlayStation Wrap-Up 2025 here, but be warned: it’s slow and may error out. Hopefully, PlayStation is on the case; we’ve reached out for an update.

In the meantime, let us know in the comments below whether the Wrap-Up experience is working for you – and share your most-played title of 2025.

• Bethesda has shadowdropped the Nintendo Switch 2 version of The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim Anniversary Edition
• This version, which includes the base game its three expansions, also offers enhanced resolution, optimised performance, and better load times
• Switch Anniversary Edition owners can upgrade their game for free and play it on Switch 2, while Skyrim base game owners will need to pay an extra $23.97 / £17.99

Just as Bethesda Game Studios shadowdropped Oblivion Remastered, the studio has today announced that The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim Anniversary Edition is now available on Nintendo Switch 2.

14 years after the game was first released for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, and many remasters and modern ports later, Bethesda's much-loved fantasy role-playing game (RPG) has now made its way to the Switch 2 with additional improvements.

This version takes full advantage of the Switch 2 hardware and offers enhanced resolution, optimised performance, and boosted load times, as well as Joy-Con 2 mouse support, motion controls, and Amiibo support.

What's more, the Switch 2 version will also include exclusive Nintendo content from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, allowing players to get their hands on the Master Sword, Hylian Shield, and Champion’s Tunic.

Owners of the Anniversary Edition will also have access to hundreds of Creations Club items, such as quests, weapons, armor, spells, dungeons, and more.

The Anniversary Edition, which was released in 2021, features the base game and three expansions to get lost in, including Dawnguard, Dragonborn, and Hearthfire, and will cost $70.59 / £52.99.

For players who already own Skyrim: Anniversary Edition on the original Switch, they can upgrade their copy and download the game for free on Switch 2.

Alternatively, for those who own the base edition of Skyrim on Switch, the Anniversary Upgrade will cost $23.97 / £17.99 to play on Switch and Switch 2.

• Fortnite OG will return on December 11 with Chapter 1 Season 7
• The retro battle royale mode will bring back the overpowered Infinity Blade
• The update will also include new map changes and a new loot pool

Epic Games has confirmed that the overpowered Infinity Blade will return in Fortnite OG this week.

Players will once again be able to jump into Fortnite OG, a nostalgic mode based on the game's original battle royale, when it makes its return in Chapter 1 Season 7 on December 11.

In a new social media post, Epic teased the upcoming update with a look at what to expect, including map updates that feature Polar Peak, Happy Hamlet, and Frosty Flights, a new Christmas-themed OG Battle Pass, new gliders, and loot pool items.

What's got players most excited, however, is the confirmation that the Infinity Blade will arrive "later in the season," after seven years. It's a Mythic weapon that spawns once each match and gives the wielder special bonuses to their movement and health.

It's a controversial weapon, mainly due to its stats (via Fortnite Wiki) that offer 200 Health and 200 Shields for a total of 400 HP, as well as its ability to grant 1 Effective HP per second and 50 Effective HP after eliminating an opponent.

It also boosts the player's movement speed significantly and has a wide attack radius that deals 75 damage per hit. Overall, it's a pretty overpowered weapon that is sure to help you secure a Victory Royale.

Epic hasn't revealed whether it has nerfed the Infinity Blade for the upcoming season, but if not, players will once again be able to wreak havoc.

In the meantime, Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1: Pacific Break is officially underway. You can check out our Fortnite Chapter 7 guide for upcoming updates and what to expect from the current Chapter 7 season, including map changes, new skins, and more.

• A limited-time gacha mini-game has been added to Marvel Rivals to celebrate the game's first anniversary
• The mini-game required players to spend Units in exchange for a Psylocke hero bundle filled with goodies
• Marvel Zombies has also been extended to January 16

The first anniversary of Marvel Rivals is right around the corner, and to continue the celebrations, a new gacha system has been added to the game that will reward players with a limited-time hero bundle.

After installing the latest patch, players may notice a new feature on the Rivals' Day Times Square event screen tab called Van Dyne's: Grand Opening, offering an event-exclusive hero bundle for Psylocke.

This bundle, which is available from December 4 to December 18, includes the Daring Daifuku Costume, emojis, spray, MVP animation, and nameplate, but to claim the hidden goodies, players must roll their Units by popping balloons.

As NetEase explained, players can automatically win all the items on offer for just 100 Units if they manage to pop the balloon hiding the Psylocke skin--which is a pretty good deal considering hero bundles typically cost between 2,200 and 2,500 Units in the store.

However, if you're unlucky, the next attempt will cost 300 Units, and then each attempt after that will increase. If you're really unlucky, then the entire cost of the bundle will set you back 2400 Units.

In addition to the new mini-game, the Rivals' Day Times Square Countdown will officially kick off on December 6 at midnight local time, where players can be treated to a fireworks display, as well as earn 200 Units and the epic title Rivals' Day 2025.

Don't worry if you miss out on these rewards; they'll still be available to claim within 72 hours after the countdown ends when entering Times Square.

Alongside a neat Marvel Rivals year-in-review report players can look at, NetEase has confirmed that it's extending its Marvel Zombies mode even further.

Originally, the PvE mode was set to end this week after being extended by three weeks, but now it will end on January 16, 2026, instead.

For more, be sure to check out our Marvel Rivals guide for everything you need to know about this current season, release times for Season 5.5, and upcoming heroes, like Rogue.

• Marvel Rivals is getting a Black Friday sale from November 28 to December 2
• The sale will offer a 20% discount on select items in the in-game store
• Every purchase comes with a free discount coupon, which can be used on another purchase for a bigger discount

Marvel Rivals is celebrating its first anniversary, and to add to the festivities, NetEase Games has announced the game's first-ever Black Friday sale.

The hero shooter's anniversary update is officially live ahead of Rivals Day on December 6, adding new character costumes, a limited-time 18 VS. 18 Annihilation mode, and additional login Unit rewards that players can claim across seven days.

What's more, starting November 28 through to December 2, players will be able to save money and Units thanks to the game's Black Friday Blowout, which offers an initial 20% discount on select items in the in-game store, including costumes, accessories, and special items.

"Our first Black Friday sale is here! Score an initial 20% off select items. Every eligible purchase earns you a discount coupon. Use your coupon and get another that offers a bigger discount than the last. Stack those savings like Infinity Stones!" NetEase Games explained.

"Eligible Items: All Season 3 and earlier items that are available to purchase."

The discount and subsequent coupon codes on additional items also apply to the game's gifting system, which means players will be able to treat their Marvel Rivals buddies this holiday season, too.

We can't be sure which costumes will be on sale just yet, but from the teaser image NetEase Games shared, we know the Scarlet Witch - Phoenix Chaos, Doctor Strange - Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and Jeff the Land-Shark - Sunshine Land Shark bundles will be on offer.

We also know that no costumes or accessories from Season 4 and Season 5 will be discounted.

For more, check out our Marvel Rivals season guide for everything you need to know, from roadmap details, release times for Season 5.5, and upcoming heroes, like Rogue.

• Fortnite Zero Hour is scheduled to kick off this weekend on November 29
• The live event will close out Chapter 6 and will be followed by the premiere of Quentin Tarantino's unfilmed Kill Bill short
• The Lost Chapter: Yuki’s Revenge premieres in Fortnite on November 30

Epic Games has shared new details ahead of Fortnite's exciting weekend of events, which kick off with the Chapter 6 grand finale, followed by the premiere of Quentin Tarantino's unfilmed Kill Bill short.

Fortnite Zero Hour, the game's biggest event of the year, will officially close out Chapter 6. This live spectacle begins on Saturday, November 29, at 2PM ET / 11AM PT / 7PM GMT, and players can prepare by loading into the game up to 30 minutes beforehand.

In this event, legends assemble to save reality from the Dark Presence, and fans can look forward to many pop culture figures to appear, including Godzilla and King Kong, a giant Homer Simpson, Star Wars, Kill Bill's Beatrix Kiddo, and many more that will be revealed at the time.

The following day, filmmaker Quentin Tarantino’s The Lost Chapter: Yuki’s Revenge premieres exclusively in Fortnite on Sunday, November 30 at 2PM ET / 2PM ET / 11AM PT / 7PM GMT. Like Zero Hour, doors open 30 minutes before the show starts.

Yuki's Revenge is a cut chapter that never made it into Tarantino's Kill Bill, and now, 20 years later, the story has been reimagined in Fortnite.

Starring Uma Thurman as The Bride once again, and built with Unreal Engine and Fortnite character models, the animated tale follows Yuki Yubari, who travels to the US to take down The Bride for killing her sister Gogo Yubari in the movie.

"Quentin Tarantino had a dream of a Kill Bill chapter that never made it to the silver screen, a chapter known as 'Yuki’s Revenge.' Over 20 years later, Tarantino and Epic have come together to bring the story to life in Fortnite," Epic Games teased.

The teaser trailer for 'Yuki's Revenge', which looks chaotic, to say the least, also confirms that players can claim the Yuki Outfit by logging into Fortnite from November 27 to December 9.

For more, check out our guide for Fortnite's next season release date and what to expect from Chapter 7, including map changes, new skins, and upcoming updates.

• Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet reportedly won't launch in 2026 and is still years away
• Multiple journalists have said that the game won't be at The Game Awards
• Naughty Dog's new title has the potential to be a PS6 launch title

Sources claim Naughty Dog's next game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, won't be released in 2026 and is still years away.

Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet was announced during The Game Awards last year; however, according to several journalists, the new game from the studio that gave us The Last of Us and Uncharted won't be at the ceremony this year.

In response to some speculation, later clarified by journalist Colin Moriarty, Giant Bomb's Jeff Grubb said, "It will not be shown at The Game Awards," adding that people have confirmed to him that the game "won't be out in 2026" either.

Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier also corroborated Grubb's claims on Reddit, saying, "Can assure you that Intergalactic is not coming out in 2026", which was what he claimed back in March.

With rumors circulating that the PlayStation 6 will be released sometime between late 2027 and early 2028, and now multiple journalists stating that Intergalactic won't arrive in 2026, the game has the potential to be a PS6 launch title.

If this is the case, Naughty Dog's next game could skip the PS5 completely, or at least launch on PS5 alongside the PS6. Either way, it would be an odd choice, considering the studio has yet to release an original title for the current generation that hasn't been a remaster of The Last of Us or The Last of Us: Part 2.

When Intergalactic was unveiled last year, we were treated to a lengthy cinematic showcasing Tati Gabrielle as the main character, Jordan A. Mun, in a sci-fi world set thousands of years in the future.

Game director Neil Druckmann shared more about Intergalactic earlier this year, saying the game is "a game about faith and religion" and it's now being played by the development team.

• Epic Games has released a teaser trailer for Fortnite Chapter 6's finale event
• Fortnite Zero Hour will go live on November 29 at 2pm ET / 11am PT / 8pm GMT
• Epic Games has also announced its Quentin Tarantino collaboration for Chapter 7, which will feature an unfilmed chapter from Kill Bill, titled The Lost Chapter: Yuki's Revenge

Fortnite Chapter 6 is coming to a close, and Epic Games has teased the finale event that will see new characters coming together, as well as a glimpse at Chapter 7's Kill Bill collaboration.

Epic has revealed that the one-time live Fortnite Zero Hour event will go live on November 29 at 2pm ET / 11am PT / 8pm GMT and it's sure to be a spectacle.

From the trailer, it's confirmed that some of cinema's most iconic characters will be featured, including Godzilla and King Kong in an explosive battle, Kill Bill's Beatrix Kiddo, as well as Star Wars X-Wings and a gigantic Homer Simpson?

"Legends assemble in the final endgame to save reality," the description reads.

The official website also teases, "Heroes, villains, and worlds collide in the final endgame to save all reality."

Speaking of Kill Bill, during the Fortnite Chapter 7 event (via FandomWire), it was announced that Quentin Tarantino's collaboration with the ongoing game will feature an unfilmed chapter from Kill Bill: Vol 1, titled "The Lost Chapter: Yuki's Revenge".

Tarantino wrote the unfilmed scene in 2003, which featured a revenge story focused on Yuki Yubari, who goes after Uma Thurman's Beatrix Kiddo for killing her sister Gogo Yubari in the movie.

Yuki's short never made it to the big screen due to Tarantino choosing not to shoot it for pacing reasons, but it will be featured in the upcoming collaboration in Chapter 7's battle pass, which will also include Gogo as an obtainable skin, according to leaks.

A new poster teasing the event has also been revealed, which showcases the first official look at Yuki in a pink car, wearing a school uniform and pigtails, and wielding a submachine gun.

Yuki's Revenge will seemingly be the main event of Chapter 7, which launches on November 30.

Playing the co-op campaign of first-person shooter Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 feels like diving into season 13, episode 21 of a low-budget network TV show with no prior context.

Set ten years after the events of 2012’s Black Ops 2, it opens with returning hero David Mason heading to the coastal city-state of Avalon with his squad to track down the source of a sinister broadcast purportedly from deceased terrorist Raul Menendez.

Your first mission involves infiltrating the high-tech headquarters of The Guild, a futuristic tech company that’s the apparent source of the video, and right from the get-go, it’s obvious that corners have been cut.

Cutscenes seem a little cheaper than usual, with awkward animations and juvenile, stilted dialogue that’s nowhere near the cinematic espionage excellence of last year’s Black Ops 6.

Back to the future

The pacing is also far too abrupt, front-loaded with big exposition dumps that propel the plot forward at a frankly overwhelming clip.

Early on, the team is exposed to a hallucinogenic red gas, with most sequences taking place inside a dream-like haze. There are some striking visuals, like a fractured memory of Menendez’s Nicaraguan compound or an impossibly twisted L.A. Highway, though they mostly boil down to mowing down waves of reskinned enemies from the Zombies mode and then taking on overly tanky boss fights.

Each mission is structured like a raid from an MMO (massively multiplayer online game), a la Destiny 2; the antithesis of the highly scripted, set-piece driven action that has made previous campaigns so great. In the real world, a handful of missions take place in Avalon with a semi-open-world structure reminiscent of the widely disliked open combat missions of 2023’s Modern Warfare 3.

The map, originally designed for Warzone, is far too large, so you end up having to trudge your way between different objectives.

A few special abilities, like a super jump or a grapple hook that allow you to quickly gain momentum and deploy a wingsuit, provide a welcome, faster method of traversal, but are ultimately a solution to a problem that a Call of Duty campaign should have never suffered from in the first place.

It’s also hard to shake the fact that most of Avalon doesn't really fit in with the rest of the 2035 setting. This is most apparent when you reach an area that first appeared in Black Ops 6 as the Skyline multiplayer map. The rooftop apartment is entirely unchanged from its depiction in that game, which was set more than four decades prior in 1991.

The only real setting that seems suitably futuristic is a segment in the neon-lit streets of Tokyo, in which you play as an entirely different team of characters for no apparent reason, jumping between rooftops using your wall-jump - a new move for Black Ops 7. It’s a clear highlight despite the jarring new faces, and it’s sad that there aren't more moments with tightly designed parkour like this throughout.

Warzone woes

As with the setting of Avalon, a significant number of mechanics in the co-op campaign feel ripped right out of Warzone.

There are weapon boxes littered around the world so that you can gear up, replenishable armour plates protect you from hits, and weapons have different rarity levels that you can upgrade as you go at designated stations. The user interface is indistinguishable too; there are no checkpoints to save your progress within missions, and you can’t even pause the game if you want to take a break.

Despite all of this, I certainly didn’t hate playing through the campaign. It’s nowhere near as boring as the sloppy story in the aforementioned Modern Warfare 3, namely as a result of its co-op. With a friend or three in tow, it all becomes absolutely hilarious.

The writing is rough across the board, so ripe for moments of inadvertent comedy like a ludicrous dream sequence in which you fight a giant version of Harper - one of the playable characters and returning face from Black Ops 2 - or when the main baddie is defeated by an anti-tank missile to the face, only to reappear completely fine mere seconds later.

After you finish the campaign, you’re unleashed into the extraction-shooter-like Endgame, and it’s surprisingly quite a lot of fun.

Dropping into a gas-filled Avalon with countless other players, it has you completing mini-challenges to level up your ‘Combat Rating’ and unlock special perks that do everything from massively boost your firing speed to causing a burst of electricity that stuns enemies every time you reload. You’re working on a strict time limit, and if you’re killed before you can reach an extraction point, you lose all of your progress, so it’s inherently very high stakes and reminiscent of a roguelike in the best of ways.

The map is split into multiple difficulty areas, and progressing through each one is very satisfying. It all culminates in a very challenging boss fight that requires you to team up with other players on the server, an enjoyable moment of collaboration that’s a great little send-off.

In addition to quickly levelling up your weapons and gear for use in other modes, beating the boss with multiple characters rewards you with some great-looking skins, giving you a genuine reason to come back and replay it.

The format is also clearly ripe for expansion, and I’m intrigued to see what kind of additions will come to the Endgame throughout the year.

Place, Japan

On the multiplayer front, Black Ops 7 fares much better. Building on the incredibly strong foundations laid with Black Ops 6, this is comfortably one of the most engaging multiplayer offerings yet. The maps, a bit of a weak point last year, are all absolutely fantastic, and there are loads of them to master. The ones set in Japan in particular look simply stunning, with gorgeous details and impressive lighting that conveys a brilliant atmosphere.

Small maps like Blackheart, Homestead, and Cortex flow wonderfully and don’t suffer from awkward spawn locations. The work especially well with the hectic new Overload game mode, which has two teams clashing for possession of a bomb-like device that needs to be placed in specific locations to score.

The map themes themselves are brilliantly varied, too, with some evocative concepts that I wish had been explored in the campaign. Scar, for example, is set in a distant Alaskan village that’s being torn apart by attacking robots, while Colossus has you exploring the rusted wreckage of the once beautiful resort that was memorably destroyed in Black Ops 2.

The wall jump adds another dimension to traversal, augmenting the existing Omnimovement system (which allows you to sprint in any direction) by giving more skilled players the opportunity to hop above the heads of enemies on vertical routes that require multiple tricky jumps to cross.

Gear Overclocking from Advanced Warfare is back, too, meaning that your most used equipment can be upgraded with new abilities to increase its effectiveness. This pairs nicely with Weapon Prestige, where you can reset your weapon level in exchange for special attachments and exclusive camos, and ensures that, unlike past releases, you’re not going to run out of levels to grind any time soon.

The guns themselves are all very satisfying to use and well-balanced. Assault rifles and SMGs are definitely the most versatile and popular options, though sniper rifles and marksman rifles are still very viable given their incredible damage output, and shotguns such as the fully automatic Akita absolutely dominate at close range.

With a deluge of new maps set to arrive in Season One and the imminent addition of the classic Nuketown, this is shaping up to be one of the greatest years of multiplayer Call of Duty yet.

Arcade action

Like multiplayer, Zombies builds on everything that worked in its Black Ops 6 iteration.

There’s one Round-Based map at launch, and it’s absolutely massive, featuring an upgradeable truck to help you get around. There are heavy references to the legendary TranZit map from Black Ops 2, including some returning areas that have been lovingly recreated and incorporated seamlessly.

It continues the long-running and nigh-impenetrable storyline that’s been going all the way since World at War, with a brand new main quest that requires multiple hidden steps to complete. Long-time Zombies fans will absolutely love it, but if chasing esoteric easter eggs isn’t your speed, there’s a more basic Survival mode that’s perfect for unwinding with friends as you mow down waves of the undead.

This is in addition to Dead Ops Arcade 4, a light-hearted top-down challenge mode that has you running through small combat arenas with retro twin-stick controls, trying to last for as long as possible. This isn’t the deepest mode by any means, but it’s an enjoyable diversion and well worth trying for a handful of runs.

With all of this said, it should be obvious whether Black Ops 7 is for you.

If you’re primarily invested in the multiplayer or Zombies, then you’re going to have a fantastic time - the maps are great and it’s hard to overstate just how refined and polished the minute-to-minute action here feels. The co-op campaign is a very different story, though, and a big miss despite the strong Endgame.

Should I play Call of Duty: Black Ops 7?

Play it if…

Don’t play it if…

Accessibility features

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has a good number of accessibility features.

The UI features a number of reliability options, including the ability to increase subtitle size, adjust background color, adjust the size of text in menus, and fully customize the colors of important information. The multiplayer HUD can also be edited to your liking and made significantly larger if required.

There are multiple control layouts to choose from, with presets for simplified controls on controller and settings to reduce the need for lots of motion. On both console and PC, you can choose to play the game with either a controller or keyboard and mouse.

How I reviewed Call of Duty: Black Ops 7

I played more than 30 hours of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 for this review, including roughly 12 hours in both the campaign and Endgame in solo and co-op and the rest of that time in the other modes.

I played on PC using a 5070 Ti-powered model from retailer Scan. It features a compact Corsair 2000d RGB Airflow case, Asus ROG Strix B860-I Gaming Wifi motherboard, Intel Core Ultra 7 265K CPU, a 2TB WD Black SN770 SSD, 32GB of DDR5 Corsair Vengeance RAM, and an Nvidia 5070 Ti manufactured by Asus.

This setup allowed me to play the game smoothly on custom graphics settings at 1080p with everything set to either Ultra or High. For peripherals, I relied on a Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro mouse and Cherry XTRFY K5V2 keyboard in addition to an Astro A20 X PC gaming headset for audio.

In addition to playing a lot after its public launch, my time with the game included roughly a day of early access. I evaluated the game against previous Call of Duty releases, namely Black Ops 6 and other recent entries like Modern Warfare 3, Modern Warfare 2, and Black Ops Cold War.

First reviewed October-November 2024