Well, folks, there's a new StarCraft on the way. We've had an inkling about there being a new entry in the series thanks to rumors that have been circulating for weeks now, but during BlizzCon 2026's Opening Ceremony, the project was confirmed. It's an open-world shooter, former Far Cry boss Dan Hay is in charge alongside associate director AnaLee Haertling, and it's coming out in 2030. Yes, 2030.

I had the chance to sit down with Hay and Haertling after the announcement, and one of the first things I asked them was whether now was the right time to announce the new StarCraft considering it's still so early in development. "Absolutely," Hay said, defiantly.

"We've been working on this thing for a little bit. We're super proud of it. We feel good about it, and so it's important that we share," Hay says. "We think about the community. The community has been waiting for a long time, and we think about them. We think about what they want to say. So we said to ourselves, 'Is now the right time to start to show just an inkling of this story?' And the answer is absolutely."

A lot of StarCraft players, even diehard fans, are bristling at an announcement for a game that's still four long years away. With so much time between now and then, what are the odds that release window sticks as game development obstacles inevitably pop up? But in Hay's view, announcing the date so early is simply proof of the team's commitment to getting the job done on time.

"That shows that we're serious. That shows everyone that that's a date that we feel really confident about," Hay says. "And what I like about the team, I think we take that number and we put it on the wall. And somebody goes, 'so when is this thing going to ship?'" he adds, gesturing dramatically to a nearby wall for emphasis.

I do have to admire the new StarCraft team's gusto here. Surely, no one can be 100% confident that a project will ship on time so far in advance, but it's hard to deny the confidence. After all, the media-trained Hay could've easily deflected the question in a non-committal way that leaves open the possibility of a delay without outright admitting anything, but instead he chose to strongly double down, which should be somewhat encouraging for fans despite the disappointing wait.

Diablo is getting an animated Netflix series as Blizzard teases Overwatch and Warcraft adaptations

Blizzard has unveiled the first officially confirmed Diablo 5 classes, and they include a brand new class that's never been included in a Diablo game before: the Plague Knight, which sounds deliciously morbid in a way that's definitively Diablo.

ICYMI, Diablo 5! Yes, Diablo 5 was revealed in a surprise announcement during BlizzCon 2026. Although the game is still early in development and isn't due out until 2029, Blizzard dropped a surprising amount of details about the upcoming action RPG in a follow-up panel attended by GamesRadar+. One of those key details are confirmed classes, which include the returning Demon Hunter and Monk, as well as the aforementioned Plague Knight, which is new for the series.

Game Director Joe Shely said during the panel that the Plague Knight is a "heavily armored class" and a "walking death" that roams around the world "spreading disease and consuming it for power," which is about as dark as it gets and, I have to say, not very knightly. You're telling me this guy gives people the plague and then absorbs their death energy for his own power? That makes necromancers look downright friendly, but that's exactly what you want in a new Diablo game, and one I'll note already looks and sounds bleaker than any to come before it.

Not much is known about Diablo 5's story so far, but Blizzard confirmed during the initial announcement that it takes place in a world in which Diablo has won the battle against humanity, and "Sanctuary has fallen" to his evil will. That means there are no more towns or safe zones to take haven in, and that you're never truly safe.

Shely also announced that "Diablo 5 is going to launch with more classes than ever before," and clarified that, "I don't just mean more classes than another Diablo game at ship.

"I mean more classes total. And the thing about Diablo classes is that they're approachable. You can jump in; you can immediately have an exciting time playing them. But there's also deep ARPG mastery there, and a multitude of builds to explore."

Diablo 4 is finally getting its big final boss next week, new Amazon class coming 2027

Blizzard Entertainment just revealed a brand new StarCraft game. It isn't a sequel to 2010's StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty, nor is it a real-time strategy game – this is a story-driven shooter set in an open world, taking place some 70 years after the StarCraft 2 campaign.

StarCraft was revealed at BlizzCon 2026 with an exceptionally pretty cinematic trailer. We've pulled everything you need to know about the new game into one place, including the first cinematic and screenshots. So keep on reading to get yourself up-to-speed on this impressive, long-awaited new instalment to the StarCraft universe.

StarCraft release date and platforms remain undefined

Blizzard Entertainment has announced that the next iteration of the StarCraft franchise is going to launch in 2030. The studio stopped short of announcing any further details about the StarCraft release date, nor did it confirm any platforms. At this stage, expect that StarCraft will come to PC and Xbox at the very least, although it's unclear if it will come to PlayStation – the Xbox Reset has introduced a return to console exclusivity, so we'll have to wait for more detail on this one.

StarCraft reveal trailer

The return of StarCraft made its debut at BlizzCon 2026. The cinematic trailer didn't display any gameplay, but it was a good mood piece that was designed to give you a feel for the world and story. Naturally, StarCraft was given a stunning cinematic trailer reveal, which you'll find embedded above.

StarCraft screenshots

Along with the StarCraft reveal trailer, Blizzard Entertainment also released a small handful of screenshots pulled from the cinematic. You'll find those in the gallery above, so feel free to swipe through them all if you want to get a better feel for the gritty StarCraft aesthetic.

StarCraft gameplay

There's a lot we still need to learn about the new StarCraft game. Here's what we can tell you about it so far: StarCraft is a brand-new, AAA game set in the wider StarCraft universe. It's not a real-time strategy title – the genre the series is known for playing in – but is rather an open-world experience. Specifically, it's a story-driven, open-world shooter, with production led by Dan Hay (creative director of Far Cry 5).

StarCraft story and setting

StarCraft is a sci-fi shooter that's set decades after the events of StarCraft 2. Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed that the game will take place in a "living universe" – specifically, it'll be set in the Koprulu Sector, some 70 years after StarCraft 2: Legacy of the Void. The Koprulu Sector is probably better known as a sector colonized by the Terran and Protoss factions, situated on the galactic fringe of the Milky Way.

The StarCraft reveal trailer suggests that we'll be joining up to battle a resurgent Swarm, and that the battles will be particularly brutal for the Dominion faction fighting to reclaim a foothold in the Koprulu Sector. Blizzard promises that we'll learn more in the years to come.

StarCraft development

StarCraft is in development at Blizzard Entertainment. This is the first new StarCraft game in over 15 years, with StarCraft 2 landing way back in 2010. The project is being led by Dan Hay, who previously served as creative director of Far Cry 5 and executive producer of the franchise.

This isn't the first time that Blizzard has tried to bring a third-person shooter in the StarCraft universe to life. Back in 2002 we almost received StarCraft: Ghost, which Blizzard had hoped to help it push into the console gaming space, although the game was canceled after multiple failed iterations. It's rumored that another StarCraft shooter, codenamed Ares, was canceled in 2019 so that the publisher could put all of its resources towards Diablo 4 and Overwatch.

The StarCraft development team is packed with Blizzard veterans, including:

• Jeff Chamberlain – Creative Director, Story and Franchise Development
• Steven Chen – VP, Blizzard Animation
• Dan Hay – General Manager and Creative Director
• Paul Lee – Senior Game Producer
• Jens Sjöbergh – Senior Creative Director
• Benjamin Lee – Game Director
• Ben Dai – Senior Cinematic Director
• AnaLee Haertling – Associate Manager, Development Operations
• Jamie Wood – Art Director
• Jeff Guy – Production Director

Discover everything else that was announced at BlizzCon 2026.

After more than three years, Diablo 4 is finally getting its big, bad, final boss: Diablo himself is coming to the game next week in season 15, alongside familiar characters, locations, and items inspired by all eras of the APRG's history.

Diablo was a huge focus of this year's BlizzCon 2026, mostly headlined by the announcement of Diablo 5. Blizzard managed to keep the lid on Diablo 5 ahead of the event, so its reveal was quite the surprise indeed, but the studio made it very clear that it's not ready to abandon Diablo 4.

The game's next season brings everything full circle for the series' 30th anniversary with the long-awaited addition of Diablo, as well as the other two Prime Evils, Mephisto and Baal, as well as the iconic friendly character, Deckard Cain, and new Legendary items inspired by the series' past. Basically, it's one big Diablo birthday party, and it's all kicking off next week with the Season of Hell's Legacy, which launches on September 15.

Still haven't had enough? We also got the announcement of Diablo 4's next new class, the Amazon, which is of course a fan-favorite from Diablo 2 that I can't wait to see return in D4 in "the first half of 2027." The Amazon class wields a bow, naturally, but will also bring an entirely new weapon, the Javelin, which you can see being put to deadly use in the below gameplay footage:

Here are the best RPGs we recommend playing in 2026.

For months, World of Warcraft fans have been speculating that something is about to happen to WoW Classic. Blizzard Entertainment has now put those theories to bed and announced World of Warcraft: Forever - an all-new version of the MMORPG that lives alongside Classic and Vanilla. The best part? It comes out in seven weeks, on November 4.

Executive producer Holly Longdale revealed the game at tonight's BlizzCon 2026 Opening Ceremony presentation, describing it as "a new beginning that never ends" and is set around the same time as WoW's Year One. Longdale even called it Classic Plus casually, if that makes it easier to understand.

A World of Warcraft: Forever beta begins this Thursday, September 17. The game is apparently "friendly [and] familiar" for both newcomers and oldheads alike, and it's aiming to return to what made WoW so iconic two decades ago. "There's no rush here," according to Longdale. "It's the journey that counts."

The upcoming MMO sounds seriously huge, so let's quickly list off everything it's promising. Four new zones including Mount Hyjal and Zephras Isle, which is intended to be a starting area of sorts. Zones from the original game that have now been expanded. New dungeons and new raids that accommodate 10-players or 20-players. New skills and talents, a new playable race called the Skyborne, over 1,000 quests, toggles for SD and HD character models, updated visuals, and so much more. Phew!

World of Warcraft fans were eating good even before the company got around to announcing Forever. BlizzCon's Opening Ceremony also revealed that WoW: The Last Titan is coming out next year, with Midnight: Eclipse giving us enough to chew on until then.

Blizzard takes rare World of Warcraft mount from players as the MMO's latest crack down on real-money transactions continues

The Worldsoul Saga comes to an end with World of Warcraft: The Last Titan, the MMO's next expansion that's heading our way in 2027. Blizzard Entertainment finally pulled the curtain back on The Last Titan at tonight's BlizzCon 2026 Opening Ceremony stream, unveiling both a release window and a short teaser.

Blizzard first announced World of Warcraft: The Last Titan three years ago, alongside the two other expansions that make up The Worldsoul Saga's overarching trilogy - The World Within (2024) and Midnight (2026).

Senior game director Ion Hazzikostas told the crowd next year's expansion not only concludes The Worldsoul Saga, but it serves as "the culmination of over two decades of World of Warcraft." Don't expect The Last Titan to wrap up every storyline in a neat bow, though - Hazzikostas also explains it'll be "laying the groundwork for what comes next."

Well before we get our hands on The Last Titan expansion, the team will also be closing out its current storyline with Midnight: Eclipse, also known as patch 12.2. Eclipse will supposedly lead right into The Last Titan and follows antagonist Xal'atath as she stands before "her ultimate objective." Very ominous. Eclipse is the last major story beat of the Midnight era, and will introduce a standalone game mode, too.

The World of Warcraft: What's Next BlizzCon panel should dish out more info about next year's Remix later today, alongside whatever that standalone mode is. Big things happening across Azeroth, then.

Elsewhere during the ceremony, Blizzard Entertainment announced World of Warcraft: Forever, a new game that'll sit alongside both Vanilla and Classic. Diablo 5 is also coming in 2029.

WoW Classic players gang up to ban infamous PvP slayer on Twitch, immediately regret it after realizing they no longer know where in the MMO he's hiding

Diablo 5 is coming in spring 2029, Blizzard has announced.

Blizzard blew the lid off of BlizzCon 2026 with the surprise announcement that Diablo 4 is officially getting a full-blown sequel. It was widely expected that we'd see a new hero revealed alongside a new expansion, and we did see that, but Diablo 5 was truly unexpected. Naturally, we're still in the early development stages at this point, but we did get a brief cinematic trailer teasing a horrifying world where "Sanctuary has fallen, and Diablo has won."

"For the first time, you won't be fighting to stop Diablo from taking Sanctuary, you'll be entering a world where he already has," says Blizzard. "There are no towns or safe places to protect you."

It's particularly surprising to hear a new Diablo game is coming because Diablo 4, the most recent entry in the series, is only three years old, having released in May 2023. That said, there have been rumors and reports for a while now indicating Xbox is pushing its first-party studios to pick up the pace of new releases in beloved franchises, so this certainly seems to be evidence corroborating those claims. If it does release in 2029 as planned, that would be only six years between mainline entries, compared to the 11 years it took between Diablo 3 and Diablo 4.

A little while after the initial announcement, Blizzard unveiled Diablo 5's very first confirmed classes, and they include the Monk, Demon Hunter, and a first for the series, the new Plague Doctor, which sounds deliciously dark.

Diablo is getting an animated Netflix series as Blizzard teases Overwatch and Warcraft adaptations

BlizzCon 2026 brings big news for reigning hero shooter champ Overwatch. Season 5 will introduce a new "cool vampire" hero called Doctrine, it'll finally rework Roadhog to become less annoying, and in a very surprising turn, Sombra will become a support hero.

First things first, Doctrine. Game director Aaron Keller introduced the crowd to the game's upcoming support hero with an animated trailer that shows him joining forces with bad guy Doomfist and his entourage. He can apparently heal and dish out damage with a sceptre, rush across maps "shrouded in darkness," and utilize drones to buff allies. Keller also made mention of mechanized bats. Very cool...

BlizzCon attendees can try out Doctrine on the show floor, while players at home should have access to his 'Hero Trial' in-game that'll stay live through September 14. He'll properly end his slumber and stalk into the roster next month when Season 5 goes live.

As for next season's reworked heroes - or re-reworks, I should say - Roadhog will become much less annoying from here on. The developers say his signature hook and one-shot kill combo will be retired, and the chunky tank will finally be able to help out his team in a more meaningful capacity.

Overwatch's other super divisive hero, the sometimes invisible hacker Sombra, is getting an even bigger revamp. The DPS hero will become a support hero starting next season, rather surprisingly. Both heroes' new skill kits are under wraps, but we should see more as BlizzCon 2026 chugs on throughout the weekend.

Overwatch's huge "battle pass revamp" is out tomorrow and makes things a lot more complicated but, seemingly, better

After multiple credible rumors and a glitched out website, Blizzard Entertainment has finally revealed the return of StarCraft. The next game in the legendary sci-fi series is coming sometime in 2030, and unlike the strategy hits that made StarCraft a household name, this one's an open-world shooter.

Announced at BlizzCon 2026's Opening Ceremony, details on the new StarCraft game are light. It's called StarCraft, it's an open-world shooter, and it's being led by former Far Cry executive producer Dan Hay - but we did get a gorgeous, tone-setting debut trailer for the Blizzard project. Check it out below.

"We are here to make StarCraft, and it's about damn time," Hay said on stage.

StarCraft (2030) is the beloved series' first game since 2017's StarCraft Remastered and the first all-new experience since 2016's single-player DLC, StarCraft: Nova Covert Ops.

This isn't Blizzard Entertainment's first attempt at turning its traditionally strategy-based series into a shooter, however. The infamous StarCraft: Ghost was in development decades ago for PS2, OG Xbox and GameCube consoles and was set to be a stealth-shooter, but it was quietly canned. More recent reports indicate that publisher Nexon might be working on a different entry in the series, which seemingly separate from this upcoming StarCraft.

There's not much more information about StarCraft (2030), but you'll be able to stay updated over on the official website. The big news is simply that StarCraft is back, baby, and it's back in a huge way - if Far Cry is any indication, a really huge way. Despite years collecting dust, Blizzard's hoping it can return in style.

Blizzard suddenly remembers StarCraft exists, but only long enough to squeeze some Diablo 4 cosmetics out of it

Blizzard has announced a Diablo animated TV series coming to Netflix, and it's teasing similar adaptations for Overwatch and Warcraft as well.

Blizzard president Johanna Faries took the stage at BlizzCon 2026 and revealed the Diablo TV show as one of the big opening announcements, putting the emphasis on Blizzard Entertainment. The only confirmed TV show so far is Diablo, but Faries very explicitly said to watch out for news on adaptations of Overwatch and Warcraft as well.

"As a big Diablo player myself, and as someone who loves the indulgent darkness of Sanctuary, I am very excited to see this project come to life," Faries said.

Virtually nothing is known about the Diablo Netflix series other than the simple fact that it's happening, but there's no denying there's been a huge resurgence of video game adaptations for film and TV in recent years. For years, the stench of atrocious video game movies from the '90s (not naming names) seemed to have scared off Hollywood from wanting anything to do with gaming properties, but with massive success like Sonic, Mario, and Uncharted, it seems nearly everything's on the table these days. Genuinely, it's harder to parse which major video game IPs haven't been tapped for some sort of adaptation than it is to identify all of the ones that are being adapted.

Don't know what the heck I'm talking about? Just check out our exhaustive guide to the best video game movies you can watch and not hate yourself for having watched.

I did not mean to kill Xanthe in The Blood of Dawnwalker. At least, not yet. As a fledging Level 11 or 12 vampire trying to explore Svartrau Cathedral at night, stumbling right into the withered palms of the game's highest-difficulty boss fight seemed like suicide. Yet it turned out to be the smartest move I've made so far in the RPG.

Killing Knyaz Brencis' formidable lieutenants, known as boyars (or boyaresses, in Xanthe's case) is a fundamental part of the action loop. Usually you'd need to anger them first by disrupting their duties in their respective parts of the map. Xanthe seems to be the exception to the rule; despite holding dominion over the most challenging portion of the open world, you can and should ambush her early in Coen's 30-day push to dismantle the vrakhiri claim to Vale Sangora and rescue his family. Especially if you, too, want an early unlock for the most overpowered and best Blood of Dawnwalker perk in the whole RPG: Blood Surge.

Penitent one

Blood Surge is no joke – it's a favorite of our Games Editor in his Blood of Dawnwalker review, if you won't take my word alone for it. Ironically, the sheer might of Xanthe's personal perk – which can only be unlocked by defeating her in combat and drinking her blood – is what makes her so formidable when the tables are turned.

Capable of exploding a lower-level enemy in one shot, it's the kind of power Coen can only dream of at Level 11 – and one she can use to pop a Coen like a blood bag when challenged as part of The Court side-quest to take out vampiric ruler Brencis' supernatural allies.

It's also something I know nothing about when, during a quest called A Monk and a Saint, I make her acquaintance by falling off some scaffolding. I'm here to investigate the murals inside Svartrau Cathedral on the hunt for a powerful sword, expecting a slice of Sherlockian vampire detective work rather than a claws-out brawl. Even Coen himself whispers that he'd best stick to high ground, inspect the artwork from a distance, and avoid the boyaress below. That's precisely what I intend to do, assuming an encounter this early on would mean instant death, or that Coen would even take control away from me and refuse to enter her sight.

But, The Blood of Dawnwalker isn't the kind of game to say 'no'. I find that out through sheer clumsiness – I have never been the most dextrous of gamers, so while aiming my vampiric shadowstep ability to teleport across the cathedral scaffolding, I overshoot my target by a hair's breadth and watch in dismay as Coen falls right into Xanthe's path.

A short cutscene plays out – my first time actually hearing the wizened crone speak – in which Xanthe dismisses the puny, insignificant Coen as not being worth her time. She's not wrong; I have barely any notoriety at this point and have been foregoing a lot of side quests in favor of seeking out ways to weaken Brecis (see again: big scary sword quest). The cutscene flows into combat and I immediately regret everything.

But there's one thing on my side. My favorite thing about The Blood of Dawnwalker's combat, specifically the direction block mechanic, is how much it reminds me of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. That game, too, is all about timing, and despite being two very different action-RPGs, they have one thing in common: If you can parry it, you can defeat it.

If there's no such thing as being too under-leveled in Clair Obscur as long as you reflexes permit, the same applies to Dawnwalker. I've seen people defeat Brencis in the prologue, for goodness' sake, all off the back of being able to block each hit and counterattack opportunistically. I remind myself of this when I pause and hover over the "load game" button. If Coen can beat Brencis on day zero, why can't I defeat Xanthe early into my quest?

Parry it!

It is not an easy battle. Fending off her Blood Guard entourage is simple enough, providing me with ample health top-ups as I sup on their blood between claw strikes. Once the room is cleared of lackeys, though, the undead priestess descends like a fearsome nightmare and the fun really starts.

Xanthe is the first lieutenant I have fought at this point, and I don't know what to expect. Short of blocking attacks and getting the odd swipe in here and there, I rely primarily upon my swordsman abilities like Artery Strike after swapping from claws to a blade and throwing muck in her face with Dirty Trick. I can't even feed on her with Voracious Bite, since she's just that powerful and simply shrugs me off. Once her health drops low enough, she spawns blood orbs that heal her up like a medical drone, so I dash between each to destroy them as fast as I can.

Thanks to an odd quirk, Xanthe seems to be a little easier to duel here than later on her specific side-quest (perhaps she simply needs more R&R the extra days would provide). In this version of the fight, I never do get to witness Xanthe using Blood Surge on Coen. I'm left stumped by how seemingly easy the fight was, considering she is the ruler of the map's harshest, most haunted regions encompassing the Tantari Woods. But by fighting her early, I've actually nerfed Xanthe and robbed her of Blood Surge altogether.

I don't even know of the spell's existence until I've bested the woman and been spirited away to vampire Hell, otherwise known as Anachora, to have an actual conversation. Admittedly, what she has to say breaks my heart. I didn't expect The Blood of Dawnwalker to make me feel quite this bad for killing someone supposedly evil, but as she mourns the loss of her child (what child? No one told me she had a child!) and confides in me that all she did was for the good of her daughter, my heart softens.

She begs me to leave her here in Anachora to let her soul get torn apart and finally rest in pieces after such a horrid life. My brand of mercy seems to her quite the opposite when I invite Xanthe inside my own psyche to live on in Coen forever.

She hates this idea. But I kind of love it, because it's granted me witchy granny commentary when I explore some areas on top of her blood bursting power.

I don't know how I'd have bested most of the game's hardest enemies without Blood Surge; it takes huge chunks off larger, hardier baddies while outright obliterating anything with a single-chunk health bar, meaning I have gotten some excellent use out of it in my 22-hour playthrough so far. Sure, she's not full Johnny Silverhand, but I appreciate the odd remark to add some color. I'm also a little regretful that killing her during our first meeting means I missed most of Xanthe's torrid backstory, but doing so has given me the chance to ignore a whole corner of the map and stay focused on my quest.

I truly think Blood Surge is a must-have perk, and it's probably the only thing that will ensure I can kill all the boyars before confronting Brencis. To me, that makes it worth taking a little trip (literally) in Svartrau Cathedral if you happen to be there at midnight. I promise Xanthe's legend is worse than her bite.

Looking for love in Vale Sangora? Here's all the romances in The Blood of Dawnwalker, from Crake to Lacra and even "old" witch Anca.

Games Done Quick, the charitable speedrunning event that's raised $62M for charity, broke new ground this year by hosting a live event at Gamescom 2026.

Players from all over assemble to race through titles at breakneck speed, cheered on by an audience in the Koelnmesse for the first time. I'm lucky enough to be in that audience briefly and speak to GDQ business director, Ashley Farkas, to learn more about the initiative's special brand of person-first magic.

"It is [about] people who are coming together for a cause they care about," Farkas explains, highlighting the "effort, love, attention, you name it" brought to GDQ by its community. From employees and runners to the audience, both physically in attendance and watching online, "they're putting all of that into this event or this cause, and it really does make a tangible difference."

Lighting the spark

The charity element has always struck a chord with me. Watching talented people play video games to tight deadlines using inventive methods is a thrill all of its own, but the way GDQ has combined this with raising funds for causes like Doctors Without Borders and the Prevent Cancer Foundation adds speaks to a wider calling among those involved. "That's the power of the community over more than a decade, being able to make change in the world," Farkas tells me.

Having raised so much money for charity, I ask Farkas where GDQ can go from here. "I don't think I could realistically set an expectation because the community is going to do whatever it can do, right? Like we're going to innovate, we're going to try to figure out what is the next fun thing we can do, and for us, it's not really about one specific statistic over another. It's really just about asking 'how can we continue to bring people that are genuinely wonderful human beings together to support wonderful causes?', and figuring out new ways to do that."

Charity fundraising exists in many forms and serves numerous causes in video games, but Games Done Quick has established itself as a figurehead in a specialist area, more for its methods than beneficiaries. "Fundraising can kind of feel transactional and peer-to-peer," Farkas begins. "And so for us, we want to create more of that experience in whatever it is that we're doing. You've seen GDQ ambassadors in the past, so that's something that we want to maybe work with more creators [on] and have new things that people can be a part of. I think that's one of the realistic things that we can put some energy and effort towards."

Stronger together

There are many GDQ events now, from the more traditional Summer Games Done Quick to this weekend's Frame Fatales, which focuses on feminine-presenting speedrunners. Diversity is a core component of the organization's MO, and is exemplified by its wide-ranging community. As a long-time viewer, it's often been the case that donations read out during events contain supportive messages for marginalized groups, such as the Trans community, something I put to Farkas.

"People feel really hurt in the world when they feel they don't belong," she states. "I feel incredibly fortunate to work for a place that has created somewhere safe, where you can show up to one of our events authentically as who you are and not be afraid or scared or anything [...] and that is something that is genuinely unique to this particular community because it really is accepting of of everybody."

As someone who loves watching Games Done Quick, I'm inspired by the range of runners at its many shows. In 2020 when we all went inside, streaming and hanging out virtually became vital lifelines for many of us. GDQ adapted to it with impressive application, and community members all around the world were able to perform speedruns from remote setups. The new system further highlighted the significance of the people involved. As Farkas puts it, "we wouldn't have a show if we didn't have runners and community and volunteers. Like, there's so many people. It's not just our staff, right?"

As I leave Koelnmesse hall, I'm left thinking about that word 'community' and its relevance to Gamescom as a whole. People from all around the world attend this convention to share in the love of video games and the sub-cultures around them, so Games Done Quick feels right at home here. Ashley Farkas told me she wants to thank everyone for the part they play in GDQ, and I feel compelled to do the same, as the feeling of belonging is so very special, and despite me being hundreds of miles from where I live, I feel at home here, and I'm willing to bet I'm not the only one.

GDQ's first ever Games Done Queer event already raises over $11,000 thanks to Donkey Kong and hot dog-making speedruns.

There's something deeply satisfying about switching off your brain and stomping across the battlefield with a Sons of Behemat army. OK, yes, there are still strategies to draw up unless you want to get swiftly overwhelmed by those smaller, punier factions. But this is an army all about stomping everything into submission, Godzilla style – it isn't subtle.

That's changing with the latest models and Battletome, though. This update for Warhammer Age of Sigmar's fourth edition introduces a surprise addition to the formula: versatility. Before now, the faction has been focused on getting in close and smacking stuff so hard it disappears into a fine red mist. And that's still the case… but with the update, you can do so from a distance – or magic up a spell that lets your gargants hit even harder. Suddenly, the Sons of Behemat have gone from feeling a bit one-note to a force with nuance.

I was able to get my hands on the new models and Battletome early, so here's what I thought after piecing them all together. Should you add these new units to your army, and what are they like as a hobby project? Let's dig in.

Note: You'll be able to order these models direct from Warhammer, but I'd recommend checking out indie retailers like Miniature Market in the US and Wayland Games in the UK. They traditionally offer a discount of 10-20% on new miniatures, so should hopefully provide money off these new additions.

Ma Maegran

The Sons of Behemat are usually brawn and brute strength, so we're breaking new territory here with "creepy pagan witch." Besides being incredibly unnerving to look at, even unpainted, Ma Maegran fills a role that no other model in the range can – a spell caster. That makes her worth considering straight out of the gate, and these powers are going to come in very handy during games. She's a support character first and foremost, so she'll make your army hit even harder than before.

Gameplay

As the only magic-wielding model in the entire Sons of Behemat army, Ma Maegran already has a lot to commend her – she fills a unique role not met by anyone else. She isn't going to be slinging spells or throwing fireballs at foes, but she can help turn the tide with her 'Creepy Cantrips' ability that adds 1 to rampage rolls (a series of faction-specific boons) and 1 to hit rolls for a nearby gargant of your choice. As an icing on the cake, she can also draw on three generic spells from the Lore of Behemat section of the Battletome. These enhance your gargants' prowess, reduce the strength of foes, or provide Crit (Mortal) to lucky units, so Ma has access to a reliable library of buffs/debuffs.

She's not just a wizard, though; she's also a 'Chooser of the Mighty.' Rumor has it that she can bless 'Little' gargants so they grow to monstrous sizes, and this translates in-game to a power that lets gargants deal mortal damage on 6s or will resurrect a Big gargant that was slain. (The way she does this is quite thematically fitting – you remove a Little model and replace it with the slain Big model, representing the Little one 'growing'.)

Her other abilities revolve around those Ancient Gyrochs that follow her around. These are nasty enough in themselves and are very difficult to kill due to regenerating three wounds each turn, but she can also add 1 to their damage, get them a bonus move (potentially into combat), or draw on their lifeforce to increase her spellcasting ability.

In short, she's a great backline asset that'll keep foes on the backfoot while your other troops do the grunt work. There's nothing else like her in the army list, so I'd certainly recommend adding her to your force.

Build

• Complexity: Moderate
• Build time: 60mins
• Customization: None

For a leader figure, Ma Maegran is pretty straightforward to make. Most bits went together quickly, and while some leg details are too close to connections on the sprue (making it hard not to hit them with clippers), the rest of the process was a breeze.

The Ancient Gyrochs aren't too bad either. One was quite 'bitty' with lots of extras to stick on, but that niggle is the only criticism I've got. For such a seemingly-complex model, Ma Maegran was far easier to build than I expected.

Boss-stompers/Rock-hurlers

While they may seem like standard gargants at first glance, these are as close as we'll get to rank-and-file footsoldiers; they're described in the Battletome as giants that take pride in some organization and better-kept weaponry (though that doesn't say much). This makes them reliable all-rounders with more attacks than similarly-sized Mancrushers, even if the latter have more unique abilities.

Actually, their overall similarity to the Mancrushers makes me wonder if we're looking at the latter's long-term replacement. The Boss-stompers are very similar in design and function but come in a pack of three rather than a single model, so it'd make sense for the Mancrusher to finally retire in the next edition. Which is only right; the poor guy is 20 years old, seeing as he first launched for Warhammer Fantasy Battle back in 2006.

Gameplay

As you might have guessed from their enormous weapons, these guys aren't tremendously complicated; they like to smash stuff, be it up close or from a distance.

To begin with, the Boss-stompers aren't to be messed with; their core club strike offers seven attacks that hit on a 4+ and wound with a 2+, causing 2 damage each. They also pack a health of 12 and can goad Big gargants into using a fight ability immediately after theirs, representing how annoyed everyone else gets at these spunky upstarts.

As for the Rock-hurlers, they have the potential to score even more damage from a distance because the "Hurlin' Rocks" ability provides three attacks that deal d3 for each blow. You can then customize this ability with a selection of modifiers like being able to Shoot in Combat or adding +1 to hit rolls, and these guys have a potent melee option too.

In terms of which one to choose, the Boss-stompers fit better with the overall "smack first, ask questions later" approach, and they're undoubtedly more powerful on paper. However, the Rock-hurlers are some of the only ranged units in the faction and provide valuable cover fire for everyone else. (Plus, a single trio of Rock-hurlers make up the Sons of Behemat Spearhead). With that in mind, I'd actually recommend making Rock-hurlers if you already have melee-first units on your list. They'll fill a much-needed gap.

Build

• Complexity: Moderate
• Build time: 40mins
• Customization: Alt. weapons, heads

It was surprisingly straightforward to build these goliaths; despite being huge compared to other miniatures, they came together much faster than I'd expected. Although there were a couple of moments with an arm or two that made me go "huh?" out loud, I was quickly able to figure it out… largely by rotating the piece in question and waiting until it 'snapped' into position. The instructions could be slightly clearer with those parts as it's not always obvious how everything fits, but these snags are few and far between.

Even if you're relatively new to Warhammer and Age of Sigmar, you shouldn't find these to be much of a struggle.

There's a lot of fun to be had here too. Much like the old Mancrushers, there are loads of references to other Age of Sigmar factions scattered across the build. Stormcast Eternal armor, Soulblight Gravelord coffin lids, and even Helsmiths of Hashut shields are being used as makeshift gear for these guys.

Just be aware that, with so much exposed skin, there are a lot of prominent mold lines to remove.

These early samples were provided by Warhammer.

For more tabletop warfare, be sure not to miss our Duel of Meloch review - it combines two beloved games into one streamlined package.

• See all Age of Sigmar deals at Amazon

Saber Interactive had a breakout hit in the form of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, and you can attribute at least part of its success to the fact that it was not made in North America. The company's chief creative officer, Tim Willits, says it's been dramatically scaling down its operations in the region.

In fact, Saber has "no real development in North America any more," as Willits tells GamesIndustry.biz. The company is headquartered in Florida, and a handful of its subsidiaries are based in the US, but the vast majority of its development wings are spread across Europe.

Why the move? Well, it's gosh-darned expensive to make games in North America, where industry salaries are driven up by their placement in cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles. Make a game in countries where salary expectations are substantially lower, and the cost of development goes down dramatically.

"The problem is stuff like this: big North American development studios, they run about $2 million+ in burn rate a month," Willits says. "A month. SnowRunner, which has made hundreds of millions of dollars, costs us $6 million to make. That's literally three months of development time in California. So just run the math on that. If it takes [a big studio] five years to make a game, that's 60 months, that's $120 million just in salaries."

Cheaper game development means that publishers are free to take more risks, too. Back in 2024, Willits lamented that there are AAA projects that can't even break even if they don't sell five million copies. Saber seems more keen on building games for (relatively) smaller niches that might actually appreciate them.

"Sometimes I play these games – I won't mention the game – and I can just see the wasted money," Willits continues in the new interview. "I can see dollars falling out of the monitor. But I can tell you that the development cost for [Warhammer 40,000] Space Marine 2 was a third of a major game that just released not too many months ago from a big North American studio. It was a third, and it sold 11 million more copies. You don't need to spend $150 million to make a billion."

Unfortunately, Saber's business bets also include a big emphasis on AI, which came to a head when the publisher finally added an AI disclosure to Rideshare Stimulator amid CEO Matt Karch's public feud with a former writer who claims she was replaced by ChatGPT. Karch is further convinced that "Half-Life 2 of AI" will someday come along change everybody's minds about the tech. Me? I'll be happy if we just get more human hands making games like SnowRunner and Space Marine 2.

The Witcher 4 dev is "still predominantly using people" over AI in development, says CEO, but "everybody has to make those judgments on their own."

Take a deep breath, because Touhou Koumakyou: New Classic - the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil came to Steam on September 9, some 24 years after its original Japanese release. In the days since, it's amassed an impressive 2,958 user reviews sitting at 98% positive, making New Classic (as I'm calling it) one of the highest-rated Steam releases of the entire year. It's also available on PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Switch 2.

The original Embodiment of Scarlet Devil was actually the sixth game in the Touhou Project series by creator ZUN, but it was the first one made for Windows after a string of PC-98 releases. It put in a lot of work turning Touhou into an icon of underground doujin games, quickly becoming the series' best-seller and cementing it as a pillar of Japanese shoot-'em-ups and bullet hell.

New Classic is exactly what it sounds like: a more polished version of the original game. Alliance Arts has worked to preserve the original as much as possible – so much so that New Classic "can only be purchased as part of a bundle" on Steam.

"The price is the same, and the Classic version is included," the studio clarifies. Classic doesn't actually have English support on Steam, but it's still a fascinating, fairly navigable trip through time. The base bundle is $17.99 for both games, and the pricier $24.63 bundle also includes the New Classic soundtrack.

The Steam blurb for New Classic reads: "Dodge the barrage, defeat the enemies, and brave the Scarlet Mist Incident. The Embodiment of Scarlet Devil returns with fresh music and graphics. Control the shrine maiden Reimu and the magician Marisa, weaving between bullets that fill up the screen. The soundtrack has been fully remade by ZUN."

Touhou overall is a bit tougher to explain. The layman's evaluation isn't far off: a bunch of magical girls, or anime girls who'd pass as magical girls, fend off supernatural incidents in Gensokyo, sort of a mythological mirror to the real world.

For our purposes, the important thing to know is that Touhou has spawned a bunch of kickass games, several of which are also on Steam. I especially recommend Touhou Luna Nights, a 2D bullet hell Metroidvania from the immaculate Team Ladybug and in the same vein as Rabi-Ribi. I'm less familiar with it, but I believe Touhou Mystia's Izakaya, a cute restaurant sim, is the highest-rated Touhou game on modern platforms (and is only $6 at base on Steam).

Aggregate tools like Steam250 put New Classic among the top seven best-reviewed Steam releases for the past month, and (rapidly rising) in the top 50 for all of 2026. If your company is a modern classic like Valheim (a lovely Viking survival game fresh off its 1.0 update) and a surprise hit like How to Fish (a very normal game about fishing), you're doing pretty well.

Here are the biggest new games of 2026 and beyond.

Every day, another generative AI provider discovers that pretending something you stole was always yours to begin with is an idea that is fundamentally incompatible with many copyright laws. That's too bad for those generative AI providers, but, in this case, great news for Genshin Impact developer HoYoverse, which has just been awarded approximately $112,000 in a Shanghai court.

Automaton reports an unnamed "AI service provider" likewise located in Shanghai must now cough up 750,000 Chinese Yuan after wrongfully reproducing 63 Genshin Impact characters' voices. The provider was ruled to have sold AI voice packs with "nearly identical characteristics" to those gacha game characters, and it used modified images of those anime babes and boyfriends to promote its already copyright-flouting packs.

Therefore, the Pudong New Area People's Court of Shanghai decided the AI company was not only infringing on HoYoverse's in-game content, but also on its character designs. It's unjust competition, the court ordered, even though its voice packs seemed to have a much more intimate purpose than the average Genshin session – they appear to have presented slightly changed versions of Genshin characters as chatty virtual avatars.

In any case, HoYoverse has triumphed over delinquent generative AI this time around. However, its $112,000 reward is a much smaller payday than it was hoping for. The company behind Honkai: Star Rail and other anime wonders originally sued the AI company for 5 million Chinese Yuan, which totals to about $745,000, and it wanted an immediate injunction.

HoYoverse ended up with a smaller version of that punishment, but the People's Court of Shanghai also demanded the AI company immediately stop its infringing behaviors.

Recently, the AI company withdrew its appeal on this judgement, making its $112,000 payment inevitable. Hopefully Grok can explain to it what went wrong.

Why so many game developers don't want to use generative AI.

Since you're already thinking about how much Marvel's Wolverine disappointed critics, you might as well start reminiscing about the awful X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie in 2009. From there, you'll be led to the more pleasant memory about the unprecedentedly solid PS3 game with the same name, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which we now know is partly so great because of how relaxed its production was.

Its production was relaxed because – to satisfy our thought spiral and return to that terrible X-Men Origins movie that makes Hugh Jackman kill military operatives while fully nude – X-Men Origins: Wolverine was delayed a year. One of the tie-in game's developers, Allison Salmon, explains on Bluesky, "We had LOADs of time…"

"We actually never worked crunch on it cause the movie got delayed," Salmon says about the X-Men Origins: Wolverine game. Its matching movie was originally pushed back in 2007 because, apparently, Baz Luhrmann's 2008 drama Australia (which also stars Hugh Jackman) was hogging all the Fox sound stages. Then, Wolverine's Mexico release got shoved back again in 2009 because too many people were getting swine flu. Finally, the movie shone across theater screens on May 1, 2009. GamesRadar+'s original 3 out of 5 X-Men Origins: Wolverine review said it "sadly substitutes the bold ethnic cleansing subplot of the first three for a hackneyed Hulkstyle story of the military wanting better weapons." So. 3 out of 5.

The X-Men Origins: Wolverine game, however, has only earned goodwill in the years since it established that tie-in games – effectively, expensive advertisements – can also be thoroughly entertaining standalone experiences.

Even better, its developers didn't have to sleep in an office cot while proving it. Production crunch was virulent around 2009 – developers for major games like Red Dead Redemption and Dragon Age 2 have illustrated that with countless horror stories of sleep deprivation and red eyes at the computer. But X-Men Origins: Wolverine devs were protected from all of that and blissful. In fact, "I was on maternity leave for the beginning," Salmon remembers about the game's production, "came back and we still had time to goof around with making the unreal engine a deferred renderer (that we didn't use!)."

As you might have suspected, it seems creativity is best suited to free and encouraging environments. But the video game industry never learns that lesson.

Marvel's Wolverine was inspired by one of the few video game movie tie-ins that doesn't suck: "We had the same challenges as those devs."

Resident Evil director Zach Cregger says early test audiences loved the movie, but thought it was way too funny for a straight-up horror movie.

"I learned that people really liked the movie, but they thought it was too funny. So over the course of my testing, I stripped out as much of the jokes as possible," Cregger told The Hollywood Reporter. "I then found that not only did the audience enjoy the movie more, but I also liked the movie a lot more. A little bit of humor goes a long way in a horror movie, and there’s not a single joke I took out of this movie that I miss."

The trailers seem much more scary than funny, though it's worth noting that Cregger has a background in comedy and rose to fame with comedy collective Whitest Kids U'Know. The long-running TV show, which aired on both Fuse and IFC, got pretty dang dark with the humor... so it didn't surprise me as a fan when Cregger made the switch over to horror. His second movie, the Oscar-winning Weapons, even included a touching throwback to a WKUK sketch that featured the late, great Trevor Moore.

Resident Evil, based on the extremely popular horror video game series of the same name, stars Austin Abrams (Euphoria, Weapons) as a medical courier who is in the process of making a delivery to Raccoon City General Hospital when an outbreak forces him to fight for his life. Cregger directs from a screenplay he penned with frequent Zack Snyder collaborator Shay Hatten. Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser also star.

Resident Evil hits theaters on September 18. For more, check out our guide to upcoming horror movies, or, check out the ever-growing list of video game movies.

With Sony fielding a class action lawsuit claiming its store terms suggest ownership but convey the licensing of digital games, aptly named consumer rights group Consumer Rights Wiki has seen PlayStation fans assemble an incomplete but in-depth list of PlayStation verbiage indicating that users do, in fact, "own" the games they buy.

The Consumer Rights Wiki has a freshly updated page dedicated to the "Sony PlayStation digital game ownership lawsuit," which hinges on a California law (per AB 2426) requiring digital vendors to clearly tell consumers that they are purchasing licenses, not purchasing products. Steam maker Valve seemed to adjust its own verbiage after the law's passage in 2024.

In a response to the lawsuit, Sony argued "reasonable consumers would not be misled" by its terms. This follows a serendipitous email reminder telling PlayStation users "software is licensed to you, not sold."

Sony's terms of service do clearly state this, but the PlayStation Network itself, where users actually make purchases, is filled with allusions to owning digital games. This goes for PlayStation Store product listings and myriad help pages, dozens of which have been collated by Consumer Rights Wiki contributors, with links to live versions of those pages and archived web snapshots available for each.

For example, the explainer for how to "Upgrade an eligible PS4 digital game on a PS5 console with a disc drive or PS5 Digital Edition console" specifies that you will need "an eligible digital PS4 game you already own."

On the main UK PS5 hub, now branded with a warning that PlayStation will abandon physical games in January 2028, Sony writes: "Track your PS5 journey with info on your total play time, games you own and more." This bit is tucked underneath a section showing the disc drive-equipped and all-digital PS5 consoles, but is less of an explicit reference to digital games.

A common PlayStation Store DLC blurb – here, dutifully represented by a $2 costume for Dead or Alive 5: Last Round – clarifies: "This costume was previously distributed by some retailers as a gift with purchase of DOA5LR. Be careful not to purchase content you already own."

Upgrade pages tell a similar story. The blurb for the Final Fantasy 7 Remake upgrade for PS4 version owners reads: "You are eligible to receive a free PS5™ digital version of FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE at no extra cost if you already either (i) own a PS4™ digital version of the game or (ii) own a PS4™ disc version of the game and also own a PS5™ console with a disc drive (you must insert the disc each time you wish you to download or play the PS5™ digital version of the game)." This includes a "digital application or game."

It doesn't get much more digital than cloud-streamed games, yet an explainer for "how do I use PS5 Cloud Streaming" notes that "Select games that you own can be streamed direct to your PS5 console or PlayStation Portal."

The list goes on and on. By my count, there are 34 examples of PlayStation pages mentioning, in some form, how players "own" games, many of them clearly defining digital games.

This may sound incredibly clear-cut, as AB 2426 prohibits "a seller of a digital good from advertising or offering for sale a digital good, as defined, to a purchaser with the terms 'buy,' 'purchase,' or any other term which a reasonable person would understand to confer an unrestricted ownership interest in the digital good, or alongside an option for a time-limited rental."

However, the bill also spells out exceptions: "unless the seller receives at the time of each transaction an affirmative acknowledgment from the purchaser, or the seller provides to the consumer before executing each transaction a clear and conspicuous statement, as specified."

It's here that Sony may argue its agreed-upon terms cover any store purchases, and its claims thus far echo this point. Sony has also bizarrely argued that people can't own digital games because then only one non-fungible digital copy could exist. But really, Sony just wants to kick this into arbitration, which resolves cases outside courts and historically leans toward the side of big companies.

Yet the bill also states "each transaction" must see user affirmation of terms of licensing, restrictions, and the risk that a digital purchase may be "unilaterally revoked"; or "a clear and conspicuous statement" informing users "in plain language that 'buying' or 'purchasing' the digital good is a license" and in some way links or embeds more detailed terms and conditions. All this talk of ownership and "buy" buttons may actually give plaintiffs some ammunition, even if class action gaming lawsuits don't have the best track record in, or making it to, court.

Sony has topped a generational run of self-owns: abandoning Hideo Kojima's next Metal Gear right as Marvel's Wolverine falls flat.

After the reveal of the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, Nintendo has issued an update to the official Zelda timeline that makes an already head-spinning history even more complex. The update appears to confirm a fan theory that's been around since Tears of the Kingdom launched a few years ago: there are, in fact, two different Hyrules.

The official Zelda timeline splits into three different branches from the end of Ocarina of Time. All three branches eventually come to a dead end where Link and Zelda's stories fade into myth. Then comes Breath of the Wild – a unifying tale set amid Hyrule's ruins where a new story begins.

But then we got Tears of the Kingdom, where Zelda is flung back in time to witness the founding of Hyrule. But that set off a question for fans: was this the beginning of the Hyrule we'd known in the previous games, or the foundation of a new Hyrule? In other words, is the kingdom we see in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom entirely disconnected from the one that had come before?

As noted in a new lore video by Zelda specialist Zeltik, there's a revamped version of the timeline on the official Japanese Nintendo website. The broad strokes of the timeline are the same as ever, but there's a notable addition: an entry for the founding of Hyrule just ahead of the events of the flashbacks in Tears of the Kingdom. This is presented entirely separately from the founding of Hyrule in the earlier part of the timeline.

That's probably as close as we're ever going to get to an official confirmation of the refounding theory. So yes, we should probably be operating under the assumption that there are two different Hyrules. But things might actually be even more complicated than that.

In the video above, Zeltik goes on to note that the Ocarina of Time remake is full of minor visual references to the Breath of the Wild era. Some of the Kokiri kids now have tattoos matching those Queen Sonia sports in the Tears of the Kingdom flashbacks. There are also now Sheikah patterns matching those in the modern Switch games.

What's that mean? Heck, man, I don't know. Maybe the Ocarina of Time remake will be subtly altered to fit into the Breath of the Wild era of the timeline. Maybe these are just small design flourishes ensuring that the remake feels in line with the visual language of the modern games. It's fun thing to consider, but I wouldn't expect any concrete answers when the remake launches in November.

Interconnecting lore rarely gets a direct reference in the actual games, and while Nintendo has apparently kept an official timeline since 2003, it was never "that important" to Shigeru Miyamoto. Still, ever since that timeline was made public in 2011, Nintendo has dutifully updated it for each new game, while leaving plenty of room for fans to develop their own theories. It's just as well – the theories are usually more fun than the answers, anyway.

32-year Nintendo and Zelda veteran reacts to the Ocarina of Time remake, suggesting Shigeru Miyamoto's love of puppet shows influenced the art style.

Avengers: Endgame Encore is almost upon us... but what is it? And do you really have to go see it before Avengers: Doomsday?

Below, you'll find a mini guide that explains what the re-release is, how it leads into Avengers: Doomsday, and if it's required viewing before the newest Avengers movie hits theaters on December 18.

For more, dive into the Marvel timeline and our guide on the best way to watch The Odyssey in theatres.

What is Avengers: Endgame Encore?

Avengers: Endgame Encore is the theatrical re-release of Avengers: Endgame, which acts as a refresher for audiences prior to the December release of Avengers: Doomsday. It comes with four minutes of bonus footage, a new post-credits scene, and an exclusive sneak peek at Avengers: Doomsday (in certain select showings). The re-release is also color-graded and has a confirmed runtime of 185 minutes.

It'll be shown in IMAX and Infinity Vision, the latter of which is the Disney and Marvel certification for screens of a certain size (45 feet wide or more) with Dolby 7.1 surround sound and requisite brightness.

Do I need to see Avengers: Endgame Encore if I've already seen Avengers: Endgame?

In short? Yes. The Russo brothers have said that Encore is "required viewing," as the re-release acts as a narrative bridge between Endgame and Doomsday.

"It's gonna connect the story of the two movies," Russo told Fandango. "There's a natural progression from Endgame into Doomsday, which is also inclusive of all the other stories that have been playing out. I think it's required viewing for following the story in Doomsday."

I, for one, haven't seen Endgame since it was in theaters in 2019, so I personally need the refresher. You might need it, too!

How will it set up Avengers: Doomsday?

We don't know exactly how it'll set up Avengers: Doomsday, other than what the Russos have said about the re-release bridging the narrative gap between the two films. We can assume that the brand-new post-credits scene will lead directly into Doomsday, and that the exclusive look at Doomsday will give us more info on what's to come (since we still don't know much about it... I mean, how the heck did Steve Rogers come back from the past?)

Avengers: Endgame Encore hits theaters on September 25. For more, head on over to our guide on how to watch the Marvel movies in order and all the new Disney movies on the way.

PS5 and Xbox Series X versions of Wardogs are on the very far off horizon, so you'll be waiting a while. The all-out warfare shooter is already a massive hit on Steam – the only mainstream platform it's currently available on right now – so it's nice to know the developers are working on console versions, but the early access period on PC takes priority for now. Here's everything you need to know about versions of Wardogs for PS5 and Xbox, and the early access plans.

Is Wardogs on PS5 or Xbox?

No, Wardogs is currently only available on PC via Steam, having just released into early access, but there are plans to bring the game to consoles. The problem is a PS5 and Xbox Series X release isn't due until 2028, so it's a long way off.

Given Wardogs' proven popularity – it sold over one million copies in its first day of early access – perhaps there's a chance developer Bulkhead will shift resources to get console versions out sooner, but that seems highly unlikely. Especially given that it sounds like much of the game's early access development has been planned.

According to the early access notice on the Wardogs Steam page, this period is expected to last one to two years and is dedicated to gathering feedback and "iterating alongside the community", with players helping to shape the game's systems and balancing during development. There are also plans for expansion during early access, with new weapons, maps, and vehicles on the cards, as well as adding more depth to progression systems, rewards, and the seasonal cash meta game.

Bear in mind that Bulkhead have also stated that the full version of the game will be more expensive than the current PC early access build. That currently costs $39.99 /£36.99, so expect the console versions to be more than this.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary edition of the Switch 2 was pretty and sold out – in other words, a prime target for scalping. But don't let the scalpers win. Nintendo just confirmed it's restocking the fancy Zelda Switch 2 in the UK.

Worldwide, unscrupulous resellers have been driving up the special console's price on sites like eBay up to $850 and more, which is dangerously close to double its $520 sticker at official Nintendo retailers. So the developer has added a banner (spotted by Nintendo Insider) to the Zelda handheld's online listing on at least Nintendo Store United Kingdom and Ireland websites clarifying that, "The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary collection is currently sold out. We will announce when stock is replenished via the Nintendo Store app."

As of writing, Nintendo doesn't include the same reassuring banner on its US site, where the Zelda console is also sold out ahead of its October 29 launch date. This doesn't necessarily mean US fans need to start preparing a nice outfit and getting their hair done before being scalped, though. The Zelda Switch 2 isn't limited edition, and, anyway, it seems Nintendo's physical stores in New York and San Francisco will have it in stock at launch, too. In fact, Nintendo's store locations in New York and San Francisco will be the only places you can purchase the anniversary Switch 2 Pro Controller with its matching display stand in person.

"They're treating it like they did the TOTK OLED console," one sage Reddit commenter says in a related thread. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom OLED console was, like the Zelda anniversary console, a special edition, though plentiful stock made it so you can now purchase the sold-out handheld for under its asking price on certain resale sites – despite some scalpers' best attempts to flip the $360 machine for $600.

So lock your wallet in the freezer. You won't be needing it while you wait for the special Switch 2 to inevitably come back into your life.

Take a look at our list of the best Zelda games of all time.

The new military shooter hotness is here in the form of Wardogs, from developer Bulkhead. Playing similarly to a popular Arma 3 mod, it puts an intense spin on King of the Hill, and after several successful betas, it has just entered early access. I wouldn't advise jumping in right now, though, because there's a substantial queue.

Joe Brammer, the CEO of Bulkhead, posted on Twitter yesterday that over 135,000 players had been let into the FPS thus far. "This is how many people are through the queue," he writes, with a screenshot. "We are letting people through in waves."

He admits he's "gotta take the 'L' on this one guys, we've got it but it's on me." The actual concurrent peak player count is 340,171, per SteamCharts. This is a popular game, and sadly, the backlog of people trying to get in has led to a surge in review-bombing on Steam.

Wardogs now sits at "Mostly Positive" on Valve's store, but was as low as "Mixed" due to an onslaught of fans deriding the online infrastructure and apparent "preferential treatment" given to streamers.

"It is absolutely ridiculous that streamers and other influencers are given preferential treatment by being allowed to skip the login queue," reads one negative review with over 13 hours on record.

"If you are a regular paying customer, do not buy this game," reads another frustrated review. "I paid full price on launch day expecting to actually play the game. Instead, I bought a full-priced login queue simulator. I have been stuck waiting in queue positions for hours, watching the numbers barely crawl, only to get an authentication error and be booted to the back of the line."

That's an annoying experience, to be sure. It should be noted Bulkhead has denied giving video makers any kind of fastpass for access. "These issues are affecting players across the board," Greg Medlin, senior community manager at publisher Team 17, says in a Steam comment. "Streamers aren't receiving preferential access; it's simply more visible when they're able to get into a serve because they're broadcasting it."

To be frank, this just seems par for the course for a smaller developer launching a big live-service game. There will be structural issues for some time until the servers stabilize. Give the devs a little space here, because maintaining games like this is always harder than it looks.

If you're wondering when Wardogs on PS5 and Xbox is happening, we've got bad news for you. Otherwise, here are more of the best FPS games you can play right now, if you're looking for something to do while waiting in a queue.

Nintendo is celebrating a legal win against Switch mod devices. A Dutch court has ruled in the company's favor against an online retailer of Mig Switch Cards in the Netherlands, ordering the seller to stop offering the devices.

"The Defendant operated what is often known as a 'dropshipping' delivery system," Nintendo says in a press release, "where products ordered by consumers on websites targeting European consumers, including those in the Netherlands, are delivered directly from Asia, primarily China. The Court ruled that, by offering and selling circumvention devices marketed as 'MIG Switch Cards' and 'MIG Switch Dumpers' for Nintendo Switch on several websites (r4switch.nl, ther4card.com, and r4switch.co.uk), the Defendant acted unlawfully [and] respectively infringed Nintendo’s copyrights."

Mig products are often listed as a way for players to back up the Switch games they already own. The dumper devices create backup versions of game cartridges, while the main flash cartridge devices allow those backups to be booted on an unmodded console. Of course, Mig cartridges are far more often used as pure piracy devices, since there's nothing preventing you from just downloading game files from the internet and using those on your Switch.

"The District Court of The Hague followed the reasoning set by the highest European Court (Court of Justice of the European Union) closely and recognized that the primary purpose of these circumvention devices is to circumvent the security measures protecting Nintendo video game consoles and authentic video games, thereby enabling the use of unauthorized copies of Nintendo video games," the publisher continues in its press release.

Nintendo adds that its action against these devices is taken "not only on its own behalf, but also on behalf of the many video game developers globally that depend on legitimate sales of Nintendo video games. Nintendo promotes and fosters game development and creativity and strongly supports the game developers who legitimately create new and innovative games."

There are legitimate uses for flash cartridges, like booting homebrew software, but Nintendo's lawyers always seem to come knocking when piracy becomes their primary purpose – especially when it starts to affect a platform that's still a current commercial concern. The company won a similar legal case in the Netherlands against R4 cartridges for the DS back in 2010, and has seemingly even gone to the trouble of bricking consoles for Mig users.

But despite several legal victories against the makers and sellers of R4 devices in courts around the world, similar cartridges are trivially easy to get hold of today. They're even on Amazon at this point. Maybe the same will be true of Mig carts someday in the future, but for now, Nintendo is keen to make it as hard as possible to get ahold of them.

Unfortunately, these sorts of cartridge backup devices are also essential for future game preservation. There are thousands upon thousands of old games that have only been preserved and made accessible to modern players because of a decades-long legacy of piracy devices like the Mig cards. Here's hoping that preservationists get better ways to do their work in the decades to come, but so far the law has not been on their side.

These are the upcoming Switch 2 games you need to know about.

If you've been sitting there feeling sorry for yourself that you missed out on the Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 Pro controller, you'll be happy to know Hori has an Ocarina of Time pad of its own on the horizon.

Hori Japan has unveiled on its official X (Twitter) page that a new official Ocarina of Time remake controller and a batch of Switch 2 accessories inspired by the upcoming game are now available to pre-order in Japan. As a Horipad Turbo, the controller will be missing some of the premium features of Nintendo's first-party pad, like its NFC-reading tech, but the wireless accessory is still a pretty sight to behold. Particularly for Zelda fans who love spying the Hylian crest (and a tiny silhouette of Link and Epona) on all their Ninty peripherals.

As the new 8,980 yen (approx $58.48) controller is a Horipad Turbo device, you'll have TMR sticks at your disposal if you pre-order this pad, along with some mappable back buttons like all existing versions of this wireless accessory. While that's all well and good, the battery is a bit lackluster, especially when compared to the Switch 2 Pro Controller's 40-hours. Instead, Hori states you can manage 10 hours of playtime per charge, which I imagine will be pretty easy to achieve once the Ocarina of Time Remake releases later this year.

However, as is always the case with these officially licensed accessories, the importance is less on specs and more on design, and this is a great-looking Zelda peripheral. The white and gold colorway looks as prestigious as the Princess herself, and I love that the faceplate seems to feature a marbling effect. The small Link and Epona sihoulette, however, is my favorite detail, and it can also be spotted on the back of the Game Card Case. Unlike the controller, this case can be imported for $11.59 via Amazon Japan and includes space for what appears to be up to three physical games.

The Link and Epona motifs don't stop there, as they're also a fixture of all three cases, which make up the rest of this set. It's found on the exterior of the $29.16 (via Amazon) Slim Hard Pouch, alongside a faded version of the map of Hyrule.

The leather-like texture of the case lends itself to this map imagery, as it makes the entire accessory look like a worn-out item from Link's massive arsenal of weapons, rather than a simple Switch 2 case. The interior lining looks just as spectacular, as seen in the photos available on the official Hori online store, it features a Link-tunic green colored fabric that I adore.

There's no clear sign whether this lining is found on the matching $32.43 (Amazon) Shoulder Pouch or the $35.67 (Amazon) All-in-One Storage bag, but one can only hope. Talking of which, there's no sign any of these accessories will officially make their way to the US or UK Amazon storefronts either, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed. If you're okay with importing, you can expect them to launch on November 30, 2026, a little after the game.

With the hype of the Ocarina of Time Remake growing by the day, I suspect this won't be the only collection of accessories in store for Zelda and Switch 2 fans.

• View all Hori Nintendo Switch 2 accessories at Amazon

Obsessed with Ocarina of Time? Check out Hasbro's new electronic Master Sword and the new Lego Link and Epona set and the best Legend of Zelda merch while you're here.

• The Blood of Dawnwalker's 30-day time limit is not as punishing as it sounds, making it the perfect weekend play for a more languid RPG experience or something to dip into all week.

Even after learning of its high-stakes time limit, The Blood of Dawnwalker has been one of my most-wanted RPGs of 2026. Developer Rebel Wolves has more than delivered upon its promise to "push the genre forward" by making time itself a currency, and instead of letting myself get side-tracked at every turn, I've found that the extra pressure has kept me focused on main and character quests instead.

I spent all of last weekend playing the new game and managed to beat it on Day 10, so there's no reason you can't do the same! That said, don't be fooled by thinking you need to race through The Blood of Dawnwalker due to the 30-day time limit: I went about things pretty languidly and spent a lot of in-game hours leveling up, yet still finished with a third of the allotted time remaining.

Why play it today?

• The Blood of Dawnwalker has some of the coolest lore and most inventive storytelling devices I've seen since The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

I'm a (blood)sucker for a decent RPG story, and The Blood of Dawnwalker is a masterclass in narrative design. The open-world sandbox means you decide how much of Vale Sangora's lore you want to dig into, from haunted places to pixies and beyond, but I love how key characters quests unfold to teach us more about not only the world he lives in, but Coen's past itself.

From uncovering what happened to his late little brother to father Pieter's past as a roving merc-soldier, Rebel Wolves does a beautiful job of setting Coen up as a saga-spanning hero to rival The Witcher 3's Geralt by slowly peppering these tales through the open world. It's just one reason why I recommend approaching The Blood of Dawnwalker unafraid of the 30-day limit. I promise you'll have plenty of time to dig into Coen's backstory and rescue his parents from Brencis' clutches. This level of storytelling demands it!

Time commitment:

The best thing about The Blood of Dawnwalker is that it really is up to you how you approach its time restriction. You could use it as an opportunity to get laser-focused on the main story and some important NPC missions and finish it in 25-35 hours. This would have you ending the game with around 15 to ten days spare out of the 30-day timer.

You could also squeeze a bit more out of the open world's various side quests at the same time and still finish up in time to save Coen's family a day or two before the timer runs out (perhaps taking you around 28-35 hours).

You could even go full completionist. Bin off the timer altogether and deliberately fail to confront Brencis at all in those initial 30 days, and Coen's goal to becomes to avenge rather than rescue his family, scrapping the 30-day countdown. I don't recommend doing that, really. It might give you free rein to do as much side content as you like, but the timer its pretty forgiving and you really can get a lot more done in it than you might think.

Play The Blood of Dawnwalker if you love...

Skip The Blood of Dawnwalker if you want:

One thing to know:

I have run into a few crashes and performance issues while playing The Blood of Dawnwalker on my Xbox Series S, and the same has been reported by PC players. Thankfully, Rebel Wolves has already released a second update patch since the RPG's September 3 release date, this time targeting game stability and some amusing bugs (chatty corpses, giant torches... You get the gist).

Dawnwalker definitely feels much smoother to play now for many, though PC and Series S owners might need to have a little more patience. Performance seems to vary at the moment (I'm still getting a few crashes on here and there), and the latest patch has made some loading screens a bit slower over the past day for me.

So, could you stand to wait out another patch? Sure. Game crashes suck and it's frustrating if an autosave fails to kick in just beforehand. But if you have a PS5 handy, I'd say it's a perfect time to rip that bandaid off and get stuck into Coen's adventure now.

A moment you'll remember:

Exploring a creepy fog-enshrouded convent with herbalist-witch Anca, who returns to her Sisters to find their plague-ridden reanimated corpses still roaming the grounds. It's a thrilling taste of terror to really knuckle down on the gloomier side of Vale Sangora's often picturesque setting (if you ignore the blood farms, distilleries, and more), and is the first longer dungeon-style mission that requires a more hefty timesink. Very worth it though, especially if your goal is to woo Anca.

The final verdict:

Even with its performance issues, some repetitive enemy types, and a few teething problems (pun intended), The Blood of Dawnwalker is an incredibly worthwhile game to play this weekend. The impressive scope of it is truly astounding, especially when you factor in the lower budget the ex-CD Projekt Red devs at Rebel Wolves are working with compared to a traditional triple-A studio. With gorgeous voice acting, inventive mission design, and a super varied combat system, the result is a pacy thrill ride that's not afraid to let you do things differently. In our The Blood of Dawnwalker review, despite some misgivings, we did praise that "hands-off exploration is mostly respected" in its RPG open world.

So, where can you play it?

The Blood of Dawnwalker is out now on PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5.

How to get started with The Blood of Dawnwalker:

Getting to grips with The Blood of Dawnwalker's directional parries, three combat systems, and twisty RPG framework can be confusing, so here are some handy guides to get your adventure in Vale Sangora off to a good start:

If you're saying "fangs, but no fangs" to Dawnwalker, check out our best RPGs round-up to find the right fit for your weekend

Search for the Needle codes can help you get a leg up when scouring through hay piles for a tiny needle. It's a tiresome task, and any boost that helps you clear the hay that little bit faster is a godsend, be it a useful Class skill like increased earnings or faster hay collection or some more cash to spend on better tools.

Thankfully, these Search for the Needle codes give you exactly that, usually in the form of Gems which you can exchange for Class Rerolls. Be careful, though, as you're not guaranteed a decent class, so think carefully before rerolling. Don't think before redeeming these codes, though, as they can expire at any time.

For other more general rewards that you can use across all of your experiences, then take a look at our list of the current Roblox promo codes you can use.

All Search for the Needle codes

These are all the valid Search for the Needle codes right now:

• ALIEN - 200x Gems, 200x Alien Coins

The code above is the first and only Search for the Needle code so far, as codes have only just been introduced to the popular game. I would expect future codes to grant similar rewards, though, including more Gems and update-specific coins that you can use to open update-specific chests for update-specific items!

How to redeem Search for the Needle codes

To redeem Search for the Needle codes, simply click on the Codes button on the right of the screen, indicated by the blue bird icon. Enter the code into the box and hit Redeem to receive your rewards.

Expired Search for the Needle codes

• There are no expired codes.

As the promo above is the first and only Search for the Needle code so far, you haven't yet missed out any free rewards. However, I've no doubt that this code, and future codes, will expire eventually, so redeem any promos as soon as you see them.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

Among the additions coming in the upcoming The Witcher 3: Songs of the Past DLC is a new kind of weapon for Geralt, a big old chain he uses to whip and lasso enemies. It's a cool, nifty piece of equipment, and something CD Projekt Red has had in its back pocket since making the original game, over a decade ago.

Two developers, Jakub Rokosz, game director on Songs of the Past, and Despoina Anetaki, senior quest designer at CDPR, discussed the subject with BBC News. "We were talking about implementing the chain even during the original The Witcher 3," Rokosz recalls.

"It was impossible to do at the time for various technological reasons and challenges," he continues. "A few things had to click together, and we were able to address those challenges and issues during the remaster, so then we were able to implement a weapon that feels just natural and very fluid."

He says it "realizes a fantasy" you may have if you've read the Witcher books, since Geralt wields a chain regularly in the novels from Andrzej Sapkowski. Further connectivity between the source material and the games is good to see, and having more combat options makes Songs of the Past even more appealing, since this is a real late-game addition.

Anetaki explained a little more about why it made sense to include the chain now. "It fits with the narrative theming of the Songs of the Past," she says. "It fits with all the new enemies that work with the chain. We were able to do crowd control with the swarmions, that swarm you and you have to keep them away from you."

She points out it's a "cool weapon" for people "who might be sick of the crossbow by now." More versatility is always welcome, and considering there are players who'll have put in hundreds of hours over the years, it's especially so here.

The Witcher 3's Songs of the Past expansion wouldn't be "possible" without the RPG's remaster, says CD Projekt Red: "The stars had to align."

These Legacy Piece codes offer you a ton of rewards, including Chests, Potions, Shards, and Boss Tickets, so you can battle bosses for even more valuable rewards. To do that, though, you'll need to increase your strength and buy weapons, and these codes can help with that, too.

In this Roblox RPG, you'll adventure across a series of islands, defeating foes and destroying deadly bosses, and the further you travel, the more of a challenge they'll provide. Use these Legacy Piece codes, then, to get better weapons, better passive items, and a helpful boost of Gold.

If you're searching for more general rewards that you can apply to all of your experiences, then we've got the latest Roblox promo codes you can claim.

All Legacy Piece codes

These are the current Legacy Piece codes you can redeem right now:

• HELLUPDATE!! - 10x Almighty Chest, 2x Drop Potion, 1,000x Boss Tickets, 10,000x Shards new!
• SORRYFORDELAY7!! - 1x Secret Gem Chest, 1x Drop Potion, 10,000x Shards new!
• UPD2.0!! - 5x Almighty Chest, 50x Secret Fish Chest, 5,000x Boss Tickets, 10,000x Shards new!

The latest Legacy Piece codes grant loads of chests, which you can open for valuable rewards including special fish, which you can equip to grant you passive buffs. Otherwise, you'll see you can get plenty of Boss Tickets, which usually cost 10,000 Gold, so you're getting your money's worth by stocking up for future boss fights.

Legacy Piece codes are not case-sensitive, but I still suggest you copy and paste codes from my list to make sure enter them correctly, as they've all been tested as they are.

How to redeem Legacy Piece codes

To redeem Legacy Piece codes, hit the Settings button in the menu on the left-hand side of the screen and you'll see the codes redemption box at the bottom. Enter a code as it appears above and hit Enter, or the equivalent button on your device, to claim your rewards.

Expired Legacy Piece codes

• 19KLIKES!! - 5x Heavenly Fish Chest, 2,500x Trait Reroll, 500x Clan Reroll, 1x Drop Potion, 10,000x Shards
• 18KLIKES!! - 2,000x Boss Ticket, 5x Heavenly Fish Chest, 2,500x Trait Reroll, 500x Clan Reroll, 1x Drop Potion, 10,000x Shards
• UPDATE1.75!! - Spawns Ancient Infernal Core, 5,000x Boss Ticket, 25x Heavenly Fish Chest, 2,500x Trait Reroll, 500x Clan Reroll, 2x Drop Potion, 10,000x Shards
• SORRYFORDELAY5!! - 2x Drop Potion, 10,000x Shards
• DONTKNOWWHATTOTYPEFORTHISCODE!! - 2,000x Boss Ticket, 100x Ultimate Chest, 10,000x Shards
• BALANCECHANGE1!! - 1,000x Boss Ticket, 10,000x Shards
• 4MVISITS!! - 15x Whale Blessing Chest, 10x Secret Fish Chest, 10,000x Shards
• OCEANUPDATE!! - 10x Whale Blessing Chest, 5x Secret Fish Chest, 10,000x Shards
• THANKSFOR17KLIKES!! - 10x Whale Blessing Chest, 5x Secret Fish Chest, 10,000x Shards
• SORRYFORBUGS10!! - 100x Clan Reroll, 10x Fireforce Chest, 10,000x Shards
• SORRYFORBUGS9!! - 100x Clan Reroll, 10x Fireforce Chest, 10,000x Shards
• SORRYFORDELAY3!! - 20x Whale Blessing Chest, 10x Secret Fish Chest, 100x Clan Reroll, 10,000x Shards
• UPDATE1.5!! - 20x Whale Blessing Chest, 10x Secret Fish Chest, 10,000x Shards
• SORRYFORBUGS11!! - 1x Ultimate Enhancement Gem, 50x Abyssal Chest, 1,000x Shards
• BUGFIXFORUPDATE1.1!! - 100x Clan Reroll, 50x Abyssal Chest, 10,000x Shards
• SORRYFORDELAYYY2!! - 50x Abyssal Chest, 1x Godly Ascension Stone, 10,000x Shards
• SORRYFORDELAYYY!! - 100x Clan Reroll, 50x Abyssal Chest, 10,000x Shards
• UPDATE1.1!! - 100x Clan Reroll, 50x Abyssal Chest, 10,000x Shards
• THANKSFOR4KCCU!! - 5x Aura Crate, 10x Ultimate Chest, 100x Clan Reroll, 10,000x Shards
• FIREUPDATE!! - 100x Clan Reroll, 10x Fire Force Chest, 10,000x Shards

Plenty of Legacy Piece codes have expired since the game launched, as you can see above, so be sure to redeem current codes while you have the chance. When they expire, I'll move them down here so you don't waste time redeeming invalid promos.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

It seems only right that GTA 6 would go heavy on advertising in Miami, Florida, since the game's location, Leonida, is based on the city. Plans for some discreet advertising there passed the city council but just barely, amid concerns over the violence therein.

On September 10, the City of Miami Beach voted 4-3 to allow for Rockstar's proposed campaign to roll out across the area. The exact extent of what's planned is unknown, but the ensuing debate revealed a few details.

There'll be umbrellas and beach chairs from Boucher Brothers, a supplier of beach equipment, emblazoned with the VI symbol from the game's logo. Rockstar's total investment is expected to come in at $3 million across the entire advertising rollout, which will run from October 15 through to the end of 2026.

The time period certainly makes sense, since it pushes the release around the holiday period for Christmas presents and such. From the sounds of things, it seems like the idea will be to make GTA 6 fully synonymous with Miami Beach by placing logos and symbols around the city in less immediately noticeable ways.

Or at least, that's my guess from the outset. Rockstar could just as easily be planning a massive boat race. Nonetheless, there was a back-and-forth between the commissioners on the council over the appropriateness of associating with the game, which can be viewed in full on YouTube.

"You can't spend years telling the world that Miami Beach has changed, imposing some of the toughest Spring Break restrictions we've ever had, to change our brand and our image," commissioner David Suarez says. "And then turn around and voluntarily promote the very image we're trying to leave behind."

He then showed a GTA 6 clip of the various violent crimes you can commit. In response, Commissioner Monica Matteo-Salinas points out that she's a fan of the series. "I played it in 1997, when it first came out; I played it in 2002 when it came out, the Vice City version, and I'm going to play it again when this one comes out," she proclaims.

"It's a video game; it's fake. We can be who we are and make a nod to this video game without endorsing it," she argues. "This won't affect our brand. This is a win for gamers, and gaming nerds, such as myself."

The adverts won't touch city property, nor will they be part of Art Basel Miami, an annual art fair that happens in the first half of December.

GTA 6 fans track down real-life nudist resort featured in leaks just to write unflattering fake reviews that are driving its owner to madness: "A nudist resort DENYING exposure?"

IKEA just released something I never imagined in all my years investing in the brand's elaborate flat-packed furniture - a Skryim mod. No really, Kallax Storageborn (via YouTube) is a legitimate mod that you can download from the Bethesda Creations website that allows you to adventure throughout Tamriel with a white shelving unit as your companion.

For years now, I've been using the $79.99 (via IKEA) Kallax (and versions of it) to store and display my favorite game merch, so it feels entirely apt to see it get a Skyrim cameo. However, I'd have sooner expected the Kallax to be nothing but an in-game piece of furniture designed to declutter your homestead instead of also being a companion character fully voiced by Matt Berry.

Unfortunately for me, my real-life Kallax doesn't sound like Laszlo from What We Do in the Shadows. Regardless, the real deal is a fixture of my gaming room, and IKEA's bizarre yet hilarious new mod has reminded me just how much I cherish the versatile piece of storage.

If you stumble into any gaming nerd's room, you're likely to come across a range of IKEA furniture. My office and gaming space is so overrun with flat-packed pieces that you could mistake it for one of the example rooms on the store's showroom floor. While typing these very words, I'm sitting at a Linnmon corner desk, while a Billy bookcase and old Detolf glass cabinet are sitting behind me, displaying my ever-growing physical video game collection.

Some people may be bothered by the sterile modern aesthetic of too much IKEA furniture in one place, but I don't mind it as they're affordable and most importantly pretty versatile. But no piece of IKEA furniture is just as versatile as the Kallax. At the moment, I have the very same Kallax as featured in the Skyrim mod sitting right to my left. I use it as both a room divider and a way to display an assortment of my precious video game merch, and I adore it. The 39 cm deep squares can store plenty, as you can clearly see from my vast selection of Persona goodies in the image below. There's a wealth of items in there, from artbooks, figures, and even a little Morgana plush, all of which I'd struggle to squeeze into another brand's similar-sized unit.

My absolute favorite thing about the Kallax isn't that its shelving is deep, but that you can buy accessories for it. While these seemingly don't feature in the Skyrim mod, you can pick up $25 (IKEA) drawer units or a $30 (IKEA) insert with a glass door. The latter is my absolute favorite addition to the Kallax, as it can allow you to transform it into a perfect display piece for video game collectibles.

Glass displays help keep out dust and prevent merch from accidental damage, and they used to be IKEA's bread and butter. Just about every collector I know has had the brand's Detolf cabinet in their gaming space at one moment or another. Sadly, these were discontinued, but with these inserts, you can tailor your existing Kallax display to your liking and add more glass displays into your setup.

If you want to try out the Kallax Storageborn Skyrim mod, you can download it for the PC and Xbox version of the game via the Bethesda Creations website. According to the official FAQ as found on the official IKEA website, PlayStation players will have to wait a while longer to experience some Kallax-fueled adventures of their own.

If you're feeling impatient, there's nothing stopping you from picking up a real-life Kallax and dragging it around. Just be warned it won't sound like Matt Berry, and just as the manual recommends, you should lay down a carpet first to avoid ruining any precious hardwood flooring.

• View all display shelving at IKEA

Love video game collectibles? Check out the best Lego sets and the best Legend of Zelda merch worth adding to your Kallax shelves.

A new report sheds more light on why Sony and PlayStation dropped Hideo Kojima's action-espionage game, Physint, in a high-profile announcement that saw the project handed to Microsoft and Xbox.

Bloomberg, citing several people familiar with the game poised to become the successor to Kojima's Metal Gear series, reports that Physint had missed production deadlines and is on track to go "well over budget" as it still needs years of work.

With Sony tightening development milestone check-ins after numerous live service games fell through, left gaps in the PS5 release schedule, and even consumed entire studios, this excess has come at a time of increased fiscal stringency, the report adds.

Further financial concerns stem from the sales and relationship PlayStation saw with Kojima's two Death Stranding games, which reportedly missed Sony's targets. With the Death Stranding games ultimately coming to PC at a time when Sony is purportedly backing away from the platform to double down on console exclusivity, a similar timed exclusive deal for Physint is less appealing.

Additionally, Bloomberg notes that many of the PlayStation executives and leaders who'd previously worked closely with Kojima have left the company in recent years, severing a chain of relationships that may have kept Kojima's work in Sony's good books.

One clear example would be Andrew House, who, in 2015, first announced PlayStation's exclusivity deal with Kojima Productions. Physint itself was revealed in 2024 during a PlayStation State of Play showcase.

House left PlayStation in 2017, not long after that deal was struck. If he and others like him were still at PlayStation, conversations and arrangements around Kojima's games may be quite different and Physint may still be greenlit, if not more heavily centered as a tentpole PlayStation game.

As news of the split broke, Kojima said "we unexpectedly received notice from PlayStation Studios that they would cancel the PHYSINT project," sending him and Kojima Productions seeking a new partner to salvage the game.

It found one in Xbox, with new CEO Asha Sharma happy to pick up Physint in "a big moment for Xbox" and in the latest reversal for two platform holders which have long had a clear market winner. The PS5 remains far ahead in console sales compared to the Xbox Series X, but Sony seems hellbent on giving Microsoft every opportunity to recover.

A Microsoft spokesperson tells Bloomberg that "betting on Kojima-san is an easy call."

Microsoft was already working with Kojima on OD, which it has backed since the game's 2023 reveal during The Game Awards. Kojima said the pitch for OD was "crazy" and Xbox, then led by Phil Spencer, was basically the only receptive client.

Sharma, Spencer's replacement, has said OD is a "deeply moving game" and "represents another kind" of experience.

Sony has topped a generational run of self-owns: abandoning Hideo Kojima's next Metal Gear right as Marvel's Wolverine falls flat.

It'd be silly of me to deny the hype for GTA 6, as like it or not, it'll likely be the game of the decade. The thing I'm struggling to process is the fact that, in the grand scheme of things, the sandbox formula hasn't really changed that much. In fact, Rockstar is gearing up to bring back some of its more realistic features, which has me wondering why I wouldn't just stick with my PS2 and the biggest GTA game from the 2000s.

I'm naturally talking about Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, an open-world romp that has players scrambling for how to play PS2 games to this very day. It's easy to see why once you get a feel for what the GTA Vice City sequel is all about, as it trades the glitz and neon glimmer for the institutionally corrupt Los Santos and CJ's struggle to clear his family name and take on rival gangs.

Here's my big confession: I've never been that big into GTA as a franchise. Therefore, when it became clear that the latest entry would take us back to modern-day Vice City, I really wasn't too enthused. If anything, the fact that it's set to drop the '80s vibes that enticed me to drop into Leonida adds to that, and while my ears perked up upon hearing it will bring back a fan-favorite San Andreas mechanic, I reckon many of us should still just plug back in our PS2.

Play a GTA you actually own

Before you rush to the comments, I know full well a retro console from 26 years ago won't remotely provide the same absurd GTA experience as a new system. That is to say, if you're financially barred from playing the new sandbox, which is exclusive to the PS5 and Xbox Series X, you'll naturally want to reach for good old GTA V as a modern-day alternative.

At this stage, though, anyone who's hyped for GTA V has likely drained it for every piece of open-world novelty it can provide. It's for that reason that I reckon it's high time we pitched back up the PlayStation 2 in our living rooms, and not even just because I reckon fresher-faced players probably missed out on the third 3D entry.

Here's the thing: GTA 6 is arriving during one of the worst periods in history to buy new video games. Sony is rightfully coming under fire for choosing to end physical PS5 disc support in 2028, and Rockstar has already chosen to shove its sandbox in an empty box. This has prompted some anger from fans, with a rather unorganised collective attempting a "blackout" last month, but I reckon if you really want to make a punch via a protest, you should go completely offline just as GTA 6 lands.

I know there's no talking anyone who's got GTA 6 pre-ordered into passing it up for an offline PS2 experience. Therefore, I'm largely speaking to those of you who can't afford it or are choosing not to play, as if everyone who's not venturing into the sandbox switches back to the PS2, it could be enough to catch Sony's attention this time around.

As for how you're going to do that, there are really cheap ways to get the old PlayStation 2 up and running today. It largely becomes a question of how to connect retro consoles to modern TVs and monitors, and having spent the weekend testing a pretty cheap HDMI adapter, I can confirm it's a decent place to start.

For context, I usually use a dedicated upscaler like the GBS Control, as it takes an RGB signal via SCART, upscales things to 1080p, and deals with any funky, wobbly deinterlacing nonsense. However, I decided to give an adapter similar to the versions you see for $13.99 at Amazon a shot, and it got the job done with zero visual nonsense.

If you really want your consoles to look the part, you'll want to invest in either a GBS-C or an OSSC, as that will provide you with upscaling, retro scanline settings, and other perks that'll help things look crispier. But, I get that the whole deal here is acquiring an old GTA game to play in protest to the industry at large when you potentially don't have any gear already, so a passive HDMI adapter is a perfectly acceptable way to play.

On that note, you can pick up GTA San Andreas on PS2 for around $20 these days, and if you've not got an old console to play it on, you can grab one for under $80. Effectively, you can grab an old Grand Theft Auto and the hardware to play it on for potentially less than GTA 6 Ultimate Edition, which Sony claims you won't actually own.

You could say statements like that are fuelling my decision to revisit San Andreas rather than think about GTA 6. I get that it's completely cynical of me to say both games feature the same core mechanics of automobile theft, gunplay, and law-breaking missions, but really, Rockstar's whole shtick has remained the same for 30 years.

Old crime caper, new controller

I recently had the same conversation of "you should just re-play San Andreas on the PS2" with a friend. They initially fought me on the basis that they didn't want to use a wired DualShock 2 in the living room, so like some sort of spiv, I opened my metaphorical jacket to reveal a bunch of relevant gadgets.

I know for a fact some of you will be scrambling to say "just play the Definitive Edition on PC." Okay, yes, you can do that for a quick fix, but if you also want this project to double up as a light protest over the state of things, you should stick with an OG PS2. You can still help the old system feel nice and fresh by learning how to use new controllers with retro consoles, as if you grab an 8Bitdo Retro Receiver for $24.99, you can sync up a DualShock 4 or even the DualSense to your 26-year-old machine.

Will using a PS5 controller to play San Andreas feel authentic? Nah. Will it help cut the cord and make the setup feel discrete and slick? Absolutely. I absolutely understand that not everyone wants janky old ensembles cluttering their play spaces, and while I'll normally choose an OG pad as an enthusiast, I also test the best retro controllers made today in an effort to put together modern-feeling setups.

A bit of San Andreas inspiration

The initial reason San Andreas ended up on my mind amid GTA 6 is admittedly the mechanical links. The new sandbox is set to borrow the realistic lifestyle routine elements of the PS2 caper, with weight fluctuation and sleep requirements ready to become a part of the formula again. Both of those features were first introduced in 2004, and if it's part of the reason to buy the latest entry, then I'll choose to go backwards.

I should note that you don't have to specifically replay San Andreas to protest by playing other GTA games. Now is a pretty good time to revisit the OG romps like GTA 3, Vice City, or even some of the spin-offs like Liberty City Stories. If you get a base PS2 setup in place, you'll have access to those outings while the modern industry has its very expensive moment, and if you really have no interest in Grand Theft Auto, there are over 4,000 OG PlayStation 2 games that'll save you paying for anything new.

• PS2 adapters at Amazon
• PS2 controllers at Amazon

Swing by the best retro handhelds if you'd rather play classic GTA on the go.

Metroid Dread developer MercurySteam has seemingly confirmed that it is the developer behind Metroid Ravenous.

Nintendo has generally been a bit peculiar compared to most major publishers for as long as it has existed. But one of the strangest things the company has done as of late is its complete reluctance to announce who is actually developing its games. You'll typically have to wait until the game releases or, at the very least, reviews release to find out what studio is behind the title; for example, Xenoblade developer Monolith Soft may be behind the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake.

Take Metroid Ravenous, clearly the best announcement from this week's Nintendo Direct. The game looks very similar in style to Metroid Dread, which was developed by MercurySteam and instantly became one of the most beloved games in the franchise, so the idea of this developer returning would clearly excite players, right? Well, the trailer came and went without a mention of MercurySteam, but we may have confirmation that the developer is returning to the series.

Over on Twitter, MercurySteam quoted a post of the trailer with two emojis: a ninja and a heart. Some have taken this as a soft confirmation that the developer is secretly attached to the project, or that it may be related to the group of assassins pursuing Samus throughout the game.

Regardless, it's nice to see MercurySteam is back on Metroid, especially after the studio's latest game, Blades of Fire, seemingly underperformed, resulting in layoffs at the company. But I can't help but think signalling to players explicitly 'hey the team who made the best 2D Metroid game not named Super Metroid are back for this new entry' could've only helped further the hype for this game.

Check our list of the best Metroid games of all time, and catch yourself up before Ravenous comes out.

Battlefield 6 codes have had an unlikely resurgence almost a year after the game launched, offering a fresh wave of cosmetic items to customize your game with. These include various exclusive Titles to display on your Playercard, with some tongue-in-cheek options such as "Skill Issue" and "Battledad", but the best news is that the rewards from these BF6 codes are also unlocked in the free-to-play Battlefield Redsec so anyone can use them. To get involved, here are all of the codes for Battlefield 6 and how to redeem them.

All Battlefield 6 codes

The following BF6 codes can be claimed for rewards:

• ACE – "Buzz the Tower" Playercard Sticker [179]
• PHOENIX – "Phoenix Flight" Attack Helicopter Skin [178]
• AVIATOR – "Top Aviator" Playercard Title [176]
• GHOSTRIDER – "Ghostrider" Uniform Patch [175]
• SKILLISSUES4 – "Skill Issue" Playercard Title [172]
• ILOVEPORTALS4 – "Built Different" Playercard Title [171]
• BATTLEDADS4 – "Battledad" Playercard Title [170]
• AKAJOHNS4 – "AKA John" Playercard Title [169]

As you can see, there are a decent number of Battlefield 6 codes available that mainly unlock Playercard Titles, though other cosmetics including a uniform patch and a vehicle skin for the Attack Helicopter are also included. The number in brackets shown after each reward represents what is displayed when you redeem each promo through the website.

How to redeem Battlefield 6 codes

To redeem BF6 codes, you need to visit the official code redemption page and log in with your EA account. Next, click on the REDEEM button and an "Enter your product code" pop up will appear, with a text box to type in a promo before hitting the Next button. You should then see a "Confirm code activation" pop up stating product Battlefield 6 Reward - [xxx] with the number matching the one shown next to the reward on the list above.

Use the Confirm button to finish this process and claim your reward, but note that expired codes or promos you have used before will still appear on the activation pop up, and an error message won't appear until you hit that Confirm button. Once claimed, your reward will be available next time you log into Battlefield 6 or Redsec, and confirmed by an inbox message.

Expired Battlefield 6 codes

• TAKEOFF – Standard XP Booster [173]
• WELCOMES4 – 60-minute Hardware XP Booster [168]

There have been a couple of recently expired Battlefield 6 codes, which were both for XP Boosters and these seem to have been cut off faster than the cosmetic rewards. There's no guarantee how long the rest of the promos will remain active for, so make sure you add them to your account now even if you don't currently have access to BF6 or Redsec as they'll be there waiting for you in the future.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

Mini PCs are slowly taking up residence on the desks of more and more gamers, as the best gaming PC prices continue to soar. Geekom is one of the first brands you'll find in a casual Amazon hunt, and the brand's A9 Max model is its go-to for gamers.

This silver cube packs the power of an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 processor and Radeon 890M integrated graphics. That's not going to trifle RTX 50-series machines, and the Steam Machine's dedicated VRAM and higher GPU wattage isn't going to be too concerned in the short term. This is, after all, a productivity machine geared around professional applications with an AI lean. Geekom suggests it's up to the task of gaming at 1080p, though, so let's find out exactly what that looks like.

Configurations

At the time of writing there's only one Geekom A9 Max spec to chase. That AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 processor (including the 890M integrated graphics) is partnered up with 32GB DDR5 RAM and a 2TB SSD. That's a compelling set of specs for anyone running more demanding productivity workflows, it's one of the more robust mini PCs on the market right now.

AMD will tell you the AI 9 470 packs an XDNA 2 NPU for up to 55 TOPS, with a total of 86 TOPS of power for AI acceleration. That's going to be running all your models but also taking care of more complex rendering and media creation tasks as well. A healthy dose of RAM to support it and enough storage to see you through larger file systems, and the A9 Max is selling itself well for professionals.

There is an older AI 9 HX 370 model still available at some stores, it being a previous release rather than a separate skew of this particular launch.

Performance

Straight out of the box, with no FSR fiddling, the Geekom A9 Max somewhat holds its own. We're not quite at 60fps territory at either high or medium settings in FHD, and only Cyberpunk 2077 will even attempt QHD gameplay, but with 48fps in Total War: Three Kingdoms at medium settings and 51fps in Cyberpunk 2077 under the same conditions there's definitely something to work with here.

There is evidence that the system isn't exactly happy about it, though. Textures snag, graphical glitches are far more prevalent, and jagged edges, flittering images, and hazy moments can creep in during more complex runs like this. However, for a productivity-oriented PC putting most of its eggs in the professional market there's certainly potential.

Nobody who laid a hand on this mini PC is expecting you to play in raw settings, though. This is a system designed for FSR upscaling, and with it we can get far closer to the 60fps standard players are paying thousands of dollars for at the moment. Cyberpunk 2077 gives us the clearest look at how we can achieve these kinds of numbers with various settings tweaks. It's the only game in my benchmark pool that managed to start its QHD test run and provides a sturdy example of the more demanding Triple-A games your Steam library might be up against.

Adding AMD's FSR tech into the picture, we're comfortably hitting a 60fps average in high settings on FHD resolution. We can even bump up the spec to QHD, drop graphics to medium, and still get closer to that threshold as well. Geekom's right to celebrate its A9 Max's gaming chops, it certainly can hit playable framerates on demanding Triple-A releases - as long as you're happy with FSR in your setup.

If you don't want synthetic frames in your sessions, you'll be sticking to more casual titles. The lighter games in my Steam library; Islanders, Restory, Oxenfree 2, and Samorost 3 all ran absolutely fine. As it stands, without AMD's helping hand, I was generally benching at Low settings across my testing pool to try and get close to 60fps.

The system's 3D Mark benchmarks are to be expected. This isn't a machine designed to top the Steel Nomad, Time Spy, or Fire Strike leaderboards - but that Steel Nomad Lite score allows us to meet it where it's at a little more.

For all intents and purposes, your GPU here is functioning like a GTX 1650 or 45W RTX 2050 in its Steel Nomad Lite run - just one without the fancy upscaling and frame generation tech.

The A9 Max's Ryzen processor still falls well behind the Apple M5 Pro in the productivity arena. The top-shelf Mac Mini will net you a single core score of over 3,600 and a multi-core score at over 30,000. Interestingly, we're beating the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 392 in the single-core arena (vs. 2,445), but still falling down in raw multi-core performance (vs. 20,906). While AMD's Max line typically performs better for gaming, those skewing more towards complex productivity tasks in their purchase decision should take note.

We're being slightly unfair on the Geekom A9 Max in these comparisons, though. None of the machines it's up against in these raw data benchmarks have been designed to fulfill the same AI goals as this particular rig. While others find their strengths in raw performance, then, there's going to be far more on offer for the AI power-user here.

Features

The Geekom A9 Max comes stocked with plenty of front ports to keep all your more portable accessories easily accessible, as well as a healthy selection of more permanent rear connections. In reaching distance, we've got three USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports with a fourth always-on connection. That's easy space for a wireless keyboard, mouse, and headset, with one to spare for charging or lighting.

Behind all that, though, the A9 Max also benefits from dual RJ45 LAN ports, two HDMI 2.1 connections, and two USB 4 Type-Cs with Display Port. That means support for four 4K displays, though speeds aren't going to be shared equally between them. Still, if you're building a more complex work station that's going to come in particularly handy. All those connections are also joined by an SD card reader as well.

Under the hood, Geekom has included upgradable RAM and storage bays with support for up to 128GB memory and 8TB worth of SSD. That's a relief for those with longer term ambitions for their mini PC. While RAM shortages are upping the prices of both component sets, there's scope to boost your performance later down the line (or if you already have a stick or two laying around.

Geekom has also paid attention to the additional cooling needs of this compact form factor with its IceBlast 3.0 thermal system in place. The main thing to note here is a main copper heatsink as well as two copper heat pipes. From there, larger fan blades move air far more efficiently. Indeed, the A9 Max managed to keep its cool during testing, with minimal fan noise to speak of.

Design

Geekom is copying Apple's homework with this design, but the square shape with rounded corners and a smooth silver finish are difficult to argue with. The A9 Max is slightly shorter than the Mac, with with a wider footprint overall. Of course, it's never going to take over your desk, but there's still about a centimetre of difference. The cube itself also comes with a VESA mounting plate to keep it hidden behind your monitor as well.

The brand's logo sits on top, embossed with a glossy finish in the center of the main plate. Meanwhile the sides are dedicated to airflow with a subtle dotted texture.

Value

This is the tricky part. The Geekom A9 Max 2026 Edition is a highly capable productivity machine that can plough through more complex workflows for years to come. If that's how you see yourself using your mini PC 80% of the time, those Radeon 890M graphics still hold their value proposition. If you're coming to the A9 Max from a PC gaming perspective, though, that price isn't going to make much sense.

Geekom never designed this model to replace a full desktop PC, but with so many players seeking out alternative routes to their game libraries, following the Steam Machine and rising PC costs, it's worth considering the integrated GPU experience against the wider market.

These days, $1,599 will likely net you an RTX 5060 or, on a particularly good sale day, RTX 5070 gaming laptop. On average, these rigs will perform better at 1080p than the Geekom A9 Max. There are, of course, other value considerations to take into account. You're unlikely to find upgradeable RAM and storage at that price and, should you keep your machine on your desk, a mini PC offers a better overall experience from its ports and ease of use. If you're going for pure gaming performance, though, there are better numbers elsewhere.

Should you buy the Geekom A9 Max?

The 2026 Geekom A9 Max has two main competitors in the productivity arena, and one of them comes from the brand's own camp. Last year's AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 model is available for $1,299 (Amazon) and often less than that. It also has the benefit of a dual-channel memory system. To keep upgrades simple, Geekom stuck with a single-channel for its newer release. In real world terms, that means the previous generation is going get your games running better straight out the box.

So what does the $300 price difference get you? The ability to upgrade. Stick a dual channel memory setup into the equation and the boost in processing and AI performance from that newer CPU gives the Geekom A9 Max 2026 plenty more to work with. Of course, that's easier said than done this year, but as a longer term investment it's well worth considering.

How I tested the Geekom A9 Max

I used the Geekom A9 Max as my day-to-day work machine for two weeks in total, split around gaming laptop use. The A9 Max was put to the test across in-game benchmarks for Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Total War: Three Kingdoms, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, and Cyberpunk 2077 in 1080p, medium, high, and highest settings with FSR frame generation both on and off. Further tests were also completed in Cyberpunk 2077 with the machine running at 1440p resolution.

The system was also tested in 3D Mark's synthetic benchmarks, running Time Spy, Steel Nomad Lite, Steel Nomad, and Fire Strike three times each and taking a final average. Geekbench 7 was also used as a productivity benchmark.

For more information on how we make our recommendations, check out the full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

Check out the best gaming handhelds for more form factor options, or take a look at the best gaming monitors and best gaming keyboards to compliment your setup.

I'm not done with The Blood of Dawnwalker yet, but so far, I think it's a hell of an RPG that has its own voice while still feeling a little familiar. The limitations of Rebel Wolves' first dark fantasy action RPG are obvious, but easy to accept when The Witcher 3's pedigree permeates the whole thing. It's sorely missing a stealth system, though.

The best open-world games needn't allow players to sneak around just because, but having actual stealth mechanics might be useful when you're roleplaying as a half-vampire Dawnwalker who gains all sorts of shadowy tricks at night. This makes it feel like a chunk of the game was excised during development: Walking on walls and teleporting is allowed, but it feels odd – and incomplete – to infiltrate enemy bases this way only to be thrown into a fight the moment you trigger an enemy's MMORPG-like aggression radius.

The inability to be a silent killer also creates tension between the game's (otherwise fantastic) writing, impacting the way Coen embarks upon his perilous mission to save his loved ones. While I'm counting on Rebel Wolves to smartly iterate and expand on the formula in the now-confirmed sequel, I think The Blood of Dawnwalker's biggest weakness is playing things overly safe when it comes to dispatching enemies.

Claws need laws

Some suspension of disbelief is required to accept that Coen is picking fights all over Vale Sangora without protecting his identity in order to undermine the Vrakhiri's invasion and control efforts. He makes a point early on that hitting the vampiric villains where it hurts is key to eventually saving his family. But making a ruckus too fast is problematic, as he takes a while to go from confused (albeit combat-ready) peasant to folk anti-hero. This is acknowledged right after the prologue: He's just too weak to draw more attention to himself than necessary.

Regardless, you're soon taking down entire outposts and clearing dungeons as Coen, the guy with disturbingly strange powers and foul-tasting Dawnwalker blood that even big boss Brencis couldn't stomach. There's an entire Far Cry-like zoned system in place that makes the leader's bloodthirsty captains (here called boyars) react to disruptions you create in their respective domains before triggering a confrontation with each. But while stronger warriors are sent to hunt you down and locations get more fortified – or locked off completely – as you grow stronger and grow your notoriety, the evildoers always feel too lenient.

As we've seen in other open-world games with infamy systems, there's no easy answer to the dilemma of properly reacting to players' chaotic actions in ways that both preserves the credibility of the established narrative and dynamically raises the challenge. Coen is a unique kind of menace, though. Whether day or at night, he's charging into conflict, sword out, ready for a proper melee. Even when he's walking around the city of Svartrau, he doesn't seem to mind being recognized until it's too late. I know he's no Agent 47 or Ezio Auditore, but this disconnect makes me wish The Blood of Dawnwalker had even more friction baked in.

Bat among the pigeons

On a purely mechanical and visceral level, not being able to slice some throats in silence or properly drain soldiers without alerting their entire garrison is just disappointing. The game allows Coen to hit first as a Vrakhiri with a teleport-bite attack, but this first game simply wasn't built with sneak attacks in mind. 90% of the time, some grunt will smack you before you've started to properly absorb their mate's blood.

Similarly, the instant-kill drop attack that can be learned later on is a nice combat starter and a tease of what a stealth system that borrows from open-world greats such as Ghost of Yotei could be like in this setting. But it's never expanded on. You instantly go from undetected to swarmed, and any attempt to crouch and slowly navigate a camp will also result in melees that even trap you with invisible walls at times if you try to run away. It feels shockingly archaic and rigid for an action RPG that's delightfully bold and playful in other respects, even if I actually really enjoy what the game's peculiar combat system is going for.

I get that Rebel Wolves shares a ton of DNA with CD Projekt Red still, but about half of The Blood of Dawnwalker is just screaming to behave like something other than The Witcher 3. As much as I love that game, Geralt of Rivia was a skilled monster hunter. Coen is a different breed of killer, especially when his fangs and claws come out and he's dashing and teleporting across the rooftops like Corvo in Dishonored. It may be too late to alter what this new fantasy RPG is and isn't, but looking at the bright future ahead, I'm hoping for a more varied and sneaky vampire simulation come the sequel.

The Blood of Dawnwalker patch notes are among the funniest I've read, axing the "one red pipe asset we weren't supposed to use" and silencing dead NPCs who could still talk.

Are women in games still reduced to roles like damsels in distress, femme fatales, or dead wives? That's the discussion for this week's episode of the G+RLS podcast.

Serena, Emma-Jane, Ashley, and myself set to work debating whether women's roles have truly come a long way - but the TL;DR answer is yes. We touch on games like God of War Laufey and GTA 6 that are both on the way, but also the games that have done really well representing women over the years.

And of course all the ways the games industry still has room to improve, and the ways its failed so far. It's a complicated subject as you'd expect.

You can watch the brand new episode above, and do let us know what you think in the comments!

If you're new here, G+RLS is the GamesRadar+ podcast that tells the stories of women who game and the games they play. We have a new episode every other Friday, alternating between team chats discussing the issues we've faced, and the thoughts and concerns we have about the games industry, and interviews with creators, developers, voice actors and more.

Join us for a new episode every other Friday and let us know what you'd love to hear us talking about. We're available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Deezer, and Amazon Music.

You can also watch the fifth episode below!

Atlus has announced a broadcast celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Persona series, and speculation is already rampant about whether we'll see Persona 6.

After almost 10 years since Persona 5 first released, we finally got our first look at Persona 6 earlier this year during the 2026 Summer Game Fest Xbox showcase, and we now know… pretty much as much as we did the moment Persona 5 released (I mean we all knew it would be green by process of elimination anyway). Well, that was until Steam seemingly leaked all the game's achievements, but as for official news, we don't know much.

That being said, the game is rumored to release sometime next year, backed by confirmation of a PS5 physical copy, which puts it before the January 2028 cutoff Sony gave before abandoning discs. Not to mention an M rating, which typically implies a game isn't too far off.

Atlus has announced that it'll be hosting a Persona 30th anniversary celebration stream on September 20, 2026, featuring guest appearances by actors and musicians from the series' past, as well as Persona series producer Kazuhisa Wada, with discussions, live performances, and merch announcements confirmed.

Naturally, everyone is wondering whether Persona 6 will make an appearance, but few are hopeful. A Resetera thread about the event included a poll, in which only 20% of respondents believe we'll see Persona 6 gameplay, with the rest being somewhat realistic. One response reads "I want to vote for gameplay, but I know in my heart it won't happen," while another adds "You'll get Atlus/Persona branded soap, and you'll like it."

Elsewhere, others generally agree that Persona 6 won't be shown at all until after Persona 4: Golden releases. This would somewhat match the releases Persona 3 Reload and Metaphor ReFantazio, which released the same year in 2024, with the latter not getting much in terms of trailers until after the Persona 3 remake was released.

Persona 4 Revival is the best-looking Persona to date, and after 1 hour playing, I'm already desperate to return to Inaba.

Good Smile Company is getting in on the Crash Bandicoot 30th Anniversary festivities by re-releasing his cute and chibi Nendoroid figure, and my inner '90s kid is frothing at the mouth.

The $53.99 (via Good Smile Company) toy features Crash in all his orange-colored, jeans-wearing glory, and like the rest of the Nendoroid line-up, it includes swappable parts so you can recreate your favorite scenes and poses. You've got extra arms, and even a spare eye and tongue to play around with, but most importantly, Good Smile made sure to include Crash's iconic pal, Aku Aku.

Aku Aku does not make the iconic "ooga-booga" sound when you slap him on Crash's face, but he still looks absolutely adorable in Nendoroid form. Just beware that if you want him, and a little posable Crash to keep amongst the best Crash Bandicoot merch in your collection, the pre-order window closes on October 20 next month.

I don't know about you, but as someone who remembers clutching the original gray PlayStation controller in their hand and looking longingly at the screen as Crash typhooned his way through crates and skunks, I feel like I'm turning into a pile of dust acknowledging his 30th anniversary. Yet this re-release of the incredibly detailed figure is giving me reason to stay on earth and not disappear off into the wind.

Sculpter toytec D.T.C has really outdone themselves with this toy, as Crash looks like he jumped straight out of Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time. While I would have preferred if they took more inspiration from the original PS1 games, the details are glorious. From the 3D tufts of hair on Crash's arms to the markings on his gloves, this is probably one of the best depictions I've seen of the iconic game mascot in toy form.

Of course, what makes any Nendoroid special is not just how adorable these chibi-inspired toys look, but what you can do with them. As I mentioned earlier, you can attach Aku Aku to Crash's face just like in the game series. While that doesn't grant this toy a short stint of invincibility, as a neat detail, the figure includes an additional stand so you can pose the sentient mask next to Crash instead.

That detail alone is what has me hammering to pre-order this Nendoroid while I still can. Aku Aku was such a prominent part of my PlayStation-playing childhood, and I love that Good Smile thought to allow you to pose him on or alongside Crash. Again, the only thing that'd make it sweeter would be if Good Smile packaged in a polygonal version of the iconic sidekick, but maybe we'll get a PS1-looking Crash toy in the future.

If you want a little articulated Crash Bandicoot for yourself, you can pre-order him now from the US or UK Good Smile Company online stores. Just be warned that while the pre-order window closes on October 20, he won't arrive at your door until between April 1 to June 30, 2027. It's a long time to wait, but the pure, nostalgia-fueled detail on display should make it worth it.

• View all Good Smile Company Nendoroid toys at Amazon

For more cool collectibles, check out the best Lego sets.

Dungeon Lootr codes grant all sorts of useful rewards, including valuable chests and Reforge Stones for upgrading your gear. Since loot is what we're after in this dungeon crawling adventure, it makes sense that you'd want to get as much free gear without fighting through caverns as possible, and that's just what these codes do.

The more you explore, the tougher the enemies get, of course, and to stand a chance against them in this Roblox RPG, you need the best gear, the best items, and the best class you can get. So, to help you out, I've listed the latest Dungeon Lootr codes below.

If you're searching for more general rewards that you can apply to all of your experiences, then we've got the latest Roblox promo codes you can claim.

All Dungeon Lootr codes

These are the valid Dungeon Lootr codes you can claim right now:

• LOVETHISGAME - 10x Aspect Gems new!
• COURAGE - 5x Random GM Blessing
• RAIDTIME - 5x Forge Stone Bundles, 10x Reforge Stones
• WEEKENDBUFFS - 2x Luck Potion 1, 2x Luck Potion 2, 2x Luck Potion 3, 10x Reforge Stones
• 15KCCU - 100,000x Coins, 5x Luck Potion 3
• UPDATE1 - 10x Event Chests, 10x Reforge Stones, 5x Exotic Ingots
• LOOTR - 1,000x Coins, 1x Random GM Blessing

As you can see from my list, there are loads of different rewards available for redeeming these Dungeon Lootr codes, including thousands of coins to spend on reforging your gear or with the merchant, and chests for obtaining plenty of valuable loot.

We have seen some reports of different rewards for the codes above, but those listed are what I received - it could be that some codes grant random rewards.

How to redeem Dungeon Lootr codes

To redeem Dungeon Lootr codes, you must first complete or skip the tutorial. Then, click on the Menu button on the right-hand side of the screen, followed by the Extras button, indicated by three dots and three lines. Here, you'll find a Codes button, where you can open the codes window, enter a code from the list above, hit Claim, and enjoy your rewards.

You must also join the ClickBytes community if you haven't already, but the first time you try to redeem codes, you'll be prompted to do so in-game, meaning you don't have to leave the game to redeem your first code.

Expired Dungeon Lootr codes

• 10KFAV
• 8KLIKE
• 20KPLAYERS
• 4KFAV
• 3KLIKES
• FULLRELEASE
• LOOTRISBACK
• GIVEMEGEMSPLEASE
• FORGESKIP
• JACKPOT
• BYEMETA
• NEWASPECT
• EARLYACCESSYAY

As shown above, there are a few Dungeon Lootr codes that have already expired, and I'm confident those that are currently valid will join them soon, so be sure to redeem them as soon as possible to avoid missing out.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

In the prestige TV streaming era, it's not uncommon for new seasons of the biggest shows to take upwards of two years to hit screens. And a new report has confirmed what we all knew deep down: lengthy delays between new TV seasons leads to massive drops in viewership.

The report comes from data analytics company Luminate (h/t DiscussingFilm), who crunched the numbers on several of the biggest streaming releases, including Stranger Things season 5 and Wednesday season 2. The report concludes that "long breaks between seasons usually leads to audience shrinkage for hit series." A long hiatus is defined by Luminate as anything over 18 months between seasons.

Among the hardest hit shows, according to Luminate, were The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2, which saw a 57% dip in viewership when it landed two years after its debut season; Wednesday season 2, which saw a 59% drop upon releasing 2.75 years after the first season; and even Stranger Things season 5, which, despite being the final season, saw audience figures drop 23% when it finally arrived 3.5 years after season 4. In contrast, The Pitt season 2 saw viewership soar 132% when it released 12 months after its initial run, but that was a critically acclaimed breakout series.

The long breaks between seasons can sometimes be attributed to behind-the-scenes turmoil (which seems to have been the case with Severance season 2, though that turned out OK), but more often than not it's simply the reality of producing big-budget shows in the prestige TV era, with audiences now expecting movie-quality visuals that require movie-length production timelines. This is particularly acute for effects-heavy shows like The Rings of Power and Stranger Things.

The binge release model can also have a deleterious effect, as despite inflating first-week numbers, Luminate points out that "binge-release viewership tends to decay quickly, whereas a weekly-release hit can remain on the charts week after week." There is a silver lining in the long breaks between seasons for streamers, though. Luminate's numbers point to long delays "supercharging" catch-up viewing, as audiences capitalize on the extra time to watch (or re-watch) previous seasons, ahead of new episodes.

Following another 2-year break between seasons, The Rings of Power season 3 returns this November and is set to tackle one of Middle-earth's biggest moments: the forging of the One Ring. The Rings of Power season 4 is reportedly already in the works, perhaps in an effort to speed up production and reduce the the wait for new seasons.

For more, check out our guide to the best Netflix shows, or look ahead to the new TV shows hitting screens this year.

If you ever want to keep a secret, Rockstar Games is a good place to go for advice. The developer managed to keep a lid on GTA 6 for years, defending itself against some outlandish attempts to leak parts of the game.

The company is currently facing an employment tribunal over the dismissal of 34 employees late last year under contentious circumstances. Rockstar argues it was for gross misconduct, whereas those impacted say it was part of a concerted effort to quell unionization and they weren't given appropriate due process.

During the proceedings, as several outlets report, Rockstar revealed the kinds of security risks it has faced while making the new Grand Theft Auto game. Attacks are regular, according to the publisher, and they come in a variety of creative ways.

Hacker groups have attempted to blackmail the company as recently as the last few weeks, according to testimony from Rockstar. This stands to reason, since there were an unfortunate number of leaks in the run-up to the extended look on Netflix. The anomalous group Cyerleeks was responsible for those clips, putting out over a dozen GTA 6 clips in motion, though it's unknown if they're the same ones who attempted to extort the studio.

Meanwhile, Rockstar had to employ specific protections on its own buildings to stop drone fly-bys. People were apparently using the hovering cameras to try to take screenshots or record in-progress builds of the upcoming crime sandbox, leading to privacy film being put over some windows.

This is the last hearing and will last five weeks, concluding in mid-October. We'll see what emerges in the coming days.

GTA 6 wasn't "fully formed" when Trailer 1 released, Rockstar boss says, but the Tom Petty song it used was a "mission statement" of where it was going.

The Neo Geo AES+, a remake of the at-home arcade console by SNK, has been delayed by almost a year. While retro console maker PLAION hasn't quite provided an exact reason as to why the re-engineered system is now landing in September 2027, component shortages and prices are once again to blame.

In a statement, PLAION prefaces its news by saying, "we know many of you have been looking forward to receiving your NEOGEO AES+ this year," before lamenting that the "worldwide release will now take place on 16th September 2027." That means the resurrected best retro console contender will be showing up ten months later than originally announced, as it was meant to emerge this November.

Again, a direct reason for the Neo Geo AES+ delay isn't given, but PLAION does mention "global component supply constraints." Whether that means the availability of the specific ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) chips used to replicate the original parts is limited, or factories are too busy dealing with AI data centre demand, is unknown, but the company claims it is trying to fortify its production.

"Rather than launch with severely limited availability, we're taking extra time to explain production, secure the components we need, and invest in an even bigger future for NEOGEO AES+," explains PLAION. In the same breath, it reassures players who have already pre-ordered that reservations "remain secure" and that "there is no price increase and no action is required."

Those of you who did choose to pre-order a Neo Geo AES+ are apparently getting a "Founding Supporter Bonus," a free wireless controller if you reserved the standard or anniversary editions. Ultimate Edition buyers will get 30% off at PLAIN REPLAI's online store, which includes consoles like The Spectrum, versions of the Atari 2600+, and the upcoming Amiga A1200 remake.

The Neo Geo AES's grand return is off to a pretty chaotic start, especially since SNK's ties to Saudi Arabia and the country's human rights record are deterring many fans from supporting the console. While the delay is being framed as productive, I'm already seeing many players who pre-ordered the $1,000 bundle question why they wouldn't just wait until it lands, as there's still lingering skepticism over whether its re-engineered ASIC chips will truly deliver hardware perfection.

Part of me also wonders if PLAION realized that November 2026 is now a pretty terrible time to even launch anything gaming-related. Yes, players who pre-ordered the machine regardless of anything would have happily tucked into King of Fighters, Shock Troopers, and other arcade classics in a few months' time, but the majority of the scene will be preoccupied with the Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake or GTA 6, both of which require a Switch 2 or PS5.

All that aside, we'll need to wait the best part of a year to see what the Neo Geo AES+ is really all about. Again, the fact that Saudi Arabia holds a majority stake in the SNK Corporation is already having an effect on appeal, and technical enthusiasts will need to see some gameplay before dubbing it a true 1:1 recreation with added HDMI.

• See more retro consoles at Amazon
• See all Neo Geo consoles at Amazon

Swing by the best retro controllers for authentic pads with modern console tricks.

Henry Cavill has something of a history of playing spies. Despite not landing the James Bond role 20 years ago, the actor has gone on to appear as an agent in Mission: Impossible – Fallout, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and Argylle. Now it looks like he's suiting up once again for a new comedy movie.

Set pictures showing the former Superman star on a motorcycle have emerged from filming on the untitled project. Directed by Charlie's Angels helmer McG, the film reportedly stars Cavill and Hart as two rival spies who meet in a Lamaze class. After their wives (played by Justine Lupe and Aja Naomi King) become fast friends, their lives become intertwined in some unexpected ways.

The White Lotus star Jason Isaacs also appears in the movie, while Hart, Ryan Reynolds, and Shawn Levy are all down to produce.

Cavill previously ruled himself out of playing Bond after he was one of the finalists up against Daniel Craig the last time the auditions came around. Speaking to Heat Magazine earlier this year, he was asked if he ever wanted to play 007.

"I didn’t turn the role down – it just wasn’t the right time," he said. "What actor wouldn’t love to be Bond? But at 42, I’d probably be considered a bit old to start now. I would love to be a Bond villain, though. If it was the right character, I think that would be fascinating to explore."

Rumors around who is taking on the role next have started to heat up, with one man in particular gaining traction. Slow Horses actor Jack Lowden has been hinted at by his co-stars, and Gary Oldman even teased that he knows James Bond has been cast.

Next up for Cavill is Highlander, and he's still hard at work adapting Warhammer 40,000. For more upcoming movies, check out our breakdown of 2026 movie release dates.

Following Sony dropping Hideo Kojima's next project, analysts report that the Death Stranding series just about broke even in sales.

Despite making a massive deal out of its exclusivity when it was announced – it being the finale of a State of Play presentation – Sony reportedly wanted to cancel Kojima Productions' Metal Gear spiritual successor, Physint. Pretty soon after, Xbox announced it's now publishing both of the upcoming Hideo Kojima games, with OD still on the way, leaving many perplexed as to why Sony would drop one of its most anticipated titles amid a whirlwind few months of bad press for the PlayStation brand.

Some speculated that the Death Stranding games had underperformed, leading to Sony's decision; however, from the sounds of things, the series didn't flop, but it didn't do much more than its budget. Anilea Analytics reports that the first Death Stranding did pretty well, selling 5 million copies by the end in the same time it took Death Stranding 2 to sell around 2.5 million copies.

Death Stranding has reportedly made about $243 million, with a rumored budget of around $100 million, while Death Stranding 2 has made about $129 million on a rumored budget of somewhere between $150-200 million. Anilea reports the franchise has definitely broken even with its $413 million made across both games, "but not by much," with "an estimated return on investment of 18% to 38%."

The development of Metal Gear Solid 5 reportedly going over budget is part of what caused the rift between Konami and Hideo Kojima, so the idea of Physint development being expensive isn't too surprising to hear. And with Sony releasing a string of high-profile misses as of late, with the likes of Marathon, Saros, and Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls having pretty low-profile launches, and of course Sony sinking a ton of money into failed live service projects that end up canceled mid-dev (or after release in Concord's case), the publisher being more stingy is not entirely surprising.

However, Sony built its way back from the PS3's failures by being known for its high-quality releases. The Last of Us, the Horizon series, and so on fed into the prestige-publisher look Sony maintained until it decided to chase a live-service hit and stopped releasing games as often. And even then the Wolverine reviews seem to indicate the PlayStation first-party formula may be losing its shine a bit.

I can't think of something with more prestige than Hideo Kojima doing a new Metal Gear-like game, which not only would probably sell better than Death Stranding did on that basis alone, but even if it only broke even, it's the type of game that gets people in who will eventually pick up the next game. But hey, PlayStation's loss is Xbox's gain, unless it also decides to cancel the title.

Sony has topped a generational run of self-owns: abandoning Hideo Kojima's next Metal Gear right as Marvel's Wolverine falls flat

The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time only received its pre-order status earlier in the week, but Amazon is already discounting limited-edition textured foil physical versions. Today, the $69.99 MSRP of the full cart and that gorgeous cover dropped to $59.88 when added to cart; that's impressive considering this is a blockbuster Nintendo first-party release.

Those kinds of games barely see any discounts even after launch, so a saving this chunky this early is well worth celebrating. Remember, that textured cover is only up for grabs while initial Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time pre-order stock lasts. Ocarina of Time remake launches on November 5 for Nintendo Switch 2.

Walmart is also taking part in this $10 discount, with both stores launching the promotion seemingly out of nowhere. It's difficult to believe the saving has come from lack of interest, the title has been at the top of the news desk since we received that full gameplay walkthrough in Nintendo's 40th Anniversary Zelda Direct on Tuesday - even if fans are divided on Link's new look. In fact, accompanying Legend of Zelda Switch 2 pre-orders sold out almost immediately when they went on sale this week.

Ocarina of Time has been completely rebuilt for modern consoles for this year's release, with brand new textures, jump and camera systems, and use of the Switch 2's built-in microphone. One of Link's most famous quests to save Hyrule, Ocarina of Time (in its many platforms) currently comes third behind Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom for best-selling Zelda titles. In other words, it's firmly on the classics list.

Nintendo is making a big deal of its franchise's 40th anniversary, then, and it's partnered with a number of toy and merch brands to accompany Ocarina of Time Remake. Hasbro's electronic Master Sword pre-orders have also sold in the blink of an eye and we've got a bunch of (frankly) cursed Amiibo heading our way as well.

• See all Legend of Zelda deals at Amazon

We're also rounding up the best Legend of Zelda merch and taking a closer look at the new Lego Link and Epona set. If you're still without a Switch 2, though, take a look at the latest cheap Nintendo Switch bundle deals.

There's less than a month till the first animated Avatar series in almost 12 years drops on Paramount Plus. But despite initial concerns that all 26 episodes would release on the same day, Paramount Plus has clarified the show's release plans. And while it's not an absurd binge, it's not a weekly release either.

After taking the slot that once belonged to animated movie Avatar Aang, Avatar: Seven Havens is set to release on October 9. That much we knew already from the Avatar: Seven Havens trailer that debuted at San Diego Comic-Con 2026. What was unclear from the SDCC panel, however, was how many episodes we'd get at once, with confusing press release language leading some to worry that both planned 'books', totalling 26 episodes, would all release on the same day.

Thankfully, that's not the case. Instead, Avatar: Seven Haven's first 13-episode book will release in 3 episode batches across October, with a final tranche of four episodes dropping on October 30. Given episodes of The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra typically clocked in at 23 minutes, three episodes at once feels like a good amount of Seven Havens to get week to week. And, hey, it worked well for Andor season 2, which unfolded across a series of mini-arcs, so perhaps there are narrative reasons to release multiple episodes of Seven Havens at once.

The news arrived alongside a fresh trailer and confirmation (via Polygon) that the new series is set some 225 years after the events of The Legend of Korra and 300 years after The Last Airbender. The latest trailer gives us the best look yet at the animated sequel series, which is set after an apocalyptic event, seemingly caused by Avatar Korra in the past. Drawing on South Indian culture, it sees the return of the Avatar in the form of a young Earthbender named Pavi. Hunted by the ruling forces who still see the Avatar as a threat to life, Pavi is reunited with her twin sister Nisha, who may or may not be an Avatar herself, as the trailer's final moments want you to think (though pay close attention, and you'll notice that Nisha clearly isn't the one Earthbending).

It's been a big year for Last Airbender fans. Earlier this year, the much-improved second season of Netflix's live-action adaptation released, just as filming wrapped on Avatar: The Last Airbender season 3 – the live-action show's final season. Animated movie Avatar Aang, shockingly, leaked in full online seven months ahead of schedule, and was eventually released early on Paramount Plus. But as our Avatar Aang review explains, it was worth the wait. And now, a brand new animated series is set to hit screens in less than a month, from original creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.

At Comic-Con DiMartino and Konietzko also revealed exclusively to GamesRadar+ that while there are no further Avatar movies currently in development, a secret, unannounced TV project is in the works. "There's stuff in development, just TV shows in production, but not features at the moment," DiMartino said. "We have another secret thing in production, but yeah, it's on the series side," added Konietzko. "To be clear, we're series people, so that's okay to us. Features is a new thing to us."

Avatar: Seven Havens releases on Paramount Plus from October 9. For more, check out our guide to all the best new TV shows heading our way.