Live Feed

Latest news

• Halo: Reach designer Niles Sankey says Modern Warfare 1/2 shaped Reach's campaign and finale

  Niles Sankey, a designer on Halo: Reach, says Modern Warfare 1 and 2 heavily influenced Reach’s campaign tone, squad interactions and its final mission. He says the Nuke sequence from Modern Warfare 2 spiritually inspired Reach’s 'Objective: Survive' and the team deliberately pushed that emotional grit further. Sankey also notes Halo retained strengths like AI and vehicles while borrowing narrative techniques from Infinity Ward. The admission highlights direct cross-influence between major FPS franchises in the 2000s–2010s.

• FromSoftware ends The Duskbloods network test early at 2PM BST

  FromSoftware closed today’s The Duskbloods network test early at 2PM BST due to connectivity issues. The shutdown halted the scheduled online test session and prevented participants from completing the planned network checks. The interruption affects players who were attempting to join the test and delays the collection of network test data.

• Rebels sign aragornN, arrozdoce and Shr as two players return from international rosters

  Rebels have signed three players: aragornN, arrozdoce and Shr. aragornN and arrozdoce are returning to their national scene after stints on international rosters. The additions bring players with international roster experience into Rebels' lineup, increasing the team's experienced talent pool.

• MPL S18 Week 1-2: Aurora PH meets ONIC PH as regions seek rebound after MSC 2026

  MPL Season 18 opens with Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia teams aiming to rebound after disappointing MSC 2026 results. Week 1 features Aurora PH vs ONIC PH: Aurora re-signed veteran EXP laner Nathanael “Nathzz” Estrologo and reunites him with Light, while ONIC PH kept Savero as Kelra’s replacement and named Angelo “Pheww” Arcangel head coach. Early matches will test rebuilt rosters, new coaches and rising stars and are expected to set the tone for the rest of the season.

• EWC quarter-finals in Paris decide three remaining semi-final spots

  Quarter-final matches of the EWC are being played in Paris, with three semi-final berths still undecided. One quarter-final match has already finished, leaving three matches to determine the remaining semi-finalists. Winners of those matches will advance to the tournament semi-finals and remain in contention for the title.

• Dave Bautista cast as Kratos in Amazon's live-action God of War

  Dave Bautista has been cast to play Kratos in Amazon's live-action adaptation of God of War. Bautista is best known for portraying Drax the Destroyer in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers films. This puts a mainstream Hollywood action star at the centre of Amazon's adaptation of a major PlayStation franchise, increasing attention on the series' scale and audience reach.

• Modern Warfare 4 Beta launches with movement, Gunsmith and Killstreak overhauls

  The Modern Warfare 4 Beta has launched and introduces major gameplay changes from developer Infinity Ward. The update overhauls player movement, the Gunsmith weapon-customization system, and how killstreaks function, and it includes a campaign mission plus multiple multiplayer maps and modes. PC players must enable TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot to access the beta.

• AMD's 7700X3D loses value edge as Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus appeals to new builders

  After testing the Ryzen 7 7700X3D, the reviewer finds AMD's 3D V-Cache chips still deliver the best gaming frame rates but says the 7700X3D's real-world pricing and positioning weaken its case. The 7700X3D is essentially a lower-clocked 7800X3D with a $329 MSRP, yet many 7800X3D units are selling at similar or lower retail prices. That pricing dynamic makes Intel's Core Ultra 5 250K Plus — which combines low-end pricing with strong performance — a more attractive choice for people building new PCs.

• Mortal Shell 2 opens superbly, compressing its ~30-hour appeal into minutes

  Mortal Shell 2 delivers a standout opening that distills the game's core appeal into the first few minutes. The start matches the quality of the following roughly 30 hours of gameplay, promising consistent pacing and design. In a crowded Soulslike field, that strong opening gives players a clear, early impression of the game's strengths.

• Metal Gear Solid 4 returns in Master Collection Vol. 2

  Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2 restores playability of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, a 2008 title that had been locked to PlayStation 3. Review coverage centers on whether the collection successfully brings this complex, divisive Kojima game to modern hardware. The release matters because MGS4 was the last mainline Solid Snake entry unavailable on current consoles, leaving a gap in the series' preservation and accessibility.

• YEKINDAR denies transfer offers amid rumours linking him to FURIA as FalleN nears retirement

  At the Esports World Cup, YEKINDAR said he was unaware of reports claiming he 'has many options' and expressed surprise at the coverage. The comments respond to speculation that he could replace veteran player FalleN at FURIA as FalleN's retirement date approaches. The exchange highlights active roster talk in the CS:GO transfer market for a top Brazilian team.

• Riot ends development of LoL fighting game 2XKO and will issue refunds

  Riot Games will end active development of 2XKO in December and will issue refunds to players. The free-to-play fighting game reached full release in January, so development halts less than a year after launch. Riot says it does not see a path toward sustainability for the title.

• Tramell Tillman kept his Spider-Man: Brand New Day casting secret until Aug 2025

  Actor Tramell Tillman did not disclose that he was part of Spider-Man: Brand New Day until the project's announcement in August 2025. He was repeatedly asked who he was playing and declined to reveal the role. The secrecy highlights strict casting confidentiality around the Spider-Man project and increases fan curiosity about his character.

• Why Paranoia Agent, Revolutionary Girl Utena and FLCL shouldn’t be remade

  Five classic anime are identified as unsuitable for remakes. Paranoia Agent (2004), Revolutionary Girl Utena (1997) and FLCL season one (2000) are singled out for having one‑of‑a‑kind qualities and creative contexts that cannot be replicated. FLCL’s first season is noted for its eccentric, avant‑garde animation that later sequels failed to recapture, and remaking these shows risks diluting their original messaging.

• Why you should play overlooked Nintendo classics

  Nintendo's decades-long output includes influential games that get overshadowed by new releases and its most famous classics. Many players missed entire console generations and haven't experienced those essential titles firsthand. Playing these overlooked games gives direct cultural and gameplay insight that passive exposure doesn't provide.

• 65 years on, Linus's famed Peanuts line endures as an iconic comic moment

  Sixty-five years after it ran, a Linus line from Charles Schulz's Peanuts still stands as a defining comic-strip moment. Linus is drawn with theologian-level knowledge of the Bible and delivers the notable Bible monologue in A Charlie Brown Christmas. The strip and later cartoon adaptations gradually softened his intellectual persona, but his mix of theology and philosophy helped shape later portrayals of precocious children in Western fiction.

• Metal Gear Solid 4 re-release brings OctoCamo stealth, heavy weapons to PC Aug 27

  Konami and Kojima Productions re-released Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots on PC and Steam Deck as a Master Collection port on August 27, 2026, priced at $50/£40. The port is Steam Deck Verified, has no multiplayer, and was tested on an RTX 5090 system with a Ryzen 7 9800X3D and 64GB RAM. Gameplay still pairs classic stealth tools like the OctoCamo sneaking suit and tranq pistol with a large, customizable lethal arsenal, making loud combat an option that physically stresses the protagonist. The re-release highlights MGS4’s continued relevance as a hybrid stealth-action experience and its themes of war, automation and desensitized violence.

• Metal Gear Solid 4 casts free FPS games as virtual training that feeds PMCs

  Metal Gear Solid 4 includes a monologue from Big Mama that portrays free first-person shooters as virtual combat training. The dialogue warns that players absorbed by these war games can end up joining private military companies and fighting proxy wars unrelated to their lives. That stark critique of gaming culture and modern warfare keeps MGS4 thematically distinct and culturally significant.

• GTA & Rockstar: Leak Unleashed — playable footage, investor fallout, and the road to Aug 27

  This week was dominated by a wave of GTA 6 leaks that appear to come from a playable build, exposing map scale and new systems while Rockstar scrambles to contain the spread. The incident has tangible commercial and cultural fallout: preorders and pricing debate, a measurable market reaction for Take‑Two, activist and community responses, and a high‑stakes official reveal scheduled for Aug 27.

• Counter-Strike: EWC momentum swings, upsets and a busy roster week

  Playoff drama at the Esports World Cup dominated the week as multiple comebacks, upsets and tactical gambles reshaped the bracket. Off the server, roster moves and contract extensions — plus a handful of player returns and communication issues — are setting the tone for the rest of the season.

• Gaming: Trailers, recasts and market pressure shape this week's headlines

  This week mixed big gameplay reveals and high-profile casting changes with worrying market data. From long gameplay for Black Myth: Zhong Kui and FromSoftware's tabletop-inspired systems to a major God of War recast and a sharp drop in U.S. hardware spending, the industry is balancing creative momentum against financial pressure.

• Anne Hathaway’s underseen 2026 psychological thriller is now on HBO Max

  Anne Hathaway’s psychological thriller from 2026 — widely praised but overlooked by audiences — is now officially streaming on HBO Max. Hathaway spent 2026 starring in a major sequel, playing a key role in Christopher Nolan’s film, and leading a new dinosaur movie while also delivering this standout thriller performance. The streaming release gives viewers direct access to an acclaimed, underseen role that highlights her range across blockbusters and smaller-scale dramatic work.

• Steam offers two PC games free to play through Aug. 4

  Steam is making two PC games free to play until Aug. 4, giving players temporary access without purchase. The promotion is part of Steam’s regular free-to-play trials and occasional permanent giveaways. This provides a low-risk way for players to sample lesser-known titles and for multiplayer communities to grow.

• Exodus: James Ohlen’s single‑player sci‑fi RPG due early 2027 on consoles and PC

  Exodus is a single‑player sci‑fi action RPG from Archetype Entertainment, led by ex‑BioWare veteran James Ohlen and operating under Wizards of the Coast. The game is scheduled for early 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store). Players control Jun Aslan, a Traveler searching the Centauri Cluster for Celestial technology to save their homeworld, with time dilation mechanics causing days for Jun to equal years for others. Combat mixes third‑person shooting, alien abilities, stealth and companion systems, and player choices determine Paladin or Immortal alignments and story outcomes.

• Fan Mod Converts Ocarina of Time Into True 3D While Nintendo Builds Official Remake

  Nintendo is developing an official remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Separately, a modder has created a fan-made conversion that renders the N64 original in true 3D and changes the game's perspective. The mod offers an alternate playable version of Hyrule ahead of the official remake's release, showing active fan-driven reworks of legacy titles.

• Leaked GTA 6 aerial clip shows sprawling, densely detailed Vice City

  Leaked gameplay clips posted by 'Cyberleek' show a biplane flying over Vice City in Grand Theft Auto 6, revealing a large, densely detailed urban area that appears to be part of the fictional state of Leonida. The footage shows a military base, farms, dozens of mid- and high-rise buildings, an arena, a construction site, a huge marina, waterways, bridges and tangled freeway interchanges. Earlier clips from the same leaker also show potential gameplay systems such as a morality meter, a stamina meter and updated combat mechanics, reinforcing the scale implied by the aerial view. The clips' authenticity is unverified but include an on-screen 'LEEK' mark written with bullet holes and have prompted strong reactions online.

• Netflix sets release for Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2, debuts brutal new trailer

  Netflix announced at Anime NYC that Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 will arrive in a few months, and released a new trailer and teaser images. Studio Trigger is producing the follow-up to the 2022 animated sci-fi tragedy, and the new footage emphasizes a brutal, violent tone. The series will stream on Netflix when it premieres.

• Netflix Releases Lego One Piece Two-Part Special Retelling Live-Action Series

  Netflix released a new trailer for Lego One Piece, a two-part special that retells the events of its live-action One Piece series in a brickified style. The special uses the same voice cast as the live-action show. The Lego special is one of several Netflix One Piece projects alongside a third live-action season and a WIT Studio anime remake.

• Netflix announces third season for animated revenge series Blue Eye Samurai

  Netflix revealed at Anime NYC on Aug. 20, 2026 that Blue Eye Samurai will return for a third season. The animated revenge series premiered on Netflix in November 2023 and was renewed soon after release. The show follows Mizu (voiced by Maya Erskine) on her quest to find and kill her father, and the new season will continue that storyline.

• Dave Bautista to play Kratos in Amazon’s God of War after Ryan Hurst injury

  Dave Bautista will portray Kratos in Amazon’s live-action God of War series, replacing Ryan Hurst. Hurst tore a bicep performing a stunt in June and required surgery that would have kept him out of production until 2027, prompting Amazon and Sony to recast rather than pause filming. All scenes shot with Hurst will be reshot and Bautista’s casting followed weeks of negotiations.