Games – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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The Verge’s gaming section brings the latest video game news, reviews of the most exciting releases, and interviews with the industry’s biggest names. We cover everything from PlayStation and Xbox blockbusters, to quirky Nintendo games, to the cool indie gems on PC and Android that you might otherwise miss.

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The White House is making arcade games racist

Tetris isn’t happy about it.

Gaby Del Valle
The best tech and gadgets announced at IFA so far

Double-decker robovacs, a smartphone that eliminates the screen bezel, and another laptop with an expanding screen.

Andrew Liszewski

Latest In Gaming

Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
Counter-Strike 2 data is revealing just how toxic its chat is.

Kotaku reports that players have been competing to top CS2 Tracker’s “Slurs Tracking” charts, which record tracked words in players’ chat logs. Players at the top of the charts have used offensive language in Counter-Strike 2 over 10,000 times.

Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
Psimulator brings Sega Dreamcast emulation to the iPhone.

Developer Benjamin Stark (ZodTTD) has been making emulators for iOS since long before Apple officially allowed them in its app store. Following their well-featured Gamma PS1 emulator comes Psimulator that plays Dreamcast games with features like cloud syncing, Bluetooth controller support, and a skin designer right within the $4.99 app.

ZodTTD’s Psimulator Sega Dreamcast emulator running on iOS.
Image: Apple App Store
Tom Warren
Tom Warren
Microsoft’s legal team is waking up with a headache.

And it’s not because of post-work cocktails. The Trump administration decided to mark 25 years of Xbox with a flagrant disregard for copyright. It would be funny, if not for the fact it’s all a promotion for a website full of mini games for deporting people.

Terrence O'Brien
Terrence O'Brien
Put on your finest Vaul-Tec jumpsuit and let’s head to the arcade.

Fallout, your favorite post-apocalyptic RPG-turned-Amazon series, is now a Stern Pinball machine. You can play as Lucy MacLean, The Ghoul, or Maximus. There’s a functional vault door and a Pip-Boy displays important game information. There’s even a V.A.T.S. cannon that shoots the ball targets on an upper playfield.

Cameron Faulkner
Cameron Faulkner
“We’ve heard from families with crying kids.”

That’s part of a vulnerable apology by Nex CEO David Lee for the current state of Starri, one of the Nex Playground’s most popular games. Its recent 2.0 update “missed the mark,” according to Lee, who wept while reading stories of how its changes disrupted family time around the motion-controlled console.

Emma Roth
Emma Roth
PlayStation reveals limited-edition GTA VI controllers.

The new DualSense controllers will launch alongside GTA VI on November 19th. They come in black and white with a sparkly blue-purple sheen surrounding the thumbsticks and extending into the grips, as well as a “VI” logo stamped on the touchpad.

You can preorder the new controllers for $84.99 starting September 10th at 10AM ET.

Tom Warren
Tom Warren
The Lego PlayStation has 1,911 bricks.

Lego is officially teaming up with Sony to release a near 1:1 replica of the original PlayStation console. The set includes Ape Escape and Gran Turismo dioramas inside that have customizable parts, as well as functional power and open buttons, and a controller that plugs into the console. The Lego PlayStation will be available on October 1st, priced at $179.99.

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Emma Roth
Emma Roth
A closer look at Ghost of Yōtei’s Most Wanted mode.

PlayStation dropped a new trailer for the upcoming roguelike mode, which allows you to accept bounties, hunt down enemies, earn rewards, and unlock new characters — including Jin Sakai. It’s launching on October 1st as part of the Ghost of Yōtei Complete Edition upgrade.

Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
Wait, you’re telling me Star Wars: Zero Company could have been a Titanfall game?

In another timeline, anyhow. In court documents spotted by journalist Stephen Totilo, Bit Reactor co-founder Greg Foertsch claims he originally pitched a game set in the Titanfall universe, but Respawn asked him to make it a Star Wars game instead. Shooting clankers is great and all, but pretty please greenlight the airdropped robots, too!

Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
The Steam Frame will get color passthrough after all — with a snap-on aftermarket camera.

Leaked photos and demo videos claim the Arcturus Vision Camera works out of the box! Plug it into the Frame’s nosebridge port, and get 5K60 10-bit HDR color plus spatial video recording. Valve isn’t offering native color passthrough to keep costs down, but looks like its passthrough partner got the greenlight! No price yet.

A shiny horizontal camera bar atop the Steam Frame’s curved front lens.
The Arcturus Vision Camera, as leaked.
Image: Komodo Station leak
Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
Razer’s new Prio mobile controller folds down to the size of a wallet.

The $99 Prio squeezes full-size controls into a design that spins around and folds in half clamshell-style, and supports phones up to seven inches. It doesn’t look as comfortable as my Razer Kishi Ultra, but it’s definitely more portable.

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

The Razer Prio mobile controller unfolded with a phone in it
The Razer Prio mobile controller folded closed
Someone holding a Razer Prio mobile controller with a phone in it
1/3Image: Razer
Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
A free Mario Kart 8 Deluxe update adds 8-player split-screen and camera support.

Nearly a decade after it launched on the original Switch the game is getting new Switch 2 features through a free update available now. In addition to faster load times and improved visuals, up to eight players can now compete on one screen while both cameras and GameChat are now supported so you can see your opponents.

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

1/2Image: Nintendo
Tom Warren
Tom Warren
SteamDB is now part of Nexus Mods.

SteamDB, the website that tracks PC game prices, updates, and player numbers, is now part of Nexus Mods. The current owner of SteamDB, xPaw, has been looking for the right owner after “experiencing burnout with the project.” Nexus Mods says SteamDB will continue to exist separately to Nexus Mods, and “everything currently available for free will remain free.” The browser extension will continue to be maintained, and Nexus Mods is looking at exploring connecting the two communities to “see what is possible over time.”

The amazing USB-C gadgets that play old Nintendo cartridges

The Epilogue SN and GB Operator are dream gadgets for Nintendo cartridge collectors.

Sean Hollister
Dominic Preston
Dominic Preston
A smaller Atlas handheld.

Alongside a laptop / handheld hybrid concept, Acer is expanding its Predator Atlas line with a smaller 7-inch model. The Windows 11 handheld comes with up to an Intel Arc G3 Extreme CPU and Arc B390 GPU. It’s due in Q4, after the Atlas 8 releases this month. Pricing for both remains unknown.

<em>The Atlas 7 is another gaming handheld that runs Windows 11.</em>
<em>The 7-inch IPS-level touchscreen is FHD, with a 120Hz refresh rate.</em>
<em>Ports include two Thunderbolt 4, microSD, and a headphone jack.</em>
<em>It’s smaller than the Atlas 8, but still a sizeable handheld.</em>
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The Atlas 7 is another gaming handheld that runs Windows 11.
Image: Acer
Cameron Faulkner
Cameron Faulkner
A bright, desk-friendly 5K Mini LED display is coming next year.

Acer’s $1,199 Nitro XV275X P is coming Q1 2027, and it has some appealing specs. Its 27-inch matte IPS screen has 2,304-zone Mini LED backlighting (up to 1,400 nits), with support for 5K via HDMI 2.1, USB-C or DisplayPort 1.4 at 165Hz refresh rate and a fast 0.5-millisecond response time, or 330Hz at QHD. It seems just as good for productivity as for gaming with its 90W USB-C charging, KVM switch, and picture-in-picture settings.

Antonio G. Di Benedetto
Antonio G. Di Benedetto
Alienware’s next OLED monitors are a 32-inch RGB stripe model and a 25-inch QD-OLED with 560Hz refresh.

Alienware has been on a tear with its recent OLEDs. Now, its next big monitor is the AW3226Q, a 4K 32-inch tandem OLED with 165Hz refresh and RGB stripe subpixels for clearer text — expected this fall for $699.99.

Alienware is also teasing the AW2527HX, a 25-inch QD-OLED with 560Hz refresh, co-created with Team Liquid and designed for esports. Pricing is TBD until its Q1 2027 launch.

The golden age of OLEDs continues.

<em>The Alienware AW3226Q.</em>
<em>The design of the AW3226Q keeps things pretty simple like other recent Alienware OLEDs.</em>
<em>A look at the I/O for the AW3226Q. It includes HDMI 2.1 FRL, DisplayPort 1.4, and a few USB ports.</em>
<em>The esports-focused AW2527HX has a tilting and telescoping stand, allowing for close-up positions. Its small stand can also be positioned to accomodate a mouse pad and diagonal keyboard right beside it.</em>
<em>A flip-down headset hanger is always a nice touch, and frankly should be on all monitors.</em>
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The Alienware AW3226Q.
Image: Dell
Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
Rockstar introduces “the next evolution of GTA V roleplay” with Nopixel V.

Even while developing GTA VI, Rockstar has also had an eye on popular mods and RP communities for its old game, and today it revealed this trailer for Nopixel V. Announced a year ago, it builds on GTA V Enhanced for PC with a heavily modified city and support for extensive editing by players.

A closed beta for invited players opens September 8th, as we continue to wait for details about any future GTA VI multiplayer or PC options.

Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
Arduboy’s creator is developing a new low-cost color screen handheld.

The simplicity of the Arduboy is one of the platform’s biggest appeals, but its creator, Kevin Bates, is developing a color screen follow-up in an attempt to “push the boundaries of the lowest cost open-source game system.” To help fund its development he’s now selling an early version of the CHGame Rev0 for just $39.

1/3Screenshot: X
Cameron Faulkner
Cameron Faulkner
More buttons for the original Switch Pro controller.

Jsaux has launched the Elite Extender, a $39.99 accessory for the original Nintendo Switch Pro controller that reminds me a bit of Sony’s Back Button Attachment for the PS4. It adds up to four mappable buttons for your most frequently-used buttons or for macros. The accessory boasts a 1,800mAh battery, though the host controller’s Amiibo functionality won’t work while it’s attached.

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Cameron Faulkner
Cameron Faulkner
A capable little controller that lets you offer a helping hand.

Jsaux is launching the S1 Pro, a small $49.99 wireless controller that can wake the Switch 2, and connect to various other platforms via Bluetooth, 2.4GHz, or USB-C. It features Switch-like TMR sticks, gyro controls, and adjustable trigger throw distances. But its marquee feature is that it lets you connect two S1 Pros to a single 2.4GHz transmitter, and swap player assignments in local multiplayer games at will, so player two can jump in to help with a difficult part.

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Image: Jsaux
Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
NBA 2K27 is the first game brave enough to ship with DLSS 5 faces.

Nvidia originally announced DLSS 5 would come to as many as 16 specific games from a wide variety of studios… but at its September 3rd launch, 2K Games’ NBA 2K27 is going it alone. Probably a smart idea to see how gamers react first? These do look better than before.

<em>DLSS 5 on.</em>
<em>DLSS 5 off.</em>
<em>DLSS 5 on.</em>
<em>DLSS 5 off.</em>
<em>DLSS 5 on.</em>
<em>DLSS 5 off.</em>
<em>DLSS 5 on.</em>
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DLSS 5 on.
Image: Nvidia
Nvidia’s DLSS 5, explained

A show-and-tell with Nvidia’s controversial DLSS 5 neural rendering, launching this week.

Sean Hollister
Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
Sony brings free TV to the PS5.

With PlayStation Vue long gone, Sony added a new FAST package today for PlayStation 5 owners in the US and soon in Canada, available under the Media section.

You will need an adult PlayStation account and to set up a Sony Pictures Core account (according to Variety, the same package is coming to Bravia TVs) for channels like The Ringer, Hot Ones, NHL, Sony’s own Crunchyroll, and others with a mix of live and on-demand videos.

Charles Pulliam-Moore
Charles Pulliam-Moore
It’s Mimikyu’s turn to be a movie star.

During the closing ceremony of this year’s Pokémon World Championships, The Pokémon Company dropped a surprise teaser trailer for Pokémon: Wild Card — a new feature-length movie from studio CloverWorks that appears to be about the trading card game. The film’s set to release some time in 2027.

Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
The next PlayStation State of Play event will bring an extended look at Final Fantasy VII Revelation on September 3rd.

The show will kick off on YouTube and Twitch at 9AM ET / 6AM PT, followed by a State of Play Japan livestream right after.

A graphic showing the times for a PlayStation State of Play broadcast for September 3, 2026
Image: Sony
Terrence O'Brien
Terrence O'Brien
Rockstar says GTA has no generative AI or microtransactions.

During a recent episode of the Kinda Funny Gamescast, Andy Cortez said he asked the studio point-blank about the topics and was told there would be no in-game monetization and that there was absolutely “no AI” used in the game. So those are at least two huge controversial bullets the launch should dodge.

Kallie Plagge
Kallie Plagge
A peek at the Pokémon Fitbit.

I was able to get hands on the special edition Pokémon Sleep Fitbit Air, which ships September 15th, at the Pokémon World Championships this weekend. Other Fitbit models can connect to Pokémon Sleep, but this one has a cute Pikachu on it, if that’s worth it to you!

Photography by Kallie Plagge / The Verge

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