6 – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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Gaming

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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Jay Peters
Jay Peters
More Ghost of Yōtei.

As part of a $14.99 upgrade or a new Complete Edition, the game will be getting a new narrative expansion, Echoes of Sekigahara, and a “spin” on a roguelike mode, called Most Wanted. With a free 2.0 patch, the game will also get some quality of life upgrades, including a transmog feature.

All of it will launch on October 1st, nearly a year after Ghost of Yōtei’s original release.

Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
Helldivers 2 has dropped into the PlayStation Plus catalog.

It’s available to play through PlayStation’s subscription service starting today, but only if you have an Extra or Premium membership. The game’s arriving in the catalog alongside the release of its Devoid of Liberty update and Warhammer 40,000: Castellan’s Creed legendary warbond.

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

Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
The Xbox’s new Gears of War controllers will prepare you for E-Day.

Ahead of Gears of War: E-Day releasing in October, Microsoft opened preorders for a new $89.99 Xbox controller featuring “3D molded, laser-etched details of cracked asphalt with red, glowing cracks.” On September 30th the Xbox Design Lab will also introduce a new E-Day design with a top case featuring artwork by illustrator Luke Preece.

1/2Image: Microsoft
Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
Another ’80s-era Commodore joystick has been resurrected.

The TAC-2 (totally accurate controller) first launched 43 years ago for Atari and Commodore personal computers. It’s still in demand today among retro enthusiasts, so the creators of the C64 Ultimate are bringing it back starting at $49.99 with a stronger steel joystick shaft and a bunch of new color options.

<em>The TAC-2 is available for preorder now but not expected to start shipping until late October.</em>
<em>In addition to beige the TAC-2 is available in white, black, and starlight or founders edition colors.</em>
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The TAC-2 is available for preorder now but not expected to start shipping until late October.
Image: Commodore
Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
Razer’s new mouse turns a divisive feature into a new button.

The $180 Razer Naga V3 Pro MMO mouse has mouse buttons under three fingers instead of two. The entire ring finger rest is a button. The rest has been polarizing for years — the original Naga even let you remove it — but the new button is optional. You can lock it with a switch.

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

<em>Not pictured: 22 other programmable buttons, including up to 12 on the left side panel.</em>
<em>All the buttons.</em>
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Not pictured: 22 other programmable buttons, including up to 12 on the left side panel.
Image: Razer
Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Reigns is getting a 10th anniversary update today.

The update adds 190 new cards, some new deaths, and even a new secret ending to Nerial and Devolver Digital’s Tinder-like adventure game.

Since launching in 2016, the original game has been followed up by sequels and even themed spinoffs based on Game of Thrones and The Witcher.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Insomniac says the disc version of Marvel’s Wolverine will be “fully playable” at launch.

No extra download needed, though there will be a day one patch, Eurogamer reports. Still, it’s good news in light of Sony’s recent announcement that it will stop making physical discs for new games starting in 2028.

Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
Turn your Nintendo 3DS into a Spotify remote.

It’s been nearly six years since Nintendo stopped making the 3DS but that hasn’t preevnted the console from learning new tricks. If you’ve got a 3DS that can run homebrew apps you can turn the clamshell into a wireless remote for controlling Spotify using files and instructions you’ll find on GitHub.

A person pressing a button on a Nintendo 3DS’ toucshcreen while running a Spotify remote app.
Screenshot: GitHub
Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Epic Games is offloading ArtStation and Sketchfab.

After acquiring the artist portfolio site ArtStation and Sketchfab in 2021, Epic announced that they will be taken over by Kitbash, which sells 3D assets for games. The changes are happing as Epic “continues to prioritize building Unreal Engine 6, Fortnite, the developer ecosystem, and the Epic Games Store,” according to the company.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
No Man’s Sky is 10 years old.

Hello Games founder Sean Murray wrote articles for Xbox Wire and the PlayStation Blog to mark the anniversary milestone. In the PlayStation blog post, he notes that players have explored “less than 1% of the planets” in the game and says that the studio is “busy cooking” on its next title, Light No Fire.

No Man’s Sky has had over 40 major updates, and a new one is on the horizon, called Cosmos.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
“I hope it’s clear at this point that the perfect run is happening.”

Brazilian speedrunner LeKukie recently grabbed the Super Mario Bros. world record, and players are now 0.1 seconds away from a “perfect” run, according to a fascinating video reported on by Polygon.

Emma Roth
Emma Roth
Peacock adds another AI game.

Public Eye is a hidden object detective game that presents you with AI-generated visuals across a 10-episode story. It comes from Wolf Games, the same AI games studio behind the Law & Order: Clue Hunter title Peacock added to its app earlier this year.

Image: NBCUniversal
Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Big Walk has already sold more than 1 million copies.

The big sales are well deserved; House House and Panic’s excellent co-op multiplayer title, which was released last Tuesday, is my favorite game of the year so far.

Jess Weatherbed
Jess Weatherbed
Microsoft complies with age-gating Aussies.

Xbox and PC gamers in Australia are reportedly being notified that they’ll soon need to verify their age before purchasing 18+ rated apps and games on both the Xbox Store and Microsoft Store. Existing purchases and downloads won’t be affected. Microsoft has a September 9th deadline to comply with Australian online safety rules, or risk facing an almost AUS$50 million fine (about $34.9 million in US monies).

Terrence O'Brien
Terrence O'Brien
Maybe don’t watch this clip of Mario Kart 64 in VR if you’ve got a weak stomach.

It’s rare that a video alone can make me motion sick, but yikes. This mod from RaYRoD TV puts you in the driver’s seat and is free to download. RaYRod has already put together similar mods for Star Fox 64, Sonic Robo Blast 2, and more. But something tells me this is the one most likely to make you lose your lunch.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
GTA VI preorders have gotten off to an “exceptional start.”

“I can say that the level of pre-orders is unprecedented and astonishing, and we’re very grateful for that,” Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said on Friday’s earnings call, according to Variety. An “extended look” at GTA VI will stream on August 27th.

GTA VI also won’t launch on a physical disc. On the call, Zelnick said that Take-Two’s business is already “well over 90 percent digitally distributed,” according to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier.

Update: Added Schreier’s post.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Quake just got a new, free expansion.

Quake: Dawn of the Machine includes 19 “all-new maps across a cohesive campaign” as well as “a brand-new soundtrack, hidden secrets, a dedicated episode hub, and an all-new deathmatch map.” It’s available now.

id Software collaborated with MachineGames on the expansion to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the game.

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

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
“Personally, I really don’t read or watch theories.”

That’s Toby Fox writing about the fandom around Deltarune. He says he doesn’t follow theories because “I already know what my game is.” But he also recognizes that theorizing is part of the fun: “It’s not an exaggeration to say that thinking about this game can be just as much of the experience as playing it is. Anyone who keeps thinking about it, like I have, gets my highest blessing.“

Fox also says that “I believe” Deltarune Chapter 6 will release in 2027. Chapter 5 launched in June, and it’s great, building on an already excellent package.

Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
Hyperkin’s cartridge-playing SNES handheld is coming to Europe with two new colors.

Unlike many retro handhelds that require access to ROM files, Hyperkin’s SupaBoy plays original Super Nintendo and Super Famicom cartridges from all regions on its 4.3-inch display. After 14 years the console is finally coming to Europe alongside two new color options: bright red crimson and transparent prime.

<em>Both the SupaBoy Crimson (left) and SupaBoy Prime (right) are expected to ship this fall with an estimated price of $129.99 / €129.99 / £119.99.</em>
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Both the SupaBoy Crimson (left) and SupaBoy Prime (right) are expected to ship this fall with an estimated price of $129.99 / €129.99 / £119.99.
Image: Hyperkin
Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
This Steam Machine-inspired 5.5-liter PC is so damn clean.

Yes, it’s bigger than the 3.8-liter Steam Machine and the 4.5-liter Framework Desktop, but nicnic’s DIY desktop oozes style — and fits Valve’s open-source “Inkterface” e-paper status screen. If you don’t care for slime green, why not print your own in any color you like? The files are free.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Minecraft launches on the Switch 2 in October.

The game launches on Switch 2 on October 27th. Microsoft says there will be a “digital upgrade path” for players who own the game on the original Switch, though it’s planning to share more details on that later.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
A PC game banned from Steam last year is getting a physical release.

VILE: Exhumed had been banned last year following pressures from payment processors affecting Valve and other platforms, though the game was made free to download from its website. From the website, you can now sign up to be notified about an upcoming CD-ROM release, as reported by Polygon. It will cost $9.99 plus taxes and shipping when it’s available.

Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
What if Steam Machine faceplate = Steam Controller Dock?

And it’s got its own little kickstand to prop it up separately?? WANT. Check out more photos of NefariousnessWhole25’s prototype (and a few other cool Steam Machine faceplates from Reddit) in our gallery below.

<em><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/steammachine/comments/1ve3942/new_face_plate/">This Super Famicom one’s by interfreak</a> on Reddit.</em>
<em>And of course an obligatory GabeCube <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/steammachine/comments/1vb3tc1/ive_been_making_a_few_custom_steam_machine/">from harrisoncassidy.</a></em>
I love <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/steammachine/comments/1v46os6/steam_machine_faceplate/">PortGames’ toaster</a> (or wooden slatwall?) too!
And <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/steammachine/comments/1uq5kx8/i_made_a_radar_face_plate_for_the_steam_machine/">this retro radar</a> just plain looks cool.
1/8Image: NefariousnessWhole25 (Reddit)
Kallie Plagge
Kallie Plagge
Pokémon ecology is more of an art than a science.

The new Pokémon book Pokécology has lots of fun details about various pocket monsters, but as Bulbapedia notes, some of the math might be off. I don’t know enough to check the numbers in the thread myself, but I know enough about Pokémon to say that maybe Spheal is just being a goofy guy.

Jay Peters
Jay Peters
Xbox is adding chat audio toggles for captures.

Xbox Insiders will be able to choose if they want game chat and party chat audio in their captures, according to a blog post. Players can individually control if their voice is included in a capture.

The post also includes details about new ways to their sort achievement history, the ability to restore previous versions of cloud saves, and an upgrade to wishlists that now lets you add up to 1,000 games.

A screenshot showing chat audio capture options for Xbox.
Image: Xbox
Cameron Faulkner
Cameron Faulkner
It’s a good week for deals on multiplayer friend games with prox chat.

Big Walk came out this week, and it seems like a hoot if you have friends or family to play with. It’s $14.99 (down from $19.99) on Steam. Peak, which popularized the “friendslop” subgenre of co-op games, is even cheaper at Fanatical. You can grab the game for $3.75 (usually $8) today.

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

Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
Lenovo pulls update that people say bricked their Legion Go handhelds.

Lenovo hasn’t replied to us yet, but we can see Lenovo’s BIOS page no longer shows the “N3CN42WW” version, only the earlier “N3CN40WW.” Earlier this week, PC Gamer reported that “N3CN42WW” was leaving some users’ devices stuck on a black screen.

A screenshot of a Lenovo Legion Go BIOS updates page
A screenshot of a Lenovo Legion Go BIOS updates page
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The Legion Go BIOS page as of August 5th.
Image: Lenovo
Thomas Ricker
Thomas Ricker
Mass layoffs ahead for EA?

The newly privatized company is now saddled with $18 billion of debt, with annual interest payments of about $1.8 billion. Big changes are coming to justify the deal.

Stevie Bonifield
Stevie Bonifield
Gigabyte’s bringing back AM4 motherboards.

It’s launching a new B550 X series “engineered to be the most powerful refresh of the AM4 platform,” which is now 10 years old, as PC Gamer reports. The new motherboards were designed around the Ryzen 7 8500X3D that AMD recently relaunched as component shortages continue to drive up prices.

Andrew Liszewski
Andrew Liszewski
Microsoft Paint is now one of the weirdest ways to play Doom.

The humble drawing app has gotten several useful upgrades over the past few years, but Mark Russinovich, the Microsoft Azure CTO, has found a way for Paint to play Doom… kind of. Instead of actually running the game, DoomPaint loads rendered frames into the app from the Windows clipboard at a very playable 35fps.

A screenshot of Microsoft Paint showing a frame from Doom loaded as a document.
Image: Mark Russinovich