I remember the good old days of getting together with the boys and hitting the nearest couch to play the newest MADDEN title. It was glorious. No responsibilities, Odell Beckham Jr. had 1,000-yard seasons, and every team showed up to the field with “Life Is Good.” What EA SPORTS MADDEN NFL 27 tries to accomplish this year is a return to the good old days, where it feels better, and it achieves this with its shiny new Persona Engine, completely overhauled Franchise Mode, and lets the fans be in control of the narrative.

MADDEN NFL 27 has so many improvements at its core that my brief time playing it barely scratched the surface. MADDEN NFL 27 is a beast of a game.

MADDEN NFL 2027 Franchise Mode Unleashed!

First things first, to get in on the ground floor of EA SPORTS MADDEN NFL 27, we have to start off by talking about the vast number of improvements the team at EA Orlando have made to the core experience of MADDEN. This year, they’ve gone all-in on Franchise Mode and how it operates with the new Persona Engine. This is designed to make every AI-controlled player feel like a living person. If a player is frustrated, a Franchise owner will have to make the player whole to keep them happy. On the contrary, you can snipe opposing owners by offering a sweeter deal for the player once they hit free agency.

The Persona Engine allows Franchise Mode to feel like a roguelike, as each player will have some kind of boon or buff depending on their moods and whether they’re reaching their goals or not. Every player has Persona DNA that determines their mindset, focus, motivation, and long-term behaviour, and due to the 65 new Persona DNAs (which can evolve in a player over time), no two Franchise Modes will ever feel the same.

The developers listened to the fan demands. A star player can hold out if they’re unhappy, demand a trade, and these situations will interrupt day-to-day operations. You must deal with these things; it’s your job. Which means I can’t wait until the last minute (or ignore) to extend my players any longer, or I will pay the price. You can also go the good guy route and try talking to players to determine why they’re unhappy, which can completely change an outcome.

Interactive Contract Negotiations are here at MADDEN NFL 27. It has been redesigned into a mini-game that feels like a back-and-forth negotiation with a person. This nifty new feature makes negotiations feel less like the mundane task I, as an owner, usually associate with them and immerses the Franchise owner in the conversation. You now have to be a bit craftier to make deals with players. If their patience drops to 0 before you can get them on board, the contract negotiation session ends.

Contracts can now include clauses like Guaranteed Contracts, Void Years, Incentives, and No-Trade, making each star feel like they have the impact on your team as they do in the real league. Players can even negotiate outside of their final contract year, allowing other vulture owners the ability to swoop in on a favourite.

Finally, there are now real coordinators in EA SPORTS MADDEN NFL 27. These also act and behave like real people and are another piece on the board for Franchise owners to tinker with. Franchise mode is shaping up to be the most robust it has ever been in MADDEN NFL 27.

In The Game!

I was luckily able to get behind the sticks of a MADDEN NFL 27 quick match to try out the new title’s gameplay, and the gameplay feels like a far better improvement than just a +1 at the end of the title. Each player tackle feels deliberate and calling audibles feels purposeful. In the MADDEN Opening Drive presentation, the developers boasted that you can pick up to ten adjustments per custom macro this time around, and that sounds like sorcery.

If you have an issue with an opponent throwing to a Tight End over the middle, you can have your middle linebacker adjust to play more conservatively to try to step back and make a play on the ball, and in the same play, you can have an Edge step into zone coverage. You can save up to 10 adjustments per macro adjustment(for a maximum of 10 custom setups), so the defensive side of the ball can now do some serious damage in the right hands.

We loaded up a game of the NY Giants vs. the Miami Dolphins and made it Prime Time. In MADDEN NFL 27, you can now run into Dynamic Weather, and it can possibly start snowstorming in the middle of a game. This makes ball security an afterthought, and adds another element players must adapt to. Luckily, we didn’t run into any snow.

After taking the first possession on defence, I noticed the linebacker looks around to find an assignment if they’re placed as such, and this is new logic added to players where they look for work. If the play is a run play, they will likely recognize it if their underlying stats permit. I was also allowed to make a sea of adjustments on the fly, like forcing my linebackers to play more aggressively and stack the box.

My opponent then adjusted his offensive linemen to double-team my center, and De’Von Achane was able to explode through the middle for a very long score. I didn’t pull the trigger on the ‘stacking of the box,’ and I paid the price immensely. It was incredibly cool to see that you can even control the individual assignments of the offensive line on the fly. MADDEN NFL 27 is a true game of strategy.

More Control

On the offensive side of the ball, I was able to air it out and use new Timing-Based Catching to snag a ball on a comeback route with Malik Nabers. The Timing-Based Catching is an all-new feature that puts the catch completely in the player’s hands. Once you throw the ball, you no longer have to swap the receiver to influence the catch.

After the pass is released, you press and hold the catch type you want: aggressive, possession, or RAC, and then you have to release the button as close to the green window as possible. This occurs on both sides of the ball, and the size of each green window on the metre is influenced by numerous factors, such as player skill, opponent skill, and ball placement. Here, the green window was large because Nabers was open, and he caught the ball easily. This no longer leaves catches up to the gods’ fates.

“MADDEN NFL 27 looks great in-game, and the stadium reacts to the action on the field.”

Being behind the line of scrimmage, you can adjust as well, and you can set up your personnel for each lineup in your playbook. Moving down the field was harder than it appeared on my drive, so I punted the ball away after my first down. MADDEN NFL 27 looks great in-game, and the stadium reacts to the action on the field. While my opponent’s Dolphins were driving down the field, the Miami stadium was fired up and increasing the decibel level, giving the Dolphins a true home-field advantage. Making momentum much more important in matches.

After making some close plays and letting some more plays go, I grew into the adjustment system and started playing slightly better near the end of the game. Figuring out some of the adjustment answers on defence felt like I solved a really strong puzzle, and it was rewarding to figure out how to stop that one play your opponent runs too often (looking at you, Mesh). During a goalline stand in the middle of the game, and after my opponent picked QB Sneak, a new mini-game appeared. This means QB Sneak is no longer a guaranteed yard or two; you have to fight for everything (but the Tush Push has been added, go figure).

Our game ended 35-14, but I walked away stunned with how great MADDEN NFL 27 feels to play. Aside from all of the incredible updates to the Franchise Mode, the team at EA Orlando brought the heat when it comes to gameplay decisions and has even listened to the fans when adding more functionality to the game. By letting players outfit their teams with custom adjustments, macro setups, personnel assignments, and even alter player behaviour, you are truly an on-field general in this edition of MADDEN NFL 27.

EA SPORTS MADDEN NFL 27 is shaping up to be a downright great entry in the series. The worst part is I have to go back to MADDEN NFL 26 while waiting for gameday on August 10, when 27 is unleashed.

A Steam blog post has outlined new plans regarding account balances, and Valve is combating scammers by killing physical gift cards.

Many last-minute go-to ideas for gamer gifting often lead buyers to a local pharmacy, specifically the stand that carries all of the branded cards that add funds to digital accounts. These are gift cards, and they are essentially equivalent to currency once activated at a register. But due to a new wave of scams involving physical gift cards, Steam has decided to call it quits on distribution altogether and is stopping this scam at the root. First reported by PC Guide, Steam updated its Wallet Support page late last night, and Valve announced it will end the distribution of its physical retailer gift cards.

In a desperate attempt to stop scammers, Valve has announced that it “will not be restocking” physical Steam gift cards once retailers run out of stock in 2026. Under the question “Can I purchase Steam Gift Cards at retailers?” on the official support page, Valve responds with a resounding ‘for now.’ Valve says, “We introduced Steam Gift Cards to retail stores back in 2012, and added the digital program in 2017. Unfortunately, scammers use gift cards from major brands like Steam to take advantage of people all over the world.”

Valve has mentioned it has tried virtually everything to combat these scams: working with local law enforcement, working with retailers themselves and even changing the cards to include an anti-scam warning. At every turn, scammers adapt to changes and continue to sidestep guardrails that attempt to curb scamming behaviour. So, the company has made the decision to kill physical gift cards outright. Following the stock allotment to retailers in 2026, Steam gift cards will no longer be restocked on shelves. Valve has, however, committed to continuing to sell digital gift cards.

Some fans have hit forums like Reddit to celebrate/bash the decision. One fan writes, “This sucks. I enjoyed getting family to gift me Steam gift cards,” and many have agreed with this sentiment. Others have applauded the decision, mainly because it protects elderly shoppers who can be taken advantage of over the phone. As of this post, the gift cards are still available, so fans who want to snag one before they’re gone for good can likely find an ample supply at local retailers. Valve has also confirmed that existing cards (even after 2026, as long as they aren’t expired) will still be honoured.

Fable was the game that made me fall in love with gaming. I have told anyone that would listen, and lucky for me, my position here at CGM and my constant need to shout about Fable from the rooftops got me a spot in a live demo for the new Fable reboot coming from Playground Games at the XBOX Games Showcase during Summer Game Fest. The demo was hands-off for journalists and creators, but it was played live by Associate Game Director Craig Littler and narrated by Associate Game Director William Kennedy.

I will be honest, hearing “hands-off” gave me reason for concern, and sure enough, shortly after I received confirmation of the appointment, the decision to delay Fable until February 2027 was revealed. I can’t say I didn’t see it coming. However, now that I have seen the game live and in-person, I can safely say I am so, so happy with the direction Fable is heading. I am perfectly fine letting it cook a little longer if it means Playground will give us the game we have all been waiting for, and I think they are pretty damn close already.

The second I heard someone call us “Hero,” I knew we were in the right place.

The section we saw was a curated tour around Silverbrook, a small town in Albion. Here, we were able to focus on something Playground is calling the “Living Population.” They explained in detail how players can interact with over 1,000 hand-crafted NPCs in the game, whether through relationships, jobs, as their landlord, or even as their enemy. The system is far more robust than in the previous games, which could be a blessing for some and a detriment for others.

“Fable was the game that made me fall in love with gaming.”

Whenever you speak to an NPC, a large amount of information will pop up on the right side of the UI (and above their head as you approach them). Their name and a brief statement about the kind of person they are will appear, and this is your first hint of what they might appreciate. An example they gave in their blog was “Bob the Bartender, a kind-hearted commoner,” and it is safe to assume he wouldn’t love shrewd actions or anything particularly evil.

From there, a box with information about how they feel about you will appear. Something like “likes you because” or “dislikes you because” or even “Indifferent because” with some details about why. In our example, we hadn’t been to Silverbrook before, so the shift Stablehand was indifferent since we hadn’t done anything yet. Trying to get the complete stranger to follow us had him think we were a bit weird, too.

In past Fable titles, it was pretty easy to jack your relationship up with people by just making them laugh or passing gas, but in Playground’s Fable, it is a bit more complicated. Good and evil aren’t so black and white this time around. While one person may hate you because you’re shrewd, someone else might be kind of into it. It’s all about the Living Experience, and people aren’t all the same. As you play through, things like +Virtuous or +Killer or +Kind pop up as you earn reputation, and you can check and see what a town as a whole thinks of you. You can have reputation for charming and a killer, all based on what you do.

More has changed in Fable, more so evolved, like becoming an entrepreneur and dating. In the session, we found a woman who fancied us, but in this day and age, there is more to consider than just liking. What about standards? Goals? Even if someone likes you, you still need to meet certain criteria before they will date you.

Our example was an ambitious woman who liked us, but needed a bit more. She wanted someone who was an entrepreneur, owned a home in town, and dressed in fancy clothes. Without meeting those criteria, she wouldn’t consider us, so we had a mission. It also varies for each person; some may be simple to impress, others could be more challenging.

Finding a business to buy requires gold, which you can earn by taking jobs throughout the world; we saw blacksmithing, which has evolved as well. After purchasing the town pub, we found out that it only had one of two available employee slots filled, and we needed to find someone to fill it. The challenge is that, though some businesses might already have employees, if you want to fill a slot, you have to find the employee yourself, and only people who like you will work for you.

“Everything in this new Fable is coded much like the last three games, including the Britishness of it all, but Playground has taken it all a step further.”

When purchasing a house, if people are living there, you can become the landlord, evict them, or pay them to leave and move in yourself. The tailor hated us after we spent all that money and earned the “Rich” reputation, so she jacked her prices up 80%, but once we had our fancy clothes we could finally take our lady on a day; we even gave her some flowers to make it extra special. The date did result in a short, but sweet, cutscene, which was very Fable-like.

Everything in this new Fable is coded much like the last three games, including the Britishness of it all, but Playground has taken it all a step further. I likened the steps of dating, owning a business, or owning a home to a simulation, which only deepens the world of Fable. For some, I think it might be too intricate.

Thankfully, according to William Kennedy, you could choose not to dive too deep into those simulation mechanics if you aren’t interested in work, dating or having a family, etc. You could just play the story for the story, if it suits you. There is room for an RPG-Sim-like life, but also just a fun action-adventure if you want.

“I think something that’s really great about Fable Games in history and now is that they have both of those things as complementing. When we have an action-adventure…so if that’s the kind of player you are and you just want to engage with that, that’s totally cool. And we also have a really complex, interconnected set of systems that allow you to play and tinker with those thousand NPCs however you like, so it’s up to you which kind of player you are if you want to do one, or either or both. We hope you enjoyed the game however you want to play.”

You can date every adult NPC, but what reputation one person fancies, another might hate, so it is great for replayability too. Craig Littler touched on this during our session: “Yes, you could get into a relationship with anybody, but not at the same time, because you can’t be all things to all people at the same time. One person might want you to be kind, another might want you to be a murderer. You know, that’s just how it goes.”

We also got a look at some more combat in Fable, and it is exactly what I hoped it would be. It looks like they kept so much of the original combat style, including the red, blue and green orbs. The character could chain and swap between them freely, and it looks fluid and smooth. It just felt like combat got a facelift.

The colours are vibrant, and the magic animations are a bit flashier, almost feeling like a toned-down version of a JRPG. Though we don’t know what skills are available, I saw force pushes and pulls, some fire, and what I think was some shock, and I can’t freaking wait.

“This IS Playground’s Fable, and I am so excited to see more of this world.”

As they walked around the world, I was thrilled with the stunning detail in every corner of the world. Shelves were full, fruit was shiny, flowers were bright and abundant. There are over 1000 individually created NPCs voiced by over 100 actors. The world has more than 120 shops, and a map that is so beautiful and detailed, showing things like terrain, points of interest and more.

This preview was not the one I was expecting, but it is one I am really glad they have chosen to show off. We know very little about the story, just things like Hayley Atwell as Isabel, the villain, Richard Ayoade playing Dave the Giant and a bit more that they have released about some characters and cast members on XBOX Wire. Oh…and just that teeny tiny Jack of Blades reveal.

Any story-related questions otherwise were left to “We are focusing on “building an extraordinary life.” Frankly, I don’t want to know. I want to take the week of February 23rd off work and dive into the world of Albion, the same way I skipped my family Christmas because I was “sick” when my big brother bought me my first XBOX and the original Fable.

The final line in the preview was “I’m not simply good or evil, I’m so much more than that.” This IS Playground’s Fable, and I am so excited to see more of this world. February can’t come soon enough. But if it gets delayed again, I may not survive.

Fable from Playground Games is available for pre-order now. It will be coming to the world on February 23, 2027 for XBOX Series X|S, XBOX Game Pass, XBOX PC, Steam and PlayStation 5. The original three Fable titles are available to play now on XBOX Game Pass, too.

Since Sword Art Online dropped its first season way back in 2012, I’ve always assumed a video game tie-in would be a no-brainer. Previous attempts to recapture the magic produced on screen by A-1 Pictures in video game form were met with mixed reception, and fans felt the developers didn’t seem to understand what made SAO special.

So, when I was offered the chance to go hands-on with the most promising SAO video game development to date, Echoes of Aincrad, I broke the Nerve Gear out of retirement and couldn’t wait to strap in. What Echoes of Aincrad does is bring players into a full-fledged season of Sword Art Online before the conclusion of the First Arc, and lets fans off-leash in a sprawling Aincrad. This Aincrad is loaded with challenges to take on and lush biomes to explore, exploding off the screen with visuals that are hungry for the player’s eyes. Sword Art Online is finally back.

I was able to play through three segments of Echoes of Aincrad, the first being the prologue (and the tutorial). For the SAO faithful, you start your journey in the middle of a generic level to explore in Aincrad. Echoes of Aincrad (like Sword Art Online) starts in the Beta of the game of the same name, and it takes place in the 100-floor floating castle of Aincrad, and fans will instantly amalgamate. This segment injects you into the life stream of the SAO universe and explains what all the keywords and functions are, giving you bearings on terminology and key terms (for the SAO unfaithful or those who need a refresher).

“What Echoes of Aincrad does is bring players into a full-fledged season of Sword Art Online before the conclusion of the First Arc, and lets fans off-leash in a sprawling Aincrad.”

In SAO, players wear VR devices called Nerve Gear headsets to dive into full-fledged VRMMORPGs that engage all the player’s senses. This includes pain, taste, and other functions that the human body imitates. Sword Art Online is the name of the game being played on Beta and is comparable in popularity to World of Warcraft (from the early 2000s). Echoes of Aincrad is a game set in the Sword Art Online universe, where you play a character in the game Sword Art Online. Everyone in the universe wants in on the ground floor of Aincrad, and you just so happen to be lucky enough to be playing the Beta.

One thing is readily apparent: Echoes of Aincrad really emphasized the beauty of Sword Art Online. Spelunking through cave systems reveals the highest of ceilings, and even when stuck inside, there’s an air of grandiose adventure you just can’t shake. Biomes are incredibly detailed and flush with anime-graphic details that allow the world of Aincrad to feel lived in. I devised all of this by just checking out the cave-setting digs in the opening. Aincrad feels cavernous, and your character is an ant in the grand scheme of things. It’s safe to say Echoes of Aincrad nails the feeling of SAO to a tee.

The Beta (tutorial segment) puts you through the motions of learning the game, and it does a good job. After learning the ropes and meeting a few memorable characters (even some companions that you will travel with later on!) the Beta concludes, and the prologue ends. In the next segment, it becomes clear where in the Sword Art Online timeline you fit into, and it’s the beginning.

Echoes of Aincrad allows Sword Art Online fans to finally live out their dreams as a player character in Aincrad, and it starts with the opening of the game’s servers. Just like the anime, the game starts right when the servers for SAO open, but thankfully, unlike the anime, you aren’t jury-rigged to Kirito and Co. at the outset (like every other game in the series), and you’re able to explore a separate narrative from the main storyline in Sword Art Online. A seriously excellent choice.

Echoes of Aincrad begins in the Town of Beginnings, and the game’s creator, Akihiko Kayaba, reveals that the logout button has been removed. Players are then told that dying in the game—or tampering with the real-world headset—will instantly kill them in real life, and, to the dismay of many who have created in-game characters, Echoes of Aincrad doxes every character and transforms them into their real-world counterparts.

With the stakes as high as they can go, I jumped into the third segment of gameplay to see how far things go, and I was not disappointed. Echoes of Aincrad tasked my group with travelling to a far-off town. Of course, there are numerous threats along the way, so I had to check my equipment and make sure everything was ready for travel. In Echoes of Aincrad, you will travel from safe zone to safe zone while fulfilling missions, and you’re able to travel to and from each zone when you make it to one (similar to Diablo IV’s waypoint system).

During each mission, you’re able to bring along a comrade, and they’re very helpful in which abilities they can equip. I almost always choose an extra healer when playing RPGs, so I chose a side-character (no spoilers here) that uses heal and many variations of heal. This proved to be a good idea, considering the typical fare of Aincrad hit hard. While many other ARPG games use a levelling system that scales the player to their surroundings, Echoes of Aincrad tells you to get good, and forces you to level before confronting certain missions. This adds a notable feel of progression to the stage, and I dig it.

“Echoes of Aincrad allows Sword Art Online fans to finally live out their dreams as a player character in Aincrad.”

During combat, everything moves fluidly, and you’re able to throw skills at enemies with reckless abandon. While they do have cool downs, Echoes of Aincrad functions very much like a traditional ARPG with beautiful anime graphics (think the Tales series, but with Granblue Fantasy’s combat system), and the staggering feeling of Aincrad’s beautiful scenery never stops pressing the gas pedal.

Some Sword Art Online fans will notice skills pulled directly from the anime can be used in-game, including the stabbing thrust Kirito uses in the OP for the anime, and they feel powerful in practice. I also noticed that when using a one-handed sword for a while, my proficiency with the weapon went up, and I was able to equip new skills. This is a cool concept that feels even better in-game, and I love the idea that individual weaponry has its own experience trees and skill bars. Today’s gaming landscape is loaded with skill trees (even Madden has them), but somehow Echoes of Aincrad balances its levelling system with compelling abilities to unlock that make the grind feel worthwhile.

Near the end of my quest (and tearing down every monster on the way over), I fought against a hulking boss fight that put my skills and awareness to the test. After dealing enough damage to the enemy, I was able to deploy a co-op skill that did massive damage. I was also able to control my healer at will and drop needed AoE heals on the battlefield to keep myself healthy (there are also potions if you’re in a pinch). Balancing between when to attack, when to defend, and when to assault the enemy with skills is the name of the game in Echoes of Aincrad, and it’s a blast in practice.

After we triumphed over the boss fight, an excellently animated cutscene (filled with solid voice-overs) ensues. Sometimes, it feels like you’re watching an episode of a separate anime, set in the same setting as Sword Art Online, when playing Echoes of Aincrad, and it’s awesome getting lost in the animation of it all.

Echoes of Aincrad is shaping up to be a solid adventure in the world of Sword Art Online. It feels like the developers have finally listened to the fans and have produced a game that lets players live out their dream of also being held hostage in the server of Sword Art Online, and at the very least, Aincrad has been captured in full with a swarm of biomes that puts beautiful visuals front and centre. Echoes of Aincrad already feels like the best game produced from the world of Sword Art Online, and when it launches on July 9, I’ll break out the Nerve gear (or Steam) and dive back in to see more.

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma shared new details about the upcoming Helix console and said the industry is in crisis with hardware pricing right now. She also said Xbox will explore affordability options.

As gaming speeds into the next console generation, fans can bank on the idea that there is already information regarding the next console, codenamed Helix, in Xbox’s ecosystem. As of this post, Project Helix is confirmed to be a hybrid between console and PC, and it will play both console and PC games at launch. On top of that, Helix is said to be backward compatible. But outside of those small details, Xbox has kept development locked behind closed doors. Under the previous leadership, the console was described as a “very premium” system, and it will also be a next-generation console in collaboration with AMD.

Since then, the leadership at Xbox has seen a facelift. Microsoft appointed Asha Sharma as CEO in February, and the world of electronics has been taken hostage by the ongoing RAM shortage, which has caused current console prices to reach “out-of-bounds” levels for basic consumers. This is an issue Sharma called a “crisis” in an interview with Future Conversations.

In the interview, Sharma said, “Look, on hardware, we are in a crisis right now. The entire industry is,” adding, “There’s a shortage of memory and storage, and the costs are exponential. They are usually at this point in the generation, about 50% of the cost, and we’re seeing they’re up 2.75 times. They’re up 50% since they started, they’re going to be up effectively 7.5 times.”

She continued, “Pricing is a lever, of course, but we must think about other options as well. We must think about other ways to think about the cost construction of the console. We must think about how we create different plans so more people can participate in the console.”

At the time of this post, Sharma hasn’t detailed any of these ‘options,’ but she did say that crafting the world’s most premium experience on consoles might not be the best way forward, given it’s hard to imagine consumers parting with “thousands” for the next console generation. She continues the thought with “For us, I think that we have to think very differently about storage and memory going forward,” adding, “We will have to apply new techniques so that we can compress that. We will have to empower customers to have very flexible storage offerings. We will have to empower new types of games so they can fit on device.”

The XBOX CEO concludes the message with “so there’s gonna be a lot of innovation. This will take years, not days, not weeks, but we’ll go through it together with the community.” While there are currently no plans to make the Project Helix console cheaper, XBOX has admitted they know there’s a problem and are at least facing it.

I was initially intrigued by Order of the Sinking Star primarily because of Johnathan Blow’s involvement. Back in 2008, Blow was seen as a rock star of the Indie space, but for someone who enjoyed such a high pedigree, he hasn’t actually made a ton of games. That’s not to say he hasn’t made good games—quite the contrary—but he always seems to stay out of the scene long enough you almost forget about him.

But Order of the Sinking Star seemed like an incredibly interesting prospect. A kind of large-scale puzzle adventure where players utilize unique characters set across multiple stories? It could work. Thankfully, CGM was given an opportunity to take a look at an early demo build to see the game in action and I’ve got to say, it’s certainly ambitious. 

Unlike Braid which had its share of puzzles, but kept them grounded in simple 2D design; or even The Witness that gave players a wide collection of puzzles, but in a fairly centralized area, Order of the Sinking Star is aiming for what feels like a massive, sprawling world of puzzles, separated not only by an overworld map, but by layers—both literally and figuratively—within levels themselves. 

“While the demo build was fairly early on and the game is still a bit rough around the edges, there’s a lot of promise in Order of the Sinking Star.“

These levels can range from the simplistic, to deeply complex, both in their physical design and breadth of puzzles. Players control each character from a semi-overhead view, essentially moving along a grid. It allows Order of the Sinking Star to focus its puzzles on movement and complex placement of objects which is both simple to understand, but can get increasingly more challenging.

It creates a lot of unique scenarios for considering movement and placement. One level placed my character on an collection of islands where a magic mirror allowed them to reflect their position based on their distance from the mirror. By moving the mirrors, I could project myself onto further islands, in order to keep progressing forward. This got more complicated as boulders began getting placed around islands, causing me to have to be more considerate about where to push mirrors, and the lengths I could stretch my projected reflection.

Another level put me in the shoes of a trio of characters, each who could push crystals around each room in unique ways. One could push the crystals—stacking them together as he moved—one could only pull crystals behind her, requiring them to be led; and another could only teleport the space a crystal was in—leaving it in the place he was standing—while facing it directly. Each challenge required some careful maneuvering and clever observation while offering a lot of diversity of challenge.

“Order of the Sinking Star does have a pretty intriguing bit of storytelling running underneath it. “

The final level was the most complex, requiring me to find a collection of crystals and place them on specific pedestals in order to power mechanisms that fired coloured beams. Each colour correspond to a different unique ability—green allowed me to walk through walls, blue allowed me to push boulders, yellow could let me destroy rocks or robots, and more. The unique gimmick of this level was the…let’s say “pocket universe” it was contained in looped, so with careful positioning and slow progress, beams could extend across the whole level, providing new ways forward. 

It was a surprising amount of diversity in a puzzle game that genuinely tied its themes and aesthetic together in a cohesive way. In a lot of ways it reminded me of the kinds of games you’d get in UFO 50—unique ideas so well executed they could have an entire game built around them. It genuinely made me curious about what new mechanic lay waiting in the next area and what unique puzzles would be built around it. 

And Order of the Sinking Star does have a pretty intriguing bit of storytelling running underneath it. Each area tells a contained story about the characters players are inhabiting, while also providing a lot of underlying lore to this world and what’s going on. Audio logs provide some added context to each little pocket dungeon as well, and it only further builds the mystery of what is going on in this game.

While the demo build was fairly early on and the game is still a bit rough around the edges, there’s a lot of promise in Order of the Sinking Star. It’s a solid example of Johnathan Blow’s puzzle-crafting chops and an excellent return to games for him. Perhaps its good he dips in and out of the spotlight—if this is what he’s crafting in the shadows, then I’m all for it!

Order of the Sinking Star will be available in 2026 for PC and Nintendo Switch 2.

When mapping out the true heavyweights of asymmetrical multiplayer, you always end up back at Dead by Daylight. Drop launched back in 2016 by Montreal’s own Behaviour Interactive, this horror-survival titan essentially threw out the standard industry playbook. It has somehow blown past 60 million global players, locking down a permanent spot in digital culture. Keeping people around that long takes more than luck, though. It requires a brutal combination of multiplayer infrastructure, massive technical pivots, and highly aggressive live-service execution. What originally began as a simple, straightforward 4v1 game of hide-and-seek evolved into a masterclass in player retention.

Balancing Chaos: Fair Play in an Unfair Setup

How long does an asymmetrical game actually live? For Dead by Daylight, it all comes down to aggressive live-service tweaks and its matchmaking loops. True balance in a 4v1 setup is a massive headache. Shift a character’s movement speed by a fraction, or alter a single loop in map geometry, and the core competitive loop falls apart. To stop that from happening, the engineering crew set up automated data pipelines. These pipelines constantly harvest real-time player telemetry, giving devs an instant snapshot of kill ratios, survival rates, and performance trends across millions of active matches.

This massive, daily firehose of data directly fuels server-side hotfixes, balance updates, and content drops. By tracking these metrics under a microscope, the studio deploys fast, incremental balance shifts without shattering the core gameplay. A sophisticated skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) algorithm runs alongside these micro-updates. Instead of static brackets, this system calculates player skill gaps on the fly, matching individuals dynamically across global regions to protect competitive fairness while keeping queue times low.

Unifying Communities via Cross-Progression

The trajectory of Dead by Daylight says a lot about what modern digital audiences want out of entertainment platforms. Today’s players have zero patience for technical friction; they want instant connectivity and flawless backend performance. This demand for real-time responsiveness is a defining trait of Canada’s broader digital economy. Whether regional networks are managing massive user spikes for live sports streaming, processing sudden transaction volumes on major e-commerce hubs, or stabilizing traffic for a high-volume online casino in Canada, the underlying infrastructure requirement is identical: heavy-duty server capacity that prevents systemic downtime.

In the gaming space, this shifting expectation is exactly why advanced cross-progression systems became mandatory. Players want to take their unlocked items, earn cosmetic rewards, and profile setups across different hardware ecosystems without running into a technical wall.

The Streaming Engine: Dominating Twitch and YouTube

If you look past the raw code and server logic, the game owes a massive chunk of its multi-year lifespan to streaming culture. The high-stakes, direct tension of a 4v1 chase provides perfect raw material for creators on Twitch and YouTube. The dev team realized this early on, baking community programs and creator outreach directly into their live-operations strategy.

Constant cosmetic drops, seasonal in-game events, and massive, headline-grabbing crossovers with legendary horror franchises keep players hooked. This self-sustaining loop of content creation and rapid developer response builds an organic marketing engine that pulls in new faces while keeping veterans around for the long haul.

How Montreal is Rewriting the Multiplayer Blueprint

The undeniable momentum of Dead by Daylight shines a massive spotlight on Montreal’s position as a premier global hub for video game development. Fuelled by specialized local talent, Behaviour Interactive has scaled up a dedicated Live Operations group packed with data analysts, product managers, and community specialists.

As the technical demands of multiplayer gaming scale up, the studio’s data-first philosophy offers a blueprint for the rest of the industry. By blending heavy engineering with a sharp understanding of community culture, they’ve ensured that the game’s broader ecosystem will keep thriving for years to come.

After a long period of radio silence, Square Enix showed a new trailer for Kingdom Hearts IV during today’s Nintendo Direct—and confirmed the rest of the series is coming to the Switch 2 (properly) this fall.

Kingdom Hearts IV was initially announced back in April 2022, during a celebration for the series’ 20th anniversary, but has been missing in action ever since. Director Tetsuya Nomura mentioned back in November that his team was “making great progress on the game” but couldn’t say more.

That has all changed now, as the new trailer gives us a better look at Kingdom Hearts IV‘s new, realistic look and expands on the reveal trailer’s scene. A figure dressed in an Organization XIII robe laments that “at first, there were no manifestations of what we know as light and darkness” in this Shibuya-like world, “but our arrival here brought those concepts with us.” All the while, the giant shadowy monster from the previous trailer emerges and threatens to rampage.

Protagonist Sora is then shown using the Keyblade’s chain to sling around the monster as part of what appears to be a huge, multi-phase fight. We also see him in battle footage, taking on Heartless monsters with large, shield-like forearms, using the chains as projectiles, binding the monsters, and even surfing on a wave of them.

The trailer confirms that Kingdom Hearts IV will be available at launch on Nintendo Switch 2, but does not elaborate on when that launch will be. This follows on Square Enix’s recent recommitment to multiplatform development; the newly announced Final Fantasy VII Revelation will also be a day one launch for the Nintendo Switch 2.

In the meantime, Square Enix also announced a new collection of the previous games, and this time they’ll be native versions for Nintendo—unlike the previous, ill-received Cloud Edition released in 2022. Kingdom Hearts I-III Collection will include Kingdom Hearts – HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX, Kingdom Heart HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, and Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind (DLC) for “the definitive way to experience the beloved franchise.”

The collection’s announcement follows the stealthy removal of the Cloud Editions’ demos from the eShop in North America and Japan a few weeks prior. Those who did purchase the prior edition will need to shell out for the new—albeit at an unspecified discount—but can at least transfer their save data. A demo for Kingdom Hearts III will be available later today.

With no further ETA for Kingdom Hearts IV, fans and newcomers will have plenty of time to catch up. In the meantime, the new trailer offers an exciting proof-of-life for the long-awaited sequel, which will begin a new story arc dubbed “The Lost Master Saga.”

Kingdom Hearts IV is currently in development for all platforms. Kingdom Hearts I-III Collection will arrive on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, PC, and XBOX Series X|S on October 8, 2026.

SPRAWL zero was a happy surprise during the Summer Game Fest week. Published by Kwalee, the game is developed by a small team, MAETH, with a remote team all around the world, and sitting down to play, I could really see the passion behind what they are building. You play as FIVE, a cyber soldier controlled by the Junta. I was told you’re basically a bad guy in a sea of other bad guys.

MAETH created SPRAWL zero as a love letter to early 2000s FPS shooters, and it oozes that style everywhere from gameplay to graphics to the soundtrack. The team member we sat down with came from a music background but left it behind to pursue his first love, video games. He even went so far as to insist that they didn’t use any tools for the music that wouldn’t have been around in the 2000s era to stay true to their vision. The music is outstanding and keeps you pumped from the very second you drop in to SPRAWL Zero.

A lot of the inspiration for the game comes from Half-Life 2, right down to tools like the Gravity Gloves. Halo was also mentioned as a major influence—they just wanted to go back to the golden age of FPS titles. The graphics, characters and enemies definitely remind me of that era, with a lot of darker tones in the story and design. 

The gameplay loop is where SPRAWL zero really hooked me, even though I wasn’t as familiar with the games that inspired it. After you choose your difficulty—there are three meant to purposely not guilt you for your play style, named Martyr, Formidable and Unstoppable, as hard, medium and easy, respectively—you are taken to your mission overview, and then you drop in.

As you move through levels in SPRAWL zero, there is no time to think, only react. The game doesn’t require reloading or finding ammo, as you constantly swap out your weapon for the next one you find, keeping you on your toes constantly as you have to adjust your play style to adapt to the conditions. Items, including guns and medkits, can be thrown at enemies to cause damage (the medkit heals you as it smashes them), and you rock a sick pair of Gravity Gloves that can punch, pull and crush things.

There are three main skills in SPRAWL zero, Bullet Time, Gravity Shield, and Rush Down, that you get in that order. Bullet Time reminded me of VATS in Fallout, where time is slightly slowed to shoot or throw at enemies. Gravity Shield blocks bullets but then offers you the opportunity to launch them back at your attacker. I didn’t experience Rush Down, but it was explained that you become invincible, rush towards your enemy unarmed, and punch them…hard. It also applies shock damage, and you can overrush your enemy to do damage to others.

Another feature is the ability to take out our team leaders, which then highlights the rest of their team for a short while. As for your team, if you come upon allies in battle and assist them, they can join and help you fight some baddies later on. These are mechanics that the team at MAETH don’t spell out for you, but rather things you learn as you play. The more I played, the more I learned, and I slowly developed a groove that felt so good.

There are various weapon rarities, from grey, green, blue, purple, gold and red—legendary. You snatch them from your fallen enemies, find them in chests, and there are even some fun chests that will rotate through items before landing on a winner. Movement is also vital to the game, and MAETH has mastered it. Running, jumping, sliding, vaulting and aiming feel exactly like an FPS should, even better than some AAA games in the last few years. It felt so good ripping around the map and taking out my enemies.

Make no mistake, SPRAWL zero is fast, and it feels like a game that is easy to play and hard to master. One thing is for sure: SPRAWL zero is addictive, and I want more.

On the heels of Sumer Game Fest 2026, a wild Nintendo Direct has appeared, showcasing what’s coming to Nintendo for the coming 2026 year and beyond.

It has been an exciting weekend for video game fans, as Summer Game Fest 2026 has given a whole lot for consumers to look forward to when it comes to playing a good title. PlayStation unveiled a new God of War: Laufey, Xbox brought out the big guns and showed what’s coming in Gears of War: E-Day, and now, it’s Nintendo’s turn. Just yesterday, Nintendo confirmed that there would be a Nintendo Direct today to cap off SGF 2026, and they delivered.

Every Nintendo Direct is loaded with developments ripe from Nintendo, giving fans a look behind the curtain at what’s coming to the Nintendo Switch family of consoles in the coming calendar year and stoking hype for first-party titles, and the Nintendo Direct for June 2026 was no different. We here at CGMagazine have compiled the full list of announcements from the Nintendo Direct, and they can be seen just below in the order they were announced.

Rhythm Heaven Groove

The first title revealed at The Nintendo Direct presentation is for the Nintendo Switch (and Nintendo Switch 2), and it involves hitting notes to the right beat. Rhythm Heaven Groove invites players to hit the right button at the right time, but not always the right rhythm.

Fans who enjoy WarioWare’s brand of mini-games will feel right at home here, as Rhythm Heaven Groove has many. On top of that, there’s a new campaign-based mode where you play a spellcaster against waves of enemies that you cast-to-the-beat to. Rhythm Heaven Groove also invites friends to play and compete against one another in over 30 cooperative or multiplayer mini-games. Rhythm Heaven Groove arrives on July 2.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword

The latest title in the Onimusha series, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, is officially coming to the Nintendo Switch 2. It’s coming September 25.

Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen

Dragon’s Dogma 2 is releasing an expanded version with Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen, and it’s officially coming to the Nintendo Switch 2. This new release comes with everything the original release comes with, except it includes a new location and enemies. It launches on October 9.

Stellar Blade

Nintendo is seriously supporting the Nintendo Switch 2 with third-party offerings in the Nintendo Direct presentation. A port of Stellar Blade has been announced and is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026.

Orbitals

The previously anticipated Orbitals co-op title has received a release date, and it’s coming on September 3.

Rayman Legends Retold

The latest title in the Rayman series, Rayman Legends Retold (announced at the PlayStation State of Play), is coming to Switch 2. It lands on October 1.

Big Walk

The highly anticipated indie title, Big Walk, is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 as announced at the Nintendo Direct. This title allows players to use cross-platform, so all Big Walkers can play together when it launches on August 1.

ONE PIECE: Grand Gourmet

The next title revealed at the Nintendo Direct presentation is a ONE PIECE title that includes cooking and 8-bit graphics, to let players make delicious foods for diners. ONE PIECE: Grand Gourmet will feature over 400 ONE PIECE characters, and it’s coming on October 23 for both Switch and Switch 2 consoles.

Pokopia

A new trailer for Pokopia showed off a free new update that will let players explore the depths of the sea and build underwater. While a free update is coming, so is paid DLC. The Expansion Pass will be available later today, and Bubbly Basin (the first part of the DLC Expansion Pass) is coming in August (with Manaphy teased!).

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave

The latest Fire Emblem, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, has finally been given a fresh new look at the Nintendo Direct presentation. Players will have the choice of choosing four main characters to embody, and will be able to recruit characters and spend free time as they see fit (similar to Three Fates). Each main character comes with their own special techniques that can change the tide of battle. Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave launches on September 17.

Ninjala 2: The Uncharted Planet

After accidentally breaking a mysterious seal, you’re stranded on a planet and must find your way back home in Ninjala 2: The Uncharted Planet. Up to four Ninjas can play at once when it launches in the Spring of 2027.

Nintendo Switch Online DK Challenge Event

This limited DK Challenge event will let players take on old Donkey Kong game challenges (and levels) from titles like Donkey Kong Country for a card collection. The DK Challenge starts later today, and it will last until September 1. Fans who own Donkey Kong Bananza will have access to brand new levels, too (with a challenge) via way of DLC.

JUJUTSU KAISEN RUMBLE: SURVIVATON 

From the makers of Vampire Survivors comes another one, and this time it’s a Jujutsu Kaisen-flavoured title from poncle, and more than 20 characters from the series will be playable in JUJUTSU KAISEN RUMBLE: SURVIVATON. It’s coming to Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026.

Lords of the Fallen II

The next title in the Lords of the Fallen series by CI Games, Lords of the Fallen II, is coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 on launch. It’s coming Fall 2026.

Lies of P: Complete Edition

Lies of P is finally coming to the Nintendo family of consoles (the Nintendo Switch 2), in a complete edition that gives fans access to the Overture DLC. It’s coming on August 6.

Devil May Cry 5 Devil Hunter Edition

This Nintendo Direct has been one for the ports, as now Devil May Cry 5 Devil Hunter Edition is coming to the Nintendo Switch 2. Additional content is coming to the Switch 2 edition, and it’s coming on June 23.

Muramasa: Revenant Blades

Behold the legend of the Demon Blades, first released on the Wii U, then ported over to the PlayStation Vita. Now, fans can experience this ARPG title from Vanillaware on a modern console. Muramasa: Revenant Blades is coming early 2027.

Xenoblade Chronicles for Nintendo Switch 2

A gratuitous amount of quality of life updates and content are coming to the Xenoblade Chronicles series of games. Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition is launching later today (digital) with a physical release coming next week, and the other two Xenoblade Chronicles titles are coming soon for Switch 2.

Xenoblade Genesis

A new Xenoblade title was then unveiled at the Nintendo Direct, and it involves students learning at an academy on how to fight against monsters. Players will face off against a god’s vengeance in Xenoblade Genesis when it launches in 2027.

Nintendo Switch Sports Resort

A new Nintendo Sports title has been revealed, and it’s coming with a whopping 12 sports. Boxing, Table Tennis, Archery, Tennis, Volleyball, Bowling, Basketball, Golf, Thumb Wrestling, Skateboarding, Power Cruising, Prop Plane and Jump Rope are coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 in Nintendo Switch Sports Resort on October 22.

RuneScape: Dragonwilds

The anticipated new entry into the world of RuneScape, RuneScape: Dragonwilds, has now been confirmed for the Nintendo Switch 2 console, allowing fans to take RuneScape on the go. It’s coming on September 15.

Hello Kitty Party Land

Allows fans to create their own character and meet 140 other Sanrio characters when it launches on both Nintendo Switch consoles on October 29.

Star Fox

The next Star Fox title (which is based on Star Fox 64) is getting a demo tonight on Nintendo Switch 2!

Final Fantasy Resonance

Fans can imagine what classic FINAL FANTASY could have become if pixel art kept evolving. FINAL FANTASY RESONANCE is the first HD-2D FINAL FANTASY title blending pixel art with dynamic camera work, and it will allow fans to summon characters from FINAL FANTASY mainline titles to help out inn battle. It’s coming October 22.

Pikuniku 2

In this zany, long-awaited adventure sequel, fans will embody Piku on a strange and whimsical mission to foil a dastardly plot. Wander, solve, and gossip your way through a charming, colourful world, and as with all great adventures, it’s the journey that counts rather than the destination. Along the way, Piku will meet many odd folk, each with a story to tell. Pikuniku 2 launches on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027.

Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World

A new Dragon Quest Monsters title has been revealed, and instead of playing the dark Prince, you’re playing an adventurer in this new title where Monsters take the centre stage. Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World is coming on December 3.

The Duskbloods

Fans were given a fresh look at The Duskbloods, a title where players can step into this new PvPvE multiplayer action game and take on the role of a Bloodsworn. Fight through a world overrun with enemies using unique weapons and abilities, while occasionally forming transient alliances on your path to victory. FromSoftware gave fans another very brief glimpse at The Duskbloods, with the promise of an open network test coming in Summer 2026.

Splatoon Raiders

The next title shown at the Nintendo Direct is Splatoon Raiders, and Nintendo gave fans a fresh look at the PvE style of gameplay, where fans play as Inklings trying to find treasure in a solo adventure in the world of Splatoon. Players are able to find and use their own playstyle! Fans should expect more details in the upcoming Splatoon Raiders Direct, airing on June 30. Splatoon Raiders is coming on July 23. Nintendo is also launching new Joy-Con 2 controllers for the new title, in a new colourway.

DELTARUNE Chapter 5

New adventures are blooming in DELTARUNE Chapter 5, a free update coming to Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch on June 24, 2026.

Metaphor: ReFantazio

Metaphor: ReFantazio is getting a Nintendo Switch 2 edition, and it’s coming on November 12.

Minecraft

A dedicated Nintendo Switch 2 version of Minecraft is in the works, and enhanced lighting and shadow effects will be improved. Fans can import their previous worlds from the Nintendo Switch when it arrives later in 2026.

Partner Sizzle Reel!

Nintendo Direct then blasted fans with myriad release dates for upcoming titles. Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 and more are coming to the Nintendo Switch 2.

KINGDOM HEARTS Collection [I~III] 

Three Kingdom Hearts collections are coming to the Nintendo Switch 2, and they’re coming on October 8.

Kingdom Hearts IV

A new look at Kingdom Hearts IV was then shown, giving fans a fresh look at combat gameplay in the new contemporary setting and how Sora will face off against the Heartless. It’s coming soon and will be available at launch on Nintendo Switch 2.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

The final announcement at the Nintendo Direct confirmed The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will be reborn on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026.

That wraps the entire Nintendo Direct presentation. Fans looking for more news and SGF 2026 coverage can find it over on CGMagazine!

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake has officially been announced for the Nintendo Switch 2 at the Nintendo Direct June 2026.

Through all the leaks and rumours, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake is finally confirmed! Unfortunately, there was no official release date listed during the Nintendo Direct June 2026. However, they did say it will be coming out for Switch 2 this year. Now, fans can stop speculating if this game will be coming out. This was one of the highly anticipated titles, as many knew this fan favourite game needed a remake—and enhanced for the Switch 2 no less.

Originally released for the N64 in 1998, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remains one of Nintendo’s most beloved games. This was the first time fans were able to venture into Hyrule in full 3D, where players were able to ride Link’s iconic mount: Epona. An enhanced version was released in 2011 for Nintendo 3DS, and the original is also available to play on Nintendo Switch (and Switch 2) via the Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership.

The trailer showed a cinematic explaining the origin story of Link. The graphics looked amazing, and had the famous score backing the scene of Link sleeping. The tale of the Kokiri and the Great Deku Tree told over some fabric artworks, the awakening of Link in his house at the beginning of the game, and the Triforce of Courage already glimmering on his hand.

Sadly, Nintendo ended the Direct briefly, promising to offer more details later this year. The presentation said, “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will be reborn on Nintendo Switch 2. More details will be announced in the future. So please look forward to them.” The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake will release in 2026.

Xenoblade Genesis was revealed at Nintendo Direct June 2026, with no clear release date yet in 2027—along with Chronicles Switch 2 updates.

The next Xenoblade game is here! Monolith Soft announced Xenoblade Genesis for a 2027 release window at the Nintendo Direct June 2026. They showed off a lengthy two-minute trailer showing the story players can expect. Also, they noted that Xenoblade Chronicles 1, 2, and 3 will be getting Nintendo Switch 2 editions and updates. The trailer marked Genesis as a ‘new beginning’ for the franchise.

Xenoblade Chronicles Nintendo Switch 2 Edition digital version will be available later today. The physical version will be out on July 30, 2026. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition will be coming to digital on July 30, 2026, and the physical version will be out on October 1, 2026. Then, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition will have its digital and physical release on December 3, 2026. Essentially, there will be graphics and combat upgrades within each version/port to Switch 2. But there are also new voicelines added to certain events, as well.

The trailer showed off an epic, stunning mix of gameplay and cinematics in the Xenoblade Genesis trailer. It also contained some technical improvements they made that tailored the experience of the Xenoblade Chronicle games to handheld mode. They did graphic update side-by-sides to show off all the visual improvements too. Xenoblade Genesis launches for Nintendo Switch 2 at an unspecified point in 2027. Until then, you can see everything announced at the June 2026 Nintendo Direct here.

Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave details shown in gameplay trailer at Nintendo Direct June 2026, revealing the September 17 release date.

Nintendo Direct June 2026 featured Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, showing off the first gameplay features and release date. Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave will be out on Nintendo Switch 2, with a special edition too. This will be the next mainline game in the video game series. The trailer showed off the dynamic battle system, which expanded on the battle system from Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave will be coming out on September 17, 2026.

The game takes place in the Dagdan Empire, where heroes fight in an Rome-like arena. The maps look built into the arena map. The trailer went in-depth with the combat, dialogue, and cinematics that fans will recognize. The turn-based combat never looked better! The story revolves around four heroes: Cai, Dietrich, Theodora, and Leda. Each character has their own motivations for battling in the arena, but the player will be able to discover their synergies in battle.

The trailer blurb reads: “In the capital of the Dagdan Empire, powerful fighters gather to participate in the Heroic Games, where the winner is granted one wish. Hone your techniques at the training grounds, recruit new allies, or travel beyond Dagsion’s walls to gain experience. How you spend your free time is up to you.” The trailer ended with some talk of the Underworld, leaning into the Roman and Greek mythology elements and aesthetics.

The special edition has a steelbook, art, and the game. Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave will be coming out for Nintendo Switch 2 on September 17, 2026.

According to new reports, the Helldivers film over at PlayStation Productions has lost its star with Jason Momoa’s exit, leaving the film to replace the actor.

The Helldivers movie was announced way back in January 2025, at the Sony CES Press Conference 2025. At the time, it appeared the company was riding the hot hand produced by Arrowhead Studios; it was basically Helldivers 2 year. Earlier in 2026, Jason Momoa signed on to star in the new film, lending his extreme physical acting ability to a film that could be chock-full of action and explosions. Today, however, has spelled a different story. Deadline has reported that Jason Momoa has exited the film, leaving PlayStation Productions to find a new face for the film, as the project is still moving forward.

Helldivers started as a top-down twin-stick shooter, where players dropped onto planets to defeat the bugs and bots threatening Super Earth and Democracy. Helldivers II put players in the third-person perspective and gave players a more hands-on feel of what it’s like to be one of the combatants for Super Earth. The sequel was incredibly popular on launch, and for each subsequent game update (according to Steam Charts), players return in droves to check out the new digs that Arrowhead Studios deploys for its players. With all of the thought and popularity the title has, a film appeared to be the next step.

But now PlayStation Productions needs to find a new star with Jason Momoa’s exit. The Helldivers film is being produced by Hutch Parker, with PlayStation Productions’ Asad Qizilbash and Lin through his Perfect Storm Entertainment. PlayStation Productions and Sony Pictures have joined forces before on successful films that have adapted their hit titles (Uncharted, Until Dawn, Ratchet & Clank), so although Jason Momoa has left the film, it appears to still be in good hands.

Returning to the beloved sci-fi MMORPG title, Fenris Creations launches EVE Online: Cradle of War, bringing many new features for the capsuleers to anticipate. 

As tension continues to rise between the New Eden’s great empires, EVE Online invites capsuleers to the latest expansion, Cradle of War. Kicking off the first chapter of Theatres of War, the Cradle of War expansion introduces Military Campaigns, eight new ships, Exordium Starter Space for new players to learn together in a PvP-free starter region, and more.

Launched in May 2003, EVE Online is a community-driven spaceship MMORPG, inviting capsuleers from over 7,800 star systems to play however they wish, whether they are exploring space, participating in PvP and PvE battles, or partaking in many in-game professions and activities ranging from war to trading. With the space MMORPG being 23 years old, the title features over 350 ships for players to fly, over 1,000,000 daily market transactions, and 750+ ships destroyed hourly. 

The biggest feature to arrive in EVE Online: Cradle of War is the Military Campaigns, introducing visible consequences as the new system connects thousands of capsuleers into massive, coordinated wars, with every contribution playing a bigger role, including fighting on the frontlines, hauling supplies, mining resources, and gathering intelligence. Alongside battling on the front lines, those who are builders, miners, industrialists, mission runners, fleet commanders, or rookies will shape how New Eden develops over time by reshaping infrastructure, creating new stargate connections, and establishing lasting changes.

With the introduction of the Military Campaigns, the Creative Director for EVE Online, Bergur Finnabogason, shared: “Cradle of War opens the door wider for every capsuleer to leave their mark on New Eden. Military Campaigns give pilots more ways to join the war effort, while the PvP-free starter system helps new players find their footing before stepping into the wider conflict. From rookies to veteran fleets, this is a moment for everyone to pick a side, make trouble, and help swing the fight.”

Alongside the launch of the Military Campaigns, the upcoming EVE Online: Cradle of War expansion introduce many new features for players to anticipate. The new features arriving in Cradle of War are:

• Exordium Starter Space – The first PvP-free starter region for new capsuleers to learn together, build confidence, meet mentors, and participate in the starter-friendly Military Campaign before setting foot into bigger wars across New Eden. 
• Eight New Ships – Four new Tech II Command Carriers arrive, introducing new capital-scale fleet support through command bursts, battlefield control, and stronger coordination in major conflicts. Additionally, four new Navy Destroyers are added, providing fast, affordable ships to help new and veteran players get into PvE, PvP, and Factional Warfare.
• Titles and Achievements – Players can track progression, complete goals, and unlock titles to highlight the capsuleer’s identity, which showcases the pilot’s accomplishments, reputation, and role in the universe. 
• Vision of Greatness Epic Arc – Four defining moments in New Eden’s history return as a hyper-real simulation for each empire, providing a better understanding of the faction identities and allegiance to new players, and for veterans to experience the beloved events once again. 
• Theatres of War Dashboards – Players can now follow campaign goals, live progress, personal contribution, Factional Warfare activity, pirate FOBs, and other war systems from the new dashboard. 

New and veteran players can play the latest EVE Online: Cradle of War today on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store. To learn more about the expansion, players can visit the EVE News.

Fans who have been awaiting Ninja Theory’s previously announced horror game Project Mara will be disappointment to learn the game has reached an untimely end.

The announcement came during an interview with Xbox Wire Editor-In-Chief Joe Skrebels after the announcement of Senua. While discussing the game’s size and scope, Ninja Theory Studio Head, Dom Matthews dropped the detail that their previously announced horror game Project Mara had been cancelled, speaking about the entirety of their 85 person studio is working on Senua, essentially leaving no room to work on their other projects.

“With the fact we have the entire team working on this game, I suspect some people might ask what’s happened to Project Mara–I took the decision to not work on that any further,” Matthews said. He continued, “These decisions are never easy, but I did so to take the opportunity to have all of the talent and expertise in the studio, all 85 creatives, working together to realize the potential of what Senua can be.”

Project Mara was initially announced on January 22nd, 2020 when Ninja Theory was working on Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II. According to Gamesradar, the game was meant to be a serious examination of mental health while blending elements of horror, “based on real lived experience accounts and in-depth research.” Supposedly, Ninja Theory wanted to “deliver a mainstream solution to help treat mental suffering and encourage mental well being,” and “recreated the horrors of the mind as accurately and realistically as possible.”

Its certainly an unfortunate development, and one can only hope that not too much time or progress was lost on Project Mara in its six years of possible development. However, Ninja Theory has found a strong foothold in the Senua series and the studio hasn’t seemed suffered any major losses despite the cancellation, with Matthews saying, “We had smaller teams working on the last two Hellblade games–Hellblade I in particular was a team of about 25 people.”

Senua was announced during the XBOX Games Showcase 2026 and is slated for a 2027 release.

The initial excitement of the Crazy Taxi: World Tour announcement was somewhat undercut when fans discovered the game used Generative AI in its development. Now SEGA has provided some details on the matter.

According to Game Informer, who were able to get a statement from SEGA, the use of GenAI was “a support tool for developers, aiming to provide better content to our users and enable developers to focus more on creative tasks.” The statement went on to say, “Generative AI was used to support our teams during the development of background assets for Crazy Taxi: World Tour. Assets generated were still subject to review by the development team. No AI was used in reference to the performers in the game.”

While it is still somewhat vague, it does provide more insight to how GenAI was used than Crazy Taxi: World Tour’s Steam page which disclosed the use of GenAI as: “We have used such generative AI support tools during development of Crazy Taxi: World Tour. No AI was used in reference to the performers in the game,” following the same initial statement that was provided to Game Informer.

While the move is certainly controversial, it shouldn’t come as a surprise. After the publication of its Q2 financial results on December 4th, 2025 SEGA said in a Q&A session that it would invest more in using AI in game development, saying, “Rather than fully following the trend toward the large-scale development, we will also pursue efficiency improvements, such as leveraging AI.”

Despite this, fans of the iconic series have expressed some distain that GenAI would be used in a game like Crazy Taxi—whose music, gameplay and general vibe was meant to evoke a sense of counter-culture. In an announcement post by Wari64 on Bluesky, several users left comments saying “AI Slop,” to “Don’t buy,” and “they’re using genai NO NO NO NO NO,” in reference to the games iconic use of the Offspring song “All I Want.”

Crazy Taxi: World Tour was revealed during the XBOX Games Showcase 2026 with a tentative release date for 2027.

Fans of the (somewhat) cult hit Expeditions series will be excited to learn that the newest entry in the alternate-history RPG will explore feudal Japan.

While the official announcement took place during IGN Live, CGM got to sit in on a sneak peek at Expeditions: Samurai with the series’ creator and Creative Director at Campfire Cabal, Jonas Wæver. During the presentation, Wæver spoke about the new setting, some of the new features, and what went into the design of their newest entry in the series.

Apparently, one of the important things they did for Expeditions: Samurai was to “listen to the fans,” who had been requesting Japan as a setting for many years. “We want to reflect the historical realities of things even as we spin off our own fictionalized tales with our own characters, and that’s what kind of sets us apart,” Wæver said, adding, “You get to explore the wonders of feudal Japan in the unique format of our Expedition series which has a little bit of that exploration, the combat and all of the choice and consequence.”

Wæver explained that every Expeditions game begins by choosing a “person from history who travelled far and met a very different culture and situation than what they came for.” For this entry, they landed on William Adams—an English navigator who sailed on a Dutch ship to Japan in the year 1600. However, since this is a role-playing game, players will be able to “step into the shoes of William Adams and make totally different decisions as should they so choose.”

Similar to previous entries in the series and other games in the genre, Expeditions: Samurai will have a mix of real-time exploration, turn-based combat and dialogue encounters, but for the first time in the series, stealth will be a major component of the game. According to Wæver, “You can sneak around, split up your party, set up your positions for a really effective surprise attack and then when you make that initial devastating sneak attack to get into combat, everything is set up for your perfect victory.”

Not only that, but another first for the series is the inclusion of an optional full co-op multiplayer campaign. According to Wæver, the idea was to make co-op as seamless as possible and eliminate the downtime that comes from playing RPGs with other people. By using the system of “Simultaneous Combat Resolution,” which was introduced in Expeditions: Rome, both players carry out their actions at the same time, and only give the turn over to the enemy AI when they’ve both ended their turns. During dialogue, both players can converse with a character at the same time, wresting control of the discussion away from each other based on their characters’ skills.

Expeditions: Samurai will see an Early Access launch in August of 2026, consisting of “Act One” of the game. According to Wæver, Act One will have around eight hours of gameplay and be “almost feature complete.” Afterwards, the game will see two major updates—one for gameplay additions and the other for “Act Two,” which will be comprised of an additional 10 hours of quests. The 1.0 launch will contain four main story acts and roughly 60+ hours of gameplay.

The game is planned to launch on PC; however, Wæver also suggested consoles could be an option in the future. Players can wishlist Expeditions: Samurai on Steam.

After the XBOX Games Showcase, players were given a deep dive into the newest entry into the Gears of War franchise that takes players to the moment the whole story kicked off.

Gears of War: E-Day closed the annual XBOX Games Showcase in 2024 as the surprise final reveal—a moment of emotion and relief for The Coalition as the project they’d been keeping secret was finally shown to the world. In a detailed breakdown, the Coalition teamed showcased the incredible amount of effort and detail they’re putting into the series’ biggest return.

In an interview with Xbox Wire Editor Danielle Partis, Creative Director Matt Searcy said, “Showcase was super special for our team. Everybody here is such a huge fan of the series, and we poured our heart and soul into the announce trailer.” He continued, “That felt like the distillation of our creative vision for the game, it was super energizing for us.” That passion could be seen in the Direct as the team broke down their inspiration for the game, and the new innovations being added.

During the Direct, Searcy said, “When we started this project, we were moving to Unreal Engine 5. It was a new foundation with a blank slate, so we took a moment to reflect on what makes Gears so special.” He highlighted the necessity to bring together all the things both the team and the fans love about Gears of War—brotherhood, brutality, a sense of melancholic beauty—and how all of those things are perfectly captured in this singular moment: E-Day.

According to Technical Director Kate Rayner, E-Day is a story they could never tell before, because they didn’t have the technology to do it. She focused on highlight a world being delivered with an incredible level of detail with seamless large-scale environments, unprecedented graphic fidelity and richer, real-time destruction. “Starting with an empty hard drive, we literally built everything from scratch,” Rayner said, adding, “and then we tear it apart in front of you.”

Players will be given a range of dynamic movement never-before seen in the Gears of War franchise. As Searcy says, “This is a game that feels like Gears, but plays like new.” Movements are faster and more fluid, allowing players to run, slide into cover, vault over obstacles and even jump to reach new areas or give themselves strategic advantages. Combat maintains that chunky, brutal feeling that the series is known for, but with a smoother, more advanced feel that comes from the new engine.

This also allows for battlefields to be far more dynamic, featuring a larger sense of scale and much more complexity of objects and how players encounter each fight. It combines Coalition’s desire to use the city of Kalona not only for visual storytelling—as players are seeing a place that was filled with life slowly be destroyed—but also to create memorable battles that utilize a broad range of ideas.

The move to Unreal 5 also allowed Coalition to bring this heightened visual fidelity to its storytelling and world-building. Telling two origin stories, the game not only captures what is the beginning of the Locust War, but its also the formation of the friendship that would carry Marcus and Dom’s through the entirety of the original trilogy. Gears of War: E-Day begins with the two grieving the loss of Dom’s brother (and Marcus’ best friend) Carlos and goes into what is essentially the formation of Bravo Squad.

Rayner highlighted the level of fidelity in characters that exceeds anything from previous games, saying “Marcus has more detail in his eyelashes than his entire character model did in the original Gears of War for the XBOX 360.” Characters have three times more joints and over 350 facial shapes which allows them to convey a level of emotion that was not possible in any of the series’ installments. And the team highlighted the necessity of complex emotion, since it runs at the core of Gears of War: E-Day’s story.

Naturally, this plays into the game’s gore effects which is somewhat of a staple for the Gears of War series. Technical Art Director Colin Penty said, “Our new gore system means damage feels meaty, responsive and satisfying.” The new system allows players to focus on specific body parts in order to completely dismember opponents and utilize the added carnage for tactical advantages in combat. It also makes fights feel much more intense and desperate as players feel like the wrong shot can completely end their mission.

Players also saw the return of fan favourite weapons from the Gears of War series, such as the Gnasher Shotgun, Longshot Sniper Rifle and of course the iconic Lancer—all of which have been lovingly redesigned and updated in Unreal Engine 5. And of course, the team introduces some new weapons as well, like the five-round Gutpuncher Grenade Launcher, or the acid-blasting Incinerator Shotgun.

But its not just the story that Gears of War: E-Day hopes to deliver on for fans. They also acknowledged that the series has always had a strong multiplayer focus and for this entry they’re reinventing the Horde mode introduced in Gears of War 2 for a new 12-player PvE “Horde Siege,” where three squads defend Kalona across larger city maps, and even bigger foes. Gears of War: E-Day will also feature the 4v4 Versus mode, and while details were light, players can sign up for an Open-Beta weekends starting August 6.

Gears of War: E-Day will launch as an XBOX Series X|S exclusive October 6th 2026.

Konami showed off the next sequel game at XBOX Games Showcase 2026, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, coming out in October 2026.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, Castlevania finds its 26th main entry game. Konami and Evil Empire were proud to announce Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, a sequel to Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse from back in 1989. The game may be spearheaded by Evil Empire, but Motion Twin was said to be in a consulting role as well. The two creators worked on Dead Cells together, and now collaborating on this next game in the iconic franchise.

The story description on the Xbox Wire confirms the game is “set 23 years after 1989’s Castlevania: Dracula’s Curse.” Then, it reveals the “new sequel depicts the growth of a young Rose Belmont–daughter of Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades–and marries the classic structure of Castlevania with modern enhancements, including enhanced freedom and speed, tarot-based Arcana skills, and more. Race to save a ravaged Paris before Dracula’s curse can claim Rose, and take on Death itself.” And yes, Rose will be carrying the Belmont family heirloom whip, the “Vampire Killer”, which is able to be used both as offense against enemies and for movement across large chasms and certain heights that cannot be reached otherwise.

This is a nice change of pace, having a new female lead in Rose. This almost parallels the family bonds in games and sequel games, likened recently to that of God of War: Laufey revealed at the latest Sony State of Play. It was nice to see some of the cool visuals from the trailer, along with the dynamic enhancements. The voiceover from Rose’s mother Sypha is heard over some of the gameplay: “God has given you another chance, Rose. You must use it wisely to better control your curse and strengthen yourself.” So, maybe it will be looking back and forward in examining Rose’s journey.

The latest installment in the series, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, is set to launch on October 15, 2026. It will be coming to XBOX Series X|S and XBOX on PC as an Xbox Play Anywhere title.