Sony just announced some new additions to the PS Plus Game Catalog for August and it's a pretty beefy lineup. All of these titles will be ready to play on August 19. There's something here for just about everyone, so let's get started.
Perhaps the biggest game of the bunch is Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered. This is the PS5 port of the PS4 hit, which upgrades the graphics and swaps out the actor playing Peter Parker. PS4 owners aren't being left out in the cold here, as Marvel’s Spider-Man: Game of the Year Edition will also be available.
Not into web-slinging? Mortal Kombat 1 will be available for PS5 players. This is the latest and greatest fighting game in the long-running franchise. It garnered positive reviews upon launch back in 2023. The graphics are stunning and there's a Johnny Cage skin made to resemble actor Jean-Claude Van Damme.
The fantasy surfing adventure Sword of the Sea will be available for subscribers as a day one release on August 19. That's the same day it launches for all platforms. This one's by the same developers behindJourney and Abzû, so color us excited.
Other games available on August 19 include the utterly charming narrative adventureHarold Halibut and the horrifically captivatingIndika. Beyond that, there's the life sim Coral Island and the RPG Atelier Ryza 3 Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/spider-man-and-mortal-kombat-1-head-up-augusts-ps-plus-game-catalog-additions-172758798.html?src=rss
When Nintendo announced that it was adding GameCube games to its (inexplicably Switch 2-only) Nintendo Switch Online offering, people were understandably excited about the likes of Super Mario Sunshine and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker joining the service. And I was one of them (even if I’d personally lose little sleep if Super Mario Sunshine was fired directly into the sun).
But as much as I want the obvious GameCube classics on my Switch 2, it’s the more underrated gems I’ve heard so much about from hardcore Nintendo fans over the years that really pique my interest. Games like Chibi-Robo!, for example, which Nintendo has confirmed as the next title joining the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion pack library on August 21.
Say hello to Chibi-Robo!
Join him on his quest to restore order to the Sanderson house and save the world in Chibi-Robo!, coming to Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics on #NintendoSwitch2 for #NintendoSwitchOnline + Expansion Pack members on Aug 21! pic.twitter.com/BWjL2CbHdL
Chibi-Robo! is a 2005 platform-adventure game about a friendly little robot whose main goal is to help the Sanderson family by taking on various housework-related missions and performing generally good deeds on request. Chibi-Robo’s helpfulness isn’t limited to humans, though. In its quest to spread happiness, it also assists several animals and even enchanted toys along the way. As a player, you have to keep an eye on the robot’s battery life and use power outlets dotted around the house to recharge it. Fail to do so and it’ll collapse, and you’ll lose a chunk of the in-game currency you’ve collected.
Chibi-Robo! looks like a typically charming Nintendo game in every respect, but it was actually originally conceived by now-defunct developer Skip Ltd. as a point-and-click adventure game, with Bandai as the publisher. Exactly how or why the game ended up moving over to Nintendo remains a mystery, but director Kenichi Nishi told Time ExtensionthatShigeru Miyamoto took a particular liking to the character design. The legendary Mario creator then went on to play something of an overseer role in the game’s development under its new publisher.
Chibi-Robo! spawned a number of handheld spinoffs, but the original game remains the one with cult classic status. It’s also become increasingly hard to play over the years, with Nintendo choosing not to port the game forward. These days you can expect to pay as much as $200 for a second-hand physical copy. As someone who categorically does not have that kind of cash to chuck at a 20-year-old video game (or any game for that matter), I’m looking forward to seeing what all the fuss is about when it lands on Switch 2 next week.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-is-putting-an-extremely-rare-gamecube-game-on-switch-2-next-week-171049667.html?src=rss
PUBG: Battlegrounds is finally ready to ditch last-gen consoles. On Wednesday, the developer said that the game will transition to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on November 13.
Although the battle royale has been playable on current-gen consoles all along, it was running as a PS4 or Xbox One game. That helped it cast a wide net (and probably make more money), but it also came with technical limitations. The company said the move to current-gen will "provide our players with a more stable gameplay environment on console and ensure a smoother, more seamless experience with future updates."
PS5 players can expect the new version to play in 1440p at 60fps. Both the PS5 Pro and Xbox Series X will reach 2160p at 60fps. However, the two high-end systems will support Dynamic 4K resolution. Meanwhile, the Xbox Series S will run at 1080p at 60fps or 1440p at 30fps. (Your choice.)
Here's how PUBG: Battlegrounds currently looks on PS5.
PUBG / Krafton
And this is how it will look after November 13. It's a subtle difference at first glance, but you can see more detail, including pronounced shadows.
PUBG / Krafton
When the cutoff arrives, the game will no longer be downloadable or playable on PS4 and Xbox One. PlayStation users will need to download a separate PS5 version of the game on November 13. If you already have it installed on your Xbox Series X/S, the current-gen update will install automatically via Microsoft's Smart Delivery. On both systems, your existing account data and purchased items will transition automatically.
PUBG left its last-gen users a sentimental message that sounds a bit like a corporate layoff letter. "We still vividly remember the epic battles, the heart-stopping moments, and the camaraderie that brought us together," the company wrote. "We are deeply grateful for every moment you've spent with us over the past eight years."
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pubg-battlegrounds-will-leave-ps4-and-xbox-one-behind-later-this-year-162932937.html?src=rss
We got our first look at Lego Voyagers back at Summer Game Fest in June. As it turned out, Light Brick Studio (Lego Builder's Journey) and publisher Annapurna Interactive weren't kidding about the "coming soon" aspect of the reveal trailer. That's because Lego Voyagers is set to hit PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and PC (Steam and Epic Games Store) on September 15.
Lego Voyagers is a physics-based, co-op puzzle game for two players. You and a buddy will each control Lego bricks as you attempt to rescue an abandoned spaceship. The blue and red pieces snap together with other blocks and can build structures to help navigate these worlds. You'll be able to play together locally on the same system or online. If you choose the latter route, only one of you needs to own the game for you both to play it, thanks to the Friend's Pass system.
According to Annapurna, Lego Voyagers "asks open questions about building friendships, sharing dreams and giving space. It reminds us that while playing and being creative is for all shapes and sizes, it’s always better when you share it with a friend." That sounds quite lovely to me.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/co-op-puzzle-game-lego-voyagers-will-arrive-on-september-15-153915915.html?src=rss
Workers from Blizzard Entertainment's department for Story and Franchise Development have voted to unionize. Members of the team will become members of the Communication Workers of America and Microsoft has recognized the union. The SFD team is responsible for cinematics, animation and narrative in Blizzard's series, creating content such as in-game cutscenes and promotional videos. The department also includes archival workers and historians for Blizzard franchises, such as World of Warcraft and Overwatch. A spokesperson from CWA said that there will be about 169 workers from the company joining the local chapter.
"After more than a decade working at Blizzard, I've seen all the highs and lows. For years, Blizzard has been a place where people could build their careers and stay for decades, but that stability's been fading," Bucky Fisk, a principal editor and member of the organizing committee, said. "With a union, we're able to preserve what makes this place special, secure real transparency in how decisions are made, and make sure policies are applied fairly to everyone."
"These past couple of months have felt both important and cathartic given what's happened to video game workers across the industry," said Sammi Kay, another member of the organizing committee and an associate producer at Blizzard. "At multiple points in my life, I've always been told to accept the way things are, but with organizing, we're able to build a future better than we found it."
Blizzard is owned by Microsoft. Today's development marks the latest move for game developers under the tech giant's umbrella to pursue union representation. About 600 quality assurance workers from Activision joined CWA last March. The QA team from ZeniMax also ratified its union agreement in June and Raven Software finally secured a union contract earlier this month.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/blizzards-story-and-franchise-development-team-has-voted-to-unionize-213818158.html?src=rss
The Nintendo Switch 2 didn’t come out of the gate with a host of exclusive, must-play games. But we’re a few months into the console’s lifecycle now and there are a variety of Switch 2-only games that are worth your cash, as well as a bunch of original Switch games that have received improvements for the new console And there’s also a robust selection of third-party games that have been on other consoles for a while, but not available on the Switch.
Between all those, there are plenty of good games for the Switch 2 — and if you don’t have an original Switch, there’s even more out there. You can see our list of our favorite Switch games here, but this list will focus on Switch 2 exclusives, original Switch games that have been improved for the new hardware and the best-performing, third-party titles worth your time. And keep an eye on this list, as there should be a lot more Switch 2 exclusives coming this fall that we're excited to try, including eagerly-awaited titles like Metroid Prime 4.
Rod Fergusson, the general manager of the Diablo franchise for the last five years, is leaving Blizzard. Fergusson announced the move on social media, but didn't say where he's going next. Before joining Blizzard in 2020 to lead Diablo, Fergusson was studio head at The Coalition, where he oversaw Gears of War.
"After five years driving the Diablo franchise with four big launches, it’s time to step away from Blizzard/Microsoft, sword in hand, and see what’s next," Fergusson wrote in a post on Bluesky. "I’m proud of what we’ve built and excited for what’s ahead for Diablo, and for me." His departure comes after significant layoffs this summer at Microsoft, Blizzard's owner, which affected its gaming division.
In a reply to Fergusson's announcement, Xbox head Phil Spencer posted, "You brought strength, hellfire, and vision to one of gaming’s most iconic franchises. Playing Diablo IV with you was a blast—thanks for everything you gave to the game and the community."
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/rod-fergusson-leaves-blizzard-after-five-years-leading-diablo-180049767.html?src=rss
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 17: Rod Fergusson attends Dine with Diablo – a IV course experience ahead of Blizzard Entertainment’s Diablo IV game launch on May 17. 2023 at in New York City. (Photo by Jason Mendez/Getty Images for Blizzard Entertainment)
It feels like Summer Game Fest is only just in our rear view mirror and yet there's another video game extravaganza on the horizon. Gamescom is the planet's largest gaming event and we're sure to find out about a bunch of interesting new games at the Opening Night Live showcase. Xbox is broadcasting from the show floor across two days, and there will be other presentations that are worth keeping an eye on.
Gamescom is taking place between August 20 and 24 this year, and we're learning bits and pieces about what to expect from the various showcases. The affair will kick off with Opening Night Live, a showcase hosted by Geoff Keighley that bridges the gap between his two other major events, Summer Game Fest Live and The Game Awards. That will be followed by two days of Xbox broadcasts, the latest edition of the Future Games Show and three days of Bethesda streams.
We'll update this preview with more details as we get them, and embed video versions of each stream as they become available too. Here's our breakdown of how to watch Gamescom 2025 and what to expect from the event.
Gamescom schedule
Opening Night Live — August 19, 1:30PM ET (pre-show), 2PM (main show)
Xbox @ gamescom 2025 Broadcast — August 20, 9AM ET
Future Games Show — August 20, 2PM ET
Xbox @ gamescom 2025 Broadcast — August 21, 9AM ET
Bethesda — August 22-25
How to watch Gamescom Opening Night Live - August 19, 2PM ET
Opening Night Live perhaps won't feature as many heavy hitters as Summer Game Fest Live or The Game Awards typically have, but one thing's for certain: Call of Duty fans will definitely want to tune in. The two-hour showcase will feature the "worldwide reveal" of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. We'll almost certainly get a release date here too.
Given that Microsoft has said Hollow Knight: Silksong will be playable on PC and ROG Xbox Ally X at its Gamescom booth, and the game is still slated to arrive this year, this event seems as good a time as any for us to finally get a release date for that thing — over six years after we first got to try it out. There will certainly be more eyeballs on ONL than Microsoft's own streams, so that seems like the likeliest bet for any concrete Silksong news at Gamescom.
You can also expect a trailer for multiplayer RPG Honor of Kings: World, along with new looks at Resident Evil Requiem, Silent Hill f, Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion and The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin. You'll get to see the opening cinematic for World of Warcraft's Midnight expansion as well. It won't all be game reveals and announcements, though — there'll be a performance of music from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 featuring composer Lorien Testard and vocalist Alice Duport-Percier.
We'll be keeping tabs on all the news from Opening Night Live right here on Engadget. Myself, senior editor Jess Conditt and editor-in-chief Aaron Souppouris will be live-blogging our way through ONL. Join us! It should be fun.
How to watch Xbox @ gamescom 2025 Broadcast — August 20, 9AM ET
One major piece of news we're likely to get from Xbox during one of its streams (if it isn't revealed at ONL beforehand) is the release date and pricing for the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X handheld systems. Leaker billbil-kun has reported the devices will arrive on October 16, at least in Europe, costing €599 for the Xbox Ally and €899 for the higher-end Xbox Ally X.
Microsoft had already confirmed these handhelds would be available in time for the holiday season, so that rumored release date makes sense. Either way, we should get confirmation during Gamescom of when to expect these devices, especially since the company says it will discuss the handhelds during its August 20 stream. This particular event will also feature the likes of Grounded 2, Keeper and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
Along with the English-language broadcast, Xbox's streams will be available in other languages on regional Xbox channels on the likes of YouTube, Twitch, TikTok and Facebook. The streams will be available in Traditional Chinese, German, French, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese and Mexican Spanish, as well as with ASL and English audio descriptions.
How to watch Future Games Show — August 20, 2PM ET
Actors David Hayter (Snake in the Metal Gear series) and Maggie Robertson (Lady Dimitrescu in Resident Evil Village) will be hosting this edition of the Future Games Show. This installment will feature more than 50 games across world premieres, new trailers and sudden demo releases.
Capcom, Bandai Namco Entertainment, EA and NACON are among those who'll be represented in this one, which will feature projects from AAA and indie publishers and studios. A post-show will run for 40 minutes and feature more trailers, world premieres and demo announcements.
How to watch Xbox @ gamescom 2025 Broadcast — August 21, 9AM ET
Xbox will be broadcasting live from the Gamescom show floor for a second straight day. This particular stream will include details on Ninja Gaiden 4, The Outer Worlds 2, Overwatch 2 (perhaps with a look at Season 18, which is set to start on August 26) and other games. Microsoft plans to reveal more details about its schedule in the days leading up to Gamescom.
There will be plenty from the Bethesda side of the Xbox division as well. The publisher will be broadcasting from the Xbox show floor at Gamescom for three days, starting on August 22. According to Microsoft, these streams will include "developer interviews, game showcases, community segments, crafting highlights and live IRL tours."
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/how-to-watch-gamescom-2025-and-what-to-expect-120024733.html?src=rss
Nightdive Studios and id Software have announced a surprise remaster of fantasy shooters Heretic and Hexen. The games are now available for modern consoles in a new release, dubbed Heretic + Hexen, that includes support for co-op, cross-platform multiplayer and community-published mods.
Heretic + Hexen combines Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders, Hexen: Beyond Heretic and Hexen: Deathkings of the Dark Citadel into a single bundle.On top of making the updates necessary to get the games running on Xbox, PlayStation and Switch, Nightdive also created "two brand new episodes" to play through called Heretic: Faith Renewed and Hexen: Vestiges of Grandeur that include new levels inspired by the original games.
When they were first released in 1994 and 1995, respectively, Heretic and Hexen featured the novel pairing of Doom-inspired first-person action, with rudimentary RPG elements like character classes and an inventory. The games helped put developer Raven Software on the map not long before it went on to create games like Quake 4 and Wolfenstein for id Software.
Nightdive Studios has worked on other id Software remasters, but the idea of remaking or rereleasing Heretic and Hexen has been in the cards for quite a while. Microsoft completed its acquisition of ZeniMax Media, the parent company of the games' original publisher id Software, in 2021. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer was on the record as recently as 2023 as being interested in rereleasing both games. It took a couple years, but the remasters finally happened.
Heretic + Hexen is available now for Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. If you already own any of the original versions of the games, you'll get upgraded to the remastered bundle for free.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/heretic-and-hexen-have-received-a-surprise-remaster-from-nightdive-studios-205747137.html?src=rss
When UFO 50, the dizzyingly ambitious fictional game compendium from the creator of Spelunky, landed on PC last year, a Switch port felt inevitable. We’ve had to wait nearly 12 months for that to happen, but it’s finally here.
Rudely shadow-dropped into a sizzle reel at the end of Nintendo’s (otherwise largely underwhelming) Indie World showcase this morning, UFO 50 is available on Switch (and presumably Switch 2, barring any strange compatibility issues) for $25 right now. For those who missed it on PC, you’re getting a wildly varied set of retro-styled games belonging to a console that never existed, all designed by a made-up developer called UFO Soft from the 80s. Confused?
The high concept fictional premise is basically just a good excuse for the six modern-day indie developers actually responsible for the game to pay tribute to the 8- and 16-bit games they remember so fondly. The included games span just about every genre of the era, from platformers and puzzle games, to turn-based strategy, pure arcade titles and bafflingly fully-fledged RPGs. UFO 50 really is a remarkable achievement, and the Switch is the perfect platform for it.
The end of the game’s PC exclusivity could mean that Xbox and PlayStation ports will also arrive at some point, but it arrives on Switch as a console exclusive for now at least.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/ufo-50-a-brilliant-tribute-to-retro-gaming-is-out-for-the-switch-right-now-141756694.html?src=rss
Back in June, publisher Devolver Digital decided to switch up its usual Summer Game Fest showcase format and dedicate it to a single game, Ball x Pit by indie developer Kenny Sun and a few collaborators. The demo sunk its claws into me, and I've been looking forward to the full game ever since. During Nintendo's Indie World stream on Thursday, it emerged that Ball x Pit is coming to Switch, PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Game Pass on October 15. A Switch 2 version will arrive later this year.
Ball x Pit is a bit like if Breakout, Vampire Survivors and Space Invaders were blended together with a pinch of base building thrown in for good measure. Your character will (manually or automatically, it's up to you) fire destructive balls at waves of enemies that approach from the top of the screen, trying to destroy them before they reach the bottom and cause more damage. You'll collect more types of balls and augmentations throughout each run and upgrade both.
The action really kicks up a notch when you're able to fuse two balls and combine their effects. A fusion might grant you a ghost ball that passes through enemies but sticks a lightning rod into each one it makes contact with, dealing recurring damage to both that particular bad guy and others nearby. There are more than 60 different balls to play around with and combining a pair frees up a slot for another one, so you can end up with truly wild builds. You'll also unlock more characters with unique skills that you'll want to experiment with too.
Along with the brick-breaking action, there's a base-building element to Ball x Pit. You can help expand the settlement of New Ballbylon (chef's kiss on that name) with dozens of different buildings that can help you unlock more power-ups, characters and so on. The two sides of the game feed into each other and make for a very sticky, satisfying loop.
According to Devolver, Ball x Pit had the 12th most-played demo during the most recent Steam Next Fest. More than 270,000 people have tried it out on Steam (demo progress carries over to the full game). Ball x Pit is easily one of my most anticipated games for the rest of the year. My only dilemma now is to figure out which platform to play it on.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-spellbinding-ball-x-pit-will-hit-pc-and-consoles-on-october-15-141156022.html?src=rss
RedOctane Games is back and ready to make more rhythm games. The studio announced its re-launch today and said it is already in production on its first title. Charles and Kai Huang, who co-founded the original RedOctane back in 1999 and launched the Guitar Hero franchise, will serve on a special advisory board for the new company. The first RedOctane was acquired by Activision in 2006 and shuttered in 2010.
The team is small, but it has some heavy-hitters from the rhythm game world. Its head of studio is Simon Ebejer, who was the production director for multiple Guitar Hero games, and many of its employees worked on Guitar Hero and DJ Hero. RedOctane will operate within parent company Embracer Freemode, which also houses CRKD, a gaming accessory company that also has history in rhythm games.
There are some interesting competitors to this revived RedOctane on the market, such as Clone Hero and Fortnight Festival, not to mention legions of arcade titles. It should be exciting to see what new ideas RedOctane will bring to the party.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/redoctane-relaunches-and-will-continue-to-make-new-rhythm-games-211816411.html?src=rss
Microsoft revealed that it was working on an AI chatbot specifically for gamers back in March, and now it's here for a test drive. The beta version of Gaming Copilot is available to Xbox Insiders on PC via the Game Bar functionality. It's also available to try on Windows-based handheld gaming devices, but the company says the functionality there is currently limited. A variant of this tool recently launched as a beta for mobile.
This is kind of like an AI version of those old Nintendo phone help lines. The chat box appears as an overlay on the screen and players can use it to ask questions about the game they're playing. Microsoft says this tool has been designed to help players traverse obstacles and that it "knows what you're playing and understands your Xbox activity." The system uses in-game screenshots to make sure it's providing useful advice.
With Copilot for Gaming, you can jump back into games faster, get real-time coaching, and stay connected... all on your own terms. Excited for what the team has in store! pic.twitter.com/18Ll2D25i1
With that in mind, Gaming Copilot can also offer suggestions about new games to buy and answer questions about system accounts. It allows for text-based and voice-based queries, assuming a microphone is connected.
Microsoft says it'll be adding more features in the future, including "richer game assistance such as proactive coaching." The beta build of Gaming Copilot is only available in English at the moment, though it can be used in various regions including the US, New Zealand, Japan and Singapore.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/you-can-now-try-microsofts-gaming-copilot-ai-assistant-on-pc-184853884.html?src=rss
Welcome to Video Games Weekly on Engadget. Expect a new story every Monday or Tuesday, broken into two parts. The first is a space for short essays and ramblings about video game trends and related topics from me, Jess Conditt, a reporter who's covered the industry for more than 13 years. The second contains the video game stories from the past week that you need to know about, including some headlines from outside of Engadget.
Please enjoy — and I'll see you next week.
Let’s all agree to stop talking about that awful conservative activist group out of Australia. You know the one — like a parasite, it attached itself to the censorship campaign that erased thousands of adult games from Steam and Itch.io, and successfully positioned itself at the center of the delisting narrative. However, logic and evidence suggests this group had very little to do with the mass removals.
This Australian anti-porn organization led a movement in April to remove the edgelord simulator No Mercy from Steam, and since everyone agreed that game sucked, the campaign worked and the title disappeared from the storefront. This is where I believe the organization’s involvement in the current drama ends.
It seems No Mercy spurred payment processors including Visa, Mastercard and PayPal to turn their attention to the PC gaming market (an irony that I would find funnier if it weren’t actively eroding an industry I love). These institutions took the opportunity to dictate the types of games they would support, and in response on July 16, Steam added a clause to its ruleset banning content that "may violate the rules and standards set forth by Steam’s payment processors," including “certain kinds of adult only content.” Censorship on Steam is not new; Valve has for years had rules banning mislabeled adult content, hate speech, anything violating local laws and many other regulations. But outsourcing censorship to payment processors is new, and hundreds of games were removed from the platform following the rule change. On July 24, Itch.io rolled out its own changes and summarily de-indexed every adult and NSFW game it hosted, which amounted to roughly 20,000 titles being hidden from search and browse pages.
The conservative Australian group claimed responsibility for the Steam bans on July 19, three days after the platform’s rule change went live. The organization said the censorship was the direct result of two of its recent efforts: an email campaign that sent 1,067 messages to Visa, Mastercard, PayPal and others claiming Steam and Itch.io were hosting illegal sexual content, and an open letter addressed to the same financial institutions, signed by faith-based, anti-sex work and anti-queer activist groups.
There is no evidence that these campaigns were directly responsible for payment processors’ renewed enforcements. It’s actually ludicrous to suggest that roughly 1,000 emails or an open letter would even register at companies the size of Visa, Mastercard or PayPal. What’s more, after taking credit for the removal of hundreds of Steam games, the Australian group has attempted to distance itself from the whole shebang. Following intense scrutiny from players, industry watchdogs and media outlets, every group in this situation is trying to avoid accountability, in fact. Valve says Mastercard made this happen, while Mastercard says it’s just following the law, and PayPal says it’s simply doing what companies like Mastercard tell it to do. Meanwhile, the Australian group is trying to avoid blame for the sweeping Itch.io delistings while simultaneously attempting to exploit the Steam bans and gain momentum for its conservative bullshit.
In the most likely scenario, the Australian activist group saw these PC gaming audits coming and, in a strange act of stolen puritanical valor, took steps to center itself in the conversation. We can stop helping it do so. Forget its name and, as the IGDA suggests, direct your ire toward the organizations with power in this situation, namely Mastercard and Visa.
Still. It’s notable that an organization backed by conservative Christian groups that loudly oppose sex work, queer rights and freedom of expression was able to so cleanly align itself with financial companies censoring content on Steam and Itch.io. This uncontested endorsement is especially worrisome in a political and social climate where women, the queer community, people of color and those who don’t conform to a traditional conservative lifestyle are under attack. At a time like this, subversive and raw art is more necessary than ever, but it’s also in its most vulnerable position. Choosing this moment to activate a censorship campaign is not only dangerous for our most vulnerable communities, it’s cowardly.
There’s been some additional misinformation wrapped up in this censorship mess, of course. Three games were incorrectly reported as delisted or removed from Itch.io or Steam as part of this situation: Mouthwashing, Trials of Innocence and Console Me. One game that was unjustly removed during the chaos was the psychological horror game VILE: Exhumed — read my interview with creator Cara Cadaver right here.
In most contexts, I’d be pretty stoked on the thought of a hell-based BioShock, but this is the worst possible iteration of that idea. According to Bloomberg, BioShock 4 failed a recent review with executives at its publisher, 2K Games, and it’s heading back to developers at Cloud Chamber for a narrative revamp. Plus, Cloud Chamber studio head Kelley Gilmore is gone and creative director Hogarth de la Plante was moved to a publishing role. Not much is known about the game that’s assumed to be BioShock 4, but it was revealed in 2019 alongside the formation of Cloud Chamber, so it’s already been in development for quite a while.
In related Rapture news, 2K’s remake of the original BioShock was canceled earlier this year, Bloomberg reports. Ken Levine, the creator of the BioShock series, is currently working on a familiar-looking FPS called Judasat his own studio, Ghost Story Games.
GOG partnered with developers to release 13 games with adult themes for free from August 1 to 3, in protest of all the censorship going down on Steam and Itch.io. None of the free titles were specifically banned in the censorship campaign, but they featured sexual, queer or violent content that could easily be targeted by similar efforts. GOG handed out its free games to more than 1 million players.
After deindexing all of its adult games on July 24 — like, all of them — Itch.io on August 1 relisted all free games in this category. Itch.io is currently auditing thousands of adult and NSFW games that it swept up in the payment processor ban, and it’s unclear how the platform will support titles with these themes going forward. One of Itch.io’s longstanding partners, Stripe, said it will no longer facilitate transactions of titles "designed for sexual gratification," but there’s apparently room for negotiation in the future.
The video game world is feeling the effects of the UK's Online Safety Act. Platforms including Discord and Xbox are implementing new age-verification methods to comply with the law in the UK, and Microsoft is planning to expand its program to other regions. It's in no rush, though, saying it'll use the UK as a guinea pig for these systems first, and then implement what it learns across the globe.
At its unveiling in 2024, viewers instantly called out Polaris Quest’s Light of Motiram for looking an awful lot like Guerrilla Games' Horizon series — our headline called it a "pretty blatant Horizon ripoff," even. It took the better part of a year, but PlayStation's lawyers have finally kicked into gear. Sony is now suing Tencent, which owns Polaris Quest, over what it calls a "slavish clone" of its IP.
Recent layoffs at Microsoft have only heightened the importance of proper labor organizing in video games, and one of the industry’s first unions is finally making things official. Three years after initiating the process, Call of Duty support studio Raven Software has ratified its union contract with Microsoft. Raven Software initially voted to organize under Activision Blizzard, but after Microsoft completed its acquisition of the studio in October 2023, it continued negotiations with the tech titan.
After VILE: Exhumed was removed and permanently banned from Steam for reasons that don't actually apply to the game, developer Cara Cadaver and publisher DreadXP have rolled out their own distribution model, and prices start at $0. You can download and play the game right now for free, and there's an option to throw some money Cara's way. A portion of the profits will benefit the Toronto-based charity Red Door Family Shelter.
Have a tip for Jessica? You can reach her by email, Bluesky or send a message to @jesscon.96 to chat confidentially on Signal.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/video-games-weekly-censorship-and-stolen-puritanical-valor-234220878.html?src=rss
Microsoft has revealed the first batch of Xbox Game Pass additions for August, and there are several tasty options in store over the next couple of weeks. The first one lands today on Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass and Game Pass Standard in the form of Rain World, a difficult survival platform game. In case that’s not your tempo, though, you won’t have to wait long for other things to play.
On August 7, Assassin’s Creed Mirage will hit Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. I enjoyed this tighter, more focused take on the Assassin’s Creed formula quite a bit, especially considering how bloated these games have become in recent years (that said, AC Shadows is one of my favorite games of this year so far). Mirage is worth checking out if you dig the series but haven’t taken a leap of faith with that installment yet.
Several titles are joining the Game Pass Standard tier in the first two weeks of August, including Citizen Sleeper 2— an acclaimed RPG that debuted earlier this year — on Wednesday. Survival shooter Aliens: Fireteam Elite returns to Game Pass on August 12 as well, while roguelike kingdom builder 9 Kings arrives in game preview on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, but only for PC for the time being.
Here's the full breakdown of the first wave of August Game Pass additions, including the tiers on which they'll be available:
Today
Rain World (Cloud, Console and PC) — Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard
August 6
Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector (Xbox Series X/S) — Game Pass Standard, already on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass
Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders (Xbox Series X/S) — Game Pass Standard, already on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass
MechWarrior 5: Clans (Xbox Series X/S) — Game Pass Standard, already on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass
Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap (Xbox Series X/S) — Game Pass Standard, already on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass
August 7
Assassin’s Creed Mirage (Cloud, Console and PC) — Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
EA Sports Madden NFL 26: 10-hour early access trial (Cloud, Console and PC) — Game Pass Ultimate
August 12
Aliens: Fireteam Elite (Cloud, Console and PC) — Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard
August 14
9 Kings (Game Preview) (PC) — Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
Along with the new additions, there are three titles leaving Game Pass on August 15. Those are Anthem (Console and PC) via EA Play, Farming Simulator 22 (Cloud, Console and PC) and Persona 3 Reload (Cloud, Console and PC). The beleaguered Anthem is shutting down for good this January in any case, and as it's an online-only game, there won't be any way to play it after that time — unless fans find a way to get community servers up and running.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/xbox-game-pass-additions-for-august-include-assassins-creed-mirage-144428943.html?src=rss
BioShock fans will have to wait even longer to find out if we're going to Rapture, Columbia or a brand new city since the next game in the franchise may be headed back to the drawing board. According to a report from Bloomberg, the latest BioShock game that's being developed by Cloud Chamber failed a review with executives at 2K Games. Bloomberg's sources explained that the execs wanted improvement with the game's narrative, which "will be revamped in the coming months."
2K Games said in a statement to Bloomberg that it currently has a "good game, but we are committed to delivering a great one." As the fourth installment in the hit BioShock franchise, it has to follow up on the success of BioShock Infinite, which was released in 2013 and earned several awards for overall design, gameplay, story and original soundtrack. The latest development hitch also comes along with some major changes in the game studio's leadership. According to Bloomberg, Cloud Chamber's studio head, Kelley Gilmore, left the role, while the studio's creative director, Hogarth de la Plante, was shifted to a publishing position.
While the title isn't confirmed, the game believed to be BioShock 4 was announced in 2019 along with the creation of the Cloud Chamber studio. We still don't have a game six years later and the studio responsible may be at risk of layoffs, as the latest Bloomberg report mentioned a recent all-hands meeting where Cloud Chamber developers were told the company "needs to become more agile and efficient."
The fourth BioShock isn't the only game in the series that seems to be stuck in development hell. According to Bloomberg, the remake of the original BioShock was reportedly shelved earlier this year by 2K Games. The breakout hit that threw players into the unique setting of Rapture came out in 2007 and has since been remastered in 2016 as part of BioShock: The Collection. The remaster was made to support 1080p resolution and higher frame rates, but fans have been waiting for a complete remake that portrays the dystopian underwater city with more modern graphics.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/bioshock-4-hits-a-major-development-snag-and-a-remake-of-the-original-gets-put-on-ice-182523192.html?src=rss
Darksiders 4 is officially coming. During the THQ Nordic Digital Showcase on Friday, we got a glimpse at the next game in the hack and slash action-adventure franchise, alongside trailers for roughly a dozen other games that are in the works, including Reanimal and The Eternal Life of Goldman. It's been a while since we've seen a new mainline Darksiders title from developer Gunfire Games, and while the fourth entry follows 2019's prequel, Darksiders Genesis, the announcement says it will "continue where the original Darksiders game left off."
Darksiders 4 features all four Horsemen, and you'll get to choose which one to play as. It features "combat, traversal and puzzle solving in a lore rich post apocalyptic world." The teaser doesn't give us much information beyond that and there's no release date just yet, but we do know it'll be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
If you missed the showcase, you can catch up here on everything that was announced (like that new Spongebob game). And according to THQ Nordic, that's only half of what it has up its sleeve. At the end of the showcase, the publisher said a total of 28 games are currently in development, with 15 we still have yet to see.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/darksiders-4-was-not-on-my-2025-bingo-card-204611075.html?src=rss
As industry groups decry censorship, players are flooding Visa and Mastercard with complaints and sharing the titles of delisted NSFW games to support developers.
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