Gaming News

Top Story

Rockstar Games has shocked the industry by partnering with Netflix to debut an exclusive “Extended Look” at the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 on August 27. The decision has already sparked fierce backlash from fans who are slamming the six-hour exclusive window as a “scummy” subscription paywall before the footage is released for free on YouTube.

News & Reviews

Switch 2 Sales Cool Off as Global Memory Shortage Triggers September Price Hike · IGN Nintendo’s latest financial results show Switch 2 sales fell by over a third to 3.82 million units this quarter, though the company insists adoption still compares well to the original console. However, a massive global memory shortage has completely sold out 2027 DRAM and HBM production, causing hardware prices to spike across the industry. As a result, Nintendo has announced an official Switch 2 price increase starting next month, meaning right now is the best time to pick up a console.

Capcom Unfazed by the Looming Death of Physical Game Discs · IGN As Sony gears up to completely eliminate game discs for new PS5 games starting in January 2028, physical media’s days are officially numbered. However, Resident Evil and Monster Hunter publisher Capcom remains entirely unbothered by the shift, revealing that digital downloads already account for a staggering 90% of their total unit sales. This underscores a massive industry-wide migration to digital storefronts, even as console manufacturers experiment with digital licensing transfers.

Onimusha: Way of the Sword Perfects the Balance of Brutality and Style · IGN In our final hands-on preview, Capcom’s upcoming revival Onimusha: Way of the Sword beautifully balances challenging, Soulslike boss fights with incredibly stylish and accessible combat against standard enemies. The game redefines the series’ classic “Soul Absorption” mechanic, turning it into a tense, competitive tug-of-war where giant bosses can steal souls to power themselves up. It’s a fresh, deeply satisfying evolution that makes combat feel uniquely dynamic and cinematic.

Warrior Cats Books Snag a Major Console and PC RPG Adaptation · IGN Longtime fans of Erin Hunter’s iconic YA book series Warriors are finally getting the official, large-scale adaptation they have been waiting over two decades for. Developed by TRAILMARK Games, Warrior Cats: Clans of the Forest is a turn-based RPG arriving on Steam and major consoles, including the Switch 2, this fall. The game will let players build their own custom feline, join a legendary Clan, and cross paths with beloved characters from the books.

The Secret of Weepstone Captures Tabletop D&D Magic on PC · IGN This gorgeous, monochrome 3D dungeon crawler completely stole the show in our hands-on demo with its pen-and-ink aesthetics and tabletop-style digital dice rolls. The game features a brilliant take on permadeath by rewarding you with “Mortal Favors”—unique passive abilities unlocked when a party member dies. It’s a delightfully unforgiving adventure where even sending your fighter down a castle latrine to check on running water can result in an embarrassing, permadeath demise.

Crossfire Developer That’s No Moon Hit by Staff Layoffs · IGN Independent developer That’s No Moon has unfortunately become the latest studio hit by layoffs, letting go of an undetermined number of staff, including environmental and technical artists. Founded in 2021 by veterans from Naughty Dog and Infinity Ward, the studio recently debuted its ambitious AAA narrative-driven action-adventure Crossfire at Summer Game Fest 2026. It is a sobering reminder of the ongoing restructuring struggles plaguing the gaming industry.

Free Games & Deals

This week, PC players can head over to the Epic Games Store to claim the cute yet creepy narrative adventure Beacon Pines for free until August 13, 2026. Deal hunters can also grab the award-winning, turn-based RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 on PC for just $31.99 on Newegg using coupon code “SSF72763”. Additionally, Nintendo fans can score a refurbished Nintendo Switch 2 with a $50 discount on Woot, which is a perfect opportunity to beat next month’s price hike.

Also Worth Knowing

• [The Legend of Zelda Movie Casts Uli Latukefu as Ganondorf] (IGN): Nintendo and Sony have officially cast actor Uli Latukefu to play the iconic villain Ganondorf in the upcoming live-action Legend of Zelda film.
• [Quake Receives Free 19-Level Anniversary Campaign from MachineGames] (IGN): To celebrate the game’s 30th anniversary, id Software and MachineGames have launched Dawn of the Machine, a free, highly replayable campaign for the Quake remaster.
• [BMW Owners Backlash Over Forced Spider-Man Infotainment Ads] (IGN): BMW drivers are expressing frustration after finding a forced Spider-Man: Brand New Day advertisement and app integrated directly into their vehicle’s dashboard.
• [Dataminers Uncover Cut Vehicle Combat Features in Call of Duty: World at War] (IGN): Newly discovered datamined files reveal that Treyarch originally planned a massive, customizable vehicle combat system for the classic shooter’s multiplayer modes.
• [Google is Retiring Google Assistant on Android Next Month] (IGN): Starting September 4, Google is sunsetting Google Assistant on Android devices and replacing it with the AI-powered Gemini.

🎧 Since we have so much detailed news and deals here, I could spin up an audio briefing if you’d like a podcast-style recap to listen to on the go.