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A massive new security breach has hit Rockstar Games, with gameplay videos and a full map of the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 leaked online by a group called ‘CyberLeek’ to promote a cryptocurrency memecoin. The illegal stunt has forced the grassroots Stop Killing Games consumer campaign to issue a statement strongly distancing itself from the hackers’ destructive methods and expressing sympathy for the developers.

News & Reviews

PlayStation Reportedly Reboots Horizon Multiplayer Spinoff Following Negative Feedback · IGN Sony’s aggressive chase for live-service gold has hit yet another roadblock, with reports indicating that the upcoming cartoony co-op spinoff Horizon Hunters Gathering has been ordered back to the drawing board. Following negative feedback from closed playtests, developer Guerrilla Games is reportedly shifting the project into a traditional, smaller-scope cooperative game with a story mode, stripping out the live-service fluff. This retreat highlights the ongoing retreat of Sony’s multiplayer ambitions after high-profile cancellations and disastrous launches like Concord.

Dishonored, Deus Ex Designer Stars New Studio to Continue Focusing on Immersive Sims · IGN Legendary game designer Harvey Smith has risen from the ashes of Arkane Austin’s shutdown to found Black Pony Immersive, a new studio dedicated to first-person, narrative-driven immersive sims. Smith also revealed that after Microsoft closed Arkane, he successfully negotiated to let his fired team back into the building to finish and ship the final, bug-squashing Redfall 1.4 update. For fans of deep player choice and meticulous world-building, seeing Smith carry the torch for a genre he helped pioneer is a spectacular silver lining to a rough year for the industry.

‘You Don’t Get XP, But Zones Do’ — How Control Resonant Is Rewriting the Action RPG Rule Book · IGN Remedy Entertainment is throwing out traditional leveling conventions in its upcoming action-RPG sequel, Control Resonant, by leveling up the environments of a corrupted Manhattan rather than the protagonist Dylan. As you complete activities and defeat towering bosses, the city zones grow more dangerous, spawning terrifying new Hiss and Mold threats while simultaneously unlocking passive buffs and hidden arcade challenges. It’s a bold, characteristically weird Remedy mechanic that makes the world itself feel like a living, evolving adversary.

Director of Marvel’s Wolverine Responds After Extended Gameplay Footage Sparks Backlash · IGN Following an extended gameplay showcase of Marvel’s Wolverine that drew online criticism for a ‘red scent trail’ tracking mechanic and a standard Sentinel boss fight, game director Mike Daly responded to the internet backlash. Daly stated that Insomniac is accustomed to intense scrutiny when handling beloved superhero IPs and remains focused on delivering the best possible game for Logan. While internet reactions have been mixed, IGN’s hands-on preview praised the combat for beautifully nailing Wolverine’s brutal, fundamentally sound spirit.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta Will Fix Issues That Have Plagued the Series for the Better Part of a Decade · IGN The upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 beta, launching August 21, will introduce major quality-of-life improvements, including a standalone client that bypasses the bloated Call of Duty HQ app and a massive reduction in those annoying “update requires restart” prompts. However, the beta will also test a divisive new team-balancing matchmaking system alongside standard open matchmaking to gather data and optimize the experience. If you want a smoother CoD experience without the launcher headaches, this weekend is your first chance to jump in.

Subnautica 2 Early Access 1.2 Update Out Now Alongside Patch Notes, Dev Donates $100,000 to Ocean Cleanup · IGN Unknown Worlds has released the massive 1.2 “Buddy System” update for Subnautica 2 in Early Access, bringing critical co-op features to the alien ocean survival game. Players can now enjoy proximity voice chat, direct inventory trading, emotes, and revives that allow friends to share oxygen to keep each other alive. To celebrate the launch, the developer announced a generous $100,000 donation to the non-profit group The Ocean Cleanup.

Google Pixel 11 Pro Review · IGN Google’s newly launched Pixel 11 Pro offers a solid annual refresh with a beautiful 6.3-inch display and an exceptional camera system, but it arrives with a steep $1,099 starting price and a memory reduction to 12GB. While the phone handles typical daily tasks with ease, its Tensor G6 processor and PowerVR GPU fall well behind competitors for high-end mobile gaming, experiencing frequent hitches during demanding titles. It is a fantastic option for photography enthusiasts, but serious mobile gamers should look elsewhere.

Free Games & Deals

While there are no free game giveaways to claim today, deal hunters have some incredible sales to look forward to. You can snag Rise of the Ronin on PS5 for an all-time low of $19.99 during Best Buy’s 60th Anniversary Sale, or grab Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on the Switch 2 for just $35. Additionally, the premium Razer Chroma Docking Station for handheld PCs is currently 60% off at Best Buy, dropping from $90 to just $36.

Also Worth Knowing

• The Witcher 3 NPCs Kept Dropping Their Babies (IGN): A hilarious bug in the RPG caused female NPCs to throw their infants to the ground and flee in terror whenever Geralt drew his weapon nearby.
• Steam Frame VR Headset Setup Leaks Online (IGN): Setup and unboxing videos for Valve’s next-generation Steam Frame VR headset briefly leaked on the Steam backend, confirming its standalone capabilities and impressive specs.
• RuneScape: Dragonwilds Launches Day One on Game Pass and PS Plus (IGN): Jagex’s upcoming co-op crafting and survival game will launch on September 15 with day-one availability for both Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium subscribers.
• Winnie the Pooh Voice Actor Jim Cummings Snubbed by Disney Legends (IGN): The legendary voice actor behind Winnie the Pooh and Tigger expressed his disappointment on social media after being passed over for Disney’s Hall of Legends at D23.
• The Pokémon Company Cancels 30th Anniversary Card Orders After Cyber Attack (IGN): European Pokémon Center orders were fully cancelled following a cyber incident at a logistics provider that left customer names, addresses, and emails exposed.

📊 I can compile an opinionated buyer’s guide comparing the best hardware and display deals mentioned in today’s articles if you’re looking to upgrade your setup.