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Rebel Wolves and publisher Bandai Namco announced that their debut dark fantasy action RPG, The Blood of Dawnwalker, has sold over one million copies in just 48 hours. Founded by former Witcher 3 director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, the studio’s breakout hit is already earning critical acclaim, including a glowing 9/10 review from IGN praising it as an impressive and bloody cocktail of interesting ideas and superb writing.

News & Reviews

14 Predictions for the September 2026 Nintendo Direct and Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct · IGN Nintendo is hosting a massive double-header next week, starting with a Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct followed by a general Switch 2 showcase. Excitement is reaching a fever pitch with predictions pointing to a full reveal of the Ocarina of Time remake, a special Zelda-themed console, and potentially a new 3D Mario announcement. These consecutive events are primed to fuel Switch 2 sales straight through the upcoming holiday season.

‘No One Puts Double Fine Out of Business Except for Me’ — Tim Schafer Explains How He Kept Double Fine Afloat After Leaving Xbox · IGN Following its sudden divestment during Xbox’s massive restructuring and layoffs this summer, Double Fine has officially reclaimed its independent status. Studio head Tim Schafer admitted the soul-sucking transition cost them a quarter of their staff, but the team has re-ignited its creative spark and shadow-dropped the formerly exclusive game Keeper on PS5. Proving they won’t go down without a fight, the developer has already launched a Kickstarter to crowdfund their next game.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis Could Be Great, But There’s Some Things We Can’t Ignore… · IGN Hands-on previews of the upcoming Tomb Raider remake show off an incredibly beautiful, high-fidelity reimagining of Lara Croft’s original adventure. However, the game is drawing criticism for shoehorning in modern survival mechanics, crafting, and developer Crystal Dynamics’ defense of utilizing generative AI in development. While the traversal puzzles utilizing giant dangling swords look inspired, the forced unification of disparate Lara Croft eras makes this a tough sell for long-time fans.

Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27UCWM Review · IGN Asus’s gorgeous new 27-inch 4K gaming monitor delivers pristine color accuracy, infinite contrast, and a zippy 240Hz refresh rate that can swap to 1080p at an insane 480Hz. It resolves older OLED sub-pixel fringing issues entirely with an RGB strip layout and features a cyberpunk-inspired transparent back. While its stellar motion clarity is an absolute dream for competitive gaming, its steep tentative $1,199 price tag will easily scare off casual buyers.

Zach Cregger Says He’s Done With Franchise Films After Resident Evil · IGN Director Zach Cregger announced he is permanently swearing off franchise projects once his highly anticipated Resident Evil film hits theaters on September 18, 2026. Despite facing vocal online backlash for making radical changes to the source material—including a modern setting and a brand-new protagonist—Cregger insists he wanted to create a personal love letter rather than check corporate boxes. He wants the freedom to write whatever he pleases, though a potential Resident Evil sequel isn’t completely off the table.

Insomniac Clears the Air After Marvel’s Wolverine Fans Confuse Lady Deathstrike for Psylocke · IGN Insomniac Games had to shut down a viral wave of internet confusion following the latest launch trailer for its PS5-exclusive Marvel’s Wolverine. Fans mistook a sneering villain wielding a glowing purple sword for Psylocke, forcing the developer to clarify that the character is actually Lady Deathstrike. Players will get to face off against Lady Deathstrike’s deadly finger claws when the highly anticipated action game launches on September 15, 2026.

Left 4 Dead 2 Dev Admits Valve Intentionally Leaked Its Own Trailer After the ESRB Blocked It from Release · IGN Former Valve writer Chet Faliszek spilled the beans on a hilarious piece of gaming history, admitting Valve secretly leaked its own Left 4 Dead 2 “Zombie Survival Guide” trailer back in 2009. The unconventional leak was a calculated move to bypass ESRB restrictions, which had blocked the trailer’s official release due to intense mature content. The clever stunt successfully generated massive player hype ahead of the game’s critically acclaimed launch.

Free Games & Deals

While there are no free-to-claim game giveaways on the Epic Games Store or elsewhere in today’s news, console hunters can snag a Grade A Refurbished Nintendo Switch 2 console on Woot for $449.99. Gamers looking to expand their physical libraries can also score great deals on Amazon, including 14% off Granblue Fantasy: Relink - Endless Ragnarok on PS5, Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake for $39.99, and a pre-launch $10 discount on physical copies of Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave. Woot also has physical copies of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Switch 2 Edition marked down to $59.99.

Also Worth Knowing

• South Park, A Different World, and 8 More of Our Most Anticipated Streaming Shows and Movies in September (IGN): Highly anticipated streaming returns like South Park Season 29 and Slow Horses Season 6, alongside new spin-offs like Neagley, are set to dominate screens this September.
• Bruce Campbell Says He Has 5 Years Left to Live Amid Cancer Battle (IGN): Horror icon Bruce Campbell shared a candid health update, explaining his cancer diagnosis is treatable but uncurable with a five-year prognosis as he continues to promote his new film Ernie & Emma.
• How to Navigate Rebecca Yarros’ Popular Fourth Wing Book Series (IGN): Rebecca Yarros’ hit Empyrean romantasy series is expanding with a companion short-story book titled Threshing Day releasing this month and a graphic novel adaptation scheduled for April 2027.
• The Batman Part 2 Set Photos Hint at Arkham-Style Batsuit Upgrade (IGN): Leaked photos from the Glasgow filming set of The Batman: Part II show a darker, shinier batsuit with a mustard-colored utility belt that echo designs from the Batman: Arkham games.
• Primetime Review (IGN): Director Lance Oppenheim’s feature debut Primetime made a major splash at the Venice Film Festival, delivering a toxic mid-2000s drama starring Robert Pattinson as a petulant, Patrick Bateman-like Chris Hansen.

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