Gaming News — 2026-07-25#
Top Story#
Santa Monica Studio confirmed that the next Kratos-led God of War game will arrive after the newly dated God of War Laufey (launching February 16, 2027) and will connect directly to her storyline. It’s a massive relief for fans who criticized the recent Laufey gameplay reveal and were worried about the Ghost of Sparta stepping out of the spotlight.
News & Reviews#
Palworld 1.0 Update Review · IGN Two years after its Early Access debut, Palworld has evolved into an exceptional, polished creature collector and survival game. The massive 1.0 update smooths out technical issues, vastly improves base automation, and delivers a brilliantly paced 150-hour campaign. If you’ve been waiting for the complete “Pokémon with guns” experience, it’s finally here and highly recommended.
Final Fantasy 14 Sets Switch 2 Launch · IGN Square Enix officially announced that Final Fantasy 14 is heading to the Nintendo Switch 2 on August 4, 2026. The MMO will require a separate subscription on the new console, though current active subscribers on other platforms can grab a 50% discount.
Astartes 2 Gets a December Release Window · IGN Games Workshop finally confirmed that Astartes 2, the highly anticipated official sequel to the best Warhammer 40,000 fan animation ever made, will drop this December on Warhammer TV. The original animation heavily inspired the look and feel of Space Marine 2, making this essential viewing for 40k fans.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation Tackles Open World Fatigue · IGN Director Naoki Hamaguchi promises that while the world in the upcoming Final Fantasy 7 Revelation is even bigger than Rebirth, the team is being extremely careful to avoid industry-wide “open world fatigue”. The third and final chapter will offer players proper guidance so they know exactly what to do and where to go without feeling lost in the massive world.
Rockstar Co-Founder Dan Houser Defends Physical Media · IGN Amidst the ongoing debate about the death of game discs, Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser stated that if players want physical media, companies should be providing it. This sentiment arrives hot on the heels of Sony’s plans to end physical disc production in 2028 and the controversial decision for GTA 6 to ship as a digital code in a box.
Free Games & Deals#
While we don’t have any Epic Games Store freebies to report on today, there are some killer weekend discounts you absolutely need to snag. Assassin’s Creed Shadows is down to an incredible $29.99 on Amazon right now, which is a massive steal for a game that brilliantly sharpened the edges of Ubisoft’s open-world formula. RPG fans should also grab the stellar remake of Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter for just $39.99 before the highly anticipated second chapter drops this September.
Also Worth Knowing#
- Dungeons & Dragons Movie Sequel Script is Finished (IGN): Co-director Jonathan Goldstein confirmed a sequel script exists, but “financial reasons” and an original $150 million budget might keep it from ever seeing the light of day.
- Neuromancer Series Premiere Date (IGN): Apple TV’s adaptation of the genre-defining William Gibson cyberpunk novel will officially debut its first two episodes on January 22, 2027.
- Coyote vs. Acme Blu-ray Includes NSFW Cena Outtakes (IGN): The previously shelved film hits theaters on August 28, 2026, and its physical home release will feature hilarious, R-rated John Cena improv.
- The Rings of Power Season 3 Trailer (IGN): The first full trailer teases an origin story for the Ringwraiths and Gandalf finally coming into his own ahead of the show’s November 11, 2026 return.