Game Releases

Activision and Infinity Ward say Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will abandon celebrity cameos, cartoon crossovers, and other “clowny” cosmetics in favor of grounded skins tied to the game’s military narrative, following backlash to recent Black Ops and Warzone collaborations.

Subnautica 2’s early-access launch has reportedly delivered blockbuster results, with an estimated four million copies sold in its first week and revenue potentially exceeding the milestone threshold in Krafton’s acquisition deal for Unknown Worlds. The sales surge could obligate Krafton to pay up to $250 million to the studio’s former shareholders, despite months of legal efforts to avoid the bonus tied to the game’s performance.

Jagex’s intensified anti-bot measures have reshaped Old School RuneScape in 2026, with over 6.2 million accounts banned and once-crowded farming areas now largely empty. Player reports and creator analyses suggest the crackdown has stabilized key parts of the in-game economy, though remaining bot activity indicates the fight is not over.

Remedy CEO Jean-Charles Gaudechon says Grand Theft Auto VI’s November 2026 launch could boost the wider console market rather than overshadow competing releases, including Remedy’s planned Control Resonant, playing the devil's advocate in an industry increasingly cautious about launches near Rockstar's upcoming blockbuster.

Colin Porch, 81, has released Return to Blacktooth: A Head Over Heels Adventure, a long-abandoned sequel begun 37 years ago, now available for Atari ST and Commodore Amiga via itch.io.

Former Sega of America marketing VP Mike Fischer claims he has heard Sega is working on a remake of Sonic CD, the 1993 Sega CD title known for its time-travel mechanics and the debuts of Metal Sonic and Amy Rose. While Sega has not confirmed the project, Fischer’s comments add to speculation amid the franchise’s renewed momentum through films, re-releases, and recent game expansions.

After Bungie confirmed Destiny 2 will receive its final live-service content update on June 9, 2026, a Change.org petition urging Sony and Bungie to greenlight Destiny 3 has surpassed 300,000 signatures.

Zenless Zone Zero 3.0 launches June 17 with Roscaelifer, the first Wind-attribute agent; Velina, a Fire specialist; Norma; and Proxy combat form Pyrois.

Playground Games' Fable video game has had its release date pushed back. Xbox says the decision was made to give the game more spotlight, considering several high profile games will be launching around the same time it was originally scheduled to be released.

The new city-building game Town to City has received very positive reviews shortly after its full release and is currently ranked No. 1 on SteamDB’s “Hot Releases” chart. The Steam reviews make it clear why this city builder is proving so popular.

Take-Two's move appears to position its acquired FiveM service as the only authorized option for modders interested in GTA V role-playing communities.

Activision confirmed a Call of Duty: Mobile x Persona 5 Royal collab for July, with Joker, Panther, Queen, and Violet among the confirmed characters.

Panic has added Crankboy to the Playdate Catalogue, bringing full-speed Game Boy emulation to the crank-equipped handheld for $10, with four bundled homebrew titles and support for legally imported ROMs.

FIFA Heroes has missed its May 2026 launch window for the second time and is now confirmed for June 22, landing deep in the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage.

Paralives launched in Steam Early Access on May 25, selling 250,000 copies in 8 hours and peaking at 78,603 concurrent players, with very positive reviews.

Wuthering Waves Version 3.4 launches with the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners collab, adding Lucy and free 5-star Rebecca to the game's first major IP crossover.

Bungie will end Destiny 2’s live-service updates on June 9, 2026, with “The Moment of Triumph,” while keeping servers online and the game playable. The decision follows The Final Shape’s underperformance, $764 million in impairment losses, and wider turmoil at Bungie as the studio shifts resources toward new projects.

Neverness to Everness 1.1 Dreamwalk Corridor arrives June 3 with Lacrimosa and Chaos, a new Sunward Island map, Porsche collab, and a Steam release in July.

The development team says the project is driven by the enduring popularity of Edward Kenway and the original game’s story, as Ubisoft Singapore acknowledges the pressure of remaking a fan-favorite title while preserving its core identity.

Japanese players, including Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, are praising Forza Horizon 6 for its strikingly authentic recreation of Japan, with some saying its landscapes feel uncannily close to real life for those living in the country.

Arknights: Endfield 1.3 Sketches of Lost Heirlooms launches June 5 with Sword Vault Dale, Physical Guard Mi Fu, Heat Vanguard Camille, Contingency Contract, and factory improvements.

Subnautica 2’s early access launch has drawn strong player numbers but renewed criticism from fans frustrated by the sequel’s lack of lethal weapons against hostile sea creatures. Unknown Worlds has defended the pacifist design as central to the series’ identity, prompting debate over whether the sandbox should prioritize the developers’ survival philosophy or broader player choice.

Netmarble's Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross launched its 7th anniversary Perfect 7 Legend Festival on May 21, headlined by new hero Nemesis Meliodas.

Warhorse Studios has confirmed two new projects after weeks of rumors online. The studio is developing a new Kingdom Come-series game and an open-world RPG set in the Middle-earth universe.

Matt Ryan says returning to voice Edward Kenway in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced feels “like an old friend,” reflecting on the lasting fan response to his 2013 performance.

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick revealed that the company spent an additional $50 million and delayed the original Borderlands by more than a year so Gearbox could replace its gritty, realistic look with the cel-shaded style now associated with the franchise. Zelnick described the decision as risky and unconventional, but said it was crucial to turning Borderlands into a hit.

Virtuos, the studio behind the well-received Nintendo Switch port of L.A. Noire, says it is eager to bring Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2 to the Nintendo Switch 2. Company executives cite the success of past Rockstar collaborations and advances in Switch porting as evidence that the projects are technically plausible, though approval from Take-Two and Rockstar remains a key hurdle.

A review of Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight highlights how TT Games’ open-world Lego take on Gotham draws heavily from the *Batman: Arkham* formula while retaining the studio’s trademark humor. The article also reveals that Rocksteady and Warner Bros. Games Montreal contributed directly to development, underscoring the game’s deeper connection to the acclaimed Arkham legacy.

Microsoft says its Advanced Shader Delivery technology cuts Forza Horizon 6’s initial shader compilation from about 90 seconds to 4 seconds by downloading precompiled, hardware-specific shaders through its PC distribution channels. The feature is currently limited to Windows 11 users with supported AMD GPUs, Xbox Insider enrollment, and copies installed via the Xbox app or Microsoft Store, leaving Steam and Nvidia players without access for now.

Subnautica 2 creative lead Anthony Gallegos criticized players who pirated an early build and then bragged or sought support in the game’s official Discord, calling the behavior disrespectful to paying fans and developers. While acknowledging economic pressures and saying he understands why piracy happens, Gallegos urged players to buy the game, try it, and refund it if unsatisfied rather than play illegally.

Rumors indicate Rockstar may withhold early review copies and instead use controlled, supervised review events to prevent leaks ahead of the game’s November 19, 2026 launch even as insiders indicate that GTA 6's preorders are months away.

Blades of Fire is set in a dark fantasy world and puts players in the role of one of the kingdom’s last blacksmiths. Their task: forge powerful weapons and overthrow an evil queen. In its review, Eurogamer compares the game to classic PlayStation-era titles that seemed to come out of nowhere, only to turn out far better than expected.

A leaked Best Buy affiliate email suggesting GTA VI physical pre-orders could open on May 18 reportedly fueled a sharp rally in Take-Two Interactive shares, adding about $2 billion to the publisher’s market value overnight. While Rockstar and Take-Two have not confirmed the pre-order date, the leak has intensified expectations ahead of the company’s May 21 earnings call and the game’s planned November 2026 launch.

Subnautica 2 has already sunk some of the most popular Steam games in 2026. A peak concurrent Steam player count surpassing 460K ranks higher than Crimson Desert and Resident Evil Requiem. Furious wishlist activity before its early access release date hinted at a record-setting launch.

Neverness to Everness Phase 2 is live with Hotori's Misty Tipsy Style banner running May 13 to June 3, alongside the Bright Moon arc banner and Hourglass Perks event.

Bandai Namco has confirmed Digimon Alysion launches on iOS and Android in 2026, bringing the Digimon Card Game to mobile with original story content and TCG battles.

Former Microsoft Game Studios executive Laura Fryer criticized Sony’s quiet PS5 digital licensing update, arguing that an unannounced 30-day online verification prompt alarmed players and risked undermining trust in digital ownership. While Sony says the check is intended to curb refund abuse and does not require ongoing logins, Fryer warned that the lack of transparency makes the change feel like a self-inflicted replay of past console DRM controversies.

Arknights: Endfield Version 1.3 launches around May 29 with Camille, the game's first male 6-star Operator, alongside Mi Fu. The Fest of Brilliance banner opens on May 14.

Genshin Impact Version 6.6 Luna VII launches May 20, 2026, with Nicole Reeyn, Lohen, and Prune, a new Archon Quest in Sumeru, and a Snezhnaya teaser for Version 7.0.

Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on May 28, 2026, marking the franchise's first appearance on PlayStation and Xbox hardware.

Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.2 Phase 2 starts today with Evanescia's debut banner, Tribbie, Sunday, and Feixiao reruns, and all Light Cones running until June 1, 2026.

Playground Games has confirmed that a pre-release build of Forza Horizon 6 leaked online, denying claims of a Steam preload error and warning players against accessing or sharing the unauthorized version. The studio says offenders could face franchise-wide and hardware bans, while SteamDB suggests the leak likely came from someone with early access, possibly a reviewer.

Phasmophobia's first-ever collaboration with Alan Wake 2 is live today until 2 June. The one-time event brings the Dark Place into ghost-hunting investigations for free.

PUBG Mobile 4.4 Hero's Crown launches May 12 with a Greek mythology map overhaul, Nimbus Island, a Centaur boss fight, the M1 Garand, and a Blue Lock collab on May 22.

Age of Empires IV: Yue Fei's Legacy is now live on Xbox, PC, and PS5, adding the Jin Dynasty civilization, an 8-mission campaign set during the Song-Jin Wars, four new maps, and two new biomes.

A Fallout 4 modder has ported the entirety of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind into the game’s Pip-Boy and terminals, pushing the needle of what is possible for gamers looking to play games beyond the six retro titles the game already supports on its virtual wearable.

The new free-to-play autobattler Relic Arena comes from Dota 2 veterans SUNSfan and Jenkins and feels like a meme project that has gone completely off the rails. Players combine absurd relics, let Karl Marx manipulate the economy or send Harambe into battle. So far, the free-to-play title has been well received on Steam.

Snowbreak: Containment Zone is back online on May 8 after a 66-day shutdown sparked by a China Post collab controversy, with generous compensation for all returning players.

CookieRun: Kingdom's Timeline of Fate update launched May 7 with Timekeeper Cookie, Ash Salt Cookie, a fractured timeline story, and new battle systems for Act 2.

Warhorse Studios creative director Prokop Jirsa says Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 deliberately preserves mechanical “friction” to make players feel they have genuinely earned progress. The article frames this philosophy as central to the series’ identity, linking its demanding realism and hands-on systems to the cult appeal that emerged from the original game’s rough but uncompromising design.