According to Game File, a large portion of permanent employees were furloughed weeks before the actual launch, and contracts for freelance employees were additionally terminated. Apparently, only a small core team remains, dedicated to bug fixes and ongoing operations. The furloughs reportedly came to light through court documents from a legal dispute between Bit Reactor co-founder Alison Kelly and studio head Greg Foertsch over company ownership shares — a dispute unrelated to the furloughs themselves, but one that exposed the studio's internal financial problems.

Why is Bit Reactor Laying Off Staff Despite Sales Success?

According to the reports, the issue isn't the game's success itself, but rather the studio's financial situation beforehand: Bit Reactor reportedly exhausted most of its financial reserves even before the release. According to the studio, the furloughs were an independent business decision — not a directive from publisher Electronic Arts or licensor Disney/Lucasfilm. Bit Reactor itself expressed hope of being able to bring employees back depending on Star Wars Zero Company's sales performance. How many of those affected will actually return, and when, remains to be seen.

What Does This Mean for the Future of Star Wars Zero Company?

For players, this is not a good sign: With a heavily reduced workforce, planned patches, balancing adjustments, or even additional content are likely to arrive slower than usual — if they are fully implemented at all. Anyone currently playing should check out our guide on important in-game menu settings to avoid technical frustrations while the extent of support remains uncertain.

Unfortunately, this pattern isn't entirely new: Layoffs or furloughs despite commercial success have repeatedly appeared in the gaming industry from 2024 to 2026 — think of studios that still had to cut staff shortly after acclaimed launches because development costs, advances, and publisher deals had been planned out long before the actual sales success. A good game, therefore, doesn't automatically protect a studio from economic pressure if the funding for the development years leading up to it was already tightly budgeted. For those affected at Bit Reactor, this is little comfort.

Source: PC Gamer, Game File

We will continue to follow this story and update the article as soon as there are further official statements from Bit Reactor.

What's Changing in Manor Lords with Update #8?

Developer Slavic Magic has pushed the eighth major patch to the main branch of Manor Lords on Steam after weeks in beta. The complete official patch notes are extensive, but we've summarized the most important new features for you:

• Introducing “Wide Valley,” a fresh river map that gives your settlements a completely new layout with multiple waterways.

The new Wide Valley map brings rivers right through the settlement area.

• Cows are moving into the village: Imported via the livestock trader, they continuously provide milk and, after slaughter, beef and hides.
• At the cheese maker, unlockable from Burgage Plot Level Three, cheese is produced for the first time from milk and salt.
• Apples can now be processed into cider, and honey into mead – both expand beverage production in breweries.
• Advanced buildings are linked to a new Construction Yard: With trained craftsmen there, construction speed noticeably increases, and oxen can additionally be harnessed in large quantities for transporting timber.
• Seasons now play a real role in animal husbandry: Cows and sheep reproduce seasonally, and oats are needed as animal feed to help herds survive the winter.
• The previous production focus system for workshops has been replaced by “Active Recipes” – a priority queue allowing you to define the order of manufacturing tasks yourself.
• Fruit and vegetable yields have been adjusted downwards, while wheat, rye, and pig, sheep, and chicken farming have been balanced so that production decisions carry more weight in the later game.
• AI settlements have also become smarter: They now choose their own starting perks, build Construction Yards and Forester Huts, and adapt their strategy for trade, taxes, and early expansion.

How Successful is Manor Lords' Sales Performance, Really?

Alongside the update, Slavic Magic and publisher Hooded Horse announced a new milestone: Manor Lords has now surpassed the mark of four million copies sold. To celebrate this success, the game is currently on sale with a 35 percent discount until September 10, 2026.

This success didn't happen overnight: Manor Lords broke the one million copies sold mark in its very first week after its Early Access launch in April 2024, and by February 2025, it had already reached three million. The fact that this medieval city-builder from a single Polish developer now stands at four million demonstrates the continued strong demand for well-thought-out city-builders – and how much regular, substantial updates like this pay off for long-term community engagement. For players, this primarily means that Early Access support appears stable and long-term, though a full release date is still not officially known.

Source: GameStar

Have you already tried out Update #8? Let us know in the comments which new feature excites you the most – or what you still feel is missing from Manor Lords!

When Exactly Is State of Play Airing?

The broadcast times have been set. According to Sony, the regular State of Play will kick off on Thursday, September 3rd, at the following times:

• 6:00 AM PT (US West Coast)
• 9:00 AM ET (US East Coast)
• 3:00 PM CEST (Germany, Austria, Switzerland)
• 10:00 PM JST (Japan)

According to the announcement, State of Play Japan will air “immediately following” the main show – so if you want to catch both presentations live, you should block out some time in the early afternoon.

What's the Difference Between State of Play and State of Play Japan?

As usual, the regular State of Play will feature a broad mix of PS5 and PS VR2 announcements aimed at the global market. State of Play Japan, on the other hand, is a distinct, much rarer format specifically tailored for Japanese studios and publishers, focusing more on titles from that region. According to Sony, the Japan edition will be hosted by Yuki Kaji, known as a voice actor from numerous anime productions.

Since 2019, State of Play has been Sony's recurring format for PS5 and PS VR2 announcements outside of major annual showcases. These broadcasts typically last between 20 and 40 minutes, mixing big trailers with announcements for smaller indie and third-party titles. State of Play Japan makes fewer appearances and traditionally focuses on Japanese development studios and their projects. Sony hasn't revealed which games will be shown this time – so the community is speculating wildly, but there are no official confirmations regarding the lineup yet.

Where Can You Watch State of Play Live?

Both shows will be live-streamed, according to Sony, including via the official PlayStation Twitch channel. All details and further background on the format can also be found on PlayStation's official State of Play overview page.

We'll be there live for you on Thursday, summarizing all announcements from both shows as soon as the stream is underway.

Source: PlayStation Blog, Eurogamer

Set your alarms: We'll keep you updated on all announcements from State of Play and State of Play Japan starting Thursday!

Since the beta launched in late August, many players had complained that engagements were decided too quickly, leaving little room for counterplay. Infinity Ward responded publicly, stating to IGN that they would "continue to monitor" the Time-to-Kill and specifically identify weapons that were killing too fast compared to player feedback and internal data.

Which Weapons Were Changed in the New Beta Update?

Instead of tweaking overall player health, the team once again adjusted individual weapon stats. The core aim was to slightly prolong firefights without completely nullifying weapons at range. According to the available patch notes, the most significant changes include:

• Significant reduction in maximum damage for the LMG FiNN, previously considered one of the fastest killing weapons in the beta
• Reduced headshot multipliers for several weapons, including the M4 and the KRAIT P68 pistol
• Further damage and recoil adjustments for the SMG ISO Nightshade across multiple update rounds
• Additional TTK fine-tuning for weapons such as the HAN 86, AXION, Kastov 762, PPSh-41, and MAR-9
• Slight reduction in aim assist strength, as well as adjustments to killstreak costs and the perk setup related to Tactical Sprint

In total, enemies will now noticeably require one more hit to confirm a kill – exactly what a large part of the beta community had demanded.

When Does Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Release?

The global release is officially confirmed for October 23, 2026, playable on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2. Activision has summarized the details in the official Call of Duty blog. The current open beta weekend concludes today, September 1, 2026. The complete technical patch notes are compiled in the Call of Duty Patch Notes overview.

The TTK debate is not a new phenomenon in the CoD franchise: almost every new installment starts with a beta where players complain about either "dying too fast" or "gunplay being too sluggish," prompting studios to make adjustments until release. The fact that Infinity Ward has made multiple improvements within a few days this time shows how seriously they take the feedback – especially since the beta was already receiving mixed reviews and, as our report on the recently declining player numbers despite a major patch shows, was already under pressure. The complete chronology of previous balance changes can be found in our overview of previous beta changes.

For beta players, this means: The final impressions before the test ends should feel noticeably different from the first weekend. Whether this balance will remain for the October release or if Infinity Ward will fine-tune it further remains to be seen.

Source: IGN

What did you think of the Time-to-Kill in the current beta weekend – let us know in the comments!

When Exactly Does GTA 6 Release in November?

The key date is November 19, 2026, exclusively for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Rockstar and Take-Two had already announced this date in November 2025, after the release originally planned for 2025 was first pushed to May 2026 and then postponed again. The current announcement provides no new date but rather a renewed confirmation: Rockstar is signaling that they are on the home stretch and currently no further delays are expected.

What Do the New Screenshots Show?

The fresh captures show protagonist Lucia Caminos and Jason Duval in new looks, alongside secondary characters like Raul Bautista, Boobie Ike, Bae-Luxe, and Roxy in everyday scenes from Leonida. Among other things, a drink from the in-game fast-food chain Chacer’s is visible, as well as several streets of Vice City by day and night. The images complement the material Rockstar had just released a few days prior, surrounding the Extended Look and a major interview feature.

For waiting players, the regularity is particularly noteworthy: After years of very sparse communication, Rockstar has been delivering new screenshots, interviews, and trailer material weekly since summer 2026. This appears to be a deliberate strategy to rebuild trust after previous delays and to fill the final months leading up to the release with content, rather than reverting to months of silence. Those who have already pre-ordered the title will at least regularly receive new talking points, even if this announcement doesn't change the price or feature set.

More on the confirmed content so far can be found in our report on Rockstar's confirmation regarding microtransactions and first-person mode and in our report on the Extended Look gameplay with 30 FPS. If you want to see the screenshots in full resolution or pre-order directly, you can find both on the official GTA 6 page from Rockstar Games as well as in the Rockstar Store. The complete Extended Look is also still available for viewing in the official Newswire post.

Source: IGN

Have you already secured your pre-order spot for GTA 6, or would you rather wait for initial reviews? Let us know in the comments!

What Does Update 1.4.2.5 Bring to Battlefield 6?

At its core, this update sees EA addressing several issues that emerged after the last major content drop. It's not about new weapons or maps, but rather concrete bug fixes for vehicles, modes, and overall stability. Specifically, the studio is improving the following:

• Laser target acquisition against fighter jets in Carrier Strike mode now works reliably again.
• Helicopter miniguns now deal damage again to soldiers in water, who previously could simply dive to avoid it.
• Custom Lobbies in Portal start more stably: The bug where the start button simply wouldn't respond during the countdown has been fixed.
• Fixes for Battle Royale Quads as well as for the Gauntlet mode Fighter Sweep.
• Support players can now correctly ping downed teammates again.
• Issues surrounding the Match Trigger attachment have been ironed out.
• Players can now accept a party invitation directly from the splash screen.
• General improvements to AI behavior, stability, and presentation.

This might sound like small stuff, but it makes a difference in daily gameplay. Anyone who's been stuck in a custom lobby because the start button was dead knows exactly how annoying that can be.

When Is the Update for Battlefield 6 Available?

According to EA, Update 1.4.2.5 is rolling out starting September 1, 2026, which means it's available now. A preload was already available beforehand via version number 1.000.029, so the actual patch should be delivered quickly during the server change. As is usual with Battlefield updates, it might take a few hours for all servers to be synchronized on the new version, depending on the platform.

From our perspective, this patch quite clearly shows the current state of Battlefield 6: After the launch and the first major content update with Top Gun and Wake Island, the classic cleanup round is now underway. Precisely these kinds of post-release improvements were often a point of criticism in previous Battlefield titles because they took too long to arrive or bugs were only fixed months later. The fact that EA and Battlefield Studios are following up within a few weeks is a good sign for the game's ongoing support. For those who want to keep track of the complete update history, bf6balancelog.com offers a practical overview of all previous patches, and the official Battlefield 6 news section is also worthwhile for anyone who doesn't want to miss a patch.

So, for you in-match players, one thing above all changes: less frustration in the areas that have recently caused annoyance. If you play Carrier Strike, you should now be able to take on fighter jets with lasers again, and heli pilots no longer have to worry about enemies in the water being invulnerable.

Source: EA.com

Have you already installed Update 1.4.2.5? Let us know in the comments if you've noticed the fixes and what issues in Battlefield 6 should be addressed next.

What Serious Sam: Shatterverse Brings for Co-op Fans?

The story provides the excuse for the chaos: Arch-villain Mental's machinations have torn open the boundaries between universes, forcing multiple versions of Sam to team up to mend the so-called Shatterverse. But that's not what's really important – the focus is on the shooting in ever-changing arenas, procedurally assembled from handcrafted building blocks. Here are the key features at a glance:

• Co-op for 1 to 5 players, battling ever-new waves of enemies together
• Procedurally mixed, handcrafted arenas instead of fixed level sequences
• Collectable boons and run modifiers that make each playthrough different
• Permanent upgrades that are permanently unlocked between runs
• Mix of classic Serious Sam weapons and completely new guns
• Risky portal events with particularly tough enemy encounters

Who Developed Serious Sam: Shatterverse and How Does it Fit into the Franchise?

The Serious Sam series has been around since 2001, when Croteam established the arena shooter classic with its first installment. However, Shatterverse is not developed by Croteam themselves, but by the Canadian studio Behaviour Interactive – best known for the asymmetric horror hit Dead by Daylight. Croteam has, however, explicitly given its blessing to the project, and the publisher, as with many Serious Sam titles, is Devolver Digital. This marks a significant step for the brand: instead of another classic solo shooter, we're getting a genuine co-op roguelite spin-off for the first time, one that leans more towards titles like Vampire Survivors or Risk of Rain than the main Serious Sam series. From our perspective, this is a clever move to re-engage the brand with a younger, co-op-loving audience without alienating fans of the classic installments – who are sure to continue getting their pure shooter spin-offs.

Source: Gematsu, Steam

Already played it? Let us know in the comments if this co-op excursion works for you, or if you miss the classic solo shooters.

The open test window is now accessible without a pre-order and is also running on the Switch 2 for the first time. Newly included: a section of the upcoming Resurgence map for Warzone, as well as two additional Ground War maps – making it the first Warzone content ever featured in a Call of Duty beta.

What Did the New Patch Change in the Modern Warfare 4 Beta?

After a bumpy start during the first weekend, Infinity Ward has tweaked several key aspects. Here’s an overview of the most important changes:

• Adjustments to Time-to-Kill, after many players felt the elimination speed was too high
• Balance changes to several weapons from the beta weapon pool
• Fixes for frame-pacing issues that caused stuttering even on powerful hardware
• First nerf to the highly aggressive Aim Assist, which was criticized by the community
• First-time integration of a Warzone mode, including a Resurgence map section, into the beta

Full technical details are listed by Infinity Ward in the official Patch Notes.

Why Aren't Player Numbers Increasing Despite the Warzone Mode?

The numbers speak for themselves: during the first weekend, the beta reached a peak of 115,145 concurrent players on Steam – barely 24 hours later, this number had dropped to around 28,730, less than a quarter of its peak. Despite the patch and new Warzone content, the curve has barely budged in the second weekend, according to Eurogamer.

From our perspective, this is hardly surprising: the patch primarily addresses technical issues like frame pacing and individual balance outliers. However, the fundamental criticisms of the gunplay – maps that are too small, an overly fast Time-to-Kill, and an Aim Assist that feels unfair to many PC players – largely persist. Accordingly, early Early Access reviews on Steam show around 45 percent negative ratings. Once players have dropped off, they apparently aren't returning just for a new Warzone morsel.

How Much Longer Does the Open Beta Run, and What Does That Mean for Release?

The open test window is available until September 1st, after which the preview period will conclude. So, anyone who wants to try out the current changes for themselves only has a few days left. For Infinity Ward, the tight timeframe until release will likely be the real stress test: if feedback on TTK and Aim Assist remains as critical as it has been, there will be little room for major adjustments before launch. In our report on the initial beta changes, we already noted where the community wanted improvements from the start – a large portion of these criticisms apparently have not yet been fully addressed.

Anyone who wants to test the beta themselves can find it via the Steam page for the beta; Activision summarizes all platforms and details in the official Beta Overview.

Source: Eurogamer, TweakTown

Have you played the Modern Warfare 4 beta yourself? Tell us in the comments whether the patch made a noticeable difference for you or if the old problems are still annoying.

What Are Z-Mega Evolutions in Pokémon Champions?

With the new Regulation Set M-C, several well-known Pokémon will receive a special Mega Evolution form that can be further enhanced with a Z-Crystal. Mega Lucario Z, Mega Absol Z, and Mega Garchomp Z have been confirmed so far. Additionally, new playable Pokémon like Rillaboom will be added with the update. The Pokémon Company has not yet released precise stats or the complete list of all new forms – further details are expected in the coming weeks.

For fans of the series, the concept itself isn't entirely new: Mega Evolutions first appeared in 2013's Pokémon X and Y, followed by Z-Moves in 2016 with Sun and Moon. However, a combination of both mechanics, as seen now in Pokémon Champions, has not yet been featured in the mainline games – making this update a genuine novelty even for long-time fans.

When Does the Update Launch, and What Does it Mean for Players?

According to the announcement from The Pokémon Company President Tsunekazu Ishihara, the update will be available starting September 9, 2026. Competitive players should start thinking about their teams now: Z-Mega Evolutions are likely to significantly shift the power balance in ranked play, as three already popular competitive Pokémon – Lucario, Absol, and Garchomp – will receive additional boosts.

Pokémon Champions itself launched earlier this year and positions itself as a successor to classic Pokémon battle formats on Nintendo Switch and mobile devices. This announcement is part of a wave of news released by The Pokémon Company surrounding this year's World Championships – from a new movie to further TCG innovations.

Source: Nintendo Life

Which Pokémon would you like to see get a Z-Mega Evolution next? Let us know in the comments!

What Happened in the Star Wars Galaxies Server Hack?

A Reddit moderator, active under the name “Levarris”, has publicly admitted to having infiltrated a Star Wars Galaxies Legends community emulator server with the help of AI. User data was reportedly not affected, but server functions and game content were. According to his own statement, he acted out of personal resentment towards the affected emulator team.

Why Is a 14-Year-Old Dispute Behind the Incident?

According to reports, the conflict between the various Star Wars Galaxies emulator projects dates back around 14 years – from a time when the official game was already shut down and several fan teams were vying for their own unofficial successor servers. Such rivalries between competing emulator communities are not uncommon in the MMO scene: Similar turf wars have occurred in the past between private server operators for other long-discontinued games like City of Heroes or Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Particularly noteworthy in this case is the use of AI tools for the actual attack – a circumstance that demonstrates how significantly technical barriers for such actions have lowered. What will happen to the affected server team and what potential legal consequences the moderator might face remains to be seen.

Source: PC Gamer

What's your take on the use of AI in such server attacks? Discuss with us in the comments!

For Xbox fans, the Fable series is not just any franchise: the original trilogy from Lionhead Studios is still considered one of the most defining Xbox-exclusive RPGs of the 2000s and 2010s. After Lionhead's closure and the cancellation of the multiplayer spin-off Fable Legends, the series remained dormant for several years before Xbox handed the franchise over to Playground Games in 2020 – the studio that had previously made a name for itself primarily with the Forza Horizon series.

How Long Does Fable's Main Story Take?

According to Associate Directors Will Kennedy and Craig Littler, the main quest is expected to take around 20 hours. Players who also tackle side quests, exploration, and optional activities can add another 15 to 20 hours to that – totaling a game with a good 35 to 40 hours of overall playtime for those who truly want to see everything.

What Does the Playtime Say About Fable's Scope?

For comparison: The latest major open-world RPGs from Xbox Game Studios, such as Starfield or Avowed, had main stories of similar lengths, ranging between 20 and 30 hours. With these figures, Fable therefore falls into a format that is now almost standard for the publisher's large-scale RPGs – not an epic 100-hour saga that some fans might have hoped for, but also not a short action experience. For a game explicitly positioned as Xbox's next big fantasy trump card, this is a conscious decision: preferring a dense, well-balanced experience over a bloated open-world game filled with filler content.

There is still no concrete release date for Fable; the game is currently slated for 2027. Until then, further details on gameplay, combat system, and scope are expected to follow.

Source: IGN

Are you looking forward to Fable, or would you have preferred a longer playtime? Discuss with us in the comments!

Why Don't Some Women Want Their Partners to Play GTA 6?

At the heart of the trend is the relationship dynamic between the two protagonists. Unlike previous GTA installments, Rockstar is telling a genuine love story this time, complete with pronounced emotional and intimate scenes. In the viral TikTok clips, female users—ranging from jokingly to seriously—state that they don't want their partners to develop a kind of relationship with Lucia—including nude scenes and dating-like moments, similar to what's already known from previous leisure activities and story sequences.

Exactly how the relationship system will function in the final game is not yet known in detail. Rockstar has only shown individual scenes from the campaign so far, in which Jason and Lucia appear as a couple—a complete mechanic with genuine choice options has not been officially confirmed.

Is This Just a Fun Trend, or Is There Real Criticism Behind It?

Anyone who takes a closer look at the clips quickly realizes: The majority of the trend is meant ironically, a viral format that constantly emerges on TikTok. Similar 'prohibition trends' have previously emerged for other games with strong relationship elements, such as Baldur's Gate 3 or Stardew Valley. However, the topic is not entirely free of genuine discussion: It shows how strongly GTA 6—months before its release—has already become part of pop culture beyond the classic gaming bubble. Hardly any other game currently manages to generate its own trends on TikTok, even outside of specialized media.

For Rockstar, despite the somewhat critical undertones, this is primarily one thing: free advertising. The more GTA 6 is discussed—whether seriously or ironically—the more present the game remains in conversation until its release scheduled for November 19, 2026.

Source: GamingHQ

What do you think of the TikTok trend – a funny internet hype or is there more to it? Let us know in the comments!

As GamePro first reported, it's none other than Roger Clark, the voice actor for Arthur Morgan from Red Dead Redemption 2. The scene is deliberately kept short and easy to miss, but that's precisely what makes it truly interesting for many fans.

Why is Arthur Morgan in GTA 6?

The connection between the two games isn't entirely new. Even in early GTA 6 trailers, fans had discovered parallels to Red Dead Redemption 2, such as protagonist Jason's pose on a promo image for the Hawk-&-Little-Morgan Revolver, which strongly resembles Arthur Morgan's cover artwork. The name of the weapon itself is also considered a small reference to the Red Dead hero. The newly discovered voice recording fits into this tradition and shows how much Rockstar interweaves its own game history in the latest installment, without creating a direct story connection. For the developers, it's a kind of homage to one of the studio's most beloved characters, without Red Dead Redemption 2 and GTA 6 actually having to exist in the same universe.

How is the Community Reacting to the Easter Egg?

In the relevant forums and on Reddit, theories have been running wild since the discovery. Some fans are simply celebrating the detail as a loving nod to Red Dead Redemption 2, while others are already trying to construct larger connections between the Rockstar worlds from it. Realistically, however, it's probably exactly what it is: a tongue-in-cheek Easter egg for attentive players, not an indication of a shared universe. But it's precisely such details that make GTA 6 trailers so popular with the community – as soon as a new video is released, it's searched frame by frame for hidden messages.

Anyone who wants to know more about the contents of the gameplay reveal can find further details on the technical side of the video in our report on the Extended Look with 30 FPS. Our article on the new wanted system also shows how many small details Rockstar packed into the reveal.

Source: GamePro

Did you discover the Easter egg yourself, or had you not noticed it before? Let us know in the comments!

What Exactly Happened at gamescom?

Reports indicate that those affected include developer Ryan Laley from Mimic, as well as studios iam8bit and Tessera Studios. Laptops and handhelds containing some unreleased build data were stolen from them – a significant loss for small studios without extensive backup infrastructure, extending far beyond the mere material value. The police are now investigating, while gamescom itself refers to the security regulations and mandatory insurance that exhibitors must adhere to for their own equipment anyway.

How is the Gaming Community Reacting to the Thefts?

Instead of merely generating frustration, the incident primarily triggered one thing: palpable solidarity. Other studios and fans rushed to assist those affected even while the event was ongoing. This was particularly evident with CD Projekt Red: The studio, which had recently received multiple awards at the gamescom awards 2026, directly offered replacement hardware to the robbed indie teams so they could continue their presentations on the remaining days of the fair.

For the industry, this incident has two sides: On one hand, it demonstrates how vulnerable small studios, in particular, are at an event of this magnitude when it comes to the security of their often self-financed equipment. On the other hand, the swift helpfulness from within the industry clearly shows that the much-lauded gaming community genuinely sticks together beyond mere marketing platitudes when it truly matters. As this year's gamescom closes its doors today, the topic of exhibitor security will likely be higher on the organizers' agenda for the coming years.

Source: GameStar, Eurogamer

Were you at gamescom yourself? Feel free to share your impressions with us in the comments!

What is Hieronymus About?

In Hieronymus, you play as Helena van Aken, who seeks to uncover the truth behind her family's mysterious pact with supernatural powers. By her side: none other than Faust himself. The game world directly draws inspiration from famous works by Hieronymus Bosch, most notably the triptych “The Garden of Earthly Delights” – one of the most renowned and enigmatic paintings in European art history, which has captivated art historians for over 500 years. The fact that this particular surreal imagery now serves as a 3D shooter backdrop is exceptionally rare in gaming – typically, classical art history serves at most as a rough stylistic template, not a direct game world.

How Do You Fight Your Way Through Bosch's Paintings?

According to the announcement, you'll be able to encounter the numerous twisted creatures that populate Bosch's paintings in three ways: through direct combat, alchemy, or by capturing and taming them. In the material shown, you'll face, among other things, a multi-legged “fish train” – a remarkably fitting image for how literally the studio interprets the surreal source material.

The game does not yet have a publisher, and a release date has also not been set – a Steam release is currently planned. For fans of unusual indie concepts, Hieronymus should already be one of the names to keep an eye on in the coming months.

Precisely because there isn't a major publisher on board yet, it remains to be seen how much of the showcased material will actually make it into the final game – with small studios lacking financially strong partners, ambitions and scope between announcement and release often shift more frequently than with large AAA productions, based on experience. However, anyone who adds the Steam page to their wishlist will at least automatically be notified as soon as there are new details or a date.

Source: PC Gamer

Do you think this unusual art-shooter mix has what it takes? Tell us your opinion in the comments!

A massive data package has reportedly been circulating online since the weekend, allegedly originating from an old, openly accessible Valve content server. We're talking about approximately 12 terabytes of material from the years 2003 to 2013 – including, according to reports, content that fans have been waiting for for almost two decades.

What is Allegedly Contained in the Leaked Data?

According to several reports, the package allegedly contains, among other things, a playable beta build of Portal 2 with a seemingly different GLaDOS version, early development versions of Left 4 Dead, and a 3D model of a weapon called “Weaponizer,” which is reportedly from the never-released Half-Life 2: Episode 3. However, a complete, playable Episode 3 build cannot be inferred from the current reports – so far, only this single asset seems to have surfaced.

How Credible is the Leak?

Reports suggest this isn't a classic hack, but rather human error: an outdated, supposedly long-forgotten server was simply left openly accessible. Valve has not yet confirmed anything – neither the authenticity nor the origin of the files. While the fact that several independent, established news outlets are reporting on it simultaneously speaks to a genuine core to the story, it doesn't change the fact that details like the alleged Episode 3 discovery should be treated with caution.

For the community, the mere mention of Episode 3 is, of course, explosive: Ever since the cliffhanger of Half-Life 2: Episode 2 in 2007, fans have been waiting for a continuation of Gordon Freeman's story. While Half-Life: Alyx in 2020 showed that Valve hasn't completely abandoned the series, it didn't provide a direct continuation of the episodic storyline. Any discovery, no matter how small, from that era accordingly reignites the eternal “Half-Life 3” debate – even if a single weapon model is far from a complete game.

Source: VGC, PC Gamer, Eurogamer

Do you believe that genuine Episode 3 material has really surfaced? Discuss with us in the comments!

Who Did Activision Visit and Why?

The target was the cheat provider known as “Elocarry” in Ohio, USA. An Activision representative drove directly to his residential address, rang the doorbell, and personally handed over a cease and desist order – the entire video, published by the official Call of Duty X account, almost looks like a mini-documentary. The man at the door, whose face was blurred, was briefly informed that Activision's lawyers had sent the papers and that he should contact the mentioned law firm.

How Does Activision Generally Tackle Cheat Providers?

The visit to Elocarry is not an isolated incident but part of a larger campaign: According to Activision, they have now issued more than 80 cease and desist orders, disrupted over 375 reseller structures, and completely taken down more than 30 providers. With this, the publisher is enforcing its in-house anti-cheat system Ricochet not only technically, but increasingly also legally and – as in this case – quite concretely.

For players, one thing should be particularly interesting: In response, Elocarry has paused the sale of its Call of Duty and Warzone cheats, but continues to offer cheats for other titles like Battlefield 6, Rust, or Apex Legends on the same site. Anyone currently participating in the Modern Warfare 4 Beta should expect cleaner lobbies, at least in the short term – though this rarely lasts, as new providers usually quickly fill the void.

How fiercely contested the topic of cheating is around the CoD launch was also recently demonstrated during the second Beta weekend featuring the new Warzone mode on the Zodiac map, which was also under close community scrutiny.

Source: PC Gamer

Do you think the personal delivery is fair or over the top? Discuss with us in the comments!

How Does the New Wanted System Work in GTA 6?

Instead of just working with stars as before, GTA 6 now individually tracks what the police know about you: your face, clothing, equipped weapon, and the vehicle you're using function as separate indicators. If you're recognized, the police remember these exact characteristics – if you change clothes or get into a different car, they can actually lose you as a result. Additionally, there's a new Focus mechanic: instead of staring rigidly at the minimap as before, you now have to pay more active attention to your surroundings to identify whether someone is currently observing or suspecting you.

The new system was showcased in the approximately 27-minute Extended Look, which Rockstar initially released exclusively on Netflix and then on YouTube a few hours later:

What's Different Compared to GTA 5?

In GTA 5, it was usually enough to drive a few blocks or briefly move out of the police's line of sight for the stars to disappear – the game “forgot” about you almost instantly. This arbitrary nature was frequently criticized by the community over the years because it rarely made chases feel truly threatening. With the new system, Rockstar is clearly responding to this criticism: once recognized, you remain so until you actively change something about your appearance. This makes chases potentially longer, but also significantly more strategic than before.

For you as a player, this specifically means: if you simply continue driving as before after a heist, you'll likely find yourself in another wanted pursuit much faster in GTA 6. Changing clothes or swapping vehicles thus turns from a nice extra into a genuine survival strategy. You can find more about open-world activities in our overview of minigames and leisure activities in GTA 6.

That Rockstar is fine-tuning many aspects was also evident in other announcements surrounding the release – for example, when the studio officially confirmed what players will have to do without at launch.

Source: GameStar

What do you think of the new wanted system – a realistic step forward or unnecessarily complicated? Let us know in the comments!

What Did the Journalist Really See in GTA 6?

Oerding primarily described the sheer scale of the game world as overwhelming – Vice City reportedly feels significantly more vibrant and densely populated than previous Rockstar cities. He especially highlighted the dynamic between the two protagonists, Lucia and Jason: unlike many past GTA titles featuring a single silent main character, this duo is said to truly function as a couple with their own narrative, including believable points of conflict. While he couldn't reveal specific figures or mission details due to contractual obligations, his overall assessment is decidedly positive.

Why Is Such an Early Press Preview a Big Deal?

Rockstar Games is notoriously reserved when it comes to press previews – unlike many publishers, the studio rarely and very selectively invites individual journalists, usually only shortly before launch. The fact that Henrik Oerding, a German editor, is among the few worldwide who got to play GTA 6 early is a testament to trust, a gesture unprecedented in the over ten-year wait for GTA V's successor. For the German-speaking community, this offers a rare glimpse behind Rockstar's typically impenetrable communication curtain.

Our Take: Such curated early impressions should naturally be approached with caution, as Rockstar meticulously chooses what to showcase. Nevertheless, it's a strong signal that the developers are apparently satisfied enough with their product this close to launch to grant journalists access. For more, we've already summarized what we know about the absence of microtransactions in GTA 6, and how the game technically performs according to the first extended look, in our report on console framerate expectations.

Source: GamePro

What are you most looking forward to in Vice City? Discuss with us in the comments!

What Does Hiring the Modder Mean for the Remaster?

For years, HalkHogan's HD Reworked Project was considered one of the most comprehensive and detailed graphics mods for The Witcher 3, featuring revamped textures for characters, environments, and effects. With the official release of the Remaster on September 29th, his mod will become practically obsolete, as his work will then be directly integrated into the main game. Additionally, CD Projekt Red is collaborating with the Hungarian studio Geeksoft for the Remaster, which is providing technical support for the implementation.

Why is Hiring Modder Talent Beneficial for Studios?

CD Projekt Red is by no means the first studio to bring successful modders onto its team – Bethesda and other developers have often had good experiences with this model. The advantage is clear: modders like HalkHogan often know a game's weaknesses and potential for improvement better than some internal developers, because they've worked on exactly that for years on a voluntary basis. For CD Projekt Red, this means being able to directly adopt proven and community-tested improvements without significant development risks, instead of reinventing the wheel themselves. At the same time, it sends a clever signal to their own modding community: those who deliver truly excellent work have a realistic chance of landing a job at the studio.

For players, this primarily means: If you've previously avoided mods because installation was too complicated, the Remaster will deliver many of these improvements directly in the vanilla game, without any tinkering, starting September 29th.

Source: GamePro

Do you use graphics mods yourself, or do you prefer to wait for official improvements? Discuss with us in the comments!

What Were the Highlights of Gamescom 2026?

Beyond the major publisher booths from Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo, which once again drew long queues this year, numerous indie studios utilized the expo for playable presentations away from the main spotlight. The stage program in the Koelnmesse halls was also tightly scheduled, ranging from developer talks to live esports tournaments. On today's final day, the expo is open to visitors from 9 AM to 8 PM before the last booths are taken down in the evening.

Why Is Gamescom So Important for the Industry?

Unlike E3 in previous years, Gamescom in Cologne has, over recent years, established itself as the central industry gathering for Europe, focusing on both major AAA reveals and direct interaction between studios and fans. For German and European developers, the expo is also a vital showcase to gain international attention without the need to travel to the USA. This year's record number of exhibitors demonstrates that this locational advantage remains strong, even as digital showcases and streams have gained importance in recent years.

For those who couldn't attend in person: We've already summarized the most important award winners from this year's expo, including CD Projekt Red and Sega, in our report on the gamescom awards 2026.

Source: deutschland.de

Were you at Gamescom this year? Tell us about your highlight in the comments!

What exactly is changing in the major overhaul?

The core of the revamp is a complete change in perspective: instead of the previous top-down view, Gekishin Squadra will now be played from a third-person, over-the-shoulder perspective, aiming to bring players closer to the action. Additionally, there will be simplified victory conditions, a revised role system, and new “MAX Super Attacks” that allow players to replace their standard special attacks. Super Gogeta will also join the roster as a new hero, Android 19 will become a new helper for the Technical role, and San-Shinron will be introduced as a new boss that rotates every two weeks.

Why is Bandai Namco attempting such a radical overhaul after only one year?

Such a profound intervention in a core mechanic – the camera perspective – is unusually bold for live-service titles, especially so soon after launch. Studios typically shy away from such changes because they can unsettle established communities. The fact that Bandai Namco is taking this step anyway suggests that the top-down perspective apparently did not generate the desired long-term player retention internally. Bundling the overhaul with the anniversary is a clever move: this allows the relaunch to be sold as a big comeback rather than a quiet admission that the initial version didn't work as intended.

For active players, this primarily means that established strategies and mainstream builds will fundamentally change with the overhaul – those currently practicing top-down routines are investing time in mechanics that will be gone in a few weeks. Those who have been considering jumping in anyway might find the start of Season 7 a good opportunity to begin directly with the new system.

Source: Nintendo Life

Are you looking forward to the new perspective, or were you fans of the old top-down system? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!

How was MIBR Eliminated from the VCT Americas Playoffs?

The path to elimination was a bitter one for MIBR: First, the team lost in the Upper Bracket against LEVIATÁN, consequently dropping into the Lower Bracket. There, on August 29th (8:00 PM US East Coast local time), they faced Evil Geniuses – and had to concede defeat once again. For Evil Geniuses, the win is a crucial step to continue pushing towards the Playoffs Grand Final in the Lower Bracket; for MIBR, the Stage 2 season ends prematurely.

What Does This Elimination Mean for MIBR?

For the organization, it's the next setback in an already challenging VCT Americas season. The Lower Bracket format of the VCT Playoffs is unforgiving: Whoever loses there is immediately out – unlike in the regular group stage, there are no second chances. MIBR must thus prematurely bow out of the race for one of the coveted spots in the Champions Shanghai Playoffs, while Evil Geniuses keeps their chances alive. The Pacific region recently demonstrated just how close and intense Lower Bracket duels generally are this VCT season: There, Nongshim RedForce recently knocked out favorite Gen.G from the playoffs.

Source: VLR.gg

Are you following the VCT Americas Playoffs? Tell us in the comments who you think will make it to Shanghai!

How to Change the Ability Menu in Star Wars Zero Company?

By default, Zero Company uses a radial menu: you hold down a key and select your ability from a circle of icons that opens around your character. While this looks stylish, it can unnecessarily waste time in hectic battles with many options. If you prefer a classic, list-based view instead, you'll find an option in the gameplay settings to swap the radial menu for a traditional XCOM-style list menu – abilities will then be displayed one below the other with descriptions instead of as an icon ring.

Why Should I Switch to the Classic Menu?

For genre veterans, the list view is generally faster: you see hotkeys, cooldowns, and descriptions at a glance, instead of having to memorize the meaning of individual icons. The difference becomes particularly noticeable in later missions when characters have unlocked more abilities.

For context: Radial menus have been a point of contention in tactics titles for years – they appear more elegant and controller-friendly on paper, but many PC players using mouse and keyboard find them to be a roundabout way compared to a direct list. Developer Bit Reactor, founded by former Firaxis employees behind the modern XCOM series, apparently deliberately aimed to cater to both camps with this option, rather than committing to a single control scheme. This is commendable, but it could have been communicated a bit more prominently within the game itself – currently, many players only discover the option through tips like this one.

Source: PC Gamer

Do you prefer the radial menu or the classic list? Let us know your preference in the comments!

Why Is the Gaming Community Protesting Against Sony?

The trigger is an announcement from Sony on July 1, 2026: From January 2028, the company intends to stop producing physical disc versions of PlayStation games. For many gamers, this is an alarm signal, as purely digital games cannot be resold, lent out, or permanently archived – if a title disappears from the store or a server is shut down, access can be completely lost in the worst-case scenario. Does It Play? therefore called for participants to refrain from making any purchases in the PlayStation Store for a week, to let PS Plus subscriptions lapse, and to either turn off their console or log out of PSN.

How Successful Was the PlayStation Blackout, Really?

It's currently impossible to put a reliable figure on this. Neither Sony nor independent analysts have so far published reliable figures on how strongly the protest has actually impacted PSN user numbers or store revenues – Sony itself has not yet officially commented on the action. This is not uncommon for such boycott calls: In similar past protests, for example against price increases by individual publishers, the actual economic effect usually remained unknown, while media attention and discussions in forums and social networks demonstrably increased.

From our perspective, the action primarily shows one thing: The topic of game preservation (“Game Preservation”) is no longer a niche issue for archivists, but rather has a broad, well-organized fanbase. Whether Sony reacts to the protest or stubbornly sticks to the 2028 timetable is likely to depend more on economic considerations than on public relations – according to industry estimates, disc sales now only account for a small fraction of PlayStation's revenue.

Source: Tom’s Hardware

Did you participate in the blackout, or do you consider the action ineffective? Tell us your opinion in the comments!

Which Weapons Were Nerfed in the MW4 Beta?

The Krait P68 is in the spotlight: The headshot multiplier has been reduced from 1.6x to 1.4x, while values for neck and upper body shots are also down, and multipliers for lower extremity hits revert to their base value. The .50 GS Magna Apex has also been adjusted. Overall, Infinity Ward has slightly tweaked virtually every beta weapon – with the stated goal of increasing the minimum Time-to-Kill (TTK) to give players more reaction time to incoming fire. Additionally, weapons with low reserve ammunition will now receive extra reserve magazines.

• Krait P68: Headshot multiplier 1.6x → 1.4x, neck/upper body values reduced
• Krait P68: Lower extremity multipliers reset to base value
• .50 GS Magna Apex: Damage values adjusted
• General increase of minimum Time-to-Kill across the entire weapon roster
• Additional reserve magazines for weapons with low ammunition
• New Mode: Ground War – Combat Outpost (see below)

What's New in Ground War: Combat Outpost Mode?

Combat Outpost is now playable and scales to 24 vs 24 players. Infantry and vehicle combat blend across the two maps, Imjin Farmland and Wolves Stadium. The highlight: Teams establish outposts that generate resources, which in turn unlock further objectives – while powerful aerial Killstreaks simultaneously complicate the situation. The mode complements the already running beta modes Lithium, Hijack, and Resurgence on the Zodiac map.

For context: This is already the third balance patch Infinity Ward has rolled out within days of the beta's launch – a clear sign of how strongly the studio is reacting to community feedback from the second beta weekend. Specifically, the Time-to-Kill adjustments address one of the community's biggest criticisms from the first beta weekend, where many players found gunfights to be too fast and unfair.

Source: Call of Duty (Official Patch Notes), Dexerto

How are you liking the new balancing – are you already noticing the changes to the Krait P68 in-match? Let us know in the comments!

According to Rob Nelson, Co-Studio Head of Rockstar North, GTA 6 will not include real-money microtransactions or generative AI in its development when it launches on November 19, 2026, on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. This statement explicitly refers to the story mode – Rockstar has not yet commented on GTA Online, the multiplayer spin-off that became the publisher's primary revenue stream for GTA 5 via Shark Cards.

Why is Rockstar Forgoing Microtransactions and AI in GTA 6?

Nelson is thus deliberately positioning Rockstar against two practices currently causing the most frustration in the industry: loot boxes and in-game purchases in full-price games, as well as AI-generated content, which has recently drawn community criticism for several studios. For a game with an estimated budget of over two billion dollars, this is a conscious statement – Rockstar apparently intends to sell GTA 6 as a pure premium experience, entirely without the monetization mechanics that have defined GTA Online for over a decade.

Will GTA 6 Get a True First-Person Mode?

No, at least not at launch. Rockstar also confirmed that GTA 6 will primarily be played from a third-person perspective. While a first-person view is possible when aiming with certain weapons, a complete camera toggle for the entire campaign – like the one GTA 5 received later via an update – will not be available at launch.

Historically, this is not a deal-breaker: a true first-person mode also didn't arrive with GTA 5's release, but only about a year and a half later as a free update for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. It is therefore conceivable that Rockstar will add it for GTA 6 once the game is established. Those interested in the general gameplay direction of GTA 6 can find further insights in our analysis of GTA 6's gameplay substance and in our report on the Extended Look.

From our perspective, the decision to forgo microtransactions and AI in the story mode is particularly shrewdly timed from a PR standpoint: precisely now, when publishers like Sony are causing frustration with their pricing policies, Rockstar is positioning itself as a supposedly player-friendly alternative. Whether this promise also applies to GTA Online remains the truly interesting question – and one that Rockstar has wisely left open.

Source: IGN, GamePro

What do you think of Rockstar's announcement – a pure marketing move or an honest promise? Discuss with us in the comments!

From sports and competitions to relaxed leisure activities: Rockstar is seemingly cramming significantly more side occupations into the world than they did in GTA 5. We've compiled the most important categories for you.

What Mini-games Are Available in GTA 6?

The activities can be broadly categorized into several areas that were discernible in the footage released so far:

• Sporting activities like basketball, darts, mini-golf, and street football
• Competitions: MMA-style cage fights, illegal street races, and boat duels
• Leisure: Fishing, diving at coral reefs, yoga sessions, and beach activities
• Animal encounters: Horse riding, petting dogs, and excursions into the swamp areas of Leonida
• Additional side jobs such as operating a food truck and smaller heists outside of the main missions

Not all of these activities are expected to have the same depth of gameplay – some appear more like brief trailer snippets, while others seem like full-fledged mini-games complete with their own scoring system. Rockstar has only officially confirmed a fraction of these in detail thus far.

Why Is the Sheer Volume of Side Activities Such a Big Deal?

For comparison: GTA 5 launched in 2013 with a significantly smaller selection of fixed leisure activities such as tennis, golf, yoga, and skydiving, which were only noticeably expanded via online updates over the course of the console generation. The fact that GTA 6 is apparently teasing more than double the number of activities even before its release demonstrates how much Rockstar has learned from Red Dead Redemption 2: the density of side activities was one of its most lauded aspects. For the community, this primarily signifies that GTA 6 should offer an immense amount to do even beyond the story missions – assuming Rockstar genuinely delivers on this depth of implementation and it doesn't just remain appealing trailer moments.

More about the big reveal can be found in our report on the Twitch outage after the Extended Look trailer as well as in our assessment of the framerate discussion surrounding GTA 6.

Source: GameStar

Which side activity do you want to try first in GTA 6? Let us know in the comments!

Among the reasons cited by Cloud Imperium Games is the massive media hype surrounding GTA 6. The so-called "Buzzsaw" effect precisely describes this phenomenon: When a mega-release like GTA 6 captures the complete attention of the gaming press and community, other major announcements risk simply being drowned out. Instead of fighting against this pull, Chris Roberts prefers to push his own date further back.

What Does the Delay Mean for Backers and Supporters?

Those who support Star Citizen won't be left entirely empty-handed, however. A hands-on event is announced for October 9 and 10, 2026, where backers and supporters can apparently already try out Squadron 42. While there's still no final, set-in-stone release date for the complete story mode, at least there's a concrete date when fans can get a firsthand look at the current state of development.

Is This Squadron 42's First Delay?

No, not at all. Squadron 42 has been delayed multiple times and has been in development for over a decade. Originally announced as an addition to the 2012 Star Citizen Kickstarter campaign, the release date has been repeatedly pushed back ever since – sometimes due to technical hurdles, sometimes because resources flowed into the parallel-growing Star Citizen universe. For many industry observers, Squadron 42 is now considered one of the prime examples of chronically delayed large-scale projects in gaming, in the same league as other titles that spent years in so-called development hell. The new delay to 2027 thus fits seamlessly into this familiar pattern – even if the reason cited this time, competition from GTA 6, is new.

For fans who have been waiting years for the story mode, the news is likely still disheartening. At the same time, it shows just how much GTA 6 is already influencing the entire industry – apparently so much so that even a project with a loyal and financially strong community prefers to step aside rather than face direct comparison.

Source: GameStar

What do you think about this latest delay? Let us know in the comments!

Among the first titles tested were Cyberpunk 2077, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and The Last of Us Part 2. The results vary extremely.

What exactly does DLSS 5 do in the tested games?

• Origin of the leak: File “nvngx_dlssnr.dll” discovered in the NBA-2K27 beta data
• Tested, among others, in Cyberpunk 2077, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, The Last of Us Part 2, and Control
• In some cases, more detailed skin, clothing, and lighting rendition visible
• In some cases, significantly altered faces of well-known characters like Cloud and Ellie
• In Control, the framerate with an RTX 5070 Ti in 4K drops from 71 to 37 frames per second

Is this already the final version of DLSS 5?

No, and that's exactly what's important to know: The modder version runs completely without the fine-tuning that Nvidia would normally use to adapt the feature to a game. All sliders can currently be freely adjusted by fans – some intentionally crank everything to the max to create the most bizarre, viral comparison images possible. The massive framerate drop in Control is therefore likely due to a lack of optimization rather than the finished feature itself.

From our perspective, the leak still shows where things are headed: Nvidia is apparently working on a true neural rendering approach that goes beyond classic upscaling and directly intervenes in character depiction – see the altered faces of Cloud and Ellie. This also explains why the community is so divided in its reaction: Those who want sharper textures are thrilled, while those who are attached to familiar character designs tend to be skeptical. Nvidia will therefore likely still significantly fine-tune things before the official presentation.

Source: PC Gamer, Tom’s Hardware

Have you already tested the leaked DLSS 5 version yourself? Share your impressions with us in the comments!