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Games

2025 Upcoming Games Release Schedule

by admin June 10, 2025

2025 is looking to be a very interesting year for video games, as the current-gen PlayStation and Xbox systems are well into their lifespans while Nintendo is releasing the Nintendo Switch’s successor, the Switch 2. And let’s not forget all the exclusives we’re sure to see across PC and mobile platforms–there are games coming out for just about everyone.

Keeping track of all your anticipated games’ release dates is a futile task without a little help, so GameSpot has broken down all the games planned for release in 2025. This includes games that have concrete dates, as well as those given a 2025 release window–for the latter, you’ll find them grouped together at the end. We’ll continue to update this post as more games are announced, and check here for all the games released in 2024.

January

The Legend of Cyber Cowboy (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – January 1

Learn to Play Vol. 10 – Gravity Space Walk (PS4, PS5) – January 3

Sea Fantasy (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC) – January 7

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana (PS5, PS4, Switch) – January 7

Rivenaar’s Grove (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch) – January 8

Freedom Wars Remastered (PS5, PS4, Switch, PC) – January 9

Asfalia Fear (PC) – January 14

Heroes of Hammerwatch 2 (PC) – January 14

Hyper Light Breaker (PC) – January 14

Threefold Recital (PC) – January 14

Aloft (PC) – January 15

Runny Bunny (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch) – January 15

The Roottrees are Dead (PC) – January 15

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (Switch) – January 16

Montezuma’s Revenge – The 40th Anniversary Edition (PC) – January 16

Things Too Ugly (Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, PC) – January 16

Dynasty Warriors Origins (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – January 17

Tales of Graces f Remastered (Switch) – January 17

IDUN (PC) – January 20

Into the Emberlands (PC) – January 20

Magic Inn (PC) – January 20

Super Roboy (PC) – January 20

Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders (Xbox Series X|S, PC) – January 20

Somber Echoes (PC) – January 21

Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – January 22

Popotinho’s Adventures (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch) – January 22

Dreamcore (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – January 23

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (PC) – January 23

Gravitators (Switch) – January 23

Rocket Boots Mania (PC) – January 23

Star Wars Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – January 23

Synduality Echo of Ada (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – January 23

Cat Detective Albert Wilde (PC) – January 24

Mark of the Deep (PC) – January 24

Cuisineer (Switch) – January 28

Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos (PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch) – January 28

Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap (Xbox Series X|S, PC) – January 28

Sibel’s Journey (PC) – January 28

Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – January 28

The Stone of Madness (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) – January 28

Warside (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – January 28

Agent Fall (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch) -January 29

Coridden (PC) – January 29

Cryptical Path (PC) – January 29

DeTechtive 2112 (PC) – January 29

Dead Letter Dept. (PC) – January 30

Defender’s Quest 2 (PC) – January 30

Sniper Elite: Resistance (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC) – January 30

Spider-Man 2 (PC) – January 30

Genso Manege (Switch, PC) – January 31

February

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – February 4

DeathOmen (PC) – February 5

Rift of the NecroDancer (PC) – February 5

Starlight Legacy (PC) – February 5

While Waiting (PC, Switch) – February 5

Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – February 6

Big Helmet Heroes (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) – February 6

Keep Driving (PC) – February 6

Moons of Darsalon (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch) – February 6

Sid Meier’s Civilization VII (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) – February 11

The Executive (PC) – February 11

Super Jagger Bomb 2: Go East (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – February 12

Warriors: Abyss (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) – February 12

Dawnfolk (PC) – February 13

Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – February 13

Rugby 25 (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC) – February 13

Terry’s Other Games (PC) – February 13

Afterlove EP (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) – February 14

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II (PS5, PS4, Switch, PC) – February 14

Immortal Hunters (PC) – February 17

Ale Abbey (PC) – February 18

Avowed (Xbox Series X|S, PC) – February 18

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 1 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – February 18

HPL: Nyarlathotep Rising (PC) – February 19

BrokenLore: Low (PC) – February 20

Tribe Nine (PC, iOS, Android) – February 20

Die in the Dungeon (PC) – February 21

Ninja Five-0 (PS5, PS4, Switch, PC) – February 25

Monster Hunter Wilds (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – February 28

Omega 6: The Triangle Stars (Switch, PC) – February 28

March

Grimoire Groves (PC) – March 4

Two Point Museum (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – March 4

War Robots: Frontiers (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – March 4

Wizordum (PC) – March 5

Eldrador Creatures: Shadowfall (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) – March 6

Fragpunk (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – March 6

Split Fiction (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – March 6

Suikoden 1&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – March 6

Sugardew Island – Your Cozy Farm Shop (PS5, PS4, Switch, PC) – March 7

WWE 2K25 early access (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC) – March 7

Beyond the Ice Palace 2 (PC, consoles one day later) – March 10

Centium (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – March 11

Wanderstop (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – March 11

Expelled! (Switch, iOS, Android) – March 12

Fate: Reawakened (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – March 12

Path of Fury: Episode 1 (Quest) – March 13

Out of the Park Baseball 26 (PC) – March 14

WWE 2K25 (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC) – March 14

33 Immortals (Xbox Series X|S, PC) – March 18 early access

MLB The Show 25 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch) – March 18

Reignbreaker (PC) – March 18

Virballs (PC) – March 18

Assassin’s Creed Shadows (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – March 20

Mudborne (PC) – March 20

Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – March 21

Dark Deity 2 (PC) – March 24

Folklands (PC) – March 24

Breakout Beyond (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – March 25

Mother Machine (PC) – March 26

Grit and Valor – 1949 (PC) – March 26

Twilight Monk (Switch, PC) – March 26

Wednesdays (PC) – March 26

AI Limit (PS5, PC) – March 27

Atomfall (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC) – March 27

Bubble Ghost Remake (Switch, PC) – March 27

ENA: Dream BBQ Chapter 1 (PC) – March 27

SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered (PS5, PS4, Switch, PC, iOS, Android) – March 27

Sports: Renovations (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – March 27

The First Berserker: Khazan (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – March 27

Dollhouse: Behind the Broken Mirror (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – March 28

Wildkeepers Rising (PC) – March 31

April

Nif Nif (Switch, PC) – April 1

Crocs: Legend of the Gobbos (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – April 2

Elroy and the Aliens (PC) – April 2

Steel Hunters (PC) – April 2

Detective Dotson (PC) – April 3

Jin & Jan (PC) – April 3

Ekoh Beach (PC) – April 4

Peppered (PC) – April 4

Vindefiant (PC) – April 4

Cursed Dawn (PC) – April 7

Dissent on Mars (PC) – April 7

Armored Brigade 2 (PC) – April 8

Burden of Command (PC) – April 8

Locomoto (PC) – April 8

South of Midnight (Xbox Series X|S, PC) – April 8

Commandos: Origins (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC) – April 9

Driveloop (PC) – April 9

Blue Prince (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – April 10

Crashlands 2 (PC, iOS, Android) – April 10

Monaco 2 (PC) – April 10

Monster Energy Supercross 25 – The Official Video Game (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – April 10

Perplex (PC) – April 10

Promise Mascot Agency (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) – April 10

Star Overdrive (Switch, PC) – April 10

Steel Seed (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – April 10

Willow Guard (PC) – April 10

Traveler’s Refrain (PC) – April 11

Fubuki – zero in on Holoearth – (PC) – April 14

The Fool’s Apprentice (PC) – April 14

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 2 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – April 15

The Electrifying Incident: A Monster Mini-Expedition (PC) – April 15

Synergy (PC) – April 16

Bionic Bay (PS5, PC) – April 17

Chasmal Fear (PC) – April 17

Gorn 2 (PC VR, Quest) – April 17

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (PS5) – April 17

Mandragora (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) – April 17

Rusty Rabbit (PS5, Switch, PC) – April 17

Lunar Remastered Collection (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – April 18

Mirage: Ignis Fatuus (Switch, PC) – April 18

Tranquil Isle (PC) – April 18

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – April 21

Rise of Rebellion (PC) – April 21

Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3 (PC) – April 22

Out of Hands (PC) – April 22

Steel Seed (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – April 22

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – April 22

War Rats (PC) – April 22

Beholder: Conductor (PC) – April 23

Old Skies (PC, Switch) – April 23

Sunderfolk (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) – April 23

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – April 24

Realpolitiks 3: Earth and Beyond (PC) – April 24

Super Technos World: River City & Arcade Classics (PS5, Switch, PC) – April 24

The Hundred Line – Last Defense Academy (Switch, PC) – April 24

Days Gone Remastered (PS5) – April 25

Starless Abyss (PC) – April 25

Warfare Legacy Collection (PC) – April 28

Blight Night (PC) – April 29

Forza Horizon 5 (PS5) – April 29

Moroi (PC) – April 30

Skin Deep (PC) – April 30

StarVaders (PC) – April 30

May

Shotgun Cop Man (PC) – May 1

What The Clash? (Apple Arcade) – May 1

Vellum (PC) – May 2

Best Served Cold (PC) – May 5

Drop Duchy (PC) – May 5

Among Us 3D (PC) – May 6

Blight Night (PC) – May 6

Siegecaster (PC) – May 6

Unblock (PC) – May 6

Deck of Haunts (PC) – May 7

Survival Machine (PC) – May 7

Bahamut and the Waqwaq Tree (PC) – May 8

Revenge of the Savage Planet (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – May 8

Sonic Rumble (PC, iOS, Android) – May 8

The Midnight Walk (PS5, PC) – May 8

Vambrace: Dungeon Monarch (PC) – May 8

Yes, Your Grace: Snowfall (PC) – May 8

Legacy of Sin: Ill-Boding (PC) – May 12

Labyrinth of the Demon King (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – May 13

Omega Crafter (PC) – May 14

Void Sails (PC) – May 14

Broventure: The Wild Co-op (PC) – May 15

Doom: The Dark Ages (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – May 15

Nubs: Arena (PC) – May 15

Tennis Manager 25 (PC) – May 15

Capcom Fighting Collection 2 (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – May 16

Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo (Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) – May 16

Of Life and Land (PC) – May 16

Undying Flower (PC) – May 16

Frog Legs (PC) – May 19

Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer (PC) – May 20

Mutants: Genesis (PC, iOS, Android) – May 20

Roadcraft (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – May 20

The Mosquito Gang (PC) – May 20

The Siege and the Sandfox (PC) – May 20

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time (Switch, PC) – May 21

Games of Thrones: Kingsroad (PC, iOS, Android) – May 21

Monster Train 2 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) – May 21

Cookie Clicker (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, Switch 2) – May 22

Deliver At All Costs (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – May 22

Duck Detective: The Secret Salami (PC) – May 22

Grandma, No! (PC) – May 22

Lynked: Banner of the Spark (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – May 22

Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – May 22

Out of Sight (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) – May 22

Survive The Fall (PC) – May 22

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown (PC) – May 22

Warhammer 40,000: Speed Freeks (PC) – May 22

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Words of Vengeance (PC) – May 22

Worshippers of Cthulhu (PC) – May 22

Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – May 23

Twilight Wars (PC) – May 23

The Rewinder 2 (PC) – May 26

Oddsparks: An Automation Adventure (PC) – May 27

To a T (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC) – May 28

Backrooms Level X (PC) – May 29

Fomography (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – May 29

Islands & Trains (PC) – May 29

Projected Dreams (PC) – May 29

Disney Illusion Island (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – May 30

Elden Ring: Nightreign (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC) – May 30

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma (Switch, PC) – May 30

June

Voidsayer (PC) – June 2

Void Scout (PC) – June 2

Galactic Glitch (PC) – June 3

NWO – Anarchy Collapsed (PC) – June 3

Deltarune Chapters 3 & 4 (PS5, PS4, Switch, PC) – June 4

Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster (Switch 2) – June 5

Civilization 7 (Switch 2) – June 5

Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition (Switch 2) – June 5

Fast Fusion (Switch 2) – June 5

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade (Switch 2) – June 5

Fortnite (Switch 2) – June 5

Hitman World of Assassination – Signature Edition (Switch 2) – June 5

Hogwarts Legacy (Switch 2) – June 5

Mario Kart World (Switch 2) – June 5

Nintendo Switch 2 console launch – June 5

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour (Switch 2) – June 5

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma (Switch 2) – June 5

Street Fighter 6 (Switch 2) – June 5

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch 2) – June 5

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Switch 2) – June 5

Parallel Experiment (PC, iOS, Android) – June 5

Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut (Switch 2) – June 5

Splitgate 2 (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC) – June 6

Berserk or Die (PC) – June 8

Dune: Awakening (PC) – June 10

MindsEye (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – June 10

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine Master Crafted Edition (Xbox Series X|S, PC) – June 10

Wizard of Legend 2 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – June 12

The Alters (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – June 13

Gex Trilogy (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) – June 16

FBC: Firebreak (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – June 17

Kity Builder (PC) – June 17

Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond (PC, iOS, Android) – June 17

Hell Clock (PC) – June 18

The Colony: New Haven Chronicles (PC) – June 18

Become The Moon (PC) – June 19

Raidou Remastered (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) – June 19

Rematch (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – June 19

Through The Nightmares (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – June 19

Tobacco Shop Simulator (PC) – June 22

Shuffle Tactics (PC) – June 24

Heroes of Mount Dragon (PC) – June 25

Second Chances (PC) – June 25

Front Mission 3: Remake (Switch) – June 26

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach (PS5) – June 26

Persona 5: The Phantom X (PC, iOS, Android) – June 26

Ruffy and the Riverside (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – June 26

System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC) – June 26

Horizon Journey (PC) – June 27

Tamagotchi Plaza (Switch) – June 27

July

Missile Command Delta (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) – July 8

EA Sports College Football 26 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S) – July 10

Patapon 1 + 2 Replay (PS5, Switch, PC) – July 11

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, Switch 2, PC) – July 11

Edens Zero (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – July 15

Medievaly: Battle Simulator (PC) – July 16

Donkey Kong Bananza (Switch 2) – July 17

The Drifter (PC) – July 17

The Wandering Village (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – July 17

Shadow Labyrinth (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) – July 18

Hell Clock (PC) – July 22

Monument Valley 3 (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) – July 22

Killing Floor 3 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – July 24

Super Mario Party Jamboree + Jamboree TV (Switch 2) – July 24

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – July 24

No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: The Somnium Files (Switch) – July 25

Relicbound (PC) – July 28

Grounded 2 preview (Xbox Series X|S, PC) – July 29

Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy (PS5, PS4, Switch) – July 29

Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game (PC, consoles) – July 29

Ninja Gaiden Ragebound (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – July 31

August

Gradius Origins (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) – August 7

Mafia: The Old Country (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – August 8

Madden NFL 26 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, PC) – August 14

Sword of the Sea (PS5, PC) – August 19

Gears of War: Reloaded (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – August 26

Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar (Switch, PC) – August 27

Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World (Switch 2) – August 27

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – August 28

Super Robot Wars Y (PS5, Switch, PC) – August 28

The Knightling (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) – August 28

Lost Soul Aside (PS5, PC) – August 29

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC) – August 29

September

Hell is Us (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – September 4

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: Order of Giants DLC (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – September 4

Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots (PS5, Switch, PC) – September 5

Baby Steps (PS5, PC) – September 8

Garfield Kart 2: All You Can Drift (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – September 10

Borderlands 4 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – September 12

Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor (PC) – September 17

Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) – September 19

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter (PS5, Switch, PC) – September 19

Marathon (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – September 23

Silent Hill f (PS5, PC) – September 25

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC) – September 25

NBA Bounce (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC) – September 26

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, Switch, PC) – September 30

October

Directive 8020 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – October 2

Ghost of Yotei (PS5) – October 2

Neon Inferno (PC) – October 2

Digimon Story: Time Stranger (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – October 3

Pokemon Legends: Z-A (Switch, Switch 2) – October 16

Keeper (Xbox Series X|S, PC) – October 17

Escape Simulator 2 (PC) – October 21

Jurassic World Evolution 3 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – October 21

Ninja Gaiden 4 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – October 21

Double Dragon Revive (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC) – October 23

The Outer Worlds 2 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – October 29

Arc Raiders (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – October 30

November

Cairn (PS5, PC) – November 5

Anno 117: Pax Romana (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) – November 13

December

To Be Announced

2XKO (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Abiotic Factor (PS5, Xbox Series X|S)

Agent 64: Spies Never Die (PC)

An Amazing Wizard (PC)

ArcheAge Chronicles (PC)

Astromeda (PC)

Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian (PS5, PS4, Switch, PC)

Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC)

Automate It (Switch, PC)

Bad Cheese (PC)

Barrage (PC)

Battlefield Waltz (Switch)

Battle Vision Network (PC, Netflix)

Begone Beast (PC)

Big Walk (PC)

Biped 2 (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC)

Big Walk (PC)

Bittersweet Birthday (PS5, Xbox, Switch, PC)

Blacksmith Master (PC)

Blight Night (PC)

Blue Protocol : Star Resonance (PC)

Bokura: Planet (PC)

Borderlands 4 (Switch 2)

Breeze in the Clouds (PC)

Broken Arrow (PC)

Burning Sword: Death Sun (PC)

Bylina (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Cabernet (PC, consoles)

Calamity Angels: Special Delivery (PS5, PS4, Switch)

Capcom Fighting Collection 2 (PS4, Switch, PC)

Car Dealer Simulator (PC)

Carmen Sandiego (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC, Netflix)

Castle Come (PC, consoles)

ChromeGun 2: Dye Hard (PC)

Chronicles of the Wolf (PC)

Class of Heroes 3 (PS5, Switch, PC)

Clockwork Ambrosia (PC)

Cloudheim (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Code Violet (PS5)

Coffee Talk Tokyo (PS5, Xbox One, Switch, PC)

Constance (PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, PC)

Corpse Party II: Darkness Distortion (PS4, Switch, PC)

Crimson Desert (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Crown of Greed (PC)

Cyber Paradise (PC)

Date Everything (PC)

Dead Meat (PC) – 2025

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach (PS5)

Decadent (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Deltarune Chapters 3 & 4 (PS4, Switch, PC)

Demonschool (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC)

Demon Tides (PC)

Despelote (PS5, PS4, Xbox, PC)

Despera Drops (Switch)

Digimon Story: Time Stranger (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Discounty (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC)

Directive 8020 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Double Dragon Revive (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC)

Dragon Ball Project: Multi (iOS, Android, PC)

Dragonkin: The Banished (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Dreamed Away (Xbox, Switch, PC)

Dreams of Another (PS5, PSVR 2)

Drifters & Demons (PC)

Drop Duchy’s (PC)

Drops Of Death (PC)

Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping (PC)

Dustwind: Resistance (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Dying Light: The Beast (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC)

Ed & Edda: Racing Champions – Gran Prix (PC, consoles)

Edens Zero (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Electrogical (PC)

Elevator Down (PC)

Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition (Switch 2)

Empyreal (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Eternal Strands (Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PC)

Everybody’s Golf: Hot Shots (PS5, Switch, PC)

ExeKiller (PC)

Exiler (PC)

Fast Food – Restaurant Simulator (PC)

Faun Town (PC)

Fia and the Wondrous Academy (PS5, PS4, Switch)

Fighting Force Collection (PS5, PS4, Switch, PC)

First Blood: Persian Legends (PC)

Football Manager 25 (Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PC)

Forbidden Solitaire (PC) – 2025

Forever Skies (PS5, PC)

Forty-Niner (PC)

Foxhole Airborne (PC)

Game of Thrones: Kingsroad (iOS, Android)

Glaciered (PC)

Ghost Keeper (PC)

Ghost of Yotei (PS5)

Ghosts (PC, consoles)

Gods & Demons (iOS, Android)

GreedFall 2: The Dying World (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Hades 2 (Switch 2)

Haunted Lands (PC)

Hide the Corpse (PSVR, PC)

Hollow Knight: Silksong (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, Switch 2)

Homura Hime (PC)

Hungry Meem (Switch, PC)

Hunter x Hunter Nen x Impact (PS5, Switch, PC)

Hyke: Northern Light(s) (PC, consoles)

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment (Switch 2)

Icebound (PC)

Infinity Knights: Xross (PlayStation, Switch, PC)

InKONBINI: One Store. Many Stories (PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, PC)

Iwakura Aria (Switch, PC) – 2025

John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Judas (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Junxions (PC)

Killing Floor 3 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Kirby Air Riders (Switch 2)

Kristala (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC)

Lego Party (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC)

Let Them Come: Onslaught (PC)

Liegecraft (PC)

Little Nightmares 3 (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC)

Lost in Random: The Eternal Die (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC)

Lost Soul Aside (PS5, PC)

Love Eternal (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC)

Luto (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Mainframes (Switch, PC)

Marines Vs. God (PC)

Marvel Cosmic Invasion (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC)

Mayhem Brawler II: Best of Both Worlds (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC)

Maze Mice (PC) – 2025

Mecha Break (Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Metal Eden (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (Switch)

Mewgenics (PC)

Mindseye (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

MIO: Memories In Orbit (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC)

Mistonia no Kibou – The Lost Delight (Switch)

Monster DNA (PC)

Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Moon Samurai (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC)

Morsels (Switch, PS5, PC)

Mother Machine (PC, consoles)

Moth Kubit (Switch, PC)

Motorslice (PC)

Mouse: P.I. For Hire (PC)

Nascar 25 (PC, consoles)

Nanuka: Secret of the Shattering Moon (PC)

Naughty Geese (PC)

Neo Junk City (PC)

Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos (PS5, PS4, Switch)

Ninja Gaiden 4 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Nirvana Noir (Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Nivalis (PC)

Nocturne (PC)

No, I’m Not Human (PC, PlayStation, Xbox)

Norse (PC, consoles)

Old Timer Transport (PC) – 2025

One Fenix Down (PC)

Orkendale: The Scarred Land (PC)

Pandoland (iOS, Android)

Paradise: Duality Unbound (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC)

Pax Dei (PC)

Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero (PS5, PS4, Switch, PC)

Plus Ultra: Legado (Switch, PC)

Possessor(s) (PC, consoles)

PowerWash Simulator 2 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Professor Layton and the New World of Steam (Switch)

Project Code Vampire Hunter

Realm of Ink (PC)

Redemption of the Damned (PC)

Relicbound (PC)

Replaced (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC)

Rise of Rebellion (PC)

Rising Heat (PC)

RoadCraft (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Rodent Rumble (PC)

Roguebound Pirates (PC)

R-Type Delta HD Boosted (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC)

RuneQuest: Warlords (PC)

Sanctua (PC)

Saveseeker (PC)

SerialWorld (PC)

Shadows of Morhaven (PC) – 2025

Shield Strike (PC)

Shipwrecked: Lost Colony (PC)

Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope DX (Switch)

Shrouded Aspect (PC)

Skate Story (PS5, PC)

Sleight of Hand (Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Solnox: Grimoire of Seasons (PC)

Sparkball (PC)

Spectral Keep (PC)

Speedrunners 2 (PC)

Spine: This Is Gun Fu (PlayStation, Xbox, PC)

Spray Paint Simulator (PC)

Stalcraft Operations – 2025

Starless Abyss (PC)

Star of Providence (Switch)

Star Overdrive (Switch)

Starsand Island (PC)

Starship (PC)

Stellar Settlers: Space Base Builder (PC)

Stick it to the Stickman (PC)

Sulfur (PlayStation, Xbox, PC)

Sultan’s Game (PC)

Super Robot Wars Y (PS5, Switch, PC)

Swapmeat (PC)

Tactics Unlimited (PC)

Tales of Seikyu (PC)

Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC)

Tears of Magic (PC)

Tenebris Somnia (PC)

Terrifier: The ARTcade Game (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC)

The Alters (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

The Electrifying Incident: A Mini-Monster Expedition (PC)

The Eternal Life of Goldman (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC)

The House of the Dead 2: Remake (PlayStation, Xbox, Switch)

The Legend of Baboo (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC)

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 1st (Switch)

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak 2 (PS5, PS4, Switch, PC)

The Relic: First Guardian (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

The Stone of Madness (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC)

Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow (PSVR 2, Quest, PC VR)

Time Flies (PS5, Switch, PC)

Tombwater (PC)

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 (Switch 2)

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter (PS5, Switch, PC)

Troublemaker 2: Beyond Dream (PC)

Unbeatable (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Unblock (PC)

Undergrounded (PC)

Unyielding (PC)

Utawarerumono: ZAN (PS4, PC)

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Wardens Rising (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Wheel World (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Where Winds Meet (PS5, PC)

Will: Follow The Light (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Windswept (PC)

Winter Burrow (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC)

Witchbrook (Xbox, Switch, PC)

World of Stickman Classic RTS (PC)

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

ZPF (Genesis, PC, consoles)

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June 10, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Death Stranding’s Kojima wants to make weirder games, but he can’t

by admin June 10, 2025

Hideo Kojima, progenitor of the Metal Gear Solid series, is one of gaming’s most idiosyncratic personalities. If you read a headline about the Japanese developer, there’s a good chance the adjective of choice used will be “weird” regardless of the topic. But if you ask the man himself, he can get weirder — and there’s a reason he’s not going down that pathway.

In a fantastic profile with GQ Tuesday, Kojima details everything from intense COVID-era health issues that made him contend with his mortality to the shocking revelation that, despite his constant movie reviews on X, he apparently doesn’t know what Letterboxd is.

In it, there’s also a snippet where Kojima talks about his outlook on making games and the things that fuel his creative drive. Becoming ill during COVID made Kojima consider his age (62) and what he can accomplish before his time expires. He says he wants to die making something, and there’s a ton he wants to do. Right now, for example, he’s working on at least two games and two movies.

Despite his long list of projects and existing accomplishments, Kojima says he feels “rushed.” He estimates that in a decade, at best he can dole out about three titles if everything goes well. But even on a micro level, he’s at the point where it feels like a single hour flies by in a way it didn’t when he was younger.

I thought I could do anything if I was independent, but the reality is that I can’t. I always thing of other, more weird stuff to make. But if I do that, and it doesn’t sell, my studio will go bankrupt. I know all the staff. I know the families of the staff. I have this burden on my shoulders.

Later on, he says that he’s had experience making “flops” before at Konami, which gives further insight on his thinking about commercial success. Sequels, he says, are easy to pitch. “But a game that no one has ever seen before? Even if I write something, people won’t understand it.”

In the aftermath of Death Stranding, a franchise with a complicated storyline and unusually deliberate mechanics for a AAA game, the idea that Kojima is taking refuge in safe ideas might seem inaccurate or unusually self-critical. But while the social mechanics in Death Stranding are unique, they’re built on the concept colloquially referred to as “walking simulators.”

The more meditative approach to gameplay preceded Death Stranding by over a decade, and Kojima’s take on it appeared on the tail end of mainstream acceptance for a design approach that was initially controversial. In 2012, people derided the genre as a repudiation of the medium as a whole, because interactivity was sometimes more conceptual than it was tactile. The people who made “walking simulator” games before Death Stranding (or P.T.) arguably took the bigger risks with the genre, and they didn’t have the benefit of movie stars to curry public favor.

When we’re dealing with babies who can sense the supernatural, though, weird might not be a totally off-base descriptor. And if anyone might be able to convince their audience to take a chance on a strange concept, it’s going to be an auteur like Kojima. It’s slightly disappointing to know Kojima isn’t using his rare position in game development to tell new stories in experimental ways, especially as most major studios take fewer and fewer chances.

But then you look at the numbers surrounding layoffs the gaming industry, which have only gotten more exponential over time, and it’s hard to fault Kojima for worrying about commercial success. Depending on the time it took to develop or the budget, a modern game can now sell millions and still be considered a failure.

Death Stranding 2 is out on June 26. In the meantime, you can read more about Kojima’s inner turmoil here.

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June 10, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

New Fantastic Four Popcorn Bucket Costs More Than Most Games

by admin June 10, 2025

Image: Marvel / AMC / Kotaku

AMC and Marvel’s new Fantastic Four: First Steps popcorn bucket now has a price tag, and if you want to get your hands on this massive Galactus-shaped popped corn vessel, you’ll need to spend $80. Yikes.

Black Ops 7, Invincible Vs & More — Here Are The 5 Games That Stole Microsoft’s Show

I’ll admit that I was genuinely surprised when, earlier this month, Marvel and AMC first teased and then unveiled the Galactus popcorn bucket. The thing is bonkers and seems way too big to actually be used as a popcorn bucket in a crowded movie theater. The Galactus bucket is 17 inches tall and covered in a faux-metal outer skin. It looks pretty good and even includes LED lights in the eyes. But something this big and fancy doesn’t come cheap. And if you want one of these big heads, you’ll have to spend the same amount of money on it as you would on a copy of Mario Kart World.

The new AMC Galactus bucket is listed on the website for an eye-watering $79.95, and that’s before tax! This high price was officially revealed a few days ago, but has started making the rounds via social media and Reddit as people react to the idea of spending $80+ on a bucket of popcorn. But hey, AMC does confirm that the container includes a free large order of popcorn. Honestly, it should come with a free drink, too.

“Motherfucker, I work at a theatre and we can BARELY sell the $20-$30 novelty buckets until we start discounting them because they don’t sell for shit,” said one user on Bluesky. I’ve heard similar stories while talking to other AMC employees about these gimmick buckets for a future report.

Many tell me that they will sit around for ages, and sometimes are sold for a few dollars a few weeks after the movie hits theaters. Although at the same time, I’m also told that there are people out there who collect these buckets and will call ahead to procure one and not even watch the movie it’s based on. So, as always, when you incredulously ask, “Is anyone going to buy this?” the answer is still yes.

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June 10, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Everything you wanted to know about games journalism from a PR veteran (but were afraid to ask)

by admin June 10, 2025

Games journalism is in a pretty different state to how it was five or ten years ago. Sell-offs, layoffs, the rise of content-harvesting AI, worked-owned outlets, and wildly unpredictable shifts in Google’s search algorithm are just some of the factors that have brought enormous change to the space.

In the midst of this, journalists are busier than ever. With far too many games to cover, but developers and publishers still largely dependent on them for awareness, their time has never been more precious.

As PR agency Renaissance turns 10 this year, GamesIndustry.biz asks founder and ex-Ubisoft veteran Stefano Petrullo the hard questions about dealing with journalists, from blacklisting to crisis management.

How review embargoes work
Review embargoes gives publishers and developers the opportunity to create a lot of noise at once around their new release. An embargo that falls too close to release, however, is usually a red flag to press and consumers that a game isn’t up to scratch in some way.
“For me, an early embargo for reviews is always the right choice,” Petrullo says. “It needs to be one embargo for everyone, possibly 24 hours before launch.
“With the current state of the landscape, embargoes have to be seen as the starting point for when the coverage begins appearing. The times of everyone going live with their coverage on the same day, at the same time, are long gone, especially for games outside the AAA space.”
So, what happens if a journalist breaks an embargo?
“It depends on the cause,” Petrullo explains. “If someone leaks something, media outlets have the right to report it. We cannot pretend to enforce an embargo if there is a leak. Leaks usually, but not always, come from outside PR. In PR, we are the ones most attentive to not leak stuff, generally speaking.
“Often, you’ll find leaks will come from the company that sets the embargo. Maybe 80% of the time, it’s because the client couldn’t keep all its embargoed materials under control.”
Reviews, though, carry additional complications around embargoes, like journalists getting hold of copies through other means that don’t involve them breaking the law.
“In terms of reviews: if boxed copies are on the market, again, we cannot penalise people that trust us and agree to an embargo. In this case, the best course of action is to contact the reviewer that uses a copy obtained by a street date break and politely ask if they can hold the review.”
“Outrage spikes fast but fades – unless the issue cuts into trust, ethics, or community respect.”
Stefano Petrullo, Renaissance PR
This, of course, depends on the stance of the reviewer in question. Petrullo says not pursuing takedowns of reviews in these kinds of situations is a choice he may need to justify to a client.
“If they agree, great, if not there will of course be no hard feelings as they got something via a legitimate route outside of our control,” Petrullo says. “At the same time, when this happens, we alert the other reviewers under embargo asking them either to maintain the embargo, or lift the embargo to avoid confusion.”
Ultimately, the key is making sure that journalists who stick to the rules don’t feel like they’re being punished for it.
“Our goal is always to protect and help media and influencers that work with us and make sure they are not penalised in cooperating with us because of outside factors,” Petrullo says.

Is blacklisting ever the answer?
Outlets being blacklisted by publishers is certainly not unheard of, though maybe less so in the past five years. Is blacklisting ever a fair consequence of breaking an embargo?
“I believe we work with humans, and humans make errors,” Petrullo says. “Most of the time those embargoes are errors, and if it’s a one-off, I don’t like there being consequences. If it is a persistent or malicious action, then my strategy is to sit down with the ‘offender’ and understand why and how we can stop this from happening.”
Ultimately, though, there is a symbiotic nature to the media outlet/PR dynamic that means holding a grudge and denying access can negatively affect both parties.
“In reality, blacklisting people and seeing media or influencers as the enemy that want to trick PR, or whatever the imaginary motive might be, is not only toxic but also counterproductive in the long term.”

Crisis management and bad press
It’s something every veteran PR has dealt with at some point: a journalist is working on a piece that paints their client in a negative light, or leaks some information they don’t want out in the wild.
The journalist is then legally obliged to request comment from the company’s PR representative on the information in question. This is usually how the publisher or developer finds out the article is even happening in the first place.
We ask Petrullo how he would deal with this kind of scenario. “Be honest, acknowledge [the request] and ask how much time you have to respond. Most of the time we go with 12 or 24 hours depending on the story. We then contact the client and check the facts.”
Petrullo continues: “If the facts are correct, we tend to go back and acknowledge while providing context.”
“If they are not correct, either we do not comment as it is based on something speculative and unverified, or we take control of the narrative, contextualising and enriching the story with details.”
“The best crisis management strategy is for there to be no crisis to manage at all. To do this, you need to have an eye for all possible scenarios before they happen so you’re ready to respond swiftly.”
Still, once journalists have offered the right to reply, the negative piece might go up anyway.
We ask Petrullo how permanent the damage is for publishers and developers from bad PR these days.
“Do not blame the reviewer if you are not able to create the best possible conditions for them to do the job.”
Stefano Petrullo, Renaissance PR
“It’s both less sticky and more dangerous,” he explains. “Attention spans are shorter, but the digital footprint is permanent. Outrage spikes fast but fades – unless the issue cuts into trust, ethics, or community respect. Then it sticks and resurfaces at every opportunity.
“Temporary damage is often about technical issues or messaging misfires – you can fix it with honesty and responding quickly. Permanent damage comes from breaking trust: misleading the community, abandoning games, or treating players like wallets. That’s when reputational scars become part of the brand narrative.”
If asked whether he has any other tips for crisis management, Petrullo suggests a lot of it comes down to tone, patience, and good judgment.
“This sounds so cliche but be open and honest,” he says. “Try not to be overly corporate and always remember you are a human that deals with other humans. Do not rush a response, do not see the person you’re dealing with as an ‘opponent’.
“Try to understand what happened and if it is reported correctly. Decide the outcome and if it’s worth addressing. When something is factually wrong you have the right to reply. Ask help from a communication professional if you need it.”

Dealing with bad review scores
So, do PR staff land in hot water when a big game takes an absolute kicking from a reviewer at a top-tier outlet? Going back a decade or two, it wasn’t unheard of.
“I think this doesn’t happen anymore. We have a clause in our contract to protect us from review score blame,” he says.
“At the end of the day, a review score ultimately depends on the game quality for the vast majority of cases. However, there is something that generally annoys me a lot, and this is when a review strategy damages a game.”
By review strategy, Petrullo refers to the process of rolling a game out to press ahead of release. Embargo timing, messaging, and documentation are usually up for discussion.
“The wrong review strategy can dramatically alter the score of a game,” Petrullo asserts before sharing his take on the biggest factors behind the spread of review scores that hit when an embargo lifts.
“Most of the biggest successes we’ve seen are based on games that have a niche audience, where niche doesn’t mean small, but rather a particular type of player.”
Stefano Petrullo, Renaissance PR
First up, according to Petrullo: “Incorrect or zero messaging about what the game is will lead every reviewer to have different expectations, increasing polarisation of the score.”
Not giving reviewers enough time is another factor behind a less predictable spread of scores, according to Petrullo.
“Sending a 100-hour game to review on the day of launch or one day before will push them to write a rushed review. Do not blame the reviewer if you are not able to create the best possible conditions for them to do the job.”
Finally, documentation matters. “No documentation is another thing… [you see] a lot of people sending a key to the reviewer and the info [provided] is just, ‘look at the Steam page’. If you do not package your game to look the best, explaining what it actually is in review documentation, you can’t blame reviewers if you don’t get the outcome you want.”
Of course, that game might end up in the inbox of a freelance writer who never even opens the PDF that came with the Steam key.
Still, how does Petrullo advise keeping a client happy, if the game’s reception doesn’t live up to their expectations?
“We do a lot of expectation management from the very beginning, using mock reviewers as much as possible and making sure that the flaws of the game are known internally and sometimes also externally,” he explains.

The value of in-person relationships after the pandemic
Image credit: Gamescom
Yesteryear’s media landscape of journalists and PRs phoning each other would probably horrify introverts in either field. If a journalist wanted to know when review code was coming in back in the day, they dialled the PR in question. Every writer’s desk in Future’s UK offices had a phone, back in the day. Using it was part of the job.
Since the pandemic, it’s common for journalists to hear from PR people they’ve never met or interacted with before, exclusively via email. It’s why relationships built in-person, either at events, in coffee shops, or office visits where relevant, have more value than ever.
“I believe it matters a lot,” Petrullo says. “In person, it is so much easier to have empathy and discuss opportunities, ideas, and brainstorm. Emails are hard to cut through.”
Petrullo offers advice for anyone trying to build relationships with influencers and journalists. “Be honest, do not overhype, and respect the person you have in front of you.”
“Chase, don’t hassle. Try to understand that the media and influencers are literally bombarded with requests. Make sure to remember that you need media and influencers more than they need you. Be humble and ambitious, but grounded in reality.”

Securing coverage for lesser known games
Everyone knows digital storefronts are drowning in games. Journalists don’t have nearly enough time to play them all.
So, you’re a PR professional, and you believe you’re working on the next Balatro. How can you convince journalists that your new indie game is worth their valuable time?
“This is hard, especially now,” Petrullo says. “We tend to work a lot on building anticipation and try to find the unique element of the game(s). Ideally, [we try] to let major media know in advance what we’ll be working on in a few months so they can allocate resources on potentially covering it.”
Petrullo gives the example of the game Quantum Witch, made by solo developer NikkiJay, who escaped a cult and made a game about it.
“The traditional ‘send press release and code’ did not work, so we started focusing pitches around the story behind the game, the human factor, and we started getting coverage on Newsweek and Edge to name a few. In general, most of the time it’s about trying to get the initial attention and not using the terms roguelike, FPS, RPG, and the labels that make your game one of the many.”
Then, of course, the real value of a PR professional is knowing who the journalists actually are, and what they like. A grand strategy game, for example, requires more specific expertise than the latest Assassin’s Creed game.
“Another factor is human relationships and knowing ‘that’ journalist who will like the game and potentially cover it, and not just bombarding the editors and targets at the usual big websites.
“Most of the biggest successes we’ve seen are based on games that have a niche audience, where niche doesn’t mean small, but rather a particular type of player. Because of that you should work hard to not just send yet another press release, but speak with people that are relevant in the media.”

How things have changed versus five years ago
“It’s very different,” Petrullo says in reflecting on how the media landscape has evolved in recent years. “We have many more games and a lot fewer journalists, more smaller influencers and less money in the market.
“But perseverance and keeping an eye on how the media landscape is evolving is really important. Journalism is not dead, but it is becoming different and evolving with some big journalists becoming their own brands and starting their own Substacks, video channels, Twitch shows and so on.”
While influencers are a key part of how games are sold, journalists will always have a distinct role in the process of a marketing campaign.
“It’s always good to remember the journalists are the best vehicle to position a game, while an influencer is where the big amplification of that set message occurs to reach the big numbers.”

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June 10, 2025 0 comments

Esports

SAG-AFTRA reaches tentative agreement with major games companies to end strike

by admin June 10, 2025

SAG-AFTRA has reached a tentative agreement with a bargaining group including some of the industry’s largest studios and publishers.

The agreement for its Interactive Media Contract is now “subject to review and approval by the national board and ratification by the membership council”.

Specific details of the terms will be released once these actions have taken place.

The terms of a strike suspension agreement is also expected to be finalised with employers. SAG-AFTRA members will remain on strike until an agreement has been reached.

The bargaining group with whom SAG-AFTRA has been negotiating with includes representatives from Activision, Blindlight, Disney Character Voices, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Formosa Interactive, Insomniac Games, Take 2 Productions, and WB Games.

“Everyone at SAG-AFTRA is immensely grateful for the sacrifices made by video game performers and the dedication of the Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee throughout these many months of the video game strike,” said SAG-AFTRA national executive director and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland.

“Patience and persistence has resulted in a deal that puts in place the necessary AI guardrails that defends performers’ livelihoods in the AI range, alongside other important gains.

“Thank you, Interactive Media Agreement negotiating chair Sarah Elmaleh and chief contracts officer Ray Rodriguez for your hard work and advocacy in pursuit of this contract.”

“Their incredible courage and persistence […] has at last secured a deal. The needle has been moved forward and we are much better off than before”

Fran Drescher, SAG-AFTRA president

SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher added: “Our video game performers stood strong against the biggest employers in one of the world’s most lucrative industries.

“Their incredible courage and persistence, combined with the tireless work of our negotiating committee, has at last secured a deal. The needle has been moved forward and we are much better off than before.”

Drescher concluded: “As soon as this is ratified we roll up our sleeves and begin to plan the next negotiation. Every contract is a work in progress and progress is the name of the game.”

Back in September 2023, 98% of union members voted to authorise a strike to protect video game actors and performers against generative AI and to ensure job security.

The strike officially began last July following a year and a half of negotiations about the Interactive Media Agreement without reaching a deal.

SAG-AFTRA issued an update about its strike earlier this year, noting that it remained “frustratingly apart” from the bargaining group.

Though it did note it found “great success with other employers”, highlighting that 160 upcoming games had signed up to its interim and independent agreements.

“Those agreements contain the protections we have been asking the bargaining group for – terms that are clearly feasible and acceptable to a great number of game companies of all sizes, even as the bargaining companies resist,” the union said.

SAG-AFTRA recently published counterproposals during its ongoing negotiations regarding performer rights and AI.

This included a “revised approach to the secondary performance payment (SSP) and questioning the video game employers’ parameters of when it would be acceptable to seek a ‘vocal digital replica […] in lieu of a performer’.”

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June 10, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Elden Ring Nightreign’s rarest item could be hiding the game’s biggest secret

by admin June 9, 2025

The first time I saw the Cord End on the ground in Elden Ring Nightreign, I was vexed. The enigmatic item had a simple description: “Gain entry somewhere.”

Where is somewhere, you might ask? Good question. I didn’t find out during that playthrough. Painfully, I relinquished the item on the floor in the waiting area before the final boss on that run to make room for articles with more immediately apparent uses, like healing. Every single teammate stopped what they were doing to inspect the object, which silently exhibited its rarity with a golden hue. Classic Souls experience right there: Something, somewhere, can be interacted with, if only you could figure out the exact conditions. The game will helpfully not tell you. Only your curiosity or willingness to Google the answer can solve the mystery.

I’ve kept an eye out since then, but to some degree, it felt useless. Nightreign’s design forces players to zip through the map from icon to icon in the hopes of building up a character who can withstand a Nightlord on the third day, which the game enforces by periodically corralling players with a Fortnite-like storm. But while Nightreign’s pacing is speedier than that of the original Elden Ring, the intricate level design and secrecy remain. Areas will have winding hallways leading to deep chambers with multiple pathways and doors that you may never see if you have any sense of urgency. One time, I dove deep into the magma area of the map only to find that the level extended so deeply, I couldn’t figure out how to get out before the storm claimed my runes.

In my 60 hours playing Nightreign, I’ve seen the Cord End exactly once. I figured that the likelihood of ever figuring out what to do with it was small, so I recently allowed myself to look it up. Turns out, it opens a door near the castle residing in the middle of the map. In it, there are three Sacrificial Twigs, which prevent you from losing runes or levels when you die.

Looking at a picture of the door itself, it’s evident why I couldn’t figure out where the Cord End might lead to. The area is poorly lit and barely visible. I had probably run by it many times, on most of my runs — the castle is a popular destination — without ever realizing it.

Image: FromSoftware/Bandai Namco

Puzzle solved… kind of. Figuring out what it does, hilariously enough, was the easiest part of the Cord End debacle. Players now know that the Cord End will sometimes drop in churches that house extra flask charges, but hell if anyone can get the item to drop again.

“I found one of these on my very first game and in the fifty-something games since I’ve never seen another one and now I’m going insane,” reads one comment on the Fextralife website detailing the item.

“I want to say I’d looted over 50 by that time, so it isn’t a very common drop at all,” another remarked.

“In 44 hours, I’ve only found 2,” says a comment on a YouTube video about the item.

Sacrificial Twigs are useful items, to be sure, but they’re not necessarily critical to beating Nightreign. Part of what’s driving the interest here is that lore junkies are convinced that the Cord End might do more than simply open a door.

As one player points out, there’s a crypt area in the game where a description reads, “The Ways of Cutting point to the deep woods, bestow branches to those who are worthy and wise.” Another description in the same area says, “The Ways of Cutting point to the deep woods, bestow branches to those who wander and roam.”

Theoretically, both of these text snippets may not only reference specific areas of the map, but they could also be attached to characters in the game. The descriptions are tied to coffins that players speculate belong to each individual class. The Recluse, for example, is described in the game as a witch of the deep woods. Crucially, this area also appears to have something that resembles an altar, and it’s accompanied by text that says, “To atone for the first sin, we elect to become the foundation.”

It could just be stuff to set the ambiance; while Souls games do have distinct narratives, you can’t assume every bit of text is an intentional tie to a wider storyline. Sometimes, descriptions will conflict with one another or plainly not make sense in the larger context of the game. Still, this is a lot of references to branches, all hailing from an apparently important place in the game. The altar is suggestive; is the player supposed to do something there? What happens if players bring the twigs to the areas on the map?

Twigs are obviously useful, but why does it give you three? A single player can only carry two branches, as it is classified as a Talisman, not a normal item. If the game expects you to share the twigs, is there a chance something might happen if specific characters hold those branches in the right area of the map? It’s the sort of thing that sounds like a classic Souls puzzle.

“I think there is some way to get those three branches to these 3 spots within the Roundtable,” muses a Redditor who is convinced there’s a deeper mystery afoot.

Another thing that’s fueling this quixotic search is the knowledge that being given a legendary item merely prevents you from losing runes doesn’t feel like a proper reward for something this unlikely.

“I believe that to solve this Easter egg, you need to have a group with specifically Recluse, Wylder, and Duchess, and happen to get a cord drop and open the secret door,” another Redditor says. “Then everyone needs to equip the branches. After that? Who knows?”

The hunches could be right, and there could be a wilder secret no Nightreign player has figured out yet. Then again, Souls games are not above simply trolling players. Famously, the original Dark Souls offered players a choice to begin the game with a pendant that players convinced themselves must be tied to some other elaborate thing in the game. Later, everyone found out that the developers just wanted to prank players. Nightreign is also slated to get updates, so it’s possible that whatever the twigs do — if indeed they do anything — might not be in the game yet.

We can’t know until someone successfully tests out the myriad theories floating around. Good luck getting the item to drop, though. Even if you do get the twigs, you’ve got to survive long enough to bring the branches to the right locations, or end a run with the items still in your possession. Most runs aren’t successful, and dying is a constant in Nightreign. Woof.

Perhaps one Redditor puts it best when they wrote, “I wish I had a consistent team just to run around the map to try and find cords, but to whoever can do this first and see if there really is more to the secret door, you’ll be a legend!”

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June 9, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

You Can Launch Steam Games From Xbox Ally’s Native Dashboard

by admin June 9, 2025

Earlier today Game Informer visited an invite-only press event to play with the ROG Xbox Ally X, one of two gaming handhelds Microsoft is bringing to market this holiday. The handheld is weighty and ergonomically satisfying, but my favorite discovery is that players can launch Steam games natively from the Xbox dashboard.

The game library, which players may access at any time by pressing its dedicated button on the handheld, features all your titles regardless of which platform you own them on. A discrete label beneath the game’s title denotes which storefronts they belong to. Furthermore, you can quickly access third-party storefronts like Steam and Epic Games Store by pressing the Ally’s Xbox button, which launches the Windows Game Bar, and selecting the desired application just beneath your recently played games.

“Our new aggregated library lets you quickly access all of your games. Because this is Windows, you can launch and play natively, both your games from Xbox as well as other leading PC storefronts,” Roanne Sones, head of Xbox devices, says. “You can also stream your console games through cloud gaming or remote play. So what this means is that your library, including hundreds of Game Pass games and all of your installed games from third-party storefronts, is all in one place for you, ready to play on your Xbox Ally through remote play gaming or natively on the device.”

Many questions remain, including whether Microsoft tracks data to unlock Xbox achievements while playing a game from another storefront like Steam or Epic Games Store. We’ve reached out to an Xbox representative for comment.

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June 9, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Activision debuts Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 at Xbox Games Showcase 2025

by admin June 9, 2025

Microsoft and Activision revealed Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 in a dramatic cinematic trailer during the 2025 Xbox Games Showcase. Having two Black Ops games release consecutively is a first for the franchise, and Activision’s Treyarch and Raven studios teamed up to make it happen following 2024’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 6.

The Black Ops 7 trailer is a trippy thing, like something you might expect out of Remedy’s Alan Wake series, with scenes of the protagonist appearing to experience a fragmented consciousness, a moment where a cityscape folds in on itself Inception-style, laughing TV sets, red butterflies made of data, and talking robot butlers escorting someone through a suspiciously, eerily calm executive suite. While we’re not entirely sure what’s going on, we do know who’s leading the charge this time: David Mason, the lead from Black Ops 2 whose last appearance was in 2018’s Black Ops 4.

“The year is 2035 and the world is on the brink of chaos, ravaged by conflict and psychological warfare following the narrative events of Black Ops 2 and Black Ops 6,” the game’s official description reads on Xbox Wire. “With cutting-edge technology in hand, the Black Ops team led by David Mason must fight back against a manipulative enemy who weaponizes fear above all else.”

Activision said Black Ops 7 will support solo play and multiplayer squads in a new co-op campaign, and you’ll have “near-future weaponry” to take on the challenge. Black Ops 7 will also include a standalone multiplayer mode with new maps and a zombies mode that continues the Dark Aether storyline.

There’s no Black Ops 7 release date yet, but when it does launch, it’ll be available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.

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June 9, 2025 0 comments

NFT Gaming

This Week in Crypto Games: Bonk ‘Kill-to-Earn’ Solana Launch, ‘FIFA Rivals’ Nears Release

by admin June 8, 2025

It’s tough to keep tabs on the ever-changing crypto gaming space, thanks to the constant flow of news: everything from big game launches and fun degen experiments to token price swings and occasional project collapses. It’s a lot to follow.

Luckily, we’re plugged in at Decrypt’s GG. We cover the biggest happenings throughout the week, and then this weekly roundup provides a quick way to catch up, as well as find a bunch of other little bits of news from throughout the week.

ICYMI

Flappy Bird has renewed its Web3 push, teasing a new competitive version of the game with on-chain rewards, plus an IP protocol.

GG Newsletter

Get the latest web3 gaming news, hear directly from gaming studios and influencers covering the space, and receive power-ups from our partners.

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June 8, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Everything we saw at the Xbox Games Showcase 2025

by admin June 8, 2025

Xbox has came out and delivered a lot of great games this year, and after today’s show, looks to continue on that momentum. With a combination of 2025 and 2026 titles in view, alongside a few undated items, there’s a lot to love. Personal picks? Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Clockwork Revolution look incredible. Check out all the coolness below from Xbox Wire.

From brand new games to brand new hardware, the Xbox Games Showcase 2025 had a core theme – putting players at the center of everything. In a show packed with new titles from our first-party developers, fresh ideas from our incredible partners across the globe, and even a brand-new Xbox to play them on, we focused it all on the thing that matters most – you.

We’re working to make sure you’re able to play Xbox games wherever you are, which is why every new game in the show is Xbox Play Anywhere. With a single purchase, you can play with Xbox, including your progress and achievements, across Xbox console, PC and Xbox Ally—at no additional cost.

And we also offered a brand-new place for you to play with the reveal of the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X handhelds, launching later this year. Xbox Ally will play games from across your entire library – including the Windows PC game stores from Xbox and Battle.net, not to mention leading third-party PC storefronts. What’s more, we confirmed that the long-awaited Hollow Knight: Silksong will be available for Xbox Ally and Game Pass at launch, and that every game in the show will run on Xbox Ally.

And there were a lot of games on show, with players getting a look at just some of the games they can look forward to this year. From our first-party studios, we saw a world premiere for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, an unexpected Obsidian double-bill in the form of The Outer Worlds 2 and Grounded 2, a world premiere of Double Fine’s otherworldly Keeper, a first look at Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s Order of the Giants DLC, and got new gameplay from Ninja Gaiden 4, and Gears of War: Reloaded. Looking further ahead, we also saw extended gameplay for Clockwork Revolution, showing us more from inXile’s most ambitious game yet.

And from our partners, there’s even more to look forward to. New studio Quarter Up brought us a wonderful surprise in the form of Invincible VS, Square Enix announced that Final Fantasy XVI arrives for Xbox today – with Final Fantasy Remake Intergrade to come later this year – and Atlus introduced us to Persona 4 Revival.

We also saw follow-ups to indie hits like Super Meat Boy 3D, High on Life 2, and Planet of Lana II as well as world premieres and new looks at some incredibly exciting new ideas, including The Blood of Dawnwalker, Game Freak’s Beast of Reincarnation, and At Fate’s End, the new game from the creators of the beloved Spiritfarer – among many others.

And after a huge 2025 filled with games from today’s double feature, there’s so much more to come. Phil Spencer closed the show by speaking about the upcoming 25th anniversary of Xbox, with the exciting proclamation that, in 2026, Xbox players will celebrate a quarter-century of Xbox with a new Fable, the next Forza, Gears of War E-Day, and, “The return of a classic that’s been with us since the beginning…”

And the fun only continued in The Outer Worlds 2 & Grounded 2 Direct, which followed immediately after Xbox Games Showcase concluded. Presented by the developers at Obsidian Entertainment, the show offered brand new information and gameplay for the sequel to the award-winning RPG, and also offered up some details on a whole other game arriving this year after the surprise announcement of Grounded 2. Make sure to check back for full rundowns on what was announced in the second part of our enormous double feature.

Want to catch up on everything from the show? Read on for every single announcement and reveal from the Xbox Games Showcase 2025:

New Hardware

Introducing the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X Handhelds

The ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X are two new handhelds that combine the power of Xbox with the freedom you expect from Windows. Both launch holiday 2025 in select markets, with availability to follow for other markets where ROG Ally series are sold today.

Together with ASUS, we’ve combined our strengths and technical expertise to provide a premium gaming experience that travels with players wherever they go. With the Xbox Ally, it’s never been easier to access your favorite games – from Xbox, Battle.net, and other leading third-party PC storefronts – all from a single device.

Find out more about both handhelds – including specs, features, the new Xbox full screen experience, and more – in our dedicated Xbox Wire article. Pricing, pre-orders and more will follow in the coming months.

Upcoming Titles from Our First-Party Studios

Welcome to 2035 — Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Brings the Most Mind-Bending Action to Date

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere, or play it day one on Game Pass – also available on Battle.net, Steam, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4

For the first time in Call of Duty history, developers Treyarch and Raven Software are bringing players Black Ops titles back-to-back with the confirmation of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.

The year is 2035 and the world is on the brink of chaos, ravaged by conflict and psychological warfare following the narrative events of Black Ops 2 and Black Ops 6. With cutting-edge technology in hand, the Black Ops team led by David Mason must fight back against a manipulative enemy who weaponizes fear above all else.

Squad up with friends or play solo in the innovative Co-op Campaign, harness near-future weaponry in the signature Multiplayer mode packed with brand-new maps, and descend into the next twisted chapter of Round-Based Zombies in the heart of the Dark Aether.

This tease is just the beginning. Don’t miss the official reveal of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 this summer.

Extended Look at Steampunk RPG, Clockwork Revolution in New Trailer

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere, or play it day on with Game Pass – also available on Steam

Clockwork Revolution—the time-bending RPG from inXile entertainment – debuted a new trailer, revealing the grittier side of the steampunk city of Avalon. This is where the downtrodden steal to survive, gangs prey on the weak, and where our hero Morgan calls home. After discovering that history has been carefully crafted by the city’s ruler, Lady Ironwood, you’ll use a time travel device to go into the past and set things straight – in whatever way you see fit.

We have an exclusive interview from inXile on what makes the game tick, from reactive storytelling to weapon crafting, and why this is their most ambitious project yet.

Gears of War: Reloaded – New Trailer Revealed, Multiplayer Beta Announced

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere, or play it day one with Game Pass – also available on Steam, PlayStation 5

Gears of War is coming to more players than ever before with the upcoming release of Gears of War: Reloaded on August 26, 2025 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, Steam and PlayStation 5.

An all-new trailer showcases the iconic gameplay and cinematics that changed gaming forever, now lovingly remastered. This is the definitive release, optimized for each platform, featuring 4K textures, 60 FPS in Campaign, 120 FPS in Multiplayer, cross-play, cross-progression and more.

Additionally, a two-weekend Multiplayer Beta begins June 13, taking place across all platforms, for Game Pass Ultimate/Game Pass PC members, owners of the digital version of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, and those with Gears of War: Reloaded preorders.

Be sure to check out our Xbox Wire feature, which includes an Official Xbox Podcast interview with The Coalition, as well as details of how to participate in the Beta.

Grounded 2 Heads to Game Preview and Steam Early Access July 29

Xbox Game Preview with Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere, or play it day one with Game Pass – also available on Steam Early Access

Grounded 2

steps out of the backyard and into the suburban wilderness—new bugs, new biomes, same tiny chaos. Set in the all-new Brookhollow Park and featuring the return of our teen heroes, this continuation brings major quality-of-life upgrades like the all-in-one Omni-Tool and delivers on one of the community’s most requested features: rideable Buggies. It’s not just a sequel—it’s the follow-up fans were hoping for, packed with sharper tools, weirder bugs, and enough callbacks to make you wonder if we’ve been lurking in your forum threads (spoiler: we have).

Built in partnership with Eidos-Montréal and launching into Game Preview on July 29, Grounded 2 brings more story, systems, and surprises from the very beginning—shaped by over 25 million players and counting. Whether you’re returning or just jumping in, wishlist today on Xbox and Steam, and get ready to ride together, survive together, and help shape this world with us.

Keeper: A Beautiful, Otherworldly Adventure from Lee Petty and Double Fine Productions, Arrives October 17

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere, or play it day one with Game Pass – also available on Steam

Keeper

– the beautiful, otherworldly third-person adventure from Double Fine Productions – was announced during the show with a somewhat psychedelic and mysterious first trailer. And we don’t have long to wait – it arrives on October 17.

We encountered a Lighthouse that, after eons of standing dormant, falls to the ground, breaking into heaps of rubble, but then reassembles and stands up again on newly formed legs. It has awakened.

Yes folks that’s right, in Keeper you play a walking Lighthouse, able to shine a beam of bright light that affects the world around it, with a spirited seabird companion coming along for the ride. The trailer takes us on an epic adventure into a strange unknowable island, joining the Lighthouse on a journey toward the center of the island.

Find out more about the story in the game, and the story behind the game, in our Xbox Wire article.

The Path to Master Ninja Begins: Ninja Gaiden 4 Emerges from the Shadows October 21

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere, or play it day one with Game Pass – also available on Steam, PlayStation 5

The legendary ninja action franchise returns in Ninja Gaiden 4, a high-octane fusion of Team Ninja’s signature combat and PlatinumGames’ dynamic flair. The trailer that debuted during the show provides a deeper look at Yakumo, a young ninja prodigy, and an array of new weapons at his disposal as he battles through hordes of enemies.

From seamless weapon switching and obliteration techniques to the explosive return of Bloodbind Ninjutsu and Ninpo arts, the trailer teases a brutal, stylish evolution of the series. With a sneak peek at new characters like Seori, massive boss battles, the mysterious connection to the legendary Ryu Hayabusa, and a near-future Tokyo struggling in the grips of an overwhelming evil, Ninja Gaiden 4 is set to deliver a legacy reborn when it launches October 21. We went hands-on with the game for the first time and interviewed its director – find out much more in our article.

The Outer Worlds 2 Gets a New Trailer and a Huge Deep-Dive

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere, or play it day one with Game Pass – also available on Battle.net, Steam, PlayStation 5

The Outer Worlds 2

pulls you into Arcadia – a colony isolated from the rest of the system, fought over by power-hungry factions, and on the brink of near to mid-term collapse by rifts forming in the space around it. With the future up for grabs, survival might depend on your choices, your alliances… and maybe a few well-placed deals along the way. Featured in the Xbox Games Showcase and expanded in today’s The Outer Worlds 2 Direct, this bigger, bolder sequel builds on everything fans loved about the original: deeper RPG systems, sharper satire, and wildly reactive storytelling. With new companions, enhanced movement and combat, science weapons and armor, and full character customization, The Outer Worlds 2 puts you at the center of a chaotic struggle for Arcadia’s future. Launching October 29, 2025, it hands you the chaos and asks: what are you going to do with it? The world needs a hero. You’ll have to do.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4: Foundry Demo Out Today!

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere, or play it day one on Game Pass – also available on Battle.net, Steam, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4. Foundry demo not available on Nintendo Switch platforms

The Birdman returns along with a host of legendary and new parks, skaters, tricks, and more with the upcoming release of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 on July 11. The remake brings a robust Career mode across two tours, Single Sessions and Speedruns, and Free Skate to help nail those tricky combos without the heat of a timer.

Play the Foundry Demo now with a pre-order (see available platforms here), PC Game Pass or Game Pass Ultimate and shred across the Foundry and College parks as Tony Hawk and Rayssa Leal. Digital Deluxe Edition purchasers will exclusively have access to skate as The Doom Slayer! For the latest news, visit tonyhawkthegame.com.

World Premieres and New Games from Our Partners

Aniimo Is a Beautiful New Creature Collecting Action-RPG

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere – see developer website for other platforms

Revealed for the first time today, Aniimo is a ground-breaking open-world ARPG where players are invited to join in the exploration of a living and dynamic world, and meet the magical Aniimo that inhabit it. Instead of waiting for someone else to create their dream game, the Aniimo team did it themselves. Travel across a beautiful new world, meeting, learning about, and capturing the Aniimo that inhabit it. Battle Aniimo in real-time, or use the Twining system to become an Aniimo, and experience the game in a whole new way. Aniimo will arrive in 2026, but a closed beta begins for PC players later this year – find out how to join in here.

Aphelion Is a Sci-Fi Adventure Grounded in Real-World Science

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere, or play it day one with Game Pass – see developer website for other platforms

Aphelion

is a third-person sci-fi adventure from Don’t Nod (Life Is Strange, Jusant). After crash-landing on a frozen planet, astronaut Ariane must navigate brutal terrain and shifting realities to rescue her injured partner, Thomas. Blending exploration, traversal, and tense stealth gameplay, Aphelion delivers a cinematic, emotionally charged journey through an uncharted world. Play as both characters to understand the mystery of the planet Persephone in a story grounded in real-world science, and made in partnership with the European Space Agency. Aphelion arrives in 2026.

At Fate’s End Is the Captivating New Game from the Spiritfarer Team

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere, or play it day one with Game Pass – see developer website for other platforms

Thunder Lotus proudly revealed At Fate’s End, an action-adventure game where you fight the ones you love. Wield the legendary God Sword Aesus as Shan, the deft young heiress of the Hemlock clan. Solve intricate narrative puzzles, uncover painful truths, and hone both your blade skills and knowledge to face your estranged siblings in intense, emotional duels – and ultimately decide your family’s fate. From the award-winning team behind Spiritfarer, At Fate’s End weaves tight, visceral action with rich narrative depth, exploring the complicated bonds between brothers and sisters in a world where swords clash and family wounds run deep.

Game Freak & Fictions Reveal Beast of Reincarnation

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere, or play it day one with Game Pass – see developer website for other platforms

The show revealed the first trailer for Beast of Reincarnation, a new action-RPG from revered developer Game Freak. Set in a post-apocalyptic Japan, the world has become consumed by corruption and overtaken by formidable beasts. Play as Emma, a cursed outcast, and her loyal dog Koo as they journey through a dangerous, ever-shifting world that demands precision and mastery of technical combat. Uncover what it means to be human at the edge of extinction in Beast of Reincarnation.

The Blood of Dawnwalker Reveals its First Gameplay Trailer

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere – see developer website for other platforms

From Rebel Wolves and Bandai Namco Entertainment, comes a brand new dark fantasy role playing saga: The Blood of Dawnwalker. You play as Coen, a young man turned into a Dawnwalker: half-man, half-vampire, forever treading the line between the world of day and the realm of night. Fight for your humanity or embrace the cursed powers to save your family. Whatever your choice, the question stands: is your soul worth the lives of those you love? Coming in 2026, wishlist now on Xbox Series X/S and Xbox PC.

Cronos: The New Dawn – New Survival Horror from Bloober Team Arrives This Fall

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere – see developer website for other platforms

Get ready to embark on a haunting journey this fall as Cronos: The New Dawn arrives. In this gripping third-person survival horror, step into the shoes of the Traveler, an agent of the mysterious Collective, whose mission is to salvage what remains of humanity. In the time-warped nightmare of the future, monsters known as Orphans stalk the land. Emerging from the downfall of mankind, these grotesque creatures can fuse together to create even deadlier foes.

In the gameplay trailer, we witnessed the Traveler descending into an Orphan nest, confronting the twisted creatures that inhabit its depths. The corpses of fallen Travelers tell a grim tale, yet their final recordings offer crucial warnings. Can you succeed where others have failed?

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade Is Coming to Xbox

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Play Anywhere – see developer website for other platforms

The beloved, expanded remake of the genre-defining Final Fantasy VII is on its way to Xbox this Winter. Relive the first act of the iconic 1997 game as Cloud Strife, the legendary hero, meets unforgettable allies and explores the dystopian city of Midgar. Culminating in a dramatic escape, this pivotal chapter sets the stage for one of gaming’s most legendary stories.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade includes both the base game and Intermission—a story episode starring Yuffie Kisaragi, the spirited ninja from Wutai. Her episode offers a different perspective on the events of the main game, expanding the world and deepening the lore. Relive one of gaming’s greatest stories on Xbox.

Final Fantasy XVI Comes to Xbox Today

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Play Anywhere – see developer website for other platforms

Surprise! Final Fantasy XVI, the iconic (or should that be Eikonic?) action-RPG comes to Xbox platforms today. With an enormous medieval fantasy world, a dramatic, mature storyline, and lightning-fast action combat, this is a true gaming epic. Its release means that every mainline single player Final Fantasy game is now playable with Xbox.

Fans can purchase either the Standard or Complete Edition, with the latter boasting all expansions and DLC. Plus, as an Xbox Play Anywhere title, one purchase lets you play across all Xbox platforms, with full cross-save. Find out more in our Xbox Wire article.

High On Life 2 Comes to Game Pass This Winter!

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere, or play it day one with Game Pass – see developer website for other platforms

High On Life returns, as you and your beloved rag-tag team of alien misfits shoot, stab, and skate your way through weird alien worlds across the galaxy to blow up an evil pharmaceutical conglomerate hell-bent on putting a price tag on human life!

Wreak havoc at the galaxy’s biggest convention, an alien zoo for humans, and a luxury futuristic cruise liner on your cosmic quest to take down big pharma. And stay tuned for an exclusive trailer breakdown with Squanch Games on the Xbox YouTube channel.

Invincible VS: Quarter Up Reveals 3v3 Tag Fighting Game – Coming in 2026

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere – see developer website for other platforms

Quarter Up, Skybound’s first in-house gaming development studio, revealed Invincible VS. The trailer reveals a brutal, tournament-quality superhero 3v3 tag fighting game set in the award-winning Invincible Universe. It also showcases: fan-favorite superheroes Mark (Invincible), Thula, Bulletproof and Atom Eve; iconic arenas; the high-stakes of bloody superhero battles; and an authentic depiction of battle damage and bloody combat fans know and love. Invincible VS will launch in 2026.

Mudang: Two Hearts Is a Cinematic Tactical Action-Adventure Arriving in 2026

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere – see developer website for other platforms

Mudang: Two Hearts

is a third-person tactical action adventure set on the Korean Peninsula after reunification. Revealed for the first time today, it blends stealth, close-quarters combat, and emotionally driven storytelling into a seamless cinematic experience.

Players experience the story through two distinct perspectives: Ji Jeongtae, a North Korean special forces operative dispatched to the South, and GAVI, a K-pop idol whose past holds a dangerous secret. As a new wave of terrorist attacks fractures the fragile illusion of peace, the two become entangled with an enigmatic militant group known as Byeolmuban.

Built in Unreal Engine 5 and using our proprietary performance capture pipeline, Mudang delivers a deeply immersive combat system rooted in authentic special forces tactics and is set to launch in 2026.

The Midnight Channel Returns: Persona 4 Revival Officially Announced

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere, or play it day one with Game Pass – see developer website for other platforms

A remake of the modern classic JRPG, Persona 4 Revival received a debut trailer, showing off the game’s gorgeous updated visuals within the rural town of Inaba. Arriving as a transfer student, you’ll experience an unforgettable year with new friends you meet along the way. However, rumors of bizarre murders and a mysterious TV channel quickly disrupt your peaceful everyday life. A door to another world opens, awakening your Persona abilities: it is time to fight alongside your trusted allies to uncover the truth.

Planet of Lana II Revealed – Double the Size, and Deeper than Ever

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere, or play it day one with Game Pass – see developer website for other platforms

Revealed today, Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf is an ambitious cinematic puzzle adventure that doubles the size and scope of the original. Launching in 2026 and day one with Game Pass, this highly anticipated sequel revisits Lana and Mui’s profound bond as they navigate a changed world after the robot invasion of the first game.

With new and improved mechanics for Lana and Mui, as well as brand new abilities to control the creatures and robots around you, prepare to unravel a deeper, longer sci-fi story where Lana confronts her own demons and unveils the planet’s darkest secrets, as a new threat puts their unbreakable bond to the ultimate test.

Wishlist Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf today on the Xbox Store and follow @PlanetOfLana on social media to stay up to date!

Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy Expands the Universe in New Ways

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere, or play it day one with Game Pass – see developer website for other platforms

This new game from Asobo Studio and Focus Entertainment expands the universe of A Plague Tale with an original story set 15 years before the events of the last game, A Plague Tale: Requiem. With a new action-adventure approach, players are invited to dive into Sophia’s past and journey with her to the Minotaur’s Island, outsmart deadly foes, unravel ancient secrets, and confront the creature at the heart of a devastating curse. Her sword in one hand and light in the other, Sophia will plunge into the myth of the macula, until she understands why it resonates so intimately with her.

Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy will be released in 2026 – you can wishlist the game today on the Xbox Store.

Solo Leveling: Arise Overdrive Transforms the Hit Webtoon into an Action-RPG

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere – see developer website for other platforms

The global phenomenon Solo Leveling makes its debut on Xbox! Based on the hit webtoon, ARISE OVERDRIVE is an action-RPG that lets you experience overwhelming power and thrilling combat. Master a dynamic action system, block deadly attacks, and counter with perfect parries. Unleash the Monarch’s Awakening to transcend limits and dominate the battlefield. Feel the intensity as you wipe out enemies in style. Team up with friends in multiplayer mode to conquer powerful stages and enjoy the thrill of true growth and cooperation. It’s time to rise, fight, and prove your strength. The Xbox PC version arrives fall 2025, with Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Cloud versions to follow in 2026.

Super Meat Boy 3D Revealed with a New Trailer

Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere, or play it day one with Xbox Game Pass – see developer website for other platforms

Gaming’s most iconic chunk of meat is back! Today’s Showcase revealed Super Meat Boy 3D from Sluggerfly and Headup Games, who are taking Team Meat’s indie darling into the third dimension. The game arrives in early 2026.

Super Meat Boy 3D is exactly what you love about the series: a challenging platformer where you guide a cube of meat on a mission to rescue his bandage-made girlfriend from a villainous fetus in a jar—now in 3D! You’ll wall-jump through buzzsaws, collapsing caves, and fiery forests, dying countless times along the way. With old-school difficulty, fast-paced gameplay, tough bosses, and plenty of secrets, it’s a new dimension for Meat Boy. Wishlist Super Meat Boy 3D today on the Xbox Store and get ready to die again and again and again when you play it day one on Game Pass.

There Are No Ghosts at The Grand: Become Decorator by Day and Ghost Hunter by Night in a Cozy, Spooky Musical Mystery

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Play Anywhere, or play it day one with Game Pass – see developer website for other platforms

Inherit a crumbling English hotel and restore it by day while battling ghosts by night in There Are No Ghosts at The Grand. With a sardonic cat, a talking power tool, and a twisting supernatural plot, this is a spooky, cozy, musical mystery unlike any other. You have exactly 30 days and 30 nights to restore the crumbling hotel and explore the surrounding seaside village for eerie supernatural secrets. Coming to Xbox Series X|S and PC in 2026, and available on Game Pass… just don’t believe them when they tell you that There are No Ghosts at the Grand.

DLC and New Updates for Live Games

Age of Mythology: Retold – Heavenly Spear Brings the Japanese Pantheon, Coming Fall 2025

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere, Game Pass – also available on Battle.net, Steam, PlayStation 5

Age of Mythology: Retold

will make room for more gods, more heroes and more legends this Fall with the Heavenly Spear expansion. An all-new Japanese pantheon introduces 12 new gods with unique powers, divine technologies and myth units drawn from centuries of legend. Players can embark on a 12-mission campaign following Yasuko, a humble farmer’s daughter who discovers a magical spear and is swept into a mythic war. Wishlist now! Already own the Age of Mythology: Retold Premium Edition? Heavenly Spear is yours at no additional cost – jump in and play on day one!

The Elder Scrolls Online Shows Us the Return of the Worm Cult

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox Cloud – also available on Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Mac

ZeniMax Online Studios premiered a gameplay trailer for The Elder Scrolls Online,revealing the adventures to be found in Western Solstice during Seasons of the Worm Cult Part 1, a continuation of ESO’s main quest storyline from over 10 years ago. Releasing in tandem, the Update 46 base-game patch adds character Subclassing, the Hero’s Return system for returning players, and many more quality-of-life updates. The Elder Scrolls Online: Seasons of the Worm Cult Part 1 and Update 46 are available now on PC and Mac, andwill arrive for Xbox and PlayStation consoles on June 18.

Fallout 76 Shows Off its Fin-tastic Fishing Update

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, Game Pass – also available on Steam, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4

Bethesda Game Studios unveiled the launch trailer for Fallout 76’s latest update, Gone Fission. This fin-tastic update introduces fishing to the Wasteland, revealing a cozier side of Appalachia away from the guns and ghouls. Players can experiment with bait, weather conditions, rods, and locations to catch a variety of fish, – including prized Axolotls that change each month – and Local Legends. Gone Fission is available across all platforms for free, letting every Fallout 76 player enjoy the relaxing summer pastime. Find out more about fishing in the Wasteland on Xbox Wire.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants DLC Launches September 4

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere – also available on Steam, PlayStation 5

The latest Indiana Jones adventure is getting a DLC chapter in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of the Giants! Indy’s new journey will take him deep into unexplored territory as he dives beneath the bustling streets of Rome to investigate a dark and twisted new mystery.

This DLC is set during the main game and expands on the story of the Nephilim Order. Face off against old threats and new foes, navigate Rome beyond the walls of Vatican City, and uncover the legend of a colossal beast. Maybe some ancient secrets are better left undisturbed…

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants will be available on September 4, 2025. For those who purchased the Premium Edition, Premium Upgrade or Collector’s Edition, the DLC is included. Find out more in our Xbox Wire article about The Order of Giants.

Sea of Thieves: Season 17 Sets Sail on a Smugglers’ Tide

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox PC, Xbox Play Anywhere, Game Pass – also available on Steam, Battle.net, PlayStation 5

A new gang of nefarious troublemakers have infiltrated the Sea of Thieves! Known as The Smuggler’s League, they’re recruiting pirates willing to deal with dangers others are afraid to handle, including weapons and some of the most powerful explosives ever seen on the seas. Crews that think they’re up to the challenge can embark on new Smuggler’s Voyages to salvage — or steal — these hot properties and see them safely into the wrong hands, but one false move could spell disaster. Sparks are sure to fly when Season 17: Smugglers’ Tide launches in August, free for all players.

Stay tuned to GamingTrend for more Xbox news and info!

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June 8, 2025 0 comments

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