First on the menu is Crazy Taxi: World Tour, which we’ve been pretty hyped about ever since it was announced. We’ve got good reasons, as the prospect of playing across several cities around the world sounds like a dream come true for those of us who can’t get enough of the franchise.

There’s also Persona 4 Revival, which we’ve been pretty eager to try out on account of its new voice actors. Total War: Warhammer 40,000 is definitely something we want to learn more about, given how the Marines and Orks are quite evenly matched on battlefields that let them make the best of their respective skill sets. Of course, there’s also Stranger Than Heaven, with that star-studded cast and an adventure that’s shaping up to be as complex as it is nuanced, to look forward to.

Oh, and let’s not forget about Alien: Isolation 2, a title we’ve been waiting for since its predecessor ended on quite the cliffhanger. We’ll tell you all about it when Gamescom kicks off on August 26th, though you can look forward to the usual announcements and world premieres on August 25th at Opening Night Live.

We’ve just had a closer look at what exploration looks like, and we’re quite impressed. The wind rakes the stony walls of cliff sides before gently throwing up leaves along the ground in lush forests. Getting through them is going to be a test of your traversal skills, and you’re going to have to do that to get to some desolate ruins, where complex mechanics and distinctly doll-themed bosses wait to test your combat abilities.

Getting to the heart of Mohist ingenuity is going to test both your mind and body from the looks of it. Fortunately, this one gives you more than enough spots of serenity to sit down and realign yourself if the need arises. There are glimpses of some of the new bosses, each one looking as deadly as the other, although we’re sure the lot of you are more than up to the task.

It’s a short wait for its release on July 23rd, but the trailer below might make it feel a little longer. It’s still worth a watch, though.

It’s ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies developer ZA/UM studio this time around, and it has taken to BlueSky to announce the issuing of at-risk and redundancy notices to up to 32 members of its workforce, many of whom were a part of the team that made the game as good as it was. We thought quite highly of it in our review, believing it worthy of carrying the Disco Elysium inspirations that it wears so proudly on its sleeve.

We were particularly impressed by the Faculties system and the way it made each stat a voice in your head, adding to the chaos of a story where the player balanced saving the world against losing their own sanity in the process. Top-shelf stuff, that. However, the game hasn’t been successful commercially, which is why its developer is looking to cut its workforce across all departments.

Where it goes from here remains to be seen, but ZA/UM says its artistic standards “will persist.” In the meantime, it’s consulting with the company’s Workers’ Alliance and hopefully aiding the transition for those laid off.

— ZA/UM Studio (@zaumstudio.bsky.social) 2026-07-17T16:55:35.128Z

If you haven’t been keeping up with this one, something called the Gyldenmist has pervaded the lands, stripping them of life and making monsters out of what remains. The Gyldhunters come with some serious skills and are looking to make the most of the world around them in any way they can. That means taking on the various monsters and others of their kind to eke out a living.

The teaser shows off some of the combat classes they’re bringing to the table, and what we’re seeing is quite in line with that gameplay showcase, which showcased how intense things can get when everyone is in its element.

This is a title that we can’t wait to sink our teeth into and get started on crafting builds that can dominate the battlefield in a variety of situations. Its ARPG trappings look like they could make the process a real pleasure unless death plays spoiler.

Season 4 of the popular shooter is close now, and the team has indeed given us a closer look at what to expect. Two new maps are coming, with Tsuru Reef being the first to drop. This one’s got a lot of open spaces and opportunities for you to support ground assaults from the skies and seas, and is sure to have you and your opponents wondering where an attack could come from next. There’s also Wake Island, and everything it’s bringing to the table alongside new vehicles and ways to cause mayhem as you execute your strategy.

Both maps make it challenging to navigate the waters you’re sailing through. Dynamic weather systems make sailing the open seas a danger all on their own, as you’re going to have to contend with waves that could throw off your aim, or even act as shields against enemy fire if you play your cards right.

The EF-88 and the Carbine are new weapons being added to the fray, and they’re quite potent tools to have in your arsenal from what we’re seeing. All in all, there’s a lot to look forward to in the new season, and we can’t wait to ride out the waves in a desperate bid for survival.

In an interview with YouTuber JorRaptor, game director Richard Knight said, “I know some folks on the team have DLC ideas. We need to balance those out with our future, and then update the core game.”

However, it’s keen on keeping Edward Kenway as the focus since he’s the “heart and soul of the original game.” “Maybe there could be more to tell there too,” says Knight. Unfortunately, you probably shouldn’t expect Freedom Cry to emerge in some form or another.

“I can’t really say anything as to a Freedom Cry. We’ve got our hands full with this game right now. Freedom Cry, it’s not a small thing either.” So it’s not a hard “no,” but you shouldn’t get your hopes up. For now, the developer is still figuring things out– once that happens, we may have a clearer roadmap for the future.

For now, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is absolutely worth playing, whether you played the original or not. Besides the overhauled visuals, combat and parkour mechanics, it adds tons of new content, including more discoveries on its existing islands, expanded Hideout features, and dedicated end-game missions.

There are also three new officers to recruit, each with their own questlines, and story missions that offer closure to beloved characters like Blackbeard and Stede Bonnet. Check out our review for more details.

Co-studio director Hugo Martin echoed those statements in a new Slayer’s Club Live stream, when he said, “There’s been reports that we’ve been nerfed into the ground and gutted and we have 50 people, and that’s not true. We’re the size we were when we made DOOM (2016), and id Tech is very much alive and well.

“You have to understand we have id Tech engineers both in Frankfurt and at MachineGames – we collaborate quite a bit. So id Tech is there, the Doom team is here, and we’re excited to share with you guys more of what we’re working on in the future when it is appropriate and approved.”

Of course, rumors have already circulated that the team is working on a new Doom game. Martin has expressed interest in finishing the Slayer’s story until he’s sealed away, which precludes the beginning of DOOM (2016). Whether that will be at the same scale as The Dark Ages, much less Eternal, remains to be seen given the smaller team.

However, a former id employee said that claims the studio can still make games is “stretching reality to breaking point.” Much of the team who worked on the recent Revelations expansion have reportedly been let go and couldn’t “imagine a path forward where they make another game in id Tech.” Keep in mind that this is after Xbox said that work won’t stop on Doom, Quake and Wolfenstein.

We’ll only really know when the next Doom is announced, but that may take a long while, so stay tuned. In the meantime, at least the Wolfenstein series is seemingly alive with a live-action TV series and Wolfenstein 3 in the works. An official announcement has yet to be made, though.

Pre-orders for the Souls-like were recently announced, and included a special physical version, known as the Revered Edition, which has a disc in the box (among other goodies like a SteelBook). Retailing for $70, publisher Playstack revealed that the demand for the PS5 version “has exceeded expectations.”

“Unfortunately, supply across a number of retailers has now been fully reserved, meaning that in a growing number of markets fans are unable to pre-purchase a copy of the game. We apologize for the lack of availability.”

With how much time manufacturing takes and given that it’s roughly a month from launch, Playstack says there is a “very low chance of additional physical copies becoming available before the game’s release.” It’s currently reviewing “ongoing demand” with its distribution partner and will provide an update, but it clarified that there’s “no guarantee of a stock replenishment plan after launch as this decision is not ours to make.”

As you’d expect, several users have tagged PlayStation in their responses, pointing out the continued demand for physical discs. Niko Partners director of research and insights Daniel Ahmad weighed in as well, noting how producing costlier limited-edition discs could help physical games. “Granted this is overall a supply issue rather than demand,” he added, regarding Mortal Shell 2, “but it does show this model works and could continue working.”

Whether it’s something Sony takes notice of down the line remains to be seen, so stay tuned. Mortal Shell 2 launches on August 20th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC, with the Prologue available to play for free.

“Both of them have been operating in a strong leadership capacity for the team and are ready to guide Marathon into the next chapter with an even better and brighter future,” says Ziegler. “As for me, I’ll be heading to something new, somewhere else, and will update you on where and what soon.”

While this sounds like he’s moving on to greener pastures, potentially at another game development studio, it’s not exactly the best look for Marathon. Besides facing its own layoffs, the extraction shooter’s player numbers have absolutely cratered on Steam. The last time it averaged above 10,000 concurrent players was on June 27th, and Season 2: NIGHTFALL faltered in sustaining interest, even with the free week.

Of course, support continues, as the new Vault Breaker PvE mode launches on July 21st. It sees groups of one to three Runners venturing into Cryo Archive, opening Vaults to recover Data and enhance special Sponsored Kits for better chances at future runs. You can also unlock other rewards, including Prestige Weapons, that can be used in other modes.

Despite only being available for two weeks, there are plans to bring a full PvE mode in Season 3 this September. That’s alongside changes to Perimeter and other new content, including a new Runner Shell. After that, time will tell, so stay tuned.

Dubbing the space-faring RPG as an “important part of our future,” Bethesda confirmed Year 3 of its release would include “new stories, targeted gameplay improvements, and additional updates, while preparing for the launch of new Starborn content next year.”

It also announced over 17 million players who have logged nearly one billion hours to date. Even if the majority are on Game Pass, that attach rate certainly is impressive. Over 40 percent of players have also dabbled in Creations, with Bethesda committed to its Creators (who have already earned $10 million+ in royalties).

Of course, it remains to be seen if Starfield will receive an expansion along the lines of Shattered Space, which received mixed to negative reviews at launch. Terran Armada opted for a smaller scale in its storytelling and new content, and even that has left fans wanting.

Bethesda may opt to slowly but surely expand on Starfield with more paid Creations. Nothing is confirmed, and while the prospect of a proper 2.0 update, especially after Free Lanes, may be a pipe dream, for now, it’s alive and still receiving support.