Amazon Germany has listed Pokémon Wind and Pokémon Welle, the German-localized titles for Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves, at €79.99 each for Nintendo Switch 2. The listings are live and sold directly by Amazon, but the price should not be read as Nintendo’s confirmed retail figure. Here’s what the listings actually show and what remains officially unconfirmed.

What Amazon Germany’s Listings Show

Both product pages are live on Amazon.de under the titles Pokémon Wind and Pokémon Welle, each priced at €79.99 for Nintendo Switch 2. The listings appear on Amazon.de, which gives them more weight than a random third-party marketplace rumor, but they still carry explicit caveats.

The Pokémon Wind listing uses placeholder-style language, noting the title is a working title and that product images may differ from the final version. The December 31, 2027 date should be treated as a placeholder because Nintendo has only confirmed a broad 2027 window. Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have only committed to that broad worldwide release window, with no specific launch date announced.

What Nintendo and The Pokémon Company Have Actually Confirmed

The official Pokémon site confirms both games are real, all-new entries in the Pokémon video game series, exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2, and planned for a simultaneous worldwide release in 2027. Nintendo Germany lists the games under the same localized titles, Pokémon Wind and Pokémon Welle.

Neither the official Pokémon site nor Nintendo has publicly confirmed a retail price for either game. The €79.99 figure exists on Amazon’s listing, not in any official Nintendo or Pokémon Company communication.

Why €79.99 Is Worth Paying Attention To

€79.99 sits at the higher end of what Switch 2 games are expected to cost in Europe. If that price holds when Nintendo makes an official announcement, it would position Pokémon Winds and Waves among the premium-tier Switch 2 releases rather than at a standard price point.

This is not an isolated data point either. Amazon Germany listing both games at the same price simultaneously is notable, but retailer listings can sometimes reflect early pricing expectations, and they can also use placeholders before final details are locked. With the games still only carrying a broad 2027 window, there is meaningful time for that figure to change before Nintendo commits to it officially.

The honest read here is that €79.99 may be where Nintendo is heading with major Switch 2 releases, but it is not confirmed until Nintendo or The Pokémon Company says so publicly.

What This Means for Switch 2 Pricing Broadly

Switch 2 game pricing has already drawn attention since the console launched. If these major Pokémon releases land at €79.99, it would set a clear precedent for how Nintendo prices its flagship titles on the new hardware. If you want to keep track of what’s confirmed and coming to the platform, our Nintendo Switch 2 confirmed games guide covers every announced title so far. And if you’re weighing the total cost of Switch 2 ownership alongside individual game prices, our breakdown of whether Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack is worth it in 2026 is worth a read.

For now, €79.99 on Pokémon Winds and Waves remains a possibility suggested by a retailer listing, not a Nintendo pricing decision.

Amazon Germany has both Pokémon Wind and Pokémon Welle listed at €79.99 each for Nintendo Switch 2, with a placeholder release date of December 31, 2027. The listings are real and appear on Amazon.de, but the price is not official. Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have confirmed the games are coming to Switch 2 in 2027. The final retail price is still theirs to announce.

Sony is raising PlayStation Plus prices for new customers in select regions starting May 20, 2026, with the change focused on shorter subscription plans. One-month subscriptions will start at $10.99 / €9.99 / £7.99, while three-month subscriptions will start at $27.99 / €27.99 / £21.99.

The company cited “ongoing market conditions” for the change. Current subscribers will not be affected in most regions unless their existing subscription changes or lapses, though Sony listed Turkey and India as exceptions to that protection.

Before anything else, the most useful thing this article can tell you is whether this affects you right now. The short answer: if you are an existing subscriber outside Turkey and India, it does not, unless your subscription lapses or you change your plan.

What Is Changing and What Is Not

The confirmed increase covers two plan lengths only.

Plan	Old price	New price from May 20	Change
1 month	$9.99 / €8.99 / £6.99	$10.99 / €9.99 / £7.99	+$1 / +€1 / +£1
3 months	$24.99 / €24.99 / £19.99	$27.99 / €27.99 / £21.99	+$3 / +€3 / +£2
12 months	No increase announced	No increase announced	No announced change

Sony has not announced any change to 12-month plans. The Verge notes that it is also unclear whether PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium tiers are affected beyond what Sony explicitly stated, while Engadget reports that Sony’s announcement only mentioned the one-month and three-month plans specifically. This article will not claim otherwise.

What that means in practice: if you are currently on a 12-month plan outside Turkey and India, Sony has not announced any change to that annual pricing. If you are on a monthly plan and your subscription lapses after May 20, you will pay the new price when you rejoin.

Who Is Affected

Sony’s language in the announcement is precise and worth reading carefully. The increase applies to new customers in select regions. Sony has not published a full list of which regions are included, which is a notable gap in the announcement.

Current subscribers are protected in most markets, with two named exceptions. If you are in Turkey or India, Sony has confirmed the price protection does not apply to you, meaning you may see the new pricing regardless of your current subscription status.

If you are outside Turkey and India and already subscribed, your rate does not change unless one of two things happens: your subscription lapses, or you change your plan. Letting a monthly subscription run out and then rejoining after May 20 means you rejoin at the new price. Switching from a three-month plan to a monthly plan after May 20 would also put you on the new rate.

The safest position for existing subscribers who want to avoid the new pricing is to make sure your subscription does not lapse and that you do not change plan length. If you were already planning to switch from monthly to annual, the 12-month plan may still be the better value because Sony has not announced an annual price increase.

Why Sony Is Raising Prices

Sony’s stated reason is “ongoing market conditions,” which is the same broad framing the company used when it raised PS5 hardware prices earlier in 2026. In March, Sony announced global PS5 hardware price increases effective from April 2, bringing the PS5 to $649.99, the PS5 Digital Edition to $599.99, and the PS5 Pro to $899.99 in the United States. The company cited continued pressure in the global economic landscape at the time. Sony has also been pushing PS4 players to upgrade to PS5 as part of the same broader platform shift.

The PS Plus increase follows the same pattern but is narrower in scope. Raising short-term subscription prices while leaving annual plans untouched is a notable structure. The structure also makes annual subscriptions look more attractive compared with paying month to month.

This is also not the first time Sony has adjusted PS Plus pricing. The last major restructuring came when PlayStation Plus moved to a tiered model with Essential, Extra, and Premium in 2022. This increase does not restructure the tiers, it just raises the entry price for shorter commitments.

What Sony Has Not Confirmed

The research behind this article found several things Sony has not clarified, and this is worth being direct about rather than guessing.

Sony has not confirmed the full list of affected regions. The announcement says “select regions” without naming them beyond Turkey and India as exceptions to subscriber protection. If you are outside the US, UK, and eurozone, your specific pricing situation is unclear until Sony publishes more detail.

Sony has not confirmed whether Extra and Premium tiers are affected beyond Essential. The confirmed new prices cover Essential plan pricing. Whether the step-up tiers are seeing parallel increases has not been clearly stated in Sony’s announcement as of this writing.

Sony has not announced any change to annual pricing. That does not mean it will not happen, but it has not been announced, and this article will not speculate that it is coming.

This is a targeted price increase on short-term PlayStation Plus plans for new customers, not a blanket hike across every subscriber and every tier. If you are an existing subscriber in most regions, your current pricing is protected as long as you do not let your subscription lapse or change your plan after May 20.

The practical upside for anyone currently on a monthly subscription who has been thinking about switching to annual: the 12-month plan has no confirmed price increase, and switching means you pay less per month than the new short-term rates.

Sony is also running a Days of Play giveaway through June 10 where tournament participants can enter to win a 12-month PS Plus Premium membership as part of a prize bundle.

For everyone else, the change is real but narrower than the headline might suggest. Sony has raised short-term prices by a dollar to three dollars depending on plan length and currency, attributed it to market conditions, and left annual plans and existing subscribers mostly untouched for now.

The live-action adaptation of Nintendo’s legendary game series, The Legend of Zelda, is one of the most highly anticipated upcoming movies. Fans have been eagerly waiting for the movie’s release. The movie was originally scheduled for March 26, 2027, before being delayed to May 7, 2027. Now, Nintendo has yet again changed the release date!

Zelda co-creator and film producer Shigeru Miyamoto took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce the new release date. He revealed that the release date has been moved up by one week. Although Nintendo did not explain the reshuffle, it is a good news for fans.

Shigeru Miyamoto said that the upcoming fantasy adventure film will now be released on April 30, 2027. He also mentioned in his post that the team is working hard to deliver the film as soon as possible.

He wrote, “This is Miyamoto. I would like to let you know that the worldwide theatrical release date for the live-action film of The Legend of Zelda has been moved up to April 30, 2027, from May 7. The team is working hard to deliver the film to everyone as soon as possible. There’s less than a year to go until release, so thank you for waiting.”

This is Miyamoto. I would like to let you know that the worldwide theatrical release date for the live-action film of The Legend of Zelda has been moved up to April 30, 2027, from May 7. The team is working hard to deliver the film to everyone as soon as possible. There’s less…

— 任天堂株式会社 (@Nintendo) May 13, 2026

The film will also be released in IMAX, while principal photography was completed in April 2026.

Directed by Wes Ball, the film stars Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link and Bo Bragason as Zelda. Nintendo and Sony have not revealed much about the rest of the cast. Filming reportedly took place in New Zealand.

Directive 8020 is out today. Supermassive Games — the award-winning studio behind Until Dawn and The Quarry — has launched its latest interactive horror title on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. It is the fifth entry in the Dark Pictures series and takes the anthology into space for the first time. Bandai Namco describes it as a “The Thing… in space” sci-fi survival horror, evolving the Dark Pictures formula with real-time threats, stealth, and a new decision-rewind system called Turning Points. Early reviews are in, and the consensus lands where Dark Pictures games usually do: mixed-to-positive, with strong atmosphere on one side and uneven execution on the other.

What Is Directive 8020?

Set in a dying future, Directive 8020 follows the crew of the colony ship Cassiopeia after it crash lands on Tau Ceti f — a distant planet 12 light years from Earth, seen as humanity’s last real hope for survival. The crew quickly realizes they are not alone. An alien organism capable of perfectly mimicking its prey has come aboard. Trust collapses. Characters who have trained and worked together turn on one another. Nobody on the Cassiopeia can be trusted, and every decision the player makes shapes who lives and who dies.

The setup draws directly from two landmark sci-fi horror films — Alien and John Carpenter’s The Thing — and Bandai Namco’s own launch copy names The Thing explicitly as an influence. The paranoia mechanics, the claustrophobic ship, and the mimicking alien threat are all in clear debt to both.

Like every Dark Pictures game, Directive 8020 is built around branching choices, quick-time events, and permadeath. The new addition this time is Turning Points — an in-game story tree that lets players rewind specific decisions and explore different outcomes without replaying the entire game from scratch. Supermassive frames it as a way to uncover multiple endings and unlock hidden paths across replays.

Starring Lashana Lynch — known for No Time to Die, Bob Marley: One Love, and The Woman King — as pilot Brianna Young, Directive 8020 is positioned as the series’ most cinematic and character-driven entry yet.

Creative Director Will Doyle described the launch this way: “With Directive 8020, we’ve taken our signature horror narrative and everything we love about cinematic storytelling, pushing it all into new territory. We’re incredibly proud of what the team has accomplished, and bringing our storytelling into a sci-fi setting for the first time has been a hugely exciting step.”

Platforms and Release Details

Directive 8020 is available now on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. It launched May 12, 2026, developed and published by Supermassive Games. The standard price is listed at $49.99 in the U.S., though PC storefront discounts may vary by platform and region.

No PS4 or Xbox One versions have been announced or confirmed.

Direct purchase links:

• PlayStation 5
• Xbox Series X|S
• PC (Steam)

Does Directive 8020 Have Multiplayer?

Yes, with a distinction worth understanding before you buy.

Couch co-op for up to five players is available at launch under the name Movie Night mode. Each player takes control of a different crew member, creating natural paranoia when the alien could be hiding in any of them. The format is well-suited to the game’s core premise.

Online multiplayer is confirmed but coming in a post-launch update. No specific date has been attached to it. If online play is your primary reason for buying, it is worth waiting until that mode is live.

What Critics Are Saying

At the time of checking, Directive 8020 holds a score of 71 on Metacritic based on 47 critic reviews on PS5 — categorized as “Mixed or Average” — and a 76 on OpenCritic with 62% of critics recommending it. Both figures may update as further reviews arrive. The reception is broadly in line with the series’ historically mixed-to-positive standing.

PC Gamer’s review, headlined “One giant leap for sci-fi body horror,” lands on the positive side. The reviewer described the branching chaos of Directive 8020’s decision-making as exactly the kind of tense, reactive horror Supermassive’s format is built for.

TechRadar called it “a welcome, but safe, evolution” of the Dark Pictures formula, praising improved visuals, new stealth elements, and a more forgiving gameplay experience through Turning Points. The caveat is equally clear: the game leans into traditional survival horror elements but does not quite hit the mark against the heavier hitters in the sci-fi horror genre. TechRadar also recommended using the Turning Points rewind feature sparingly, noting that overusing it softens the weight of the choices it lets you undo.

GamesRadar landed in the middle. Their review — headlined “I’ve seen this movie before” — described “chills and heart-stopping thrills aplenty” alongside consistent complaints about pacing issues, plot armor, and the promising but inconsistently implemented stealth. Their conclusion: it is neither the best nor the worst Dark Pictures game.

Creative Bloq took the sharpest position of the four. Their review acknowledged believable virtual actors and a sci-fi horror setup that is at once familiar and fresh, but concluded that the game’s focus on survival-horror gameplay over meaningful, choice-driven narrative dilutes what made Supermassive’s cinematic horror formula distinctive in the first place.

Is Directive 8020 Worth Playing?

Directive 8020 is worth playing if you have enjoyed previous Dark Pictures or Supermassive games, want a sci-fi horror experience built around paranoia and branching choices rather than combat, and are willing to accept that the stealth sections are the game’s weakest element. The Turning Points system makes revisiting choices less tedious than in previous entries, and the Cassiopeia setting is one of the series’ stronger backdrops.

It is harder to recommend at full price if you are not already invested in the Supermassive formula. Reported playtime varies across reviews, with some finishing in around five hours and others describing a longer run. The mixed critical consensus reflects real unevenness: stealth gameplay that reviewers consistently flag as repetitive, pacing issues flagged across multiple outlets, and a game that works better in concept than in parts of its execution.

For Movie Night couch co-op play specifically — five players, each controlling a different character, with a shapeshifting alien hiding among them — the format is well-suited to what Directive 8020 is built around. That is the version of this game most likely to deliver on its premise.

Directive 8020 is worth watching closely if you like Supermassive’s interactive horror formula and want a sci-fi spin built around paranoia, shapeshifting aliens, and branching choices. Early reviews suggest a bold but uneven evolution: stronger atmosphere and choice systems, weaker stealth execution and pacing. That makes it a good fit for Dark Pictures fans, but not an automatic buy for players expecting a full survival-horror experience like Alien: Isolation.

Forza Horizon 6 is available to preload now on Xbox Series X|S and PC via the Xbox app. Official listings require between 130GB and 167GB of free storage, depending on platform and storefront. Playground Games lists 135GB on Xbox Series X, 130GB on Xbox Series S, and 160GB on PC via the Xbox app, while Steam lists 167GB of available space for its PC version — with an SSD mandatory on PC regardless of storefront. Premium Edition players get early access on May 15, 2026. The standard launch for Xbox Series X|S and PC follows on May 19, 2026.

Forza Horizon 6 Storage Requirements by Platform

These figures are required storage — the free space you need before the install begins — not necessarily the compressed download size your storefront will pull. Actual download sizes can differ due to compression, edition, region, and day-one patches.

Platform	Required Storage
Xbox Series X	135GB
Xbox Series S	130GB
PC via Xbox app	160GB (SSD required)
PC via Steam	167GB (SSD required)

PC storage requirements vary slightly by storefront. Playground Games lists 160GB for PC via the Xbox app, while Steam’s store page lists 167GB of available space under both minimum and recommended specs. Both storefronts require an SSD — a hard drive is not supported.

Some players may see slightly different displayed download sizes before or during installation. The official storage requirements listed above are the safest figures to follow. Displayed download sizes may vary by storefront, package, region, updates, or compression.

Is Forza Horizon 6 Preload Available Now?

Yes, for Xbox Series X|S and PC via the Xbox app. Playground Games confirmed the preload is live on both platforms in their official preload post.

Steam preload was listed as “coming soon” at the time of Playground’s official preload post. Check the Steam store page for the current status before assuming it is available.

Who Can Preload Forza Horizon 6?

The following players can pre-download the game ahead of launch:

• Pre-order buyers on Xbox Series X|S or PC via the Xbox app
• Game Pass Ultimate subscribers with an active subscription
• PC Game Pass subscribers with an active subscription
• Xbox disc pre-orders can initiate the digital preload through the Xbox smartphone app

If you previously downloaded a placeholder file, check for updates to confirm the full game files are installed.

Early Access and Full Launch Dates

Edition	Access Date
Premium Edition / Premium Upgrade	May 15, 2026
Standard Edition — Xbox Series X|S and PC	May 19, 2026

The four-day early access window applies to players who purchased the Premium Edition or the Premium Upgrade add-on. Standard and Deluxe editions unlock with the full launch on May 19. For regional unlock times and a full breakdown of what each edition includes, see our Forza Horizon 6 early access and start times guide.

Forza Horizon 6 is available day one through Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. A PS5 version is confirmed for later in 2026, but no specific release date has been announced. If you’re planning ahead, we’ve compiled the full list of all 57 Forza Horizon 6 achievements and how to unlock 1,000 Gamerscore.

Why Steam Players May See a Different Size

Steam lists 167GB of available space in its system requirements — 7GB more than the 160GB Playground Games published for the Xbox app PC version. Both require an SSD.

The discrepancy appears to be a storefront listing difference rather than a contradiction. Playground Games lists 160GB for PC in its preload post, while Steam lists 167GB in its own system requirements. Neither listing should be treated as wrong; PC players should follow the requirement shown by the storefront they plan to use.

Steam may also show different calendar dates depending on how it displays local unlock timing — May 18 for launch and May 14 for Advanced Access have appeared on the US Steam page, compared to the May 19 and May 15 dates on official Forza and Xbox pages. The Playground Games and Xbox dates are the confirmed official figures.

The Preload Leak: What Playground Games Actually Said

Separately from the official preload, reports emerged that a pre-release PC build of Forza Horizon 6 appeared online before launch.

Early coverage linked the situation to Steam files, but Playground Games has since said the leak was not a preload issue. For the full breakdown of what was reported and how it spread, see our coverage: Forza Horizon 6 Reportedly Leaked Online After Unencrypted Files Appeared on Steam.

Playground issued a statement warning that players who access or distribute the reported leaked build face strict enforcement, including franchise-wide bans and hardware bans. Do not download or run any pre-release build through unofficial channels.

Playground’s public position is that the leaked build was not caused by the official preload.

What to Do Before Launch

• Xbox Series X: Clear at least 135GB of free storage
• Xbox Series S: Clear at least 130GB of free storage
• PC via Xbox app: Clear at least 160GB and confirm your install drive is an SSD
• PC via Steam: Clear at least 167GB and confirm your install drive is an SSD
• If you downloaded a placeholder file previously, check for a preload update in your library
• Do not access any unofficial pre-release builds — Playground Games has warned of franchise-wide and hardware bans for doing so

Some users reportedly claim they are already able to run a leaked build of Forza Horizon 6. Nine days before the game’s official May 19 launch, reports claim that unencrypted files were made accessible through Steam, though Microsoft and Playground Games have not confirmed the incident, its cause, or the scope of the leaked build.

What Happened

On May 10, 2026, reports began circulating that unencrypted files for Forza Horizon 6 had been made accessible through Steam. Steam tracking activity reportedly drew attention to the upload, and the situation quickly spread across online communities.

Insider Gaming reported that the leaked upload involved around 155GB of content — reportedly a large build containing thousands of files, though whether it matches the final retail build has not been confirmed.

Reports claim the files were not properly encrypted in the way a preload would normally be protected ahead of launch. Microsoft and Playground Games have not commented on or confirmed the reports at the time of writing.

How a Preload Leak Actually Works

When a game is coming out, developers usually let players download the files a few days early so they are ready to go the moment the launch window opens. Those files are encrypted — locked — so that nothing runs until the developer flips the switch on release day.

In this case, reports claim the Forza Horizon 6 files were accessible without that protection in place. The game reportedly only had Steam’s standard DRM applied, and online users claimed the build could be run shortly after the files became accessible.

Reports describe the incident as a possible Steam publishing or preload error, but Microsoft and Playground Games have not confirmed the cause.

What the Leaked Build Can and Cannot Do

Playing the leaked build is not the same as playing the full game. Online features are unlikely to be available to players of the leaked build until the official early access launch on May 15. Much of what defines the Horizon series relies on online systems — multiplayer races, live seasonal events, and community sharing tools for liveries and tuning setups. With servers and authentication tied to the official rollout, leaked versions typically cannot access these features.

DSO Gaming reports that the leaked build can be played in Offline Mode. That means driving around Japan, exploring the map, running races, and accessing the car roster — but without the seasonal content, online multiplayer, and shared community features that are central to how modern Horizon games are played.

Reported early gameplay footage began circulating online within hours, with users claiming to show the car selection screen, driving through Japan’s roads, and exploring the open world ahead of any planned reveal.

Directive 8020 Also Reportedly Leaked at the Same Time

Forza Horizon 6 was not the only game caught up in this. DSO Gaming also reported that Directive 8020 leaked around the same time and was allegedly playable. Directive 8020 is developed by Supermassive Games and was scheduled to launch on May 12, 2026.

This Already Happened With Death Stranding 2 in March

This is reportedly the second major game of 2026 to suffer a preload mishap of this kind. Death Stranding 2 reportedly had an almost identical Steam leak in March 2026.

In the Death Stranding 2 case, around 113GB of files were reportedly uploaded without encryption before the game’s launch. The comparison raises questions about how Steam preload builds are prepared and checked before release.

Two reported preload incidents in the space of two months raise a real question about whether the current process for managing Steam preloads is reliable enough for high-profile releases.

The DRM Question This Reopens

The situation raises a question about protection layers. TheGamer reports that Forza Horizon 6 does not use Denuvo, while the Steam listing does not show a Denuvo notice either. Without an additional layer of protection beyond Steam’s standard DRM, the reported build was accessible to online users quickly once the files were out.

The counterargument is well established. Denuvo has a reputation for impacting PC performance, and its presence has caused backlash from players in the past. Many publishers have moved away from it under community pressure, only to find that standard Steam DRM offers limited protection once the underlying files are accessible.

The more interesting long-term takeaway may be about server-side gating. Online-dependent games can still hold back key features through server authentication even when local file encryption fails. That approach — limiting functionality through server checks rather than relying solely on local encryption — may become even more common for major releases going forward.

What It Means for Sales

According to estimates from Alinea Analytics reported by PC Gamer, Forza Horizon 6 had reportedly surpassed 500,000 Steam preorders as of mid-April, before the leak occurred. That suggests strong demand from legitimate buyers, but it does not prove whether the reported leak will meaningfully affect final sales.

What is easier to see is the marketing risk. If early footage and assets circulate before launch, planned reveals around the Japan setting, car roster, and online features can lose some of their impact.

The Marketing Damage

Forza Horizon 6 has been heavily promoted around its Japan setting, its car roster, and its scenic open-world routes. A premature playable build threatens planned surprises that would normally land during early access and launch week, when attention is at its highest and first impressions spread fastest.

The Japan setting was one of the most requested locations in Forza Horizon history. Playground Games built significant anticipation around its recreation of Tokyo and the surrounding countryside. Now, days before anyone was supposed to see it, reported footage has already begun circulating online. The carefully managed reveal of specific areas, cars, and events — timed to maximise impact during early access week — has been partially undermined by what reports describe as a Steam upload or preload mistake.

Microsoft and Playground Games Have Not Responded

Microsoft and Playground Games have not publicly commented on the reported situation at the time of writing.

Whether Microsoft will roll out an update to address the situation is an open question. Once files have been distributed, a follow-up update would not necessarily undo files that were already downloaded.

What Comes Next

The official release schedule has not changed. Forza Horizon 6 launches May 19, 2026 for PC and Xbox Series X/S. Premium Edition owners get early access from May 15. A PlayStation 5 version is planned for later in 2026. If you are planning ahead for launch, we have the full list of all 57 achievements and how to unlock 1000 Gamerscore ready for you.

Online features — the seasonal events, multiplayer, community liveries, and tuning setups that are the backbone of the Horizon experience — remain server-gated and will not be available to anyone until Microsoft opens them officially. For most players, that is the game. Driving around Japan alone in offline mode is a fraction of what Forza Horizon 6 is built to be.

The bigger conversation this leak forces is about process. Two AAA games in two months have had their preload builds exposed through the same type of mistake. At some point, the question stops being about individual human error and starts being about whether the current workflow for preparing Steam preloads is structurally safe for releases of this scale.

Neither Microsoft nor Valve has addressed that question yet.

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Game Empress will update this article as Microsoft and Playground Games respond.

Sources: Insider Gaming; Notebookcheck; Neowin; MP1st; Twisted Voxel; DSO Gaming (Directive 8020 confirmation); TheGamer via OpenCritic (Denuvo confirmation); PC Gamer via Alinea Analytics (preorder estimate); GameGPU; EGW News; PartOfStyle; Steam tracking community reports (all May 10–11, 2026).

PlayStation is no longer being subtle with PS4 owners. Sony is reportedly sending emails and console messages to some PS4 users encouraging them to make the PS4 to PS5 upgrade, with the latest push tied directly to Grand Theft Auto VI.

The timing is not accidental. Rockstar has officially confirmed that GTA 6 is launching on November 19, 2026, a date Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick reaffirmed at the Q4 earnings call on May 21, and Sony appears to want as many of its remaining PS4 users as possible on current-generation hardware before that date arrives. The game will not be available on PS4 — a PS5 or Xbox Series X|S will be required to play it at launch. If you have been putting off the PS4 to PS5 upgrade, Sony is making it clear the window is narrowing.

Who Is Getting the Messages?

The campaign does not appear to be going to every PS4 owner. According to multiple reports, Sony is reaching select users who are likely candidates for the PS4 to PS5 upgrade. Reports point to at least two groups: users with GTA 6 on their PS Store wishlist and some high-playtime GTA 5 players.

Some users are receiving the message by email. Others are seeing it land directly in their console’s notification center. The wording, based on screenshots circulating across multiple outlets, is direct:

“Grand Theft Auto VI is on your wishlist. Get a PlayStation 5 today to be ready for when Grand Theft Auto VI launches on November 19, 2026. Shop PS5 consoles.”

Push Square reports that emails have gone specifically to “top Grand Theft Auto V” players, while Kotaku also covers Sony emailing PS4 owners and pointing them toward a PS5 purchase ahead of GTA 6’s release. The message format varies — some users receive a full email, others a dashboard notification — but the core ask is the same.

This Is Not Sony’s First PS4-to-PS5 Nudge This Year

The GTA 6 campaign is the most visible push so far, but it is not the first. Similar upgrade messages were reported in January 2026, when Insider Gaming published a report on PlayStation sending PS4 users system messages encouraging them to move to PS5, framed around 2025 hits and upcoming 2026 releases. TechRadar covered the same wave, noting that some PS4 owners received messages with QR codes leading to PlayStation’s official site for PS5 pricing and deals.

What makes the current push different is the specificity of the hook. GTA 6 is a single, unmissable, PS4-incompatible game with a confirmed release date — which makes it far more effective as a call to action than a general “look what you’re missing” message about the 2026 lineup.

Why GTA 6 Makes the PS4 to PS5 Upgrade Hard to Ignore

For years, millions of players have remained on PS4. The hardware still runs most cross-generation games, the PS Plus library has kept ticking over, and the cost of upgrading — especially after Sony raised PS5 prices twice in the past year — has kept plenty of users where they are.

GTA 6 disrupts that logic. It is one of the biggest console releases ever announced, and it is not coming to PS4. For anyone who has been waiting for a compelling reason to upgrade, this is it. Rockstar is launching GTA 6 on consoles first, with no PC date confirmed, which means PS5 is the only option for players who want in at launch.

Rockstar has confirmed the November 19, 2026 date for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. There is no announced PC release date and no PS4 version. Players who want to experience GTA 6 at launch will need current-generation hardware.

Sony Has Already Been Pulling Back From PS4

The upgrade campaign fits a broader pattern. Sony has spent 2026 quietly stepping back from PS4 as a platform priority, and the most concrete signal came from PlayStation’s own PS Plus page.

PlayStation’s official site states plainly: “From January 2026, PS4 games will be added only intermittently.” That means PS4 games are no longer a regular guaranteed part of the PS Plus Monthly Games or Game Catalog benefit — they will appear occasionally rather than as a guaranteed monthly drop. PS5 titles are now the focus. For anyone still undecided about the PS4 to PS5 upgrade, this is another signal that the platform is being left behind.

Sony’s own reasoning, shared when the change was announced, was that most of its subscribers had already moved to PS5 and were primarily engaging with PS5 content. The implication for remaining PS4 users is clear: the service is being built for the audience Sony wants to grow, not the audience it is trying to keep on older hardware.

Sony Also Has a Business Reason to Push This Hard

The GTA 6 messaging is not only about helping PS4 users plan ahead. It is also straightforwardly strategic for Sony, which is facing genuine pressure on its hardware numbers.

Reuters reported on May 8, 2026 that Sony sold just 1.5 million PS5 consoles in its most recent fourth fiscal quarter — a 46 percent decline year-over-year. The drop followed consecutive price increases, including a $100 U.S. hike in March 2026, Sony’s second price rise in less than a year, driven by a global surge in memory chip costs. Sony now forecasts that annual gaming revenue will fall 6 percent in the coming fiscal year.

GTA 6 is the single most obvious catalyst available to reverse that trajectory. Industry analysts have already flagged it as a potential platform booster for Sony heading into the November launch window. A Reuters-cited gaming analyst said he is “more optimistic than Sony” about the impact GTA VI will have on the platform, suggesting the market may be underestimating what a blockbuster at that scale can do for console hardware demand.

Using GTA 6 as the centrepiece of a PS4 to PS5 upgrade campaign is, from Sony’s perspective, one of the cleanest marketing moves available to it right now.

What This Does Not Mean

This campaign does not mean Sony is ending PS4 support imminently. Sony has not announced a shutdown of PS4 services, and PS4 hardware can still access the PlayStation Store, online multiplayer through PS Plus, and previously purchased and redeemed titles.

What it does signal is where Sony’s focus now sits. The company is actively investing in pushing its remaining last-generation audience forward, and it has chosen the biggest game of 2026 to make that case. For players weighing the PS4 to PS5 upgrade, one remaining question is cost — both the console and the game itself. Take-Two has signalled that GTA 6 is unlikely to cost $100, with a $70–$80 price range looking most probable. Whether that argument lands will depend partly on whether Sony pairs these upgrade messages with future PS5 deals or promotions significant enough to ease the cost for holdouts.

If you have GTA 6 on your PS4 wishlist and have not yet made the PS4 to PS5 upgrade, there is a reasonable chance that message is already sitting in your notification centre.

Sony’s first trailer for Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil has sparked discussion among horror and video game fans. The upcoming film is the eighth live-action film installment in the Resident Evil movie series, and it looks like the makers are trying a fresh and different approach this time.

𝙰 𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚎𝚛𝚊 𝚘𝚏 𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚕.

From the mind of Zach Cregger, director of Weapons and Barbarian. Watch the new teaser trailer for Resident Evil. Filmed for IMAX – in theatres 9.18. pic.twitter.com/dE7kpxaBo5

— Sony Pictures (@SonyPictures) April 30, 2026

The teaser shows Bryan entering a seemingly abandoned house after becoming caught in a nightmarish situation as he desperately looks for a working phone. He frantically calls his girlfriend, apologizes for getting disconnected earlier, tells her that he loves her and hints that it could be their last conversation.

The rest of the trailer is filled with creepy and frightening moments, including a a pale, swollen-looking creature in a sewer-like setting. One intense scene shows Bryan running through an empty street while something horrifying is chasing him from the rooftops. The trailer ends with some creatures crashing violently onto the ground.

Based on the trailer, The trailer still leaves unclear how much the film will lean into traditional zombies versus other infected creatures, and that mystery has made many fans even more curious.

Director Zach Cregger appears to be aiming for a much scarier and more suspenseful version of the franchise. Cregger has said the film tells an original story set inside the Resident Evil universe, aiming to capture the feeling of playing the games rather than retelling Leon, Claire, or another familiar character’s story.

The trailer has also drawn online discussion, with viewers discussing how this version feels different. While some viewers have praised the gameplay-inspired details, while others are debating how loosely the movie will connect to established game lore, others are talking about the “fat molded creature” in the sewer.

One Reddit user wrote, “Might be an odd detail but what REALLY sold me in this trailer is him opening the drawers looking for supplies. It’s a small but great detail from the games and I love it so much. This looks incredible.” Another user wrote, “I actually love that this movie isn’t Resident Evil in story/characters/lore, but instead more inspired by the gameplay and mechanics of the series. Just like RE7 did for the series.”

About the pale and swollen creature shown in the sewer, one user wrote, “Is the white fat guy in the sewers a Tyrant? I’m curious 🤔.” Another user replied, “That was my first thought: ‘What in the Dunc is this?’”

Resident Evil stars Austin Abrams, Zach Cherry, Paul Walter Hauser, Kali Reis, and Johnno Wilson. The movie will hit theaters on September 18, 2026, after Sony previously launched the film’s official website and confirmed the release date.

With the trailer already sparking excitement among fans, it remains to be seen whether Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil will stand out from past adaptations.

Mortal Kombat 2 released in theaters on May 8, 2026. On Rotten Tomatoes, At the time of VGC’s report, the film sat at 73% on Rotten Tomatoes and 48 on Metacritic, Reviews have been divided, with Rotten Tomatoes skewing more positive than Metacritic. However, the film’s producer, Todd Garner, was unimpressed with the negative reviews. He took to X (formerly Twitter) and criticized reviewers who gave the movie negative ratings.

The producer suggested that some critics reviewed the film without really knowing the original material. He believed that the reviewers had not played the game and did not understand what fans wanted. Todd wrote, “It’s clear they have never played the game and have no idea what the fans want or ANY of the rules/ canon of Mortal Kombat.”

He further mentioned that one reviewer complained about a character having a laser eye. He wrote, “One reviewer was mad that a guy ‘had a laser eye!’”

The producer seemed baffled and continued his outburst, “Why the fuck do we still allow people that don’t have any love for the genre review these movies! Baffling.”

Todd’s message on X read as, “Some of these reviews are cracking me up. It’s clear they have never played the game and have no idea what the fans want or ANY of the rules/ canon of Mortal Kombat. One reviewer was mad that a guy “had a laser eye!” Why the fuck do we still allow people that don’t have any love for the genre review these movies! Baffling.”

Some of these reviews are cracking me up. It’s clear they have never played the game and have no idea what the fans want or ANY of the rules/ canon of Mortal Kombat. One reviewer was mad that a guy “had a laser eye!” Why the fuck do we still allow people that don’t have any love…

— Todd Garner (@Todd_Garner) May 6, 2026

A movie critic felt that playing games or knowing the original story isn’t necessary to enjoy or review the film. He believed the movie should be judged on how well it works as a film rather than a piece of fan service.

The critic post read as, “Idk man I’m just kinda over this wave of anti-criticism sentiment. Your movie has a 77% on RT and counting. You won. You can make something for the fans without excluding the opinion of those who aren’t. I don’t think playing the games or knowing the lore should be a prerequisite for viewing. Films should be reviewed on how they function as…films, not as a piece of fan service.”

Idk man I’m just kinda over this wave of anti-criticism sentiment. Your movie has a 77% on RT and counting. You won. You can make something for the fans without excluding the opinion of those who aren’t. I don’t think playing the games or knowing the lore should be a prerequisite… https://t.co/jI70PBM98d

— Griffin Schiller (@griffschiller) May 6, 2026

Todd argued that critics who already disliked the franchise’s main concepts could not fairly judge the film and felt that the reviewers should keep in mind when a movie is clearly made for fans.

Todd wrote, “I’m really sorry you feel this way. My comment was very squarely directed at a couple of reviewers that did not like the “zombies” and the fact that there was a “guy with a laser eye,” etc. Those are elements that are baked into the Mortal Kombat IP and therefore we were dead in the water going in. There is no way for that person to review how it functioned as a film, because they did not like the foundational elements of the IP. I just wish when something is so obviously fan leaning in its DNA, that critics would take that into consideration.”

When followers questioned his opinion, Todd clarified that he did not have an issue with negative reviews overall, but he felt frustrated that reviewers weren’t familiar with Mortal Kombat.

To a user comment that said, “It’s just for the fans” … who else would this movie be for lol 😂,” Todd replied, “It’s called Mortal Kombat 2 for a reason…”

To another user’s comment that read, “If we’ve learned anything from Michael, it’s that critics are losing influence and fans don’t care about their opinions. It’s all about what the fans want and care about. And I’ve seen nothing but fan excitement. Seeing it tomorrow night and can’t wait 🙏🏾🙌🏾,” the producer replied, “Absolutely. The gamification of movie reviews has gotten absurd.”

When a user pointed out that one review claimed the movie was clearly made only for fans and gave it a bad rating, but the majority of reviews are excellent and Rotten Tomatoes gave it 75%, Todd replied that he indeed “made it for fans.”

Although Todd did not seem to be taking the backlash seriously, he appeared amused by the criticism. In response to another fan, he simply wrote, “I’m genuinely laughing,” suggesting that the He replied, ‘I’m genuinely laughing.’

Mortal Kombat II brings back several cast members from the 2021 film, including Lewis Tan as Cole Young, Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade, Josh Lawson as Kano, Ludi Lin as Liu Kang, Mehcad Brooks as Jax, Tadanobu Asano as Lord Raiden, and Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion. The sequel also adds major new fighters from the games, including Karl Urban as Johnny Cage, Adeline Rudolph as Kitana, Tati Gabrielle as Jade, Martyn Ford as Shao Kahn, Damon Herriman as Quan Chi, and CJ Bloomfield as Baraka.

Matt Reeves Shares Snowy Batmobile Camera Tests for The Batman: Part II

Director Matt Reeves shared the first publicly released camera-test images from The Batman: Part II on X on May 7, 2026, showing the Batmobile driving through snow. The caption: “#SnowTires 🦇.”

#SnowTires 🦇 pic.twitter.com/XR0K1xUGqx

— Matt Reeves (@mattreevesLA) May 7, 2026

The images, captured from a production monitor, show the Batmobile — sporting a slightly updated look and a set of snow tires — tearing through wintry conditions. Reeves also reshared Batman comic artwork set against a blizzard, suggesting pre-production is ramping up on the long-awaited sequel.

When a fan asked directly whether this confirmed test footage for the sequel, Reeves replied “Sure is!” He also responded to a fan who wrote they had always dreamed of seeing Batman in snow on screen, confirming simply: “Indeed, it is.”

Sure is! https://t.co/s30Cv3BfSc

— Matt Reeves (@mattreevesLA) May 7, 2026

Filming has been reported for spring 2026, with the film scheduled to open on October 1, 2027. The script is by Reeves and Mattson Tomlin.

Returning cast:

• Robert Pattinson — Bruce Wayne / Batman
• Colin Farrell — Oz Cobb / The Penguin
• Jeffrey Wright — Commissioner James Gordon
• Andy Serkis — Alfred Pennyworth

Reported new additions:

• Sebastian Stan is reported to play Harvey Dent
• Scarlett Johansson is reported to play Harvey Dent’s wife; in the comics, that character is Gilda
• Charles Dance is reported to be in talks to play Harvey Dent’s father

Expected/reported:

• Barry Keoghan — expected to reprise his role as the Joker

Zoe Kravitz has been reported as not expected to return, though Warner Bros. has not publicly announced the full cast. The snowy setting has sparked fan speculation about Mr. Freeze, though no villain details have been confirmed by Reeves or the studio.

The snow tests mark the first publicly shared camera-test images from the sequel, coming four years after the original The Batman opened in March 2022.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie box office collection has climbed to about $894.2 million worldwide, putting the Illumination and Nintendo sequel within striking distance of the $1 billion mark after the first weekend of May.

According to The Numbers, the film has now banked $402.7 million in the U.S. and Canada and $491.5 million from international markets through May 3. Widely released by Universal on April 1, the sequel to 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie has held at or near the top of the domestic box-office chart for five straight weekends and could become the first 2026 release to cross ten figures if current holds continue.

Here is where The Super Mario Galaxy Movie box office collection stands as of May 4, 2026.

The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Box Office Collection at a Glance

Through the May 1–3 weekend, the running totals are:

• Domestic (U.S. and Canada): $402.7 million
• International: $491.5 million
• Worldwide: $894.2 million

The film was made for a reported $110 million, which puts the current worldwide gross at roughly 8.1 times its production budget before marketing costs and exhibitor splits. It is already the highest-grossing release of 2026 and the highest-grossing animated film of the year.

A Record Opening

As per Deadline, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie opened on Wednesday, April 1, and posted about $34.5 million on day one — slightly ahead of the $31.7 million opening day of the first Mario movie in 2023. The five-day domestic opening came in at $190.8 million, the fourth-largest in North American history behind Moana 2, the original Super Mario Bros. Movie, and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Internationally, the film grossed $182.4 million from 80 markets, putting the global launch at $372.6 million — the largest worldwide debut of 2026 to date.

Per studio estimates and trade reporting, that opening also produced the biggest global launch of 2026, the fifth-biggest worldwide opening for an animated film, the second-biggest opening for any Illumination release, the second-biggest opening for a video game adaptation, and the fourth-biggest Easter three-day opening on record. It is also the first animated franchise to deliver back-to-back films opening above $350 million worldwide.

The Run So Far

The film held the No. 1 spot domestically for three straight weekends before being passed by Michael in its fourth frame.

• Weekend 2: $68 million (–49%), No. 1
• Weekend 3: $36.5 million, No. 1
• Weekend 4: $20.6 million, No. 2
• Weekend 5 (May 1–3): about $12.1 million, No. 3

Variety reported that the third weekend hold kept the film firmly atop the domestic chart, and the fourth-weekend slip to No. 2 came as GameSpot noted when the Michael Jackson biopic Michael opened wide. Through that stretch, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie box office collection also posted a strong $16.8 million Monday, reinforcing its weekday strength with family audiences.

Outside North America, trade reporting has pointed to especially strong grosses in Mexico, the United Kingdom, and France. Japan, where the film opened on April 24, remains a significant variable. The original Super Mario Bros. Movie earned approximately $102 million there during its full run, and the sequel’s full Japanese contribution will continue feeding into the international total over the coming weeks.

How It Compares to the First Movie

The original Super Mario Bros. Movie finished its 2023 run at roughly $1.36 billion worldwide and was running ahead of Galaxy at the same stage of release. The sequel’s domestic total of $402.7 million is also tracking below the original’s $574.9 million domestic finish, though based on its current total and fifth-weekend hold, a final domestic figure above $420 million remains plausible. Combined, the two films have now generated more than $2 billion at the global box office across three years.

On the reception side, the gap is wider than the first film’s. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie holds a 42% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes against an 88% Popcornmeter audience score, while the original sat at 59% with critics and around 95% with audiences. Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Mario, called the negative critical reception “truly baffling” in a recent interview with Japanese media. The mixed critical reception has not stopped the film from maintaining strong commercial momentum.

What Comes Next

With the worldwide total now at $894.2 million and Japanese receipts still being added, the film could cross $1 billion globally in mid-to-late May if current holds continue. That would make it the first film of 2026 to reach the milestone, the second consecutive Mario film to clear it, and one of a small group of animated films to hit $1 billion on a budget under $120 million.

Either way, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie box office collection has already made its commercial success clear. It is still likely to land short of the original’s $1.36 billion finish, but it is well positioned to challenge the $1 billion mark on a relatively modest $110 million production budget for a studio tentpole. Additional Nintendo and Illumination film plans have also been reported, though details remain unofficial. The live-action Legend of Zelda movie remains scheduled for May 7, 2027.

Gurei now has a release date for PC. Publisher Astrolabe Games and developer Lobo Sagaz Studio have announced that the hand-drawn action platformer will launch on Steam on July 23, 2026.

The news arrived through a new release date trailer, giving players a fresh look at the game’s fast sword-based combat, boss-driven structure, and Japanese mythology-inspired world. Console versions are also planned, but Astrolabe Games has not yet confirmed which platforms will get the game or when those versions will arrive.

The Trailer Puts Gurei’s Boss Fights Front And Center

Gurei follows Rei, a human spirit who must take on mystical Kami and gain new powers by defeating them. The trailer uses that idea to show a game built around direct fights, route choice, and tougher enemy encounters as you progress.

The trailer’s most interesting reveal is the way how Gurei handles boss order. Players are not locked into a fixed path. They can choose which Kami to fight first, and that choice reshapes the difficulty curve entirely. A boss fought early may feel very different from the same boss fought later, because enemies grow more dangerous depending on the route players take.

That gives Gurei a stronger hook than a standard action games. The game is not only asking players to master combat; it is also asking them to think carefully about the order in which they take on its major fights.

Combat Built Around Timing, Not Button-Mashing

Gurei is a precise and unforgiving action game. The trailer makes it clear that success will depend on reading enemy patterns, reacting quickly, and making careful attacks instead of just mashing the buttons.

The chambara influence — the classic Japanese samurai film style — gives the combat a clear identity. Gurei leans into tense duels, clean swordplay, and dramatic enemy encounters rather than pure fantasy spectacle. Each fight is meant to feel sharp, weighty, and earned.

For a game where the same boss can show up early or late in your run, the moment-to-moment combat needs to hold up across every order. The trailer suggests it will.

Steam Demo Gives Players An Early Test

A Steam demo is already available, giving players a chance to try the combat before the full release. The demo was first featured during Steam Next Fest in June 2025, and player response has been strong — it currently sits at “Very Positive” on Steam, with around 84% of nearly 200 reviews rating it positively.

That kind of reception matters for a game like Gurei. Its appeal depends on precision, difficulty, and whether boss fights feel fair rather than frustrating. The demo lets players judge the core loop for themselves: learning enemy patterns, surviving tough fights, and using powers gained from defeated bosses. For a game built around timing and challenge, that hands-on test may matter more than the trailer alone.

What To Watch Before Launch

With Gurei now dated for July 23, 2026 on PC, the next big thing to watch is the console rollout. Astrolabe Games has confirmed that console versions are planned, but players still do not know which platforms will get the game or when those versions will arrive.

Player feedback from the demo may also shape what we hear next. Since the build is already public, the team will have months of community reaction to draw from before launch — and that could mean small balance tweaks, new trailers focused on specific bosses, or a deeper look at the powers Rei gains across different routes.

For now, Gurei looks aimed at players who enjoy difficult action games, boss-focused progression, and hand-drawn worlds with mythological roots. The release date trailer gives the game a clear PC launch date. The bigger test will be whether its route-based boss structure feels as sharp in play as it looks on paper.

Karl Urban’s casting as Johnny Cage gave Mortal Kombat fans plenty to talk about, and the actor has now admitted he felt real pressure stepping into one of the franchise’s most recognizable roles. Urban was not the safest or most predictable choice on paper for Johnny Cage, the cocky actor and martial artist pulled into Earthrealm’s fight for survival. The trailers have since given viewers a clearer look at his version of Cage, including the character’s confidence, physicality, and role in the sequel. With Mortal Kombat II scheduled to open in theaters on May 8, 2026, fans are now waiting to see how The Boys and The Lord of the Rings actor brings Johnny Cage to the big screen.

Karl Urban Felt the Pressure of Playing Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat II

Playing Johnny Cage comes with obvious pressure because the character has one of the most loyal fan bases in the Mortal Kombat franchise. Urban said that pressure became clear almost immediately after he told his two sons he had been cast in the role.

Karl Urban’s Sons Had a Blunt Reaction to His Johnny Cage Casting

Speaking to IGN, during a press event, Urban recalled the blunt reaction he received from his sons after telling them he would play Johnny Cage. “I definitely felt the pressure. I remember when I got cast, I said to my two sons — who I actually played the game with, which was my first introduction to the world of Mortal Kombat — and I said, ‘Hey guys, I’m going to be Johnny Cage.’ And they were like, ‘Oof… Big fan base. Don’t f**k it up.’” (sic)

Urban said the only way to handle that pressure was to put his energy into preparation rather than anxiety, “So right from the get-go from my own family, I was like, ‘Oh.’ I felt the pressure. But when you’re in that situation, all you can do is just channel all of your energy away from any of those fears and anxieties and just focus it on the work, focus it on your preparation. And for me, it was a deep dive into the world of martial arts.” (sic)

How Karl Urban Prepared for Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat II

To prepare for the role, Urban said he took a deep dive into martial arts. He attended a karate tournament in New Zealand to better understand the culture around the sport and also trained with movement, agility, and speed drills similar to those used by professional athletes.

Urban also studied the Mortal Kombat games and Johnny Cage’s history so he could understand the character beyond the surface-level ego and one-liners.

Karl Urban Says Johnny Cage Has a Real Character Arc

Urban credited screenwriter Jeremy Slater for giving Johnny Cage more than just ego, saying the film presents him as a damaged and dispirited character with room to grow. Explaining why that version of Cage worked for him, Urban said, “This is a very dispirited character, which was a very smart choice because it gave not only me but the audience somewhere to go with the character. It gave a journey.” (sic)

Karl Urban Calls Mortal Kombat II His Most Physically Challenging Role

Urban also said the sequel was the most physically demanding production of his career, largely because the martial arts choreography required precision rather than brute force. “Coming into Mortal Kombat 2 was hands down the most challenging, physical undertaking that I’ve ever embarked on when it comes to a production. The skillset required was definitely an exponential learning curve that I have never encountered. I’d be lying to say that I didn’t feel a little bit terrified. I mean, you’re stepping into a movie with martial artists who are accomplished, like Ludi [Lin, Liu Kang], and Max [Huang, Kung Lao], and Lewis [Tan, Cole Young], and Joe [Taslim, Bi-Han], and they are all so fantastic at what they do.” (sic)

He said that they didn’t waste any time and recalled how he landed in Brisbane and was taken straight to a stunt rehearsal while he was still carrying his bags. He added that the re-entry felt real, and that everyone understood the importance of getting it right.

Karl added, “The exponential skillset that’s required, like when you do stunt fighting on other projects, you can kind of be a bit burly and you sort of bullishly bulldoze your way through it. You can’t do that in martial arts. Everything is so specific in a ballet kind of way, a beautiful violent choreography.” (sic)

The hype around Resident Evil movies isn’t as strong as it once was. But the positive response to the trailer at CinemaCon, combined with the talented team behind the film, makes it look increasingly promising.

Resident Evil’s Release Date And Official Website Launch

Zach Cregger’s movie is all set to hit theaters on September 18, 2026. The film is picking up momentum as its marketing campaign gets underway. While fans are eagerly awaiting the public release of the trailer, which was previewed exclusively at CinemaCon, Sony Pictures has already launched the movie’s official website this week.

With the release date confirmed, an official website has gone live. For now, it just shows a brief preview featuring the film’s logo, its release date and confirmation that it will be shown in IMAX.

What’s The Resident Evil Plot?

Austin Abrams plays Bryan, a medical courier who is forced to fight to survive when a terrifying night turns into total chaos.

Zach Cregger Calls Resident Evil A Scary Ride

At CinemaCon, Zach Cregger described it as a “big, scary ride.” He added that the movie follows a main character on a long journey walking through a dangerous world that feels like it is trying to destroy them. Critics at CinemaCon compared its relentless pacing to Mad Max: Fury Road.

Cregger clarified that he is not sticking closely to the video game storyline. He wants the film to feel like the experience of playing the games.

Resident Evil Requiem Sells Over 7 Million Copies

Separately, on the gaming side of the franchise, momentum is equally strong. Requiem has sold over 7 million copies since its release. Director Koshi Nakanishi even shared the excitement by posting an image of Requiem-themed cakes on his social media.

Resident Evil Reqiuem Director Koshi Nakanishi celebrated Resident Evil Requiem hitting 7 million units with a party and cake.

He posted this on his personal Instagram. pic.twitter.com/I4RtRuYrW7

— Stealth (@Stealth40k) April 24, 2026

Capcom Has More Planned For Resident Evil Requiem

This is not all, Capcom still has more planned for Requiem, with a new DLC on the way that will bring extra story content.

The Blood of Dawnwalker release date is now official. Rebel Wolves and Bandai Namco have confirmed that the dark fantasy action RPG will launch on September 3, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

The date was confirmed during the game’s Road to Launch event, where Rebel Wolves also showed a new story trailer, more than 10 minutes of gameplay footage, system requirements, edition details, and new information about the game’s world. Pre-orders are now open digitally and at participating retailers, according to Bandai Namco’s release-date announcement.

This gives RPG fans a much clearer picture of what to expect from The Blood of Dawnwalker. It is not just another vampire game built around gothic style. Rebel Wolves is selling it as a choice-heavy, open-world RPG where time, identity, and consequences are central to how the story plays out.

The Blood of Dawnwalker Release Date Is September 3, 2026

The Blood of Dawnwalker release date is September 3, 2026. The game is coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, with pre-orders now available across supported platforms.

Bandai Namco says the Road to Launch event included a story trailer, gameplay footage, system requirements, and edition details. The publisher also confirmed that the game is being developed by Rebel Wolves using Unreal Engine 5.

Xbox’s official store page also lists the game for September 3, 2026, and confirms Xbox Play Anywhere support. That means players who buy it through Xbox can play on both Xbox console and PC at no additional cost through the Xbox ecosystem, according to Xbox’s official store page.

What Is The Blood of Dawnwalker?

The Blood of Dawnwalker is a single-player, open-world dark fantasy action RPG from Rebel Wolves, published by Bandai Namco. It is set in 14th-century Europe, during a period marked by war, plague, and instability.

The setup is direct. As Europe weakens under conflict and the Black Death, vampires step out of the shadows and seize power. The official site describes the game as the first chapter of a new dark fantasy role-playing saga, with players shaping the story through their actions, the secrets they uncover, and the alliances they build.

Players take on the role of Coen, a young man turned into a Dawnwalker. He is not fully human and not fully vampire, which gives the game its central tension. By day, Coen operates with one set of limitations and possibilities. By night, his vampiric side changes how he moves, fights, and interacts with the world.

Coen Is Human by Day and Vampire by Night

The strongest hook in The Blood of Dawnwalker is Coen’s dual identity. The official The Blood of Dawnwalker website describes him as human by day and vampire by night, fighting to save his family in a story shaped by player choices.

That day-and-night split is not just cosmetic. Rebel Wolves says the game offers two different gameplay loops depending on the time of day. Different abilities, mysteries, and routes open depending on whether Coen is acting as a human or leaning into his vampiric powers.

That matters because it gives the game a clearer identity than a standard fantasy RPG. The question is not only which quest you take or which dialogue option you choose. It is also when you act, what form you use, and how much of Coen’s humanity you are willing to risk.

The 30-Day Time System Makes Choices Matter

The Blood of Dawnwalker is also built around a time-pressure system. PlayStation Blog says Coen has 30 days and nights to save his family, and that major actions can move the clock forward. Some side quests, dialogue choices, and even ability unlocks can carry a visible time cost, according to PlayStation Blog’s gameplay breakdown.

This is the part RPG fans should pay attention to. A time system can make choices feel sharper, but it can also frustrate players if it becomes too restrictive. Rebel Wolves appears to be aiming for pressure rather than punishment, with the system designed to make players think carefully about what they do, who they help, and what they ignore.

That could make the game more replayable. One player might rush to save Coen’s family as quickly as possible. Another might spend more time preparing, finding allies, unlocking abilities, or exploring Vale Sangora before taking bigger risks. The quality of the game will depend on whether those choices actually lead to meaningful differences.

Vale Sangora Is the Heart of the Game

The Blood of Dawnwalker takes place in Vale Sangora, a region in the Carpathian Mountains ruled by vampires. Bandai Namco says the Road to Launch footage showed more locations across the region and explained how exploration can unlock abilities, reveal secrets, and trigger unexpected challenges.

That setting gives the game room to lean into both historical and supernatural horror. Fourteenth-century Europe already gives Rebel Wolves war, disease, superstition, and political instability to work with. Adding vampires into that world gives the studio a darker fantasy layer without needing to abandon the grounded medieval backdrop completely.

For readers, the important point is this: Vale Sangora is not being framed as a simple checklist open world. Rebel Wolves is pitching it as a reactive region where exploration, timing, and decisions can shift the player’s journey.

Pre-Orders and Editions Are Now Available

Pre-orders are now open for The Blood of Dawnwalker on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Bandai Namco has revealed several editions, including a Standard Edition, Day One Edition, Eclipse Edition, and limited Collector’s Edition.

The Eclipse Edition includes digital bonuses such as a world compendium, digital soundtrack, and digital comic book. The Collector’s Edition includes the base game, Eclipse Edition digital upgrade, steelbook, world map, physical world compendium, collector box, and a Coen figurine by PureArts.

Every pre-order for The Blood of Dawnwalker includes the Sangoran Wayfarer’s Armour Set as an early unlock bonus across editions and platforms. However, players should not pre-order only for this armor set, because official listings note that it can also be obtained later in the game.

Why RPG Fans Are Comparing It to The Witcher

The Blood of Dawnwalker will inevitably draw comparisons to The Witcher, partly because Rebel Wolves was founded by developers with CD Projekt RED experience.. That comparison is understandable, but it should not be stretched too far before release.

The better way to frame it is that The Blood of Dawnwalker appears to share some broad RPG priorities with major narrative-driven fantasy games: player choice, moral consequence, a dark world, dangerous monsters, and a protagonist caught between human and inhuman forces.

But this is not The Witcher 4, and pretending it is would be lazy. The Blood of Dawnwalker has its own hook with Coen’s Dawnwalker identity, the day/night split, and the 30-day time structure. Those systems are what will decide whether the game stands on its own.

Should You Pre-Order The Blood of Dawnwalker?

If you are already sold on dark fantasy RPGs, vampire stories, and choice-heavy open worlds, The Blood of Dawnwalker is worth keeping on your radar. The September 3, 2026 release date is confirmed, platforms are clear, and Rebel Wolves has now shown enough gameplay to give the game a stronger identity.

Still, pre-ordering is not the smartest move for everyone. The game looks ambitious, and ambition can cut both ways. The time system, dual-form gameplay, and reactive world all sound promising, but they need to work smoothly across a long RPG campaign. Bandai Namco has not fully detailed every mode structure yet, so the depth of those modes remains to be judged.

For most players, the better move is to watch the gameplay footage, compare the editions, and wait for deeper hands-on impressions closer to launch. For now, the Blood of Dawnwalker release date is confirmed, pre-orders are open, and Rebel Wolves has given RPG fans a stronger reason to watch this one closely.

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