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  • Gothic 1 Remake Global Release Times Confirm When You Can Start Playing

    Gothic 1 Remake Global Release Times Confirm When You Can Start Playing

    Gothic 1 Remake is not rolling out at midnight in each region. The remake uses a simultaneous global unlock on June 5, 2026, meaning players in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia and Oceania will all see different local times for the same worldwide release window.

    When Does Gothic 1 Remake Unlock?

    The listed regional times convert to 17:00 UTC on June 5, which means most players get access on June 5 local time. Here is the full regional breakdown:

    Region Release Time
    Los Angeles June 5, 10:00 AM PDT
    New York June 5, 1:00 PM EDT
    Mexico City June 5, 11:00 AM
    London June 5, 6:00 PM BST
    Barcelona / Bochum / Warsaw / Karlstad June 5, 7:00 PM CEST
    Kyiv / Riyadh June 5, 8:00 PM
    Almaty June 5, 10:00 PM
    Beijing June 6, 1:00 AM
    Tokyo June 6, 2:00 AM
    Sydney June 6, 3:00 AM

    Why Do Beijing, Tokyo, and Sydney Show June 6?

    Because the unlock is simultaneous worldwide, players in East Asia and Australia hit the same UTC moment after midnight local time. It is the same release — just a different date on the clock. There is no separate schedule for those regions; they are not waiting longer than anyone else.

    What Platforms Is Gothic 1 Remake Coming To?

    THQ Nordic confirms Gothic 1 Remake releases on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. On PC, the game is available through Steam and GOG.

    Pre-Order and Store Differences

    The bonus you get depends on where you buy. On PC, pre-ordering through Steam or GOG includes the official digital soundtrack at no extra cost. On PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, console pre-orders include Gothic Classic, the original 2001 game, accessible immediately after purchase.

    PC System Requirements

    gothic 1 remake Release Schedule

    These come directly from the Steam store listing.

    Minimum:

    • OS: Windows 10 64-bit / Windows 11 64-bit
    • CPU: Intel Core i7-7700K / AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
    • RAM: 16 GB
    • GPU: AMD RX 6700 XT or NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 (8 GB VRAM)
    • DirectX: Version 12
    • Storage: 60 GB available space (SSD required)

    Recommended:

    • OS: Windows 10 64-bit / Windows 11 64-bit
    • CPU: Intel Core i7-7700K / AMD Ryzen 5 3600X
    • RAM: 32 GB
    • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (12 GB VRAM)
    • DirectX: Version 12
    • Storage: 60 GB available space (NVMe recommended)

    The GPU is the spec to pay closest attention to. Steam lists specific 8 GB VRAM cards at minimum rather than a generic VRAM target, so older mid-range cards that fall below RX 6700 XT or RTX 2070 may not meet requirements.

    Gothic 1 Remake is listed as a single-player game on Steam. No multiplayer mode has been announced. No early access period has been announced ahead of the June 5 launch, and the global schedule points to one simultaneous worldwide unlock, not separate midnight releases by region.

  • Xbox Confirms How to Watch June 7 Games Showcase 2026 and Gears of War: E-Day Direct

    Xbox Confirms How to Watch June 7 Games Showcase 2026 and Gears of War: E-Day Direct

    Xbox’s big summer Xbox Games Showcase 2026 is happening on Sunday, June 7. Right after it ends, there’s a dedicated Gears of War: E-Day Direct from the team making the game. Here’s everything you need to know.

    When Is It and Where Can You Watch Xbox Games Showcase 2026?

    xbox games showcase 2026

    The show starts at 10 AM PDT / 1 PM EDT on June 7. Find your local time in the table below:

    Region Time
    Pacific June 7, 10:00 AM PDT
    Eastern June 7, 1:00 PM EDT
    UK June 7, 6:00 PM BST
    Central Europe June 7, 7:00 PM CEST
    Japan June 8, 2:00 AM JST
    Australia June 8, 3:00 AM AEST

    You can watch Xbox Games Showcase 2026 live on YouTube (in 4K60), Twitch, Facebook, Steam, and regional Xbox and Bethesda channels. If you’re in China, it will also stream on Bilibili. Xbox is also running an ASL-interpreted stream on Twitch XboxASL for deaf viewers.

    Xbox says to expect world premieres, new gameplay, and fresh updates. We know Gears of War: E-Day will get its own dedicated segment, and the Official Xbox Podcast has confirmed that Fable will also show up during the Showcase. Beyond those two, Xbox hasn’t announced a full game list yet.

    What Happens After the Main Show?

    As soon as the Xbox Games Showcase wraps up, The Coalition takes over for the Gears of War: E-Day Direct. This is a dedicated segment focused entirely on the game. Xbox says it will include new details, gameplay footage, and a deeper look at the story.

    Xbox’s announcement described the Direct as a chance to go deeper on “one of the games coming later this year.” The game’s Steam page currently just says “Coming soon,” so no exact release date has been confirmed yet.

    What Is Gears of War: E-Day?

    E-Day is a prequel to the original Gears of War, set 14 years before the events of the first game. It follows Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago on the day the Locust Horde first burst out of the ground and attacked humanity. That event, called Emergence Day, is where the game gets its name.

    The game is being built in Unreal Engine 5 and will be available on Game Pass from day one.

    Captions, Languages, and Accessibility

    Xbox has built in a lot of support for this broadcast. Live streams will be available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Turkish. More subtitle languages will be added after the show.

    For accessibility, Xbox is offering English Audio Descriptions, American Sign Language (ASL), and British Sign Language (BSL) versions through its official YouTube and Twitch channels, and through Xbox On.

    After the show, Xbox plans to post full recaps on Xbox Wire and will release special Official Xbox Podcast episodes during the week of June 9 to go deeper on the announcements.

    The Showcase is also part of Xbox’s 25th anniversary celebrations. Xbox FanFest is returning in Los Angeles, with more events planned later in 2026 in Cologne, London, Mexico City, Seattle, Sydney, Tokyo, and Toronto.

    Xbox has not released a full list of games appearing at the Showcase. We know Gears of War: E-Day and Fable are both confirmed to appear, but the rest of the lineup is unannounced. No release date for Gears of War: E-Day has been confirmed either.

  • Xbox Deals Unlocked Sale Discounts EA Sports FC 26, Battlefield 6, GTA V, Red Dead Redemption 2, and More Until June 10

    Xbox Deals Unlocked Sale Discounts EA Sports FC 26, Battlefield 6, GTA V, Red Dead Redemption 2, and More Until June 10

    Xbox’s Deals Unlocked Sale is now live on the Microsoft Store, with more than 1,800 games and 2,000+ discounts across the Xbox Store. The sale runs until June 10.

    Xbox Deals Unlocked Sale Is Live Until June 10

    The Xbox Deals Unlocked Sale 2026 is active now on the Xbox/Microsoft Store. According to Pure Xbox, the sale features more than 1,800 discounted games and over 2,000 individual deals in total — covering games, editions, bundles, and related offers. The full catalog is available through the Deals section of the Microsoft Store app on Xbox consoles, or directly via the Deals Unlocked page on the Xbox website.

    The sale runs until June 10. All prices below are in USD. Prices can shift mid-sale — verify the current price on the store before purchasing.

    Biggest Deals in the Sale

    Game Sale Price (USD) Original Price / Discount
    EA Sports FC 26 Standard Edition $20.99 $69.99 / 70% off
    Battlefield 6 $38.49 $69.99 / 45% off
    GTA V (Xbox Series X|S) $19.99 $39.99 / 50% off
    GTA V Premium Edition $14.99 $29.99 / 50% off — Xbox One package; includes GTA V and GTA Online-related premium content
    Red Dead Redemption 2 $14.99 $59.99 / 75% off
    Red Dead Redemption 2: Ultimate Edition $19.99 $99.99 / 80% off
    NBA 2K26 Standard Edition $10.49; also included with Game Pass $69.99 / 85% off
    WWE 2K26 Standard Edition $52.49 $69.99 / 25% off
    Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate $8.99 $59.99 / 85% off
    Hogwarts Legacy: Digital Deluxe Edition $11.99 $79.99 / 85% off
    Resident Evil Requiem $55.99 $69.99 / 20% off
    Baldur’s Gate 3 $52.49 $69.99 / 25% off
    Split Fiction $34.99 $49.99 / 30% off
    Star Wars Jedi: Survivor $10.49; also included with EA Play $69.99 / 85% off
    Star Wars Battlefront II: Celebration Edition $9.99 $39.99 / 75% off
    Battlefield 2042 Elite Edition $4.99 $99.99 / 95% off
    Need for Speed Heat Deluxe Edition $6.99 $69.99 / 90% off
    Titanfall 2: Ultimate Edition $4.49 $29.99 / 85% off
    Borderlands 4 $41.99 $69.99 / 40% off
    It Takes Two – Digital Version $13.99; also accessible via EA Play $39.99 / 65% off

    All prices are in USD and are based on the official Xbox/Microsoft Store listings. Prices may vary by region, edition, subscription status, and account eligibility. Buyers should check the current Microsoft Store listing before purchasing.

    Sports, Shooters, Rockstar Games, and RPGs Lead the Sale

    Xbox Deals Unlocked Sale Discounts EA Sports FC 26

    Sports NBA 2K26 Standard Edition at $10.49 — 85% off its $69.99 list price — is the standout sports deal in the sale, and it also remains accessible through Game Pass. EA Sports FC 26 Standard Edition is at $20.99, a 70% discount. WWE 2K26 is at $52.49, a 25% discount — the smallest cut among the major sports titles.

    Shooters and Action Battlefield 6 is the strongest current-gen shooter at $38.49. Titanfall 2: Ultimate Edition at $4.49 is one of the best-value shooter deals in the entire sale. Star Wars Battlefront II: Celebration Edition at $9.99 delivers a full multiplayer package at a price that’s hard to argue with. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor at $10.49 is also worth highlighting — subscribers can access it through EA Play, but that price for an outright purchase is still a strong deal.

    Rockstar Titles GTA V for Xbox Series X|S is at $19.99 and Red Dead Redemption 2 is at $14.99 — 75% off its regular price. These are strong current discounts for two of Rockstar’s most popular Xbox titles.

    RPG, Horror, and Fighting Baldur’s Gate 3 is at $52.49, a 25% cut on a title that rarely goes on deep sale and is still one of the highest-rated RPGs on the platform. Hogwarts Legacy: Digital Deluxe Edition at $11.99 is one of the strongest dollar-per-hour value propositions in the sale. Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate at $8.99 is the sharpest single-title deal in the fighting genre this sale. Resident Evil Requiem sits at $55.99 — a smaller 20% discount that reflects how recently it launched. Need for Speed Heat Deluxe Edition at $6.99 rounds out the list for racing fans.

    What Buyers Should Know

    Some games in the sale show both a purchase price and subscription availability. NBA 2K26 and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, for example, each have a sale price for outright purchase and are also accessible through Game Pass or EA Play respectively. Buyers should confirm whether they are buying the game outright or accessing it through a subscription before completing any purchase, as both options may appear on the same store listing.

    The 1,800+ games and 2,000+ discounts figure, as reported by Pure Xbox, covers the wider sale across games, editions, bundles, and related offers.

    All prices are in USD from the official Xbox/Microsoft Store. The sale runs until June 10.

  • Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is Confirmed for 2026 Release

    Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is Confirmed for 2026 Release

    Bandai Namco’s first mainline Ace Combat sequel in seven years brings carrier-based squad drama, Unreal Engine 5 visuals, and a wartime narrative built around a myth — with multiplayer details and a release date still under wraps. The release date has since been confirmed — see the full October 2 release date and preorder details here.

    What It Is and When Ace Combat 8 Wings of Theve Arrives

    Full title: ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE
    Developer: Bandai Namco Aces / Project Aces
    Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
    Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam)
    Release window: 2026 — no exact date confirmed

    Revealed at The Game Awards, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is the first numbered entry in the mainline series since Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown launched in 2019. Wishlist pages are live on Steam and console storefronts. The game is confirmed to run on Unreal Engine 5 alongside proprietary technology developed by Project Aces, targeting a more realistic aerial experience without abandoning the series’ arcade-action identity.

    Ace Combat 8 Wings of Theve Arrives

    The Story: A Legend Built to Survive

    The game is set in July 2029 inside the Strangereal universe. The Federation of Central Usea has been invaded and largely occupied by the Republic of Sotoa. Players are stationed aboard the aging aircraft carrier Endurance — the last platform from which the FCU can mount any meaningful resistance.

    The player’s callsign is “Wings of Theve,” a title drawn from Theve, the capital city of the FCU. The narrative hook is the revelation that the legend behind that name was fabricated — manufactured to keep morale alive in an occupied nation. That premise positions the game as something distinctly more interested in meaning, myth, and survival than earlier entries tended to be.

    Bandai Namco’s developer diary frames the player as the newly appointed leader of a carrier-based squad. The structure moves between daily life aboard Endurance — squad dynamics, carrier routine — and high-stakes combat missions over occupied Strangereal territory. This is the clearest signal yet that Wings of Theve is being designed as a character-led, cinematic war story, not just a mission chain with cutscenes bookending it.

    Ace Combat 8 Wings of Theve Gameplay: What’s Confirmed

    The officially confirmed feature set covers:

    • Fast arcade-style aerial combat — the mechanical DNA of the series is intact
    • Campaign Mode — single-player story campaign
    • First-person story scenes — a new addition for the franchise; Bandai Namco has confirmed first-person perspective during story scenes, though it has not said every cutscene or narrative moment will use that format
    • Dynamic multi-layered cloudscapes — highlighted as a visual centrepiece, built with UE5
    • Powerful weapons systems — no specific loadout or weapon roster confirmed yet

    The first-person narrative perspective is the most significant structural departure from prior entries. Project Aces has described it as an intentional push toward immersion, though the full extent of how it applies across story sequences has not been specified.

    Ace Combat 8 Wings of Theve Multiplayer Confirmed, Not Yet Detailed

    Steam lists single-player, online PvP, online co-op, and cross-platform multiplayer, confirming that multiplayer is part of the game. However, Bandai Namco has not yet detailed the mode formats, player counts, progression systems, or exactly how cross-platform play will work across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

    VR support has not been listed as part of the official feature set. GamesRadar reported, based on developer access, that Project Aces considered VR but decided not to pursue it for Ace Combat 8. Unless Bandai Namco later announces otherwise, VR should be treated as reportedly absent rather than a confirmed launch feature.

    Latest Development Update

    The most recent piece of official content is Strangereal Evolution Episode 2, a promotional and worldbuilding video published to the Steam community page on May 15, 2026. It continues the series of pre-launch videos expanding the lore context around Wings of Theve rather than announcing new gameplay systems or a release date.

    Steam still displays the game as “not yet available” with a Planned Release Date: 2026. No further specificity has been added.

    What Has Not Been Confirmed about Ace Combat 8 Wings of Theve

    These are open questions as of the time of publication. Do not treat them as facts until Bandai Namco announces them:

    Detail Status
    Exact release date Unconfirmed
    Pricing and editions Unconfirmed
    Demo or beta access Unconfirmed
    Game Pass / PS Plus availability Unconfirmed
    Full aircraft roster Unconfirmed
    Total mission count Unconfirmed
    PC minimum/recommended specs Listed as TBA on Steam
    Multiplayer mode formats Only broadly confirmed
    VR support Not officially listed; reportedly absent

    Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve is available to wishlist now on Steam, PlayStation Store, and Xbox storefronts. No pricing, editions, or demo have been announced. Bandai Namco has not specified a release date beyond 2026.

  • Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis Still Listed for 2026 as Boss-Fight Design Details Surface

    Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis Still Listed for 2026 as Boss-Fight Design Details Surface

    Tomb Raider Legacy of Atlantis remains officially listed for a 2026 release, and the newest credible update comes not from a trailer or a release date announcement, but from a Flying Wild Hog boss-fight designer discussing how the game’s encounter design is being built around clarity and fairness. Trailer 2 speculation is circulating ahead of June showcases, but nothing has been officially confirmed. As of May 31, 2026, the official release window still holds, and no 2027 delay has been announced.

    What Is Confirmed About Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis

    Tomb Raider Legacy of Atlantis

    Legacy of Atlantis is a reimagining of Lara Croft’s original 1996 debut adventure, developed jointly by Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog, and published by Amazon Game Studios. The game is built in Unreal Engine 5 and is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.

    Alix Wilton Regan voices Lara Croft. The story follows Lara as she searches for pieces of an artifact called the Scion, taking her through confirmed locations including Peru, Greece, Egypt, and a mysterious Mediterranean island. The game is described as a reimagining rather than a straight remake — honoring the structure and spirit of the original while bringing modern gameplay, visuals, and storytelling to the experience.

    The Steam page is live for wishlisting. It lists Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog as developers, Amazon Game Studios as publisher, and still shows the release date as Coming soon, with PC system requirements listed as TBD.

    Latest Update Points to Modernized Boss Fights

    The most substantive new development as of this week is a report from GamesRadar, published around May 28, 2026, covering comments made by Marcin Matuszczyk of Flying Wild Hog at the Digital Dragons conference in Kraków.

    Matuszczyk, who is working on boss fights for Legacy of Atlantis, spoke about what makes boss encounters feel fair versus frustrating. The core of his argument is that players should understand why they died — encounters need clear visual and audio cues so that failure feels instructive rather than arbitrary. He referenced Elden Ring’s Malenia as an example of a boss whose attacks are readable and well-telegraphed, even when she is extremely difficult.

    This does not mean Legacy of Atlantis is becoming a Soulslike game. Matuszczyk’s point was about design philosophy — that boss fights should communicate clearly, not punish players through confusion. Applied to Legacy of Atlantis, the implication is that the original game’s boss encounters, which were products of 1996 design conventions, are being rebuilt with fairer pacing, stronger visual feedback, and more readable attack patterns.

    It is one of the clearest recent looks at the remake’s boss-fight philosophy, and it carries weight because it comes from a developer directly involved with those encounters.

    Trailer 2 Is Still Not Official

    Speculation about a second trailer has grown because Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis appeared in Summer Game Fest promotional footage. However, according to GamingBible, the footage used in that teaser was pulled from the existing Game Awards reveal trailer — it was not new material. No second trailer has been officially announced by Crystal Dynamics, Flying Wild Hog, or Amazon Game Studios.

    There is additional context worth noting: Alix Wilton Regan, who voices Lara in Legacy of Atlantis, is co-hosting the Future Games Show Summer Showcase on June 6, 2026, alongside Troy Baker. The show has announced world premieres and exclusive trailers. However, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is not listed as a confirmed featured title for that event.

    Her hosting role creates reasonable speculation, but it does not constitute confirmation. A new trailer may appear in June. It has not been announced.

    Release Date Is Still Unannounced

    Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis does not have a confirmed release date. What exists is a consistent official release window.

    The official Tomb Raider anniversary page states Legacy of Atlantis is slated to launch on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC later this year. The official product page continues to list the game for 2026. The most recent business-side confirmation came from Embracer Group’s Q4 and full-year FY 2025/26 report, published May 20, 2026, which listed Legacy of Atlantis among titles expected in the second half of the year.

    That is the current state of the release window: second half of 2026, no exact date.

    What Should Not Be Treated as Confirmed

    Several claims are circulating that are not supported by official sources as of May 31, 2026.

    A delay to 2027 is a rumor. No official announcement of a delay has been made by Crystal Dynamics, Flying Wild Hog, Amazon Game Studios, or Embracer Group. Embracer Group’s Q4/FY 2025/26 report, published May 20, 2026, still places the game in the current fiscal year.

    Trailer 2 has not been announced. Summer Game Fest promotional footage reused existing material from the reveal trailer, which does not constitute a new trailer announcement.

    A Game Pass launch has not been confirmed. Amazon Game Studios is the publisher, not Xbox Game Studios, and no Game Pass announcement has been made.

    A PlayStation Plus launch has not been confirmed.

    A Nintendo Switch 2 version has not been confirmed. Announced platforms are PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam only.

    PC system requirements remain listed as TBD on Steam.

    A price has not been announced.

    The Current Picture

    As of today, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis is a confirmed 2026 release with no exact date, a development team actively working on modernizing the game’s encounter design, and a trailer rumor cycle that has not yet been backed by any official announcement.

    The most useful thing the June showcase season could deliver is either a release date or a second trailer. Neither has been promised. Until something is officially announced, the Embracer report and the Digital Dragons boss-fight comments are the most current and credible information available.

    The delay was subsequently reported before Crystal Dynamics confirmed it — read our delay rumor coverage here.Bandai Namco later officially confirmed February 12, 2027 as the release date alongside preorder details — see the full release date breakdown. A new State of Play trailer was also shown on June 2, 2026 — watch what the trailer revealed.

  • Days of Play 2026 Is Now Live With PS Plus Games, PS5 Deals, Tournaments, and Free Avatars

    Days of Play 2026 Is Now Live With PS Plus Games, PS5 Deals, Tournaments, and Free Avatars

    Sony has launched Days of Play 2026, a two-week PlayStation event running from May 27 to June 10. The event brings PlayStation Store discounts, PS5 accessory deals, PlayStation Plus membership offers, new PS Plus games and trials, free avatars, PlayStation Tournaments, and Sony Pictures Core discounts. Some benefits require a PlayStation Plus membership or a specific PS Plus tier, but Days of Play itself is open to the entire PlayStation community. Offers, prices, and eligibility vary by region throughout.

    When Days of Play 2026 Starts and Ends

    Days of Play 2026 runs from May 27 to June 10, 2026. The event opens at 12:01 AM and closes at 11:59 PM local time in each region. Sony says it will share regular updates through the official Days of Play 2026 page as the event progresses, so deals and content additions are not all live on day one.

    New PlayStation Plus Games and Content

    Days of Play 2026

    PlayStation Plus is the most content-dense part of Days of Play 2026. Sony confirmed June Monthly Games, a bonus Game Catalog addition, three exclusive member packs, Game Trials for Premium/Deluxe members, and free avatars for all PlayStation players.

    June Monthly Games

    The following titles are available for all PlayStation Plus members starting June 2:

    • Grounded Fully Yoked Edition
    • Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 (availability may vary by region)
    • Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

    Sony separately confirmed that EA Sports FC 26, already part of the May Monthly Games lineup, will remain available as a PlayStation Plus Monthly Game through June 16 — two weeks beyond its standard expiry. EA’s World’s Game update launched May 28, with the 48-team international tournament mode starting June 4, adding new stadiums, international-themed Manager Live Challenges, and new ICONs and Heroes for Player Career.

    New Game Catalog Addition

    Destiny 2: Legacy Collection (2025), including The Final Shape expansion, joins the Game Catalog for PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium/Deluxe members on June 9. Sony says the full Game Catalog lineup for the month will be announced separately.

    Exclusive PlayStation Plus Packs

    Sony confirmed three exclusive packs for PlayStation Plus members during Days of Play:

    Pack Available from Contents
    EA Sports FC 26 Icons Player Pack Available until June 16 Gold Starting XI Pack + 3 Iconic Players Picks
    World of Tanks: HEAT PlayStation Plus Pack May 26 Agent Skin, Vehicle Skin, 250,000 Credits
    Marathon Null Tempest Digital Bundle June 2 Vandal Runner shell style, Overrun AR weapon style, profile background, weapon charm

    Game Trials

    From May 27 to June 10, PlayStation Plus Premium and Deluxe members can access Game Trials for more than 40 indie games. Sony named Baby Steps, Lumines Arise, and multi-award winner Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 among the available titles. The full lineup is accessible through the PlayStation Plus page from May 27.

    PlayStation Tournaments and Rewards

    PlayStation Tournaments and Rewards

    Days of Play 2026 includes special PlayStation Tournaments running across the full event window. Sony listed the following tournament games, though availability varies by region:

    • EA Sports FC 26
    • EA Sports Madden NFL 26
    • NBA 2K26
    • Tekken 8
    • Mortal Kombat 1
    • EA Sports UFC 5
    • EA Sports College Football 26
    • Gran Turismo 7
    • Astro Bot
    • Asphalt 9: Legends
    • Fortnite

    Every player who participates in at least one match receives a unique Days of Play PS Avatar and is automatically entered into a sweepstakes.

    Sweepstakes Prize Bundle

    Sweepstakes winners and the player with the most match wins in their region — crowned Days of Play Champion — can each receive the same grand prize:

    • PlayStation Portal
    • DualSense Edge wireless controller
    • 12 months of PlayStation Plus Premium
    • $100 USD PlayStation Store credit

    Players in Asia-Pacific regions where PlayStation Plus Premium is unavailable receive a one-year PlayStation Plus Deluxe subscription instead, though country-specific prize restrictions still apply. Tournament and sweepstakes eligibility varies by country. Bracket winners earn an additional sweepstakes entry and in-game prizes.

    For a full breakdown of how to enter, eligibility rules, regional restrictions, and prize details, see our guide to the PlayStation Plus 12-month membership giveaway 2026.

    Golden Tournaments

    Sony confirmed Golden Tournaments in EA Sports FC 26, EA Sports Madden NFL 26, and Mortal Kombat 1. These feature double virtual currency rewards for winners and a unique Golden Tournament avatar for all participants.

    Extra Tournament Rewards

    All participants in Gran Turismo 7 tournaments earn an exclusive Days of Play livery. Fortnite players compete in the Days of Play Cup for a share of a $200,000 global cash prize pool. Residents of Hong Kong and Taiwan are not eligible for the Fortnite Days of Play Cup.

    PS5 Hardware, Accessory, and Game Deals

    Days of Play 2026 announcement, Deals

    Sony confirmed the following discounts through direct.playstation.com, participating retailers, and PlayStation Store during Days of Play 2026. Prices and availability vary by region.

    Item Discount
    PlayStation VR2 $100 off
    PULSE Explore wireless earbuds $50 off
    PULSE Elite wireless headset $40 off
    DualSense Edge wireless controller $30 off
    Access controller $30 off
    DualSense wireless controllers Up to $20 off

    Selected PS5 games are also discounted, with Sony naming Ghost of Yōtei, Helldivers 2, Death Stranding 2, and The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered as examples.

    Orders placed directly through PlayStation qualify for free standard shipping and free returns on eligible items. PlayStation Plus members in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom receive an additional 5% discount on PS5 hardware and accessories when ordering directly from PlayStation.

    PlayStation Plus Membership Discounts

    PlayStation Plus Membership Discounts

    During Days of Play 2026, new PlayStation Plus subscribers in participating countries can save up to 33% on a 12-month membership. Current members can also save 33% on the remainder of their membership when upgrading from Essential or Extra to Premium or Deluxe.

    The discount applies to the 12-month plan. PlayStation Plus is a recurring subscription; charges renew automatically at the then-current PlayStation Store price unless the subscription is canceled before renewal. Discounts, eligible tiers, and participating countries vary by region.

    For players currently on monthly or three-month plans, it is worth noting that PlayStation Plus recently raised prices for new subscribers on shorter-term plans, while 12-month plans carry no announced price increase. The Days of Play discount makes the annual plan the clearest value for players who were already considering a membership.

    Free Avatars and Sony Pictures Core Offer

    Free PlayStation Indies Avatars

    Starting June 4, PlayStation is giving away free PlayStation Indies-themed avatars to all PlayStation players — no PS Plus required. Avatars can be claimed through the PlayStation Plus webpage or the PlayStation Plus Days of Play page on console. Sony says these avatars commemorate PlayStation Indies titles featured through PS Plus during Days of Play.

    Sony Pictures Core Discount

    PlayStation Plus members can get an additional 15% off movies storewide on Sony Pictures Core during Days of Play. Sony listed Caught Stealing, Insidious: The Last Key, Jumanji: The Next Level, and Resident Evil: Death Island among available titles.

    This offer is limited to specific markets: the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Poland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Japan, and France.

    PlayStation Store Sale

    Sony says hundreds of digital games and add-ons are on sale through PlayStation Store during Days of Play 2026, with the sale running from May 27 through June 10. Discounted titles include Ghost of Yōtei, Resident Evil Requiem, Battlefield 6, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Split Fiction, Forza Horizon 5, Baldur’s Gate 3, Dying Light: The Beast, Nioh 3, Hitman World of Assassination, Borderlands 4, Hogwarts Legacy, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and God of War Sons of Sparta, among others.

    The full sale lineup is updated regularly through the official Days of Play 2026 page.

    What Players Should Know Before Buying or Joining

    Not every offer is available in every country. Sony consistently notes that game availability, prices, discounts, tournament eligibility, and sweepstakes participation all vary by region. The tournament rules specifically exclude Quebec residents, and several countries listed for tournament participation are marked as ineligible for the sweepstakes.

    PlayStation Plus is not required for Days of Play overall. The event is open to the entire PlayStation community. However, the June Monthly Games, Game Catalog additions, exclusive packs, Game Trials, member discounts, and Sony Pictures Core offer all require an active PS Plus membership at the appropriate tier.

    The 33% membership discount is for 12-month plans and renews at full price. Sony’s terms state that the subscription continues at the then-current PS Store price after the initial period unless canceled. Players upgrading from Essential or Extra will be charged recurring Premium or Deluxe fees at their current billing frequency after their current term ends.

    Tournament and sweepstakes eligibility has its own rules. Participation requires a PS5 console, a valid PlayStation Network account, high-speed internet, and an active PlayStation Plus membership for most tournament titles. Astro Bot, Fortnite, and Gran Turismo 7 challenges are exceptions that do not require PS Plus to enter. Players must be 18 or over and a legal resident of an eligible country to qualify for sweepstakes prizes.

    Days of Play 2026 runs until June 10, 2026 at 11:59 PM local time. The full event details, regional offers, and tournament rules are available through the official Days of Play 2026 page at playstation.com.

  • PlayStation Plus 12-Month Membership Giveaway 2026: How to Enter and What You Can Win

    PlayStation Plus 12-Month Membership Giveaway 2026: How to Enter and What You Can Win

    Sony’s Days of Play 2026 event includes a sweepstakes where eligible players can win a 12-month PlayStation Plus Premium voucher as part of a multi-item prize bundle. This is not a blanket free membership offer. The PS Plus prize is promoted through Days of Play tournament participation, with eligibility and no-purchase terms governed by the official sweepstakes rules — and players who do not meet the entry criteria will not receive a subscription.

    What the PlayStation Plus 12-Month Membership Giveaway 2026 Actually Is

    During Days of Play 2026 (May 27 – June 10, 2026), PlayStation is running tournament-linked sweepstakes through the PS5’s Days of Play PlayStation Tournaments. Players who participate in at least one eligible tournament match receive a unique Days of Play PS Avatar and are automatically entered into the sweepstakes. Winners from that pool can receive a full prize bundle that includes a 12-month PlayStation Plus Premium voucher.

    This is distinct from a free code drop or an instant-claim promotion. Entry is earned through gameplay activity, and prizes are awarded through sweepstakes selection or by finishing with the most match wins in a region.

    PlayStation Plus 12-Month Membership Giveaway 2026 Full Prize Bundle

    PlayStation Plus 12-month membership giveaway 2026

    Sweepstakes winners and regional Days of Play Champions — the players with the most match wins in their region — can receive the grand prize package:

    • 12 months of PlayStation Plus Premium (or PS Plus Deluxe for APAC winners, where Premium is unavailable)
    • PlayStation Portal
    • DualSense Edge wireless controller
    • $100 USD PlayStation Store credit

    PlayStation Plus 12-Month Membership Giveaway 2026 Event Dates

    Detail Information
    Event start May 27, 2026 at 12:01 AM local time
    Event end June 10, 2026 at 11:59 PM local time

    How to Enter Sweepstakes

    Entry comes through participating in Days of Play PlayStation Tournaments on PS5. The official steps are:

    1. Go to a participating Days of Play game title on your PS5 console
    2. Press down on the directional pad while hovering over the game tile to open the Game Hub
    3. Select the Days of Play Tournament Activity Card
    4. Register and accept the tournament rules
    5. Join when the tournament is ready and play at least one match

    Completing at least one match earns a sweepstakes entry and the Days of Play PS Avatar. Bracket winners earn an additional sweepstakes entry and in-game prizes. Separately, players who accumulate the most match wins in their region are crowned Days of Play Champions and win equivalent prizes to sweepstakes winners.

    No purchase is necessary, though the official tournament rules refer players to a separate sweepstakes rules document for full eligibility and entry restrictions.

    Who Is Eligible For PlayStation Plus 12-Month Membership Giveaway 2026

    Players need all of the following to participate:

    • Access to a PS5 console
    • A compatible controller
    • A valid copy of a participating game
    • A valid PlayStation Network account
    • A high-speed internet connection

    An active PlayStation Plus membership is required for most tournament titles. The exception is Days of Play Challenges for Astro Bot, Fortnite, and Gran Turismo 7, which do not require an active PS Plus subscription to enter.

    Tournament and sweepstakes eligibility varies by country. Some countries included in the tournament list are not eligible for the sweepstakes. Verify your regional eligibility against the official sweepstakes rules before participating.

    Participating Games of PlayStation Plus 12-Month Membership Giveaway 2026

    The following titles are listed as Days of Play tournament games. Game availability varies by region — not every title is available to every eligible player globally.

    • EA Sports FC 26 (also hosts a Golden Tournament; available as part of PS Plus Monthly Games through June 16)
    • EA Sports Madden NFL 26 (also hosts a Golden Tournament)
    • NBA 2K26
    • Tekken 8
    • Mortal Kombat 1 (also hosts a Golden Tournament)
    • EA Sports UFC 5
    • EA Sports College Football 26
    • Gran Turismo 7
    • Astro Bot
    • Asphalt 9: Legends
    • Fortnite

    Golden Tournaments in EA Sports FC 26, EA Sports Madden NFL 26, and Mortal Kombat 1 feature double virtual currency rewards for winners and a unique Golden Tournament avatar for all participants.

    How Winners Are Notified and Prizes Distributed

    Winners receive notification through an on-console notification sent to their PS Account. Prize distribution occurs within 30 days after the tournament in which the prize was won.

    Players in Asia-Pacific regions where PlayStation Plus Premium is not available will receive a one-year PlayStation Plus Deluxe subscription in place of the Premium tier.

    The PS Plus Giveaway vs. the Days of Play Discount: Not the Same Thing

    Sony is running two separate PS Plus offers simultaneously during Days of Play 2026, and conflating them is easy to do.

    Offer What it is Who gets it
    Sweepstakes prize 12-month PS Plus Premium voucher as part of a bundle Sweepstakes winners and Days of Play Champions (top match-win earners per region)
    Days of Play sale Up to 33% off a 12-month PS Plus membership Any eligible player who purchases during the event window; current members upgrading from Essential/Extra to Premium/Deluxe also qualify

    The sale is a paid discount. The giveaway is a prize requiring tournament participation and winner selection. Neither is a free subscription for all players.

    For players weighing whether to buy during the Days of Play sale, the timing has added relevance: PlayStation Plus recently raised prices for new subscribers on monthly and three-month plans, with 12-month plans carrying no announced increase. The Days of Play discount applies to annual memberships, which are already the better value at the new short-term rates.

    If you want a shot at the PlayStation Plus 12-month membership giveaway in 2026, the path is through Days of Play PlayStation Tournaments on PS5 between May 27 and June 10. Participate in at least one match in an eligible game and you are automatically entered into the sweepstakes. Win your bracket and you earn an additional entry. Prizes — including the 12-month PS Plus Premium voucher, PlayStation Portal, DualSense Edge, and $100 Store credit — go to sweepstakes winners and top regional finishers, subject to regional eligibility restrictions.

  • Bungie Reveals Major Marathon Season 2 Combat Tuning, Sentinel, and Open Play Week

    Bungie Reveals Major Marathon Season 2 Combat Tuning, Sentinel, and Open Play Week

    Bungie has published a comprehensive preview of Marathon Season 2’s combat tuning, covering weapons, mods, equipment, the new Sentinel Runner shell, implant reworks, and sandbox changes arriving when the season launches on June 2. The update is accompanied by an Open Play Week running June 2 through June 9 on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

    This is not a narrow balance pass. Bungie frames the entire Season 2 update as a deliberate effort to make Marathon’s combat more readable, expressive, and tactically meaningful — with changes spanning every layer of how players build and fight on Tau Ceti.

    Season 2 Is Built Around Clearer Combat and Stronger Loadout Identity

    Marathon Season 2

    The central design goal Bungie articulates for Season 2 is legibility. Weapons should communicate their roles more clearly. Builds should reward intentional decisions. More parts of a loadout should matter in any given run.

    That philosophy shows up repeatedly across the preview: in how weapon archetypes are being tuned to occupy distinct range brackets, in the naming overhaul for implants, in the Signal Jammer nerf that reduces its effectiveness during active firefights, and in the new Darksight Scopes and Vector Rounds that layer information tools into loadout construction. Season 2 is not trying to add complexity for its own sake — it is trying to make existing decisions feel more consequential.

    New Weapons: KKV-9SD and D54 Battle Pistol

    KKV-9SD

    Marathon Season 2 New Weapon

    The KKV-9SD is a pistol-frame SMG with an integrated suppressor and the fastest fire rate Bungie has ever shipped on a single weapon. It is built for close-range combat, specifically designed to punish shotgun rushers. It uses pistol optic mods, pistol magazine mods, and chips.

    Its Prestige mod is Flechette Drum, which provides sustain by healing the player whenever they break an enemy shield — a strong pairing for the aggressive, high-tempo playstyle the weapon encourages.

    D54 Battle Pistol

    D54 Battle Pistol

    The D54 Battle Pistol is a fully automatic, three-round burst handgun positioned between the Pistol and Magnum archetypes. Bungie describes it as a dedicated 1v1 dueling weapon and a strong swap option when paired with other hard-hitting archetypes like snipers or shotguns.

    Its Prestige mod is Daredevil Stock, which uses the new folding stock mod archetype. With the stock collapsed, enemy defeats stack up to two charges. Unfolding the stock converts those charges into a nine-round super burst — a mechanic that actively rewards situational awareness and timing over passive stat accumulation.

    Misriah 2442, Overrun, and CE Tactical Sidearm: Key Tuning Breakdowns

    Misriah 2442

    Misriah 2442

    The Misriah 2442 had established a dominant position in Season 1. Bungie’s primary intervention is not a direct damage nerf but a structural one: rate-of-fire bonuses are being removed from the entire Slick Mag family. The base rate of fire is simultaneously raised from 58 RPM to 72 RPM to compensate — the net effect is that the weapon loses the extreme fire-rate ceiling that Slick Mag builds enabled.

    Change Detail
    Hip-fire pellet spread +10%
    ADS pellet spread +5%
    Base rate of fire 58 RPM → 72 RPM
    Base damage falloff start 11m → 10m
    Max damage falloff start 15m → 16m
    Magazine stat Rebased so every mag gives at least +1 round
    Base/max magazine size Unchanged (4 / 10)

    The spread increases push the Misriah back into its intended close-to-mid range bracket without gutting it as a weapon type.

    Full-Auto Selector Prestige Mod

    Bungie is also redesigning the Full-Auto Selector Prestige Mod, which had made the Misriah’s playstyle too static. The rework creates a meaningful tension between hip-fire and ADS modes:

    Mode Behavior
    Hip-fire Full auto, +10% pellet spread, significantly higher stability
    ADS Higher range, tighter pellet spread, no full-auto

    The fire-rate bonus drops from 150 RPM to 90 RPM, offset by new additions of +50 ADS Speed and +50 ADS Accuracy. The rework encourages players to switch between hip-fire and ADS depending on range and pressure.

    Overrun

    The Overrun suffered from painful recoil that made lower-rarity versions feel unreliable in budget builds.

    Stat Change
    Horizontal recoil Reduced by ~50%
    Vertical recoil Reduced by ~12%

    High-rarity Overrun was already performing well. This pass is primarily aimed at making Standard and Enhanced versions viable in Sponsored Kits and cost-conscious loadouts.

    CE Tactical Sidearm

    The CE Tactical Sidearm is receiving one of the larger individual weapon passes in Season 2, because it failed to attract players even when fully built into.

    Area Change
    Recoil settle speed +15%
    ADS accuracy error multiplier Reduced by ~50%
    Aim assist falloff distances Min and max both increased
    Magnetism falloff distances Min and max both increased
    Aim assist cone +33% at base stat, +16% at max stat
    Moving accuracy Reduced at minimum stat; increased at maximum stat
    Crouch accuracy Max crouch accuracy bonus reduced

    The practical intent is to make the weapon more forgiving, more attractive to build around, and more competitive in its intended range.

    Mods and Chips: A Major Buildcrafting Shake-Up

    Mods and Chips: A Major Buildcrafting Shake-Up

    Season 2 adds two new mod families and eight new chip families, while every magazine and optic mod receives a balance pass.

    New Mod Family: Folding Stocks

    Folding Stocks debut on the KKV-9SD and D54 Battle Pistol. When collapsed, they boost hip-fire accuracy and movement speed. Players can toggle the stock open via the alternate weapon action input, converting those hip-fire bonuses into ADS accuracy and range advantages. This is an active, moment-to-moment gameplay decision rather than a passive stat swap.

    New Optic Archetype: Darksight Scopes

    Darksight Scopes are a new optic family tied to Night Marsh. Every weapon archetype will receive its own Darksight Scope in Deluxe and Superior rarities. While aiming down sights, Darksight Scopes use a full-screen vignette similar to sniper optics, and players can toggle a night-vision-style effect that lights up the area around them. Superior versions make the night-vision effect wider and extend its range.

    Chip Rotations

    Chip Family Status
    Stack Overflow Removed from Season 2 loot pool
    Optimal Prime Removed from Season 2 loot pool

    Bungie cites inconsistent performance for Stack Overflow and a failure to find its intended buildcrafting niche for Optimal Prime.

    New Chip Families (Selected Examples)

    Chip Rarity Effect
    Alarmist All rarities After ADS for a short duration, projectile impacts generate a scan drone alert
    Scrapyard All rarities Defeating hostiles can drop depleted health items or standard materials
    Brain Freeze Superior only Precision downs or kills trigger a Frost-spreading explosion

    Bounty Hunter Updates

    Rarity Previous Credits Updated Credits
    Standard 10 25
    Enhanced 15 50
    Deluxe 20 75
    Superior 25 100

    Bungie also fixed a bug where Bounty Hunter was not awarding credits for eliminating UESC scan drones.

    Cloudborn Redesign

    Cloudborn’s previous version overflowed the magazine on reload inside smoke. The redesigned version abandons that mechanic in favor of passive bonuses to stability, accuracy, handling, and movement speed while the player remains in smoke — a less swingy, more consistent benefit.

    Vector Rounds

    Marathon Season 2 screenshot showing dark sci-fi combat environment and visibility tools

    One Superior-tier magazine mod in every family will include Vector Rounds by default. After ADS for a short time, the next projectile impact generates a revealing pulse — similar to Darksight — that highlights enemies caught in the detonation area. This is an information tool built directly into the magazine slot, expanding buildcrafting options for players who want persistent target tracking without committing an optic slot.

    Equipment Changes: Grenade Nerfs, Signal Jammer, and New Tools

    Grenade Nerfs

    General Grenade Timing

    All grenade ready animations are being extended by 0.2 seconds. The throw itself is preserved once released, but back-to-back grenade spam is now slower.

    Frag and Heat Grenade Nerfs

    Grenade Stat Change
    Frag Grenade Max damage 135 → 115 (−15%)
    Heat Grenade Damage 40 → 20 (−50%)

    Signal Jammer

    Signal Jammer was functioning as a default requirement in Season 1, reducing the value of specific counterintel tools such as Early Warning System and Vital Intel. Season 2’s changes make it situationally useful rather than universally dominant:

    • Jamming now flickers off when the player shoots, uses abilities, takes damage, or performs actions
    • No longer blocks Early Warning System detection
    • No longer blocks Vital Intel detection

    It remains a stealth and repositioning tool but loses effectiveness in active combat — which opens space for other information equipment to matter.

    New Equipment

    Frost Mine — A placeable Claymore-style device that detonates on proximity, dealing spherical blast damage and spreading the Frost debuff to nearby enemies.

    Vector Grenade — An information-first tool that creates lingering revealing pulses across a large radius on detonation, highlighting spaces and enemies. Bungie positions it as particularly effective in Night Marsh environments.

    Signal Flares — Available in red, green, and blue, Signal Flares provide light rather than damage. Bungie frames them as communication tools for non-verbal coordination between players.

    Sentinel: Defensive Area Control Comes to Marathon

    Season 2 introduces Sentinel, a new Runner shell built around traps, area denial, and holding ground under pressure.

    Sentinel Abilities

    Ability Type Effect
    Defender System Prime Ability Deploys a defensive platform that neutralizes incoming explosives with a limited number of projectiles; nearby allies gain weapon stability and reload speed
    Snare Mine Tactical Ability A proximity mine that detonates into Immobilizing submunitions
    Prey Tracker Trait Ability Activates motion tracking that reveals moving enemies in a cone on the HUD
    Castle Doctrine Passive Readies and reloads SMGs, Pistols, and Shotguns faster based on nearby hostiles; splash damage temporarily boosts Hardware, Firewall, and Self-Repair Speed

    Sentinel adds a new defensive option to Marathon’s Runner shell roster, built around countering explosive pressure, shotgun rushers, and movement-heavy enemy archetypes.

    Sentinel-Specific Runner Cores

    ## Sentinel: Defensive Area Control Comes to Marathon

    Sentinel ships with 10 Sentinel-specific Runner cores. Three examples:

    Core Rarity Effect
    Reversal Enhanced Defeating an Immobilized target heals the player over time
    Wellness Beacon Deluxe Standing near Defender System accelerates medical item use for the player and allies
    Eminent Domain Prestige Grenades neutralized by Defender System fall as lootable items

    Implants Are Being Reworked for Better Readability

    Season 1 implants displayed stat packages as item names, burying perk information in tooltips. Season 2 reverses this structure entirely.

    Change Detail
    Primary identity Each implant now grants one fixed, named perk
    Item naming The perk name is reflected directly in the item name
    Stat packages Each implant carries a fixed stat package
    Existing perks Season 1 perks remain collectible
    New perks Eight new implant perks added

    One example new perk is Going Dark, which makes the player invisible while using healing consumables. Bungie cites Tox Injectors and Triage Cloaking Device as examples of how the new naming convention communicates perk identity at a glance. Implant icon readability is noted as the next priority after this structural change ships.

    Runner Shell Quality-of-Life and Ability Balance

    Beyond Sentinel, Bungie is shipping broader Runner shell improvements: mantle system refinements, smoother movement, reduced desync, and deathbox spawning fixes that prevent loot boxes from appearing in inaccessible locations.

    One balance change affects ability cooldowns: Prime and Tactical Recovery stats will accelerate cooldowns less at 100 stat. Bungie’s stated intent is to preserve counterplay in high-level engagements, where ability uptime had become too difficult to contest.

    Marathon Season 2 Open Play Week: June 2–9

    Marathon Season 2 begins June 2, with Open Play Week running June 2 through June 9 on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

    Bungie has not released complete patch notes yet. The full notes will arrive alongside the Season 2 launch. The preview explicitly describes itself as covering headliners — additional weapon, mod, and equipment changes not mentioned here may appear in the final patch documentation.

  • Donkey Kong 64 Is Joining Nintendo Switch Online’s N64 Library on June 4

    Donkey Kong 64 Is Joining Nintendo Switch Online’s N64 Library on June 4

    Nintendo has officially announced that Donkey Kong 64 is joining the NINTENDO 64 Nintendo Classics library, available through Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. The game Donkey Kong 64 is listed for June 3 in some North American coverage and June 4 in Japan and other regions, so availability may depend on your region. Either way, one of the most iconic collectathon platformers of the N64 era is returning to a Nintendo platform for the first time in years.

    This is not a remake, remaster, or Switch 2 exclusive. It is the original N64 game, playable through the Nintendo Classics app.

    What Tier Do You Need

    Standard Nintendo Switch Online does not include access to the N64 library. You need the higher-tier Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription. The N64 Nintendo Classics collection sits entirely behind that tier, which also includes the Game Boy Advance and Sega Genesis libraries.

    If you are already an Expansion Pack subscriber, Donkey Kong 64 will be available at no additional cost.

    What Donkey Kong 64 Actually Is

    Donkey Kong 64 was developed by Rare and published by Nintendo, originally released for Nintendo 64 in 1999. It was DK’s first major 3D adventure and remains one of the most ambitious — and demanding — platformers of its generation.

    The game features five playable Kongs: Donkey, Diddy, Tiny, Lanky, and Chunky. Each has unique abilities and weapons, and most of the game’s content is gated behind which Kong can access which area or item. Across eight large worlds, players collect Golden Bananas, colored bananas, blueprints, Battle Arena crowns, and Banana Fairies. The primary antagonist is King K. Rool, and the Kremlings return as the main enemy faction.

    The Expansion Pak Parallel

    The original Donkey Kong 64 required the Nintendo 64 Expansion Pak to run, and the game is closely associated with that hardware add-on. The Expansion Pak was a RAM upgrade accessory that plugged into the top of the N64 console.

    Donkey Kong 64

    Now, in 2026, the game that required a hardware Expansion Pak requires Nintendo’s Expansion Pack subscription tier. The parallel is hard to miss for longtime players — it creates an amusing full-circle detail that follows the game across 27 years.

    Playing It on Nintendo Switch 2

    The N64 Nintendo Classics app has Nintendo Switch 2 compatibility. On Switch 2, Nintendo has added a CRT filter and a Rewind function to the app. The CRT filter approximates the scanline look of original CRT televisions. On Switch 2, Rewind may soften some frustration, but the game itself remains the original N64 release.

    The wireless Nintendo 64-style controller Nintendo sells for Switch Online members is compatible with both Nintendo Switch 2 and the original Nintendo Switch.

    Donkey Kong 64 last appeared on a Nintendo platform through the Wii U Virtual Console in 2015. The Wii U release had limited reach compared with Nintendo’s later hardware, Nintendo reports Wii U lifetime sales of 13.56 million units. For the better part of a decade, playing DK64 legally meant tracking down original hardware or relying on that aging digital purchase.

    There is also a broader franchise context. Nintendo launched Donkey Kong Bananza, Nintendo’s modern 3D Donkey Kong entry for Switch 2, reviving the 3D DK format for a new generation. With DK64 now in Nintendo Classics, players can experience DK’s 1999 3D debut and Nintendo’s modern 3D Donkey Kong adventure on Switch 2.

    Is Donkey Kong 64 Worth Playing in 2026

    It depends on what you want from it.

    DK64 is historically significant, DK’s 3D debut, a major technical achievement from Rare at the end of the N64 era, with distinct biomes, memorable boss fights, and an enormous amount of content. The Jungle Japes theme alone is embedded in the memory of an entire generation.

    But it is also a dense, sometimes exhausting collectathon. Each of the five Kongs must collect their own color-coded items separately, meaning the same locations are revisited multiple times with different characters. Late-game progression can feel like archaeology, hunting through areas you’ve already cleared to find the last item you missed. By modern 3D platformer standards, the pacing is slow and the backtracking is significant.

    If you have never played it, it is worth experiencing. If you found it oppressive in 1999, the NSO version does not change the game itself, though on Switch 2, Rewind at least reduces the cost of individual mistakes.

    Donkey Kong 64 joins NINTENDO 64 Nintendo Classics on June 3–4, 2026 depending on region. Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership required.

  • Resident Evil: Code Veronica Remake Could Be Announced at Summer Game Fest, Leaker Claims

    Resident Evil: Code Veronica Remake Could Be Announced at Summer Game Fest, Leaker Claims

    A new round of Resident Evil speculation is pointing toward Summer Game Fest 2026, with leaker Dusk Golem suggesting that a Resident Evil: Code Veronica Remake is “incredibly likely” to be announced during the June showcase. Capcom has not confirmed the remake, and the claim should be treated as a rumor, but the timing has caught fans’ attention: Summer Game Fest takes place on June 5, and Capcom revealed Resident Evil Requiem at Summer Game Fest 2025.

    The Summer Game Fest Rumor Comes From Dusk Golem

    The speculation originates from AestheticGamer, better known as Dusk Golem, a Resident Evil leaker. Responding to a user on X who asked about the possibility of a reveal, Dusk Golem stated it is “incredibly likely” that the Code Veronica Remake would appear at Summer Game Fest 2026.

    The caveat matters. In the same exchange, Dusk Golem said he does not know Capcom’s marketing plans and described his prediction as “pure speculation” and a “gut feeling,” not insider confirmation. Twisted Voxel reported additional comments in which he outlined a broader speculative timeline: a Resident Evil Requiem mini-game update in May, a Code Veronica Remake reveal at SGF, followed by Requiem story DLC announced later in the year.

    Capcom has made no announcement. The Code Veronica Remake has not been officially confirmed to exist.

    Why Fans Think the Timing Makes Sense

    Resident Evil: Code Veronica Remake

    Summer Game Fest 2026 is confirmed for June 5, live from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles at 2pm PT / 5pm ET / 9pm GMT. As ComicBook notes, the timing makes sense because Capcom revealed Resident Evil Requiem at Summer Game Fest 2025 and has used Geoff Keighley-linked showcases for other major announcements, including Onimusha: Way of the Sword and Monster Hunter Wilds at The Game Awards.

    That history gives the rumor structural logic, even without a source inside Capcom.

    Resident Evil Requiem’s May Update Adds Fuel to the Timeline

    The first part of Dusk Golem’s speculated sequence has already happened. On May 8, 2026, Capcom released “Leon Must Die Forever” as a free update to Resident Evil Requiem across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2. The mode unlocks after players complete the main story and challenges players to clear stages as Leon while unlocking exclusive enhancer abilities, with multiple difficulty levels including an extreme high-difficulty option.

    That update landing on schedule makes Dusk Golem’s broader timeline look less arbitrary. It does not, however, confirm that a Code Veronica announcement follows. A sequence predicting three events is only as strong as its weakest link, and the remake reveal remains unverified.

    Why Resident Evil: Code Veronica Is One of the Most Requested Remakes

    Resident Evil: Code Veronica X, still available on PlayStation and Xbox, follows Claire and Chris Redfield after the Raccoon City incident, taking players through Umbrella facilities and Rockfort Island in a classic survival horror structure. It is one of the few major legacy Resident Evil entries that has not received a modern remake.

    Capcom has remade Resident Evil 2, 3, and 4. The RE4 Remake surpassed 10 million units sold in approximately two years, which Capcom described as the fastest any Resident Evil title had reached that milestone at the time. Capcom officially confirmed Resident Evil Requiem exceeded 6 million units sold, with later reports suggesting the figure had since passed 7 million — though that higher number came from Koshi Nakanishi’s Instagram rather than a formal Capcom press release. That commercial trajectory helps explain why fans and leakers continue to view Code Veronica as a plausible next remake candidate.

    Earlier Dusk Golem leaks, reported by Twisted Voxel, also suggested the Code Veronica Remake may be directed by Kazunori Kadoi and Yasuhiro Anpo — the directors behind the Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 4 remakes respectively — and that a release in 2027 is the target window. None of that has been confirmed by Capcom.

    Game Informer separately reported that Resident Evil Requiem director Koshi Nakanishi confirmed additional story DLC is in production, placing Capcom’s near-term Resident Evil roadmap on record — though the Code Veronica project is not part of that announcement.

    What to Watch on June 5

    Summer Game Fest airs June 5, 2026 at 2pm PT. If a Code Veronica Remake announcement is coming, that is the obvious event to watch based on current speculation. If Capcom does not show the game there, it does not mean the project does not exist — it may simply mean the marketing timeline shifted, which Dusk Golem himself acknowledged as a possibility.

    Treat the claim as a rumor until Capcom confirms it. The leaker’s track record is strong, but he was explicit that this is speculation, not a confirmed scoop.

  • ZOMBUTCHER: Monster Business Simulator Launches on Steam June 11, 2026

    ZOMBUTCHER: Monster Business Simulator Launches on Steam June 11, 2026

    Developer ODIUS and publisher Loopr Partners have confirmed ZOMBUTCHER: Monster Business Simulator will release on PC via Steam on June 11, 2026. A May 21 announcement confirmed the date and said a new trailer had been released, and a playable demo was available during Steam Next Fest. SteamDB lists the unlock as June 11, 2026 at 04:00 UTC. (Steam’s store page may display June 10 depending on your region and time zone; the official Steam community announcement specifies June 11.)

    What the ZOMBUTCHER: Monster Business Game Is

    ZOMBUTCHER: Monster Business, puts players in the role of a zombie running a butcher shop in a Louisiana town. The core tension is a split existence: by day, you run the shop as a legitimate front — cutting and packing meat, upgrading the store, and serving customers, while the game’s marketing plays with a day-night split between humans and monsters. By night, you head into the streets for “fresh stock,” avoid patrols, gather ingredients, and keep the monster side of the business supplied. The loop is stealth-action resource management inside a dark-comedy wrapper.

    Steam categorizes it under Action, Indie, and Simulation. User tags include First-Person, Management, Immersive Sim, Stealth, Shop Keeper, Resource Management, Zombies, Crafting, Dark Humor, Violent, and Gore. Calling it simply a horror game misrepresents the experience — the accurate framing is a stealth-action shop management simulator with dark-comedy tone.

    ZOMBUTCHER: Monster Business

    Confirmed Details

    Detail Confirmed Info
    Developer ODIUS
    Publisher Loopr Partners
    Platform PC via Steam / Windows; no console version has been announced
    Release Date June 11, 2026 (UTC unlock: June 11 at 04:00)
    Languages English, French, Italian, German, Spanish (Spain), Simplified Chinese, Russian, Japanese
    Steam Features Single-player, Achievements, Steam Cloud
    Mature Content Stylized violence including killing and dismemberment; no sexual content (per Steam)
    Price Not yet announced

    Setting and Game Loop of ZOMBUTCHER: Monster Business

    The game is set around a Louisiana town. At night, players move through the environment avoiding police patrols, hiding in shadows, and sourcing “fresh stock” for the monster side of the business. During the day, the shop opens: players handle customer service, manage inventory, process meat, and invest in store upgrades.

    The most recent public demo build ran under Patch 0.3.1, which added a Black Market Merchant, necklace and mask crafting, and addressed a range of issues including night visual quality, price balancing, combat, shop UI, NPC behavior, police AI, refrigerators, hooks, tutorial, and music.

    What Is Not Yet Confirmed

    • Price: No pricing has been posted to the Steam listing.
    • Console versions: No PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch announcement exists. PC via Steam is the only confirmed platform.
    • Steam Deck: A response from the apparent official Zombutcher_Game Reddit account stated Steam Deck support is “not at the moment,” with intentions to add it later. This has not been confirmed through official Steam or storefront channels.
    • Post-launch roadmap: No public roadmap has been announced.
    • Reviews: The game had not launched as of this writing; Steam shows no user reviews.

    Where to Find It

    ZOMBUTCHER: Monster Business Simulator is available to wishlist on Steam. The May 21 announcement included a new trailer covering the shop environment, nighttime hunts, and the broader world of the game.

  • How Long Is 007 First Light? Story Length and Tactical Simulator

    How Long Is 007 First Light? Story Length and Tactical Simulator

    007 First Light is expected to take around 20 hours to finish for the average player, based on reporting tied to developer comments. That estimate applies to the main campaign only and does not include Tactical Simulator, the separate replay-focused mode designed to add extra challenges after or alongside the story.

    The 20-hour figure reportedly comes from YouTuber JorRaptor, who said he spoke with Gameplay Director Andreas Krogh and other IO Interactive developers. That reporting indicates that the general consensus from those developer conversations pointed to roughly 20 hours for a standard main campaign run, with playtime shifting depending on difficulty and approach.

    How long is 007 First Light based on playstyle?

    007 first light Game

    Playtime varies meaningfully depending on how you approach the game’s campaign and its multiple difficulty settings. Faster players or those on lower difficulty settings could finish closer to 15 hours. Players pushing harder difficulties or taking a slower, more thorough approach may land nearer 25 hours. Current estimates also suggest that factoring in Tactical Simulator missions, collectibles, and trophies could push total playtime into the 30 to 40 hour range, though that figure is more speculative than the core 20-hour campaign estimate.

    007 First Light does not currently have New Game Plus planned, so the story is a single-run experience without a built-in second playthrough structure.

    What is Tactical Simulator and does it add to the length?

    
How-Long-Is-007-First-Light-on-Tactical-Simulator

    The main campaign figure does not account for Tactical Simulator. The mode is inspired by Hitman-style escalation content, reusing main story locations under added difficulty, restrictions, and online leaderboards. Post-launch missions are also planned, meaning the mode will grow beyond what ships with the game.

    Cosmetic outfits — including preorder and special-edition items — are restricted to Tactical Simulator rather than available in the main campaign, giving the mode a functional role rather than purely optional replay value. For players who engage with Tactical Simulator fully, total playtime should extend well beyond the 20-hour campaign estimate.

    The 20-hour figure has not been confirmed in writing by IO Interactive directly. Treat it as the strongest reported estimate available right now until post-launch player data confirms it.

  • My Hero Ultra Rumble Season 17 Adds Mirko as a New Playable Character

    My Hero Ultra Rumble Season 17 Adds Mirko as a New Playable Character

    Bandai Namco has released the Season 17 trailer for My Hero Ultra Rumble, confirming Mirko as the new playable character arriving with the season’s launch. My Hero Ultra Rumble Season 17 goes live on May 27, 2026.

    Mirko is the headline addition, but the official Season 17 promotion lists two further confirmed updates: a new Battle Style for Present Mic and a new outfit for Mt. Lady. Those additions sit alongside the season’s expected events, license rewards, and rolling cosmetic updates, though Bandai Namco has not detailed every My Hero Ultra Rumble Season 17 reward in the trailer.

    For players who haven’t been following the game closely, My Hero Ultra Rumble is a free-to-play 24-player battle royale based on the My Hero Academia anime. Teams form up and fight to be the last squad standing, with Bandai Namco regularly introducing new characters and cosmetics each season. The game is available on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.

    My Hero Ultra Rumble Season 17 Adds Mirko

    Season 17’s timing follows the game’s established pattern. Season 16 launched on March 25, 2026, with Star and Stripe as its new playable character. Bandai Namco’s original roadmap described each season as lasting approximately two months and introducing a new playable character, alongside events, Battle Pass content, and limited costumes. Several Season 16 rolls and events were scheduled to end on May 27, making the move into Season 17 line up with the game’s usual seasonal cadence.

    Community discussion following the trailer has touched on other possible additions, including speculation around Aizawa, but those details have not been confirmed through official Bandai Namco channels. The confirmed Season 17 additions remain Mirko, Present Mic’s new Battle Style, and Mt. Lady’s new outfit until official patch notes say otherwise.

  • Mesoké Brings a Poetic Flying Adventure to Steam on May 26

    Mesoké Brings a Poetic Flying Adventure to Steam on May 26

    Mystik’art’s title Mesoké, described by the developer as a solo project, launches on PC via Steam on May 26, 2026. It is a poetic, introspective flying and exploration game in which players guide the spirit of a meditating woman through a floating inner universe built around memory, emotion, and forgotten landscapes. Steam lists it under the Adventure, Casual, and Indie genres.

    A Kite, a Meditating Woman, and a World Built from Emotion

    You play as Mesoké, a meditating woman whose spirit drifts through a surreal inner world. Carried by the fabric of a kite, her consciousness glides through dreamlike worlds, each shaped by a distinct emotional state — joy, loss, stillness, forgetfulness — while she quietly pieces together a story of lost love and emotional reconstruction. Mesoké is built around a wordless narrative, with its story carried through space, sound, light, and silence rather than conventional exposition. Mystik’art has framed the experience around a no-text, no-HUD design philosophy meant to be understood through movement, sound, color, symbols, and experimentation. Developer discussion around the demo suggests some discreet symbol-based options may be added to address control and sensitivity feedback from playtests.

    Chi, Momentum, and the Risk of Flying Too Close

    Chi, Momentum, and the Risk of Flying Too Close

    The core mechanic is momentum-based flight. Players must find their rhythm to stay airborne, soaring high or skimming close to surfaces and hazards. A risk/reward system rewards flying closer to danger with greater amounts of Chi — the vital energy players collect to restore Mesoké’s inner palace and recover fragments of her memory. The more precise the flight, the more the world carries the player forward, making the movement system something to be refined rather than simply endured.

    Beyond the flight mechanics, Mesoké builds an evolving central hub — described as Mesoké’s inner palace — that grows and changes as players make discoveries across its emotional worlds. The developer describes the broader journey as a quiet exploration of emotion, memory, and reconstruction after the loss of love.

    Demo Out Now, but No Reviews Yet

    A Steam demo is available ahead of the May 26 launch, described as offering access to the first three worlds and the Inner Palace. The game runs on CryEngine, as confirmed by the licensing credits on the Steam store page. Steam currently lists no user reviews, and Metacritic shows no critic or user scores yet. No published OpenCritic score appears to be available as of this writing. The game’s Steam page also notes that 3 curators have reviewed the product, which is worth distinguishing from the absence of any user review coverage. Mystik’art has confirmed that all in-game content is handmade, though some store page and library images were produced using AI-assisted stylization based on original in-game material and manually edited afterward. No AI-generated content appears during gameplay.

    System Requirements, Controller Support, and Steam Features

    On the technical side, Steam lists minimum requirements of Windows 10 64-bit, an Intel i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600, 12 GB RAM, an NVIDIA GTX 1060 6GB or AMD RX 580 8GB, DirectX 11, and 5 GB of storage. Recommended specs move up to an Intel i5-10400 or Ryzen 5 3600, 16 GB RAM, and an NVIDIA RTX 3060 or AMD RX 6600. The Steam listing confirms Single-player, Steam Achievements, and Family Sharing support. SteamDB lists full controller support and gamepad-preferred play, consistent with the developer’s own recommendation to use a controller. The game supports interface localization in English and 102 additional languages. Pricing has not been confirmed in available sources.

  • 007 First Light Is Included With GeForce NOW Ultimate, But Only With the 12-Month Plan

    007 First Light Is Included With GeForce NOW Ultimate, But Only With the 12-Month Plan

    If you have been waiting for a reason to jump into GeForce NOW Ultimate, NVIDIA just gave you one. The company is including 007 First Light as a Steam redemption with the purchase or upgrade to a 12-month GeForce NOW Ultimate membership for a limited time. Before you get excited, I want to be clear: this is not a free game for every GeForce NOW subscriber. You need to be on the annual Ultimate plan to qualify.

    Here Is What the Offer Actually Includes

    007 First Light GeForce NOW

    Starting May 21, NVIDIA is including 007 First Light as a Steam redemption with the purchase or upgrade to a 12-month GeForce NOW Ultimate membership. NVIDIA lists the offer as valid through Wednesday, June 10, 2026.

    007 First Light launches on May 27, 2026. NVIDIA says the game will be ready to play on launch day if you redeem it before then, with no preloads or waiting required.

    In the U.S., the 12-month Ultimate membership costs $199.99 paid upfront. The standard edition of the game is listed at $69.99 in the U.S., which brings the effective monthly cost of the subscription down to around $10.83 if you factor in the game’s value.

    Not Every GeForce NOW Plan Qualifies

    007 First Light GeForce NOW
    NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW membership page showing the 007 First Light Special Game Launch Offer

    This is the part I want you to pay attention to. NVIDIA’s offer only names the 12-month Ultimate membership. Monthly plans, day passes, and lower tiers are not listed as eligible. If you are already on a monthly plan and want the bonus, you would need to upgrade to or purchase the 12-month Ultimate tier by June 10.

    Availability and pricing may also vary by region, so I would recommend checking your local GeForce NOW membership page before buying.

    How to Claim the Game Once You Subscribe

    The redemption process is straightforward. Here is how it works:

    1. Purchase or upgrade to a 12-month GeForce NOW Ultimate membership.
    2. Open the NVIDIA account portal.
    3. Navigate to the “Available to Redeem” section.
    4. Sign into your Steam account.
    5. Complete the redemption to add the game to your Steam library.

    Once redeemed, the game sits in your Steam library. It is not locked exclusively to GeForce NOW.

    Yes, NVIDIA Says You Keep the Game After Redemption

    NVIDIA says the game is for members to keep after redemption. That is straight from NVIDIA’s official blog, and it is one of the strongest parts of this deal.

    You Can Play It on Supported Devices That Could Not Run It Locally

    One thing I find genuinely useful about this bundle is what it means for lower-end hardware. As a GeForce NOW Ultimate member, you can stream 007 First Light through NVIDIA’s cloud infrastructure powered by RTX 50 Series GPUs in the cloud. NVIDIA promotes up to 5K HDR, DLSS 4 performance, and Cinematic Quality Streaming, all exclusive to Ultimate members.

    That means the bundle works on supported devices that could not otherwise handle a demanding new release: older laptops, Chromebooks, Android phones and tablets, and smart TVs. As long as you have a supported device and a fast enough internet connection, you can access a premium cloud-streaming experience without needing a high-end local gaming PC.

    007 First Light on GeForce NOW at Launch

    007 First Light launches May 27, 2026, on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. IO Interactive says the Nintendo Switch 2 version is coming in summer 2026. Patrick Gibson voices a 26-year-old James Bond, a promising but rebellious Royal Navy air crewman recruited into MI6, before he earns his 00 status. The cast also includes Gemma Chan and Lenny Kravitz. The official title song is written and composed by Lana Del Rey and David Arnold, and performed by Lana Del Rey. If you want the full breakdown of the game’s story, gameplay, editions, and platforms, we have a complete 007 First Light guide covering everything confirmed ahead of launch.

    If you are considering a pre-order, pre-orders include a free Deluxe Edition upgrade, with 24-hour early access limited to digital editions only.

    Do Not Confuse This With the RTX 50 Series Bundle

    I want to flag this because I have seen people mix the two up. NVIDIA also has a separate hardware bundle running alongside this promotion. Qualifying purchases of select RTX 50 Series GPUs and laptops, including the RTX 5090, 5080, 5070 Ti, 5070, and 5060 Ti, include 007 First Light through a different redemption process. The two offers have different eligibility requirements and terms. They are not the same deal.

    Is It Worth It?

    Honestly, it depends on how you use cloud gaming. If you were already planning to subscribe to GeForce NOW Ultimate for a year, this is a strong offer. At $199.99 for the year with a $69.99 game included, you are effectively paying around $10.83 a month.

    If you were not planning to subscribe at that tier, buying the annual plan purely for the game bonus means paying $130 more than the game’s standalone price. In that case, I would say just buy the game. The deal makes sense when the subscription itself is useful to you, not just the bonus.

  • Take-Two CEO Reaffirms GTA 6 for November 19, 2026 as Marketing Set for Summer

    Take-Two CEO Reaffirms GTA 6 for November 19, 2026 as Marketing Set for Summer

    Grand Theft Auto VI is currently scheduled to launch on November 19, 2026, on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. That was reaffirmed yesterday during Take-Two Interactive’s Q4 fiscal year 2026 earnings call. Take-Two included the date in its official investor materials and future release lineup, with the company’s initial FY2027 outlook listing Net Bookings of $8.0 to $8.2 billion and GAAP net revenue expected between $7.9 and $8.1 billion. That said, the filing includes standard forward-looking-statement warnings, and actual outcomes may vary, including risks around timely game releases.

    Zelnick was deliberate about the tone he set with investors. “I think reiterating November 19 as a launch day today is probably a positive,” he said, framing the reaffirmation as a market signal rather than a routine update. He also reported that Take-Two’s fiscal 2026 performance was “exceptional and exceeded initial expectations at every label,” closing the year with $6.72 billion in net bookings.

    Strauss Zelnick Take-Two Interactive CEO

    Take-Two has reaffirmed the November 19, 2026 release date, which Rockstar also lists on its official GTA VI page. No new delay has been announced. Insider Gaming has called the delay rumors circulating on social media ragebait with no factual basis, and Zelnick told Variety directly that the game will ship on November 19.

    The Delay History

    Publicly, GTA VI has been delayed twice. The first delay came in May 2025, moving the game from its original 2025 window to May 26, 2026. The second came in November 2025, pushing it again to the current November 19 date. Rockstar cited the need for additional polish time on both occasions. In a separate interview, Zelnick said GTA VI was about “18 months behind the original date,” which has led some observers to speculate about an earlier internal target, though this has not been officially confirmed.

    Platforms

    GTA VI is currently announced only for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S at launch, with no PC version confirmed. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has explained why the game is launching on consoles first, and Rockstar’s official page lists only PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. Based on Rockstar’s historical pattern with GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2, a PC release is expected 12 to 18 months after the console launch, likely sometime in 2027 or 2028.

    PlayStation is already telling PS4 players to upgrade to PS5 ahead of GTA 6, sending emails and console messages to select users urging them to make the switch before the November launch. That kind of coordinated, platform-level messaging does not happen without a firm plan behind it.

    Price and Pre-Orders

    No official GTA VI price has been announced. Some analysts have argued for an $80 price point, but that remains speculation. Zelnick has discussed pricing philosophy in general terms, describing the eventual price as “reasonable” and consistent with the current AAA market, but has not stated a specific figure for GTA 6. A Dutch retailer listed the game at 99 euros, which is also an unconfirmed placeholder. Zelnick confirmed that pricing will not be revealed through earnings calls.

    On the pre-order front, a Best Buy email earlier this month reportedly leaked a GTA 6 pre-order date, pointing to May 18 as the date pre-orders would go live. They never did. As expected, the GTA 6 pre-order rumors turned out to be another false alarm, with Zelnick addressing the situation directly and calling it an error. Pre-orders are not open. Wait for Rockstar’s official Newswire before committing to anything.

    Sales Context: Why the Stakes Are This High

    Take-Two’s FY2027 Guidance slide from the Q4 FY2026 earnings presentation, May 21, 2026. Source: Take-Two Investor Relations.

    To understand the weight behind Zelnick’s confidence, consider what Take-Two is building on. The earnings call confirmed that GTA V has now sold close to 230 million units worldwide since its 2013 release. Red Dead Redemption 2 has also remained one of the best-selling games ever, further raising expectations for Rockstar’s next release. GTA VI follows both as Rockstar’s two biggest modern commercial successes. The pressure to deliver is not just a fan expectation; it is the foundation of an $8 billion financial outlook.

    Take-Two has said Rockstar expects GTA VI marketing to begin in summer 2026. What that brings with it, whether a new trailer, pre-orders, pricing, or gameplay reveals, has not been confirmed. On the call, Take-Two said Rockstar will share GTA-series details when ready. Summer marketing could bring more information, but Rockstar has not committed to the next trailer, pre-orders, pricing, editions, gameplay reveals, or GTA Online plans on any specific schedule.

    For now, the game is six months away. The only reliable sources are Rockstar’s official Newswire and Take-Two’s investor communications. Everything else is speculation.