Gaming - Page 8

Nintendo confirmed a Switch 2 price hike to $499.99 coming in September, and if you have been sitting on the fence, Woot just handed you the strongest reason yet to jump off it. New customers to the retailer can grab a brand new Nintendo Switch 2 for just $399 using the promo code GIFT26 at checkout, which is $100 below the incoming September price and $50 below the current standard retail price.

The base listing on Woot sits at $449. The GIFT26 code knocks $22 off for returning customers, bringing it to $427. First-time Woot customers get an additional discount on top of that, pushing the final price down to $399. The deal is limited to one unit per customer and ends at 11:58 PM CT on July 25 or while supplies last. Given how demand for the Switch 2 has held up since launch, stock running out first is the safer assumption.

If the new unit sells out, Woot also has a Grade A certified refurbished Switch 2 bundled with Mario Kart World for $439. It comes with original accessories, the retail box, a 90-day warranty, and a Mario Kart World game code that is either unused from the original customer or a freshly added replacement. Unlike the new console deal, no promo code is required, with the bundle already discounted by $70 from its regular $500 price.

Over the weekend, hundreds of Old School RuneScape players reminded the gaming community why MMOs can create unmatched gaming experiences, as these players assembled in monk robes, wielding white staves and holy symbols, for a pilgrimage through the PvP-enabled Wilderness zone. Their mission? To spread the teachings of Saradomin, a god within the RuneScape law.

What began as a peaceful march to the Revenant Caves carrying holy symbols, lobsters, and white staves quickly devolved into organized chaos. The idea was to march to the caves, which are located within the PvP area, and scold anyone found with a skull above their character, as that is proof they have attacked another player within the PvP area and are considered "not friendly." When one of these offenders was discovered, the zealots proceeded to follow them and type, "Brother, your skull concerns us."

Notably, the pilgrimage participants intentionally didn't bring any weapons to attack any other players, as this was a humble and peaceful rally of Saradomin followers. Led by Reddit user jan7283, the "Brothers of the Monastery" claimed they had no weapons and no plan beyond delivering divine warnings to skull-holding PvP aggressors. The popularity of the first pilgrimage spawned the idea for a second journey planned for July 25, but this time to the Chaos Altar, an altar of the competing god Zamorak.

Sales data from one of gaming's most influential geographies shows a major downturn for physical game sales.

Sony's decision to cut physical game discs has prompted major online pushback, however the vast majority of gamers in regions like the US have been favoring digital for years now.

Insights and sales info from trusted data-tracker Circana show that physical game sales revenue peaked in 2009 with an estimated $11.5 billion earned, dropping down to just $1.6 billion by 2026. That's a negative CAGR rate of -10.36% across the aforementioned period. Sony's own sales data shows that physical game sales were at a negative CAGR of -9.26% from FY17 to FY25.

Microsoft has secured the second cross-subscription licensing deal for Xbox Game Pass while also bringing a new control scheme to Quest Touch controllers.

Users who subscribe to Meta Horizon+ will also get bonus access to the Game Pass Starter Edition, a smaller sampling of games that reflect the Xbox brand. Horizon+ is an all-you-can-play subscription service for Meta's VR headset--it's kind of like the Game Pass of VR, so this feels like a good synergy for the two services. Microsoft first introduced this promo Game Pass Starter Edition with a partnership with Discord Nitro back in May.

"Starting today, eligible Meta Horizon+ subscribers now get a starter edition of XBOX Game Pass where available, offering access to 50+ games, 10 hours of cloud gaming each month, and Rewards for playing," reads a post on the Xbox Wire.

Mike Brown, the former creative director of Forza Horizon 5, has weighed in on Xbox's ongoing turmoil. His take lands right at the center of the subscriber math Microsoft has been dealing with all year.

Speaking on the MinnMax podcast, Brown said Game Pass was a good idea, but that the subscription simply never pulled in enough paying members to support what Microsoft built around it.

He pointed directly at the fallout that has followed, adding that we're now going to see studios getting shut down or spun off, with lots of people losing their jobs. Like clockwork, Microsoft has confirmed Xbox will cut 3,200 jobs through fiscal year 2027 as part of a wider reset, and multiple studios, including Compulsion Games, have already been marked for closure or spin-off.

On the heels of Sony announcing it will be ending production of physical PlayStation discs, researchers have looked into how long PS5 and PS4 game discs will last, giving PlayStation gamers an idea of how long they will have access to their games before they vanish.

According to a new study from the Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI), PS4 and PS5 games will remain playable for anywhere between 10 to 20 years, and after that, the discs aren't guaranteed to work. The findings come as Sony announced it will stop producing physical game discs in January 2028, sparking renewed debate over the future of physical media in gaming, and what it means to actually own a game you have purchased.

The study focused on read-only Blu-ray discs, like those used for PS4 and PS5 games, and found that these discs begin degrading the moment they're manufactured. "Discs, whether they are optical discs or any other kind of media, are degrading from the day you get them," said Ern Bieman, a Heritage Information Analyst at the CCI. One of the biggest problems with disc storage is that the storage layer is extremely thin, meaning even minor scratches, humidity, or heat can result in the disc being unreadable.

A key executive has left Microsoft years ahead of the next-gen Project Helix console, opting for a similar role at an AI company instead.

Jared Palmer, the engineering VP that was directly appointed by new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, is now leaving Microsoft. "Personal update: I've joined Cognition to lead engineering. I'm grateful to Asha Sharma and everyone at Xbox for an amazing year," Palmer announced on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Both Sharma and Palmer previously worked together in a similar arrangement at another Microsoft division, CoreAI, with Sharma serving as president and Palmer as VP. At Xbox, Palmer was involved with "removing friction and increasing productivity," and according to a memo from Sharma, Palmer was also working directly with her on Xbox's "most complex product and engineering problems."

Classic games are on the comeback, and Old School RuneScape in particular is seeing tons of interest.

2000s computer lab-era classic Old School RuneScape is apparently quite prosperous despite being a decades-old game. In a recent interview with The Games Business, Jagex CEO Jon Bellamy says that the Monty Python-esque RPG has now broken almost all of the milestones and metrics that Jagex uses to measure the game's success.

"For Old School RuneScape, I think we've broken just about every record we've ever had--every major metric in the last 12 months, multiple times. It's an unbelievable heater. We've been really happy with how that game performed," Bellamy said.

Nintendo's latest security push for the Switch 2 may have just been undermined by a developer who cracked a universal exploit that works entirely offline. Gezine's discovery doesn't rely on web-based vulnerabilities or Nintendo Online, making it far more resilient to quick patches, and it's a vulnerability on both the original Switch and Switch 2.

The exploit, confirmed by the developer on X, operates in userland, meaning it's within the code a user interacts with rather than within the operating system of the device. Additionally, this exploit doesn't depend on browser-based code execution or previous methods that required save file transfers through Nintendo's network. By avoiding WebKit and leveraging a new entry point, Gezine bypassed the ARM PAC protections that Nintendo added to the Switch 2's firmware.

This discovery could be a foundational step toward full homebrew and modding capabilities, which open the door to things like save file backups, emulation, and custom applications running on Nintendo hardware. Given the modding scene's past achievements, including running PC ports of games like Final Fantasy VII Remake, or the entire release of Tears of the Kingdom leaking onto PC, the implications of such an exploit are quite severe, especially for Nintendo, which is famously against any form of modding or tweaking of its hardware and games.

CD Projekt Red has confirmed that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will be receiving a new DLC called "Songs of the Past," and also when the developer plans to unveil it to hungry fans.

While most RPG gamers are looking forward to Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto 6 and CD Projekt Red's Witcher 4, a new piece of DLC content is arriving for one of the most iconic RPG experiences ever released, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. CD Projekt Red has confirmed in a recent X post that it will be unveiling Songs of the Past at Gamescom 2026 Opening Night on August 25 at 11am PT / 2pm ET / 8pm CEST.

CD Projekt Red is working on a new expansion for Wild Hunt, which released in 2015, and has been rumored for quite some time, and according to those rumors, this new DLC for Wild Hunt is intended to bridge the gap between the events in The Witcher 3 and what we will experience in The Witcher 4. Furthermore, reports indicate the DLC won't introduce a completely new region as Blood and Wine did, but instead expand on the region of the map that is available in the base game of Wild Hunt.

NVIDIA opened its keynote at the annual SIGGRAPH 2026 event in Los Angeles this week with an updated and in-depth look at DLSS 5. And compared to the announcement and debut from GTC earlier this year, which led to widespread backlash for the generative AI tool designed to add photorealistic lighting and detail to a scene, it was night and day.

In addition to providing a more technical look at how it works, the big thing with this presentation was showcasing how much control game developers will have over DLSS 5, and how they will be able to direct the look, feel, and intensity of the technology to "preserve artistic intent."

From a high level, this updated version of DLSS 5 includes three real-time models that developers can use, each presenting photorealistic lighting with different intensity. These models, dubbed Model A, Model B, and Model C, can be used on different scenes and characters, with the option to mix and match. Like DLSS Super Resolution, some of the models are more intensive and complex than others, but all are designed to run on a single GPU.

Sony's PlayStation 6 is expected to deliver a major hardware improvement over the PS5, as a newly uncovered patent outlines a redesigned cooling system, which comes only days after another patent was discovered for what appears to be the PS6 controller.

The patent, filed in June 2026, points to a more efficient heat pipe design intended to maintain standard thermal performance despite the console being positioned upright or horizontal. If the design outlined in the patent makes it to the final product, we can expect Sony to focus on its upgraded cooling system in its PS6 marketing. It's likely the result of the new cooling system is a reduction in component temperatures and noise pollution, particularly under load.

The new system appears to replace the PS5's liquid metal with a sealed heat pipe, which should translate to a general improvement in thermal stability across both orientations. The PS6 is expected to be digital-only, with Sony recently announcing it will be phasing out physical disc production by 2028, which soft-confirmed the PlayStation 6 will be launching without a physical disc drive, as it wouldn't make sense for Sony to launch a new console with a disc drive only to stop producing physical discs only a few years into that console's lifecycle.

The industry's push towards higher-priced games has apparently worked, as data suggests that gamers are more willing to buy higher-priced editions of video games when given the option.

Sony's digital PlayStation Store pre-order charts illustrate a potential trend in price tolerance. The current PS Store rankings indicate that gamers are willing to spend extra money on more expensive versions of new titles. This is especially true for Grand Theft Auto VI, whose $100 Ultimate Edition was the #1 top pre-ordered game in all nine tracked geographies--US, CA, UK, FR, ES, DE, SA, JP, and HK.

That's not the only game whose more expensive version is selling ahead of its basic SKU. Halo Campaign Evolved's Premium Edition is ahead of its cheaper counterpart, but this game is an encapsulation of multiple effects, including capitalizing on pent-up demand and the novelty of Halo's first release on PlayStation. Even still, PlayStation gamers are more willing to pay the extra $20 for Halo CE's Premium Edition due to the compelling offer of 5 days of advanced access. That's a substantial chunk of time--a full work week's worth of gaming.

As gamers brace for the eventual slow-down of physical media, teams like Bandai Namco and Rebel Wolves are making sure their new game will get preserved with a playable build on the disc.

Physical copies of The Blood of Dawnwalker will have a complete playable version of the game on the disc. Given Sony's recent decision to end physical game disc production for new games after January 2028, the games that come complete on disc become more noteworthy. Publisher Bandai Namco confirmed the news to Eurogamer: "The full game data is on disc, with a day-one patch recommended."

Rebel Wolves' stylish and brutal action RPG joins the plethora of titles that can be accessed offline and don't require a day one patch or an update in order to play--the team at Does It Play have created a repository of thousands of such titles.

Assassin's Creed Odyssey was a mixed bag when it launched. While it was successful financially for Ubisoft, it left a big chunk of the fanbase disappointed with its gameplay mechanics and story. Hardcore fans of the franchise were disillusioned by Odyssey's RPG-like style and nerfed stealth elements, and many straight-up did not like the protagonists being "mercenaries" rather than white-hooded Assassins.

Regardless of its initial reception, Assassin's Creed Odyssey is getting a surprising second wind in recent weeks, and it has Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" to thank for it. Now, I'm not much of a film guy, but even I know that The Odyssey is a huge deal. It's the first film to ever be shot entirely on 70mm IMAX, has a star-studded cast, and is expected to break all kinds of records after launch. It's fair to say that The Odyssey certainly has a tremendous amount of hype behind it.

That hype has benefitted Ubisoft's 2018 Assassin's Creed entry too. Many gamers saw this as the perfect opportunity to jump back on the game, just to get a feel of the Greek islands once again. Furthermore, the official Assassin's Creed X handle also fed into the hype, reminding players that this might be the perfect time to "begin their Odyssey."

Ayaneo has unveiled the Next 2 in an Indiegogo campaign, which received a substantial amount of funding, but the launch of the new gaming handheld was suspended due to production costs increasing. However, it appears the Next 2 is coming back to market, but it is going to cost up to $5,299.

The company had already suspended pre-orders in March due to soaring storage prices, but it looks like the cost issue hasn't gone away and has actually driven prices even higher. The Next 2 sports an AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 APU, and arrives in three configurations. The top-tier 128 GB + 2 TB model, which is now listed at $5,299 on the Ayaneo website, was previously priced at $4,299.

The 64 GB + 1 TB variant was $2,699, and the 32 GB + 1 TB version was $1,999. However, according to the listing prices on the Ayaneo website, the 128 GB + 2 TB model has now increased to $5,299, the 64 GB + 1 TB variant to $3,699, and the 32 GB + 1 TB to $2,999.

Sony has filed a patent for a modular gamepad that replaces the DualSense's touchpad with a small touchscreen. The patent describes a controller built around a four-by-seven magnetic grid that allows individual input modules, including thumbsticks, directional controls, and the touchscreen itself, to be repositioned anywhere on the controller.

The touchscreen module would handle notifications, quick menu access, settings navigation, and messages, controlled through a rotating dial built into the module. The patent also mentions phone pairing, with incoming calls potentially appearing on the controller display, though it remains unclear how these features would work in practice.

The modular design could also set Sony's next-generation controller apart from others on the market. Rather than a fixed layout, players could theoretically rearrange inputs to suit their grip, the game they're playing, or their accessibility needs. Sony has already explored similar ideas with the PS5 Access controller, and this patent appears to bring that philosophy to a more mainstream gamepad.

Marathon game director Joe Ziegler has left Bungie as the studio adapts to industry-wide disruption, including layoffs and major cost reductions.

Following mass layoffs, Bungie loses another senior-level developer. This time Marathon's game director Joe Ziegler has departed the group, leaving the highly-artistic live service shooter in the hands of Del Chafe III and Marathon creative director Julia Nardin.

"I'll be heading to something new, somewhere else, and will update you on where and what soon. I just want to say a deeply heartfelt thank you to all of you for supporting me and Marathon in our windy mission to bring a dark and terrifying space survival frontier to your screen," Ziegler wrote on Twitter, shortly after announcing his departure.

Todd Howard may not stop making Elder Scrolls or Fallout games any time soon.

Xbox is resetting its business, laying off 3,200 workers this fiscal year alone--half of which are being let go now. To distract from the massive industry culling from one of gaming's Big 3 platform-holders, Bethesda revealed its project roadmap, confirming four new Fallout games are in development. We've seen senior staff take voluntary retirement packages as part of Xbox's layoffs, but it sounds like Bethesda's Todd Howard is here to stay and has no plans to actually retire.

As part of the press junket for the new Fallout announcements, Bloomberg's Jason Schreier interviewed Todd Howard about the topic of retirement. Howard essentially says that he used to think about what that would look like, but no longer does, presumably because he's so absorbed in the world of gaming (and also possibly because Xbox really needs him right now).

A UK buyer had their Steam Machine stolen after a Royal Mail courier left the £1,000 package unattended outside their home. Valve agreed to send a replacement, and the incident has sparked calls for the company to require signatures when delivering such expensive items.

The story comes from Reddit user mdumtshali, who was at work when the delivery arrived. Doorbell camera footage shows the Royal Mail courier first attempting to place the package in a designated safe location, but it did not fit. The courier left it on the ground instead and took a photo of the delivery. By the time the buyer returned home, the £1,000 Steam Machine had been stolen. The doorbell camera did not capture the theft because it was set to record only after detecting someone lingering for a set period.

Steam Support initially asked the buyer to check whether a neighbour had collected the package, but that led nowhere. Valve then said it would send a replacement rather than issue a refund. The buyer praised Steam Support for its handling of the situation and said they plan to either work from home for the second delivery or have it redirected to a collection point.