Timeline
Tuesday24th Feb 2026
News 'No Second Chances': Marathon Cheaters Will Be Banned Forever, Bungie Says
Hardball
Bungie is on the verge of launching its latest game, Marathon — an extraction multiplayer shooter based on the studio's old series. Releasing on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X|S on 5th March 2026, the sci-fi FPS is just over a week away, and the team has shared a blog post highlighting its efforts regarding network and security measures...
News MOUSE: P.I. For Hire Delayed Another Month on PS5 to Make It 'An Experience to Remember'
Now launching in April
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire, the black-and-white, hand-animated FPS, has been delayed. It was previously targeting 19th March, 2026, but its release date has now moved a few weeks to 16th April. Developer Fumi Games and publisher PlaySide Studios shared a statement about the decision on the game's social channels: "We have made...
"Fire Hermen Hulst"
Sony has seemingly ceased all social media activities following the devastating news involving Bluepoint this week. In the immediate aftermath of the unfortunate news breaking about the Demon’s Souls remake dev, a scheduled post on Marathon was published across all of PlayStation’s accounts. While it’s likely the post had...
News Sony Puts Must-Own PS5 Accessories on Sale in the US
Including PSVR2, Access Controller, and more
A big part of PlayStation’s business has become its portfolio of officially licensed accessories, from headphones to headsets and everything in between. Right now, on Sony’s official storefront PS Direct in the US, the company has temporarily slashed the price of a variety of its all-important...
News Craving Classic Castlevania? Saint Slayer Hits PS5, PS4 This April
8-bit action with full local co-op
If you’re looking forward to the new Castlevania game coming from Konami later this year, then may we recommend Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege in the meantime. It’s due out 20th April for both PS5 and PS4. This throwback NES-inspired adventure looks to take its inspiration from the early era of Castlevania,...
Monday23rd Feb 2026
News Yet Another Live Service Game Bites the Dust, But PS5 Players Get a Full Refund
Meat your maker
Hey, remember King of Meat? Maybe? Kind of? Well, it released for PS5 on the 7th October last year, and now it's been removed for digital storefronts, ahead of being completely shut down in April. This is an online-only co-op game published by Amazon Game Studios, where teams of up to four players can tackle community-made dungeons...
Feature Going Platinum #13: Astro Bot Rescue Mission
Rescued it
Platinum Trophy #13: Astro Bot Rescue Mission Date Earned: 3rd March 2019 Dopamine Index: stars:5 Look, I messed up, didn't I? This was meant to go out last Saturday, and I straight up forgot to write it. If you were worried I'd lost interest, or run out of platinums to vaguely talk about, I'm afraid it's just my tired brain more...
News Forza Horizon 6's Renewed Focus on Progression Casts You as a Nobody in Japan
Playground talks game structure
While Forza Horizon 5 is a great open world arcade racer, it can very easily overwhelm with its constant unlocks and countless activities to chase. Especially coming to it late on PS5, it throws a lot at you from the off. It's very refreshing, then, that Forza Horizon 6 has an overhauled progression system that'll...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties?
Extreme takes
Now this should make for an interesting review score poll... Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties released over a week ago now, and it's been met with some very divided opinions. Critic reviews have largely settled around 7s and 8s, to the point where the remake is actually one of the lowest-rated Yakuza / Like a Dragon titles in years...
News Origins, Black Flag Creative Director Made Head of Assassin's Creed Franchise
History repeats
Following a significant shakeup of its overall business and production pipelines, Ubisoft has revealed that three franchise veterans will be responsible for Assassin's Creed going forward, under its new Vantage Studios umbrella. Given that this news has been broken by Variety magazine of all things (alongside Ubisoft's own
News Game Announcements and More in Nacon Connect 2026 Live Stream Next Week
Nacon, Nacoff
Modern gamers can't go five minutes without some sort of video game-related presentation to look forward to, so thank goodness for Nacon, which has just announced Nacon Connect 2026. The publisher has scheduled in the broadcast for 4th March, 2026 at the following times: 8PM CET 4th Mar 2026 Nacon Connect 2026 will "highlight the...
News First PS Plus Essential Game for March 2026 Leaked Early
Forward, March
Like clockwork, Billbil-kun has leaked one of the titles in PS Plus Essential's upcoming monthly games selection. The leaker, who has accurately named countless PS Plus games in the past, reports via Dealabs that the "headline" game for March 2026's lineup will be PGA Tour 2K25. It'll be one of the games made available to all PS...
News Monster Hunter Stories 3 Is Just as Long as Previous Games, Despite Being Way More Cinematic
Winging it
Despite a clear focus on more ambitious storytelling, complete with loads of big budget cutscenes, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is just about as long as its relatively humble predecessors. This is according to a 4Gamer interview that's been doing the rounds, in which series veteran and executive producer Ryozo Tsujimoto...
News 'A Level of Passion That's Never Been Seen Before':.hack//ZERO Developer Goes All-In On New RPG
ZERO to hero
In case you missed it, a brand new .hack game was announced last week, named .hack//ZERO. The reveal was obviously a big deal for developer CyberConnect 2, in celebration of the company's 30th anniversary — but it really does sound like the studio's throwing absolutely everything at the project. Indeed, the revival of .hack is so...
News Legendary Anime Evangelion Is Getting a Brand New Series Written by NieR's Yoko Taro
NieR and far
In news that's got the world of anime rubbing its eyes, a brand new Evangelion series has been announced. But what does that have to do with video games? Well, it's actually being written by Yoko Taro — the (often twisted) mind behind the NieR games. We certainly didn't see that one coming. What's more, the score's being handled by...
News Saints Row Is 'Dead' Says Design Director After Prequel Pitch 'Ghosted' by Embracer Group
Death row
It sounds like the Saints Row series isn't doing too hot right now. Chris Stockman, design director on the first game in the franchise, certainly seems to think it's the end of the road for the open world action series. A few months ago, Stockman shared with the Saints Row Reddit that he was asked to propose
News Don't Forget, PC Engine's City Hunter Tie-In Drops Digitally on PS5 This Week
With new modes, re-tuned content, and more
The original City Hunter manga is getting an all-new omnibus print in English right now, and publisher Clouded Leopard Entertainment is celebrating with a worldwide release of SUNSOFT’s PC Engine tie-in. This game, previously only available in Japanese, first launched in 1990. Here you’ll find the...
News Toaplan All-Timers Twin Cobra, Tiger-Heli Come to PS4 This Week
But there's a catch
Two iconic 80s Toaplan shooters will release on the PS4 this week, from 26th February – but there’s a catch to this M2 collection that’s worth pointing out. The base package will include arcade ports of 1985’s Tiger-Heli alongside 1988’s legendary successor Twin Cobra, both enhanced with various quality-of-life...
News Roguelite Double Dragon Gaiden Is Quietly Becoming a PS5, PS4 Must Play
Bimmy becomes canon
We liked retro beat-‘em-up roguelite Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons when it first released, but outstanding post-release support has quietly transformed this into a PS5 and PS4 essential. Dev Secret Base has been adding free character content to this game for over a year now, culminating in the release of four new...
Feature Last Chance to Buy These 70+ PS5, PS4 Games in PS Store's Critics' Choice Sale
Top PS5 and PS4 games going cheap
Sony has introduced its latest offer to the PS Store, and this time it's the Critics' Choice sale. Closing on 25th February 2026, it contains thousands of digital goodies to browse through. To make that experience a little easier to manage, we've put together a shorter list of games we wholeheartedly recommend...
Feature Last Chance to Get These 30+ PS5, PS4 Games in PS Store's PlayStation Indies Sale
Discounted PS5 and PS4 games we recommend
If the Critics' Choice sale isn't enough for you, Sony has now introduced a second offer on the PS Store — the PlayStation Indies sale. Closing on 25th February 2026, it features another big batch of PS5 and PS4 games going cheap. We've whittled down the sale to a more manageable list of recommendations...
Guide These 12+ PS5, PS4 Games Are Coming Out This Week (23rd-1st March)
Resident Evil Requiem! Tokyo Xtreme Racer! Towerborne!
Whew, the number of games coming out this week may not be particularly high, but they're big'uns! You've got Tokyo Xtreme Racer making its long-awaited return, as well as Xbox's Towerborne dropping at last. And oh yeah, there's a little game called Resident Evil Requiem coming out. Here's...
Sunday22nd Feb 2026
News Dragon Ball XenoVerse 3 Leaks as Mystery Game's Identity Is Revealed
Back to the future
The mysterious Dragon Ball video game project that was announced back in January has seemingly suffered a leak, revealing its identity. Yep, 'AGE 1000' — as it was previously named — is apparently Dragon Ball XenoVerse 3, a sequel to the wildly popular Dragon Ball XenoVerse 2. The leak comes from Bandai Namco's own YouTube...
News Genshin Impact Anime Reappears After Years in the Wilderness
Witch on the Holy Night, Tales series also getting adaptations
The long-awaited Genshin Impact anime, first announced all the way back in 2022, is still in production at powerhouse studio ufotable. As part of a promotional reel confirming its upcoming projects, the Japanese company listed its adaptation of HoYoverse’s hit gacha alongside major...
Saturday21st Feb 2026
News Incoming Xbox Boss Promises a 'Renewed Commitment to Console', and 'Hears' Fans on Skipping PS5
But Nadella says "we're a top publisher across all platforms"
Upper-brass Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond are both out at Xbox with immediate effect, and new CEO Asha Sharma is in. This all raises interesting questions about the future of Microsoft’s gaming division under new leadership, as it’s spent the past 18 months or so pivoting to...
News Jan 2026 USA Sales: 5-Year-Old PS5 Nudges Nintendo's New Switch 2 Aside
Start as you meant to go on
After losing the December 2025 sales battle to the Switch 2, PS5 was once again the best-selling console in the US this January, ranked by both units and dollar sales. The console, which is now more than five-years-old, was propped up by some lingering holiday bundles. But while it doesn’t sound like there was a huge...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 621
Short but sweet
It's just a week until Resident Evil Requiem releases, so we're sure many of you are in a holding pattern until then. Here's what we're playing this weekend. Jamie O'Neill: We're into the second month of my New Year's resolution to play 12 PS5 games in 2026, which aren't available on PS4, so for February it's Arkane Studios'...
Friday20th Feb 2026
News Star Wars: Galactic Racer Seems Like an Exciting Mix of Burnout, MotorStorm, and WipEout
Next best thing
In what was a pretty dang great State of Play presentation, the gameplay trailer for Star Wars: Galactic Racer may have been one of the highlights, and in a recent developer interview, we're picking up some really good vibes about this arcade racer's direction.
News Two Far Cry Games, 'Several' Assassin's Creed Games in Development, Ubisoft Confirms
Guillemot spills some beans
It sounds like Ubisoft is doubling down on its biggest franchises following its massive corporate restructure. In an interview with Variety, CEO Yves Guillemot has revealed some of the publisher's plans for the future, and if you're a big fan of Assassin's Creed and Far Cry, it's good news. As
News Phil Spencer Stepping Down, Sarah Bond Leaving Microsoft in Huge Xbox Shake-Up
End of the line
Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft's gaming division, is retiring from the role. Additionally, Xbox president Sarah Bond is exiting the company. These two departures are part of a big shift in leadership at the top of Xbox, announced today via emails from those at the top. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, has announced that Asha...
News God of War's Next Main Game Looking Ever More Likely to Explore Egyptian Mythology
Dataminer finds links to new setting
After decimating the Greek gods and surviving the harsh Norse mythos, it really does seem like God of War is poised to move to Egypt in the next leg of the saga. A dataminer appears to have discovered some dialogue hidden within the files of God of War Ragnarok, and if it holds any weight, it could be a big clue...
Tings for the memories
Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition was expected from Ubisoft after leaking just days prior, but its contents weren't. This is a retro collection from Digital Eclipse, most recently known for their well-received Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection. The collection won't cost you an arm and a leg at just £17.99, but it's a strange...
News Stellar Blade Will Seemingly Be the Next PS5 Exclusive to Come to Rival Consoles
We can Adam and Eve it
Stellar Blade, a tentpole title for PS5 published by Sony, looks poised to entirely abandon PlayStation console exclusivity. While the game originally launched as a PlayStation exclusive, it was ported to PC last year, like so many of PlayStation’s first-party titles these days. But Korean dev Shift Up doesn’t want to...
News As Nier: Automata Reaches 10 Million Sales, Square Enix Teases More to Come
To be continued
Publisher Square Enix has announced that NieR: Automata has now surpassed 10 million copies sold worldwide. To commemorate this impressive milestone, the company has released the following video, which goes over the game's journey and its various related projects over the years: While this is notable news in itself, the video...
News Roblox Is Being Played More Than PlayStation and Steam Combined
Engagement figures are insane
You may have seen a recent report (from Matthew Ball) that reveals gaming is losing people to mobile apps and other sources of instant gratification entertainment. Even within just video games, though, PlayStation is up against crazy competition — not only from other platforms, but
News Sony's Left Bloodborne Fans More Frustrated Than Ever Following Bluepoint Shutdown
Cease and desist
In case you've somehow missed it, Sony made the decision yesterday to close Bluepoint Games, the studio behind incredibly well-received remakes like Shadow of the Colossus and PS5's standout launch title, Demon's Souls. It's caused a huge upset, with fans baffled that the studio didn't get to release a single game following its...
News Capcom Issues Reassurances as Resident Evil Requiem PS5 Leaks Run Rampant
"It's not long now"
Resident Evil Requiem is not set to release until next week, on 27th February, but we’re afraid to report early copies have already found their way into the hands of eager fans. While that’s not such a bad thing in isolation, spoilers are starting to spread, so be extra vigilant when you’re browsing the web over the next...
News Skate Is Placing New Map Area Behind a Paywall, and Fans Are Outraged
Squandered trust
Skate, the free-to-play rendition that's currently in early access on PS5 and PS4, has just announced some of the content and changes coming soon in Season 3, and one point in particular has fans really riled up. In a new update on the official site, developer Full Circle has announced that the tutorial island will be expanded and...
News Nioh 3 Is the Fastest-Selling Game in the Series, 1 Million Copies Sold in Two Weeks
Killer
It seems like Nioh 3 has been a big success for publisher Koei Tecmo; it's announced the game has now sold 1 million copies, two weeks out from its initial launch. Moreover, it's reached this sales milestone faster than the previous games, making it the fastest-selling entry to date. As you can see in this post, Koei Tecmo has also...
News Saudi Arabia's Qiddiya Takes Full Control of Iconic Fighting Game Tournament Evo
We're not Qiddin'
In a muted announcement that’s perhaps not all that surprising considering the direction the wind’s been blowing, Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya now owns all of the iconic fighting game tournament, Evo. You may recall Sony and RTS rescuing the esports event several years ago. The former sold its stake to India’s NODWIN Gami
News Some Fans Think Fatal Fury PS5, PS4 Is Delivering Better Street Fighter Content Than SF6
And it's all free
If there’s one criticism of Street Fighter 6, which is an outstanding game, it’s that post-release content has been fairly slow to roll out. To be fair, the Capcom fighter has some pretty impressive production values, which makes adding things like new stages and costumes pretty time consuming. But it doesn’t look good when...
News Splinter Cell's PS5 Remake Survives Significant Ubisoft Studio Cull
Around 40 employees let go
Splinter Cell’s long-awaited PS5 remake is allegedly still alive and kicking, despite layoffs at developer Ubisoft Toronto. The publisher has culled around 8% of the Canadian studio’s headcount, totalling around 40 full-time staffers. Despite this, work will continue in earnest on Sam Fisher’s return, while the...
Guide PlayStation Studios: All Sony First-Party Developers and What They're Working On
Every game coming from PS Studios
Sony's first-party developers are known collectively as PlayStation Studios, and it's these teams that make all the games published by the company. Whether it's PS5, PC, or beyond, there are always new games in the works. While we don't always know everything about what's in development, we've done our best to...
Opinion Sony's Disgraceful Bluepoint Closure Should Concern Every PS Studios Fan
A sorry state of affairs
Sony disastrously and disgracefully shuttered Texas-based fan favourite Bluepoint yesterday. The long-time PS Studios partner never got a chance to ship a game under its new parent company. This news hit me particularly hard because I believe it reflects the erosion of once-great PlayStation management that I think we’ve...
News Kratos Voice Actor Makes Statement After Seemingly Spilling God of War PS5 Plans
"Let me be crystal clear"
Kratos’ voice actor Christopher Judge appears to have spilled the reveal plans for the next God of War. In a meet and greet exchange originally uploaded by Fuzhpuzy and mirrored on Reddit, the actor innocently reveals that fans will “hear about what we’re doing, probably late summer”. This actually aligns with
Thursday19th Feb 2026
News Memory Crisis Threatening to Delay PS6 Could Last 'Another 10 Years'
It's not looking good, folks
The memory component crisis threatening to delay the PS6 may not be resolved for another 10 years, according to Phison CEO Pua Khein-Seng. The Malaysian executive would know, of course: his company is responsible for various related products, including SSDs, flash drives, and so on. While much of the discussion has...
Good luck
As you'd expect, Sony and PlayStation have had to come out and say something about the shock decision to shut down Bluepoint Games. A statement from PlayStation Studios boss Hermen Hulst is doing the rounds online, in which the Dutch CEO attempts to rationalise the closure. He writes: "Hello everyone, I wanted to share an important...
Round Up Styx: Blades of Greed Is the Best-Reviewed Game in the Series
In good stealth
Reviews for Styx: Blades of Greed, the latest game in the reasonably well-liked stealth series, have arrived, and it appears to be the best-received title yet. There hasn't been a new Styx game for about nine years, but it seems like it'll have been worth the wait for fans. The critical consensus is that it's a well-executed...
News Sony Makes Shocking Decision to Shut Down Bluepoint Games
PlayStation Studio axed
In news that's genuinely sent us reeling, Sony is reportedly shutting down Bluepoint Games, the Austin-based developer that it acquired back in 2021, making it part of PlayStation Studios. Most notably, Bluepoint was behind the superb Shadow of the Colossus PS4 remake and the excellent Demon's Souls PS5 remake. Naturally...
Preview This GTA-Inspired Anime Game Took Me by Surprise on PS5
Mint
There were points playing NTE, the new GTA-inspired anime open world from Hotta Studio, where I genuinely wanted to applaud what I was seeing on the screen. Many of you will know that the production values of gacha games has been growing since the transformative success of Genshin Impact, with titles like Zenless Zone Zero and Infinity Nikki...
