Sony has confirmed the PS Plus July 2026 free games lineup: Call of Duty Modern Warfare III, For the King II, and CrossCode. All three titles are available to claim from July 7 through August 3 for Essential, Extra, and Premium subscribers.

Sony has officially revealed the PlayStation Plus monthly games for July 2026. Starting Tuesday, July 7, all PS Plus members across Essential, Extra, and Premium tiers can claim three new titles at no additional cost. The lineup features Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III as the headliner, alongside cooperative strategy RPG For the King II and critically acclaimed retro action RPG CrossCode. All three games are playable on both PS5 and PS4.

What Are the PS Plus Free Games for July 2026?

All three games will be available to claim from July 7 through August 3, 2026. Once added to your library during this window, they remain yours to keep and play for as long as you maintain an active PS Plus subscription.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III: The Month’s Biggest Title

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is the clear headliner for July. Developed by Sledgehammer Games and originally released in November 2023, it continues the rebooted Modern Warfare storyline with Captain Price and Task Force 141 facing off against Vladimir Makarov as he launches a new global threat.

The game ships with a single-player campaign, competitive multiplayer, and a large-scale open-world Zombies mode. While its Metacritic score of 56 on PS5 makes it one of the lower-rated entries in the franchise (critics widely criticised the short campaign for repurposing battle royale maps), the multiplayer and Zombies modes received significantly warmer receptions. IGN described the campaign as “underbaked and rehashed,” but many outlets acknowledged that multiplayer fans would still find months of entertainment.

For players who never picked it up at full price, getting it through PS Plus removes the financial barrier entirely. The multiplayer community remains active, and the Zombies mode offers a substantial cooperative experience.

For the King II: Tabletop Strategy Meets Roguelite Adventure

For the King II blends tabletop RPG mechanics with roguelite gameplay in a way that rewards careful planning and teamwork. Players explore the kingdom of Fahrul, recruit allies, and battle powerful enemies in a quest to stop Queen Rosomon’s growing army. The game supports solo play as well as cooperative parties of up to four players, both locally and online.

With a Metacritic score of 76 and 90% of critics giving positive reviews, For the King II represents a solid sequel to the cult classic original. The game earned praise for its engaging cooperative systems, though some reviewers noted that certain mechanics can feel opaque to newcomers. It shines brightest as a multiplayer experience, making it a strong pick if you have friends to play with.

CrossCode: The Hidden Gem of the Month

CrossCode is a retro-inspired 2D action RPG from Radical Fish Games that combines pixel-art visuals reminiscent of the SNES era with surprisingly deep modern gameplay systems. The game features fast-paced combat, intricate dungeon puzzles, extensive character customisation, and a compelling sci-fi narrative set inside a virtual MMO world.

This is arguably the strongest title in July’s lineup from a critical perspective. CrossCode holds a Metacritic score of 82 on PS4 and 86 on PC, with 87% of critics on OpenCritic recommending it. On Steam, it has accumulated over 10,000 “very positive” reviews. Critics praised its combat depth, story, and sheer volume of content. If you enjoy action RPGs and appreciate retro aesthetics with modern design sensibility, CrossCode is the game to prioritise this month.

Last Chance: Claim June’s PS Plus Games Before They Leave

Before the July titles arrive, make sure you have claimed June 2026’s free games. They will leave the monthly games lineup on July 6:

• Grounded: Fully Yoked Edition (PS5, PS4)
• Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 (PS5, PS4)
• Warhammer 40,000: Darktide (PS5)

After July 6, these titles can no longer be added to your library for free. If you have not claimed them yet, log in and add them before the deadline.

Games Leaving the PS Plus Catalogue in July

PS Plus Extra and Premium subscribers should also be aware that several games are leaving the Game Catalogue on July 21, 2026. Sony initially listed 13 departures but has since deferred some to August, bringing the confirmed July exits down to eight titles:

• Risk of Rain 2
• Tropico 6
• The Jackbox Party Pack 9
• Source of Madness
• Cursed to Golf
• Hundred Days: Winemaking Simulator
• Infinite Minigolf

If any of these are on your backlog, download and start them before July 21. Once removed, you will lose access unless you purchase them separately.

How Much Does PS Plus Cost in 2026?

Sony implemented a global price increase in 2026, affecting monthly and quarterly plans across all tiers. In Europe, current pricing for PS Plus Essential starts at €10.99 per month, €24.99 for three months, or €71.99 for 12 months. Extra and Premium tiers come at higher price points, with Premium reaching €16.99 per month or €49.99 for three months in many European markets.

July’s monthly games are available to all PS Plus members regardless of tier. If your primary interest is the monthly free games and online multiplayer access, the Essential tier is the most cost-effective option. Extra and Premium add access to the broader Game Catalogue, classic titles, cloud streaming, and game trials.

How to Claim PS Plus Monthly Games

Claiming your monthly games takes just a few steps. Open the PlayStation Store on your console or via the PlayStation App, navigate to the PS Plus section, and select each game to add it to your library. You do not need to download them immediately. Simply adding them to your library is enough to secure access. You can then download and play them whenever you choose, as long as your PS Plus subscription remains active.

The July games will be available to claim from July 7 through August 3. Missing this window means losing the opportunity to add them for free, so set a reminder if you tend to forget.

Is the July 2026 PS Plus Lineup Worth It?

July 2026 offers a diverse selection that covers three distinct genres. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III brings blockbuster multiplayer action, even if its campaign disappointed critics. For the King II provides a strong cooperative strategy option for groups of friends. CrossCode stands out as the critical darling of the month, offering dozens of hours of polished action RPG gameplay with an 82+ Metacritic score.

For anyone on the fence about maintaining their PS Plus subscription, this month delivers meaningful variety. CrossCode alone justifies the claim, and getting a full Call of Duty title at no extra cost removes any reason not to try the franchise. Whether you play solo or with friends, there is something in this lineup for most types of PlayStation gamer.

Bethesda has confirmed The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered launches on Nintendo Switch 2 on August 11, 2026. The announcement came with a humorous live-action trailer starring the Adoring Fan, alongside confirmed tech specs, edition details, and physical cartridge confirmation.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered will launch on Nintendo Switch 2 on August 11, 2026. Bethesda confirmed the date on June 30 with a live-action release date trailer centred around the game’s famously persistent Adoring Fan character. Originally released in April 2025 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, Oblivion Remastered is now making its first appearance on a Nintendo platform, rebuilt from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5.

What Happens in the Adoring Fan Trailer?

The roughly two-minute reveal trailer is primarily a live-action comedy skit featuring a real-world version of the Adoring Fan, the devoted NPC who follows Grand Champions around in the original Oblivion. The video ends with the line “The Adoring Fan will be able to follow you wherever you go with Oblivion Remastered coming soon to Nintendo Switch 2.”

Actual gameplay footage is limited to approximately 20 seconds near the end of the trailer. That small window immediately sparked discussion among fans. Comments on ResetEra described the in-game footage as “choppy” and “rough,” with one poster writing: “This runs like nuclear ass on my 13700k/5090 rig, and on PS5/XSX as well. This is going to be a disaster.” Others countered that Fallout 4’s Switch 2 launch had similar early roughness that was eventually smoothed out through patches.

Confirmed Technical Specs for Switch 2

Bethesda confirmed the following performance targets for the Switch 2 version, both relying on NVIDIA DLSS upscaling:

• Handheld mode: 900p resolution at 30 fps
• Docked mode: 1080p resolution at 30 fps

The internal render resolution before DLSS upscaling will be considerably lower in both modes. For a game rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5 that already pushes PS5 and high-end PCs, hitting a stable 30 fps on Switch 2 hardware is an ambitious target. The original remaster has faced persistent performance issues across all platforms, including traversal stutters in the open world and performance degradation during longer play sessions. As of mid-2026, Digital Foundry noted these problems remained largely unresolved on PC and consoles.

On a positive note, there are signs that Virtuos has retained Unreal Engine 5’s Lumen global illumination system for the Switch 2 port. Interior shots from early footage show rich indirect lighting, though quality appears to vary between scenes. The hope is that optimisations made for Switch 2’s lower-powered hardware could also benefit the PS5, Xbox Series, and PC versions in a future update.

Switch 2-Specific Control Features

The Switch 2 version introduces several platform-specific control options that are not available on other consoles:

• Motion controls: Joy-Con-based motion input for combat and exploration
• Touch screen support: Direct interaction with menus and inventory
• Joy-Con mouse mode: Available for both left and right hands, offering finer aiming precision for archery and spellcasting

Bethesda says these features provide “more flexibility than ever for players,” making the portable version a distinctly different control experience compared to the PS5 and Xbox versions.

Editions, Pricing, and What’s Included

Three purchasing options are available for the Switch 2 version:

Every edition includes the full base game, the Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine story expansions, and all additional content packs: Fighter’s Stronghold, Spell Tomes, Vile Lair, Mehrune’s Razor, The Thieves Den, Wizard’s Tower, The Orrery, and the iconic Horse Armor Pack. The Deluxe Edition adds exclusive Akatosh and Mehrunes Dagon armour sets, weapons, and horse armour, unlocked through unique in-game quests.

A Deluxe Edition upgrade will also be available for players who purchase the Standard Edition first, so nobody has to commit to the higher tier immediately.

Physical Edition Comes with a Proper Cartridge

In an era where many Switch 2 physical releases ship with only a download code inside the box, Bethesda confirmed that the Oblivion Remastered physical Deluxe Edition includes a proper game card containing the full base game. This is not a “Game-Key Card” situation, unlike what happened with some other major Switch 2 releases.

The cartridge holds the base game in full. Bethesda has been less specific about whether the Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine expansions are also on the card or require a separate download. The additional smaller DLC packs and the Deluxe Edition bonus content will need to be downloaded. Physical and digital pre-orders are live now.

How Did Oblivion Remastered Originally Launch?

Bethesda shadow-dropped Oblivion Remastered on April 22, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Developed by Virtuos in partnership with Bethesda Game Studios, the game is a complete rebuild in Unreal Engine 5, effectively making it closer to a remake than a traditional remaster. Improvements include overhauled visuals, modernised combat with dodge and sprint mechanics, a reworked levelling system, new voice recordings, and quality-of-life updates. IGN scored the game 8 out of 10, calling it “a fantastic modernization of an iconic open-world RPG.”

The Switch 2 version was first announced during the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase on February 5, 2026, alongside Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. At the time, no specific release date was given beyond a “2026” window. The Virtuos team, which handled the original port work across all platforms, is also developing the Switch 2 version.

Should You Be Worried About Performance?

Performance concerns are not baseless. Oblivion Remastered has struggled with optimisation across every platform since its 2025 launch. The UE5 rebuild introduced traversal stuttering tied to the original game’s world-streaming design, and a longer-session degradation issue was flagged by Digital Foundry shortly after release. A 1.2 patch promised improvements but delivered negligible frame-rate changes in testing.

That said, the Switch 2 situation is not necessarily doom. Virtuos has direct experience with the game’s engine pipeline, and optimisations targeting lower-powered hardware could force code-level improvements that benefit every platform. Compared to the original non-remastered console releases, which were infamous for poor performance on Xbox 360 and PS3, even a compromised Switch 2 port would likely run far better than those old versions. The real question is whether 30 fps can hold consistently during open-world traversal and in demanding areas like Oblivion gates.

How Does Pricing Compare to Other Platforms?

Oblivion Remastered’s Switch 2 pricing matches its PS5, Xbox, and PC launch pricing: $49.99 for Standard and $59.99 for Deluxe. This is notably competitive in the Switch 2 ecosystem, where first-party Nintendo titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Switch 2 Edition launched at $69.99 without DLC included, pushing the full experience to $89.99. Oblivion Remastered includes all expansions and DLC in every edition at a lower base price.

On Xbox and PC, the game remains available at no extra cost through Game Pass Ultimate. That option does not apply to the Switch 2 version, which must be purchased through the Nintendo eShop or at retail.

Questions Players Are Asking

Does the Switch 2 version include all DLC?

Yes. Every edition ships with the full base game, both story expansions (Shivering Isles and Knights of the Nine), and all additional content packs. The Deluxe Edition adds exclusive Akatosh and Mehrunes Dagon gear on top of that.

Will it run at 60 fps in any mode?

Not according to current confirmed specs. Bethesda’s official targets are 30 fps in both handheld and docked modes. No 60 fps option has been announced.

Is the Adoring Fan in the Switch 2 version?

Absolutely. The Adoring Fan is a core part of the original game and is fully present in the Remastered version on all platforms, including Switch 2. The release date trailer essentially builds its entire comedy premise around him.

Is there mod support on Switch 2?

No mod support has been announced for the Switch 2 version. The original Oblivion Remastered does not officially support mods on any platform.

Can I play it portable on day one?

Yes. The digital version will be available on the Nintendo eShop from August 11, and the physical Deluxe Edition ships the same day. Both support handheld play at 900p/30fps with DLSS.

Oblivion Remastered arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 on August 11, 2026, marking the first time an Elder Scrolls IV experience has been playable on a Nintendo console. With Virtuos handling the port, DLSS-backed visuals, unique Joy-Con controls, and a full physical cartridge option, it is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious third-party RPG ports the Switch platform has ever seen.

Microsoft is preparing the biggest restructuring in Xbox history. Arkane Lyon, Ninja Theory, Double Fine, Compulsion Games, and Undead Labs face closure or sale. Marvel’s Blade has gone over budget and slipped to late 2027, putting its future in serious doubt.

Microsoft is preparing to dismantle a significant chunk of its Xbox first-party studio network. Reports from Bloomberg, The Verge, and IGN confirm that at least five studios are at risk of closure or sale, with layoffs targeting roughly 1,000 employees expected to begin around 6 July 2026. Among the studios in danger is Arkane Lyon, the acclaimed French developer behind Dishonored and Deathloop, whose in-development Marvel’s Blade has reportedly gone over budget and slipped from a late 2026 release to late 2027.

Why Is Xbox Gutting Its Own Studios?

The answer lies in a devastating internal memo. New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, who replaced Phil Spencer in February 2026, co-signed a “Next 100 Days: Xbox Reset” message with chief content officer Matt Booty. The numbers inside were stark: excluding Activision Blizzard King, Xbox spent over $20 billion on content, platform, and hardware subsidies over the past five years, yet annual revenue declined by nearly $500 million during that same period. The division currently operates at roughly a 3% accountability margin.

Phil Spencer’s acquisition-heavy strategy between 2018 and 2023, which included the $8.1 billion ZeniMax Media purchase and the landmark Activision Blizzard merger, inflated Xbox’s studio count to unprecedented levels. But the Game Pass day-one model, which gave subscribers free access to every first-party release, cannibalised direct sales without generating enough subscription revenue to compensate. The result: critically praised games with commercial returns too weak to justify their development budgets.

Which Studios Are on the Chopping Block?

Based on reporting from The Verge’s Tom Warren, Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, and GamesBeat, the five studios most at risk are:

• Ninja Theory (Cambridge, UK): Creator of the Hellblade series. Employees were told on 15 June that the studio is closing. Just eight days earlier, Ninja Theory had revealed its next game, Senua, at the Xbox Games Showcase. Game File reported that Microsoft hoped the announcement would attract buyer interest, even though the decision to “sunset or split” was already made.
• Double Fine (San Francisco, US): Tim Schafer’s studio behind Psychonauts, Keeper, and Kiln. Currently in active negotiations for a management buyout or spin-off.
• Compulsion Games (Montreal, Canada): Developer of South of Midnight and We Happy Few, with over 100 staff. Sources say leadership is “convinced that closure is imminent.”
• Undead Labs (Seattle, US): The State of Decay developer. Approximately 110 jobs are at risk. State of Decay 3 gameplay was shown at the Xbox Showcase in June, making the timing especially jarring.
• Arkane Lyon (Lyon, France): The surviving half of Arkane Studios after Arkane Austin was shut down in May 2024. Currently developing Marvel’s Blade.

All five studios delivered critically acclaimed titles. None produced the commercial returns Microsoft’s spreadsheets demanded under its current financial pressure.

What Is Happening with Arkane Lyon and Marvel’s Blade?

Arkane Lyon is one of the most respected immersive-sim studios in the industry. Its portfolio includes Dishonored, Dishonored 2, and Deathloop. It is the last remaining Arkane office after Microsoft closed Arkane Austin, the team behind Prey and the ill-fated Redfall, in 2024.

Marvel’s Blade was announced at The Game Awards in December 2023 with a short cinematic teaser. Since then, virtually nothing has been shown publicly. According to The Verge, the game was originally planned for a late 2026 release, but the internal date has slipped to late 2027 and the project has gone over budget. Full production reportedly only began in late 2024 or early 2025, which partly explains the absence of gameplay footage.

Microsoft is weighing two paths: cancel the game and close Arkane, or sell the studio (with the project) to an outside buyer. The Verge notes that these sale negotiations could take months, and even if Arkane is spun off, layoffs within the studio remain likely.

Is Marvel’s Blade Actually Cancelled?

Not officially. No cancellation has been announced by Microsoft or Arkane Lyon. Multiple signals suggest the game is still alive, at least for now. Bethesda Game Studios head Todd Howard said in late June that he had seen internal work on 21 May and described the team as “doing a really, really great job.” Arkane’s lead concept artist Jean-Luc Monnet responded to fan concerns after the Xbox Showcase no-show with a “Let us cook” GIF on X. Creative director Dinga Bakaba publicly reaffirmed the project in December 2025.

However, The Verge’s 30 June report explicitly states that Microsoft “wants to cancel Blade” as part of its cost-cutting wave. Insider Jeff Grubb initially placed the cancellation probability at roughly 70% before walking the claim back. The situation remains deeply uncertain.

Craig Duncan’s Departure and the Leadership Vacuum

Adding to the turmoil, Craig Duncan, head of Xbox Game Studios, resigned on 15 June 2026 after just 18 months in the role. His departure handed direct oversight of all first-party studios to Matt Booty until a replacement is named. The timing, days after the Showcase and just before confirmed closures, signals that the reset is reshaping Xbox’s management structure alongside its studio portfolio.

Duncan previously led Rare and had been with Microsoft for 15 years. His exit followed the Sharma-Booty reset memo, suggesting senior leaders are either being pushed out or choosing to leave rather than execute the cuts.

The Game Pass Problem No One Solved

Game Pass was supposed to be Xbox’s competitive edge: a Netflix-for-games subscription that would lock in millions of players. Instead, it created a structural problem. Every first-party title launched free to subscribers on day one, which suppressed individual game sales. Studios like Ninja Theory and Compulsion Games saw strong engagement metrics but minimal direct revenue. The subscription pool never grew fast enough to cover the gap.

Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier summarised the dynamic bluntly: these studios were “brilliant for prestige and rotten for the spreadsheet.” Microsoft’s own internal language echoed this, admitting the company “acquired too many studios” without providing the budgets needed for them to compete.

What Happens in July 2026?

Microsoft’s fiscal year ended on 30 June. Bloomberg, The Verge, and GamesBeat all point to early July as the window when layoffs begin and studio fates are formalised. The Verge specifically mentioned 6 July as the expected start date for workforce reductions. Marketing budgets across the division are also being slashed significantly.

For the studios at risk, three outcomes remain possible: full closure, sale to an external publisher, or a management buyout for independence. Ninja Theory appears closest to closure, with employees already told to look for new jobs. Double Fine and Compulsion Games are negotiating spin-offs. Undead Labs is seeking a buyer. Arkane Lyon’s fate is tied to whether Microsoft can sell the studio before deciding to cancel Marvel’s Blade outright.

Jason Schreier’s warning on Bluesky captures the scale of what is coming: “The Xbox of July will look drastically different than the Xbox of June.”

Questions Players Are Asking Right Now

Will Marvel’s Blade ever release?

It depends entirely on Arkane Lyon’s survival. If the studio is sold with the project intact, development could continue toward a 2027 or later release. If Microsoft cancels the game before a buyer is found, Blade is finished. Todd Howard’s recent comments and Arkane staff activity suggest work continues for now, but The Verge’s reporting makes clear that cancellation is actively on the table.

Is Ninja Theory definitely closing?

The Verge reported that staff were informed of the closure on 15 June. The studio is hoping to find a buyer, but if no acquisition deal materialises, the closure is final. Game File added that Microsoft used the Senua announcement at the Showcase to attract potential investor interest, even though the split was already planned.

What about the games these studios were making?

State of Decay 3, Senua, and Marvel’s Blade all depend on whether their respective studios survive the restructuring. In a sale scenario, development can continue under new ownership. In a closure scenario, projects are typically cancelled or, more rarely, transferred to another team. Microsoft has not publicly confirmed any game cancellations.

Which Xbox studios are safe?

Major revenue-generating and flagship studios appear secure: Activision Blizzard King, Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, MachineGames, Obsidian Entertainment, Playground Games, The Coalition, and Turn 10. The restructuring is focused on studios with high critical acclaim but weak commercial performance relative to their operating costs.

Has Microsoft officially confirmed any of this?

Microsoft has not issued a public statement on specific studio closures or game cancellations beyond the internal reset memo. All reporting is based on sources speaking to Bloomberg, The Verge, Kotaku, GamesBeat, and IGN. Official confirmation is expected in early July 2026.

Cyberpunk 2077 hit 87,000 concurrent Steam players, its highest in 2.5 years, driven by a historic 70% discount and the Edgerunners Season 2 trailer.

Cyberpunk 2077 surpassed 87,000 concurrent players on Steam over the weekend of June 29, 2026, marking its highest peak in roughly two and a half years. According to SteamDB data, the last time CD Projekt RED’s open-world RPG put up numbers this high was in late 2023, during the Phantom Liberty DLC launch window. The surge arrived without any new game content, driven entirely by a record-breaking Steam discount and fresh promotional momentum from Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Season 2.

What Caused the Player Spike?

Two events converged at the same time. The Steam Summer Sale, running from June 25 through July 9, 2026, slashed Cyberpunk 2077’s price by 70%, bringing the base game down to $17.99 from $59.99. This is the deepest discount the game has ever received on Steam, beating a previous record of 65% set in April 2026. The Phantom Liberty expansion is 40% off at $17.99, and the Ultimate Edition bundle sits at 60% off for $33.10.

On the same weekend, Netflix, CD Projekt RED, and Studio Trigger released the second official teaser trailer for Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2. The combination of the lowest-ever price point and renewed cultural buzz around the franchise created conditions for a rapid doubling of the game’s typical concurrent player count, which had been averaging around 28,000 to 32,000 throughout spring 2026.

The Numbers in Context

Steam Charts data paints a clear picture. The game’s 24-hour peak hit 87,025 on June 29. For comparison, the previous months looked considerably quieter: May 2026 peaked at 53,569, April at 50,852, and March at 53,058. The all-time concurrent record remains 830,387 from launch day in December 2020, and the post-launch high was 273,990 during the Phantom Liberty release in October 2023.

What makes this surge noteworthy is context. Cyberpunk 2077 is a purely single-player RPG with no battle pass, no seasonal content drops, and no live-service loop. For a 5.5-year-old game in that category to consistently pull 25,000 to 40,000 daily players, and then spike to 87,000 on media excitement alone, is genuinely rare.

Edgerunners 2: A New Story in Night City

The Edgerunners 2 teaser, which dropped on June 29, introduced four new main characters for a standalone 10-episode story set in Night City. The season is confirmed for a fall 2026 premiere on Netflix. Unlike the first season, which followed David Martinez, the new arc features an entirely fresh cast.

The four protagonists are Roman Carax, a young cinephile who records everything through a vintage camcorder; D, a revenge-driven netrunner from Snake Nation; Talia Yang, a lethal ex-corpo operative; and Weak “King” Kingsley, a veteran edgerunner teetering on the edge of cyberpsychosis. Much of the teaser is presented through Roman’s grainy camcorder lens, giving the footage a distinctive found-footage aesthetic.

Director Kai Ikarashi takes the lead after helming one of Season 1’s standout episodes. Showrunner Bartosz Sztybor returns and has described the second season as “sadder, darker, more bloody, more raw.” Character designer Kanno Ichigo also returns. The original score is composed by Tsuneo Imahori, with Rico Nasty’s “You Can’t Run From Me” featured in the teaser.

This Pattern Has Happened Before

The original Edgerunners anime created an even more dramatic player surge in September 2022. Before the show launched, Cyberpunk 2077 averaged around 10,000 to 15,000 concurrent players on Steam. Within days of the anime premiering alongside a 50% discount, the count exploded to 136,724 concurrent users. The game shot back to number one on Steam’s sales charts and CD Projekt RED reported one million daily players across all platforms.

That 2022 resurgence fundamentally changed the game’s reputation trajectory. Combined with the 2.0 overhaul and Phantom Liberty, it helped Cyberpunk 2077 climb from a cautionary tale about broken launches to a recommended modern classic. The current 2026 spike follows the same playbook: anime buzz plus steep discount equals massive player influx.

Wuthering Waves Crossover Expanded the Audience

Adding to the franchise’s visibility, a major crossover between Wuthering Waves and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners launched on June 8, 2026. Developed in partnership with CD Projekt RED, the collaboration brought Lucy and Rebecca into Kuro Games’ gacha RPG as playable 5-star characters. Rebecca was offered for free, while Lucy appeared on a limited banner.

The crossover included a dedicated Night City-themed area called Somnoire, an Adam Smasher boss fight, and a full storyline quest. Running until July 9, 2026, the event bridged two very different gaming communities and kept the Cyberpunk brand in active conversation throughout June, right before the Edgerunners 2 trailer amplified everything further.

PS5 Pro Update Boosted Console Performance

CD Projekt RED released a free PS5 Pro update on April 8, 2026, adding a performance mode with up to 120 fps support and a ray tracing mode with dynamic 4K resolution scaling. This technical refresh addressed hardware optimization on Sony’s latest console and contributed to sustained player engagement on the console side, even as the Steam numbers grabbed headlines.

35 Million Copies and a Sequel in Development

Cyberpunk 2077 crossed 35 million copies sold worldwide by November 2025, outpacing The Witcher 3’s sales trajectory over the same timeframe. The franchise’s future is actively being built: Cyberpunk 2, previously codenamed Project Orion, is in full production with a team of 135 developers. Creator Mike Pondsmith revealed at Digital Dragons 2025 that the sequel will feature a brand-new city alongside Night City, describing it as “like Chicago gone wrong.”

Things Players Want to Know

How much does Cyberpunk 2077 cost right now?

During the Steam Summer Sale (through July 9, 2026), the base game is $17.99 (70% off), Phantom Liberty is $17.99 (40% off), and the Ultimate Edition bundle is $33.10 (60% off). This is the game’s lowest recorded price on Steam.

When does Edgerunners Season 2 release?

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 premieres on Netflix in fall 2026. No exact date has been announced yet. The second teaser trailer was released on June 29, 2026.

Are David and Lucy in Edgerunners 2?

Season 2 is a standalone story with an entirely new cast of four main characters. Whether any Season 1 characters will make cameo appearances has not been confirmed.

Is Cyberpunk 2077 worth playing in 2026?

The game is in a fundamentally different state than its 2020 launch. The 2.0 update and Phantom Liberty expansion overhauled core systems, and user reviews on Steam have climbed to “Very Positive” territory. At $17.99, it is at its most accessible price point ever.

Will Cyberpunk 2077 get more content updates?

CD Projekt RED has stated that major content updates for Cyberpunk 2077 are complete. Technical patches like the PS5 Pro update continue, but the studio’s primary focus has shifted to Cyberpunk 2 and The Witcher 4.

What is the Wuthering Waves crossover?

Wuthering Waves Version 3.4 introduced a Cyberpunk: Edgerunners collaboration featuring playable characters Lucy and Rebecca, a Night City-themed area, and story quests. The event runs from June 8 to July 9, 2026, and Rebecca is available for free.

Microsoft cut Game Pass prices after losing millions of subscribers, but the tradeoffs are significant: Call of Duty lost day-one access and third-party game deals are reportedly frozen. Xbox’s 100-day reset plan will shape the service’s future.

Xbox Game Pass lost millions of subscribers following a 50% price hike in October 2025, and Microsoft is now restructuring the entire service under new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma. Game Pass Ultimate dropped from $29.99 to $22.99 per month in April 2026, but the price cut came with a major concession: new Call of Duty games will no longer launch into Game Pass on day one. Now, reports from late June 2026 suggest that Microsoft has paused third-party Game Pass deals entirely, raising serious questions about the service’s content pipeline.

How the October 2025 Price Hike Backfired

In October 2025, Microsoft raised the price of Game Pass Ultimate from $19.99 to $29.99 per month, a 50% increase. PC Game Pass went from $11.99 to $16.49. In Europe, Ultimate climbed from £14.99 to £22.99 in the UK and from €17.99 to €26.99 in the Eurozone. The hike was positioned alongside bundled extras like Ubisoft+ Classics and Fortnite Crew, but the value proposition didn’t hold for a large portion of subscribers.

At Summer Game Fest 2026, Xbox Chief Strategy Officer Matthew Ball confirmed that Game Pass “shed millions of subscribers” within just a few months of the price increase. The service’s last confirmed subscriber count was 34 million as of February 2024, and by mid-2025 its annual revenue had reportedly approached $5 billion. The exact post-hike number has not been disclosed, but Sharma herself acknowledged in a May 2026 memo that “growth slowed and customer churn increased.”

What Changed in April 2026?

Under Sharma’s leadership, Microsoft reversed course with a significant but not complete price reduction. Effective April 21, 2026:

As industry analyst Christopher Dring noted, the Ultimate tier is still roughly 35% more expensive than it was two years ago. This is a partial rollback, not a return to pre-hike pricing. The lower tiers (Premium and Essential) were not adjusted at all.

Call of Duty Is No Longer a Day-One Game Pass Title

The most consequential change alongside the price cut was the removal of day-one Call of Duty access from Game Pass. Starting in 2026, new Call of Duty releases will only be added to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass approximately one year after launch, during the following holiday season. Existing Call of Duty titles in the library, including Black Ops 6 and Black Ops 7, remain available to subscribers.

This reverses one of the headline perks that Microsoft introduced after its $69 billion Activision Blizzard acquisition in 2023. Call of Duty was the single biggest subscriber magnet for Game Pass. The 2024 launch of Black Ops 6 was the first CoD to arrive on Game Pass on day one, and it was a central selling point for the service’s premium tier.

All other first-party Xbox games will continue launching into Game Pass on their release date. The EA Play, Ubisoft+ Classics, and Fortnite Crew benefits also remain intact in their respective tiers. Call of Duty is now the only first-party exception.

Why Are Third-Party Game Pass Deals Being Paused?

In late June 2026, reports surfaced that Microsoft had frozen new third-party Game Pass publishing deals. Fernando Rizo, a partner at Kaboodle Games, revealed on The Business of Video Games podcast that multiple developers he spoke with at the First Playable trade show in Florence, Italy (June 10-12, 2026) had their ongoing negotiations abruptly halted.

“Loads of people who were in the frame for Game Pass deals, nothing was inked yet, but the deals were in advanced discussions. Everybody got the rug pulled out from under them,” Rizo said. He characterized the situation as a “pause” rather than a permanent shutdown, suggesting that Xbox’s new leadership is reassessing its strategy before committing to new spending.

Windows Central’s Jez Corden investigated the claims and reported that a trusted source told him there are “no blanket plans to end funding for third-party games on Game Pass.” The frozen discussions appear tied to Microsoft’s fiscal year ending in June and the broader Xbox “reset” strategy rather than a permanent policy change. At least one publishing figure pushed back on the reports, calling them “not remotely accurate.” Microsoft has not publicly responded.

What This Means for Indie Developers

Game Pass deals have served as a crucial revenue safety net for independent studios. Smaller developers used these agreements to offset market risk, guarantee a baseline income, and benefit from Game Pass’s discovery engine, which surfaces indie titles to a massive subscriber base. If the freeze extends beyond a temporary fiscal-year pause, the pipeline of indie and mid-tier third-party games arriving on Game Pass 12 to 18 months from now could thin significantly.

In the first half of 2026, Game Pass added 47 more games than it removed, a 51-game improvement over the same stretch in 2025. The short-term catalogue remains healthy because deals arranged months or even over a year in advance continue to deliver. However, data from January 2026 departures showed that the average stay for third-party titles had dropped to roughly 10 months, suggesting shorter deal terms overall.

Asha Sharma’s 100-Day Reset: What Has Changed So Far?

Asha Sharma took over as Xbox CEO in February 2026 after Phil Spencer’s departure. In a memo obtained by The Verge, she acknowledged that excluding Activision Blizzard King, Xbox had spent over $20 billion on content, platform, and hardware subsidies over five years while annual revenue actually declined by nearly half a billion dollars during that same period.

The 100-day reset has produced a rapid series of moves:

• Game Pass Ultimate price cut from $29.99 to $22.99
• PC Game Pass reduced from $16.49 to $13.99
• Day-one Call of Duty access removed from Game Pass
• Xbox Series console hardware price increase of $100-$150 planned for August 2026
• Approximately 1,000 Xbox employees laid off
• Third-party Game Pass negotiations temporarily frozen

Sharma stated that after an eight-month decline, Game Pass has returned to growth with “expanding revenue retention.” She also described the current model as “not the final one” and said she envisions evolving Game Pass into “a more flexible system,” though structural changes will take time.

Games Leaving Game Pass in 2026

Throughout 2026, Game Pass has continued its regular cycle of catalogue removals. Notable departures include Rise of the Tomb Raider, Slay the Spire, Payday 2, Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, and Unpacking at the end of June. In May, high-profile titles Metaphor: ReFantazio and Persona 4 Golden left the service. Grand Theft Auto V departed in April 2026.

Game Pass subscribers can purchase departing titles at a minimum 20% discount before they leave. Some games receive deeper discounts during concurrent Xbox Store sales. While removals are a normal part of any subscription service’s rotation, the combination of regular departures and a potential slowdown in new third-party additions has raised concerns about long-term catalogue diversity.

Is Game Pass Still Worth It?

For players who regularly explore multiple games, Game Pass remains a strong value proposition. At $22.99 per month, Ultimate provides access to over 400 games across console, PC, and cloud, including day-one first-party launches from studios like Bethesda, Obsidian, Playground Games, and others. Upcoming titles like Gears of War: E-Day and Fable are expected to launch directly into the service.

The calculus has shifted for subscribers who joined primarily for Call of Duty. Those players now face full retail prices (typically £70/$80 for new releases) and will only see new CoD titles on Game Pass about a year after launch. For this group, the price reduction may not offset the lost benefit.

The Premium tier at $14.99 offers over 200 games and gets first-party titles within a year of release rather than on day one. The Essential tier at $9.99 covers online multiplayer and a smaller selection of 50+ games but includes no new releases.

What Players Want to Know

Will first-party games still launch on Game Pass day one? Yes. Every Xbox-published game except Call of Duty will continue arriving on Game Pass on its release date. This includes upcoming titles from Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda, and other Microsoft-owned studios.

Is the third-party deal pause permanent? Current evidence suggests it is temporary, tied to Microsoft’s fiscal year transition and Xbox’s strategic reset. However, Microsoft has neither confirmed nor denied the reports, so the duration remains unclear.

Will Game Pass prices drop further? Sharma has described the current pricing as “a good first step” and hinted at a “more flexible system” in the future. Whether that means further reductions, new tier options, or structural changes has not been specified.

Are existing games being removed because of the freeze? No. Regular catalogue rotations are a standard part of Game Pass and are governed by pre-existing licensing agreements. The reported freeze affects new deals being negotiated, not titles already contracted to appear on the service.

Could a higher tier with day-one Call of Duty return? There has been chatter about a potential premium add-on or higher-tier plan that would restore day-one Call of Duty access, but Microsoft has not announced anything official.

The Bigger Picture for Xbox Game Pass

Microsoft positioned Game Pass as the gaming industry’s answer to Netflix, a subscription model that could reshape how people buy and play games. The $69 billion Activision Blizzard acquisition was meant to supercharge that vision with the world’s biggest shooter franchise. Instead, the financial weight of the deal, combined with aggressive pricing that backfired, has forced a fundamental rethink.

Under Sharma, Xbox is pivoting toward profitability over growth at all costs. The price cuts are welcome, but the removal of Call of Duty’s day-one access and the uncertainty around third-party content represent real tradeoffs. The next few months will be decisive: if the third-party deal freeze lifts quickly and new agreements resume, Game Pass could stabilise with a healthier cost structure. If the pause stretches on, the service risks losing the content diversity that made it compelling in the first place.

Xbox Store’s new wishlist filter reveals the top 10 most anticipated upcoming games. GTA 6 dominates, Fable surprises in second, and notable absences like Gears of War: E-Day spark discussion.

Xbox Store’s new wishlist filter has surfaced the 10 most anticipated upcoming games among Xbox players. Added through a recent Xbox Insider update that places the wishlist feature directly on Game Cards, the filter now lets anyone browse which unreleased titles are generating the most demand across Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.

The Full Top 10 Most Wishlisted Xbox Games

Based on the Xbox Store’s “most wishlisted” filter for upcoming titles, the current top 10 looks like this:

1. Grand Theft Auto VI
2. Fable
3. Metro 2039
4. Halo: Campaign Evolved
5. Euro Truck Simulator 2
6. Beast of Reincarnation
7. State of Decay 3
8. Stranger Than Heaven
9. Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis
10. Minecraft Dungeons 2

The raw store data includes already-released and free-to-play titles like Fortnite and Roblox, but Pure Xbox manually filtered those out to create a clean ranking of unreleased games only. There are caveats: some titles appear with multiple store pages (different editions), which splits their wishlist counts. Halo: Campaign Evolved, for example, could potentially rank second or third if its Standard and Premium Edition pages were combined.

GTA 6 Dominates the Wishlist

Grand Theft Auto VI sits firmly at number one, which surprises no one. Rockstar’s open-world blockbuster launches November 19, 2026, simultaneously on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S with no timed exclusivity. There is still no confirmed PC release date, though Rockstar’s history with GTA 5 (which arrived on PC roughly 18 months after consoles) suggests a 2027 or 2028 window. For Xbox players, the key takeaway is simple: day-one access confirmed.

Fable’s Second-Place Finish Is a Win for Xbox

Developed by Playground Games, the Fable reboot lands on February 23, 2027, after being delayed from its original fall 2026 window so it could “have the dedicated moment it deserves,” according to Xbox head Matt Booty. The game will release on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC, with day-one availability on Game Pass. Hayley Atwell has been confirmed in a starring role. Fable claiming the number two spot on the wishlist signals genuine player enthusiasm for Microsoft’s first-party RPG, which is a strong validation of the project’s direction.

Halo: Campaign Evolved Arrives in Weeks

The closest release on this list, Halo: Campaign Evolved launches July 28, 2026, on Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam and Windows Store), and for the first time in franchise history, PlayStation 5. Premium and Collector’s Edition buyers get early access starting July 23. The game includes Operation: METEORITE, a three-mission exclusive adventure. Available day one on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, it ranks fourth here, though its split store listings likely undercount its actual wishlist total.

Euro Truck Simulator 2: The Biggest Surprise

Perhaps the most unexpected entry on the list, Euro Truck Simulator 2 sits at number five. SCS Software announced console versions for Xbox and PlayStation back at Gamescom 2025, and the game already passed one million combined wishlists across both platforms by May 2026. Development is reportedly 90-95% complete, but the developer has been cautious about committing to a firm date. Recent reports suggest early 2027 is realistic for the console launch, with patch 1.61 currently in beta as a critical pre-console update. American Truck Simulator narrowly missed the top 10.

Beast of Reincarnation: Game Freak Goes AAA

Game Freak’s first AAA title outside the Pokémon franchise, Beast of Reincarnation releases August 4, 2026, on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. Described as a “one-person, one-dog action RPG,” the game is set in post-apocalyptic Japan and blends real-time katana combat with command-based strategy. It will be available on Game Pass Ultimate from day one. Directed by Kota Furushima, who previously worked on Pokémon battle systems, the game’s sixth-place finish shows Xbox players are hungry for fresh IP beyond the usual franchises.

Where Are Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution?

The most talked-about absence from this list is Gears of War: E-Day, which launches October 6, 2026, as an Xbox console exclusive marking the franchise’s 20th anniversary. Clockwork Revolution, inXile Entertainment’s steampunk RPG, is slated for 2027. Neither title cracked the top 10. Pure Xbox notes that E-Day only became available for wishlisting earlier in June, which likely explains its lower ranking. Clockwork Revolution’s 2027 release window may also limit urgency. Both titles sit just outside the top 10, alongside Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced and Star Wars Zero Company.

The Rest of the List: What You Need to Know

Metro 2039 (#3): 4A Games’ next instalment was first announced in April 2026 and is scheduled for February 2027. Its strong third-place ranking confirms that the Metro franchise commands a dedicated Xbox following, and the Xbox Games Showcase reveal clearly boosted interest.

State of Decay 3 (#7): Undead Labs’ zombie survival sequel is coming in 2027 to Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PS5. After six years of near-silence, the Xbox Games Showcase 2026 gameplay reveal re-energised the fanbase. The game map will be roughly four times larger than a single State of Decay 2 map, and it launches on Game Pass on day one.

Stranger Than Heaven (#8): From Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio (the Like a Dragon/Yakuza team) and published by SEGA, this action title launches January 15, 2027. It spans five eras and five cities, comes to Game Pass on day one, and supports Xbox Play Anywhere.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis (#9): Crystal Dynamics’ next Lara Croft adventure was delayed from 2026 to February 12, 2027, with a Nintendo Switch 2 version also confirmed. It will launch across Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PC, and Switch 2.

Minecraft Dungeons 2 (#10): The action-adventure sequel is set for September 29, 2026, on Xbox with day-one Game Pass inclusion. It rounds out the top 10 as the Minecraft universe continues to expand beyond its sandbox roots.

What This Wishlist Data Actually Tells Us

This is not a pre-order chart or a sales forecast. Wishlist data reflects player curiosity and intent, not commitment. Still, several patterns are worth noting:

• GTA 6 is platform-agnostic demand: It would top any platform’s wishlist right now.
• Xbox first-party games hold strong: Fable, Halo, State of Decay 3, and Minecraft Dungeons 2 all feature, showing that Game Pass availability does not diminish wishlist activity.
• Simulation games have console momentum: Euro Truck Simulator 2’s fifth-place finish points to an underserved audience on consoles.
• New IP can compete: Beast of Reincarnation (Game Freak) and Stranger Than Heaven (RGG Studio) prove that fresh franchises generate real Xbox demand.
• Store availability matters: Titles that were late to get Xbox Store pages (like Gears of War: E-Day) are at a structural disadvantage in wishlist rankings.

The Xbox Release Calendar Is Stacked

The second half of 2026 is one of the densest release periods Xbox has seen in years. Halo: Campaign Evolved (July 28), Beast of Reincarnation (August 4), Minecraft Dungeons 2 (September 29), Gears of War: E-Day (October 6), and GTA 6 (November 19) create a near-monthly cadence of major launches. Early 2027 then follows with Stranger Than Heaven, Fable, Metro 2039, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, and State of Decay 3. For Game Pass subscribers, the value proposition during this window is considerable, with most Xbox first-party titles included from launch day.

Studio 369’s Noble Legacy receives its biggest early access update yet. The Survival Update introduces hunger, warmth, hygiene, and energy mechanics, replaces manual saves with a sleep system, adds permadeath, and gives existing owners a free war dog companion.

Noble Legacy, the third-person medieval colony sim from Studio 369, launched its Survival Update on June 26, 2026, fundamentally reshaping how the game is played. Described by the developer as “one of the largest changes since entering early access,” the update layers a full survival system on top of the existing town-building framework. Players now manage hunger, warmth, hygiene, energy, and afflictions for their own character, not just their villagers. Noble Legacy is currently 30% off during the Steam Summer Sale at $17.49 / £14.69, with the discount running until July 9.

Your First Night Just Got Dangerous

Before the Survival Update, Noble Legacy eased players into settlement management at a relaxed pace. That changes immediately. The new opening sequence drops you into the Greenwood wilderness with nothing, requiring you to survive your first days before any permanent settlement is possible. You begin with a Tier 0 encampment, constructing campfires, portable tents, supply carts, hunting tents, and cooking tents before laying the foundations of an actual village.

This early phase effectively serves as a survival tutorial. Cooking, warmth management, shelter construction, hunting, crafting, and storage systems unlock sequentially, teaching you the fundamentals of staying alive. The shift is significant: where earlier versions of Noble Legacy focused on resource allocation and population structure from the start, the Survival Update forces you to prove you can keep yourself fed, warm, rested, and clean before managing anyone else.

Four Survival Stats You Cannot Ignore

The core mechanical addition is a set of four survival parameters that your character must maintain: hunger, warmth, energy, and hygiene. Neglecting any of these has direct gameplay consequences. The system builds on the Life, Death and Industry update from earlier in 2026, which introduced sickness and death mechanics for villagers. The Survival Update extends that philosophy to the player character, meaning you face the same risks your people do.

Failing to eat enough, staying exposed to cold weather, overworking without rest, or skipping hygiene will degrade your condition and eventually lead to afflictions. The survival stats create a constant tension loop where long-range exploration, extended building sessions, and ambitious expansion plans all carry tangible risk.

Manual Saves Are Gone: The Sleep-Save System

One of the update’s most impactful changes is the removal of traditional manual saves. Progress is now recorded by going to bed. During the daytime, lying down saves your game without additional effects. Sleeping at night, however, restores health and energy, removes minor afflictions, and advances camp activity forward.

Studio 369 explains the reasoning: “Our goal is to create greater tension, encourage preparation, and make exploration, hunting, and survival decisions feel more meaningful.” The practical effect is that every excursion away from camp becomes a calculated decision. Staying out too long without a way to save means risking lost progress if things go wrong.

Permadeath for the Truly Ambitious

For players seeking maximum stakes, the expanded Custom Game options now include a permadeath toggle. When enabled, your character’s death permanently ends the game. Studio 369 has framed this as a preview of a broader system: “As Noble Legacy’s marriage, family, and heir systems come into play, death will eventually become part of a broader legacy system where players may continue their story through a surviving heir rather than losing their entire kingdom.”

For now, permadeath is strictly optional and designed for experienced players. The standard game mode does not impose permanent death.

A Bigger Greenwood: New Biomes and Resources

The Survival Update expands the game world with lakes, ponds, and freshwater locations scattered across the map. A new poplar forest biome has been added, and the entire resource distribution has been overhauled. According to Studio 369, the goal is “to create a more logical and immersive gathering experience, while encouraging players to explore different regions of the map.”

Wild flax joins the resource pool, and several new recipes are available: roasted mushrooms, wild meat skewers, basic craftable torches, bandages, and salves. Coal deposits are now more common in forested regions, incentivising strategic settlement placement and active exploration rather than staying in one area.

Build Your Home Earlier, Prepare for Marriage Later

Previously, players had to wait for the Lord’s Manor to unlock before getting dedicated personal space. The Survival Update lets you build your own house much earlier in the progression. Inside, you can place a steward’s workbench and desk, and assign yourself a personal bed, which doubles as your save point.

Studio 369 explicitly calls these features “the foundation for future marriage and legacy features,” confirming that the Survival Update is not just about difficulty. It is laying groundwork for the Hearth and Heart Update, the next major milestone, which will introduce marriage, households, children, heirs, and legacy progression mechanics.

Free Alaunt War Dog DLC and New Save Requirement

As a thank-you to early access supporters, all current Noble Legacy owners can claim the Alaunt War Dog Companion DLC for free during a limited promotional window. The DLC stays permanently in your library once claimed. The war dogs are not just cosmetic; earlier updates established that dogs actively participate in defending your settlement during bandit raids.

One critical detail: the Survival Update requires a fresh save file for Kingdom Mode. Older saves are incompatible with the new systems. Creative Mode worlds remain unaffected and can continue from existing saves. A new “Reset Config and Prefabs” tool has been added to the main menu to help players clear old configurations and start clean.

What Comes Next: Hearth and Heart

Studio 369 has confirmed that its next major update will be Hearth and Heart. “While this update focuses on enduring the wilderness, Hearth and Heart will focus on the people who inhabit your kingdom,” the developer teases. “Marriage, households, children, heirs, and legacy progression will play a much larger role in shaping your story.”

This aligns with the studio’s original early access roadmap, which pencilled in a relationship-focused update for 2026. The combination of survival mechanics from this update and the upcoming family systems could transform Noble Legacy into something more akin to a generational dynasty simulator layered on top of its colony-building base.

Where Noble Legacy Stands in Early Access

Noble Legacy entered early access on August 12, 2025 on Steam, developed by Studio 369 and published by Ultimus Rex LLC. It currently holds a Mixed rating from 656 total reviews (69% positive). The game supports English, German, French, and Russian, with additional localisations in development. Minimum system requirements include Windows 10, a Core i7-8700k processor, 16 GB RAM, and a GTX 1070 GPU, while recommended specs call for an RTX 3070 and 32 GB RAM.

The Survival Update arrives after a steady cadence of major updates throughout early access, including the December 2025 overhaul (crafting, inventory, combat), the Foundations of the Realm update (March 2026), and the Life, Death and Industry update (April-May 2026) that first introduced afflictions, temperature, and hygiene for villagers. Each update has progressively deepened the simulation, moving Noble Legacy further from a relaxed town-builder toward a demanding medieval survival experience.

Things Players Commonly Want to Know

Can I keep my old save with the Survival Update?

Not in Kingdom Mode. The update requires a new save file due to fundamental changes in progression and systems. Creative Mode saves are unaffected.

Is permadeath mandatory?

No. Permadeath is an optional toggle in the Custom Game settings. It is intended for players who want a harsher challenge and does not affect the default gameplay experience.

How do I claim the free war dog DLC?

If you already own Noble Legacy, visit the Steam store page for the Alaunt War Dog Companion DLC and claim it during the promotional period. Once claimed, it remains in your library permanently.

How does the new save system work?

Go to any bed to save your progress. Daytime rest simply records your save. Sleeping at night also restores health and energy, clears minor afflictions, and advances camp activity. Traditional manual saves are no longer available.

What are the system requirements?

Minimum: Windows 10, Core i7-8700k, 16 GB RAM, GTX 1070, 20 GB storage. Recommended: Windows 11, Core i7-9700K, 32 GB RAM, RTX 3070, 20 GB storage.

The Samurai Outriders were revealed at EVO 2026, completing MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls’ 20-character launch roster. Here’s everything about Blade, Loki, Deadpool, the new Asgard stage, and the upcoming open beta.

MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls now has its full 20-character launch roster confirmed. Arc System Works revealed the fifth and final team, the Samurai Outriders, during EVO 2026 on June 28, adding Blade, Loki, and Deadpool alongside the previously announced Ghost Rider (Robbie Reyes). The 4v4 tag-team fighter launches August 6, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store.

Who Are the Samurai Outriders?

Producer Takeshi Yamanaka addressed the elephant in the room during the reveal: putting Ghost Rider and Blade on the same squad immediately makes people think of the Midnight Sons, but this team is something different. The Samurai Outriders are described as a group of dark heroes who don’t start as a cohesive unit. How they come together will be explored in the game’s Episode Mode.

The team rounds out the roster alongside the Amazing Guardians, Fighting Avengers, Unbreakable X-Men, and Knights of Doom. Each team consists of four characters, and players can mix and match heroes and villains freely when building their in-game squad.

Blade: Aggressive Vampire Hunter with the Muramasa Sword

Eric Brooks, better known as Blade, arrives as a half-vampire warrior who has completed his training in Japan. His signature weapon is the Muramasa, a demon-slaying sword normally kept sealed. When Blade unleashes its power, the blade turns red and his sword-based skills get a significant boost.

Blade’s kit is aggressive and weapon-heavy. Beyond the Muramasa, he uses machine guns and glaives, giving him tools at multiple ranges. His unique ability, Heartstopper, throws a stake that pins an opponent in place before Blade closes the gap at high speed. Landing Heartstopper activates the Muramasa’s red state, making him even more dangerous in close quarters. He will be playable for the first time during the open beta.

Loki: Trickery, Illusions, and Mind Games

Thor’s adopted brother and the God of Mischief enters MARVEL Tōkon as a former villain trying to turn over a new leaf. Born as the son of Frost Giant King Laufey and raised by Odin, Loki brings a fighting style built entirely around deception.

He leans on illusions, feints, and counters alongside ice-based and magic projectiles. When his bluffs connect, opponents are left guessing where the real attack is coming from. The trade-off is steep: when an opponent reads Loki correctly, he gets punished hard. This high-risk, high-reward psychological warfare style makes him a standout pick for players who enjoy outsmarting their opponents.

Deadpool: Fourth-Wall-Breaking Chaos

Wade Wilson brings his signature brand of reckless, self-destructive combat to the roster. The Canadian mercenary, whose Healing Factor keeps him alive despite his own best efforts to get killed, fights with guns, grenades, swords, and a fighting-game strategy guide he apparently picked up from beyond the fourth wall.

In gameplay terms, Deadpool is a high-risk character who takes damage himself to fuel his offense. His moveset includes nods to classic fighting games, with a confirmed Mortal Kombat “Toasty” reference spotted in the reveal trailer. Players who enjoy chaotic, aggressive playstyles with a comedic twist will find a lot to love here.

New Stage: Asgard, Realm of the Gods

Alongside the Samurai Outriders, a new stage was revealed: Asgard. This multi-area battleground sits at the top of the Nine Realms and features five distinct zones: the Observatory, Bifrost Bridge, Throne Room, Treasure Vault, and Yggdrasil (the World Tree). The stage takes full advantage of MARVEL Tōkon’s stage-transition system, where fights move across sections as the match escalates.

Global Open Beta: July 24-26 on PS5 and PC

Arc System Works confirmed a global Open Beta running from July 24 to 26, 2026, on both PlayStation 5 and PC. Blade will be playable in this beta for the first time. Previous closed betas ran in September 2025 (six characters, PS5 only) and December 2025 (eight characters, PS5 only, 72-hour window). The open beta expands access to PC and more details will be shared soon.

A PlayStation account is required for the PS5 beta. The game launches just 10 days after the beta ends, on August 6, giving players a final chance to try it before committing.

Full Launch Roster: 5 Teams, 20 Characters

With the Samurai Outriders now confirmed, here is the complete launch roster:

Post-launch support includes a Year One Pass with at least four additional characters and one new stage as DLC. The Ultimate Edition bundles pre-order bonuses, five character costumes, animated chromatic colours unlocked for all 20 launch characters, and the Year One Pass.

What Makes MARVEL Tōkon Different from Other Marvel Fighters?

MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls is developed by Arc System Works, the studio behind Guilty Gear Strive and Dragon Ball FighterZ, in collaboration with PlayStation Studios and Marvel Games. The game uses a 4v4 tag-team system where players can build teams by mixing heroes and villains freely, but a hybrid mechanic also lets you fight an entire match with a single character if you prefer.

A standout system called “Tōkon Assemble” activates once per match, only in a round where losing means elimination. It triggers a combined four-character assault that deals massive damage, acting as a dramatic comeback tool. The game also features rollback netcode, a spectator mode, and interactive multi-zone stages.

Things Players Usually Want to Know

Which platforms will MARVEL Tōkon be on? PlayStation 5 and PC (Steam, Epic Games Store). No Xbox or Nintendo release has been announced.

Is the open beta free? Yes, the July 24-26 open beta is free on both PS5 and PC. A PlayStation account is needed for the PS5 version.

How many characters at launch? 20 characters across five teams, with at least four more coming as DLC in the first year.

Will there be offline content? The second closed beta included CPU battles. The full game features an Episode Mode that tells the teams’ stories, plus a tutorial mode.

Who developed the game? Arc System Works handles development, with PlayStation Studios (XDev team) and Marvel Games as partners. Sony Interactive Entertainment is the publisher.

Battlefield 6 is free to play from June 30 to July 6, 2026 across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. The trial includes five modes and four maps alongside the massive 1.3.3.0 update with Tactical Obliteration and major gunplay changes.

Battlefield 6 will be completely free to play from June 30 to July 6, 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. EA and Battlefield Studios confirmed the week-long free trial alongside the game’s 1.3.3.0 content update, giving players access to five multiplayer modes across four maps, including the game’s largest battlefield to date: Railway to Golmud. The trial launches through the free-to-play Battlefield REDSEC client, so no purchase is needed to jump in.

When Does the Free Trial Start and End?

According to EA’s official patch notes published on June 26, the 1.3.3.0 update goes live on Tuesday, June 30 at 08:00 UTC, with new content activating at 12:00 UTC. The free trial begins at that point and runs for a full week until July 6.

Which Maps Are Available?

Four maps will be playable during the free trial. The lineup includes two returning favourites and two maps that have received significant updates in Season 3.

• Railway to Golmud: The biggest map in Battlefield 6. Sprawling terrain with rail infrastructure and heavy vehicle combat.
• Cairo Bazaar: Reimagined with the 1.3.3.0 update, this map features destructible narrow streets and close-quarters infantry fights. EA specifically highlighted its improved destruction physics.
• Contaminated: A Season 2 map set across rocky European terrain, featuring the Dirt Bike and Scout Helicopter.
• Eastwood: Originally added in Season 1, known for its varied terrain and the memorable addition of golf carts as driveable vehicles.

What Modes Can You Play?

Five game modes will be accessible during the free week. This is one fewer than the March 2026 trial (which offered six), but adds the brand-new Tactical Obliteration mode introduced in this update.

• Conquest: Battlefield’s signature large-scale flag capture mode with vehicles, aircraft, and full-map battles.
• Breakthrough: Attackers push through defended sectors in intense frontline warfare.
• Escalation: A Battlefield 6 original mode where map boundaries expand and more vehicles arrive as the match progresses.
• Obliteration (Tactical Obliteration): A new Season 3 mode with smaller teams chasing a bomb carrier in fast, focused gunfights.
• Casual Breakthrough: A beginner-friendly variant with 16 real players (8 per team) and 32 AI bots, designed as a low-pressure introduction to Battlefield’s mechanics.

How to Access the Free Trial via REDSEC

You do not need to buy Battlefield 6 to participate. The free trial runs through the Battlefield REDSEC client, which is a standalone free-to-play download. EA’s official statement reads: “Requires Battlefield REDSEC on applicable platform (available separately) and all game updates.”

1. Download REDSEC: Search for “Battlefield REDSEC” on Steam, Epic Games Store, the EA App, PlayStation Store, or Xbox Store. It is a free download.
2. Install the 1.3.3.0 update: The trial content is tied to the June 30 update. Without it, the trial will not appear.
3. Launch and look for the trial: After updating, a dedicated Battlefield 6 Free Trial section appears on the REDSEC main menu.
4. Sign in with your EA account: All progress during the trial is tied to your EA account and carries over if you purchase the full game later.

Does Progress Carry Over?

Yes. Everything you earn during the free trial (career rank, weapon unlocks, XP, customisation items) carries over to the full Battlefield 6 game if you decide to buy it. Existing REDSEC progress also transfers into the trial. Once the trial ends, REDSEC itself remains free to play, and you keep any specific unlocks earned during the event.

What the 1.3.3.0 Update Changes

This free trial coincides with one of Battlefield 6’s most significant patches since launch. The 1.3.3.0 update brings sweeping changes across multiple systems:

• Gunplay overhaul: Bullet drag increased by 40% across all weapons (100% with Match Grade ammo), muzzle velocity reduced for most primary weapons, and recoil variation decreased to make sustained fire more predictable. Limb and lower torso damage multipliers have been lowered for automatic weapons, DMRs, and sniper rifles, raising the average time-to-kill by roughly one shot when not hitting the upper chest or head.
• Netcode improvements: Hit confirmations display faster, delayed damage when hit by multiple sources is reduced, and network bandwidth now prioritises nearby visible enemies. TimeNudge recovery after performance spikes has been significantly improved.
• Vehicle rebalancing: Thermal Smoke effectiveness has been reduced (damage cap removed from 75% to 100%), RPG-7V2 damage against tanks increased, IFV AP Shell velocity boosted, and Mobile Anti-Air damage raised across all ammunition types.
• New content: Tactical Obliteration mode, Casual Battle Royale for REDSEC, the Wet Work Event, and the EOD Bot Arm melee weapon.
• Portal additions: Moving platforms, physics impulses, Operation Metro community map in SDK, and new camera control tools for creators.

Current Pricing and Discounts

Battlefield 6 is currently at its lowest recorded Steam price: $34.99, a 50% discount from the $69.99 base price, available through a summer sale. Previous free trial periods have typically been accompanied by significant discounts across platforms, and reports from the earlier Season 3 trial mentioned up to 66% off on certain storefronts. The standard retail prices remain $69.99 on Steam and the EA App, with regional pricing varying on console stores.

A Pattern of Free Trials

This marks the fourth free trial since Battlefield 6 launched in October 2025. The first ran from November 25 to December 2, 2025, coinciding with Season 1 and offering three maps and five modes. The second trial during Season 2’s Nightfall update (March 17-24, 2026) expanded to four maps and six modes with the new night-vision gameplay. A third trial accompanied Season 3’s Blastpoint launch from June 9-15 with four maps and five modes. EA’s strategy of recurring free weeks is clearly aimed at reversing the game’s player-count decline: Battlefield 6 peaked at over 740,000 concurrent Steam players during launch week but has seen substantial drops since.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Free Week

Whether you are entirely new to Battlefield or a returning veteran, these pointers from EA’s official trial guide can help:

• Hit the Firing Range first: Accessible from the main menu, the range lets you test sensitivity, aim assist, keybinds, and weapon handling before entering live matches.
• Start with Casual Breakthrough: The bot-filled matches provide a less punishing learning environment for infantry movement and vehicle controls alike.
• Use vehicles: Tanks, helicopters, jets, and the new Scout Helicopter are core to the Battlefield experience. Enable Simplified Controls in settings if piloting feels overwhelming.
• Destroy everything: Walls, buildings, and cover can be destroyed with explosives, the Sledgehammer, or concentrated gunfire, especially in Cairo Bazaar where this creates entirely new combat paths.
• Squad up for bonus XP: Playing in a party with friends who own Battlefield 6 grants an experience boost to everyone in the squad.

Things Players Usually Want to Know

Do I need a subscription or credit card?
No. Battlefield REDSEC is a completely free download, and the trial requires nothing beyond an EA account. No payment details are needed to access the free week.

Is the single-player campaign included?
No. The free trial covers multiplayer modes only. The full campaign requires purchasing Battlefield 6.

What happens when the trial ends?
After July 6, access to Battlefield 6 multiplayer modes locks unless you buy the game. REDSEC’s Battle Royale mode remains free to play permanently. All progress earned during the trial carries over to the full game upon purchase.

Can I play the trial if I used a previous free week?
EA’s terms state the trial can be played once per EA account. If you participated in an earlier trial, you may need a new account to access this one.

Which platform has the best deal right now?
Steam currently offers the deepest discount at $34.99 (50% off), the game’s lowest recorded price. If you try the trial and want to continue, the PC version on Steam offers the best value at the time of writing.

Is crossplay supported?
Yes. Battlefield 6 supports crossplay across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, so trial players can squad up with friends on any platform.

NVIDIA has added six new games to GeForce NOW alongside the Steam Summer Sale. The lineup spans an HD-2D action RPG from Square Enix, a movement shooter from the Splitgate studio, an extraction game with giant mechs, and more.

NVIDIA has added six new games to the GeForce NOW library this week, coinciding with the 2026 Steam Summer Sale. The update brings a strong mix of genres to the cloud platform, headlined by Square Enix’s HD-2D action RPG The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, Devolver Digital’s roguelite Dark Scrolls, and the mech-based extraction shooter SAND: Raiders of Sophie. This batch closes out a June that delivered 18 games to the service across four weekly updates.

Complete List of Games Added This Week

All six titles are accessible through Steam on GeForce NOW:

• Dark Scrolls (New release on Steam, June 22)
• SAND: Raiders of Sophie (New release on Steam, June 22)
• Deer & Boy (New release on Steam, June 23)
• EMPULSE (New release on Steam, June 24, Early Access)
• The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales (Steam)
• FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves (Steam)

Several of these titles are currently discounted as part of the Steam Summer Sale, which runs through July 9. FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves is 25% off for the Standard Edition and 40% off for the Legend Edition, EMPULSE launched with a 25% introductory discount, and SAND: Raiders of Sophie is available at 21% off in Early Access.

The Adventures of Elliot: Square Enix’s First HD-2D Action RPG

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is the first original action RPG built on Square Enix’s HD-2D visual framework, developed by the team behind Octopath Traveler and Bravely Default at Claytechworks. Released on June 18 across Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, the game follows protagonist Elliot and fairy companion Faie across four distinct historical ages. Players use seven weapon types alongside magical abilities in real-time combat layered over the series’ signature blend of pixel art and 3D environments.

Its addition to GeForce NOW is particularly valuable for players on lower-spec machines who want to experience the game’s visual detail without local hardware limitations. Cloud streaming removes the download burden of a full RPG install while preserving Steam Cloud save synchronisation across devices.

Dark Scrolls: Devolver Digital’s Roguelite Dungeon Scroller

Dark Scrolls, developed by doinksoft and published by Devolver Digital, is a fantasy-themed action platformer that merges shmup-style bullet patterns with roguelite progression. Nine playable characters bring unique attacks and abilities to procedurally generated dungeon runs, available in both solo and online co-op modes. Released on June 22, the game has already picked up attention for its retro visual charm and challenging loop design. It is currently included in launch promotions and bundles on Steam.

SAND: Raiders of Sophie: Mech Extraction Combat on a Desert Planet

Developed by Hologryph and TowerHaus and published by tinyBuild, SAND: Raiders of Sophie is a PvPvE extraction shooter set on an alternate-history 1910s desert planet. Players pilot highly customisable walking mechs called Tramplers, scavenging for loot, weapons, and artefacts while battling rival players and environmental dangers. The game launched into Early Access on June 22 with two core modes: Voyage Mode for open-world exploration and Storm Dive for session-based competitive matches with a shrinking play area. On Steam, it currently holds a 60% positive rating from nearly 1,900 user reviews.

EMPULSE: The Splitgate Studio’s New Movement Shooter

EMPULSE is a 6v6 movement shooter from 1047 Games, the studio behind Splitgate. Entering Early Access on June 24 for Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, the game features wall running, grappling hooks, Holojumps, terrain-modifying P.A.I.N.T. Bombs, and controllable mechs. It launched at an introductory price of $15 for the first week, rising to $20 afterwards. GeForce NOW support means players without powerful local hardware can still experience the game’s fast-paced competitive action at high frame rates through NVIDIA’s cloud servers.

Deer & Boy: A Silent Cinematic Adventure

Deer & Boy, from developer Lifeline Games and publisher Dear Villagers, is a narrative cinematic platformer that tells its story entirely through visuals and music, with no dialogue. A runaway boy meets a young fawn, and their growing bond opens new abilities and emotional weight across forests, factories, and mountains. Released on June 23, the game holds a 93% positive rating on Steam from 128 reviews and a Metascore of 75. It offers a quieter, emotionally driven alternative to the combat-heavy titles in this week’s update.

FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves Arrives on the Cloud

SNK’s FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves, the first mainline Fatal Fury entry in over 25 years, is now streamable through GeForce NOW. Originally released in January 2026, the fighting game features the innovative REV System for enhanced offensive and defensive mechanics, cross-platform multiplayer, and a comic book-inspired art style. It won Best Fighting Game at The Game Awards 2025 and holds an 80 Metacritic score. The cloud addition is especially relevant for competitive players who want consistent online performance without relying on local GPU power.

How the Steam Summer Sale Strengthens Cloud Gaming

The timing of this GeForce NOW update alongside the Steam Summer Sale creates a practical opportunity for cloud gamers. Players can purchase discounted titles and stream them immediately without downloading large files or worrying about local storage. GeForce NOW does not provide game ownership; users must own the games through supported stores like Steam, Epic Games Store, or Xbox before streaming. Steam Cloud saves keep progress synchronised across PCs, Macs, phones, tablets, TVs, and other compatible devices.

NVIDIA is also running its own GeForce NOW Summer Sale through July 8, offering 35% off 12-month memberships. The discount reduces the Ultimate plan by $70 and the Performance plan by $35. Ultimate members access GeForce RTX 4080 and RTX 5080 class cloud hardware with up to 4K resolution at 120 FPS, DLSS, ray tracing, and NVIDIA Reflex support.

What Else Was Added to GeForce NOW in June 2026?

This week’s six titles cap off a busy month for the platform. Earlier June additions included Neverness to Everness, Gothic 1 Remake, Jurassic World Evolution 3 (Xbox/Game Pass), DOOM Eternal (Epic Games Store), The Elder Scrolls Online (Xbox/Game Pass), NBA THE RUN, Duet Night Abyss, Aphelion, Citizen Sleeper (Epic Games Store), Pro Cycling Manager 26, and several more. In total, NVIDIA confirmed 18 games would join the service across June’s four GFN Thursday updates.

Worth Knowing Before You Buy

Before purchasing a game specifically to play on GeForce NOW, always confirm it is listed as supported on the platform. Not every Steam game is available through the cloud service, as publishers must opt in. Once confirmed, buying during the Summer Sale and streaming immediately is one of the strongest use cases for cloud gaming, particularly for laptop users, handheld device owners, and anyone managing limited SSD space.