Pre-orders for Minecraft on Nintendo Switch 2 are now open. Players who already own the digital version of Minecraft for Nintendo Switch can get the digital Minecraft Standard Edition for Nintendo Switch 2 for free in most territories by Jan 31.
Final Fantasy XIV's Evercold expansion is set for a January 2027 release, and what has been shown so far includes two new jobs, expanded character customization, a main story players can progress in their chosen order, an evolved combat system, and a reborn mode. The first revealed job is bastion, a tank wielding the skyltborg, while the second job is unconfirmed and said to be ranged physical damage. Evercold also reworks endgame grinding with weekly self-paced quests instead of daily ones, lets players reflect their highest item level gear onto other max-level jobs, and allows chocobos to join dungeons as combat party members.
Hazard Levels launches November 12 https://www.gematsu.com/2026/10/hazard-levels-launches-november-12
Springs, Eternal launches November 11 https://www.gematsu.com/2026/10/springs-eternal-launches-november-11
007 First Light has passed 7 million Steam wishlists, and IO Interactive has added Jack the bulldog to the game via its TacSim lobby for all players, where he can be petted. The free Extended Operations DLC is out now with New Game+, a new 00 difficulty mode, and a Photo Mode, plus a new Vietnam mission. The game is 30% off on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S at $49, with a Switch 2 version coming in March 2027.
Developer Wales Interactive announced that co-op survival shooter Hazard Levels will leave Early Access and launch for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam on November 12. The game first entered Early Access on Steam on April 30 and supports one-to-four-player co-op with proximity chat, sending players into procedurally generated rifts to harvest otherworldly ingredients for a secret brewery beneath a British pub.
Publisher Serenity Forge and developer Fullbright announced that Springs, Eternal will launch for PC via Steam on November 11. A demo is available now. The lo-fi first-person narrative exploration game is set at a mysterious hot springs in the dead of night and takes around two-to-three hours to fully complete.
Riftbound, the League of Legends card game, will release its Radiance set on October 23, and Game Informer exclusively reveals one of its new cards: Ziggs, Explosive. The purple "Chaos" card costs 4 and has 4 Might, and can exhaust resources to deploy a Bomb gear token whose Deathknell deals 2 to an enemy unit there and kills all other Bombs you control there. When Ziggs defends, he may kill a friendly gear to gain an additional 2 Might this turn.
Thunder Lotus has pushed its action-adventure game At Fate's End from 2026 to 2027, saying the game needs more love and care. The studio said on Steam that a more precise date will come later, and the game is still headed to Xbox Game Pass. A new demo is now available on Steam for players to try for the first time.
Marvel Tokon will add Phoenix and Cyclops on 2nd November. A PS Plus trial is available now, per Push Square.
Arc System Works officially unveiled Phoenix Cyclops for Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, available to download from 2nd November. Producer Takeshi Yamanaka said the character is built around long-range and close-quarters combat, with wide-area fire attacks and a Dark Phoenix transformation triggered by collecting four Solar Shards. Classic and Legacy costumes will be available as DLC, and a 3-hour Game Trial is now open to PS Plus Premium subscribers.
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Paradox Interactive announced Cities: Skylines - Expanded Edition, a Nintendo Switch 2 port of the 2015 city-builder developed by Tantalus Media, launching October 28 for $49. It includes 10 expansions, expands the buildable area to 25 tiles, supports keyboard and mouse, adds a map editor plus better precision placement and environmental controls, and offers 30fps and 60fps modes, with a 70% discount for owners of the Switch 1 version. Three content creator packs arrive the same day on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, while the console ports of Cities: Skylines 2 remain unreleased after repeated delays.
Model Debut 4 (Switch) up for preorder on Amazon ($39.99) https://amzn.to/4rQhL6m #ad
Marvel Rivals Season 10.5 is about to release, and NetEase is breaking from tradition for this mid-season update. There is no new hero this time — Gorr is the only addition for the whole of Season 10 — but a massive new game mode is coming, along with Halloween specials including new skins.
Warhammer Survivors has a new demo out ahead of its November launch. It can be tried now on Steam and Xbox.
Xbox Game Pass has revealed its first wave of October 2026 additions, which includes eight Day One titles. The games arrive in early October for members.
Dawn of War IV's closed beta is opening to testers later this month, and players can register their interest today. The game is one of 2026's last big releases.
Phoenix Cyclops, the first post-launch DLC character for MARVEL Tokon: Fighting Souls, launches on November 2. The developers said they chose the Phoenix version of Cyclops because his classic look and battle style were already well established in Marvel fighting games. He is an all-rounder who builds Solar Shards with Optic Blasts and can transform into Dark Phoenix after collecting four, gaining a temporary power boost at the risk of health depletion. Classic and Legacy costumes are also included, and attendees at EVO France from October 9 to 11 can try him early.
RuneScape developer Jagex descended upon Birmingham over the weekend with its annual RuneFest. As part of its RuneScape keynote, it showed off a trailer for its upcoming Dragon Slayer 2 quest which, er, featured a player character with six fingers and a bizarre sneaker-like sole on their very not-sneaker armoured shoes.
MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls has revealed a gameplay trailer for Phoenix Cyclops, who joins the game on November 2. Players build Solar Shards to harness the power of the Phoenix, balancing extraordinary strength against the path to destruction. The game is available now on PS5 and PC.
MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls producer Takeshi Yamanaka announced that Phoenix Cyclops, the first Year 1 Pass DLC character, arrives on November 2, voiced by Ray Chase, with Classic and Legacy DLC costumes on the same day. He explained that the Phoenix version was chosen over the traditional Cyclops to offer fresher visuals and a different fighting style. Cyclops is an all-rounder using varied Optic Blasts, and collecting four Solar Shards lets him transform into Dark Phoenix for a temporary boost that also drains health. The game's first PlayStation Store sale starts today, PlayStation Plus members get a 3-hour Game Trial from today, and attendees at EVO France from October 9-11 can try him early.
Why this: The producer explains why Phoenix Cyclops was chosen over the classic version and details the Solar Shards transformation and DLC costumes.
Add these to your "need to play" list
Phoenix Cyclops joins MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls on November 2
The sky-island open world game Atmosfar will enter Early Access on October 29, accompanied by a trailer showing flying islands, cloud cruisers and sky taxis. Players can pilot three variants of the Wasp hovercar or board a Cloud Cruiser airbase that hosts up to three co-op players. The Early Access launch includes two regions, and the developers say it will last at least 9 months while adding a third region, a fourth Wasp breed and more building options.
SNØ: Ultimate Freeriding coming to PS5, Xbox Series, and Switch 2 on October 28 https://www.gematsu.com/2026/10/sno-ultimate-freeriding-coming-to-ps5-xbox-series-and-switch-2-on-october-28
Cities: Skylines - Expanded Edition is coming to Switch 2 on October 28. It will arrive alongside new content.
MARVEL Tokon: Fighting Souls DLC character Phoenix Cyclops launches November 2 https://www.gematsu.com/2026/10/marvel-tokon-fighting-souls-dlc-character-phoenix-cyclops-launches-november-2
Microsoft announced the games coming to Game Pass in mid October, including Battlefield 6 on October 13, Forever Ago and Neon Abyss 2 on October 8, Valor Mortis and Deep Dish Dungeon on October 13, Bluey's Happy Snaps and Chained Beasts on October 15, and Beyond These Stars on October 16, several of them day-one additions. A Plague Tale: Requiem, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and other titles will leave the Game Pass library on October 15.
Microsoft revealed the first batch of games coming to Xbox Game Pass in October 2026, with Battlefield 6 joining Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on 13th October. Echo Weaver, Forever Ago and Neon Abyss 2 arrive on 8th October, Deep Dish Dungeon and Valor Mortis on 13th, Bluey's Happy Snaps and Chained Beasts on 15th, and Beyond These Stars on 16th, with seven titles launching into the service on day one. Games leaving on 15th October include Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, A Plague Tale: Requiem, Donut County and Pacific Drive.
At Fate's End, the next game from Spiritfarer studio Thunder Lotus Games, has been delayed from its 2026 launch window and is now seen as a 2027 frontrunner. The game was revealed last summer with a 2026 launch window and had been eagerly anticipated.
Anime Racing Game Screamer's Latest PS5 Update Lets You Turn Off Its Right Stick Drifting https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2026/10/anime-racing-game-screamers-latest-ps5-update-lets-you-turn-off-its-right-stick-drifting
The Crew Motorfest is getting a whole new island at no cost as part of its ongoing post-launch content. Push Square reports that the game's post-launch support continues.
Xbox announced the first October wave of Game Pass additions, with Battlefield 6 joining Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on October 13. Echo Weaver, Forever Ago, Deep Dish Dungeon, Valor Mortis, Bluey's Happy Snaps, Chained Beasts and Beyond These Stars arrive on day one. Nine titles including A Plague Tale: Requiem, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Pacific Drive leave the library on October 15.
Why this: Xbox's official list of October Game Pass wave one includes Battlefield 6 and several day-one titles, useful for planning downloads.
Microsoft revealed the second October 2026 Xbox Game Pass lineup, with nine games joining various tiers from October 8 to 16, including Battlefield 6 on October 13. The list also includes Echo Weaver, Forever Ago and Neon Abyss 2 on October 8, Deep Dish Dungeon and Valor Mortis on October 13, Bluey's Happy Snaps and Chained Beasts on October 15, and Beyond These Stars on October 16. Eight games leave the service in early October, among them Pacific Drive, A Plague Tale: Requiem and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Ubisoft and Ivory Tower have launched Season 11 of The Crew Motorfest, adding the Hawaiian island of Kaua'i for free. The season also brings 20 new vehicles, two new playlists, and the return of 40 animal species, while the Tomb Raider collaboration premium DLC Secrets of Ni'ihau adds a smaller island. TrackForge also gets 200 new parts for building off-road courses.
Cities: Skylines - Expanded Edition launches on Switch 2 on October 28, with reworked performance, visuals and controls for the console. The buildable tile limit rises from 9 to 25, and players can pick a Performance option targeting 60fps or a Quality option targeting 30fps, alongside mouse mode and a map editor. The edition includes 10 previous DLC expansions and content packs, priced at £41.49 / $49.00 / €41.00 on the eShop, with a 70% discount for owners of the Switch 1 version until April 28, 2027.
Forza Horizon 6 for PS5 has been delayed to January 26, 2027, after Microsoft said the version was still on track for 2026. The PS5 edition is developed by Panic Button and offers a 4K 30FPS Quality mode and a 60FPS Performance mode, with cross-play and cross-saves with the Xbox and Steam versions, plus a pre-tuned Ferrari J50 for preorders. The first paid expansion launches January 21, 2027, included in the Premium Edition, Premium Upgrade, and Expansions Bundle or sold separately at an unconfirmed price.
Xbox Game Pass announced its first October wave of 12 games, led by Gears of War: E-Day and also including Battlefield 6 and Valor Mortis. Echo Weaver, Forever Ago, Bluey's Happy Snaps, Chained Beasts, and Beyond These Stars arrive day one, while Battlefield 6 joins on October 13. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Evil West are among the titles leaving on October 15.
Milestone's anime-styled arcade racer Screamer has received a fresh patch that adds an option for single stick sliding, switchable in the options menu before a race. Game director Federico Cardini said twin stick remains the recommended way to play since the ECHO System was designed around it, but the new option suits players who prefer something more familiar. The patch also removes some unnecessary suspension lines, changes how certain characters unlock, tweaks default camera distance detection, balances on-track powers, and moves an invisible wall next to a shortcut on one track.