MegaPals, one of the five new games in The Jackbox Party Pack 12, is a word association game inspired by Mind Meld where matching answers earns points and the two players who pair up best become the MegaPals. An eight-player game has 28 possible winning pairs, and a between-round relationship chart shows each player's highest-scoring friend. The pack launches October 15 on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.
Microsoft has revealed the eight games leaving Xbox Game Pass in early October 2026, including Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, A Plague Tale: Requiem, Donut County, Evil West, The Casting of Frank Stone, Pacific Drive, Crime Scene Cleaner and Nova Roma on PC. All of them leave on October 15, and each is discounted at least 20% until then.
Bushiroad Inc. is holding the "Bushiroad Autumn Sale 2026" starting October 2, 2026, offering limited-time discounts on its Nintendo Switch download and Steam versions. The Steam sale ends 10/9 1:00 (UTC+8) and the Switch download sale ends 10/8 22:59 (UTC+8). Discounted titles include ROAD59 at 50% off, Revue Starlight El Dorado at 20% off, and VIRTUAL GIRL @ WORLD'S END and Cardfight!! Vanguard Dear Days 2 at 30% off each.
4A Games has confirmed that Metro 2033 Redux and Metro: Last Light Redux are getting native PS5 versions, with a free upgrade for existing owners. Both versions launch on 29th October 2026 and offer true 4K at 60FPS, upscaled 4K at 120FPS, higher quality lighting, shadows and particle effects, plus Adaptive Trigger support for DualSense controllers.
Deep Silver and 4A Games will release Metro Redux, which includes Metro 2033 Redux and Metro: Last Light Redux, for PS5 and Xbox Series on October 29, with a free "Next-Gen Update" for PC on October 22. Owners of the PS4 or Xbox One versions will also get a free upgrade. The update adds 4K textures, 4K 60fps and upscaled 4K 120fps on consoles, plus platform features like PSSR, TSR, and Spatial Audio, and is not a full remaster or remake.
This week's Xbox Free Play Days lineup is a Ubisoft takeover, featuring Far Cry 6, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Skull and Bones, and The Crew Motorfest. All five games are free to play until late on October 4, and Xbox Game Pass is not required this time around. Each title also carries a hefty discount for players who want to add them to their permanent collection.
Publisher Skybound Games and developer Quarter Up announced that Invincible VS downloadable content character Angstrom Levy will launch on October 13 as part of the game's second season. He is the game's third DLC character and 21st character overall, a zoning-focused fighter built around portals and orbs. Angstrom Levy will also be playable for the first time at Evo France this October.
The Invincible VS open beta begins October 13, the same day Angstrom Levy joins as the third DLC fighter and 21st playable character in Season 2. He is a zoning-focused fighter built around portals and summonable orbs, and he will be playable for the first time at Evo France this October. Invincible VS is available now on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Cloud as an Xbox Play Anywhere title.
IKEA and Xbox have launched YXSTABY, a nine-piece collection designed for gaming at home, co-developed by designers from both teams. The collection draws on the Xbox controller for inspiration, including a thumbstick stool built from the Xbox Wireless Controller's original 3D design files. It launches in IKEA stores today and online later this year, with availability varying by market.
The Official Xbox Podcast sits down with teams from IKEA and Xbox to explain how their YXSTABY collaboration came together. The episode shows collection pieces including chairs, stools, controller display solutions and a D-PAD cushion, plus a TV stand with cable management. IKEA says it reached out to Xbox because gaming is a big part of life at home, and the two sides found their design approaches a natural fit.
Your Debt Is Paid is a dark fantasy roguelike auto-battler in which you delve into monster-filled dungeons to survive a cruel bargain for your life. Wield powerful synergies and unique hero combinations to gather Blood from your enemies and satisfy a mysterious captor demanding an evergrowing debt. Presented as a forgotten 1990s cartridge, it blends retro visuals, CRT effects, and dark fantasy.
CDPR announced that Daniel Wu has joined the voice cast of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2, voicing the character Kirill Yang. The new season is a standalone 10-episode story set in the Cyberpunk 2077 universe, directed by Kai Ikarashi with character designs by Kazuya Kanno and a writing team including Hiroshi Otsuka and Hugo Award winner Bartosz Sztybor, and it premieres on October 20.
Sony has revealed the PlayStation Plus monthly games for October 2026, available to everyone from 6th October: F1 25 (PS5), Hunt: Showdown 1896 (PS5), and Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 (PS5, PS4). Last month's games can be added until 5th October.
Nintendo has announced that Donkey Kong Bananza's limited-time DLC events are returning starting today, 1st October 2026, with a monthly rotation. September's final Emerald Rush event ended with "Bananza Antics," which let players unlock Funky Kong and Candy Kong statues. Taking part requires purchasing the paid DLC.
The Pokémon Company has confirmed a new Pokémon Pokopia package including the Expansion Pass will launch in Japan on 29th October 2026 on a Switch 2 Game-Key Card, with the game and DLC in one product and future DLC after that date downloaded automatically via updates. Buyers also get a code for a Berry Furniture set featuring a berry chair, berry bed, berry table and berry lamp. The package version is also coming to Korea.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 has officially announced a new multiplayer mode called Collateral, inspired by Counter-Strike. The mode adds an economy system on top of the familiar Search and Destroy formula, letting players buy gear with money earned during the match so that every death and purchase can have consequences.
PS Plus subscribers can claim six free Spider-Man: Brand New Day PSN avatars starting 6th October via the Sony Pictures Core app, including Tom Holland's Spider-Man and Zendaya's MJ. Non-members must purchase the digital version of the film to get them. The movie broke domestic box office records earlier this year and is nearing $2.5 billion internationally.
The Elder Scrolls Online is holding the High Seas of Tamriel event, where players can seek sunken treasures. The news was posted on Xbox Wire.
Sony has officially revealed the PlayStation Plus monthly games lineup for October 2026, featuring three titles: F1 25 (PS5), Hunt: Showdown 1896 (PS5), and Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 (PS4, PS5). F1 25 is Codemasters' latest Formula 1 racer, which IGN scored 8/10, while Hunt: Showdown 1896 is Crytek's extraction shooter whose PS5 version includes a battle royale mode. Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 supports local and online co-op.
Sony has revealed the October Essential free games for PlayStation Plus subscribers: F1 25, Hunt: Showdown 1896, and Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2. Subscribers can start downloading the games on Oct. 6.
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have announced a new Switch 2 physical release of Pokémon Legends: Z-A launching on 29th October, bundling the base game and its Mega Dimension expansion on a single cart with no additional downloads required. Buyers also get a serial code for 100 Ultra Balls, and the game card can be played on Switch 1 hardware without Switch 2 features.
PlayStation has revealed the three games coming to all PS Plus tiers in October: F1 25 for PS5, Hunt: Showdown 1896 for PS5, and Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 for PS4 and PS5. They can be claimed from Tuesday, October 6 until Monday, November 2, and remain playable as long as members stay subscribed. Members have until Monday, October 5 to claim Sniper Elite: Resistance, MLB The Show 26, Wobbly Life, and Chained Echoes.
OneXPlayer will showcase its full lineup of Windows portable gaming hardware at the 2026 Fusion Game Carnival Beijing, with free hands-on demos of all models at Booth B05 in Hall 3 and engineers on site. The booth will also host a Black Myth: Wukong themed challenge, with custom merchandise available for visitors who complete a booth check-in. The event runs October 24-25 at the Shougang International Convention Center, with single-day tickets priced at 139 yuan (discounted 129 yuan) via Bilibili Member Purchase.
Saturday combo tickets for GGG Games Groove Gala x Fusion are now fully sold out, while Saturday standard tickets, Sunday combo tickets and Sunday standard tickets remain on sale with limited stock. The event runs October 24 and 25 at 19:00 at VAS centra in Beijing, hosted by Gcores and 8082Audio, with combo tickets priced at 294, 357 and 474 yuan via Bilibili Member Purchase.
Publisher CRITICAL REFLEX and developer Hey Bird! have opened a public Steam demo for Blood Ink Case at Insider Gaming's 28 Games Later horror showcase, available today and set to join October's Steam Next Fest. The demo includes a tutorial case, the Charred Inn murder case with a new ending, and a brand-new case featuring an unexpected ally. The full game will offer 10 cases inspired by The Case of the Golden Idol, Strange Horticulture, and Return of the Obra Dinn.
Microsoft Jewel is available now as a standalone app for iOS and Android, the fifth mobile app from Microsoft Casual Games and its first new mobile launch in seven years. Players can earn XBOX Achievements on mobile and sync progress across the iOS, Android, and PC apps with a Microsoft account. XBOX Game Pass members get Premium benefits on PC, while Game Pass Ultimate members get them on both PC and mobile.
PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for October are F1 25, Hunt: Showdown 1896, and Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2, all available to PS Plus members from Tuesday, October 6 until Monday, November 2. F1 25 is the official game of the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship and adds a new multiplayer mode in F1 World, while Hunt: Showdown 1896 is an extraction shooter playable solo or with up to two teammates. Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 comes to PS5 and PS4 with four-player online co-op and two-player local split screen.
The Pokémon Company confirmed a physical Nintendo Switch 2 version of Pokémon Legends: Z-A with the Mega Dimension DLC bundled in, launching on cartridge this October 29. The cartridge can also be played on Switch, and Mega Dimension lets players explore Lumiose City through portals created by Hoopa, temporarily control Pokémon above level 100, and encounter more Mega Evolutions including Darkrai, Magearna and Baxcalibur. Buyers also get a gift of 100 Ultra Balls.
Sony has announced the PS Plus Essential lineup for October 2026: F1 25, Hunt: Showdown 1896, and Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2. The games can be claimed from Tuesday 6th October until 2nd November, with all three available on PS5 and Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 also on PS4.
Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced the October 2026 Monthly Games lineup for PlayStation Plus Essential subscribers, available from October 6. The lineup includes Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 for PS5 and PS4, plus F1 25 and Hunt: Showdown 1896 for PS5.
SEGA and RGG Studio have released a new gameplay video for the 50-year action adventure saga STRANGER THAN HEAVEN, introducing its 1929 Kure, Hiroshima era, one of the game's five cities and eras. The game is due out for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam and Microsoft Store on January 15, 2027, and will also be available via Game Pass.
Xbox has announced that "Mythic Achievements" are now available for Xbox Insiders, granted for completing all original achievements for a game. They do not add new challenges or Gamerscore, and have also been added to certain older games including Xbox 360 titles. A new Gaming tab on profiles and a progress bar in each game's achievement list show progress toward Mythic status.
Coffee Stain Publishing and developer Coffee Stain North have announced Goat Simulator 3 DLC "Ticket to Dizzyworld," launching on November 19. The third major expansion is set in a new carnival sandbox with amusement rides, bumper cars, a first-goat perspective, and player-made rollercoasters, plus collectible Dizzy Tokens that can be traded for rewards. Goat Simulator 3 is available now on PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, iOS, and Android.
To celebrate Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave's exclusive arrival on Switch 2, Nintendo is hosting a special event in Tetris 99. During the 57th Maximus Cup, running October 2-5, players who earn 100 points unlock a theme with art, music and Tetrimino designs inspired by the game. Participation requires a Nintendo Switch Online membership.
Hamster Corporation announced that Arcade Archives Balloon Bomber will launch for PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, PS4, and Switch on October 1. The Arcade Archives 2 version costs $9.99 / 1,100 yen, while the Arcade Archives version costs $7.99 / 838 yen, with an upgrade available for $2.99 / 330 yen. The Arcade Archives 2 version adds Time Attack Mode and supports VRR.