The Art of Metaphor: ReFantazio, a hardcover art book by Kelly Knox, is now available to preorder at select retailers for $50 ahead of its March 9 release. It includes behind-the-scenes details about the game's making, concept art, character sketches, and insights into its narrative and gameplay system. The book has already sold out at Walmart.
Final Fantasy XI's free trial has dropped its 14-day time limit and raised the level cap from 50 to 75. Free players are still restricted to base game content, a 100,000 gil cap, no trading or auction house use, and cannot create parties. The 2002 PS2-era MMORPG had long been mocked for a trial far stingier than Final Fantasy XIV's.
Mike Tomlin spent 12 years building an astonishingly detailed Minecraft city while serving as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2007 to 2025. The NFL coach has become a YouTube legend for the project.
A Microsoft spokesperson denied that a new Xbox controller "devoted to cloud gaming" was abandoned because of the regulatory process, after The New York Times reported the plans were canceled. Sources also told Windows Central that rumors of Microsoft canceling upcoming Xbox Cloud Gaming controllers are false. Microsoft never formally announced such a controller, though an image of it leaked this year.
The Witcher 3's Griffin armour set, notorious for giving Geralt a "dadbod," remains in the recent remaster. A mod that fixes this silhouette is already remaster-compatible, though users will be judged for it.
IGN exclusively reveals two new cards from Disney Lorcana's upcoming Hyperia City set: Epic Héctor Rivera Street Magician and Enchanted Tiana Party Hostess. Coco characters appear in the card game for the first time, and both cards emphasize discard mechanics. Hyperia City releases on October 23, with pre-release events starting as early as October 16 at local game stores.
Blizzard is cracking down on real-money trading in the World of Warcraft Forever beta, with several WoW streamers facing penalties. Streamer Ziqo had a large sum of gold reclaimed, leaving him with just 9 silver, while another streamer, Payo, had one account banned for promoting gold buying. The game's final release is set for November 4.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has revealed a massive Minecraft city he secretly built over 12 years, sharing it in the first episode of a deep dive on his YouTube channel. The city includes skyscrapers, nearby neighborhoods, and sports venues such as a baseball field, a soccer pitch, and a football field. Tomlin, who resigned after the 2025 season, initially built the city with his kids before it became more of a solo project.
Remedy has released the 1.4.0 update for Control Resonant, adding the promised New Game++ mode along with numerous bug fixes and quality-of-life tweaks. The patch also fixes fast-travel doors in the starting area resetting custom outfits, and adds a toggle to mute copyrighted music during the opening credits.
Reviews for Gears of War: E-Day, The Coalition's new prequel to Xbox's third-person shooter series, are in and critics are impressed. Critics could only evaluate the single-player campaign, however, as the horde and multiplayer modes were not available for review.
Sprites return in Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4 with a pixel gamer look tied to the "Override" season. As in the previous season, they can be found around the map and equipped for bonus effects to help earn a Victory Royale. Sprites can be found through cheat codes, which are arrow key codes scattered across the map.
AliExpress has the Nintendo Switch 2 for £335.88 when using code AEUKFS41, which takes £41 off orders over £330. This is the UK version with a UK plug charger, with delivery expected between October 3 and 5. The price undercuts the £419.99 the console rose to in September and the £354.99 seen at Smyths and Argos last week.
LEGO's October 2026 lineup includes a near 1:1 scale recreation of the original PlayStation, two new Pokémon sets (a giant Poké Ball and an Up-Scaled Red Minifigure), the 6,130-piece Star Wars Executor Super Star Destroyer, Downton Abbey, Wallace & Gromit, a Bookstore Book Nook, and six Christmas sets. Spending $150 or more at the LEGO Store by October 7 gets you a free 276-piece LEGO Astro Bot (valued at $24.99), while buying the Executor Super Star Destroyer by October 10 includes a free LEGO Darth Vader's Lightsaber (valued at $29.99).
Xbox's deal with Hideo Kojima for Physint is "substantially below what Xbox would typically spend to develop a premium game," according to The New York Times. Windows Central's Jez Corden said first-hand sources put the real figure far lower than the rumored $400 million Sony budget, and Chris Dring, who originated that rumor, said Xbox may be paying under $200 million. The deal also covers film and TV adaptations, with Bill Skarsgard starring, and the game has no release date or footage yet.
The sokoban puzzle game Isles of Sea and Sky is coming to Switch on October 8. It features interconnected island puzzles, wordless storytelling, and pixel art, and received a "Mysterious Update" last year adding new puzzles and block types.
The Epic Games Store is giving away two free PC games this week, available to claim until Thursday, Oct. 8, at 11 a.m. EDT. They include System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster, an influential immersive sim whose anniversary edition adds cross-play co-op, visual upgrades, and mod support, plus Buried Stars, a locked-room murder mystery visual novel with branching paths and multiple endings.
Control Resonant's official photo mode won't arrive until a November update, but PC players can already get one via a mod from Nexus Mods user Kkyleeb21. The mod taps the game's built-in free camera and freezes time, offering presets, exposure and depth-of-field controls, cropping, and six filters, similar to Alan Wake 2's photo mode. Xbox Series X|S and PS5 players will have to wait until November.
PC Gamer used the GitHub project DLSS 5 NeuralScreen, a free app that puts DLSS 5 on your entire desktop, to create comparison images and let readers vote on which one has DLSS 5 applied. The test covers 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% intensity, with four runs and two runs per level, using the GTA 6 trailer. Higher intensity and more runs make the model extrapolate further from the input data, making the difference harder to spot.
AOC has announced the AGON PRO AGP257FT, a 25-inch 1080p gaming monitor with a 1,000 Hz refresh rate and a claimed 0.1 ms MPRT response, plus 0.3 ms grey-to-grey. It uses a new oxide-based IPS panel made with Chinese display specialist BOE and supports HDR 400, with overclocking up to 1,050 Hz. The monitor arrives in Q1 2027, with pricing still to be confirmed.
Riftbound's fifth set, Radiance, exclusively reveals the new Legend Mordekaiser in both base and overnumbered variant forms. Mordekaiser is a Fury (red) and Order (yellow) legend whose ability adds recyclable power for any rune or color when banishing or removing a unit or gear card from the trash. Radiance's English release is set for October 23, with pre-release events starting as early as October 16 at local game stores.
Polygon's sixth annual Halloween Countdown returns with daily horror recommendations throughout October. This year's edition expands beyond movies and TV to include games, books, and internet oddities. The 2026 horror landscape already includes Obsession, Backrooms, Resident Evil, Camp Miasma, and Shudder's monthly releases.
Your Debt Is Paid is a fantasy-themed roguelike auto-battler from developer Cmski, originally made in two weeks for the Creepy Clicker Horror Game Jam 2026 and now expanded into a full PC release via Steam. Players must pay off a growing blood debt using Blood currency earned from defeating monsters, unlocking heroes, bloodlines, realms, and Ascension Levels. The game is coming to PC in early 2027.
Former WarioWare series director Goro Abe left Nintendo earlier this year after more than 25 years and is now a game design professor at Osaka's Electro-Communication University, where he runs the Experimental Game Design Laboratory. He said leaving Nintendo gave him new perspectives on other companies and the indie scene, and he wants to make games free of commercial constraints that appeal to people who don't normally play games.
The Galaxies game showcase returns on 15th October, hosted by Jane Douglas, with more than 40 developers and publishers set to present their games. Confirmed participants include Square Enix Collective, Krafton, Embark Studios, Focus Entertainment, Saber Interactive, and Team 17. The show will be streamed via Twitch and YouTube.
Derby Stallion 2 for Switch 2 topped Japan's weekly new releases for September 21 to September 27 with 29,336 retail sales, followed by Silent Hill: Townfall on PS5 at 13,596. Switch 2 sold 32,198 units, the PlayStation 5 family 9,730, the Switch family 6,306, and the Xbox Series family 362. Rankings 11 to 30 will be published on October 2.
Capcom producer Jun Takeuchi says the Resident Evil series runs on two tracks, remakes and brand new titles, and the company has been preparing for a future "crossover" between them. He says this approach was set with Resident Evil 7, with Village name-dropping Umbrella and Spencer and Requiem bringing back Raccoon City as deliberate setup. With Resident Evil Veronica remaking Code Veronica, few mainline games remain, and there are already rumours Capcom plans to bring back Resident Evil Zero and Resident Evil 5.
QUByte Interactive announced that Gaelco Sports Collection will launch on October 22 for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store. The collection includes five arcade games, among them World Rally Championship, World Rally 2, and Snowboard Championship, with added Save States, smoother screen scrolling, and a museum gallery.
CD Projekt Red story director Marcin Blacha said The Witcher 3 expansion Songs of the Past is set in Letten because it is the homeland of Geralt's friend Dandelion and is unfamiliar to both Geralt and players. Dandelion returns there over urgent family business and needs Geralt's support, letting the studio show a side of him forced to face responsibility. Blacha would only say the DLC's foe is a new challenge for Geralt and declined to discuss its endings or Blood and Wine.
Capcom executive producer Jun Takeuchi said in an anniversary book interview that the remake series will eventually catch up with the era of the numbered titles, and the company has been preparing since around Resident Evil Village for some kind of "crossover" when the two tracks intersect. He cited the appearance of names like Umbrella and Spencer and the return of Raccoon City in Resident Evil Requiem as part of that setup, which began as fan service but drew a stronger response than expected.
Vincent D'Onofrio has publicly defended Deborah Ann Woll, who plays Faye in God of War Laufey, against online attacks over the character's appearance. The backlash has resurfaced after pre-order details and special editions were announced, with some also objecting to playing as Kratos' late partner. D'Onofrio said Woll is beautiful, extremely talented, and kind, adding that he cannot wait to play the new game with his son.
This episode of the podcast covers on-site impressions from Meta Connect and a discussion of Meta VR Glasses. It also touches on the lively Steam Frame community. The episode was recorded live on 2026-09-30.
Final Fantasy 11 now offers a free trial, and previously created trial characters can log back in, according to the FF11 site. Trial players can also do "Limit Break" quests to raise the level cap from 50 to 99. In March, the game paused character creation on its busiest server due to a surge of new players, and it still has around 88,000 active players.
Developer Gloomsoft announced that the Alien-inspired science-fiction Metroidvania game Moadra will launch for PS5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC via Steam on October 22. Players explore the planet Protea VI, using agility moves, a scanner bot, and X-ray vision to survive and uncover secrets. Absorbing Protoplasm from creatures allows metamorphosis in organic chambers to evolve abilities and weapons.
Xbox VP of next-generation Jason Ronald gave a cryptic tease when asked on social media about the return of FPS Boost, saying the team is "cooking on a number of things" and that more will be heard before the end of 2026. He did not confirm the feature will definitely return. The FPS Boost program officially ended in 2021, five years ago.
Former WarioWare series director Goro Abe left Nintendo earlier this year after more than 25 years and is now a game design professor at Osaka's Electro-Communication University, where he runs the Experimental Game Design Laboratory. He said leaving Nintendo gave him new perspectives on other companies and the indie scene, and he wants to make games free of commercial constraints that appeal to people who don't normally play games.
The Witcher 3 Remastered has received its first PS5 update, version 5.000.020, a 1.1GB patch that fixes lighting issues in areas that appear too dark. It also mentions various other adjustments to ensure parity with the PC version. Players on PS5 and PS5 Pro continue to report performance problems, but CD Projekt Red says it is already investigating issues reported through its technical support portal.
Malcolm Graves, a fan-favorite League of Legends champion, is finally joining Riftbound. In the MOBA, Graves is known for the jungle role, killing neutral monsters and ambushing unsuspecting opponents.
More than 15 games are launching on Xbox on October 1, with the Premium Edition of Gears of War: E-Day and the full release of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve as the two biggest titles. Other releases include Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered, End of Abyss and MXGP 26, while a free demo for Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is also live ahead of its October 14 launch.
Capcom executive producer Jun Takeuchi says the development teams have been "gradually preparing" since around Resident Evil Village for the day the remake series catches up with the era of the numbered titles. He said the appearance of names like Umbrella and Spencer, and the return of Raccoon City in Requiem, are part of preparations for a "crossover." Remakes of Resident Evil 2, 3, and 4 are also heading to Switch 2 on 15th October 2026.
Sega is teasing a new House of the Dead arcade game that uses VR technology, reportedly titled House of the Dead: Reawakened. The cabinet features a Gothic manor facade with an 85-inch display and two 43-inch vertical screens, and players step through the "front door" into a VR play area for solo or two-player co-op using VR headsets and haptic recoil gun controllers. The game reportedly includes three missions, was built in Unreal Engine 5, and will be shown at the IAAPA Expo in November.